MMA News

Justin Golightly - January 27, 2018

In case you haven’t heard the news, maybe you need to sit down. UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier is going to challenge Stipe Miocic for his UFC heavyweight belt in July after they coach a season of The Ultimate Fighter. We aren’t kidding. This is really happening. While this is insane, Cormier’s teammate Cain Velasquez may be hinting at something even crazier. Even the UFC’s official Twitter account was confused at what was going on. Either that, or they’re cleverly stirring the speculation pot. Like always, I’m gonna be in the gym everyday to help my brother @dc_mma become the next heavyweight champ at #UFC226. Once he wins, things could get interesting. #AndNew #WeAreAKA #GonnaGetMyBeltBack

Drake Riggs - January 26, 2018

The fighters started the action feeling each other out with kicks that didn’t really land. As the first minute ticked away, Fernando Gonzalez landed a nice body kick as Lorenz Larkin regained cage control and began to work his patented front teep kicks to the body and thigh. Gonzalez fought back with single hooks at times but nothing significant came from them. Larkin landed a perfect low leg kick that Gonzalez countered on with a good left hook but it didn’t get though Larkin’s defense. “The Monsoon” Larkin was picking and moving with his shots, employing his game but when Gonzalez found an opportunity to flurry he took it and each traded strikes for a brief moment. Larkin quickly got back to controlling the pace and working his kicking game.

Drake Riggs - January 26, 2018

Not many fighters have been so vocal about how unhappy they are with their UFC contracts after a fight as Al Iaquinta has been after his last few fights. But it sounds like “Ragin'” Al has negotiated a deal that he can fight happily under. He explained when talking to ESPN.com: “After my last fight in April, I put a number in my head, and I wasn’t going to fight for anything less. They almost got me in December. I accepted a fight against Paul Felder, but it wasn’t the number I had. I kind of rushed into it. So I pulled out of that fight. I stuck to my guns. One day, I got on the phone with [UFC matchmaker] Sean Shelby and said, ‘Listen, USADA is coming to my office to test me. This is unacceptable. I said I was going to pull myself from the USADA program. And they came back with the number I wanted.

Drake Riggs - January 26, 2018

The UFC’s current undisputed Featherweight king, Max Holloway began his Mixed Martial Arts career six years ago at just the young age of nineteen years old. Before he started the journey to being one of the best MMA fighters in the world, he tried his hand at kickboxing. Check him out before the tattoos and MMA gloves!

Justin Golightly - January 26, 2018

The middleweight division was just on the verge of reaching a relatively normal state of affairs and then an injury sent it right back into chaos. Georges St-Pierre bowed out of the division and left his new title behind. Whittaker was promoted to the undisputed champion but had to pull out of his first defense. Yoel Romero was immediately booked into Whittaker’s fight with Luke Rockhold and it was changed into an interim title bout. If you’re confused, don’t worry, Kelvin Gastelum is too. He thought he was a shoe-in for the shot after his performance at UFC Shanghai, but the UFC had other plans. “It does bother me a little bit that I haven’t even been considered for a shot, but it is what it is, I know this is a process, and I’m just dealing with the process. What I do think set me back was Robert Whittaker getting hurt and them making that match-up for the interim [middleweight] belt. That sets every middleweight back, because the winner is going to have to fight Whittaker. It’s just going to have to be a process for anyone to get a title shot.” — Kelvin Gastelum speaking to MMA Junkie.

Justin Golightly - January 26, 2018

All through the lead up to UFC 220, most of the spotlight was on Stipe Miocic‘s opponent Francis Ngannou. He was built up to be a genetic freak who threatened to take out the reigning and defending UFC heavyweight champion just as fast as he has dispatched of his other competition. No question Ngannou has an incredible story and was someone fresh, but Miocic couldn’t help but feel a little disrespected going into the event. After all, he was on the precipice of making history by breaking the division’s title defense record. After getting past the test, he declared himself the best heavyweight champ of all time, prompting the UFC to ask the fans if this was really true. This caused Miocic’s wife to finally lash out at the organization. “So disappointing and honestly in shock that you would even write this post. Get behind your Champion. It’s time. Continued disrespect for the blue collar, stand up individual serving his community, and dominating his division. This is a man that goes above and beyond for everyone he meets and does nothing but gracefully display his talent. He is a shining example of a hero, a family man, a role model for kids and everyone else he encounters. You really need to re-evaluate who it is that you choose to stand behind. Very disappointing. But sadly, not surprising.” — Ryan Miocic responding to the UFC on Instagram as reported by WKYC 3.

