Author: J.Jones

Cris Cyborg Actually Coming to the UFC, Faces Leslie Smith at UFC 198


(Finally, the superfight that UFC fans have been demanding for years is coming together.)

Like XYIENCE energy drinks and the music of Stemm, the idea of seeing Cris Cyborg fight in the UFC has been long abandoned by the majority of MMA fans. It seemed like a very real possibility a few years back, but then Tito Ortiz went and messed everything up like the blockhead that we know him to be. Between Cyborg’s failed attempts to make 135 pounds and Ronda Rousey‘s fall from grace in the time since, the former Strikeforce featherweight champion (and current Invicta champion) has found herself with a lower stock value than possibly ever before.

But now, it seems that all is about to change for one of the sport’s scariest competitors.

The post Cris Cyborg Actually Coming to the UFC, Faces Leslie Smith at UFC 198 appeared first on Cagepotato.


(Finally, the superfight that UFC fans have been demanding for years is coming together.)

Like XYIENCE energy drinks and the music of Stemm, the idea of seeing Cris Cyborg fight in the UFC has been long abandoned by the majority of MMA fans. It seemed like a very real possibility a few years back, but then Tito Ortiz went and messed everything up like the blockhead that we know him to be. Between Cyborg’s failed attempts to make 135 pounds and Ronda Rousey‘s fall from grace in the time since, the former Strikeforce featherweight champion (and current Invicta champion) has found herself with a lower stock value than possibly ever before.

But now, it seems that all is about to change for one of the sport’s scariest competitors.

This morning, UFC officials confirmed that Ms. Justino has finally booked her debut fight:

One of the most feared fighters in the world is finally making her way to the Octagon, as Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino faces Leslie Smith at UFC 198 on May 14.

The bout, which takes place at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil, will be held at a catchweight of 140 pounds.

This is, obviously, a rather historic moment for both women’s MMA and the UFC. In booking its first-ever women’s catchweight bout, the UFC might just be stating its intention to eventually establish some higher female weight classes down the line. Now that the allure of not only Ronda Rousey, but the person to beat her has been shattered, we may very well see the UFC start branching out its female divisions in order to find the next “unstoppable” champion to promote to mainstream audiences.

There’s no doubt that Cyborg could be that person, in any case. She may not be “undefeated” (having dropped her very first professional fight back in 2005) or ever wind up on the cover of SI’s swimsuit edition (then again…), but Justino did kick off 2016 by defending her Invicta title for the third time in a fashion that should serve as a terrifying reminder of her capabilities. Against the 8-6-1 Smith, she will also likely have another highlight reel finish on her hands to carry into a fight with whoever emerges from this Rouse-Tate-Holm car wreck.

That’s if she actually can make 135 pounds, of course, which we’re not entirely convinced she can.

UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic goes down on May 14, 2016 at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil.

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Friday Link Dump: UFC to Relaunch ‘Fight For the Troops’ Events, MMA’s Top 10 Rising Stars, The Best State Nicknames + More

(Free fight: Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier at UFC 197)

The Beaten Path: MMA’s Top 10 Rising Stars (Bleacher Report)

Last Man to Win a UFC fight in New York, Marco Ruas Says Legalization Will Revolutionize MMA (MMAFighting)

UFC Plans Return of ‘Fight for the Troops’ Series for First Time Since November 2013 (MMAJunkie)

The post Friday Link Dump: UFC to Relaunch ‘Fight For the Troops’ Events, MMA’s Top 10 Rising Stars, The Best State Nicknames + More appeared first on Cagepotato.


