MMA News

Tom Taylor - May 9, 2018

Kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki, who made his UFC debut in September with a first-round demolition of Henrique da Silva, might just be the most accomplished striker to ever set foot in the Octagon. As such, his opinions on the UFC’s other striking specialists are particularly interesting. In a Wednesday interview with BJPenn.com’s Jason Kindschy, Saki was asked to size up the UFC’s other striking experts. Let’s just say his answer reflected his tremendous confidence in his own abilities.

Tom Taylor - May 9, 2018

Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has been trying to find a suitable opponent for his retirement fight for some time, but seems to be having a little bit of difficulty doing so. Kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki, who is now firmly embedded as a member of the UFC light heavyweight roster, is hoping to make the search a little easier for the former middleweight champ. Shortly after Bisping took to Twitter to ask the fans who they wanted to see him fight in his final bout, Saki threw his own name in the hat.

Tom Taylor - May 9, 2018

After a lengthy stint in the UFC’s Octagon, Australian strawweight-turned-flyweight Bec Rawlings has parted ways with the promotion. That, of course, does not mean her combat sports career is over. While Rawlings will continue to make her living in the perilous world of prizefighting, she will be making a foray into a different realm of combat. The Australian talent is now poised to try her hand at bareknuckle boxing, and will debut under the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) banner on June 2.

Tom Taylor - May 9, 2018

This weekend, in the main event of Bellator 199, current Bellator light heavyweight champ Ryan Bader will battle former Strikeforce champ Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal in the final first-round matchup of the promotion’s exciting Heavyweight Grand Prix. The winner will then collide with Matt Mitrione, who defeated Roy Nelson to advance to the second round, later this year. Speaking to MMAjunkie this week, Mitrione discussed this Bader vs. King Mo matchup. Apparently, he’s got nothing but respect for Bader. King Mo, meanwhile, isn’t exactly his favorite person.

Tom Taylor - May 9, 2018

Originally, Frankie Edgar was expected to get a crack at Max Holloway and the UFC featherweight title at UFC 222 back in March. When Holloway was forced out of the bout with an injury, however, Edgar instead fought late-notice replacement Brian Ortega, who knocked him out in the first round. Having sustained this tough knockout loss, Edgar’s featherweight title dreams were briefly dashed, while Ortega earned the chance to battle Holloway for gold at UFC 226 this July. Luckily, however, Edgar was able to rebound with an April win over Cub Swanson, and now appears to be on the cusp of a title shot once again. In fact, UFC President Dana White says Edgar is the next man in line for that shot, and that he could also be called on if Holloway or Ortega is forced off the UFC 226 bill.

Tom Taylor - May 9, 2018

Last night, footage of Darren Till teeing off on a sparring partner hit the ‘net. While Till looks absolutely vicious in this footage, it did not take long for fans and pundits to begin criticizing him for taking things too far with a seemingly outmatched stablemate. https://www.instagram.com/p/BihuSvGFRH5/

Tom Taylor - May 9, 2018

Chuck Liddell has been toying with the idea of a comeback for quite some time, and now it sounds as though he’s closer than ever to pulling the trigger. Speaking to TMZ Sports, retired boxing legend and long-time promoter Oscar De La Hoya announced that he’s close to finalizing contracts that will see Liddell compete in his new MMA promotion — probably against his biggest rival, Tito Ortiz.

Drake Riggs - May 8, 2018

https://youtu.be/1HTNW25s0M8?t=8s Darren Till has been occupying the metaphorical shelf since his gigantic breakthrough victory over Donald Cerrone in October at UFC Gdansk and now he’s very clearly ready to get back inside the Octagon.

Drake Riggs - May 8, 2018

Looking for a prospect battle? Well, one that has fans more interested than almost any other fight right now is the proposed Zabit Magomedsharipov vs Yair Rodriguez fight after Magomedsharipov called Rodriguez out after his recent win at UFC 223. It’s now been a full month since UFC 223 and according to UFC president, Dana White via Lance Pugmire, the fight is on for UFC 227 in Los Angeles, California on August 4th.

Tom Taylor - May 8, 2018

The UFC’s upcoming stop in Boise, Idaho, which is scheduled for July 14, keeps getting better. The latest bout to be tacked onto the bill is a dynamite featherweight matchup between all-heart Team Alpha Male star Darren Elkins and surging Australian prospect Alexander Volkanovski. This bout was first reported by BJPenn.com’s Tom Taylor.

Tom Taylor - May 8, 2018

When Gunnar Nelson was forced out of his UFC Liverpool co-main event showdown with Neil Magny, sixth-ranked UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal offered to step in and replace him. He only asked that this short-notice bout with Magny be contested at a 180-pound catchweight, as he wouldn’t be able to make the welterweight division’s 170-pound limit in time for the card. Regrettably, it seems as though this fight won’t be happening.  Masvidal gave his side of things on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour.

Tom Taylor - May 8, 2018

Over the last few weeks, there’s been significant buzz about a potential fight between Bellator welterweight champ Rory MacDonald, and former Bellator and ONE welterweight champ Ben Askren. While this fight is one that most fans want to see, the key roadblock is that, even in his retirement, Askren remains under contract with ONE Championship. In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Bellator President Scott Coker divulged that he recently met with ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong to discuss a possible Askren vs. MacDonald matchup. While we already know that Coker isn’t interested in bringing Askren back to Bellator for a one-off fight, it sounds like he is interested in swapping fighters with ONE Championship in the future.

Tom Taylor - May 8, 2018

Late last month, BJJ ace and Conor McGregor training partner Dillon Danis made a successful MMA debut, tapping Kyle Walker with a first-round toe-hold on the main card of Bellator 198. Shortly thereafter, former Bellator lightweight champ Michael Chandler took to Twitter to share his thoughts on Danis. Just catching up to #bellator198 @dillondanis said he was the “highest paid fighter in @BellatorMMA” but I think he meant to say “most un-athletic fighter in Bellator” and that was against a man with a losing record. #cringe #slow #sloth #bellator198

Tom Taylor - May 8, 2018

The UFC and ESPN have reached a new deal, per a joint release from the two parties (via MMAJunkie). Starting in 2019, the UFC will begin streaming content on ESPN+, ESPN’s new streaming service, which costs $4.99 a month. The deal will include 15, 12-fight events per year, which will be referred to as “UFC on ESPN+ Fight Nights.”

Tom Taylor - May 8, 2018

Over the weekend, reports surfaced that former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre could be fighting Nate Diaz at UFC 227 on August 4 in Los Angeles. https://twitter.com/MIKERUSSELLMMA/status/992990891865407488

Tom Taylor - May 8, 2018

Can’t wait for @ufc July 7th!! @francis_ngannou @syndicatemma @UnbrandedSupply #mma #ufc #monsterenergy #team pic.twitter.com/2OzDQDs2y3 — John Wood (@bigwoodmma) May 4, 2018

Drake Riggs - May 7, 2018

The last time Team Alpha Male staple and perennial top 5 featherweight contender, Chad Mendes was seen competing inside the Octagon was in December of 2015. 2015 was a busy year for the Sacramento native as he fought three times going 1-2 against the likes of Ricardo Lamas, Conor McGregor and Frankie Edgar(in that order).

Tom Taylor - May 7, 2018

Earlier this year, on an April episode of BJ Penn Radio, UFC 225 interim welterweight title challenger Colby Covington shared plans to pursue gold in the lightweight middleweight divisions in the future.