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Category: UFC

Latest UFC news articles, interviews and more covering the world’s top Mixed Martial Arts promotion.

  • Bobby Green On Islam Makhachev: I Get It Now

    UFC veteran Bobby Green now understands what makes Islam Makhachev so formidable after spending a few minutes of Octagon time with him.

    Green stepped up on short notice to face Makhachev in the UFC Vegas 49 main event. He filled in for the injured Beneil Dariush just weeks after earning a decisive win over Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 271.

    Makhachev has long been seen as the heir apparent to former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. He appears on the verge of a title shot following his first-round TKO finish of Green.

    Fighters have seemed to have a different perspective on Makhachev’s skillset after spending time inside the cage with him. During his UFC Vegas 49 post-fight interview with ESPN’s Megan Olivi, Green explained how Makhachev can overwhelm his opposition.

    “Yeah, I got it now,” Green said. “So what they do is, they do this little thing where he’s so patient, he’s so strong, and he just goes little, little, little, little, until he gets right where he wants to be, you know? And so, I tried to do some turning over, and as I did it, he went to mount, and he was so strong at holding his mount, so I was like; ‘interesting.’ I tried to turn, and I couldn’t move out of it, and I’m like ‘no one’s been that strong before.’ So, I gotta work on my weight training and get on my muscles to build that strength for this division.”

    Makhachev will more than likely get the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje later this year. Oliveira and Gaethje will square off in the UFC 274 main event in May.

    Green had won back-to-back fights before the loss to Makhachev. He earned a violent knockout of Al Iaquinta at UFC 268 before putting on a boxing clinic against Haqparast.

    If Green’s comments are any indication, fighters need to develop a certain type of skill set to challenge a talent of Makhachev’s caliber.

    Who do you want Bobby Green to fight next?

  • Glover Teixeira vs. Jiří Procházka Moved to UFC 275

    Glover Teixeira vs. Jiří Procházka has been pushed back to UFC 275.

    Teixeira was originally lined up to face Procházka at UFC 274 on May 7, but Combate was the first to reveal that the bout will now take place in June. The reason for the change is currently unknown.

    The fight will mark Teixeira’s first time attempting to defend the UFC light heavyweight championship. The veteran fighter first earned the belt in October, securing a second-round rear-naked choke submission over Jan Blachowicz.

    That victory was his sixth consecutive victory. This winning streak dates back to 2019 and includes two previous main event wins.

    Procházka Given Teixeira Fight In Third UFC Appearance

    Jiří Procházka

    Prochazka is getting a title shot after just two fights in the UFC. The former RIZIN light heavyweight champion made his promotional debut in 2020, finishing Volkan Oezdemir in the second round.

    Procházka earned a big win last year, scoring his second victory. He knocked out former title challenger Dominick Reyes in the main event of a “Fight Night” card.

    Procházka is known for his explosive striking skills. He is currently on a 12 fight winning streak, with just one of those fights going the distance.

    Who do you think will win? Do you have Glover Teixeira retaining, or Jiri Prochazka claiming the belt?

  • Archives: Hendricks: ‘I Wish GSP Would’ve Stayed Out’ Of MMA (2017)

    On November 16, 2013, Georges St-Pierre earned what was widely considered to be the narrowest, most hard-earned victory of his career when he defeated Johny Hendricks via split decision at UFC 167. After this bout, GSP walked away from the sport, and it appeared as though we had likely seen the welterweight great compete for the last time in MMA.

    As we later found out, St-Pierre would return four years later when he claimed the middleweight title from Michael Bisping. Prior to St-Pierre making the walk again, it was uncertain who he would be facing upon his return. If it were up to Johny Hendricks, there wouldn’t have been another opponent at all.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Five Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 27, 2017, 6:21 PM]

    Headline: Johny Hendricks: ‘I Wish GSP Would’ve Stayed Out’ of MMA Competition

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    One person who isn’t very excited to see the return of Georges St-Pierre is Johny Hendricks.

    Hendricks is fresh off his unanimous decision victory over Hector Lombard last Sunday night (Feb. 19) inside the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was “Bigg Rigg’s” middleweight debut. Hendricks hasn’t made the top 15 in the official Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 185-pound rankings yet, but he may be one win away from changing that.

    Upon hearing the news of St-Pierre’s professional mixed martial arts (MMA) return, Hendricks didn’t sound too enthusiastic. Hendricks competed against “Rush” back in Nov. 2013 for the welterweight championship. St-Pierre retained his title by a controversial split decision win. He then went on a hiatus, vacating his title in the process.

    Since that time, Hendricks has won the 170-pound title. He has also gone 3-4 in his last seven fights, losing the title to Robbie Lawler in that time.

    On today’s (Feb. 27) edition of “The MMA Hour” (via MMAMania.com), Hendricks revealed he doesn’t necessarily agree with St-Pierre’s decision to come back:

    “I am (surprised to see him back), I wish he would’ve stayed out. But you know what, a competitor is always going to be a competitor and we’ll see how he comes back. I heard he might be coming to 185, so you know I do (want a piece of him). So like I went through my rough period, and I did something and was able to bounce back. Whenever he went through his rough period, he got out. Yeah, you can train, yeah you could do these things, but has he done enough to where he is going to be able to come back a different fighter?”

    An opponent, date, and venue have not been announced for “Rush’s” comeback fight. His coach, Firas Zahabi, hopes his fighter is eyeing big fights with UFC lightweight king Conor McGregor and middleweight title holder Michael Bisping.

  • Khabib Reveals The UFC’s Potential Plans For Islam Makhachev

    Khabib Nurmagomedov says the UFC plans on having top lightweight contender Islam Makhachev fight for the belt at the end of 2022.

