Following a Tweet posted by Macdonald, which favored Alexander Shlemenko in a recent Bellator bout with Mousasi, the Dutch mixed martial artist claimed the champion should “shut his mouth.” In fact, Mousasi wasn’t all that impressed with MacDonald performance against Douglas Lima at Bellator 192 either.

In an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Mousasi revealed he is targeting a match the Canadian after his Bellator 200 event.

After this fight, hopefully we can get it done and he can come and show his skills. But he will come up short. His style is perfect for me, he moves forward — he’ll get his ass kicked, probably.

At the moment, Mousasi doesn’t believe Carvalho will derail him from getting the middleweight belt. A victory over the Brazilian champ will most likely open a few more doors for the Dutch.

If he was in the UFC, he would be top five probably, 10 to five, he would be ranked somewhere between there. He’s tough, he’s skilled, he’s the champion for a reason and he hasn’t lost since 2011, I believe. As I said, he’s the champion for a reason, but I’m coming to get that belt.

If I beat Carvalho, doors will open, I might go up to light heavyweight and maybe I can accomplish a title there. If I do well in the title fight and I win, I can achieve bigger things.

Stay tuned to Yell! Magazine for much more daily news in MMA.

Earlier this week, it’s been reported that Smith and Bellator/Viacom have mutually parted ways for contractual reasons. So if you are a fan of Smith, don’t expect to see him return to another Bellator event in 2018. However, life continues in the UFC.

The result has given Smith an opportunity to approach the UFC (now fully owned by WME-IMG) and ink a deal to be part of the broadcast team for FOX and pay-per-view portion of UFC events.

Smith released the following statement after the news was announced.

I am honored to join the world’s premier combat sports brand in 2018. It is a privilege to call fights for a living and I can’t wait to join the tremendous UFC broadcast team to call the best fights in the world. To the UFC fans, I am thrilled to join you for this wild ride. See you all very soon!

His first assignment will involve desk work for FS1 during next weekend’s UFC 220 fight card.

We’re very excited to have Jimmy Smith join the UFC production team and look forward to working him into a variety of different on-air talent roles,” said UFC vice-president Craig Borsari. “Jimmy’s extensive experience in mixed martial arts gives him a unique voice and great insight to breakdown the intricacies of our sport. We are excited to welcome him to the family.

Stay tuned to Yell! Magazine for much more daily news in MMA.

Last Thursday, “Rampage” announced that he will stay with Bellator MMA and continue working with CEO Scott Coker. According to the announcement, “Rampage” inked an exclusive, multi-fight deal to remain with the company.

I am excited for this new beginning and looking forward to an action-packed 2018, I can’t wait to get back in the cage and put on exciting fights for both the ‘Rampage’ and Bellator fans.

Coker believes “Rampage” still has what it takes to draw more fans to the promotion with his “exciting” fight style.

With ‘Rampage’ Jackson, you know what you’re going to get every time he steps inside the Bellator cage – an exciting fight and interest from fans all over the world. I knew that keeping ‘Rampage’ with Bellator was integral to our continued growth as a promotion and I’m pleased that we were able to come to an agreement that allows us to plan some great future matchups for him.

At the moment, there’s no official date set for his return, but we expect to see “Rampage” back early next year. His most recent bout was a unanimous decision loss at heavyweight to “King Mo” Lawal in March 2017.

Stay tuned to Yell! Magazine for much more daily news in MMA.

Former top five UFC middleweight contender Gegard Mousasi is also breaking news in the world of MMA with his recent change of promotion. Following a five-fight win streak in the UFC, Mousasi will now be competing in Bellator MMA. The Dutch mixed martial artist inked a lucrative six-fight deal and will compete for the middleweight title later this year. His Bellator debut is also now set in stone.

Gegard will be officially taking on former Bellator middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko in the main event of Bellator 185 on October 20, 2017. The 31-year-old has plans to obtain the middleweight belt first then obtain the light heavyweight belt as well.

