MMA News

Colby Covington, UFC 245
UFC

UFC sponsors respond after Colby Covington calls BLM movement "a complete sham"

Tom Taylor - September 23, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington made some very controversial comments about the Black Lives Matter movement after his latest Octagon triumph. Covington defeated former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, an African American and dedicated BLM supporter, in the main event of UFC Vegas 11 in Las Vegas. Post-fight, he called into question not only Woodley but the entire BLM movement.

Khamzat Chimaev
UFC

Khamzat Chimaev ready to fly to Fight Island to serve as a backup for Israel Adesanya vs Paulo Costa

Cole Shelton - September 23, 2020

Khamzat Chimaev is ready to fight anyone at any time and that includes this Saturday’s main event between Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa. Ever since Chimaev made his UFC debut back in July, he has quickly become a massive star. He is already 3-0 this year and coming off a one-punch KO win over Gerald Meerschaert at UFC Vegas 11 in just 17-seconds.

Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Kai Kara-France was forced to live in the gym, planning to make a "statement" against Brandon Royval at UFC 253

Cole Shelton - September 23, 2020

Kai Kara-France was forced to live at City Kickboxing in order to train for his UFC 253 fight against Brandon Royval. With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing New Zealand to lockdown again, Eugene Bareman got Kara-France, Israel Adesanya, Shane Young, and Brad Riddell to bring their mattresses and live at the gym in order to train. After weeks of doing that, the CKB team left for Fight Island which adds confidence for Kai Kara-France.

Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker
Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya and other Black UFC athletes respond to Colby Covington's "racist" comments

Christopher Taylor - September 23, 2020

Israel Adesanya and other notable Black UFC athletes have fired back at welterweight fighter Colby Covington for his recent controversial remarks. Prior to his grudge match with bitter rival Tyron Woodley this past weekend, ‘Chaos’ made headlines when he suggested that ‘T-Wood’ was a “domestic terrorist sympathizer” for his support of Black Lives Matter.

Colby Covington, Tyron Woodley
UFC

Colby Covington vs. Tyron Woodley Fight Night card pulls in over one million viewers on ESPN+

Adam Martin - September 23, 2020

UFC Vegas 11, featuring the main event between welterweights Colby Covington and Tyron Woodley, pulled in over one million viewers on ESPN+. The Athletic’s Mike Coppinger reported the ratings for UFC Vegas 11: Covington vs. Woodley, noting it as a big win for the UFC considering there were the NBA playoffs and the NHL Stanley Cup finals both on at the same time as the UFC Fight Night was.

Anthony Smith, UFC Vegas 8
UFC

Anthony Smith says he will "beat the sh*t" out of Johnny Walker

Adam Martin - September 23, 2020

UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith says that he will “beat the sh*t” out of Johnny Walker if they end up fighting. Walker picked up a first-round TKO win over Ryan Spann at UFC Vegas 11 to jump back into the win column after suffering back-to-back losses to Corey Anderson and Nikita Krylov. When asked who he wants to fight next, the No. 10 ranked Walker told Combate that he is interested in a fight against Smith, the No. 8 ranked fighter.

Sijara Eubanks
Sijara Eubanks

Sijara Eubanks planning her own "David and Goliath story" against Ketlen Vieira at UFC 253

Cole Shelton - September 23, 2020

Sijara Eubanks is making history on Saturday night as she will tie Hannah Cfiers for the fastest turnaround for a female fighter in UFC history. She will also be the first fighter in this COVID-19 era to fight in Jacksonville, the UFC Apex and Fight Island, the three spots the UFC has held events. Eubanks, who is coming off a decision win over Sept. 12, got a call just days later to fly out to Fight Island to fight Kelten Vieira.

Colby Covington
Jorge Masvidal

Colby Covington compares prior training sessions with Woodley, Masvidal

Tom Taylor - September 23, 2020

Last weekend, Colby Covington defeated a former training partner in Tyron Woodley. Now, he wants to fight another in Jorge Masvidal. Covington defeated Woodley by fifth-round TKO in the main event of UFC Vegas 11 last Saturday. With that grudge match out of the way, he’s hoping to fight Jorge Masvidal next, who like Woodley, is another one of his former training partners from his days at American Top Team.

Tyron Woodley, UFC Vegas 11
UFC

UFC Vegas 11 medical suspensions: Tyron Woodley facing lengthy sit

Tom Taylor - September 23, 2020

Last Saturday’s UFC Vegas 11 card produced a number of lengthy medical suspensions for the fighters involved—including Tyron Woodley. Woodley, the former UFC welterweight champion, was stopped by Colby Covington in the fifth round of the UFC Vegas 11 main event after injuring his rib. He’ll need to be cleared by an orthopedic specialist or sit out until March 19, 2021. Several other fighters will also need to be cleared if they intend to fight before that date, including Niko Price, Randa Markos and Sarah Alpar.

