MMA News
Women's martial arts pioneer Kathy Long praises pupil Daniel Rodriguez ahead of Mike Perry fight
Adam D Martin - April 9, 2021
Legendary women’s martial artist Kathy Long praised her pupil Daniel Rodriguez ahead of his fight against Mike Perry at UFC Vegas 23. Long is a pioneer in the world of mixed martial arts. She was part of the commentary team at UFC 1, which shows you how long she truly has been in the game for. She was doing mixed martial arts before it was cool, getting black belts in Aikido and in Kung Fu San Soo in the 1980s before making the move to kickboxing in the 1990s, where she became one of the best women’s kickboxers of all time. In 1991, she was inducted into the Black Belt magazine “Hall of Fame.” She also boxed, learned Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and made her MMA debut at age 45. She won that fight and then in 2015 in Mexico she won another MMA fight at age 51. In addition, she was in a number of movies including “Batman Returns” as the stunt double for Michelle Pfeiffer and she was also in Oliver Stone’s “Natural Born Killers.”
Petr Yan sends a message to Aljamain Sterling: “Your ass is getting stripped p*ssy”
Adam D Martin - April 9, 2021
UFC bantamweight contender Petr Yan sent a message to his rival Aljamain Sterling, telling him that “your ass is getting stripped p*ssy.” Yan and Sterling met last month at UFC 259 and their fight ended in controversy, after Yan landed an illegal knee late in the fourth round that caused the fight to be ruled a DQ win for Sterling. For the past month, these two rivals have been going back-and-forth with each other on social media. They did so again on Thursday when Yan took a shot at Sterling for potentially needing nine more months to recover. Sterling apparently told the UFC that he is not ready to defend his belt anytime soon and Yan isn’t having any of it.
Georges St-Pierre explains why the gym is "one of the happiest places and the saddest places" he can go
Adam D Martin - April 9, 2021
UFC legend Georges St-Pierre explained why being in the gym is “one of the happiest places and the saddest places” he can go. St-Pierre has often spoken about his love-hate relationship with MMA. The legend has admitted that the feeling of winning and the riches that come with it were always a draw for him, but he also has spoken very openly about how much stress there is involved with it. Another thing that bothers GSP is the way dreams are made and broken in the gym. Every time he goes to the gym it’s good that he gets to train but it’s hard for GSP at times.
Adriano Moraes reveals conversation he had with "amazing guy" Jorge Masvidal about knees in MMA
Adam D Martin - April 9, 2021
ONE Championship flyweight champion Adriano Moraes revealed the conversation he had with UFC star Jorge Masvidal about throwing knees in MMA. Moraes finished former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson with an uppercut and knees at ONE on TNT 1 this past Wednesday. It was a phenomenal performance by Moraes, who was a massive betting underdog heading into this bout. Following the upset win, Moraes noted that he had a conversation with Masvidal about how “knees change lives.” Masvidal knows that first-hand because after he knocked out Ben Askren with a flying knee at UFC 239, he became a true superstar and his life has never been the same since then.
Martin Nguyen fight canceled after person sitting in front of him on flight tests positive for COVID-19
Drake Riggs - April 8, 2021
Former ONE Championship double champ Martin Nguyen was set to try and rebound on ONE on TNT 2 next Wednesday, April 14. Unfortunately, that will no longer be happening due to reasons out of his control. Nguyen was booked as the co-main event next week against Kim Jae Woong. But just when he thought he was in the clear, the Singaporean government pulled the plug.
Miesha Tate: 'There's not a doubt in my mind' that a Ronda Rousey trilogy bout goes differently
Drake Riggs - April 8, 2021
Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey share one of the most famous rivalries in MMA history, if not the most famous. Given the opportunity, Tate is fully confident that a trilogy bout sees different results from the first two outings. Throughout her storied career, Tate put on several incredible performances in numerous classic fights. Three of those coming against the likes of Rousey, Cat Zingano, and Holly Holm. When asked who she would be most interested in fighting against again out of the three, she answered in that order.
