MMA News
Tyron Woodley reacts to Jake Paul boxing match booking: "Easiest fight of my career"
Adam D Martin - June 1, 2021
Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley reacted to the Jake Paul boxing match booking, calling it the “Easiest fight of my career.” Woodley vs. Paul takes place on August 28 on Showtime PPV as the fight was officially announced on Tuesday. Following the announcement of the matchup, Woodley spoke to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani and provided a comment about the fight. According to “The Chosen One,” he views this as the easiest fight and the biggest payday of his combat sports career.
Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley boxing match officially announced for August 28
Adam D Martin - June 1, 2021
The highly-anticipated Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley boxing match has been officially announced for August 28 and will air live on Showtime PPV. Paul and Woodley have been connected to a potential boxing match ever since Paul knocked out Woodley’s longtime friend and teammate Ben Askren in April. The two were able to strike a deal and they will meet on August 28 on Showtime. On Tuesday, Paul took to his social media to officially reveal the fight against Woodley, and talk some trash, too.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 39 with Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Marcin Tybura, Brian Maxwell, and Youssef Zalal
Cole Shelton - June 1, 2021
The 39th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 28 and Mayweather vs. Paul. We’re first joined by one-half the main event in sixth-ranked heavyweight, Jairzinho Rozenstruik (2:23). Next, 11th-ranked heavyweight and one-half of the co-main event in Marcin Tybura (12:20) comes on. BKFC fighter and pro boxer, Brian Maxwell (23:00) joins the show. Closing out the program is UFC featherweight, Youssef Zalal (38:39).
Shogun Rua wants to fight two more times and then retire from MMA
Adam D Martin - June 1, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Shogun Rua says that he wants to fight two more times inside the Octagon before he hangs up his gloves. Shogun hasn’t fought since UFC 255 last November when he suffered a stoppage loss to Paul Craig. Following that defeat, UFC president Dana White hinted that the former PRIDE star had retired from MMA. But according to the Brazilian himself, he is not officially retired yet. In fact, the 39-year-old legend of the sport says that he still wants to fight twice more.
Albert Tumenov comes to bat for GSP against Colby Covington: “Have you forgotten how I beat you in American Top Team sparring?”
Harry Kettle - June 1, 2021
Former UFC fighter Albert Tumenov has defended Georges St-Pierre after Colby Covington claimed the legend would be an “easy” fight for him. Tumenov was with the UFC between 2014 and 2016, accumulating a 5-3 record in that time. He was released after two consecutive submission losses to Gunnar Nelson and Leon Edwards, but since then, he’s gone on a five-fight win streak and won the ACA Welterweight Championship.
Chael Sonnen responds to Ali Abdelaziz’s claim that he will be the next opponent for Jake Paul: “I’ll beat Iron Mike, Jake Paul and T-Wood all in the same night”
Harry Kettle - June 1, 2021
Chael Sonnen has joked about the idea of him entering the world of celebrity boxing to take on the likes of Jake Paul. Sonnen was the king of trash talk back in his UFC days and even now, he likes to throw out the occasional joke from time to time either on social media or through his YouTube channel.
Rule changes and lightweight title fight announced for RIZIN 28
Drake Riggs - May 31, 2021
RIZIN 28 is the return to the Tokyo Dome for the great sport of MMA and Japan’s premier organization. The centerpiece of the next two RIZIN events is undeniably the big 16-man bantamweight Grand Prix tournament. The action begins with four opening round bouts on this first June 13 card while things conclude on the 27th in Osaka at RIZIN 29. But first, there needs to be some rounding out for the big show in PRIDE’s old stomping grounds.
Ali Abdelaziz claims Chael Sonnen is facing Jake Paul next, not Tyron Woodley, 'Winner is going to take on Mike Tyson'
Drake Riggs - May 31, 2021
Anything Jake Paul-related practically guarantees shenanigans. After his next fight announcement today, Ali Abdelaziz provided even more. The news came out Monday that Paul will have his fourth career pro boxing match. To the surprise of no one, it was yet again a non-boxer revealed as his would-be opponent.
Stipe Miocic is "100 percent" confident he can beat Francis Ngannou in potential trilogy: "I know what I did wrong"
Cole Shelton - May 31, 2021
Stipe Miocic knows he has what it takes to beat Francis Ngannou. At UFC 260, Miocic suffered a second-round KO loss to Ngannou to lose his heavyweight title. Since then, he has been in the gym training and has talked about wanting the trilogy. Although Ngannou is likely to face Derrick Lewis next, Miocic says he wants the trilogy fight as he knows he can get the win.
Jake Paul set to box former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley
Cole Shelton - May 31, 2021
Jake Paul has his next boxing fight booked and he will face a former UFC champion in Tyron Woodley. After Paul knocked out Ben Askren in April, several MMA fighters and celebrities had called out the brash YouTuber. Woodley was among those calling for the fight and now according to The Athletic’s Mike Coppinger the fight is agreed to for a date not yet known.
