Top ten bantamweight contenders square off in the Octagon this Memorial Day weekend, as Olympic Silver medalist Sara McMann battles Jessica Eye in UFC Fight Night action at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on May 29.The card, which airs on F…
Top ten bantamweight contenders square off in the Octagon this Memorial Day weekend, as Olympic Silver medalist Sara McMann battles Jessica Eye in UFC Fight Night action at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on May 29.The card, which airs on FOX Sports 1, is headlined by the bantamweight showdown between unbeatens Thomas Almeida and Cody Garbrandt.A former world title challenger, the number six-ranked McMann owns UFC victories over Sheila Gaff and Lauren Murphy, and after losing a close majority decision to Miesha Tate in January of 2015, McMann has her sights set on a future rematch. … Read the Full Article Here
This week on UFC FIGHT PASS, one of the Octagon’s greatest finishers is immortalized in the latest Pioneers of MMA and there’s more high-octane action to behold from the Land Down Under. Adding another all-time great to its list of beloved …
This week on UFC FIGHT PASS, one of the Octagon’s greatest finishers is immortalized in the latest Pioneers of MMA and there’s more high-octane action to behold from the Land Down Under. Adding another all-time great to its list of beloved subjects like Renzo Gracie and Bas Rutten, Pioneers of MMA: Vitor Belfort is a look back at the storied career of “The Phenom.” On February 7, 1997, a fresh-faced Brazilian, who was just two months shy of turning 20 years old, made an indelible impression on fight fans the world over by tearing through Tra Telligman and Scott Ferrozzo … Read the Full Article Here
April 15 was a historic day for the UFC and mixed martial arts, as the bill to legalize and regulate the sport in the state of New York was finally passed. For the 21 fighters on the current UFC roster with ties to the Empire State, it opened the door …
April 15 was a historic day for the UFC and mixed martial arts, as the bill to legalize and regulate the sport in the state of New York was finally passed. For the 21 fighters on the current UFC roster with ties to the Empire State, it opened the door for the opportunity to fight at home in front of family and friends, and some will be on hand on November 12 when the Octagon makes its first appearance in Madison Square Garden for the stacked UFC 205 event. And while some of them already occupy this list of the most notable New Yorkers to compete in the Octagon, for the rest, it’s their c … Read the Full Article Here
Bellator MMA presents Bellator 153: “Koreshkov vs. Henderson” on April 22, 2016 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., with a main event featuring Benson Henderson’s promotional debut in a welterweight title shot against Andrey Koreshkov…
Bellator MMA presents Bellator 153: “Koreshkov vs. Henderson” on April 22, 2016 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., with a main event featuring Benson Henderson’s promotional debut in a welterweight title shot against Andrey Koreshkov.
A new fight with intriguing lightweight potential has just been added to the main card. The undefeated Brent Primus (6-0) returns for his first fight since beating Derek Anderson last August to take on “Toninho Furia” Gleristone Santos (27-5).
Primus spent two-thirds of his pro career in Bellator, and Anderson remains the only opponent to date Primus didn’t finish in the first round. He’ll face an even tougher test in Santos. He went undefeated for four years before dropping a split decision to John Teixeira at Bellator 143.
The updated card for Bellator 153 can be found below.
Bellator 153 “Koreshkov vs. Henderson” Main Card (Spike TV):
Welterweight Title: Andrey Koreshkov (c) (18-1) vs. Benson Henderson (23-5) Featherweight: Patricio Freire (24-3) vs. John Teixeira (19-1-2) Welterweight: Brennan Ward (13-3) vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (20-16) Lightweight: Brent Primus (6-0) vs. Gleristone “Toninho Furia” Santos (27-5)
Bellator 153 “Prelim” Bouts (Spike.com):
Lightweight: Sam Watford (1-0) vs. Dean Hancock (2-0) Featherweight: Chris Foster (8-4) vs. Felipe Lavandoski (5-0) Lightweight: Jason Bakanowski (3-2) vs. T.J. Hepburn (4-2) Featherweight: Pete Rogers (2-3) vs. Mike Mangan (0-3) Light Heavyweight: Mike Zichelle (7-4) vs. Joe Cronin (19-16) Featherweight: Matt Bessette (17-7) vs. Keith Richardson (14-6) Middleweight: Tim Caron (3-0) vs. Justin Sumter (0-0) Bantamweight: Blair Tugman (7-6) vs. Jay Perrin (2-1)
To check out the latest Bellator MMA-related news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive news archive right here.
In a historic day for mixed martial arts, New York became the final state to legalize mixed martial arts. The 19-year ban was lifted by a vote of 113-25. The UFC held a media conference call earlier today to talk about the good news.
UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta says that the UFC is still waiting for the governor to sign the legislation into law and for the New York State Athletic Commission to start adopting the unified rules. Once that is done, the UFC can hold events and have stated that they would like to not only go to New York City, but cities like Syracuse, Buffalo, and Rochester too.
However, this has not stopped Fertitta from talking with venues already and have a set goal on the number of events they want in New York by the end of the year.
