MMA News

Justin Golightly - September 1, 2017

Aside from his first round knockout of Dustin Poirier, Michael Johnson hasn’t had a good track record as of late. Despite only having one win in his last five fights, it’s not like Johnson is a slouch. In his 17 UFC fights at lightweight, he’s beaten the likes of Tony Ferguson, Edson Barboza and Joe Lauzon. However, he thinks this recent run may be corrected with an adjustment, something he just dropped out of left field at a public Q & A. Michael Johnson wants to cut down to featherweight and he isn’t even thinking about a warm-up fight. He challenged none other than Jose Aldo for his 145-pound debut. https://twitter.com/MMA_Jim/status/903647322223112193

Justin Golightly - September 1, 2017

While some fans cheered Floyd Mayweather’s technical knockout victory over Conor McGregor, some people thought it was finished a little too soon. McGregor himself took the mic after the loss, telling everyone he was just tired from the long fight and wished that the referee let him get laid out. One person in particular, praised ref Robert Byrd’s actions. Darragh O’Carroll, former ringside physician, thinks Byrd made a great call because he thinks Conor McGregor was at risk of brain trauma. Hats off to @TheNotoriousMMA. #MayweatherMcGregor pic.twitter.com/ih2wGFbjMH

Justin Golightly - September 1, 2017

Justin Gaethje is one of the most exciting fighters on this planet, or probably any other. If you weren’t accustomed to his entertaining violence before in World Series of Fighting, you were introduced to him in his ‘Fight of the Year’ contender with Michael Johnson at UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter 25 season finale. Unfortunately, the Nevada State Athletic Commission thinks Gaethje is a little too exciting. His trademark backflip off the cage celebration has been banned. So, you won’t see him doing any acrobatic stunts if he gets a win over Eddie Alvarez. “As a kid, I used to flip off anything. Anything and everything. My mom hated it. One time at the church, I tried to flip off a counter, and it broke and I busted my head open on the floor. I’ve been doing it off everything. I only do it when I get a sweet knockout or a sweet finish. So, I’ve done it a few times after probably eight fights. But, no more in Vegas.”

Justin Golightly - September 1, 2017

They don’t call him “Money” Mayweather for nothing. Floyd Mayweather came out of retirement to fight Conor McGregor in what turned out to be a very smart business move. Just showing up in the arena on fight night earned Mayweather $100 million. With the endorsements, pay-per-view cut and other unspoken bonuses, Mayweather probably doubled or even tripled his winnings. Oh yeah, not to mention he won a solid gold belt that is packed with 4,260 precious stones. All of this led to Floyd Mayweather comparing the boxing match to a bank robbery. A robbery he thinks should land him in the Guinness Book of World Records. I'm going in the Guinness Book of World Records for that heist. @PhilippPlein78 #TMT #TBE pic.twitter.com/2d5AdmA9lg

Justin Golightly - August 31, 2017

The Jon Jones news exploded right in the middle of Conor McGregor fighting Floyd Mayweather and still hasn’t slowed down. The UFC light heavyweight champion allegedly tested positive for the steroid Turinabol. While he waits for the results of his B sample, everyone you can think of has weighed in on the controversy. Dana White went on record saying Jon Jones was too talented to use performance enhancing drugs. His manager also continues to stand by his side.  A new voice added to the fray today is Andy Foster. He’s the California State Athletic Commission Executive Director and he spoke to MMA Junkie about why he’s confused about the Jones situation. “This entire situation doesn’t make any sense to me. It just doesn’t. If you’re doing a steroid panel, then [Turbinol] is going to show up every time. The fact that it didn’t show up on [July 6 and 7] when he was tested before, that’s an indication that he was not on that drug at that time.”

Justin Golightly - August 31, 2017

When Rory MacDonald walked down the Bellator ramp like Scott Hall showing up at a WCW Nitro broadcast, it sent some pretty big shockwaves through the internet. His debut for the organization wasn’t any less exciting, he submitted Paul Daley in less than two minutes. MacDonald is confident his performance is going to result in a welterweight title shot against champion Douglas Lima, but he has his eyes set on an even bigger goal: Two-weight division Bellator champion. A path that he hopes leads to a fight with another UFC transplant, Gegard Mousasi. .@rory_macdonald will be doing an AMA this Thursday at 3pm EST on @rMMAmod for his first-ever @Reddit_AMA. #RedKingAMA #BellatorNation pic.twitter.com/OB5QxLz9PL

