Tag: Global MMA

Rhys McKee Targets a Finish in Next Fight, Proposes a Fight with Niko Price for UFC Return

Rhys McKee, Niko PriceCage Warriors Welterweight Champion, Rhys McKee, has named Niko Price as a desired opponent for his potential return to the UFC. Rhys McKee (12-4-1) is set for a Cage Warriors title unification bout with Jimmy Wallhead on April 29th at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. Recently, McKee took the time to sit down with Alex […]

Rhys McKee, Niko Price

Cage Warriors Welterweight Champion, Rhys McKee, has named Niko Price as a desired opponent for his potential return to the UFC.

Rhys McKee (12-4-1) is set for a Cage Warriors title unification bout with Jimmy Wallhead on April 29th at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. Recently, McKee took the time to sit down with Alex Lerman of LowKick MMA to discuss the upcoming fight, name a potential opponent for his UFC return, and explain why he is such a threat to any opponent.

Rhys McKee on Title Fight vs. Jimmy Wallhead

McKee previously had an unfavorable two-fight stint in the UFC where he faced Khamzat Chimaev and Alex Morono, both ending in defeats. Rhys returned to Cage Warriors to hone his skills and immediately got back to winning ways.

Currently on a two-fight win streak in the promotion, McKee is slated for a title unification bout with Jimmy Wallhead coming up in April at Cage Warriors 153. When asked about his analysis for the upcoming fight, McKee had this to say:

“He’s someone that I expect a solid, prepared version of himself. He is a bit older but with that comes a huge threat and huge experience. How I see myself winning this fight is just overrunning everything he does… I’ll have answers to everything he poses. I just think I’m the new breed and the next generation of martial artists, I think I have too many skills in every area, and I think it’ll just be a real changing of the guard fight.”

McKee Names Niko Price as Desired Opponent for UFC Return

Having fought in the UFC before, McKee is no stranger to the octagon and bright lights.

 Upon a continuation of his win streak in Cage Warriors, Rhys believes that a return to the UFC is next in line. When asked about an opponent he would like to see for his first fight back in the promotion, McKee stated:

“I’d probably fight whoever they offered, but I would like maybe Niko Price someone like that would be a fun fight. Before I got released from the UFC, I saw he was looking for an opponent and I remember kind of wanting that fight. So, I feel like someone like Niko Price would be nice, but to be honest I want to go into the UFC and compete with the top 25 in the world. I don’t really want to spend much time fighting UFC debutants, not that they’re not worthy, but I’m gonna make up for lost time…”

Why Rhys is Such a Threat to Any Opponent

Over the course of the entire interview, McKee came across as supremely confident in his abilities and potential. Rhys was asked specifically what makes him a threat in that cage, to which he responded:

“I just know I can put someone’s lights out at any time in a fight. I’m one of these fighters, as we’ve seen in my last fight, that can be down two rounds, it can all be going bad, you know I can find that shot from anywhere any position. From bottom, from top, standing, on the back foot, on the front foot, I’m a threat everywhere. I know my power and my striking is too much for anyone…”

Rhys McKee takes on Jimmy Wallhead to retain his Cage Warriors Welterweight title at Cage Warriors 153 in Dublin on April 29th. A UFC future is on the horizon with a win in this fight, and McKee certainly looks to make up for lost time from his first stint in the promotion.

Watch the Full Interview with Rhys McKee below:

Kyle Nelson believes Doo Hoi Choi deserved point deduction following multiple infractions during their UFC Vegas 68 bout

Kyle NelsonUFC Featherweight, Kyle Nelson has defended the point deduction that his opponent, Doo Hoi Choi was given in their this fight this past weekend. Following an illegal headbutt, Choi was deducted a point in the third round, in a fight which he was winning – ultimately costing him the win after the fight was declared […]

Kyle Nelson

UFC Featherweight, Kyle Nelson has defended the point deduction that his opponent, Doo Hoi Choi was given in their this fight this past weekend.

Following an illegal headbutt, Choi was deducted a point in the third round, in a fight which he was winning – ultimately costing him the win after the fight was declared a majority draw.

Following the fight, both fans and media alike contested the referee’s decision and the illegal blow appeared to cause no real damage, with it seemingly having no real force behind it. A win would have marked Choi’s first in nearly five years following a long absence from the sport.

