MMA News
ONE Championship’s historic card in Tokyo draws 42 million viewers worldwide
BJPENN.COM Staff - April 16, 2019
The highly-stacked ONE: A NEW ERA card in Tokyo last March 31st was by far the most prolific ONE Championship event in the company’s near eight-year history. Loaded with four World Championship bouts and 23 martial arts World Champions featured on the card, the Singapore-based promotion’s maiden show in Japan was dubbed as the biggest martial arts event in history.
Dear MMA Gods | A 'violenceweight' super fight
Drake Riggs - April 15, 2019
When it comes to the UFC’s vastly expanding 155-pound lightweight division, there are arguably too many exciting fighters to count. But standing tall among the very top of them all is currently the “violence king,” Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier. The MMA community came to the agreement ahead of the thrilling December 2017 clash between Justin Gaethje and Eddie Alvarez at UFC 218 that the fight was to determine the MMA champion of violence. And if that fight was anything to show for it, that was quite a reasonable choice of a match-up to be labeled as such.
VIDEO | Alexander Ovechkin knocks out Andrei Svechnikov
Christopher Taylor - April 15, 2019
Alexander Ovechkin is known for his lethal shot and crushing bodychecks but it is rare to see the NHL’s leading goal scorer throwing fists. During tonight’s game three matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington captain Alexander Ovechkin decided to drop the gloves with Andrei Svechnikov.
Robert Whittaker says Israel Adesanya got exposed in Kelvin Gastelum fight at UFC 236
Cole Shelton - April 15, 2019
Israel Adesanya became the interim middleweight champion after beating Kelvin Gastelum by unanimous decision at UFC 236. Now, the plan is for Adesanya to unify his belt with current champion, Robert Whittaker, potentially in a stadium in Australia. Although ‘The Last Stylebender’ is undefeated, Whittaker believes it is an easy matchup for him, this after seeing Adesanya get exposed against Gastelum.
Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones continue to banter back and forth
Drake Riggs - April 15, 2019
The undefeated Nigerian kickboxing sensation, Israel Adesanya had a star like quality to him that was evident as soon as he made his Octagon debut in February 2018. Five fights later and he’s now the interim champion of the middleweight division. To earn that label, ‘The Last Stylebender’ defeated Kelvin Gastelum in a thrilling fight of the year candidate in UFC 236’s co-main event this past Saturday.
UFC 236 Fighter Salaries: Max Holloway and Israel Adesanya take home top payouts
Christopher Taylor - April 15, 2019
Max Holloway and Israel Adesanya each took home an event-high $350,000 for their efforts at last Saturday’s UFC 236 event in Atlanta. Israel Adesanya went to war with Kelvin Gastelum in Saturday’s co-main attraction. ‘Stylebender’ was forced to battle through adversity for the first time in his UFC career this weekend, this after being dropped by Gastelum in the opening round.
Dustin Poirier sends heartfelt message to Max Holloway: 'We need more people like you in MMA'
Thomas Taylor - April 15, 2019
Last Saturday night, in the main event of the action-packed UFC 236 card, streaking lightweight contender Dustin Poirier stepped into the cage with reigning UFC featherweight champ Max Holloway to battle for the interim lightweight belt. The result was a riveting, five-round battle that left both men bruised and bloodied. In the end, the judges named Dustin Poirier the victor of this bout. Now the interim lightweight champion, Poirier wants his vanquished foe Max Holloway to know how thankful he is for the fight, which earned them both $50,000 Fight of the Night bonuses.
Dominick Cruz shares potential timeframe for return to the cage
Tom Taylor - April 15, 2019
Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz has not fought since December of 2016, when he surrendered the title to then-undefeated challenger Cody Garbrandt. Absences of this kind, of course, are unfortunately nothing new for Dominick Cruz. The former champion has fought just five times since 2011.
Chris Weidman opens up on his former plan to try out for the New York Islanders
Tom Taylor - April 15, 2019
We’re used to seeing Chris Weidman in 4oz. MMA gloves and Reebok fight shorts, but from the sounds of it, he nearly ended up on skates. Speaking to MSG Networks amid the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, the former UFC middleweight champion divulged that he previously planned to try out for the New York Islanders. He hoped to become a high-scoring, physical center for the NHL team.
