MMA News
UFC releases Nate Diaz promo with no footage from Conor McGregor fights
Tom Taylor - May 30, 2019
At long last, Nate Diaz is set to return to the Octagon. The fan favorite is scheduled to fight former UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis in a welterweight showdown at UFC 241 on August 17. The UFC is already doing its part to promote this dynamite welterweight scrap, having recently published a Nate Diaz highlight reel on social media.
Cosmo Alexandre wants to welcome Vitor Belfort to ONE Championship
Tom Taylor - May 30, 2019
Earlier this month, Brazilian striking expert Cosmo Alexandre derailed the ONE Championship debut of Sage Northcutt with a jaw-dropping first-round knockout. For those unfamiliar with Alexandre’s body of work, this outcome came as a shock. Yet it’s just the kind of outcome the Brazilian destroyer had envisioned for himself.
UFC Stockholm | Pro fighters make their picks for Alexander Gustafsson vs. Anthony Smith
Cole Shelton - May 30, 2019
The Octagon returns to Stockholm, Sweden on Saturday with the fittingly titled UFC Stockholm card. The main event will be a battle of two top light heavyweights as Alexander Gustafsson will be looking to thwart Anthony Smith on home soil. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The majority believe the home crowd will play a factor and Gustafsson will win.
Bas Rutten responds to Johny Hendricks' WBKFF criticism
Tom Taylor - May 30, 2019
Earlier this week, former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks — one of many fighters not to be paid by World Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation (WBKFF) last fall — implied that former WBKFF president Bas Rutten likely knew something about the promotion’s dicey finances. “Dude, why didn’t you tell us? He had to have known something,” Hendricks told Bloody Elbow‘s Pull No Punches podcast recently (transcript via MMA News). “He had to have. Was he sitting here thinking along the same line as that guy… Why hasn’t he said anything? It sucks, the whole aspect of it.”
BREAKING | Cris Cyborg vs Felicia Spencer being finalized for UFC 240
Drake Riggs - May 29, 2019
After recently campaigning for the only fight that makes sense for her in the division… outside of a title fight rematch, Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino (20-2) appears to be getting her wish at UFC 240. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto has confirmed that the UFC is finalizing the featherweight pairing for a co-main event slot between Cyborg and the undefeated most recent Invicta FC champion, Felicia Spencer (7-0) for UFC 240 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on July 27.
Joe Rogan says Elias Theodorou release 'doesn't make any sense'
Cole Shelton - May 29, 2019
When the UFC released four fighters last week, the most surprising name was Canadian and 15th-ranked middleweight, Elias Theodorou, and UFC commentator Joe Rogan agrees. The Canadian was 3-1 in his last four, and 8-3 in his entire time in the UFC, along with winning a season of The Ultimate Fighter. However, his style was not the most entertaining one, as evident by him getting booed in his last fight against Derek Brunson. As well, he had not finished or been finished in a fight since March of 2015, a stretch of eight-straight fights.
BREAKING | Germaine de Randamie vs Aspen Ladd slated for UFC Sacramento main event
Drake Riggs - May 29, 2019
UFC Sacramento has been building up very nicely over the recent weeks and now we know what will likely be its headliner. MMA Junkie has reported that a top contender match-up in the bantamweight division has been verbally agreed to for the July 13 main event between the former UFC featherweight champion, “The Iron Lady,” Germaine de Randamie (8-3) and rising undefeated 24-year old contender, Aspen Ladd (8-0).
Bellator 222 headliner changed from Lyoto Machida vs Chael Sonnen to Rory MacDonald vs Neiman Gracie welterweight title bout
Drake Riggs - May 29, 2019
On June 14, Bellator MMA heads back to Madison Square Garden for their second visit with Bellator 222 and it could very be argued as the promotion’s best card ever on paper. From top to bottom, the line-up is flooded with big names and talented fighters… not just from Bellator but RIZIN FF as well.
Max Holloway confident he's still 'right in the mix' at lightweight
Tom Taylor - May 29, 2019
Earlier this week, UFC featherweight Max Holloway implied that we could see him in the lightweight division again. “Lightweight was great. Lightweight was fun,” he said at Tactical Strength and Conditioning on Monday (transcript via Hawaii News Now). “155 was 155. Just like how 170 will be 170, just like how when I make my heavyweight debut, it’s gonna be a heavyweight debut. It is what it is. Weight is weight, I don’t care. I’m a modern day gladiator. Back in the day, gladiators didn’t ask you about your weight. They just showed up to the arena and they fought. That’s what I do every night.”
