MMA News

Justin Golightly - January 26, 2018

The middleweight division was just on the verge of reaching a relatively normal state of affairs and then an injury sent it right back into chaos. Georges St-Pierre bowed out of the division and left his new title behind. Whittaker was promoted to the undisputed champion but had to pull out of his first defense. Yoel Romero was immediately booked into Whittaker’s fight with Luke Rockhold and it was changed into an interim title bout. If you’re confused, don’t worry, Kelvin Gastelum is too. He thought he was a shoe-in for the shot after his performance at UFC Shanghai, but the UFC had other plans. “It does bother me a little bit that I haven’t even been considered for a shot, but it is what it is, I know this is a process, and I’m just dealing with the process. What I do think set me back was Robert Whittaker getting hurt and them making that match-up for the interim [middleweight] belt. That sets every middleweight back, because the winner is going to have to fight Whittaker. It’s just going to have to be a process for anyone to get a title shot.” — Kelvin Gastelum speaking to MMA Junkie.

Justin Golightly - January 26, 2018

All through the lead up to UFC 220, most of the spotlight was on Stipe Miocic‘s opponent Francis Ngannou. He was built up to be a genetic freak who threatened to take out the reigning and defending UFC heavyweight champion just as fast as he has dispatched of his other competition. No question Ngannou has an incredible story and was someone fresh, but Miocic couldn’t help but feel a little disrespected going into the event. After all, he was on the precipice of making history by breaking the division’s title defense record. After getting past the test, he declared himself the best heavyweight champ of all time, prompting the UFC to ask the fans if this was really true. This caused Miocic’s wife to finally lash out at the organization. “So disappointing and honestly in shock that you would even write this post. Get behind your Champion. It’s time. Continued disrespect for the blue collar, stand up individual serving his community, and dominating his division. This is a man that goes above and beyond for everyone he meets and does nothing but gracefully display his talent. He is a shining example of a hero, a family man, a role model for kids and everyone else he encounters. You really need to re-evaluate who it is that you choose to stand behind. Very disappointing. But sadly, not surprising.” — Ryan Miocic responding to the UFC on Instagram as reported by WKYC 3.

Justin Golightly - January 26, 2018

As soon as Nate Diaz announced that he’s tired of waiting on the sidelines and ready to come back to bring excitement to the UFC again, a lot of fighters wanted to get on that action. Dana White said he was going to offer him a fight, but that it wasn’t going to be Tyron Woodley or Conor McGregor. While there were some talk going around about unofficial UFC ‘Most Violent’ champion Eddie Alvarez, it looks like this latest public service announcement confirms he may have been one of the fights offered to the Diaz brother. Alvarez just blasted Nate Diaz for supposedly not practicing what he preaches. “If you only want Conor [McGregor] there’s nothing wrong with that, but keep it 100 with everyone, Nate Diaz. Don’t call out the entire [lightweight] division when you don’t want no work from anyone of us  It’s as phony as your whole character, you f-cking dork . You changed, man. Fake news. For your information, Nate Diaz had a common friend text me a message he sent saying he ain’t trying to fight me because I lost to Conor and he beat Conor on some MMA math sh-t . I was as shocked as you are right now. You forget [Rafael dos Anjos] ragdolled you? Nate’s fake news.” — Eddie Alvarez on Twitter.

Justin Golightly - January 26, 2018

If you’re already itching for MMA and can’t wait until UFC Charlotte, ONE FC’s Global Superheroes went down last night provided enough excitement to hold you over until tomorrow even in just one fight. Featherweight Edward Kelly stepped in to face Meas Meulin the prelims and shocked everyone with his brutal and lightning fast knockout. The victory came at only 21-seconds, which is the fastest knockout in ONE’s featherweight division history. This KO of the Year contender is a highlight that deserves multiple looks. knee ! Edward Kelly KOs Meas Meu in 21 seconds (ONE) pic.twitter.com/1wW2tj3WLV

Justin Golightly - January 26, 2018

Georges St-Pierre came, he saw, he conquered. The welterweight legend came back after four years removed from competition in the UFC and didn’t skip a beat. He looked amazing as he fought middleweight champion Michael Bisping and submitted him, capturing a title in a higher weight division. Understandably, fans were surprised and devastated to find out he compromised his health for the accomplishment, would vacate the belt and take yet another break from the sport. All eyes are on St-Pierre to return this year, perhaps at welterweight, but his coach doesn’t think that’s going to happen. “I honestly don’t bother [Georges St-Pierre] about [the next fight], because I know everybody is always asking him about it 24 hurs a day. When I see him, I don’t talk about the next fight. We don’t talk about it. I know what he’s thinking, he knows what I’m thinking and that’s it. We just leave it at that. Personally, I think he’ll fight again.He doesn’t know, nobody knows, but I think he’s just so hyper-competitive that eventually he’s going to wake up one day and he’s going to be like, ‘I need something. I need a challenge.'”

