MMA News

Justin Golightly - October 10, 2017

Years before Conor McGregor skirted his flame-shooting Lambo into the UFC to capture double gold and jump around for big fights, there was BJ Penn. When the first UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver left the organization, the UFC put on a lightweight tournament to crown a new king of the world at 155-pounds. But after BJ Penn and Caol Uno fought to a draw in the finals, the UFC dissolved the entire division. This is what prompted Penn to search out new challenges, resulting in fighting future PRIDE lightweight champion Takanori Gomi in K-1 back in 2003. Oct10.2003

Russell Ess - October 10, 2017

I couldn’t even believe this as I was watching it. #Repost @lovatojrbjj ・・・ This is getting posted everywhere, but it’s too beautiful for me not to share as well! Congrats @mightymouse125 for making history & thank you for displaying so much incredible technique in all of your fights! #demetriousjohnson #UFC #JiuJitsu #MMA A post shared by Joe Rogan (@joerogan) on Oct 8, 2017 at 10:21am PDT

Justin Golightly - October 10, 2017

Okay, we have to talk about what Demetrious Johnson did at UFC 216. By now, even your parents and friends who have never watched the UFC had to have sent you the video on Facebook screaming, ‘Did you see this?!’. Of course you did. Mighty Mouse catapulted Ray Borg up into the air and then slapped on an armbar, submitting him and breaking Anderson Silva’s defense record. I was amazing. We’re still freaking out about it and so is UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway, who geeked out about it to Ariel Helwani and partly to Johnson himself was on the line. “Congrats on the amazing ninja sh-t you did. Congrats [Demetrious Johnson]. You’re a beast, man, I couldn’t believe my eyes what I saw on Saturday night [at UFC 216]. I had to watch it like a thousand times. I think he’s the best, I think he’s the GOAT. He’s going out there and he’s doing phenomenal things. He’s making everyone look like they’re not even in a league of his own. It reminds you of the Ronda Rousey era, everyone’s befuddled about what’s going on and he’s doing it against these other guys who are great. The 125 [division] is brand new, you don’t know who the ex-champs is so you can’t say he fought ex-champs. Bla bla, that’s what everyone is arguing about. This guy is the best in the world to keep competing in the UFC and keep doing what he’s doing.”

Russell Ess - October 10, 2017

Current undisputed UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor is a savvy businessman. While many were expecting “The Notorious” to return to fight in the UFC after making his crossover to the sport of boxing, there is a fresh report coming from The Sun that McGregor is in talks with the WWE for an appearance. According to The Sun, “The Notorious” has been talking with WWE about a “megabucks wrestling match against one of World Wrestling Entertainment’s biggest stars.” The match is reportedly being targeted for a date next year. The April Wrestlemania 34 event taking place at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans is a possibility.

Russell Ess - October 10, 2017

Being a fighter and commentator in the UFC can sometimes put you in an odd position as calling the fights might strain the relationship you have with some of your fellow fighters. This seems to be the case with Daniel Cormier, who commentated the UFC 216 broadcast and apparently Tony Ferguson who fought Kevin Lee in the main event did not like what Cormier had to say during the broadcast. Ferguson won the UFC interim lightweight title by submitting Lee with a triangle choke in the third round and then fired some tweets at D.C. while interacting with a bunch of  fellow Twitter users on Monday

Justin Golightly - October 10, 2017

Stephen Thompson is returning in a dangerous scrap with welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal, but he has his eyes set on bigger things. He’s had two shots at Tyron Woodley’s title, but came up short each time. Before he knew he was going to get the fight, he talked about a match with Robbie Lawler. With Woodley gone for shoulder rehab, he’s said it gives the division a chance to shuffle, which is why Thompson wants Lawler to be his ace in the whole to close our he and Woodley’s trilogy. “We’ve been kind of going back and forth with me and Robbie Lawler, I was ranked number one, then he’s number one, then we’re both number one. So hopefully a good win over [Jorge Masvidal] – you know, I understand Tyron [Woodley] is out for a little while, so hopefully we’ll be able to fight against Robbie Lawler, maybe for an interim welterweight title against him for that belt. You’re gonna see more of Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson than you saw in my last two fights against Tyron. I love it when guys come forward, which is something you didn’t see during the Tyron Woodley fight. But that’s just the way Masvidal is, he comes walking forward, he’s not afraid to press the action, which enables me to use my arsenal a little bit better, to use my kicks, to use my angles. So yeah, man, you’re gonna see a more exciting fight from me November 4th.”

