MMA News
VIDEO | Bellator fighter suffers horrific leg injury
Tom Taylor - September 9, 2019
Mixed martial arts is a nasty business. Fighters routinely sustain nasty injuries in their bouts, from cuts, to hematomas, and of course, broken bones. That latter thing is just what we saw on the postlims of Bellator 226 last weekend, when Albert Gonzales took on Tyson Miller. It was a sequence not unlike the final moment of the infamous Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman 2 fight, which left Silva with a leg like cooked spaghetti after Weidman checked one of his kicks. This time around, it was Gonzales who threw the kick, and was ultimately left writhing on the floor after Miller checked it.
What's next for Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier after UFC 242?
Cole Shelton - September 9, 2019
In the main event of UFC 242, Khabib Nurmagomedov looked to defend his lightweight title for the second time. He was taking on the interim champion, Dustin Poirier. In the end, Nurmagomedov sunk in a third-round submission to win the fight and defend his belt. However, Poirier had his moments in the fight and even appeared to stun the undefeated Russian. He also briefly struggled with a guillotine choke, but Nurmagomedov got out of it.
Jorge Masvidal hopes to have 'The Rock' hand him the BMF belt at UFC 244
Natasha Hooper - September 9, 2019
The weekend was action-packed. UFC 242 went down with some stellar performances, Khabib Nurmagomedov achieved his 28th consecutive victory, Paul Felder got revenge in his rematch against Edson Barboza and Islam Makhachev represented his Dagestani followers with a unanimous decision win. On top of this, the UFC announced that the ‘baddest motherf**kers in the game’ will be fighting later this year — Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. Brett Okamoto and Dana White announced that Diaz will be facing Masvidal at UFC 244 in November at Madison Square Garden, New York City.
Jon Jones explains why he was rooting for Dustin Poirier at UFC 242
Natasha Hooper - September 9, 2019
Jon Jones made an accurate prediction for the UFC 242 main event, but was rooting for Dustin Poirier in the run-up to Poirier’s lightweight championship opportunity against Khabib Nurmagomedov. The lightweight stars faced off at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi. The undefeated champion Nurmagomedov was a clear favourite. So, it was no big surprise when he sealed the victory and submitted Poirier in the third round.
Ryan Bader believes Cheick Kongo used the eye poke to get out of the fight
Cole Shelton - September 8, 2019
Ryan Bader was looking for the first title defense of his heavyweight belt when he took on Cheick Kongo in the main event of Bellator 226. Yet, he did not get to defend his title but did not lose it either. Instead, the fight was ruled a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke from Bader. Now, after the fight, ‘Darth’ believes Kongo used the eye poke as the reason to get out of the scrap.
Opening odds released for Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson
Adam Martin - September 8, 2019
The opening odds have been released for a potential title bout between UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and No. 1 contender Tony Ferguson. The UFC has not yet made this fight official, but it’s expected to take place next after Nurmagomedov vanquished Dustin Poirier at UFC 242. Regardless, the sportsbooks opted to get a head start on things and opened up the odds for the fight early.
UFC 242 Fighter Salaries: Estimates have Khabib Nurmagomedov leading the pack
Chris Taylor - September 8, 2019
The estimated fighter salaries stemming from yesterday’s UFC 242 pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi have been revealed. UFC 242 was headlined by a lightweight title unification bout featuring Khabib Nurmagomedov taking on Dustin Poirier.
VIDEO | Dagestan goes wild after Khabib Nurmagomedov win
Thomas Taylor - September 8, 2019
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is a massive, international star. Nowhere his superstardom more massive, however, than in his native Dagestan, Russia. When he fights — more aptly, when he wins — the entire region seems to erupt in celebration.
Dana White on Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. GSP fight: 'Sure'
Thomas Taylor - September 8, 2019
Khabib Nurmagomedov has been chasing a fight with Georges St-Pierre for some time. That hasn’t changed after Nurmagomedov successfully defended his belt with a submission defeat of Dustin Poirier at UFC 242. ”Georges St-Pierre is great guy, great champion, great athlete,” Nurmagomedov said at the UFC 242 post-fight press conference (via MMA Mania). “He’s very good example for young kids. If he want to come back, if he feel hungry, if he feel he can improve his legacy with fight with me … and he can make 155, I am waiting for him. And I think maybe he like new belt? If he likes, I can give him, just only for one photo. But then he has to give me back this belt. But if he wants to fight? Welcome.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov wants #1 spot on pound-for-pound list
Chris Taylor - September 8, 2019
Khabib Nurmagomedov improved his undefeated record to 28-0 last night in Abu Dhabi, submitting Dustin Poirier in the UFC 242 headliner. It was another dominant performance from ‘The Eagle’, who utilized his strong wrestling abilities to smother the now-former interim lightweight champion on route to the third round submission win.
