MMA news

• Gleison Tibau Receives 2-Year Suspension from USADA After Testing Positive for EPO

  18-02-2016 23:40 via sherdog.com
  
  UFC lightweight Gleison Tibau has received a two-year suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency after failing both in- and out-of-competition drug tests in a two-week span late last year.
  
  Read more

• Bellator announces the launch of Bellator Kickboxing

  18-02-2016 23:11
  
  HOUSTON -- Bellator MMA is re-entering the kickboxing game, and this time it is taking matters into its own hands. Bellator president Scott Coker announced Thursday the launch of Bellator Kickboxing, a kickboxing entity that will work hand-in-hand with Spike TV and Viacom, essentially filling the role GLORY once held at the network.
  Bellator Kickboxing debuts April 16 in Torino, Italy with a co-promoted Oktagon Kickboxing show that sees MMA and kickboxing veteran Melvin Manhoef take on Alexandru
  
  Read more

• Bellator Announces Plans to Promote Kickboxing Events in 2016

  18-02-2016 22:52 via sherdog.com
  
  Bellator will be returning to Scott Coker’s original promoter roots by getting into the kickboxing business.
  
  Read more

• Bellator Kickboxing To Debut On April 16 On Spike TV

  18-02-2016 22:35
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1oBhSq0xEAToday in Houston, Texas as part of the festivities leading into tomorrow night's Bellator MMA card, Bellator president Scott Coker announced that they will be launching a sub-brand, Bellator Kickboxing. Coker, of course, was a kickboxing promoter for decades before he ever got into MMA promotion. That's why you sometimes hear about Strikeforce existing back into the mid-'80s; it was originally Coker's kickboxing promotion with Cung Le and AKA head train
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Nick Diaz Speaks On Using Cannabis Before He Trains

  18-02-2016 22:13
  
  Nick Diaz's suspension for testing positive for marijuana after UFC 193 has been reduced to 18 months, and he recently spoke to High Times about his cannabis usage. Diaz explained that he uses weed whether he's at home, getting ready to train, or finished training for the day.
  When asked about smoking cannabis on a daily basis, Diaz discussed his usage:“If I’m at home and I’m training — doing my same things every day — then I’m definitely going to want to use
  
  Read more

• M-1 Challenge 64 Weigh-in Results: US-Suspended Shlemenko, Vaselevsky Cleared

  18-02-2016 22:12 via sherdog.com
  
  Russia’s leading MMA promotion M-1 Global is officially set for its next event, which takes place Friday night at Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
  
  Read more

• Derek Brunson Expects 2-Year Suspension For Yoel Romero: “He’s A Blatant Cheater”

  18-02-2016 22:02
  
  Yoel Romero failed a drug test in January and is facing a serious suspension. Derek Brunson, who lost to Romero at UFC Fight Night 35, held nothing back when recently asked about his former opponent's failed test.
  “I messed up my jaw in that fight. I take him down and he’s exploding up. Why? Because his tendons are big, he’s stronger and he’s all juiced out of his mind,” Brunson told FOX Sports. “I don’t feel bad for him. He can do something else, but th
  
  Read more

• EA Sports UFC 2 Career Mode & More Showcased In New Trailer

  18-02-2016 21:53
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xTFuu-v5gEEA Sports UFC 2 is now less than four weeks away, so a lot more information is starting to come out. The latest is the above video, which outlines some of the changes to both the single player career mode and the online championships multiplayer mode. There's a good outline on the EA Sports website, but here are the basics:Online championship mode now progresses differently so that it's not the end of the world anymore if you lose a fight. In the first
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• USADA officially suspends Gleison Tibau for two years

  18-02-2016 21:35
  
  Gleison Tibau's suspension is official.
  USADA announced Thursday that it has suspended the UFC lightweight veteran for two years for failing both in- and out-of-competition drug tests in the fall. Tibau tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) in both tests, USADA said.
  The Brazilian told MMA Fighting earlier this week that he had dropped his appeal and would accept the USADA sanctioning.
  Tibau, 32, defeated Abel Trujillo via first-round submission at UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson 3 on
  
  Read more

• Bellator special press conference

  18-02-2016 21:00
  
  Bellator will hold a special press conference to make an announcement Thursday afternoon. The video is expected to begin above at 4 p.m. ET.
  
