MMA News

BJPENN.COM Staff - July 11, 2019

Malaysian women’s atomweight contender Jihin Radzuan — known by the nickname “Shadowcat” — will be defending her home country’s pride against the Philippines’ Jomary Torres at ONE: Masters of Destiny this coming Friday, July 12 at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Apart from an impressive 4-1 professional record, the up-and-coming Malaysian prospect is also the owner of one of the more unique monikers in mixed martial arts, and it is something that has made fellow athletes and fans quite curious.

Christopher Taylor - July 10, 2019

UFC Hall of Famers Ken Shamrock and Mark Coleman will reportedly throw down at the inaugural Valor Bare Knuckle event this September. Earlier this evening Ken Shamrock (28-17-2 MMA) announced that he was launching his own Bare Knuckle Fighting promotion.

Adam Martin - July 10, 2019

Thiago Santos had the biggest fight of his MMA carer this past Saturday against Jon Jones in the main event of UFC 239. Thought he officially lost a split decision, he gained the respect of the entire MMA community for not only giving Jones a tough fight, but for fighting 25 minutes with two severely-damaged knees. Although Santos will be out until mid-2020 after having knee surgery, he told Combate that he isn’t giving up hope of eventually fighting Jones for a second time.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 10, 2019

Daniel Cormier is riding high going into UFC 241 and he now has one more thing to celebrate. Cormier is set to put his heavyweight gold on the line against Stipe Miocic in a rematch. In their first encounter back in July 2018, Cormier knocked out Miocic in the first round to capture the UFC heavyweight title. They’ll run it back inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on Aug. 17.

Tom Taylor - July 10, 2019

Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker don’t even know where their UFC 243 middleweight title fight will occur yet, but Adesanya is already letting the trash talk fly. Speaking at the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony over the weekend, the interim champion Adesanya shared his thoughts on his first staredown with the undisputed champ Whittaker.

Tom Taylor - July 10, 2019

Gilbert Melendez seems to be nearing the end of his career as a professional fighter. Over the weekend, on the undercard of UFC 239, the former Strikeforce lightweight champion and UFC lightweight title challenger gave up a decision to British featherweight Arnold Allen. While Melendez did not retire outright after this loss, he does seem to be preparing to move on to the next phase of his career.

Cole Shelton - July 10, 2019

Jorge Masvidal is now a UFC record holder. At UFC 239, “Gamebred” took on Ben Askren. To start the fight, he ran across the cage and landed a perfectly placed flying knee that knocked his foe out cold. The official time of the knockout was five seconds, which is still the record. But, as Joe Rogan pointed on the broadcast, had the ref gotten in position faster, it could have very well been two or three seconds.

Adam Martin - July 10, 2019

Former UFC featherweight title contender Chad Mendes has officially announced his retirement from mixed martial arts at age 34. Although previously reported to be retired, Mendes did not confirm that he was officially done with the sport until Tuesday. Mendes told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto he has notified the UFC of his retirement, and he has been removed from the USADA testing pool.

Tom Taylor - July 10, 2019

At UFC 239, Holly Holm sought to usurp the UFC bantamweight throne by unseating reigning champion Amanda Nunes. Regrettably for Holm and her dedicated fanbase, this mission did not go as planned, as she was stopped by a first-round head kick and volley of followup punches. Speaking in a video on her Instagram story on Tuesday, Holm addressed this tough setback, assuring her fans that she will keep moving forward, as the Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive played in the background.

Tom Taylor - July 10, 2019

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has been campaigning for a fight with former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre for some time. That being said, the lightweight champion seems to think that the time for this matchup is drawing to a close, as St-Pierre is already 38 years old.

Natasha Hooper - July 10, 2019

Alexander Gustafsson is reconsidering his retirement. The Swedish fighter announced his retirement in Stockholm last month, after receiving a submission loss from Anthony Smith.

Tom Taylor - July 10, 2019

Ahead of his light heavyweight debut opposite Jan Blachowicz, former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold had a lot to say about a handful of the division’s top stars — namely the champion Jon Jones and top-ranked contender Anthony Smith. In the end, of course, Rockhold’s debut in the division did not go the way he envisioned, as he was knocked out by Blachowicz in the second round.

Tom Taylor - July 10, 2019

UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith is the only man to have fought both Jon Jones and Thiago Santos. As such, he has some unique insight into the pair’s UFC 239 fight, which Jones won via narrow split decision — easily one of his least impressive performances of late. Smith gave his thoughts on Jones’ UFC 239 performance during an appearance on MMA on Sirius XM.

BJPENN.COM Staff - July 10, 2019

Filipina mixed martial artist Jomary Torres returns to action on July 12 at ONE: Masters of Destiny as she faces MIMMA Women’s Champion and Malaysia’s own Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur. There’s a lot at stake for Torres who has lost her last three bouts after a stellar start with ONE Championship, and now as she prepares for one of the most important matches of her career, she reflects back to her humble beginnings and the reason why she took up the sport.

Natasha Hooper - July 10, 2019

A rematch between UFC titans, Cris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes could be on the cards for UFC 240. Cyborg hinted at the possibility on Twitter. Cyborg’s last fight was against the current “Champ Champ”, Amanda Nunes in December 2018. Nunes administered Cyborg’s first loss of her UFC career. Viewers were left shocked by Nunes’ ferocious KO power that dismantled Cyborg in under a minute of the first round.

BJPENN.COM Staff - July 10, 2019

ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee makes her return to competition on 12 July in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in the co-main event of ONE: MAsters of Destiny. The card is shaping up to be an impressive one with Lee’s bout playing second fiddle only to the rematch between Giorgio Petrosyan and Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy.

Christopher Taylor - July 9, 2019

Newly retired UFC standouts Alexander Gustafsson and Chad Mendes never came close to competing in the same weight class, but their respective careers are remarkably similar. Former UFC featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes (18-5 MMA) confirmed his previously announced retirement plans earlier this evening. Meanwhile, former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson (18-6 MMA) decided to hang up his gloves last month, this following a submission loss to Anthony Smith.

Cole Shelton - July 9, 2019

Cub Swanson will look to snap his four-fight losing streak when he takes on jiu-jitsu ace, Kron Gracie on October 12. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. Swanson last fought back at UFC Ottawa where he dropped a split-decision to Shane Burgos. Before that, the longtime veteran of the Octagon was submitted by Renato Moicano, dropped a decision to Frankie Edgar and tapped out to Brian Ortega. The 35-year-old is currently 25-11 as a pro.