    Makhachev put on another dominant performance against short-notice replacement Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 49. He was originally supposed to face Beneil Dariush before Dariush withdrew from the bout due to an injury.

    Makhachev entered UFC Vegas 49 as the fourth-ranked lightweight contender in the UFC and is assumingly the next man in line for the title shot. UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will face Justin Gaethje for his latest title defense later this year at UFC 274.

    In an interview with ESPN’s Megan Olivi, Nurmagomedov spoke about his protege Makhachev and what’s next for him in the Octagon.

    “A couple days ago, when we meet with Dana, we was talking about, ‘Hey, what’s next?’” Nurmagomedov said of Makhachev. “He’s like, ‘Hey, you have to fight with Bobby Green first. I’m like, ‘Dana, it’s not like—they’re not same level.’ Of course, we don’t underestimate him, but if Islam catch him, it’s finished, you know?

    Islam Makhachev
    Islam Makhachev, Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    “And he (said) ‘I’m really focused on Islam fight winner of Charles [Oliveira] vs. Justin Gaethje, end of this year.’ Dana (said) they gonna make very big show in Abu Dhabi end of this year. And I think it is this place Islam gonna compete, fight for the title.”

    Makhachev has been seen as the heir apparent to Nurmagomedov for years. He is on a 10-fight winning streak and has soared to the top of the lightweight division’s title picture.

    Entering UFC Vegas 49, Makhachev had earned three-straight submission wins in 2021 over Thiago Moisés, Drew Dober, and Dan Hooker. A loss to Adriano Martins at UFC 192 is the lone blemish on his otherwise stellar record.

    Makhachev, Nurmagomedov, and the other Dagestani fighters are seen as heroes in Abu Dhabi. If Makhachev earns a title shot on Fight Island, it would arguably make the biggest stage of his career that much bigger.

    Do you think Islam Makhachev will earn the lightweight title in 2022?

  • Archives: Cowboy Enjoys ‘Topless Festivities’ at Daytona 500 (2017)

    The following article was published on this day five years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Five Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 27, 2017, 11:56 AM]

    “Cowboy” is currently enjoying a break from the octagon following his second round, TKO loss to Jorge Masvidal at UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña in January.

    Cerrone was enjoying a four-fight win streak at welterweight, which included three “Performance of the Night” awards prior to Masvidal derailing his success following his jump from lightweight.

    “Cowboy” is just as renowned for his activity inside the cage as he is for his fighting skills. For example, the fan-favorite fought and beat Benson Henderson on the Conor McGregor v Denis Siver card just 15 days following his defeat over Miles Jury at UFC 182, and fans are keen to see the former WEC title challenger take a break to readjust himself prior to a return to the octagon.

    Those calls appear to have been heeded by “Cowboy”, as he recently spoke with TMZ Sports to discuss his downtime at Daytona 500. Cerrone discusses why the UFC is scarier than NASCAR and gives his insight into “topless festivities” and “crazy redneck chicks lying around naked”.

    There is winding down, and then there is winding down “Cowboy” style…

    You can watch the full clip above.

  • Makhachev Expects Title Shot But Also Open To “Easy” McGregor Fight

    Islam Makhachev is expecting a title fight next, but he doesn’t mind a pit stop with one enticing pickup along his route.

    With 10 consecutive victories now under his belt after defeating Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 49, Islam Makhachev is done waiting. Just as he has been saying for several months now, Makhachev believes the only fight that makes sense for him at this juncture is a world title fight against the winner of the upcoming Charles Oliveira (c) vs. Justin Gaethje lightweight championship bout.

    However, Conor McGregor is not walking back his comments from earlier this year of expecting a lightweight title fight upon his return. Despite the fact that he is not yet cleared to return and him bulking up noticeably, the Irishman’s gaze remains fixed on Oliveira’s pounds of gold.

    Appearing at Bellator 275 this weekend, McGregor reiterated his interest in a championship match against Oliveira, even advising the Brazilian to wait an extra month or two so that they could scrap it up in July.

    At the UFC Vegas 49 post-fight presser, Makhachev was asked about where McGregor fits into the title picture. Although Makhachev finds McGregor to be irrelevant, the Dagestani did express interest in fighting The Notorious One to make him earn the title shot he’s been asking for.

    “Honestly, I don’t remember when this guy beat someone,” Makhachev said. “He have to come back, beat someone, and … let’s go, why not? I’m gonna smash him like easy. Bobby Green is gonna be hard for me more than for him (McGregor).”

    Makhachev is currently ranked #4 in the lightweight division. With Dustin Poirier (#2) just receiving a title shot at UFC 269, Justin Gaethje (#1) being up next, and Beneil Dariush (#3) being injured with no timetable to return, there is a clear path for Makhachev to get the next shot. Meanwhile, McGregor is unranked and, to Makhachev’s point, has not won a fight at 155 lbs. since 2016.

    Nevertheless, Makhachev does not appear to be exempt from the “Red Panty Night” guest list sign-up, where everyone seems to want an invite to the party. The fact that McGregor has a deep history with Makhachev’s mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, is probably just as much of an incentive for Makhachev to take this fight as the payday.

    You’ll want to stay tuned to see what lies in store for Makhachev, McGregor, and the rest of the lightweight division in 2022. And the best place to be for all the latest news and updates is right here at MMANews.com.

    Do you think a fight between Conor McGregor and Islam Makhachev would make sense right now?

  • UFC Vegas 49 Bonuses: Wellington Turman Gets Performance Check For Submission Win

    The UFC Vegas 49 bonuses have been released.

    The event took place in Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex facility. Headlining the card was a clash between Islam Makhachev and Bobby Green. This fight was exactly what everyone thought it was going to be, a one-sided beatdown and Green was the victim. 