  Read more

• UFC Postpones Plans To Bring BJ Penn Back After Allegations

  18-02-2016 18:07
  
  Following news of criminal allegations being brought up against BJ Penn, the UFC has decided to delay announcing his return to the Octagon.The former UFC champion retired in 2014, but has been included in a report of assault by a 29-year-old through the Delaware (Ohio) County Sheriff's Office. The matter, which took place in 2015 in Hawaii, has been referred to the police there.On Thursday, UFC officials released a statement regarding the issue:“UFC is aware of the recent allegations made
  
  Read more

• UFC Issues Statement on Alleged B.J. Penn Situation

  18-02-2016 17:55 via sherdog.com
  
  The Ultimate Fighting Championship has released a statement after a police report was filed in regards to an alleged incidentinvolving B.J. Penn.
  
  Read more

• UFC postpones BJ Penn's return amid allegations

  18-02-2016 17:29
  
  BJ Penn may not be returning to the UFC Octagon as soon as previously expected.
  The UFC issued an official statement:UFC is aware of the recent allegations made against BJ Penn. The organization requires all athletes who compete in the UFC to act in an ethical and responsible manner, as detailed in the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy. UFC will not tolerate violations of the policy. Every athlete is deserving of proper review and this situation, as with any serious allegation, will be investigate
  
  Read more

• Video: Anderson Silva Calls Michael Bisping “Unskilled”

  18-02-2016 17:07
  
  Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva took a shot at his upcoming opponent, Michael Bisping, with a video posted to his official Instagram page recently.In the video, "The Spider" demonstrates the "proper" way to hit pads by throwing a kick. He also shows one featuring "The Count," in which Bisping misses and connects his the person holding the pads.These two are to to face off later this month on UFC Fight Pass from London.[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BB7E6IsCMiQ/[/embed]
  
  Read more

• Ken Shamrock knows you want to see more legend vs. legend fights in MMA, even if you really don't

  18-02-2016 17:00
  
  HOUSTON -- Recite the numbers and Ken Shamrock just chuckles. The kind of chuckle that only a decade of 'I told you so' can provide. Over 2.1 million people tuned in to the nostalgia tour last summer; 2.1 million people to watch a 51-year-old UFC Hall of Famer march back from irrelevance against a YouTube sensation of the early aughts. Sure, losing to Kimbo Slice was far from ideal, but Shamrock knows better than anyone that the numbers are the real truth. That numbers are what write the ch
  
  Read more

• Ken Shamrock knows you want to see more legend vs. legend fights in MMA, even if you don't really

  18-02-2016 17:00
  
  HOUSTON -- Recite the numbers and Ken Shamrock just chuckles. The kind of chuckle that only a decade of 'I told you so' can provide. Over 2.1 million people tuned in to the nostalgia tour last summer; 2.1 million people to watch a 51-year-old UFC Hall of Famer march back from irrelevance against a YouTube sensation of the early aughts. Sure, losing to Kimbo Slice was far from ideal, but Shamrock knows better than anyone that the numbers are the real truth. That numbers are what write the ch
  
  Read more

• Kimbo Slice Calls Into Question Size Of Dada 5000’s “Nuts”

  18-02-2016 16:40
  
  When you take two men who fully believe in themselves and place them at a table together, interesting things tend to come about.That's what happened recently during a press conference to promote Bellator 149, as Kimbo Slice and Dada 5000 stole the show.With Bellator president Scott Coker and main event fighters Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie between them, the two Miami "street fighters" nearly came to blows, as Slice called into question Dada's manhood."Pull your pants down," Slice said to his op
  
  Read more

• Anthony Pettis-Edson Barboza On For UFC 197 This April

  18-02-2016 16:34
  
  Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis will try to snap a two-fight losing streak when he takes on Edson Barboza this April at UFC 197. Officials announced the bout recently, which will likely be part of the pay-per-view main card.Set for Las Vegas and the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the night includes two championship matches. Light heavyweight titleholder Daniel Cormier defends his belt against Jon Jones, while Demetrious Johnson puts his flyweight belt on the line vs. Henry Cejudo.Pettis
  
  Read more

• Bellator 149 weigh-in video

  18-02-2016 16:30
  
  At the Bellator 149 weigh-ins, all 36 fighters taking part in Friday'sBellator 149 fights will step on the scale Thursday evening, and we'llhave the live video here at MMAFighting.com.In the main event, Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock will weigh-in within 15 pounds of each other.The Bellator 149 weigh-ins take place at 6 p.m. ET, and the video is above.Check out the Bellator 149 weigh-in results below.
  Main card (Spike at 9 p.m. ET)
  Royce Gracie vs. Ken Shamrock
  Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000
  Emanuel N
  
  Read more

• Welterweights Danny Roberts, Dominique Steele to Square off at UFC 197

  18-02-2016 16:29 via sherdog.com
  
  The Ultimate Fighting Championship revealed another scrap for its stacked UFC 197 card.
  
