MMA News
Sean Gannon, UFC veteran who once fought Kimbo Slice, passes away
Adam Martin - September 12, 2021
Sean Gannon, a former Boston police officer and a UFC veteran who once fought Kimbo Slice in a street fight, has passed away. Gannon’s death was first reported on social media as friends and family confirmed the sad news. MMA reporter Marcel Dorff also confirmed that Gannon has passed away. His age is unknown as is the cause of death, which has not been made available to the public yet.
Jim Miller forced to withdraw from UFC Vegas 37 due to COVID-19
Adam Martin - September 12, 2021
Longtime UFC lightweight veteran Jim Miller has been forced to withdraw from next Saturday’s UFC Vegas 37 due to contracting COVID-19. Miller made the announcement on his social media that he is out of next weekend’s lightweight bout against Nikolas Motta. According to reports on social media, Motta already has a short-notice replacement opponent lined up for him in Cameron VanCamp, so it appears he will stay on the card next Saturday, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Miller, unfortunately, wasn’t so lucky as he has been forced to withdraw.
Local promoter Abdul Wasi Sharifi hopes to flee Afghanistan after Taliban outlaws MMA
Adam D Martin - September 12, 2021
Local promoter Abdul Wasi Sharifi of Truly Grand Fighting Championship says he hopes to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban outlawed MMA. The Taliban recently took back control of Afghanistan, and one of their rules is that “face-punching” has been outlawed, meaning no MMA fights are allowed. Sharifi, who heads the Truly Grand FC, recently spoke to MMAFighting.com and explained what issues he and his promotion are facing right now. According to Sharifi, MMA is banned under Taliban rule.
Anderson Silva reacts following KO win over Tito Ortiz in boxing
Adam D Martin - September 12, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva reacted following his first-round KO win over fellow MMA legend Tito Ortiz in boxing. Silva needed less than two minutes to take care of Ortiz during their boxing match on Saturday night for Triller Fight Club. After defeating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by a split decision earlier this year, Silva looked fantastic yet again in boxing as he toyed with Ortiz and then put him out with punches in the first round. Following the win, Silva took to his social media to react to the victory and throw some shade on Ortiz for his recent comments about Wing Chun/Bruce Lee. Check out what “The Spider” wrote on his Instagram below.
Dana White slammed by Triller promoter Ryan Kavanaugh for UFC's ironclad contracts
Adam D Martin - September 12, 2021
UFC president Dana White was slammed by Triller promoter Ryan Kavanaugh for the UFC’s ironclad contracts that blocked a GSP boxing match. Triller had hoped to book the UFC legend Georges St-Pierre against the boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya in the boxing ring, but White blocked the fight from happening. Even though GSP hasn’t fought for the UFC since 2017 and has made it clear he has no plans on continuing his MMA career, White still blocked him from the boxing match with De La Hoya.
Donald Trump praises "great patriot" Vitor Belfort following TKO win over Evander Holyfield
Adam D Martin - September 12, 2021
Former United States President Donald Trump praised “great patriot” Vitor Belfort following his first-round TKO win over Evander Holyfield. Trump was a special guest at Saturday night’s Triller Fight Club boxing event, providing commentary for the fans and also answering a number of questions. Following the event, which saw Belfort knock out Holyfield in the first round with punches, Trump had nothing but good things to say about the Brazilian-born Belfort. Check out his comments below.
Vitor Belfort wants to “mix the rules” of MMA and boxing following win over Evander Holyfield
Adam D Martin - September 12, 2021
Former UFC champion Vitor Belfort says he wants to “mix the rules” of MMA and boxing following his big win over Evander Holyfield. Belfort finished the boxing legend, Holyfield, with punches in the first round of their pro boxing match at the Triller Fight Club event on Saturday night. Following the event, Belfort was asked what is next for him following the big KO win. As far as Belfort goes, he plans on continuing to box now that he’s gotten the big win over Holyfield in his back pocket. But it’s Belfort’s goal to create a hybrid sport that combines both the aspects of MMA and boxing, primarily in the clinch, where Belfort says he hopes to continue his fighting career.
Tito Ortiz calls out Logan Paul following knockout loss to Anderson Silva: “We lost our last fights let’s entertain our fans!”
Adam D Martin - September 12, 2021
Tito Ortiz called out Logan Paul following his knockout loss to Anderson Silva, saying “We lost our last fights, let’s entertain our fans.” Ortiz made his professional boxing debut against former UFC fighter Silva on Saturday night at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida, and things did not go how Ortiz had planned them. “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” was knocked out quickly in the first round with punches by Silva and he was not able to recover, losing via first-round TKO. But while one might have assumed that Ortiz would be done with boxing after being completely wiped out, the legend is now already planning on his next fight and he has a name in mind.
