UFC News
Video | Jorge Masvidal shares preview for his upcoming MTV Cribs appearance
Harry Kettle - December 8, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal has given fans a preview of his upcoming appearance on MTV Cribs. Masvidal, who last fought on Fight Island in a losing effort against Kamaru Usman, continues to see his popularity rise as his star power outside of the Octagon goes from strength to strength.
Anthony Pettis promises new "Showtime signature move" a decade after infamous kick in final WEC event
Adam Martin - December 7, 2020
UFC welterweight Anthony Pettis is promising a new “Showtime signature move” a decade after his infamous kick on Benson Henderson at WEC 53. On December 16, 2010, Pettis challenged then-WEC lightweight champion Henderson for his belt in the main event of WEC 53, the last show the promotion ever held. The fight between Pettis and Henderson was tight and competitive and it came down to the fifth round. With about one minute left in the fight, Pettis pulled off the infamous “Showtime Kick,” knocking down Henderson with a kick off the cage in the final minute of the fight. Pettis would go on to win a unanimous decision.
Jordan Leavitt wants slams banned from MMA: "I would prefer to have won in any other way"
Adam Martin - December 7, 2020
UFC lightweight Jordan Leavitt believes that slams should be banned from MMA after he knocked Matt Wiman out with a nasty one at UFC Vegas 16. Leavitt earned a UFC contract after picking up a finish on Dana White’s Contender Series this past summer. “The Monkey King” made his long-awaited Octagon debut in the opening main card bout of this past Saturday’s UFC Vegas 16 card against the veteran Wiman, and the result was a spectacular win for the newcomer. Not long after the opening bell rang, Leavitt picked Wiman up, carried him across the cage, and slammed him to the canvas, knocking him out cold in just 23 seconds.
Jake Paul roasts "mini champ" Henry Cejudo after "Triple C" tells him to sign the contract
Cole Shelton - December 7, 2020
Jake Paul has blasted former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion, Henry Cejudo. After Paul knocked out Nate Robinson and called out the likes of Conor McGregor, Dillon Danis, and Ben Askren, many in the MMA world took notice. Then, just recently, Cejudo called out Paul and said if he couldn’t finish him he would donate his purse to charity.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship interested in signing Yoel Romero: "He has BKFC written all over him"
Cole Shelton - December 7, 2020
David Feldman is hoping to meet with Yoel Romero in the coming days. On Friday, it was revealed Romero was shockingly released from the UFC. Immediately, many thought the middleweight would sign with Bellator or PFL. However, on Monday, it was reported both promotions aren’t interested in bringing in the 43-year-old.
UFC 256 loses two more fights due to COVID-19
Cole Shelton - December 7, 2020
UFC 256 has taken another hit as two more fights are off the card due to positive COVID-19 tests. Late Sunday night, Angela Hill announced she was out of her fight against Tecia Torres. Yet, that wasn’t all as Karl Roberson also tested positive and was forced to withdraw from his UFC 256 scarp against Dalcha Lungiambula. However, the fight has been rebooked for December 19.
Ali Abdelaziz tells Tony Ferguson that his management team tried obtaining the services of Justin Gaethje following UFC 249
Adam Martin - December 7, 2020
MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz told Tony Ferguson that his management team tried obtaining the services of Justin Gaethje following UFC 249. Abdelaziz is the manager of several notable fighters in the UFC including Gaethje, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, UFC bantamweight Frankie Edgar, and many more. Dominance MMA is one of the top management groups in the game today as several of their fighters have become UFC champions, not to mention many of Abdelaziz’s fighters are generally among the most highly-compensated athletes in the promotion.
Report | Bellator and PFL not interested in Yoel Romero
Adam Martin - December 7, 2020
Following his release from the UFC, middleweight Yoel Romero is reportedly drawing no interest from Bellator or PFL on the free-agent market. Romero was surprisingly released by the world’s leading MMA promotion last week as part of UFC president Dana White’s plan to cut 60 fighters from the roster. At 43 years of age, having lost three straight fights, and having a sizeable purse, the UFC decided it was in everyone’s best interest to release Romero. The former No. 1 contender in the UFC middleweight division was deemed expandable by White, but based on his resume, most expected the other top promotions to be interested.
Conor McGregor sends advice, encouragement to PFL-bound Claressa Shields
Tom Taylor - December 7, 2020
Former two-division UFC champ Conor McGregor has some words of advice for boxing star Claressa Shields, who will transition to MMA under the PFL banner in 2021. Shields, a three-division boxing champ at just 25 years old, will make her MMA debut in the PFL cage in 2021. Ahead of that debut, Shields has been training at JacksonWink MMA alongside former UFC champs Jon Jones and Holly Holm. She’s also received some advice from another former UFC champ in McGregor.
