Author: mmafighting
UFC 300 is just three months away, and the matchmakers are still searching for a main event worthy of the landmark number. That’s not to say that UFC execs Dana White, Mick Maynard, and Sean Shelby have been sitting on their laurels. The headliners for the first three pay-per-views of 2024 are already covered, giving plans plenty to look forward to. But when it comes to their third century event, the picture at the top of the card is still unclear. Some of the promotion’s most reliable draws appear to be off the table, with Conor McGregor announcing that he’s…
Few fighters, if any, in combat sports had as great of a year in 2023 as Francis Ngannou. No, Ngannou did not win a fight in 2023. He actually lost his lone combat sports appearance, which was his professional boxing debut. Tasked with one of the world’s best boxers in Tyson Fury, Ngannou found himself on the wrong end of a split decision in October but overperformed after joining the PFL roster — and office — earlier in the year. Overall, “The Predator’s” gamble paid off, to put things mildly. To start the year, Ngannou was the UFC heavyweight champion,…
UFC CEO Dana White recently declared fighters in the promotion will once again be allowed to walk out with flags from their home countries. But it doesn’t appear that rule will apply to bantamweight prospect Farid Basharat or his older brother, Javid. The Basharat siblings hail from Afghanistan, a country now led by the Taliban, which introduced a new flag in 2021. The new Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan features a different flag from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, which was internationally recognized until the current regime took over. As a result, fighters from Afghanistan have not been able to walk…
Krzysztof Glowacki scored one of the most amazing knockouts of 2023, but 2024 has already proven unkind to him. Reuters reported Wednesday that Glowacki has received a four-year suspension from UK Anti-Doping after testing positive for anabolic steroids. The recent KSW fighter and former WBO cruiserweight boxing champion is banned from participating in any athletic competition for the duration of his suspension. UKAD oversees anti-doping efforts for 40 Olympic, Paralympic and professional sports in the U.K. and is overseen by Parliament. The regulator is complaint with the World Anti-Doping Code, considered one of the most reputable measures of anti-doping efforts.…
Prior to the Bellator sale to PFL, Corey Anderson thought he would have time to settle some business with Vadim Nemkov. After their first encounter ended in anticlimactic fashion with a no-contest, the result of an accidental clash of heads in a fight Anderson was winning, the rematch went almost exactly the opposite with Nemkov getting the nod on the scorecards. Following a win over Phil Davis in June, Anderson started speaking to the matchmakers about booking a third fight with Nemkov for late 2023. But just when it looked like the fight might happen, the Russian light heavyweight champion…
Michael Bisping warns Conor McGregor that bigger isn’t always better. McGregor recently announced his plans to return from a break of almost three years for a fight with Michael Chandler at a June 29 UFC event. Strangely, McGregor declared that the bout will take place at middleweight, which neither he nor Chandler have competed at in the past. The UFC is yet to officially confirm the bout. Former middleweight champion Michael Bisping spoke to co-host Anthony Smith about McGregor’s announcement on the Believe You Me podcast, where he questioned the current conditioning of “The Notorious.” “No wonder it’s 185 because…
Middleweights Marvin Vettori and Brendan Allen will clash at an upcoming UFC Fight Night card scheduled on April 6 with the event location still to be determined. UFC officials announced the pairing on Wednesday. A constant presence in the middleweight rankings, Vettori returns to action following a tough loss to Jared Cannonier in his last outing this past June. After falling to Israel Adesanya in a title fight back in 2021, Vettori has bounced back and forth between wins and losses in his past four appearances. He’s earned wins over Roman Dolidze and Paulo Costa while dropping decisions to Cannonier…
Anthony Smith’s latest loss was a tough one to take. “Lionheart” was on the wrong end of a highlight-reel knockout this past December at UFC Vegas 83 after accepting a bout on short-notice against Khalil Rountree. The knockout artist dropped Smith early in the third round with a hard punch that Smith didn’t recover from, sending the one-time light heavyweight title challenger to his third loss in four outings. On the Believe You Me podcast, Smith admitted that he’s done plenty of self-reflection in the aftermath. “For anybody that’s listening, if you’ve texted me or reached out and I haven’t…
The MMA Hour is back in your life on Wednesday, and it will feature our annual awards show! Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. GMT. Below is the list of categories: Knockout of the Year Submission of the Year Breakout Fighter of the Year Most Improved Fighter of the Year Coach of the Year Event of the Year Crowd of the Year Walkout of the Year Promo of the Year Poster of the Year Photo of the Year Social User of the Year Bad Beat of the Year Underdog…
Khamzat Chimaev’s absence from the first UFC middleweight title fight of 2024 makes all the sense in the world after the top contender took to Twitter on Tuesday night. UFC 294 this past October saw not only the return of “Borz” in action for the first time since late 2022, but also his reinsertion into the 185-pound contender mix. The dominant undefeated 13-0 dynamo had been paired with one-time title challenger Paulo Costa before the Brazilian was dealt a nasty staph infection that led to his withdrawal. Instead, Chimaev went toe-to-toe with the former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and picked…