MMA News

Tom Taylor - September 26, 2019

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Tom Taylor - September 26, 2019

Dillon Danis was expected to return to the mats at ADCC 2019, but according to a report from FloGrappling, the Conor McGregor stablemate has withdrawn from his position in the -99kg division. You better believe Ben Askren has something to say about that. The UFC welterweight contender Askren reacted to this news on Twitter, making a rather crude suggestion about the cause of Danis’ withdrawal.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 26, 2019

Brendan Schaub is rooting for Jeremy Stephens in the rematch with Yair Rodriguez. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Brett Okamoto got word from UFC president Dana White that Stephens and Rodriguez will do battle in the co-main event of UFC Boston. The two will share the Octagon again on Oct. 18.

Tom Taylor - September 26, 2019

ONE Championship is plotting an expansion into the United States, and Demetrious Johnson is more than willing to be a part of those plans. Johnson, who will have fought twice in Tokyo and once in Manila by year’s end, discussed a potential return to US soil in a recent interview with BJPENN.com. He says he’s particularly interested in fighting in Hawaii, home to ONE Championship stars Christian and Angela Lee, and the perceived frontrunner for ONE’s US debut.

Tom Taylor - September 26, 2019

Dwayne Johnson, better known as “The Rock,” is a big MMA fan. The pro wrestling legend and Hollywood actor often rubs shoulders with the stars of the fight game, such as current ONE Championship heavyweight kingpin Brandon Vera. The Rock and Vera recently sat down to discuss a number of topics, including The Rock’s latest film project Hobbs & Shaw, and Vera’s upcoming title fight with ONE Light Heavyweight Champion Aung La N Sang.

Cole Shelton - September 26, 2019

Bellator is back in Inglewood, California this Saturday night for a stacked Bellator 228 card. It features four Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix fights, and in the co-main event, a pivotal middleweight bout as Gegard Mousasi takes on Lyoto Machida in a rematch of their 2014 fight in the UFC. Heading into the tilt, Mousasi is a -300 favorite while the former UFC champ is a +230 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. Surprisingly, the pros are unanimous on this one.

BJPENN.COM Staff - September 26, 2019

Earlier this year, Xiong Jing Nan became the first person to defeat Angela Lee, scoring a fifth-round victory over the Singaporean champion to defend the ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship. Now, “The Panda” gets her crack at making history by becoming the first-ever female two-division champion in ONE when she challenges Lee for her ONE Women’s Atomweight World Title at ONE: Century Part I on Sunday, October 13 from Tokyo, Japan (11pm ET Saturday on TNT in the United States). 

Adam Martin - September 26, 2019

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s next title defense is being planned for February or March of 2020, according to his manager. Rizvan Magomedov told Tass Agency that Nurmagomedov will likely fight early next year. According to a report by ChannelOne Russia, the champ is interested in fighting at Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg, Russia. That Arena has a capacity of 75,000, which could potentially make it the UFC’s most attended fight if that indeed happens.

Natasha Hooper - September 26, 2019

Israel Adesanya has already established himself as one of the best middleweights in the world. With a record of 17-0, he is confident that his winning strategy will allow him to “pick apart” Robert Whittaker at UFC 243. It’s been a big year for Adesanya. “The Last Stylebender” got tongues wagging in a riveting three-round performance against former UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva in February at UFC 234. His creative arsenal of striking attacks was enough to earn a unanimous decision victory. Most recently, Adesanya took on Kelvin Gastelum in a fight that exceeded expectation. Despite being a close match, the tides turned in Adesanya’s favour and he took home a decision win after five fun rounds.

Natasha Hooper - September 26, 2019

Dillon Danis won’t let go of his feud against Youtube star Jake Paul. He’s now taking shots at Paul’s wife. A few days ago, the stars got in a Twitter beef after Dillon Danis posted “F**k the Pauls.”

Tom Taylor - September 26, 2019

The ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix will wrap up at ONE: Century – Part 1 on Sunday, October 13 in Tokyo (11pm ET Saturday on TNT in the United States), as finalists Saygid Guseyn “Dagi” Arslanaliev and Eddie Alvarez were slated to collide on the card. Regrettably, Alvarez has been forced out of this massive showdown with an injury.

Natasha Hooper - September 26, 2019

Conor McGregor’s Irish firm has taken a financial blow. McGregor Sports and Entertainment Ltd recorded losses of €309,462 in 12 months. The firm’s accumulated losses increased from €354,708 to €664,170 in 2018. It also announced a loss of €470,923 in 2017.

Christopher Taylor - September 25, 2019

Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson is not happy that his former promotion has introduced a “made up” BMF belt. Dana White recently announced that ‘The Rock’ will award the winner of November’s UFC 244 main event between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal with the promotions new BMF belt.

Cole Shelton - September 25, 2019

UFC 245 is close to getting its main event as welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman is set to take on Colby Covington. Sources tell BJPENN.com that the two are close to finalizing the contract and the bout would serve as the main event. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani was first to report the news on his MMA Reporters podcast.

Mike Pendleton - September 25, 2019

Jeremy Stephens and Yair Rodriguez will run it back after their disappointing no-contest in their first fight. According to Brett Okamoto of ESPN citing UFC President Dana White, Stephens and Rodriguez will rematch at UFC Boston on October 18 in the co-main event. Breaking: Yair Rodriguez (@panteraufc) vs. Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) is being re-booked as the co-main event for UFC Fight Night on Oct. 18 in Boston, per UFC president Dana White. pic.twitter.com/2wlpvBOGFI

Natasha Hooper - September 25, 2019

The potential baddest motherf***er in the UFC is showing another side to this personality. Jorge Masvidal released episode one of the documentary series, The Diary of A Street Fighter Part 1: Road To The BMF Title.

Tom Taylor - September 25, 2019

From the sounds of it, new UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic will be rematching Daniel Cormier in his next fight. That being said, it likely won’t happen this year. While Cormier has stated the December 14 UFC 245 card would be a good date for him, Miocic has divulged that he likely won’t be ready in time for that card. He says he’s currently dealing with some lingering eye issues.

Adam Martin - September 25, 2019

Yair Rodriguez and Jeremy Stephens fought to a No Contest in the main event of this past weekend’s UFC Mexico City event. Rodriguez accidentally poked Stephens in the eye and after Stephens couldn’t open it, the doctor had to step in and stop the fight just 15 seconds in. Fans responded by throwing garbage into the center of the Octagon. Although Rodriguez told the media after the fight that he believed Stephens should be given the benefit of the doubt for not continuing, it seems as though Rodriguez has changed his tune.