  Read more

• Conor McGregor Says He Will Fight At UFC 200 & Wants The Welterweight Title

  18-02-2016 16:20
  
  UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor has plans to move up to welterweight and face Robbie Lawler for the championship. Here's what he had to say about what he hopes will be his third UFC title:“I’m coming for that [welterweight] belt, I’m coming for the next belt, I’m coming for the whole company,” McGregor told SevereMMA. Why not go up?”“They get slower, and they get less free up there, they are stiffer, they are even more stuck than the lightweigh
  
  Read more

• Drug tests, brain scans and weight variances: How Royce Gracie vs. Ken Shamrock 3 came together

  18-02-2016 16:00
  
  It took Ken Shamrock all of 60 seconds to ask for a fight with Royce Gracie.
  After about one minute exchanging pleasantries with Bellator MMA president Scott Coker, whom he had not seen in a decade, Shamrock got down to business.
  "I want to fight that guy," Shamrock told Coker, pointing to a group of people a few feet away.
  Coker wasn't sure what Shamrock was talking about. As far as he knew, Shamrock was retired. This was a fan event before Bellator 131 in November 2014. Shamrock, a 50-somethin
  
  Read more

• Conor McGregor: Rumors of a sour relationship with the UFC 'all horse sh*t'

  18-02-2016 15:23
  
  Conor McGregor is cool all the gods, and apparently he's still cool with the UFC, too.
  There have been rampant rumors lately that "The Notorious" and UFC brass have had a falling out. That talk was amped up after video surfaced of UFC co-owner Frank Fertitta apparently slamming the title belt after McGregor beat Jose Aldo to win the UFC featherweight title at UFC 194 in December.
  McGregor (19-2) told Andrew McGahon of Severe MMA in an interview this week that nothing has changed between him, UFC
  
  Read more

• Morning Report: After meeting with Dana White, Donald Cerrone still plans on more uniform fines

  18-02-2016 14:00
  
  Reebok be damned.
  UFC welterweight Donald Cerrone is tabbed to earn a $20,000 sponsorship payout for wearing Reebok in the Octagon this weekend, according to the Athlete Outfitting Policy compensation system, but it could end up looking closer to $15K.
  Following his loss to lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos Dec. 19 at UFC on FOX 17, Cerrone was docked for stitching a small piece of the American flag inside his fight shorts to honor his grandmother. Cerrone hasn't disclosed the exact amo
  
  Read more

• Morning Report: After meeting with Dana White, Donald Cerrone still plans on more Reebok fines

  18-02-2016 14:00
  
  Reebok be damned.
  UFC welterweight Donald Cerrone is tabbed to earn a $20,000 sponsorship payout for wearing Reebok in the Octagon this weekend but it could end up looking closer to $15K.
  Following his loss to lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos Dec. 19 at UFC on FOX 17, Cerrone was fined by the promotion for stitching a small piece of the American flag inside his fight shorts to honor his grandmother. Cerrone hasn't disclosed the exact amount of the fine but told Ariel Helwani on The MMA
  
  Read more

• Bellator MMA Special Announcement (4 p.m. ET)

  18-02-2016 09:33 via sherdog.com
  
  Watch Thursday's Bellator MMA special announcement here:
  
  Read more

• Bellator 149 Weigh-in Video Stream (6 p.m. ET)

  18-02-2016 09:33 via sherdog.com
  
  Watch the official Bellator 149 weigh-ins here:
  
  Read more

• Victory FC 48 on UFC FIGHT PASS Feb. 19 2016 10 pm ET

  18-02-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  Three weeks ago in Omaha, Nebraska, Anthony “Lionheart” Smith avenged a prior defeat at the hands of Josh Neer with a first-round stoppage win over the Midwest veteran that translated into a short-notice opportunity to return to the UFC this weekend in Pittsburgh.Before Smith and the others competing in “The Steel City” hit the Octagon, another crop of hopefuls looking to follow in his footsteps cross the threshold into the Victory FC cage at Buccaneer Arena in Des Moines
  
