MMA News

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.”

Justin Golightly - August 24, 2017

Dealing with Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather boxing each other the same week that Jon Jones allegedly popped for steroids (Hey, he still has his day in court), is like trying to juggle water. If it’s hard for normal folks and MMA media, you can imagine how hard it is for Dana White. Sure, he’s not perfect and we all get pissed off at him more than on occasion, but he’s going through a hard time right now. White joined Shannon Sharpe on Undisputed to talk about the Jon Jones situation and actually dish out some praise. “It’s crazy, but the thing that’s sad is when you start saying, ‘should we question everything that Jon [Jones] has ever done?’ He’s the best to ever do it. He didn’t need those drugs. But guess what, guys don’t need cocaine, guys don’t need this, they don’t need that, but they do it anyway. They do it for whatever reasons they do it. Jon Jones is one of the most gifted fighters I’ve ever met, maybe the most gifted fighter that I’ve ever met.”

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!”

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.”

Tom Taylor - August 24, 2017

This Saturday, UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor will take his first steps into the professional boxing arena. His opponent for this boxing debut will be Floyd Mayweather, the greatest boxer of this generation and one of the greatest ever period. Win or lose, McGregor will make more money for this blockbuster battle than he ever has as a mixed martial artist. As such, there’s been widespread doubt that he’ll ever return to the UFC’s Octagon after Saturday night.

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.

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

Tuesday was filled with madness in Las Vegas as Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor were at the T-Mobile Arena to speak with the media ahead of their highly anticipated boxing match scheduled for Saturday.

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”

Justin Golightly - August 23, 2017

One thing has been on Cris Cyborg’s mind since finally winning the UFC women’s featherweight title: Holly Holm. Although, she doesn’t have too much choice. There aren’t any other girls in the division now that Germaine de Randamie has been stripped and left back to bantamweight. She’s done everything short of directly demanding a fight with Holm at the end of this year, even promising she will ‘find her’ no matter what. Finally, Holm has gone on record that she is willing to fight Cyborg. …Sort of. “This is me publicly saying, ‘Yes, I am open to the fight at 145 [pounds],'” Holm said. “[But] I’m not going to take a fight at 135 pounds one month, and then the next month it’s, ‘Oh hey, do you want to fight Cyborg at 145?’ This is me going outside of my weight class and that’s OK. I’m willing to take the fight. I just want to have a full training camp. My contract is at 135 pounds. So, if they came with a fight like that [at 145lbs], I would say, ‘Let’s negotiate.’ I truly feel that is one of, if not the biggest, female fights they can promote. I’m not in it for the priority of money, but I value myself. […] This is a huge fight and I’m sure everybody around it, the promotion, is going to make money. So, I would expect more money.”

Justin Golightly - August 23, 2017

The lights, the money, the celebrities, the fame, cars, and all the clothes. Conor McGregor is scooting around Vegas in a fire-spitting Lambo and a fleet of Rolls-Royces. He’s going to box the undisputed best boxer of our generation in just a couple of days. It’s hard to believe that his first UFC fight was only 4 years ago. Two titles in different weight classes and a fight with “Money” Mayweather later, and it’s even harder to imagine him coming from a modest life working as a plumber. A new commercial from Beats By Dre does a great job at putting things in perspective. Dedicated. @TheNotoriousMMA #AboveTheNoise. pic.twitter.com/8nTDRuyUCS

Tom Taylor - August 23, 2017

Shortly after his UFC 205, lightweight-title-winning knockout of Eddie Alvarez, which sent his stock rocketing to new heights, UFC superstar Conor McGregor made an unprecedented demand: he, a fighter, wanted a piece of the UFC. “Where’s my share? Where’s my equity?” McGregor queried at the UFC 205 post-fight presser. “If I’m the one that’s bringing this, they’ve got to come talk to me now,” McGregor said. “I’ve got both belts, family on the way. If you want me to stick around, if you want me to keep doing (this), let’s talk. But I want the ownership now. I want the equal share. I want what I deserve, what I’ve earned.”

Russell Ess - August 23, 2017

News of Jon Jones being flagged by USADA for a second potential Anti-Doping Policy violation erupted through media outlets on Tuesday. The news broke a little less than one month after Jones finished Cormier in dominant fashion at UFC 214 in July to win the UFC light heavyweight championship title. The MMA community reacted to the news with Daniel Cormier likely having the most mixed emotions on the situation.

Tom Taylor - August 23, 2017

It seems that almost every fighter on the UFC roster has something to say about Jon Jones’ potential USADA violation, which stems from a failed test that occurred on the night of the UFC 214 weigh-ins. Some fighters think it’s time for the UFC and the governing athletic commissions to drop the hammer on the light heavyweight great. Others, meanwhile, are eager to remind fans to not to judge until all the facts have been collected. Alexander Gustafsson, one of Jones’ fiercest rivals, falls into this latter category.

Justin Golightly - August 23, 2017

This Jon Jones news hit like a meteor late last night in the midst of all the build-up for Conor McGregor boxing Floyd Mayweather. Everyone dropped everything to react. Fans logged onto Twitter to shed their tears, kick Jones while he was down, or debate what happens next. Right alongside the fans, were the UFC fighters themselves and their reactions were just as diverse. One guy who has been quiet until now, was recently retired Anthony Johnson. He went from contemplating a return to finally get his shot at Jon Jones, to writing a statement on his official Facebook in support (kind of) of the UFC light heavyweight champion. I've been getting asked left and right about Jon Jones situation. Well I'll say this…I learned from my… https://t.co/ETcOIFx6ln