MMA News

Justin Golightly - February 15, 2018

With the UFC’ women’s featherweight division still empty – even on the official website – the new women’s flyweight class is actively being built. The season of The Ultimate Fighter brought in talent and crowned their inaugural champion Nicco Montano, meanwhile Paige VanZant and Valentina Shevchenko have made their jump into the division. Now, the UFC has officially signed Invicta FC’s flyweight champion Jennifer Maia as reported by Combate. “Everything in its time. Thanks for the love and messages from everyone, that is what motivates me more and more and makes me see that I am on the right path. Signing a contract with the big UFC organization is an accomplishment and accomplishment of all who are around me, I thank all the team that I have, through my will guide me to show a beautiful teamwork. I am very grateful also to all who gave me the opportunity to build my trajectory. Now, it’s a new beginning.” – Jennifer Maia via her official Instagram.

Tom Taylor - February 15, 2018

This Friday night, Bellator MMA will return to our screens with Bellator 194. On Thursday, the 24 fighters on the card took to the scale to weigh in for the respective battles. Unfortunately, the card’s weigh-ins were not without mishaps, as boxing transplant Heather Hardy missed weighed for her anticipated flyweight bout with fellow boxer Ana Julaton. To make matters worse, this unfortunate hiccup was due to a misunderstanding, as Hardy weighed in and, believing she’d hit her mark, began rehydrating. Only then was she told she’d missed she’d actually weighed in above the flyweight division’s 126-pound limit. Though this unfortunate miss was accidental and minuscule, Hardy will surrender 20% of her fight purse to Julaton all the same.

Justin Golightly - February 15, 2018

Why are MMA tournaments awesome? #Bellator194 headliner and grand-prix participant @roynelsonmma explains. Full story: https://t.co/sk0ip6v0GN pic.twitter.com/WKmJWvo7fb — MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) February 15, 2018

Tom Taylor - February 15, 2018

The UFC 223 lineup continues to get better and better. This anticipated card, which goes down on April 7 in Brooklyn, New York, has now been improved by a clash of ranked featherweights, as 15th-ranked contender Calvin Kattar will battle Brazil’s Renato Moicano, who is ranked 11th.

Justin Golightly - February 15, 2018

Just four days ago, Yoel Romero overcame the drama of a suspenseful weigh-in ordeal and rose to the occasion in the main event of UFC 221. He shut down former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and finished him with an uppercut that looked like it was removed from Mortal Kombat. It’s not surprise that current champion Robert Whittaker was watching this fight and keeping an eye on who could be his next opponent. However, he didn’t just watch it, he absolutely dissected it. “[Yoel Romero] was mentioning a back injury earlier, so we can’t be sure if it was the back injury that’s what prevented him from doing his usual explosive, unorthodox movement patters, or it was a gameplan because it worked so well. He stood at perfect range for [Luke] Rockhold, he predicted all his strikes, all his combos. When Rockhold couldn’t kick – cause he always leads the kick, or tries to, doesn’t really set up his kicks too well – he’d check it. When Rockhold would work with his combos – no more than two or three – he’d block him. Then he’d just explode moving forward, landing punches, not overextending too much.”

Tom Taylor - February 15, 2018

For a few months, it looked as though former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping would partake in the final fight of his illustrious career in the main event of the UFC’s March 17 stop in London, England. At the time, it looked as though his opponent would be a fellow veteran and long-time friend in former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. Eventually, however, this plan fell through. Bisping’s retirement plans were moved to the back burner, and Evans was left without an opponent.

Justin Golightly - February 15, 2018

While it’s good for his bank account, some fans despise the idea of another Conor McGregor fight simply for the spectacle of it all. Maybe if he didn’t still hold the UFC lightweight title, they’d be more lenient. Some just want to see him back in the UFC, whether he defends his title or not. No question the organization needs a little McGregor boost, which is why these superfights are being put together. However, coach John Kavanagh may have found a solution. What if McGregor actually fights Floyd Mayweather in MMA, but has a ‘real fight’ later that same night? “I’m kind of reminded of early last year when I was asked about the boxing fight and I was doubtful as anybody, and I actually went as far as to stupidly tweet that I’ll do the Irish river dance naked if Floyd steps in the Octagon. Now, I’m going to be honest, I’m practicing Irish dancing, and I’m getting nervous about that. In all seriousness, it’s a crazy world we live in. The fight that could never happen happened. And now this is a fight [in MMA] that can never happen, and it seems to be getting, I don’t know, there seems to be something forming there. I would absolutely love it.”

Tom Taylor - February 15, 2018

Such a potty mouth, that @SuperSageNorthcutt! #UFCAustin 😂 A post shared by ufc (@ufc) on Feb 14, 2018 at 8:35am PST

Tom Taylor - February 15, 2018

Yes, you read that headline correctly. And yes, it is a ridiculous headline. But the fact is that we suddenly live in a world where undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather and former professional wrestling star CM Punk might just clamber into the cage together for a weird throwback to the halcyon days of legal groin strikes and one-gloved fighters. Sure, this fight is incredibly unlikely to occur. If it does occur, however, expect CM Punk to walk into the cage as the betting favorite. Yes, despite a 0-1 MMA record, and the fact he’s only been training for a few years, the oddsmakers at sportsbook BetDSI.com believe he would beat the greatest boxer of our generation in a mixed martial arts bout.

