MMA News
Top-10 MMA fighters of the decade
Adam Martin - December 24, 2019
Check out BJPenn.com‘s list of the top-10 MMA fighters of the decade, featuring the likes of Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, Ronda Rousey, Demetrious Johnson and Cris Cyborg. The first thing to note is that this is a very subjective and difficult list to come up with. There were so many fighters who could be included in the discussion, but ultimately we had to leave many of them off since it’s just a top-10. But before we do that, here’s a list of some honorable mentions that just missed the list.
Patrick Cummins announces his retirement from MMA
Tom Taylor - December 24, 2019
Patrick Cummins, the UFC light heavyweight contender who famously left his job as a barista to fight Daniel Cormier on short notice, has announced his retirement from MMA. Cummins made his announcement on Instagram on Tuesday afternoon.
Dana White hails 2019 as the 'biggest year' in UFC history
Tom Taylor - December 24, 2019
UFC President Dana White says 2019 was the “biggest year in the company’s history.” A jubilant White made this claim in a Tuesday afternoon Instagram post. See it below:
Sean O'Malley announces return against Jose Alberto Quinonez
Tom Taylor - December 24, 2019
Undefeated UFC bantamweight prospect Sean O’Malley has announced that he’ll be taking on Jose Alberto Quinones at UFC 247 on February 8 in Houston, Texas. O’Malley made this exciting announcement in a Tuesday afternoon Instagram post.
Aleksandar Rakic protests UFC Busan loss to Volkan Oezdemir
Tom Taylor - December 24, 2019
Aleksandar Rakic had the opportunity to take a big step up the light heavyweight rankings at UFC Busan when he took on former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir. While Rakic had plenty of success in this fight, Oezdemir ultimately left the cage with a controversial split decision win on his record. Speaking on Instagram on Sunday, Rakic issued a brief statement on this setback. He included a photo of himself moments after a previous win, and assured he feels just as victorious after his fight with Oezdemir.
VIDEO | Donald Cerrone, Rose Namajunas star in Billy Talent music video
Tom Taylor - December 24, 2019
Donald Cerrone is gearing up for a massive showdown with Conor McGregor, which headlines the UFC 246 card on January 18. It should surprise absolutely nobody that the hyperactive lightweight and welterweight contender is staying plenty busy outside of his preparations for this fight. In addition to his usual schedule of training, skydiving, bull riding, and anything else that gets his blood pumping, Cerrone recently starred in a new music video from alternative rock band Billy Talent. He was joined in this video by former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas.
Potential opponents for Sage Northcutt's ONE Championship return
BJPENN.COM Staff - December 24, 2019
A mature athlete and person understands and is realistic about their limitations. They also know that there are multiple definitions of greatness. Sage Northcutt is displaying such maturity and spirit of conscientiousness in his recent career decision. After falling short in his ONE Championship debut against experienced Brazilian striker Cosmo Alexandre at welterweight, Northcutt has decided to return to his original weight class at 155 pounds.
Weili Zhang says she will 'fight Joanna in Joanna’s way'
Tom Taylor - December 24, 2019
Weili Zhang is gearing up to defend her UFC strawweight title against the former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248 this March. While Zhang’s camp for Jedrzejczyk is just getting underway, she says this a fight she’s been preparing for for years. “I have known about Joanna for a very long time, even before I was in the UFC,” Zhang told Mathew Scott of the South China Morning Post. “I have been preparing for her, and for this fight, for a long time. I know how she moves and how she fights. I always knew that one day we would meet inside the Octagon. I am preparing everything. I am ready.”
Donald Cerrone says report that he is working with Duke Roufus for UFC 246 is 'not accurate'
Cole Shelton - December 23, 2019
It turns out Donald Cerrone will not be having Duke Roufus’ help in his UFC 246 camp to prepare for Conor McGregor. On Jan. 18, in the main event of UFC 246, “Cowboy” will return to the Octagon at welterweight against the Irishman in McGregor. In the lead up to the fight, Roufus was on ‘The Luke Thomas Show’ on Sirius XM and said Cerrone was coming to Milwaukee to do some of his camp.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk planning future move back up to UFC flyweight division
Adam Martin - December 23, 2019
UFC women’s strawweight contender Joanna Jedrzejczyk says she is still planning on moving back up to the flyweight division in the future. Jedrzejczyk is set to take on UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang at UFC 248 in March in Las Vegas. Jedrzejczyk will be looking to reclaim the title which she held between 2015 and 2017 before dropping it in shocking fashion to Rose Namajunas at UFC 217.
