UFC News

Paul Craig steps in to fight “Shogun" at UFC São Paulo
Harry Kettle - October 30, 2019
UFC light heavyweight Paul Craig will step in to face Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the co-main event of UFC São Paulo, UFC has announced. The card is scheduled to take place on November 16 at Ginásio do Ibirapuera, with the headliner pitting Jan Błachowicz against Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. The co-main event was also set to be a light heavyweight showcase with Sam Alvey facing Rua, but now, it’ll be “Bearjew” Craig that steps in for the biggest fight of his life.

Russian thugs surround Conor McGregor’s hotel in Moscow, police forced to intervene
Natasha Hooper - October 30, 2019
Conor McGregor struggles to stay out of trouble, even when travelling abroad. This week, the former champion’s trip to Russia was interrupted as thugs reportedly surrounded his hotel, forcing the building into lockdown and police to intervene (according to Sputnik News).

Cat Zingano signs with Bellator
Adam Martin - October 29, 2019
A few months after being released by the UFC, former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger Cat Zingano has signed a multifight deal with Bellator. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani revealed the signing on Tuesday, noting that Zingano is expected to compete in Bellator’s featherweight division. Her debut date and opponent are not yet finalized. Her signing with Bellator was heavily rumored ever since her UFC release.

Report | Diego Sanchez no longer under UFC contract, interested in WLC bout
Cole Shelton - October 29, 2019
Diego Sanchez is reportedly no longer under contract with the UFC. Sanchez, who is a legend of the sport has been a member of the UFC roster since 2005 when he won ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ Season 1 at middleweight. Yet, a UFC title eluded him for his entire career as he only fought for a strap once and lost to B.J. Penn by TKO at lightweight.

How to watch UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz BMF Title fight
Natasha Hooper - October 29, 2019
UFC 244 is one of the most highly anticipated events on the 2019 MMA calendar and it takes place this weekend at Madison Square Gardens in New York. Jorge Masvidal will square off against Nate Diaz in the welterweight main event. They will battle it out for the unprecedented ‘BMF’ title, awarded by none other than Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

Israel Adesanya responds to Yoel Romero
Christopher Taylor - October 29, 2019
Fight fans received unfortunate news today that Paulo Costa had suffered an injury and was forced out of his slated title fight with Israel Adesanya. UFC President Dana White revealed the news in an interview with ‘The Schmo’, explaining that Costa had injured his bicep and will be out for eight months. White went on to say the promotion is working on securing a different opponent for Adesanya.

Ben Askren believes he still can prove he's the best fighter in the world
Cole Shelton - October 29, 2019
Two straight losses haven’t derailed Ben Askren’s confidence. Askren retired in 2017 because he could not get a shot in the UFC to prove he was the best welterweight in the world. Yet, this year that all changed. He made his Octagon debut in March with a submission win over Robbie Lawler. Since then though, he lost in five-seconds to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 239 and then was submitted by Demian Maia. His stock has dropped due to the setbacks and now said he is contemplating retirement.

The Rock confirms he will award BMF belt, teases special announcement for MMA fans
Tom Taylor - October 29, 2019
In keeping with earlier rumors, Dwayne Johnson — better known as The Rock — will bestow the winner of Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal’s UFC 244 fight with the BMF belt. The pro wrestler and Hollywood actor announced this exciting news in a Tuesday Instagram Live session with UFC President Dana White. “This addition to the company and the brand and to the sport, this BMF belt, I think it’s brilliant,” Johnson said (transcript via ESPN). “It’s so smart and it’s just fun, man.”

Paulo Costa injured, planned Israel Adesanya fight off the table
Adam Martin - October 29, 2019
UFC president Dana White confirmed that top middleweight contender Paulo Costa is injured and out of his fight against Israel Adesanya. White confirmed in an interview with The Schmo that Costa injured his bicep and will be out for eight months. The UFC president says the promotion is working on securing a different opponent for Adesanya.

