UFC News
Petr Yan responds to TJ Dillashaw's title shot demands
Tom Taylor - December 4, 2020
UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan has responded to the former champion TJ Dillashaw’s recent demands for a title shot. Dillashaw has not fought in close to two years, having been suspended for his use of the injectable-only banned substance EPO ahead of a 2019 TKO loss to Henry Cejudo.
Khabib Nurmagomedov lays out plans to create UFC feeder league
Tom Taylor - December 4, 2020
Undefeated lightweight star Khabib Nurmagomedov is hoping to create a feeder league for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Nurmagomedov, who still holds the UFC lightweight title despite retiring in October, recently partook in a press conference in Moscow to announce that he purchased Dagestani MMA promotion Gorilla Fighting Championship, and rebranded it Eagle Fighting Championship.
UFC Vegas 16 weigh-in results: Headliners on point, co-headliner misses weight
Tom Taylor - December 4, 2020
On Saturday night, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to our screens with the under-the-radar UFC Vegas 16 card out of the promotion’s Apex facility. The card was originally expected to be headlined by a middleweight fight between Jack Hermansson and Darren Till. When Till was forced off the card, Hermansson accepted a short notice fight with Kevin Holland, who was ultimately also forced off the card after testing positive for COVID-19. The UFC then made a third attempt at finding Hermansson an opponent, matching him up with Marvin Vettori, who had originally been scheduled to fight Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza next weekend. The third time seems to have been the charm.
Marvin Vettori expects Jan Blachowicz to "clean the mat with Israel Adesanya"
Cole Shelton - December 4, 2020
Marvin Vettori doesn’t believe Israel Adesanya’s light heavyweight run will go well. Sometime in early 2021, it is expected that Adesanya will move up in weight to battle Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title. Although many don’t think the fight should happen all signs point to that being the case.
Jorge Masvidal suggests Jake Paul should fight Yoel Romero following his recent comments
Harry Kettle - December 4, 2020
UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal believes that Jake Paul should step into the boxing ring to fight his friend and top middleweight Yoel Romero. Despite all of the criticism that had been sent his way in the lead-up to his fight against Nate Robinson, the YouTube star Paul was able to secure a vicious knockout to take his pro boxing record to 2-0.
Jake Paul says he is "dedicating his life to beating" Conor McGregor
Adam Martin - December 3, 2020
Boxer and YouTuber Jake Paul says that he is “dedicating his life to beating” UFC superstar Conor McGregor in a boxing match one day. Paul picked up an incredible KO win over former NBA dunk contest winner Nate Robinson in the co-main event of last weekend’s Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. megacard. Paul’s KO went viral and he has become one of the biggest talking points in the world of combat sports this week, attracting the attention of numerous MMA fighters, boxers, and even hockey players. Two fights into his career, Paul is already a top draw in the world of boxing and it seems like everyone wants a piece of him.
Cody Durden expects to KO Jimmy Flick and end his hype
Cole Shelton - December 3, 2020
Cody Durden is eager to derail the hype of Jimmy Flick. At UFC Vegas 16, Durden is set to make the walk to the Octagon for the second time but will be doing so at flyweight this time around. In his debut, he stepped up on a week’s notice and fought Chris Guttierrez to a draw at bantamweight. Following that fight, he realized he should be competing at 125-pounds and made the move to down in weight.
Alex Volkanovski eyes future move to lightweight or prove he's the best fighter there is
Cole Shelton - December 3, 2020
Alex Volkanovski is interested in making a move to lightweight. Volkanovski is the current featherweight champion and coming off a split decision win over Max Holloway to defend his belt. Since then win, many had wondered what would be next for him. The champ has multiple options like Brian Ortega and the winner of Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar.
Coach Roddy doesn’t see a path for Dustin Poirier to beat "stone-cold killer" Conor McGregor
Cole Shelton - December 3, 2020
Owen Roddy doesn’t know how Dustin Poirier can beat Conor McGregor. In the main event of UFC 257, Poirier is set to rematch McGregor in a very intriguing bout. It could very well determine the number one contender at lightweight and according to Roddy, McGregor is in the best shape of his life.
