MMA News
Luke Rockhold outlines path to Jon Jones title fight
Tom Taylor - April 22, 2019
When Thiago Santos knocked out Jan Blachowicz at UFC Prague, he earned a light heavyweight title fight with seemingly unbeatable champion Jon Jones. Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, who is now scheduled to battle Blachowicz at UFC 239, is hoping that a similar performance will earn him his own fight with Jones. “Thiago Santos just got a world title fight after beating Jan Blachowicz, so I figure if I go out there and put a performance on him, what’s to deny me?” Rockhold said on a recent episode of Submission Radio (transcript via MMA Weekly). “I mean, what else is there? These guys are scouring around, not taking fights. So I’m gonna go out there and I’m gonna perform and do my job, and then I’m gonna let the chips fall where they may.”
The biggest winners from UFC St. Petersburg
Mike Straus - April 22, 2019
UFC St. Petersburg is in the books. Seven Russian fighters got their hand raised and a familiar heavyweight contender cemented his position in the ranks. The second trip to Russia proved beneficial for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The fights were entertaining with more than half of the 11 fights scheduled ending in a finish.
UFC veteran killed by Uber driver after dispute
Tom Taylor - April 22, 2019
According to a report from Brazilian news outlet Globo, former UFC fighter Rodrigo de Lima was killed by an Uber driver in Belem, Brazil on Sunday night. This news was subsequently confirmed to MMA Fighting by UFC fighter Michel “Trator” Prazeres.
Maycee Barber says Paige VanZant is avoiding fight because she ‘doesn’t want her face damaged’
James Lynch - April 22, 2019
Maycee Barber has her next opponent in mind but isn’t confident it will happen The undefeated 20-year-old is currently recovering from a broken thumb, but spoke to Luke Thomas on The MMA Hour and explained why Paige VanZant would be an ideal next opponent.
Cris Cyborg responds to joking callout from Roxanne Modafferi
Tom Taylor - April 22, 2019
Shortly after Roxanne Modafferi defeated Antonina Shevchenko at UFC St. Petersburg on Saturday, she made a callout of former UFC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg — though she quickly added that she was only joking. On Sunday, Cyborg responded to this callout from Roxanne Modafferi — first assuring the flyweight contender wanted no part of the matchup, then congratulating her on her big win.
Henry Cejudo explains what makes Marlon Moraes 'a lot more dangerous' than TJ Dillashaw
Tom Taylor - April 22, 2019
Back in January, UFC flyweight champion Henry Cejudo conquered a supremely tough test in former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw, who he knocked out in less than a minute. His next challenge will come in the form of Brazil’s Marlon Moraes, who he’ll meet for the vacant bantamweight title at UFC 238.
Justin Gaethje explains why he is 'the toughest out' for Khabib Nurmagomedov
Tom Taylor - April 22, 2019
At 27-0, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is looking more and more like an unbeatable fighter. Yet former World Series of Fighting lightweight champion Justin Gaethje believes he’s got the skillset to dethrone the UFC lightweight king. “I think my wrestling credentials alone would benefit me so much in that fight, my ability to stop the takedown,” Gaethje said on a recent episode of The MMA Hour, rating his chances against Nurmagomedov (transcript via MMA Fighting). “And I’m very confident in my standup, I’m confident in my coach and the gameplan that we would come together with and go out there and execute. I think with my athletic ability I’m a tough out for anybody.
Alexey Oleynik issues statement on loss to Alistair Overeem
Tom Taylor - April 22, 2019
Over the weekend, in the main event of UFC St. Petersburg, Russian heavyweight contender Alexey Oleynik stepped into the Octagon with former Strikeforce, DREAM and K-1 heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem. Oleynik had some moments of success in this brief but thrilling encounter. Yet in the end, he came up short, succumbing to a storm of Overeem strikes late in the first round.
Dana White wins Instagram with hilarious Happy Easter post
Chris Taylor - April 21, 2019
UFC President Dana White took to Instagram earlier today where he wished fight fans a Happy Easter while posting a hilarious photo of Brian Ortega. As seen below, the UFC boss pictated the recent featherweight title challenger, Ortega, as Jesus Christ.
Anderson Silva defends Jon Jones legacy
Chris Taylor - April 21, 2019
Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva believes that reigning light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones has done more good than bad for the sport of MMA. Like Jones, Silva has had issues with drug testing in the past, which has caused some fans and analysts to question each fighters legacy.
What's next for UFC St. Petersburg main event fighters?
Cole Shelton - April 21, 2019
The Octagon headed to St. Petersburg, Russia for UFC Fight Night 149 on Saturday. In the main event, Alistair Overeem took on Alexey Oleynik. Alexey found some success early in the fight, but Overeem was able to turn the tide thanks to a barrage of knees and finished the fight via ground and pound.
Israel Adesanya responds to Paulo Costa
Chris Taylor - April 21, 2019
It is becoming very clear that current interim middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and surging contender Paulo Costa do not like each other. Following his thrilling five round decision victory over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236, Adesanya was targeted by Costa in a social media post.
RIZIN 15 results: Prochazka claims gold, Horiguchi and Tenshin continue dominance (Highlights)
Drake Riggs - April 21, 2019
RIZIN 15 went down on Sunday morning for those stateside and it acted as the first RIZIN event of 2019. In the first MMA bout of the night, top strawweight prospect, Kanako Murata made her return to the RIZIN ring on short notice to take on Mexico’s Saray Orozco at flyweight.
RIZIN 15 Live Results
Drake Riggs - April 20, 2019
RIZIN 15 is the first RIZIN event of 2019 and as per usual it looks to be a great one. Stars return and a new champion will be crowned. In the main event, we will see the first ever RIZIN light heavyweight champion be decided when Bellator’s “King Mo” Muhammad Lawal returns to the ring to try and once again pick up a win over the red-hot Czech, Jiri Prochazka.
Ben Askren suggests that Jorge Masvidal is not secure with his own masculinity
Chris Taylor - April 20, 2019
UFC welterweight standouts Ben Askren and Jorge Masvidal will collide at July’s UFC 239 pay-per-view event in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight was put together shortly after “Gamebred” starched former title challenger Darren Till in London.
Alistair Overeem shuts down talk of title shot
Chris Taylor - April 20, 2019
Former Strikeforce and Dream heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem picked up another first round finish at today’s UFC event in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Overeem took on submission specialist Aleksei Oleinik in the headliner of today’s UFC event. After a shaky start, “The Reem” would turn the tide with the utilization of some nasty knees which eventually caused Oleinik to hit the canvas. From there, Overeem would deliver some solid ground and pound which forced the referee to step in and call a stop to the contest.
Khabib Nurmagomedov on Dustin Poirier: “I have to maul him”
Chris Taylor - April 20, 2019
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier are expected to square off this September in a lightweight title unification bout. Poirier became the promotions interim lightweight title holder at last weekend’s UFC 236 event, defeating Max Holloway via unanimous decision.
Kevin Lee Wants Adesanya vs. Gastelum Type War on May 18
James Lynch - April 20, 2019
Kevin Lee wants his next fight to be legendary! Looking to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time in his career, Lee moves up to the welterweight division against former lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC on ESPN+ 10 on May 18. The 26-year-old plans to be a lot more focused in this fight, as opposed to his last outing against Al Iaquinta, a unanimous decision loss at UFC on FOX 31, where he felt distracted.