MMA News
Dan Hardy asks for release from UFC fighter contract, says 'I'd love to fight in Japan'
Drake Riggs - May 10, 2021
No longer under contract with the UFC as a commentator, former welterweight title challenger Dan Hardy now hopes to part ways as a fighter. Despite it nearly being 10 years since “The Outlaw” stepped foot inside the Octagon, Hardy still aims for a return to competition if possible. But first, he needs to be released from his UFC fighter contract.
UFC welterweight Alan Jouban announces his retirement
Drake Riggs - May 10, 2021
Alan Jouban announced Monday that his time as a fighter has come to an end. The UFC welterweight took to Twitter to share that he will be sticking to the analyst desk as he heads into retirement.
Dana White confirms Derrick Lewis is next for Francis Ngannou, provides update on Jon Jones
Christopher Taylor - May 10, 2021
UFC President Dana White confirmed on Monday that a rematch with Derrick Lewis will be next for Francis Ngannnou, this while providing an update on Jon Jones. Prior to March’s UFC 260 event, it was thought that the winner of Miocic vs. Ngannou 2 would be fighting ‘Bones’ in their next outing. However, shortly after ‘The Predator’ dethroned Stipe with a second round knockout, negotiations between Jones and the UFC quickly went south.
Kevin Lee says he's moving to welterweight for the foreseeable future, calls out Mike Perry
Cole Shelton - May 10, 2021
Kevin Lee is changing weight classes and has an opponent in mind for his return to the Octagon. After Lee suffered a submission loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC Brasilia in March of 2020, he said he would be away from MMA for a couple of years. He ended up tearing both of his knees which required by surgery, but “The Motown Phenom” is looking to return this summer at welterweight.
Report | Billy Joe Saunders fighting career in jeopardy following loss to Canelo Alvarez
Cole Shelton - May 10, 2021
Billy Joe Saunders suffered a severe eye injury in his loss to Canelo Alvarez and his career is now in jeopardy, according to a recent report. On Saturday night, Saunders and Alvarez took one step closer to unifying the 168-pound division. It was a massive fight and early on, Saunders had success. Yet, as the fight wore on, Alvarez started to go to the body and then landed a beautifully timed uppercut that landed flush on the eye of Saunders.
Donald Cerrone will get one more UFC fight at lightweight, says Dana White
Cole Shelton - May 10, 2021
Donald Cerrone will get another shot to end his winless streak. On Saturday night in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 26, Cerrone suffered a first-round TKO loss to Alex Morono. “Cowboy” was supposed to face Diego Sanchez, but after the TUF 1 winner was released, Morono stepped up on short notice and got the win.
New Jersey commission overturns Renan Ferreira's controversial win over Fabricio Werdum
Cole Shelton - May 10, 2021
The New Jersey Athletic Control Board has overturned Renan Ferreira’s controversial win over Fabricio Werdum at PFL 3. Werdum headlined the card and just seconds into the fight, he got the fight to the ground. He then threatened a triangle choke and it looked like it was tight, but Ferreira landed ground and pound and got the first-round KO win over Werdum.
Renan Ferreira fires back at Fabricio Werdum following controversial win in PFL
Adam D Martin - May 10, 2021
Brazilian heavyweight Renan Ferreira fired back at his countryman Fabricio Werdum following his recent controversial win in PFL. Ferreira scored the biggest win of his MMA career to date when he knocked out Werdum in the first round of their PFL regular season fight, but the finish was controversial as it appeared as though Ferreira had tapped to a triangle choke seconds beforehand. Werdum was upset about the finish and his team has already appealed the result of the contest. Fans online for the most part seem to agree there was a tapout, but the referee missed it and Ferreira didn’t acknowledge it, thus leading to Werdum not getting his hand raised.
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Jack Hermansson off UFC 262, rescheduled for UFC Vegas 27
Cole Shelton - May 10, 2021
A pivotal middleweight bout between Edmen Shahbazyan and Jack Hermansson will not happen this Saturday at UFC 262. Multiple sources informed BJPENN.com’s Cole Shelton and Adam Martin the fight is off UFC 262 and postponed one week to UFC Vegas 27 on May 22. It’s expected to serve as the co-main event. MMA reporter, Marcell Dorff was the first to report the news.
Gordon Ryan to face Shinya Aoki in ONE Championship grappling match
Andrew Whitelaw - May 10, 2021
Gordon Ryan has an opponent for his ONE Championship debut. According to a Facebook post from ONE CEO, Chatri Sityodtong, the BJJ star will take on JMMA lcon Shinya Aoki in “an openweight grappling super match on August 27!”
