MMA News
Vitor Belfort agrees to Nate Marquardt's challenge
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2017
Earlier this month, on the main card of UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, MMA veterans Vitor Belfort and Nate Marquardt collided in an interesting, middleweight clash. In the end, Belfort would win this fight with a rather controversial decision. Though this fight was initially expected to be Belfort’s retirement fight, he was quick to correct this perception, first stating that he planned to continue fighting outside the UFC, then that he actually planned on taking 5 or so more fights inside the UFC’s Octagon.
NYSAC confirms Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva will undergo out-of-competition testing
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2017
On Saturday, June 24, in the main event of the stacked Bellator NYC card, three-time UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen will collide with Pride legend Wanderlei Silva in a fight that should go down as one of the biggest fights Bellator has ever promoted. Given the unfortunate, PED-related history of both men, of course, one would hope that both will undergo significant testing in the buildup to and fallout of this fight. Yet when asked previously by MMAFighting.com what kind of testing the two stars will undergo, the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) gave a rather vague answer.
UFC Auckland salary report: Mark Hunt made bank with defeat of Derrick Lewis
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2017
Over the weekend, the UFC touched down in Auckland, New Zealand with an exciting, 11-fight card (one fight was cancelled at the last minute). This card was headlined by a heavyweight showdown between Kiwi MMA legend Mark Hunt, and streaking heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis. Hunt won this fight with a fourth-round TKO.
Derrick Lewis blasts Travis Browne and Francis Ngannou for recent trash talk
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2017
Over the weekend, streaking heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis stepped onto the canvas with veritable MMA legend Mark Hunt. Lewis sought to extend his win-streak to a whopping seven-straight, and maybe, earn himself a shot at UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic. Regrettably for Lewis and his fans, Hunt proved to be too much. As Lewis faded in the third and fourth rounds, Hunt turned up the offense, cracking the exhausted American repeatedly until the referee had no choice but to step in.
After defeat of Derrick Lewis, Mark Hunt wants to avenge two previous losses
Tom Taylor - June 11, 2017
On Saturday night, in the main event of the 11-fight UFC Auckland card, 43-year-old heavyweight legend Mark Hunt stepped into the cage with the much younger Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis. Though Lewis was not without his moments in this fight, Hunt was able to turn back the clock, punishing his exhausted foe to an impressive, fourth-round TKO win. With this win, Hunt separated himself from a thunderous, knee-induced knockout loss to Alistair Overeem, and reaffirmed himself as one of the game’s premier heavyweights – despite being one of the most senior fighters on the roster.
Dan Hooker says his highlight-reel KO of Ross Pearson was "lucky, nothing else”
Tom Taylor - June 11, 2017
Last night, on the main card of the UFC’s latest trip to New Zealand, Kiwi star Dan Hooker made the jump from featherweight to lightweight, where he debuted against hard-nosed British veteran Ross Pearson. Despite being the much less experienced man in the cage, Hooker’s lightweight debut couldn’t have gone better, as he flattened his veteran foe with a crushing knee to the face mid-way through the second round. Because it was so beautifully timed and executed, Hooker’s knee-induced knockout defeat of Pearson is being talked about by many fans and pundits as a knockout of the year contender. According to Hooker himself, however, it was just a lucky strike.
Evan Dunham calls for scrap with "whiny b*tch" Al Iaquinta
Tom Taylor - June 11, 2017
Over the last few weeks, dangerous UFC lightweight Al Iaquinta has been flirting with the idea of a scrap with welterweight knockout artist “Platinum” Mike Perry. With Perry now scheduled to battle Thiago Alves at UFC 215 this August, however, Iaquinta will have to look elsewhere in the search for his next opponent. Evan Dunham hopes to make Iaquinta’s search an easy one.
Ji Yeon Kim recounts the time she fractured The Korean Zombie's orbital bone
Tom Taylor - June 11, 2017
Next weekend, in the first bout of the UFC Singapore undercard, undefeated South Korean bantamweight Ji Yeon Kim will make her UFC debut against a game opponent in the Czech Republic’s Lucie Pudilová. In advance of this fight, Kim has been sharpening her tools alongside one of the most dangerous fighters in the game, and the most famous fighter to emerge from South Korea: “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung.
