UFC News
Amanda Nunes responds to Felicia Spencer's request to move title fight to Florida
Tom Taylor - April 1, 2020
Earlier this week, Felicia Spencer requested that her featherweight title fight with reigning champion Amanda Nunes, tentatively scheduled for May 9 in Brazil, be moved to Florida. Her reasoning, of course, stems from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the travel difficulties it has created. @Amanda_Leoa we both live in ☀️ Florida, let’s get #UFC250 🤜to our back yard🏝. Please don’t leave! 😋 @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite @ufc
Jan Blachowicz foresees Dominick Reyes title fight if UFC strips Jones
Tom Taylor - April 1, 2020
Jan Blachowicz believes he deserves a shot at the UFC light heavyweight title before recent contenders like Dominick Reyes and Thiago Santos get another chance. “Everyone is trying to make his way to the belt, but these guys already had a chance and they didn’t take it,” he said of his rivals in an interview with Polish MMA site MMARocks.pl (via MMA Junkie). “Now they can rest some, or they can fight between the two of them. I am the next in line, and nobody can get in line in front of me. They can just fight to see who’s going to be fighting me next, when I’m defending the belt (or) if anything happens and they take the belt from Jon [Jones].”
Pro welterweights name their 170-pound GOAT
Cole Shelton - April 1, 2020
One of the biggest questions in all of MMA is who is the GOAT? Is it someone who had the biggest impact on the sport or the person who won the most? It’s an interesting debate for fighters and fans alike to have at any time. So, with little to no MMA on for the foreseeable future, BJPENN.com reached out to several current and former welterweights to ask who their divisional GOAT is.
Dan Ige discusses handling COVID-19 pandemic as a fighter and manager
Mike Pendleton - April 1, 2020
With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the entire sports world, fighters, managers, and coaches alike in the combat sports world are having to adjust to these difficult times. For one UFC fighter, featherweight Dan Ige, having to adjust as a fighter is just part of it, as he’s also a manager for other UFC fighters. Most recently, Ige defeated Mirsad Bektic at UFC 247 in February, which extended his winning streak to five in the featherweight division. That streak has also landed Ige in the top-15 rankings for his division, and in an exclusive interview with BJPenn.com, “Dynamite Dan” discussed how he feels lucky to have gotten his fight in before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down events.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway rematch scratched from UFC 251
Adam Martin - April 1, 2020
A planned rematch between UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway has been scratched from UFC 251, another major blow to the card. The UFC planned on a double bill of title fights at UFC 251, which is still tentatively scheduled to take place on June 6 in Perth, Australia. Earlier this week we found out that the co-main event between UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko and Joanne Calderwood has been postponed, and now Volkanovski vs. Holloway has been scratched, as well, putting the entire event in jeopardy of not happening as planned.
Former UFC fighter Phillipe Nover details battling coronavirus in New York as a nurse
Harry Kettle - April 1, 2020
Former UFC fighter Phillipe Nover has spoken about the ongoing battle against the Coronavirus outbreak in New York. While the heart of the pandemic may still be in Europe for the time being, the expectation is that the epicenter will shift to the United States — potentially, the state of New York specifically.
UFC London fighters to receive compensation for canceled event
Tom Taylor - April 1, 2020
The fighters that were scheduled to compete on the canceled UFC London card will be reportedly be paid by the UFC. The promotion was slated to return to the Big Smoke on March 21. Regrettably, the coronavirus pandemic made this card impossible. The UFC briefly attempted to book a short-notice replacement card on US soil, but this plan also fell through.
Report | Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson fight gets glimmer of hope as Russia allows private flights to US
Tom Taylor - April 1, 2020
There’s still a glimmer of hope that we might see Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson fight at UFC 249 on April 18. Earlier this week, Russia announced new travel restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19. The lightweight champ Nurmagomedov had returned to Russia by that point, meaning he was seemingly stuck in the country and unable to fly to the United States or elsewhere to fight Ferguson on the 18.
Kamaru Usman explains why fighting Jorge Masvidal in a arena with no fans is so desirable
Natasha Hooper - April 1, 2020
Kamaru Usman has a motive for fighting Jorge Masvidal in a closed arena at UFC 249, and that is to make him “squeal like a pig.” According to UFC president Dana White, UFC 249 on April 18 will take place despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Khabib Nurmagomedov was expected to fight Tony Ferguson in the main event, but due to travel restrictions, Nurmagomedov is currently stuck in Russia and will likely not fight.
Bob Arum says Dana White should be “ashamed” for continuing to put on events
Natasha Hooper - April 1, 2020
Boxing promoter Bob Arum has blasted UFC president Dana White for continuing to put on shows despite the coronavirus pandemic. The combat sports industry has been put on hold to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Boxing events have been postponed, and the UFC has already held off on three fight cards. However, Dana White is doing everything he can to resume business. He is currently in negotiations to finalize a venue for the upcoming UFC 249 card on April 18. White also expects UFC 250 on May 9 will still happen. The fight cards will likely take place using a small production team from a closed arena and with strict safety precautions. However, with so little still known about the coronavirus and no vaccine available, holding any event will still pose a risk.
Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje opening betting odds revealed
Adam Martin - March 31, 2020
The opening betting odds have been released for a potential lightweight main event at UFC 249 between top contenders Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. With UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov likely unable to compete at UFC 249 due to travel restrictions stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, the UFC is now considering a new main event between Ferguson and Gaethje, two of the best lightweights in the world. It’s unknown at this point if this replacement fight would be for an interim title or if it would just a five-round main event.
Dustin Poirier believes he'd 'beat up' Tony Ferguson if they fought at UFC 249
Cole Shelton - March 31, 2020
Dustin Poirier was interested in fighting Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 but says it is unlikely it will happen. Ferguson was expected to finally fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title on April 18 at UFC 249. But, on Monday, the champion announced he is stuck in Russia and the event would go on without him. Once that happened, reports came out that Justin Gaethje was offered the scrap, but Poirier said he’s also interested in it as he’s confident he would beat Ferguson.