MMA News
Breaking! Cris Cyborg released by the UFC
Christopher Taylor - August 2, 2019
Former UFC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg has been released by the promotion according to Dana White. The UFC President broke the news during an interview with ESPN‘s Laura Sanko.
Robbie Lawler talks Colby Covington matchup & why it makes sense
Fernando Quiles - August 2, 2019
Robbie Lawler had just five weeks to prepare for Colby Covington, but he feels taking the fight is worth it. Lawler was last seen in action back in March. He took on Ben Askren on the main card of UFC 235. “Ruthless” lost the bout via controversial submission in the first round. It didn’t take Lawler long to get back on the horse as he’ll meet Covington tomorrow night (Aug. 3). The welterweight clash headlines UFC Newark.
VIDEO | Robbie Lawler, Colby Covington have tense staredown in Newark
Tom Taylor - August 2, 2019
On Saturday night, in the main event of UFC Newark, former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler will collide with former interim champ Colby Covington. For Lawler, this bout represents the chance to rebound from two-straight losses. For Covington, meanwhile, it’s an opportunity to stake his claim to the next shot at the UFC welterweight title.
ATT owner: Jorge Masvidal should get title shot or Conor McGregor
Cole Shelton - August 2, 2019
Count American Top Team Owner Dan Lambert among those that think Jorge Masvidal should either get Conor McGregor or a welterweight title shot next. For Lambert to see the knockout of Ben Askren in person was surreal. He saw Jorge Masvidal train the flying knee in the gym and heard him tell everyone in the gym that is how the fight would play out. Even though that is how it happened, it was still shocking for the ATT owner and everyone at the gym.
Demetrious Johnson, Eddie Alvarez advance to ONE Grand Prix finals in dramatic bouts
Tom Taylor - August 2, 2019
On Friday, at ONE: Dawn of Heroes, former UFC champs Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Alvarez returned to ONE Championship — this time in a ring, not a cage. The former UFC flyweight champ Johnson met former DEEP champ Tatsumitsu Wada in the semifinals of the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix. They advanced to this stage by beating Yuya Wakamatsu and Gustavo Balart respectively.
UFC Newark weigh-in results
Tom Taylor - August 2, 2019
On Saturday, the UFC will return to our screens with the solid-looking UFC Newark card. In the main event of this card, former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington will be looking to stake his claim to a welterweight title shot opposite former undisputed champion Robbie Lawler, who will of course be keen to spoil those plans. The pair formerly trained together at American Top Team, but became rivals when Lawler departed in favor of Henri Hooft’s Hardknocks team.
Dan Lambert believes UFC Newark fight is 'uber important' for Colby Covington
Cole Shelton - August 2, 2019
When Colby Covington beat Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225 to win the interim welterweight title, the consensus was he would be fighting for the undisputed title next. Yet, that never happened, and after more than a year off, he will return to take on Robbie Lawler in the main event of UFC Newark. This is far from a title shot as Lawler is ranked 11th, but Covington’s manager and American Top Team owner Dan Lambert knows this fight is super important for “Chaos” to win.
Brendan Schaub trashes UFC Newark lineup
Tom Taylor - August 2, 2019
Brendan Schaub has never been afraid to call it like he sees it when it comes to the UFC. His latest critique of the promotion concerns Saturday’s UFC Newark card. Outside of the main event, which will pit former interim champion Colby Covington against former undisputed champ Robbie Lawler, Schaub considers the card incredibly weak.
Bellator boss Scott Coker criticizes the UFC for lack of international events
Natasha Hooper - August 2, 2019
Bellator MMA plans to develop new markets across the pond and believe Conor McGregor’s trainer, John Kavanagh will be instrumental in achieving this. The company’s CEO,Scott Coker joined the Viacom-owned business in 2014 and has been pushing hard to develop the brand. Part of his plan has been to capitalize in areas where he believes the UFC is flagging. Bellator wants to cultivate international talent and emerging markets that are currently neglected. Coker intends on investing in the MMA market in UK and Ireland as he believes this is a “business opportunity that UFC is not taking advantage of.”
