UFC News

Adam Martin - December 14, 2020

UFC bantamweight Marlon Vera trashed past opponent Sean O’Malley, calling him a “made in China” version of Conor McGregor. Vera and O’Malley have a heated rivalry dating back to their bout at UFC 252 in August. O’Malley talked a big game heading into that fight, but Vera proved to be the superior mixed martial artist that night as he finished O’Malley by first-round TKO. O’Malley suffered an injury during the fight and since then he has said that he doesn’t really consider it a loss and believes he is still undefeated. Because of the injury, some fans and media have suggested this could be a fight that the UFC runs back sometime.

Adam Martin - December 14, 2020

The opening betting odds have been released for a potential UFC welterweight bout between rivals Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. Right away it must be stated that Covington vs. Masvidal is just a rumor at this point and not a confirmed matchup by the UFC, but all signs are pointing towards the promotion booking this bout for 2021. Covington and Masvidal do not like each other and with both men looking to get a rematch with UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, a No. 1 contender bout between these two makes all the sense in the world. There have also been suggestions that the rivals may coach The Ultimate Fighter, too.

Tom Taylor - December 14, 2020

Former UFC middleweight title contender Yoel Romero has found a new home, having signed a deal with Bellator MMA. The UFC is currently in the process of downsizing its roster, and has cut many fighters over the last few weeks. While many of the promotion’s cuts have been fairly easy to justify, it’s decision to release Romero came as a massive surprise to pretty much everybody.

Tom Taylor - December 14, 2020

Stephen Thompson says the push Khamzat Chimaev is getting from the UFC is “”a slap in the face to everybody who’s worked their butts off” in the promotion. Chimaev was one of the breakout stars of 2020 for the UFC, rattling off stoppage wins over John Philips, Rhys McKee and Gerald Meerschaert in the span of a few months. Despite the fact that he’s yet to be beat a ranked opponent, and that his lone welterweight win came against McKee, who is now 0-2 in the division, Chimaev has been given a fight with No. 3-ranked welterweight contender Leon Edwards.

Cole Shelton - December 14, 2020

In the main event of UFC 256, Deiveson Figueiredo was looking to defend his belt for the second time in three weeks against Brandon Moreno. The co-main event saw Tony Ferguson return to the Octagon against Charles Oliveira. In the end, Figueiredo and Moreno had an absolute war that ended in a majority draw. The co-main, meanwhile, saw Oliveira pull off the betting upset as he dominated Ferguson to win a clear decision.

Tom Taylor - December 14, 2020

Rising UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern has issued a statement after her decision victory over Virna Jandiroba on the UFC 256 main card. Despite being two of the best jiu jitsu players in women’s MMA, Dern and Jandiroba spent the majority of their three-round strawweight contest slugging it out on the feet. In fact, had the UFC 256 main event between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno—an all-time great fight—gone differently, Dern and Jandiroba almost certainly would have received $50,000 Fight of the Night bonuses.

Tom Taylor - December 14, 2020

Italian middleweight contender Marvin Vettori believes he should receive Fighter of the Year honors for 2020. As we prepare to close our 2020 calendars, debates about the year’s top fighter are already roiling. Vettori is certainly in the conversation, but so are several other fighters, such as his fellow middleweight contender Kevin Holland.

Tom Taylor - December 14, 2020

Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor has stepped in to prevent an Irish MMA gym from closing its doors due to the pandemic. Earlier this month, SBG Portarlington was forced to shut down due to the financial strains caused by the pandemic. McGregor, who is a long-time friend and training partner of the gym’s owner, decided to intervene.

Harry Kettle - December 14, 2020

UFC flyweight contender Brandon Moreno has revealed that he suffered a shoulder injury during the UFC 256 main event. The Flyweight Championship bout between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno on Saturday night exceeded all expectations with Figueiredo holding onto the belt after an absolute war.

Christopher Taylor - December 13, 2020

A clip of Khabib Nurmagomedov claiming that Tony Ferguson was “finished” as a fighter immediately began circulating the internet following UFC 256. The UFC’s former interim lightweight champion, Ferguson (25-5 MMA), returned to the Octagon in last night’s pay-per-view co-headliner against surging division contender Charles Oliveira (30-8 MMA).

Christopher Taylor - December 13, 2020

Cody Garbrandt called out fellow former bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo following last night’s UFC 256 event in Las Vegas. Yesterday’s pay-per-view fight card was headlined by a flyweight title fight featuring reigning champion Deiveson Figueiredo taking on challenger Brandon Moreno. The result was one of the greatest fights in promotional history, as Figueiredo and Moreno went to absolute war for twenty-five straight minutes.

Adam Martin - December 13, 2020

The UFC has officially dropped the promo video for UFC 257: Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor, titling it “Ready for War.” On January 23, 2021, at UFC 257 on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, Poirier and McGregor meet for the second time nearly seven years since their first bout at UFC 178 in September 2014, back when both men fought as featherweights. McGregor won that fight by knockout and went on to become the featherweight champion, and later the lightweight champion, not to mention a global superstar. Poirier, meanwhile, has continued to be a top contender in the lightweight division in the years since then.