Tom Taylor - October 10, 2017

Not long ago, we learned that fan favorite featherweight contender Cub Swanson planned on entering free agency after his UFC Fresno scrap with Brian Ortega, which marks the last obligation on his current UFC contract. Speaking to FloCombat this week, Swanson explained why he’s choosing to fight out his current contract.

Justin Golightly - October 10, 2017

Tony Ferguson did it. He marched through a long hard road out of hell and shined in the moment he needed it most. After submitting Kevin Lee to become the interim UFC lightweight champion, he did what anyone would do: Call out Conor McGregor. After all, he’s the real champion, he’s never defended a belt, and it’s the biggest fight to make at lightweight besides Nate Diaz. McGregor’s coach recently weighed in on the match-up and he doesn’t like Ferguson’s chances after the two wars with another durable, rangy fighter who’s slick on the mat. “[Tony Ferguson]’s good, obviously. He wouldn’t be the interim champion if he wasn’t good. His style is, you know, it’s not traditional, it’s a bit unorthodox and stuff, but I just honestly think that Conor [McGregor]’s going to be way too clean for Ferguson. If Ferguson tries to stand with Conor for an extended period of time it will be lights out, in my opinion. You know, he’s tough as well, he’s tough and durable, so he may take a couple of smacks, but at the end of the day Conor’s going to be way too clean and too technical to… he won’t get touched. That’s my opinion. But yeah, it will be an interesting one and it will be an exciting fight as well because Ferguson does come to fight and he’s aggressive, he goes in, he looks to finish fights, so it will be exciting. But yeah, without a doubt if he wants to stand and bang with Conor it’ll be lights out fairly quick, I think.”

Tom Taylor - October 10, 2017

On November 4, in the main event of the absolutely stacked UFC 217, former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon. While St-Pierre’s previous dominance occurred at welterweight, however, this is not where his return will occur. Instead, he’ll be stepping up to middleweight to battle reigning champion Michael Bisping. As the much smaller man in the Octagon, and a fighter riding a significant layoff, St-Pierre is in for a tough test opposite Bisping. That said, he seems to be taking his training very seriously, and even called on an old foe to help him prepare. That former foe is Jake Shields.

Tom Taylor - October 10, 2017

Ian McCall, who has long stood out as one of the flyweight division’s premier players, is no longer a member of the UFC roster. On Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, the flyweight star revealed that he had been released from his contract, and that he’s now eyeing big-money fights overseas – particularly in the ring of Japan’s Rizin Fighting Federation. Wherever he ends up, however, he’s after paydays of $100,000 or more (though he’s willing to accept a $50,000 to show, $50,000 to win deal).

Tom Taylor - October 10, 2017

It sounds like Henry Cejudo’s UFC 218 scrap with Sergio Pettis is in jeopardy. According to a report from the San Francisco Chronicle, Cejudo was one of several athletes who was forced to flee from the Wine Country fires that are currently scorching California. When a blaze struck the Fountaingrove Inn in Santa Rosa, the former UFC flyweight title challenger was forced to evacuate by jumping from a second story balcony – a maneuver that reportedly caused him to break his ankle.

Tom Taylor - October 10, 2017

Last weekend, in the main event of UFC 216, Tony Ferguson defeated Kevin Lee to capture the UFC interim lightweight title. In the wake of this title win, Ferguson quickly set his sights on a title unification battle with undisputed champion Conor McGregor, and according to UFC President Dana White, this is indeed the direction things are headed. On Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, the new champ Tony Ferguson discussed his desired bout with McGregor. Apparently, he’s taking White’s word, and believes the UFC will attempt to book this fight.

Russell Ess - October 9, 2017

Many are wondering when we will see Cris Cyborg make her way back to the Octagon to defend the UFC women’s featherweight title. Cyborg won the women’s 145-pound belt in July after the promotion stripped the title from the inaugural champion, Germaine de Randamie, after she refused to fight Cyborg who was the number one contender at the time. Cyborg met former Invicta bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger at UFC 214 after de Randamie was stripped of the title where Cyborg was able to stop Evinger in the third round by TKO to win the vacant title.

