MMA News

Tom Taylor - September 6, 2016

MMA has come along way. Once a polarizing spectacle on the shadowy fringes of the sports industry, it’s now a massive, mainstream sensation the world over. Of course, the sport still has its detractors.

Tom Taylor - September 6, 2016

In the main event of UFC 202, Conor McGregor defeated Nate Diaz by majority decision. Having evened the score in his bizarre, welterweight rivalry with the Stockton fighter, McGregor then set his sights on the division he’s most suited for: lightweight. Given McGregor’s transcendent superstardom, a trip to the lightweight division would almost certainly result in an immediate title shot against reigning champion Eddie Alvarez. In a recent walk-and-talk interview with Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com, Alvarez discussed this potential showdown.

Tom Taylor - September 6, 2016

In late August, the UFC returned to beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada with UFC on Fox 21. On that event’s main card, fan favorite strawweight Paige VanZant returned to the cage after a stint on Dancing with the Stars to remove the batteries from Bec Rawlings with a second-round head-kick. Needless to say, it was a great night to be VanZant. It was not such a great night to be Rawlings, who made the long flight home to Australia with an ugly new loss on her record – and probably a concussion.

Tom Taylor - September 6, 2016

This Saturday, former WWE star CM Punk will make his long-awaited jump to MMA. He’ll be taking on dangerous, 24-year-old prospect Mickey Gall on the main card of UFC 203, which will emanate from Cleveland, Ohio’s Quicken Loans Arena. In advance of his UFC debut, Punk finds the odds stacked against him, as bookmakers have pegged him as a sizeable underdog.

Tom Taylor - September 5, 2016

Not long ago, UFC lightweight Paul Felder launched a GoFundMe camaign to help cover the costs of flying his coaches to Brazil, where he’ll fight Francisco “Massaranduba” Trinaldo later this month. This development stirred up debates about fighter pay, and raised many questions as to what expenses the UFC actually covers for its fighters. Joe Lauzon to the rescue!

Russell Ess - September 5, 2016

Nate Diaz has grown to be one of the big stars in the UFC. The younger Diaz brother holds two of the three top UFC pay-per-view cards in his headlining bouts against rival Conor McGregor.

bjpenndotcom - September 5, 2016

https://youtu.be/Syz_H0yF-FM With a career spanning three combat sports and over 80 victories, Tyrone Spong is expanding his presence into the boxing world, and made that presence felt with a blistering one-punch knockout over a regional journeyman on Sunday night.

Russell Ess - September 5, 2016

https://youtu.be/VLPCh9e3mvU If you haven’t been keeping up with Nick Diaz on Snapchat, the UFC star has been recently living it up, going clubbing and partying with friends.

Tom Taylor - September 5, 2016

This Saturday, the UFC will set up shop in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena with UFC 203. The card will be headlined by a heavyweight title fight between champion Stipe Miocic and challenger Alistair Overeem, while the co-main event will see former heavyweight champ Fabricio Werdum attempt to regain his footing against an old foe in Travis Browne. The card will also see WWE star CM Punk make his MMA debut opposite dangerous prospect Mickey Gall. Bovoda.com (per Sherdog.com) has identified Miocic as a -145 favorite for his first title defense. Overeem, on the other hand, has been pegged as a +115 dog. These close odds are reflective of the mammoth talent of both men, and the anything-can-happen nature of clashes between elite heavyweights.

Russell Ess - September 5, 2016

One of the most intimidating figures in women’s MMA, Gabi Garcia is set to fight Destanie Yarbrough at RIZIN 2 on September 25 in Japan.

bjpenndotcom - September 5, 2016

CM Punk’s UFC debut almost took another setback after his opponent Mickey Gall received a nasty cut over his eye just days from their UFC 203 fight. Gall (2-0) had to receive stitches to stop the bleeding from a cut just above his right eye while training in preparation for his main card bout with Punk, who is making his UFC and MMA debut after nearly two years of delays and rescheduled fights.

bjpenndotcom - September 5, 2016

Nate Diaz loves weed, and doesn’t seem particularly concerned with who knows it. In fact, the Stockton Slugger was bold enough in his use of medicinal marijuana, specifically CPD oil, that he vaped during the post-fight press conference following his thrilling five round fight with Conor McGregor at UFC 202. Diaz’s boxing coach Richard Perez told Submission Radio that although Diaz blatantly imbibed Cannabidiol while at the presser, he shouldn’t be suspended or punished by USADA.

Russell Ess - September 5, 2016

UFC Octagon Girl Arianny Celeste is a fan favorite for good reason. Can you believe that Arianny Celeste has been with the UFC for 10 years already? Celeste has been an Octagon Girl since 2006 and is still looking as good as ever.

Russell Ess - September 5, 2016

Prisoners at the Mt Eden Corrections Facility in Auckland, New Zealand have found out a way to go viral, despite being behind bars.

Russell Ess - September 5, 2016

Another hit-and-run incident has dealt the MMA community a devastating blow. 3-1-1 professional MMA fighter Marcus Kowal’s 15-month-old baby boy passed away after being hit by a 72-year-old drunk driver in Hawthorne, California.

bjpenndotcom - September 5, 2016

UFC Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez grew up in the rough parts of Philadelphia, where fighting was a big part of his daily life, well before he ever stepped into the cage. But according to Alvarez, growing up in ‘Rocky’s’ neighborhood in Kensington is not without it’s merits. “It was tough, tough neighborhood. That’s where Rocky was filmed, there are boxing gyms on every corner. It’s a fighting neighborhood,” Alvarez told Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com.

Tom Taylor - September 5, 2016

It’s no secret that UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is not particularly keen on fighting number-one-contender Stephen Thompson. Instead, the champ infamously explained on Fox Sports that he is interested in “money fights” with the likes of Nick Diaz and Georges St-Pierre. Unsurprisingly, Woodley’s stance is not going over well with Thompson. On a recent episode of Submission Radio, Thompson addressed Woodley’s strange reluctance to fight him.

Tom Taylor - September 5, 2016

In the main event of UFC on Fox 21, UFC welterweight Demian Maia dazzled with a first-round submission of long-time contender Carlos Condit. The win extended the Brazilian’s streak to six, and under slightly different conditions, probably would have catapulted him directly into a title fight with welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. Unfortunately for Maia, the welterweight division is also home to Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, a streaking striker with seven straight wins behind him. Unless the UFC throws us a serious curveball, Thompson will be given the next shot at Woodley, while Maia will have to wait to fight the winner of that bout.