MMA News
Alberto Del Rio believes Cain Velasquez 'has the right attitude' for Lucha Libre
James Lynch - April 19, 2019
Can former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez succeed in Lucha Libre wrestling? Alberto Del Rio would know better than anyone. The former WWE star has competed in North American pro wrestling, Lucha Libre and MMA, and weighed in on Velasquez’s chances in an interview with MMAJunkie.
UFC St. Petersburg weigh-in results: Alistair Overeem, Alexey Oleynik get green light
Tom Taylor - April 19, 2019
This Saturday, the UFC will return to ESPN+ with the exciting UFC St. Petersburg card. This card will be topped by a key heavyweight contender bout between former Strikeforce, DREAM and K-1 champ Alistair Overeem and Russian submission specialist Alexey Oleynik. It will also feature a host of rising contenders and prospects such as Islam Makhachev, Sergei Pavlovich, Ivan Shtyrkov, and Antonina Shevchenko.
Paulie Malignaggi wants to draw Conor McGregor into fight by putting Lobov in a coma
Tom Taylor - April 19, 2019
On June 22, at BKFC 6, Paulie Malignaggi will compete in a bare knuckle grudge match with Artem Lobov. This fight will serve as the climax of one of the most sizzling combat sports beefs in recent memory — and remarkably, it’s not even Malignaggi’s most high profile beef. The retired boxer’s original and most severe gripes were with Lobov’s training partner Conor McGregor. And he’s now hoping that, by putting Lobov “in a coma,” he can coax McGregor into a fight.
Coach Firas Zahabi rips 'cheater' Jon Fitch in virulent tirade
Tom Taylor - April 19, 2019
On April 27, in the main event of Bellator 220, Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald will attempt to defend his title against former World Series of Fighting champ Jon Fitch in the final, first-round bout of the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix. Speaking to Robin Black and DAZN ahead of this fight, MacDonald’s coach Firas Zahabi, the main behind Tristar MMA, went off Jon Fitch, calling him a cheater and a coward.
Artem Lobov vs. Paulie Malignaggi official for BKFC 6
Tom Taylor - April 19, 2019
Paulie Malignaggi and Artem Lobov now have a date and locale for their anticipated bare knuckle grudge match. The pair will collide at BKFC 6 on June 22 in New Hampshire. Malignaggi first divulged these details in an interview with Helen Yee. BKFC President Dave Feldman later confirmed the news to MMA Fighting, though he added that an exact venue for the fight has not yet been locked down.
VIDEO | Bodycam footage of Conor McGregor arrest in Miami
Tom Taylor - April 19, 2019
Last month in Miami, former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor found himself in hot water (again), after an early morning run-in with an overeager fan. This encounter ended with McGregor taking the fan’s phone and smashing it on the ground, immediately opening a Pandora’s Box of legal repurcussions. TMZ has now acquired video from the sunny morning on which the police showed up to arrest Conor McGregor in Miami — bodycam footage, to be more precise. In this video, we can see McGregor exiting his home, being cuffed, and finally being crammed into the back of a police cruiser.
Khabib Nurmagomedov criticizes UFC for lack of Russian promotion
Drake Riggs - April 18, 2019
This Saturday night on April 20, Saturday morning for everyone stateside, the UFC will return to Russia for their sophomore event in the country. In September 2018, the UFC debuted in Russia by touching down in Moscow for the event that was headlined by Mark Hunt and Alexei Oleinik. This time around for UFC Saint Petersburg, the event will also be headlined by heavyweight action as well as the aforementioned ‘Boa Constrictor,’ Oleinik.
Khabib Nurmagomedov talks Dustin Poirier, plans to open multiple 'Khabib Gyms' around the world
Drake Riggs - April 18, 2019
Current undisputed UFC world lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov is currently serving a suspension he gained following his successful first title defense over Conor McGregor in October 2018 at UFC 229. However, that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t been keeping busy in his spare time while watching over his division. Following the scuffle that unfolded after his fight, ‘The Eagle’ is now looking at a September return which will presumably see him face the new interim champion, Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier.
Ray Borg says he'll leave MMA 'forever' if he misses weight again
James Lynch - April 18, 2019
UFC bantamweight Ray Borg has taken a serious stance on changes that need to be made in his career The 25-year-old posted on his Twitter account on Wednesday that he vows to make changes in his personal life regarding his eating habits in an effort to never miss weight again. Borg stated that should he miss weight one more time and it’s not related to an injury, that he would walk away from MMA altogether.
