UFC News
Dustin Poirier hoping for another title shot by year's end
Tom Taylor - January 24, 2020
In September of 2019, Dustin Poirier challenged the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC lightweight belt. Unfortunately for Poirier and his fans, the mission didn’t go as planned, as he was submitted by the champion in the third round. Despite this loss, Poirier is still determined to be become the undisputed UFC lightweight champion in the future. His brief reign as the interim lightweight champ, he says, just doesn’t cut it as far as his legacy is concerned.
Paige VanZant issues statement after latest arm injury, gives timeframe for return
Tom Taylor - January 24, 2020
Paige VanZant was out of action for almost all of 2019 due to a series of severe arm injuries. She was then booked for a return against Amanda Ribas at the upcoming UFC Brasilia card. Unfortunately, that planned comeback was fight was foiled by yet another arm injury. Speaking on Instagram, VanZant opened up on this new injury and promised that it will not keep her out of action for too long. She says she’ll fight again in May.
PHOTO | Conor McGregor handed $50,000 bonus by Dana White in cash
Adam Martin - January 24, 2020
UFC superstar Conor McGregor was handed his $50,000 bonus for Performance of the Night at UFC 246 in cash by UFC president Dana White. McGregor needed just 40 seconds to knock out Donald Cerrone in the main event of UFC 246 to pick up his first win since a November 2016 TKO win over Eddie Alvarez. The UFC awarded McGregor a $50,000 bonus for the knockout win, joining Aleksei Oleinik, Carlos Diego Ferreira, Brian Kelleher, and Drew Dober as bonus winners.
UFC Raleigh weigh-in results: All fighters make weight
Adam Martin - January 24, 2020
The UFC Raleigh weigh-ins took place Friday morning and all 24 fighters on the card made weight for this Saturday night’s event. In the main event, heavyweight Curtis Blaydes tipped the scales at 248lbs. His opponent, former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, stepped onto the scales at 247lbs. Both men were well below the heavyweight non-title limit of 265lbs.
Michael Bisping opens up on injury before first Luke Rockhold fight
Tom Taylor - January 24, 2020
Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold, both former UFC middleweight champions, went 2-0 across two entertaining grudge matches. In the first fight, Rockhold came out on top via submission. In the second, Bisping won via first-round knockout, winning the middleweight belt in the process. During an appearance on the UFC Unfiltered podcast to promote his new book Quitters Never Win: My Life in UFC, Bisping divulged that he was actually injured before his first fight with Rockhold.
Khabib Nurmagomedov burns Conor McGregor on social media
Tom Taylor - January 24, 2020
Shortly after Conor McGregor stopped Donald Cerrone in the welterweight main event of UFC 246, he proudly proclaimed himself the first UFC fighter to pick up knockout wins at welterweight, lightweight and featherweight. McGregor’s arch rival Khabib Nurmagomedov wants to remind him of another multi-divisional feat. Using an image posted to Twitter, Nurmagomedov not-so-subtly reminded fight fans that McGregor has also been submitted in three weight classes. The Irishman tapped out to Nate Diaz at welterweight, to Nurmagomedov at lightweight, and to Joe Duffy at featherweight.
Robert Whittaker dispels 'false rumors' surrounding UFC 248 withdrawal
Tom Taylor - January 24, 2020
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker was expected to return to the cage against Jared Cannonier at UFC 248, but was later forced out of this matchup with personal issues. While it was and still is unclear what kind of personal issues caused Whittaker to withdraw from the fight, UFC President Dana White caused a tidal wave of speculation when he appeared to get emotional discussing Whittaker’s situation.
Junior dos Santos says he hates Curtis Blaydes' 'boring game' and excited to knock him out
Cole Shelton - January 23, 2020
Junior dos Santos is not a fan of Curtis Blaydes’ wrestling centric style to say the least. In the main event of UFC Raleigh, the two will square off with JDS looking to get back into the win column. Blaydes, meanwhile, is looking to extend his winning streak.
