Below are some of the best costumes in MMA from Halloween 2023 (or, you could do your own costume as an MMA notable)!

Carla Esparza

Wonder Woman and a little Hulk? We’ll forgive the Marvel-DC crossover in this case!

Happy Halloween 🎃 👻! Our little Hulk was sleepy, he’s been on night duty so he’s kinda tired 😂😴 #wonderwoman #hulk #clarkkent #superman #marvel pic.twitter.com/Qix3RYMlPF

— Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) November 1, 2023

Valerie Loureda

She’s now known as Lola Vice in WWE, but Valerie Loureda had a successful run in Bellator MMA prior to switched to scripted violence. She’s always been known to go all-out for Halloween, but this year she went with an angelic theme.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzCfKRhOSg-/?hl=en&img_index=1

Megan Anderson

Former Invicta champ and UFC title challenger Megan Anderson dipped into the anime world for her costume this year.

Halloween 2023 👻🎃 pic.twitter.com/vG340ojx7T

— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) October 31, 2023

Pearl Gonzalez

Former UFC star and BKFC fighter Pearl Gonzalez with a little Scream-inspired cheekiness. Ghostface never looked so good.

https://twitter.com/PearlGonzalez/status/1719357438858572033

Neil Magny

Looks like the Magny family went with a Mario theme this year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzEFRAhuFUq

Ailin Perez

Ailin Perez pretty much just painted on her costume. In her own words, “I found a really nice pumpkin at the pumpkin patch this year.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzEKemOLINB

Gillian Robertson

That’s a savagely good Toy Story-inspired ensemble.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzEGe8QPeZ0

Tyson Pedro

Sticking with movie-inspired costumes, he’s Tyson Pedro.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzDDK4er4hp

Jon Anik

Neil Magny wasn’t the only one going with a Mario theme this year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzEWu3YOmRM

Amanda and Nina Nunes

My, what big eyes you have!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzEZZynrEjv

Kay Hansen

Kay couldn’t settle on just one costume and broke out three – Wonder Woman, a sexy cop, and a Chucky-inspired outfit.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzEbZooJs51

Arianny Celeste

Hello nurse!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzC7jLarqIG

Tracy Cortez

Tracy says she’s ghosting everyone for Halloween this year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cy-aNQAOs_3

Max Holloway

This is just cool.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cy_rrBCymSG

Demetrious Johnson

Not sure which is scarier, this Heath Ledger-inspired joker, or Mighty Mouse with hair!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzEoZ0IPHba

Kevin Holland

Kevin Holland just won Halloween.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzE4fklJ4JW

Kayla Harrison

Quite the cast of characters here.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzE6zbRAhRR

Stephen Thompson

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetle— nope not doing that! He’s do some real damage in the MMA world.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzE89dePiox

Fabian Edwards

Well that’s just plain creepy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzEwy0PrswM

The post Spooky Season 2023: MMA Does Halloween appeared first on Cageside Press.

Now, the former Invicta FC champ has opened up about what she feels was a lack of training and guidance ahead of the bout, while she was a member of Glory MMA and Fitness.

Responding to a fan on social media who accused her of throwing the gym under the bus in her loss, while another Glory MMA Fighter, Brandon Moreno, was thriving, Anderson wrote that “When you only received 1 x 30 pad session a week for the entire 7 months I was [in] camp and received no other coaching, no one picking my training partners/rounds or even coaching me through those rounds the entire time, when no matter how many times I asked to sit down and talk about a game plan an excuse was always given for it to never happen then it’s not throwing them under the bus… it’s saying exactly what happened.”

In regards to the Moreno comparison, Anderson added that “Now Brandon had a personalized session every single day, whenever he traveled for the UFC Spanish broadcast the coached traveled with him to make sure he had personalized training at all times.”

“If you’re telling me that just 1 x 30 mins pad session a week for a world title fight against the greatest female fighter of all time is enough coaching than you’re delusional,” Anderson finished.

Anderson, 32, later deleted the post.

The towering Anderson did not last long against Nunes in their March 2021 match-up, ending up submitted via a reverse triangle arm-bar just over two minutes into the opening round. It was another notch on Nunes’ belt, while Anderson was heavily criticized for her performance.

It did not take long for Glory MMA and Fitness member and fellow UFC fighter Jeff Molina to respond. The flyweight was quick to defend the gym and head coach James Krause, who came under fire this past weekend when Darrick Minner fought injured at UFC Vegas 64.

