MMA News

Tom Taylor - August 16, 2017

The reason Dana White gave for Ferguson vs. Lee was that Nurmagomedov wasn’t ready. This was him yesterday. #UFC216 https://t.co/lQQbSVoNyJ pic.twitter.com/j5u3ODg5r6 — Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) August 16, 2017

Tom Taylor - August 16, 2017

The contracted weight for Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor‘s August 26 boxing match is 154 pounds. That said, neither man is likely to weigh exactly that much on fight night. Instead, McGregor is sure to be a little over, while Mayweather should tip the scales slightly below the fight’s 154-pound cap. The expected fight weights of both athletes were revealed by their representatives during Wednesday afternoon’s NAC meeting, during which the fight’s referee and judges were announced, and the long-awaited decision on glove size was also made.

Justin Golightly - August 16, 2017

Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor is a circus show with many rides and many moving pieces. The latest merry-go-round is the contested glove size. Originally, the glove size was set at 10oz because all boxing bouts contested at 154lbs wear that size. Floyd Mayweather, whose last six fights were fought wearing the smaller gloves, brought up the exception to box McGregor with 8 gloves on social media. There was a long debate on every aspect of the glove change. However, in the end the rules or previous boxing history didn’t matter. The commissioner of the NAC, even though he was pissed off about feeling this was the center of a ploy to garner sales, finally decided he would allow a one-time use of 8oz gloves. Marnell: I do not like the NSAC being used as a pawn in a social media battle. It pisses me off.

Tom Taylor - August 16, 2017

The Nevada State Athletic Commission is currently in session, as it irons out a few of the most important details for Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s blockbuster August 26 boxing match. Just minutes ago, the commission announced both the referee and judges for this massive boxing match.

Tom Taylor - August 16, 2017

The trend of mixed martial artists chasing fights with boxers – and vice versa – doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. In a recent interview with SkySports, former WBC cruiserweight titleholder Tony Bellew was asked which, if any, MMA stars he’d be willing to fight. While he quickly shut down the idea of a fight with light heavyweight powerhouse Jon Jones, he did express some interest in a fight with middleweight champ Michael Bisping. “I can wrestle, I can grapple, I punch hard, I can kick and I’ve got some kickboxing experience,” Bellew said. “You can forget about me getting in the cage with Jon Jones – not a chance. But if you’re asking if I would get in the cage with a puncher in the UFC? Mike Bisping is a guy who is predominantly known as a puncher and he’s a very strong wrestler as well. I think I could get down to 185 [lbs]. If the money is right, then Tony Bellew would happily enter a cage or a ring. Maybe let’s do one of them each. I’m a Michael Bisping fan, but if the money was right then the fan stuff goes out the window.”

Tom Taylor - August 16, 2017

Last night, we learned that top lightweight contender Tony Ferguson would be fighting Kevin Lee – not the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov – for the UFC interim lightweight title at UFC 216 this October 7. Unsurprisingly, this news was not particularly well received by Nurmagomedov’s team. Speaking on his Russian social media account, Nurmagomedov’s father and long-time coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov criticized this newly-announced booking.

Tom Taylor - August 16, 2017

Paulie Malignaggi’s time as a part of Conor McGregor‘s training camp for Floyd Mayweather was brief. Just days into his work with McGregor, the former two-division boxing champ began feeling that he was being poorly portrayed by the Irish star and his entourage, and stormed out. At least, that’s the story Malignaggi has given. UFC President Dana White, who released some now infamous footage of McGregor dropping Malignaggi in a sparring session, offers a different telling of things. In his opinion, Malignaggi left team McGregor with his health in mind. In other words, he was being pieced up so badly in sparring that he left to spare himself from further punishment.

Tom Taylor - August 16, 2017

On Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre explained that, if he beats Michael Bisping to capture UFC middleweight gold at UFC 217 this November, he’ll then have to defend the title – probably against interim champion Robert Whittaker. “I have to defend my title. It’s written in my contract that I have to defend my title if I win, and also I think it’s [Robert] Whittaker that’s going to be the other guy that has the fight. When I beat Bisping, he’s going to be the guy that I’m going to fight next.

Chris Taylor - August 15, 2017

UFC President Dana White just broke some huge news! Lightweights Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee will square off for the UFC interim lightweight title at October’s UFC 216 event in Las Vegas.

Justin Golightly - August 15, 2017

The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation wants to push and develop MMA as a sport all across the world. While most of us may still look at cage fighting as some sort of niche and bizarre spectacle, the IMMAF pictures a future where MMA is looked at as a legit sport. The UFC has tried to transition in that realm and make people take them more seriously with their Reebok uniforms, but it’s still not there yet. As far as athletic contests, what’s more legit than the Olympics? This is the next step that IMMAF is aiming for: Get MMA in the Olympics by 2028. IMMAF just sent a press release on getting MMA to the Olympics in 2028. Interesting. pic.twitter.com/gQU7UslMcn