“The governor still has to sign the bill, the athletic commission needs to adopt the rules, promulgate regulations, 120 days from when the governor signs the bill before we could hold an event,” Fertitta said in a media conference call. “So we’re hopeful that we’ll be able to get at least two in by the end of the year.”
Some of the UFC’s top fighters come from the state of New York. These fighters include Jon Jones, Chris Weidman, Uriah Hall, and Aljamain Sterling.
In a historic day for mixed martial arts, New York became the final state to legalize mixed martial arts. The 19-year ban was lifted by a vote of 113-25. The UFC held a media conference call earlier today to talk about the good news.
UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta says that the UFC is still waiting for the governor to sign the legislation into law and for the New York State Athletic Commission to start adopting the unified rules. Once that is done, the UFC can hold events and have stated that they would like to not only go to New York City, but cities like Syracuse, Buffalo, and Rochester too.
However, this has not stopped Fertitta from talking with venues already and have a set goal on the number of events they want in New York by the end of the year.
“The governor still has to sign the bill, the athletic commission needs to adopt the rules, promulgate regulations, 120 days from when the governor signs the bill before we could hold an event,” Fertitta said in a media conference call. “So we’re hopeful that we’ll be able to get at least two in by the end of the year.”
Some of the UFC’s top fighters come from the state of New York. These fighters include Jon Jones, Chris Weidman, Uriah Hall, and Aljamain Sterling.
It’s the middle of March. With the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade still months away, Manhattan certainly isn’t doing anything with, what, Sixth Avenue this time of year.
So let’s have us MMA fans take a stroll down this little parade route. Someone ren…
It’s the middle of March. With the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade still months away, Manhattan certainly isn’t doing anything with, what, Sixth Avenue this time of year.
So let’s have us MMA fans take a stroll down this little parade route. Someone rent a Cadillac convertible and place Matt Serra on top of the back seat, and let’s throw ourselves a shindig. Because as of Tuesday, professional mixed martial arts is on the precipice of being legal in the Empire State and across all of America. CageInsider.com’s Jim Genia noted the bill’s positive progression:
New York was the 50th and final holdout for MMA legalization in the U.S., thanks mainly to complex political machinations in Albany. For six years, the state Senate passed a bill to lift the ban that kept MMA underground, only to see it die in the State Assembly.
All it took was a corruption arrest, an ensuing leadership change in the statehouse and a major push from the MMA community to muster the political will to get it passed in the assembly, which is what happened Tuesday. The purported $100 million in economic benefits may have been the final push that got a bill over the goal line and onto the governor’s desk.
Oh, and the threat of a protracted lawsuit from UFC parent company Zuffa probably didn’t hurt the state’s motivation, either.
Those people who want to see a UFC in Madison Square Garden are leading the parade. They’re flipping their batons up and down. But this victory means more than that. It means safer events, because they won’t happen in metaphorical back alleys any more in New York. It means further legitimization of a sport that continues to strain for legitimacy.
Despite all the momentum, none of this was ever a done deal until it was a done deal. This celebration is not merely a cordial nod toward the inevitable.
For example, remaining opponents on Tuesday showed their teeth and took their pound of flesh. Some had legitimate concerns over brain injuries and other safety issues. Others, less so.
“Cage fighting, also known as MMA, has no place in a civilized society,” said Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee Tuesday, per the Journal News. “It is a spectacle of violence. Except for those who stand to profit from this barbaric entertainment masquerading as a sport, cage fighting causes great harm.”
And that was one of the more measured takes. Consider (via Fightland):
NY Assembly member Daniel O’Donnell just described MMA as “gay porn with a different ending.” Call him @518-455-5603 pic.twitter.com/Yb6uYiVSdV
Some people inside MMA don’t like it, either. Just another cookie jar for the hand of Zuffa, people say. Another unneeded reason for New Yorkers to thump their chests and tout their exceptionalism.
Fine. But you’re missing the point, not to mention soiling the punch bowl. This conferred a sense of completeness to MMA that transcends any specific entity. Another puzzle piece has snapped into place.
Do you, the everyday MMA fan, feel cleaner today than you did yesterday? If not, you should. A lot of egg just got wiped off your face, regardless of whether you welcomed the action, cared or not.
Let’s also be honest with one another. What MMA-loving person anywhere along the Eastern Seaboard and beyond isn’t going to camp out to watch Jon Jones at Madison Square Garden later this year? Madison Square Garden was hosting fights back when it was still an actual garden. John L. Sullivan built his legend there. How could you not want to see MMA plant its own flag inside that venue?
(For the record, nothing’s official yet, but one has to imagine long-swirling rumors of a UFC-MSG mega-card will be like Quikcrete after Tuesday’s voting.)
As the bill goes to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s desk (he is pro MMA and will sign the bill into law), people shouldn’t take a moment to express their apathy, disgust or cynicism. MMA won Tuesday. Let’s groove on that. If we all do it together, Sixth Avenue will never know what hit it.
It’s the middle of March. With the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade still months away, Manhattan certainly isn’t doing anything with, what, Sixth Avenue this time of year.