MMA News

Chris Taylor - September 22, 2017

Two of the most feared welterweight strikers in the world will go to war tomorrow night at Bellator 183 when Paul Daley squares off with Lorenz Larkin. The knockout artists squared off at today’s Bellator 183 weigh ins and things quickly got physical after “Semtex” got in the face of “Da Monsoon”.

Chris Taylor - September 22, 2017

Unable to catch tonight’s UFC Fight Night 117 fight card from Saitama Super Arena in Japan? BJPENN.com has you covered! Stay glued to this page for up to the minute live results from all of tonight’s action. UFC Fight Night 117 is headlined by a light heavyweight scrap featuring Ovince Saint Preux taking on Yushin Okami.

Russell Ess - September 22, 2017

While some will still argue that the 10th round TKO stoppage in the Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor boxing match was either early or justified, the man delivering the punches is glad he didn’t knock “The Notorious” out cold. In an interview following their multi-million dollar boxing match, Mayweather was asked if he wished that the ref did not stop the fight to give him the chance to put McGregor to sleep, which the Irishman said he would have preferred.

Justin Golightly - September 22, 2017

Let’s just take some time out of the ongoing beef with Kevin Lee, the post-traumatic stress of the fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov constantly falling through, and talk about Tony Ferguson’s training. You’re talking about a guy who is in a secluded camp right now in Big Bear that he built himself. Before that, he’s been tossing us little gems of elbowing a speed bag like most people punch it, crazy yoga pose type positions, and hauling a freaking heavy bag over his shoulder like a Continental soldier. What more wild stuff can this dude do? Add lasers. That’s what. Hit the Mission Impossible theme. Tony Ferguson sliding and tumbling through a neon green laser maze is something that deserves a high-dollar production that just can’t be achieved on a cell phone. Especially since it’s so hard to remember to keep the phone horizontal. As Ferguson’s interim lightweight title fight with Kevin Lee at UFC 216 draws near, let’s hope that the Embedded crew gets to follow El Cucuy through another one of these because that’s just good fun.

Russell Ess - September 22, 2017

Recently, there was some buzz of UFC Hall of Fame legend Chuck Liddell making a return to competition. The 47-year-old appeared to be in great shape and some photos on social media including one with his old rival Tito Ortiz had people talking about a potential return. Liddell spoke on this week’s episode of The MMA Hour and opened up on where his mind was at in terms of ever coming out of retirement to fight again.

Justin Golightly - September 22, 2017

With Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua off the UFC Japan card, there’s not many big match-ups beside the criminally underrated fight between Claudia Gadelha and Jessica Andrade. Another fight that has slipped under the radar, is the UFC debut of K-1 and Glory kickboxing veteran, Gokhan Saki. After his opponent Henrique da Silva made a bold claim that he was going to knock Saki out, Alistair Overeem made it known he thought old friend Saki would take home the win. Now, Gokhan Saki himself speaks up about his opponent’s prediction. “During the face-off, what I saw in his eyes is that he is not confident. He knows what’s going to happen tomorrow – that’s what I could see in his eyes. I don’t know why these people say [things like that]. It makes me think that they don’t know what fighting is. I don’t understand how he can say he will beat me by KO. Every fight starts standing. Even if it’s on the ground or whatever, if they understand what fighting is, they would never talk like this. The people who say these things are hating on me. I don’t know a lot of other people that really think he is going to knock me out. Maybe if it was just three minutes he would have a chance because he could just run away. Five minutes is long enough for me to kick his ass.”

Justin Golightly - September 22, 2017

Things have been relatively quiet on the Jon Jones front ever since his B sample came back positive, aside from a few superfights that we have learned will pass us by. By now, his team are gearing up to defend themselves in a legal battle to prove Jon Jones was indeed innocent. From the very beginning, there was talks of sabotage or tainting. We’ve heard countless experts, media, and other fighters weigh-in on the Jon Jones controversy, but no one quite talks about it like the living legend Don Frye. “Well, I mean, [Jon Jones] did it to himself, unfortunately. Something got caught. And not everybody gets caught but a lot more people do it than don’t, I’m sure. And Jon’s the greatest fighter to enter the cage but he’s just got a black cloud hanging over his head. He’s he’s gotta be free of, you know, he’s treading water but he’s got a couple of anchors tied to his ankles and it keeps dragging him down.”

