MMA News

Jason Kindschy - May 3, 2018

BJPENN.COM Radio returns with another stacked episode! We kick things off with UFC middleweight Elias Theodorou. “The Spartan” has several projects in the works ranging from producing and starring in an independent film, to breaking the mold as the Ring Boy for Invicta FC and being the face of Pert Plus. On top of all that, Theodorou continues to work his way up the ladder at 185 and looks to keep that momentum going against Trevor Smith at UFC Liverpool on May 27th. We’ll be previewing the matchup, discussing all the side work Elias has on his plate, and a whole lot more.

Tom Taylor - May 3, 2018

When Fedor Emelianenko knocked out Frank Mir in the main event of Bellator 198 last weekend, he advanced to the second round of Bellator’s exciting Heavyweight Grand Prix. The Russian legend, who is widely considered the best heavyweight in MMA history, will now battle Chael Sonnen sometime later this year. Speaking on his podcast this week, Chael Sonnen weighed in on his legendary opponent. Suffice it to say that he’s not as impressed by Emelianenko as most other fight fans are. In fact, Sonnen believes that Emelianenko’s many wins in PRIDE — the very wins that made him a legend — were fixed.

Tom Taylor - May 3, 2018

It’s a great time to be a fan of Nick and Nate Diaz. Though neither has fought in a quite awhile, there is reason to believe both could return to the cage soon, as Nick’s USADA suspension recently ended, and Nate has recently been linked to the upcoming UFC 227 card. In the opinion of former Strikeforce middleweight champ and current PFL star Jake Shields, who has trained extensively with both Diaz brothers in the past, Nate in particular is likely to compete again before all is said and done.

Tom Taylor - May 3, 2018

Last week, reports surfaced suggesting that Nate Diaz was in talks with the UFC about a potential return to the cage at UFC 227 this August 4 in Los Angeles. These reports generated widespread excitement inside the MMA bubble. Unfortunately, UFC President Dana White has now poked holes in them, assuring that the UFC offers Diaz a fight every few months, and that there’s nothing in motion with respect to his fighting at UFC 227.

Nick Nadel - May 3, 2018

Part five in a series celebrating badassery in film and TV Some of the best martial arts movies combine thrilling combat with fantastical elements often derived from Asian mythology. (What’s better than a powerful punch? A punch that’s also a lightning blast!)

Tom Taylor - May 3, 2018

Back in March, on the undercard of UFC 222, BJJ star Mackenzie Dern made a successful UFC debut, defeating a tough Ashley Yoder by decision. Shortly after this first Octagon win, she was asked to leave her long-time gym, Arizona’s MMA Lab. “In relation with the Lab, after my last fight, Coach [John] Crouch, he just invited me to leave the team,” Dern said at a media luncheon promoting her UFC 224 fight with Amanda Bobby Cooper (transcribed by Marc Raimondi for MMA Fighting). “I think really we don’t have a 100-percent understanding. I think he knows his decisions more than me. I think with just the consistency, he wanted me to be there more often than what I was, but everything happens for a reason.”

Tom Taylor - May 3, 2018

Though Brazil’s Edson Barboza remains one of the world’s very best lightweights, his last two bouts have not gone as he planned. First, Khabib Nurmagomedov bludgeoned him to a unanimous decision victory in December. Then, in April, he experienced a similar loss at the hands of Kevin Lee, who thrashed him to a doctor stoppage. Despite these concussive losses, throughout which he absorbed nearly 400 strikes, Barboza does not plan on taking any time off. Instead, the fearsome knockout artist hopes to return to the Octagon as soon as possible.

Tom Taylor - May 3, 2018

When Gunnar Nelson was forced out of his UFC Liverpool co-main event showdown with Neil Magny, sixth-ranked UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal offered to step in and replace him. He only asked that this short-notice bout with Magny be contested at a 180-pound catchweight, as he wouldn’t be able to make the welterweight division’s 170-pound limit in time for the card. “My manager told me about [Nelson’s withdrawal,] and he was like ‘hey man, here’s your chance to smash Magny,’ cause he knows I don’t like Magny one bit,” Masvidal told BJPenn.com’s Jason Kindschy on Tuesday. “So he offered it to me, and he was like ‘what do you think?’ We’ll make it at a catchweight, cause I’m a little heavier right now.”

Tom Taylor - May 2, 2018

Earlier this week, reports surfaced that the UFC’s July 28 return to Calgary, Alberta, Canada could be topped by a rematch between surging lightweight contender Dustin Poirier and former champion Eddie Alvarez. Shortly after the reports of this rematch surfaced, Eddie Alvarez assured Ariel Helwani that the fight is “not fucking happening” and that he won’t be fighting until the UFC offers him a new contract first.

Tom Taylor - May 2, 2018

Last weekend, in the main event of Bellator 198, heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko picked up one if his best wins in ages, putting former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir down with first-round punches. In this win, Emelianenko showed flashes of the brilliance he was famous for at the height of his reign as the world’s best heavyweight. In the opinion of UFC color commentator Joe Rogan, however, Emelianenko’s heyday might have been marred by performance-enhancing drug use. In Rogan’s eyes, it’s “suspicious” how Emelianenko’s success seemed to dwindle when he began fighting outside of Japan, where drug-testing is more stringent.

