MMA News
Georges St-Pierre explains what happens next if he beats Michael Bisping
Tom Taylor - August 14, 2017
The next crack at Michael Bisping’s UFC middleweight title will not go to interim champion Robert Whittaker. It will not go to top contender Yoel Romero, or former champion Luke Rockhold. It will not go to Chris Weidman or Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. Instead, it will go to Georges St-Pierre, a welterweight great who has not fought since 2013 and has never competed at middleweight. Needless to say, news of St-Pierre’s title shot was no exactly well-received. Luckily, St-Pierre revealed on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour that, if he beats Bisping, he is contractually obligated to defend the middleweight title, rather than chase a money fight in another division. This means that order should return to the middleweight division soon after this Bisping vs. St-Pierre fight.
Daniel Cormier talks move to heavyweight, says UFC has already suggested some "options"
Tom Taylor - August 14, 2017
Having relinquished the UFC light heavyweight title to his arch rival Jon Jones, former champion Daniel Cormier now finds himself at a crossroads. Really, if he doesn’t retire, he would seem to have two options. The first is to keep slogging away at light heavyweight in hopes of earning a third fight with Jones. The second would be to return to heavyweight, where his career began, and attempt to compete with apex predators like Stipe Miocic, Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez. Speaking on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Cormier discussed a possible move back to heavyweight. Apparently, the move back up would not be an easy one, but it’s one he’d certainly consider.
Daniel Cormier breaks his silence: 'It might mean too much'
Russell Ess - August 14, 2017
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier has not been heard from much since losing the belt to Jon Jones at UFC 214. Cormier was controversially interviewed in the Octagon by Joe Rogan and released a short statement on social media after the loss. However, on Monday, Cormier joined Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour and gave his first interview since UFC 214 and opened up on how he was feeling.
Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones and I will fight again
Tom Taylor - August 14, 2017
Late last month, in the main event of UFC 214, then UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier attempted to defend his title against his fiercest rival, former champion Jon Jones. Unfortunately for Cormier, Jones won this fight via third-round knockout, moving to 2-0 in their rivalry as he did. Post-fight, Cormier suggested that, having lost twice to Jones, theirs wasn’t actually much of a rivalry. Despite this post-fight claim, however, Cormier announced on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour that he actually believes he and Jones will fight for a third time.
Mark Hunt bashes Fabricio Werdum for turning down fight
Tom Taylor - August 14, 2017
Over the weekend, Lowking.pl reported that the UFC’s November 19 return to Sydney, Australia, would be headlined by a heavyweight showdown between Mark Hunt and Marcin Tybura. This report was later confirmed by MMAJunkie.com, and now, it’s been officially announced by the UFC. #UFCSydney: @markhunt1974 vs @MarcinTybura Sunday, Nov 19 | @qudosbankarena 🎫 👉 https://t.co/T3qpToug8G pic.twitter.com/iaTU5w4x2A
Coach defends Jon Jones' reluctance to fight Stipe Miocic
Tom Taylor - August 14, 2017
Over the last few weeks, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has expressed interest in a big-ticket money fight with former UFC heavyweight champ and WWE megastar Brock Lesnar. At the same time, Jones explained that a fight with Stipe Miocic, the actual heavyweight champ, doesn’t interest him quite as much: “I feel like if I was to take a fight at heavyweight, it would be against a person who I felt, and my coaches felt would be a perfect matchup for me,” Jon Jones said at the UFC 214 post-fight presser. “Right now Stipe (Miocic) is looking extremely impressive and I believe when you get an extremely talented big guy versus and extremely talented little guy, the cards are working in his favor. At the same time, I fear no man. But, I strike for a reason when I strike and I feel like right now Stipe is relatively unknown to the general public. So it wouldn’t be a real super-fight in my opinion. I feel like the MMA fans would be really excited about it. But the general public wouldn’t care about that fight. Most people really don’t know who he (Miocic) is, with all due respect to him. So if I am going to sacrifice being the smaller guy, I think that stylistically Brock Lesnar would be a fight that makes way more sense. And the payday would be tremendous! Plus what it would do for our sport would be tremendous. It would have a much greater effect (than a fight with Miocic). So for those reasons, a Brock Lesnar fight just makes way more sense for me.”
Coach Javier Mendez: Daniel Cormier is "at a crossroads" in his fighting career
Tom Taylor - August 14, 2017
On July 29, in the main event of the stacked UFC 214, then UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier attempted to defend his title against his fiercest rival in former champion Jon Jones. Though Cormier put forth a valiant effort, he was ultimately flattened by a Jones head-kick in the third, and polished off by a hellacious strafing of ground strikes in the subsequent moments. Given the stakes of this fight, it came as no surprise when Cormier broke down in tears post-fight. And though he gave a positive update on Instagram the following evening, it was clear that his road to recovery would probably be a long one. There was even some doubt as to whether he’d fight again.