(Free fight: Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier at UFC 197)

The Beaten Path: MMA’s Top 10 Rising Stars (Bleacher Report)

Last Man to Win a UFC fight in New York, Marco Ruas Says Legalization Will Revolutionize MMA (MMAFighting)

UFC Plans Return of ‘Fight for the Troops’ Series for First Time Since November 2013 (MMAJunkie)

Gunnar Nelson on Diaz-McGregor Rematch: Conor Will Pick Him Apart (BloodyElbow)

Gracie Shrugs off Shamrock PED Test Failure (MixedMartialArts)

Larry Sanders Show Star Garry Shandling Dead at 66 (Screen Junkies)

20 Outrageous Tweets by Microsoft’s Twitter-Taught AI Chatbox (The Escapist)

32 Creepy Easter Bunnies That Will Ruin Your Easter (Pics) (Radass)

Shocking Rumors: Ted Cruz Sex Scandal? (Every Joe)

The Best State Nicknames (Ranker)

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Chan Sung Jung Is Planning His Comeback, So Here’s A Bunch Of Videos of Him Kicking Ass


(via Getty.)

Back in 2014, Chan Sung Jung shocked the MMA world by announcing that he would be leaving the sport behind to fulfill a two-year mandatory military service required in his native South Korea. Although he had spent the majority of the two years prior to that nursing various injuries, it was his final fight in the octagon — a back-and-forth battle with Jose Aldo at UFC 163 — that proved just how much of a terror he would be for 99% of the UFC’s top featherweights.

But mostly, we remember “The Korean Zombie” for the consistently epic brawls he engaged in while under both the WEC and UFC banners. Whether it was in losing efforts like his first fight against Leonard Garcia or in triumphs like his battle with Dustin Poirier, Jung quickly earned a reputation as one of the sport’s most entertaining 145ers.

With his service now coming to a close, sources close to Jung told MMAFighting that the former title challenger is looking to make his return to the cage sometime in late 2016 or early 2017. The Zombie is back, so to ring in the celebration, we’ve gathered as many of his fight videos and highlights as we were legally allowed to. Head after the jump for the full treatment.

The post Chan Sung Jung Is Planning His Comeback, So Here’s A Bunch Of Videos of Him Kicking Ass appeared first on Cagepotato.


(via Getty.)

Back in 2014, Chan Sung Jung shocked the MMA world by announcing that he would be leaving the sport behind to fulfill a two-year mandatory military service required in his native South Korea. Although he had spent the majority of the two years prior to that nursing various injuries, it was his final fight in the octagon — a back-and-forth battle with Jose Aldo at UFC 163 — that proved just how much of a terror he would be for 99% of the UFC’s top featherweights.

But mostly, we remember “The Korean Zombie” for the consistently epic brawls he engaged in while under both the WEC and UFC banners. Whether it was in losing efforts like his first fight against Leonard Garcia or in triumphs like his battle with Dustin Poirier, Jung quickly earned a reputation as one of the sport’s most entertaining 145ers.

With his service now coming to a close, sources close to Jung told MMAFighting that the former title challenger is looking to make his return to the cage sometime in late 2016 or early 2017. The Zombie is back, so to ring in the celebration, we’ve gathered as many of his fight videos and highlights as we were legally allowed to. Head after the jump for the full treatment.

First up, the fight that made Jung’s name: The 2010 Fight of the Year-winner against Leonard Garcia at WEC 48. Really, there are few words in the English language that accurately describe this fight, so we’ll just go with the first one we think of everytime we watch it: BUNGALOWS. Both men threw them, a lot, and while it was Jung who managed to consistently land them with far greater accuracy, it would be Garcia that would emerge victorious in the first of many inexplicable decision wins that “Bad Boy” would be handed.

After finding himself on the wrong end of a George Roop head kick in his next WEC fight, Jung was scooped up by the UFC during the WEC merger and immediately booked in a rematch against Garcia. It was a time when the UFC honestly attempted to do right by its fighters, crazy as it might sound, and the result was the 2011 Submission of the Year.

When Jung was paired up against Mark Hominick at UFC 140, most of us expected another classic barnburner would be added to Jung’s already prestigious record. Hominick himself had just come off a five round war with Jose Aldo — and in fact, appeared to be the fresher man when all was said and done despite having received a grapefruit-sized hematoma on his head — and hadn’t been finished inside the distance since 2008. So this being MMA and all, the fight was finished in less time than it takes to microwave a Pop Tart.

The Korean Zombie would build upon his momentum in his next fight against top-ranked featherweight Dustin Poirier (you can check out that fight here) — another fight that would earn him “Fight of the Year” honors — before facing Aldo in a title fight that would leave both competitors with more injuries than the average head-on collision.

