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BJ Penn Meets With Greg Jackson, Preparing For UFC Comeback Fight?

As things stand right now, UFC Hall Of Famer BJ Penn is a retired former two-division UFC Champion, however a recent meeting with legendary MMA coach Greg Jackson has fans thinking “The Prodigy” could soon be returning to the Octagon.

Penn met with …

Penn met with the man considered to be among the best trainers in MMA history this week in Albuquerque, New Mexico to discuss joining the Jackson/Winklejohn fight team, a team that is home to multiple UFC stars and champions, such as Jon Jones and Holly Holm.

Following the meeting, Jackson told MMAFighting.com, “I’m pleased with how the meeting went and very optimistic about the future. BJ doesn’t have any specific fight plans, but we have [our own] plans.”

Penn sparked rumors of a potential UFC comeback fight by taking to social media to post a photo (see below) of himself with Jackson after the meeting with a caption that read “We Coming!!” It’s worth pointing out that Penn tagged the official Twitter accounts of the UFC and UFC President Dana White in the tweet.

A former UFC Welterweight and UFC Lightweight Champion, “The Prodigy” BJ Penn retired from the sport with a 0-3-1 record in the last four fights of his Hall Of Fame career, with losses to Nick Diaz, Rory MacDonald and Frankie Edgar, and a draw against Jon Fitch. His last professional MMA victory dates back to his knockout of Matt Hughes in their rubber match at UFC 123 in 2010.

Penn was officially inducted into the “Modern Era Wing” of the UFC Hall Of Fame during UFC’s annual International Fight Week in Las Vegas last July.

. We coming!! @ufc @danawhite pic.twitter.com/OLXDbASLbi

— BJ PENN (@bjpenndotcom) January 13, 2016

CM Punk Comments On Reaction From “Butt Hurt Dummies” To His UFC Video Game Character

Video game fans take their gaming seriously, folks. Look no further than the decision made by the UFC and EA Sports regarding how to handle the Phil “CM Punk” Brooks character in the new EA Sports UFC 2 game as supporting evidence.

Although the form…

Although the former WWE Superstar has yet to strap on his UFC gloves and enter the Octagon for the first time, the decision was made to give him an 85 out of 100 for his skill rating, something that has the MMA and gaming community up-in-arms, all-the-while Punk uses it as a way to amuse himself on social media.

Punk took to Twitter this week to address the reaction to his character in the new UFC video game, poking fun at “butt-hurt” fans for daring to take their video games seriously.

“Hey, this is cool,” wrote Punk in the first of two tweets addressing the subject on social media. “I hope it makes dummies furious.”

Little did he know how on-the-money he was going to be with that comment. Less than an hour later, Punk found out just how furious said-dummies were.

Proving he’s not uneducated when it comes to the video game world, Punk used the most obscure relatable video game reference to mock fans from the gaming community who are seemingly overreacting to the situation.

“Not since Samus Aran was revealed to be a woman have dummies been this butt hurt about a video game,” Punk wrote in his follow-up tweet, referencing a controversial character from the Metroid science-fiction game series by Nintendo.

It’s worth pointing out that EA Sports told Kotaku that Punk’s rating for the game has yet to be finalized, so if the 85 rating was released to gauge the public reaction, it appears they’ve got the feedback they were looking for.

Fans interested in the new video game can check out the official gameplay trailer for EA Sports UFC 2.

Hey! This is cool. I hope it makes dummies furious. https://t.co/HpzbGzvX6i

— Coach (@CMPunk) January 11, 2016

Not since Samus Aran was revealed to be a woman have dummies been this butt hurt about a video game.

