MMA News

Christopher Taylor - December 2, 2019

Tony Ferguson will challenge Khabib Nurmagomedov for the promotions undisputed lightweight title in the main event of UFC 249 on April 18 in Brooklyn, New York. The highly anticipated bout was made official on Friday evening, this after ‘El Cucuy’ signed his half of the title fight contract.

Adam Martin - December 2, 2019

Aniah Blanchard, the daughter of UFC heavyweight contender Walt Harris, was shot to death, according to the medical examiner. The man accused of the murder of Blanchard, 29-year-old Ibraheem Yazeed, is being charged with capital murder, and prosecutors in Alabama are seeking the death penalty.

Mike Pendleton - December 2, 2019

With reports of a lightweight title fight between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov being booked for April 2020 and other lightweight fights being announced recently, top contender Justin Gaethje is without a scheduled fight, and he seems to be okay with that. Business has picked up in a major way in the UFC’s lightweight division with the recent bookings of Conor McGregor vs Donald Cerrone (scheduled to take place at welterweight) and Paul Felder vs Dan Hooker, both fights scheduled to take place in early 2020, but these fights also leave contenders like Gaethje waiting in the wings. While his former opponent Dustin Poirier believes Gaethje is the biggest threat to current champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Gaethje recently discussed his place within the division.

Adam Martin - December 2, 2019

A light heavyweight bout between top contenders Corey Anderson and Jan Blachowicz is set to headline UFC Mexico City next February. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto broke the news of the Anderson vs. Blachowicz bout on his Twitter account. This UFC Fight Night card is set to take place on February 15, 2020, at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

Cole Shelton - December 2, 2019

Conor McGregor is fighting again at welterweight as he is set to take on Donald Cerrone in the main event of UFC 246. When the fight was announced, many were surprised the scrap if at 170-pounds. For Chael Sonnen, he believes the extra 15-pounds is actually a disadvantage for the Irishman. He thinks it will be tough for McGregor to knock out Cerrone at that weight.

Adam Martin - December 2, 2019

The UFC women’s strawweight title will be on the line when champion Weili Zhang takes on challenger Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248. The card is set to take place on March 7, 2020, though no location or venue has officially been decided on yet. There have been rumors that this event may take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a main event of UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya taking on rival Yoel Romero.

Tom Taylor - December 2, 2019

Former UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar and former UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo will both soon debut in the bantamweight division. Top bantamweight contender Aljamain Sterling isn’t sure how these two decorated former champs will perform in this lighter weight class. “Two belts in two different weight classes would be historic, but they’re old in fight years, they’re older in age, and they’re fighting guys who are almost a decade younger than them – so it’s going to be very interesting to see how they do,” Sterling said on UFC Unfiltered recently (via MMA Junkie). “I’m not wishing them any type of ill will, but at the same time, I just wish they hug each other for 15 minutes and have boring fights.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 2, 2019

Tyron Woodley is able to see the positives in his defeat to Kamaru Usman. Back in March, Woodley put the UFC welterweight championship on the line against Usman. While “The Chosen One” had looked unstoppable at 170 pounds, Usman had the style and pressure to dethrone Woodley after five rounds of one-sided action. “The Nigerian Nightmare” was the new welterweight king and Woodley suffered his first loss since June 2014.

Cole Shelton - December 2, 2019

Tito Ortiz is preparing for his fight against Alberto Del Rio on Dec. 7, but he is dreaming of another bout. That is against UFC light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones. Ortiz believes it would be a competitive fight and one that he could win.

Tom Taylor - December 2, 2019

The upcoming UFC 246 card, which is scheduled for January 18 in Las Vegas, Nevada, keeps getting better. The latest addition to the stacked card is a women’s bantamweight bout between former champion Holly Holm and Raquel Pennington. News of this matchup was first reported by MMAJunkie.

Adam Martin - December 2, 2019

UFC light heavyweight contender Johnny Walker says he wants to fight Chris Weidman and break his face to avenge Anderson Silva’s losses to him. Walker is coming off of an upset TKO loss to Corey Anderson at UFC 244 and admitted that he was battling depression heading into the fight. It was a loss that snapped a long win streak for Walker, and since then he’s taken to social media to call out Weidman, who himself is coming off of a TKO loss to Dominick Reyes at UFC Boston.

Cole Shelton - December 2, 2019

Jairzinho Rozenstruik may be the newcomer of the year in 2019 for the UFC. He didn’t have his first UFC fight until February of this year where he knocked out Junior Albini in the second round. It was an impressive debut, but Rozenstruik did even better in his next fights, with a nine-second knockout win over Allen Crowder, then a 29-second knockout win over Andrei Arlovski.

Tom Taylor - December 2, 2019

UFC color commentator Joe Rogan believes the best is still to come for lightweight contender Kevin Lee. Rogan heaped praise on Lee during a conversation with Lee’s new coach Firas Zahabi.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 2, 2019

In her first two years on the ONE Championship roster, Malaysia’s Jihin Radzuan has turned in thrilling performances in all of her bouts. She owns a professional record of five wins with only one loss, including two wins by submission and one by knockout. This Friday, 6 December, at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Radzuan returns to action at ONE: Mark of Greatness opposite the Philippines’ Denice “The Fairtex Menace” Zamboanga.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 2, 2019

Like many other athletes, 25-year-old Alaverdi Ramazanov dreams of becoming a World Champion. In just a few days, that dream will be within his reach. The only man standing in his way is China’s Zhang Chenglong, whom he will face on December 6 for the inaugural ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship.

Natasha Hooper - December 2, 2019

Jorge Masvidal isn’t impressed with Colby Covington’s trash-talking antics and is even less impressed with his fighting abilities. “Gamebred” revealed that he inflicted serious “trauma” on Covington during their previous training sessions at American Top Team, and gives little credence to his former friend’s fighting accomplishments.

Tom Taylor - December 2, 2019

Alistair Overeem has been around for a long, long time. Of the course of a 20-year combat sports career, the Dutchman has picked up titles in Strikeforce, Dream, and K-1 — and he’s still not done yet. Ahead of his upcoming showdown with Jairzinho Rozenstruik, which will top the UFC’s December 7 return to Washington, D.C., Overeem sat down with UFC.com and opened up on the mindset that has kept him competing at the highest level for so long.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 2, 2019

Muay Thai legend and former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao is no stranger to making history. In fact, he’s captured many world titles and garnered multiple accolades throughout his glorious career. Sam-A is looking to add another feather in his cap this Friday night, 6 December when he faces Wang Junguang for the inaugural ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship. The two square off in one of two headlining bouts at ONE: Mark of Greatness, to be held at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.