MMA News

Nate Diaz
Nate Diaz

Nate Diaz will be the "number one contender" at welterweight if he beats Edwards, says Ali Abdelaziz

Cole Shelton - April 14, 2021

Nate Diaz is a win away from a welterweight title shot, according to Kamaru Usman’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz. In the co-main event of UFC 262 on May 15, Diaz is set to return to the Octagon against Leon Edwards in a highly-anticipated fight. The scrap will also be five rounds and according to Kamaru Usman’s manager, if Diaz wins, he would be the number one contender and get the next title shot.

Dustin Poirier
Dustin Poirier

Dustin Poirier regrets publicizing Conor McGregor donation issue: "I jumped the gun"

Cole Shelton - April 14, 2021

Dustin Poirier has apologized for bringing the Conor McGregor donation issue to the public. Over the past week, Poirier and McGregor had a heated back-and-forth after “The Diamond” claimed the Irishman never paid the $500k to his charity as he said he would. After some tweets at one another, Poirier issued a statement on the situation and apologized for bringing it to light.

Jake Paul, Ben Askren
Jake Paul

Jake Paul says Ben Askren will forfeit his entire purse if he uses MMA moves in the fight, "Funky" refutes claim

Cole Shelton - April 14, 2021

Jake Paul says there is strict vocabulary in their contract that will prohibit Ben Askren from using any MMA tactics in their fight. When Paul and Askren were booked, many wondered if “Funky” would accidentally shoot for a takedown or use some elbows or knees. However, according to the brash YouTuber, in the contract, if Askren does any MMA tactics in the fight, his entire purse would be forfeited.

UFC Vegas 24
Robert Whittaker

UFC Vegas 24: Whittaker vs. Gastelum full betting odds

Cole Shelton - April 14, 2021

Check out the complete betting odds for this Saturday’s UFC on Vegas 24 card featuring an intriguing middleweight bout between Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum. The UFC Vegas 24 main event sees Whittaker and Gastelum finally fight after they were supposed to meet in 2019 for the title but Whittaker was forced out of the fight on the day of the event. Whittaker is coming off back-to-back decision wins over Jared Cannonier and Darren Till to return to the win column after losing his belt to Israel Adesanya. Gastelum, meanwhile, returned to the win column last time out with a decision win over Ian Heinisch.

Justin-Wren
Dustin Poirier

Justin Wren rips Conor McGregor for not following through on donation to Dustin Poirier's charity

Adam D Martin - April 14, 2021

Former UFC and Bellator heavyweight Justin Wren ripped Conor McGregor for not following through on his donation to Dustin Poirier’s charity. Wren competed in MMA between 2006 and 2017 with one appearance in the UFC and three outings in Bellator. However, he did not compete at all between 2010 and 2015, as during that time Wren founded the “Fight For The Forgotten” where he traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo to help the Mbuti pygmy people build shelter and get fresh water. Wren’s charity work has been praised throughout the MMA community and he even co-wrote a book with MMA journalist Loretta Hunt titled “The Fight For The Forgotten: How a Mixed Martial Artist Stopped Fighting for Himself and Started Fighting for Others” in 2015.

Ben-Askren
Boxing News

Ben Askren hits the pads ahead of boxing match with Jake Paul on Saturday (Video)

Adam D Martin - April 14, 2021

Watch former UFC fighter-turned-boxer Ben Askren hit the pads ahead of his boxing match with Jake Paul on Saturday on Triller. Askren makes his highly-anticipated boxing debut this weekend when he takes on the YouTuber-turned-boxer in a high-profile boxing match. Askren came up as a wrestler in college before making the transition into mixed martial arts during the late 2000s. Since 2009, Askren has been competing at the highest level of the sport in both Bellator and in the UFC, racking up a 19-2, 1 NC record overall in MMA. However, after losing to Demian Maia and Robbie Lawler in the UFC in 2019, he decided to walk away, citing a hip issue.

Glover Teixeira
Jan Blachowicz

Glover Teixeira issues statement after title fight with Jan Blachowicz announced for UFC 266: "Hard work pays off"

Adam D Martin - April 14, 2021

UFC light heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira has issued a statement after his title fight with Jan Blachowicz was announced for UFC 266. Teixeira vs. Blachowicz will collide at UFC 266 with the 205lbs belt on the line. Soon after the fight with Teixeira and Blachowicz was announced, the veteran Brazilian took to social media to issue a statement about earning his second career UFC title shot. Read it below.

Drakkar Klose
Exclusive MMA Interviews

Drakkar Klose excited to "throw down" with Jeremy Stephens, says he'll drop down to featherweight after he finishes him

Cole Shelton - April 14, 2021

Drakkar Klose is eager to welcome Jeremy Stephens back up to lightweight. With Stephens on a five-fight winless streak, the 10th-ranked featherweight decided to move up to lightweight and will face Klose at UFC Vegas 24. For Klose, he is much more excited about this fight than his past couple.

Jan Blachowicz, UFC Prague
Jan Blachowicz

Jan Blachowicz vs. Glover Teixeira set for UFC 266

Adam D Martin - April 14, 2021

UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz will defend his title on September 4 when he fights No. 1 contender Glover Teixeira at UFC 266. Blachowicz defeated UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in his first title defense back at UFC 259 in March. Following the fight, UFC president Dana White made it clear that Teixeira would be next in line to fight for the belt. After Blachowicz requested six months off to rest and recover after the Adesanya fight, the promotion granted his wishes and he will return this fall when he takes on Teixeira for all the gold. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to report this Blachowicz vs. Teixeira fight. The venue or location has not been determined, but it seems likely that fans will be in attendance for this fight either way.

