MMA News
Sara McMann forced out of UFC Vegas 35 due to injury
Joe McDonagh - August 17, 2021
Former UFC title challenger Sara McMann has been forced to withdraw from UFC Vegas 35 due to injury McMann took to social media to announce that she would not be fighting at UFC Vegas 35. McMann described that she is forced out to due injury and would not be able to compete against opponent Ketlen Viera.
MMA South Africa investigating disturbing referee stoppage from EFC 88
Joe McDonagh - August 17, 2021
A referee is being investigated after a disturbing video involving a rear-naked choke submission went viral this past weekend. Two flyweights went to battle at EFC 88 which turned into a near scary scene. As it seemed Julio Plaatijies had choked out his opponent, Teboho Ntene, the referee let the fight go on for an insanely long time.
Francis Ngannou says Ciryl Gane "knows what is coming" after becoming interim heavyweight champ
Cole Shelton - August 17, 2021
Francis Ngannou says Ciryl Gane knows what’s in store when they fight. At UFC 265, Gane TKO’d Derrick Lewis to become the interim heavyweight champion. However, many criticized that the fight was for the interim strap when Ngannou had just won the belt back in March. Yet, he says none of that matters as everyone knows he is the real king.
Ciryl Gane discloses how much money he made for knocking out Derrick Lewis at UFC 265
Adam D Martin - August 17, 2021
New UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane disclosed how much money he made for recently knocking out Derrick Lewis at UFC 265. Gane is one of the hottest names in MMA right now. Since starting MMA in 2018, the 31-year-old Frenchman has been nothing short of dominant, going 10-0 as a pro, including a brilliant 7-0 record in the UFC alone. His biggest win to date came earlier this month at UFC 265 when he scored a third-round TKO victory over Lewis to capture the promotion’s interim heavyweight championship. “Bon Gamin” will next take on his former training partner, UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, in a title unification matchup.
Chase Sherman expects to finish Parker Porter and answer Rodrigo Nascimento's callout
Cole Shelton - August 17, 2021
Chase Sherman is eager to return to the win column. Sherman suffered a decision loss to Andrei Arlovski back in April. He will now return at UFC Vegas 34 against Parker Porter. He was supposed to fight Porter on the same day in April but he was forced out and replaced by Arlovski.
Brandon Royval expects to finish "the scariest flyweight" in Alexandre Pantoja and earn rematch with Brandon Moreno: "There's unfinished business"
Cole Shelton - August 17, 2021
Brandon Royval wanted the toughest fight he could get in his return and that’s exactly what he got. Back in November at UFC 255, Royval fought Brandon Moreno, and at the end of the first round, he dislocated his shoulder and the fight was called. Following that, he had surgery which he says was much-needed.
Jake Paul says Conor McGregor boxing match "not as interesting" but he still wants to "beat him up"
Adam D Martin - August 17, 2021
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul says that fighting Conor McGregor in boxing is “not as interesting” but he still wants to “beat him up.” Paul recently revealed his hit list and one of the names on it was McGregor, who Paul has been taking shots against on social media over the last few years. While McGregor is still one of the biggest draws in combat sports, he is coming off of back-to-back TKO losses to Dustin Poirier and had his leg broken in his last fight. Due to those issues, Paul admits that McGregor isn’t as interesting of an opponent as he once would have been. But as he admitted in an interview with MMAFighting.com, Paul still has aspirations of fighting him.
Kamaru Usman opens as massive betting favorite for potential Conor McGregor fight
Adam D Martin - August 17, 2021
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has opened up as a massive betting favorite for a potential fight against superstar Conor McGregor. Usman and McGregor have been going back-and-forth on social media as of late, which has led to speculation of a future fight. The trash talk also triggered the sportsbooks getting in on the action and releasing the opening betting line for this potential fight. According to the sportsbook BetOnline, Usman opened as a -700 (bet $700 to win $100) betting favorite for this potential bout, while the comeback on McGregor is +450 (bet $100 to win $450).
Kevin Holland signs new multi-fight contract with the UFC
Adam D Martin - August 17, 2021
UFC middleweight fan-favorite Kevin Holland has signed a new multi-fight contract with the promotion despite losing his last two fights. The news is according to MMAjunkie.com’s Nolan King, who confirmed with Holland’s management group that “Trailblazer” aka “Big Mouth” has signed a new deal with the world’s leading MMA promotion. In fact, Holland already has his next fight booked when he takes on fellow middleweight Kyle Daukaus at a UFC Fight Night card on October 2.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 47 with Brandon Royval, Chase Sherman, Brian Kelleher, Vinc Pichel, and Ramiz Brahimaj
Cole Shelton - August 17, 2021
The 47th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 34. We’re first joined by sixth-ranked flyweight, Brandon Royval (2:54) Next, UFC heavyweight, Chase Sherman (16:52) joins the show. UFC bantamweight, Brian Kelleher (30:36) then comes on. Next, UFC lightweight, Vinc Pichel (47:50) comes on the program. Closing out the show, is UFC welterweight, Ramiz Brahimaj (1:02:59).
