MMA News

Justin Golightly - September 20, 2017

When you’re Conor McGregor, the world is your oyster. But sometimes, diving for oysters is dangerous. Sometimes, there are monsters in the deep. All this is just a convoluted analogy for the WWE’s monster-among-monsters, Braun Strowman. He was recently asked about McGregor in an interview ahead of his beastly battle this Sunday with Brock Lesnar, and doesn’t think the UFC lightweight champion wants anything to do with him. https://twitter.com/BraunStrowman/status/882087532539781120

Tom Taylor - September 20, 2017

Last weekend, in the co-main event of the UFC’s anticipated stop in Pittsburgh, PA, rapidly rising welterweight “Platinum” Mike Perry returned to the Octagon. Originally, the welterweight star was expected to battle former UFC welterweight title challenger Thiago Alves. Unfortunately, however, Alves was forced out of the competition thanks to Hurricane Irma’s effects on Florida. He was replaced by promotional newcomer Alex Reyes.

Justin Golightly - September 20, 2017

You may have not heard much from Charles “Felony” Bennett, better known as the now-dead nickname, Krazy Horse. A cult favorite of early 2000’s MMA and his few PRIDE appearances, Bennett blasted back into fight fan’s lives with a lightning quick, seven-second finish of Minoru Kimura in RIZIN in September of last year. He was supposed to return to the promotion, but was not able to. What followed is a long string of fights in regional promotions, leading to a plea on social media saying he needed a fight to pay his rent.

Russell Ess - September 20, 2017

An advertisement for an Irish betting website has recently been banned by England’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The betting site, Paddy Power featured a controversial ad with Floyd Mayweather in August ahead of his multi-million dollar boxing match against Conor McGregor. Mayweather, who endorsed the company was featured on the ad which a headline said, “ALWAYS BET ON BLACK.”

Justin Golightly - September 20, 2017

When Darren Till got word that Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone had no idea who he was, Till didn’t bat an eyelash. He didn’t feel any disrespect and promises he’ll know him after their fight at UFC Gdansk. However, when former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub said that Cerrone should be more selective of who he picks to fight, that caught Till’s attention. He recently went on the air to weigh-in on Schaub’s comments. “You’ve got people like Brendan Schaub saying he doesn’t know me, he’s disrespecting me and whatever, saying ‘Cowboy’ [Donald Cerrone] shouldn’t be taking this fight, but why shouldn’t I be taking the fight? Let’s get it straight, I’m unbeaten here. I’m unbeaten. Nobody’s been able to beat me. So, what do I do? Do I just stay on the prelims, do I? Fighting no one. Can’t I move up? Is this what the world’s come to? I can’t move up? I can’t fight these big guys? Is this what it is? A big gap? I’ll f-ckin’ show them what’s going to be a big gap on fight night when I crack him on the chin.”

Tom Taylor - September 20, 2017

This Saturday, the UFC will touch down in the MMA hotspot of Japan with UFC Fight Night 117. Originally, the card was expected to be headlined by a light heavyweight scrap between PRIDE legend Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, and his former foil Ovince Saint Preux. Unfortunately, the injury bug enjoyed its latest feast at the expense of this main event, and Shogun was forced to bow out with a damaged knee. Shogun’s replacement for this fight was a definite shocker. Rather than sifting through its sizeable light heavyweight roster for a new opponent for Ovince Saint Preux, the UFC opted to call on former UFC middleweight title challenger and recent World Series of Fighting welterweight Yushin Okami.

Justin Golightly - September 20, 2017

Rising up slowly on the horizon is UFC’s biggest card of the year. UFC 217 will feature three title shots, headlined by Michael Bisping and the welterweight legend Georges St-Pierre, who’ll be making his return to challenge the middleweight throne. Orbiting just outside of all this, is Robert Whittaker. Ol’ Bobby Knuckles is on an eight-fight win streak, and beat both Jacare Souza and Yoel Romero in three months to earn the interim title. Whoever wins between Bisping and St-Pierre allegedly are contractually obligated to fight the heavy-handed Aussie. Confident and laid back, Robert Whittaker says he doesn’t care who ends up with the title. He’ll crush either one. “Before I got the interim belt, I always had my eyes set on the prize, which is that UFC gold. How I get there doesn’t bother me. I’m either going to to plow a path through the division to get there. I’ve always been open to fight anyone, still am, but I want that belt and I need to fight [Michael] Bisping. So, whatever happens between Bisping and Georges [St-Pierre], let them play around a little bit, but I’ll be ready for either one of ’em.”

Tom Taylor - September 20, 2017

Sage Northcutt, one of the UFC’s brightest young prospects, is scheduled for a return to the cage. The 21-year-old lightweight will be taking on Michel Quinones at UFC Fight Night 120 in Norfolk, Virginia this November 11. This news was first reported by ESPN.

Tom Taylor - September 20, 2017

Cain Velasquez is one of the greatest heavyweights alive. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been very active over the last few years, as he’s been sidelined by a hellish procession of injuries. Velasquez’s latest injury issue pertained to his back. Though he recently went under the knife to correct this issue, his coach Javier Mendez claims the surgery didn’t go as planned.

