Tag: UFC News

Marvin Vettori Wants To ‘Smash’ Darren Till In 2021

Marvin VettoriRising UFC Middleweight contender Marvin Vettori is planning on a big 2021, starting with fighting Darren Till. Vettori most recently defeated Jack Hermansson in his first main event. “Can’t wait to smash Darren Till’s mouth next year but for now enjoy Christmas@Mickmaynard2 @danawhite @ufc,” Vettori wrote on social media. Vettori called out Paulo Costa after this big […]

Marvin Vettori

Rising UFC Middleweight contender Marvin Vettori is planning on a big 2021, starting with fighting Darren Till. Vettori most recently defeated Jack Hermansson in his first main event.

“Can’t wait to smash Darren Till’s mouth next year but for now enjoy Christmas
@Mickmaynard2 @danawhite @ufc,” Vettori wrote on social media.

Vettori called out Paulo Costa after this big win over Hermansson, but it seems like the Italian is setting his sights off Darren Till.

“Blachowicz is up and down sometimes but I think he beats Adesanya,” Vettori said to BJPENN.com. “I’m not worried because Adesanya won’t be at light heavyweight for very long. Even if he wins I’ll get the middleweight title shot and if he wants to get it back, he will have to fight me. I’m just focused on my journey and my own fight.”

While Vettori is riding a 4 fight win streak, Till will be coming off a close loss to Robert Whittaker, while also rehabbing his recently injured knee from training. This would be a huge matchup between 2 of the best and most exciting middleweight contenders in the world.

Would you like to see Marvin Vettori vs Darren Till? Who do you see coming out on top?

Ben Askren Opens As Underdog Against Jake Paul In Boxing Match

Askren PaulFormer UFC welterweight Ben Askren has opened as a betting underdog against Jake Paul. It was recently reported that Askren and Paul would face off in a boxing match set for March 28. Although nothing is official just yet, Askren hinted it was legit and later explained why he accepts the challenge. “I know you […]

Askren Paul

Former UFC welterweight Ben Askren has opened as a betting underdog against Jake Paul.

It was recently reported that Askren and Paul would face off in a boxing match set for March 28. Although nothing is official just yet, Askren hinted it was legit and later explained why he accepts the challenge.

“I know you called me out after your fight with that bum Nate Robinson,” Askren said. “Listen, it’s a pretty simple choice. I’m gonna make a whole bunch of money to beat up a guy who is pretending to be an athlete because at the end of the day that is what you’re doing, and I know you may think I don’t have too many standup skills but also at the end of the day I don’t need to.

“I’m a world-class athlete, I’ve won NCAA titles, I’ve been to the Olympics, I’ve won belts in multiple MMA organizations and quite frankly, I am impressed that you’ve diluted yourself into thinking you are actually a fighter, that you are really tough, that you can really box, It’s quite impressive that beating up another YouTuber and beating up a boxer that looks like he’s never been in the ring before makes you good at boxing. So yes, Jake I accept. I will see you March 28 in Las Angeles and I will humble you like millions of people want to see happen.”

Oddsmakers don’t seem to agree, though.

As per Bet Online, Askren has opened as a +150 underdog while Paul is a -180 favorite. That means a $100 bet on an Askren win would earn you $150 in profit while you would need to bet $180 make a $100 profit on a Paul win.

These odds aren’t all that surprising.

While Askren is a world class athlete, he has never been much of a striker at all. When he did strike on the rare occasion — notably against another non-striker in Demian Maia — it wasn’t particularly effective and even became the subject of multiple memes.

Paul, on the other hand, has been training exclusively in boxing for a number of years now and has access to some of the best coaches such as former boxer Shane Mosley as well as sparring partners.

And while he hasn’t faced the best competition, Paul certainly showed he has legitimate skills even from his two professional boxing bouts.

However, those odds are certainly enticing for those who feel Askren will humble the younger Paul brother.

Are you surprised by these odds?

Jake Paul Impersonates Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Other MMA Fighters (Video)

PaulJake Paul is continuing his tirade of riling up MMA fighters. The popular YouTuber has been the talk of the combat sports world ever since his knockout of former NBA point guard Nate Robinson in their boxing match last month. He has since called out Conor McGregor and mocked his partner Dee Devlin, fired shots […]

Paul

Jake Paul is continuing his tirade of riling up MMA fighters.

The popular YouTuber has been the talk of the combat sports world ever since his knockout of former NBA point guard Nate Robinson in their boxing match last month.

He has since called out Conor McGregor and mocked his partner Dee Devlin, fired shots at UFC president Dana White, attacked Dillon Danis with water balloons and is now reportedly set to box Ben Askren in March.

His latest work? A video posted Wednesday on social media where he impersonates — as well as mocks — all of the above in addition to the likes of Nate Diaz and Michael Bisping who have also had not-so-nice things to say about him.

You can watch it below:

While some of the accents are dodgy, one has to admit Paul has done a good job as a whole.

What do you think of Paul’s video?

Anthony Pettis Signs With The PFL, To Compete At Lightweight

PettisIt didn’t take Anthony Pettis long to find a new home. The former lightweight champion made headlines when he announced Tuesday that he was parting ways with the UFC to explore free agency. Many expected Bellator MMA to swoop in for him especially seeing as his brother Sergio Pettis was recently signed by the promotion. […]

Pettis

It didn’t take Anthony Pettis long to find a new home.

The former lightweight champion made headlines when he announced Tuesday that he was parting ways with the UFC to explore free agency.

Many expected Bellator MMA to swoop in for him especially seeing as his brother Sergio Pettis was recently signed by the promotion.

