MMA News
Breaking | 'The Korean Zombie' and Brian Ortega targeted to throw down in Mexico
Tom Taylor - July 15, 2019
The UFC is headed back to Mexico City on September 21, and the promotion will reportedly be bringing along some awesome featherweight action, as former title challengers Brian Ortega and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung are being targeted to throw down on the card. This exciting plan was first reported by BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor.
Bellator announces opening round of Featherweight World Grand Prix
Mike Pendleton - July 15, 2019
The Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix tournament is about to get underway this Fall, and President Scott Coker just announced the opening round matchups in the tournament. Speaking to Ariel Helwani of ESPN, Coker announced all eight fights with the 16 featherweight tournament participants which will be split up between two events in September. Breaking: @ScottCoker just announced the first-round matchups for @BellatorMMA's 16-man featherweight grand prix (via @arielhelwani) pic.twitter.com/lOXPbYnzzI
Artem Lobov campaigns for fight with Amir Khan
Tom Taylor - July 15, 2019
Fresh off a bare-knuckle win over former boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi, UFC veteran Artem Lobov is now setting his sights on another star pugilist: Amir Khan. Lobov as expressed interest in this matchup previously, and is once again campaigning for it after his long-time coach John Kavanagh broached the possibility in a recent interview.
Alexey Oleynik says UFC San Antonio fight could be his last
Cole Shelton - July 15, 2019
Alexey Oleynik is in for a tough fight. At UFC San Antonio, the Russian is set to take on Walt Harris in the co-main event. The 42-year-old is looking to get back into the win column after losing to Alistair Overeem back in April. Although he lost the fight, Oleynik says he was happy with his performance as he showed off his skills and at one point had his opponent hurt.
Johnny Walker shares plans for two-division title reign
Tom Taylor - July 15, 2019
Johnny Walker is closing in on a title fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, but he believes he’s got a bit more work to do before Jones gives him the opportunity. “I still haven’t done much (in the UFC),” Walker told MMA Fighting recently. “But there aren’t many guys who would give me a big challenge. I don’t have to beat a top 5. People talk too much crap, man. People say I don’t have jiu-jitsu, I don’t have wrestling. They say I have to fight a wrestler. The last wrestler I fought lasted five seconds. I’m ready for him and I know I’d be a big challenge. I think he’s afraid to lose to an unknown guy.”
Aljamain Sterling reacts to Urijah Faber title chatter: 'Stop the bullsh*t'
Mike Heck - July 15, 2019
Aljamain Sterling was impressed with Urijah Faber’s quick finish over Ricky Simon at UFC Sacramento on Saturday night, but that doesn’t mean he’s open to letting “The California Kid” take the spot at the top of the bantamweight division he’s worked hard to secure. “Funk Master” solidified his spot as the top contender at 135-pounds with a unanimous decision win over Pedro Munhoz last month at UFC 238 in Chicago. On Monday morning, Sterling decided to let the social media world know his thoughts about the chatter of Faber getting the next shot at Henry Cejudo following Saturday night’s event.
Eddie Alvarez re-enters ONE Championship's lightweight grand prix
Tom Taylor - July 15, 2019
Former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez is back in the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix. After being eliminated from the tournament by Timofey Nastyukhin in March, Alvarez has re-entered the field as Nastyukhin has been forced to withdraw from the semifinals with an injury.
Cody Garbrandt on TJ DIllashaw's EPO use: 'I knew TJ was on that'
Tom Taylor - July 15, 2019
Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt is maintaining that he knew his arch rival TJ Dillashaw was using banned substances. The surprise, Garbrandt says, was not that Dillashaw tested positive, but that it took so long for him to get caught. Garbrandt believes that Dillashaw was able to evade detection because the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) doesn’t adequately test for EPO, the substance he was using.
Daniel Cormier and former NFL player go back and forth on Twitter over Megan Rapinoe clip
Natasha Hooper - July 15, 2019
Daniel Cormier is not seeing eye-to-eye with former NFL player Jerome Felton. The pair went back and forth on Twitter regarding a viral clip of soccer player Megan Rapinoe interacting with a fan. The video shared on ABC’s Twitter has garnered over 30 million views. The clip shows the female soccer star Rapinoe signing a football and rudely giving it back without looking or acknowledging the child holding it.
