MMA News

Russell Ess - September 6, 2016

Tom Taylor - September 6, 2016

Last month, former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis dropped down to featherweight and scored a career-saving win over Charles Oliveira. Had he lost the fight, he’d have found himself on a dangerous four-fight losing streak – the kind of skid that has ejected many fighters from the UFC in the past. As it turns out, however, Pettis didn’t only save his own career by defeating Oliveira. He also saved the career of his long-time coach Duke Roufus, who joined Ariel Helwani on this week’s episode of The MMA Hour.

bjpenndotcom - September 6, 2016

As CM Punk’s teammate for the past two years, Anthony Pettis knows something the fans don’t. While many people are counting out the former WWE superstar in his upcoming fight against Mickey Gall, ‘Showtime’ expects Punk to surprise UFC fans watching UFC 203 worldwide. “He’s gonna surprise some people,” Pettis said during Tuesday’s MMA Hour. “A lot of people are counting him out. The guy wants to fight. To have this guy come to the gym, watch fight videos, sacrifice his body, clean the mats… He has no ego, he trains as hard as we do.”

bjpenndotcom - September 6, 2016

With less than a week until CM Punk makes his highly anticipated UFC debut against Mickey Gall on the main card of UFC 203, many have begun to question the Ohio State Athletic Commission’s decision to grant Punk, real name Phil Brooks, the license to fight on Saturday. Fox Sports released several episodes of the mini docu-series, which led to some MMA fans voicing concern for Punk’s wellbeing as he steps into the Octagon against the undefeated Mickey Gall.

bjpenndotcom - September 6, 2016

In the main event of UFC 202, Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor put on arguably the greatest fight in MMA history as the two battled over the course of 5 rounds to a decision. The featherweight champion was given the nod on two of the three judges scorecards, earning him a majority decision win, and avenging his UFC 196 submission loss to the Stockton superstar.

bjpenndotcom - September 6, 2016

Anthony Pettis’ head coach Duke Roufus has an idea for ‘Showtime’s’ next featherweight fight, and it’s none other than Max Holloway. Roufus spoke to ESPN’s ‘5 Rounds Podcast’ on Wednesday, explaining his decision to call out Holloway given the current landscape of the featherweight division.

bjpenndotcom - September 6, 2016

Last month, UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor and UFC superstar Nate Diaz competed in a highly anticipated welterweight rematch, where McGregor was able to avenge his UFC 196 submission loss to Diaz. The fight is widely regarded by fans as one of the best fights of the year, in addition to one of the greatest MMA fights of all time. Despite that, UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez wasn’t impressed by either fighter.

bjpenndotcom - September 6, 2016

Matt Mitrione ripped into UFC Hall-of-Famer Matt Hughes on Twitter during a heated exchange over fighter’s rights and pay. With talks of a fighters union and compensation running rampant amongst UFC and Bellator fighters alike, Hughes and Mitrione took to Twitter on Tuesday to air their grievances, or in other words attack each others opinion. See for yourself below, PENN Nation!

Tom Taylor - September 6, 2016

MMA has come along way. Once a polarizing spectacle on the shadowy fringes of the sports industry, it’s now a massive, mainstream sensation the world over. Of course, the sport still has its detractors.

Tom Taylor - September 6, 2016

In the main event of UFC 202, Conor McGregor defeated Nate Diaz by majority decision. Having evened the score in his bizarre, welterweight rivalry with the Stockton fighter, McGregor then set his sights on the division he’s most suited for: lightweight. Given McGregor’s transcendent superstardom, a trip to the lightweight division would almost certainly result in an immediate title shot against reigning champion Eddie Alvarez. In a recent walk-and-talk interview with Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com, Alvarez discussed this potential showdown.

Tom Taylor - September 6, 2016

In late August, the UFC returned to beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada with UFC on Fox 21. On that event’s main card, fan favorite strawweight Paige VanZant returned to the cage after a stint on Dancing with the Stars to remove the batteries from Bec Rawlings with a second-round head-kick. Needless to say, it was a great night to be VanZant. It was not such a great night to be Rawlings, who made the long flight home to Australia with an ugly new loss on her record – and probably a concussion.

Tom Taylor - September 6, 2016

This Saturday, former WWE star CM Punk will make his long-awaited jump to MMA. He’ll be taking on dangerous, 24-year-old prospect Mickey Gall on the main card of UFC 203, which will emanate from Cleveland, Ohio’s Quicken Loans Arena. In advance of his UFC debut, Punk finds the odds stacked against him, as bookmakers have pegged him as a sizeable underdog.

Tom Taylor - September 5, 2016

Not long ago, UFC lightweight Paul Felder launched a GoFundMe camaign to help cover the costs of flying his coaches to Brazil, where he’ll fight Francisco “Massaranduba” Trinaldo later this month. This development stirred up debates about fighter pay, and raised many questions as to what expenses the UFC actually covers for its fighters. Joe Lauzon to the rescue!

Russell Ess - September 5, 2016

Nate Diaz has grown to be one of the big stars in the UFC. The younger Diaz brother holds two of the three top UFC pay-per-view cards in his headlining bouts against rival Conor McGregor.

bjpenndotcom - September 5, 2016

https://youtu.be/Syz_H0yF-FM With a career spanning three combat sports and over 80 victories, Tyrone Spong is expanding his presence into the boxing world, and made that presence felt with a blistering one-punch knockout over a regional journeyman on Sunday night.

Russell Ess - September 5, 2016

https://youtu.be/VLPCh9e3mvU If you haven’t been keeping up with Nick Diaz on Snapchat, the UFC star has been recently living it up, going clubbing and partying with friends.

Tom Taylor - September 5, 2016

This Saturday, the UFC will set up shop in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena with UFC 203. The card will be headlined by a heavyweight title fight between champion Stipe Miocic and challenger Alistair Overeem, while the co-main event will see former heavyweight champ Fabricio Werdum attempt to regain his footing against an old foe in Travis Browne. The card will also see WWE star CM Punk make his MMA debut opposite dangerous prospect Mickey Gall. Bovoda.com (per Sherdog.com) has identified Miocic as a -145 favorite for his first title defense. Overeem, on the other hand, has been pegged as a +115 dog. These close odds are reflective of the mammoth talent of both men, and the anything-can-happen nature of clashes between elite heavyweights.

Russell Ess - September 5, 2016

One of the most intimidating figures in women’s MMA, Gabi Garcia is set to fight Destanie Yarbrough at RIZIN 2 on September 25 in Japan.