However, Pettis has opted to sign a deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) who confirmed the news on social media on Wednesday.

Pettis will join the PFL for its 2021 season which kicks off April 23 and will be competing at 155 pounds again. No date or first opponent has been named for “Showtime” as of yet.

He is the latest big name to join the PFL’s ranks after the recent signings of Rory MacDonald, Fabricio Werdum and Claressa Shields. In Pettis, the PFL has a former UFC and WEC lightweight champion who is one of the household names in mixed martial arts.

Things have been a bit rocky for Pettis ever since losing his lightweight title to Rafael dos Anjos in 2015 as he never went on a winning streak until this past weekend when he outpointed Alex Morono.

However, he is still a top-level fighter who is capable of getting finishes as we saw against Michael Chiesa and Stephen Thompson.

With his addition to the ranks, the upcoming PFL season promises to be more exciting than ever.

What do you think of Pettis joining the PFL?

Conor McGregor Lands At #15 In UFC Welterweight Rankings After Anthony Pettis’ Release

McGregorFormer two-weight world champion, ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor has re-entered the UFC’s official welterweight rankings at #15, following the recent release of former lightweight champion, Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis. Cracking the 170-pound top-fifteen, McGregor also leapfrogged former interim 155-pound titleholder, Tony ‘El Cucuy’ Ferguson into the #4 spot at lightweight following the latter’s recent UFC 256 […]

McGregor

Former two-weight world champion, ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor has re-entered the UFC’s official welterweight rankings at #15, following the recent release of former lightweight champion, Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis.

Cracking the 170-pound top-fifteen, McGregor also leapfrogged former interim 155-pound titleholder, Tony ‘El Cucuy’ Ferguson into the #4 spot at lightweight following the latter’s recent UFC 256 unanimous decision loss to the #3 rated, Charles ‘Do Bronx’ Oliveira. Canadian outlet, TSN was first to report the updated UFC rankings. 

Slated to headline UFC 256 on January 23 from the Flash Forum on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi UAE, McGregor rematches one-time foe, former interim titleholder, Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier with stakes higher than even given the current lie of the lightweight land.

Making his first Octagon appearance in just over a year, the Dubliner last made the walk at UFC 246 in January this year, scoring a forty-second knockout victory over veteran one-time title chaser, Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in a welterweight main event. The return marked the 32-year-old’s first appearance since a UFC 229 loss to Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov.

Featuring three-times at 170-pounds during his seven-year Octagon stint, McGregor is 2-1 at the weight class, dropping his divisional debut against Nate Diaz at UFC 196 before avenging his first promotional loss at UFC 202 in August of 2016. 

Sitting at #4 in the lightweight ranks, McGregor has only appeared at 155-pounds on two occasions and holds a 1-1 record. Prior to his neck crank loss to the above mentioned, Khabib — the Straight Blast Gym mainstay headlined UFC 205 in November of 2016 against then-champion, Eddie ‘The Underground King’ Alvarez — where he nabbed the lightweight championship to become the promotion’s first two-weight world champion held simultaneously. 

After rumblings during the initial stages of the Poirier vs. McGregor II negotiations suggested the pairing had a decent possibility of taking place at 170-pounds, UFC president Dana White maintained the re-run made no sense at that weight, declaring it would take place at lightweight instead, as the pair attempt to make inroads to their second undisputed title challenges.

Tyron Woodley Refutes Rumours Of His Release From The UFC

WoodleyFormer UFC welterweight champion, Tyron ‘The Chosen One’ Woodley has poured cold water on rumours tonight, speculating that he had been released from his UFC deal. Woodley, the former undisputed 170-pound kingpin has lost three on the trot, and appeared to have come to the end of his stint with the promotion, with rumblings on […]

Woodley

Former UFC welterweight champion, Tyron ‘The Chosen One’ Woodley has poured cold water on rumours tonight, speculating that he had been released from his UFC deal.

Woodley, the former undisputed 170-pound kingpin has lost three on the trot, and appeared to have come to the end of his stint with the promotion, with rumblings on Twitter of his impending release after light was shed on a screenshot of Woodley’s Snapchat with the caption, “cut“. 

Featuring twice in the Octagon this year, it was an annum to forget for the Roufusport trainee, who dropped consecutive one-sided losses in a unanimous decision defeat and a technical knockout blemish to upcoming title challenger, Gilbert ‘Durinho’ Burns and former interim champion, Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington, respectively. 

The St. Louis native, along with his manager, Malki Kawa from First Round Management denied any reports of his release from the UFC, detailing how the above-mentioned screenshot may have been doctored as it never came from Woodley himself. 

Criticised for a somewhat pair of gun-shy performances since dropping his welterweight crown to incumbent best, Kamaru ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ Usman at UFC 235 in March of last year, Woodley failed to mount any real significant offence against both Burns and Covington, with the Brazilian earning a title shot off the back of his judging win, while Covington is tentatively linked with a matchup opposite Jorge ‘Gamebred’ Masvidal after his fifth-round rib injury triumph. 

A former welterweight champion under the promotion’s banner, Woodley clinched the title back at UFC 201 in the summer of 2016, stopping then-champion, ‘Ruthless’ Robbie Lawler. Managing three successful title defences and a successful title retention against Stephen Thompson, the St. Louis native then rematched ‘Wonderboy’ — scoring a majority decision win before victories over Demian Maia and Darren Till. 

In response to rumours of his release, Woodley shared a direct message exchange with mixed martial arts reporter, Chisanga Malata who had reported that the former may have been handed his UFC walking papers, claiming it “takes a real man to apologise“.