UFC News
Flashback | Watch Stephen Thompson score a spectacular head kick KO in Kickboxing
Chris Taylor - January 12, 2019
Former two-time UFC welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson is currently awaiting his next assignment from UFC officials. “Wonderboy” was offered a fight with perennial division contender Santiago Ponzinibbio for next weekend’s UFC event in Brooklyn, but unfortunately for fight fans the hard-hitting Argentinian turned the bout down.
Former UFC fighter falls short on TV quiz show “Jeopardy!”
James Lynch - January 12, 2019
Anyone tuning into “Jeopardy!” this past week may have seen a familiar face. UFC veteran and TUF 8 competitor Dave Kaplan was a contestant on the popular TV quiz show. Per MMAJunkie, Kaplan came up short against opponents Anneke Garcia and returning two-day champion Jessica Holloway.
EXCLUSIVE | Karl Roberson talks stepping in on short notice to fight Glover Teixeira
Cole Shelton - January 12, 2019
After Ion Cutelaba had to pull out of their scheduled UFC on ESPN+1 bout in Brooklyn due to injury, Glover Teixeira needed a new opponent. Now, just days from fight night, he has one in UFC middleweight Karl Roberson. Roberson is moving up in weight to challenge Teixeira which was first reported by FloCombat. For Roberson, when he got the call for the fight, it was an easy decision to make.
Khabib Nurmagomedov issues savage response after Conor McGregor calls him a "proper b***h"
Thomas Taylor - January 12, 2019
On Friday night, former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor took to Instagram to share his thoughts on one of his chief rivals from the boxing world, Paulie Malignaggi. After a few sentences, McGregor’s post evolved into an attack on Khabib Nurmagomedov, who he lost to in the main event of UFC 229 in October. https://www.instagram.com/p/BshD6F9HM0m/
Rafael dos Anjos says he has accepeted a fight with Santiago Ponzinibbio
Christopher Taylor - January 11, 2019
Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos claims he has already accepted a fight with perennial welterweight contender Santiago Ponzinibbio. “RDA” took to Twitter where he blasted “Ponz” with the following message for insinuating that he was a chicken.
Colby Covington shares the one thing that he and Tyron Woodley can agree on, sends message to fighters
Drake Riggs - January 11, 2019
Colby Covington and Tyron Woodley are two of the best welterweights on the planet. They used to train together. Are they friends? Not exactly. Quite the opposite… However, that doesn’t mean that the two can’t find some common ground which Covington was able to relate to after recently losing out on his expected title shot opportunity against the undisputed champion in Woodley.
EXCLUSIVE | Alexander Hernandez has the 'purpose', 'passion', and 'focus' to become a champion
Mike Straus - January 11, 2019
Few fighters have made as big of an impact in such a short time as the rising lightweight contender, Alexander ‘The Great’ Hernandez. Hernandez will make the walk to the Octagon for just the third time when he faces Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone at UFC Brooklyn on January 19. However, the 26-year-old exhibits a cool confident demeanor well beyond his years.
Jon Jones reacts to estimated UFC 232 PPV buys and then proceeds to delete post
Christopher Taylor - January 11, 2019
Jon Jones captured the promotions vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 232, defeating Alexander Gustafsson via third-round knockout in Los Angeles. The victory improved Jon Jones overall record to a sensational 23-1, with his lone career setback coming via disqualification – this after he landed illegal elbows on Matt Hamill at the TUF 10 Finale event in 2009.
Dustin Poirier targets Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tony Ferguson
Tom Taylor - January 11, 2019
Currently on an impressive four-fight unbeaten streak, and with just one loss in his last nine fights, Dustin Poirier is irrefutably one of the top contenders in the crowded UFC lightweight division. In fact, were it not for the existence of long-time contender Tony Ferguson, Poirier would most definitely be the next man in line for reigning champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Speaking on Twitter on Thursday and Friday, Dustin Poirier looked to remind the world of his status as a top lightweight contender, calling both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson out for fights.
