UFC News
Gilbert Burns offers to step up to 185lbs and fight Uriah Hall on short notice at UFC 249
Adam Martin - May 8, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns has offered to step up on short notice at 185lbs and take on Uriah Hall at UFC 249 after Ronaldo Souza was pulled from the event. Souza was forced off the card on Friday night after he tested positive for coronavirus. He was set to fight Hall on the ESPN portion of the preliminary card. The UFC has not said if Hall will stay on the card against a short-notice opponent or if he will be pulled from it. In the event he stays on the card, the UFC matchmakers have a willing opponent in Burns.
Report | Jacare Souza was the only UFC 249 athlete to test positive for COVID-19
Cole Shelton - May 8, 2020
The worst-case scenario happened for the UFC as it was revealed Jacare Souza has tested positive for COVID-19. The good news is that the other 23 fighters had their tests come back negative. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reported on social media that Souza has left the fighter hotel after testing positive but no other fighters have the virus.
UFC 249 | New details emerge on Jacare Souza's positive test for Covid-19
Chris Taylor - May 8, 2020
Shocking news rocked the mixed martial arts world this evening as it was announced that Jacare Souza had tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of UFC 249. The announcement came from ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, who reported that Jacare Souza had tested positive for the virus and that his fight with Uriah Hall at UFC 249 was now cancelled.
Breaking! Jacare Souza tests positive for Covid-19, UFC 249 fight with Uriah Hall cancelled
Chris Taylor - May 8, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Jacare Souza has tested positive for Covid-19 and will no longer be fighting Uriah Hall tomorrow night at UFC 249. The shocking news comes from ESPN’s Brett Okamoto who reported the following on Twitter:
Conor McGregor "doesn’t like the idea of fighting without a crowd" according to Dana White
Cole Shelton - May 8, 2020
Conor McGregor doesn’t appear to be too interested in fighting without a crowd. McGregor has been adamant of having three fights in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic that may not happen. Although the Irishman has hinted at a summertime return, according to UFC president, Dana White, the former champ-champ doesn’t like the idea of competing without a crowd but would understand if that’s what he had to do.
Videos | Top 5 Knockouts: UFC 31 - UFC 40
Christopher Taylor - May 8, 2020
In our newest segment “Top 5 Knockouts” we take a look back at some of the most brutal finishes that have occurred during numbered UFC events. In this the fourth edition of “Top 5 Knockouts”, we reflect back on UFC events 31 – 40, which occurred between the years of 2001 to 2002.
Anthony Pettis looking to become "invincible" again starting with UFC 249
Cole Shelton - May 8, 2020
Anthony Pettis is looking to become invisible once again. Pettis is the former WEC and UFC lightweight champion who started his career out 18-2 with a UFC title defense under his record. Since then, “Showtime” has gone just 4-8 fighting at featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight.
Khabib Nurmagomedov will fight the winner of Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje, says Dana White
Adam Martin - May 8, 2020
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will next fight against the winner of the UFC 249 interim title bout between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. Nurmagomedov was set to fight Ferguson at the original UFC 249 card in April before the event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The UFC then called upon Gaethje to fill in on short notice against Ferguson after Nurmagomedov went home to Russia and was then unable to leave the country due to global travel restrictions.
TJ Dillashaw believes Dominick Cruz is "kind of a one-trick pony"
Mike Pendleton - May 8, 2020
The co-main event at UFC 249 will be for the bantamweight title as the former champion Dominick Cruz challenges the reigning champion Henry Cejudo. While the bantamweight division continues on, former champion TJ Dillashaw is keeping his eyes on the action. Cruz and Cejudo share one similarity, as they have both faced Dillashaw. Cejudo defeated Dillashaw in a flyweight fight last year, winning with a first-round knockout. Cruz and Dillashaw have also faced off one time against each other, with Cruz getting the win in that matchup by way of split decision.
Dana White guarantees excitement in Ferguson vs. Gaethje fight
Tom Taylor - May 8, 2020
UFC President Dana White is guaranteeing excitement when Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje step into the cage together in the UFC 249 main event. Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up! this morning, White claimed that, while he’s generally reluctant to ever promise excitement from a particular matchup, he’s absolutely confident he can do so with respect to Ferguson vs. Gaethje.
Donald Cerrone addresses criticisms of Stephen A. Smith
Tom Taylor - May 8, 2020
Shortly after Donald Cerrone was defeated by Conor McGregor back in January, he was lambasted by ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith. Speaking to MMA Fighting ahead of his UFC 249 rematch with Anthony Pettis, Cerrone addressed the comments Smith made about him. He says its always his intention to avoid drama of this kind.
Megan Olivi discusses importance of UFC 249 in the sports world
Mike Pendleton - May 8, 2020
Sports are back this weekend, as UFC 249 is scheduled to go down in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday night. With the NBA, MLB, and NHL seasons suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UFC will be the first professional sports league to return. UFC reporter Megan Olivi was recently a guest on ‘MMA Tonight’ on Sirius XM and provided her take on how the UFC can capitalize on the extra attention they will have, and how the event won’t look too different from a production standpoint compared to normal events, minus the lack of a crowd.