UFC News
Renato Moicano to serve as alternate for Max Holloway vs. Brian Ortega fight
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
If UFC featherweight champ Max Holloway or undefeated challenger Brian Ortega isn’t able to make it to the cage for their anticipated UFC 231 main event title fight, Renato Moicano will be called up to step in and replace the absent fighter. The streaking Brazilian featherweight contender will fly to Toronto, the card’s host city, and weigh-in as an understudy, according to ESPN. Moicano was originally expected to battle Mirsad Bektic on this anticipated card, but unfortunately, this bout was nixed when Bektic sustained an injury. Though the promotion apparently sought a replacement opponent for him, they ultimately decided to simply fly him into Toronto as an understudy.
Conor McGregor loses driving privileges for six months
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
You won’t be seeing former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor behind the wheel any time soon — at least not in Ireland. The Irish MMA star has had his driving privileges suspended for six months after being booked for excessive speeding near his home city of Dublin. He was also fined 1,000 euros ($1136.62) for this incident.
Anderson Silva scolds Georges St-Pierre for ducking 'big challenges'
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
MMA fans have been dying to see former UFC champions Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva fight for years. That was true at the height of their title reigns, when St-Pierre guarded the welterweight strap and Silva simultaneously sat in the middleweight throne, and it’s true today, when Silva is a mere middleweight contender and St-Pierre appears to have once again retired. Unfortunately, the fight has never materialized, and Anderson Silva assures that’s no fault of his own. Speaking to ESPN recently, the former middleweight champion shared his belief that Georges St-Pierre is only interested in taking easy fights, rather than truly challenging himself.
Jon Jones says he would have left UFC if USADA issued four-year ban
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
In the end, the United States Anti-Doping Agency handed Jon Jones a 15-month suspension for the failed drug test that caused his July, 2017 win over Daniel Cormier to be overturned. That being said, the agency was apparently contemplating a much more severe punishment: a four-year ban. Speaking to ESPN earlier this week, Jon Jones admitted that, had USADA issued this four-year suspension, he would have asked to be released from his UFC contract so that he could fight overseas, outside the jurisdiction of the anti-doping agency.
With UFC contract almost up, Mark Hunt shares plans for the next chapter of his career
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
When Mark Hunt battles Justin Willis in the co-main event of UFC Adelaide this weekend, it will mark the final obligation on his current UFC contract. Do not expect him to re-sign with the promotion. Speaking to MMAjunkie ahead of his fight, Hunt explained that he’s happy to be parting ways with the UFC, and that he will continue to fight outside the promotion.
Dana White doesn't believe Conor McGregor took Khabib Nurmagomedov trash talk too far
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
Ahead of his UFC 229 fight with undefeated UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor unleashed plenty of his famous trash talk. Unfortunately, some fans felt that McGregor crossed some lines with his trash talk of Nurmagomedov, as he targeted the champ’s family, ethnicity, religion and more. UFC President Dana White, however, doesn’t see it that way. Speaking to ESPN recently, White essentially said that all’s fair in the fight business, and that Conor McGregor mentioning Khabib Nurmagomedov’s religion and family is no different than Muhammad Ali targeting George Foreman ahead of The Thrilla in Manila.
Jon Jones roasts Daniel Cormier on social media
Christopher Taylor - November 27, 2018
Former UFC light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones will make his highly anticipated octagon return at January’s UFC 232 event in Las Vegas. “Bones” is scheduled to rematch former division title challenger Alexander Gustafsson at the December 29 event.
Max Holloway believes that health issues are a thing of the past, 'We're going to make it'
Drake Riggs - November 27, 2018
Three separate opponents, three-fight cancellations. That’s not exactly the type of year that any fighter wants to have. Let alone a champion of Max Holloway’s caliber. Unfortunately, that’s exactly how his 2018 played out so far. Holloway’s first fight cancellation came early for March’s UFC 222 event which saw him set to take on Frankie Edgar. However, a leg injury would end up forcing Holloway out of the bout.
Dana White updates on status of the UFC flyweight division
Tom Taylor - November 27, 2018
There’s recently been reason to believe that the end is near for the UFC flyweight division. First, the promotion traded the former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson to ONE Championship in exchange for Ben Askren. Then, it cut ties with a number of talented flyweight fighters — some of whom claimed to have heard that the division is being decommissioned. UFC President Dana White, however, has remained fairly tight-lipped about the division’s future. Speaking on the latest episode of the UFC Unfiltered podcast, Dana White shared his latest update on the division — though it didn’t exactly clear things up.
Tony Ferguson takes aim at Khabib Nurmagomedov after champ's Mayweather callout
Tom Taylor - November 27, 2018
Speaking at a press conference in Moscow earlier this week, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov announced that he would prefer a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather to an MMA bout with Tony Ferguson for his next fight. “For legacy and in the sense of the money aspect, and in a sporting sense, I think the Mayweather fight is much more interesting,” Nurmagomedov said, adding that there’s not much sense in discussing his next fight until he’s sorted out his situation with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. “The athletics commission needs to finish up first and then we’ll talk.”
Dana White eviscerates 'cokehead junkie' Oscar De La Hoya for allowing Chuck Liddell to fight
Tom Taylor - November 27, 2018
File UFC President Dana White into the group of people who seemed to strongly disapprove of last weekend’s Tito Ortiz vs. Chuck Liddell rematch. Speaking on the UFC Unfiltered podcast, the UFC boss unleashed a virulent tirade against the bout’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya, Tito Ortiz, and the California State Athletic Commission for allowing this fight to happen.
CM Punk addresses potential fight with YouTube star Logan Paul
Tom Taylor - November 27, 2018
After losing his first two mixed martial arts bouts — first a submission defeat to Mickey Gall, then a submission setback against Mike Jackson — former pro wrestling star CM Punk now finds himself in a tough situation. Although he undeniably possesses the heart required to compete as a professional fighter, he is simply at a technical deficit when compared to most of his potential opponents. Except, say, somebody like Logan Paul. Logan Paul, a famous YouTuber, recently competed in a celebrity boxing match opposite fellow YouTube star KSI. After this bout, Paul discussed a potential move to the UFC, and given his inexperience, was mentioned as a potential opponent for CM Punk. Even UFC color commentator Joe Rogan discussed the possibility.