UFC News
'Jacare' explains how the UFC forced him into accepting last-minute Hermansson fight
Tom Taylor - April 26, 2019
This weekend, in the main event of UFC Fort Lauderdale, long-time UFC middleweight contender Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza will take part in a high risk, low-reward fight with rising contender Jack Hermansson. If he wins, well, he simply reminds the world that he already deserves a title shot. If he loses, meanwhile, his UFC title dreams will be dashed for perhaps a final time. “It was hard negotiating for Jack,” the Brazilian contender told MMA Junkie recently in his native Portuguese. “That was hard. That was tough. I didn’t want to accept the fight at all. It’s a risk that I’m taking. I’m putting my career at risk; that’s the truth. It made me very upset, this fight. But we talked, and this and that. Then (UFC matchmaker) Mick Maynard came in, Hunter (Campbell), (UFC president) Dana White, all those people, and I said, ‘Either you promise me the belt and put that to paper and send it to me, or there’s no deal.’”
Greg Hardy says being in the co-main event again is 'like being in the Super Bowl back-to-back'
Cole Shelton - April 25, 2019
Greg Hardy will be in familiar territory on Saturday night. The former pro bowler will enter the Octagon for the second time in his career and will be the co-main event once again. Although some disagree with Hardy getting the spot, the 30-year-old is quite happy with co-headliner status.
Conor McGregor reacts to reports of Proper No. Twelve's financial success
Tom Taylor - April 25, 2019
This morning, The Irish Times reported that Proper No. Twelve, the Irish whiskey brand founded by former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor, has already had a major affect on the larger Irish whiskey industry. Proper No. Twelve “sold out a six-month allocation in its first 10 days and has now shipped about 200,000 nine-litre cases since its launch,” the Irish Times report read.
UFC St. Petersburg medical suspensions: Alexey Oleynik facing lengthy sit
Tom Taylor - April 25, 2019
UFC St. Petersburg was an action-packed card, from the undercard to the Alistair Overeem vs. Alexey Oleynik main event. As is so often the case with cards of this kind, several of the fighters on the bill are facing lengthy medical suspensions, including Oleynik, who is dealing with a fractured rib after his first-round TKO loss to Overeem.
Report | Massive sales numbers revealed for Proper No. Twelve
Tom Taylor - April 25, 2019
According to a report from the Irish Times, Proper No. Twelve, the Irish whiskey recently launched by former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor, has already become a massive fiscal success. According to this report, Proper No. Twelve “sold out a six-month allocation in its first 10 days and has now shipped about 200,000 nine-litre cases since its launch.”
Tony Ferguson switches management, no longer shares representation with Conor McGregor
James Lynch - April 25, 2019
Tony Ferguson and Conor McGregor are no longer represented by the same management group. According to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, Ferguson has left Paradigm Sports Management to sign with Ballangee Group. The 35-year-old had been with Paradigm for the last seven years and joins a group that represents former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, Vitor Belfort and Aljamain Sterling.
Johnny Walker on Jon Jones: 'I would beat him'
Tom Taylor - April 25, 2019
Johnny Walker is arguably the most compelling young contender in the UFC light heavyweight division at present. In fact, he seems to be on a collision course with dominating light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. In a recent interview with The Body Lock, Johnny Walker discussed a potential matchup with Jones, expressing his long-time admiration for the champion, and his confidence that he would beat him in a fight.
Opponent says Conor McGregor threw cheap shot in exhibition boxing match
Tom Taylor - April 25, 2019
Last week, former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor once again laced up the boxing gloves. This time, however, he was not taking on a legend for millions of dollars under a Jumbotron in Las Vegas. Instead, he took part in an exhibition bout with amateur boxer Michael McGrane, which went down in his former haunts, the Crumlin Boxing Club in Dublin. Speaking to TMZ, McGrane opened up on this exhibition bout with Conor McGregor and claimed the UFC star zapped him with a cheap shot — a left hand thrown seconds after the opening bell.
Dustin Poirier unphased by Khabib Nurmagomedov saying he has to 'maul him'
Drake Riggs - April 24, 2019
After taking one of the longer paths to the top, ‘The Diamond,’ Dustin Poirier has stamped his ticket to an undisputed UFC lightweight title fight. At UFC 236 earlier this month, Poirier did so by claiming the interim lightweight title by picking up his second career win over the current featherweight champion, Max Holloway. The two went to war for a full 25 minutes and Poirier would be the one to walk away with the unanimous decision victory.
Stephen Thompson concerned about brain health, hopes for August return
Drake Riggs - April 24, 2019
UFC Nashville was headlined by a pretty unique match-up, to say the least. The main event of the promotion’s return to the state of Tennessee saw former WEC and UFC lightweight champion, as well as former featherweight hopeful, Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis make his 170-pound welterweight debut. His opponent would be none other than the perennial top five contender, two-time welterweight title challenger, ‘Wonderboy,’ Stephen Thompson. Shockingly, after a pretty dominant showing from Thompson, Pettis would be the one to connect late in the second round to score the massive knockout win. It was the Karate specialist’s first time losing via knockout and Pettis’ first time winning via strikes since January 2013 when he TKO’d Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone with a body kick.
Marlon Moraes believes T.J. Dillashaw suspension is not long enough
Cole Shelton - April 24, 2019
Marlon Moraes is getting a shot at the vacant UFC bantamweight title, this after T.J. Dillashaw relinquished his belt due to a two-year suspension from USADA. Dillashaw had tested positive for the banned substance EPO in the lead up to his fight with Flyweight champ Henry Cejudo. Although some fighters claim that they always knew TJ Dillashaw was using drugs, Marlon Moraes was still still shocked and disappointed by the news.
UFC rankings update: Nate Diaz exits, Alistair Overeem climbs
Tom Taylor - April 24, 2019
The official UFC rankings have been updated in the wake of Saturday’s UFC St. Petersburg card, and as expected there have been some notable changes. The biggest change, however, seems to be unrelated to the card, as long absent lightweight star Nate Diaz has finally been ejected from the UFC rankings. In terms of UFC St. Petersburg related changes, Alistair Overeem made a slight climb at heavyweight on the strength of his rousing TKO defeat of Alexey Oleynik.