MMA News

Chris Taylor - January 25, 2020

Tonight’s UFC Fight Night 166 event is headlined by a heavyweight bout featuring Junior Dos Santos taking on Curtis Blaydes. The former UFC heavyweight champion, Dos Santos (21-6 MMA), will enter tonight’s main event looking to rebound, this after suffering a TKO loss to Francis Ngannou in June. Prior to the setback, ‘JDS’ had put together a three-fight win streak, which included victories over Blagoy Ivanov, Tai Tuivasa and Derrick Lewis.

Chris Taylor - January 25, 2020

Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor has responded to the recent video released by ESPN commentator Stephen A Smith. Earlier this evening, Smith shared a video on Twitter where he addressed the recent criticism from UFC commentator Joe Rogan over his remarks about last weekend’s Cerrone vs. McGregor UFC 246 main event.a

Chris Taylor - January 25, 2020

In tonight’s UFC Raleigh co-headliner, former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos will square off with Michael Chiesa in a welterweight bout. Dos Anjos (29-12 MMA) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards in his most recent Octagon appearance. Prior to the setback, ‘RDA’ had scored a submission victory Kevin Lee.

Natasha Hooper - January 25, 2020

ESPN’s sports commentator, Stephen A Smith has responded to criticism from UFC commentator Joe Rogan following last weekend’s Conor McGregor vs Donald Cerrone bout. During the UFC 246 main event on Saturday 18th December 2020, McGregor starched his opponent with some unorthodox shoulder strikes. He then followed up with a killer leg kick and strikes to seal the TKO victory over Cerrone in just 40 seconds of the first round. The rapid defeat didn’t go unnoticed by Smith who criticised ‘Cowboy’s’ performance:

Chris Taylor - January 25, 2020

The Octagon invades Raleigh this evening for UFC Fight Night 166, a twelve-bout fight card headlined by a heavyweight bout between Junior Dos Santos and Curtis Blaydes. The former UFC heavyweight champion, Dos Santos (21-6 MMA), will enter tonight’s main event looking to rebound, this after suffering a TKO loss to Francis Ngannou in June. Prior to the setback, ‘JDS’ had put together a three-fight win streak, which included victories over Blagoy Ivanov, Tai Tuivasa and Derrick Lewis.

Cole Shelton - January 24, 2020

Anthony Smith and Glover Teixeira will headline the UFC’s upcoming trip to Lincoln, Nebraska in April. The promotion announced on Friday that the two will headline UFC Lincoln on April 25. The two have both been vocal about fighting one another, and sources told BJPENN.com the matchup was originally targeted for UFC Brasilia but Smith did not want to fight in Brazil. Instead, he will get his wish of fighting in the United States.

Thomas Taylor - January 24, 2020

ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith has been getting roasted by fight fans all week. The latest member of the MMA community to join the pile-on is UFC commentator Joe Rogan. The cause of the widespread attack on Smith, for those who have been living under rocks, is twofold.

Tom Taylor - January 24, 2020

In September of 2019, Dustin Poirier challenged the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC lightweight belt. Unfortunately for Poirier and his fans, the mission didn’t go as planned, as he was submitted by the champion in the third round. Despite this loss, Poirier is still determined to be become the undisputed UFC lightweight champion in the future. His brief reign as the interim lightweight champ, he says, just doesn’t cut it as far as his legacy is concerned.

Adam Martin - January 24, 2020

UFC superstar Conor McGregor was handed his $50,000 bonus for Performance of the Night at UFC 246 in cash by UFC president Dana White. McGregor needed just 40 seconds to knock out Donald Cerrone in the main event of UFC 246 to pick up his first win since a November 2016 TKO win over Eddie Alvarez. The UFC awarded McGregor a $50,000 bonus for the knockout win, joining Aleksei Oleinik, Carlos Diego Ferreira, Brian Kelleher, and Drew Dober as bonus winners.

Cole Shelton - January 24, 2020

Curtis Millender is entering his fight at Bellator 238 fight against Moses Murrietta with a chip on his shoulder. Millender, who was recently released from the UFC, immediately reached out to Bellator to try and sign back with the promotion after fighting for them in 2015 and 2017.

Adam Martin - January 24, 2020

The UFC Raleigh weigh-ins took place Friday morning and all 24 fighters on the card made weight for this Saturday night’s event. In the main event, heavyweight Curtis Blaydes tipped the scales at 248lbs. His opponent, former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, stepped onto the scales at 247lbs. Both men were well below the heavyweight non-title limit of 265lbs.

Adam Martin - January 24, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards says he is promised a welterweight title shot with a win over Tyron Woodley at UFC London. Edwards is set to take on Woodley in a potential No. 1 contender’s fight at UFC London in March. UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman does not have an opponent booked yet, although Jorge Masvidal appears to have the fast track to the next title shot. According to Edwards himself, however, it could be he who ends up fighting Usman next.

Cole Shelton - January 24, 2020

Cris Cyborg knows she will go down as one of the greats but at Bellator 238 she can cement her legacy even more. In the main event, Cyborg is making her Bellator debut and taking on Julia Budd for the featherweight title. Should she win, she would become the first person to win belts in Strikeforce, Invicta, UFC, and Bellator. Or, as Cyborg calls it, a “Grand Slam Champion.”

Tom Taylor - January 24, 2020

Shortly after Conor McGregor stopped Donald Cerrone in the welterweight main event of UFC 246, he proudly proclaimed himself the first UFC fighter to pick up knockout wins at welterweight, lightweight and featherweight. McGregor’s arch rival Khabib Nurmagomedov wants to remind him of another multi-divisional feat. Using an image posted to Twitter, Nurmagomedov not-so-subtly reminded fight fans that McGregor has also been submitted in three weight classes. The Irishman tapped out to Nate Diaz at welterweight, to Nurmagomedov at lightweight, and to Joe Duffy at featherweight.

Cole Shelton - January 24, 2020

In the main event of Bellator 238, Julia Budd is looking to defend her featherweight title against Cris Cyborg who’s making her promotional debut. Heading into the fight, Budd is a +325 underdog while the Brazilian is a -450 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros believe this is a closer fight than the odds suggest but the majority are leaning towards Cyborg becoming the new champion.

Tom Taylor - January 24, 2020

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker was expected to return to the cage against Jared Cannonier at UFC 248, but was later forced out of this matchup with personal issues. While it was and still is unclear what kind of personal issues caused Whittaker to withdraw from the fight, UFC President Dana White caused a tidal wave of speculation when he appeared to get emotional discussing Whittaker’s situation.

Cole Shelton - January 23, 2020

Jorge Masvidal has made his intentions known. After “Gamebred” beat Nate Diaz at UFC 244 he said he wanted the biggest payday possible and many pointed to Conor McGregor. Yet, Masvidal believes the Irishman doesn’t actually want to fight him as evident by his post-fight speech at UFC 246.

Tom Taylor - January 23, 2020

Moments after Conor McGregor defeated Donald Cerrone in the UFC 246 main event, he knelt down beside his bloodied foe to exchange a few words. “I love you Donald,” McGregor began.