UFC News

Donald Cerrone, Conor McGregor
UFC

Ray Longo concerned for Donald Cerrone's health following UFC Vancouver loss

Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 19, 2019

Ray Longo isn’t calling for Donald Cerrone to retire, but he hopes “Cowboy” takes more time off between fights. Cerrone suffered his second straight TKO loss at UFC Vancouver. “Cowboy” was stopped by Justin Gaethje in the first round. Cerrone’s defeat at the hands of Gaethje came just over three months removed from his stoppage loss to Tony Ferguson. We’re in September and “Cowboy” has already had four fights this year.

David Branch
UFC

Report | David Branch released by UFC after positive drug test

Adam Martin - September 19, 2019

UFC middleweight David Branch has reportedly been given his walking papers after testing positive for banned substances and receiving a two-year suspension by United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for the infraction. Veteran MMA journalist Mike Russell reported the news on Twitter that Branch has been released by the UFC after USADA announced his suspension yesterday. Russell also revealed that Branch has left Dominance MMA.

Dustin Poirier, Khabib Nurmagomedov, UFC 242
UFC

Dustin Poirier interested in moving up to welterweight

Adam Martin - September 19, 2019

UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier recently told fans that he is interested in potentially competing in the welterweight division. “The Diamond” responded to a fan on Twitter, who asked him if he was open to moving up in weight. Here’s what he said.

Yair Rodriguez, Jeremy Stephens
Jeremy Stephens

UFC Mexico City | Pro fighters make their picks for Yair Rodriguez vs. Jeremy Stephens

Cole Shelton - September 19, 2019

In the main event of UFC Mexico City, top-10 featherweights collide as Yair Rodriguez takes on Jeremy Stephens. Heading into the fight, the Mexican in Rodriguez is a -110 underdog while the American is the -120 favorite, meaning it is practically a pick’em fight. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros believe it will be a close fight but give a slight edge to the local fighter.

Jorge Masvidal, Leon Edwards
Nate Diaz

Jorge Masvidal explains why there will be no trash talk ahead of Nate Diaz fight

Tom Taylor - September 19, 2019

Don’t expect any trash talk from Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz ahead of their UFC 244 fight. Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday, Masvidal explained why any trash talk with his next opponent would be super unnecessary.

Jeremy Stephens
UFC

Jeremy Stephens has violent plans for Yair Rodriguez

Cole Shelton - September 18, 2019

Jeremy Stephens will look to get back into the win column when he takes Yair Rodriguez in the main event of UFC Mexico City on Saturday. Although he is going into hostile territory to fight the Mexican in Rodriguez, Stephens isn’t worried about that. Instead, he believes his experience will be too much for the 26-year-old as he will embarrass him.

Stipe Miocic, Jon Jones, Francis Ngannou
UFC

Stipe Miocic 'upset' with Colby Covington, plans to have conversation with him

Thomas Taylor - September 18, 2019

UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic wants a word with welterweight contender Colby Covington. Miocic recently heard through the grapevine that Covington was being disrespectful to his wife at UFC 241 — although he’s not sure how exactly.

Colby Covington, Tyron Woodley
Dan Lambert

Colby Covington will '100 percent' stay at ATT; partially switches management group

Cole Shelton - September 18, 2019

Colby Covington has gotten some heat from fellow American Top Team (ATT) fighters as of late. ‘Chaos’ has taken shots at both Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier with both firing right back at the former UFC interim welterweight champion. It got to the point that Covington admitted a brawl may take place at ATT and he could very well have to leave the gym.

David Branch
UFC

David Branch suspended two years by USADA

Adam Martin - September 18, 2019

UFC middleweight contender David Branch has been suspended two years by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for banned substances. USADA released a statement on this issue. Here’s what it said:

Jacare Souza, Jack Hermansson, COVID-19
UFC

Jacare Souza opens up on mental health struggles

Tom Taylor - September 18, 2019

Former Strikeforce middleweight champion and long-time UFC middleweight contender Jacare Souza has recently been dealing with some mental health struggles. These issues were severe enough that they almost led him to give up on fighting. Jacare opened up on this struggles in a recent interview with MMA Fighting.