Weili Zhang explains how Chris Weidman’s leg injury factored into her performance against Rose Namajunas at UFC 261
Adam D Martin - August 17, 2021
Former UFC champion Weili Zhang explained how Chris Weidman’s leg injury factored into her performance against Rose Namajunas at UFC 261. Zhang was starched with a high kick in the first round of her first UFC women’s strawweight title defense in the co-main event of UFC 261. It was a quick and brutal ending to Zhang’s short-lived reign as the champion, but according to “Magnum,” there are more reasons why she lost than just Namajunas being the better fighter that night. According to Zhang in a recent interview in the documentary “My Bronze Age,” she lost focus on her fight with Namajunas because, just two fights earlier, Weidman snapped his leg against Uriah Hall. According to the former champ, she couldn’t remain focused after that incident.
Michael Bisping urges Dustin Poirier to fight Charles Oliveira, not Nate Diaz: “Keep your eye on the prize baby boy”
Adam D Martin - August 17, 2021
Michael Bisping urged Dustin Poirier to fight Charles Oliveira and not Nate Diaz, telling him to “keep your eye on the prize baby boy.” Poirier is currently the No. 1 contender in the UFC lightweight division and is next in line to fight the champion, Charles Oliveira, hopefully at the end of the year. However, “The Diamond” has recently been going back-and-forth with Diaz on social media, leading to speculation that he could be pursuing a fight with the Stockton native instead. However, if you ask Bisping, Poirier would be making a mistake if he chooses to fight Diaz next instead.
Darren Till plans to finish Derek Brunson in round one and establish himself as a true contender
Harry Kettle - August 17, 2021
UFC middleweight contender Darren Till believes he’ll beat Derek Brunson in the first round of their upcoming main event clash. It’s been over a year since we last saw “The Gorilla” over on Fight Island when he lost a close decision to former champion Robert Whittaker. Now, after his return bout against Marvin Vettori earlier this year was cancelled, he’s ready to get back into the Octagon on September 4 to meet the in-form Derek Brunson.
Dustin Poirier names two candidates as likely next opponents
Andrew Whitelaw - August 16, 2021
Dustin Poirier has put himself in the perfect position to name his next opponent. The Louisiana-native has amassed one of the most impressive records in the game including back-to-back stoppage wins against Conor McGregor in his last two fights. With two clashes in their trilogy currently standing in the top-5 highest-selling UFC pay-per-views ever; there will always be an argument for Poirier and McGregor running the fight back for a fourth time.
Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson says he'd like to 'slap some sense' into Conor McGregor
Andrew Whitelaw - August 16, 2021
As one of the first major crossover stars in MMA, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson knows what it’s like to be under the constant glare of public scrutiny. Accordingly, he’s in a good position to empathise with the sport’s current biggest star – Conor McGregor. The former UFC and Pride champion appeared on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour this week and gave his opinion on the Irishman and some of his past incidents.
Yana Kunitskaya announces pregnancy a month after Irene Aldana loss
Drake Riggs - August 16, 2021
Yana Kunitskaya is going to be taking some time away from the octagon. The No. 6 ranked UFC bantamweight contender teased her pregnancy on Sunday. On April 1, Kunitskaya and her partner, UFC light heavyweight Thiago Santos, announced a fake pregnancy for April Fool’s Day. MMA Fighting has confirmed that this time the announcement is legitimate.
Israel Adesanya "100 percent" believes fight with Jon Jones happens
Cole Shelton - August 16, 2021
Israel Adesanya still believes he will fight Jon Jones sometime in the future. Adesanya and Jones had a feud in 2019 and 2020 and many thought a fight between them would happen. However, in March of this year, Adesanya lost a decision to Jan Blachowicz, and many thought that ended hope of the scrap happening as it provided a blueprint for “Bones” to win.
Dan Hooker returns at UFC 266 against rising contender Nasrat Haqparast
Cole Shelton - August 16, 2021
Dan Hooker will be making his return to the Octagon at UFC 266 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Multiple sources have informed BJPENN.com that Hooker will face Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266 on September 25 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Contracts have already been sent out for the fight, the sources said.