MMA News
James Gallagher predicts Conor McGregor will KO Khabib Nurmagomedov inside 2 minutes
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2018
In the opinion of rising Bellator MMA star James Gallagher, Conor McGregor will knock Khabib Nurmagomedov out in the very first round of their anticipated UFC 229 title fight. Gallagher, who trains alongside McGregor at SBG Ireland, made his prediction for this October 6 fight in a recent interview with MMAjunkie.
Paulie Malignaggi takes another shot at Conor McGregor: "He can't stop talking about me"
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2018
Paulie Malignaggi was supposed to be an ally of Conor McGregor. The retired boxer was brought into the Irish mixed martial artist’s camp to help him prepare for his August 2017 boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. When Paulie Malignaggi began to feel as though he was being misrepresented by McGregor and his team, however, he packed his bags.
Dana White on Stipe Miocic: "Every time I turn around, he feels disrespected"
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2018
Back in in July, in the main event of UFC 226, Stipe Miocic’s record-breaking reign as UFC heavyweight champion came to a skittering halt, as he was put down by reigning light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. The, in the immediate fallout of this fight, we learned that Cormier’s first defense as heavyweight champion would likely pit him against former champion and WWE superstar Brock Lesnar. This turn of events has not gone over well with Stipe Miocic. Miocic, who defended the heavyweight title three consecutive times — more than any previous heavyweight champ — feels he deserves an immediate rematch with Cormier.
Raphael Assuncao on next bantamweight title shot: I've done everything I have to do
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2018
One of the most intense debates in MMA at present surrounds who deserves the next crack at UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw. There are those who feel the opportunity should go to former champion Dominick Cruz. There are others who feel former World Series of Fighting champion Marlon Moraes has earned the opportunity. And there are those who feel Raphael Assuncao is the most deserving man. According to Raphael Assuncao himself, there’s really no debating it.
EXCLUSIVE | Colby Covington will be "rooting for Woodley" at UFC 228
Tom Taylor - August 12, 2018
When Colby Covington defeated Rafael dos Anjos in the co-main event of UFC 225, he earned himself the UFC interim welterweight belt. The expectation was this accomplishment would set him up for a title unifying showdown with undisputed champion Tyron Woodley. But unfortunately for Covington, this isn’t the way things happened. Instead, the next welterweight title shot will go to England’s Darren Till, who will battle Woodley in the main event of UFC 228 on September 8. Once this fight is underway, the UFC will quietly strip Covington of his interim title — though he certainly has other ideas.
EXCLUSIVE | Bellator champion Darrion Caldwell expects Dominick Cruz to reclaim UFC title by year's end
Tom Taylor - August 12, 2018
Alliance MMA is home to two of the top bantamweights in the world in reigning Bellator bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell and former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. Speaking on the latest episode of BJPENN.COM Radio, Darrion Caldwell heaped praised on Dominick Cruz and assured that he — and nobody else — deserves the next shot at reigning UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw.
Urijah Faber makes pick for Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov fight
Tom Taylor - August 12, 2018
On October 6, in the main event of UFC 229, undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will attempt to defend his title against the sport’s biggest star, former lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor. It’s one of the biggest fights in UFC history, and one that has fans, pundits, and the pair’s fellow fighters divided. There are those that believe Nurmagomedov’s grappling and pressure will simply be too much for McGregor. Simultaneously, there are those who believe that McGregor’s timing and power will spell the end of Nurmagomedov’s unbeaten streak.
Dustin Poirier makes prediction for Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor fight
Tom Taylor - August 12, 2018
On October 6, in the main event of UFC 229, undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will attempt to defend his title against the sport’s biggest star, former lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor. While nothing is set in stone just yet, the winner of this fight could then defend the title against surging contender Dustin Poirier. Given that Dustin Poirier could be the next man in line for the Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor winner, he’ll be watching with keen interest. So who does he think will win?
Santiago Ponzinibbio calls out Rafael dos Anjos, dos Anjos fires back
Tom Taylor - August 12, 2018
In a recent interview with Combate, surging Argentine welterweight contender Santiago Ponzinibbio called for a fight with former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos. It’s his hope that he and dos Anjos can fight in the main event of the UFC’s November 17 debut in Argentina. “Want to fight in November? Fight me,” Santiago Ponzinibbio said of dos Anjos. “November 17, in South America, let’s do the main fight. Stop being loose and [not] fighting. You have to fight. I do not understand why he’s running out of the fight, being able to put on a big show in South America, near his country. Let’s make a historic event, the first time [the UFC comes to Argentina], a very good opportunity. I do not understand what happens to him. [It’s a] good fight, I can not understand. The guy is running from the fight and I do not know why.”
