MMA News
Dana White says UFC will spend around $150,000 on COVID-19 tests
Adam Martin - May 13, 2020
UFC president Dana White says his promotion will spend around $150,000 on COVID-19 tests for the UFC Jacksonville series. White has been adamant for the last two months that the UFC’s show would go on despite the coronavirus pandemic affecting every sports league around the world. After the original UFC 249 card was canceled, White was able to find a home for the Octagon in Jacksonville, Florida, and host the new UFC 249 card there. Following a successful PPV event for the company, two more Fight Night cards will take place in Jacksonville this week.
Herb Dean reacts to Dominick Cruz accusing Keith Peterson of smelling like "alcohol and cigarettes"
Tom Taylor - May 13, 2020
Veteran MMA referee Herb Dean has reacted to Dominick Cruz’s incendiary accusations against Keith Peterson, who officiated his UFC 249 fight with Henry Cejudo. Cruz was defeated by Cejudo by second-round TKO, but immediately protested Peterson’s decision to end the fight. He later accused the referee of smelling like alcohol and cigarettes, and during a Monday interview with ESPN, doubled down on these accusations.
Daniel Cormier calls Stipe Miocic rivalry "the greatest heavyweight series the UFC's ever had"
Adam Martin - May 13, 2020
Daniel Cormier believes that his rivalry with UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is the greatest series the heavyweight division has ever seen. Cormier and Miocic have fought twice, with Cormier knocking out Miocic at UFC 226 to win the UFC heavyweight title, and then Miocic knocking out DC at UFC 241 to win his title back. The DC KO on Miocic was incredible, but Miocic’s comeback win with body shots over DC in the rematch was also amazing to watch. Now the pair looks to conclude their exciting trilogy later this year when they meet for a third and presumably final time in the Octagon.
Marvin Vettori vs. Karl Roberson fight removed from UFC Jacksonville
Tom Taylor - May 13, 2020
A fight between Marvin Vettori and Karl Roberson has been removed from the lineup for tonight’s UFC Jacksonville card, per ESPN reporter Ariel Helwani. Tonight’s Karl Roberson vs. Marvin Vettori fight is off, per multiple sources. Roberson fell ill after a tough weight cut. Non-COVID related. More shortly.
Conor McGregor: Without me, this whole ship would sink
Tom Taylor - May 13, 2020
Former two-division champion Conor McGregor recently suggested he’s keeping the entire fight game afloat. McGregor has been very active on Twitter over the last few days, jawing back and forth with stars like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Tony Ferguson, Dustin Poirier, and Kamaru Usman.
Report | UFC forced to postpone May 23 event
Harry Kettle - May 13, 2020
The UFC has been forced to postpone its May 23 event, with May 30 being lined up as a potential new date. The report comes from MMA Junkie who have spoken with several people close to the situation, with the belief being that it just wasn’t possible to get all of the pieces in place in time for May 23.
Former UFC fighter arrested with 121 pounds of marijuana
Natasha Hooper - May 13, 2020
On May 11, an Iowa man later identified as former UFC fighter Tim Gorman was arrested for carrying 121 lbs of marijuana as well as other substances such as cocaine and steroids. Gorman, 37, of West Des Moines has been charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession with intent to deliver and possession of money during a drug violation.
Henry Cejudo and Ryan Garcia trade barbs over potential boxing match
Natasha Hooper - May 13, 2020
UFC bantamweight champ Henry Cejudo has only been retired for a few days, and he’s already laying the groundwork for a move to boxing. At UFC 249 last Saturday, Cejudo faced the former champion Dominick Cruz in a bantamweight title bout. He won by TKO in the second round, but Cruz disagreed with that stoppage. After his victory, Cejudo announced his shocking retirement from the sport.
