UFC News
Conor McGregor watching UFC 249 to ensure safety and determine return according to manager
Mike Pendleton - May 7, 2020
Before there are any plans made for Conor McGregor to make his return to the Octagon in 2020, he wants to ensure that the safety measures in place are going to work. According to his manager Audie Attar, McGregor will be following this weekend’s event for many reasons, including scouting potential future opponents, and ensuring the safety of the event taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Greg Hardy says his goal is to become the "heavyweight Jon Jones"
Cole Shelton - May 7, 2020
Greg Hardy says he wants to become the heavyweight version of Jon Jones. Hardy made his UFC debut in January of 2019. He had five fights in the year going 2-2 and one no-contest, with one of his losses being a DQ. He’ll look to get back into the win column against Yorgan De Castro at UFC 249.
Henry Cejudo says he will never fight T.J. Dillashaw again after drug suspension
Cole Shelton - May 7, 2020
Henry Cejudo says he will never fight T.J. Dillashaw again. Cejudo and Dillashaw met at UFC Brooklyn in January of 2018 where “Triple C” was looking to defend his flyweight belt against the then-bantamweight champion, T.J. Dillashaw. It was a highly-anticipated fight that ended early as Cejudo knocked Dillashaw out in just 32 seconds.
Pro fighters make their picks for Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Cole Shelton - May 7, 2020
On the stacked UFC 249 main card, Francis Ngannou takes on undefeated contender, Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Heading into this fight, Ngannou is a -275 favorite while “Bigi Boy” is a +215 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros believe the scrap ends by knockout where the majority lean towards Ngannou getting his hand raised.
Conor McGregor lashes out over position in UFC rankings, Dustin Poirier fires back
Tom Taylor - May 7, 2020
Conor McGregor has some gripes about his position in the UFC lightweight rankings, and his former foe Dustin Poirier is having none of it. McGregor defeated Dustin Poirier via first-round TKO in a 2014 featherweight fight. Nonetheless, Poirier has glided past McGregor in the lightweight rankings, settling in at No. 2, one spot in front of the Irishman.
Leon Edwards will fight next on Fight Island against high-ranked opponent, says Dana White
Adam Martin - May 7, 2020
UFC welterweight Leon Edwards will next fight on Fight Island and his opponent will be a highly-ranked opponent at 170lbs, says UFC president Dana White. Edwards was set to fight Tyron Woodley back in March at UFC London, but the card was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Edwards is now stuck in his native England, which has heavy restrictions on international travel, which means he will not be able to fly to the United States to fight Woodley. Instead, the UFC is now targeting Woodley against Gilbert Burns in the main event of UFC Las Vegas on May 23.
Dana White compares Dominick Cruz beating Henry Cejudo to Matt Serra beating GSP
Adam Martin - May 7, 2020
UFC president Dana White believes that Dominick Cruz beating Henry Cejudo would be the biggest upset since Matt Serra knocked out Georges St-Pierre. Back at UFC 69 in 2007, Serra finished GSP via first-round TKO in what is generally considered by many the biggest upset in MMA history. We’ve seen some other big upsets over the years, such as when Holly Holm knocked out Ronda Rousey at UFC 193, but the Serra vs. GSP fight still ranks as the biggest upset by many people including White himself.
Dana White: Jon Jones will not be punished by UFC after recent arrest
Tom Taylor - May 7, 2020
According to UFC President Dana White, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will not receive any form of punishment from the UFC after being arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico earlier this year. Jon Jones was arrested in late March and charged with aggravated DWI, negligent use of a firearm, and possession of an open container. Despite the fact this was not his first run-in with the law, the light heavyweight champion was able to avoid jail time.
Coach outlines the conditions that bring out the best in Donald Cerrone
Mike Pendleton - May 7, 2020
Tony Ferguson doesn't "give a s**t" about Khabib Nurmagomedov fight being rescheduled
Tom Taylor - May 7, 2020
UFC 249 headliner Tony Ferguson says he doesn’t care if his long anticipated fight with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov gets rescheduled. Tony Ferguson was originally expected to battle Khabib Nurmagomedov on April 18, but this fight fell through when Nurmagomedov got stranded in Russia due to travel restrictions associated with the coronavirus pandemic. This marked the preposterous fifth time a matchup between the two has fallen through.