Israel Adesanya, Paulo Costa
Israel Adesanya

UFC 253 | Pro fighters make their picks for Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa title fight

Cole Shelton - September 23, 2020

In the main event of UFC 253, Israel Adesanya is looking for his second title defense when he battles Paulo Costa. Heading into the fight, Adesanya is a -185 favorite while the Brazilian challenger is a +150 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority believe it will be Adesanya using his technical striking to piece up Costa and defending his belt.

Gilbert Burns
Gilbert Burns

Gilbert Burns slams the UFC rankings, says Colby Covington beat a guy “without a soul” in Tyron Woodley

Harry Kettle - September 23, 2020

Gilbert Burns has slammed the UFC rankings after Colby Covington’s win over Tyron Woodley took him above Burns in the standings. “Chaos” was able to put an end to his rivalry with Woodley last weekend by dominating the former welterweight king before stopping him in the fifth and final round. Courtesy of the win, many believe he could be in line for another shot at the Welterweight Championship sooner rather than later.

Colby Covington, LeBron James
UFC

UFC rankings update: Colby Covington climbs, Tyron Woodley plummets

Tom Taylor - September 23, 2020

The official UFC rankings have been updated after last weekend’s UFC Vegas 11 card and, as expected, there have been some big changes—particularly at welterweight. Most notably, polarizing welterweight contender Colby Covington has usurped the No. 1 spot in the division, pushing Gilbert Burns down to No. 2, on the strength of his fifth-round TKO win over the division’s former champion, Tyron Woodley. Woodley now sits at No. 7, marking his first stop outside the top-15 in years.

Ben Askren, Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier
UFC

Ben Askren takes a shot at UFC 253 co-main event between Jan Blachowicz and Dominick Reyes

Adam Martin - September 22, 2020

Former UFC welterweight Ben Askren took a shot at Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz ahead of their title fight this weekend at UFC 253. Since retiring from mixed martial arts following back-to-back stoppage losses to Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia, Askren has become an outspoken voice on social media. Askren is particularly popular on Twitter where he has a big following due to his hilarious comments and often contoversial hot takes on all sorts of different subjects.

Paulo-Costa
UFC

Video | Paulo Costa looks in amazing shape following "best weight cut ever" for UFC 253

Adam Martin - September 22, 2020

UFC middleweight Paulo Costa looks to be in amazing shape heading into UFC 253, with his manager calling it his “best weight cut ever.” Costa takes on UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in the main event of this Saturday’s UFC 253 pay-per-view card. The world’s leading MMA promotion returns to Fight Island in Abu Dhabi with this amazing contest as the headliner, a fight that UFC president Dana White has said is his personal pick for “Fight of the Year” in 2020.

Paulo Costa
UFC

Paulo Costa responds to Israel Adesanya’s PED accusations ahead of UFC 253

Cole Shelton - September 22, 2020

Paulo Costa has addressed Israel Adesanya’s PED accustations ahead of their highly-anticipated title fight at UFC 253. In the lead up to the fight, Adesanya had some questions on if Costa is taking steroids and whether or not USADA is testing the top contender in Brazil.

Patricio Freire, Bellator, Josh Thomson
Patricio "Pitbull" Freire

Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull re-booked to fight Pedro Carvalho

Adam Martin - September 22, 2020

At long last, Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull has been re-booked to fight his next opponent Pedro Carvalho. Pitbull, who is also the Bellator lightweight champion, was originally set to fight Carvalho with his belt on the line in the semifinals of the Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix at Bellator 241 back in March. However, the fight and the entire event was scrapped at the last minute due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bellator re-started its events back in July, but due to visa issues for the champion, Bellator hasn’t been able to re-book Pitbull vs. Carvalho fight until now.

Khamzat Chimaev
UFC

Khamzat Chimaev says he is fighting Stephen Thompson next

Cole Shelton - September 22, 2020

Khamzat Chimaev claims he is fighting Stephen Thompson next. After Chimaev scored a one-punch KO win over Gerald Meerschaert at UFC Vegas 11, many wondered what would be next for him. It was reported he would fight Demian Maia. Yet, after the fight, many thought the Swede should get a top-five opponent. According to the undefeated prospect, he claims he is fighting Stephen Thompson.

Juan Espino
UFC

TUF 28 winner Juan Espino ecstatic to be able to fight again, promises "entertaining fight" against Jeff Hughes

Cole Shelton - September 22, 2020

Juan Espino is back. The 39-year-old, Espino has not fought since he won The Ultimate Fighter 28 back in November of 2018. Since then, many were eager to see how the heavyweight would do inside the Octagon given his wrestling and jiu-jitsu background.