MMA News

Tom Taylor - August 9, 2017

Last weekend, the UFC returned to Mexico City, Mexico, with an exciting night of fights. In the main event, flyweight star Sergio Pettis derailed with win-streak of surging prospect Brandon Moreno. In the co-main event, meanwhile, rising strawweight Alexa Grasso picked up a close but impressive win over Randa Markos. As expected, these wins sent both young fighters scooting up their respective divisional UFC rankings. Here are the official UFC rankings as they stand in the wake of UFC Mexico:

Tom Taylor - August 9, 2017

Originally, UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt was expected to defend his title against former champion TJ Dillashaw at UFC 213. Unfortunately, Garbrandt was forced out of this anticipated bantamweight title fight with a severe back injury, and the fight was scrapped as a result. Though there was some brief discussion surrounding Dillashaw possibly dropping to flyweight for a fight with divisional champ Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, it is more recently looking like he’ll battle Garbrandt as planned. While it has long been rumored, Garbrandt recently made a clear implication that this fight with Dillashaw will go down at UFC 217 this November 4 in the New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

Dr Pete - August 9, 2017

Nick Osipczak demonstrates this sequence of movements inspired by the Internal Martial Arts. The harmonizing with, and adding to the opponent’s turning will be particularly familiar to those who study Bagua or Aikido. Word of caution: this takedown will be lower percentage when attempted against a topless and sweaty opponent.

Tom Taylor - August 9, 2017

Last month, during Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor‘s international press tour, McGregor made a few questionable remarks, several of which were deemed to be racist. The most controversial of McGregor’s remarks occurred during a backstage interview with Jimmy Kimmel Live, when he was asked about the film Rocky 3 – in which Rocky trains at an all-black gym – and referred to it as the one with all the “dancing monkeys in the gym.” Speaking to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith earlier this week, Mayweather once again addressed these questionable comments from his upcoming opponent.

Tom Taylor - August 9, 2017

Jon Jones is once again the UFC light heavyweight champion. The MMA great and pound-for-pound stalwart reclaimed the throne in late July, when he removed Daniel Cormier’s batteries with a third-round kick to the head. This win marked Jones’ successful return after a long stretch on the shelf. During his hiatus, MMA was finally legalized in his home state of New York, while the UFC made its long-awaited debut in New York City. As a New Yorker, you might expect Jones to be eager to fight in the state, perhaps even as a part of UFC 217, which is scheduled for November 4 inside New York City’s hallowed Madison Square Garden. Apparently, however, this is not the case.

Tom Taylor - August 9, 2017

On August 26, UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor will take his first steps into the professional boxing arena. Yet despite his youth in the sport, he will not be taking on another newbie in some community center basement or banquet hall. He will be taking on undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather Jr., a man widely considered the greatest boxer of this era, in a fight that is being billed as one of the biggest ever. Given that McGregor has never boxed professionally, he is being given little chance against Mayweather, who boasts a sparkling record of 49-0. There are, however, some members of the combat sports world that seem to give the 28-year-old Irishman a chance against his aging opponent, and apparently, Mayweather himself is one of them.

Chris Taylor - August 8, 2017

Cris Cyborg captured the UFC’s vacant women’s featherweight title at last month’s UFC 214 event in Anaheim, defeating a very game Tonya Evinger via third-round TKO. The most feared women’s fighter on the planet now has her eyes set on former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm.

Chris Taylor - August 8, 2017

UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping will defend his title against former welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre at UFC 217 this November at Madison Square Garden. Prior to beginning his training camp, “The Count” decided to take his family on a Hawaiian vacation to the beautiful island of Maui.

Justin Golightly - August 8, 2017

The internet screams constantly that the UFC has become the WWE. The Booking, outlandish trash talk, head-scratching title shots, and fighter antics have convinced some people that MMA on par with professional wrestling. In actuality, wrestling and MMA have been kissing cousins since the beginning. It has drawn pro wrestlers to it, as well ass pushed fighters to pro wrestling. We’re getting to the point where former UFC fighters are actually wrestling against each other. This brings us to Stephan Bonnar and Matt Riddle. 🔥DREAM FIGHT🔥

Russell Ess - August 8, 2017

Competition is what drives sport and sometimes competitors go a little over the top. In this video highlight, we take a look at some of the most insane moments from the sport of boxing where competitors and even those not competing went a little too far. From kissing opponents during staredowns to cheap shots from opposing team members, here are some crazy moments that will surely make some people cringe and say, “What the heck was that person thinking?”

