MMA News
Ben Askren reacts to Jake Paul’s latest MMA Chronicles troll job
Harry Kettle - February 24, 2021
Former UFC star Ben Askren has responded to Jake Paul’s latest MMA Chronicles skit in the build-up to their boxing fight on April 17. The two unlikely foes are set to meet inside the squared circle with Paul attempting to use this fight as a springboard towards an even bigger contest – potentially against Nate Diaz or Conor McGregor.
Daniel Cormier shares prediction for Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya title fight at UFC 259
Harry Kettle - February 24, 2021
Daniel Cormier has given his thoughts on the upcoming Light Heavyweight Championship bout between Jan Blachowicz and Israel Adesanya. The two men will meet at UFC 259 in a fight that will see Blachowicz defend his newly won belt for the very first time. Adesanya, on the other hand, will be attempting to join an elite group of fighters to hold two belts in the UFC at the very same time.
400-pound Zuluzinho loses fight after nearly finishing opponent in Russia
Drake Riggs - February 23, 2021
In the typical fashion of a Zuluzinho fight, especially in 2021, there was some weirdness. Taking place in Russia, the PRIDE FC vet earned his 10th career loss. At AMC Fight Nights: Sochi after three rounds of action against unbeaten 5-0-1 Yusup Shuaev, the 400-pounder connected with a big punch to drop his opponent. Immediately celebrating, little did Zuluzinho know that the fight hadn’t been stopped.
Michael Chandler offers support to Dan Hooker, believes they will fight again in the future
Cole Shelton - February 23, 2021
Michael Chandler has offered his support to Dan Hooker. Hooker recently posted on social media that he is back in New Zealand but in quarantine. He shared a photo of him behind the fence with his wife and daughter looking at him. It was a sad photo and what made it worse is the fact he still has another 12 days to go in quarantine, despite already being away from his family for 44 days.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik plans to "shine" against "phenomenal" Ciryl Gane in UFC Vegas 20 main event
Cole Shelton - February 23, 2021
Jairzinho Rozenstruik has heard all the talk about Ciryl Gane being a future UFC heavyweight champion. Rozenstruik and Gane were originally supposed to be the co-main event on March 13 but were moved to the main event this weekend. It’s an intriguing matchup and for Rozenstruik fighting two weeks earlier isn’t that big of a deal.
Curtis Blaydes releases statement following nasty knockout loss to Derrick Lewis at UFC Vegas 19
Adam D Martin - February 23, 2021
UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes released a statement following his nasty knockout loss to Derrick Lewis at Saturday’s UFC Vegas 19. Blaydes was a massive betting favorite heading into the UFC Vegas 19 main event against Lewis, and for the first round at least, he appeared to be the better fighter. Blaydes didn’t even need to use his wrestling in the first round as he was able to outstrike Lewis and take the first round. However, the second round would prove to be a different beast. After attempting a takedown, Lewis connected on a gigantic uppercut which knocked his opponent to the floor, where he landed two follow-up shots before the referee stepped in.
Alex Oliveira gets short-notice replacement opponent for UFC Vegas 20 as Ramazan Kuramagomedov fills in
Adam Martin - February 23, 2021
UFC welterweight Alex Oliveira will stay on Saturday’s UFC Vegas 20 card after all, with Ramazan Kuramagomedov stepping up on short notice. Oliveira was originally set to take on Randy Brown in what would have been an exciting bout between two fan favorites. Unfortunately for Oliveira, his status on this weekend’s card was up in the air while the UFC sought out a new opponent. Thankfully, the UFC matchmakers got Kuramagomedov to step up on short notice. The Russian will now make his UFC debut this Saturday against Oliveira, with MMAjunkie.com first reporting the news.
Daniel Cormier offers Dana White advice about Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement: "Keep trying"
Tom Taylor - February 23, 2021
Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier believes Dana White should keep trying to convince Khabib Nurmagomedov to fight again. Nurmagomedov, the UFC lightweight champ, announced his retirement after an October submission victory over Justin Gaethje. Despite the champ’s retirement announcement, UFC President Dana White has been determined to convince him to fight again.
