MMA News

Anthony Smith
Jimi Manuwa

Anthony Smith uninterested in fighting Jimi Manuwa, suggests teammate Dustin Jacoby "do him dirty"

Adam Martin - December 1, 2020

UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith says he’s uninterested in fighting Jimi Manuwa and suggested that Dustin Jacoby “do him dirty” instead. Smith is coming off of a great win over Devin Clark at UFC Vegas 15, as he submitted his opponent with a triangle choke in the first round to snap a two-fight losing skid. Smith is No 6. in the UFC light heavyweight rankings so plenty of light heavyweights have been calling him out, including Paul Craig and Jimmy Crute. One other fighter calling Smith out is Jimi Manuwa, who is currently retired. Manuwa has hinted at a comeback and he suggested a fight against Smith would be a good return fight.

Conor McGregor, Jake Paul, Dana White
Jake Paul

Jake Paul says his team has contacted Conor McGregor about fight

Tom Taylor - December 1, 2020

YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul says his team has reached out to Conor McGregor’s management about a potential fight. Paul’s star is shining brighter than ever at the moment, after he produced a blistering knockout victory over former NBA player Nate Robinson in the co-main event of last weekend’s Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. event.

Fabricio Werdum
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

Fabricio Werdum explains the secret to fighting into his 40s

Adam Martin - December 1, 2020

Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum explained the secret to fighting into his 40s and still performing at a high level in MMA. Werdum is now 43 years old but he is still winning fights against elite opposition who are younger than him. In his last outing on Fight Island back in July, Werdum picked up a huge upset win when he submitted Alexander Gustafsson. After being left for dead following a decision loss to Aleksei Oleinik at UFC 249 this past May, Werdum showed that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank when he beat Gustafsson.

Anthony Smith, UFC rankings
Rankings

UFC rankings update: Anthony Smith gains ground at light heavyweight

Tom Taylor - December 1, 2020

The official UFC rankings have been updated after last Saturday’s UFC Vegas 15 card, and there have been a handful of interesting changes. While the card lost its originally scheduled Curtis Blaydes vs. Derrick Lewis fight at the last minute, it still featured one ranked fighter as top-15 light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith submitted Devin Clark in the short-notice main event.

Khabib Nurmagomedov
UFC

Video | Watch Khabib Nurmagomedov score nasty submission win in 7th pro fight

Tom Taylor - December 1, 2020

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was showing flashes of his current dominance long before he made it to the sport’s biggest stage. This week, Khabib shared footage from his seventh pro fight to his official Facebook page, and it’s proof that he’s always been an absolutely lethal grappler—even in the early phases of his illustrious MMA career.

Just Scrap Radio
Jack Hermansson

Just Scrap Radio Ep. 21 with Jack Hermansson, Diego Ferreira, Montana De La Rosa and Cody Durden

Cole Shelton - December 1, 2020

The 21st episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 16. We’re first joined by fourth-ranked middleweight contender, Jack Hermansson (3:01). Next, ninth-ranked lightweight, Diego Ferreira (17:36) joins the show. Then, the 15th-ranked flyweight, Montana De La Rosa (31:34) comes on. Closing out the show is flyweight contender, Cody Durden (41:31).

Garry Tonon
ONE Championship

Garry Tonon confident someone is getting finished in Koyomi Matsushima bout

Tom Taylor - December 1, 2020

American grappling star turned mixed martial artist Garry Tonon will return to action this Friday night in what he considers his toughest bout so far. The multiple-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion will look to climb the featherweight ranks with a victory over his next foe, in hopes of landing a shot at the belt in the very near future.

Marc Goddard
Marc Goddard

Veteran referee Marc Goddard reacts to “sickening” inter-gender fight featuring 529-pound man

Tom Taylor - December 1, 2020

Veteran MMA referee Marc Goddard was not impressed by a recent fight involving a 529-pound man and a 139-pound woman. The bout in question occured in Moscow, Russia last week, under the Nashe Delo Fights banner. In the early going, it looked like the male fighter, Grigory Chistyakov, might come out on top. In the end, however, Darina Madzyuk turned the tables on her male foe, winning with a volley of strikes.

Christian Lee, MMA
ONE Championship

10 MMA champions ready to make waves in 2021

bjpenndotcom - December 1, 2020

There’s no question that 2020 has been rough for mixed martial arts. COVID-19 hit professional sports particularly hard, and the road to recovery only began in recent months. But despite the difficult challenges, MMA is looking forward to a fantastic 2021. That’s because the sport is absolutely stacked with talented fighters who are ready to cement themselves as the best in the business. Here are 10 reigning MMA world champions from organizations around the world who are primed for an epic 2021.