Kyle Nelson explains the situation

While there was contention around the point deduction, with UFC President Dana White even giving Choi his win bonus, labeling the decision as ‘ridiculous’, Nelson sat down with LowKickMMA to give his side of the story.

“He was on top, he had kinda like a can opener or a Thai clinch, where he’s holding my head,” Nelson said. “It just seemed like he backed up, pulled my head and pushed his head forward.

“It didn’t seem like he wound up and threw it with everything he had, but it didn’t seem super accidental because he was literally holding my head and brought his head to my head. Maybe he was really tired and lost his balance, I don’t know – the headbutt, it left a little bump on my forehead, it was nothing serious.“

“I think it falls back on some of the warnings that the ref Had given him before that, the first takedown I hit him with, he grabbed the fence, so the ref had to warn him to let go of the fence,” Kyle Nelson continued. “There were a few wrestling exchanges against where I had his back and I had my hands together and he was grabbing inside my gloves, pulling my gloves apart and the ref warned him two or three times about that and he continued to do it.“

While the headbutt itself was not a damaging shot, Nelson believes that the repeated fouls committed and warnings issued by the referee ultimately warranted the deduction.

“If we were just talking about the headbutt, I would say no [deserved the point deduction]. its hard to say that it was completely unintentional, but obviously wasn’t much damage, but if we add up all the infractions, like the glove grabbing which I think played a big factor.

“I think its fair that he lost a point because of all the infractions, but if were looking at just the headbutt, I don’t think it was worthy of a point deduction.“

Kyle Nelson talking to LowKickMMA

Do you agree with Kyle Nelson?

Report | Kevin Lee re-signs with the UFC

Kevin LeeFormer UFC interim lightweight title challenger, Kevin Lee, has re-signed with the promotion. Lee parted ways with the UFC in 2021, after a failed move up to 170lbs saw him come up short again Daniel Rodriguez. This loss saw Lee 1-4 in his last 5 bouts. Admittedly, his losses did come against some high-level opponents, […]

Kevin Lee

Former UFC interim lightweight title challenger, Kevin Lee, has re-signed with the promotion.

Lee parted ways with the UFC in 2021, after a failed move up to 170lbs saw him come up short again Daniel Rodriguez. This loss saw Lee 1-4 in his last 5 bouts. Admittedly, his losses did come against some high-level opponents, such as Charles Oliveira and Rafael dos Anjos.

During his time away from the UFC, Kevin Lee competed under the Eagle FC banner, a promotion strongly linked with former UFC champ, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Lee took on MMA veteran Diego Sanchez in a ‘super-lightweight’ bout contested at 165lbs. Despite appearing to pick up a leg injury in the fight, the ‘Motown Phenom’ was still able to coast to a relatively easy decision victory.

Now, according to a report via ESPN, Kevin Lee has re-signed with the UFC. He has since released the following statement”

“I met with [president] Dana White and [chief business officer] Hunter Campbell, and I feel like I’m going back home. I’m grateful for them welcoming me back and looking forward to the next chapter of my career.” (H/T ESPN)

Lee’s return to the UFC also coincides with his signing for Ali Abdelaziz’s Dominance MMA, who is well-known for a having a solid relationship with Dana White and the UFC brass.

Who would you like to see Kevin Lee face off in his UFC return fight?

Luke Rockhold would retire if he didn’t KO Logan Paul in a potential boxing match: “I’d be f***ing devastated”

Luke Rockhold, Logan PaulFormer UFC and Strikeforce champion, Luke Rockhold, has stated that he would retire from all combat sports if he was unable to knockout Logan Paul in a potential boxing match. Rockhold recently announced that he would be returning to combat sports after a brief retirement following his loss to Paulo Costa at UFC 278. Now […]

Luke Rockhold, Logan Paul

Former UFC and Strikeforce champion, Luke Rockhold, has stated that he would retire from all combat sports if he was unable to knockout Logan Paul in a potential boxing match.

Rockhold recently announced that he would be returning to combat sports after a brief retirement following his loss to Paulo Costa at UFC 278. Now free of his UFC contract, Rockhold is no longer limiting himself to solely focus on MMA, hinting at a potential boxing match with either of the Paul brothers.

In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, the former UFC 185lb champ revealed that he is currently in talks with Steve Espinosa and Nakisa Bidarian in regard to a potential boxing match with Logan Paul. When asked how he believes the fight would play out, should it be booked, Luke Rockhold stated:

“If I don’t knock him out, I’ll retire. I’ll retire for good. I mean, that’s done. But, I’m putting hands together.”

