UFC News
UFC Auckland: 'Felder vs. Hooker' Live Results and Highlights
Chris Taylor - February 22, 2020
The Octagon returns to Auckland for UFC Fight Night 168, a 12-bout fight card headlined by a lightweight scrap between Paul Felder and Dan Hooker. The New Zealand native, Hooker (19-8 MMA), will enter tonight’s main event on a two-fight winning streak. In his most recent Octagon appearance, ‘The Hangman’ picked up a unanimous decision victory over former title challenger Al Iaquinta.
Justin Gaethje says there's 'no doubt' Conor McGregor is ducking him
Cole Shelton - February 21, 2020
Justin Gaethje believes Conor McGregor is ducking him. Gaethje has been calling out the Irishman for quite some time, and took shots at McGregor for making his return fight against Donald Cerrone given ‘The Highligt’ had just knocked out ‘Cowboy.’ After McGregor won, the trash-talk only increased as he called for the fight but he says the Irishman is ducking him.
Coach reveals Daniel Cormier 'was not 100 percent' going into Miocic rematch
Tom Taylor - February 21, 2020
ofDaniel Cormier came up short in his 2019 rematch with Stipe Miocic, surrendering the UFC heavyweight title in the process. According to his long-time coach Javier Mendez, however, he wasn’t fighting at full capacity. Mendez revealed that Cormier wasn’t at 100 percent in a recent interview with MMA Junkie.
Nick Diaz, CM Punk both recently tested by USADA
Tom Taylor - February 21, 2020
Nick Diaz and CM Punk are both still undergoing drug tests from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the official anti-doping partner of the UFC. The same goes for suspended former bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw, ostensibly retired former light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson, and several other fighters we haven’t seen compete in awhile.
Conor McGregor reacts to NSAC banning Wilder-Fury staredown, suggests solution
Tom Taylor - February 21, 2020
The Nevada State Athletic Commission recently made the decision to ban Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury from squaring off after they weigh in for their Saturday night rematch, evidently wary after the pair got physical at a press conference earlier this week. Former two-division UFC champ Conor McGregor is not on board with this decision. McGregor reacted to this bizarre decision from the NSAC on Twitter. He began by praising the commission for the work it does, but then offered a solution that will allow Wilder and Fury to square off: just beef up security!
Joseph Benavidez not aiming for rematch with Henry Cejudo: 'That's not my fight to chase'
Mike Pendleton - February 21, 2020
With the vacant UFC flyweight title on the line in his next fight, contender Joseph Benavidez is not looking back. Benavidez is scheduled to take on Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 27 which will take place in Norfolk, Virginia for the title that Cejudo was stripped off as he maintains his focus on the bantamweight division and his title there. During a recent interview with Jimmy Smith and Miesha Tate for MMA Tonight on Sirius XM, Benavidez was asked about the possibility of going up to bantamweight to chase a fight with the former flyweight champion, and there was little to no interest for him. Already holding a victory over Cejudo, Benavidez said he doesn’t feel a fight against Cejudo is one that he needs to go chase.
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Joanne Calderwood opening betting odds released
Adam Martin - February 21, 2020
The opening betting odds have been released for the upcoming UFC women’s flyweight title fight at UFC 251 between champion Valentina Shevchenko and challenger Joanne Calderwood. ESPN broke the news this week that Shevchenko vs. Calderwood will take place on June 6 at a location and venue that is do-be-determined. Typically the UFC visits Chicago in June so there’s a chance the card could be placed there yet again, though that’s not confirmed yet. Regardless, it seems like Shevchenko vs. Calderwood will wind up as the co-main event on the card.
NSAC bans weigh-in staredown for Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury rematch
Tom Taylor - February 21, 2020
The Nevada State Athletic Commission isn’t taking any chances when it comes to the upcoming WBC heavyweight title rematch between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury. After the pair got physical at a press conference this week, the commission has banned them from partaking in a staredown after they weigh in on Friday evening.
UFC Auckland weigh-in results: Dan Hooker and Paul Felder make weight, one fight scratched
Adam Martin - February 21, 2020
The UFC Auckland weigh-ins took place Friday morning and 24 fighters made weight for the card, including headliners Dan Hooker and Paul Felder. In the non-title lightweight main event, Hooker stepped on the scale at 156lbs while Felder came in at 155.5lbs, making the headlining fight official. Hooker and Felder are both ranked in the top-10 of the stacked UFC lightweight division and the winner of this fight will be one step closer to jumping into title contention.
