MMA News

Jon Jones, Dana White
UFC

Jon Jones explains why he vacated the UFC light heavyweight title

Adam Martin - August 27, 2020

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones explained why he decided to give up his 205lbs belt and announce the move up to heavyweight. Jones recently announced on social media that he vacated the UFC light heavyweight title, and the vacant title will be on the line at UFC 253 in September between Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz. Jones made the decision to drop his belt and make the move to heavyweight for a few reasons, which he expanded on in a social media post. Taking to his Twitter on Thursday night, Jones expanded on his decision to vacate the 205lbs belt.

Luke-Rockhold
UFC

Luke Rockhold calls for return fight against Darren Till in the O2 Arena, but would love to shut up Chris Weidman

Cole Shelton - August 27, 2020

Luke Rockhold is interested in fighting Darren Till in England at the O2 Arena. The former middleweight champ recently announced he would be making a comeback and sent a message to the division. Now, he is calling his shots as he wants to return against Till as he believes it is a fun fight and a winnable fight for him.

Zak Cummings
UFC

Zak Cummings expects to finish Alessio Di Chirico, get ranked opponent next time out

Cole Shelton - August 27, 2020

Zak Cummings was surprised when he found out he would be fighting Alessio Di Chirico. Cummings will be returning this Saturday at UFC Vegas 8 after dropping a decision to Omari Akhmedov last September at UFC 242. The hope for Cummings was to make a quick turnaround. Yet, he was turned down a couple of times and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit leaving Cummings not being able to fight in nearly a year.

Ray Borg
UFC

Ray Borg announces retirement from MMA at age 27

Adam Martin - August 27, 2020

Former UFC flyweight title challenger Ray Borg has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts at the age of 27. Borg has been a member of the UFC roster since 2014, fighting in the flyweight and bantamweight divisions. On Thursday, he took to social media to announce that he is retiring from MMA, citing personal reasons. Check out what Borg wrote on Instagram.

Francis Ngannou, UFC
UFC

Francis Ngannou responds to Stipe Miocic after the champ says he wants new challenges

Adam Martin - August 27, 2020

Francis Ngannou has responded after UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic said he was looking for new challenges, which could be Jon Jones. UFC president Dana White said that Ngannou was next for Miocic in the wake of his trilogy fight victory over Daniel Cormier at UFC 252, but since then things have changed. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones decided to vacate his belt and announce his move up to heavyweight, and he has already expressed interest in a fight against Miocic. White has since confirmed that Jones could be in line for an immediate title shot.

Georges St-Pierre, Chael Sonnen
Khabib Nurmagomedov

Georges St-Pierre: chances of Khabib Nurmagomedov fight are "incredibly low"

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2020

Former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre says the chances of his returning to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov are “incredibly low.” St-Pierre and Nurmagomedov have both expressed interest in fighting one another in the past, but in 2020, when St-Pierre is almost 40 years old, and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create logistical challenges, it’s starting to look like a long shot.

Carlo Pedersoli
Exclusive MMA Interviews

Carlo Pedersoli Jr. slated to make his Bellator debut on September 24 against Grachik Bozinyan

Alfredo Zullino - August 27, 2020

A Bellator welterweight clash between Carlo Pedersoli Jr. (11-3 MMA, 0-0 Bellator) and Grachik Bozinyan (10-5 MMA, 0-1 Bellator) is set for September 24 in Milan, Italy, sources with knowledge of the situation told BJPENN.com. The sources asked for anonymity since the news hasn’t been officially confirmed yet. The Miami-born Italian fighter was supposed to make his promotional debut at Bellator 239 back in February against Mark Lemminger, in Thackerville, Oklahoma, but Pedersoli was eventually forced to pull out of the fight due to an infection.

Henry Cejudo
Sean O'Malley

Henry Cejudo rips Sean O’Malley for stealing his pose: “O’Malley should be sponsored by Viagra since all he does is go limp”

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2020

Former UFC bantamweight and flyweight champion Henry Cejudo has taken another shot at rising prospect “Sugar” Sean O’Malley. Cejudo, who retired from competition back in May, has had plenty of trash talk for O’Malley over the last few weeks. Even when O’Malley suffered a TKO loss to Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 252 earlier this month, the former champion did not dial back his verbal warfare.

Neil Magny
UFC

Neil Magny sees pros and cons to short-notice Robbie Lawler fight

Adam Martin - August 27, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Neil Magny admits there are pros and cons to his fight against Robbie Lawler on Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 33. Magny was set to fight Geoff Neal in a high-profile welterweight bout, but Neal was forced to withdraw due to a medical issue and Lawler stepper in on short notice. Lawler, the former UFC welterweight champion, has not fought since last summer and has lost four of his last five fights. That’s why the oddsmakers have installed Magny as the betting favorite for the contest. Then again, Lawler has proven he has the power to stop anybody at 170.

