MMA News

Justin Golightly - December 26, 2017

At this point, it’s anyone’s guess as to what Conor McGregor decides to do next. UFC interim lightweight champion is expecting to unify his belt against the man, meanwhile he’s got a list of boxers wanting to do business with him. Floyd Mayweather was quick to shoot down rumors of him coming into the UFC, while Manny Pacquiao wanted to get McGregor back in the boxing ring. The Irishman himself claims it is an MMA fight that’s next, so Bruce Buffer brings up the idea of Pacquiao meeting the champ in the Octagon instead. “All respect to Manny Pacquiao, one of my favorite boxers of all time. I think, for me personally, the [Floyd] Mayweather/Conor McGregor fight was the fight that we all enjoyed and got our $100 worth of entertainment. I would rather much see Conor get back into MMA. It excites me much more. I mean, let’s see a boxer want to step up and fight under MMA rules and fight Conor in the Octagon, and it might be another tremendously huge payday.”

Justin Golightly - December 26, 2017

When Carlos Condit lost to Demian Maia back at UFC Vancouver last August, the ‘Natural Born Killer’ contemplated walking away from the sport. After a sabbatical and starting a new coffee business along with partners Ryan and Kaitlin Hoskinson, he’s ready to get back and brew up more violence. Although we may not see Condit in the UFC much longer, according to this conversation over breakfast with MMA Fighting’s photographer Esther Lin. Admitting he never had an exit strategy when he made the decision to be a professional fighter, one of the top welterweights in the world may have finally found one with Hundred Hands coffee. “I don’t know. This [fight at UFC 219] might be a one-off deal. We’ll see. If I can get in there, get a big win, get a bonus, get some money to freakin’ get the coffee thing rolling and be a more substantial thing and like a source of income, this might be it. But maybe not, I don’t know. It’s a hard thing. Once you get a taste of all of it, the adrenaline, all of it, including the money, the pay days. [Fighting is] not an easy way to make money, but it’s the best way that I know to make money. So there’s that. It pays the bills.”

Tom Taylor - December 26, 2017

Originally, surging bantamweight contender Jimmie Rivera was expected to take on former champ Dominick Cruz at UFC 219 on December 30. Regrettably, though, Cruz was forced out of this fight with an injury. From there, Cruz was replaced my the ever-dangerous John Lineker. Yet once again, bad luck struck, as Lineker was forced out of the fight just days ahead of time. With Lineker out, Rivera began a frantic search for a replacement opponent, having trained through Thanksgiving and flown to Las Vegas over Christmas. And while it looked like he might meet fellow bantamweight contender Marlon Moraes at a TBD catchweight, it now sounds as though that fight is off the table.

Russell Ess - December 26, 2017

Would a Conor McGregor and Georges St-Pierre matchup be the biggest fight in UFC history? It would certainly make for an interesting match of styles and with both fighter’s star power, it would definitely make for some massive numbers. St-Pierre’s longtime Tristar Gym coach Firas Zahabi spoke with Express Sport recently on the matchup that he says he has been interested in this fight for St-Pierre for some time.

Tom Taylor - December 26, 2017

UFC lightweight Al Iaquinta, who has long been regarded as one of the division’s best fighters, has always been vocal when it comes to the issues that bother him. One of the issues that happens to bother him is the way the UFC pays its fighters – himself in particular. “The way I see it, I’ve been taking the risks the whole time,” Iaquinta said of his career on a recent episode of BJ Penn Radio. “I went on to the Ultimate Fighter, those contracts are bullshit, there’s no money on the Ultimate Fighter, so that’s a huge risk. I got injured a lot on that. You go through the Ultimate Fighter, I made it to the finals so I got a contract. You think you’re gonna make money once you get into the UFC. I don’t know. I don’t wanna even keep harping on it.”

Tom Taylor - December 26, 2017

Russian lightweight contender Mairbek Taisumov is having a hard time finding an opponent. Of course, that’s not really a surprise, given that he’s knocked his last five opponents out cold. Though Taisumov is having a hard time finding a willing dance partner, that’s not for lack of trying. Over the last few weeks, the surging knockout artist has been campaigning for a fight with Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, who has teased a return to the lightweight division after an exciting stint at welterweight.

Tom Taylor - December 26, 2017

Originally, Streaking bantamweight contender Jimmie Rivera was expected to take on former champ Dominick Cruz at UFC 219 on December 30. Regrettably, though, Cruz was forced out of this fight with an injury. From there, Cruz was replaced my the ever-dangerous John Lineker. Yet once again, bad luck struck, as Lineker was forced out of the fight just days ahead of time.

