MMA News
New combat sports promotion EKIC to showcase boxing, bare-knuckle, and Kumite bouts
Tom Taylor - May 25, 2020
It’s tough to stand out in the crowded combat sports industry, but the newly-launched promotion Extreme Kumite International Championships (EKIC) is already doing just that. EKIC is the brainchild of Edward Simpson, Mark Goldstein and Jeff Arcio, and features an impressive list of brand ambassadors and advisors like former Strikeforce champion Cung Le and UFC Hall-of-Fame Stephan Bonnar.
Michael Bisping's responds to "one-eyed fighter" comment from Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - May 25, 2020
Conor McGregor recently laid out his picks for the Greatest of All Time in MMA, and his arguments featured what could be perceived as a dig at Michael Bisping. GSP is in at 3. Much less array of finishes but champion status in 2. He is far behind though. Reasons = Left 170 after much damage taken+questionable decision. Never re-engaged 170lb successors. Bottled Anderson fight. Only moved when one eyed fighter presented. Played safe.
Wanderlei Silva reportedly offered $10M for potential Mike Tyson matchup
Tom Taylor - May 25, 2020
Wanderlei Silva has reportedly been offered $10M for a potential bare-knuckle fight with Mike Tyson—an opportunity he says he accepted “right away.” Tyson, a 53-year-old boxing legend, is plotting a comeback, and is being aggressively courted by upstart bare-knuckle organization BKFC. The promotion is reported to have offered Tyson more than $20M to compete sans gloves, and has named Silva as his potential dance partner (should the boxer accept the offer).
Kamaru Usman on Conor McGregor fight: "I’d shag him in there if I wanted"
Tom Taylor - May 25, 2020
UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman is extremely confident he’d come out on top in a potential fight with Conor McGregor. There’s been plenty of buzz about a superfight between Usman and McGregor, who previously held the UFC lightweight and featherweight titles, over the last few days. The buzz reached a fever pitch when Usman’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, suggested they would be willing to give McGregor a title shot—with some unique conditions.
Khabib Nurmagomedov reflects on one of his most dominant UFC wins
Tom Taylor - May 25, 2020
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov recently took a moment to reflect on his jaw-droppingly dominant victory over Abel Trujillo, which occurred seven years ago today, at UFC 160. Nurmagomedov defeated Trujillo by unanimous decision, landing a record-shattering 21 of his 28 attempted takedowns in the process. Interestingly, the lightweight champ says he entered this fight with a debilitating injury, which was part of the reason he exercised such a grappling-heavy game plan.
Muay Thai star Rodtang Jitmuangnon interested in future MMA bouts
Tom Taylor - May 25, 2020
ONE flyweight Muay Thai titleholder Rodtang Jitmuangnon, widely regarded as one of the most exciting fighters in combat sports, is interested in trying his hand at MMA in the future. The 22-year-old Thai, who has also captured the Max Muay Thai 126-pound title and the Omnoi Stadium 130-pound title, is drawing inspiration from his girlfriend, Stamp Fairtex.
Betting odds released for Conor McGregor vs. Kamaru Usman
Adam Martin - May 25, 2020
The sportsbooks have released the opening betting odds for a potential fight between superstar Conor McGregor and UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. There have been rumblings in the last few days about McGregor potentially getting the next title shot against Usman at 170lbs, particularly if Jorge Masvidal fights Nate Diaz in a rematch instead. Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz has made it clear their camp is interested in a McGregor fight, so as crazy as it seems that McGregor could get a title shot at welterweight, there is a possibility that’s the case.
Stipe Miocic weighs in on potential Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou fight
Tom Taylor - May 25, 2020
UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic has shared his thoughts on a potential super fight between light heavyweight champ Jon Jones and top heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou. According to Miocic, Jones could win this prospective showdown with the right gameplan, but Ngannou’s infamous knockout power would make the contest interesting from beginning to end.
Andre Pederneiras, coach of Jose Aldo, tests positive for COVID-19
Adam Martin - May 25, 2020
Andre Pederneiras, the coach of Jose Aldo and several other top MMA fighters in Brazil, has tested positive for COVID-19. The 53-year-old Pederneiras is now isolated in his own home away from his wife and children. Combate was the first to reveal the positive test for “Dede,” who is considered one of the pioneers of MMA coaching.
