MMA News
Video | Dana White hands Deiveson Figueiredo 50k in cash, admits he "f*cked up" not giving bonus for UFC 255
Adam Martin - November 25, 2020
UFC president Dana White handed UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo $50,000 in cash and admitted he snubbed him of a bonus at UFC 255. Figueiredo had an incredible performance at UFC 255 last weekend as he submitted challenger Alex Perez in the first round with a guillotine choke for his first official title defense. Following the event, the UFC handed out its customary post-fight bonuses. Winning “Performance of the Night” was Antonina Shevchenko and Joaquin Buckley, and “Fight of the Night” went to Sasha Palatnikov and Louis Cosce. Somehow, White didn’t give Figueiredo a bonus despite having a great finish in a title fight. He was snubbed.
Francis Ngannou says heavyweight division is "stuck" due to lack of title fights
Tom Taylor - November 25, 2020
Francis Ngannou is frustrated by the lack of title fights in the UFC heavyweight division, and the log jam of contenders it has created. Ngannou, who is riding four-straight knockout wins over Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, is expected to get the next crack at UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in early 2021—most likely in March.
Jared Cannonier names four potential opponents for his UFC return following arm surgery
Adam Martin - November 25, 2020
UFC middleweight Jared Cannonier named four potential opponents for his return to the Octagon in 2021 following his recent arm surgery. Cannonier lost a unanimous decision to Robert Whittaker in the co-main event of UFC 254 and during the fight, he suffered a broken arm that will see him on the sidelines for the foreseeable future. After returning to the United States from Abu Dhabi, Cannonier had successful surgery on his left arm to fix a fractured ulna. According to “The Killa Gorilla,” surgery went well and he could return in March.
Joaquin Buckley has no plans to quit his job at Walgreens just yet
Adam Martin - November 25, 2020
Rising UFC middleweight contender Joaquin Buckley says he has no plans of quitting his job working at Walgreens just yet. Buckley has turned heads since joining the UFC over the summer. After losing by knockout to Kevin Holland as a short-notice replacement in his debut in August, Buckley has since become a star in the UFC with back-to-back KO wins over Impa Kasanganay and Jordan Wright, both of which earned him a $50,000 bonus for “Performance of the Night.”
BKFC fighter Sheena Starr under fire after controversial Paige VanZant comments
Tom Taylor - November 25, 2020
BKFC fighter Sheena Starr is under fire after a controversial comment about former UFC fighter and new BKFC signee Paige VanZant. Starr, who is 1-1 as a bare knuckle fighter, recently shared her belief that VanZant’s hype train will be derailed in the BKFC ring. Regrettably, her trash talk included a comment that immediately stood out as extremely distasteful given VanZant’s history of sexual abuse.
UFC rankings update: Champs climb p4p lists, Shogun exits
Tom Taylor - November 25, 2020
The official UFC rankings have been updated after last weekend’s UFC 255 card, and as expected, there have been some big changes. Most notably, men and women’s flyweight champions Deiveson Figueiredo and Valentina Shevchenko have both climbed up their respective pound-for-pound lists, while former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua has exited his division’s rankings.
Full betting odds released for UFC on ESPN 18: Blaydes vs. Lewis
Adam Martin - November 25, 2020
The full betting odds have been released for the 11 fights scheduled to take place at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 18: Blaydes vs. Lewis event. In the main event, No. 2 ranked heavyweight Curtis Blaydes looks to continue his rise ascent towards the title when he takes on No. 4 ranked Derrick Lewis. Both men have been hot as of late, with Blaydes riding a four-fight win streak into this bout and Lewis currently riding a three-fight winning streak. Blaydes is an elite wrestler with improving striking abilities, while Lewis is always dangerous with his KO power. The winner of this fight couldn’t be more than one more win away from getting a heavyweight title shot.
Pro fighters make their picks for Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr.
Cole Shelton - November 25, 2020
On Saturday night, Mike Tyson will return to the ring to battle a fellow legend in Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition match. Heading into the fight, Tyson is the -185 favorite while the comeback on Jones Jr. is +158. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro boxers and MMA fighters to get their prediction for the bout. The majority of pros believe it will be Mike Tyson winning the fight but all are hoping both men come out of it safely.
