Author: By E. Spencer Kyte

With the highly-anticipated championship bout between Ronda Rousey and Cat Zingano quickly approaching and a slew of top-ranked fighters lobbying for the opportunity to step back into the Octagon, the UFC women’s bantamweight division has been thrust into the spotlight.A few weeks back, Miesha Tate battled through a broken orbital bone to grind out fellow former title challenger Sara McMann. At the post-fight press conference, she was already angling for her next fight. Canadian Sarah Kaufman extended a challenge by smashing a cupcake with her fist on Instagram, but rather than being p … Read the Full Article Here

Edson Barboza has had a busy few months.In November, he traveled to Austin, Texas to share the Octagon with Bobby Green in a pivotal matchup in the highly competitive 155-pound ranks. Prepared for the California native’s in-fight commentary track, the Brazilian employed a stick-and-move approach that produced a unanimous decision victory and a promotion to No. 6 in the lightweight rankings.A few weeks later, he became a father for the first time, as his wife Bruna gave birth to a happy, healthy baby boy the couple named Noah. Late last month, the proud new papa celebrated his 29th birt … Read the Full Article Here

The vast majority of the time when UFC matchmakers Joe Silva and Sean Shelby call fighters on the regional circuit and offer them an opportunity to fight in the Octagon, they hear the word “Yes” before they even mention an opponent or a fight card.“Would you like an opportunity fight in the U…”“YES!”The first time they called Chris Kelades, the 33-year-old flyweight politely turned them down. While the chance to compete under the UFC banner had long been a goal of “The Greek Assassin,” the fight was at bantamweight and he wasn’t fa … Read the Full Article Here

Over the last three years, Jim Alers’ passport has been picking up quite a few new stamps. Bahrain. Jordan. Wales. Scotland. Ireland. Abu Dhabi.Unbeaten during his world tour and a winner of nine straight overall, the Florida native will be able to leave his passport at home prior to his next fight, as instead of heading overseas, the featherweight will step into the Octagon in Broomfield, Colorado as part of the preliminary card for next weekend’s UFC Fight Night event at the 1stBank Center. “It’s a little weird,” Alers says about fighting in North America for … Read the Full Article Here

“This year off hasn’t been a year off – it has been the biggest year of growth I’ve ever had,” UFC welterweight Court McGee, who hasn’t set foot in the Octagon since losing to Ryan LaFlare in December 2013 and won’t do so again until the second half of 2015, says.Not many fighters that have endured more than a year on the sidelines and multiple surgeries to address a single issue wouldn’t be so upbeat and positive, but then again, the fighter known as “The Crusher” hasn’t exactly lived a typical life.McGee is a son, a brother, a … Read the Full Article Here

One month down, 11 to go.The first month of 2015 delivered a ton of exciting action inside the Octagon. From Paul Felder’s spinning back fist knockout of Danny Castillo and all things Conor McGregor to Anthony Johnson silencing the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm and a compelling UFC 183 card, January has been jam packed and there is no real slowing down in February.This is The 10, our regular look at the best action headed to the Octagon in the month ahead.UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch (February 14 in Broomfield, Colorado)Ray Borg vs. Chris KeladesThe main card of this month’s in … Read the Full Article Here