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UFC Fight Night 103 Weigh-In Video & Results

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UFC Fight Night 103 goes down in Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix this Sunday. Today’s weigh-ins feature the card’s main event headliners BJ Penn & Yair Rodriguez hitting the scales. After retiring in 2014 on the back of three straight losses, the former two-weight world champion looks to return with a win. Often hailed as the greatest lightweight of all time, Penn will again compete as a featherweight. Looking to spoil ‘The Prodigy’s’ big comeback is red-hot prospect Yair Rodriguez, undefeated in his UFC career, and his last loss was five years ago.

Since winning The Ultimate Fighter Latin America, Rodriguez has compiled four straight wins. Victory against Penn would be a huge stepping stone, but if he’s motivated, who knows what the former champ will bring. Lightweight veteran Joe Lauzon battles Marcin Held in the evening’s co-main event, and Court McGee meets Ben Saunders.

Saturday’s early UFC Fight Night 103 fighter weigh-ins get started at 11 a.m. ET (8 a.m. PT/9 a.m. MT local time).

Watch the Fight Night Phoenix official weigh-in on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 7pm/4pm ETPT live from the Talking Stick Resort in Phoenix, Arizona.

MAIN CARD (FS1, 10 p.m. ET)

B.J. Penn (146) vs. Yair Rodriguez (145)

Marcin Held (156) vs. Joe Lauzon (155)

Court McGee (170) vs. Ben Saunders (170)

John Moraga (126) vs. Sergio Pettis (125)

PRELIMINARY CARD (FS1, 8 p.m. ET)

Augusto Mendes (135) vs. Frankie Saenz (135)

Aleksei Oleinik (242) vs. Viktor Pesta (239)

Tony Martin (155) vs. Alex White (155)

Drakkar Klose (156) vs. Devin Powell (155)

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 6 p.m. ET)

Nina Ansaroff (116) vs. Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger (115)

Walt Harris (254) vs. Chase Sherman (246)

Joachim Christensen (205) vs. Bojan Mihajlovic (205)

Cyril Asker (248) vs. Dmitrii Smoliakov (257)

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BJ Penn: Yair, Manager Conspired For This Fight

UFC Hall Of Famer BJ Penn will make his highly-anticipated return to the Octagon this weekend (Sunday, January 15, 2017), when he takes on No. 10-ranked featherweight Yair Rodriguez in the main event of UFC Phoenix. Rodriguez and Penn used to train at the same gym, Jackson-Wink, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Penn tells MMA

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Rodriguez and Penn used to train at the same gym, Jackson-Wink, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Penn tells MMA Fighting that he believes the young Mexican conspired with his manager to push for a fight against him:

“I think Yair and his manager saw me training at the gym (at Jackson-Winkeljohn) and thought, ‘this guy doesn’t have it anymore. Let’s fight this guy. He’s a big name, and let’s try to make our name off his.’ And that’s exactly how this fight got put together,” Penn said.

“Some people from the gym said, ‘hey, Yair is a p*ssy, he’s going to try to fight you because he thinks you’re older,’ and this and that. ‘His manager is trying to push for the fight.’ And I go, really, huh? I was talking to my buddies in Albuquerque, and then the UFC called me two weeks later and offered me Yair. That’s what it was.

“I don’t take it as disrespect,” Penn said. “I just laugh. And let’s just see. Let’s see if his intuition was correct.”

Penn’s last Octagon appearance saw him suffer a third round knockout defeat to Frankie Edgar in 2014, marking the Hawaiian’s third loss in a row at the time. ‘The Prodigy’s’ last victory inside the cage came in 2010 when he knocked out Matt Hughes in just 21 seconds at UFC 123.

Despite having one of the best careers in the history of mixed martial arts (MMA), Penn has not watched any of his fights for years now as he rather focus on the task ahead:

“I used to watch [my old fights] before, back in the day. I don’t know how many times I watched that first fight, me when I fought (Matt) Hughes and got the belt. I must’ve watched that so many times. But I haven’t seen any of my fights for years, and I haven’t been watching my fights that I lost, the fights that happened in the last five years,” Penn said.

“I wouldn’t want to sit there and just talk about the past, and say ‘oh, look how good I was,’ or, ‘I could’ve kicked your ass if it was back then.’ No, and I don’t [want to think] of excuses. I mean, look at Dan Henderson, Mark Hunt, Fabricio Werdum. All those guys. How can I have an excuse? They’re all in there. They’re all in their forties.”

