MMA News
Cristiano Ronaldo: I would rather watch UFC or boxing than football
Adam Martin - December 15, 2020
Global sporting icon Cristiano Ronaldo says that he would rather watch a UFC fight or a boxing bout than watch a football match. Ronaldo, the Portugal native who is one of the greatest footballers in the world, spoke about his love for combat sports ahead of this weekend’s boxing match between Gennadiy Golovkin and Kamil Szeremeta. The Juventus forward spoke on “Parallel Worlds” on DAZN and admitted that although football is his passion in life, he doesn’t enjoy watching it as much as he enjoys watching the UFC or boxing. Check out what Ronaldo said (via ESPN).
Jacare Souza issues statement after KO loss to Kevin Holland: "I will be back stronger"
Tom Taylor - December 15, 2020
Brazilian MMA legend Jacare Souza has released a statement after finding himself on the receiving end of a highlight-reel knockout last weekend. Jacare, the former Strikeforce middleweight champion, returned to the cage on the main card of UFC 256 last Saturday in Las Vegas. While he was originally expected to fight Marvin Vettori on the card, a series of COVID-19-related shakeups resulted in his being matched up with Kevin Holland at the last minute.
UFC Vegas 17 loses fight as positive test for COVID-19 forces Belal Muhammad off card
Adam Martin - December 15, 2020
This Saturday’s UFC Vegas 17 card has lost a fight as welterweight Belal Muhammad announced he has tested positive for COVID-19. Muhammad was set to take on Dhiego Lima at UFC Vegas 17, the final UFC event of the year, in a battle between two welterweights currently riding three-fight win streaks. Muhammad was lined as a big betting favorite by the sportsbooks for this matchup but he will have to wait a bit to fight Lima as the fight has been postponed due to Muhammad’s positive COVID-19 test. The welterweight himself announced the news Tuesday on Twitter.
Jake Paul ducked Yoel Romero fight, claims manager
Tom Taylor - December 15, 2020
MMA manager Malki Kawa claims YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul turned down a fight with one of his star clients, Yoel Romero. Paul has been the talk of the combat sports world after he picked up a brutal knockout victory over former NBA star Nate Robinson on the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. undercard last month.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 23 with Stephen Thompson, Geoff Neal, Marlon Vera, Rob Font, Khaos Williams, and Maycee Barber
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2020
The 23rd episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 17. We’re first joined by one-half of the UFC Vegas 17 main event, Stephen Thompson (3:16). Next, the other fighter in the main event, Geoff Neal (23:26) stops by. UFC bantamweight, Marlon Vera (39:56) comes on. Next, UFC bantamweight, Rob Font (54:15) joins the program. Then, UFC welterweight, Khaos Williams (1:05:58) joins the show. Closing out the program is UFC flyweight, Maycee Barber (1:16:06).
Kevin Holland has no plans to slow down: “I guess we will have to do 6 fights in 2021”
Harry Kettle - December 15, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Kevin Holland is planning for a big year in 2021 after a sensational five wins in 2020. While some aren’t including him in the discussion for Fighter of the Year, there’s no way of denying that Holland has been able to transform himself into a legitimate divisional contender between May and December with wins over highly regarded foes like Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, Darren Stewart and Joaquin Buckley.
Photo | Jorge Masvidal shares photo of Colby Covington giving props to LeBron James on social media
Harry Kettle - December 15, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal has taken a shot at rival Colby Covington’s feud with LeBron James in a recent social media post. Masvidal and Covington, who used to be close friends and training partners, are now expected to square off in early 2021 with the expectation being that the winner will get another crack at divisional champion Kamaru Usman later in the year.
PFL champ Kayla Harrison to fight once more in 2020
Tom Taylor - December 15, 2020
Reigning PFL women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison will compete one more time before she closes the door on the year 2020. Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, steps into the Titan FC cage this Thursday to face Jozette Cotton. The bout takes place from the Intercontinental Hotel in Miami and streams live on UFC Fight Pass.
Photo | Max Griffin shows off tattoo of opponent's torn ear
Drake Riggs - December 14, 2020
UFC welterweight veteran Max Griffin earned a rather gruesome TKO victory in his last time out. And to commemorate the win, he decided to get some ink done. At UFC Vegas 13 in November, Griffin battled it out with promotional newcomer Ramiz Brahimaj. After going toe-to-toe for the first two rounds, Griffin put an exclamation point on the fight two minutes into the third.
