MMA News
Dustin Poirier responds to Conor McGregor’s request for a trilogy fight: "We are going to do it a 3rd time"
Cole Shelton - February 3, 2021
Dustin Poirier remains confident he will have his trilogy with Conor McGregor. At UFC 257, Poirier and McGregor had a rematch over six years in the making. The first time they met, they fought at featherweight and it was McGregor winning by first-round knockout. However, in the rematch, it was Poirier who got the job done with a second-round knockout.
Conor McGregor admits he overlooked Dustin Poirier with eye on Manny Pacquiao boxing match
Adam Martin - February 3, 2021
UFC superstar Conor McGregor admitted he overlooked Dustin Poirier because he was already thinking about a boxing match with Manny Pacquiao. McGregor entered the rematch with Poirier as a big favorite, but he suffered a second-round knockout loss when Poirier was able to finish him with strikes. “The Diamond” came into the bout with a great gameplan of using low kicks to slow McGregor’s mobility, only to wear him out and then eventually go for the finish with punches. It was an amazing performance by Poirier, no doubt about it. But it was also a big disappointment seeing McGregor receive his first knockout loss in MMA.
Fabricio Werdum: I will submit Jon Jones in heavyweight superfight
Adam Martin - February 3, 2021
Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum says he would submit Jon Jones on the ground in a potential cross-promotional superfight. Werdum, who will take part in PFL’s upcoming third season, was the former UFC heavyweight champion, a title that Jones is hoping to soon win. In Werdum’s final fight in the UFC, he picked up a big upset win when he tapped out Jones’ former rival Alexander Gustafsson. Werdum then signed with PFL, where he hopes to win the $1-mllion dollar grand prize. While winning the PFL title is his current goal, he still has Jones on his mind for a future fight someday between the PFL and UFC champions.
Dominick Reyes injured, out of fight with Jiri Prochazka
Tom Taylor - February 3, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes has sustained an injury, and is out of his planned fight with Jiri Prochazka. Reyes was slated to fight Prochazka, the former RIZIN Fighting Federation light heavyweight champion, on February 28 in Las Vegas. According to a report from MMA Fighting, that unfortunately won’t be happening due to an undisclosed Reyes injury.
Chris Weidman shares plan for 2021: KO Uriah Hall and make a run at the belt
Adam Martin - February 3, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman says he plans to KO Uriah Hall at UFC 261 and make another run at the belt he once held. Weidman was supposed to fight Hall this weekend in the co-main event of UFC 258, but the fight was postponed until UFC 261 in April after Weidman caught COVID-19. Weidman was once the UFC middleweight champion and one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but it’s been a struggle for him the last few years. Though he got back into the win column against Omari Akhmedov in his last fight, Weidman had lost five of six fights by knockout before that much-needed win. Despite the losing skid, however, Weidman has remained confident the whole time.
Israel Adesanya will not put on extra weight or muscle ahead of 205lbs debut against Jan Blachowicz
Adam Martin - February 3, 2021
Israel Adesanya will not put on any extra weight or muscle ahead of his upcoming UFC light heavyweight title fight against Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, is moving up to light heavyweight to take on Blachowicz in a champion vs. champion superfight that headlines UFC 259. With Blachowicz being one of the biggest and strongest light heavyweights, many thought Adesanya would maybe want to bulk up and put on some extra weight or muscle for this 205lbs fight. However, that isn’t the case.
Vitor Belfort calls out Chris Jericho for cross-promotional match, Jericho responds
Adam Martin - February 3, 2021
ONE championship superstar Vitor Belfort called out AEW wrestler Chris Jericho for a cross-promotional match, and Jericho has now responded. Belfort, a former UFC champion, signed with ONE Championship a few years ago but he has yet to make his debut with the organization. He’s hoping to do so in the coming months, especially now that ONE Championship has a network television deal with TNT. The promotion kicks off the partnership on April 7, when Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Alvarez lead the pack on the network. Along with ONE, TNT is also the home to AEW wrestling, and Belfort believes that creates cross-promotion opportunities.
Joe Rogan lauds "excellent" Jake Paul ahead of fight with Ben Askren
Tom Taylor - February 3, 2021
Joe Rogan has some high praise for Jake Paul ahead of the YouTube star’s professional boxing match with former UFC fighter Ben Askren. Paul will meet Askren, who previously held the ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight titles, in an eight-round boxing match on April 17. The bout will be Paul’s third as a pro after stopping fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib and former NBA star Nate Robinson. Askren, meanwhile, will be making his pro boxing debut.
