MMA News

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.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 10, 2019

Robert Whittaker has no plans to be goaded into a verbal spat with Israel Adesanya. Whittaker and Adesanya are set to collide in a middleweight title unification bout on Oct. 5. The championship tilt will serve as UFC 243’s main event. While the headliner and event have been announced, a location has not. While many had anticipated Melbourne, UFC president Dana White revealed during the summer press conference 2019 that nothing is a lock yet.

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.

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 bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes is the latest fighter to strip down for ESPN’s Body Issue. The two-division champion joins other MMA stars like Ronda Rousey, Jon Jones, and Conor McGregor who have also posed for this longstanding series. Nunes’ Body Issue spread is expected to drop in September. In the meantime, you can go behind the scenes of her photo shoot in the video below, courtesy of ESPN MMA.

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.

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.

BJPENN.COM Staff - July 10, 2019

Sorgraw Petchyindee Academy hopes to continue reaping international success at ONE: Masters of Destiny on July 12 against WMC Muay Thai World Champion George Mann. The Thai-native, who returns to action at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, revealed he is excited to be competing in Muay Thai again in ONE Championship.

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.

Natasha Hooper - July 9, 2019

Francis Ngannou (14-3-0) is on a roll and shows no signs of slowing down. “The Predator” scored yet another first-round knockout victory last month at UFC Minneapolis, defeating former champion Junior dos Santos (21-6-0). Francis Ngannou has won three fights back to back. Disposing of Cain Valesquez earlier this year and Curtis Blaydes in 2018, Ngannou is sitting on a trilogy of first-round knockouts.

Thomas Taylor - July 9, 2019

Tito Ortiz isn’t done yet. Not long ago, the former UFC light heavyweight champion and Bellator title challenger inked a deal with Combate Americas. And now, we know he’ll fight in his promotional debut: none other than former pro wrestler Alberto Del Rio.

Thomas Taylor - July 9, 2019

Over the weekend, former ONE Championship welterweight king Ben Askren experienced his first professional loss, succumbing to a flying knee just five seconds into a UFC 239 bout with Jorge Masvidal. Speaking on Facebook on Tuesday, ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong shared his take on the former ONE Champ’s first taste of defeat.

Cole Shelton - July 9, 2019

Israel Adesanya is 17-0 as a pro mixed martial artist and 6-0 inside the UFC’s Octagon. While many of his UFC wins have looked quite effortless, others have come a little less easily, such as his second bout, which saw him defeat Marvin Vettori by split decision. At UFC on FOX 29, Adesanya fought Vettori and ended up winning, but it was close. One judge sided with the Italian, who is still the only person to win a judge’s favor against Adesanya in the UFC. Now, the 25-year-old wants the rematch against the interim champion and is confident he not only wins but finishes Adesanya.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 9, 2019

UFC color commentator Joe Rogan has weighed in on Jorge Masvidal’s historic knockout win against Ben Askren. Masvidal has been at the center of attention for cementing his place in the history books. At UFC 239, Masvidal took on Askren. “Gamebred” needed just five seconds to ice Askren with a flying knee. It’s the fastest knockout in UFC history, topping Duane Ludwig‘s six-second finish over Jonathan Goulet back in Jan. 2006.

Tom Taylor - July 9, 2019

Jorge Masvidal didn’t need to show off his impeccable defensive grappling in his UFC 239 fight with Olympic wrestler Ben Askren — you know, because he knocked him out in five seconds. That being said, Masvidal will likely have to exercise his defensive wrestling if he finds himself in the cage with reigning UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Usman, like Askren, is a tremendous takedown artist, and will probably look to punish Masvidal on the canvas.