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As one might expect, Khabib Nurmagomedov was an interested observer during the UFC 249 main event.

After Justin Gaethje claimed the interim 155-pound title with a fifth-round stoppage of Tony Ferguson at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, the Dagestani praised the performance on Twitter.

“It was so impressive, congratulations,” Nurmagomedov wrote to Gaethje. “Very smart fight.”

@Justin_Gaethje it was so impressive, congratulations. Very smart fight.

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) May 10, 2020

Nurmagomedov was supposed to face Ferguson in the original UFC 249 headliner at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on April 18. After the coronavirus pandemic hit, the reigning lightweight champion found himself stranded in Russia and was unable to return to the United Stat…

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Sherdog's live UFC 249 “Ferguson vs. Gaethje” coverage begins Saturday at 6:30 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:Mike Sloan scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Mike Sloan scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:…

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Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC 249 live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

Fight week didn’t go as planned for Uriah Hall, but he was all class in sending a positive message to Ronaldo Souza following his opponent’s positive test for coronavirus.

Souza informed UFC officials on Wednesday that a family member had tested positive for coronavirus, and the Brazilian middleweight’s test result came back positive on Friday. Two of “Jacare’s” cornermen tested positive, as well. Souza and Hall were slated to square off a 185-pound contest on the UFC 249 prelims, but that bout was scrapped on Friday.

“Brother I know it sucks, I’m sorry you have to go through this,” Hall wrote to Souza on Twitter. “I am beyond devastated for the missed opportunity. I wish you nothing but recovery for you and your family.”

@JacareMMA Brother I know it sucks I’m sorry you have to …

Jacare Souza has tested positive for COVID-19. Here's what I was told. pic.twitter.com/3RtslcL6rf

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 9, 2020

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Editor's note: The article has been updated at 11:50 p.m. ET on 5/8/20 to reflect additional information.

The worst fears for UFC 249 have come true: a fighter has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Late on Friday, ESPN reported that Ronaldo Souza has tested positive for Covid-19. Souza was matched up on the preliminary portion of the card against Uriah Hall, and their middleweight bout has been scratched.

The card has not been shut down, and the UFC will be proceeding with 11 fights. The Florida State Boxing Commission has ultimate authority over this event, and the UFC has sought and gained permission to carry out the fight…

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC 249 live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.Ultimate Fighting Championship mainstay Donald Cerrone has a unique and beloved approach to fighting that many have tried to emulate over the years. Without a mask or a care in the world, Cerrone entered UFC Virtual Media Day as the last fighter on the docket. Ready to get the show on the road, Cerrone was delighted to learn that the experience would be short-lived and had several laughs along the way.

Much has been said about Cerrone’s approach to UFC 249, including his actual travel to the host hotel in Jacksonville, Florida. Cerrone and his team -- minus two coaches from Canada and Mexico -- drove across the country from his home in Colorado to Florida for this event in his “Budweiser RV.”

The only issues Cerrone encountered along the way of his cross-country travel were the other drivers and the food. “Cowboy” briefly rant…

The Professional Fighters League is doing its part to help during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a press release on Thursday, the promotion announced that it will be teaming up with Food Bank For New York City to provide meals for New Yorkers affected during the pandemic. The PFL will be providing 25,000 meals for those in need, as well as raising awareness and bringing additional donations with its social media presence. The PFL will also produce a public service announcement for Food Bank.

“Demand for food has never been higher and the challenges associated with meeting the needs of our community never greater,” discussed Janis Robinson, Vice President of Institutions & Partnerships, Food Bank For New York City. “The number of people turning to our emergency food network has grown 50% during the COVID-19 pandemic. It takes a team effort to tackle a crisis, and we are so grateful for organizations like the Professional Fighters League and countless generous indivi…

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Stipe Miocic appears to have grown tired of the accusations that he is avoiding a trilogy with Daniel Cormier.

On Monday, “DC” continued his verbal assault, urging Miocic to “sign the contract” for their third fight while once again mentioning the long-targeted August date.

"I get you're a firefighter. We admire that, and all those things about you," Cormier told ESPN. "You're also the champ of the world. Let's get this thing done. Let's fight in August.”

