MMA News

Russell Ess - November 2, 2016

We have come a long way in the mixed martial arts game where we don’t see as many discipline versus discipline type matches. However, there are still a few glimpses of them that come up from time to time as the sport is still expanding and people want to have a crack at MMA competition. Here, we take a look at five-time World’s Strongest Man champion Mariusz Pudzianowski take on Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and former UFC heavyweight Rolles Gracie. The two met in the cage in Gdansk, Poland at the KSW 31 event back in May of last year.

Tom Taylor - November 2, 2016

There are now less than 10 days between us and the landmark UFC 205, which will mark the UFC’s long awaited debut in glimmering New York City, New York. The card will be headlined by a massive, lightweight title fight between divisional kingpin Eddie Alvarez and current featherweight champion Conor McGregor. If McGregor emerges the victor in this fight, he’ll become the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes concurrently.

Russell Ess - November 2, 2016

Conor McGregor has blown up to be a world-renowned superstar with his abilties both inside and out of the Octagon. Here, we take a trip back in time to the night of February 17, 2007, where the star would shine brightly in his amateur fight against Ciaran Campbell at the ROT – Ring of Truth 6 event at the Ringside Boxing Club in McGregor’s hometown of Dublin, Ireland.

Chris Taylor - November 2, 2016

We now know that UFC 207 will be co-headlined by a men’s bantamweight title fight between reigning champion Dominick Cruz and streaking challenger Cody Garbrandt. Well, as it turns out, this co-main event won’t be the only high profile men’s bantamweight scrap on the December 30 card, as a bout between former champion TJ Dillashaw and stone fisted contender John Lineker was just made official for the event. T.J. Dillashaw vs. John Lineker official for UFC 207! Boom!#UFC207

bjpenndotcom - November 2, 2016

At the UFC 205 press conference several months ago, UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, and UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor both appeared on stage to field questions from media members, and talk some trash in anticipation of their historic champion vs. champion fight on November 12th. At the conclusion of the press conference, the men came face to face for the first time for their first staredown before the fight. While the moment certainly appeared to be an intense one for fans, with McGregor getting in Alvarez’ face, forcing UFC President Dana White to separate them, Alvarez stated after the event that he had never felt more unthreatened by an opponent than he did when he came face to face with McGregor.

bjpenndotcom - November 2, 2016

UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor is certainly a polarizing figure in the MMA community. While some applaud McGregor for his ability to talk trash to his opponents on the microphone and generate an enormous audience for his fights, others simply aren’t fans of McGregor’s brash persona. While his trash talk certainly doesn’t usually go over well with his opponents, it can’t be denied that fans tune in to McGregor’s fights. For example, McGregor set the record for tickets selling out in the shortest amount of time when he headlined ‘UFC Fight Night: Dublin’ against Diego Brandao in 2014. In addition, McGregor’s UFC 202 rematch with Nate Diaz back in August set the UFC pay-per view record, dethroning UFC 100 as the biggest pay-per view in company history. In addition, McGregor’s first fight with Nate Diaz, UFC 196, also ranks as the third biggest pay-per view in company history behind UFC 100, and UFC 202.

Russell Ess - November 2, 2016

Many fans were disappointed to hear the news on Wednesday that the Luke Rockhold vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza UFC Fight Night 101 main event bout was canceled due to Rockhold suffering an injury, which was first reported by Ariel Helwani for MMA Fighting. The two were supposed to meet in a rematch in Melbourne, Australia at Rod Laver Arena on November 26. The two first fought in Strikeforce for Souza’s middleweight title back in 2011 where Rockhold won a unanimous decision where many thought the fight could have gone either way.

bjpenndotcom - November 2, 2016

Combat sports veteran Melvin Manhoef is certainly one of the most credentialed fighters on the planet today. With over 50 professional kickboxing matches that saw him win the ‘It’s Showtime’ championship, in addition to 46 professional MMA fights that have seen him pick up arguably some of the most devastating knockouts in recent memory, ‘No Mercy’ is a man to be feared.

