MMA News
Frankie Edgar interested in fighting Aljamain Sterling next
Adam Martin - April 19, 2020
Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar says he’s interested in fighting Aljamain Sterling in his bantamweight debut. Edgar was supposed to fight Cory Sandhagen back at UFC Raleigh in January in what was supposed to be his first fight at 135lbs. But Edgar was pulled from the card and instead fought Chan Sung Jung at UFC Busan at featherweight, where he suffered a nasty KO loss to The Korean Zombie. The fight with Sandhagen was subsequently wiped out as a result and Edgar has still yet to make his official bantamweight debut.
Anderson Silva says he planned to retire in 2012, before KO loss to Chris Weidman
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2020
In a new interview, former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva said he wanted to retire in 2012 before his first fight with Chris Weidman at UFC 162. Silva was the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport at the time and was coming off of a 17-fight win streak with culminated in a vicious TKO over Stephan Bonnar at UFC 153. There were talks of a superfight against UFC welterweight champion George St. Pierre and Silva were in attendance for GSP’s win over Carlos Condit at UFC 154, but the fight never materialized for whatever reason. When the GSP fight didn’t happen, Silva had planned on retiring.
Paulo Costa speaks on issues of brain damage in MMA, willing to donate brain for research
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa spoke about the effects of blows to the head in MMA and says he’s willing to donate his brain for research. Costa is one of the top middleweights in MMA and is known for pulverizing his opponents’ heads and being the one who dishes out the damage. But in a recent interview with AG Fight, Costa admitted he thinks about the effects of blows to the head on his brain, and it’s the reason why he plans on retiring from the sport by the time he’s 36.
Conor McGregor explains why it's never too late to turn your life around
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2020
UFC superstar Conor McGregor highlighted the changes he’s made in his life over the last two years, saying it’s never too late to turn your life around. It was two over years ago at UFC 223 when McGregor suffered through the lowest point of his MMA career when he threw a dolly through a bus window, which caused a chain reaction of negative effects. McGregor dealt with numerous legal issues outside the cage over the next year, not to mention a lopsided loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 and a subsequent suspension from a post-fight brawl against his rival’s team. There’s no question that McGregor’s 2018 and 2019 years are ones that he wants to forget.
Tim Kennedy explains why he refused anesthesia for sutures at UFC 178
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2020
Former UFC middleweight Tim Kennedy explained why he refused anesthesia for sutures following his fight against Yoel Romero at UFC 178. Kennedy and Romero got into one of the wildest brawls of 2014, with Romero eventually earning the third-round stoppage via TKO in controversial fashion at UFC 178’s “Fight of the Night.” Kennedy suffered brutal facial damage during the knockout and was forced to get his face stitched up by the doctors after the fight. However, it looks like the pain didn’t end for Kenney with the knockout.
Darren Till tells Michael Bisping to send his son to Liverpool so he can “make a man out of him”
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Darren Till told former champ and fellow Brit Michael Bisping to send his son to Liverpool so he can “make a man out of him.” Bisping and his son often have funny back-and-forth banter on their social media, especially during quarantine as not much else is going on. Till recently took notice of Bisping’s conversation with his son on social media and jokingly offered to teach his son a lesson. Here’s what Till wrote on Twitter.
Henry Cejudo fires back after Alexander Volkanovski calls his choice of opponents “embarrassing”
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2020
UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo fired back at featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski, who recently called his choice of opponents “embarrassing.” Volkanovski was critical recently of Volkanovksi calling out aging legends like Dominick Cruz and Frankie Edgar for his next fight after his UFC 250 matchup against another legend in Jose Aldo was wiped out by the coronavirus pandemic travel restrictions. Instead of calling out top contenders like Aljamain Sterling, Petr Yan or Cory Sandhagen, Cejudo has instead focused on older fighters who are coming off of losses, and Volkanovski noticed.
