Conor McGregor has taken the UFC by storm, and nowhere has his impact been felt more than in his native Ireland.
Such is his popularity in the country that the state’s broadcaster, RTE, is showing a six-part documentary about the UFC featherweig…
ConorMcGregor has taken the UFC by storm, and nowhere has his impact been felt more than in his native Ireland.
Such is his popularity in the country that the state’s broadcaster, RTE, is showing a six-part documentary about the UFC featherweight contender that begins Monday night.
In the documentary, McGregor draws an interesting comparison between himself and the 19th century post-impressionist painter, Vincent van Gogh.
I’ve lost my mind doing this. Like Vincent van Gogh. He dedicated his life to his art and lost his mind in the process. That’s happened to me. But f–k it.
When that gold belt is around my waist and when my mother has a big mansion, when my girlfriend has a different car for every day of the week, when my kids have everything they ever want…then it will pay. Then I’ll be happy I lost my mind. I’ll die a crazy old man!
McGregoris expected to take on champion Jose Aldo for his featherweight title in Las Vegas in May.
LODI, Calif.
Nick Diaz just doesn’t care what you think about him.
Sure, if you like his relentless attacking style in the UFC Octagon and his angry defiance outside of the cage, he’s cool with that. And if you’re among the legion o…
LODI, Calif.
Nick Diaz just doesn’t care what you think about him.
Sure, if you like his relentless attacking style in the UFC Octagon and his angry defiance outside of the cage, he’s cool with that. And if you’re among the legion of mixed-martial arts fans who believe he needs a serious attitude adjustment? Well, that’s your problem, not his.
But here’s the important thing: Diaz knows exactly who he is, and it’s not his job to make anyone else happy. He’s paid to fight and put on an entertaining show.
Alexander Gustafsson found himself on the wrong end of a major upset at UFC on Fox 14. In less than three minutes, Anthony Johnson had stopped him via vicious strikes in front of scores of his countrymen.
As emotion poured out from his face, Gustafsson…
Alexander Gustafsson found himself on the wrong end of a major upset at UFC on Fox 14. In less than three minutes, Anthony Johnson had stopped him via vicious strikes in front of scores of his countrymen.
As emotion poured out from his face, Gustafsson has been knocked from No. 1 contender status. His opportunity to rematch against Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title is not completely dashed; instead, it will take the Swedish competitor more time to reach that point for the second time in his career.
Gustafsson has been campaigning for a rematch against Jones since the controversial finish of their fight at UFC 165 in 2013. He had the fight scheduled to occur at UFC 178, but an injury would force him from the card and give the title shot to Daniel Cormier (via UFC.com). Unfortunately, after this fight with Johnson, Gustafsson knows that he isn’t any closer to the rematch that he seeks.
“No, right now its done. I need to recover,” Gustafsson said during the post-fight press conference (video via MMA Fighting). “I’m out of that dream. I need to get back and work harder.”
With his defeat, Alexander should expect to fall down the UFC rankings, but not by much. Coming into the fight, the UFC had him ranked in the No. 1 position. Johnson was sitting at No. 3, with only Daniel Cormier between them. Gustafsson may fall a few slots in this list, but that should not count him out of the equation for a number of reasons.
First and foremost, injuries are always a concern with big fights within the UFC. As mentioned, Gustafsson‘s original rematch against Jones was postponed because of Gustafsson‘s injury. Then Jones was also hurt a few short weeks later (via SI.com). If Johnson was to suffer an injury during preparation for his title shot against Jones, Gustafsson would have to be one of the first names to fill in as top contender.
On the other hand, Gustafsson could earn his way back if he can pull off a few solid victories. With Ryan Bader’s win over Phil Davis, a matchup against Gustafsson would help the winner of that fight earn attention as a new contender to the title.
There are other potential fights that could be made within the 205-pound division that would help Alexander remain a viable contender if victorious. Fights against Ovince St. Preux, Rashad Evans and Glover Teixeira are all examples of respectable fights to be made for Gustafsson at this point in time.
Alexander Gustafsson was one fight away from earning his second shot at Jon Jones and the UFC light heavyweight title. Anthony Johnson stepped in and broke up that dream, but this doesn’t mean that Gustafsson is completely out of position. Last-minute injuries and winning his way back are two options for “The Mauler” that will get him back to top-contender status.
