Author: Dan Hiergesell

Fighters will be competing for a little extra cash later tonight (Sat., May 15, 2021) at UFC 262 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Toyota Center in Houston, Tex., which will be led by a lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler.

According to an original report by Combate, UFC officials have decided to increase the post-fight bonus awards to $75,000 instead of the typical $50,000. It is the first time in eight years that the promotion is dishing out some extra cash for “Performance of the Night” and “Fight of the Night.”

Believe it or not but UFC 262 fighters owe Tony Ferguson big time for this change. Ferguson, who meets Beneil Dariush in a lightweight co-main event, called for the bonus increase during UFC 262’s press-fight press conference on Thursday (see it HERE) and ultimately got his wish.

“(Last time when I fought in Houston), we were here for the performance-bonus meeting,” Ferguson said to UFC president Dana White at the presser. “(Travis Browne) said, ‘You know, everything is bigger in Texas, Dana, right?’ Right, you remember that? He said, ‘How about a bigger bonus?’ So, I’m going to ask you, Dana. Since we are here, like last time, can we have a bigger bonus this time?”

For now, UFC officials will be increasing the post-fight bonuses just for tonight’s event. But if things go swimmingly and the extra cash leads to more finishes the promotion may decide to do this more moving forward. Maybe it’s something that is reserved for PPV cards only.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 262 fight card HERE, starting with the early Fight Pass/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Amanda Ribas is not doing so well after being removed from UFC Vegas 26 earlier this month due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Ribas, who is one of the most promising names in women’s MMA today, was expected to fight Angela Hill as part of the UFC Vegas 26 main card on ESPN on May 8. Unfortunately, the Brazilian fighter was removed from the card hours before the event started after testing positive for the coronavirus along with a team member. It is the second time Ribas has tested positive for the widespread virus.

While Hill took the cancelation in stride and made her push for a change of opponent over the next few weeks Ribas is still experiencing issues from her battle with COVID-19. We are just one week removed from Ribas’ positive test and the symptoms keep rolling in.

“I’m here in quarantine in the room in Las Vegas,” Ribas told MMA Junkie earlier this week. “I’m still here. I was feeling the symptoms since Wednesday but thought it was the air conditioning. I was coughing and felt weird and was just coughing. I (struggled) walking. I’m just waiting here in the quarantine, drinking water to get better. (This is) the second (time) I’ve had COVID. It is rare, but happened. I hope you guys send vibes for me and my dad to get better.”

Ribas, 27, was on her way to a women’s strawweight title shot before getting knocked out by Marina Rodriguez at UFC 257 this past January. She was hoping to right the ship entering the second half of 2021 and remind the division why she’s one of the most dangerous contenders around.

As it stands right now the promotion is looking to have Ribas vs. Hill take place on June 5, but if Ribas continues to deal with COVID-19 symptoms the bout is likely to get canceled again.

Former UFC fighter Jason “Mayhem” Miller has been sentenced to one year in jail dating back to a felony vandalism charge in Aug. 2020, per a report by CBSLA.

Miller, 40, was arrested last August for suspicion of residential burglary and car theft. “Mayhem” was serving probation for a previous domestic violence charge at the time of his arrest. The former UFC fighter has been in jail since Aug. 21.

On Tuesday, Miller plead guilty to the felony vandalism charge and sentenced to 364 days in jail. In exchange for his plea, the one count of felony grand theft auto was dismissed and Miller was handed out an additional two years of probation.

Miller, who last competed under the UFC banner in a decision loss to C.B. Dollaway back at UFC 146 in 2012, has been in trouble with the law for nearly the past decade. From fighting off an “army of police” at his home to being discovered naked inside of a church, Miller has been unable to keep his life in order.

Miller tried to return to fighting back in 2016 at Venator FC 3 in Milan, Italy, but ended up missing weight by an astonishing 24 pounds for his middleweight fight with Luke Barnatt. As a result of his weight miss Miller was then paired up with Mattia Schiavolin and ended up losing via second-round submission, which essentially put the final nail in his MMA career.

