MMA News
WATCH | Tony Ferguson trains with David Goggins ahead of UFC 296 return against Paddy Pimblett
Josh Evanoff - November 7, 2023
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson is pulling out all the stops ahead of his return against Paddy Pimblett. ‘El Cucuy’ has been out of the octagon since a clash with Bobby Green in July at UFC 291. Despite dropping ‘King’ in the first round, Tony Ferguson suffered a third-round submission defeat. The loss was the former champion’s sixth in a row, and he received many calls to retire post-fight.
REPORT | Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou did better PPV numbers than first believed
Josh Evanoff - November 7, 2023
According to Ariel Helwani, Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou’s boxing match was far more successful than first thought. ‘The Gypsy King’ and ‘The Predator’ faced off in a high-profile boxing match last month in Saudi Arabia. The two headlined an ESPN pay-per-view offering, with Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou in the main event. Despite the boxer heading into the matchup a massive favorite, it didn’t look that way on fight night.
Dustin Poirier says he needs an opponent that "really, really motivates me" for him to return
Cole Shelton - November 7, 2023
Dustin Poirier isn’t sure when or who he will fight in his return. Poirier is coming off a KO loss to Justin Gaethje in July for the vacant BMF title. It was a rematch of their 2018 fight which Poirier had won by fourth-round TKO in one of the best scraps of the year.
Chael Sonnen unloads on Jorge Masvidal after 'Gamebred' threatens him: "Go see a therapist"
Cole Shelton - November 7, 2023
Chael Sonnen has continued to take aim at Jorge Masvidal. On Monday, Sonnen blasted ‘Gamebred’ on social media over the Colby Covington incident as Masvidal threatened to knock the rest of Covington’s teeth out. Of course, Sonnen and Covington are friends, so after ‘The American Gangster’ ripped ‘Gamebred’, Masvidal took to social media to tell him to say it to his face.
Aljamain Sterling discusses his relationship with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones: “We aren't as cool as we once were”
Susan Cox - November 7, 2023
Aljamain Sterling is discussing his relationship with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Sterling (23-4 MMA) and Jones (27-1 MMA) were junior college wrestling teammates at SUNY Morrisville.
Islam Makhachev takes over top spot in UFC pound for pound rankings
Susan Cox - November 7, 2023
Islam Makhachev has taken over top stop in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings. The reigning lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev (25-1 MMA) has taken the No. 1 spot away from the current heavyweight champion Jon Jones (27-1 MMA) on the pound-for-pound official UFC rankings.
Dricus Du Plessis taunts Team Adesanya after receiving title shot against Sean Strickland at UFC 297: “A fumble never looked this good”
Susan Cox - November 7, 2023
Dricus Du Plessis is taunting Team Adesanya after receiving title shot against Sean Strickland at UFC 297. It was not that long ago that City Kickboxing head coach, and coach for former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, Eugene Bareman, told the media that Dricus Du Plesis would have to ‘fight someone else’ after passing on the UFC 293 headliner.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 145 with Matt Frevola, Jason Knight, Loopy Godinez, and John Castaneda
Cole Shelton - November 7, 2023
The 145th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC 295 and Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA. We’re first joined by 14th-ranked UFC lightweight Matt Frevola (2:21). Next, former UFC fighter Jason Knight (18:33) comes on. 13th-ranked UFC strawweight Loopy Godinez (38:59) then joins the show. Closing out the program is UFC bantamweight Jon Castaneda (46:56).
Stephen Thompson says the UFC “settled” pay dispute from cancelled Michel Pereira fight
Harry Kettle - November 7, 2023
Stephen Thompson has revealed that his financial dispute with the Ultimate Fighting Championship is now over. Next month, Stephen Thompson will take on top welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov. It serves as a huge opportunity for the veteran as he attempts to make one final title push before walking away from mixed martial arts.
Israel Adesanya explains why he wants to see Francis Ngannou fight in MMA next: “I just want to see him use all f*cking limbs”
Harry Kettle - November 7, 2023
Israel Adesanya has explained why he wants to see his close friend Francis Ngannou compete in MMA for his next fight. Last month, Francis Ngannou went toe to toe with Tyson Fury in his first pro boxing match. It was an intriguing, competitive affair, and in the end, Fury was the one who edged out a decision win. In equal measure, though, Ngannou put forward a sensational showing and even managed to drop ‘The Gypsy King’ in the third round.
