MMA News
Kali Robbins vs. Hannah Goldy Slated for Contender Series
Nolan King - April 12, 2019
The female fights continue to pile up for the third season of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. A strawweight matchup between Invicta FC veteran Kali Robbins (6-2) and Island Fights veteran Hannah Goldy (4-0). The two fighters will square off on the season premiere on June 18. Having competed for Invicta FC, RFA, and KOTC, Robbins has fought a handful of MMA notables including UFC veterans Hannah Cifers and Pearl Gonzalez.
Andre Soukhamthath Embracing Doubters Heading Into UFC 236
Nolan King - April 12, 2019
UFC bantamweight Andre Soukhamthath is the biggest underdog on Saturday’s UFC 236 card in Atlanta. According to Best Fight Odds, Soukhamthath is sitting at an average money line of +389 on average across all major online sportsbooks. Being doubted is nothing new for Soukhamthath. In fact, it’s become the norm.
Jeff Novitzky: TJ Dillashaw didn't test positive vs Cody Garbrandt
Drake Riggs - April 12, 2019
As is the case with most incidents where fighters get busted for performance-enhancing drug (PED) use, it puts everything in the past into question. That has been no different with former two-time UFC champion, TJ Dillashaw who recently tested positive for EPO use a day prior to his last bout which took place in January. In turn, he is now suspended for two years.
Jon Jones fires back at Israel Adesanya: 'I’ll make you call me daddy'
Tom Taylor - April 12, 2019
This week, Israel Adesanya discussed the possibility of a future fight with UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones, suggesting that he’d like to collect the scalp of another GOAT contender after beating Anderson Silva this past February. “He was right and when I heard about it – I think maybe two days after he said it – I was like, ‘Oh, really?’” Adesanya told TMZ Sports, discussing Jones’ interest in a fight with him (transcript via MMA Fighting). “I had receipts. I had some screenshots from prior and then I posted them to show that I was already on that same plane. So yeah, great minds think alike.
Anthony Smith vows to lay beating on 'f***ing piece of s**t' Luke Rockhold
Tom Taylor - April 12, 2019
UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith is generally known as a polite and level-headed fighter. When he was asked about former UFC middleweight champ Luke Rockhold at Friday’s UFC seasonal press conference, however, Smith showed a fiery side of his personality we don’t often see. “That guys a f***ing piece of shit,” a fired up Smith said of Rockhold. “F**k Luke Rockhold. The first opportunity I get, I’m gonna drill a hole through Luke Rockhold’s f***ing face. I promise you guys that.”
Dana White gives grim update on Daniel Cormier vs. Brock Lesnar fight
Tom Taylor - April 12, 2019
Over the last few weeks, there has been ample reason to believe we might soon see Daniel Cormier defend the UFC heavyweight strap against former champ and long-time WWE star Brock Lesnar. First, it was reported that the matchup could occur at UFC 241 this summer. Then, Lesnar surrendered his WWE title at WrestleMania 35, seemingly clearing a major hurdle blocking his move to the UFC. Speaking at the UFC’s Seasonal Press Conference on Friday afternoon, however, UFC President Dana White gave a grim update on this potential Daniel Cormier vs. Brock Lesnar fight.
VIDEO | Watch UFC press conference with Ben Askren, Amanda Nunes, Henry Cejudo and other stars
Tom Taylor - April 12, 2019
It’s that time again! On Friday at 12:00pm ET, the UFC is hosting one its classic, star-studded press conferences to promote its upcoming cards. Watch it live below: This time around, the event is scheduled to feature stars like UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones, undefeated welterweight contender Ben Askren, bantamweight and featherweight champ Amanda Nunes, flyweight champ Henry Cejudo, and former welterweight champ Tyron Woodley.
TUF 1 veteran Lodune Sincaid dead at 45 years old
Tom Taylor - April 12, 2019
Lodune Sincaid, a veteran of the first-ever season of The Ultimate Fighter, has passed away at 45 years old. Sherdog was the first to report this unfortunate news. The fighter’s website, LoduneMMA.com, has since issued a statement confirming this tragedy.
UFC 236 weigh in results: Max Holloway hits 155 (video)
Tom Taylor - April 12, 2019
On Saturday night, the UFC will return to our screens with UFC 236. The card, which will go down in Atlanta, Georgia, registers as the first to be topped by a pair of interim title fights. The first of these interim championship bouts will occur in the middleweight division, where undefeated striking ace Israel Adesanya will look to defeat brick-fisted wrestler Kelvin Gastelum. The winner of this fight can expect to unify their title with the undisputed belt owned by Robert Whittaker sometime later this year.