Julianna Pena updates on fighting future after lengthy hiatus
Tom Taylor - May 29, 2019
Julianna Pena has not fought since January of 2017, when she was submitted by Valentina Shevchenko in a bantamweight number-one contender fight. In the time since then, the talented bantamweight contender has become a mother and put in work as a commentator for Combate Americas. That being said, it sounds like Pena is getting the itch to fight again. Speaking on her official Instagram account recently, “The Venezuelan Vixen” updated on her busy life, and discussed her eventual return to the cage.
Joe Rogan believes Stipe Miocic will ‘be better’ in Cormier rematch
Tom Taylor - May 29, 2019
Last year, Daniel Cormier planted a bomb on the chin of Stipe Miocic, ending the Croatian-American’s historic reign as the heavyweight champion with a first-round KO. On August 17, in the main event of UFC 241, Miocic will have the opportunity to reclaim the title from Cormier, and UFC commentator Joe Rogan expects him to perform much better this time around. Miocic has not fought since his first meeting with Cormier. While some fans expect ring rust to be a factor for the long absent former champion, Rogan believes he’ll benefit from the time off.
Anthony Smith rates Marreta's chances against Jon Jones
Natasha Hooper - May 29, 2019
Light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith believes there is hope for Thiago Santos, who looks to defeat the current champion, Jon Jones, in July. “Marreta” Santos will be headlining the UFC 239 event against Jones at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. This will be the Brazilian fighter’s first shot at the light heavyweight title.
Max Holloway shares awesome take on weight classes after failed lightweight debut
Tom Taylor - May 29, 2019
Last month, in the main event of the action-packed UFC 236 card, UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway moved up to the lightweight division to battle Dustin Poirier for the division’s interim title. Although Holloway put up a gutsy effort, even winning several rounds of this five-round war, he ultimately lost a unanimous decision to his bigger, stronger rival.
Colby Covington rips Jon Jones, Conor McGregor for not 'giving back'
Tom Taylor - May 29, 2019
Colby Covington recently paid a visit to the men and women in uniform aboard the USS New York. He believes that other UFC stars like Jon Jones and Conor McGregor should take note, and make more of an effort to give back to their communities.
Timing is everything, and Urijah Faber’s UFC return is impeccably punctual
Jordy McElroy - May 29, 2019
As the broken pieces of the UFC’s bantamweight ocean liner slowly descended into the Pacific, a rising tide came washing in on Tuesday, carrying Urijah Faber in a red cape on a surfboard with sounds of “California Love” blaring in the background. “The California Kid” is returning to combat sports as a middle-aged man and adding a new page to the fighting chapter of one of the most storied careers in MMA history.
Michelle Waterson questions USADA's testing of fighters outside the US
Drake Riggs - May 29, 2019
The United States Anti Doping Agency’s (USADA) partnership with the UFC to test their athletes went into effect on July 1, 2015. Ever since then, the sport has been considered much cleaner within the UFC but there have still been some controversies that have unfolded here and there over the four years. Top UFC strawweight contender, Michelle Waterson raised an interesting question on Tuesday that could potentially create some more. As the third most tested fighter all-time in her division when going by ranked fighters, Waterson, who lives in America, is curious as to whether or not other country’s fighters get tested as frequently as she does.
Joe Rogan and Brendan Schaub disagree on Cowboy’s busy schedule
Thomas Taylor - May 28, 2019
Donald Cerrone is known for keeping one of the busiest schedules of any fighter in the UFC. The man they call “Cowboy” once again demonstrated his hyperactivity recently, accepting a fight with top contender Tony Ferguson on just three weeks’ notice — right after a war with Al Iaquinta. UFC commentator Joe Rogan and combat sports podcaster Brendan Schaub don’t seem to agree on whether or not that’s a good idea.
Al Iaquinta details injuries he sustained against Donald Cerrone
Cole Shelton - May 28, 2019
In the main event of UFC Ottawa, Al Iaquinta was looking to secure his second career title opportunity by defeating Donald Cerrone. The 32-year-old Long Island native was riding high after beating Kevin Lee in December. However, the fight didn’t go Iaquinta’s way and he ended up losing by unanimous decision. Not only did he lose, but “Raging Al” was badly cut open and his leg was badly bruised as well. Now, a few weeks later, he spoke about the injuries he suffered in his scrap with ‘Cowboy’.