MMA News
Hector Lombard signs with BKFC
Tom Taylor - October 8, 2019
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the upstart organization bringing bare knuckle scraps to the masses, has signed another high-profile MMA veteran: Hector Lombard. Lombard will compete in BKFC’s 185-pound middleweight division. His debut is not yet scheduled.
UFC rankings update: Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker make huge climbs
Tom Taylor - October 8, 2019
The official UFC rankings have been updated in the wake of last weekend’s UFC 243 card, and as expected, main event winner Israel Adesanya has greatly improved his station. In addition to claiming the UFC middleweight throne by defeating Robert Whittaker on the card, Adesanya has zoomed up the pound-for-round rankings. He now holds to No. 8 spot on this prestigious list.
Justin Gaethje tells Conor Mcgregor 'go away or fight'
Adam Martin - October 8, 2019
UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje has sent a message to former champ Conor McGregor: “go away or fight.” “The Highlight” was joined by his manager Ali Abdelaziz, UFC double champ Henry Cejudo and UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at the TMZ Studios in Los Angeles recently. Gaethje was asked by TMZ’s reporters if a McGregor fight will happen.
Dan Hooker tells Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier 'one of you have to fight me'
Adam Martin - October 8, 2019
UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker put Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje on blast, telling both fighters that one of them will have to fight him next. “The Hangman” shared the message on his Twitter. Here’s what he said.
UFC Tampa | Eryk Anders plans on beating Gerald Meerschaert in 'devastating fashion'
Cole Shelton - October 8, 2019
Eryk Anders is back to middleweight following a brief stint at light heavyweight. When he makes his return to 185 pounds at UFC Tampa this Saturday, Gerald Meerschaert will be standing across from him. Although Anders is coming off of a knockout win at light heavyweight last time out, he has a simple reason for moving back to middleweight.
What Giorgio Petrosyan Must Do To Defeat The Upset-Minded Samy Sana
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 8, 2019
Giorgio Petrosyan has had an unusual path to the finals of the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix, but he made it. Waiting for him in the last step before ONE awards the winner USD $1 million and the first-ever ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship is Samy Sana. The Petrosyan-Sana matchup is just one bout set for ONE: CENTURY PART II on 13 October from Tokyo.
UFC 243 medical suspensions: Al Iaquinta facing long absence
Tom Taylor - October 8, 2019
Over the weekend, the UFC returned to our screens with the action-packed UFC 243 card in Melbourne, Australia. The card was topped by a middleweight title fight between undisputed champion Robert Whittaker and interim champion Israel Adesanya. In the end, Adesanya became the UFC’s one true middleweight king with a second-round stoppage of Whittaker.
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyrone Spong on the verge of collapse due to failed drug test
Harry Kettle - October 8, 2019
Matchroom Boxing managing director Eddie Hearn has confirmed that the scheduled Tyrone Spong vs. Oleksandr Usyk showdown is in jeopardy following an adverse finding in one of Spong’s recent drug tests. Spong (14-0) and Usyk (16-0) were set to go head to head at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois this weekend in what would’ve marked Oleksandr’s official move up to the heavyweight division. The transition has been highly anticipated for a few years now, with Usyk’s swan song as a cruiserweight coming last November when he knocked out Tony Bellew in Manchester.
Israel Adesanya fires back at "jealous" Jon Jones
Christopher Taylor - October 7, 2019
Israel Adesanya has responded to fellow UFC champion Jon Jones, this after ‘Bones’ claimed ‘Stylebender’ was lacking the confidence to fight him. Adesanya (18-0 MMA) defeated Robert Whittaker via second round TKO in the headliner of last Saturday’s UFC 243 event in Australia to become the promotions undisputed middleweight world champion.
Francis Ngannou urges UFC to book him a fight, Gilbert Burns responds
Adam Martin - October 7, 2019
UFC heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou is urging the promotion to book him for a fight, and a surprise opponent has thrown his name in the hat. “The Predator” took to Twitter to express his displeasure to the UFC for not booking him in a fight since his knockout win over Junior dos Santos in June. It appears that Ngannou is getting restless and wants to fight again as soon as possible.
Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa targeted for March PPV in Las Vegas
Cole Shelton - October 7, 2019
Israel Adesanya will have his first title defense against Paulo Costa this March in Las Vegas. Sources told BJPENN.com the two camps are in preliminary talks and a date has been agreed upon. The UFC flew Paulo Costa out to Australia to watch the fight between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker, where following the fight they started negotiations.
Conor McGregor takes a shot at Khabib Nurmagomedov one year after UFC 229
Harry Kettle - October 7, 2019
Former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor has taken a shot at his UFC 229 opponent Khabib Nurmagomedov, one year after their iconic Lightweight Championship clash in Las Vegas. McGregor, who hasn’t fought since that infamous night at T-Mobile Arena, has been heavily linked with a return to the Octagon ever since he was defeated by The Eagle via fourth round submission.
Chael Sonnen reacts to Michael Bisping's prosthetic eye
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 7, 2019
Chael Sonnen has praised Michael Bisping’s toughness and ability to overcome adversity. Bisping surprised fight fans when he popped out his prosthetic eye during an edition of his Believe You Me podcast. For many, it was their first time knowing that Bisping had a fake eye. Back in Dec. 2018, “The Count” told Joe Rogan that he had a prosthetic eye after dealing with several issues stemming from a detached retina suffered in his 2013 bout with Vitor Belfort.
Kelvin Gastelum sends warm message to new champ Israel Adesanya
Thomas Taylor - October 7, 2019
Earlier this year, Kelvin Gastelum and Israel Adesanya collided with the UFC interim middleweight title on the line. After five, razor-close rounds, Adesanya was named the winner and adorned with a UFC belt. Over the weekend, Adesanya became the undisputed middleweight champion with a second-round stoppage of Robert Whittaker. Gastelum, on the other hand, is gearing up for a UFC 244 scrap with Darren Till.
Edson Barboza's manager says Paul Felder has agreed to trilogy
Adam Martin - October 7, 2019
Edson Barboza’s manager Alex Davis says that rival Paul Felder has agreed to a trilogy fight after their controversial split decision outcome at UFC 242. Felder won a split decision with scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 27-30 in his favor. The fact that opposing judges had the fights 30-27 in favor of each fighter was very concerning.
Tito Ortiz vs. Alberto Del Rio set for December 7
Tom Taylor - October 7, 2019
Earlier this year, Combate Americas laid out plans to promote a fight between former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz and pro wrestler turned Combate Americas exec Alberto Del Rio. That fight now has an official date.
Chris Weidman believes he can 'skip the rankings' and fight Jon Jones next
Adam Martin - October 7, 2019
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman makes his light heavyweight debut next weekend in the main event of UFC Boston against top-ranked contender Dominick Reyes. It’s a huge opportunity for Weidman, and he knows it. According to Weidman, a win over Reyes would immediately catapult him into the top-five and get him closer to a matchup against UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones Weidman spoke to UFC Unfiltered recently and said he believes a win over Reyes would allow him to skip the line and get a matchup against Jones sooner than expected.
What's next for Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker after UFC 243?
Cole Shelton - October 7, 2019
UFC 243 has come and gone and with it, a new middleweight champion has been crowned. In the main event, the middleweight title was on the line as champion, Robert Whittaker was taking on the interim champion in Israel Adesanya. In the end, Israel Adesanya TKO’d Robert Whittaker in the second round to become the undisputed champion.