MMA News
UFC 263 | Pro fighters make their picks for Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - June 9, 2021
In the co-main event of UFC 263, Deiveson Figueiredo looks to defend his flyweight title as he rematches Brandon Moreno. Heading into the fight, Figueiredo is a -230 favorite while the challenger is a +185 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The majority believe it will be Figueiredo defending his belt this time around.
Anthony Pettis pulled from PFL 4 due to illness, gets new opponent for PFL 6
Adam D Martin - June 9, 2021
Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis has been pulled from Thursday’s PFL 4 card due to illness, and will now fight at PFL 6 instead. Pettis was set to fight Alex Martinez in his second regular-season fight for PFL after losing a unanimous decision to Clay Collard in his promotional debut in April. However, AG Fight is now reporting that Pettis is out of the fight due to illness. Instead, defending PFL lightweight champion Natan Schulte will now fight Pettis’ opponent Martinez on Thursday night, and Pettis will return on June 25 when he takes on Schulte’s opponent Raush Manfio.
Dana White confirms winner of Nate Diaz vs. Leon Edwards gets title shot after Colby Covington
Adam D Martin - June 9, 2021
UFC president Dana White confirmed that the winner of Nate Diaz vs. Leon Edwards at UFC 263 gets the next title shot after Colby Covington. Diaz and Edwards go at it for five rounds or less this Saturday at UFC 263 in what is a huge fight in the UFC welterweight division. Coming off of a massive KO win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261, champion Kamaru Usman is currently awaiting his next challenger. We have heard several names mentioned, including Covington and Michael Chiesa, but the winner of the Diaz vs. Edwards fight would also be right up there when it comes to getting a title shot. In fact, according to White himself, the winner will be next up after Covington.
Vitor Belfort challenges both Jake Paul and Logan Paul to boxing matches on the same night
Adam D Martin - June 9, 2021
Mixed martial arts legend Vitor Belfort has issued a challenge to both Jake Paul and Logan Paul for boxing matches on the same night. Belfort, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, makes his return to boxing for the first time since 2006 when he takes on YouTuber Tarzann at the Triller Fight Club event on June 19. While Belfort is focused on his upcoming opponent, he can’t help but look ahead to more big paydays in boxing, and right now there isn’t a bigger payday than getting to fight the Paul brothers, Logan and Jake. Logan just had a big exhibition boxing match with Floyd Mayweather while Jake is lined up to fight Tyron Woodley next after beating Ben Askren in his last fight. As far as Belfort is concerned, he’s hoping to be next — for both.
Amanda Nunes calls out Kim Kardashian, Cris Cyborg responds
Adam D Martin - June 9, 2021
UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes called out celebrity Kim Kardashian, and former Cris Cyborg responded to it. UFC president Dana White recently did an interview where he was asked about Jake Paul and Logan Paul fighting in the world’s leading MMA promotion, and he compared it to bringing in Kardashian to fight Nunes. It was a humourous comment from White and not designed to be taken seriously, but Nunes has decided to run with it and made a post on her social media where she jokingly called out the television personality for a future fight.
Nate Diaz shares his thoughts on Francis Ngannou’s recent pay complaint: “You should’ve listened to your daddy years ago”
Adam D Martin - June 9, 2021
UFC star Nate Diaz shared his thoughts on Francis Ngannou’s recent pay complaint, saying “you should’ve listened to your daddy years ago.” Ngannou recently took to social media to ask what UFC fighters are doing wrong when YouTubers-turned-boxers such as Jake Paul and Logan Paul are making millions in boxing. Ngannou is far from the only UFC fighter to openly question fighter pay, but he is one of the most prominent as he’s the UFC heavyweight champion. In an interview with Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports, Diaz fired back at Ngannou for his recent pay complaints, suggesting that he should have listened to Diaz a long time ago when it came to the fighter pay in the UFC.
Ilir Latifi reveals he suffered multiple arm fractures in UFC win over Tanner Boser
Harry Kettle - June 9, 2021
UFC heavyweight Ilir Latifi has revealed he suffered multiple arm fractures during his UFC Vegas 28 win over Tanner Boser. Last Saturday night, Latifi was facing a possible release from the UFC off the back of three straight losses. However, instead of folding, he was able to dig deep and battle his way to a controversial split decision win over Boser.
Car crash forces alterations to UFC 263 lineup
Harry Kettle - June 9, 2021
A car crash has forced Frank Camacho off of this Saturday night’s UFC 263 card, as per reports. Camacho was initially scheduled to fight Matt Frevola in Glendale, Arizona as part of the UFC 263 event. Unfortunately, it’s now been revealed that a car crash has caused his withdrawal. While it doesn’t appear to have left him with serious injuries, it’s enough to get him off the card.
Israel Adesanya guarantees the judges won't be needed for his rematch against Marvin Vettori
Cole Shelton - June 8, 2021
Israel Adesanya still doesn’t understand how Marvin Vettori thought he won the first fight, but he plans on putting an exclamation mark on it on Saturday. In the main event of UFC 263, Adesanya will look to defend his middleweight title against Vettori in a rematch of their 2018 bout. It was “The Last Stylebender’s” second UFC fight and he edged out a split decision. Since then, Vettori claimed he won that fight, but at UFC 263, Adesanya plans to prove he’s better and wants to finish the Italian.
