• Edson Barboza confident Khabib Nurmagomedov will show up at UFC 219

    SAO PAULO, Brazil — Edson Barboza discusses his UFC 219 clash with Khabib Nurmagomedov and the risks of being left without an opponent, the changes in his camp for the Dec. 30 fight, thoughts on what's next for lightweight champions Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson, and much more.
  • Thiago Santos talks frustration of going from UFC Gdansk main event to Sao Paulo bout with Jack Hermansson

    SAO PAULO, Brazil — Thiago Santos was close to headlining a UFC event for the first time since joining the company in 2013, but he ended up matched against Jack Hermansson at UFC Sao Paulo instead.
    “Marreta" was offered a five-round middleweight bout with Michal Materla atop the bill at UFC Gdansk, however the Polish star decided instead to re-sign with KSW. Now, booked to fight Hermansson a week later on Oct. 28, Santos doesn’t want to look back at what could have happened.
    "I
  • Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Edson Barboza Booked For UFC 219 on Dec. 30

    Somehow, the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) lightweight division got even more interesting. On Dec. 30, Khabib Nurmagomedov will return to action to take on Edson Barboza. The bout will be held inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’ll be part of the main card of UFC 219. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto confirmed the news […]
  • Jessica Andrade’s goal is to kick Joanna Jedrzejczyk out of the strawweight division

    Jessica Andrade didn’t expect to have such a dominant performance against Claudia Gadelha at UFC Japan, and she believes it may have been enough to guarantee her another shot at the title.
    “Bate-Estaca” bounced back to the win column just four months after losing to strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 211, and she explained why she should be next in line for the winner of Jedrzejczyk vs. Rose Namajunas at UFC 217.
    "I think the UFC will hold me to fight Joanna next be
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  • Edson Barboza vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov Booked for UFC 219 in Las Vegas

    A pivotal lightweight showdown between Edson Barboza and Khabib Nurmagomedov has been booked for UFC 219.
  • Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Edson Barboza targeted for UFC 219

    A monstrous lightweight matchup is being targeted for the UFC’s year-end show, as the previously discussed fight between top-ranked 155-pound contenders Khabib Nurmagomedov and Edson Barboza is currently in the works for Dec. 30 at UFC 219.Barboza announced the booking on Friday, however the fight has yet to be formally signed, according to sources.
    “I just got the news a few minutes ago that my next fight will be on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas against Khabib Nurmagomedov,” Barboza an
  • Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Edson Barboza announced for UFC 219

    A monstrous lightweight matchup has been booked for the UFC’s year-end show, as top-ranked 155-pound contenders Khabib Nurmagomedov and Edson Barboza are set to collide on Dec. 30 at UFC 219.
    The bout was first teased by Barboza on Friday at a fan Q&A in Sao Paulo prior to the UFC’s announcement.
    “I just got the news a few minutes ago that my next fight will be on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas against Khabib Nurmagomedov,” Barboza said. “I’m really happy with this
  • Ryan Bader: Linton Vassell Comes Off Disrespectful to me

    Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader isn’t thrilled with his first contender. On Nov. 3, Ryan Bader will meet Linton Vassell inside the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pennsylvania. The championship tilt is set to headline Bellator 186. It’ll be Bader’s first title defense. In a recent interview with Bellator play-by-play commentator Mike Goldberg, Bader […]
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  • Release “The Kraken”: Exclusive Interview With LFA HW Juan Adams

    Over the last three to five years the heavyweight division has struggled to find the next young superstar. The average age of a UFC top 15 heavyweight is almost 34 years old. With only four men being under the age of 30. The sport needs someone with the size, talent, and raw instincts to be […]
  • Derek Brunson: ‘I know I can beat’ UFC interim champ Robert Whittaker

    Lyoto Machida is one of the best counter strikers in MMA, so being too aggressive against him could make you pay.
    Derek Brunson is up next against “The Dragon” in the Octagon, as they meet in the main event of UFC Sao Paulo in Brazil on Saturday, and Brunson vows to fight as aggressively as he always did. Yet, he learned a few thing from his 2016 defeat to future interim champion Robert Whittaker.
    "I like to be aggressive, I like to finish fights,” Brunson told MMA Fighting. "B
  • UFC set to make first trip to Belem, Brazil, in February

