MMA News
Video | Watch Frankie Edgar make bantamweight limit for the first time
Tom Taylor - August 21, 2020
On Friday morning, at the weigh-ins for his UFC on ESPN 15 main event showdown with Pedro Munhoz, Frankie Edgar hit the bantamweight limit for the first time. Edgar began his UFC career in the lightweight division, where he ultimately became the champion by defeating BJ Penn. Several years later, he dropped down to the featherweight division, where he contended for the title multiple times against Jose Aldo and Max Holloway.
Conor McGregor demands "responsibility and consistency" from leaders during pandemic
Tom Taylor - August 21, 2020
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor has once again shown his political side, calling for world leaders to demonstrate “responsibility and consistency” during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. McGregor made his feelings known in a Friday post to Twitter. See what the Irish star had to say below:
UFC on ESPN 15 weigh-in results: Frankie Edgar hits bantamweight limit
Tom Taylor - August 21, 2020
On Saturday night, the UFC will return to our screens with the under-the-radar UFC on ESPN 15 card out of the Apex facility in Las Vegas. The card will be topped by a bantamweight duel between long-time contender Pedro Munhoz, and former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, who will be making his debut in the division after a long run at featherweight.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk shuts down retirement rumors, says she wants to be champion again
Adam Martin - August 21, 2020
Former UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk shot down retirement rumors, saying that her goal is to be the champion again. Jedrzejczyk last competed in March at UFC 248 against Weili Zhang. In one of the greatest MMA fights of all time, the two warriors went the full 25 minutes with Zhang winning a split decision. They later shared a moment in the hospital. It was an incredible fight, one of the best ever, and despite losing on paper, Jedrzejczyk’s stock arguably rose despite the loss.
Rafael dos Anjos to train with Jose Aldo ahead of lightweight drop
Tom Taylor - August 21, 2020
Rafael dos Anjos will be training with a fellow MMA legend in Jose Aldo as he prepares to return to the lightweight division, where he was once the champion. Dos Anjos has spent the last few years of his career competing in the welterweight division, picking up big wins over Tarec Saffiedine, Neil Magny, Robbie Lawler and Kevin Lee, but coming up short against top-flight foes in Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards and Michael Chiesa.
Israel Adesanya criticizes "dumb" Paulo Costa, Brazilian fires back
Tom Taylor - August 21, 2020
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and his next opponent Paulo Costa had a heated back-and-forth on ESPN’s SportsCenter this week. Ahead of their fight, which will headline the UFC 253 card in September, both fighters are riding victories over the extremely dangerous Yoel Romero. Costa defeated Romero in a wild fire-fight last August, while Adesanya edged by the Cuban in a slow but tense affair in March.
Ryan Hall forced to withdraw from UFC fight with Ricardo Lamas on August 29
Harry Kettle - August 21, 2020
According to a report from MMA Junkie, Ryan Hall has been forced to pull out of his fight with Ricardo Lamas on August 29. The unique featherweight contender’s reason for withdrawing has not yet been disclosed, with the UFC not yet making an announcement regarding the change to the card. Lamas is still interested in fighting someone else at the UFC APEX event, but due to COVID-19 and the short notice drop out, that could prove to be quite difficult.
Pro fighters make their picks for Pedro Munhoz vs. Frankie Edgar
Cole Shelton - August 21, 2020
In the main event of UFC Vegas 7, a key bantamweight bout headlines the card as Pedro Munhoz welcomes Frankie Edgar to the division. Heading into the fight, Munhoz is a -265 favorite while the former UFC lightweight champion is a +205 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority believe bantamweight is where Frankie Edgar should’ve been his entire career as he will pull off the upset and beat Pedro Munhoz.
Photo | Henry Cejudo continues to troll Alex Volkanovski in hopes of featherweight title opportunity
Harry Kettle - August 21, 2020
Former UFC two-weight world champion Henry Cejudo continues to troll Alexander Volkanovski and campaign for a shot at the Featherweight Championship. While Cejudo may have retired in the wake of his win over Dominick Cruz earlier this summer, it’s clear to see that “Triple C” is still very much interested in the prospect of becoming the first fighter in UFC history to win a title in three different weight classes.
