MMA News

bjpenndotcom - March 16, 2016

Back in December of 2015 Nate Diaz made his emphatic return to the Octagon as he picked up a dominant unanimous decision win over Michael Johnson at UFC on FOX 17. During his post-fight Octagon interview Diaz put Conor McGregor on blast saying: “Conor McGregor you’re taking everything I’ve worked for motherf**ker. I’m gonna fight your f**king ass.”

bjpenndotcom - March 16, 2016

In the main event of UFC 194, Conor McGregor shocked the world as he knocked Jose Aldo out cold in just 13 seconds. The win silenced many critics, and saw McGregor crowned as the undisputed UFC featherweight champion. In the wake of McGregor’s UFC 196 submission loss to Nate Diaz, McGregor stated that he would return to featherweight to defend his championship. With that being said there is much speculation as to whether or not McGregor will defend his belt against Jose Aldo, or Frankie Edgar.

bjpenndotcom - March 16, 2016

At UFC 196, Conor McGregor suffered the first defeat of his UFC career at the hands of Nate Diaz, ending his 7-fight unbeaten streak inside the Octagon, as well as his 15 fight MMA win streak. After the fight McGregor was gracious in defeat, offering no excuses for why he lost, and admitting that he panicked which resulted in an inefficient use of his energy. McGregor revealed post-fight that he would be returning to featherweight to defend his championship belt at UFC 200, however the UFC has yet to announce an opponent.

bjpenndotcom - March 16, 2016

At UFC 196 earlier this month Nate Diaz shocked the world as he picked up a 2nd round submission win over Conor McGregor. The win for Diaz was undoubtably the biggest of his professional career, and according to UFC President Dana White, made him a millionaire. Following the win, UFC welterweight Rory MacDonald, who defeated Diaz back in 2011, spoke on The MMA Hour to discuss Diaz’s massive win and massive payday.

Russell Ess - March 16, 2016

UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor fought two weight classes above his previous UFC fights at UFC 196. The move up in weight to face UFC lightweight and welterweight veteran Nate Diaz proved to be a tall task as Diaz was able to weather the early storm of McGregor and submitted him in the second round. Gunnar Nelson, training partner of “The Notorious” recently spoke with Submission Radio about McGregor’s fighting weight (transcribed by Bloody Elbow).

Russell Ess - March 16, 2016

There were some who gave the UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor some flak for tapping out as Nate Diaz nearly squeezed the lights out on him at UFC 196. Just prior to their bout in the co-main event, former champion Holly Holm went unconscious without tapping as Miesha Tate locked on a rear-naked choke to become the new UFC women’s bantamweight champ. Diaz spoke with MMA Junkie about some of the criticism McGregor is getting for tapping out.

bjpenndotcom - March 15, 2016

Bellator signs Mitrione and PR cracks jokes at #UFC along the way. pic.twitter.com/gfHKad4p8o — Paul Gift (@MMAanalytics) March 14, 2016

bjpenndotcom - March 15, 2016

😃 — Dana White (@danawhite) March 15, 2016

bjpenndotcom - March 15, 2016

While Chael Sonnen hasn’t competed inside the Octagon since his TKO loss to Rashad Evans at UFC 167 in November of 2013, there has been much speculation as to whether or not Sonnen would return to the Octagon once his 2-year suspension is up. With UFC 200 rapidly approaching, many guessed that Sonnen would make an emphatic return to the Octagon at UFC 200, however Sonnen has stated that he is in fact retired, and won’t be returning.

Russell Ess - March 15, 2016

Nate Diaz is not fond of some of those in the boxing community that have been criticizing him. Diaz says many in the other world of combat sports has very little knowledge about mixed martial arts and what he could do to them in the boxing ring. “I see a lot of boxers stating their opinions, which is the most irritating,” Diaz told Rolling Stone. “They’re stating their opinion on what’s what. All those boxers who are talking all this shit on me, on my skills in the ring and in the cage, too – I’ll whoop those boxers’ asses at boxing. I’ve sparred in pro boxing gyms. I would have already been a pro boxer if I wasn’t locked in contracts forever. I would have been boxing. I’d fucking do that shit.”

Russell Ess - March 15, 2016

Georges St-Pierre is arguably one of the greatest champions the UFC has ever had. His dominance in the welterweight division went hand in hand with his championship character of a disciplined martial artist. His longtime trainer and coach Firas Zahabi confirmed to a fan on twitter about a story written in St-Pierre’s book, The Way of the Fight.

Russell Ess - March 15, 2016

UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor may have had the star power on his side for his fight with Nate Diaz at UFC 196. However, all the celebrities in the world couldn’t have helped him when Nate Diaz sunk in the rear-naked choke to make McGregor tap in the second round of their fight in the main event. Diaz spoke with Rolling Stone on the celebs that he says were caught up in the hype of “The Notorious.”

bjpenndotcom - March 15, 2016

It doesn’t matter where Conor McGregor fights, when the featherweight champ shows up, so do his Irish fans. Earlier this month when McGregor fought Nate Diaz in the main event of UFC 196 in Las Vegas, the Irish fans came out in droves.

Russell Ess - March 15, 2016

No one likes to lose, and as many say in the sport of MMA, fighters will experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.

Russell Ess - March 15, 2016

Rory MacDonald has been a training partner with Georges St-Pierre for a long time. Even the close teammate of the former UFC welterweight champion does not know much about GSP’s plans for a return to the Octagon. Rory spoke with the MMA Hour on Monday and gave the information that he knows about St-Pierre’s plans (transcribed by Bloody Elbow).

bjpenndotcom - March 15, 2016

https://www.facebook.com/424293817778968/videos/471362266405456/ In the main event of UFC 196, Nate Diaz shocked the world as he submitted Conor McGregor in the second round of their welterweight scrap. After the bout highlight videos emerged of Nate Diaz using the Diaz brother’s signature ‘Stockton Slap’ on McGregor.

bjpenndotcom - March 15, 2016

At UFC 196, Conor McGregor jumped up two weight classes to fight Nate Diaz at welterweight after UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos withdrew from the bout with a broken foot. While UFC President Dana White was under the impression that Diaz was training for a triathlon at the time he accepted the bout, Diaz admitted post-fight that was not the case.

bjpenndotcom - March 15, 2016

https://youtu.be/HhTmsnkgfC8 At UFC 196, Nate Diaz put on one of the most spectacular performances in UFC history as he defeated Conor McGregor via 2nd round submission. The win was even more shocking given that Diaz took the fight on two weeks notice, and admittedly wasn’t training for a marathon prior to the fight like UFC President Dana White stated.