    The Octagon is set to explore new territory in 2018.
    For the first time ever, the UFC will visit the north area of Brazil when it makes a trip to Belem on Feb. 3, sources told MMA Fighting.
    The Fight Night card will take place at the 12,000-seat Mangueirinho gymnasium. Combate first reported Belem as the host city for UFC’s next event in Brazil.
    Belem is known as the birthplace of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, due to it being the city where Carlos Gracie learned grappling techniques from Mitsuyo Ma
  • Colby Covington takes aim at ‘dad-bod’ Demian Maia, ‘dump’ Sao Paulo, ‘victim card’ Tyron Woodley

    Colby Covington has long called for an opportunity to prove himself as one of the best welterweights in the world. Now, he’ll finally get his chance.
    Covington is slated to face two-time UFC title challenger Demian Maia on Saturday in the co-main event of UFC Sao Paulo. A winner of four straight fights — and seven of his eight Octagon appearances overall — Covington said Monday on The MMA Hour that he was “ecstatic” to get the opportunity to face Maia. He hopes the
  • UFC Fight Night 119 Weigh-in Results: Main Event Made Official

    The UFC Fight Night 119 weigh-ins have wrapped on. Tomorrow (Oct. 28), the UFC will hold an event inside the Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In the main event, Lyoto Machida will take on Derek Brunson. Both men tipped the scales at 185 pounds, making their middleweight clash official. Co-headliners Demian Maia and […]
  • John Lineker: Six or seven UFC fighters ‘ran’ from facing me in Brazil

    SAO PAULO, Brazil — John Lineker takes on Marlon Vera at UFC Sao Paulo, but that was not the UFC’s original plan for the event on Saturday. In fact, according to “Hands of Stone,” that’s far from the Plan A.
    "A lot of opponents ran from fighting me in Brazil,” Lineker told MMA Fighting. "I thank Marlon and his team for accepting to fight me in Brazil, they know that's a big pressure. I have to thank them. I needed a fight. It’s been a while since my last
  • NYSAC approves instant replay policy for MMA ahead of UFC 217

    The ending of a fight between Gegard Mousasi and Chris Weidman left many dissatisfied at UFC 210 back in April.
    Mousasi hit Weidman with what referee Dan Miragliotta thought, in real time, were illegal knees. So, Miragliotta halted the action when Weidman appeared rocked. As the ringside doctor checked on Weidman, Miragliotta polled alternate referee John McCarthy, who was on the outside of the Octagon. McCarthy told him that Mousasi’s knees were actually legal — both of Weidman&rsqu
  • Jim Miller Talks About Setting Record With 28th UFC Bout

    Jim Miller will be the first athlete to fight under the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) banner 28 times. Miller will take on Francisco Trinaldo tomorrow night (Oct. 28) inside the Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The bout will be featured on the main card of UFC Fight Night 119. Miller will have company when Michael […]
  • Georges St. Pierre: Retirement Not a Certainty Even with Loss to Bisping at UFC 217

    Georges St. Pierre’s Octagon return might not be a one-and-done — even if he loses to Michael Bisping at UFC 217.
  • Emily Ducote Didn’t Expect to Receive Flyweight Title Shot at Bellator 186

    Emily Ducote had a feeling Ilima-Lei Macfarlane would be one half of the equation when Bellator MMA elected to put the inaugural women’s flyweight crown up for grabs in 2017. However, she didn’t she herself in the title picture for at least a couple more fights.
  • Joanna Jedrzejczyk: If Rose Namajunas wants to try it, ‘I will play on the ground and choke her out’

    Joanna Jedrzejczyk first entered the UFC a little over three years ago, making an inauspicious debut on the early undercard of a FOX show. Eight wins later, it seems as if both everything and nothing has changed for the Polish standout. Now the reigning UFC strawweight champion, Jedrzejczyk’s winning ways remain intact. But Jedrzejczyk has also become a legitimate star, having carried her fiery persona and still-undefeated record to the very top of the division while establishing herself a
  • Frankie Saenz meets newcomer Merab Dvalishvili at UFC Fresno

    The UFC’s upcoming Fresno card is nearing completion with the addition of a bantamweight bout between Frankie Saenz and Octagon newcomer Merab Dvalishvili.
    Saenz-Dvalishvili was recently posted to the official UFC Fresno event page following an initial report by MMA DNA.
    The 37-year-old Saenz (11-5) will be looking to turn his fortunes around after losing three straight bouts vs. Augusto Mendes, Eddie Wineland, and Urijah Faber. Hailing from Phoenix, Ariz., Saenz emerged as a surprising co
  • UFC Fight Night 119 Weigh-in Results: Derek Brunson, Lyoto Machida on Target

