MMA News
Teacher by day, fighter by night: The story of Samuel Toscano
Alfredo Zullino - January 28, 2020
Amongst the most hardcore of fight fans, interest is growing in an extremely brutal combat sport: Lethwei. Also called Burmese bare knuckle boxing, Lethwei is far older than other combat sports like MMA, as there are records of matches taking place as far back as the third century in Myanmar. Lethwei, nicknamed “The Art of Nine Limbs” because it includes head-butts, punches, elbows, kicks and knees, is considered one of the most violent sports in the world. Clinches, sweeps, and throws are accepted techniques as well, which makes the sport even more dangerous.
Three potential opponents for Cris Cyborg's first Bellator title defense
Cole Shelton - January 28, 2020
In the main event of Bellator 238, Cris Cyborg was looking to become the Bellator featherweight champion as she was taking on Julia Budd. It was Cyborg’s promotional debut, where a win could be the first fighter to win belts in Strikeforce, Invicta, UFC, and Bellator. She did just that as she TKO’d Julia Budd in the fourth round.
John McCarthy shuts down Brendan Schaub’s claim that all the best fighters are in the UFC
Tom Taylor - January 28, 2020
Former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub recently claimed that all the best fighters are on the UFC roster. Unsurprisingly, this comment generated a torrent of backlash — including a retort from MMA referee turned Bellator commentator John McCarthy. Hear what McCarthy had to say about Schaub’s claim below (via Twitter):
Bellator 238 medical suspensions: Julia Budd out 45 days
Tom Taylor - January 28, 2020
Bellator 238 was an action-packed card, with violent finishes from the likes of Cris Cyborg, Sergio Pettis and Aaron Pico. As is always the case with highlight-filled cards like this, the result is a long list of medical suspensions — particularly for the Bellator 238 losers.
Danny Kingad determined and motivated to start the new year with a win
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 28, 2020
Danny Kingad unloaded his full arsenal of skills in hopes of defeating the legendary Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Unfortunately, he fell just short of victory in a grueling three-round contest. The unanimous decision loss to Johnson put an end to Kingad’s six-bout win streak. But it did not dampen his spirits to continue his march towards greatness. This Friday night, Kingad joins his Team Lakay brethren at ONE: Fire & Fury, live from the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila on 31 January.
Sodiq Yusuff says UFC 246 win over Andre Fili made him a top guy at featherweight
Cole Shelton - January 28, 2020
Sodiq Yusuff is now a perfect 4-0 inside the Octagon, and ranked in the featherweight top-15. At UFC 246, Yusuff competed in the biggest fight of his career when he took on Andre Fili. The Nigerian-American knew it was going to be a tough fight but was confident he would get his hand raised. That is exactly what happened as he edged out a decision victory.
VIDEO | Israel Adesanya links up with comedian Tom Segura to trash talk Yoel Romero
Tom Taylor - January 28, 2020
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has already proved he doesn’t need any help in the trash talking department, but he’s decided to enlist some anyway. Adesanya recently linked up with comedian Tom Segura to direct some trash talk at his UFC 248 opponent Yoel Romero. See it below (via @seguratom on Instagram):
Dustin Poirier still wants Nate Diaz fight — in MMA or boxing
Tom Taylor - January 28, 2020
Dustin Poirier has some history with Nate Diaz, and he wants to settle it in the cage — or the boxing ring. Poirier and Diaz were briefly scheduled to fight in late 2018, but the fight fell through due to reasons the two fighters can’t seem to agree on.
Report | MMA superhero ‘Phoenix Jones’ arrested on drug charges
Harry Kettle - January 28, 2020
The MMA superhero known as ‘Phoenix Jones’, formerly a fighter with the World Series of Fighting, has been arrested on drug charges. ‘Phoenix Jones’ is the pseudonym of Ben Fodor, a 31-year-old mixed martial arts fighter from Texas. Jones made headlines in the 2010s for his vigilante crime patrols in Seattle, before he moved on to MMA where he was able to obtain a 7-3-1 record.