Drake Riggs - February 14, 2018

When entering the UFC in 2016 as the 18-1 Bellator lightweight champion, “Ill” Will Brooks had plenty of hype surrounding him(as most champions from outside organizations do). Brooks was on an impressive eight-fight winning streak that included two wins over the former champion, Michael Chandler. Brooks made his debut against Ross Pearson and was able to come away with the unanimous decision victory…and it turns out that it will end up being his only one with the UFC. Brooks announced today on his Instagram account that he has been released by the UFC and will now be joining the Professional Fighters League and will participate in their million dollar lightweight tournament.

Drake Riggs - February 14, 2018

UFC light heavyweight champion, Daniel Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson are no strangers to one another. The two men met in one of the 205-pound weight classes greatest fights at UFC 192. The bout would go the distance and it would be Cormier who came out on top with the split decision victory and his first career title defense. Since the two fought, they haven’t lost. Cormier has gone 3-0 while Gustafsson 2-0. Cormier just recently defended his title against Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 220 and his longtime friend and teammate, Luke Rockhold just very recently attempted to recapture some gold of his own at UFC 221. However, Rockhold was unable to come away with the win and prior to this fight, he had talked about going up to the 205-pound division. A statement that prompted a warning from Gustafsson.

Drake Riggs - February 14, 2018

One of the oldest matchups, if not the oldest matchup in the strawweight division’s history is set to take place and hopefully happen this time. The UFC announced on Wednesday that the perennial top five strawweight contender and former title challenger, Claudia Gadelha is expected to make her return at UFC 225 when she takes on the inaugural UFC champion and former Invicta FC champion, Carla Esparza. JUST ANNOUNCED: @ClaudiaGadelha_ takes on @CarlaEsparza1 in the Windy City at #UFC225❗️ pic.twitter.com/Z6AdLjnpwW

Justin Golightly - February 14, 2018

Since Summer of last year, we have watched this whole Jon Jones controversy unfold like some sort of O.J. Simpson court case. We all know every detail by now. After his finish of Daniel Cormier at UFC 214, it was all anyone could talk about it. Through all the samples, the passed lie detector test, we’ve all been plugged in. Teammates and even the UFC’s Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance, Jeff Novitsky weighed-in on what he thought of the whole situation. However, it’s all been just talk leading up to now, or more importantly, February 27th. First reported by Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting as per the California State Athletic Commission agenda, former two-time UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will appear before the commission for them to decide what will be the severity of his fine and suspension. What follows will be his case to prove his innocence, which may last until the end of March.

Justin Golightly - February 14, 2018

Everyone is still talking about Yoel Romero’s finish — and his post-fight kiss — of Luke Rockhold from UFC 221. Despite missing weight, the consensus seems that he’ll still get the title shot against Robert Whittaker. After already being fined and losing out on a win bonus, he has been punished and did win the fight. It’s hard to argue who else would be deserving of a shot, but former champion Chris Weidman thinks it is him. Michael Bisping had a chuckle over it and broke down the fight he believes the UFC will do. “You know what’s funny? Chris Weidman, he’s saying that he should get a title shot. I think that’s kind of laughable, Chris. I don’t want to get into a whole beef with Chris Weidman, but you did get knocked out in three of your last four fights. I don’t think that makes you eligible for a title shot. I don’t think he has any case to get a title shot. I think the correct fight — and Dana [White] has announced — [is] Yoel Romero versus Robert Whittaker. I think that’s going to be a different fight. That fight was only six months ago, something like that.

Tom Taylor - February 14, 2018

This weekend, in the main event of Bellator 194, former UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione will return to the Bellator cage, where he will attempt to avenge a 2012 loss to Roy Nelson and advance to the second round of the promotion’s exciting Heavyweight Grand Prix. Now firmly embedded as a member of the Bellator MMA heavyweight roster, Mitrione has a unique perspective when comparing Bellator to the UFC. He did just that on the latest edition of The MMA Hour, singing Bellator’s praises and simultaneously criticizing the UFC’s treatment of its fighters.

Justin Golightly - February 14, 2018

Joe Rogan comments on beating CM Punk and losing to USADA pic.twitter.com/orNS00Go8B — Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) February 14, 2018

Justin Golightly - February 14, 2018

What can be said about Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson’s upcoming fight that already hasn’t? This will be the fourth time these two have tried to meet inside the Octagon, so we’ve broke down this fight over and over again. The same can be said for the fighters. If the style match-up wasn’t already compelling, they’ve been preparing each other for years. His coach recently spoke up about Ferguson’s secluded training and used to think he’d submit Nurmagomedov, now he believes it will be a knockout. “[Conor] McGregor made about $60 million his last fight. He doesn’t favor fighting anyone for $5, $6, or $7 million. He never favored fighting Tony [Ferguson] because he’s too dangerous and now [that] Tony’s name finally blew up, he’s rich and lazy while Tony’s super hungry, so no way he was ever fighting Tony. Tony’s jab and his feet will keep McGregor at bay. When we choose to, we will close the gap with strong counters from different angles. Tony hits like a truck. It won’t last long. McGregor has no chance at all in that fight.”

Tom Taylor - February 14, 2018

Last weekend, in the main event of the stacked UFC 221, Yoel Romero knocked out Luke Rockhold with a brutal bombardment of third-round punches. In the subsequent moments, Romero pinned a bewildered Rockhold against the cage, and planted a kiss on his cheek. Though Romero’s intention was clearly an act of sportsmanship, the gesture didn’t go over well with former middleweight champion Michael Bisping. Yoel Romero comforts Luke Rockhold with a kiss after #UFC221 pic.twitter.com/mv6IXxqQP7