Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington didn't take long to respond to Kamaru Usman calling for him to be more "active" — Fightful has you covered on the back-and-forth between the two rivals as well as other news from around the world of combat sports.
Colby Covington Fires Back At Kamaru Usman
According to UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, former title challenger Colby Covington needs to be more active if he were to get another shot at Usman and his title following Covington's shortcoming against Usman at UFC 245.
“Show me some activity. Give me a reason,” Usman told ESPN. "It’s time for him to show the people that he deserves another chance to fight for the title," Usman added. "You can’t sit back and say, ‘Oh, I beat Tyron Woodley. That’s it. I deserve a shot at the title.’ No. That doesn’t give you a shot at the title.”
Those comments didn't sit well with the aforementioned Covington, who didn't take very long to respond.
“Spoken like a true coward who doesn’t want to face the rightful #1 contender,” Covington tweeted. "The rankings have chosen and so have the people Marty. Just say the truth: you know you can’t win and you’d rather fight bums like Street Judas for easy pay checks.”
Usman is currently scheduled to defend his title against Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 261.
Jorge Masvidal Claims "Smooth" Weight Cut Will Make The Difference In Rematch Against Kamaru Usman, Comments On Leon Edwards
Jorge Masvidal sees a full fight camp coupled with an easier weight cut being the difference in his rematch against Kamaru Usman.
Masvidal gets his second crack at UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman when the pair meet in the main event of UFC 261.
Masvidal (35-14) was on the wrong end of a unanimous decision in his previous encounter with Usman at UFC 251. The fight took place just six days after Masvidal accepted the fight on short notice after Gilbert Burns had to pull-out of the bout due to testing positive for COVID-19.
The Florida-native thinks the rematch will go much different...thanks, in-part to a proper weight cut.
“I’m not going to cut 20 pounds of weight now, mainly of water, in six days,” Masvidal told ESPN. “As I stand right now I’m eight, nine pounds before I hit the mark of 170," Masvidal continued. "So it’s a different weight cut altogether. That’s going to be the main determining factor I think.”
UFC 261 takes place from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida on April 24.
Masvidal also took aim at fellow UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards during the Q&A session.
“Who’s that?” Masvidal joked. "Oh wait, that’s the dude that interrupted our interview. I already dealt with that individual. In his fights, he eye pokes last I heard. So it’s whatever. Win a fight and I’ll be here, man.”
Demetrious Johnson Plans To "Blow The Bricks" Off Adriano Moraes At ONE Championship On TNT
Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson is looking to add another title to his collection.
Johnson takes on ONE Championship flyweight champion Adriano Moraes in the main event of ONE Championship on TNT 1 and plans to walk right through his opposition.
“Absolutely, [this is big] especially being able to cater to the American audience,” Johnson said on the "What The Heck" podcast. "I know a lot of people are used to me fighting on [ONE’s] own time zone, with it being super early in the morning," Johnson added. "So with this—ONE Championship and TNT coming together and collaborating—and getting this title fight on live television is gonna be phenomenal. “It feels good that things are slowly starting to get back to normal. ONE has been having a lot of fight cards over in Singapore and their government has been phenomenal working with ONE Championship and the athletes, and we’re doing our best to follow all the protocols. I’m just happy things are slowly getting back to normal.”
Holly Holm Open To Meisha Tate Rematch
Former UFC women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm hopes to meet Meisha Tate inside of the UFC octagon yet again.
Holm lost her title against Tate back at UFC 196 when she was submitted by the latter late in the final round in a fight she was winning on the judge's scorecards.
The former champion hopes to have the opportunity to avenge that loss and sees an opening since Tate has announced that she's coming out of retirement for a bout against Marion Reneau, this summer.
“My plan is to compete for the belt, so if that fight ends up being on the way there, then absolutely,” Holm told ESPN. "I always like to avenge losses no matter what, so yes, I would like to do that, but I think sometimes you can get so fixated on one fight that you’re not focused on whatever is coming your way.”
Mackenzie Dern Looking Forward To "Mom Fight" Against Nina Ansaroff At UFC Vegas 23
It'll be a battle of the new moms at UFC Vegas 23 when Mackenzie Dern takes on Nina Ansaroff.
Both Dern and Ansaroff gave birth in the last couple of years. Dern has fought since giving birth to her daughter in June of 2019 but UFC Vegas 23 will mark Ansaroff's first in-ring action since giving birth to her and UFC women's bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes' daughter in November 2020.
"For sure," Dern told Farah Hannoun of MMA Junkie. “I don’t think it’ll be a deciding factor like to win or lose, but I definitely think timing-wise and even just confidence-wise, I think she can be the most confident person ever because I know what it’s like. When you have a baby, you feel like you’re Wonder Woman, you feel great. But you don’t know how much better you’re gonna be 20 months from now like myself, for example. My daughter, she’ll be 2 in June, so when I fought four months after pregnancy, I felt I 100 percent did the best I could with everything I could at the time.
