UFC News
Pros react to Jennifer Maia defeating Joanne Calderwood at UFC Vegas 5
Chris Taylor - August 1, 2020
Tonight’s UFC Vegas 5 event was co-headlined by a women’s flyweight bout between perennial contenders Joanne Calderwood and Jennifer Maia. Calderwood was initially slated to challenge reigning division title holder Valentina Shevchenko. However, after the champ was forced to postpone her return due to injury, Jo-Jo decided to accept a fight with Maia instead.
UFC Vegas 5 Results: Jennifer Maia stops Joanna Calderwood in Round 1 (Video)
Chris Taylor - August 1, 2020
Tonight’s UFC Vegas 5 co-headliner features a key women’s flyweight bout between perennial division contenders Joanne Calderwood and Jennifer Maia. Calderwood was actually slated to be the next woman to challenge reigning division title holder Valentina Shevchenko. However, after the champ was forced to postpone her return due to injury, Jo-Jo opted to accept a fight with Maia instead.
Dana White applauds Joanne Calderwood for risking title shot at UFC Vegas 5
Chris Taylor - August 1, 2020
UFC President Dana White praised Joanne Calderwood for risking her title shot by accepting a bout with Jennifer Maia at tonight’s UFC Vegas 5 event. The Scottish standout in Calderwood was originally slated to challenge reigning women’s flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko later this summer. However, after ‘The Bullet’ suffered an injury the proposed title fight was put on hold which prompted ‘JoJo’ to accept a bout with Jennifer Maia.
UFC Vegas 5 loses Ed Herman vs. Gerald Meerschaert fight
Chris Taylor - August 1, 2020
Tonight’s UFC Vegas 5 event just took a major hit as a scheduled bout between Ed Herman and Gerald Meerschaert has been cancelled. News of the short-notice fight cancellation was first reported by Ana Hissa and later confirmed by Damon Martin.
UFC Vegas 5: 'Brunson vs. Shahbazyan' Live Results and Highlights
Chris Taylor - August 1, 2020
The Octagon returns to Nevada this evening for UFC Vegas 5, a ten-bout fight card headlined by Derek Brunson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan. Shahbazyan (11-0 MMA) will be looking to keep his perfect record in check when he squares off with the veteran in Brunson this evening. Edmen is coming a sensational first round knockout victory over Brad Tavares in his most recent Octagon appearance this past November at UFC 244. That victory marked Shahbazyan’s third stoppage victory in a row, as he had previously scored finishes over opponents Charles Byrd and Jack Marshman.
Darren Till turns his attention to 'The Joker' Jack Hermansson
Chris Taylor - August 1, 2020
Darren Till entered last weekend’s UFC Fight Island 3 headliner against Robert Whittaker with hopes of earning a middleweight shot. Despite having gone just 1-2 over his three most previous Octagon appearances, Till knew that a win over the former middleweight title holder in Whittaker would set himself up nicely for a second crack at UFC gold.
Conor McGregor confirms "I accept" tweet was not meant for Khamzat Chimaev
Chris Taylor - August 1, 2020
When Conor McGregor took to Twitter with the message “I accept”, many fight fans thought he was responding to a challenge from Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev is quickly making a name for himself in the UFC, this after earning two wins in the past month at UFC Fight Island. After making his Octagon debut at UFC Fight Island 1 with a submission victory over John Phillips, Khamzat made UFC history when he picked up a second win in just 10 days by stopping Rhys McKee in the first-round at UFC Fight Island 3.
Sean O'Malley and Cody Garbrandt trade shots on Twitter
Chris Taylor - July 31, 2020
UFC bantamweight standouts Sean O’Malley and Cody Garbrandt engaged in a heated exchange on social media on Friday evening. The war of words started after O’Malley replied to a Garbrant video interview on Twitter and suggested that the former 135lbs champion was running from the division.
Dana White believes "it makes a lot of sense" for Conor McGregor to return
Cole Shelton - July 31, 2020
Conor McGregor’s retirement may be soon be coming to an end. After UFC 250, the Irishman announced his retirement from MMA once again. For many, they didn’t think the retirement would last. But, UFC president, Dana White had been adamant that McGregor is retired and he would not be talking to him about fights.
Darren Till suffered MCL tear in the second round of Robert Whittaker fight at UFC Fight Island 3
Harry Kettle - July 31, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Darren Till suffered an MCL tear in the second round of his loss to Robert Whittaker on Fight Island last weekend. “The Gorilla” went to war with “Bobby Knuckles” in Abu Dhabi last Saturday night, to the point where many fans and pundits couldn’t quite decide who had come out on top. In the end, Whittaker got the nod via unanimous decision, taking him one step closer to a shot at Israel Adesanya’s UFC Middleweight Championship.
