MMA News
Robert Whittaker is happy he never had to fight Michael Bisping
Tom Taylor - June 4, 2018
When former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping announced his retirement late last month, he closed the door on a number of exciting potential matchups. There’s the fight between Bisping and his rival Yoel Romero, which we never got to see. There’s the much discussed trilogy fight between Bisping and Luke Rockhold, who are tied 1-1 across to fights. There are other fights between Bisping and stars like Lyoto Machida, Chris Weidman and Jacare Souza. And then, of course, there’s the potential fight between Bisping and the reigning UFC middleweight king, Robert Whittaker. Bisping and Whittaker looked destined to collide at several points throughout their respective careers. They were, of course, briefly scheduled to fight at UFC 193, until Bisping was forced out of the matchup an injury. Then, there was the short period during which Bisping was the undisputed middleweight champion and Whittaker was interim champion, when they also seemed to be on a collision course.
EXCLUSIVE | Colby Covington explains why CM Punk belongs on the UFC 225 main card
Tom Taylor - June 4, 2018
The news that Alistair Overeem and Curtis Blaydes‘s heavyweight bout had been bumped from the UFC 225 card to make room for a featherweight contender bout between Holly Holm and Megan Anderson was met with significant backlash from the fans. This backlash had nothing to do with Holm and Anderson’s placement on the main card. The prevailing feeling, instead, was that if there was any fight that should have been bumped off the main card to make room for the featherweights, it was CM Punk’s fight with Mike Jackson, not Overeem’s fight with Blaydes.
How Kevin Lee could emerge as the surprise No. 1 lightweight contender
Jordy McElroy - June 4, 2018
There is such a thing as being in the right place at the right time, as former UFC champion Michael Bisping once proved when he stepped in for an injured Chris Weidman to compete for a world title. A similar opportunity could come knocking for lightweight phenom Kevin Lee in a division riddled with injuries and chaos the likes of which has never been seen. Stranger things have happened.
Holly Holm still feels like bantamweight is "home" as UFC 225 featherweight contender fight approaches
Tom Taylor - June 4, 2018
This Saturday night, on the main card of UFC 225, former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm will battle Megan Anderson in a fight that is likely to produce the next challenger for featherweight champ Cris Cyborg. While a win at UFC 225 could easily earn Holm another crack at Cyborg, who she lost a decision to in December, she still feels like the bantamweight division is her true home. “I definitely feel like 135 is a little more my home,” Holm said Friday at a UFC 225 media lunch (via MMAFighting).
Andrea Lee's husband, coach issues statement on Nazi tattoos, says he won't get them removed
Tom Taylor - June 4, 2018
Donny Aaron, the husband and coach of UFC flyweight Andrea Lee, has a number of Nazi tattoos on his body. The first, a Swastika, appears near the elbow of his left arm (visible in the image above). The second, the SS bolts of Adolf Hilter’s Schutzstaffel, appears on his right arm (visible below). These tattoos are not new, but only recently became public knowledge thanks to an social media post from Lee, in which Aaron’s swastika tattoo was brazenly displayed.
Stipe Miocic enlists Bellator light heavyweight champ Ryan Bader to help prepare for Daniel Cormier
Tom Taylor - June 4, 2018
On July 7, in the main event of the absurdly stacked UFC 226, UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic will attempt to defend his title against a beefed-up version of UFC light Daniel Cormier. In anticipation of this momentous challenge, Miocic has called on Ryan Bader to help him prepare. Bader, of course, is a very interesting training partner for Miocic. First and foremost, he is a big, powerful wrestler with wicked punching power, like Cormier. Secondly, as the Bellator light heavyweight champion and an entrant in Bellator’s Heavyweight Grand Prix, he’s also light heavyweight champion vying for a heavyweight title — just like Cormier.
EXCLUSIVE | Colby Covington explains how he's been preparing for "juiced-up little lightweight" Rafael dos Anjos
Tom Taylor - June 4, 2018
This Saturday night, in the co-main event of UFC 225, surging welterweight contender Colby Covington will battle former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos for the interim welterweight title.
Georges St-Pierre says it's "still easy" for fighters to beat drug tests, even in USADA era
Tom Taylor - June 4, 2018
In Georges St-Pierre’s eyes, performance-enhancing drug use is still a major problem in the UFC. Although the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has been working diligently to punish fighters who seek to gain an advantage with banned substances, St-Pierre feels there are still plenty of cheaters slipping through their nets. “Even now, it’s still easy to [cheat]. Even now,” St-Pierre said recently during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience (transcribed by MMA Fighting).
