UFC News
Report | UFC 249 to take place in Jacksonville, Florida
Adam Martin - April 23, 2020
According to a report from veteran MMA reporter Dave Meltzer, UFC 249 is set to take place on May 9 in Jacksonville, Florida. There have been rumors the UFC intended to hold UFC 249 in Florida, and now we have a city. Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer said that the event will take place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville. The UFC has not yet made this official, but Meltzer is well-connected and considering Florida seemed like a likely outcome all along, this appears to be the place where UFC 249 will finally land.
Alexander Hernandez believes he might have contracted coronavirus from head coach
Adam Martin - April 23, 2020
UFC lightweight contender Alexander Hernandez admits that he may have contracted the coronavirus from his head coach, but still planned on fighting anyway. Hernandez was set to fight Islam Makhachev at the original UFC 249 card in Brooklyn in what would have been one of the biggest fights of his career to date. When the coronavirus pandemic meant that travel restrictions around the world were tightened, the UFC called upon Omar Morales to fight Hernandez instead, at the rescheduled card in Tachi Palace.
Report | UFC London fighters were paid "no more than $20,000" for canceled bouts
Tom Taylor - April 23, 2020
The UFC London card, which was scheduled to go down on March 21, was unfortunately one of several fight cards to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Shortly after the card was canceled, reports surfaced that the fighters who were scheduled to compete on the bill were paid for their efforts. They had, after all, undergone expensive training camps for the event.
VIDEO | Dana White appears on a UFC broadcast for the first time
Tom Taylor - April 23, 2020
Way back in 2001, we met the new president of the UFC. His name was Dana White. Maybe you’ve heard of him. At the time, White was just a young man—with a lot less experience in the combat sports business and a lot more hair. See the UFC boss’s first appearance on camera, which was recently released from the UFC archives, below.
Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler pitched promotions about potential trilogy in 2018
Mike Pendleton - April 23, 2020
Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler had two classic fights during their time with Bellator MMA and while there has always been chatter of a trilogy, those hopes were ended when Alvarez went to the UFC and then later moved on to ONE Championship. As he was approaching free agency after his UFC run, Alvarez considered running it back with Chandler and recently revealed that both he and Chandler pitched the fight to other promotions.
Tyron Woodley trashes "lil prostitute" Dan Hooker for loyalty to Israel Adesanya
Tom Taylor - April 23, 2020
Tyron Woodley started the week in a heated war of words with UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya, and is ending it bt jawing back-and-forth with Adesanya’s friend and training partner Dan Hooker. Not long after Woodley and Adesanya started skirmishing on Twitter, Hooker joined the fracas.
Jon Anik sets odds for UFC 249 happening on May 9
Tom Taylor - April 23, 2020
UFC play-by-play man Jon Anik is very confident the promotion will be able to go ahead with the planned UFC 249 card on May 9. Anik, who is a proud “degenerate gambler,” even set the odds for the card happening at a solid 9/10.
Abdelaziz: Georges St-Pierre must do "three things" to make Khabib superfight happen
Tom Taylor - April 23, 2020
Ali Abdelaziz believes a fight between his star client, UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, and former two-division UFC champ Georges St-Pierre is still possible. Speaking to ESPN, Abdelaziz opened up on a potential Nurmagomedov vs. St-Pierre superfight, assuring that it’s doable if the former wants it happen.
Justin Gaethje on fighting in the UFC: “I’ve made a choice to die and if someone’s going to save me from that, it’s going to be Trevor"
Harry Kettle - April 23, 2020
UFC lightweight Justin Gaethje has admitted that if anyone is going to prevent him from dying in the Octagon, it’ll be his head coach Trevor Wittman. Gaethje is known for being a bit of a wild man in his style and how he puts people away when he’s fighting. Thankfully for him, his last three wins have seen him escape relatively unscathed – but that isn’t always guaranteed to happen.
Halle Berry reveals she “broke some bones” while taking real kicks from Valentina Shevchenko
Natasha Hooper - April 23, 2020
Hollywood star and MMA fan Halle Berry admitted she “broke some bones” taking real kicks from Valentina Shevchenko. Berry made her directorial debut in the film “Bruised” which is expected to be released later this year. The movie follows the story of Jackie “Justice”, a disgraced MMA fighter who returns to fighting in an attempt to conquer her own demons and become the mother her child deserves.
Justin Gaethje on defeating Tony Ferguson: “It won’t mean I’m a world champion in the UFC”
Natasha Hooper - April 23, 2020
If Justin Gaethje beats Tony Ferguson at UFC 249, he will earn the interim lightweight title. However, in the eyes of “The Highlight,” that won’t make him a true champion. President Dana White scrapped the plans for UFC 249 on April 18, and pushed it back to May 9. The main event was supposed to feature Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson, but the lightweight champion ultimately withdrew over the constant changes associated with the pandemic.
John Makdessi blasts “incompetent” Michael Bisping for biased commentary
Harry Kettle - April 23, 2020
UFC lightweight John Makdessi has taken a shot at Michael Bisping for what he believes to be biased commentary from the former champion. Makdessi saw his three-fight unbeaten run in the division come to an end back at UFC Brasilia when he was beaten by unanimous decision by veteran Francisco Trinaldo. Prior to that, his last defeat in the Octagon came back at UFC 206 in December 2016.