Justin Golightly - January 26, 2018

As soon as Nate Diaz announced that he’s tired of waiting on the sidelines and ready to come back to bring excitement to the UFC again, a lot of fighters wanted to get on that action. Dana White said he was going to offer him a fight, but that it wasn’t going to be Tyron Woodley or Conor McGregor. While there were some talk going around about unofficial UFC ‘Most Violent’ champion Eddie Alvarez, it looks like this latest public service announcement confirms he may have been one of the fights offered to the Diaz brother. Alvarez just blasted Nate Diaz for supposedly not practicing what he preaches. “If you only want Conor [McGregor] there’s nothing wrong with that, but keep it 100 with everyone, Nate Diaz. Don’t call out the entire [lightweight] division when you don’t want no work from anyone of us  It’s as phony as your whole character, you f-cking dork . You changed, man. Fake news. For your information, Nate Diaz had a common friend text me a message he sent saying he ain’t trying to fight me because I lost to Conor and he beat Conor on some MMA math sh-t . I was as shocked as you are right now. You forget [Rafael dos Anjos] ragdolled you? Nate’s fake news.” — Eddie Alvarez on Twitter.

Justin Golightly - January 26, 2018

If you’re already itching for MMA and can’t wait until UFC Charlotte, ONE FC’s Global Superheroes went down last night provided enough excitement to hold you over until tomorrow even in just one fight. Featherweight Edward Kelly stepped in to face Meas Meulin the prelims and shocked everyone with his brutal and lightning fast knockout. The victory came at only 21-seconds, which is the fastest knockout in ONE’s featherweight division history. This KO of the Year contender is a highlight that deserves multiple looks. knee ! Edward Kelly KOs Meas Meu in 21 seconds (ONE) pic.twitter.com/1wW2tj3WLV

Justin Golightly - January 26, 2018

Georges St-Pierre came, he saw, he conquered. The welterweight legend came back after four years removed from competition in the UFC and didn’t skip a beat. He looked amazing as he fought middleweight champion Michael Bisping and submitted him, capturing a title in a higher weight division. Understandably, fans were surprised and devastated to find out he compromised his health for the accomplishment, would vacate the belt and take yet another break from the sport. All eyes are on St-Pierre to return this year, perhaps at welterweight, but his coach doesn’t think that’s going to happen. “I honestly don’t bother [Georges St-Pierre] about [the next fight], because I know everybody is always asking him about it 24 hurs a day. When I see him, I don’t talk about the next fight. We don’t talk about it. I know what he’s thinking, he knows what I’m thinking and that’s it. We just leave it at that. Personally, I think he’ll fight again.He doesn’t know, nobody knows, but I think he’s just so hyper-competitive that eventually he’s going to wake up one day and he’s going to be like, ‘I need something. I need a challenge.'”

Justin Golightly - January 26, 2018

What’s it like to be Tony Ferguson? Only one man knows. There have been ups and downs and a lot of time to contemplate since his win over Kevin Lee, awarding him a UFC interim lightweight title. Once again he’s been booked against Khabib Nurmagomedov, but the fate of his title is a mystery all seemingly waiting on the go ahead from someone he can’t — nor anyone else for that matter — control: Conor McGregor. Is it and interim title defense? Is it for the undisputed? It’s something that left Ferguson frustrated. On the heels of all of that, he just dropped a statement on his Instagram. “The Champ Says; A response to my future fighter’s: From a normal man’s stand you will be criticized, Looked at different, and told what you are doing is a waste of time. Kid, haters are everywhere. All Shapes, and sizes. They will fuel your fire and that will guide you where you want to go when channeled right. Let’s re-calibrate. Take a good look. Hard work, motherf-ckers. I had to earn it every step of the way. No Complaints. It’s not easy. You have to train to the point where giving up is not an option [on the] mat, [in the] ring, cage and life.”

Drake Riggs - January 25, 2018

One of the UFC’s most accomplished and recognizable warriors is ready to return. Joe Lauzon is tied at fifteen with Nate Diaz for most performance bonuses in a UFC career. Lauzon holds the record for most submission of the night awards(six) and will most certainly look to break his tie with Diaz when he returns at UFC 223 in Brooklyn, New York on April 7 to face The Ultimate Fighter season 22 alum, Chris Gruetzemacher.

