MMA News

Tom Taylor - August 21, 2019

Georges St-Pierre has often found himself in the crosshairs of Nick Diaz, which has led to an ongoing rivalry between the two welterweight legends. When it comes to Nick’s brother Nate Diaz, however, St-Pierre has plenty of nice things to say. Speaking on Chael Sonnen’s podcast after watching Nate Diaz defeat Anthony Pettis at UFC 241, St-Pierre offered some praise of the resurgent Stockton-based star.

Cole Shelton - August 21, 2019

Anthony Smith and Luke Rockhold have had a heated rivalry for quite some time. Ever since “Lionheart” moved up from the middleweight division and began having success at light heavyweight, the former middleweight champion Rockhold has been critical of him. Yet when Rockhold made his own debut at 205-pounds, he was knocked out in the second round by Jan Blachowicz. For Anthony Smith, this was good to see as it forced Rockhold eat his words. But, even after Rockhold’s failed light heavyweight debut, Smith isn’t done trash-talking his rival.

Tom Taylor - August 21, 2019

Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo recently expressed his interest in dropping down to the bantamweight division to challenge the reigning champion Henry Cejudo for his title. At first, UFC President Dana White seemed open to this idea.

Tom Taylor - August 21, 2019

At UFC 241, Paulo Costa picked up the biggest win of his career, defeating Yoel Romero by unanimous decision — but it didn’t come easy. Romero gave Costa everything he had, and according to Costa, the Cuban also relied on a few “dirty” tactics. “He’s a nice guy, but he’s dirty,” Costa said on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show (h/t MMA Junkie). “In the first round, when I make a hook in his face, he went down then got up very quickly. I say man I will knock him out in the first round because he feel my punch, my first punch, and I started hunting him in the Octagon. And when I close to knock him out, he point on something, anywhere, I don’t know. Like look there Paulo, and I lose concentration, because he point something, maybe his mouthpiece fall.

Tom Taylor - August 21, 2019

Until Saturday, Daniel Cormier was the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, according to the official UFC rankings. After losing to Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 241 on Saturday night, however, Cormier’s has plummeted six spots in those same rankings — despite picking up a first-round knockout over Miocic a little over a year go. UFC President Dana White thinks that’s “f**king insane,” and is very unhappy with the members of the MMA media who vote on the official UFC rankings.

Tom Taylor - August 21, 2019

After a stacked card like UFC 241, it should come as no surprise that there have been some big changes to the official UFC rankings. The most notable change in this latest iteration of the UFC rankings occured on the pound-for-pound list, where the former heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier took a major tumble after losing to Stipe Miocic in the card’s main event. Elsewhere in the new UFC rankings, main card winners Nate Diaz and Paulo Costa made big climbs in the welterweight and middleweight rankings respectively on the strength of their decision defeats of Anthony Pettis and Yoel Romero.

Tom Taylor - August 21, 2019

Over the last few months, UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo has hinted at bantamweight showdowns with stars like Jose Aldo, Frankie Edgar, Urijah Faber, Dominick Cruz and Cody Garbrandt. He has not, however, made any mention of plans to defend his UFC flyweight title. Perhaps he’s not that division’s savior after all. 

Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 21, 2019

Brendan Schaub feels fight fans are more inclined to root for Nate Diaz over Conor McGregor these days. Despite being away from the Octagon since Aug. 2016, Diaz’s popularity never waned. The Stockton native finally returned to action at UFC 241 to the roar of those in attendance inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Not only did Diaz defeat Anthony Pettis, but he also proved to be a “needle mover” as UFC 241 set a record for the highest live gate for an MMA event in the state of California with $3,237,032.

Adam Martin - August 21, 2019

A battle between two of the most skilled grapplers in the UFC welterweight division is set to headline the UFC’s return to Singapore this fall, when Ben Askren takes on Demian Maia. Askren vs. Maia will headline UFC Singapore, which takes place October 26 at Singapore Indoor Arena in Kallang, Singapore. UFC president Dana White confirmed the fight with reporters at a post-fight scrum following the Contender Series.

