MMA News

Tom Taylor - April 18, 2017

In late 2016, South Korean featherweight prospect Doo Ho Choi made a clever callout of long-time featherweight contender Cub Swanson. While this callout was quite civil, it served to reignite Swanson’s competitive fire, and gave him the motivation to deliver one of the best wins of his career: an unforgettable, tooth-and-nail decision triumph that left both him and Choi bruised and battered.

Tom Taylor - April 18, 2017

This morning, the folks over at FloCombat.com reported that Canadian middleweight Elias Theodorou would be taking on Hawaii’s Brad Tavares at The Ultimate Fighter 25 finale this July 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada. BJPenn.com has now confirmed that this fight is happening with Theodorou himself, who says he is “ready to kick some ass” in Sin City. Theodorou, who won The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia, is currently on a two-fight winning streak, having recently defeated Sam Alvey and Cesar “Mutante” Ferreira, both by decision. These wins separated Theodorou from the lone loss of his professional career, a December 2015 setback against venomous striker Thiago Santos. Prior to this loss to Santos, Theodorou went 3-0 in his first three bouts in the Octagon, sandwiching a decision defeat of Bruno Santos between TKO defeats of Sheldon Wetscott and Roger Narvaez. The Canadian, who recently made headlines for his sponsorship deal with Pert shampoo, is 13-1 in sum.

Tom Taylor - April 18, 2017

Earlier this year, former UFC welterweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos announced his intention to move up to the welterweight division, citing a tiresome cut to the lightweight division’s 155-pound cap as the reason for the move. After being called out by several dangerous welterweights – such as the rising Colby Covington – Dos Anjos was ultimately pencilled in for a welterweight debut opposite former Strikeforce welterweight champ Tarec Saffiedine. The pair will battle on June 17 in Singapore, not far from Evolve MMA were Dos Anjos has done much of his recent training. In advance of this anticipated showdown, Dos Anjos spoke with MMAFighting.com to discuss the fight itself and his future in the division:

Tom Taylor - April 18, 2017

UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson is one of the best fighters on the planet. In fact, he might even be the best fighter ever. He reaffirmed his status as a greatest of all time contender last weekend, when he submitted BJJ blackbelt Wilson Reis in the main event of UFC on Fox 24, which marked his 10th consecutive defense of the UFC flyweight throne.

Tom Taylor - April 18, 2017

Last weekend, in the main event of UFC on Fox 24, flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson tapped out Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blackbelt Wilson Reis. This win marked the champ’s tenth-straight title defense, which ties Anderson Silva’s record for most consecutive title defenses in UFC history. In the wake of Johnson’s latest win, many members of the MMA community are once again suggesting that he could be the greatest fighter in MMA history. In the opinion of former fighter and current UFC commentator Brian Stann, there’s no question. Stann explained his reasoning on a recent episode of The Anik and Florian Podcast (via MMAFighting.com). His words:

Tom Taylor - April 18, 2017

Back in October of 2016, UFC welterweight Michael Graves was pulled from a scheduled bout with Sergio Moraes and suspended by the UFC. His suspension stemmed from the news that he had been involved in a domestic dispute with his fiancee, during which he had allegedly punched and elbowed her in the face. At the time, the UFC suggested it was gathering more information on the case so it could take the appropriate course of action. Now, some six months after he was first arrested by Atlanta Police on misdemeanour battery charges, Graves has been released by the UFC for this ugly incident. The UFC announced Graves’ release in a statement on UFC.com.

Chris Taylor - April 17, 2017

Dana White details plans for Daniel Cormier if Jon Jones is not ready for UFC 214 Earlier tonight UFC president Dana White went on Sports Center where he announced that if Jon Jones is ready, the promotion is willing to give him an immediate title shot against current light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 on July 29 in Anaheim, California.

Chris Taylor - April 17, 2017

Dana White offers Jon Jones a fight for UFC 214 on July 29 Breaking news from UFC President Dana White.

Russell Ess - April 17, 2017

UFC strawweight Michelle Waterson lost for the first time in the UFC over the weekend. Waterson met Rose Namajunas at UFC on FOX 24 and was submitted in the second round by a rear-naked choke locked on by Namajunas.

