MMA News
Demian Maia praises Matt Brown following recent rematch callout: "The respect is mutual"
Adam D Martin - June 23, 2021
UFC welterweight veteran Demian Maia praised Matt Brown following his recent callout for a rematch, suggesting that “the respect is mutual.” The 43-year-old Maia recently lost a unanimous decision to Belal Muhammad at UFC 263 and following the fight, UFC president Dana White hinted that could be the last time we see the legendary Brazilian inside the Octagon as Maia is one of the oldest fighters in the UFC and is on a two-fight losing skid. However, Maia has said that he wants to fight one more time before he hangs up his gloves for good, and he called out Nate Diaz for his final fight.
Claressa Shields returns to the PFL cage in August
Adam D Martin - June 23, 2021
Boxer-turned-MMA fighter Claressa Shields returns to the PFL cage in August when she competes for the second time in mixed martial arts. Shields made her MMA debut earlier this month when she finished Brittany Elkin via third-round TKO for a successful first foray into mixed martial arts. It wasn’t an easy fight for Shields, who struggled with her takedown defense for the first two rounds of the fight as Elkin dominated her on the mat. However, Shields was able to conserve her gas tank, and when Elkin started to get tired in the third round of the fight, Shields started to unload massive ground and pound on her opponent and pick up the first win of her MMA career.
Nate Diaz responds after Stephen Thompson suggests he should drop back down to lightweight
Harry Kettle - June 23, 2021
Nate Diaz has issued his response following a suggestion from Stephen Thompson that he should go back down to lightweight. It’s well known that “Wonderboy” is one of the nicest guys in mixed martial arts but beneath that exterior, he’s also one of the most dangerous welterweights on the planet – and he’s been proving that for years now.
Leon Edwards calls Belal Muhammad a “clown” for his rematch request, ‘Remember the Name’ returns fire with multiple insults
Harry Kettle - June 23, 2021
Belal Muhammad hasn’t taken kindly to being called a “clown” by Leon Edwards after Muhammad asked for a rematch. The two men squared off earlier this year with an unfortunate eye poke bringing proceedings to an early end. Ever since then, Edwards has been able to get in the win column against Nate Diaz with Muhammad also picking up a win against Demian Maia.
Stephen Thompson explains what Conor McGregor needs to do to beat Dustin Poirier at UFC 264
Cole Shelton - June 22, 2021
Stephen Thompson believes Conor McGregor has what it takes to beat Dustin Poirier. In the main event of UFC 264, McGregor and Poirier will have their highly-anticipated trilogy bout. It’s an intriguing matchup, but many believe McGregor won’t have the ability to change everything he needs to do to beat Poirier. Yet, for Thompson, he thinks the Irishman has what it takes to win this fight as long as he goes back to his karate style and uses his movement.
Anthony Smith: 'Jon Jones failed every drug test the entire week leading up to our fight'
Drake Riggs - June 22, 2021
Anthony Smith and Jon Jones have had a more heated rivalry after their UFC 235 clash than they did before it. Smith rebounded from his unanimous decision title loss to Jones with a fourth-round submission of Alexander Gustafsson. Afterward, Smith came up short in a wild affair with Glover Teixeira. This ultimately led to some shots being taken by Jones as Smith was a victim of a home invasion incident and didn’t take too kindly to the then champion’s comments.
Kamaru Usman responds to criticism from Nate Diaz: “I see you 209. If you really want this 187 then call your boy Hunter”
Cole Shelton - June 22, 2021
Kamaru Usman has responded to Nate Diaz after his recent criticism. Diaz took to social media on Tuesday to blast the welterweight champ for only fighting opponents he already beat and knocked out. Usman was criticized for the rematch due to the fact he dominated Masvidal less than a year prior.
Nate Diaz criticizes Kamaru Usman's fight booking
Cole Shelton - June 22, 2021
Nate Diaz isn’t a fan of Kamaru Usman and the opponents he is facing. At UFC 261, Usman rematched Jorge Masvidal not even a year after dominating him on Fight Island to defend his belt. Yet, “Gamebred” took the fight on just six days’ notice and had to fly around the world. Usman wanted the chance to prove how much better he was and did so in dramatic fashion as he KO’d Masvidal out cold, yet for Diaz, he isn’t impressed.
Khabib Nurmagomedov reaffirms decision to retire: "I have no desire to come back and I don't think I ever will"
Adam D Martin - June 22, 2021
UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov reaffirmed his decision to retire, saying that “I have no desire to come back and I don’t think I ever will.” Nurmagomedov first revealed his intentions to step away from mixed martial arts following his submission win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 last October. That victory improved Nurmagomedov’s MMA record to a perfect 29-0, and UFC president Dana White was hoping the legend would come back for one final fight and try to make it an even 30-0. However, “The Eagle” decided that it was the right time to walk away and he vacated the UFC lightweight title and officially stepped away from the sport earlier this year.
