MMA News

Natasha Hooper - July 18, 2019

Yesterday, Donald Cerrone announced on Instagram he would be taking a short-notice fight at UFC Vancouver. It has now been revealed his opponent is none other than Justin Gaethje. Dana White confirmed the match-up for UFC Vancouver on September 14. The fearless fighters will go head to head at the Rogers Arena and it will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+.

Cole Shelton - July 17, 2019

Dustin Poirier believes his upcoming fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov is very similar to Rocky IV. There, Rocky Balboa went to Russia to take on Ivan Drago, the heavyweight Russian. In Poirier’s case, he is going to Abu Dhabi to take on undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov where the Russian will have the Muslim crowd behind him. “This is real, I’m a world champion,” Poirier said to ESPN. “As is he. This is a super fight to me. That’s how I feel, that’s what this feels like to me. We’re going to a sold-out arena they’re building as we speak in Abu Dhabi, the middle of the desert, and princes and sheiks will be there. It’s crazy. It’s a Rocky movie.”

Cole Shelton - July 17, 2019

After Henry Cejudo beat Marlon Moraes at UFC 238 to become the bantamweight champion he called out a bevy of names including Urijah Faber. Then, at UFC Sacramento, “The California Kid” knocked out Ricky Simon in 46 seconds and returned the favor by calling out Cejudo. Since the callouts, many are interested in seeing that fight and even the UFC Hall of Famer said the chances of the fight happening next are very good. According to Cejudo’s manager in Ali Abdelaziz, however, he doesn’t believe Urijah Faber deserves it and instead should fight Marlon Moraes for the chance to fight the champ-champ.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 17, 2019

Michael Bisping wouldn’t be opposed to seeing Urijah Faber jump the line in the UFC bantamweight division. Back in Dec. 2016, Faber ended his professional mixed martial arts career. He walked off on his terms, defeating Brad Pickett via unanimous decision in Sacramento. Faber was later inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. For Faber, however, the itch to compete didn’t go away.

Tom Taylor - July 17, 2019

After taking credit for a few of the signature techniques of UFC stars like Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva, Hollywood action star Steven Seagal has become a bit of a punchline inside the MMA community. Yet according to UFC commentator Joe Rogan, there is a “legit” martial arts background behind all the silliness.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 17, 2019

Tito Ortiz doesn’t appear to think too highly of Ben Askren. Askren entered the UFC with a ton of hype. Having won Bellator and ONE Championship gold and being a former Olympic wrestler, many thought “Funky” had a good shot at success on the biggest mixed martial arts stage. There’s still time for Askren to make his mark, but a devastating flying knee KO defeat to Jorge Masvidal has at least served as a bump in the road.

Tom Taylor - July 17, 2019

Surging UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal has recently been campaigning for a showdown with former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor. In fact, Masvidal’s manager recently stated that McGregor is the only opponent they’ll accept outside of a title fight with welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Unfortunately for team Masvidal, UFC President Dana White says it’s not happening.

BJPENN.COM Staff - July 17, 2019

Yielding different results in their respective debuts on 31 March in Tokyo Japan at ONE: A NEW ERA, Demetrious Johnson, and Eddie Alvarez have a few things to tweak as they get acclimated to a new promotion. Once again, Johnson and Alvarez will compete on the same card when they battle Tatsumitsu Wada and Eduard Folayang, respectively, at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES on 2 August at the Mall of Asia in Manila, Philippines. 

Cole Shelton - July 17, 2019

Last Saturday, Ryan Hall took to the Octagon in Sacramento and beat a local favorite, Darren Elkins, by decision. While Hall is known for his world class Brazilian jiu jitsu, it was his striking that was on display in this fight, as he was able to drop Elkins twice en route to his win. Although Hall didn’t get the finish, he says the fight went about as perfect as it could have.