Rafael dos Anjos doesn't think Darren Till will last long at welterweight
Tom Taylor - June 3, 2018
Last weekend, in the main event of UFC Liverpool, Darren Till picked up the biggest win of his career thus far, scoring a close decision victory over two-time welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. Regrettably, Till’s win was shadowed in controversy, as he missed weight for the bout, tipping the scales three and a half pounds over the 171-pound limit for non-title welterweight fights. In the opinion of Rafael dos Anjos, who will battle Colby Covington for the UFC interim welterweight title in the co-main event of UFC 225, Till’s struggles with the scale will probably eventually force him up to the 185-pound welterweight division. The recent behind-the-scenes footage of Till’s weight-cut was all the proof dos Anjos needed to this end.
Conor McGregor gives Bec Rawlings some love after her bareknuckle boxing win
Tom Taylor - June 3, 2018
On Saturday night, sanctioned bareknuckle boxing returned to America for the first time since 1889. The sport’s triumphant return came courtesy of upstart promotion Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. The promotion’s first card, which went down in Cheyenne, Wyoming, featured a number of combat sports notables, including former UFC strawweight and flyweight Bec Rawlings, who met boxer Alma Garcia in the ring. Rawlings won her fight decisively, winning via doctor stoppage, as Garcia could not return for the second round.
Jimmie Rivera explains back-stage confrontation with Marlon Moraes's manager
Tom Taylor - June 3, 2018
On Friday night, the UFC touched down in Utica, New York with an exciting night of fights. In the main event, streaking bantamweight contenders Jimmie Rivera and Marlon Moraes collided in a fight that was widely expected to produce the division’s next title challenger. Unfortunately for Rivera and his fans, this one went to Moraes — and decisively so. Just 33 seconds into the first round, Moraes ended things with a crushing head-kick KO.
VIDEO | Joey Beltran and Tony Lopez hang out after their thrilling bareknuckle war
Tom Taylor - June 3, 2018
Last night, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship promoted the first fully sanctioned bareknuckle boxing card to occur on American soil since 1889. As expected, this event provided a high quantity of blood and action.
Manager claims that Khabib Nurmagomedov is moving on from Conor McGregor
Chris Taylor - June 2, 2018
Current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is apparently moving on from Conor McGregor. According to the Russian’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, “The Eagle” is now focused on scoring a fight with former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre.
Report | The UFC planned a mini-tournament featuring four of the promotions biggest stars
Chris Taylor - June 2, 2018
Following the conclusion of April’s UFC 223 event in Brooklyn, the promotion considered having a mini-tournament which would have featured four of the sports biggest stars. Ariel Helwani reported the UFC’s unique idea, which has apparently stalled, earlier this afternoon.
UFC 225 Fight Card and Start Time
Chris Taylor - June 2, 2018
The octagon will return to Chicago on June 9 for the promotion UFC 225 fight card. The pay-per-view event will be headlined by a middleweight title fight rematch featuring current title holder Robert Whittaker taking on top division contender Yoel Romero.
VIDEO | Jimmie Rivera and Marlon Moraes camps get in altercation folllowing UFC Utica
Chris Taylor - June 2, 2018
The grudge match between perennial bantamweight contenders Jimmie Rivera and Marlon Moraes took place in the headliner of last night’s UFC Fight Night 131 event in Utica, New York. The highly anticipated Rivera vs. Moraes showdown lasted less than sixty seconds, this after Marlon landed a clean head kick just moments into the opening round that sent Jimmie crashing to the octagon canvas.
Jarred Brooks breaks his silence after knocking himself out at UFC Utica
Chris Taylor - June 2, 2018
UFC flyweight Jarred Brooks was involved in one of the most bizarre knockouts in mixed martial arts history at last night’s UFC Fight Night 131 event in Utica, New York. Brooks squared off with UFC newcomer and former Titan FC flyweight champion Jose Torres on the preliminary card of last night’s UFC Utica event.
Jimmie Rivera issues statement following KO loss to Marlon Moraes
Chris Taylor - June 2, 2018
Jimmie Rivera was riding a huge wave of momentum heading into last night’s UFC Fight Night 131 event in Utica. The 28-year-old entered his event headlining contest with Marlon Moraes on the heels of a sensational twenty-fight win streak, which included recent decision victories over Thomas Almeida and Urijah Faber.