— Coach (@CMPunk) January 11, 2016

Yoel Romero Facing Possible Lengthy Suspension For Potential Failed UFC 194 Drug Test

As if there wasn’t enough controversy surrounding Yoel Romero in recent months, between “stool gate,” his “post-fight Jesus comments” and the fashion in which he won a close decision over top contender Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in his last fight at UFC 19…

As if there wasn’t enough controversy surrounding Yoel Romero in recent months, between “stool gate,” his “post-fight Jesus comments” and the fashion in which he won a close decision over top contender Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in his last fight at UFC 194 in December, UFC Middleweight star Yoel Romero is now facing the most serious controversial situation thus far in his UFC career.

It was announced this week that Romero is facing a possible violation of the new, strict Anti-Doping Policy, one that could result in a lengthy suspension, taking Romero from being potentially next in line for a UFC Middleweight title shot to sitting out long enough that he might not even be in the top ten discussion by the time he fights again.

UFC officials issued the following statement regarding Romero’s potential Anti-Doping Policy violation:

The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) informed Yoel Romero of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection.

USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case involving Romero. Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.

Romero’s manager, Malki Kawa, issued the following statement to MMAFighting.com:

“We are gathering information and will have no further comment at this time.”

Donald Cerrone Challenges Reebok: Donate “Ludicrous” Fine To Military Charity

Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone was among the first fighters fined for violating the UFC & Reebok’s uniform policy for fighters. Cerrone says he was fined a “ludicrous” amount of money for sewing an American flag patch on to his shorts, which he does as a tribute to his late grandmother.

Here’s what Cerrone said on The MMA Hour this week about the situation:

“Absolutely I was fined for it, for wearing an old flag. Patriotically, that is not very cool, is it? Especially when they make a pair of green shorts for McGregor and I get fined for putting a small piece of an American flag on my shorts. It represents my grandma. That’s all besides the point. Just the fact that it was an American flag, just look at that fact. That alone is, you know, whether it’s superstitious or a gift from my grandma, it’s because I love the United States, it doesn’t matter. I understand the fine, sure, I’ll take a fine, but what they did to me was a lot more than a fine brother. I am not going to tell you the amount, because I don’t think that’s right. Let’s just say it was a lot, like a lot, a lot. I want to talk to Reebok and tell them that they can have the money, I am okay with that. But, let’s at least take that money and give it to a charity of your discretion. I don’t care who. Let’s make it a Wounded Warrior, or any military charity you want. Since it was a flag and I feel like it was patriotic, lets give it back to people that’s the reason I get to fight and walk around to be free every single day that they fight their lives for us. Let’s donate that to them, I’ll even double it. I’ll match the amount and give it. It’s not the fact that they took, it’s that it’s over the flag. The amount to me was crazy. A few grand? Sure, I would’ve taken that, but the amount they took was ludicrous, so. My thing to whoever took it, don’t give it back to me, let’s donate it to Wounded Warrior, or to a charity to women whose children were orphaned because their fathers were defending our country.”

As part of the UFC’s Reebok outfitting policy, fighters must only wear Reebok gear during the week of the fight. The deal between the UFC and Reebok has been heavily criticized for making it harder for fighters to earn income.

Nick Diaz was also fined for wearing jeans at the recent UFC on FOX weigh-ins.

Here’s what Cerrone said on The MMA Hour this week about the situation:

“Absolutely I was fined for it, for wearing an old flag. Patriotically, that is not very cool, is it? Especially when they make a pair of green shorts for McGregor and I get fined for putting a small piece of an American flag on my shorts. It represents my grandma. That’s all besides the point. Just the fact that it was an American flag, just look at that fact. That alone is, you know, whether it’s superstitious or a gift from my grandma, it’s because I love the United States, it doesn’t matter. I understand the fine, sure, I’ll take a fine, but what they did to me was a lot more than a fine brother. I am not going to tell you the amount, because I don’t think that’s right. Let’s just say it was a lot, like a lot, a lot. I want to talk to Reebok and tell them that they can have the money, I am okay with that. But, let’s at least take that money and give it to a charity of your discretion. I don’t care who. Let’s make it a Wounded Warrior, or any military charity you want. Since it was a flag and I feel like it was patriotic, lets give it back to people that’s the reason I get to fight and walk around to be free every single day that they fight their lives for us. Let’s donate that to them, I’ll even double it. I’ll match the amount and give it. It’s not the fact that they took, it’s that it’s over the flag. The amount to me was crazy. A few grand? Sure, I would’ve taken that, but the amount they took was ludicrous, so. My thing to whoever took it, don’t give it back to me, let’s donate it to Wounded Warrior, or to a charity to women whose children were orphaned because their fathers were defending our country.”

