MMA News

Cole Shelton - September 9, 2019

Tony Ferguson was not impressed with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s performance against Dustin Poirier this past weekend in Abu Dhabi. In the main event of UFC 242, Nurmagomedov defended his lightweight title by third-round submission. He seemingly dominated the fight from the get-go using his wrestling and relentless pressure to stop Poirier in his tracks. However, Ferguson was not impressed by Khabib, claiming his performance was lazy.

Thomas Taylor - September 9, 2019

We know that Khabib Nurmagomedov is a star in his native Russia. Yet in the wake of his UFC 242 victory over Dustin Poirier, which went down last Saturday in Abu Dhabi, it’s becoming clear that he’s an absolute mega star in his homeland. According to figures tracked by Mediascope and TV Index, and reported by RT Sport and Sport-Express.Ru, Nurmagomedov’s UFC 242 victory over Poirier has already passed 26 million viewers on Russia’s Channel 1 and its subsidiary networks, where it aired for free.

Tom Taylor - September 9, 2019

When welterweight contenders Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz step into the cage for the UFC 244 main event this November, there will a belt on the line. But it won’t be the undisputed welterweight title. It won’t even be an interim title. Instead, it will be the newly-created “baddest motherf**ker in the game” belt — as confirmed by UFC President Dana White. So how will this belt work? Will the winner defend the title? White explained the plan for this new title at the UFC 242 post-fight press conference.

Adam Martin - September 9, 2019

Bellator and RIZIN are eyeing a year-end show in Japan featuring some of the best fighters from both promotions. Reports indicate Bellator president Scott Coker and RIZIN bossman Nobuyuki Sakakibara are in talks for a main event between Fedor Emelianenko and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, as well as a light heavyweight co-main event between Ryan Bader and Jiri Prochazka. Veteran MMA scribe Josh Gross of The Athletic shared the news via Twitter that Bellator and RIZIN hope to have a card December 29 in Japan, and they hope to bill it as Emelianenko’s final fight in Japan.

Fernando Quiles - September 9, 2019

Kelvin Gastelum doesn’t plan to get lost in all the hoopla surrounding his bout with Darren Till. Some fight fans were left puzzled when it was revealed that Till will move up in weight to take on Gastelum at UFC 244 on Nov. 2. The sticking point isn’t that Till is changing weight class, as many anticipated the move. The issue with many is that Gastelum is an elite 185-pounder while Till is coming off two stoppage losses at welterweight.

Tom Taylor - September 9, 2019

Dustin Poirier was not able to defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242. Post-fight, the latest UFC lightweight title challenger has made no secret of how much this loss stings. In fact, he even hinted that he may not fight again in one of his post-fight social media posts. “Thank you guys for the support, it means a lot to me,” Poirier said in a video posted to social media. “If I choose to fight again, I’ll be back strong. If not I’ll see what God has in store for me.”

Adam Martin - September 9, 2019

Following his submission win over Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 242, UFC president Dana White believes Khabib Nurmagomedov is closing in on GOAT status in MMA. The UFC bossman made these comments to reporters during the event’s post-fight press conference. According to White, Nurmagomedov is a special, one-of-a-kind talent.

Tom Taylor - September 9, 2019

On November 2, in the main event of UFC 244, Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz will collide for the aptly named “baddest motherf**ker in the game” belt. From the sounds of it, it could be one of the biggest stars in the world that wraps this new belt around the winner’s waist: Dwayne Johnson — aka “The Rock.” When this Diaz vs. Masvidal fight was announced, The Rock expressed his excitement with the matchup on social media. Shortly thereafter, Masvidal mentioned The Rock on Twitter, asking the pro wrestler turned Hollywood star to strap the belt around his waist if he wins.

Tom Taylor - September 9, 2019

Back in April, Tyron Woodley surrendered the UFC welterweight title to Kamaru Usman. Ever since, he’s been campaigning for a do-over with the new champion. Woodley once again called for that rematch with Usman over the weekend, shortly after news surfaced that negotiations for a bout between Usman and Colby Covington had fizzled. He did so in the replies to an Instagram post from ESPN reporter Ariel Helwani.

Tom Taylor - September 9, 2019

Earlier this year, Cris Cyborg parted ways with the UFC. Based on UFC President Dana White’s telling of this highly publicized split, it was the UFC that decided to end the relationship. Cyborg, however, begs to differ.

Tom Taylor - September 9, 2019

Chatri Sityodtong is not only the Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, but also a dedicated student of the martial arts. Even with a jam-packed schedule, he still finds time to hone his martial arts game in the gym — and his efforts are paying off. Speaking on his social media channels, the ONE boss proudly announced that he has earned a Renzo Gracie purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Tom Taylor - September 9, 2019

Mixed martial arts is a nasty business. Fighters routinely sustain nasty injuries in their bouts, from cuts, to hematomas, and of course, broken bones. That latter thing is just what we saw on the postlims of Bellator 226 last weekend, when Albert Gonzales took on Tyson Miller. It was a sequence not unlike the final moment of the infamous Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman 2 fight, which left Silva with a leg like cooked spaghetti after Weidman checked one of his kicks. This time around, it was Gonzales who threw the kick, and was ultimately left writhing on the floor after Miller checked it.

Natasha Hooper - September 9, 2019

The weekend was action-packed. UFC 242 went down with some stellar performances, Khabib Nurmagomedov achieved his 28th consecutive victory, Paul Felder got revenge in his rematch against Edson Barboza and Islam Makhachev represented his Dagestani followers with a unanimous decision win. On top of this, the UFC announced that the ‘baddest motherf**kers in the game’ will be fighting later this year — Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. Brett Okamoto and Dana White announced that Diaz will be facing Masvidal at UFC 244 in November at Madison Square Garden, New York City.

Natasha Hooper - September 9, 2019

Jon Jones made an accurate prediction for the UFC 242 main event, but was rooting for Dustin Poirier in the run-up to Poirier’s lightweight championship opportunity against Khabib Nurmagomedov. The lightweight stars faced off at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi. The undefeated champion Nurmagomedov was a clear favourite. So, it was no big surprise when he sealed the victory and submitted Poirier in the third round.

Natasha Hooper - September 8, 2019

Justin Gaethje is not backtracking on his controversial comments against Conor McGregor. Over the weekend, Khabib Nurmagomedov beat Dustin Poirier and defended his lightweight title. Conor McGregor used the opportunity to request a rematch against ‘The Eagle’, much to the dismay of Justin Gaethje. He responded to the Irish fighter online:

Cole Shelton - September 8, 2019

Ryan Bader was looking for the first title defense of his heavyweight belt when he took on Cheick Kongo in the main event of Bellator 226. Yet, he did not get to defend his title but did not lose it either. Instead, the fight was ruled a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke from Bader. Now, after the fight, ‘Darth’ believes Kongo used the eye poke as the reason to get out of the scrap.

Chris Taylor - September 8, 2019

The estimated fighter salaries stemming from yesterday’s UFC 242 pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi have been revealed. UFC 242 was headlined by a lightweight title unification bout featuring Khabib Nurmagomedov taking on Dustin Poirier.

Thomas Taylor - September 8, 2019

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is a massive, international star. Nowhere his superstardom more massive, however, than in his native Dagestan, Russia. When he fights — more aptly, when he wins — the entire region seems to erupt in celebration.