MMA news

Kamaru Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz insists the trilogy bout with Leon Edwards will be the next UFC welterweight championship fight. After Edwards pulled off MMA Junkie’s 2022 Comeback of the Year and Knockout of the Year in stunning fashion at UFC 278 in August, when he knocked out Usman with an incredible head kick, an

UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen has a big name in mind for his next fight if he gets past Marlon Vera. Sandhagen will face Vera in a UFC Fight Night event on February 18th. He’s looking to win his second consecutive fight after dismantling Song Yadong last September. Sandhagen has been on the verge of

Welcome to Midnight Mania! The situation doesn’t look great for UFC and PRIDE veteran Phil Baroni. While many details remain unclear, a report yesterday claims that Baroni stands charged with murder in San Pancho, Mexico after a dispute with his girlfriend. Per the first report, Baroni bloodied up his girlfriend then called the police, who

7:42 PM ET Associated Press MEXICO CITY — Former mixed martial arts fighter Phil Baroni has been arrested in Mexico for allegedly killing his girlfriend, the prosecutors’ office in the Pacific coast state of Nayarit said Wednesday. The office said a woman was found dead on Sunday in the beach town of San Fernando, just

After a successful return to fighting following a three-year absence, former Bellator middleweight champion Rafael Lovato Jr. is unsure if he will continue his MMA career. Due to cavernoma, a brain condition involving abnormally formed blood vessels, Lovato Jr. (11-0) was forced to put his career in the cage on hold soon after defeating Gegard

MMA journalist Ariel Helwani feels Dana White has a lot to answer for with his family after being caught on video hitting his wife. White and his wife got into a physical altercation last weekend while celebrating New Year’s Eve at a party in Mexico. A verbal argument turned into a physical one when his

Normally I would whine about covering this nonsense, which just barely falls under the umbrella of combat sports, but I would much rather write about YouTube boxers than have to whip up another article about aggravated assault, domestic violence, or murder. We’re only four days into 2023 and I’m already looking forward to 2024. KSI

Jared Cannonier thinks Khamzat Chimaev needs to earn his way to a UFC middleweight title shot. After missing weight by 7.5 pounds for his initially scheduled welterweight bout at UFC 279, Chimaev (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) appears to be gunning for a return to middleweight. He recently called for a shot at reigning champion Alex

8:34 AM ET SAITAMA, JAPAN — MANNY PACQUIAO, flanked by family and security, came out of an elevator and passed through a holding area for MMA fighters before they made their ring walk. To the boxing legend’s right, former UFC champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was on a knee, trying to help Bellator’s AJ McKee put

Some people are of the impression that Chael Sonnen feels postponing the Cincinnati Bengals/Buffalo Bills NFL game after safety Damar Hamlin’s shocking injury was a mistake. The highly anticipated Bengals/Bills Monday Night Football game came to a screeching halt after Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after a big hit. After CPR was administered and Hamlin was

Welcome to Midnight Mania! Paddy Pimblett may not understand the uproar over his decision nod against Jared Gordon at UFC 282, but mounds of evidence are piling against him. The controversy around the decision resulted in an investigation into one of the judges responsible, as well as new regulations surrounding judge travel in California. It’s

A featherweight bout is the newest addition to the upcoming UFC card in San Antonio. Tucker Lutz (12-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) will square off with Texas’ own Daniel Pineda (27-14 MMA, 4-5 UFC) at UFC on ESPN 43, which takes place March 25 at AT&T Center. Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed

It’s safe to say that Oscar De La Hoya‘s relationship with UFC President Dana White is still far from repaired. White and his wife were caught on camera having a physical altercation at a Cabo San Lucas nightclub on New Year’s Eve. He slapped his wife after she struck him amidst a drunken argument. Many

A.J. McKee went all out for his RIZIN debut this past weekend (Dec. 31, 2022). The former Bellator Featherweight champion is accustomed to getting unique walkouts in his promotion, but for his first fight in a Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) environment, it was time to up the ante. McKee walked to the ring bodied

Anthony Smith doesn’t see Glover Teixeira being able to stand with Jamahal Hill. Teixeira (33-8 MMA, 16-6 UFC) meets Hill (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) for the vacant light heavyweight title in the UFC 283 headliner Jan. 21 at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC and ESPN+. Smith

UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley has a name in mind for who Conor McGregor should fight in his targeted 2023 return. McGregor hasn’t fought since a leg injury he suffered at UFC 264 in July 2021. He’s been recovering ever since but is nearing a possible return at welterweight as the new year begins. Many

Welcome to Midnight Mania! UFC President Dana White’s 2023 is off to an alarming start. Earlier today, video emerged of White and his wife, Anne White, arguing at a nightclub on New Year’s Eve (Sat. Dec. 31, 2022). The confrontation quickly turned physical, as Anne White slapped her husband before Dana White retaliated in kind.

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submissions from December 2022: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month award for December. At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by