Evander Holyfield says referee made a bad call in Vitor Belfort stoppage, still wants to fight Mike Tyson
Christopher Taylor - September 11, 2021
Boxing legend Evander Holyfield returned to the squared circle this evening for a heavyweight bout with MMA superstar Vitor Belfort. Holyfield, who is now 58-years-old, had not competed since 2011 where he scored a TKO victory over Brian Nielsen. Although many people, including members of his family, voiced their respective concerns about ‘The Real Deal’ returning to action, Evander remained confident that he would perform well this evening.
Anderson Silva challenges the Paul brothers to fight him and Vitor Belfort
Christopher Taylor - September 11, 2021
Anderson Silva has issued a challenge to the Paul brothers, requesting that Logan and Jake fight him and Vitor Belfort. Silva, a former UFC middleweight champion, improved his professional boxing record to 3-1 this evening after scoring a nasty knockout victory over Tito Ortiz. ‘The Spider’ was able to dodge an early flurry from ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy‘ before stunning Tito with a right hand (see that here). Anderson would then unleash a pair of left hands that put Ortiz down for good.
Vitor Belfort challenges Jake Paul following TKO win over Evander Holyfield: "Stop running from me!"
Christopher Taylor - September 11, 2021
Former UFC champion Vitor Belfort returned to the square circle this evening for a heavyweight bout with boxing legend Evander Holyfield. Belfort (2-0 Boxing) was initially slated to square off with Oscar De La Hoya at tonight’s “Triller: Legends 2” event. However, ‘The Golden Boy’ was forced to withdraw from the contest due to injury. With that, 58-year-old Evander Holyfield stepped in on short-notice to fill the void.
Tito Ortiz reacts following knockout loss to Anderson Silva
Christopher Taylor - September 11, 2021
Tito Ortiz made his professional boxing debut this evening in Florida opposite fellow former UFC champion Anderson Silva. Ortiz (21-12-1 MMA, 0-1 Boxing) had most previously competed in combat sports in December of 2019, where he scored a submission victory over Alberto El Patron in a MMA bout. The win marked Tito’s third in a row, as he had previously scored first-round finishes over Chuck Liddell and Chael Sonnen.
Vitor Belfort stops Evander Holyfield in Round 1 (Video)
Chris Taylor - September 11, 2021
Triller Fight Club is back tonight with ‘Legends 2’, a fight card headlined by boxing heavyweights Evander Holyfield and Vitor Belfort. The event was originally slated to take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. However, the fight card was moved after original headliner Oscar De La Hoya was forced to withdraw due to illness, and Holyfield was booked as the short-notice replacement. California would not sanction the Holyfield vs Belfort fight to take place in the state which resulted in the event being moved to Florida.
Pros react after Anderson Silva KO's Tito Ortiz
Chris Taylor - September 11, 2021
Tonight’s Triller Fight Club: ‘Holyfield vs Belfort’ event was co-headlined by a boxing match between former UFC champions Tito Ortiz and Anderson Silva. ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ had missed weight by five pounds for tonight’s contest and was forced to forfeit 20% of his purse to ‘The Spider’.
Anderson Silva KO's Tito Ortiz (Video)
Chris Taylor - September 11, 2021
Tonight’s Triller Fight Club: ‘Holyfield vs Belfort’ event is co-headlined by a boxing match between former UFC champions Tito Ortiz and Anderson Silva. ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ missed weight by five pounds for tonight’s contest and was forced to forfeit 20% of his purse to ‘The Spider’.
Anderson Silva not interested in Vitor Belfort rematch, suggests a different opponent for 'The Phenom'
Chris Taylor - September 11, 2021
Former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort will both be competing at tonight’s ‘Triller: Legends 2’ event in Florida. Belfort (26-14 MMA, 1-0 Boxing) is set to headline the fight card opposite former four-time world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.
Tito Ortiz reacts after being penalized for missing weight in Anderson Silva boxing match
Chris Taylor - September 11, 2021
Former UFC champions Tito Ortiz and Anderson Silva will collide in a boxing match in the co-headliner of tonight’s ‘Triller: Legends 2’ event. The Ortiz vs. Silva contest was slated to take place at a catchweight of 195lbs. However, ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ missed weight by five pounds on Friday afternoon, leaving many to wonder if the contest would be called off.
Sean O'Malley worried that "jacked" Vitor Belfort could KO and kill Evander Holyfield
Chris Taylor - September 11, 2021
UFC bantamweight Sean O’Malley has expressed concern over 58-year-old Evander Holyfield returning to fight a “jacked” Vitor Belfort. Triller holds its next big event this event this evening at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida. The main event of the card features an eight-round heavyweight boxing match between the legendary boxer Holyfield and the former MMA superstar Belfort.