MMA News

Justin Golightly - February 2, 2018

Five years ago today, @TWooodley gave us one of the greatest debuts in @UFC history! #ReplayKO pic.twitter.com/Gc6kAOgkgl — FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) February 2, 2018

Justin Golightly - February 2, 2018

It’s been awhile since we’ve seen Mark Hunt. After he beat surging contender Derrick Lewis last Summer, he disappeared across the sea like Godzilla at the end of a movie. As he winds down his legendary career, he returns at UFC 221 in Perth to fight Curtis Blaydes. As a fighter who has only been in the UFC for two years, the relative newcomer knows what it means to step into the Octagon with the Super Samoan. Even comparing him to Michael Jordan or Charles Barkley. “I’m appreciative that the UFC’s gonna give me the chance to fight a living legend. I wasn’t expecting it so soon, but I’m happy they did it. I’m looking forward to putting on a show. My hands have gotten a lot better and I know his hands are very dangerous, but with my hands, plus my wrestling — I think it’s a great fight. I’ve always respected Mark Hunt, I don’t have the style, obviously, but you can’t help respect a guy who’s been doing it for as long as he has at the level he has. I know he doesn’t have the best record, but everyone knows he only fights the best of the best.”

Justin Golightly - February 2, 2018

Everyone knows by now that Daniel Cormier will be going up to challenge Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title, if you were one of the few who didn’t, we hope you were sitting down. The gigantic fight will culminate after the 27th season of The Ultimate Fighter, which will feature undefeated prospects in the featherweight and lightweight divisions. Cormier and Miocic’s official teams have already been announced, but as any previous viewer of the show knows, there are always a few guest coaches. Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold may just be one of them. Spoke to @LukeRockhold, who leaves for Perth tomorrow. Told me Javier Mendez and Bob Cook will be in his corner at 221, and he expects he’ll appear on TUF at some point for DC. Still very much Team AKA, in addition to coaches Henri Hooft and Greg Jones.

Justin Golightly - February 2, 2018

The new EA Sports UFC 3 video game just officially released last night and the EA threw one of those crazy parties you only read about. Of course, unofficial UFC 3 ambassador Demetrious Johnson is the unofficial ambassador was there, styling and profiling. He’s been promoting the game since day one and streaming the beta as well as his early release copy to his thousands and thousands of Twitch viewers. While he’s entered a few high profile gaming tournaments, this is probably his eSports peak. Why? Oh, just because he did it all with none other than Jamie freaking Foxx. #EASPORTSBOWL is wild with @OBJ_3 going at @MightyMouseUFC on #UFC3 pic.twitter.com/3T4IpXIOCB

Justin Golightly - February 2, 2018

Just when you thought the UFC’s chaotic middleweight division was going to reach some sort of state of homeostasis, a big Robert Whittaker-sized wrench gets thrown into things. Promoted to the undisputed middleweight champion, the hard-hitting Aussie was set to defend against Luke Rockhold. Unfortunately, he had to pull out due to undisclosed reasons, which led to Yoel Romero stepping in. Whittaker recently made an appearance and opened up about what took him out, and it’s absolutely bonkers. “Everyone knows I like to fight injured. Half the fights I’ve taken I’ve always been injured. Just before I got ill I pulled my hamstring. And we could work around it and we were doing things to compensate for it, we were working around it, but then I got a really bad infection. And the infection in the end just took it out of me, I was really struggling to recover. And then right at the end of the infection I got the chicken pox. That’s why I’ve got the scars all over my face, because it was an absolute mess. If anyone’s had it, it’s just horrible.”

Drake Riggs - February 1, 2018

Would @MieshaTate be open to a @WWE run? Would she work with Ronda Rousey in the world of pro-wrestling? Miesha tells @realOCsports what the possibilities are when it comes to stepping into the squared circle. @BustedOpenRadio pic.twitter.com/16e0psHY4C — MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) February 1, 2018

Drake Riggs - February 1, 2018

Next week, UFC 221 is headlined by a big middleweight fight to determine the interim champion while undisputed champion, Robert Whittaker recovers on the sideline. In that interim title fight will be recent title challenger, Yoel Romero, and former UFC champ, Luke Rockhold. Someone who’s pretty familiar with both of these fighters is another former champion, Chris Weidman who fought and lost to both fighters in back to back fights. Since these losses, he’s gone 1-1 with his last fight being a win over the very skilled, Kelvin Gastelum. While Weidman’s been recovering from a recent injury, a fellow perennial top 185er has earned a big win as well. Someone Weidman has interest in fighting as he told MMAFighting:

Drake Riggs - February 1, 2018

From the sounds of it, “The Carpenter” Clay Guida knows exactly who he wants to fight for his next time out. And it’s one the lightweight division’s very best.

Justin Golightly - February 1, 2018

If you’ve followed UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson‘s life at all outside of the Octagon, you’d know that when he’s not dominating in the Octagon, he’s interacting and playing against fans on his Twitch stream. Rain or shine, holiday or no holiday, he can be found playing all your favorite games live on the platform. Recently, two streaming and sports entertainment worlds collided when Johnson and WWE’s Xavier Woods got together and played some of the new Dragon Ball FighterZ game. You don’t even have to insert a coin to check it out. “That’s what we’re working towards [to be the best fighter on planet Earth]. Gotta keep on working harder to cement that legacy. One hundred percent [I would want to be in a Tournament of Power in the Universe Survival Saga]. One hundred percent. I would win it. I don’t want to spoil the sagas coming up for you, but I’m probably one of the strongest guys in that tournament.”

