MMA News

Tom Taylor - January 7, 2018

On January 14, the UFC will return to St. Louis, Missouri, with a Fight Night card that seems to possess all the elements of a Card of the Year contender. One of the most compelling features of this card is the featherweight debut of long-time lightweight contender Michael Johnson. The St. Louis native will make his debut in the division opposite surging contender Darren “The Damage” Elkins on the event’s undercard. While Johnson is unsurprisingly very excited about a fresh start in the UFC featherweight division, he’s not thrilled about his position on the card. As one of the most consistently exciting fighters out there, and a St. Louis native, he believes he has claim to the main or at least co-main event spot.

Tom Taylor - January 7, 2018

Last month, in the main event of UFC on Fox 26, former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos picked up one of the best wins of his already impressive career, defeating Robbie Lawler by unanimous decision. In the eyes of many fans, this win was enough to earn dos Anjos a fight with UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. Woodley himself, however, doesn’t share this opinion. “Was it a good performance?” Woodley recently told MMAFighting. “If I had Robbie Lawler against the Octagon like [dos Anjos did], would he have been alive or would he have been knocked the f*ck out? He’d have been knocked out.”

Chris Taylor - January 6, 2018

Conor McGregor’s coach responds to Tony Ferguson’s “defend or vacate” request! Since claiming the promotions interim lightweight title by submitting Kevin Lee at UFC 216, Tony Ferguson has been busy campaigning for Conor McGregor to defend or vacate his lightweight strap.

Chris Taylor - January 6, 2018

Marlon Moraes posts signed bout agreement, puts Jimmie Rivera on blast! Marlon Moraes has signed a bout agreement to fight Jimmie Rivera at UFC Orlando on February 24. The former WSOF bantamweight champ posted the contract on Twitter while taking a jab at Rivera.

Chris Taylor - January 6, 2018

UFC 221 Fight Card set with twelve bouts! The octagon will return to Australia this February for UFC 221. The pay-per-view event will take place on February 11 in Perth, but will air live in North America on February 10 due to the time difference.

Justin Golightly - January 6, 2018

Michael Bisping’s 2017 was a roller coaster ride. He got a well-deserved huge money fight with Georges St-Pierre, but ended up on the wrong end of a choke. After losing his title, he jumped into a fight with Kelvin Gastelum with a super quick turnaround and was finished in the first round. He’ll look to come into 2018 to turn that all around with one last fight before he walks away from the sport. He’s had offers from a handful of fighters looking to build off his name in the big moment, Brad Tavares being the latest to challenge the former UFC middleweight champion. What’s up @bisping I know you’re looking for a fight in England. Respectfully, I would like to share the octagon with you, and show the English fans how Hawaiians get down!!! @danawhite @Mickmaynard2 @ufc

Justin Golightly - January 6, 2018

#OnThisDay in 2012: @TheNotoriousMMA became double @CageWarriors champ! 📽 https://t.co/TMZIENdJ5x pic.twitter.com/Su3KfnZK9p

Justin Golightly - January 6, 2018

Glossy video packages, crisp suits, $50K bonuses. This is a world still brand new to Francis Ngannou. Just five years ago, the man was homeless and didn’t even know that mixed martial arts existed. The only thing he knew, is that he saw something bigger for the life which contained him. Ngannou didn’t just see the vision behind closed eyes and admire it, he went out to seek it by any means necessary. For himself, for his family, for his village. “Even during my pregnancy, [Francis Ngannou] was always moving so much I couldn’t sleep. But no, he wasn’t fighting. Never fighting. And he would never let someone hit another kid.” — Francis Ngannou’s mother

Justin Golightly - January 6, 2018

If there is one thing Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone is about, it ain’t lying. Whatever Cerrone gives you, whether you like it or not, is the truth as he sees it. He talks like he accepts fights: Immediate. So, when a controversial report that seems to originate in a Bloody Elbow Fanpost about Jackson Wink’s long losing streak, Donald Cerrone was quick to shoot straight about it when he could have understandably condemned the article for poor taste. On the contrary, Cerrone isn’t making any excuses about Jackson Wink’s losing streak, or his own. “Yeah man, It’s just wild. I mean, sh-t, it’s not a thing that’s the norm. Even since I’ve been there we’ve been a pretty successful squad, but lately we’ve had a bit of trouble. Look at me, I’m f-cking three losses. The first I’ve had ever. It’s bullsh-t, I don’t know what the f-ck is going on. I’m like 174-175-pounds right now. That’s like my walking around weight so 170-pounds is easy. I don’t have to train nearly as hard, but I’m not making any excuses.”

