MMA News

Drake Riggs - April 24, 2018

https://youtu.be/dDSvpS0B_Dw?t=39m27s “This is the problem. I hope that Project Spearhead is the one that breaks through and all the fighters get behind. Can you imagine if Conor [McGregor], Kevin Lee, Khabib [Nurmagomedov], DC [Daniel Cormier], Mighty Mouse [Demetrious Johnson], [Cris] Cyborg, Holly Holm, Rose [Namajunas]… Anyone I just named, if they just did this. Imagine how many waves this would make. The problem is it’s Leslie Smith doin’ it. How sad is that to say?

Tom Taylor - April 24, 2018

Kevin Lee could not have looked much more impressive in his Saturday night defeat of Edson Barboza. Regrettably, there’s an ever-so-small asterisk attached to his victory, as he narrowly missed weight for the bout. Speaking on the MMA Hour on Monday, Lee explained why he believes he missed weight. The main factor, as he said in a quick statement issued right after his weigh-in miss, was simply a shortage of time. He just couldn’t get the remaining weight off in the time he had.

Tom Taylor - April 24, 2018

In the wake of the UFC’s recent stop in Atlantic City, the promotion has updated its official rankings. As expected, Kevin Lee, who took out Edson Barboza in the main event, has moved into the lightweight top 5. Elsewhere in the rankings, Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov have both made seemingly arbitrary moves on the pound-for-pound list, while formerly ranked bantamweight Leslie Smith has removed from the rankings following her controversial UFC release. See the latest UFC rankings below (h/t MMAMania):

Tom Taylor - April 24, 2018

Late last week, news broke that former NFL player Greg Hardy will make his professional MMA debut on a summer episode of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. Should Hardy win impressively on the show, he could well be awarded a UFC contract. Hardy’s being granted a UFC contract, of course, would be incredibly controversial given the assault charge that festers in his past, which stems from a a 2014 attack on an ex-girlfriend. If the former Carolina Panther does join the UFC heavyweight roster, he can expect to be sought out by Derrick Lewis, who is hoping to dish out some justice.

Tom Taylor - April 24, 2018

If things had gone according to the initial plan, Leslie Smith would have fought Aspen Ladd on the undercard of last weekend’s UFC Atlantic City card. Regrettably, things took an incredibly ugly turn at the last minute, and the end result was Smith’s release from the UFC. The trouble began when Ladd missed weight for the fight, tipping the scales 1.8 pounds over the bantamweight limit. Despite this hiccup, Smith was willing to take the fight, but she wanted to hash out a new deal with the UFC first, as her bout with Ladd marked the last obligation on her current contract with the promotion. Unfortunately, the UFC instead opted to buy out Smith’s contract, paying the bantamweight her show and win money, and ending her UFC career on the spot.

Tom Taylor - April 24, 2018

Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier share perhaps the most high profile beef in MMA. The two light heavyweight greats, who have fought twice previously, really can’t stand each other. That being said, they finally seem to have find some common ground in a mutual disdain for Alexander Gustafsson, who they have both captured narrow decision victories over.

Tom Taylor - April 24, 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wAMPOmZ22Y We will probably never all agree on who the greatest fighter in MMA is. On the latest episode of The JRE MMA Show, however, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan and top light contender Kevin Lee did their best to figure it out.

Tom Taylor - April 24, 2018

Over the last few weeks, UFC commentator Joe Rogan has had plenty to say about Conor McGregor‘s infamous Brooklyn rampage, during which the Irishman threw a dolly through the window of the UFC 223 fighter bus and injured Ray Borg and Michael Chiesa. On the latest episode of the JRE MMA Show, Rogan once again delved into the topic, imaging what might have happened if another fighter had done what McGregor did.

Tom Taylor - April 23, 2018

Joe Rogan has added a new piece of art to his studio, and it’s one Conor McGregor supporters will probably like. See this piece, which is essentially a grid composed of Conor McGregor’s mugshot, below.

