MMA News

Tom Taylor - October 30, 2017

There’s been yet another shakeup at Team Alpha Male, the Sacramento, California home of UFC stars like Cody Garbrandt, Andre Fili and Chad Mendes. Justin Buchholz. who has been serving as the team’s MMA coach since the role was held by UFC veterans Martin Kampmann and Duane Ludwig, has apparently been demoted. “I am no longer the head coach of Team Alpha Male,” said Buchholz on a recent edition of Stud Radio (via MMAFighting).

Tom Taylor - October 30, 2017

On Saturday night, in the co-main event of the UFC’s return to Sao Paulo, Brazil, long-time welterweight contender Demian Maia stepped into the cage for a fight with the rising Colby Covington. Though Maia showed off plenty of heart in this fight, he was soundly beaten, ultimately giving up a unanimous decision after three bloody rounds. Having also lost his last fight, a unanimous decision defeat to UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, Maia is now on a two-fight skid. Given that he’s also 39 years old, many fans seem to think it might be time for his retirement.

Tom Taylor - October 29, 2017

Perhaps the biggest story to emerge from the UFC’s Saturday-night stop in Sao Paulo, Brazil followed Colby Covington’s controversial post-fight speech. In this speech, which occurred moments after he was awarded a unanimous decision win over Demian Maia, Covington referred to Brazil as a “dump,” and the crowd in attendance as “filthy animals.” In an unsurprising twist, it turns out that Covington’s comments pissed a lot of people off. Many of his fellow fighters have outwardly criticized him. The UFC is apparently “not very happy” with him and plans to review his actions and consider punishment. Even some of his teammates are upset with him.

Tom Taylor - October 29, 2017

Last night, in the co-main event of the UFC’s exciting stop in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Colby Covington stepped into the ring with recent welterweight title challenger Demian Maia. Shortly after winning this fight via unanimous decision, Covington unleashed a fiery verbal onslaught at Tyron Woodley, referring to Brazil as a “dump” and its residents as “filthy animals” in the process. Unsurprisingly, Covington’s remarks generated a wave of controversy – including some negative reactions from his teammates at American Top Team. And as it turns out, he could also find himself in some hot water with the UFC.

Tom Taylor - October 29, 2017

Last night, in the co-main event of the UFC’s action-packed stop in Sao Paulo, Brazil, red-hot welterweight contender Colby Covington stepped into the Octagon for a battle with Demian Maia. The fight stood out as the biggest test of Covington’s career thus far, and he passed it with flying colors, denying Maia’s repeated takedown attempts and beating him up on the feet. Shortly after Covington’s unanimous decision win was announced, he was given a moment on the microphone by UFC light heavyweight champion and Octagon-side color commentator Daniel Cormier. What followed was a fiery callout of UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, and a heated anti-Brazil tirade, during which he referred to Sao Paulo as a “dump”, and its residents as “filthy animals.”

Tom Taylor - October 29, 2017

Though his widely discussed matchup with Chuck Liddell is apparently off the table, Chael Sonnen still has plenty of exciting options in the Bellator cage. Two of the most compelling of his options are heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko, and former UFC welterweight title challenger Rory MacDonald. And apparently, he expects both fights to happen. “I think it’s hard to imagine that that doesn’t happen,” Sonnen said of a potential fight with Fedor Emelianenko on the most recent episode of BJ Penn Radio. “We’re only about 20 pounds apart. I get up to about 216 pounds – maybe that’s a little heavy – but right in there, [around] 216. [Fedor has] weighed in pretty consistently at 236 for the last number of years. So, you’re only talking about 20 pounds. I know some people say ‘don’t do that fight, he’s too big,’ but we’re only talking about 20 pounds. When I started this thing, we didn’t have weigh-ins. I’ve never cared what a guy weighed. I will acknowledge that there’s an advantage at a certain point to a certain size, but 20 pounds man, that’s not very much.”

Tom Taylor - October 29, 2017

Originally, UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt was expected to return opposite Marcin Tybura in the main event of the UFC’s upcoming show in Sydney, Australia. Yet shortly after Hunt wrote an op-ed for Players Voice, in which he admitted to suffering from many symptoms of brain injury, he was pulled from this fight and replaced by Fabricio Werdum. Unsurprisingly, Mark Hunt was not especially pleased about this turn of events. Since his removal from UFC Sydney, he has unleashed a stream of criticisms of the UFC and its show-runner Dana White.

Tom Taylor - October 29, 2017

At this point, it’s hard to say who Conor McGregor will fight next. That said, there appear to be two frontrunners: Tony Ferguson and Nate Diaz. In the opinion of three-time UFC title challenger and current Bellator MMA star Chael Sonnen, the answer to the Ferguson or Diaz question is pretty simple. While a trilogy bout between McGregor and Diaz is undeniably compelling, he believes the interim champ Ferguson is the more sensible choice. “I love the Nate Diaz fight, and history says you always go to a trilogy,” Sonnen said on the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio. “History does say that. The problem they’re running into right now with that sumbitch McGregor capturing the championship is that you also need to move a division forward, and that’s very important. That’s very important that you pay attention to the integrity of that as well. Tony has earned the right.”

