MMA News

Justin Golightly - September 22, 2017

Let’s just take some time out of the ongoing beef with Kevin Lee, the post-traumatic stress of the fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov constantly falling through, and talk about Tony Ferguson’s training. You’re talking about a guy who is in a secluded camp right now in Big Bear that he built himself. Before that, he’s been tossing us little gems of elbowing a speed bag like most people punch it, crazy yoga pose type positions, and hauling a freaking heavy bag over his shoulder like a Continental soldier. What more wild stuff can this dude do? Add lasers. That’s what. Hit the Mission Impossible theme. Tony Ferguson sliding and tumbling through a neon green laser maze is something that deserves a high-dollar production that just can’t be achieved on a cell phone. Especially since it’s so hard to remember to keep the phone horizontal. As Ferguson’s interim lightweight title fight with Kevin Lee at UFC 216 draws near, let’s hope that the Embedded crew gets to follow El Cucuy through another one of these because that’s just good fun.

Justin Golightly - September 22, 2017

After all Daniel Cormier has been through, he needs a break. He suffered a devastating loss to Jon Jones back at UFC 214, then had to go through another controversy involving his opponent, once again going through a roller coaster of ups and downs. However, after being re-crowned as the new/old UFC light heavyweight champion, he’s starting to think about who he’ll have to defend against. He just took to Twitter not too long ago answering some questions from fans, and says if it is Volkan Oezdemir we want, then Volkan Oezdemir we’ll get.

Russell Ess - September 22, 2017

Recently, there was some buzz of UFC Hall of Fame legend Chuck Liddell making a return to competition. The 47-year-old appeared to be in great shape and some photos on social media including one with his old rival Tito Ortiz had people talking about a potential return. Liddell spoke on this week’s episode of The MMA Hour and opened up on where his mind was at in terms of ever coming out of retirement to fight again.

Justin Golightly - September 22, 2017

With Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua off the UFC Japan card, there’s not many big match-ups beside the criminally underrated fight between Claudia Gadelha and Jessica Andrade. Another fight that has slipped under the radar, is the UFC debut of K-1 and Glory kickboxing veteran, Gokhan Saki. After his opponent Henrique da Silva made a bold claim that he was going to knock Saki out, Alistair Overeem made it known he thought old friend Saki would take home the win. Now, Gokhan Saki himself speaks up about his opponent’s prediction. “During the face-off, what I saw in his eyes is that he is not confident. He knows what’s going to happen tomorrow – that’s what I could see in his eyes. I don’t know why these people say [things like that]. It makes me think that they don’t know what fighting is. I don’t understand how he can say he will beat me by KO. Every fight starts standing. Even if it’s on the ground or whatever, if they understand what fighting is, they would never talk like this. The people who say these things are hating on me. I don’t know a lot of other people that really think he is going to knock me out. Maybe if it was just three minutes he would have a chance because he could just run away. Five minutes is long enough for me to kick his ass.”

Justin Golightly - September 22, 2017

As we reported yesterday after the early weigh-ins, Mizuto Hirota had a pretty gnarly trip to the scale. Tons of fans and media were posting following the appearance on social media, all concerned about the fighter’s well-being. He appeared to almost faint a couple of times, as well as being held up staff and his team during the ordeal. Finally, it looks like after sleeping on it, the UFC and it’s officials have deemed Hirota to be unfit to compete and he is officially of the fight card tonight. Miss today's #UFCJapan weigh-ins? Mizuto Hirota's trip to the scale was a little scary. Full rundown here: https://t.co/tacfafCSZ1 pic.twitter.com/qYHILHczyQ

Justin Golightly - September 22, 2017

As we move on to the bigger cards of the year, fans and media are still haunted by the news of Jon Jones failing his tests and being flagged for his possible anti-doping violation. After the B sample came back positive, the line of attack now shifts to damage control and pursuing a legal battle to try and prove Jon Jones’ innocence. Hearing about the UFC’s plans of trying to put together a superfight with Stipe Miocic was one thing that was like a dagger in the heart, but not too long ago Bill Golberg revealed Brock Lesnar planned on coming back. His opponent? None other than Jon Jones. “If [Brock Lesnar] wants to return, I think he does, I think he does. I think it may be in his plans. Although, yeah, a month ago [it was more likely]. [Jon Jones’ testing positive threw a wrench into it]. Yeah, a huge wrench into it, because if it ain’t Jon, there’s nobody big enough. Nobody, there’s nobody there for him to fight. Conor [McGregor], that’s it, and I only say Conor because he opened his mouth about all the WWE guys.” —  Bill Goldberg on The Fighter and The Kid Podcast.  

