2:49 PM ET Ronda Rousey has never said she won’t return to the UFC. The word “retirement” has not come out of her mouth. But the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion said this week that she no longer feels any kind of pressure to return and prove herself as the best women’s MMA fighter ever.
MMA
12:36 PM ET Another prospect from the Barber family has been acquired by a major MMA promotion. Bellator has signed Wyatt Barber, brother of UFC up-and-comer Maycee Barber, to a contract, sources told ESPN on Friday. Wyatt Barber, 18, has yet to make his pro debut. Like his sister, he is considered a blue-chipper. Maycee
3:15 PM ET ESPN’s MMA Insiders The year has already gotten off to a bang. A couple of the biggest stars in the sport — Conor McGregor and Cris Cyborg — have already made headlines with huge TKO stoppages. The next few months don’t slow down at all, with Jon Jones, Israel Adesanya and Khabib
4:38 PM ET Josh Barnett‘s long-awaited return to the cage has been rebooked. A bout between Barnett, the former UFC heavyweight champion, and Ronny Markes is now targeted for Bellator 241 on March 13 at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun, promotion officials confirmed with ESPN. MMA Fighting was the first to report the news. Barnett, who has
4:54 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Dominick Reyes is from San Bernardino County, about 85 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Like many in his generation who grew up in Southern California, Reyes was a huge Lakers fan and his favorite player was Kobe Bryant. On Sunday, Reyes woke up and checked his phone and
7:56 AM ET ESPN’s MMA Insiders The year has already gotten off to a bang. A couple of the biggest stars in the sport — Conor McGregor and Cris Cyborg — have already made headlines with huge TKO stoppages. The next few months don’t slow down at all, with Jon Jones, Israel Adesanya and Khabib
8:05 AM ET Jorge Masvidal has made it very clear that 2019 is in his rear-view mirror. “That f—ing year’s over — 2020 is gonna be better,” the UFC welterweight star said after receiving the Helwani Nose Award for Fighter of the Year. It is hard not to look back and reflect on what Masvidal
9:01 AM ET After an impressive start on Jan. 18, Conor McGregor has a chance to record the biggest year of any martial artist in 2020. His popularity alone gives him a leg up on everyone else, as it’s a lot easier to have a big year if the entire sporting world is tuned in
3:14 PM ET UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and rival Jorge Masvidal had to be separated after an exchange Wednesday on Super Bowl radio row in Miami. Usman and Masvidal, who have been linked as potential future opponents, ran into one another between radio interviews. Usman provoked Masvidal, saying “do something” repeatedly. The two have
8:06 AM ET Lists are always fun. But dare I say, sports lists are even more fun. From now until the end of time, people will debate all things sports. I like to call these “barber shop debates.” You know, the kind of subjective, fun conversations you have while getting your hair cut. The list
7:41 AM ET ESPN’s MMA Insiders The year has already gotten off to a bang. A couple of the biggest stars in the sport — Conor McGregor and Cris Cyborg — have already made headlines with huge TKO stoppages. The next few months don’t slow down at all, with Jon Jones, Israel Adesanya and Khabib
12:12 PM ET The Professional Fighters League has announced a series of one-night tournaments around the globe that will ultimately feed five new athletes into the 2020 regular-season roster. The league has partnered with five separate organizations in United Arab Emirates, Russia, Germany, Brazil and Australia. Each international promotion will host a four-fighter tournament in
7:42 AM ET UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is recovering from eye surgery, and his manager isn’t sure when he’ll be able to fight again. Top contender Daniel Cormier is tired of waiting and said if his trilogy fight with Miocic doesn’t happen by this summer, he could just retire. ESPN’s No. 4 prospect Curtis
4:01 PM ET Daniel Cormier said Monday if he doesn’t get his trilogy bout with heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic by the summer, he would consider retiring. “You can’t wait forever,” Cormier said on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show. “Every day that passes does not benefit me. I’m a realist, I understand that. Either we’re going to
8:22 AM ET Khabib Nurmagomedov is not new to No. 1. The UFC lightweight champion was already at the top of the ESPN pound-for-pound rankings, but until now, he was sharing that spot. However, in the wake of Jon Jones‘ second straight close call — a decision win over Dominick Reyes in their light heavyweight