MMA News
Coach defends Jon Jones' reluctance to fight Stipe Miocic
Tom Taylor - August 14, 2017
Over the last few weeks, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has expressed interest in a big-ticket money fight with former UFC heavyweight champ and WWE megastar Brock Lesnar. At the same time, Jones explained that a fight with Stipe Miocic, the actual heavyweight champ, doesn’t interest him quite as much: “I feel like if I was to take a fight at heavyweight, it would be against a person who I felt, and my coaches felt would be a perfect matchup for me,” Jon Jones said at the UFC 214 post-fight presser. “Right now Stipe (Miocic) is looking extremely impressive and I believe when you get an extremely talented big guy versus and extremely talented little guy, the cards are working in his favor. At the same time, I fear no man. But, I strike for a reason when I strike and I feel like right now Stipe is relatively unknown to the general public. So it wouldn’t be a real super-fight in my opinion. I feel like the MMA fans would be really excited about it. But the general public wouldn’t care about that fight. Most people really don’t know who he (Miocic) is, with all due respect to him. So if I am going to sacrifice being the smaller guy, I think that stylistically Brock Lesnar would be a fight that makes way more sense. And the payday would be tremendous! Plus what it would do for our sport would be tremendous. It would have a much greater effect (than a fight with Miocic). So for those reasons, a Brock Lesnar fight just makes way more sense for me.”
Coach Javier Mendez: Daniel Cormier is "at a crossroads" in his fighting career
Tom Taylor - August 14, 2017
On July 29, in the main event of the stacked UFC 214, then UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier attempted to defend his title against his fiercest rival in former champion Jon Jones. Though Cormier put forth a valiant effort, he was ultimately flattened by a Jones head-kick in the third, and polished off by a hellacious strafing of ground strikes in the subsequent moments. Given the stakes of this fight, it came as no surprise when Cormier broke down in tears post-fight. And though he gave a positive update on Instagram the following evening, it was clear that his road to recovery would probably be a long one. There was even some doubt as to whether he’d fight again.
Cody Garbrandt and Aljamain Sterling get heated on Twitter, racism accusations surface
Tom Taylor - August 14, 2017
On Sunday, reigning UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt and rising bantamweight contender Aljamain Sterling got into it on Twitter. While this back-and-forth began as fairly innocent Twitter beef, it unfortunately wasn’t long before accusations of racism began to fly. See the pair’s fiery exchange below:
VIDEO | Does this slo-mo footage debunk Conor McGregor's knockdown of Paulie Malignaggi?
Tom Taylor - August 14, 2017
Over the last week, it seems that all anybody has been able to talk about is the knockdown Conor McGregor allegedly scored on former two-division boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi during a sparring session. This controversy erupted after UFC President Dana White shared footage – albeit a mere seconds of footage – that shows McGregor pelting Malignaggi with punches, and Malignaggi hitting the canvas. The footage has divided the combat sports world. There are those who believe that McGregor indeed did drop his accomplished foe, which would of course reflect well on his chances against Mayweather. There are those who believe the knockdown was really more of a push, and that the footage was too short to make any real deduction with.
UFC Fighters weigh in on the tragic events in Charlottesville
Chris Taylor - August 13, 2017
One person was killed and nineteen were injured when James Alex Fields Jr. slammed his vehicle into a group of counter-protestors in Charlottesville, Virginia. Fields Jr. was arrested shortly after the incident and on Saturday he was charged with second-degree murder.
The UFC announces their Half-Year Awards - Top Five Knockouts
Chris Taylor - August 13, 2017
The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced their Half-Year awards over the weekend. The most hotly debated category is always “The Best Knockouts”, so let’s jump right in to those selections.
Report | Wrestling Legend Ric Flair Hospitalized Over The Weekend
Chris Taylor - August 13, 2017
Unfortunate news surfaced from the world of pro wrestling this weekend. Wrestling legend Ric Flair was forced to be hospitalized for apparent heart trouble.
VIDEOS | Pro boxers react to the Conor McGregor vs Paul Malignaggi "knockdown"
Chris Taylor - August 13, 2017
UFC President Dana White sent shockwaves through the combat sports world on Friday night when he released two short clips from Conor McGregor’s sparring sessions with former two-weight champion Paulie Malignaggi. One of the videos posted by the brash UFC boss showed what appeared to be a knockdown for McGregor.
