UFC News
Tyron Woodley hopes to fight on May 9 in case subsequent cards fall through
Tom Taylor - April 20, 2020
Former UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley is hoping to compete on the UFC’s planned May 9 card, as he’s worried the powers that be could derail the UFC’s subsequent events. The May 9 event is intended to serve as the UFC’s big return after a brief coronavirus-related shut-down. UFC President Dana White has been adamant that, following this May 9 card, the promotion will produce events every weekend to make up for lost time.
Stephen Thompson turns heel, joins Ariel Helwani in online feud with Darren Till
Harry Kettle - April 20, 2020
In a twist similar to Randy “Macho Man” Savage turning on Hulk Hogan, Stephen Thompson has shocked the world and turned heel. It’s safe to say that the ongoing war of words between Ariel Helwani and Darren Till has sent shockwaves through the MMA universe, to the point where it seems obvious that they’re going to throw down in what will almost certainly be one of the most highly anticipated fights in the history of mixed martial arts.
Aljamain Sterling claims “sensitive” Dominick Cruz blocked him on Twitter, responds to callout from Frankie Edgar
Natasha Hooper - April 20, 2020
Aljamain Sterling has called out Dominick Cruz for blocking him on social media, and also responded to a callout by Frankie Edgar. “The Funk Master” has been inching towards a title shot but the former champion, Cruz, has beaten him to it. The current bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo was scheduled to defend his title against Jose Aldo next. However, his Brazilian opponent had to pull out of their scheduled matchup due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Dominick Reyes says Jon Jones is bluffing about Jan Blachowicz bout, tells everyone to “slow down”
Natasha Hooper - April 20, 2020
Dominick Reyes has called out his last opponent Jon Jones for bluffing about an upcoming matchup against fellow light heavyweight Jan Blachowicz. In the main event of UFC 247, Reyes challenged the division’s champion, Jones, for the 205-pound crown. “Bones” defended his title and claimed the decision victory, but many spectators believed “The Devastator” should have won the five-round war. The 30-year old claimed he’s ready for the rematch but Jones will not sign the contract.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk reflects on hospital visit after Weili Zhang fight: "I felt like my soul was bleeding"
Adam Martin - April 19, 2020
Joanna Jedrzejczyk reflected on her emotional hospital visit following her war with UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang at UFC 248. Her opponent Zhang recently shared a story of how she met Jedrzekczyk in the hospital following their classic at UFC 248. The champ said that Jedrzejczyk was “crying for hours” as the two shared a special emotional moment with each other after slugging it out for 25 minutes in the center of the Octagon. The bout won “Fight of the Night” and is already regarded by fans and media as one of the greatest MMA fights of all time.
Frankie Edgar interested in fighting Aljamain Sterling next
Adam Martin - April 19, 2020
Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar says he’s interested in fighting Aljamain Sterling in his bantamweight debut. Edgar was supposed to fight Cory Sandhagen back at UFC Raleigh in January in what was supposed to be his first fight at 135lbs. But Edgar was pulled from the card and instead fought Chan Sung Jung at UFC Busan at featherweight, where he suffered a nasty KO loss to The Korean Zombie. The fight with Sandhagen was subsequently wiped out as a result and Edgar has still yet to make his official bantamweight debut.
Anderson Silva says he planned to retire in 2012, before KO loss to Chris Weidman
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2020
In a new interview, former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva said he wanted to retire in 2012 before his first fight with Chris Weidman at UFC 162. Silva was the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport at the time and was coming off of a 17-fight win streak with culminated in a vicious TKO over Stephan Bonnar at UFC 153. There were talks of a superfight against UFC welterweight champion George St. Pierre and Silva were in attendance for GSP’s win over Carlos Condit at UFC 154, but the fight never materialized for whatever reason. When the GSP fight didn’t happen, Silva had planned on retiring.
Paulo Costa speaks on issues of brain damage in MMA, willing to donate brain for research
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa spoke about the effects of blows to the head in MMA and says he’s willing to donate his brain for research. Costa is one of the top middleweights in MMA and is known for pulverizing his opponents’ heads and being the one who dishes out the damage. But in a recent interview with AG Fight, Costa admitted he thinks about the effects of blows to the head on his brain, and it’s the reason why he plans on retiring from the sport by the time he’s 36.
Weili Zhang finally headed back to China over a month after UFC 248
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2020
UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang is finally headed home to China after being stuck in the United States following UFC 248. Zhang fought rival Joanna Jedrzejczyk for five hard rounds in the co-main event of UFC 248 in an instant classic that is already regarded as one of the best fights in UFC history. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Zhang has been unable to travel back home to her native China and has stayed in Las Vegas for over a month since UFC 248 took place in nearly March.
Tim Kennedy explains why he refused anesthesia for sutures at UFC 178
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2020
Former UFC middleweight Tim Kennedy explained why he refused anesthesia for sutures following his fight against Yoel Romero at UFC 178. Kennedy and Romero got into one of the wildest brawls of 2014, with Romero eventually earning the third-round stoppage via TKO in controversial fashion at UFC 178’s “Fight of the Night.” Kennedy suffered brutal facial damage during the knockout and was forced to get his face stitched up by the doctors after the fight. However, it looks like the pain didn’t end for Kenney with the knockout.
Darren Till tells Michael Bisping to send his son to Liverpool so he can “make a man out of him”
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Darren Till told former champ and fellow Brit Michael Bisping to send his son to Liverpool so he can “make a man out of him.” Bisping and his son often have funny back-and-forth banter on their social media, especially during quarantine as not much else is going on. Till recently took notice of Bisping’s conversation with his son on social media and jokingly offered to teach his son a lesson. Here’s what Till wrote on Twitter.
Henry Cejudo fires back after Alexander Volkanovski calls his choice of opponents “embarrassing”
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2020
UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo fired back at featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski, who recently called his choice of opponents “embarrassing.” Volkanovski was critical recently of Volkanovksi calling out aging legends like Dominick Cruz and Frankie Edgar for his next fight after his UFC 250 matchup against another legend in Jose Aldo was wiped out by the coronavirus pandemic travel restrictions. Instead of calling out top contenders like Aljamain Sterling, Petr Yan or Cory Sandhagen, Cejudo has instead focused on older fighters who are coming off of losses, and Volkanovski noticed.