MMA News
Frank Trigg praised by fighter for timely referee stoppage: 'You definitely saved my brain a lot of damage'
Adam Martin - December 23, 2019
UFC legend and MMA referee Frank Trigg was praised by Bellator flyweight Nate Yoshimura for a timely stoppage during his fight at Bellator Hawaii. Yoshimura took on Chas Dunhour in a flyweight bout that kicked off the Bellator Hawaii card this past Saturday in Honolulu. In the second round, Yoshimura was on the wrong end of a nasty knockout stemming from an elbow and punches.
Simon Biyong is chasing Rizin gold
Alfredo Zullino - December 23, 2019
African mixed martial arts is definitely on the rise. Nigerian-born Kamaru Usman just defended his UFC welterweight title against Colby Covington, and fellow countryman Israel Adesanya unified the middleweight title by defeating Robert Whittaker just two months ago. Now, Italian-Cameroonian Simon Biyong (6-1 MMA) will look to continue that trend of success in his Rizin Fighting Federation debut on New Year’s eve in Tokyo, Japan.
Chael Sonnen explains Eddie Bravo vs Royce Gracie beef
Natasha Hooper - December 23, 2019
BJJ powerhouses, Royce Gracie and Eddie Bravo don’t see eye to eye. Chael Sonnen recently sat down on his Youtube channel to explain their ongoing feud.
UFC welterweight Santiago Ponzinibbio removed from rankings
Harry Kettle - December 23, 2019
UFC welterweight contender Santiago Ponzinibbio has been removed from the official divisional rankings as a direct result of his recent inactivity. The Argentine sensation has been with the company since back in 2013, racking up a 9-2 record in the process. He has won his last seven fights with the promotion, which has included triumphs over Gunnar Nelson, Mike Perry and Neil Magny, but he hasn’t been in the cage since November 2018 when he knocked Magny out in Buenos Aires.
Cory Sandhagen removed from UFC Raleigh, no replacement opponent for Frankie Edgar sought
Adam Martin - December 23, 2019
UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen will be removed from the UFC Raleigh card, and no replacement opponent will be sought for Frankie Edgar. The No. 4-ranked bantamweight on the UFC roster, Sandhagen was expected to take on Edgar in what was to be the biggest fight of his young career and also Edgar’s 135lbs debut. However, the UFC instead chose Edgar to replace Brian Ortega against The Korean Zombie in the main event of UFC Busan.
Khabib Nurmagomedov says retirement is 'very close'
Tom Taylor - December 23, 2019
Khabib Nurmagomedov is scheduled to defend the UFC lightweight title against streaking contender Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 this April. While this mammoth showdown is at the forefront of the champ’s mind at the moment, he is also thinking about his inevitable retirement from MMA—which is apparently “around the corner.” “Well, we don’t have a plan for when we’re going to finish but I do know it is not over the mountains, as they say,” Khabib said during a recent Q&A in Russia (Via RT Sport). “That time is very close.
Conor McGregor praises Frankie Edgar: 'Forever an icon in this game'
Adam Martin - December 23, 2019
UFC superstar Conor McGregor praised Frankie Edgar in the wake of Edgar’s knockout loss to The Korean Zombie, saying he’s “forever an icon in this game.” Edgar suffered a vicious first-round knockout loss in the main event of UFC Busan this past weekend against The Korean Zombie, having taken the fight on short notice to fill in for the injured Brian Ortega. McGregor is a former rival of Edgar and the two were in talks to fight in his return bout, but McGregor ended up being booked against Donald Cerrone instead.
Gilbert Burns says UFC wants him to fight Demian Maia in Brazil
Adam Martin - December 23, 2019
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns says the UFC has offered him a fight against the legend Demian Maia next March in Brazil. Burns spoke to MMA journalist Drake Riggs following his recent grappling match against Craig Jones and told the scribe the UFC wants him to fight Maia next. Here’s what Burns said.
UFC Busan medical suspensions: Frankie Edgar facing lengthy absence
Tom Taylor - December 23, 2019
Frankie Edgar took a gamble by taking a short-notice fight with “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung in the UFC Busan main event, but it did not pay off. Instead, Edgar was finished in the first round, and has received a significant medical suspension as a result. This suspension rules out any possibility that he’ll be able to fight Cory Sandhagen at UFC Raleigh in January as originally planned. Because the UFC Busan card occurred outside the jurisdiction of a combat sports commission, the UFC handled medical suspension internally. The promotion’s medical suspensions have been acquired by mixedmartialarts.com, and can be viewed in full below.
