MMA News

Category: MMA

  • James Toney Calls Randy Couture A “Coward” For Retiring After Their MMA Bout

    According to James Toney, he and Randy Couture were supposed to battle it out in a boxing match following their MMA bout.

    Before and after his MMA debut, James Toney was an incredible boxing sensation. From 1988 to 2017, he competed in 92 professional boxing matches and gained a total of 77 wins.

    Toney fought in multiple weight classes and won championships in three of them. But in 2010, it was time for Toney to broaden his horizons and take a shot at another combat sport.

    UFC 118 saw Randy Couture and James Toney as the co-main event. Although “Lights Out” lost the match in round 1 via an arm-triangle choke, he still enjoyed the experience and showed appreciation for MMA and the fans.

    James Toney and Randy Couture
    James Toney and Randy Couture, Photo Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

    He may not have remained in the sport like he originally planned, but had fun nonetheless.

    Fast forward to 2022 and Toney is not happy with the way things ended between him and Couture. In an interview with Murder Master Music Show, Toney recalls a boxing match agreement with Couture that was supposed to take place after their cage fight.

    “I knew he was scared when the fight was made,” Toney said. “Randy is a great fighter in MMA. We had made a deal that we do one fight MMA and one fight boxing. But of course, after he beat me, he retires. What kind of shit is that? That’s a coward move, I lost a lot of respect for him. He retired a week later. The bad thing about it is I made more money than he did. I offered to pay him more money for the boxing than he made with the fight with me.” (h/t MyMMANews)

    Unfortunately, boxing and MMA fans never saw the boxing match come to fruition.

    The year after their MMA fight, Couture had his final bout against Lyoto Machida and lost via kick to the head in round 2. Meanwhile, Toney continued to make strides in his boxing career until retiring in 2017.

    What are your thoughts on James Toney not getting a boxing match with Randy Couture?

  • Till: If Brunson Fight Was In The Gym, I’d Have Broken His Skull

    UFC middleweight Darren Till believes he wasn’t himself at UFC Vegas 36, and under different circumstances, he says he’d have laid a beating on Derek Brunson.

    Last September, Till was being pointed at as a potential challenger for reigning 185-pound champion Israel Adesanya down the line. A victory over Brunson in the UFC Vegas 36 headliner was expected to move him to within touching distance of a date with “The Last Stylebender.”

    But spoiling the Englishman’s plans and continuing the unbeaten streak of his blonde iteration, Brunson dominated throughout before securing a third-round submission. While he moved on to face Jared Cannonier in a title eliminator last month, Till has remained on the sidelines since his losing effort inside the UFC Apex.

    But despite appearing to be outclassed on the night, Till believes a clash with Brunson would go very differently under altered circumstances.

    Till: Brunson Felt “So Slow”

    Following the result, Till revealed he entered his fight with Brunson with a torn ACL. While that provided some context behind his lackluster performance, “The Gorilla” has gone into more detail about his mindset and motivation heading into the September event.

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Till claimed he could barely recognize himself on fight night. Despite insisting the better man had his hand raised, the Liverpudlian believes in a different environment, he’d have left Brunson in a significantly worse state than the veteran left the Octagon in at UFC Vegas 36.

    “It was tough to take, it was real tough to take. I’m not disrespecting Derek in any way, shape, or form. Blonde Derek Brunson was doing the job,” said Till. “But when I was in there with him, I didn’t feel myself and I felt sloppy, but he just felt so slow, even his takedowns and his striking.

    “For me, if this was in the gym, I’d have [MUTED] broke his skull. I know he’s gonna see this and say, ‘No…’ But under different circumstances—I just couldn’t identify myself in there,” continued Till. “But at the same time, maybe, in my opinion, that night Derek was just the better fighter. I always say this, I never try and give excuses… I don’t wanna disrespect Derek. I still wanna give him his props. He beat me fair and square. The better man, the better fighter that night (won). But it was tough for me to take.”

    While Brunson fell short of securing a title shot and is now potentially looking towards retirement after one last Octagon outing, Till is working hard ahead of his comeback. To return to 100% and begin realizing his potential, “The Gorilla” has turned to the help of a fighter on the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to form.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CacNclPsOrv/

    For the past few weeks, Till has been training alongside Khamzat Chimaev at the Allstar Training center in Stockholm, Sweden. Having found his positivity and motivation again, the 29-year-old is targeting an ascent up the middleweight ladder, starting with a successful rebound later this year.

    Who would you like to see Darren Till face when he returns to the Octagon?

  • Archives: Sanchez Goes On Rant After Kevin Lee Misses Weight (2020)

    Two days ago, Kevin Lee successfully made weight and defeated Diego Sanchez at Eagle FC 46 in a 165 lbs. catchweight bout. Two years ago, Sanchez blasted Lee for missing weight ahead of his bout against Charles Oliveira. Oliveira would go on to get the victory anyway, but not before Sanchez gave Lee a piece of his mind.

    The following article was published on this day two years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 13, 2020, 7:33 PM]

    Headline: Diego Sanchez Goes On Rant After Kevin Lee Misses Weight For UFC Brasilia

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Diego Sanchez is not happy that IV use is banned for weight cuts under USADA.

    Ever since the UFC introduced USADA for its anti-doping measures, it has made an impact. Whether you like it or hate it, USADA is here to stay and has been since 2015. While some have praised USADA for keeping fighters clean, others have bashed the agency for being inconsistent with punishments as it pertains to victims of tainted supplements.

    Diego Sanchez Blasts USADA’s IV Ban

    Another result of USADA being put in place by the UFC is the ban on IV’s for weight cutting. After Kevin Lee missed weight once again for UFC Brasilia, Sanchez posted a rant on Instagram on how the IV ban has negatively affected fighters.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9rux5gJfse/

    “Another main event misses weight and he will win.. I have been saying it for years weight cutting is bullsh*t it’s bad for the fighters health! Why no change? Why no hydration tests? If your going to allow weight cutting then you should definitely allow IV’s it’s impossible to rehydrate adequately! Therefore creating a unfair place for competition where some guys don’t give a f*ck and use IV’s anyway.”

