The best (and worst!) MMA movies of all time

If you eat, sleep and breathe MMA, utilize our list of the best (and, let’s be honest: the worst!) MMA movies of all time.

(Editor’s note: This story originally was published in 2021 and regularly updates.)

The “Road House” reboot is in the world, and in the new iteration, Elwood Dalton is a former UFC fighter who runs afoul of the wrong people while bouncing at a bar in the Florida Keys. The main muscle villain is Conor McGregor, so naturally the movie has to be on our list of the best (and worst!) MMA movies of all time.

(And if we left some off the list, don’t be offended. For the record, if a movie was purely karate or kickboxing or boxing, etc., we left it off – we’re looking for reasonably modern-era mixed martial arts/cagefighting kind of stuff to make the cut for this list. Sorry, old Bruce Lee and Jean Claude Van Damme flicks. We’ll save you for a different list.)

Rockets coach Ime Udoka provides injury update on rookie Cam Whitmore

Rockets coach Ime Udoka said Cam Whitmore is progressing in his recovery from a sprained lateral collateral ligament in his right knee.

Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka said Saturday that rookie Cam Whitmore is progressing in his recovery from a sprained lateral collateral ligament in his right knee.

Whitmore began experiencing discomfort in his knee during a win over the Sacramento Kings on March 10. He finished the game, recording 10 points and four rebounds in nearly 20 minutes, before seeking evaluation by the team medical staff afterward.

Udoka said on March 12 that Whitmore would likely miss three weeks. He updated that status on Saturday by saying Whitmore is doing some spot-up shooting and other related on-court work.

Whitmore is averaging 12.1 points and 3.9 rebounds on 36.1% shooting from 3-point range in 38 games this season with the Rockets. He has recorded four 20-point games, including a career-high 25 points and six rebounds on Feb. 2.

He started the year in the G League, logging 13 appearances with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He entered the rotation with the Rockets at the start of January and had played in every game, with the exception of three last month due to an ankle injury.

Whitmore has emerged as a key rotation player over the second half of the season. The team is also dealing with injuries to Tari Eason (leg) and Alperen Sengun (ankle) and looks forward to his return.

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Warriors’ Steve Kerr stands behind Brandin Podziemski over recent stretch: ‘I’m thrilled with Brandin’

Warriors coach Steve Kerr is standing behind Brandin Podziemski despite a recent dip in offensive production from the rookie.

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr is standing behind Brandin Podziemski despite a recent dip in offensive production from the rookie over the past month.

Podziemski, who is averaging 9.4 points this season, is posting 7.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 blocks on 38.6% shooting from the field over his last 12 games. He has connected on 40% of his 3-point attempts over that span.

The 19th pick has scored fewer than 10 points eight times in that stretch and recently totaled just seven points in a three-game span, mostly as a starter. He has still managed to affect games without his scoring, something that has proven to be valuable for the team.

Kerr doesn’t want to change anything with his current role.

I don’t care if he scores or not. He is in every one of our best lineups. He is our best plus-minus guy (plus-3.8) for the year. He is really good, no matter whether he is scoring or not. I know, especially as a rookie, that he’ll have ups and downs from a scoring standpoint, and right now, he is in a down period. But he allows other guys to play well just because of his recognition of what is happening on the floor, his cuts, ball movement, spacing. I’m thrilled with Brandin, and as long as he keeps playing as hard as he is, he’ll be out there.

Podziemski looked to break out a bit on Friday, recording 13 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and one steal for his seventh double-double in a loss to the Indiana Pacers. He finished a team-high plus-six in 27 minutes on the court.

The 21-year-old has become a favorite of Kerr, with his ability to affect  games in various ways. He has added an additional two points of offense per 100 possessions and is one of five rookies making a positive impact in that category, according to Sportradar.

Podziemski is averaging 9.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists on 37.9% shooting from 3-point range in 61 games. He leads the NBA in charges drawn (36) and ranks ninth in scoring and sixth in rebounding among all first-year players.

He has given Kerr and the Warriors another dynamic on both sides of the ball. He has played a key part in helping the team this season and will continue to play a large role.

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Lakers’ Jalen Hood-Schifino underwent successful lumbar procedure

Lakers rookie guard Jalen Hood-Schifino underwent a successful lumbar microdiscectomy procedure on Thursday.

Los Angeles Lakers rookie guard Jalen Hood-Schifino underwent a successful lumbar microdiscectomy procedure on Thursday, the team announced.

A lumbar microdiscectomy is described as a minimally invasive surgery to fix a bulging disc, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The team didn’t give a timetable for his return but indicated further updates would be provided as appropriate.

Hood-Schifino will miss the remainder of the season following the procedure, with a typical recovery time of 2-3 months. The team expects him to make a full recovery in the offseason, putting his status for summer league in question.

Hood-Schifino logged 21 appearances with the Lakers this season, playing mostly mop-up duty. He spent the majority of the season in the G League with the South Bay Lakers, averaging 22 points, 5.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds on 43.2% shooting from 3-point range in 15 games.

