MMA News

Tom Taylor - May 3, 2017

Since he became the UFC middleweight champion with a shocking, first-round knockout of Luke Rockhold, Michael Bisping has generated quite a bit of controversy for chasing lucrative “money fights” over fights with the middleweight division’s top contenders. His taking fights with opponents like Dan Henderson and Georges St-Pierre has generated backlash from fighters like Yoel Romero, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, Luke Rockhold, Chris Weidman, Tyron Woodley, and others. You can now add streaking welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal to the list of fighters who are unimpressed by Bisping’s alleged unwillingness to fight the middleweight division’s top contenders. On Tuesday night, Masvidal took to Twitter explaining that he’d received some heat from Bisping for not wanting to be on his “14 person total audience” podcast, Believe You Me. Apparently, this prompted a response from Bisping. This response drove Masvidal to call Bisping out for “avoiding everybody that’s a threat” and being the “only champ that does not fight top ten contenders.”

bjpenndotcom - May 3, 2017

Rory MacDonald was a staple of the UFC’s welterweight division for many years prior to his departure from the promotion last year, which saw him promptly sign a contract with Bellator MMA. While MacDonald’s Bellator MMA debut fight wasn’t immediately announced, the former UFC welterweight staple reveled that he was going to take his time before his Bellator MMA debut in order to let a broken nose heal fully. Now however, with just two weeks to go until MacDonald’s debut fight against Paul Daley, MacDonald is back training with his old coach prior to his jump to Tristar gym.

Chris Taylor - May 3, 2017

Confirmed | Cris Cyborg will finally fight for UFC gold this July The most feared women’s fighter on the planet, Cris Cyborg, will finally receive her long-awaited shot at UFC gold this summer.

bjpenndotcom - May 3, 2017

Former UFC bantamweight kingpin Dominick Cruz took some time off from fighting following his UFC 207 loss to Cody Garbrandt, which saw him lose the UFC bantamweight title. Following the loss, Cruz opted to let the UFC book a Cody Garbrandt vs. TJ Dillashaw fight while he took some time off to rest. Now however, with Garbrandt and Dillashaw’s coaching stint on TUF done, and the pair set to fight at UFC 213, Cruz is looking to secure a fight with the winner.

Tom Taylor - May 3, 2017

In mid-march, South Korea’s Battlefield Fighting Championship promoted its first ever show. At a glance, the upstart organization seemed to have a good thing going, as it brought notable names like former ONE middleweight king Igor Svirid, UFC veteran Sarah Kaufman, grappling specialist Jeff  Glover, and WSOF veteran Jorge Patino to the South Korean fans. Unfortunately, the promotion’s debut show was immediately showered in controversy, as reports began to surface that it had given its fighters IOUs instead of paying them. These reports followed a now-deleted Instagram post from Glover, who said that he had not yet been paid as he was about to board his flight home.

Tom Taylor - May 3, 2017

In a few short weeks, in the main event of an absolutely stacked UFC 211, former heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos will have the opportunity to reclaim the title he once owned when he takes on reigning champion Stipe Miocic. For Dos Santos, there is no feeling in the world like being the UFC heavyweight champion; the apex predator of the combat sports savannah.

Tom Taylor - May 3, 2017

At a to be determined date later this year, former UFC welterweight champion and veritable MMA legend Georges St-Pierre will return to the Octagon after several years of retirement. He will not, however, return to his former haunts in the welterweight division. Instead, he’ll be moving up to the middleweight division for an immediate – and controversial – title shot against reigning champion Michael Bisping. While we know that this fight is happening, Bisping, St-Pierre and the UFC have had a difficult time nailing down a date and location. Bisping has been very vocal in his desire to fight during International Fight Week, ideally at UFC 213 on July 8, but it’s looking more and more likely that this fight doesn’t occur until the fall.

