UFC News
Rafael dos Anjos issues a challenge to Conor McGregor: "If you’re looking for a fight I’m the guy"
Chris Taylor - June 12, 2020
Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos has issued a challenge to recently retired former two-division champion Conor McGregor. The Irish superstar announced his retirement from the sport shortly after the conclusion of last weekend’s UFC 250 broadcast.
Sean O’Malley blasts Petr Yan: “You can’t even spell your name right, Peter”
Adam Martin - June 12, 2020
UFC bantamweight prospect Sean O’Malley blasted title contender Petr Yan on social media, criticizing the Russian for the way he spells his name. O’Malley is one of the hottest fighters at 135lbs right now after picking up a stunning KO over Eddie Wineland at UFC 250. Yan, meanwhile, is one of the top bantamweights in the sport and is set to fight Jose Aldo at UFC 251 for the vacant title. Yet despite O’Malley and Yan being far apart in the rankings, O’Malley didn’t hesitate to take a shot at Yan on social media.
Dana White compares Jorge Masvidal to the Diaz brothers: "If you want to fight, call us"
Cole Shelton - June 12, 2020
Dana White says Jorge Masvidal is very similar to the Diaz brothers in terms of negotiating fights. For years, the UFC has had a hard time getting both Nick and Nate Diaz into the Octagon. The two have wanted more money and at one point, White said he was having someone else in the UFC deal with the Diaz brothers as he couldn’t bare the frustration anymore. The two have gone years in between fights and now the UFC boss says it is getting very similar with Jorge Masvidal.
Petr Yan sizes up bantamweight competition: "I can defeat every fighter"
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2020
Petr Yan, who will battle Jose Aldo for the vacant UFC bantamweight title at UFC 251, believes he can beat every fighter in his division. The bantamweight division is arguably the best division in the UFC right now as Yan, Aldo, Aljamain Sterling, Cory Sandhagen, Cody Garbrandt, Marlon Moraes, Sean O’Malley and several other fighters are all gunning for gold.
VIDEO | Jessica Eye gives scare on the scale: "I don't think I can stand"
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2020
UFC flyweight contender Jessica Eye missed weight for her UFC on ESPN 10 main event clash with Cynthia Calvillo, tipping the scales a quarter pound above the 126-pound limit fo non-title fights. From the looks of it, her weight cut was absolutely brutal. See Eye take to the scale below.
Junior dos Santos vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik targeted for UFC 252
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2020
A heavyweight fight between Junior dos Santos and Jairzinho Rozenstruik is reportedly in the works for UFC 252 on August 15. News of this dynamite heavyweight battle was first reported by Brazilian outlet Combate.
Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Nathaniel Wood slated for July 25 on Fight Island
Alfredo Zullino - June 12, 2020
Umar Nurmagomedov (12-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), cousin of the well-known UFC lightweight undisputed champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, is finally set for his big stage debut. Welcoming Nurmagomedov into the Octagon is going to be England’s own Nathaniel Wood (16-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC), sources confirmed BJPENN.com, after an initial report from MMA Junkie. The two will lock horns on July 25 on the now-famous Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
Sean O'Malley downplays Cody Garbrandt's UFC 250 KO: "There's levels to striking"
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2020
Sean O’Malley firmly believes that his UFC 250 knockout win was better than the one Cody Garbrandt scored later on the main card. O’Malley, an undefeated prospect, picked up a dazzling first-round knockout win over WEC champ Eddie Wineland in the pay-per-view opener. Garbrandt, the former UFC bantamweight champion, delivered a brutal, one-punch KO over long-time contender Raphael Assuncao in the co-main event.
USADA rules two athletes are "not at fault" due to sexually transmitted banned substances
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2020
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has given two athletes a pass on the basis that banned substances entered their systems via sexual transmission. Inside the MMA bubble, USADA is known as the official anti-doping partner for the UFC. The organization has made a long list of busts since it joined forces with the mixed martial arts promotion.
