Author: By E. Spencer Kyte

Before UFC 200 and International Fight Week arrives, the UFC makes its first voyage north of the border in 2016 to deliver its inaugural event in the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario.The fight card emanating from the TD Place Arena on Saturday is arguably the best Canadian in recent memory; a collection of bouts with real divisional significance combined with fights that showcase some of the top emerging competitors from not only the Great White North, but in the UFC overall.Here’s a look at a trio of up-and-coming talents set to hit the Octagon this weekend.More on UFC FIGHT NIGHT Ot … Read the Full Article Here

s
What is Donald Cerrone’s greatest concern heading into his bout with Patrick Cote? Figuring out how he is going to get to Ottawa.Actually, first he had to figure out exactly where the Canadian capital was; then he had to figure out how to get there.“In my mind, I was like, ‘Ottawa? I’ll just drive,’” admitted the UFC outlaw who approaches things from the opposite end of the spectrum compared to most of his contemporaries. “I thought it was above Michigan and I’ll come back through the Great Lakes.“Yeah, no. Way no,” he la … Read the Full Article Here

Ask any fight fan to name the top gyms in the sport and the same collection of names will probably come out first.Tristar. American Top Team. Jackson’s. AKA.One that may not get as much instant love, but deserves billing alongside those familiar talent factories is Alliance MMA, where Eric Del Fierro and a collection of talented coaches have been turning out top tier talent for a decade.“We fall into those Top 5 gyms in the world, but the difference with us is we’re still a small facility compared to the other teams that are out there – the big name teams – but I … Read the Full Article Here

When Titan FC blows into the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida, the mixed martial arts promotion will be doing so with a fight card topped by not one, not two, but three compelling title fights and bolstered by a handful of additional interesting names.Here’s a look at the championship matchups and a couple of the veterans you need to keep an eye on this weekend when Titan FC 39 hits UFC FIGHT PASS on Friday night.Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante (19-8) vs. Pat Healy (33-21-1) for the Lightweight TitleThese two veterans do battle for the vacant lightweight title in Friday&rsqu … Read the Full Article Here

With the UFC set to arrive in Canada for the first time in 2016 next week – and the first time ever in the nation’s capital, Ottawa – this is the perfect time to take a look at some of the top fighters from the Great White North to ever step into the Octagon.RELATED: MacDonald vs Thompson – Keys to victory | Rory MacDonald fighting on Canadian soil | Stephen Thompson’s toughest challengeThe Pioneer: Gary GoodridgeWith all due respect to Harold Howard, Goodridge was the first Canadian fighter to star in the UFC, debuting with a 13-second win over Paul Herrera in … Read the Full Article Here

Losing to Santiago Ponzinibbio was the best thing that happened to Sean Strickland. Entering the bout in Porto Alegre, Brazil with a perfect 15-0 record, heralded as one of the top up-and-comers in the UFC and debuting in the welterweight division, Strickland wanted to be anywhere but inside the Octagon on that humid February night. The weight of an unblemished record and the pressures, both real and imagined, that come with having a zero in the loss column as a professional fighter were burdening the promising prospect. “Going into that fight, I didn’t want to be there and I didn … Read the Full Article Here