Photo | Dan Hooker finally back in New Zealand, but still not reunited with family
Adam Martin - February 23, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker is finally back home in his native New Zealand, but he has still not been reunited with his family. Hooker traveled to Fight Island in Abu Dhabi to fight Michael Chandler at UFC 257 on January 23. Unfortunately for Hooker, things did not go well for him that night as he suffered a brutal first-round knockout loss. To make matters worse, Hooker has still not been able to reunite with his family a month since that fight. His home country of New Zealand has very strict quarantine rules and right now Hooker is still waiting to get to hug his wife and daughter. Taking to his social media, “The Hangman” posted a very emotional photo of him standing outside of a fence while his family appears on the other side of it.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 29 with Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Alexander Hernandez, and Dustin Jacoby
Cole Shelton - February 23, 2021
The 29th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 20. var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_22657760", "obj": {"id":"22947","width":"100%","height":"","video":"723957"} });
PFL announces first-round featherweight, lightweight matchups, including debut of Anthony Pettis
Tom Taylor - February 23, 2021
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced the first-round matchups for its featherweight and lightweight seasons—including the league debut of former UFC and WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. The league unveiled its first-round featherweight and lightweight fights, all of which will go down on the PFL 1 event on April 23, on Tuesday morning.
Jake Paul trolls Dana White, McGregor, Khabib in latest round of impressions
Tom Taylor - February 23, 2021
Jake Paul is back with another round of impressions, and this time, he’s targeting Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, and a host of other MMA stars. Paul became a star on YouTube, but has since become a fixture of the combat sports industry thanks to a handful of high-profile boxing matches.
Daniel Cormier argues Derrick Lewis hits harder than Francis Ngannou
Tom Taylor - February 23, 2021
Former UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier believes Derrick Lewis is potentially a harder puncher than Francis Ngannou. Lewis and Ngannou, the UFC’s No. 1 and 2-ranked heavyweights, are widely accepted as the hardest punchers in mixed martial arts at present. Deciding which man punches harder, however, has been the subject of much debate among fight fans.
Tyron Woodley names "the toughest opponent" he's ever faced: "I threw up so bad after this fight"
Tom Taylor - February 23, 2021
Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has identified the toughest opponent he’s ever faced in mixed martial arts competition. While Woodley has shared the cage with fighters like Colby Covington, Gilbert Burns, Kamaru Usman, Darren Till, Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Robbie Lawler, Rory MacDonald, Carlos Condit, Josh Koscheck and Nate Marquardt, he says his toughest foe to date was American Top Team veteran Nathan Coy.
TJ Dillashaw makes picks for Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling
Tom Taylor - February 23, 2021
Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw has made his prediction for the upcoming bantamweight title fight between Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling. Yan, the reigning UFC bantamweight champion, will attempt to defend his title against Sterling, the No. 1 contender, at UFC 259 on March 6. Ahead of the card, Dillashaw is preparing to return from a two-year suspension due to a United States Anti-Doping Agency suspension, and will therefore be watching the action closely.
Phil Baroni slams UFC lightweights Justin Gaethje and Donald Cerrone: “When the going gets tough they get tapping”
Harry Kettle - February 23, 2021
MMA veteran Phil Baroni has taken aim at UFC lightweights Justin Gaethje and Donald Cerrone for their defeats to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. Baroni is well known for being an outspoken figure on social media and based on recent evidence, it doesn’t seem as if that’ll stop being the case anytime soon.
Dana White tells Yana Kunitskaya she 'absolutely, positively won' against Ketlen Vieira at UFC Vegas 19
Drake Riggs - February 22, 2021
UFC Vegas 19 got off to a hot start with a plethora of awesome finishes, and it would end the night on the same note. However, directly before the main event, there was some controversy at bantamweight — UFC President Dana White believes the judges got things right. At 135-pounds, top-ranked contenders Ketlen Vieira and Yana Kunitskaya took centerstage. After a competitive grappling heavy contest that saw round-by-round momentum shifts, “Foxy” would come out on top (literally) and get her hand raised by unanimous decision.
Kevin Lee wants to run it back with Tony Ferguson: "He's at the top of the list"
Adam Martin - February 22, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Kevin Lee says he wants to run it back with Tony Ferguson when he returns to the Octagon later this year. Lee has not competed since last March when he was submitted by Charles Oliveira in the main event of the last UFC card before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. He had double surgery after the fight, and after missing a full year of action, he’s ready to return to the Octagon in the coming months. And when he makes his return, he wants to rematch Ferguson.