MMA News
Michael Chandler excited for possible matchups in the UFC against Justin Gaethje and Khabib Nurmagomedov
Adam D Martin - August 7, 2020
Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler is excited for the possible matchups in the UFC should he sign with the promotion as a free agent. Chandler, one of the greatest home-grown fighters in Bellator history, takes on Benson Henderson on Friday night in the main event of Bellator 243. It’s the last matchup on Chandler’s deal with Bellator, and he has admitted that he will be testing free agency after the bout. Depending on the outcome of the fight, Chandler could potentially be facing interest from the UFC, ONE Championship, and PFL in his foray into free agency.
Justin Gaethje auctioning off fight kit from Tony Ferguson fight to raise money for sick cousin
Adam D Martin - August 7, 2020
UFC interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje is auctioning off his fight kit and gloves from the Tony Ferguson fight to raise money for his sick cousin. Gaethje took to his Instagram on Thursday to share a post about his cousin Jonathan, who needs specialized treatment. Gaethje’s family recently started a GoFundMe for Jonathan and now Gaethje is taking things a step further, as he is now auctioning off his fight kit and gloves from his fifth-round TKO win over Ferguson at UFC 249.
Khabib Nurmagomedov will not train at AKA for Justin Gaethje fight at UFC 254
Adam Martin - August 6, 2020
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will not train at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) for his upcoming fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. Nurmagomedov has trained under coach Javier Mendez at AKA for all of his fights dating back to 2012 when he first joined the UFC. Under Mendez, Nurmagomedov blossomed into one of the greatest lightweights of all time. Along with Nurmagomedov, Mendez has coached numerous other UFC champions including Cain Velasquez, Daniel Cormier, and Luke Rockhold. But Nurmagomedov has long been the prized jewel of the AKA family.
Darren Till not done with welterweight following Robert Whittaker fight
Cole Shelton - August 6, 2020
Darren Till isn’t closing the book on a return to welterweight. At UFC 244 last November, the Englishman moved up to middleweight and earned a split decision win over Kelvin Gastelum. He most recently fought and lost to Robert Whittaker on Fight Island and after that fight admits a drop to welterweight might happen again.
Pro fighters make their picks for Derrick Lewis vs. Alexey Oleynik
Cole Shelton - August 6, 2020
In the main event of UFC Vegas 6 top-10 heavyweights collide as Derrick Lewis is set to battle Alexey Oleynik. Heading into the fight, Lewis is a -200 favorite while the Russian is a +160 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The majority of pros believe it will be Lewis getting his hand raised by knockout to extend his winning streak to three.
Amanda Nunes ranked No. 1 overall in EA UFC 4
Adam Martin - August 6, 2020
UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes has been ranked as the No. 1 overall fighter in the new EA UFC 4 video game. EA UFC 4 will be released on August 14. As the name implies, it’s the fourth game in the EA UFC series, following previous editions of the game in 2014, 2016, and 2018. The cover athletes for EA UFC 4 will be UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and welterweight superstar Jorge Masvidal. Boxing star Tyson Fury is also expected to be in the game.
Dana White sends a message to the "crybabies" complaining about EA UFC 4 video game rankings
Adam Martin - August 6, 2020
UFC president Dana White sent a message to the “crybabies” who have been complaining about the EA UFC 4 video game rankings. The new UFC game is set to be released this month and in anticipation of the game coming out, EA Sports has been releasing the rankings of the fighters in the game. Some fans have taken to social media to criticize some of the game’s controversial rankings, which include Deiveson Figueiredo being ranked higher in the game than Tony Ferguson, for example.
Dana White says UFC 253 with Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa likely to take place on Fight Island
Adam Martin - August 6, 2020
UFC president Dana White says that the UFC 253 pay-per-view featuring Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa will likely take place on Fight Island. UFC 253 is set to take place on September 19 and the main event will see the UFC middleweight title up for grabs as the champion Adesanya faces off with the challenger Costa. The UFC has confirmed this bout will be the main event and the date is set in stone, but the venue and location have yet to be determined at this time.
