Tag: MMA News

Alexander Gustafsson Ends Retirement, Will Fight At Heavyweight

Alexander GustafssonLong-time light-heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson will end his retirement and move up to the heavyweight division according to a report from Combate. The Swedish puncher previously called it a day in 2019 after suffering back-to-back stoppage defeats against Jon Jones and Anthony Smith. According to the Combate report, Gustafsson is hoping to compete on the […]

Alexander Gustafsson

Long-time light-heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson will end his retirement and move up to the heavyweight division according to a report from Combate. The Swedish puncher previously called it a day in 2019 after suffering back-to-back stoppage defeats against Jon Jones and Anthony Smith.

According to the Combate report, Gustafsson is hoping to compete on the ‘Fight Island’ card expected to be headlined by Darren Till vs. Robert Whittaker on July 25. The 33-year-old will be stepping up in weight for his return and is expected to face former heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum, although former interim light heavyweight title challenger Ovince Saint Preux is another possibility.

Werdum has just returned to action following a two-year ban from the sport imposed by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. The Brazilian lost in his comeback fight against Alexey Oleinik, by unanimous decision. Nevertheless, he remains a big name in the division after capturing the belt by beating Cain Velasquez in 2015 before surrendering his crown to current heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic in his first title defence.

‘OSP’ has long been a staple on the UFC’s light-heavyweight division. He recently stepped up to heavyweight to face Ben Rothwell at UFC Jacksonville on May. St-Preux looked unconvinving in his heavyweight debut losing the fight by split decision. Many believed he wouldn’t stick around at the higher weight-class but it appears he would be willing to do so for a fight with Gustafsson.

Can Alexander Gustafsson become a UFC champion at heavyweight?

The Importance Of OSU Wrestling To Primitive & Modern MMA

Oklahoma State University has a rich history of producing elite-level mixed martial arts fighters and has been doing for several decades. The school’s wrestling team has long been one of the best in the country and for some reason, its athletes always seem to bet on MMA as their follow-on career. In the late 1980s […]

Oklahoma State University has a rich history of producing elite-level mixed martial arts fighters and has been doing for several decades. The school’s wrestling team has long been one of the best in the country and for some reason, its athletes always seem to bet on MMA as their follow-on career.

In the late 1980s before MMA or the UFC was even a thing Don Frye and Randy Couture were teammates on the OSU wrestling team. The pair would go on to become pioneers in the sport of MMA and legends of the game.

Frye entered the UFC in its very early days when the sport lacked many of the rules we see in place today – one such rule was no weight classes. Frye won the UFC 8 tournament and the UFC 1996 tournament too. Although in those days they didn’t have a belt system he was for all intents and purposes a UFC champion and remains a fight legend.

Couture left OSU with his place in the Hall of Fame secure and went to work on achieving the same feat inside the UFC. His list of accomplishments is staggering, to say the least. ‘The Natural’ held UFC titles on six occasions. He was the first fighter to become a champion in two different weight classes and he was also the oldest ever champion when winning the heavyweight strap at 45 years old – he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2006.

In more recent times you have had guys like Johny Hendricks emerge from OSU to become UFC champions. ‘Big Rig’ won two NCAA Division I championships during his years at college where he finished with an overall wrestling record of 159 – 13. The now retired MMA fighter took to the sport like many from OSU – naturally. He had the elite level grappling base and ungodly power in his hands that made him the UFC welterweight champion.

Currently Daniel Cormier is the man flying the flag for OSU in the UFC. The 41-year-old was a standout wrestler at OSU and went on to represent the USA at the 2004 Olympics coming fourth. He was named captain for the 2008 games but was forced out due to kidney failure brought on by excessive weight cutting. Since transitioning to MMA in 2009 he has enjoyed great success and is arguably one of the greatest fighters ever. ‘DC’ won the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix just 10 fights into his professional career. He went on to join the UFC an become a dual weight champion at light-heavyweight and heavyweight, he was just the second fighter to do so.

While the OSU wrestling team has produced three UFC champions and a tournament winner it has also produced a lot of other high calibre fighters who still made a massive impact despite not reaching the lofty heights of UFC gold. Shane Roller, Jared Rosholt, Jake Rosholt Mark Munoz, Muhammed Lawal were all part of the OSU wrestling team and all went on to become world-class MMA fighters.