    Islam took him down about two minutes into the first round before going through some positions until getting back mount where he rained down strikes to get the TKO. Green took the fight on short notice so he should get a nice payday for his efforts. 

    The co-main event saw more action between Wellington Turman and Misha Cirkunov.

    This was a wild fight as in the first round,  Turman took his back while standing. Misha got him off his back before getting into full guard and unloading with strikes. He later got his back and went for a rear-naked choke then a d’arce choke, but both failed. Moving along to the second round, Turman was taken down, but locked in an armbar out of nowhere for the win. 

    Peep the full list of performance bonus winners below.

    Performance of the Night: Arman Tsarukyan and Wellington Turman

    Fight of the Night: Priscila Cachoeira vs. Ji Yeon Kim

    Were the right choices made for the UFC Vegas 49 bonuses?

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC Vegas 49. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

    UFC Vegas 49 Results & Highlights: Islam Makhachev vs. Bobby Green

  • Fighters React To Islam Makhachev Smashing Bobby Green At UFC Vegas 49

    Islam Makhachev vs. Bobby Green was a one-sided beat down. 

    The two fighters met in a bout on Saturday night (February 26, 2022) at the UFC Vegas 49 event from Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex facility.

    It didn’t last long as Islam took him down then went through various positions – side mount, full mount, and back mount, before raining down some big shots to get the TKO win in the first round. 

    Peep the highlights of the fight courtesy of the UFC’s official Twitter account:

    Let’s see how the fighters reacted to the outcome of this fight: 

    Makhachev entered this fight with a 20-1 pro-MMA record and seven-fight winning streak. During this winning streak, he had two submissions, one KO, and four decision wins. His previous fights saw him beat Drew Dober at UFC 253 and a submission win over Thiago Moises at UFC Vegas 31. 

    Green green entered this fight by going 3-2 in his previous five and on a two-fight winning streak. His past two fights saw him score a TKO win over Al Iaquinta at UFC 268 and Nasrat Haqparast by unanimous decision at UFC 271. 

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC Vegas 49. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

    UFC Vegas 49 Results & Highlights: Islam Makhachev vs. Bobby Green

  • Fighters React To Wellington Turman Tapping Out Misha Cirkunov At UFC Vegas 49

    Wellington Turman vs. Misha Cirkunov was a solid co-main event fight. 

    The two fighters met in a bout on Saturday night (February 26, 2022) at the UFC Vegas 49 event from Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex facility.

    The first round was wild as Turman took his back while standing and they stayed there for a little bit before Misha shook him off before unloading with strikes then getting into full guard. He later tried to go for a rear-naked choke and d’arce choke, but couldn’t get either of them. In the second round, it all ended with Turman getting the armbar win. 

    Peep the highlights of the fight courtesy of the UFC’s official Twitter account:

    https://twitter.com/UFC_CA/status/1497751387974819841

    Let’s see how the fighters reacted to the outcome of this fight:

    https://twitter.com/Kymatrix/status/1497752384709140481

    Turman made a name for himself after racking up a 15-2 pro-MMA record after fighting for several promotions.He earned a UFC contract when he beat Marcio Alexandre Jr. back in April by rear-naked choke under the Future FC banner. Turman lost to Karl Roberson by decision at the UFC Sacramento event from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. He then beat Markus Perez by decision only to lose to Andrew Sanchez and Bruno Silva. In his previous fight, he edged out Sam Alvey in August 2021. 

    Cirkunov entered this fight with a 15-7 pro-MMA record and had gone 3-2 in his past five fights. He lost his previous two fights to Ryan Spann by TKO in March and Krzysztof Jotko by decision in October. 

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC Vegas 49. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

    UFC Vegas 49 Results & Highlights: Islam Makhachev vs. Bobby Green

  • Makhachev Still Expects To Fight Dariush Despite UFC Vegas 49 Withdrawal

    Islam Makhachev is still expecting to share the Octagon with Beneil Dariush at some point.

    Islam Makhachev is knocking on the door of a UFC title shot. The young up-and-coming fighter has been making waves in the UFC lightweight division for several years now. Coming up under the tutelage of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev is one of the most hyped fighters at 155 pounds at the moment. He will be fighting in the main event of tonight’s UFC Vegas 49 card against Bobby Green.

    Green is a last-minute stand-in; however, as Makhachev’s original opponent, Beneil Dariush was forced out of the bout with an injury recently. Dariush is sitting in the number three spot in the lightweight division rankings. Makhachev was hoping that defeating Dariush would put him even closer to a possible fight with champion Charles Oliveira. Now, with the unranked Green as his next opponent, Makhachev’s title aspirations could be in jeopardy.

    Makhachev is disappointed in Dariush’s withdrawal from the fight, but he expects this chapter to be finished at a later date.

    “I’m a little bit sad because Beneil injured,” Makhachev told Daniel Cormier and Ryan Clark on the DC & RC show. “I really believe we gonna fight again, maybe next year or maybe this year. I heard he have like very bad injuries. He broke his (leg). But Beneil is one of the best in the world. That’s why I really believe we’re gonna fight.”

    The extent of Dariush’s injuries will require him to be out of competition for a bit. He recently updated his condition to let fans know that he may not be requiring surgery, and his timetable for a return is unknown at this time.

    Do you think that Islam Makhachev can still receive a title shot with a victory over Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 49 on Saturday night?

  • Archives: De La Hoya: MayMac Is A Disrespect to Boxing (2017)

    If you want a timestamp for when UFC President Dana White began to loathe Oscar De La Hoya, it began with what De La Hoya said in this article five years ago, and it was still going strong when De La Hoya himself mixed the “two different sports” by later trying to fight MMA fighters.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2017, 10:58 PM]

    Headline: Oscar De La Hoya: ‘Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather is a Disrespect to Boxing’

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Oscar De La Hoya is not a fan of the Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather talks.

