MMA News
Joseph Benavidez believes flyweight division is 'more exciting than ever'
Drake Riggs - November 28, 2018
It’s been a bit of a wild time for the UFC’s lightest men’s division of flyweight. Seemingly doing away with the division overall, the weight class’ title will still be fought over come early next year which has left many confused.
EXCLUSIVE | Aaron Pico confident ahead of Henry Corrales fight
Cole Shelton - November 28, 2018
Aaron Pico (4-1 MMA) is a future superstar. The 22-year-old is currently riding a four-fight win streak, with all four of those victories coming by way of first-round knockout. However, for Pico, arguably the best attribute of his game is his wrestling and so far he hasn’t had to use it.
Chatri Sityodtong praises Sage Northcutt following UFC departure
Drake Riggs - November 28, 2018
Sage Northcutt is a free agent, free to roam and find a new home. Speculation as to where the welterweight prospect may wind up began the week of ONE Championship’s big ONE: Heart of the Lion event. Obviously, the brunt of the speculation was that Northcutt was going to or discussing signing with ONE. Which, we would find out that weekend was the idea of his visit to Singapore.
Conor McGregor fans are buying empty Proper No. Twelve bottles for outrageous prices on eBay
Thomas Taylor - November 28, 2018
Conor McGregor fans are a passionate bunch. They show up in droves whenever the Irishman fights, be it in Dublin, New York City or Las Vegas. They fill arenas with pro-McGregor chants and seas of Irish flags. They get tattoos of him. And according to a report from the Irish Sun, some of them are buying empty bottles of the MMA star’s popular Irish whiskey, Proper No. Twelve, on eBay. Apparently, empty bottles of Proper No. Twelve have been listed on eBay for prices as high as $90 — though it’s possible some do still contain whiskey.
Cynthia Calvillo to take on Cortney Casey at UFC 233
Drake Riggs - November 28, 2018
It’s no secret that Cynthia Calvillo likes to stay active with her MMA career and after losing out on some fight time due to a suspension, she’s ready to make up for the time that’s been lost. Calvillo made her professional debut in August 2016…she’s amassed a record of 7-1 since then and five of those fights came in 2017 (four in the UFC).
Chuck Liddell receives indefinite medical suspension following KO loss to Tito Ortiz
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
Last weekend, former UFC light heavyweight kingpin Chuck Liddell returned from a hiatus of eight years to battle a fellow former champion in Tito Ortiz — a man he’d beaten twice before. Unfortunately for his fans, the 48-year old Chuck Liddell did not win this third fight, and was instead felled by a first-round punch. Heading into this contest, there was widespread discourse suggesting Chuck Liddell should not be allowed to fight — that he was too old, that he’d been out too long, that he’d received enough punishment, including the three knockout losses that originally drove him into retirement.
EXCLUSIVE | Khabib's training partner Luis Pena explains how a rematch against McGregor would play out
Cole Shelton - November 28, 2018
At UFC 229, Conor McGregor made his long-awaited return to the Octagon. He took on Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title. Ahead of the fight, not many people knew how it would turn out. Some people believed McGregor would be able to catch Nurmagomedov and knock him out. Others thought Nurmagomedov would just take McGregor down and ground and pound him or submit him, which ultimately is what happened.
Renato Moicano to serve as alternate for Max Holloway vs. Brian Ortega fight
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
If UFC featherweight champ Max Holloway or undefeated challenger Brian Ortega isn’t able to make it to the cage for their anticipated UFC 231 main event title fight, Renato Moicano will be called up to step in and replace the absent fighter. The streaking Brazilian featherweight contender will fly to Toronto, the card’s host city, and weigh-in as an understudy, according to ESPN. Moicano was originally expected to battle Mirsad Bektic on this anticipated card, but unfortunately, this bout was nixed when Bektic sustained an injury. Though the promotion apparently sought a replacement opponent for him, they ultimately decided to simply fly him into Toronto as an understudy.
Anderson Silva scolds Georges St-Pierre for ducking 'big challenges'
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
MMA fans have been dying to see former UFC champions Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva fight for years. That was true at the height of their title reigns, when St-Pierre guarded the welterweight strap and Silva simultaneously sat in the middleweight throne, and it’s true today, when Silva is a mere middleweight contender and St-Pierre appears to have once again retired. Unfortunately, the fight has never materialized, and Anderson Silva assures that’s no fault of his own. Speaking to ESPN recently, the former middleweight champion shared his belief that Georges St-Pierre is only interested in taking easy fights, rather than truly challenging himself.
