MMA News
Chuck Liddell responds to criticisms of training footage
Tom Taylor - November 14, 2018
On November 24, former UFC light heavyweight champs Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz will step into the cage together for a third time. In the buildup to this fight, we’ve seen snippets of both men’s preparations. Unfortunately, the footage we’ve seen of the 48-year-old Liddell’s training has generated quite a bit of controversy.
VIDEO | Tito Ortiz talks trash during Chuck Liddell's open workout
Tom Taylor - November 14, 2018
On Tuesday afternoon in West Hollywood, California, former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell partook in an open workout ahead of his polarizing trilogy fight with Tito Ortiz. Unfortunately for him, the ever outspoken Ortiz was in the building for this media event, and he did not keep quiet.
Joe Rogan on Cain Velasquez: He 'stands out as the best'
Tom Taylor - November 14, 2018
If you ask UFC color commentator Joe Rogan, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is probably the best heavyweight in MMA history. Rogan got talking about Velasquez, and what makes him so special, after a discussion about the ideal weight for a heavyweight mixed martial artist on The Joe Rogan Experience Podcast. “There’s a thought with the 265-pound weight class and the consensus thought seems to be that somewhere around 240 pounds is the magic number,” Joe Rogan said of Cain Velasquez (transcript via MMA Fighting). “That’s what they think. They think that 240 pounds is the amount of weight that you have where you’re strong enough that you can knock out any man but you have more endurance than a man that maybe weighs 265 or heavier and cuts down to 265. Now this has not been substantiated. The problem is, there hasn’t been a super powerful world championship athlete that weighed 265 pounds…
Joe Rogan believes there is only one man who should be fighting Khabib next!
Christopher Taylor - November 14, 2018
Joe Rogan believes that there is only one man who deserves the next shot at current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. According to the longtime UFC commentator, Tony Ferguson is the obvious choice to be the next man to challenge “The Eagle”.
Nevada State Athletic Commission adopts the new unified rules of MMA, excludes grounded fighter rule
Drake Riggs - November 13, 2018
Better late than never. Fights taking place in the state of Nevada will now be contested under the new unified rules of MMA. According to MMAFighting, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) approved the adoption of the new rules this past month.
VIDEO | Chael Sonnen compares his experiences against three of MMA's all-time greats
Drake Riggs - November 13, 2018
Fedor was the strongest, Jon Jones was the most dynamic, and Anderson Silva was the… pic.twitter.com/CpDcVVI2NG — Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) November 13, 2018
After losing out on Cody Garbrandt fight, Jimmie Rivera and Raphael Assuncao agree to fight
Drake Riggs - November 13, 2018
Since UFC 227, there hasn’t been a whole lot going on atop the UFC’s stacked bantamweight division. But that looks to be changing very soon. With the recent announcements of Dominick Cruz’ return at UFC 233 vs John Lineker along with champion TJ Dillashaw going down to challenge for Henry Cejudo’s flyweight title, the division remains feeling held up.
Benson Henderson re-signs with Bellator
Cole Shelton - November 13, 2018
Former WEC and UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson will continue to fight in Bellator for the foreseeable future. The news of Henderson re-signing was first reported by MMAJunkie. It is being reported that Henderson’s contract is an “exclusive, long-term deal” with Bellator. However, it is not known how many fights the contract is for or when Henderson will return to the cage.
Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol: Indonesia's most tireless athlete
BJPENN.COM Staff - November 13, 2018
It might be time to acknowledge that Indonesia’s Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol (4-3) could be the hardest working athlete in ONE Championship. Lumban Gaol is scheduled to take part in her sixth match of the year on Saturday 17 November. The wushu specialist will go head to head with Filipina Angelie Sabanal at ONE: WARRIOR’S DREAM, which will take place at Jakarta’s Stadium Istora.
Oscar De La Hoya gives positive update on Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz 3 ticket sales
Tom Taylor - November 13, 2018
On November 24, former UFC light heavyweight champs Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz will meet for a third time. The pair will collide in the main event of the first mixed martial arts offering from Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. Given the fact that Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz are both believed to be years out of their respective primes, there has been some widespread doubt that this fight will be a financial success. De La Hoya, however, assures things are going well.
