MMA News

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018

Given how long it took for Ben Askren, inarguably one of the best welterweights in the world, to sign with the UFC, you would not be faulted for thinking that the promotion’s brass were not fans of his. In fact, given the way UFC President Dana White has previously spoken about Askren, it’d be understandable if you thought he hated the welterweight star outright. Speaking at the post-fight press conference for UFC 230, which Ben Askren attended, Dana White assured this is not the case. In fact, Dana White says he came up with the deal that ultimately brought Askren to the UFC in exchange for Demetrious Johnson.

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018

On Saturday night, in the opening bout of the UFC 230 main card, long-time UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson stepped into the cage with red-hot striking specialist Israel Adesanya. Although Brunson had a spot of success with his wrestling early on in this fight, he ultimately became the latest victim of Adesanya’s venomous striking attack, wilting under a storm of strikes in the first round. On Sunday evening, Derek Brunson broke his silence on this tough loss to Israel Adesanya. While he is obviously disappointed, he seems to be taking the setback in stride, as he’s promising to get right back on the horse.

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018

So many times before, we’ve seen massively hyped fighters stumble as the near the proverbial mountaintop. Surging UFC middleweight contender Israel Adesanya, however, could not have looked  more surefooted in his massive UFC 230 showdown with missile-fisted wrestler Derek Brunson. Ahead of the fight, it was easy to imagine a world where Brunson repeatedly took Israel Adesanya down and mushed him through the chainlink so forcefully that the he oozed out the other side and onto the commentary booth in diamond-shaped chunks. But this isn’t the way it happened. Instead, Israel Adesanya shut down his foe’s takedown attempts, and forced a firefight on the feet, where he reduced Brunson to rubble with some of the slickest, most pinpoint striking we’ve seen in the Octagon.

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018

On Sunday afternoon, BJPENN.COM’s Chris Taylor reported that the UFC is targeting a pair of crucial welterweight contender bouts for the early phases of the New Year. The first, Taylor reported, is expected to pit former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler against ever-dangerous karate stylist Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. The other is expected to pit recent UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till against former ONE and Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren, who recently signed with the UFC.

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018

Although he had much of the MMA community rooting for him, beloved heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis was not able to defy the odds in his short-notice UFC 230 title fight with the division’s apex predator Daniel Cormier. Instead, Lewis was soundly outwrestled and ultimately submitted in the bout’s second round. That being said, Derrick Lewis’ allure has not diminished. While he generally fights with all the elegance and finesse of a wrecking ball, he is, by the same token, still capable of reducing pretty much anybody to a pile of bones and leather, and could conceivably still capture the UFC heavyweight title in the future, particularly once The Baddest Man on the Planet/ World’s Greatest Dad Daniel Cormier has driven his minivan off into the sunset.

Cole Shelton - November 4, 2018

On Saturday night, at UFC 230, Israel Adesanya had a coming out party of sorts. The rising star defeated Derek Brunson in the first round by TKO. Adesanya looked composed the entire fight, however, in the post-fight press conference, Israel Adesanya revealed his fight against Brunson almost didn’t happen. “I almost pulled out of this fight,” Adesanya said. “Like literally, three days, maybe two days away from pulling out of this fight. I was limping. You can ask Dan Hooker and people at my gym. I had the baddest — I’ll post the video so it makes sense. My knee was so inflamed.

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018

Undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. will soon collide with kickboxing wunderkind Tenshin Nasukawa, sources have confirmed to BJPENN.COM. This blockbuster fight is expected to occur at RIZIN 14, inside Tokyo, Japan’s hallowed Saitama Super Arena on New Years Eve. Rizin will officially announce this news at a press conference that is unfolding presently in Tokyo, and broadcasting on the promotion’s YouTube channel. Tenshin Nasukawa will be present at this press conference, as will Floyd Mayweather, who recently arrived in Japan on his private jet.

Christopher Taylor - November 4, 2018

Daniel Cormier defended his UFC heavyweight championship for the first time at last night’s UFC 230 event, scoring a second-round submission victory over Derrick Lewis. The victory, which occurred at New York’s famous Madison Square Garden arena, helped solidify Cormier’s status as one of the best fighters in mixed martial arts history.