Tony Ferguson takes shot at "fake" Conor McGregor ahead of UFC 249
Tom Taylor - May 7, 2020
Tony Ferguson is days out from an interim lightweight title fight with Justin Gaethje. Given the task at hand, he doesn’t have a lot of energy for talk about Conor McGregor. Ferguson was asked about McGregor on ESPN’s First Take on Thursday morning, and he labeled the Irishman fake — as fake as chicken nuggets.
Francis Ngannou not a fan of COVID nasal swab test
Tom Taylor - May 7, 2020
Like all fighters on Saturday’s UFC 249 card, Francis Ngannou had to endure a COVID-19 nasal swab test. He did not enjoy the experience. Ngannou, who is one of the top contenders in the UFC heavyweight division, underwent his first COVID-19 swab test earlier this week. The experience, which involves ramming a cotton swab so far up the nasal passage that it looks like it probably tickles the brain, did not go over well with him.
Donald Cerrone discusses occasional inability to show up for fights, says he has seen a sports psychiatrist
Harry Kettle - May 7, 2020
UFC veteran Donald Cerrone has revealed that he has spoken to a sports psychiatrist regarding his occasional inconsistency in the Octagon. It’s safe to say that many fans were disappointed to see “Cowboy” fall to Conor McGregor in the manner that he did back in January, with the general consensus being that he simply didn’t show up on the night. Cerrone even acknowledged that his head wasn’t in the right place himself.
Israel Adesanya responds to suggestion of coaching TUF opposite Darren Till
Tom Taylor - May 7, 2020
UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya has issued a response to the notion of coaching The Ultimate Fighter opposite Darren Till — and Till’s not going to like it. While the idea of a fight between Adesanya and Till has been appealing since Till debuted in the middleweight division with a big win over Kelvin Gastelum in November, the buzz surrounding this potential matchup spiked yesterday, when Till suggested he could coach the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter against Adesanya. Generally speaking, TUF coaches wind up fighting each other at the conclusion of the season, so Till was effectively implying he could fight Adesanya in the near future.
Darren Till reacts to the return of The Ultimate Fighter, wants coaching gig opposite Israel Adesanya
Natasha Hooper - May 7, 2020
Darren Till has expressed interest in coaching the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya. UFC president Dana White dropped the news recently that the UFC is working on the return of TUF. This week on ESPN 690 Jacksonville, White confirmed that the next season of The Ultimate Fighter is currently in the works, and he even suggested several high-profile coach pairings.
Alexey Oleynik says UFC 249 fight with Fabricio Werdum is for "best motherf****r submission title"
Cole Shelton - May 6, 2020
Alexey Oleynik says there is a belt on the line when he takes on Fabricio Werdum at UFC 249. Oleynik will welcome Werdum back to the Octagon after a USADA suspension on the stacked UFC 249 card. The Russian is eager to share the cage with a ‘legend’ and says this fight is to see who’s the best grappler of all-time.
Justin Gaethje shares prediction for UFC 249 fight with Tony Ferguson
Mike Pendleton - May 6, 2020
With his interim lightweight title main event fight coming up against Tony Ferguson at UFC 249, Justin Gaethje is looking to continue doing what he’s been known for throughout his career. Of his 21 professional wins, 18 of them have come by way of knockout, including his last three knockouts in his last three fights, all happening in the first round. Known for his willingness to brawl with every opponent he fights against, Gaethje also has a more than respectable wrestling background, yet his upcoming opponent, Ferguson, believe’s “The Highlight” is one-dimensional, but Gaethje might agree.
Khabib Nurmagomedov says he'll be ready to "smash all of them" in July
Cole Shelton - May 6, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov says he’ll be ready to fight in July and smash who is ever in his way. Nurmagomedov was expected to defend his lightweight title against Tony Ferguson on April 18 at UFC 249. Yet, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dagestani champion was stuck in Russia and could not get to the States so the event was canceled.
Pro fighters make their picks for Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz title fight
Cole Shelton - May 6, 2020
In the co-main event of UFC 249, Henry Cejudo is looking to defend his bantamweight title for the first time against former champion, Dominick Cruz. Heading into this fight, “Triple C” is a -225 favorite while the challenger is a +180 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros believe Cejudo will defend his belt, but they realize they can’t count out Cruz, who many consider is the bantamweight GOAT.