Cris Cyborg says she's happy in Bellator after feeling like a 'slave' in the UFC
Cole Shelton - January 27, 2020
Cris Cyborg is very happy to be fighting for Bellator. Cyborg had a public falling out with the UFC after her knockout loss to Amanda Nunes at The Forum. UFC president, Dana White said Cyborg didn’t want the Nunes rematch while the Brazilian claimed she did.
Tyron Woodley tired of 'corny' welterweight division says he's ready to 'f**k everyone up'
Cole Shelton - January 27, 2020
Tyron Woodley is not happy with the current state of the welterweight division. Woodley, who is the former welterweight champion, has not fought since UFC 235 in March where he suffered a decision loss to Kamaru Usman. Since surrendering his title, ‘The Chosen One’ has been rehabbing injuries and sitting on the sidelines wondering what is next.
Coach claims that a 'motivated' Conor McGregor can beat anyone
Cole Shelton - January 27, 2020
Entering UFC 246, Conor McGregor said he was once again motivated and training regularly, unlike his camp for the Khabib Nurmagomedov fight. The Irishman claimed he was drinking all fight week leading up to UFC 229 and his training was sporadic and not consistent. Yet, that all changed for the Donald Cerrone fight, and it showed in his performance. He knocked out ‘Cowboy’ in just 40 seconds in a fight that Cerrone didn’t even land a single strike.
Daniel Cormier aims to fight Stipe Miocic this summer, won't accept anything else
Tom Taylor - January 27, 2020
Daniel Cormier is hoping to put an end to his rivalry with Stipe Miocic this summer, and won’t be accepting any other matchup offers. Cormier and Miocic are tied 1-1 across two previous fights. Cormier won the first fight, in July of 2018, by first-round knockout, claiming the heavyweight title for himself. Miocic won the rematch, in August of 2019, by fourth-round TKO to reclaim the belt.
Diego Ferreira says best is yet to come after UFC 246 win, eyes Al Iaquinta or Felder-Hooker winner next
Cole Shelton - January 27, 2020
Diego Ferreira knows the best is yet to come. At UFC 246, Ferreira picked up the biggest win of his career when he submitted Anthony Pettis in the second round. The victory got the Brazilian a spot in the UFC rankings, and it also happened to take place on his birthday which he says was a great present.
Chael Sonnen defends Stephen A. Smith: 'People owe him an apology'
Tom Taylor - January 27, 2020
ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith has received a ton of hate from the MMA community over the last few days, catching flack from the likes of Joe Rogan, Conor McGregor, Josh Thomson, Din Thomas and others. In the opinion of UFC and Bellator analyst Chael Sonnen, however, the blowback Smith has received has been undue. The reason for all of this criticism, to remind, are the comments Smith made at UFC 246, which were widely regarded as disrespectful to Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.
Maycee Barber breaks silence on Roxanne Modafferi loss: 'This s**t sucks'
Tom Taylor - January 27, 2020
At UFC 246, Maycee Barber experienced the first loss of her professional MMA career, giving up a lopsided decision to the veteran Roxanne Modafferi. Unfortunately, Barber also sustained a complete ACL tear early in this fight, which will keep her out of action for some time. In a prepared statement to MMA Fighting, Barber opened up on this first taste of defeat. She says her goal of becoming the youngest champion in UFC history is unchanged.
UFC to split up pound-for-pound rankings, create new men's and women's P4P rankings
Adam Martin - January 27, 2020
The UFC has decided to split up the pound-for-pound rankings as men and women fighters will now be ranked in their own categories. Even since the UFC instituted the pound-for-pound rankings a few years ago, they have allowed panelists to combine both men and women in the rankings. That’s led to some controversy, and many fans and media have felt for quite some time that there should be separate rankings for male and female fighters.
Report | Brock Lesnar, Matt Riddle got into verbal altercation at Royal Rumble
Mike Heck - January 27, 2020
Former UFC competitors Brock Lesnar and Matt Riddle reportedly got into it Sunday night backstage prior to WWE’s Royal Rumble in Houston, Texas. According to a report from Pro Wrestling Sheet, Lesnar and Riddle passed each other in the hall and a “tense encounter” occurred. A source said that Lesnar saw Riddle and wanted to know the reality of the situation between them.