MMA News
Scott Coker challenges Dana White to UFC and Bellator cross-promotion fight with AJ McKee
Adam Martin - August 1, 2021
Bellator president Scott Coker challenged UFC president Dana White to a UFC and Bellator cross-promotion fight with AJ McKee. McKee finished Patricio Pitbull in the main event of Bellator 263 on Saturday night to become the promotions new’s 145lbs champion and the winner of the $1 million grand prize. Just 26 years old, McKee is now a perfect 18-0 in MMA. By taking out Pitbull, who is one of the best featherweights in the world, it showed that “The Mercenary” is one of the best at 145lbs regardless of promotion. McKee is so good, in fact, that Coker believes he matches up well against the best featherweights that the UFC has to offer, including current UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and past champ Max Holloway.
Quinton Jackson could make MMA comeback, hints Bellator champ AJ McKee
Adam Martin - August 1, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson could make an MMA comeback, hinted Bellator new Bellator featherweight champ, AJ McKee. McKee defeated Patricio Pitbull via first-round submission on Saturday night in the main event of Bellator 263 to claim the promotion’s 145lbs title, and the $1 million grand prize for winning the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix sixteen-man tournament. Now a perfect 18-0 in MMA, McKee appears to be a superstar for Bellator for years to come. It hasn’t come out of anywhere either, as the son of former UFC fighter Antonio McKee was always considered a natural in mixed martial arts, training under his veteran father.
Sean Strickland breaks down potential future UFC middleweight title fight against Israel Adesanya
Adam Martin - August 1, 2021
Top-ranked contender Sean Strickland broke down how a potential future UFC middleweight title fight against champion Israel Adesanya would go. Strickland defeated Uriah Hall in the main event of UFC Vegas 33 via unanimous decision to earn the biggest win of his career and jump into the top-10 at 185lbs. Ever since returning from a potentially life-threatening motorcycle accident last fall as a middleweight, Strickland has looked absolutely exceptional. He defeated Jack Marshman in his middleweight debut in a memorable fight that involved plenty of trash-talking, then he knocked out top prospect Brendan Allen, beat veteran Krzysztof Jotko, and then beat Hall to pick up the biggest win of his career and get one step closer to fighting for the belt.
Anthony Johnson vs. Vadim Nemkov, Ryan Bader vs. Corey Anderson set for fall Bellator event
Adam Martin - August 1, 2021
Light heavyweight bouts featuring Anthony Johnson vs. Vadim Nemkov and Ryan Bader vs. Corey Anderson have been set for a fall Bellator event. ESPN’s Marc Raimondi was the first to report that Johnson vs. Nemkov and Bader vs. Anderson will take place on October 16 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The Johnson vs. Nemkov fight will be for the promotion’s 205lbs belt that Nemkov currently possesses, while the winner of Bader vs. Anderson will meet the winner of the Johnson vs. Nemkov fight next year to crown a tournament winner and the new champion at 205lbs.
Sean Strickland says it would make him "super happy" to kill someone in the UFC
Adam D Martin - August 1, 2021
Top-ranked middleweight contender Sean Strickland says it would make him “super happy” to kill someone in the UFC during one of his fights. Strickland defeated former teammate Uriah Hall via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Vegas 33 on Saturday night. In the first five-round fight of his UFC career, Strickland used his jab to piece up Hall over the course of 25 minutes, while also mixing up power strikes and takedowns to seal the deal and pick up the biggest win of his career. With five straight victories, including a perfect 4-0 record in the UFC middleweight division, it is clear that Strickland is one of the best fighters in the world at his weight class, and he hopes to continue fighting bigger and better opponents. But for Strickland, what really makes him happy more than anything is just going in the Octagon and hurting people.
Nina Nunes announces she and Amanda Nunes have tested negative for COVID-19
Adam D Martin - August 1, 2021
Women’s strawweight Nina Nunes announced that she and her wife, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, tested negative for COVID-19. Amanda Nunes was scheduled to fight rival Julianna Pena in the co-main event of UFC 265 next Saturday night at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, but the fight was scratched this week after Nunes was forced to withdraw due to a positive COVID-19 test. According to the UFC, the plan is for the promotion to rebook Nunes vs. Pena later this year for the women’s 135lbs belt, with December being thrown around as a potential date. But according to Nina Nunes, she and her wife have tested negative for COVID-19 and are already feeling better.
Khabib Nurmagomedov suggests next UFC opponent for Henry Cejudo must "bring some numbers" to the table
Adam D Martin - August 1, 2021
Former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov suggested that the next UFC opponent for Henry Cejudo must “bring some numbers” to the table. Nurmagomedov has been retired from MMA since earlier this year, and Cejudo has been retired since last summer. Both men hung up their gloves at the top of their games as both fighters were champions who vacated their titles before retiring from the sport. But with both men still in their 30s, there have been suggestions that the right fight could be enough to coax back either Nurmagomedov or Cejudo to the Octagon. Who that fight could be is anyone’s guess, but if the numbers are big enough, a comeback could be in store.
John McCarthy explains why Ciryl Gane vs. Derrick Lewis should not be for interim UFC heavyweight title
Adam D Martin - August 1, 2021
Bellator analyst John McCarthy explained why Ciryl Gane vs. Derrick Lewis should not be fighting for the interim heavyweight title at UFC 265. Gane vs. Lewis headlines UFC 265 next Saturday night at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The UFC creating an interim belt was controversial because UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou won his title back in March, so to create an interim belt just a few months later seems strange, and a lot of fans and media pushed back when it was first announced.
