MMA News

Thomas Taylor - January 24, 2019

In April of 2015, at ONE: Global Rivals, Hawaii’s Lowen Tynanes improved to an impressive 9-0 with a unanimous decision defeat of respected Japanese veteran Koji Ando. The future looked very bright for the young Hawaiian, as a ONE Championship lightweight title shot seemed to be just around the corner. Unfortunately, he has not fought since.

Tom Taylor - January 24, 2019

Last weekend, when the UFC made its anticipated debut on ESPN+, former NFL star Greg Hardy took his first steps into the Octagon, where he took on the dangerous Allen Crowder. Although Greg Hardy had some success in this fight, he was ultimately disqualified for nuking Crowder with an illegal knee in the second-round.

Tom Taylor - January 24, 2019

According to a report from Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via The Mac Life), Ronda Rousey could soon be parting ways with WWE. Though she has been tremendously successful in the pro wrestling organization, her contract could reportedly end after WrestleMania 35 on April 7. “There is a very good chance that Ronda Rousey will be finishing up with WWE at WrestleMania,” Meltzer reported. “If that’s the case, she would likely put Becky Lynch over more likely then Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania, given that would be what the fans would want.

Cole Shelton - January 24, 2019

Bellator is about to wrap up their heavyweight grand prix on Saturday. The main event will see Ryan Bader, Bellator’s light heavyweight champion take on MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko. If Bader is to come out on top he will be the first ever two-division champ in Bellator. Meanwhile, if Emelianenko wins, he cements his legacy even more and may very well be considered the greatest heavyweight of all-time.

Tom Taylor - January 24, 2019

Reigning UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones is easily one of the greatest fighters of all time, but his recent past is marred by numerous troubles outside the cage, from a DWI to a hit-and-run to a string of failed drug tests. Heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson, who dealt with plenty of his own legal trouble during his heyday, recently told UFC commentator Joe Rogan that he hopes Jones has put these controversies behind him for good. Mike Tyson and Joe Rogan discussed this topic on a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience.

Tom Taylor - January 24, 2019

Jon Jones is once again the UFC light heavyweight champion, but his work is far from over. Having reclaimed the title, he can now look forward to fights with a new wave of ferocious contenders like Anthony Smith, Jan Blachowicz, Thiago Santos, Corey Anderson, and perhaps the most dangerous fighter of the bunch, Dominick Reyes. While Dominick Reyes is currently booked for a high-stakes UFC London fight with Volkan Oezdemir, he has long had his crosshairs set on a fight with Jon Jones. And while he recognizes that the seemingly unbeatable Jones would be an incredibly difficult test, he’s confident he’s got the goods to defeat him.

Tom Taylor - January 24, 2019

On February 24, in Melbourne, Australia, Kelvin Gastelum will get his long-awaited shot at the UFC middleweight title as he battles reigning champion Robert Whittaker in one of the most competitive-looking matchups we’ve seen in awhile. Heading into this fight, the MMA community seems to be divided on who will win. Kelvin Gastelum, however, is extremely confident that he’ll come out on top — in quick and decisive fashion.

Tom Taylor - January 24, 2019

Back in May of 2018, UFC star Nick Diaz was arrested after a woman claiming to be his on-again, off-again girlfriend accused him of assaulting her. Although Diaz has since been cleared of all wrongdoing, he was still arrested on the night of this ordeal. MMAjunkie has obtained the police bodycam footage from the night of Diaz’s arrest, and it shows the fighter being compliant, obedient, and adamant that he is innocent.

Christopher Taylor - January 23, 2019

Earlier today it was announced that steroid metabolites had once again surfaced in Jon Jones UFC 232 drug test results. The same trace amounts of the steroid Turanibol, which forced UFC 232 to be moved from Las Vegas to Los Angeles so that “Bones” could compete, were found in his tests with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA).

Drake Riggs - January 23, 2019

At UFC Brooklyn this past Saturday night, Henry Cejudo potentially saved the UFC flyweight division by starching UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw in just 32-seconds. To win the belt, Cejudo dethroned the greatest champion in UFC history, Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson.

