MMA News
Pro fighters make their picks for Marlon Moraes vs Cory Sandhagen
Cole Shelton - October 8, 2020
In the main event of UFC Fight Island 5, a key bantamweight bout headlines the card as Marlon Moraes battles Cory Sandhagen. Heading into the fight, Moraes is a +110 underdog while the American is a -140 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros believe Sandhagen’s footwork and reach will be the difference as he will get his hand raised.
Conor McGregor claims he accepted Dustin Poirier fight but "it must happen in 2020"
Tom Taylor - October 8, 2020
Conor McGregor claims he has accepted a fight with fellow lightweight contender Dustin Poirier, but he insists the matchup must happen this year. McGregor and Poirier first met in the featherweight division in 2014, with McGregor winning by first-round knockout. Since then, both men have achieved massive success in the lightweight division, and in the last few weeks, have both expressed interest in a second fight. The pair even briefly floated the notion of a charity exhibition match in McGregor’s hometown of Dublin.
Angela Lee expects to return "a completely different animal" after birth of first child
Tom Taylor - October 8, 2020
In the animal kingdom, there are few creatures more dangerous than a protective mother. If ONE atomweight champion Angela Lee is any indication, that rule also applies in mixed martial arts. Lee, who has held the ONE atomweight belt in a vice grip since 2016, is expecting her first child in April. While her pregnancy will keep her out of competition for some time, she plans to return better than ever once her baby has arrived.
Corey Anderson reacts to Bellator debut opposite Melvin Mahoef
Tom Taylor - October 8, 2020
Corey Anderson is set for his Bellator debut. The former UFC light heavyweight standout will collide with Melvin Manhoef on November 5. Manhoef is a decorated kickboxing specialist and experienced mixed martial artist, but has had his best success competing in the 185-pound middleweight division, so his welcoming Anderson to the Bellator light heavyweight division came as a surprise to some fans. Anderson himself, however, seems fired up about the challenge.
PFL announces multiple new signings, including several UFC veterans
Tom Taylor - October 8, 2020
The Professional Fighters League (PFL), has announced a host of exciting free agent signings for its 2021 season. The PFL, a fast-rising mixed martial arts promotion that features a one-of-a-kind regular season, playoffs, and championship format, announced its newest signings in a press release on Wednesday.
Dustin Poirier lists reasons why Conor McGregor fight makes sense
Tom Taylor - October 8, 2020
Top UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier believes MMA superstar Conor McGregor would be wise to fight him next. McGregor and Poirier first fought in the featherweight division in 2014, with the former winning by first-round knockout. Since then, however, the two men have both enjoyed massive success in the lightweight division, and have recently been linked to a rematch.
UFC announces schedule from Halloween to late November
Tom Taylor - October 8, 2020
The UFC has announced its full schedule of events from Halloween until the final stretch of November, with seven shows on the calendar. This string of events, which are all expected to go down inside the Apex facility in Las Vegas, will begin with UFC Fight Night: Anderson Silva vs. Uriah Hall on Halloween night—October 31.
Georges St-Pierre believes Nick Diaz still has what it takes to be UFC champion
Harry Kettle - October 8, 2020
UFC legend Georges St-Pierre believes that his former opponent Nick Diaz still has what it takes to become a champion in the UFC. St-Pierre, who is now retired from mixed martial arts, tends to pop up from time to time to shed some light on how he believes things are going in the sport. His last bout took place back in November 2017 but in March 2013, he defeated the aforementioned Nick Diaz to successfully retain his UFC Welterweight Championship.
Michael Chiesa dubs fighting Khamzat Chimaev as a lose-lose situation
Harry Kettle - October 8, 2020
Marlon Vera lists three potential opponents for his next fight
Adam Martin - October 7, 2020
UFC bantamweight contender Marlon Vera has his eyes set on three top-15 opponents for his next fight inside the Octagon. Vera is coming off of the biggest win of his career, a first-round TKO win over the previously-unbeaten prospect Sean O’Malley. Overall, the Ecuador native has won six of his last seven fights as he continues to make waves in the stacked UFC bantamweight division. At present, Vera is the No. 15 ranked fighter in the weight class and he’s understandably now looking to fight fighters ranked above him. There are three that he likes in particular.
