UFC News
Francis Ngannou and the heavyweight Rumble that needs to happen
Natasha Hooper - July 9, 2019
Francis Ngannou (14-3-0) is on a roll and shows no signs of slowing down. “The Predator” scored yet another first-round knockout victory last month at UFC Minneapolis, defeating former champion Junior dos Santos (21-6-0). Francis Ngannou has won three fights back to back. Disposing of Cain Valesquez earlier this year and Curtis Blaydes in 2018, Ngannou is sitting on a trilogy of first-round knockouts.
Marvin Vettori wants Israel Adesanya rematch, confident he 'will finish him'
Cole Shelton - July 9, 2019
Israel Adesanya is 17-0 as a pro mixed martial artist and 6-0 inside the UFC’s Octagon. While many of his UFC wins have looked quite effortless, others have come a little less easily, such as his second bout, which saw him defeat Marvin Vettori by split decision. At UFC on FOX 29, Adesanya fought Vettori and ended up winning, but it was close. One judge sided with the Italian, who is still the only person to win a judge’s favor against Adesanya in the UFC. Now, the 25-year-old wants the rematch against the interim champion and is confident he not only wins but finishes Adesanya.
Joe Rogan discusses Jorge Masvidal's 'brilliant' flying knee KO
Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 9, 2019
UFC color commentator Joe Rogan has weighed in on Jorge Masvidal’s historic knockout win against Ben Askren. Masvidal has been at the center of attention for cementing his place in the history books. At UFC 239, Masvidal took on Askren. “Gamebred” needed just five seconds to ice Askren with a flying knee. It’s the fastest knockout in UFC history, topping Duane Ludwig‘s six-second finish over Jonathan Goulet back in Jan. 2006.
Jorge Masvidal: Kamaru Usman is 'not going to hold me down'
Tom Taylor - July 9, 2019
Jorge Masvidal didn’t need to show off his impeccable defensive grappling in his UFC 239 fight with Olympic wrestler Ben Askren — you know, because he knocked him out in five seconds. That being said, Masvidal will likely have to exercise his defensive wrestling if he finds himself in the cage with reigning UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Usman, like Askren, is a tremendous takedown artist, and will probably look to punish Masvidal on the canvas.
Chael Sonnen reacts to Jorge Masvidal's 'scary' KO over Ben Askren
Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 9, 2019
Chael Sonnen was concerned for Ben Askren after Jorge Masvidal finished him in just five seconds. Askren vs. Masvidal took place at UFC 239 in Las Vegas. It had been dubbed as the “people’s main event,” and it certainly delivered in terms of the highlight reel and record books. Masvidal sprinted at Askren immediately and landed a flying knee that put “Funky” to sleep. The five-second finish broke the UFC record for fastest knockout.
UFC 239 medical suspensions revealed, Ben Askren gets lengthy sit after KO loss
Cole Shelton - July 9, 2019
Last weekend, the Octagon returned to Las Vegas, Nevada for International Fight Week and a stacked UFC 239 card. In the main event, light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones defended his title as he edged out a split-decision over Thiago Santos. During the fight, the Brazilian’s knee buckled numerous times, while “Bones” had to be carried out of the Octagon due to his own leg injury. Meanwhile, the co-main event saw Amanda Nunes knock out Holly Holm in the first frame to defend her bantamweight title.
Jorge Masvidal open to future grappling match with Ben Askren
Tom Taylor - July 9, 2019
Jorge Masvidal made very short work of his nemesis Ben Askren, flattening the former ONE and Bellator champ with a flying knee just five seconds into their UFC 239 fight. While this decisive outcome initially looked like it would put an end to the beef between Masvidal and Askren, it’s become clear that there’s still some bad blood between them.
Drakkar Klose removed from UFC Sacramento after Dariush injury
Natasha Hooper - July 9, 2019
Lightweight fighter Drakkar Klose revealed on Instagram he will no longer be fighting at UFC Sacramento. UFC Sacramento will take place this Saturday, July 13, at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. One the fight card, Drakkar Klose was scheduled to fight Beneil Dariush.
Jan Blachowicz explains how Michael Bisping helped him KO Luke Rockhold at UFC 239
Mike Heck - July 9, 2019
When it comes to Luke Rockhold’s recent rollercoaster ride with his fighting career, many point to his middleweight title loss to Michael Bisping at UFC 199 as the beginning of the downward trajectory. In fact, Jan Blachowicz was able to use a piece of Bisping’s in-fight strategy at UFC 239 to put him in a position to be in his own world title conversation. Blachowicz picked up a big win on Saturday night when he knocked Rockhold out in the second-round. It was a left hook — the same punch Bisping landed on that magical night in June 2016 — that set up the finish.
