MMA News

Drake Riggs - May 13, 2019

With UFC 238 right around the corner, we recently got a very late yet extremely exciting match-up in the always enthralling 155-pound lightweight division. Fresh off his recent impressive five-round dismantling of Al Iaquinta at UFC Ottawa, the always active veteran Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone is back in the top five of the division he took time away from for two years. And he’s now one fight away from his second career UFC title shot as he’s set to take on the former interim champion, Tony Ferguson.

Drake Riggs - May 13, 2019

When it comes to practitioners and instructors in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the overall grappling world, none are quite as unique as 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu founder, Eddie Bravo. The third degree BJJ black belt has competed in countless competitions over the years and won championships at the highest level. With 10th Planet gyms all over the world now, Bravo has many notable students that he trains. Arguably the most notable being the perennial top lightweight contender and former interim champion, Tony Ferguson.

Thomas Taylor - May 13, 2019

Conor McGregor recently announced his retirement from MMA, yet as so many inside the combat sports bubble expected, it already looks like that retirement will be short lived. McGregor has continued to hint at a UFC return on his social media channels, and UFC President Dana White has stated that he hopes to coax the Irish superstar back into the Octagon soon — perhaps even as soon as this summer. Yet if McGregor and the UFC intend to orchestrate another fight in the near future, they might run into a big problem.

Drake Riggs - May 13, 2019

Fighters are responsible for a lot more things than perhaps meets the eye. On the surface level, they’re responsible for providing for themselves as anyone is in their profession. Others may argue that they’re also responsible for the entertainment of their audiences as performers and public figures. But it can go much deeper than that whether it be from representing one’s family, country, or gym. When you’re fighting, you’re fighting for a purpose. A select few may have spotlights magnified upon them from the starts of their careers whereas others really have to grind and work their ways into it. Everything is situational and for Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia’s finest in Megan Anderson, it’s almost like a never-ending battle in and outside of the cage.

BJPENN.COM Staff - May 13, 2019

When Evolve’s Amir Khan heard news that he would be re-entering the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix, replacing the injured Ariel Sexton in the semi-finals against Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev, he was already training for would-be opponent Iurie Lupicus. Khan, who was submitted by Sexton in the quarter-final round, had already bowed out of the tournament. With this turn of events however, the 24-year-old Singaporean finds himself once again in the thick of the lightweight title picture.

Tom Taylor - May 13, 2019

When Jose Aldo stepped into the cage in front of thousands of Brazilian fans in Rio de Janeiro over the weekend, his intention was to improve his win streak to three-straight. Unfortunately, his UFC 237 opponent Alex Volkanovski had other plans. After three rounds, the former UFC featherweight champion had been outfought, and his win streak was no more.

Tom Taylor - May 13, 2019

Conor McGregor is no longer facing criminal charges in the state of Florida. Earlier this year, the Irish star found himself in hot water after allegedly smashing the cell phone of 22-year-old fan Ahmed Abdirzak. Roughly a month ago, however, Abdirzak withdrew his charges against McGregor, which implied that a settlement had been reached behind the scenes.

Tom Taylor - May 13, 2019

Over the weekend, in the main event of the finish-filled Bellator 221 card, Michael Chandler attempted to defend the lightweight strap against featherweight champ and arch rival Patricio “Pitbull” Freire. Unfortunately for Chandler, who is one of Bellator’s most visible stars, this fight went quite disastrously. Moments into the first round, he was stung by a Pitbull punch, and seconds later, the fight was being waved off by the referee. Yet Chandler has been adamant that he wasn’t in any real trouble, and that he deserved more time to recover.

Tom Taylor - May 13, 2019

Australian featherweight contender Alex Volkanovski picked up the biggest victory of his career over the weekend, thumping the former champion Jose Aldo to a unanimous decision triumph on the main card of UFC 237. With this victory tacked onto his resume, Volkanovski is now a fantastic 19-1 overall — easily one of the best records in the UFC right now. His last seven victories have occurred in the UFC’s Octagon. In addition to Aldo, he’s also defeated top-flight foes like Chad Mendes, Darren Elkins and Jeremy Kennedy.

