MMA News

Drake Riggs - March 7, 2018

A trilogy fight between former UFC middleweight champions, Luke Rockhold and Michael Bisping isn’t even official and the two are talking like it is. And who knows, it very well may be some time soon. Both guys obviously have interest in it and it’s obviously one that Rockhold, who lost in their last encounter, would love to get back. And Rockhold doesn’t happen to be lacking any confidence when it comes to another fight with “the Count”. When speaking with FloCombat recently, he went so far as to say he would even retire if he were to lose to Bisping again.

Drake Riggs - March 7, 2018

Looks like the stone cold Icelander, Gunnar Nelson has a personality after all!

Drake Riggs - March 7, 2018

  USADA has claimed yet another victim for marijuana use. This time, it’s top strawweight prospect and Team Alpha Male standout, Cynthia Calvillo who was first notified of her positive test back in January.

Justin Golightly - March 7, 2018

We haven’t seen Darren Till since his incredible and lightning fast finish of Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone at UFC Gdansk in October of last year, but you can’t hold that against the Scouser. He’s had a long list of potential opponents that’s getting longer including Gunnar Nelson, Stephen Thompson, Santiago Ponzinibbio, and Kamaru Usman. Now you can add former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos to the list. “[I want to fight Rafael dos Anjos] just because of his fan base there and I’ve obviously lived there. I’ve got a lot of fans there, and I can speak the language. It would be a good sell in Brazil, if he’s willing to do it. I know he’s waiting for [Tyron] Woodley but Woodley doesn’t seem to want to come back. The Americans need to see the new breed. I think ‘Wonderboy’ is still gonna avoid me. Apart from Conor [McGregor], everyone is anticipating my comeback more thank anyone else. It will be big.” — Darren Till speaking to MMA Fighting.

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

When Sean O’Malley’s foot was in so much pain he couldn’t stand on it at UFC 222, fans and the cornermen of Andre Soukhamthath were yelling at him to stand-up but instead he took him down. In the heat of battle, it’s hard to criticize someone, especially after the amount of punches they absorb. That didn’t stop trolls from insulting Soukhamthath though, but humble Soukhamthath thinks they aren’t entirely wrong. “I’m getting trolled right now by so many people. They are calling me the dumbest fighter in MMA. The dumbest fighter in UFC history. Even my friend Rashad [Evans]. Everyone is wondering why I decided to wrestle, and I’m wondering the same thing. After he rocked me, I still stayed in the fight but I was kind of dizzy and dazed afterwards. That shot really threw me off the rest of the game plan in the fight. I really wasn’t there. I think I was just fighting with instincts. I definitely regret it because I’m a striker first and a wrestler second.”

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

According to a report from TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, the UFC has parted ways with a number of its fighters. The most notable names in this crop of jettisoned fighters are Galore Bofando, Kailin Curran, and Oluwale Bamgbose. Though this report also mentions Angela Magana has been released, this is actually not a new development. It appears the UFC has released Galore Bofando, Bibby Nash, Carls John de Tomas, Dmitry Poberezhets, Chris Wade (free agent in negotiations), Angela Magana, Oluwale Bamgbose, Francimar Barroso and Kaitlin Curran per @UFCFIGHTERSiNFO

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

Few things in the recent history of MMA world champions have been quite as shocking as Johny Hendricks’ fall from grace. The former NCAA Division 1 wrestler out of Oklahoma State went from being a UFC champion with a record of 16-2 in his career to losing six of his last eight fights and being forced up a weight class after multiple misses. On top of all this, Hendricks’ UFC contract has expired and he is currently a free agent. However, despite his uncertainty on whether or not he would be returning to the organization he was once a champion of, some signals are being given out that the UFC may still have interest reports Brett Okamoto:

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