Jiri Prochazka praises "king of the light heavyweight division" Jon Jones
Adam D Martin - May 10, 2021
UFC light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka says that he believes Jon Jones is still the “king of the light heavyweight division.” Prochazka is one of the hottest names at 205lbs these days after knocking out Dominick Reyes and Volkan Oezdemir in his first two Octagon appearances. UFC president Dana White has already said Prochazka is next in line to fight the winner of UFC 266’s main event between UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz and No. 1 contender Glover Teixeira, and that’s ideal because “Denisa” is hoping to win the belt. But if you ask Prochazka, the top opponent for him that he could choose would still be Jones.
Neil Magny open to Khamzat Chimaev fight, but explains why he has his concerns about waiting for him
Adam D Martin - May 10, 2021
UFC welterweight Neil Magny says he open to the Khamzat Chimaev fight, but explained why he has his concerns about waiting for him. Magny had one of his best performances ever as he won a unanimous decision over Geoff Neal at UFC Vegas 26. For Magny, beating someone as talented as Neal proves that he still has what it takes to be a top-10 fighter. It’s not a surprise, then, that so many other top contenders in the welterweight division are gunning for Magny, including Chimaev. The Swede has missed all of 2021 so far due to health issues but he is hoping to make his return to the Octagon this summer, and Chimaev has made Magny one of his targets.
Michael Page could be next in line for Bellator title shot, confirms Scott Coker
Adam D Martin - May 10, 2021
Bellator president Scott Coker confirmed that welterweight star Michael Page could be next in line to get a title shot at 170lbs. Page knocked out Derek Anderson in highlight-reel fashion at Bellator 258 this past Friday night, and overall he has won his last five fights in a row, with four of those wins coming by way of knockout. Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima is currently set to fight No. 1 contender Yaroslav Amosov, but Page has been vocal about wanting to fight the winner.
Giga Chikadze challenges Max Holloway to prove who the UFC's top striker is
Adam D Martin - May 10, 2021
UFC featherweight contender Giga Chikadze wants to fight divisional rival Max Holloway in order to prove who the top striker in the UFC is. Chikadze is one of the hottest fighters in the UFC featherweight division right now after winning his first six fights at 145lbs in the world’s leading MMA promotion. His last performance, a first-round body kick TKO win over Cub Swanson at UFC Vegas 25, was his best showing yet, and following the fight, Chikadze called out a number of the division’s top fighters including Yair Rodriguez, Calvin Kattar, and the man he wants the most, Holloway.
Jon Jones trolls UFC president Dana White during his Instagram live session
Adam D Martin - May 10, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones trolled UFC president Dana White during his recent Instagram live session. Jones and the UFC are currently involved in public contract negotiations for a future fight with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Jones has said on social media that the UFC’s initial offer of $8 to $10 million was “way too low” for a fight of this magnitude, and so the UFC and Jones are having a hard time coming to a deal as the promotion does not want to meet Jones’ request of $30 million for the fight. We have seen the contract negotiations play out in public over the last few months and will continue to do so going forward as Jones is one of the UFC’s biggest stars and this is a huge story in MMA.
Conor McGregor discusses potential purchase of a sports team: “Both Celtic and Man United are teams I like for sure”
Harry Kettle - May 10, 2021
Conor McGregor has confirmed that he would be interested in the possibility of buying a football club – with Celtic and Manchester United being at the top of the list. Over the course of the last few weeks, in the midst of the European Super League chaos that engulfed European football, Manchester United fans have made it clear that they want the Glazer family to sell the club and leave Old Trafford for good.
Conor McGregor confirms he will fight at welterweight again: “I will most certainly be going back up!”
Harry Kettle - May 10, 2021
Conor McGregor has confirmed that he plans on moving back up to fight at welterweight as part of his future in the UFC. Throughout the course of his UFC career the Irishman has fought three times at welterweight. He first went 1-1 with Nate Diaz in two enticing 2016 bouts, before eventually returning to the weight class at the start of 2020. In that fight, he dispatched Donald Cerrone with ruthless efficiency in a convincing 40-second success.
Michelle Waterson reacts after "one hell of a fight" with Marina Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 26
Adam Martin - May 9, 2021
UFC women’s strawweight contender Michelle Waterson reacted after she had “one hell of a fight” with Marina Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 26. Waterson and Rodriguez both stepped up on short notice for this new main event fight at flyweight after the original headliners, TJ Dillashaw and Cory Sandhagen, fell off the card. Despite both women taking the fight on short notice, they were able to go five hard rounds without slowing down in their cardio. It was a great fight and both women showed their striking, grappling, and durability skills in this one, but ultimately Rodriguez landed far more strikes and landed the harder shots, so she won a clear unanimous decision.