MMA News
Patricio Pitbull reacts to Michael Chandler's UFC move
Adam Martin - September 17, 2020
Bellator double champion Patricio Pitbull reacted to the news that his long-time rival Michael Chandler has signed with the UFC. On Thursday, UFC president Dana White announced that Chandler has signed with the world’s leading MMA promotion and he will serve as the backup to the UFC 254 lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje. Fans, media, and fellow fighters took to social media right away to talk about the big move.
Dana White working on "fun stuff" for Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - September 17, 2020
UFC President Dana White says he’s working on some “fun stuff” for ostensibly retired former two-division champion Conor McGregor. McGregor, who previously ruled over the UFC lightweight and featherweight divisions, announced his retirement on June 6. That being said, there’s been widespread doubt that his retirement will stick, and it seems White shares that skepticism.
Breaking: UFC signs Michael Chandler, former Bellator champ to serve as backup for UFC 254 main event
Tom Taylor - September 17, 2020
Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler has officially signed with the UFC, and has already been tapped as an understudy for the UFC 254 main event. UFC 254 will be headlined by a lightweight title fight between undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champion Justin Gaethje. Should either man fail to make it into the cage, Chandler will be called upon to replace them.
Donald Cerrone dismisses retirement talk ahead of UFC Vegas 11 bout with Niko Price
Tom Taylor - September 17, 2020
Donald Cerrone has no plans to hang up the gloves ahead of his fight with Niko Price, which goes down at UFC Vegas 11 this Saturday. Cerrone will enter the fight with Price on a four-fight skid, having come up short against Tony Ferguson, Justin Gaethje, Conor McGregor and Anthony Pettis in his most recent trips to the Octagon.
Marion Reneau injured, Sijara Eubanks steps up on short notice for UFC 253 fight with Ketlen Vieira
Harry Kettle - September 17, 2020
Sijara Eubanks is set to step in and fight Ketlen Vieira on short notice after Marion Reneau pulled out of their upcoming showdown, ESPN reports. Eubanks is set to get back into the cage just two weeks after her unanimous decision win over Julia Avila last weekend, and if she’s able to get the win over Vieira, she’ll be taking her winning streak up to three.
Mackenzie Dern says she left Black House after her husband fought her coach
Adam Martin - September 17, 2020
UFC women’s strawweight standout Mackenzie Dern says that she left Black House after her husband got into a fight with her coach. Dern is one of the top-15 women’s strawweights on the UFC roster and this Saturday at UFC Vegas 11 she faces off against veteran Randa Markos. For Dern, she’ll be looking to get another win in 2020 after submitting Hannah Cifers with a kneebar in her last outing. She will be doing so with a new camp after recently departing from Team Black House as she is now learning the striking game under the tutelage of Jason Parillo.
Khamzat Chimaev, Gerald Meerschaert involved in verbal altercation ahead of fight
Tom Taylor - September 17, 2020
Khamzat Chimaev and Gerald Meerschaert were involved in a verbal altercation ahead of their fight this Saturday on the UFC Vegas 11 main card. Chimaev claims he crossed paths with Meerschaert in Las Vegas this week, and decided to give his foe a scolding for some of his recent comments.
Pro fighters make their picks for Colby Covington vs. Tyron Woodley
Cole Shelton - September 17, 2020
In the main event of UFC Vegas 11, Colby Covington and Tyron Woodley will finally be sharing the Octagon. Heading into the fight, Covington is a -350 favorite while the former champion is a +265 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The majority believe Covington’s pace will be too much for Woodley and he will get his hand raised.
Daniel Cormier reveals he is in “very early conversations” with WWE officials, pitches commentary gig
Harry Kettle - September 17, 2020
Retired UFC star Daniel Cormier has confirmed that he is in very early talks with WWE regarding a potential switch over to pro wrestling. Cormier officially announced his retirement from mixed martial arts last month after failing to win back the UFC Heavyweight Championship in his trilogy fight with Stipe Miocic. Before that, however, fans had always known that there was a possibility “DC” would make the jump over to professional wrestling in some capacity once he hung up his gloves.
