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EXCLUSIVE | Colby Covington says he is “cut from the same cloth as Michael Jordan”
Originally, Colby Covington’s anticipated interim welterweight showdown with Rafael dos Anjos was expected to occur at UFC 224, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ultimately, however, this massive welterweight battle was moved to UFC 225, which goes down on June 9 in Chicago, Illinois. It was initially speculated that this fight was moved due to concerns […]
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EXCLUSIVE | UFC Chile’s Dominick Reyes plans to be a top-10 light heavyweight by year’s end
Dominick Reyes’s MMA career could not be off to a better start. The California-born light heavyweight has won all eight of his professional bouts, including two in the UFC’s Octagon. Only one of those victories has reached the judges’ scorecards. This May 19, when the UFC makes its debut in beautiful Santiago, Chile, Reyes will […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Volkan Oezdemir explains why fight with “Shogun” was moved from Chile to Germany
Originally, recent UFC light heavyweight title challenger Volkan Oezdemir was expected to collide with former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the co-main event of the UFC’s May 19 debut in Santiago, Chile. In the end, however, the bout was relocated to the main event of the UFC’s July 22 stop in Hamburg, […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Colby Covington on Joe Rogan: “I might just have to slap him”
Colby Covington, who battles Rafael dos Anjos for interim welterweight gold at UFC 225 in Chicago this June 9, is perhaps the most polarizing fighter in the game. The American Top Team staple’s actions and comments generate near constant backlash — even from UFC color commentator Joe Rogan. Shortly after Covington’s latest, fiery comments on […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Mike Jackson will be getting “a large payday” for CM Punk fight
Ever since it was announced that former WWE star CM Punk — nee Phil Brooks — would be taking a second fight in the UFC’s Octagon, Mike Jackson has been angling to be his opponent. It’s an opportunity that Jackson believed was his, all along. “It wasn’t about getting the fight, because in my mind, […]
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Miesha Tate sounds off on Ronda Rousey after “asinine” comments regarding media obligations
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and current WWE star Ronda Rousey has never been a particularly big fan of the media. In the wake of her MMA losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, her relationship with the media got even more tense. Speaking during a recent Q&A to promote her new movie Mile 22, Rousey […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Volkan Oezdemir outlines his path back to a UFC light heavyweight title shot
Back in January, in the co-main event of UFC 220, Swiss knockout artist Volkan Oezdemir failed to grab the UFC light heavyweight title from champ Daniel Cormier, succumbing to a meteor shower of second-round ground-strikes. Showing true championship spirit, however, Oezdemir has not been deterred by this failed title bid, and is determined to work […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Colby Covington has implemented an interesting cardio regimen ahead of UFC 225
At UFC 225, which goes down on June 9 in Chicago, Illinois, Colby Covington will step into the Octagon to battle former lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos for the interim welterweight belt. This bout stands out as the biggest and most meaningful of Covington’s career thus far. As such, he’s taking his preparations for it […]
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BJPENN.COM Radio Ep. 79 // Elias Theodorou | Rafael Lovato Jr | Dominick Reyes | Gilbert Burns | Volkan Oezdemir | Colby Covington
BJPENN.COM Radio returns with another stacked episode! We kick things off with UFC middleweight Elias Theodorou. “The Spartan” has several projects in the works ranging from producing and starring in an independent film, to breaking the mold as the Ring Boy for Invicta FC and being the face of Pert Plus. On top of all […]
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Chael Sonnen explains why it’s hard to study tape on Fedor Emelianenko
When Fedor Emelianenko knocked out Frank Mir in the main event of Bellator 198 last weekend, he advanced to the second round of Bellator’s exciting Heavyweight Grand Prix. The Russian legend, who is widely considered the best heavyweight in MMA history, will now battle Chael Sonnen sometime later this year. Speaking on his podcast this […]
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Jake Shields updates on potential comebacks of Nick and Nate Diaz
It’s a great time to be a fan of Nick and Nate Diaz. Though neither has fought in a quite awhile, there is reason to believe both could return to the cage soon, as Nick’s USADA suspension recently ended, and Nate has recently been linked to the upcoming UFC 227 card. In the opinion of […]
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Dana White responds to reports of Nate Diaz UFC 227 comeback fight: Nothing is going on
Last week, reports surfaced suggesting that Nate Diaz was in talks with the UFC about a potential return to the cage at UFC 227 this August 4 in Los Angeles. These reports generated widespread excitement inside the MMA bubble. Unfortunately, UFC President Dana White has now poked holes in them, assuring that the UFC offers […]
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Kelvin Gastelum happy at middleweight, but still wants rematch with Tyron Woodley
Former welterweight Kelvin Gastelum is now firmly embedded as a member of the UFC middleweight roster, having earned the number-five spot in the divisional rankings. The Ultimate Fighter Season 17 winner’s next middleweight bout will occur at UFC 224 this May 12, when he takes on Brazilian grappling ace Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in a fight […]
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Top 8 High-Flying Mystical Martial Arts Movies
Part five in a series celebrating badassery in film and TV Some of the best martial arts movies combine thrilling combat with fantastical elements often derived from Asian mythology. (What’s better than a powerful punch? A punch that’s also a lightning blast!) Check out some picks for genre-bending martial arts flicks that feature kung-fu warriors […]