    Weight cutting has been an issue in the world of combat sports for years and it’s unlikely that a universal solution will come anytime soon. Promotions such as ONE Championship have tried to mitigate the issue by ensuring that drastic weight fluctuations are banned and will result in an automatic bout cancelation. There are still measures in place to negotiate a catchweight if a fighter is hydrated but has failed to make the limit by half a pound. UFC color commentator Joe Rogan has praised the system put in place by ONE Championship.

    Whether or not the UFC ever utilizes such a system remains to be seen. While ONE’s main goal when it comes to weigh-cutting has been to eliminate dehydration, it’s still an issue for most other MMA promotions.

  • Song Yadong, Khalil Rountree Among Four UFC Vegas 50 Bonus Winners

    UFC bantamweight prospect Song Yadong and light heavyweight Khalil Rountree earned $50k for their performances at UFC Vegas 50.

    Yadong seized his moment in the UFC Vegas 50 co-headliner against former title challenger Marlon Moraes, knocking him out with a vicious uppercut in the first round. He has now won three straight and appears to be on the verge of a top 10 spot.

    Check out Yadong’s violent knockout below.

    Yadong is a protege of MMA legend Urijah Faber down at Team Alpha Male.

    Yadong wasn’t the only one who shut the lights out on his opponent. Rountree overcame a slow start against Karl Roberson to blitz him with a barrage of strikes in Round 2.

    Rountree landed a stiff body kick along with a series of hooks that sent Roberson collapsing to the canvas.

    Rountree has now won back-to-back fights.

    In one of the most miraculous in-fight comebacks in recent memory, UFC middleweight Cody Brundage survived a near TKO finish from Dalcha Lungiambula to choke him out with a guillotine. He sunk in the choke by allowing Lungiambula into his guard off of a takedown attempt.

    The UFC Vegas 50 prelims began with a wild flying knee knockout by the undefeated Azamat Murzakanov against Tafon Nchukwi in his UFC debut.

    Murzakanov is a former Dana White’s Contender Series standout and could be a light heavyweight to watch in 2022.

    Yadong, Rountree, Brundage, and Murzakanov all cashed in a $50k post-fight bonus check and will look to continue their positive momentum later in 2022.

    Who do you want to see Song Yadong fight next?

  • Archives: Ben Askren Says Colby Covington Is A Real-Life Dipsh*t (2020)

    The following article was published on this day two years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Two Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 13, 2020, 9:17 PM]

    AUTHOR: FERNANDO QUILES JR.

    HEADLINE: Ben Askren Says Colby Covington Is A Real-Life Dipsh*t

    Ben Askren says shtick or not, Colby Covington is a “dipsh*t.”

    Askren and Covington have traded barbs in the past. Askren may be retired but he still isn’t done firing verbal shots towards “Chaos.” While “Funky” doesn’t deny Covington’s abilities inside the Octagon, he does think the former interim UFC welterweight champion has alienated himself from many.

    Askren Calls Covington A ‘Dipsh*t’ & ‘Terrible Person’

    Jordan Ellis of LowKickMMA.com spoke to Askren, who made it clear that he has no respect for Covington as a person.

    “Well, I think he’s a terrible person. I think that’s pretty well established, kinda anywhere he’s been people can’t stand him. I think that’s now being established at American Top Team and as a fighter. Well he’s pretty good. He almost won a world title. He does a pretty good job at promoting himself. Although, you know, some people think its an act, but it’s not an act. He’s really that much of a dipshit in real life.”

    It’s no secret that Covington’s MAGA shtick has drawn the ire of many. While some believe it’s nothing more than a gimmick, clearly Askren isn’t of that belief. What’s interesting is that Askren also leans right when it comes to politics but he just doesn’t like Covington.

    Covington was last seen in action back in Dec. 2019. He challenged Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight championship. The bout was highly contested and earned MMA News’ 2019 Fight of the Year award. Usman ended up winning the fight via fifth-round TKO.

    As for Askren, he retired from the sport of MMA following a submission loss to Demian Maia. Askren wrapped up his pro MMA career having held Bellator and ONE Championship gold. He went 1-2 under the UFC banner.

    Do you think Colby Covington is just playing up his shtick or is he being authentic?

  • Thiago Santos On UFC Vegas 50 Defeat To Ankalaev: “No Excuses”

    UFC light heavyweight Thiago Santos isn’t making excuses for his performance after falling to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Vegas 50.

    Santos looked to earn a second straight win in his second straight UFC main event against the upstart Ankalaev. However, it wasn’t meant to be as he appeared hesitant to throw strikes and find his timing throughout the fight with Ankalaev.

    Santos, who previously had gone toe-to-toe with Jon Jones at UFC 239, has failed to recapture the same magic in losses in three of his last four fights. He’s fallen to the likes of Aleksandar Rakic, Glover Teixeira, and now Ankalaev.

    In a recent Instagram post, Santos addressed his fans while also reflecting on the loss to Ankalaev.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbDWw4-piiG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “No words about yesterday, no excuses, another hard and painful defeat,” Santos said. “Still, my faith in God remains unshakable and my gratitude to him, my family, my friends, coaches and true fans only increases, thank you for everything.”

    Santos had once looked like a world-beater after moving from middleweight to light heavyweight earlier in his UFC career. While he remains a dangerous foe for most 205 pounders, it’s unclear whether or not he’ll still be able to contend for a light heavyweight title.

    Despite the disappointing loss, Santos seems optimistic about his future in the UFC. He’ll look to get back in the win column with his next potential appearance later this year.

    What do you think is next for Thiago Santos?

  • Archives: Till Doesn’t Think He’ll Ever Move Past Woodley Defeat (2019)

    The following article was published on this day three years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 13, 2019, 12:32 PM]

    Darren Till suffered the first defeat of his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career in his last fight. “

    The Gorilla” was submitted in the second round of his UFC welterweight title contest with Tyron Woodley in September. Now, he’s looking to bounce back this weekend (Sat. March 16, 2019) against Jorge Masvidal at UFC London.

    Speaking to MMA Junkie, Till admitted that his loss to Woodley still stings, and he doesn’t think he’ll ever move past it. In fact, he’s realistic that the same thing could happen to him this weekend, and he’s not scared to talk about it:

    “I don’t think I’ll ever move past it,” Till said. “I’m not ashamed to say it still hurts every day if it comes to mind. I’ve watched the fight many times, and it’s just something inside of me. Even if I get the rematch with Woodley and beat him, the first fight will still be a thorn inside of me.

