MMA News

Cole Shelton - November 19, 2018

On The Ultimate Fighter 28 the biggest rivalry of the season is between Juan Espino and Maurice Greene. The two simply hated each other and got into several verbal exchanges in the house. As well, they nearly got into fights at the gym and in the house. Luckily for them, they get to settle their differences inside the Octagon when they fight each other in the semi-finals. The outcome of the fight will be revealed on Wednesday’s episode.

Tom Taylor - November 19, 2018

The UFC had a very, very difficult time locking down a main event for UFC 230, which went down earlier this month in New York City’s famous Madison Square Garden. While the card’s headlining spot was ultimately filled by a heavyweight title fight between champ Daniel Cormier and challenger Derrick Lewis, there were reportedly also discussions of a welterweight main event between interim champ Colby Covington and Nick Diaz. While Colby Covington says he would have been willing to fight Nick Diaz in the UFC 230 main event, the fight never came together. And now he says Diaz has missed his chance.

Tom Taylor - November 19, 2018

Back in August, streaking UFC lightweight contender James Vick stepped into the cage with former World Series of Fighting lightweight champ Justin Gaethje. For Vick, this bout represented an opportunity to vault into UFC lightweight title contention. Unfortunately, however, he was caught by a thunderous punch in the first round, and instead left the Octagon with his win-streak derailed. Looking back on this loss to Gaethje, James Vick admits it’s been a tough one to swallow.

Tom Taylor - November 19, 2018

The mysterious RIZIN 14 showdown between undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather and 20-year-old kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa is apparently back on. According to Mayweather, however, it will merely be a boxing exhibition… just three, three-minute rounds of “moving around” for yet another mammoth payday.  While Floyd Mayweather seems to think this fight with Tenshin Nasukawa will be little more than a light sparring session, Bellator star and MMA analyst Chael Sonnen is imploring the pugilist to be a little more discerning.

Tom Taylor - November 19, 2018

Speaking to the Russian newspaper Izvestia this week, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the father of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, gave his take on three of the most likely opponents for his son’s next fight: Tony Ferguson, Dustin Poirier and Kevin Lee. Interestingly, he seems to want both Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee to fight Islam Makhachev rather than Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Tom Taylor - November 19, 2018

Conor McGregor’s desired rematch with reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov could occur in the boxing ring. At least, that’s what Nurmagomedov’s father Abdulmanap says. Speaking to the Russian newspaper Izvestia this week, the Nurmagomedov patriarch shared his belief that his son is more than capable of hanging with Conor McGregor under the boxing ruleset, and that he’d like their potential rematch to occur between the ropes.

Tom Taylor - November 19, 2018

In the sport of MMA, there’s no victory celebration more tried and true than a fighter scaling the cage and throwing their arms up in triumph. We’ve seen countless fighters do so after big stoppage victories. Santiago Ponzinibbio did so just last weekend after knocking out Neil Magny in the UFC Argentina main event. Apparently, however, nailing this post-fight celebration is not as easy as it looks.

Tom Taylor - November 19, 2018

Cynthia Calvillo has not had a particularly easy year. After experiencing her first professional loss, a decision defeat to Carla Esparza, in late 2017, she tested positive for marijuana metabolites and was suspended for 9 months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Last weekend, however, on the main card of UFC Argentina, the rising prospect finally got back in the cage, where she rebounded from her loss to Esparza with a first-round submission defeat of Brazil’s Poliana Botelho.

Drake Riggs - November 18, 2018

Horrible news has come out of Hawaii that UFC flyweight and season 26 of The Ultimate Fighter contestant, Rachael Ostovich was attacked and hospitalized recently. TMZ was first to report the news out of Honolulu and does not say specifically when the attack was to have happened but does say that Ostovich is believed to have suffered a broken orbital bone. Even more unfortunate, the report states that the attacker is “someone close to her”.

