MMA News

Harry Kettle - March 18, 2020

UFC fighter Randa Markos has gone into self-isolation due to an illness after arriving back in Canada following UFC Brasilia. The strawweight fighter featured in one of the most intriguing bouts on the prelims this past weekend as she went head to head with Amanda Ribas. Markos was beaten by the rising star, with Ribas winning via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-25, 30-25).

Tom Taylor - March 18, 2020

Colby Covington has apologized to Dustin Poirier for bad-mouthing him in an interview. Covington and Poirier, who both train at American Top Team in Florida, devolved from training partners into enemies last year. The pair even exchanged some threats on social media. This lead ATT owner Dan Lambert to broker a truce between the pair.

Chris Taylor - March 17, 2020

So it turns out Jon Jones was watching March’s middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Yoel Romero at UFC 248. Ten days ago in Las Vegas, ‘The Soldier of God’ took to the Octagon in hopes of handing the promotions reigning middleweight champion his first career loss.

Natasha Hooper - March 17, 2020

With Coronavirus around every corner, multiple MMA events cancelled and gyms closing their doors, fans are left questioning what to do next. Look no further. Here at BJPenn.com, we have curated some easy workout ideas to do from home. Most of them require 0 equipment, they will improve your game and also keep you Coronavirus free!

Cole Shelton - March 17, 2020

Conor McGregor may be returning to the Octagon on July 11 according to his coach, Owen Roddy. Ever since McGregor TKO’d Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds at UFC 246 in his return to the cage, many wondered what would be next. The Irishman said he wants 2020 to be a “season” with three fights in the year and the third being for the lightweight title.

Cole Shelton - March 17, 2020

Early on in Raphael Assuncao’s professional career, like most MMA fighters starting out, he was fighting anyone at any time. When a call came in for his fifth pro fight in Duluth, Georgia, the Brazilian accepted it not knowing he would be fighting a soon to be BMF champion, Jorge Masvidal. Assuncao started his career out at lightweight and on April 21, 2005, at Full Throttle 1, the Brazilian was taking on a fellow undefeated fighter in 5-0, Jorge Masvidal.

Adam Martin - March 17, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler will test free agency after his next fight and is targeting opponents in the UFC and ONE Championship. Chandler is one of the best home-grown Bellator fighters of all time and is a three-time lightweight champion in the promotion. He has one more fight left on his contract with the promotion against Benson Henderson and will become a free agent afterward.

Tom Taylor - March 17, 2020

Jorge Masvidal has recently been collecting scalps in the welterweight division, but he spent the earlier chapters of his career competing in the lightweight division. It’s no secret that Masvidal had a difficult time cutting down to the lightweight division’s 156-pound limit, but from the sounds if it, the 35-year-old would attempt the cut again if the money was right.

Adam Martin - March 17, 2020

UFC strawweight contender Amanda Ribas has once again called out Paige VanZant after defeating replacement opponent Randa Markos at UFC Brasilia. VanZant was set to fight Ribas at UFC Brasilia but was forced to withdraw after breaking her right arm for the third time. The UFC called upon Markos as the replacement opponent, and Ribas handled her in dominant fashion, scoring a unanimous decision victory on the judges’ scorecards with tallies of 30-26, 30-25 and 30-25.

Tom Taylor - March 17, 2020

Last Saturday’s UFC Brasilia card, which went down in an empty arena in the Brazilian capital, reportedly did the lowest average viewership numbers of the UFC on ESPN era to date. This news comes from Trent Reinsmith of Bloody Elbow.

Tom Taylor - March 17, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has forced much of the world to a standstill, but for the moment, Jose Aldo still has a fight on May 9 to prepare for. While a trio of UFC events have now been canceled, UFC 250, which is topped by a bantamweight title fight between Aldo and champ Henry Cejudo, is still expected to go down as planned.

Adam Martin - March 17, 2020

UFC bantamweight Geraldo de Freitas, who was supposed to fight at UFC London, admits he was afraid of fighting at the event during the coronavirus pandemic but needed to fight in order to earn his purse. De Freitas was set to fight Jack Shore in a battle of 135lbs prospects on the UFC London undercard until the card was canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak. That leaves de Freitas without the opportunity to make any money. For a fighter on the lowest rung of the UFC’s salary scale, the loss of his fight really stings.

Tom Taylor - March 17, 2020

Colby Covington thinks it was a mistake to cancel the next three UFC events because of the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, UFC President Dana White sent out an email to UFC employees, notifying that the next three events on the calendar—shows originally scheduled for London, Columbus and Portland—have all be “indefinitely postponed.” 

Harry Kettle - March 17, 2020

Marlon Moraes has praised UFC champion Henry Cejudo for making the “smart” decision by choosing to fight Jose Aldo in his next fight. Moraes is coming off the back of a narrow victory over Aldo back at UFC 245 that served as the debut of the MMA legend at bantamweight. Many fans and pundits alike were of the belief that Aldo was the man who should’ve had his hand raised that night, but in the end, “Magic” got the nod.

Natasha Hooper - March 17, 2020

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn is reportedly jealous over the UFC’s control of the sport of MMA. As the man behind Matchroom Boxing, Hearn has always had an appreciation for the world’s largest MMA promotion, the UFC. The Boxing promoter admitted he is envious over the promotion and its evolving brand, cultivated by UFC President Dana White.

Tom Taylor - March 17, 2020

Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the father of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, is understandably hopeful that his son’s UFC 249 fight with Tony Ferguson will still happen. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause increasing risk, however, the future of the matchup is uncertain. UFC 249 was originally scheduled for April 18 in Brooklyn, New York. While UFC President Dana White is adamant the fight will still happen on the targeted date, it’s looking increasingly unlikely that the fight will happen in New York— or even the United States.

Natasha Hooper - March 17, 2020

Tony Ferguson has showcased the unique exercises that are keeping him busy in the run up to his UFC 249 bout. However, his upcoming opponent, Khabib Nurmagomedov is not a fan. “El Cucuy” is scheduled to return to the Octagon on Saturday, April 18 for the first time since beating Donald Cerrone by TKO in June 2019. His upcoming opponent is none other than the undefeated lightweight champion, “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov.

Cole Shelton - March 17, 2020

In the main event of a closed-door UFC Brasilia, Charles Oliveira was looking to extend his winning streak when he battled Kevin Lee. In the end, it was Oliveira who got the job done by third-round submission, in a very entertaining fight.