Dana White reacts after Joe Rogan expresses frustration with UFC 249 commentary setup
Christopher Taylor - May 12, 2020
Joe Rogan expressed his frustration over not being able to sit beside fellow commentators Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik multiple times during the UFC 249 broadcast. The longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship commentator in Rogan said it made no sense that the commentary team should have to work apart after they each endured and passed multiple tests for Covid-19.
Conor McGregor absolutely unloads on Tony Ferguson in heated rebuttal
Christopher Taylor - May 12, 2020
Former UFC champion Conor McGregor made headlines earlier this week when he took aim at Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov. Just days after the Ultimate Fighting Championship held their highly anticipated UFC 249 event, which marked the promotions first fight card in over a month, McGregor took to Twitter where he proceeded to unload on multiple lightweight standouts.
Dan Hardy believes he would catch Anthony Pettis clean and "put him away" in potential fight
Cole Shelton - May 12, 2020
Dan Hardy believes he would knockout Anthony Pettis if they were to fight. Hardy was diagnosed with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome in 2013 leaving him unable to fight. Yet, in 2018 the Englishman announced he was cleared to compete again and in 2019 said he has joined the USADA testing pool.
Tony Ferguson fires back at Conor McGregor following Twitter rant
Cole Shelton - May 12, 2020
Tony Ferguson did not take kindly to Conor McGregor’s recent Twitter rant. In the main event of UFC 249, Ferguson was taking on Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title. It was a phenomenal fight but in the end, it was Gaethje who got his hand raised by fifth-round TKO.
Jon Jones wants "exhibition" catchweight fight at 220 pounds before he moves up to heavyweight
Cole Shelton - May 12, 2020
Jon Jones is looking to get his feet wet at heavyweight before he makes the move permanent. For years, many have said Jones should move up in weight as he has cleared out the light heavyweight division. Yet, he has stayed at 205 pounds, but now, he seems interested in making the move.
Dana White wants Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Justin Gaethje on UFC Fight Island
Cole Shelton - May 12, 2020
Dana White is hoping Khabib Nurmagomedov can defend his belt against Justin Gaethje on Fight Island this summer. This past weekend, Gaethje TKO’d Tony Ferguson in the fifth round to win the interim lightweight title. It was a phenomenal performance which has setup the ‘Highlight’ for a title unification bout with Nurmagomedov. That contest will take place on Fight Island, according to Dana White.
Francis Ngannou opens as betting favorite over Daniel Cormier
Adam Martin - May 12, 2020
Following his win at UFC 249, Francis Ngannou has opened as the betting favorite for a potential heavyweight showdown against Daniel Cormier. Ngannou knocked out Jairzinho Rozenstruik in just 20 seconds on the UFC 249 PPV card to reaffirm his position as one of the top contenders in the UFC heavyweight division. “The Predator” is now running a four-fight win streak, with first-round knockouts over Rozenstruik, Junior dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, and Curtis Blaydes.
UFC Jacksonville | Pro fighters make their picks for Anthony Smith vs. Glover Teixeira
Cole Shelton - May 12, 2020
In the headliner of Wednesday’s UFC Jacksonville event, Anthony Smith returns after nearly a year-long injury layoff to take on perennial contender Glover Teixeira. Heading into the fight, the American is a -185 favorite, while the Brazilian is a +150 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros believe it will be Smith who gets it done as he’s the better all-around fighter.
Conor McGregor "super excited" for lightweight title fight in July
Tom Taylor - May 12, 2020
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor says he’s “super excited” for a lightweight title fight in July. McGregor made this comment on Twitter on Tuesday.
UFC rankings update: Cruz returns to bantamweight top-15, Gaethje debuts on p4p list
Tom Taylor - May 12, 2020
The official UFC rankings have been updated in the wake of last weekend’s UFC 249 card, which marked the promotion’s return after a brief, pandemic-induced hiatus. These new UFC rankings feature some interesting changes. Most notably, former UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz, who came up short to the reigning champ Henry Cejudo in the co-main event, has returned to the bantamweight rankings.