MMA News

Tom Taylor - October 23, 2018

On Monday night, former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor released an honest and astute assessment of his UFC 229 submission loss to undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Tom Taylor - October 23, 2018

On November 3, in the main event of UFC 230, UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight Daniel Cormier will attempt to defend that latter title against fearsome heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis. Then, when Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson battle in the main event of UFC 232 on December 29, Cormier will be stripped of his light heavyweight title. At least, that’s the way the UFC is planning it.

Tom Taylor - October 23, 2018

ONE middleweight and light heavyweight champion Aung La N Sang is a hero to the people of Myanmar. When he fights in the country — as he has in his last four bouts — it has the feeling of a national event. The Burmese champion draws nationwide media attention and unfailingly packs Yangon’s Thuwunna Indoor Stadium to the rafters. His next fight, which will pit him against the undefeated Mohammad Karaki in the main event of ONE: Pursuit of Greatness this Friday, will be no different.

Tom Taylor - October 23, 2018

Originally, UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier was expected to make the first defense of his heavyweight title opposite former champion and long-time WWE star Brock Lesnar. Yet when the UFC needed a main event for UFC 230, which goes down on November 3 in New York, Cormier agreed to a short-notice heavyweight title fight with streaking contender Derrick Lewis While Derrick Lewis is now the first item on Daniel Cormier’s to-do list, the champ has remained adamant that there is still a Brock Lesnar fight in his future.

Tom Taylor - October 23, 2018

Shortly after undefeated UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Conor McGregor in the main event of UFC 229 earlier this month, he careened over the side of the Octagon and attacked McGregor’s training partner Dillon Danis. Seconds later, McGregor was getting into it with several of Nurmagomedov’s training partners inside the cage. It was a truly chaotic end to an otherwise hugely successful night for the UFC. In the wake of this post-UFC 229 brawl, dozens of members of the MMA community spoke up to share their distaste for the chaotic scene. Yet UFC President Dana White feels he was the only one that as truly bothered by it.

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 23, 2018

There are few martial artists in the world who have accomplished as much or more than Eddie Alvarez has in his 15-year, 36-bout career. That’s why ONE Championship’s recent signing of the Underground King was such a big deal. The 34-year-old has won multiple championships with a number of different organizations, but he hasn’t conquered a division in ONE. During a global press conference to promote the upcoming ONE: HEART OF THE LION event in Singapore in November, and to introduce Alvarez, the 34-year-old talked about his upcoming challenge, new opportunity, and organization.

Tom Taylor - October 23, 2018

Juan Adams, an undefeated heavyweight prospect who earned a UFC contract with a knockout of Shawn Teed on a July episode of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, is extremely confident. While he is still yet to partake in his UFC debut, a December 15 scrap with Chris De La Rocha, he already feels like he can beat any heavyweight on the UFC roster — with the exception of three men. In Juan Adams’ eyes, the only UFC heavyweights that he’d struggle against currently are Curtis Blaydes, Alistair Overeem, and reigning champ Daniel Cormier. The hulking prospect broke it down on episode 102 of BJPENN.COM Radio.

Christopher Taylor - October 22, 2018

Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor suffered a fourth-round submission loss to current lightweight kingpin Khabib Nurmagomdeov at UFC 229. The fight marked the Irish superstars first octagon appearance since UFC 205 in November of 2016 where he defeated then lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez via second-round TKO.

Drake Riggs - October 22, 2018

It appears that we may now be closer than we ever have been in getting to see “Funky” Ben Askren step inside the UFC Octagon. One of the most unfortunate cases in the history of MMA has been not getting to see the 18-0 former Bellator and ONE welterweight champion competing for the world’s leader in the sport. But that could all be changing sometime in the near future.