Justin Golightly - January 26, 2018

What’s it like to be Tony Ferguson? Only one man knows. There have been ups and downs and a lot of time to contemplate since his win over Kevin Lee, awarding him a UFC interim lightweight title. Once again he’s been booked against Khabib Nurmagomedov, but the fate of his title is a mystery all seemingly waiting on the go ahead from someone he can’t — nor anyone else for that matter — control: Conor McGregor. Is it and interim title defense? Is it for the undisputed? It’s something that left Ferguson frustrated. On the heels of all of that, he just dropped a statement on his Instagram. “The Champ Says; A response to my future fighter’s: From a normal man’s stand you will be criticized, Looked at different, and told what you are doing is a waste of time. Kid, haters are everywhere. All Shapes, and sizes. They will fuel your fire and that will guide you where you want to go when channeled right. Let’s re-calibrate. Take a good look. Hard work, motherf-ckers. I had to earn it every step of the way. No Complaints. It’s not easy. You have to train to the point where giving up is not an option [on the] mat, [in the] ring, cage and life.”

Drake Riggs - January 25, 2018

One of the UFC’s most accomplished and recognizable warriors is ready to return. Joe Lauzon is tied at fifteen with Nate Diaz for most performance bonuses in a UFC career. Lauzon holds the record for most submission of the night awards(six) and will most certainly look to break his tie with Diaz when he returns at UFC 223 in Brooklyn, New York on April 7 to face The Ultimate Fighter season 22 alum, Chris Gruetzemacher.

Drake Riggs - January 25, 2018

Few fighters were as essential to the lighter weight classes’ growth back in the early days of MMA as Jens “Lil Evil” Pulver. He was the UFC’s very first Lightweight champion and actually never lost the title. Pulver defended twice then took his fighting skills elsewhere. In his first defense, he was a part of the first Lightweight fight to headline a UFC event. His opponent? None other than the twenty-two-year-old prodigy, BJ Penn.

Drake Riggs - January 25, 2018

It’s pretty rare to see the longtime Featherweight queen, Cris Cyborg get called out by anyone. Usually, she’s the one who has to go searching for challengers. But today someone has risen from the shadows and they happen to be a fellow champion as well. Current Invicta FC Bantamweight champion, Yana “Foxy” Kunitskaya took to Twitter and let it be known that she wants to test the unstoppable, Cyborg. https://twitter.com/YanaKunitskaya1/status/956629098280796160

Jason Kindschy - January 25, 2018

BJPENN Radio returns tonight at 9PM ET/6PM PT! 9:15PM ET- We kick things off with UFC lightweight Mairbek Taisumov. Following what appears to be an end to his frustrating visa complications, the Russian powerhouse appears to have cleared the hurdle as it was announced he’d be fighting Evan Dunham at UFC 223 in Brooklyn, New York. Riding a five-fight win streak under the UFC banner, Taisumov believes a big win on April 7th against Dunham puts him right in the mix at 155. We’ll discuss the visa situation, the matchup against Dunham, and the landscape of the division.

Justin Golightly - January 25, 2018

It seems like both yesterday and 100 years ago that Brock Lesnar made his triumphant UFC return after being away from the sport for nearly five years, then coming back and beating top 10 heavyweight Mark Hunt. There have been multiple rumblings of his return including a Jon Jones call out, but nothing has happened yet. All that may start to change in April of this year, when Brock Lesnar’s contract with the WWE is up. He’ll have some fine print that keeps him locked until the Fall, but then he’ll be clear to pursue other business opportunities. …Including a UFC return. “According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Brock Lesnar’s contract ends right after WrestleMania, but there are aspects in the contract that could keep him with WWE through August. Lesnar would need Vince McMahon’s approval to do a UFC fight. Dana White this past week indicated that he believed Lesnar would fight in UFC in 2018, and McMahon did give his approval for the Mark Hunt fight in 2016.” — Larry Csonka of 411Mania.

Justin Golightly - January 25, 2018

At UFC 220, the knockout machine Francis Ngannou was put up against another unstoppable fighter in now record-breaking champion Stipe Miocic. It wasn’t the performance that was promoted or expected, resulting in Miocic taking the contender into the deepest of waters and dominating him to a decision victory. After his first loss since 2014 and a super quick rush to a title shot, Ngannou will be stepping away from the sport for an undisclosed amount of time and reconnecting with family before regrouping and coming back strong. “In my dark way, I’m taking some time off which will benefit my personal life by going back home to enjoy family and friends . Then I’ll be back to set businesses up.” — Francis Ngannou on Twitter.

