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Anderson Silva says he’s making his return in January
When it comes to champions in MMA, few have accomplished the same types of feats that former middleweight king Anderson Silva has. Reigning over the 185-pound weight class essentially right upon his arrival to the UFC, Silva went 16-0 (10 title defenses) in the organization before suffering a loss. The streak lasted from June 2006 to […]
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UFC and Bellator vet Michael McDonald announces retirement from MMA at age 27
All good things must come to an end. Unfortunately for the Modesto, California native Michael ‘Mayday’ McDonald, his good thing is ending sooner rather than later. The 27-year old McDonald is 19-4 in his professional MMA career and once fought for a world title against Renan Barao in 2013. Since then, things have been less than […]
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Nate Diaz implies he’s bailing on UFC 230 because Dustin Poirier doesn’t want to fight at 165 pounds
Nate Diaz is currently booked for a lightweight showdown with top contender Dustin Poirier. The bout is expected to serve as the co-main event of UFC 230, which is scheduled for November 3 in New York City. While this has been the plan some time, Nate Diaz and Dustin Poirier have both recently expressed interest […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Bellator 206’s Dakota Zimmerman ‘excited’ to play the underdog role in MMA debut vs Keri Melendez
At Bellator 206 this Saturday night, the highly skilled counterpart to Gilbert Melendez, Keri Melendez welcomes newcomer Dakota Zimmerman to the ranks of the pros. Although Melendez is only 2-0 in her professional MMA career, she has built up a solid reputation as a kickboxer thus earning her a deserved spotlight. In Melendez’ third pro bout, […]
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Gegard Mousasi explains how he plans to beat Rory MacDonald at Bellator 206
This weekend, in the main event of Bellator 206, Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi will attempt to defend his title against the promotion’s welterweight champion Rory MacDonald. Although Gegard Mousasi will be the bigger, heavier fighter in the cage on Saturday night, he’s not expecting that advantage to play all that much of a role […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Jimmie Rivera hopes to team up with Aljamain Sterling to end the Dillashaw-Cruz-Garbrandt dynasty
The UFC bantamweight division is ruled by three men, all of whom have worn the divisional belt in the last few years. One is TJ Dillashaw, the reigning champion. The second is former champion Dominick Cruz, who is the last man to defeat Dillashaw. The other is former champion Cody Garbrandt, who ended Cruz’s title […]
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Bellator MMA, 50 Cent to pay Welterweight Grand Prix winner $1 million as part of new partnership
Earlier this year, Bellator MMA began a very public courtship of rapper 50 Cent. The rapper was introduced to Bellator fighters, invited to Bellator events, and lots more. Why, however, was not exactly clear. Now we know. Though many fans hoped we’d see 50 cent don some four ounce gloves for a scrap with somebody […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Bellator prospect Aaron Pico heaps praise on training partner TJ Dillashaw
On Saturday, on the main card of Bellator 206, one of the most highly regarded prospects in all of MMA, Aaron Pico, will be taking on Leandro Higo. Pico is looking to continue his run in the featherweight division to an eventual title shot. While many believe Pico is destined to be a future champion, […]
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Report | UFC briefly pursued Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier heavyweight title fight for UFC 232
It was reported earlier that UFC President Dana White is pursuing a Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson matchup for UFC 232. The matchup would presumably be for the interim light heavyweight title, but another layer to the matchmaking process has now been revealed. Before working on this Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson rematch, the UFC […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Javier Mendez feels Conor McGregor crossed line with trash talk, but Khabib Nurmagomedov was not affected
The UFC 229 press conference, which featured UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and his upcoming opponent Conor McGregor, produced all of the trash talk and saber-rattling we anticipated. Most of that trash talk, of course, came from McGregor, who is as known for his gift of gab as he is for his fistic proficiency. While […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Aaron Pico plans to take out Leandro Higo, continue march toward Bellator title
Aaron Pico (3-1) has only been competing as a professional mixed martial artist for a little over a year. Yet in this short timeframe, the American wrestler has managed to establish himself as one of the most promising prospects on the Bellator roster — and he’s done so with a trio of thunderous knockout wins, […]
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Luke Rockhold explains why he accepted Weidman rematch instead of moving to 205
For a time, it sounded as though former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold was headed north to the UFC light heavyweight division. Ultimately, however, Rockhold was booked for a rematch with Chris Weidman, the very man he took the middleweight title from in 2015. The pair’s rematch will go down at UFC 230 this November […]
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Dana White claims Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson rematch is possible for UFC 232
Yesterday afternoon, reports surfaced that the UFC was working on an Alexander Gustafsson vs. Yoel Romero light heavyweight title fight for UFC 230 in New York City. While this surprising matchup generated quite a bit of excitement among fans, it now seems as though the promotion is going in another direction. According to ESPN‘s Brett […]
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BJPENN.COM Radio Ep. 99 // Jimmie Rivera | Javier Mendez
BJPENN.COM Radio is back, Penn Nation! This episode kicks off with No. 5 ranked bantamweight in the UFC and one of the hungriest guys in the division, Jimmie Rivera. “El’ Terror” returns to the show to recap his win over John Dodson at UFC 228 and discuss what’s next as he continues on his quest […]
