MMA News

Russell Ess - December 19, 2017

For those that believed that undefeated and retired boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather was just running his mouth about fighting in the UFC, it seems to be a bit more serious than many might have believed. UFC commentator Joe Rogan was speaking with Eddie Bravo recently on his podcast and revealed that he asked Dana White about the rumors of Mayweather talking about a multi-fight billion dollar deal with the UFC. Interestingly, the UFC President told Rogan that they have been talking and Mayweather does have interest in fighting in the Octagon.

Drake Riggs - December 19, 2017

UFC 215 was the last event in which we saw top UFC Bantamweight contender, Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko competing inside the octagon. In that bout standing across from her was the champion, Amanda Nunes, a familiar opponent to Shevchenko as the both competed prior to this meeting at UFC 196. Nunes came out on top on both occasions, the first time being a unanimous decision and the second time by a split. Since Shevchenko’s last bout, the UFC has installed a Flyweight division which is where Shevchenko now looks to take her skillset for the foreseeable future. The UFC’s inaugural Flyweight champion, Nicco Montano has already commented saying she doesn’t think Shevchenko deserves the first crack at her title. And after a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Shevchenko is okay with this.

Drake Riggs - December 19, 2017

Cody “No Love” Garbrandt is the former UFC Bantamweight champion and all around talented fighter. Recently he took some time out to join retired UFC Welterweight, Mike Swick on his new podcast called “Real Quick with Mike Swick”. On the show, the two discussed several topics and shared some great stories. An unexpected one being from Garbrandt who talked about the time that martial arts movie star legend, Jean Claude Van Damme came to train with the crew at Team Alpha Male(Garbrandt’s gym) prior to Garbrandt’s last fight against TJ Dillashaw at UFC 217. “The first day we came to the gym he’s like, ‘Alright, I need my warm up.’ It was like a 38 minute warm up; 38 minutes exactly,” Garbrandt recalled. “He had his head wrapped with towels, sweating profusely all over the place. The guys took him out the night before – Danny and Urijah and them – so they were drinking a little bit, boozed up, sweating alcohol out.

Justin Golightly - December 19, 2017

If Justin Gaethje would have managed to get through Eddie Alvarez, no question he would have been pushed toward a title shot. Unfortunately, the former WSOF champion finally met his match after being undefeated for 18 fights. He was proud to go out on shield, but of course he wanted to walk out with the leverage he would have gotten from a huge win. Either way, the warrior that Gaethje is just shrugs and moves on. He’ll set his eyes on a fight with Dustin Poirier or Kevin Lee next. “When you win, you get to pick somebody in front of you, but when you lose; I am still ranked No. 5 in the world, UFC, so coming off a loss now I get to give somebody behind me a chance. So, we will see which one of these loudmouths, Kevin Lee, Dustin Poirier. One of them is going to have to get me on my comeback. So I’m trying for that.”

Justin Golightly - December 19, 2017

With the insane year that we’ve had in combat sports, it’s easy to forget that Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson and TJ Dillashaw seem to actually be headed towards one of the biggest fights in UFC history. Dana White said it was happening after UFC 218, while Johnson himself even said the only thing preventing it would be money at this point. Either way, Dillashaw is already training hard for the long, 10-pound trip down to flyweight. Duane Ludwig recently was interviewed and is confident that they will have the upper hand in the superfight. “I’ve already [spent time studying Demetrious Johnson]. There’s already notes and footage of game plans. I’ve dedicated my life to martial arts since the age of eight, this is what I do for 31 years. It’s very fascinating and super fun for me to do this and it’s already done and I’ll continue to do more of it but Demetrious Johnson has already been broken down and we feel that we have the upper hand in that fight. That’s for sure.”