An exasperated Miocic, who told ESPN that the fall would likely work better for him, took to Twitter to address the Cormier situation, which was complicated due to the champion’s recovery from eye surgery and has become even more so as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“I want to fight DC. It’s going to happen, period. Im going to give my fans …

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Jussier Formiga will lock horns with Alex Perez in a flyweight contest at UFC 250.

Combate was first to report the matchup. UFC 250 takes place on June 6 and includes a women’s featherweight championship bout between Amanda Nunes and Felicia Spencer. A venue for the event has not been confirmed. The main card will air on pay-per-view via ESPN+ following prelims that will likely air on ESPN and ESPN+.

Formiga will look to halt a two-bout skid after falling to Brandon Moreno by decision at UFC Fight Night 170 and to Joseph Benavidez by TKO at UFC on ESPN 3. Prior to that, the 34-year-old Brazilian had compiled a four-fight Octagon winning streak that included triumphs over Sergio Pettis and Deiveson Figueiredo.

Perez, meanwhile, has been victorious in five of his first six promotional appearances. Most recently, th…

Time is supposed to heal all wounds, but it seems that Lauren Murphy still holds a grudge toward Eddie Alvarez.

Murphy took part in “The Ultimate Fighter 26” in 2017, starting as a member of Team Alvarez. The show pitted the former two-time Bellator lightweight champion and former UFC lightweight champion against former WSOF lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. That season exclusively featured the women's flyweight division, and the UFC crowned the promotion's inaugural 125-pound champion in the season's finale.

In a recent interview with MMAFighting, the former Invicta FC bantamweight champion said that Alvarez was “really degrading” toward all the women on the reality series, bringing forward some examples of his behavior on the show.

“He came to the house one night ... 16 women living in a mansion,” she said. “And he came to the house with a friend of his that wasn’t even a coach on the show – just a random guy that…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqY99rUynWE&w=560&h=315]

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship will be transitioning from Jacksonville to Sin City within a couple weeks’ time, according to UFC president Dana White.

White told Sports Illustrated in a recent interview that UFC Fight Night 173 will take place in Las Vegas. The May 23 card, which will likely be headlined by a welterweight bout between Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns, did not previously have a venue. The promotion will hold cards at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 9, 13 and 16.

“While everybody was f—-ing lying out by the pool, hanging out and doing whatever the f—k they're doing in quarantine, we were in here f—-ing grinding, man,” White said. “Fighting crazy wars every day to put on this first event. We pulled it off. …

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A welterweight clash between Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns is likely to be the UFC Fight Night 173 main event.

UFC president Dana White confirmed that the promotion is targeting the matchup on ”UFC Unfiltered” podcast.

“Before I came into this interview, I got a text from Woodley that said, ‘I’m looking for [UFC matchmaker] Sean [Shelby]. I want to sign this contract right now. I want this fight on the 23rd.’ That’s what Woodley just told me before this interview, so we’ll see what happens,” White said. “… Burns is the opponent we’re looking at.”

UFC Fight Night 173 takes place on May 23 at an undisclosed location. The card will likely air on ESPN and ESPN+. Thus far, the event also includes a light heavyweight clash between Jamahal Hill and Klidson Abreu and a strawweight tilt pitting Mackenzie Dern against Ha…

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Amanda Nunes is expected to defend her featherweight title against Felicia Spencer at a UFC event on June 6.

ESPN was first to report the booking. The location for the event has yet to be determined. The promotion on Monday formally announced the postponement of UFC 251 in Perth, Australia, on June 6 due to “state and national restrictions on public gathering and travel” caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

It is currently unclear if Nunes vs. Spencer will serve as the main event for the June 6 card, which will most likely be held in the United States and could serve as the promotion’s next pay-per-view following UFC 249. A bantamweight clash pitting Cody Garbrandt against Raphael Assuncao is also in the works for the event.

Nunes was initially scheduled to face Spencer at UFC 249, but the two-division champion pu…

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC 249 live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

Heavyweight title contender Cheick Kongo will continue to compete under the Bellator MMA banner for the foreseeable future.

The California-based promotion recently signed Kongo to a new, multi-fight contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Sherdog.com confirmed the news with a promotion official following an initial report from MMAjunkie.com.