With Jung’s return to the cage now in sight, we ask unto you, Nation: Who would you like to see him face first? Give us a shout in the comments section or on Twitter.

The post Chan Sung Jung Is Planning His Comeback, So Here’s A Bunch Of Videos of Him Kicking Ass appeared first on Cagepotato.

MMA Bill Fails in NY Yet Ag-HOLY SH*T MMA FINALLY LEGALIZED IN NEW YORK

(“Everybody in the car, we’re going out for some celebratory gabagool!!” via Chris Weidman’s Instagram)

The struggle to bring MMA to New York has been a long, frustrating, and well-documented one. It’s a battle that has largely been fueled by a general ignorance of what the sport actually is, a corrupt union, and a group of even more corrupt politicians. First it was Bob Reilly comparing it to dogfighting, then it was that literal fraud Sheldon Silver shooting the MMA bill down at every turn. It’s been nothing short of a Sisyphean struggle since day 1.

As the years passed, so did the hope that our beloved sport would ever be legalized in one of the country’s biggest markets. And for the majority of yesterday’s absolutely bonkers Assembly meeting, it seemed like the bill was destined to fail once again.

But somehow, someway, it did the opposite of that.

Full story after the jump. 

The post MMA Bill Fails in NY Yet Ag-HOLY SH*T MMA FINALLY LEGALIZED IN NEW YORK appeared first on Cagepotato.


(“Everybody in the car, we’re going out for some celebratory gabagool!!” via Chris Weidman’s Instagram)

The struggle to bring MMA to New York has been a long, frustrating, and well-documented one. It’s a battle that has largely been fueled by a general ignorance of what the sport actually is, a corrupt union, and a group of even more corrupt politicians. First it was Bob Reilly comparing it to dogfighting, then it was that literal fraud Sheldon Silver shooting the MMA bill down at every turn. It’s been nothing short of a Sisyphean struggle since day 1.

As the years passed, so did the hope that our beloved sport would ever be legalized in one of the country’s biggest markets. And for the majority of yesterday’s absolutely bonkers Assembly meeting, it seemed like the bill was destined to fail once again.

But somehow, someway, it did the opposite of that.

Full story after the jump. 

The first person to speak up in this kangaroo court was Daniel O’Donnell, who began his argument against MMA in New York by comparing the sport to gay porn, stating “Two naked hot men rolling around on top of each other trying to dominate each other. …that’s gay porn with a different ending.”

We kid you not. Those are literally the words O’Donnell — who it’s worth mentioning is an open homosexual — used to *begin* his argument against MMA.

 

This fucking sport, you guys…it really brings out the weirdest in people.

Next on the floor was Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, who attempted to scale things back a bit by displaying the more common ignorance of the sport that we have become used to. After comparing MMA to “fight clubs” as part of a point that I still haven’t been able to determine and breaking out the classic “WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?!!” argument, Glick then put her ignorance on full display with the following statement.

“No headgear. No gloves. Bare knuckles on the side of your head. That seems like a pretty serious situation.”

Glick then took to Twitter and verbally argued with an Edmund Tarverdyan parody account because this sport and everything it touches is pure lunacy.

Next up was Charles Barron, who likened mixed martial arts to slavery-OH COME ON NOW!!

But when the dust had settled, the bill to legalize MMA in New York had passed 113-25, lifting a 19-year ban on the sport. The UFC sent out a press release on the unbelievable news shortly thereafter, stating their intentions hold four annual events in New York for the next three consecutive years.

Speaking with reporters afterward, Lorenzo Fertitta was the closes thing to ecstatic as we’ve ever seen from him. (via MMAFighting):

“I think it’s gonna be an epic moment for the sport and for our company,” Fertitta said. “Obviously, right now all of our focus is on trying to put together the matches for UFC 200, but when we go to New York and we eventually debut at Madison Square Garden, me and Dana [White] and the rest of the team are gonna be very focused on delivering for the fans. We’re gonna put together the best available matches that we can. You’ll have the biggest names that we can possibly put on, the biggest names that are available at the time. Believe me, we want to knock it out of the park and we want to deliver for New York in a big way.”

