UFC News
Cain Velasquez issues statement after 'bad day at the office' against Francis Ngannou
Thomas Taylor - February 27, 2019
Earlier this month, in the main event of the UFC’s first-ever card on ESPN, former UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez returned from a three-year absence to take on deadly puncher Francis Ngannou. Unfortunately, the long-awaited return of the former champion did not go quite the way he planned. Instead, he found himself wilting under a storm of Ngannou punches less than 30 seconds into the first round, clutching in agony onto visibly injured knee.
EXCLUSIVE | Montana De La Rosa says reports of Paige VanZant fight at UFC 236 are false
Cole Shelton - February 27, 2019
Reports came out today that Paige VanZant’s initial opponent at UFC 236 in Poliana Botelho was injured and off the card. Replacing her would be Montana De La Rosa who is fresh off of yet another submission win at UFC 234. However, De La Rosa has now confirmed that the fight is not happening and those reports are false. “I guess [UFC matchmaker] Mick [Maynard] wanted to make that fight between me and Paige,” De La Rosa told to BJPENN.com. “But now Paige is claiming her arm is hurt so she can’t fight that Poliana girl or me so we aren’t sure what is happening. As of now, she is hurt so that is not true. I’m just waiting to hear. They do want to make that fight with Paige and I but she is claiming she is hurt. I’m not really sure what is going on now.”
Report | UFC looking to make Kevin Lee vs Gregor Gillespie
Drake Riggs - February 27, 2019
The last time we saw ‘The Mo-Town Phenom’ Kevin Lee (17-4) in action he was headlining the very last UFC card on the Fox network, UFC on Fox 31 in Milwaukie, Wisconsin. Unfortunately for Lee, he wouldn’t end up walking away as the last person to win on the Fox network.
UFC 235 | Anthony Smith sees 'a lot of ways' to beat Jon Jones
Tom Taylor - February 27, 2019
Heading into his UFC 235 headlining battle with UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones, Anthony Smith has been counted out by a significant portion of the MMA world. That includes the oddsmakers, who have pegged him as a significant betting underdog. Yet when Anthony Smith looks at Jon Jones, he doesn’t see the unbeatable fighter that so many others see. He seems a person who can be beaten any number of ways.
EXCLUSIVE | Coach Robert Meese hoping to see Cody Garbrandt of old return at UFC 235
Mike Pendleton - February 27, 2019
UFC 235 will be headlined by a pair of title fights, as Jon Jones defends his title against Anthony Smith, and Tyron Woodley looks to fend off Kamaru Usman. But the fireworks kick off far earlier than that. In the first bout of the UFC 235 main card, former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt returns to the Octagon, where he’ll look to correct a two-fight skid after losing the title to bitter rival TJ Dillashaw. In a rivalry that not only cost him his title, but consumed over a year of his fighting career, Garbrandt finds himself on the road to redemption and glory, as he looks to get back to what made him so special when he became champion.
Tyron Woodley says he lost $10K due to poorly timed USADA visit
Tom Taylor - February 27, 2019
UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley says he lost $10,000 thanks to a middle-of-the-night visit from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). This incident occurred in Atlanta earlier this year, right before the Super Bowl. Woodley was scheduled for an appearance that was going to pay him $10,000, but regrettably missed this engagement due to an inconveniently timed visit from USADA.
UFC 235 loses undercard bantamweight matchup
Tom Taylor - February 27, 2019
The Fight Gods giveth and the Fight Gods taketh away. These eternally merciless deities have accepted their latest sacrifice in the form of a compelling UFC 235 bantamweight fight between Marlon “Chito” Vera and Frankie Saenz. This unfortunate news, a product of illness, was first reported by @TalkMMA on Twitter on Tuesday night and subsequently announced on UFC.com on Wednesday morning.
EXCLUSIVE | Cody Stamann hoping to fight Aljamain Sterling again after UFC 235 fight
Cole Shelton - February 27, 2019
Cody Stamann was preparing to fight in March before the UFC even called him. Then, about a month he was offered the chance to fight at UFC 235, where he is set to take on Alejandro Perez. Stamann, who is coming off of a submission loss to Aljamain Sterling in September is confident he was what it takes to beat Perez. Frankly, Stamann doesn’t even think Perez is that good.
