UFC News
UFC veteran Norman Parke 'sick of how this game works,' retires from MMA
Thomas Taylor - January 7, 2019
Norman Parke, a veteran of the UFC, KSW, BAMMA and Brave CF cages, has decided to call it a career — at least tentatively. Parke announced his retirement from MMA on Twitter, explaining that he’s become “sick of how this game works.” That being said, he added that he does plan to partake in a bareknuckle bout in the United Kingdom later this year, and could end his retirement from MMA should the right offer come across his desk.
Colby Covington only willing to fight for 'promised' title shot, challenges UFC to release him
Drake Riggs - January 7, 2019
The second half of 2018 and beginning of 2019 isn’t looking to be going the way that top UFC welterweight Colby Covington was hoping it would. In June 2018 at UFC 225, Covington won the interim welterweight title by defeating Rafael Dos Anjos via unanimous decision. Thus, presumably, setting him up for a guaranteed clash with the undisputed champion Tyron Woodley. You know… As interim titles generally do.
Financial states of UFC and Bellator: Looking back at 2018, forward to 2019
Drake Riggs - January 7, 2019
Every year, there seemingly will always be points in the year where those in the community who are baselessly making their claims for whatever reason that MMA, or more specifically the UFC, is not flourishing in the business department. However, that continues to prove untrue when really looking deeper at the numbers. Even though without looking deeper we can still see the big deals that are being made…
Derrick Lewis vs Junior Dos Santos set to main event UFC Wichita
Drake Riggs - January 7, 2019
The UFC’s heavyweight division is looking more and more interesting with each and every month that passes. Now, another great matchup is set to go down in early 2019. On March 9, the UFC’s fourth ESPN+ event will take place in Wichita, Kansas. In the event’s main event, we will be treated to a sure-fire slugfest between the likes of recent title challenger Derrick Lewis (21-6) and former heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos (20-5), confirms MMAJunkie.
Alexander Gustafsson calls out Corey Anderson for UFC London showdown
Tom Taylor - January 7, 2019
Just over a week removed from his UFC 232 loss to Jon Jones, three-time UFC light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson is already ready to get back into the cage. Speaking on Instagram on Monday afternoon, the Swedish star called for a fight with streaking contender Corey Anderson. Anderson, to remind, also fought at UFC 232, defeating Gustafsson’s teammate and friend Ilir Latifi by unanimous decision.
Tyron Woodley opens as slight betting favorite over Kamaru Usman
Tom Taylor - January 7, 2019
The opening odds for Tyron Woodley and Kamaru Usman’s UFC 235 welterweight title fight have now been released — and they’re very close. According to the website BestFightOdds.com, the online sportsbook 5dimes has pegged Tyron Woodley as a -170 favorite, meaning a successful $170 bet on him would earn you $100. Kamaru Usman, meanwhile, has been identified as a +130 underdog by the same sportsbook, meaning a successful $100 bet on him would win you $130.
EXCLUSIVE | Mike Winkeljohn promises lots more finishes from Jon Jones after UFC 232 comeback
Cole Shelton - January 7, 2019
Jon Jones returned to glory at UFC 232 when he defeated his rival Alexander Gustafsson by TKO in the third round to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight title. It was not an easy road back for Jones. The light heavyweight great was coming off of a 15-month USADA suspension and was looking to win back his belt. The pressure was high and some fans believed Jones would suffer from ring rust. Yet for Jones’ coach Mike Winkeljohn and the rest of the team at JacksonWink MMA, that was never a worry.
Tenshin Nasukawa responds to Conor McGregor callout, provides counter-offer
Tom Taylor - January 7, 2019
Last night, in a somewhat surprising twist, former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor called for an exhibition mixed martial arts bout with 20-year-old Japanese kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa, who was recently trounced in an exhibition boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. I wish to go to Tokyo to face Tenshin Nasukawa in a Mixed Martial Arts exhibition bout.Before this summer. Please arrange this, this instant. Yours sincerely The champ champ. @ufc @ParadigmSM
Top featherweight contender Megan Anderson reacts to Amanda Nunes beating Cris Cyborg
Tom Taylor - January 7, 2019
Late last month, in the co-main event of UFC 232, Amanda Nunes ended the seemingly bulletproof reign of UFC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg with a volley of first-round punches. In the opinion of Megan Anderson — the top contender in the featherweight division — this was probably a good thing for the overall health of the weight class. In fact, she believes Cyborg’s previous dominance might have been part of the reason so few women stick around in the division.