Tom Taylor - September 20, 2017

This Saturday, Bellator MMA will return to San Jose, California with Bellator 183. The card is a pretty stacked one. In the main event, we’ll see former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson take on long-time Bellator staple Patricky Freire. In the co-main event, meanwhile, we’ll see a pair of knockout-addicted UFC veterans collide, as England’s Paul Daley takes on recent Bellator title challenger Lorenz Larkin. Elsewhere on the card, we’ll witness the Bellator debut of former UFC heavyweight Roy “Big Country” Nelson, who takes on Javy Ayala.

Tom Taylor - September 20, 2017

Stipe Miocic is starting to look like an unstoppable heavyweight champion. Since winning the belt with a first-round knockout of Fabricio Werdum, he’s now defended it with first-round knockouts of Alistair Overeem and Junior dos Santos.  And given that his latest win – the dos Santos KO – was in May, he’s now starting to get the itch to get back in there. Speaking on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Miocic explained that he’d like to get back in there in December or January.

Justin Golightly - September 19, 2017

The interim UFC lightweight title is up for grabs just a few weekends away at UFC 216, which is why trash talk between Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee has been reaching a boiling point. Profanity has been flying around like the kicks and punches will be on October 7th. Lee is confident he is going to expletive Ferguson’s expletives, but El Cucuy hopes those aren’t just empty promises, but that Lee has actually prepared for the war he expects. “Pressure [is how I beat Kevin Lee]. I make him quit. I test his conditioning. Hit him in the stomach. Make him piss blood. He said,’I’m gonna’ f-ck you up,’ but I didn’t hear not one thing saying he was going to be physical, or he’s training for it, or doing all these different things to prepare for that.”

Justin Golightly - September 19, 2017

Jeremy Stephens is fresh off of beating Gilbert Melendez at UFC 215 thinks to an absolute leg destruction, but he’s not slowing down yet. He almost immediately called out Jose Aldo for a potential scrap at the end of this year or early 2018, unfortunately it turns out that fight isn’t happening for some reason or another. No worries, Stephens jumped to social media and decided to mention the name of another fan favorite: Chan Sung Jung, better known as the Korean Zombie. https://twitter.com/LiLHeathenMMA/status/909906244386791424

Justin Golightly - September 19, 2017

From time to time, the UFC sends out surveys to their athletes to get their opinion on certain things that the organization may have in the pipeline. An interesting question just caught UFC fighter Sean Strickland’s attention. A photo from Strickland’s Twitter account was posted, saying that USADA is considering a new tracking app that would allow them to always know an athlete’s location.

Russell Ess - September 19, 2017

Bellator will be using their 'Flying Cage' for #Bellator183 & Bellator Kickboxing 7 on Saturday. Here's a look at the flying cage in action: pic.twitter.com/6ihLQPNxm2 — Simon Head (@simonhead) September 19, 2017

Justin Golightly - September 19, 2017

There has been an endless stream of trash talk since Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee were booked to fight. Actually, it was even before that when the war of words started. After his quick win over Michael Chiesa, Lee already started digging into Ferguson in their post-fight interview live on the air. As wild as the verbal battle has been, the physical fight between the two is sure to be even better… and very violent. “I’mma’ beat the f-ck outta’ Tony [Ferguson]. I’ll beat him. I’mma’ beat the f-ck outta’ Tony . Tony can take a shot, I like to give shots, I’mma’ beat the f-ck outta’ Tony. I’mma’ beat the hell out of him. I’m going to I beat him from pillar to post. Y’all just wait, the folks don’t really know. I’mma’ beat the f-ck outta’ Tony.”

Tom Taylor - September 19, 2017

This weekend, the UFC will return to the MMA mecca of Japan with UFC Fight Night 117. Originally, the card was expected to be headlined by a light heavyweight rematch between PRIDE legend and former UFC light heavyweight king Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, and his former foil Ovince Saint Preux. Unfortunately, the injury bug enjoyed its latest feast at the expense of this main event, and Shogun was forced to bow out with a damaged knee. Shogun’s replacement for this fight was a downright shocker.

Justin Golightly - September 19, 2017

For 11 years, Michael Bisping has Left Hook Larry-ed himself up to the tallest heights of the UFC ladder. He’s earned the UFC middleweight title, avenged two of his worst losses in the process, got a pretty cushy desk job, and even some movie gigs. At the age of 38 and the verge of what could be his biggest fight of his career, Bisping is thinking that it may be time to hang it up while he’s on top. If he can beat the legend Georges St-Pierre at UFC 217, it’d be a helluva way to go out. “It’s Georges St-Pierre. Everybody knows who Georges St-Pierre is. There’s not many people who have crossed over from the MMA fanbase into the mainstream, and Georges, I’d say he’s there. Maybe not as much as, say, a Conor [McGregor] or a Ronda [Rousey], but he’s not far behind, so it’s a big fight. And Georges brings a lot to the table. He’s a tough challenge, and as a said, it’s a big fight. I think this is going to be the biggest MMA fight of the year. […] I think the career I’ve had, the years I’ve been in the UFC, the injuries I’ve had, the ups and downs, getting close to title fights and all of this, there’s a possibility — this might be my last ever fight. I don’t know if I’ll fight again after this. So, what a way to go out if it is.”