MMA News

Russell Ess - April 8, 2016

There has been a lot of talk since the UFC announced that their women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate would be fighting Amanda Nunes at UFC 200. Lenny Fresquez, manager of former champion Holly Holm claims that Tate “chose to take a weaker opponent” in Nunes.

Russell Ess - April 8, 2016

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is a legend in mixed martial arts. The former PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Champion and former UFC light heavyweight champion had his first professional fight in 2002 but has had a hot and cold record particularly in the later half of his career. Despite coming off a win in a “Fight of the Night” against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, some critics question “Shogun’s” abilities and recent performances in the Octagon.

Russell Ess - April 8, 2016

https://www.facebook.com/424293817778968/videos/483029651905384/ Nate Diaz, the younger Diaz brother is coming off the biggest win of his career against Conor McGregor at UFC 196. Both Nate and Conor will have another big payday with the immediate rematch scheduled for UFC 200 in July.

bjpenndotcom - April 8, 2016

Thursday afternoon, news broke that Khabib Nurmagomedov will now fight UFC newcomer Darrell Horcher at 160 pounds at UFC on FOX 19 later this month after Tony Ferguson was forced to withdraw from the bout. The announcement came as a bit of a surprise to many given the fact that Nurmagomedov is a top ranked lightweight, and Horcher, a CFFC champ, has never fought in the UFC.

bjpenndotcom - April 8, 2016

Apr7.2007@RdosAnjosMMA earns the 5th victory of his professional career, when he submits Johil de Oliveirapic.twitter.com/hRZLBRg6MY

bjpenndotcom - April 8, 2016

While Miesha Tate is currently gearing up for her UFC 200 co-main event fight against Amanda Nunes, which will also serve as her first title defense, she has bigger plans in mind. Tate spoke to Fox Sports Live to explain why she has unfinished business with Ronda Rousey that she plans on finishing.

bjpenndotcom - April 8, 2016

UFC pound for pound kingpin Jon Jones may not be facing Daniel Cormier in the main event of UFC 197 any more, but the way ‘Bones’ sees it, it’s all part of the journey. Jones’ fight with Ovince Saint Preux is an interim title fight, however after that, Jones says his story with DC picks up right where it left off.

bjpenndotcom - April 8, 2016

Since the UFC announced that Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor would have their highly anticipated rematch in the main event of UFC 200, they have continued to use quote posters to promote the event. While this has given way to quite a few meme posters regarding the event, the UFC has now released a new promo poster for Zingano vs. Pena.

bjpenndotcom - April 8, 2016

Former UFC welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre hasn’t fought in the Octagon since his UFC 167 split decision win over Johny Hendricks in 2013. Recently however, there has been much talk of a potential GSP return to the Octagon at UFC 200, where many fight fans would like to see him fight Robbie Lawler.

Russell Ess - April 8, 2016

Despite saving the UFC from possibly having to cancel or downgrade UFC 197, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has everything to lose in his fight with short-notice opponent Ovince Saint Preux on April 23rd. After UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier was pulled out of the originally scheduled fight with Jones, Saint Preux stepped in and will face Jones for the interim light heavyweight title. UFC color commentator Joe Rogan spoke with TMZ recently about the bigger picture Jones would likely have to face with a loss against Saint Preux.

Russell Ess - April 8, 2016

Conor McGregor has not let the loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 196 slip his mind. “The Notorious” called for an immediate rematch with Diaz, and that is just what the UFC set up for UFC 200. McGregor’s manager, Audie Attar spoke to reporters at a UFC 199 media day on Wednesday and revealed some interesting information regarding “The Notorious.” (transcribed by MMA Fighting).

bjpenndotcom - April 7, 2016

Cat Zingano has been hyping up her UFC return for quite some time. While Zingano has remained silent regarding who she would be fighting, she promised fans that it would be an exciting fight that took place sometime around her birthday on July 1st, leading many to expect the fight to take place at UFC 200.

Russell Ess - April 7, 2016

Justin Bieber has recently been making headlines surrounding MMA. Being a good friend of Floyd Mayweather Jr., Bieber is a fan of combat sports but recently criticised Nate Diaz after beating Conor McGregor at UFC 196.

Russell Ess - April 7, 2016

The UFC surprised many on Thursday when it was revealed that Khabib Nurmagomedov’s short-notice opponent for UFC on FOX 19 would be 12-1 reigning CFCC lightweight champion Darrell Horcher. Initial reports were flying around the Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone would be stepping in to fight the undefeated Nurmagomedov with both fighters having signed their contracts. However, the UFC confirmed with FOX Sports on Thursday that Nurmagomedov would welcome Horcher in his UFC debut at a catchweight bout set at 160 pounds.

Russell Ess - April 7, 2016

Hawaiian Max Holloway kept his promise of punishing his friend and video blog partner “BirdyBird” after their YouTube channel surpassed their subscriber goal.

Russell Ess - April 7, 2016

MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko recently stated that he would like to get a rematch with UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum. The two met in Strikeforce in 2010 where Werdum pulled off a major upset on the highly touted Emelianenko. Vadim Finkelchtein, long-time friend and former manager of Emelianenko spoke about Emelianenko’s recent statement in a report from Bloody Elbow about wanting a rematch with Werdum.

Russell Ess - April 7, 2016

Former UFC heavyweight fighter Matt Mitrione is happy with his decision to join Bellator MMA. After failed negotiations with the UFC, Mitrione opted for the promotion’s biggest competitor that offered a more lucrative opportunity. “Some people are so brainwashed,” Mitrione told Bleacher Report. “They say, ‘How dare you think about business like that?’ If you cite money, you’re a greedy pig. If you cite anything else, you’re a scared p—y. It’s crazy. The thing is, the UFC has become bigger than the sport, and what’s bad about that is so many people want to be in the UFC that everyone else is an afterthought. There are guys in smaller organizations that their only goal is ‘I want to go to the UFC.’ And I’ll tell them there might be more money in another place. And they’ll say, ‘It doesn’t really matter. That’s my goal.’ But once people get to the UFC, they might get the disenchantment of what’s going on. If you’re a veteran in the UFC, you’ll see it.”

Russell Ess - April 7, 2016

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has found a great deal of success as a mixed martial arts fighter and could go down as the best to ever do it. At 28-years-old, Jones is still in the prime of his career and has many fights left in him that will stamp his place in history. Interestingly, the 6’4″ athletic specimen says he wasn’t the high school jock that everyone wanted to be friends with, according to an interview he did with Rolling Stone. Instead, Jon found himself in the shadows of his two brothers that eventually went on to become stars in the NFL.