MMA News
Bryce Mitchell calls out Floyd Mayweather: 'I'll hit Floyd so damn hard he'll be able to read a book'
Cole Shelton - December 10, 2019
Bryce Mitchell is the latest MMA fighter to call out Floyd Mayweather. Yet, the Arkansas native says his issue with the boxer happened 10 years ago and he wants to fight him for it. Bryce Mitchell also says he’ll hit Mayweather so hard he’ll finally be able to read. Of course, Conor McGregor joked that the boxer couldn’t read in the lead up to their fight.
Paul Felder shares bold prediction for fight with Dan Hooker at UFC Auckland
Natasha Hooper - December 10, 2019
Paul Felder will be back in the Octagon to face rising contender, Dan Hooker in his opponent’s home turf of Auckland. The lightweight fighters will collide in the main event of the February 2020 showdown. Their intense staring contest last week was enough to get fans hyped for the upcoming event, and Paul Felder confirmed that the tension was completely real: Felder said (via MMA Junkie): “As far as intensity, that was real. I went down to New Zealand expecting a little bit of that from Dan because of how we interacted on social media. We kind of went back-to-forth a little bit. But that’s what it’s all about.
Urijah Faber says UFC 245 could be his final fight but nothing is certain
Cole Shelton - December 10, 2019
When Urijah Faber makes the walk to the Octagon in Las Vegas at UFC 245, the Hall of Famer says it could be the last time. Faber already retired once from the sport and made a massive return earlier this year with a knockout win over Ricky Simon. Now, at UFC 245, “The California Kid” will battle Petr Yan where Faber believes he will probably win by stoppage.
Big John McCarthy discusses controversial Alistair Overeem referee stoppage
Adam Martin - December 10, 2019
Bellator color commentator and MMA referee Big John McCarthy has given his thoughts on the controversial stoppage in the Alistair Overeem vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik fight. Referee Big Dan Miragliotta stopped the fight at 4:56 of the fifth round after Rozenstruik knocked Overeem down. But instead of continuing to attack Overeem, Rozenstruik walked away from his opponent, which has led some to believe it was a premature stoppage.
Ben Saunders coming to 'steal the show with Matt Brown' at UFC 245
Mike Heck - December 10, 2019
Saturday night’s UFC 245 fight card is absolutely stacked. With three title fights and two very intriguing bantamweight matchups making up the main card, along with a slew of fascinating preliminary fights, the organization’s year end pay-per-view is shaping up to be one of 2019’s best. In addition, a welterweight matchup between Ben Saunders and Matt Brown — veterans of over 40 combined Octagon appearances — has a chance to steal the show away from the fights on the marquee. Saunders and Brown will compete during the ESPN2 preliminary card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “Killa B” is looking to snap a three fight skid against a performance bonus magnet in Brown, who hasn’t competed since knocking out Diego Sanchez over two years ago and briefly retired from the sport.
Michael Bisping questions Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Alistair Overeem stoppage
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 10, 2019
Michael Bisping believes Alistair Overeem should’ve been given more of a chance in the final moments of his bout with Jairzinho Rozenstruik. This past Saturday night (Dec. 7), Rozenstruik vs. Overeem headlined UFC Washington. The bout was widely viewed as eventful and Overeem appeared to be well on his way to a unanimous decision victory. With just four seconds left in the fight, Rozenstruik cracked Overeem with a right hand to send him crashing to the canvas. Overeem suffered a gnarly lip split and referee Dan Miragliotta stopped the fight.
Duke Roufus says Donald Cerrone will train with him ahead of Conor McGregor fight
Mike Pendleton - December 10, 2019
Duke Roufus has a team full of superstar fighters including top lightweight contenders Paul Felder and Anthony Pettis at Roufusport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and after the Christmas holiday, another top fighter will be visiting to get some work in: Donald Cerrone. Ahead of his welterweight fight against former UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor, “Cowboy” will be making a trip up to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to train with Duke Roufus and his team. Roufus announced this news while making an appearance on The Luke Thomas Show this past Friday.
Anthony Smith calls out Glover Teixeira
Adam Martin - December 10, 2019
UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith is eager to step back into the Octagon and he’s hoping the UFC matchmakers pair him with Glover Teixeira next. Smith has not fought since June when he submitted Alexander Gustafsson in a big upset. He has been hoping to get back into the Octagon, but thus far has not been able to secure an opponent. A call out of Corey Anderson last month went nowhere after the UFC matched up Anderson against Jan Blachowicz at UFC Rio Rancho instead.