    While the combat sports world has not seen Lyoto Machida in more than 800 days, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight titleholder will not be eased back into circulation.
  • Cody Garbrandt, T.J. Dillashaw both want flyweight superfight against Demetrious Johnson next

    It took years to get to this point, but Demetrious Johnson is a hot name for elite fighters who are looking for a superfight.
    The UFC flyweight champion set the record for the most consecutive successful UFC title defenses when he downed Ray Borg at UFC 216. That was Johnson’s 11th defense of his 125-pound belt, surpassing the mark set by longtime middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva.
    And now, in what may be a first, both competitors in an upcoming UFC title fight have set their sights on a
  • UFC Sao Paulo main event breakdown: Derek Brunson vs. Lyoto Machida

    On Nov. 4, the UFC middleweight title goes back into circulation after a year of inactivity when champion Michael Bisping attempts to face down a challenge from welterweight great Georges St-Pierre.This weekend, the jockeying for position within the division begins in earnest when Derek Brunson takes on Lyoto Machida at UFC Sao Paulo. To be clear, neither Brunson or Machida has a realistic path to a title shot based off a Saturday win, but as the division begins to heat up again, the loser will
  • Michael Bisping: Georges St-Pierre’s title run came against competition ‘suited towards him’

    LOS ANGELES — Michael Bisping knows he should be pumping Georges St-Pierre up. He should be singing the former UFC welterweight champion’s praises. After all, you don’t want to put down the accomplishments of someone you’re about to fight, lest it minimizes a potential eventual victory over that person.But, as the MMA world has grown to realize, “The Count” just can’t help himself. So Thursday at a UFC 217 media lunch, he took out his phone, browsed to W
  • Morning Report: Dana White calls teenager suing Michael Bisping for assault a ‘f**king p**sy’

    Earlier this week, a teenager named Antonio Georgakopoulos filed a lawsuit against UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping for allegedly choking him during an altercation at the gym. Then at the UFC 217 media lunch, Bisping responded to the lawsuit, calling it “total bollocks” and disputing the claims in the suit as “completely infactual.” Now, UFC President Dana White has also responded to the lawsuit, backing up his middleweight champion and attacking Georgakopoulos.
  • UFC Sao Paulo weigh-in video

    At the UFC Sao Paulo weigh-ins, all 24 fighters taking part in Saturday night's UFC Sao Paulo fights will step on the scale Friday, and we'll have the live video here at MMA Fighting.
    In the main event, Derek Brunson and Lyoto Machida will have to make the middleweight limit of 185 pounds.
    The UFC Fight Night 119 official weigh-ins are at 7 a.m. ET, and the live results and video are below.
    Watch the UFC Sao Paulo official weigh-ins live https://t.co/C8ANCbdn1u— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighti
  • Sao Paulo Fight-by-Fight Preview

    DEREK BRUNSON VS LYOTO MACHIDADerek Brunson is probably the last guy someone coming off a two-year layoff would want to face. But then again, the aggressive striking and intense rushes that make Brunson so dangerous has always been what played into the patient counterstriking style of Machida. So will Brunson lay back and let Machida come to him, or will he blitz and dismiss “The Dragon” early? This is a chess match that will likely end in a sudden manner. DEMIAN MAIA VS COLBY COVING
  • Sao Paulo: Brunson vs Machida Final Results

    Who were the winners at Fight Night: Brunson vs. Machida? Click below to get the results for all the fights in Sao Paulo, Brazil on October 28, 2017.Brunson vs Machida | Maia vs Covington | Munhoz vs Font | Trinaldo vs Miller | Santos vs Hermansson | Lineker vs Vera | Luque vs Price | Carlos Junior vs Marshman | Dias vs Gordon | Zaleski dos Santos vs Griffin | Figueiredo vs Brooks | Golm vs ColomboFight Night: Brunson def. Machida main card Main event: Derek Brunson vs Lyoto Machida Derek Brunso
  • Santos relishes chance to compete in front of home crowd

    Thiago Santos pose for a photo during the Ultimate Media Day at the Matsubara Hotel for the UFC Fight Night Sao Paulo on October 26, 2017 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Zuffa LLC)" align="center" />In the midst of the middleweight division’s resurgence, Thiago Santos stood out as a dangerous dark horse contender on the rise.A chiseled physical specimen with true one-shot power, the former paratrooper seemed to be finding his footing in the Octagon just as the 185-po
  • Nurmagomedov-Barboza confirmed for UFC 219

