UFC News
EXCLUSIVE | Khabib's training partner Luis Pena explains how a rematch against McGregor would play out
Cole Shelton - November 28, 2018
At UFC 229, Conor McGregor made his long-awaited return to the Octagon. He took on Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title. Ahead of the fight, not many people knew how it would turn out. Some people believed McGregor would be able to catch Nurmagomedov and knock him out. Others thought Nurmagomedov would just take McGregor down and ground and pound him or submit him, which ultimately is what happened.
Renato Moicano to serve as alternate for Max Holloway vs. Brian Ortega fight
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
If UFC featherweight champ Max Holloway or undefeated challenger Brian Ortega isn’t able to make it to the cage for their anticipated UFC 231 main event title fight, Renato Moicano will be called up to step in and replace the absent fighter. The streaking Brazilian featherweight contender will fly to Toronto, the card’s host city, and weigh-in as an understudy, according to ESPN. Moicano was originally expected to battle Mirsad Bektic on this anticipated card, but unfortunately, this bout was nixed when Bektic sustained an injury. Though the promotion apparently sought a replacement opponent for him, they ultimately decided to simply fly him into Toronto as an understudy.
Conor McGregor loses driving privileges for six months
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
You won’t be seeing former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor behind the wheel any time soon — at least not in Ireland. The Irish MMA star has had his driving privileges suspended for six months after being booked for excessive speeding near his home city of Dublin. He was also fined 1,000 euros ($1136.62) for this incident.
Anderson Silva scolds Georges St-Pierre for ducking 'big challenges'
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
MMA fans have been dying to see former UFC champions Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva fight for years. That was true at the height of their title reigns, when St-Pierre guarded the welterweight strap and Silva simultaneously sat in the middleweight throne, and it’s true today, when Silva is a mere middleweight contender and St-Pierre appears to have once again retired. Unfortunately, the fight has never materialized, and Anderson Silva assures that’s no fault of his own. Speaking to ESPN recently, the former middleweight champion shared his belief that Georges St-Pierre is only interested in taking easy fights, rather than truly challenging himself.
At UFC 233, Aleksandra Albu returns for second bout since 2015
James Lynch - November 28, 2018
A compelling women’s strawweight matchup has been added to the UFC 233 lineup, as Aleksandra Albu is set to face Oregon’s Emily Whitmire on the card. The UFC’s official Russian Twitter account confirmed the news on Wednesday.
With UFC contract almost up, Mark Hunt shares plans for the next chapter of his career
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
When Mark Hunt battles Justin Willis in the co-main event of UFC Adelaide this weekend, it will mark the final obligation on his current UFC contract. Do not expect him to re-sign with the promotion. Speaking to MMAjunkie ahead of his fight, Hunt explained that he’s happy to be parting ways with the UFC, and that he will continue to fight outside the promotion.
Dana White doesn't believe Conor McGregor took Khabib Nurmagomedov trash talk too far
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
Ahead of his UFC 229 fight with undefeated UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor unleashed plenty of his famous trash talk. Unfortunately, some fans felt that McGregor crossed some lines with his trash talk of Nurmagomedov, as he targeted the champ’s family, ethnicity, religion and more. UFC President Dana White, however, doesn’t see it that way. Speaking to ESPN recently, White essentially said that all’s fair in the fight business, and that Conor McGregor mentioning Khabib Nurmagomedov’s religion and family is no different than Muhammad Ali targeting George Foreman ahead of The Thrilla in Manila.
Jon Jones roasts Daniel Cormier on social media
Christopher Taylor - November 27, 2018
Former UFC light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones will make his highly anticipated octagon return at January’s UFC 232 event in Las Vegas. “Bones” is scheduled to rematch former division title challenger Alexander Gustafsson at the December 29 event.
Rachael Ostovich vs Paige VanZant fight remains in tact for UFC Brooklyn
Drake Riggs - November 27, 2018
Despite recently going through a tougher personal battle than any she could have in the Octagon, UFC flyweight prospect Rachael Ostovich will remain set to fight at UFC Brooklyn on January 19. Last week, Ostovich was involved in an altercation with her husband and fellow MMA fighter, Arnold Berdon that resulted in her being attacked and suffering what was reported as a broken orbital bone among other injuries.
