MMA News

bjpenndotcom - July 22, 2016

Since Eddie Alvarez knocked out Rafael dos Anjos earlier this month to win the UFC lightweight championship, the MMA veteran has had a target on his back. While Alvarez would like to fight the winner of UFC 202’s Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor fight, #1 ranked lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov has his eyes set on a title shot.

bjpenndotcom - July 22, 2016

https://youtu.be/Z-WThgfvRdU?t=6m20s Earlier this month at UFC 200, former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar made his successful return to the Octagon as he defeated Mark Hunt via unanimous decision, utilizing his wrestling to control the fight.

bjpenndotcom - July 22, 2016

Eddie Alvarez wasn’t the UFC lightweight champion for more than 48 hours when he asked Dana White and the UFC for an “easier fight”. Alvarez’ desired opponent? UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor, who is currently slated to fight Nate Diaz in a welterweight rematch at UFC 202 on August 20th. Now, ahead of that fight, Alvarez has asked the UFC for the winner of the fight for a “big pay-per-view” fight.

Russell Ess - July 22, 2016

https://youtu.be/ygDHXON6uBU Here’s a classic Flashback Friday video that you may or may have not already seen.

bjpenndotcom - July 21, 2016

On July 7th, MMA veteran Eddie Alvarez finally got his shot at UFC gold. The former Bellator lightweight champion seized the moment, knocking out Rafael dos Anjos in the 1st round of their fight. Now, lightweight #1 contender Khabib Nurmagomedov has taken to Twitter in an attempt to claim a lightweight title shot against the newly crowned champ.

bjpenndotcom - July 21, 2016

At UFC 200, Jose Aldo claimed the interim featherweight championship as he defeated Frankie Edgar via unanimous decision on the main card of the historic event. While Aldo’s win was an extremely impressive one, the former featherweight kingpin drew criticism when he claimed that he had a spy in Frankie Edgar’s locker room who revealed the gameplan Edgar’s team had put together.

Russell Ess - July 21, 2016

Conor McGregor won the UFC interim featherweight championship title when he defeated Chad Mendes at UFC 189. “The Notorious” overcame a tough test where Mendes was able to get McGregor to the ground and do some damage with some ground and pound. However, McGregor found his range and TKO’d Mendes in the second round with his fluid and accurate striking.

Russell Ess - July 21, 2016

Nate Diaz’s home in the UFC is at 155 pounds in the lightweight division. However, certain circumstances have recently put Diaz in welterweight fights. The reason for Diaz’s last fight being at 170 pounds was because he stepped in to take a fight with Conor McGregor on 11 days’ notice and never had a training camp going into the bout. After McGregor lost their first fight, he wanted a rematch with Diaz under all the same circumstances to try his best to avenge the loss. Now, the two are scheduled again for a rematch at welterweight.

bjpenndotcom - July 21, 2016

In the wake of the UFC being sold for $4 billion, Top Rank Boxing CEO Bob Arum decided to take the opportunity to criticize the UFC and it’s fighters for a string of failed drug tests. Prior to the event, Jon Jones was pulled from the card for a potential USADA anti-doping violation, and after the event it was announced that Brock Lesnar failed a pre-fight drug test in June, as well as a fight night drug test the night of UFC 200. Arum also went as far as to accuse the UFC brass of being corrupt.

Russell Ess - July 21, 2016

Former title contender Chael Sonnen tested positive for multiple performance-enhancing drug violations back in 2014 and was suspended for two years from competition. Now that Sonnen’s two-year suspension from competition will be up this Saturday, it surely looks like the current MMA analyst for ESPN may be looking to have another go in the Octagon.

bjpenndotcom - July 21, 2016

Since Conor McGregor captured the featherweight championship back in December from Jose Aldo, there has been much speculation as to when, or if, he would return to the featherweight division to defend his belt. Following the win, McGregor quickly signed to fight Rafael dos Anjos in a lightweight title fight at UFC 196. Unfortunately, dos Anjos broke his foot and was replaced by Nate Diaz. The bout was moved to welterweight, and Diaz ultimately won the fight via 2nd round submission.

Russell Ess - July 21, 2016

When an x-ray revealed that Michael Page fractured Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos’ skull with a vicious flying knee at Bellator 158 over the weekend, the news spread fast. Santos’ ex-wife, Cris “Cyborg” Justino immediately set up a gofundme fundraiser to help with medical bills needed for the insane injury suffered in the MMA fight. However, Bellator MMA warmed people’s hearts when they stepped up and took the responsibility of Santos’ expensive medical bills and additionally awarded the injured fighter his win bonus, even after losing to Page in their bout.

Russell Ess - July 21, 2016

After Brock Lesnar fought Mark Hunt at UFC 200, the WWE star and former UFC heavyweight champion was flagged for a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation. Hunt was upset, to say the least that the news came out after the fight took place and demanded that he receive Brock Lesnar’s fight purse or be immediately released from the UFC.

bjpenndotcom - July 21, 2016

It’s been 7 months since Conor McGregor knocked out Jose Aldo in just 13 seconds to claim the UFC featherweight championship in the main event of UFC 194. Since then, McGregor went up to welterweight to fight Nate Diaz in the main event of UFC 196. In addition, the UFC also booked a rematch between the pair for UFC 202 on August 20th.

bjpenndotcom - July 21, 2016

At UFC 200 earlier this month, former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar has his 5-fight win streak snapped at the hands of former featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo. Aldo stuffed Edgar’s takedowns, and used his reach to pick Edgar apart while avoiding the strikes of Edgar. Interestingly enough, Aldo revealed this week that he had spies in Edgar’s locker room, which is why he knew not to throw kicks during the fight.

bjpenndotcom - July 21, 2016

On July 14th, UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor celebrated his 28th birthday. The champ is currently residing in Las Vegas for training ahead of his UFC 202 rematch with Nate Diaz on August 20th.

bjpenndotcom - July 21, 2016

With just two days to go until UFC 200, UFC pound for pound kingpin Jon Jones was pulled from the event due to a potential USADA anti-doping violation. The following morning, Jones and his manager held a press conference, where they addressed the situation to media members. Throughout the course of the presser Jones was adamant that he didn’t knowingly take any banned substances, and that he would be found innocent. Since then, the former champ has continued to defend himself via social media, telling fans that they shouldn’t write him off just yet. Wednesday afternoon, Jones’ manager Malki Kawa spoke on Chael Sonnen’s “You’re Welcome!” podcast to discuss the situation, and reveal some interesting details:

Russell Ess - July 21, 2016

Alexander Gustafsson is on a mission to get back to a title fight after suffering two losses in a row for the first time in his professional career. Gustafsson fell short in his two UFC light heavyweight title fights, losing to Jon Jones by unanimous decision at UFC 165 and by split decision to current champion Daniel Cormier at UFC 192. Many argue that Gustafsson could have won both bouts, but judges felt otherwise.