Cody Garbrandt and Aljamain Sterling get heated on Twitter, racism accusations surface
Tom Taylor - August 14, 2017
On Sunday, reigning UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt and rising bantamweight contender Aljamain Sterling got into it on Twitter. While this back-and-forth began as fairly innocent Twitter beef, it unfortunately wasn’t long before accusations of racism began to fly. See the pair’s fiery exchange below:
Photo | Friend posts photo with Matt Hughes says his progress is "a miracle"
Chris Taylor - August 13, 2017
UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes was involved in a horrific accident on June 16 when his pickup truck was struck by an oncoming train in Raymond, Illinois. Hughes was airlifted to a nearby hospital immediately following the accident and it was later revealed that the former UFC welterweight champion of the world was in a coma.
UFC Fighters weigh in on the tragic events in Charlottesville
Chris Taylor - August 13, 2017
One person was killed and nineteen were injured when James Alex Fields Jr. slammed his vehicle into a group of counter-protestors in Charlottesville, Virginia. Fields Jr. was arrested shortly after the incident and on Saturday he was charged with second-degree murder.
The UFC announces their Half-Year Awards - Top Five Knockouts
Chris Taylor - August 13, 2017
The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced their Half-Year awards over the weekend. The most hotly debated category is always “The Best Knockouts”, so let’s jump right in to those selections.
Report | Wrestling Legend Ric Flair Hospitalized Over The Weekend
Chris Taylor - August 13, 2017
Unfortunate news surfaced from the world of pro wrestling this weekend. Wrestling legend Ric Flair was forced to be hospitalized for apparent heart trouble.
Rafael Dos Anjos disses Tyron Woodley, explains how he'd beat the champ
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2017
UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is looking like a bigger and bigger problem for any welterweight contender hoping to capture the divisional title. Yet former UFC lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos, who now competes at welterweight, believes he could be the man to dethrone Woodley – and he expects to have the opportunity to try pretty soon. “As an ex-champ, I think the path [to the welterweight title] is shorter,” dos Anjos recently told MMAjunkie. “Demian (Maia) just had his shot at the belt and couldn’t get it. Tyron Woodley defended it. (Donald) Cerrone’s fight with (ex-champ) Robbie Lawler – I thought Cerrone won, but it was tough. In my opinion, Lawler wasn’t convincing, so I think that fight removed him from a possible title rematch. (Jorge) Masvidal lost to Demian.”
Paul Malignaggi challenges Conor McGregor to a winner takes all fight
Chris Taylor - August 13, 2017
While Conor McGregor is busy making final preparations for his August 26 super-fight with undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, his feud with former two-weight boxing champion Paul Malignaggi continues to steal the show. Malignaggi was brought in by Team McGregor as a sparring partner to help “Mystic Mac” prepare for Floyd Mayweather.
With surgery complete, recently retired Tito Ortiz drops big hint about comeback fight
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2017
Earlier this year, former UFC light heavyweight champion, UFC Hall of Famer, Bellator contender, and all-around MMA legend Tito Ortiz announced that he’d be retiring from the sport after his Bellator 170 main event battle with rival Chael Sonnen. When Ortiz won this bout by tapping Sonnen in the first-round, he appeared to be ready to ride off into the sunset. Apparently, however, the 42 year old legend is already gearing up for a comeback. On Saturday, he posted to Instagram, announcing that he had undergone a successful neck surgery, and that once his recovery was complete, it would be time to kick Chael Sonnen’s ass.
VIDEO | legendary cutman 'Stitch' Duran sides with "very honest" Paulie Malignaggi
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2017
In an effort to better prepare for his August 26 boxing match with undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr., UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor enlisted the help of recently retired former two-division champ Paulie Malignaggi. Regrettably, the pair’s working relationship crumbled as quickly as it began, as Malignaggi left the camp after feeling disrespected by McGregor. Since Malignaggi’s departure, UFC President Dana White has released footage of McGregor dropping the boxer in a sparring session. While this footage would seem to confirm much of what McGregor suggested, Malignaggi remained on the defensive, alienating much of the combat sports world as he did.
Artem Lobov explains why Conor McGregor's confidence is at an all-time high
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2017
Though Conor McGregor is being widely discredited in the buildup to his blockbuster August 26 boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr, he and his team are brimming with confidence. UFC featherweight Artem Lobov, who serves as one of McGregor’s main training partners, explained the surplus of confidence inside the camp in a recent interview with MMAJunkie.com. Apparently, much of it comes down to McGregor’s recent lightweight title win over Eddie Alvarez, which made him the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes concurrently.
Coach assures Conor McGregor beats any version of Floyd Mayweather
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2017
On August 26, UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor will take his first steps into the boxing ring opposite undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. While McGregor’s skeptics are numerous, his coaches are more than confident in his chances. Speaking to MMAJunkie.com, one of McGregor’s coaches, Owen Roddy, assured that Conor McGregor beats any version of Floyd Mayweather – past or present.