Dustin Poirier will be 'haunted' by lingering questions from Khabib Nurmagomedov loss
Thomas Taylor - September 8, 2019
Despite his world-class talent and mountains of confidence, Dustin Poirier was not able to defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242. Though he had some success in the fight, he was ultimately submitted in the third round. Poirier is not done and could conceivably earn another UFC title shot in the future, but he says he’ll be haunted by lingering questions from his fight with Nurmagomedov.
VIDEO | Joe Rogan reacts to Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal
Adam D Martin - September 8, 2019
UFC analyst and podcast Joe Rogan reacted to the upcoming welterweight bout between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal, which is set for Nov. 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The bout will headline UFC 244, with a special ‘BMF title’ on the line. Check out what Rogan had to say about the matchup in this video clip below.
Curtis Blaydes wants Junior dos Santos next
Adam D Martin - September 8, 2019
UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes picked up a huge TKO win over Shamil Abdurakhimov at UFC 242, and now he wants a piece of Junior dos Santos. “Razor” spoke to reporters following the event, and called his shot for his next opponent when asked what’s next for him.
Brian Ortega believes he would have finished Khabib Nurmagomedov if put in the same spot at Dustin Poirier
Adam D Martin - September 8, 2019
UFC featherweight contender Brian Ortega believes he would have finished Khabib Nurmagomedov if he had been put in the same spot as Dustin Poirier. For the most part, Nurmagomedov controlled Poirier for the majority of the pair’s three rounds up until the finish. But there was a point in the fight that Poirier did have the neck of Nurmagomedov and even attempted a guillotine choke, though ultimately Nurmagomedov popped out. Ortega believes that would have been the end of the fight if he had been the one who was in the cage with the champ.
Mike Brown praises Dustin Poirier and Khabib Nurmagomedov following UFC 242
Adam D Martin - September 8, 2019
American Top Team coach Mike Brown praised his student Dustin Poirier as well as Khabib Nurmagomedov following the conclusion to UFC 242. Brown, a long-time featherweight in the UFC and WEC, is one of Poirier’s main coaches at ATT. After the fight was over, he took to social media to praise his pupil as well as his opponent Nurmagomedov, who finished Poirier in the third round by rear-naked choke.
PHOTO | See Cheick Kongo's eye after No Contest ending at Bellator 226
Adam D Martin - September 8, 2019
Cheick Kongo’s teammate Quinton “Rampage” Jackson posted a picture of his teammate’s injured eye following a disappointing conclusion to Bellator 226. Kongo’s fight against Ryan Bader ended with a No Contest in the first round after Bader was deemed to have accidentally poked his opponent in the eye, which led to the doctor stopping the fight. Some fans and media were critical of the end to the fight, believing it may have been a punch and not a poke that injured Kongo’s eye.
VIDEO | Rampage Jackson and Ryan Bader nearly brawl at Bellator 226
Adam D Martin - September 8, 2019
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Ryan Bader nearly got into a brawl following a disappointing end to Saturday night’s Bellator 226 event. With the Bellator heavyweight championship on the line, Bader and Cheick Kongo fought to a No Contest after Bader accidentally poked Kongo in the eye and the doctor stopped the fight when he couldn’t see. However, there was some controversy as many viewers and even the commentators believed it was a punch and not an eye poke that led to the damage in Kongo’s eye.
Pros react to Ryan Bader vs. Cheick Kongo at Bellator 226
Chris Taylor - September 7, 2019
Ryan Bader put his heavyweight title on the line against Cheick Kongo in the headliner of tonight’s Bellator 226 event in San Jose. Bader (27-5 MMA) had captured the promotions vacant heavyweight title this past January at Bellator 214, defeating MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko by first round knockout.