MMA News

Justin Golightly - March 7, 2018

For every jab Conor McGregor has had recently, the UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has had a counter. This has been going on for months and seems to have no stopping point in sight. Giving his savvy Twitter fingers a rest, Holloway recently spoke at length about the social media feud and compares Conor McGregor to Uncle Rico from early 2000’s cult hit ‘Napoleon Dynamite’. That is, he’s living in the past. “[Conor McGregor]’s been throwing the little jabs here and there. It’s like I said, retired fighters like talking about the past. They’re like your uncle when you’re at the barbecue and your uncle’s like, ‘Come here, boy, remember back in my day I could throw this pigskin over the mountain.’ That’s what they do. They talk about the past. They ain’t got nothing to look forward [to], so they talk about their past. That’s what the man’s doing. They can talk about the past all they want.”

Tom Taylor - March 7, 2018

On July 7, in the main event of the UFC 226, UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier will return to his former haunts in the heavyweight division, where he’ll battle reigning champion Stipe Miocic. Ahead of this fight, many of the game’s top fighters and analysts have weighed in, making their predictions one way or the other. One of the latest to do so is former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Randy Couture. In his opinion, this a winnable fight for Cormier, particularly if he’s able to lean on his Olympic-level wrestling.

Tom Taylor - March 7, 2018

Having demolished short-notice challenger Yana Kunitskaya at UFC 222 last weekend, UFC women’s featherweight champ Cris Cyborg now has her crosshairs set on bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes. And while this potential showdown is considered the toughest test of Cyborg’s career by many fans, her boxing coach Jason Parillo believes it’s actually a perfect stylistic matchup. “The person who is going to beat Cris Cyborg is Cris Cyborg, or [she retires],” Parillo told MMAJunkie this week. “Time catches up to all of us. But for the most part, Cris Cyborg, I don’t see it. Amanda Nunes, she doesn’t have a – she has a good style. She’s a good fighter with the way she took out Ronda [Rousey], but she’s got a style that’s absolutely perfect for Cris. Cris is going to fight her fight and go out there and do what she does and get it done.”

Justin Golightly - March 7, 2018

In 10 days, former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum will attempt to extend his two-fight win streak against the rising Alexander Volkov in his journey back to the belt. However, it may be a completely different title he’s after. In the most unexpected news you’ll probably hear this week, Fabricio Werdum wants to wrestle in the WWE and fight in the UFC at the same time. It’s not just talk either, he has a meeting with them on Thursday. ”I think that both [WWE and UFC at the same time] is doable. If I had the opportunity I’d fight there, no problem. It’s financially great. Fight at WWE, a spectacle that is fun to do. I’d definitely do it. I have a meeting Thursday about it, doing both. I want to fight, doesn’t matter where. I’ll have this meeting Thursday in San Diego to see if something happens with WWE. It’s cool, a unique opportunity to do a few fights there as well.”

Justin Golightly - March 7, 2018

After Brian Ortega’s historic finish of former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, there wasn’t really any doubt that he deserved the right to challenge Max Holloway for that featherweight title. However, we all know that nothing is certain in this world, especially in combat sports. One phone call can change all that and that’s what this video is all about. Check out Ortega smiling ear-to-ear reacting to Dana White calling him to tell him he’s got the shot. “I heard 227 in August was supposed to be UFC Hawaii, but I Tweeted 226 because you know, I gotta move on. You can’t hold this stuff forever, I can’t hold my breath. I got a life, I got a family to take care of, I got a little kid, I got fans. If I can’t get UFC Hawaii I said, the Ninth Island is the next best thing. It’s tough pill to swallow but at the end of the day, it is what it is. We can’t control nothing. All we can do is create buzz. I’d like to thank all the fans who are creating buzz.” — Max Holloway speaking to KHON 2.

Tom Taylor - March 7, 2018

Former Strikeforce and UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold recently expressed interest in a trilogy fight with fellow former UFC middleweight champ Michael Bisping – perhaps even in the 205-pound light heavyweight division. Unfortunately for Rockhold, it sounds like it’s going to take a solid offer to convince Bisping to accept this fight. “I respect everybody, but he sounds mentally challenged while talking,” Bisping said on a recent edition of his podcast Believe You Me (h/t MMAJunkie). “He doesn’t scare me one little bit. He never has. He didn’t the first time [we fought], he didn’t the second time, and he absolutely wouldn’t a third time. So I’m definitely willing to take a fight with Luke Rockhold if the UFC gives me the right deal.”

Justin Golightly - March 7, 2018

50 Cent says white people had to make “Rocky” to make a white fighter that’s better than a black fighter pic.twitter.com/N6Bp2jKHDK — B The Biz (@BrodyTheBiz) March 6, 2018

Tom Taylor - March 7, 2018

Earlier this month, Brazil’s Gazeta Do Povo reported that Bellator is hoping to make its debut in the MMA hotbed of Brazil with a fourth fight between MMA legends Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Wanderlei Silva. This report also included some quotes from Silva, who suggested he’d like to help the promotion fill the soccer stadium Arena da Baixada in his hometown of Curitiba. “I’m going to be one of the headliners and I’m trying to put myself out there as a promoter, too,” Silva said in this report (translation via BloodyElbow). “I got the company, I got the venue, I’m in the main event. You only need to put the pieces together. You add both Pitbull brothers [Patricio Freire and Patricky Freire], who are doing well. You add our champion Rafael Carvalho and Goiti Yamauchi, who is also from Curitiba. Bellator is very interested in the Brazilian market and Curitiba would be the perfect place.”