VIDEO | Cain Velasquez gets hero's welcome in Mexico ahead of pro wrestling debut
Tom Taylor - August 2, 2019
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has touched down in Mexico for his pro wrestling debut, which will take place at Triplemania XXVII on Saturday. He has arrived in his ancestral homeland to the kind of fanfare and excitement befitting a king. See Velasquez, decked out in a luchador mask, get swarmed by fans and parade around the streets in the videos below (posted to his official Instagram page).
ONE: Dawn of Heroes live stream, results and highlights
Tom Taylor - August 2, 2019
On Friday, ONE Championship returned to Manila, Philippines with an absolutely stacked card in ONE: Dawn of Heroes. The card was topped by a featherweight title fight between ferocious champion Martin Nguyen and surging Japanese challenger Koyomi “Moushigo” Matsushima. The co-headliner, meanwhile, saw ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan Haggerty attempt to defend his strap against Thai tank Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
Nate Diaz releases hype video for his UFC 241 return against Anthony Pettis
Christopher Taylor - August 2, 2019
Fan favorite Nate Diaz will return to the Octagon later this month at UFC 241 for a welterweight scrap with Anthony Pettis. ‘Showtime’ and ‘The Stockton Slugger’ have a history, and are now eager to finally settle their beef on August 17 in Anaheim.
Junior dos Santos vs. Alexander Volkov targeted as UFC Moscow main event
Adam Martin - August 1, 2019
A battle of heavyweight sluggers will reportedly headline the upcoming UFC Moscow card as Junior dos Santos will fight Alexander Volkov in a five-round main event. The Russian news outlet TASS (via MMANytt) first reported the battle between the two heavyweights, which is set to headline a card at CSKA Arena on November 9 in Moscow, Russia.
Robbie Lawler discusses American Top Team departure
Fernando Quiles - August 1, 2019
Robbie Lawler has no ill will towards American Top Team. Lawler was a standout at the Florida-based gym, which has housed many notable competitors over the years such as Tyron Woodley, Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal, Yoel Romero, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, and many more. His departure from ATT raised some eyebrows.
Al Iaquinta responds to Dan Hooker's ducking accusations
Tom Taylor - August 1, 2019
New Zealand’s Dan Hooker recently campaigned for a fight with Al Iaquinta, suggesting the meeting occur at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia, but ultimately moved on and accused Iaquinta of ducking him. “He keeps saying he wants it; I said that’s the fight to make,” Hooker told MMA Junkie recently. “If I’m lying, the fight would be booked already.
Michael Bisping: Conor McGregor 'probably hoping and praying' Poirier beats Khabib
Tom Taylor - August 1, 2019
Michael Bisping believes former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor is probably ‘hoping and praying’ that Dustin Poirier dethrones UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 this September. McGregor and Nurmagomedov fought in October of 2018. Nurmagomedov won the fight via fourth-round submission, and McGregor has been campaigning for a do-over ever since. Yet Bisping believes McGregor would probably prefer to see Poirier win, as the Irishman holds a victory over “The Diamond” and could conceivably earn a title fight with him based on that.
VIDEO | Conor McGregor announces Proper No. Twelve has arrived in Canada
Tom Taylor - August 1, 2019
Proper No. Twelve, the Irish whiskey created by former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor, has already taken Ireland and the United States by storm. Now, it’s poised to do the same in Canada. On Wednesday, it was announced that Proper No. Twelve has hit shelves in the Great White North, and on Thursday, McGregor made it official himself, toasting Toronto, The Raptors, Drake, and the entire country in a video posted to Twitter.
Colby Covington dismisses Jorge Masvidal's claim to a title shot
Tom Taylor - August 1, 2019
Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal are the two top contenders in the UFC welterweight division. Both are seemingly right on the cusp of a shot at reigning champ Kamaru Usman, and could conceivably be fighting each other for the title in the near future. The problem is, they’re good friends and training partners; a dynamic duo like Batman and Robin, according to Covington.