UFC News
First bout for UFC Sochi revealed
Adam Martin - May 30, 2019
The first matchup for the UFC’s return to Russia has been revealed. According to a report from Combate’s Ralph Mariano, welterweights Claudio Silva and Ramazan Emeev will meet at UFC on ESPN 5, which takes place August 3 at a TBD venue in Sochi, Russia. Silva vs. Emeev is the first confirmed matchup for the card.
Anthony Smith reveals simple gameplan for Alexander Gustafsson fight
Tom Taylor - May 30, 2019
Anthony Smith will face a stark test when he battles Alexander Gustafsson at UFC Stockholm this weekend. He’s approaching this task with a simple yet violent gameplan. “I’m going to march across the cage, I’m going to put pressure on him, he’s going to run from me for 25 minutes if I let him,” Smith said ahead of this fight (via MMA News). “I’m going to swing hammers the whole time. If he gets too close, I’m going to drag him to the ground and if he gets away, I’ll do it again. That’s it. That’s the game plan. I’ll react to all the other s—t.”
Rashad Evans: Jon Jones is 'the best in history'
Tom Taylor - May 30, 2019
There was a time, not all that long ago, when Rashad Evans and Jon Jones were two of the most bitter rivals in MMA. Their rivalry came to a boil in a five-round title fight at UFC 145 in 2012, which Jones won by unanimous decision. Since then, Jones and Evans have put their animosity behind them. In fact, Evans actually has some very high praise for his former rival and opponent. He says Jones is the best fighter of all time.
Miesha Tate breaks down Cyborg vs. Spencer fight: 'I don’t see how she wins this'
Tom Taylor - May 30, 2019
It was recently announced that UFC 240 will be co-headlined by a featherweight showdown between former UFC champ Cris Cyborg and former Invicta champ Felicia Spencer. Former UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate admires Spencer for taking this fight, but just doesn’t see how she can win it. Am I wrong?? https://t.co/fUdxV3LZK8
Elias Theodorou comments on UFC release
Tom Taylor - May 30, 2019
Canadian middleweight Elias Theodorou is among the latest crop of fighters to be released from the UFC roster. Given the fact that he was previously ranked in the division’s top-15, and that he boasts a solid 8-3 UFC record, this news came as a bit of a surprise. Speaking on his Twitter account on Wednesday, Theodorou himself shared a few quick thoughts on this surprising twist of fate.
UFC releases Nate Diaz promo with no footage from Conor McGregor fights
Tom Taylor - May 30, 2019
At long last, Nate Diaz is set to return to the Octagon. The fan favorite is scheduled to fight former UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis in a welterweight showdown at UFC 241 on August 17. The UFC is already doing its part to promote this dynamite welterweight scrap, having recently published a Nate Diaz highlight reel on social media.
UFC Stockholm | Pro fighters make their picks for Alexander Gustafsson vs. Anthony Smith
Cole Shelton - May 30, 2019
The Octagon returns to Stockholm, Sweden on Saturday with the fittingly titled UFC Stockholm card. The main event will be a battle of two top light heavyweights as Alexander Gustafsson will be looking to thwart Anthony Smith on home soil. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The majority believe the home crowd will play a factor and Gustafsson will win.
John Lineker expands on frustrations with UFC, 'I cannot survive like this'
Drake Riggs - May 29, 2019
The man known as ‘Hands of Stone’ would like to get more active as John Lineker made some demands via Twitter on Wednesday. In a tweet directed towards the UFC, Lineker mentioned the fact that his most recent opponent, Cory Sandhagen fought four times in the space of a year while he’s only fought that many times in the last three years. Which prompted the disgruntled bantamweight to ask for a fight or his release.
Joe Rogan says Elias Theodorou release 'doesn't make any sense'
Cole Shelton - May 29, 2019
When the UFC released four fighters last week, the most surprising name was Canadian and 15th-ranked middleweight, Elias Theodorou, and UFC commentator Joe Rogan agrees. The Canadian was 3-1 in his last four, and 8-3 in his entire time in the UFC, along with winning a season of The Ultimate Fighter. However, his style was not the most entertaining one, as evident by him getting booed in his last fight against Derek Brunson. As well, he had not finished or been finished in a fight since March of 2015, a stretch of eight-straight fights.
