UFC News

Marlon Moraes
TJ Dillashaw

Marlon Moraes believes T.J. Dillashaw suspension is not long enough

Cole Shelton - April 24, 2019

Marlon Moraes is getting a shot at the vacant UFC bantamweight title, this after T.J. Dillashaw relinquished his belt due to a two-year suspension from USADA. Dillashaw had tested positive for the banned substance EPO in the lead up to his fight with Flyweight champ Henry Cejudo. Although some fighters claim that they always knew TJ Dillashaw was using drugs, Marlon Moraes was still still shocked and disappointed by the news.

Nate Diaz
Nate Diaz

UFC rankings update: Nate Diaz exits, Alistair Overeem climbs

Tom Taylor - April 24, 2019

The official UFC rankings have been updated in the wake of Saturday’s UFC St. Petersburg card, and as expected there have been some notable changes. The biggest change, however, seems to be unrelated to the card, as long absent lightweight star Nate Diaz has finally been ejected from the UFC rankings. In terms of UFC St. Petersburg related changes, Alistair Overeem made a slight climb at heavyweight on the strength of his rousing TKO defeat of Alexey Oleynik.

Khabib Nurmagomedov
UFC

Khabib Nurmagomedov embarking on a three-city UK tour in June

James Lynch - April 24, 2019

“The Eagle” will be landing in the UK this June. Khabib Nurmagomedov posted on his Instagram account that UFC fans will have the opportunity to meet him from June 11-16. The 30-year-old will be stopping in London, Manchester, and Midlands. This is an independent tour and not one run by the UFC. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv4qw3Cg0Hm/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=z91vvc5fzdpd “I am really excited to be coming to the UK and meeting my fans,” Nurmagomedov said in a press release. “I appreciate the support I have received from this country and I want to give something back.”

Justin Gaethje
Khabib Nurmagomedov

Opinion | Justin Gaethje could be the foil to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s reign of dominance

Jordy McElroy - April 24, 2019

There is nothing flashy about Justin Gaethje’s style of fighting—no fancy footwork or slick striking techniques. The former World Series of Fighting lightweight champion is more of a bite down on a mouthpiece, march forward relentlessly and shove his fists in your face kind of fighter. Couple that with a criminally underrated ground game, and you have the recipe for big problems for reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. During an appearance on The MMA Hour, Gaethje implied that he would be the “toughest out” for Nurmagomedov out of all the other title contenders, including Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Tony Ferguson.

Paulo Costa
UFC

Jeff Notvitzky says USADA is 'still evaluating' Paulo Costa case

Tom Taylor - April 24, 2019

If you were hoping to see undefeated middleweight knockout artist Paulo Costa back in the cage soon, well, you might have some waiting to do. According to UFC vice president of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitzky, Paulo Costa is still being investigated by the United States Anti-Doping Agency after being fined $9,333.33 by the New York State Athletic Commission for an unknown violation.

Tony Ferguson
UFC

Wife drops restraining order case against Tony Ferguson

Tom Taylor - April 24, 2019

Last month, Cristina Ferguson, the wife of streaking UFC lightweight contender Tony Ferguson, filed a temporary restraining order against the fighter. According to Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting, who spoke with Cristina Ferguson’s attorney Jeffery L. Heath, this restraining order has now expired. A hearing in the case was scheduled for April 5, but that hearing did not occur.

Nicco Montano, Nicco Montaño
UFC

Nicco Montano releases statement following USADA suspension, aims for Summer return

Drake Riggs - April 24, 2019

Yesterday, USADA announced that four fighters had recently accepted sixth-month suspensions for their positive testings due to ostarine usage. All of which were the result of tainted supplements. One of those fighters happened to be the inaugural UFC flyweight champion, Nicco Montano. Montano has been out of action since she won the title in December 2017 dealing with a severe foot injury. Once she was finally ready to return in September 2018 to defend her title, things still didn’t go as planned as The Ultimate Fighter 26 winner would end up hospitalized during her weight cut. Thus, obviously, canceling her fight and then leading to her being stripped of her title.

Nicco Montano
UFC

Nicco Montano among three others accept USADA suspensions

Drake Riggs - April 23, 2019

It has been an absolute rollercoaster ride of a career to this point for the inaugural UFC flyweight champion, Nicco Montano. Entering The Ultimate Fighter season 26 as a bright prospect yet consensus underdog, Montano would go on to win the whole show and become the champion as she defeated some of the division’s best. Her crowning moment came on December 1, 2017.

Dana White, UFC, UFC Fight Island 3
UFC

Dana White updates on Zuffa Boxing venture

Tom Taylor - April 23, 2019

UFC President Dana White has previously claimed that he plans to venture into the world of boxing promotion. “I had a meeting in LA yesterday. We are continuing to move forward, and we will absolutely, positively be in the boxing business,” White told ESPN last year. “If you know how I run my business and what I like, yes I want all the best boxers in the world,” he added. “I want them all to fight each other and find out who the real champ is. That’s what we’re going to do.”

Rich Franklin
ONE Championship

EXCLUSIVE | Hall of Fame inductee Rich Franklin reflects on highs and lows of UFC career

Tom Taylor - April 23, 2019

This July, amid the buzz of the UFC’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas, Rich Franklin will be inducted into the Pioneer Era wing of the UFC Hall of Fame. The former UFC middleweight champion, who now serves as the Vice President of ONE Championship and CEO of ONE Warrior Series in Singapore, learned of this incredible honor on a phone call with UFC President Dana White.

Andrei Arlovski, Walt Harris
UFC

Walt Harris accepts USADA sanction, win over Arlovski overturned

Tom Taylor - April 23, 2019

UFC heavyweight Walt Harris has accepted a four-month sanction from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for the anabolic agent LGD-4033. In addition, Harris’ UFC 232 split decision victory over former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski has been overturned to a no-contest. USADA announced this news in a release, explaining that Harris’ violation was the result of his use of a tainted supplement:

Santiago Ponzinibbio
Santiago Ponzinibbio

Santiago Ponzinibbio calls out 'lucky' Anthony Pettis

Tom Taylor - April 23, 2019

Santiago Ponzinibbio is looking for a fight, and from the sounds of it, he’s got an opponent in mind. Speaking on Instagram on Monday, the Argentine welterweight contender called for a fight with former UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis. He asserted that Pettis got lucky in his last outing, in which he knocked out former welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, and promised that the American will have no such luck in this prospective matchup.