UFC News
Jon Jones shows support for Sean O'Malley
Mike Heck - June 26, 2019
If there’s anyone who knows what Sean O’Malley has been going through as of late, it’s the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Jones was one of the big stories throughout 2018 for his active schedule, but also for the traces of the long-term oral Turinabol metabolite remaining in his system. “Bones” was not suspended for the positive test that occurred at the end of 2018, but it is a question that will continue to be asked in regards to Jones for the foreseeable future.
Amanda Nunes says Holly Holm is the same every fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 26, 2019
Amanda Nunes expects Holly Holm to be at her best, but she feels prepared for her next challenger. Nunes is a UFC “champ-champ.” She holds the UFC women’s bantamweight and women’s featherweight gold. She’ll put her 135-pound title on the line against Holm in the co-main event of UFC 239 on July 6. It’ll be Nunes’ fourth bantamweight title defense.
Jon Jones believes Alexander Gustafsson fight could earn Hall of Fame spot
Tom Taylor - June 26, 2019
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, widely regarded as the best fighter of all time, is seemingly a shoe-in for the Modern Era of the UFC Hall of Fame. That being said, Jones also believes he could earn a spot in the Fight Wing of the Hall of Fame, thanks to his 2013 epic with Sweden’s Alexander Gustafsson Jones believes this back-and-forth war, which culminated with a hotly debated decision, was absolutely Hall of Fame worthy — even if it’s precisely the kind of fight he strives to avoid.
UFC Minneapolis | Alonzo Menifield hopes to kickstart busy run with KO of Paul Craig
Cole Shelton - June 26, 2019
Alonzo Menifield did not want to be on the UFC Minneapolis card on Saturday. He was hoping to fight sooner. The light heavyweight last fought back in January, when he knocked out Vinicius Moreira at UFC Brooklyn. Since then, he has been wanting to fight, but this was the first offer that came. Now, the 31-year-old is looking to go 2-0 in the UFC and he believes he knows exactly how it will happen.
Jon Jones responds to repeated Dillon Danis callouts
Tom Taylor - June 26, 2019
Bellator MMA star Dillon Danis has made repeated calls for a fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Be it on the grappling mats or in the cage, the BJJ specialist is adamant that he has what it takes to submit the MMA legend. “I offered to do a grappling match with him,” Danis said of Jones on a recent episode of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show. “If we fought in MMA, I feel like, from his stance and how tall he is, if I did an Imanari roll I would take his leg home with me.
12 bouts set for UFC Newark on August 3
Tom Taylor - June 26, 2019
The recently announced UFC Newark card, which will broadcast on ESPN on August 3, is looking like a good one. As we now know, the card will be headlined by a welterweight showdown between former champion Robbie Lawler and former interim champion Colby Covington.
Multiple bouts confirmed for UFC Vancouver
Tom Taylor - June 26, 2019
The upcoming UFC Vancouver card, scheduled for September 14 in the British Columbia city, has gotten a handful of new bouts (h/t MMA Fighting). The biggest of these bouts will occur in the light heavyweight division, where former title challenger Glover Teixeira will take on dangerous Ukrainian finisher Nikita Krylov. Teixeira will look to extend his win-streak to three-straight after back-to-back submissions of Karl Roberson and Ion Cutelaba, while Krylov will look to build on the momentum of a recent submission defeat of Ovince Saint Preux.
Joe Rogan discusses Sean O'Malley's drug testing issues
Tom Taylor - June 26, 2019
After a six-month suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), UFC bantamweight prospect Sean O’Malley was scheduled to return to the cage opposite Marlon Vera at UFC 239. Regrettably, O’Malley once again tested positive for the banned substance ostarine, the same banned substance he was previously sanctioned for, nixing his planned return. UFC commentator Joe Rogan believes these issues likely have a pretty straightforward cause. Rogan discussed the issue on a recent edition of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
Jon Jones looks to be in phenomenal shape ahead of UFC 239 fight with Thiago Santos
Christopher Taylor - June 25, 2019
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will return to the octagon at next month’s UFC 239 event where he will attempt to defend his title against dangerous knockout artist Thiago Santos. Despite constant talk of a trilogy bout with bitter rival Daniel Cormier, it appears that ‘Bones’ is not distracted at the dangerous task that lies ahead of him on July 6.
