MMA News

Justin Golightly - October 28, 2017

A lot has changed about MMA throughout the years, especially the UFC. It’s become more streamlined, it’s tried to become more professional like other sports, that’s what the whole deal with Reebok was about. How can we make a pro sports uniform without using a jersey like everyone else? Boom. Fight kits. It’s not just the geometric color blocks of fighter outfits that has transformed, MMA fashion period is nothing like it was in the beginning. Gone are the skulls and gaudy, Ed Hardy designs. However, the UFC is looking to bring back one aspect of a bygone era: Their original logo.

Justin Golightly - October 28, 2017

Michael Bisping has said everything he can in the lead up to UFC 217 to tear down Georges St-Pierre as an opponent. He’s brought up stories and controversies from many years ago, he’s poked holes in his record, and he’s accused him of using steroids. All is fair in love and war, right? Georges St-Pierre’s coach Firas Zahabi recently spoke out about Bisping’s comments and refuted them. He insists he’s drug free and just that good. “[Michael Bisping is making steroid accusations] because Georges [St-Pierre]. About 10 to 20 percent of the population is naturally ripped. Georges just happens to be one of those people. You look at him as he was growing up, he’s just naturally ripped. He’s been tested, he’s volunteered to be tested, and he’s paid out of his own pocket to be tested and for his opponent to be tested. He’s never failed one single test. Just because somebody’s lean and extremely competent in fighting doesn’t mean they’re on drugs. That’s the truth.”

Justin Golightly - October 28, 2017

Multiple weight submission grappling champion Garry Tonon has recently signed on to ONE to make his MMA debut, while the time for Dillon Danis to make his debut is drawing near. The brash young jiu jitsu black belt signed on with Bellator and is currently prepping for the steep transition. He’s not wanting to take it easy in the MMA game though, in fact he already has his eyes set on gold. Dillon Danis recently revealed details about his Bellator debut to the guys over at Submission Radio. “I think I’m gonna make my [Bellator] debut maybe January. I was planning on December before this whole surgery thing happened, but I want to focus a lot more on my hands and stuff like that. But yeah, I think I’m going to go full in now to MMA and maybe still do some jiu jitsu matches or maybe focus a little bit more on jiu jitsu and then do both. I don’t know. I’m trying to figure everything out now honestly. It’s rough, you know? […] I think 170 is going to be good for me. I was talking to [George] Lockhart about it, he was saying 170. But honestly, I feel like I can make 155, but maybe later on in my career. For now, I mean, 170 I think will be good for me. I like to eat, so I like to enjoy some food. At 170 it will be hard but it won’t be too crazy. 155 will be like super hard but I think I can get it done, but I want to start with 170 for sure.”

Justin Golightly - October 28, 2017

You may remember that Joe Duffy is a former opponent of Conor McGregor, the UFC used this fact as promotion when they first signed the Irish lightweight. Up until meeting Nate Diaz, Duffy was the last man to not only submit McGregor, but beat him in MMA. That was seven years ago back in Cage Warriors, but Duffy still can’t escape being forever entwined with McGregor. He was recently asked who the champ champ should fight next. His answer, like many others, is Tony Ferguson. “I think for the ranking’s sake, I think obviously Conor [McGregor] against [Tony] Ferguson is the right match. It kind of legitimizes the rankings again. I believe that’s probably the right match at the minute. It will stabilize the division again and at least we’ll have a pecking order again so you know where you stand and what you need to do to get to the top of the pecking order.”

Justin Golightly - October 28, 2017

After the absolute bloodbath of a fight between her and Claudia Gadelha, Jessica Andrade was pushed to the number one contender slot in the UFC strawweight rankings. It would have been a four-fight win streak for Andrade, had she not have fought Joanna Jedrzejczyk just before. However, that’s a rematch that is just within arm’s length for the young Brazilian. Another shot at that belt would get a lot closer if Jessica Andrade beats third-ranked former title challenger, Karolina Kowalkiewicz. “I was expecting more of Karolina [Kowalkiewicz]. I expected her to knock [Esquibel] out, something like that. Her opponent had just gotten into the UFC and she was in the top five. She should have shown more spirit to finish the fight. I think it would be a really good fight [with me and Kowalkiewicz]. That’s what I’m after: tough fights. My goal is to fight those who are at the top to get a chance to fight for the belt. Karolina is a good choice. She was not hurt. She might be able to fight again soon.”

