MMA News

Drake Riggs - December 29, 2017

UFC on Fox 28 in Orlando, Florida just keeps getting better and better. A top Middleweight matchup has been reported by the Orlando Sentinel. Making his return for the first time since losing his interim title fight against Robert Whittaker at UFC 213, Yoel Romero will take on former WSOF Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion, David Branch. UFC on Fox 28 takes place on February 24!

Justin Golightly - December 29, 2017

In the lead-up to UFC 219, there has been no way to miss the accolades of either Cris Cyborg or Holy Holm. Both have laundry lists of accomplishments and present unique challenges to one another, neither of which have ever faced in their careers. As far as Cyborg goes, she does boast something that Holm simply cannot claim. Cris Cyborg has been unbeaten in MMA since 2005. However, she has lost once since then in muay thai. Dutch kickboxer Jorina Baars won a unanimous decision over her back in 2014. Turns out, she’s just as big of a fan of the UFC 219 fight as you probably are. “I really want to see this fight. It’s such a great match-up. I think it’s the best women’s fight ever because Cyborg and Holly Holm are both great athletes and they fight stand-up and they can fight on the ground as well. Their technique is really good. I know Cris is working hard on her kickboxing and stand-up and I know Holly is working on her wrestling. I can’t wait. I think Holly is the better striker from her boxing background. Cris is working on her stand-up very hard and she worked with [Clarissa Shields]. It’s a very good fight.”

Justin Golightly - December 29, 2017

The New Year is approaching and it is the time for resolutions. Whether they be public or something that you promise yourself, opening up a new calendar is always an excuse to change something about your life. To say that Cris Cyborg has had a roller coaster relationship with the UFC, would be an understatement. However, she’s determined to move into 2018 by putting the past behind her. That includes her grievances with the organization and Dana White himself. “The result of this [good relationship] is persistence, not giving up even in the face of adversity. Everything changed, I’m very happy that they put me in the main event. It shows to my fans that even when it’s difficult, we have to be persistent. [The treatment] It’s getting better, it’s getting better. From the moment that he admitted to having made mistakes, from that moment on, I dropped the negative emotions that I had. Now, let’s work together.”

Justin Golightly - December 29, 2017

No weight issues for top contender @TeamKhabib, as he registers 155.5 pounds on the scale 💪. Watch #UFC219 official weigh ins LIVE: https://t.co/2iQmYbS437 pic.twitter.com/59GjoFZHrp — MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) December 29, 2017

Justin Golightly - December 29, 2017

After a string of some of the worst luck the MMA world has ever seen, Ian McCall is out of the UFC and healthier than ever. In his first fight since January, he was set to enter into Japan’s RIZIN ring to fight smart-mouthed prospect Manel Kape. The two nearly came to blows in their first staredown, then actually threw strikes at each other at the weigh-ins. So when the time actually came to fight, the air was electric and people were not disappointed. That is, until the fight ended. Not because Ian McCall was actually beat by Kape, but because of a cut caused by ring ropes. Ian Mccall losing via TKO (Rope Cut) stoppage has to be a first. #RIZINFF pic.twitter.com/eewlAgjG3r

Justin Golightly - December 29, 2017

You may have saw some news yesterday about Khabib Nurmagomedov that you just couldn’t believe. In the midst of all his weight cutting drama and criticisms, he revealed that he was thinking about switching divisions. No to welterweight where you’d think he would end up, but actually down to featherweight. As crazy as that sounds, his new nutritionist not only says that he’s on track to have his best cut ever, but that getting down to 145-pounds is possible. “Well, [Khabib Nurmagomedov] means it [when he talks about moving to featherweight]. This cut’s going really well. Again, I’m not trying to tempt the MMA gods here, but the cut’s going really well. And when a guy sees that the cut’s going really well, and you see big possible fights at 145, you think, ‘Well, are there things I could start doing two months sooner and be 10 pounds lighter to make the cut easier?’ You start looking, ‘Are there things I could do?’ So, I think he’s seeing this weight cut’s going better and seeing maybe if he even starts sooner, it would be easier. But no, I think he means it.”

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

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.

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.\

Drake Riggs - December 28, 2017

In the second round of his unanimous decision victory over Peter Ligier at Bellator 191, debutant and former UFC Bantamweight title challenger, Michael McDonald broke his hand. A break so bad that it required surgery… If you missed the picture of the x-ray, here it is:

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.

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.

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.

Tom Taylor - December 28, 2017

15th-ranked UFC lightweight James Vick has been having a very difficult time finding fights, and that trend continues to this day. Having had his hopes of headlining the UFC’s return to Austin opposite Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone dashed, he’s now eagerly waiting to see what else the UFC can come up with for him. While the promotion apparently has four potential opponents in mind for him, the increasingly frustrated James Vick won’t be surprised if they all turn him down. In his opinion, fighters just don’t accept fights with the willingness they once did. And he thinks it’s time they started being punished for their over-selectiveness.

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.

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.

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

Tom Taylor - December 28, 2017

Riding high off a thudding knockout of the highly-regarded Joe Duffy, James Vick (12-1) feels he’s ready for a big step up in competition. He was hoping to get that step up when the UFC touches down in Austin, Texas – just hours from his hometown – this February. It was his hope that he could battle fan favorite lightweight-turned-welterweight Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in the card’s main event. Unfortunately for Vick, Cerrone was pencilled in for a scrap with Hawaii’s Yancy Medeiros this week. Though neither Cerrone nor Medeiros is from Texas, their fight will serve as the Austin card’s main event. Unsurprisingly, Vicki is pretty unhappy about this development.