“We are hopeful that we will be holding one, possibly two events [in New York] before the end of the year here in 2016,” Fertitta said. … “We’re hopeful that we’ll be able to get in at least two in before the end of the year.”

While the MMA bill has made it through the State Senate many times before, yesterday marked the first time that it ever passed on the Assembly floor. Now, we wait for NY Governor Andrew Cuomo to sign the bill into law, which he is expected to do.

It’s finally happening, you guys. It’s finally happening.

The post MMA Bill Fails in NY Yet Ag-HOLY SH*T MMA FINALLY LEGALIZED IN NEW YORK appeared first on Cagepotato.

The Results Are In For Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock’s Failed Bellator 149 Drug Tests


(It’s a trick question: They both have meth in them.)

Easily the most shocking, unpredictable news to hit MMA this year was that of Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock’s failed drug tests prior to Bellator 149. It was a development that literally none of us could have seen coming, if only because most of us were under the impression that Bellator didn’t drug test its fighters.

Well, the results are in on both men’s drug tests, and without giving too much away, we will say that the above photo can no longer be considered libel.

The post The Results Are In For Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock’s Failed Bellator 149 Drug Tests appeared first on Cagepotato.


(It’s a trick question: They both have meth in them.)

Easily the most shocking, unpredictable news to hit MMA this year was that of Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock’s failed drug tests prior to Bellator 149. It was a development that literally none of us could have seen coming, if only because most of us were under the impression that Bellator didn’t drug test its fighters.

Well, the results are in on both men’s drug tests, and without giving too much away, we will say that the above photo can no longer be considered libel. MMAFighting has the deets:

Slice tested positive for the steroid nandrolone and also had an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio. Shamrock tested positive for nandrolone and methadone, an opioid used to treat pain or detoxify in people with a drug dependency. Shamrock also had an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio.

Shamrock’s T-to-E ratio was 12.4:1, while Slice’s was 6.4:1. The Texas and World Anti-Doping Agency limit is 4:1. The two men submitted urine samples in a pre-fight collection.

You guys know what this means, don’t you? It means that one of the most underrated Youtube videos of all time has finally received the validation it deserves (sort of). Take it away, Meaty Portion!!!

I hope that was as good for you guys as it was for me.

Anyway, you might be interested to learn that the duo of drugs found in Shamrock’s system is completely different than the norandrosterone, noretiocholanolone and stanozololin cocktail he was busted for back in 2009 after a win over Ross Clifton at WarGods: Valentine’s Eve Massacre. Which, say what you the man, but don’t you dare claim that his MMA game hasn’t evolved over the years. Next up, I presume, will be a positive test for actual meth following a controversial TKO loss to Dan Quinn at WSOF 40.

Now, onto the no doubt lengthy suspensions that both Shamrock and Kimbo are surely in for…

The punishments for Shamrock and Slice are still pending. The typical maximum penalty in Texas for a failed drug test is a 90-day suspension and $5,000 fine. It’s unlikely the TDLR would license either man for a period of a year after the positive test, sources said, but after 90 days the suspension would not extend to the other states.

90 days? That’s it?! Well shit, it looks like we might be getting that Severn vs. Shamrock trilogy fight in the near future after all. And thank God for that.

The post The Results Are In For Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock’s Failed Bellator 149 Drug Tests appeared first on Cagepotato.

Watch Mark Hunt Walk-Off KO Frank Mir Like It Ain’t No Thang [VIDEO]


(That face you make when your power scares *you* more than anyone else.)

Mark Hunt is a bad, bad man. Of the twelve victories he has collected as a professional mixed martial artist, approximately fourteen of them have come by way of effortless, walk-off KO. I know the numbers don’t make sense, but that’s just how badass “The Super Samoan” is.

Paired against fellow legend Frank Mir in the main event of last weekend’s Fight Night 85, Hunt was being listed across the books as a moderate favorite — this despite showing something of a weakness to submissions in the past, which remain Mir’s bread and butter. Of course, one doesn’t exactly need a prominent Jiu Jitsu background when they can flatten any man alive with one punch, which is exactly what Hunt did midway through the first round.