Drake Riggs - January 25, 2018

Few fighters were as essential to the lighter weight classes’ growth back in the early days of MMA as Jens “Lil Evil” Pulver. He was the UFC’s very first Lightweight champion and actually never lost the title. Pulver defended twice then took his fighting skills elsewhere. In his first defense, he was a part of the first Lightweight fight to headline a UFC event. His opponent? None other than the twenty-two-year-old prodigy, BJ Penn.

Drake Riggs - January 25, 2018

It’s pretty rare to see the longtime Featherweight queen, Cris Cyborg get called out by anyone. Usually, she’s the one who has to go searching for challengers. But today someone has risen from the shadows and they happen to be a fellow champion as well. Current Invicta FC Bantamweight champion, Yana “Foxy” Kunitskaya took to Twitter and let it be known that she wants to test the unstoppable, Cyborg. https://twitter.com/YanaKunitskaya1/status/956629098280796160

Jason Kindschy - January 25, 2018

BJPENN Radio returns tonight at 9PM ET/6PM PT! 9:15PM ET- We kick things off with UFC lightweight Mairbek Taisumov. Following what appears to be an end to his frustrating visa complications, the Russian powerhouse appears to have cleared the hurdle as it was announced he’d be fighting Evan Dunham at UFC 223 in Brooklyn, New York. Riding a five-fight win streak under the UFC banner, Taisumov believes a big win on April 7th against Dunham puts him right in the mix at 155. We’ll discuss the visa situation, the matchup against Dunham, and the landscape of the division.

Justin Golightly - January 25, 2018

It seems like both yesterday and 100 years ago that Brock Lesnar made his triumphant UFC return after being away from the sport for nearly five years, then coming back and beating top 10 heavyweight Mark Hunt. There have been multiple rumblings of his return including a Jon Jones call out, but nothing has happened yet. All that may start to change in April of this year, when Brock Lesnar’s contract with the WWE is up. He’ll have some fine print that keeps him locked until the Fall, but then he’ll be clear to pursue other business opportunities. …Including a UFC return. “According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Brock Lesnar’s contract ends right after WrestleMania, but there are aspects in the contract that could keep him with WWE through August. Lesnar would need Vince McMahon’s approval to do a UFC fight. Dana White this past week indicated that he believed Lesnar would fight in UFC in 2018, and McMahon did give his approval for the Mark Hunt fight in 2016.” — Larry Csonka of 411Mania.

Justin Golightly - January 25, 2018

At UFC 220, the knockout machine Francis Ngannou was put up against another unstoppable fighter in now record-breaking champion Stipe Miocic. It wasn’t the performance that was promoted or expected, resulting in Miocic taking the contender into the deepest of waters and dominating him to a decision victory. After his first loss since 2014 and a super quick rush to a title shot, Ngannou will be stepping away from the sport for an undisclosed amount of time and reconnecting with family before regrouping and coming back strong. “In my dark way, I’m taking some time off which will benefit my personal life by going back home to enjoy family and friends . Then I’ll be back to set businesses up.” — Francis Ngannou on Twitter.

Justin Golightly - January 25, 2018

You’ve heard him on @UFCFightPass and #SnoopCast now @SnoopDogg brings his talents to @EASPORTSUFC 3 Knockout Mode! pic.twitter.com/GDq6pzAoKR — UFC (@ufc) January 25, 2018

Justin Golightly - January 25, 2018

The neverending pain of being a fight fan is watching all your favorite fighters fade and eventually walk away from the sport you love. Daniel Cormier has gone on record saying he only has three fights left before he hangs up his gloves due to his 40th birthday. Now MMA legend and PRIDE vet Mark Hunt is saying basically the exact same thing. After his fight at UFC 221, Hunt wants two more chances to walk-off KO opponents before he leaves the UFC. Not retire, but leave the UFC. “I’ve got this one in Perth [at UFC 221 against Curtis Blaydes], then hopefully I can push out two more before the end of the year and my contract will be up. I’d like to fight another three times globally and then probably hang them up. I’ve already been offered three boxing fights. I’m still chasing the UFC dream. I want to be the best mixed martial artist in the world. Maybe I will chase a boxing title after that. Conor [McGregor] fought [Floyd Mayweather] the best boxer in the world, so who knows?”