MMA News

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 12, 2019

Undisputed ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin Belingon is ready to settle the score with Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes on March 31 at ONE: A NEW ERA at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. The two athletes are tied in their series with a win each. The pair first met back in January 2016 when Fernandes was able to successfully defend his ONE Bantamweight World Title against the Filipino by way of submission in the first round. The loss motivated Belingon to pursue another title shot and he won six straight matches after that on his climb back up the ladder.

Tom Taylor - March 12, 2019

Tony Ferguson is one of the most interesting and eccentric characters in MMA. So much so that, within the MMA community, fans have something of a running joke about him. The format is simple: “Tony Ferguson is the type of guy ______.” You simply finish the sentence yourself.

Mike Pendleton - March 12, 2019

As the UFC brand and MMA as a sport continue to grow, the sport of boxing finds itself still struggling to stay at the top of the combat sports world. There are several ongoing complaints in the world of boxing, and Teddy Atlas feels he has the answer to boxing’s issues. Talking on his podcast about how fans miss out on matchups due to the politics of boxing, Atlas said the biggest change that can happen to benefit the sport is to make it more like the UFC. Atlas said the best thing for boxing to do is to get a promoter — or “dictator” — like UFC President Dana White involved.

Tom Taylor - March 12, 2019

Two-time UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Johnson has recently expressed interest in a showdown with reigning champ Jon Jones — but not at light heavyweight. Instead, Johnson has been campaigning for a lucrative heavyweight showdown with the light heavyweight king.

Mike Pendleton - March 12, 2019

Two former UFC light heavyweight title challengers will go head-to-head in the main event at UFC Stockholm on June 1, when Sweden’s Alexander Gustafsson will fight Anthony Smith. “The Mauler” spoke to Luke Thomas on The MMA Hour about his matchup against Smith and made it known that if he doesn’t come out with a victory then he will be re-considering his future in fighting.

Tom Taylor - March 12, 2019

For a period, middleweight destroyers Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa were expected to collide this spring. In a surprising twist, however, Romero was then matched up with Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, leaving Costa without an opponent. Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday, Romero stated that he heard Paulo Costa had been flagged for a potential United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) violation — the reason he’s apparently been pulled from this fight.

Tom Taylor - March 12, 2019

When Conor McGregor was arrested for ““strong-armed robbery and misdemeanor criminal mischief” in Miami on Monday night — the result of his smashing a fan’s cellphone — you knew it was only a matter of time before his legions of haters starting chiming in. Of all McGregor’s haters, it’s arguable that none are quite as dedicated to the cause as former boxer and new BKFC fighter Paulie Malignaggi.

Tom Taylor - March 12, 2019

On Monday evening, the Miami Herald reported that former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor had been arrested in Miami after an incident involving a fan and a cell phone. The Irish star was charged with “strong-armed robbery and misdemeanor criminal mischief” after allegedly smashing the fan’s phone.

Cole Shelton - March 11, 2019

UFC 229 was poised to be the biggest pay-per-view of the year as Conor McGregor was set to challenge Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight belt. Making the fight even more anticipated was the lead up, which saw McGregor throw a dolly at a bus, and pelt Nurmagomedov with seemingly endless trash talk. Unfortunately, after Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor, he jumped out of the Octagon and attacked Dillon Danis. Nobody knew exactly why, although Nurmagomedov’s team said it was because Danis was making racist comments. However, Danis has vehemently denied those claims.

Thomas Taylor - March 11, 2019

This afternoon, it was announced that Conor McGregor training partner Dillon Danis will return to the Bellator cage at Bellator 221 to take on Max Humphrey. This news prompted UFC welterweight star Ben Askren to absolutely cook Danis in a multi-part Twitter roast. See everything Ben Askren had to say about Dillon Danis below:

Drake Riggs - March 11, 2019

The Miami Herald has reported that former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, Conor McGregor was arrested in Miami, Florida on Monday. The Irishman is being charged with “strong-armed robbery and misdemeanor criminal mischief” following an incident that saw McGregor smashing a fan’s cell phone according to the report. The incident is believed to have happened around 5:00 AM when the fan was photographing McGregor outside of the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel.

Drake Riggs - March 11, 2019

After suffering the first three-fight skid of his lengthy 35-fight career, perennial top 10 welterweight contender Demian Maia was able to snap it with a vintage performance at UFC Fortaleza in early February. Maia would waste little time against his opponent, Lyman Good before he found himself sinking in a rear-naked choke to get the first round submission victory.

Drake Riggs - March 11, 2019

The middleweight division in MMA is one that is always providing some sort of intrigue and the reasons for why are seemingly limitless. One of the recently proposed match-ups over the last few months has been one that pits divisional powerhouses Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa against one another. However, the fight has fallen through on two separate occasions now.

Drake Riggs - March 11, 2019

Just this past week, it was reported that UFC 238 was being looked at as the hosting spot for the third UFC flyweight title bout in the promotion’s history. Well, as of Monday that has indeed been confirmed as the case. The UFC made the bout official as the Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko (17-3) looks to make her first successful title defense against the ever resurgent Jessica “Evil” Eye (14-6) who is unbeaten at 125-pounds.

Tom Taylor - March 11, 2019

Dillon Danis, a decorated grappling specialist and long-time friend and training partner of UFC star Conor McGregor, is set to return at Bellator 221 on May 11 in Chicago, Illinois. Danis’ opponent on the card will be Max Humphrey. This news was announced on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday.

Thomas Taylor - March 11, 2019

If you’re not familiar with Herdem Alacabek yet, you probably will be soon. The Swedish light heavyweight, who has kickstarted his pro mixed martial arts career with five straight finishes, is narrowing in on a UFC roster spot. In fact, he could put pen to paper very soon.

Nick Nadel - March 11, 2019

Conor versus Khabib. Frank Mir and Brock Lesnar. The MMA world is filled with brutal, pain-bringing rivalries. That intensity is also rampant in some of the best action movies and TV shows, from superheroes and villains duking it out in outer space to boxers and kung-fu masters putting their all into one last fight. Read on for some rivalries from the big and small screen that contain all the raw intensity of two fighters facing off in the octagon. And for more bitter rivalries and pulse-pounding action, Into the Badlands returns for its final episodes in a two-night premiere event, Sunday, March 24th and 25th on AMC. The Widow Vs. Baron Chau, Into the Badlands

Cole Shelton - March 11, 2019

Jordan Rinaldi was in a must-win situation in his last fight. At UFC 230, he moved down to featherweight to take on Jason Knight, and was fresh off of a tough loss to Gregor Gillespie. Rinaldi knew another loss could mean the end of his UFC career. Luckily, he ended up beating Knight by unanimous decision, protecting his job in the process.