“This couldn’t be further from the truth. Way to wait until MMA Twitter is trashing JK [James Krause] for his fighter fighting injured just like 90% of fighters do just cause [you] want some Twitter clout,” Molina wrote in response. “I was there your entire training camp for Nunes. You sat out 99% of the live [rounds], you would ask your training partners ‘jokingly’ to let you win the [round], you were the laziest training partner always talking about how tired you were 5 min into drilling, you would intentionally hurt training partners who were new and had an obvious skill gap (you broke a soccer mom’s nose in probably one of the few [rounds] of sparring you did outside of practice), you have an alcohol problem and were sloshed a month and a half before your title fight, you burned bridges with every single person in the gym including the front desk guy because of how much of a head case you are.”

“Don’t forget how Krause talked you off the ledge before every single fight and how complimentary you were of him changing your career and life. You lose one fight and now everything changes? Take some accountability for yourself. You lost that fight the second you signed the dotted line— look in the mirror that’s why you lost that fight.”

Krause’s camp has gone through a particularly rough week, with betting irregularities surrounding the Minner fight currently under investigation. Megan Anderson, meanwhile, has not responded to Molina’s allegations regarding her behavior in the gym.

The post Megan Anderson Says Glory MMA Left Her Ill Prepared for Title Fight, Former Teammate Fires Back appeared first on Cageside Press.

The Australian, who fought out her contract at UFC 259 last March in a losing effort against Amanda Nunes, for the women’s featherweight title, has released a statement on social media pertaining to her fighting future. And at least for the time being, it doesn’t appear she has one.

“For all those that are asking and continue to ask me daily, I have no plans to fight right now. I’m not saying that I will never fight again, but at this point in my life, I’m loving everything else I’m doing,” the 31-year old wrote. “From gaming and streaming, working as an analyst for ESPN and Invicta, and currently filming my first major feature film, I couldn’t be happier and fighting isn’t on my mind.”

Update: pic.twitter.com/LonO22UxfB

— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) February 3, 2022

“I’m currently not affiliated with any gym, I’m not signed to any promotion right now and haven’t been pursuing a new fight contract. I appreciate the love and interest form everyone hoping to see me in the cage again, but hopefully this answers your questions for now.”

Anderson has hit increased levels of popularity on Twitch, the video game streaming platform. Still, she appeared to be a high-profile free agent after exiting the UFC, one that would easily attract the attention of the PFL, and especially Bellator MMA, who actually have a women’s featherweight division.

Late last year, Anderson revealed that she had a part in Extraction 2, an upcoming action flick starring Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth. During her UFC run, Anderson (11-5) posted a 3-3 record, earning wins over Cat Zingano, Zarah Fairn, and Norma Dumont. During that time, she trained under James Krause at Glory MMA and Fitness in Kansas City.

The post Megan Anderson Focused on Gaming, Film and Analyst Work, No Immediate Plans to Fight Again appeared first on Cageside Press.

Amanda and Nina Nunes — Aladdin

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtSG_7PfNs/

The champ-champ and wife Nina Nunes, along with their daughter Raegan Ann, get high marks for an Aladdin, Jasmine, and Abu (we had to look up the monkey’s name) group costume.

Yaba-Daba-Doo!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtaIchvwHb

Barney, Betty and Bam-Bam!

Bunny or Hard Time?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtLa6pPg80/

Kay Hansen couldn’t pick just one costume.

Sexy Serial Killer Nurse

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtIbnqPejG/

If that nurse isn’t a serial killer, then she just lost a patient. Yikes!

RIP Prince

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVrPJZQFFFP/

Sergio Pettis calls back to that time Dave Chappelle spoofed Prince.

No Halloween Parties for Belbita

#halloween2021
Everyone is out partying and I'm over here like.. pic.twitter.com/PIsjhzMumg

— Diana Belbiță (@DianaBelbita) October 31, 2021

There’s something to be said for a quiet night in.

More bloody than her last fight

https://twitter.com/AngelaMagana1/status/1454931711083511809

Former UFC fighter Angela Magana looked like she just beheaded some zombies.

Vampire Champ

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVsv9i1PglN/

We’re pretty sure biting is still banned under the Unified Rules of MMA, but Sinead Kavanagh might want to watch out anyway, based on Cris Cyborg’s Halloween outfit.

Dirty

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVs5CVDvU5r/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=328b7a66-554f-4c79-bc86-c6bdc00ecd52

Clay Guida giving Joe Dirt a little love. He actually might be pulling it off better than David Spade himself.

