Mark Hunt Broke His Toe In Round One Versus JDS At UFC 160

Heavyweight Mark ‘Super Samoan’ Hunt (9-8) saw his aspirations of capturing a mixed martial arts title hit a road block Saturday night in Las Vegas after suffering a third round knockout loss to former UFC champ Junior dos Santos. On Sunday, Hunt revealed on his official Facebook page that he suffered a broken toe in […]

Mark Hunt - Photo via UFC.com

Mark Hunt – Photo via UFC.com

Heavyweight Mark ‘Super Samoan’ Hunt (9-8) saw his aspirations of capturing a mixed martial arts title hit a road block Saturday night in Las Vegas after suffering a third round knockout loss to former UFC champ Junior dos Santos.

On Sunday, Hunt revealed on his official Facebook page that he suffered a broken toe in the first round versus JDS and said the Brazilian was to “slick” for him to keep up with.

thanks for the support apologies about the result junior was to slick for me,got a broken toe first round,and had no movement,but like i said before if i am going out i am out on my back thanks again 1luv.

Hunt co-headlined the UFC 160 pay-per-view event opposite Dos Santos and appeared to be a step behind his opponent for most of the fight. Dos Santos used his height advantage to strike from distance before slipping away from Hunt’s attacks.

In the final minute of the third round, Dos Santos would throw a spinning heel kick catching Hunt in the head knocking him down to the mat. The Brazilian would follow it up with a single right hand leaving the ‘Super Samoan’ stunned and out of the fight.

Pat Healy Tests Positive For Marijuana Following UFC 159, Admits Wrongdoing And Has Bonus Money Withheld

Former Strikeforce lightweight Pat ‘Bam Bam’ Healy (29-16, 1NC) has failed a post fight drug test following his Octagon debut at UFC 159. Healy tested positive for marijuana and has had his third round submission victory over Jim Miller changed to a “No Contest” by the New Jersey Athletic Control Board. The board also handed […]

Pat Healy

Pat Healy

Former Strikeforce lightweight Pat ‘Bam Bam’ Healy (29-16, 1NC) has failed a post fight drug test following his Octagon debut at UFC 159.

Healy tested positive for marijuana and has had his third round submission victory over Jim Miller changed to a “No Contest” by the New Jersey Athletic Control Board. The board also handed down Healy a 90-day suspension.

The hits don’t end there for ‘Bam Bam.’

Due to the failed drug test, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will not be awarding Healy his bonus check of $130,000 for the “Submission and Fight of the Night” bonuses.

A silver lining, at least for one UFC 159 participant, is Bryan Caraway who now earns $65,000 for the “Submission of the Night” bonus for his third round finish of Johnny Bedford.

On Tuesday, Healy released a statement on the positive test accepting full responsibility for his actions.

“I would like to start off by apologizing to the UFC, Jim Miller, the MMA community, it’s fans, my family, teammates and coaches for my positive testing for marijuana after my UFC 159 fight with Jim Miller.”

“I was fully aware of the UFC and State Commission’s drug policies and made poor life choices. I stand behind the UFC and the State Commission’s disciplinary actions. I support efforts to make MMA and sports a clean, safe and fair place to compete.

“First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge and take responsibility for my mistake. I made a very poor choice to socially use marijuana and now I must face the consequences of that choice. I can assure you that I will do everything the UFC and State Commission asks of me and beyond. I will also make a conscious effort to be a better role model within the MMA community.”

UFC 159 went down on April 27, 2013 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Healy and Miller opened the pay-per-view main card in an exciting three round match.

“It’s Going To Push Me To Be My Best,” Anthony Pettis On Facting Jose Aldo

Former WEC lightweight champ Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis (16-2) will face one of the toughest fights in his career this summer when he takes on UFC featherweight title holder Jose Aldo. “Jose (Aldo) brings problems to anybody. He is an athletic guy. He’s a student of the game. A black belt in Jiu-Jitsu. Doesn’t have to […]

Anthony Pettis celebrates his first round victory over Donald Cerrone at UFC on FOX 6 - image via the UFC Facebook page

Anthony Pettis celebrates his first round victory over Donald Cerrone at UFC on FOX 6 – image via the UFC Facebook page

Former WEC lightweight champ Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis (16-2) will face one of the toughest fights in his career this summer when he takes on UFC featherweight title holder Jose Aldo.

