MMA News

Tom Taylor - November 15, 2017

The UFC has once again taken a hedge-trimmer to its roster and sent a handful of notable fighters packing. The most notable of these fighters is Takanori Gomi. This news is in keeping with a recent Instagram post from Gomi, in which the Japanese legend insinuated that he would soon be competing in the ring of Japanese promotion – most likely Rizin FF.  The promotion has also removed four other fighters from its roster, all of whom hail from Brazil. These fighters are: Hacran Dias, Henrique da Silva, Adriano Martins and Carlos Felipe. This news was first reported by Combate.

Tom Taylor - November 15, 2017

If things had gone according to the original plan, the UFC’s November 26 visit to Shanghai, China would be headlined by a middleweight scrap between Kelvin Gastelum and former champion Anderson Silva. Unfortunately, Silva was pulled from this bout after a disappointing brush with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). The silver lining is that the UFC was able to find a compelling replacement for Silva in Michael Bisping, who wore the divisional crown until he was dethroned by Georges St-Pierre earlier this month. Now less than two weeks out from this event, the UFC has released an updated poster for it, highlighting Michael Bisping and Kelvin Gastelum’s last-minute main event confrontation.

Justin Golightly - November 15, 2017

As soon as strength and conditioning coach Jose Garcia released a blurb on Instagram about Nate Diaz entering into his fight camp, the MMA world got set ablaze with wild speculation. However, sometimes reality can be stranger than fiction. Out of all the swirling rumors, it seems that none other than Tyron Woodley has emerged as a possible opponent for the returning Diaz brother. So far, despite confirming reports by our own Chris Taylor and Ariel Helwani, neither fighter has come right out and said something. That is, until now.    “If Nate [Diaz] wants to go UFC 219, I’m ready.” — Tyron Woodley told Brett Okamoto of ESPN.

Tom Taylor - November 15, 2017

Last weekend, the UFC returned to our screens with the action-packed UFC Norfolk card. In the main event of this thrilling card, dangerous lightweight contender Dustin Poirier took out a former champion in Anthony Pettis, scoring a bizarre stoppage with a body triangle mid way through a bloody third round. In the co-main event, meanwhile, we saw the maybe retiring Matt Brown author one of the most violent knockouts ever, putting down the veteran Diego Sanchez with a hellacious first-round elbow.

Tom Taylor - November 15, 2017

Originally, rising UFC welterweight contender Kamaru Usman was expected to battle the dangerous Emil “Valhalla” Meek at UFC 219. Unfortunately, it sounds like visa issues could force Norway’s Meek out of this planned showdown – which means Usman will have to look elsewhere for a dance partner. Just received information that my visa is having some delays and that he UFC might have to re-schedule my next fight :/ #betsafe #ufc219 pic.twitter.com/afta292YiN

Tom Taylor - November 15, 2017

Originally, UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway was expected to defend his title against Frankie Edgar at UFC 218 this December 2. When Edgar was forced out of the fight with an injury, however, the search for a replacement challenger began. One of the frontrunners in this search was Cub Swanson, who is scheduled for a mid-December showdown with undefeated contender Brian Ortega. While Swanson was the most compelling option in the eyes of many fans, the UFC ultimately opted to pair Holloway with Aldo, the very man he beat to win the title back in June.

Tom Taylor - November 15, 2017

After his UFC 217 win over his arch rival Cody Garbrandt, TJ Dillashaw once again began calling for a flyweight title fight with dominant divisional king Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. “I mean that’s the fight that needs to happen. It has to happen,” Dillashaw explained on the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio. “I mean, it’s got fireworks written all over it. I’ve always said I wanna be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and that’s where he’s at. I’m setting my goals high. I’m chasing him down.”

Chris Taylor - November 14, 2017

UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley could potentially be defending his title against Nate Diaz at UFC 219. Yes, you read that correctly.

Chris Taylor - November 14, 2017

UFC legend Vitor Belfort will return to the octagon January 14 in St. Louis! The former UFC light heavyweight champion, Belfort, will square off with dangerous striker Uriah Hall at the UFC Fight Night event.

Justin Golightly - November 14, 2017

There is finally some movement going down in the middleweight division after being in a log jam. Robert Whittaker was able to capture an interim UFC middleweight title. After that, Georges St-Pierre swooped in out of nowhere and became the new champ after submitting Michael Bisping. Meanwhile, fighters like Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero are waiting to see how everything shakes up. Chris Weidman won’t be joining them at least until sometime next year though, but he doesn’t think the division is unclogged yet. “You have [Georges St-Pierre] possibly fighting [Robert] Whittaker, but no one really believes that’s going to happen — even though Dana White is swearing up and down about it. There’s just no certainty about who’s going to be champion in the next year in the UFC. Who am I going to be able to take the belt from? I guarantee you it’s not gonna be ‘GSP.’ [St-Pierre’s next opponent will be Tyron Woodley] or if they really sell out, Conor McGregor. [St-Pierre] does find a way to outsmart people. I’ll never underestimate ‘GSP.’ He’s proved time and time again how good he really is and as much as I might think, looking how the other guys in the middleweight division are bigger and stronger and have different things than him, I won’t underestimate ‘GSP.’ He can do it all.”