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Dana White admits Conor McGregor gets away with more than other fighters: ‘He’s worth it’
Former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor is far and away the biggest star in MMA history. He’s been an absolute gold mine for the UFC, having headlined a great many of the promotion’s biggest pay-per-views. Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up this week, UFC President Dana White admitted that, because Conor McGregor is such a […]
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Report | Abdul Razak Alhassan indicted for sexual assault charges in March
Very dark and disturbing news has come to light surrounding the promising UFC welterweight prospect Abdul Razak Alhassan. It has been reported by the Star-Telegram (more detail inside) that Alhassan has been indicted on charges for sexual assault and accused of driving two intoxicated women home from the Varsity Tavern where he worked as a bouncer in […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Douglas Lima hoping to avenge loss to Rory MacDonald, but also keen to fight ‘new face’ in Grand Prix final
In his last fight, which went down January, Douglas Lima surrendered the Bellator welterweight title to reigning champion Rory MacDonald, losing a close decision to the Canadian. So long as he performs well in his upcoming Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix matchups, starting with his Bellator 206, scrap with Andrey Koreshkov, Lima could easily have the […]
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Georges St-Pierre says it’s unlikely that he ever fights for UFC lightweight title
If you were hoping former UFC welterweight and middleweight Georges St-Pierre might one day add the UFC lightweight title to his crowded trophy case, we’ve got some bad news. Speaking to MMA Fighting this week, the Canadian MMA legend claimed that the doubts the UFC will ever let him fight for the UFC lightweight belt. […]
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Jon Jones on 2013 war with Alexander Gustafsson: ‘I didn’t train very hard for that fight’
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has experienced very little in the way of adversity inside the cage. In fact, the former champ has really only been truly tested once. That was in 2013, when he met Swedish light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson in the main event of UFC 165 in Toronto. On that […]
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Report | Alexander Gustafsson vs. Yoel Romero title fight in the works for UFC 230
That UFC 230 main event we’ve been waiting for? Apparently, it’s in the works, and it’s an undeniably surprising one. According to a report from Ariel Helwani, the UFC is looking at booking a light heavyweight showdown between Alexander Gustafsson and Yoel Romero for the card. If the fight is indeed booked, it will reportedly […]
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Report | Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua to return against Tyson Pedro at UFC Adelaide
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will reportedly return to the cage at UFC Adelaide on December 2, where he’ll take on Australia’s own Tyson Pedro in a compelling light heavyweight showdown. This matchup was first reported by ESPN. For Shogun, this bout represents the opportunity to move past a tough, knockout loss […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Douglas Lima excited to set high bar for Bellator welterweight tournament fights
Bellator’s anticipated Welterweight Grand Prix, which will see Rory MacDonald, Douglas Lima, Andrey Koreshkov, Jon Fitch, Paul Daley, Michael Page, Neiman Gracie and Ed Ruth battle for welterweight gold, is almost here. The first tournament bout occurs on the main card of the stacked Bellator 206 on September 29, when former champions Douglas Lima and […]
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Jon Jones believes “people want to see” him fight Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was recently handed a 15-month suspension by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). This suspension is retroactive to a July, 2017 failed drug test, which means Jones could fight again as soon as early November. Ahead of his anticipated comeback, Jon Jones seems to have a wealth of […]
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After receiving 26-year suspension, Mara Romero Borella has 2014 win overturned to no contest
The strange news has followed Italian UFC flyweight Mara Romero Borella this month and it just continues to get a bit stranger. On September 13, Borella received the loftiest of suspensions imaginable in the sports world. That being a 26-year suspension from the Italian Anti Doping Agency. Originally, Borella was already in the midst of a […]
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CB Dollaway on Herb Dean: ‘I don’t feel like I got protected. He didn’t stop the fight. Ever.’
If there is one thing that is frustrating for everyone, regardless of what’s being involved…it’s when someone can’t seem to do their job right. This happened to be a case at the recent UFC Moscow event. In said recent case, UFC veteran CB Dollaway took on the debuting Khalid Murtazaliev. Dollaway would end up getting […]
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Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz claim they’re the UFC 230 main event and will fight over new 165-pound title, Dana White denies
The UFC definitely has taken their sweet time when it comes to announcing the headliner for one of their biggest cards if the year. With tickets going on sale in just a matter of hours, UFC 230 on November 3 will act as the organization’s return to Madison Square Garden which will be their first time […]
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Report | Mark Hunt to take on Justin Willis at UFC Adelaide in last fight on UFC deal
The legendary “Super Samoan” Mark Hunt (13-13-1) was hopeful that after his UFC Moscow main event against Alexey Oleynik that he could head on home for his following bout. And now he’s getting his wish. Win or lose, Hunt ideally wanted to get to fight what will likely be his last fight in the UFC […]
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BJPENN.COM Radio Ep. 98 // Amanda Bobby Cooper | Aaron Pico | Douglas Lima
BJPENN.COM Radio is back, Penn Nation! This episode kicks off with TUF Alumni and current UFC strawweight, Amanda Bobby Cooper. “ABC” returns to the show to preview her upcoming bout with Ashley Yoder at UFC Denver on November 10th. Amanda will break down the matchup, discuss the importance for both athletes to get back in […]