MMA News

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

With a successful UFC 230 heavyweight title defense opposite Derek Lewis now in the books, UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier is now looking to the future. At present, the expectation is that he will next defend his heavyweight title against former champion and current WWE star Brock Lesnar. With Lesnar’s future still uncertain, however, Cormier has a backup plan: Jon Jones.

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.

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.

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2018

Sources have confirmed to BJPENN.COM that Floyd Mayweather Jr. is set to appear at an imminent RIZIN Fighting Federation press conference. The press conference will occur in Tokyo, Japan at 12:00pm Monday local time (10:00pm Sunday ET). This English-friendly press conference will stream live on the promotion’s official YouTube channel, and is sure to include some pretty interesting news. In fact, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that Mayweather will fight for the Japanese promotion.

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.”

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.

Christopher Taylor - November 4, 2018

Former Bellator and ONE Championship title holder Ben Askren will make his UFC debut in 2019 and claims there are only two suitable opponents for his first fight with the promotion. Ben Askren joined the ESPN crew during last night’s UFC 230 broadcast where he discussed being traded to the UFC and who he will likely square off with in his first octagon appearance.

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.

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

Ever since the UFC and ONE Championship agreed to the historic trade that sent Demetrious Johnson to ONE and Ben Askren to the UFC, the latter has been calling out almost everyone. Askren is expected to face a top-five welterweight in his debut according to UFC President Dana White. Who that will be or when he will debut, however, remains a mystery.

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. 

Chris Taylor - November 3, 2018

Tonight’s UFC 230 event in New York was headlined by a heavyweight title fight featuring current champion Daniel Cormier taking on surging division contender Derrick Lewis. Daniel Cormier was last seen in action at July’s UFC 226 event where he scored a first-round knockout victory over Stipe Miocic to claim the promotions coveted heavyweight title.

Chris Taylor - November 3, 2018

Tonight’s UFC 230 event in New York was headlined by a heavyweight title fight featuring current champion Daniel Cormier taking on surging division contender Derrick Lewis. Daniel Cormier was last seen in action at July’s UFC 226 event where he scored a first-round knockout victory over Stipe Miocic to claim the promotions coveted heavyweight title.