MMA News
Combate Americas announces six new bouts for World Championship event
Tom Taylor - June 18, 2019
NEW YORK – June 4, 2019 –Combate Americas today announced six new bouts for its first-ever featherweight (145 pounds) world championship event that will headline the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise’s debut in the state of New Mexico, live on television in Spanish in the U.S. on both Univision (12 a.m. ET/PT) and UDN (12 a.m. ET/9 p.m. PT), and in English in the U.S. and Canada on DAZN (11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT) from Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho on Friday, June 28. Priced from $19.75, tickets for the Combate Americas world championship event are on sale at CombateAmericas.com/NewMexico.
Valentina Shevchenko wants title fight with Liz Carmouche
Tom Taylor - June 18, 2019
The UFC had a difficult time locking down a main event for UFC San Antonio, which goes down on July 20. Eventually, the promotion landed on a welterweight contender bout between Rafael dos Anjos and Leon Edwards, but before that matchup was booked, several others were in consideration. One was a flyweight title fight between champion Valentina Shevchenko and challenger Liz Carmouche. While this matchup failed to come to fruition for the July 20 card in San Antonio, Shevchenko remains hopeful it will be booked soon. She has history with Carmouche, having experienced the first setback of her career against the American, and is eager for the opportunity to even the score. Particularly given the way their first fight ended.
Bonded In Brotherhood: How Deron Winn and Daniel Cormier's relationship grows through wrestling
Mike Pendleton - June 18, 2019
When Deron Winn makes his UFC debut at UFC Greenville next weekend, Daniel Cormier won’t be in his corner, but there’s a good reason for that. “We argue all the time, even when we are coaching high school wrestling, we’ll be arguing throughout the meet.”
T.J. Dillashaw says Urijah Faber "probably should've stayed retired"
Mike Pendleton - June 17, 2019
Former UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw is currently serving a two-year suspension from USADA for his use of EPO, and recently spoke on his decision to take the banned-substance, but he also discussed more than that in his interview with Chael Sonnen. During his interview on the “You’re Welcome” podcast hosted by Chael Sonnen, Dillashaw discussed the return of his former coach and teammate Urijah Faber who is ending his retirement to take on Ricky Simon at UFC Sacramento on July 13, and didn’t hold back in his thoughts on Faber’s return. Faber recently spoke on the possibility of fighting Dillashaw, and it’s a fight that interests him when his former teammate returns from suspension.
Dillon Danis makes bold prediction for potential MMA fight with Jon Jones
Tom Taylor - June 17, 2019
Last weekend, on the main card of Bellator 222, Dillon Danis improved to 2-0 in MMA with a submission victory over Max Humphrey. Shortly after this sophomore win, the Brazilian jiu jitsu specialist and Conor McGregor stablemate made yet another callout of reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Speaking on Monday’s edition of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show, Danis made a bold prediction for a potential fight with the light heavyweight legend. Despite the fact that he would be surrendering roughly 30 pounds of weight to Jones, and quite a bit of height and length, Danis is confident confident he could earn the tap if he attacked the UFC champ’s legs.
VIDEO | Every finish from ONE: Legendary Quest
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 17, 2019
ONE Championship made a successful return to China, with ONE: Legendary Quest selling out the Baoshan Arena in beautiful Shanghai. The biggest winner of the night was no doubt reigning ONE Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex of Thailand, who successfully defended her Muay Thai crown against a very game challenger in Alma Juniku of Australia.
Paulie Malignaggi credits 'f**king stupid' MMA fans for setting up 'easy' Artem Lobov payday
Tom Taylor - June 17, 2019
This weekend, in the main event of BKFC 6 in Tampa, Florida, former boxing champ Paulie Malignaggi will meet UFC veteran Artem Lobov in bare knuckle fight. Given his accolades in the boxing arena, Malignaggi is expecting an easy night of work against his foe. And he’s thanking the “f**king stupid” MMA fans that support Lobov for helping to set this easy night of work up for him.
What a ONE Championship Welterweight World Grand Prix field might look like
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 17, 2019
Tournaments and Grand Prix are excellent for martial arts promotions. It hearkens back to the golden days of competition in a variety of combat sports. ONE Championship is capturing that magic with its various ladder-style tournaments. Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev has already secured himself a spot in the lightweight final on the strength of two KO victories over Ev Ting and Amir Khan. Arslanaliev will face the winner of the Timofey Nastyuhkin vs. Honorio Banario semifinal, which takes place in Manila this August.
