MMA News
Michael Chiesa vs Diego Sanchez in the works for UFC 239
Drake Riggs - April 5, 2019
At UFC 232 to close out 2018, we saw a late candidate for submission of the year when The Ultimate Fighter season 15 winner, Michael Chiesa (15-4) locked in a kimura that handed former UFC interim welterweight champion, Carlos Condit his fifth straight defeat. A few months later early into the new year, we also saw another crazy sight as the iconic TUF 1 winner, Diego Sanchez (29-11) got his first win by finish in 11 years when he TKO’d Mickey Gall in round two of their UFC 235 clash.
Paulie Malignaggi believes he knows what Conor McGregor is 'scared of'
Tom Taylor - April 5, 2019
Paulie Malignaggi has been itching to fight Conor McGregor for close to two years. As of yet, however, all he’s gotten is an ongoing Twitter beef, and the potential for a bare knuckle fight with McGregor’s training partner Artem Lobov. After a recent skirmish with Artem Lobov at a media day in New York City, Paulie Malignaggi says he’s no longer worried about Conor McGregor whatsoever, because he believes the Irishman is scared. He delved into the Irishman’s fears on a recent episode of MMA Junkie Radio.
Coach believes 'mishaps' have kept Cain Velasquez from becoming the heavyweight GOAT
Tom Taylor - April 5, 2019
Cain Velasquez is one of the best heavyweights in MMA history. Thanks to a handful of tough losses at key points in his career, however, it’s difficult to argue with certainty that he is the best heavyweight in the sport’s history. Speaking on a recent episode of The MMA Hour, Coach Javier Mendez opened up on the “mishaps” that have kept Cain Velasquez from asserting himself as the irrefutable heavyweight GOAT.
Khabib Nurmagomedov expresses support for Tony Ferguson
Nolan King - April 5, 2019
In a sport full of bad blood, rivalries, and trash talk, respect is often times placed on the back burner. During a week in which UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and former champion Conor McGregor participated in one of the most vicious Twitter exchanges in MMA history, the Russian MMA star took a moment Thursday to express respect for another rival, Tony Ferguson. Last month, concerning news surrounding the former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Ferguson came to light in a report from MMA Junkie.
VIDEO | Khabib Nurmagomedov addresses recent trash talk from 'low life' Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - April 5, 2019
Over the last few days, the trash talk between UFC rivals Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor has reached a boiling point, as McGregor made racially charged comments about Nurmagomedov’s wife, and Nurmagomedov called McGregor a “rapist” amid the sexual assault accusations the Irishman is facing. Speaking shortly after a Q&A session with students at Moscow’s Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Khabib Nurmagomedov addressed the recent trash talk he’s received from Conor McGregor.
Aljamain Sterling vs. Pedro Munhoz set for UFC 238
James Lynch - April 5, 2019
UFC 238 is turning into something of a bantamweight tournament. Flyweight champion Henry Cejudo is headlining the card against Marlon Moraes for the vacant bantamweight title. Yesterday, surging 135-pound prospect Petr Yan was booked against Jimmie Rivera. And now, another exciting scrap has been confirmed as Pedro Munhoz is squaring off with Aljamain Sterling. ESPN was the first to report the booking.
VIDEO | Frank Mir wins pro wrestling debut, calls for death match with Brock Lesnar
Tom Taylor - April 5, 2019
Last night, amid the festivities of WrestleMania Week, Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport returned with a second, thrilling show. This pro wrestling show featured a host of UFC veterans including Barnett himself, Dan Severn, and Frank Mir, who was making his pro wrestling debut. Mir won his pro wrestling debut, submitting Severn with a heel hook. In his post-victory speech, he issued a callout of fellow UFC veteran Brock Lesnar, whose first claim to fame is as a WWE star.
EXCLUSIVE | Khalil Rountree details the unique challenges of fighting Johnny Walker
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2019
Johnny Walker has been on a roll. Since his first UFC fight back in November, the massive Brazilian has earned three wins, all by first-round knockout. His total Octagon time is at just 2:48. There is no question that Walker posses a unique skillset that not many light heavyweight have, or can figure out.
VIDEO | Watch prime Conor McGregor do work in unreleased sparring footage
Tom Taylor - April 5, 2019
ONE Championship announces Aoki vs. Lee title fight, 5 Grand Prix fights for Singapore card
Tom Taylor - April 5, 2019
ONE: A New Era in Tokyo, Japan was so stacked that some fans worried ONE Championship might be overdoing it; that the promotion’s next few cards might suffer as a result. That doesn’t seem to be the case.
