UFC News

Cole Shelton - November 20, 2018

The UFC is continuing its push into the Chinese market in a big way. The promotion will be opening a brand new UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai, China. It will reportedly be more than 93,000 square feet and will cost the promotion a whopping $13 million. However, this PI will be quite different from the one that’s been established in Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, the PI is for UFC athletes to recover, train and help with their weight cutting and nutrition. However, the one in Shanghai will primarily be about developing Asian MMA fighters, with the hope that the fighters will then sign with promotion. The promotion will reportedly offer these fighters ‘scholarships’ which will allow them to train at the PI.

Tom Taylor - November 20, 2018

Over the weekend, TMZ reported that UFC strawweight Rachael Ostovich had been attacked by “someone close to her.” According to a report from MMA Fighting, The Honolulu Police Department has now opened an assault investigation into this attack.

Tom Taylor - November 20, 2018

Last Saturday night, on the main card of UFC Argentina, long-time strawweight contender Cynthia Calvillo rebounded from her first pro loss and an unfortunate marijuana-related suspension with a first-round submission defeat of Poliana Botelho. At a glance, it was the perfect way to rebound from an undeniably tough year. Unfortunately, Calvillo missed weight for the fight, which has caused significant outrage among the sport’s often unforgiving fans. Speaking on The MMA Hour on Monday, Cynthia Calvillo responded to this backlash from fans. She says she feels the weigh-in miss has diminished her performances, and that she’s eager to move on with her next fight.

Tom Taylor - November 20, 2018

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has a lot of options on the table for his next fight. There’s a rematch with Conor McGregor. There’s a long awaited fight with top-contender Tony Ferguson, and matchups with other top contenders like Dustin Poirier or Kevin Lee.  Of all the options available to Khabib Nurmagomedov, however, there is one that his father Abdulmanap likes best of all: a fight with former UFC welterweight and middleweight champ Georges St-Pierre.

Drake Riggs - November 19, 2018

Professional combat sports athlete, former Australian army officer in training, now reality TV star? UFC featherweight and former Invicta FC champion, Megan Anderson is just continuing to add to her resume.

Cole Shelton - November 19, 2018

On The Ultimate Fighter 28 the biggest rivalry of the season is between Juan Espino and Maurice Greene. The two simply hated each other and got into several verbal exchanges in the house. As well, they nearly got into fights at the gym and in the house. Luckily for them, they get to settle their differences inside the Octagon when they fight each other in the semi-finals. The outcome of the fight will be revealed on Wednesday’s episode.

Tom Taylor - November 19, 2018

The UFC had a very, very difficult time locking down a main event for UFC 230, which went down earlier this month in New York City’s famous Madison Square Garden. While the card’s headlining spot was ultimately filled by a heavyweight title fight between champ Daniel Cormier and challenger Derrick Lewis, there were reportedly also discussions of a welterweight main event between interim champ Colby Covington and Nick Diaz. While Colby Covington says he would have been willing to fight Nick Diaz in the UFC 230 main event, the fight never came together. And now he says Diaz has missed his chance.

Tom Taylor - November 19, 2018

Back in August, streaking UFC lightweight contender James Vick stepped into the cage with former World Series of Fighting lightweight champ Justin Gaethje. For Vick, this bout represented an opportunity to vault into UFC lightweight title contention. Unfortunately, however, he was caught by a thunderous punch in the first round, and instead left the Octagon with his win-streak derailed. Looking back on this loss to Gaethje, James Vick admits it’s been a tough one to swallow.

Tom Taylor - November 19, 2018

Speaking to the Russian newspaper Izvestia this week, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the father of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, gave his take on three of the most likely opponents for his son’s next fight: Tony Ferguson, Dustin Poirier and Kevin Lee. Interestingly, he seems to want both Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee to fight Islam Makhachev rather than Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Tom Taylor - November 19, 2018

Conor McGregor’s desired rematch with reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov could occur in the boxing ring. At least, that’s what Nurmagomedov’s father Abdulmanap says. Speaking to the Russian newspaper Izvestia this week, the Nurmagomedov patriarch shared his belief that his son is more than capable of hanging with Conor McGregor under the boxing ruleset, and that he’d like their potential rematch to occur between the ropes.

Tom Taylor - November 19, 2018

Cynthia Calvillo has not had a particularly easy year. After experiencing her first professional loss, a decision defeat to Carla Esparza, in late 2017, she tested positive for marijuana metabolites and was suspended for 9 months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Last weekend, however, on the main card of UFC Argentina, the rising prospect finally got back in the cage, where she rebounded from her loss to Esparza with a first-round submission defeat of Brazil’s Poliana Botelho.

Tom Taylor - November 19, 2018

Daniel Cormier, who currently owns the UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight titles, has been planning to retire in March of 2019 for some time. UFC President Dana White, however, isn’t sure that’s the way things will shake out.

Jason Kindschy - November 18, 2018

Following the announcement that former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight king, Ben Askren had finally joined the UFC roster, speculation began as to who ‘Funky’ would debut against. After immediately taking to social media and calling out the elite of the division, the dust settled and Askren was booked against former UFC champ Robbie Lawler at UFC 233.

Mike Straus - November 18, 2018

UFC Fight Night Argentina is in the books. Last night the Luna Park arena in Buenos Aires was rocking for the entire night of fights. The Argentinian faithfull showed up in a big way and it was evident from the very first fight of the night that they were ready to back their countryman.

Cole Shelton - November 18, 2018

MMA is a constantly growing sport, there is no doubt about it. Take the UFC for a prime example, they just celebrated their 25th anniversary of existence this year, while sports leagues like the MLB and the NHL have been around for over a hundred years. With MMA so young, promotions are learning on the fly. For welterweight legend, Jake Shields, he understands this better than most. He began his professional career in 1999, and since then the whole MMA world has changed before his eyes.

Tom Taylor - November 18, 2018

On Saturday night, in the UFC’s debut show in Argentina, perennial welterweight contender Neil Magny stepped into the Octagon with hometown hero Santiago Ponzinibbio. Early in the fight, Magny was able to bust up Ponzinibbio’s eye, which looked like a positive sign for him. Unfortunately, however, the American was then thumped decisively through the rest of the encounter, as Ponzinibbio battered his lead leg and ultimately removed his batteries with a right cross in the fourth round.

Tom Taylor - November 18, 2018

After his crushing, fourth-round KO of Neil Magny in the UFC Argentina main event, Santiago Ponzinibbio wants a shot a UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. That being said, it doesn’t sound like the Argentine knockout artist expects to get his desired fight with the welterweight king. Woodley essentially told Ponzinibbio to get in line post-fight, and now the streaking Argentine feels like he’s being ducked.

Cole Shelton - November 18, 2018

Over the last few years, we’ve all been wondering when Nick and Nate Diaz will fight again. The brothers have been fan favorites for ages now, but both have taken years off when it seemed like their popularity and their skill was at an all-time high. While it now sounds as though Nick Diaz will return to action opposite Jorge Masvidal at UFC 235, has hasn’t fought since UFC 183 in 2015, when he took on Anderson Silva in a fight that was ruled a no contest when he tested positive for marijuana and Silva tested positive for drostanolone. Although his long absence is due in part to a suspension, his interest in competing has also been questioned.