What's next for Marvin Vettori and Jack Hermansson after UFC Vegas 16?
Cole Shelton - December 7, 2020
In the main event of UFC Vegas 16, Marvin Vettori stepped up on short notice to take on top-five contender, Jack Hermansson. Vettori was looking for the biggest win of his career while Hermansson was trying to prove he should get a number one contender bout next time out. However, it was the Italian who won the fight by decision and nearly finished Hermansson in the first.
Claressa Shields trains with Jon Jones, Holly Holm ahead of MMA move
Tom Taylor - December 7, 2020
Three-division boxing champion Claressa Shields has enlisted the help of two former UFC champs as she prepares to transition into mixed martial arts. Shields, widely considered one of the greatest female boxers of all time, recently signed with the Professional Fighters League, where she will begin her MMA journey in 2021.
Pros react after Dana White lays out plans to cut 60 UFC fighters
Tom Taylor - December 7, 2020
UFC President Dana White recently divulged that he plans on culling 60 fighters from the promotion’s ever-expanding roster. White dropped this information not long after it was revealed the former UFC middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero had been released from his contract with the promotion.
Dana White reacts to surge in COVID-19 fight cancellations
Tom Taylor - December 7, 2020
UFC President Dana White has commented on the recent spike of fight cancellations due to athletes and their cornermen testing positive for COVID-19. While the pandemic has gripped the world for close to a year now, there’s recently been an increased number of cancelled fights due to the virus. White commented on the issue at the post-fight press conference for last weekend’s UFC Vegas 16 card, which was particularly hard-hit by the COVID-related fight cancellations.
Angela Hill forced to withdraw from scheduled bout with Tecia Torres at UFC 256
Harry Kettle - December 7, 2020
Angela Hill has announced that she will not be fighting Tecia Torres at UFC 256 after testing positive for COVID-19. Hill is often viewed as a big fan favorite in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and rightly so, whether it be due to her fighting style or her overall personality. She was hoping to get another crack at Torres five years on from their battle at UFC 188, but now, she’ll have to wait and see whether or not the fight gets rebooked.
Photo | Cody Durden was pulled from UFC Vegas 16 due to pink eye
Adam Martin - December 6, 2020
UFC flyweight prospect Cody Durden says that he was pulled from Saturday night’s UFC Vegas 16 card due to a case of pink eye. Durden was set for his second fight in the UFC against fellow prospect Jimmy Flick in what was shaping up to be a really fun fight between two exciting flyweights. Unfortunately, Durden vs. Flick was one of three bouts scheduled for UFC Vegas 16 scratched from the card on fight day, along with a women’s flyweight bout between Montana de la Rosa and Taila Santos, and a featherweight bout between Movsar Evloev and Nate Landwehr. Those were canceled due to positive COVID-19 tests.
Henry Cejudo issues challenge to Jake Paul
Christopher Taylor - December 6, 2020
Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo has issued a challenge to YouTuber Jake Paul. Paul improved his professional boxing record to a perfect 2-0 at last weekends ‘Tyson vs Jones Jr.’ event, scoring a nasty second round knockout victory over former NBA player Nate Robinson.
Dana White reveals the most competitive weight classes in the UFC
Adam Martin - December 6, 2020
UFC president Dana White revealed what he thinks are the most competitive weight classes in the world’s leading MMA promotion. The UFC has never had the sheer amount of talent as it does right now. The promotion currently boasts eight men’s weight classes and four women’s weight classes, and there are incredible fighters in all of those divisions. Fans and media often discuss what they think the top weight classes in the sport are, and it’s a fun discussion that could lead to a variety of good answers. That’s why it was so interesting to hear what White had to say, considering he’s the UFC president.
Jamahal Hill releases statement following breakthrough TKO win over Ovince Saint Preux
Adam Martin - December 6, 2020
UFC light heavyweight Jamahal Hill released a statement following his breakthrough TKO win over Ovince Saint Preux. Hill is one of the top 205lbs prospects in MMA. The 29-year-old American improved to 8-0, 1 NC in his professional MMA career with the TKO win over OSP, one that UFC president Dana White says will earn him a bonus. Hill previously picked up UFC wins over Darko Stostic and Kildson Abreu, who he finished by TKO back in May. However, Hill was fined and suspended and the result of that bout was changed to a No Contest after Hill tested positive for marijuana in a post-fight drug test.