    The boxing Hall of Famer and current promoter through Golden Boy Promotions has heard ramblings of a mega-fight between “Notorious” and “Money.” De La Hoya certainly knows a thing or two about the sweet science. He has won multiple world championships in the sport of boxing.

    De La Hoya doesn’t have much faith in McGregor’s chances in a boxing match with Mayweather. At the same time, he doesn’t believe Mayweather would fare any better in a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) contest against the current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight titleholder.

    Canelo Alvarez, who fights under Golden Boy Promotions, has had some beef with McGregor. He recently said a boxing match-up between McGregor and Mayweather is a “joke” for the sport of boxing.

    During a recent appearance on SiriusXM’s ATF radio show, De La Hoya shared the same opinion:

    “Well I do. It’s a disrespect to boxing because they’re two different sports. I mean look, put Floyd and McGregor in the ring and Floyd will box his ears off. Put Floyd in the Octagon and McGregor will submit him by twisting his toe or something. You know what I’m saying? It’s a whole different sport.”

  • Henry Cejudo Puts Himself Above GSP In UFC GOAT Conversation

    Former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo holds himself in high regard, even higher than the legend Georges St-Pierre.

    Cejudo hasn’t fought in the Octagon since defeating Dominick Cruz at UFC 249. He announced his retirement in his post-fight interview but has since hinted at a UFC comeback.

    Similar to St-Pierre’s title win over Michael Bisping, Cejudo has alluded to a matchup one division up against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Cejudo threw his name into the conversation to fill in against Volkanovski before the UFC opted to book Chan Sung Jung for the bout.

    Nowadays, Cejudo remains a fixture of MMA culture. He has coached multiple current and former UFC champions such as Deiveson Figueiredo and Jon Jones, along with podcasting.

    During a recent segment of The Triple C & Schmo Show, Cejudo listed his top-5 UFC fighters of all time and put himself above St-Pierre in the discussion.

    “These are my top five. No. 1 Jon Jones. No. 2 Demetrious Johnson. No. 3 Anderson Silva. And you know what, I’ve been thinking about it a lot Schmo, I am actually No. 4. I used to put GSP there, but I am actually No. 4, just for the fact that I won both my bouts with [the] two greatests. Just because Bisping had a championship at that time doesn’t mean he was the best in the world.

    Canadian Georges St-Pierre wins in his return to UFC | Offside
    Georges St-Pierre

    “I literally beat the best guys in the world. I beat three Hall of Famers in my last four fights. Demetrious Johnson, TJ Dillashaw, and Dominick Cruz. I am gonna have to put myself in that GOAT mountain man. I used to think more of GSP. But in reality, I just feel he cherry picked, man, with all the due respect to the legend. So, I am gonna have to put him at No. 5.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

    St-Pierre went back into retirement following his win over Bisping at UFC 217. He teased a potential matchup with Khabib Nurmagomedov in recent years, but the fight never materialized.

    Cejudo has the chance to prove his ranking of himself if he’s able to become a three-division champion. For now, it’s unclear if he’ll ever return to the cage.

    What are your thoughts on Henry Cejudo’s Top-5 all-time list?

  • Archives: Conor McGregor Speaks On Preparing For Life After UFC (2020)

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Two Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2020, 6:09 PM]

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Conor McGregor has spoken out on an athlete’s life following their careers in sports.

    McGregor has become the most popular figure in all of mixed martial arts. His reach has gone beyond fans of the sport and he has transitioned to the mainstream media. The “Notorious” one has taken advantage of the opportunity with his whiskey brand and his August McGregor lifestyle brand.

    Conor McGregor Discusses Life After UFC

    McGregor is still a viable competitor but he knows that the time on a fighter’s career doesn’t last forever. Speaking to The Mac Life, McGregor talked about the steps he’s taken to ensure he’s well off after he hangs up his gloves (h/t LowKickMMA.com).

    “Athletic life is short right? As cruel as it sounds no-one really cares about the athlete post-career. I mean it’s as simple as that and that’s not just fighting it’s in any sport. So, I have studied many athletes’ careers both in combat sport and in professional sport and just analyzed it. I saw the do’s and the don’t and things that can create an afterlife in the game. For, me I’ve just gone down things I’m passionate about. I went down the fight game because I’m passionate about it – I wouldn’t have reached the levels I’ve reached in the fight game without having passion for it. And the whiskey game, the fashion game you know.”

    McGregor went on to say that he’s fortunate enough to be able to explore options outside of fighting. McGregor has already made an impact with his Proper No. 12 Irish Whiskey brand. An ad for the whiskey was even placed on the canvas for the big heavyweight boxing rematch between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.

    But as long as McGregor is still fighting, fans will continue to speculate what’s next for him. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reports that the UFC is having early talks of booking McGregor to compete this summer. The candidates for his opponent are said to be Justin Gaethje and Nate Diaz.

  • Israel Adesanya Names Retired Boxer As #1 Dream Matchup

    UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya would’ve loved to have tested himself against boxing legend Prince Naseem Hamed in the ring.

    Adesanya is fresh off his unanimous decision win over Robert Whittaker in their title rematch at UFC 271. Adesanya is undefeated at middleweight since signing with the UFC back in 2018.

    In addition to being one of the best fighters in the world, Adesanya is also a student of the fight game. He has followed boxing and MMA for years and has implemented skills from other legends into his repertoire.

    During a recent interview with SunSport, Adesanya named Hamed as the one fighter he would’ve wanted to go back in time and fight.

    “I would’ve liked to have fought Prince Naseem Hamed.

    Prince Naseem Hamed deserves HOF election
    Prince Naseem Hamed, Credit: AP2001

    “Just because I liked the style [he had]. His cadence, his rhythm, his showmanship. Everything.