Justin Golightly - September 22, 2017

This whole week, ever since Edmond Tarverdyan’s appearance on The MMA Hour, people have been talking about him still wanting that fight between Cris Cyborg and his prize student, Ronda Rousey. Cris Cyborg, her coach Jason Parillo, and even Miesha Tate have weighed-in, saying that they do not want to see Ronda Rousey yanked back into the MMA game for a fight with Cyborg. Now, it’s gotten the attention of MMA legend and salt of the Earth, Don Frye. He had some strong words for the coach, and hopes Rousey has nothing to do with him. “Is that that idiot [Edmond Tarverdyan] who tried teaching [Ronda Rousey] how to box but all she did was block punches with her face? That guy’s just out for the money. She needs to get rid of him and get rid of 90 percent of the hangers on and go back to Judo Gene Lebell and her mom and people who were there in the beginning who really care for her. Otherwise, stay the hell out of the sport because you’re just gonna’ get hurt. She has no business being in the ring with Cyborg. That’d be like feeding the Christians to the lion. It would just be criminal to let her in there with that gal.” – Don Frye speaking to Submission Radio.

Justin Golightly - September 21, 2017

Japan loves Alistair Overeem. From all his fights in PRIDE and multiple kickboxing matches in K-1, he became a legend in Japan way before he gained notoriety as a feared heavyweight in the UFC. It just makes sense that The Reem would be in Tokyo ahead of UFC Japan to enjoy the fights with the rest of us. During media day, Overem made sure to put a good word in for another K-1 veteran who makes his debut on Saturday: Gokhan Saki. “I love coming [to Japan]. There’s a lot of memories. A lot of different promotions, a lot of fighters, coaches, a lot of experiences here. So, we continue now here with the UFC, yet another new promotion. I’m very curious about the show, very curious about the fans, how the energy will be. If we can capture the same energy as the previous shows, Pride and the K-1. Of course this is a little bit of a different audience than the American audience or the Brazilian audience. But I’m sure, they have a great fight card and my friend Gokhan Saki is always good for action. So, it’s going to be a great event I’m sure.”

Justin Golightly - September 21, 2017

Conor McGregor is no stranger to magazine features and covers. Last year, McGregor and his millions he slid into Forbes top 100 highest paid athletes at number 85. This year? In addition to being a GQ cover boy, he rocketed to number 24 on Forbes list. After his fight with Floyd Mayweather, he’s on track to make it into the top 10 of the 2018 edition, no matter if he fights again or not. Recently, it was another magazine that featured Conor McGregor. The brash Irishman just made it into Sports Illustrated top 50 fittest athletes, beating out some very surprising fighters. Sports Illustrated ranked Conor McGregor the 9th-most conditioned athlete in the world. Gennady Golovkin was 11th. Mighty Mouse 15th.

Russell Ess - September 21, 2017

Boxing’s WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder says he is no stranger to the game of mixed martial arts. While speaking with Sports Illustrated, the topic of Wilder fighting Brock Lesnar was brought up and the boxing champion said some interesting things about a potential matchup with the former UFC heavyweight champion and current WWE wrestling star.

Russell Ess - September 21, 2017

UFC fan favorite Matt Brown is set to make his return to the Octagon at UFC Fight Night 120 against another fan favorite, Diego Sanchez as the two are set to fight on November 11 in Norfolk, Virginia. To much surprise, “The Immortal” announced on Thursday via social media that his fight against Sanchez will be his last fight.