Opening odds released for newly announced title fights at UFC 297, UFC 298 and UFC 299
Harry Kettle - November 7, 2023
A string of odds have been released in the wake of an announcement made by Dana White regarding UFC’s first three PPV main events of the year. Last night, Dana White made a string of blockbuster announcements regarding the first few pay-per-view events of the year for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Tye Ruotolo open to facing twin brother for lightweight gold following inaugural world title win
BJPENN.COM Staff - November 7, 2023
ONE Fight Night 16 last Friday, November 3, marked a momentous occasion for Tye Ruotolo as he captured the inaugural ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Title. On the card at Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, he put forth an impressive performance against Magomed Abdulkadirov. Throughout the match, he launched attacks from various positions, ultimately securing a unanimous decision win.
What's next for Jailton Almeida and Derrick Lewis after UFC Sao Paulo?
Cole Shelton - November 6, 2023
In the main event of UFC Sao Paulo, top-10 heavyweights collided as Jailton Almeida took on Derrick Lewis who accepted the fight on short notice. Almeida entered the fight coming off a first-round stoppage over Jairzinho Rozenstruik back in May in his first UFC headlining spot. He was a perfect 5-0 in the UFC coming into his second headling spot at UFC Sao Paulo. Lewis, meanwhile, had snapped his three-fight losing streak back in July with a first-round KO over Marcos Rogerio de Lima.
Watch | Marlon Vera trolls Sean O’Malley during his appearance on today’s episode of The MMA Hour
Cole Shelton - November 6, 2023
Marlon Vera trolled Sean O’Malley on Monday by calling into his ‘Suga’s’ appearance on The MMA Hour. On Monday it was announced that O’Malley would be defending his bantamweight title for the first time as he rematches Vera. It’s a fight that is years in the making, and ever since they fought back in August 2020, the two have continued to take shots at one another.
Chael Sonnen roasts Jorge Masvidal for threatening to knock the rest of Colby Covington’s teeth out: “A word of advice”
Josh Evanoff - November 6, 2023
UFC analyst Chael Sonnen has slammed Jorge Masvidal, just hours after the latter reached a plea deal in his case involving Colby Covington. ‘Gamebred’ was last seen in a Florida courthouse earlier today. He was there for the hearing stemming from his altercation with Colby Covington last year. Famously, the two welterweight contenders clashed in the main event of UFC 272 last March. While ‘Chaos’ claimed a unanimous decision that night, he wouldn’t celebrate for long.
Ariel Helwani responds to recent criticism from former UFC champion Jamahal Hill: “I am not going anywhere”
Josh Evanoff - November 6, 2023
Longtime MMA journalist Ariel Helwani has responded to former UFC champion Jamahal Hill. Over the weekend, ‘Sweet Dreams’ put out a video slamming Ariel Helwani. The video itself took aim at the journalist’s recent interview with Chael Sonnen on The MMA Hour. ‘The Bad Guy’ got into it with him over Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou, as well as the pay-per-view numbers accompanying it.
Sean O'Malley believes he'll end 2024 as the biggest name in sports: "Doing it in spectacular fashion"
Josh Evanoff - November 6, 2023
UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley is calling his shot. ‘Sugar’ has been out of action since a knockout win over Aljamain Sterling in August. That stoppage victory saw Sean O’Malley claim bantamweight gold, and he already had a name on his mind. Following the event, the newly crowned titleholder called for a rematch with Marlon Vera.
Jorge Masvidal vows he and Colby Covington are going to "see each other" again: "It’s going to be fun"
Cole Shelton - November 6, 2023
Jorge Masvidal says he and Colby Covington are going to see one another again, whether it’s in a cage or on the street. On Monday, Masvidal pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and agreed to pay the court fees associated with the case in a plea deal where prosecutors dropped the felony charges. The result will be no jail time for Masvidal for his alleged attack on Covington at a Miami steakhouse.