    “I’ve always said that openly, you can’t really go through this life – a normal life or the fighting life – with it all being highs. The lows do come, and I always said that a loss would come. A loss may come again. A loss may happen Saturday. I’m not scared to talk about it because it’s all reality. I am a realist.”

    With a new champion at the helm, the welterweight division is ripe for the picking in regards to big fights. Should Till emerge victorious this weekend with a big showing, he could be right back in line for title contention. However, he needs to get past a hungry Masvidal first.

    “Gamebred” hasn’t won a fight since January of 2017. After back-to-back losses, and not having fought since November of 2017, Masvidal might have to shake off some ring rust before he gets going against a striker the caliber of Till on Saturday.

    Who are you picking for Till vs. Masvidal this weekend?

  • Greg Hardy Appears To Announce UFC Release Following UFC 272 Loss

    It appears that UFC heavyweight Greg Hardy’s time with the promotion may be coming to a close based on a recent social media post.

    Hardy is coming off of a disappointing loss to Serghei Spivac at UFC 272, losing via first-round submission. Hardy has now lost three in a row after impressive wins over the likes of Maurice Greene and Yorgan De Castro.

    Hardy has had his fair share of ups and downs in the UFC, making the full-time move to MMA following a tumultuous end to his career in professional football. But Hardy appears to be turning the page to the next chapter of his athletic career, and it may not be in the UFC.

    In a recent Instagram post, Hardy appeared to say his goodbyes to UFC fans and hinted at a departure from the top MMA promotion.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbAno3JL2Fn/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

    “What a run,” Hardy said. “Ya boy is far from done just got some fine tuning to do. Thank you to all my fans and haters. I appreciate you all. Mostly i appreciate my coaches, family, and the @ufc for giving me the opportunity to shine bright.” (h/t Bloody Elbow)

    The UFC hasn’t officially announced anything regarding Hardy’s status with the promotion and it’s not yet clear what Hardy’s next move will be. Despite the loss to Spivac, Hardy sounded optimistic about his UFC future immediately following UFC 272.

    Hardy made his UFC debut back in January 2019 after throwing an illegal knee against Allen Crowder. He would rebound in a big way with TKO finishes over Dmitry Smolyakov and Juan Adams.

    Hardy garnered the attention of UFC President Dana White after a pair of impressive wins on Dana White’s Contender Series. He also competed on the regional scene leading up to his shot on DWCS in brief stints with LFA and Rite of Passage.

    Hardy has accumulated a 7-5 record in the cage since making the move to MMA.

    What do you think is next for Greg Hardy and his MMA career?

  • (Archives) Masvidal Blasts “Weasel” Ben Askren: Have Some Pride (2019)

    Before one of the most iconic knockouts in UFC history at UFC 239, Jorge Masvidal was already talking trash to Ben Askren. In fact, the following article was published before Masvidal and Askren were even booked to fight one another. As alluded to, we know how this story ends. But here is a walk back to one of the first chapters of how the Masvidal/Askren feud began.

    The following article was published on this day three years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 13, 2019, 4:30 PM]

    Jorge Masvidal sent a harsh message to Ben Askren following Askren’s controversial victory at UFC 235.

    Jorge Masvidal will be headlining UFC London in three days when he takes on Darren Till from the 02 Arena in London, England. Ben Askren is already on record in saying he would like the winner of that bout after picking up a victory over Robbie Lawler at UFC 235, but Jorge Masvidal feels that Askren’s fleet of foot and fleet of mouth after the controversial victory calls into question Askren’s manhood, confidence, and respect:

    “He’s a little groupie, man,” Masvidal told MMAjunkie of Askren. “He’s calling my name. Who are you? Herb Dean gifted you a win, and you’re calling people out? Give Robbie Lawler the respect you owe.

    “As a man, as a fighter, having pride in what I do, I choke somebody out, or I think choke them out, but when I see the replay and see the guy put the thumbs up, in my head, I would say, ‘Man, I didn’t choke this guy out,’” Masvidal said. “And as a man, having pride, I would say, ‘Let’s do it again,’ especially after he (expletive) decapitated me on the slam, busted up my face. ‘Let’s do it again,’ because I definitely didn’t choke you out. Because I’ve never seen nobody go to sleep like this. That’s the first.

    “But that’s how much of a weasel and coward he is. No, no, I’m gone already. I wouldn’t dare repeat that route again. That just shows you his character. He’s a (expletive).”

    Robbie Lawler and Dana White have both called for a rematch of the Askren/Lawler bout, while Askren has been quite clear about where he stands as well, a stance that has generated repulsion and contempt from the man who may end up being Ben Askren’s next opponent, Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal.

    Do you agree with Jorge Masvidal’s harsh assessment of Ben Askren’s character?

  • Alex Pereira Wants Big Step Up In Form Of Jared Cannonier: “Why Not?”

    Alex Pereira hasn’t entered the Top 15 yet in the UFC middleweight rankings, but he has his eyes on top contender Jared Cannonier.

    Pereira outlasted a tough Bruno Silva to kick off the main card of UFC Vegas 50. Despite having Silva badly hurt in the third round, Pereira wasn’t able to secure the finish and would settle for a unanimous decision victory.

    Pereira is now 2-0 in the UFC after a decorated career in Glory Kickboxing. He also has a 5-1 record in MMA and seems focused on title contention in the UFC.

    Pereira has discussed a potential third fight with Israel Adesanya in the UFC after beating him twice in kickboxing. However, Pereira thinks he’s ready for a fight with Cannonier next following Cannonier’s knockout over Derek Brunson at UFC 271.

    During his UFC Vegas 50 post-fight press conference, Pereira explained his reasoning behind calling out Cannonier so early into his UFC career.

    “I had talked about Jared Cannonier because he’s a guy that is next for a title shot,” Pereira said. “Some people have already talked about me and Adesanya, so why not Cannonier? I don’t think I’m talking too much calling out Cannonier.

    “I had two great fights and I was able to showcase my skills. I didn’t even show everything that I go through my daily basis training with Glover Teixeira’s gym. I’m improving and evolving every day. Where I am in the division? I don’t know. I’ll let the promotors talk and they’ll know where to properly put me in.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

    Before his win over Silva, Pereira passed his first UFC test with flying colors against Andreas Michailidis at UFC 268. He earned a violent flying knee knockout that put the rest of the division on notice.

