MMA News

Tom Taylor - June 1, 2018

Michael Chiesa, who battles Anthony Pettis at UFC 226 this July 7 in Las Vegas, considers Tony Ferguson — not Khabib Nurmagomedov — the true UFC lightweight champion of the UFC. Chiesa explained why he feels this way on a recent episode of Submission Radio.

Tom Taylor - June 1, 2018

Colby Covington, who battles Rafael dos Anjos for the interim welterweight title at UFC 225 this June 9, is perhaps the most polarizing fighter in mixed martial arts today. The American welterweight has unleashed a stream of incendiary trash talk over the last few months, but apparently, it’s not bothering his opponent dos Anjos. “I grew up in Brazil in the favelas, man. Bullies, trash talking, doesn’t work with me,” dos Anjos said during the UFC 225 media conference call on Thursday (transcribed by MMA Fighting). “But I think Colby, he’s just trying [to be Conor McGregor]. Conor does it well. Conor, he’s a rich man, he makes a lot of money.”

Tom Taylor - June 1, 2018

Last night, Darren Till’s sponsor Paddy Power released a behind-the-scenes video that showed just how brutal the fighter’s UFC Liverpool weight-cut was. In this video, a visibly depleted Till could be seen clambering around on all fours, while his corner mentioned that he had lost the ability to see. This video of Till’s harrowing weight-cut has already been wiped from the Internet, likely as the result of the tidal wave of controversy it created. All over the web, members of the MMA community voiced their concern, calling for Till to change weight classes, and for the widespread reform of weight-cutting policies.

Tom Taylor - June 1, 2018

On a recent episode of BJPENN.COM Radio, UFC 225 interim welterweight title challenger Colby Covington made headlines by suggesting that he he might have to slap UFC commentator Joe Rogan. Though Rogan promptly responded to these comments, asking Covington not to slap him, Covington isn’t satisfied.

Drake Riggs - May 31, 2018

May has come and gone. And with that brings us a whole new month chock full of MMA action. If we’re going to be completely honest, June is a very top heavy month of fights as the first two weeks provide a large portion of the should-be highlights. But that doesn’t mean that what’s in store won’t be fun.

Drake Riggs - May 31, 2018

The long-awaited UFC debut is finally almost here for Australia’s Megan Anderson. The former Invicta FC featherweight champion has been one of the brightest prospects at 145 pounds for the last three years. Since her title victory her last time out, she has established herself as one of the division’s best.

Tom Taylor - May 31, 2018

https://youtu.be/dcZXFpERGjY Last weekend, in the main event of UFC Liverpool, hometown hero Darren Till picked up the biggest win of his career, capturing a unanimous decision win over two-time welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.

Tom Taylor - May 31, 2018

There is a special place in the heart of every MMA fan for a good, old-fashioned scrap… Those frenetic fights like Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua I, Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald II, and Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley that hammer their way into our memories and never leave. At the end of each month, BJPENN.COM honors the best scraps of the month, from the UFC’s Octagon, to the Rizin ring, to the cages of regional promotions all over the world.

Tom Taylor - May 31, 2018

Tomorrow night, the UFC will touch down in Utica, New York with a rare, Friday night card. This UFC Utica card will be topped by a bantamweight clash between the streaking Jimmie Rivera, and former World Series of Fighting champion Marlon Moraes. Though nothing is official just yet, this bout could well produce the bantamweight division’s next number-one contender.

Tom Taylor - May 31, 2018

On June 7 in New York City, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) will kick off its inaugural season with the first round of its heavyweight and featherweight tournaments.

Tom Taylor - May 31, 2018

Last weekend, in the main event of the UFC’s debut in Liverpool, UFC welterweight contender Darren Till picked up the biggest win of his career, scoring a decision win over two-time welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. Not everybody, however, agreed with the judges’ decision.

Tom Taylor - May 31, 2018

Bantamweight contenders Jimmie Rivera and Marlon Moraes, who will fight on Friday night in the main event of UFC Utica, have had plenty to say about each other in the past. That being said, it sounds like their encounters have been quite friendly in the lead-up to their fight.

Tom Taylor - May 31, 2018

Earlier this month, former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum was notified of a potential USADA violation. Werdum is now undergoing his due process, and is vehemently maintaining his innocence. Yet in the opinion of one of the heavyweight’s chief nemeses, UFC welterweight Colby Covington, there is no doubt about Werdum’s guilt.

Jordy McElroy - May 30, 2018

A perfect showman in the fight business toes the line between entertainment and reality. For the last 14 years, Michael Bisping, a former UFC champion and future Hall of Famer, has been as infallible as the world’s greatest trapezist, and yet, respect will be equally as hard to come by in retirement as it was when he was the top middleweight fighter in the world. This is the end for Bisping.

Jason Kindschy - May 30, 2018

BJPENN.COM Radio is back yet again! We kick things off with No. 4 ranked UFC bantamweight Jimmie Rivera. “El Terror” is set to face off against Marlon Moraes this Friday in Utica, New York, at UFC FN 131. Jimmie was kind enough to speak with us briefly during his busy schedule leading up to the event and he helped us preview the showdown with Marlon. You’ll hear the latest on Jimmie’s well-documented beef with Marlon’s manager and how that will translate into the cage on fight night. We’ll also get Rivera’s prediction for the rematch between Dillashaw and Garbrandt, who he’d prefer to fight for the title if given the choice, and if he’s been promised the ever-elusive title shot with a win over Moraes.

Drake Riggs - May 30, 2018

“Jessica [Andrade] is very, very strong. I was very surprised with her strength. I compare her to a 125 [pound] guy when it comes to strength and power. And I never felt that before so I was very surprised.

Drake Riggs - May 30, 2018

The return of Phil “CM Punk” Brooks is practically upon us. It’s been two years since we saw the ex-professional wrestler make his ‘intriguing’ debut at UFC 203 in Cleveland, Ohio. Unfortunately for CM Punk, it went about as poorly as it possibly could have. Charging straightforward at his opponent, Mickey Gall, CM Punk would get taken down almost immediately and lose the fight via first-round submission by way of rear naked choke without ever landing a single punch.

Tom Taylor - May 30, 2018

Over the last few weeks, rapper 50 Cent has been tied tightly to Bellator MMA — though nobody is really sure why. Perhaps it’s just a bit of celebrity endorsement. Perhaps 50 is thinking about getting into the promoting game. Or maybe, just maybe, he’s thinking about strapping on some four-ounce gloves and fighting. The rapper has certainly dropped some hints to this end, calling out both Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Chael Sonnen. If 50 cent does end up stepping into the cage, Conor McGregor training partner and UFC veteran Charlie Ward is hoping to welcome him. Shortly after he defeated Martin Hudson at Bellator 200 last weekend, Ward issued a fiery callout of the rapper, who was among the many mainstream stars in attendance.