MMA News
Doctor exposes flaws in ONE Championship hydration testing and admits to helping "big names" cheat weigh-ins
Josh Evanoff - February 17, 2023
ONE Championship’s hydration testing is once again back under fire. In December 2015, Chinese athlete Yang Jian Bing passed away, reportedly due to complications from a weight cut for a bout in ONE Championship. Just weeks after the contest, the promotion instituted a new weight-cutting policy that involved hydration testing.
Three fighters slated to compete on TUF 31 have been pulled to make room for Conor McGregor’s handpicked contestants
Susan Cox - February 17, 2023
Three fighters slated to compete on TUF 31 have been pulled to make room for Conor McGregor’s handpicked contestants. Former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor (22-6 MMA) and No. 5 ranked lightweight contender Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA) will go head-to-head as coaches on the upcoming season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’.
Jiri Prochazka eyeing summer return against Jamahal Hill: "I will be back in full power, I will be the champion"
Josh Evanoff - February 17, 2023
Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka is plotting a summer return. ‘Denisa’ has been out of action since his clash with Glover Teixeira at UFC 275 last June. In that headliner in Singapore, the two-light heavyweight contenders put on a show. Trailing on the scorecards heading into the fifth round, Prochazka scored a shocking submission victory.
UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira warns Francis Ngannou against boxing Tyson Fury: “It’s suicide”
Susan Cox - February 17, 2023
UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira is warning Francis Ngannou against boxing Tyson Fury. UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, (17-3 MMA) was stripped of his title and released from his contract this past January. Ngannou, 36, rejected the UFC’s new contract offer and is now a free agent.
U.S. Congressmen take aim at TBS and Warner Bros for promoting “mindless violence” in the form of Power Slap
Susan Cox - February 17, 2023
A U.S. Congressman has taken aim at TBS and Warner Bros for promoting ‘mindless violence’ in the form of Power Slap. UFC President, Dana White, announced the launch of Power Slap back in November of 2022. ‘Power Slap: Road to the Title’ premiered on Wednesday, January 18th, 2023 on TBS. The eight-part reality series follows athletes competing to earn a spot in the cast house, the first Power Slap rankings, in matches and ultimately world recognition.
Islam Makhachev wants Dan Hooker to be “held accountable” for recent cheating accusations
Susan Cox - February 17, 2023
Islam Makhachev wants Dan Hooker to be ‘held accountable’ for recent cheating accusations. UFC 284 took place last Saturday, February 11th to a sold out crowd at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
Islam Makhachev discusses the possibility of an immediate rematch with Alexander Volkanovski: “I’m not going to wait for anybody or call anybody out”
Harry Kettle - February 17, 2023
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has given his thoughts on a possible immediate rematch against Alexander Volkanovski. Last weekend at UFC 284, Islam Makhachev went to war with Alexander Volkanovski. It was a back and forth affair but in the end, the star from Dagestan managed to get his hand raised.
Former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane admits he only trains grappling once he has a fight announced: “I’m lazy, that’s the truth”
Harry Kettle - February 17, 2023
UFC star Ciryl Gane has admitted that he only really starts training properly once a fight is actually announced. Next month at UFC 285, Ciryl Gane will return to action as he prepares to battle Jon Jones. In doing so, he’ll be going after the UFC heavyweight championship.
Ariel Helwani shares theory as to why Ali Abdelaziz deleted IV-related tweet suggesting he would “expose everybody”
Harry Kettle - February 17, 2023
Ariel Helwani has given his thoughts on why Ali Abdelaziz deleted his tweet in relation to recent IV allegations. While Islam Makhachev did manage to defeat Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284, there’s been a bit of controversy since then. It stems from a tweet by Dan Hooker that suggests Islam illegally used an IV before the fight in order to make weight.