  Read more

• UFC Statement on BJ Penn

  18-02-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  “UFC is aware of the recent allegations made against BJ Penn. The organization requires all athletes who compete in the UFC to act in an ethical and responsible manner, as detailed in the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy. UFC will not tolerate violations of the policy. Every athlete is deserving of proper review and this situation, as with any serious allegation, will be investigated by an independent party and thoroughly reviewed by the UFC.  The UFC organization will also cooperate with a
  
  Read more

• Third time a charm for Camozzi

  18-02-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  The old saying is that the third time can be the charm. Chris Camozzi didn’t have much choice in the matter. He had to make this one work.The Coloradan’s third run in the UFC didn’t start off well, as he was submitted in less than three minutes by Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in their April 2015 rematch. But Camozzi did take the fight on a week’s notice, so he had to assume he was going to get another shot.That shot came against British veteran Tom Watson last Augus
  
  Read more

• The Downes Side: Fight Night Pittsburgh picks

  18-02-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  Saddle up boys and girls, it’s time for another western version of the Downes Side. That’s right, this weekend delivers a cowboy showdown in the wild frontier of…Pittsburgh. Okay, it might not be as rough as Philly, but what is? Live from Consol Energy Center, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone squares off against Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira. In the co-main event of the evening, top 15 middleweights Derek Brunson and Roan Carneiro fight to move up the rankings. Grab yo
  
  Read more

• Objective Bamgbose ready for second fight

  18-02-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  If there was one major takeaway from Oluwale Bamgbose’s UFC debut against Uriah Hall last August, it was one you’ve probably never heard before.“It’s pretty dark in there,” he laughs. “The way people watch it, it’s like ‘oh wow, it’s bright and we can see everything.’ But now I know what to expect and I’ll bring my own light.”Call it a modified version of the first-time UFC jitters, that mysterious phenomenon that can hit ne
  
  Read more

• Evans-Smith positive outlook could bring Octagon success

  18-02-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  Ashlee Evans-Smith is an optimist. Maybe more accurately, Evans-Smith, who faces Marion Reneau in a UFC FIGHT PASS featured bout this Sunday, can find the silver lining in anything. On the surface, there were not a lot of positives to gleam from the bantamweight’s UFC debut, but one wouldn’t know it talking to her. The broad strokes were that she took the UFC 181 fight on short notice, got choked out by Raquel Pennington with one second left in the first round by a maneuver that&rsqu
  
  Read more

• Cerrone dreaming of new bike as he moves up in weight

  18-02-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  For the first time in his career Donald Cerrone will fight at 170 pounds on Sunday at Fight Night Pittsburgh. So it’s only fitting that a bigger "Cowboy" look for a bigger bike.“I’m getting bigger, I need a new bigger bike,” Cerrone said to UFC.com on Thursday afternoon, echoing similar comments he made on social media earlier in the week. “Stepping up in weight class I can eat and I’m happy and getting a bike I’m happy.”It's good timing for Cerron
  
  Read more

• Brunson looking to kickstart breakthrough year

  18-02-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  If you take a glance at the current middleweight rankings, the opportunity that sits before Derek Brunson in advance of his co-main event assignment this weekend in Pittsburgh is evident.Last year ended with the dawn of Luke Rockhold’s reign atop the 185-pound ranks and former champion Chris Weidman remains stationed at No. 1. Outside of that, however, there are plenty of chances for the 32-year-old currently riding a three-fight winning streak to use 2016 as the year he works his way up t
  
  Read more

• Carlos Condit remains set on title shot or bust after meeting with UFC brass

  18-02-2016 03:30
  
  Carlos Condit hasn't made a decision on whether he's going to return to the Octagon.
  But the former UFC interim welterweight and WEC welterweight champion has at least gotten the ball rolling on pondering his next move in the wake of his razor-thin loss to current UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler at UFC 195.
  Condit went to Las Vegas this week to meet with UFC brass and discuss his future, MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani reported on Wednesday's edition of UFC Tonight.
  The end result of the
  
  Read more

• Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman training with Mark Henry

  18-02-2016 02:30
  
  Chris Weidman is broadening his horizons as he attempts to avenge his first mixed martial arts loss.
  The former UFC middleweight champion is expected to rematch the man who took his title at UFC 194, Luke Rockhold, with date and venue to be determined.
  As Weidman gets back to business with his gym work, the former titleholder is reaching out beyond his Serra-Longo Fight Club roots. MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani reported on Wednesday's edition of UFC Tonight that Weidman is training with New Je
  