    “So I would’ve liked to have tested myself against that guy.” (h/t The Sun)

    Hamed earned the WBO featherweight title and the WBC super-bantamweight title during his illustrious career. He retired in 2002 following his win over Manuel Calvo in front of a raucous crowd in London, UK.

    Adesanya has recently signed a new mega-deal with the UFC that is alleged to be one of the most lucrative in UFC history. He’s anticipating a return later this year – details on Israel Adesanya’s next fight.

    You can check out some of Prince Naseem Hamed’s highlights below! (h/t shaheer09shaheer)

    How do you think this fight between Israel Adesanya and Prince Naseem Hamed would’ve played out?

  • Archives: Shevchenko Says Nicco Montano “Cannot Escape” (2018)

    When it comes to facing Valentina Shevchenko, Nicco Montano did, in fact, “escape,” despite Shevchenko’s vow to the contrary that she wouldn’t. Her alleged ‘getaway’ cost her the flyweight championship, however, and inevitably led to the dominant reign of Shevchenko’s still going strong today.

    The following article is presented in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Four Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2018, 9:40 AM]

    Author: Ian Carey

    Valentina Shevchenko believes UFC flyweight champion, Nicco Montano, is all out of reasons not to fight her. She is coming for her title.

    29-year-old, Nicco Montano, won the 26th season of the Ultimate Fighter and the UFC women’s flyweight championship in December. She was scheduled to face Sijara Eubanks in the finals of the tournament but a harsh weight cut caused a last-minute opponent change. Loveable MMA veteran, Roxanne Modafferi, was given the opportunity but ultimately dropped a unanimous decision to Montano.

    UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Nicco Montano

    Montano is a Navajo Nation member from the community of Lukachukai. After winning the championship in December, she was honored by the Navajo Nation with a plaque and ceremony at the 23rd Navajo Nation ceremony.

    After winning the title, however, Montano stated that neither Shevchenko nor Paige VanZant (who has also been looking for a title shot at 125lbs) has earned a title fight.

    “I’m definitely not scared because it’s the name of the game. You want to fight the best so that you can prove to everybody else that you are the best, but right now the best is not Shevchenko at ‘25. She hasn’t fought at that weight. It’s not Paige VanZant, she hasn’t fought at that weight either. So I think it’s pretty silly and I’m a person who wants fair fights and so I just don’t think they are deserving of it right now.”

    Valentina Shevchenko

    At the time Montano made the above comments, Shevchenko had not fought at 125lbs in the UFC. That changed on February 3rd, 2018, when she submitted Priscila Cachoeira in her flyweight debut.

    “I did fight at 125, I did my job, I did everything. So she just doesn’t have a reason to decline the fight.” – Valentina Shevchenko

    Shevchenko appeared on the MMA Hour recently and went into further detail regarding a potential bout against Montano.

    “Let’s see how she will act, because no one has heard [anything] about her, she’s not saying [anything] until now,” Shevchenko said. “Let’s see how she responds. But my opinion, if she is holding the belt, she has to defend it. She cannot just escape, and she cannot just find another reason to not fight or fight with another opponent.”

    Originally it was believed Montano was targetting a fight with Sijara Eubanks for her first defence. Eubanks is now scheduled against Lauren Murphy for June 1st, however. It appears the UFC is looking at Shevchenko vs Montano to take place later this year.

    “She’s holding the belt,” Shevchenko said. “This is everything.”

  • Archives: McGregor Proves Popularity Not So Much About Winning (2019)

    The following article was published on this day three years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2019, 1:52 PM]

    Headline: Quote: Conor McGregor Proves Popularity “Not So Much About Winning”

    Conor McGregor is undoubtedly the most popular figure in mixed martial arts. None of the losses suffered to Nate Diaz, Khabib Nurmagomedov, or a boxing loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2017 have changed that fact.

    One fighter who has done nothing but win in recent years but historically struggled with popularity is Tyron Woodley. Woodley believes that Conor McGregor is living proof that, unlike other sports, MMA is not about statistics or your record, but about the spectacle: (via MMA Fighting)

    “This is a person that, I don’t give stats, he’s lost a few times and won a few times,” Woodley said of Conor McGregor at a media lunch scrum this week. “But look at his mystique he has. So it’s telling you it’s not so much about winning. It’s about the showmanship. It’s about what you bring to the table. It’s about making people give a f*ck. You gotta find a way to do both. You gotta find a way to do both of it. You’ve got to find a way to make people invested, want to see me lose, want to see me win.”

    Though Woodley believes Conor McGregor exemplifies this reality the most, he believes there are several other lower scale examples of how styles don’t just, as they say, “make” fights, but the right style ensures that there will be more fights to make for the athlete:

    “We saw with [Keith] Jardine, we saw with so many fighters forever that, subpar, .500 records that stayed around that, then you have a guy who lose maybe one fight and they’re gone,” Woodley said. “And I just think that, when you look at a sport? Think about basketball. It don’t matter if you wear a pimped out custom suit, talk the most sh*t as possible, if you can shoot a three, you can shoot a three. How many times you seen Steph Curry talking crap? You get paid the big bucks based on how you deliver out on the court.”

    “If you go out there and you punch and you bleed and you brawl and you go back and forth, you really can’t lose in that situation,” Woodley said. “You can get your ass whupped and knocked out, but if you fought to a point where everyone was like ‘oh my god, he’s so tough,’ not only with the fighters and the fans but the promotion, you’ve kind of almost put yourself in the mold where they’re going to keep you.”

    Do you agree with Tyron Woodley? Is popularity in MMA based more on fighting style and spectacle than wins and losses? And is Conor McGregor an example of this?