Tom Taylor - July 17, 2019

When Jorge Masvidal knocked former Bellator and ONE welterweight champion Ben Askren out in five seconds at UFC 239, he cemented himself as one of the top contenders in the UFC welterweight division — perhaps even the top contender outright. Yet rising British contender Leon Edwards, who fights Rafael dos Anjos in the main event of UFC San Antonio this weekend, doesn’t believe Masvidal has earned a title shot just yet. “I never held Askren in high regard anyway,” Edwards told MMA Fighting, downplaying Masvidal’s victory. “He just shouted his mouth off the get to where he’s at. He’s an amateur on the feet, I’ve watched him hit pads and it’s weird; even his shots are slow. He came in, he talked his way up into the position he was in and then he dipped his head into a knee.

Tom Taylor - July 17, 2019

Michael Page will soon return to the Bellator cage. The Brit will return to action at Bellator Dublin on September 27 at the 3 Arena, where he’ll take on Richard Kiely in the card’s co-main event.

Tom Taylor - July 17, 2019

Georges St-Pierre is retired. That being said, a large portion of the MMA community is still clinging to the hope that the former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion will eventually dust off his gloves and return to the Octagon — perhaps in pursuit of a third title against UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. UFC President Dana White says that won’t be happening, as St-Pierre didn’t hold up his end of the deal after battling Michael Bisping for the middleweight title in 2017. He doesn’t seem to trust the Canadian after this incident.

Cole Shelton - July 16, 2019

Back at UFC 235, Jon Jones defended his light heavyweight title against Anthony Smith. Although it was a dominant performance from “Bones” he nearly had another DQ loss on his record. During the fight, the champion threw a knee that connected with Smith’s head while he was down. It was an illegal knee and had “Lionheart” not been able to continue, he would have won the belt. But, he decided to stay in the fight and took Jones to the scorecards.

Adam Martin - July 16, 2019

Serious criminal charges have been laid against former UFC lightweight contender Abel Trujillo. According to a report from TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, Trujillo has been charged with felony sexual exploitation of a child and felony obscenity. The report says that Trujillo is currently being held on a $10,000 bond in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 16, 2019

The latest UFC rankings update for July 16, 2019 is in. In the wake of UFC Sacramento, Urijah Faber has returned to the bantamweight ladder. Faber hadn’t competed since Dec. 2016. Many expected “The California Kid” to ride off into the sunset and enjoy retirement as a UFC Hall of Famer. Instead, he returned and stopped Ricky Simon in 46 seconds. In the process, Faber has knocked Simon off the 135-pound rankings.

Adam Martin - July 16, 2019

Perhaps one of the most surprising upsets in UFC history took place back in 2011 at UFC 132. At the time, Ryan Bader was a young, hungry, up-and-coming light heavyweight who had recently won The Ultimate Fighter. Tito Ortiz, meanwhile, was a veteran on his last legs and seemed destined for retirement. Or so we thought. Defying the odds, Ortiz finished Bader by submission that night in what remains to this day arguably the most impressive victory of Ortiz’ career. While it was an embarrassing night for Bader, he has since transformed himself into an elite light heavyweight and heavyweight in MMA, currently holding both belts in Bellator. Ortiz, meanwhile, still remains relevant to this day despite being in his mid 40s.

Jordy McElroy - July 16, 2019

The shuttering quake from comatose welterweight star Ben Askren crashing to the canvas in record-breaking time at UFC 239 could be felt from Nevada to Singapore, where former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson was shipped off to in a historic trade less than a year ago. Not even the Richter scale is capable of measuring the size of those tremors, which opened up cracks in the reasoning Johnson was ever traded in the first place. That isn’t to suggest Ben Askren in the UFC hasn’t been entertaining. It has been a rollercoaster ride and cotton candy rolled into one. He talks the talk and walks the walk against the toughest guys in the UFC; guys that boast the kind of knockout power to alter careers with a single strike.

Christopher Taylor - July 16, 2019

UFC light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones was not impressed by the recent comments made by perennial division contender Corey Anderson. ‘Beastin 25/8’ was a recent guest on the Slip n Dip Podcast where he seemingly attacked Jones’ past with the following statement.