MMA News
Dominick Cruz shares update after shoulder surgery
Tom Taylor - January 10, 2019
On Tuesday, former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz went under the knife to repair an injured shoulder. Speaking on Twitter shortly thereafter, the former champion called this surgery a success and said that he’s back on the road to recovery.
Mackenzie Dern forgoes flyweight move, sticks to strawweight division
Tom Taylor - January 10, 2019
Mackenzie Dern will continue to compete as a strawweight. Despite her recent struggles to reach the strawweight division’s 116-pound cap, she and her team have decided to stick to this division for now, rather than move up to the flyweight division, which has a limit of 126 pounds for non title fights.
Report | Conor McGregor in negotiations to return to boxing for grudge match with Paulie Malignaggi
Christopher Taylor - January 9, 2019
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor is reportedly in negotiations to fight former boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi in the squared circle. That news comes via @BoxingKingdom14, who reported the following on Twitter:
Report | Officials looking to add a welterweight fight between Darren Till and Colby Covington to UFC London
Christopher Taylor - January 9, 2019
Darren Till and Colby Covington have engaged in some heated exchanges on social media in the past and have now been offered the opportunity to settle their beef inside the octagon at UFC London. BJPENN.com’s Chris Taylor reported the news of the proposed welterweight clash moments ago on Twitter.
Joe Rogan names a potential Jon Jones matchup that he wishes we could have seen
Thomas Taylor - January 9, 2019
Having smashed Alexander Gustafsson to a third-round TKO victory in the main event of UFC 232 in late December, Jon Jones is once again the UFC light heavyweight champion. With the belt once again wrapped around his waist, Jones is now scheduled for a fight with Anthony Smith at UFC 235. If the champ clears that hurdle, he can look forward to more huge fights in the UFC light heavyweight division and beyond.
Coach updates on Cris Cyborg's status with the UFC
Tom Taylor - January 9, 2019
Cris Cyborg is no longer the UFC women’s featherweight champion. The long-time titleholder’s reign came to a shocking halt in the co-main event of UFC 232 in late December, when she was knocked out by Amanda Nunes in just 51 seconds. Given that Cyborg’s current UFC contract will expire in March, some fans have speculated that she might take her services elsewhere at that point — perhaps to the boxing world, or to Japan for an exhibition bout.
Cain Velasquez on Jon Jones fight: 'I'll try to make that happen'
Tom Taylor - January 9, 2019
At long last, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is scheduled to return to the cage. The heavyweight legend is set to take on former title challenger Francis Ngannou at UFC Phoenix on February 17. If Velasquez is able to topple the fearsome Ngannou — not a certainty by any means — it’ll open the door to other huge fights in the ever dangerous UFC heavyweight division. Of all the fights that would become available to him, it’s arguable that none would be as big as a super fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
ONE lightweight champion Eduard Folayang looks back on a moment that gave him goosebumps
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 9, 2019
In an instant, 12 months of pain had evaporated. With his hand raised and the belt wrapped around his waist, 16,000 screaming fans erupted. Eduard Folayang felt tingles down his spine. “Of course, I wanted to cry but the tears didn’t come out,” reflected Folayang, who became the first man in ONE Championship history to claim the lightweight world title for the second time when he defeated Singapore’s Amir Khan at ONE: Conquest of Champions in late November.
Din Thomas and Joe Rogan discuss the importance of telling fighters when to retire
Tom Taylor - January 9, 2019
Din Thomas, one of the coaches at American Top Team, and a former fighter himself, says he has no problem telling his fighters when it’s time to hang up the gloves. Thomas opened up on the topic in a conversation with Joe Rogan on the Joe Rogan Experience MMA Show.
Coach feels Cris Cyborg 'beat herself' against Amanda Nunes
Tom Taylor - January 9, 2019
Back at UFC 232 in late December, the longstanding title reign of UFC featherweight champ Cris Cyborg came to a shocking end at the hands of Amanda Nunes, who needed just 51 seconds to win by knockout. Speaking to MMAjunkie recently, Cyborg’s coach Jason Parillo gave his take on this shocking upset defeat. In his eyes, a big part of the problem was Cyborg’s approach to the first exchanges of the bout.
Jimmy Smith has an interesting theory about why so many UFC fighters are getting commentary jobs
Tom Taylor - January 9, 2019
Jimmy Smith served as a UFC commentator for the duration of 2018, but in 2019, the promotion decided not to renew his contract. Instead, he explained on The MMA Hour, they’re planning on hiring more fighters as commentators.
TJ Dillashaw announces new "Fit to Fight" fitness course, hopes to become a three-division champ
Tom Taylor - January 9, 2019
Press Release: TJ Dillashaw is proud to announce that he’s released his new “Fit to Fight” course that gives all-access to his martial arts training, and gives instruction for many of his signature warm ups, drills, and combos. TJ Dillashaw provides up close and personal camera angles so viewers can easily learn the handwork, footwork, and ground work that have made him the current UFC Bantamweight Champion.
Conor McGregor and Al Iaquinta exchange shots on social media
Christopher Taylor - January 8, 2019
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor took aim at Tristar gym head coach Firas Zahabi earlier this evening, which resulted in an bitter exchange with Al Iaquinta. “Mystic Mac” had blasted Zahabi for his recent comments in which he insinuated that current UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway would defeat Conor McGregor in a rematch.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs Michelle Waterson added to UFC Philadelphia
Drake Riggs - January 8, 2019
Today the UFC announced that their second event on the ESPN channel will be taking place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event got its first bout in a strawweight affair between top prospects Alexa Grasso (10-2) and Marina Rodriguez (10-0-1) after it was moved from UFC Fortaleza due to a Rodriguez injury.
Conor McGregor fires back at Firas Zahabi: "Stay ready!"
Christopher Taylor - January 8, 2019
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor has fired back at Tristar coach Firas Zahabi over his recent comments. The famous coach of UFC star Georges St-Pierre, Zahabi, had recently shared his thoughts on the possible outcome of a rematch between Conor McGregor and current UFC featherweight kingpin Max Holloway.
Fighters react after the UFC snubs Colby Covington of promised title shot
Christopher Taylor - January 8, 2019
Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington is not happy after being snubbed by the UFC of his promised title unification bout with Tyron Woodley. “Chaos” had captured the promotions interim welterweight title at June’s UFC 225 event in Chicago, where he scored a unanimous decision victory over Rafael dos Anjos.
Tito Ortiz wants to 'torture' Chael Sonnen in rematch
Thomas Taylor - January 8, 2019
Roughly two years after their first fight, Tito Ortiz and Chael Sonnen are still going at it. The latest skirmish in the pair’s ongoing war of words occurred on Twitter. This time around, it was Sonnen who fired the first shot.
Cris Cyborg echoes Conor McGregor, shares interest in exhibition fight in Tokyo
Tom Taylor - January 8, 2019
Back at UFC 232 in late December, the longstanding title reign of UFC featherweight champ Cris Cyborg came to a shocking end at the hands of Amanda Nunes. Given Cyborg’s status as one of MMA’s most dominant champions ever, most fans feel that she deserves an immediate opportunity to avenge her loss to Nunes and reclaim the UFC featherweight title. If she doesn’t get this opportunity, however, she’s got a backup plan.