https://www.scmp.com/rss/503062/feed UFC 245 is an Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts event scheduled for December 14, 2019. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Jorge Masvidal has passed his Covid-19 test and is officially scheduled to face Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 on Fight Island, Abu Dhabi this weekend. “Gamebred” Masvidal’s manager teased that the “BMF” champion was “negotiating” for the replacement fight on Sunday, with UFC president Dana White releasing the new, makeshift fight promo on Monday. Welterweight champion Usman’s (16-1) original opponent, Gilbert Burns, was whisked off the card on Friday after he and two cornermen tested positive for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3091965/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-passes-covid-19-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3091965/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-passes-covid-19-test?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jul 2020 06:12:50 +0000 Colby Covington has once again blasted former teammate Dustin Poirier despite beating New Zealand’s Dan Hooker in a fight-of-the-year contender at UFC Vegas 4 last week. Former interim welterweight champion “Chaos” Covington (15-2) had previously apologised for breaking a “deal to keep it civil” with “The Diamond” Poirier (26-6, one no contest) and others from Dan Lambert’s American Top Team. Lightweight Poirier then dared Covington, who has since left the team, to return to the gym last... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3091876/ufc-colby-covington-says-former-teammate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3091876/ufc-colby-covington-says-former-teammate?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Jul 2020 08:18:09 +0000 UFC favourite Mike Perry faces Mickey Gall at this weekend’s UFC Vegas 4 and card in what is likely to be a fun welterweight scrap. Much of the attention has veered towards “Platinum” Perry’s announcement that his new girlfriend will be the only person cornering him at the Apex Arena as he plots a remarkable comeback. Perry (13-6) last fought in a devastating first-round TKO loss to Geoff Neal in December, putting him on a two fight-losing streak having fallen to Vicente Luque via split decision... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3090837/ufc-mike-perrys-redemption-story-through-eyes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3090837/ufc-mike-perrys-redemption-story-through-eyes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Jun 2020 05:53:46 +0000 Colby Covington has confirmed his departure from American Top Team after he was removed from the Coconut Creek, Florida gym’s welterweight roster on its website. The former UFC interim welterweight champ has been publicly trash talking several ATT teammates over the past nine months, including Jorge Masvidal, Dustin Poirier and Joanna Jedrzejczyk. ATT founder Dan Lambert called for a truce in February – something which Covington almost immediately broke. “I felt bad because of Dan in that... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3086447/ufc-colby-covington-says-american-top-team?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3086447/ufc-colby-covington-says-american-top-team?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2020 04:02:02 +0000 Kamaru Usman can’t seem to shake off the shadow of Jorge Masvidal. And that’s exactly how the UFC’s welterweight champion likes it. “I used to be just like him,” says Usman. “For years I was trying to get people to notice me, especially the champion. I was that guy. So I know what it’s like to be that guy and I’m loving being in this position now. It’s time for this fight to happen.” The will-they/won’t-they seems to be nearing the end of its shelf life and all that’s needed is the contract... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3074673/ufc-kamaru-usman-admits-jorge-masvidal-fight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3074673/ufc-kamaru-usman-admits-jorge-masvidal-fight?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2020 09:04:42 +0000 The MMA world was wondering if Colby Covington would dare make his presence felt at American Top Team again. It seems “Chaos” already has. Dustin Poirier revealed in an interview with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani that he had a meeting with ATT founder and owner Dan Lambert at their Florida gym last week after Covington showed up. Former UFC interim welterweight champion Covington has riled some of his teammates including Poirier and Jorge Masvidal after trash talking them in recent months. “That guy,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3051101/ufc-colby-covington-gym-return-prompts-dustin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3051101/ufc-colby-covington-gym-return-prompts-dustin?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Feb 2020 04:43:55 +0000 If you thought Colby Covington might have been humbled by his defeat to UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, think again. “Chaos” finally broke his silence following December’s UFC 245 main event, claiming earlier this week that he did not in fact break his jaw in the fight. He demanded a rematch with Usman and also took aim at referee Marc Goddard – and, bizarrely, American rapper 50 Cent. If that wasn’t enough, Covington has now also denied he has left the American Top Team [ATT] gym, after... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3049646/ufc-colby-covington-says-hes-jorge-masvidals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3049646/ufc-colby-covington-says-hes-jorge-masvidals?