MMA News

Russell Ess - March 10, 2017

WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS EXPLICIT LANGUAGE

bjpenndotcom - March 10, 2017

This past weekend, undefeated UFC lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov was set to step into the Octagon to fight Tony Ferguson in a highly anticipated interim lightweight title showdown. Unfortunately, the morning of weigh-ins, Nurmagomedov was forced to be hospitalized and subsequently forced out of the bout.

bjpenndotcom - March 10, 2017

To close out 2016, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez looked to build momentum on his UFC 200 win over Travis Browne, which returned him to the win column following his UFC 188 loss to Fabricio Werdum. Velasquez was set to step into the Octagon for a rematch with Werdum, to determine the heavyweight #1 contender, however during the course of fight week, Velasquez’ back injury raised some questions, which resulted in the NSAC pulling him from the fight after determining that he was unfit to fight.

bjpenndotcom - March 10, 2017

This past weekend at UFC 209, undefeated lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov was set to step into the Octagon to fight streaking lightweight Tony Ferguson in a highly anticipated interim lightweight title fight. Unfortunately, after Nurmagomedov was hospitalized the morning of UFC 209 weigh-ins, the UFC was forced to scrap the bout, and pull Tony Ferguson from the fight as well. In addition to crowning the UFC interim lightweight champion, the fight was set to determine who would be the first challenger to Conor McGregor‘s UFC lightweight title.

bjpenndotcom - March 10, 2017

This year, it was announced that former UFC welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre would be returning to the Octagon on a new multi-fight contract with the UFC which will see him return to the Octagon against middleweight champion Michael Bisping later this year. With Georges St-Pierre now set to return to the Octagon, many are wondering what a potential GSP victory over Michael Bisping means for the former welterweight champion.

bjpenndotcom - March 9, 2017

This past weekend, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans stepped into the Octagon on the main card of UFC 209 where he made it his middleweight debut against Olympic Judoka Dan Kelly. Kelly picked up an impressive unanimous decision win over the former champ as he repeatedly landed significant strikes on ‘Suga’, who didn’t really appear to find his groove until the third round. With the disappointing loss to Kelly, many were wondering if Evans would retire from MMA in the midst of his 3-fight skid.

bjpenndotcom - March 9, 2017

This past weekend at UFC 209, welterweights Tyron ‘The Chosen One’ Woodley and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson stepped into the Octagon for a highly anticipated rematch for Woodley’s welterweight title. With Woodley winning the fight via majority decision and retaining his belt for the 2nd time, many expect Demian Maia to get the next welterweight title shot if Maia manages to defeat Jorge Masvidal on May 13th at UFC 211.

Russell Ess - March 9, 2017

On Thursday, the UFC announced another massive fight scheduled for UFC 211. Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will take on rising star Yair Rodriguez in a featherweight bout. Edgar ranked #2 in the official UFC rankings will look to slow down #9 ranked Rodriguez in his rise up in the featherweight division.

Russell Ess - March 9, 2017

The sport vs. money fight matchups will be argued time and time again, especially after bouts such as Michael Bisping vs. Georges St-Pierre are announced by the UFC. With contenders climbing their way up the rankings their entire careers only to be leapfrogged by a more popular star that will sell a fight more, UFC commentator Joe Rogan understands why money fights are being booked ahead of the sport ranking system. However, that doesn’t mean Rogan is fully supportive of the championship matches being arranged.

bjpenndotcom - March 9, 2017

UFC lightweight Tony Ferguson was set to fight undefeated #1 contender Khabib Nurmagomedov for the interim lightweight championship at UFC 209. Unfortunately, the day of weigh-ins, reports began to emerge that Nurmagomedov had been hospitalized prior to the weigh-in, and given IV fluids. Ultimately, Nurmagomedov was pulled from the fight, and the fight was scrapped. Now, Tony Ferguson is speaking out against the UFC for allegedly paying him “less than half” of his reported $250,000 show money. He spoke to MMAJunkie:

Russell Ess - March 9, 2017

The always entertaining Chael Sonnen brings it again, this time talking about boxing legend Floyd Mayweather and the potential boxing match with UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor. Speaking on his latest You’re Welcome podcast, Sonnen questioned Mayweather recently telling McGregor to “sign the paper” so they could get the fight underway. Sonnen was bewildered as to what the “paper” actually was and if it even existed.