Former UFC champ Cody Garbrandt has some choice words for Jake Paul
Adam Martin - December 14, 2020
Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt joined Nate Diaz in directing some choice words toward YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Diaz took a shot at Paul on Monday, just hours after Paul had taken a shot at UFC superstar Conor McGregor, calling him out in a video posted to his social media. Paul has no MMA fights, but after his viral KO of Nate Robinson in boxing was heard around the world, plenty of athletes in MMA and other sports, not to mention celebrities, have called him out for a money fight. Paul has said that his goal is to get a fight with McGregor and that he is dedicating his life to beating him. But so far McGregor has ignored him.
Nate Diaz destroys Jake Paul over his recent callouts of UFC fighters
Drake Riggs - December 14, 2020
Jake Paul is starting to make some noise in the combat sports world. But not everyone is taking kindly to his words. We can now, unsurprisingly, add Nate Diaz to that mix. The 23-year-old YouTube sensation and younger brother of Logan made a callout of Conor McGregor on Monday. Stating that the Irishman was “scared” and needed to “sign the contract”.
Tony Ferguson issues statement following UFC 256 loss to Charles Oliveira
Adam D Martin - December 14, 2020
Former interim lightweight champ Tony Ferguson has issued a statement following his unanimous decision defeat at UFC 256 to Charles Oliveira. Despite entering the contest as the betting favorite to get his hand raised, Ferguson suffered a one-sided defeat as Oliveira pretty much dominated the former interim champ for the full 15 minutes of the bout. Oliveira had the upper hand in the striking department and proved to be the superior wrestler as well, as he dominated Ferguson for 15 minutes en route to a unanimous decision victory. It’s eight straight wins in a row now for Oliveira, while for Ferguson the loss was his second straight defeat.
Dana White says Charles Oliveira is "without a doubt" one of the top three lightweights in the world
Adam Martin - December 14, 2020
UFC president Dana White says that Charles Oliveira is “without a doubt one of the top three lightweights in the world right now.” Oliveira had a brilliant performance at UFC 256 this past weekend, as he completely dominated former interim UFC lightweight champ Tony Ferguson for 15 minutes. Oliveira has now won eight straight fights and is banging on the door of a title shot. The Brazilian said that he believes UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will stay true to his retirement after he was told he swore on his father’s grave, so Oliveira is now targeting the winner of UFC 257’s Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier.
Scott Coker reacts to the news Yoel Romero has signed with Bellator
Adam Martin - December 14, 2020
Bellator president Scott Coker reacted to the news that former UFC middleweight title contender Yoel Romero has signed with Bellator. On Monday, it was announced that Bellator had signed Romero to its roster, and the Cuban will compete in the promotion’s light heavyweight division. Romero joins Anthony Johnson and Corey Anderson as recent additions to the organization’s 205lbs weight class, which Coker has called the best light heavyweight division on the planet. Bellator has quite a bit of momentum behind the organization right now so it’s no wonder how excited Coker is for the future of his promotion in 2021 and onward.
Kamaru Usman "will go down as one of the all-time greats" when he retires, says Dana White
Cole Shelton - December 14, 2020
UFC president, Dana White has high expectations for the current welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman. When Usman was making his run up the welterweight division, White criticized him a ton. He called him boring and ripped him apart when Usman said he only fought at 30 percent when he defeated Emil Meek. However, since then, “The Nigerian Nightmare” has dominated opponents like Tyron Woodley and Jorge Masvidal. The champ also had a fantastic fight with Colby Covington in what was one of the best fights of 2019.
Jake Paul claims Conor McGregor is "scared to fight," tells the Irishman to "sign the contract"
Cole Shelton - December 14, 2020
Jake Paul claims he has sent Conor McGregor a $50 million contract for them to box. Before Paul fought Nate Robinson, he mentioned Conor McGregor and Ben Askren as future opponents. However, he only intensified the callouts of McGregor following his KO win over Robinson.
Max Holloway willing to fight Alex Volkanovski 100 times to prove "I'm the better guy"
Cole Shelton - December 14, 2020
Max Holloway knows he is better than Alex Volkanovski. Holloway and Volkanovski, of course, fought at UFC 245 and 251 with Volkanovski winning both by decision. However, at UFC 251, the champ edged out a split decision but many thought Holloway won.
Yoel Romero vs. Anthony Johnson opening betting odds revealed
Adam Martin - December 14, 2020
The opening betting odds have been revealed for a potential light heavyweight bout in Bellator between Yoel Romero and Anthony Johnson. On Monday, Bellator announced that Romero is the latest member of the promotion’s roster. Unlike in the UFC, where Romero competed at 185lbs, he will move back up to 205lbs for his move to Bellator, the same weight class he competed at back in the Strikeforce days. It was in Strikeforce where he worked with current Bellator president Scott Coker, who last week announced he had signed Anthony Johnson to Bellator.