Sean Strickland trashes keyboard warriors following incident with Orlando Sanchez
Adam D Martin - June 22, 2021
UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland trashed keyboard warriors following his much-publicized incident in training with Orlando Sanchez. Strickland, one of the top-15 ranked middleweights in the UFC, is currently training for his fight this summer against Uriah Hall. As part of his camp, he was working pummel drills with Sanchez, a BJJ world champion who attempted a standing armlock on Strickland. “Tarzan” was not happy about it and the video of him arguing with Sanchez went viral.
Artem Lobov expecting a "Fight of the Year candidate" in bare-knuckle fight against Olympic silver medalist Denys Berinchyk
Cole Shelton - June 22, 2021
Artem Lobov is eager to face Denys Berinchyk on July 24. In the main event of Mahatch FC, Lobov will face the current undefeated WBO international lightweight champ boxer in Berinchyk. He’s also an Olympic silver medalist, winning the medal in 2012. His résumé speaks for itself which is why Lobov is excited about the fight.
Matt Brown pondering fighting future after KO win: "I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't fight again"
Cole Shelton - June 22, 2021
Matt Brown doesn’t know if he’ll make the walk to the Octagon again. At UFC Vegas 29, Brown returned to the win column in a big way as he scored a violent second-round KO over Dhiego Lima. The first round was a back-and-forth one, but after the round ended, Brown saw some tendencies that allowed him to land the big power punch.
Gilbert Burns says Leon Edwards "wasn't hungry" enough against Nate Diaz to earn title shot
Adam D Martin - June 22, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns says that Leon Edwards “wasn’t hungry” enough against Nate Diaz to earn a title shot at 170lbs. Edwards won a unanimous decision over Diaz at UFC 263 earlier this month, but he was rocked badly in the fifth round of the fight and was nearly finished. Still, he got the win and now Edwards is on a 10-fight unbeaten streak. With that kind of a winning streak, there’s no surprise that Edwards is out there stumping for a title shot. But UFC president Dana White has already said that Colby Covington is next in line to fight UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who defeated Burns earlier this year at UFC 258 by knockout.
Chris Weidman confident he will fight again after breaking leg at UFC 261
Adam D Martin - June 22, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman says he is confident he will fight again after breaking his leg against Uriah Hall at UFC 261. Weidman snapped his leg on a kick that Hall checked in the opening moments of their fight at UFC 261. It was one of the most brutal injuries we have ever seen inside the Octagon, and at the moment it happened, many fans were wondering if Weidman would ever fight again. Incredibly, Weidman is already walking around less than two months after the incident took place. In fact, he’s already back in the gym doing some pad work and light sparring, and he even golfed a full 18 holes. “The All-American” might have broken his leg, but he’s not letting that injury stop him from continuing to be a tremendous athlete.
Khamzat Chimaev needs to get tested against the top dogs, says Ian Heinisch: "He's definitely got some lessons to learn"
Adam D Martin - June 22, 2021
Khamzat Chimaev needs to get tested against the top dogs, says Ian Heinisch, suggesting that “he’s definitely got some lessons to learn.” Heinisch has been in-and-out of the UFC middleweight top-15 over the last few years, a place which Chimaev occupied briefly following his quick KO win over Gerald Meerschaert last year. Heinisch, of course, also has a big KO win over Meerschaert, but unlike Chimaev, Heinisch never got the sort of hype that Chimaev got after he knocked Meerschaert out. And while Heinisch says he can’t hate on the “stud” Chimaev for getting the hype, he still believes that the young Swede has a lot to learn inside the Octagon.
Belal Muhammad rips Leon Edwards for Nate Diaz fight: "You probably lost more fans than you gained in that one"
Adam D Martin - June 22, 2021
Belal Muhammad ripped rival Leon Edwards for the Nate Diaz fight, saying that “you probably lost more fans than you gained in that one.” Muhammad is coming off of a unanimous decision win over Demian Maia at UFC 263, and Edwards defeated Diaz via decision on the same card. However, while Edwards got his hand raised in the fight, most people remember the fifth round where Diaz rocked Edwards badly. The Brit was able to hold on and survive, but it didn’t seem like the type of elite performance that will earn him a title shot, and that’s why Muhammad wants the rematch.
Photo | Kanako Murata shares x-ray of nasty arm injury suffered at UFC Vegas 29
Harry Kettle - June 22, 2021
UFC strawweight Kanako Murata has shared an x-ray image of the horrific arm injury she suffered at UFC Vegas 29 last weekend. Murata, who is now 12-2 in her professional mixed martial arts career, was beaten by Virna Jandiroba via arm injury on a gruesome night at the office for the Japanese star. It brought a humbling end to an eight-fight win streak and, in the process, left her arm in tatters.
Jake Paul wants to drag Tyron Woodley to the deep waters in their boxing match: "We will see how well Tyron can swim"
Cole Shelton - June 21, 2021
Jake Paul is hoping his upcoming boxing match against Tyron Woodley will last longer than his other pro bouts. Paul, who’s currently 3-0 as a pro and has two first-round TKO’s and one second-round KO, will have his toughest test on August 28 against Woodley. It’s an intriguing matchup and both men have promised fairly early KOs as the brash YouTuber doesn’t think Woodley will be able to handle his power. Yet, if he does, he says he’s excited for that as he knows he has what it takes to box eight hard rounds.