Justin Golightly - September 22, 2017

As we reported yesterday after the early weigh-ins, Mizuto Hirota had a pretty gnarly trip to the scale. Tons of fans and media were posting following the appearance on social media, all concerned about the fighter’s well-being. He appeared to almost faint a couple of times, as well as being held up staff and his team during the ordeal. Finally, it looks like after sleeping on it, the UFC and it’s officials have deemed Hirota to be unfit to compete and he is officially of the fight card tonight. Miss today's #UFCJapan weigh-ins? Mizuto Hirota's trip to the scale was a little scary. Full rundown here: https://t.co/tacfafCSZ1 pic.twitter.com/qYHILHczyQ

Justin Golightly - September 22, 2017

This whole week, ever since Edmond Tarverdyan’s appearance on The MMA Hour, people have been talking about him still wanting that fight between Cris Cyborg and his prize student, Ronda Rousey. Cris Cyborg, her coach Jason Parillo, and even Miesha Tate have weighed-in, saying that they do not want to see Ronda Rousey yanked back into the MMA game for a fight with Cyborg. Now, it’s gotten the attention of MMA legend and salt of the Earth, Don Frye. He had some strong words for the coach, and hopes Rousey has nothing to do with him. “Is that that idiot [Edmond Tarverdyan] who tried teaching [Ronda Rousey] how to box but all she did was block punches with her face? That guy’s just out for the money. She needs to get rid of him and get rid of 90 percent of the hangers on and go back to Judo Gene Lebell and her mom and people who were there in the beginning who really care for her. Otherwise, stay the hell out of the sport because you’re just gonna’ get hurt. She has no business being in the ring with Cyborg. That’d be like feeding the Christians to the lion. It would just be criminal to let her in there with that gal.” – Don Frye speaking to Submission Radio.

Justin Golightly - September 21, 2017

Japan loves Alistair Overeem. From all his fights in PRIDE and multiple kickboxing matches in K-1, he became a legend in Japan way before he gained notoriety as a feared heavyweight in the UFC. It just makes sense that The Reem would be in Tokyo ahead of UFC Japan to enjoy the fights with the rest of us. During media day, Overem made sure to put a good word in for another K-1 veteran who makes his debut on Saturday: Gokhan Saki. “I love coming [to Japan]. There’s a lot of memories. A lot of different promotions, a lot of fighters, coaches, a lot of experiences here. So, we continue now here with the UFC, yet another new promotion. I’m very curious about the show, very curious about the fans, how the energy will be. If we can capture the same energy as the previous shows, Pride and the K-1. Of course this is a little bit of a different audience than the American audience or the Brazilian audience. But I’m sure, they have a great fight card and my friend Gokhan Saki is always good for action. So, it’s going to be a great event I’m sure.”

Justin Golightly - September 21, 2017

Jeremy Stephens was able to put on a great performance against scrappy veteran Gilbert Melendez at UFC 215, but there’s one exchange he’d like to forget. Back at the UFC 205 press conference, he tried to zing Conor McGregor on the spot by saying he’s the ‘hardest hitting 145er’ up there. Quick-witted McGregor clapped back by asking who the ‘fook’ was that speaking to him. The line has been memed, remixed, and quoted endlessly ever since. Just a couple of days ago, Stephens was even trolled by Korean Zombie on Twitter with it after calling him out. Finally, Stephens exacted his revenge.

Justin Golightly - September 21, 2017

Conor McGregor is no stranger to magazine features and covers. Last year, McGregor and his millions he slid into Forbes top 100 highest paid athletes at number 85. This year? In addition to being a GQ cover boy, he rocketed to number 24 on Forbes list. After his fight with Floyd Mayweather, he’s on track to make it into the top 10 of the 2018 edition, no matter if he fights again or not. Recently, it was another magazine that featured Conor McGregor. The brash Irishman just made it into Sports Illustrated top 50 fittest athletes, beating out some very surprising fighters. Sports Illustrated ranked Conor McGregor the 9th-most conditioned athlete in the world. Gennady Golovkin was 11th. Mighty Mouse 15th.