Although he’ll be stepping into the cage with Rodriguez to go to war come Sunday night, Penn holds a great deal of respect for his opponent, or anyone who decides to make the walk to the Octagon for that matter, but believes that the experience and skill gap will be very visible when it’s time to throw-down:

“I’m a fan of everybody, I respect everyone. I’m proud of everybody who decides to take this path in life and chooses this profession. And I think he’s very good, a very solid opponent,” Penn said.

“But a lot of people are going to be surprised when I get out there. It’s going to look like a professional against an amateur. That’s what’s going to happen, and Yair is going to be surprised, his coaches are going to be surprised. They’re going be like, ‘oh, I thought this we were going to come between this easy fighter and his big name.’ But we’re going to see. They’re going to see.”

Rodriguez and Penn will meet in the main event of UFC Fight Night 103 on FS1, from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona this Sunday night (January 15, 2017).

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UFC Promote ‘FIGHT PASS Free Weekend’ from Friday

UFC are allowing fans access to three exclusively live fight streams, in addition to a further three days to enjoy FIGHT PASS’s entire catalogue of content.

Included in the free weekend offer is TKO 37, on Friday night and Invicta FC 21 on Saturday. Four live fights from this Sunday’s UFC Fight Night, headlined by UFC legend BJ Penn is also available. With unrestricted, free access to FIGHT PASS’s entire libraray of 11,000 fights, and UFC content.

Courtesy of ufc.com:

“This is a thank you to our fans,” UFC Senior Vice-President & UFC FIGHT PASS General Manager Eric Winter said. “In 2016, FIGHT PASS live-streamed over 100 fight card live and exclusively, and we’re excited to begin the New Year by showcasing the first of many action packed weekends on FIGHT PASS.

“We also invite viewers to take full advantage of the FREE WEEKEND and deep-dive into the FIGHT PASS Library. FIGHT PASS has over 11,000 historical fights from 33 combat sports promotions, plus great Original series including Dana White: Lookin’ For A Fight, Fightography and Where Are They Now? We believe FIGHT PASS is a must-have for combat sports fans, and are thrilled to offer this free weekend of action.”

The Free weekend has already started, and is scheduled to end Sunday at midnight, Eastern Time. Full fight details, courtesy of ufc.com, can be found below:

The FIGHT PASS FREE WEEKEND live action begins on Friday, when the newly resurrected Canadian promotion TKO presents TKO 37: RIVALS from Montreal, Canada. The main event sees bitter middleweight rivals Jo Vallee and Strahinja Gavrilovic throwdown while feuding featherweights Charles Jourdain and Michael Cyr will settle the identity of Quebec’s hottest new 145lbs prospect.

On Saturday, the world’s premier all-female MMA organization – Invicta FC – kicks off its 2017 calendar with an exciting event from Kansas City. The Invicta FC 21 main event sees Australia’s Megan Anderson collide with Canadian Charmaine Tweet for the interim Invicta FC featherweight championship. The co- feature is a bantamweight elimination bout between contenders Pannie Kianzad and Raquel Pa’aluhi, plus 21-year-old undefeated bantamweight prospect Aspen Ladd is in action.

Finally, on Sunday, FIGHT PASS presents exclusive live action from the UFC FIGHT NIGHT event in Phoenix, Arizona. The opening four fights of the evening will live-stream on FIGHT PASS, including the Featured Bout between strawweights Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger and Nina Ansaroff and the clash of UFC lightweight newcomers Drakkar Klose and Devin Powell.

The FREE WEEKEND’s live-streaming schedule is as follows:

Friday, January 13
TKO 37: RIVALS
9/6pm ET/PT

Saturday, January 14
Invicta FC 21
8/5pm ET/PT

Sunday, January 15
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
6/3pm ET/PT

UFC are allowing fans access to three exclusively live fight streams, in addition to a further three days to enjoy FIGHT PASS’s entire catalogue of content.

Courtesy of ufc.com:

“This is a thank you to our fans,” UFC Senior Vice-President & UFC FIGHT PASS General Manager Eric Winter said. “In 2016, FIGHT PASS live-streamed over 100 fight card live and exclusively, and we’re excited to begin the New Year by showcasing the first of many action packed weekends on FIGHT PASS.