Cole Shelton - October 22, 2018

At UFC 229, rising light heavyweight talent Dominick Reyes took on a perennial light heavyweight contender in Ovince Saint Preux. Reyes entered the UFC after going 6-0 in smaller promotions. When he reached the UFC, the winning ways continued. The former college football player finished his first three UFC fights in the first round — two by knockout and one by submission. After this success, the versatile Reyes wanted a bigger name and at UFC 229 he got his wish. Against Saint Preux, Dominick Reyes would be tested, but a win promised to carry his career to new heights.

Thomas Taylor - October 22, 2018

Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping doesn’t want to fight former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub. Speaking on his podcast Believe You Me recently, however, Bisping admitted that he believes he’d beat Brendan Schaub if they ever fought. Speaking to his co-host Luis J. Gomez, Michael Bisping says that comedian Theo Von had recently asked him if he thought he could beat Schaub in a fight.

Tom Taylor - October 22, 2018

Earlier this month, on the main card of UFC 229, undefeated light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes picked up the biggest victory of his career thus far, dominating former interim title challenger Ovince Saint Preux to a unanimous decision triumph. With this impressive triumph, Dominick Reyes usurped the number-six spot in the UFC light heavyweight rankings. Having done so, he can now look forward to scraps with the division’s very best fighters.

Tom Taylor - October 22, 2018

The first time Filipino knockout artist Kevin Belingon met Bibiano Fernandes in the ONE Championship cage, things didn’t go the way he planned. Instead, he was submitted by the dominating ONE bantamweight champion in the very first round. On November 9, at ONE: Heart of the Lion in Singapore, Kevin Belingon, who now wears the ONE interim bantamweight belt, will have a second chance to topple the seemingly unstoppable Bibiano Fernandes. This time around, he’s confident he can pull it off. A lot has changed since their first fight, after all.

Tom Taylor - October 22, 2018

Back in July, 26-year-old heavyweight prospect Juan Adams (4-0) earned himself a UFC contract by knocking out Shawn Teed on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. After a few months of waiting — a little longer than he’d hoped — the hulking heavyweight finisher is now set to make his UFC debut opposite Chris De La Rocha at UFC on Fox 31 on December 15 in Milwaukee. Heading into this UFC debut, Juan Adams is eager to introduce himself to UFC fans with another highlight reel victory. He believes that he is the next big thing in the UFC heavyweight division — both in terms of athletic ability and marketability — and he’s excited to prove it.

Cole Shelton - October 22, 2018

With the UFC leaving Fox and entering the ESPN era, changes were expected. One big question heading into this transition is how the UFC broadcast team would be affected. Well, at the very least, UFC play-by-play man Jon Anik will be staying on board. According to MMAJunkie, Jon Anik will be calling UFC fights for at least the next four years.

Tom Taylor - October 22, 2018

Brandon Vera has been a ONE Championship fighter since 2014. In the years since he joined the ONE Championship roster, he’s fought in his ancestral homeland of The Philippines, become one of the promotion’s biggest stars, and even captured its heavyweight title. To say Brandon Vera has enjoyed his time with ONE would be understatement. Speaking on episode 102 of BJPENN.COM Radio, Vera heaped praised on the Asian MMA powerhouse.

Tom Taylor - October 22, 2018

Siyar Bahadurzada has not fought since April, when he crumpled Luan Chagas with a kick to the body and a followup punch. He’s hoping that changes soon. The Afghan-born Dutchman, who is currently riding a three-fight win-streak, is hoping to welcome the long-absent Jorge Masvidal back to the Octagon, perhaps at UFC 232 on December 29.

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 22, 2018

Angela Lee, Aung La N Sang, Bibiano Fernandes, Ben Askren, and Martin Nguyen are the names most synonymous with ONE Championship today. There is no end in sight for most of them, but top-tier talent continues to make its way into the organization. The current champions and most recognizable figures will likely have to make room for the next wave of superstars. Obviously, anything can happen in martial arts, but there are at least four competitors with a good chance to become the next main-event level members of ONE Championship’s roster.