Athlete outfitting pay for UFC Auckland: Mark Hunt gets $10K
Tom Taylor - June 11, 2017
Last night, the UFC touched down in the country of New Zealand for a second time with the exciting UFC Auckland card. In this card’s main event, we saw Kiwi MMA legend Mark Hunt collide with surging American heavyweight contender Derek Lewis. Hunt would win this fight by punishing an exhausted Lewis to a fourth-round TKO.
UFC Auckland bonus report: Hunt and Lewis get Fight of the Night on finish-filled main card
Tom Taylor - June 11, 2017
Last night, the UFC touched down in beautiful New Zealand for a second time with UFC Auckland. In the card’s main event, we saw bona fide MMA legend and Kiwi hero Mark Hunt collide with streaking heavyweight contender Derek Lewis. Hunt would win this fight by punishing an exhausted Lewis to a fourth-round TKO.
Derrick Lewis says that Mark Hunt bout is "probably my last fight"
Tom Taylor - June 11, 2017
Last night, in the main event of the UFC’s latest trip to New Zealand, streaking heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis lumbered onto the canvas with a titan of the division in MMA legend Mark Hunt. Though Lewis was able to land some big punches in the second frame, this fight was almost all Hunt, who battered his exhausted foe to an impressive, fourth-round TKO victory. In the wake of this win, Octagon commentator Brian Stann interviewed both the victorious Hunt and the vanquished Lewis.
Pros react to Mark Hunt's TKO defeat of Derrick Lewis, Lewis' possible retirement
Tom Taylor - June 11, 2017
Last night, in the main event of UFC Fight Night 110, streaking heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis stepped into the cage with a verifiable MMA legend in Mark Hunt. Lewis’ goal was to extend his win-streak to a division-best seven-straight, and just maybe, earn himself the next crack at UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic. Regrettably for Lewis and his ever-growing legion of fans, the veteran Hunt was just too much.
Pros react to Derek Brunson's quick KO of Dan Kelly
Tom Taylor - June 11, 2017
Last night, in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 110, American middleweight contender Derek Brunson collided with streaking Australian judo specialist Dan Kelly. Brunson made this challenge look easy. Moments into the first round, he floored his Australian foe with a crashing left hand. From there, Brunson chased his dazed opponent to the canvas, where he polished him off with a ferocious series of ground strikes. The official time of the finish was 1:16 of the first round.
UFC Auckland results: Mark Hunt TKOs Derrick Lewis in the fourth, Lewis hints at retirement (video)
Tom Taylor - June 10, 2017
The main event of the UFC’s stop in Auckland, New Zealand, occurred at heavyweight, where MMA legend Mark Hunt collided with streaking American contender Derrick Lewis. As so many expected, it was a fun fight, as both men seemed content to throw heavy leather, and both had their moments as a result.
UFC Auckland results: Derek Brunson mauls Dan Kelly in the first (highlights)
Tom Taylor - June 10, 2017
In the co-main event of the UFC’s Saturday-night UFC Auckland card, American Derek Brunson met Australia’s Dan Kelly in a clash of ranked middleweights. Though Kelly entered the fight with a good deal of momentum behind him, this one was all Brunson.
UFC Auckland results: Dan Hooker clobbers Ross Pearson with second-round knee (highlights)
Tom Taylor - June 10, 2017
The fourth bout of the UFC Auckland main card occurred at lightweight, where British veteran Ross Pearson took on New Zealand’s Dan Hooker. Though Pearson was not without his moments in the fight, this one ultimately went to Hooker in dramatic fashion. Mid-way through the second round, the hometown hero planet an rocket-fuelled knee on his opponent’s chin, and it was lights out.
UFC Auckland results: Ben Nguyen scores quick submission win over Tim Elliott (highlights)
Tom Taylor - June 10, 2017
On Saturday evening, the UFC returned to our screens with UFC Auckland, an exciting 11-fight card that broadcasted live from Auckland, New Zealand. In the second bout of the main card, we were treated to a clash of ranked flyweights, as recent title challenger Tim Elliott collided with Australia’s Ben Nguyen. To say this one was a blowout for Australia’s Nguyen would be an understatement.
UFC Auckland results: Alexander Volkanovski defeats Mizuto Hirota by decision (highlights)
Tom Taylor - June 10, 2017
On Saturday night, the UFC returned to our screens with UFC Auckland, an exciting, 11-fight card. The event’s main card was kicked off by a featherweight bout by Japanese veteran Mizuto Hirota and highly regarded Australian prospect Alexander Volkanovski.