MMA News
Paige VanZant says she's passed out multiple times during weight cuts
Tom Taylor - September 6, 2017
Back in August, we learned that long time strawweight contender Paige VanZant was moving on up to the UFC’s new women’s flyweight division, where she’ll battle Jessica Eye at UFC 216 on October 7. The reason for this move, as it turns out, is not just that VanZant is looking for a fresh start. Apparently, she’s been enduring a far tougher weight cut than any of us knew. VanZant shared the details of her brutal cut to the strawweight division’s 115-pound cap on the latest edition of The MMA Hour.
Cub Swanson targeting end of the year return, open to a rematch with Jose Aldo
Chris Taylor - September 5, 2017
Perennial UFC featherweight contender Cub Swanson (25-7 MMA) is currently riding an impressive four fight win streak and is on the cusp of earning a shot at the promotions coveted featherweight title. Swanson was last seen in action this past April in the main event of UFC Fight Night 108 where he scored a unanimous decision victory over Artem Lobov.
Scott Coker Thinks Mayweather vs McGregor in MMA is Bigger Than the Boxing Match
Justin Golightly - September 5, 2017
Conor McGregor boxing Floyd Mayweather was one of the biggest fights of all time. Depending on which numbers you’ve seen. it either outperformed Mayweather’s fight with Manny Pacquiao or raked in just underneath it. The UFC lightweight champion made a ton of money, of course not as much as Mayweather, and Showtime definitely made a fortune. One business man though, in his own right, thinks that the two fighters could earn even more fighting inside an MMA cage. “If Floyd would fight Conor in MMA I think he’d do a bigger gate and a bigger PPV than boxing. People will say Conor will probably take him out or choke him out, but those two guys could sell anything. They would sell that fight, people would buy it and I think it would break the record from the weekend before last. If Conor takes him down, chokes him out and Floyd taps, there’s no loss of respect there. If you tap out it just means it’s his night and you go on to the next fight. Why not let him do it?”
Owen Roddy Respects the Ref's Decision to Stop McGregor's Fight with Mayweather
Justin Golightly - September 5, 2017
The fight with Floyd Mayweather may have not gone as well as Conor McGregor and his team wanted, but it could have gone way worse. Both fighters have celebrated by sharing comments about walking away with an impressive amount of cash. Still, money isn’t everything, McGregor definitely wanted to win that fight and take over all combat sports as we know it. He even protested the stoppage, saying that he would have rather been knocked out. Coach Owen Roddy didn’t like it either, but he respected referee Robert Byrd’s decision to stop the fight. “The ref is in there to look after the fighters. I honestly think that because it was McGregor’s first boxing match and Conor got knocked out. There was some damage to Conor and he thought, ‘look, I’m not going to take the risk. He looks wobbly and I’m going to call it.’ I definitely think he could have gave him a count or something, I don’t know, but the ref is only trying to protect the fight so I’ll leave him to it.”
Swimsuit models snap a pic partying with Conor McGregor in Ibiza
Russell Ess - September 5, 2017
Current UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor is coming off the biggest payday of his career in the multi-million dollar boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, which is trending to be close to or breaking the Mayweather vs Pacquiao record for the richest fight in history. Following his 10th round TKO loss to Mayweather, McGregor held his head high in the ring and the two superstars shared a great deal of respect for one another. The two embraced in the ring after the fight was over and had good things to say about each other at the post-fight press conference.
Nate Diaz blasts Conor McGregor and the UFC on social media
Russell Ess - September 5, 2017
How many fans have been thinking about the trilogy fight between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz now that the Mayweather boxing match is out of the way? Diaz was the last to defeat McGregor in mixed martial arts as he submitted the Irish superstar at UFC 196 back in March of last year. The two rivals met in a rematch at UFC 202 where McGregor won a close majority decision.
Tired of waiting for an opponent, Francis Ngannou is now focused on a title fight with Stipe Miocic
Tom Taylor - September 5, 2017
If things had gone according to plan, surging French-Congolese heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou would be battling Junior Dos Santos on the main card of UFC 215 this weekend. Regrettably, this bout – which would have been the biggest of Ngannou’s career so far– was scrapped when Dos Santos was notified of a potential United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) violation. On today’s special Tuesday edition of The MMA Hour, Ngannou weighed in on where Dos Santos’ withdrawal leaves him, and what might come next. Initially, as we know, he was hoping for a replacement opponent. Yet with most of the heavyweight division booked, and the only available opponent nursing an injury, he’s decided it’s time for a title shot. From there, he can take on the rest division as title challengers.
Ray Borg Willing to Give Demetrious Johnson a Rematch If He Wins at UFC 215
Justin Golightly - September 5, 2017
We are just a couple of days from Demetrious Johnson trying to make history at UFC 215. In lieu of a fight with T.J. Dillashaw, Johnson wanted to continue his journey toward breaking Anderson Silva’s title defense record. He tied the record with 10 defenses after a dominating performance over Wilson Reis, now he looks to beat the impressive stat in his upcoming fight with Ray Borg. It would seem like the road to this record is paved in gold with a giant, neon sign pointing down to the finish line. However, Ray Borg isn’t counting himself out and neither should you. He’s confident enough to go on record saying he’ll give Johnson a rematch when he defeats him. “I’d take my niece to Disney Land, then I’d fight DJ again.” – Ray Borg if he wins at #UFC215 https://t.co/cdrpwfP9kY
UFC rankings updated following UFC Fight Night 115 - pound-for-pound rankings shift again
Russell Ess - September 5, 2017
The UFC has updated their rankings following UFC Fight Night 115 and there has been a shift once again at the top in the highly debated pound-for-pound rankings. With Jon Jones facing a second potential anti-doping violation with USADA, both Demetrious Johnson and Conor McGregor went up in the pound-for-pound rankings without being active in the UFC since Jones’ UFC 214 competition.
