UFC News
Joe Rogan praises “monster” Justin Gaethje ahead of Tony Ferguson fight
Cole Shelton - April 8, 2020
Joe Rogan has nothing but praise for Justin Gaethje ahead of his UFC 249 fight against Tony Ferguson. Gaethje will be stepping up on short notice against Ferguson for the interim lightweight title. For Rogan, he knows “The Highlight” could pose some problems for Ferguson given his insane power and knockout ability.
Frankie Edgar willing to replace Jose Aldo against Henry Cejudo at UFC 250
Cole Shelton - April 8, 2020
Frankie Edgar is the latest UFC fighter to call out Henry Cejudo. Cejudo is scheduled to defend his bantamweight title against Jose Aldo on May 9 at a location to be announced. The scrap is set to headline UFC 250, which was expected to go down in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but the venue was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Glover Teixeira calls for UFC to "do the right thing" and suspend Jon Jones for one year
Adam Martin - April 8, 2020
UFC light heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira criticized Jon Jones for his recent DUI arrest and said he wants the UFC to suspend Jones for one year. Jones was arrested a few weeks back for a DUI and gun charges but reached a deal with prosecutors that involved house arrest but no jail time. The deal was criticized by fans and media for being too weak a punishment for a repeat offender. Most of his fellow MMA fighters have been supportive of Jones, but Teixeira has no problem throwing down the hammer on the champ.
USADA releases statement on UFC 249 event
Cole Shelton - April 8, 2020
Dana White has remained adamant he wants all UFC events to go on as planned beginning April 18 at UFC 249. It now appears USADA will also be testing fighters on the card. USADA had originally released a statement on March 17 saying they would only test fighters as deemed fit. But, the USADA director of communications has now provided a statement to ESPN’s Marc Raimondi. As of right now, they say they will do everything in their power to test UFC 249 fighters.
Israel Adesanya credits Dana White for making UFC 249 happen
Natasha Hooper - April 8, 2020
Israel Adesanya has given props to UFC president Dana White for pushing forward with fights despite the coronavirus pandemic. The middleweight champion joined Ariel Helwani this week to discuss the updated UFC 249 card. The event is scheduled to take place on April 18, but has undergone major changes in the wake of COVID-19. Khabib Nurmagomedov is out of the main event and has been replaced by Justin Gaethje. He will fight Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight title and a new fight card has been announced. According to The New York Times, the event has also been moved to Tribal Land in California.
MMA Judges redo scores for UFC 247 Jones vs Reyes bout in digital lesson
Natasha Hooper - April 8, 2020
MMA judges are refining their skills with the help of referee Big John McCarthy, as they rejudge the controversial UFC 247 Jones vs Reyes fight. Judges competency is a common cause of contention in the evergrowing sport. MMA professionals such as Joe Rogan and Dominick Cruz have slammed judges for inaccurate point-scoring. During UFC 247 in February 2020, Rogan accused one of the judges of not watching, and blasted their scorecards for the closely contested Jon Jones vs Dominick Reyes bout. Jones claimed the decision victory, but UFC president Dana White revealed that he scored the UFC 247 main event in favor of Reyes.
Breaking | Rose Namajunas has been forced out of UFC 249
Christopher Taylor - April 8, 2020
UFC 249 has taken a major hit as it is being reported that former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas has been forced off of the April 18 fight card. Namajunas was slated to rematch Jessica Andrade in the co-headliner of UFC 249. However, according to a recent report from Combate, Rose has been forced to withdraw from the card due to undisclosed reasons.
VIDEO | Tyron Woodley gives his best Kamaru Usman impression
Natasha Hooper - April 8, 2020
Firstly a fighter, secondly a rapper, and now an actor, Tyron Woodley debuted his impersonating skills by giving his best Kamaru Usman impression. In a clip shared by ESPN, “The Chosen One” mocked the softly spoken welterweight champion. Watch the full clip below:
Dustin Poirier suggests welterweight fight with Dan Hooker on private island
Adam Martin - April 8, 2020
UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier is down to scrap rival Dan Hooker in a welterweight bout — and on a private island, to boot. UFC president Dana White announced this week that the promotion is going to have its next four fights at an undisclosed location (since revealed to be Tachi Palace), and then hold weekly fights on a private island after that. Poirier vs. Hooker was set to headline UFC San Diego on May 16, which was the fifth upcoming card on the UFC schedule. That means it could be the first event that would take place on White’s private island.
