MMA News
Jose Aldo hints at frequent future lightweight fights
bjpenndotcom - June 1, 2017
This weekend, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will look to unify the UFC featherweight championship and the interim featherweight championship, which is currently being held by Max Holloway. While Aldo has continuously sought a rematch with Conor McGregor following his lopsided loss to the Irish superstar at UFC 194, the featherweight champion was recently told by UFC President Dana White that Conor McGregor has no desire to give Aldo a rematch.
VIDEO | UFC 212 Embedded Episode 4: Yancy Medeiros brings his aloha to Brazil
Russell Ess - June 1, 2017
UFC 212 is just days away as the promotion returns to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday, June 3.
Jimi Manuwa shares incredible list of training partners for Volkan Oezdemir fight
Tom Taylor - June 1, 2017
Yesterday, we learned that British knockout artist Jimi Manuwa will take on fellow top-5 light heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 214 this July 29 in Anaheim, California. While Manuwa is one of the most established names in the UFC light heavyweight division, Oezdemir remains a relative unknown among many fans, having burst into the top-5 after just two fights in the UFC.
Dana White: Cris Cyborg is definitely fighting at UFC 214 in Anaheim
Russell Ess - June 1, 2017
The last time we saw Cris Cyborg compete was at UFC Fight Night 95 in September of last year. Cyborg took out Lina Lansberg by TKO in a 140-pound catchweight main event fight in Brazil. With the UFC women’s featherweight division in shambles with the inaugural champion Germaine de Randamie not willing to fight Cyborg claiming she “is a known and proven cheater,” the newly opened UFC division is in a bit of a pickle.
Jimi Manuwa gives update on possible David Haye fight: "It’s definitely going to happen"
Tom Taylor - June 1, 2017
Top UFC light heavyweight Jimi Manuwa has a big fight on the horizon, as it was recently announced that he’ll be taking on the surging Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 214 this July 29 in Anaheim. While this challenge is at the forefront of his mind, however, he is still dialled in on a potential boxing match with fellow Londoner David Haye – and apparently, it’s probably going to happen. On a previous episode of BJ Penn Radio, Manuwa announced that he, Haye and UFC President Dana White had spoken about making the fight happen, and that the wheels were decidedly in motion. On the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio, Manuwa gave an update on this potential boxing match, and assured that it’s still a very real possibility. In fact he’s completely confident it will happen.
Dana White had to tell Jose Aldo 'Conor does not want to fight you'
bjpenndotcom - June 1, 2017
Back at UFC 194, undisputed UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo stepped into the Octagon with interim featherweight champion Conor McGregor for a highly anticipated showdown for the undisputed featherweight title. Leading up to the fight, the MMA community was torn on their predictions for the fight. While some felt Aldo’s reign of dominance would continue, others believed that McGregor would tear through Aldo like he had so many past opponents. When the pair finally stepped into the Octagon, it took McGregor just 13 seconds to end Aldo’s reign as champion and secure the featherweight title.
Jimi Manuwa discusses training partner Alexander Gustafsson possibly getting the next title shot
Tom Taylor - June 1, 2017
Last weekend, in the main event of the UFC’s latest trip to Stockholm, Sweden, Alexander Gustafsson put on arguably the best performance of career, lighting up Glover Teixeira en route to a fifth round knockout. Days removed from this fight, Jimi Manuwa, one of Gustafsson’s main training partners, joined host Kinch on BJ Penn Radio. During his segment, Manuwa discussed his ally’s big win. Apparently, it came as no surprise to him. “What you lot saw on the weekend, that’s what I deal with day, in day out,” he said. “Alex is the best in the world. I’m the best in the world. That came as no surprise to me. I had full confidence he was going to do it. The guy is so skillful and so strong and athletic that it didn’t come as a surprise to me. Alex is a beast, and I’m glad to have him, and I’m glad you lot saw that.”
Dana White discusses Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather pay split
bjpenndotcom - June 1, 2017
Several weeks ago news emerged that UFC President Dana White was able to secure Conor McGregor‘s side of a deal for a potential boxing match with Floyd Mayweather. White then revealed that with McGregor’s side of the deal done, he would now move to negotiating with Floyd Mayweather’s team. Since then, there have been no further updates regarding the status of a potential McGregor-Mayweather showdown. With that being said however, UFC President Dana White recently spoke to the press in New York to reveal that while the percentages haven’t been discussed, he is confident that a deal will be reached. MMAFighting has the transcription:
Dana White discusses Demetrious Johnson not wanting TJ Dillashaw fight
bjpenndotcom - June 1, 2017
Several weeks ago, fight fans were made aware of a back injury sustained by UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt. As a result of the back injury, Garbrandt will be unable to defend his bantamweight title against TJ Dillashaw this summer. As a result, UFC President Dana White informed fans that Dillashaw will be dropping down to flyweight to challenge UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson for the flyweight championship in a fight which could see Johnson break the UFC record for most consecutive title defenses. With that being said however, the champ seems to want no part of a flyweight showdown with TJ Dillashaw, explaining that it isn’t fair for the former bantamweight champ to cut the line at 125 pounds.