Russell Ess - May 2, 2017

Former UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva is possibly be on the verge of retiring and walking away from the UFC Octagon. An obviously upset and frustrated Silva vented his feelings to Ariel Helwani on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour, stating that he desperately wants to fight in his home country of Brazil at UFC 212.

bjpenndotcom - May 2, 2017

Former UFC champion Lyoto Machida has been serving an eighteen month suspension from MMA from USADA after admitting to taking a substance which was banned by USADA. Machida disclosed his usage of the substance prior to a fight with Dan Henderson just over a year ago, and was subsequently handed an eighteen month suspension. With Machida’s suspension up on October 6th, just over five months away, ‘The Dragon’ has been hard at work preparing for his eventual return to the Octagon. This week, in a social media post, Machida teased fans with his return:

Russell Ess - May 2, 2017

Joe Rogan’s passion for combat sports is what makes him such a great commentator for the UFC.

EVOLVE MMA - May 2, 2017

This article/video was first published on Evolve MMA. There are many inspirational tales in martial arts. Stories of valor and bravery, overcoming defeat and turning it into triumph — this is what martial arts is all about. Martial arts teaches the values of respect and honor, and it also teaches perseverance. Perseverance is when one simply refuses to end any dream in failure.

bjpenndotcom - May 2, 2017

MMA veteran Urijah Faber recently retired from MMA following his unanimous decision win over Brad Pickett in December of 2016. While Faber competed in a grappling match following his retirement from MMA. More recently, the former WEC champion has been enjoying retirement following his stint coaching alongside his protege Cody Garbrandt on TUF Redemption.

bjpenndotcom - May 2, 2017

At one point in time, The Blackzilians in Coconut Creek, Florida, was home to some of the top MMA talent in the UFC. Now, with a team that is admittedly splintered, 1996 Olympic Boxer Antonio Tarver has stepped in as the head striking coach of the fragmented team.

Russell Ess - May 2, 2017

It surely seems like many people forgot that it was a few of Nate Diaz’s boxing combinations that ultimately led the way to Conor McGregor tapping out at UFC 196. With all the buzz of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor boxing match in the works, fans still want to see the fight between the undefeated boxing great and the UFC lightweight champion.

Tom Taylor - May 2, 2017

In a few short weeks, in the main event of the UFC’s June 17 trip to Singapore, former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm will attempt to rebound from a three-fight losing streak when she takes on former title challenger Bethe Correia. In advance of this key bantamweight showdown, Correia has had plenty to say about Holm, most notably telling MMAFighting that she was overrated, and that she planned to knock her out.

bjpenndotcom - May 2, 2017

Last month, SBG Ireland’s very own Artem Lobov stepped into the Octagon for the biggest fight of his career as he fought #4 ranked featherweight Cub Swanson in the main event of ‘UFC Fight Night: Nashville’. Prior to the fight, Swanson went as far as to say that Lobov didn’t belong in the UFC. Following their hard-fought five round war which saw Swanson awarded the win via unanimous decision, Lobov’s stock has never been higher. While ‘The Russian Hammer’ may not see it that way, he is looking to secure his next fight in hopes of returning to the win column.

Tom Taylor - May 2, 2017

The UFC, as we’re so often reminded, is one of the fastest growing sports organizations in the world. And with the muscle of new owners WME-IMG now pushing it, the promotion is bound to experience even more growth – controversial as some of the new owner’s decisions have been.

bjpenndotcom - May 2, 2017

This July, UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt will step into the Octagon against his former teammate, former bantamweight champion, TJ Dillashaw at UFC 213. Prior to the pair fighting, they have coached opposite one another on The Ultimate Fighter, where they engaged in several heated exchanges, the most noteworthy saw Garbrandt choke his former teammate. Interestingly enough, former bantamweight kingpin Dominick Cruz, who has fought both men, believes that Garbrandt will win the fight. During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, Dominick Cruz elaborated on how Dillashaw’s style makes him a good matchup for his former teammate, but why it won’t be enough: