UFC News
UFC welterweight Santiago Ponzinibbio removed from rankings
Harry Kettle - December 23, 2019
UFC welterweight contender Santiago Ponzinibbio has been removed from the official divisional rankings as a direct result of his recent inactivity. The Argentine sensation has been with the company since back in 2013, racking up a 9-2 record in the process. He has won his last seven fights with the promotion, which has included triumphs over Gunnar Nelson, Mike Perry and Neil Magny, but he hasn’t been in the cage since November 2018 when he knocked Magny out in Buenos Aires.
Matt Serra: Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington stoppage was 'pretty bad'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 23, 2019
Matt Serra believes Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington could’ve played out longer than it did. Usman vs. Covington headlined UFC 245 earlier this month. Usman put the UFC welterweight gold on the line inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In a back-and-forth battle, “The Nigerian Nightmare” ended up scoring the fifth-round TKO victory. Covington was quick to protest the stoppage to referee Marc Goddard.
Cory Sandhagen removed from UFC Raleigh, no replacement opponent for Frankie Edgar sought
Adam Martin - December 23, 2019
UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen will be removed from the UFC Raleigh card, and no replacement opponent will be sought for Frankie Edgar. The No. 4-ranked bantamweight on the UFC roster, Sandhagen was expected to take on Edgar in what was to be the biggest fight of his young career and also Edgar’s 135lbs debut. However, the UFC instead chose Edgar to replace Brian Ortega against The Korean Zombie in the main event of UFC Busan.
Khabib Nurmagomedov says retirement is 'very close'
Tom Taylor - December 23, 2019
Khabib Nurmagomedov is scheduled to defend the UFC lightweight title against streaking contender Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 this April. While this mammoth showdown is at the forefront of the champ’s mind at the moment, he is also thinking about his inevitable retirement from MMA—which is apparently “around the corner.” “Well, we don’t have a plan for when we’re going to finish but I do know it is not over the mountains, as they say,” Khabib said during a recent Q&A in Russia (Via RT Sport). “That time is very close.
Conor McGregor praises Frankie Edgar: 'Forever an icon in this game'
Adam Martin - December 23, 2019
Gilbert Burns says UFC wants him to fight Demian Maia in Brazil
Adam Martin - December 23, 2019
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns says the UFC has offered him a fight against the legend Demian Maia next March in Brazil. Burns spoke to MMA journalist Drake Riggs following his recent grappling match against Craig Jones and told the scribe the UFC wants him to fight Maia next. Here’s what Burns said.
Donald Cerrone responds to conspiracies that he'll take a dive against Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - December 23, 2019
UFC superstar Conor McGregor is scheduled to return to the Octagon opposite Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 on January 18. Despite the dangerous test that Cerrone represents, there is already buzz about McGregor potentially fighting Jorge Masvidal or Khabib Nurmagomedov thereafter — either of which would represent hugely lucrative fights for the UFC. Suffice it to say that there will be a lot at stake when McGregor fights Cerrone in January. So much so that some fans have theorized that the UFC might pay Cerrone to take a dive against McGregor, thereby opening the door to more lucrative fights fo McGregor.
UFC Busan medical suspensions: Frankie Edgar facing lengthy absence
Tom Taylor - December 23, 2019
Frankie Edgar took a gamble by taking a short-notice fight with “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung in the UFC Busan main event, but it did not pay off. Instead, Edgar was finished in the first round, and has received a significant medical suspension as a result. This suspension rules out any possibility that he’ll be able to fight Cory Sandhagen at UFC Raleigh in January as originally planned. Because the UFC Busan card occurred outside the jurisdiction of a combat sports commission, the UFC handled medical suspension internally. The promotion’s medical suspensions have been acquired by mixedmartialarts.com, and can be viewed in full below.
Islam Makhachev refutes Kevin Lee booking, calls for fight contract
Tom Taylor - December 23, 2019
Over the weekend, UFC lightweight contender Kevin Lee divulged to Helen Yee that he has received an offer to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 249 in Brooklyn, New York this April. Lee added that he and the UFC are waiting on Makhachev to sign his contract, and that it’s not clear what the delay is. Kevin Lee tells me his next fight offered will be against Islam Mackhachev in the Khabib vs Tony Ferguson card in April in Brooklyn. According to Kevin, they’re waiting on Islam and not sure what the holdup is. Interview coming shortly.
