MMA News
UFC 242 | Dustin Poirier explains why he is the man to dethrone Khabib Nurmagomedov
Cole Shelton - June 12, 2019
27 have tried, and 27 have failed, but Dustin Poirier believes he is different. In the main event of UFC 242, Khabib Nurmagomedov will look to defend his lightweight title against current interim title holder Dustin Poirier. Although no one has beaten “The Eagle”, Poirier knows exactly what he has to do to win the fight. And, it is simply being himself.
Dillon Danis swipes MacDonald and Caldwell's belts for photo, gets roasted by Ben Askren
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2019
On Wednesday, the stars of Bellator 222 took center stage in New York City for a pre-fight media day. Among those appearing were welterweight champion Rory MacDonald, bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell, and main card fighter Dillon Danis. At one point during the days festivities, Dillon Danis swiped MacDonald and Caldwell’s Bellator titles and posed for a photo with both straps slung over his shoulders.
Report | Vladimir Putin allocates $9.3M for school named after Khabib Nurmagomedov
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2019
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will reportedly have a school built in his honor in his native Dagestan. This school will be built using 600 million rubles (9.3M USD) allocated by Russian President Vladimir Putin (h/t Bloody Elbow). This news was announced by Khabib’s father Abdulmanap during an interview with the Teacher’s Newspaper. Abdulmanap claims this project came about after the UFC champion asked Putin to invest in education inside Dagestan during a recent phone call.
18-year-old Muay Thai star Alma Juniku breaks down Shanghai showdown with Stamp Fairtex
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2019
On Saturday, June 15, in the main event of ONE: Legendary Quest in shimmering Shanghai, China, 18-year-old Muay Thai star Alma Juniku will take on champion Stamp Fairtex for the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title. Ahead of this mammoth Muay Thai showdown, the Albanian-Australian talent had a quick chat with BJPenn.com’s Tom Taylor.
Khabib Nurmagomedov rules out move to welterweight
Adam Martin - June 12, 2019
Khabib Nurmagomedov has been a dominant force at lightweight and many want him to move up to welterweight at some point, but the UFC lightweight champion has shot down any idea of him moving up a weight class anytime soon. Speaking at the UFC 242 press conference on Wednesday in London, Nurmagomedov told the media that he has no interest in moving up to 170lbs to fight that division’s champion Kamaru Usman.
Stephen Thompson eyes war with 'legend' Nate Diaz
Mike Pendleton - June 12, 2019
After suffering the first knockout loss of his career, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson will miss out on an opportunity to fight at UFC Greenville, a location he’s always wanted the UFC to visit, but now he’s got new goals set for his comeback. Speaking to media in Chicago during last weekend’s UFC 238 festivities, Thompson spoke about how he’d like to return in the fall of this year at Madison Square Garden and why he’d love to fight a “legend” in Nate Diaz.
Khabib Nurmagomedov rips Conor McGregor, shuts down rematch talk
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2019
From the moment Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Conor McGregor in the UFC 229 main event in October, there has been talk of an immediate rematch between the two lightweight stars. The fight wasn’t particularly competitive, but it was a massive financial success, and a rematch would surely be the same. And of course, McGregor’s fight-altering power — and the ever present possibility of a knockout that it creates — will always make his fights interesting.
Khabib Nurmagomedov believes wins over three opponents will make him P4P king
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2019
Undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is already one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. To cement himself as the pound-for-pound best fighter alive, however, he believes he needs to defeat three specific opponents. Those opponents are Dustin Poirier, who he’ll meet at UFC 242 on September 7 in Abu Dhabi, his long-time rival Tony Ferguson, and former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre.
Bellator 222 | Pro fighters make their picks for Chael Sonnen vs. Lyoto Machida
Cole Shelton - June 12, 2019
Bellator returns to Madison Square Garden in New York City with the stacked Bellator 222 card this weekend. The card sees two titles on the line and an intriguing light heavyweight matchup between Chael Sonnen and Lyoto Machida. Ahead of the light heavyweight showdown, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions on this light heavyweight matchup. And, the consensus is that Sonnen will use his wrestling and grind out a win.
Former KSW champ Mamed Khalidov arrested by anti-terrorism police
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2019
Former KSW middleweight and light heavyweight champion Mamed Khalidov, who retired after back-to-back losses in late 2018, has found his way back into the headlines for reasons unrelated to his fighting career. According to a report from Polish outlet TVP.info, Khalidov was recently arrested by the Anti-Terrorist Operations Office in Poland for allegedly forging documents related to the illegal importation of luxury cars. Per RT.com, the cars were apparently purchased in the Czech Republic before being illegally imported into Poland.