Daniel Cormier responds after Jon Jones says he has no issue with him commenting his title fight against Ciryl Gane: “It seems now that Jones is maturing”
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2023
Daniel Cormier believes Jon Jones is finally maturing. As Jones is set to take on Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 285, some fans wondered if Cormier would commentate the fight. Of course, Jones and Cormier were massive rivals but ‘Bones’ wrote on social media that he’d be happy to have ‘DC’ on the call.
After overcoming "the fear of losing" Evan Elder expects UFC Vegas 69 fight against Nazim Sadykhov to be a "three-round drag-out war"
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2023
Evan Elder had a sense of relief when he lost to Preston Parsons in his UFC debut last April. Elder stepped up on short notice and moved up to welterweight to face Parsons and dropped a decision. It was his first career loss, and although he would’ve liked to remain undefeated, Elder says the loss has actually helped him quite a bit.
Modestas Bukauskas responds to Tyson Pedro claiming he was sick the night before UFC 284, hopes to get on UFC 286
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2023
Modestas Bukauskas knew he always belonged in the UFC. Bukauskas earned a first-round TKO victory in his Octagon debut but went on to lose his next three fights and was subsequently released from the promotion. He then picked up two wins in Cage Warriors including winning the light heavyweight title. After that, he re-signed with the UFC to step up on short notice to face Tyson Pedro at UFC 284.
UFC commentator Jon Anik recalls crowd reaction to Islam Makhachev defeating Alexander Volkanovski: "It’s the first time I’ve ever been hit with a burger"
Josh Evanoff - February 16, 2023
UFC commentator Jon Anik didn’t have the greatest time after the results of Saturday’s main event were read. UFC 284 went down over the weekend as the promotion returned to Australia. In the main event, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski headed up to lightweight to face newly crowned titleholder Islam Makhachev. Heading into the fight, the Russian was a sizeable favorite.
Bo Nickal reveals plans to help Jake Paul train for MMA debut: "“I’m super excited to train with him"
Josh Evanoff - February 16, 2023
UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal is planning on helping Jake Paul crossover to MMA. ‘The Problem Child’ is slated to face Tommy Fury later this month on ESPN pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia. The bout will be Paul’s first since defeating Anderson Silva last October. In that outing, ‘The Spider’ gave the YouTuber the biggest test of his career but came up short by unanimous decision.
BKFC president reveals plans to meet with Paige VanZant to discuss future: "Maybe she doesn’t want to do this anymore"
Josh Evanoff - February 16, 2023
BKFC president David Feldman is unsure what Paige Vanzant’s future in combat sports holds. ’12 Gauge’ has been out of action since her bout with Rachel Ostovich at BKFC 19 in July 2021. In that outing, Vanzant wound up being outstruck en route to a unanimous decision defeat. The loss put the UFC veteran back to 0-2 in her BFKC run, having previously lost to Britain Hart in February.
Jessica Andrade expects to earn a rematch with Zhang Weili if she wins at UFC Vegas 69: "I want to take her out to Brazil because I went to China to face her"
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2023
Jessica Andrade is hoping to earn a strawweight title shot on Saturday. Andrade has been bouncing between strawweight and flyweight and will compete at 125lbs in the main event of UFC Vegas 69 as she steps up on short notice to take on Erin Blanchfield. Andrade is coming off a decision win over Lauren Murphy and should she get past Blanchfield, she could get a title shot at flyweight, but she believes this fight can also secure her a rematch against Weili for the strawweight belt.
UFC and Western Australia’s Combat Sports Commission butt heads over I.V. legality
Susan Cox - February 16, 2023
The UFC and Western Australia’s Combat Sports Commission are butting heads over I.V. legality. What started out as allegations made by Dan Hooker concerning Islam Makhachev cheating at UFC 284 is now getting attention on both sides of the aisle.
Former UFC fighters Mike Perry, Chad Mendes and Ben Rothwell all set to compete at BKFC event on April 29
Susan Cox - February 16, 2023
Former UFC fighters Mike Perry, Chad Mendes and Ben Rothwell are all set to compete at the BKFC event on April 29th. The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship card is set to take place in Denver on Saturday, April 29th of this year.