BREAKING | Germaine de Randamie vs Aspen Ladd slated for UFC Sacramento main event
Drake Riggs - May 29, 2019
UFC Sacramento has been building up very nicely over the recent weeks and now we know what will likely be its headliner. MMA Junkie has reported that a top contender match-up in the bantamweight division has been verbally agreed to for the July 13 main event between the former UFC featherweight champion, “The Iron Lady,” Germaine de Randamie (8-3) and rising undefeated 24-year old contender, Aspen Ladd (8-0).
John Lineker to UFC: Let me fight or 'let me go'
Tom Taylor - May 29, 2019
John Lineker is easily one of the most consistently exciting fighters in mixed martial arts. Yet for some reason, he seems to have a hard time staying active. That’s no fault of his, the UFC matchmakers just don’t schedule him for action as often as he’d like them too. He seems to be getting fed up.
Max Holloway confident he's still 'right in the mix' at lightweight
Tom Taylor - May 29, 2019
Earlier this week, UFC featherweight Max Holloway implied that we could see him in the lightweight division again. “Lightweight was great. Lightweight was fun,” he said at Tactical Strength and Conditioning on Monday (transcript via Hawaii News Now). “155 was 155. Just like how 170 will be 170, just like how when I make my heavyweight debut, it’s gonna be a heavyweight debut. It is what it is. Weight is weight, I don’t care. I’m a modern day gladiator. Back in the day, gladiators didn’t ask you about your weight. They just showed up to the arena and they fought. That’s what I do every night.”
Joe Rogan believes Stipe Miocic will ‘be better’ in Cormier rematch
Tom Taylor - May 29, 2019
Last year, Daniel Cormier planted a bomb on the chin of Stipe Miocic, ending the Croatian-American’s historic reign as the heavyweight champion with a first-round KO. On August 17, in the main event of UFC 241, Miocic will have the opportunity to reclaim the title from Cormier, and UFC commentator Joe Rogan expects him to perform much better this time around. Miocic has not fought since his first meeting with Cormier. While some fans expect ring rust to be a factor for the long absent former champion, Rogan believes he’ll benefit from the time off.
Anthony Smith rates Marreta's chances against Jon Jones
Natasha Hooper - May 29, 2019
Light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith believes there is hope for Thiago Santos, who looks to defeat the current champion, Jon Jones, in July. “Marreta” Santos will be headlining the UFC 239 event against Jones at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. This will be the Brazilian fighter’s first shot at the light heavyweight title.
Max Holloway shares awesome take on weight classes after failed lightweight debut
Tom Taylor - May 29, 2019
Last month, in the main event of the action-packed UFC 236 card, UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway moved up to the lightweight division to battle Dustin Poirier for the division’s interim title. Although Holloway put up a gutsy effort, even winning several rounds of this five-round war, he ultimately lost a unanimous decision to his bigger, stronger rival.
Colby Covington rips Jon Jones, Conor McGregor for not 'giving back'
Tom Taylor - May 29, 2019
Colby Covington recently paid a visit to the men and women in uniform aboard the USS New York. He believes that other UFC stars like Jon Jones and Conor McGregor should take note, and make more of an effort to give back to their communities.
Michelle Waterson questions USADA's testing of fighters outside the US
Drake Riggs - May 29, 2019
The United States Anti Doping Agency’s (USADA) partnership with the UFC to test their athletes went into effect on July 1, 2015. Ever since then, the sport has been considered much cleaner within the UFC but there have still been some controversies that have unfolded here and there over the four years. Top UFC strawweight contender, Michelle Waterson raised an interesting question on Tuesday that could potentially create some more. As the third most tested fighter all-time in her division when going by ranked fighters, Waterson, who lives in America, is curious as to whether or not other country’s fighters get tested as frequently as she does.
Anthony Smith reflects on Jon Jones fight before UFC Stockholm, 'I still can’t explain it'
Drake Riggs - May 28, 2019
This Saturday night (morning for the viewers stateside), the UFC returns to Sweden for UFC Stockholm and in the main event, ‘Lionheart’ Anthony Smith travels into enemy territory. Hitting a new stride with his move to the light heavyweight division from middleweight in June 2018, Smith would pick up two big knockout wins over the likes of former UFC champions, Rashad Evans and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua before submitting recent title challenger, Volkan Oezdemir in the third round of their five-round affair to earn the first title shot of his 45-fight career.