MMA News
EXCLUSIVE | With a 'Today is a good day to die' mentality, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane is well prepared for Bellator 220
Drake Riggs - April 26, 2019
Often times when fighters are undefeated, they can understandably be arrogant and perhaps overly confident. The same can be said for champions. So when mixing the two, it’s rare to see that zero stay a zero for all too long. However, despite being both undefeated and a champion, these descriptions wouldn’t be fitting for Bellator’s first and only flyweight queen, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. Similarly, like another undefeated champion in Virna Jandiroba who is also fighting this weekend, Macfarlane manages to stay very grounded and humble on her journey although many others in her position wouldn’t be. And that she attributes to her realistic view of the MMA landscape after having seen others fall before her.
Junior dos Santos makes bold prediction for Francis Ngannou fight
Tom Taylor - April 26, 2019
At UFC 239, former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos will collide with one of the few heavyweight punchers with power to rival his own: Francis Ngannou. Speaking to Helen Yee recently, the former heavyweight champion made a bold prediction for this fight with the ferocious puncher Ngannou. He expects to knock out the hulking Cameroon-born Frenchman in the second round.
Bellator 220 weigh-in results: Both title fights greenlit
Drake Riggs - April 26, 2019
Tomorrow night in San Jose, California, the Bellator welterweight and flyweight titles will be on the line. Looking for his first Bellator welterweight title defense and to advance to the semifinals of the welterweight Grand Prix will be Rory MacDonald who is back in his normal weight class after trying to dethrone middleweight champ, Gegard Mousasi.
EXCLUSIVE | Benson Henderson still open to welterweight fights, but has eye on Bellator lightweight title
Drake Riggs - April 26, 2019
When it comes to the discussion of who is the greatest lightweight fighter of all time, debates can’t be had without the mention of the former WEC and UFC king, ‘Smooth’ Benson Henderson. Continuously underappreciated throughout his reigns as champion, Henderson was as active of a champion as any and constantly looking for a fight. Although no longer the champion, that attitude remains the same with a similar goal in mind.
Sean O'Malley returns from USADA suspension at UFC 239, takes on 'Chito'
Tom Taylor - April 26, 2019
Mike Perry details 'hardest weight cut to date' after UFC Fort Lauderdale weigh-ins
Tom Taylor - April 26, 2019
“Platinum” Mike Perry made weight for his UFC Fort Lauderdale showdown with Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira, but from the sounds of it, it wasn’t an easy feat. In fact, he’s calling his weight cut for this fight his most difficult yet. Perry shed some light on this tough cut — and the overall sensation of weight cutting — in a Friday morning Instagram post.
Chatri Sityodtong updates on ONE debut of Vitor Belfort, next fight for Demetrious Johnson
Tom Taylor - April 26, 2019
Under the leadership of CEO Chatri Sityodtong, ONE Championship has signed a host of free agents of late, such as Demetrious Johnson, Eddie Alvarez, Sage Northcutt, and Vitor Belfort. Johnson and Alvarez have already debuted in the ONE cage — with very different results — and Northcutt will do so on May 17 in Singapore. Belfort, however, has not yet been booked for his first ONE Championship fight.
UFC Fort Lauderdale weigh-in results: Headliners on point
Tom Taylor - April 26, 2019
On Saturday, the UFC will return to the Sunshine State with the compelling UFC Fort Lauderdale card, scheduled to air on ESPN+, ESPN, and ESPN 2. In the main event of this exciting card, top middleweight contender Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza will battle short-notice replacement opponent Jack Hermansson in a bout loaded with very different implications for both men.
Darren Till deactivates Twitter, Instagram accounts following arrest
James Lynch - April 26, 2019
Darren Till is keeping a low profile. Following his recent arrest in Spain for allegedly trashing a hotel room and stealing a taxi, the former UFC welterweight title challenger has deactivated both his personal Twitter and Instagram accounts. The 26-year-old didn’t serve any time or face any serious legal issues for the incident. However he did receive a heavy fine which included €10,000 ($11,150 USD) to the Costa Adeje hotel, €480 ($525 USD) for hotel damages and €360 ($401 USD) for theft of the taxi cab.
Pro fighters make their picks for Rory MacDonald vs Jon Fitch
Cole Shelton - April 26, 2019
In the main event of Bellator 220, Rory MacDonald will look to defend his welterweight title against Jon Fitch. Not only will MacDonald be putting his belt on the line, but it will also be the last matchup of the first round of the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their picks for the fight. And, they all are leaning one way.
