UFC’s had many superstars, but Donald Cerrone is one of a kind
(https:)There is a poignant story about Donald Cerrone that is not widely known but should serve as the building block of his legend. In January 2011, his grandfather Dr. Donald Cerrone was battling cancer when he realized things were trending in the wrong direction. Make it to the UFC soon, he told the rambunctious grandson he’d always seen greatness in, the one who he helped raise. Cerrone instinctively understood what he was saying. Time was running short...
The UFC’s Top 25 All-Time Fighters, Part 3 — The Top Five
(https:)Twenty-five years into the experiment that promised to determine the most effective martial art, the question is all but expired. Evolution has repeatedly proven that a melding of existing styles and a willingness toward adaptability will continually redefine the potent methods of the moment. It is always shifting, changing, developing; a living art form.
In that quarter-center, the UFC has welcomed thousands of fighters to the cage, all with the intent of rising to the top. A scant few have gotten there, able to call themselves a UFC champion. But an even smaller subset remain the best of the best; the most important fighters ever to step foot into the Octagon. While any list is subjective, in considering the measures necessary for inclusion, we focused on criteria including total body of work, strength of schedule, accomplishments, historical importance, and head-to-head results.
With the UFC celebrating its silver anniversary on Nov. 10, this multi-part series pays tributes to the key names that pushed the promotion’s rise...
The UFC’s Top 25 All-Time Fighters, Part 2
(https:)Twenty-five years into the experiment that promised to determine the most effective martial art, the question is all but expired. Evolution has repeatedly proven that a melding of existing styles and a willingness toward adaptability will continually redefine the potent methods of the moment. It is always shifting, changing, developing; a living art form.
In that quarter-center, the UFC has welcomed thousands of fighters to the cage, all with the intent of rising to the top. A scant few have gotten there, able to call themselves a UFC champion. But an even smaller subset remain the best of the best; the most important fighters ever to step foot into the Octagon. While any list is subjective, in considering the measures necessary for inclusion, we focused on criteria including total body of work, strength of schedule, accomplishments, historical importance, and head-to-head results.
With the UFC celebrating its silver anniversary on Nov. 10, this multi-part series pays tributes to the key names that pushed the promotion’s rise...
The UFC’s Top 25 All-Time Fighters, Part 1
(https:)Twenty-five years into the experiment that promised to determine the most effective martial art, the question is all but expired. Evolution has repeatedly proven that a melding of existing styles and a willingness toward adaptability will continually redefine the potent methods of the moment. It is always shifting, changing, developing; a living art form.
In that quarter-century, the UFC has welcomed thousands of fighters to the cage, all with the intent of rising to the top. A scant few have gotten there, able to call themselves a UFC champion. But an even smaller subset remain the best of the best; the most important fighters ever to step foot into the Octagon. While any list is subjective, in considering the measures necessary for inclusion, we focused on criteria including total body of work, strength of schedule, accomplishments, historical importance, and head-to-head results.
With the UFC celebrating its silver anniversary on Nov. 10, this multi-part series pays tributes to the key names that pushed the promotion’s rise, starting with Nos. 25-16...
Ben Askren trolls the UFC for not yet announcing his arrival
(https:)It’s been roughly 72 hours since news broke of the “trade” between the UFC and ONE Championship that allowed Demetrious Johnson and Ben Askren to flip promotions.
ONE Championship already held a conference call with Johnson, officially welcoming him to the promotion. Both Johnson and Askren made the rounds talking about the deal on Monday. So did Johnson’s agent, Malki Kawa.
Historic trade finalized: Ben Askren heads to UFC, Demetrious Johnson to ONE
(https:)An unprecedented deal was finalized Saturday which will bring an undefeated former world champion into the UFC while shipping one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in mixed martial arts history off to compete in Asia.
Former Bellator and ONE welterweight champion Ben Askren will be released from his ONE contract to sign with the UFC, while Demetrious Johnson will be released from his UFC contract in order to sign a deal with ONE. ESPN first reported the news.
ONE announced the Johnson signing Saturday night...
Andre Pederneiras steps down from Brazil's Nova Uniao leadership after 21 years
(https:)After 21 years, Andre Pederneiras is no longer the leader of Brazil’s renowned Nova Uniao team.