Justin Golightly - December 19, 2017

With as much happening in the welterweight division, one hard-hitting Scouser can’t get anyone to fight him. Darren Till wanted to test Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson’s Karate techniques, but that looks like it’s not happening. He was rooting for Mike Perry to win at UFC Winnipeg to finish what they started at UFC Gdansk, which didn’t pan out. Finally, he’s turned his sights on Rafael dos Anjos and Santiago Ponzinibbio. After finishing Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, Till is a hot commodity hoping to leverage for a big fight. Of course, no fight would ever be bigger than Conor McGregor, although Till says he’s not there yet. “I’d love to fight Conor [McGregor] but I don’t know what Conor wants to do. What does Conor want to do? Does he want to fight with [Paul] Malignaggi? I heard he was meant to be fighting [Manny] Pacquiao. Does he want to fight to reclaim his belt or defend his belt at lightweight? Does he want to go to feather? You know, you don’t really know with Conor. He’s the biggest name in sports. At the moment I’m, shall we say, insignificant. There’s way more bigger options. But along the line, if he wants to come up to welterweight and fight a superior striker in myself, me and him, we can bounce. […] Right now, I just want to be the greatest fighter in MMA. In the whole of MMA.” — Darren Till speaking to Obviously Fight Talk.

Tom Taylor - December 19, 2017

Last Saturday night, the UFC touched down in snowy Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada with UFC on Fox 26. In the card’s exciting main event, former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos asserted himself as one of the welterweight division’s top contenders, defeating former titleholder Robbie Lawler with a dominant, unanimous decision win. Shortly after this breakthrough win, dos Anjos received a callout from fellow welterweight contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, who called him out for a title eliminator bout to establish a true number-one-contender.

Justin Golightly - December 19, 2017

We haven’t seen Yoel Romero since his decision loss to Robert Whittaker back in July. Up until then, the middleweight monster was on an eight-fight win streak with huge wins over Lyoto Machida, Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, and Chris Weidman. Since then though, all he’s wanted is a fight. With anybody. However, it looks like he’s tried unsuccessfully with both Luke Rockhold and former champ Michael Bisping. Finally, the clouds have broken up and it looks like he could have a fight for the UFC Orlando card: Former WSOF two-division champion David Branch. Yesssss lets do it!!! @Mickmaynard2 https://t.co/oKOCIQZD4v

Tom Taylor - December 19, 2017

The UFC’s February 24 return to Orlando, Florida, is expected to grow by one awesome welterweight matchup, as a bout between the ever-entertaining Alan Jouban and the venomous finisher Ben Saunders is apprently in the works for the card. This bout was first reported by Farah Hannoun on Twitter.

Justin Golightly - December 19, 2017

Jorge Masvidal hasn’t been quiet about wanting to ‘slap up’ Michael Bisping. The two have been in multiple confrontations together, mostly stemming from Bisping’s mind games aimed at Masvidal’s teammate Yoel Romero, which included ripping up a Cuban flag. He even offered to fight the former UFC middleweight champion at UFC Shanghai, if Kelvin Gastelum couldn’t make it. Lately though, things have been quiet. However, that’s only because the talk has transpired in private. Well, until now. Masvidal just posted his DMs with Bisping trying to get a fight. Jorge Masvidal: “Hey hoe ass Michael Bisping, quit talking sh-t to me when the UFC team and staff and act like a man. Let this 155-pound end your racist ass, you punk b-tch. You rip my flag and spit on Latin fighter’s corners. Damn right you won’t get in there with me. You know I’m going to hurt you and keep hurting you. Not going to knock you out quick, hell no, I’ll punish your ass for disrespect you bring. Just sing pussy, don’t run your mouth or from the fight. You had your chance to talk like men in private and you chose to make a scene in front of fans and UFC staff. You’re such a hoe.” 

Justin Golightly - December 19, 2017

Santiago Ponzinibbio stared down the Mike Perry storm and came out on top on Saturday. While Perry was unranked, it was a win over an opponent that was getting a big push from the UFC’s promotional machine. After taking out the prospect, Ponzinibbio is trying to catapult himself into huge fights. Knowing a title shot may not be possible yet, he wants the next best thing: A number one contender scrap with Rafael dos Anjos to see who gets to fight the champ when he comes back from shoulder surgery. “I know the UFC might not give me [a title shot] now because Tyron Woodley has an injured shoulder, so I think they should give me Rafael dos Anjos. Rafael dos Anjos and I should fight and the winner should fight for the title. I think this is a good match. I thought it was a good fight and good performance by Rafael dos Anjos. I like the winner of this fight, it’s nothing personal with Rafael dos Anjos. I like him, he won, but he only has three fights in this division you know. He won against Tarec Saffiedine, he is an old guy. Neil Magny is tough, but Lawler is old too and not having the best moment in his career.”