In his most recent appearance, Kongo challenged for heavyweight gold at Bellator 226, where his fight with Ryan Bader ended in a no contest at the 3:52 mark of Round 1 due to an accidental eye poke. Prior to that, the 44-year-old Frenchman had won eight straight bouts in Bellator competition. It is unclear if Kongo is in line for a rematch, as Bader was next scheduled to defend his light heavyweight belt before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Kongo signed with Bellator …

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Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC 249 live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

It looks like Tyron Woodley will have a full slate this month.

The former UFC welterweight champion will compete on “The Titan Games,” a physical competition series hosted by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Season 2 will premiere on May 25 on NBC at 8 p.m. ET. The show will feature a number of athletes, including former NFL players Joe Thomas and Victor Cruz, Olympic gold medalist snowboarder Hannah Teter, multi-division world champion boxer Clares…

Matt Mitrione didn’t go into “The Ultimate Fighter 10” with high expectations.

After a solid collegiate football career with the Purdue Boilermakers that saw him start 35 consecutive games on the defensive line, Mitrione had an abbreviated tenure in the NFL that included nine games with the New York Giants and brief stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings before washing out of the league in 2005.

Shortly thereafter, “Meathead” was in the process of launching a sports nutrition company when he was contacted by Philadelphia Phillies star Jayson Werth regarding an appearance on an amateur mixed martial arts show. Up to that point, Mitrione’s only experience in combat sports was a sort of Toughman-style competition during his redshirt year at Purdue. That experience taught him, as he told Big Blue View in 2017, that “I really had no desire to get punched in the face for a living.”

However, Werth was a proponent of his product, so he agreed to fight.…

The surgery to repair a torn ACL in Kevin Lee’s left knee was apparently a success.

The UFC lightweight competitor provided an update on the procedure on his Instagram account on Sunday. Lee recently claimed that he suffered the injury doing something that “wasn’t totally out of the ordinary,” but he would not reveal its specific cause.

“Thanks to everybody who reached out and been checking on me,” Lee wrote on Instagram. “Surgery went great, when I recover I’m gonna be 10 [times] stronger. That’s where my energy is going to [right now]. The universe finally sat my ass down.”

Lee is expected to be sidelined a minimum of six months. “The Motown Phenom” last appeared at UFC Fight Night 170 on March 14, when he was submitted by Charles Oliveira 28 seconds into the third round of the card’s main event. The former interim title challenger has lost four of his last six Octagon appearances, a stretch that includes a one-bout stint at 170 pounds.

Credit: Elena Katretskaya/Sherdog.com

A light heavyweight showdown between Klidson Abreu and Jamahal Hill has been agreed upon for UFC Fight Night 173 on May 23.

MMAFighting.com was first to report the matchup. The promotion will hold events on May 9, 13 and 16 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, but it has not been confirmed if that will also be the venue for UFC Fight Night 173.

Abreu, 27, was scheduled to face Gadzhimurad Antigulov at UFC Kazakhstan on June 13 before the coronavirus outbreak. The Brazilian is 1-2 in the Las Vegas-based promotion and is coming off a split-decision setback against Shamil Gamzatov at UFC Fight Night 163. He owns a 15-4 career mark and has finished all but one of his victories inside the distance.

Hill earned a UFC contract with a stoppage of Alexander Poppeck on Dana White’s Contender Series last July before outpointing Darko Stosic in his Octagon debut on Jan. 25. The 28-year-old known as “Sweet Dreams” i…

It turns out that Dana White didn’t quite reveal the full card for UFC Fight Night 171 this past Friday.

The May 13 event is now complete with a 10-bout bill that includes a newly-added heavyweight tilt pitting Chase Sherman against Isaac Villanueva. MMAjunkie.com was first to report the booking. UFC Fight Night 171 takes place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, and is headlined by a light heavyweight clash between Anthony Smith and Glover Teixeira. The card is expected to air on ESPN and ESPN+.

Sherman went 2-5 during his initial stint with the UFC from 2016 to 2018. Since then, “The Vanilla Gorilla” has gone undefeated on the regional scene and also captured the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship heavyweight strap.