Jan Blachowicz lays out plans for move to heavyweight, Jon Jones fight
Tom Taylor - November 25, 2020
UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz has laid out plans for a move up to the heavyweight division and a fight with Jon Jones. Jones ruled over the UFC light heavyweight division for many years, but vacated his belt earlier in 2020 with ambitions to move up to the heavyweight division. Blachowicz then captured the division’s vacant title with a second-round knockout win over Dominick Reyes in September.
Tim Means: Mike Perry sent pictures of himself eating "cheeseburgers with onion rings on them" before UFC 255
Tom Taylor - November 25, 2020
Tim Means says Mike Perry was eating cheeseburgers and onion rings ahead of their UFC 255 fight—and sent him photo evidence to prove it. Means fought Perry in the middle bout of last weekend’s UFC 255 card. He stepped into replace Perry’s original opponent, former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler, on just a few weeks’ notice.
Dustin Poirier on upcoming rematch with Conor McGregor: “This could be for the undisputed belt”
Harry Kettle - November 25, 2020
Dustin Poirier believes his upcoming fight against Conor McGregor could end up being for the undisputed UFC Lightweight Championship. The two former featherweight rivals are set to meet more than six years on from their first encounter, and while both men have been through a lot in that time, they seem to be as passionate and determined as they’ve ever been to win gold once again.
Daniel Cormier responds to recent backlash from Jon Jones: “They never ‘proved’ him innocent”
Harry Kettle - November 25, 2020
Former two-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier has responded to the latest criticism he’s faced from rival Jon Jones. Despite the fact that these two men almost certainly won’t fight against one another inside the Octagon again, it seems as if they’re destined to bicker back and forth until the end of time.
Dan Hooker "would love the chance" to fight Justin Gaethje next
Cole Shelton - November 24, 2020
Dan Hooker is hoping he gets to fight Justin Gaethje next. Ever since Gaethje was submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 for the lightweight title, many wondered what would be next for ‘The Highlight’. He is still a top-ranked lightweight and will likely fight someone in the top-five. So, Hooker has thrown his name in the hat to be his next opponent.
Justin Gaethje would "smash" Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Tony Ferguson claims manager
Cole Shelton - November 24, 2020
Ali Abdelaziz is confident his client, Justin Gaethje would smash Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Tony Ferguson. Ever since Khabib Nurmagomedov retired following his win over Gaethje at UFC 254 many wondered who would fight for the vacant belt. Many figured it would be McGregor and Poirier. But, Dana White has made it clear he believes Nurmagomedov will return. But, if he doesn’t, Abdelaziz believes Gaethje is no doubt the best lightweight on the roster.
Badou Jack expects to KO Blake McKernan: "You can’t go from club-level to fighting a world-class fighter"
Cole Shelton - November 24, 2020
Badou Jack is not impressed by his upcoming opponent, Blake McKernan. On the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. undercard, Jack is looking to get back into the win column against McKernan. Although his opponent is undefeated, he is not well-known in the boxing community and Jack says he is only fighting him to get paid to donate all the money to his charity.
Joaquin Buckley issues a warning to James Krause: "I'm gonna see him regardless if the UFC gives me the fight"
Cole Shelton - November 24, 2020
Joaquin Buckley and James Krause’s rivalry has gone up a notch. Ever since Buckley scored one of the best KO’s of all-time against Impa Kasanganay it was revealed he and Krause did not like each other. Krause told BJPENN.com’s Just Scrap Radio about their beef and made it clear he is open to making the fight happen.
Khabib Nurmagomedov to Dana White: "See you soon"
Tom Taylor - November 24, 2020
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has sent a message to UFC President Dana White—and it’s going to send fans into a frenzy. Khabib last fought in the main event of UFC 254 in October, defending the lightweight belt with a second-round submission win, and improving his record to 29-0 in the process. After that victory, he shocked the MMA world by announcing his retirement from competition.
Cub Swanson open to cross-divisional fights with Anthony Pettis, Urijah Faber, and Jose Aldo
Adam Martin - November 24, 2020
Veteran UFC featherweight Cub Swanson says he is open to cross-divisional fights with Anthony Pettis, Urijah Faber, and Jose Aldo. Swanson’s return to the Octagon was recently announced as he will take on Daniel Pineda next month at UFC 256. Swanson has been a member of the UFC roster since 2011 and has been one of the top-15 ranked fighters in the division for most of that time. However, he suffered a four-fight losing skid between 2017 and 2019 before finally snapping it with a “Fight of the Night” decision win over Kron Gracie last fall.