Russell Ess - September 21, 2017

UFC fan favorite Matt Brown is set to make his return to the Octagon at UFC Fight Night 120 against another fan favorite, Diego Sanchez as the two are set to fight on November 11 in Norfolk, Virginia. To much surprise, “The Immortal” announced on Thursday via social media that his fight against Sanchez will be his last fight.

Justin Golightly - September 21, 2017

Slated to fight welterweight contender Stephen Thompson at UFC 217, it’s a middleweight that Jorge Masvidal has on his mind. Not just any middleweight, but one he will share that November card with. Michael Bisping ripped up a Cuban flag while watching Yoel Romero’s fight with Robert Whittaker at UFC 213, something Masvidal vented to us about on our BJPenn.com radio show. The desecration of the flag still rubs Masvidal the wrong way, so bad that he’d be willing to fight Bisping for a couple of double cheeseburgers. “That ‘B-tch’-ping Michael [Bisping], whatever, The Count, you know, he’s a little b-tch, he needs to get slapped up, man. He needs to f-cking man up for this sh-t that he did, you know? Ripping my country’s flag for no reason and then saying corny ass sh-t like, ‘well, the flag just happen to be there.’ My ass! You put that sh-t in your pocket and you probably brought it in. He’s such a corny dude. He does corny things like that like, like to another man that’s just finished fighting, you know, that nothing can happen. There’s more security in there than in the White House and you’re acting crazy like that? That’s not man sh-t. I would respect him if he did that on the solo, like in front of Yoel [Romero] or in front of me or anybody that reps that country and did things like that. I mean, he’s just a hoe, man, since even before that, spitting on people’s corners.”

Justin Golightly - September 21, 2017

There was a lot of talk when Ronda Rousey’s coach voiced his opinion that he still wants the long-awaited fight with Cris Cyborg. It’s a fight that Cyborg herself is no longer interested in, and one her coach scolded Edmond Tarverdyan for suggesting. The latest to speak out on this is Rousey’s greatest rival, Miesha Tate. Not only does she think it’s ‘asinine’ for Tarverdyan to put the idea out there, but gives credit to Cyborg for shooting the fight down before the idea even gets legs. “I’m gonna give Cyborg a round of applause, because she wouldn’t look more like a bully than if she took that fight with Ronda. That would be ridiculous. It’s just nonsense to even think about that. I cannot believe that Edmond [Tarverdyan] would suggest something so asinine. I think Edmond just wants another payday so he can try to pay off his bankruptcy issues, because Jiminy Christmas. Poor Ronda. I’m not her biggest fan, but I wouldn’t even want to see that fight. I’m not her biggest fan, but I wouldn’t want to see her get slaughtered by Cyborg at this point in her career, either. It’s not appealing.”

Tom Taylor - September 21, 2017

UFC 217, which goes down on November 4 inside Madison Square Garden in New York City, is one hell of a fight card. Topped by a trio of title fights, it could even be the biggest fight card of the year outright.  Given the scale of the card, it should come as no surprise that a great many fighters were eager to shoehorn themselves onto the bill. Fourth-ranked UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal, who battles Stephen Thompson on the main card, is one of the fighters that was lucky enough to succeed in his effort to do so. He couldn’t be happier about this fact.

Russell Ess - September 21, 2017

All fighters but one made weight for the UFC Fight Night 117 event taking place in Saitama, Japan on Friday, September 22 (Saturday in Japan).

Tom Taylor - September 21, 2017

Last weekend, in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 116, rising welterweight slugger “Platinum” Mike Perry authored yet another brutal knockout, this time putting down Alex Reyes with a rocket-fuelled knee against the cage. Reyes, of course, was not supposed to be Perry’s opponent. Perry was originally expected to battle former UFC welterweight title challenger Thiago Alves on the card. It was only when Alves was forced out of this anticipated booking that Reyes got the call and agreed to step in against Perry on mere days’ notice.