Tom Taylor - December 26, 2017

Yesterday, many members of the MMA community gathered together with their family and friends to celebrate Christmas. Across the fighting world, there was food aplenty; there were gifts, drinks, and Christmas pyjamas; there were even a few appearances by Santa Claus himself. See how the MMA community celebrated Christmas below:

Drake Riggs - December 25, 2017

It’s the season of giving! And Jimmie Rivera keeps on being given news of opponents dropping out of his UFC 219 fight. At first, he was supposed to fight former Bantamweight king, Dominick Cruz. That was until Cruz suffered a broken arm in training resulting in his drop off the card. In to replace Cruz stepped fellow top 5er at 135, John Lineker. Then just the other day, Lineker had to undergo emergency surgery for a tooth infection which has also pulled, no pun intended, Lineker from the Rivera fight. Now we’re here. Rivera stated after the news was broke that he was willing to face former WSOF Bantamweight king, Marlon Moraes who has been wanting to fight Rivera for some time now. I accept the fight with @MMARLONMORAES and even give him two pound allowance at 138lb #merrychristmas #ufc219

Russell Ess - December 24, 2017

A pivotal matchup set for UFC 219 has been scrapped from the end of the year card taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 30. The exciting matchup between current number 4 UFC ranked bantamweight Jimmie Rivera and number 6 ranked John Lineker has been canceled due to Lineker being forced to pull out of the bout. According to MMA Fighting, multiple sources have confirmed that Lineker was removed from the bout due to a tooth infection and will have to undergo emergency surgery.

Chris Taylor - December 24, 2017

2018 could be Daniel Cormier‘s last year of fighting! The UFC light heavyweight champion of the world, who turns 39-year-old in 2018, recently sat down with ESPN.com where he discussed his future in fighting.

Chris Taylor - December 24, 2017

Darren Till doesn’t care about rankings or losses, agrees to have a war with “Platinum” Mike Perry. Despite suffering a decision loss to Santiago Ponzinibbio in his most recent performance, Mike Perry (11-2 MMA) still has his sites set on undefeated welterweight contender Darren Till.

Tom Taylor - December 24, 2017

From the looks of it, Conor McGregor training partner Artem Lobov has found an opponent for his next fight. Over the weekend, at an action-packed ACB show in Russia, Lobov got face to face with another UFC featherweight in Zabit Magomedsharipov. Shortly thereafter, Magomedsharipov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz took to Twitter to stoke this potential fight to life, and Lobov was all for it. See how it went down below:

Chris Taylor - December 24, 2017

Donald Cerrone has a message for every lightweight and welterweight on the UFC roster! The former lightweight title challenger, Donald Cerrone, took to Instagram yesterday evening where he posted the following video at his BMF Ranch.

Tom Taylor - December 24, 2017

Told my mom at 10yrs Old I would buy her a house! This is a my most memorable Christmas I @mommawoodd cashes in on a 25yr old Promise! #GodIsAmazing A post shared by Tyron Woodley (@twooodley) on Dec 24, 2017 at 7:37am PST

Tom Taylor - December 24, 2017

“Sugar” Sean O’Malley is one of the hottest prospects in the talent-rich UFC bantamweight division. Now 1-o in the UFC, having bested a game Terrion Ware in his recent promotional debut, he’s keen to continue his climb up the bantamweight ladder, and perhaps one day, battle reigning champ TJ Dillashaw. While O’Malley hopes to fight Dillashaw one day, he actually has tremendous respect for him, especially after his thrilling December knockout of Cody Garbrandt.

Tom Taylor - December 24, 2017

British knockout artist Jimi Manuwa is one of the best light heavyweight mixed martial artists on earth. And though he is currently riding a tough knockout loss to upcoming light heavyweight title challenger Volkan Oezdemir, he is still only a win or two from his own shot at the belt. While Manuwa has plenty of interesting options in the UFC light heavyweight division – ranging from Mauricio “Shogun” Rua to Glover Teixeira – he has also been flirting with the idea of a boxing match with fellow Brit David Haye.

Tom Taylor - December 24, 2017

Over the last few weeks, the MMA community has been buzzing about the possibility of undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. cutting a deal with the UFC and stepping into the Octagon. These rumors were started by comments from Mayweather himself, then thrust into overdrive by subsequent statements from Joe Rogan and Dana White, who confirmed outright that the promotion was in talks with the boxer. Since then, of course, Mayweather has assured he has no real intention of competing in mixed martial arts. That said, many fighters are still dreaming of the chance to welcome the boxing legend to the cage – and you can count bantamweight prospect “Sugar” Sean O’Malley among them.