MMA News
Dustin Poirier updates on potential UFC 242 fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov
Tom Taylor - May 22, 2019
Josh Copeland pleads guilty to domestic violence, gets cut from PFL
Adam Martin - May 22, 2019
Heavyweight Josh Copeland is no longer part of the PFL roster. According to a report from TMZ, Copeland on Tuesday pleaded guilty in Colorado to felony second and third-degree assault in a domestic violence incident in which he allegedly struck his wife in the face during an argument. A previous TMZ report indicated police were called to the Copeland residence on February 2 when his wife told officers that her husband punched her in the face, leading to bruising and bleeding, which the officers noted. Copeland was arrested at the scene, and later posted bond.
Conor McGregor gives detailed account of UFC 229 brawl, calls for Khabib rematch
Thomas Taylor - May 21, 2019
Shortly after Conor McGregor was defeated by Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC 229, a wild brawl began between his and the Russian’s teams. Punches were thrown inside and outside of the Octagon, and this chaotic scene resulted in suspensions and fines for all parties involved.
Conor McGregor reveals lesson he learned from LeBron James
Tom Taylor - May 21, 2019
Former two-division UFC champ Conor McGregor has made more money than any other fighter in MMA history, and he’s never been shy about spending it. The Irishman lives extremely lavishly. Yet in an interview with Tony Robbins last month, which was only just released, McGregor divulged that he’s decided to change the way he spends his money. After reading a bit about NBA star LeBron James, he’s decided there are much more fruitful ways to invest his money and time. “For so long, in my mid to late twenties when I started to acquire wealth and acquire money, I was fascinated with materialistic things,” Conor McGregor began (transcript via Pundit Arena). “I would buy myself cars, watches. I have switched off of that.
Justin Gaethje calls for fight with Conor McGregor
Natasha Hooper - May 21, 2019
Justin Gaethje is one of the top contenders in the lightweight division and is currently ranked at No. 5 in the divisional rankings. Whilst many other major fighters in the division have confirmed bouts over the next few months, the next opponent for Gaethje remains to be seen. Gaethje partook in an interview with ESPN to share his thoughts on possible matchups. He believes he deserves to fight an opponent ranked above him and is open to a showdown with former two-division champion Conor McGregor.
Francis Ngannou, Junior dos Santos migrate to UFC Minneapolis card
Tom Taylor - May 21, 2019
The upcoming UFC Minneapolis card, scheduled for June 29, will now be topped by an Octagon-shaking heavyweight showdown between former title challenger Francis Ngannou and former champion Junior dos Santos. The card was originally expected to be headlined by a rematch between former welterweight champions Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley, but this plan was nixed when the former sustained a hand injury and was forced out of the matchup.
Manager says Conor McGregor could earn Khabib rematch with one win
Cole Shelton - May 21, 2019
All signs point to UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov taking on the interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier next. The fight is expected to take place at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi. Although that is the tentative plan, there is one person who can potentially change all that, and that is Conor McGregor. The Irishman fought Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 where he lost by fourth-round submission. But, according to Ali Abdelaziz, Nurmagomedov’s manager, if the former two-division champ were to get a win he could very well jump the line and get the next title shot.
Manager explains why Frankie Edgar got title shot before Alex Volkanovski
Tom Taylor - May 21, 2019
The next crack at UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway will go to Frankie Edgar, not Alex Volkanovski as many expected. The pair will meet at UFC 240 in July. Edgar has won just a single fight in the last two-years, while Volkanovski is on an massive tear, so this decision was not an overwhelmingly popular one.
Ray Borg has more bad luck, wrecks car in Albuquerque
Tom Taylor - May 21, 2019
It has not been an easy few years for UFC flyweight turned bantamweight Ray Borg. In fact, he’s had a terribly difficult run. The biggest struggles Borg has had to deal with have been the seemingly unending health problems of his young son. As if that weren’t enough to deal with, he’s also been forced to withdraw from fights, has had opponents do the same, and has endured controversial losses when he’s actually made it to the cage.
UFC San Antonio gets heavyweight rematch between Ben Rothwell and Andrei Arlovski
Drake Riggs - May 20, 2019
Last week, the UFC’s return to Texas, UFC San Antonio, had a whopping six whole fights announced. Well, there’s more where that came from. ESPN confirmed on Monday that the July 20 event will be getting a rematch of a fight from 11 years ago that took place in the short-lived promotion that was Affliction. It will be the former UFC heavyweight champion, “The Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (27-18) squaring off once again with Ben Rothwell (36-11).
