MMA News

Cole Shelton - June 4, 2019

Khabib Nurmagomedov has re-signed with the UFC after agreeing to headline UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi against Dustin Poirier. According to the lightweight champion’s manager in Ali Abdelaziz, both he and “The Eagle” are ecstatic with the new contract.

Adam Martin - June 4, 2019

One of the UFC light heavyweight division’s top prospects, Johnny Walker, is set to return to the Octagon this fall. According to ESPN.com’s Ariel Helwani, Walker has been medically cleared to begin MMA training following shoulder surgery, and his team wants him to fight again in September. According to his manager Lucas Lutkus, Johnny Walker is eyeing a top-10 opponent opponent in his return to the cage.

Tom Taylor - June 4, 2019

The long rumored fight between UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champ Dustin Poirier is now official for UFC 242. According to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, who spoke with Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz, this fight will mark the first obligation on a brand new UFC contract for the Russian champion. More interestingly still, this contract allegedly includes a clause in the event that Nurmagomedov ever gets his long desired fight with Georges St-Pierre.

Tom Taylor - June 4, 2019

Jimi Manuwa entered his UFC Stockholm fight with Aleksandar Rakic with three losses in the rear-view mirror, two of which came by way of knockout. Ahead of this bout, amid growing concerns that his best days had come and gone, he tried to remind fans that it wasn’t all that long ago that he was dishing out violent knockout wins of his own. “I think MMA fans and the MMA community itself have got a very short memory,” he told MMA Fighting’s Peter Carroll ahead of the fight.

Tom Taylor - June 4, 2019

UFC heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa is best known for two things. First and foremost is handiwork in the cage, which has carried him to a solid 8-1 record. Second is his affection for ‘shoeys’ — the act of chugging a beer out of somebody else’s shoe. UFC commentator Joe Rogan is a big fan of the first of those things, but he’s not so sure about the second. Rogan gave his take on shoeys on the latest episode of his podcast:

Cole Shelton - June 4, 2019

Jessica Eye is undefeated at flyweight and is now set to fight for the title against champion Valentina Shevchenko in the co-main event of UFC 238. When Eye got the call to say she was fighting for the title, it was a surreal moment for her and her team.

Tom Taylor - June 4, 2019

On the latest episode of the Joe Rogan Rogan Experience, host Joe Rogan got into a lengthy and visibly exhausting debate with his guest Eddie Bravo. The topic, as those familiar with either man might guess, was the shape of the earth. Rogan, like most people, believes it’s round, while Bravo is adamant that it is actually flat. The two friends could not come to an agreement on the shape of the planet we live on, and at long last, agreed to change the subject.

Cole Shelton - June 4, 2019

UFC 238 is set to go down on Saturday from Chicago, Illinois. The card is stacked top to bottom with two title fights closing out the night. But, also on the card is an intriguing lightweight matchup between Donald Cerrone and Tony Ferguson, the winner of which will most likely get a crack at the title. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions on this fight. They all agree it will be a great fight and a hard fight to call.

Adam Martin - June 4, 2019

The UFC returns to San Antonio, Texas this summer for UFC on ESPN 4 and two of the biggest heavyweights on the roster are set to throw down when Juan Adams meets Greg Hardy in a grudge match. Now, Adams has one simple message his opponent: “F*ck you.”

Cole Shelton - June 4, 2019

Calvin Kattar will partake in one of the biggest fights of his career when he takes on Ricardo Lamas at UFC 238. When the 15th-ranked featherweight got the call to fight Lamas he was ecstatic. He understands just what a win would do for his career and is excited to show he is a top featherweight in the world. “I was pumped, man. I’ve been trying to fight a bunch of big names for a while now,” Kattar said to BJPENN.com. “I’m ready to go out and show why I belong. I don’t want to be the 15th-ranked fighter without taking out a top-15 fighter. I want to earn that spot. A win over Lamas shows I belong in that spot and can compete with guys who can fight for the title. He previously fought Aldo, that is more exciting and appealing.”

Tom Taylor - June 4, 2019

Amid the retirements of UFC light heavyweights like Alexander Gustafsson and Jimi Manuwa, another fantastic light heavyweight fighter has elected to hang up the gloves: The great Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal. Lawal, a former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, RIZIN Grand Prix winner, and Bellator contender, quietly retired from competition earlier this week. The news was announced on the official Instagram page of American Top Team, the gym he’s called home for many years.

Natasha Hooper - June 4, 2019

Speaking on Monday’s episode of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show, Nate Diaz discussed many interesting topics, including his loss to Conor McGregor. Diaz first beat McGregor at UFC 196 in the second round with a rear-naked choke. The pair returned to face each other at UFC 202 later the same year. The fight went five rounds and McGregor won from a majority decision. Yet for many, (including Nate Diaz,) it was not a clear win for the Irish fighter.

Cole Shelton - June 3, 2019

In the main event of UFC 238, Henry Cejudo has a chance to become a champ-champ. He is the reigning flyweight champion, and after knocking out T.J. Dillashaw, the Olympic gold medalist is moving up in weight to take on Marlon Moraes for the vacant bantamweight title. If Cejudo can become a champ-champ, he believes he will be the best pound-for-pound fighter.

Cole Shelton - June 3, 2019

At UFC Sacramento, Urijah Faber will return to the Octagon for a bantamweight tilt against Ricky Simon. It will be nearly three years since ‘The California Kid” last fought, but the 40-year-old is eager to return. Although Simon is not the biggest name, a win at UFC Sacramento could help setup a future fight with former teammate turned bitter rival T.J. Dillashaw. The former UFC bantamweight kingpin, Dillashaw is currently suspended for two years due to EPO use.

Christopher Taylor - June 3, 2019

Undefeated welterweight standout Ben Askren (19-0 MMA) took aim at former UFC lightweight title challenger Nate Diaz on Monday afternoon. The former Bellator and ONE Champion, Askren, roasted the younger Diaz brother over his professional record as a lightweight.

Natasha Hooper - June 3, 2019

Doping insinuations aren’t taken lightly in MMA, and bantamweight fighter Pedro Munhoz is no exception. Pedro Munhoz recently fired back at Aljamain Sterling and called him a scumbag following his recent drug-test comments. Sterling has previously said that Munhoz should be tested ‘properly’ ahead of their scheduled UFC 238 fight this weekend. Munhoz reacted negatively to the comment, and the pair have made jabs back and forth since. Sterling said:

Mike Pendleton - June 3, 2019

For the first time in ages, Nate Diaz has opened up on his fighting career. What will likely come as a disappointment to many fighting fans is that he’s apparently not interested in a trilogy against former featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor.

Adam Martin - June 3, 2019

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will next fight at UFC 242 on September 7 in Abu Dhabi — that much is almost certain. But we still don’t have confirmation about who his opponent will be. Most expect interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier to be the next man to fight “The Eagle”, but according to Nurmagomedov’s father Abdulmanap, that’s not a sure thing, as two other opponents are still under consideration.