UFC News

Thomas Taylor - January 9, 2019

Having smashed Alexander Gustafsson to a third-round TKO victory in the main event of UFC 232 in late December, Jon Jones is once again the UFC light heavyweight champion. With the belt once again wrapped around his waist, Jones is now scheduled for a fight with Anthony Smith at UFC 235. If the champ clears that hurdle, he can look forward to more huge fights in the UFC light heavyweight division and beyond.

Tom Taylor - January 9, 2019

Cris Cyborg is no longer the UFC women’s featherweight champion. The long-time titleholder’s reign came to a shocking halt in the co-main event of UFC 232 in late December, when she was knocked out by Amanda Nunes in just 51 seconds. Given that Cyborg’s current UFC contract will expire in March, some fans have speculated that she might take her services elsewhere at that point — perhaps to the boxing world, or to Japan for an exhibition bout.

Tom Taylor - January 9, 2019

At long last, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is scheduled to return to the cage. The heavyweight legend is set to take on former title challenger Francis Ngannou at UFC Phoenix on February 17. If Velasquez is able to topple the fearsome Ngannou — not a certainty by any means — it’ll open the door to other huge fights in the ever dangerous UFC heavyweight division. Of all the fights that would become available to him, it’s arguable that none would be as big as a super fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

Tom Taylor - January 9, 2019

In the opinion of UFC color commentator Joe Rogan, Nate Diaz is one of the biggest stars in the UFC — perhaps almost as big a star as Conor McGregor. Rogan gave his take on the star power of the younger Diaz brother on a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience MMA Show, discussing the topic with American Top Team coach Din Thomas.

Tom Taylor - January 9, 2019

Back at UFC 232 in late December, the longstanding title reign of UFC featherweight champ Cris Cyborg came to a shocking end at the hands of Amanda Nunes, who needed just 51 seconds to win by knockout. Speaking to MMAjunkie recently, Cyborg’s coach Jason Parillo gave his take on this shocking upset defeat. In his eyes, a big part of the problem was Cyborg’s approach to the first exchanges of the bout.

Tom Taylor - January 9, 2019

Jimmy Smith served as a UFC commentator for the duration of 2018, but in 2019, the promotion decided not to renew his contract. Instead, he explained on The MMA Hour, they’re planning on hiring more fighters as commentators.

Tom Taylor - January 9, 2019

Press Release: TJ Dillashaw is proud to announce that he’s released his new “Fit to Fight” course that gives all-access to his martial arts training, and gives instruction for many of his signature warm ups, drills, and combos. TJ Dillashaw provides up close and personal camera angles so viewers can easily learn the handwork, footwork, and ground work that have made him the current UFC Bantamweight Champion.

Tom Taylor - January 9, 2019

Jorge Masvidal was briefly linked to a UFC 235 showdown with Nick Diaz, but that fight unfortunately fizzled out. All the same, Masvidal still has tremendous respect for Nick Diaz and his brother Nate, and is definitely interested in fighting both under the right circumstances. “Obviously, I want to fight Diaz, because they’re dogs,” Masvidal said on a recent episode of MMAjunkie Radio. “That’s what I really admire about them. Their skillset is not the greatest. They’re great at boxing. They’re great at jiu-jitsu even off their backs, but that thing – they don’t kick, they don’t wrestle.

Drake Riggs - January 8, 2019

Today the UFC announced that their second event on the ESPN channel will be taking place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event got its first bout in a strawweight affair between top prospects Alexa Grasso (10-2) and Marina Rodriguez (10-0-1) after it was moved from UFC Fortaleza due to a Rodriguez injury.

Christopher Taylor - January 8, 2019

Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor has fired back at Tristar coach Firas Zahabi over his recent comments. The famous coach of UFC star Georges St-Pierre, Zahabi, had recently shared his thoughts on the possible outcome of a rematch between Conor McGregor and current UFC featherweight kingpin Max Holloway.

Christopher Taylor - January 8, 2019

Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington is not happy after being snubbed by the UFC of his promised title unification bout with Tyron Woodley. “Chaos” had captured the promotions interim welterweight title at June’s UFC 225 event in Chicago, where he scored a unanimous decision victory over Rafael dos Anjos.

Drake Riggs - January 8, 2019

“I would fight that guy in aisle five of Walmart.“– @lionheartasmithresponds to Luke Rockhold’s comments about him #TLTS @lthomasnews pic.twitter.com/jjjS1n1BCT — MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) January 8, 2019

Drake Riggs - January 8, 2019

UFC 232 took place on December 29. However, it almost didn’t due to some pre-fight shenanigans. A week prior to the event date, it was announced that one half of the event’s main event in Jon ‘Bones’ Jones had an ‘atypical finding‘ in one of his pre-fight drug tests. Because of this, UFC 232 was moved from its original location of Las Vegas, Nevada to Los Angeles, California.

Tom Taylor - January 8, 2019

After being deprived of a shot at UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington is not happy with the UFC. In fact, the streaking wrestling specialist is so frustrated that he’s dared UFC President Dana White to release him from his UFC contract. 

Tom Taylor - January 8, 2019

During a recent Ask Me Anything session on the official Tristar YouTube channel, renowned MMA coach Firas Zahabi was asked for his thoughts on a rematch between former UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor and current UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway. When the pair first met in 2013, McGregor walked away with a unanimous decision victory. If the pair were to rematch in the year 2019, however, Zahabi says he’d pick Holloway to come out on top — potentially even by stoppage.

Cole Shelton - January 8, 2019

Jon Jones is once again the light heavyweight champion. He defeated Alexander Gustafsson by third-round TKO at UFC 232 to reclaim the belt. Following the fight, Jones called out Daniel Cormier to fight him at light heavyweight — though he was subsequently booked to fight Anthony Smith at UFC 235 on March 2.

James Lynch - January 8, 2019

There was understandable pushback when Greg Hardy was booked on the same UFC event as Rachael Ostovich. Hardy is slated to make his UFC debut against Allen Crowder at UFC on ESPN+1 on Jan. 19. The former NFL star has a checkered past that includes a domestic violence dispute, the same thing Rachael Ostovich was a victim of late last year. But don’t count the TUF 26 star as one of his critics.

Tom Taylor - January 8, 2019

At UFC 235 on March 2, streaking light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith will get his shot at the UFC light heavyweight title, which is once again owned by the seemingly unstoppable Jon Jones. Heading into this fight, fans are not giving Anthony Smith much of a chance. For all his talent and ferocity, Jones has proven himself to be on another level entirely from most of his opposition.