Jon Jones says he wants to be the same size "if not bigger" than Francis Ngannou when they fight
Cole Shelton - April 8, 2021
Jon Jones is bulking up quite a bit for his potential heavyweight debut against Francis Ngannou. Ever since Jones vacated the light heavyweight title, the plan was to move to heavyweight and he immediately began to bulk up. He has been posting training photos and videos of him transforming his body and according to “Bones” he says he wants to be bigger than Ngannou when they fight.
Jake Paul sends a violent warning to Ben Askren, tells his family not to watch: "Your dad will be bloodied, unconscious on the f*****g canvas"
Cole Shelton - April 8, 2021
Jake Paul has violent plans for Ben Askren. On April 17, Paul, the brash YouTube star, is set for his third professional boxing match as he battles Ben Askren. It’s a very intriguing fight that has caught the combat sports world by storm. For Paul, he is confident he will KO “Funky” and says he doesn’t want Askren’s family to watch.
Jon Jones expects Francis Ngannou fight will happen: "This is one of the greatest fights of our generation"
Cole Shelton - April 8, 2021
Jon Jones believes he will eventually share the Octagon with Francis Ngannou. After Jones vacated his light heavyweight title, he planned to move up to heavyweight and face the winner of Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou 2. After Ngannou scored the KO win, many fans were eager to see the fight, but Jones and the UFC haven’t been able to come to terms on his pay, yet, “Bones” believes the UFC will do the right thing and make the fight.
Colby Covington tells Kamaru Usman to "show the world some balls" and fight him again
Adam Martin - April 8, 2021
Top contender Colby Covington told his rival, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, to “show the world some balls” and fight him again. Covington and Usman met back at UFC 245 in December 2019. In what was Usman’s toughest test to date, Covington took him late into the fifth round in a tooth-and-nail fight. In the last minute of the fight, Usman landed the knockout blow when he broke Covington’s jaw and referee Marc Goddard stopped the fight. Covington to this day swears it was a quick stoppage and badly wants the rematch. However, to this point, Covington hasn’t been able to get a second fight with Usman, who instead chose to rematch Jorge Masvidal.
UFC fighter Sasha Palatnikov explains why he smokes weed: "It really helps me... because every day I’m getting punched and kicked by human beings”
Adam Martin - April 8, 2021
This Saturday night at UFC Vegas 23, welterweight prospect Sasha Palatnikov makes his highly-anticipated return to the Octagon. A veteran of UAE Warriors who packs a powerful punch, Palatnikov made his debut in the big show last year at UFC 255 when he picked up one of the biggest upset victories of 2020 when he finished Louis Cosce in the third round via TKO. This weekend, he returns to the Octagon when he takes on Impa Kasanagay on the UFC Vegas 23 undercard. It’s an excellent fight between two legitimate welterweight prospects and the winner will likely be in line for a bigger-name their next time out. Ahead of his upcoming fight, Palatnikov sat down with the Fanatics Fantasy MMA App team. The 32-year-old Hong Kong native and current Vegas resident spoke for over an hour with the team about a wide variety of topics, but one topic that piqued the fighter’s interest, in particular, was when he was asked how he celebrates after his fights. The Vegas resident admitted right away that he doesn’t like drinking.
David Michaud announces withdrawal from PFL tournament due to heart condition, career in doubt
Adam D Martin - April 8, 2021
PFL welterweight contender David Michaud announced his withdrawal from the PFL tournament due to a heart condition and his career is in doubt. Michaud is a former UFC fighter and current PFL standout who was expected to compete in the promotion’s upcoming welterweight tournament. As part of the regular season, “The Bulldawg” was scheduled to meet former UFC title contender Rory MacDonald in what would have been an awesome fight. Unfortunately for Michaud, he is out of the fight and out of the tournament due to serious health issues that have left his career in jeopardy.
