MMA News
Jon Jones fires back at his critics: "Who said that’s what a champion has to be?"
Chris Taylor - December 22, 2018
Former UFC light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones will return to the octagon at next Saturday’s UFC 232 event for a title fight rematch with Alexander Gustafsson. Jones and Gustafsson originally collided at UFC 165 in Toronto and produced one of the greatest fights in UFC history.
UFC 232: Jones vs. Gustafsson 2 Fight Card and Start Times
Chris Taylor - December 22, 2018
The octagon will return to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas next Saturday for the promotions UFC 232: Jones vs. Gustafsson 2 fight card. Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson first met at UFC 165 in Toronto and produced arguably the greatest fight in light heavyweight history.
Let's have some fun: Nate Diaz vs. Max Holloway at lightweight
Chris Taylor - December 22, 2018
Max Holloway handed Brian Ortega the first loss of his professional career earlier this month at UFC 231 and made it look easy. The current UFC featherweight kingpin, Holloway battered “T-City” with a record-setting number of significant strikes on route to a fourth-round TKO victory.
Frank Mir wants rematch with Javy Ayala to determine if he should continue fighting
Chris Taylor - December 22, 2018
Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir (18-13 MMA) is looking to book a rematch with Javy Ayala in order to determine his future in the fight game. Mir suffered the first submission defeat of his storied mixed martial arts career to Ayala at Bellator 212 in Honolulu earlier this month.
Cain Velasquez signs a new four-fight deal with the UFC and will return to the octagon February 17
Chris Taylor - December 22, 2018
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has signed a new four-fight deal with the UFC and will return tot he octagon on February 17 in Phoenix, Arizona. The news of Cain’s new four-fight contract came via ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, who posted the following on Twitter.
Heavy Lies The Crown: Max Holloway Edition
Chris Taylor - December 22, 2018
In this week’s “Heavy Lies the Crown” feature, BJPENN.com’s Chris Taylor takes a look at the dangerous challenges awaiting current UFC featherweight king Max Holloway. “Blessed” defended his 145-pound title in stunning fashion earlier this month at UFC 231, scoring a lopsided TKO victory over an insanely tough Brian Ortega in Toronto.
VIDEO | Nick Diaz goes off on bizarre rant, but what does it mean?
Chris Taylor - December 22, 2018
If you follow former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz on Instagram, then you know he likes to post a lot of short selfie videos detailing what he is smoking and where he is currently partying. Diaz recently posted a ton of video content on his Instagram, which was later compiled into one long video by BloodyElbow’s Anton Tabuena.
Dana White claims that the UFC puts on 'the best live event in all of sports'
Drake Riggs - December 21, 2018
2018 was a big year for the top MMA promotion in the world. And according to the boss himself, the live experience of the UFC product is simply unmatched. Having been the UFC President since 2001, Dana White has seen it all when it comes to the fight business. White, an avid sports fan of all kinds, recently made an appearance on the Barstool Sports podcast where he made some bold claims.
Michael Chiesa wants 'all profits made' by Conor McGregor at UFC 229 from 'pre-meditated publicity stunt' bus attack
Drake Riggs - December 21, 2018
Next Saturday night, season 15 winner of The Ultimate Fighter, Michael ‘Maverick’ Chiesa makes his return to the cage at UFC 232 to take on Carlos Condit in his UFC welterweight debut. However, Chiesa continues to fight his fight outside the MMA world as well.
EXCLUSIVE | Jinh Yu Frey: 'Old guard' atop the mountain
Drake Riggs - December 21, 2018
Becoming a champion is never an easy thing to achieve no matter the sport. In MMA however, it may be even harder than most as the fighters are simply relying on themselves to get their jobs done.
EXCLUSIVE | Mike Rodriguez talks UFC Milwaukee win and comparisons to Jon Jones
Mike Straus - December 21, 2018
Fresh off his UFC Milwaukee victory, “Slow” Mike Rodriguez is taking some time to enjoy the holidays before it’s right back to work in 2019. Rodriguez first burst onto the scene last summer when he earned his UFC contract on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. Since then Rodriguez’s life has changed a bit.