UFC 235 | Anthony Smith feels he has Jon Jones beat in one crucial area
Tom Taylor - February 27, 2019
This Saturday, in the main event of UFC 235, Anthony Smith will attempt to wrest the UFC light heavyweight title from the waist of seemingly unbeatable champion Jon Jones. Heading into this fight, Smith has been discounted by a wide portion of the MMA community — most notably the oddsmakers, who have him labelled as a massive underdog. And really, it’s understandable why. Jon Jones has shown himself to be one of the most versatile and dangerous fighters in MMA history.
UFC Wichita | Derrick Lewis considers Junior dos Santos one of his 'weakest' opponents to date
Tom Taylor - February 27, 2019
Junior dos Santos is a former UFC heavyweight champion and one of the most dangerous punchers in MMA history. Derrick Lewis, however, isn’t too impressed by the Brazilian. Lewis discredited the skills of dos Santos, who he’ll meet in the main event of UFC Wichita on March 9, in a recent interview with Helen Yee.
Dustin Poirier says he hasn't been promised title shot with win over Max Holloway
Tom Taylor - February 27, 2019
At UFC 236, streaking UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier will finally fight for UFC gold, as he’s set to battle featherweight champion Max Holloway for the interim lightweight belt. Generally speaking, when a fighter wins an interim title, the expectation is that they are guaranteed a crack at the undisputed champion thereafter. In Poirier’s case that would mean a fight with undisputed champ Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Tony Ferguson calls out Conor McGregor, McGregor responds
Tom Taylor - February 27, 2019
On Tuesday, former UFC interim lightweight champ Tony Ferguson called for a fight with Conor McGregor — given that he’s been left out of the upcoming interim title fight between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier. “No Sauce Mcnuggets” @TheNotoriousMMA Just A Replica Of A Former Self He Used To Be. I’ve Got A Solid Right Hand To Test That Chin Of His. How Sweet It Is, -Tiramisu Tuesday pic.twitter.com/KGnJHeExsc
Joanna Jedrezjczyk plans to win back 115-pound title then move to flyweight
Drake Riggs - February 26, 2019
Believe it or not, the former queen of the strawweight division, Joanna Jedrzejczyk is 1-3 in her last four bouts. After losing in back to back title fights against Rose Namajunas, Jedrzejczyk would rebound with a unanimous decision over perennial top 10 contender Tecia Torres before taking a fight back at her old division of flyweight.
Tyron Woodley gives interesting take on popularity of Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - February 26, 2019
The UFC 229 main event, which pitted former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor against undefeated lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, was a mammoth financial success — the most lucrative pay-per-view in UFC history to be exact. If you ask UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley, however, the fight itself wasn’t all that good. “It wasn’t that great a fight,” Woodley said at a Monday media lunch in Las Vegas, ahead of his UFC 235 title fight with Kamaru Usman (transcript via MMA Fighting). “I don’t care what anybody else said. They both kind of looked bad. They both looked like old men at the nursing home fighting each other. But then we glorified this fight. It wasn’t like this great strategic fight where one person was strategic.”
Opinion | Conor McGregor no longer needs rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov
Jordy McElroy - February 26, 2019
Out of sight could mean out of mind for reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is considering sitting out an entire year in support of his suspended teammates, Zubaira Tukhugov and Abubakar Nurmagomedov. For Conor McGregor, however, the absence of his greatest rival might shift his focus to prized fisticuffs over reclaiming the UFC title—a leather, gold-plated strap that never mattered in the first place. No one is cancelling red panty night over a lightweight title.
Report | Brother and wife file restraining orders against Matt Hughes amid allegations of violence
Tom Taylor - February 26, 2019
Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes, who was left with severe brain injury in a nearly-fatal 2017 accident, has reportedly been hit with restraining orders from both his wife Audra and his twin brother Mark amid allegations of domestic violence. TMZ reported this news Tuesday morning, citing court documents.
Israel Adesanya: 'F*** the belt'
Tom Taylor - February 26, 2019
UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker recently shared his belief that, between Kelvin Gastelum and Israel Adesanya, who battle for the interim belt at UFC 236, Adesanya the easier matchup. Speaking on a recent edition of The MMA Hour, Israel Adesanya made a similar comment, explaining that he considers Whittaker a tougher fight than Gastelum.
EXCLUSIVE | Pro fighters make their picks for Ben Askren vs. Robbie Lawler fight
Cole Shelton - February 26, 2019
UFC 235 is set to go down on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card is already in the lead for Card of the Year as it is absolutely stacked. On the card, and making his UFC debut, is former ONE and Bellator champ Ben Askren, who is taking on former UFC champion Robbie Lawler. Ahead of this fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several fighters to get their predictions for the fight.