UFC News
Anthony Johnson clarifies on what it will take for him to return to MMA
Tom Taylor - November 6, 2018
Former UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Johnson has now been retired from MMA for more than a year, and he has definitely been missed. From the sounds of it, however, he could soon end his retirement — to the elation of his many fans.
Brendan Schaub explains why Brock Lesnar is a tougher test for Daniel Cormier than Derrick Lewis was
Tom Taylor - November 6, 2018
Daniel Cormier’s planned heavyweight title super fight with former UFC heavyweight champ and WWE star Brock Lesnar is unanimously expected to be a box office smash, but not everybody is expecting the fight to be competitive. Instead, it’s common opinion that Cormier, undeniably one of the best fighters ever to compete in MMA, will hand Lesnar a pretty lopsided whooping. Whether that’s accurate or not, former UFC heavyweight and current MMA analyst Brendan Schaub is confident of one thing: Brock Lesnar will be a tougher test for Daniel Cormier than his last opponent Derrick Lewis, who he submitted in the second round in the main event of UFC 230 last weekend.
Dana White promises he won't try to convince Daniel Cormier to delay his retirement
Tom Taylor - November 6, 2018
Daniel Cormier, who currently owns the UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight (we think?) belts, is planning to retire from MMA when he turns 40 in March of 2019. That being said, there is plenty that the former Olympian and Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner hopes to accomplish between now and then, from a heavyweight title super fight with Brock Lesnar, to a possible trilogy fight with his arch rival Jon Jones, and even a potential rematch with Stipe Miocic, who he defeated to win the title back in July. Given the length of Daniel Cormier’s to-do list, some fans have worried that he might be encouraged to delay his longstanding retirement plans. While this is certainly possible, UFC President Dana White assures he won’t be the one pressing Cormier to keep fighting.
VIDEO | Sijara Eubanks puts Ben Askren on blast after backstage encounter
Drake Riggs - November 6, 2018
“What are you stepping to me for?”@SarJnCharge confronted @Benaskren at MSG on Saturday. Full: https://t.co/uo1C71zuhH pic.twitter.com/XBcam07D2Y
Three UFC fights booked for early 2019
Cole Shelton - November 6, 2018
The UFC just announced three exciting fights for 2019. The ESPN-era is almost here, and to kick off the first card on ESPN+, Paige VanZant (7-4) will make her long-awaited return to the Octagon. VanZant will take on The Ultimate Fighter season 26 alum Rachael Ostovich (4-4) on January 18 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
After knockout of Chris Weidman, 'Jacare' Souza plans to wait for title shot
Tom Taylor - November 6, 2018
Last Saturday night, in the co-main event of UFC 230, former Strikeforce middleweight champ and long-time UFC middleweight contender Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza authored an epic knockout victory in a thrilling, short-notice fight with former UFC middleweight champ Chris Weidman. With this win, Jacare rebounded from a razor-close split decision loss to Kelvin Gastelum, who is set to battle reigning UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker for gold at UFC 234 in the New Year. Having done so, Jacare now feels that he’s probably the next man in line for the Whittaker vs. Gastelum winner. In fact, the 38-year-old now plans to wait for a fight with the winner.
Dana White responds to Khabib Nurmagomedov manager demanding $50 million for next fight
Tom Taylor - November 6, 2018
Riding high on a fourth-round submission defeat of Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov has never been more popular. In fact, he’s become so popular that his manager Ali Abdelaziz now feels that he’s deserving of a $50-$100 million payday in his next fight. “Ben Askren, [UFC welterweight champion Tyron] Woodley, none of these guys can touch Khabib,” Abdelaziz said in a recent interview with TMZ Sports. “Especially if they’re scared to get tired and these guys, they get tired. Now, I’m not even worried about Tyron or Ben Askren, I’m worrying about somebody bringing $50 million to $100 million to the table and none of these guys can bring $200,000 to the table.”
Sijara Eubanks embracing recent fan backlash: ‘You’re gonna tune in to watch me’
Tom Taylor - November 6, 2018
Sijara Eubanks has received her fare share of fan backlash over the last few weeks. First, it was when she was briefly linked to a UFC 230 main event flyweight title fight with Valentina Shevchenko. Then, it was when missed weight for the UFC 230 fight she ultimately got, an undercard scrap with former title challenger Roxanne Modafferi. While Sijara Eubanks has of course heard this backlash, she’s not letting it bother her. Instead, she’s embracing it, as she knows her haters will be tuning in to watch her next fight.
Dustin Poirier wants UFC lightweight title shot, but understands 'Tony is next in line'
Tom Taylor - November 6, 2018
Dustin Poirier was briefly scheduled to battle Nate Diaz in the co-main event of last weekend’s UFC 230 card. Unfortunately, however, Poirier was forced out of this fight with an injury. Speaking to MMAjunkie Radio this week, Dustin Poirier announced that he’ll soon be able to return to training, and that he’s hoping to get back into the cage as soon as possible.
Ali Abdelaziz puts Conor McGregor on blast for talking about his family!
Christopher Taylor - November 5, 2018
Conor McGregor was put on blast by Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz during today’s episode of The Helwani Show. The brash fighter manager, Ali, has had a long standing beef with the Irish superstar. If you recall, Conor McGregor went off on Abdelaziz at the UFC 229 pre-fight press conference, calling Ali a “mad rat” and a “terrorist snitch“.
Ben Askren vs Robbie Lawler in the works for UFC 233
Drake Riggs - November 5, 2018
It looks like we know who “Funky” Ben Askren (18-0) will likely be making his UFC debut against and it happens to be the one guy that he hasn’t called out yet. That opponent happens to be the former UFC welterweight champion, “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (28-12) as ESPN’s Brett Okamoto has confirmed with UFC president Dana White that the matchup is targeted for UFC 233 in Anaheim, California on January 26
Alexander Gustafsson 'unimpressed' by Jon Jones' strength, 'I’ve never been this motivated before'
Drake Riggs - November 5, 2018
If you haven’t heard, Jon ‘Bones’ Jones is back, and welcoming him back will be his old Swedish rival, ‘The Mauler’ Alexander Gustafsson. The two iconic light heavyweight staples will meet for the second time on December 29 in the main event of UFC 232 as they fight over the vacant title.
Weighing the options of Chris Weidman after UFC 230
Cole Shelton - November 5, 2018
After UFC 230, Chris Weidman has more questions than answers. Weidman looked like his old-self through the first two rounds, with two judges having him up 20-18 on the scorecards. However, Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza knocked out the ‘All-American’ in the third round. Everything came crashing down for Weidman in his own backyard.
EXCLUSIVE | Vicente Luque eyeing fights with Jorge Masvidal, Donald Cerrone vs Mike Perry winner
Drake Riggs - November 5, 2018
The welterweight division has always been one of the most stacked divisions in all of MMA. In 2018, Vicente Luque continues to help show why. At UFC 229 on October 6, Luque added yet another highlight to his already very impressive highlight reel with a first-round knockout of Jalin Turner.
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.
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.
Three UFC welterweight bouts to make in early 2019
Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018
On Sunday afternoon, BJPENN.COM’s Chris Taylor reported that the UFC is targeting a pair of crucial welterweight contender bouts for the early phases of the New Year. The first, Taylor reported, is expected to pit former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler against ever-dangerous karate stylist Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. The other is expected to pit recent UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till against former ONE and Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren, who recently signed with the UFC.