MMA News

Jordy McElroy - June 26, 2019

The spontaneity of the explosive rivalry between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz sprung to life over three years ago and created pay-per-view gold. There’s still a trilogy left to be mined out of the bowels of the UFC’s matchmaking grotto, but the attempt to do so now could result in a watered-down version of the original blockbuster—a quick cash-grab pairing of two marquee names. If there is no organic route to a rubber match, then perhaps it’s time McGregor and Diaz go their separate ways.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 26, 2019

Ben Askren has given his take on Artem Lobov’s victory over Paulie Malignaggi. Lobov vs. Malignaggi served as the main event of BKFC 6 inside the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa on June 22. Malignaggi was the slight favorite going into the bout, but he dropped a unanimous decision after five rounds of bare-knuckle boxing action. Many were surprised that Lobov scored the win given Malignaggi’s boxing experience.

Tom Taylor - June 26, 2019

UFC Copenhagen, which is scheduled September 28, finally has its first fight — days after tickets went on sale. This fight, which was recently announced by the promotion on Twitter, will occur in the welterweight division, where long-time Icelandic contender Gunnar Nelson will battle a former title challenger in Brazil’s Thiago Alves.

Tom Taylor - June 26, 2019

UFC lightweight Desmond Green is in custody in the Broward County Jail in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on bonds amounting to $194,000, per a report from the South Florida SunSentinel. Green is reportedly facing 20 charges, including a DUI charge, stemming from an August, 2018 car accident that killed two women: Emelina Morfa, 67, and Emma Suarez Hernandez, 76. The crash also left Green and one other person with injuries. The SunSentinal’s report details this Desmond Green incident as follows:

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 26, 2019

UFC color commentator and analyst Dan Hardy doesn’t believe anyone in the UFC can beat Jon Jones by being technical. Throughout his career, Jones has outclassed high-level mixed martial artists. From former champions to legends in the sport, “Bones” has made many renowned fighters look average. He’ll look to continue that trend when he puts his light heavyweight gold on the line against Thiago Santos at UFC 239 on July 6.

Tom Taylor - June 26, 2019

At UFC 240, scheduled for July 27 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway will attempt to defend his title against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. The card will also feature an interesting featherweight fight between former champion Cris Cyborg and rising Canadian contender Felicia Spencer. On Tuesday afternoon, the promotion dropped the official poster for the UFC 240 card, featuring the scarred mugs of all four aforementioned fighters, shrouded in some kind of green mist.

Mike Heck - June 26, 2019

If there’s anyone who knows what Sean O’Malley has been going through as of late, it’s the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Jones was one of the big stories throughout 2018 for his active schedule, but also for the traces of the long-term oral Turinabol metabolite remaining in his system. “Bones” was not suspended for the positive test that occurred at the end of 2018, but it is a question that will continue to be asked in regards to Jones for the foreseeable future.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 26, 2019

Amanda Nunes expects Holly Holm to be at her best, but she feels prepared for her next challenger. Nunes is a UFC “champ-champ.” She holds the UFC women’s bantamweight and women’s featherweight gold. She’ll put her 135-pound title on the line against Holm in the co-main event of UFC 239 on July 6. It’ll be Nunes’ fourth bantamweight title defense.

Cole Shelton - June 26, 2019

Alonzo Menifield did not want to be on the UFC Minneapolis card on Saturday. He was hoping to fight sooner. The light heavyweight last fought back in January, when he knocked out Vinicius Moreira at UFC Brooklyn. Since then, he has been wanting to fight, but this was the first offer that came. Now, the 31-year-old is looking to go 2-0 in the UFC and he believes he knows exactly how it will happen.

Mike Heck - June 26, 2019

When you look at the UFC Minneapolis headliner between Francis Ngannou and Junior dos Santos on paper, most would agree that the meat and potatoes of the bout will take place on the feet. However, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu credentials of dos Santos have been called into question by his opponent this weekend. While speaking to the media in a scrum earlier this month, Ngannou had some things to say about the validity of dos Santos’ black belt in BJJ.

Tom Taylor - June 26, 2019

Bellator MMA star Dillon Danis has made repeated calls for a fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Be it on the grappling mats or in the cage, the BJJ specialist is adamant that he has what it takes to submit the MMA legend. “I offered to do a grappling match with him,” Danis said of Jones on a recent episode of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show. “If we fought in MMA, I feel like, from his stance and how tall he is, if I did an Imanari roll I would take his leg home with me.

Tom Taylor - June 26, 2019

The recently announced UFC Newark card, which will broadcast on ESPN on August 3, is looking like a good one. As we now know, the card will be headlined by a welterweight showdown between former champion Robbie Lawler and former interim champion Colby Covington.

Tom Taylor - June 26, 2019

After a six-month suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), UFC bantamweight prospect Sean O’Malley was scheduled to return to the cage opposite Marlon Vera at UFC 239. Regrettably, O’Malley once again tested positive for the banned substance ostarine, the same banned substance he was previously sanctioned for, nixing his planned return. UFC commentator Joe Rogan believes these issues likely have a pretty straightforward cause. Rogan discussed the issue on a recent edition of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

Natasha Hooper - June 26, 2019

Ben Askren discusses why he believes Jorge Masvidal was not at two UFC 239 press events and addresses some ‘sick and disturbing’ comments ‘Gamebred’ made about his family bloodline. Askren had no problem firing back at Masvidal, who he will be fighting at UFC 239, especially for the recent comments he made regarding his family.

Christopher Taylor - June 25, 2019

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will return to the octagon at next month’s UFC 239 event where he will attempt to defend his title against dangerous knockout artist Thiago Santos. Despite constant talk of a trilogy bout with bitter rival Daniel Cormier, it appears that ‘Bones’ is not distracted at the dangerous task that lies ahead of him on July 6.

Cole Shelton - June 25, 2019

Diego Sanchez has been fighting in the UFC since 2005 where he won The Ultimate Fighter 1 at middleweight. Since then, the 37-year-old has beaten the likes of Kenny Florian, Joe Riggs, Clay Guida, and Nick Diaz among others. But, the veteran of the sport says he is not close to being done fighting. Rather, he is riding a two-fight winning streak and will have a step up in competition when he takes on Michael Chiesa at UFC 239. It has been a resurgence, to say the least, and the veteran isn’t worried about his age at all.

Adam Martin - June 25, 2019

Count Ben Askren among the parties interested in a potential celebrity showdown between Justin Bieber and Tom Cruise. Speaking to TMZ, Askren agreed Bieber vs. Cruise would be a big fight for the UFC. And if the fight does come to fruition, Askren has already made his pick.

Adam Martin - June 25, 2019

There will be no hiccups this time around in regards to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones securing a fight license for his UFC 239 matchup against Thiago Santos. According to a report from ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Jones will officially be licensed on Wednesday by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The commission’s executive director himself Bob Bennett confirmed the news to ESPN.