Justin Golightly - November 14, 2017

When @volkan_oezdemir says he’s gonna knock me out in the very 1st round smh #youngjeezy lol A post shared by Daniel “DC” Cormier (@dc_mma) on Nov 14, 2017 at 2:49pm PST

Justin Golightly - November 14, 2017

Kamaru Usman, along with all the fight fans looking forward to UFC 219, have simply not had the best of luck. There is no main event, Dominick Cruz is off the card and now Usman’s opponent Emil Meek will not be making it to the card due to a Visa issue. After Usman aired his grievances of multiple opponents ‘ducking’ leading up to the now-canceled fight, it’s easy to see how the surging welterweight is frustrated. Luckily, the game Darren Till has stepped up and wants the fight. I guess I wasn’t lying… @emilvalhalla for stepping up. Now everyone else can get back to @ColbyCovMMA @darrentill2 @danawhite @seanshelby @Mickmaynard2

Russell Ess - November 14, 2017

While it may have come as shocking news to many, some were not surprised when news broke that Anderson Silva was recently flagged for a potential anti-doping violation by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). UFC commentator Joe Rogan wasn’t surprised at all as he found out about the news of Silva’s recent potential anti-doping violation while doing his Joe Rogan Experience podcast with guest Billy Corgan.

Justin Golightly - November 14, 2017

This has been one of the craziest months in the history of the UFC. Three titles just changed hands, huge fights are being ripped apart by injuries, Conor McGregor is running amok everywhere but the inside the UFC’s Octagon, and anything that can happen has been proven that it will happen. The latest piece of news is none other than Nate Diaz has reportedly started a fight camp. The opponent and time frame has not been revealed.

Russell Ess - November 14, 2017

Charlie Ward and John Redmond’s Bellator 187 fight has gotten the most attention from the event that took place on Friday night. However, it’s due to unfortunate circumstances as UFC superstar Conor McGregor let his emotions get the best of him and stormed the cage and celebrated with Ward who is his teammate, causing a big scene with the referee of the bout and a Bellator staff member. Redmond was knocked out by Ward at the very end of round one and was unfortunately almost trampled in the middle of all the mayhem that McGregor brought into the Bellator cage. The Irish fighter spoke with TMZ about the incident and commented on McGregor’s behavior.

Justin Golightly - November 14, 2017

Everyone has weighed-in on Conor McGregor’s behavior at the Bellator 187 card in Dublin. He stormed the cage as his teammate Charlie Ward was finishing John Redmond, then all hell broke loose. Since then, he has released an apology and the lead regulator that night has put out a statement on his actions. Finally, referee Marc Goddard sat down and wrote a lengthy post on his official Facebook detailing everything about what transpired, including some interesting details not apparent on first viewing. One of the keys being that it was unknown whether the fight was over or not. “The punch and action that followed naturally resulted in a surge of crowd noise, one that was so significant I had already made my determination that I could not audibly hear the bell sound for the end of the round, I had made my decision to step in with the belief that bell had indeed been sounded, when in actual fact it had not. This is a critical fact to the ensuing proceedings. At this point on my step in, and you will clearly see from the video replay that I only step across and do not wave the fight off. Charlie Ward, understandably so had reeled off in celebration thinking that I had indeed ended the contest and not as I had actually done, called time on what I believed to be the end of the round. Two distinctly different endings.”

Tom Taylor - November 14, 2017

Bellator MMA finally has a plan in place to fill its vacant heavyweight throne. Throughout 2018, the organization will promote a heavyweight grand prix featuring eight of its premier heavyweights and light heavyweights in Frank Mir, Fedor Emelianenko, Matt Mitrione, Roy Nelson, Ryan Bader, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Chael Sonnen. Speaking on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Rampage discussed his role in this tournament, and immediately divulged that he’s rather unexcited about the prospect of a fight with wrestling specialist Chael Sonnen. The former UFC light heavyweight champ, after all, has always taken issue with opponents who focus on the takedown.

Justin Golightly - November 14, 2017

Max Holloway defending his new strap against Frankie Edgar is something everyone was waiting for. Somehow, amid the 11 fighters Holloway took out on his quest for the belt, he never ran into him. Unfortunately, as Edgar geared up for his third shot at the belt and his first fight with Holloway, an injured orbital took him out of the UFC 218 bout. It’s an injury that Edgar admits feels like he lost a fight, but he’ll be back on his quest for gold sooner rather than later. “I definitely feel f-cking bummed and in a funk for the past couple of days. I feel like I lost a fight to be honest. I know these opportunities don’t always present themselves. I’m also not one to stay down, be negative and beat myself up about things. I’m going to heal up, keep training and make sure I’m ready for that fight when it comes. I’m a guy who keeps a positive outlook on things. I’m not going to sit around feeling sorry for myself, and I don’t expect anyone to feel sorry for me either. This is just the type of sh-t that goes down. It’s inevitable. I train at a high level out here with some really good guys and shit happens. There wasn’t any negligence on my part. I train hard for fights and I always have.”