CombatSports.org

It’s an emotional day in the mixed martial arts world as we say goodbye to one of the UFC’s pioneers.

The UFC is approaching its 31st anniversary in the business and throughout that time, the promotion has accumulated numerous stars. Fans are often sad to see their favorite fighters bow out of the sport, but the news of a former competitor passing away is much worse.

Art Jimmerson was 60 years old when his death was announced to the world. Jimmerson was well known for competing at the inaugral UFC 1 event, where he sported a single boxing glove on his left hand–ultimately earning him the nickname ‘One Glove’.

Rest in peace to one of the first to ever do it, UFC 1 competitor, Art Jimmerson. pic.twitter.com/4iejXXfiZQ

— UFC (@ufc) May 9, 2024

Before testing himself inside the octagon, Jimmerson was a respected boxer and the National Golden Gloves middleweight champion in 1983. The Missouri native would step into the ring for the final time in late 2002, having won 33 of his 51 bouts inside the squared circle.

On November 12, 1993, on the back of a 15-fight win streak in the ring, Art Jimmerson would forever be stapled in history when he competed at UFC 1.

Related: Never saw UFC 1? Watch it now, FREE! (full event video)

Despite his efforts, he would fall victim to the grappling prowess of Royce Gracie and fall to a submission just 2:18 into the first round. His courage to showcase his skills at the event not only meant the boxing specialist played a huge role in the growth of the UFC, but he also had a strong impact on the entire sport.

Gracie would go on to win the tournament, changing the outlook on combat sports from that day forward.

While this was his one and only fight in the cage, Art Jimmerson would later continue to work with the company. Jimmerson would serve as the head boxing coach at the UFC GYM in Torrance, California.

Watch Jimmerson’s one and only fight under the UFC banner below.

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

Social Media Success
| BJPenn.com

UFC

Michael Chandler isn’t the only fighter Conor McGregor has to worry about.

UFC 303 will see the return of “The Notorious” in Las Vegas on June 29, 2024. Before he finally collides with Chandler, McGregor will have to continue his legal battle with old friend and teammate, Artem Lobov.

McGregor, 35, started his now-famous whiskey brand, Proper No. Twelve, with Lobov in 2018. Since then, the duo have fallen out and a majority brand stake was sold for $ 600 million to Proximo Sport in 2021. Lobov has claimed to have been promised five percent of the stake but never received any money. He’s suing for that percentage while McGregor reportedly offered Lobov $ 1 million which was rejected.

The former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight champion, McGregor, is forced to comply with a High Court order by tomorrow, requiring the disclosure of his personal benefits from the sale, according to The Irish Sun. On top of the percentage lawsuit, Lobov had a second case against his former teammate and business partner for defamation. McGregor labeled Lobov a “rat” on his Twitter account in late 2022. However, the Dublin High Court closed that case and cleared McGregor of any wrongdoing.

When McGregor enters the Octagon against Chandler next month, it will be his first time competing since a first round technical knockout loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021 (watch highlights). Lobov, 37, hasn’t fought in the same amount of time as his last appearance came in a bare-knuckle boxing (BKB) match against Denys Berinchyk. “The Russian Hammer” lost the Mahatch Fighting Championship bout via fourth round retirement (watch highlights).

MMAmania.com – All Posts

submitted by /u/GramToker [link] [comments]

MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

The UFC’s ties to the Middle East grew deeper on Tuesday with the promotion extending a deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for another event to land there along with a strategic partnership to sponsor the upcoming card at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of the board of directors of the general entertainment authority in Saudi Arabia, announced that Riyadh Season was extended an agreement with the UFC. UFC CEO Dana White also celebrated the news on his Instagram page.

Under terms of the deal, the UFC will bring another event to Saudi Arabia sometime in 2024 or 2025, which follows the upcoming card scheduled on June 22, which features former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker against Khamzat Chimaev in the main event.

In addition to the UFC returning to Saudi Arabia for another event, Riyadh Season, which is the annual sports and entertainment festival in the country, has agreed to sponsor the upcoming UFC 306 card at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

The event is expected to take place on Sept. 14, which is the weekend prior to Mexican Independence Day. UFC Noche, a highly successful card that took place this past September, celebrated Mexican Independence Day as well with White later stating that he planned to make it an annual event.

“This agreement is a continuation of Riyadh Season’s aims to host and partner with prominent and international events of mass interest,” Turki Alashikh said in a press release. “It also enhances our efforts for Riyadh Season to produce diverse content in order to engage and attract and even wider audience with different interests from around the world. UFC is the most prominent mixed martial arts organization in the world and their platform of global fans is unrivalled.”

In addition to this deal with Saudi Arabia, WWE — the other half of TKO Group Holdings alongside the UFC — has a longstanding relationship with the country. WWE has an event scheduled in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on May 25.

The previous deal reportedly paid the UFC around a $ 20 million site fee to bring the promotion to Saudi Arabia so it’s almost certain this new deal is even more lucrative, especially with the additional sponsorship for UFC 306.

MMA Fighting – All Posts

After revealing a planned title fight with Jon Jones has missed a targeted July landing pad, former two-time heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic has sights on a UFC 309 fight with the Rochester native in November at Madison Square Garden.

Miocic, a former two-time undisputed heavyweight champion under the banner of the promotion, has been sidelined for over three years, most recently dropping his title in a stunning second round one-punch KO loss to Francis Ngannou in the pair’s rematch.

As for Jones, the former pound-for-pound number one headlined UFC 285 back in March of last year in his own hiatus-snapping comeback, submitting former interim gold holder, Ciryl Gane with a stunning first round guillotine choke submission win to claim the vacant championship. 

And confirming over the course of the weekend how he has struck a verbal agreement with the UFC to make his return in a title fight against Miocic, Jones – according to the Ohio veteran, was initially targeted to defend that crown as soon as July.

Stipe Miocic confirms plans for UFC 309 fight with Jon Jones

Revealing his plans to continue his sidelining until he stands opposite Jones, Miocic confirmed a pairing with the former light heavyweight kingpin is now in the works for UFC 309 in November – for the promotion’s annual card at Madison Square Garden.

“That’s what I want,” Stipe Miocic told Quinton Jackson on the JAXXON Podcast. “I’m gonna wait. I don’t care, I want that fight.”

“They [the UFC] were talking about July, that passed on,” Stipe Miocic explained. “I’m thinking more – maybe November again in New York. 

Without a victory since 2020, Miocic headlined UFC 252 in August of that year in a title trilogy rubber match against common-foe, Daniel Cormier, landing a unanimous decision win over the former duel-weight champion to successfully retain the heavyweight crown.

Who wins in a UFC 309 title fight: Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic?

LowKickMMA.com

UFC

submitted by /u/GramToker [link] [comments]

MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Tai Tuivasa can add reality TV star to his résumé.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the UFC heavyweight will be a contestant on the upcoming season of The Amazing Race Australia — a regional spinoff of the popular CBS reality show. Tuivasa teams up with his brother Logan on the all-celebrity cast.

Check out the announcement from the show, and from Tuivasa himself below.

As of now, there is no word on when the eighth season of the show will premiere.

Tuivasa has become a fan-favorite in the UFC with the hard-hitting, powerful style he’s shown off during his 15-fight run with the promotion. Currently, Tuivasa has been stopped in four-straight fights, most recently being submitted in the first round by Marcin Tybura in the main event of UFC Vegas 88 in March.

Prior to his skid, Tuivasa fought his way into title contention when he picked up five straight knockout victories, including stoppages of Derrick Lewis, Augusto Sakai, and Greg Hardy.

MMA Fighting – All Posts