UFC News
Donald Cerrone explains what's delaying fight with 'prima donna' Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - March 7, 2019
Over the last few months, the fight world has been abuzz about a potential fight between Donald Cerrone and Conor McGregor. Both fighters seemed to want the fight, UFC President Dana White was on board, and of course, every fight fan with a pulse was eager to see it happen. Unfortunately, it now sounds as though the fight could be off the table.
Referee Marc Goddard gives in-depth response to Usman-Woodley backlash
Tom Taylor - March 7, 2019
Kamaru Usman’s unanimous decision defeat of long-time UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley was a performance to remember. Unfortunately, the fight will also be remembered for a few controversial calls from referee Marc Goddard — most notably a handful of controversial stand-ups, issued when Usman was in dominant positions, seemingly working hard. After a comment from MMA Fighting’s Luke Thomas on Twitter, referee Marc Goddard issued a lengthy explanation of his calls in this Usman vs. Woodley matchup.
Junior dos Santos has major objections to Daniel Cormier vs. Brock Lesnar fight
Tom Taylor - March 7, 2019
While nothing is set in stone just yet, it still sounds like UFC heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier could next defend his title against former champ and long-time WWE star Brock Lesnar. Let’s just say Junior dos Santos doesn’t approve of this plan. “This thing where Daniel Cormier wants to fight Brock Lesnar; I know he wants to make money, but it doesn’t make any sense,” Dos Santos told MMA Junkie ahead of his fight with Derrick Lewis. “The only one who wants to see that fight or make that fight is him. Nobody else wants to see that. Of course Brock Lesnar, he’s a very polemic guy so people like to watch him and they pay to watch him, that’s why he wants to fight him. But man, that would be ridiculous to have him back in the sport and have him fighting for the title already.
EXCLUSIVE | Pro fighters make their picks for Junior dos Santos vs Derrick Lewis fight
Cole Shelton - March 7, 2019
The Octagon touches down in Wichita, Kansas for the first time in history this Saturday. In the main event, former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos will be taking on former title challenger Derrick Lewis. Ahead of this heavyweight fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions. Some believe dos Santos will be too much for Lewis, while others believe Lewis will land a fight-ending blow on dos Santos. Two others can’t decide at all.
Ben Askren explains why he sees 'no controversy' in Robbie Lawler win
Tom Taylor - March 7, 2019
Former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight king Ben Askren now has his first UFC victory. He snagged that elusive accomplishment at UFC 235 last weekend, when he submitted former UFC champ Robbie Lawler. Unfortunately, Askren’s impressive victory over Lawler came with a side order of controversy. While it initially looked as though the choke that sealed the deal lulled Lawler to sleep, the replay revealed Lawler might not have been out at all — and there was no tap.
Former Team Alpha Male coach Justin Buchholz blames Urijah Faber's 'ego' for gym's struggles
Tom Taylor - March 7, 2019
Last weekend, in the opening bout of the UFC 235 main card, former UFC bantamweight champ Cody Garbrandt experienced his third-straight knockout loss. Justin Buchholz, who used to serve as Garbrandt’s head coach at Team Alpha Male, believes he knows why. Speaking on The TSN MMA Show this week, Buchholz attributed Garbrandt’s latest setback to subpar coaching at the Team Alpha Male.
Derrick Lewis has 'to right the wrong' with Francis Ngannou rematch
Drake Riggs - March 6, 2019
This Saturday night the UFC heads back to Kansas state for UFC Wichita. In the event’s featured attraction, we’ll see two heavyweight knockout artists throw leather. On one side of the Octagon will be former UFC champion, Junior ‘Cigano’ Dos Santos. Standing across from him will be none other than ‘The Black Beast’ Derrick Lewis.
BJ Penn returns at UFC 237
Tom Taylor - March 6, 2019
Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn will return to the cage at UFC 237 on May 11 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he will take on a fellow veteran in Clay Guida. This bout was first reported by Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting. Penn confirmed this news with his website, BJPenn.com.
Max Holloway discusses featherweight future ahead of interim lightweight title fight
Tom Taylor - March 6, 2019
At UFC 236, which goes down on April 13 in Atlanta, Georgia, UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway will hike up to the lightweight division to battle streaking contender Dustin Poirier for the division’s interim title. Given that Holloway has always endured a pretty significant weight cut down to the featherweight division, some fans have wondered if this move up to lightweight could be permanent.