Deiveson Figueiredo confident he will finish Brandon Moreno at UFC 263: "I'm going to knock this guy out"
Adam D Martin - May 31, 2021
UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo is confident he will finish Brandon Moreno at UFC 263, saying “I’m going to knock this guy out.” Figueiredo and Moreno meet in a rematch at next weekend’s UFC 263 with 125lbs gold on the line. The two rivals previously met at UFC 256 in December, with the pair fighting to a majority draw after a low blow cost Figueiredo one point on the judges’ scorecards. The hope is that the two will now be able to settle their differences at UFC 263 and the winner of the fight will prove beyond a doubt they are the best active flyweight on the UFC roster.
Sean Woodson expects to finish Youssef Zalal to "prove I belong" in the UFC: "I have a chip on my shoulder"
Cole Shelton - May 31, 2021
Sean Woodson is looking to remind UFC fans that he’s a problem in the featherweight division. Woodson came into the UFC at 6-0 after winning a flying knee KO over Terrance McKinney on the Contender Series. In his debut, he earned a decision win over Kyle Bochniak. In his second appearance, he took on short-notice replacement Julian Erosa. Early on, he had success but in the third round he lost by submission for his first career loss. Although it was disappointing, he says it was a good learning experience.
Leon Edwards confident he will finish Nate Diaz at UFC 263: "He's not no invincible man"
Adam D Martin - May 31, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards is confident that he will finish Nate Diaz at UFC 263, suggesting that “he’s not no invincible man.” Edwards and Diaz meet in a five-round fight on the UFC 263 main card, which takes place on June 13 in Phoenix, Arizona. The two welterweights were supposed to meet last month at UFC 262, but the fight was postponed due to a minor training injury suffered by Diaz. Thankfully, the UFC was able to get the fight re-booked quickly and we’ll see it in just two weeks. On paper, it’s a great fight and the winner could very well be in line for a title shot.
Rob Font lays out UFC plan: Fight winner of TJ Dillashaw vs. Cory Sandhagen, then fight for the belt
Adam D Martin - May 31, 2021
UFC bantamweight Rob Font laid out his plan, which including fighting winner of TJ Dillashaw vs. Cory Sandhagen, then fighting for the belt. Font is coming off of the biggest win of his UFC career to date, a five-round unanimous decision victory over former champ Cody Garbrandt at UFC Vegas 27. With four wins in a row and a top-three ranking at 135lbs, Font knows that he is coming up on a title shot in the stacked UFC bantamweight division, and speaking to TMZ Sports, he laid out his plan.
Teofimo Lopez praises Jorge Masvidal: "I like his style and I like his swag"
Adam D Martin - May 31, 2021
Boxing superstar Teofimo Lopez praised UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal, saying that he’s a big fan of the way “Gamebred” conducts himself. Lopez puts his lightweight belt on the line in June when he takes on George Kambosos Jr. With a 16-0 record as a professional boxer and coming off of an upset win over Vasyl Lomachenko, Lopez’s star has never been brighter. Ahead of his upcoming fight, Lopez was a guest on the “1, 2 with James and Kendrick” podcast and he was asked what he thinks about MMA fighters. Speaking to the hosts, Lopez was quick to point out that he’s a big fan of Masvidal, the UFC fighter who exploded into a true superstar over the last few years.
Alexander Volkanovski believes COVID-19 symptoms may still be affecting cardio
Adam D Martin - May 31, 2021
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski believes COVID-19 symptoms may still be affecting cardio as he prepares for his next fight. Volkanovski is currently set to coach The Ultimate Fighter 29 opposite divisional rival Brian Ortega. The show begins airing on June 1, and the coaches’ fight is expected to happen this fall. However, it is worth noting that this fight was originally set to take place at UFC 260 in March. The fight didn’t end up happening because Volkanovski got COVID-19 and the fight had to be canceled, so the UFC went ahead and had the two coach TUF while he got better.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk shoots down the idea of a UFC rematch between Carla Esparza and Rose Namajunas
Adam D Martin - May 31, 2021
Joanna Jedrzejczyk has shot down the idea of a title fight rematch between Carla Esparza and UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas. Jedrzejczyk hasn’t fought since UFC 248 in March 2020, when she lost a spirited split decision to former champ Weili Zhang in one of the best fights of last year. Since then, the Polish fighter hasn’t stepped back into the Octagon, but she is hoping to return to the cage later this year, and she has been adamant that she fights for the belt when she returns. However, Esparza’s recent TKO win over Yan Xiaonan would indicate she’s next in line.
Zabit Magomedsharipov "will not return to the Octagon" until health problems are resolved
Adam Martin - May 30, 2021
The manager for UFC featherweight Zabit Magomedsharipov says he “will not return to the Octagon” until his health problems are resolved. Magomedsharipov was one of the top-five ranked featherweights on the UFC roster but he was taken out of the rankings earlier this year due to inactivity, as his last fight was a decision win over Calvin Kattar in November 2019. Since then, Magomedsharipov has been connected to numerous fights with rival Yair Rodriguez, but the fight never materialized due to COVID-19 logistical issues, injuries, and Rodriguez’s issues with USADA. It’s led to an extended layoff for Magomedsharipov, and he recently said he was considering retiring.