MMA News
Kamaru Usman sends message to Jorge Masvidal: 'We all know who breaks faces in this division'
Cole Shelton - January 22, 2020
Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal are continuing to go back-and-forth at one another to potentially set up a fight. After Usman TKO’d Colby Covington at UFC 245 many wondered what would be next. Masvidal was up there but he was waiting for the outcome of the UFC 246 main event between Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone. Yet, “Gamebred” recently switched stances and said he is focused on Usman because he wants to break his face.
Justin Gaethje believes Conor McGregor finally has the confidence to fight him after UFC 246
Cole Shelton - January 22, 2020
Justin Gaethje believes he might be Conor McGregor’s next opponent as the Irishman finally has the confidence to fight him. Gaethje called out McGregor before “Notorious” returned at UFC 246. Following the win, “The Highlight” thinks the fight still makes sense. John Kavanagh also said they liked the idea of Gaethje at welterweight as their next fight.
Darren Till 'hopeful' he can still fight Jared Cannonier at UFC 248
Cole Shelton - January 22, 2020
Darren Till may still be able to fight Jared Cannonier at UFC 248 after all. After Robert Whittaker, Cannonier’s original opponent, pulled out due to personal reasons many assumed Till would be the logical replacement and it was announced he was. But, he injured his ankle and UFC president Dana White said that fight was off.
Roxanne Modafferi responds after being discredited by Maycee Barber's father
Tom Taylor - January 22, 2020
Roxanne Modafferi picked up a massive upset over the weekend, walloping Maycee Barber to lopsided decision win on the UFC 246 undercard. Unfortunately, Barber’s father has suggested this fight shouldn’t count as a true loss on his daughter’s record given that she sustained an ACL tear early in the fight.
Urijah Faber updates on fighting future after loss to Petr Yan
Tom Taylor - January 22, 2020
Urijah Faber began his 2019 comeback with a dominant, first-round victory over Ricky Simon. Unfortunately for the Team Alpha Male head, however, his comeback plans then hit a snag at the hands of Petr Yan. Faber and Yan collided on the main card of UFC 245 in December, and the fight ended up being a lopsided third-round TKO victory for the Russian.
Streaming this Week: UFC Raleigh, Bellator 238, CES 60
Mike Pendleton - January 22, 2020
As streaming services continue to take over the combat sports industry, there are more and more events being broadcast on platforms like ESPN+, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN and YouTube. BJPENN.Com’s Streaming this Week series keeps fans up to date on the best combat sports action across the industry’s major streaming platforms.
Former UFC title challenger Thiago Alves signs with BKFC
Tom Taylor - January 22, 2020
Former UFC welterweight title challenger Thiago Alves is dropping his gloves and heading to the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) ring. News of Alves’ move to BKFC was first reported by MMA Fighting, who spoke to the promotion’s president David Feldman.
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Derek Brunson added to UFC 248
Adam Martin - January 22, 2020
Rising UFC middleweight contender Edmen Shahbazyan will take on veteran Derek Brunson at UFC 248 in the latest addition to the star-studded pay-per-view card. UFC 248 takes place on March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event sees UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya take on Yoel Romero, while the co-main event sees UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang fight rival Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The Las Vegas Review-Journal first broke the news of the Shahbazyan vs. Brunson matchup.
Firas Zahabi calls for Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz trilogy for 165-pound title
Adam Martin - January 22, 2020
Tristar Gym head trainer Firas Zahabi says he would like to see Conor McGregor fight Nate Diaz in a trilogy for the first 165lbs title in UFC history. McGregor knocked out Donald Cerrone in the main event of UFC 246 to re-emerge as the biggest superstar in MMA. The race to become his next opponent is now on, with several fighters vying for the coveted spot of being McGregor’s next foe. Some of the possible opponents for McGregor include UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, superstar Jorge Masvidal and lightweight stud Justin Gaethje.
