MMA News

Justin Golightly - August 24, 2017

It was Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff’s first big day on the job. He was representing William Hill Betting on their podcast and the interview he had booked for the day was too good to be true. Actually, it really was too good to be true, because his guest never showed up. Instead of interviewing the notorious Conor McGregor, host Robbie Savage set Flintoff up with Al Foran. If you haven’t seen his videos, he’s a talented impersonator who voices just about anyone you could think of, but he blew up as soon as he started emulating the UFC champ champ. The former England cricketer had no idea what to expect when the interview starting going south really quick. “Hook, line and sinker.” https://t.co/Y4v85q1H5p

Justin Golightly - August 24, 2017

It happens every fight. We all have done it. He’s too fast, we say. The ground game will be his downfall. This guy will finally be the guy who beats Conor McGregor, the media writes. It’s happened through Dustin Poirier, Chad Mendes, Jose Aldo, Eddie Alvarez, and now Floyd Mayweather. This is different though, this isn’t MMA. It’s a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather. While McGregor has enjoyed being a giant fish in a very small pond, he’s been released into the Atlantic Ocean now. It’s very hard to see how McGregor can pull this one off, but nothing has dented his confidence. That’s why we’ve compiled some brief footage (against better judgment) to show three methods where this cocky Irishman can prove us wrong one more time. The Straight Left

Russell Ess - August 24, 2017

The MMA community is still buzzing over the fact that Jon Jones was flagged for the second time in his career for a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation. What makes the news even more shocking is how Jones just recently came off a one-year suspension for testing positive for banned substances last year in July. To add to the drama, Jones just won the UFC light heavyweight title back in a devastating fashion by being the first competitor to knock out and finish Daniel Cormier.

Russell Ess - August 24, 2017

Nate Diaz thinks it’s best for every fighter to not make any hard claims of who will win the mega-million dollar money boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor. Having fought the Irish MMA superstar twice and having one win and one loss on record with “The Notorious,” Diaz knows he is a game opponent. Although Mayweather’s team has hinted at trying to get Nate to walk out with Floyd for the fight on Saturday night, Nate’s roots are in mixed martial arts. However, in speaking on the “Against All Odds with Cousin Sal” podcast, Diaz says he isn’t picking any sides, but there is one player involved that he is not happy with.

Justin Golightly - August 24, 2017

Old wounds can become new again when something catastrophic happens. UFC 214 came and went and we all moved on from Daniel Cormier’s defeat and his emotional interview that Joe Rogan later regretted. It might be hard to tell Cormier, but it isn’t bad being the second best light heavyweight in the world and top 10 pound-for-pound. We lifted Jon Jones back up as the UFC champ and the GOAT candidate. However, now that Jones allegedly popped for steroids, all those feelings come rushing back. Big John McCarthy recently revealed that Daniel Cormier didn’t realize he even fought Jones in a recent comprehensive interview for RT Sport. “He looked at me and he never even realized the fight started. He is sitting on the stool, he’s been knocked out and he is saying, ‘John what are they doing with my belt, we haven’t even fought yet. Why are they giving it to him?’ This is what occurs, this is the reality of fighting. And in the situation with Daniel Cormier, Dan doesn’t remember any of that. His brain doesn’t observe that information and put it in the memory because he got concussed. And this is part of our sport, and people need to understand what’s going on with it.”

Russell Ess - August 24, 2017

If you heard that Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor were fighting for the WBC “Money Belt” a month ago, you probably would have thought it was a joke. However, on Tuesday during the last press conference held for the mega-million dollar boxing match, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman showcased the diamond and jewel encrusted belt to be given to the winner on Saturday night. “The perfect title for this is a ‘money belt,’” Sulaiman told MMA Fighting. “We’re just proud to have a little bit of history for this event.”