Diego Sanchez says he is striving to become the greatest of all time
Cole Shelton - June 25, 2019
Diego Sanchez has been fighting in the UFC since 2005 where he won The Ultimate Fighter 1 at middleweight. Since then, the 37-year-old has beaten the likes of Kenny Florian, Joe Riggs, Clay Guida, and Nick Diaz among others. But, the veteran of the sport says he is not close to being done fighting. Rather, he is riding a two-fight winning streak and will have a step up in competition when he takes on Michael Chiesa at UFC 239. It has been a resurgence, to say the least, and the veteran isn’t worried about his age at all.
UFC 239 | Holly Holm admits Amanda Nunes is great, but there is still a name missing from her record
Cole Shelton - June 25, 2019
Holly Holm is fighting for the bantamweight title once again at UFC 239 against reigning division queen Amanda Nunes. Holm will be looking to reclaim the gold she had previously earned at UFC 193 by knocking out Ronda Rousey.
Ben Askren calls Justin Bieber a wimp
Adam Martin - June 25, 2019
Count Ben Askren among the parties interested in a potential celebrity showdown between Justin Bieber and Tom Cruise. Speaking to TMZ, Askren agreed Bieber vs. Cruise would be a big fight for the UFC. And if the fight does come to fruition, Askren has already made his pick.
Joe Rogan believes Jon Jones' only loss should be overturned
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2019
Earlier today, BJPenn.com reported that UFC President Dana White is working with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) to get the lone loss on Jon Jones’ record — a 2009 disqualification to Matt Hamill — expunged. UFC commentator Joe Rogan is in full support of this plan from the UFC boss. This controversial loss, which Rogan was cage-side for, occurred after Jones stapled Hamill to the canvas with a series of spearing, 12-6 elbows. Because this move was and still is illegal, Jones was handed a disqualification, despite the fact that he had absolutely dominated Hamill.
Thiago Santos would 'love to beat up Adesanya'
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2019
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has recently traded quite a bit of trash talk with interim middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, but he’s not sure he’d be willing to fight him. Jones’ next opponent Thiago Santos, however, would relish the chance to fight Adesanya, even if it meant dropping back down to the middleweight division. In fact, Thiago Santos says he has had a few encounters with Israel Adesanya in the past, and they haven’t been particularly pleasant.
UFC Minneapolis | Eryk Anders expects to KO Vinicius Moreira to get back into win column
Cole Shelton - June 25, 2019
Eryk Anders did not expect to fight this soon. The 32-year-old is coming off of a brutal decision loss to Khalil Rountree at UFC 236 where he was knocked down several times. But, when the call came to step in on short notice to take on Vinicius Moreira at UFC Minneapolis, it was an easy decision for the former Alabama football star.
Amanda Nunes explains why she's the GOAT of women's MMA
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2019
Amanda Nunes believes she is the best female mixed martial artist of all time. The Brazilian, who became a two-division UFC champion when she knocked out the great Cris Cyborg in December, proclaimed herself the GOAT at Monday’s UFC 239 media day. “Yeah, it’s for sure,” Nunes said (via MMA Junkie). “I am the greatest of all time. I beat the most dominating woman on the planet. I feel like I deserve it now.”
Dana White believes Conor McGregor could crash Nurmagomedov-Poirier fight
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2019
Dana White admits he may have pushed Darren Till 'too soon'
Mike Heck - June 25, 2019
When it comes to hindsight, even UFC president Dana White can take a look back on decision making with a different lens. With the sport of mixed martial arts evolving at such a frenetic pace, finding MMA’a next big star has become a daunting task. One of the fighters who garnered a lot of attention after a huge win in a headline position was welterweight Darren Till. It seemed like “The Gorilla” would be off to the races following his first round finish of Donald Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 118 in October 2017, which was followed by a unanimous decision win over, then, top contender Stephen Thompson seven months later.
Ben Askren calls out Georges St-Pierre
Adam Martin - June 25, 2019
Leave it to Ben Askren to go big-game hunting. At the UFC 239 pre-fight press conference, Askren was asked who his ideal next three opponents were. The first name he listed was Jorge Masvidal, who he fights at UFC 239 on July 6 in Las Vegas. The second name was Kamaru Usman, the UFC welterweight champion. And the third name was the Canadian legend himself, Georges St-Pierre.