MMA News
VIDEO | Gabi Garcia Breaks Down in Tears During Public RIZIN Apology
Justin Golightly - December 29, 2017
Apparently Gabi Garcia missed weight by 27 pounds because her nose is blood? Beautiful angle by #RIZINFF. #RIZIN2017 pic.twitter.com/dMHuzA8cBq — Josh Sánchez (@jnsanchez) December 29, 2017
VIDEO | Holly Holm Has Fun at Open Workouts, Likes Being Underdog
Drake Riggs - December 28, 2017
Holly Holm is no stranger to big fights. Whether it be in boxing or MMA, she’s been a championship level fighter where ever she’s gone. A win over UFC Featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg would be a record setter for “The Preacher’s Daughter” which is just extra pressure added onto her against an already tough task in the fight alone. Holm chatted with Ariel Helwani today about that, her fun and interactive open workout and more.
UFC 222 Gets A Big Fight Between Heavyweight Veterans
Drake Riggs - December 28, 2017
The UFC announced today that UFC 222 in Las Vegas will get a matchup between some UFC Heavyweight veterans. Former UFC Heavyweight champion, Andrei Arlovski will be taking on the Dutchman, Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve.
VIDEO | Khabib Nurmagomedov Has to Make Weight & Beat Barboza to fight for the Title
Drake Riggs - December 28, 2017
UFC 219 is drawing closer and closer. The weigh-ins are tomorrow and everyone is anticipating whether or not the top Lightweight contender, Khabib Nurmagomedov will make weight after his mishap at UFC 209. According to Khabib himself, he only has four pounds to go and that if he makes weight and defeats Edson Barboza, he has himself the UFC title shot that has been eluding his undefeated 24-0 career.\
Nate Marquardt Releases a Heartfelt Statement on His Retirement
Justin Golightly - December 28, 2017
Nate Marquardt has been in this game for a long time. We’re talking about a fighting career that spans 18 years and far before his days in the UFC. While he’s never won a belts in the UFC, he’s no stranger to titles and has a storied journey that moves beyond just gold and leather. At 38-years old and on a three-fight losing streak, Marquardt had decided to walk away from the sport. He will continue to train and participate in MMA, looking to use his knowledge of the sport to add to his ministry. His fighting life dates all the way back to 1999. Nate Marquardt has fought in three different weight classes during his career, winning multiple titles including the Strikeforce welterweight title and is a three-time Pancrase middleweight champion. Despite ups and downs, Rousimar Palhares, Demian Maia, and Tyron Woodley have all suffered losses to Nate ‘The Great’. He’ll be using some of his free time to pursue a degree at Gateway Seminary, to find new uses for his unique experience. His entire statement is provided below.
VIDEO | Khabib Nurmagomedov Considering Changing Weight Classes After UFC 219
Justin Golightly - December 28, 2017
Khabib Nurmagomedov is a smashing machine. He’s been fighting since 2008 and is undefeated. No one in the UFC has solved the brutal Sambo problem that Nurmagomedov poses. The only tarnish on his entire career is missing weight, resulting in the cancellation of his fight with Tony Ferguson. So far, it looks like his cut for UFC 219’s bout against Edson Barboza is going very smoothly and he’s happier and healthier than ever. It’s going so well apparently, that Khabib Nurmagomedov is going down — yes, down — to the featherweight division. “Yeah, I think about this [jump down to the featherweight division]. We think about this last month because we watch our weight and we watch how many guys who fight in 145, they have same weight like me. I think fighting in two divisions. Take belt in two divisions is good idea. Everybody think about I can fight in 170, but to be honest, I think I’m small guy at 170. Like, we can watch Cowboy. Cowboy is small at 170. But in 155, he don’t look like small. [Rafael] dos Anjos, when he fight Magny or other guys, he looks small. He beats these guys, but he look small. That’s why I think with 170, I am small. When you go to the fight with high level welterweights, you have to be weighing like 190 when you go to the cage. I think 9 weeks I can make weight [at 145]. My plan is Edson [Barboza] and Tony [Ferguson]. After, we will think about this.”— Edson Barboza speaking to MMA NYTT.
