UFC News
Max Holloway shares piece of advice for up-and-coming fighters: "Save your chickens"
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has some advice for the next generation of fighters: take as little damage as possible in training and in competition. Holloway returned to the cage last Saturday, in the main event of UFC on ABC 1 on Fight Island, where he picked up a jaw-dropping unanimous decision victory over Calvin Kattar.
Photo | Francis Ngannou looking monstrous as Stipe Miocic training camp begins
Adam Martin - January 18, 2021
Top contender Francis Ngannou is already jacked ahead of his upcoming rematch with UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. Ngannou gets his long-awaited rematch with Miocic at UFC 260, which is set to take place on March 27. Since losing a unanimous decision to Miocic at UFC 220 in January 2018, Ngannou has won four straight fights by knockout to earn another crack at the title. As for Miocic, he’s coming off of back-to-back wins over Daniel Cormier in their trilogy. It stands to figure that the winner of Miocic vs. Ngannou 2 will be in line to get a super fight with Jon Jones.
UFC on ESPN 20: Chiesa vs. Magny full betting odds
Adam Martin - January 18, 2021
Check out the full betting odds for this Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 20 event headlined by welterweight contenders Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny. In the main event, Chiesa and Magny will duke it out for five rounds or less in a fight that could see the winner get a significant step up in the UFC welterweight division. Chiesa and Magny are both riding three-fight win streaks and they are ranked right next to each other at No. 8 and No. 9, respectively. This is the perfect matchup between two well-rounded welterweights on the rise, and the winner should get a top-five opponent.
Calvin Kattar issues classy statement after lopsided loss to Max Holloway
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
Calvin Kattar has issued a classy post-fight statement after a tough loss to former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway. Kattar and Holloway collided in the main event of the UFC on ABC 1 card last Saturday on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
Conor McGregor shares thoughts on Logan and Jake Paul boxing: "I'm not so against it"
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
UFC superstar Conor McGregor has shared his thoughts on the boxing endeavours of YouTube stars Logan and Jake Paul. Jake and Logan have both competed several times in boxing, and all of their fights have been veritable blockbusters in terms of viewership and revenue. Jake most recently picked up a knockout win over former NBA star Nate Robinson on the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. undercard, while Logan is gearing up for an exhibition fight with boxing legend and former McGregor foe Floyd Mayweather.
Floyd Mayweather "knows he would lose" McGregor, Pacquiao rematches, says manager
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
Audie Attar, the manager behind Conor McGregor and Manny Pacquiao, believes Floyd Mayweather would lose to both men if he fought them in 2020. Mayweather holds wins over both Pacquiao and McGregor. He fought Pacquiao in 2015, winning a decision in a fight that was widely panned for its lack of action. He then fought McGregor in 2017, in the UFC star’s boxing debut, and picked up a 10th-round TKO win.
Dustin Poirier unfazed by Conor McGregor's KO prediction: I will not "put myself in harm’s way right off the bat"
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier knows he needs to be careful in the early rounds of his upcoming fight with Conor McGregor. Poirier and McGregor will collide in the main event of UFC 257 this Saturday in Abu Dhabi. The pair’s lightweight showdown will be a rematch of a 2014 featherweight fight that McGregor won by first-round knockout.
Conor McGregor admits retirement was "out of frustration"
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor admits his 2020 retirement announcement was partly out of frustration. McGregor returned to the Octagon in January, 2020, when he picked up a blistering, 40-second TKO victory over Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. In the lead-up to that fight, McGregor teased a busy 2020, making no secret of his desire to fight multiple times before the year ended.
Max Holloway rewrote the UFC record books in his masterful win over Calvin Kattar
Harry Kettle - January 18, 2021
UFC featherweight Max Holloway made history in a multitude of ways courtesy of his magnificent win over Calvin Kattar this past weekend. In more ways than one, “Blessed” really did set a whole new standard for the division with one of the most dominant wins in divisional history on Fight Island. Now, it seems almost inevitable that he’ll fight the winner of the upcoming Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega bout for the UFC Featherweight Championship.
Mike Perry sends a "thank you" to all the fans who helped him "run miles, and spar gladiators daily in practice"
Christopher Taylor - January 17, 2021
UFC welterweight standout Mike Perry (14-7 MMA) has once again taken to social media with some harsh words for fight fans. ‘Platinum’ has gone just 1-3 over his past four Octagon appearances, his latest effort resulting in a unanimous decision loss to Tim Means at UFC 255.