Retirement? Dan Henderson isn’t considering anything like that.
The MMA legend fell to Gegard Mousasi by TKO in the first round Saturday night at UFC on FOX 14: Gustafsson vs. Johnson in Stockholm, Sweden. Henderson was rocked, fell down against the cage and then was finished by Mousasi. The stoppage might have been a tad early — Henderson seemed to be coming to when referee Leon Roberts stepped in — but there was no doubt “Hendo” was in big trouble.
Henderson (30-12) has now lost five of his last six fights and in two of those he was knocked out. The former Strikeforce and PRIDE champion has been knocked down 15 times in his career and was hurt badly in a win over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua last March before coming back to knock him out.
But Henderson, 44, told Ariel Helwani on the FOX Sports 1 post-fight show that he “absolutely” will fight again.
“I want to fight right now,” Henderson said.
Henderson said his vision was blurred by a Mousasi punch. Fearing that it was a cut that might have ended the fight, Henderson pressed forward and got caught again by Mousasi, knocking him against the cage. Mousasi pounced and Roberts intervened. Henderson, though, said he was never out.
“I was aware the whole time,” Henderson said. “I was going for a single leg and coming up. I felt like I was in a good position to take him down.”
Henderson argued with Roberts afterward, feeling that the fight should have continued. UFC president Dana White tweeted that he believed it was a good call by the ref, but that Roberts was lax in getting Mousasi off Henderson.
Not a bad stoppage the refs are SO SLOPPY. If the ref didn’t tackle Mousasi he would have kept that top position Dan would have got smashed
Either way, Henderson will need to stay an extra day in Stockholm to get a cut on his eyelid stitched up. After that, he’ll consider the next step.
“I’ve never had that kind of injury before,” said Henderson, who was wearing an eye patch in the post-fight press conference. “I rarely get cut. I’d imagine it would heal like any other stitches. I feel completely fine other than that.”
The former Olympic wrestler was asked if he worried about things like brain trauma in the post-fight press conference. Henderson said he did not.
“No, I mean tonight I felt fine the whole time,” Henderson said. “It was just one of those things. I’m real careful in practice and train smart. I feel good. It was just an unfortunate thing tonight. I feel completely fine and healthy.”
Henderson, who has been a pro MMA fighter since 1997, said his future will likely be at middleweight where he competed Saturday. Previously, he had spent about four years at light heavyweight and even went to heavyweight once to fight Fedor Emelianenko in Strikeforce.
“It doesn’t matter,” Henderson said. “I felt good tonight. My body felt great. I felt fine. I just had an unfortunate thing happen and that’s the way it goes. The weight cut was fairly easy. I naturally weigh fairly light anyway. I was kind of tired of pushing around all these big guys.”
More than anything, Henderson just seemed to be bummed he didn’t get a better chance against Mousasi.
“You guys saw what happened,” he said. “I just felt like I really didn’t get in there to fight and didn’t get an opportunity. It’s just unfortunate that it happened, and it just sucks.”
Retirement? Dan Henderson isn’t considering anything like that.
The MMA legend fell to Gegard Mousasi by TKO in the first round Saturday night at UFC on FOX 14: Gustafsson vs. Johnson in Stockholm, Sweden. Henderson was rocked, fell down against the cage and then was finished by Mousasi. The stoppage might have been a tad early — Henderson seemed to be coming to when referee Leon Roberts stepped in — but there was no doubt “Hendo” was in big trouble.
Henderson (30-12) has now lost five of his last six fights and in two of those he was knocked out. The former Strikeforce and PRIDE champion has been knocked down 15 times in his career and was hurt badly in a win over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua last March before coming back to knock him out.
But Henderson, 44, told Ariel Helwani on the FOX Sports 1 post-fight show that he “absolutely” will fight again.
“I want to fight right now,” Henderson said.
Henderson said his vision was blurred by a Mousasi punch. Fearing that it was a cut that might have ended the fight, Henderson pressed forward and got caught again by Mousasi, knocking him against the cage. Mousasi pounced and Roberts intervened. Henderson, though, said he was never out.
