MMA News
Walt Harris accepts USADA sanction, win over Arlovski overturned
Tom Taylor - April 23, 2019
UFC heavyweight Walt Harris has accepted a four-month sanction from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for the anabolic agent LGD-4033. In addition, Harris’ UFC 232 split decision victory over former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski has been overturned to a no-contest. USADA announced this news in a release, explaining that Harris’ violation was the result of his use of a tainted supplement:
EXCLUSIVE | Jon Fitch preparing to shock the world in Bellator 220 main event
Cole Shelton - April 23, 2019
Jon Fitch is fighting for the Bellator welterweight title on Saturday night, in the last first-round bout of the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix. The 41-year-old, who is 1-0 inside the Bellator cage, will be taking on the champion Rory MacDonald in the main event of Bellator 220. Although Fitch is the underdog heading into this fight, the veteran is more than ready to do what he has to do to win.
Santiago Ponzinibbio calls out 'lucky' Anthony Pettis
Tom Taylor - April 23, 2019
Santiago Ponzinibbio is looking for a fight, and from the sounds of it, he’s got an opponent in mind. Speaking on Instagram on Monday, the Argentine welterweight contender called for a fight with former UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis. He asserted that Pettis got lucky in his last outing, in which he knocked out former welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, and promised that the American will have no such luck in this prospective matchup.
Darren Till receives punishment for incident in Canary Islands
Tom Taylor - April 23, 2019
According to a report from The Daily Mail, former UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till has been fined more than 700 euro ($788 USD) in Spanish court after ransacking a hotel room and stealing a taxi in Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands. According to this report, Till and his cohorts have also been ordered to reimburse the hotel for the damage caused — a sum totalling more than 8,500 euro ($9,570 USD).
EXCLUSIVE | Ilima-Lei MacFarlane welcoming another title defense in her second home
Cole Shelton - April 23, 2019
There is no question the emotions were running high for Ilima-Lei MacFarlane’s last fight. MacFarlane got to defend her Bellator flyweight title at home in Hawaii where she defeated Valerie Letourneau in the third-round by submission. The win capped off an emotional fight week for MacFarlane. Now, she is set for yet another title defense this Saturday when she takes on Veta Arteaga at Bellator 220 in San Jose, California. Although Hawaii was MacFarlane’s real homecoming, she lives and trains in California which makes this yet another fight ‘at home’.
Firas Zahabi questions the decision-making of Max Holloway at UFC 236
Cole Shelton - April 22, 2019
Max Holloway was looking to become a two division champion at UFC 236. The featherweight king was moving up in weight to take on 155-pound contender Dustin Poirier for the interim lightweight championship. Ultimately, Poirier beat Holloway by unanimous decision to snap the Hawaiian’s 13-fight winning streak. Although Holloway lost, he had some good moments in the fight, but many thought the size discrepancy between he and Poirier played a huge factor. However, MMA coach, Firas Zahabi believes Dustin Poirier simply fought a smarter fight, which resulted in him getting the win.
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.
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.
Joseph Benavidez 'surprised it took that long' for TJ Dillashaw to get caught
Tom Taylor - April 22, 2019
TJ Dillashaw is no longer the UFC bantamweight champion. He surrendered that title when he tested positive for EPO, an injectable-only performance-enhancing drug, and was suspended for two years by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Many members of the MMA community were shocked to learn of Dillashaw’s PED use. But not everybody.
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.
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.
UFC Executive responds after Khabib Nurmagomedov criticizes St. Petersburg event
Chris Taylor - April 21, 2019
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was not happy with the lack of promotion for Saturday’s UFC event in St. Petersburg, Russia. The undefeated Russian, Khabib, said he would like to see the promotion adapt a new policy, one which would pay attention to his countries fighters.
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.
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.
UFC welterweight Darren Till reportedly arrested in Tenerife
Chris Taylor - April 21, 2019
Former UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till has reportedly been arrested in Tenerife for allegedly trashing a hotel and stealing a taxi. Till, who is coming off a brutal knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal, is said to have been stopped by police after jumping into a cab and speeding off as the driver was handling luggage.