MMA News
Ben Askren responds to Jake Paul challenge: "Muay Thai, kickboxing, boxing, Lethwei, name the style"
Tom Taylor - December 2, 2020
Former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight king Ben Askren has responded to a recent callout from YouTuber turned boxer, Jake Paul. Paul is the talk of the combat sports world this weekend, after improving to 2-0 as a pro boxer with a violent one-punch knockout of former NBA player Nate Robinson last weekend.
Conor McGregor shares cryptic messages on Twitter: "You can run, but you can't hide"
Tom Taylor - December 2, 2020
MMA superstar Conor McGregor was busy on Twitter on Wednesday morning, but the intention of his latest posts is not immediately evident. The Irishman published a trio of Tweets that seemed to be targeting somebody specifically, but it’s not clear who.
Charles Oliveira on fighting Tony Ferguson at UFC 256: “ It will be eight finishes in a row”
Harry Kettle - December 2, 2020
UFC lightweight contender Charles Oliveira believes that he will make it eight finishes in a row when he fights Tony Ferguson at UFC 256. After much speculation over who both men would fight next, the two have been paired together in what many consider to be the most anticipated bout left in 2020 for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Henry Cejudo responds to challenge from Kayla Harrison: “You’ll bend the knee within round one”
Harry Kettle - December 2, 2020
Former two-weight UFC champion Henry Cejudo has issued a somewhat light-hearted response to PFL star Kayla Harrison’s open challenge. Harrison, who is 8-0 since beginning her professional mixed martial arts career, is searching for more competition as she awaits the return of the new PFL season. Cejudo, on the other hand, has been “retired” for months now after walking away from the sport earlier this year.
The Korean Zombie calls out Zabit Magomedsharipov: "This is a fight that would bring the fans to their feet"
Adam Martin - December 1, 2020
UFC featherweight The Korean Zombie called out Zabit Magomedsharipov, saying “This is a fight that would bring the fans to their feet.” TKZ is coming off of a surprising one-sided decision defeat to Brian Ortega on Fight Island in October. It was a disappointing loss for TKZ, who was coming off of back-to-back knockout wins over Frankie Edgar and Renato Moicano. However, he is still ranked No. 5 overall in the UFC featherweight rankings, so despite the loss to Ortega, TKZ would likely only need another win or two to jump back into title contention at 145lbs.
Anthony Pettis explains why he's fighting Alex Morono at UFC Vegas 17
Adam Martin - December 1, 2020
Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis explained why he’s fighting Alex Morono at UFC Vegas 17 in what was a surprising booking. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reported that Pettis vs. Morono will take place at UFC Vegas 17, which is set for December 19 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card was originally set to be headlined by welterweights Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev, but the fight was called off after Edwards tested positive for COVID-19. The new main event will see Stephen Thompson take on Geoff Neal for five rounds or less.
Joseph Benavidez returns after back-to-back losses at UFC 259 against Askar Askarov
Cole Shelton - December 1, 2020
Joseph Benavidez is looking to return to the win column on March 6 at UFC 259. According to Russian outlet TASS, Benavidez is set to take on rising contender, Askar Askarov. Currently, the event does not have a location or venue.
Buster Douglas calls for rematch with Mike Tyson: "I would welcome the opportunity"
Adam Martin - December 1, 2020
30 years after one of the biggest upsets in sports history, Buster Douglas now wants a rematch against heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson. On February 11, 1990, Douglas took on Tyson in a fight where he was a 42-to-1 underdog. At the time, Tyson was 37-0 with 33 knockouts, while Douglas was just 29-4-1, 1 NC. Tyson was just 24 at the time, while Douglas was 30. In one of the most stunning upsets ever seen in sports, Douglas took it to Tyson and brutally knocked him out in the 10th round to become the new world heavyweight boxing champion. Douglas immediately lost the belt to Evander Holyfield in his very next fight.
Jack Hermansson says Darren Till was supposed to be a "tune-up fight" only interested in fighting Whittaker or Costa next
Cole Shelton - December 1, 2020
Jack Hermansson will still be fighting on Saturday night in the main event of UFC Vegas 16. Originally, Hermansson was expected to fight fan-favorite, Darren Till. However, the Englishman was forced out with an injury and was replaced by Kevin Holland. Yet, Holland got COVID-19 and now Hermansson is set to fight Marvin Vettori.
