MMA News
Charles Oliveira to be without head coach at UFC 256 due to positive COVID-19 test
Adam Martin - December 10, 2020
UFC lightweight contender Charles Oliveira will be without his head coach Diego Lima for his UFC 256 bout this weekend against Tony Ferguson. Oliveira faces off against the toughest test of his career to date when he takes on Ferguson in the co-main event of this weekend’s UFC 256 card. Oliveira is riding a seven-fight win streak into this bout with all of those wins coming by stoppage. During his win streak, Oliveira has won five fights with his trademark submissions, but he has also won two fights by knockout, which shows he is improving in his standup. One of the people who he credits for his improvements is his coach at Chute Boxe, Lima. But he won’t have him at UFC 256.
UFC 256 | Pro fighters make their picks for Tony Ferguson vs. Charles Oliveira
Cole Shelton - December 10, 2020
In the co-main event of UFC 256, Tony Ferguson is set to return to the Octagon against rising contender, Charles Oliveira. Heading into the fight, Ferguson is a -175 favorite while the Brazilian is a +145 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority believe Ferguson gets it done but they aren’t counting out Oliveira.
Dustin Poirier in fantastic shape ahead of Conor McGregor fight
Tom Taylor - December 10, 2020
UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier looks to be in fantastic shape ahead of his rematch with former two-division champ Conor McGregor. Poirier will collide with McGregor in the main event of UFC 257 on January 23 in Abu Dhabi. While Poirier is always in peak physical condition for his fights, this one seems to have him working particularly hard in the gym.
Tony Ferguson compares fighting for UFC title to "a wet dream"
Tom Taylor - December 10, 2020
Tony Ferguson says the thought of fighting for an undisputed UFC title feels a bit like a “wet dream.” Ferguson is slated to return to the Octagon in the co-main event of UFC 256 this Saturday, where he will take on streaking contender Charles Oliveira. The bout will mark his opportunity to rebound from a TKO loss to Justin Gaethje, which marked the end of an incredible, 12-fight win-streak.
Marvin Vettori says Darren Till being ranked No. 4 at middleweight is “a joke”
Harry Kettle - December 10, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Marvin Vettori has voiced his concerns after Darren Till was promoted to No. 4 in the divisional rankings. Vettori was able to pick up the biggest win of his career so far this past weekend as he edged out Jack Hermansson with a strong decision win. The victory vaulted him into the top five at middleweight, situating him just behind his European counterpart.
Bellator president Scott Coker details his plans for newly signed Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson
Harry Kettle - December 10, 2020
Bellator president Scott Coker has laid out his plans in the wake of the announcement that they have signed Anthony Johnson. The world of mixed martial arts was stunned earlier this week by the news that Johnson had parted ways with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in favor of signing a contract with Bellator.
Henry Cejudo and Cody Garbrandt get in heated dispute after Deiveson Figueiredo says he wants "Triple C" after UFC 256
Christopher Taylor - December 9, 2020
Former UFC champions Henry Cejudo and Cody Garbrandt got into a heated dispute after Deiveson Figueiredo suggested he wants ‘Triple C’ after UFC 256. During a recent interview with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, the reigning flyweight champion in Figueiredo said that he wanted to fight Cejudo after UFC 256 because he has “talked a lot of shit.”
Diaz bros athletic recovery coach shares controversial post regarding Rachael Ostovich's UFC release
Christopher Taylor - December 9, 2020
The athletic recovery coach of the Diaz bros, Jose Garcia, recently weighed in on the UFC’s release of Rachael Ostovich. The women’s flyweight fighter, Ostovich (4-6 MMA), endured her third consecutive setback at last months UFC Vegas 15 event, suffering a TKO loss to Gina Mazany.
Junior dos Santos not worried about being cut despite entering UFC 256 on a three-fight losing streak
Cole Shelton - December 9, 2020
Junior dos Santos doesn’t believe his job is on the line in his upcoming fight. On the main card of UFC 256, dos Santos is set to return to the Octagon against the undefeated prospect, Ciryl Gane. The former UFC heavyweight champion is on a three-fight losing streak. And, with the UFC is cutting 60 fighters by year’s end, losing four in a row could be the end of his tenure. But, JDS remains confident he will still be a UFC fighter in 2021.
