Tag: Global MMA

Renan Barao Signs With Taura MMA, Other UFC Vets Set For October 30 Debuts

BaraoFormer UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao has a new home. According to MMA Fighting, the 33-year-old has signed a three-fight deal with Brazil-based Taura MMA. He is expected to make his debut in November or December with another UFC veteran likely to be his opponent in a featherweight bout. Barao hasn’t competed since a unananimous […]

Barao

Former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao has a new home.

According to MMA Fighting, the 33-year-old has signed a three-fight deal with Brazil-based Taura MMA. He is expected to make his debut in November or December with another UFC veteran likely to be his opponent in a featherweight bout.

Barao hasn’t competed since a unananimous decision loss to Douglas Silva de Andrade in November 2019. With just one win in his last eight outings, he was released by the UFC soon after.

He was thought to have signed with Serbian Battle Championship earlier this year only for him to come out and deny it as he revealed he was still a free agent. However, he did plan on returning to action with another promotion soon and that now appears to be with Taura MMA.

Barao Not The Only UFC Vet Signed By Taura MMA

Taura MMA have made moves for other UFC veterans as well.

The upcoming Taura MMA 11 event set for October 30 in Kissimmee, Florida, will see matchups including; Rousimar Palhares vs. Sean Loeffler; William Macario vs. Will Chope; and Guto Inocente vs. DJ Linderman.

Most recently, it was revealed that former UFC heavyweight title challenger Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva would also make his debut for the promotion when he takes on LFA heavyweight champion Brett Martin on the same card.

At this rate, we can only expect more UFC veterans to join the promotion.

What do you make of Barao’s move? And all of Taura MMA’s signings?

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Cousin Batters Opponent In Just 40 Seconds (Video)

NurmagomedovThe Nurmagomedovs continue to dominate in the world of mixed martial arts. Usman, the cousin of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, needed just 40 seconds to get past Jerry Kvarnstrom in their featherweight bout at UAE Warriors 12 last night. Nurmagomedov was notably in attendance to corner his cousin. And much like him, Usman delivered […]

Nurmagomedov

The Nurmagomedovs continue to dominate in the world of mixed martial arts.

Usman, the cousin of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, needed just 40 seconds to get past Jerry Kvarnstrom in their featherweight bout at UAE Warriors 12 last night.

Nurmagomedov was notably in attendance to corner his cousin.

And much like him, Usman delivered a mauling as he landed a number of strikes before taking the action to the ground to pound him further.

In the end, Kvarnstrom had enough as he verbally tapped while Nurmagomedov moved to 10-0.

Another Nurmagomedov In The UFC?

Along with Khabib, other Nurmagomedovs in the UFC include cousins Umar and Abubakar.

Given Usman’s showing, it will only be a matter of time until he is the latest family member to join the Las Vegas-based promotion.

What did you make of his performance?

Vitor Belfort Reveals Wanderlei Silva Rematch Is Being Negotiated

Belfort Wanderlei SilvaWe may just end up seeing Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva collide again. Belfort and Silva first faced each other back at UFC Brazil back in October 1998 with the former earning the first-round TKO victory. Back in December, Belfort revealed he was willing to give Silva a rematch and in a recent interview with […]

Belfort Wanderlei Silva

We may just end up seeing Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva collide again.

Belfort and Silva first faced each other back at UFC Brazil back in October 1998 with the former earning the first-round TKO victory.

Back in December, Belfort revealed he was willing to give Silva a rematch and in a recent interview with Combate (via BJ Penn), “The Phenom” called for his old foe to keep selling the fight.

“Wanderlei, keep selling the fight. You will get a deserved beating,” Belfort said. “It will be a pleasure to be able to fight you again.

“And I’m warning you: try to work the straight strokes, it doesn’t come very open, otherwise you already know what you’re going to receive. Train hard and thank you for being part of the sport.”

Belfort vs. Silva Currently Being Negotiated

Belfort went a step further by revealing that a rematch is currently being negotiated.

However, he didn’t reveal anything more as he remained wary about calling it a done deal just yet.

“It’s being negotiated,” he added. “I learned that we can’t talk much when things are happening. This fight, for sure, has to be carried out. I have every interest. When two are hungry and have a plate of food. But it has to be a very good meal for both.”

It should be noted that Belfort is currently contracted to ONE Championship while Silva recently signed with Bare Knuckle FC. If their contracts allow them to compete fight fighters in other organizations, then it looks like we might just end up seeing Belfort vs. Silva II.

What do you make of this news?

Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva Returns To MMA In October After Three Years

SilvaFormer UFC heavyweight title challenger Antonio Silva will be returning to mixed martial arts in October. According to a press release, Silva will compete at Taura MMA 11 which takes place October 30 in Kissimmee, Florida. His opponent will be reigning LFA heavyweight champion Brett Martin. The news was first reported by Brazilian publication Combate. […]

Silva

Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Antonio Silva will be returning to mixed martial arts in October.