Stephen Thompson vs. Geoff Neal will now serve as UFC Vegas 17 headliner
Cole Shelton - December 1, 2020
The UFC’s final event of 2020 will still be headlined by a welterweight fight. Originally, UFC Vegas 17 was supposed to see Leon Edwards take on Khamzat Chimaev in the main event. However, on Tuesday it was revealed the Englishman was out of the fight due to testing positive for COVID-19. Now, multiple sources have told BJPENN.com that Stephen Thompson vs. Geoff Neal will be the main event and will be five rounds. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Ariel Helwani.
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Leon Edwards fight scrapped due to COVID-19
Tom Taylor - December 1, 2020
An anticipated welterweight scrap between No. 3-ranked contender Leon Edwards and rising prospect Khamzat Chimaev has unfortunately been canceled after Edwards tested positive for COVID-19. News of the bout’s cancelation comes from Ariel Helwani of ESPN, the official broadcast partner of the UFC.
Francisco Figueiredo calls it a "dream come true" to join "warrior" brother Deiveson Figueiredo in the UFC
Adam Martin - December 1, 2020
Francisco Figueiredo, the brother of UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, called it a “dream come true” to join his big bro in the UFC. Manager Wallid Ismail recently announced that the UFC signed Francisco to a contract and he’s expected to compete in the flyweight division, where he will fight alongside his brother Deiveson. Francisco has been a professional MMA fighter for over a decade before finally getting the call. Speaking to AG Fight, the younger Figueiredo brother said it’s a “dream come true” to finally realize his goal of making it to the big show.
Jake Paul says his team has contacted Conor McGregor about fight
Tom Taylor - December 1, 2020
YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul says his team has reached out to Conor McGregor’s management about a potential fight. Paul’s star is shining brighter than ever at the moment, after he produced a blistering knockout victory over former NBA player Nate Robinson in the co-main event of last weekend’s Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. event.
Fabricio Werdum explains the secret to fighting into his 40s
Adam Martin - December 1, 2020
Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum explained the secret to fighting into his 40s and still performing at a high level in MMA. Werdum is now 43 years old but he is still winning fights against elite opposition who are younger than him. In his last outing on Fight Island back in July, Werdum picked up a huge upset win when he submitted Alexander Gustafsson. After being left for dead following a decision loss to Aleksei Oleinik at UFC 249 this past May, Werdum showed that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank when he beat Gustafsson.
UFC rankings update: Anthony Smith gains ground at light heavyweight
Tom Taylor - December 1, 2020
The official UFC rankings have been updated after last Saturday’s UFC Vegas 15 card, and there have been a handful of interesting changes. While the card lost its originally scheduled Curtis Blaydes vs. Derrick Lewis fight at the last minute, it still featured one ranked fighter as top-15 light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith submitted Devin Clark in the short-notice main event.
Daniel Cormier makes suggestion for Jon Jones' first heavyweight opponent
Tom Taylor - December 1, 2020
Former two-division UFC champ Daniel Cormier believes a heavyweight fight between Jon Jones and Curtis Blaydes makes “all the sense in the world.” Jones, the most dominant light heavyweight fighter in MMA history, recently vacated the UFC light heavyweight title with plans to move up to the heavyweight division. While it’s still not clear who he’ll fight in his first fight in this new weight class, Cormier believes Blaydes should get the call.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 21 with Jack Hermansson, Diego Ferreira, Montana De La Rosa and Cody Durden
Cole Shelton - December 1, 2020
The 21st episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 16. We’re first joined by fourth-ranked middleweight contender, Jack Hermansson (3:01). Next, ninth-ranked lightweight, Diego Ferreira (17:36) joins the show. Then, the 15th-ranked flyweight, Montana De La Rosa (31:34) comes on. Closing out the show is flyweight contender, Cody Durden (41:31).
Garry Tonon confident someone is getting finished in Koyomi Matsushima bout
Tom Taylor - December 1, 2020
American grappling star turned mixed martial artist Garry Tonon will return to action this Friday night in what he considers his toughest bout so far. The multiple-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion will look to climb the featherweight ranks with a victory over his next foe, in hopes of landing a shot at the belt in the very near future.