Extra.ie Sport MMA

27/10/2020

Incredible

Khabib Nurmagomedov switched his position to avoid 'hurting Gaethje in front of his parents' when securing a submission win at UFC 254. The Russian rendered the challenger unconscious in the second round before walking away from the sport with a perfect 29-0 record. While many tipped Gaethje to be K...

24/10/2020

Big claim

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is en route to becoming the GOAT if he beats Justin Gaethje, according to UFC boss Dana White. The Dagestani puts his strap on the line along with his 28-0 record to face the Highlight and interim champion on Fight Island. Speaking about the face-off, Whi...

24/10/2020

The main card is underway

Khabib Nurmagomedov has never been in more danger as he prepares to put his unblemished career on the line against Justin Gaethje. Khabib is a phenomenon in MMA, his 28-0 professional record is incomparable, but Gaethje presents a unique challenge unlike any other the Russian has faced. The UFC 254....

24/10/2020

Ridiculously close!

UFC 254 is coming this Saturday, and fans are having a tough time picking their favourite to win between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje. The latest Extra.ie poll asked Irish MMA fans the tricky question of who will come out the the winner when the two square off this weekend. With the lightw...

24/10/2020

The biggest fight of the year is hours away

Khabib Nurmagomedov's unbeaten streak has never appeared more perilous than days out from his clash with Justin Gaethje. UFC 254 is fast approaching and with it comes one of the most hotly-anticipated lightweight title fights of all time. Many are tipping Gaethje to be the man to snap Khabib's perfe...

24/10/2020

The prelims are underway!

UFC 254 is fast approaching and we have compiled a list of everything you need to know ahead of the monumental event. Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will look to stretch his undefeated streak to a whopping 29-0. Standing in his way, however, is the man who many dub to be his toughest chall...

23/10/2020

It's official! 👊

The UFC 254 main event is official after Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje both made championship weight on Friday. Khabib will put his 28-0 unbeaten streak and UFC Lightweight Championship on the line against Gaethje in one of the biggest fights of the year. The UFC 254 weigh-ins took place at...

22/10/2020

We're just two days away!!

Khabib Nurmagomedov's unbeaten streak has never appeared more perilous than days out from his clash with Justin Gaethje. UFC 254 is fast approaching and with it comes one of the most hotly-anticipated lightweight title fights of all time. Many are tipping Gaethje to be the man to snap Khabib's perfe...

16/09/2020

The 🐐 is back!

Ireland's adopted son Artem Lobov is set to return to MMA this year after signing a one-fight deal with a European promotion. The Russian Hammer, who is best known as the lead sparring partner for Conor McGregor, hasn't competed in the sport since October 2018. The 34-year-old left the UFC after a d...

16/09/2020

Incredible from DC

Daniel Cormier has revealed he tested positive for COVID-19 in the build-up to his UFC Heavyweight Championship defeat to Stipe Miocic. The former two-weight champion retired from MMA following the unanimous decision loss in his trilogy bout with Miocic at UFC 252 last month. 'DC' has now revealed h...

09/09/2020

The Nick Diaz Army is set to make a comeback

The possible return of Nick Diaz has gripped the MMA world with fans waiting in anticipation for the man himself to confirm the news. Diaz, 37, has not set foot in the octagon for over five years after his relationship with the UFC soured in 2015. The Stockton scrapper was slapped with a hefty five-...

08/09/2020

Could you imagine?

Nick Diaz emerges as the next potential opponent for Conor McGregor as as the Stockton brawler is reportedly targetting a UFC return. The 37-year-old is considered a legend among MMA fans, but hasn't fought in over five years. Rumours are swirling that Diaz is gearing up for a return and the Notorio...

04/09/2020

The Khabib camp has changed their tune in recent weeks

Khabib Nurmagomedov's coach backed Conor McGregor to secure a lucrative rematch with the Russian before his retirement. Both men are embroiled in one of the UFC's most heated rivalries, one which infamously sparked a mass brawl after their first encounter in October 2018. Despite retiring for a thir...

02/09/2020

Could it happen?

Jon Jones has set tongues wagging about a possible UFC bout with Brock Lesnar after his recent departure from WWE. Lesnar last fought in the Octagon in 2016 at UFC 200, defeating Mark Hunt in a bout which was ruled as a no contest due to the former heavyweight champions's failed drug test. Despite o...

02/09/2020

End of an era

Daniel Cormier delved deeper into his retirement from MMA, insisting that 'you can't fight father time'. The 41-year-old Olympian decided to pack it in following his most loss to Stipe Miocic in their trilogy bout at UFC 252. Despite shifting toward punditry and commentary work in recent years, Corm...

26/08/2020

The the iconic fighter's final bout will take place in October 🕷

UFC president Dana White has revealed Anderson Silva will retire after his next fight in October. The 45-year-old is the eldest star on the UFC's roster and is considered one of the best fighters ever to grace the sport. Silva held the middleweight title for a whopping seven years, amassing an legen...

25/08/2020

Would you want to see it?

Katie Taylor's manager has hinted that an MMA/boxing crossover bout could be next for the undisputed world champion. The Bray boxer extended her perfect professional record to 16-0 when she saw off Delphine Persoon in their rematch on Saturday. The 34-year-old is now self-isolating following the Fig...

25/08/2020

Big things in store

Dana White teased fans when he revealed the epic UFC lightweight showdown which is in the works for later this year. The president is an advocate for putting on the biggest fights possible, with the best fighting the best. He remained true to his word with Khabib v Justin Gaethje and Israel Adesanya...

