MMA News

Cole Shelton - June 28, 2019

Junior dos Santos is set to take on Francis Ngannou in the main event of UFC Minneapolis. The expectation is that the winner will fight for the heavyweight title next. According to American Top Team owner, Dan Lambert, this is a tough fight for dos Santos, but he says no one should count out the former heavyweight champion.

Tom Taylor - June 28, 2019

ONE Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee recently had her first taste of defeat. This unappetizing dish was served up at ONE: A New Era in Tokyo in March when, after a four frenetic rounds of action, she was stopped by a volley of fifth-round strikes from ONE Strawweight World Champion Xiong Jing Nan. Lee does not plan on having a second serving.

Tom Taylor - June 28, 2019

Junior dos Santos is going to have his hands full in the UFC Minneapolis main event, where he will take on arguably the hardest puncher in MMA history in Francis Ngannou. He knows full well how dangerous the task at hand is. “Ngannou is a really strong guy, has heavy hands,” dos Santos told MMA Fighting recently. “I think it’s no exaggeration to say he’s the most dangerous man in MMA today. A punch that connects, even if it only grazes, will knock you out. He’s a dangerous guy and I’m getting ready for that. I know his potential, the danger he offers in the fight, but that’s the type of challenge that excites me.

Tom Taylor - June 28, 2019

Earlier this month, in the main event of UFC Stockholm, Anthony Smith picked up arguably the biggest win of his MMA career, submitting three-time light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson. In the moments after this loss, Gustafsson announced his plan to retire from MMA — which is why Luke Rockhold didn’t find Smith’s win very impressive. Rockhold has previously been very critical of Smith’s ability, and saw nothing special in his defeat of Gustafsson, who had seemingly lost his will to fight.

Natasha Hooper - June 28, 2019

TJ Dillashaw is exploring a new business venture amid his United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) suspension. The former UFC bantamweight champion sent shockwaves through the MMA community after testing positive for EPO earlier this year. The 135-pound fighter was subsequently suspended for two years by USADA.

Christopher Taylor - June 27, 2019

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has offered to train Robert Whittaker for his title unification bout with Israel Adesanya. The news come shortly after ‘Bones’ complimented Whittaker in a recent interview calling him the ‘real deal’ and ‘a stand-up guy’, this while adding that he can’t wait to see Robert ‘stomp a mudhole’ in the face of Israel Adesanya.

Cole Shelton - June 27, 2019

According to former UFC bantamweight champion, Miesha Tate, the career of Ronda Rousey is more desirable than that of Amanda Nunes. When Amanda Nunes beat Cris Cyborg at UFC 232, to become the featherweight and first female champ-champ, the consensus was that she was the greatest female fighter of all-time. And, she even admitted that herself.

Cole Shelton - June 27, 2019

Daniel Cormier did not get the Brock Lesnar fight he so desired. Instead, the heavyweight champion will now rematch Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 241. Given “DC” already beat Miocic, he understands what he needs to do to win the fight again. But, the motivation is not the same for this fight, and the heavyweight champion admits that.

Tom Taylor - June 27, 2019

Justin Bieber was only messing around when he called for a fight with actor Tom Cruise in the UFC’s Octagon. Yet the pop star’s words have snowballed to the point that UFC President Dana White has actually made a concerted effort to set the fight up. “I should have known this was going to be the first question,” White, the guest speaker at at Hashtag Sports 2019, joked during a Q&A (via MMA Junkie). “Listen, if I can make that fight, I’d be all over that fight. It’d be the biggest pay-per-view in the history of pay-per-view.”

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 27, 2019

Joseph Benavidez already has a victory over Henry Cejudo and he feels lightning can strike twice. Benavidez and Cejudo shared the cage back in Dec. 2016. Cejudo was coming off a first-round TKO loss to Demetrious Johnson. In the first round against Benavidez, Cejudo was deducted a point for low blows. The bout went the distance and Benavidez was awarded the split decision victory. Since that bout, Cejudo has gone 5-0 and he is the UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion.