“I was aware the whole time,” Henderson said. “I was going for a single leg and coming up. I felt like I was in a good position to take him down.”
Henderson argued with Roberts afterward, feeling that the fight should have continued. UFC president Dana White tweeted that he believed it was a good call by the ref, but that Roberts was lax in getting Mousasi off Henderson.
Not a bad stoppage the refs are SO SLOPPY. If the ref didn’t tackle Mousasi he would have kept that top position Dan would have got smashed
Either way, Henderson will need to stay an extra day in Stockholm to get a cut on his eyelid stitched up. After that, he’ll consider the next step.
“I’ve never had that kind of injury before,” said Henderson, who was wearing an eye patch in the post-fight press conference. “I rarely get cut. I’d imagine it would heal like any other stitches. I feel completely fine other than that.”
The former Olympic wrestler was asked if he worried about things like brain trauma in the post-fight press conference. Henderson said he did not.
“No, I mean tonight I felt fine the whole time,” Henderson said. “It was just one of those things. I’m real careful in practice and train smart. I feel good. It was just an unfortunate thing tonight. I feel completely fine and healthy.”
Henderson, who has been a pro MMA fighter since 1997, said his future will likely be at middleweight where he competed Saturday. Previously, he had spent about four years at light heavyweight and even went to heavyweight once to fight Fedor Emelianenko in Strikeforce.
“It doesn’t matter,” Henderson said. “I felt good tonight. My body felt great. I felt fine. I just had an unfortunate thing happen and that’s the way it goes. The weight cut was fairly easy. I naturally weigh fairly light anyway. I was kind of tired of pushing around all these big guys.”
More than anything, Henderson just seemed to be bummed he didn’t get a better chance against Mousasi.
“You guys saw what happened,” he said. “I just felt like I really didn’t get in there to fight and didn’t get an opportunity. It’s just unfortunate that it happened, and it just sucks.”
Amirkhani knocked out Andy Ogle in just eight seconds in his UFC debut Saturday night at UFC on FOX 14 in Stockholm, Sweden. Amirkhani came out with a flying knee to start the fight and then landed a hard uppercut that seemed to put Ogle out.
With Ogle taking more punishment against the cage, referee Kevin Sataki stepped in to stop the fight. It was one of the quickest finishes in UFC history.
Rogan, though, felt Sataki should have given Ogle more time to recover. The UFC color commentator voiced his opinion on the broadcast and vigorously asked Amirkhani about it in the post-fight interview.
Amirkhani laughed it off in the post-fight press conference, saying that Ogle tried to take down the referee afterward, so of course he was done.
“It didn’t bother me,” Amirkhani said of the interrogation. “But I thought [Rogan] was a drunk, because Andy Ogle went for double leg with the referee and the referee tapped, so what should I say? [The] referee made his decision and you ask me, I said he was out.”
Amirkhani (11-2) started off the interview with Rogan by telling him how much of a fan he was and that meeting him was a “dream.” Growing up in Finland, Amirkhani said he enjoyed Rogan’s “Fear Factor” show. He asked Rogan for a hug and the comedian granted it to him.
Things only got more bizarre from there as Rogan grilled him about the stoppage.
“Put it in replay,” Amirkhani said at the time. “Look at his hand. It’s down. He’s out.”
Rogan explained himself later on Twitter.
My thoughts on a fight like @MakwanAmirkhani vs @thelittleaxe are just that I want to see a fighter have a chance to recover. (1)
Amirkhani, 26, was asked in the post-fight press conference if he would grant Ogle a rematch. “Mr. Finland” was facetious in his response.
“C’mon man,” Amirkhani said. “Eight seconds. Do you want less than that?”
The charismatic newcomer actually stole the show on the dais. At one point, he was asked about an apparent viral video out there online of him eating an apple.
“I don’t know,” Amirkhani said. “I got like a thousand friend requests and 90 percent are from girls. They’ll send me messages, like ‘I love your smile, how you eat the apple.’ It gets like 900,000 views. It’s pretty huge for eating [an] apple.”
A video posted by Makwan Amirkhani (@makulaku) on Jan 15, 2015 at 9:09am PST
Don’t expect to see Amirkhani back in the Octagon soon, though. He said he’ll need some time off to train and get better. He plans on moving to Stockholm to train with Alexander Gustafsson. And before this fight, Amirkhani said all he did was work on his specialty: wrestling. This training camp was the first time he even touched striking.