Deiveson Figueiredo says he will 'kill' Joseph Benavidez at UFC Norfolk
Cole Shelton - December 23, 2019
Deiveson Figueiredo has violent intentions for Joseph Benavidez when they meet for the vacant flyweight title at UFC Norfolk. Earlier this week, BJPENN.com reported the title bout was set, and for Figueiredo, he was very surprised to discover he would be fighting for the vacant title.
Frank Trigg praised by fighter for timely referee stoppage: 'You definitely saved my brain a lot of damage'
Adam Martin - December 23, 2019
UFC legend and MMA referee Frank Trigg was praised by Bellator flyweight Nate Yoshimura for a timely stoppage during his fight at Bellator Hawaii. Yoshimura took on Chas Dunhour in a flyweight bout that kicked off the Bellator Hawaii card this past Saturday in Honolulu. In the second round, Yoshimura was on the wrong end of a nasty knockout stemming from an elbow and punches.
Chael Sonnen explains Eddie Bravo vs Royce Gracie beef
Natasha Hooper - December 23, 2019
BJJ powerhouses, Royce Gracie and Eddie Bravo don’t see eye to eye. Chael Sonnen recently sat down on his Youtube channel to explain their ongoing feud.
UFC welterweight Santiago Ponzinibbio removed from rankings
Harry Kettle - December 23, 2019
UFC welterweight contender Santiago Ponzinibbio has been removed from the official divisional rankings as a direct result of his recent inactivity. The Argentine sensation has been with the company since back in 2013, racking up a 9-2 record in the process. He has won his last seven fights with the promotion, which has included triumphs over Gunnar Nelson, Mike Perry and Neil Magny, but he hasn’t been in the cage since November 2018 when he knocked Magny out in Buenos Aires.
Matt Serra: Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington stoppage was 'pretty bad'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 23, 2019
Matt Serra believes Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington could’ve played out longer than it did. Usman vs. Covington headlined UFC 245 earlier this month. Usman put the UFC welterweight gold on the line inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In a back-and-forth battle, “The Nigerian Nightmare” ended up scoring the fifth-round TKO victory. Covington was quick to protest the stoppage to referee Marc Goddard.
Cory Sandhagen removed from UFC Raleigh, no replacement opponent for Frankie Edgar sought
Adam Martin - December 23, 2019
UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen will be removed from the UFC Raleigh card, and no replacement opponent will be sought for Frankie Edgar. The No. 4-ranked bantamweight on the UFC roster, Sandhagen was expected to take on Edgar in what was to be the biggest fight of his young career and also Edgar’s 135lbs debut. However, the UFC instead chose Edgar to replace Brian Ortega against The Korean Zombie in the main event of UFC Busan.
Conor McGregor praises Frankie Edgar: 'Forever an icon in this game'
Adam Martin - December 23, 2019
UFC superstar Conor McGregor praised Frankie Edgar in the wake of Edgar’s knockout loss to The Korean Zombie, saying he’s “forever an icon in this game.” Edgar suffered a vicious first-round knockout loss in the main event of UFC Busan this past weekend against The Korean Zombie, having taken the fight on short notice to fill in for the injured Brian Ortega. McGregor is a former rival of Edgar and the two were in talks to fight in his return bout, but McGregor ended up being booked against Donald Cerrone instead.
Gilbert Burns says UFC wants him to fight Demian Maia in Brazil
Adam Martin - December 23, 2019
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns says the UFC has offered him a fight against the legend Demian Maia next March in Brazil. Burns spoke to MMA journalist Drake Riggs following his recent grappling match against Craig Jones and told the scribe the UFC wants him to fight Maia next. Here’s what Burns said.