MMA News
UFC 235: Jones vs. Smith Fight Card and Start Times
Chris Taylor - February 13, 2019
Jon Jones will put his newly acquired light heavyweight title on the line in the main event of UFC 235 against surging division contender Anthony Smith. UFC 235 takes place March 2 live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
More reasons why you should tune into the Bellator double-header this weekend
Mike Straus - February 13, 2019
It is a great time to be a mixed martial arts fan. With so many exciting events this weekend it can be difficult to catch them all. With that being said, Bellator MMA has not one, but two events this weekend. Friday night will kick off the festivities for the promotion as Bellator 215 invades the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The very next night, the promotion will be back at the Mohegan Sun for Bellator 216.
Cain Velasquez impressed by Stipe Miocic, but not convinced he should 'get a title shot right away'
Tom Taylor - February 13, 2019
A lot has changed in the heavyweight division since former champion Cain Velasquez last stepped into the cage. Perhaps most notably, Stipe Miocic burst into title contention, captured the title, and defended it a record-breaking three straight times. Although Stipe Miocic broke the record for the most consecutive defenses of the UFC heavyweight title, he ultimately lost his title to Velasquez training partner Daniel Cormier, who still holds the belt today. Since then, Miocic has been adamant that he deserves an immediate rematch with Cormier based on his previous dominance as champion.
Artem Lobov signs six-figure deal with Bareknuckle Fighting Championship, debuts against fellow UFC vet Jason Knight
Tom Taylor - February 13, 2019
Artem Lobov has found a new home. The Conor McGregor training partner has signed a multi-fight deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships (BKFC) — not to be confused with WBKFF. He will make his BKFC debut opposite another fan favorite UFC veteran in Jason “The Kid” Knight on April 20.
PHOTO | Mirko Cro Cop is looking jacked ahead of Bellator 216
Chris Taylor - February 13, 2019
Mixed martial arts legend Mirko Cro Cop (37-11-2 MMA) will make his Bellator MMA debut on February 16 against fellow veteran and knockout artist Roy Nelson. The bout will serve as a rematch, as Cro Cop and Nelson first met back at UFC 137 in October of 2011, with “Big Country” emerging victorious by way of TKO in round three.
UFC on ESPN 1: Velasquez vs. Ngannou Fight Card and Start Time
Tom Taylor - February 13, 2019
On Sunday, February 17, the UFC will make its debut on ESPN with an exciting, 13-fight card. In the main event of this debut UFC on ESPN card, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon, where he will battle ferocious knockout puncher Francis Ngannou in an cage-shaking showdown.
UFC rankings update: Israel Adesanya is now a top-5 middleweight
Tom Taylor - February 13, 2019
The official UFC rankings have been updated in the wake of last Saturday’s UFC 234 card, and as expected, Israel Adesanya has burst into the middleweight division’s top-5 on the strength of his decision defeat of the legend Anderson Silva. Elsewhere, the men’s flyweight division continues to be the picture of chaos, as many of the weight class’s top fighters have been cut by the promotion.
VIDEO | Cain Velasquez gives hilarious response to Dana White comparing Ngannou's power to a Ford Escort
Tom Taylor - February 13, 2019
This Sunday night, in the main event of the first-ever UFC card on ESPN, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will make his long-awaited return to the cage. His welcome committee will be former title challenger Francis Ngannou. Ahead of this compelling heavyweight showdown, it’s abundantly clear what Cain Velasquez needs to be most wary of: Francis Ngannou hits absurdly hard. Ngannou hits so hard, in fact, that UFC President Dana White once compared the French-Cameroonian’s power to a Ford Escort moving at full speed.
Manager: Kelvin Gastelum 'taken care of' by UFC, eyes Robert Whittaker rebooking for June or July
Drake Riggs - February 12, 2019
UFC 234 didn’t get the cap off that we were all expecting. Sure, Israel Adesanya vs Anderson Silva was a thrilling chess match. But we were going to get that regardless. Just hours before the event began, we learned that the UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker had to undergo emergency hernia surgery thus, obviously, removing him from his scheduled title defense against Kelvin Gastelum.