    Styles will clash in Las Vegas on Dec. 30, as top five lightweights Khabib Nurmagomedov and Edson Barboza meet in a UFC 219 bout at T-Mobile Arena.Stay tuned to UFC.com for more fight card announcements. Tickets go on sale Nov. 17.A powerhouse wrestler currently ranked second at 155 pounds, unbeaten Khabib "The Eagle" Nurmagomedov has soared to a perfect 24-0 record that includes eight UFC victories. This December, though, he will be in with one of the most prolific strikers in the sport today i
  • NHL player throws GSP-inspired superman punch

    Anaheim Ducks defenseman Kevin Bieksa went viral Tuesday after landing a superman punch during a fight with Philadelphia Flyer Radko Gudas. On Thursday Bieksa admitted on Twitter that legendary UFC fighter, Georges St-Pierre, was a big inspiration for throwing the punch.St-Pierre returns to the Octagon next week when he takes on Michael Bisping for the UFC middleweight title in Madison Square Garden at UFC 217.HAYMAKER! @kbieksa3 @AnaheimDucks pic.twitter.com/Vn1S449Lnm— FOX Sports West (@
  • Miller fighting outside North America for first time since 2008

    All the UFC needed to tell Jim Miller was that his next fight against Francisco Trinaldo was taking place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and he was in. Actually, that’s not entirely accurate, because Miller says yes to every fight, but to gain another experience by fighting outside of North America for the first time since 2008 just added to his excitement level for this Saturday’s bout.“This one, there’s a little bit more adventure to it because I’m going down to Brazil to
  • Machida looks for fresh start, personal growth in Octagon return

    Lyoto Machida had every reason to walk away from the sport.A former UFC light heavyweight champion, the Brazilian superstar had accomplished a tremendous amount in his 12-year career, the last eight of which took place inside the Octagon.In addition to winning the light heavyweight title and challenging for middleweight gold, the man simply known as “The Dragon” had delivered a series of iconic performances – from his title-winning knockout of Rashad Evans to sending Randy Cout
  • Like or hate, Covington believes you'll want to watch his fights

    From the first time he stepped into the Octagon, it was clear that Colby Covington could fight. Then again, everyone in the UFC can fight. So what was next for the former college wrestling standout?Probably not what you would expect, but as “Chaos” heads into his Fight Night Sao Paulo co-main event against Demian Maia, he is a young man proudly wearing a black hat as he heads into Maia’s hometown.“I wanted to get noticed, and there’s only one way to get noticed: mak
  • Fight Night Sao Paulo: Weigh-in Results

    Fight Night: Brunson vs Machida, which is headlined by the middleweight bout between Derek Brunson and Lyoto Machida, airs live on FS1 on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 10pm ET from Sao Paulo, Brazil.Four prelim bouts will air live on FS 2starting at 8pm/5pm ETPT. Two fights will kick off the night of action on UFC FIGHT PASS starting at 7pm/4pm ETPT.Main Event – Five round boutDerek Brunson (185) vs Lyoto Machida (185)FS1 Main Card – 10pm/7pm ETPTDemian Maia (171) vs. Colby Covington (17
  • Countdown to Sao Paulo: Part 5 - Top 5 Knockouts

    The knockout is the ultimate achievement in a combat sport. One strike can end or change the course of a fight, and that will most certainly be forever on the record of the victor…and the vanquished.On our countdown to UFC Sao Paulo, we’ll revisit moments that highlighted previous events in the city in a five-piece retrospective. In this final chapter, let’s look at the top five knockouts.*Listed in chronological orderOctober 1998 - Vitor Belfort vs Wanderlei Silva (Watch on U
  • Countdown to Sao Paulo: Part 4 - Top 5 Submissions

    Warlley Alves attempts to submit Marcio Alexandre Jr. during their bout in Sao Paulo in 2014" align="center" />When it was conceived back in 1993, the UFC had a simple purpose: to prove how superior Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was in comparison to all other fighting styles. Royce Gracie shocked the world, finishing his first 11 opponents in the Octagon and showing that with that kind of skill, weight and power weren’t determinant aspects of a fight. Today, all MMA athletes practice grappling an
  • Brunson balances training and family to regain momentum

