MMA News
EXCLUSIVE | After first staredown, Yuya Wakamatsu believes Demetrious Johnson is 'intimidated'
Tom Taylor - March 28, 2019
Yuya Wakamatsu is being counted out by almost everybody as he prepares to battle former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson this Sunday at ONE: A New Era in Tokyo, Japan. However, the 24-year-old Japanese fighter feels that he has some crucial advantages heading into this matchup with the MMA legend. One such advantage is his size.
Justin Gaethje shrugs off Anthony Pettis callout, has other plans
Tom Taylor - March 28, 2019
This weekend, in the main event of UFC Philadelphia, former WSOF lightweight champion Justin Gaethje will go to war with fellow fan favorite Edson Barboza. If Gaethje is able to win this fight, he’ll take a big step up the lightweight rankings and open the door to a host of compelling matchups.
Rory MacDonald says Georges St-Pierre is still training: 'He's working hard'
Tom Taylor - March 28, 2019
Former UFC welterweight and middleweight champ Georges St-Pierre recently announced his retirement from mixed martial arts. “There’s no tears. I’m very happy to do it,” St-Pierre said in the English portion of his retirement message in Montreal. “In combat sports you should retire on top, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m happy I have the discipline to do it.”
EXCLUSIVE | ATT owner Dan Lambert has a suggestion for anyone who doesn't want to see Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier
Cole Shelton - March 28, 2019
The UFC’s lightweight division will hopefully get a little more organized come UFC 236. In the main event, featherweight champion Max Holloway will move up in weight to take on Dustin Poirier for the interim lightweight championship. However, some fans aren’t thrilled about this matchup, as they thought Tony Ferguson or another lightweight contender deserved the opportunity to fight for gold. American Top Team owner Dan Lambert is not one of those people.
EXCLUSIVE | Chatri Sityodtong opens up on meeting with Georges St-Pierre
Tom Taylor - March 28, 2019
ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong recently had a meeting with former UFC middleweight and welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre in Singapore. Given Sityodtong’s recent habit of signing high profile mixed martial artists to ONE Championship, some members of the combat sports world speculated that he could be working on a deal with St-Pierre.
Dustin Poirier sees some issues in UFC PPV's moving to ESPN+
Cole Shelton - March 27, 2019
The UFC made a shocking announcement just over a week ago: all pay-per-views will now be sold through ESPN+ for Americans. Immediately after the news, many fans and fighters took to Twitter to question the move and how it would impact PPV buys.
Cub Swanson makes his return at UFC Ottawa to take on Shane Burgos
Drake Riggs - March 27, 2019
One of the featherweight division’s all-time most exciting fighters is without a doubt Cub Swanson (25-10). And after some time off, the veteran is back. First reported by The Toronto Sun and now confirmed by the UFC, the Palm Springs native is set to make his Octagon return at UFC Ottawa on May 4 when he takes on the rising prospect, “Hurricane” Shane Burgos (11-1).
Report | Tyron Woodley and Robbie Lawler agree to rematch as UFC Minneapolis headliner
Drake Riggs - March 27, 2019
Following UFC 235 and former UFC welterweight champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler’s (18-3) somewhat controversial first-round submission loss to Ben Askren, the idea from UFC President Dana White was to run the fight back as soon as possible. Well, one of Lawler’s old fights will be ran back alright… But it won’t be that one. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto has since reported that verbal agreements are in place for Lawler to rematch with Askren’s good friend and teammate, the man who dethroned Lawler, Tyron Woodley (19-4-1) at UFC Minneapolis on June 29.
BREAKING | Henry Cejudo moves up to face Marlon Moraes for the vacant bantamweight title at UFC 238
Drake Riggs - March 27, 2019
With TJ Dillashaw now out of the picture due to his relinquishing of the title following an “adverse finding” in one of his drug tests ahead of UFC Brooklyn, it’s time for a new champion to be crowned. It was practically a foregone conclusion that the next bantamweight title fight would at the very least feature the undeniable top contender, former World Series of Fighting king, “Magic” Marlon Moraes (22-5-1). It was just a matter of who against.