Tom Taylor - June 27, 2019

Fight fans love to debate about the greatest fighter of all time. But in the eyes of UFC President Dana White, there’s really no sense in debating it anymore. He believes reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has irrefutable claim to that title — which is especially impressive considering the troubles he’s had outside the cage. “This isn’t about a dominant, dominant champion. This is about the greatest of all time,” Dana White said in an interview with ESPN (transcript via MMA News). “We’re at a point now where, to keep saying, ‘Oh, he could possibly….’ He is. He’s it. Jon Jones is it. Nightmare outside of the Octagon, nightmare for opponents inside the Octagon. And when you look at what this guy has been able to do, the fact that we can sit here…I call him the greatest, you don’t disagree, and most other people wouldn’t, either, and the lifestyle that he’s lived outside the Octagon is pretty amazing. I mean, this guy is a freak of nature. He’s phenomenal. He’s the best ever.”

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 27, 2019

Thiago Santos doesn’t view Jon Jones as an unstoppable force. On July 6, Santos will challenge Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title. This will be Jones’ second title defense in his current reign. As for “Marreta,” it’ll be his first title opportunity under the UFC banner. Jones vs. Santos headlines UFC 239 inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 27, 2019

Luke Rockhold believes Jon Jones is doing all he can to avoid a heavyweight bout with Daniel Cormier. Jones is the reigning UFC light heavyweight title holder. He’ll put his gold on the line against Thiago Santos at UFC 239 on July 6. Rockhold will also be on the card and he’ll make his 205-pound debut against Jan Blachowicz. Rockhold has made it clear that he feels he can give “Bones” the toughest challenge.

Adam Martin - June 27, 2019

Although Georges St-Pierre officially announced his retirement from the UFC back in February, his long-time head trainer at Tristar gym still believes he could one day return to the Octagon. Speaking on his YouTube Channel, Zahabi admitted that the welterweight legend is still training in his hometown of Montreal, and that he thinks St-Pierre could make a return to the Octagon if the right offer materializes.

Tom Taylor - June 27, 2019

Colby Covington was widely expected to get the first crack at new UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, but after a series of twists and turns, he ultimately found himself booked for a crucial welterweight contender bout with the former champion Robbie Lawler instead. Surprisingly, Covington seems to be just fine with this matchup. He gave his take on how it all came to be on the latest episode of BJPenn.com Radio. 

Tom Taylor - June 27, 2019

Earlier this week, news surfaced that UFC President Dana White is working with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) to potentially overturn the lone loss on the record of Jon Jones: a 2009 disqualification against Matt Hamill. This controversial loss occurred when Jones unloaded a series of illegal, 12-6 elbows on Hamill, and White — along with UFC commentator Joe Rogan — feels like it should have been ruled a win for the future champ.

Natasha Hooper - June 27, 2019

Petr Yan will be taking some time off due to an elbow injury, according to his manager (via MMA Junkie). Petr Yan (13-1) has gained a lot of respect in the MMA world. Currently ranked number 4 in the bantamweight division, Yan is on a 5-0 winning streak since making his UFC debut. His intelligent footwork, great chin and technical striking ability makes him one of the most exciting upcoming UFC prospects.

Tom Taylor - June 27, 2019

If Junior dos Santos defeats Francis Ngannou at UFC Minneapolis this weekend, he hopes it’ll earn him a heavyweight title shot — though he doesn’t intend to wait for that opportunity. If he does re-capture heavyweight gold, dos Santos then plans to challenge one of the top boxing champions in the world — something he attempted to do during his first reign as UFC champion. “Back when I was the champion in 2012, I challenged Wladimir Klitschko, he was the champion at that time, and I said I would beat Wladimir Klitschko in a boxing match but of course I’m not a good promoter like Conor McGregor and he got the fight against [Floyd] Mayweather,” Junior dos Santos told MMA Fighting this week. “Klitschko actually replied to me, he said anytime, anywhere, something like that. But then I lost my belt, I lost the fight to Velasquez and I lost the belt so it didn’t make much sense anymore to promote that fight.