Villanueva, the Fury FC light heavyweight champion, will make his Octagon debut on the strength of a four-bout winning streak that includes finishes of former UFC competitors Roger Narvaez and Rashad Coulter. The Houston nati…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TilfRenRRUg&w=560&h=315] The next two Ultimate Fighting Championship events following UFC 249 have now been made official, per UFC President Dana White.

On Friday, White appeared on ESPN, where he confirmed the full listing of events for May 13 and 16. Both cards will take place at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, and they each will be broadcast on ESPN while closed to the public. During his interview, he also explained that the intention is to place Tyron Woodley as the headliner of the upcoming May 23 event. That card does not have any fights booked on it, nor does it have a location set, and White admitted that the promotion wanted to get through this surge of events before looking at the ones to come.

UFC Fight Night 171 is a rare card airing on a Wednesday, and it will be headlined on May 13 by a light heavyweight battle between former title challengers Anthony Smith (33-14) and Glover Teixeira (30-…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVjXuqBRzL4&w=560&h=315] Ultimate Fighting Championship hall of famer Chuck Liddell has decided to come clean about his ailment leading up to his 2018 match with Tito Ortiz.

Liddell spoke to Sherdog.com, where he discussed a major neck injury that resulted in surgery to fuse his vertebrae together. Shortly after facing Ortiz, he had a procedure done.

“The Iceman” returned from over a 10-year layoff to face Ortiz for the third time at Golden Boy MMA: Liddell vs. Ortiz 3. The two met on November 2018, where Ortiz exacted revenge by knocking out the 48-year-old in the opening round. The two previously squared off at UFC 47 in 2004 and UFC 66 in 2006, and Liddell scored knockouts in both bouts. They have since been featured in an ESPN “30 for 30” documentary about their rivalry.

“Right after the fight, I had my neck fused from C3-C4,” he explained. “But I guess…I didn’t really know that I had a problem and I was that pigheaded.”

<…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has a plan in place for its upcoming events, and it has shared some details with fighters.

First reported by MMA Junkie on Thursday night, the promotion put together some changes in standard operating procedure for its fight cards. Three events on May 9, 13 and 16 will all go down at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, starting with UFC 249 on May 9.

In an email sent out to fighters and their camps for these events, the promotion was quick to admit that “things will be different from our typical fight week.” For starters, the only people allowed at the venue will be the fighters, their specifically licensed cornermen, authorized UFC staff members and commission officials.

When arriving to the hotel in Jacksonville, the fighters and their corners will be subject to a battery of medical screenings and tests. The specifics of the tests were not yet provided, and it is unclear whether the fighters will be tested fo…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ksfw5gKwWNw&w=560&h=315] Count the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champ among those that won’t risk fighting during the coronavirus pandemic.

In an interview with The Score on Thursday, Stipe Miocic explained that he would not be competing any time soon, and had other issues to attend to including his family and as a firefighter in his home in Cleveland.

“There’s no way,” said Miocic. “I mean, if I can’t get a full camp, there’s no reason to fight.”

When asked about training, he was frank about how the coronavirus has affected life for him, saying, “Nah, I mean honestly I haven’t been [training], the gym’s been closed [and] we don’t have a lot of stuff at our house, so it’s not really I can do a lot.”

He also explained that the condition of his eye has improved, as the champ has been sidelined due to an eye injury sustained when he faced Daniel Cormier. Miocic was poked in the eye multiple times, and required su…

Big news is coming for the Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts members.

On Thursday morning, GAMMA has announced via press release that it has added 25 additional member federations. The association now counts a total of 80 member federations.

”During these unprecedented times, where the global health crisis has forced lockdowns in many countries, the cancellation of sporting events, and disruption of athlete training schedules, GAMMA remains focused in its goal of supporting mixed martial arts, particularly the amateur sport, to develop mixed martial arts all across the globe. GAMMA is highly-committed to providing promising mixed martial arts athletes a global platform to showcase their skills and talents,” said GAMMA president Alexander Engelhardt in a press release.

“We are delighted to announce that we now have the full support of 80 member federations who have joined our cause. We continue to invite other great nations and mixed martial arts athletes from all…