Russell Ess - October 27, 2017

Joe Rogan has a ton of fans with his wealth of knowledge not just in mixed martial arts but in life in general. The comedian and UFC commentator has built a huge following on his Joe Rogan Experience podcast that covers a wide variety of topics and guests that stretch far beyond combat sports. Here, we get a glimpse at the humorous side of Rogan and his buddies and fellow comedians Bert Kreischer, Ari Shaffir, and Tom Segura.

Justin Golightly - October 27, 2017

It was on an episode of The MMA Hour earlier this month, that Edson Barboza confirmed that he was offered a fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov. The lightweight contender said he had not agreed or was even offered the fight, but there was clear some things were going on due to posts on Nurmagomedov and Barboza’s social media a few days before the show. Today the rumors and talk were put to rest, as the UFC confirmed that Barboza will fight Nurmagomedov at UFC 219 on December 30th. Khabib on Insta has said his next fight will be Dec 30@SecretMovesMMA saw Barboza delete a tweet about a Dec bout

Russell Ess - October 27, 2017

It has been over one year since Phil Brooks, better known as CM Punk made his Octagon debut. It wasn’t the outcome Punk or his coach Duke Roufus was hoping for, but it did serve as experience as the former WWE star’s first professional MMA fight. Now, a little over a year since his debut and with more training under his belt, there are talks of Brooks getting his second UFC fight, according to Roufus.

Russell Ess - October 27, 2017

Rising UFC welterweight Colby Covington is a short time away from getting the chance to establish himself as one of the top contenders at 170 pounds. Covington, who is currently ranked the no. 7 welterweight by the UFC takes on no. 3 ranked Demian Maia this weekend at UFC Fight Night 118 in Sao Paulo, Brazil in the co-main event of the evening. Speaking on The MMA Hour this week, Covington brought the trash talk, as usual, in regards to his matchup against the Brazilian.

Justin Golightly - October 27, 2017

Everyone doubted Darren Till but himself and his coaches, now he’s put his detractors and the entire welterweight division on notice. He’s skyrocketed in the rankings and has his eyes on potential fights with Mike Perry and Stephen Thompson, but it doesn’t stop there. Darren Till may eventually be destined for a jump all the way to light heavyweight. We’d never call his bluff after his performance against Donald Cerrone, but joking or not, Till is a big welterweight. “I don’t really know how to take the welterweight division at the moment, mate. I’m half considering going to light heavyweight because the welterweight division — they are just all, they’re just too easy. I don’t know, mate. […] I was just telling [Mike Perry at UFC Gdansk] that he’s a little tiny lightweight and to get back to his own division. Stop trying to mess with these light heavyweights. Back and forth, innit? I love causing mayhem. I love having beef with everyone.”

Russell Ess - October 27, 2017

The Emelianenko brothers seem to be quite the opposites and it shows with their current relationship. According to Alexander who spoke with sovsport.ru recently, the two MMA siblings have not spoken to each other in the last 10 years. The tattooed Alexander recently made a return to MMA competition in September following an 18-month prison sentence after being convicted of sexual assault. After a successful return to MMA, Alexander opened up on his relationship with his older brother.

Justin Golightly - October 27, 2017

Just yesterday, there was a report of Georges St-Pierre saying that the UFC’s new early weigh-in policy is having the opposite affect of its original intentions. He even went on to say that it was the ‘worst thing they could do.’ Well, you know what they say, speak of the devil and he shall appear. Just this morning, Deiveson Figueiredo seemed to be going through an absolutely brutal cut. This was evident as he started weeping throughout the entire procedure.  How difficult is the fight before the fight? Deiveson Figueiredo made it painfully evident.

