UFC News
Ben Askren believes Conor McGregor won't fight him because he will steal his 'manhood'
Cole Shelton - November 5, 2018
At UFC 229, Conor McGregor made his long-awaited return to the Octagon to take on Khabib Nurmagomedov. Ultimately, McGregor lost in the fourth-round by submission. Now, however, another fighter similar to Nurmagomedov’s style in Ben Askren has joined the UFC roster. Would McGregor dare to fight Askren? According to the newest UFC acquisition, he knows the answer to that question.
Dana White assures he doesn't hate Ben Askren: 'This was my idea'
Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018
Given how long it took for Ben Askren, inarguably one of the best welterweights in the world, to sign with the UFC, you would not be faulted for thinking that the promotion’s brass were not fans of his. In fact, given the way UFC President Dana White has previously spoken about Askren, it’d be understandable if you thought he hated the welterweight star outright. Speaking at the post-fight press conference for UFC 230, which Ben Askren attended, Dana White assured this is not the case. In fact, Dana White says he came up with the deal that ultimately brought Askren to the UFC in exchange for Demetrious Johnson.
Derek Brunson breaks silence on UFC 230 loss to Israel Adesanya
Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018
On Saturday night, in the opening bout of the UFC 230 main card, long-time UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson stepped into the cage with red-hot striking specialist Israel Adesanya. Although Brunson had a spot of success with his wrestling early on in this fight, he ultimately became the latest victim of Adesanya’s venomous striking attack, wilting under a storm of strikes in the first round. On Sunday evening, Derek Brunson broke his silence on this tough loss to Israel Adesanya. While he is obviously disappointed, he seems to be taking the setback in stride, as he’s promising to get right back on the horse.
Weighing the options of Israel Adesanya after UFC 230
Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018
So many times before, we’ve seen massively hyped fighters stumble as the near the proverbial mountaintop. Surging UFC middleweight contender Israel Adesanya, however, could not have looked more surefooted in his massive UFC 230 showdown with missile-fisted wrestler Derek Brunson. Ahead of the fight, it was easy to imagine a world where Brunson repeatedly took Israel Adesanya down and mushed him through the chainlink so forcefully that the he oozed out the other side and onto the commentary booth in diamond-shaped chunks. But this isn’t the way it happened. Instead, Israel Adesanya shut down his foe’s takedown attempts, and forced a firefight on the feet, where he reduced Brunson to rubble with some of the slickest, most pinpoint striking we’ve seen in the Octagon.
Daniel Cormier shares the backup plan if Brock Lesnar is unavailable
Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018
With a successful UFC 230 heavyweight title defense opposite Derek Lewis now in the books, UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier is now looking to the future. At present, the expectation is that he will next defend his heavyweight title against former champion and current WWE star Brock Lesnar. With Lesnar’s future still uncertain, however, Cormier has a backup plan: Jon Jones.
Weighing the options of Derrick Lewis after UFC 230
Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018
Although he had much of the MMA community rooting for him, beloved heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis was not able to defy the odds in his short-notice UFC 230 title fight with the division’s apex predator Daniel Cormier. Instead, Lewis was soundly outwrestled and ultimately submitted in the bout’s second round. That being said, Derrick Lewis’ allure has not diminished. While he generally fights with all the elegance and finesse of a wrecking ball, he is, by the same token, still capable of reducing pretty much anybody to a pile of bones and leather, and could conceivably still capture the UFC heavyweight title in the future, particularly once The Baddest Man on the Planet/ World’s Greatest Dad Daniel Cormier has driven his minivan off into the sunset.
Israel Adesanya says he nearly pulled out of UFC 230
Cole Shelton - November 4, 2018
On Saturday night, at UFC 230, Israel Adesanya had a coming out party of sorts. The rising star defeated Derek Brunson in the first round by TKO. Adesanya looked composed the entire fight, however, in the post-fight press conference, Israel Adesanya revealed his fight against Brunson almost didn’t happen. “I almost pulled out of this fight,” Adesanya said. “Like literally, three days, maybe two days away from pulling out of this fight. I was limping. You can ask Dan Hooker and people at my gym. I had the baddest — I’ll post the video so it makes sense. My knee was so inflamed.
Daniel Cormier responds to Jon Jones claim that he will not "grant" him a third fight
Christopher Taylor - November 4, 2018
Daniel Cormier defended his UFC heavyweight championship for the first time at last night’s UFC 230 event, scoring a second-round submission victory over Derrick Lewis. The victory, which occurred at New York’s famous Madison Square Garden arena, helped solidify Cormier’s status as one of the best fighters in mixed martial arts history.
UFC releases first quarter schedule for 2019
Christopher Taylor - November 4, 2018
The Ultimate Fighting Championship revealed it’s first quarter event schedule for 2019 during last night’s UFC 230 broadcast. The first show of the 2019 calendar year takes place January 19 event in Brooklyn, New York. The historic event will be the UFC’s first fight card to air on EPSN and ESPN+.
Report | Two huge welterweight contender bouts in the works for early 2019
Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018
From the sounds of it, the first quarter of 2019 is going to be a busy stretch for the UFC welterweight division. According to BJPENN.COM’s Chris Taylor, the UFC is currently working on a pair of huge welterweight matchups for the New Year. The first is expected to pit former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler against two-time welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. The second will see former ONE and Bellator welterweight kingpin Ben Askren make his Octagon debut opposite recent title challenger Darren Till. This just in! Per multiple sources close to the situation, the UFC is targeting the following two welterweight bouts for early 2019:Stephen Thompson vs Robbie Lawler and Ben Askren vs Darren Till. Neither fight has been officially signed but that is the intention.
Ben Askren says there are only two suitable opponents for his UFC debut
Christopher Taylor - November 4, 2018
Former Bellator and ONE Championship title holder Ben Askren will make his UFC debut in 2019 and claims there are only two suitable opponents for his first fight with the promotion. Ben Askren joined the ESPN crew during last night’s UFC 230 broadcast where he discussed being traded to the UFC and who he will likely square off with in his first octagon appearance.
Dana White praises Israel Adesanya after TKO of Derek Brunson: 'He's the whole package'
Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018
Last night, in the opening bout of the UFC 230 main card, red-hot UFC middleweight contender Israel Adesanya picked up the biggest win of his career, dissecting long-time contender Derek Brunson with some of the finest striking we’ve ever seen in the Octagon. With this win, just about everybody jumped aboard the Israel Adesanya hype train — and that includes UFC President Dana White. The boss showered the Nigerian New Zealander with praise shortly after the card wrapped up.