Misc. - Page 4

(Oh this? Just Ilir Latifi starring in an MMA-themed techno-pop music video.)

Conor McGregor, Dana White and UFC 197′s Biggest Question: ‘Where’s My Belt?’ (Bleacher Report)

Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Johnson Rematch Set for UFC 197 (BloodyElbow)

Just Two More Wins and Jeff Monson Can Retire – or Can He? (MMAJunkie)

(Like all great artists, McGregor is a man who operates in periods. Picasso had his Blue Period, Dali had his Dada period, and McGregor has clearly entered his “Gay Persian discotheque owner from the 80′s” period.)

And so, it begins.

Following their incredible first round finishes of Jose Aldo and Donald Cerrone, respectfully, featherweight champion Conor McGregor and lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos will do battle at UFC 197 with the latter’s gold on the line. To describe the bout as anything other than “unprecedented” would be an injustice, to say the very least.

In the co-main event of the evening, Holly Holm will get her wish and defend her title against the ever-present top contender Miesha Tate, hoping to become the first female not named Ronda Rousey to defend the bantamweight title in the process. Again, the word “unprecedented” comes to mind.

Earlier today, the first press event for UFC 197 was held, giving both pairs of fighters a chance to lock eyes. Check out the staredowns after the jump.

(Oh, don’t put us through this again, BJ…)

No matter how many times we say it, it appears that fewer and fewer MMA fighters are willing to abide by our ban on unretirement. The latest fighter on that list: BJ Penn.

Yes, after hinting at a union with Greg Jackson and calling out Nik Lentz last week, Penn officially announced his second unretirement on today’s MMA Hour, stating “I’m coming back for honor. I’m coming back to do this, give everything I got.”

(via Penn’s Instagram)

Let’s cut right to the chase.

Despite not scoring a win since 2010, having his soul stolen by Frankie Edgar in his last octagon appearance, and admitting that he “shouldn’t have come back” before emotionally retiring for realsies in the evening’s post-fight press conference, BJ Penn…wants to come back. And not only that, he wants to come back to face Nik Lentz, who has been goading him into a fight on social media for months now, in March. This is sad, we’re all sad for hearing it, so on and so forth…

It all started when Penn snapped the above photo with Greg Jackson, with the caption “We coming!” Jackson later told reporters that he was “very optimistic” about Penn’s future following a meeting with the former two-division champion, who then proceeded to formally challenge Lentz to a fight at UFC 197 on March 5th.

Penn chose an ambitious timetable for his return, to say the very least, and yesterday evening, Lentz responded with what must be the most cold-blooded takedown in the history of combat sports.

(And pays 100% under-the-table!!)

When first taking in the idea of seeing 49 year old Royce Gracie and 51 year old Ken Shamrock do battle in the Bellator arena, I was struck with a rather obvious, yet repeatedly forgotten realization. Mainly, that former greats of MMA (or any sport, really, but *especially* MMA) only decide to put the gloves back on for 1 of 3 reasons:

1. They feel that they’ve still got something to prove, a belt/championship to attain, an spouse’s face to rub it in, etc.

2. They miss it.

3. They’re broke.

In the case of Royce Gracie, who will be returning from a 9 year, steroid-shamed absence from the sport at Bellator 149, it’s become apparent recently that his motivations lie closer to #3 than #1.

(Dominick “The Dominator” Cruz returns from a lengthy injury layoff once again next weekend, so let’s celebrate by watching him beat the tar out of Takeya Mizugaki.)

Jacare Souza Not Happy With ‘Dirty’ Romero, Wants Rematch or Fight with Weidman (BloodyElbow)

Frank Mir vs. Mark Hunt Targeted for UFC Fight Night Brisbane (MMAFighting)

Dana White: Ryan Bader Will ‘Deserve His Shot’ at UFC Title With Win Over Anthony Johnson (MMAJunkie)

The Question: Will Others Follow McGregor, Cerrone in Switching Weight Classes? (Bleacher Report)

(Meanwhile, the Rafael Dos Anjos “1:06 TKO” shirt is nowhere to be seen.)

Following his 13 second knockout of Jose Aldo at UFC 194, the future of Conor McGregor oddly seemed more uncertain than ever. His coach, John Kavanagh, insisted that he didn’t want his fighter making the huge cut to 145 lbs. anymore, while McGregor himself stated that there was “no way in Hell” he would ever give up his featherweight belt should he seek out a title fight at lightweight next. With Frankie Edgar all but refusing to fight unless he receives a shot against McGregor at 145, the UFC was left with a bit of a mess on their hands to put it lightly.

But then, things started to sort themselves out on Wednesday’s edition of when Dana White told the UFC Tonight gang that “If anyone can hold two belts, it’s Conor McGregor.” With that ringing endorsement now out there in the universe, it was pretty much a given that McGregor would challenge lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos next, which recent reports now indicate will be the case.

Details after the jump.

(Photo cred: Uproxx/Getty)

Had we the wherewithal to include a “Greatest Hype *De*-flation” category in this year’s Potato Awards, it would’ve been hard not to bestow the (dis)honor to WWE superstar-cum-MMA fighter Phil Brooks aka CM Punk.

After being signed by the UFC just over a year ago, Brooks has all but dropped off the face of the earth thanks to an ill-timed shoulder injury which delayed his promotional debut indefinitely. Seriously, we haven’t heard a word from the guy, which, as smart as that probably is from his perspective, has all but killed the interest level in a fighter who had relatively little to offer MMA fans to begin with (other than, you know, those massive viewership numbers we care so much about).

Recently, however, it was revealed that Brooks’ debut opponent would be discovered via Dana White’s web series, Looking For a Fight, which premieres on Youtube next week. It was easily one of the more shameful promotional moves done by the UFC in recent memory — right up there with bringing in Conor McGregor to save The Ultimate Fighter – but one that seems to have ultimately worked, as a potential opponent for Punk’s debut has now made himself known.

That moment when you’re eyeing down a ten point buck, then shit yourself in excitement. (What? The joke was there and I took it. I regret nothing.)

Ever since Tim Sylvia decided to retire from mixed martial arts competition due to…erm…let’s call them “health problems,” the world has waited on baited breath to see what the former UFC heavyweight champion’s next project would be. Triathlons? Hot dog eating competitions? Or would he, as we suspected, return to the quiet life of an Illinois police officer, only to be forced back into competition to avenge his brother’s death/take down a ruthless drug lord? The possibilities were literally endless.

Well, as it turns out, the answer is a bit simpler than we might have predicted, but arguably just as glorious. That’s because Sylvia will stepping away from the octagon and into the forest to host a hunting show, Hit Squad Outdoors with Tim Sylvia, and wouldn’t you know it, we’ve managed to get our hands on the glorious trailer.

(Wanderlei Silva: Professional in the streets, freak in the sheets.)

If there’s two things that Wanderlei Silva has become known for in his post-fighting career, it’s posting creepy, borderline unintelligible videos to his social networks and threatening to slap the sh*t out of people. And while the man has arguably raised some good points about the state of fighter pay, it’s growing harder and harder to take him seriously when those points are threateningly delivered in a dimly-lit room while heavy metal and/or techno blasts in the background.

So a credit is due to Silva for stripping away some of the more distracting elements in his most recent effort, wherein he calls for an immediate rematch between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo and threatens to slap the “Notorious” one should they ever meet face to face.