The Ultimate Guide to Contender Series Season 3
Nolan King - April 4, 2019
Last Updated: Friday, May 10, 2019 It’s getting to be that time of year again. The third season of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series is nearly upon us. The UFC is beginning to organize the Contender Series roster with fighters from all over the United States and beyond.
Kelvin Gastelum says someone could get “hurt or shot” if the McGregor-Khabib feud keeps escalating
Cole Shelton - April 4, 2019
Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s online trash-talk took a turn for the worse yesterday. The two sent personal attacks back and forth, where both went after each others families, with McGregor also seemingly taking a shot at Nurmagomedov’s religion. It got so bad that UFC President, Dana White issued a statement that the UFC would speak to both camps about their behavior to try and stop it from continuing.
BJPENN.COM Radio Ep. 114 // Al Iaquinta | Josh Emmett | Juan Adams
Jason Kindschy - April 4, 2019
Al Iaquinta returns to catch up and preview his upcoming showdown against Donald Cerrone on May 4th in Ottawa. In his last appearance on the show, ‘Ragin’ Al was still vocally upset with the UFC and the direction of his MMA career. Since then of course, the Long Island real estate mogul has settled his differences with the company and put together a string of impressive performances. We’re going to get Iaquinta’s take on how his relationship with the UFC has grown into a positive one, and why he believes they recognize his value as a combat athlete. Now booked against Cerrone in what many believe could be a FOTY candidate, Iaquinta feels that a dominant win over ‘Cowboy’ will put him right in the mix of title contenders. We’ll preview the matchup in-depth with Al, get his take on the state of the division, what adjustments he’d make in a rematch with Khabib, and much more.
EXCLUSIVE | After WBKFF disaster, Isaac Vallie-Flagg is excited for a fresh start in BKFC ring
Thomas Taylor - April 4, 2019
The first time Isaac Vallie-Flagg climbed through the ropes to compete in a bare knuckle fight, he didn’t end up getting paid for his work. WBKFF, the promotion he fought for, disintegrated almost immediately after its first event, and Tom Stankiewicz, the man behind it, wound up in jail after failing to pay the majority of the fighters he’d hired.
Colby Covington says Khabib Nurmagomedov would be his easiest fight to date
Cole Shelton - April 4, 2019
Colby Covington is expected to challenge Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title later this year. Although Usman presents his own challenges to Covington, ‘Chaos’ is already eyeing his next potential fight. That fight would be against current UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Covington recently discussed a potential catchweight bout with ‘The Eagle’, where he insinuated that Khabib would be the easiest fight of his career.
Coach Wink on a Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic fight: 'I think the UFC would have to throw a lot of money at Jon'
Drake Riggs - April 4, 2019
Last week we got our headliner announcements in regards to UFC 239 as two titles will be defended when featherweight and bantamweight champion, Amanda Nunes defends her latter crown against Holly Holm. And in the event’s featured attraction, light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones faces Brazil’s ‘Marreta,’ Thiago Santos. However, on the day of that announcement, it looked like things were actually pointing in the direction of a big heavyweight clash between Jones and former champion, Stipe Miocic. Jones’ longtime coach, Mike Winkeljohn says otherwise though.
Colby Covington doesn't think UFC and WWE are comparable: 'we get paid like dog sh*t'
Drake Riggs - April 4, 2019
On a recent episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Oliver had a lengthy segment ahead of this Sunday’s WrestleMania 35 event that has gotten quite the buzz in the professional wrestling world. The host would go on to discuss and point out all the wrongs in said sport… But more specifically with the WWE. One of Oliver’s key points of mention was how there is a grey area for athletes in regards to whether or not they’re employees or independent contractors. Which happens to be a similar case within the UFC.
Virna Jandiroba officially UFC bound, set to debut at UFC Fort Lauderdale
Drake Riggs - April 4, 2019
2018 was the crowning year for the undefeated Brazilian submission wizard, Virna Jandiroba as she would capture Invicta FC gold by defeating Mizuki Inoue in dominant fashion. 14-0 in her still young MMA career, the BJJ black belt has been flawless to this point in her career with 11 of her wins ending via submission. Something that isn’t too surprising coming from a woman who has two wins each over perennial top strawweight contender, Claudia Gadelha, and UFC bantamweight and featherweight champion, Amanda Nunes in BJJ competition.
Jose Aldo lays out retirement plans ahead of UFC 237
Tom Taylor - April 4, 2019
If everything goes according to plan, Jose Aldo will compete in MMA for the second last time at UFC 237, where he’s set to battle Alex Volkanovski. After this fight with Volkanovski, the former UFC featherweight champion will have one fight left on his current contract. He plans on fulfilling this final obligation, then conquering the sport of boxing from the ground up.