MMA News
Tony Ferguson sends a warning to "nervous" Khabib Nurmagomedov
Christopher Taylor - December 2, 2019
Aniah Blanchard, daughter of Walt Harris, was shot to death, prosecutors seeking death penalty
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.
Justin Gaethje: "I'm the guy waiting for the title shot"
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.
Corey Anderson vs. Jan Blachowicz headlines UFC New Mexico
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.
Tony Ferguson wants Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone to end in a double knockout
Cole Shelton - December 2, 2019
Conor McGregor will make his highly-anticipated return to the Octagon on Jan. 18 when he battles Donald Cerrone at welterweight. It is a very interesting fight, that many people are torn on. Yet, for Tony Ferguson, he believes Cerrone may very well knock McGregor out. But, he hopes the fight ends in a double knockout.
Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk targeted for UFC 248
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.
Aljamain Sterling on Aldo, Edgar's bantamweight moves: 'It doesn’t make a ton of sense'
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.
Tyron Woodley says losing UFC welterweight title to Kamaru Usman humbled him
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.
Henry Cejudo takes another shot at Jose Aldo, declares himself 'The Real King of Rio'
Adam Martin - December 2, 2019
UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo took another shot at Jose Aldo on social media, declaring himself “The Real King of Rio.” Ever since Aldo announced that he is dropping down to 135lbs and fighting Marlon Moraes at UFC 245, there has been speculation that Aldo could be Cejudo’s next opponent. The two have spent the last few months taking shots at each other on social media, including Aldo posting a picture of Cejudo dressed as a gnome.
Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington added to UFC 246
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.
Johnny Walker says he wants to break Chris Weidman's face to avenge Anderson Silva's losses
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.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik eyes knockout over Alistair Overeem en route to a title shot in 2020
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.
Combate Americas boss ranks Tito Ortiz as No. 1 P4P fighter over 40, ahead of Daniel Cormier
Adam Martin - December 2, 2019
Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren has released his list of the top-10 P4P fighters over the age of 40, and he has Tito Ortiz ranked in the No. 1 spot over Daniel Cormier. McLaren is one of the co-founders of the UFC and one of the most important men in the history of MMA. He later founded Combate Americas in 2011 and is presently the CEO of the company. Ortiz is the biggest free-agent signing in the history of the company.
Jihin Radzuan is determined to make a statement against Denice Zamboanga
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.
Alaverdi Ramazanov is laser-focused on capturing the ONE title
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.
Jorge Masvidal says he gave Colby Covington 'trauma' during training sessions
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.
Colby Covington believes Dana White is 'a little afraid' of him
Tom Taylor - December 2, 2019
Colby Covington, who will challenge Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title in the main event of UFC 245, has not seen UFC President Dana White since an early-November press conference. The pair exchanged some basic pleasantries at the presser, but not much else. That’s because Covington doesn’t really have anything nice to say to White, and believes White shares that sentiment.
Sam-A Gaiyanghadao excited to try his hand at kickboxing
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.
Video | Wild double knockdown leads to KO victory
Adam Martin - December 1, 2019
A wild video of a double knockdown leading to a KO victory for one fighter has emerged from Portugal’s ECE promotion on Enfusion TV. It’s a pretty crazy video that needs to be seen to be believed. Check out the footage below, courtesy of Enfusion Live (h/t MikeyThomasMMA on Twitter).