  • Francis Ngannou Thinks The Hype Got To Ciryl Gane Before UFC 270

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou thinks the pre-UFC 270 hype got in Ciryl Gane’s head ahead of their fight.

    Ngannou earned a unanimous decision win at UFC 270 over Gane, but it was anything but easy. Entering the cage with a significant knee injury, Ngannou didn’t use his striking as much and instead utilized his improved grappling, especially in the later rounds.

    Ngannou vs. Gane was arguably the most highly-anticipated heavyweight title clash in UFC history. While the fight itself wasn’t as much of a barn-burner as many expected, it was a technical showcase from both fighters.

    The pre-fight hype included the relationship between Ngannou and his former MMA Factory head coach, Fernand Lopez, along with his past sparring sessions with Gane. Many believed Gane had the perfect skillset to dethrone Ngannou, especially on the feet.

    During a recent Q+A on his YouTube channel, Ngannou spoke about what he thinks went wrong for Gane at UFC 270.

    “The weak spot, I hoped that before the fight was that he’d really listen and believe to what they were saying in the media,” Ngannou said. “He did believe everything in the media was saying at some point, and that’s why even at the press conference or at the faceoff face-to-face, I’m like ‘I really like you, don’t just let this get in your mind’. Not only for this fight, because what would’ve happened if he won this fight? Then they would keep telling him the same thing until he face the same situation with somebody.”

    Gane has hinted that he hopes Ngannou will stay with the UFC long-term so that he can get a potential rematch in the future. Ngannou is expected to miss a majority of 2022 after undergoing surgery on his injured knee.

    In the meantime, the UFC could potentially schedule another interim title fight later this year. Gane could win a pair of fights and work his way back to potential vengeance against Ngannou.

    What do you think is next for Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane?

  • Archives: Woodley Reveals How He Lost $10,000 Waiting On USADA (2019)

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2019, 1:12 PM]

    Headline: Tyron Woodley Reveals How He Lost $10,000 Waiting On A Random USADA Drug Test

    Author: Damon Martin

    UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has always been proud to compete as a clean athlete, which is why he fully supports the random drug testing done by USADA.

    As the enforcers of the UFC’s anti-doping policy, USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) is in charge of randomly testing fighters at any time, place or occasion without much notice before making an appearance to draw blood or urine.

    Woodley has always tested clean throughout his career while remaining one of the most tested athletes on the UFC roster. He was even given an award for a consecutive streak of clean tests under the UFC’s anti-doping policy.

    Unfortunately, Woodley found out just how random the testing can be earlier this year when he received a call to submit a sample while he was traveling to Atlanta to take part in the Super Bowl festivities ahead of the game between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams.

    “They tested me Super Bowl weekend, the lady came to me, bless her soul, cause I said a few unchoice words to her with respect. She came to test me at 12 a.m. on Super Bowl weekend knowing the reason I was in Atlanta was probably for Super Bowl and I had some appearances that I was supposed to be at,” Woodley revealed during a media luncheon ahead of UFC 235.

    “I had an event with Devonte Freeman and Meek Mill I was supposed to be at. An event with Ludacris and Snoop Dogg and I was in the hotel waiting on her to come in 45-minutes of traffic to test me. So she tested me around 1 a.m. and I missed those events.”

    According to Woodley, he asked the person sent to collect his sample if there was any way this could be done in the morning so he wouldn’t miss his appearances but that was not allowed.

    Woodley then revealed that the tester told him she couldn’t make it to collect his sample earlier because she had an event of her own that couldn’t be missed.

    “I said I have an event I have to go to that I’m missing money because I’m supposed to be there,” Woodley said. “She said ‘well I can meet you there’, I said ‘no, you can’t get in, you can’t be on the list’.

    “So I had to wait there and she tested me at 1 a.m. and I was not happy.”

    Because the person collecting his sample was stuck in traffic for 45 minutes, Woodley had to wait in his hotel for over an hour until she arrived to test him.

    Woodley ultimately missed his events that night and according to the reigning welterweight champion it cost him a hefty paycheck.

    “[I lost] about $10,000,” Woodley revealed. “So USADA I’m not happy right now.”

  • Archives: Arianny Celeste Calls Rousey A Bully, Rousey Responds (2015)

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Seven Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 26, 2015, 12:54 PM]

    UFC Octagon girl Arianny Celeste is not taking kindly to Ronda Rousey’s recent statement that fighters should make more than UFC’s Octagon girls.

    The longtime UFC employee told the folks at MMA Junkie Radio earlier this week that Rousey is a “big bully” who “continuously picks on me..” Rousey, however, has a different take.

    “What did I say that was a bully?” Rousey said at a recent media scrum, which you can watch above via MMAFighting.com. “That the fighters should get paid more than the ring girls? How does that make me a bully? That makes me f*cking right. I’m sorry, but she wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for the fighters. She wouldn’t. You think her walking in circles around the two guys or two girls out there fighting for their lives is worth more? Think she works harder than they do?”

    In 2012, Rousey took some shots at Celeste when the two were both ranked in Maxim’s Hot 100 list. Rousey, who was not in the UFC at the time, stated the following:

    “It would have been really funny if I’d beaten Arianny Celeste, because that would be like a triathlete coming along and beating the runners in a marathon,” Rousey said at the time. “Like, ‘Haha, it’s your job to show your t*ts – I do that better than you!’ Maybe next year. She’s only getting older, and I’m reaching my prime.”

    During her radio appearance earlier this week, Celeste elaborated on her position, explaining why she tries to separate herself from the “MMA world.”

    “I’m not going to talk about her because I’m not a fighter,” Celeste said. “I’m not going to waste my time. I actually don’t talk about anyone. It blows my mind that someone who doesn’t even know me continuously picks on me. And that’s all I see her as: a big bully.”

