MMA News
Daniel Cormier makes suggestion for Jon Jones' first heavyweight opponent
Tom Taylor - December 1, 2020
Former two-division UFC champ Daniel Cormier believes a heavyweight fight between Jon Jones and Curtis Blaydes makes “all the sense in the world.” Jones, the most dominant light heavyweight fighter in MMA history, recently vacated the UFC light heavyweight title with plans to move up to the heavyweight division. While it’s still not clear who he’ll fight in his first fight in this new weight class, Cormier believes Blaydes should get the call.
Video | Watch Khabib Nurmagomedov score nasty submission win in 7th pro fight
Tom Taylor - December 1, 2020
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was showing flashes of his current dominance long before he made it to the sport’s biggest stage. This week, Khabib shared footage from his seventh pro fight to his official Facebook page, and it’s proof that he’s always been an absolutely lethal grappler—even in the early phases of his illustrious MMA career.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 21 with Jack Hermansson, Diego Ferreira, Montana De La Rosa and Cody Durden
Cole Shelton - December 1, 2020
The 21st episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 16. We’re first joined by fourth-ranked middleweight contender, Jack Hermansson (3:01). Next, ninth-ranked lightweight, Diego Ferreira (17:36) joins the show. Then, the 15th-ranked flyweight, Montana De La Rosa (31:34) comes on. Closing out the show is flyweight contender, Cody Durden (41:31).
Garry Tonon confident someone is getting finished in Koyomi Matsushima bout
Tom Taylor - December 1, 2020
American grappling star turned mixed martial artist Garry Tonon will return to action this Friday night in what he considers his toughest bout so far. The multiple-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion will look to climb the featherweight ranks with a victory over his next foe, in hopes of landing a shot at the belt in the very near future.
Odds released for a potential MMA bout between Colby Covington and LeBron James
Harry Kettle - December 1, 2020
The odds have been released for a potential mixed martial arts fight between UFC welterweight Colby Covington and NBA star LeBron James. In the wake of Jake Paul knocking out Nate Robinson this past weekend, it seems as if there is a revived interest in the world of celebrity boxing – and potentially even celebrity MMA. From basketball to baseball and beyond, plenty of stars are starting to throw their name into the hat for a potential bout somewhere down the road.
10 MMA champions ready to make waves in 2021
bjpenndotcom - December 1, 2020
There’s no question that 2020 has been rough for mixed martial arts. COVID-19 hit professional sports particularly hard, and the road to recovery only began in recent months. But despite the difficult challenges, MMA is looking forward to a fantastic 2021. That’s because the sport is absolutely stacked with talented fighters who are ready to cement themselves as the best in the business. Here are 10 reigning MMA world champions from organizations around the world who are primed for an epic 2021.
Daniel Cormier responds after Dillon Danis suggests he will shut his "fat mouth"
Christopher Taylor - November 30, 2020
Dillon Danis was not happy with Daniel Cormier for suggesting that he would get “beat up” by Jake Paul in a boxing match. Earlier today on ESPN‘s “DC & Helwani show”, the former UFC champ-champ turned heads when he suggested that Jake Paul would defeat Dillon Danis in a boxing match.
Ronaldo Souza says Jack Hermansson turned down rematch at UFC Vegas 16
Adam Martin - November 30, 2020
UFC middleweight veteran Ronaldo Souza says that he offered to fight Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 16 but “The Joker” turned him down. Hermansson was set to fight Darren Till in the main event of UFC Vegas 16 on December 5, but Till unfortunately pulled out of the fight with an injury. Kevin Holland then filled in on short notice, but he was forced to pull out of the fight due to a positive COVID-19 test. Hermansson was finally booked to fight Marvin Vettori, who was originally slated to fight Souza at UFC 256 next weekend. Souza, in turn, was booked to fight Holland, who will look to make a speedy recovery from COVID-19.
Claressa Shields signs with PFL
Adam Martin - November 30, 2020
Claressa Shields, a former Olympic gold medalist in boxing, is making the move to mixed martial arts and surprisingly has signed with PFL. Shields has been teasing a move to MMA for the last few years. In fact, she was a guest of UFC president Dana White at UFC 245 last December in Las Vegas. Many thought that after Amanda Nunes defended the UFC women’s bantamweight title against Germaine de Randamie that night that Shields could potentially be a future opponent. But that fight won’t be happening anytime soon with Shields now in PFL.