As for Shlemenko, he is recently coming off a win over Brandon Halsey via technical knockout at M-1 Challenge 79. The Russian fighter is 6-0 with one no-contest in his past seven bouts.

Stay tuned to Yell! Magazine for much more daily news in MMA.

From the 86,000 people that bought the pay-per-view for UFC 1 to the 1.3 million fans that paid to watch Conor McGregor become a two-weight world champion at UFC 205, MMA’s number one promotion is now classed as one of the 15 most popular sports in the world. With a passionate and growing fanbase from all four corners of the globe, the universal attraction to fighting has seen the sport go from a somewhat cult subculture to something that is now being embraced by the mainstream.

The Early Years

The size and pull of the UFC was highlighted last year by the promotion being sold to talent agency WME-IMG for a colossal $4.2 billion, 15 years after 2001, when the Fertitta brothers – alongside Dana White – bought the company for $2 million. The sale saw the UFC become the most expensive sports franchise ever sold, only topped at the start of 2017 when the Liberty Media Group paid $8 billion to acquire Formula One. Now a major player in the world of viewing figures, the UFC have placed a large focus on live streaming in order to fulfill the huge global appetite for mixed martial arts.

The early years of mixed martial arts bear very little resemblance to today’s UFC events. And it’s perhaps no surprise that the sport was shunned by mainstream media and television at the time. The pay-per-view events, starting in 1993 with UFC 1, saw viewing figures grow from 86,000 to 300,000 for UFC 2, with the fights then being sold on VHS. Failing to attract any mainstream media coverage, these viewing figures soon dropped, forcing the UFC’s owners to sell the company to Dana White and the Fertitta brothers at a cut price cost in 2001. It wasn’t until 2005, when reality television show The Ultimate Fighter was launched – attracting over 10 million viewers over the course of the season – that the UFC really exploded onto the mainstream – with 1.9 million people watching Forrest Griffin beat Stephen Bonnar live on Spike TV.

“Buffer” (CC BY-ND 2.0) by geyergus

Live Streaming

More and more people move away from traditional television networks in favor of using their computers or smartphones to consume content, with Netflix alone boasting over 98 million members in 190 countries. From breaking news to live sporting events, live streaming has been responsible for a new trend of how people view content. For the likes of eSports – the fast-growing world of professional video gaming backed by brands as diverse as Coca-Cola and HTC, – more than 500 million use live streaming services such as Twitch to watch events. Live streaming has also played a significant role in the increase in popularity of online casinos – an industry worth almost $30 billion in the U.S. alone. At online casinos such as Betway, live streaming means a new way to play, with players receiving streams of remote locations, where croupiers and dealers will serve them in casino games like roulette and blackjack. Even the app markets of Google Play and the App Store are testament to the popularity of live streaming tech, with Twitter-owned Periscope app and Facebook Live allowing amateurs to join the streaming revolution by streaming their life and activities.

This is where live streaming and MMA meet. The emergence of the live streaming phenomenon was the real catalyst for the UFC to truly embrace the technology. The UFC realised that there were millions of potential viewers around the world who didn’t have access to television channels that broadcasted the matches locally, so they went on to launch their Fight Pass service – where events were live streamed. Following in the footsteps of the WWE Network, which live streams pay-per-view events, the UFC’s Fight Pass service has played a major role in revolutionizing the sport of mixed martial arts.

“UFC 189 World Tour Aldo vs. McGregor Lon” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by andriuXphoto.events

From the Bottom to the Top

Despite owning all the rights to a huge fight library covering over 25 years and multiple promotions, the UFC had no way of allowing fans to access this memorable events. One of the reasons behind the launch of Fight Pass in December of 2013 was to make use of this historic collection of mixed martial arts’ greatest fights. The other reason was to offer a professional live streaming service for fans of the UFC around the globe. From pay-per-view events to specific fight cards shown exclusively on the platform, Fight Pass has shaken off some early cobwebs to now become a crucial part of how the UFC promotes and broadcasts its events.

