MMA News
Joe Rogan confirms Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa will coach The Ultimate Fighter
Adam Martin - June 26, 2020
UFC color commentator Joe Rogan confirmed that UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa will coach the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. Rogan made the announcement on a recent edition of his podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience.” Check out what he said below.
Dana White previews the sleeper fights on UFC on ESPN 12
Tom Taylor - June 26, 2020
UFC President Dana White has previewed some of the under-the-radar fights on the UFC on ESPN 12 card, which goes down on Saturday night. UFC on ESPN 12 will be headlined by a clash of lightweight contenders, as the No. 3 ranked Dustin Poirier looks to rebound from a failed title bid against Khabib Nurmagomedov by defeating streaking Kiwi contender Dan Hooker. It will be co-headlined by a fun welterweight scrap between Mickey Gall and “Platinum” Mike Perry.
VIDEO | Dustin Poirier, Dan Hooker have tense staredown ahead of UFC on ESPN 12
Tom Taylor - June 26, 2020
On Friday, Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker came face-to-face for a final time before they’re locked in the Octagon together on Saturday night. Poirier and Hooker will collide in the main event of UFC on ESPN 12, an under-the-radar card out of the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Daniel Cormier training at home gym, not AKA, for Stipe Miocic trilogy
Adam Martin - June 26, 2020
UFC heavyweight contender Daniel Cormier is training at a home gym, and not AKA (American Kickboxing Academy), for his trilogy fight against Stipe Miocic. On August 15, Cormier will make the final walk to the Octagon of his future UFC Hall of Fame career when he meets his rival Miocic for the third and final time at UFC 252 at the UC Apex in Las Vegas. Cormier and Miocic have fought against each other the last two summers, with Cormier knocking Miocic out at UFC 226 in July 2018 to win the belt, and then Miocic finishing Cormier at UFC 241 in August 2019 to take back his title.
Cornerman's positive COVID-19 test forces late changes to UFC on ESPN 12
Natasha Hooper - June 26, 2020
A positive COVID-19 test has caused a last-minute change to the UFC on ESPN 12 lineup. Ramiz Brahimaj has been forced to withdraw from his promotional debut on this weekend’s fight card after his cornerman tested positive for COVID-19. The welterweight (8-2) has been fighting for LFA, and was ready to make his transition to the UFC against Takashi Sato at UFC on ESPN 12 on Saturday night. However, on Thursday evening, it was announced that Brahimaj was forced to withdraw from the card due to the risk of infection.
ONE Championship announces return on July 31 in Bangkok, Thailand
Tom Taylor - June 26, 2020
After a brief hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, ONE Championship has announced that it will return to our screens with an event in Bangkok, Thailand on July 31. ONE recently promoted a pair of ONE Hero Series of events in Shanghai, China, but the bouts did not air outside the country. This Bangkok event will be broadcast globally.
Mike Perry says Jon Jones introduced him to his new girlfriend and cornerwoman
Tom Taylor - June 26, 2020
“Platinum” Mike Perry says UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones introduced him to his current girlfriend, Latory Gonzalez. Perry and Gonzalez have been in the headlines quite a bit over the last few weeks.
Jon Jones: Recent DWI arrest "set me free in so many ways"
Tom Taylor - June 26, 2020
Jon Jones says his recent DWI arrest, which occurred in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico in March, has had some very positive affects on his life. Jones, the UFC light heavyweight champion, is currently involved in a heated contract dispute with the UFC, and has even floated the idea of taking his services to another fight promotion.
Referee John McCarthy claims Jon Jones "would have lost his world title if I wasn't doing his fight at UFC 165"
Christopher Taylor - June 25, 2020
Veteran mixed martial arts referee John McCarthy claims Jon Jones would have lost his world title at UFC 165 if it were not for him. Jones (26-1 MMA) squared off with Alexander Gustafsson for the first time at the September 2013 pay-per-view event in Toronto, which resulted in arguably the greatest light heavyweight contest in mixed martial arts history.
Bas Rutten shares his Mount Rushmore of MMA, includes Conor McGregor
Chris Taylor - June 25, 2020
Former UFC champion Bas Rutten has followed in the footsteps of Dana White by revealing his selections for the current Mount Rushmore of MMA. Last week the UFC President surprised many fight fans with his four picks for the current Mount Rushmore of MMA.
Paulo Costa tells the UFC to send him Israel Adesanya’s address so he can make ‘Stylebender’ sign the contract
Cole Shelton - June 25, 2020
Paulo Costa is getting frustrated with Israel Adesanya. Ever since Costa beat Yoel Romero by unanimous decision at UFC 241, it was expected he would fight the winner of Robert Whittaker vs. Adesanya at UFC 243. The Brazilian was there Octagon-side and following the event, it was reported him and “The Last Stylebender” would meet in March.
Mike Perry says all his girlfriend has to do in his corner is "sit there and enjoy the show"
Cole Shelton - June 25, 2020
When Mike Perry fights Mickey Gall in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 12 card, he will do so with his girlfriend as the only person in his corner. Perry has ditched training at a gym and with coaches and instead will have his new girlfriend in his corner. For the fan-favorite welterweight, he says his girlfriend is enjoying fight week and getting to be the lone cornerman.
Jon Jones prepared to sit out multiple years to "make change"
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones believes fighters deserve to be paid more, and he’s willing to risk precious years of his own career to prove it. Jones, 32, has spent the last few weeks butting heads with UFC brass over the amount he’s paid to fight.
Jorge Masvidal "a hundred percent" interested in fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal says he’s interested in a potential fight with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Masvidal discussed the possibility of a fight with Nurmagomedov during a Q&A on Instagram Live this week. He praised the lightweight champion, and conceded that he’d be willing to fight him in the 155-pound lightweight division, so long as the UFC makes the move worth his while.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will retire after Shogun Rua trilogy: "I think my time has arrived"
Adam Martin - June 25, 2020
UFC light heavyweight veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira says he will retire from MMA after his trilogy fight against Shogun Rua on July 25 on Fight Island. Nogueira takes on his long-time rival Shogun at the fourth and final Fight Island event in Abu Dhabi this summer. The bout marks the third meeting between these two legends of the game after their previous encounters in PRIDE in 2005 and in the Octagon in 2015. Shogun won decisions in both of their previous bouts, and Nogueira will look to break that streak this summer as he looks to end his incredible career on a high note.
Darren Till squashes beef with Mike Perry, wishes him well in Mickey Gall fight
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020
Darren Till has squashed his ongoing beef with Mike Perry and wished “Platinum” well in his imminent fight with Mickey Gall. Till and Perry have had a complicated relationship over the years. The pair began as rivals, then became friends and even one-time sparring partners, then regressed into arch enemies.
Brock Lesnar accused of exposing himself to female peer
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020
Former UFC heavyweight champion and current WWE star Brock Lesnar has been accused of exposing himself to a female wrestler. The accusation comes from retired wrestler Terri Runnels.
Pro fighters make their picks for Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker
Cole Shelton - June 25, 2020
In the main event of UFC on ESPN 12, Dustin Poirier returns to the Octagon to battle Dan Hooker. Heading into the fight, Poirier is a -225 favorite, while the Kiwi is a +175 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros believe this could be one of the best fights we see in 2020 but the majority lean towards Poirier getting it done.