Roy Nelson offers advice to Greg Hardy for Alexander Volkov fight: Use 'two inhalers'
Adam Martin - October 29, 2019
Bellator heavyweight Roy Nelson has some words of advice for the UFC’s Greg Hardy when he fights Alexander Volkov. Nelson tells Hardy to ‘use two inhalers.’ Nelson previously fought Volkov in the UFC, so he knows a thing or two about fighting the giant Russian. Hardy takes on Volkov in the co-main event of UFC Moscow next week, and Nelson was kind enough to offer Hardy some advice for the fight.

Report | Donald Trump 'tentatively scheduled' to attend UFC 244
Mike Heck - October 29, 2019
President Donald Trump has had ties to the world of mixed martial arts for years and it seems he has his sights set on watching the “BMF” title fight between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz at UFC 244 in person. According to a report via Twitter from Annie Karni, a White House correspondent for the New York Times, the President of the United States is “tentatively scheduled” to attend UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden this Saturday.

Chael Sonnen says Jon Jones' support for Nate Diaz during USADA drug testing situation was a facade
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 29, 2019
Chael Sonnen believes Jon Jones put on an act when he showed support for Nate Diaz. The UFC 244 main event appeared to be in serious jeopardy when Diaz claimed he was off the card. The Stockton native said elevated levels were found in his test results and he was told that it was likely due to contaminated supplements. Diaz wasn’t buying that reason as he doesn’t eat meat and only uses natural food supplements.

Dana White: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson fight 'is in the process of being made'
Tom Taylor - October 29, 2019
That Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson lightweight title fight we’ve all been awaiting for years? Expect to go down in the first quarter of 2020. That’s right from the lips of UFC President Dana White, who recently updated on the matchup in a chat with The Schmo.

Corey Anderson received tough feedback from the UFC that 'didn’t sit well'
Tom Taylor - October 29, 2019
Corey Anderson, who is set to take on red-hot prospect Johnny Walker at UFC 244 this weekend, has been calling for big-name opponents in the light heavyweight division for some time. Unfortunately, the UFC does not feel he’s earned these high-profile fights quite yet. At least, that’s what they told him. Speaking to MMA Fighting ahead of UFC 244, Anderson recalled a recent meeting with UFC brass, during which he was told he doesn’t deserve high-profile because he’s not a so-called “needle-mover.”

Donald Cerrone says negotiations for Conor McGregor fight are 'looking good'
Adam Martin - October 29, 2019
UFC lightweight contender Donald Cerrone says that contract negotiations for a fight against UFC superstar Conor McGregor are ‘looking good’ and he expects something to get signed soon. McGregor announced last week that he is targeting a return to the Octagon at UFC 246 on January 18 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cerrone and Justin Gaethje are the two fighters who are under consideration to fight McGregor, and at this time it appears that Cerrone has the inside track to get the fight.

UFC rankings update: Ben Askren takes a tumble, Dominick Cruz exits
Tom Taylor - October 29, 2019
The official UFC rankings have been updated in the wake of last Saturday’s UFC Singapore card, and as expected, former ONE and Bellator champ Ben Askren has taken a tumble down the welterweight rankings after losing to Demian Maia in the main event. In victory, Maia has hiked up four spots to No. 6.

Kevin Lee is 'gunning for 0s' and it starts with Gillespie and ends with Nurmagomedov
Cole Shelton - October 29, 2019
Kevin Lee is set to return to the lightweight division at UFC 244 in New York. There, the “Motown Phenom” will be taking on the undefeated Gregor Gillespie in a very risky fight. In fact, Lee says this is the stupidest fight he could have taken, but it’s a scrap he wanted to take nonetheless.

Dan Hardy breaks down Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal
Harry Kettle - October 29, 2019
UFC commentators Dan Hardy and John Gooden have broken down the ins and outs of UFC 244’s fantastic main event between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. With just a few days remaining until the two popular welterweights square off at Madison Square Garden, the hype for the showdown is at an all-time high. Both men have unique and interesting styles, which is one of the primary reasons as to why it isn’t exactly surprising to see a “BMF” Championship being on the line for the winner.