Urijah Faber discusses matchup with 'little cheat' TJ Dillashaw
Tom Taylor - July 15, 2019
Over the weekend, in the co-main event of UFC Sacramento, former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber made a triumphant return to the cage, stopping Ricky Simon in the first round of a bantamweight fight. Having defeated Simon, Faber is once again back in the bantamweight title conversation. He could even be the next man in line for the reigning champion Henry Cejudo. When Faber first began teasing his return to action, however, he was interested in a fight with his former student TJ Dillashaw.
Urijah Faber and Henry Cejudo continue to trade barbs on social media
Christopher Taylor - July 14, 2019
Urijah Faber called our current UFC ‘champ champ’ Henry Cejudo following his sensational victory at last night’s event in Sacramento. The former WEC champion, Faber, needed only 40-seconds to put away surging up and comer Ricky Simon in yesterday’s co-main event.
UFC Sacramento Promotional Compliance Payouts: Event headliners total $9,000
Christopher Taylor - July 14, 2019
Last night’s UFC Sacramento event was headlined by a women’s bantamweight bout featuring Aspen Ladd taking on former featherweight champ Germaine de Randamie. The main event lasted mere seconds, this after Germaine de Randamie connected with a straight right moments into the opening round which sent Aspen Ladd crashing to the octagon canvas. Referee Herb Dean immediately stepped in to call a stop to the action, a decision that was heavily scrutinized by both fans and analysts.
Cody Garbrandt targeting November return to the Octagon
Adam D Martin - July 14, 2019
Although former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt was unable to compete at UFC Fight Night 155 in Sacramento, he attended the event as a guest fighter and spoke to the media to give an update on his health. Speaking to reporters backstage, Garbrandt said he hopes to return to the Octagon before the end of the year. The Team Alpha Male product has not competed since getting knocked out by Pedro Munhoz at UFC 235 in March. It was his third straight loss inside the Octagon, all by knockout.
Watch Michael Bisping and Co. react to Urijah Faber’s win at UFC Sacramento
Adam D Martin - July 14, 2019
Though no longer an active fighter, Michael Bisping is still a big part of the sport as he serves as an analyst for the UFC on ESPN color commentary team. On Saturday night, Urijah Faber shocked the MMA world with a devastating first-round knockout win over Ricky Simon. Check out how Bisping and colleague Brendan Fitzgerald reacted to the knockout in the following clip.
Urijah Faber believes chances of Henry Cejudo title fight are 'very good'
Adam D Martin - July 14, 2019
Urijah Faber was just moments removed from a knockout win over Ricky Simon in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 155 when he took the microphone to call out UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo. Afterwards, the Sacramento native spoke to ESPN and continued making his case for getting the next fight against the champ. Speaking to Karyn Bryant and Tyron Woodley of ESPN, Faber said that he believes he will be next in line to fight UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo, and he thinks the fight between these two rivals presents an interesting stylistic matchup for the fans.
Pros react to Josh Emmett's TKO win over Mirsad Bektic
Adam D Martin - July 14, 2019
One of the best performances at UFC Sacramento came courtesy of Josh Emmett, who viciously knocked out Mirsad Bektic in the first round to win via TKO. It was a tremendous performance by the Team Alpha Male product, who sent the hometown crowd into a frenzy with the finish. The victory was Emmett’s second straight win by knockout, and it should put him in title contention at 145lbs.
Aspen Ladd issues statement following first career loss at UFC Sacramento
Adam D Martin - July 14, 2019
Women’s bantamweight Aspen Ladd took to social media to release a statement following an early TKO loss to Germaine de Randamie at UFC Sacramento. De Randamie stopped Ladd just 16 seconds into the first round in one of many upsets at UFC Sacramento. However, the stoppage was considered controversial by many as it seemed referee Herb Dean stopped the bout earlier than he should have.
Henry Cejudo calls out 'corn-rolled princess' Urijah Faber for a potential fight
Natasha Hooper - July 14, 2019
Reigning two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo took to Twitter late yesterday evening where he sent a bold message to ‘The California Kid’ Urijah Faber. Faber showed fans he’s still got what it takes after beating Ricky Simon during the first round of last night’s UFC Fight Night event in Sacramento. ‘The California Kid’ secured a victory on his home turf in a sensational 46 seconds via knock out.