MMA news

• Keri Melendez set for pro mixed martial arts debut at Bellator 165

  19-10-2016 22:30
  
  San Jose's SAP Center has been the site of many of Gilbert Melendez's greatest career moments. It was his unofficial home base as Strikeforce lightweight champion before making the jump to the UFC.
  But on Nov. 19, it will be another Melendez's turn to take center stage in the San Jose cage. Keri Melendez, Gilbert's wife, will make her mixed martial arts debut on Nov. 19 at Bellator 165.
  Melendez (0-0) will meet Sheila Padilla (2-0) in a main card flyweight bout, which was initially reported by M
  
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• UFC is Betting Favorite for Where GSP Will Fight Next

  19-10-2016 21:47 via sherdog.com
  
  Georges St. Pierre was arguably the greatest welterweight champion in Ultimate Fighting Championship history and many will argue that he's the best pound-for-pound fighter ever. But nobody knows what his next move will be.
  
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• Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez to Make MMA Debut at Bellator 165 Next Month

  19-10-2016 21:33 via sherdog.com
  
  It looks like Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez will follow in her husband’s footsteps after all.
  
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• Georges St-Pierre's lawyer calls UFC contract ‘something out of the 1940s,' cautions UFC ‘won't get away with it forever'

  19-10-2016 21:01
  
  The battle lines continue to be drawn in the ongoing standoff between the UFC and welterweight legend Georges St-Pierre.
  St-Pierre stunned the mixed martial arts world Monday when he announced that his lawyers had terminated his old UFC contract following months of failed negotiations to reach a new deal with Zuffa. The announcement effectively made St-Pierre one of the most coveted free agents in the sport's history, and St-Pierre's lawyer, James Quinn of New York firm Weil, Gotshal and Ma
  
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• Robbie Lawler To GSP: Shut Up, You Definitely Don’t Want To Fight Me

  19-10-2016 20:49
  
  It looks like there is a difference of opinion between Georges St-Pierre and Robbie Lawler.In speaking with ESPN.com recently, former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler responded to claims made by GSP recently. GSP mentioned having a fight on the table against Lawler for the title, but saying it never materialized due to health issues on Lawler's side.Lawler disagrees."He says he was offered a fight against me but I wasn't healthy or whatever," Lawler told ESPN. "He's basically trying to re
  
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• UFC Releases 80-Percent Of Employees In Canada, Including Tom Wright

  19-10-2016 20:42
  
  It looks like UFC is in the midst of "cleaning house" now that the new owners, WME | IMG, are making their presence felt.On Wednesday, Ariel Helwani reported via MMAFighting.com that UFC's office in Canada took a major hit, as approximately 80-percent of the department was let go.Among the releases was Tom Wright, the UFC Executive Vice President and General Manager of Operations in Canada. Essentially, he was the Dana White of Canada, Australia and New Zealand.In total, UFC, believed to have 35
  
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• Canadian executive Tom Wright among latest string of UFC layoffs

  19-10-2016 17:54
  
  For the third straight day, the new UFC owners continued to downsize the company.
  On Wednesday, it was the UFC's Canadian office in Toronto that experienced massive layoffs, with approximately 80 percent of the department being let go.
  Among those relieved of their duties was Tom Wright, UFC Executive Vice President and General Manager for Operations in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Wright, the former Canadian Football League commissioner, was hired in 2010 and immediately helped get the sp
  
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• Michael Bisping: Unfortunately ‘nobody gives a sh*t' about Chris Weidman or Luke Rockhold

  19-10-2016 17:00
  
  Now that his rivalry with Dan Henderson is behind him, Michael Bisping knows the biggest threats to his UFC middleweight title still await.
  Bisping is expected to make the next defense of his belt against one of the four men competing in the UFC's upcoming middleweight mini-tournament, with Chris Weidman and Yoel Romero scheduled to tangle on Nov. 12 and Luke Rockhold and Ronaldo Souza set to rematch on Nov. 27. One of the two winners from those fights will likely receive the next shot at Bispin
  
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• Live Chat: Georges St-Pierre vs. UFC, UFC layoffs, Bellator 162 preview and more

