Fighters Only

Issue 143

July 2016

Bellator star killed by hit-and-run

Featherweight fighter Jordan Parsons has died aged 25. The Blackzilians athlete was taken to hospital for emergency surgery following a hit-and-run accident in Delway Beach, Florida in the early hours of Sunday, May 1st. ‘Pretty Boy’ had his a leg amputated and a splenectomy but remained in critical care until his passing on Wednesday, May 4th due to his injuries.

Bellator president Scott Coker led the tributes: “Jordan was an exceptional athlete and a rising star in the sport. But more importantly, he was an exceptional young man. Jordan was hard-working, dedicated, intelligent, and a pleasure to be around. He represented all the reasons we love this sport. It is a terribly tragic loss and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and teammates.”

On the radar

Emerging talent with big potential

Magomed Magomedov

(Russia)

The 24-year-old with one of the best names in MMA proved his striking skills, grappling prowess and durability over five rounds to win the Absolute Championship Berkut 135lb title and extend his win streak to 12 fights.

Ed Ruth (USA)

The three-time NCAA collegiate wrestling champion is eyeing his MMA debut with Bellator after officially ending his career on the mat. He’ll be well prepared after choosing to train at Jackson-Wink MMA with Jon Jones.

Aspen Ladd

(USA)

She only reached the legal drinking age in March, but MMA Gold Fight Team’s bantamweight prospect is comfortable wherever the fight goes and already has three stoppage wins from three fights in Invicta.

Sibling Rivalry

World Series of Fighting has become the first major MMA promotion to schedule a fight between brothers. Caros Fodor is set to take on his younger sibling, Ben – aka real-life superhero Phoenix Jones – at WSOF 32 on July 30th in their home state of Washington.

Jones was initially hesitant to sign the bout agreement, but later relented and called ‘The Future’ out on social media: “You might have your life in order but in the cage or on the street you know who the king is.” Caros told Yahoo Sports that they were not on the best of terms at present.

This is not the first fight of this type in MMA. Jeremiah Castillo beat his brother Angel at Evolution 2: Brother vs. Brother in 2010 before Mike Treadwell defeated his brother Thomas by TKO at Maximum Fighting Championship 37 in 2013.

What's Hot

Lethal leg kicks

Who says Muay Thai striking is dead in MMA? Edson Barboza’s leg-kick lesson on Anthony Pettis showed the art of eight limbs is here to stay.

I Touch Myself

UFC middleweight champ Luke Rockhold’s selection of Divinyls’ 1990 ode to female masturbation is strong choice of training tune.

Singapore sensation

Angela Lee’s One Championship atomweight title-fight war with Mei Yamaguchi was 25 of the most incredible minutes of MMA in 2016 so far.

What's Not

Four breakfasts

Conor McGregor says morning overeating was a big reason for his defeat to Nate Diaz at UFC 196. Maybe just stick to oatmeal next time?

Spider squashed

Anderson Silva’s 11th-hour gall bladder surgery denied Curitiba fans the chance to cheer on their hero in his hometown for the first time in 14 years.

Bigfoot found out

Not even a fresh new do could stop Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva from getting knocked out in 16 seconds by Stefan Struve.

MMA in the mainstream

UFC on GMA

ABC caught MMA fever when the stars of the Octagon took over Good Morning America to announce the new headline fight for UFC 200. Dana White, Chuck Liddell, Miesha Tate, Paige VanZant and Frankie Edgar joined Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier in the studio for a chat with presenter Michael Strahan, Bruce Buffer acted as announcer for the show and hosts Amy Robach and Jesse Palmer were coached by Chris Weidman to learn some techniques.

10+

Demetrious Johnson became the fifth fighter after Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, Georges St Pierre and Royce Gracie to achieve 10 consecutive Octagon wins at UFC 197.

Title excitement

Which of these three headlining title fights are getting Fighters Only readers the most hyped-up for UFC 200?

Cormier vs. Jones 2 58%

Tate vs. Nunes

Aldo vs. Edgar 2 35%

Luke Rainer

Tate v Nunes is intriguing. I think Nunes has a chance in the first round but after that it will be all Miesha.

@kbrowningMMA1

Most excited yo see DC vs

@JonnyBones to see Jonny Bones KO DC like a bitch that DC is.

Justin Gerschwiler

All of them.