After KO win over King Mo, Andrew Kapel looking to do the same against John Salter
Cole Shelton - August 20, 2020
Andrew Kapel is looking to go 2-0 in Bellator. On the main card of Bellator 244, Kapel is returning following his November knockout win over King Mo. It was King Mo’s retirement fight, and now Kapel is excited to get back in the cage and try and beat another big name in John Salter.
Sean O'Malley comments on injury sustained against Marlon Vera
Cole Shelton - August 20, 2020
Sean O’Malley believes he avoided any major damage to his ankle. O’Malley was entering his co-main event fight against Marlon Vera with a lot of hype behind him. Most pundits were picking him to win, but he fell short, losing by first-round TKO. Yet, he did hurt his ankle in the fight, and according to “Sugar” he says he was complaining about the ankle brace before walking out.
Report | UFC 252 draws fourth largest pay-per-view buy rate of any 2020 event
Adam Martin - August 20, 2020
The numbers are in and last weekend’s UFC 252 event drew the fourth-largest pay-per-view buy rate of any UFC event in 2020. According to Sports Business Journal reporter John Ourand (via TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter), UFC 252 ranked just behind UFC 251, UFC 249, and UFC 246 when it comes to the most-bought UFC pay-per-views in 2020. The report says that UFC 252 sold 500,000 pay-per-views worldwide and also had 400,000 viewers watch the event on ESPN+ in the United States. Overall, these are solid numbers for the UFC.
Scott Coker believes Bellator has superior light heavyweight division to UFC
Adam Martin - August 20, 2020
Bellator president Scott Coker has gone on record saying he believes Bellator has a superior light heavyweight division to the UFC. Coker and Bellator recently signed top-five light heavyweight Corey Anderson to a big-money free-agent deal, strengthening the division. Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader fights this Friday at Bellator 244 against top contender Vadim Nemkov, in what is an excellent matchup for the belt. Other light heavyweights in the promotion include Lyoto Machida and Phil Davis, who face each other in a rematch in September.
Johnny Walker plans on following the lead of Jon Jones and move to heavyweight
Adam Martin - August 20, 2020
UFC light heavyweight contender Johnny Walker says he plans on following the lead of Jon Jones and move up to the heavyweight division. Walker is one of the biggest light heavyweights in the UFC, standing at 6’6″. At age 28 he is in the prime of his career right now, but as he approaches his 30s the cut to light heavyweight is going to get tougher and tougher. Following back-to-back defeats to Nikita Krylov and Corey Anderson, it makes sense that Walker is re-evaluating his career.
Fedor Emelianenko wants Fabricio Werdum rematch, Scott Coker to "make it happen"
Tom Taylor - August 20, 2020
Fedor Emelianenko wants a rematch with Fabricio Werdum, and Bellator President Scott Coker is ready to “go make it happen” for the Russian legend. Emelianenko and Werdum first met in 2010, under the Strikeforce banner, with Werdum winning by submission in a shocking upset. Today, when Emelianenko is under contract with Bellator, and Werdum is a free agent, the timing for a rematch between the two heavyweight legends seems perfect.
Trevin Giles booked for Octagon return after fainting at recent UFC Vegas event
Adam Martin - August 20, 2020
UFC middleweight Trevin Giles will return to the Octagon in November, his first fight back since recently fainting at a UFC Las Vegas event. Giles was set to fight Kevin Holland at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan earlier this month. However, while making the walk to the Octagon, Giles fainted and the fight was called off on the advice of doctors. It was a scary incident and Giles was sent to the hospital for further tests on his heart. He recently posted videos of himself training so it appears that Giles is now OK despite the recent health scare.
Patricio Freire expects former foe Michael Chandler to sign with ONE Championship
Tom Taylor - August 20, 2020
Patricio Freire, who holds the Bellator featherweight and lightweight titles, expects his former foe Michael Chandler to sign with ONE Championship. Chandler, the former Bellator lightweight champ, recently concluded his current Bellator contract with a knockout win over former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson.
Video | Rafael dos Anjos looks in great shape ahead of return to 155lbs against Islam Makhachev
Adam Martin - August 20, 2020
Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos appears to be in tremendous shape ahead of a return to 155lbs against Islam Makhachev. As first reported by BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor, RDA will move back down to lightweight and he will meet a rising top-15 contender in the form of Makhachev. The two will battle it out on the undercard of UFC 254: Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje, which is set to take place on October 24. The event will likely take place on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.