“We also invite viewers to take full advantage of the FREE WEEKEND and deep-dive into the FIGHT PASS Library. FIGHT PASS has over 11,000 historical fights from 33 combat sports promotions, plus great Original series including Dana White: Lookin’ For A Fight, Fightography and Where Are They Now? We believe FIGHT PASS is a must-have for combat sports fans, and are thrilled to offer this free weekend of action.”

The Free weekend has already started, and is scheduled to end Sunday at midnight, Eastern Time. Full fight details, courtesy of ufc.com, can be found below:

The FIGHT PASS FREE WEEKEND live action begins on Friday, when the newly resurrected Canadian promotion TKO presents TKO 37: RIVALS from Montreal, Canada. The main event sees bitter middleweight rivals Jo Vallee and Strahinja Gavrilovic throwdown while feuding featherweights Charles Jourdain and Michael Cyr will settle the identity of Quebec’s hottest new 145lbs prospect.

On Saturday, the world’s premier all-female MMA organization – Invicta FC – kicks off its 2017 calendar with an exciting event from Kansas City. The Invicta FC 21 main event sees Australia’s Megan Anderson collide with Canadian Charmaine Tweet for the interim Invicta FC featherweight championship. The co- feature is a bantamweight elimination bout between contenders Pannie Kianzad and Raquel Pa’aluhi, plus 21-year-old undefeated bantamweight prospect Aspen Ladd is in action.

Finally, on Sunday, FIGHT PASS presents exclusive live action from the UFC FIGHT NIGHT event in Phoenix, Arizona. The opening four fights of the evening will live-stream on FIGHT PASS, including the Featured Bout between strawweights Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger and Nina Ansaroff and the clash of UFC lightweight newcomers Drakkar Klose and Devin Powell.

The FREE WEEKEND’s live-streaming schedule is as follows:

Friday, January 13
TKO 37: RIVALS
9/6pm ET/PT

Saturday, January 14
Invicta FC 21
8/5pm ET/PT

Sunday, January 15
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
6/3pm ET/PT

BJ Penn’s Brother Arrested for ‘Trespassing’ at LAX

In what is the oddest MMA news of the week so far, the brother of UFC legend BJ Penn has been arrested at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

News first reported by TMZ Sports, Reagan Penn, was scheduled to fly to Phoenix to watch his older sibling fight on this weekend’s UFC Fight Night. Things did not go exactly to plan however, as the younger Penn found himself arrested by Los Angeles police after an alleged drunken argument with cabin crew.

Penn apparently demanded alcohol from the crew prior to the take-off of the aircraft, but when his requests were not met, the MMA fighter with a 1-1 record was asked to leave the airplane following a forray. Penn refused to leave the aircraft, and Police were called. Officers could not calm the subject down, and Penn was reprimanded, and arrested for ‘trespassing’.

In news that will undoubtedly be an unwelcome distraction for the brother of the UFC legend, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department refused to release Penn until $500 had been paid for bail. Penn will need to attend court, however, on Feb. 1 to answer charges.

As for his brother, the former two-division UFC titleholder makes a return to the octagon for the first time since July ’14, where he will face-off against rising featherweight Yair Rodriguez in the Fight Night 103 main event on Sunday at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix. All eyes will be on the older Penn, as he attempts to beat father time and prove he still has something to offer in MMA.

In what is the oddest MMA news of the week so far, the brother of UFC legend BJ Penn has been arrested at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

So, Why Is BJ Penn Returning Again?

“Why the hell is he coming back?”

That seems to be the main question being asked about the upcoming main event of UFC Fight Night 103. BJ Penn hasn’t fought since his odd performance against former rival Frankie Edgar. “The Prodigy” will face off against the red hot Yair Rodriguez, a tough challenge for anyone at featherweight. Rodriguez is a young hungry up and comer with a ton of upside. He’s unpredictable and dangerous for that very reason. Once again that same nagging question arises. Why the hell is Penn coming back to face this young hungry lion?

The post So, Why Is BJ Penn Returning Again? appeared first on Cagepotato.

“Why the hell is he coming back?”

1. To secure his legacy

What has BJ Penn done really? He hasn’t accomplished all that much in the sport as far as I’m concerned. Beating the once thought unbeatable Matt Hughes for the welterweight championship ship. Not that big a deal. Winning the UFC lightweight championship with ease? Nothing to write home about. Truthfully, Penn hasn’t done all that much in the sport….