Frank Mir announces Bellator release, open to fighting for KSW or returning to UFC as commentator
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2020
Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir is now a free agent and is open to fighting for another promotion or getting behind the mic and doing commentary. This past October saw Mir snap a four-fight losing skid when he defeated Roy Nelson via decision at Bellator 231. It was his first win since July 2015 and it couldn’t have come at a better time as it helped him avoid a dreaded five-fight losing skid. Mir was still under contract with Bellator and had one fight left on his deal after going 1-2 with the promotion, but the heavyweight legend said he’s come to a deal with Bellator to release him.
VIDEO | UFC Fighter Zabit Magomedsharipov spars with a Goat
Chris Taylor - April 18, 2020
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Jon Jones continues to mock Jan Blachowicz over "Can't wait to fist you" comment
Chris Taylor - April 18, 2020
Jon Jones continued to mock Jan Blachowicz today, this after the surging light heavyweight contender suggested he “can’t wait to fist” Bones in a potential fight. Yesterday evening Jones seemingly shutdown a potential immediate rematch with Dominick Reyes in favor of a showdown with the Polish standout in Blachowicz.
Dana White holds Coronavirus Pandemic call with UFC Fighters
Chris Taylor - April 18, 2020
UFC President Dana White held a conference call with Fighters on Friday afternoon addressing the Coronavirus Pandemic while fielding questions. According to a report from MMAJunkie‘s Nolan King, White took time to hear from his athletes in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic for approximately 25 minutes. After an initial statement, White opened up the floor for written questions.
VIDEOS | Top 5 Knockouts: UFC 11 - UFC 20
Chris Taylor - April 18, 2020
In our newest segment “Top 5 Knockouts” we take a look back at some of the most brutal finishes that have occurred during numbered UFC events. In this second edition of “Top 5 Knockouts”, we reflect back on UFC events 11 – 20, which occurred between the years of 1996 to 1999.
Jon Jones shuts down Dominick Reyes rematch, plans on popping some cherries in Poland
Chris Taylor - April 17, 2020
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has no plans of granting Dominick Reyes with a immediate rematch following their close fight at UFC 247. ‘Bones’ scored a unanimous decision victory over Reyes at February’s event in Houston, but the judges ruling did not sit well with many fight fans. Even UFC President Dana White admitted that he had scored the UFC 247 main event in favor of ‘The Devastator’.
Jon Jones responds to Anthony Smith with some advice: "Hurry up and buy the family a gun"
Chris Taylor - April 17, 2020
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has responded to former opponent Anthony Smith by offering up some advice. Earlier this month, Smith was the victim of a home invasion which resulted in what he called “one of the toughest fights of his life”.
Kevin Lee believes he tore his ACL, unsure on how long he'll be out
Cole Shelton - April 17, 2020
Kevin Lee believes he will be sidelined for the foreseeable future due to a torn ACL. Although Lee believes he tore his ACL he has yet to get confirmation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the hospitals being so busy, he was forced to wait for a center to be available to take an MRI which happened today.
Dana White says International Fight Week in July is "doubtful"
Adam Martin - April 17, 2020
UFC president Dana White updated fighters on the state of the promotion during the coronavirus pandemic, saying International Fight Week is “doubtful.” The UFC schedule is currently on hiatus as the coronavirus crisis ravages the world. White and the UFC tried to put on the UFC 249 card in Tachi Palace but ESPN and Disney’s head executives told him to stand down and postpone the event. The UFC is now slated to hold UFC 250 on May 9 at a location that is currently undisclosed but there’s no sure thing that card will happen, either.
Tony Ferguson explains why he decided to make weight today: "It just made sense"
Cole Shelton - April 17, 2020
Tony Ferguson decided to make weight today even though UFC 249, which would’ve taken place on Saturday, was postponed. Ferguson was originally set to battle Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title. Yet, the Russian withdrew from the bout leaving “El Cucuy” to take on Justin Gaethje for an interim belt. But, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was postponed.
UFC files trademark for "Fight Island"
Tom Taylor - April 17, 2020
The UFC has failed 22 new trademarks: 11 for “Fight Island” and 11 for “UFC Fight Island.” “The filings were made based on an ‘intent to use’ FIGHT ISLAND as the name of a mixed martial arts competition and for branded goods such as clothing and jewelry,” explained attorney Josh Gerben on Twitter (h/t MMA Mania).