MMA News
Khabib Nurmagomedov hints at September return to the Octagon
Adam Martin - April 12, 2020
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov took to social media to hint at a return to the Octagon in September after UFC 249 fell apart due to COVID-19. Nurmagomedov was set to defend his belt against Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 249 but the event fell apart after the coronavirus pandemic destroyed the UFC’s schedules. Nurmagomedov had problems leaving Russia to fly back to the United States for the event, but ultimately it didn’t matter as the event was postponed after ESPN stepped in and told UFC president Dana White to stand down and stop the card from happening.
Israel Adesanya talks smack to Jon Jones, calls him a "p*ssy"
Adam Martin - April 12, 2020
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya talked smack to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones on Twitter, calling him a “p*ssy.” We all know there’s no love lost between Adesanya and Jones. The two champions have engaged in verbal sparring ever since Adesanya won the middleweight title from Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 last October. Adesanya has guaranteed that he’ll eventually meet Jones inside the Octagon, though Jones so far has brushed off all of Adesanya’s previous callouts in the past.
Videos | Top 5 Submissions: UFC 1 – UFC 10
Adam Martin - April 12, 2020
Check out videos of the top five submissions from the early days of the UFC, from UFC 1 to UFC 10, featuring the legendary BJJ expert Royce Gracie. In our latest series here at BJPenn.com “Top 5 Submissions” we take a look at the most lethal submissions from the first 10 UFC events. All the submissions took place between 1993 and 1996, and they still hold strong over 25 years later. Keep in mind there are many other submissions deserving of the list, but we had to choose just five. Take a look at our top-five list below.
VIDEO | Watch Anthony Smith home invader break into a neighbor's home
Adam D Martin - April 12, 2020
New footage has been released of the home invader in the Anthony Smith case, Luke Haberman, allegedly breaking into a neighbor’s home. The story of Smith having his house broken into in the middle of the night by a screaming stranger later confirmed to be Haberman went viral this past week. Smith admitted that he was terrified of the intruder and scared for his family, but ultimately he was able to control and subdue the intruder after a life-and-death struggle.
Conor McGregor sampled in new track by Tory Lanez
Adam D Martin - April 12, 2020
UFC superstar Conor McGregor had a famous quote of his sampled in a newly-released track by Canadian rapping sensation Tory Lanez. McGregor is one of the most quotable athletes in mixed martial arts and we previously covered some of his best quotes in a recent article. One of his most notable quotes is this one: “I’d like to take this chance to apologize, to absolutely nobody!” It’s one of the most oft-quoted sayings from McGregor, and now it’s part of a new rap song by Lanez, the Toronto-based Grammy-nominated rapper, who just dropped a new album.
Michael Bisping believes drugs played a key role in Anthony Smith home invasion, recalls similar experience
Adam D Martin - April 12, 2020
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping believed that the intruder in the Anthony Smith home invasion was on drugs at the time of the attack. Smith made headlines last week when he told the story of an intruder entering his family home in the middle of the night, where he got into a life-and-death struggle that ultimately ended with the man being arrested by police. Smith admitted that he was terrified of the ordeal and said he feared for his life. Many MMA fighters have responded to the incident in support of Smith, and Bisping is no exception.
Ben Askren wonders if Ronda Rousey actually works on being unlikeable
Adam D Martin - April 12, 2020
Former UFC welterweight contender Ben Askren wonders that WWE superstar Ronda Rousey works on being unlikeable as part of her personality. Rousey has come under fire in recent days for her comments on professional wrestling, saying that they don’t participate in real fights as MMA fighters do. She also criticized wrestling fans, as well. Several WWE superstars defended themselves against Rousey’s comments, and fans weren’t happy with her remarks, either. Askren, no stranger to trash talk himself, wonders if Rousey is doing this on purpose.
Darren Till responds to trolls taunting fighters from the safety of their homes
Adam D Martin - April 12, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Darren Till took to social media to respond to the trolls who taught MMA fighters from the safety of their homes. One of the biggest problems with MMA fans since the introduction of social media has been how easy it is for them to go online and talk smack from the safety of their computer screens. Fighters are used to dealing with harassment and trolling from fans on a daily basis, and now Till has fired back at those who have trolled him specifically.