UFC 240 | Max Holloway opens as solid betting favorite over Frankie Edgar
Drake Riggs - May 20, 2019
UFC 240 has its headliner and it will be a featherweight title match-up that we’ve anticipated on two prior occasions. Former UFC lightweight champion, Frankie “The Answer” Edgar will look to finally claim his second divisional title in what will be his third crack at featherweight gold (including interim) when he faces the champion in Max Holloway.
Report | FSAC won't allow BKFC to go full bare-knuckle for BKFC 6
Drake Riggs - May 20, 2019
The sport of bare-knuckle boxing (BKB) has been revitalized in 2019 thanks to the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). However, their next event, BKFC 6, might not get to live up to its name. According to Cageside Press’ Adam LeBarr, the Florida State Athletic Commission isn’t 100 percent on board with the idea of no glove boxing. BKFC 6 happens to be scheduled to take place in Tampa, Florida on June 22 after being relocated from the upper New England area.
Jessica Andrade discusses who she thinks will be her first challenger
Drake Riggs - May 20, 2019
At UFC 237, Jessica Andrade slammed her way into the MMA history books when she defeated Rose Namajunas by second-round TKO in her native country of Brazil. By doing so, Andrade has become only the second current Brazilian champion in the promotion behind the dual-division bantamweight and featherweight queen, Amanda Nunes. She is also now the fourth fighter to hold the UFC strawweight title.
Tyson Fury weighs in on Conor McGregor's recent troubles
Mike Pendleton - May 20, 2019
One fighting star has taken notice of another, although they compete in two different sports. During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on ESPN, boxing superstar Tyson Fury was asked about his thoughts on former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor and the “Gypsy King” had plenty of praise for “The Notorious”. Helwani asked Fury what his thoughts were on McGregor and included some of the recent trouble McGregor has found himself in, and Fury not only called McGregor a game-changer, but said it’s more about what lessons Conor McGregor learns from his mistakes.
Darren Till unsure which division he'll fight in next
Tom Taylor - May 20, 2019
It’s no secret that Darren Till endures a brutal cut down to the 171-pound welterweight limit. While he’s hit that mark on many occasions, he’s also missed weight several times. Given the difficulty Till has had cutting down to welterweight in the recent past, many fight fans have encouraged him to move up to the middleweight. Till has been fairly receptive of this idea, but he’s also seemed a bit reluctant to leave the welterweight division behind.
Paulie Malignaggi to Artem Lobov: After I knock you out I might 'piss in your toothless mouth'
Tom Taylor - May 20, 2019
On Monday afternoon, Paulie Malignaggi and Artem Lobov took the stage in New York to promote their upcoming bare knuckle grudge match, scheduled for June 22 in Tampa, Florida. This press conference streamed on FITE.tv. It should come as no surprise that the trash talk was immediate and ceaseless.
Tito Ortiz admits 'Dana was right' about Oscar De La Hoya promoting MMA
Tom Taylor - May 20, 2019
Last November, long-time boxing promoter Oscar De La Hoya promoted his first MMA event. The card, which was topped by a trilogy fight between aging UFC Hall of Famers Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, received plenty of backlash — most notably from UFC President Dana White. “The guy wants to act like he’s my competitor [promoting MMA],” White told Yahoo! Sports of De La Hoya’s MMA venture. “I have a real business that I’ve built over the last 18 years. A real business, and I can hit you with numbers for days about [how successful it is]. How much has Oscar De La Hoya reinvested into the sport of boxing? We’ve reinvested millions and millions of dollars and we continue to do it every day. The list goes on and on.
UFC to return to China in August
Adam Martin - May 20, 2019
The UFC is headed back to China. Officials announced on Monday that the promotion will hold UFC Fight Night 157 at Universiade Sports Centre in Shenzhen, China on August 31. The card will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
VIDEO | Sean O'Malley gets BJJ purple belt, celebrates in classic style
Tom Taylor - May 20, 2019
“Sugar” Sean O’Malley already has some of the slickest striking in the UFC bantamweight division, but his grappling skill is coming along nicely too. Earlier this month, the red hot bantamweight prospect was awarded his Brazilian jiu jitsu purple belt after years of grinding away on the mats. O’Malley’s belt promotion was documented in a video posted to his official YouTube channel. The video concludes with the undefeated bantamweight, a known lover of the devil’s lettuce, celebrating in just the way you’d expect — with a joint in his hand and his purple belt wrapped around his head like Rambo.