“Jose (Aldo) brings problems to anybody. He is an athletic guy. He’s a student of the game. A black belt in Jiu-Jitsu. Doesn’t have to use his ground game in a fight. His striking is in the top of the lightweight…featherweight division. For me it’s intriguing, I’m excited to get ready for this fight. It’s going to push me to be my best.”

“My last two fights I had awesome performances against top level strikers and good guys in the lightweight division, so you put me in there with Jose Aldo it’s fireworks.”

The two are expected to meet in Brazil this August in the main event of UFC 163 in Rio de Janeiro.

Speaking to the TapouT Radio crew on Tuesday, Pettis talked about making the move down to 145-lbs after from lightweight as well as meeting one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

UFC Lightweight Champ Benson Henderson Responds To Critics Following FOX 7 Win

UFC lightweight champ Benson ‘Smooth’ Henderson (19-2) successfully defended his title for a third straight match this past weekend in San Jose defeating the final Strikeforce champ, Gilbert Melendez, by split decision in the main event of UFC on FOX 7. Henderson had a hard fought battle versus Melendez and was unable to find a […]

UFC lightweight champ Benson Henderson kisses his girlfriend after asking her to marry him at UFC on FOX 7 - image via Facebook.com/UFC

UFC lightweight champ Benson Henderson kisses his girlfriend after asking her to marry him at UFC on FOX 7 – image via Facebook.com/UFC

UFC lightweight champ Benson ‘Smooth’ Henderson (19-2) successfully defended his title for a third straight match this past weekend in San Jose defeating the final Strikeforce champ, Gilbert Melendez, by split decision in the main event of UFC on FOX 7.

Henderson had a hard fought battle versus Melendez and was unable to find a finish against ‘El Nino.’

Some critics took the win as an opportunity to downplay Henderson’s ability as a fighter, indicating that he was fighting safe rather than fighting to finish.

‘Smooth’ responded to those critics on Facebook recently.

I know I’m not the best (yet, ;-D), I was never the fastest, or strongest, or most athletic, or most technical or anything like that. Go ahead and ask any of my high school or college wrestling coaches. I was never picked 1st in dodgeball or basketball or soccer or football games growing up but one thing I always had was the will power and determination to NEVER give up, to not be afraid to open up my heart and give all of myself, to not hold anything back for the swim back to shore.

I guess I’m supposed to apologize that I’m no AndersonSilva or BJPenn, who is? I’m just that kid who would never stop, the kid whose older brother friends used to beat in 10 games of basketball (in a row) but would be pushing for the 11th game, yeah that’s me. And just like back then I’m not going ANYWHERE, you want my belt, you’re gonna have to pry it from my cold fingers.

No, I’m not the best but guess what, I’ve got the UFC: Ultimate Fighting Championship LW belt and I’m just getting started, I’m getting better every single day…think about that, let that sink in.

A HUGE thanks to my growing family, faithful friends and real fans.

Smooth

*Chap. 3 is done, on to the next…

I personally thought it was a great fight and felt Henderson adjusted well to Melendez’ attacks while ‘El Nino’ failed to change his tactics versus the champ.

Matt Mitrione Suspended After Negative Comments Towards Transgender Fighter Fallon Fox

The Ultimate Fighting Championship promotion has suspended heavyweight fighter Matt Mitrione (6-2) following negative comments made towards transgendered fighter Fallon Fox on Monday during an appearance on The MMA Hour. The promotion was quick to react posting this statement on their website effectively suspending Mitrione’s contract pending further investigation. The Ultimate Fighting Championship organization released […]

Matt Mitrione

Matt Mitrione

The Ultimate Fighting Championship promotion has suspended heavyweight fighter Matt Mitrione (6-2) following negative comments made towards transgendered fighter Fallon Fox on Monday during an appearance on The MMA Hour.

The promotion was quick to react posting this statement on their website effectively suspending Mitrione’s contract pending further investigation.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship organization released the following statement this afternoon:

“The UFC was appalled by the transphobic comments made by heavyweight Matt Mitrione today in an interview on the ‘MMA Hour.’

“The organization finds Mr. Mitrione’s comments offensive and wholly unacceptable and — as a direct result of this significant breach of the UFC’s code of conduct – Mr. Mitrione’s UFC contract has been suspended and the incident is being investigated.

