MMA News
Kelvin Gastelum tests positive for marijuana, receives second USADA suspension
Tom Taylor - May 11, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Kelvin Gastelum has received a suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for marijuana. This is the second time Gastelum has tested positive for the substance. The drug test in question was administered after Gastelum’s UFC 244 loss to Darren Till. Gastelum was originally handed a nine-month suspension for this failed test, retroactive to November 3, but that term was later reduced by four months.
Colby Covington denies TUF coaching talk, but guarantees he will fight Kamaru Usman again
Adam Martin - May 11, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington denied that he’s in talks to be a coach on TUF, but guarantees he will fight Kamaru Usman again. UFC president Dana White recently announced the return of The Ultimate Fighter and he mentioned several coaching pairings the UFC is thinking about for the show. One of them is a pairing between Covington and Usman, bitter rivals who had one of the best fights of 2019 at UFC 245 when Usman beat Covington via fifth-round TKO to take the belt.
Tyron Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns opening odds released
Adam Martin - May 11, 2020
The opening betting odds have been released for the upcoming bout between former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns. Combate last week reported that Woodly vs. Burns is set to headline the UFC Fight Night card on May 23, which is rumored to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The UFC has not officially announced the bout yet but UFC president Dana White told the media last week that this is the fight the promotion wants to book, so it’s just a matter of making things official now.
VIDEO | Georges St-Pierre had a priceless reaction to UFC Hall of Fame induction
Tom Taylor - May 11, 2020
Over the weekend, during the UFC 249 broadcast, it was announced that Georges St-Pierre will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. Not long after this announcement was made, the UFC shared footage of GSP’s first reaction to the news of his Hall of Fame induction. It’s worth a watch.
Dana White trashes Showtime's Stephen Espinoza over UFC 249 criticism
Harry Kettle - May 11, 2020
UFC president Dana White has lashed out at Stephen Espinoza regarding his comments about the controversial UFC 249 event this past weekend. Espinoza made some noise in the lead-up to UFC 249 when he alleged that fighters on the card had to sign a document that claimed they would lose their purse if they spoke negatively of the UFC’s measures in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dana White reacts to Conor McGregor telling Nate Diaz to "sign the contract"
Tom Taylor - May 11, 2020
UFC President Dana White says there are no plans on the table for a trilogy fight between former two-division champ Conor McGregor and his long-time rival Nate Diaz. McGregor and Diaz are tied 1-1 across two fights, both of which occurred in 2016. Diaz won the first fight, springing the upset with a submission win. McGregor evened the score in the rematch, defeating Diaz by majority decision. Ever since, fans have been dying to see the pair meet in a tie-breaking trilogy fight.
Joe Rogan "threw a fit" when asked to do UFC 249 fighter interviews from a distance
Tom Taylor - May 11, 2020
The UFC initially wanted commentator Joe Rogan to conduct his UFC 249 post-fight interviews from a distance, but he wasn’t on board with that plan. Speaking at the conclusion of UFC 249, Daniel Cormier, who joined Rogan on commentary duty, claimed the long-time commentator “threw a fit” when he was asked to conduct his post-fight interviews from a distance of two yards.
Former WWE champion Alberto Del Rio arrested on sexual assault charges
Harry Kettle - May 11, 2020
Former WWE champion and MMA fighter Alberto Del Rio has been arrested on sexual assault charges, NBC News 4 San Antonio reports. Del Rio, who was handily beaten in his MMA return by Tito Ortiz back in December, was arrested after a woman came forward with photographs to prove that he had been physically beating and sexually assaulting her.
Photos | Tony Ferguson before and after UFC 249 fight with Justin Gaethje
Christopher Taylor - May 10, 2020
Tony Ferguson squared off with Justin Gaethje for the UFC’s interim lightweight title yesterday evening in Jacksonville, Florida. The highly anticipated bout served as the main event of UFC 249, the promotions first fight card since March’s ‘UFC Fight Night’ event in Brazil.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje betting odds revealed
Adam Martin - May 10, 2020
The online sportsbooks have released the opening betting odds for the upcoming UFC lightweight title bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje. Gaethje earned the interim title and a shot at Nurmagomedov’s belt in the coming months after his bonus-winning effort against Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 249. Gaethje put on an absolute clinic for nearly 25 minutes, beating Ferguson down with punches and kicks and finishing him with less than two minutes left in the bout. It was the most impressive performance during Gaethje’s UFC career.