Can’t pick just one

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVsgOUbrbl7/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtXM5kpQk_/

Gillian Robertson rocked both a Harley Quinn and Child’s Play outfit this year.

No family should be this cool

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVs92S2vMpL/

We don’t deserve Max Holloway

Ummm…

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVrDC06v3ks/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=dc7f8068-4a20-450e-ad6a-4d58e1d13571

Not sure what Carla Esparza is going for here, other than dominatrix. She is known for punishing opponents mind you.

Hocus Pocus

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVrT6lzjo2g/

Megan Anderson showing how group theme costumes are done.

Book of St-Pierre

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtdNBPPEVI/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=cd5adaad-6189-4604-8919-7b598f656dd3

He’s already done the MCU — maybe GSP is hinting at something here.

Mortal Kombat

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVrR-ysjr0q/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=7a3c1d73-921a-4df1-b450-f225c6905af3

This franchise will never not be linked to MMA.

DC Universe

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVsy4zVJyNU/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=d8258748-21f8-407b-ab5a-7652fbb96fb7

Bane.

Ocho

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVs9_Plp-O6/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=8fe66afb-2791-4dd0-88ac-816f0e76ef75

I mean, it’s October 31st already…

Evil Eye

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtOqSAPn2N/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=ffdbb1e6-3e43-43ac-a931-835a35d253d3

Eye has it.

Happiest man in MMA?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtX_9BlaI4/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=ac60a856-c9af-4f6e-a4d0-7c4803a47445

Cigano with the Monster’s Inc. family outfit.

Peak Mike Perry

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtmM-rL16L/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=9196977b-2565-4af8-94b8-f1c2b108e0f2

Soon to be punishing opponents in BKFC!

Rey getting some love

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVZjgLQr4wm/

Rachel Ostovich sporting a Star Wars inspired costume, and it’s not the original series for once.

D’oh!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtexHjPaze/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=e9500983-7d3b-490e-b88b-2414c4a39cef

Marlon Vera and fam. need a donut delivery stat!

Where’s Carnage?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtdP9vgqQM/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=6541ca0f-7ed1-43d9-840f-2e0391e2b817

Just in time for No Way Home.

Be Yourself

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtphUOrwaC/

Blonde Brunson!

If Pokemon had spinning sh*t and head kicks

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtpqZ2rzpZ

Edson Barboza with another family theme.

Horsewomen

Blast from Halloween past. @HeymanHustle & @BrockLesnar as played by me and @jessamynduke pic.twitter.com/XzAS3MDp7i

— Shayna Baszler (@QoSBaszler) October 31, 2021

A couple of former UFC fighters go to Suplex City.

Terrible decade. Great costume.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVpQvyJlqgy/

ONE champ Angela Lee turns back time.

The post Halloween in MMA: The Best Costumes of 2021 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Promotion officials announced via press release Wednesday that veteran fighters Miesha Tate and Yves Edwards would handle the call for the PPV event.

Tate and Edwards will provide color commentary alongside usual Invicta play-by-play man TJ De Santis. That leaves another fighter the odd woman out: Megan Anderson.

In a post to social media on Wednesday following the news of Tate and Edwards making the rounds, Anderson stated that she will continue to appear on future Invicta FC broadcasts.

“For everyone asking, AXS want a different broadcast team for the Invicta Phoenix Series and their PPV events… I’ll be working all the other shows,” Anderson wrote on her verified Twitter account.

Tate, a former UFC women’s bantamweight champion, recently returned to the octagon for the first time in over four years, defeating Marion Reneau. The win saw “Cupcake” jump to eighth in the division in the promotion’s official rankings.

Edwards, who competed in the UFC, WEC, Pride, Strikeforce, and Bellator, is no stranger to the broadcast booth, having worked as an analyst for FOX Sports UFC events, Dana White’s Contender Series, and the PFL.

Invicta FC 44 takes place Friday, Aug. 27 and will crown new champions in the strawweight and bantamweight divisions.

The post Miesha Tate and Yves Edwards to Handle Invicta FC 44 Commentary appeared first on Cageside Press.

While participating in a Twitch stream on Tuesday, Anderson, a former Invicta FC champ who joined the UFC in 2017, stated that she was gone from the promotion — as was the entire featherweight division. Reporter Drake Riggs was first to note the news.

Although the UFC later disputed that the division has been given the axe in a statement to ESPN, Anderson did reiterate that she is no longer with the company, having fought out her deal.

“Probably we’ll make more money outside the UFC,” she stated on Twitch.