Cain Velasquez would have retired if new UFC deal wasn't logical
Drake Riggs - February 12, 2019
When it comes to the most talented heavyweights to ever compete, a discussion cannot be had without the mention of former two-time UFC champion Cain Velasquez. Unfortunately for Velasquez and fans alike, the latter portion of his career has been plagued by injuries as he’s only fought twice since 2013.
Rafael Dos Anjos: Conor McGregor fight would be 'worth the drop in weight'
Drake Riggs - February 12, 2019
If it wasn’t for former UFC lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos, we never would have seen the two wars between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz. Before Eddie Alvarez was the lightweight champion, that label belonged to Dos Anjos who was supposed to be McGregor’s first champion vs champion bout as McGregor came up from the featherweight division that he was holding the title in.
Marlon Moraes says his next fight has to be for the title
Drake Riggs - February 12, 2019
It’s hard to argue that there is a bantamweight on the UFC roster who has been more impressive than Marlon Moraes as of late. The ‘magical’ former World Series of Fighting king has absolutely torn through his top 10 opposition in his last three outings.
Michael Page believes Paul Daley bout could 'spill over' into post-fight scuffle
Tom Taylor - February 12, 2019
In May of 2010, British knockout artist Paul Daley stepped into the cage with Josh Koscheck in a UFC welterweight title eliminator — and a heated grudge match. After being out-wrestled for three rounds by his American foe, Daley walked across the Octagon and sucker-punched Koscheck. This grievous foul earned the Brit his release from the UFC. Today, Daley is gearing up for a grudge match with fellow British striker Michael Page at Bellator 216, and Page believes Daley might pull a similar stunt after their fight.
Referee Marc Goddard discusses Crute vs. Alvey stoppage after backlash
Tom Taylor - February 12, 2019
Not everybody agreed with the stoppage in last weekend’s Jim Crute vs. Sam Alvey fight. UFC President Dana White, for example, was adamant that referee Marc Goddard stopped the action too early, and that Alvey should have been given a bit more time to recover. Speaking to MMA Fighting, Marc Goddard gave his take on the stoppage in this fight. In hindsight, he admits that he perhaps could have handled the situation differently, but he also reminds his detractors that he’s forced to act decisively in mere milliseconds, oftentimes when a fighter’s safety is on the line.
Kelvin Gastelum says Israel Adesanya is not yet worthy of a title shot
Tom Taylor - February 12, 2019
Kelvin Gastelum, who was supposed to battle Robert Whittaker in the UFC 234 main event, and now considers himself the middleweight champ by default after Whittaker withdrew from the fight with an injury, was not impressed by Israel Adesanya and Anderson Silva’s UFC 234 fight. Instead, Gastelum saw this fight as more “theatrics” than anything else.
Johnny Walker steps in against Misha Cirkunov at UFC 235
Tom Taylor - February 12, 2019
Rising light heavyweight prospect Johnny Walker has been booked for his next fight — and it’s a big one. The Brazilian knockout artist has stepped in to replace the injured Ovince Saint Preux against Canada’s Misha Cirkunov at UFC 235, which goes down on March 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada. News of this new matchup was first reported by MMA Fighting.
Nate Diaz to corner Kron Gracie at UFC Phoenix
Tom Taylor - February 12, 2019
Fan favorite UFC lightweight contender Nate Diaz will be returning to the cage this weekend at UFC Phoenix on ESPN, he just won’t be doing any fighting. Instead, the younger Diaz brother will be cornering BJJ ace Kron Gracie in his UFC debut opposite the always exciting Alex Caceres. ESPN’s Greg Rosenstein has the details:
VIDEO | Joe Rogan explains his primary goal when interviewing UFC fighters
Tom Taylor - February 12, 2019
Joe Rogan has interviewed hundreds and hundreds of fighters over the years, but he’s never felt threatened by any of them. Speaking on a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the UFC commentator was asked by Brazilian actor Rafinha Bastos if he has ever felt unsafe while interviewing a fighter. Rogan responded with a firm ‘no’ and outlined his primary goal in every fighter interview he conducts.