Jimi Manuwa promises knockout of Volkan Oezdemir in "risky" UFC 214 fight
Tom Taylor - June 1, 2017
Last weekend, Swiss light heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir scored an abrupt, first round knockout win over the highly regarded Misha Cirkunov. With this win, Oezdemir earned himself a fight with the UFC’s third-ranked light heavyweight: British destroyer Jimi Manuwa. On Wednesday’s edition of BJ Penn Radio, Jimi Manuwa discussed this newly announced bout with Oezdemir.
ONE Championship chairman: I think our fighter pay scale is comparable to the UFC
Tom Taylor - June 1, 2017
Last year, ONE Championship Chairman & CEO Chatri Sityodtong took to Twitter to claim that the Singapore-based promotion’s strawweight champion Angela Lee was paid more than UFC stars Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Cris “Cyborg” Justino. Yes, rumors are true. ONE Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee’s new contract pays more than what Cris Cyborg or Joanna Jedrzejczyk make.
TJ Dillashaw relocates to a new gym for training camp
Tom Taylor - June 1, 2017
TJ Dillashaw began his fighting career at Urijah Faber’s Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, California. Eventually, however, he left this camp, following coach Duane Ludwig to Colorado, where he set up camp at Elevation MMA. This move caused a massive rift between himself and his former Team Alpha Male stablemates, and resulted in his headline-dominating beef with reigning bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt. It appears, however, that Garbrandt has returned to California. According to an Instagram post from Rafael Cordeiro, Dillashaw has settled at Kings MMA, where he will be doing his training camp for his next fight.
Tito Ortiz reflects on historic UFC fight where he fought for no pay
Russell Ess - May 31, 2017
Tito Ortiz was one of the first superstars in the UFC and Tuesday marked the 20th anniversary of Ortiz’s professional mixed martial arts debut, making his way into the Octagon for the first time in 1997 at UFC 13. “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” fought twice at UFC 13, winning a first round TKO over Wes Albritton and then losing to Guy Mezger by guillotine choke submission. The always insightful MMA History Today Twitter handle posted a classic photo of a young 22-year-old Ortiz being interviewed by 29-year-old Joe Rogan.
VIDEO | UFC 212 Embedded Episode 3: Marlon Moraes, Raphael Assuncao, Vitor Belfort and Nate Marquardt prepare in Rio
Russell Ess - May 31, 2017
UFC 212 takes place on Saturday, June 3 as UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo and interim champion Max Holloway meet in a title unification main event bout.
Mark Hunt gets sent off for upcoming fight against Derrick Lewis with intense haka
Russell Ess - May 31, 2017
The outspoken knockout specialist Mark Hunt is set to headline UFC Fight Night 110 in his home country of New Zealand on Saturday, June 10. Hunt will take on fellow heavy-handed heavyweight Derrick Lewis for a fight that should have fans on their feet in the Vector Arena in Auckland.
VIDEO | Pros predict UFC 212 main event Jose Aldo vs. Max Holloway
Russell Ess - May 31, 2017
UFC 212 takes place this Saturday on June 3 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Georges St-Pierre discusses eye injury
bjpenndotcom - May 31, 2017
While the UFC may have announced earlier this year that former UFC welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre would be returning to the Octagon to fight Michael Bisping for the undisputed UFC middleweight title, the fight never received an official date. The UFC moved forward with the scrap, holding a press conference in Las Vegas where both St-Pierre and Bisping appeared on-stage to talk trash to one another while fielding questions from fans. Ultimately, St-Pierre revealed that he would be unable to fight over the summer, and would be willing to fight the champ closer to the end of the year. The champ then revealed that his knee injury was still not healed, and he too wouldn’t be able to fight until the end of the year.
UFC flyweight contender explains frustration with potential Dillashaw vs. Johnson fight
bjpenndotcom - May 31, 2017
Top ranked UFC flyweight contender Ray Borg remains on the cusp of a flyweight title shot against pound for pound kingpin Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson. The top ranked flyweight currently sits at #3 on the UFC’s official rankings behind Joseph Benavidez and Henry Cejudo. While Borg was looking to secure either a fight with Sergio Pettis or Brandon Moreno, or a title shot against the champion, the UFC recently announced that Sergio Pettis would be fighting Brandon Moreno, leaving Borg to seek a title shot.