Chris Weidman opens up on battle with COVID-19: "I ended up losing 12 pounds"
Tom Taylor - February 3, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman has opened up on his battle with COVID-19, and it does not sound fun. Weidman had been expected to rematch fellow middleweight contender Uriah Hall at UFC 258 next weekend, but was unfortunately forced out of the fight when he tested positive for COVID-19. The matchup has been rescheduled April 24, and it sounds like the new date was very necessary.
Victoria Lee, 16-year-old sister of champs Angela and Christian, booked for ONE debut
Tom Taylor - February 3, 2021
Victoria Lee, the 16-year-old sister of ONE lightweight champion Christian Lee and atomweight champion Angela Lee, is set for her pro debut. The prospect will battle Sunisa Srisen at ONE: Fists of Fury on February 26 in Singapore. ONE Championship announced this bout, along with appearances from striking stars Ilias Ennahachi, Giorgio Petrosyan and Rodtang Jitmuangnon, on Wednesday.
Tito Ortiz to keep position as Huntington Beach Mayor Pro Tem
Tom Taylor - February 3, 2021
Former UFC champion Tito Ortiz will keep his position as Mayor Pro Tem of Huntington Beach, California. Ortiz was elected onto Huntington Beach City Council last year, and was subsequently selected to serve as the city’s Mayor Pro Tem, a role that puts him in position to serve as the city’s next mayor. Regrettably, his time in office has been marred by several high-profile blunders, primarily related to his refusal to wear a mask and his spreading of conspiracy theories.
Pro fighters make their picks for Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov
Cole Shelton - February 3, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 18, Alistair Overeem is looking to continue his final run to a heavyweight title shot as he battles Alexander Volkov. Heading into the fight, Overeem is a +155 underdog while the Russian is a -190 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. Maybe to some surprise, nearly all the pros have Overeem edging it out as he will mix in his striking and wrestling.
Petr Yan discusses his gameplan for upcoming fight with Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259
Harry Kettle - February 3, 2021
Petr Yan has discussed his planned strategy for his highly anticipated title fight against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259. The two men are set to meet for the UFC Bantamweight Championship in March on a card that will feature three title fights, although you could argue that this is the most personal out of the three.
Petr Yan: 'I don't know what happened to Aljamain Sterling's big mouth'
Drake Riggs - February 2, 2021
In the build-up to the long-awaited bantamweight showdown between champion Petr Yan and challenger Aljamain Sterling, there’s been no shortage of trash talk. However, things have gone a bit quieter on Sterling’s end in the eyes of Yan.
Justin Gaethje feels he's in a position where he needs a win, 'I'm no fool'
Drake Riggs - February 2, 2021
Justin Gaethje (22-3) suffered his third career defeat in his last outing against Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0). Now, “The Highlight” is ready to regroup. The encounter with “The Eagle” saw the 32-year-old Gaethje succumb to the lightweight king’s pressure thus leading to a second-round submission loss. When addressing the possibility of who could be next, Gaethje is aware of what would be most lucrative.
Alistair Overeem makes pick for Miocic vs Ngannou 2
Andrew Whitelaw - February 2, 2021
Alistair Overeem knows Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou well, having fought both of them. Ngannou will again look to wrench the UFC heavyweight title from Miocic when the pair meet at UFC 260 next month.
Diego Ferreira preparing for a "brawl" against Beneil Dariush, eyes Felder or RDA next
Cole Shelton - February 2, 2021
Diego Ferreira is excited to rematch Beneil Dariush. At UFC 179 in October of 2014, Dariush edged out a decision against Ferreira in a fight the Brazilian took on short notice. Since then, however, both men have become top-15 lightweights and the Fortis MMA product believes the rematch just makes sense.
Paige VanZant says the "door is open" for a return to MMA after BKFC
Cole Shelton - February 2, 2021
Paige VanZant is set to make her BKFC debut this Friday night but says she is open to a return to MMA. VanZant shocked many when she signed with BKFC after she fought out her contract with the UFC. Many thought she would sign with Bellator but she decided to go sans gloves. Although she will be the face of the promotion, VanZant revealed BKFC will allow her to take an MMA fight will under contract with them.