Russell Ess - August 8, 2017

Even though Paulie Malignaggi and Conor McGregor spent 20 rounds punching each other, there still seems to be no respect amongst the former sparring partners. Malignaggi, a former two-division boxing world champion was brought in by McGregor’s team to be a sparring partner in preparation for the big money fight against Floyd Mayweather set to take place on August 26. However, after their sparring session, members from McGregor’s camp released photos that Malignaggi felt were exploiting him and removed himself from the training camp.

Russell Ess - August 8, 2017

Paulie Malignaggi says that he got the best of Conor McGregor during their second sparring session and it would have only gotten worse for the UFC lightweight champion if he was still a part of his fight camp as he got back into his groove. While Malignaggi recently retired from boxing, Floyd Mayweather will be coming out of retirement to take on McGregor in a big money boxing match on August 26.

Justin Golightly - August 8, 2017

Since stepping away from MMA competition, Dan Hardy has slipped into the shoes of an analyst better than nearly anyone who has followed his footsteps. His Inside the Octagon breakdowns, as well as his work at the desk, solidified himself as a wizard behind the curtain who really knows what he’s talking about. The fruits of his labor have really paid off this time, following the latest announcement that he will join the UK and Irish broadcast of Conor McGregor boxing Floyd Mayweather.

Russell Ess - August 8, 2017

Conor McGregor is known for his counter punching ability. Just look at how he beat Jose Aldo in 13 seconds to win the undisputed UFC featherweight title. Although as good of a counter puncher McGregor is, recently retired former two division boxing world champion Paulie Malignaggi says that just after two sparring sessions, his counter punching was sharper than McGregors. Malignaggi was a guest on The MMA Hour on Monday and recalled some details from his controversial time spent in McGregor’s training camp.

Justin Golightly - August 8, 2017

It’s good to be king, it’s even better to leave a kingdom of battles behind you and drive off into the sunset. Max Holloway had to fight through a ridiculous list of fighters as the UFC increased the game difficulty. He never lost a single life in ten fights after falling to Conor McGregor four years ago, then finally climbed all the way to the top to dethrone Jose Aldo. This is when a gamer like Holloway can enjoy the spoils of victory before someone else threatens his featherweight title. What do you think of Max Holloway’s Luigi impression?@BlessedMMA hit the streets of Tokyo for some real life Mario Kart. pic.twitter.com/eHI2NA47CU

Tom Taylor - August 8, 2017

Last weekend, during the UFC Fight Night 114 broadcast, former UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis made an interesting callout of fellow contender Dustin Poirier. It did not take Poirier long to respond. “I’m down,” he said matter-of-factly on Twitter. 

Tom Taylor - August 8, 2017

Yesterday afternoon, former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold appeared on The MMA Hour to discuss his August 16 fight with former two-division World Series of Fighting champ David Branch. During his interview, Rockhold explained that Branch was simply the only option remaining after he tried and failed to lock down a bevy of other fights. “I’ve tried to get everybody I could possibly think about to get a fight that really got me up, but no one would take a fight,” Rockhold said (h/t MMAFighting.com). “And now we’ve come down to David Branch (who) was the only guy in the top 10 that would take a fight. From June to July to August to September, and it’s time.”

Tom Taylor - August 8, 2017

It is difficult to find people who are confident in Conor McGregor‘s chances against boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather. Andre Berto, however, who is the last man to have fought Mayweather in the boxing ring, is one of those people. Berto explained his confidence in McGregor on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “When it comes to Conor, I tell people: He’s a star,” Berto said (h/t Marc Raimondi of MMAFighting.com). “For some reason under that pressure and under those lights and under that atmosphere, he knows how to rise to the occasion. It doesn’t matter what the situation is, he’s one of those special guys that really can thrive in these types of environments, man.