MMA News

Tom Taylor - April 5, 2018

https://twitter.com/robinblackmma/status/981527206471045120 One of the pillars of the Khabib Nurmagomedov legend is his wrestling match with a bear. Granted, this wrestling match occurred when Nurmagomedov and bear were both very young and relatively harmless, but the fact is that the undefeated Dagestani lightweight is one of the few people on earth who can claim he’s fought a member of the ursine species.

Tom Taylor - April 5, 2018

Brock Lesnar’s current WWE contract is expected to wrap up after WrestleMania 34 this Sunday, which has once again created a torrent of questions surrounding his possible return to the UFC’s Octagon, where he once wore heavyweight gold. On a Wednesday night episode of UFC Tonight, UFC President Dana White answered our Brock Lesnar questions with uncharacteristic straightforwardness.

Tom Taylor - April 5, 2018

With Khabib Nurmagomedov and last-minute replacement Max Holloway vying for lightweight gold in the main event of UFC 223 this weekend, the division’s current champion Conor McGregor is expected to be stripped of his title any day now. You can’t, after all, have two undisputed champions in the same division. While the UFC is likely to remove the “C” beside Conor McGregor’s name any day now, he doesn’t seem to be on board with the decision. Early on Thursday morning, the Irish superstar took to Twitter to give his thoughts on the matter.

Jason Kindschy - April 4, 2018

BENN.COM Radio is back with another solid lineup, Penn Nation! We kick things off with the No. 3 ranked welterweight in the UFC and super villain extraordinaire, Colby Covington. “Chaos” returns to the show to discuss his slated showdown against Rafael dos Anjos for the interim welterweight strap at UFC 224 in Brazil on May 12th. We’ll get his thoughts on the matchup, what needed to fall into place before the fight could be finalized, what he has planned to follow winning UFC gold, and the testicular fortitude required to venture back into Brazil following his verbal onslaught towards the country. As always, Colby brings the heat in another entertaining interview.

Tom Taylor - April 4, 2018

On May 12, in the co-main event of UFC 224, Colby Covington will head down to Brazil to battle local hero Rafael dos Anjos for the interim welterweight title. As always, Covington is incredibly confident heading into this fight, and promises to dominate dos Anjos in front of his legions of Brazilian fans.

Tom Taylor - April 4, 2018

Shortly after his October defeat of Demian Maia in Sao Paulo, Brazil, welterweight contender Colby Covington went off on an ant-Brazil tirade, referring to the country as “a dump” and its people as “filthy animals.” Needless to say, Covington is not exactly loved in Brazil. All the same, he’ll head back to the country this May 12, where he’ll battle Rio de Janeiro’s own Rafael dos Anjos for interim welterweight gold in the co-main event of UFC 224.

Tom Taylor - April 4, 2018

Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman has not fought since his July 2017 defeat of Kelvin Gastelum. The reason for this prolonged absence is a complicated thumb injury that he sustained during the fight. Unfortunately, Weidman’s thumb is still not healthy. Far from it, in fact.

Nick Nadel - April 4, 2018

Part one of a series celebrating badassery in film and TV. Cris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes may pulverize their opponents in the ring. But when it comes to kicking butt and taking names on the big and small screen, these pop culture heroines just might have them beat.

Tom Taylor - April 4, 2018

Weeks after our initial report that Colby Covington and Rafael dos Anjos will battle for interim welterweight gold at UFC 224, the bout is now official. One of the most interesting details of this contest is that it will occur in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Covington, of course, is public enemy number-one in the country, having referred to it as “a dump” and its people as “filthy animals” after his autumn defeat of Demian Maia.

Tom Taylor - April 4, 2018

Back in November, Rose Namajunas ended the incredible strawweight title reign of Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the most emphatic way possible, stealing her belt with a first-round knockout. Shortly thereafter, it was revealed that the formerly dominant Jedrzejczyk would receive an immediate rematch, and the chance to reclaim her title. This rematch co-headlines UFC 223 this Saturday night in Brooklyn.

Tom Taylor - April 4, 2018

On May 27, when the UFC touches down in his native Liverpool, England, Darren Till has the chance to propel himself to the uppermost reaches of the UFC welterweight division, as he’s set to battle fellow striking specialist and two-time former welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. While the evermore popular Till will be fighting in front of a partisan crowd, he believes the majority of fight fans are hoping he comes up short to Wonderboy in Liverpool.

Tom Taylor - April 4, 2018

If things had gone according to the initial plan, former UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit would have battled Matt Brown in the co-main event of the UFC’s April 14 trip to Glendale, AZ. Regrettably, Brown was forced out of the fight with an ACL tear, leaving Condit without an opponent. “Wish it was all April Fools but I did tear my ACL over the weekend,” Brown said in a statement on Twitter. “I hope [Carlos Condit] gets an opponent and doesn’t have to lose out on the opportunity. We’ll do it for sure when I’m back.”

Tom Taylor - April 3, 2018

With Khabib Nurmagomedov fighting on the same card as Artem Lobov, a long time friend and training partner of Conor McGregor, one had to assume they’d have some kind of run-in during the UFC 223 fight week.

Russell Sai - April 3, 2018

It is still hard to believe that Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov will not be fighting this weekend at UFC 223. Ferguson was involved in a “freak accident” and suffered an injury on Friday at a “UFC-obligated media event” where he tore a ligament in his knee. Ferguson was forced to pull out of the main event fight taking place this weekend against Nurmagomedov, which marks the fourth time that a UFC matchup between the two UFC lightweights has been canceled.

Tom Taylor - April 3, 2018

If you’re an MMA fan, chances are you’ve heard of Tapout, a clothing brand that helped transform the sport from the controversial spectacle it began as into the international sensation it is today. The Tapout brand was founded by a extraordinary man named Charles “Mask” Lewis—the first non-fighter to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame— in the year 1997, and the new documentary Mask celebrates that founder’s incredible life. See a trailer for the documentary below.

Tom Taylor - April 3, 2018

By now, you’ve probably heard the news. Days after news broke that Tony Ferguson had been forced out of his UFC 223 fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov, we lost a similarly anticipated matchup as Matt Brown has been forced out of his UFC Glendale scrap with Carlos Condit with a torn ACL. Late Monday evening, Brown confirmed this news, which was first reported by Ariel Helwani.

Tom Taylor - April 3, 2018

Max Holloway’s choice to act as Tony Ferguson’s understudy and fight Khabib Nurmagomedov on just six days notice was met with immediate praise and excitement. Yet there is a darker side to Holloway’s accepting this short-notice fight. Even though he’s the champion of the 145-pound featherweight division, and will be afforded an extra 10 pounds to work with in this 155-pound title fight, Holloway will have to endure a massive and potentially hazardous weight cut for this bout with Nurmagomedov. In fact, his nutritionist George Lockhart says Holloway’s cut to 155 will be the tied for biggest that he’s ever been a part of.

Tom Taylor - April 3, 2018

When Tony Ferguson was forced out of the UFC 223 main event with a freak leg injury—on April Fools of all days—the UFC began a frantic hunt for a replacement opponent for Khabib Nurmagomedov. Though the promotion also considered Eddie Alvarez and Brian Ortega, it ultimately landed on UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway, who will have just 6 days to prepare for the massive challenges Nurmagomedov presents. Nurmagomedov, of course, is happy Holloway stepped up, as it means he’ll still have a chance to fight for the lightweight title this weekend, and he’ll still get paid. If he were in Holloway’s position, however, and the UFC came calling asking him to step up and fight on 6 days notice with no preparation, he’d have said no.