Jason Kindschy - November 2, 2016

BJPENN.COM Radio returns at 8PM ET/5PM PT with a three courses to fill your audio appetite! 8:15PM ET- Richard Perez will be kicking things off in a prerecorded interview from earlier today.  We will get the latest on the famed Diaz Brothers and what Richard believes will be the next more for each of Stockton’s dynamic duo. A few fight picks and a glimpse inside the life of a world renowned boxing coach.

bjpenndotcom - November 2, 2016

Last month, UFC President Dana White announced that former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey would be returning to the Octagon on December 30th in the main event of UFC 207 to square off with Amanda Nunes for the women’s bantamweight championship. Along with the announcement, White revealed that if Rousey emerges from her UFC 207 return victorious, she will then have her long awaited superfight with Cris Cyborg.

Tom Taylor - November 2, 2016

Earlier this year, in the main event of UFC 203, UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic defended his title with a first-round smashing of Alistair Overeem. The champ earned this win in front of thousands of screaming fans in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. With this unforgettable win in the books, Miocic is now taking some well-deserved time off. While the champ enjoys this bit of R&R, the division he rules is trundling on.

Russell Ess - November 2, 2016

Michael Bisping has been campaigning for a fight for UFC 206, which comes just a little over two months since his tough five-round championship fight against Dan Henderson. With Georges St-Pierre’s name as a possible opponent, Bisping was more than excited to get back to competition against one of the greatest to ever fight in the Octagon. However, GSP and the UFC could not reach any agreement for the Canadian’s return.

bjpenndotcom - November 2, 2016

#5 Conor Anthony McGregor (born 14 July 1988) is an Irish professional mixed martial artist who is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).Conor Anthony McGregor (born 14 July 1988) is an Irish professional mixed martial artist who is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).Conor Anthony McGregor (born 14 July 1988) is an Irish professional mixed martial artist who is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Tom Taylor - November 2, 2016

Earlier this year, in the main event of UFC 202, Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz engaged in an unforgettable, five-round war. In the end, McGregor would win this encounter with a majority decision, avenging a previous submission loss to Diaz in the process. Given McGregor and Diaz’s propensities for trash talk and bravado, it should come as no surprise that they had several heated exchanges in the buildup to their legendary second scrap. Several of these brushes got so heated that members of both fighter’s teams got involved.

bjpenndotcom - November 2, 2016

When Ronda Rousey makes her highly anticipated return to the Octagon on December 30th to fight Amanda Nuens for the women’s bantamweight championship, a lot of questions will be answered. By the time Nunes and Rousey take to the Octagon on December 30th, it will have been over a year since Rousey was last in the Octagon, when she dropped a horrific 2nd round KO loss to Holly Holm which saw her lose the women’s bantamweight championship. Since then, Rousey has become a fixture in Hollywood. While the initial plan for the WMMA superstar was to film three movies and then return to the Octagon, her return was consistently postponed as she continued to film movies in Hollywood, while taking care of several nagging injuries.

Tom Taylor - November 2, 2016

In just 10 days, UFC featherweight champ Conor McGregor will challenge lightweight king Eddie Alvarez in a bid to become the first fighter in UFC history to hold two titles in two weight classes concurrently. The two stars will collide in the main event of the historic UFC 205, which marks the UFC’s long-awaited debut in New York City, New York. At this stage of the game, fans and fellow fighters are divided in their predictions for the fight. Some are leaning one way, some are leaning the other, and some simply can’t make a pick one way or the other.

Tom Taylor - November 2, 2016

Last month, it was confirmed that former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey would be returning from a lengthy hiatus to challenge new champ Amanda Nunes in the main event of December’s UFC 207. The bout will mark Rousey’s first steps into the cage since she was turned off by a Holly Holm head kick last November. Earlier this week, Rousey made an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and made the announcement that, whatever the outcome of this bout with Nunes, it’ll be one of the last fights of her career.

Tom Taylor - November 2, 2016

Earlier this week, the UFC’s November 26 trip to Melbourne, Australia took a significant blow, as former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold was forced out of his planned bout with Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza with an injury. When this unfortunate news broke, there was speculation that the UFC might scramble to find a replacement opponent for Jacare. While that is still not out of the question, we can now confirm that Jacare will no longer participate in the main event. That honor will instead go to middleweights Robert Whittaker and Derek Brunson, who were originally expected to fill the co-main event spot.