MMA News

Cole Shelton - March 8, 2019

Josh Emmett is set to return to the Octagon on March 30, when he takes on Michael Johnson. When he does finally return, it will have been over a year since his last fight because of all the injuries he sustained in his last outing. That left Emmett with only one fight in 2018 and only one chance to get paid. During this time off, Emmett got thinking about the pay structure in the UFC, and he thinks it could use some work.

Tom Taylor - March 8, 2019

On Friday, ONE Championship returned to Yangon, Myanmar with the compelling ONE: Reign of Valor card. Unlike ONE’s previous visits to Myanmar, this card was not topped by an appearance from middleweight and light heavyweight champ Aung La N Sang. Instead, the headlining bout was a welterweight title fight between champion Zebaztian Kadestam and challenger Georgiy Kichigin.

Tom Taylor - March 8, 2019

Ronda Rousey is either taking an unconventional approach to promotion, or she is completely breaking kayfabe amid her feud with Becky Lynch. In a recent video posted on her personal YouTube channel, the former UFC bantamweight champ unleashed a heated rant, assuring that her future foes will feel the full breadth of her MMA arsenal, whether it’s been scripted or not. Why? ‘Cause pro wrestling isn’t real.

Thomas Taylor - March 7, 2019

UFC flyweight contender Paige VanZant is the latest MMA star to model for Sports Illustrated. The popular fighter recently announced this exciting news on her official Instagram account, and even shared a few clips from her first day of shooting. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before the trolls and haters started to creep in and comment on VanZant’s Instagram posts.

Drake Riggs - March 7, 2019

The UFC heads to Florida in late April for what looks to be a rather exciting card from top to bottom. At the very top, however, there has been a change in the card’s originally expected main event.

Cole Shelton - March 7, 2019

Colby Covington was expected to fight Tyron Woodley for the welterweight title prior to last weekend’s UFC 235 event. However, Colby’s “promised” title shot went to Kamaru Usman instead, and “The Nigerian Nightmare” went on to dominate Woodley for all five rounds to take home the strap.

Chris Taylor - March 7, 2019

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones successfully defended his title at last weekend’s UFC 235 event, defeating Anthony Smith via unanimous decision. It was another brilliant performance from “Bones”, who seemingly had his way with “Lionheart” for the majority of their five-round championship contest.

Drake Riggs - March 7, 2019

UFC 235 was the biggest event of 2019 to this point and the results showed why. There were many spectacular performances from top to bottom as we kicked things off with a fun back and forth strawweight battle between Hannah Cifers and Poliana Viana before getting devastating knockouts via Macy Chiasson and Edmen Shahbazyan. Those were just the early prelims though!

Drake Riggs - March 7, 2019

UFC 235 took place this past Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada. As stacked of a card as it was it actually ended up staying completely intact as well… For the most part, anyway. When it comes to complete fight removals, during fight week the card lost out on a bantamweight clash between Marlon “Chito” Vera and Frankie Saenz after Vera pulled out with an illness. Saenz was a late replacement for Thomas Almeida.

Drake Riggs - March 7, 2019

After a successful return to the Octagon in January 2019, Paige VanZant is now going to continue expanding her brand outside of the world of MMA as it was recently announced that she will be appearing in the 2019 issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. In January at UFC Brooklyn, VanZant returned to take on the Invicta FC veteran and season 26 of The Ultimate Fighter contestant, Rachael Ostovich. VanZant would end up scoring the second-round armbar submission victory after a rather one-sided opening round in favor of her opponent.

Tom Taylor - March 7, 2019

Retired boxer Paulie Malignaggi has been angling for a fight with Conor McGregor for years. While the verdict is still out on whether Malignaggi will ever get the chance to settle his score with McGregor, he may soon get the chance to fight the Irishman’s close friend and training partner Artem Lobov. According to a report from Helen Yee, Paulie Malignaggi is closing in on a deal with bare knuckle boxing promotion Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).

Tom Taylor - March 7, 2019

Conor McGregor has recently been traveling across the United States. During his travels, he’s popped into a number of notable gyms — including the home base of former UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten. Speaking on Submission Radio recently, Bas Rutten detailed what sounds like a pleasant visit with the international superstar Conor McGregor, and explained how the Irishman comports himself in the rare moments when the cameras aren’t rolling.

Cole Shelton - March 7, 2019

Macy Chiasson had a weekend to remember. After a long, 12-week training camp, Chiasson cut down to fight in the bantamweight division, which will be her home from now on. In her bantamweight debut, which was the second fight on the UFC 235 bill, she looked like a force to be reckoned with, as she scored a quick knockout win over Gina Mazany.

Tom Taylor - March 7, 2019

Over the last few months, the fight world has been abuzz about a potential fight between Donald Cerrone and Conor McGregor. Both fighters seemed to want the fight, UFC President Dana White was on board, and of course, every fight fan with a pulse was eager to see it happen. Unfortunately, it now sounds as though the fight could be off the table.

Tom Taylor - March 7, 2019

Kamaru Usman’s unanimous decision defeat of long-time UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley was a performance to remember. Unfortunately, the fight will also be remembered for a few controversial calls from referee Marc Goddard — most notably a handful of controversial stand-ups, issued when Usman was in dominant positions, seemingly working hard. After a comment from MMA Fighting’s Luke Thomas on Twitter, referee Marc Goddard issued a lengthy explanation of his calls in this Usman vs. Woodley matchup.

Tom Taylor - March 7, 2019

While nothing is set in stone just yet, it still sounds like UFC heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier could next defend his title against former champ and long-time WWE star Brock Lesnar. Let’s just say Junior dos Santos doesn’t approve of this plan. “This thing where Daniel Cormier wants to fight Brock Lesnar; I know he wants to make money, but it doesn’t make any sense,” Dos Santos told MMA Junkie ahead of his fight with Derrick Lewis. “The only one who wants to see that fight or make that fight is him. Nobody else wants to see that. Of course Brock Lesnar, he’s a very polemic guy so people like to watch him and they pay to watch him, that’s why he wants to fight him. But man, that would be ridiculous to have him back in the sport and have him fighting for the title already.

Tom Taylor - March 7, 2019

In the first bout of the stacked UFC 235 main card last Saturday, former UFC bantamweight king Cody Garbrandt stepped into the Octagon with dangerous Brazilian contender Pedro Munhoz. The goal for the fighter they call “No Love” was to rebound from a pair of knockout losses to reigning champion TJ Dillashaw. Unfortunately for the former champ and his throngs of dedicated supporters, things did not go the way he planned. Mid-way through the first round, Garbrandt found himself rattled by an inadvertent head butt, and in a dazed frenzy, abandoned strategy in favor of a wild slug fest. The two bantamweights began strafing each other with massive punches — many of which landed — until Garbrandt was face-down on the canvas.

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.