UFC NEWS

BJPENN.COM News - December 20, 2012

“I prefer to fight against clean athletes and real professionals. Cain is one of these guys. He’s a real professional fighter and that’s a good challenge for me. I know he’s very tough and I know how hard I have to train to face him. The other guys, they just say things but there’s nothing behind the words. Guys like me and Cain Velasquez, we are made at the gym. And guys like the other guy, they are made at the laboratory.” UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos took to yesterday’s UFC 155 pre-fight media conference call to discuss his divisional peers and throw a few stones at Alistair Overeem for his use of performance enhancing drugs!.

BJPENN.COM News - December 20, 2012

BJPENN.COM News - December 20, 2012

“We have a guy on this season of The Ultimate Fighter, every fight he’s in, someone goes to the hospital. The whole house is terrified of this guy. F– terrified. Everybody. I picked this fight, and this guy is lined up with the guy I’m telling you about, and the guy has a nervous breakdown in the house over the weekend. Has a f– nervous breakdown. Freaks out and has a nervous breakdown. This guy scared the living s— out of everyone. It’s awesome.” UFC president Dana White discusses the newest installment of the UFC’s hit reality show, “The Ultimate Fighter, with MMAFighting.com.

BJPENN.COM News - December 20, 2012

“Your eyes are always on the guy with the UFC strap. Your eyes were on Frankie Edgar for a long time, and B.J. (Penn) for a long time, and everyone needs to adapt for the champ, to figure out how to beat them. I think about it all the time with Benson (Henderson). If he wants to be undoubtedly No. 1, I think that would be a good victory for him to prove it or for me to prove otherwise. Another fight if I was in the UFC would be fine with me as well, but I’m ready now. The fire was lit a couple of weeks ago. Since the buzz has been out, the fire has been lit. I definitely feel that. I hope everyone would get as excited as I would be about that,” Melendez stated. “In a perfect world. I’d love that fight with Benson, I really would.” – Strtikeforce lightweight champion, Gilbert Melendez talking to MMAWeekly about the current state of the lightweight division.

BJPENN.COM News - December 19, 2012

Another injury has hit the UFC’s year-end-pay-per-view event. Cody McKenzie has been forced off the card with an injury and on just 10-days’ notice the 21-year-old, Max Holloway has agreed to step in and face Leonard Garcia.

BJPENN.COM News - December 19, 2012

A last minute card shift has put former Strikeforce middleweight, Derek Brunson, into a scheduled matchup with UFC veteran Chris Leben. The change comes on the heels of an injury that forced Karlos Vemola off the card.

BJPENN.COM News - December 19, 2012

Last Saturday’s TUF 16 Finale event took place from The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. In the main event Roy Nelson successfully dispatched Matt Mitrione in the very first round.

BJPENN.COM News - December 19, 2012

UFC on FX 6 took place last Friday from a sold out Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Center in Queensland, Australia. The event served as the “TUF SMASHES: Aus vs. UK” Finale and featured a host of international talent.

BJPENN.COM News - December 19, 2012

“Ronda is headlining UFC 157. Here is why I have a problem with that. Ronda is the champion of Strikeforce with 6 wins in less than 2 years of a mma professional career. That’s impressive regardless of who she has fought. However, she is not the UFC champion yet. She still has to win this fight to get that belt. On the other hand, we have Hendo, who has also been the Strikeforce champion (never lost the belt), Pride champion in 2 different weight classes; he has been ranked #1 contender for the UFC 205 lbs, and #6 by many pound for pound best fighter. His resume is second to none, moreover, he is fighting a former champion, Lyoto Machida. Now why aren’t they main event? Is Ronda a better market value? I don’t know, but her fight could be quick as usual and we could be missing another historic 5 rds fight between 2 legends and possible hall of famers. I’m not saying she doesn’t deserve to headline an UFC event, but certainly not this one. …

BJPENN.COM News - December 19, 2012

“He is one of the best true pound-for-pound fighters that isn’t afraid to go up in weight classes. He’ll fight anybody anytime. Two weight classes up, one weight class up. For me, I’d love for him to take a shot, I mean, we definitely have to worry about Jose now, it’s the only thing, that’s our thing right now. But, I think he can be the first guy with three belts you know? I think if it’s for history, I think if Frankie beats Jose, I think it’s hard to deny that he is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world if he won three. I think you can’t deny him. I mean, Anderson (Silva) is so close to Jon Jones’ weight, what are they, ten pounds difference? Frankie’s fought guys that are way heavier than him. If Frankie was to go for two belts, three belts, I don’t know how you can deny him. It’s something special. You don’t see something like that, I mean, nobody’s ever done it and weight wise it could be done. So, of course, it’s going to be in the conversation, something to throw around and talk about. Especially (for) greatness, you know? You can do something that nobody’s done and make history, it’s something you definitely talk about.” – Frankie Edgar’s Head Trainer Mark Henry via MMA Weekly.

BJPENN.COM News - December 19, 2012

Former Bellator lightweight champion, Eddie Alvarez, has been an official free agent for the past few months. Up until this point the UFC had yet to make him an official offer to sign with the promotion despite UFC president Dana White showing an extreme amount of interest.

BJPENN.COM News - December 19, 2012

Former UFC middleweight number one contender, Patrick Cote, took to twitter last night to announce his departure from his long-time division home. Can “The Predator” be a force at 170?

BJPENN.COM News - December 19, 2012

BJPENN.COM News - December 19, 2012

BJPENN.COM News - December 19, 2012

BJPENN.COM News - December 19, 2012

BJPENN.COM News - December 17, 2012

“That funny you asked that question. Because I watched very carefully your fight against Nate Diaz. I’m going to try to use some of the stuff you have done in the fight to win over Nick Diaz, as well. I’m going to learn from what you did and try to apply it in my game plan. Thanks for showing me the blueprint!” – UFC welterweight champion GSP talking to Benson Henderson on FUEL TV’s TUF 16 Finale Coverage.

BJPENN.COM News - December 17, 2012

With the recent announcement of March’s UFC 158 main event between GSP and Nick Diaz, odds makers have started to put together betting lines. It should come as no surprise to anyone that UFC welterweight champion, Georges St-Pierre, is the early betting favorite and a pretty significant one at that.