MMA News
Nate Diaz: "I'll fight forever, I'm never going to retire."
Mike Pendleton - October 28, 2019
With the pre-fight USADA issues behind UFC 244, all focus shifts back to the main event headliner of Nate Diaz vs Jorge Masvidal. While there are expected to be plenty of questions regarding USADA and the adverse findings in his test, Nate Diaz has never been afraid to speak his mind on all the hot topics surrounding the MMA world. In a taped interview with Ariel Helwani of ESPN that was filmed back in September, the topic of retirement was brought up, and Diaz wasn’t having it. During their conversation at Madison Square Garden about UFC 244, Helwani asked Diaz about his thoughts on retirement, which was shot down immediately.
Nate Diaz blasts USADA but admits he was never worried about test results
Cole Shelton - October 28, 2019
Nate Diaz has put USADA on blast. Last week, Diaz announced he was out of his fight against Jorge Masvidal due to being flagged by USADA. Yet, after sending out the note on Twitter, it was ruled the failed test was from a tainted supplement and he would be able to fight after all. But, until his name was cleared, he truly was not going to fight.
Ben Askren says retirement is 'definitely something' he's considering after Demian Maia loss
Cole Shelton - October 28, 2019
Ben Askren’s time in MMA may be over once again. Back in 2017, Askren retired from the sport after he defended his ONE Championship welterweight title. He said he had nothing else to prove as he wanted to show he was the best in the world.
Conor McGregor believes Valentina Shevchenko would 'spark' Henry Cejudo
Natasha Hooper - October 28, 2019
Conor McGregor is confident that Valentina Shevchenko would have the upper hand in an intergender bout against Henry Cejudo. Earlier this year, ‘Triple C’ took to social media and called for an intergender fight against female fighters including Germaine De Randamie and Amanda Nunes. One of the names to top his list was women’s flyweight champion, Valentina Shevchenko. Shevchenko was amused by the callout but assured fans that she would beat the male champion.
Tyron Woodley heaps praise on Israel Adesanya: 'It's hard to deny him'
Tom Taylor - October 28, 2019
Israel Adesanya is now the UFC middleweight champion and one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts — and former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has taken notice. Speaking on TMZ’s Hollywood Beatdown, Woodley shared his thoughts on Adesanya.
Dustin Poirier shares 'the whole truth' about canceled Nate Diaz fight
Tom Taylor - October 28, 2019
Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz were expected to fight at UFC 230 in November of 2018. Regrettably, Poirier was forced out of the fight with an injury. At least, that’s what we were all initially told. Since that matchup, Poirier has suggested several times that it was Diaz, not him, that pulled out of the fight.
Leon Edwards claims UFC offered him fight against Tyron Woodley
Adam Martin - October 28, 2019
UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards claims the UFC has offered him a fight against former champion Tyron Woodley at an upcoming event in January 2020. According to Leon Edwards, the UFC offered him a co-main event slot against Woodley at UFC 246. That card is expected to be headlined by UFC superstar Conor McGregor against either Donald Cerrone or Justin Gaethje.
Jose Aldo opens as underdog for bantamweight debut
Adam Martin - October 28, 2019
Perhaps surprisingly, former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has opened up as a betting underdog for his bantamweight debut against Marlon Moraes at UFC 245. Jose Aldo, the long-time featherweight kingpin of the UFC, announced recently that he was moving down to 135lbs for the first time in his career. The UFC matched him up against the No. 1 ranked bantamweight Marlon Moraes for his divisional debut at UFC 245. Still, considering Aldo’s pedigree most would have figured he would still be favored to win.
Rory MacDonald's contract expired after Bellator 232
Tom Taylor - October 28, 2019
Rory MacDonald could soon be a free agent. The Canadian’s Bellator 232 fight with Douglas Lima, which he lost by unanimous decision, marked the final obligation on his latest contract with the Viacom-owned MMA promotion. Speaking to the media post-fight, MacDonald explained that his current Bellator contract is now expired, but that he’d be keen to re-sign with the promotion, particularly if they offer him a title shot opposite the new champion Lima. He and Lima, to remind, are now tied 1-1 across their two previous bouts, with a decision victory apiece, and would seemingly have a score to settle.
What's next for Demian Maia and Ben Askren after UFC Singapore?