Stipe Miocic responds to Jon Jones
Cole Shelton - March 27, 2019
Jon Jones’ potential move up to heavyweight may be happening sooner than anticipated. If he does move up, the fight that is expected to take place will pit “Bones” against Stipe Miocic. The rumors first started when ESPN analyst and Bellator fighter, Chael Sonnen mentioned the two possibly fighting each other this July.
EXCLUSIVE | Aljamain Sterling ready for bantamweight title shot: 'How can I not be the next guy in line?'
Mike Pendleton - March 27, 2019
With a vacant bantamweight title up for grab, Aljamain Sterling is calling for his chance. The “FunkMaster” is currently on a three-fight winning streak which has seen him beat the likes of Brett Johns, Cody Stamann, and Jimmie Rivera. Now that he finds himself at the top of the division, Sterling wants his chance at the UFC title. While the UFC seems pretty set on making Marlon Moraes vs Henry Cejudo as the next bantamweight title fight, Sterling continues to push and call out for a title fight.
Report: Ben Saunders Meets Promotional Newcomer at UFC Sunrise
Nolan King - March 27, 2019
Tuesday morning, UFC Unfiltered featured UFC President Dana White as the lead guest. The UFC don dropped a number of tidbits — one of which being a bout between Ben Saunders was in the works for UFC Sunrise. However, later that evening Ariel Helwani reported a bout between Mike Perry and Alex Oliveira was in the works for the event, while Damon Martin tweeted Ben Saunders would be facing a UFC newcomer.
Jon Jones teases fight with Stipe Miocic in July
Mike Pendleton - March 27, 2019
Current light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is looking for his next fight, and he may have found it in the weight class above him. Shortly after Chael Sonnen reported that he heard a fight was in the works between Jones and former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, Jon Jones added fuel to the fire. I don’t think you guys are ready to witness @stipemiocic and I, would July give you all enough time?
Opinion | Public UFC spat and retirement will end with Conor McGregor in the Octagon
Jordy McElroy - March 27, 2019
Fast forward a month down the road after Conor McGregor’s second retirement, and the fighter-turned-spectacle will be sitting across from UFC President Dana White at a negotiating table sipping Proper Twelve and doing business. Book it.
Welterweights top UFC Rochester as Neil Magny vs Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos added as co-main event
Drake Riggs - March 27, 2019
Update: Zaleski dos Santos has since come out to say that the fight was never offered to him. “Today I saw alot of posts matching me in a fight in Rochester-NY against Neil Magny. As much as this is a fight that I want there was no truth behind it. At no point have I or my team been contacted by the UFC about the match and as we stand I will be competing again sometime around june/july.” he said in a post to Instagram. The UFC’s last event for the month of May is set to go down in Rochester, New York. And it has shaped up to be quite the solid card.
ONE: A New Era official fight card and start time
Tom Taylor - March 27, 2019
On Sunday night (Sunday morning in North America), Singapore-based martial arts powerhouse ONE Championship will debut in the MMA hotbed of Tokyo, Japan with ONE: A New Era. To celebrate this Tokyo debut, ONE Championship has stacked this card with some of its best and brightest.
Ronda Rousey says Conor McGregor has 'earned' his retirement
James Lynch - March 27, 2019
With Conor McGregor suggesting Monday night that he’s hanging up his gloves, another MMA superstar who retired from the sport is showing her support. Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey appeared on SportsCenter and showed her support for the former UFC two-division champion.
Report | Chael Sonnen claims Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight could be in the works
Tom Taylor - March 27, 2019
According to current Bellator fighter and ESPN analyst Chael Sonnen, ESPN reporter Ariel Helwani has caught wind of a potential fight between reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. While Helwani has yet to break the news of this matchup himself, Sonnen claims the veteran reporter has spilled the beans to him. “When Ariel says he is ‘hearing talks’, Ariel knows,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel (via Pundit Arena). “Ariel is a journalist – he does not speculate, he says I’m hearing that both parties have agreed – or that both parties are interested, rather.