Crane accident crushes home of UFC star Macy Chiasson
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2019
Disaster has struck in the life of UFC bantamweight contender Macy Chiasson. On Sunday, during a severe windstorm in the Dallas area, a construction crane collapsed and fell on her apartment building, destroying her home and all of her possessions. She was lucky to escape with her life and her dog.
Spotlighting the Chinese warriors who will compete at ONE: Legendary Quest
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 12, 2019
ONE Championship continues to establish itself in mainland China. The next event takes place in Shanghai on 15 June, called ONE: Legendary Quest, and there are five Chinese athletes scheduled to compete on the card. Those warriors will help to set the table for the co-main event, Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Agilan Thani, and the main event between ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex against 18-year-old world prodigy Alma Juniku. The match between Stamp and Juniku has a combined age of just 39, which is a record for a ONE Championship title bout.
Donald Cerrone provides update on eye after loss to Tony Ferguson
Thomas Taylor - June 11, 2019
Over the weekend, in the middle bout of the UFC 238 main card, Donald Cerrone stepped into the Octagon with streaking lightweight contender Tony Ferguson. This bout was widely expected to capture the card’s Fight of the Night honors, and in the end it did just that. Unfortunately, it did end with a degree of controversy, as Cerrone was deemed unfit to continue fighting between the second and third rounds.
Henry Cejudo’s attempt to save the flyweight division might inadvertently destroy it
Jordy McElroy - June 11, 2019
Flyweight champion Henry Cejudo stood tall at UFC 238, relentlessly raining down punches and elbows on top of bantamweight contender Marlon Moraes—every concussive blow serving as a mortal wound to the 125 pound division. Help came for Moraes in the form of referee Marc Goddard at 4:51 of the third round, but none is coming for the flyweight division, which is now bereft of life and lying stone cold on the blood-spattered canvas. Demetrious Johnson has already moved on. The UFC already moved on. After winning his third major sports title, Cejudo finally moved on.
Jessica Andrade vs Weili Zhang targeted for UFC China
Mike Pendleton - June 11, 2019
After winning the UFC women’s strawweight title in her home country of Brazil, new champion Jessica Andrade is reportedly heading into enemy territory for her first title defense. According to Brett Okamoto of ESPN, while contracts haven’t been signed, a strawweight title fight between Andrade and Weili Zhang is close to being finalized for UFC China which will take place on August 31, in Shenzhen, China and will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
Conor McGregor once again places on list of highest paid athletes
Tom Taylor - June 11, 2019
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor has once again earned a spot on Forbes’ list of highest paid athletes in the world. The Irish MMA star didn’t place in the top-10 this year, instead coming at No.21 with $47M in earnings. McGregor’s former opponent and long-time rival Floyd Mayweather, who held the No.1 spot last year, has vanished from the list all together. The top spot is now occupied by Lionel Messi, while other names in the top-10 include Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Canelo Alvarez, Roger Federer, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Lebron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry. No other UFC fighters appear on the list, though boxers like Gennady Golovkin, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder do.
Rafael dos Anjos bashes Conor McGregor, Justin Bieber for recent comments
Tom Taylor - June 11, 2019
Aljamain Sterling likes chances against Henry Cejudo: 'Where does he win?'
Tom Taylor - June 11, 2019
UFC 238 was a big night for the bantamweight division. In the main event, flyweight champion Henry Cejudo captured the vacant bantamweight title with a TKO defeat of Marlon Moraes, while on the prelims, Aljamain Sterling established himself as the division’s top contender with a victory over Brazil’s Pedro Munhoz. While Henry Cejudo followed his bantamweight title win with callouts of Cody Garbrandt, Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, it seems likely that he’ll find himself defending the title against Aljamain Sterling in the near future.
Nick Diaz blasts Conor McGregor for Mark Wahlberg callout
Tom Taylor - June 11, 2019
Over the weekend, former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor made yet another call for a fight with Hollywood actor and UFC shareholder Mark Wahlberg. I challenge Mark Walhberg on the very same card.Back when mark wahlberg was marky mark, I’d’ve still slapped the ears off him and took my ufc shares back.#Shares #Streams #Dazn #Espn McGregor Sports and Entertainment