Jessica Andrade drops timeline for potential Valentina Shevchenko fight
Adam Martin - November 30, 2020
Top contender Jessica Andrade dropped a timeline for a potential fight against UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko in 2021. Andrade, the former UFC women’s strawweight champion, made her flyweight debut back at UFC Fight Island 6 in October and knocked out former title challenger Katlyn Chookagian with a nasty body shot. UFC president Dana White praised Andrade following the fight and hinted that she could be next in line to fight Shevchenko. Thus far that fight has not been booked but it appears it’s the direction the UFC is headed.
Conor McGregor celebrates the anniversary of Nate Diaz’s win over Gray Maynard: “Happy womp womp day brother!”
Cole Shelton - November 30, 2020
Conor McGregor congratulated Nate Diaz on the anniversary of his TKO win over Gray Maynard. On November 30, 2013, Diaz and Maynard had their unofficial trilogy bout. They first met on The Ultimate Fighter with Diaz winning by submission. They then fought in 2010 with Maynard winning by split decision but in 2013, Diaz put the rivalry to bed with a TKO win.
Daniel Cormier believes Jake Paul would "beat up" Dillon Danis
Adam Martin - November 30, 2020
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier believes that Jake Paul would “beat up” Dillon Danis if the two ever end up fighting in a boxing match. In the wake of Paul’s knockout win over Nate Robinson at the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. event, there have been numerous athletes taking to social media to call Paul out. We’ve seen NHL players including Ryan Reaves and Evander Kane call Paul out, not to mention numerous other MMA fighters and boxers. One of those fighters is Danis, the outspoken Bellator fighter who has made it known he is interested in stepping into the ring with Paul. And Paul seems like he’s interested in the fight, too.
Brandon Moreno open to changing nickname to "Mexican McLovin"
Adam Martin - November 30, 2020
UFC flyweight contender Brandon Moreno joked that he would consider changing his nickname from “The Assassin Baby” to “Mexican McLovin.” Moreno is currently the No. 1 ranked contender in the UFC flyweight division, and on December 12, he will take on champion Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event of UFC 256. It’s a huge opportunity for Moreno, who is one of the most exciting fighters in the division. In his last fight at UFC 255, he finished Brandon Royval in round one.
UFC's Colby Covington wants to give "soft" LeBron James the Nate Robinson treatment
Tom Taylor - November 30, 2020
Outspoken UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington is calling for a boxing match with NBA legend LeBron James. Cross-sport boxing matches are all anybody can talk about these days, after YouTube star Jake Paul strafed former NBA player Nate Robinson in the co-main event of last weekend’s Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. card.
Henry Cejudo makes prediction for Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno
Tom Taylor - November 30, 2020
Former UFC flyweight champion Henry Cejudo has made his pick for the upcoming title fight between current champ Deiveson Figueiredo and challenger Brandon Moreno. Henry Cejudo captured the UFC flyweight title with a controversial split decision defeat of of Demetrious Johnson in August, 2018. After defending the title with a knockout of TJ Dillashaw in January 2019, he then ventured up to bantamweight, where he captured the vacant title with a defeat of Marlon Moraes, and retired after defending the belt against Dominick Cruz.
Dana White updates on Michael Chandler's UFC debut: There's "no hurry"
Tom Taylor - November 30, 2020
UFC President Dana White says there is “no hurry” to schedule the UFC debut of former Bellator lightweight champion “Iron” Michael Chandler. Chandler signed with the UFC in the fall, and was was immediately pegged as the understudy for the UFC 254-headlining lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje. In the end, both Nurmagomedov and Gaethje made it to the Octagon that night, which meant Chandler’s services weren’t needed, and his UFC debut was put on ice.
Dana White gushes over victorious UFC Vegas 15 "bad boy" Miguel Baeza
Tom Taylor - November 30, 2020
You can count UFC President Dana White among the multitudinous new admirers of Puerto Rican welterweight prospect Miguel Baeza. Baeza returned to the Octagon in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 15 last weekend, defeating hard-nosed Japanese star Takashi Sato by submission. With the win, which broadcasted on ESPN, the 28-year-old improved to an impressive 10-0 overall, and gave the impression that he could become a big star in the near future.
John Kavanagh was not a fan of Snoop Dogg's commentary on Tyson vs. Jones fight
Tom Taylor - November 30, 2020
Renowned mixed martial arts coach John Kavanagh was not impressed with Snoop Dogg’s commentary during last weekend’s Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. fight. Tyson and Jones, 54 and 51 respectively, collided in an eight-round heavyweight exhibition fight on Saturday night in Los Angeles. Despite the age of the two men, the event generated massive international interest, with many stars of the combat sports world tuning in—Kavanagh included.