Russell Ess - April 17, 2017

Alarming news has many people worried after finding out that Akebono was recently placed into a medically induced coma in Japan. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the 47-year-old combat sports star became ill and was admitted to the hospital after doing a show for the wrestling promotion DDT in Fukuoaka, south Japan. The report states that Akebono is expected to be in the hospital for at least 10 days. The type of illness was not made clear in the report and it is unknown if it was caused by the DDT show appearance.

Chris Taylor - April 17, 2017

Earlier today UFC welterweight champion of the world Tyron Woodley took to Instagram where he announced that he had started his training camp for a July return to the octagon. #TRAININGCAMP Starts #Today The next time I set foot in the #Octagon it will be 4 Title Fights in 12months. Starting with the Spirit, Mind, Soul and the Body will catch up. The fight outside the Cage has always proven to be tougher then the one inside. Time to win on both ends! @ufc #ufc #ChampCamp #AndStill #WhoGotMyBack !

Tom Taylor - April 17, 2017

Last weekend, in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 24, strawweight star “Thug” Rose Namajunas scored an epic win over the game Michelle Waterson, dropping her with a second-round head-kick, and finishing her off with a rear-naked choke. With this win, Namajunas seems to have earned herself a shot at the winner of Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jessica Andrade’s upcoming strawweight title fight, which will serve as the co-main event of UFC 211 on May 13 in Dallas, Texas. On Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Namajunas weighed in on the possibility of a strawweight title fight – particularly on a potential showdown with the current champ Jedrzejczyk, who does not seem to be a fan of hers.

Russell Ess - April 17, 2017

UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor has been living it up as he has taken time off from fighting in the UFC for the birth of his first child. “The Notorious” was seen partying it up in Liverpool where he and his friends allegedly went on a five-day partying bender, according to the Irish Sun. The Irish Sun’s report stated that McGregor and his crew of friends started on Sunday at the Grand National and then later checked in at the Hilton Liverpool. The report claims that McGregor hired specialists to clean up the hotel suite after trashing the room where there was believed to be thousands of euros worth of damage, which the report says was caused by McGregor’s friends.

Tom Taylor - April 17, 2017

This weekend, in the main event of UFC Nashville, featherweight contender Cub Swanson will take on Russian-born Irishman Artem Lobov. Given that Swanson currently sits inside the featherweight top-5, and Lobov sits outside the top-15 with an undeniably unimpressive 13-12-1 overall record, the announcement of this fight caused more than a few head scratches. Yet Lobov asked for it, Swanson accepted, and here we are. On Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, host Ariel Helwani asked Swanson if he had seen the widespread opinions that Lobov doesn’t actually deserve to be in the UFC, and that he’s only made it to the big stage as a result of his association with MMA mega star Conor McGregor. Swanson then got talking on the subject, explaining that he believes Lobov is skilled, but that he hasn’t taken his career seriously, and that he probably has ridden McGregor’s coat tails to a degree.

Russell Ess - April 17, 2017

There’s a UFC light heavyweight title fight brewing between the champion, Daniel Cormier and Jimi Manuwa, the current #3 UFC ranked fighter at 205-pounds. Cormier and Manuwa went at it on Twitter on Monday in another battle of words.

Chris Taylor - April 17, 2017

Joe Lauzon: “I love BJ Penn. He is like a dad to me. He shaped me as a fighter.” UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon is arguably one of the most exciting fighters in mixed martial arts history.

Chris Taylor - April 17, 2017

Tyron Woodley says his next fight will be in July Current UFC welterweight kingpin Tyron Woodley claims he will be returning to the Octagon this July.

Tom Taylor - April 17, 2017

Back in March, Bellator and UFC veteran War Machine was found guilty on 29 of 34 charges stemming from a grisly 2014 attack on ex-girlfriend Christy Mack, and her boyfriend at the time, Corey Thomas. During this bone-chilling attack, War Machine brutalized Mack so severely that she was left with a broken nose, a fractured eye socket, a broken rib, a lacerated liver and extensive bruising. She was also left without many of her teeth, which initially made it difficult for her to recount the details of this horrific incident.