UFC News

Tom Taylor - June 8, 2019

In the first of two bantamweight bouts on the UFC 238 main card, New Jersey’s Jimmie Rivera looked to slow the meteoric rise of Russia’s Petr Yan. “No Mercy” Yan entered the fight with a 12-1 overall record, and a solid 4-0 mark in the UFC. In his last fight, he picked up the biggest win of his career, outpointing former flyweight title challenger John Dodson for an impressive decision triumph.

Tom Taylor - June 8, 2019

The UFC 238 main card was kicked off by a dynamite heavyweight tilt between Australian knockout puncher Tai Tuivasa and former World Series of Fighting champion Blagoy Ivanov. This bout marked Tuivasa’s opportunity to rebound from the first setback of his career, a TKO loss to Junior dos Santos, while the former WSOF champ Ivanov looked to build on the momentum of an impressive if slightly controversial defeat of Ben Rothwell.

Adam Martin - June 8, 2019

One of the UFC’s former middleweight champions, Chris Weidman, is moving up a weight class the next time we see him compete. According to Ariel Helwani of ESPN.com, Weidman will move up to 205lbs for his next fight. The former champ announced the move up to the light heavyweight division himself, and said he plans on returning to the Octagon this fall.

Thomas Taylor - June 8, 2019

After a lengthy stint in the UFC, “Super” Sage Northcutt now calls ONE Championship home. Unfortunately for the American and his fans, his first bout in the ONE ring did not go as planned, as he was stopped in less than 30 seconds by the ferocious Cosmo Alexandre. Speaking recently to TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, UFC President Dana White reacted to Northcutt’s tough ONE debut. The UFC boss’s take? That Northcutt should retire from MMA.

Adam Martin - June 7, 2019

UFC president Dana White has always sought to make MMA a global sport, and the opening of new Performance Institutes all across the world will certainly help achieve that goal. In an interview with hosts CM Punk and Dave Ross on Stadium, Dana White said he’s headed to China next week to open up a new PI there, but said that’s just the beginning.

Cole Shelton - June 7, 2019

UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber is set to return to the Octagon at UFC Sacramento to take on Ricky Simon. “The California Kid” last fought back in December of 2016 where he beat Brad Pickett. Although Faber has been talking about returning for quite some time, news of the announcement surprised his fellow Hall of Famer Michael Bisping. The Englishman was surprised given how much success the 40-year-old is having outside of fighting and believes he doesn’t need the money.

Adam Martin - June 7, 2019

Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson is generally regarded as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in MMA history, but the criticism directed towards him during his run in the Octagon was that he wasn’t a draw for fans. Now a member of ONE Championship, Johnson was the most dominant flyweight and arguably the most dominant fighter in MMA period between 2012 and 2018. However, for whatever reason, Johnson just never appealed to fans as a box-office draw, with his pay-per-view numbers being lower than some other champions during his time in the UFC.

Tom Taylor - June 7, 2019

Tony Ferguson has had plenty to say about UFC President Dana White over the last few days — and none of it has been good. From the sounds of it, Ferguson’s growing disdain for White stems from the comments the UFC boss made after Ferguson was forced out of a 2018 fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Tom Taylor - June 7, 2019

The UFC returns to Chicago this weekend with the stacked UFC 238 card. The card will be topped by a pair of compelling title fights. In the main event, UFC flyweight champion Henry Cejudo will move up to the bantamweight division to battle streaking contender Marlon Moraes for the vacant title. In the co-main event, meanwhile, flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will attempt to defend her title opposite top contender Jessica Eye.

Tom Taylor - June 7, 2019

Earlier this month, UFC strawweight champion Jessica Andrade was carjacked at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Speaking to ESPN, the UFC titleholder opened up on this harrowing incident. Apparently, she didn’t even know she was being robbed at first. It was only when she saw the gun that she knew what was happening.

Natasha Hooper - June 7, 2019

“The Motown Phenom” Kevin Lee joined Joe Rogan on his podcast this week to discuss all things MMA. A notable topic of discussion was a potential fight between Lee and UFC legend, George St-Pierre.

Tom Taylor - June 7, 2019

Henry Cejudo put on quite a show at UFC 238 media day on Thursday (see it here). The flyweight champion arrived at the festivities wearing a crown and a cape, and when it came time for his pre-fight face-off with his opponent Marlon Moraes, clambered onto the stage with an armful of props. There was a Mickey Mouse toy, which Cejudo kicked into the crowd. There was a rubber snake, which the champ whipped at the ground. There was a plush rabbit, drawn from a top hat, which met a similar fate to its rodent cousin Mickey.

Thomas Taylor - June 6, 2019

Henry Cejudo continues to come out of his shell. The UFC flyweight champion, who will battle Marlon Moraes for the vacant bantamweight strap in the UFC 238 main event this Saturday, showed up to Thursday’s media day dressed in a crown and cape, with plenty of other props to boot.

Thomas Taylor - June 6, 2019

Joe Rogan is very well connected in the combat sports world. The UFC commentator is well acquainted with many movers and shakers of the MMA and boxing worlds, and apparently, somebody he considers “a good source” told him that Anthony Joshua was knocked out in sparring the week of his shocking upset loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. Rogan made this startling claim, which has also been rumored in boxing circles, on the latest episode of the Joe Rogan Experience MMA Show.

Drake Riggs - June 6, 2019

Being the first to do something is always a special and memorable feat no matter the endeavor. There is an uncountable number of things that someone or something could be first at or first to do. As that’s the case when literally racing someone, it can turn everything else into metaphorical versions of it too. After a goal or objective is completed for the very first time, history more often than not will end up repeating itself at some point down the line. It just depends on how much. Perhaps it could even do so multiple times before the other beginnings can unfold in their own right.

Cole Shelton - June 6, 2019

At UFC 242, Khabib Nurmagomedov will look to defend his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi. The champion is already a big betting favorite. Although the odds are against Poirier, UFC welterweight Kevin Lee believes it is a much tougher fight for Nurmagomedov than many think. The reason for that thinking is simple. He suspects Poirier’s footwork will be too good for Khabib.

Tom Taylor - June 6, 2019

As always, the fighting future of former two-division UFC champ Conor McGregor is shrouded in uncertainty. If one of his latest Tweets is to be taken at face value, however, he will indeed return to the Octagon. Speaking on his Twitter account, McGregor noted that he’s already fought eleven times in the UFC, and confirmed that he will fight fight in the Octagon for a twelfth time. Twelve, of course, is an important number for the Irishman behind the popular Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey.

Tom Taylor - June 6, 2019

The UFC lightweight title will next be on the line at UFC 242 on September 7 in Abu Dhabi, as undisputed champ Khabib Nurmagomedov is set to defend his title opposite interim champion Dustin Poirier. At least, that’s the current plan. Top lightweight contender Donald Cerrone believes things might unfold differently. Speaking to ESPN this week, Cerrone, who fights Tony Ferguson at UFC 238 this weekend, divulged that he believes he’ll wind up fighting either Poirier or Nurmagomedov for the title at UFC 242.