Jason Kindschy - February 1, 2018

BJPENN Radio returns tonight at 8PM ET/5PM PT! 8:15PM ET- Our guest tonight for this streamlined episode is a familiar one, having joined the show many times over the past year. The always brash and outspoken heel in the world of MMA, Colby Covington. The No. 3 ranked welterweight in the UFC remains in the media spotlight by pulling no punches and continuing his verbal assault of the elite at 170, with his primary target of course being the champ Tyron Woodley. We’ll be discussing Colby’s plans for 2018 and how he sees the title picture unfolding with Woodley sidelined and Rafael dos Anjos being considered for the next shot at gold. On a previous episode, Stephen Thompson had expressed interest in a matchup with Covington. You’ll hear his response to a potential showdown with “Wonderboy” and how long Colby is willing to sit out while waiting for the title fight. Plus, we’ll get his reaction to Ronda Rousey joining the WWE roster and much more!

Justin Golightly - February 1, 2018

The card is only about half finished but already the UFC’s trip to Brooklyn is looking awesome. UFC 223 is topped with the huge lightweight clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson, with Rose Namajunas defending her new strawweight title against the very woman she took it from, the dangerous Joanna Jedrzejczyk. That should be enough to tune in, but underneath that are just more fun scraps. The latest addition is Michael Chiesa and Anthony Pettis. More LWs are headed to Brooklyn! 🌃@MikeMav22 and @ShowtimePettis join April’s #UFC223 card. pic.twitter.com/Rc5FGVInGj

Tom Taylor - February 1, 2018

UFC 226, which goes down on July 7, is going to be headlined by a heavyweight superfight between reigning champion Stipe Miocic and reigning light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. And from the sounds of it, another blockbuster superfight is in the works for the card’s co-main event: a flyweight title fight between dominating divisional champ Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and current bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw. News of this targeted bout was first reported by BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor.

Tom Taylor - February 1, 2018

Over the last few days, undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather has repeatedly eluded to a possible move to MMA. If Mayweather were to jump to MMA – an undeniably slim possibility – its hard to imagine he’d be welcomed by anybody but UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor. McGregor addressed the possibility of an MMA bout with Mayweather shortly after a charity gala he attended in New York City on Wednesday night.

Justin Golightly - February 1, 2018

You and I are destined to do this forever. That’s what the Joker said to Batman in Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed film The Dark Knight. This seems to be the same message that Colby Covington wants to send to UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. He’s been calling him out and calling him out over and over to no avail after beating Demian Maia. Now, potentially being passed up by Rafael dos Anjos, Covington isn’t about to back down. If the UFC needs to sell tickets and rack up pay-per-view buys, Covington claims they have to put him in the fight. “I just don’t get why they want to do [Rafael dos Anjos]. It’s not a money fight. Tyron [Woodley] wants to be the hero, so if he wants to be the hero, he needs to come fight me. I’m the villain. I’m the bad guy of the division. I’m the most hated guy in the division. If you want fans to like you — fans hate Tyron right now, because he’s being fake. He’s being two-faced. He’s saying all this stuff and he doesn’t really mean it. He’s not being truthful. That’s why the fans are liking me right now because what I’m saying is real. […] I just don’t get why he doesn’t see that I’m the money fight. He’s not going to get [Nate] Diaz, he’s not going to get [Georges St-Pierre], Conor [McGregor] isn’t even in question.”

Justin Golightly - February 1, 2018

UFC London was the Bermuda Triangle of match-ups. It was long supposed to be the card basically made for Michael Bisping’s retirement fight. After opponents were ruled out one-by-one, finally either Bisping or the UFC decided he would not be fighting on that card. Darren Till and Stephen Thompson was also ruled out. Finally, we have a big name attached to the card and a finalized main event. Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum will square off against Alexander Volkov. Your heavyweight #UFCLondon main event!! 🇧🇷 @FabricioWerdum vs. @AlexDragoVolkov 🇷🇺

Justin Golightly - February 1, 2018

The match of the century has been booked. The UFC light heavyweight champion challenging the UFC heavyweight champion. Two of the biggest and baddest men on the planet colliding in an incredible fight that has ‘legendary’ written all over it. However, before Daniel Cormier puts on the gloves to fight Stipe Miocic, there’s going to be an entire season of The Ultimate Fighter as build up. The two will coach a cast of undefeated fighters for their chance at greatness, before they prepare for their own legacy-defining clash. These two champions can’t do it alone though, they’ll need a group of coaches to help build their teams to success. Daniel Cormier will bring along all the people who have been with him for the long haul, including former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. Stipe Miocic will have UFC fighter James Krause, as well as GLORY kickboxer, former UFC fighter, and new ACB signee Chris Camozzi.

Tom Taylor - February 1, 2018

UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor is not modest about the amount of money he’s made, or the lavish lifestyle it has afforded him. Interestingly, though, McGregor keeps quite quiet about the charitable work he does, and as it turns out, he does a lot.  Last night, McGregor attended the New York’s Children Medical Research Foundation 7th Annual Best of Ireland Gala in New York City, where he was honored for his substantial donations to the Our Ladies Children’s Hospital of Crumlin, in his native Dublin, Ireland.

Tom Taylor - February 1, 2018

Though nothing is official just yet, UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw is campaigning hard for a flyweight title shot opposite seemingly unstoppable divisional champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Before Dillashaw faces the monumental task of unseating Johnson, however, he would have to make the flyweight division’s 125-pound limit – a feat many people seem to be skeptical he’s capable of.