Leon Edwards says UFC 263 fight ends with Nate Diaz "out cold"
Cole Shelton - June 8, 2021
Leon Edwards has violent plans for Nate Diaz at UFC 263. Edwards and Diaz were supposed to fight at UFC 262 in a highly-anticipated bout. However, the Stockton native suffered a small injury and the bout was postponed to UFC 263 on Saturday. Although it’s on a card with two other title fights, the welterweight scrap will still be five rounds. Yet, Edwards is confident he won’t need five rounds, instead, he’s confident he will finish Diaz.
Walt Harris issues statement following TKO loss to Marcin Tybura at UFC Vegas 28: "I strayed away from the game plan and it cost me"
Adam D Martin - June 8, 2021
Walt Harris issued a statement after his TKO loss to Marcin Tybura at UFC Vegas 28, saying “I strayed away from the game plan and it cost me.” Harris and Tybura met in the co-main event of this past Saturday night’s UFC Vegas 28 event. Harris started off strongly in the fight as he rocked Tybura with punches and nearly finished him with a barrage of strikes up against the fence. However, Tybura was able to survive the storm, and after Harris got tired from throwing so many punches, Tybura was able to get him down to the mat, move into a dominant position, and finish him via TKO.
Brandon Moreno expects to "bully" Deiveson Figueiredo now that he knows what his power is like
Cole Shelton - June 8, 2021
Brandon Moreno left UFC 256 without the belt, but he gained a ton of confidence for his rematch against Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 263. In the main event of the pay-per-view card, Figueiredo and Moreno had one of the best fights of the year. It was a back-and-forth bout that ended in a draw and for Moreno, he says he feels much better now than he did back in December.
Dana White calls recent comments about fighter benefits plan a misunderstanding: "I actually responded to the wrong guy"
Adam D Martin - June 8, 2021
UFC president Dana White says recent comments about fighter benefits were a misunderstanding, saying “I actually responded to the wrong guy.” White recently responded to a comment on an Instagram post where a fan asked him if the UFC was considering a full-time benefits package for its athletes, and the UFC president responded positively when asked the question. Here’s how that exchange went down.
Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold grapple at RVCA Gym (Video)
Adam D Martin - June 8, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champions Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold, once bitter rivals, posted a video of them grappling at the RVCA Gym. Bisping and Rockhold fought twice in the Octagon and had one of the most heated rivalries in the UFC during their primes. In November 2014, Bisping and Rockhold met for the first time, with Rockhold winning the fight via second-round submission. They then rematched in June 2016 at UFC 199 and, in one of the greatest upsets in MMA history, Bisping knocked out Rockhold in the first round to take home the UFC middleweight title. Both men were not friendly with each other for many years after that, but as of late they have become more cordial as both men are now training at Jason Parillo’s RVCA Gym.
Alistair Overeem shares cryptic video following release from the UFC, returns to kickboxing
Adam D Martin - June 8, 2021
Former UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem shared a cryptic video following his release from the world’s leading MMA promotion. Overeem was released by the UFC in March following a knockout loss to Alexander Volkov. Along with his former rival Junior dos Santos, Overeem’s surprise cut saw the promotion lose one of the top-10 heavyweights on the roster. But given that he’s 41, coming off of a knockout loss, and makes a big salary, the UFC decided that the promotion was ready to move on from “The Reem” and it gave the MMA legend his release from his contract.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 40 with Brandon Moreno, Eryk Anders, Matt Frevola, Steven Peterson, and Frank Camacho
Cole Shelton - June 8, 2021
The 40th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC 263. We’re first joined by one-half of the co-main event and UFC flyweight title challenger, Brandon Moreno (2:24). Next, UFC middleweight/light heavyweight, Eryk Anders (17:03) joins the show. UFC lightweight, Matt Frevola (31:04) comes on. UFC featherweight, Steven Peterson (45:51) then joins the program. Closing out the show is UFC lightweight, Frank Camacho (56:58).
Marvin Vettori scores sponsorship with Dolce & Gabbana ahead of UFC 263 title fight
Harry Kettle - June 8, 2021
Marvin Vettori has secured a sponsorship deal with Dolce & Gabbana heading into his UFC 263 main event this Saturday. The news comes courtesy of his manager Ali Abdelaziz as “The Italian Dream” gears up for the most important fight of his life. He’ll be taking on Israel Adesanya, the man who beat him via split decision in an intriguing bout back in 2018, with the UFC middleweight title being on the line.
Dan Hardy has an opponent in mind for Logan Paul’s potential Bellator debut: “Get it done, Scott Coker!”
Harry Kettle - June 8, 2021
Former UFC commentator Dan Hardy believes Logan Paul’s first opponent in a potential Bellator debut should be Michael “Venom” Page. Paul is coming off the back of an eight-round boxing exhibition against Floyd Mayweather this past weekend. While he didn’t quite blow the world away, he definitely proved that he has a whole lot of heart as he managed to avoid being stopped by the 50-0 veteran.