MMA News

Justin Golightly - September 28, 2017

Flashback to the chaos of Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather, with Paul Malignaggi orbiting the pandemonium like a satellite. The fight world moves so fast that their controversial sparring sessions and the infamous knockdown/pushdown photos seem like distant memories. Still, McGregor felt disrespected and wanted to take that out on Malignaggi during camp. According to his coach, the UFC ‘champ champ’ was willing to take it even further, wanting to drag the former boxer into the Octagon. “Conor [McGregor] wanted that. He said to me, ‘Let’s get [Paul Malignaggi] in the Octagon’, and I said that there was no way that he would fight in MMA. You’ve got to be able to prove yourself in the arena. When Conor wanted a boxing license they could look at the Diaz 2 fight where there was more or less 25 minutes of boxing. Why would Paulie go to MMA? He’d never go to MMA. Now, Conor could tweet now and say ‘I’m fighting Paulie Malignaggi’, and I guess I would be wrong then.”

Tom Taylor - September 28, 2017

Cub Swanson, one of the UFC featherweight division’s most dangerous contenders, is reportedly looking at a return to the cage this December 9th in Fresno, California. Swanson’s opponent at this Fight Night card is expected to be red-hot prospect Brian Ortega. This report comes from Farah Hannoun on Twitter.

Tom Taylor - September 28, 2017

11th-ranked UFC welterweight contender Kamaru Usman has been looking for a fight, and from the sounds of it, he’s found one. On Wednesday afternoon, the grappling specialist announced on Twitter that his fans want to see him fight Neil Magny, and that he intends on heeding their calls. In his Tweet, he suggested UFC 218 on December 2 and UFC 219 on December 30 as possible dates for this potential scrap.

Tom Taylor - September 28, 2017

Over the last few years, Bellator MMA has signed a procession of high-profile free agents. One of the finest free agents they’ve picked up to date is Michael McDonald, a former UFC bantamweight who once fought Renan Barao for the interim bantamweight crown. McDonald’s Bellator debut is now set, per MMAJunkie.com. He’ll make that debut when Bellator takes over the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, England on December 15. His opponent has not yet been made official, but should be announced soon. 

Tom Taylor - September 28, 2017

On November 4, in the co-main event of the stacked UFC 217, UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt will attempt to defend his title against his most heated rival in TJ Dillashaw. If Garbrandt successfully defends his title, the expectation is that he’ll then turn his attention to the next contender on the docket – perhaps the winner of Jimmie Rivera and Dominic Cruz’s UFC 219 scrap. Apparently, however, Garbrandt’s team is still eying a drop to flyweight for a battle with dominant UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Garbrandt’s head coach Justin Buchholz shared the plan on Five Rounds podcast.

Justin Golightly - September 27, 2017

When it rains, it totally pours. Four giant fights are slated for UFC 218, including Alistair Overeem and Francis Ngannou being official. Now, we have our first three fights announced for the UFC’s year-end  card on December 3oth. Former UFC champions, Carla Esparza and Dominick Cruz will return to action in high-profile fights for their divisions. HOLD UP!

Justin Golightly - September 27, 2017

There has been tumbleweeds rustling down these MMA news streets lately. We’ve been holding our breaths waiting on fights to be announced and confirmed for UFC 218, but not just the fans and media have been pacing back and forth. Francis Ngannou has been searching for a fight ever since Junior dos Santos had to pull out of their UFC 215 battle. He called out everyone he could think of until he got to Alistair Overem and UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. Now, it seems like he may be getting an opponent for UFC 218 and we’ll have some fight announcements. Max Holloway vs Frankie Edgar being discussed for #UFC218 in Detroit!

Justin Golightly - September 27, 2017

Even before Conor McGregor stepped into the ring with Floyd Mayweather, the talk has been McGregor would come back to the UFC to fight Nate Diaz. Even other UFC fighters said it had to happen. Champ champ Conor McGregor said he wanted to fight before the end of this year, making it clear that the Diaz fight would take place in the lightweight division. Unfortunately, his coach has came out and said that UFC 219 will not happen, but has an even bigger date in mind to settle the trilogy. “[Conor McGregor fighting Nate Diaz on] December 30th is definitely not happening. I don’t know how these things get started, but they have a certain way of gaining momentum. I can also tell you that his manager [Audie Attar] rang me this morning saying that him and Conor had been in meetings all day. Obviously, tomorrow is when we would start to consider the date. If it was my choice, and I must stress that this is only my choice and that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen, it would be Nate Diaz in March.”

