With the start of the new year, UFC management would like nothing more than to mend the damage of the UFC 232 debacle and start anew. Fortunately for the executives and fans alike, the first card of 2019 ushers in…
The importance of Valentina Shevchenko’s takedowns against Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 231
In the run-up to their UFC 231 co-main event bout, a great deal of attention was given to the three Muay Thai bouts between Valentina Shevchenko and Joanna Jedrzejczyk. As Shevchenko was victorious in all three bouts, many used this…
Breaking down Donald Cerrone’s armbar win over Mike Perry
It is difficult to envision a better way to have capped off the UFC’s 25th birthday event than the final two fights of UFC Fight Night 139. The card culminated with two bouts that showed us everything we love about…
Understanding how Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Conor McGregor with a rear-naked choke that wasn’t under the chin
In an effort to make sure the post-fight melee doesn’t overshadow the exceptional martial arts displayed at UFC 229, let’s take a look at how Khabib Nurmagomedov was able to use a rear-naked choke to strangle Conor McGregor, without needing…
Die Beneath an Irish Sky: The Forgotten Backstory of Conor McGregor’s Walkout Song
Author’s note: in the context of this article the term “Republican” refers to the political idea that Ireland should be a Republic free from British rule. It is unrelated from the Republican party of the United States. MGM Garden Arena…
How Demetrious Johnson destroyed Henry Cejudo at UFC 197
The co-main event of UFC 227 will feature a rematch between Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and Henry Cejudo. The pair’s inaugural bout back in April of 2016 at UFC 197 was a particularly exceptional display of intellectual violence in which…
A comprehensive analysis of Rose Namajunas’ takedown techniques
A detailed break down of Rose Namajunas’ highly-advanced takedown game and how she used it to carve through the UFC’s strawweight roster.
Athletic Commissions: The case for an improved commissions structure for mixed martial arts
Today, more often than not, an MMA event seems to lead to a debate about the competency of the responsible athletic commission. Controversy after controversy has made MMA fans and fighters alike rethink what the role of the government should…
The confused state of Bellator MMA
In the grand scheme of professional mixed martial arts, every promotion tends to know more or less what their goals are, where their interests lie, and what kind of organization they want to be. The UFC is rightfully considered to…
Fabricio Werdum is proof that simple fighting techniques can still be lethal
UFC Fight Night 127 in London, England, will be headlined by the one and only Fabricio Werdum, a fighter who has managed to remain at the peak of the heavyweight division for the majority of his lengthy career. Werdum entered…