Anderson (11-5) competed in the co-main event against champ-champ Amanda Nunes Saturday. She didn’t last long, with the consensus pick for women’s fighting GOAT submitting her in the opening round.

The UFC’s featherweight division has long been the division that wasn’t. At no point in its multi-year history has it had an official rankings, or more than six or so fighters. Originally brought in to build a division around Cris Cyborg, the UFC instead booked one-off fights in the weight class from time to time. Over the years, Holly Holm, Cat Zingano, and Germaine de Randamie — the UFC’s first featherweight champion — have competed in the weight class. More recently, double champ Amanda Nunes has been the star, with fighters like Anderson and Felicia Spencer also in play.

The only featherweight bout currently scheduled features Spencer against boxing crossover Danyelle Wolf, who has just a single pro MMA fight to her name.

Both Invicta FC and Bellator MMA have featherweight divisions, though in the absence of Anderson and Spencer, the Invicta 145lb weight class hasn’t been the most active. Cris Cyborg, who held 145lb gold in the UFC, currently holds the title in Bellator — which also boasts names like Leslie Smith, Julia Budd, Arlene Blencowe, Sinead Kavanagh, and Cat Zingano.

The post “Probably we’ll make more money outside the UFC” — Megan Anderson Fights Out Contract appeared first on Cageside Press.

Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya’s quest to become a champ-champ was thwarted by the late grappling, and distance management of Jan Blachowicz. While his foray into the light heavyweight class wasn’t successful, Style Bender is still the champ at middleweight, which is where he should return. Part of what made this divisional change possible was that a contender was waiting to shake itself out. This gave it some time to happen, but it appears to still need one more fight to do so. Former champion Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa square off next month. The winner of that fight should get their second crack at Adesanya’s middleweight belt.

Israel Adesanya’s Next Fight: Whittaker/Costa Winner

Megan Anderson

Apart from actually assembling a division for her to be in, the options are fairly limited for Megan Anderson. There’s no way she’s going down to 135lbs and there is virtually nobody at 145lbs for her to fight next. The lone fight booked in the division is Danyelle Wolf vs Felicia Spencer. Seemingly the only option for her is to fight the winner of that in what would probably be a #1 contenders fight. The bottom line is that the UFC need to fish or cut bait here.

Megan Anderson’s Next Fight: Wolf/Spencer Winner

Petr Yan

Going into that fateful fourth round, Petr Yan was ahead on two of the three judges’ scorecards. By all accounts, he was ahead in the fourth leading up to the very illegal knee that ended the fight. That round would have been enough, save a finish by Sterling, for him to take the decision. Given that fact, you have to imagine that they’re going to have to run this one back when the two are healthy. Being that there will be a nice narrative that the UFC can sell, I’d be surprised if they didn’t do just that.

Petr Yan’s Next Fight: Aljamain Sterling

Drew Dober

Drew Dober was right on the edge of the top 15 thanks to his three-fight win streak, but looked out of his element again Islam Makhachev. Often lauded for his takedown defense, Dober had no answers for the Russian in that arena. Being as Makhachev may wind up being a title challenger, there is no reason to send Dober too far back in the line after a loss like this. I do think that he needs to prove that his ability to keep his feet in a fight is as-advertised if he is going to fight ranked guys. A great test for that would be Armenian-prospect Arman Tsarukyan. His ten takedowns in his last fight showed just what a problem he could be, and it would be nice to see if that’s the type of problem Dober is capable of solving.

Drew Dober’s Next Fight: Arman Tsarukyan

Thaigo Santos

Thiago Santos has now lost three straight after the dominant streak that led him to the title. In this fight, he not only seemed a little gun-shy, but also a touch too slow for the likes of Rakic, who picked away at him for 15 minutes. While he is certainly capable of hanging with the top of the division, it is time for him to take a bigger step down and build the confidence back up. Magomed Ankalaev would be a good one to test this. His threat of the takedown may not be as scary as Glover Teixeira, his hands not as fast a Rakic. If Santos is going to make a second run, it will have to start with someone of that caliber.

Thaigo Santos’ Next Fight: Magomed Ankalaev

The post What’s Next: UFC 259 Losers appeared first on Cageside Press.

Megan Anderson, her latest challenger, suggested ahead of their featherweight title fight that Nunes had yet to fight a true featherweight like herself. For Anderson, her career has led her to UFC 259 from Invicta, where she captured 145lb gold. She was looking to shock the world and dethrone the Queen of the Women’s Featherweight on Saturday, despite the odds being heavily stacked against her.