Mairbek Taisumov agrees to six-month USADA suspension
James Lynch - April 12, 2019
It hasn’t been a good week for UFC fighters and USADA. TJ Dillashaw was handed down at 2-year suspension by anti-doping agency and now UFC lightweight Mairbek Taisumov is the latest victim. According to a statement from the USADA website, Taisumov has accepted a six-month suspension and has tested positive for a pair of stanozolol metabolites, 3′-hydroxystanozolol-O-glucuronide and 16β-hydroxystanozolol-O-glucuronide.
ONE: Roots of Honor live results and highlights - Nguyen, Pacio deliver stunning KOs
Tom Taylor - April 12, 2019
On Friday, ONE Championship returned to The Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines with the stacked ONE: Roots of Honor card. This card was topped by a featherweight title fight between long absent champion Martin Nguyen and former champion Narantungalag Jadambaa, one of the most experienced veterans on the ONE roster.
VIDEO | Unearthed footage of Israel Adesanya sparring with 'Rumble'
Tom Taylor - April 12, 2019
Israel Adesanya, who battles Kelvin Gastelum for the interim middleweight title in the co-main of UFC 236 this weekend, is believed to have some of the best striking in MMA. The Kiwi kickboxer’s striking is so highly rated that he was actually flown into Florida by renowned coach Henri Hooft in 2015, where he served as a sparring partner for Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. At the time, Johnson was gearing up for a light heavyweight title fight with Jon Jones — a fight that never happened.
Statement released following allegations against BJ Penn
Chris Taylor - April 11, 2019
The Team of former two-division UFC champion BJ Penn has released a statement following allegations from his former partner. “BJ is in a highly-contested child custody case involving his two young daughters. The order of protection has made serious allegations against BJ. The allegations are so, misleading, hurtful and false that any further comment by BJ or about BJ would cause more damage to the well-being of his children and potentially further inflame the pending custody proceedings. BJ and his family ask that you respect their privacy at this very difficult time.”
More reasons to watch UFC 236
Mike Straus - April 11, 2019
UFC 236 will make history as the first pay-per-view event to have two interim title fights decided on the same night. After a two week hiatus, the world leader in MMA is back with a fun night of fights. The State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia will play host to the action this weekend.
Max Holloway wants Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov to help fight climate change
Tom Taylor - April 11, 2019
Like so many of us, Max Holloway is tired of the ongoing Twitter beef between UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and former lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor. In fact, he believes the two UFC stars could achieve a tremendous amount of good if they combined forces. They might even be able to combat climate change (h/t MMA Mania). Holloway first discussed notion in an interview with Sports Illustrated.
Matt Serra blasts 'f***ing cheater' TJ Dillashaw in profanity-laced tirade
Tom Taylor - April 11, 2019
Earlier this week, news surfaced that former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw had tested positive for EPO, a powerful performance-enhancer that can only be ingested through injection. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) handed Dillashaw a two-year ban for this incident, but in the eyes of former UFC welterweight champ Matt Serra, that might not be enough. Matt Serra went off on TJ Dillashaw on the UFC Unfiltered podcast this week.
Herb Dean defends Ben Askren vs. Robbie Lawler stoppage
Tom Taylor - April 11, 2019
One of the most anticipated features of the UFC 235 bill was a welterweight showdown between former UFC champ Robbie Lawler and former ONE and Bellator champ Ben Askren. Regrettably, this bout ended in controversy. Mid-way through the first round, Askren locked up a bulldog choke that appeared to lull Lawler to sleep. After referee Herb Dean stopped the action, however, Lawler protested, and the replay revealed that he might not have actually gone out.
UFC 236 | Kelvin Gastelum opens up on mental hurdles ahead of Israel Adesanya fight
Tom Taylor - April 11, 2019
Kelvin Gastelum was supposed to battle Robert Whittaker for the undisputed UFC middleweight championship at UFC 234 in February. Regrettably, Whittaker was forced out of the bout with a last-minute injury, leaving Gastelum without his long-awaited title shot. As Whittaker recovers, Kelvin Gastelum is now scheduled to battle Israel Adesanya for the interim middleweight title in the co-main event of UFC 236 this Saturday.