GONAZLES: In Memory of a Fighter and a Fighting Spirit – Josh Samman
I didn’t know Josh Samman. And I don’t know what happened the night he was found with his friend in Florida, or any of the events leading up to it. But I know I’m saddened […]
COLUMNS
AMADI: UFC 204’s Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson II signals new shift in UFC strategy
A lot has been made of the UFC’s business success over the last two years, or more specifically, adjustments to their booking philosophy that have helped facilitate some of their success. Most of that talk […]
GRINUPS: What can boxing learn from MMA and UFC to bring the sport back to life
Mixed Martial Arts fans and especially UFC fans have been very pleased with the sport over the past two years. Between the exposure, energy, fights, and the promotion’s willingness to listen to the fans, we […]
PETERSON: On Josh Samman and His Legacy
(March 14, 1988 – October 5, 2016) Like many others, I found about Josh Samman last Thursday through Twitter. Various unconfirmed reports had the Florida-based fighter being found unresponsive at his apartment. His roommate and […]
HYDEN: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from UFC Fight Night 96, and Hype for UFC 205 builds
UFC Fight Night 96 was this past weekend. Let’s get to the rundown. UFC FIGHT NIGHT ’96 GOOD: Brandon Moreno submits Louis Smolka I expected Smolka to come out and be impressive in victory, but […]
KING: Reminder that UFC 204 comes before UFC 205, and it’s worth getting excited about
With all the excitement of UFC 205 and Conor McGregor doing what he does best, it is easy to forget that just next week there is the small matter of UFC 204 to look forward […]
KING: Dominick Cruz about to break through the ceiling? Color Commentary, P4P Best Super Fight, Featherweight Title all options for him
Dominick Cruz was on colour commentary for the Cris Cyborg vs. Lina Lansberg event last weekend alongside Jon Anik and I thought he did an awesome job. He provided insight and information with the right dose […]
AMADI: Is the Jose Aldo Issue a growing problem for the sport’s legitimacy or just a reality check on what UFC is really about?
Following the legalization of mixed martial arts in New York, the UFC will finally get to set up its Octagon in Madison Square Garden. The promotion is bringing a card worthy of the occasion and […]
FRENCH: Going back to go forward – How a tournament could spark interest in Flyweight Division
Going back to go forward! How about exploring bringing back the fabled tournament format could help combat stagnation in some of the UFC’s weight divisions? The Flyweight Division in the UFC has long been a difficult division […]
GONZALES: How Sexist is MMA? Let Me Count the Ways… And some praise for Invicta FC’s approach
Invicta FC has become must-see MMA for me. They do so much right, from production to pacing, but what stands out most is the respect they pay female fighters. I only heard the word “beautiful” […]
HYDEN: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from UFC Fight Night 95 from Roy Nelson to Cris Cyborg
UFC Fight Night 95 was this past weekend. Let’s get to the rundown… GOOD: Godofredo Pepey submits Mike De La Torre Pepey is just an exciting fighter to watch. He’s constantly attacking and on the […]
KING: The enduring charm of the UFC Heavyweight division and why it’s still a gateway for many casual fans to hardcore fandom
The consensus pound-for-pound best fighter in the UFC as of this moment is Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. He is a dominant champion who has produced outstanding skills, exciting finishes, and is widely regarded as the most […]
GRINUPS: The Top Ten Fighters who have never competed in UFC, from Ben Askren to Lance Palmer to Michael Chandler
This is a top ten list for fighters that have never competed in the UFC. 1. Ben Askren – Welterweight – (15-0) – ONE FC – age: 32 The 32 year old former freestyle wrestling […]
HYDEN: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from UFC Fight Night 94 and Bellator 161 including the very ugly Kongo-Johnson main event
Bellator 161 and UFC Fight Night 94 were this past weekend. Let’s get right to the rundown. BELLATOR 161 GOOD: Derek Campos vs. Djamil Chan: Campos battled and got the decision win here. It was nothing […]
AMADI: Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino headlining Saturday’s Fight Night deserves better from UFC after years of verbal jabs by White
2014 is a year the UFC is probably happy to have in its rear-view mirror. In the absence of longtime stars such as Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre, the industry leader was forced to slap […]
KING: The Enduring Allure of the Bellator-bound bomastic “Bad Guy” Chael Sonnen
The MMA world was hit by the news that this week Chael Sonnen, a/k/a “The Bad Guy,” has signed a new multi-fight deal with Bellator. I, myself, have always been particularly impressed with Chael Sonnen […]
GONZALES: Punk almost had me there, before showing he’s a total mark for himself
Later, Punk. Not gonna lie – C.M. Punk had me for a moment in the post-fight presser. When he broke down, speaking about his wife, I got a genuine sense of sincerity, from a genuine […]
HYDEN: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from UFC 203 – Miocic, Overeem, Punk, Gall, Faber, Werdum, Browne, more
UFC 203 was this past weekend. Let’s get right to the rundown. UFC 203 GOOD: Jessica Andrade submits Joanne Calderwood Andrade got Calderwood down a few times and was ultra aggressive in her groundwork. She […]
PETERSON: Fighter safety an issue in at least three instances during UFC 203 last night
Following a huge night for the hometown fans in Cleveland where Stipe Miocic defending his title against Alistair Overeem, a few questions linger concerning the safety of fighters. For instance, the 37 year old C.M. Punk […]
MOORE: C.M. Punk – Will a Successful History Lead to a Successful Future? How he compares to other pro wrestlers turned MMA fighters
At UFC 203, the MMA world will not only see the UFC debut, but the MMA debut, of former professional wrestler Phil “C.M. Punk” Brooks. When World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) employed him, Punk was one […]
GONAZLES: Here comes the Celebrity Ultimate Fighter – with William Morris in charge, this could be just the beginning
Oh no! A professional ‘wrassler with no real combat experience is going to fight in the UFC! It’s the end of MMA as we know it! And I feel fine… Because I don’t have a […]
MOORE’S TOP TEN: The Top 10 One-Hit Champions in MMA History – The best with the shortest title reigns from Evans to Hendricks to GSP
Going into UFC 203, there is a lot of pressure on UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic. Not only is he defending his newly won title for the first time in his hometown, he will be […]
HYDEN: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from UFC Fight Night 93 including Bader, Barnett, Gustafsson, Arlovski
UFC Fight Night 93 was this past weekend. Let’s get right to the rundown. BAD/GOOD: Nick Hein vs. Tae Hyun Bang It’s probably a little harsh to go full BAD here, so I’ll throw a […]
AMADI: The C.M. Punk Thing – What happened to his personality and bravado that made him a star in pro wrestling?
If you’ve ever seen C.M. Punk handle a microphone (whether visible or otherwise) in a pro wrestling setting, you’re likely aware of the fact that he’s one of the truly great talkers that industry has […]
KING: If he chooses to, Carlos Condit can walk away from his MMA career on his own terms and be proud, but how about this fight first…
The UFC post-fight press conference after UFC on Fox 21 revealed some fascinating insights into Carlos Condit’s mindset. This is a fighter that before the loss to Maia came within a hair’s breadth of beating Robbie […]