Nunes proved once again on Saturday why she is the greatest female fighter the UFC has ever seen. Using her power, she rocked Megan with a right hand that wobbled the challenger early, allowing Nunes to take the fight to the mat. There, she set up a beautiful submission victory — a triangle arm-bar — a secure the win, and extend her reign as featherweight (and of course, bantamweight) champion.

PROS GIVE THEIR TAKE

Here is how the pros reacted to the women’s featherweight title fight between Megan Anderson and Amanda Nunes at UFC 259.

Baddest Mom on the planet!!! #UFC259

— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 7, 2021

Amanda is on another level 👀!!!!#UFC259

— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) March 7, 2021

GOAT @Amanda_Leoa #UFC259

— Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) March 7, 2021

Goat @Amanda_Leoa #UFC259

— Charles 'DoBronxs' Oliveira (@CharlesDoBronxs) March 7, 2021

🐐 @Amanda_Leoa #UFC259

— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) March 7, 2021

I’m getting old, I’m getting good. Aww that’s the trick. 😂😂😂💕 Love her. #UFC259

— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) March 7, 2021

🐐🐐the GOAT @Amanda_Leoa #UFC259

— Charles Rosa (@CharlesRosaMMA) March 7, 2021

#AndStill
🇧🇷🦁
🐐🐐🐐#UFC259

— Herbert Burns (@HerbertBurnsMMA) March 7, 2021

Congratulations #momchamp @Amanda_Leoa you’re a freakin beast!!! #UFC259

— Michelle Waterson (@karatehottiemma) March 7, 2021

Bring Clarissa Shields….Why not?! 🤷‍♀️#UFC259

— BriannaTheBull (@briannathebull) March 7, 2021

Book Amanda a fight next week #UFC259

— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) March 7, 2021

THE GOAT!! #AndStill 🦁🙌🔥👊🏼

— PEARL GONZALEZ (@PearlGonzalez) March 7, 2021

Fight me @Amanda_Leoa !

— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) March 7, 2021

The post The Pro Take: Amanda Nunes Defends 145lb Title, Secures 12th Straight Win at UFC 259 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Nunes, as a double champ on an incredible run over the past several years, has established her legacy as the best female fighter in MMA history. So those odds, perhaps, were well deserved — and it looked that way on Saturday night.

The first strike thrown in Saturday’s co-main event was a leg kick, fired off by Nunes. It hit home, shortly after, the champ changed levels for a takedown. It wasn’t there, but Anderson had to eat a follow-up blow. Nunes then rocked Anderson with a right hand; Anderson, wobbled, answered with a spinning back fist, but that was well short. Anderson looked out of sorts, easily falling to the floor when Nunes went to take things down. Of course, that was off another right hand that had glanced off the Australian’s had. Once down, Nunes locked in a triangle arm-bar, both the triangle side and arm-bar side of which were tight. Anderson had two choices, tap or go to sleep. She tapped, and Amanda Nunes had the win — and had cleaned out the women’s 145lb division.

GOAT STATUS.

🏆🏆 @Amanda_Leoa didn't need long! #UFC259 pic.twitter.com/LADS0snV0b

— UFC (@ufc) March 7, 2021

Official Result: Amanda Nunes def. Megan Anderson by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 2:03

The post UFC 259 Results: Amanda Nunes Stuns, Submits Megan Anderson appeared first on Cageside Press.

Of course, all eyes were on the trio of title fights atop the card. In the main event, middleweight champ Israel Adesanya was making the move up to 205lbs. Waiting to greet him was 205lb champion Jan Blachowicz, making the first defense of his own title. Were Adesanya to win, he would join some very distinguished company as a simultaneous two-division champ: only Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Henry Cejudo had worn two belts at once in the UFC (additionally, Randy Couture, B.J. Penn, and Georges St. Pierre had won titles in two weight classes, but in separate runs).

In the co-main event was one of those double-champs: Amanda Nunes was defending her middleweight title against Megan Anderson. A lopsided affair on paper and with the oddsmakers, there was still a curiosity factor: how would Nunes handle the height and reach of the Australian challenger?

The third title fight, meanwhile, featured bantamweight champ Petr Yan, finally throwing down with challenger Aljamain Sterling. A fight that fans had wanted since even before Yan had claimed the belt against Jose Aldo last summer.

Following the event, tune in for the UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya post-fight press conference. A live stream is available above.

The post UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya Post-Fight Press Conference Live Stream appeared first on Cageside Press.