Justin Golightly - August 31, 2017

Don’t tell Khabib Nurmagomedov that it’s looking like Nate Diaz will get the next shot at Conor McGregor. After once again missing out on a fight with Tony Ferguson for the interim UFC lightweight title, he’s decided to skip that match-up altogether. After all, why fight for an interim belt if you can fight for the real thing? McGregor said a fight with Khabib in Russia was on his radar and Dana White has mentioned it too, now Nurmagomedov is ready to cash in on the talk. https://twitter.com/SecretMovesMMA/status/901698604414459905

Russell Ess - August 31, 2017

The richest fight in combat sports history ended with a 10th round TKO as Floyd Mayweather landed some clean punches that had Conor McGregor wobbling in the ring. Many thought the stoppage was the right call while others claimed it could have gone longer to give McGregor a chance at recovering. Darragh O’Carrol, a former ringside doctor and emergency physician wrote an article for Tonic and gave his professional opinion on the stoppage. With McGregor claiming after the fight that he was more fatigued than hurt, O’Carrol agreed with referee Robert Byrd’s decision to call an end to the fight at the moment he did. O’Carrol explained that Byrd likely didn’t call off the fight due to signs of McGregor just being tired.

Russell Ess - August 31, 2017

Conor McGregor and a couple of his sparring partners from the boxing community have had a bit of a rocky relationship. Prior to the big buzz between McGregor and former two-weight boxing world champion Paulie Malignaggi, “The Notorious” had a bit of a rift with Chris van Heerden, a former IBO champion. McGregor and van Heerden sparred leading up to Conor’s rematch with Nate Diaz at UFC 202. Initially, they had great things to say about each other but things turned south when an edited clip of them sparring showed McGregor getting the better of van Heerden. The former IBO champ then released an unedited clip of their sparring session that showed things much more competitive between the two.

Russell Ess - August 31, 2017

Now that the fight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather is all over, it seems referee Joe Cortez can speak about some of the things that happened during McGregor’s training camp. The Hall of Fame referee was brought in McGregor’s camp to ref sparring sessions and give the current UFC lightweight champion a better understanding of what would and wouldn’t be allowed in the ring on fight night. Perhaps the biggest hype leading up to the fight was from within McGregor’s training camp as he and former two-division boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi had a falling out after Malignaggi felt “exploited” with some photos released from their sparring. One photo, in particular, was of Malignaggi getting up off his back from the canvas where it appeared McGregor knocked the retired pro boxer down. Malignaggi claimed it was a pushdown and a video clip released had people debating on whether it was a knockdown or a pushdown.

Justin Golightly - August 31, 2017

Ronda Rousey can do anything. Despite her two-fight losing streak in the UFC, Rousey has the star power to jump into any other sport, or come back to the Octagon anytime she wants. With movies and television also an open door for Rousey, it’s the wrestling ring that seems to lure her the most. Her entire namesake is based on  the late “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and she’s recently been seen on WWE TV, cheering on her friend Shayna Baszler in the promotion’s all-female Mae Young Classic tournament. Rumors buzzed about Rousey and the WWE, but nothing concrete was ever released. Now, Triple H just gave us a hint that it may be close. “First of all, [Ronda Rousey]’s got to stop throwing me around the ring. The last time I was in the ring with her, Ronda threw threw me from one side to the other. I didn’t like that very much. Ronda is a huge fan. That’s not been a secret, that’s where the ‘Rowdy’ Ronda comes from. She’s definitely interested and we’re having conversations. I’ll say it right here on ESPN, if she wants the opportunity [to wrestle for the WWE] I’d be willing to give it to her.”

Justin Golightly - August 31, 2017

A lot of people thought that Conor McGregor exceeded expectations in his fight with Floyd Mayweather, Kevin Lee thought the opposite according to his latest Submission Radio appearance. He’s about to fight Tony Ferguson in October at UFC 216, but he’s keeping McGregor on the backburner. He plans to go all “Rampage” on Ferguson and then fight Khabib Nurmagomedov, essentially trapping the UFC into only having him as an option for McGregor. After seeing the UFC lightweight champion lose to “little brother-sized” Mayweather, Kevin Lee thinks if he ever gets his red panty night, then it will be a cakewalk. “I mean, let’s be honest, the man got walked down by a 40-year-old dude that weighs 150 pounds. I’ve stood next to Floyd Mayweather, he’s my little brother’s size and he’s a 125-pounder. I mean, he got backed up. I thought before the fight that it was going to be McGregor that was doing the stance switches and being able to fight out of both stances, and it turns out, like, the man can’t fight as well from orthodox as he says he can because it was Mayweather who was the one switching stances on him and hitting him with the southpaw jabs and straight lefts, you know, it was Mayweather that mixed it up a little bit more.”