Tony Ferguson reveals he is still cutting to 155lbs for April 18
Adam D Martin - April 12, 2020
Despite UFC 249 being officially postponed, UFC lightweight contender Tony Ferguson says he is still cutting down to 155lbs for April 18. Despite UFC president Dana White trying his best for the show to go on, the higher-ups at ESPN and Disney eventually stepped in and told White to postpone UFC 249. Ferguson was set to fight Justin Gaethje in the main event for the UFC interim lightweight belt, but that fight won’t be happening anytime soon now, and neither will the 11 other fights that were scheduled for the event.
Videos | Top 5 Knockouts: UFC 1 - UFC 10
Chris Taylor - April 11, 2020
In our newest segment “Top 5 Knockouts” we take a look back at some of the most brutal finishes that have occurred during numbered UFC events. In this inaugural edition of “Top 5 Knockouts”, we reflect back on UFC events 1-10, which occurred between the years of 1993 to 1996.
Dan Hardy reveals opponents he could fight without "upsetting any kind of rankings"
Chris Taylor - April 11, 2020
Former UFC welterweight title challenger Dan Hardy is interested in making a return to the Octagon, but he wants to do so without upsetting any kind of rankings. Hardy has not competed inside the cage since September of 2012, where he scored a unanimous decision victory over Amir Sadollah.
Anthony Smith home intruder revealed to be a former Nebraska wrestler
Chris Taylor - April 11, 2020
Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith had one of the toughest fights of his life last weekend thanks to a home intruder. According to Smith, he woke up at 4 a.m. on Sunday morning when his wife heard a stranger in his Omaha-area home. ‘Lionheart’ claims he got into a life-and-death struggle with the man and had to fight him tooth-and-nail for five minutes before the police arrived on the scene.
Joe Rogan reacts to Anthony Smith's home invasion: “Why didn’t he just choke him unconscious?”
Chris Taylor - April 11, 2020
Joe Rogan and Brendan Schaub believe UFC fighter Anthony Smith could have handled things differently during his recent home invasion. Anthony Smith got into a vicious brawl with a home intruder early last Sunday morning in what he called “one of the toughest fights” of his life.
Daniel Cormier would love to become UFC President when Dana White's tenure comes to an end
Chris Taylor - April 11, 2020
Daniel Cormier says he would be “insane” not to consider an offer to become UFC President when Dana White’s tenure comes to an end. The former two-division UFC champion, Cormier, is hoping to participate in one last contest, a trilogy bout with reigning heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, before hanging up his gloves for good.
Opening Odds released for Dominick Cruz vs. Henry Cejudo
Chris Taylor - April 11, 2020
The opening odds have been released for a potential UFC bantamweight title fight between Dominick Cruz and Henry Cejudo. The Cruz vs. Cejudo bout was reported to be in the works by Combate, this after Jose Aldo was forced off of the UFC 250 fight card due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Report | Chris Weidman vs. Yoel Romero 2 was in the works for UFC 250
Chris Taylor - April 11, 2020
A rematch between former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman and former title challenger Yoel Romero was nearly added to UFC 250. Romero and Weidman had fired met at UFC 205 in November of 2016, with ‘The Soldier of God’ emerging victorious by way of a brutal third round knockout (see that here).
Jorge Masvidal says there "was a deal on the table" to fight Kamaru Usman at UFC 249
Cole Shelton - April 10, 2020
Jorge Masvidal says there was a deal on the table for him to fight Kamaru Usman at UFC 249. Masvidal and Usman have been going back-and-forth at one another for months now. The two were expected to fight at International Fight Week in July but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they nearly fought at UFC 249.
New UFC flyweight Manel Kape trashes Cody Garbrandt: "How are you going to save the division?"
Adam Martin - April 10, 2020
Newly-signed UFC flyweight Manel Kape went on the offensive against Cody Garbrandt, suggesting the former bantamweight champ can’t save flyweight. Kape, the former RIZIN bantamweight champion, is the latest signing in the UFC flyweight division. A former champion in RIZIN, Kape is coming off of a title fight win over Kai Asakura. The UFC matchmakers liked what they saw from him in the RIZIN ring and decided to sign him to a free-agent contract. He immediately becomes one of the top contenders for the currently-vacant UFC flyweight championship.