    Derek Brunson practices during the Open Workouts at the Vila Olimpia Mall for the UFC Fight Night Sao Paulo on October 25, 2017 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Zuffa LLC)" align="center" />Following a wild two-fight stretch that saw his five-fight winning streak disappear at the hands of Robert Whittaker and Anderson Silva, Derek Brunson had to travel halfway around the world to get his mojo back. And in New Zealand, he got it.“That was the perfect fight for me and t
  • Duke Roufus: We’ll Get Some News Soon on CM Punk’s Next Fight

    CM Punk is gearing up for his second professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut. Back in Sept. 2016, Punk made his debut under the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) banner against Mickey Gall. Punk lost the bout in the first round via submission. While many assumed it would be one and done for Punk, the former […]
  • New Estimates Suggest UFC 216 Topped 200,000 Buys

    It looks like UFC 216 buys did better than initial estimates suggested. UFC 216 took place earlier this month inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event, Tony Ferguson submitted Kevin Lee to capture the interim UFC lightweight title. The co-main event saw Demetrious Johnson break Anderson Silva’s record for most […]
  • Jack Hermansson plans to use Thiago Santos as 'stepping stone' to the ‘big boys'

    SAO PAULO, Brazil — Jack Hermansson discusses coming back to the same arena where he suffered his only UFC loss, his pre-fight jobs, his thoughts on Thiago Santos as an opponent, and much more.
  • UFC Champ Michael Bisping Shrugs Off Lawsuit, Calls Claims ‘Completely Inaccurate’

    With the biggest fight of his career looming, Michael Bisping is brushing off claims that he attacked a 19-year-old man at an Anaheim, Calif., gym in July.
  • Despite Key Win Over Koscheck, Mauricio Alonso is Still Without a Bellator Deal

    Mauricio Alonso is confused over the fact that a knockout win over Josh Koscheck didn’t nab him better opportunities with Bellator. Back in February, Alonso earned a TKO victory over Koscheck. While Alonso expected a bigger fight on the main card of another Bellator event, that offer never came. He told MMAFighting.com that the situation […]
  • New York State Athletic Commission Officially Adopts Instant Replay Policy

    The New York State Athletic Commission has officially implemented instant replay, according to a report from Newsday.
  • Free agent Mauricio Alonso still waiting for good offer months after TKO win over Josh Koscheck

    An emotional Mauricio Alonso went down on his knees and cried seconds after stopping Josh Koscheck at Bellator 172 in February, and that was it. The Brazilian welterweight, who turned 37 just days after the biggest win of his MMA career, hasn’t stepped inside a cage since.
    Alonso rocked Koscheck with a perfect right hand, then landed a vicious uppercut that dropped the UFC veteran a second time in San Jose, Calif., forcing referee "Big" John McCarthy to step in and save Koscheck from more
  • Bob Arum: The UFC is Desperate, They Have no Marquee Star

    Bob Arum has once again fired verbal shots at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and its President Dana White. White recently said that boxing may be making its way to the Zuffa family. He already made waves with his “Zuffa Boxing” shirt that he wore throughout the buildup to Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor. Speaking […]
  • Colby Covington on Demian Maia Bout: ‘Someone’s Got to Sell This Fight’

    Colby Covington believes he’s the only one pulling his weight when it comes to selling the UFC Fight Night 119 card. Covington is scheduled to compete against Demian Maia this Saturday night (Oct. 28) inside the Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This will easily be the biggest bout of Covington’s professional mixed martial arts […]
  • Niko Price on vacated UFC win: 'He knows I took his soul'

    SAO PAULO, Brazil — Niko Price expected nice beaches when he packed his bags to Sao Paulo, Brazil, but the good food was a nice surprise. Price breaks down the opponent change, going from Luan Chagas to Vicente Luque, discusses his issues with the Texas commission after testing positive for marijuana, and much more.
  • Derek Brunson on Fighting in Hostile Territory: ‘It Doesn’t Bother me at All’

    Derek Brunson doesn’t mind competing in enemy territory. This Saturday night (Oct. 28), Brunson will take on Lyoto Machida inside the Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It’ll be the main event of UFC Fight Night 119. This will be Machida’s first bout since July 2015. Speaking to the media, Brunson said he won’t be […]
  • Emil Meek on Kamaru Usman Bout: ‘One Little Mistake & it WIll be Over’

    Emil Meek realizes he’s being thrown to the wolves, but it’s exactly what he wanted. On Dec. 30, Meek will take on Kamaru Usman inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout will be featured on the UFC 219 card. Reddit user “Ytis” recently translated an interview Meek did on TV 2 Sport […]

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