Khabib Nurmagomedov's father discusses training strategy for Tony Ferguson fight
Natasha Hooper - December 10, 2019
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father and coach Abdulmanap recently opened up on the preparation for Khabib’s upcoming bout against Tony Ferguson. The undefeated lightweight champion Nurmagomedov is expected to face off against No. 1 ranked lightweight contender Ferguson at UFC 249 in April 2020. This will be the fifth time the athletes have attempted to fight. Both fighters withdrew from their previous bouts for various reasons including health complications. Nurmagomedov’s father Abdulmanap believes the prior cancellations only add to the importance of the fifth (and hopefully final) attempt at the matchup.
VIDEO | Jairzinho Rozenstruik gets hero's welcome in Suriname
Tom Taylor - December 10, 2019
Jairzinho Rozenstruik picked up the biggest win over his career over the weekend, scoring a last-minute knockout over former Strikeforce, Dream and K-1 heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in the main event of the UFC’s latest stop in Washington, D.C. When he arrived home in his native Suriname, Rozenstruik received a welcome worthy of this feat, as he was swarmed by fans, journalists, and photographers. See it below (via Ariel Helwani on Twitter):
UFC 245 | Pro fighters make their picks for Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington title fight
Cole Shelton - December 10, 2019
In the main event of UFC 245, Kamaru Usman will look to defend his welterweight title for the first time when he battles his arch rival, Colby Covington. Heading into the fight, the champion is a -185 favorite while “Chaos” is a +150 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. This time around, the pros are split, as the majority believe it will be a close fight where it could go either way.
VIDEO | Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal's ruined friendship gets Friends-inspired tribute
Tom Taylor - December 10, 2019
Top UFC welterweight contenders Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington used to be friends — but no longer. Over the last few months, the pair have devolved into arch enemies. What better way to eulogize their ruined friendship than with a Friends-inspired tribute? See just that below:
Max Holloway still wants Khabib Nurmagomedov fight
Tom Taylor - December 10, 2019
UFC featherweight champ Max Holloway and UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov were briefly scheduled to battle for the lightweight title in early 2018. Unfortunately, this super fight never materialized. That being said, Holloway still wants it, and is still optimistic it will happen.
VIDEO | GOAT Amanda Nunes does photoshoot with... a herd of goats
Tom Taylor - December 10, 2019
Amanda Nunes is widely considered the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in women’s MMA. So why wouldn’t she do a photoshoot with a herd of actual goats? In video obtained by TMZ Sports, we can see Nunes doing just that. Watch it below:
UFC 245 | Geoff Neal wants to be the first person to put Mike Perry away
Cole Shelton - December 10, 2019
Geoff Neal is looking to be the first person to knockout Mike Perry at UFC 245. Although Neal is ranked and undefeated in the UFC, he is taking on an unranked Perry who is also coming off a loss. Yet, the Fortis MMA product doesn’t care as he knows “Platinum” is a big name.
Sean O'Malley places 8th in Fortnite tournament, donates all of his winnings to charity
Natasha Hooper - December 10, 2019
Sean O’Malley’s skills extend outside of the MMA sphere as the UFC bantamweight fighter placed 8th in a Fornite tournament and donated all his winnings to charity. The 25-year-old fighter is currently undefeated in MMA with a 10-0 record.
Miesha Tate makes her pick for the GOAT of women's MMA
Tom Taylor - December 10, 2019
Who is the greatest female MMA fighter of all time? In the eyes of former UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate, who is one of the most accomplished female fighters ever herself, that’s “an easy pick” to make. In Tate’s eyes, there’s no question that the GOAT of women’s MMA is reigning UFC bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes.
Kamaru Usman explains why he nearly retired in 2018
Cole Shelton - December 9, 2019
Kamaru Usman was very close to hanging up the gloves for good in 2018. Usman, who is the current UFC welterweight champion, was undefeated in the Las Vegas-based promotion yet was having a hard time getting fights. This was especially the case in 2017 and 2018. Frustration began to grow and “The Nigerian Nightmare” nearly retired from MMA.