Tom Taylor - May 2, 2018

When Gunnar Nelson was forced out of his UFC Liverpool co-main event showdown with Neil Magny, sixth-ranked UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal offered to step in and replace him. He only asked that this short-notice bout with Magny be contested at a 180-pound catchweight, as he wouldn’t be able to make the welterweight division’s 170-pound limit in time for the card. “My manager told me about [Nelson’s withdrawal,] and he was like ‘hey man, here’s your chance to smash Magny,’ cause he knows I don’t like Magny one bit,” Masvidal told BJPenn.com’s Jason Kindschy on Tuesday. “So he offered it to me, and he was like ‘what do you think?’ We’ll make it at a catchweight, cause I’m a little heavier right now.”

Tom Taylor - May 2, 2018

Earlier this week, reports surfaced that the UFC’s July 28 return to Calgary, Alberta, Canada could be topped by a rematch between surging lightweight contender Dustin Poirier and Eddie Alvarez. These reports were particularly timely given the trouble the UFC seems to be having ironing out the details of the women’s flyweight title fight between Nicco Montano and Valentina Shevchenko that was originally expected headline the card.  Apparently, however, reports of the UFC’s plan for a Calgary rematch between Alvarez and Poirier were a little premature. Alvarez, as it turns out, is not interested in this bout unless the UFC offers him a new and improved contract first, as he only has one obligation left on his current contract. This, per Ariel Helwani.

Tom Taylor - May 2, 2018

Dillon Danis, a decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and a training partner of Conor McGregor, has always received his fair-share of hate. Now that he’s made his successful MMA debut, a first-round submission of Kyle Walker at Bellator 198, the backlash that the brash BJJ player is receiving has surged to new heights. One of the latest fighters to go after Danis is UFC lightweight Al Iaquinta, who recently came up short against Khabib Nurmagomedov in a last-minute lightweight title fight. Iaquinta dissed Danis on Twitter, saying that he hopes former Bellator lightweight champ Michael Chandler gets his hands on him.

Tom Taylor - May 2, 2018

Last weekend, Bellator touched down in Chicago, Illinois with the exciting Bellator 198 card. One of the most talked about features of the main card was the MMA debut of Dillon Danis, an accomplished jiu jitsu practitioner who has recently risen to prominence for his role in Conor McGregor‘s camp. Danis would win this fight, which pitted him against 2-4 fighter Kyle Walker, with a slick, first-round toehold.  While Danis looked solid in his MMA debut, many onlookers have been turned off by the way he seems to mimic McGregor’s shtick. You can file former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping into that group.

Tom Taylor - May 2, 2018

There was a time not all that long ago that Johny Hendricks was considered the best welterweight on the planet. Unfortunately, his career has taken a rather grim turn, and he’s now a tough 3-7 in his last 10 bouts. Not even a move to the middleweight division, where the weight cut is less taxing, could bring him renewed success. After his last loss, a knockout at the hands of surging middleweight contender Paulo Costa, Hendricks became a free agent. And though he could surely find a home as a member of the Bellator or PFL rosters, he’s hoping to return to the UFC welterweight division, where he once medalled. Apparently, this is something the UFC is also interested in.

Drake Riggs - May 1, 2018

Thanks to the deliverer of fights of the year, Justin “the Highlight” Gaethje provided us with yet another likely end of the year candidate when he and Dustin Poirier blew the roof off of the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona last month. April also gave us a legendary heavyweight showdown that may have very easily been the most exciting forty-eight seconds you will ever see. And of course, what is a month of fighting without a heartbreaking fight cancellation? Last month’s top 5 saw two of them thus making it two months in a row with top 5 fight cancellations…hopefully, the MMA gods are merciful with the upcoming MMA May-hem.

Tom Taylor - May 1, 2018

Late last week the UFC’s May 27 debut in Liverpool lost its compelling welterweight co-main event, as Iceland’s Gunnar Nelson was forced out of his fight with Neil Magny with an injury. The good news is that sixth-ranked UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal is angling to step in and replace Nelson, provided Magny agrees to 180-pound catchweight bout. Ariel Helwani was first to report Masvidal’s interest in this short-notice bout with Magny. Shortly thereafter, Masvidal spoke with BJPenn.com’s Jason Kindschy to update on this potential bout, and explain why he’s interested in stepping up.

Tom Taylor - May 1, 2018

Nate Diaz‘s return to the Octagon is one of the most talked about topics in MMA. That said, discussion about the fan favorite’s return have always been mired in the realm of the hypothetical, as he and the UFC can never seem to agree on the pertinent details of his comeback. From the sounds of it, that could change this summer. According to a report from ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Diaz and the UFC have recently been in communication surrounding a potential return to action at UFC 227, which is targeted for August 4th in Los Angeles, California. According to Okamoto’s report, the two parties discussed this date as recently as last week.