MMA News

Tom Taylor - June 10, 2018

Last night, in the main event of the stacked UFC 225, middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and top middleweight contender Yoel Romero met for a second time — though Romero was not eligible to win the title due to a slight weigh-in miss. The pair’s main event showdown would go down as one of the very best fights of the year, complete with several near-stoppages, and some truly incredible momentum shifts. In the end, Whittaker would win this bout with a somewhat controversial split decision, moving to 2-0 over the fearsome Cuban in the process. That being said, there are really no losers in a war of this kind, which truly riveted the MMA community from beginning to end.

Tom Taylor - June 10, 2018

Turn sound on. Grab some popcorn. You're welcome. pic.twitter.com/8q2QxCvXxL — FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) June 10, 2018

Chris Taylor - June 9, 2018

A middleweight rematch between current division champion Robert Whittaker and top contender Yoel Romero served as the headliner of tonight’s UFC 225 pay-per-view event in Chicago. Unfortunately for fight fans, Yoel Romero missed weight by a mere .2 lbs on Friday and thus tonight’s UFC 225 main event was no longer for Robert Whittaker’s coveted middleweight championship.

Chris Taylor - June 9, 2018

Colby Covington and Rafael dos Anjos squared off for the promotions interim welterweight title in the co-headliner of tonight’s UFC 225 event in Chicago. Colby Covington entered tonight’s championship bout on a five-fight win streak, his latest being a lopsided decision win over Demian Maia.

Chris Taylor - June 9, 2018

A heavyweight bout between former division champion Andrei Arlovski and surging contender Tai Tuivasa took place during tonight’s UFC 225 main card in Chicago. Round one begins and both men appear happy to stand and bang early on. Left hands connect for both fighter. Tai with a hard low kick. Arlovski responds with one of his own. Andrei with a jab. Tuivasa chases after him and wins Andrei trips and falls to the floor. Tai winds up in full mount. He postures up and looks to rain down punches but Andrei scrambles and gets back to his feet. Arlovski on the move now. He presses Tai against the cage. Tuivasa breaks free. Both men begin to stand and trade. Arlovski lands a nice right hand. That landed flush. Tai retreats and Arlovski is quick to move in. The fighters clinch and then break. The horn sounds to end round one.

Chris Taylor - June 9, 2018

Former WWE star Phil Brooks (aka CM Punk) returned to the octagon tonight in front of his hometown of Chicago where he squared off with Mike Jackson in the first bout of the UFC 225 main card. Both men, CM Punk and Mike Jackson, entered tonight’s contest with an 0-1 record and thus were searching for their first professional mixed martial arts victory.

Chris Taylor - June 9, 2018

A key heavyweight scrap between former title challenger Alistair Overeem and surging division contender Curtis Blaydes served as the featured bout of tonight’s UFC 225 prelims on FS1. Former Strikeforce and DREAM champion Alistair Overeem entered tonight’s contest with a 43-16 overall record while his opponent Curtis Blaydes entered the matchup 9-1.

Chris Taylor - June 9, 2018

A pivitol women’s strawweight fight between former title challenger Claudia Gadelha and former division champion Carla Esparza took place during tonight’s UFC 225 prelims from Chicago. Claudia Gadelha entered tonight’s contest with a 15-3 record while her opponent Carla Esparza sported a record of 13-4 overall.

Chris Taylor - June 9, 2018

A light heavyweight scrap between Anthony Smith and former division champion Rashad Evans served as the featured bout of tonight’s UFC 225 fight pass prelims from Chicago. Rashad Evans entered tonight’s contest on a four fight losing streak and sported a record of 19-7-1 overall.

Chris Taylor - June 9, 2018

A key flyweight bout between former title challenger Joseph Benavidez and perennial division contender Sergio Pettis took place during tonight’s UFC 225 Fight Pass prelims from Chicago. Joseph Benavidez entered the contest with a record of 25-4, while his opponent Sergio Pettis sported a record of 16-3 overall.

Chris Taylor - June 9, 2018

A lightweight bout between veterans Clay Guida and Charles Oliveira took place during tonight’s UFC 225 Fight Pass prelims from Chicago. Clay Guida entered tonight’s contest with a 34-17 record while his opponent Charles Oliveira sported a record of 22-8 overall.

Mike Pendleton - June 9, 2018

James Krause has had his hand involved in many ways with mixed martial arts. He’s on a four-fight win streak in the lightweight division, he’s a former Ultimate Fighter contestant, and he’s also coached on Team Miocic during this current season of TUF. Although he’s been successful inside the Octagon, Krause has been finding more gratitude and happiness in being a coach. Krause is the main coach for Megan Anderson who is making her much anticipated UFC debut after plenty of success in Invicta FC. Entering her UFC debut on a four-fight win streak of her own, Anderson will take on former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm in the first ever non-title women’s featherweight fight.

Chris Taylor - June 9, 2018

UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will still square off with Yoel Romero in the headliner of tonight’s UFC 225 event in Chicago. However, because Yoel Romero missed weight by .2 lbs on Friday, he will not be eligible to win the promotions coveted middleweight championship.

Mike Pendleton - June 8, 2018

Mike Jackson is getting his second UFC fight in enemy territory against a guy who has quite the following, and that’s why this fight has become what it is. When Jackson takes on Phil Brooks, better known as CM Punk, he’ll do so at the United Center in Chicago, Punk’s hometown. However, if you’re willing to take a step back and remove the former WWE superstar’s name from the fight, Jackson says you would see why he’s so fired up and confident headed into this one.

Drake Riggs - June 8, 2018

In today’s MMA world, the excitement or…disappointment often starts with the weigh-ins. And today was no different. Initially, one half of the main event’s title fight rematch, Yoel Romero weighed in at 186 pounds which is one pound over the 185 pound middleweight limit for championship fights.

Drake Riggs - June 8, 2018

If you didn’t know, Colby Covington and Jon Jones happen to know each other pretty well. In fact, they actually went to college together. Never attempting to avoid stirring things up in one way or another, Covington says what he wants about who he wants. That includes former UFC light heavyweight king, ‘Bones’ Jones.

Tom Taylor - June 8, 2018

After tipping the scales at 186 pounds — one pound above the limit for middleweight title fights — Yoel Romero was given an additional two hours to attempt to shed that final pound. Apparently, however, his efforts to lose the final pound were cut short by a commission executive, and his team doesn’t know why. This is particularly interesting information, as Romero ultimately came in 0.2 pounds above the 185-pound limit as a result. Ariel Helwani explained the situation on Twitter:

Tom Taylor - June 8, 2018

Earlier this morning, Yoel Romero missed weight for his UFC 225 middleweight title fight with divisional champ Robert Whittaker, tipping the scales one pound above the 185-pound limit for middleweight title fights. He was then given two additional hours to weigh in. Almost two hours later, Romero took to the scale for a second time, and unfortunately, he once again missed, tipping the scales at 185.2 pounds — just 0.2 above the mark. He will not be given another chance to weigh in, per the rules of the commission in Illinois.