UFC News
Khabib Nurmagomedov calls recent aid work in Africa a 'childhood dream'
Tom Taylor - November 14, 2018
Just over a month removed from his massive submission defeat of former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor, undefeated UFC lightweight kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov headed to Nigeria. The purpose of his visit, per a post on the UFC’s official Instagram post, is to “help build medical facilities and fix water wells around the area.” Speaking on his own Instagram page, the lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov gave a bit more information on this visit to Nigeria. He says the trip is the realization of a ‘childhood dream,’ and that there are more projects in the country underway.
Conor McGregor not interested in drinking Proper No. Twelve with Nurmagomedov or Mayweather
Tom Taylor - November 14, 2018
Conor McGregor has shared glasses of his new Proper No. Twelve with a number of celebrities over the last few weeks, but he won’t be offering any to his recent opponents Floyd Mayweather or Khabib Nurmagomedov. During a recent interview with Entrepreneur.com, the Irish star was asked which of these two former opponents he’d prefer to share a glass of whiskey with, and his answer was a decisive ‘neither.’
Sean O'Malley gets 6-month NSAC suspension
Tom Taylor - November 14, 2018
Rising UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley has been handed a 6-month suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for failing a United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) drug test administered ahead of his cancelled UFC 229 fight, per MMAjunkie. O’Malley received a reduced suspension on the basis of his cooperation with the commission, and because he accepted responsibility for his failed test. In addition to his suspension, he will reportedly have to pay $472.42 in costs and fees.
Israel Adesanya explains how he will beat Robert Whittaker
Tom Taylor - November 14, 2018
Israel Adesanya looks more and more like a future UFC middleweight title challenger with every passing fight. In fact, after his UFC 230 execution of long-time contender Derek Brunson, his fighting for the title in the near future looks less like a likelihood and more like a downright certainty. The UFC middleweight title is currently held by Australia’s Robert Whittaker. Provided Whittaker defeats his next challenger Kelvin Gastelum, who he’ll meet at UFC 234 in late January, he could easily find himself locked in the cage with the Nigerian Kiwi Israel Adesanya soon thereafter.
EXCLUSIVE | From last pick to fighting in the finale, Justin Frazier ready to prove everyone wrong
Cole Shelton - November 14, 2018
Justin Frazier is ready to prove all the doubters wrong. On The Ultimate Fighter 28 (TUF), Justin Frazier left tryouts not knowing if he would be on the show. Ultimately, the UFC saw enough potential in him and decided to put him on the show. However, before competing on TUF, Frazier didn’t take his fighting career seriously. The heavyweight was overweight, and his cardio was not very good. Then, to top it off, Frazier was the last heavyweight taken when coaches Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum picked their teams.
Joe Rogan on Cain Velasquez: He 'stands out as the best'
Tom Taylor - November 14, 2018
If you ask UFC color commentator Joe Rogan, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is probably the best heavyweight in MMA history. Rogan got talking about Velasquez, and what makes him so special, after a discussion about the ideal weight for a heavyweight mixed martial artist on The Joe Rogan Experience Podcast. “There’s a thought with the 265-pound weight class and the consensus thought seems to be that somewhere around 240 pounds is the magic number,” Joe Rogan said of Cain Velasquez (transcript via MMA Fighting). “That’s what they think. They think that 240 pounds is the amount of weight that you have where you’re strong enough that you can knock out any man but you have more endurance than a man that maybe weighs 265 or heavier and cuts down to 265. Now this has not been substantiated. The problem is, there hasn’t been a super powerful world championship athlete that weighed 265 pounds…
Joe Rogan believes there is only one man who should be fighting Khabib next!
Christopher Taylor - November 14, 2018
Joe Rogan believes that there is only one man who deserves the next shot at current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. According to the longtime UFC commentator, Tony Ferguson is the obvious choice to be the next man to challenge “The Eagle”.
Donald Cerrone sets sights on Conor McGregor, 'Just waiting on him!'
Cole Shelton - November 13, 2018
Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone vs Conor McGregor? Maybe…it seems like the American is definitely interested in sharing the Octagon with the former UFC two-division champion. Following Cerrone’s win over Mike Perry at UFC Denver this past Saturday, Cerrone reiterated that he would be going back down to his old home of 155-pounds. Along with that, he told reporters that he and the UFC already have an opponent in mind. Cowboy described that opponent as a ‘very exciting’ fighter and McGregor is exactly that.
Justin Gaethje vs Anthony Pettis being targeted for early next year
Drake Riggs - November 13, 2018
Ask and you shall receive. That appears to be the case now as the former UFC champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis (21-8) gets the fight he was interested in for his next time out. After a war in his last fight with Tony Ferguson at UFC 229 that saw him suffer a broken hand, it would seem safe to assume that Pettis wouldn’t be rushing back too quickly to get another dangerous fight. Well, guess again.
Yoel Romero explains why he wants to fight Anderson Silva
Tom Taylor - November 13, 2018
Fearsome UFC middleweight contender Yoel Romero has made several callouts of UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva in the past, and apparently, it’s still a fight he’s interested in — especially now that his planned 2019 matchup with the undefeated Paulo Costa is off the table. The appeal of this fight with Anderson Silva, Yoel Romero explains, is that it would give him a clear sense of the level he’s at. If he can beat the middleweight legend, well then he’s right where he wants to be. If he can’t, then it might be time to reassess.
Curtis Blaydes questions Francis Ngannou's headspace ahead of battle in Beijing
Tom Taylor - November 13, 2018
The year 2018 has not been kind to Francis Ngannou. Though the hulking Cameroonian-French heavyweight began the year as perhaps the UFC’s most hyped fighter, he was then dominated in his anticipated title fight with Stipe Miocic, and defeated by Derrick Lewis in one of the most disappointing fights ever. After this tough run in 2018, Ngannou’s next opponent Curtis Blaydes isn’t sure what to expect when they meet in the main event of UFC Beijing on November 24. “He’s probably in a hole right now,” Curtis Blaydes said during a recent media scrum (via MMAjunkie). “0-2 after being the hotshot? That’s got to be a dark, dark place. I want him to be his best. I don’t want any excuses out of his camp or the fans or the company. I want him at his best. I’ll beat him 10 out of 10 times.”
EXCLUSIVE | TUF house created lifelong friendship for Maurice Greene and Justin Frazier
Cole Shelton - November 13, 2018
The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) is a place for fighters to try and reach their goal of fighting in the UFC. The rules are simple, win the season, get a UFC contract. Along with that, the fighters all live in a house together where arguments and drama often take place. But at times, the house has also created friendships. That’s just what happened this season as teammates Maurice Greene and Justin Frazier created a lifelong friendship inside the house. The two immediately bonded at tryouts where both of them believed they would be in the house together.