Mike Jackson makes his UFC return after beating CM Punk, UFC Fight Island card scrapped, and more — Fightful has all the latest fight announcements in one article.
Mike Jackson returns to face Irishman Dean Barry January 20
Mike Jackson will get another shot in the UFC when he faces Dean Barry at UFC Fight Island 8, which is headlined by Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev. Jackson will be best known for beating former WWE star CM Punk at UFC 225 and being on the receiving end of criticism from Dana White. White criticized "idiot" Jackson for not trying to finish the fight and claimed he would never fight for the UFC again.
Dean Barry’s UFC debut looks to be set. Per multiple sources, Barry and Mike Jackson—who last competed at UFC 225 and defeated CM Punk—have agreed to face each other on Jan. 20.
— Mike Heck (@MikeHeck_JR) December 22, 2020
UFC Fight Night on January 30 cancelled
UFC has cancelled the rumoured Fight Night on January 30 and moved most of the fights to different cards in the coming months. The majority of fights have been added to UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Chimaev but Kevin Gastelum vs. Ian Heinisch and Victoria Leonardo vs. Natalia Silva haven't been pencilled in for different cards yet. Cole Shelton has also tweeted that Matt Brown vs. Carlos Condit has also been moved to January 20 at Fight Island.
Looks like the announced fights for January 30th will be moved to January 20th on Fight Island.
— MaRCeL DoRFF -------- (@BigMarcel24) December 22, 2020
Also Jeff Molina vs. Zarrukh Adashev is moved to Fight Island.
Same goes for
Roxy/Araujo, Munhoz/Rivera & Mamute/Villanueva
No info on Gastelum/Heinisch and Leonardo/Silva yet.
Jordan Espinosa to face Tim Elliot at UFC 259
Jordan Espinosa has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been moved from the UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Kattar card to UFC 259: Nunes vs. Anderson. The pair were due to face off on the first card of 2021 at Fight Island but will now take place at UFC 259.
BREAKING: Jordan Espinosa has tested positive for COVID-19 and is OUT of his fight against Tim Elliott.(January 16th)
— MMA Island (@MMAisland) December 22, 2020
The plan is for the bout to be rescheduled.
Two women's fights added to UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Prochazka
UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Prochazka has been bolstered with two fights from the women's division added. MMA Fighting reports Montana De La Rosa vs. Mayra Bueno Silva will take place in the flyweight division. They also have said Emily Whitmire and Hannah Cifers will face off in the strawweight division on the same card too. Both women will be looking to recover from losses, with Whitmire having lost to Polyana Viana by submission and Cifers losing to Angel Hill in her last bout.
Devonte Smith rumoured to face Alex Da Silva at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov
Devonte Smith will return to the Octagon February 20 at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov. James Lynch reports that Smith wouldn't reveal his opponent but his understanding is that he will face Alex Da Silva in the lightweight division.
-- Also, Devonte revealed on the show he will be fighting next at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs Volkov on Feb. 6. He wouldn't outright say it, but I believe his opponent is Alex Da Silva (21-3) https://t.co/sMYcUgXStM
— James Lynch (@LynchOnSports) November 30, 2020
Here is a view of all recently announced MMA fights:
Mike Jackson (1-1) vs. Dean Barry (3-1) - UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Chimaev - January 20
Ike Villanueva (16-11) vs. Vinicius Moreira (9-4) - UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Chimaev - January 20
Ode Osbourne (8-3, 1NC) vs. Jerome Rivera (10-3) - UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Chimaev - January 20
Jeff Molina (8-2) vs. Zarrukh Adashev (3-2) - UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Chimaev - January 20
Carlos Condit (31-13) vs. Matt Brown (22-17) - UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Chimaev - January 20
Dan Hooker (20-9) vs. Michael Chandler (21-5) - UFC 257: McGregor vs. Poirier II - January 23
Devonte Smith (10-2) vs. Alex da Silva (21-3) - UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov - February 6
Montana De La Rosa (11-6) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (7-1) - UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Prochazka - February 27
Emily Whitmire (4-4) vs. Hannah Cifers (10-7) - UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Prochazka - February 27
Jordan Espinosa (15-8, 1NC) vs. Tim Elliot (16-11-1) - UFC 259: Nunes vs. Anderson - March 6
For a full breakdown of all upcoming fights, please check our events section!
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