MMA News
BJPENN.COM Radio Ep. 101 // Angela Lee | Jorge Masvidal
Jason Kindschy - October 14, 2018
BJPENN.COM Radio is back, Penn Nation!
Coach feels there's only one fight that will excite Conor McGregor after UFC 229: 'I think it has to be Khabib'
Thomas Taylor - October 14, 2018
Earlier this month, in the main event of UFC 229, former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor returned to the Octagon after two long years away, where he attempted to reclaim the UFC lightweight belt from undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Unfortunately for McGregor and his legions of fans, this mission didn’t go as planned. Instead, the Irish MMA star was soundly walloped en route to a fourth-round submission loss. That being said, there’s already been substantial buzz about a potential rematch between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov. And while this certainly isn’t the only option on the menu for McGregor, his coach John Kavanagh feels it might be the only fight that will get the former champ adequately motivated.
Scott Coker responds to 'rubbish' fight-fixing questions after Bellator 208 main event
Cole Shelton - October 14, 2018
Chael Sonnen vs. Fedor Emelianenko, which headlined Bellator 208 on Saturday, was a fight that many fans were looking forward to, and it lived up to most expectations. Though it was not a long fight, it was a fun one until Emelianenko finished Sonnen off with a storm of first-round ground strikes. Unfortunately, this fun fight is being somewhat overshadowed by fight-fixing allegations. Some fans have speculated that Sonnen didn’t try in that fight, or that he even lost on purpose.
Chael Sonnen claims he once 'fought Georges St-Pierre in a basement in LA'
Cole Shelton - October 14, 2018
At Bellator 208, Chael Sonnen was taking on arguably the best heavyweight in MMA history, Fedor Emelianenko. Ultimately, Emelianenko’s power proved to be too much for the former middleweight and natural light heavyweight. Emelianenko dropped Sonnen multiple times during the fight and got the TKO win in the first round. However, even with this loss to Emelianenko, Sonnen can take pride in having fought the best of the best throughout his career. He competed in title fights against the arguable middleweight GOAT in Anderson Silva, and the consensus light heavyweight GOAT in Jon Jones.
Benson Henderson lectures Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor in impassioned post-fight speech
Tom Taylor - October 14, 2018
On Saturday night, in the co-main event of the action-packed Bellator 208 card, former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson picked up a dominant decision win over longtime Bellator lightweight contender Saad Awad. In his post-fight interview with Bellator MMA commentator John McCarthy, Benson Henderson could have taken a moment to call for another Bellator title shot, or perhaps a rematch with fellow lightweight contender Patricky Freire. Instead, however, the former champion used his post-fight interview as an opportunity to admonish UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor for their infamous UFC 229 post-fight brawl.
Luke Rockhold eyes light heavyweight rematch with "cheap" Yoel Romero
James Lynch - October 14, 2018
Luke Rockhold needs to take care of business on Nov. 3 in his rematch against Chris Weidman at UFC 230, but he already has his sights set on another former foe. Rockhold told TMZ Sports that he’s open to a rematch against Yoel Romero, the man who defeated him back February at UFC 222 by third-round knockout.
Ryan Bader discusses upcoming showdown with Fedor Emelianenko: 'It's kind of surreal'
Tom Taylor - October 14, 2018
Over the weekend, Ryan Bader and Fedor Emelianenko both won their Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix semifinal bouts, defeating Matt Mitrione and Chael Sonnen respectively. With these wins, the pair will now fight each other sometime in the new year, and the winner will be crowned the Bellator heavyweight champion. For Ryan Bader, the chance to fight the legendary Fedor Emelianenko is obviously an exciting opportunity. Yet while he admits it’s a little surreal to fight such an icon of the sport, he assures he’s approaching it like any other fight.
Chronicling Aung La N Sang's incredible dominance In Myanmar
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 14, 2018
Few martial artists captivate an entire country the way Aung La N Sang does whenever he competes in his native Myanmar. The country and the arena comes alive when the ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion comes to the ring, and as we’ve seen, he’s been unbeatable in this environment. At ONE: PURSUIT OF GREATNESS, Mohammad Karaki will be the latest to try and best Aung La in Myanmar. If he can emerge victoriously, he will be the new champion at 185 pounds. A total of six opponents have tried and failed to beat Aung La in The Land of the Golden Pagodas.
Chael Sonnen praises Fedor Emelianenko after Bellator 208: I've never 'been ground-and-pounded like that'
Tom Taylor - October 14, 2018
On Saturday night, in the main event of Bellator 208, former UFC light heavyweight and middleweight title challenger Chael Sonnen came up short to heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko. Although Sonnen had some success in this short but thrilling fight, landing a handful of takedowns, he had no answer for Emelianenko’s legendary power and ground and pound. “I would call him explosive,” Sonnen told the media of Emelianenko’s skill (via MMA Fighting). “With his punches, there wasn’t a ton of set-ups, they just came and they came hard. Even on the ground, I had some good positions on him and he would just explode. It weren’t exactly technique-based. It was impressive. He’s an impressive athlete.”