Tom Taylor - August 31, 2017

On the latest edition of his podcast, You’re Welcome, three-time UFC title challenger and current Bellator MMA star Chael Sonnen shared a pretty intense story about UFC lightweight champ and combat sports superstar Conor McGregor. Apparently, he and the Irish champ nearly came to blows a few years back. According to Sonnen, the trouble began when he asked McGregor the name of his fiancee, Dee Devlin, and McGregor misheard what he said. See a transcription of Sonnen’s account below:

Justin Golightly - August 31, 2017

Things have changed. It’s the era of the superfight and Tyron Woodley is looking for a greater challenge that will earn him larger profits. Last week, he talked about there is a shortage of contenders and he’s ready to jump up to middleweight to earn a second belt. This isn’t the first time, he wanted to arrange a fight with Michael Bisping at the very beginning of this year. Since then, he’s beat Stephen Thompson again and took out the most dangerous grappler in the division, Demian Maia. At this point, Tyron Woodley feels like the only thing separating him from being the best welterweight of all time, is beating Georges St-Pierre. In a comprehensive and in-depth interview by Mike Dyce from Sports Illustrated, Woodley made sure people knew he’s serious about this. “I wanted to go out here and beat [Demian Maia] and I wanted to fight Georges-St Pierre in November in New York City. This would’ve been the greatest year competitively and after I beat Georges, there is no question that I’ll be Fighter of the Year. I fight five title fights in 18 months and beat the greatest welterweight of all time, nobody has done anything like that in our sport. God does things on his time. He wanted me to sit down and wanted me to get some other aspects of my life back in order.”

Tom Taylor - August 31, 2017

This Saturday (September 2), the UFC will return to our screens for the first time in several weeks with UFC Fight Night 115: Struve vs. Volkov. Though UFC fight cards typically occur on Saturday evenings, this one will go down in the morning, as it broadcasts live from beautiful Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Start time is 11:30 AM ET / 8:30 AM PT for the undercard, and 3:00 PM ET /12:00 PM PT for the main card. The entire card airs on UFC Fight Pass.

Justin Golightly - August 31, 2017

Kevin Lee has quietly stacked up five straight wins, finishing four of those opponents. Fingers crossed that the card stays together, UFC 216 will push Lee into his highest profile bout yet. He’s going to headline the card against Tony Fergusonin a fight for the interim UFC lightweight title. Ferguson has already been vocal about what he’s going to do to Kevin Lee, mainly choke him until he slowly fades away into darkness. No kidding, he really said that. Of course, Lee disagreed and doubled down with the guys over at Submission Radio that he’s going to destroy Ferguson like a former Pride and UFC veteran, Quinton Jackson. “I mean, [Tony Ferguson] tries to finish everybody with that weak-ass D’arce choke. I mean, apparently the man believes in it, but he ain’t never faced nobody like me. He’s never faced a wrestler like me. He’s never faced somebody with the movement that I’ve had, especially a weak-ass D’arce choke. And look, if he gonna go for that D’arce, I’m gonna pick him up over my head and I’m gonna Rampage his ass.”

Tom Taylor - August 31, 2017

For a long time, UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson was the king of the pound-for-pound list. Then Jon Jones, the former pound-for-pound king, returned to action, knocked out Daniel Cormier to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight title, and stole the top spot back. Unfortunately, Jones once again found himself in boiling hot water when news broke that he’d failed a drug test on the eve of his UFC 214 battle with Cormier. In the wake of this news, his status as pound-for-pound king was once again called into question.

Tom Taylor - August 31, 2017

Attempting an armed robbery is always a bad idea. Attempting an armed robbery on an MMA gym with the words “Fighters Made Here” emblazoned on the door ranks among the dumbest decisions a person can make. Yet that’s just what somebody did on Tuesday night, in Burbank, California. The would-be robber’s target was Defiant MMA and Fitness. He entered the gym with a handgun, which he pointed at instructors and students. Unfortunately, he then encountered Jacobe Powell, an instructor and pro fighter. Powell is reported to have knocked the gun out of the robber’s hand  – though the blood visible on said Robber’s face in the video above suggests that’s not where Powell’s work ended.