21/08/2020

Will fans by hyped about yet another return after yet another retirement?

Conor McGregor has hinted that a UFC return might be on the cards after his third retirement earlier this year. The Dubliner posted a picture on Instagram, which was taken four years ago before he fought Nate Diaz in their epic rematch at UFC 202. His caption on the photo said: '4 years ago today! B...

15/08/2020

Will it be DC's night?

Daniel Cormier is one of the UFC's most prolific fighters but is somehow still viewed by many as a perennial runner-up. The American is MMA royalty, despite never really getting the appreciation his career deserves. But the heavyweight champion is king in combat sports, and UFC 252 represents a chan...

14/08/2020

He's aiming high

Kiefer Crosbie has endured a whirlwind 12 months, fighting in two sold out Bellator Dublin events and welcoming a new addition to the family. However, the Dubliner revealed that he is 'only scratching the surface' of his abilities and reiterated that 'I am only getting better'. In this latest part o...

13/08/2020

No one saw this coming

Former UFC star Paige VanZant has announced she has signed a multi-fight deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. The flyweight contender lost the final fight of her UFC deal to Amanda Ribas last month on Fight Island, and has shocked everyone with her next move. The 26-year-old says she has si...

11/08/2020

What a disaster!

The UFC have given one fighter the boot after his horrendous debut performance on Fight Island. Roman Bogatov was tipped for big things ahead of his first fight in MMA's premier promotion at UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi. The Kazakh came into the bout with an impressive 10-0 record, but his dream swiftly tur...

11/08/2020

That's a lot of Nurmagomedov's!

UFC Lightweight champion Khabib will not be the only Nurmagomedov competing when takes on Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. The hugely-anticipated title unification bout against interim champion Gaethje will take place on October 24, and the event will be a family affair for the undefeated Russian. Khabib,...

31/07/2020

A few heads hanging but progress in many areas too 💪

UFC Fight Island 3 was a massive step forward for both Irish and UK MMA despite the mixed results on the night. There were six fighters from either the UK or Ireland who made the walk to the octagon in Abu Dhabi. Although not everyone involved won, they certainly made a statement that athletes from....

30/07/2020

Fascinating stuff from the Dubliner

Bellator superstar Kiefer Crosbie has given an insight into lockdown's impact on his daily life as a mixed martial artist. The Dubliner is one of the most revered fighters in the country with his ferocity, aggression and skillset earning him much plaudits. However, like everyone, BDK was affected by...

29/07/2020

29/07/2020

"I don't want to be fighting nobodies" 💪

He's looking for a serious contest 👊

Kiefer Crosbie has broken the news that all fight fans have been waiting for -- when he's fighting next and what one name is on his radar. BDK, one of the top Irish fighters signed with Bellator, is itching for a return to action as soon as possible. The SBG brawler last fought at Bellator 240 in fr...

28/07/2020

It's official, Khabib v Gaethje is just months away. Pic: UFC

25/07/2020

Massive night for the Gorilla

Don't be fooled by Darren Till, the UFC's biggest joker is under pressure ahead of his middleweight title-eliminator against Robert Whittaker. MMA fans are salivating at the thought of Till taking on the former champion in an all but inevitable striking showdown to close out Fight Island this weeken...

24/07/2020

Massive weekend for the Ballymena man

Rhys McKee is aiming to put on the 'performance of a lifetime' for his UFC debut which takes place this weekend. The Northern Irishman was told just six days before his dream bout on Fight Island and he took the opportunity with both hands. It has been a hectic week for 'Skeletor' as he gears up to....

22/07/2020

The Ballymena man is Ireland's first UFC prospect for some time

The MMA world can change quickly, and Rhys McKee has become the latest and now the only remaining UFC hope to hail from the Emerald Isle. The 25-year-old gained a host of new fans when president of Cage Warriors, Graham Boylan, broke the news that his UFC debut is less than a week away. McKee, from....

22/07/2020

Time to get excited

The manager of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje has confirmed the pair's UFC Lightweight Championship clash will take place this year. The duo were expected to meet at UFC 253 in September, but the death of Khabib's father and coach, Abdulmanap, earlier this month led to questions over his fut...

21/07/2020

Dana's not happy, but we absolutely are!!

Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa are finally set to square off in an epic showdown as the headline of UFC 253. Both men come into this bout undefeated and harbouring a healthy disdain for one another, and the countdown to their long-awaited clash is on. The Kiwi is set to defend his middleweight crow...

19/07/2020

Huge step for the promising young fighter

Irish MMA fighter Rhys McKee has signed for the UFC and is set to jet out to Fight Island next week. The 25-year-old is believed to have signed a four-fight deal with the division. And he will make his UFC bow on July 25 on Fight Island, where he will face Khamzat Chimaev at welterweight. Chimaev wa...

19/07/2020

Sad end to his career

Irish fighter Joe Duffy has quit the sport after losing to Joel Alvarez on Saturday night. Duffy had been hoping to win for the first time since 2017 but suffered a submission defeat to Alvarez on the undercard of Deiveson Figueiredo vs Joseph Benavidez II. The guillotine choke tap-out from Duffy wa...

11/07/2020

Huge weekend for UFC in an unbelievable venue 🔥

A rare weekend break from UFC action brought a chance to reflect upon a bizarre and unprecedented period in MMA history. The UFC's handling of the pandemic was as interesting as the fights that took place during the crisis, and it will likely pave the way for a new era for the promotion. Dana White'...