Tom Taylor - May 13, 2019

Over the weekend, in the co-main event of UFC 237, Anderson Silva looked to get back on track in front of thousands of Brazilian fans, as he stepped into the cage with surging middleweight contender Jared Cannonier. Regrettably for the middleweight legend and his legions of dedicated supporters, this outing didn’t go as planned. Instead, he was chopped down by a procession of crippling Cannonier leg kicks, ultimately losing by TKO after an apparent knee injury. Speaking on his Instagram account post-fight, Anderson Silva issued a quick statement for his fans. The statement, made in his native Portuguese, relied heavily on metaphor, mentioning an old lion surrounded by hungry hyenas intent to devour him. The symbolism is clear.

Tom Taylor - May 13, 2019

Shortly after Jared Cannonier chopped down Anderson Silva in the co-main event of UFC 237, he took a shot at the impassioned Brazilian fans in attendance, who had been feverishly booing him all night. In case it didn't translate on the broadcast, this is how loud Jared Cannonier was booed by the Rio crowd.

Drake Riggs - May 12, 2019

After a lengthy hiatus, Chael Sonnen’s Submission Underground grappling promotion made its return Sunday evening with SUG 8 in Portland, Oregon. As usual, it was another fun event. Starting the night off was tag team action! That meant two on two and whichever team wound up with the most submissions by the end of the eight-minute mark were the winners. In the event that no submissions were scored or each team had the same number by the end of the match, the bouts were decided via loudest crowd reaction.

BJPENN.COM Staff - May 12, 2019

37-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist Cosmo Alexandre is no stranger to facing adversity in the cage. Despite making his ONE Championship debut as a part of the ONE Super Series, he now makes his promotional debut inside the ONE Circle. Alexandre is scheduled to face American “Super” Sage Northcutt at ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON in a welterweight mixed martial arts contest, which takes place 17 May at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Drake Riggs - May 12, 2019

Portland, Oregon’s Roseland Theater has set the stage once again for another exciting night of grappling action as Submission Underground is back. After a hiatus, Chael Sonnen brought back his grappling extravaganza with a stacked SUG 8 card that sees many of the usual clashes of MMA vets going at it.

Tom Taylor - May 12, 2019

Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has once again found himself on the wrong end of a nasty leg-related TKO, as he was chopped down by Jared Cannonier in the co-main event of UFC 237 on Saturday night. Having seen Silva come up short once again, recently retired MMA legend Michael Bisping is urging the Brazilian to hang up the gloves.

Tom Taylor - May 12, 2019

Last night, at Bellator 221, former Bellator welterweight king Douglas Lima walked onto the canvas with undefeated British striking specialist Michael Page. In this crucial bout, both men sought to advance to the finals of the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix. Though Page had some success early in this fight, Douglas Lima put a decisive end to things in the second frame, levelling his foe with a rocket-fuelled uppercut to the chin.

Tom Taylor - May 12, 2019

On Saturday night, in the main event of UFC 237, Rose Namajunas surrendered the UFC strawweight belt to Jessica Andrade, succumbing to a brutal slam and a volley of followup punches. In the wake of this tough loss, Namajunas received a message of support from one of her fiercest rivals, former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. https://twitter.com/joannamma/status/1127449277167435782

Cole Shelton - May 12, 2019

Patricio Freire became the second fighter in Bellator history to become a champ-champ last night at Bellator 221. The reigning featherweight champion moved up in weight to take on Michael Chandler, and knocked the lightweight champion out in just 61 seconds. However, immediately after the ref jumped in to stop the fight, Chandler got up and appeared to be fine. But, according to Freire, the 33-year-old was out.