Justin Golightly - January 6, 2018

Whether or not he’s your favorite fighter or not, Khabib Nurmagomedov is the shining, smashing example of a fighter’s fighter. The type of man that other UFC fighters pick as their favorite fighter, that is unless they have to face him in the Octagon. He came back, answered the single doubt he’s left in anyone’s mind, and absolutely dominated a top five lightweight in Edson Barboza in devastating fashion. From one champion to another, Tyron Woodley is mad hype on Khabib Nurmagomedov. “Let’s get some respect for this dude, because I don’t want [Khabib Nurmagomedov] storming in here trying to double leg my ass. I’m gonna say something outlandish. ‘F’ Tony Ferguson right now. I think he jumps Tony Ferguson and he goes straight to Conor McGregor. Man, it was completely savage how he was whooping up on the homie Michael Johnson — which is a tough cookie — and was saying stop. When a man telling you to quit and give up in a fight, he’s on a whole ‘nother level.”

Justin Golightly - January 6, 2018

The biggest heavyweight fight potentially of all-time is a couple of weeks away and it is curiously absent of trash talk. Although, when you’re two guys like Francis Ngannou and Stipe Miocic, the need to say threatening things has never really been something that comes up a lot. Both men are equally humble as they are frightening. Both men have made it a habit of dispatching other scary dudes. Which is why Miocic shrugs at the notion of Ngannou’s horror story mythos being built around him and his record-breaking punching power. To Stipe Miocic, Ngannou is just one more guy like he’s fought over and over. “[Franics Ngannou]’s tough, he’s big, strong, hits hard but he’s just another dude. That’s what it is. You’re telling me Mark Hunt doesn’t hit that hard? Or Roy Nelson? Or Junior dos Santos? Come on. He hits hard and definitely if you get hit square like that [it’s bad news], but I’m definitely going to keep my head up, keep my head on a swivel, and make sure I’m doing everything right.”

Drake Riggs - January 5, 2018

If you have Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal as one of your training partners…it will be hard for you to not find at least some success in MMA or wrestling. Mo is one of Bellator’s staple big name fighters and is next taking on their Light Heavyweight champion, Ryan Bader as part of the Heavyweight title Grand Prix. Recently, the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champion, King Mo caught up with the In This Corner Podcast and shed some light on how much potential that the NFL football star turned MMA fighter, Greg Hardy really has: “I sparred with him five or six times and the last time we sparred, it was a battle. It was a battle and he gave me work and took me down. He’s a 285-pound guy and he just picked me up and just threw me. I remember the first day that he came last year, I saw him and gave him a pair of my gloves,” Lawal said. “I said, ‘Alright man let’s work on this.’ He was on the bag and he went from hitting the bag with his right hand and hook to uppercuts, learning kicks, to learning takedown defense and jiu jitsu. He’s a fast learner and he loves it.

Drake Riggs - January 5, 2018

Just a few years ago, the biggest possible fight among the women would have obviously been the former UFC Bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey vs at the time, the Invicta FC Featherweight champion and former Strikeforce Featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg. It was always an issue of Cyborg making 135 lbs…since that was initially the only division for the women before the UFC introduced the 115 lb Strawweight division. Then by the time that Cyborg had come to the UFC, Rousey had been dethroned in devastating fashion and the opportunity for a big female super fight died. That is perhaps until now. After Cyborg’s dominant decision victory over the woman that dethroned Rousey, Holly Holm at UFC 219, everyone has begun to ponder what’s next for the longtime ruler of 145. The obvious choice is fellow top three Featherweight worldwide, the Australian, Megan Anderson. Anderson was the most recent Invicta FC Featherweight champion prior to her signing to the UFC to fight Cyborg for the vacant title at UFC 214 before being forced out for undisclosed reasons. It’s not like Anderson is unqualified, but she is also the only other Featherweight on the UFC roster.