Christopher Taylor - January 23, 2019

Don’t look now, but steroid metabolites have once again been found in the system of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Jon Jones was drug tested in competition by Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) in the lead up to his UFC 232 rematch with Alexander Gustafsson.

Drake Riggs - January 23, 2019

UFC 229 was quite a memorable night in MMA. It was the biggest and most purchased event in the sport’s history and it had plenty of awesome bouts. The main event, of course, being the one to leave a lasting impression… For good and bad.

Tom Taylor - January 23, 2019

Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is slated to return to the cage on February 2, where he will battle surging featherweight contender Renato Moicano in a high-stakes showdown. Despite all of his previous accomplishments, Jose Aldo has been labeled as the betting underdog heading into this fight. He currently sits at +130, meaning a successful $100 bet on him would win you $130. Moicano, meanwhile, has been pegged as a -150 favorite, meaning a $150 bet on him would win you just $100.

Tom Taylor - January 23, 2019

If Dominick Reyes is able to defeat Volkan Oezdemir at UFC London on March 16, he might just assert himself as the next man in line for the winner of the Jon Jones vs. Anthony Smith light heavyweight title fight that is set to headline UFC 235 on March 2. Previously, Dominick Reyes has shared his belief that Anthony Smith can defy the odds and defeat the seemingly unbeatable Jon Jones at UFC 235.

Tom Taylor - January 23, 2019

At long last, we’ve got a date for the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix fight between reigning welterweight champion Rory MacDonald and former World Series of Fighting champ Jon Fitch. According to a report from MMA Fighting, the two welterweight great are set to collide on April 27 in San Jose, California.

Tom Taylor - January 23, 2019

Joe Rogan has been working as a color commentator for the UFC since 1997, having debuted all the way back at UFC 12. Over the years, the comedian and podcast host has become as much a part of big UFC cards as the Octagon itself. Of course, there will eventually come a day when Joe Rogan decides it’s time to take off his broadcaster’s headset once and for all.

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 23, 2019

Eduard “Landslide” Folayang is the two-time and current ONE Lightweight World Champion. The Filipino warrior has had to overcome unthinkable poverty and tragedy to ascend to his current level. His story is one of the most triumphant you’ll find in the sports world. Folayang was born in Baguio City, in the Philippines where his family was impoverished. Folayang was one of nine children, but five of his siblings passed away from illnesses. Access to proper health care could have remedied the dire situations, but it wasn’t available. Folayang’s father worked as a laborer and part-time farmer. His mother worked at a laundromat. Though neither of Folayang’s parents learned to read or write, they made sure their children didn’t grow up with the same limitations. “My parents sacrificed a lot to bring us to school,” Folayang said. “Sometimes, they even borrowed money just for us to pay our tuition fees. In their daily lives, they didn’t focus on just one job; they found extra work that they could do so that it would compensate for the needs that we had.” Folayang’s parents were eyeing a career in law enforcement for him, but he chose martial arts instead. After accepting a scholarship for wushu, partly to lessen the financial burden on his parents, Folayang’s career in martial arts was on its way. He won 11 major medals as a member of the Philippine Wushu team. In 2007 at the age of 23, Folayang turned pro as a mixed martial artist. He started his career on a five-bout win streak. All but one of the victories came via first-round stoppage, and two of them took less than a minute. Just as he was flying high, Folayang faced a young, up-and-coming martial artist named Jon Tuck in 2009.

Tom Taylor - January 23, 2019

At long last, Jorge Masvidal is set to return to the cage. The fan favorite welterweight contender will battle former title challenger Darren Till in the main event of the anticipated UFC London card on March 16. Speaking on the latest stacked episode of BJPENN Radio, Jorge Masvidal explained how he envisions this UFC London fight with Darren Till playing out— and interestingly enough, it all ends with him slapping another UK MMA star in Michael Bisping.