MMA News
Youssef Zalal promises there "will be a finish" in UFC on ESPN 12 fight against Jordan Griffin
Cole Shelton - June 25, 2020
Youssef Zalal is looking to go 2-0 inside the UFC Octagon when he battles Jordan Griffin this Saturday night at UFC on ESPN 12. Zalal made his UFC debut on short notice against Austin Lingo where he scored a decision win. Now, his second UFC appearance will also be happening on short notice, which for the Morrocan, says is normal.
Jon Jones prepared to sit out multiple years to "make change"
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones believes fighters deserve to be paid more, and he’s willing to risk precious years of his own career to prove it. Jones, 32, has spent the last few weeks butting heads with UFC brass over the amount he’s paid to fight.
Jorge Masvidal "a hundred percent" interested in fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal says he’s interested in a potential fight with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Masvidal discussed the possibility of a fight with Nurmagomedov during a Q&A on Instagram Live this week. He praised the lightweight champion, and conceded that he’d be willing to fight him in the 155-pound lightweight division, so long as the UFC makes the move worth his while.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will retire after Shogun Rua trilogy: "I think my time has arrived"
Adam Martin - June 25, 2020
UFC light heavyweight veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira says he will retire from MMA after his trilogy fight against Shogun Rua on July 25 on Fight Island. Nogueira takes on his long-time rival Shogun at the fourth and final Fight Island event in Abu Dhabi this summer. The bout marks the third meeting between these two legends of the game after their previous encounters in PRIDE in 2005 and in the Octagon in 2015. Shogun won decisions in both of their previous bouts, and Nogueira will look to break that streak this summer as he looks to end his incredible career on a high note.
Gilbert Burns believes Jorge Masvidal could learn from Khabib, Cormier, GSP
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020
Gilbert Burns feels Jorge Masvidal is employing the wrong strategy as he seeks to improve the pay he receives from the UFC. Masvidal was expected to receive a shot at UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, but was ultimately sidelined after he entered into a heated contract dispute with the UFC. The fan favorite welterweight made no secret of his gripes about his pay, frequently lashing out at the UFC on social media, and even asked the promotion to release him if they’re not willing to pay him more.
Brock Lesnar accused of exposing himself to female peer
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020
Former UFC heavyweight champion and current WWE star Brock Lesnar has been accused of exposing himself to a female wrestler. The accusation comes from retired wrestler Terri Runnels.
Pro fighters make their picks for Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker
Cole Shelton - June 25, 2020
In the main event of UFC on ESPN 12, Dustin Poirier returns to the Octagon to battle Dan Hooker. Heading into the fight, Poirier is a -225 favorite, while the Kiwi is a +175 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros believe this could be one of the best fights we see in 2020 but the majority lean towards Poirier getting it done.
Jorge Masvidal says he will fight in 2020
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020
Jorge Masvidal is currently embroiled in a heated contract dispute with the UFC, but he says he intends on fighting in 2020 nonetheless. Masvidal was expected to be given the next crack at UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, but demanded a pay bump after a banner year in 2019. Evidently, the UFC was unwilling to play ball, as the promotion ultimately awarded the next welterweight title shot to Gilbert Burns, leaving Masvidal without a fight.
Jorge Masvidal claims Gilbert Burns is getting the "lowest possible money" for title fight
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020
Jorge Masvidal says Gilbert Burns is getting the lowest possible amount of money for his upcoming welterweight title fight with champion Kamaru Usman. Masvidal was widely expected to be the next man in line for a shot at Usman, but ultimately entered into a heated contract dispute with the UFC. When negotiations stalled, Burns was awarded the next shot at Usman.
Marlon Vera responds after Sean O’Malley shows interest in potential UFC bout
Natasha Hooper - June 25, 2020
Marlon Vera has responded to a possible UFC matchup against Sean O’Malley. O’Malley and Vera were initially expected to fight at UFC 239 in 2019. However, “Sugar” was forced to withdraw from the card after traces of Ostarine were found in his system. “Chito” then called out the 25-year old for the last-minute change of plans.
Chas Skelly’s 2018 loss to Bobby Moffett changed to a no-contest by Colorado Commission
Natasha Hooper - June 25, 2020
Chas Skelly has received positive news after the Colorado Commission decided to change his loss against Bobby Moffett to a no-contest. In 2018 at UFC Fight Night 139, Skelly took on Bobby Moffett on the preliminary card. Going into the second round, Moffett was in the process of executing a d’arce choke before the referee hastily intervened and awarded him the victory. “The Scrapper” Skelly protested what he felt was a premature stoppage.
Kenny Florian: Smaller UFC cage 'greatly favors' Daniel Cormier in Stipe Miocic trilogy bout
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 25, 2020
Kenny Florian believes a smaller UFC cage is bad news for Stipe Miocic going into his trilogy bout with Daniel Cormier. Miocic and Cormier are set to collide once more on Aug. 15. The heavyweight title bout will headline UFC 252 inside the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. The standard size of the Octagon is 30 ft. The one used inside the UFC APEX is 25 ft.
Jorge Masvidal responds to Dana White: "We don't see eye-to-eye on anything”
Cole Shelton - June 24, 2020
Jorge Masvidal has issued a response to Dana White after the UFC president claimed MMA is not a career. With fighters like Masvidal and Jon Jones saying they will sit out due to fighter pay, White recently stated that being in the UFC is not a career. Instead, it is an opportunity and fighters need to take every opportunity they can get.
Report | UFC fighters competing on Fight Island will be tested for COVID-19 five times
Adam Martin - June 24, 2020
The UFC plans on increasing its coronavirus testing for the fighters competing on Fight Island as they will be required to take five COVID-19 tests overall. The increased number of COVID-19 tests, in fact, applies to anyone that is headed to Fight Island, including the fighters, cornermen, and UFC staff. ESPN’s Marc Raimondi had the scoop, and he also shared a flow chart highlighting the changes to the UFC’s coronavirus testing protocol for the four events scheduled to take place on Fight Island in July.
Chad Mendes slams "wooden eye having prick" Michael Bisping
Cole Shelton - June 24, 2020
Chad Mendes has fired back at former UFC middleweight champion, Michael Bisping. Mendes had recently commented on a Tim Kennedy Instagram post where he ripped Bisping. The Englishman then fired back on his podcast where he said “Money” is a cheater for using steroids.
Maurice Greene gives opponent Gian Villante advice: If you don't wrestle, you’re going "to get knocked the f****d out"
Cole Shelton - June 24, 2020
Maurice Greene is excited to welcome Gian Villante to the heavyweight division on the main card of UFC on ESPN 12 this Saturday night. Greene enters this fight on a two-fight losing streak where last time out, he was submitted by Alexey Oleynik. Although some think it is a must-win for Greene to remain in the UFC, he isn’t thinking about that.
Anthony Smith: Max Rohskopf "isn't a quitter"
Adam Martin - June 24, 2020
UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith believes that lightweight Max Rohskopf “isn’t a quitter” after retiring on the stool against Austin Hubbard. Taking to Twitter after interviewing Rohskopf on SXM Fight Nation Radio, Smith — who the word quitter can never be attributed to after seeing the beating he took against Glover Teixeira at UFC Jacksonville in May — said he believes Rohskopf isn’t a quitter.
Jorge Masvidal says he’s "set for life" and doesn't have to fight again if he doesn't get what he's worth
Cole Shelton - June 24, 2020
Jorge Masvidal makes it clear he doesn’t have to fight again. For months now, the expectation was that Masvidal would be fighting Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title this summer. Yet, negotiations between “Gamebred” and the UFC stalled leaving Gilbert Burns to get the title shot.