Robert Whittaker doesn't expect Israel Adesanya fight to be a war, 'It’s gonna be short and sweet'
Drake Riggs - April 18, 2019
This past weekend’s UFC 236’s co-main event decided who will be the next challenger to undisputed middleweight king, Robert Whittaker. In the said bout, fellow ANZAC of Whittaker’s, Israel Adesanya would go on to defeat Kelvin Gastelum over the course of a five-round fight of the year candidate. Originally, Gastelum was supposed to be the one facing Whittaker back in February but due to injuries on the champion’s end, Adesanya was able to capitalize on the opportunities that were presented.
USADA imposter steals Dan Ige's blood
Drake Riggs - April 18, 2019
Well… It isn’t every day that one gets their blood stolen. But apparently, if you’re a UFC fighter like Dan Ige, it’s definitely a possibility. The top featherweight prospect shared early Thursday that he received a visit from USADA… Or at least so he thought…
EXCLUSIVE | Alexey Oleynik might try to 'surprise' Alistair Overeem
Cole Shelton - April 18, 2019
In the main event of UFC St. Petersburg, Alistair Overeem was supposed to take on Russian Alex Volkov. However, just a few weeks from the fight, Volkov pulled out of the fight leaving the UFC searching for a replacement. After a quick text message to the man who headlined the first-ever UFC event in Russia, in Alexey Oleynik, they had a new main event. “The UFC proposed me this fight,” Oleynik told BJPENN.com. “They texted me that we need an opponent for Alistair Overeem, and I said yes I am ready. This is very important for me. If I had to choose between a big name and a non-big name I will pick the big name even if it is more dangerous. Overeem has a name and a ranking and that is most important to me. Money doesn’t matter, it is the same money.”
Marlon Moraes promises knockout of Henry Cejudo
Tom Taylor - April 18, 2019
At UFC 238 on June 8, former World Series of Fighting (WSOF) champ Marlon Moraes will battle reigning UFC flyweight champ Henry Cejudo for the bantamweight title, which was recently left vacant when the former champion TJ Dillashaw tested positive for EPO. At the recent UFC Seasonal Press Conference, which went down in Atlanta Georgia ahead of UFC 236, Marlon Moraes found himself on the receiving end of some of Cejudo’s trash talk. One of the more notable moments occurred when Cejudo said Moraes “looks like Mr. Clean and talks like Michael Jackson” (via MMA Junkie).
Amanda Nunes updates on plans for UFC featherweight title
Tom Taylor - April 18, 2019
Amanda Nunes, who currently owns the UFC bantamweight and featherweight titles, is booked to defend her bantamweight title against Holly Holm at UFC 239 this summer. Should she successfully defend this title against the former bantamweight champion Holm, her plan is to then move back up to featherweight to defend that belt. “For sure (I plan to) defend both,” Nunes told reporters at the recent UFC seasonal press conference during UFC 236 fight week in Atlanta, Georgia (via MMA Junkie). “I will defend my belt at 135 then go up and defend my belt after at 145.”
EXCLUSIVE | Brandon Vera discusses potential ONE Championship showdown with Vitor Belfort
Tom Taylor - April 18, 2019
ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon Vera is currently gearing up for a showdown with ONE Light Heavyweight and Middleweight World Champion Aung La N Sang, which is set to occur in Tokyo this October. This fight with Aung La is currently consuming all of the Filipino-American titleholder’s focus. That being said, he is interested in a bout with new ONE Championship star Vitor Belfort, should the opportunity arise in the future.
More reasons to watch UFC St. Petersburg
Mike Straus - April 18, 2019
The UFC will return to our screens this weekend with UFC St. Petersburg. The card is topped by a heavyweight bout between Alistair Overeem and Alexey Oleynik. A heavyweight bout at the top of the bill is a great way to pull casual fans in. However, upon further review, the seventh offering on the ESPN+ platform promises to entertain on an even deeper level.
Coach gives positive update on Angela Magana
Tom Taylor - April 18, 2019
On Wednesday, news surfaced that UFC veteran Angela Magana had been left in a coma after complications resulting from a surgery. “She’s in a coma, and we’re waiting to hear some positive news,” her coach Gabriel Lamastus told MMA Junkie. “The surgery went fine. The problem was anesthesia. It’s very rare that patients react bad to anesthesia, but it does happen, and I guess this is one of those rare cases. But I’m being positive. She’ll be fine, and she’ll wake up. She’s a hard worker. Angela is a very, very hard worker. A lot of people only know the Angela from social media. They don’t really know the real Angela. That woman busts her tail to provide for her family.”
Robert Whittaker believes he could give Jon Jones 'a run for his money'
Drake Riggs - April 18, 2019
A new interim UFC middleweight champion was crowned this past Saturday night when Israel Adesanya would defeat Kelvin Gastelum via a thrilling unanimous decision. Prior to the bout, there were brief mentions from Adesanya and current light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones of one another in some interviews. Since then, the two have gone back and forth in a much deeper depth than we could have expected them to.