Justin Golightly - January 25, 2018

You’ve heard him on @UFCFightPass and #SnoopCast now @SnoopDogg brings his talents to @EASPORTSUFC 3 Knockout Mode! pic.twitter.com/GDq6pzAoKR — UFC (@ufc) January 25, 2018

Justin Golightly - January 25, 2018

The neverending pain of being a fight fan is watching all your favorite fighters fade and eventually walk away from the sport you love. Daniel Cormier has gone on record saying he only has three fights left before he hangs up his gloves due to his 40th birthday. Now MMA legend and PRIDE vet Mark Hunt is saying basically the exact same thing. After his fight at UFC 221, Hunt wants two more chances to walk-off KO opponents before he leaves the UFC. Not retire, but leave the UFC. “I’ve got this one in Perth [at UFC 221 against Curtis Blaydes], then hopefully I can push out two more before the end of the year and my contract will be up. I’d like to fight another three times globally and then probably hang them up. I’ve already been offered three boxing fights. I’m still chasing the UFC dream. I want to be the best mixed martial artist in the world. Maybe I will chase a boxing title after that. Conor [McGregor] fought [Floyd Mayweather] the best boxer in the world, so who knows?”

Tom Taylor - January 25, 2018

Douglas Lima is no longer the Bellator welterweight champion. That distinction now belongs to Rory MacDonald, who beat him with a competitive decision in the co-main event of last Saturday’s Bellator 192 card. Now several days removed from his loss to MacDonald, Douglas Lima has some significant regrets about how it all went down. Most notably, he feels he didn’t fight with enough desperation in the crucial fifth round of a very close fight.

Justin Golightly - January 25, 2018

We finally have it booked again. MMA fans everywhere wept when Frankie Edgar had to pull out of his UFC 218 fight against Max Holloway, but the tears soon dried up when we found out Jose Aldo would replace him. Now Holloway is going back and trying to finish what he and the former UFC lightweight champion started. UFC 222 will go down in March and Frankie Edgar will attempt to accomplish what was never able to do against Aldo in a fight that he knows is his toughest test to date. “I’m going to have to say yes, [Max Holloway is my toughest test in a title fight] based on what he’s done in his career at this point. With him being so young and people want to say I’m being old, so I think this is my toughest test but this is what I want. If you want to be the best, you have to go after the best guys. I do think I have that chip [on my shoulder of being too small]. I think you need to have a chip on your shoulder regardless, but the fact that people tell me I’m too small, or not strong enough, not tall enough and now I’m too old, that’s definitely motivating and I love proving people wrong. If I’m able to do that, that’s a notch in my hat.”

Justin Golightly - January 25, 2018

It was back in October of last year that Colby Covington beat Demian Maia to become the third ranked welterweight in the world. Since then, he hasn’t been booked in a single fight. It’s clear from his multiple tirades in the media that he’s holding out for his title shot against Tyron Woodley. The UFC welterweight champion is currently rehabbing his shoulder, but looks to return to fight Georges St-Pierre in July. Covington claims Woodley should focus on the money fight with him, instead of fighters who he says are out of the picture. “[Tyron Woodley] tries to racebait. The people that don’t like him and don’t wanna watch him for or think he’s boring, ‘Oh, they’re racist’. That’s his only claim now. So, he’s just trapped, he’s in a corner and he’s defeated before anything. The fans have completely gotten in his head and everybody’s under his skin. He doesn’t know how to handle the position he’s in now, but it’s okay, I’m gonna take over his position as welterweight champ and you will see the division be made great again. Tyron Woodley, all these fans hate him. He wants to be a hero, he wants to be the good guy, all the fans are telling you – I’ve literally had thousands of replies from Twitter that say, ’Tyron, if you knock out Colby I’ll be your biggest fan, I promise I’ll support you for the rest of your career’.”

Tom Taylor - January 25, 2018

We’re now almost a week removed from Francis Ngannou’s tough loss to UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. This loss was as lopsided as they come, as Ngannou emptied his gas tank early, and spent the rest of the five-round affair clinging to life opposite the patient and powerful Miocic. While Ngannou’s first crack at the UFC heavyweight title was more or less a disaster, his coach Fernand Lopez feels there are a few positives that can be taken away from the bout: namely, Ngannou showed he’s got heart.