MMA News

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 29, 2019

ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio will not allow Rene Catalan to take his title on 8 November at ONE: Masters of Fate. Pacio is focused on his preparations and won’t leave anything to chance, knowing that he will return to the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila where he reclaimed his golden strap from Yosuke Saruta in April.

Tom Taylor - October 29, 2019

That Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson lightweight title fight we’ve all been awaiting for years? Expect to go down in the first quarter of 2020. That’s right from the lips of UFC President Dana White, who recently updated on the matchup in a chat with The Schmo.

Tom Taylor - October 29, 2019

Corey Anderson, who is set to take on red-hot prospect Johnny Walker at UFC 244 this weekend, has been calling for big-name opponents in the light heavyweight division for some time. Unfortunately, the UFC does not feel he’s earned these high-profile fights quite yet. At least, that’s what they told him. Speaking to MMA Fighting ahead of UFC 244, Anderson recalled a recent meeting with UFC brass, during which he was told he doesn’t deserve high-profile because he’s not a so-called “needle-mover.”

Adam Martin - October 29, 2019

A rematch between former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler and former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson has been added to Bellator Japan. Bellator recently announced the rematch, which will serve as the co-main event on the Bellator Japan card, which takes place on December 29 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The fight will be contested at a catchweight of 160lbs.

Tom Taylor - October 29, 2019

The official UFC rankings have been updated in the wake of last Saturday’s UFC Singapore card, and as expected, former ONE and Bellator champ Ben Askren has taken a tumble down the welterweight rankings after losing to Demian Maia in the main event. In victory, Maia has hiked up four spots to No. 6.

Tom Taylor - October 29, 2019

Nate Diaz is one of the most entertaining fighters in the game, and he knows it. Unfortunately, Diaz does not think particularly highly of many of his peers. Ahead of his UFC 244 with Jorge Masvidal — one of the few men he does respect — Diaz took a shot at many of the other fighters that populate the UFC roster, criticizing them for fighting to win at the expense of entertainment.

Cole Shelton - October 29, 2019

Kevin Lee is set to return to the lightweight division at UFC 244 in New York. There, the “Motown Phenom” will be taking on the undefeated Gregor Gillespie in a very risky fight. In fact, Lee says this is the stupidest fight he could have taken, but it’s a scrap he wanted to take nonetheless.

Harry Kettle - October 29, 2019

UFC commentators Dan Hardy and John Gooden have broken down the ins and outs of UFC 244’s fantastic main event between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. With just a few days remaining until the two popular welterweights square off at Madison Square Garden, the hype for the showdown is at an all-time high. Both men have unique and interesting styles, which is one of the primary reasons as to why it isn’t exactly surprising to see a “BMF” Championship being on the line for the winner.

Mike Pendleton - October 28, 2019

With the ‘BMF’ title on the line in the main event of Nate Diaz vs Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244, the man who created the belt, says it’s the only belt he’s focused on. In a taped interview with Ariel Helwani of ESPN, Diaz discussed why the ‘BMF’ title matters most and why he gives it the most importance. For Nate Diaz, the fight against Jorge Masvidal is what the belt is all about, no matter what the UFC has their sights set on.

Mike Pendleton - October 28, 2019

Douglas Lima is once again the Bellator MMA welterweight champion and is also $1 million richer after defeating Rory MacDonald at Bellator 232. It was a tough day road through the Welterweight World Grand Prix for Lima to get his title back and while he’s back at the top, a former opponent of his is seeing his career go in the opposite direction. Back in 2012, after going on a three-fight winning streak to start his Bellator career, Lima would face then Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren for the championship, and it was “Funky” coming out victorious at Bellator 64.

Adam Martin - October 28, 2019

UFC legend Randy Couture has been released from hospital following the heart attack scare he suffered last week in Los Angeles. In an interview after leaving the hospital, “The Natural” says he is thankful for all the support he received from the MMA community this past week. A UFC Hall of Famer and one of the greatest fighters in mixed martial arts history, Randy Couture suffered a heart attack last week at age 56. Couture felt something was off during a workout and managed to walk to a nearby hospital, where he was admitted for a heart attack. Thankfully, doctors were able to quickly treat him and Couture is expected to make a full recovery.

Cole Shelton - October 28, 2019

Urijah Faber is an underdog for the second fight in a row. The UFC Hall of Famer beat Ricky Simon in his return from retirement by knockout in the first round. Now, at UFC 245 Urijah Faber will return to the Octagon to take on the surging contender, Petr Yan.

Cole Shelton - October 28, 2019

Nate Diaz has put USADA on blast. Last week, Diaz announced he was out of his fight against Jorge Masvidal due to being flagged by USADA. Yet, after sending out the note on Twitter, it was ruled the failed test was from a tainted supplement and he would be able to fight after all. But, until his name was cleared, he truly was not going to fight.

Cole Shelton - October 28, 2019

Ben Askren’s time in MMA may be over once again. Back in 2017, Askren retired from the sport after he defended his ONE Championship welterweight title. He said he had nothing else to prove as he wanted to show he was the best in the world.

Natasha Hooper - October 28, 2019

Conor McGregor is confident that Valentina Shevchenko would have the upper hand in an intergender bout against Henry Cejudo. Earlier this year, ‘Triple C’ took to social media and called for an intergender fight against female fighters including Germaine De Randamie and Amanda Nunes. One of the names to top his list was women’s flyweight champion, Valentina Shevchenko. Shevchenko was amused by the callout but assured fans that she would beat the male champion.

Mike Heck - October 28, 2019

Kevin Ferguson Jr., better known as Baby Slice, scored a short-notice victory at Bellator 232 over the weekend. That win is no more thanks to the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation. According to a report from MMA Fighting, his 38-second TKO win over Craig Campbell has been overturned to a no contest, as Campbell was fouled during the brief contest.

Tom Taylor - October 28, 2019

Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz were expected to fight at UFC 230 in November of 2018. Regrettably, Poirier was forced out of the fight with an injury. At least, that’s what we were all initially told. Since that matchup, Poirier has suggested several times that it was Diaz, not him, that pulled out of the fight.

Adam Martin - October 28, 2019

UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards claims the UFC has offered him a fight against former champion Tyron Woodley at an upcoming event in January 2020. According to Leon Edwards, the UFC offered him a co-main event slot against Woodley at UFC 246. That card is expected to be headlined by UFC superstar Conor McGregor against either Donald Cerrone or Justin Gaethje.