The 20-year-old failed to crack the rotation for the Lakers, with several veteran players ahead of him on the depth chart. However, the team has been encouraged by his development and was impressed with him from the start of training camp.

The Lakers selected Hood-Schifino with the 17th pick last year out of Indiana. He was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year after averaging 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 32 games.

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Chris Paul says it was fulfilling to play against GG Jackson: ‘He is an unbelievable kid’

Chris Paul faced GG Jackson for the first time as the Warriors hosted the Grizzlies, and was proud to see him in the NBA.

Chris Paul faced rookie GG Jackson for the first time on Wednesday as the Golden State Warriors hosted the Memphis Grizzlies, and the future Hall of Famer called it a fulfilling experience.

Jackson played on Paul’s AAU team, Team CP3, in North Carolina two years ago alongside Rob Dillingham and Aden Holloway among others. Paul and Jackson have had a strong friendship over that time and have kept in contact.

Paul missed the first two games against Jackson due to a wrist injury, but he  responded on Wednesday with 12 points, 14 assists and two rebounds off the bench in the 137-116 victory. Beyond that, Paul was proud to share the court with Jackson.

The most fulfilling thing about tonight was GG Jackson. … GG is an unbelievable kid. We played at Memphis twice this year, and I was hurt both of those games, so going into the game, it was crazy. Sometimes, he still calls me coach. He hit a 3 in my face earlier in the game and I was pissed. Our AAU program is really like a family, so to be out there on the court playing against him is something I’ll never get used to. It is kind of a surreal moment.

Jackson responded with his best game as a professional, producing a career-high 35 points, five rebounds and three assists. He went 11-of-19 from the field, including 7-of-14 from 3-point range, in 35 minutes in his sixth start of the season.

He is the seventh rookie with multiple 30-point games this season, and he became the youngest player in history to hit seven 3-pointers in a game (19 years, 94 days).

One of those 3s came on Paul, which the veteran didn’t appreciate.

“I know I won’t hear the end of that,” Paul said. “What did he have? 35? That was a career high? Man, that is some (expletive). Him, along with all of the other guys who came through our program, is probably the most fulfilling, knowing that he’ll have a long career in this league.”

Jackson is averaging 13.4 points and 3.7 rebounds on 37.3% shooting from 3-point range in 36 games this season. He is fourth among rookies in scoring average and became the youngest player to record 25 points off the bench on Feb. 8.

The Grizzlies have been impressed with Jackson since the 45th pick entered the rotation in January. They rewarded him with a four-year contract and believe he has a bright future ahead.

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Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren registers rare double-double stat line in win

Chet Holmgren erupted in the fourth quarter and finished with his fourth 30-point game to lead the Thunder to a win over the Jazz.

Chet Holmgren erupted in the fourth quarter on Wednesday and finished with his fourth 30-point game to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a win over the Utah Jazz.

Holmgren produced 35 points, 14 rebounds, three blocked shots, two steals and one assist in the 119-107 victory. He went 12-of-18 from the field in 31 minutes, and the Thunder improved to a Western Conference-best 48-20 with the victory.

The former second pick became the second rookie to have at least four 30-point games (Victor Wembanyama, 6). He registered his second game with 30 points and 10 rebounds and is the only Thunder rookie to reach that mark in a game.

“We’ve worked hard as a team to make sure we’re finding him on rolls,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “He is just such a vertical threat, not only because you can throw it up to him but you can throw it on the ground to him, and he is skilled enough to catch and not travel or use a dribble and a move to get into the basket. That is, systematically, about how you draw it up. He played within himself tonight.”

Holmgren recorded 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Thunder outscored the Jazz 37-27 down the stretch. It was the second time he has had at least 18 points in a quarter. He scored 19 in the fourth quarter on Feb. 25.

The 7-footer made all six of his shot attempts from the field in the final period, including three emphatic dunks. He did most of his work through contact, earning six trips to the free-throw line.

He was happy with how the team played late to win.

We continued to play together. I feel like we did a good job of that all game. Some shots didn’t fall from the outside but we did a good job of not just saying we’re a team that is going to win when we make shots and we found other ways to open up the game and pull away at the end.

Holmgren is averaging 17.1 points, eight rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 blocks on 38.9% shooting from 3-point range in 68 games. He has played in every game so far for the Thunder and ranks second in points, rebounds and blocks among rookies.

He has played an integral role with the Thunder this season and is a key reason the team is third in offense and fifth in defense. He is one of the top rookies and his effort on Wednesday showcased why he projects to have a bright future in OKC.

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Pistons rookie Ausar Thompson to miss rest of season for a blood clot

Pistons rookie Ausar Thompson will miss the remainder of the season while being treated for a blood clot.

Detroit Pistons rookie forward Ausar Thompson will miss the final 14 games of the season while being treated for a blood clot, the team announced on Wednesday.

Thompson, under the guidance of team physician Dr. Ramsey Shehab of Henry Ford Health, has been cleared to resume conditioning. He will begin non-contact basketball activities after the season with a gradual ramp up of activity over the summer in preparation for a full return next season.