Ryan Bader wishes he'd had the chance to fight Daniel Cormier, Cormier agrees 'it would have been a fun one'
Tom Taylor - October 14, 2018
On Friday night, in the main event of Bellator 207, Bellator light heavyweight champ Ryan Bader advanced to the finals of the promotion’s exciting Heavyweight Grand Prix with a win over Matt Mitrione. While Bader has looked pretty much unstoppable since joining the Bellator roster — in two divisions at that — he still regrets the fact that he never got the chance to fight UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier during his time as a UFC fighter. “I do think about that,” Bader told the media after Bellator 207 (via MMAjunkie). “We all are, ‘Woulda, coulda, shoulda.’ A big reason for me to come over is I believe I was the best in the world and never got the opportunity to show it [in the UFC]. Over here I did. It’s always there. I’m a competitor, I want to be the best in the world, not, ‘Oh yeah, but there’s another organization.’ Taking nothing away from him. He’s a dominant champion. He’s one of the best to ever do it. Of course I want it. But will that ever happen? No.”
Shinya Aoki could become a two-time lightweight champion, but a former nemesis might stand in his way
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 14, 2018
Shinya Aoki’s road back to the ONE Lightweight World Title might require him to defeat the opponent who took the very same belt from him via TKO two years ago. While Eduard Folayang still has work to do at ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS in his homeland of the Philippines against Amir Khan, a second showdown with Aoki could be on deck. Folayang and Khan’s bout is for the now vacant lightweight title, but Aoki’s win guaranteed he’d receive the first shot at the newly crowned champion.
Ronda Rousey gives her take on UFC 229 brawl, doesn't think Khabib or McGregor should get 'special treatment'
Tom Taylor - October 14, 2018
Pretty much everybody has an opinion on the wild, post-fight brawl that occurred shortly after Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Conor McGregor in the UFC 229 main event last weekend. Former women’s bantamweight champion and current WWE star Ronda Rousey certainly does. In Rousey’s opinion, this post-fight brawl is the kind of thing the UFC should work hard to avoid in the future.
Bellator 208 Results: Fedor Emelianenko TKO's Chael Sonnen (VIDEO)
Chris Taylor - October 13, 2018
A heavyweight bout between Fedor Emelianenko and Chael Sonnen took place at tonight’s Bellator 208 event, with the winner advancing to the promotions Heavyweight Grand Prix Finals to fight Ryan Bader. “Darth” Bader was able to score a dominant decision victory over Matt Mitrione in the main event of yesterday’s Bellator 207 fight card.
Bellator 208 Results: Benson Henderson defeats Saad Awad
Chris Taylor - October 13, 2018
A key lightweight bout between former UFC champion Benson Henderson and perennial contender Saad Awad took place at tonight’s Bellator 208 event. Benson Henderson (25-8 MMA) was last seen in action at Bellator 196 where he scored a second-round submission win over Roger Huerta. “Smooth” has gone 2-3 since joining the Bellator ranks in April of 2016.
Bellator 208 Results: Cheick Kongo TKO's Timothy Johnson (VIDEO)
Chris Taylor - October 13, 2018
A heavyweight bout between former UFC fighters Cheick Kongo and Timothy Johnson took place during tonight’s Bellator 208 main card. Kongo (28-10-2 MMA) enters tonight’s contest on a six-fight win streak, his latest being a first-round knockout victory over Javy Ayala at Bellator 199.
Bellator 208 Results: Anatoly Tokov defeats Alexander Shlemenko
Chris Taylor - October 13, 2018
A middleweight bout between former Bellator champion Alexander Shlemenko and Anatoly Tokov took place at tonight’s Bellator 208 event. Shlemenko enters tonight’s contest on a two fight losing skid. Prior to those setbacks, the former Bellator middleweight champion was riding a six fight win streak.
Khabib Nurmagomedov responds to 50 Cent's $2 million Bellator offer
Chris Taylor - October 13, 2018
Current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (27-0 MMA) has responded to 50 Cent’s $2 million offer to fight for Bellator. Late last night, the famous Rapper took to Instagram where he extended Khabib Nurmagomedov a $2 million offer to come and fight under the Bellator banner. “Fifty” also insinuated that the UFC has been mistreating “The Eagle“.
Khabib Nurmagomedov claims Conor McGregor was already "broken" before their fight at UFC 229
Chris Taylor - October 13, 2018
Khabib Nurmagomedov successfully defended his UFC title for the first time at last weekend’s UFC 229 event, submitting former division title holder Conor McGregor in round four. “The Eagle” was able to dominate the Irishman on the ground and even dropped Conor McGregor with a right hand in round two.