Tony Ferguson sends a fiery message to Khabib Nurmagomedov & Justin Gaethje: "My mat, my f*****g time"
Cole Shelton - October 7, 2020
Tony Ferguson has sent a fiery warning to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje that he is coming. Ferguson, who is coming off a fifth-round TKO loss to Gaethje at UFC 249 for the interim title, is looking to return soon. With the lightweight title fight coming up in a few weeks, “El Cucuy” has his eyes on that fight.
Dan Hardy calls for a rematch with "lethal individual" Carlos Condit
Cole Shelton - October 7, 2020
Dan Hardy is interested in running things back with Carlos Condit. Hardy and Condit fought back in 2010 at UFC 120 in England with Condit winning by first-round knockout. It was also the only time Hardy was knocked out and as he hints at a return, he is interested in making his comeback fight against Condit.
Michael Chandler slams Tony Ferguson for turning him down at UFC 254
Cole Shelton - October 7, 2020
Michael Chandler is not happy with Tony Ferguson. Earlier on Wednesday, Ferguson was not happy with Chandler and what he was making in the UFC. He also didn’t like that the former Bellator lightweight champion is the backup fighter for UFC 254.
Cheick Kongo expects to finish Tim Johnson again, says Ryan Bader getting KO'd was "karma" for eye pokes in their fight
Cole Shelton - October 7, 2020
Cheick Kongo thought he would be having an immediate rematch with Ryan Bader. Kongo and Bader fought at Bellator 226 for the heavyweight title. It was a very intriguing matchup but the fight ended due to eye pokes from Bader and was ruled a no-contest. Yet, Bader claimed he never poked Kongo in the eye. For the Frenchman, he knows that was inaccurate and actually revealed he and Bader agreed to rematch in June before the pandemic hit.
Georges St-Pierre calls Israel Adesanya "a perfect fighter"
Adam Martin - October 7, 2020
UFC legend Georges St-Pierre says he has been impressed with Israel Adesanya, calling the UFC middleweight champion “a perfect fighter.” Adesanya has quickly become one of the biggest superstars in mixed martial arts. He’s a perfect 20-0 right now as an MMA fighter, including a pristine 9-0 mark inside the Octagon. Adesanya is coming off of arguably his best performance ever when he knocked out Paulo Costa at UFC 253, and now there are talks of a potential superfight with Jon Jones. GSP, one of the greatest fighters of all time, has taken notice of the middleweight champ.
Former UFC light heavyweight Corey Anderson set to make Bellator debut against KO artist Melvin Manhoef
Adam Martin - October 7, 2020
Former UFC light heavyweight contender Corey Anderson will make his Bellator debut when he takes on veteran striker Melvin Manhoef. Bellator president Scott Coker confirmed to CBS Sports’s Brian Campbell that Anderson will take on Manhoef at a Bellator event scheduled to take place on November 5. The event is expected to be titled Bellator 251 and take place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. It’s worth noting that Manhoef was supposed to fight at this weekend’s Bellator Paris card but his fight with Simon Biyong was scratched. Instead, he will now fight a month later against Anderson in what is a much tougher fight.
Scott Coker reacts to Michael Chandler signing with the UFC
Tom Taylor - October 7, 2020
Bellator President Scott Coker has shared his first reaction to Michael Chandler, the promotion’s former lightweight champion, signing with the UFC. Chandler is arguably the biggest star in Bellator history. Last month, however, the former champ parted ways with the promotion, and signed on the dotted line with the UFC.
Tony Ferguson open to welterweight scrap with Nick Diaz
Tom Taylor - October 7, 2020
UFC lightweight contender Tony Ferguson is interested in bumping up to the welterweight division for a fight with returning fan favorite, Nick Diaz. Ferguson has not fought since May, when he was defeated by Justin Gaethje, marking the end of a 12-fight unbeaten run. He was briefly linked to an October fight with Dustin Poirier, but that plan fizzled out, leaving him without a dance partner.
Trevin Jones becomes the latest UFC fighter to have a win overturned due to marijuana use
Adam Martin - October 7, 2020
UFC bantamweight prospect Trevin Jones had his TKO win over Timur Valiev overturned to a No Contest after testing positive for marijuana. Jones had one of the most amazing comebacks of the year in his UFC debut back in August when he fought Valiev. Jones took the fight on super-short notice, flying in from Guam to Las Vegas to take on Valiev, who was a massive betting favorite to win the fight. In the first round, Valiev took it to Jones, hurting him all over the head and body but not being able to put him away. In the second round, Valiev began to tire and Jones was able to take advantage of his fatigued opponent as he hammered him with strikes to win via TKO.