    Cannonier is expected to face Adesanya for the next middleweight title shot later this year. If he were to lose, a fight against Pereira may happen down the line.

    For now,

    UFC Vegas 50: Pros react to Alex Pereira's unanimous decision win over Bruno Silva - Bloody Elbow

    Alex Pereira is planning his next move in the UFC Octagon as he continues to pursue his long-standing rival Adesanya.

    Who do you want Alex Pereira to fight next?

  • Manager Shares The Only Way Harrison Can Fight Cyborg After PFL Deal

    MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz says talks of his client Kayla Harrison fighting Cris “Cyborg” Justino could theoretically happen, despite Harrison’s new deal with the PFL.

    Harrison concluded her free agency by re-signing with the PFL, despite lucrative offers from Bellator and the UFC. In addition to signing Harrison, the PFL announced that they intend to launch a “super fight division” to garner the attention of some of the best fighters around the sport.

    Talks of a fight between Harrison and Cyborg began when Cyborg defeated Sinead Kavanagh at Bellator 271. Harrison was a guest of Bellator President Scott Coker to watch Cyborg put on a dominant performance.

    Tensions between Harrison and Cyborg have skyrocketed in recent weeks. This was after Harrison challenged Cyborg to a fight at American Top Team before getting blocked by her on Twitter.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Abdelaziz explained how a Harrison vs. Cyborg fight can still happen down the line, which is for the reigning Bellator featherweight champion to jump ship.

    “Listen, Cyborg is a Bellator fighter. Kayla is a PFL fighter,” Abdelaziz said. Whatever super fight is gonna happen, it’s gonna happen with someone inside PFL. It’s not going to happen with someone in Bellator, because it’s a completely different entity. At the end of the day, I know both people, I’m good with both people, but it’s very hard to get two promoters to sit down and talk. I can be in the middle if they ask me to, but at the end of the day, PFL people fight people in the PFL. To be honest with you, I don’t know of any other champion in another promotion who would fight Kayla.”

    Abdelaziz went on to question whether or not a fight with Harrison is a matchup that Cyborg would want.

    “I don’t know if she does, I don’t know if she doesn’t. I just think people can say things, but when a contract is drawn, we don’t know what kind of move you’re going to make. You don’t know how you’re going to feel, what kind of butterfly you’re going to feel. One thing I can tell you, [Kayla’s] the greatest fighter of all time. It’s not Ronda, it’s not Amanda Nunes, she is. She’s the most dominant.”

    Harrison is getting ready to defend her women’s lightweight title in the upcoming 2022 PFL season. She defeated Taylor Guardado last October for her second consecutive championship in the league.

    As for Cyborg, she’s set to face Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 279 in April. She’s won five straight since losing to Amanda Nunes at UFC 232.

    If a Harrison vs. Cyborg fight will happen this year, it would have to take place in a cross-promotion event. But according to Abdelaziz, the only way the fight ever happens would be if Cyborg joined the PFL. For now, any conflict between Harrison and Cyborg will only take place from afar.

    Do you think Kayla Harrison vs. Cris Cyborg will eventually happen?

  • Archives: Cain Velasquez: I Want Nothing More Than My Belt Back (2017)

    Times were simpler for UFC great Cain Velasquez five years ago, as the following article illustrates. However, Velasquez was unable to regain the heavyweight championship after this article was published.

    The following article was published on this day five years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Five Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 13, 2017, 9:23 PM]

    Cain Velasquez took to Twitter on Monday to confirm that he still has a future in the UFC, and will fight for the heavyweight title sometime in the future.

    Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez wants nothing more than a return to fighting duties, but will not step back inside the Octagon until he feels the time is right.

    Velasquez is no stranger to succumbing to injuries. The former two-time UFC heavyweight champion has just two appearances inside the cage in over three years, having missed out on a return to action following back surgery which saw a rematch with Fabricio Werdum at UFC 207 scrapped.

    Regardless of a long list of injuries that have disrupted the heavyweight’s career over the past few years, Velasquez is confident that he can still compete with the best in the business. This time, however, the 34-year-old wants to ensure that he is in the best possible shape prior to squaring off with any opponent.

    Velasquez’s message to fans was comprehensive, but is certain to dispel fears that the popular fighter has fought for the last time in the world’s premier MMA organization:

  • Tsarukyan: 70% Of Russians Thought Ferguson Would Beat Khabib

    UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan claims the majority of Russians picked Tony Ferguson to upend Khabib Nurmagomedov in the Octagon.

    Tsarukyan has been on a tear with five-straight wins in the UFC. He earned a brutal TKO finish over Joel Alvarez at UFC Vegas 49 to continue his climb up the lightweight rankings.

    While Tsarukyan has proven to be a real factor at 155 pounds, he has arguably yet to earn a signature big-name win on his record. His lone defeat came against Islam Makhachev in April 2019.

    Arman Tsarukyan Says Tony Ferguson Has A Lot Of Support, But Can’t Beat Khabib

    During a past media scrum, Tsarukyan gave his thoughts on the seemingly cursed Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov matchup. The two were once considered the best lightweights in the world and a very intriguing stylistic matchup.

    Many believed that Ferguson had the tools to give Khabib trouble wherever the fight would go, including on the mat. And apparently, the majority of Russians thought so as well.

    “I don’t think so,” Tsarukyan said when asked about Ferguson’s chances against Nurmagomedov. “But, you know, I live in Russia … UFC is I think number one sport. Everyone, like, watch UFC, and like 70% said Tony Ferguson was going to win—I don’t know why. Tony Ferguson really, like, he has a lot of fans in Russia.”

    Ferguson and Nurmagomedov were supposed to fight on numerous occasions during their respective careers, but the bout constantly fell through. Nurmagomedov retired following his win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.

    Ferguson is looking to get back in the win column after losses to Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Beneil Dariush. He hasn’t won since his finish doctor’s stoppage victory over Donald Cerrone at UFC 238. He is currently scheduled to fight Michael Chandler at UFC 274.

    Do you believe Arman Tsarukyan Do you think most Russians picked Tony Ferguson to beat Khabib?

