MMA News
Dan Hardy weighs in on Eddie Alvarez’s controversial disqualification at ONE on TNT 1
Harry Kettle - April 9, 2021
Dan Hardy has given his thoughts on Eddie Alvarez’s controversial disqualification that took place at ONE on TNT 1 earlier this week. Alvarez was hoping to take a big step towards challenging for ONE’s lightweight title in his return to the cage but instead, he endured a setback in the form of a disqualification loss to Iuri Lapicus.
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.
Jorge Masvidal promises he will "break" Nate Diaz's face, ribs, and spirit again
Cole Shelton - April 8, 2021
Jorge Masvidal knows he and Nate Diaz will eventually rematch. At UFC 244 in November of 2019, Masvidal and Diaz fought for the BMF title in a highly-anticipated bout. Early on, “Gamebred” was landing heavy shots and even dropped Diaz with a kick. As the fight wore on, Masvidal kept on the pressure and after the third round, the doctor stopped the fight due to a cut above Diaz’s eye.
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.
Joe Solecki eager to share the Octagon with a "very dangerous" Jim Miller: "I've been watching him since I was 12"
Cole Shelton - April 8, 2021
Joe Solecki didn’t think he would be fighting Jim Miller in just his third UFC fight. After Solecki submitted Austin Hubbard last August, he wanted time off with a newborn on the way. However, the hope was to return in December or January, but the first contract offer he got was to face Miller.
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.
Valerie Loureda returns at Bellator 258
Adam D Martin - April 8, 2021
Women’s flyweight prospect Valerie Loureda returns to the cage at Bellator 258 when she takes on promotional newcomer Hannah Guy. Tom Taylor of Maxim.com was the first to report the Loureda vs. Guy fight, which will take place at Bellator 258 on May 7. The stacked card already features Bellator bantamweight champion Juan Archuleta vs. Sergio Pettis in the main event, plus a five-round co-main event bout between light heavyweights Yoel Romero and Anthony Johnson. Romero is Loureda’s teammate at American Top Team and they will both be on the same card.
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.
Ryan Bader unwilling to vacate heavyweight title, suggests Bellator make an interim belt
Harry Kettle - April 8, 2021
Ryan Bader isn’t willing to vacate his Bellator Heavyweight Championship as he prepares to enter the promotion’s light heavyweight tournament. Bader has been one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in Bellator for a few years now and while he may be moving into the twilight of his career, it definitely feels like he has the chance to cause some real damage in the aforementioned tournament.
Demetrious Johnson issues statement following first knockout loss
Drake Riggs - April 7, 2021
The unthinkable happened during ONE Championship’s first TNT event, ONE on TNT 1. The legendary Demetrious Johnson suffered a knockout loss. Entering his fourth bout with the promotion, Johnson had earned his title opportunity by winning his way through the ONE flyweight Grand Prix. Unfortunately for him, the champion in Adriano Moraes proved he was more legit than ever by putting away “Mighty Mouse” in just the second round.
Pros react after Adriano Moraes KO's Demetrious Johnson at ONE on TNT 1
Christopher Taylor - April 7, 2021
Demetrious Johnson returned to the caged circle at tonight’s ONE on TNT 1 event where he challenged Adriano Moraes for the flyweight championship. Johnson (30-4-1 MMA) had won the ONE Championship Flyweight Grand Prix back in October of 2019, this after defeating Danny Kingad by unanimous decision. The former UFC flyweight kingpin, ‘Mighty Mouse’, had gone 3-0 under the ONE banner prior to tonight’s main event, this after being traded to the promotion in 2018.