“The UFC is a friend and ally of the LGBT community, and expects and requires all 450 of its athletes to treat others with dignity and respect.”

During the interview on The MMA Hour, Mitrione had been making jokes regarding Fox during the segment and responded with this rant when host Ariel Helwani asked him what he had against the fighter.

“She’s not a he. He’s a he,” Mitrione said. “He’s chromosomally a man. He had a gender change, not a sex change. He’s still a man. He was a man for 31 years. Thirty-one years. That’s a couple years younger than I am. He’s a man. Six years of taking performance de-hancing drugs, you think is going to change all that? That’s ridiculous.

“That is a lying, sick, sociopathic, disgusting freak,” he continued. “And I mean that. Because you lied on your license to beat up women. That’s disgusting. You should be embarrassed yourself. And the fact that Florida licensed him because California licensed him or whoever the hell did it, it’s an embarrassment to us as fighters, as a sport, and we all should protest that. The woman that’s fighting him, props to you. I hope you beat his ass, and I hope he gets blackballed and never fights again, because that’s disgusting and I’m appalled by that.”

Mitrione earned a fist round knockout victory this past weekend in Sweden after stopping opponent Phil De Fries via KO at the UFC on FUEL TV 9 event.

This whole situation feels very akin to the Miguel Torres situation from December 2011 when the fighter had posted a comment on Twitter about a “rape van.” Torres was released by the promotion but found his way back shortly afterwards by making amends.

Mitrione will have to perform his own damage control if he wishes to stay with the UFC. It will be interesting to see where this takes the former TUF competitor.

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney Sticking Behind Arrested Fighter Daniel Straus

Earlier this month news surfaced that Bellator Season Six Featherweight tournament winner Daniel Straus (21-4) had been arrested on several charges in Florida by the Fort Lauderdale Police department. Straus was arrested for driving while on a suspended license, possession of cannabis over 20 grams, possessing drug paraphernalia and possession of MDMA (esctasy). On Wednesday, […]

Daniel Straus wins the Season Six Featherweight Tournament at Bellator 68 - Photo via Bellator.com

Daniel Straus wins the Season Six Featherweight Tournament at Bellator 68 – Photo via Bellator.com

Earlier this month news surfaced that Bellator Season Six Featherweight tournament winner Daniel Straus (21-4) had been arrested on several charges in Florida by the Fort Lauderdale Police department.

Straus was arrested for driving while on a suspended license, possession of cannabis over 20 grams, possessing drug paraphernalia and possession of MDMA (esctasy).

On Wednesday, MMAFighting.com spoke to Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney about a number of subjects including Straus’ arrest.

The Bellator boss is sticking behind his top contender, trusting that things will get “cleared up” which will allow Straus to get his career back on track.

Mike Chiappetta: Your No. 1 featherweight contender Daniel Straus has had a rough stretch with an injury that knocked him out of the title fight, and then an arrest on drugs and traffic charges. Have you had a chance to speak with him.

Bjorn Rebney: I’ve spoken with Daniel twice. I spoke to him the moment he got out and made bail. I know it’s a unique position in this industry to take, but I’ve known Daniel a lot of years. He’s been awesome for the organization. He stepped up and stood up every time we asked. He’s been a total pro and also a very good guy, very responsive and adult. One of the better guys to work with. He worked awfully hard to get the shot at the title. I spoke to him right after he made bail. His words to me were, ‘I was absolutely in the wrong place at the wrong time. I should not have been with the people I was with. I believe very firmly that I’ll be exonerated and be able to move forward with career.’

I’ve got his back. My hope against hope is he does get exonerated and he can resume his career. He was training at American Top Team with some great fighters, broke his hand, and this unfortunate situation came up. I’m sure more of the facts will come clear in next month or so, but I have a lot of belief and trust in Daniel Straus. My hope is it gets cleared up, and he’s able to resume a successful career. If unfortunately he’s not and it doesn’t go in that direction, we’ll be there to support him when he gets out.

Straus won the Season Six tournament last May after defeating Marlon Sandro in the final by decision. Straus then went on to fight in a non-tournament bout in October, winning his fourth straight match by submitting opponent Alvin Robinson with a rear-naked choke at Bellator 78.