MMA News
Jon Jones tired of trash talking, tells Israel Adesanya to “sign the contract”
Adam Martin - October 5, 2020
UFC legend Jon Jones says he’s tired of the trash talk with Israel Adesanya, telling the UFC middleweight champion to “sign the contract.” Jones and Adesanya have been going back-and-forth for the better part of the past year, but things seemed to have reached a boiling point ever since Adesanya’s knockout win over Paulo Costa at UFC 253. The trash-talking between both men have gone up to another level since then with both men taking potshots at each other, including Jones poking fun at Adesanya’s father and then Adesanya taking a shot at Jones’ deceased mother.
Kamaru Usman vs Gilbert Burns off UFC 256, promotion looking at two possible replacements
Cole Shelton - October 5, 2020
Kamaru Usman will no longer be defending his welterweight title on December 12 at UFC 256. Usman was supposed to take on Gilbert Burns in a fight that was supposed to happen in July but the Brazilian tested positive for COVID-19. It was a fight many fans were looking forward to due to they were former teammates.
Alexander Hernandez vs. Chris Gruetzemacher set for UFC event on Halloween
Cole Shelton - October 5, 2020
Alexander Hernandez is looking to return to the win column in Las Vegas on Halloween. Multiple sources have told BJPENN.com that Hernandez will take on Chris Gruetzemacher on October 31.
Coach: Israel Adesanya could move to light heavyweight for next fight
Tom Taylor - October 5, 2020
City Kickboxing coach Eugene Bareman says his star pupil, Israel Adesanya, could move up to the light heavyweight division for his next fight. Adesanya is the current UFC middleweight champion, and defended his strap with a second-round TKO win over the formerly unbeaten Paulo Costa late last month. Since that win over Costa, he’s made no secret of the fact that he’d like to fight Jared Cannonier next—provided Cannonier gets by Robert Whittaker at UFC 254.
Conor McGregor denied training space at Italian gym, issue later resolved
Alfredo Zullino - October 5, 2020
The world’s most famous mixed martial artist, Ireland’s own Conor McGregor, was reportedly denied entry to an Italian gym. Italian publication Città della Spezia reported that the former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion was denied when he sought a place to train for a week.
Dustin Poirier: Exhibition fight with Conor McGregor is "very real"
Tom Taylor - October 5, 2020
Dustin Poirier says his much discussed exhibition fight with fellow UFC lightweight contender Conor McGregor is “very real.” Last week, McGregor invited Poirier to Dublin to compete in an exhibition fight for charity. Poirier promptly accepted this invitation, at which point McGregor released an official poster for the event.
Irene Aldana issues statement after decisive loss to Holly Holm
Tom Taylor - October 5, 2020
Irene Aldana has issued a statement after she came up short opposite former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm over the weekend. Aldana took on Holm in the main event of UFC Fight Island 4 on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi last Saturday. The bout represented the biggest test of her MMA career thus far, but unfortunately, it proved a bit too much, too soon, as she was soundly outfought by the former champion across five rounds.
Leon Edwards responds to callout from 'Wonderboy'
Tom Taylor - October 5, 2020
Surging UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards isn’t particularly interested in a fight with Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. Edwards, who fights out of Birmingham, UK, is currently on an eight-fight unbeaten run in the UFC welterweight division, including wins over top-flight foes like Gunnar Nelson, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Rafael dos Anjos. Despite this amazing success, he’s struggled immensely to find a viable foe for his next fight.
Michel Pereira calls out Anthony Pettis with help from Johnny Walker
Adam Martin - October 5, 2020
UFC welterweight Michel Pereira called out long-time Octagon veteran Anthony Pettis with a little help from his friend Johnny Walker. Following his recent submission win over Zelim Imadaev, Pereira called out several of the UFC’s top welterweights including Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington. However, those types of top-five ranked opponents were always Pereira shooting for the moon. A guy like Pettis, who is ranked in the bottom end of the top-15, makes a lot more sense for Pereira in his next fight. And so the Brazilian recently made the callout official with Walker’s help.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson fight still possible, says Dana White
Tom Taylor - October 5, 2020
UFC President Dana White says a fight between lightweight stars Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson is still possible. For many years, a fight between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson stood out as one of the biggest the UFC could make—and the promotion certainly tried. White and his matchmaking team attempted a whopping five times to make this matchup happen, but every time, it failed to come to fruition.