Justin Golightly - September 21, 2017

Slated to fight welterweight contender Stephen Thompson at UFC 217, it’s a middleweight that Jorge Masvidal has on his mind. Not just any middleweight, but one he will share that November card with. Michael Bisping ripped up a Cuban flag while watching Yoel Romero’s fight with Robert Whittaker at UFC 213, something Masvidal vented to us about on our BJPenn.com radio show. The desecration of the flag still rubs Masvidal the wrong way, so bad that he’d be willing to fight Bisping for a couple of double cheeseburgers. “That ‘B-tch’-ping Michael [Bisping], whatever, The Count, you know, he’s a little b-tch, he needs to get slapped up, man. He needs to f-cking man up for this sh-t that he did, you know? Ripping my country’s flag for no reason and then saying corny ass sh-t like, ‘well, the flag just happen to be there.’ My ass! You put that sh-t in your pocket and you probably brought it in. He’s such a corny dude. He does corny things like that like, like to another man that’s just finished fighting, you know, that nothing can happen. There’s more security in there than in the White House and you’re acting crazy like that? That’s not man sh-t. I would respect him if he did that on the solo, like in front of Yoel [Romero] or in front of me or anybody that reps that country and did things like that. I mean, he’s just a hoe, man, since even before that, spitting on people’s corners.”

Tom Taylor - September 21, 2017

UFC 217, which goes down on November 4 inside Madison Square Garden in New York City, is one hell of a fight card. Topped by a trio of title fights, it could even be the biggest fight card of the year outright.  Given the scale of the card, it should come as no surprise that a great many fighters were eager to shoehorn themselves onto the bill. Fourth-ranked UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal, who battles Stephen Thompson on the main card, is one of the fighters that was lucky enough to succeed in his effort to do so. He couldn’t be happier about this fact.

Justin Golightly - September 21, 2017

Right after Conor McGregor hoisted two UFC titles above his head at UFC 205, he put on one of his signature suits and strolled to the post-fight press conference. It was there, celebration whiskey probably still on his breath, that he vowed he was coming back for a piece of the whole company. In the meantime, he ventured outside of the Octagon (while still under contract with the UFC) to have a multi-million dollar boxing match with Floyd Mayweather. A fight that reportedly put $30 million in McGregor’s pocket. This was 10 times the amount McGregor made in the UFC, which was still the highest for a single bout. However, his next fight could be with congress itself, using his powers of influence to change the sport for the better.   

Russell Ess - September 21, 2017

All fighters but one made weight for the UFC Fight Night 117 event taking place in Saitama, Japan on Friday, September 22 (Saturday in Japan).

Tom Taylor - September 21, 2017

Last weekend, in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 116, rising welterweight slugger “Platinum” Mike Perry authored yet another brutal knockout, this time putting down Alex Reyes with a rocket-fuelled knee against the cage. Reyes, of course, was not supposed to be Perry’s opponent. Perry was originally expected to battle former UFC welterweight title challenger Thiago Alves on the card. It was only when Alves was forced out of this anticipated booking that Reyes got the call and agreed to step in against Perry on mere days’ notice.

Tom Taylor - September 21, 2017

On November 4, on the main card of the stacked UFC 217, fourth-ranked welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal will take on the division’s number-two fighter, Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson. This bout will serve as Thompson’s opportunity to rebound from back-to-back failed title bids opposite reigning champion Tyron Woodley – the first being a majority draw, the second being a majority decision. Though Thompson performed admirably in these undeniably competitive fights, he failed to pull the trigger in either battle, opting instead to hang back and wait for opportunities to counter.

Tom Taylor - September 21, 2017

Last weekend, in the co-main event of the UFC’s latest trip to Pittsburgh, brick-fisted welterweight “Platinum” Mike Perry picked up a thunderous knee-induced KO win over Alex Reyes, who stepped in to replace Thiago Alves on short notice. Shortly after this win, Perry made an exciting callout of former UFC welterweight king and fellow knockout artist Robbie Lawler. On the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio Mike Perry explained the reason for this callout of Lawler.