EXCLUSIVE | Rory MacDonald impressed by Ben Askren's UFC debut, 'He's quite a powerful star'
Drake Riggs - April 25, 2019
Current Bellator welterweight champion, Rory MacDonald has become fairly familiar with ‘Ruthless’ Robbie Lawler over the years. Formerly a staple of the UFC’s 170-pound division, MacDonald would fight Lawler twice during his UFC run. The first time being in a three-round affair that saw him on the wrong end of a split decision. Their second encounter would come two years later as Lawler was now the champion.
EXCLUSIVE | Veta Arteaga was just ready to fight anyone when she got her title shot
Drake Riggs - April 25, 2019
History will be made this Saturday night at Bellator 220… And that will all be determined by the flyweights. In the night’s co-main event, we have the returning unbeaten champion, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane as she looks to extend her title defense number to three straight. On the other side of the equation, there’s the always game Veta Arteaga who hopes to play spoiler and become the promotion’s second 125-pound queen.
EXCLUSIVE | Phil Davis not bothered by Ryan Bader's recent success ahead of Bellator 220
Drake Riggs - April 25, 2019
The man known as ‘Mr. Wonderful,’ Phil Davis, has been one of the best light heavyweights in the world since he started climbing his way up the UFC ladder from 2010 to 2014. After going 9-3 (1 NC) inside the Octagon, Davis would find his way to the Bellator cage where he would make his debut in the Bellator 142 one night tournament that saw him submit former champion, Emanuel Newton, before knocking out a fellow former UFC vet in Francis Carmont.
EXCLUSIVE | Rory MacDonald knows 'what not to do' against Jon Fitch after Gegard Mousasi fight
Drake Riggs - April 25, 2019
The last bout of the Bellator welterweight Grand Prix’s opening round is set to headline this Saturday night’s Bellator 220 event live in San Jose, California. The bout will be the first of the tournament to feature the title being contested. Of course, that means that the current champion, Rory MacDonald, will be putting his crown on the line as he faces off with seasoned veteran, Jon Fitch.
EXCLUSIVE | Adam Piccolotti ready to solidify himself in the division with win over Benson Henderson
Drake Riggs - April 25, 2019
Bellator 220 is set to take place this Saturday night live from the SAP Center in San Jose, California. While the card is headlined by two big title fights, there are some great fights that directly precede them. One of those involves the former WEC and UFC lightweight champion, Benson ‘Smooth’ Henderson who looks to extend his current winning streak to three straight. His opponent, Adam Piccolotti, will also be looking to do the same.
Conor McGregor reacts to reports of Proper No. Twelve's financial success
Tom Taylor - April 25, 2019
This morning, The Irish Times reported that Proper No. Twelve, the Irish whiskey brand founded by former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor, has already had a major affect on the larger Irish whiskey industry. Proper No. Twelve “sold out a six-month allocation in its first 10 days and has now shipped about 200,000 nine-litre cases since its launch,” the Irish Times report read.
UFC St. Petersburg medical suspensions: Alexey Oleynik facing lengthy sit
Tom Taylor - April 25, 2019
UFC St. Petersburg was an action-packed card, from the undercard to the Alistair Overeem vs. Alexey Oleynik main event. As is so often the case with cards of this kind, several of the fighters on the bill are facing lengthy medical suspensions, including Oleynik, who is dealing with a fractured rib after his first-round TKO loss to Overeem.
Report | Massive sales numbers revealed for Proper No. Twelve
Tom Taylor - April 25, 2019
According to a report from the Irish Times, Proper No. Twelve, the Irish whiskey recently launched by former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor, has already become a massive fiscal success. According to this report, Proper No. Twelve “sold out a six-month allocation in its first 10 days and has now shipped about 200,000 nine-litre cases since its launch.”
Chatri Sityodtong confident Sage Northcutt can become three-sport titleholder in ONE Championship
Tom Taylor - April 25, 2019
Former UFC standout “Super” Sage Northcutt will make his debut in the ONE Championship welterweight division on May 17, as he is set to battle kickboxing specialist Cosmo Alexandre at ONE: Enter the Dragon in Singapore. While this matchup is currently consuming all of Northcutt’s focus, he has previously expressed interest in competing in both Muay Thai and kickboxing bouts as part of ONE Super Series. In fact, he’s hoping to capture titles in MMA, Muay Thai and kickboxing.




