MMA News
Dan Ige believes Shane Burgos makes sense as next opponent
Mike Pendleton - April 2, 2020
Currently riding a five-fight win streak and ranked inside the top-15 in the UFC’s featherweight division, Dan Ige is only looking to the top as he moves forward. Yet Ige knows he’s got more to prove as he continues on his journey to become featherweight champion. In an exclusive interview with BJPenn.com, Ige discussed who he’d like to face next in the division, and he’s looking at the newly re-signed Shane Burgos. Ige says he believes a fight with Burgos is one that will definitely entertain fans.
Chael Sonnen explains the "code" he followed when trash talking
Tom Taylor - April 2, 2020
Chael Sonnen is one of the most notorious trash talkers in MMA history. The retired UFC and Bellator star was known as much for his venomous verbal warfare as he was for his ability in the cage. Speaking in a video posted to his YouTube channel, Sonnen gave his take on the trash talk that’s become prevalent in the modern era of MMA, which many fans feel sometimes crosses the line.
Conor McGregor reacts to Khabib Nurmagomedov withdrawing from Tony Ferguson fight
Tom Taylor - April 2, 2020
You knew this was coming. Former two-division UFC champ Conor McGregor has now reacted to his arch rival, UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, withdrawing from his planned April 18 title fight with Tony Ferguson. In his response to this headline-dominating Twist, McGregor targeted both Nurmagomedov and Ferguson.
Derrick Lewis won't be fighting during pandemic: "I can't be selfish"
Tom Taylor - April 2, 2020
Derrick Lewis is not interested in fighting until the coronavirus pandemic is under control. With a family at home, the risks of undertaking a fight camp are simply too great. Lewis weighed in on the pandemic during a recent interview with MMA Junkie.
The MMA community had some fun with April Fools Day
Harry Kettle - April 2, 2020
The world of mixed martial arts came together yesterday for a series of entertaining April Fools Day surprises. It’s safe to say that 2020 isn’t quite going as many had anticipated it would through the first few months of the year, and that goes both for MMA and the wider spectrum of society.
Manager: Answers about Khabib Nurmagomedov withdrawal are coming
Natasha Hooper - April 2, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz believes fans will soon have all the answers regarding his fighter’s apparent withdrawal from UFC 249. The undefeated champion, Nurmagomedov was expected to defend his title against Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 249 on April 18. The final card and location are yet to be finalised due to the ongoing coronavirus. The situation was complicated further as Khabib Nurmagomedov was stranded in his home country of Russia due to a nationwide travel ban.
Tony Ferguson explains why he hasn’t accepted a new opponent for UFC 249
Harry Kettle - April 2, 2020
Tony Ferguson has explained why he has not officially said yes to a new opponent yet for UFC 249 after Khabib Nurmagomedov’s withdrawal. There’s still a great deal of uncertainty in the air regarding whether or not UFC 249 is going to happen, with the increasingly prevalent opinion being that the whole thing should just be called off in the name of protecting the health of everyone involved.
Tony Ferguson says only two men are worthy of "ass whooping" at UFC 249
Chris Taylor - April 1, 2020
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson was expected to square off with Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC 249 on April 18. The pay-per-view event was originally slated to take place in Brooklyn, however due to the Covid-19 outbreak the location and venue was forced to be changed. A new location is still being sought after by the promotion as of this time.
Tony Ferguson believes Khabib Nurmagomedov "should be stripped" of belt after withdrawing from UFC 249
Cole Shelton - April 1, 2020
Tony Ferguson believes Khabib Nurmagomedov should be stripped of his lightweight title after withdrawing from UFC 249. On April 18, Ferguson and Nurmagomedov were expected to finally fight for the undisputed lightweight title in Brooklyn, New York. Yet, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nurmagomedov is stuck in Russia and earlier today announced he would be off the card. For “El Cucuy” he believes that means the champ should be stripped of his belt.
Stipe Miocic still dealing with vision issues, says he sees spots in his eye
Adam Martin - April 1, 2020
UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic says he is still dealing with vision issues and says that he sees spots from his left eye. Miocic hasn’t fought since knocking out Daniel Cormier last August at UFC 241 to re-capture the UFC heavyweight title. Miocic is expected to fight DC in a trilogy whenever he comes back, but he has been dealing with vision issues that have delayed his return to the Octagon. And now with the coronavirus pandemic taking over the world, Miocic is focusing on helping the community with his job as a firefighter.