Colby Covington forecasts 'sequel and trilogy' with Kamaru Usman, says UFC 'likes the idea'
Tom Taylor - February 21, 2020
Back in December, in the main event of UFC 245, Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington delivered an absolute thriller of a welterweight title fight. In the end, Usman won this fight via fifth-round TKO to retain the title, yet it doesn’t sound like his time in the cage with Covington is over yet.
UFC Oklahoma City adds 3 new bouts including the return of Andrei Arlovski
Natasha Hooper - February 21, 2020
The fight card for UFC Oklahoma City is coming together. The promotion recently added three bouts to the card, including the return of Andrei Arlovski. UFC Oklahoma City takes place Saturday, May 2 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The event marks the third time the UFC has visited Oklahoma City, the last event taking place in 2017. The UFC has not officially announced the headling fight. However, former UFC champion Chris Weidman is expected to take on top contender Jack Hermansson in a middleweight battle in the main event.
Michael Chiesa responds after Coach Fabia reveals plans for 'death choke' at UFC 239
Harry Kettle - February 21, 2020
Michael Chiesa has issued a response after claims from Diego Sanchez’s coach Joshua Fabia that they had plans for a ‘death choke’ at UFC 239. Chiesa and Sanchez went toe to toe during International Fight Week back in July 2019 with the former coming out on top in a fairly lopsided unanimous decision victory. Alas, even though Chiesa has gone on to also beat Rafael dos Anjos, there’s a whole lot more attention on Sanchez right now following his controversial DQ win at UFC Rio Rancho last weekend.
Dana White praises 'good friend' Donald Trump at political rally: "He's doing great things for this country"
Adam Martin - February 20, 2020
UFC president Dana White spoke on Thursday evening at a political rally in Colorado in support of United States President Donald Trump. White and Trump are good friends going back two decades now, with Trump being instrumental to the rise of MMA in the early days of the UFC. When White had the chance to speak at Thursday’s rally, he praised Trump and spoke glowingly about the president. Below is the video and a written transcript of what White said at the podium.
Coach Joshua Fabia responds to criticism, claims Diego Sanchez has ‘Mayweather level’ defense
Cole Shelton - February 20, 2020
Joshua Fabia, the coach, trainer, and manager of Diego Sanchez is firing back at his critics. He says his pupil has some of the best defense in MMA and isn’t sure why he is getting made fun of. Back at UFC 239, Sanchez had a public falling out with JacksonWink. There, he dropped them on fight week and only used one cornerman in Fabia. Since that fight and Sanchez’s most recent scrap at UFC Rio Rancho, Fabia was critiqued by the way he communicated and the movements he shows.
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Derek Brunson off of UFC 248, set for UFC Portland co-main event
Cole Shelton - February 20, 2020
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Derek Brunson will no longer be happening at UFC 248 as expected. Shahbazyan announced on social media that he was off the card, but added he’s ready to fight right now.
Shogun Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira 3 added to UFC 250
Adam Martin - February 20, 2020
The trilogy fight between light heavyweight legends Shogun Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has been added to UFC 250. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reported that the UFC has added the third fight between the PRIDE veterans to UFC 250, which takes place on May 9 at Ginásio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, Brazil. UFC president Dana White confirmed the bout is official. The main event of the card sees UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo taking on Jose Aldo.
VIDEO | Relive the full Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone fight from UFC 246
Tom Taylor - February 20, 2020
ESPN SportsCenter has released the complete Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone fight, which headlined the UFC 246 card back in January. The fight was over and done with in 40 seconds, so it won’t take much time out of your day to relive. Watch it below:
Joseph Benavidez not a fan of champ-champs: 'That's something that maybe needs to change'
Mike Pendleton - February 20, 2020
The main event of UFC Norfolk on February 29 will see Joseph Benavidez get another chance at UFC flyweight gold, when he takes on Deiveson Figueiredo. The title became vacant back in December when former flyweight champion Henry Cejudo relinquished his title as he focuses on challengers in the bantamweight division. While there is history between Cejudo and Benavidez, he’s got his focus set on winning UFC gold, something he’s almost accomplished earlier in his career. During an interview with Jimmy Smith and Miesha Tate of MMA Tonight on Sirius XM, Benavidez was asked about the situation regarding the flyweight title and his former opponent Henry Cejudo.