MMA News
Odds: Daniel Cormier favored over Stipe Miocic in proposed rematch
Tom Taylor - May 1, 2019
On Tuesday night, ESPN reported that UFC heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier’s long-discussed showdown with WWE star Brock Lesnar is likely off the table for good. With this matchup nixed, Cormier is now expected to defend his title against the man he won it from in July 2018: Stipe Miocic. The fight is reportedly nearing finalization for UFC 241 on August 17 in Anaheim, California.
Lethwei returns to UFC Fight Pass with WLC: Karen Spirit
Tom Taylor - May 1, 2019
The coming weekend is packed to the edges with high-level combat sports action, as ONE Championship and the UFC both have events scheduled, and Canelo Alvarez is set to take on Daniel Jacobs in the boxing ring. Yet that isn’t where the fun ends. On Saturday night (Sunday morning in North America), World Lethwei Championship (WLC) will return to UFC Fight Pass with one of its best events yet.
VIDEO | Paulie Malignaggi finds Conor McGregor mural, disrespect ensues
Tom Taylor - May 1, 2019
Paulie Malignaggi and Conor McGregor share one of the most high-profile beefs in combat sports. Given the animosity between the retired boxer and the former two-division UFC champion, it should come as no surprise that Malignaggi had an interesting reaction when he encountered a McGregor-inspired mural out in the world.
Curtis Blaydes sends message to Brock Lesnar: 'F**k you'
Tom Taylor - May 1, 2019
Last night, reports surfaced suggesting that a long-discussed heavyweight title fight between reigning champ Daniel Cormier and WWE star Brock Lesnar is off the table. The reason, these reports stated, is that the pro wrestling export Lesnar has decided he’s done with mixed martial arts. Heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes isn’t happy to hear this. There hasn’t been a heavyweight title fight since November of 2018, when Cormier defended his title in a short-notice showdown with Derrick Lewis. Granted, that’s partly due to Cormier’s lingering injuries, but it’s also due the uncertainty surrounding this potential Lesnar vs. Cormier fight. Therein lies the issue for Curtis Blaydes.
Carla Esparza targeting rematch with Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Tom Taylor - May 1, 2019
Carla Esparza got the job done at UFC Fort Lauderdale over the weekend, defeating former Invicta champ Virna Jandiroba by unanimous decision. For the former UFC strawweight champ, the pressure was on heading into this fight, as another loss would have equated to a three-fight skid.
Claudia Gadelha vs Randa Markos in the works for UFC 239
Drake Riggs - April 30, 2019
Every year the UFC stacks up their big International Fight Week event with the biggest and best fights possible. This year that event is UFC 239 and the stacking got going early and often. Well, it continues on as ESPN’s Brett Okamoto confirmed that a big strawweight match-up between perennial top 15 contenders in Claudia Gadelha (16-4) and Randa Markos (9-6-1) is now officially in the works for the July 6 date.
Coach says Greg Hardy victim in alleged domestic violence incident 'would be dead' if there was 'malice'
Drake Riggs - April 30, 2019
UFC heavyweight prospect Greg Hardy has been a controversial figure dating all the way back to his days in the NFL as a defensive end. That hasn’t changed now that he’s in the world of MMA. A naturally heavy hitter from playing American football, that has transitioned over nicely for the 30-year-old as he has finished all seven of his career wins by knockout/TKO (four as a pro, three as an amateur).
Leslie Smith breaks down differences between UFC and Bellator
Drake Riggs - April 30, 2019
As UFC bantamweight contender Leslie Smith was working her way up the rankings ladder in 2016-2017 with three consecutive wins in the division, she was also making her presence felt in more ways than just within the Octagon. Having always been a strong advocate for fighter’s rights, Smith would launch Project Spearhead in early 2018 in an effort to create a fighter’s union for UFC athletes.
BREAKING | Daniel Cormier vs Stipe Miocic 2 being finalized for UFC 241
Drake Riggs - April 30, 2019
UFC Ottawa | Al Iaquinta says he almost fought ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone eight years ago
Cole Shelton - April 30, 2019
Al Iaquinta will take on Donald Cerrone in the main event of UFC Ottawa this weekend. Although it is a fresh matchup, ‘Cowboy’ and ‘Raging Al’ nearly collided eight years ago. Back in 2011, at UFC 131, Iaquinta almost stepped in on short notice to take on Cerrone.