Cole Shelton - October 28, 2019
At Saturday’s UFC Singapore card, Demian Maia and Ben Askren were looking to prove who was the best grappler in the UFC’s welterweight division. Maia is the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace while Askren is a former Olympic wrestler and All-American. This time around, jiu jitsu trumped wrestling, as Demian Maia submitted Ben Askren in the third round. It was the Brazilian’s third-straight win while “Funky” has now lost two in a row and is just 1-2 in the UFC arriving in the promotion.
Dana White calls Ben Askren for Demetrious Johnson an ‘amazing trade’ for the UFC
Adam Martin - October 28, 2019
Sunday marked the one-year anniversary of the infamous Ben Askren for Demetrious Johnson trade between the UFC and ONE Championship. Replying to a fan on social media, UFC president Dana White called it an “amazing trade” for the UFC. It was one year ago when the UFC and ONE Championship made history with MMA’s first-ever trade. Headed to the UFC was former ONE and Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren, while headed to ONE was former UFC flyweight kingpin Demetrious Johnson. It was a surprising move for both organizations, but one that ultimately made sense for both.
Nate Diaz arrives in New York City for UFC 244
Harry Kettle - October 28, 2019
UFC 244 headliner Nate Diaz has officially arrived in New York City ahead of his huge main event showdown against Jorge Masvidal this weekend. Diaz (20-11) will go head to head with Masvidal (34-13) with the BMF Championship being up for grabs at Madison Square Garden. The fight is widely considered to be one of the most highly anticipated encounters of the year in mixed martial arts, with both men riding a strong wave of momentum with three impressive wins between them in 2019.
Rory MacDonald issues statement following title loss to Douglas Lima
Natasha Hooper - October 28, 2019
At Bellator 232 on Saturday, October 26, Rory MacDonald collided with Douglas Lima in the final bout it the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix. The Canadian fighter beat Lima during their first matchup in January 2018, but he wasn’t as successful the second time around. Their second battle didn’t have as much action as their first matchup, but the welterweights endured a five-round war. After 25 minutes, Lima was declared the winner by unanimous decision and grabbed the belt and the $1 million prize for the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix.
Ray Borg shares USADA horror story after Nate Diaz ordeal
Thomas Taylor - October 27, 2019
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) was back in the headlines this week after Nate Diaz announced an adverse drug test finding had forced him out of his UFC 244 fight with Jorge Masvidal. Thankfully, Diaz’s drug testing woes wound up amounting to nothing, and his fight with Masvidal will go ahead as planned. Yet that hasn’t stopped some members of the MMA from sharing there thoughts on USADA — and not all of those thoughts are positive. UFC bantamweight Ray Borg, for example, shared his thoughts on USADA on Twitter, comparing the agency’s strict drug testing regimen to probation.
Looking back on the Ben Askren-Demetrious Johnson trade one year later
Cole Shelton - October 27, 2019
On Oct. 27, 2018, the MMA world was shaken up as it was announced the UFC and ONE Championship made a trade. The Las Vegas-based promotion traded longtime flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson, to the Singapore-based promotion for the former welterweight champion, Ben Askren. Right away, fans wondered who came out on top in this trade. The UFC was sending one of the greatest fighters of all time in Johnson for an undefeated Askren who could sell fights with his trash-talk. It seemed like a win-win for both fighters and promotions at the time. But, one year later, is it still a win-win?
Scott Coker says Lorenz Larkin is next for Douglas Lima
Adam D Martin - October 27, 2019
Bellator president Scott Coker confirmed that Lorenz Larkin is next in line for a title shot against new Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima. Coker was asked by the media following Bellator 232 who would get the next title shot against Douglas Lima, and the Bellator bossman confirmed that Lorenz Larkin is likely going to get a rematch against Lima.
Jason Knight has a message for Artem Lobov ahead of Bare Knuckle Fighting rematch
Adam D Martin - October 27, 2019
Former UFC featherweight Jason Knight sent a message to rival Artem Lobov before the two meet in a rematch at Bare Knuckle FC 9. Here’s the message Jason Knight sent to Artem Lobov on his Twitter.
Conor McGregor takes a shot at Islam Makhachev, the Russian standout responds
Adam D Martin - October 27, 2019
UFC superstar Conor McGregor took a shot at Russian standout Islam Makhachev, and the two got into an exchange of words on social media. The father of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Abdulmanap recently said he believes that Conor McGregor should fight Makhachev, who is a training partner of Khabib. McGregor evidently does not agree with what Khabib’s father suggested and took to his Twitter account to turn down the fight.