  19-10-2016 15:15
  
  This is the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat.
  There may be a shortage of UFC events, but there's no dearth of MMA news. First and foremost, all-time great Georges St-Pierre declared himself a free agent on Monday's The MMA Hour, something the UFC is currently claiming isn't true. How this plays out is anyone's guess, but it underscores two major realities. One, fighter discontent appears to be at an all-time high in the UFC. It hasn't crossed a tipping point, but it's worse than ever. Two, GSP'
  
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• Johny Hendricks vs. Neil Magny added to UFC 207

  19-10-2016 15:00
  
  Two welterweight contenders looking to bounce back from recent losses will collide on Dec. 30 when former UFC champion Johny Hendricks takes on Neil Magny at UFC 207. The UFC announced the bout late Tuesday night.
  Hendricks (17-5) is currently in the midst of the worst slump of his UFC career, having lost three of his four bouts since he defeated Robbie Lawler at UFC 171 to claim the vacant welterweight title. The 33-year-old Hendricks suffered the first back-to-back losses of his care
  
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• Morning Report: Robbie Lawler: 'GSP definitely doesn't want to fight me, period'

  19-10-2016 14:00
  
  Former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler believes Georges St-Pierre doesn't want a fight with him. Robbie Lawler is back and ready for action, and if that action comes in the shape of former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, sign him up.
  For months, St-Pierre has declared his intention to return to MMA after an almost three-year hiatus, but after being unable to come to terms with the UFC, earlier this week, he declared himself a "free agent" no longer bound by UFC contract
  
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• The 10: Greatest events in UFC history

  19-10-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  With UFC 205 quickly approaching and the assembled collection of fighters set to compete at Madison Square Garden on November 12 primed to make it the biggest event in UFC history, what better time than now to run back a list of the stellar shows that can also claim membership in that exclusive club?Here they are in chronological order, because ranking them is completely subjective and an internet fight I’m not interested in having at this moment.This is The 10UFC 1 – November 12, 19
  
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• Rafael Natal talked UFC 205 on FB live

  19-10-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  No. 14-ranked middleweight Rafael "Sapo" Natal hosted a Facebook live chat on Wednesday to talk about his fight at UFC 205 in new York City against Tim Boetsch at Madison Square Garden.Natal is excited to be taking part in the greatest card ever assembled and he's ready to fight.Get ready for UFC 205: Fight card for Nov. 12 | Champions Alvarez, McGregor to headline historic card | Woodley-Wonderboy welterweight title clash set | Polish stars Jedrzejczyk, Kowalkiewicz perfect for NYC | Few t
  
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• Miocic won not just for him, but for Cleveland

  19-10-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  Over the last couple years, any time you spoke with Stipe Miocic and asked him about his aspirations inside the Octagon, the easy-going heavyweight would always speak of bringing a championship home to Cleveland.For more than 50 years, the loyal, passionate fans in the area had endured a handful of near misses and an abundance of “not even close” seasons on the diamond, the hardwood and the gridiron, and as he ascended the heavyweight rankings, it always seemed like being able to bri
  
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• By the Numbers - The Flyweights

  19-10-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  125Pounds is the limit for the UFC flyweight division1693Days the UFC flyweight division has been in existence since its inception on March 3, 20124UFC fighters - Joseph Benavidez, Demetrious Johnson, Ian McCall and Yasuhiro Urushitani - kicked off the new division at UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann in a tournament to decide the inaugural champion152The UFC event where tournament finalists Johnson and Benavidez battled to a split decision to decide the first UFC flyweight champion1UFC flyweight ch
  
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• Two new bouts added to Bellator 164 in Israel

  19-10-2016 06:00
  
  A featherweight bout pitting Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Kirill Medvedovsky is the latest addition to Bellator 164.
  The news was announced by the promotion on Tuesday.Karakhanyan is stepping in on short notice for the Irishman James Gallagher, who now fights at Bellator 169 in Dublin, Ireland against a yet-to-be-announced opponent. The 31-year-old Karakhanyan is coming off a brutal knockout victory over Bubba Jenkins back in August at Bellator 160. That victory snapped a two-fight losing streak for t
  
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• Enrique Marin released from the UFC following Sage Northcutt loss

  19-10-2016 05:00
  
  Enrique Marin is no longer a UFC fighter.
  The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2 runner up announced on Sunday via his Instagram account that he's been released from the promotion.
  Marin last competed at UFC 200 where he lost a unanimous decision to Sage Northcutt in a very competitive fight that had Marin almost finishing Northcutt with an arm bar. Prior to that, the Spanish fighter lost a close split decision to Erick Montaño in the welterweight tournament final of TUF: Latin A
  