The theory that BJ Penn needs to secure his legacy with a win on Saturday night. BJ Penn has competed at a high level in several weight classes and acquitted himself well. He’s won both the welterweight and lightweight championships. BJ Penn is a Goddamn legend in the sport. That rules out this bout being a legacy fight.

2. To become champion once again

If you’re competing in MMA then the goal is to be champion. At least that’s the goal for some fighters. The truth of the matter is that while so many individuals compete in order to make a living, or at the very least supplement their income, BJ Penn comes from money. He wants for nothing. The idea that he’d be fighting for money is ludicrous. So he must be fighting to become a champion once again. It’s certainly possible and stranger things have happened. Being a three weight division champion would make him stand head and shoulders over the competition where legacy is concerned.

3. To realize his potential

This in my opinion is the reason for Penn’s return. BJ Penn has always been gifted, blessed with the uncanny ability to pick up on skills and techniques with venerable ease. He took to Brazilian jiu-jitsu with gusto and became a black belt in record time. He learned to box with sharp technique dominating a great deal of his opponents with superior skill. And it was all done while Penn wasn’t even pushing himself to the limits of his potential.

But as the game evolved Penn was forced to do the same. When he was under the tutelage of Marv Marinovich years ago we finally got a glimpse of the fully realized potential that was locked away in the former lightweight and welterweight kingpin. Though their partnership was for a short time, we saw in Penn a gas tank that seemed never ending, having the stamina to battle for five full rounds. Since parting with Marinovich we’ve seen Penn’s performances take a bit of hit leading to the current skid that he’s currently riding.

Penn understands that the well runs deep in regards to his talent. It’s fair to say that he’s only had one opportunity in which he reached the absolute pinnacle of his potential. Having the knowledge that he’s able to perform past his own expectations likely pushed him to give it one more go. Picking Jackson Winklejohn as his new base of operations wasn’t a mistake. It shows that he’s willing to go to a premiere camp filled with killers that are going to push him to his limit. Come January 14 we’ll see how effective the move will prove.

Do we see the old BJ Penn or will Yair Rodriguez tear his face off?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

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BJ Penn Confident UFC Fight Night 103 Will Not Be His Last

The post BJ Penn Confident UFC Fight Night 103 Will Not Be His Last appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

After being out of the sport for nearly three years, UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn returns this weekend to take on Yair Rodriguez in a featherweight bout in the main event of UFC Fight Night 103. Last January when Penn announced that he would return to the UFC, he vowed that he was in this for the long haul as it would have been his third return to the promotion. His goal is to be the featherweight champion.

He was going to ride this sucker until the wheels fell off, regardless of what that meant. He believes that his upcoming fight is his first step towards UFC gold.

“My whole goal right now is to just get that third world title,” Penn told MMA Fighting. “And then we’ll see. If it takes a little while, maybe we walk away. If we get it quick, then maybe we go to 155. I don’t know. I don’t know, but I know … I’m in here to fight and I’m going to win on Sunday, and you’re going to see me again quick after this, for sure.”

For the first time in a long time, Penn feels confident that he has given himself the best chance to succeed in MMA.

“I’m more disciplined,” Penn said. “Right now I’m 153 pounds and just hanging out. I’ve been walking around for the last two months at 156. I’ve been under 160 all year though, so it’s been good. I like being lean. Man, some people were sending me some old pictures last night, and man, I was heavy. Back in my middleweight days and stuff. But yeah, I’m enjoying it. I’ve enjoyed being in shape this year.”

“What’s still driving me is I want to just keep getting better,” Penn said. “I love martial arts. I love everything about it. Definitely, the third title is also 100 percent driving me — getting those three titles in three different weight classes, that would just be an awesome accomplishment for myself, and then I could probably get some sleep at night. That is my driving factor. But man, it’s more than that. I just love it. I love fighting. I love the competition. I love the struggle. That’s what it is, man. It’s a struggle, and I love it.”

UFC Fight Night 103 takes place on Sunday, January 15, 2017, at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. The prelims on Fight Pass will feature four bouts starting at 6:15 p.m. ET while the FOX Sports 1 prelims will feature four bouts starting at 8 p.m. ET.

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