Daniel Cormier doesn't agree with Weili Zhang being ranked ahead of Valentina Shevchenko in P4P rankings
Harry Kettle - June 12, 2020
Daniel Cormier has said that he doesn’t agree with Weili Zhang being ahead of Valentina Shevchenko in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. In the wake of Amanda Nunes’ dominant victory over Felicia Spencer, there has been a great deal of talk surrounding the upper tier of women’s fighters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and who belongs in that discussion.
Ali Abdelaziz reacts to Jones and Masvidal contract issues: “None of my fighter's under an 8 fight deal”
Natasha Hooper - June 12, 2020
MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz recently shared his thoughts on Jon Jones and Jorge Masvidal’s contract issues. In recent weeks, tensions between the UFC and its top athletes has reached an all-time high. “Bones” slammed the organization for lying about contract negotiations for a Francis Ngannou mega-fight. He also announced that he is not being paid enough for his fights and threatened to vacate his light heavyweight title. Masvidal shared similar sentiments by claiming he felt undervalued by the UFC.
After witnessing Jose Aldo and Petr Yan train together, Eduardo Dantas predicts a second round KO at UFC 251
Harry Kettle - June 12, 2020
Jose Aldo’s long-time training partner Eduardo Dantas has revealed that he believes the Brazilian will beat Petr Yan via second round KO at UFC 251. Aldo and Yan are set to square off for the UFC Bantamweight Championship next month in what will serve as the promotion’s first pay-per-view event on the highly anticipated Fight Island.
Felice Herrig set to fight for first time in two years at UFC 252
Adam Martin - June 11, 2020
UFC women’s strawweight veteran Felice Herrig is set to make her return to the Octagon after a two-year layoff against Virna Jandiroba at UFC 252. Herrig is set to take on Jandiroba on the undercard of the Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier 3 PPV that is tentatively titled UFC 252. The card is set to take place on August 15, likely at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to announce the return of Herrig for the first time in two years since having knee surgery. Check out the fight announcement via Twitter.
Jorge Masvidal thanks fans for supporting his stance against the UFC
Cole Shelton - June 11, 2020
Jorge Masvidal has thanked his fans for supporting him during his recent feud with the UFC. Masvidal has become a massive star after a phenomenal 2019 where he knocked out Darren Till, then had the flying knee, five-second knockout over Ben Askren. He followed that up with a TKO win over Nate Diaz in the main event of UFC 244 to claim the BMF title.
Video | Birthday boy Jason Parillo forces BJ Penn into bicycle mode
Adam Martin - June 11, 2020
Legendary MMA boxing coach Jason Parillo put UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn into bicycle mode during a fun training session between the two long-time friends. It was Parillo’s birthday and Penn shared a video to his social media of the birthday boy chasing him around the gym in a humorous fashion. Check out the video posted on Penn’s Instagram.
Ray Borg out of UFC Fight Night Vegas, Merab Dvalishvili gets replacement opponent after contract dispute
Adam Martin - June 11, 2020
UFC bantamweight Ray Borg is out of his scheduled bout against Merab Dvalishvili this weekend at UFC Fight Night Las Vegas due to personal reasons. Borg is no stranger from withdrawing to fights due to personal issues, and unfortunately, sometimes the withdrawals have been to his son Anthony’s well-documented medical issues. After the UFC announced Borg was out of the fight, the former flyweight title challenger took to social media to post a picture of his son. Check out Borg’s Twitter below.
Dominick Reyes: It's "obvious" Jon Jones is ducking rematch
Tom Taylor - June 11, 2020
Dominick Reyes believes it’s obvious that it’s “obvious” that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is avoiding him. Reyes challenged Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title back in February. Despite Jones’ reputation as one of the greatest fighters of all times, Reyes pushed him to the brink of defeat.
Francis Ngannou reflects on "2 months in jail" after entry into Europe
Tom Taylor - June 11, 2020
UFC heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou has one of the most incredible backstories of any fighter on the UFC roster. Ngannou was born in Cameroon, and ultimately emigrated to Europe in hopes of making a life for himself. While he eventually landed in Paris, where his combat sports career began, his arrival in Europe began with a two-month stint in jail.