MMA News

Cain Velasquez
UFC

Cain Velasquez removed from USADA testing pool, UFC rankings

Adam Martin - October 7, 2019

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been officially removed from both the USADA testing pool and the UFC rankings. The moves are an indication that Velasquez is done with MMA, at least for the time being. The former two-time UFC heavyweight champion recently made an appearance on WWE Smackdown, putting the pain on former Octagon rival Brock Lesnar.

Jimi Manuwa
Exclusive MMA Interviews

Jimi Manuwa makes prediction for Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier trilogy

Tom Taylor - October 7, 2019

For a time, Jimi Manuwa and Daniel Cormier were heated rivals in the UFC light heavyweight division. Regrettably, the pair never got the chance to share the cage and likely never will, as Manuwa has since retired, and Cormier has hiked up to the heavyweight division. Much of Cormier’s time in the heavyweight division has been consumed by a rivalry with Stipe Miocic. The pair are tied 1-1 across two previous title fights, with Cormier winning the first encounter by first-round knockout, and Miocic winning the rematch, which occurred at UFC 241 in August, by fourth-round TKO.

Jared Cannonier, UFC 254
UFC

Jared Cannonier: Fight with Yoel Romero 'puts me right up there' in middleweight title picture

Mike Heck - October 7, 2019

Jared Cannonier went from rising middleweight fighter on the UFC roster to world title contender in just under six minutes last month at UFC Copenhagen. After defeating Jack Hermansson, Cannonier sees himself mixing things up with the likes of Yoel Romero, Kelvin Gastelum, Darren Till, or anyone blocking his path to a title shot. “Killa Gorilla” finished Hermansson via second-round TKO in the main event of the UFC’s trip to Denmark. While it was one of the biggest wins of his career — snapping the four-fight winning streak of Hermansson — Cannonier is already back to normal life as Dad.

Robert Whittaker Israel Adesanya, UFC 243
Robert Whittaker

Israel Adesanya expects Robert Whittaker rematch: 'I'll see you again'

Adam Martin - October 7, 2019

New UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya believes he will eventually see former champ Robert Whitaker in the Octagon again one day. Despite knocking Whittaker out in devastating fashion in the second round of their UFC 243 main event fight, Adesanya doesn’t believe it will be the last time he meets Whittaker in the cage. “The Last Stylebender” spoke to reporters at the UFC 243 post-fight press conference and said that he expects to eventually have a rematch with “The Reaper.”

Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Joanna Jedrzejczyk scolds Colby Covington: ‘You shouldn’t s**t in your gym’

Tom Taylor - October 7, 2019

Colby Covington has alienated many of his stablemates at American Top Team, and that includes former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Jedrzejczyk gave her thoughts on Covington during a recent interview with James Lynch of theScore.

ONE Championship

Lito Adiwang is focusing on Senzo Ikeda and nothing else for his ONE Championship debut

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 7, 2019

Recent ONE Warrior Series contract winner Lito Adiwang of the Philippines will make his highly-anticipated ONE Championship main roster debut this October 13th when he faces Pancrase Flyweight World Champion Senzo Ikeda in a three-rounder bout in the first part of ONE: CENTURY. The event streams live from the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan, and features a slew of high-profile matchups.

Israel Adesanya, Jon Jones, UFC 236, ben askren
Israel Adesanya

Ben Askren on Israel Adesanya: 'Some of you are missing the boat'

Tom Taylor - October 7, 2019

Israel Adesanya put forth a star-making performance in the UFC 243 main event, first dazzling fans with an incredibly unique walkout (at least by UFC standards), then by delivering an impressive defeat of Robert Whittaker to capture the UFC middleweight belt. It’s truly difficult to imagine things going much better for Nigerian-born Kiwi, and all signs point to his achieving the kind of mainstream stardom we’ve only seem from a few fighters previously. UFC welterweight Ben Askren certainly seems to think that will be the case.

Danny Kingad, Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson

Geje Eustaquio: Danny Kingad is well prepared for ONE: Century

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 7, 2019

Danny “The King” Kingad will meet Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson in the Finals of ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix in the biggest event in mixed martial arts history at ONE: Century on October 13 at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan. Teammate and former ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio is confident that Kingad is well prepared for the upcoming bout.