  • Archives: Alleged Conor McGregor Victim Details Miami Robbery (2019)

    The following article was published on this day three years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 13, 2019, 10:13 AM]

    Conor McGregor landed himself behind bars once again this week. “The Notorious” was arrested in Miami Beach after allegedly smashing a fan’s phone and stealing it. The victim, who has since been identified as Ahmed Abdirzak, gave his side of the story to TMZ Sports. The London resident claims McGregor actually fooled him, going in for a handshake before taking his phone and smashing it (via MMA Junkie):

    “He came to shake my hand, and as soon as he came to shake my hand, he pulled me in and grabbed my phone and started smashing it,” Abdirzak said. “All these security guards literally surrounded me and pushed me out of the way. And he’s stomping on it.

    “He was a lot rude. He was like, ‘Get the (expletive) out of my face. Move.’ And I was like, ‘Yo, sir can I have my phone back?’ And (security guards said), ‘Move, man. Conor said what Conor said.’”

    Abdirzak then claims McGregor picked up the phone, pocketed it, and walked off while laughing. The 30-year-old was arrested hours later that day on strong-arm robbery and criminal mischief charges. Abdirzak said his phone is valued at $1,000, but the photos of his child are priceless, and he might never get them back:

    “I’ve got pictures of my son I’ll probably never get again,” Abdirzak said.

    What do you think about McGregor’s phone-smashing incident in Miami?

  • Khabib Believes St-Pierre Lost His Hunger To Fight A Decade Ago

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov believes Georges St-Pierre had lost his hunger to compete even before he held middleweight gold.

    Khabib and GSP are two of the consensus frontrunners in the debate over who holds the crown as the greatest of all time. But while they have that in common, they also share another similarity: retiring on top.

    While “The Eagle” hung up his gloves from his place atop the lightweight mountain following his victory over Justin Gaethje in 2020, “Rush” called time on his career early in 2019 having not competed since his middleweight title win against Michael Bisping two years prior.

    St-Pierre retired with a 26-2 record, having not been beaten in 13 fights since his shock defeat to Matt Serra in 2007. Across the decade after his final blemish, he held titles in two weight classes, defeated the likes of BJ Penn, Thiago Alves, Carlos Condit, and Nick Diaz, and defended the 170-pound belt a record nine times.

    But despite reaching another throne as recently as 2017, Khabib believes St-Pierre lost his desire to fight long before his retirement.

    Khabib: “For This Sport, You Have To Be Hungry”

    During an appearance on the Full Send Podcast, Khabib discussed St-Pierre and his own failed matchup with the great Canadian. While a superfight between the pair was long-rumored and reportedly even offered to Khabib as recently as 2021, it never came to fruition.

    The Dagestani suggested that when he was in his own prime, GSP was long past his. And despite the fact “Rush” returned from a previous lengthy hiatus to win the middleweight strap in 2017, Khabib believes it was clear St-Pierre’s hunger was gone during his controversial 2013 victory over Johny Hendricks.

    “When I was on top, when it was my prime time, it was not his prime time. When did he finish? ’12, ’13? After four years he came back, fight only with Michael Bisping. Last, almost 10 years, I think his time is finished,” said Khabib. “My opinion is his prime time was like 2010, ’11, ’12, but ’13 it was not his time.

    “Even when he fight Johny Hendricks. On this time, I feel he’s not enjoying (being) inside the cage. He’s not hungry anymore. I don’t know about his feeling, this is what I feel. For this sport, you have to be hungry. If you’re not hungry, if you don’t want this, you have to finish,” Khabib concluded.

    While some of the UFC’s best continue their careers in spite of losing streaks and devastating skids, Khabib and St-Pierre ended their in-cage stints on top. While we’ll never know how much both men still had to give inside the Octagon, it’s safe to say the pair accomplished their goals and secured memorable legacies.

    Nevertheless, most would be lying if they denied harboring some disappointment at the fact we never got to see the two GOAT contenders share the cage…

    How do you think a fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Georges St-Pierre would have played out?

  • Fighters React To Ankalaev Outlasting Santos At UFC Vegas 50

    Magomed Ankalaev has continued his rise through the UFC light heavyweight division with a victory over Thiago Santos in the main event of UFC Vegas 50 this evening.

    The duo went five rounds at the UFC Apex in what was for the most part a cagey affair. Dagestan native Ankalaev, who went into the bout on a seven-fight win streak, pushed the pace early on before Santos earned a knockdown in round two. But Ankalaev responded by landing the only takedown of the fight in round four and rounding out a unanimous decision win by outstriking Santos 70-60.

    The #6 ranked Ankalaev’s UFC record now stands at 8-1, and with victory over #5-ranked Santos, we’ll likely see the 29-year-old break into the top five in the coming days.

    You can catch the highlights of the main event below.

    This was Ankalaev’s eighth UFC win in a row.

    Ankalaev won the final scorecard of 49-46, 49-46, 48-47.

    Now, let’s see how fighters reacted to the UFC Vegas 50 main event.

    UFC Vegas 50: Santos vs. Ankalaev Results & Highlights

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC Vegas 50. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • Fighters React To Yadong’s KO Of Moraes At UFC Vegas 50

    Song Yadong showed why he’s a future bantamweight title contender in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 50.

    Yadong earned a spectacular first-round KO of former title challenger Marlon Moraes at the UFC Apex this evening, extending his win streak to three. For Moraes, the loss was his fifth in six fights, all of which have come via KO or TKO.

    Still only 24 years old, Yadong has fought in the UFC since 2017. His record in the promotion now stands at 8-1-1, while his overall record reads like that of a fighter far more advanced in years, at 19-5-1. With a victory over #10 ranked bantamweight Moraes, it’s likely we’ll see #14 ranked Yadong enter the top ten in the coming days.

    You can catch the highlights of the co-main event below.

    This was Yadong’s third win in a row.

    Now, let’s see how fighters reacted to the co-main event of UFC Vegas 50.

    UFC Vegas 50: Santos vs. Ankalaev Results & Highlights

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC Vegas 50. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • Bellator 276 Results & Highlights: Borics & Davis Victorious

    Bellator 276 took place live tonight from The Family Arena in St. Louis Missouri, and we’ve got you covered with all the results and highlights!

    In tonight’s Bellator 276 main event, Adam Borics (17-1) and Mads Burnell (16-3) looked to break the tie for the #2-ranked featherweight in the promotion. The winner of this fight is almost surely next in line to face the winner of the upcoming McKee/Pitbull rematch slated for April 15.

