MMA News

Justin Golightly - February 8, 2018

Everyone loves a stylish fighter. Anthony Pettis will forever be remembered from walking up the cage at WEC and flying across the canvas to kick Benson Henderson in the face. You could flip the channel on your TV right now and chances are you may find a highlight of Anderson Silva putting Forrest Griffin in the Matrix. Israel Adesanya will look to turn heads with another knockout worthy of his reel this Saturday in his UFC debut. He believes it’s his destiny as a ‘Style Bender’. “F-ck that. I gave myself the nickname [Style Bender]. People say, ‘Oh, you can’t give yourself a nickname.’ But I was like, why? I make my own destiny. I don’t want my destiny to be in someone else’s hands. It made sense to me, because Aang the Avatar had to realize his potential of being the Avatar by mastering all the elements, which is water, fire, earth and air. And I have to realize my destiny of master all the elements of martial arts to be here [in the UFC].”

Tom Taylor - February 8, 2018

Referee Mario Yamasaki might the most unpopular man in MMA right now. The MMA community brought out the torches and pitchforks after he let Valentina Shevchenko brutalize the grossly outmatched Priscila Cachoeira for far longer than necessary last Saturday, and the backlash hasn’t stopped since. Of all the people to criticize Yamasaki, none did so with more ferocity than UFC President Dana White, who went so far as to promise we’ll never see the referee again.

Tom Taylor - February 8, 2018

Last month, in the main event of UFC 220, the hype train of Francis Ngannou came to an abrupt halt at the hands of UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. For five rounds, the champ out-fought the challenger, exposing major deficits in his wrestling and his cardio in the process. Speaking on a recent episode of his podcast, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan (one of the biggest drivers of Ngannou’s hype train before UFC 220) discussed the outcome of the UFC 220 main event.

Justin Golightly - February 8, 2018

Matt Brown comes back soon against Carlos Condit at UFC Glendale in April, which is a fight we’ll all praising the MMA gods for bestowing upon us. However, it’s not his opponent that he’s trashing publicly like some other fighters, he’s continuing a beef he has with Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series commentator Snoop Dogg. Matt Brown is still heated for the wild Instagram video Snoop posted insulting Conor McGregor after his boxing loss to Floyd Mayweather. Brown went as far to say if he caught him on the street, he’d catch these hands fashizzle. “Snoop Dogg, that piece of sh-t. I’ll call him out. He called out Conor [McGregor]. Remember, he called him a b-tch? That’s not cool, man. I don’t care [if he was f-cked up]. He put it out in public. He could have apologized, deleted it, whatever. If I go to the UFC PI [Performance Institute] I might just punch him. If I see him there. I’m cool with that. I’m just saying. That really offends me, man.”

Tom Taylor - February 8, 2018

In the wake of last weekend’s UFC Belem card, the UFC has updated its official rankings. The biggest shakeups in this latest iteration of the rankings can all be attributed to Valentina Shevchenko. Having left the UFC women’s bantamweight division (where she was formerly ranked number one), and officially announced herself in the UFC’s new women’s flyweight division, Shevchenko has caused tectonic shifts in both divisions.

Justin Golightly - February 8, 2018

While Dana White is talking about still making a rematch between TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt, Dillashaw’s trainer Duane Ludwig is still pushing for the Demetrious Johnson superfight. It makes sense considering Johnson himself has said they’re in negotiations for co-main event of UFC 226 with Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier. As with most things, it’s probably both fighters wanting the money they deserve that is stalling things, but Ludwig says that no matter what the obstacles, this fight needs to happen for the future of MMA. “[TJ Dillashaw]’s a ninja. That’s why he’s the champion and that’s why he’s going to fight Demetrious [Johnson]. Demetrious, where you at buddy? C’mon, Demetrious. Let’s make this happen. Whether I’m TJ’s trainer, or friend, or instructor, or Sensei or not, right? For me, just as a martial art enthusiast, I want to see that fight happen to see who truly is the best mixed martial artist.”

Tom Taylor - February 8, 2018

Last weekend, in the co-main event of the UFC’s return to Belem, Brazil’s Priscila Cachoeira was brutalized by the far more experienced Valentina Shevchenko en route to a second-round submission loss. In the wake of this brutal fight, there has been widespread criticism of referee Mario Yamasaki. In the eyes of many fans and pundits, the referee should have stopped the fight much earlier. UFC President Dana White was particularly critical of Yamasaki post-fight. Priscilla Cachoeira, you showed so much heart and toughness in that fight. I’m honored to have you fight in the UFC. Unfortunately the ref is there to protect you and Mario DID NOT do that. This isn’t his first disgusting performance in the octagon. Another unfortunate thing is that i can’t do anything about I️t only the Brazilian commission can and i am hoping after this scary, incompetent showing he hopefully will never set foot in that Octagon again. Strikes landed was 230-3.

Tom Taylor - February 8, 2018

It’s now been almost two years since Brock Lesnar’s last mixed martial arts bout, a July 2016 defeat of Mark Hunt, which was ultimately ruled a no-contest when he tested positive for the banned substance clomiphene. From the sounds of it, however, Lesnar could make another walk to the Octagon before all is said and done.  UFC President Dana White addressed the possibility of another Brock Lesnar UFC fight on the latest episode of UFC Tonight.

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.