Scott Coker explains why Bellator isn't interested in Yoel Romero
Adam Martin - December 9, 2020
Bellator president Scott Coker explained why Bellator isn’t interested in signing free-agent middleweight fighter Yoel Romero to a contract. The UFC cut Romero last week as part of its 60 roster cuts by the end of 2020. The move to release Romero came as a big surprise considering he had just fought Israel Adesanya in his last fight at UFC 248 for the middleweight belt. But with the UFC in roster-cutting mode, the 43-year-old Romero and his three straight losses were deemed expendable. UFC president Dana White said that the cuts are purely roster-space motivated and have nothing to do with cost-cutting measures due to COVID-19.
Renato Moicano reveals three ranked fighters turned him down, looking to "put on a show" against Rafael Fiziev
Cole Shelton - December 9, 2020
Renato Moicano thought he would be fighting a ranked opponent at UFC 256. Moicano was a perennial contender at featherweight and was one win away from getting a title shot at 145-pounds. However, he suffered back-to-back knockout losses to Jose Aldo and Korean Zombie which triggered a move to lightweight.
Tony Ferguson expects to beat Charles Oliveira "decisively" at UFC 256
Cole Shelton - December 9, 2020
Tony Ferguson expects to put on a show on Saturday night. In the co-main event of UFC 256, Ferguson is set to return to the Octagon against rising contender, Charles Oliveira. It is a very intriguing matchup and one many believe is a crossroads fight for “El Cucuy” if he wants to remain a top contender at 155lbs.
Justin Gaethje eyes fighting the winner of McGregor vs. Poirier 2 for the lightweight title
Cole Shelton - December 9, 2020
Justin Gaethje will be paying close attention to the UFC 257 main event between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. After Khabib Nurmagomedov retired following his win over Gaethje, many wondered how the UFC would book the lightweight division. If the belt was vacated many pointed to the Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier rematch as the logical option for the vacant title.
Conor McGregor flaunts shredded physique ahead of UFC return
Tom Taylor - December 9, 2020
Conor McGregor is in fantastic shape ahead of his anticipated rematch with Dustin Poirier, which goes down at UFC 257 on January 23. This upcoming rematch with Poirier will be the Irishman’s first since he knocked out Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in just 40 seconds in January of 2020. Despite his long layoff, he’s evidently still in tremendous shape, as evidenced by his latest Instagram post. See it below:
Marvin Vettori sends ominous message to Israel Adesanya: "I’m going to be your worst f**king nightmare until the day you f**king retire"
Tom Taylor - December 9, 2020
Surging UFC middleweight contender Marvin Vettori has sent a threatening message to the division’s reigning champion Israel Adesanya. Vettori and Adesanya have fought previously, as Adesanya defeated the Italian by split decision back in 2018. Yet Vettori has not beaten since, and after extending his win-streak to four-straight with a huge win decision over Jack Hermansson last weekend, is well positioned for a potential championship rematch with the Nigerian-born Kiwi.
John Kavanagh slams Claressa Shields for telling MMA fans to "bow down"
Tom Taylor - December 9, 2020
Famed MMA coach John Kavanagh has some choice words for boxing star Claressa Shields, who recently told MMA fans to “bow down” to her. Shields is widely regarded as the best female boxer in the world, and is slated to make her MMA debut in the PFL cage in 2021. Ahead of her debut, Shields is demanding respect from MMA fans for being bold enough to make the transition between sports.
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane official for Bellator 254 title fight, but Goiti Yamauchi misses weight by huge margin
Adam Martin - December 9, 2020
Women’s flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane is official for her Bellator 254 title fight, but Goiti Yamauchi missed weight by six pounds. Macfarlane is looking to once again defend the Bellator women’s flyweight title and she puts it on the line Thursday night at Bellator 254 against Juliana Velasquez. These are actually two undefeated fighters so this is a very intriguing matchup. At the official weigh-ins ahead of the fights at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, both fighters made weight and this fight is official, with both fighters coming in just a hair under 125lbs.
Claressa Shields: "MMA fans need to bow down and kiss my feet"
Adam Martin - December 9, 2020
The No. 1 pound-for-pound female boxer in the world, Claressa Shields, says that “MMA fans need to bow down and kiss her feet” ahead of her pro debut. Shields, a former Olympic gold medalist in boxing, has been teasing a debut in mixed martial arts for a few years now. Many thought that she would sign with the UFC outright due to her name recognition in boxing, but Shields surprised the MMA world when she decided to sign with PFL, instead. The Flint, Michigan native will make her mixed martial arts debut sometime in 2021 in a non-tournament bout in PFL, and it’s a big deal.