Dana White updates on status of the UFC flyweight division
Tom Taylor - November 27, 2018
There’s recently been reason to believe that the end is near for the UFC flyweight division. First, the promotion traded the former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson to ONE Championship in exchange for Ben Askren. Then, it cut ties with a number of talented flyweight fighters — some of whom claimed to have heard that the division is being decommissioned. UFC President Dana White, however, has remained fairly tight-lipped about the division’s future. Speaking on the latest episode of the UFC Unfiltered podcast, Dana White shared his latest update on the division — though it didn’t exactly clear things up.
Tony Ferguson takes aim at Khabib Nurmagomedov after champ's Mayweather callout
Tom Taylor - November 27, 2018
Speaking at a press conference in Moscow earlier this week, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov announced that he would prefer a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather to an MMA bout with Tony Ferguson for his next fight. “For legacy and in the sense of the money aspect, and in a sporting sense, I think the Mayweather fight is much more interesting,” Nurmagomedov said, adding that there’s not much sense in discussing his next fight until he’s sorted out his situation with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. “The athletics commission needs to finish up first and then we’ll talk.”
Dana White eviscerates 'cokehead junkie' Oscar De La Hoya for allowing Chuck Liddell to fight
Tom Taylor - November 27, 2018
File UFC President Dana White into the group of people who seemed to strongly disapprove of last weekend’s Tito Ortiz vs. Chuck Liddell rematch. Speaking on the UFC Unfiltered podcast, the UFC boss unleashed a virulent tirade against the bout’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya, Tito Ortiz, and the California State Athletic Commission for allowing this fight to happen.
Sage Northcutt no longer with the UFC according to Dana White
James Lynch - November 27, 2018
The next cage Sage Northcutt steps into will not be the UFC’s Octagon. That’s according to President Dana White who told the UFC Unfiltered podcast this week that that the young fighter will not be re-signing with the promotion.
EXCLUSIVE | Alex Volkanovski knows he is 'better everywhere' than Chad Mendes
Cole Shelton - November 26, 2018
Alex Volkanovski is a streaking featherweight who is currently riding a lofty 15-fight winning streak. Even with that, the Australian is only ranked 10th in the featherweight division. However, that can all change on Dec. 29 at UFC 232, where Volkanovski will have his toughest test to date when he takes on Chad Mendes. Mendes is a two-time title challenger and is currently ranked fifth in the division. Put all of that together and it is a huge fight for Volkanovski.
Valentina Shevchenko lets Joanna Jedrzejczyk know that flyweight is her 'territory'
Drake Riggs - November 26, 2018
The second UFC women’s flyweight title bout in the promotion’s history takes place next month on December 8 at UFC 231 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The bout will feature one-time bantamweight title challenger, Valentina ‘Bullet’ Shevchenko as she faces the former strawweight champion, Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Joe Rogan reveals that a new glove style is in the works for the UFC
Drake Riggs - November 26, 2018
There have been plenty of issues over the years regarding the technical aspects of how the UFC operates. One of which that has never been addressed, however, is the glove style. When it comes to being an issue, the main reason that the UFC gloves have been problematic in their existence is that of the fact that they don’t really prevent any chance of eye poking. Some may even say that they are helping the chance of it, especially when compared to some other organization’s gloves.
Dana White shares three possible options for Khabib Nurmagomedov's next fight
Drake Riggs - November 26, 2018
There has been plenty of speculation regarding what will be next for the UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov after his big title defending victory against Conor McGregor at UFC 229. Well, the boss has given us some clarity. Since the conclusion of the event, we’ve seen boxing matches with Floyd Mayweather get teased and even a report for a bout with Georges St-Pierre being in the works.
UFC commentator Joe Rogan evaluates Bellator, ONE Championship and Golden Boy MMA
Thomas Taylor - November 26, 2018
It’s an exciting time to be an MMA fan. While the UFC remains the biggest promotion on the planet, other promotions such as Bellator MMA and ONE Championship are gaining a real footholds, while new promotions like Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy MMA continue to pop up. UFC color commentator Joe Rogan has taken notice of these promotions. Speaking on a recent Fight Companion episode of his popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast, he gave his take on a number of the UFC’s competitors.