Mark Hunt trashes UFC, Jeff Novitzky for 'promoting steroids'
Tom Taylor - January 7, 2019
It’s no secret that Mark Hunt is not a fan of Performance-Enhancing drug use in MMA — particularly in the UFC. Now that the’s parted ways with the UFC, he’s even more open about his feelings on the issue. “They’ve actually taken my love for fighting away because of how they promote steroids and cheaters, how they’ve done it all,” Hunt told MMA UK recently, speaking of the UFC (transcript via MMA Fighting). “They’ve pushed me out of the way, to be honest and that’s what’s taken my love for fighting away. It’s kind of sad because they should be promoting the guy that’s not cheating whereas they are promoting the cheaters of this sport, which is wrong. I actually thought Jeff Novitzky was a nice person but he’s just a sellout. You’re a sellout, bro. That’s the bottom line.”
Alexander Gustafsson issues statement after losing third title fight at UFC 232
Christopher Taylor - January 6, 2019
For the third time in his storied career Alexander Gustafsson fell short in his bid to capture the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 235. “The Mauler” suffered a third-round knockout loss to division kingpin Jon Jones last weekend in Los Angeles, marking the second time in his career that the Swede had fallen victim to “Bones”.
Daniel Cormier answers the question of where he thinks Jon Jones would be without PED's
Chris Taylor - January 6, 2019
UFC champions Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones have arguably the biggest rivalry in the history of mixed martial arts. Despite a clear dislike for “Bones” as a person, current UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier has nothing but respect for his talents as a fighter.
Opening Odds Released for Jon Jones vs. Anthony Smith at UFC 235
Chris Taylor - January 6, 2019
UFC light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones will be making a quick turnaround in order to defend his title at March’s UFC 235 event in Las Vegas. UFC President Dana White recently told TMZ Sports that a title fight between Jon Jones and Anthony Smith was in the works for March’s pay-per-view event.
Cody Garbrandt returns on stacked UFC 235 card
Thomas Taylor - January 6, 2019
UFC 235, which goes down on March 2 in Las Vegas, keeps getting better and better. Late on Sunday, it was reported by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt will make his long-awaited return to action on the card. The former champ will battle rising prospect Pedro Munhoz. Breaking: Cody Garbrandt vs. Pedro Munhoz added to UFC 235. That card now has two title fights and three former UFC champions. Wow. pic.twitter.com/heeXk4mg2H
Conor McGregor challenges Tenshin Nasukawa to MMA exhibition 'before this summer'
Thomas Taylor - January 6, 2019
On New Years Eve in Tokyo, Floyd Mayweather stepped through the ropes of the RIZIN Fighting Federation ring for a boxing exhibition bout with 20-year-old kickboxing ace Tenshin Nasukawa. In an absolutely dominant performance, Mayweather put the young kickboxer down inside the first three-minute round. Now Conor McGregor wants a turn at the Japanese fighter — albeit under a different ruleset. Speaking on Twitter on Sunday night, the Irish superstar called for a mixed martial arts exhibition bout with Tenshin Nasukawa — also in Tokyo.
VIDEO | Nick Diaz trashes CrossFit, Georges St-Pierre's 'water workouts' in profanity-laced rant
Thomas Taylor - January 6, 2019
Nick Diaz is apparently not a fan of CrossFit. From the sounds of it, he doesn’t like Georges St-Pierre‘s ‘water workouts’ either. The former Strikeforce welterweight champion went off on these two forms of exercise in a virulent tirade posted to his Instagram story. Unsurprisingly, this rant was quickly saved and immortalized by several members of the MMA community.
EXCLUSIVE | TUF 28 featherweight winner Macy Chiasson explains why she's moving to bantamweight
Cole Shelton - January 6, 2019
Macy Chiasson is a natural featherweight. She competed at featherweight on The Ultimate Fighter 28, and ended up winning the season at that weight. However, she is moving down to bantamweight for her next fight, which will pit her against Gina Mazany at UFC 235 on March 2. This is a rather interesting move for Chiasson given the fact she has fought her entire career at 145 and won TUF at featherweight. Yet after talking to her coaches and working with the UFC Performance Institute, she decided the timing was right to move down a division.
Report | Tyron Woodley vs. Kamaru Usman signed for UFC 235 co-main event
Tom Taylor - January 6, 2019
After weeks of speculation, a welterweight title fight between champ Tyron Woodley and challenger Kamaru Usman is reportedly a done deal for UFC 235 on March 2, per ESPN’s Ariel Helwani. The fight is slated to serve as the card’s co-main event, co-headlining under a light heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Anthony Smith, provided Jones is able to achieve licensure in Nevada.