Jon-Jones-Israel-Adesanya
Jon Jones

Jon Jones reacts to Israel Adesanya defeating Robert Whittaker

Chris Taylor - October 6, 2019

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was watching last night’s UFC 243 main event between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker with keen interest. After all, ‘Bones’ and ‘Stylebender’ had been going back and forth on social media and interviews for months in the lead up to tonight’s event.

Israel Adesanya, Paulo Costa, Stephen Thompson
Paulo Costa

Opening odds released for Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa

Cole Shelton - October 6, 2019

The opening odds have been released for a potential middleweight title fight between champion Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa. Adesanya called for a fight with Costa after he beat Robert Whittaker on Saturday to win the middleweight title.

Israel Adesanya
UFC

Playing matchmaker for UFC 243: Who's next for Israel Adesanya?

Adam Martin - October 6, 2019

Over 57,000 fans got to see a great night of fights at UFC 243, and now it’s time to look ahead at what’s next for the winners. Who’s next for new UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya? We answer that question and others as we play matchmaker for UFC 243. Israel Adesanya vs. Jon Jones

UFC

UFC executive won't answer fighter pay questions following UFC 243

Adam D Martin - October 6, 2019

UFC executive Lawrence Epstein took the place of UFC president Dana White at the UFC 243 post-fight press conference. He got the usual questions of who’s next for who, who won the bonuses, what the attendance was, and so on. But he also got an interesting question about fighter pay. At the UFC post-fight presser, The Athletic’s Ben Fowlkes asked Epstein about fighter pay and if he believes it’s fair the UFC only pays 20 percent of its revenue to the fighters. In comparison, most of the other top professional sports leagues are closer to a 50/50 split.

Jon-Jones-Israel-Adesanya
Israel Adesanya

Daniel Cormier shares his thoughts on potential Israel Adesanya vs Jon Jones fight

Adam D Martin - October 6, 2019

Former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier shared his thoughts on a potential superfight between Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones. DC Spoke on the ESPN post-fight show about a potential Adesanya vs. Jones matchup and how he sees that fight playing out. He believes Adesanya can give Jones problems, but ultimately he believes he will be at a size disadvantage.

Robert Whittaker, Joe Rogan
UFC

Robert Whittaker releases video statement on UFC 243 title fight loss

Adam D Martin - October 6, 2019

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has released a video statement following his loss to Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC 243. “The Reaper” posted a video along with a written statement to his fans on his social media. Here’s what it said.

Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker
UFC

Israel Adesanya puts EA Sports on blast: 'They made me look like Chad Mendes' in the UFC video game

Adam D Martin - October 6, 2019

New UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya says he doesn’t play the official UFC video game because he thinks he looks too much like Chad Mendes in it. Adesanya has often compared his fighting style to playing in a video game. Well, it seems like “The Last Stylebender” is not a fan of the UFC’s official game, and he criticized its developers following UFC 243.

UFC

Dan Hooker says Dustin Poirier is too busy 'chasing leprechauns'

Adam D Martin - October 6, 2019

UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker wants to fight Dustin Poirier next, but he said Poirier is too ‘busy chasing leprechauns’ in reference to Conor McGregor. After defeating Al Iaquinta by lopsided decision in the co-main event of UFC 243, Hooker called him shot and told UFC commentator Jon Anik that he wants to fight Dustin Poirier next. Unfortunately for Hooker, Poirier took to his social media and turned Hooker down, saying that he wants to fight McGregor instead.

Israel Adesanya
Paulo Costa

Israel Adesanya explains why he gave Paulo Costa the fingers following UFC 243 win

Adam D Martin - October 6, 2019

New UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya explained why he gave the middle finger to Paulo Costa following his main event win at UFC 243. “The Last Stylebender” jumped on top of the Octagon cage after he knocked out Robert Whittaker in the second round of their title fight. He looked right at Costa, who was sitting in the front row, and stuck both his middle fingers up at “Borrachinha.”

Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan

Joe Rogan praises Israel Adesanya for performance at UFC 243

Chris Taylor - October 6, 2019

UFC commentator Joe Rogan was absolutely blown away by Israel Adesanya’s performance at tonight’s UFC 243 event in Melbourne. Israel Adesanya (18-0 MMA) took on Robert Whittaker (21-5 MMA) for the promotions undisputed middleweight title in this evenings UFC 243 headliner.