Martial Arts News

Chan Sung Jung doesn’t have much recollection of the latter stages of his UFC Fight Night 180 loss to Brian Ortega on Saturday night.

“The Korean Zombie” never got going against a rejuvenated Ortega in a five-round decision defeat at the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi, and as a result, lost out on a chance to challenge for Alexander Volkanovski’s featherweight title.

“I don’t remember the third, fourth and fifth rounds,” Jung wrote in a statement on Instagram (translation via MMAjunkie.com). “I can’t remember, but it’s amazing to see how I’m fighting..haha.. I have to find out why I lost when I lose the game. Right, I’m just a fool. Ortega was so good… I just feel so embarrassed about me now. Still, thank you for supporting me a lot. I’m sorry.”

Jung entered the bout riding the momentum of back-to-back first round stoppages of Renato Carneiro and Frankie Edgar and would have been on a four-bout winning streak were it not for a last second KO loss to Yair Rodriguez in…

Alexander Volkanovski was an interested observer during the UFC Fight Night 180 headliner – and for good reason.

Brian Ortega’s unanimous decision victory over Chan Sung Jung provided some much-needed clarity in the featherweight title picture. That pleased Volkanovski, who previously had been forced to consider the possibility of a third meeting with Max Holloway despite two victories against the Hawaiian star.

“Finally we have some direction in this division, get in there and take that [No. 1] spot…that’s all I wanted,” Volkanovski wrote on Twitter.

Finally we have some direction in this division, get in there and take that #1 spot....that’s all I wanted!! #ufcfightisland6

— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) October 18, 2020

Volkanovski’s first victory over Holloway was more decisive than his most recent, a contentious split decision at UFC 251 in July. Even UFC president Dana White questioned the judging for the rematch at the …

Thanks to his viral knockout of Impa Kasanganay at UFC Fight Night 179, Joaquin Buckley has been getting plenty of shine this past week.

However, James Krause is not so enamored of the man known as “New Mansa.” Krause’s animosity stems from an interaction when Buckley attempted to train at Glory MMA & Fitness last summer. While Krause gives Buckley respect for his spectacular KO, he believes people have a false sense of who he truly is.

“The dude’s a clown, man,” Krause said following a victory over Claudio Silva at UFC Fight Night 180 on Saturday. “Listen, this dude – people just know him from his viral video, for his viral knockout. (It was a) beautiful knockout. I’m not going to rag on that. The dude’s a s--tbox. He’s from my neck of the woods and all he does is sit on social media and talk s--t all day.

“He called me to come train and I told him to get f---d. I don’t want that type of culture in my gym, I don’t need that type of culture. No. He took offe…

HOLLAND ENDS IT WITH ONE SHOT!! #UFCVegas6 pic.twitter.com/fgjtLxlkbM

— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) August 9, 2020

Kevin Holland continues to have a busy 2020.

Holland will step in for the injured Krzysztof Jotko and meet Makhmud Muradov at UFC Fight Night 181 on Oct. 31. Cageside Press was first to report the new bout, while Jotko announced his injury on social media.

“Unfortunately, my next fight against Makhmud won’t happen,” Jotko wrote. “This camp wasn’t easy from the start. Few days ago at sparrings I broke my toe, so there is no way to fight.

“So sorry Makhmud Muradov that I’m out from the fight with two weeks’ notice. Hope to see you soon in the octagon!”

Unfortunetly, my next fight against Makhmud won’t happen. This camp wasn’t easy from the start. Few days ago at sparrings I broke my toe, so there is no way to fight. So sorry @MakhmudMuradov that I’m out from the fight with 2 weeks notice. Hope to see y…

Prior to Saturday night, the last time Brian Ortega was in the Octagon, he was thoroughly battered and outclassed by then featherweight champion in the UFC 231 headliner in December 2018.

Nearly two years later, “T-City” returned to the Octagon with a new look – his trademark locks were shaved off – and a much more refined set of skills. The latter allowed him to capture a clear-cut unanimous decision triumph over Chan Sung Jung in the UFC Fight Night 180 headliner at the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi, a victory that should earn Ortega a shot a reigning 145-pound king Alexander Volkanovski.

“The Korean Zombie” never got going, as he had no answer for Ortega’s blend of striking, movement and takedowns over the course of their 25-minute bout. According to Ortega, the improvements he displayed against Jung are just the beginning.

“It feels great. This is a new evolution of what I have to bring to the table,” Ortega said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “This i…

Jessica Andrade beats the buzzer!! @jessicammapro ends your #UFCFightIsland6 co-main in RD 1!#InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/AQDJgbhN1I

— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) October 18, 2020

Jessica Andrade became the first woman in UFC history to win a bout in three different weight classes with her first-round stoppage of Katyln Chookagian in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night.