What do you think, fight fans? Is this the last time we hear of Miller getting in trouble with the law?

Sound off!

It all goes down tomorrow night (Sat., May 15, 2021) at UFC 262 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Toyota Center in Houston, Tex., as Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler collide in the main event for the vacant UFC lightweight title.

On paper this is an awesome matchup to determine the next 155-pound champion. Obviously some would say Chandler hasn’t earned his shot having defeated Dan Hooker in his Octagon debut back at UFC 257, but the guy has been one of the best lightweights in the world over the past 10 years. There’s a reason he was able to steamroll “Hangman” and earn this matchup with “Do Bronx.” Chandler is the real deal.

Oliveira, who is coming off a dominant decision win over Tony Ferguson back at UFC 256 in Dec. 2020, is looking to lock down his ninth-straight win inside of the Octagon. The Brazilian veteran has been competing in UFC for over a decade and is finally on the cusp of his first ever title shot. There’s no doubt fight fans will see the most dangerous Oliveira to date when he meets Chandler this weekend at UFC 262.

In preparation for UFC 262, the promotion has released the latest and greatest episodes of UFC 262 “Embedded.” Both episodes focus on final weight cuts and last-minute preparation as Oliveira and Chandler enter the biggest fight of their respective careers. The “Embedded” team also followed co-main event participants, Tony Ferguson and Beneil Dariush, as they gear up for a crucial 155-pound clash.

The forth episode of UFC 262 “Embedded” can be seen below:

Here is the fifth episode:

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 262 fight card HERE, starting with the early Fight Pass/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

There are some things you don’t see everyday in the sport of MMA. Former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz training alongside heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury is one of them.

Luckily, fight fans got a glimpse of a sparring session between Diaz and Fury on Friday. The footage was brief, but it’s still an interesting interaction involving two of the more unique personalities in combat sports. Check it out in the above video player.

From the outside looking in this seems like an odd meeting between two guys that normally wouldn’t cross paths. But considering Nick Diaz is preparing for his return to UFC later this year and “Gypsy King” has already expressed his interest to one day compete in MMA things become a little clearer.

While Diaz hasn’t competed in UFC in over six years he’s still one of the more experienced and intelligent fighters around. Coming to him for some training tips can’t hurt, especially since he’s gearing up for his return to the sport. Smart play by “Gypsy King.”

As for Fury, he’s currently scheduled to fight fellow heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua this August. If the undefeated English boxer is able to capture a victory in the massive boxing match it could mean a crossover into the Octagon sometime in 2022.

The next UFC lightweight champion will be crowned tomorrow night (Sat., May 15, 2021) live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Toyota Center in Houston, Tex., as perennial contender Charles Oliveira takes on former Bellator MMA champion Michael Chandler in the main event.

This fight didn’t come to fruition until Khabib Nurmagomedov officially vacated his 155-pound crown and Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor decided to fight in a trilogy, but Oliveira vs. Chandler should produce some really good action from start to finish. After all, the winner will be crowned champion of the deepest and most difficult division to ascend in all of MMA.

For Oliveira, this is his chance to cash in on a UFC title shot 11 years in the making since his promotional debut back in 2010. The Brazilian finisher has won his last eight in a row and has never looked more well-rounded. Chandler, on the other hand, will be stepping inside of the Octagon for just the second time as he tries to prove he’s been one of the best lightweights in the world over the past decade as a member of the Bellator roster.

In advance to UFC 262’s main event the two lightweights came head-to-head for a final weigh-ins staredown. Things got pretty intense. Check it out in the above player. An alternant angle can be seen below:

In addition, lightweight veterans Tony Ferguson and Beneil Dariush also locked eyes in a final faceoff. They will meet in UFC 262’s co-main event.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 262 fight card HERE, starting with the early Fight Pass/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.