MMA News
Michel Pereira explains his unusual training involving taking down cows and running with horses
Cole Shelton - September 3, 2020
Michel Pereira may best be known for his backflips and somersaults while fighting, but his training camp might be even weirder. Pereira is set to return to the Octagon at UFC Vegas 9 after he lost by DQ to Diego Sanchez earlier this year. For the Brazilian, he says his training camp was strange as his training partners were farm animals.
Stipe Miocic's coach believes the heavyweight champ would "shut down" Jon Jones in a potential fight
Cole Shelton - September 3, 2020
Marcus Marinelli, the head coach of Stipe Miocic, believes the heavyweight champ would be able to shut down Jon Jones in a potential fight. Ever since Jones vacated the light heavyweight title many thought “Bones” would get an immediate title shot. A fight against Miocic would be massive and it would be a very competitive fight. Yet, for Marinelli, he doesn’t know where Jones would have success in the fight.
Video | Miley Cyrus insults Joe Rogan on his own podcast
Chris Taylor - September 3, 2020
UFC commentator Joe Rogan welcomed popular singer Miley Cyrus to his Uber-popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast on Wednesday. The two-hour interview covered a wide range of topics, including Cyrus’ “very public divorce” as well as her recent vocal surgery.
Jalin Turner ready to live up to the hype, expects to exploit and then KO Thiago Moises
Cole Shelton - September 3, 2020
Jalin Turner believes the UFC wants to push him up the lightweight rankings and is ready to live up to the hype. Turner made his UFC debut on short notice up a weight class at UFC 229 and suffered a knockout loss to Vicente Luque. He then got his first UFC win by TKO over Callan Potter but couldn’t build off of it as he suffered a loss to Matt Frevola in his next fight. In February, he returned to the win column with a TKO win over Joshua Culibao.
Cody Garbrandt tests positive for COVID-19
Adam Martin - September 3, 2020
Ahead of his training camp for UFC 256 in November, UFC flyweight title contender Cody Garbrandt has tested positive for COVID-19. AG Fight first reported that Garbrandt tested positive for the coronavirus. The former UFC bantamweight champion reportedly tested positive earlier in the week for COVID-19 and he is currently in isolation as he waits for the results of his latest test. The report says that Garbrandt is feeling better but he did experience mild symptoms including a headache. However, the hope is he will be able to test negative and get back to training camp soon.
Conor McGregor featured on Forbes list of highest paid celebrities
Tom Taylor - September 3, 2020
Conor McGregor is not only one of the highest paid athletes in the world, but one of the highest paid celebrities period. Despite fighting just once since 2018, the Irish MMA superstar placed on Forbes‘ list of the highest paid celebrities in the world in 2020, nabbing the No. 53 spot with $48M in earnings. While McGregor ranked well behind the likes of Kylie Jenner and Kanye West, and other pugilists such as Tyson Fury, he’s positioned ahead of the likes of NBA star James Harding, NFL star Tom Brady, pop stars Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez, and boxers Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.
Tim Elliott among numerous UFC fighters suspended and fined for marijuana, others facing steroid suspensions
Adam Martin - September 3, 2020
Numerous UFC fighters including flyweight Tim Elliott have been suspended and fined after testing positive for marijuana. According to a report from Marc Raimondi of ESPN, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has officially suspended Elliott, UFC lightweight Luis Pena, and UFC light heavyweight Jamahal Hill after testing positive for marijuana following recent fights in Las Vegas. Both Elliott and Pena were fined 15 percent of their fight purses and also suspended for four-and-a-half months for having cannabis in their system for their recent fights against Brandon Royval and Khama Worthy, respectively. Elliot and Pena both lost those fights.
Ray Borg ends retirement after one week
Tom Taylor - September 3, 2020
Former UFC flyweight title challenger Ray Borg is no longer retired from mixed martial arts. Borg announced his retirement last week, shortly after he was released from the UFC, conceding that he never expected to hang up the gloves at such a young age.
Full betting odds released for UFC on ESPN+ 34: Overeem vs. Sakai
Adam Martin - September 3, 2020
The full betting odds have been released for the 10 fights scheduled to take place Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 34: Overeem vs. Sakai event. In the main event, two top-10 heavyweights go at as the legend Alistair Overeem takes on the surging Augusto Sakai. Overeem is coming off of an impressive second-round TKO win over Walt Harris while Augusto Sakai has won his last six fights in a row. No doubt the winner of this fight will take one more step towards the elite of the heavyweight division.
