MMA News

Chris Taylor - June 8, 2019

A key lightweight bout featuring a former interim title holder Tony Ferguson squaring off with Donald Cerrone took place at tonight’s UFC 238 pay-per-view event. Ferguson was returning to action for the first time since October’s UFC 229 event in Las Vegas, where he defeated former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis via TKO.

Tom Taylor - June 8, 2019

The middle bout of the UFC 238 main card — and perhaps the most anticipated feature of the card overall — occurred in the lightweight division, where top contenders Tony Ferguson and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone met in a contest that had fans salivating from the moment it was announced. Tony Ferguson entered this matchup on an incredible, 11-fight win-streak. “El Cucuy” has long stood out as the top contender in the UFC lightweight division, but thanks to a long series of bad breaks, has yet to receive a shot at the undisputed title. He looked to change that in this fight.

Tom Taylor - June 8, 2019

In the first of two bantamweight bouts on the UFC 238 main card, New Jersey’s Jimmie Rivera looked to slow the meteoric rise of Russia’s Petr Yan. “No Mercy” Yan entered the fight with a 12-1 overall record, and a solid 4-0 mark in the UFC. In his last fight, he picked up the biggest win of his career, outpointing former flyweight title challenger John Dodson for an impressive decision triumph.

Tom Taylor - June 8, 2019

The UFC 238 main card was kicked off by a dynamite heavyweight tilt between Australian knockout puncher Tai Tuivasa and former World Series of Fighting champion Blagoy Ivanov. This bout marked Tuivasa’s opportunity to rebound from the first setback of his career, a TKO loss to Junior dos Santos, while the former WSOF champ Ivanov looked to build on the momentum of an impressive if slightly controversial defeat of Ben Rothwell.

Thomas Taylor - June 8, 2019

After a lengthy stint in the UFC, “Super” Sage Northcutt now calls ONE Championship home. Unfortunately for the American and his fans, his first bout in the ONE ring did not go as planned, as he was stopped in less than 30 seconds by the ferocious Cosmo Alexandre. Speaking recently to TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, UFC President Dana White reacted to Northcutt’s tough ONE debut. The UFC boss’s take? That Northcutt should retire from MMA.

Cole Shelton - June 8, 2019

Two weeks ago, the UFC made a surprising decision to release ranked middleweight Elias Theodorou and ranked heavyweight Justin Willis. Both fighters had success inside the Octagon but were coming off of lackluster losses. This week, UFC President, Dana White explained why the Las Vegas-based promotion decided to release the two fighters.

Adam Martin - June 7, 2019

UFC president Dana White has always sought to make MMA a global sport, and the opening of new Performance Institutes all across the world will certainly help achieve that goal. In an interview with hosts CM Punk and Dave Ross on Stadium, Dana White said he’s headed to China next week to open up a new PI there, but said that’s just the beginning.

Tom Taylor - June 7, 2019

At ONE: Masters of Destiny, which is scheduled for July 12 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, ONE Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee will return to action opposite Brazilian jiu jitsu specialist Michelle Nicolini. The bout will occur in the strawweight division. Interestingly, Lee and Nicolini have met once before, on the grappling circuit. Brazil’s Nicolini won that contest by submission.

Adam Martin - June 7, 2019

Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson is generally regarded as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in MMA history, but the criticism directed towards him during his run in the Octagon was that he wasn’t a draw for fans. Now a member of ONE Championship, Johnson was the most dominant flyweight and arguably the most dominant fighter in MMA period between 2012 and 2018. However, for whatever reason, Johnson just never appealed to fans as a box-office draw, with his pay-per-view numbers being lower than some other champions during his time in the UFC.

Tom Taylor - June 7, 2019

Tony Ferguson has had plenty to say about UFC President Dana White over the last few days — and none of it has been good. From the sounds of it, Ferguson’s growing disdain for White stems from the comments the UFC boss made after Ferguson was forced out of a 2018 fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Tom Taylor - June 7, 2019

For a little while, it sounded like WWE star Brock Lesnar might finally return to the UFC’s Octagon for a heavyweight title fight with Daniel Cormier this year. Unfortunately for Lesnar fans, this long-awaited fight ultimately fizzled out, as Lesnar recommitted to his pro wrestling career. Shortly after it became clear that Brock Lesnar would not be returning to the UFC, Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer reported that the former heavyweight champ’s negotiations with the UFC were hindered by the promotion’s new pay-per-view model.

Tom Taylor - June 7, 2019

The UFC returns to Chicago this weekend with the stacked UFC 238 card. The card will be topped by a pair of compelling title fights. In the main event, UFC flyweight champion Henry Cejudo will move up to the bantamweight division to battle streaking contender Marlon Moraes for the vacant title. In the co-main event, meanwhile, flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will attempt to defend her title opposite top contender Jessica Eye.

Natasha Hooper - June 7, 2019

“The Motown Phenom” Kevin Lee joined Joe Rogan on his podcast this week to discuss all things MMA. A notable topic of discussion was a potential fight between Lee and UFC legend, George St-Pierre.

Tom Taylor - June 7, 2019

Henry Cejudo put on quite a show at UFC 238 media day on Thursday (see it here). The flyweight champion arrived at the festivities wearing a crown and a cape, and when it came time for his pre-fight face-off with his opponent Marlon Moraes, clambered onto the stage with an armful of props. There was a Mickey Mouse toy, which Cejudo kicked into the crowd. There was a rubber snake, which the champ whipped at the ground. There was a plush rabbit, drawn from a top hat, which met a similar fate to its rodent cousin Mickey.

Tom Taylor - June 7, 2019

Speaking to ESPN recently, UFC President Dana White updated on the fighting future of former two-division champ and MMA mega star Conor McGregor. The UFC boss explained that McGregor’s massive financial success is allowing him to sit back wait for the right moment to return. He also assured that the UFC’s new pay-per-view model — PPVS are now available exclusively through ESPN — has nothing to do with the delay on McGregor’s return.

Thomas Taylor - June 6, 2019

Henry Cejudo continues to come out of his shell. The UFC flyweight champion, who will battle Marlon Moraes for the vacant bantamweight strap in the UFC 238 main event this Saturday, showed up to Thursday’s media day dressed in a crown and cape, with plenty of other props to boot.

Drake Riggs - June 6, 2019

Being the first to do something is always a special and memorable feat no matter the endeavor. There is an uncountable number of things that someone or something could be first at or first to do. As that’s the case when literally racing someone, it can turn everything else into metaphorical versions of it too. After a goal or objective is completed for the very first time, history more often than not will end up repeating itself at some point down the line. It just depends on how much. Perhaps it could even do so multiple times before the other beginnings can unfold in their own right.

Cole Shelton - June 6, 2019

At UFC 242, Khabib Nurmagomedov will look to defend his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi. The champion is already a big betting favorite. Although the odds are against Poirier, UFC welterweight Kevin Lee believes it is a much tougher fight for Nurmagomedov than many think. The reason for that thinking is simple. He suspects Poirier’s footwork will be too good for Khabib.