One of the most important recent moves the UFC have made in terms of their Fight Pass platform has been to purchase the rights to show a number of smaller promotions from around the world. From the women’s only promotion Invicta to European-based promotions such as Cage Warriors, Fight Pass is now being used to provide the next generation of athletes a platform on which to show their skills. And it isn’t just MMA, with Fight Pass also showing kickboxing events from major promotions such as Glory and grappling tournaments from EBI.

Besides just awarding fighters, the World MMA Awards also serves as a way for MMA fans to look back and celebrate the most memorable moments over the course of the entire year. 2016 was a obviously one of the biggest years ever in MMA, so it’s kind of hard to sum everything up in one post, but I think the honours below is enough to get the overall epicness of the year.

Without further ado, here the official winners for each category.

Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Fighter of the Year

Michael Bisping
Donald Cerrone
Cody Garbrandt
Conor McGregor – WINNER
Stipe Miocic

Female Fighter of the Year

Cris Cyborg
Angela Hill
Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Angela Lee
Amanda Nunes – WINNER

Breakthrough Fighter of the Year

Yair Rodriguez
Cody Garbrandt – WINNER
Doo Ho Choi
Derrick Lewis
Michael Page

International Fighter of the Year

Michael Bisping
Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Conor McGregor
Gegard Mousasi
Khabib Nurmagomedov – WINNER

Fight of the Year

Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit (UFC 195)
Cub Swanson vs. Doo Ho Choi (UFC 206) – WINNER
Michael Bisping vs. Anderson Silva (UFN 84)
Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 2 (UFC 202)
Michael Chandler vs. Benson Henderson (Bellator 165)

Knockout of the Year

Anthony Johnson (vs. Glover Teixeira, UFC 202)
Landon Vannata (vs. John Makdessi, UFC 206)
Michael Page (vs. Cyborg Santos, Bellator 158) – WINNER
Yair Rodriguez (vs. Andre Fili, UFC 197)
Michael Chandler (vs. Pitbull Freire, Bellator 157)

Submission of the Year

Ben Rothwell (vs. Josh Barnett,UFC on FOX 18)
Nate Diaz (vs. Conor McGregor, UFC 196 — WINNER
Miesha Tate (vs. Holly Holm, UFC 196)
MacKenzie Dern (vs. Montana Stewart, Legacy 61)
Thiago Moises (vs. David Catillo, RFA 35)

Comeback of the Year

Michael Bisping (vs. Anderson Silva, UFN 84)
Nate Diaz (vs. Conor McGregor, UFC 196)
Dan Henderson (vs. Hector Lombard, UFC 199
Miesha Tate (vs. Holly Holm, UFC 196) – WINNER
Dominick Cruz (Career)

Upset of the Year

Michael Bisping (vs. Luke Rockhold, UFC 199) – WINNNER
Bryan Barberna (vs. Warlley Alves, UFC on FOX 18)
Joe Taimanglo (vs. Darrion Caldwell, Bellator 159)
Brandon Moreno (vs. Louis Smolka, UFN 96)
Zac Riley (vs. Hugo Viana, RFA 34)

Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year

Jason Parillo
Din Thomas
John Kavanagh – WINNER
Marcus Marinelli
Greg Jackson

Trainer of the Year

Jake Bonacci (S&C coach)
Mike Dolce (Nutrionist) — WINNER
Lawrence Herrera (S&C coach)
Loren Landow (S&C coach)
George Lockhart (Nutrionist)

Gym of the Year

American Top Team – WINNER
SBG Ireland
Jackson-Wink Arena
American Kickboxing Academy
Team Alpha Male

Referee of the Year

Marc Goddard
Herb Dean
John McCarthy – WINNER
Yves Lavigne
Leon Roberts

Ringcard Girl of the Year

Arianny Celeste
Brittney Palmer
Mercedes Terrell
Carly Baker
Jhenny Andrade – WINNER