Dana White Goes Off on 'Hater' Fans Who Want Conor McGregor Stripped
Justin Golightly - December 28, 2017
Dana White has been making the rounds today and everyone wants to know about Conor McGregor. Going into 2018, his future in the UFC is completely unclear. On a mission to clear that up, White put his foot down and said that if McGregor does return, he’ll be defending his title against Tony Ferguson. Title defense criticisms have been what man fans target, as well as Ferguson in his ‘defend or vacate’ campaign, but White recently has said those critiques are completely overblown. “For people to suggest that [Conor McGregor be stripped of his UFC lightweight title], you’re just a Conor hater. Because if you look at how everything played out, Conor has fought everybody. When he won the 155-pound belt, he dropped the 145-pound belt, which we made him do. He tried not to do it, but he contractually had to let go of the 145-pound belt. He became the 155-pound champion, and his next fight was against Floyd Mayweather. He has to defend the title now. So, how has he never defended the title?”
Similar to Conor McGregor, Floyd Mayweather also had a 'Notorious' face in his gym
Russell Ess - December 28, 2017
Whether you liked it or not, there is no denying that the big-money boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor had people’s attention. The fight ended up being the second highest pay-per-view event in history falling right behind and quite close to the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao fight. The artwork of both Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather has gotten quite a bit of exposure as fans have had so much interest in both fighters. McGregor had a mural painted in his gym of him landing a punch on Mayweather’s face. Mayweather went a bit further and had two big portrait paintings of himself and McGregor installed in his house after the fight. Interestingly, it was revealed by MMA journalist Chamatkar Sandhu that similar to McGregor, Mayweather also had McGregor’s face in his gym. However, this work of art had a bit more practical use than McGregor’s gym mural.
EXCLUSIVE | James Vick lists the four ranked opponents that the UFC has in mind for him
Tom Taylor - December 28, 2017
Streaking UFC lightweight James Vick, who is fresh off a mauling of Joe Duffy, was hoping to battle Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in the main event of the UFC’s upcoming trip to Austin. Now that Cerrone has been booked for a fight with Yancy Medeiros in Austin’s main event, however, Vick knows this isn’t going to happen. With this development, Vick has been forced to look elsewhere in the hunt for his next opponent. Apparently, the UFC has a few options in mind to that end.
Joe Rogan questions if Jon Jones' poor decisions outside the Octagon could be associated with brain injury
Russell Ess - December 28, 2017
Jon Jones is one of the most talented athletes that we have ever seen in the Octagon. However, Jones has shown that his biggest adversary has always been himself with some of his actions done throughout his career. The former UFC light heavyweight champion is currently going through the due process with USADA and the California State Athletic Commission after testing positive for the steroid Turinabol following his second fight with Daniel Cormier at UFC 214.
Longtime Color Commentator Jimmy Smith No Longer With Bellator
Justin Golightly - December 28, 2017
It looks like the change in networks and a crazy grand prix tournament aren’t the only shake-ups over at Bellator. As per an official Paramount Sports and Bellator press release, Jimmy Smith has parted ways with the company. A former MMA fighter himself, Smith provided knowledgeable insight as well and entertaining dialogue seamlessly for many years with the fighting organization. Both Bellator and Smith have released statements on the sudden change. “Jimmy [Smith] is one of the finest combat sports announcers of our time. He has played an integral role in the growth of Bellator as it has evolved into the successful global franchise it is today.” — Bellator via press release.
A Crazy Cowboy Cerrone Scrap is Official for UFC Austin's Main Event
Justin Golightly - December 28, 2017
Earlier this week, there were some Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone drama when he announced that his potential fight with Mairbek Taisumov fell through. It didn’t take long for another fighter to be in talks for a chance at the lightweight and welterweight wild man. Suddenly, there were talks of Yancy Medeiros and Cerrone meeting in Austin, Texas that left fight fans drooling. Now we know that those whispers weren’t just hot air. The UFC just made the welterweight bout official today. Medeiros and Donald Cerrone will have a main event brawl in the Lone Star State on February 18th. AUSTIN, get ready!@CowboyCerrone is riding into town to face @YMedeiros in a WW main event. #UFCAustin pic.twitter.com/t4BmaR59mm
BREAKING | Dana White: Conor McGregor Has to Defend His Title Against Tony Ferguson
Justin Golightly - December 28, 2017
One of 2018’s biggest MMA mysteries is if Conor McGregor will return to MMA and who would he fight. Titles, contracts, it doesn’t matter, McGregor can decide whatever he wants to do and that’s one of the things that makes him so compelling, yet so frustrating. Out of nowhere, Dana White popped onto FS1 this afternoon and opened up about Conor McGregor. While has seems to have no idea what his plans are either, he did say that if he returns to the UFC, he has to defend his belt. Whether that be against Tony Ferguson, or whoever may beat him for the interim title depending on how long it takes McGregor to return. “If Conor McGregor fights next year, that’ll be awesome. If Conor McGregor doesn’t fight, the UFC will go on. […] There’s two different sides to this coin, there’s the one that you just said [about it being hard to wake up in the morning and get hit in the face when you’re so rich], then there’s the one where there is only many trips you can go on and there’s only so much stuff you can buy before you start to get bored and you want to get back in the game. So, I don’t know. I don’t really have a feel on what Conor wants to do. Conor’s rich, it’s the holidays, I’m sure his whole family has a great Christmas. We’ll see what the New Year brings.”
