» MMA Fighters, UFC, Strikeforce, and WEC News

As hard as this is to fathom, it appears that UFC legend and Hall of Fame member Chuck Liddell still hasn’t made up his mind on whether or not he’s retiring. The man once known and feared around the world as “The Iceman” hasn’t won a fight since 2007, and he’s 1-5 in his last six fights, with four of those losses coming by way of (T)KO. Despite protests from his trainers and even UFC President Dana White, his close friend, Liddell recently told the Star Tribune that his future is still uncertain.

Read More About Is “The Iceman” Finally Done? Chuck Liddell Says “Maybe Not”…

As we get closer and closer to the upcoming UFC 119 event, the UFC seems to be putting a lot of effort into minimizing the debut of former PRIDE FC fighter Mark Hunt. Ever since it was announced that Hunt had signed to the sport’s biggest MMA promotion, the consensus has been that it’s a bad move and makes the UFC look terrible. UFC President Dana White in particular vehemently asserts that Hunt would not be fighting in the promotion under normal circumstances, but that the UFC “owes” Hunt some fights stemming all the way back to the UFC’s 2007 buyout of PRIDE. But is Hunt’s debut being treated too harshly? Is Hunt not getting enough credit? Here are my thoughts.

Read More About Pros and Cons: Mark Hunt to the UFC…

In the fight to get Mixed Martial Arts legalized around the world, no one location has received the level of scrutiny and scorn for their anti-MMA beliefs than the state of New York. Efforts to get MMA legalized in the state have been thwarted at every turn, whether it’s hiring lobbyists or even making a mini-documentary about the struggle (see Marc Ecko’s “Legalize MMA”, about the fight to legalize MMA in New York, right here). One of the most vocal proponents against legalizing MMA in New York has been Assemblyman Bob Reilly, who recently spoke to MMA Live about his problems with the sport.

Read More About Bob Reilly Talks Softly and Knows Nothing of MMA…

Talk about your poetic justice. It’s been only a matter of days when I first spoke on the upstart Shine Fights promotion going back on its word and not paying fighters from their failed first event, and now it appears that their second event is also in serious jeopardy. The Virginia Athletic Commission has refused to issue Shine Fights a license to hold their planned September 10 event, which was scheduled for the George Mason University campus in Fairfax, Virginia and was to feature a one-night eight-man Lightweight Grand Prix tournament that was tentatively scheduled to air on Pay-Per-View. Ironically, the one clever idea Shine Fights had leading up to this show has also become the main reason the plug was pulled.

Read More About Deja Vu: Shine Fights Has Their Event Pulled…

You read that right: not “return”, but rather “rebirth”. Because that’s exactly what I think we’ll see when Lyoto Machida faces Quinton Jackson at UFC 123 in Detroit. The two former Light Heavyweight Champions are set to meet in a dream-match that will likely put the winner into direct title contention once Mauricio Rua heals up from another knee surgery and faces current top contender Rashad Evans. In an interview with GracieMag.com, “The Dragon” had some strong words for the man who once jokingly referred to him as “The Cheetah”.

Read More About Rebirth of the Dragon: Lyoto Machida Talks Quinton Jackson…

Featuring one of the most stacked cards of the year, WEC 51: “Aldo vs. Gamburyan” is going to be a real treat for WEC fans. It may not have the star power of WEC’s first Pay-Per-View event, WEC 48: “Aldo vs. Faber”, but it comes very close. So here are my five top reasons why anybody and everybody should be excited for WEC 51.

Read More About Five Reasons You Should Already Be Excited for WEC 51…

It’s that time again, fans and friends. That unfortunate time that comes after an MMA event, a time to evaluate how many bruises need healing and how much time needs to be spent sitting on the sidelines. UFC 118 featured a host of great match-ups, from Nate Diaz dismantling Marcus Davis to Frankie Edgar dominating BJ Penn, and of course, the utter obliteration of aging pro boxer James Toney at the hands of Randy Couture. The Massachusetts State Athletic Commission has recently revealed the list of medical suspensions for UFC 118, and while most got off lightly, a few may have a bit of a stretch spent recuperating rather than training. Here’s how it all breaks down.

Read More About Nate Diaz and Marcus Davis Top UFC 118 Medical Suspensions…

Neither Nick nor Nate Diaz are strangers to controversy. The brothers have been involved in bitter rivalries, post-fight brawls, and all manner of not-so-nice activities. Saying that the Diaz brothers are MMA’s premier bad boys would be an understatement. But for the first time in either man’s careers, their abilities are beginning to eclipse their bravado. Nick and Nate were always talented, but with a string of recent performances, both men are starting to get taken seriously as best-in-the-world talent. Tough tests lie ahead for both men, as Nate Diaz recently made known his intentions to fight top-tier welterweights in the UFC, while Nick’s arch-rival and next opponent recently claimed that Nick would have to kill him to beat him.

Read More About Diaz Drama: Nate Wants Top Contenders, Nick Will Have to Kill KJ Noons…

Say what you want about Chael Sonnen, but I don’t think you’ll ever be able to take his fighting spirit away from him. Literally minutes from being crowned the UFC Middleweight Champion, Sonnen choked (quite literally) after dominating long-reigning champion Anderson Silva for twenty-three straight minutes in the main event of the recent UFC 117 show, leaving himself open to a Hail Mary Triangle Choke by Silva that forced the tap out. Fans and the media alike have hotly debated whether or not Sonnen’s performance demands an immediate rematch with Silva, and now that that seems to be the case, Sonnen recently shed some light on the situation and where he’s at mentally in an interview on MMA Live.

Read More About Chael Sonnen Says Rematch With Anderson Silva Will Happen Soon, Predicts More of the Same…

Alistair Overeem, the Strikeforce heavyweight champion, is conceding to Fedor Emelianenko’s proposal–but on his own terms.

The former consensus number one heavyweight fighter in the world, Emelianenko–who ruled the division for over 7 years–went on record with management company M-1 Global, and made his intentions know for who he wants next on his plate. Title or no title, Fedor is looking to earn back some clout he lost in his bout with Fabricio Werdum–the only man to date to definitively defeat the famed Russian–with a win over Overeem.

Read more on Overeem’s Proposal