MMA News

Tom Taylor - February 8, 2018

Over the last few months, there has been significant buzz about undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. stepping int the Octagon to compete in MMA. It all began when Mayweather suggested he’d been in talks with the UFC.

Drake Riggs - February 7, 2018

“He’s awful. He’s terrible. This is what’s alarming, ‘I allowed Priscila [Cachoeira] to be a warrior and keep fighting’. That is not your job as a referee. We don’t need you to dictate who’s a warrior and who’s not a warrior. That is not your call. She was in serious trouble and she was so outclassed it’s not even funny. Your job is the safety. I don’t need Mario Yamasaki deciding who’s a warrior or not. Shut the f*ck up and save those fighters so they can continue their career and live to fight another day.

Drake Riggs - February 7, 2018

UPDATE: Dana White says Tyron Woodley vs. Nate Diaz isn't happening, but a Woodley vs Rafael Dos Anjos is the fight the UFC is trying to make. https://t.co/yAIKjR1ZHs — FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) February 8, 2018

Drake Riggs - February 7, 2018

This isn’t the first we’ve heard of the possible bantamweight title fight matchup between Raquel Pennington and the champion, Amanda Nunes. In fact, the fight was apparently on it’s way to getting finalized for UFC 219 at the end of 2017 but before the bout agreements could be signed, Pennington got into a nasty car crash that obviously put her first career title shot on hold. Pennington has since stated that a May return would be most likely for her. Damon Martin reports that the discussions have fired back up to get this 135-pound title fight back in place.

Justin Golightly - February 7, 2018

A lot of talk gets thrown around about the trilogies in MMA. There have been plenty of them, with more sure to come. But what about quadrilogies? That’s right, four fights with the same rival. If Quinton Jackson had his way, he’d get another fight with legend Wanderlei Silva. The Axe Murderer took out Rampage twice with knees, before Jackson got his payback. Evidently it wasn’t enough though, because Jackson claims he still owes him an ass whooping. “I owe Wanderlei [Silva] another ass whooping, I’ll tell you that. I know he’s not a heavyweight. The last time I fought him I knocked him out of the weight class. But he beat me twice. I only beat him once. I think I owe him another ass whooping. I probably could get down to 205, but I don’t know. I’m walking around at 250, 260. That’s a big one. If I had my way [it’d be at heavyweight] but like I said, Wanderlei is not a heavyweight. I probably could get down to 205 now that I’ve got my nutritionist. My motivation is still the heavyweight belt. Even if I’m out of the tournament, whoever wins that belt I’m gonna challenge him right away.” — Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson speaking on The MMA Hour.

Justin Golightly - February 7, 2018

There has been a lot on mixed opinions and controversy since Valentina Shevchenko’s domination against Priscila Cachoeira at UFC Belem. So much so, that Shevchenko’s amazing performance has taken a back seat to referee and corner criticism. Rose Namajunas has put in many hours with ‘The Bullet’ so she was watching the fight closely. She recently opened up about her thoughts on if they fight should have been stopped or not. If it was her? She definitely would have wanted the towel threw in. “That [late stoppage is] a touchy subject. I think clearly you saw that [Priscila Cachoeira] wasn’t going to improve her position [against Valentina Shevchenko]. So, you could definitely make the argument for that was a little too long.  […] I told my corner [Trevor Whitman] that if I’m lookin’ like that in a fight, the just throw in the towel for me, but that’s my personal choice. Those strikes on the canvas – in certain positions they weren’t that bad – but when you’re in full mount and somebody is raining down punches on you, your head is hitting the canvas too so it’s like double impact.”

Justin Golightly - February 7, 2018

After UFC 222 was put in major jeopardy with Max Holloway’s leg injury, the UFC was scrambling 100mph in order to save the card. They were trying to get TJ Dillashaw to defend his title against Cody Garbrandt, while keeping Frankie Edgar on the card as the co-main in a non-title fight. Even Nate Diaz was in the running to jump on. It looks like now the UFC are trying to throw Cris Cyborg on the card to defend her women’s UFC featherweight title against former Invicta FC bantamweight champ Yana Kunitskaya. There are deals in place to have Cris Cyborg vs. Yana Kunitskaya for the women’s 145 belt headline UFC 222 on 3/3 w/ Frankie Edgar vs. Brian Ortega as the co-main, per multiple sources. Not 100% finalized but that’s the current direction and it’s looking promising at the moment.

Tom Taylor - February 7, 2018

Last night, UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley divulged to ESPN‘s Brett Okamoto that he believes his next fight will be against Nate Diaz. “I think that fight will happen,” he said. “I think it will happen this year. I think it’s way more likely than people realize. There are conversations about Nate and I fighting in July. The UFC has offered Nate that fight. They just have to make it worth his while.”