“If I don’t knock Logan Paul out cold, I’d be f****** out,” he continued. “I’m out, I guarantee it. No, not disappointment — I’d be f****** devastated. But, that ain’t gonna happen.” (H/T The Heavy).

How do you think Luke Rockhold vs. Logan Paul would play out?

Report | Rodtang set to take on Superlek in ONE flyweight kickboxing championship clash

RodtangCombat sports icon Rodtang Jitmuangnon will take on ONE flyweight kickboxing champion, Superlek Kiatmoo9, as he targets multi-sport championship success. The news of the super fight was announced by ONE president Chatri Sityodtong during a recent live Q&A on Facebook, who revealed the clash will go down on 25th March in Singapore. Rodtang and Superlek […]

Rodtang

Combat sports icon Rodtang Jitmuangnon will take on ONE flyweight kickboxing champion, Superlek Kiatmoo9, as he targets multi-sport championship success.

The news of the super fight was announced by ONE president Chatri Sityodtong during a recent live Q&A on Facebook, who revealed the clash will go down on 25th March in Singapore.

Rodtang and Superlek appeared destined to clash in 2022, during the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix. However, Rodtang would be forced to pull out of the Grand Prix due to weight issues. Despite these complications, ‘The Iron Man’ would still have an active year, picking up wins over Joseph Lasiri and Jacob Smith in Muay Thai, as well as facing off against MMA legend Demetrious Johnson, in a highly entertaining custom rules bout.

Superlek also had an eventful 2022. ‘The Kicking Machine’ picked up 3 victories in Muay Thai, including an incredible spear elbow KO over Walter Goncalves. Check out the highlight reel worthy finish below:

Both men have already claimed a victory in 2023. Superlek claimed the vacant One flyweight kickboxing title, picking up a unanimous decision victory over Daniel Puertas. Rodtang also picked up a win in kickboxing, dominating Jiduo Yibu over three rounds.

Who do you think will come out on top? Rodtang or Superlek?

Dana White shoots down talk of Fedor Emelianenko being the heavyweight GOAT: “He got knocked out by middleweight Dan Henderson”

Fedor Emelianenko, Dana WhiteUFC president Dana White has shut down any talk of Fedor Emelianenko being the greatest MMA heavyweight of all time. At Bellator 290, Fedor Emelianenko competed in his final pro-MMA bout, dropping a TKO loss to former foe, Ryan Bader. In the aftermath of the fight, Fedor would be joined in the cage by a […]

Fedor Emelianenko, Dana White

UFC president Dana White has shut down any talk of Fedor Emelianenko being the greatest MMA heavyweight of all time.

At Bellator 290, Fedor Emelianenko competed in his final pro-MMA bout, dropping a TKO loss to former foe, Ryan Bader. In the aftermath of the fight, Fedor would be joined in the cage by a number of fellow MMA legends, including the likes of Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, and Chael Sonnen, paying tribute to one of the all-time greats.

Ending his career with a record of 40-7, having defeated some generational greats such as Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mark Coleman, Frank Mir, and Mark Hunt, many have hailed ‘The Last Emperor’ as the Greatest Heavyweight of all Time.

However, UFC president Dana White does not agree. Speaking in the UFC Vegas 68 post-fight presser, White had the following to say in regard to Fedor’s retirement:

“Listen, he’s what, 46? He shouldn’t be fighting. But he’s a grown-ass man, he can do whatever he wants to do. But he probably should have hung it up a few years ago.”

“I don’t want to sh*t on the guy, he’s retiring tonight and all that stuff. But you guys know the old interviews with me. I never thought Fedor was that— I mean he got knocked out by middleweight Dan Henderson, you know what I mean? It’s like— I think some of the guys in the business, people liked him, so they praised him. He never got to test himself over here, but I was never one of the guys that thought he was one of the greatest of all time.”

When asked if he regretted not signing the former Pride champion, White’s answer was simple:

“No. I don’t like dislike Fedor or anything like that, but nah, it didn’t happen. We gave it a shot. Can’t say we didn’t try. We gave it a shot, and it is what it is.” (H/T CageSidePress).

How do you think Fedor would have fared in the UFC’s heavyweight division?