Dan Hooker
Patricio "Pitbull" Freire

Dan Hooker responds to Patricio Freire’s claim that he would leave him in a hospital bed

Harry Kettle - August 27, 2020

UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker has issued a response to Bellator double-champ Patricio “Pitbull” Freire who called him out on social media. Hooker, 30, is hoping to get back into the Octagon sooner rather than later after his unanimous decision loss to Dustin Poirier back in June. Alas, despite the defeat, “Hangman” saw his stock rise significantly after a fight that was dubbed by many as a Fight of the Year contender.

Nick Diaz, Tyron Woodley
Nick Diaz

Nick Diaz responds to Diego Sanchez's accusations of hate e-mails

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2020

Nick Diaz has responded to a recent accusation from Diego Sanchez, who claimed the former Strikeforce welterweight champ used to send him angry emails. Earlier this week, during an appearance on Mike Swick’s Real Quick podcast, Sanchez accused Diaz of bombarding him with hateful emails, some of which even targeted his mother and father.

Robbie Lawler
UFC

Robbie Lawler issues classic response when asked how he’s dealing with pandemic

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2020

Former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler issued a classic response when he was asked how he’s coping with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Contrary to his reputation as one of the most violent fighters in MMA, Lawler has always been fairly reclusive and soft-spoken. During a virtual scrum ahead of his short-notice UFC Vegas 8 scrap with Neil Magny, the former welterweight titleholder was asked how he’s been fairing during the pandemic.

Anthony Smith
Jon Jones

Anthony Smith reacts to Jon Jones vacating the UFC light heavyweight title: “That’s a noble thing to do”

Harry Kettle - August 27, 2020

UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith has given his thoughts on Jon Jones vacating the Light Heavyweight Championship. Smith, 32, is hoping to get back to winning ways this Saturday when he squares off against rising star Aleksandar Rakic in a huge fight at 205 pounds. “Lionheart” was beaten by vetern Glover Teixeira in the fifth round of their main event in May, and ever since then he’s been itching to get back into the Octagon.

Anderson Silva
Conor McGregor

Anderson Silva still interested in a super fight with "the best one in the sport," Conor McGregor

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2020

Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is expected to retire from MMA after his October 31 fight with Uriah Hall, but the Brazilian legend is still interested in a clash with former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor. Silva explained his interest in a fight with McGregor during an interview with ESPN this week.

Alexander Volkanovski
Bellator

Alex Volkanovski scoffs at Patricio Freire’s challenge to Dana White, ‘Pitbull’ issues scathing response

Natasha Hooper - August 27, 2020

Alex Volkanovski shrugged off Patricio Freire’s fight challenge, leaving “Pitbull” to unload a scathing counterattack on the UFC featherweight champion. The Bellator two-division champion offered an astronomical bet to UFC president Dana White this week, that he could beat both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Alex Volkanovski.

Michael Chandler, Benson Henderson
Michael Chandler

Why the PFL could be the perfect home for Michael Chandler

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2020

After knocking out Benson Henderson at Bellator 243 earlier this month, Michael Chandler, the promotion’s former lightweight champ, is now a free agent. As one of the biggest stars Bellator has produced to date, Chandler can almost certainly expect lucrative offers from some of the sport’s biggest organizations. He’s already expressed interest in a potential move to the UFC, and UFC President Dana White has reciprocated that interest. Chandler has also discussed a potential move to ONE Championship, where a compelling trilogy fight with his chief rival Eddie Alvarez could await.

Anthony Smith
Luke Rockhold

Anthony Smith still wants Luke Rockhold fight: "I'd love to beat up someone I don't like"

Cole Shelton - August 26, 2020

Anthony Smith is still interested in a fight with Luke Rockhold. Ahead of Rockhold moving up to the light heavyweight division, he trashed Anthony Smith. He claimed he would be able to have success at 205 if someone like Smith did. “Lionheart” did not like those words and since then the two have trashed one another leading many to think a fight would happen.

Conor McGregor, Manny Pacquiao
Conor McGregor

Manny Pacquiao's coach uninterested in Conor McGregor fight: "Why destroy your legacy for a bum like McGregor"

Cole Shelton - August 26, 2020

Manny Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune is not interested in seeing his pupil box Conor McGregor. Ever since Pacquiao signed with Paradigm Sports Management, the same management as McGregor, many wondered if a fight could take place. The Irishman spoke openly about his desire to box again after  his bout with Floyd Mayweather and a fight against Pacquiao certainly made sense.