MMA News
Donald Cerrone apologizes to Mark Wahlberg for getting 'too real' during Spenser Confidential fight scene
Natasha Hooper - March 13, 2020
Donald Cerrone has apologized to Mark Wahlberg for being a little too tough on him during a fight scene for the new film Spenser Confidential. The UFC veteran has been trying his hand at acting. His recent acting gig involved getting paid to rough up Hollywood tough guy Mark Wahlberg. It’s all in the name of entertainment for the Netflix movie Spenser Confidential, released in March 2020. “Cowboy” was brought on board to fight Wahlberg on screen, and as a part-time fight choreographer.
Dana White addresses the coronavirus and the future plans for UFC events
Harry Kettle - March 13, 2020
UFC president Dana White has provided fans with an update regarding the immediate future of all UFC events in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Sports leagues all around the world have experienced widespread postponements and cancellations as a result of COVID-19, with the anticipation being that this is just the beginning for many countries.
ONE Championship fighters describe experience of fighting at closed-door event
Tom Taylor - March 13, 2020
This Saturday’s UFC Brasilia card has been closed to the public, meaning the fighters on the bill will compete in an arena completely devoid of fans. This is an experience a number of ONE Championship fighters are already familiar with. Late last month, amid growing concerns surrounding the coronavirus, ONE Championship elected to convert its ONE: King of the Jungle card to a closed-door event—just as the UFC has decided to do with the UFC Brasilia card.
Jon Jones not worried about fighting, says Coronavirus is 'bigger than sports'
Natasha Hooper - March 13, 2020
Jon Jones has prioritized coronavirus safety over MMA as he dubbed the crisis “bigger than sports.” The light heavyweight champion last fought in February when he defended his title against surging contender, Dominick Reyes. The fighters collided in the main event of UFC 247 in a five-round war. Jones ultimately won by unanimous decision, but the closely contested bout raised many eyebrows and criticism that Reyes should have won.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk set for surgery in Poland for hematoma suffered in UFC 248 fight
Cole Shelton - March 12, 2020
Joanna Jedrzejczyk will have surgery in Poland to help the swelling go down from the hematoma she sustained in her UFC 248 fight. In the co-main event, Jedrzejczyk was fighting Weili Zhang for the strawweight belt. She was looking to reclaim the title after losing it to Rose Namajunas back in 2017. Yet, after a hard-fought five rounds, where many consider it to be one of the best fights of all-time it was Zhang who won a split-decision.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson will happen April 18 according to Ali Abdelaziz despite Coronavirus pandemic
Cole Shelton - March 12, 2020
Ali Abdelaziz is certain Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson will still happen on April 18 despite the Coronavirus pandemic. The two are set to headline UFC 249 in Brooklyn, New York where the lightweight belt is on the line. Yet, the state of New York recently declared a state of emergency due to COVID-19. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that gatherings of more than 500 people will be forbidden in the state effective March 13.
How Leon Edwards went from living in a "tin shack" in Jamaica to becoming a MMA star
Natasha Hooper - March 12, 2020
As his main event showdown against Tyron Woodley quickly approaches, Leon Edwards revealed how he went from living in a “tin shack” in Jamaica to the bright lights of the UFC. “Rocky” moved to Birmingham in the UK in his younger years, but was originally born in Kingston, Jamaica. During an interview with Adam Catterall from BT Sport, Edwards recalled living in poverty and the impact it had on him:
Valentina Shevchenko says Halle Berry "has the skills" to be an MMA fighter
Natasha Hooper - March 12, 2020
Current UFC flyweight champion, Valentina Shevchenko recently discussed her upcoming title fight with Joanne Calderwood as well as her budding friendship with Halle Berry. The pair recently worked together in Berry’s directorial film debut “Bruised”. Not only does Shevchenko believe in the star’s director abilities, she thinks she has what it takes to make it big in MMA. The Peruvian champion accomplished another successful title defence last month against Katlyn Chookagian at UFC 247. She is set to take on number three ranked flyweight Joanne Calderwood at UFC 251 in Perth, Australia on June 6th, 2020. The clash will mark Shevchenko’s fourth title defence which she is more than ready for:
Weili Zhang details emotional moment at hospital with Joanna Jedrzejczyk: 'She kept crying for hours'
Adam Martin - March 12, 2020
UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang shared details of an emotional moment she had with rival Joanna Jedrzejczyk at the hospital following UFC 248. Zhang and Jedrzejczyk went toe-to-toe for 25 minutes in the co-main event of UFC 248, producing a banger of a title fight that pundits immediately called an instant classic. Both women landed hundreds of strikes on each other’s faces and bodies in a bloody battle that is already being labeled one of the greatest MMA fights of all time.