Photos | Carlos Condit and Court McGee share a meal after Fight Island scrap
Tom Taylor - October 5, 2020
After slugging it out at UFC Fight Island 4 on Saturday, Carlos Condit and Court McGee linked up to have a meal together post-fight. Condit and McGee met on the undercard of UFC Fight Island 4, which went down on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The pair fought for the allotted 15 minutes, with Condit ultimately earning a unanimous decision victory.
What's next for Holly Holm and Irene Aldana after UFC Fight Island 4?
Cole Shelton - October 5, 2020
In the main event of UFC Fight Island 4, Holly Holm was looking to prove she is still the number one contender while Irene Aldana was looking to earn a title shot with a win. It was the first time Aldana was headlining a show and in the lead-up to the fight, it was a pick’em for a reason. There were paths to victory for both, yet it was Holm who dominated the fight from start to finish to earn a clear decision win.
Darren Till dubs Israel Adesanya’s UFC 253 performance an “utter masterclass” but vows he can defeat "Stylebender"
Harry Kettle - October 5, 2020
Darren Till praised Israel Adesanya’s showing against Paulo Costa while simultaneously declaring that he will beat the champion one day. Adesanya was able to completely dominate Costa at UFC 253, retaining the UFC Middleweight Championship in the process. Till, on the other hand, will attempt to bounce back from his defeat to Robert Whittaker when he locks horns with divisional rival Jack Hermansson on December 5.
Mike Perry offers fans the opportunity to be in his corner against Robbie Lawler
Adam Martin - October 4, 2020
UFC welterweight Mike Perry is offering the chance to be in his corner for his next fight against Robbie Lawler to the highest bidder. Perry takes on Lawler in what is expected to be a fan-friendly brawl at UFC 255 later in November. In Perry’s last fight against Mickey Gall, a unanimous decision victory for Perry, he only had one corner person when his girlfriend Latory Gonzalez cornered him in a win. Perry was both praised and criticized for the decision to not have an MMA coach or even a fighter in his corner but instead just his girlfriend. However, he did win the fight against Gall.
Antonio Carlos Junior takes a shot at Paulo Costa, asks where the vaseline was when Israel Adesanya humped him
Adam Martin - October 4, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Antonio Carlos Junior took a shot at Paulo Costa, asking where the vaseline was when Israel Adesanya humped him. After talking tons of trash on social media and in interviews, Costa lost by second-round TKO to Adesanya at UFC 253 in what was a one-sided fight. But what everyone was talking about after the fight was Adesanya’s post-victory celebration where he humped Costa from behind and then told his cornerman Eric Albarracin he wanted to ejaculate on him.
Derek Brunson calls out Paulo Costa for UFC 256 fight
Adam Martin - October 4, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson has requested a fight against Paulo Costa for the UFC 256 pay-per-view later this year. Brunson is coming off of a vicious third-round TKO win over prospect Edmen Shahbazyan that cemented his pale as a top-10 middleweight. Costa, meanwhile, is a top-five fighter who is coming off of a TKO loss to UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 253. At age 36, Brunson is looking to make a title run late in his UFC career and he needs to pick up wins over top-ranked fighters such as a Costa to get an Adesanya rematch.
Stephen Thompson explains why Khamzat Chimaev fight doesn't interest him: "It just doesn't make sense for me"
Adam Martin - October 4, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson recently explained why he isn’t interested in a fight against hotshot prospect Khamzat Chimaev. There have been rumors lately that Thompson could be the next man to step into the Octagon with Chimaev, who has quickly become one of the biggest young stars in the UFC. Since making his UFC debut in July on Fight Island, Chimaev has already picked up three brutal stoppage wins over Gerald Meerschaert, Rhys McKee, and John Phillips. UFC president Dana White has said that he considers Chikmaev to be a “special” fighter.
Patricio Pitbull sends a message to new UFC fighter Michael Chandler: "You'll always be my b*tch"
Adam Martin - October 4, 2020
Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull sent a message to new UFC fighter Michael Chandler, saying “you’ll always be my b*tch.” Pitbull KOed Chandler in Bellator last June to become a rare double champion in the promotion. As for Chandler, after KOing Sidney Outlaw and Benson Henderson in devastating fashion, he signed a free-agent contract with the UFC. The UFC is so high on Chandler that it has tabbed him as the official backup for UFC 254’s main event between UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champ Justin Gaethje.