MMA News

Tom Taylor - January 11, 2019

Currently on an impressive four-fight unbeaten streak, and with just one loss in his last nine fights, Dustin Poirier is irrefutably one of the top contenders in the crowded UFC lightweight division. In fact, were it not for the existence of long-time contender Tony Ferguson, Poirier would most definitely be the next man in line for reigning champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Speaking on Twitter on Thursday and Friday, Dustin Poirier looked to remind the world of his status as a top lightweight contender, calling both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson out for fights.

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 11, 2019

If 2018 was momentous for ONE Championship, 2019 is shaping up to be even bigger. There are already a series of significant events planned through till March that are likely to capture the attention of the combat sports world. January 19 – ONE: ETERNAL GLORY

Cole Shelton - January 11, 2019

Jason Knight is looking for a new home. The fan favorite told BJPENN.com yesterday that the UFC has released him from his contract. Even though Knight was released by the UFC, he did have some success inside the Octagon. Although he went 4-5 in his nine fights, he did have a four-fight winning streak, including wins over Dan Hooker and Alex Caceres. Those wins got him into the rankings and because of that, Knight doubts he will be a free agent for long.

Tom Taylor - January 11, 2019

Former World Series of Fighting lightweight champion Justin Gaethje has not fought since August 25. Gaethje was initially supposed to fight Al Iaquinta on that night, but when Iaquinta withdrew from the fight, he accepted a fight with the lower ranked James Vick. He won this fight with a devastating first-round knockout, and hasn’t been back in the cage since. He seems to be tired of waiting.

Tom Taylor - January 11, 2019

Earlier this week, Tristar head coach Firas Zahabi shared his belief that, if Conor McGregor were to rematch Max Holloway in 2019, the latter would come out on top. “If I had to pick Max Holloway vs. McGregor today, I would pick Max Holloway,” Zahabi said on his podcast. “I think Holloway has grown leaps and bounds since then. In my opinion, Holloway would out-punch him, outwork him. He would do very much what Diaz did [to Conor McGregor], but more,” he said. “I think McGregor got away with a lot of stuff, like the leg kicks against Diaz, but I don’t think he’ll have that against Holloway.”

James Lynch - January 11, 2019

BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor broke the news earlier this week that UFC officials are looking to book Colby Covington against Darren Till at UFC London on March 17. However Covington’s manager and American Top Team owner Dan Lambert told Fightful that the only way that fight would happen is if gold is on the line. In addition, he’d rather see Covington fight the winner of the upcoming UFC 235 title fight between champ Tyron Woodley and challenger Kamaru Usman.

Cole Shelton - January 11, 2019

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is back. Velasquez is set to return to the Octagon on Feb. 17 against Francis Ngannou. The former champ was last seen at UFC 200 where he defeated Travis Browne by TKO in the first round. Despite this lengthy absence, he is once again on the hunt for the heavyweight belt.

Tom Taylor - January 11, 2019

Earlier this week, rumors began to swirl that former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor could be returning to the boxing ring for a showdown with bitter rival Paulie Malignaggi. Malignaggi was originally brought into McGregor’s camp to help the Irishman prepare for his headline-dominating 2017 boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. When the retired boxer began to feel as though he was being unfairly portrayed by the Irishman’s team, however, he made an abrupt exit. From there, the two began a longstanding and bitter war of words.

Tom Taylor - January 11, 2019

Shortly after Conor McGregor defeated Dustin Poirier at UFC 178 in 2014, he proclaimed to his throngs of Irish fans in attendance “if one of us goes to war, we all go to war!” It’s one of the best one known quotes from the trash-talking Irish superstar, and one that’s now been borrowed by his arch rival Khabib Nurmagomedov — with a twist.

Tom Taylor - January 11, 2019

Speaking on the on the Jim Rome Podcast this week, UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier was asked what he’ll miss most about fighting when he retires — whether that’s in March as originally planned, or a little later. His answer was incredible.

Christopher Taylor - January 10, 2019

UFC announcer Bruce Buffer doesn’t think a trilogy fight between bitter rivals Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier “should happen”. The long time voice of the octagon, Buffer, shared his thoughts on the matter during a recent interview with Express Sport.

Thomas Taylor - January 10, 2019

This afternoon, ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reported that Jon Jones passed all of the drug tests administered on the night of his UFC 232 victory over Alexander Gustafsson. Breaking: Jon Jones was drug tested by USADA and the California State Athletic Commission on the night of UFC 232 on Dec. 29 and all tests have come back clean. No picograms of the M3 metabolite, which was the source of all the controversy and drama last month, were found.

Drake Riggs - January 10, 2019

Liverpool’s finest fighting son is the No. 3 ranked UFC welterweight contender, ‘The Gorilla’ Darren Till. We haven’t seen Till compete inside the Octagon since September when he challenged Tyron Woodley for the division’s title at UFC 228.

Drake Riggs - January 10, 2019

It’s been a bit of a rough journey to get to the UFC’s very first show on ESPN programming. First, there was the trouble finding the main event which resulted in the UFC pulling UFC 233’s main event to put it on UFC Brooklyn (the first show on ESPN+). This led to the cancelation of UFC 233 entirely.

Drake Riggs - January 10, 2019

“A lot of people think that was a fixed fight,” Joe Rogan said on the Joe Rogan Experience. “I think that was a 120-pound fighter… Fighting the best ever. I mean, it wasn’t a fixed fight. I don’t know why people think it was a fixed fight. That guy fights at 126-pounds I think. I think that’s his weight class. He’s tiny.

Tom Taylor - January 10, 2019

Long before Eddie Alvarez established himself as one of the world’s best fighters, he worked long, hard days pouring concrete. When he finally got the opportunity to become a full-time fighter, he assumed that his life was going to get easier — that the early mornings and long days of physical labor were over.

Mike Pendleton - January 10, 2019

As Jon Jones returns to the top of the light heavyweight division as champion, he has seen and heard from new names and faces coming after the belt. One of those fresh faces will be his next opponent Anthony Smith, who Jones is scheduled to defend his title against in the main event slot at UFC 235, on March 2, in Las Vegas. While many, including the oddsmakers, believe this matchup will look very one-sided for the champion, Anthony Smith and others don’t seem to be intimidated by Jones.

Mike Straus - January 10, 2019

In recent years the sport of jiu-jitsu has exploded in popularity and right at the forefront of the movement is Garry Tonon. A grappler by trade, Tonon recently dove head first into MMA, going 3-0 under the ONE Championship banner. Having competed in countless grappling and BJJ tournaments “The Lion Killer”, as he is known, believes we are just now starting to see the true essence of jiu-jitsu.