MMA News

Tom Taylor - September 21, 2016

Over the last few weeks, there’s been plenty of discussion as to who should get the next crack at Dominick Cruz’s UFC bantamweight title. TJ Dillashaw, who surrendered the title to Cruz earlier this year, certainly has a strong case for the title shot. Jimmie Rivera, who recently scored a career-best win over long time contender Urijah Faber, is also in the running. Bryan Caraway, who recently ended the unbeaten streak of Aljamain sterling, is in the conversation. The same can be said of the winner of John Lineker and John Dodson’s looming bantamweight scrap.

Tom Taylor - September 21, 2016

UFC 205, which will go down inside Madison Square Garden on November 12, is still without an official main event. Last night, that appeared to be changing, as a series of Tweets from UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez seemed to confirm that his long rumored scrap with featherweight title holder Conor McGregor would headline the card. First, the lightweight champ implored McGregor to enjoy his superstardom while it lasted.

Tom Taylor - September 20, 2016

Last Saturday, in the co-main event of the UFC’s debut in Hidalgo, Texas, streaking middleweight Derek Brunson scored an abrupt TKO win over the once-hyped Uriah Hall. Yet while this victory was undeniably impressive, many fans and pundits were quick to question the stoppage itself, as Hall seemed to be intelligently defending himself, and none of Brunson’s followup ground-strikes appeared to land. On Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour, Brunson gave his take on the stoppage. Though he believed it was fair, he said that, in the end, it doesn’t really matter to him.

Tom Taylor - September 20, 2016

Earlier this month, on the main card of UFC 203, CM Punk’s long journey into the world of mixed martial arts came to an abrupt and violent end. Though his heart was on full display in his long-awaited fight with Mickey Gall, his skill deficit was too, as he surrendered to a rear-naked choke less than two minutes into the affair.

Russell Ess - September 20, 2016

The world is all waiting for the return of UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor, even with the Irishman having just fought in August and getting revenge on Nate Diaz at UFC 202. While many were thinking that “The Notorious” would be fighting Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title in New York at UFC 205, Dana White released some information on Twitter late Tuesday.

bjpenndotcom - September 20, 2016

UFC President Dana White’s “Looking for a fight” series has produced several UFC stars. Most recently, 2-0 professional fighter Mickey Gall welcomed CM Punk to the MMA world in what was Punk’s UFC debut. Gall stepped into the Octagon and dominated the fight, finishing Punk in the first round via submission after landing a beautiful double leg, which he followed up with ground & pound before sinking in the submission.

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.

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

When Phil Davis and Josh Thomson left the UFC as free agents to sign with Bellator, many in the MMA community were completely surprised. After fellow UFC standouts Benson Henderson and Rory MacDonald followed suit, the idea of top 10 fighter’s signing with Bellator became a far more palatable decision for both fighters and fight fans alike. Once former Strikeforce president Scott Coker took over operations for Bellator in 2014, the thought of Bellator as a potential ‘new’ Strikeforce to compete with the UFC seems more and more realistic.

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.”

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.

Tom Taylor - September 20, 2016

When Jon Anik hunkers down at the broadcast booth to call a UFC event, he’s typically joined by one of two fighters. One is former UFC lightweight and featherweight title challenger Kenny Florian. The other is former UFC middleweight Brian Stann. Both are long retired. Today, however, news broke that Anik will be joined by two active fighters in the near future – both of whom happen to be reigning world champions.

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.

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

When Stephen Thompson defeated long-time welterweight contender Rory MacDonald back in June, he seemed like a shoo-in for a shot at the winner of Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley’s looming welterweight title fight. When Woodley stole Lawler’s belt with a first-round KO, however, Thompson’s immediate future became somewhat nebulous. Right off the bat, the new champ Woodley began demanding his first defense be a “money fight” with a star like Georges St-Pierre or Nick Diaz, rather than a fight with a hard-working number-one-contender in Thompson. Indeed, there was a stretch when it looked like Thompson would be passed over the title shot, even in spite of his incredible, seven-fight win-streak.