MMA News
Chael Sonnen believes good timing contributed to Ronda Rousey’s massive success in MMA
Natasha Hooper - January 8, 2020
Chael Sonnen is confident that Ronda Rousey left the MMA sport at the right time, and that her timing, in fact, contributed towards her success. The UFC’s first female champion, Rousey made waves in MMA and polarized fans in the process. She achieved many firsts throughout her career and defeated notable contenders including Liz Carmouche, Cat Zingano, and Miesha Tate. However, her exit from the sport left a lot to be desired.
Gilbert Burns says Demian Maia didn't want to take fight, believes win puts career on 'another level'
Cole Shelton - January 8, 2020
Gilbert Burns got his wish as he will indeed fight Demian Maia in the co-main event of UFC Brasilia. Yet, the fight almost didn’t come to fruition. Burns, who is now 2-0 at welterweight with two short-notice wins over Alexey Kunchenko and Gunnar Nelson says mutual friends between him and Maia said the Brazilian legend didn’t want to take the fight.
Rodtang Jitmuangnon confident of victory in Jonathan Haggerty rematch
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 8, 2020
Reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon acknowledges the fact that he must be always on top of his game if he wants to remain in his throne as the division’s king. Rodtang puts his world title on the line this Friday, January 10 from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand against former champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty of the United Kingdom. The two lock horns in the main event of ONE: A New Tomorrow.
Frankie Edgar updates on bantamweight plans after Korean Zombie loss
Adam Martin - January 8, 2020
Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar provided an update on a planned move to bantamweight after his recent loss to the Korean Zombie. Edgar helped the UFC save the UFC Busan card by taking the fight against the Korean Zombie on short notice, filling in for an injured Brian Ortega. However, the fight did not end up going well for Edgar as he was brutally knocked out in the first round. It was his second straight loss after losing to Max Holloway in his last fight.
Promoter: Claressa Shields vs. Amanda Nunes 'would be the biggest women’s sporting event of all time'
Cole Shelton - January 8, 2020
Claressa Shields has made it known that she wants to fight Amanda Nunes in MMA and in boxing. If it happens, Shields’ promoter in Dmitriy Salita believes it would be the biggest women’s sporting event of all time. Shields is set to fight on Jan. 10 against Ivana Habazin. If she wins, she would become a three-weight champion.
Thanh Le willing to work his way up ladder for ONE Championship title shot
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 8, 2020
Through his first two appearances under the ONE Championship banner, Thanh Le has done nothing but impress. The native of Louisiana, United States, will try to make it a perfect three-for-three when he takes on Ryogo Takahashi at ONE: A New Tomorrow on January 10 from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
Dustin Poirier told Jorge Masvidal that he wants to 'f*ck up' Colby Covington
Harry Kettle - January 8, 2020
Jorge Masvidal has revealed that Dustin Poirier told him that he is eager to get his hands on Colby Covington — in no uncertain terms. The rise of Covington over the last few years has certainly ruffled plenty of feathers, mainly because of his actions in going after so many of his supposed teammates in the media. While this has been brushed off by some, a few members of American Top Team just can’t let the issue go. Dustin Poirier is one of them.
PHOTO | Conor McGregor flaunts welterweight physique 11 days out from 'Cowboy' fight
Tom Taylor - January 8, 2020
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor is 11 days out from his welterweight showdown with Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, which tops the UFC 246 card on January 18. While McGregor’s doubters are as rampant as ever, he certainly looks like he’s in fantastic shape as this challenge draws closer.
Jorge Masvidal claims Colby Covington is no longer at ATT: He's on witness protection program
Cole Shelton - January 7, 2020
Jorge Masvidal says Colby Covington has not been back at American Top Team since his loss to Kamaru Usman. In the main event of UFC 245, Covington was finally getting the title shot that had been eluding him for so long when he took on Usman. There, the two rivals trash-talked for months leading up into the fight, and the scrap was a close one until the fifth round when Usman dropped “Chaos” twice and TKO’d him to retain his belt. Covington also broke his jaw in the fight.