Pro fighters make their picks for Alistair Overeem vs. Augusto Sakai
Cole Shelton - September 3, 2020
In the main event of UFC Vegas 9, Alistair Overeem is looking to continue his winning streak when he battles a surging contender in Augusto Sakai. Heading into the fight, Overeem is a -160 favorite with the Brazilian being a +130 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority believe Overeem’s experience will be the difference as he will get his hand raised.
Lawyers aim to dismiss Dana White sex tape lawsuit
Tom Taylor - September 3, 2020
The lawyers representing UFC President Dana White hope to have a lawsuit surrounding an alleged sex tape dismissed. Earlier this year, news surfaced that White was involved in an extortion case in 2015. A man named Ernesto Joshua Ramos, 42, claimed that White had been sleeping with a stripper from a Spearmint Rhino Gentleman’s Club in Las Vegas, and claimed to have video footage to prove it. Ramos allegedly demanded $200,000 from White to keep the video under wraps, but White brought the issue to the attention of the FBI, who subsequently arrested Ramos.
Dana White "blown away" by UFC commentator Joe Rogan's success
Tom Taylor - September 3, 2020
UFC President Dana White is blown away by the success that the promotion’s long-time commentator Joe Rogan is enjoying. Outside of his commentary duties for the UFC, Rogan is also the host of the Uber-popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast, which recently moved to Spotify as part of a $100M deal.
Dwayne Johnson reveals that he and his family tested positive for Covid-19: “It’s one of the most challenging and difficult things”
Natasha Hooper - September 3, 2020
Dwayne Johnson aka “The Rock”, has revealed that he and his family have tested positive for COVID-19, calling it “one of the most challenging and difficult things.” Johnson is the parent to three girls, Simone, 19, Jasmine, four, and Tiana, two. On his Instagram account to his 196 million followers, the 48-year old candidly discussed his family’s struggle with coronavirus.
Dana White hires Best Buy employee who went viral for halting a robbery as UFC security
Harry Kettle - September 3, 2020
UFC president Dana White has hired a Best Buy employee that went viral for stopping a robbery earlier this year. The employee in question, Summer Tapasa, hit the headlines when she stopped a shoplifter in Hawaii from leaving the Best Buy store with an unpaid item. After a tussle that ensued over the incident, Summer made her feelings known to the gentlemen before he scuttled away.
Video | Brian Ortega details what was going on in his head during the fourth round of his fight with Max Holloway
Harry Kettle - September 3, 2020
UFC featherweight Brian Ortega has revealed what he was thinking during the fourth round of his title fight against Max Holloway. Ortega looks set to return to the Octagon next month for a highly anticipated showdown against The Korean Zombie. It’ll be the first time fans have seen him fight since back in December 2018 when he unsuccessfully challenged Max Holloway for the UFC Featherweight Championship at UFC 231.
Francis Ngannou tells Jon Jones to "sit down" after calling for Stipe Miocic fight
Cole Shelton - September 2, 2020
Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones are still going at one another in the hopes they are the one to fight Stipe Miocic. Ever since Miocic beat Daniel Cormier at UFC 252 to defend his heavyweight title, many wondered what would be next for the champ. The rematch with Ngannou made sense but the Jon Jones super fight was an intriguing option.
Khabib Nurmagomedov says UFC 254 is ‘best card of the year.’
Andrew Whitelaw - September 2, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov sounds like he’s just as hyped for UFC 254 as we are. The lightweight champion took to Twitter to add some fairly-warranted hype to what promises to be an absolute banger and wrote,
Glover Teixeira tests positive for COVID-19, fight against Thiago Santos rescheduled
Adam Martin - September 2, 2020
UFC light heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira tested positive for COVID-19, and the UFC has rescheduled his upcoming fight against Thiago Santos. Combate reported that Teixeira tested positive for the coronavirus. He was set to meet Santos in the main event of the UFC Fight Night card scheduled to take place on September 12 in Las Vegas. However, that fight has now been rescheduled to the October 3 card that is headlined by women’s bantamweight contenders Holly Holm and Irene Aldana. The main event of the September 12 card is undetermined at this time, per Combate.