Tom Taylor - February 7, 2018

Last night, long-time UFC lightweight contender Nate Diaz spoke with ESPN‘s Brett Okamoto, confirming that he is interested in a showdown with UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. Apparently, however, Diaz discussed far more than just a fight with Woodley.

Russell Sai - February 7, 2018

For Nate Diaz fans, it seems like things are looking good for a return to the Octagon. With Nate’s last fight taking place in August 2016, which was his rematch with Conor McGregor, it has been far too long for many fans and it seems like the younger Diaz brother’s hunger for more competition is getting to be too much. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto caught up with Nate on Tuesday night and the man who proudly represents the 209 shared the latest on where things are at for a return.

Tom Taylor - February 7, 2018

Earlier this month, the UFC announced its plans for an April 21 return to Atlantic City, New Jersey. Though the card is still some distance away, it’s already starting to come together. The latest bout that’s reportedly in the works for this Atlantic City date is a middleweight scrap between knockout artists Uriah Hall and Paulo Costa. This bout was first reported by Raphael Marinho of Combate.

Justin Golightly - February 7, 2018

The status of UFC great Georges St-Pierre is still up in the air after the grueling process of moving up to middleweight contributed to contacting ulcerative colitis. This weekend, Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero will be fighting for the interim version of the undisputed title St-Pierre handed over to Robert Whittaker. We knew that if GSP came back, it’d probably be at his old welterweight home. …But that’s if he came back. That question may have been partly answered today from the leader of the Danaher Death Squad, John Danaher. He posted a statement after a training session between St-Pierre and former foe Jake Shields. “How would you do if you had to fight yourself? This is always an interesting hypothetical question — in the case of Georges St-Pierre and Jake Shields it is actually a practical question. I have never seen two athletes so closely matched in skill level, tactics, technique etc. in ground grappling. When they spar each other the only difference I see is their appearance and accent — other than that — identical. It’s great to see Mr. St-Pierre back in the gym despite his battle with ulcerative colitis.”

Justin Golightly - February 7, 2018

The UFC’s middleweight division has been a mess that no one has been able to clean up, but Luke Rockhold think it may be its white knight. From Michael Bisping to Georges St-Pierre, then to Robert Whittaker, now an interim title created due to his laundry list of ailments, it’s hard to keep track of the gold belt. No matter what though, Rockhold maintains that if he takes out Romero this weekend in emphatic fashion, that he won’t be just an interim champ, but you can go ahead and call him the real deal. “Slight difference but this was bound to happen one way or the other. [Robert] Whittaker would have been first, Yoel [Romero] would’ve been second. Yoel’s first, so Whittaker will be second. I’m up for the task. I’m not lacking in any way. I’m prepared to fight the best guys in the world. It’s a shame it’s not gonna be for the undisputed title but Whittaker beat Yoel to be the interim champion. I’m gonna beat Yoel to be the interim champion. It’s a matter of who did it better is gonna be the real champion at the end of this thing. So that’s the way I see it.”

Tom Taylor - February 7, 2018

Yesterday afternoon, UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley once again expressed interest in a showdown with long-time lightweight contender Nate Diaz. “I think that fight will happen,” Woodley told ESPN. “I think it will happen this year. I think it’s way more likely than people realize. There are conversations about Nate and I fighting in July. The UFC has offered Nate that fight. They just have to make it worth his while.

Tom Taylor - February 7, 2018

It’s no secret that UFC President Dana White is an extremely wealthy man, and that’s he’s willing to drop serious sums of money when the mood strikes. White’s latest extravagant purchase was documented on the show Pawn Stars. On a recent episode, the UFC boss enters the famous pawn shop in search of weapons for his new “weapons room.”

Tom Taylor - February 7, 2018

On April 21, the UFC will return to Atlantic City, New Jersey’s Boardwalk Hall for the first time since June of 2005. This UFC Atlantic City card is already shaping up to be a good one. On Tuesday night, the promotion announced to new bouts for the card: one, a clash of ranked middleweight contenders, the other, a collision of top-15 light heavyweights.

Chris Taylor - February 6, 2018

Tyron Woodley: “Stephen Thompson is today’s Jon Fitch” Earlier today UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that he was targeting a summer return and would likely be fighting former lightweight title challenger Nate Diaz in his next bout.

Drake Riggs - February 6, 2018

If you’re a fan of Bellator, then you know exactly who Jimmy Smith is. Many have called him “Bellator’s Joe Rogan”, but they can’t call him that anymore! Bellator’s longtime color commentator, Smith recently parted ways with the organization that he was the voice of. He now finds himself with yep…you guessed it, the UFC. At UFC 221 in Perth, Australia this Saturday, Smith will make his UFC commentary debut and in the main event is a big middleweight matchup between Yoel Romero and the former UFC and Strikeforce middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold. The winner takes with them the interim title which inevitably leads to a meeting with the undisputed champion, Robert Whittaker.