Aung La N Sang doesn't wait to be hunted, he hunts the next challenge
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 22, 2020
Aung La N Sang is not like other champions. Many titleholders allow themselves to be challenged for their respective world titles. Despite holding both the ONE Light Heavyweight and Middleweight World Titles, Aung La is still hunting for the best challenges. That’s why it’s no surprise to see “The Burmese Python” calling for a title defense against undefeated middleweight prospect Reinier de Ridder.
UFC Raleigh | Pro fighters make their picks for Curtis Blaydes vs. Junior dos Santos
Cole Shelton - January 22, 2020
In the main event of UFC Raleigh, Curtis Blaydes will look to extend his winning streak to three when he battles the former heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos. Heading into the fight, Blaydes is a -250 favorite while dos Santos is a +195 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The majority believes Blaydes’ wrestling will be the difference-maker and that he will get his hand raised.
Roxanne Modafferi on UFC 246 win over Maycee Barber: 'I was winning before her knee got hurt anyway'
Cole Shelton - January 22, 2020
Roxanne Modafferi was the biggest underdog on the entire UFC 246 card, entering the cage for her fight with Maycee Barber at +600. Yet the 39-fight veteran got the job done by unanimous decision winning, every single round including one 10-8 round on one judge’s scorecard.
UFC 246 medical suspensions: Donald Cerrone faces long sit with facial fractures
Tom Taylor - January 22, 2020
UFC 246 was, by all accounts, a pretty violent card. Just ask Donald Cerrone, who was mauled to a TKO loss by Conor McGregor in just 40 seconds in the main event. Given the nature of this card, it should come as no surprise that several fighters on the bill are facing lengthy medical suspensions.
Michael Bisping explains how he became a fan of 'cool as f**k' Jorge Masvidal
Tom Taylor - January 22, 2020
There was a time, not all that long ago, when Michael Bisping and Jorge Masvidal were mortal enemies. The pair allegedly had several public run-ins, and exchanged tons of trash talk in interviews. Today, however, Bisping and Masvidal on good terms.
Conor McGregor moves up three different sets of UFC rankings
Harry Kettle - January 22, 2020
Conor McGregor has moved up the UFC rankings in the welterweight & lightweight divisions as well as the pound-for-pound rankings. The presence of McGregor in the rankings during his two big stints away from the sport between UFC 205 & UFC 229 and UFC 229 & UFC 246 certainly divided the opinion of fans, and now, it feels as if there’s going to be even more uproar than before in the wake of the rankings being released.
Watch Conor McGregor TKO Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 in slow motion
Harry Kettle - January 22, 2020
Footage has been released of Conor McGregor defeating Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in slow motion from UFC 246 this past weekend. The hype surrounding McGregor’s triumphant return to the UFC in Las Vegas on Saturday night was huge, with the Irishman’s ‘season’ getting off to a fantastic start. While a lot of fans are spending their time wondering who is going to be next for the former two-weight world champion, many others are still basking in the glory of his win.
Dustin Poirier calls for rematch with Conor McGregor after UFC 246
Cole Shelton - January 21, 2020
Dustin Poirier is looking to run things back with Conor McGregor after the Irishman’s win at UFC 246. McGregor, who returned to the Octagon on Saturday, knocked out Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds which was a very impressive performance. After the fight, many wondered what would be next. Dana White made it clear he wants the Khabib Nurmagomedov rematch. Yet, John Kavanagh says Justin Gaethje makes sense, but Poirier has now thrown his name in the hat.
Darren Till claims he's afraid of no one except for 'scary' Yoel Romero
Cole Shelton - January 21, 2020
Darren Till says he isn’t afraid of anyone except for Yoel Romero. Till took to social media to let everyone know he will fight anyone after news came out he was out against Jared Cannonier at UFC 248. Although he had an ankle injury, some fans on social media claimed the Englishman was scared of the fight which he clapped back on.