MMA News

Colby Covington
Isaac Vallie-Flagg

BJPENN.COM Radio Ep. 104 // Colby Covington | Mike Perry | Issac Vallie-Flagg

Jason Kindschy - November 15, 2018

Colby Covington returns to the show and brings the heat as usual. We’ll get an update on the inevitable fight with Tyron Woodley and hear when Colby expects the title-unification bout to go down. “Chaos” also gives us a lengthy response to recent callouts by UFC signee Ben Askren, his thoughts on the return of Jon Jones and the matchup against Alexander Gustafson, the fate of Khabib Nurmagomedov, other possible matchups after Woodley, and Colby’s eventual transition to WWE. Yet another must-listen interview from the champ!

Nick Diaz
Nick Diaz

Breaking! Nick Diaz will reportedly return to the octagon at UFC 235

Christopher Taylor - November 15, 2018

Huge news for fans of Nick Diaz! UFC President Dana White tells ESPN that the former Strikeforce welterweight champion will be returning to the octagon on March 2 at UFC 235 against Jorge Masvidal.

Floyd Mayweather, Tenshin Nasukawa
RIZIN FF

Floyd Mayweather says Tenshin Nasukawa fight is back on the table

Tom Taylor - November 15, 2018

Earlier this month, BJPENN.COM reported that undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather had signed on for a shocking fight with undefeated kickboxing wunderkind Tenshin Nasukawa under the Rizin banner. The fight was said to be scheduled for December 31 in Tokyo, Japan, and the rules for the bout were apparently being negotiated. Then it all came crashing down.

Paige VanZant, Conor McGregor
Paige VanZant

Paige VanZant explains the 'genius' of Conor McGregor

Tom Taylor - November 15, 2018

Conor McGregor is far and away the biggest star in mixed martial arts history. He’s earned bigger paydays than any of his peers, and headlined many of the biggest pay-per-views the UFC has promoted. Not everybody, however, is a fan of the Irishman. While his skill and showmanship are undeniable, his bravado and trash talk rub many members of the MMA community the wrong way.

UFC Argentina
UFC Argentina

UFC Argentina: Three reasons why you should be watching

Mike Straus - November 15, 2018

This Saturday night, the Octagon touches down in Buenos Aires, Argentina for UFC Fight Night 140. The fans in attendance for this UFC Argentina card are in for a solid night of fights. UFC Argentina is a Fight Pass card, meaning you’ll have to subscribe to the service in order to watch it. Hopefully, that doesn’t discourage anyone from tuning in this Saturday night.

Sean O'Malley
UFC

Sean O'Malley has a message for anyone who thinks he's 'stupid enough to take a banned substance'

Tom Taylor - November 15, 2018

Red hot UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley was expected to make his anticipated return to the cage opposite José Alberto Quiñónez at UFC 229 on October 6. Regrettably, the popular bantamweight was forced off this card when he failed a pre-fight drug test administered by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Although new USADA policy dictates that potential violations are to no longer be announced, O’Malley chose to be forthright with his fans and explained that it was a failed drug test that forced him off the card. He also maintained that he did not mean to ingest a banned substance, and that his failed test was likely due to a tainted supplement.

Mackenzie Dern, Sijara Eubanks
Sijara Eubanks

Sijara Eubanks calls out Mackenzie Dern

James Lynch - November 15, 2018

After a title shot was taken away from her, and her picking up a win at UFC 230, Sijara Eubanks has her sights set on another opponent. The Ultimate Fighter Season 26 finalist called out jiu-jitsu sensation Mackenzie Dern for a matchup. Found this old gem…Hey @MackenzieDern how bout we run it back with the 4oz gloves! Let’s see who the realest bjj black belt in mma is! @AliAbdelaziz00 @danawhite @Mickmaynard2 pic.twitter.com/jVVyBMp8PB

Alexander-Gustafsson-Jon-Jones
Jon Jones

VIDEO | UFC releases thrilling promo for Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson UFC 232 rematch

Tom Taylor - November 15, 2018

https://youtu.be/dOrm10Vl8ik After years of waiting, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and long-time contender Alexander Gustafsson will finally rematch at UFC 232 on December 29. The pair’s long-awaited rematch has been given an extra infusion of excitement as it will be for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title, as reigning champion Daniel Cormier is expected to be stripped once they step into the cage.

Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan

Joe Rogan argues Conor McGregor 'did not tap prematurely' at UFC 229

Tom Taylor - November 15, 2018

Last month, in the main event of the UFC’s blockbuster UFC 229 pay-per-view, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Conor McGregor with what looked like a neck crank or face choke. Because this choke wasn’t under the chin — which would have made it a rear-naked choke — many fans have accused McGregor of giving up prematurely. UFC color commentator Joe Rogan wants to put an end to that talk. “He did not tap prematurely,” Joe Rogan said on his podcast recently (transcript via Pundit Arena). “He did not defend it though. He was done, he was beaten down. Khabib f**ked him up.

Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz
Golden Boy Promotions

Tito Ortiz coach questions Chuck Liddell's training footage: 'I think he’s playing a little bit of possum'

Tom Taylor - November 15, 2018

On November 24, Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz will meet for a third time. Ahead of this trilogy fight, we’ve seen several snippets of Liddell’s training, and many members of the MMA community are quite concerned about it, worrying that the 48-year-old Liddell looks alarmingly slow. Jason Parillo, one of the key coaches of Tito Ortiz, has seen this footage and had similar thoughts, wondering if Liddell might be attempting to give false impressions of himself ahead of the fight. He called the footage “hoax-y.”

Colby Covington, Tyron Woodley
Tyron Woodley

Colby Covington's manager says Tyron Woodley fight being discussed for UFC 233

Drake Riggs - November 14, 2018

UFC 233 takes place on January 26 and it is already looking like it will end up being a fantastic card to start off the new year. With one title fight already lined up, we could be getting a second at 170-pounds. It’s no secret that UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and interim champion Colby Covington do not like each other and are on a crash course to meet one another inside the Octagon at some point. It’s just a matter of when.

Luis-Pena-Artem-Lobov
UFC

Luis Pena dropping down to featherweight, wants to fight Artem Lobov

Drake Riggs - November 14, 2018

At UFC Denver this past Saturday, we got a clash between season 27 of The Ultimate Fighter contestants. One of which was the lightweight winner, Mike Trizano. Standing across from him was one of the season’s fighters with the most obvious potential, “Violent Bob Ross” Luis Pena.

Khabib-Nurmagomedov-Book-Cover
UFC

Khabib Nurmagomedov announces 'Khabib Time' autobiography

Drake Riggs - November 14, 2018

UFC lightweight champion Khabib ‘The Eagles’ Nurmagomedov’s popularity has reached new heights since his big win at UFC 229, and now he’s ready to share an in-depth side of his journey. Yesterday, the champion announced that his new autobiography titled ‘Khabib Time’ will be releasing soon. It will come out in Moscow, Russia later this month. (Translation by RT)

Robert-Whittaker
UFC

VIDEO | Robert Whittaker wins GQ Sportsman of the Year

Drake Riggs - November 14, 2018

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Cody McKenzie
UFC

UFC vet Cody McKenzie receives four-year NSAC ban for using 'urine substitute' in drug test

Tom Taylor - November 14, 2018

The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) has handed UFC veteran Cody McKenzie a hefty, four-year suspension for refusing to take a drug test, and then submitting fraudulent urine in said test. McKenzie did not appear at the commission’s hearing, which likely didn’t help his case.

Khabib Nurmagomedov
UFC

Khabib Nurmagomedov calls recent aid work in Africa a 'childhood dream'

Tom Taylor - November 14, 2018

Just over a month removed from his massive submission defeat of former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor, undefeated UFC lightweight kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov headed to Nigeria. The purpose of his visit, per a post on the UFC’s official Instagram post, is to “help build medical facilities and fix water wells around the area.” Speaking on his own Instagram page, the lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov gave a bit more information on this visit to Nigeria. He says the trip is the realization of a ‘childhood dream,’ and that there are more projects in the country underway.

Sean O'Malley
UFC

Sean O'Malley gets 6-month NSAC suspension

Tom Taylor - November 14, 2018

Rising UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley has been handed a 6-month suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for failing a United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) drug test administered ahead of his cancelled UFC 229 fight, per MMAjunkie. O’Malley received a reduced suspension on the basis of his cooperation with the commission, and because he accepted responsibility for his failed test. In addition to his suspension, he will reportedly have to pay $472.42 in costs and fees.

Robert Whittaker

Israel Adesanya explains how he will beat Robert Whittaker

Tom Taylor - November 14, 2018

Israel Adesanya looks more and more like a future UFC middleweight title challenger with every passing fight. In fact, after his UFC 230 execution of long-time contender Derek Brunson, his fighting for the title in the near future looks less like a likelihood and more like a downright certainty. The UFC middleweight title is currently held by Australia’s Robert Whittaker. Provided Whittaker defeats his next challenger Kelvin Gastelum, who he’ll meet at UFC 234 in late January, he could easily find himself locked in the cage with the Nigerian Kiwi Israel Adesanya soon thereafter.