VIDEO | Ronda Rousey and the Rest of Her 4 Horsewomen Are in a WWE Angle
Justin Golightly - September 5, 2017
Just last week, Triple H sat down on ESPN and talked about former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. He said that he and Rousey were in talks and that the door was always open for her to come wrestle in the WWE. That led us to believe that Rousey was close to stepping inside those ropes and doing a little more than just hip tossing someone, but we had no idea how close it actually was. Just yesterday, Ronda Rousey was featured in an official WWE video being confronted by Charlotte Flair, Bayley and Becky Lynch. A @WWE publicou este vídeo no seu site: "Becky, Charlotte and Bayley confront Ronda Rousey and The Four Horsewomen"https://t.co/rppovLgvOS
CM Punk is Training For His Upcoming Return to MMA
Justin Golightly - September 5, 2017
Has Conor McGregor changed things forever? Alistair Overeem may be fighting a heavyweight boxer, Ronda Rousey could be jumping into the wrestling ring, who knows what could be next. It does look like history seems to repeat itself. Fresh off of the heels of McGregor dipping his toes into the boxing ring against Floyd Mayweather, former pro wrestler CM Punk is ready to get back into the Octagon. Duke Roufus shared a picture of UFC lightweight John Makdessi and CM Punk after a training session and announced that both of them are waiting for their fights to be confirmed.
Khabib Nurmagomedov makes his pick for UFC 216's Tony Ferguson vs. Kevin Lee bout
Tom Taylor - September 5, 2017
On October 7, in the main event of UFC 216, Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee will collide for the UFC interim lightweight title. The announcement of this fight, of course, came as a bit of a surprise, as any interim lightweight title fight was expected to involve undefeated Dagestani star Khabib Nurmagomedov. Apparently, however, the UFC was not interested in booking Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov – perhaps due to Nurmagomedov’s unfortunately long history of withdrawing from fights.
Joe Rogan breaks down Paulie Malignaggi's chances against UFC fighters, picks one fighter he could beat
Tom Taylor - September 5, 2017
On Saturday’s special UFC Rotterdam episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, UFC commentator Joe Rogan told guest Brendan Schaub that he believes it’s time for Paulie Malignaggi to stop trash-talking MMA fighters. Well, what he really said was that Malignaggi should “shut the f*ck up.” Riffing on the subject of Malignaggi’s beef with the MMA community –which most recently manifested itself when the boxer got into it with UFC featherweight champ Max Holloway on Twitter – Rogan began breaking down Malignaggi’s chances in the Octagon with various fighters.
Fabricio Werdum refuses to judge Junior Dos Santos, says USADA is "too strict."
Tom Taylor - September 5, 2017
Initially, this weekend’s UFC 215 card included a dynamite heavyweight scrap between former champion Junior Dos Santos and red-hot contender Francis Ngannou. Regrettably, Dos Santos was notified of a potential anti-doping violation by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), and yanked from the card’s lineup as a result. Speaking to Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting.com, one of Dos Santos’ rivals, former heavyweight champ Fabricio Werdum, was asked for his take on the issue. Though Werdum admitted he and Dos Santos are not exactly friends, he assured that he would not be judging his fellow Brazilian until more information has been gathered.
Joe Rogan's advice to Paulie Malignaggi: Shut the f*ck up
Tom Taylor - September 5, 2017
Paulie Malignaggi was brought into Conor McGregor’s training camp for Floyd Mayweather as an ally. He left as an arch enemy. Since Malignaggi departed McGregor’s headquarters, he’s taken every opportunity to berate the Irishman, attacking him in interviews, and trashing him on social media. Eventually, Malignaggi even began attacking other members of the MMA community, and in the opinion of UFC commentator Joe Rogan, he’d be wise to stop.
VIDEO | Diego Brandao appears to bite his opponents ear at FNG 73
Chris Taylor - September 4, 2017
Former UFC fighter Diego Brandao squared off with Akhmet Aliev in the main event of FNG 73 today in Kaspiysk, Dagestan. Brandao entered the contest on a two-fight winning streak, with both of those wins coming by form of stoppage.
VIDEO | Chris Jericho predicts timeline for Conor McGregor's entrance to the WWE
Russell Ess - September 4, 2017
Conor McGregor has crossed over to the sport of boxing to bring in the largest payday of his career. Now, could crossing over to another sport and form of entertainment be in the cards for the Irishman?
Chael Sonnen comments on his own experience with banned substances and Jon Jones' situation
Russell Ess - September 4, 2017
Ever since Chael Sonnen failed two drug tests in 2014, “The American Gangster” has been rather open about his use of banned substances. The former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight title challenger has previously said that he has taken “everything in the world that you can’t take.” Now, with his former opponent Jon Jones facing his second incident being flagged by USADA, Sonnen questioned Jones’ history of banned substance use on a recent episode of The MMA Hour.