UFC News
Derrick Lewis won't be fighting during pandemic: "I can't be selfish"
Tom Taylor - April 2, 2020
Derrick Lewis is not interested in fighting until the coronavirus pandemic is under control. With a family at home, the risks of undertaking a fight camp are simply too great. Lewis weighed in on the pandemic during a recent interview with MMA Junkie.
Dominick Reyes not surprised by Jon Jones latest arrest, says the champ needs “real help”
Natasha Hooper - April 2, 2020
Dominick Reyes believes UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones needs “real help” after his latest arrest. This week, the light heavyweight champ entered a plea following his DWI arrest last week in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He released a statement this week, acknowledging his disappointing behavior. Reyes has also weighed in on Jones’ multiple run-ins with police.
The MMA community had some fun with April Fools Day
Harry Kettle - April 2, 2020
The world of mixed martial arts came together yesterday for a series of entertaining April Fools Day surprises. It’s safe to say that 2020 isn’t quite going as many had anticipated it would through the first few months of the year, and that goes both for MMA and the wider spectrum of society.
Manager: Answers about Khabib Nurmagomedov withdrawal are coming
Natasha Hooper - April 2, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz believes fans will soon have all the answers regarding his fighter’s apparent withdrawal from UFC 249. The undefeated champion, Nurmagomedov was expected to defend his title against Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 249 on April 18. The final card and location are yet to be finalised due to the ongoing coronavirus. The situation was complicated further as Khabib Nurmagomedov was stranded in his home country of Russia due to a nationwide travel ban.
Tony Ferguson says only two men are worthy of "ass whooping" at UFC 249
Chris Taylor - April 1, 2020
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson was expected to square off with Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC 249 on April 18. The pay-per-view event was originally slated to take place in Brooklyn, however due to the Covid-19 outbreak the location and venue was forced to be changed. A new location is still being sought after by the promotion as of this time.
Dustin Poirier confident Justin Gaethje would beat Khabib Nurmagomedov & Tony Ferguson
Cole Shelton - April 1, 2020
Dustin Poirier believes Justin Gaethje would beat both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson in potential fights. Nurmagomedov and Ferguson were expected to fight at UFC 249 on April 18 but the champ withdrew due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ferguson called for “The Eagle” to be stripped, but could also fight Justin Gaethje on that card.
Tony Ferguson believes Khabib Nurmagomedov "should be stripped" of belt after withdrawing from UFC 249
Cole Shelton - April 1, 2020
Tony Ferguson believes Khabib Nurmagomedov should be stripped of his lightweight title after withdrawing from UFC 249. On April 18, Ferguson and Nurmagomedov were expected to finally fight for the undisputed lightweight title in Brooklyn, New York. Yet, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nurmagomedov is stuck in Russia and earlier today announced he would be off the card. For “El Cucuy” he believes that means the champ should be stripped of his belt.
Stipe Miocic still dealing with vision issues, says he sees spots in his eye
Adam Martin - April 1, 2020
UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic says he is still dealing with vision issues and says that he sees spots from his left eye. Miocic hasn’t fought since knocking out Daniel Cormier last August at UFC 241 to re-capture the UFC heavyweight title. Miocic is expected to fight DC in a trilogy whenever he comes back, but he has been dealing with vision issues that have delayed his return to the Octagon. And now with the coronavirus pandemic taking over the world, Miocic is focusing on helping the community with his job as a firefighter.
Tony Ferguson reacts after Khabib Nurmagomedov officially withdraws from UFC 249
Natasha Hooper - April 1, 2020
Tony Ferguson has reacted to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s apparent withdrawal from UFC 249. Multiple UFC events have been postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. However, Dana White has been putting in his best efforts to ensure UFC 249 on April 18 still takes place. The event was scheduled to feature lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov defend his belt against Tony Ferguson. The pair have been booked to throw down four times in the past, yet none of those proposed bouts ever came to fruition.
Khabib Nurmagomedov seemingly pulls plug on Ferguson fight: "Put yourself in my shoes"
Tom Taylor - April 1, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov is seemingly — and understandably — reluctant to fight at UFC 249 as the coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep the planet. Nurmagomedov, the UFC lightweight champ, was expected to fight Tony Ferguson on the April 18 card. Unfortunately, new travel bans have made it difficult for him to leave his native Russia to participate in the fight — though it could still be possible.