Jon Jones says he would have left UFC if USADA issued four-year ban
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
In the end, the United States Anti-Doping Agency handed Jon Jones a 15-month suspension for the failed drug test that caused his July, 2017 win over Daniel Cormier to be overturned. That being said, the agency was apparently contemplating a much more severe punishment: a four-year ban. Speaking to ESPN earlier this week, Jon Jones admitted that, had USADA issued this four-year suspension, he would have asked to be released from his UFC contract so that he could fight overseas, outside the jurisdiction of the anti-doping agency.
At UFC 233, Aleksandra Albu returns for second bout since 2015
James Lynch - November 28, 2018
A compelling women’s strawweight matchup has been added to the UFC 233 lineup, as Aleksandra Albu is set to face Oregon’s Emily Whitmire on the card. The UFC’s official Russian Twitter account confirmed the news on Wednesday.
With UFC contract almost up, Mark Hunt shares plans for the next chapter of his career
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
When Mark Hunt battles Justin Willis in the co-main event of UFC Adelaide this weekend, it will mark the final obligation on his current UFC contract. Do not expect him to re-sign with the promotion. Speaking to MMAjunkie ahead of his fight, Hunt explained that he’s happy to be parting ways with the UFC, and that he will continue to fight outside the promotion.
Dana White doesn't believe Conor McGregor took Khabib Nurmagomedov trash talk too far
Tom Taylor - November 28, 2018
Ahead of his UFC 229 fight with undefeated UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor unleashed plenty of his famous trash talk. Unfortunately, some fans felt that McGregor crossed some lines with his trash talk of Nurmagomedov, as he targeted the champ’s family, ethnicity, religion and more. UFC President Dana White, however, doesn’t see it that way. Speaking to ESPN recently, White essentially said that all’s fair in the fight business, and that Conor McGregor mentioning Khabib Nurmagomedov’s religion and family is no different than Muhammad Ali targeting George Foreman ahead of The Thrilla in Manila.
Jon Jones roasts Daniel Cormier on social media
Christopher Taylor - November 27, 2018
Former UFC light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones will make his highly anticipated octagon return at January’s UFC 232 event in Las Vegas. “Bones” is scheduled to rematch former division title challenger Alexander Gustafsson at the December 29 event.
EXCLUSIVE | MMA Prospect, Fernie Garcia looking to establish pro career after Golden Boy win
Cole Shelton - November 27, 2018
Fernie Garcia recently was apart of history. The 26-year-old fought on the first ever Golden Boy MMA fight card in which he fought on the undercard. Ultimately, Garcia impressed enough that when Golden Boy does their next MMA event, Garcia will be fighting on it. However, before his fight with Golden Boy MMA, Garcia was 4-0 as a professional and was looking to fight in a bigger promotion. That is when Golden Boy reached out and it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. As a prospect, fighting in front of thousands of fans, and fighting on a big card like this was important to Garcia.
Max Holloway believes that health issues are a thing of the past, 'We're going to make it'
Drake Riggs - November 27, 2018
Three separate opponents, three-fight cancellations. That’s not exactly the type of year that any fighter wants to have. Let alone a champion of Max Holloway’s caliber. Unfortunately, that’s exactly how his 2018 played out so far. Holloway’s first fight cancellation came early for March’s UFC 222 event which saw him set to take on Frankie Edgar. However, a leg injury would end up forcing Holloway out of the bout.
EXCLUSIVE | Golden Boy MMA fighter Fernie Garcia has heard promotion is planning another event
Cole Shelton - November 27, 2018
Last Saturday night, Oscar De La Hoya promoted his first-ever MMA event under the Golden Boy MMA banner. In the weeks leading up to this MMA card, which was headlined by a trilogy fight between UFC Hall of Famers Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, there was plenty of reason to believe it was a one-off for De La Hoya. Yet according to Fernie Garcia, who fought on the undercard of the event, this is not the case. “I have heard that they are [going to do more MMA],” Garcia told BJPENN.com of Golden Boy MMA. “I have heard that the plan was for two events. So they are going to have two events. From what I know, they are going to have another event for sure.”
EXCLUSIVE | Garry Tonon wants ONE featherweight title, then lightweight bouts with stars like Alvarez, Aoki
Tom Taylor - November 27, 2018
When BJJ whiz Garry Tonon submitted South Korea’s Sung Jong Lee at ONE: Heart of the Lion earlier this month, he improved to an impressive 3-0 as a mixed martial artist. Thus far, the the five-time EBI Grappling Champion has drifted between the 155-pound ONE featherweight division, and the 170-pound ONE lightweight division. And from the sounds of it, he could continue floating between both divisions.