MMA News

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 29, 2019

It was not the result Team Lakay wanted to start the year on. Back-to-back losses for both Edward Kelly and now former ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio was disheartening news, given the amount of effort the team had put into preparations for months. Like always however, the team treats the losses as just another lesson they need to learn from. For Kelly, the loss to Singaporean Christian Lee will be taken to heart.

Drake Riggs - January 29, 2019

Since Jon Jones and his rival Daniel Cormier first fought in 2015, the two have had two very different stories unfold before them. For Jones, he ran into several troubles in and out of the Octagon when it pertained to legal issues as well as banned substance issues.

Drake Riggs - January 28, 2019

On Tuesday, January 29, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) is to hold a hearing for the likes of Conor McGregor, and UFC champions Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jon Jones. However, as the Las Vegas Review-Journal has reported, McGregor and Nurmagomedov will no longer be present at the hearing as they have reached settlement agreements with the NSAC in regards to their post-fight brawl at UFC 229 on October 6.

Drake Riggs - January 28, 2019

There has been speculation regarding the UFC’s lightest men’s division being removed from the promotion for a few years now. However, the talk ramped up late in 2018 as reports surfaced that the division’s dissolving was indeed underway as multiple flyweights coming off losses were getting let go.

Tom Taylor - January 28, 2019

Press Release — UFC today announced that UFC 229: KHABIB vs. MCGREGOR generated $86.4 million in economic impact for the Las Vegas metropolitan area, according to a study conducted by research firm Applied Analysis. This marks the largest economic impact for a single UFC event measured globally to date. UFC 229: KHABIB vs. MCGREGOR, which took place on Saturday, October 6, at T-Mobile Arena, set new records for attendance (20,034) and ticket revenue ($17,188,894) for UFC in Las Vegas. In addition to the $86.4 million in total economic output, the study concluded that the landmark event also contributed $17.2 million in salaries and wagesand supported an estimated 414 jobs in the Southern Nevada market. Visitors attending events related to UFC 229: KHABIB vs. MCGREGOR were responsible for an estimated $3.7 million in public revenues in Nevada.

Tom Taylor - January 28, 2019

Mario Yamasaki has not refereed a UFC fight since he came under fire for failing to put an end to Valentina Shevchenko’s brutal beatdown of Priscila Cachoeira in February of 2018. Speaking to MMA Fighting this week, the veteran referee discussed his hiatus from officiating. While he’s been keen to stay out of the blast radius of UFC President Dana White’s verbal assaults, he say’s he’s now plotting a return to the cage.

Tom Taylor - January 28, 2019

If you’ve been paying attention to Bellator over the last few months, you’ve probably noticed that Chris Pratt, the star of Hollywood blockbusters like Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, has become a regular fixture at their shows. At last weekend’s Bellator 214 show, however, Chris Pratt was more than just a member of the audience. He was in the building to support Adel Altamimi, who battled Brandon McMahan on the main card. In fact, as a friend and training partner of Altamimi, Pratt even served as one of the fighter’s cornermen.

Tom Taylor - January 28, 2019

Former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor is a wealthy, wealthy man, and he’s not afraid to throw is money around. The Irishman’s latest extravagant purchase, from the looks of it, is a customized, 75-foot yacht. See the Irishman flaunting plans for this yacht below.

James Lynch - January 28, 2019

Despite testing positive in his UFC 232 VADA test, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was not suspended by the California State Athletic Commission The man who made that call, CSAC Director Andy Foster went into detail about that decision in a recent interview with Fightful MMA.

Tom Taylor - January 28, 2019

Add fan favorite UFC welterweight Matt Brown onto the long list of fighters disappointed with the way the UFC handled the repeated anomalies found on the recent drug tests of Jon Jones. Speaking to the media backstage at Bellator 214 over the weekend, Brown gave his take on the situation, and he did not mince words.

Mike Straus - January 28, 2019

Bellator 214 is in the books and the first event of the year for the Viacom owned promotion definitely had some memorable moments. Whether you were tuning in to watch the conclusion of the World Heavyweight Grand Prix or if you were tuning in to watch one of the sport’s most promising prospects in Aaron Pico, Bellator 214 delivered.

Cole Shelton - January 28, 2019

UFC Fortaleza is just days away, and the card is looking like a good one. On the card will be former UFC welterweight title challenger, Thiago Alves taking on Max Griffin. For Griffin, this is the kind of fight he wants after losing his last fight to Curtis Millender.

Tom Taylor - January 28, 2019

Over the last few months, there’s been recurring discussion about a potential boxing match between undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. and reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov — primarily from Nurmagomedov’s camp, who have been feverishly campaigning for the matchup. In the opinion of UFC commentator Joe Rogan, the undefeated lightweight champ Nurmagomedov, who has never boxed before, would be wise to steer clear of Mayweather.

Tom Taylor - January 28, 2019

Fedor Emelianenko had the chance to make history on Saturday night, as he battled Ryan Bader in a bid to become the Bellator heavyweight champion in the Bellator 214 main event. Unfortunately for the 42-year-old Russian MMA legend, however, things did not go as planned in this fight. Instead, he was knocked out in less than a minute. Speaking on Instagram late on Sunday, Fedor Emelianenko updated on his health in the wake of this loss.

Tom Taylor - January 27, 2019

Donald Cerrone is less than two weeks removed from an impressive knockout defeat of Alexander Hernandez, and already, he says his next fight is in the works. The notoriously busy fighter dropped this interesting tidbit on his official Instagram page.

Tom Taylor - January 27, 2019

Dillon Danis is one of the biggest trash talker in mixed martial arts. Much like his friend and training partner Conor McGregor, he’s made a habit of entering into verbal battles with pretty much anybody who’s willing to engage him. Late on Saturday night, however, the BJJ ace took a break from all the trash talking, and sent a message of respect to his rivals.

Cole Shelton - January 27, 2019

Renato Moicano is a rising star in the UFC’s featherweight division. He’s been with the UFC since 2014 and has gone 5-1 during that time with his only loss coming against Brian Ortega. Since the loss to Ortega, Moicano defeated Calvin Kattar and Cub Swanson to then become the backup fighter for the UFC 231 main event. Moicano ended up not having to fight as Max Holloway and Ortega both made weight. However, being the backup fighter showed he was the number one contender at featherweight, and he has to prove that when he takes on Jose Aldo at UFC Fortaleza.

Tom Taylor - January 27, 2019

Ryan Bader now owns the Bellator light heavyweight heavyweight titles. He earned the former with a defeat of Phil Davis last year, and the latter with a Saturday night, Bellator 214 knockout of Fedor Emelianenko. With two belts now wrapped round his waist, Ryan Bader has the option of ruling over two divisions if he so chooses. Drifting back and forth between two weight classes, of course, will not be easy.