Marlon Moraes Wants To Fight Dominick Cruz Next

Marlon MoraesBantamweight contender Marlon Moraes has called for a fight with former 135lb champion Dominick Cruz. ‘The Dominator’ returned to the cage for the first time in almost four years to face Henry Cejudo at UFC 249, losing the fight via TKO inside two rounds. Speaking to MMA Fighting Moraes revealed he is hoping to face […]

Marlon Moraes

Bantamweight contender Marlon Moraes has called for a fight with former 135lb champion Dominick Cruz. ‘The Dominator’ returned to the cage for the first time in almost four years to face Henry Cejudo at UFC 249, losing the fight via TKO inside two rounds.

Speaking to MMA Fighting Moraes revealed he is hoping to face off against Cruz despite the fact he is ranked eleventh in the division and coming off consecutive losses.

“I have a lot of respect for him,” Moraes said. “In my opinion, he’s one of the best of all time. The timing’s perfect. He just come off a title shot, he lost but Dominick’s a legend. Everyone wants to fight him. I thought maybe they were going to have him fight Aldo but he has no opponent and he says he doesn’t want to retire. Why not fight him?

“I’m the No. 1 [ranked], if I’m going to risk it, why not risk against a guy like him? Hopefully he takes the fight. If he doesn’t take it, I’ll fight anybody but hopefully he takes it. It’s a big fight and it could put one of us in a very good position.”

“I don’t give a f**k about the rankings,” Moraes said. “That’s Dominick Cruz out there. I want to fight him. It makes a lot of sense. Put us together and it’s going to be a great fight. I’m telling you guys I’m going out there to finish. I’m going to finish my next opponent.

The Brazilian knockout artist went on to say he is confident finishing Cruz and capturing the bantamweight title in the near future, he said.

“I think I’ve got all the weapons to beat him. He’s a very good matchup for me. I’m looking forward to fighting him and finish him. I want to finish Dominick Cruz and show who is the best 135er in the world.”

“I want to get in there and I want to perform. I want to finish somebody. I want to make a statement and I want to show to everybody I’m next. I want to fight and I want that championship fight again and I want to become UFC bantamweight champion.”

Do you want to see Marlon Moraes fight Dominick Cruz?

Dana White Confident He’ll Resolve Jon Jones Beef

Dana WhiteUFC president Dana White is positive he will be able to mend his fractured relationship with light-heavyweight superstar Jon Jones. The pair have been in a bitter, public feud after failed negotiations for a heavyweight super-fight with Francis Ngannou. White publicly stated Jones demanded obscene money for the fight and doubled down on his claim […]

Dana White

UFC president Dana White is positive he will be able to mend his fractured relationship with light-heavyweight superstar Jon Jones. The pair have been in a bitter, public feud after failed negotiations for a heavyweight super-fight with Francis Ngannou.

White publicly stated Jones demanded obscene money for the fight and doubled down on his claim after Jones called him a liar and said the pair never even discussed a figure for the fight. This past weekend Jones announced he was relinquishing his 205lb belt and wouldn’t be fighting until he was paid correctly.

Speaking to Eddie Hearn and Tony Bellew on the Talk the Talk podcast White opened up about his current beef with Jon Jones and stated his belief it will be resolved in the near future, he said.

“You’re not always going to agree on everything. Jon Jones and I do not agree on something right now. We’re having a disagreement, but Jon Jones is a partner in this business. Conor McGregor is a partner in this business. The list goes on and on. When you get to that level, when you become a star or a world champion like these guys are, they’re a partner.

“We don’t agree right now on things, and we’re going to fight and we say things, the thing that’s going on in public, and eventually you get to a point where you get tired of fighting and you figure it out. It’s like any other relationship.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)

Over the past few days, both men have been fairly quiet about the situation with more pressing matters on hand. Jones has been on the front-line during protests sparked by the murder of unarmed black man George Floyd. The MMA superstar was caught on camera confiscating spray paint from vandals and helping repair the damage caused to businesses in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Do you think Dana White and Jon Jones will be able to resolve their differences?

