MMA News
Henry Cejudo has a plan if he can’t fight Jose Aldo at UFC 250
Natasha Hooper - March 31, 2020
Henry Cejudo already has a backup plan if his Jose Aldo fight at UFC 250 falls through. His backup plan is a matchup against former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. UFC 250 is scheduled to take place on May 9 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It could also suffer the same unfortunate fate as UFC 249, which has been the picture of uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Tyron Woodley says he’s resumed “champ camp” ahead of UFC 249
Harry Kettle - March 31, 2020
Tyron Woodley has claimed that he has resumed “champ camp” — presumably for a short-notice fight at UFC 249. The highly anticipated UFC 249 event now hangs in the balance with Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson, for the fifth time, being called off.
Tyron Woodley calls for fight against Colby Covington at UFC 249 unless Tony Ferguson wants to scrap
Cole Shelton - March 30, 2020
Tyron Woodley continues to call for a fight with Colby Covington but says he’s also interested in taking on Tony Ferguson. On Monday morning, Khabib Nurmagomedov announced he is stuck in Russia and UFC 249 would most likely go on without him. Immediately, reports came out that Justin Gaethje was offered to scrap “El Cucuy.” Several other notable names also put their name in the hat. But, perhaps the most surprising is former UFC welterweight champion, Tyron Woodley saying he’ll fight Ferguson if the Covington bout doesn’t happen.
Bellator postpones three events including card headlined by Ryan Bader
Adam Martin - March 30, 2020
Bellator announced on Monday that it is postponing three of its upcoming events including a card that was set to be headlined by double champ Ryan Bader. Most sports leagues around the world have postponed their upcoming cards due to the coronavirus outbreak, and Bellator will not buck the trend. While UFC president Dana White is doing everything in his power to go through with UFC 249 in three weeks’ time despite the risk, Bellator president Scott Coker instead is playing it safe and postponing three cards. The promotion released a press release Monday with the news.
Anthony Smith credits Dan Hardy for kicking off his broadcasting career
Mike Pendleton - March 30, 2020
UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith has a busy schedule these days. On top of being a husband, father, and third-ranked light heavyweight contender in the UFC, Smith is also a radio host on MMA Tonight on Sirius XM’s Fight Nation channel, and a desk analyst for ESPN covering the UFC. In a sport where fighters mainly rely on staying active and consistent inside the Octagon, Smith, who has dealt with a hand injury over the last few months has been able to get more work in with his broadcasting duties. In addition to his work on the ESPN desk and Sirius XM hosting gigs, Smith is scheduled to face Glover Teixeira at UFC Lincoln on April 25, although the status of the event is currently up in the air due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pro featherweights name their 145-pound GOAT
Cole Shelton - March 30, 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 featherweights to ask who their divisional GOAT is. The majority believe it is Jose Aldo but it is a three-person race between the Brazilian, Max Holloway and Conor McGregor.
John McCarthy guarantees 'absolute loser' Jon Jones will go to jail after recent arrest
Adam Martin - March 30, 2020
Big John McCarthy said that he guarantees Jon Jones will serve jail for his recent DWI arrest and called the light heavyweight champion “an absolute loser.” The long-time MMA official was a police officer in Los Angeles before he became the most important referee in mixed martial arts history. On the latest edition of the “Weighing In” podcast, McCarthy lashed out at Jones, saying that he guarantees he will go to jail after his recent arrest for a DWI and negligent use of a firearm. He went so far as to call Jones a loser.
Colby Covington says he turned down date with Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Adam Martin - March 30, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington says he turned down a date with former UFC strawweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Covington and Jedrzejczyk have been involved in a feud for a while now. Both fighters are teammates at American Top Team, but we all know Covington has had feuds with several fighters in the camp including Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier. Jedrzejczyk has made it clear she’s not a fan of Covington and his antics, but according to the welterweight, there’s more to it than just that.
Colby Covington challenges Tyron Woodley to fight on the White House lawn
Tom Taylor - March 30, 2020
With the UFC 249 lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson seemingly canceled, the UFC will be looking for some big fights to make up for it. Colby Covington is hoping to partake in one of those big fights. Speaking on Twitter on Tuesday, Covington once again called for a fight with former welterweight champion and long-time rival Tyron Woodley. He also suggested a fairly unique setting for the fight: the lawn of the White House.