Natasha Hooper - August 21, 2019

Henry Cejudo raised eyebrows last week when he challenged women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko to an “inter-gender” bout. UFC welterweight contender Michael Chiesa is stepping it up a notch by calling for a Brock Lesnar vs Gabi Garcia matchup. Valentina Shevchenko successfully defended her flyweight title at UFC Uruguay when she went five rounds against Liz Carmouche. She beat Carmouche to a unanimous decision victory, avenging her loss from their first fight in 2010. After the fight, Cejudo took the limelight back by challenging Shevchenko to the first inter-gender fight.

Tom Taylor - August 21, 2019

Not long ago, former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo hinted at an imminent weight class change. Contrary to his previous comments, however, he’s not floating a move to lightweight. Instead, he wants to drop to bantamweight and challenge the reigning champion Henry Cejudo for gold in that division. “I sat down with everybody, did a study, and I think there’s a real possibility I can make 61kg [135 pounds],” Aldo told Brazilian website Combate (via MMAFighting). “This is the new division I want to move to, and I’m asking for the title shot right away. That’s what matters for me now. Cejudo said he’s open to (fighting) anyone, so I’m open to that. I want the opportunity to fight against him and beat him.”

Cole Shelton - August 20, 2019

Stipe Miocic is once again the heavyweight champion of the world. In the main event of UFC 241, the Cleveland native TKO’d Daniel Cormier to reclaim the title. However, after the first three rounds, it did not appear Stipe Miocic would win the fight. In fact, some pundits claim he was “dominated” by Cormier.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 20, 2019

Negotiations for fights are “super necessary,” and Jorge Masvidal claims talks are underway for a bout with Nate Diaz. If ring rust truly exists, Diaz is immune. He stepped inside the Octagon for the first time since Aug. 2016 in the co-main event of UFC 241. Diaz took on Anthony Pettis in a bout that went the distance. The Stockton native simply overwhelmed Pettis in the second and third rounds to take a unanimous decision victory.

Tom Taylor - August 20, 2019

Three years ago today, in the main event of the stacked UFC 202 card, Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz stepped into the cage for an anticipated rematch. Ireland’s McGregor sought to avenge a recent submission loss to Diaz and recapture some of the mystic he’d lost in defeat. Diaz, meanwhile, looked to prove his recent win over the dangerous Irish striker was not a fluke. After one of the most unforgettable five-round wars in UFC history, McGregor walked away with a majority decision win, leaving their series tied at 1-1.

Mike Heck - August 20, 2019

Ronda Rousey has competed in the Octagon, taken crazy bumps in a WWE ring, but she may have suffered her most gruesome injury yet last week while filming a television show in Mexico. According to a report from TMZ, the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion was filming for the “9-1-1” TV show, where she plays a Los Angeles fire fighter. She was shooting a scene where she supposed to slam a door.

Tom Taylor - August 20, 2019

Former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre was tuned in for UFC 241, and just like everyone else who watched, he was blown away by the main card war between middleweight contenders Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa. During an appearance on Chael Sonnen’s podcast, the former middleweight champion gave his take on this riveting battle.

Tom Taylor - August 20, 2019

Nobuyuki Sakakibara, the President of Japanese combat sports promotion RIZIN Fighting Federation, has no objections to promoting an unconventional fight here and there. Look no further than last year’s wild exhibition boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Tenshin Nasukawa for proof of that fact. From the sounds of it, the RIZIN boss is plotting another strange attraction for the promotion’s big New Years Eve show this year.

Adam Martin - August 20, 2019

UFC welterweight Mike Perry took to social media to challenge Ben Askren to a fight, with the winner donating $20,000 to a charity of the loser’s choosing. Here’s what Perry said to Askren on Twitter.