    The co-main event featured top-5 light heavyweights Phil Davis (#2) and Julius Anglickas (#4) doing battle. Davis is a former champion who has won four of his last five bouts. In his most recent outing, Davis defeated Yoel Romero via split decision at Bellator 266. As for Julius Anglickas, he most recently headlined Bellator 268 against champion Vadim Nemkov, with Nemkov picking up the fourth-round submission victory.

    You can check out the highlights for both bouts below followed by the quick results!

    Phil Davis def. Julius Anglickas

    Adam Borics def. Mads Burnell

    Bellator 276 Quick Results

    MAIN CARD

    Adam Borics def. Mads Burnell via unanimous decision (49-46×2, 50-45)

    Phil Davis def. Julius Anglickas via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

    Johnny Eblen def. John Salter via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

    Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Jay Jay Wilson via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)

    PRELIMINARY CARD

    Alex Polizzi def. Jose Augusto via submission (rear-naked choke): R3, 0:49

    Romero Cotton def. Freddy Sandoval via TKO (ground-and-pound): R1, 1:39

    Diana Avsaragova def. Kyra Batara via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

    Cody Law def. James Adcock via knockout (punches): R1, 1:17

    Roman Faraldo def. Kelvin Rayford via TKO (punches): R1, 0:44

    Jordan Howard def. Trevor Ward via TKO (ground-and-pound): R2, 3:24

  • UFC Vegas 50 Results & Highlights: Ankalaev Decisions Santos

    UFC Vegas 50 took place tonight from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas Nevada, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Tonight’s main event featured former title challenger Thiago Santos taking on surging light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev. The co-main event saw another Brazilian who has competed for a UFC title before, Marlon Moraes, also face a rising star in 24-year-old Song Yadong. Also on the main card was ranked featherweights Sodiq Yusuff and Alex Caceres.

    Check out all the UFC Vegas 50 results and highlights below.

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Azamat Murzakanov def. Tafon Nchukwi

    Light heavyweights Azamat Murzakanov and Tafon Nchukwi faced off in the opening bout of the evening. Making his UFC debut, Murzakanov was down on the cards after two rounds, before landing an impressive flying knee in the third to earn a TKO victory. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Guido Cannetti def. Kris Moutinho

    Argentina’s Guido Cannetti made quick work of Kris Moutinho in this bantamweight bout. Much like he did in his previous outing against Sean O’Malley, Moutinho took heavy damage, but this time the ref stepped in to call off the fight just two minutes into round one, declaring a TKO victory for Canetti. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Cody Brundage def. Dalcha Lungiambula

    Cody Brundage pulled off an impressive come-from-behind win in this middleweight bout with Dalcha Lungiambula. After sustaining heavy damage throughout round one, Brundage locked in a guillotine choke to force a tap from Lungiambula, ending the fight in just under four minutes. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Miranda Maverick def. Sabina Mazo

    In this women’s flyweight bout, Miranda Maverick forced Sabina Mazo to tap in round two after sinking in a rear-naked choke. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Damon Jackson def. Kamuela Kirk

    Damon Jackson took on Kamuela Kirk in this featherweight bout. Jackson dominated in round one, and continued doing so in round two, before ending the fight with an arm triangle with just 18 seconds left in the round. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Main Card Highlights

    Alex Pereira def. Bruno Silva

    The main card opener saw a much-awaited middleweight matchup between former K1 kickboxer Alex Pereira and his fellow Brazilian Bruno Silva. After being taken down briefly, Pereira ended round one unloading on Silva. In round two, Silva continued to hold his own on the feet against Pereira, with both men having success. Round three saw Pereira rock Silva multiple times, defend another takedown, and wrap up a dominant victory. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Drew Dober def. Terrance McKinney

    In this lightweight bout, Drew Dober pulled off a remarkable come-from-behind win against surging prospect Terrance McKinney. McKinney came out of the gates fast and hard, almost putting Dober away with a flurry of ferocious strikes. Dober, however, weathered the storm and turned the tables on McKinney, earning a TKO victory in round one. Catch the highlights below.

    Khalil Rountree def. Karl Roberson

    Khalil Rountree made a statement against Karl Roberson in this light heavyweight clash. Round one saw both men throw heavy leather, with Rountree getting the better of the exchanges. In round two, Rountree dropped Roberson early and swarmed his opponent with a series of devastating strikes and kicks to earn a TKO victory. Catch the highlights below.

    Sodiq Yusuff def. Alex Caceres

    Nigeria’s Sodiq Yusuff marked his return to the Octagon with a convincing win against featherweight Alex Caceres. Yusuff got the better of the grappling exchanges in round one, before Caceres made a hopeful rear-naked choke attempt late on. Round two saw both fighters exchange heavy strikes, with Yusuff landing successive leg kicks that swept Caceres off his feet. In round three, Yusuff landed the more potent strikes to round out a unanimous decision win.

    Song Yadong def. Marlon Moraes

    Song Yadong announced himself as a future title contender in this bantamweight clash with Marlon Moraes. The Chinese proved too fast and explosive for former title challenger Moraes, landing a blistering uppercut to earn a KO victory in round one. Catch the highlights below.

    Magomed Ankalaev def. Thiago Santos

    In the main event of the evening, surging light heavyweight prospect Magomed Ankalaev took on Thiago Santos. A very cagey first round saw Ankalaev get the better of the few striking exchanges between the duo.

    Both men remained tentative in round two, before Santos dropped Ankalaev late on, landing further strikes form on top. In round three, Ankalaev continued to pressure Santos, with both landing strikes, albeit sparingly.

    The action continued in much the same vein in round four, before Ankalaev landed a take down late on. In the final round, Ankalaev controlled Santos against the fence, doing minimal damage, but enough to round out a unanimous decision victory. Catch the end of the fight below.

