MMA News

Mike Straus - December 4, 2018

After a brutal knockout and a series of unfortunate events, Josh Emmett is back training with Team Alpha Male. Heading into UFC on FOX 28 earlier this year Emmett was coming off the most impressive performance of his career. Unfortunately, he ran into a buzzsaw named Jeremy Stephens in Orlando, Florida, and that’s where Emmett’s troubles began.

Drake Riggs - December 4, 2018

After a briefly controversial moment in his last time out this past Friday, Joseph Benavidez (26-5) still found himself able to secure the win by first-round TKO over Alex Perez. The win marked Benavidez’ first since December 2016 when he defeated the now champion, Henry Cejudo.

Cole Shelton - December 4, 2018

The Ultimate Fighter 28 just wrapped up and heavyweight Juan Espino was crowned the winner. Espino’s road to the UFC has been a long one. In Spain, where he was born, MMA is not a sport that many people partake in. Instead, most play soccer. However, Espino was unlike most of his peers and he chased his dream of being a professional fighter.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 4, 2018

When Kevin Chung returns to the cage for the first time in more than 12 months on Friday night (Friday morning in North America), he will have two things on his mind. Firstly, he wants to stop Japan’s Daichi Takenaka in his tracks. But secondly, Chung wants to be a trailblazer and set the example for Asian-American athletes. As Chung looks out at the mixed martial arts landscape in Virginia, USA, he does not see too many athletes like him. However, that is something the American-born Korean wants to change with his success in ONE Championship.

Tom Taylor - December 4, 2018

In June of 2016, seven-time UFC veteran and former MFC light heavyweight champion Ryan Jimmo was hit by a car and killed in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This week, Anthony Getschel, the man responsible for Jimmo’s death, was sentenced to eight years in prison for this incident — six years for manslaughter and two more for fleeing in the scene. The Edmonton Journal detailed the tragic circumstances of Jimmo’s death in a Monday report.

Cole Shelton - December 4, 2018

Brian Ortega is ready to become the next UFC featherweight champion. He’ll get the chance to earn that title when he battles reigning champ Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 231 this Saturday. This Brian Ortega vs. Max Holloway is a tough one for many fans to predict, as both fighters have tons of momentum behind them and possess very well-rounded skillsets. Ortega believes this is why fans are likely to tune in.

Tom Taylor - December 4, 2018

Resurgent Brit Tyson Fury put forth a masterful performance in his Saturday night WBC heavyweight title fight with champion Deontay Wilder. Unfortunately, the bout was not without controversy. In the 12th round of the fight — which was ultimately ruled a draw — Tyson Fury was knocked senseless by a crushing Deontay Wilder combination. Miraculously, however, the Brit was able to return to his feet, and in the eyes of many onlookers, went on to outperform Wilder for the remainder of the final round.

Tom Taylor - December 4, 2018

When Kamaru Usman defeated Rafael dos Anjos at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale last Friday night, he asserted himself as one of the uppermost contenders in the crowded UFC welterweight division. In fact, UFC President Dana White suggested Usman might have even surpassed Colby Covington and earned himself a title fight with long-time welterweight champ Tyron Woodley. Interestingly, however, Kamaru Usman seems to relish the opportunity to settle his beef with Colby Covington even more than he wants to fight Woodley for the title.

Tom Taylor - December 4, 2018

Streaking UFC middleweight contender Israel Adesanya is easily one of the most hyped fighters on the UFC roster at present. Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping is impressed by the Nigerian-born New Zealander — but not so much that he believes he couldn’t beat him. In fact, Bisping believes he’d have “an easy time” against Adesanya.

Mike Straus - December 4, 2018

Antonio McKee coached Chuck Liddell for his comeback fight with Tito Ortiz. Unfortunately, this comeback didn’t end well for “The Iceman”, as he was stopped by Ortiz in the first round. Since then, Liddell and McKee have taken some blowback from the combat sports community. Having spent the last eight weeks with Chuck Liddell in the lead-up to the fight, McKee has grown fond of the Hall of Famer, so when the fans and media had harsh words for him, McKee wasn’t pleased.

Cole Shelton - December 4, 2018

Brian Ortega and Max Holloway are set to fight at UFC 231 on Saturday for the UFC featherweight belt. This isn’t the first time the two have been scheduled to fight, however. At UFC 226 in July, Holloway and Ortega were booked to collide, but Holloway ended up having to pull out of the fight. It was reported that the Hawaiian had concussion-like symptoms and perhaps some trouble with his weight cut. However, it has never been revealed what actually happened. As a result, Ortega has lingering doubts

Tom Taylor - December 4, 2018

Nicco Montano began the year as the first-ever UFC women’s flyweight champion. Unfortunately, after a string of injuries and health issues, she was stripped of that title, and will now watch on as Valentina Shevchenko and Joanna Jedrzejczyk battle for the vacant throne at UFC 231 this Saturday in Toronto. On Monday, which is recognized as Nicco Montano Day by the Navajo Nation, Montano reflected on this turbulent year.

Drake Riggs - December 3, 2018

The light heavyweight division has recently begun to see some new talents emerge and leading the charge are the likes of the experienced Anthony “Lionheart” Smith and the young rising contender, Dominick Reyes. After Smith’s biggest win of his career over the previously No. 2 ranked Volkan Oezdemir in October, Smith now finds himself poised for another big fight but also with a target on his back.

Thomas Taylor - December 3, 2018

As a long-time color commentator for the UFC, Joe Rogan watches a lot of fights. Even when he’s not on duty for UFC cards, he often watches the events for his Fight Companion podcasts. And then, of course, there’s his passion for Brazilian jiu jitsu, boxing, Muay Thai and kickboxing, which also takes up a lot of his attention… Really, it’s hard to comprehend how Joe Rogan has time to do anything but watch fights.

Drake Riggs - December 3, 2018

Capping off 2018’s MMA calendar will be RIZIN 14 on New Year’s Eve. With the full lineup now revealed, there is plenty to look forward to. Among the announced bouts, for most, the most anticipated will be the fantasy bout that will be fought over the inaugural RIZIN bantamweight title. That fight will feature none other than the current Bellator 135-pound champion, Darrion ‘The Wolf’ Caldwell as he goes to Japan to challenge one of their biggest stars in Kyoji Horiguchi.

Drake Riggs - December 3, 2018

If we are indeed soon to be getting a new 165-pound weight class in the UFC, UFC President Dana White will do everything in his power to make sure that it’s kept a secret. With the recent rumblings of the 125-pound flyweight division’s dissolving, it has led many to believe that a new division will be coming in to replace it. And the only one that has been teased over the last few months is one that would fit between lightweight and welterweight.

Mike Pendleton - December 3, 2018

Jimmie Rivera is looking for a fight, but he can’t seem to find a willing opponent. As current UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw prepares to fight Henry Cejudo for the flyweight title at UFC 233, Rivera has been angling for a fight with former champion Cody Garbrandt.

Cole Shelton - December 3, 2018

When MMA fans think of the top gyms in the sport, they think of American Top Team, JacksonWink MMA, Team Alpha Male, The MMA Lab, and many others. And rightfully so. However, not many fans seem to think of Fortis MMA. Some fans might not have even have heard of the gym. But that could soon change. Fortis MMA and its head coach Sayif Saud are no longer flying under the radar. That is because over the past year all the gym’s fighters have done is win and collect championships. Fortis MMA is based out of Dallas Texas, and has only been around for about two years. In that two years though, Saud built the program up. He initially had no fighters in the UFC or any top promotion for that matter under his roof. Instead, he took on fighters who were either amateurs or only had one or two professional fights.