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Feb 2020 08:47:38 +0000 If all goes according to plan, sometime this year, we will witness the biggest UFC fight of all-time. UFC president Dana White confirmed Conor ‘The Notorious’ McGregor will get a chance to face the winner of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 for the lightweight championship on April 18. All accounts are Nurmagomedov will dispatch Ferguson, and anyone betting against that line is probably drinking a bit too much of the El Cucuy’s tequila. Grab the popcorn, crack the beers, amass the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3048712/should-conor-mcgregor-stay-170-pounds-or-gear?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3048712/should-conor-mcgregor-stay-170-pounds-or-gear?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Feb 2020 02:39:25 +0000 Jorge Masvidal has taken another swipe at Kamaru Usman and the pair continue to goad each other ahead of a likely 2020 showdown. UFC welterweight champion Usman riled Masvidal by pretending not to know who he is after successfully defending his title against Colby Covington at UFC 245 last month – a fight “Gamebred” wasn’t impressed by. “Pillow hands both of them,” Masvidal told a press conference in Las Vegas. “I know for a lot of you, the end result is this guy [Covington] got his jaw broken.... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3046506/ufc-jorge-masvidal-mocks-pillow-hands-kamaru?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3046506/ufc-jorge-masvidal-mocks-pillow-hands-kamaru?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jan 2020 05:29:26 +0000 Kamaru Usman may want to think twice the next time he tries to pretend he doesn’t know who Jorge Masvidal is. The UFC welterweight champion twice responded “who?” when asked whether he wanted to fight “Gamebred” next after successfully defending his title against Colby Covington at UFC 245, once in the post-event press conference and another on the ESPN+ post show. It’s certainly a pretty hard sell, given Masvidal’s rise to superstardom in the UFC this year. He’s had highlight reel knockouts of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3043663/ufc-jorge-masvidal-shuts-down-kamaru-usman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3043663/ufc-jorge-masvidal-shuts-down-kamaru-usman?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Dec 2019 07:31:19 +0000 It’s pretty fair to say that Tyron Woodley did not like the UFC 245 main event between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington. The former welterweight champion said he was “disgusted” by what he saw from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on December 14. *F*** both of them. I don’t really want to give them no love. I don’t want to give them no clout,” Woodley said on TMZ’s The Hollywood Beatdown. “Kamaru won the fight, broke Colby’s jaw. Colby I thought was winning the fight by a little small margin,” he... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3043368/ufc-tyron-woodley-disgusted-colby-covington?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3043368/ufc-tyron-woodley-disgusted-colby-covington?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Dec 2019 05:29:04 +0000 Jorge Masvidal thinks Colby Covington might be done with fighting after breaking his jaw in his devastating loss to Kamaru Usman. Welterweight champion Usman shut Covington’s title bid down with a fifth-round TKO at UFC 245. Covington showed plenty of heart to keep fighting after suffering the jaw injury in the third round, but it came back to haunt him late on as “The Nigerian Nightmare” dropped him twice late on before finishing him. Some fans said it was comeuppance for the former interim... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3043072/ufc-jorge-masvidal-doubts-colby-covington?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3043072/ufc-jorge-masvidal-doubts-colby-covington?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Dec 2019 04:03:52 +0000 Jorge Masvidal has hit back at the fans criticising him for chasing a big-money fight with Conor McGregor, seemingly instead of prioritising a title shot against UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Since beating Nate Diaz for the “BMF” title at UFC 244 to cap off a glorious 2019 that has seen him rise to MMA superstardom, Masvidal has also been calling for pay days against boxing superstars Canelo Alvarez and Floyd Mayweather. But a potential 170-pound showdown with former featherweight and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042953/ufc-jorge-masvidal-blasts-casual-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042953/ufc-jorge-masvidal-blasts-casual-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Dec 2019 06:50:15 +0000 Jorge Masvidal has been throwing out Conor McGregor’s name for a potential big payday. But don’t think he’s forgetting about Kamaru Usman. UFC president Dana White seems keen to match welterweight champion Usman up with Masvidal next, despite Masvidal also talking of a money-spinning boxing crossover with Floyd Mayweather or Canelo Alvarez. Now the “BMF” champion has revealed he’s down to chase the 170-pounds belt next year too. “When I fight Usman I’m gonna break his face. I’ll say it right now... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042945/jorge-masvidal-says-hell-take-kamaru-usman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042945/jorge-masvidal-says-hell-take-kamaru-usman?