Gilbert Burns frustrated with multiple delays to Kamaru Usman fight, still waiting for contract for UFC 258
Adam Martin - December 3, 2020
UFC welterweight Gilbert Burns is frustrated with the delays to the Kamaru Usman fight and is still waiting to sign a contract for UFC 258. Remember, Burns was supposed to fight Usman back in July at UFC 251 on Fight Island. Unfortunately for Burns, he tested positive for COVID-19 and had to withdraw from the fight, opening up the opportunity for Jorge Masvidal to step in on short notice and save the day. After Usman beat Masvidal, the UFC re-booked Usman vs. Burns for UFC 256 but the fight fell off once again due to Usman being injured. Now that both men are healthy, the UFC is targeting UFC 258 on February 13 for the fight.
TJ Dillashaw believes fighting Urijah Faber would be a "joke," but would love to "whoop his ass"
Cole Shelton - December 3, 2020
TJ Dillashaw doesn’t think having his comeback fight against Urijah Faber makes sense. Ever since Dillashaw got suspended, many pointed to his return fight against Faber as one that should happen. The two have a rivalry due to Dillashaw leaving Faber’s gym, and then knocking out his pupil, Cody Garbrandt twice. However, the former bantamweight champion believes fighting Faber would be a joke. But, if it happens, knows he would beat up the Hall of Famer.
Marvin Vettori reveals which fighters turned him down before getting Jack Hermansson fight
Cole Shelton - December 3, 2020
Marvin Vettori has had a hard time getting fights. After Vettori submitted Karl Roberson in the first round back in June, the hope for the Italian was to get a ranked opponent. However, in the months since, it has been a difficult time getting a fight with someone ranked above him. That all changed when he was supposed to fight Jacare Souza at UFC 256 but was pulled from that fight to battle Jack Hermansson in the main event of UFC Vegas 16.
Breaking: Yair Rodriguez gets six-month USADA suspension due to whereabouts violations
Tom Taylor - December 3, 2020
UFC featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez has been handed a six-months by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) due to repeated whereabouts violations. USADA released a statement on the Rodriguez situation on Thursday (h/t MMA Fighting)
Khabib Nurmagomedov outlines plan to bring MMA to the Olympics
Tom Taylor - December 3, 2020
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is hoping to bring the sport of mixed martial arts to the Olympic games. Nurmagomedov last fought in the main event of UFC 254 last month, when he defended his title with a submission of Justin Gaethje and improved to 29-0 as a pro—easily one of the best records in the sport’s history.
Aljamain Sterling slams "cheater" TJ Dillashaw, suggests he could have found a way to dope during layoff
Adam Martin - December 3, 2020
UFC bantamweight Aljamain Sterling slammed “cheater” TJ Dillashaw, suggesting that he could have found a way to dope during his long layoff. In January 2019, Dillashaw failed a drug test for EPO and was suspended for two years. He also lost the UFC bantamweight title in the process. After two long years away from the Octagon, Dillashaw is now ready to resume his MMA career next month. The former two-time UFC bantamweight champion does not have his next opponent booked yet, but after speaking with ESPN during a Thursday interview, it’s clear that he has his sights set high.
Henry Cejudo says he "might just make a comeback" after TJ Dillashaw's trash talk
Tom Taylor - December 3, 2020
Former UFC bantamweight champ Henry Cejudo is teasing a comeback after some trash talk from his former opponent TJ Dillashaw. Dillashaw and Cejudo have fought once before. They met in early 2019, when Dillashaw, then the bantamweight champion, dropped down to flyweight to challenge Cejudo for that division’s title.
TJ Dillashaw admits he "would have been able to justify" EPO use if he'd never been caught
Tom Taylor - December 3, 2020
TJ Dillashaw says he would have been able to “justify” his use of the banned substance Erythropoietin (EPO) if he’d become a two-division UFC champ. In early 2018, Dillashaw, then the UFC bantamweight champion, dropped down to flyweight to challenge divisional champ Henry Cejudo in a bid to become a two-division titleholder. After losing the fight via first-round TKO, Dillashaw tested positive for the injectable-only banned substance EPO, and was stripped of his title and suspended two years as a result.
UFC 256: ‘Figueiredo vs Moreno’ Fight Card and Rumors
Harry Kettle - December 3, 2020
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to pay-per-view next weekend with UFC 256 as Deiveson Figueiredo prepares to defend the Flyweight Championship once again – this time against rising contender Brandon Moreno. Event: UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno Date: Saturday, 12th December 2020 Location: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada Broadcast: ESPN+ (6pm/8pm/10pm EST)