Conor McGregor claims Khabib Nurmagomedov proved he's "not a true fighter" by retiring following win over Justin Gaethje
Christopher Taylor - January 17, 2021
Conor McGregor says Khabib Nurmagomedov “showed his hand” by retiring at UFC 254, claiming ‘The Eagle’ is “not a true fighter”. McGregor, who is set to return to the Octagon against Dustin Poirier at next weekend’s UFC 257 event, went off on his bitter rival during a recent interview with ESPN.
Dana White reacts after Tom Brady leads Bucs past the Saints: "Now I don’t have to listen to DC's BIG MOUTH TALKIN SH*T anymore"
Christopher Taylor - January 17, 2021
UFC President Dana White is a longtime supporter of the New England Patriots, in particular their former quarterback Tom Brady. Brady joined Tampa Bay this offseason in hopes of leading the Bucs to their first playoff win since 2003, when the squad last won the Super Bowl.
Dan Hooker plans to be on his toes during UFC 257 press conference with Conor McGregor: "You don’t want to get 'Who the fook is that guy’d'"
Christopher Taylor - January 17, 2021
Dan Hooker plans to be on his toes for the upcoming UFC 257 press conference which includes brash former ‘champ champ’ Conor McGregor. The perennial lightweight contender, Hooker (20-9 MMA), is set to square off with former Bellator champion Michael Chandler in next weekend’s co-headliner.
Joe Rogan blown away by "superman" Max Holloway, "complete savage" Calvin Kattar
Adam Martin - January 17, 2021
UFC analyst Joe Rogan says he was blown away by Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar’s performances in the main event of UFC on ABC 1. Rogan wasn’t on Fight Island to commentate the UFC’s latest trip to Abu Dhabi, but he’s still watching the events at home. The first of the three Fight Island cards featured Holloway and Kattar in a featherweight main event that headlined UFC on ABC 1. The fight turned out to be a complete beatdown for five rounds as Holloway put on an unworldly performance, setting several records along the way, while Kattar showed that he truly has an iron chin.
Alessio Di Chirico thanks Dana White for performance bonus following initial snub
Adam Martin - January 17, 2021
UFC middleweight Alessio Di Chirico thanked UFC president Dana White for his “Performance of the Night” bonus after initially snubbing him. Di Chirico picked up a huge upset win when he finished rising star Joaquin Buckley via first-round KO on the UFC on ABC 1 main card. The Italian had lost three straight fights coming into the Buckley matchup and many fans and media believed this was a set-up fight designed for Buckley to continue building his star power. Unfortunately for Buckley, he was on the wrong end of a highlight-reel knockout when Di Chirico kicked him in the face with his shin.
Diego Sanchez issues warning about brain trauma in MMA: "My soul has been raped many times in this business"
Adam Martin - January 17, 2021
UFC legend Diego Sanchez issued a warning about brain trauma in MMA, suggesting that his “soul has been raped many times in this business.” One of the most durable fighters in UFC history, Sanchez has been outspoken about the damage that he’s endured during his 15-plus years fighting in the Octagon. The 39-year-old American recently said his next fight will be his last, citing concerns with brain trauma among the reasons why he is retiring.
UFC pioneer Paul Varelans dies after battle with COVID-19
Adam Martin - January 17, 2021
UFC pioneer Paul Varelans has passed away at the age of 51 after losing a battle with COVID-19, succumbing to complications from the virus. Varelans had been battling COVID-19 for over a month and was placed on a ventilator in an effort to save his life. He was later he was put into a medical coma. Unfortunately for “The Polar Bear” the virus was too much to handle, and he eventually lost his battle with the coronavirus, passing away at the age of 51 on Saturday. The news of his passing was confirmed by MMAJunkie.com.
Joaquin Buckley issues statement following head kick KO loss to Alessio Di Chirico
Adam Martin - January 17, 2021
UFC middleweight Joaquin Buckley issued a statement following his head kick KO loss to Alessio Di Chirico at UFC on ABC 1. Buckley was recently named by UFC president Dana White as one of the three fighters to look forward to in 2021, alongside Kevin Holland and Khamzat Chimaev. After scoring back-to-back knockout wins over Impa Kasanganay and Jordan Wright, Buckley was booked to fight Di Chirico in a fight that many were looking at as a squash match. Indeed, the oddsmakers opened Buckley up as a sizeable favorite to beat Chirico, who had lost three straight fights.