Dr Pete - August 15, 2017

This week Dr. Pete spends some time with 27 time world champ and 10th degree red belt Renato Laranja. Renato demonstrates one of his famous chokes with details that only a grand master can give. Renato is renowned for many accomplishments. He is also a master at full contact capoeira. He famously choked out Eddie Bravo at Bravo’s academy. When asked since Eddie choked out Royler Gracie and Renato choked out Eddie, did this mean that Renato is better than Royler and everyone Royler ever beat, Renato reluctantly answered yes. Renato promotes good health with things like jiu jitsu and fruits and vegetables. Renato Laranja www.stormkimonos.com/32-renatch Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/renato_laranja/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/Renato_Laranja/

Justin Golightly - August 15, 2017

Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather has been the focus of more debate and controversy than perhaps any of the most recent MMA fights from the UFC. It seems like every day, new people come out of the woodwork to put in their two cents. Legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum is here to provide some tough talk. He’s on a mission to set everyone straight on this whole May/Mac situation. He still thinks it’s an absolute ridiculous train wreck and that Paul Malignaggi was not knocked down. https://t.co/gYP7MeQJ0q Arum pulls no punches lol. Fight week should be interesting lol

Russell Ess - August 15, 2017

A first in MMA history was made today after the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) had a hearing with MMA veteran Josh Thomson. Thomson met with the commission on Tuesday regarding his controversial loss, which took place back in February against Patricky “Pitbull” Freire. Freire won by KO in the second round moments after an inadvertent headbutt between the two opponents occurred, which referee Big John McCarthy failed to see during the competition. Prior to Thomson meeting with the commission in person, they had already ruled not to change the outcome of the fight to a no contest. However, Thomson insisted on meeting with them so he could make his case in person to overturn his loss.

Russell Ess - August 15, 2017

It has been just over two months since Jose Aldo last fought in the Octagon and lost for the third time in his 29 professional mixed martial arts fight career. Aldo was in a competitive UFC featherweight unification title fight against Max Holloway at UFC 212 until he was dropped by a combination thrown by “Blessed” in the third round. Holloway capitalized on hurting Aldo and was able to finish the Brazilian star by TKO.

Justin Golightly - August 15, 2017

After the hard reset of the UFC’s women’s featherweight division, things still don’t seem like there will be smooth sailing moving forward. Technically, there is only one fighter even in the division, that women being the champion Cris Cyborg. Germaine de Randamie gave up her title and ran all the way back to bantamweight, and it seems like Holly Holm did the same. That won’t stop Cyborg from going after Holm to pursue a real, 145lb contender to fight her in a title defense. Cyborg makes a point to MMA Fighting that no matter how much Holm runs, she will find her. “She’s never KOed one girl. Her last punch with Bethe Correia. Three rounds, maybe six punches. They had to stop the fight and say, ‘Hey girls, I don’t know what the plan is but let’s start fighting.’ I don’t think she’s very aggressive. I don’t think she’s going to be really dangerous. I think it would be an exciting fight because I like to fight and I’m going to find her. She’s going to run in the ring, but I’ll find her. She’s already run three times. I was supposed to fight her in Curitiba, I agreed to fight her 140 and she did not want to fight. Then, I said fight in Brazil, and she said she’d fight me at 138, not 140. And after this fight, when Megan Anderson pulled out of the fight, I said I’d like to fight Holly, she said no. […] Three time she run from this fight.”

Justin Golightly - August 15, 2017

Don’t worry guys, Conor McGregor will fight Floyd Mayweather in a couple of weeks and we can put this whole thing to rest. Well, until McGregor decides to give Paul Malignaggi and himself a mutual red panty night in the boxing ring. One of the latest things to swirl around in the chaotic either besides those wild knockdown clip takes, is the possibility that there will be a change in glove size for the May/Mac bout. The parties involved are supposed to meet tomorrow to see if the gloves will be 10oz or reduced to 8oz, but the Association of Ringside physicians caution against it. Statement from the Association of Ringside Physicians regarding the upcoming NAC meeting on Wednesday Aug. 16: (Mayweather-McGregor gloves) pic.twitter.com/BbyFq1gNy9

Tom Taylor - August 15, 2017

This September 16, in the main event of the UFC’s return to Pittsburgh, PA, former Strikeforce and UFC middleweight champ Luke Rockhold will return from a long hiatus opposite former two-division World Series of Fighting champion David Branch. Speaking to Duane Finley of FloCombat.com, Rockhold shared his thoughts on this upcoming scrap with Branch. Apparently, he’s not a huge fan of the former WSOF titleholder.

Justin Golightly - August 15, 2017

Despite his on-again-off-again success in the UFC, Eddie Alvarez is an exceptional fighter. That dude is the only guy to be both a Bellator and UFC lightweight champion. If you go further back, he’s beat the who’s who of anyone in his division from the soil of America to the shores of Japan in smaller promotions. Most of which were former champions in their own right. That’s how he became the king of the underground. If there’s one who knows Conor McGregor, it’s Alvarez. After causing Joey Diaz to have an aneurysm after he beat Rafael dos Anjos for the lightweight belt, Alvarez lost it directly to McGregor in a flurry of super Sayain punches. You’d think that would make Eddie salty, but he thinks you’re a fool is you don’t think Conor McGregor can beat Floyd Mayweather.