MMA News

Conor McGregor
UFC

Conor McGregor reportedly reaches settlement in phone-smashing case

Tom Taylor - April 8, 2019

Last month, Irish MMA star Conor McGregor found himself in hot water after getting into an ugly altercation with a fan, and smashing that fan’s cell phone. After this incident, Ahmed Abdirzak, the owner of the phone, sought more than $15,000 in damages, accusing McGregor of battery, assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The incident was captured on video. In this video, McGregor could be seen stomping Abdirzak’s phone.

Montana De La Rosa
Montana De La Rosa

Montana De La Rosa vs. Andrea Lee targeted for UFC Greenville

Nolan King - April 8, 2019

The UFC is working on an eye-catching bout for its debut in South Carolina. The promotion is angling for a bout between female flyweights Montana De La Rosa and Andrea Lee for UFC Greenville on June 22, per FloCombat. Initially, the UFC was targeting Montana De La Rosa for a bout at UFC 236 against Paige VanZant -— a fight De La Rosa was lobbying for. However, an arm injury prevented VanZant from being able to take the fight.

Conor McGregor
UFC

REPORT | Conor McGregor accused of assaulting man in Dublin bar

Tom Taylor - April 8, 2019

The legal troubles appear to be continuing for former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor. According to The Mirror, the Irish MMA star is being accused of assaulting a fellow patron inside a bar called the Marble Arch in the Drimnagh suburb of his native Dublin, Ireland. The news was first reported by Dizz on Twitter.

Sage Northcutt, Eddie Alvarez, Demetrious Johnson, ONE Championship, Enter the Dragon
ONE Championship

EXCLUSIVE | Sage Northcutt reacts to ONE Championship debuts of Eddie Alvarez, Demetrious Johnson

Tom Taylor - April 8, 2019

Over the last few months, ONE Championship has signed some truly elite talent in Demetrious Johnson, Eddie Alvarez, Sage Northcutt and Vitor Belfort. Two of those fighters made their ONE Championship debuts at the recent ONE: A New Era card in Tokyo — and with very different results. Eddie Alvarez debuted first, and was knocked out by Russian juggernaut Timofey Nastyukhin in a jaw-dropping upset. Demetrious Johnson debuted next, submitting a game Yuya Wakamatsu in the second round.

Matt Brown, coronavirus
Matt Brown

EXCLUSIVE | Matt Brown talks 'golden age' of MMA and coffee

Mike Straus - April 8, 2019

“The Immortal” Matt Brown has been in the MMA game for nearly 15 years, and the 38-year-old welterweight is showing few signs of slowing down. Although Brown hasn’t had a fight since smashing Diego Sanchez back at Fight Night 120 in November of 2017, the veteran of 24 Octagon appearances has been staying busy.

Josh Barnett
UFC

Scott Coker names likely opponent for Josh Barnett Bellator debut

Tom Taylor - April 8, 2019

Former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett is now a Bellator MMA fighter. Although this news broke on April Fools day, it is indeed factual. Bellator President Scott Coker even has an opponent in mind for the heavyweight legend’s debut. Coker first announced that reigning Bellator light heavyweight and heavyweight champ Ryan Bader will defend his heavyweight belt against Cheick Kongo before returning to the light heavyweight division. He then added that Josh Barnett is likely to get an immediate title shot against the winner of Bader and Kongo’s fight.

Max Griffin
Max Griffin

EXCLUSIVE | Max Griffin ready to show Zelim Imadaev 'this isn’t the backyard leagues'

Cole Shelton - April 8, 2019

Max Griffin is looking to get back into the win column at UFC 236. Griffin is currently on a two-fight losing streak with losses to Curtis Millender and Thiago Alves, although many thought Griffin beat Alves back in February.

Brock Lesnar, Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier

VIDEO | Brock Lesnar loses WWE title, opens door to UFC showdown with Daniel Cormier

Tom Taylor - April 8, 2019

Brock Lesnar is no longer the WWE Universal Champion. He surrendered that title at WrestleMania 35 on Sunday night after getting pinned by Seth Rollins (see it below). https://twitter.com/DokkanBattleGL/status/1115036668984053760 This information is pertinent to MMA fans because it would seem to open the door to a long-discussed heavyweight title fight between Brock Lesnar and reigning champion Daniel Cormier.

Conor McGregor Artem Lobov
BKFC

Conor McGregor reacts to Artem Lobov's BKFC win, takes shot at Paulie Malignaggi

Thomas Taylor - April 7, 2019

It was only a matter before Conor McGregor reacted to Artem Lobov’s thrilling, Saturday-night victory over Jason Knight at BKFC 5. On Sunday evening, the Irish MMA superstar took to Twitter to congratulate his long-time training partner — and his foe — on this unforgettable fight. He also claimed that Lobov now deserves a new BKFC contract, and took a shot at their shared rival Paulie Malignaggi.