AJ McKee says Max Holloway is his "dream fight" after beating Patricio Pitbull at Bellator 263
Adam D Martin - August 1, 2021
New Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee says Max Holloway is his “dream fight” after beating Patricio Pitbull at Saturday’s Bellator 263. McKee and Pitbull met in the main event of Bellator 263 in what marked the finals of the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix, a 16-man tournament that began nearly two years ago and only just now finished. Although Pitbull is the champion and one of the most experienced fighters to ever compete in Bellator, he was finished early in the first round when McKee rocked him with a head kick and then choked him out with a guillotine. It was an incredible finish by McKee and proved that he is one of the best featherweights in MMA.
Bryan Barberena issues statement following "Fight of the Night" loss to Jason Witt at UFC Vegas 33
Adam D Martin - August 1, 2021
Welterweight veteran Bryan Barberena issued a statement following his “Fight of the Night” loss to Jason Witt at UFC Vegas 33. Barberena was one of the biggest betting favorites heading into the card, but on a night full of upsets, “Bam Bam” lost a majority decision to Witt in a back-and-forth war that nearly saw both men get finished multiple times. Although Barberena almost had an incredible third-round comeback, he wasn’t able to finish off Witt, who won the first two rounds of the fight, and Barberena officially was handed a majority decision loss on the scorecards.
Sean Strickland reacts after defeating "friend" Uriah Hall at UFC Vegas 33
Adam D Martin - August 1, 2021
UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland reacted after defeating his “friend” Uriah Hall in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Vegas 33 card. Strickland utilized a beautiful jab for five rounds as he was able to outpoint Hall and take home a unanimous decision. Though Strickland wasn’t able to get the finish over his former training partner, he dominated the fight with his striking and grappling to earn a clean sweep on the judges’ scorecards. It was the best performance of Strickland’s MMA career to date and by far the biggest win on his resume. By going in there and defeating a top-10 opponent in Hall, Strickland moves one step closer to the middleweight division’s elite.
Pros react after A.J. McKee submits Patricio Freire at Bellator 263
Chris Taylor - July 31, 2021
Tonight’s Bellator 263 event was headlined by the tournament finals of the promotions 145-pound grand prix as Patricio Freire squared off with A.J. McKee. Patricio Freire (32-5 MMA), Bellator’s reigning featherweight champion, had entered tonight’s main event on a seven-fight winning streak, his latest being a first round submission victory over Emmanuel Sanchez in the featherweight grand prix semifinals.
UFC Vegas 33 Bonus Report: Jason Witt and Bryan Barberena awarded FOTN
Chris Taylor - July 31, 2021
The Octagon remained in Nevada for tonight’s UFC Vegas 33 event, a ten-bout fight card headlined by Uriah Hall vs. Sean Strickland. The highly anticipated middleweight main event turned out to be a rather one sided affair. While Uriah Hall showed a ton of heart in fighting for the full twenty-five minutes, he had little to offer Strickland this evening. Instead, Sean Strickland shined in his first career UFC main event outpointing ‘Prime Time’ for the majority of their five-round contest on route to a unanimous decision victory.
Pros react after Sean Strickland defeats Uriah Hall at UFC Vegas 33
Chris Taylor - July 31, 2021
A key middleweight bout between Uriah Hall and Sean Strickland served as the headliner of tonight’s UFC Vegas 33 event. Hall (17-10 MMA) had entered tonight’s main event sporting a four-fight winning streak. During that impressive run, ‘Prime Time’ earned stoppage victories over Bevon Lewis, Anderson Silva and most recently Chris Weidman.
UFC Vegas 33 Results: Sean Strickland defeats Uriah Hall (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - July 31, 2021
A key middleweight bout between Uriah Hall and Sean Strickland serves as the headliner of tonight’s UFC Vegas 33 event. Hall (17-9 MMA) will enter tonight’s main event sporting a four-fight winning streak. During that impressive run, ‘Prime Time’ has scored stoppage victories over Bevon Lewis, Anderson Silva and most recently Chris Weidman.
UFC Vegas 33: 'Hall vs Strickland' Live Results and Highlights
Chris Taylor - July 31, 2021
The Octagon remains in Nevada for tonight’s UFC Vegas 33 event, a ten-bout fight card headlined by middleweights Uriah Hall and Sean Strickland. Hall (17-9 MMA) will enter tonight’s main event sporting a four-fight winning streak. During that impressive run, ‘Prime Time’ has scored stoppage victories over Bevon Lewis, Anderson Silva and most recently Chris Weidman.
Bellator 263 Fighter Salaries: Patricio Freire guaranteed $250,000 win or lose
Chris Taylor - July 31, 2021
The fighter salaries for tonight’s Bellator 263 event have been revealed and featherweight headliners Patricio Freire and A.J. McKee are set to cash in. Freire and McKee will collide in the tournament finals of the promotions 145-pound grand prix this evening, with the winner set to take home an additional $1 million award.
UFC Vegas 33 takes another hit, down to a total of nine bouts
Chris Taylor - July 31, 2021
UFC Vegas 33 is now down to a total of nine contests, this after losing a scheduled welterweight bout between Jared Gooden and Niklas Stolze. Tonight’s fight card was originally slated to feature fifteen contests. However, due to slew of botched weight cuts and recent positive tests for COVID, the event will now proceed with just nine fights (at least we hope).