    MAIN CARD (7:00 PM ET, ESPN+)

    Main Event – Light Heavyweight Bout: Magomed Ankalaev def. Thiago Santos via unanimous decision (49-46×2, 48-47)

    Co-Main Event – Bantamweight Bout: Song Yadong def. Marlon Moraes via KO: R1, 2.06

    Featherweight Bout: Sodiq Yusuff def. Alex Caceres via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Khalil Rountree def. Karl Roberson via TKO: R2, 0.25

    Lightweight Bout: Drew Dober def. Terrance McKinney via TKO: R1, 3:17

    Middleweight Bout: Alex Pereira def. Bruno Silva via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

    PRELIMINARY CARD (4:00 PM ET, ESPN+)

    Welterweight Bout: Matthew Semelsberger def. AJ Fletcher via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: JJ Aldrich def. Gillian Robertson via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

    Bantamweight Bout: Javid Basharat def. Trevin Jones via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)

    Featherweight Bout: Damon Jackson def. Kamuela Kirk via submission: R2, 4.42

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: Miranda Maverick def. Sabina Mazo via submission: R2, 2:15

    Middleweight Bout: Cody Brundage def. Dalcha Lungiambula via submission: R1, 3.41

    Bantamweight Bout: Guido Cannetti def. Kris Moutinho via TKO: R1, 2:07

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Azamat Murzakanov def. Tafon Nchukwi via TKO: R3, 0.44

  • Jake Paul Proposes Deal To White For UFC Fight Against McGregor

    Jake Paul has laid out a proposal for Dana White to book him in a UFC fight against Conor McGregor with game-changing stakes.

    Dana White has held true to his word. Just as he vowed two months ago, White has not mentioned Jake Paul in any meaningful way after their latest exchange.

    In that exchange, White proposed that Paul randomly drug test him for cocaine over the next 10 years if White could, in turn, randomly drug test Paul for steroids for two years. This proposal was inspired by Paul constantly claiming that White is a cocaine addict.

    Paul then responded to White with the following counterproposal:

    Paul expressed a willingness to fight Jorge Masvidal in the UFC if White agrees to a list of terms that help improve fighter pay and benefits. After both parties accused one another of dodging the other’s challenge, White decided to wash his hands of Paul and vowed to never speak of him again.

    In one of his last comments about Paul, White was surprisingly respectful of the YouTuber, stating that he “doesn’t fault” Paul for the way he makes his money.

    Weeks later, after finally receiving a response from Conor McGregor and with White’s animosity towards him now at somewhat of a thaw, Paul decided to strike while the mitten’s hot and pitch a UFC fight against McGregor with some very big stakes.

    “Dana – Since you like me now, how about a 1 fight UFC deal to fight Conor. If I win, you agree to my UFC fighter pay and healthcare proposal. If I lose I donate my entire purse to all UFC fighters who make less than $50K a fight and never mention UFC again.

    Deal?”

    As usual, the odds of Dana White agreeing to Jake Paul’s terms are slim to none. Then again, moments like these are where the phrase “never say never” becomes very applicable.

    Paul has already expressed his confidence that he’d be able to KO the former champ-champ inside the Octagon. If Dana White stuns the world by agreeing to Paul’s terms, the YouTuber turned boxer will have the chance to go in for the finish and send the world into a shock-induced coma if he were to successfully knock out Conor McGregor in a UFC fight.

    How interested would you be to watch Jake Paul fight Conor McGregor in a UFC fight?

  • Sodiq Yusuff Points Out The One Claim Multiple Fighters “Lie” About

    “Super” Yusuff prefers to get the knockout over a decision win when he faces Alex Caceres on March 12.

    In Yusuff’s 11 wins of his professional MMA career, 6 of them have come by KO/TKO, and he hopes to continue down the knockout path when he goes against Caceres at UFC Fight Night 203.

    Unlike some fighters, Yusuff is not interested in a grueling three-round bout where both fighters end up exhausted from giving it their all. He would rather take out the competition as quickly as possible.

    “Trust me, when these fighters tell you they’re trying to go get a three-round war, they’re all lying. If I can walk in there and touch [Caceres] once and walk out, that would be the perfect day,” said Yussuf in a pre-fight media scrum.

    Likely, most fighters want to win big without breaking a sweat, and it has been known to happen on occasion. Just ask Jorge Masvidal, who took out Ben Askren with just one strike of his knee 5 seconds into the first round.

    Bonuses are handed out after a fight night for top performances. In 2018, Yusuff received a Performance of the Night bonus for his TKO victory over Suman Mokhtarian.

    UFC Adelaide: Sodiq Yusuff stop Suman Mokhtarian in the first round

    A one-touch win tonight at UFC Vegas 50 would surely gift him another bonus, and of course, place him back in the winner’s circle following his first UFC loss last year to Arnold Allen.

    Tonight will be a quick night for Yusuff if it ends in his desired fashion. But does he have what it takes to knockout “Bruce Leeroy,” who won all of his last five fights?

    Do you think Sodiq Yussuff will knockout Alex Caceres tonight at UFC Vegas 50?

  • Archives: Jones, DC Caught On Tape Talking Trash In Parking Lot (2016)

    The following article was published on this day six years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Six Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 12, 2016, 10:48 AM]

    If you thought the trash-talk between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier was intense on-camera, wait until you hear what they have to say to each other when they think they’re not on camera.

    Footage leaked this week that shows Jones and Cormier talking trash to each other as they walked to their cars after the UFC “Unstoppable” press conference last weekend.

    Transcribed below is a recap of what Jones and D.C. said to each other on the way to their cars after the press event, which you can see in the video footage embedded above.

    Jon Jones: “You’re the lamest b*tch ass I’ve ever met, bro.”
    Daniel Cormier: “What does that make you?”
    Jones: “Talking all this sh*t outside with your bodyguards.”
    Cormier: “When have I ever backed down from a fight with you?”
    Jones: “Daniel, suck my d*ck, man. F*ck your cheerleading squad.”

    UFC 197: Cormier vs. Jones II is scheduled for April 23, 2016 inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Make sure to join us here at MMANews.com on 4/23 for the best UFC 197 live results coverage on the web!

    H/T to MMAMania.com for transcribing.

  • McGregor Finally Responds To Jake Paul & Claps Back At Malignaggi

    Conor McGregor fired back at one new target and one from years past after both took aim at the Irishman’s boxing skills.

    Conor McGregor has remained active after breaking his leg at UFC 264 against Dustin Poirier. He has spent much of his time bulking up and active resting. And now, he has begun to hit the pads as he inches closer to his targeted summer return.

    When footage of McGregor engaging in an outdoor training session was released, the Irishman left himself wide open to criticism from peers and haters alike, or in this case both.

    Notorious troll Jake Paul shared his thoughts on McGregor’s handiwork, calling it “embarrassing” and telling McGregor “Your chin (is) wide open with no head movement for the PRBLM CHILD right hand of god.”