Islam Makhachev refutes Kevin Lee booking, calls for fight contract
Tom Taylor - December 23, 2019
Over the weekend, UFC lightweight contender Kevin Lee divulged to Helen Yee that he has received an offer to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 249 in Brooklyn, New York this April. Lee added that he and the UFC are waiting on Makhachev to sign his contract, and that it’s not clear what the delay is. Kevin Lee tells me his next fight offered will be against Islam Mackhachev in the Khabib vs Tony Ferguson card in April in Brooklyn. According to Kevin, they’re waiting on Islam and not sure what the holdup is. Interview coming shortly.
What's next for Korean Zombie and Frankie Edgar after UFC Busan?
Cole Shelton - December 23, 2019
Over the weekend, “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung fought at home in the main event of UFC Busan. He took on short-notice replacement opponent Frankie Edgar. It was a critical fight for both men as the winner would be well-positioned for a fight with new featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. In the end, it was the Korean Zombie who got it done as he became just the second person to finish Edgar. He rocked “The Answer” numerous times and earned a first-round TKO win. Following UFC Busan, here is what we think should be next for Jung and Edgar.
Nutritionist details challenges in getting Jose Aldo down to bantamweight
Natasha Hooper - December 23, 2019
When Jose Aldo revealed his plans to skim off 10 pounds for his bantamweight debut, he received a flurry of scepticism from the MMA world. Even UFC President Dana White claimed there was “no way” the Brazilian could make the 135-pound limit. For the first time in his fighting career, the former featherweight champion worked under the guidance of Dr. Pricila Antunes to effectively make weight in the healthiest way possible.
Jon Jones teases heavyweight jump in 2020
Tom Taylor - December 23, 2019
Fan fans have been clamoring to see reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones move to heavyweight for years. From the sounds of it, we could finally see that happen in 2020. While Jones is currently scheduled for a light heavyweight title defense opposite undefeated contender Dominick Reyes at UFC 247, he recently divulged that he was initially trying to book a fight with heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is helping those in need this Christmas
Natasha Hooper - December 23, 2019
Jon Jones has been getting into the Christmas spirit by handing out winter coats for free on December 23. The UFC light heavyweight champion posted a picture to social media of him smiling, accompanied by a van full of gifts, ready to share the gift of giving.
Video | Fighter breaks arm during slam in Combate Americas bout
Adam Martin - December 22, 2019
An MMA fighter had their arm broken in gruesome fashion during a Combate Americas event that took place on Friday night in Lima, Peru. Lightweight Milko Tucto took on Salvador Becerra in the first round of a tournament to determine the new Copa Combates America lightweight champion. It was during their fight that disaster struck, as Becerra was on the wrong end of an absolutely vicious slam that shattered his arm.
Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone UFC 246 tickets are already sold out
Adam Martin - December 22, 2019
Tickets for UFC 246, which feature a welterweight main event pitting Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone, sold out on the first day of going on sale. Not only did the tickets sell out almost immediately for McGregor vs. Cerrone, but they went for a hefty price. According to Yahoo! Sports combat sports journalist Kevin Iole, UFC president Dana White said the gate will be $10 million.
Kevin Lee vs. Islam Makhachev targeted for UFC 249
Adam Martin - December 22, 2019
A lightweight bout between top-15 ranked fighters Kevin Lee and Islam Makhachev is being targeted to take place at UFC 249. The event is set for April 18 at Barclays Arena in Brooklyn, New York, with the main event seeing UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov attempts to defend his title against No. 1 contender Tony Ferguson. A fight between Lee and Makhachev would likely serve as one of the five main card pay-per-view bouts.
Kevin Lee speaks at Bernie Sanders rally, takes a shot at Colby Covington
Adam D Martin - December 22, 2019
UFC lightweight contender Kevin Lee spoke at the rally for U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in Las Vegas on Saturday and took a shot at Colby Covington. Lee is a supporter of Sanders and spoke highly of him at the rally. Here’s what Lee said (via Bernie Sanders’ Twitter).