Georges St-Pierre gives his prediction for Conor McGregor vs Donald Cerrone
Cole Shelton - January 7, 2020
Conor McGregor is making his return to the Octagon against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 and Georges St-Pierre believes the fight could go a number of ways. St-Pierre, like many, believes the Irishman could very well knockout Cerrone. But, he also thinks the longer the fight goes, the more it favors “Cowboy.”
Chael Sonnen believes Donald Cerrone has more ways to win than Conor McGregor at UFC 246
Cole Shelton - January 7, 2020
Chael Sonnen believes people are counting out Donald Cerrone against Conor McGregor. In the main event of UFC 246, McGregor makes his highly-anticipated return to the Octagon on Jan. 18 opposite Cerrone at welterweight. Many fans think it is an easy fight for the Irishman, with some even suggesting Cowboy would take a dive.
Jorge Masvidal makes prediction for McGregor vs. Cerrone
Tom Taylor - January 7, 2020
Jorge Masvidal has recently been linked to a blockbuster battle with Conor McGregor. Before this fight can happen, however, McGregor will need to get past former Masvidal victim Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, who he’ll meet in the main event of UFC 246 on January 18. So, does Masvidal believe McGregor can get the job done and open the door to their potential superfight? Well, that depends.
John McCarthy reiterates argument that 'MVP' fought better competition than Anderson Silva
Adam Martin - January 7, 2020
Bellator commentator Big John McCarthy explained why he recently said Michael Page fought better competition than Anderson Silva during his early career. McCarthy’s comments during the Bellator New Year’s Eve card drew the ire of MMA fans and media, who were quick to criticize McCarthy for his comments that Page fought better competition than Silva during the early parts of both fighters’ careers.
Kamaru Usman confident he'd beat McGregor worse than Nurmagomedov did
Tom Taylor - January 7, 2020
In 2018, former two-division UFC champ Conor McGregor experienced a decisive, submission loss to UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is confident he could beat McGregor even more severely. Usman, like Nurmagomedov, is primarily a grappler. Yet he is quite a bit larger than Nurmagomedov, and probably quite a bit stronger too. So it’s easy to imagine why he feels that way.
Devonte Smith using 'lessons learned' towards recovery, 'winning' 2020
Mike Heck - January 7, 2020
To say Devonte Smith’s 2019 was chaotic would be a bit of an understatement. After starting the year off with a highlight reel first round KO win over Dong Hyun Ma at UFC 234 — in the first PPV prelim headliner in UFC history on ESPN — “King Kage” was on everyone’s radars. In fact, the 26-year-old lightweight standout would get matched up with a longtime UFC veteran in John Makdessi for UFC 241 in August.
Chael Sonnen: UFC 165 win over Alexander Gustafsson proved Jon Jones is the ‘toughest’ fighter in the world
Natasha Hooper - January 7, 2020
Chael Sonnen is convinced that Jon Jones is the toughest fighter in the world. During a recent episode of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show, Sonnen and Helwani deliberated over the best fight of the decade. Helwani suggested Jones’ 2013 UFC 165 fight against Alexander Gustafsson was the first time the champion had faced any true adversity, adding that Jones’ partying and antics outside the octagon all contributed to the drama of a show-stopping fight.
Josh Thomson names the current Bellator stars he believes would give UFC champs problems
Tom Taylor - January 7, 2020
The UFC is widely regarded as the home to the greatest volume of high-level talent in MMA, but other promotions like Bellator, ONE Championship and RIZIN Fighting Federation are increasingly home to world class fighters of their own. Bellator analyst Josh Thomson certainly sees it that way. Responding to a fan on Twitter recently, Thomson identified a handful of Bellator champions and contenders that he believes could easily challenge the UFC champs of their respective weight classes.
Logan Paul trashes Antonio Brown, betting odds released for potential boxing match
Adam Martin - January 7, 2020
YouTuber and rookie boxer Logan Paul trashed NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown after the former Pittsburgh Steelers star responded to his callout on Twitter. Paul was the first to call out Brown, telling the former All-Pro wide receiver that he wanted to fight him in a boxing match during an appearance on KFC Radio last month.