MMA News

Tom Taylor - July 31, 2018

During Cody Garbrandt’s reign as UFC bantamweight champion, there was much discussion surrounding his potential move down to the 125-pound flyweight division to challenge dominant divisional kingpin Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Today, as Garbrandt readies to attempt to reclaim the UFC bantamweight title from TJ Dillashaw, the man who ended his reign, he’s still interested in a future flyweight title fight with Johnson. The UFC will just have to make it worth his while.

Tom Taylor - July 31, 2018

Whole fight here: pic.twitter.com/1MRPiBkXnq — Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) July 30, 2018

Drake Riggs - July 30, 2018

At UFC 217 we witnessed one of the most anticipated grudge matches of the year and the bantamweight gold was on the line. That fight, of course, being the battle between heated former teammates TJ Dillashaw and the then champion, Cody Garbrandt.

Drake Riggs - July 30, 2018

We lost out on one of MMA’s most highly anticipated matchups in the lead up of UFC 226’s fight week. But in the end, it was for fighter safety. Showing concussion-like symptoms prior to his showdown with Brian Ortega, UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway was removed from the card.

Tom Taylor - July 30, 2018

Eddie Alvarez’s UFC on Fox 30 rematch with Dustin Poirier did not go the way he planned. Instead, the all-action lightweight star was swarmed and TKO’d in the second round. That said, Alvarez was not without his moments in the fight. In fact, it could even be argued that Alvarez was soundly in control of the fight until he landed an illegal 12-6 elbow from full mount, which prompted referee Marc Goddard to stand the fight. It was shortly after this standup that Alvarez was defeated, after all.

Tom Taylor - July 30, 2018

The most lucrative fight on Daniel Cormier’s calendar is his planned heavyweight title fight with former champion Brock Lesnar, which is expected to occur sometime in the new year. Between now and then, however, Cormier plans to defend his light heavyweight title, most likely before the year is out. When it comes to opponents for his next light heavyweight title fight, there are three clear frontrunners. They are: Corey Anderson, Ilir Latifi and Anthony Smith — since Cormier is not interested in fighting Alexander Gustafsson.

Jordy McElroy - July 30, 2018

The mantra is typically two strikes and you’re out when referring to title opportunities in combat sports, but things have obviously escalated to a traditional baseball sense when breaking down the scalding feud between UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas and former titleholder Joanna Jedrzejczyk. It could take three strikes before Jedrzejczyk is out.

Tom Taylor - July 30, 2018

On September 22, the UFC will return to the mixed martial arts hotbed of Sao Paulo, Brazil. This UFC Sao Paulo card is coming together quickly. On Sunday, the promotion announced a trio of new bouts for this UFC Sao Paulo card, featuring a number of former MMA champions and title challengers.

Tom Taylor - July 30, 2018

On October 20, fan favorite MMA veterans Phil Baroni and Chris Leben will step through the ropes to battle in a bareknuckle boxing match. While this matchup has generated a bit of controversy among fans, mainly due to Leben’s recent health problems, it’s one that has Baroni very excited. In Leben, Phil Baroni sees a kindred spirit. He considers himself and Leben to be the last of a dying breed; remnants of a vanishing warrior class that thrived not just on ability but on extreme toughness and strength of will.

Tom Taylor - July 30, 2018

In May of 2017, Dustin Poirier and Eddie Alvarez met in a thrilling fight that unfortunately ended in controversy, as Alvarez landed an illegal knee and the bout was ruled a no contest. 14 months later, in the main event of last Saturday’s UFC on Fox 30 card, the pair met again. This time around, Poirier won by second-round TKO. Regrettably, the bout once again produced a significant dosage of controversy. In the second round, Alvarez had Poirier in mount against the cage, where, in the span of a minute or so, he grabbed the fence, stuck his fingers in his foe’s ear, and landed an illegal 12-6 elbow to his shoulder — all illegal maneuvers.

Tom Taylor - July 30, 2018

Phil Baroni’s next challenge will occur in October, when he steps into the ring for a bareknuckle bout with a fellow veteran Chris Leben. For Baroni, this bareknuckle battle with Leben, a durable, ferocious, bona fide fighter, is just what the doctor ordered. Yet this isn’t the only prospective scrap that interests Baroni.

Tom Taylor - July 30, 2018

Daniel Cormier, who now owns the UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight titles, is expected to defend his heavyweight belt against Brock Lesnar in the new year. While this fight is sure to be huge, many fans feel that Brock Lesnar should not be anywhere near a heavyweight title shot. Many of these same fans feel that the first shot at Cormier’s title should go to Stipe Miocic — the very many Cormier beat to win that title.

Thomas Taylor - July 29, 2018

One year ago today, in the main event of UFC 214, Jon Jones knocked out his arch rival Daniel Cormier to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight title. In the subsequent days, however, it was learned that Jones had failed a pre-fight drug test. His knockout win was then ruled a no contest, and the title was returned to Cormier, who has held it ever since. This afternoon, Jon Jones took to Instagram with a deep and reflective statement on his last bout with Cormier, and how he’s spent the year since.

Tom Taylor - July 29, 2018

The UFC has been trying to book a women’s featherweight super fight between reigning divisional champion Cris Cyborg and bantamweight champ Amanda Nunes for months. Unfortunately, the promotion has not been able to nail the fight down as of yet. Speaking earlier this weekend in the buildup to UFC on FOX 30 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, UFC President Dana White gave a promising update on this much discussed super fight.

Tom Taylor - July 29, 2018

In the buildup to their first fight, TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt exchanged plenty of trash talk. In the buildup to their rematch, which headlines UFC 227 on August 4, things have been quieter. From the looks of it, Dillashaw is looking to change that.

Tom Taylor - July 29, 2018

From the sounds of it, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s first title defense will pit him against former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor. The pair could well meet before the year is out — perhaps even as soon as UFC 229 in October. If the fight does come together, Nurmagomedov plans to punish McGregor for his ego in the cage.

Tom Taylor - July 29, 2018

On Saturday night, on the main card of UFC on FOX 30 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk picked up massive win over the dangerous Tecia Torres. This sorely-needed victory served to separate the former champion from a pair of losses to Rose Namajunas, the woman ended her title reign. Now back in the win column, Joanna Jedrzejczyk is keen for a third fight with Rose Namajunas. Namajunas, of course, has stated she won’t give Jedrzejczyk a rematch unless the former champion admits she is the better fighter.

Tom Taylor - July 29, 2018

On Saturday night, in the main event of UFC on Fox 30 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, surging lightweight contender Dustin Poirier and former champion Eddie Alvarez stepped into the cage for an anticipated bloodletting. The bout marked a do-over of an action-packed 2017 contest that unfortunately ended as a no-contest when Alvarez landed an illegal knee. Though Alvarez certainly had his moments in the fight, Poirier ultimately emerged the victory with a huge, second-round TKO, asserting himself as one of the lightweight division’s top contenders in the process.