Yair Rodriguez tells Zabit Magomedsharipov to wait for him: "You will get a real good taste of my big Mexican balls soon enough"
Adam Martin - August 6, 2020
UFC featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez told rival Zabit Magomedsharipov to wait for a matchup against him after he injured his ankle in training. Rodriguez vs. Magomedsharipov was set to headline the UFC Fight Night card on August 29 but the fight was scrapped this week after Rodriguez injured himself in training. The UFC has attempted to book this matchup multiple times over the last couple of years but for whatever reason, something keeps happening every time it gets booked that forces the fight to be canceled.
Marlon Moraes vs. Cory Sandhagen targeted as main event for October UFC event
Adam Martin - August 6, 2020
An exciting bantamweight bout between Marlon Moraes and Cory Sandhagen is being targeted as the main event for a UFC Fight Night card in October. Combate first reported that the UFC is targeting the Moraes vs. Sandhagen matchup to headline a UFC Fight Night event on October 10. There is no venue yet for this card, but it could land on either Fight Island in Abu Dhabi or at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Combate reports that contracts aren’t signed yet but this is the fight the UFC wants to book.
Zabit Magomedsharipov demands title shot against Alexander Volkanovski
Adam Martin - August 6, 2020
UFC featherweight contender Zabit Magomedsharipov is fed up with waiting any more and is now demanding a title shot against champion Alexander Volkanovski. Magomesharipov is currently riding a 14-fight win streak and he is a perfect 6-0 in the UFC with back-to-back wins over Jeremy Stephens and Calvin Kattar. The Russian was set to take on Yair Rodriguez in a probably No. 1 contender fight at 145lbs later this month, but Rodriguez was injured in training and the fight was scrapped. The UFC is now looking for a replacement opponent for Magomedsharipov, with Kattar volunteering to step in.
Jose Aldo opens up on controversial referee stoppage in Petr Yan loss
Tom Taylor - August 6, 2020
Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has opened up on the controversial referee stoppage that ended his recent bantamweight title fight with Petr Yan. Aldo and Yan fought for the bantamweight title, which was left vacant when Henry Cejudo retired earlier this year, in the first of three title fights on the UFC 251 bill in July.
Darren Till updates on knee injury sustained in Whittaker loss
Mike Pendleton - August 6, 2020
UFC middleweight Darren Till might not need surgery after all. Following his loss to former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in July, Till said he suffered an injury to his MCL which might have required surgery, but this week he provided an update.
Jorge Masvidal drops timeframe for next UFC fight
Tom Taylor - August 6, 2020
UFC welterweight contender and MMA superstar Jorge Masvidal has shared the tentative timeframe for his next trip to the Octagon. On Wednesday night, Masvidal competed against American Cornhole League champion Cody Henderson, coming up short despite receiving a 15-point handicap to begin the match.
Bellator 243 weigh-in results: Main event official, one fighter misses mark
Tom Taylor - August 6, 2020
On Friday night, Bellator MMA will return to our screens with the stacked Bellator 243 card out of Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. The card will be topped by a rematch between former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler and former UFC and WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson. The pair first met in November 2016, with the Bellator lightweight title on the line. On that night, Chandler retained the title with a thrilling, split decision win over the former UFC champ.
VIDEO | Paulo Costa shares bizzare promo for Israel Adesanya title fight
Tom Taylor - August 6, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa has shared a truly bizarre promo video for his upcoming title fight with reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. While most pre-fight promos feature footage of knockouts and trash talk set to soundtracks of heavy metal or dramatic orchestral music, this one features a sultry saxophone soundtrack and footage of… well… we’ll just let you watch it.
VIDEO | Derrick Lewis spits in Alexey Oleynik's food after order mishap
Tom Taylor - August 6, 2020
A dinner order intended for UFC heavyweight contender Alexey Oleynik somehow ended up in the hands of the man he’ll fight this Saturday night, Derrick Lewis. Lewis, not one to pass up an opportunity for some mischief, decided to add “more seasoning” by spitting in Oleynik’s food.
Deiveson Figueiredo: Cody Garbrandt flyweight title shot would be "unfair"
Tom Taylor - August 6, 2020
New UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo says granting former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt a flyweight title shot would be “unfair.” Garbrandt, who enjoyed a brief reign as the UFC bantamweight champion in 2016 and 2017, recently rebounded three-straight losses by knocking out Raphael Assuncao. While this dazzling knockout win put him in prime position in the race for a bantamweight title shot, he later expressed interest in dropping down to flyweight to challenge Figueiredo. He even proclaimed himself as the division’s No. 1 contender, despite never having fought there before.