Chatri Sityodtong reaffirms plans for ONE Championship event in the US
Tom Taylor - April 15, 2019
ONE Championship is rapidly expanding across Asia, having already conquered Asian markets like Singapore, Thailand, The Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, and most recently, Japan. And from the sounds of it, the promotion will soon expand overseas to the United States of America. Speaking to Asian Persuasion MMA, ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong reaffirmed that he plans to bring the promotion to the US in the near future.
Henry Cejudo claims people warned him about TJ Dillashaw's PED use
Tom Taylor - April 15, 2019
Speaking to the media backstage amid the UFC 236 festivities over the weekend, UFC flyweight champ Henry Cejudo divulged that he received warnings about his last opponent TJ Dillashaw’s performance enhancing drug use. “I’ve heard TJ, and I really never brought it up, he was on supposedly in the days prior to USADA, even Cody (Garbrandt), himself, was like, ‘Hey, watch out dude, he’s dirty,’” Cejudo explained (via MMA Junkie). “People would come up to me, and I never really brought it up because I thought that that part of MMA is over, but I think once you find out he’s on it, it’s like, this dude ain’t playing fair.”
Dana White promises to 'unveil the future of fighting in the next two months'
Tom Taylor - April 15, 2019
Speaking backstage at UFC 236 over the weekend, UFC President Dana White started hinting at something big. Though it’s not completely clear just what he has in store, he promised that it will change the future of fighting as we know it. Not just the UFC, but fighting as a whole.
Dana White confirms Dustin Poirier will fight Khabib Nurmagomedov next
Tom Taylor - April 15, 2019
Dustin Poirier is now the UFC interim lightweight champion. He won this title with a riveting decision defeat of reigning UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway in the UFC 236 main event. Even with this new piece of hardware wrapped around his waist, however, their was still some question as to whether Dustin Poirier would get the next crack at undisputed lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. This doubt was due primarily to the presence of Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson in the division, either of whom could seemingly jump to the front of the lightweight contendership line.
Dana White reacts to Kelvin Gastelum vs Israel Adesanya from UFC 236
Christopher Taylor - April 15, 2019
Kelvin Gastelum and Israel Adesanya delivered one of the greatest fights in history at last night’s UFC 236 event in Atlanta according to President Dana White. ‘Stylebender’ and ‘KG’ went back and forth for the better portion of twenty-five minutes in what could only be described as an all out war.
Kelvin Gastelum issues statement following UFC 236 title loss to Israel Adesanya
Chris Taylor - April 14, 2019
Kelvin Gastelum and Israel Adesanya squared off for the interim middleweight championship in the co-headliner of last night’s UFC 236 event in Atlanta. The fight exceeded expectations, as Gastelum and Adesanya proceeded to throw down for the better part of twenty-five minutes, much to the pleasure of fight fans in attendance and watching around the world.
Paulo Costa takes shot at 'fake' champ Israel Adesanya after UFC 236
Tom Taylor - April 14, 2019
On Saturday night, in the co-main event of the action-packed UFC 236 card, undefeated striking specialist Israel Adesanya claimed the interim middleweight title with a thrilling decision defeat of Kelvin Gastelum. In the wake of this win, Adesanya has been praised for his incredible efforts and also his ability to survive Gastelum’s many strong moments in the fight. Not everybody, however, is celebrating the new interim middleweight champion.
Jon Jones responds to post-fight comments from Israel Adesanya
Tom Taylor - April 14, 2019
Shortly after he defeated Kelvin Gastelum to capture the interim middleweight title at UFC 236, Israel Adesanya was asked about a potential fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Though Adesanya has previously expressed interest in a fight with Jones, he admitted that, fresh off a title-winning war with Gastelum, the light heavyweight champion is not on his radar at the moment.
Max Holloway issues statement on UFC 236 loss to Dustin Poirier
Tom Taylor - April 14, 2019
In the main event of UFC 236, UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway climbed up to the 155-pound lightweight division to battle streaking contender Dustin Poirier for interim gold, bravely putting his 13-fight win-streak on the line in the process. Unfortunately for Holloway and his ever-growing army of followers, this move up to lightweight didn’t go as he planned. While he put forth a commendable effort, winning several rounds with his vintage, volume-based striking attack, he ultimately lost a decision to his bigger, stronger foe.