UFC News

Tony Ferguson sends message to 'hiding' Khabib Nurmagomedov
Tom Taylor - March 30, 2020
Early on Monday morning, UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov announced that he is stranded in Russia due to the country’s new travel bans, thrusting his fight with Tony Ferguson into jeopardy. “We were training in the AKA without any information regarding the fight, where and how is it going to happen,” Nurmagomedov stated on Instagram, updating on the status of his fight Ferguson. “Then the UFC told us that the fight 100% isn’t happening in the States and they said that 99% that it will happen in Emirates, Abu Dhabi. After talking to the UFC we decided to fly over to the Emirates a month before the fight. I don’t remember the exact date, it was 19th or 20th, I’ll have to check. But when we landed in Emirates we learned that they are going to close borders and no one will be able to leave or fly in, with the exception of residents. So we had to fly back to Russia. Currently, I am in Dagestan and I am training and preparing every day. Although I don’t know what am I preparing for because after we came to Russia we also learned that the borders are going to be locked. Same as in the States, the same as in Europe, Emirates, everywhere. The whole world is in quarantine right now.”

Khabib Nurmagomedov stranded in Russia: UFC 249 will go ahead 'with or without me'
Alfredo Zullino - March 30, 2020
It seems that the UFC 249 main event, which was expected to pit Khabib Nurmagomedov against Tony Ferguson, could be off the table again. There has been widespread worry over the last few days about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s whereabouts, and on Monday morning, “The Eagle” took to Instagram Live to confirm that he is seemingly stranded in Russia now that the country has closed its borders to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Vicente Luque wants on new UFC 249 card
Adam D Martin - March 29, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Vicente Luque says he is willing to step up on short notice to fight on the new UFC 249 card in three weeks. UFC president Dana White is trying his best to make UFC 249 a go despite all the red tape due to the coronavirus outbreak, but he admitted that the card would likely be different than the original card that was set to take place in Brooklyn. The UFC is now in the process of finalizing the rest of the card, and Luque could potentially be a part of it.

James Vick determined to fix defensive issues, vows to keep chin tucked
Adam D Martin - March 29, 2020
UFC welterweight James Vick is determined to work on the defensive issues that have led him to a four-fight losing streak in the Octagon. Vick started off his UFC career with a 9-1 record, but he has since lost four straight fights to Justin Gaethje, Paul Felder, Dan Hooker, and Niko Price, with three of those losses coming by knockout. The loss to Price was particularly embarrassing for Vick as he became just the second fighter in UFC history to be knocked out from an upkick.

Diego Sanchez denies having CTE: "There is no proof of CTE"
Adam D Martin - March 29, 2020
UFC welterweight veteran Diego Sanchez is denying he has CTE despite having absorbed a historic number of head strikes in the Octagon. Sanchez, the winner of the first Ultimate Fighter, has competed in the UFC since 2004 and has been involved in numerous wars throughout his future Hall of Fame career. However, he has been criticized in recent years for continuing to fight despite taking over 1000 shots to his head during his UFC career, including multiple knockout losses in the last few years.

Ali Abdelaziz denies UFC 249 will take place in Saudi Arabia
Adam D Martin - March 29, 2020
Manager Ali Abdelaziz is denying that UFC 249 will take place in Saudi Arabia despite speculation the event could be shifted there. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the UFC has been forced to postpone UFC London, UFC Columbus, and UFC Portland. But UFC president Dana White has been adamant UFC 249 will take place, and he even says he has a location in mind for the event if it does go on as planned, only he’s not telling the media where that location may be. White is doing everything he can to save the event headlined by Abdelaziz’s client Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson for the UFC lightweight belt.

Daniel Cormier could retire if coronavirus pandemic doesn't end by summer
Adam D Martin - March 29, 2020
UFC heavyweight contender Daniel Cormier says that if the coronavirus pandemic doesn’t end by the summer he may be forced to retire from MMA. Cormier hasn’t fought since last August when he was knocked out by Miocic in the fourth round of the pair’s heavyweight title fight at UFC 241 to lose his belt. Since then, both DC and Miocic have been recovering from injuries, with the UFC planning on having them fight for a third and final time once both men are all healed up. The plan was for that to happen sometime this summer, but the coronavirus pandemic is throwing a wrench into things.