Justin Golightly - August 24, 2017

Between the controversial sparring bouts, the photos, the video leaked by Dana White, and their altercation at media day, it’s looks like Conor McGregor is fighting Paul Malignaggi on Saturday instead of Floyd Mayweather. Of course, if Malignaggi gets his way, they could fight next year on St. Patrick’s day. Although, McGregor’s right hand (or is it left hand?) man, Artem Lobov, isn’t convinced that fight will happen. He recently spoke to Submission Radio to put this Malignaggi situation to rest. “Everybody always talks about Conor, says this and the other, but he truly is a man that likes a challenge. I mean, he is doing this fight [with Floyd Mayweather], why? Because no one before him was able to beat Floyd Mayweather. That’s why Conor is here to prove, that yes, it can be done. But Malignaggi doesn’t present any kind of a challenge. Conor doesn’t fight just for the money. You know, the money is the last thing on his mind – well, maybe not the last thing on his mind. Of course, you know, it plays a big part, but he needs a challenge. It needs to be someone that will truly push him to the next level. Malignaggi is not one of those guys, so I really doubt it’s gonna be him.”

Tom Taylor - August 24, 2017

Pretty much everyone has an opinion on this Saturday’s blockbuster boxing match between the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. and UFC lightweight champ Conor McGregor – that includes actor Sylvester Stallone, who is the man behind the iconic boxing film series Rocky. Stallone has given his take on this fight several times in the past. During a mid-August chat with TMZ, the actor called McGregor the “real-life Rocky,” and explained that he’s “always got the underdog.”

Tom Taylor - August 24, 2017

This Saturday, UFC lightweight champ Conor McGregor will step into the boxing ring to tangle with Floyd Mayweather Jr., an undefeated defensive mastermind and one of the best-ever in the long and bloody history of pugilism. For all of McGregor’s talent as a martial artist, he’s being given little chance against Mayweather under the boxing ruleset. There are however, some members of the combat sports community that believe the Irishman can pull it off. His fiercest rival, Nate Diaz, is a part of that group. Diaz shared his surprising believe in McGregor during an appearance on Against All Odds Podcast with Cousin Sal (via MMAUno.com).

Tom Taylor - August 24, 2017

UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt is arguably the most outspoken opposer of steroid-use in MMA today. The hard-hitting “Super Samoan” is notoriously heavy-handed when asked for his opinions on fighters who have been busted for steroids. For evidence of this, see his reactions to the failed drug tests of Brock Lesnar and Jon Jones: “Look at these f-kers,” Hunt said Mike Swick’s podcast in early August. “You’ve got Jon Jones, for instance. That guy is the best. One of the best fighters in the world, but he’s a cheater. Just like Brock Lesnar, you’re all a pack of frickin’ dog cheats, that’s all you are. Nothing else. So, now the two f-king biggest cheaters in the world are going to fight? Oh, f-k. I’m not going to waste my money watching these two cheaters fight. Why would I? They’re cheaters, in the end. That’s basically all they are. They should get nothing! I used to respect Jon Jones before this but I don’t respect him after this. When you get caught for doping —and he got caught for the same dope that Lesnar did — he’s not a martial artist, none of them are. They get no respect from me. None. I wouldn’t want to waste my f-king time watching that s-t!”

Justin Golightly - August 24, 2017

Bas Rutten is like that really cool uncle of MMA. He’s been everywhere, he’s done everything, and when you catch up with them, rest assured it’s going to be a blast and he’s going to have an awesome story to tell you. With Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather fighting in mere days, the guys over at Submission Radio got Bas Rutten on to talk about the historic event. El Guapo himself is rooting for McGregor all the way, and he thinks he can get the job done. Of course, we get treated to a tale from his past that relates to the situation. “Conor’s gonna knock him out within four rounds. That’s what I’m gonna say. I’m gonna stick with it. I want my corner with with Conor. And I know skills-wise [Mayweather is better], I know all that. Trust me, I’ve been fighting for a long time. You can call me an idiot, whatever they want. I’m just talking about all the mental aspects and everything there is. And if me committing to Conor is gonna give him a little bit of extra power mentally, so be it. I hope a lot of people are gonna do it because boy do I want to see Mayweather lose.”

