MMA News

Adam D Martin - May 12, 2021

PFL women’s lightweight star Kayla Harrison reacted to the comments from UFC president Dana White that she’s not ready to fight in the UFC. Harrison is one of the most dominant female fighters in MMA right now as she’s been absolutely smoking the competition in PFL over the last three years, not to mention picking up a win in Invicta FC as well. There are many fans who want to see Harrison bring her talents to the UFC as there are many who believe she could be one of the only fighters out there to give a challenge to UFC women’s featherweight champion Amanda Nunes. However, at this point, Harrison is still under contract with PFL and not a part of the UFC.

Adam D Martin - May 12, 2021

Conor McGregor has been named as the highest-paid athlete in 2021, and he made $22 million for the Dustin Poirier rematch at UFC 257. Forbes reported that in the last 12 months, McGregor has made $180 million total, which makes him the highest-paid athlete in the world. According to the report, McGregor made $150 million when he sold Proper No. Twelve to Proximo Spirits. In addition to that $150 million, McGregor also made $22 million for his rematch against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 earlier this year, a fight that he lost by knockout. The remaining $8 million that McGregor made came from a combination of his endorsements including Draft Kings, Roots of Fight, and Dystopia: Contest of Heroes. It’s fair to say it’s been a good 12 months for McGregor.

Harry Kettle - May 12, 2021

YouTuber turned pro boxer Jake Paul has taken a shot at UFC president Dana White over his time in the world of boxing. Over the course of the last few weeks, White has been drawn into the Jake Paul circus as a result of fans and media members peppering him with questions on the subject. For the most part, he’s decided to take the high road, but that hasn’t prevented him from throwing a few shots here and there.

Cole Shelton - May 12, 2021

Check out the complete betting odds for this Saturday’s UFC 262 card featuring the vacant lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler. The UFC 262 main event sees longtime contender, Charles Oliveira get his first UFC title shot against former Bellator champ, Michael Chandler. Oliveira is riding an eight-fight winning streak and coming off a decision win over Tony Ferguson and before that submitted Kevin Lee. Chandler, meanwhile, made good of his UFC debut as he scored a first-round TKO over Dan Hooker in January.

Adam D Martin - May 12, 2021

Welterweight KO artist Paul Daley has signed a new contract with Bellator and fights Jason Jackson in a potential No. 1 contender bout next. Daley is coming off of an incredible KO win over Sabah Homasi at Bellator 257 in one of the most exciting fights of the year. The win over Homasi gives Daley a three-fight win streak with other recent victories over Erick Silva and Saad Awad, and it has also earned him a new contract with Bellator under President Scott Coker, his old boss in his Strikeforce days.

Cole Shelton - May 12, 2021

Edson Barboza didn’t know what his future in the UFC was going to be like after he beat Makwan Amirkhani last time out. After Barboza won, he said he either wanted to be released from the UFC or sign a new contract. The Brazilian ended up working with the UFC to sign a new deal which he says is a very fair deal.

Cole Shelton - May 12, 2021

In the main event of UFC 262, Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler are set to fight for the vacant lightweight title. Heading into the fight, Oliveira is a -135 favorite while the former Bellator champ is a +115 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The majority believe Charles Oliveira will claim gold, but as the odds suggest it is a very close fight.

Adam D Martin - May 12, 2021

UFC lightweight Michael Chandler called his UFC 262 rival Charles Oliveira the “scariest” opponent he’s ever faced in his MMA career. Chandler and Oliveira meet this Saturday night in the main event of UFC 262 for the vacant lightweight strap. It’s an incredible matchup between the No. 3 ranked lightweight in the UFC in Oliveira, a BJJ wizard who has improved his standup skills, and Chandler, the No. 4 ranked lightweight who has huge knockout power and wrestling skills to boot. It’s a dream fight between two of the best lightweights in the world and the winner will be the champ.