Nick Diaz was also fined for wearing jeans at the recent UFC on FOX weigh-ins.

Frankie Edgar Accuses The UFC & Conor McGregor Of Ducking Him

Frankie Edgar continues to vent about his inability to secure a shot at the UFC featherweight championship. Edgar has won his last five fights over the likes of Chad Mendes and Urijah Faber, and Joe Rogan has also called for the title shot, saying that Edgar vs. Conor McGregor would be “bananas.”

Edgar says the UFC knows he would be a tough opponent for McGregor, and for that reason he “f*cking doubts” he’ll ever get the fight. Here’s what he had to say:

“I was deflated man. I just fought one of the best fights of my life [and I’m thinking] I shouldn’t be feeling like this,” Edgar told MMA Fighting. “I should be going home riding high right now, and I just wasn’t. I don’t think it matters with Dana [White] and Lorenzo [Fertitta]. Really, I don’t think I’m the best fight that they want…I don’t think they want it either. So I’ve got all three of them against me. I mean, all fights are hard. But, yeah, I think I’m the worst match-up for McGregor. I think he knows it, I think you know it, I think the UFC knows it. I just need that chance to get my hands on him. That’s what I want. Am I going to get it? I f*cking doubt it.”

Edgar told The LA Times that he isn’t sure if he’ll continue waiting for a fight against McGregor, or if he’ll take other fights in the meantime to earn income:

“I honestly don’t really know what I’m going to do yet,” Edgar told The LA Times. “I’ve got to weigh some things out. Do I want to wait for Conor — could something happen? Someone get injured? Do I want to wait for that fight or fight and make some money? That’s what I’m weighing right now.”

“But for the last three years, I’ve been trying to situate all my fights to lead toward a title and it seems like it’s not really working for me,” he said. “I’ve missed out on fighting more often, making some money and that’s something … I don’t want to be sitting here until June or July expecting to fight Conor and then something else happens like it has in the past, and then I’m left with another scenario of no-fight, no-money. That’s something I have to consider.”

Edgar is currently on a five-fight winning streak, with an MMA record of 20-4-1. There’s no word on who his next opponent will be.

McGregor will next be fighting at UFC 197 in March against Rafael dos Anjos.

Edgar says the UFC knows he would be a tough opponent for McGregor, and for that reason he “f*cking doubts” he’ll ever get the fight. Here’s what he had to say:

“I was deflated man. I just fought one of the best fights of my life [and I’m thinking] I shouldn’t be feeling like this,” Edgar told MMA Fighting. “I should be going home riding high right now, and I just wasn’t. I don’t think it matters with Dana [White] and Lorenzo [Fertitta]. Really, I don’t think I’m the best fight that they want…I don’t think they want it either. So I’ve got all three of them against me. I mean, all fights are hard. But, yeah, I think I’m the worst match-up for McGregor. I think he knows it, I think you know it, I think the UFC knows it. I just need that chance to get my hands on him. That’s what I want. Am I going to get it? I f*cking doubt it.”

Edgar told The LA Times that he isn’t sure if he’ll continue waiting for a fight against McGregor, or if he’ll take other fights in the meantime to earn income:

“I honestly don’t really know what I’m going to do yet,” Edgar told The LA Times. “I’ve got to weigh some things out. Do I want to wait for Conor — could something happen? Someone get injured? Do I want to wait for that fight or fight and make some money? That’s what I’m weighing right now.”

