8:00 AM ET The UFC’s 2019 schedule began with a rare two-week offseason … but don’t get used to that. The UFC has 20 events planned in the first half of 2019, including the massive UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw on Jan. 19. That’s a lot of fights — and, presumably, a lot of
MMA
3:33 PM ET UFC fighter Mackenzie Dern will not be moving up to flyweight after all, as the rising star has decided to remain at strawweight and is targeting a return in March, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. Prior to her last fight in May, a win over Amanda Cooper, Dern missed weight by 7
7:00 AM ET Chamatkar SandhuESPN Ahead of the inaugural UFC on ESPN+ event, which takes place on Jan. 19 at the Barclays Centre, Joanne Calderwood is fully aware of what an explosive performance against KSW champion Ariane Lipski could do for her career. Since moving to Las Vegas almost a year ago, the Scottish flyweight
2:35 AM ET COSTA MESA, Calif. — A fan of mixed martial arts while growing up in Springfield, Massachusetts, Los Angeles Chargers receivers coach Phil McGeoghan uses a unique technique to help his players get separation: hand-to-hand combat. “It’s something we’ve evolved with and developed over the years, and it’s led me to some really
9:58 PM ET The UFC has added a strawweight matchup between Michelle Waterson and Karolina Kowalkiewicz to its UFC Fight Night event on March 30, according to UFC president Dana White. White broke the news of the 115-pound bout to ESPN on Tuesday. The UFC Fight Night event will take place at Wells Fargo Center
12:23 PM ET Jeff Wagenheim Three fights ago, Cain Velasquez was on top of the world. He was UFC champion and getting serious consideration as the greatest heavyweight in MMA history. Of course, three fights ago was over five years ago. Velasquez knocked out Junior Dos Santos on that 2013 night in the second defense
7:49 AM ET Chamatkar Sandhu, ESPN Conor McGregor’s head coach John Kavanagh says Bellator are about to revolutionise the European MMA circuit ahead of the inaugural European Fight Series. Kavanagh praised the organisation for improving how much fighters are paid and believes the European Fight Series, which kicks off in Newcastle, England on Feb. 9
10:04 PM ET UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas has agreed to defend her title in enemy territory later this year, according to UFC president Dana White. Namajunas will face Brazilian challenger Jessica Andrade at UFC 237 on May 11 in Brazil. The 115-pound title fight is expected to serve as the co-main event at UFC
3:40 PM ET Mixed martial arts had some unbelievable moments in 2018. Khabib Nurmagomedov jumping over the cage and into the stands after his win against Conor McGregor. Amanda Nunes knocking out Cris Cyborg in the first round. Jon Jones returning (after some more drama). Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Alvarez joining ONE Championship. And the
5:00 PM ET UFC flyweight Rachael Ostovich, who fights on Jan. 19 in Brooklyn, told ESPN on Monday that she is comfortable with Greg Hardy competing on the same card. “Nobody’s story is the same, nobody’s situation is the same,” Ostovich said on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show. “I have nothing to do with Greg Hardy.