  Read more

• Anthony Pettis vs. Edson Barboza set for UFC 197

  18-02-2016 01:51
  
  If for some reason the highly anticipated light heavyweight title rematch between champion Daniel Cormier and former titleholder Jon Jones and the flyweight title fight between Demetrious Johnson and unbeaten challenger Henry Cejudo aren't enough to get your attention, UFC 197 has added a killer lightweight showdown to the lineup.
  Former UFC and WEC kingpin Anthony Pettis will take on the always entertaining Edson Barboza on April 23 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The bout was
  
  Read more

• Mike Brown: People would 'be surprised' with fighters Kimbo Slice could 'take out'

  18-02-2016 01:45
  
  HOUSTON -- Before Bellator 149, Kimbo Slice's coach Mike Brown talks his yin and yang relationship with Slice, the level Slice is really on as a fighter and his breakdown of his old UFC featherweight division with Conor McGregor now leading the pack.
  
  Read more

• Lightweights Anthony Pettis, Edson Barboza to Clash at UFC 197 on April 23

  18-02-2016 01:42 via sherdog.com
  
  A battle of lightweight strikers is set for UFC 197, as Anthony Pettis will face Edson Barboza on April 23 in Las Vegas.
  
  Read more

• With no Conor McGregor fight in sight, Nate Diaz aims for Eddie Alvarez

  18-02-2016 01:39
  
  Nate Diaz stole the show at UFC on FOX 17 on Dec. 19 in Orlando with a profane callout of UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor.
  While that made for tons of great copy for websites everywhere, it didn't land the mercurial lightweight contender his big-money fight, as McGregor will instead fight lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 197.
  So, not wanting to wait around for a fight which might never come, the pride of Stockton has set his sights on a consequential opponent near the top o
  
  Read more

• Icey Mike adamant Dada 5000 is 'going to get f------ hurt' by Kimbo Slice

  18-02-2016 01:39
  
  HOUSTON -- Icey Mike, the longtime manager of Kimbo Slice, believes Dada 5000 is 'infatuated' with Slice, discusses the origin of their relationship and more.
  
  Read more

• Caio Magalhaes to Face Cezar ‘Mutante’ at UFC on Fox 19

  18-02-2016 01:32 via sherdog.com
  
  Caio Magalhaes will lock horns with Cezar Ferreira at UFC on Fox 19.
  
  Read more

• Tachi Palace Fights 26 Weigh-in Results: Velasco, Neal on Point

  18-02-2016 01:31 via sherdog.com
  
  Tachi Palace Fights returns on Thursday with another edition ofMMA action inside the Tachi Palace in Lemoore, California. At Wednesday’s weigh-ins, all but one combatant made weight.
  
  Read more

• Royce Gracie believes competitive jiu-jitsu doesn't help with self defense

  18-02-2016 01:26
  
  HOUSTON -- MMA pioneer Royce Gracie told the media after the Bellator 149 presser that despite the worldwide proliferation of jiu-jitsu, the kind of style used in competitions doesn't help with self defense or fighting.
  
  Read more

• Ken Shamrock believes loss to Royce Gracie affected his own legacy

  18-02-2016 01:10
  
  HOUSTON -- After the Bellator 149 press conference, mixed martial arts pioneer Ken Shamrock talked about his upcoming fight against Royce Gracie, why it's important to him and how the loss in their first meeting affected his legacy.
  
  Read more

• ‘You got baby nuts, Dada': Tensions erupt in wild Bellator 149 press conference

  18-02-2016 01:01
  
  HOUSTON -- In case anyone forgot the impetus behind Bellator 149's eccentric co-main event, Kimbo Slice and Dada 5000 wasted little time reminding the world exactly why Scott Coker booked their feud for the first tentpole of 2016.
  With several of Houston's finest boys in blue flanking the dais, Slice and Dada 5000 -- real name Dhafir Harris -- both strolled onto the stage and lunged into verbal tirades which only picked up steam once Harris was asked to give his opening remarks.
  "You fool! Shut
  
  Read more

• MMANews Is Hiring: Get Paid To Write About MMA

  18-02-2016 00:29
  
  Hey everybody, thanks for reading MMANews.com. We're in the process of shaking up our writing team to improve our coverage of this unique sport we all love and to better serve our audience.If you love MMA and want to get paid to write about it, email [email protected]. Send writing samples if available.Thank you again for reading MMANews.com, leave a comment below to give us feedback on the site.
  
  Read more

Follow @NewsMMAUSA on Twitter!