Dana White: Conor McGregor Should Wait For Khabib-Gaethje Winner

Dana WhiteUFC president Dana White has advised Conor McGregor to wait for a lightweight title shot against the winner of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje. Speaking with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn and former cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew on the Talk The Talk podcast White said his advice to McGregor is to sit and wait for his […]

Dana White

UFC president Dana White has advised Conor McGregor to wait for a lightweight title shot against the winner of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje. Speaking with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn and former cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew on the Talk The Talk podcast White said his advice to McGregor is to sit and wait for his crack at the 155lb title.

“I think the best thing for him, I’m not saying this is what’s going to happen, but in my opinion, he lets this Gaethje-Khabib fight play out and he fights the winner. I think that’s the smartest move for him. But, you know him, maybe he wants to fight before that and if he does, we can figure something out. I think that is the move for him right now.” (Transcribed by Daily Mail)

McGregor hasn’t fought since stopping Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in 40 seconds when they met in the main event at UFC 246 earlier this year. The Irishman has previously said he had hoped to fight three times in 2020 but as of right now he hasn’t fought since, and it doesn’t seem like he will fight again anytime soon.

White has previously said McGregor was next in line for his long-time rival and lightweight champion Nurmagomedov but things have dramatically changed since then. When the undefeated Russian was forced out of his UFC 249 fight against Tony Ferguson, Gaethje stepped up and leapfrogged McGregor by spectacularly beating ‘El Cucuy’. ‘The Highlight’ dominated Ferguson for five rounds and ultimately forced a stoppage against a fighter riding the longest win streak in lightweight history. The UFC boss, of course, declared Gaethje was next in line and McGregor was left in a tough spot.

Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje is expected to take place later this summer with sometime in September being the most likely date for the 155lb unification fight. If McGregor takes the advice of White this could mean he doesn’t compete again until 2021 and has again had an inactive year in fighting.

Do you agree with Dana White? Should Conor McGregor wait it out for a shot at the lightweight title?

Jack Hermansson To Face Kelvin Gastelum On ‘Fight Island’

Jack HermanssonMiddleweight contenders Jack Hermansson and Kelvin Gastelum are set to fight on July 18. According to reports the two title hopefuls will throw down on ‘Fight Island’ with the winner moving one step closer to a shot at current 185lb king Israel Adesanya. Brett Okamoto of ESPN broke the news last night that two of […]

Jack Hermansson

Middleweight contenders Jack Hermansson and Kelvin Gastelum are set to fight on July 18. According to reports the two title hopefuls will throw down on ‘Fight Island’ with the winner moving one step closer to a shot at current 185lb king Israel Adesanya.

Brett Okamoto of ESPN broke the news last night that two of the best middleweights on the planet will square off next month, he wrote. “Per sources, Jack Hermansson (@jackthejokermma) and Kelvin Gastelum (@KelvinGastelum) have agreed to meet on July 18 on Fight Island.”

Hermansson will enter the fight off the back of a TKO loss to fellow contender Jared Cannonier. Prior to that, the Swedish fighter had been in the form of his life picking up four straight wins inside the octagon, including a high-profile, upset victory over ‘Jacare’ Souza. He also holds other big wins over the likes of Scott Askham, Thales Leites, and David Branch.  

Gastelum is also looking to get back in the win column after two straight defeats. The Ultimate Fighter winner previously went five rounds with Adesanya for the interim middleweight title in one of the best fights of all-time – he lost a unanimous decision in that fight. Gastelum then met Darren Till in his middleweight debut at UFC 244. In the fight, he struggled to pin down the Englishman who easily outpointed him over three rounds to get the judge’s decision. Since suffering his second straight loss Gastelum has tested positive for marijuana and was subsequently banned from the sport for four months. Now his time has been served it appears Gastelum is ready to go and fans don’t have to wait too long to see him back in action.

As of right now, no further details about the July 18 ‘Fight Island’ card have been released. It remains to be seen if this fight will headline or will help build up a bigger event. Be sure to stay tuned to LowKickMMA for the breaking news and up-to-date information on this event as we get it.

Who wins Jack Hermansson or Kelvin Gastelum?