Daniel Cormier, UFC 241, Dana White
Dillon Danis

Daniel Cormier responds after Dillon Danis suggests he will shut his "fat mouth"

Christopher Taylor - November 30, 2020

Dillon Danis was not happy with Daniel Cormier for suggesting that he would get “beat up” by Jake Paul in a boxing match. Earlier today on ESPN‘s “DC & Helwani show”, the former UFC champ-champ turned heads when he suggested that Jake Paul would defeat Dillon Danis in a boxing match.

Jacare Souza
Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza

Ronaldo Souza says Jack Hermansson turned down rematch at UFC Vegas 16

Adam Martin - November 30, 2020

UFC middleweight veteran Ronaldo Souza says that he offered to fight Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 16 but “The Joker” turned him down. Hermansson was set to fight Darren Till in the main event of UFC Vegas 16 on December 5, but Till unfortunately pulled out of the fight with an injury. Kevin Holland then filled in on short notice, but he was forced to pull out of the fight due to a positive COVID-19 test. Hermansson was finally booked to fight Marvin Vettori, who was originally slated to fight Souza at UFC 256 next weekend. Souza, in turn, was booked to fight Holland, who will look to make a speedy recovery from COVID-19.

Diego Sanchez
UFC

Diego Sanchez says he is looking for an opponent for his retirement fight

Cole Shelton - November 30, 2020

Diego Sanchez appears close to hanging up the gloves. Following Sanchez’s UFC 253 loss to Jake Matthews, many wondered what would be next for him. Some thought he should retire but he made it clear he would look to continue fighting.

UFC 261
UFC

Jessica Andrade drops timeline for potential Valentina Shevchenko fight

Adam Martin - November 30, 2020

Top contender Jessica Andrade dropped a timeline for a potential fight against UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko in 2021. Andrade, the former UFC women’s strawweight champion, made her flyweight debut back at UFC Fight Island 6 in October and knocked out former title challenger Katlyn Chookagian with a nasty body shot. UFC president Dana White praised Andrade following the fight and hinted that she could be next in line to fight Shevchenko. Thus far that fight has not been booked but it appears it’s the direction the UFC is headed.

Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier
UFC

Conor McGregor celebrates the anniversary of Nate Diaz’s win over Gray Maynard: “Happy womp womp day brother!”

Cole Shelton - November 30, 2020

Conor McGregor congratulated Nate Diaz on the anniversary of his TKO win over Gray Maynard. On November 30, 2013, Diaz and Maynard had their unofficial trilogy bout. They first met on The Ultimate Fighter with Diaz winning by submission. They then fought in 2010 with Maynard winning by split decision but in 2013, Diaz put the rivalry to bed with a TKO win.

Daniel Cormier, UFC
Dillon Danis

Daniel Cormier believes Jake Paul would "beat up" Dillon Danis

Adam Martin - November 30, 2020

UFC commentator Daniel Cormier believes that Jake Paul would “beat up” Dillon Danis if the two ever end up fighting in a boxing match. In the wake of Paul’s knockout win over Nate Robinson at the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. event, there have been numerous athletes taking to social media to call Paul out. We’ve seen NHL players including Ryan Reaves and Evander Kane call Paul out, not to mention numerous other MMA fighters and boxers. One of those fighters is Danis, the outspoken Bellator fighter who has made it known he is interested in stepping into the ring with Paul. And Paul seems like he’s interested in the fight, too.

Michael Chandler, Daniel Cormier
UFC

Michael Chandler announces launch of fight camp

Tom Taylor - November 30, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler, one of the newer additions to the UFC roster, has announced that he’s starting fight camp. Chandler signed with the UFC in the fall, and was was immediately slated as the understudy for the UFC 254-headlining lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje. In the end, both Nurmagomedov and Gaethje made it to the Octagon that night, which meant Chandler’s services weren’t needed, and his UFC debut was put on ice.

Colby Covington, LeBron James
LeBron James

UFC's Colby Covington wants to give "soft" LeBron James the Nate Robinson treatment

Tom Taylor - November 30, 2020

Outspoken UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington is calling for a boxing match with NBA legend LeBron James. Cross-sport boxing matches are all anybody can talk about these days, after YouTube star Jake Paul strafed former NBA player Nate Robinson in the co-main event of last weekend’s Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. card.

Henry Cejudo
Deiveson Figueiredo

Henry Cejudo makes prediction for Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno

Tom Taylor - November 30, 2020

Former UFC flyweight champion Henry Cejudo has made his pick for the upcoming title fight between current champ Deiveson Figueiredo and challenger Brandon Moreno. Henry Cejudo captured the UFC flyweight title with a controversial split decision defeat of of Demetrious Johnson in August, 2018. After defending the title with a knockout of TJ Dillashaw in January 2019, he then ventured up to bantamweight, where he captured the vacant title with a defeat of Marlon Moraes, and retired after defending the belt against Dominick Cruz.