MMA News
Israel Adesanya addresses video of Paulo Costa beating up a fake 'Stylebender'
Christopher Taylor - September 10, 2020
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has addressed the recent video released by his soon to be opponent Paulo Costa. Earlier this week the undefeated Brazilian took to social media where he shared a video of him beating up a ‘Stylebender’ impersonator.
Israel Adesanya says "Fans as individuals can be awesome, but as a whole they are meek and stupid sometimes"
Christopher Taylor - September 10, 2020
Undefeated UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya shared his thoughts on NFL fans decision to boo a moment of unity before tonight’s Chiefs vs. Texans game. Prior to tonight’s official kickoff, players from both Kansas City and Houston gathered together in arms, but their act was not appreciated by all of those in attendance.
Leon Edwards guarantees he will fight in 2020, hopes to fight "big name" Nick Diaz
Cole Shelton - September 10, 2020
Leon Edwards says he will fight in 2020 and hopes that bout will be against a big name like Nick Diaz. Edwards was expected to fight in March at UFC London against Tyron Woodley. However, just a week before the event was set to take place it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the Englishman hasn’t been able to take a fight due to England’s lockdown rules and the closing of gyms.
Henry Cejudo claims he told Marlon Vera how to beat Sean O’Malley
Cole Shelton - September 10, 2020
Henry Cejudo says he talked to Marlon Vera about how to beat Sean O’Malley ahead of their fight at UFC 252. In the lead up to the fight, many thought O’Malley would remain undefeated and get his hand raised. Yet, it was Vera who got the job done by first-round TKO, and according to Cejudo, he told “Chito” to go after the leg.
Video | Paulo Costa flaunts his physique ahead of UFC 253 title fight with Israel Adesanya
Christopher Taylor - September 10, 2020
The most anticipated middleweight title fight in UFC history will take place later this month when Paulo Costa challenges Israel Adesanya on September 26. Both men will enter the UFC 253 headliner sporting perfect professional records and thus someone’s zero will have to go.
Photos | UFC standout Mackenzie Dern shares post training pics at the Beach
Chris Taylor - September 10, 2020
UFC strawweight standout Mackenzie Dern is used to turning heads whether it be inside the Octagon or while out in public. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt did just that in her most recent UFC appearance in May, scoring a sensational first-round kneebar submission victory over Hannah Cifers (see that here).
Tyson Nam confident he will KO Matt Schnell at UFC Vegas 10: "I just have to land the right hand once"
Cole Shelton - September 10, 2020
Tyson Nam expects to earn another knockout win when he faces Matt Schnell at UFC Vegas 10. Nam is coming off his first UFC win as he scored a 32-second knockout win over Zarrukh Adashev back in June. For the Hawaiian, after the win, he was looking to make a quick turnaround and had his eye on Schnell.
Mike Rodriguez expecting a "three-round war" against Ed Herman at UFC Vegas 10
Cole Shelton - September 10, 2020
Mike Rodriguez wanted to get another fight this year but did not expect it to happen just three weeks following his latest contest. Rodriguez fought back on August 22 and scored a first-round knockout over Marcin Prachnio in what was the final fight on his contract. After the fight, the UFC made it clear they wanted to re-sign him and get another fight quickly. So, Rodriguez stayed in shape and when he got the call to fight Ed Herman, it was an immediate yes.
Breaking! Dustin Poirier will NOT fight Tony Ferguson at UFC 254
Christopher Taylor - September 10, 2020
A highly anticipated lightweight fight between former interim title holders Dustin Poirier and Tony Ferguson is no longer being targeted for UFC 254. According to ESPN‘s Ariel Helwani, Poirier is headed back to his home in Louisiana after negotiations for a fight with ‘El Cucuy’ fell through.
Brian Kelleher criticizes Sean O'Malley for behaviour after "Chito" loss
Tom Taylor - September 10, 2020
UFC bantamweight Brian Kelleher is not impressed with the way Sean O’Malley comported himself after his UFC 252 loss to Marlon “Chito” Vera. O’Malley and Vera collided in the UFC 252 main event. In a significant upset, Vera stopped O’Malley with first round ground strikes after the formerly unbeaten prospect seemingly injured his leg.