Tom Taylor - August 24, 2017

It’s going to be hard for Conor McGregor to top his next fight, which will see him step into the boxing ring to battle Floyd Mayweather this Saturday. That said, the Irish MMA star is already looking to the future, where he’s certain other big opportunities await. “I’ve got another game that I must occupy also,” McGregor told the media on Wednesday of his fighting future. “The options are there. Multiple belts, multiple organizations, multiple styles… We’ll see what happens.”

Russell Ess - August 24, 2017

Many were dumbfounded when news broke on Tuesday that Jon Jones was flagged by USADA for the second time in his career for a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation. Back in July of last year, Jones was flagged for a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation days before he was supposed to fight Daniel Cormier at UFC 200, which resulted in the cancellation of that scheduled fight and Jones was ultimately suspended for one year. Jones blamed a tainted sexual enhancement pill for his positive tests of the banned substances clomiphene and letrozole.

Chris Taylor - August 23, 2017

Fight fans around the world let out a collective “Noooooooo!” yesterday evening when news broke that current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones had been flagged by USADA for a potential anti-doping violation. Most people were left in shock and disbelief by the unfortunate news, while others were quick to point out “Bones” troubled past as a means of reasoning.

Chris Taylor - August 23, 2017

Yesterday evening it was announced that current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones had been flagged by USADA for a potential anti-doping violation stemming from his UFC 214 fight with Daniel Cormier on July 29. That news sent shockwaves throughout the mixed martial arts community which resulted in many of Jones’ peers taking to social media with their respective reactions.

Justin Golightly - August 23, 2017

One of the reasons that no one ever thought Conor McGregor would actually fight Floyd Maweather, is because of the gaping chasm of skill level between the two. Mayweather has been nearly untouchable for his entire boxing career. in 49 fights, the best boxers around weren’t able to put him away, so how could McGregor? For his entire career, people have said that same thing for McGregor. Long-time striking coach Owen Roddy shrugs it off and says things would be different if you could see him in the gym. “People were on the fence about this, even in the MMA community, but when you see what he’s doing, the work rate and the effort that he puts in – it’s hard not to believe that he can do this. Even just speaking to him you can tell that this isn’t a payday. This about proving people wrong and proving that he can do what many people feel is impossible. The thing is, with Conor, he proves people wrong all the time. He always sets himself these targets of doing the impossible. Nobody gives him a chance and then they hear him speak and they see what he’s doing, then they become believers. It happens every camp.”

Russell Ess - August 23, 2017

Just when you thought there could not be a bigger story in combat sports during the fight week of Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor, Jon Jones was flagged by USADA. The news broke on Tuesday as Jones was flagged for a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation after beating Daniel Cormier to win the UFC light heavyweight championship title at UFC 214. Jones’ potential violation is stemmed from an in-competition sample collected following his weigh-in on July 28. USADA has also been testing Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor for their multi-million dollar boxing match and have been testing them both extensively to try and catch any fighter trying to take an illegal advantage.

Justin Golightly - August 23, 2017

The biggest fight of entire existence needs a belt equal in mangnitde. Any other green-strapped belt won’t do, not even a big, gold UFC belt (or two) simply doesn’t do it justice. What about the rare diamond belt? No. The WBC has just revealed the most ridiculous and lavish belt any combat sport has ever seen. Just look at this insane treasure trove someone will get put around their waist on Saturday. “The WBC has created ‘The Money Belt’. This belt has 3360 diamonds, 600 saphires, 300 emeralds, 1.5kg of solid 24k gold and alligator leather that comes from Italy. It is my pleasure to present, to the winner of this fight, ‘The Money Belt.’ It’s one full crocodile”