The fifth pick has missed the past five games due to what the team classified as an illness. He last played on March 9 in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks, recording four points and five rebounds in 11 minutes.

Thompson finishes the season averaging 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals on 48.3% shooting from the field in 63 games. He is 13th in scoring among all first-year players and fourth in rebounding and steals.

The 21-year-old was ranked in the top 10 among all players in rebounds, offensive rebounds and blocks at the start of the season. He is one of 15 players in history with at least 550 points, 400 rebounds, 120 assists, 65 steals and 55 blocks through the first 63 games of their career.

Thompson played several roles throughout the season and started 38 times for coach Monty Williams, including the 14 games before his injury. He had a productive year with the Pistons and could be rewarded with a spot on an NBA All-Rookie team.

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Kyrie Irving believes Victor Wembanyama can win Defensive Player of the Year: ‘He is for sure a candidate’

Victor Wembanyama is making a late push for Defensive Player of the Year and recently earned an endorsement from Kyrie Irving.

Victor Wembanyama is making a late push to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, and the top pick recently earned an endorsement from Kyrie Irving.

Wembanyama is averaging 20.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.5 blocks and 1.3 steals on 46.4% shooting from the field in 61 games with the San Antonio Spurs. He is the only rookie to register a triple-double (2) this season and leads all first-year players in 30-point games (6).

The 7-footer leads the league in blocks and is third in defensive box plus-minus (plus-3.0), 10th in defensive win shares (3.5) and 12th in rebounds. He also leads all players in games with at least five blocks (20); the next highest player has nine (Brook Lopez).

Irving believes he should absolutely be in contention for the award.

He does do things like a Defensive Player of the Year would. He is showing signs that he has exceeded all of the Defensive Player of the Year stats previous to guys that have won it. You guys see it. I don’t know who they’re going to pick, but he has all the tools to be named Defensive Player of the Year. He is for sure a candidate.

I don’t know how he wouldn’t be unless the (number of) games played and minutes but every Defensive Player of the Year that has won in the past few years, he’s almost head and shoulders (above them), and we still have what, 15 or some odd games left? I give him credit for being such a young player but learning on the fly and doing everything he can to get his team wins.

According to the BetMGM Sportsbook, Wembanyama is second in odds (plus-350) to win Defensive Player of the Year, trailing only Minnesota center Rudy Gobert (minus-500). Gobert is a three-time winner and last took home the honors in 2021.

The two Frenchmen share a close connection because of their roots. Wembanyama looks to Gobert as a mentor, and the veteran often helps him by offering advice and other bits of information. Gobert has also commended him for his approach and work ethic in the past.

The late push by Wembanyama for the award will likely fall short, but the 20-year-old is looking forward to competing against Gobert for it in the future. He knows his time is coming.

“I know that Rudy has a very good chance of winning it this year, and it would be deserved,” Webanyama said on March 14, via Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News. “Let him win it now because after that, it’s no longer his turn.”

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Conor McGregor on the red carpet: Photos through the years

It’s good to be UFC star Conor McGregor.

Former UFC two-division champion [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] has attained a level of wealth and fame that every other mixed martial artist could only dream of, and that celebrity status has afforded him opportunities to walk many a red carpet and pose for the camera. Take a look back at these images. (Photos via USA TODAY Sports, Getty Images and Associated Press)

Rockets’ Ime Udoka explains what led to Amen Thompson’s career night

Amen Thompson registered a new career high on Tuesday, helping lead the Rockets to their sixth consecutive win.

Rookie Amen Thompson registered a career high on Tuesday, helping lead the Houston Rockets to their sixth consecutive win to maintain ground in the playoff race.

Thompson produced 25 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot in a 137-114 win over the Washington Wizards. He finished 10-of-12 from the field in 32 minutes for his eighth double-double of the season.

The fourth pick recorded his third 20-point game, topping his previous career high of 22 points set Feb. 22. He is one of five rookies to record at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in a game this season.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka liked his overall activity on the court.

When they go zone, he is really good in the middle: He can pass it or one dribble, he is right at the rim. He did a good job there. The activity was great. I felt him on the offensive glass, kind of cleaning everything up when we had some lulls early. … He has been great in the pocket, setting screens and rolling. He is so athletic; he can catch it in there and make a play and be right at the rim.

With the victory, the Rockets pulled to within 2 1/2 games of the Golden State Warriors in 10th place in the Western Conference. They have 14 games left in the regular season, including a key home matchup against the Warriors on April 4.

Thompson, who has started the last four games, is averaging 8.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals on 53.9% shooting from the field in 49 games. He is 14th in scoring and tied for third in double-doubles among first-year players.

He has had several key performances this season for the Rockets and has scored in double figures in five of his last six games. He appears to be heating up at the right moment for the team as they look to keep their postseason hopes alive.

Thompson may not finish the year with any hardware as one of the top rookies, but the 21-year-old looks to be a core player for the team this year and beyond.

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