Ben Askren claims Dana White has ignored requests for sit-down
Tom Taylor - March 6, 2019
Ben Askren is now firmly embedded as a member of the UFC welterweight roster, having submitted Robbie Lawler at UFC 235. Unfortunately, his relationship with UFC President Dana White apparently remains strained. Speaking on The MMA Hour on Monday, Askren explained that he still feels quite a bit of disdain from the UFC boss. In fact, he feels White is “repulsed” by him.
Colby Covington recounts heated encounter with Nate Diaz
Tom Taylor - March 6, 2019
In the short period of time he was in Las Vegas to watch UFC 235, it seems that Colby Covington had some kind of altercation or run-in with everybody else in the city. He crashed Kamaru Usman’s open workout. He ambushed UFC President Dana White at the blackjack table. He got into it with Tyron Woodley’s mother and NFL player Todd Gurley in the crowd…. And apparently, he had words with fan favorite lightweight Nate Diaz too…
Matt Hughes' wife pens statement detailing how he allegedly beat her
Tom Taylor - March 6, 2019
Audra Hughes, the wife of former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes, recently had a restraining order granted against her husband after several alleged incidents of violence. In documents obtained by MMAjunkie, Audra detailed several of these incidents of alleged violence.
On three-year anniversary, Conor McGregor reflects on battles with Nate Diaz
Drake Riggs - March 6, 2019
Believe it or not, 2016 was the last year that former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor has scored a victory in combat sports. His opponent for his second to most recent win was none other than Stockton, Calfornia’s finest, Nate Diaz. However, that win came in the pairing’s second of two outings. The first coming just a few months prior when the two met at UFC 196 an entire years ago as of yesterday. A bout that saw Diaz pull off the upset on short notice via second-round submission (rear-naked choke).
Anthony Johnson will only come out of retirement for a heavyweight fight with Jon Jones
Cole Shelton - March 5, 2019
When Anthony Johnson announced his retirement from MMA, a fight many fans were disappointed that didn’t happen is ‘Rumble’ vs. Jon Jones. The fight had major intrigue given the fact Jones had looked unstoppable and Johnson had legitimate one-punch knockout power. The two were scheduled to fight at UFC 187 but the fight was called off after Jones was involved in a hit and run. From then on, the fight just didn’t come to fruition and Johnson walked away from MMA without ever getting the chance to fight Jones.
Georges St-Pierre exits USADA testing pool, solidifies retirement
Drake Riggs - March 5, 2019
Canada’s own Georges “Rush” St-Pierre is one of, if not the greatest MMA fighter to ever live. But after accomplishing all that there is to accomplish, the legend found himself retiring on top of the mountain. Shortly after his big 2013 welterweight title defense against Johny Hendricks at UFC 167, St-Pierre would announce that he would need a break from the sport that he helped build.
Tyron Woodley doesn't believe Kamaru Usman's the better fighter despite UFC 235 loss
Drake Riggs - March 5, 2019
Of all the fantastic performances that were witnessed at UFC 235 this past weekend, none may have been as impressive as welterweight title challenger, Kamaru Usman’s complete and total shutout of reigning champion Tyron Woodley. After months of turmoil inside the division from a business and fighter standpoint, things continued to move on which led to this title fight being made with each fighter’s repeated success.
Colby Covington details tense run-in with NFL player Todd Gurley
Tom Taylor - March 5, 2019
Former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington was in Las Vegas for last weekend’s UFC 235 card, and he certainly made his presence known. All through Fight Week, the polarizing welterweight star was stirring up drama with figures like Kamaru Usman and Dana White. And apparently, he nearly fought LA Rams running back Todd Gurley in the crowd on Fight Night. Colby Covington detailed this run-in with with the NFL star on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday.
Ben Askren won't fight for UFC welterweight strap without speaking to Tyron Woodley first
Tom Taylor - March 5, 2019
The first shot at new UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman is expected to go to his arch rival Colby Covington. That being said, after an ugly altercation with Covington, Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz is pushing for a fight with new UFC star Ben Askren instead. Ben Askren, of course, has his eyes on UFC gold. Yet he says he won’t accept a title fight with Kamaru Usman until he’s spoken with the former champion, his good friend and training partner Tyron Woodley.