Henry Cejudo says the only opponent worth coming back for is Alex Volkanovski, the featherweight champ responds
Natasha Hooper - May 25, 2020
Henry Cejudo has stated he will only return to the Octagon if it’s to face Alex Volkanovski, and the featherweight champion has responded. “Triple C” last fought in the co-main event of UFC 249 this month. The bantamweight champion collided with the former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. Cejudo won via TKO in the second round, a stoppage that Cruz argued was premature. Nevertheless, the 33-year old Cejudo successfully defended his bantamweight title. After sealing his 6th consecutive victory, he took the opportunity to announce his retirement from the Octagon.
UFC may not require Fight Island after US issues travel exemption for foreign athletes
Harry Kettle - May 25, 2020
A new travel exemption in the United States could mean that the proposed Fight Island idea will no longer be required by the UFC. For weeks now we’ve been waiting to see whether or not UFC president Dana White would give the green light for Fight Island to take place, with a recent report indicating that it could happen as soon as July.
Conor McGregor explains why Khabib Nurmagomedov didn't get a spot on his MMA GOAT list
Natasha Hooper - May 25, 2020
Conor McGregor has explained why he doesn’t consider the lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, to be one of the GOATs of MMA. Last week, the Irish superstar ranked top MMA fighters, past and present, in a Greatest Of All Time list. He posted his GOAT list to social media.
Conor McGregor explains why Demetrious Johnson failed to make his MMA GOAT list
Christopher Taylor - May 24, 2020
When Conor McGregor shared his current MMA GOAT rankings many fans and pundits questioned why the name Demetrious Johnson was not on the list. McGregor had ranked former UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva in the top spot for current MMA GOAT, this while listing himself as a very close second.
Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz continue to trade shots ahead of potential rematch
Adam Martin - May 24, 2020
UFC welterweight stars Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz continued to trade shots ahead of a potential rematch between the bitter rivals. Masvidal and Diaz met back at UFC 244 in November 2019, and the fight ended in controversial fashion as the cageside doctor stopped the fight due to cuts, resulting in a TKO win over Masvidal. The stoppage was called into question by several MMA veterans including long-time referee Big John McCarthy, and because of the controversy there has always been the chance the UFC could run a rematch between the two.
Henry Cejudo officially removed from UFC rankings, bantamweight title vacant
Adam Martin - May 24, 2020
Former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo has officially been removed from the UFC rankings and his 135lbs is now listed as vacant. Cejudo shocked the MMA world when he abruptly retired following a second-round TKO win over Dominick Cruz at UFC 249. Following the victory, Cejudo took the microphone and said that he was hanging up his gloves. It was a move that surprised most fans, fighters, and fellow media, though UFC president Dana White said that the UFC already knew about Cejudo’s intentions to retire long ago.
Four fights added to upcoming UFC Fight Night cards in June including return of Andre Fili
Adam Martin - May 24, 2020
Four fights have been added to upcoming UFC Fight Night cards in June, including the return of exciting featherweight contender Andre Fili. Check out the four new fight announcements below, which were confirmed by MMAjunkie.com. All of the events mentioned are scheduled to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, though that’s subject to change at this point.
Darren Till issues scathing response to Mike Perry after “Platinum” brings up his mom
Adam D Martin - May 24, 2020
UFC middleweight Darren Till issued a scathing response to Mike Perry after “Platinum” brought up the Brit’s mother in a recent social media post. Perry and Till have had a feud dating back a few years now and occasionally both men have brought up the prospect of fighting each other. With Perry struggling at 170lbs and Till surging at 185lbs, this is unlikely to be a matchup MMA fans see anytime soon, but both men are definitely planting seeds for this fight to take place someday.
Nate Diaz fires back at Jon Jones
Adam D Martin - May 24, 2020
UFC welterweight star Nate Diaz fired back at UFC light heavyweight Jon Jones over his recent comments about the GOAT in mixed martial arts. First, UFC lightweight Conor McGregor released his list of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, where he listed Anderson Silva at No. 1 followed by himself at No. 2, Georges St-Pierre at No. 3 and Jones at No. 4. Diaz saw McGregor’s Tweet and responded saying that he was the GOAT since he tapped McGregor out at UFC 196. Jones, in turn, responded to Diaz saying that the GOAT argument is just getting ridiculous now.