Ben Askren, Dillon Danis
Ben Askren

Ben Askren eyes grappling match with Dillon Danis, Danis responds

Tom Taylor - September 18, 2019

Ben Askren and Dillon Danis are separated by promotional bounds, as they’re currently signed with the UFC and Bellator respectively. Nonetheless, the pair of grappling specialists have taken every opportunity to swap trash talk on Twitter. From the sounds of it, they could soon settle their differences on the mats.

Donald Cerrone, UFC Vancouver
UFC Vancouver

UFC Vancouver medical suspensions: Cerrone gets long sit

Tom Taylor - September 18, 2019

UFC Vancouver produced some violent finishes and some fun wars. An unfortunate side-effect of entertainment like this is that it often results in lengthy medical suspensions for the fighters involved. The medical suspension for UFC Vancouver are now public, and as expected, Donald Cerrone has been sidelined for a significant period after his knockout loss to Justin Gaethje in the main event. He’ll be out 90 days.

Cris Cyborg, Amanda Nunes
Bellator

Cris Cyborg confident Amanda Nunes rematch would go differently

Cole Shelton - September 18, 2019

Although Cris Cyborg is no longer in the UFC and recently signed with Bellator, she still hopes she can rematch Amanda Nunes one day. The two fought back at UFC 232, when Nunes moved up in weight and shockingly knocked Cyborg out in just 51 seconds. Since then, the former featherweight champion and the UFC had arguments over whether or not she wanted the rematch.

Dustin Poirier

Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier continue to trade barbs on social media

Natasha Hooper - September 18, 2019

Conor McGregor has teased an imminent return to the Octagon, so he posted a throwback picture on Twitter of him pummelling Dustin Poirier to remind potential opponents who’s boss. The lightweight fighters exchanged blows in the Octagon at UFC 178, five years ago. McGregor tagged Poirier with a left hook which hurt the American Top Team prospect. He continued to utilize his leg kicks and reach, finishing with a right punch that clipped Poirier behind the ear. McGregor followed up with some hammer fists and secured a KO stoppage win over ‘The Diamond’. McGregor shared a snapshot of the final moments of their UFC encounter 178 on Twitter:

Justin Gaethje, Conor McGregor, Donald Cerrone
UFC Rankings

UFC rankings update: Justin Gaethje climbs at lightweight

Tom Taylor - September 18, 2019

The official UFC rankings have been updated in the wake of last Saturday’s UFC Vancouver card, and as expected, there have been some interesting changes. Most notably, Justin Gaethje has climbed up to the number-four spot in the lightweight division on the strength of his devastating knockout of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.

Khabib Nurmagomedov
UFC

PETA comes after Khabib Nurmagomedov for wrestling bears

Adam Martin - September 17, 2019

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have come after UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov after old videos of him wrestling bears recently resurfaced. Videos of Nurmagomedov wrestling bears as a child have been known in the MMA community for years, however with the champ recently becoming a global star after headlining UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi, the mainstream media has now become aware of them.

Dustin Poirier, Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov

Dustin Poirier still confident he can beat Khabib Nurmagomedov

Tom Taylor - September 17, 2019

Earlier this month, in the main event of UFC 242, Dustin Poirier attempted to swipe the lightweight title from the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov. Unfortunately for Poirier and his team, this mission didn’t go as planned. Instead, he was forced to tap out to a third-round rear-naked choke. Despite this setback against the champ, Poirier is still confident he has the ability to beat the champion. He attributes his loss to Nurmagomedov to his own performance more than anything else.

Anthony Pettis, Daniel Cormier
Diego Sanchez

Anthony Pettis sets sights on Diego Sanchez fight

Tom Taylor - September 17, 2019

Anthony Pettis is riding a loss to Nate Diaz, but still feels like he’s in a good place in his career. Currently competing at welterweight, but well within reach of the lightweight division, he believes he’s got lots of interesting options going forward. One of those options is lightweight and welterweight veteran Diego Sanchez.