Leading Man

Dana White – WINNER
Scott Coker
Victor Cui
Marc Ratner
Jeff Novitzky

Best Promotion

UFC – WINNER
Bellator MMA
One Championship
KSW
Legacy

Personality of the Year

Joe Rogan
Jimmy Smith
Jon Anik
Matt Serra
Brendan Schaub

Analyst of the Year

Brian Stann
Dan Hardy
Robin Black
Chael Sonnen
Dominick Cruz – WINNER

Best MMA Programming

UFC Embedded
Ultimate Fighter – WINNER
Lookin’ for a Fight
The MMA Hour
UFC Breakdown

MMA Media Source of the Year

MMA Junkie
MMA Fighting — WINNER
Bloody Elbow
Sherdog
Flocombat

MMA Journalist of the Year

Ariel Helwani – WINNER
Shaun Al-Shatti
Brett Okamoto
Ben Fowlkes
Karim Zidan

MMA Clothing and Equipment Brand of the Year

Hayabusa
Bad Boy
Virus
Everlast
Venum – WINNER

Moments after Liam McGeary defeated Brett McDermott at Bellator 173 on Friday night via Spike TV, Bellator booked a fight between him and light heavyweight contender Linton Vassell for Bellator 179.

McGeary, 34, is one Bellator’s biggest names who currently has 9 victories inside the Bellator cage. He has only one lose to former UFC light heavyweight Phil Davis at Bellator 163.

While his opponent holds wins over Francis Carmont, Emanuel Newton, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Virgil Zwicker, and among many others.

Also announced for the card is a bout between Derek Anderson and British phenom, Michael Page. Bellator 179: Daley vs. MacDonald takes place on May 19, 2017 at the SSE Arena in London, England. The event will air on Spike TV.

According to MMAfightning.com, they have learned that Bellator is going to give Marloes Coenen vs. Julia Budd another title shot. The MMA veterans will be fighting for the promotion’s inaugural women’s featherweight title at Bellator 174 in March, which will be aired live on Spike TV. The fight is currently slotted as the main event of the card.

Initially, Coenen and Budd where scheduled for a title bout last May. However, an injury forced Budd off the card and was replaced by Alexis Dufresne, who ended up submitting Coenen in the first round at Bellator 155.

Bellator 174: Coenen vs. Budd is now slated for March 3rd in Thackerville, OK.

On Friday night, MacDonald was officially introduced via a Bellator press conference. During the live session, the former UFC welterweight took a few jabs at the UFC and voiced some of the reasons why he made the switch.

According to MacDonald, Bellator simply offered a better contract and a better salary. The Canadian signed a lucrative exclusive multiyear contract with Bellator last week in the promotion’s most prominent signing to date of a former UFC fighter.

In addition, MacDonald slammed the UFC for making fighters wear the same uniform inside the cage and taking away individualism.

MacDonald said,

The production of the show, it just stands out right away. The big screens, the entrances. They do it bigger. They do it right here. It’s a fight show here. They want to promote a fighter, they want to build it. It’s not generic where everyone is wearing the same thing. We get to be our own individual self, promote ourselves. Where I was before, everyone is wearing the same uniforms now, we’re all walking out of the same, boring dressing room or the gate. It’s boring. People are tired of that.

There’s no official word on when MacDonald will debut in Bellator, but apparently it will be early 2017 after his nose 100% heals from the epic fight he had with Robbie Lawler at UFC 189 in July 2015. It also sounds like his first Bellator fight will be in Canada too.

We’re gonna take Bellator into Canada and we’re gonna do it big. We’re gonna reinvigorate that market. Those fans are gonna get a proper fight show again.

For the full presser, please watch the video embedded on this page.

Yankova, 25, an undefeated Russian mixed martial artist who signed with Bellator earlier this year will be officially stepping inside the 360 cage on Sept. 16 in America for a flyweight contest against Veta Arteaga at Bellator 161.

Yankova’s Bellator debut in April was an impressive one, she mauled through her opponent Anjela Pink early in the first round by submission at Bellator 152 in Italy. Since her pro MMA debut in 2013, Yankova has finished all three of her MMA bouts via submission.

Will her success continue with Arteaga? We’ll find out soon enough.

Bellator 161 is headlined by a heavyweight contender bout between Cheick Kongo and Tony Johnson in in Cedar Park, Texas.