The UFC’s 2020 has come to an end, but being the first sport back from the pandemic induced shutdown and holding regular events throughout the year, there was a lot going on.
As 2021 approaches, take a look back the UFC’s wildest knockouts of 2020.
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(Video courtesy of UFC)
Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/check-out-the-ufcs-wildest-knockouts-of-2020
The UFC is closing in on its return to network television.
The promotion’s 2021 schedule will kick off Jan. 16 with a UFC Fight Night event, as planned. However, the promotion is currently planning for the card to air on ABC, rather than the ESPN networks.
Four people with knowledge of the situation recently informed MMA Junkie of the UFC’s targeted plans for the Jan. 16 event but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
The event, pending broadcast finalization, will mark the first time the promotion has held an event on ABC.
It is unknown, at this time, how many fights will air on ABC – or how the main card, prelims, and early prelims will be divvied up between Disney-owned networks, which also include ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+
The Jan. 16 UFC Fight Night event will take place on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi – one of three cards expected to take place during the UFC’s third stint on “Fight Island.”
Additionally, a person with knowledge of the situation revealed there will not be a UFC card on Jan. 30 – as was originally expected, but never officially announced. Many of the fights previously reported for that date have been shifted to other events in the UFC’s first-quarter schedule.
Should the ABC programming be finalized, a fight between former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar will headline the promotion’s first live network television event since UFC on FOX 31 in December 2018.
The UFC held 31 live events on FOX, which kicked off in November 2012 with a heavyweight title fight between then-champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior Dos Santos. The final UFC on FOX event aired on Dec. 15, 2018.
On Tuesday, anonymous Twitter user @DonKingLV was first to mention a potential ABC shift. MMA DNA was first to report the UFC’s planned Jan. 30 event is no longer happening.
The current UFC Fight Night lineup includes:
Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ufc-abc-january-16-network-television-january-30-removed-schedule
With the UFC forced to hold live events without fans due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the promotion’s broadcast team is tasked with helping to create an exciting environment for viewers around the world.
Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be a problem for the likes of Jon Anik, Joe Rogan, Daniel Cormier, and others.
But in current times, it seems the commentators have become as much as a part of the entertainment as the fights, themselves, and the UFC has keyed on that fact by putting a camera on the broadcast team as they call fights. In use for the past few years, the camera has given us a host of memorable moments that have already been memorialized in memedom. Take this classic, for instance:
I have seen this one before. https://t.co/z9w5EjPEYJ
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) December 21, 2020
But that classic moment from UFC 248 was hardly the only notable commentator reaction from 2020. Fortunately, the UFC has gathered up some of their favorites that you can check out in the video above. Surely some of these other moments deserve their place in the annals of social media.
Jon Anik straight flexing
Daniel Cormier’s mind is blown
Begging for a caption
Can’t forget ‘The Irish Dragon’
Right back at ya, kid
The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.
Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/video-jon-anik-daniel-cormier-ufc-broadcast-memes
Anthony Pettis is no longer a UFC fighter.
On Tuesday, Pettis (24-10 MMA), a former UFC lightweight champion, announced he has departed the promotion in favor of free agency exploration.
Pettis, 33, had been with the promotion since the WEC merger at the beginning of 2011. He fought out the final fight on his promotional contract Saturday when he defeated Alex Morono at UFC Fight Night 183.
In a lengthy statement issued on social media, Pettis thanked the fans and UFC staff for their years of help and support in making his dreams come true. Pettis didn’t reveal what his next move is but said he’s not done.
“Almost 12 years with this company and so many amazing memories,” Pettis wrote. “From winning my first world title at 23 years old to becoming the UFC world champion at 26 in my hometown. From being on MTV to the cover of the Wheaties box, I am forever grateful for everything I have experienced and accomplished with this company!!!
“Dana – thank you for everything you have done for me. I was just a kid from the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin with a big dream. You helped me turn thta dream into a reality. THANK YOU!!!
“Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, Reed Harris, Sean Shelby, Dave Sholler, and Burt Watson, you have helped me and impacted my life and career in countless ways. I will be forever thankful. Everyone at the PI, you helped take my game to the next level! Everyone that works behind the scenes, I am so grateful for your tireless work, especially on the road, you have no idea how much you are appreciated. Thank YOU!!!
“Last and most importantly the UFC fans … thank you!!! You gave me energy in every fight. I hope I have been able to you that ANYTHING is possible. I am excited about my future in this sport. I promise I am not done.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you all,
“Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis”
Thank you @ufc @danawhite 🙏👊🤝 pic.twitter.com/pJtBo2Hpxc
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) December 23, 2020
Images of Pettis signing paperwork were posted to his Instagram story, though no clarity was provided as to what those papers might be.
Pettis finishes out his UFC tenure with a 10-9 promotional record. He successfully defended his UFC lightweight title once against Gilbert Melendez at UFC 181 in December 2014. In addition to his UFC lightweight title, Pettis captured the WEC lightweight title in December 2010.
Pettis’ brother, Sergio Pettis, departed the UFC in 2019 and signed with Bellator MMA.
Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/anthony-pettis-leaves-ufc-exploring-free-agency
UFC president Dana White for weeks has been teasing a possible return to Fight Island to kick off 2021. On Tuesday, he confirmed those plans with a promotional video on his Instagram channel.
Announcing a contest to promote UFC whiskey sponsor Howler Head, White affirmed that the promotion would hold three events over eight days in its return to Abu Dhabi.
There will be two UFC Fight Night events followed by UFC 257 spanning one week on Fight Island.
The first Fight Night, on Saturday, Jan. 16, features former featherweight champ Max Holloway squaring off with Calvin Kattar. The second Fight Night, on Wednesday, Jan. 20, features a rescheduled bout between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev. On Jan. 23, UFC 257 marks the return of Conor McGregor in a rematch with former interim lightweight titleholder Dustin Poirier.
White re-ignited the sports world following the coronavirus lockdown in the spring of 2020 with a three-event, eight-day stint in Jacksonville, Fla. in May. All of the UFC’s events have since been held either at its own broadcast facility called the Apex in Las Vegas or on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
Though coronavirus vaccinations are underway, experts say it will likely take several months before enough distribution counters the virus, making way for larger gatherings and crowds at live events.
White has insisted he will not welcome crowds back to UFC events until he can once again sell out an entire arena, foregoing partial openings.
This will be the UFC’s third stint on Fight Island, but likely won’t be the promotion’s last stint of the pandemic there.
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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/dana-white-confirms-three-ufc-events-in-eight-days-upon-return-to-fight-island