Jason Kindschy - November 18, 2018

Following the announcement that former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight king, Ben Askren had finally joined the UFC roster, speculation began as to who ‘Funky’ would debut against. After immediately taking to social media and calling out the elite of the division, the dust settled and Askren was booked against former UFC champ Robbie Lawler at UFC 233.

Mike Straus - November 18, 2018

UFC Fight Night Argentina is in the books. Last night the Luna Park arena in Buenos Aires was rocking for the entire night of fights. The Argentinian faithfull showed up in a big way and it was evident from the very first fight of the night that they were ready to back their countryman.

Cole Shelton - November 18, 2018

MMA is a constantly growing sport, there is no doubt about it. Take the UFC for a prime example, they just celebrated their 25th anniversary of existence this year, while sports leagues like the MLB and the NHL have been around for over a hundred years. With MMA so young, promotions are learning on the fly. For welterweight legend, Jake Shields, he understands this better than most. He began his professional career in 1999, and since then the whole MMA world has changed before his eyes.

Tom Taylor - November 18, 2018

On Saturday night, in the UFC’s debut show in Argentina, perennial welterweight contender Neil Magny stepped into the Octagon with hometown hero Santiago Ponzinibbio. Early in the fight, Magny was able to bust up Ponzinibbio’s eye, which looked like a positive sign for him. Unfortunately, however, the American was then thumped decisively through the rest of the encounter, as Ponzinibbio battered his lead leg and ultimately removed his batteries with a right cross in the fourth round.

Jason Kindschy - November 18, 2018

The UFC’s 25 Anniversary event in Denver left fight fans with several amazing moments etched into their psyche. One of them of course being the devastating arm bar executed by Colorado native Donald Cerrone against former teammate Mike Perry. Following the submission loss against Cerrone, Perry has been nothing short of gracious. Speaking with BJPENN Radio earlier this week, “Platinum” gave an update on the condition of his arm, and what went wrong in regards to game plan execution.

Tom Taylor - November 18, 2018

Isaac Vallie-Flagg, who is a veteran of the Strikeforce and UFC cages, has seen pretty much everything when it comes to mixed martial arts. Last weekend, however, the MMA veteran ventured into a new and unfamiliar realm of combat sports: bare knuckle fighting. Vallie-Flagg did so as part of the inaugural show from upstart bare knuckle promotion World Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation (WBKFF), battling Cory Simpson on the undercard of the event.

Tom Taylor - November 18, 2018

After his crushing, fourth-round KO of Neil Magny in the UFC Argentina main event, Santiago Ponzinibbio wants a shot a UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. That being said, it doesn’t sound like the Argentine knockout artist expects to get his desired fight with the welterweight king. Woodley essentially told Ponzinibbio to get in line post-fight, and now the streaking Argentine feels like he’s being ducked.

Tom Taylor - November 18, 2018

On Saturday night, in the main event of UFC Argentina, long-time UFC welterweight contender Neil Magny stepped into the cage with local hero Santiago Ponzinibbio. Although Magny was able to bust up Ponzinibbio’s eye in the first round, he was thumped decisively through the rest of the fight, as Ponzinibbio battered his lead leg and ultimately removed his batteries with a right cross in the fourth round. It was a tough loss for Neil Magny, who travelled thousands of miles south to fight Santiago Ponzinibbio on his home turf. All the same, the ever-classy welterweight contender seems to be in good spirits.

Tom Taylor - November 18, 2018

Earlier this month, in the co-main event of the UFC’s 25th anniversary show in Denver, Colorado, welterweight knockout artist “Platinum” Mike Perry stepped into the cage with long-time contender Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Unfortunately for Perry and his many fans, this fight didn’t go as planned. Instead, he was forced to tap to a Cowboy armbar in the first round. Heading into this fight, Mike Perry says he spent a lot of time sharpening his kickboxing arsenal with the elite coaches and training partners at JacksonWink MMA in Albuquerque. Even though he didn’t get the result he wanted against Cowboy, he says he’s happy with the striking improvements he showed in the fight.