MMA News

Colby Covington
Radio

BJPENN.COM Radio Ep. 126 // Bas Rutten

Jason Kindschy - May 8, 2020

Bas Rutten returns to the show to preview some of the upcoming action in the combat sports world and discuss what’s next for some of MMA’s biggest names. Being a UFC Hall of Famer, former UFC heavyweight champ, and former multiple-time King of Pancrase, “El Guapo” always gives an interesting perspective on he current MMA landscape. We’ll discuss the majority of this weekends UFC 249 card, including the highly anticipated showdown between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. Rutten gives his take on what strategy would best suit Gaethje to ensure the win, and why Tony is one of the toughest opponents in the business today. We’ll also discuss Cejudo and Cruz, Ngannou, Cerrone, and more. You’ll also hear Bas give his thoughts on the future of Jon Jones, Conor McGregor, and Jorge Masvidal. Always an entertaining and insightful conversation with the legend, Bas Rutten! Enjoy! Be sure to subscribe and share!

Khabib Nurmagomedov
UFC

Khabib Nurmagomedov will fight the winner of Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje, says Dana White

Adam Martin - May 8, 2020

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will next fight against the winner of the UFC 249 interim title bout between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. Nurmagomedov was set to fight Ferguson at the original UFC 249 card in April before the event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The UFC then called upon Gaethje to fill in on short notice against Ferguson after Nurmagomedov went home to Russia and was then unable to leave the country due to global travel restrictions.

Francis Ngannou, Jairzinho Rozenstruik
UFC

Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik winner will be in line for title shot, says Dana White

Adam Martin - May 8, 2020

Dana White confirmed the winner of the UFC 249 heavyweight bout between Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik will be in line for a title shot. The UFC president was asked this week by the media prior to UFC 249 what is happening with the heavyweight division. UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic said this week he won’t fight again until he gets a full training camp in, further delaying his trilogy fight with Daniel Cormier, and White admitted the promotion could possibly strip Miocic of his belt.

TJ Dillashaw, Matt Serra
Henry Cejudo

TJ Dillashaw believes Dominick Cruz is "kind of a one-trick pony"

Mike Pendleton - May 8, 2020

The co-main event at UFC 249 will be for the bantamweight title as the former champion Dominick Cruz challenges the reigning champion Henry Cejudo. While the bantamweight division continues on, former champion TJ Dillashaw is keeping his eyes on the action. Cruz and Cejudo share one similarity, as they have both faced Dillashaw. Cejudo defeated Dillashaw in a flyweight fight last year, winning with a first-round knockout. Cruz and Dillashaw have also faced off one time against each other, with Cruz getting the win in that matchup by way of split decision.

Donald Cerrone, Conor McGregor, Dana White
Donald Cowboy Cerrone

Donald Cerrone addresses criticisms of Stephen A. Smith

Tom Taylor - May 8, 2020

Shortly after Donald Cerrone was defeated by Conor McGregor back in January, he was lambasted by ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith. Speaking to MMA Fighting ahead of his UFC 249 rematch with Anthony Pettis, Cerrone addressed the comments Smith made about him. He says its always his intention to avoid drama of this kind.

Megan Olivi, UFC 249, Joseph Benavidez
UFC

Megan Olivi discusses importance of UFC 249 in the sports world

Mike Pendleton - May 8, 2020

Sports are back this weekend, as UFC 249 is scheduled to go down in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday night. With the NBA, MLB, and NHL seasons suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UFC will be the first professional sports league to return. UFC reporter Megan Olivi was recently a guest on ‘MMA Tonight’ on Sirius XM and provided her take on how the UFC can capitalize on the extra attention they will have, and how the event won’t look too different from a production standpoint compared to normal events, minus the lack of a crowd.

Jeremy Stephens, UFC Mexico
UFC

Jeremy Stephens can’t wait to “unleash” on Calvin Kattar after watching The Last Dance

Harry Kettle - May 8, 2020

UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens has taken inspiration from The Last Dance ahead of his showdown with Calvin Kattar at UFC 249. Stephens is currently riding a four-fight winless streak with his last victory coming back in February 2018 when he knocked out Josh Emmett. While it doesn’t appear as if there’s any risk of him being released, fans will certainly be keeping an eye on his battle with Kattar this weekend to see if he can step his game up a level.

Sam Alvey
Sam Alvey

Sam Alvey says UFC 249 fight against Ryan Spann is "do-or-die" for UFC career

Cole Shelton - May 8, 2020

Sam Alvey knows his UFC roster spot in on the line when he opens the stacked UFC 249 card against Ryan Spann. Alvey is currently on a three-fight losing streak where he lost by TKO to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Jimmy Crute and most recently dropped a decision to Klidson Abreu. Against Spann, “Smile’n Sam” is the biggest underdog on the card but isn’t paying attention to any of that.