Stephen Thompson: Costa not a technical striker "at all" Adesanya will "have a field day"
Tom Taylor - September 10, 2020
Stephen Thompson believes UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will “have a field day” when he takes on hulking knockout artist Paulo Costa. Adesanya and Costa will collide for the UFC middleweight title in the main event of UFC 253 on September 26. Thompson, a striking specialist himself, believes the kickboxing transplant Adesanya will go to work on the powerful Costa when the cage door closes.
Jared Cannonier "more than ready" to fight Adesanya, Costa on short notice
Tom Taylor - September 10, 2020
Jared Cannonier says he is more than ready to step in if Israel Adesanya or Paulo Costa is forced out of the UFC 253 main event. Costa will challenge Adesanya for the UFC middleweight title at UFC 253, scheduled for September 26. Cannonier, meanwhile, is scheduled to take on the division’s former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 254 roughly a month later, on October 24.
Bellator 245 weigh-in results: Cat Zingano's opponent misses weight by huge margin
Tom Taylor - September 10, 2020
On Friday night, Bellator MMA will promote the first card of a two-event weekend in Bellator 245, which features a host of high-profile fighters. In the Bellator 245 main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida will lock horns with Phil Davis in a rematch of a 2013 fight that occurred in the UFC’s Octagon. The winner of the fight will be well positioned for a crack at new Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov, who assumed the throne with a blistering knockout win over Ryan Bader last month.
Bobby Green praises his three MMA idols, receives response from “fan” Israel Adesanya
Adam Martin - September 10, 2020
UFC lightweight Bobby Green praised his three MMA idols Nate Diaz, Dominick Cruz, and Israel Adesanya, and received a response “Izzy” himself. Green, who takes on Alan Patrick at this Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 35 event, has been very active during the COVID-19 UFC era, picking up back-to-back wins over Clay Guida and Lando Vannata since June. With his next fight just a couple of days away, Green gave some praise to the fighters who he called his “idols,” the men who helped “changed his life.”
UFC rankings update: Daniel Cormier's retirement causes pound-for-pound shuffle
Tom Taylor - September 10, 2020
The official UFC rankings have been updated after last weekend’s UFC Vegas 9 card, and despite the lack of big names on the bill, there have been some interesting changes. On of the biggest changes to the UFC rankings stems from the UFC Vegas 9 main event, in which Alistair Overeem thumped Augusto Sakai en route to a fifth-round TKO win. This performance, which moved Overeem onto a two-fight win-streak, was enough to push him into the No. 5 spot in the heavyweight division.
Full betting odds released for UFC on ESPN+ 35: Waterson vs. Hill
Adam Martin - September 10, 2020
The full betting odds have been released for the 13 fights scheduled to take place Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 35: Waterson vs. Hill event. In the main event, a pair of top-15 women’s strawweights go at is as Michelle Waterson takes on Angela Hill. Waterson is coming off of back-to-back decision losses to Carla Esparza and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, while Hill recently saw her four-fight win streak snapped with a split decision loss to Claudia Gadelha.
Cat Zingano explains “very good decision” to part ways with UFC for Bellator
Harry Kettle - September 10, 2020
Bellator featherweight Cat Zingano has explained why she is satisfied with her decision to join the promotion after leaving the UFC. Zingano, 38, is set to make her promotional debut tomorrow night when she squares off against Gabrielle Holloway in the co-main event of Bellator 245. She’s been officially signed as a member of the roster for almost a year now, and she’s certainly ready to prove to the world why she could be a top contender in her new home.
With Frank Camacho out, Brok Weaver now faces short-notice replacement Jalin Turner
Cole Shelton - September 10, 2020
Frank Camacho and Brok Weaver will not share the Octagon on Saturday night anymore. Multiple sources tell BJPENN.com that Camacho is out of the fight. The good news, however, is Jalin Turner has agreed to step up on short notice to battle Weaver.