Incase you haven’t heard a fan favorite in the sport of MMA has announced his return to the main stage. George St. Pierre has announced that he will be making a come back to UFC after rumors have been circulating about a multiple fight deal that was drawn up for his return. His first fight back is not forecasted to be an easy one for the former champion, as he is scheduled to face of against Michael Bisping for the title of the UFC’s Middleweight division. It is note worthy to mention that GSP has never fought in this heavier weight class. GSP has had one of the most recognizable records in the sport’s history with twenty-five wins and two loses, both loses were avenged later in his career against Matt Hughes and Matt Serra. GSP’s last fight was in November of 2013 where he defended his Welterweight title against Johnny Hendricks in Las Vegas. Many MMA fans are anxiously awaiting the return of this beloved champion with high hopes for a new and further improved GSP under the limelight.
On March 5th 2016 Miesha Tate stepped into the Octagon once again in an attempt to dethrone the UFC champion of the Women’s Bantamweight Division. Tate, no stranger to the Octagon had been in this position before, faced with an awesome opportunity to earn her title as the division champion against then reigning champion Rhonda Rousey back in December of 2013. Tate’s 2013 attempt at the title ended when Rousey ended the fight in the 3rd round with her signature arm bar submission. Rhonda Rousey had been the undefeated women’s champion in the UFC’s Bantamweight division for two years eight months and had successfully defended her title six times against top-notch competitors, but on November 15th 2015, Rhonda sealed her fate when attempting to go toe to toe and blow for blow with Holly Holms a world class boxer and kickboxer who in her own career had defended her titles eighteen times. Holms knocked the longtime UFC champion”Rowdy” Rhonda Rousey out with a 2nd round head kick. As great of an achievement as this was, it seems it was not meant to last as on March 5th 2016 Holms and Tate met in the Octagon for what promised to be a knock down drag out fight, what happened was unexpected. Spectators saw a hungry Miesha Tate at one corner of the Octagon and what appeared to be a drained Holly Holms in the other. For a champion in the upper echelon of the combat sports, Holms appeared unenthusiastic or even motivated to hold on to her title. She seemed very unsure of herself, placing strikes haphazardly and in lack of better word dormant. The crowd was waiting for a volcanic explosion of raw power and aggression to explode from the champion, but this never happened. In the 5th round of the championship bout Meisha Tate secured a submission via rear naked choke and rightfully claimed her position amongst the UFC’s best. Tate currently has a record of 18 wins and 5 loses in her professional career and is the reigning UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion.
Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson — Cormier def. Gustafsson by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 49-46) 170 lbs.: Johny Hendricks vs. Tyron Woodley — CANCELED Ryan Bader vs. Rashad Evans — Bader def. Evans by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Shawn Jordan vs. Ruslan Magomedov — Magomedov def. Jordan by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Ali Bagautinov vs. Joseph Benavidez — Benavidez def. Bagautinov by unanimous decision 30-27 x2, 29-28)
Jessica Eye vs. Julianna Pena — Pena def. Eye by unanimous decision (29-27 x3)
Daniel Hooker vs. Yair Rodriguez — Rodriguez def. Hooker by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-26)
Alan Jouban vs. Albert Tumenov — Tumenov def. Jouban by KO (head kick and punches) at 2:55 of Round One
Islam Makhachev vs. Adriano Martins — Martins def. Makhachev by KO (punch) at 1:46 of Round One
Angela Hill vs. Rose Namajunas — Namajunas def. Hill by technical submission (RNC) at 2:47 of Round One
Sage Northcutt vs. Francisco Trevino — Northcutt def. Trevino by TKO (strikes) at 0:57 of Round One
Chris Cariaso vs. Sergio Pettis — Pettis def. Cariaso by unanimous decision (29-27 x2, 29-28)
Derrick Lewis vs. Viktor Pesta — Lewis def. Pesta by TKO (punches) at 1:15 of Round Three
LAST FIGHT: UFC 189; MENDES Vs. McGREGOR (JULY 11, 2015)
ACHIEVEMENTS: CWFC Featherweight Championship (One time), CWFC Lightweight Championship (One time), 2014 International Fighter of the Year, 2014 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year (SHERDOG), 2014 Breakout Fighter of the Year (COMBAT PRESS), 2013 Best UFC Newcomer (MMA INSIDER), Interim UFC Featherweight Championship (One time, current), Knockout of the Night vs. Marcus Brimage (One time; UFC), Performance of the Night Vs Diego Brandao, Dustin Poirier, Dennis Siver, and Chad Mendes (Four times; UFC).