Jason Kindschy - November 4, 2018

Bibiano Fernandes returns to preview his upcoming title defense against Kevin Belingon at ONE: Heart of the Lion in Singapore on November 9th. Fernandes was forced to take time off following a foot injury and Belingon was able to capture the interim title in Bibiano’s absence. Now “The Flash” looks to remind the world why he is the rightful champion and dispatch Belingon for a second time in this highly-anticipated rematch. We’ll also discuss Bibiano’s longtime friend and training partner Demetrious Johnson’s move to ONE Championship, and why Fernandes believes that the Asian market is the best place for “Mighty Mouse.”

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018

On Saturday night, in the co-main event of UFC 230, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman stepped into the cage with former Strikeforce middleweight king and BJJ legend Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. Weidman was originally expected to rematch Luke Rockhold on the card, but when Rockhold was forced out of the fight with an injury, he was reassigned to this fight with Jacare. Given that fans have been dying to see Weidman fight Jacare for years, there was not a lot in the way of disappointment when this short-notice matchup was announced. In the end, however, it would not go the way Weidman planned. After two wild rounds that featured several thrilling momentum shifts, the former UFC champ was put down by a thunderous punch that left him supine on the canvas.

Christopher Taylor - November 4, 2018

The Ultimate Fighting Championship revealed it’s first quarter event schedule for 2019 during last night’s UFC 230 broadcast. The first show of the 2019 calendar year takes place January 19 event in Brooklyn, New York. The historic event will be the UFC’s first fight card to air on EPSN and ESPN+.

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018

From the sounds of it, the first quarter of 2019 is going to be a busy stretch for the UFC welterweight division. According to BJPENN.COM’s Chris Taylor, the UFC is currently working on a pair of huge welterweight matchups for the New Year. The first is expected to pit former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler against two-time welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. The second will see former ONE and Bellator welterweight kingpin Ben Askren make his Octagon debut opposite recent title challenger Darren Till. This just in! Per multiple sources close to the situation, the UFC is targeting the following two welterweight bouts for early 2019:Stephen Thompson vs Robbie Lawler and Ben Askren vs Darren Till. Neither fight has been officially signed but that is the intention.

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018

Last night, in the opening bout of the UFC 230 main card, red-hot UFC middleweight contender Israel Adesanya picked up the biggest win of his career, dissecting long-time contender Derek Brunson with some of the finest striking we’ve ever seen in the Octagon. With this win, just about everybody jumped aboard the Israel Adesanya hype train — and that includes UFC President Dana White. The boss showered the Nigerian New Zealander with praise shortly after the card wrapped up.

Christopher Taylor - November 4, 2018

Daniel Cormier nearly withdrew from UFC 230 just hours before his scheduled main event title fight with Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis. After defeating Derrick Lewis via second-round submission in last night’s UFC 230 main event, Daniel Cormier revealed that he had injured his back that same morning and was almost forced to pullout of the contest.

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018

ONE Championship heavyweight kingpin Brandon Vera is once again set to defend his title. The Filipino-American striking specialist will do so on November 23 in Manila, The Philippines, where he will battle Cage Warriors heavyweight champion Mauro “The Hammer” Cerilli. Given the skill of his upcoming opponent, Brandon Vera knows that victory is not a certainty. What he is certain of, however, is that the bout will be thrilling, and that it could end at any second. For that reason, he urges his fans to save their bathroom breaks for after the fight.

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018

It’s been awhile since we’ve seen UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal in the cage, but he’s been staying plenty busy outside of it. Masvidal just wrapped up a stint on a Spanish reality television show called Exatlón Estados Unidos.

Cole Shelton - November 4, 2018

YouTuber Jake Paul has called out Bellator’s Dillon Danis. Paul recently participated in a boxing match against fellow YouTuber Deji, which he won. Since the bout, both Jake and his brother Logan have been wanting to fight in the UFC. Logan sent out several tweets on the subject, which prompted UFC President Dana White to say the YouTube stars would get ‘murdered’ in the UFC. 

Christopher Taylor - November 3, 2018

Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman made his highly anticipated octagon return against Ronaldo Jacare” Souza at last night’s UFC 230 event in New York. “The All American” had not stepped foot inside the octagon since July of 2017, where he scored a third-round submission victory over soon-to-be title challenger Kelvin Gastelum at UFC on FOX 25.