    This is far from the first time Paul has jabbed McGregor. The former champ-champ was even one of Paul’s targets in his Dana White Diss Track.

    Additionally, Paul has been angling for a fight with McGregor for roughly a year now, roasting him at every turn. In fact, the YouTuber even went so far as to create a “Sleepy McGregor chain,” which depicted McGregor’s posture on the mat immediately after getting TKOd by Dustin Poirier at UFC 257.

    But through all the jokes and challenges, McGregor has never issued a direct response to Paul. That is until Friday.

    After Paul’s critique of McGregor’s boxing technique, “The Notorious” posted the following video on his Twitter page:

    After shadowboxing in bed for a few seconds, McGregor would shout, “Jackass!” before belting out a hearty laugh.

    McGregor & Malignaggi Back At It Again

    Soon after McGregor’s exchange with Paul, a name from McGregor’s past, Paulie Malignaggi, also weighed in on McGregor’s training video. Unsurprisingly, the “Magic Man” was not complimentary.

    “I agree with Jake. Connor is light work,” Malignaggi wrote.

    “He ain’t s**t” Malignaggi further assessed when a Twitter user spoke up in defense of McGregor.

    Never being one in need of someone to defend him, McGregor would counter Malignaggi himself.

    “I left you like a little seesaw,” McGregor said with an image from their infamous sparring session prior to the MayMac event.

    Malignaggi has always argued that him hitting the canvas during this session was actually a result of a push and that he wasn’t actually dropped by a McGregor punch. He also repeatedly called on McGregor to release the full sparring footage instead of cherry-picked clips.

    The full sparring session was never released, and Malignaggi has continued to take shots at McGregor ever since their falling out, even five years later.

    Though Malignaggi and McGregor never had the opportunity to compete in a full boxing match, Malignaggi did have the opportunity to fight McGregor’s close friend Artem Lobov in a bare-knuckle boxing match in 2019.

    Prior to the bout, Malignaggi admitted to not taking Lobov seriously and laughed about MMA fans being dumb enough to believe Lobov stood a chance.

    Lobov would go on to win the contest via split decision.

    What are your thoughts on McGregor’s clap-backs to Jake Paul and Paulie Malignaggi?

  • Mackenzie Dern Reveals Pre-Fight Injury Before Rodriguez Loss

    Mackenzie Dern revealed in an exclusive interview with MMA News that she suffered a knee injury before her main event loss to Marina Rodriguez.

    Dern went on to lose to Rodriguez in her first career UFC main event at UFC Vegas 39 last October via a unanimous decision. She was unable to deal with Rodriguez’s boxing or get the fight to the ground by using her signature Jiu-Jitsu.

    Dern remains one of the top UFC strawweight prospects heading into her 2022 debut against Tecia Torres at UFC 273. However, it was a hard road back to full health following the knee injury before her fight with Rodriguez.

    Dern explained what led to her knee injury in a recent sitdown with MMA News’ James Lynch.

    “Yeah, I hurt it on the last sparring before my fight with Marina on Friday [of fight week],” Dern said. “It was more during the fight week, so during fight week it just blew up and it was huge. I couldn’t really do anything, I couldn’t train during fight week, I couldn’t move around too much, I couldn’t put pressure on my knee or anything like that. In the fight, I didn’t feel it or anything like that. Marina did a couple of kicks and it was in the back of my head. She didn’t know about it or anything like that.

    “I felt good, I had trained hard and everything like that. But it was a little distraction. All of these things are little distractions and you just gotta learn to block it all out.”

    Dern went on to reveal that she underwent knee surgery following the fight with Rodriguez and made a full recovery ahead of this fight camp.

    Before the loss to Rodriguez, Dern had won four straight over the likes of Nina Nunes and Virna Jandiroba. She debuted in the UFC back at UFC 222 following successful stints in LFA and Invicta FC.

    Dern will look to get back into the strawweight title picture with a win over Torres at UFC 273. Her grappling is arguably the best in the strawweight division and she’s proven to be a matchup nightmare for most contenders.

    What is your prediction for Mackenzie Dern vs. Tecia Torres?

  • Archives: Esparza & Jędrzejczyk Offended By Fedor’s Comments (2015)

    Months ago, Khabib Nurmagomedov made headlines after implying that women’s mixed martial arts is inferior to men’s mixed martial arts. Specifically, Khabib used Julianna Peña’s victory over Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 as an example in support of his claim and, unsurprisingly, Peña took issue with these remarks.

    Seven years ago, another Russian MMA legend, Fedor Emelianenko, made very similar remarks. And then-champion Carla Esparza as well as Joanna Jędrzejczyk both were offended, not unlike Julianna Peña years later.

    The following article was published on this day seven years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Seven Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 12, 2015, 1:48 PM]

    At the UFC 185 open workouts on Wednesday, UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza and number one contender Joanna Jędrzejczyk took exception to recent comments made by MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko.

    During a recent WHOA TV interview, the former PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko controversially stated that he felt MMA is a man’s sport, adding that women have no business fighting in MMA.

    Esparza and Jędrzejczyk, who compete in the co-main event this Saturday night at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, disagree.

    “I like him so much and he’s a living legend,” Jędrzejczyk said. “But I think we can do a pretty good job, you know? I think it’s not right. We can fight good, we can bring the audience and we can make the show better. That’s all.”

    “Facts speak for themselves,” Esparza agreed. “He’s one of the greats. I have nothing against him. Maybe we differ a little bit in opinion. You know, I think Ronda and the crowd she brought in to LA, the proof is in the pudding. It shows right there.”

    Esparza continued, “I think female MMA is basically the biggest female sport out there right now. We’re being put on the same stage as the guys, and obviously, Ronda is headlining even above all the guys. It just goes to show, we’re on top right now.”

    “Some people are always going to feel the way they feel. But I think day-by-day, fight-by-fight, I’m hearing those whispers a lot less than I used to I think if we go out there and keep showing that we have skills, that we have heart — I feel like a lot of times girls bring it even more than the guys just with their tenacity and they’re just non-stop. That’s why it is where it is right now because they keep proving themselves.”

    Esparza concluded, “We’re legit and we’re here to stay. Nothing is going to stop this momentum that’s been going with the women.”

    What do you think about Fedor’s comments about WMMA?