Bibiano Fernandes
Exclusive MMA Interviews

EXCLUSIVE | Bibiano Fernandes opens up on controversial rematch with Kevin Belingon

Tom Taylor - April 7, 2019

On March 31, at ONE: A New Era in Tokyo, Bibiano Fernandes and Kevin Belingon met for what was expected to be a third and final time. Regrettably, this bout ended in controversy. Mid-way through the third round, Fernandes completed a takedown on Belingon. Belingon responded by unleashing a salvo of elbows, most of which seemed to land in the forbidden zone on the back and top of Fernandes’ head.

Al Iaquinta
Exclusive MMA Interviews

EXCLUSIVE | Al Iaquinta confident he would dethrone Khabib Nurmagomedov in rematch

Tom Taylor - April 7, 2019

The first time Al Iaquinta met Khabib Nurmagomedov, in the last-minute main event of UFC 223, he had about 24 hours to prepare for the undefeated Russian juggernaut. While Iaquinta ultimately lost this fight by decision, he actually performed better than the vast majority of Nurmagomedov’s other opponents. Speaking on the latest episode of BJPENN.com Radio, Al Iaquinta explained why he’s so confident he could defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov in a rematch — particularly if the fight was preceded by an actual training camp this time around.

Nobuyuki Sakakibara, Manny Pacquiao
RIZIN FF

RIZIN boss hints at upcoming deal with Manny Pacquiao

Tom Taylor - April 7, 2019

Back in December, RIZIN Fight Federation flew undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. out to Tokyo to battle one of its brightest young stars, Tenshin Nasukawa, in an exhibition match. Unfortunately for RIZIN, this plan seemed to backfire, as Mayweather walloped the much smaller Nasukawa to a first round knockout. Despite the seemingly disastrous end to this Floyd Mayweather vs. Tenshin Nasukawa fight, RIZIN does not appear to be done flirting with top-level boxers.

Leon Edwards, UFC London
Leon Edwards

EXCLUSIVE | Leon Edwards explains his motivation as he surges to the top of the welterweight division

Mike Pendleton - April 7, 2019

Leon Edwards is more than just some guy that got into it with Jorge Masvidal at UFC London this past March. In fact, Leon Edwards has the resume that should see him inside the top-10 in the UFC’s welterweight division, yet because he doesn’t trash talk like others in his division, he still sits waiting for his chance at a top-ranked opponent. In an exclusive interview with BJPenn.com, Edwards discussed how he’s enjoying the momentum of his current winning streak, fighting for his country and family, and having his sights set on a title shot by the end of 2019.

Artem Lobov
BKFC

PHOTO | Artem Lobov shows off insane damage he took in Jason Knight fight

Tom Taylor - April 7, 2019

Artem Lobov wound up winning his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) debut on Saturday night, but his opponent Jason Knight did not make it easy for him. The two UFC veterans, who met in a featherweight showdown in the BKFC 5 main event, engaged in a bloody war for five frenzied rounds.

Artem Lobov, Jason Knight
BKFC

VIDEO | Artem Lobov vs. Jason Knight full fight video highlights

Tom Taylor - April 7, 2019

On Saturday night, bare knuckle fighting powerhouse Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) returned to our screens with its fifth paper view, aptly titled BKFC 5. The card, which went down in Biloxi, Mississippi, was topped a 145-pound showdown between former UFC featherweights Artem Lobov and Jason Knight. Lobov, who is a long-time training partner of Conor McGregor, wound up defeating the Mississippi native Knight in an unforgettable five-round war. By the time the action had ended, both men had been pummelled into nearly unrecognizable masses of bruised flesh and coagulated blood.

Artem Lobov, Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jason Knight, BKFC 5
BKFC

Pros react to Artem Lobov vs. Jason Knight war at BKFC 5

Tom Taylor - April 7, 2019

Last night, upstart bare knuckle fighting promotion Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) returned to our screens with BKFC 5, its fifth pay-per-view. The card, which went down in Biloxi, Mississippi, was topped a 145-pound showdown between UFC veterans Artem Lobov and Jason Knight. Lobov, a key training partner of Conor McGregor, and Knight, a hometown hero in Biloxi, ended up delivering an epic, five-round war, painting the canvas red and thrilling fans watching on-scene and on screens. They also impressed the heck out of their fellow fighters.

Artem Lobov, Paulie Malignaggi
BKFC

Artem Lobov vs. Paulie Malignaggi announced for BKFC 6 in June

Christopher Taylor - April 6, 2019

Artem Lobov and Paulie Malignaggi will have the chance to settle their bitter rivalry at June’s BKFC 6 event. Shortly following Lobov’s thrilling victory over Jason Knight in this evenings BKFC 5 main event, the promotion announced that “The Russian Hammer” would be making a quick turnaround to fight Malignaggi this June.

Artem Lobov
BKFC

Bare Knuckle FC 5 Result: Artem Lobov defeats Jason Knight (Highlights)

Chris Taylor - April 6, 2019

Former UFC fighters Artem Lobov and Jason Knight squared off in the headliner of tonight’s Bare Knuckle FC 5 event in Biloxi. Lobov enters tonight’s contest looking to rebound from a three fight losing skid. During that stretch, “The Russian Hammer” suffered unanimous decision setbacks to Cub Swanson, Andre Fili and most recently Michael Johnson inside of the octagon.