Drake Riggs - January 5, 2018

When it comes to managers, few are quite as vocal as many of MMA’s biggest stars manager, Ali Abdelaziz. One of his fighters happens to be the hot commodity that is Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov. Khabib last fought at UFC 219 where he put on an epic beating on top five Lightweight, Edson Barboza over the span of three rounds on route to a clear-cut unanimous decision that included multiple 10-8 round scores. Abdelaziz tweeted out today that they are looking at the interim champion, Tony Ferguson for their next move.  

Justin Golightly - January 5, 2018

In just two weeks, one of the biggest fights in Bellator history will go down to determine if Douglas Lima keeps his welterweight title, or if UFC transplant Rory MacDonald fulfills capturing the hold that alluded him in his previous organization. As the bell time draws closer and closer, MacDonald revealed some of the violent plans he has in mind for not just Lima, but for Bellator itself. Douglas Limas, who thinks MacDonald is a little too overconfident, has his own plans of proving he’s one of the very best in the world whether he’s in the UFC or not. “It’s the fight I wanted. [Rory MacDonald]’s a tough guy but no big deal. To me, he’s an opponent like any other. He’s got his strengths. He’s been in many wars, but after the first hand lands, he’ll change his plan, for sure. He’s very sure of himself. He’s saying he’s one step ahead of everyone in the division, right? But let him be. He’s very confident, and that will change as soon as the first hand connects.”

Russell Sai - January 5, 2018

It’s quite clear that UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor is not very fond of Showtime Sports Executive Stephen Espinoza. During the Mayweather vs. McGregor world tour press conference, McGregor felt that he was being set up by Showtime at every chance they got. “The Notorious” called out Espinoza, calling him a “weasel” after his mic was turned off for a period of time during the first stop of the tour in Los Angeles.

Justin Golightly - January 5, 2018

It looks like we won’t be seeing UFC strawweight Jessica Penne during nearly all of 2018. Stemming from a potential anti-doping violation from back in May, Penne has been suspended from competition for 18 months. The suspension has been retroactively brought back to the day after her fight with Danielle Taylor at April 22nd 2017. That means that Penne will be eligible to return to the Octagon on October 23rd of this new year. “Although Penne’s sample was initially reported as negative for prohibited substances on the standard out-of-competition testing menu, upon review of Penne’s Athlete Biological Passport, the sample was subsequently flagged for additional analysis due to an increased degree of variability in urinary biomarkers measured in the sample,” USADA officials said in a press release. Sophisticated carbon isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) analysis confirmed the presence of a synthetic anabolic agent in Penne’s sample. Before the reanalysis of her sample was completed, Penne fought at the UFC Fight Night event in Nashville on April 22, 2017, an event sanctioned by the Tennessee Athlete Commission.” – As per a press release from USADA officials via Damon Martin of MMAWeekly.

Justin Golightly - January 5, 2018

Ahead of a new TV deal the UFC needs and the beginnings of ZUFFA Boxing being worked out, Dana White doesn’t care at all about burning bridges, especially if that bridge is SHOWTIME. They worked together to promote Conor McGregor’s gargauntuan boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, with White saying that the whole thing was an easy experience. However, it looks like that wasn’t the case behind the scenes as White just recently publicly buried them in this recent interview. “Think about this — and I don’t give a sh-t about SHOWTIME’s f-cking full of sh-t press release they put out — [Conor McGregor’s boxing match with Floyd Mayweather] is the biggest fight ever. Ever in combat sports history. The thing did over 6.7 million buys and if the service didn’t drop, we would have gotten closer to 7 million. It was the biggest event ever.”