Khamzat Chimaev says he will "kill" the "chicken" Gerald Meerschaert
Adam Martin - September 16, 2020
UFC middleweight prospect Khamzat Chimaev says that he will “kill” the “chicken” Gerald Meerschaert this Saturday night at UFC Vegas 11. Chimaev was the star of UFC Fight Island in July with his vicious stoppage wins over Rhys McKee and John Phillips. The UFC matchmakers are extremely high on Chimaev and have already booked him for his next two fights. The Swede takes on Meerschaert this weekend at UFC Vegas 11 and then fights again in November against veteran Demian Maia at welterweight, leading Meerschaert to say he feels “disrespected.”
Jan Blachowicz details finding man hanged in the woods - touches rope for luck
Andrew Whitelaw - September 16, 2020
As pre-fight rituals go, Jan Blachowicz touching the rope of a man he once found hanged in a forest is pretty out there. The Pole is a regular visitor to a Warsaw forest where he takes his dog for a walk, but his usual stroll took a dark turn one day when he came upon a man who’d hanged himself from a nearby tree.
Gilbert Burns slams "pillow hands" Colby Covington
Cole Shelton - September 16, 2020
Gilbert Burns doesn’t think Colby Covington switching to orthodox will change his power. For his entire career, Covington has been fighting as a southpaw. He has been known as a volume striker but wasn’t someone who was scoring one-punch knockouts. When Covington left ATT and started to train at MMA Masters, his coaches realized he is orthodox and believes that will help his power.
Randy Costa ecstatic to be fighting Journey Newson: "I’m expecting this to be a fan-friendly fight"
Cole Shelton - September 16, 2020
Randy Costa couldn’t be more excited when he found out he was fighting Journey Newson. Costa was set to fight in March but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the loyal Massachusetts native packed up and headed to Florida to train at American Top Team due to the restrictions Massachusetts had.
Ben Askren not sold on Khamzat Chimaev
Tom Taylor - September 16, 2020
Former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight champ Ben Askren isn’t sold on red-hot UFC welterweight prospect Khamzat Chimaev just yet. Chimaev was the breakout star of the UFC’s four-even stint on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi in July. The Chechen-Swede won two fights in a 10-day span, submitting John Phillips at middleweight and Rhys McKee by TKO at welterweight—both in the first round.
Alexander Volkanovski denies UFC has offered him the Henry Cejudo fight
Adam Martin - September 16, 2020
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has denied that the UFC has offered him a fight against rival Henry Cejudo. Volkanovski most recently competed at UFC 251 on Fight Island, where he won a controversial split decision over Max Holloway to keep his featherweight title. In the two months since then, Cejudo has been all over social media chirping Volkanovski and looking to fight him. The UFC has not yet booked Volkanovski for his next fight, leading to fans and media speculating that Cejudo could potentially jump the line and get it.
Ryan Garcia says he wants to "beat the sh*t" out of Henry Cejudo
Adam Martin - September 16, 2020
Undefeated lightweight boxing star Ryan Garcia says that he wants to “beat the sh*t” out of former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo. Cejudo recently retired from MMA following a TKO win over Dominick Cruz at UFC 249, but he has been active in his retirement calling out MMA fighters and boxers, including Garcia. Both Cejudo and Garcia have been going back-and-forth in interviews over the last few months, making their feelings known about each other. Both men do not like one another, and both men are interested in a potential MMA fight or boxing match.
Coach says Paulo Costa wants to fight Jon Jones: "He can’t hide"
Tom Taylor - September 16, 2020
Eric Albarracin says his star pupil, upcoming UFC middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa, still wants to fight Jon Jones in the future. Costa is set to challenge Israel Adesanya for the UFC middleweight title in the main event of UFC 253 on September 26. Speaking to ESPN recently, Albarracin expressed his confidence that Costa will win that title fight, and also suggested that Costa could move up to the light heavyweight division in search of a fight with Jones thereafter.
Michael Chiesa welcomes fight with Leon Edwards: "I like that fight a lot"
Tom Taylor - September 16, 2020
Rising UFC welterweight contender Michael Chiesa is willing to step into the Octagon with the division’s No. 3-ranked fighter, Leon Edwards. Edwards is currently on a fantastic eight-fight win-streak, but has not fought in over a year, and has struggled greatly to find a willing dance partner for his next fight.