Tom Taylor - April 23, 2018

Last weekend, on the main card of the UFC’s exciting stop in Atlantic City, long-time bantamweight contender Aljamain Sterling returned to the Octagon for the first time since his tough, knockout loss to Marlon Moraes. His opponent in this comeback fight was Brett Johns, who he dominated to a lopsided unanimous decision victory. Shortly after this return to the win column, an opportunistic Sterling called for a fight with former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.

Tom Taylor - April 23, 2018

Having gone 3-0 on the amateur circuit, former Dallas Cowboy’s defensive lineman Greg Hardy is now poised for his professional debut. This professional debut will occur on an upcoming episode of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, where he is expected to take on 5-1 heavyweight Brandon Sayles. This news was first reported by Nolan King of MMA-Today.com.

Tom Taylor - April 23, 2018

According to a report from Swedish MMA publication Kimura.se, a clash between top light heavyweight contenders Ilir Latifi and Glover Teixeira is in the works for a summer UFC card. While the setting for this compelling bout has not yet been finalized, the report suggests those details will be worked out in the coming days. BREAKING NEWS: Sources to Kimura can confirm that a match-up between Swedens @Latifimma and @gloverteixeira is a DONE DEAL. @arielhelwani @SandhuMMA @mmamania @MMAjunkie @MMAFighting @BloodyElbow @bjpenndotcom https://t.co/X4n0SuBRVz pic.twitter.com/axgCp1g9oJ

Tom Taylor - April 23, 2018

Originally, lightweight striking specialist Paul Felder was expected to battle Al Iaquinta at UFC 223. When Iaquinta was called upon for a last-minute title fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov, however, Felder was left without a fight. From the looks of it, the UFC could be rewarding Felder for his trouble. On Sunday afternoon, the lightweight took to Instagram with a not-so-subtle suggestion that he’s been offered a fight with James Vick in the main event of an upcoming fight night.

Tom Taylor - April 23, 2018

On the undercard of Saturday night’s exciting UFC Atlantic City card, Merab Dvalishvili and hist short-notice replacement opponent Rick Simon engaged in an exciting, three-round war. Unfortunately, the end of this contest was shadowed in controversy. As the seconds wore off the clock, Simon, who seemed to be down two rounds, locked up a mounted guillotine. Though the choke looked deep, Dvalishvili showed incredible toughness, refusing to tap and frantically flailing his legs in what looked like an effort to show the referee he was still conscious.

Tom Taylor - April 23, 2018

Originally, former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and recent UFC light heavyweight title challenger Volkan Oezdemir were expected to meet in the co-main event of the UFC’s May 19 stop in Santiago, Chile. Regrettably, the legal troubles that currently surround Oezdemir prevented him from travelling to Chile in May, and the bout was removed from the card. The good news is that this compelling light heavyweight fight has now found a new home. Shogun and Oezdemir will now collide in the main event of the UFC’s June 22 return to Hamburg, Germany, not all that far from Oezdemir’s home in Switzerland.

Chris Taylor - April 22, 2018

Khabib Nurmagomedov discusses his options in the “very heated” lightweight division Khabib Nurmagomedov was crowned the UFC’s undisputed lightweight champion earlier this month in Brooklyn, this after he scored a unanimous decision victory over Al Iaquinta in the main event of UFC 223.

Chris Taylor - April 22, 2018

Cub Swanson issues statement following second loss to Frankie Edgar Perennial UFC featherweight contender Cub Swanson was looking for redemption when he squared off with former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar for a second time in the co-headliner of last night’s UFC Fight Night 128 event in Atlantic City.

Chris Taylor - April 22, 2018

Eddie Alvarez blasts “paper champion” Khabib Nurmagomedov Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez (29-5 MMA) was in attendance at last night’s UFC Fight Night 128 event in Atlantic City.