Amanda Nunes responds to Felicia Spencer's request to move title fight to Florida
Tom Taylor - April 1, 2020
Earlier this week, Felicia Spencer requested that her featherweight title fight with reigning champion Amanda Nunes, tentatively scheduled for May 9 in Brazil, be moved to Florida. Her reasoning, of course, stems from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the travel difficulties it has created. @Amanda_Leoa we both live in ☀️ Florida, let’s get #UFC250 🤜to our back yard🏝. Please don’t leave! 😋 @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite @ufc
Jan Blachowicz foresees Dominick Reyes title fight if UFC strips Jones
Tom Taylor - April 1, 2020
Jan Blachowicz believes he deserves a shot at the UFC light heavyweight title before recent contenders like Dominick Reyes and Thiago Santos get another chance. “Everyone is trying to make his way to the belt, but these guys already had a chance and they didn’t take it,” he said of his rivals in an interview with Polish MMA site MMARocks.pl (via MMA Junkie). “Now they can rest some, or they can fight between the two of them. I am the next in line, and nobody can get in line in front of me. They can just fight to see who’s going to be fighting me next, when I’m defending the belt (or) if anything happens and they take the belt from Jon [Jones].”
Dan Ige discusses handling COVID-19 pandemic as a fighter and manager
Mike Pendleton - April 1, 2020
With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the entire sports world, fighters, managers, and coaches alike in the combat sports world are having to adjust to these difficult times. For one UFC fighter, featherweight Dan Ige, having to adjust as a fighter is just part of it, as he’s also a manager for other UFC fighters. Most recently, Ige defeated Mirsad Bektic at UFC 247 in February, which extended his winning streak to five in the featherweight division. That streak has also landed Ige in the top-15 rankings for his division, and in an exclusive interview with BJPenn.com, “Dynamite Dan” discussed how he feels lucky to have gotten his fight in before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down events.
PHOTO | Paige VanZant, Austin Vanderford ditch their clothes for stripped-down training session
Tom Taylor - April 1, 2020
Like most of us, Paige VanZant and Austin Vanderford are hunkered down at home in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. As professional fighters, of course, the pair have to find ways to continue to train during these unprecedented circumstances. It’s safe to say they’ve done so.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway rematch scratched from UFC 251
Adam Martin - April 1, 2020
A planned rematch between UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway has been scratched from UFC 251, another major blow to the card. The UFC planned on a double bill of title fights at UFC 251, which is still tentatively scheduled to take place on June 6 in Perth, Australia. Earlier this week we found out that the co-main event between UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko and Joanne Calderwood has been postponed, and now Volkanovski vs. Holloway has been scratched, as well, putting the entire event in jeopardy of not happening as planned.
Former UFC fighter Phillipe Nover details battling coronavirus in New York as a nurse
Harry Kettle - April 1, 2020
Former UFC fighter Phillipe Nover has spoken about the ongoing battle against the Coronavirus outbreak in New York. While the heart of the pandemic may still be in Europe for the time being, the expectation is that the epicenter will shift to the United States — potentially, the state of New York specifically.
Report | Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson fight gets glimmer of hope as Russia allows private flights to US
Tom Taylor - April 1, 2020
There’s still a glimmer of hope that we might see Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson fight at UFC 249 on April 18. Earlier this week, Russia announced new travel restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19. The lightweight champ Nurmagomedov had returned to Russia by that point, meaning he was seemingly stuck in the country and unable to fly to the United States or elsewhere to fight Ferguson on the 18.
Tyron Woodley says UFC 249 is the last chance he’s giving Colby Covington
Harry Kettle - April 1, 2020
Tyron Woodley has said that UFC 249 is the last chance that Colby Covington has to fight him before he moves on once and for all. There is an incredibly chaotic situation currently unfolding with UFC 249, as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic. Nobody really knows the direction that things are going to go in, with everything from Justin Gaethje stepping in to an entirely new main event being suggested.