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• Brandon Thatch returns against Sabah Homasi at UFC 207

  19-10-2016 05:00
  
  A welterweight tilt between Brandon Thatch and Sabah Homasi is the latest addition to UFC 207. Homasi announced the match-up on Tuesday via Instagram following an initial report the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  Once considered a can't-miss prospect, Thatch (11-4) now finds himself in dire need of a win after losing three straight contests under the UFC umbrella. The 31-year-old Thatch, who trains out of Colorado's Elevation Fight Team, lost all of three those fights via submission, s
  
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• Former UFC Executive Garry Cook Issues Statement

  19-10-2016 04:48 via sherdog.com
  
  It wasn’t long before one of the most influential people at the Ultimate Fighting Championship opened up to the world after shockingly being laid off by new UFC owners WME/IMG on Tuesday.
  
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• UFC 207 Continues to Expand: Johny Hendricks to Square Off with Neil Magny

  19-10-2016 04:33 via sherdog.com
  
  The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced Tuesday that former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks will return to the Octagon to face Neil Magny in one of the featured bouts of UFC 207.
  
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• ‘The Korean Zombie’ Is Back and Has Sights on B.J. Penn

  19-10-2016 04:16 via sherdog.com
  
  Everybody knows that a zombie is nearly impossible to keep from coming after you. It can be burned, pushed into a hole, clubbed with bats and stabbed, but the undead just keep coming.
  
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• UFC 207 Adds Johny Hendricks-Neil Magny, Matt Brown-Tarec Saffiedine

  19-10-2016 04:14
  
  [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ishrcDLnKA[/embed]Two key welterweight scraps have been added to December's UFC 207 event, as Johny Hendricks takes on Neil Magny and Matt Brown battles Tarec Saffiedine. ESPN first reported the fights late Tuesday night.Hendricks (17-5) has dropped two straight and three of four, including losing the UFC welterweight title to Robbie Lawler in late 2014. Magny (18-5) had won three in a row and 10 of 11 before an August loss to Lorenz Larkin.Brown (20-15) w
  
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• Urijah Faber Headed Home, Will Meet Brad Pickett At UFC On FOX 22

  19-10-2016 04:07
  
  [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmWjHcWvnbQ[/embed]Urijah Faber is heading home, as "The California Kid" meets Brad Pickett this December at UFC on FOX 22.Faber, 37 years old now, has lost three of his last four and two straight. All three defeats have been via decision, coming at the hands of Jimmie Rivera, UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and former champion Frankie Edgar.Pickett, a year older than Faber, has lost four of five, including an October submission defeat to Iuri Alcan
  
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• Chael Sonnen’s Bellator Debut Set For January Vs. Tito Ortiz

  19-10-2016 04:03
  
  [embed]https://twitter.com/ScottCoker/status/788552852377481216[/embed]Chael Sonnen and Tito Ortiz will get what they want, and they'll do it to kickoff 2017.Bellator announced on "SportsCenter" Tuesday night that the two will headline Bellator 170 from The Forum in Los Angeles. The main card airs live on Spike.Sonnen, a former UFC title contender in both the middleweight and light heavyweight division, signed with Bellator earlier this year after he was released from the UFC.
  Ortiz has picked u
  
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• Chael Sonnen vs. Tito Ortiz Announced For Bellator 170 (Jan. 21)

  19-10-2016 04:03
  
  Chael Sonnen and Tito Ortiz will get what they want, and they'll do it to kickoff 2017.Bellator announced on "SportsCenter" Tuesday night that the two will headline Bellator 170 from The Forum in Los Angeles. The main card airs live on Spike.Sonnen, a former UFC title contender in both the middleweight and light heavyweight division, signed with Bellator earlier this year after he was released from the UFC.Ortiz has picked up a handful of wins since returning with Bellator, including a victory o
  
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• Chael Sonnen vs. Tito Ortiz to headline Bellator show in January

  19-10-2016 03:45
  
  A pair of legends are coming to Hollywood.
  Chael Sonnen will make his Bellator debut against Tito Ortiz in the main event of a Jan. 21 card in Los Angeles, promotion president confirmed Tuesday on Twitter. The bout was first reported by Brett Okamoto on ESPN's SportsCenter. The event will take place at The Forum in Inglewood.Just announced on @SportsCenter, it's about time and we're bringing it to Los Angeles!! #Bellator170 pic.twitter.com/vL11FAQ9q5
  — Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) October 19,
  
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• Chael Sonnen to Make Bellator MMA Debut Against Tito Ortiz in January

  19-10-2016 03:38 via sherdog.com
  
  Two of the most notorious trash talkers in mixed martial arts history will lock horns on Jan. 21 at the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood, just outside Los Angeles.
  