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Mackenzie Dern says she was “invited to leave” The MMA Lab after her UFC debut
Back in March, on the undercard of UFC 222, BJJ star Mackenzie Dern made a successful UFC debut, defeating a tough Ashley Yoder by decision. Shortly after this first Octagon win, she was asked to leave her long-time gym, Arizona’s MMA Lab. “In relation with the Lab, after my last fight, Coach [John] Crouch, he […]
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Edson Barboza will not be taking any time off after Kevin Lee, Khabib Nurmagomedov losses
Though Brazil’s Edson Barboza remains one of the world’s very best lightweights, his last two bouts have not gone as he planned. First, Khabib Nurmagomedov bludgeoned him to a unanimous decision victory in December. Then, in April, he experienced a similar loss at the hands of Kevin Lee, who thrashed him to a doctor stoppage. […]
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Jorge Masvidal and Neil Magny get heated over potential short-notice bout
When Gunnar Nelson was forced out of his UFC Liverpool co-main event showdown with Neil Magny, sixth-ranked UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal offered to step in and replace him. He only asked that this short-notice bout with Magny be contested at a 180-pound catchweight, as he wouldn’t be able to make the welterweight division’s 170-pound limit in time for […]
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Brian Ortega Not a Fan of Conor McGregor Impersonators, “Just be you. You don’t have to pretend”
When it comes to the top 145-pound fighters on the planet, there’s only one that’s better than Brian Ortega…and that might not even be the case come July. Once upon a time, a brash and outspoken Irishman stood atop this division as some may have forgotten. It feels like so long ago that he made […]
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Dustin Poirier responds to reports of Eddie Alvarez rematch: I want that title shot
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that the UFC’s July 28 return to Calgary, Alberta, Canada could be topped by a rematch between surging lightweight contender Dustin Poirier and former champion Eddie Alvarez. Shortly after the reports of this rematch surfaced, Eddie Alvarez assured Ariel Helwani that the fight is “not fucking happening” and that he won’t be […]
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UFC commentator Joe Rogan is “super suspicious” of Fedor Emelianenko’s record
Last weekend, in the main event of Bellator 198, heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko picked up one if his best wins in ages, putting former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir down with first-round punches. In this win, Emelianenko showed flashes of the brilliance he was famous for at the height of his reign as the world’s […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Jorge Masvidal claims Neil Magny’s team has turned down 180-catchweight bout
When Gunnar Nelson was forced out of his UFC Liverpool co-main event showdown with Neil Magny, sixth-ranked UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal offered to step in and replace him. He only asked that this short-notice bout with Magny be contested at a 180-pound catchweight, as he wouldn’t be able to make the welterweight division’s 170-pound limit […]
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Eddie Alvarez shuts down talk of Poirier and Diaz fights, demands new UFC contract
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that the UFC’s July 28 return to Calgary, Alberta, Canada could be topped by a rematch between surging lightweight contender Dustin Poirier and Eddie Alvarez. These reports were particularly timely given the trouble the UFC seems to be having ironing out the details of the women’s flyweight title fight between Nicco […]
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Mario Yamasaki admits he should have stopped Cachoeira fight earlier, plans to attend refereeing course
Back in February, referee Mario Yamasaki allowed top flyweight contender Valentina Shevchenko to bludgeon a grossly outmatched Priscila Cachoeira for far longer than he should have. This egregious officiating blunder sparked outrage from many members of the MMA community, including UFC President Dana White, who assured he’d do everything he could to assure Yamasaki never […]
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Dillon Danis responds to backlash from Al Iaquinta, Michael Bisping
Dillon Danis, a decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and a training partner of Conor McGregor, has always received his fair-share of hate. Now that he’s made his successful MMA debut, a first-round submission of Kyle Walker at Bellator 198, the backlash that the brash BJJ player is receiving has surged to new heights. One of the […]
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Michael Bisping gives his take on Dillon Danis: he’s the “hand-me-down version” of Conor McGregor
Last weekend, Bellator touched down in Chicago, Illinois with the exciting Bellator 198 card. One of the most talked about features of the main card was the MMA debut of Dillon Danis, an accomplished jiu jitsu practitioner who has recently risen to prominence for his role in Conor McGregor‘s camp. Danis would win this fight, […]
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Now a free agent, Johny Hendricks says UFC wants him back at welterweight
There was a time not all that long ago that Johny Hendricks was considered the best welterweight on the planet. Unfortunately, his career has taken a rather grim turn, and he’s now a tough 3-7 in his last 10 bouts. Not even a move to the middleweight division, where the weight cut is less taxing, […]
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Top 5 Upcoming Fights for May 2018
Thanks to the deliverer of fights of the year, Justin “the Highlight” Gaethje provided us with yet another likely end of the year candidate when he and Dustin Poirier blew the roof off of the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona last month. April also gave us a legendary heavyweight showdown that may have very […]
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BREAKING | Joanna Jedrzejczyk Takes On Tecia Torres at UFC on Fox 30 in Calgary
UFC on Fox 30 is starting to really shape up. And it looks like it could be a showcase for some of the women’s division’s best. After reports that the UFC is working to set up their flyweight champion, Nicco Montano’s first title defense against Valentina Shevchenko as the card’s main event, we have now […]