According to a press release, Silva will compete at Taura MMA 11 which takes place October 30 in Kissimmee, Florida. His opponent will be reigning LFA heavyweight champion Brett Martin. The news was first reported by Brazilian publication Combate.

‘Bigfoot’ Silva Returning To MMA For First Time Since 2017

One must question why Silva, 40, is continuing to compete.

Silva hasn’t competed in MMA since suffering a knockout loss to Vitaly Minakov at a Fight Nights Global event back in June 2017. That setback put him on a five-fight losing streak with just one win in his previous 10 outings overall. All his setbacks in that run have come by way of knockout or TKO.

The Brazilian would go on to compete in kickboxing in October 2017 and most recently, bareknuckle boxing in October last year. However, both fights — against Rico Verhoeven and Gabriel Gonzaga respectively — saw him lose via early knockout.

Regardless, Silva will be back soon as he faces Martin who is not only 14 years his junior, but is 9-1 and currently on a five-fight winning streak.

What do you make of ‘Bigfoot’ returning to MMA?

California Cancels All Combat Sports Events Until June

CaliforniaThere will be no combat sports events taking place in the state of California until June. The decision was made by the California State Athletic Commission on Thursday amid the coronavirus pandemic that has put the world at a standstill. “The Commission didn’t take this decision lightly and understands the potential economic loss to promoters […]

California

There will be no combat sports events taking place in the state of California until June.

The decision was made by the California State Athletic Commission on Thursday amid the coronavirus pandemic that has put the world at a standstill.

“The Commission didn’t take this decision lightly and understands the potential economic loss to promoters and the industry of combative sports,” the CSAC statement said (h/t ESPN). “We had to weigh the best interest of our fighters and the community around us.”

In addition, the CSAC says the decision was based on guidelines from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health “to protect Californians against the possible spread of COVID-19.”

So what does this mean? For a start, UFC San Diego will not be taking place.

That event was set to be headlined by a lightweight contest between Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker on May 16. Now it will either be postponed or canceled entirely.

Bellator MMA also had two events set to take place in May in California; however, the promotion recently decided to postpone three of its upcoming events.

With the UFC having plans for other events in May such as in Lincoln and Oklahoma City, it will be interesting to see if other states follow the lead of California.

What do you make of California canceling all combat sports events until June?

‘King Mo’ Lawal Hits Out At People Doubting Seriousness Of Coronavirus

LawalThe coronavirus pandemic has put a halt to life for everyone around the world with mixed martial arts fighters being among the many drastically affected. Former Strikeforce champion and current American Top Team (ATT) coach Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal has seen it firsthand as a number of fighters at the gym have had upcoming fights […]

Lawal

The coronavirus pandemic has put a halt to life for everyone around the world with mixed martial arts fighters being among the many drastically affected.

Former Strikeforce champion and current American Top Team (ATT) coach Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal has seen it firsthand as a number of fighters at the gym have had upcoming fights get postponed or canceled — all of which is affecting them mentally:

“It already started (messing with fighters),” Lawal told MMA Junkie Radio. “Right when it was said cards will be canceled for a while, fighters were wondering, ‘If I’m fighting in June, is that messed up? What about this?’ But June is two months from now. You got people with fights in June wondering if they’re going to be fighting. You have people also on the shelf looking for fights wondering, ‘Will I be on the shelf further, longer?’ So right now, everybody is in limbo.

“Last week, when everything was getting shut down, we had a team meeting last Tuesday or last Wednesday, and said, ‘Things are getting bad. We’re gonna shut the gym down for two weeks, then we’ll have a coaches’ meeting in two more weeks to see what we’re gonna do.’ I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be shut down another two weeks. That’s what I’m thinking. So right now everyone’s stir crazy.”

There are currently over 522,000 cases of coronavirus worldwide with the U.S. having over 74,000 of them at the time of writing.

It is naturally a very serious issue, however, some are ignoring the social distancing and quarantine suggestions while others believe the virus has been made out to be a bigger deal than it actually is. It doesn’t help that UFC fighters like Bryce Mitchell believe it’s a government creation, either.

For all the doubters, Lawal had a simple message:

“First of all, the coronavirus is very real for all ya’ll dumbass Trump supporters,” Lawal added. “Yes, it was real from the get-go. All you dummies posting, ‘Oh, H1N1, this is not that dangerous. We’ll survive like we survived SARS.’

“The COVID-19 virus is a version of SARS – severe acute respiratory symptom. Dummies, it’s real. That’s why Donald Trump went out and declared a state of emergency. It’s real. Y’all be safe, wash your hands.”

What do you make of Lawal’s comments?