MMA News

Chris Taylor - August 15, 2017

Earlier tonight UFC President Dana White announced that an interim lightweight title fight between surging division contenders Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee will be taking place at UFC 216 on October 7 in Las Vegas. The interim title fight between Lee and Ferguson came as a surprise to many, as the original plan was to have undefeated lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov square off with “El Cucuy”.

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/

Russell Ess - August 15, 2017

Conor McGregor has already gone viral doing his version of Vince McMahon’s power walk. Now, “The Notorious” is well on the way to going viral once again after his open workout for the media, which took place on Friday.

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.”

Russell Ess - August 15, 2017

Another big name from the UFC is apparently heading over to Bellator. Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir has agreed to terms with Bellator MMA, according to an article released on Tuesday from Ariel Helwani for MMA Fighting. Mir’s agreement with Bellator comes shortly after the former UFC heavyweight champion was granted a release last month from his contract with the UFC.

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.

Tom Taylor - August 15, 2017

Back in February, former Strikeforce lightweight champion and current Bellator lightweight contender Josh Thomson was knocked out in a fight with Patricky “Pitbull” Freire. Regrettably, the catalyst for the knockout seemed to be an inadvertent but illegal clash of heads. Given this controversial end, Thomson moved to appeal the loss, hoping the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) would rule the fight a no-contest. Unfortunately, the CSAC opted not to change the official result – despite the fact that Thomson was not even present at the ruling to argue his case.

Tom Taylor - August 15, 2017

During the broadcast of the UFC’s recent trip to Mexico City, former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis called for a fight with fellow lightweight contender Dustin Poirier. Shortly thereafter, Poirier confirmed his interest in this fight on Twitter. Poirier later reaffirmed his interest in this fight in an interview with BJPenn.com’s own Chris Taylor. “You know I was hoping for a top-five opponent,” he told Taylor. “But if I can’t get that, then Anthony Pettis is a former champion in both WEC and UFC. The guy is a big name in the sport, so that would be a good fight as well.”

Justin Golightly - August 15, 2017

Pro wrestlers are trying to fight MMA, fighters are running the ropes in wrestling rings, and everyone seems to want to box. It seems that the new success in combat sports if to be flexible and chase the money wherever you can find it. One of the latest transfers is Heather Hardy, who made her successful Bellator debut against Alice Yauger at Bellator 180. She’s an undefeated boxer who still — and intends to defend — her WBC Female Super Bantamweight and Featherweight titles. So, when she started talking about Conor McGregor boxing Floyd Mayweather on The MMA Hour, it’s a good voice to listen to. That is, in between the chuckles. “If Conor was going to steal Floyd’s wallet, I don’t know if he could get it back on the street.” – Heather Hardy #TheMMAHour

Tom Taylor - August 15, 2017

UFC 217, which goes down on November 4 inside New York City’s hallowed Madison Square Garden, has grown by two big fights. The first of these fights will occur at heavyweight, where top-15 fighters Curtis Blaydes and Alexey Oleynik will collide. The second will go down at light heavyweight, where top-15 contenders Patrick Cummins and Corey Anderson will do battle. This Blaydes-Oleynik fight was first reported by Shawn Bitter on Twitter, though it has not yet been made official by the UFC. UFC 217’s Cummins-Anderson fight was first reported by Farah Hannoun. It has also not been confirmed.

Tom Taylor - August 15, 2017

Originally, TJ Dillashaw was expected to battled Cody Garbrandt for the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 213. Unfortunately, Garbrandt was forced out of this anticipated grudge match with a back injury, which left Dillashaw without an opponent. Having been deprived of this title fight with Garbrandt, Dillashaw then set his sights on a drop to flyweight, where he hoped to challenge dominant champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Unfortunately, Johnson wasn’t on board with this plan, and Dillashaw had to shift his focus back to a fight with Garbrandt.

Tom Taylor - August 15, 2017

Back in 2010, former two-division UFC champion Randy Couture was charged with welcoming boxing star James Toney to mixed martial arts. As many expected, the 47-year-old Couture made quick work of his foe, dragging him into unfamiliar territory on the mat, where he locked up an arm-triangle choke for the win. On August 26, we’ll witness a similar spectacle, as UFC megastar Conor McGregor steps into the boxing ring to battle Floyd Mayweather Jr. Speaking on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Couture weighed in on this style-clash. Though he once successfully represented MMA against boxing in the Octagon, he gives McGregor very little chance of doing the same in the boxing ring.

Chris Taylor - August 14, 2017

Jon Jones picked up arguably the greatest win of his professional mixed martial arts career last month in Anaheim when he scored a third-round TKO victory over Daniel Cormier in the main event of UFC 214. Immediately following his victory over “DC”, which earned Jones the UFC’s coveted light heavyweight championship, “Bones” decided to issue a challenge to former UFC heavyweight kingpin Brock Lesnar.