MMA News
Kenny Florian joins PFL commentary team
Adam D Martin - March 23, 2021
Former UFC lightweight title challenger Kenny Florian is taking his talents to the PFL commentary booth for the promotion’s third season. Florian, arguably one of the most popular fighters in UFC history, formerly called fights in the Octagon but left the UFC commentary booth a few years ago. He has continued to host the “Anik and Florian” podcast alongside current UFC mic man Jon Anik, as well as provide commentary for the BattleBots television show. But Florian’s calling has always been the fight game, and ahead of PFL’s third season, the promotion has brought him on to call fights. He will do so alongside UFC Hall of Fame Randy Couture and Sean O’Connell.
Khama Worthy believes he will pick apart Jamie Mullarkey, confident he has "a few ways to finish"
Cole Shelton - March 23, 2021
Khama Worthy is confident he will return to the win column on the main card of UFC 260. Worthy is coming off a first-round knockout loss to Ottman Azaitar last September and he was hoping to return to the Octagon much sooner. However, the UFC had different plans and was offered to fight Jamie Mullarkey at UFC 260, who is 0-2 in the UFC.
Boulder shooting suspect Ahmad Alissa was two-time gold medalist in NAGA grappling tournaments
Adam D Martin - March 23, 2021
Boulder shooting suspect Ahmad Alissa was a two-time gold medalist in North American Grappling Association (NAGA) grappling tournaments. On Monday, a suspect allegedly shot and killed 10 people in a Boulder, Colorado grocery store in what can only be described as another tragic mass shooting in the United States. On Tuesday, police identified the shooter as Ahmad Alissa, a 21-year-old man who has since been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder in connection with the shootings.
Tai Tuivasa shuts down “veteran” label following KO at UFC Vegas 22: “I feel I’m just learning MMA”
Harry Kettle - March 23, 2021
UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa has dismissed the idea that he’s a “veteran” in the promotion after his big win at UFC Vegas 22 last weekend. Tuivasa has been a member of the UFC roster since back in late 2017 and ever since then, he’s had quite the rollercoaster ride in the promotion. After winning his first three bouts in the Octagon, he proceeded to lose three straight after that, with one of those being a main event TKO defeat at the hands of Junior dos Santos.
Vicente Luque expecting a "dangerous" Tyron Woodley, but expects to finish him at UFC 260
Cole Shelton - March 23, 2021
Vicente Luque is eager to share the Octagon with Tyron Woodley. On the main card of this Saturday’s UFC 260 pay-per-view, Luque is set to face another top-10 opponent as he looks to climb the welterweight ranks. After he came up short against Stephen Thompson, he rallied off back-to-back wins over Niko Price and Randy Brown, and after his last win over Brown, Luque thought the Woodley fight made sense.
Conor McGregor re-enters UFC pound for pound rankings following Khabib Nurmagomedov’s official retirement
Adam D Martin - March 23, 2021
UFC superstar Conor McGregor has re-entered the UFC pound-for-pound rankings following Khabib Nurmagomedov making his retirement official. The former UFC lightweight champion Nurmagomedov announced last week that he was stepping away from the Octagon for good, six months after first suggesting he would retire following his win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. With Nurmagomedov stepping away from MMA, he not only vacated the UFC lightweight title but also his spot atop the UFC pound-for-pound rankings. And with an open spot in the top-15 now that Nurmagomedov is out, McGregor — his longtime rival in the sport — is coincidentally the fighter who replaced him. Take a look at the latest UFC pound-for-pound rankings (via Jed I. Goodman).
Islam Makhachev says Michael Chandler doesn't deserve UFC lightweight title shot
Adam D Martin - March 23, 2021
Islam Makhachev says that divisional rival Michael Chandler doesn’t deserve to fight Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC lightweight title. Last week, Makhachev’s good friend, former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, announced his retirement from MMA. That means the 155lbs belt is now vacated, and the promotion quickly moved to book Chandler vs. Oliveira in the main event of UFC 262 in Houston for the vacant title. It’s a great fight on paper between two of the top-five ranked lightweights in the UFC, but some believe it wasn’t the right fight to make.
Jon Jones shares a message for individuals who pull out cell phones instead of helping during emergency situations
Adam D Martin - March 23, 2021
UFC superstar Jon Jones shared a harsh message for individuals who pull out cell phones instead of helping out during emergency situations. Jones played the “tweet and delete” game on Tuesday morning when the former UFC light heavyweight champion put out a tweet criticizing those who pull out their cell phones instead of helping others. It’s unclear exactly what prompted Jones to make the tweet but he sent it out and then decided that he wanted to remove it and deleted it. See it below.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 33 with Vicente Luque, Khama Worthy, Gillian Robertson, and Modestas Bukauskas
Cole Shelton - March 23, 2021
The 33rd episode of Just Scrap Radio with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC 260. We’re first joined by the 10th-ranked UFC welterweight contender, Vicente Luque (2:28). Next, UFC lightweight, Khama Worthy (20:56) comes on. 15th-ranked UFC flyweight, Gillian Robertson (35:02) joins the show. Closing out the program is UFC light heavyweight, Modestas Bukauskas (43:57).
