Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker talks about making a comeback at UFC on ESPN 14, reflects on spending time with his family during quarantine and reveals his “secret game plan” for Darren Till. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Deiveson Figueiredo technically submitted Joseph Benavidez to claim the vacant UFC flyweight championship. Heidi Fang and Adam Hill recap some of the top highlights from the UFC’s second fight card in Abu Dhabi. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
UFC flyweight Joseph Benavidez will get his fourth shot at earning the flyweight title when he faces Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC on ESPN 14. Benavidez also explains why he doesn’t like Figueiredo. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Heidi Fang and Adam Hill discuss how Calvin Kattar established himself as a top contender in the UFC’s featherweight division with a convincing unanimous decision victory over Dan Ige in the main event of UFC on ESPN 13 in Abu Dhabi. Tim Elliott discusses the importance of his win over Ryan Benoit in the co-main event. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
In the UFC’s first event on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi, Kamaru Usman, Alexander Volkanovski and Petr Yan took home wins and captured titles in the top-billed fights at UFC 251. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Just weeks ago, Jorge Masvidal had expressed concerns that he wasn’t being paid accordingly by the UFC. Prior to his UFC 251 welterweight title fight against Kamaru Usman, Masvidal says the promotion has resolved the problems. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway spoke to the media about competing at UFC 251, which takes place on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on July 11, his battles with depression and more. He will rematch Alexander Volkanovski for the division title in the co-main event. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
UFC welterweight Mike Perry explains what went into his decision to have his girlfriend, Latory Gonzalez corner him for his fight against Mickey Gall and why that worked for him at UFC on ESPN 12. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Dustin Poirier defeated Dan Hooker in an instant classic at UFC on ESPN 12 and Mike Perry, with his lone cornerperson being his girlfriend, defeated Mickey Gall. Adam Hill and Heidi Fang recap the action from the UFC Apex. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
All fighters competing at the UFC on ESPN 12 event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday, June 27, squared off against each other following the weigh-ins on Friday. Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker will serve as the main event. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
All 20 fighters competing at UFC on ESPN 12 made weight at the UFC Apex on Friday, June 26. The event, which takes place on Saturday, features a lightweight main event between Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Ahead of his fight against Mickey Gall at the UFC Apex on June 27 in Las Vegas, UFC welterweight Mike Perry speaks about who will be his only cornerperson – his girlfriend, Latory Gonzalez. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Curtis Blaydes says he’s fine playing the heel role after putting on a performance that left fans and UFC president Dana White unsatisfied, and Josh Emmett, though he took Fight of the Night for his performance over Shane Burgos, says he wasn’t happy with his fight. The Review-Journal’s Heidi Fang and Adam Hill recap the event in this post-fight recap.
Tecia Torres and Raquel Pennington, a couple competing in the UFC women’s divisions, both took home wins at UFC on ESPN 11, which was also the first time they competed on the same fight card. Torres defeated Brianna Van Buren on the preliminary card and Pennington defeated Marion Reneau on the main card. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
UFC president Dana White says he’s preparing as though another shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic may occur soon. If that should occur, he says he hopes the Nevada Athletic Commission will see that the organization has proven that they can still put on safe events in the UFC Apex facility. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
UFC heavyweight Curtis Blaydes will face Alexander Volkov on June 20 at UFC on ESPN 11 in Las Vegas. Ahead of the fight, Blaydes spoke about the heavyweight title picture, his status as a contender in the division and more. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
UFC flyweight Cynthia Calvillo got emotional in her post-fight victory press conference and discussed her short training period with a new fight camp and about competing in a new weight class. Middleweight Marvin Vettori talked about rebooking of his fight when his opponent failed to make weight. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
UFC president Dana White spoke about the promotion’s next set of events in Abu Dhabi, the procedures the company is taking to put on the fight cards safely during the coronavirus pandemic, what the promotion has told other leagues trying to relaunch and where else they may hold events in the coming months. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
UFC president Dana White met with reporters ahead of UFC on ESPN 10 at the UFC Apex and discuseed some of the bouts set for Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Fighters involved in the 10 bouts slated for UFC on ESPN 10 on July 13 in Las Vegas squared off on Friday after weigh-ins at the UFC Apex. Flyweight Jessica Eye, who missed weight by a quarter-pound, will face Cynthia Calvillo in the main event. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
On Friday during the official weigh-ins, three fighters missed weight, including Jessica Eye who is expected to fight Cynthia Calvillo in the main event of UFC on ESPN 10 on June 13 at the UFC Apex. In addition, Zarrukh Adashev and Karl Roberson, who’s competing in the co-main event, missed weight. A bout between Jordan Griffin and Darrick Minner was scratched from the event when Minner announced on social media that he would not be able to cut enough weight to compete.
After fighting professionally for ten years, Jessica Eye talks about how excited she is to headline the UFC on ESPN 10 fight card against Cynthia Calvillo on June 13 in Las Vegas. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Just after the conclusion of UFC 250, former two-division champion Conor McGregor announced his retirement on Twitter. UFC president Dana White reacted to the news during a press conference at the UFC Apex. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Amanda Nunes became the first fighter in UFC history to successfully defend both titles in two different divisions, but Conor McGregor attempted to steal her thunder on social media when he announced his retirement following UFC 250. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
UFC featherweight Alex Caceres took a unanimous decision win over Chase Hooper at UFC 250 and spoke about the example he wants to set for others and his community amid protests for Black Lives Matter taking place all over the world. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
All fighters competing at UFC 250 on June 6 at the UFC Apex made weight for the event on Friday. In the main event, Amanda Nunes will put her featherweight belt on the line against Felicia Spencer. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
As former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt prepares to face Raphael Assuncao at UFC 250 on June 6, he reflects on his past few years of competition and what he’s done to improve his fight skills. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Gilbert Burns established himself as a top contender in the welterweight division after dominating Tyron Woodley in the main event of UFC on ESPN 9 in Las Vegas. Heidi Fang and Adam Hill discuss his performance as well as Mackenzie Dern’s win over Hannah Cifers. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
For the first time since March, the UFC and Top Rank Boxing have been permitted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to host events in Las Vegas. Sam Gordon, Adam Hill, and Heidi Fang break down what to expect when the promotions return starting with the UFC event on May 30 at the UFC Apex.
UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem defeated Walt Harris in the main event and UFC strawweight Claudia Gadelha took home a victory over Angela Hill in the co-main of UFC Florida. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)