    Rousey feels Celeste is taking things personally, and offered a bit of advice for the UFC employee.

    “You know what would have been the best thing for her to say?” Rousey said. “‘Oh my God, you know, these fighters work so hard and I wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for them. I just admire them so much. And yeah, I definitely think that they should get paid more than anybody in the arena tonight.’ There ya go. That’s a PR lesson for her.”

    While Rousey may not be Celeste’s biggest fan, she did explain that she has no issue with Octagon girls in general, pointing out the fact that she has respect for UFC Octagon girl Brittney Palmer.

    “She went and became a ring card girl to pay her way through art school and become a renowned artist,” Rousey said. “And her being ring card girl helps her promote her art. If you’re working at Hooters because you’re trying to pay your way through medical school, then f*ckin’ work it girl. I respect the hustle. But don’t think you’re hot sh*t just because you work at Hooters. Use it to further yourself in life; don’t think that you’re awesome just because you do that. I’m sorry, but I’m not impressed with the job in itself.”

    Rousey makes her Octagon return at UFC 184 this Saturday night in Los Angeles, California, as she defends the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship against undefeated number one contender Cat Zingano.

  • Green Not Expecting Title Shot With Makhachev Win: “I’m Not Stupid”

    Bobby Green isn’t expecting a title shot, even if he pulls off a massive upset and beats Islam Makhachev tonight at UFC Vegas 49.

    Green is stepping up on 10 days’ notice to take on Makhachev after Beneil Dariush was forced out of the bout due to an injury. The fight will take place at a 160lbs catchweight, and even though Makhachev is fighting a short-notice replacement, many still believe he will get the title shot due to his win streak.

    However, should Green win, he doesn’t believe he will get the title shot.

    “I’m not stupid. I know this is a business. I know that the UFC are the storytellers. They write the story. They don’t tell you who you goin’, and where it’s goin’, and how it’s goin’. I’m just here to play my part. That’s it,” Green said on The MMA Hour. “And so I don’t believe there will be a title shot next. People would be pissed. ‘He just jumped over everybody and blah, blah, blah.

    Bobby Green, Nasrat Haqparast
    © Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

    “‘And it doesn’t make sense. And he wasn’t ranked, and blah, blah, blah. And he only has two or three wins (in a row) and blah, blah, blah.’ They’re gonna have every excuse of why I shouldn’t (receive a title shot). And I don’t care. I just want you to put me in front of somebody next and keep this money rollin’ in. That’s all it’s about is money, OK? That’s it.”

    Bobby Green just fought at UFC 271 and defeated Nasrat Haqparast by decision. It was his second win in a row as he scored a TKO victory over Al Iaquinta at UFC 268 prior to that. Green has been in the UFC since 2013, and this will be his first main event. Should he win, this will easily be the biggest win of his career and possibly put him in the top 5 at lightweight.

    Do you think Bobby Green would deserve a title shot with a win over Islam Makhachev?

  • Check Out Last-Minute Betting Odds For UFC Vegas 49

    The final UFC Vegas 49 betting odds are in for as this event is quickly approaching for the Las Vegas-based promotion. 

    The event is here, and it goes down tonight (Saturday, February 26, 2022) from Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex facility.

    Islam Makhachev vs. Bobby Green in a catchweight bout will headline the show. In the co-main event, Wellington Turman vs. Misha Cirkunov in a middleweight bout will take place.

    Rounding out the main card is Ji Yeon Kim vs. Priscila Cachoeira in a women’s flyweight fight, Arman Tsarukyan vs. Joel Alvarez in a lightweight bout, and Armen Petrosyan vs. Gregory Rodrigues in a middleweight bout. 

    According to oddsmakers, Islam is a -800 favorite over Green, who is a +550 underdog. Other odds for the main card include Turman being a +105 underdog against Cirkunov, who is a -115 favorite. Here are the full betting odds: 

    Main Card (7 PM ET, ESPN+)

    Islam Makhachev (-800) vs. Bobby Green (+550)

    Misha Cirkunov (-115) vs. Wellington Turman (+105)

    Ji Yeon Kim (-165) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (+145)

    Arman Tsarukyan (-225) vs. Joel Alvarez (+185)

    Gregory Rodrigues (-155) vs. Armen Petrosyan (+135)

    Preliminary Card (4 PM ET, ESPN+)

    Ignacio Bahamondes (-220) vs. Rongzhu (+180)

    Josiane Nunes (-200) vs. Ramona Pascual (+170)

    Fares Ziam (-120) vs. Terrance McKinney (EVEN)

    Jonathan Martinez (-235) vs. Alejandro Perez (+190)

    Ramiz Brahimaj (-365) vs. Micheal Gilmore (+280)

    Carlos Hernandez (-125) vs. Victor Altamirano (+105)

  • WATCH: UFC Vegas 49 Post-Fight Press Conference Live Stream

    The UFC Vegas 49 post-fight press conference will be live once the action concludes.

    In the headliner, Islam Makhachev and Bobby Green will collide in a catchweight clash. UFC Vegas 49’s co-main event will see a clash between Wellington Turman and Misha Cirkunov. More action will also be featured on the main card as Ji Yeon Kim shares the Octagon with Priscila Cachoeira. 

    The fighters from both the main and co-main events are expected to attend the post-fight press conference barring any hospital visits. Of course anyone else on the card who has a breakout performance could also attend the presser.

    MMA News will be providing live coverage of the UFC Vegas 49 card. Be sure to check back here for the post-fight presser with a tentative start time of 10:15 p.m. ET.

    Let us know your big takeaways once the UFC Vegas 49 post-fight press conference.

