MMA News
Ben Askren explains why he sees 'no controversy' in Robbie Lawler win
Tom Taylor - March 7, 2019
Former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight king Ben Askren now has his first UFC victory. He snagged that elusive accomplishment at UFC 235 last weekend, when he submitted former UFC champ Robbie Lawler. Unfortunately, Askren’s impressive victory over Lawler came with a side order of controversy. While it initially looked as though the choke that sealed the deal lulled Lawler to sleep, the replay revealed Lawler might not have been out at all — and there was no tap.
Former Team Alpha Male coach Justin Buchholz blames Urijah Faber's 'ego' for gym's struggles
Tom Taylor - March 7, 2019
Last weekend, in the opening bout of the UFC 235 main card, former UFC bantamweight champ Cody Garbrandt experienced his third-straight knockout loss. Justin Buchholz, who used to serve as Garbrandt’s head coach at Team Alpha Male, believes he knows why. Speaking on The TSN MMA Show this week, Buchholz attributed Garbrandt’s latest setback to subpar coaching at the Team Alpha Male.
Jamie Varner reflects on how WEC 'bullies' impacted his fighting career
Drake Riggs - March 6, 2019
When scanning through the history of the lightweight division in MMA, it can’t be viewed without seeing the name ‘Jamie Varner’ pop up at least a handful of times. A former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) champion that holds one of MMA’s greatest upsets and multiple fight of the night accolades, Varner was a fighter’s fighter. But bad business arguably steered his career in different directions than it could have been had things been executed in other manners.
Derrick Lewis has 'to right the wrong' with Francis Ngannou rematch
Drake Riggs - March 6, 2019
This Saturday night the UFC heads back to Kansas state for UFC Wichita. In the event’s featured attraction, we’ll see two heavyweight knockout artists throw leather. On one side of the Octagon will be former UFC champion, Junior ‘Cigano’ Dos Santos. Standing across from him will be none other than ‘The Black Beast’ Derrick Lewis.
BJ Penn returns at UFC 237
Tom Taylor - March 6, 2019
Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn will return to the cage at UFC 237 on May 11 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he will take on a fellow veteran in Clay Guida. This bout was first reported by Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting. Penn confirmed this news with his website, BJPenn.com.
Roy Jones Jr. responds to Vitor Belfort's call for ONE Championship showdown
Tom Taylor - March 6, 2019
Vitor Belfort is now a ONE Championship fighter. While “The Phenom” can look forward to some exciting MMA bouts under the ONE banner, he’s also keen to take advantage of the fact that organization promotes other martial arts as well — namely boxing. Speaking shortly after he signed with ONE Championship, Belfort expressed interest in a special rules boxing match with the legendary Roy Jones Jr. “One fight that I’d really like, I told Chatri [Sityodtong] I’d really like to put on this fight, is me vs. Roy Jones Jr.,” Belfort said. “So Roy, wherever you are, I want to come challenge you for a boxing match — but with this condition. I’m going to be able to dirty box with you.
Aung La N Sang opens up on his newfound power
BJPENN.COM Staff - March 6, 2019
His sparring partners have felt the bone-crunching shots. And Aung La N Sang is adamant that he possesses more power than ever before as he prepares to put his ONE Middleweight World Title on the line. “I feel it when I grapple and I feel it when I hit,” the ONE Championship star said of his new-found strength.
Is Tony Ferguson plotting a move up to welterweight?
Tom Taylor - March 6, 2019
Things are complicated at the top of the lightweight division. The reigning champ Khabib Nurmagomedov is adamant that he won’t fight until November, standing instead in solidarity with his suspended teammates. Conor McGregor’s future is as nebulous as ever. Dustin Poirier will battle UFC featherweight champ Max Holloway for the interim lightweight belt in the summer. And Tony Ferguson, the bona fide, irrefutable number one contender? Well.. who really knows? Amid all of the uncertainty atop the lightweight division, Tony Ferguson has been left without an opponent; without any kind of clear direction.
Ben Askren claims Dana White has ignored requests for sit-down
Tom Taylor - March 6, 2019
Ben Askren is now firmly embedded as a member of the UFC welterweight roster, having submitted Robbie Lawler at UFC 235. Unfortunately, his relationship with UFC President Dana White apparently remains strained. Speaking on The MMA Hour on Monday, Askren explained that he still feels quite a bit of disdain from the UFC boss. In fact, he feels White is “repulsed” by him.