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• Scott Holtzman vs. Josh Emmett, Sultan Aliev vs. Bojan Velickovic set for UFC on FOX 22

  19-10-2016 03:00
  
  California's capital city just added a dash of "Hot Sauce."
  Scott Holtzman will meet Josh Emmett at UFC on FOX 22 on Dec. 17 on Sacramento, sources told MMA Fighting. UFC officials confirmed the bout Tuesday. Also added to the card is a bout between Sultan Aliev and Bojan Velickovic.
  "Hot Sauce" Holtzman (9-1) is coming off a unanimous decision win over Cody Pfister in July. He has won two of his three UFC fights. The 33-year-old MMA Lab product came into the UFC last year as an undefeated prosp
  
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• Urijah Faber to Lock Horns with Brad Picket at UFC on Fox 22

  19-10-2016 02:39 via sherdog.com
  
  The Ultimate Fighting Championship revealed Tuesday afternoon that one of its most popular fighters will be fighting at home in December.
  
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• Garry Cook issues statement about his release from the UFC

  19-10-2016 02:25
  
  Garry Cook, one of the most influential people in the UFC, was laid off as the company's chief global brand officer Tuesday.
  Cook had been with the UFC since 2012 when he was hired as the promotion's Europe, Middle East and Africa managing director. The England native had previous worked as the CEO of Manchester City Football Club.
  Two years ago, Cook was promoted to his most recent position after a successful run expanding the UFC internationally. UFC president Dana White has described him
  
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• Emmett-Holtzman, Aliev-Velickovic Added to UFC on Fox 22

  19-10-2016 02:21 via sherdog.com
  
  The final UFC event of the year on Fox is rounding into shape as the Las Vegas-based promotion announced two more bouts to its Dec. 17 UFC on Fox 22 card.
  
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• Urijah Faber vs. Brad Pickett slated for UFC on FOX 22

  19-10-2016 01:48
  
  Urijah Faber will look to stave off the first three-fight losing streak of his career when he takes on Brad Pickett in a home game on Dec. 17 at UFC on FOX 22 in Sacramento, Calif. The UFC confirmed the booking on Tuesday following an initial report by The Sacramento Bee.
  Faber (33-10) enters the bout riding the toughest stretch of his lengthy mixed martial arts career. The 37-year-old former WEC champion has won just one of his last four contests, sandwiching a victory over Frankie Saenz b
  
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• New UFC Owners Lay Off Dozens of Workers Including High-Profile Executives

  19-10-2016 01:11 via sherdog.com
  
  As it stands right now, the blockbuster sale of the Ultimate Fighting Championship to WME-IMG in July for over $4 billion hasn’t benefited everybody employed by the world’s most powerful mixed martial arts promotion.
  
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• Senior execs Garry Cook, Marshall Zelaznik among high-level UFC layoffs

  19-10-2016 00:23
  
  The names of those affected by the UFC's layoffs have begun trickling out, including some of the highest-ranking officials in the company.
  Garry Cook, Marshall Zelaznik, Ken Berger, and Jaime Pollack are among those who have been let go by the UFC's new ownership group, WME-IMG, sources told MMA Fighting on Tuesday. The names were initially reported by MMAJunkie.com.
  (Update: Social media director Shanda Maloney, senior vice president of technology Ed Muncey and controller Brad Smuckle
  
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• ‘The Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung announces UFC return, challenges BJ Penn

  19-10-2016 00:00
  
  One of the most exciting fighters in the featherweight division is ready to make his return.
  Chan Sung Jung, a WEC veteran and one-time UFC title challenger affectionately nicknamed "The Korean Zombie," announced Tuesday on Facebook that after more than three years away from mixed martial arts, he is officially gearing up for his reintroduction to the Octagon. He also already has a big-name opponent in mind for his comeback.
  "For the past six months, there's a fighter that I've been wanting
  
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