VIDEO | Hear what Conor McGregor said to Donald Cerrone moments after stoppage
Tom Taylor - January 23, 2020
Moments after Conor McGregor defeated Donald Cerrone in the UFC 246 main event, he knelt down beside his bloodied foe to exchange a few words. “I love you Donald,” McGregor began.
VIDEO | Watch Conor McGregor train shoulder strikes years before ‘Cowboy’ fight
Adam Martin - January 23, 2020
Footage has been released of UFC superstar Conor McGregor training shoulder strikes with former UFC fighter Cathal Pendred years ago. McGregor used shoulder strikes in his main event fight at UFC 246 against Donald Cerrone in the bout’s opening seconds and badly hurt “Cowboy” with them. After kicking Cerrone right in the chin with a high kick, McGregor was able to pummel Cerrone with punches on the mat and finish him for a 40-second TKO win in his long-awaited return to the Octagon.
Team Khabib Nurmagomedov promises special rules fight with Floyd Mayweather
Tom Taylor - January 23, 2020
UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov and his team are currently focused on a lightweight title fight with top contender Tony Ferguson, but once that’s over, they’re hoping for a fight with undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. According to the Nurmagomedov patriarch Abdulmanap, the hope is for a special rules bout with Mayweather: 11 rounds contested under boxing rules, and a lone, 12th round contested under the full MMA rule-set.
Paige VanZant withdraws from fight with Amanda Ribas
Tom Taylor - January 23, 2020
The tough breaks just keep coming for Paige VanZant. After over a year on the shelf due to a series of unfortunate injuries, VanZant was expected to return to the cage opposite Amanda Ribas at UFC Brasilia on March 14.
UFC Raleigh Betting Odds Analysis
Adam Martin - January 23, 2020
This is the second in a series of new articles here on BJPenn.com in 2020 analyzing the betting odds for all UFC events. The second event of the year is UFC Raleigh. Note: All odds based on current odds at BestFightOdds.com. This article is for entertainment purposes only. Never bet what you can’t afford.
MMA community roasts Stephen A. Smith over pad work video
Harry Kettle - January 23, 2020
The mixed martial arts community has taken to social media in order to roast Stephen A. Smith following footage being released of him hitting the pads. Smith has been slowly but surely making his way over into the world of MMA over the last year or so as a direct result of ESPN’s growing relationship with the UFC. However, despite what many would think are his ‘best intentions’, he has been rubbing some fans the wrong way.
Mike Perry’s manager doesn't condone his use of the N-word, but he understands it
Harry Kettle - January 23, 2020
Mike Perry’s manager Abe Kawa spoke out about his fighter’s use of the N-word during a recent interview with MMA Junkie. Perry has faced a great deal of criticism over the course of the last few weeks and months, for his seemingly regular use of the N-word. Some have decided to stick up for the controversial UFC star, whereas others have jumped to condemn him.
Kamaru Usman sends message to Jorge Masvidal: 'We all know who breaks faces in this division'
Cole Shelton - January 22, 2020
Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal are continuing to go back-and-forth at one another to potentially set up a fight. After Usman TKO’d Colby Covington at UFC 245 many wondered what would be next. Masvidal was up there but he was waiting for the outcome of the UFC 246 main event between Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone. Yet, “Gamebred” recently switched stances and said he is focused on Usman because he wants to break his face.
Darren Till 'hopeful' he can still fight Jared Cannonier at UFC 248
Cole Shelton - January 22, 2020
Darren Till may still be able to fight Jared Cannonier at UFC 248 after all. After Robert Whittaker, Cannonier’s original opponent, pulled out due to personal reasons many assumed Till would be the logical replacement and it was announced he was. But, he injured his ankle and UFC president Dana White said that fight was off.
Roxanne Modafferi responds after being discredited by Maycee Barber's father
Tom Taylor - January 22, 2020
Roxanne Modafferi picked up a massive upset over the weekend, walloping Maycee Barber to lopsided decision win on the UFC 246 undercard. Unfortunately, Barber’s father has suggested this fight shouldn’t count as a true loss on his daughter’s record given that she sustained an ACL tear early in the fight.