MMA News

Scott Hernandez - December 23, 2016

On this episode of American Animals, the animals are thrilled to welcome one of their greatest influences, Enson Inoue (aka, Yamato Damashii) to the show. Enson teaches the guys about Japanese MMA, discusses his willingness to die in the ring, and fills everyone in on the people/causes he is fighting for in Japan. Join us for this episode of American Animals! You can email your questions and comments to info@2americananimals.com and find the show at www.2americananimals.com on the web, on social media at facebook.com/2AmericanAnimals and @2AmericanAnimal on Twitter and @2AmericanAnimals on Instagram.

Tom Taylor - December 23, 2016

In one week’s time, in the co-main event of UFC 207, bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will attempt to defend his title against undefeated challenged Cody Garbrandt. Though Garbrandt has yet to beat a top-5 opponent, his incredible punching power and sizzling beef with the champ have most members of the MMA community pretty excited for their fight. That does not include former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw, who recently weighed in on Garbrandt’s title shot in an interview with Fox Sports. “Really it’s all just kind of bullsh*t,” Dillashaw said of Cruz’ bout with Garbrandt. “It makes no sense at all how they give the No. 8 guy, who skips over seven guys to get a title shot. It’s kind of whatever the UFC wants to do and they’re letting Dominick Cruz hand select his fights right now.”

Scott Hernandez - December 23, 2016

Since Conor McGregor won the UFC lightweight championship by TKOing Eddie Alvarez in the main event of UFC 205 back in November, there has been much talk regarding who McGregor will face next as he will have to defend his lightweight title. With that being said, McGregor revealed at the UFC 205 post-fight press conference that he will be taking some time off due to the upcoming birth of his firstborn child in May. That was followed up by a statement from UFC President Dana White, who stated that McGregor would be taking 10 months off from fighting. That was refuted by McGregor this week, who revealed that his ‘break’ could very well just be a Christmas break.

Tom Taylor - December 23, 2016

There is nothing quite like a highlight reel knockout. One well placed punch, perfectly timed kick, or surprise knee, and bam, it’s curtains.

Scott Hernandez - December 23, 2016

Over the course of this week, reports have continued to surface that fan favorite heavyweight Mark Hunt will be fighting MMA veteran Alistair Overeem at UFC 209. Despite that, Hunt has continued to maintain that he will not be fighting until the UFC agrees to put a clause in his contract protecting him from fighting a fighter who ends up testing positive for PEDs. Hunt has maintained following his UFC 200 loss to Brock Lesnar, who failed two drug tests surrounding the fight, that he would not fight again until the UFC put a provision in contracts protecting fighters from those who fail drug tests.

Scott Hernandez - December 23, 2016

Last month at UFC 205, Khabib Nurmedomedov cemented his place as the lightweight #1 contender when he picked up a horrifically dominant win over Michael Johnson. Nurmagomedov used his grappling skills to repeatedly take Johnson down, and land countless elbows, complete with trash talk to Johnson mid-fight, and a conversation with UFC President Dana White between rounds. Ultimately, in the third round ‘The Eagle’ was able to secure a submission, and get the win.

Scott Hernandez - December 23, 2016

This week, news surfaced that Invicta FC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg had failed a random out-of-competition drug test on December 5th, and was potentially in violation of USADA’s anti-doping policy. The UFC was quick to release a statement on the matter, which was ultimately followed up by a statement from Cyborg herself on social media, in which she explained that the failure was the result of a prescription, not a performance enhancing drug:

Scott Hernandez - December 23, 2016

Throughout the course of this week, interim UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway revealed that an ankle injury will keep him from fighting Jose Aldo for the undisputed featherweight title at UFC 208 in February. Following that, recently promoted UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo revealed that he was in negotiations with the UFC to fight for the interim lightweight title. With that being said, Aldo also revealed that Khabib Nurmagomedov had turned down the fight, due to pursuing a fight with Tony Ferguson.

Tom Taylor - December 23, 2016

In one week’s time, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes will attempt the first defense of her title. She will do so against former champion and transcendent MMA star Ronda Rousey, who will be making her first steps into the Octagon since she was knocked out by Holly Holm more than a year ago. The two will share the main event honors of the stacked UFC 207 on December 30.

Tom Taylor - December 23, 2016

With former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Jon “Bones” Jones currently serving a year-long suspension, MMA’s pound-for-pound debate has typically come down to one man: Flyweight champ Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. When Conor McGregor defeated Eddie Alvarez to win the UFC lightweight title in November, however, he made a strong case for a spot atop the pound-for-pound list, as he was already the champion at featherweight, and he had recently won a fight at welterweight against Nate Diaz. In the opinion of UFC President Dana White, McGregor’s recent multi-weight accomplishments make it impossible to deny his status as MMA’s pound-for-pound king. White explained this feeling in an interview on The Michael Kay Show (via MMAFighting.com).

Tom Taylor - December 23, 2016

In one weeks’ time, women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes will make the first defense of her title. She will do so against former champion Ronda Rousey, who has not been seen in action since she was knocked out by a Holly Holm head kick in November of 2015. In advance of this fight, fans, pundits and fellow fighters are divided on who they think will come out on top. Some picture Rousey reclaiming the throne with a vintage victory. Others imagine Nunes mauling the long absent Rousey to retain the title. Others are unwilling to make a prediction one way or the other.

Tom Taylor - December 23, 2016

2016 was one of the best year's of Trash Talk we've ever seen! HERE are our favorite moments 😂 😂 😂 pic.twitter.com/4m52NNsJi5 — UFC (@ufc) December 22, 2016

Scott Hernandez - December 22, 2016

Thursday morning the MMA community woke up to news that Invicta FC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg had failed a USADA drug test earlier this month. The UFC was notified of the drug testing failure and released a statement of their own. While Cyborg’s team maintained radio silence on the matter immediately, the WMMA vet has now released a statement of her own through Facebook:

Russell Ess - December 22, 2016

Japanese MMA promotion RIZIN has announced that Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Gabi Garcia will be facing a new opponent on the New Year’s Eve card scheduled to take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. Garcia’s originally scheduled opponent, 52-year-old Japanese judoka, pro wrestler, and MMA fighter Shinobu Kandori was forced out of the bout due to an injury.

Russell Ess - December 22, 2016

UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and Cody Garbrandt are just a short time away from settling their feud in the Octagon. The two scrappers are set to fight in a five-round title fight in the co-main event of UFC 207 where Ronda Rousey makes her long-awaited return to challenge UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes.

Russell Ess - December 22, 2016

The MMA community has been buzzing with the news of Cris Cyborg’s potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on December 5, 2016.

Scott Hernandez - December 22, 2016

On the heels of news that Holly Holm and Germaine de Randamie would be competing for the inaugural women’s featherweight championship at UFC 208, it has now been revealed that the UFC has been notified of a failed drug test from Cris Cyborg.

Scott Hernandez - December 22, 2016

While a controversial split decision loss to John Lineker may have halted John Dodson’s hopes of making a statement in the bantamweight division in 2016, ‘The Magician’ is currently struggling to find a 135 pound fighter who is willing to fight him!