PFL announces more free agent signings, including Tom Lawlor
Adam Martin - March 12, 2020
PFL has announced more signings for its third season, including a pair of former UFC middleweights in Tom Lawlor and Cezar Ferreira. PFL promised it would sign a number of high-profile fighters for its upcoming season back when it announced Rory MacDonald’s signing and the promotion has stayed true to its word. After recently announcing 10 signings of prominent fighters including former UFC standout Olivier Aubin-Mercier, the promotion has now revealed it has inked Lawlor and Ferreira to exclusive deals.
UFC 249 in jeopardy as New York state bans large public gatherings
Tom Taylor - March 12, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the sporting world. UFC 249 could be one of its next causalities. On Thursday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that gatherings of more than 500 people will be forbidden in the state effective tomorrow (Friday, March 13).
Report | UFC Columbus to be moved to Las Vegas
Tom Taylor - March 12, 2020
As expected, the upcoming UFC Columbus card is reportedly being moved to Las Vegas. This news comes from Brazilian publication Combate — the same outlet that reported that the imminent UFC Brasilia card will go down behind closed doors. According to Combate, the UFC Columbus card — which will seemingly need a new name — will be held at the new UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas.
Kevin Lee reacts to Charles Oliveira fight going down behind closed doors
Tom Taylor - March 12, 2020
When Kevin Lee fights Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC Brasilia this weekend, there will not be any fans in the building. That’s because the UFC has converted the card to a closed-door event to mitigate risk associated with the coronavirus. While this quiet, closed-door event will be an unfamiliar setting for Lee, he doesn’t seem to worried about it.
Khabib Nurmagomedov concedes Henry Cejudo is currently the greatest combat athlete of all time
Natasha Hooper - March 12, 2020
Step aside Demetrious Johnson and Jon Jones. UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov says that UFC bantamweight champ Henry Cejudo is currently the greatest combat athlete of all time. The all-access docu-series Anatomy Of A Fighter followed Nurmagomedov as he attended a recent media day for his management company, Dominance MMA. “The Eagle” made this appearance surrounded by MMA stars including Kayla Harrison, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Justin Gaethje.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk praises Weili Zhang: 'She's a very tough b*tch'
Adam Martin - March 12, 2020
Joanna Jedrzejczyk praised her rival Weili Zhang after their war at UFC 248, calling the UFC women’s strawweight champion ‘a very tough b*tch.’ Jedrzejczyk and Zhang fought 25 of the most action-packed minutes you will ever see in an MMA fight in the co-main event of last weekend’s UFC 248. The two slugged it out for five rounds, battering each other’s faces and bodies, with Zhang eventually emerging as the winner by a narrow split decision to keep the belt.
UFC Brasilia | Pro fighters make their picks for Kevin Lee vs. Charles Oliveira
Cole Shelton - March 12, 2020
In the main event of the closed-door UFC Brasilia card, Kevin Lee is going into hostile territory when he battles Charles Oliveira. Heading into the fight, Lee is a -145 favorite while the Brazilian is a +115 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The slight majority believe Kevin Lee gets it done but many also believe this is a true pick’em fight.
The Korean Zombie agrees to fight Brian Ortega following latest apology
Harry Kettle - March 12, 2020
Chan Sung Jung aka The Korean Zombie is ready to proceed with preparations for his expected fight against Brian Ortega following the American’s recent apology. The two men, who were scheduled to fight back at UFC Busan before Ortega had to pull out due to injury, had been going back and forth at one another ever since UFC 248. At the event, “T-City” prompted a physical altercation with Korean Zombie’s friend and translator Jay Park as a result of Ortega believing Park was trying to instigate trash talk between them.
Saturday’s UFC Brasilia card converted to closed-door event
Harry Kettle - March 12, 2020
There will not be any fans in the building for Saturday night’s UFC Brasilia card. On Thursday, Brazilian publication Combate reported that the UFC has converted the card to a closed-door event amid growing concerns surrounding the coronavirus.