Rafael Dos Anjos disses Tyron Woodley, explains how he'd beat the champ
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2017
Paul Malignaggi challenges Conor McGregor to a winner takes all fight
Chris Taylor - August 13, 2017
While Conor McGregor is busy making final preparations for his August 26 super-fight with undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, his feud with former two-weight boxing champion Paul Malignaggi continues to steal the show. Malignaggi was brought in by Team McGregor as a sparring partner to help “Mystic Mac” prepare for Floyd Mayweather.
With surgery complete, recently retired Tito Ortiz drops big hint about comeback fight
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2017
Earlier this year, former UFC light heavyweight champion, UFC Hall of Famer, Bellator contender, and all-around MMA legend Tito Ortiz announced that he’d be retiring from the sport after his Bellator 170 main event battle with rival Chael Sonnen. When Ortiz won this bout by tapping Sonnen in the first-round, he appeared to be ready to ride off into the sunset. Apparently, however, the 42 year old legend is already gearing up for a comeback. On Saturday, he posted to Instagram, announcing that he had undergone a successful neck surgery, and that once his recovery was complete, it would be time to kick Chael Sonnen’s ass.
VIDEO | legendary cutman 'Stitch' Duran sides with "very honest" Paulie Malignaggi
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2017
In an effort to better prepare for his August 26 boxing match with undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr., UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor enlisted the help of recently retired former two-division champ Paulie Malignaggi. Regrettably, the pair’s working relationship crumbled as quickly as it began, as Malignaggi left the camp after feeling disrespected by McGregor. Since Malignaggi’s departure, UFC President Dana White has released footage of McGregor dropping the boxer in a sparring session. While this footage would seem to confirm much of what McGregor suggested, Malignaggi remained on the defensive, alienating much of the combat sports world as he did.
Mark Hunt returns in UFC Sydney main event
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2017
On November 19, the UFC will return to sun-soaked Sydney, Australia with UFC Fight Night 121. In the main event, former UFC interim heavyweight title challenger and bona fide MMA legend Mark Hunt will return to action. His opponent will be dangerous Polish prospect Marcin Tybura. This bout was first reported by Lowking.pl, and later confirmed by MMAJunkie.com.
Coach assures Conor McGregor beats any version of Floyd Mayweather
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2017
On August 26, UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor will take his first steps into the boxing ring opposite undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. While McGregor’s skeptics are numerous, his coaches are more than confident in his chances. Speaking to MMAJunkie.com, one of McGregor’s coaches, Owen Roddy, assured that Conor McGregor beats any version of Floyd Mayweather – past or present.
Luke Rockhold gives update on trainer partner Daniel Cormier after UFC 214
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2017
Late last month, in the main event of UFC 214, then UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier stepped into the cage with his arch-enemy, former champ Jon Jones. Unfortunately for Cormier and his fans, Jones came out on top this night, sealing the dealing with a thudding shin to the head in the third-round. Just like that, he’d reclaimed the light heavyweight throne, while Cormier’s title reign had screeched to a grim end. Unsurprisingly, the ever-passionate Daniel Cormier did not take this loss well. Immediately after the fight, during an ill-advised interview with Joe Rogan, he broke down in tears, indicating clearly that he was both concussed and heartbroken.
VIDEO | Is this the worst MMA referee of all time?
Tom Taylor - August 13, 2017
Wild R2 between Marcio Lyoto and Fabio Aguiar. Ref completely ignores illegal strikes, then follows up w/ non-stoppage at the end of the rd. pic.twitter.com/CEVrhoeuYb — caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) August 13, 2017
Conor McGregor doesn't care if "loveable mouthpiece" Malignaggi talks to Mayweather
Chris Taylor - August 12, 2017
Former two-weight boxing champion Paul Malignaggi has been included in just as many headlines as Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather in recent weeks. The “Magic Man” was brought in to the McGregor camp to serve as a sparring partner for Conor last month.
Paul Malignaggi absolutely went off on Dana White for releasing the "knockdown" video
Chris Taylor - August 12, 2017
Late yesterday evening, UFC president Dana White shocked the combat sports world when he released the video of the “knockdown” which took place during Conor McGregor’s sparring with Paul Malignaggi. Just in case you have been living under a rock for the past couple of weeks, let’s take a look back at how all of this madness came to fruition.
Coach Kavanagh pokes fun at "Pushing" and an angry Paul Malignaggi responds
Chris Taylor - August 12, 2017
UFC President Dana White shook up the combat sports world yesterday evening when he released video footage of Conor McGregor knocking down former two-weight boxing champion Paul Malignaggi in sparring. Here is the video everyone wanted to see of Conor vs Paulie Malignaggi former IBF and WBA World Champion @TheNotoriousMMA pic.twitter.com/GfFP3SKsye