Alex Volkanovski feels Jon Jones isn't being held accountable for his actions
Fernando Quiles - March 30, 2020
Alex Volkanovski thinks Jon Jones gets passes too frequently when it comes to his run-ins with the law. On March 26, Jones was arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Police responded to a criminal complaint of gunshots. They found Jones inside his car with the engine on in the area of 3rd Street and Central Avenue. After being given a sobriety test and a breathalyzer, Jones was in handcuffs. Police then found a handgun under the driver seat and an open bottle of Recuerdo behind the passenger seat.
Dustin Poirier offers to fight Tony Ferguson at UFC 249
Tom Taylor - March 30, 2020
Dustin Poirier is ready and willing to fight Tony Ferguson in the new main event of the chaotic UFC 249 card. Early this morning, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov took to Instagram live to share the unfortunate news that he is stuck in his native Russia due to the coronavirus pandemic, which effectively nixes any possibility of his fighting Ferguson at UFC 249 as planned.
Dana White on UFC 249 location: 'When you need to know, I'll let you know'
Tom Taylor - March 30, 2020
The UFC 249 main event between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson is now seemingly a no-go thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but UFC President Dana White is still insistent that the card will happen. The location of the April 18 event, however, remains a complete mystery.
John McCarthy weighs in on Jon Jones' recent arrest
Harry Kettle - March 30, 2020
Veteran referee John McCarthy has given fans his thoughts on the recent arrest of UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. The incident involving Jones in Albuquerque has been discussed to death by the mixed martial arts community, with the general consensus being that “Bones” probably needs to get some help before things continue to escalate.
Odds revealed on who will replace Khabib Nurmagomedov against Tony Ferguson at UFC 249
Adam Martin - March 30, 2020
The sportsbooks have revealed the odds on who will replace Khabib Nurmagomedov against Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 249. Nurmagomedov revealed on Monday that he is stuck in Russia and likely will not be able to compete at UFC 249, which is set to take place on April 18 at a location that still has not been revealed to the public. That leaves Ferguson without a dance partner for the main event, and now the sportsbooks are taking bets on who that may be.
Report | Tony Ferguson offered Justin Gaethje for UFC 249
Adam Martin - March 30, 2020
UFC lightweight contender Tony Ferguson has reportedly been offered a fight against Justin Gaethje if Khabib Nurmagomedov cannot fight at UFC 249. Nurmagomedov said on Monday that he is stuck in Russia and, at this point, is not confident he will be able to leave his home country to fight at UFC 249, which is scheduled to take place April 18 at a location to-be-determined. With Nurmagomedov seemingly out of action, it leaves his opponent Ferguson without a dance partner. But perhaps not for much longer.
Jorge Masvidal willing to fight at UFC 249
Tom Taylor - March 30, 2020
If the UFC needs a big name to step in and fight at UFC 249 on April 18, the promotion doesn’t need to look any further than welterweight star Jorge Masvidal. Speaking on Twitter early on Monday morning, Masvidal boldly proclaimed he’s free to fight on the upcoming fight card.
MMA community reacts to potential cancelation of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson
Tom Taylor - March 30, 2020
Early on Monday morning, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov announced that he is stuck in Russia due to the country’s new travel restrictions. The implication here, of course, is that his long-awaited fight with Tony Ferguson now seems nearly impossible. While the bout is not officially cancelled yet, it seems very unlikely that it will have to be. Considering Nurmagomedov and Ferguson have been scheduled to fight four times previously to no avail, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
Tony Ferguson sends message to 'hiding' Khabib Nurmagomedov
Tom Taylor - March 30, 2020
Early on Monday morning, UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov announced that he is stranded in Russia due to the country’s new travel bans, thrusting his fight with Tony Ferguson into jeopardy. “We were training in the AKA without any information regarding the fight, where and how is it going to happen,” Nurmagomedov stated on Instagram, updating on the status of his fight Ferguson. “Then the UFC told us that the fight 100% isn’t happening in the States and they said that 99% that it will happen in Emirates, Abu Dhabi. After talking to the UFC we decided to fly over to the Emirates a month before the fight. I don’t remember the exact date, it was 19th or 20th, I’ll have to check. But when we landed in Emirates we learned that they are going to close borders and no one will be able to leave or fly in, with the exception of residents. So we had to fly back to Russia. Currently, I am in Dagestan and I am training and preparing every day. Although I don’t know what am I preparing for because after we came to Russia we also learned that the borders are going to be locked. Same as in the States, the same as in Europe, Emirates, everywhere. The whole world is in quarantine right now.”