Tom Taylor - March 9, 2017

Last weekend, in the main event of Bellator 174, Canada’s Julia Budd became the first-ever women’s featherweight champion with a fourth-round TKO of the veteran Marloes Coenen. With this win, Budd extended her win-streak to an extremely impressive eight-straight. Budd’s last loss occurred all the way back in 2011, when she became the fourth victim of Ronda Rousey‘s legendary professional MMA career. In more recent years, of course, Rousey’s career has endured a bit of a downward spiral, as she was first knocked senseless by a Holly Holm head-kick, then took more than a year off, only to return to the cage to be bludgeoned by reigning UFC bantamweight queen Amanda Nunes.

Tom Taylor - March 9, 2017

Seventh-ranked UFC lightweight Michael Chiesa has spent the last few weeks calling for a fight with former champion Eddie Alvarez. Unfortunately, Alvarez “dodged” a fight with Chiesa, and instead signed on for a fight with fellow lightweight talent Dustin Poirier. With this desired Alvarez fight off the table, Chiesa now has his sights set on an even bigger fight. The Ultimate Fighter 8 winner is hoping for a bout with Tony Ferguson.

bjpenndotcom - March 9, 2017

In 2016, Yoel Romero and Chris Weidman both looked to cement their place at the top of the UFC’s middleweight division as they stepped into the Octagon at UFC 205. With the fight tied at one round each, Romero scored a clutch 3rd round TKO, leaving the former champ on the canvas.

Tom Taylor - March 9, 2017

Singapore’s One Championship is far and away the biggest mixed martial arts promotion in Asia. They broadcast in millions of homes in dozens of countries, and have taken their live product to relatively untapped markets like Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, China and even further afield. One Championship’s approach to MMA promotion is a little bit different than what we’re used to here in the West. Where organizations like Bellator and World Series of Fighting tend to squabble over jettisoned UFC talent to bolster their rosters with recognizable names, One Championship is dedicated to building their own Asian stars. And this strategy is working.

bjpenndotcom - March 9, 2017

The last time former UFC welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre was in the Octagon, ‘Rush’ was defending his welterweight title for the 9th time as he faced streaking contender Johny Hendricks. St-Pierre ultimately won the fight via split decision, retaining the belt and moving one step closer to the record of 10 title defenses set by middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva. With that being said, many believed Hendricks won the fight. This of course led to talks of a potential rematch, however with St-Pierre’s hiatus from the Octagon, a rematch was never a realistic possibility. Now, with St-Pierre set to return to the Octagon in 2017 at middleweight, and Hendricks currently coming off a win at 185 pounds, many have wondered if fight fans could see St-Pierre vs. Hendricks II four years later.

Tom Taylor - March 9, 2017

https://youtu.be/ZVI3zKsuzJ0 There is no uglier story in mixed martial arts today than the ongoing story of reviled MMA veteran “War Machine” (born Jonathan Koppenhaver), who brutalized his ex girlfriend Christy Mack (born Christine Mackinday) to the point of hospitalization back in August of 2014. During this attack, War Machine also assaulted Mack’s then boyfriend, Corey Thomas.

Tom Taylor - March 9, 2017

Last weekend, Bellator MMA touched down in Thackerville, Oklahoma with Bellator 174. In the card’s main event, we saw Dutch veteran Marloes Coenen and streaking Canadian Julia Budd battle for the historic honor of becoming Bellator’s first ever women’s featherweight champion. Though Coenen demonstrated plenty of heart and veteran savvy over the course of this fight, this one was really all Budd, who thumped her foe to a fourth-round TKO win. With this win, Budd returned to her native Canada with Bellator gold, and a place in the MMA history books as the promotion’s first-ever women’s featherweight queen.