Tom Taylor - March 7, 2018

Inside the MMA bubble, it seems we rarely go a week without some kind of unsavory judging or officiating controversy. The latest issues of this kind stemmed from last weekend’s UFC 222 card, when a number of cage-side judges – particularly the infamous Adalaide Byrd – penned some absolutely baffling scorecards. UFC bantamweight Pedro Munhoz, who lost a split decision to John Dodson on the card, felt he was wronged by the judges on duty for the card, and went off on the subject in an interview with MMAJunkie.com.

Tom Taylor - March 7, 2018

Veteran MMA referee and current Bellator commentator “Big” John McCarthy is becoming one of the most respected voices in MMA. As such, his opinions on the sport’s hot-button issues are always interesting to hear. On a recent episode of MMAJunkie Radio, the veteran referee tackled the issue of former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones’s unfortunate brush with USADA. In McCarthy’s opinion, Jones probably didn’t intentionally take a performance enhancing drug, but might be a little careless when it comes to what he puts in his body.

Drake Riggs - March 6, 2018

In attendance at last Saturday’s UFC 222 event was a myriad of different stars, ranging from actors to fighters. One of which included the recent interim lightweight title challenger, “the Mo-Town Phenom” Kevin Lee. The charismatic young lightweight contender has just recently had his next fight announced and it will be against a fellow perennial top contender in Edson Barboza.

Drake Riggs - March 6, 2018

"I don't think it was accidental, I think that's just who he is."@CBDollaway doesn't hold back on his views regarding @HectorLombard and their fight at #UFC222. So….rematch? (via @procast) pic.twitter.com/dmOQvAsMbv — FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) March 7, 2018

Drake Riggs - March 6, 2018

After his career-defining performance against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone back in October, Darren Till has remained on the sidelines. With fans amazed by his easy dispatching of the former lightweight title challenger, Cerrone, Till has been on many’s radars as one of the next big things in the stacked welterweight division. And you know what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. But now, it appears that the twenty-five-year-old Liverpool striking sensation will be getting back in action sooner rather than later.

Justin Golightly - March 6, 2018

Derrick Lewis made his triumphant return at UFC Austin with a late knockout of Marcin Tybura. After a delayed fourth round celebration with his wife, he went right back on the warpath trying to fight the who’s who of the heavyweight division. He’s been eyeing Francis Ngannou, but he’s just one of many. He’s even willing to welcome Brock Lesnar back to the UFC, regardless of USADA testing or not. “Yeah hopefully we can get something done this year, man. Hopefully we can get something before [Francis Ngannou] turns 50 on us. Usually after every fight, I tell them I would like to fight this guy. I always try to pick out the toughest guys that’s out there. […] I told them Francis, I told them [Alistair] Overeem, even a rematch with Mark [Hunt]. Who’s the other guy, [Curtis] Blaydes and Fabricio [Werdum]. Yeah, [the winner of Blaydes and Overeem]. I’d like to fight in May or June.”

Justin Golightly - March 6, 2018

.@MightyMouseUFC offering up some kind words of motivation to @FrankieEdgar while looking back on his own loss to @DominickCruz. #UFC222 pic.twitter.com/BAmo8y2Dvb — Justin Golightly (@SecretMovesMMA) March 6, 2018

Tom Taylor - March 6, 2018

Late last month, dangerous strawweight contender Jessica Andrade picked up a close but impressive win over Tecia Torres. While this victory is now in the rear-view it created a lingering issue for Andrade that she feels needs to be settled. During the fight, Andrade says, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes – a fellow Brazilian – was actively cheering Torres on from cage-side. This didn’t go over well with Andrade, who is now keen to take her gripes out on Nunes’ girlfriend Nina Ansaroff in the future.

Tom Taylor - March 6, 2018

On Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre discussed potential matchups with many of the sport’s biggest names. Among those names were current welterweight champ Tyron Woodley, who has been calling for a fight with St-Pierre for months, and Nick and Nate Diaz. Apparently, none of these matchups are particularly interesting to the former champ St-Pierre. He started by poking holes in the merits of fights with the Diaz brothers.

Justin Golightly - March 6, 2018

It’s hard to ignore Mike Perry’s relationship with Danielle Nickerson. Not just because he’s a UFC fighter who enjoys a certain amount of spotlight, but because she also helped with his training, meal prep, and cornered him for all his fights. She was more than just his girlfriend, she was one woman fulfilling multiple roles that were crucial to Perry’s camps. This all changes today, as she just announced she is no longer involved with Perry in a lengthy statement she released for reasons she addresses directly. “Mike [Perry] & I are no longer together. I wanted to explain what is going on because there are so many people who have shown me/us so much love and support and have invested into us, and felt like you guys deserve answers. I also don’t want to get hundreds of comments on my photos from here on out about, ‘Where’s Mike. Why aren’t you together?’ and such. I am a huge believer in God & that everything happens for a reason and everyone in your life is there for a reason. Mike and I are not meant to be together in a relationship but only to be friends and support each other through life.”