MMA News
Geje Eustaquio’s drive to succeed comes from his four-year-old son
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 6, 2019
Geje Eustaquio had his hands full in his defense of the ONE Flyweight World Championship against Brazilian arch-nemesis Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes in a rubber match at ONE: Hero’s Ascent last January. Although he fell short in keeping the belt around his waist versus Moraes, he never had to look far to find a motivation to pick himself up.
EXCLUSIVE | Pro fighters make their picks for Israel Adesanya vs Anderson Silva
Cole Shelton - February 6, 2019
The UFC’s first pay-per-view of 2019 will go down in Melbourne, Australia and be topped by a middleweight title fight between Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum. However, arguably the fight most fans are looking forward to is the co-main event where rising superstar Israel Adesanya will take on former champion Anderson Silva. Ahead of this fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions. Most believe Adesanya will be too much for Silva, while one fighter is undecided on who will win.
Anthony Johnson outlines terms for UFC return
Tom Taylor - February 6, 2019
Light heavyweight knockout artist Anthony Johnson has not fought since April of 2017, when he came up short in his second title fight with Daniel Cormier, but fans are still clamoring for him to return to the cage. While Anthony Johnson is ostensibly retired from competition, however, he’s never denied that he could be coaxed back to the Octagon under the right terms.
Kelvin Gastelum unimpressed by Robert Whittaker, predicts first-round KO win
Tom Taylor - February 6, 2019
Kelvin Gastelum is not all that impressed with UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, who he’ll meet in the main event of UFC 234 this weekend in Melbourne. “Obviously, he’s a champion for a reason,” Gastelum told MMAjunkie. “He comes in with a lot of tools, but I’m in the gym constantly with guys that are just as good if not better than Rob, every single day, and that gives me confidence.
Colby Covington threatens legal action against the UFC
Tom Taylor - February 6, 2019
When Colby Covington won the UFC interim welterweight title in June of 2018, he was promised a welterweight title shot opposite undisputed champ Tyron Woodley. Yet he never received that opportunity. Instead, Covington’s promised title shot was given to Kamaru Usman, who will battle Tyron Woodley at UFC 235.
VIDEO | Travis Barker recalls training with Dominick Cruz, 'he beat the sh*t out of me'
Drake Riggs - February 6, 2019
╳ Much love to my dudes @travisbarker @joerogan .╳ .#DominickCruz #DomCruz #TeamCruz #CruzAlliance #UFC #MMA .Snapchat | DomCruz619Twitter | @DominickCruzWeb | https://t.co/0hAwOxEWI0 pic.twitter.com/CnnXKyKllz — Dominick Cruz (@DominickCruz) February 6, 2019
Robert Whittaker says it's 'refreshing' to not be fighting 'monster' Yoel Romero again
Drake Riggs - February 6, 2019
At UFC 234 this Saturday night in Melbourne, Australia the UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker looks to officially pick up his first title defense. UFC 213 took place in July 2017. The event was headlined by Whittaker and Yoel Romero who fought over the interim middleweight crown.
Amanda Nunes says getting 125-pound title is 'possible', would just require time
Drake Riggs - February 5, 2019
If you thought that UFC bantamweight and featherweight queen Amanda Nunes was kidding about trying to become a triple champ… Then guess again. ‘The Lioness’ has accomplished more in the sport than really anyone expected her to.
Daniel Cormier explains why he won't fight Stipe Miocic again
Cole Shelton - February 5, 2019
UFC heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier has stated he wants to retire by his 40th birthday, but it appears he will stick around longer. However, even with his extended career, he does not appear interested in fighting Stipe Miocic again. Cormier and Miocic fought at UFC 226 for the heavyweight title, in a fight that gave Cormier — then the light heavyweight champ — the chance to become a two-division champ. Ultimately, that is exactly what happened as Cormier knocked Miocic out in the first round.
Isaac Vallie-Flagg's Lifelong Fight
Tom Taylor - February 5, 2019
Isaac Vallie-Flagg was driving across the mesa outside Rio Rancho, New Mexico when the lights of a police cruiser started flickering in his rear-view mirror. The former UFC and Strikeforce fighter was pulled over for driving with tags that didn’t match his vehicle, and minutes later, was arrested for a number of far more serious charges. That was on January 18, 2018. Now, just over a year removed from that fateful day on the mesa, Vallie-Flagg feels as though he might not be alive had he not been arrested, as it was this arrest that drove him to make his latest and hopefully final attempt to stop using heroin, meth, and pretty much anything else he could get his hands on.
Ben Askren rips Kamaru Usman after backstage confrontation
Tom Taylor - February 5, 2019
At the UFC 235 press conference, former ONE and Bellator welterweight champ Ben Askren divulged that he and top welterweight contender Kamaru Usman very nearly came to blows backstage. Days after the press conference wrapped up, Will Harris of Anatomy of a Fighter released footage of this backstage confrontation.
Kevin Lee and Islam Makhachev agree to fight
James Lynch - February 5, 2019
Kevin Lee may have his next opponent. On Monday the “Motown Phenom” verbally agreed to fight Islam Makhachev as the two got into an entertaining exchange on Twitter.
Artem Lobov challenges the traditional interpretation of success in MMA
Tom Taylor - February 5, 2019
Artem Lobov is often knocked for his professional record, which currently sits below the .500 mark at 14-15-1. That being said, the Russian-born Irishman has recently been vocal about the fact that his less-than-stellar record is the product of his taking on all comers at all times. In fact, Artem Lobov believes he embodies success in MMA far more than your typical undefeated fighter, based on the fact that fans are always interested in seeing him perform.
Demian Maia makes prediction for Tyron Woodley vs. Kamaru Usman title fight
Tom Taylor - February 5, 2019
On March 2, in the co-main event of UFC 235, UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley will attempt a fifth-straight defense of his title opposite surging contender Kamaru Usman. Having fought both Tyron Woodley and Kamaru Usman in the recent past, Brazilian MMA legend Demian Maia has unique insight into this matchup.
PHOTO | Check out this unbelievable Joe Rogan tattoo
Tom Taylor - February 5, 2019
Over the last few years, we’ve seen some pretty incredible MMA related tattoos. Though most fan tattoos seem to be images of Conor McGregor, the latest tattoo to make the rounds on the World Wide Web is an image of UFC commentator, comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan — and it’s an absolutely incredible piece. Joe Rogan shared this piece, which was done by the increasingly legendary artist Steve Butcher, on his official Instagram page.
VIDEO | Manager Ali Abdelaziz claims somebody recently tried to kill him
Tom Taylor - February 5, 2019
Speaking to Ariel Helwani on Monday, MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz claimed somebody recently tried to kill him — more specifically, they tried to poison him. Watch Ali Abdelaziz recount this frightening ordeal, which left him in the hospital, in the video below.
Injury won’t stop Adrian Pang from competing in ONE Championship
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 5, 2019
Adrian Pang has revealed he will require surgery post career as he battles a chronic foot problem.
Stipe Miocic says Daniel Cormier rematch means more than UFC title
Drake Riggs - February 4, 2019
When we open up the MMA history books and look at who the longest reigning champions in each UFC division are, at the very top you would see the name ‘Stipe Miocic’. Miocic, the former champion of the heavyweights, last fought in July 2018 when he took on the light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier in a super fight of epic proportions.