MMA News

Justin Golightly - February 3, 2018

Demetrious Johnson confirms ‘negotiations have begun’ to fight TJ Dillashaw as the co-main event of #UFC226: Cormier vs Miocic. pic.twitter.com/xEcrsiQV4a — Justin Golightly (@SecretMovesMMA) February 3, 2018

Justin Golightly - February 3, 2018

Back when Jon Jones finally came back and looked like the world-beater we all wanted him too, he was taken away from us nearly as soon as he arrived. He was able to finish Daniel Cormier and reclaim the title, then he called out Brock Lesnar. …But that fight never happened. Not only did a potential superfight go away, but so did Jones himself after a potential anti-doping violation that is still ongoing. A fight of that magnitude is now Daniel Cormier’s to carry. His fight later this year with Stipe Miocic is going to be historic and something no one — not even Jon Jones — can say they’ve accomplished. “It’s never been done before. The crazy thing when [Jon] Jones beat me, he asked to fight Brock Lesnar and he also said, ‘Hey, you guys can’t force me up to heavyweight, it’s one thing to fight a heavyweight, a guy that’s big. It’s another thing to go up and fight a guy that’s big, but also really, really good.’ So, he didn’t seem too stoked on it. I think it just shows the difference in mentality.”

Justin Golightly - February 3, 2018

The UFC’s latest venture into St. Louis back in January was a successful night which had a couple of shining moments, but one potential Fight of the Night was taken off the card. Uriah Hall was supposed to clash with veteran Vitor Belfort. Unfortunately, Hall suffered mini-seizures and a slight heart attack during a grueling weight cut and was forced out of the bout. After the news, Dana White claimed Hall doesn’t take fighting serious and he was out in clubs a week before the fight. Coach Eric Nicksick recently responded to those allegations and he was not happy. “It’s tough, especially when your employer is the first one to bag on you. I think what really hurt me was, [Uriah Hall] almost died for your organization. Uriah was upset. He’s like, ‘I thought me and Dana [White] were friends.’ I said, ‘Yeah, maybe, but you f-cked with that dude’s money. So don’t get all upset about it thinking you guys were all chummy. At the end of the day, none of us get paid, it was an eight-week camp. But my guy’s alive. Honest to god truth, I didn’t know if we was going to make it out. I said, ‘Don’t call the doctor – call the paramedics.'”

Drake Riggs - February 2, 2018

Some are calling it MMA’s first true super fight and they may very well be right. The only other time we have gotten an established champion vs champion title fight was when Georges St-Pierre took on BJ Penn at UFC 94. Yes, we did see champion vs champion when Eddie Alvarez attempted to defend his lightweight crown against featherweight champion, Conor McGregor but neither had defended their titles yet. St-Pierre and Penn had, however. GSP was the welterweight champ and Penn the lightweight champ. The end result being a win for the Canadian in dominant fashion, but this time we’re getting the big boys. UFC 226 is officially being headlined by the light heavyweight champion of the world, Daniel Cormier as he looks to take away Stipe Miocic’s heavyweight title that he just broke the record defending. The two champions had their first staredown today at the UFC Performance Institute. Check it out:

Drake Riggs - February 2, 2018

“I’ll tell ya what, maybe it’s because I just watched that movie ‘Battle of the Sexes’… I was thinki’ today, what do you do with CM Punk? There’s not a man on the roster that does not walk through him in under a minute. So what do you do with him? You’re obviously gonna give him another fight… Is he a ratings draw…? I don’t think so. There was that mystery like, ‘god, how would he do?’ then we were like, ‘oh my god that was awful’. It was so bad you don’t want to see him fight again.

Drake Riggs - February 2, 2018

As you may have heard earlier today, the co-main event between John Dodson and Pedro Munhoz for UFC Fight Night 125 in Belem, Brazil is no longer going to happen. From time to time…fighters will indeed miss weight. This was again one of those times but so severely that the fight ended up being canceled. The fight was scheduled as a 135-pound bantamweight bout but Munhoz came in four pounds over at 140.  An official statement from the UFC has since been made:

Justin Golightly - February 2, 2018

John Dodson’s bantamweight scrap with rising contender Pedro Munhoz will not longer go down tomorrow. MMA Fighting journalist Guilherme Cruz‏ was following the story closely after Pedro Munhoz missed weight early this morning. At first a catchweight was offered with Munhoz fined 20-percent of his purse, which would go to Dodson, as well as 20-percent of a potential win bonus. However, either the UFC changed their mind or an on-weight Dodson refused to take the fight with a heavier opponent, so the fight was called off. UFC Belem ceremonial weigh-ins are a little over than 3 hours away, and no decision has been made about the co-main event. Pedro Munhoz missed by 4 pounds, and I’m hearing that John Dodson isn’t that interested in taking the fight. UFC trying to get it done.

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

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

The news is still everywhere. Former queen of the UFC Ronda Rousey is now the latest WWE superstar. She’s moved on to make big moves in another arena of sports entertainment. One UFC welterweight who isn’t a stranger to the theatrics of pro wrestling or the ring itself, is Colby Covington. He’s walked the ends of the Earth calling out Tyron Woodley, even on air at Impact Wrestling after he and American Top Team co-founder invaded the promotion with teammates. Not only does the controversial fighter support Rousey’s move, but wants to follow in her footsteps. “I think it was a great move for [Ronda Rousey]. She wasn’t gonna win anymore fights, so she’s gotta do something that she can win in, so maybe pro wrestling’s that. I think it was a great move. I think she’s done well for herself and she’s gonna make some good money over there. The thing is, I hope she don’t f-ck it up for the MMA fighters, because I’m the people following in those footsteps. I’ma be over there in WWE, taking the world title soon. I hope she doesn’t act all shy and do all that weird stuff, you know? She needs to be who she is and who she used to be in the UFC when she was the champ.”

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

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.

Drake Riggs - February 1, 2018

Floyd Mayweather in a cage? He's seeking attention for one reason… #beyondthefight pic.twitter.com/iib6iEU8vE — Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) February 1, 2018

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.”

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.