Chris Taylor - October 29, 2017

Colby Covington has issued what he is calling a “formal apology” following his controversial post-fight interview last night in Sao Paulo, Brazil. “Chaos” made headlines yesterday when he called Brazil a “dump” and it’s people “filthy animals” following his unanimous decision victory over submission specialist Demian Maia.

Chris Taylor - October 29, 2017

UFC Fight Night 119 took place last night in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The event was headlined by a middleweight scrap featuring perennial contender Derek Brunson taking on former light heavyweight title holder Lyoto Machida.

Chris Taylor - October 29, 2017

Surging UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington will not issue an apology despite receiving a large amount of backlash regarding his UFC Fight Night 119 post-fight comments. “Chaos” defeated former title challenger Demian Maia via unanimous decision in the co-main event of last night’s UFC fight card in Sao Paulo. Following his high profile win, Covington took to the mic where he decided to trash the country of Brazil and issue a challenge to current welterweight title holder Tyron Woodley.

Chris Taylor - October 28, 2017

UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson picked up a huge win in the headliner of last night’s UFC Fight Night 119 event in Sao Paulo, defeating Lyoto Machida via first-round knockout. Brunson was able to rock “The Dragon” with a nasty left hand before eventually putting him to sleep with some viscous ground and pound.

Chris Taylor - October 28, 2017

Colby Covington picked up the biggest victory of his mixed martial arts career last night in Brazil defeating former title challenger Demian Maia via unanimous decision. After a very competitive opening round, “Chaos” was able to turn the tide in his favor in round two and continued to dominate Maia until the final horn.

Chris Taylor - October 28, 2017

Surging UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington trashed Brazil and called out current division champion Tyron Woodley in his post-fight interview after defeating Demain Maia at UFC Fight Night 119. Check out Covington’s controversial post-fight interview below:

Chris Taylor - October 28, 2017

Derek Brunson silenced the crowd in Sao Paulo after slaying “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida in round one of their event headlining scrap. Machida looked sharp in the early moments of the fight but eventually Brunson was able to find a home for his devastating left hand which sent Lyoto crashing to the canvas.

Chris Taylor - October 28, 2017

A key middleweight tilt between former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and perennial contender Derek Brunson served as the headlining bout of tonight’s UFC Fight Night 119 event in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Round one begins and Brunson attempts to take the center of the octagon. He fires off a low kick that misses. Machida circles but Brunson catches him with an inside low kick. Lyoto misses with a high kick attempt. Brunson lands another low kick. Machida responds with a straight left. Brunson charges forward but his punches don’t find a home. Both men fire off low kicks. Machida lands a counter left hook. He circles but Brunson catches him with a left hand. Machida is hurt. More shots from Brunson and Machida hits the deck. Big shots from the top by Brunson and Machida is out cold! WOW!

Chris Taylor - October 28, 2017

A lightweight scrap between Jim Miller and Francisco Trinaldo took place on tonight’s UFC Fight Night 119 main card from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Round one begins and Miller leaps in with a right. Trinaldo fires off a combination that ends in a hard left hand. Francisco throws a kick but Miller catches it and scores a takedown. They scramble and Trinaldo is able to take top position. He begins working from full guard. Miller lands an elbow from the bottom. Trinaldo postures up and shortly after both men are back on their feet. Miller with a low kick. Francisco replies with a nice combination. He presses forward and faints with a kick. Miller catches him with a right hand over the top and then lands a beautiful double leg takedown. Miller is working from full guard now. Two minutes remain in the opening round. Trinaldo scrambles back up to his feet. The fighters clinch along the fence. Round one comes to an end.

Chris Taylor - October 28, 2017

A middleweight tilt between Jack Hermansson and Thiago Santos took place on tonight’s UFC Fight Night 119 main card from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Round one begins and both men are bouncing around trying to find their range early. Hermansson misses with a side kick. Santos steps forward with a left hook and then a high kick that misses the mark. Jack shoots in for a takedown and presses Santos against the cage. Thiago breaks free and then comes at Jack with a flurry of punches. Santos is throwing like wild man here. Hermansson avoids any serious damage and takes the center of the octagon. Jack leaps in with a left hook. Santos responds with a stiff jab. He follows that strike up with a low kick. Jack moves in with a jab. Santos keeps him on his heels with a big combination. Hermansson lands a hard low kick. Santos retreats but the comes forward with a left hand. Santos with a body kick. He charges forward with strikes and Hermansson is covering up. Santos sends him to the canvas with a big punch. Thiago follows Jack to the floor and unleashes some brutal ground and pound. This one is all over! WOW!