As for that flying knee to start it off, Amirkhani said his coach told him not to do it, but he had a good feeling. He saw on tape that Ogle runs out to the center of the Octagon to start fights and just stops there. That’s why he went with the unorthodox technique.
Amirkhani knocked out Andy Ogle in just eight seconds in his UFC debut Saturday night at UFC on FOX 14 in Stockholm, Sweden. Amirkhani came out with a flying knee to start the fight and then landed a hard uppercut that seemed to put Ogle out.
With Ogle taking more punishment against the cage, referee Kevin Sataki stepped in to stop the fight. It was one of the quickest finishes in UFC history.
Rogan, though, felt Sataki should have given Ogle more time to recover. The UFC color commentator voiced his opinion on the broadcast and vigorously asked Amirkhani about it in the post-fight interview.
Amirkhani laughed it off in the post-fight press conference, saying that Ogle tried to take down the referee afterward, so of course he was done.
“It didn’t bother me,” Amirkhani said of the interrogation. “But I thought [Rogan] was a drunk, because Andy Ogle went for double leg with the referee and the referee tapped, so what should I say? [The] referee made his decision and you ask me, I said he was out.”
Amirkhani (11-2) started off the interview with Rogan by telling him how much of a fan he was and that meeting him was a “dream.” Growing up in Finland, Amirkhani said he enjoyed Rogan’s “Fear Factor” show. He asked Rogan for a hug and the comedian granted it to him.
Things only got more bizarre from there as Rogan grilled him about the stoppage.
“Put it in replay,” Amirkhani said at the time. “Look at his hand. It’s down. He’s out.”
Rogan explained himself later on Twitter.
My thoughts on a fight like @MakwanAmirkhani vs @thelittleaxe are just that I want to see a fighter have a chance to recover. (1)
Amirkhani, 26, was asked in the post-fight press conference if he would grant Ogle a rematch. “Mr. Finland” was facetious in his response.
“C’mon man,” Amirkhani said. “Eight seconds. Do you want less than that?”
The charismatic newcomer actually stole the show on the dais. At one point, he was asked about an apparent viral video out there online of him eating an apple.
“I don’t know,” Amirkhani said. “I got like a thousand friend requests and 90 percent are from girls. They’ll send me messages, like ‘I love your smile, how you eat the apple.’ It gets like 900,000 views. It’s pretty huge for eating [an] apple.”
Don’t expect to see Amirkhani back in the Octagon soon, though. He said he’ll need some time off to train and get better. He plans on moving to Stockholm to train with Alexander Gustafsson. And before this fight, Amirkhani said all he did was work on his specialty: wrestling. This training camp was the first time he even touched striking.
As for that flying knee to start it off, Amirkhani said his coach told him not to do it, but he had a good feeling. He saw on tape that Ogle runs out to the center of the Octagon to start fights and just stops there. That’s why he went with the unorthodox technique.
At UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Johnson, Ryan Bader narrowly defeated Phil Davis in a methodical, slow-paced fight that wasn’t exactly fan-friendly.
The two negated each other’s grappling, and the fight was primarily contested on the fee…
At UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Johnson, Ryan Badernarrowly defeated Phil Davis in a methodical, slow-paced fight that wasn’t exactly fan-friendly.
The two negated each other’s grappling, and the fight was primarily contested on the feet. Neither fighter really got after it by trying to finish the other or throw any strikes with significant power or intent. It was a close fight, and Bader left with the victory by split-decision, notching his fourth straight win.
The UFC light heavyweight divisionisn’t the most talent-rich. The fighter Bader faces next depends on what path the UFC decides to take him on. There aren’t a lot of light heavyweights to start with, and there is a noticeable drop-off in the level of competition outside of the top six-to-10 fighters.
Bader can either take a fight with someone ranked above him, such as Rashad Evans or Daniel Cormier, or he could go up against some of the rising talent in the division like Patrick Cummins or the winner of the upcoming Jan Blachowicz vs. JimiManuwa bout in April.
Let’s take a look at four fighters that would be good options for Ryan Bader’s next fight.