“But I had no idea how much of a better athlete I’ll be 20 months later," Dern admitted. So I have an idea of what she’s going through, and I think the timing too. To be back 100 percent, getting punched in the face with four-ounce gloves, it’s different. Just being in the ring, in the fight, you get that feeling back. So I think she’s such a dangerous person and if there’s any time to fight her, it’s now, and I’m proud of her. I’m proud that she’s back fighting and us two having this fight as moms.”
Jose Aldo Predicts Jon Jones Will Beat Francis Ngannou In Potential Superfight
Former UFC bantamweight champion Jose Aldo offers some hope for those hoping for a Francis Ngannou-Jon Jones superfight.
Fans and MMA media alike have been salivating at the thought of newly crowned UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou standing across the octagon from longtime light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
However, money requests from Jones as well as the UFC seemingly digging in their heels against the requests from Jones have seen the negotiations stall for what many think would be the biggest fight in UFC history.
“For sure, brother. I believe that,” Aldo told MMA Fighting. “Jon Jones wants to become champion, especially in a new weight class, and he also wants that fight. I think he’s trying to improve his side and, in the end, we’ll have this fight.”
“An athlete will always want to get paid more and a boss will always try to pay less,” said Aldo. “This conflict happens not only in the UFC but inside any company. It will always be like this. I understand Jon Jones’ side, I also understand UFC’s side. Both want to defend their sides. It’s only fair, one wants to get paid more and the other wants to pay what he thinks should be paid. I’ve been through that and I know how negotiations go. It’s part [of the game]. Let’s see what happens in the end.”
Randy Costa And Adrian Yanez Continue To Campaign For A Fight
The fight social media has been clamoring for...but nobody has clamored for Randy Costa and Adrian Yanez to battle it out in the octagton more then well...Randy Costa and Adrian Yanez.
The pair of bantamweight prospects have been itching to fight each other for quite awhile on social media. Going as far as to offer the other free Dr. Pepper and free Reese's should the other be victorious.
“I’m sure you guys see all the stuff going back and forth on Twitter with Adrian Yanez,” Costa told MMA Junkie's Farah Hannoun. “I don’t dislike Adrian Yanez at all. In fact, it’s the complete opposite. I started following him and what he was doing right after his (Dana White’s Contender Series) fight. I like him. He’s like me in the regard that we’re not really here to talk sh*t, we’re just trying to engage and talk with people and be friendly and then we can go out there and get into a fight. I would like to fight Adrian Yanez, and Adrian Yanez has expressed that he would like to fight me. I think that fight is a lot of f***kin fun. I’m a huge fan of his style and what he brings, and I think we can put on a sick show together."
“We’re campaigning to get on the UFC Houston card," said Costa. "As a realist, I probably realize that that fight is probably not gonna happen on that night. But maybe shortly thereafter we can get it done, but we’ll see. I think that fight is a lot of fun. I think if we can put it on a main event prelim-type deal or opening up a pay-per-view or something like that, I think we can really get things going. I think that’s a really exciting fight. We both have head kick knockouts; we both have right hand knockouts. It’s very clear what we’re trying to do. I think it’s a fun fight.”
Bellator 256 Finalized Card
Bellator MMA has revealed their finalized card and broadcast plans for Bellator 256 which takes place on Friday, April 9.
The event's main card which is headlined by a light heavyweight grand-prix tournament match between Ryan Bader and Lyoto Machida can be seen at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT following the prelims which air 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT on the Bellator MMA official YouTube channel.
Main Card (Showtime, 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT)
Ryan Bader (No. 1) (27-6) vs. Lyoto Machida (No. 4) (26-10)
Liz Carmouche (No. 2) (14-7) vs. Vanessa Porto (22-8)
Adam Borics (No. 3) (16-1) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (No. 8) (16-2)
Cat Zingano (No. 3) (11-4) vs. Olivia Parker (4-1)
Goiti Yamauchi (No. 3) (25-4) vs. Dan Moret (14-6)
Prelims (YouTube, 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT)
Dalton Rosta (4-0) vs. Tony Johnson (9-2)
Talita Nogueira (7-2) vs Jessica Borga (3-2)
Cass Bell (No. 8) (5-1) vs. Jornel Lugo (No. 10) (5-0)
Cody Law (2-0) vs. Nathan Ghareeb (2-0)
Jaylon Bates (1-0) vs. Jeffrey Glossner (2-1)
Nainoa Dung (3-2) vs. Izzy William (4-3)
Diana Avsaragova (2-0) vs. Tara Graff (1-2)
John Douma (4-2) vs. Will Smith (3-2)
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