By dispatching the most recent flyweight challenger in impressive fashion in the UFC Fight Night 180 co-main event, Andrade immediately emerged as an interesting foil for reigning 125-pound queen Valentina Shevchenko. The former strawweight champion is confident she could give “Bullet” a challenge if they fought.

“I think I can put up a fight against Valentina,” Andrade said through a translator at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “It’s something that should have happened already in other organizations so I think I’m gonna make a difference in this and put on shows i…

Jessica Andrade has proven herself to be dangerous in three different weight classes, and her successful flyweight debut also proved to be beneficial for her bank account.

Andrade received a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for a first-round stoppage of Katlyn Chookagian in the UFC Fight Night 180 co-main event at the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night. One right hook to the body had Chookagian wincing in pain and Andrade stalked her opponent to seal her victory with another body blow 4:55 into Round 1.

Elsewhere, Jimmy Crute earned the card’s other $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check by making short work of Modestas Bukauskas in a featured light heavyweight showdown. Crute set the stage for the finish by countering a body kick with a powerful right hand.From there, a right uppercut and left hook put the former Cage Warriors champ away 2:01 into the first frame.

Earlier, Guram Kutateladze and Mateusz Gamrot garnered “Fight of the Night” hono…

A women’s flyweight clash pitting Joanne Calderwood against Jessica Eye is on tap for an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on Jan. 23.

MMA DNA was first to report the matchup. The card, which is expected to be UFC 257, doesn’t have an official location or venue but is rumored to be headlined by Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier.

Calderwood was in position for a title shot but elected not to wait on Valentina Shevchenko to heal after their initial booking was canceled. That cost the Scottish veteran, as she was submitted by Jennifer Maia in the opening round at UFC Fight Night 173, allowing Maia to earn No. 1 contender’s status.

A former title challenger, Eye is coming off a loss to Cynthia Calvillo in the UFC on ESPN 10 headliner on June 13. After a 3-0 stretch in 2018, the Ohioan has lost two of her last three Octagon appearances.

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app. Brian Ortega has never looked more comfortable in a combat setting—a frightening development for the rest of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s featherweight division. The former Resurrection Fighting Alliance champion staked his claim as the No. 1 contender at 145 pounds with a comprehensive performance against Chan Sung Jung, as he cruised to a unanimous decision in the UFC Fight Night 180 headliner on Saturday at the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. All three judges scored it 50-45 for Ortega (15-1, 7-1 UFC), who bounced back from his December 2018 technical knockout loss to Max Holloway in resounding fashion.

Jung (16-6, 6-3 UFC) was ill-prepared for all the weaponry “T-City” brought to the table. Ortega drew out his opponent’s defenses with feints, cracked his legs with kicks, targeted the head with lungin…

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app. Sherdog's live UFC Fight Night 180 coverage will begin Saturday at 4 p.m. ET. Check out the MMA Forums to discuss the card or enter your comments and predictions below. Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Cri…

Straight out of the gate! Don't sleep on @Guram_Dze's power! #UFCFightIsland6 pic.twitter.com/vTJ3AEXSKy

— UFC (@ufc) October 17, 2020

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

Guram Kutateladze paid no mind to the pundits.

The Allstars Training Center export leaned on sensational grappling defense and a hyperactive kicking game in a stellar Ultimate Fighting Championship debut, as he walked away with a split decision over former two-division KSW titleholder Mateusz Gamrot in the featured UFC Fight Night 180 lightweight prelim on Saturday at the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. All three cageside judges scored it 29-28: Darryl Ransom and Victor Wolf for Kutateladze, David Lethaby for the favored Gamrot.

A short-notice substitution for Magomed Mustafaev, Kutateladze (12-2, 1-0 UFC) chipped away with kicks to t…

Ortega with the new look! @BrianTCity makes 146 for Saturday night's main event.

[ #UFCFightIsland6 - LIVE on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/eIx43YNrup

— UFC (@ufc) October 16, 2020 Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app. Time will tell if Brian Ortega’s latest transformation is a boon or more akin to Samson and Delilah.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s latest stint at the Flash Forum in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, continues with UFC Fight Night 180. The card is headlined by featherweight contenders Ortega and Chan Sung Jung. All 11 fights are now official after the weigh-ins took place Friday morning.

Fighting for the first time since the lone loss of his career, Ortega (14-1) will be looking to bounce back and make a statement. Other than being stopped by Max Holloway, “T-City” has been perfect inside the Octagon with big wi…