MMA News

Tom Taylor - May 1, 2018

Last week, reports surfaced that the UFC’s July 28 trip to Calgary, Alberta, Canada could be topped by a women’s flyweight title fight between champion Nicco Montano, and fearsome number-one-contender Valentina Shevchenko. Apparently, however, negotiations for this fight are slowly curdling, and the UFC is losing patience with its long-absent flyweight queen. This news comes from Ariel Helwani on Twitter.

Tom Taylor - May 1, 2018

This is not a drill. Mark Coleman, who was the first-ever UFC heavyweight champion, wants to come back for one more war. He’s hoping to rematch fellow UFC Hall-of-Famer Don Frye in what sounds like a no holds barred match, complete with head-butts and all the other attacks that were allowed in the halcyon days of our fine sport. It all began when Coleman took to The UG MMA forums and expressed interest in coaching an upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite Frye. Shortly thereafter, fan interest began to spike on social media. This prompted Coleman to make another callout of Frye — though he still only seemed interested in coaching against his fellow legend.

Tom Taylor - May 1, 2018

When Dustin Poirier knocked out Justin Gaethje in the thrilling main event of the UFC’s recent stop in Glendale, AZ, it seemed like he’d all but locked up a bout with new UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Poirier even claimed that he’d been contacted by Nurmagomedov’s team about a potential fight. “Khabib’s manager reached out to me and told me I’m the next guy in line and they want to fight me,” Poirier said on a recent episode of The MMA Hour.

Tom Taylor - May 1, 2018

Last weekend, in the first bout of the Bellator 198 main card, Brazilian jiu-jitsu star Dillon Danis stepped into the cage for his first mixed martial arts bout. Though he took a few licks early in the fight, Danis ultimately came out on top in impressive fashion, tapping his foe with a toehold in the first frame. In his post-fight interview with cage-side commentator “Big” John McCarthy Danis shot for the stars with a callout of ostensibly retired former Bellator and ONE welterweight champion Ben Askren, who has recently been angling for big-ticket fights with Rory MacDonald and Georges St-Pierre.

Tom Taylor - April 30, 2018

At UFC 203, which went down in September of 2016, former pro wrestling superstar CM Punk took his first steps into the MMA cage. While he showed off some impressive toughness in this MMA debut, the fight itself went pretty disastrously, as we he was mauled to a first-round submission loss by his opponent Mickey Gall. At UFC 225, which goes on June 9 in his native Chicago, Illinois, CM Punk will look to erase the memory of this disappointing MMA debut, as he takes on the dangerous Mike “The Truth” Jackson. As this fight draws closer, we can expect plenty of mic time from both Punk and Jackson. When Jackson is speaking publicly, however, don’t expect him to call his foe by his pro wrestling monicker. No, he’ll be referring to CM Punk exclusively by the name is mother gave him: Phil Brooks.

Tom Taylor - April 30, 2018

After two victories inside the UFC’s Octagon, kickboxing transplant Israel Adesanya has been booked for his first main event battle. “The Last Stylebender” will collide with Hawaii’s Brad Tavares in the headliner of The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 6. Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) vs. Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) set for TUF 27 Finale in Las Vegas #UFC pic.twitter.com/gakShTbjiq

Tom Taylor - April 30, 2018

For a time, Daniel Cormier seemed to receive an inexplicable amount of hate from fight fans. Lately, however, that’s begun to change. The UFC light heavyweight champ seems to be increasingly popular with the fans — even among those who used to boo him. Speaking on a recent media tour promoting The Ultimate Fighter 27, on which he’s coaching opposite Stipe Miocic, Cormier discussed his new and improved relationship with the fans.

Tom Taylor - April 30, 2018

One of the biggest possible fights in MMA at present is a showdown between new UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, and troubled former champion Conor McGregor. When considering possible settings for this fight, one of the most compelling options is Moscow, in Nurmagomedov’s native Russia. This is a territory the UFC has not yet ventured into, and one McGregor and his team have previously expressed interest in exploring themselves.

Tom Taylor - April 30, 2018

When Tony Ferguson was forced out of his UFC 223 lightweight title fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov, top UFC featherweight contender Brian Ortega was briefly considered as a replacement opponent for the Russian star. Though the opportunity to fight Nurmagomedov instead went to UFC featherweight champ Max Holloway — and ultimately Al Iaquinta — Ortega is still intrigued by the potential matchup. He believes that his world-class jiu-jitsu skill make him a very dangerous test for the undefeated Russian grappler.

Tom Taylor - April 30, 2018

Over the last few weeks, undefeated former Bellator and ONE welterweight titleholder Ben Askren has expressed interest in ending his retirement for a fight with Rory MacDonald in Bellator, or Georges St-Pierre in the UFC. Chatri Sityodtong, the Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship (where Askren is still technically under contract) seemed willing to work with Bellator to allow Askren to fight Rory MacDonald.

Tom Taylor - April 30, 2018

These days, Dan Hardy is known more as a fantastic cage-side commentator than a mixed martial artist. There was a time not all that long ago, however, that “The Outlaw” resided amongst the best welterweights on earth. He even battled Georges St-Pierre for gold, and survived the full 25 minutes with the welterweight great. Hardy’s prolonged absence from the cage has been caused, in large part, by a rare heart condition. Provided he can be cleared to compete again, however, he’s not opposed to coming back for one last bout. He would just need to find time to commit to his training camp.

Tom Taylor - April 30, 2018

Conor McGregor has not fought in the Octagon since November of 2016, when he captured the UFC lightweight title with a second round knockout of Eddie Alvarez. This period of inactivity forced the UFC to strip McGregor of his lightweight title, and crown a new champion in the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov. Since Nurmagomedov won the lightweight title, demand for a potential showdown between him and McGregor has reached an all-time high. In the opinion of McGregor’s striking coach Owen Roddy, it’s a fight that’s likely to happen.

Chris Taylor - April 29, 2018

Gunnar Nelson issues statement on his withdrawal from UFC Liverpool Unfortunate news broke yesterday when TheMMATakeover reported that Gunnar Nelson had suffered a knee injury and was forced out of his slated UFC Fight Night 130 co-main event bout with Neil Magny.

Chris Taylor - April 29, 2018

Fedor Emelianenko responds to Chael Sonnen following Bellator 198 confrontation Fedor Emelianenko picked up one of the biggest wins of his storied mixed martial arts career at last night’s Bellator 198 event in Chicago.

Chris Taylor - April 29, 2018

UFC Liverpool: Thompson vs. Till Fight Card The octagon invades Liverpool, England on Saturday May 27 for UFC Fight Night 130.

Chris Taylor - April 29, 2018

Dillon Danis calls out Ben Askren following successful Bellator MMA debut, “Funky” responds accordingly Dillon Danis picked up his first career mixed martial arts victory at last night’s Bellator 198 event in Chicago.

Chris Taylor - April 28, 2018

MMA Community reacts to tonight’s Bellator 198 Frank Mir vs. Fedor Emelianenko fight! Legendary mixed martial arts heavyweight fighters and former world champions Frank Mir and Fedor Emelianenko squared off in the headliner of tonight’s Bellator 198 event with the winner moving on in Bellator’s Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament to face Chael Sonnen.

Chris Taylor - April 28, 2018

Bellator 198 Results: Fedor Emelianenko KO’s Frank Mir A highly anticipated heavyweight fight between former UFC champion Frank Mir and former PRIDE champion Fedor Emelianenko served as the headliner of tonight’s Bellator 198 event.