“But for the last three years, I’ve been trying to situate all my fights to lead toward a title and it seems like it’s not really working for me,” he said. “I’ve missed out on fighting more often, making some money and that’s something … I don’t want to be sitting here until June or July expecting to fight Conor and then something else happens like it has in the past, and then I’m left with another scenario of no-fight, no-money. That’s something I have to consider.”

Edgar is currently on a five-fight winning streak, with an MMA record of 20-4-1. There’s no word on who his next opponent will be.

McGregor will next be fighting at UFC 197 in March against Rafael dos Anjos.

Most Anticipated Upcoming UFC Debuts

Over the next few months, the UFC will be acquiring a number of new fighters, with fans eager to see some fighters more than others. Below are the half dozen UFC debuts that are Fight.

Over the next few months, the UFC will be acquiring a number of new fighters, with fans eager to see some fighters more than others. Below are the half dozen UFC debuts that are Fight Freek’s official most anticipated.

6.) Roger Gacie

It’s about time we saw another member of the Gracie family fight in the UFC. Easily one of the best Jiu-Jistu practitioners in MMA today, Gracie has the ability to submit any one of his opponents. He has tapped five of his seven opponents, and dominated MMA veteran, Keith Jardine. When you’re making your UFC debut against a strong wrestler like Tim Kennedy, it’ll make for one hell of a fight, and might even be seen as a modern day Royce Gracie / Ken Shamrock bout. The question is can Jiu-Jitsu overcome again, or will the modern MMA wrestler prove to be too much for the BBJ black belt?

5.) K.J. Noons

After his controversial loss to Ryan Couture, Noons will be making his debut at UFC 160 against Donald Cerrone, a fight that may end up being a stand up war. Noons likes to stand and bang which makes him a fan favorite, but he’ll final get the chance to showcase some of that excitement inside the world famous octagon. Losing four of his last five fights, the big question is whether of not the UFC will release Noons if he loses his debut, making it three straight losses. As entertaining as it is to watch Noons fight, I sure hope that’s not the case. One thing for sure, win, lose, or draw; his fight with Cerrone is one that the fans are truly eager to see.

4.) Tim Kennedy

As I said, Roger Gracie will be making his debut against Tim Kennedy at UFC 162. However, Kennedy will also be making his UFC debut that night, so the battle between two grapplers with different styles will be even more exciting seeing that someone has to lose their UFC debut. The strong wrestler will look to stifle Gracie’s submission attempts, and grind out a win from the top position. All wrestling fans will be pulling for the former green beret.

3.) Tarec Saffiedine

Given almost no chance to defeat Nate “The Great” Marquardt, Saffiedine shut up all the doubters as he out struck Marquardt for the majority of their fight, and took his title. After defeating such an elite welterweight, fans will be waiting for Saffiedine’s UFC debut with great anticipation, and see just how the last Strikeforce welterweight champion will fair against the best fighters at 170 that the UFC has to offer. He could’ve have been matched up with a better opponent for his debut in fellow striker, Robbie Lawler.

2.) Luke Rockhold

Well he may have not gotten an immediate title shot, but a fight with Vitor Belfort is just as exciting in the eyes of the fans. Not since Hector Lombard has the UFC’s middleweight division hasn’t acquired a fighter at such an elite level. If he is successful in his fight with Vitor Belfort, he might get his title shot against the winner of Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman.

1.) Rafael Cavalcante

Finally, “Feijao” will be fighting in the UFC. It’s been a year since he’s last fought, but it will return from his suspension by facing Thiago Silva, who coincidently has also had suspensions due to drug test issues. I predicted a long time ago that Cavalcante would work his way through the UFC’s light heavyweight division (if given the opportunity), and it looks like now he will be getting his shot to prove me right. The man who finished Yoel Romero, King Mo, and Mike Kyle (later ruled a No Contest, but whatever), could probably defeat Dan Henderson in a rematch if the UFC is smart enough to put that fight together.

– Ryan “Fight Freek” Poli

@FightFreek