Colby Covington trashes Jorge Masvidal for giving alcohol to Jon Jones
Tom Taylor - April 8, 2020
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was recently arrested for aggravated DWI and negligent use of a firearm. When officers searched his vehicle, they discovered a bottle of Jorge Masvidal’s Recuerdo mezcal. Colby Covington, who is Jones’ former roommate and Masvidal’s former friend, sees that as a problem. Covington sounded off on Masvidal in a recent episode of Submission Radio, scolding his former ally for giving alcohol to a man he believes has a drinking problem.
Dana White drops timeframe for UFC fights on 'private island'
Tom Taylor - April 8, 2020
UFC President Dana White is determined to keep his international fighters busy during the coronavirus pandemic. The obvious obstacle he faces is getting those fighters to their fights amid the growing travel restrictions associated with the pandemic. Earlier this week, White surprised the sports world when he announced his planned solution to this issue: he’s working on securing a “private island” where he will allegedly be able to promote fights.
Dana White responds to reports of UFC 249 happening at Tachi Palace Casino
Tom Taylor - April 8, 2020
On Tuesday night, the New York Times reported that UFC 249, which has been without an official location for several weeks, will go down at the Tachi Palace Casino on tribal land in California. UFC President Dana White refuses to confirm that report, insisting that all that matters is that the card will be viewable on ESPN. “We’re going to be live from ESPN,” White told ESPN Get Up! host Mike Greenberg when asked where UFC 249 will occur. “It doesn’t matter where it is. First of all, no fans can come. You can’t come to the fight, you can’t buy a ticket. The only place to watch this in the United States is on ESPN and that’s the only thing that matters.
Israel Adesanya shares thoughts on Jon Jones' arrest: "It sucks to be him"
Tom Taylor - April 8, 2020
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has made no secret of his disdain for UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones. Given the pair’s animosity toward one another, it should come as no surprise that Adesanya has some thoughts on Jones’ recent DWI arrest. Adesanya’s first reactions to Jones’ arrest came in the form of a few memes, but he claims to have measured his public response to the story because he didn’t want to violate his “code.”
CSAC vows not to participate in UFC 249
Harry Kettle - April 8, 2020
The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has vowed not to participate in or regulate the upcoming UFC 249 event on April 18. There’s been a great deal of speculation over where exactly the UFC would hold the blockbuster event, with it now being reported that it will be held on tribal land in California. The card is set to be headlined by Tony Ferguson vs Justin Gaethje for the Interim Lightweight Championship.
List of UFC's coronavirus-related precautions for UFC 249 revealed
Tom Taylor - April 8, 2020
Dana White and the UFC will go ahead with the UFC 249 card despite the coronavirus pandemic. The event will go down at the Tachi Palace Casino on tribal land in California on April 18. Given the current global health crisis, the UFC will promote this event and any future pandemic-era shows while adhering to a list of important precautions. Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports obtained those precautions, and Bloody Elbow converted them into a nice, reader-friendly list.
Pro fighters name the strawweight GOAT
Cole Shelton - April 8, 2020
One of the biggest questions in all of MMA is who is the GOAT? Is it someone who had the biggest impact on the sport or the person who won the most? It’s an interesting debate for fighters and fans alike to have at any time. So, with little MMA on for the foreseeable future, BJPENN.com reached out to several current fighters to ask who the strawweight GOAT is. For many, it still is Joanna Jedrzejczyk but Rose Namajunas is right there.
Colby Covington vows to "end" Tyron Woodley at Fight Island, feed his body to the sharks
Natasha Hooper - April 8, 2020
Colby Covington has threatened to end Tyron Woodley’s life, leaving the UFC to “throw his dead body to the sharks.” The former welterweight champion, Woodley was scheduled to fight Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC London last month. The fight was eventually cancelled due to the ongoing threat of coronavirus. Now, “The Chosen One” has found a new target in the form of Covington. Woodley previously volunteered to fight the recent title challenger at UFC 249 on April 18, but claimed that his rival turned down the opportunity.
Report | UFC 249 set for Tribal Land in California
Cole Shelton - April 7, 2020
It appears the UFC has found the location for UFC 249 and it will be on Tribal Land in California. Although Dana White said he would be securing a private island, UFC 249 will not be happening out at sea. Instead, according to a report from Jeff Sherwood and later confirmed by the New York Times, UFC 249 will take place at the Tachi Palace Casino Resort on Tribal Land in California. It will also serve as the location for the next several UFC events.