Jorge Masvidal says the way he will beat up Colby Covington will make the Ben Askren finish look "very merciful"
Cole Shelton - April 8, 2021
Jorge Masvidal knows he and Colby Covington will end up fighting, and when they do, “Gamebred” is looking to hurt him. For years, Masvidal and Covington were best friends and roommates. They were regular training partners at American Top Team. Yet, after Covington became the interim champ, their relationship soured and the two now hate each other.
Georges St-Pierre calls Khabib Nurmagomedov the "scariest" pound-for-pound fighter in the world
Adam D Martin - April 8, 2021
UFC legend Georges St-Pierre called former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov the “scariest” pound-for-pound fighter in the world. St-Pierre and Nurmagomedov were widely connected for a potential fight between two of the best to ever do it. When you talk about the greatest fighters in the sport’s history, both GSP and Nurmagomedov are at the top of the list. There was hope that the two fighters would step into the Octagon together, but both men are happily retired and the fight seems like a pipe dream at this point, one of the “what if?” fights that we will never see in MMA.
Video | Eddie Alvarez sheds tears after Iuri Lapicus leaves on stretcher following DQ at ONE on TNT 1
Adam D Martin - April 8, 2021
ONE Championship lightweight Eddie Alvarez got very emotional and shed tears after Iuri Lapicus left on a stretcher following ONE on TNT 1. Alvarez took on Lapicus in the main card opener of the ONE on TNT 1 card on Wednesday night. The former UFC lightweight champion looked good early on as he was able to get Lapicus down to the mat and then tee off on punches. Unfortunately, some of the punches that Alvarez landed were deemed illegal shots to the back of the head by the referee, and “The Underground King” suffered a DQ loss. To make matters worse, Lapicus appeared to be seriously injured as he needed a stretcher to come into the cage and take him away.
Jon Jones seems optimistic that he will reach a deal with Dana White
Adam D Martin - April 8, 2021
UFC superstar Jon Jones seems optimistic that he will get a deal done with UFC president Dana White to fight Francis Ngannou. Jones and the UFC have been involved in very public contract negotiations for a potential heavyweight title fight with the new UFC champion Ngannou. The original plan was for Jones to fight the winner of Ngannou vs. Stipe Miocic 2 at UFC 260, but since that fight happened, White has suggested that Derrick Lewis could be Ngannou’s next opponent. That’s because Jones wants more money than the UFC initially offered. According to “Bones” he balked at the promotion’s initial suggestion of $8 to $10 million dollars.
Eddie Alvarez shuts down any talk of retirement after being disqualified at ONE on TNT 1
Adam D Martin - April 8, 2021
ONE Championship lightweight Eddie Alvarez shut down any potential retirement talks after losing to Iuri Lapicus via DQ at ONE on TNT 1. Alvarez joined ONE Championship in 2018 after a successful run in the Octagon that saw him win the UFC lightweight title. Since joining ONE, however, Alvarez has not achieved the success that most people thought he would. He lost his promotional debut in an upset when he was knocked out by the underrated power punch Timofey Nastyukhin, bounced back with a submission win over Eduard Folayang, and then suffered the DQ loss to Lapicus when the referee deemed his punches illegal strikes to the back of the head. All told, Alvarez is 1-2 in ONE on paper, and at age 37, some are starting to mention retirement.
Adriano Moraes credits Jorge Masvidal for knee that knocked out Demetrious Johnson
Adam D Martin - April 8, 2021
ONE Championship flyweight champion Adriano Moraes credited teammate Jorge Masvidal for the knee that knocked out Demetrious Johnson. Moraes shocked the world when he knocked out Johnson at ONE on TNT 1 on Wednesday night. The underrated Brazilian was a +500 underdog at the sportsbooks to defeat Johnson, who was a 10-to-1 favorite, but he did just that and more with flying colors. After a competitive first round that saw Moraes utilize his size advantage, in the second round Moraes dropped Johnson with an uppercut, and then he finished him off with a brutal knee on the ground. It was an incredible win for Moraes that legitimizes him as a champion.