Joanne Calderwood explains why she’s willing to risk a title shot against Valentina Shevchenko in order to fight Jennifer Maia
Natasha Hooper - July 31, 2020
Flyweight standout Joanne Calderwood has divulged why she is willing to a risk a title shot against Valentina Shevchenko for the opportunity to fight Jennifer Maia at UFC Vegas 5. Only a couple of months ago, the number three ranked flyweight was preparing to face off against the current champion, Valentina Shevchenko for the 125-pound crown. However, a knee injury and subsequent surgery forced Shevchenko out of their fight and put their matchup on the backburner.
Edson Barboza vs. Jeremy Stephens in the works for October UFC event
Adam Martin - July 31, 2020
A featherweight matchup between veteran strikers Edson Barboza and Jeremy Stephens is in the works for an October UFC event. According to a report from Combate, the UFC is currently negotiating a fight between Barboza and Stephens to take place on October 3. The venue and location of the event have not yet been confirmed. Although both fighters have competed at lightweight in the past, this potential pairing would have the two veterans meet in a featherweight bout.
Dana White sends warning to Dan Hardy, says he will fire anyone who approaches an official
Adam Martin - July 31, 2020
UFC president Dana White says that he will fire anyone on his staff who approaches a judge or a referee in their dispute of the outcome of a fight. UFC color commentator Dan Hardy came under fire last week when he got into a verbal confrontation with referee Herb Dean following a controversial late stoppage in a catchweight bout between Francisco Trinaldo and Jai Herbert. Hardy yelled for Dean to stop the fight after Herbert took some extra shots, and was then caught on video getting into it with Dean. Both men have since released statements on the matter.
Gilbert Burns says Colby Covington is "on his list"
Adam D Martin - July 31, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns says that a matchup against the always polarizing Colby Covington is “on his list.” Burns is the No. 1 contender at 170lbs and is scheduled to be the next opponent for UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Burns recently revealed he had tested negative for COVID-19 after his fight against Usman at UFC 251 fell off. Now that he’s healthy again and Usman defeated replacement opponent Jorge Masvidal at record-setting UFC 251, the UFC intends on having Usman fight Burns next, hopefully before the year is up.
UFC on ESPN+ 31 weigh-in results: Headliners on point, one fighter misses weight, one fight scrapped
Adam D Martin - July 31, 2020
UFC on ESPN+ 31: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan takes place on Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and the weigh-ins took place on Friday. Headliners Edmen Shahbazyan and Derek Brunson both made weight for their three-round middleweight main event. Shahbazyan, the unbeaten prospect from Glendale Fighting Club, weighed in at 185.5. Brunson, the long-time veteran, weighed in at 186.
Video | Fighter disqualified after shoving referee Marc Goddard
Adam D Martin - July 31, 2020
Featherweight Ahmad Al Darmaki was disqualified after shoving veteran MMA referee Marc Goddard at a UAE Warriors event in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Al Darmaki (2-6) submitted his opponent Bogdan Kirilenko with a vicious rear-naked choke but Al Darmaki refused to let go of the chokehold when Goddard tried to wave off the fight. Goddard yanked Al Darmaki off of his defenseless opponent and Al Darmaki was then seen shoving the referee and grabbing onto his shirt. Instead of winning the fight via submission, Goddard instead rightfully disqualified Al Darmaki instead.
Ali Abdelaziz: "I'm gonna do everything in my power" to make Henry Cejudo vs. Alexander Volkanovski happen
Tom Taylor - July 31, 2020
Henry Cejudo has been angling for a fight with UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, and his manager Ali Abdelaziz will be doing everything he can to make it happen. Cejudo, the former UFC bantamweight and flyweight champion, retired in May, after defending his bantamweight strap with a TKO win over Dominick Cruz. Since his retirement announcement, he’s stated repeatedly that he’d return to the cage for a fight with Volkanovski, which would give him the opportunity to become the first three-division champion in UFC history.
Ray Borg, Eric Spicely, Timur Valiev out of UFC on ESPN+ 31
Adam D Martin - July 31, 2020
UFC on ESPN+ 31 takes place this Saturday and the card has been hit by several last-minute changes including Ray Borg falling off the card. According to MMAjunkie.com, Borg is off the card and out of his bantamweight bout against Nathan Manness for undisclosed reasons. The report says that Manness will stay on the card and take on UFC newcomer Johnny Munoz.