Anthony Pettis, PFL
Donald Cowboy Cerrone

Anthony Pettis believes he will have a “mental advantage” over Donald Cerrone in rematch at UFC 249

Harry Kettle - May 8, 2020

Former UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis believes he will hold a mental advantage over Donald Cerrone in their rematch at UFC 249 this weekend. While it may not be one of the featured bouts on the main card on Saturday night, Pettis vs Cerrone 2 is certainly gathering a lot of buzz as we get closer and closer to fight night.

Greg Hardy, Juan Adams, UFC 249
UFC

Greg Hardy teases WWE move

Tom Taylor - May 8, 2020

Greg Hardy has already jumped from the NFL to the UFC. From the sounds of it, his next stop could be the WWE ring. Hardy, who is scheduled to battle Yorgan De Castro at UFC 249 in Jacksonville, Florida this weekend, discussed a potential move to the pro wrestling world during the virtual media day for the card earlier this week. The topic came up when a reporter mentioned that AEW, another pro wrestling promotion, is also hosting an event in Jacksonville this weekend, with wrestlers staying at the very same hotel as the UFC’s stars.

Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dustin Poirier
Khabib Nurmagomedov

Dana White: "I take responsibility" for Khabib Nurmagomedov withdrawing from UFC 249

Tom Taylor - May 8, 2020

Dana White has taken responsibility—at least in part—for Khabib Nurmagomedov withdrawing from UFC 249. Nurmagomedov, the undisputed UFC lightweight champ, was originally expected to defend his title against Tony Ferguson on April 18. Unfortunately, Nurmagomedov ultimately wound up getting stuck in his native Russia due to travel restrictions stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. The UFC then called upon Justin Gaethje to step in against Ferguson in an interim title fight, which will go down in a rescheduled UFC 249 card on May 9.

Jon Jones
UFC

UFC champion Jon Jones supplies 100k meals for families in Northern New Mexico

Natasha Hooper - May 8, 2020

Jon Jones is doing what he can to help those in need, as he donated 100,000 meals to families in New Mexico recently. The light heavyweight champion has been in hot water recently. In March, “Bones” was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Now, the widely regarded GOAT is working to get back in fan’s good books as he donated to The Food Depot, a food bank in his home city.

Tony Ferguson, Dana White, UFC 249, Justin Gaethje
Khabib Nurmagomedov

Justin Gaethje explains why Tony Ferguson is a tougher puzzle to solve than Khabib Nurmagomedov

Natasha Hooper - May 8, 2020

Justin Gaethje explained why his upcoming opponent, Tony Ferguson, will be a harder nut to crack than the lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov. UFC 249 was originally expected to be headlined by a title bout between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson. However, travel complications surrounding the coronavirus pandemic resulted in Nurmagomedov’s withdrawal from the bout. Instead, Justin Gaethje will face Ferguson in the main event on May 9, in Jacksonville, Florida.

Alonzo Menifield
Devin Clark

Breaking | Alonzo Menifield returns against Devin Clark on June 6

Cole Shelton - May 7, 2020

Alonzo Menifield will return to the Octagon for the first time in nearly a year to battle Devin Clark. Multiple sources confirmed to BJPENN.com that Menifield will take on Devin Clark on June 6 at a location to be announced. The contracts have already been issued and signed, the sources confirmed.

Conor McGregor, Tony Ferguson
UFC

Conor McGregor watching UFC 249 to ensure safety and determine return according to manager

Mike Pendleton - May 7, 2020

Before there are any plans made for Conor McGregor to make his return to the Octagon in 2020, he wants to ensure that the safety measures in place are going to work. According to his manager Audie Attar, McGregor will be following this weekend’s event for many reasons, including scouting potential future opponents, and ensuring the safety of the event taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A.J. McKee
Bellator

A.J. McKee wants to box Floyd Mayweather after he becomes Bellator champ-champ

Cole Shelton - May 7, 2020

A.J. McKee is looking to become a champ-champ in Bellator and then go into boxing to challenge Floyd Mayweather. Mayweather has not boxed professionally since he defeated Conor McGregor in the summer of 2016. It was a highly-anticipated bout, and McKee thinks he can capture that same momentum.

Henry Cejudo, TJ Dillashaw
TJ Dillashaw

Henry Cejudo says he will never fight T.J. Dillashaw again after drug suspension

Cole Shelton - May 7, 2020

Henry Cejudo says he will never fight T.J. Dillashaw again. Cejudo and Dillashaw met at UFC Brooklyn in January of 2018 where “Triple C” was looking to defend his flyweight belt against the then-bantamweight champion, T.J. Dillashaw. It was a highly-anticipated fight that ended early as Cejudo knocked Dillashaw out in just 32 seconds.

Francis Ngannou, Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Francis Ngannou

Pro fighters make their picks for Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Cole Shelton - May 7, 2020

On the stacked UFC 249 main card, Francis Ngannou takes on undefeated contender, Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Heading into this fight, Ngannou is a -275 favorite while “Bigi Boy” is a +215 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros believe the scrap ends by knockout where the majority lean towards Ngannou getting his hand raised.