Future UFC events could feature countrymen only competition
Christopher Taylor - March 28, 2020
If the UFC plans to hold future events as scheduled, they are likely going to have to do so by pitting fellow countrymen up against one another. With cross-border closures already being implemented by many countries due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the only way fighters will likely to be able to compete is if it comes against someone from their home nation. That is at least for the foreseeable future.

Dana White confirms "four or five" potential locations for UFC 249
Christopher Taylor - March 28, 2020
UFC President Dana White is determined to have next month’s UFC 249 pay-per-view event take place as scheduled on April 18, 2020. The fight card was originally slated to take place in Brooklyn, however, due to the Covid-19 outbreak the promotion was forced to move the event on short-notice.

Donald Cerrone willing to help save UFC 249, receives callout from Gilbert Burns
Chris Taylor - March 28, 2020
Former UFC lightweight title challenger Donald Cerrone is willing to help save next month’s UFC 249 event by participating on the fight card. UFC 249 is slated to take place at a currently undisclosed location on April 18. The event is expected to be headlined by a highly anticipated lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson.

Jacare Souza shows empathy for Jon Jones following recent arrest
Chris Taylor - March 28, 2020
Former Strikeforce champion Jacare Souza is coming to the defense of Jon Jones following his recent arrest in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The UFC’s light heavyweight kingpin, Jones, was arrested early Thursday morning following a report of a gunshot in downtown Albuquerque. The police officers who responded to the call found Jones in a running jeep with a firearm. According to the report, ‘Bones’ had marijuana residue on his clothing and also failed a sobriety test.

Prop bets released on the future of Jon Jones following recent arrest
Chris Taylor - March 28, 2020
The future of current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones remains in question following his recent arrest in Albuquerque. Early Thursday morning, police responded to a gun shot call and found Jones in a running jeep. According to police reports, ‘Bones’ was in possession of a firearm and also had marijuana residue on his clothing. The light heavyweight champion also failed the sobriety test that was administered by police.

Russia's cross-border travel ban potentially buries Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson
Chris Taylor - March 28, 2020
Fight fans are on pins and needles wondering if April’s highly anticipated UFC 249 main event between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson will happen. The lightweight title fight was initially booked for April 18 in Brooklyn. However, due to the recent Covid-19 outbreak, the UFC was forced to change the event location last minute and have still yet to formally announce the new venue.

Israel Adesanya takes aim at Jon Jones following recent arrest
Chris Taylor - March 28, 2020
Israel Adesanya is the latest individual to take a shot at Jon Jones following the UFC light heavyweight champions most recent arrest. ‘Bones’ was arrested earlier Thursday morning in Albuquerque and now faces four misdemeanors including aggravated DWI, negligent use of a firearm, possession of an open container and failure to provide proof of insurance.

Jon Jones case could potentially be dismissed due to Covid-19 virus
Chris Taylor - March 28, 2020
Jon Jones recent legal case could potentially be dismissed due to the Covid-19 virus. The UFC’s light heavyweight champion, Jones, was arrested on Thursday morning in downtown Albuquerque and now faces four misdemeanors including aggravated DWI, negligent use of a firearm, possession of an open container and failure to provide proof of insurance.

Video | Conor McGregor releases statement following lockdown in Ireland
Harry Kettle - March 28, 2020
Conor McGregor has released a statement to the Irish public following the confirmation that the nation of Ireland will be heading into lockdown. Over the course of the last few weeks, the coronavirus outbreak has been spreading like wildfire throughout the continent of Europe – and all around the world. In Ireland, as of this writing, there have been 2,121 confirmed cases with 22 deaths.

Stipe Miocic urges fellow MMA fighters to "make an impact in our communities"
Adam Martin - March 27, 2020
UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is urging his fellow MMA fighters to “make an impact in our communities” during the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to being arguably the greatest MMA heavyweight of all time, Miocic also works as a firefighter with the Valley View Fire Department. He’s one of the few champions in the UFC who works a second job, but to Miocic the firefighting is more important to him than his fighting career. It’s something he plans on doing regardless of how his MMA career is going.

Weili Zhang explains why she is in no rush to rematch Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Cole Shelton - March 27, 2020
Weili Zhang isn’t interested in running things back with Joanna Jedrzejczyk just yet. The two fought in the co-main event of UFC 248 where they put one of the greatest fights of all time. It was a back-and-forth affair that resulted in Zhang edging out a very narrow split decision win to defend her strawweight belt.