Derek Brunson explains why he didn’t talk back to Kevin Holland during their fight at UFC Vegas 22
Harry Kettle - March 23, 2021
UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson explained why he didn’t talk back to Kevin Holland during their bizarre UFC Vegas 22 main event. There was a lot of expectation heading into Brunson vs Holland this past weekend, with the latter being tipped for stardom with a big victory. In the end, though, it was Brunson who was able to impress with a unanimous decision win that takes his current win streak up to four. The veteran utilized his wrestling advantage in the contest to get his hand raised.
Watch the corner advice from James Krause that inspired Grant Dawson’s last second KO over Leonardo Santos
Adam D Martin - March 23, 2021
UFC welterweight James Krause gave his pupil, lightweight prospect Grant Dawson, an incredible pep talk before he KOed Leonardo Santos. Krause, the head trainer at Glory MMA & Fitness, has been getting lots of attention in the past year or so, not for his fighting skills, but for his coaching skills. The head trainer for numerous UFC fighters including Tim Elliott, Darrick Minner, and Kevin Croom, Krause has shown an incredible ability to be a teacher and a motivator. We saw that on display first hand once again this weekend when he was in the corner of the top prospect Dawson.
Polyana Viana responds to ‘revolting’ sexual comments from Colby Covington
Christopher Taylor - March 22, 2021
Polyana Viana has responded after being mentioned in ‘revolting’ sexual comments by former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington. Covington made headlines last week when he suggested that he declined an offer from the UFC to fight Leon Edwards on short-notice because he was “balls deep” in Viana.
Sean O’Malley warns fans not to bet on him at UFC 260
Christopher Taylor - March 22, 2021
Sean O’Malley doesn’t wants fans to bet on him in his upcoming fight with Thomas Almeida at UFC 260. O’Malley (12-1 MMA) will return to the Octagon on the main card of Saturday’s pay-per-view event for a bantamweight showdown with Almeida ( MMA).
Jim Miller reveals UFC paid him "a fraction" of his purse for canceled UFC 258 fight: "I made a couple thousand dollars"
Cole Shelton - March 22, 2021
Jim Miller was disappointed he ended up not getting to fight at UFC 258 after making weight. But, what was worse is the fact he went home without his full paycheck. Miller was set to face Bobby Green in the prelim headliner of UFC 258 in February. However, at weigh-ins, Green fainted and the fight was called off. For Miller, he says it sucked for him to not fight given he took the fight on a week’s notice and cut a ton of weight.
Myron Molotky looking to build XFC into top-tier MMA promotion: "We are not a feeder league for anybody"
Cole Shelton - March 22, 2021
XFC MMA is set for its first Young Guns event on March 27 and president, Myron Molotky couldn’t be more excited. When XFC re-launched last year, the first event was a success with the promotion airing on NBC as well. However, as the company was in the stages of re-launching, Molotky made it known he wanted to find the next superstar. To do that, he launched Young Guns, where he will have several fighters making their debuts or only a handful of fights into their career compete on the card as they look to get an official XFC contract.
Stipe Miocic on Francis Ngannou rematch: "The style I have is not good for him"
Cole Shelton - March 22, 2021
Stipe Miocic expects to defeat Francis Ngannou again. In the main event of UFC 260, Miocic and Ngannou are having their rematch three years in the making. The two first met at UFC 220 where Miocic used his wrestling to control the fight and win a clear-cut decision.
Tito Ortiz pleads with parents to take off their kids' masks
Adam Martin - March 22, 2021
UFC Hall of Famer and Huntington Beach Mayor Pro Tem Tito Ortiz pleaded with parents to take off their kids’ masks during a recent interview. Ortiz has been very outspoken about COVID-19 in general ever since he took over the role of Mayor Pro Tem in his native Huntington Beach near the end of 2020. Ortiz said in December that he was anti-mask and he allegedly didn’t wear a mask at city hall, which led to complaints from employees there. A few months later and Ortiz is still nothing but critical about the masks, going so far as to tell parents not to let their kids wear them.
Conor McGregor says beating Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 was his "best performance"
Adam D Martin - March 22, 2021
UFC superstar Conor McGregor says that beating Eddie Alvarez by knockout at UFC 205 was the “best performance” of his MMA career. McGregor — then the UFC featherweight champion — moved to 155lbs for the Alvarez fight, and he finished him in breathtaking fashion in the second round with punches to capture the UFC lightweight championship. That was in November 2016, when McGregor truly was in the prime of his career. Nearly five years later, McGregor agrees the Alvarez fight was the best he’s ever looked in the Octagon, calling it the “best performance” of his career.