UFC News
Jon Jones reacts to UFC 235 drug test anomalies
Tom Taylor - March 1, 2019
Yesterday afternoon, news broke that a pair of Jon Jones drug tests once again turned up traces of a metabolite of oral turinabol — though not enough to jeopardize the champ’s UFC 235 fight with Anthony Smith. “[There is “no scientific or medical evidence that the athlete would have an unfair advantage leading up to, or for, his contest scheduled on March 2, 2019,” the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) said in a statement to MMAjunkie.
EXCLUSIVE | Phil Daru expects "revived" Tecia Torres at UFC 235
Mike Pendleton - March 1, 2019
Tecia Torres, who began her career down at American Top Team before moving to Colorado to be with her fiancee Raquel Pennington, found herself back at the Coconut Creek, Florida gym for her UFC 235 training camp. In her return home, Torres’ strength and conditioning coach Phil Daru has seen a difference in the strawweight contender. In an interview with BJPenn.com, Daru talked about the preparation for Torres’ with her UFC 235 matchup against Weili Zhang, Torres’ return to American Top Team, and more.
VIDEO | Colby Covington ambushes Dana White at casino, demands answers about promised title shot
Tom Taylor - March 1, 2019
When Colby Covington defeated Rafael dos Anjos to win the interim welterweight title in June of 2018, he was promised a shot at undisputed champion Tyron Woodley. Unfortunately, after months of tense negotiations, the UFC decided to award the next shot at Woodley to Kamaru Usman. The pair will fight at UFC 235 this Saturday night in Las Vegas. Colby Covington made sure he was in town for the event, and living up to his nickname, he’s been causing chaos ever since he arrived.
EXCLUSIVE | Coach: 'It just comes down to mindset' for Jeremy Stephens against Zabit Magomedsharipov at UFC 235
Drake Riggs - February 28, 2019
UFC 235 takes place on Saturday night live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. And to call the card stacked would be an understatement. The event features several big-time match-ups and fighters ranging from current champions to former ones, whether it be inside or outside of the UFC. There will be big debuts as well as prospects looking to take a leap up the rankings ladder. One of which happens to be Russia’s Zabit Magomedsharipov.
Jon Jones: 'Thank god' Anthony Johnson retired
Drake Riggs - February 28, 2019
This Saturday night at UFC 235, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones makes a relatively quick return as he looks to successfully defend his title for the first time since reclaiming it at UFC 232. Over the years as a champion, Jones has beaten literally everyone that has been put in his way. However, he has had two instances where he never ended up getting to face opponents that he was supposed to.
Al Iaquinta wants Tony Ferguson next, says interim titles are 'getting out of control'
Drake Riggs - February 28, 2019
The lightweight division has consistently been one of MMA’s deepest and best for several years now. However, more recently there has been an influx of different storylines that have kept tying things up among the very top of the food chain. Currently, the undisputed champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is suspended due to his post-fight actions at UFC 229 after he defended his title against Conor McGregor.
VIDEO | Colby Covington crashes Kamaru Usman's UFC 235 open workout
Drake Riggs - February 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1101244789003964416 UFC 235 goes down on Saturday night and it’s a loaded card full of big names from top to bottom. In the night’s co-main event, the UFC welterweight title will be battled over between the champion, Tyron Woodley, and the challenger, Kamaru Usman. Despite not being involved with this fight as many expected him to be in the preceding months, former interim champion of the division, Colby Covington made his presence felt on Thursday.
Ben Askren explains why he's so confident UFC will introduce 165-pound division
Cole Shelton - February 28, 2019
Ben Askren is set to finally make his long-awaited UFC debut on Saturday night when he takes on the former champion, Robbie Lawler at UFC 235. Askren will be fighting at 170 pounds, but he believes he could be fight at 165-pounds sooner rather than later. While UFC President Dana White has denied plans for a 165-pound division on numerous occasions, Askren isn’t buying it. He believes the UFC has already decided to launch the division. Why? Because White denied it.
Ben Askren knocks 'terrible' Reebok pay ahead of UFC 235
Tom Taylor - February 28, 2019
At long last, Ben Askren is finally a UFC fighter. That means that, as he gears up for his UFC 235 showdown with Robbie Lawler, he has to wear Reebok. That’s thanks to the UFC’s exclusive outfitting deal with the sports apparel giant. Unfortunately for Ben Askren, this UFC-Reebok deal pays out on a scale based on Octagon experience. Because he is making his UFC debut, that means he’s set to earn the lowest amount possible under the arrangement.
EXCLUSIVE | Pro fighters make their picks for Jon Jones vs Anthony Smith title fight
Cole Shelton - February 28, 2019
Jon Jones is returning to the Octagon not even three months after his last fight. In the main event of UFC 235 this Saturday, the light heavyweight champ will be taking on Anthony Smith, who has gone 3-0 in the division since moving up from middleweight. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions. The majority, as expected, are leaning towards the massive betting favorite in Jones. Yet some also believe Smith will do as he’s promised and shock the world.
Donald Cerrone drops huge hint about UFC 239 fight with Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - February 28, 2019
There’s recently been a ton of buzz surrounding a potential lightweight showdown between fan favorite contender Donald Cerrone and former champion Conor McGregor. On Thursday morning, Donald Cerrone gave us reason to believe this fight could be happening quite soon, in the heat of International Fight Week.
UFC 235 | Jon Jones says he spotted potential weakness during Anthony Smith staredown
Tom Taylor - February 28, 2019
Earlier this week, UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones and top contender Anthony Smith once again came face to face ahead of their compelling UFC 235 main event showdown. Speaking to MMA Fighting shortly thereafter, Jon Jones divulged that he might have spotted a weakness during this latest staredown with Anthony Smith.
Jon Jones explains why he'd prefer Brock Lesnar fight to 'DC' rematch
Tom Taylor - February 28, 2019
VIDEO | Jeremy Stephens and Zabit Magomedsharipov have backstage encounter
Tom Taylor - February 28, 2019
One of the most compelling features of this Saturday’s UFC 235 card is a featherweight scrap between veteran knockout artist Jeremy Stephens and rising contender Zabit Magomedsharipov. With the fight just days away, the pair had an interesting backstage encounter in Las Vegas.
UFC 235 | Colby Covington makes final prediction for Tyron Woodley vs. Kamaru Usman fight
Tom Taylor - February 28, 2019
This Saturday night, in the co-main event of UFC 235, UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley will attempt to defend his welterweight title against fearsome challenger Kamaru Usman. Colby Covington, who is expected to be the next man in line for the Woodley-Usman winner, will be watching this fight closely. And he’s expecting a blowout.
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.”
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.
UFC Prague medical suspensions: Blachowicz could be out six months
Cole Shelton - February 27, 2019
The UFC returned to our screens on Saturday with the exciting UFC Prague card. In the main event, Thiago Santos took on Jan Blachowicz in an important light heavyweight fight that would propel the winner into title contention.