EXCLUSIVE | Jason Knight eyeing several top promotions after getting released by the UFC
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2019
Jason Knight is looking for a new home. The fan favorite told BJPENN.com yesterday that the UFC has released him from his contract. Even though Knight was released by the UFC, he did have some success inside the Octagon. Although he went 4-5 in his nine fights, he did have a four-fight winning streak, including wins over Dan Hooker and Alex Caceres. Those wins got him into the rankings and because of that, Knight doubts he will be a free agent for long.
Justin Gaethje is 'f***ing pissed,' targets Edson Barboza, Al Iaquinta
Tom Taylor - January 11, 2019
Former World Series of Fighting lightweight champion Justin Gaethje has not fought since August 25. Gaethje was initially supposed to fight Al Iaquinta on that night, but when Iaquinta withdrew from the fight, he accepted a fight with the lower ranked James Vick. He won this fight with a devastating first-round knockout, and hasn’t been back in the cage since. He seems to be tired of waiting.
Firas Zahabi responds to Conor McGregor: It was nothing personal
Tom Taylor - January 11, 2019
Earlier this week, Tristar head coach Firas Zahabi shared his belief that, if Conor McGregor were to rematch Max Holloway in 2019, the latter would come out on top. “If I had to pick Max Holloway vs. McGregor today, I would pick Max Holloway,” Zahabi said on his podcast. “I think Holloway has grown leaps and bounds since then. In my opinion, Holloway would out-punch him, outwork him. He would do very much what Diaz did [to Conor McGregor], but more,” he said. “I think McGregor got away with a lot of stuff, like the leg kicks against Diaz, but I don’t think he’ll have that against Holloway.”
EXCLUSIVE | Coach Javier Mendez believes Ngannou is one of the most dangerous fights for Cain Velasquez
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2019
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is back. Velasquez is set to return to the Octagon on Feb. 17 against Francis Ngannou. The former champ was last seen at UFC 200 where he defeated Travis Browne by TKO in the first round. Despite this lengthy absence, he is once again on the hunt for the heavyweight belt.
Paulie Malignaggi rips Conor McGregor after recent fight rumors
Tom Taylor - January 11, 2019
Earlier this week, rumors began to swirl that former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor could be returning to the boxing ring for a showdown with bitter rival Paulie Malignaggi. Malignaggi was originally brought into McGregor’s camp to help the Irishman prepare for his headline-dominating 2017 boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. When the retired boxer began to feel as though he was being unfairly portrayed by the Irishman’s team, however, he made an abrupt exit. From there, the two began a longstanding and bitter war of words.
UFC 232 does second biggest PPV buy-rate of 2018
Tom Taylor - January 11, 2019
UFC 232 was a massive success in terms of pay-per-view sales. According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, this stacked card sold roughly 700,000 pay-per-views.
Khabib Nurmagomedov borrows famous Conor McGregor quote on social media
Tom Taylor - January 11, 2019
Shortly after Conor McGregor defeated Dustin Poirier at UFC 178 in 2014, he proclaimed to his throngs of Irish fans in attendance “if one of us goes to war, we all go to war!” It’s one of the best one known quotes from the trash-talking Irish superstar, and one that’s now been borrowed by his arch rival Khabib Nurmagomedov — with a twist.
Bruce Buffer suggests Daniel Cormier should retire in favor of a trilogy bout with Jon Jones
Christopher Taylor - January 10, 2019
UFC announcer Bruce Buffer doesn’t think a trilogy fight between bitter rivals Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier “should happen”. The long time voice of the octagon, Buffer, shared his thoughts on the matter during a recent interview with Express Sport.
Jon Jones has a message for Alexander Gustafsson after UFC 232 drug test comes back clean
Thomas Taylor - January 10, 2019
This afternoon, ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reported that Jon Jones passed all of the drug tests administered on the night of his UFC 232 victory over Alexander Gustafsson. Breaking: Jon Jones was drug tested by USADA and the California State Athletic Commission on the night of UFC 232 on Dec. 29 and all tests have come back clean. No picograms of the M3 metabolite, which was the source of all the controversy and drama last month, were found.