Nutritionist details challenges in getting Jose Aldo down to bantamweight
Natasha Hooper - December 23, 2019
When Jose Aldo revealed his plans to skim off 10 pounds for his bantamweight debut, he received a flurry of scepticism from the MMA world. Even UFC President Dana White claimed there was “no way” the Brazilian could make the 135-pound limit. For the first time in his fighting career, the former featherweight champion worked under the guidance of Dr. Pricila Antunes to effectively make weight in the healthiest way possible.
Firas Zahabi jokes about how Georges St-Pierre avoids Alien abduction
Harry Kettle - December 23, 2019
Sometimes in mixed martial arts we can all take ourselves a little bit too seriously — which is why we need a bit of comic relief from time to time. Enter Georges St-Pierre. St-Pierre happens to be one of the most successful fighters in the history of the sport. The Canadian is a fascinating character with many different traits, many of which are great, and some of which are a little bit odd.
Jon Jones teases heavyweight jump in 2020
Tom Taylor - December 23, 2019
Fan fans have been clamoring to see reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones move to heavyweight for years. From the sounds of it, we could finally see that happen in 2020. While Jones is currently scheduled for a light heavyweight title defense opposite undefeated contender Dominick Reyes at UFC 247, he recently divulged that he was initially trying to book a fight with heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is helping those in need this Christmas
Natasha Hooper - December 23, 2019
Jon Jones has been getting into the Christmas spirit by handing out winter coats for free on December 23. The UFC light heavyweight champion posted a picture to social media of him smiling, accompanied by a van full of gifts, ready to share the gift of giving.
Kamaru Usman hoping to be on next season of “The Bachelor”
Adam Martin - December 22, 2019
Everyone is looking for love and it’s no different for UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who hopes to be on the next season of “The Bachelor.” Usman recently defended the UFC welterweight title with a fifth-round TKO finish over Colby Covington in the main event of UFC 245. It was one of the best fights of the year and improved Usman’s MMA record to 16-1, including a perfect 11-0 mark inside the Octagon.
Kevin Lee vs. Islam Makhachev targeted for UFC 249
Adam Martin - December 22, 2019
A lightweight bout between top-15 ranked fighters Kevin Lee and Islam Makhachev is being targeted to take place at UFC 249. The event is set for April 18 at Barclays Arena in Brooklyn, New York, with the main event seeing UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov attempts to defend his title against No. 1 contender Tony Ferguson. A fight between Lee and Makhachev would likely serve as one of the five main card pay-per-view bouts.
Jorge Masvidal scoffs at critics of chasing money fights
Adam D Martin - December 22, 2019
UFC welterweight superstar Jorge Masvidal is scoffing at the critics who have suggested he shouldn’t be chasing money fights. Masvidal is the clear-cut No. 1 contender in the UFC welterweight division now that Kamaru Usman defended his title against Colby Covington last week at UFC 245. However, Masvidal appears to be targeting a superfight against superstar Conor McGregor in MMA or taking his skills to the boxing ring to face off against the legend Floyd Mayweather.
Kamaru Usman congratulates ‘Big little brother’ Mohammed following his KO victory at Titan FC
Adam D Martin - December 22, 2019
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman congratulated his ‘big little brother’ Mohammed Usman on his KO victory at Titan FC 38 this weekend. It’s been a good month for the Usman family, as Kamaru defeated Colby Covington via fifth-round TKO last Saturday at UFC 245 to defend the UFC welterweight title, and now his brother Mohammed knocked out Reggie Cato with one punch at Titan FC 38 last night.
Frankie Edgar issues statement following TKO loss to The Korean Zombie
Chris Taylor - December 21, 2019
Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar took on The Korean Zombie in the headliner of today’s UFC Busan event in South Korea. ‘The Answer’ had taken the bout on short-notice, this after ‘TKZ’s’ original opponent Brian Ortega was forced to withdraw from the contest due to injury.
Photo | Korean Superboy suffered broken forearm in TKO loss to Charles Jourdain
Cole Shelton - December 21, 2019
Doo Ho Choi made his highly-anticipated return to the Octagon at today’s UFC Busan event against Canadian, Charles Jourdain. It was his first fight since January of 2018 as he has been in the process of finalizing his mandatory military service and can’t leave South Korea. But, with the card being in his home country he was eligible to compete.