Russell Ess - September 27, 2017

Come on @lukerockhold all I want is to train man. Come on champ!!! A post shared by Daniel "DC" Cormier (@dc_mma) on Sep 27, 2017 at 12:18pm PDT

Jason Kindschy - September 27, 2017

BJPENN Radio returns tonight at 8PM ET/5PM PT with more of what you crave! 8:15PM ET- Kicking things off we are joined by former K-1 MAX champ and UFC welterweight turned world-renowned coach, Duane “Bang” Ludwig. Calling us from Holland, we’ll catch up with Duane about his journey of coaching athletes under his Bang Muay Thai system and growing as a martial artist himself. You’ll hear the latest on TJ Dillashaw’s preparation for UFC 217 and the opportunity to reclaim his title agains former teammate Cody Garbrandt. Also, we’ll get Ludwig’s expert opinion and analysis for the stacked card at UFC 217, his thoughts on May-Mac and Conor’s future in boxing, as well as the talk of Ronda Rousey fighting one last time against Cyborg. Always an informative and entertaining conversation with “Bang!”

Justin Golightly - September 27, 2017

Just a week ago, Bellator announced that recent UFC transplant Rory MacDonald would challenge Douglas Lima for the welterweight title early next year. A win would not only help MacDonald achieve something he was never able to in the UFC, but serve as the first step the journey he sees in his mind’s eye. It’s a quest for not just one gold belt, not even two, but three Bellator titles. “I’d go for three. I’d fight [Ryan] Bader. [Welterweight]’s gonna’ be my home. That’s where I fit. I’m not a massive guy. I’d be a small middleweight, it would be a joke to see me at light heavyweight, but I still think I beat them. I think they’re not getting too far ahead of themselves, but I’ve brought it up to [Bellator]. They know my intentions and stuff.”

Russell Ess - September 27, 2017

There is no doubt that we are living in a new world of communication with social media being able to have such a big impact on people’s lives. Just dating back to a few presidential terms, even the thought of the President of the United States having a twitter beef with leaders of other countries and professional athletes for that matter would have simply been laughed at.

Tom Taylor - September 27, 2017

On October 7th, in the co-main event of UFC 216, flyweight contender Ray Borg will attempt to spoil the history-making 11th title defense of dominant flyweight champ Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Given Borg’s history of missing the flyweight division’s 126-pound cap, there is worry among some fans that he’ll miss the 125-pound limit required for this title fight. Fans that are worried about this are not likely to feel any better upon learning that Borg won’t be using a full-time nutritionist ahead of his UFC 216 title fight. While he’ll be consulting the nutritionist at the UFC Performance Institute, that will be the extend of his work with nutritionists.

Justin Golightly - September 27, 2017

The man, the myth, the legend, any cliche about superstars of any sport could be said about Chuck Liddell. He’s one of the fighters who carried UFC’s torch into new eras and put more butts into seats that you could count. He recently appeared on The MMA Hour talking about his long-hinted at return from retirement, but still no concrete plans. That won’t stop one guy from mentioning his name. The guy being ‘American Badass’ Chael Sonnen. Chuck Liddell recently got stopped by TMZ and asked about if that’s a guy he’d come back and fight. Chuck Liddell: Chael Sonnen Would Be 'Warm-Up Fight,' If I Came Back https://t.co/5Se9P1kgIs

Russell Ess - September 27, 2017

Over the weekend, Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima and former UFC title challenger Rory MacDonald faced off for the first time ahead of their Bellator title fight. The welterweight title fight is set to take place on January 20 at The Forum in California. Lima was dressed in a suit while MacDonald opted for a more casual look wearing a black turtleneck, which the late Apple CEO, Steve Jobs was usually seen wearing.

Tom Taylor - September 27, 2017

This Saturday night, UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor was expected to partake in a pay-per-view Q&A in London, England. Regrettably, this event has been nixed. This news comes from Starsport. At the time of this writing, the catalyst for the event’s cancellation is not known.

Tom Taylor - September 27, 2017

On November 4, in the main event of the absurdly stacked UFC 217, UFC middleweight king Michael Bisping will attempt to defend his title opposite returning former welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre. This fight registers as one of the biggest of the year, and from the sounds of it, Bisping could follow it with another massive showdown. Speaking on his podcast, Believe You Me, the ever-dangerous middleweight champ suggested a fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier could well be the next move, if UFC 217 goes his way.

Tom Taylor - September 27, 2017

Back in 2008, when he held the UFC light heavyweight title, Rashad Evans was considered the best light heavyweight fighter on the planet. Even after he lost that title, succumbing to punches dealt by the surging Lyoto Machida, he was still regarded as one of the division’s very best. Unfortunately, Evans eventually began to decline. After failing to reclaim the light heavyweight title from his heated rival Jon Jones, the former champ lost a tepid decision to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, defeated Dan Henderson and Chael Sonnen, and then lost decisively to Ryan Bader and Glover Teixeira. With this diminishing success, he finally made a long-discussed move down to the middleweight division.