Petr Yan responds to potential Dominick Cruz bout
Natasha Hooper - April 1, 2020
Petr Yan has responded to a fight callout from former bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz. Cruz hasn’t fought since 2016 when he lost the title to Cody Garbrandt. Since then, he has battled multiple injuries and developed his career as a UFC commentator. The former champion revealed he is finally healthy again and ready to fight in 2020. Today in an interview with Mike Heck, he also revealed conversations with matchmaker Sean Shelby, who suggested he will need to fight “No Mercy” if he wants to inch closer to a bantamweight title shot:
Tony Ferguson reacts after Khabib Nurmagomedov officially withdraws from UFC 249
Natasha Hooper - April 1, 2020
Tony Ferguson has reacted to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s apparent withdrawal from UFC 249. Multiple UFC events have been postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. However, Dana White has been putting in his best efforts to ensure UFC 249 on April 18 still takes place. The event was scheduled to feature lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov defend his belt against Tony Ferguson. The pair have been booked to throw down four times in the past, yet none of those proposed bouts ever came to fruition.
Amanda Nunes responds to Felicia Spencer's request to move title fight to Florida
Tom Taylor - April 1, 2020
Earlier this week, Felicia Spencer requested that her featherweight title fight with reigning champion Amanda Nunes, tentatively scheduled for May 9 in Brazil, be moved to Florida. Her reasoning, of course, stems from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the travel difficulties it has created. @Amanda_Leoa we both live in ☀️ Florida, let’s get #UFC250 🤜to our back yard🏝. Please don’t leave! 😋 @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite @ufc
Jan Blachowicz foresees Dominick Reyes title fight if UFC strips Jones
Tom Taylor - April 1, 2020
Jan Blachowicz believes he deserves a shot at the UFC light heavyweight title before recent contenders like Dominick Reyes and Thiago Santos get another chance. “Everyone is trying to make his way to the belt, but these guys already had a chance and they didn’t take it,” he said of his rivals in an interview with Polish MMA site MMARocks.pl (via MMA Junkie). “Now they can rest some, or they can fight between the two of them. I am the next in line, and nobody can get in line in front of me. They can just fight to see who’s going to be fighting me next, when I’m defending the belt (or) if anything happens and they take the belt from Jon [Jones].”
Pro welterweights name their 170-pound GOAT
Cole Shelton - April 1, 2020
One of the biggest questions in all of MMA is who is the GOAT? Is it someone who had the biggest impact on the sport or the person who won the most? It’s an interesting debate for fighters and fans alike to have at any time. So, with little to no MMA on for the foreseeable future, BJPENN.com reached out to several current and former welterweights to ask who their divisional GOAT is.
Dan Ige discusses handling COVID-19 pandemic as a fighter and manager
Mike Pendleton - April 1, 2020
With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the entire sports world, fighters, managers, and coaches alike in the combat sports world are having to adjust to these difficult times. For one UFC fighter, featherweight Dan Ige, having to adjust as a fighter is just part of it, as he’s also a manager for other UFC fighters. Most recently, Ige defeated Mirsad Bektic at UFC 247 in February, which extended his winning streak to five in the featherweight division. That streak has also landed Ige in the top-15 rankings for his division, and in an exclusive interview with BJPenn.com, “Dynamite Dan” discussed how he feels lucky to have gotten his fight in before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down events.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway rematch scratched from UFC 251
Adam Martin - April 1, 2020
A planned rematch between UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway has been scratched from UFC 251, another major blow to the card. The UFC planned on a double bill of title fights at UFC 251, which is still tentatively scheduled to take place on June 6 in Perth, Australia. Earlier this week we found out that the co-main event between UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko and Joanne Calderwood has been postponed, and now Volkanovski vs. Holloway has been scratched, as well, putting the entire event in jeopardy of not happening as planned.
Former UFC fighter Phillipe Nover details battling coronavirus in New York as a nurse
Harry Kettle - April 1, 2020
Former UFC fighter Phillipe Nover has spoken about the ongoing battle against the Coronavirus outbreak in New York. While the heart of the pandemic may still be in Europe for the time being, the expectation is that the epicenter will shift to the United States — potentially, the state of New York specifically.