MMA News

Drake Riggs - March 7, 2019

.@UFC hasn't stayed with just one network so why can't more fighters be free agents? @Ealvarezfight WATCH MORE: https://t.co/UWddEsNyBb pic.twitter.com/Zt8VHRQjxk

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.

Cole Shelton - March 7, 2019

Ben Askren made his highly anticipated octagon debut at last weekend’s UFC 235 event in Las Vegas against Robbie Lawler. In the early moments of the fight, Lawler slammed Askren to the canvas and began raining down brutal ground and pound. Somehow, Askren survived and got back up to his feet where he eventually got ahold of Lawler’s back. There, he latched on to a bulldog choke which caused Herb Dean to jump in and stop the fight.  It was a controversial stoppage which many fight fans and analysts believe was a bad stoppage.

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

At UFC London, which goes down on March 16, surging light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes will face arguably the toughest test of his career in former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir. In Oezdemir, Reyes will face a clever striker with shocking power in both hands. Given his foe’s strengths, Reyes is prepared to ground the fight if need be.

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.

Cole Shelton - March 7, 2019

The Octagon touches down in Wichita, Kansas for the first time in history this Saturday. In the main event, former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos will be taking on former title challenger Derrick Lewis. Ahead of this heavyweight fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions. Some believe dos Santos will be too much for Lewis, while others believe Lewis will land a fight-ending blow on dos Santos. Two others can’t decide at all.

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.

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.

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.

Drake Riggs - March 6, 2019

Without proper guidance, navigating the waters of life can be all the more difficult than it may be even with that directional aid. Like an ocean, there will be many waves that one will be hit with throughout. Some big, some small, but no matter the size of the challenge, ups and downs, positivity and negativity, contrasts are necessary requirements to evolve as individuals.