Pederneiras announced his decision to step down from his role on Instagram, following an initial report by Combate.com. The longtime coach, who was a key figure in the UFC rises of former champions Jose Aldo and Renan Barao, linked the decision to the opening of Upper Arena two years ago.
The place now works as training grounds for Nova Uniao fighters, but Pederneiras wants to open it to fighters from other teams.
“I’m still here at training, giving the same advices to my athletes,” Pederneiras told Combate. “But if, for instance, Urijah Faber comes here, I’ll be able to give him the same training, regardless of whether he represents Nova Uniao or not. If the people who are training at that time are bothered, I can just arrange a different time with him, a separate training session.
Felipe Arantes announces MMA retirement: 'I feel like a champion'
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“I’ve always made it clear that I don’t depend on fighting financially, because, through it, I’ve built things that allow me to have a good life,” Arantes said. “I’m grateful for being able to hang up my gloves at 30 and for knowing that, one way or another, my name will be in UFC history.”
Former UFC champ Johny Hendricks announces MMA retirement
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“I’m done. I’m retiring. I’m getting out of the MMA world,” Hendricks told MMAjunkie Radio. “I’ve been thinking about this long and hard for a while. I’m going to get back to my roots. I’m going to start coaching at All Saints (Episcopal School in Fort Worth, Texas). I coached a little bit of high school last year, but I’m going to make the move over to All Saints and start doing those things.”
Leon Tabbs, legendary cutman who worked UFC 1, dies at 86
(https:)Leon Tabbs, the first official cutman for the UFC, died Friday evening in Atlanta. He was 86.
Tabbs’ son, Bruce, told MMAjunkie that his father passed away after struggling with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
“Our father is our hero,” Bruce said in a statement to MMAjunkie. “He lived a simple life enjoying it to the fullest and deserved all he earned, and more, and earned all he received. Family, boxing, and friends and laughter were his life.”
Tabbs, who got his start in boxing, worked UFC 1 and served as the promotion’s cutman for 19 years. He retired from the fight game in 2012. In 2013, Tabbs received a lifetime achievement award at the Fighters Only World MMA Awards.
Rafael dos Anjos reacts to UFC 225 loss to Colby Covington: ‘Bad guys win sometimes in real life’
(https:)Rafael dos Anjos had the chance to join the club of fighters who managed to win UFC titles in two different weight classes, but was defeated by Colby Covington for the interim welterweight belt in the co-main event of UFC 225 in Chicago in Saturday night.
Two days after the defeat, dos Anjos’ first loss since moving up from 155 pounds, the Brazilian released a statement on his social media, promising to bounce back a better fighter, like he did after his 2014 loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov, and losing to one of the “bad guys” in Chicago.
USADA suspends Michal Oleksiejczuk one year for testing positive for clomiphene
(https:)Michal Oleksiejczuk now has his complete sanctions.
USADA suspended the UFC light heavyweight for one year after his positive test for clomiphene in December, the UFC’s anti-doping partner announced Tuesday. Oleksiejczuk was already suspended one year in March by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) and his win over Khalil Rountree was overturned to a no contest. The suspensions will run concurrently.
X-ray shows hand injury suffered by Robert Whittaker at UFC 225
(https:)Robert Whittaker scored another decision victory over Yoel Romero in the main event of UFC 225 in Chicago, but it was a costly win.
“The Reaper”, who won a close split decision win in a five-round non-title bout Saturday night, fractured his right thumb early in the opening round, and his team released the X-ray on social media.
Michael Bisping’s on-air beef with Colby Covington was untimely (and unnecessary)
(https:)It’s exceedingly easy to hate on Colby Covington, especially after he vowed to take his newly won interim belt to the White House for Donald Trump to run a cold finger over. But it’s quite another to dress him down on a post-fight show right after he wins that belt, which Michael Bisping did late on Saturday night. If you expect high-road professionalism from Bisping in his role as an analyst, five words spring immediately to mind.
Good luck with that, booday.
In fact, the whole segment — which lasted five minutes and aired live on Fox Sports 1 after UFC 225 — took on the complexion of an SNL skit, with Covington on one half of the split screen sporting shades, his belt and his trademark smug smile, and Bisping on the other, taking umbrage at how Covington called the panel out for doubting his chances against Rafael dos Anjos. It was uncomfortable, weird, comical, even a little mortifying — and sometimes all of those things at once (like when poor Michelle Waterson forgot her question).
It was also untimely. Check it out for yourself.
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