UFC News

Tom Taylor - July 17, 2019

After taking credit for a few of the signature techniques of UFC stars like Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva, Hollywood action star Steven Seagal has become a bit of a punchline inside the MMA community. Yet according to UFC commentator Joe Rogan, there is a “legit” martial arts background behind all the silliness.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 17, 2019

Tito Ortiz doesn’t appear to think too highly of Ben Askren. Askren entered the UFC with a ton of hype. Having won Bellator and ONE Championship gold and being a former Olympic wrestler, many thought “Funky” had a good shot at success on the biggest mixed martial arts stage. There’s still time for Askren to make his mark, but a devastating flying knee KO defeat to Jorge Masvidal has at least served as a bump in the road.

Tom Taylor - July 17, 2019

Surging UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal has recently been campaigning for a showdown with former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor. In fact, Masvidal’s manager recently stated that McGregor is the only opponent they’ll accept outside of a title fight with welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Unfortunately for team Masvidal, UFC President Dana White says it’s not happening.

Tom Taylor - July 17, 2019

Days ahead of his UFC Sacramento fight with Sheymon Moraes, UFC featherweight contender Andre Fili reunited with his father, who had been in prison for 17 years. In fact, Fili’s father actually attended the fight, and watched his son’s impressive first-round TKO victory. Speaking to MMA Junkie after the fight, Andre Fili explained how fighting in front of his long absent father, his family and friends in Sacramento provided extra motivation to win.

Tom Taylor - July 17, 2019

When Jorge Masvidal knocked former Bellator and ONE welterweight champion Ben Askren out in five seconds at UFC 239, he cemented himself as one of the top contenders in the UFC welterweight division — perhaps even the top contender outright. Yet rising British contender Leon Edwards, who fights Rafael dos Anjos in the main event of UFC San Antonio this weekend, doesn’t believe Masvidal has earned a title shot just yet. “I never held Askren in high regard anyway,” Edwards told MMA Fighting, downplaying Masvidal’s victory. “He just shouted his mouth off the get to where he’s at. He’s an amateur on the feet, I’ve watched him hit pads and it’s weird; even his shots are slow. He came in, he talked his way up into the position he was in and then he dipped his head into a knee.

Tom Taylor - July 17, 2019

Georges St-Pierre is retired. That being said, a large portion of the MMA community is still clinging to the hope that the former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion will eventually dust off his gloves and return to the Octagon — perhaps in pursuit of a third title against UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. UFC President Dana White says that won’t be happening, as St-Pierre didn’t hold up his end of the deal after battling Michael Bisping for the middleweight title in 2017. He doesn’t seem to trust the Canadian after this incident.

Cole Shelton - July 16, 2019

Max Holloway was set to take on Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223, this after Tony Ferguson had to withdraw last minute due to an injury. There, the featherweight champion would have been moving up in weight to make his UFC lightweight debut. However, the fight did not come to fruition as the commission stopped the Hawaiian from cutting weight. Since then, Max Holloway went back down to featherweight and defended his title against Brian Ortega at UFC 231. He then got another chance to fight at lightweight at UFC 236 when he took on Dustin Poirier for the promotions interim lightweight title. Had Holloway emerged victorious, he would have once again been in line for a fight with Nurmagomedov. But, the featherweight king lost the bout and is now headed back to 145-pounds for a fight with Frankie Edgar.

Cole Shelton - July 16, 2019

Back at UFC 235, Jon Jones defended his light heavyweight title against Anthony Smith. Although it was a dominant performance from “Bones” he nearly had another DQ loss on his record. During the fight, the champion threw a knee that connected with Smith’s head while he was down. It was an illegal knee and had “Lionheart” not been able to continue, he would have won the belt. But, he decided to stay in the fight and took Jones to the scorecards.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 16, 2019

The latest UFC rankings update for July 16, 2019 is in. In the wake of UFC Sacramento, Urijah Faber has returned to the bantamweight ladder. Faber hadn’t competed since Dec. 2016. Many expected “The California Kid” to ride off into the sunset and enjoy retirement as a UFC Hall of Famer. Instead, he returned and stopped Ricky Simon in 46 seconds. In the process, Faber has knocked Simon off the 135-pound rankings.

Natasha Hooper - July 16, 2019

Jorge Masvidal broke the UFC record for the fastest KO in history on July 6, snapping Ben Askren’s undefeated streak with a brutal flying knee. At UFC 239, “Gamebred” anticipated a takedown attempt from Askren and counteracted “Funky” with a flying knee. Askren was knocked out cold, and Masvidal was quick to bask in the glory of his swift victory. The fight ended officially at the five second mark of round 1. However, Masvidal believes if the referee had intervened sooner, the fight would have finished within 2 or 3 seconds.

Jordy McElroy - July 16, 2019

The shuttering quake from comatose welterweight star Ben Askren crashing to the canvas in record-breaking time at UFC 239 could be felt from Nevada to Singapore, where former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson was shipped off to in a historic trade less than a year ago. Not even the Richter scale is capable of measuring the size of those tremors, which opened up cracks in the reasoning Johnson was ever traded in the first place. That isn’t to suggest Ben Askren in the UFC hasn’t been entertaining. It has been a rollercoaster ride and cotton candy rolled into one. He talks the talk and walks the walk against the toughest guys in the UFC; guys that boast the kind of knockout power to alter careers with a single strike.

Christopher Taylor - July 16, 2019

UFC light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones was not impressed by the recent comments made by perennial division contender Corey Anderson. ‘Beastin 25/8’ was a recent guest on the Slip n Dip Podcast where he seemingly attacked Jones’ past with the following statement.

Chris Taylor - July 16, 2019

Jorge Masvidal scored arguably this biggest win of his career earlier this month, defeating former Bellator and ONE champion Ben Askren by way of knockout. ‘Gamebred’ set a record for the ‘fastest knockout in his history’ with the win, as he needed on 5-seconds to put an end to Askren’s undefeated streak.

Mike Heck - July 16, 2019

Ever since Darren Till missed weight for his fight with Stephen Thompson last May, the questions began on whether or not “The Gorilla” should make the move from welterweight to middleweight. Since then, Till has had two more appearances at 170-pounds — including an opportunity at the UFC welterweight title — in which he was finished in the second round of both fights. According to an Instagram post from Till late Monday night, it seems like a move to the 185-pounds has gone a bit beyond the discussion stage.

Christopher Taylor - July 15, 2019

Corey Anderson (12-4 MMA) is ready and willing to test his skills against reigning UFC light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones. The surging 205-pound contender, Anderson, has won three straight bouts and feels like the time is perfect for a fight with ‘Bones’.

Cole Shelton - July 15, 2019

Former Dallas Cowboy Greg Hardy has some lofty goals for his combat sports career. Although he is only five fights into his MMA career, the former NFL pro bowler is already eyeing a transition into the boxing scene. But, it would not be full-time, rather he says he would transition between MMA and boxing fights.

Christopher Taylor - July 15, 2019

Michael Bisping did not take any pleasure from watching his former rival Luke Rockhold get knocked out by Jan Blachowicz earlier this month at UFC 239. Rockhold had his light heavyweight debut spoiled in brutal fashion by Blachowicz, who floored ‘Rocky’ with a punch in round two of their UFC 239 scrap.

Tom Taylor - July 15, 2019

Urijah Faber was well compensated for his return to the cage, which co-headlined the UFC Sacramento card over the weekend. “The California Kid” pocketed $340,000 for first-round knockout of red hot prospect Ricky Simon. This was his first fight paycheck since late 2016, when he retired after a decision defeat of Brad Pickett.