Russell Ess - October 9, 2017

A video has surfaced on the Internet that has a cause for concern which allegedly involves a UFC veteran. Bloody Elbow reported that Rony Jason was caught on video assaulting a woman at a party in Brazil. As you can see in the video posted on the YouTube channel Tudo Sobre MMA, it is hard to see from the angle the clip was recorded but it appears that the man in the video hits the woman as she is down on the ground as a group of people pull him off and hold him back. It is unclear what provoked the situation.

Tom Taylor - October 9, 2017

Since parting ways with the UFC in 2016, Texan lightweight veteran Cody Pfister has been busy. In addition to a victorious debut in the Bellator cage, he’s also kickstarted his own MMA promotion in the cleverly named “Fist Fight League.” In late September, Fist Fight League hosted its second show, and it was a fun one. Pfister himself headlined the show, taking on the fan favorite “Felony” Charles Bennett. The fighter-turned-promoter won this fight fight via submission in the first round. Fist Fight Night 2 also featured appearances by Wesley “Cabbage” Correira, Paul Buentello, and our very own BJ Penn.

Tom Taylor - October 9, 2017

In the buildup to and fallout of their two fights, Daniel Cormier and Anthony “Rumble” Johnson always kept things pretty civil. It’s for this reason that the recent heat between them, which began when Cormier scolded Rumble for his interactions with Jon Jones, came as such a surprise. “Rumble Johnson and I have always been respectful with each other, but something happened at UFC 214 that has forever made me change the way I’m going to interact with Anthony Johnson,” Cormier said on a recent episode of podcast Talk and Talker. “So, I walk into the back of the weigh-ins for UFC 214, and there’s Rumble. And I go up to Rumble and he says ‘what’s up DC? You look good.’ Give him a hug, and I say ‘hey man, I hope you’re enjoying your retirement. You seem happy. I wish you nothing but continued success’, and I go about my business — as much as you’d expect two guys who have competed and ave respect for each other would interact. Then in walks Jon Jones, and I expect him to — a guy he was supposed to fight, and may at some point still fight — give him the same type of conversation and kind of keep it moving, as a man. But Jon walks in, they give each other the shake and the hug, and they talk a little bit. And the conversation seems like Anthony is almost giving him advice … like pre-fight stuff.”

Tom Taylor - October 9, 2017

In the wake of Jon Jones’ latest failed drug test, which was administered in the buildup to his UFC 214 title fight with Daniel Cormier, many fans have questioned the legitimacy of his legacy, suggesting that perhaps his greatness can be the attributed to PED abuse. In the opinion of top light heavyweight contender Volkan Oezdemir, however, these claims are not exactly fair. On the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio “No Time” shared his belief that, while Jones’ could well have been helped by PEDs, his talent remains unquestionable. “It’s hard to answer to this, because the way Jones fights, it’s just amazing,” Oezdemir said. “He’s doing stuff nobody does. He just has a really high IQ when it comes to fighting. He’s doing stuff with perfect timing, crazy, spinning back elbows… you know. You cannot take anything off Jon Jones, because he so much talent. So, I don’t think it’s really tarnished his legacy. When you watch his fights, he doesn’t win because [of the banned substances]. Of course, it probably helped, but he doesn’t win because he’s so strong and so big. It’s all about the intelligence that he has, and also the IQ, fight IQ. He’s just an amazing athlete.” 

Tom Taylor - October 9, 2017

Last month, on the main card of the UFC’s exciting return to Japan, kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki (83-12 KB, 1-1 MMA) made his anticipated UFC debut. While his performance was not without flaws, Saki ultimately produced just the kind of thunderous knockout he’s known for, putting his foe Luis Henrique down with a blistering left hook in the first frame. With this exciting debut win in the books, Saki got pretty much the entire MMA community excited about his future in the sport. And now, his next step has been booked. The kickboxing transplant will take on rising light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree (6-2) at UFC 219, which is scheduled for December 30 in Las Vegas.