UFC News
Colby Covington won't consider dropping down to 155lbs: "I'm not a bully"
Adam Martin - November 28, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington says that he won’t consider dropping down to 155lbs, saying that “I’m not a bully.” Covington recently lost a close decision to UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC 268 earlier this month. Since this is the second time that Covington has lost to Usman, there are now hints that “Chaos” could consider a weight class change, with a move down to 155lbs a possibility since he isn’t a big welterweight. But as far as Covington goes, those rumors are not coming from him, because he has no desire to cut all the weight to make it to lightweight. Speaking to MMANews reporter James Lynch, Covington explained why he won’t cut down to 155 and be a “bully” as he suggests Dustin Poirier is.
Geoff Neal fires back at Derek Brunson after suggesting welterweights are avoiding Khamzat Chimaev
Adam Martin - November 28, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Geoff Neal fired back at Derek Brunson after suggesting that welterweights are avoiding Khamzat Chimaev. Neal recently spoke to MMA journalist James Lynch and he was asked about Brunson’s recent comments about Chimaev, where he questioned why the other welterweights aren’t actively calling out the man who is one of the hottest names in the division. As far as Neal goes, Brunson is off base for several reasons. First of all, Neal believes there is more going on behind the scenes than the public knows about. Second, he pointed out that Neil Magny has called out Chimaev. And third, he just wants Brunson to focus on the 185lbs division.
Mike Perry issues statement following big upset win at Triller Triad Combat
Adam Martin - November 28, 2021
Former UFC welterweight fighter Mike Perry issued a statement following his big upset win over Michael Seals at Triller Triad Combat. Perry was released by the UFC a few months ago and he signed with Triller for this matchup against Seals. Despite Seals entering the fight as a -1000 betting favorite and Perry being a +600 betting underdog, it was “Platinum” who was able to get the win in the fight. Taking to his social media following his big win over Seals, Perry issued a statement.
Islam Makhachev opens up as big betting favorite against Beneil Dariush
Adam Martin - November 28, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev has opened up as a big betting favorite to defeat Beneil Dariush when they fight in early 2022. Makhachev vs. Dariush was officially announced this weekend, and the fight will take place on February 26 in what will be a five-round non-title main event. It goes without saying that this fight between Makhachev and Dariush is one of the biggest fights that the lightweight division currently offers, and it seems fair to assume the winner of this fight is going to get a title shot at 155lbs. Justin Gaethje is first up for the winner of UFC 269’s Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier, and the winner of Makhachev/Dariush will be up next.
Matt Brown provides positive health update after withdrawing from UFC Vegas 44
Adam D Martin - November 28, 2021
UFC welterweight Matt Brown provided a positive health update after withdrawing from his fight against Bryan Barberena at UFC Vegas 44. Brown was set to fight Barberena at UFC Vegas 44 next Friday night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, but the fight was scratched after Brown pulled out due to COVID-19. Taking to his social media to provide a positive health update, Brown said that he is feeling much better now after being very sick for two days. He also confirmed that he is unvaccinated.
Gilbert Burns says UFC tried to match him up against Vicente Luque, but both declined
Adam D Martin - November 28, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns says the UFC tried to match him up against Vicente Luque, but both fighters declined the matchup. Burns and Luque are two of the top-five ranked welterweights in the UFC, and both men are currently without a fight booked, so it makes sense that they fight, right? Not so fast. Not only do both fighters train together at Sanford MMA, but they are also incredibly close friends and essentially “brothers,” as Luque told BJPenn.com’s Cole Shelton back in April. Luque said then that he would never fight Burns due to their close familial relationship.
Henry Cejudo will "100 percent" fight in the UFC again in 2022, says manager
Adam D Martin - November 28, 2021
Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo will “100 percent” fight in the UFC again in 2022, says his manager Ali Abdelaziz. Cejudo has been teasing a return to the Octagon for quite some time, and he has generally spent his time on social media calling out UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski for his return to the cage. Speaking to MMAFighting.com in a recent interview, Cejudo’s manager Abdelaziz confirmed that his client Cejudo is set to return to the Octagon in 2022. He believes he will return as a featherweight, but bantamweight is also possible.
Video | Jon Jones grapples with Olympic wrestling bronze medalist J'Den Cox
Adam D Martin - November 28, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones posted a new video of him grappling with Olympic wrestling bronze medalist J’Den Cox. Jones was recently booted out of his longtime gym, Team Jackson-Wink in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after his coach John Winkeljohn kicked him out of the gym after a domestic battery incident with his partner in Las Vegas back in September. Initially, it was thought that Jones was going to make some serious changes in his life and then get back into the gym when both he and his former team felt like he was ready to come into the doors again.
Conor McGregor admits he has been impressed by Michael Chandler: “Could well be today’s champion”
Adam D Martin - November 28, 2021
UFC superstar Conor McGregor admitted that he has been impressed by Michael Chandler, saying that he “could well be today’s champion.” McGregor took questions from fans on his social media on Saturday, and one of the questions that he was asked is what he thinks about Chandler. The former Bellator lightweight champion joined the UFC earlier this year and he has had three memorable fights in the Octagon thus far. In his UFC debut, he knocked out Dan Hooker at UFC 257 (the same card that McGregor headlined against Dustin Poirier). Chandler was then given a vacant title shot against Charles Oliveira and, while he lost via second-round TKO, that was also a fantastic fight. Then, Chandler lost a decision to Justin Gaethje at UFC 268, but the fight was an absolute war and Chandler’s stock arguably went up despite losing the fight.
Khabib Nurmagomedov reacts after Islam Makhachev books fight with Beneil Dariush
Christopher Taylor - November 27, 2021
Khabib Nurmagomedov was pushing for Islam Makhachev to receive a title shot following his submission victory over Dan Hooker at UFC 267. Despite the former champions campaign efforts, it was announced today that Makhachev (21-1 MMA) has been booked to fight fellow lightweight contender Beneil Dariush (21-4-1 MMA) in February.
Pros react after Kubrat Pulev TKO's Frank Mir at Triller Triad Combat event
Chris Taylor - November 27, 2021
Tonight’s Triller Triad Combat event was headlined by a heavyweight contest featuring Frank Mir squaring off with Kubrat Pulev. Mir (0-1 Boxing, 19-3 MMA), a former UFC heavyweight champion, had made his professional boxing debut back in April where he suffered a loss to Steve Cunningham.
Triller Triad Combat Results: Kubrat Pulev KO's Frank Mir (Video)
Chris Taylor - November 27, 2021
Tonight’s Triller Triad Combat event is headlined by a heavyweight contest featuring Frank Mir taking on Kubrat Pulev. Mir (0-1 Boxing, 19-3 MMA), a former UFC heavyweight champion, made his professional boxing debut back in April where he suffered a loss to Steve Cunningham.