Khabib Nurmagomedov explains how Conor McGregor can earn rematch
Tom Taylor - June 17, 2019
From the sounds of it, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is open to a rematch with his last opponent, Conor McGregor, who he submitted at UFC 229 in October. Before this prospective blockbuster can occur, however, the champ wants to see the Irish star put in some work and earn it.
Dana White: 'I assume Tony Ferguson is next' for lightweight title fight
Mike Pendleton - June 17, 2019
The complicated UFC lightweight title picture is starting to look a little clearer. While Khabib Nurmagomedov is scheduled to defend his title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 in September, UFC President Dana White has an idea as to who is likely to get the next title shot thereafter. Following his win over Donald Cerrone at UFC 238, Tony Ferguson extended his winning streak to 12 and once again made a statement that he deserves a title fight. While many fans were left unsatisfied after the Ferguson and Cerrone fight ended by doctor stoppage, Dana White says that he assumes “El Cucuy” is next in line after Nurmagomedov and Poirier battle for the title.
Scott Coker on Aaron Pico: 'Don't count this kid out'
Tom Taylor - June 17, 2019
Aaron Pico has long stood out as one of the hottest prospects on the Bellator MMA roster. Regrettably, the 22-year-old has been brutally knocked out in his two most recent bouts, leaving some real concerns about his future in the sport. Speaking at the Bellator 222 post-fight press conference, shortly after Pico’s knockout loss to Adam Borics, Bellator President Scott Coker discussed the recent rough stretch of this promising prospect.
Dana White says he's signed a new deal with the UFC
Tom Taylor - June 17, 2019
UFC President Dana White has recently expressed interest in investing in the purchase of an NFL team with former UFC owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta. When asked about this topic on a recent episode of LVSportsBiz Guerrilla Cross Radio, however, the UFC President peppered in another very interesting detail with respect to his career as a titan of the sporting world. He claims he’s signed a brand new 10-year deal with the UFC. That’s right. Another decade of profanity-laced tirades and interim titles courtesy of Uncle Dana.
Nate Diaz is looking shredded ahead of UFC 241 fight with Anthony Pettis
Christopher Taylor - June 16, 2019
Fan favorite Nate Diaz will return to the octagon at August’s UFC 241 event for a welterweight bout with former 155-pounch champion Anthony Pettis. Diaz has not stepped foot inside the octagon since August of 2016, where he suffered a controversial majoirty decision loss to Conor McGregor in the main event of UFC 202.
Heather Hardy reacts to loss, responds to fans negative hateful comments
Christopher Taylor - June 16, 2019
Former WBO featherweight boxing champion Heather Hardy suffered a TKO loss to Taylor Turner at this Friday’s Bellator 222 event in New York. The setback dropped Hardy’s career mixed martial arts record to 2-2. The loss also prompted many pundits to call for Heather’s return to boxing.
Tyron Woodley: Henry Cejudo is 'annoying everybody'
Tom Taylor - June 16, 2019
UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo is not just a tremendous fighter but also an interesting character. While some members of the MMA community find his personality charming, however, not everybody is on board with it. File former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley into that latter group.
Gegard Mousasi was 'suspicious' TJ Dillashaw was doping 'for a long time'
Tom Taylor - June 16, 2019
Earlier this year, former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw tested positive for the banned substance EPO and suspended for two years by the United States Anti-Doping Agency as a result. Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi says he suspected the bantamweight of doping for “a long time.” https://youtu.be/1dARnaz-JWM
Khabib Nurmagomedov suggests Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje fight
Tom Taylor - June 16, 2019
Tony Ferguson has earned himself a fight with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. That much is undeniable. Unfortunately for Ferguson, Nurmagomedov is currently tied up with a fight with Dustin Poirier, scheduled for UFC 242 on September 7 in Abu Dhabi.
VIDEO | Chael Sonnen gets emotional when asked what he'd tell late father at career's end
Tom Taylor - June 16, 2019
On Friday night, after being stopped by Lyoto Machida in the co-main event of Bellator 222, Chael Sonnen decided to up to hang up the gloves. Sonnen had a legendary career as a professional mixed martial artist, challenging for WEC and UFC titles on multiple occasions, and very nearly battling the Bellator heavyweight strap. In the end, however, he never captured a major MMA title.