Colby Covington recounts heated encounter with Nate Diaz
Tom Taylor - March 6, 2019
In the short period of time he was in Las Vegas to watch UFC 235, it seems that Colby Covington had some kind of altercation or run-in with everybody else in the city. He crashed Kamaru Usman’s open workout. He ambushed UFC President Dana White at the blackjack table. He got into it with Tyron Woodley’s mother and NFL player Todd Gurley in the crowd…. And apparently, he had words with fan favorite lightweight Nate Diaz too…
Matt Hughes' wife pens statement detailing how he allegedly beat her
Tom Taylor - March 6, 2019
Audra Hughes, the wife of former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes, recently had a restraining order granted against her husband after several alleged incidents of violence. In documents obtained by MMAjunkie, Audra detailed several of these incidents of alleged violence.
VIDEO | Hear what Robbie Lawler said to Herb Dean after controversial Ben Askren stoppage
Tom Taylor - March 6, 2019
At UFC 235, former UFC welterweight champ Robbie Lawler was tasked with welcoming former ONE and Bellator champ Ben Askren to the Octagon. In the opening seconds of the first round it looked as though Lawler would spoil Askren’s debut, as he executed a beautiful slam and nearly finished the wrestler with a storm of ground strikes. Miraculously, however, Askren was able to weather this storm and lock up a bulldog choke for the victory.
Anthony Johnson will only come out of retirement for a heavyweight fight with Jon Jones
Cole Shelton - March 5, 2019
When Anthony Johnson announced his retirement from MMA, a fight many fans were disappointed that didn’t happen is ‘Rumble’ vs. Jon Jones. The fight had major intrigue given the fact Jones had looked unstoppable and Johnson had legitimate one-punch knockout power. The two were scheduled to fight at UFC 187 but the fight was called off after Jones was involved in a hit and run. From then on, the fight just didn’t come to fruition and Johnson walked away from MMA without ever getting the chance to fight Jones.
Georges St-Pierre exits USADA testing pool, solidifies retirement
Drake Riggs - March 5, 2019
Canada’s own Georges “Rush” St-Pierre is one of, if not the greatest MMA fighter to ever live. But after accomplishing all that there is to accomplish, the legend found himself retiring on top of the mountain. Shortly after his big 2013 welterweight title defense against Johny Hendricks at UFC 167, St-Pierre would announce that he would need a break from the sport that he helped build.
Tyron Woodley doesn't believe Kamaru Usman's the better fighter despite UFC 235 loss
Drake Riggs - March 5, 2019
Of all the fantastic performances that were witnessed at UFC 235 this past weekend, none may have been as impressive as welterweight title challenger, Kamaru Usman’s complete and total shutout of reigning champion Tyron Woodley. After months of turmoil inside the division from a business and fighter standpoint, things continued to move on which led to this title fight being made with each fighter’s repeated success.
Kamaru Usman broke records in UFC 235 victory over Tyron Woodley
Tom Taylor - March 5, 2019
On Saturday night, Kamaru Usman wrested the UFC welterweight strap from the waist of long-time champion Tyron Woodley. It was a near flawless victory from Usman, who dominated the champion for five rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory. Some stats collected by Michael Carroll on Twitter, however, reveal Usman’s win was more than just impressive. It was record-breaking.
Ben Askren won't fight for UFC welterweight strap without speaking to Tyron Woodley first
Tom Taylor - March 5, 2019
The first shot at new UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman is expected to go to his arch rival Colby Covington. That being said, after an ugly altercation with Covington, Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz is pushing for a fight with new UFC star Ben Askren instead. Ben Askren, of course, has his eyes on UFC gold. Yet he says he won’t accept a title fight with Kamaru Usman until he’s spoken with the former champion, his good friend and training partner Tyron Woodley.
EXCLUSIVE | After going two years without a win, Beneil Dariush is out to build a win-streak at UFC Wichita
Cole Shelton - March 5, 2019
Beneil Dariush went 735 days without a win. It was a rough two years for the 29-year-old. There’s no other way to put it. In that stretch, he suffered losses to Edson Barboza and Alexander Hernandez as well as a draw with Evan Dunham. But finally, this past November, Dariush got his hand raised again inside the Octagon. Dariush had a dominating performance and scored a unanimous decision win over Thiago Moises to snap his winless streak. This was a massive relief for him.