Full Fight Night 85 highlights/results after the jump. 

The post Watch Mark Hunt Walk-Off KO Frank Mir Like It Ain’t No Thang [VIDEO] appeared first on Cagepotato.


(That face you make when your power scares *you* more than anyone else.)

Mark Hunt is a bad, bad man. Of the twelve victories he has collected as a professional mixed martial artist, approximately fourteen of them have come by way of effortless, walk-off KO. I know the numbers don’t make sense, but that’s just how badass “The Super Samoan” is.

Paired against fellow legend Frank Mir in the main event of last weekend’s Fight Night 85, Hunt was being listed across the books as a moderate favorite — this despite showing something of a weakness to submissions in the past, which remain Mir’s bread and butter. Of course, one doesn’t exactly need a prominent Jiu Jitsu background when they can flatten any man alive with one punch, which is exactly what Hunt did midway through the first round.

Full Fight Night 85 highlights/results after the jump. 


(via UFC on FOX)

While Mir attempted to take the fight to the ground early to no avail, he eventually settled into a rhythm on the feet that could only result in his doom. He looked sluggish and, if I’m being completely honest here, a little bit flabby. With two minutes to go in the opening round, Hunt landed a hellacious right hand behind Mir’s ear, then basically pushed him to the canvas like a top-heavy bag of potatoes. In classic Hunt fashion, the New Zealander didn’t even attempt to follow-up with ground-n-pound, knowing that Mir had already had enough. As my good friend Billy Zane would put it…

In the co-main event of the evening, Neil Magny rebounded from his typical first round slump to lay a whoopin’ on Hector Lombard. It was a back-and-forth, barnburner of a fight only slightly undercut by the absolutely atrocious refereeing displayed by Steve Perceval. In the closing minute or so of the second round, Magny was unloading the kitchen sink on his clearly gassed opponent, and while the punches weren’t exactly devastating, the pure volume and effortlessness with which Magny was throwing them led many to believe that the fight would surely be stopped.

But it wasn’t, and Magny was forced to continue punching a hole in Lombard’s face until the fight was finally stopped 46 seconds into the third round. You need look no further than how referee Marc Goddard reacted to the fight from cageside to know how badly this thing was botched, and yadda yadda sometimes these things happen in MMA.

Another big moment from Fight Night 85 came in a fight between former hockey enforcer Steve Bosse and New Zealander James Te Huna. Having retired just weeks after signing with the UFC back in 2014 only to unretire and suffer a hellacious, short-notice loss to Thiago Santos at Fight Night 70 last year, the future of Bosse — and Te Huna, for that matter — seemed more uncertain than ever.

Of course, the easiest way to stick around in the UFC is by making an impression, which is exactly what Bosse did via a perfectly-timed right hand just 52 seconds into the first round. The win marked Bosse’s first since 2013, as well as Te Huna’s fourth straight first round loss in as many contests.

The full results for Fight Night 85 are below.


Main card (FOX Sports 1)

Mark Hunt def. Frank Mir via KO (punch) at 3:01 of R1
Neil Magny def. Hector Lombard via TKO (punches) at :46 of R3
Jake Matthews def. Johnny Case via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:45 of R3
Dan Kelly def. Antônio Carlos Júnior via TKO (strikes) at 1:36 of R3
Steve Bossé def. James Te-Huna via KO (punch) at :54 of R1
Bec Rawlings def. Seo Hee Ham via unanimous decision

Prelims (FOX Sports 1)

Alan Jouban def. Brendan O’Reilly via TKO (strikes) at 2:15 of R1
Dan Hooker def. Mark Eddiva via submission (guillotine) at 1:24 or R1
Leslie Smith def. Rin Nakai via unanimous decision
Viscardi Andrade def. Richard Walsh via unanimous decision

Prelims (UFC Fight Pass)

Ross Pearson def. Chad Laprise via split decision
Alan Patrick def. Damien Brown via unanimous decision

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