Photo | Justin Gaethje was well ahead on the scorecards in fight with Tony Ferguson
Christopher Taylor - May 10, 2020
Justin Gaethje took home the UFC interim lightweight title last night in Florida after earning a TKO victory over Tony Ferguson in the UFC 249 main event. Gaethje was able to get the better of Ferguson in the striking department for the majority of the opening four rounds. By the time ‘El Cucuy’ stood up for the start of round five, he was wearing multiple facial cuts and had bad swelling around his right eye. ‘The Highlight’ continued his striking assault in the fifth and final round which eventually prompted the referee to step in and call a stop to the contest.
Tony Ferguson suffered a fractured orbital at UFC 249, reacts to Justin Gaethje loss
Chris Taylor - May 10, 2020
Tony Ferguson showed the heart of a warrior last night at UFC 249, but it was not enough to score a victory over the hard-hitting Justin Gaethje. ‘El Cucuy’ and ‘The Highlight’ squared off for the promotions interim lightweight title yesterday evening in Jacksonville, Florida.
Khabib Nurmagomedov sends classy message to Tony Ferguson: "When your son grow up, he'll be proud with you"
Adam Martin - May 10, 2020
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov sent a classy message to Tony Ferguson, wishing his rival’s family well after Ferguson lost at UFC 249. Ferguson suffered a one-sided beatdown at the hands and legs of Justin Gaethje on Saturday night, as Gaethje turned on the volume late in the fifth round and earned a late TKO stoppage. The loss snapped the 12-fight win streak for Ferguson and all but guarantees we won’t see him fight Nurmagomedov anytime soon after the pair’s five previous encounters have been wiped out due to various factors.
Videos | Top 5 Submissions: UFC 41 – UFC 50
Adam Martin - May 10, 2020
Below, check out videos of the top five submissions from UFC 41 to UFC 50, featuring BJ Penn tapping out Matt Hughes at UFC 46. In our latest series here at BJPenn.com “Top 5 Submissions” we take a look at the most lethal submissions from the fourth block of UFC events. These submissions all took place from 2003 to 2004, and they feature numerous future UFC Hall of Famers in their early days. Keep in mind there are many other submissions deserving of the list, but we had to choose just five.
Pros react after GSP gets inducted to UFC Hall of Fame
Adam Martin - May 10, 2020
Many of the best fighters in mixed martial arts took to social media to congratulate GSP on his induction into the UFC Hall of Fame. It was announced during the UFC 249 broadcast that Georges St-Pierre — arguably the greatest MMA fighter of all time — will be next to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame later this year. Typically the UFC does the inductions during International Fight Week but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the ceremony will take place at a later date.
UFC 249 bonuses: Justin Gaethje wins $100,000
Adam Martin - May 10, 2020
The bonuses have been announced for UFC 249, and headliner Justin Gaethje took home $100,000 after beating Tony Ferguson in the main event. Gaethje put an absolute clinic on Ferguson for nearly five full rounds in the main event of the evening before the referee stopped the fight due to TKO with less than two minutes remaining in the fight. It was an incredible performance by Gaethje, who is now the UFC interim lightweight champion. The big win at UFC 249 also earned Gaethje some much-deserved bonus money.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik releases statement after scary KO loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC 249
Adam D Martin - May 10, 2020
UFC heavyweight contender Jairzinho Rozenstruik released a statement following his scary KO loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC 249. In a highly-anticipated battle between two of the top heavyweights on the UFC roster, Ngannou was able to blitz Rozenstruik early on, needing just 20 seconds to put his lights out. It was the first loss of Rozenstruik’s MMA career and is happened in devastating fashion and Ngannou knocked him out cold with one of his trademark power punches.
Photo | Donald Cerrone appears to have suffered a broken nose at UFC 249
Adam D Martin - May 10, 2020
UFC welterweight Donald Cerrone appears to have suffered a broken nose during his unanimous decision loss to Anthony Pettis on the prelims of UFC 249. Cerrone and Pettis battled hard for 15 minutes but the judges ultimately felt that Pettis did more and handed him the unanimous decision. The loss marks Cerrone’s fourth straight defeat, though given his reputation he is of course at no risk of losing his spot on the roster. As for Pettis, he bounced back after losing his last fight to Diego Ferreira.