UFC announces Holly Holm will return at UFC 235
Tom Taylor - December 21, 2018
UFC 235 keeps getting better. According to a report from UFC.com, the latest high-profile matchup tacked onto the card will pit former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and two-time featherweight title challenger Holly Holm against rising contender Aspen Ladd. The veteran vs the rising star!@HollyHolm meets @AspenLaddMMA at #UFC235 in Las Vegas! pic.twitter.com/p8UAplhboi
Official poster released for UFC on ESPN+ 1, featuring TJ Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo
Tom Taylor - December 21, 2018
On January 19, the UFC will debut on the streaming service ESPN+ with an impressive night of fights. Headlined by a flyweight title fight between reigning champion Henry Cejudo and slimmed down bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw, the card is easily one of the most anticipated features on the UFC’s 2019 calendar so far. And now the card has an official poster.
Alex Hernandez on Cowboy Cerrone: 'I’m going to break him like everyone else'
James Lynch - December 21, 2018
Alex Hernandez will be the first to tell you, he didn’t expect to get Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone as his next opponent. Speaking with MMANews, Hernandez divulged that he plans to seize the opportunity when the pair square off at UFC on ESPN+1 on Jan. 19. “I’m just as dumbfounded as the rest of the world.” Hernandez explained. “I’m just happy to be in this position. I’m sure as s**t as always going to make the most of it. Last I heard [Cerrone] was talking about fighting McGregor, this and that. It’s like how the hell do you go from that to me?”
Jon Jones explains why he declined to undergo additional VADA testing
Tom Taylor - December 21, 2018
At a hearing earlier this month, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), advised former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones to enroll in VADA drug testing in addition to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) drug testing that he’s subject to as a UFC fighter. This extra testing was not mandatory, merely encouraged. “I, for one, would like to put the doubts to sleep and to put them away once and for all,” commissioner Martha Shen-Urquidez told Jones at the hearing. “And for people to believe you, that you are that talented and that you are the greatest, and that you can win a fight just clean, and that this is Jon Jones, and to put those doubts away once and for all.”
UFC President Dana White praises 'brilliant' Joe Rogan
Tom Taylor - December 21, 2018
In the opinion of UFC President Dana White, Joe Rogan is the best to ever sit behind the UFC commentary booth, and a major driver of the UFC’s success. The UFC President heaped praise on the long-time UFC color commentator in a recent interview with Barstool Sports
VIDEO | Cris Cyborg reportedly takes brutal fall ahead of UFC 232 title fight
Tom Taylor - December 21, 2018
On December 29, in the co-main event of UFC 232, dominant UFC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg is expected to defend her title against women’s bantamweight champ Amanda Nunes — that is, if a recent fall hasn’t derailed that plan. Cyborg recently attempted the In My Feelings challenge, a dance challenge inspired by the Drake song of the same name. Cyborg incorporated a shopping cart into her attempt at the dance challenge, and ultimately took a brutal fall as she exited the shopping cart.
Jon Jones believes Daniel Cormier will turn down his recent challenge
Tom Taylor - December 21, 2018
After keeping his mouth shut through throughout his recent United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) suspension, former UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones says he will no longer be allowing negative comments to go unchallenged — particularly from his arch rival Daniel Cormier. “The only reason I brought up the name of Daniel Cormier is that he brought up my name,” Jones said on the UFC 232 pre-fight conference call (transcript via MMA Fighting). “And I just figured, when I was in trouble, I just stepped back, all summer long, and let everybody talk as much sh*t as they want, and just talk blindly, knowing no facts. I watched everybody that I beat in the past say ‘ohh, he was on steroids when he fought me the first time, that’s why he beat me.’ I just sat back and let everybody have at it.”