MMA News
Yoshihiro Akiyama to make ONE Championship debut at ONE: Legendary Quest
Tom Taylor - May 20, 2019
Yoshihiro Akiyama, one of several high profile free agents recently singed by ONE Championship, will make his debut with the Singapore-based promotion at ONE: Legendary Quest in Shanghai, China on June 15. The former UFC star will make his debut against former ONE welterweight title challenger Agilan Thani. Akiyama’s presence on the card was first reported by BJPenn.com’s Tom Taylor in April and subsequently confirmed by the promotion.
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.
Alex Volkanovski arrives home after lengthy stay in Chilean hospital
Tom Taylor - May 20, 2019
Alex Volkanovski spent the last week in a Chilean hospital after a blood infection took hold on his trip home from Brazil to Australia. The good news is that the top featherweight contender has finally made it home. He updated on his health in a video posted to his official Instagram account over the weekend.
Megan Anderson issues statement following submission loss to Felicia Spencer at UFC Rochester
Chris Taylor - May 19, 2019
Former Invicta featherweight champions Megan Anderson and Felicia Spencer squared off on the main card of Saturday’s UFC event in Rochester, New York. The fight served as Spencer’s promotional debut and marked Anderson’s third octagon appearance.
Khabib Nurmagomedov coach ranks most dangerous opponents for lightweight champ
Thomas Taylor - May 19, 2019
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov looks more and more like an unbeatable fighter every time he steps into the cage. The Dagestani champion is 27-0 overall — the mark of a puzzle that has not yet been solved. While it’s getting more and more difficult to imagine anybody beating Nurmagomedov, his head coach Javier Mendez believes there are fighters out there with the skills to test the champ — four lightweight fighters in particular.
Israel Adesanya, Dustin Poirier get warm welcomes in hometowns
Thomas Taylor - May 19, 2019
Dustin Poirier and Israel Adesanya both captured interim titles at UFC 236, defeating Max Holloway and Kelvin Gastelum respectively. Now proud owners of some flashy new UFC belts, the UFC 236 winners Poirier and Adesanya both recently returned to home to hero’s welcomes. The UFC documented Israel Adesanya and Dustin Poirier’s homecomings on Instagram.
Urijah Faber encourages fans to support Sage Northcutt after KO loss
Thomas Taylor - May 19, 2019
On Friday, on the main card of the stacked ONE: Enter the Dragon card in Singapore, former UFC talent Sage Northcutt made his ONE Championship debut opposite dangerous kickboxing export Cosmo Alexandre. Unfortunately for Northcutt and his legions of fans, this ONE debut went disastrously, as we was knocked out in less than 30 seconds. After this tough knockout loss, Northcutt was carted to a Singapore, where he underwent a nine-hour surgery to repair several facial injuries.
Jorge Masvidal, Anthony Pettis set to collide in grappling match
Tom Taylor - May 19, 2019
Jorge Masvidal and Anthony Pettis both have huge fights on the horizon. Masvidal will take on Ben Askren at UFC 239 on July 6, while Pettis is set to meet Nate Diaz at UFC 241 on August 17. Long before these two welterweight contenders return to the Octagon, however, they’ll meet each other on the grappling mats. This bout will be promoted by DT Promotions, and will go down inside the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Florida on June 15.
UFC Rochester bonuses revealed
Cole Shelton - May 19, 2019
On Saturday night, UFC Rochester captured the attention of fight fans all over the world. The main event of this ESPN+ card saw “The Motown Phenom” Kevin Lee make his welterweight debut, taking on former lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos. But, the fight that stole the show was the main event of the prelims, which saw Aspen Ladd defeat Sijara Eubanks by decision in a thrilling war.
What's next for Rafael dos Anjos, Kevin Lee after UFC Rochester?
Cole Shelton - May 19, 2019
Last night, the UFC returned to our screens with the UFC Rochester card. In the main event, Kevin Lee moved up to welterweight to take on Rafael dos Anjos. “The Motown Phenom” had some success early on but in the fourth round, RDA took over and submitted Lee to get back into the win column.
Former champ Rashad Evans to join UFC Hall of Fame
Tom Taylor - May 19, 2019
The UFC Hall of Fame continues to grow. During the UFC Rochester broadcast on Saturday, it was announced that former UFC light heavyweight champion and Ultimate Fighter season two winner Rashad Evans will be inducted into Hall of Fame’s Modern Era wing on July 5. “Rashad and I have been close since Season 2 of ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ and we’ve had an amazing relationship,” UFC president Dana White said of Evans. “It has been fun to see him succeed and grow as a fighter, become a world champion and then a respected coach for up-and-coming fighters, and then to see him retire last year. I love to see him still involved with UFC. I couldn’t be prouder of Rashad than I am right now with him being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.”
Kevin Lee issues statement after submission loss to Rafael dos Anjos
Tom Taylor - May 19, 2019
When Kevin Lee moved up to the welterweight division to fight Rafael dos Anjos in the main event of UFC Rochester, his hope was to separate himself from a tough lightweight loss to Al Iaquinta and simultaneously assert himself as a top welterweight contender. Unfortunately, his mission did not go as planned, as he was submitted by dos Anjos in the fourth round of the UFC Rochester main event.
Rafael dos Anjos was 'under a lot of pressure' before Kevin Lee victory
Tom Taylor - May 19, 2019
On Saturday night, in the main event of UFC Rochester, former UFC lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos corrected a two-fight losing streak, submitting Kevin Lee in a welterweight contender bout. Dos Anjos has never lost more than two fights in a row, so the pressure was high heading into this fight. To say he’s relieved to have returned to winning ways would be a bit of an understatement.
Pros react to Rafael dos Anjos stopping Kevin Lee at UFC Rochester
Chris Taylor - May 18, 2019
A welterweight bout between former lightweight fighters Rafael dos Anjos and Kevin Lee headlined tonight’s UFC Rochester event. The former UFC lightweight champion, Dos Anjos, entered tonight’s contest looking to rebound, this after dropping back-to-back decision losses to Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman in his most recent octagon appearances.
UFC Rochester Results: Rafael dos Anjos submits Kevin Lee (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - May 18, 2019
A welterweight bout featuring former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos taking on Kevin Lee headlined tonight’s UFC Rochester event. Rafael dos Anjos will enter tonight’s contest looking to rebound, this after suffering back-to-back decision losses to Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington in his most recent octagon appearances.
UFC Rochester Results: Ian Heinisch defeats Antonio Carlos Junior
Chris Taylor - May 18, 2019
A middleweight bout between Antonio Carlos Junior and Ian Heinisch served as the co-headliner of tonight’s UFC Rochester event. Antonio Carlos Junior (10-2 MMA) enters tonight’s contest on a five-fight winning streak, his latest being a submission victory over Tim Boetsch. The Brazilian black belt has scored four submission wins over his past five octagon appearances.
UFC Rochester Results: Felicia Spencer submits Megan Anderson in Round 1 (VIDEO)
Chris Taylor - May 18, 2019
A key women’s featherweight bout between former Invicta FC champions Megan Anderson and Felicia Spencer took place on the main card of tonight’s UFC Rochester event. Megan Anderson (9-3 MMA) for the first time since December’s UFC 232 event in Los Angeles, where she scored a bizarre TKO victory over Cat Zingano.