Brock Lesnar not returning to MMA, says Dana White
Drake Riggs - April 30, 2019
Since UFC 226 concluded in July 2018, we all thought that a Brock Lesnar MMA return was inevitable. Well, it seems that plans have changed. According to UFC President Dana White, the WWE star and former UFC heavyweight champion is “done, he’s retired,” White told ESPN. “We’re going to move in another direction with [Daniel] Cormier.”
Rory MacDonald vs Neiman Gracie official for Bellator 222
Drake Riggs - April 30, 2019
Bellator 220 took place this past weekend and the main event saw the welterweight title be fought over between champion, Rory MacDonald (20-5-1) and challenger, Jon Fitch to decide who would advance to the welterweight Grand Prix semifinal round. Awaiting the winner was undefeated BJJ ace, Neiman Gracie (9-0). However, there wasn’t a winner as the two men fought to a majority draw. Due to the fact that MacDonald was the champion and he didn’t lose, he would, of course, remain champion thus making it so that he advances forward in the tournament.
UFC Fort Lauderdale fighter payouts: Greg Hardy outearns Jack Hermansson
Drake Riggs - April 30, 2019
The UFC returned to the state of Florida this past weekend with UFC Fort Lauderdale. In the main event of the evening, we saw the return of Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza as he took on surging short notice opponent, Sweden’s “Joker,” Jack Hermansson.
VIDEO | Watch the trailer for the first comedy special from UFC vet Brendan Schaub
Tom Taylor - April 30, 2019
Former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub has a stand-up comedy special on the way, and on Tuesday afternoon, he dropped the trailer for this Showtime-backed project. See it below:
Dana White meets with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn
Tom Taylor - April 30, 2019
UFC President Dana White has recently laid out plans to venture into the boxing business, and on Monday, he gave us reason to believe these plans could actually be taking shape. On his official Twitter account, the UFC boss shared a photo of himself and English boxing promoter Eddie Hearn meeting at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas.
UFC Ottawa official fight card and start time
Tom Taylor - April 30, 2019
On Saturday night, the UFC will return to our screens with its second offering from the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Canada. Featuring a key lightweight contender bout, and some of Canada’s top MMA talent, this UFC Ottawa card looks like it could be a solid night of fights. The card will be topped by a lightweight showdown between ranked contenders Al Iaquinta and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Iaquinta will look to build on the momentum of a recent defeat of Kevin Lee, while Cowboy, who also fought on the UFC’s first show in Ottawa, will look to make it two in a row after stopping Alex Hernandez in January.
Ben Askren explains what he'd do differently if he was an MMA promoter
Tom Taylor - April 30, 2019
As the former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight king, and one of the top contenders in the UFC welterweight division, Ben Askren has already accomplished some incredible things as a fighter. But what could he accomplish if he worked on the other side of the hurt business, as a promoter? He gave us a sense of how he’d handle that role on a recent episode of MMA Junkie Radio. Unsurprisingly, he says he’d work hard to treat the fighters better.
Greg Hardy sets sights on Stipe Miocic, Derrick Lewis, after first UFC victory
Tom Taylor - April 30, 2019
Over the weekend, disgraced former NFL player Greg Hardy picked up his first UFC victory, thumping the completely passive Dmitrii Smoliakov to a first-round TKO. With this first UFC win in the books, Hardy is already setting his sights on some of the UFC heavyweight division’s premier players, such as former champ Stipe Miocic and former title challenger Derrick Lewis.
Champion vs champion rematch in the works between Ayaka Hamasaki and Jinh Yu Frey for RIZIN 16
Drake Riggs - April 29, 2019
In MMA’s lightest division, the spotlight isn’t too bright in North America, but the fighters are still lighting things up. Leading the way for them in the West is the Invicta FC atomweight champion, Jinh Yu Frey (8-3). After six fights in the promotion, the seventh was her crowning moment when she defeated Minna Grusander via unanimous decision. Since then, Frey has successfully defended the title once by defeating Grusander in their instant rematch.