Dana White considers Conor McGregor "one of the most underrated fighters in the UFC"
Tom Taylor - August 12, 2018
As the man behind the biggest pay-per-views the UFC has ever promoted, Conor McGregor is the biggest star in MMA history. As the previous owner of two UFC titles, and victories over top fighters like Dustin Poirier, Chad Mendes, Jose Aldo, and Eddie Alvarez, he’s also one of the best fighters to ever do it. In the opinion of UFC President Dana White, that latter fact is often forgotten. “It’s funny to say this because of how popular he is and what a huge star he is, but I think Conor McGregor is one of the most underrated fighters in the UFC,” White said on UFC Unfiltered (via MMANytt). “Every time Conor McGregor comes out to fight somebody new and it’s a wrestler or it’s whatever, this is the fight that Conor is going to lose. He said that he would knock out Jose Aldo the way he did it, he said he would do it in the first round.
With Jorge Masvidal unavailable, Leon Edwards calls for fights with Rafael dos Anjos, Robbie Lawler
Tom Taylor - August 12, 2018
In the wake of his recent decision victory over Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, rising welterweight contender Leon Edwards called for a fight with Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal. “At the time, he was No. 6 in the rankings and I was going down in the rankings and everyone else was matched up, so why not take out another old gun?” Edwards said, explaining why he called out Masvidal. “Masvidal, he’s been around again, a long time, so why not go in there and take him out?
RIZIN 12 results: Luiz Gustavo pulls off the upset, Hatsu Hioki and Angela Magana falter
Drake Riggs - August 12, 2018
Once again the RIZIN Fighting Federation has delivered another great night of action. We saw a little bit of everything, including comebacks and upsets. As far as spectacles go, it’s hard to beat a RIZIN event. This time though, everything was straight to the point as the show took place in a smaller arena than usual, the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya.
Conor McGregor and Paulie Malignaggi's Twitter beef is back on
Thomas Taylor - August 11, 2018
This time last year, Conor McGregor was closing in on his headline-dominating boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. His biggest opponent outside the ring, however, was retired boxer Paulie Malignaggi. McGregor and Malignaggi went from allies to enemies in a matter of weeks. Initially, Malignaggi was brought into McGregor’s training camp to help him prepare for his debut boxing match. After McGregor and his team began gloating about an alleged knockdown that the Irishman allegedly scored on the boxer in a sparring session, things promptly went south.
Henry Cejudo: "it would be good" to give next flyweight title shot to somebody other than Mighty Mouse
Thomas Taylor - August 11, 2018
Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson is no longer the UFC flyweight champion. That honor now belongs to Henry Cejudo, who swiped the belt from Johnson with a hard-fought unanimous decision at UFC 227 earlier this month. Given that Johnson had defended the title 11 consecutive times before losing it, and that he knocked Cejudo out in their first fight just two years ago, the widespread feeling is that the former champion should get an immediate opportunity to reclaim the title.
TJ Dillashaw tells Gervonta Davis to sign a one-round UFC contract "That's all I need!"
Chris Taylor - August 11, 2018
TJ Dillashaw proved that he is the best bantamweight fighter on the planet at last weekend’s UFC 227 event in Los Angeles. “Killashaw” needed less than five minutes to TKO his former teammate turned bitter rival Cody Garbrandt in the evenings main event.
Kevin Lee has started training camp and intends to fight on October 6 at UFC 229
Chris Taylor - August 11, 2018
Former UFC interim lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee (17-3 MMA) has started training camp and intends to fight on October 6 at UFC 229. There is just one problem, “The Motown Phenom” is still without a willing opponent.
Kamaru Usman will be on standby incase a replacement is needed for UFC 228
Chris Taylor - August 11, 2018
Perennial UFC welterweight contender Kamaru Usman will be on standby incase a replacement is needed for next months UFC 228 main event. UFC 228, which takes place September 8 in Dallas, is headlined by a welterweight title fight featuring current champion Tyron Woodley taking on undefeated contender Darren Till.
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua lays out retirement plans
Thomas Taylor - August 11, 2018
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s July knockout loss to Anthony Smith did more than derail his impressive, three-fight winning streak. It also caused many fans to call for the former UFC light heavyweight champion’s retirement. Apparently, Shogun has heard these calls, and retirement is something he’s starting to think about himself.