STYLES: BOXING, KICK BOXING, TAEKWONDO, KARATE, AND CAPOEIRA
ABOUT: Conor McGregor was born on 14 July 1988 in Dublin, Ireland. McGregor began his professional mixed martial arts(MMA) career in 2008 after leaving his job as a plumber.In 2009, he attended UFC 93 and was so inspired by the experience that he began pursuing a dream, of one day having a career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.McGregor trained under the tutelage of John Kavanagh, the first Irish person to achieve a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and his team at SBG Ireland.McGregor was always fond of fighting and was no stranger to combat sports having already trained in boxing. With his boxing background as a base, he also trained in Taekwondo, Karate,Capoeira, and Kickboxing prior to competing in professional MMA. After his bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 178, Kavanagh promoted McGregor to his Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt.McGregor trains at SBG alongside fellow UFC fighters such as Cathal Pendred and Gunnar Nelson. (SOURCE WIKI).
MMA CORNER NOTE: This young man has a bright future in the UFC and any other promotion he may choose to fight for. Anyone who has ever seen this extravagant fighter in the action knows that the smack he talks while promoting his fights outside of the octagon his backed up by his skills in the octagon. He is a true spectacle to behold. His stamina seems to be endless and his barrage of strikes accurate and effective. He flaunts his Irish pride with flare and showmanship, he makes a great entrance to an even better fight. If I had to describe him in one word it would be… CRAZY. Two words…CRAZY FANTASTIC! Be sure to tune into his next fight when he is set to fight current UFC Featherweight Champion José Aldo on December 12th 2015.
Last month Chael Sonnen said Wanderlei Silva would try to “weasel out” of their UFC 175 bout and it appears he was right. Today Silva was removed from the fight after missing mandatory exams and failing to apply for a licence to fight in Nevada. To add even more fuel to this story, Sonnen told Fox Sports 1 that Silva “literally ran”, and “slipped out the side door of the gym and never returned” when Nevada State Athletic Commission officials approached him for a random drug test.
So the question became, who would Sonnen face?
Well if you’re the over the top daytime soap opera kind of guy you loved the answer. The guy UFC officials are looking at to replace Silva in the fight, Vitor Belfort. Yes the same Vitor Belfort that was supposed to be in the main event of UFC 173. The same Vitor Belfort that withdrew from his title fight with Chris Weidman after the Nevada State Athletic Commission banned TRT.
Additionally, many media outlets are reporting the Sonnen-Belfort fight will take place at 205 pounds, but the winner will be guaranteed a shot at the middleweight title (185lbs). That title will be on the line in the main event of card as Chris Weidman defends again Lyoto Machida.
We now have a main event for UFC on FOX 12! UFC President Dana White announced on Twitter this afternoon that Matt Brown vs Robbie Lawler will headline the card set for July 26th in San Jose. The winner of the fight will earn a shot at welterweight champion Johny Hendricks.
The card also features Anthony Johnson vs Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Clay Guida vs Dennis Bermudez, and Josh Thomson vs Michael Johnson.
With Anderson Silva sidelined with an injury and Georges St. Pierre taking time away from the sport, the biggest fight the UFC could make is Jon Jones vs Alexander Gustafsson II. It now appears we have a date for the highly anticipated rematch. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to report that the UFC has targeted August 30th in Las Vegas for the rematch.
According to UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, only Gustafsson has agreed to the bout so far. Fertitta did say he expects Jones to agree to the fight in the next few weeks.
Gustafsson (16-2) lost a close decision to Jones (20-1) at UFC 165 in September. Both fighters are coming off impressive victories. Gustafsson knocked out Jimi Manuwa on March 8th in a bout in London. While Jones is coming off a one-sided victory over Glover Teixeira at UFC 172.
TITLE is another company known for it’s products related to combat sports, but most people tend to think of specifically boxing apparel when the name comes up. TITLE also makes a great deal of MMA gear as well. I have recently purchased MMA shorts, training bag, and short sleeve rash guard. The gear is tough and will with stand wear and tear while not breaking your bank. The bag is great I can fit focus mitts, shin guards, head gear, sparring gloves, training shoes, water bottle, and essentially any other training gear I may need into the bag. When I bought it however, it did not come with a shoulder strap so I used one from an older duffle bag. Still a great deal at under $40. The rash guard and shorts together were about another $80, but still not bad for something that will get a lot of use.
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS 