MMA News

Tom Taylor - December 27, 2018

UFC VP of Athlete Health and Performance Jeff Novitzky has been adamant that the trace amounts of turinabol detected in a recent Jon Jones drug test are due to Jones’ previous ingestion of the banned substance, and not due to a more recent re-ingestion of it. On Thursday afternoon, the UFC exec appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience to further argue this point — but infamous American cyclist Lance Armstrong isn’t buying it. When Joe Rogan took to Instagram to promote Jeff Novitzky’s upcoming appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, Lance Armstrong piped up in the comments with some choice words for the UFC exec.

Tom Taylor - December 27, 2018

When the UFC decided to move the entire UFC 232 fight card from Las Vegas to Los Angeles on just six days notice, it caused all kinds of problems for the fighters for the card. That includes UFC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, who is set to defend her title against bantamweight champ Amanda Nunes in the card’s co-main event. Cyborg, who was licensed to fight in Nevada, recently had to do additional pre-fight medicals in order to get a last-minute license to fight in California. She feels that having to do these pre-fight medicals in the midst of an already chaotic fight week is ridiculous, and wasn’t afraid to say so in the second instalment of her fantastic UFC 232 fight week video blog.

Tom Taylor - December 27, 2018

Fans have been clamoring for a fight between UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov and streaking contender Tony Ferguson for years. Yet from the sounds of it, Nurmagomedov and his team aren’t particularly interested in this fight at present. According to Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz, the champion is targeting bigger, more lucrative opportunities.

Tom Taylor - December 27, 2018

Late last week, a Jon Jones drug test turned up trace amounts of the banned substance turinabol — the same substance he was flagged and suspended for after UFC 214 in 2017. The amount of turinabol detected on this test was so small, however, that the United States Anti-Doping Agency was not prepared to label it a violation. While the UFC had to move Jon Jones’ UFC 232 fight with Alexander Gustafsson from Las Vegas to Los Angeles as a result of this test anomaly, the fight will go ahead as planned this Saturday. That being said, many fans have lingering doubts surrounding the former champ’s innocence.

Tom Taylor - December 27, 2018

Despite the assurances of California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) director Andy Foster and UFC VP of Athlete Health and Performance Jeff Novitzky, some members of the MMA community still aren’t convinced that Jon Jones is completely clean heading into to his UFC 232 showdown with Alexander Gustafsson. In the opinion of UFC commentator Joe Rogan, however, Foster and Novitzky’s comments on the topic of Jones’ “atypical” drug test findings can be trusted. He reminds that both men are experts in their fields.

Cole Shelton - December 27, 2018

In the main event of UFC 232 this Saturday, former UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon — though not in the setting we originally expected. His opponent in this return to action will be Alexander Gustafsson, the Swedish star who gave him his toughest challenge to date back in 2013. Ahead of this massive UFC 232 rematch between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson, BJPENN.com reached out to a number of pro fighters to get their predictions for the bout.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 27, 2018

It has been a memorable year for Thailand’s Stamp Fairtex. The 21-year-old claimed the ONE Kickboxing Atomweight World Championship in her promotional debut in October at ONE: KINGDOM  OF HEROES and her star looks set to shine even brighter in 2019. Stamp comprehensively outpointed defending champion Kai Ting Chuang throughout their five-round contest on her way to earning a unanimous decision victory. It was the co-main event of the evening and was watched by millions worldwide.

Tom Taylor - December 27, 2018

20-year-old Japanese kickboxing wunderkind Tenshin Nasukawa is currently gearing up for the experience of a lifetime: a three-round exhibition boxing match with undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. The bout will top the stacked RIZIN 14 card, which goes down inside the hallowed Saitaima Super Arena, just outside Tokyo, Japan, on New Years Eve. Given that Tenshin Nasukawa and Floyd Mayweather come from two different sports — one that allows kicks, one that doesn’t — it should come as no surprise that the negotiations for this anticipated exhibition match were difficult. The two parties had to agree on a rule-set that would satisfy Mayweather, but also maintain some level of competitive legitimacy.

Tom Taylor - December 27, 2018

Back in November, ONE Championship announced that it will be promoting exciting Grand Prix tournaments in its flyweight and lightweight divisions, featuring new signees Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Alvarez respectively. On Thursday afternoon, the Singapore-based martial arts powerhouse announced plans for another epic Grand Prix in 2019.

Drake Riggs - December 27, 2018

For many, the moving of UFC 232 from it’s originally planned location of Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena to the Los Angeles Forum on a week’s notice means more than just a simple relocating. The reason for it was due to an ‘atypical finding’ in one of one half of the event’s main event, Jon Jones’ drug tests. Because of this, the Nevada State Athletic Commission declined him of his license thus prompting the UFC to move the show to California. A state where the returning former light heavyweight champion has a temporary license.

Drake Riggs - December 26, 2018

From Las Vegas to Los Angeles all on one week’s notice. And all because of one half of the UFC 232 headliner, Jon ‘Bones’ Jones. Jones makes his return to the Octagon once again this Saturday night after some troubles with USADA. And after another recent scare due to an ‘atypical finding’ in one of Jones’ recent tests, the UFC moved the entire UFC 232 card from its original location of Las Vegas to Los Angeles, California in the Inglewood Forum.

Drake Riggs - December 26, 2018

Booking a welterweight title bout seems to be more of a struggle than it should be for the UFC lately. With three fighters all in the immediate mix and their voices being heard when it comes to who and when they would like to fight next, there should be more clarity than there is. After capturing the interim crown in June, Colby Covington seemed perfectly positioned to face his former teammate turned rival in the champion Tyron Woodley.

Drake Riggs - December 26, 2018

It takes two to tango. So if one party isn’t down to dance, you’ll need to find someone else. This was the case for Alexander Gustafsson and Jon Jones who are headlining this Saturday night’s UFC 232 event which closes out the year for the UFC.

Drake Riggs - December 26, 2018

As the week goes on, the UFC 232 chaos begins to settle down as things get re-set and confirmed for the new venue in Los Angeles rather than Las Vegas. Currently, fighters on the card are now in Las Vegas where the card was originally to take place but they will be heading to Los Angeles tomorrow.

Thomas Taylor - December 26, 2018

Earlier today, on an episode of MMAjunkie Radio, manager Ali Abdelaziz claimed that streaking welterweight contender Kamaru Usman will “100%” get the next crack at UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, apparently at UFC 235 on March 2 in Las Vegas. Shortly thereafter, UFC President Dana White confirmed to MMAjunkie that Kamaru Usman will fight for the welterweight title next — but it might not be against Tyron Woodley. The UFC boss says Usman will fight for the welterweight title with our without Woodley.

Tom Taylor - December 26, 2018

UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley says he was hoping to find a contract for a fight with Colby Covington under his Christmas tree this year, but apparently, he didn’t get his wish. Speaking on Twitter on Wednesday, the welterweight champion took a shot at Covington, accusing the top welterweight contender of “b*tching out.”

Tom Taylor - December 26, 2018

According to manager Ali Abdelaziz, streaking welterweight contender Kamaru Usman will “100%” get the next shot at UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. The fight will apparently occur at UFC 235, which goes down on March 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Abdelaziz made this claim on a Wednesday episode of MMAjunkie Radio.

Christine Allen - December 26, 2018

“It’s going to be part of my legacy, these injuries,” former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz said on a recent episode of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show. “How many people go through life with problems? Life is no different from fighting and that’s why I love fighting so much…whether you play sport or not, athletes go through and build through adversity on a stage that the general public can connect to.” As humans, the arrival of setbacks, adversity and loss in our lives is virtually guaranteed. And while we often revere our favorite fighters to near god-like status, they are no different in their susceptibility to suffering than the rest of us.