MMA News

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 22, 2019

Only three men in history have held the ONE Welterweight World Title, and it is an esteemed group of martial artists. Because the weight class contains athletes with elite strength, speed, and skill, some of the most dangerous and exciting competitors cross paths in this division.  That makes extended reigns with the ONE Welterweight World Title all the more impressive. The current champion is Zebaztian Kadestam, and he’s one of the roughest and well-balanced martial artists in the world.

Mike Heck - October 22, 2019

It’s quite clear that Tony Ferguson wants a fight and wants one sooner rather than later. While Ferguson has been linked to a fight with current lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, the top lightweight contender has decided to — whether jokingly or not — out kick his coverage and turn his attention to Jon Jones. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Ferguson took to Twitter to call out the reigning light heavyweight champion. According to the Tweet, there seems to be some history between the two polarizing figures.

Mike Heck - October 22, 2019

Maurice Greene has his sights set on the top-10 of the ever evolving UFC heavyweight division and will look to take a pivotal step forward this weekend. “The Crochet Boss” will take on Sergey Pavlovich this Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 20. The event will take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore and will be headlined by a welterweight matchup between Ben Askren and Demian Maia.

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 22, 2019

Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol will make her 11th appearance on the ONE Championship stage in Jakarta on October 25 when she faces Bozhena “Toto” Antoniyar at ONE: Dawn of Valor. Knowing full well that her opponent is a tremendous striker, Lumban Gaol has been working on a strategy that will put her in a position of victory in front of her hometown fans.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 22, 2019

Chael Sonnen believes Jon Jones was in the wrong for going after Chris Weidman following UFC Boston. Weidman moved up in weight to take on Dominick Reyes this past Friday night. The former UFC middleweight champion had expressed confidence in his ability to skip the line with a win and take on Jones. The “All-American” even said Jones has looked “beatable” as of late. In the end, Reyes stopped Weidman in the opening frame.

Natasha Hooper - October 22, 2019

Russia is the home of many high caliber fighters including Khabib Nurmagomedov and Zabit Magomedsharipov. A Russian bodybuilder with 24-inch biceps known as ‘Popeye’, entered an MMA bout this week, but he failed to emulate his fellow Russian MMA superstars. He was finished in just three minutes of the first round by a fighter 20 years older than he was.

Natasha Hooper - October 22, 2019

Former UFC matchmaker Joe Silva was recently called upon during the UFC antitrust lawsuit in Richmond, Virginia. He testified regarding his negotiating and contract practices during his time at Zuffa LLC (the company that formerly owned the UFC). During the certification hearing, Silva gave the court a rare insight into the revenue splits, salaries and locker room bonuses during the Zuffa-era.

Harry Kettle - October 22, 2019

UFC president Dana White has praised Cain Velasquez’s decision to retire from mixed martial arts and join WWE. Former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion Velasquez last fought back in February at UFC on ESPN 1 when he was defeated by Francis Ngannou via KO. Ever since then he’s been making a slow yet steady transition into the world of professional wrestling, which led to him announcing his official retirement from MMA recently.

Natasha Hooper - October 22, 2019

Darren Till refuses to jump on the Colby Covington hate train. Whilst the middleweight acknowledges the wrestler’s trash-talking, he praises Covington’s fighting skill. During a UFC 244 pre-fight media day at the UFC Gym in Nottingham, England, Till recalled Covington’s dominant victory against Robbie Lawler in August.

Harry Kettle - October 22, 2019

UFC welterweight contender Nate Diaz has released his own promo in anticipation of UFC 244’s blockbuster main event. Stockton’s favourite son will fight Jorge Masvidal at Madison Square Garden with the BMF Championship on the line. Both men are coming off of fantastic victories, with Diaz defeating Anthony Pettis at UFC 241 and Masvidal knocking out Ben Askren at UFC 239.

Adam Martin - October 21, 2019

UFC light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes took a shot at First Round Management, who he claims don’t manage UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones anymore. Dominick Reyes has been calling for a fight against Jones since finishing Chris Weidman in the main event of last weeks’ UFC Boston event. Jones so far doesn’t seem to be too interested in the fight, and neither does Abe Kawa of First Round Management, who doesn’t believe Reyes has earned a title shot yet.

Cole Shelton - October 21, 2019

Former UFC featherweight champion, Jose Aldo is eyeing a move down to bantamweight. Many have been hesitant that the former champion could make 135-pounds, including UFC president, Dana White.

Adam Martin - October 21, 2019

Former WWE superstar and UFC welterweight CM Punk is still being tested by USADA, leaving the door open for a potential return to the Octagon. TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter looked into USADA’s database and noticed that CM Punk, along with Mike Jackson, Travis Browne, and Chris Holdsworth have all recently been drug tested.

Natasha Hooper - October 21, 2019

As Colby Covington has risen through the welterweight ranks, he has divided opinion in the MMA community. Fellow 170-pound fighter, Ben Askren has made it clear what side of the fence he’s on. ‘Funky’ called out Covington for being ‘a terrible person’ who ‘nobody likes’. The UFC fighters both come for a collegiate wrestling background. The Olympic wrestler suggests that Covington’s bad reputation dates back to his early wrestling days. He revealed during an interview with Submission Radio,

Natasha Hooper - October 21, 2019

UFC and WWE legend Ken Shamrock proved his six-pack abs are here to stay. The combat sports legend, now 55 years old, recently flaunted a physique that would make people half his age jealous. Ken Shamrock is 55-years-old. pic.twitter.com/MY1O8yDmOe

Mike Heck - October 21, 2019

Legendary referee John McCarthy is weighing in on “Inhalergate” following the overturning of Greg Hardy’s unanimous decision win at UFC Boston. At Friday night’s event at the TD Garden, Hardy went the distance for the very first time in his MMA career as he picked up a victory over the debuting Ben Sosoli. As interesting as it was to see Hardy get to a third round, one of the biggest stories of the event came between the second and third rounds when Hardy asked and, seemingly, was given permission to use an inhaler on the stool.

Adam Martin - October 21, 2019

UFC light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes says he sees holes in the game of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, and he plans on exploiting them. Fresh off of a KO win over Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC Boston, Reyes spoke with the UFC on ESPN’s post-fight analysis panel of Brendan Fitzgerald, Paul Felder and Anthony Smith.

Tom Taylor - October 21, 2019

Yair Rodriguez and Jeremy first met at UFC Mexico last month. Regrettably, this first fight ended abruptly with an illegal eye-poke, kickstarting a heated rivalry between the two featherweight contenders. The pair met again in the co-main event of UFC Boston last weekend, with plenty of animosity between them. In the end, Rodriguez won this fight by decision, though Stephens certainly didn’t make it easy for him.