MMA News
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).
Michael Chandler reacts after booking fight with Justin Gaethje at UFC 268
Chris Taylor - July 31, 2021
Michael Chandler is excited to erase the pain of failure when he squares off with Justin Gaethje at UFC 268 on November 4 in New York City. After earning a first round knockout over Dan Hooker in his Octagon debut, Chandler (22-6 MMA) was booked to fight Charles Oliveira for the promotions vacant lightweight title at UFC 262.
UFC Vegas 33 co-headliner scratched just hours before the event
Chris Taylor - July 31, 2021
Tonight’s UFC Vegas 33 event is down to a total of ten contests, this after losing its scheduled co-headliner between Rani Yahya and Kyung Ho Kang. Yahya (27-10-1 MMA) and Kang (17-8 MMA) had been booked in a bantamweight matchup which was set to serve as the co-main attraction of tonight’s fight card in Las Vegas.
Nate Diaz responds after being labelled a "fake gangster" by Gilbert Burns
Chris Taylor - July 30, 2021
Nate Diaz has responded after being labelled a “bitch ass fake gangster” by top UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns. Burns (20-4 MMA) returned to the win column earlier this month at UFC 264, where he defeated former welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson by way of unanimous decision. Following his victory over ‘Wonderboy’, the Brazilian proceeded to callout a number of fighters including Jorge Masvidal, Leon Edwards and the aforementioned Nate Diaz.
Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler agreed to for UFC 268
Cole Shelton - July 30, 2021
Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler will finally meet inside the Octagon. Ever since Chandler signed to the UFC, he has been linked to a fight with Gaethje. After both men lost their fights for the belt, the scrap made all the more sense. However, the former Bellator champ claimed Gaethje was turning him down. Now, according to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Gaethje and Chandler have agreed to fight one another on November 6 at UFC 268. The event will likely take place at Madison Square Garden.
Artem Lobov announces retirement from fighting
Cole Shelton - July 30, 2021
Artem Lobov has decided to walk away from combat sports. Last Saturday, Lobov lost by TKO to Denys Berinchyk in a bare-knuckle fight. Berinchyk is an Olympic silver medalist and an undefeated WBO international lightweight champ. After the fight, Lobov hinted he would likely retire.
UFC Vegas 33 weigh-in results: Nicco Montano has huge weight miss, several fights compromised
Adam D Martin - July 30, 2021
The official weigh-ins for UFC Vegas 33 took place on Friday in Las Vegas, Nevada, and we had a huge weight miss from Nicco Montano. Montano, who has struggled to make weight throughout her UFC career, came in at 143lbs for her women’s bantamweight bout against Wu Yanan. Montano has not fought in over two years and has had a string of fights scratched. The UFC has officially confirmed that this fight is off.
Patricio Pitbull sends a warning about respect to AJ McKee ahead of Bellator 263
Adam D Martin - July 30, 2021
Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull sent a warning about respect to his upcoming opponent AJ McKee ahead of Bellator 263. Pitbull, the Bellator 145lbs and 155lbs champion, steps into the cage on Saturday night in Los Angeles against McKee in the finals of the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix. Pitbull has won seven straight fights heading into this finale, while McKee is undefeated with a 17-0 record in Bellator and in MMA. The son of former UFC fighter Antonio McKee is confident that he can beat Pitbull, and at the press conference ahead of the fight, he told the Brazilian that he would beat him up in front of his wife and kids. Pitbull did not take kindly to the comments and they got into an altercation afterwards, which he explained.
Uriah Hall hoping for future UFC title fight against Israel Adesanya: "I think my style is perfectly matched up for him"
Adam D Martin - July 30, 2021
Uriah Hall is hoping for a future UFC title fight against Israel Adesanya, saying that “I think my style is perfectly matched up for him.” Hall takes on Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC Vegas 33 this Saturday night in a battle of top-15 ranked middleweights. Both Hall and Strickland are riding four-fight win streaks into this fight, so the winner will assuredly be in line for a top-ranked opponent should they win in an impressive fashion. For both Hall and Strickland, the goal is to keep getting their hands raised and eventually get to a title shot against the middleweight champion Adesanya. For Hall, beating Strickland would give him five straight wins at 185lbs, and after beating Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman previously, he is hoping that a big win over Strickland will springboard him to near the top of the middleweight division.