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Dec 2019 06:09:45 +0000 Frankie Edgar has admitted Jose Aldo looks like he will be “a force” in the UFC bantamweight division – but he still thinks Marlon Moraes won their fight. “Magic” took a controversial split decision victory at UFC 245 in Las Vegas last weekend, despite the former featherweight weight champion Aldo looking like he’d done enough on his debut at 135 pounds. UFC president Dana White and Henry Cejudo both think Aldo won, and are open to giving him a title shot ahead of Moraes, whom “Triple C” beat... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042851/ufc-jose-aldo-force-bantamweight-marlon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042851/ufc-jose-aldo-force-bantamweight-marlon?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Dec 2019 11:05:33 +0000 Jorge Masvidal and Leon Edwards seem to be the main two names in the frame to next fight Kamaru Usman. But if the UFC welterweight champion could pick his ideal opponent, there’s a different name on his mind. “Honestly, I’m an equal opportunities kind of guy. But if I had to choose, of course I want Georges St-Pierre,” Usman told TMZ Sports. Usman underlined his status as the best welterweight in the game with a dramatic fifth-round TKO of Colby Covington at UFC 245 in Las Vegas last... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042591/ufc-kamaru-usman-calls-out-georges-st-pierre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042591/ufc-kamaru-usman-calls-out-georges-st-pierre?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Dec 2019 06:18:38 +0000 Conor McGregor appeared to hint at a tilt for a title in a third different UFC weight class last weekend. But welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has emphatically shut him down. Former featherweight and lightweight king McGregor tweeted “145. 155. 170” after Usman defended his title with a fifth-round TKO against Colby Covington at UFC 245. The dramatic slugfest underlined Usman’s credentials as the best welterweight on the planet and “The Nigerian Nightmare” laughed off the idea of the Irishman... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042552/ufc-kamaru-usman-says-conor-mcgregor-must?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042552/ufc-kamaru-usman-says-conor-mcgregor-must?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Dec 2019 03:53:44 +0000 With eight straight victories in the rear-view mirror, England’s Leon Edwards has earned a high-profile fight. Unfortunately, the soft-spoken Briton is having a difficult time finding a suitable dance partner. He’s recently been campaigning for a fight with former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, ideally when the organisation returns to London, England, on March 21. Woodley was quick to object to the location of this proposed bout, arguing that as a decorated former champion, he... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042261/ufc-245-leon-edwards-warns-kamaru-usman-jorge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042261/ufc-245-leon-edwards-warns-kamaru-usman-jorge?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Dec 2019 06:39:01 +0000 Asked if it was “poetic justice” that Colby Covington had to have his mouth wired shut, Kamaru Usman could only smile. “Eh, you said it, right on the money,” the welterweight champion replied at the UFC 245 post-event press conference, after breaking Covington’s jaw en route to a fifth-round TKO win. The build-up to Saturday night’s heated main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas had been marred by Covington’s relentless trash talking, fuelled by his “MAGA” persona including red Donald... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042249/ufc-245-colby-covington-gets-poetic-justice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042249/ufc-245-colby-covington-gets-poetic-justice?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Dec 2019 05:14:14 +0000 Such was the animosity in the build-up to their fight, Jorge Masvidal threatened to punch Ben Askren if he saw him at Whole Foods even after knocking him out in five seconds with a flying knee. But it seems the two are on something approaching the same page now – at least when it comes to Colby Covington. “Shout out to @Benaskren who never tucked tail after his loss. Made no excuses. Took it on the chin and never censored the haters like a coward,” Masvidal tweeted on Sunday night. The tweet was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042227/ufc-245-jorge-masvidal-ben-askren-agree-colby?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042227/ufc-245-jorge-masvidal-ben-askren-agree-colby?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Dec 2019 03:30:00 +0000 Despite Colby Covington’s devastating TKO loss to Kamaru Usman at UFC 245, it looks like his feud with former friend and training partner Jorge Masvidal is only just heating up. Masvidal opened fire on Covington with a barrage of insults on social media after “Chaos” claimed he was “robbed” by Marc Goddard. The referee stopped the fight with 50 seconds left, as Usman rained down blows on a grounded Covington, who had been dropped twice in the fifth round and had suffered a broken jaw in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042216/ufc-245-jorge-masvidal-mocks-colby-covington?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042216/ufc-245-jorge-masvidal-mocks-colby-covington?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Dec 2019 02:51:48 +0000 UFC president Dana White appeared to confirm he is targeting Jorge Masvidal vs Kamaru Usman. Welterweight champion Usman defended his title against former interim champion Colby Covington on Saturday night, getting a dramatic late stoppage with 50 seconds to go. Masvidal has hinted he wants fights with Conor McGregor and boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather in 2020, saying he’s the big ticket at 170 pounds. But it looks like White has other ideas. “Masvidal verses Usman now is a big deal,” White... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042183/ufc-245-dana-white-says-jorge-masvidal-vs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042183/ufc-245-dana-white-says-jorge-masvidal-vs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Dec 2019 10:14:29 +0000 Jose Aldo may have suffered a controversial defeat by Marlon Moraes on his bantamweight debut at UFC 245. But Henry Cejudo still wants to give the Brazilian former featherweight champion a title shot. Moraes beat Aldo by split decision at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, though many fans and media had seemingly scored the fight for the 32-year-old. “Well, Henry Cejudo texted me and said, ‘That’s b*******, he won that fight and I wanna treat him like he did’,” White revealed at the post-event... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042182/ufc-245-dana-white-open-jose-aldo-vs-henry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042182/ufc-245-dana-white-open-jose-aldo-vs-henry?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Dec 2019 10:06:51 +0000 Amanda Nunes has laughed off Claressa Shields calling her out for a boxing match, saying “come fight me in MMA”. Two-weight UFC champion Nunes defended her bantamweight title against Germaine de Randamie in Las Vegas on Saturday night, where two-time Olympic boxing champion Shields was watching at the T-Mobile Arena. “She saw tonight, I don’t think she’s gonna want anything to do with this,” Nunes said at the post-event press conference. “If she wanna see me, come to my world. I’ll be here. I’m... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042180/ufc-245-amanda-nunes-tells-claressa-shields?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042180/ufc-245-amanda-nunes-tells-claressa-shields?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Dec 2019 09:45:14 +0000 If you thought Colby Covington might be a bit more humble after a decisive TKO defeat by Kamaru Usman, well … not quite. “Chaos” was taken to hospital after suffering a broken jaw in the third round of the UFC 245 main event, which was finished by the champion with 50 seconds to go. Usman dropped Covington twice in the fifth round, then swarmed him with some ground and pound before referee Marc Goddard waived it off. “Normally people do their f****** in the bedroom, not the octagon... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042178/ufc-245-colby-covington-blasts-fake-ref-fake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042178/ufc-245-colby-covington-blasts-fake-ref-fake?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Dec 2019 09:04:24 +0000 Kamaru Usman secured a dramatic late TKO against Colby Covington after a thrilling five-round war in the main event of UFC 245 in Las Vegas. Referee Marc Goddard stepped in at 4:10 of the final round – the fifth latest finish in UFC history – as Usman retained his welterweight title in a thrilling slugfest at the T-Mobile Arena. That made it 15 straight wins for Usman (16-1), who is now 11-0 in UFC. At the time of the stoppage, one judge had it at 2-2, while one had it 3-1 for Usman, and another... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042165/ufc-245-kamaru-usman-tkos-colby-covington?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042165/ufc-245-kamaru-usman-tkos-colby-covington?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Dec 2019 07:35:52 +0000 Alexander Volkanovski secured a huge upset as he snapped Max Holloway’s 14-fight win streak at featherweight to claim his title at UFC 245. The Australian torched Holloway with a UFC record number of leg kicks in front of his watching City Kick-boxing teammate Israel Adesanya, claiming a unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards. Two judges scored it 48-47 for Volkanovski, and the third had it 50-45. The Auckland-based gym now has two UFC champions as its reputation continues to soar under... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042162/ufc-245-alex-volkanovski-chops-max-holloway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042162/ufc-245-alex-volkanovski-chops-max-holloway?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Dec 2019 06:16:55 +0000 The UFC keeps lining them up, and Amanda Nunes keeps knocking them down. Well, figuratively at least, in the case of Germaine de Randamie. The women considered the “GOAT” (greatest of all time) extended her terrifying 10-fight win streak by getting a unanimous decision against a game Germaine de Randamie at UFC 245 in Las Vegas. Nunes passed Jessica Andrade for most wins in women’s UFC history with her 12th victory. Nunes (19-4) retained her women’s bantamweight title belt, making her fifth... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042159/ufc-245-amanda-nunes-dominates-game-germaine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042159/ufc-245-amanda-nunes-dominates-game-germaine?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Dec 2019 05:25:42 +0000 Marlon Moraes was awarded a narrow split decision win on the judges’ scorecards against Jose Aldo, spoiling the 33-year-old’s bantamweight division debut at UFC 245 in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Moraes edged a slender win over a reinvigorated Aldo (28-6), a decision that didn’t go down well with the Vegas crowd or Aldo. Moraes (23-6-1), coming off the back of a loss to bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo last time out, launched his onslaught immediately as he landed a series of punishing head... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042154/ufc-245-marlon-moraes-spoils-jose-aldos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042154/ufc-245-marlon-moraes-spoils-jose-aldos?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Dec 2019 04:20:56 +0000 Petr Yan made a statement with a third-round knockout of Urijah Faber via head kick in a dominant display at UFC 245 – and then called out “Triple Clown” Henry Cejudo. “No Mercy” had already dropped the legendary Faber twice in the second round, opening up a nasty cut with an elbow on the ground which could have seen the fight stopped. The doctor allowed Faber to continue but it was all over 43 seconds into the final round, thanks to a perfectly placed left high kick by Yan from inside the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042151/ufc-245-petr-yan-kos-urijah-faber-head-kick?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042151/ufc-245-petr-yan-kos-urijah-faber-head-kick?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Dec 2019 04:01:08 +0000 Geoff Neal truly lived up to his “Hands of Steel” moniker with a 90-second knockout of Mike Perry at UFC 245, which will have sent shock waves through the welterweight division. The referee stepped in at 1:30 of the first round at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with Perry slumped against the side of the cage as Neal rained down blows. Neal (13-2) had set up the finish with a devastating head kick that staggered Perry (13-6), hitting him flush on the chin with his shin. Another high kick kept... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042149/ufc-245-geoff-neal-knocks-out-mike-perry-90?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042149/ufc-245-geoff-neal-knocks-out-mike-perry-90?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Dec 2019 03:19:42 +0000 There’s clearly no love lost between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. Should Covington get through Kamaru Usman and win the welterweight title in the main event of UFC 245, he’s likely to have to defend the belt against Masvidal first. But “Chaos” thinks his former friend and American Top Team training partner, who has risen to superstardom in 2019, would be a pushover. “That's the priority, but he's not going to want to fight,” Covington told Bleacher Report. “We trained together for 10... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042097/ufc-245-colby-covington-says-jorge-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042097/ufc-245-colby-covington-says-jorge-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Dec 2019 06:34:22 +0000 New Zealand flyweight Kai Kara-France is under no illusions as to the size of the opportunity that awaits him at UFC 245 in Las Vegas this weekend. The Kiwi will go toe-to-toe with Mexico’s Brandon Moreno on the undercard of one of the most stacked events of 2019 for the promotion. Not only is it an ideal opportunity to continue his rapid ascent in the divisional rankings, it’s a chance to prove his title credentials under the brightest lights of his professional career to date. “Don’t Blink”... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042091/ufc-henry-cejudo-done-flyweight-thinks-kai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3042091/ufc-henry-cejudo-done-flyweight-thinks-kai?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Dec 2019 04:56:39 +0000 If Colby Covington beats welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 245, most fans would agree Jorge Masvidal should be next in line. It appears Covington knows it makes all the sense in the world, too – not just in terms of rankings. The two men were former training partners and friends at American Top Team, but fell out after Masvidal claimed “Chaos” did not pay their coach. “As the people’s champion, I’d like to ask the people who they’d like to see me fight next,” Covington said at an athlete... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3041816/ufc-245-colby-covington-wants-street-judas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3041816/ufc-245-colby-covington-wants-street-judas?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Dec 2019 08:50:57 +0000 UFC featherweight title contender Alex Volkanovski has been listening to the plaudits roll in for upcoming opponent Max Holloway for what seems an eternity. The Hawaiian prodigy has captured the imagination of fight fans with his suffocating brand of striking which has seen him tear off a staggering 13-fight win streak. But Dustin Poirier proved the “Blessed” one was fallible when he almost beat him at his own game, dashing his hopes of adding the interim lightweight strap to his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3041756/ufc-245-alex-volkanovski-warns-max-holloway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3041756/ufc-245-alex-volkanovski-warns-max-holloway?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Dec 2019 05:09:20 +0000 Max Holloway has said he is “sure” he will still fight Khabib Nurmagomedov – provided they both still have the goal of being the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. The UFC featherweight champion will defend his title against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 245 in Las Vegas on Saturday night. But he admitted he still had plenty of what ifs after being deemed medically unfit to compete against the Russian for the lightweight title last April because of a botched weight cut. Khabib has since... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3041413/ufc-245-max-holloway-stills-wants-khabib?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3041413/ufc-245-max-holloway-stills-wants-khabib?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Dec 2019 07:17:53 +0000