MMA News

bjpenndotcom - September 20, 2016

UFC middleweight Alex Nicholson cannot seem to stay out of hot water. In August, Nicholson was reprimanded for racial slurs directed at Hyun Gyu Lim while cornering Mike Perry at UFC 202.

Russell Ess - September 20, 2016

https://youtu.be/HC7peXR1x1I UFC 203 was an odd event. From CB Dollaway having to pull out of his fight with Francimar Barroso after being injured in a freak elevator accident to a near post-fight brawl between Fabricio Werdum’s camp and Travis Browne’s camp.

Chris Taylor - September 20, 2016

Current UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez recently took to Twitter where he delivered the following message to current UFC featherweight title holder Conor McGregor Let's do this @TheNotoriousMMA I'm ready !! Your futures not bright enjoy this one while it last . #ItsAllOver

Tom Taylor - September 20, 2016

Despite the many controversies that have marred his recent career, Jon Jones remains the greatest light heavyweight of all time. However you feel about him as person, his accolades as a fighter really can’t be denied. Given Jones’ status as the light heavyweight GOAT, people tend to get excited when he talks about moving up to heavyweight. Jones has mentioned a possible heavyweight jump several times in the past, and did so again in the wake of Stipe Miocic’s epic heavyweight title defense earlier this month.

bjpenndotcom - September 20, 2016

Earlier this month, it was announced that #13 ranked UFC lightweight Al Iaquinta would be returning to the Octagon following a layoff that saw him sidelined for a year and a half. The layoff came at the worst possible time for Iaquinta, who was in the midst of a 4-fight win streak that had seen him defeat Rodrigo Damm, Ross Pearson, Joe Lauzon, and Jorge Masvidal.

bjpenndotcom - September 20, 2016

Bellator lightweight and former UFC lightweight title contender Josh Thomson was one of the first and highest profile fighters to jump ship from the UFC to Bellator last year. Now 2-0 in his new promotion, Thomson spoke exclusively to BJPENN.com Rapid Fire and discussed who he plans on fighting next and why: “I think right now, I’m close to Scott  Coker and Rich Chou, and my personal opinion, I’m gonna fight the winner of Benson (Henderson) and Michael Chandler, probably in San Jose sometime around February or March (2017). Then probably that same night (Bellator) will hold a four or six man tournament at lightweight. I know we have a lot of talent in lightweight division. The fans will see me fight the winner of Benson and Chandler. I came over to Bellator to fight the best they have.”

Tom Taylor - September 20, 2016

Last month, UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor made headlines by bashing nearly every member of the WWE roster in one fell swoop. “For the most part, those WWE guys are p*ssies, to be honest,” McGregor said in a conference call in the buildup to UFC 202. “They’re messed up p*ssies, if you ask me. Fair play to Brock [Lesnar], he got in and fought, but at the end of the day he was juiced up to the f*cking eye balls, so how can I respect that? And then what’s the other guy? The other guy [CM Punk] hasn’t fought yet, so I don’t know about him yet.”

bjpenndotcom - September 20, 2016

UFC Hall of Famer Don Frye is one of the most polarizing figures in the sport. The often brash MMA icon frequently makes bold claims that get the MMA community rilled up. With that being said it shouldn’t be a surprise that Frye’s recent comments in regards to former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will likely stir some commotion as well.

bjpenndotcom - September 20, 2016

Cris Cyborg’s weight cut leading into her first headlining bout for the UFC has been a deeply contested issue, from revelations of her nutritionist giving her birth control pills to lose weight to the 20 pounds she still needs to shed before Friday’s weigh-ins.

bjpenndotcom - September 20, 2016

Much of this week’s lead-up into UFC Fight Night 97 has revolved around headliner Cris Cyborg’s weight cut. On Monday, she revealed that she weighed 165 pounds and still had 25 pounds to go to meet her contracted catchweight of 140 pounds in her main event bout against Lina Lansberg this Saturday. On Tuedsay, MMA insider Ariel Helwani tweeted that she only lost five pounds since yesterday, and still has nearly 20 pounds left to shed before weigh-ins on Friday.

bjpenndotcom - September 20, 2016

Last month, the UFC held arguably the biggest rematch in the history of the sport as Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor stepped into the Octagon in the main event of UFC 202. The fight, which served as McGregor’s shot at redemption after being submitted by Diaz at UFC 196 earlier this year, was one of the biggest UFC Pay-Per View events of all time. After 5 hard fought rounds, McGregor was awarded the majority decision win.

Tom Taylor - September 20, 2016

It’s now been almost a year since Ronda Rousey’s shocking, knockout loss to Holly Holm, and the former bantamweight champ has not been seen since. Given the length of her layoff, it’s been widely speculated that her fighting days are done; that the loss not only shattered her perfect record, but extinguished her competitive spirit. Recently, however, rumors of a Rousey return have begun to swirl. Several reliable sources have suggested that the former champ is poised for a comeback at UFC 207 this December, where she would take on reigning women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes.

Tom Taylor - September 20, 2016

In early June, aging Pride legend Dan Henderson scored a career-revivifying knockout win over former Bellator champ Hector Lombard. Later that same night, England’s Michael Bisping won the UFC middleweight title with a shocking knockout defeat of Luke Rockhold. Under normal circumstances, the first shot at Bisping’s title would have gone to a streaking contender like Yoel Romero or Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, or a former champion like Chris Weidman or Rockhold. Instead, however, the next shot was awarded to Henderson, based solely on the fact that he knocked Bisping silly in 2009, and that Bisping wanted a shot at revenge before Henderson hung up the gloves.

bjpenndotcom - September 20, 2016

The rumors of Ronda Rousey facing champion Amanda Nunes for her comeback fight did not settle well with fellow woman’s bantamweight contender Julianna Peña. Since Rousey lost the belt, three other women have held it. First, Miesha Tate defeated Holm by submission at UFC 196, who in turn dropped the belt to Nunes by first round TKO at UFC 200.

bjpenndotcom - September 19, 2016

Chael Sonnen describes his newly signed Bellator contract as a “legends ass-whipping” tour, starting with Tito Ortiz according to Sonnen himself. ‘The American Gangster’ discussed his role in Bellator and threw out some names he’d like to welcome onto this ass-whipping tour during Monday’s edition of the MMA Hour:

Russell Ess - September 19, 2016

Many from the MMA community were shocked to hear that long-time UFC employee Joe Silva was leaving the UFC. MMA insider @TalkMMA initially tweeted about the rumor and followed it up with a confirmation. MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn also confirmed the news of Silva’s departure. Silva, who was one of the UFC’s matchmakers alongside Sean Shelby had been working with UFC President Dana White and the Fertittas ever since Zuffa purchased the UFC in 2001. Many don’t know that Silva was actually working for the UFC before it was acquired by Zuffa, back when SEG owned the company.

Russell Ess - September 19, 2016

The popular Narcos Netflix series has grown in popularity and is running through its second season on the subscription-based entertainment company.

Tom Taylor - September 19, 2016

20-year-old lightweight Sage Northcutt is known not only as an incredibly talented prospect, but also as an extremely polite young man. Despite his manners, however, Northcutt frequently finds himself on the receiving end of trash talk and call-outs from his fellow fighters. The latest of the call-outs came from 24-year-old welterweight Mickey Gall, who demanded a fight with him after he spoiled the UFC debut of WWE star CM Punk. Apparently, Gall’s call-out worked, as a welterweight scrap between the prospects is now in the works.