Justin Golightly - October 27, 2017

Conor McGregor has his pick of anyone he’d like to fight in MMA or in boxing. For awhile, it seemed like a done deal that McGregor would come back to the UFC and fight Nate Diaz a third time, but at lightweight this time. That seemed to change after UFC 216. More and more the answer everyone is picking for him is Tony Ferguson. Dan Hardy wants it, Eddie Bravo wants it, and now even training partner Dillon Danis thinks it’s the new interim UFC lightweight champion who gets the nod. “I would think Tony Ferguson next because he won and Conor [McGregor] is gonna’ defend the belt and stuff like that. And me knowing Conor, Tony Ferguson is talking a lot of shit and I know Conor is gonna want to shut him up. So, I can see that happening. […] I think a lot of people think that Tony is a tough match-up for him, and I think he would wanna prove people wrong there. He already beat Nate, so I could see that, but at the end of the day It’s his choice and whatever he thinks. But for me knowing him, I think he likes to prove people wrong and that could be the Tony fight.”

Justin Golightly - October 27, 2017

Back at UFC 210 in New York, Gegard Mousasi stopped Chris Weidman with a vicious knee and won the fight. Of course, some didn’t see it that way. Internet fans, media and even officials disagreed on if Mousasi’s controversial strike was legal or not. What complicated matters, was that instant replay was not legal to better determine what actually went down so referee Herb Dean was only able to go on what he saw initially. This new policy by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) looks to change that, by allowing for instant replay for MMA. “This policy sets forth a process for the use of instant replay at ringside, adding clarity, transparency and predictability. Providing clarity to the MMA community through adoption of a written process was the right thing to do, and we are glad to have the policy on the books.” – An NYSAC spokesperson speaking to Newsday.

Justin Golightly - October 27, 2017

Max Holloway came back like a man possessed after losing a decision to Conor McGregor early in his career. He hasn’t lost since. Holloway miraculously knocked off each and every contender that the UFC put in front of him, until he was no longer denied a shot at a belt. Now that he’s dethroned the former featherweight king Jose Aldo, he can reap the benefits of being a UFC champion. With his newfound fame and cash flow, he decided to bless his mom with a new truck. Via @Procast: That feeling when moms gets emotional when you “bless” her with a gift… 😭😭😭

Justin Golightly - October 26, 2017

The UFC has put together two impressive UFC conference calls back-to-back. Not only did Cody Garbrandt double down on his challenge to Demetrious Johnson, he declared that his fight with TJ Dillashaw at UFC 217 is the real main event. Today, Michael Bisping responded to the dig with a comeback of his own. Of course, it can’t end there. The UFC bantamweight champion just took to Twitter to tell Bisping his fight is only a draw because of Georges St-Pierre. Garbrandt: The Bisping/GSP fight sells on a gimmick. Our fight sells on all angles. #UFC217 👀 pic.twitter.com/4DxngKrxO2

Justin Golightly - October 26, 2017

We’re only nine days away from the illustrious return of Georges St-Pierre, who will challenge Michael Bisping for the UFC middleweight title. Promotion is just heating up this week with the conference calls and media obligations. Out of nowhere, an allegation comes from a person accusing Bisping of grabbing him by the throat in the gym and shouting insults at him for taking his weights. Today on the UFC 217 conference call, Michael Bisping says that there is no truth to it at all. “It’s completely inaccurate. It’s not factual.” – Bisping on his gym altercation. #UFC217

Russell Ess - October 26, 2017

A UFC heavyweight is looking to bring some change to the UFC when it comes to the walk out to the Octagon. Undefeated heavyweight Arjan Bhullar was born and raised in Canada and is of South Indian heritage. Bhullar, who is of Sikh faith, was not allowed to wear his turban for his walk to the Octagon at UFC 215 where he made his debut with the promotion against Luis Henrique in September. After being denied once, the heavyweight is seeking approval to wear his traditional customary headwear for his next Octagon walk.