Yoel Romero explains why he wants to fight Anderson Silva
Tom Taylor - November 13, 2018
Fearsome UFC middleweight contender Yoel Romero has made several callouts of UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva in the past, and apparently, it’s still a fight he’s interested in — especially now that his planned 2019 matchup with the undefeated Paulo Costa is off the table. The appeal of this fight with Anderson Silva, Yoel Romero explains, is that it would give him a clear sense of the level he’s at. If he can beat the middleweight legend, well then he’s right where he wants to be. If he can’t, then it might be time to reassess.
Curtis Blaydes questions Francis Ngannou's headspace ahead of battle in Beijing
Tom Taylor - November 13, 2018
The year 2018 has not been kind to Francis Ngannou. Though the hulking Cameroonian-French heavyweight began the year as perhaps the UFC’s most hyped fighter, he was then dominated in his anticipated title fight with Stipe Miocic, and defeated by Derrick Lewis in one of the most disappointing fights ever. After this tough run in 2018, Ngannou’s next opponent Curtis Blaydes isn’t sure what to expect when they meet in the main event of UFC Beijing on November 24. “He’s probably in a hole right now,” Curtis Blaydes said during a recent media scrum (via MMAjunkie). “0-2 after being the hotshot? That’s got to be a dark, dark place. I want him to be his best. I don’t want any excuses out of his camp or the fans or the company. I want him at his best. I’ll beat him 10 out of 10 times.”
EXCLUSIVE | TUF house created lifelong friendship for Maurice Greene and Justin Frazier
Cole Shelton - November 13, 2018
The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) is a place for fighters to try and reach their goal of fighting in the UFC. The rules are simple, win the season, get a UFC contract. Along with that, the fighters all live in a house together where arguments and drama often take place. But at times, the house has also created friendships. That’s just what happened this season as teammates Maurice Greene and Justin Frazier created a lifelong friendship inside the house. The two immediately bonded at tryouts where both of them believed they would be in the house together.
Robert Whittaker vs. Kelvin Gastelum official for UFC 234 in Melbourne
Tom Taylor - November 13, 2018
Earlier this month, ESPN reported that a middleweight title fight between reigning champ Robert Whittaker and surging contender Kelvin Gastelum was headed to UFC 234 on February 10 in Melbourne, Australia (February 9 in North America). The promotion has now made this booking official.
UFC rankings update: Yair Rodriguez, Germaine de Randamie surge up, retired Neil Seery appears at 125
James Lynch - November 13, 2018
The UFC rankings have been updated after an entertaining card last Saturday in Denver, Colorado. Following one of the best knockouts in UFC history, Yair Rodriguez jumped four spots in the featherweight division, and is now sitting at #11. His opponent “Korean Zombie” Chang Sung Jung fell two spots to #12, while Alexander Volkanovski (who is slated to face Chad Mendes at UFC 232) moved up one spot to #10. Meanwhile in the women’s bantamweight division, Germaine de Randamie reminded her fellow 135-pound fighters that she is here to stay after dominant performance over Raquel Pennington. “Iron Lady” moved up three spots to #2, just behind Holly Holm and current champion Amanda Nunes.
Henry Cejudo on TJ Dillashaw fight: 'I will cut the head off the snake forever'
Cole Shelton - November 13, 2018
On January 26, at UFC 233, UFC bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw will move down to flyweight to take on divisional champ Henry Cejudo. If Dillashaw wins this fight, he will become one of just a few fighters to hold titles in two UFC weight classes concurrently. It could also spell the end of the flyweight division. Yet Cejudo isn’t sure that’s the way things will go down. He knows the cut down to 125 pounds will be tough on Dillashaw, and also believes he possesses a skillset unlike anyone Dillashaw has fought before.
Michael Johnson open to fight with Zabit Magomedsharipov
Tom Taylor - November 13, 2018
There are not a lot of featherweights out there who are openly calling for a fight with dangerous Russian contender Zabit Magomedsharipov. Michael Johnson, however, is all for the matchup.
UFC Denver Fighter Salaries: Donald Cerrone earns top payout
Christopher Taylor - November 12, 2018
The fighters salaries from Saturday’s historic UFC Fight Night 139 event in Dever have been revealed and Donald Cerrone tops the list. “Cowboy“, took home a grand total of $390,000 for his first-round arm-snapping submission win over Mike Perry.