UFC News

Thomas Taylor - August 27, 2019

Media conference calls are a staple of most big UFC fight cards, and UFC 242 is no exception to that rule. On Tuesday afternoon, reporters from all over the world dialed into the card’s first conference call, eager to pose their questions to one of the headliners, interim lightweight champ Dustin Poirier. What many of those reporters initially got was something very different: a phone sex line.

Thomas Taylor - August 27, 2019

Yesterday afternoon, it was announced that UFC middleweight veteran CB Dollaway had been handed a two-year ban by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for multiple prohibited substances. “USADA announced today that CB Dollaway of Gilbert, Ariz., has accepted a two-year sanction for a violation of the UFC® Anti-Doping Policy after testing positive for multiple prohibited substances and using a prohibited method,” USADA’s press release read. 

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2019

When video surfaced showing Conor McGregor punching an older man at a bar in Dublin, the Irish star immediately had some explaining to do. McGregor did that explaining in an interview with ESPN last week, and also offered an apology. 

Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 27, 2019

Tyron Woodley once wanted to share the Octagon with Nate and Nick Diaz, but now he’s thinking about training with them. Woodley hasn’t been shy in the past about wanting major fights. When he was the UFC welterweight champion, Woodley was aiming for the likes of Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, Michael Bisping, and the Diaz brothers. Fast forward to 2019 and Woodley finds himself training with the now-retired St-Pierre. If “The Chosen One” has his way, then some sparring sessions with the Diaz brothers could be next.

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2019

Conor McGregor recently claimed that, had he not injured his hand, he could have ended up in the Octagon with Justin Gaethje this summer. “I believe it was leaning towards Justin Gaethje at that time,” McGregor told ESPN last week.

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2019

It seems that nobody is exempt from Colby Covington’s trash talk — not even the long-absent Nick Diaz. Covington has targeted Nick and his brother Nate countless times before, most recently in an interview with MMA Fighting.

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2019

Floyd Mayweather Sr., father of undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr., was recently informed about the latest legal turmoil of Conor McGregor. Earlier this month, footage was released of McGregor punching an older man — a man who was not much younger than Mayweather Sr.— inside a bar in Dublin.

Natasha Hooper - August 27, 2019

According to Michael Bisping, a potential welterweight contender bout between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz is a bigger deal than the upcoming welterweight title fight between champ Kamaru Usman and challenger Colby Covington. After successfully beating Anthony Pettis at UFC 241, Diaz called for a fight against the formidable contender Masvidal. Masvidal was receptive of this callout.

Mike Heck - August 27, 2019

The UFC’s return to Tampa, Florida is coming together nicely with the addition of a welterweight matchup between former lightweight James Vick and Niko Price. According to a report on Monday from FloCombat, Vick will make his welterweight debut against Price at UFC on the card. The event will take place Oct. 12 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida and will be headlined by a women’s strawweight bout between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Michelle Waterson. It will air on ESPN+. 

Natasha Hooper - August 27, 2019

Two-division UFC champ Henry Cejudo called out another fighter last night, this time targeting former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. Watch the video, posted to his Twitter account, here:

Natasha Hooper - August 27, 2019

On a recent episode of his podcast, UFC commentator Joe Rogan admitted he misspoke on Conor McGregor’s infamous pub attack. Earlier this month, a video surfaced of McGregor sucker punching an older man in the face for allegedly refusing a drink offer. In a subsequent interview with ESPN, the Irish fighter apologized for the incident. However, Joe Rogan found the bar altercation comical:

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2019

In early 2018, Francis Ngannou stepped into the Octagon to battle Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title. The widespread expectation — supported by the bout’s betting odds — was that Ngannou would come out on top in this fight. In the end, however, he was soundly outfought by the amply more experienced champion, losing a lopsided unanimous decision. Today, when Stipe Miocic is once again the heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has repositioned himself as the division’s top contender. A rematch between the two heavyweight stars seems like a foregone conclusion, it’s just a question of when.

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2019

On Monday, Conor McGregor stablemate Dillon Danis took a shot at Khabib Nurmagomedov training partner Islam Makhachev, keeping the beef between their two teams alive and well. https://twitter.com/dillondanis/status/1166006545391468546

Adam Martin - August 26, 2019

Knowing that UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo will be out of action for a while, top-ranked contender Aljamain Sterling is now eyeing a fight with Petr Yan for an interim belt. “The Funkmaster” spoke to Damon Martin at MMAFighting.com and said that with Cejudo likely fighting Joseph Benavidez for the UFC flyweight belt next, he doesn’t want to sit and wait around for him. That’s why he is targeting a fight against one of the division’s hottest fighters in Yan, and he wants an interim title on the line.

Thomas Taylor - August 26, 2019

Darren Till is moving up to middleweight. According to a report from ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, the former welterweight title challenger will make his middleweight debut opposite a fellow former welterweight in Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 244. The card goes down on November 2 inside New York City’s hallowed Madison Square Garden.

Tom Taylor - August 26, 2019

Late last week, former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier announced the tragic passing of his father. “Today I lost my hero to cancer, my father was the bravest, strongest, hardest working and most caring person I’ve ever known. Always the life of the party and made everyone he ever came in contact with feel good. I never could have imagined we would be going through this right now. All the lessons I wanna try and pass along I learned from my dad. You know its about the legacy we leave behind and my dads legacy will be one of just a great person, loving husband and father and friend to everyone.” Daniel Cormier wrote on Instagram. “If you’ve ever met Percy Benoit you’re better for it. We were able to see some amazing things pops and I hope you enjoyed the ride, I only wanted to make you proud. I love you pop, you were the strength of this family, now you get to rest. No more pain. Love you Dad #rip #cancersucks” – Daniel Cormier on Instagram.

Tom Taylor - August 26, 2019

CB Dollaway, a finalist on The Ultimate Fighter 7 and a veteran of the UFC middleweight division, has been suspended for two years by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after “testing positive for multiple prohibited substances and using a prohibited method.” USADA revealed this unfortunate CB Dollaway news in an official statement.

Tom Taylor - August 26, 2019

Paige VanZant has one fight left on her current UFC contract, and when that’s wrapped up, she plans on testing her value as a free agent. Speaking to Robin Black of DAZN ahead of last weekend’s Bellator 225 card VanZant divulged that her interest in free agency is due in part to a desire to fight on a card alongside her husband, Bellator middleweight Austin Vanderford.