UFC News
Coach John Kavanagh: Conor McGregor is 'the best i've seen him'
Tom Taylor - January 1, 2020
John Kavanagh, the head coach behind former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor, says the MMA star is better than ever ahead of his UFC 246 welterweight scrap with Donald Cerrone. Kavanagh sung McGregor’s praises on Twitter shortly after the Irish star’s last hard sparring session in Ireland. He admitted that he wasn’t sure how McGregor would look when this comeback plan was first mounted, but says fans are in for a “real treat.”
Dana White not sure Jon Jones will move to heavyweight
Tom Taylor - January 1, 2020
Fight fans have been dying to see UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones move up to heavyweight for years. According to UFC President Dana White, however, it may never happen. White shared his thoughts on Jones moving up a weight class in a recent interview with ESPN. He believes Jones is quite comfortable at light heavyweight, and emphasized that before any potential move up to heavyweight is discussed, Jones needs to get by Dominick Reyes at UFC 247.
Michael Bisping announces his year-end MMA awards
Natasha Hooper - December 31, 2019
Michael Bisping recently down with co-host Luis J Gomez on his podcast to announce the long-awaited results of his Believe You Me 2019 awards. Here are the former middleweight champ’s awards:
Edson Barboza plans to drop to featherweight
Tom Taylor - December 31, 2019
Long-time UFC lightweight contender Edson Barboza has decided to drop down to featherweight in search of greener pastures. This news was first reported by Brazilian publication Combate. Barboza has won just once in his last five fights, sandwiching an impressive TKO victory over Dan Hooker between losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov, Kevin Lee, Justin Gaethje, and most recently, Paul Felder, who he lost to by controversial split decision. This skid was preceded by three-straight victories over Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez, and Beneil Dariush.
Dana White: Conor McGregor wants BMF belt from Jorge Masvidal
Natasha Hooper - December 31, 2019
Conor McGregor has high ambitions for 2020, and that could potentially include taking Jorge Masvidal’s “BMF” belt, according to Dana White. During an interview with ESPN, UFC president Dana White revealed that Conor McGregor plans to fight three times in 2020. First up on the agenda is the Irish superstar’s Octagon return against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246.
Paulo Costa was the most-tested UFC fighter by USADA in 2019
Adam Martin - December 30, 2019
According to a new report, top-ranked UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa was the most-tested athlete on the UFC roster by USADA in 2019. Yahoo! Esportes recently reported that with 14 blood and urine tests, Costa was tested more than any other male fighter on the entire UFC roster by USADA. Women’s strawweight contender Claudia Gadelha tied Costa with 14 USADA tests as the most-tested female fighter on the UFC roster. That means both Costa and Gadelha were tested more than once a month over the last year — and they both passed all of their tests.
Dana White believes Weili Zhang can be 'one of the biggest stars' in UFC history
Cole Shelton - December 30, 2019
Dana White believes current UFC strawweight champion, Weili Zhang can be one of the biggest stars in UFC history. Zhang had a massive 2019 where she dominated Tecia Torres at UFC 235 and then headlined a UFC event in her home country of China. There, she was taking on Jessica Andrade for the title. She ended up knocking out the Brazilian out in under a minute to become the UFC champ.
Yoel Romero asks Israel Adesanya if he needs a pen to sign fight contract
Adam Martin - December 30, 2019
Top contender Yoel Romero asked UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya if he needs a pen to sign a reported fight contract against him. UFC president Dana White recently told ESPN that the UFC is planning on booking a middleweight title fight between Romero and Adesanya. Rumors out there have suggested that the bout could take place at UFC 248, which is set for March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The co-main event is set to be a women’s strawweight title bout between champion Weili Zhang and challenger Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Dana White confirms UFC working on Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero
Adam Martin - December 30, 2019
UFC president Dana White has confirmed the promotion is working on booking UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya against Yoel Romero. For months we have heard rumors that Adesanya could fight Romero but so far nothing has been made official. White said that he didn’t have anything official to announce just yet, but hinted an announcement for Adesanya vs. Romero could come soon.
Dana White claims UFC stars now make 'crazy money'
Tom Taylor - December 30, 2019
The UFC has always caught flack for fighter pay, which tends to pale in comparison to what athletes make in other similarly dangerous sports like boxing or football. According to UFC President Dana White, however, fighter pay has skyrocketed over recent years — in 2019 in particular.
Tyron Woodley threatens not to fight Leon Edwards after rap career diss
Natasha Hooper - December 30, 2019
Tyron Woodley has shut down Leon Edwards’ trash-talking on social media by threatening to withdraw from their anticipated fight. Earlier this month, it was announced that the former champ and No. 1 contender Woodley is being targeted for a fight against Leon Edwards at UFC London in March of 2020.
Petr Yan would love to 'put on a Russian boxing clinic' against 'no chin' Cody Garbrandt in the future
Cole Shelton - December 30, 2019
After Petr Yan beat Urijah Faber at UFC 245, Faber’s teammate, Cody Garbrandt, accosted the Russian backstage. According to Yan, nothing really happened backstage other than Garbrandt being all talk and not backing up his words.
VIDEO | Khabib Nurmagomedov and Cristiano Ronaldo team up to surprise young boy born without legs
Natasha Hooper - December 30, 2019
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Cristiano Ronaldo recently partnered up to fulfil the dream of a young boy born without legs. The UFC champ and football legend took time out during the holidays to surprise the 12-year old Ali Turganbekov.
Jon Jones continues to mock Dominick Reyes' athletic background
Thomas Taylor - December 29, 2019
Last week, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones took to Twitter to bash his UFC 247 opponent Dominick Reyes. “Dominic watching your interviews, it’s obvious you think you’re better than me,” Jones wrote. “You never struggled with substance abuse, you have your big degrees, was always team captain at everything. We get it.
UFC veteran Daron Cruickshank under fire for racist remarks in Japan
Thomas Taylor - December 29, 2019
Former UFC fighter Daron Cruickshank has found himself under fire after racist comments he made during an April visit to Japan have come to light. Cruickshank, who previously competed in the UFC lightweight division, has spent the last few years of his career fighting for Japan’s RIZIN Fighting Federation. During an April visit to Japan, the former UFC fighter made some controversial comments, suggesting that Japanese people eat dogs.
PHOTO | Conor McGregor has bulked up ahead of UFC 246
Thomas Taylor - December 29, 2019
At UFC 246, former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor will return to the Octagon for a welterweight clash with the fan favorite Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Ahead of this fight, McGregor has packed on quite a bit of mass, evidently taking full advantage of the fact that he won’t have to cut much weight for the fight. See the buffed-up Conor McGregor below:
VIDEO | UFC 246: Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone promo
Adam D Martin - December 29, 2019
Before UFC 246 takes place next month featuring a welterweight main event between Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone, check out this fan-made promo video. The YouTuber Youssef Hannoun created the following promo video for UFC 246: McGregor vs. Cerrone. Check it out below.
Jon Jones reflects on longevity as UFC Champion
Chris Taylor - December 28, 2019
It was back at UFC 128 in March of 2011 when Jon Jones first captured UFC gold by defeating Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua by way of third round TKO. At the time, Jones’ victory over Rua improved his professional mixed martial arts record to 13-1 overall. The Rochester natives lone career loss had come by way of disqualification, in a fight he was dominating, against Matt Hamill.