Amanda Nunes Wants to Challenge the Winner of Cyborg and Holly Holm
Justin Golightly - December 28, 2017
In a couple of days, Holly Holm will step into the Octagon to try and dethrone the dominant Cris Cyborg and take her featherweight title. Having beat Ronda Rousey at the top of her career, a win over Cyborg will put her as the best women’s fighter of all time and the first ever women’s two-division champion. Add that to her boxing accolades and it’s hard to argue for anyone else. However, there is one other fighter who has given Rousey a loss: Current UFC bantamweight champ Amanda Nunes. Who is also ready to cement her place as the best female fighter on the planet by beating whoever comes out on top this Saturday. “We have the utmost respect for [Cris] Cyborg and [Holly] Holm, it’d be a great fight with either one, but we believe Amanda [Nunes] could be champion in both divisions, because she has all the tools for that. She is an extremely well rounded fighter and has been showing that she does deserve to face the winner. That’s our main focus for 2018. Of course we know she has no way to defend two belts, but that decision would be taken after her fight against the Cyborg vs. Holm winner.” — American Top Team coach Conan Silveira speaking to Portal do Vale Tudo.
EXCLUSIVE | Glory Heavyweight champ Rico Verhoeven eyeing fights with Ngannou and Miocic
Tom Taylor - December 28, 2017
Glory kickboxing heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven has already competed once in mixed martial arts, having authored a first-round TKO of Viktor Bogutzki back in 2015. From the sounds of it, he hopes to compete in MMA again – and at the very highest level. Speaking on the latest stacked episode of BJ Penn Radio, Verhoeven shared his interested in fights with both upcoming UFC heavyweight title challenger Francis Ngannou, and with UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic.
VIDEO | Gabi Garcia misses weight by 27 pounds, opponent goes ballistic
Tom Taylor - December 28, 2017
RIZIN FF weigh-ins: @gabijiu misses weight by 27lbs, @kandori_shinobu is furious. RIZIN president @nobu_sakakibara considers possibly cancelling the contest.https://t.co/CBlrpmvWLc pic.twitter.com/59EZG8UcVA — Women’s MMA Rankings (@WMMARankings) December 28, 2017
VIDEO | Ian McCall and Manel Kape exchange blows at Rizin weigh-ins
Tom Taylor - December 28, 2017
The McCall/Kape weigh-in went as you’d expect. Co-main tomorrow. #RIZIN2017 pic.twitter.com/RGbtBWWrCT — caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) December 28, 2017
BREAKING | Tecia Torres Not Fighting For Title, Faces Jessica Andrade at UFC Orlando
Drake Riggs - December 27, 2017
Reports and rumors were circulating recently that the Rose Namajunas would be making her first title defense at UFC 221 in Australia…but not in a rematch with the woman she defeated for the title, Joanna Jedrzejczyk but the woman she’s 1-1 with, Tecia Torres. The Orlando Sentinel reports that the February 24 UFC on Fox 28 will be getting a big Strawweight fight between Torres and Jessica Andrade. Torres entered the UFC a part of The Ultimate Fighter season 20 and most recently defeated Michelle Waterson at UFC 218 by unanimous decision, extending her winning streak to three. Her last and only loss came to the champion, Rose Namajunas via split decision in a very close fight. Torres also holds a win over Namajunas from back when they fought in Invicta. A trilogy between the two happening was something that made most sense outside of Joanna getting a rematch. Well, either of those options or Jessica Andrade getting her second title shot.