Jake Paul, Ben Askren
Boxing News

Pro fighters make their picks for Ben Askren vs. Jake Paul boxing match

Cole Shelton - April 14, 2021

On April 17, Ben Askren is ending his retirement to box YouTuber, Jake Paul in a highly-anticipated bout. Heading into the fight, Askren is a +145 underdog while the YouTuber is a -175 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the bout. The pros have a slight lean towards Ben Askren getting his hand raised, while some believe Paul will be able to walk through the UFC veteran.

Nina-Nunes
Nina Nunes

Nina Nunes issues statement following submission loss to Mackenzie Dern at UFC Vegas 23

Adam D Martin - April 14, 2021

UFC women’s strawweight contender Nina Nunes issued a statement following her first-round submission loss to Mackenzie Dern at UFC Vegas 23. Nunes entered the fight with Dern as the betting favorite, but she suffered a first-round defeat when Dern was able to get her down to the mat and tap her out with an armbar. For Nunes, it was her first fight in nearly two years due to becoming a mom, and the ring rust showed in the cage. However, she is still a top-10 ranked fighter in the women’s 115lbs division, and the loss won’t drop her too much in the women’s strawweight standings.

Big John McCarthy, Ariel Helwani, , Robbie Lawler, Ben Askren, Greg Hardy, Alistair Overeem
John McCarthy

John McCarthy criticizes ONE Championship referee who DQed Eddie Alvarez

Adam D Martin - April 14, 2021

Legendary MMA referee John McCarthy criticized the referee in ONE Championship who DQed Eddie Alvarez at ONE on TNT 1 last week. Referee Justin Brown took matters into his own hands when he handed Alvarez a red card and a DQ loss last Wednesday at ONE on TNT 1. In the fight, Alvarez took his opponent Iuri Lapicus to the ground and started to rain down punches on his face. However, his opponent slightly turned his head, which caused Alvarez to land one or two punches that might have hit his opponent in the back of the head. As his opponent was unable to continue and had to be stretchered out of the cage, the referee decided he had no choice but to DQ Alvarez.

UFC-264-Conor-McGregor-Dustin-Poirier
Dustin Poirier

Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 3 official for UFC 264 in Las Vegas

Adam D Martin - April 14, 2021

The lightweight trilogy match between rivals Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier is now official for the upcoming UFC 264 pay-per-view. On Wednesday morning, the UFC made it official that McGregor vs. Poirier will take place on July 10 at UFC 264. The fight will be contested at 155lbs and is set for five rounds or less. The promotion also revealed that the event will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fans can now pre-register for tickets for the fight. UFC president Dana White also said in another video that up to 20,000 fans will be in attendance for UFC 264.

Oscar-De-La-Hoya-Anthony-Pettis
Boxing News

Anthony Pettis wants to box after PFL run, explains Oscar De La Hoya situation

Drake Riggs - April 13, 2021

Former UFC champion Anthony Pettis has his hands full with the upcoming PFL season. However, the groundwork has already been laid for some boxing. After boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya recently announced his return to the ring, Pettis’ manager revealed that the Golden Boy Promotions founder had turned down “Showtime” as his opponent.

Sean O'Malley, Ben Askren
Sean O'Malley

Sean O'Malley calls out Petr Yan: "Wanna beat me up while you wait for your rematch?"

Adam Martin - April 13, 2021

UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley called out Petr Yan, asking him if you “wanna beat me up while you wait for your rematch?” Yan was widely expected to fight UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling in a rematch next, but the fight isn’t happening anytime soon after the new champ opted to get neck surgery. That means Sterling will be on the shelf until later this summer or fall, optimistically, which means that Yan may opt to take another fight in the meantime. Though it’s unlikely the UFC would strip Sterling of his title, it’s possible the promotion could opt to introduce an interim title. Either way, it does seem likely that Yan will fight someone else in the meantime. And if that’s the case, O’Malley wants it to be him.

Rafael dos Anjos
Rafael dos Anjos

Rafael dos Anjos says there's "not a better time than now" to book Conor McGregor fight for July 10

Cole Shelton - April 13, 2021

Rafael dos Anjos is hoping he can replace Dustin Poirier and face Conor McGregor on July 10. After McGregor and Poirier had a back-and-forth on social media due to the failed payment from McGregor’s to Poirier’s charity. Following the heated exchange, the Irishman claimed the fight was off and he would be facing someone else and Rafael dos Anjos hopes he is that opponent.

Jake Paul
Jake Paul

Jake Paul challenges Dustin Poirier to closed-door sparring to prove "how good I am"

Cole Shelton - April 13, 2021

Jake Paul is hoping to have a closed-door sparring session with Dustin Poirier. In the lead-up to Paul’s April 17 fight against Ben Askren, Poirier has taken some shots at the brash YouTuber. Since then, Paul has said he wanted to spar and train with Poirier, due to their mutual friendship with Jorge Masvidal, but that has yet to happen as of right now.

Gregor Gillespie
Gregor Gillespie

Gregor Gillespie booked against Diego Ferreira for UFC Fight Night event

Adam D Martin - April 13, 2021

An intriguing lightweight bout between Gregor Gillespie and Diego Ferreira has been added to the UFC Fight Night card on May 8. Gillespie was supposed to fight Brad Riddell last month, but the fight was scrapped on fight day when Riddell was pulled from the card due to COVID-19 protocols. Instead of re-booking that fight, the UFC matchmakers have gone and given Gillespie a new matchup against Ferreira in what is a battle between top-15 ranked lightweight. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to report the matchup, which will take place on the May 8 card headlined by TJ Dillashaw and Cory Sandhagen. The card will likely take place in Las Vegas.