UFC News
PHOTOS | Conor McGregor and other MMA stars do the 10 year challenge
Tom Taylor - January 16, 2019
By now, you’ve probably encountered the 10 year challenge dozens and dozens of times on your social media accounts. This craze, which encourages people to share a picture of themselves from 10 years ago and a picture of themselves from this year, side by side, has swept the Internet. Even MMA stars like Conor McGregor have gotten in on the fun. Here are some MMA fighters who have done the 10 year challenge over the last few days.
Matchup between Curtis Blaydes and Justin Willis on tap for UFC Nashville
Drake Riggs - January 15, 2019
As it was revealed today, the UFC looks to be returning to Nashville, Tennesse in March as the first fight for the event was reported to be the welterweight scrap pitting Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson vs Anthony “Showtime” Pettis. Now we’ve gotten word of the next potential matchup which is a clash at heavyweight.
Justin Gaethje vs Edson Barboza in the works for late March
Drake Riggs - January 15, 2019
After a big one-punch knockout win over James Vick in his last time out at UFC Lincoln in August 2018, Justin Gaethje (19-2) is ready to get back at it. Late last month, Gaethje’s manager Ali Abdelaziz revealed that he was looking at Edson Barboza (20-6) for Gaethje’s next matchup.
Kelvin Gastelum rips Tyron Woodley, gets backlash from Ben Askren and others
Thomas Taylor - January 15, 2019
UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley recently announced that he plans to move up to the middleweight division in the near future. This news generated an interesting reaction from top middleweight contender Kelvin Gastelum, who Woodley defeated in a catchweight bout in 2015. https://twitter.com/KelvinGastelum/status/1085252534401265664
VIDEO | Firas Zahabi hopes for 165-pound division where 'Georges St-Pierre vs Khabib Nurmagomedov makes a lot of sense'
Drake Riggs - January 15, 2019
“[Georges St-Pierre is] back in training as usual.” Tristar head coach Firas Zahabi told MMA Betz. “Hopefully, he’ll get back in the game in 2019… So keep an eye out for that.
Stephen Thompson vs Anthony Pettis targeted for March 23
Drake Riggs - January 15, 2019
The power of social media is real, people. Former WEC and UFC lightweight champion Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis has fought as low as 145-pounds in his career. Although it was a brief stint, Pettis did make the cut… At least for one fight.
UFC flyweight contender Jennifer Maia accepts six-month USADA suspension
Tom Taylor - January 15, 2019
11th-ranked UFC flyweight contender Jennifer Maia has accepted a six-month sanction from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for banned substances as the result of her ingestion of a tainted supplement. This Jennifer Maia news was announced on the official USADA website. Here’s what the USADA release on the topic says:
EXCLUSIVE | Elias Theodorou willing to fight Derek Brunson after being called out
Cole Shelton - January 15, 2019
Elias Theodorou already has his next opponent in mind. Derek Brunson, who is currently ranked eighth in the middleweight division, recently called out the 14th ranked Theodorou. and Theodorou is all for it. “I think it is a good fight. Obviously, he is a tough competitor,” Theodorou said to BJPENN.com. “He has shown there are ways to beat him, obviously by being on a two-fight losing streak. I’m looking for, if all goes well, to make it three. It is a great fight and he presents challenges but I have shown time and time again that I’m one tough puzzle to solve and I look forward to getting my hand raised.”
Anthony Smith: 'I don't care' if Jon Jones is clean at UFC 235
Tom Taylor - January 15, 2019
Anthony Smith, who is expected to challenge Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 235 on March 2, has some questions about the champion’s recent drug tests, several of which of turned up traces of the banned substance ‘turinabol.’ “I think that the definition of a clean fighter has become mighty grey in the last six months,” Smith said on the latest episode of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show (transcript via MMA Mania). “And it didn’t used to be like that, it was pretty black and white.”
Derrick Lewis explains why he turned down short-notice UFC Brooklyn fight with Stipe Miocic
James Lynch - January 15, 2019
Derrick Lewis isn’t set to step back into the cage until Mar. 9 but “The Black Beast” nearly fought on this Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+1 card in Brooklyn, NY. That’s according to Lewis who said he was asked to face former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, however he turned down the matchup because he needed more time off.
Henry Cejudo pokes fun at TJ Dillashaw's physique ahead of flyweight fight
Tom Taylor - January 15, 2019
UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw looks like a different man entirely as he cuts down to 125 pounds for his Saturday night flyweight title fight with Henry Cejudo, which will air on ESPN+. In Cejudo’s eyes, this slimmed-down version of Dillashaw does not look good.
VIDEO | Joe Rogan makes his pick for 'the best women's MMA KO ever'
Tom Taylor - January 15, 2019
Over the years, we’ve seen women produce some pretty jaw-dropping knockouts inside the cage. There were Holly Holm’s knockouts of Ronda Rousey and Bethe Correia. There was Jessica Andrade’s knockout of Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Most recently, there was Amanda Nunes’ first-round knockout of Cris Cyborg. Speaking on a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience MMA Show, UFC commentator Joe Rogan made his pick for the best knockout in the history of women’s MMA.
Henry Cejudo on defending his division: 'I’m trying to employ people here'
Drake Riggs - January 14, 2019
At UFC 227 in August 2018, Henry Cejudo made history by becoming the second ever UFC flyweight champion. Unfortunately, since then the division has had a big black cloud surrounding it and it seems as if they all may be finding themselves out of roster spots in the near future.
VIDEO | 'Violence Queen' Ariane Lipski trains with Cris Cyborg ahead of UFC debut at UFC Brooklyn
Drake Riggs - January 14, 2019
2019 will officially mark the beginning of the “Violence Queen” Ariane Lipski’s career in the UFC.
Tyron Woodley eyes move to middleweight by year's end
Drake Riggs - January 14, 2019
At UFC 235 in March, Tyron Woodley will look to successfully add another welterweight title defense to his list of accomplishments by taking out the red-hot Kamaru Usman. As the 170-pound king since July 2016, Woodley’s time in the division may be coming to an end by the time that 2020 rolls around.
Darren Till responds to UFC London fight offer from Jorge Masvidal
Thomas Taylor - January 14, 2019
The UFC’s return to London, which goes down on March 17, is still without a main event. That being said, it’s been widely rumored that British welterweight contender Darren Till will get the call to headline the card — he’ll just need to find a willing dance partner. On Monday morning, he found just that, as long time UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal offered to fight Till in his backyard.
UFC Brooklyn: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw fight card and start time
Tom Taylor - January 14, 2019
On Saturday night, the UFC will debut on ESPN and ESPN+ with the stacked UFC Brooklyn card. The card will be headlined by a flyweight title super fight between reigning champion Henry Cejudo and slimmed-down bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw.
EXCLUSIVE | Allen Crowder makes bold prediction for bout with Greg Hardy
Cole Shelton - January 14, 2019
Allen Crowder, who didn’t fight at all in 2018, will return to the Octagon against a controversial figure in Greg Hardy this Saturday night on ESPN+. Hardy who was a former pro-bowler in the NFL, was involved in an alleged domestic violence case which got him kicked out of the league. Now, he will be making his UFC debut against Crowder. And Crowder is ready.