Tom Taylor - December 19, 2017

It’s no secret that Ben Askren – long regarded as one of the best fighters outside the UFC – is not a fan of UFC President Dana White. Speaking on a recent episode of Submission Radio, Askren reiterated his feelings on White, and he pulled no punches. “Dana White’s a scumbag, I don’t take anything he says with any value,” Askren said (h/t BloodyElbow). “He’s very, very insecure and he abhors anyone who won’t cater to his every whim.”

Tom Taylor - December 19, 2017

On February 11 (February 10 in North America), the UFC will take over Perth, Western Australia with UFC 221. In the main event of the UFC’s anticipated return down under, UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker – who was promoted from interim champion when Georges St-Pierre vacated the title – will attempt his first title defense opposite former champion Luke Rockhold.

Tom Taylor - December 19, 2017

Top UFC middleweight contender Yoel Romero is having a tough time finding an opponent. Having recently come up short against reigning champion Robert Whittaker, he was hoping his next fight would be against former champion Luke Rockhold, but unfortunately, Rockhold took a fight with David Branch – an opponent Romero considers much easier than himself. “I don’t understand why [Rockhold] said no,” Romero said on the MMA Hour (h/t MMAMania). “I don’t understand. Maybe he had a strategy in the mind. He say, ‘No I wont fight Yoel, I will fight somebody easy.’ Respect to David Branch, but that’s the way he thinks, you know? That’s Luke’s mentality, ‘I want a more easy fight, win and Yoel Romero lose his last fight.”

Tom Taylor - December 19, 2017

Last Saturday night, in the main event of UFC on Fox 26, former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos asserted himself as one of the top contenders at welterweight by taking out former champion Robbie Lawler. While dos Anjos’ performance dazzled most of the MMA community, however, it didn’t do much for rising contender Darren Till. In fact, Till believes he would have dominated the versions of dos Anjos and Lawler that fought on Saturday night. “He’s good, mate, but, I just don’t see where ‘RDA’ beats me,” TIll said on The MMA Hour (h/t MMAMania). “His striking, he’s got nothing. He is half my size…. Lawler, he’s just fucking taking shots for fun nowadays. I just don’t think those two fights are [difficult] fights for me. If them two were to ever fight me, I think I wold put them straight to sleep in the first round. That’s just me being confident and not cocky. Robbie is an ex-champion and so is Rafael. But, you know, their time has come. They have been around for a long time and it is time for the young ones to step up.”

Drake Riggs - December 18, 2017

Former UFC Bantamweight title challenger, Michael “Mayday” McDonald made his Bellator MMA debut last Friday in the Bellator 191 main event against Peter Ligier. A fight that McDonald succeeded in by winning a unanimous decision across three rounds. But despite the win for McDonald, he will be facing yet another setback due to injuries. Sometime in the second round, McDonald broke his hand and fought through it. After seeing the X-Ray photo…surely the break only got worse as the fight continued after the initial break. I am proud of my performance & so should my opponent Peter. He truly rose to the occasion & put on a fantastic performance. I assume you all want to see the broken hand X rays lol. Here you go! Cant believe I fought another round busted like this lol. Praise God for adrenaline! pic.twitter.com/0RmlrqyU9J

Drake Riggs - December 18, 2017

The unbeaten Brit, Darren Till became an overnight star with his huge first-round victory over Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone back in October. Since then, Till has vaulted into the Welterweight top 10 and let it be known that he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Till just being the young age of 24 and already as talented as he is, there’s no reason to disagree with him. There’s one man in particular who Till has his eye on though. Right after his win over Cerrone it was Mike Perry who recently lost this past weekend to Santiago Ponzinibbio. Because of that, Till isn’t looking so much to get this fight anymore but would still be welcome to the chance to throw down with “Platinum”. Till instead focuses his attention to the man he was rumored to fight in the UFC London main event, former two-time title challenger, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.

Drake Riggs - December 18, 2017

Cris Cyborg is the UFC Featherweight champion of the world and most notable for being one of the most dangerous and feared fighters in all of MMA. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a soft side when she’s not in the cage. This Christmas, Cris will be asking all who live or are visiting Las Vegas the weekend after her championship bout with Holly Holm at UFC 219, to donate new teddy bears. The teddy bears will be gathered up by Cris’ team and hand-delivered to the kids at the Sunrise Children’s Hospital.