Ricky Simon: It's a 'bad idea' for Urijah Faber to return against me
Cole Shelton - July 9, 2019
Ricky Simon did not expect to get the offer to fight UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber. Simon believed the UFC would give Urijah Faber a winnable fight in his return to action, and assures that he is not that. The 26-year-old is 15-1 as a pro and undefeated in the UFC. He is coming off of a decision win over Rani Yahya at UFC 234, which cemented him as a top-15 bantamweight. While he was waiting for his next fight contract, he was in the midst of planning a wedding and honeymoon, which he had to cancel the latter when the call to fight Faber came.
Even in defeat to Jon Jones, Thiago Santos gave hope to an ebbing light heavyweight division
Jordy McElroy - July 9, 2019
Paradise, Nevada was on the verge of descending into hell for light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who came within a scorecard of losing a split decision to gutsy contender Thiago Santos at UFC 239 on Saturday night. One opinion is literally all that stood between continuity and a seismic shift in the division ushering in a new era in MMA. A visibly stunned audience at the T-Mobile Arena watched in complete disbelief as a weary and injured Santos was helped back to the locker room. Not far behind him was Jones, arguably the greatest fighter in MMA history, leaning on a couple human crutches himself after five rounds of attrition; or rather, five rounds of newfound hope for a light heavyweight division growing stagnant from a lack of star power, aside from its incandescent king.
Colby Covington says win over Robbie Lawler makes him 'the best welterweight of all time'
Cole Shelton - July 9, 2019
Colby Covington will return to the Octagon in the main event of UFC Newark. On this card former interim champion will not be fighting for the welterweight title, as many expected. Instead, he is set to take on the former welterweight champion, Robbie Lawler. It will no doubt be an exciting fight, which “Chaos” admits, but he also wanted this fight for another reason. He believes a win over “Ruthless” will improve his legacy even more, and make him the greatest welterweight of all time.
Jon Jones details how Holly Holm's knockout loss affected his UFC 239 performance
Chris Taylor - July 8, 2019
Jon Jones had to put his light heavyweight title on the line just moments after witnessing his friend and training partner Holly Holm suffer a brutal knockout loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 239. The former women’s bantamweight queen, Holm, fell short in her bid to dethrone the current ‘champ champ’, this after eating a nasty head kick in the contests opening round.
Jon Jones responds to Israel Adesanya's criticism of UFC 239 Performance
Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 8, 2019
Jon Jones wasn’t going to stay quiet regarding Israel Adesanya’s latest verbal jabs for long. Jones vs. Adesanya is a dream matchup for many, but “Bones” has dismissed the idea in the past. The UFC light heavyweight champion has referred to Adesanya as being “frail” and has urged him to eat more jerk chicken. Adesanya has fired back by poking fun at Jones’ past troubles outside of the Octagon.
Tony Ferguson 'getting bored' at lightweight, ready to step in at UFC 242
Mike Pendleton - July 8, 2019
During an interview with MMA Junkie at the UFC’s Hall Of Fame ceremony, Tony Ferguson said that he’s getting bored with the lightweight division while he’s awaiting a shot at the winner of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier’s UFC 242 lightweight title fight. Ferguson has won 12 consecutive fights dating back to 2013 with his most recent victory coming at UFC 238 against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, and is awaiting the main event at UFC 242 to see who could possibly be his next opponent. With Khabib Nurmagomedov preparing to defend the lightweight title against interim champion Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson told MMA Junkie that he’s ready to fill-in as an injury replacement if either fighter can’t make it to the main event.
John Lineker signs with ONE Championship
Thomas Taylor - July 8, 2019
John Lineker has found a new home. After being released from the UFC roster earlier this month, the fan favorite has signed with ONE Championship.
Israel Adesanya goes off on Jon Jones, rates UFC 239 performance as "meh"
Mike Pendleton - July 8, 2019
The feud between interim middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and reigning light heavyweight champion Jon Jones just got turned up a notch. Following Jones’ UFC 239 title defense over Thiago Santos, Adesanya gave his assessment on the champion’s performance, and it wasn’t quite complimentary. Speaking to Ariel Helwani of ESPN, Adesanya rated Jones’ title defense over Santos as “meh” and then continued with his criticism of how Jones looked at UFC 239.
Kenny Florian calls Jorge Masvidal a 'hero' after Ben Askren KO
Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 8, 2019
Former UFC fighter Kenny Florian praises Jorge Masvidal for taking a big risk and having it pay off. It’s not often that fighters at the highest of levels in mixed martial arts start a fight by charging at their opponent. Not since the late Kid Yamamoto did it back in 2006 have we seen an elite MMA fighter pull it off to almost instant success. That’s exactly what Masvidal did when he iced Ben Askren with a flying knee in just five seconds at UFC 239.