MMA News
Gilbert Burns volunteers to fight Kamaru Usman at UFC 251
Tom Taylor - June 5, 2020
Gilbert Burns says he has volunteered to challenge Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 251, which is expected to go down on July 11. Burns divulged this information in an interview with MMA Fighting.
Alexander Gustafsson ending retirement for heavyweight move, targeting Fabricio Werdum
Tom Taylor - June 5, 2020
Three-time UFC light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson is ending his retirement and moving up to the heavyweight division. According to a report from Combate, Gustafsson is targeting a return to action on July 25 on the UFC’s widely discussed Fight Island. The frontrunners for his comeback fight, per the report, are former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum, and former interim light heavyweight title challenge Ovince Saint Preux.
Chael Sonnen believes former UFC champion Rafael dos Anjos has “lost his mind”
Natasha Hooper - June 5, 2020
MMA fighter turned analyst Chael Sonnen is convinced that Rafael Dos Anjos has “lost his mind”. During a recent interview, the Brazilian star revealed that he is currently on the last fight of his UFC contract and is waiting to see if the UFC will resign him.
Dana White says it's "highly likely" Gilbert Burns is getting welterweight title shot
Cole Shelton - June 4, 2020
Gilbert Burns may very well get the next welterweight title shot according to UFC president, Dana White. Burns became a top contender following his dominant decision win over Tyron Woodley in the main event of UFC Vegas. Following the win, he called for a title shot against his teammate and friend in Kamaru Usman.
UFC 250 | Pro fighters make their picks for Aljamain Sterling vs. Cory Sandhagen
Cole Shelton - June 4, 2020
On the main card of UFC 250, Aljamain Sterling battles Cory Sandhagen in what many assume is a number one contenders bout at bantamweight. Heading into the fight, Sterling is a -120 favorite while the comeback on Sandhagen is at -110. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros truly do believe it is a pick’em fight as the oddsmakers do. But, the majority lean towards Sandhagen getting the job done.
Alonzo Menifield eyes stoppage win over Devin Clark at UFC 250
Cole Shelton - June 4, 2020
Alonzo Menifield believes the pressure is on him to make his fight against Devin Clark entertaining for the fans. Menifield and Clark are the second fight from the bottom on the UFC 250 card, which will be Menifield’s first fight in nearly a year. Since his last fight, a first-round knockout of Paul Craig, the undefeated prospect dealt with a serious neck injury.
PHOTO | Sean O'Malley looks shredded ahead of UFC 250 fight
Tom Taylor - June 4, 2020
Red hot UFC bantamweight prospect “Sugar” Sean O’Malley looks to be in incredible shape ahead of his UFC 250 main card scrap with Eddie Wineland. O’Malley flaunted his physique—and an undeniably bold hairstyle—in an Instagram post on Thursday.
Wanderlei Silva hit by car while riding bike in Brazil, breaks foot
Adam Martin - June 4, 2020
MMA legend Wanderlei Silva was involved in an accident on Wednesday afternoon in Curitiba, Brazil, when he was hit by a car while riding a bicycle. Silva says that he broke his foot and suffered cuts to his face.
Dana White explains why Conor McGregor is a bigger star than GSP, Rousey, Silva
Tom Taylor - June 4, 2020
Dana White believes Conor McGregor is the first truly international superstar in UFC history, and that’s what sets him apart from other stars like Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, and Ronda Rousey. White compared McGregor’s celebrity to that of other big UFC stars on Eddie Hearn’s Talk the Talk podcast. He believes that, while stars like GSP, Rousey and Silva opened up new markets, McGregor brought the UFC to the whole world.
Colby Covington not buying Jon Jones as a hero: "You're a scumbag"
Mike Pendleton - June 4, 2020
Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington is not holding back against some of his biggest rivals. Earlier this week during an interview with Submission Radio, Covington went after the likes of Tyron Woodley, Dustin Poirier, Jorge Masvidal, and Kamaru Usman.
Curtis Blaydes vs. Alexander Volkov headlines UFC card on June 20, betting odds released
Adam Martin - June 4, 2020
A heavyweight bout between top contenders Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov will headline a UFC Fight Night event on June 20 and the betting odds are out. Blaydes vs. Volkov was originally set to headline UFC Saskatoon, but that card was a victim of the coronavirus pandemic and was canceled. Thankfully for both fighters, the UFC was able to keep the matchup intact, and now the two will fight on June 20 in the five-round headliner of a Fight Night event. The card takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The UFC made the fight official this week.
Colby Covington: "Belts don't mean anything anymore"
Tom Taylor - June 4, 2020
Top UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington feels that, in 2020, championship belts have lost most of their significance. In the past, title fights were viewed as the biggest fights of all, but today, Covington believes belts are not required to make big fights.
Colby Covington ready to "play ball" with UFC as contract nears conclusion
Tom Taylor - June 4, 2020
Polarizing UFC welterweight star Colby Covington has just two fights remaining on his current UFC contract. While we’ve seen many fighters part ways with the UFC over the years, Covington is eager to stay with the promotion, as he believes UFC championships are taken more seriously than championships in other promotions.
Chael Sonnen sees five options for next Conor McGregor opponent
Tom Taylor - June 4, 2020
According to MMA analyst Chael Sonnen, Conor McGregor has five options in terms of opponents for his next fight—whenever that next fight winds up happening. Sonnen explored the options in a video posted to his official YouTube channel, using a whiteboard to share his picks.
Cory Sandhagen bids farewell to "annoying" Henry Cejudo
Tom Taylor - June 4, 2020
Streaking UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen is glad that Henry Cejudo, the division’s most recent champion, has retired and vacated the throne. Cejudo shocked viewers by announcing his retirement from MMA shortly after he defended the UFC bantamweight title with a second-round TKO of Dominick Cruz at UFC 249.
Amanda Nunes believes she had coronavirus
Adam Martin - June 4, 2020
UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes believes she may have been infected by the coronavirus a few months ago. Nunes, who defends her 145lbs strap this weekend at UFC 250 against Felicia Spencer, told Combate that she believes she was infected by the coronavirus on a trip to Las Vegas a few months ago. According to Nunes, she felt sick when she returned home to Florida and passed along her illness to her fiancee Nina Ansaroff. Nunes says she was never actually tested for COVID-19 but is convinced she had it and defeated it.
Cynthia Calvillo responds to fans criticizing her main event fight with Jessica Eye
Tom Taylor - June 4, 2020
On June 13, Cynthia Calvillo will step into the Octagon with former UFC flyweight title challenger Jessica Eye. The pair’s headliner will serve as the evening’s main event. Not everybody is happy about that.
Chuck Liddell explains why he intervened at a recent protest in California
Harry Kettle - June 4, 2020
UFC legend Chuck Liddell has explained why he tried to intervene in the George Floyd protests in California this past weekend. The protests across the United States have largely been peaceful, but the escalation of violence in some areas of the country has been well documented. Part of this has been due to looters, whereas police brutality has also played a leading role.