  • Peña: I Know The Mistakes I Need To Correct Before Nunes Rematch

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Julianna Peña is looking ahead to her rematch with Amanda Nunes, and knows there are some areas of her game she needs to fix before their second clash.

    At UFC 269, the final pay-per-view of 2021, Peña closed out a memorable year for MMA’s premier promotion in style. In the co-main event, she had her long-awaited title shot against then-two-division titleholder Nunes. Prior to December, the “Lioness” boasted a 12-fight win streak and was unbeaten since 2014.

    While most expected that impressive run of form to continue into 2022, “The Venezuelan Vixen” had other plans.

    After evading Nunes’ intent to finish in the opening round, Peña put her own game plan into action, taking the fight to the Brazilian on the feet, before dragging her to the mat and submitting a visibly fatigued and disheartened Nunes.

    Peña Acknowledges Title-Winning Performance Wasn’t Perfect

    While the memory of her remarkable ascent to the bantamweight throne remains fresh and spoken about in most interviews, Peña is beginning to adjust her focus towards her next task: a second victory over Nunes.

    Shortly after the shocking result, Dana White made it clear the reigning featherweight queen would be offered an immediate chance at redemption at 135 pounds, something she welcomed with open arms.

    With her first defense and rematch with Nunes on the horizon, “The Venezuelan Vixen” knows she has to make adjustments to her game, and has acknowledged that she made some “very big mistakes” at UFC 269.

    “I would say I’ve watched (UFC 269 fight) at least four times. As far as my assessment, there’s definitely some very big mistakes that I made, and I’m looking to correct those,” Peña told BT Sport’s Caroline Pearce. “I’m already starting my training camp, I’m trying to get back in shape right now. I’m gonna give myself one last hurrah to keep my hair down tonight, and then after that it’s straight business.

    “I got dumped in the first round and that really pissed my coaches off,” added Peña. “So, I just need to make sure I don’t get dumped again in the next fight. Aside from that, I think, hey, it’s fighting, mistakes are going to happen.”

    In a perfect world, Peña says her first defense will come after a stint coaching the next season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite Nunes. With Ariel Helwani reporting that the pair are the front-runners to do so this year, it seems she may get her wish.

    How do you think the expected rematch between Julianna Peña and Amanda Nunes will play out?

  • Islam Makhachev Explains Why Charles Oliveira Would Be An Easy Fight

    Islam Makhachev believes his wrestling skills outmatch the lightweight champion’s, which makes it a good, yet easy fight for him.

    The #4 lightweight contender faces off against Bobby Green in a catchweight bout this Saturday, February 26. Green is Beniel Dariush’s replacement, as Dariush suffered an injury a week before the match.

    Makhachev and Green head into their battle with back-to-back impressive wins. Fans anticipate what both fighters will bring to the cage at UFC Fight Night 202.

    Islam Makhachev and Bobby Green
    Islam Makhachev and Bobby Green, Photo Credit: UFC/Twitter

    Some tension has built up leading to their match. For instance, Green says he will be the first fighter to give Makhachev a “real” fight. And Makhachev laughed at Bobby Green’s wrestling skills.

    But that comes as no surprise. Being the wrestling sensation that Makhachev is, he puts his wrestling skills well above many fighters.

    In his last nine straight wins, he racked up four different submissions. Last year alone, he won all of his fights by submission, which includes a kimura to take out Dan Hooker in the first round.

    Though Makhachev credits “Do Bronx” for his striking and grappling, his success leads him to believe he can put Charles Oliveira down with ease in an eventual matchup.

    “It’s gonna be good fight because we almost have same style,” Makhachev said during a UFC Vegas 49 media scrum. He have good grappling skills, he have good striking, and it’s gonna be good fight. And I don’t think it’s gonna be hard for me. I can take him out, take him down easy because I know he don’t have good wrestling skills. But his grappling skills—high level. And we will see who’s better there,” said Makhachev in a pre-fight interview.

    Currently, Oliveira has the most submission wins and finishes in UFC history and has 20 submissions in his entire MMA career. As of now, Makhachev has 10.

    By the time these two amazing grapplers reach each other those numbers can certainly change.

    Oliveira has an upcoming title defense against Justin Gaethje in May. And before that, Makhachev fights for his chance to increase his win streak to ten straight wins.

    Both fights will determine if Makhachev and Oliveira will test their skills against one another in the near future.

    How do you think Islam Makhachev matches up against Charles Oliveira?

  • Colby Covington Open To Adesanya Matchup After Masvidal Fight

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington is open to a shot at middleweight champion Israel Adesanya after a win at UFC 272.

    Covington is slated to face his former friend and teammate Jorge Masvidal in a grudge match at UFC 272. The headliner has been a highly anticipated matchup for months and a fight that the fans have wanted for a long time.

    Covington and Masvidal have both lost to UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman twice, which makes their respective prospects for another title run a bit questionable. Covington in particular has teased competing at multiple weight classes in the past.

    Those ambitions remain. During a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole, Covington hinted at what could be next for him following UFC 272, including a matchup with Adesanya.

    “I’m not opposed to going up to 185 and beating up Stylebender,” Covington said. “That guy, he’s not a well-rounded fighter. He can’t keep up with my pace. I know I can take him down and drown him. So there’s a lot of options for me out there.”

    Covington has also expressed a profound interest in a third fight with Usman along with a potential matchup with another former teammate of his in Dustin Poirier.

    Adesanya earned the middleweight title over Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 before earning dominant wins over Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori. He rematched Whittaker at UFC 271 and won the bout via a unanimous decision.

    First thing’s first for Covington. He and Masvidal have gone at it on social media for years and will settle their beef in the Octagon at UFC 272. Depending on how it plays out, a matchup with Adesanya may not be outside of the realm of possibility.

    Who do you want Colby Covington to face after UFC 272?