MMA News
Ben Askren wants to give television commentary a try
Adam Martin - November 20, 2019
Recently retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren says that he wants to give television commentary for MMA events a try now that his fighting career is over. Askren announced his retirement Monday on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show, citing a need for hip replacement surgery as the main factor behind his decision. Askren was undefeated heading into the UFC with a 18-0, 1 NC record and was the former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion. But he struggled in the Octagon with just a 1-2 record, including back-to-back stoppage losses to Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia.
Jan Blachowicz responds to Jon Jones snub
Tom Taylor - November 20, 2019
Jan Blachowicz, fresh off a split decision win over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in the UFC Sao Paulo main event, wants a crack at UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. The Polish light heavyweight contender has been calling for this opportunity ever since his win over Jacare was announced.
UFC Moscow medical suspensions: Greg Hardy facing prolonged sit
Tom Taylor - November 20, 2019
Greg Hardy has been incredibly busy in 2019, fighting five times since his UFC debut in January. From the sounds of it, though, his momentum will slow after his short-notice UFC Moscow loss to Alexander Volkov. Because the UFC Moscow card occurred outside the jurisdiction of an Athletic Commission, the UFC handled medical suspensions internally.
Dillon Danis targeted for next fight at Bellator Los Angeles
Adam Martin - November 20, 2019
According to a new report, Bellator star Dillon Danis is likely to take on Ian Butler at the Bellator Los Angeles event in January. Amy Kaplan of FanSided reported Tuesday that Danis is being targeted for the fight against Butler at Bellator LA, which takes place January 25, 2020, at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The main event of the card will see Bellator women’s featherweight champion Julia Budd put her title on the line when she takes on former UFC and Strikeforce champion Cris Cyborg.
PHOTO | Cris Cyborg strips down for new photo shoot
Tom Taylor - November 20, 2019
Former UFC featherweight champ Cris Cyborg recently stripped down for a photo shoot with Larissa Reis. See the first photo from this shoot below:
Jason Knight open to Artem Lobov trilogy but also wants to shut up Johnny Bedford
Cole Shelton - November 20, 2019
Jason Knight is now 1-1 in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship as he TKO’d Artem Lobov at BKFC 9 over the weekend. It was a very good performance for Knight, who predicted he would finish Lobov. But he believes, had he not hurt his hand, the knockout would have come a lot sooner.
Anthony Smith explains what Corey Anderson must do to get UFC title shot
Harry Kettle - November 20, 2019
UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith has taken the time to explain what he believes divisional rival Corey Anderson must do in order to earn a title shot against Jon Jones. Anderson recently made headlines with a stunning TKO win over rising star Johnny Walker, before going on a tirade regarding how he feels he has been treated by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The Ultimate Fighter seems happy to sit and wait for his title shot, which isn’t something that Smith can understand.
Jon Jones responds to Jan Blachowicz’s request for a title shot
Harry Kettle - November 20, 2019
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has responded to Jan Blachowicz’s desire for a shot at the title. Blachowicz is coming off the back of a split decision win over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at UFC Sao Paulo this past weekend, although the nature of his victory didn’t exactly do much to increase his stock within the division. While the Polish star has managed to win six of his last seven, with the only loss coming at the hands of Thiago Santos, he could’ve easily come out on the wrong end of the decision against Souza.
Michael Page felt he was 'dominating' Douglas Lima, eyes rematch
Cole Shelton - November 19, 2019
Michael Page has only suffered one loss in his professional career and it came at the hands of current Bellator welterweight champion, Douglas Lima. Page and Lima fought in the semi-finals of the welterweight grand prix where Lima won the bout by knockout. Yet, the Englishman in Page believes he was having a ton of success up until he got caught. So, he remains confident that he can beat the champion.
Chris Weidman praises Ben Askren, calls him 'huge inspiration' for MMA career
Adam Martin - November 19, 2019
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman had high praise for Ben Askren, calling him a “huge inspiration” For his MMA career. Askren announced his retirement from mixed martial arts on Monday following back-to-back stoppage losses to Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia. Askren said that the losses played a factor in his decision to retire, but ultimately it was injuries that caught up to him and he needs to have hip replacement surgery, which led to him hanging up his gloves.
Isaac Vallie-Flagg eager for more fights, bigger opportunities in BKFC ring
Tom Taylor - November 19, 2019
When Isaac Vallie-Flagg walloped his fellow UFC veteran — and former roommate — Melvin Guillard to a stoppage win at BKFC 7 in August, he improved to 3-0 as a bare knuckle fighter. To long-time fans of MMA or boxing, that record might not seem like much, but in a sport as new as North American bare knuckle fighting, it’s about as impressive as it gets. In the brief period that bare knuckle fighting has been legal on this side of the world, very few people have had as much success as Vallie-Flagg.
Chael Sonnen caught off guard by Ben Askren's retirement announcement
Fernando Quiles Jr. - November 19, 2019
Chael Sonnen admits that Ben Askren’s decision to hang up his gloves for good surprised him. Askren went into the UFC with a ton of hype. “Funky” had captured Bellator and ONE Championship gold. While Askren initially retired, he ended up signing with the UFC via a trade with ONE for Demetrious Johnson. Askren went 1-2 under the UFC banner. He submitted Robbie Lawler and was stopped by Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia. During a recent appearance on ESPN’s Ariel Helwani MMA Show, Askren said he’s done for good now.
Paulo Costa calls Israel Adesanya a "p***y African"
Adam Martin - November 19, 2019
UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa blasted UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya on social media, calling the champ a “p***y African.” Costa is the No. 1 contender in the UFC middleweight division and earned a title shot following his unanimous decision win over Yoel Romero at UFC 241. Unfortunately for Costa, he injured his biceps and had to have surgery on his arm, which is expected to keep him out of commission until mid-2020.
Yoel Romero wants middleweight title shot to determine 'the real champion'
Tom Taylor - November 19, 2019
Yoel Romero wants a shot at UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. The Cuban wrestler believes he needs to fight Adesanya to determine the true king of the middleweight division.
Dillon Danis sends message to newly retired Ben Askren
Tom Taylor - November 19, 2019
From the moment Ben Askren announced his retirement from MMA, you knew it was only a matter of time before Dillon Danis — one of Askren’s chief naysayers — chimed in. It’s finally happened.
UFC rankings update: Conor McGregor nearly off pound-for-pound list
Tom Taylor - November 19, 2019
The UFC rankings have been updated in the wake of Saturday’s UFC Sao Paulo card, and as expected, there have been some interesting changes. Most notably, former UFC lightweight heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua has been 86’d from the light heavyweight rankings after battling Paul Craig to a draw in the UFC Sao Paulo co-main event.
Conor McGregor's manager says Donald Cerrone contract discussions are going well
Adam Martin - November 19, 2019
UFC superstar Conor McGregor’s manager Audie Attar says contract discussions are going well for McGregor’s return fight against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. It has been weeks now since McGregor and Cerrone were first linked to a fight, with both men saying that is was likely going to be booked soon. And yet, for whatever reason, the UFC hasn’t been able to get the deal signed on the dotted line.
Dana White seemingly confirms Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jedrezjczyk
Adam Martin - November 19, 2019
UFC president Dana White has seemingly confirmed that UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang will fight Joanna Jedrzejczyk next. Zhang and Jedrzejczyk have been going hard at each other recently on social media, and the rivalry reached a tipping point when Jedrzejczyk recently told Zhang that she was willing to travel to China to “beat the sh*t out of her.”