Adam D Martin - May 12, 2021

Former UFC welterweight Dan Hardy asked the world’s leading MMA promotion to release Nick Diaz so he can fight the legend in RIZIN. Hardy requested his release from the UFC, where he had still been under an old contract, in order to take his talents to RIZIN in Japan. On Tuesday, Hardy posted on his Twitter that he was “free,” indicating that the UFC has likely given him his release as he requested.

Harry Kettle - May 12, 2021

UFC heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson has announced that he plans to make his return to the Octagon this summer. The popular Swede hasn’t fought since last July when he was beaten by Fabricio Werdum in an upset submission defeat over on Fight Island. The loss marked his third in a row but his first at heavyweight after setbacks against Jon Jones and Anthony Smith at 205 pounds.

Christopher Taylor - May 11, 2021

Jon Jones may not have a fight booked for his heavyweight debut, but that hasn’t stopped him from making huge leaps in his physical transformation. It was originally thought that ‘Bones’ would make his heavyweight debut against the winner of March’s Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou rematch at UFC 260. However, after ‘The Predator’ dethroned the Cleveland native with a second round knockout, negotiations between Jon Jones and UFC officials quickly went south.

Christopher Taylor - May 11, 2021

Diego Sanchez did not hold back while addressing Donald Cerrone’s recent knockout loss to Alex Morono at UFC Vegas 26. Sanchez and Cerrone were originally slated to co-headline last weekend’s event in Las Vegas. However, following an altercation between Diego’s coach and mentor Joshua Fabia and UFC officials, ‘The Nightmare’ was handed his walking papers from the promotion.

Drake Riggs - May 11, 2021

UFC Vegas 26 drew in the best TV ratings on May 8. No. 6 ranked 115-pound strawweight contender Marina Rodriguez was later than usual for a typical trip to Las Vegas last week. After TJ Dillashaw was forced out of his highly-anticipated return bout against Cory Sandhagen, the promotion turned to make another top 10 fight.

Cole Shelton - May 11, 2021

Dana White doesn’t have any interest in loaning a UFC fighter to box Jake Paul. After Paul knocked out Ben Askren, several UFC fighters have been calling him out. They have all said that they want to be the one to shut Jake up, but according to White, he says he will not loan any UFC fighter to box the brash YouTuber.

Cole Shelton - May 11, 2021

Jon Jones doesn’t seem to like the idea of fighting Stipe Miocic his next time out. With Francis Ngannou now slated to defend his title against Derrick Lewis, ‘Bones’ was left on the outside looking in. However, UFC President Dana White hinted that Jones could make his heavyweight debut against Stipe Miocic.

Adam D Martin - May 11, 2021

Bellator light heavyweight star Anthony Johnson was arrested for identity theft in Connecticut following his big win last weekend. The Daily Voice was the first to report the arrest of Johnson. According to police reports, Johnson illegally used a credit card in November 2019 in order to purchase a round-trip ticket from Newark, New Jersey, to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Johnson was named as the passenger of the ticket. New Canaan police obtained a warrant for Johnson’s arrest, and “Rumble” was taken into custody following his fight last weekend at Bellator 258 where he knocked out Jose Augusto in one of the most exciting MMA fights of the year.

Adam D Martin - May 11, 2021

Misha Cirkunov and Gillian Robertson have both tested positive for marijuana following their recent UFC fights in Nevada. Cirkunov lost via first-round TKO to Ryan Spann at Vegas 21: Edwards vs. Muhammad, while Robertson dropped a decision to Miranda Maverick at UFC 260: Miocic vs. Ngannou 2. Unfortunately, not only did both fighters lose their fights, but they have both tested positive for marijuana and have been handed temporary suspensions by the Nevada Athletic Commission. It is worth noting that while many states don’t test for marijuana anymore, Nevada is a state that still does, and Cirkunov and Robertson were nabbed.

Adam D Martin - May 11, 2021

UFC president Dana White says a matchup between former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and former 205lbs kingpin Jon Jones is possible. Miocic recently lost his belt when he was knocked out by Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 in March, but he remains one of the top heavyweights in the sport and has given no indication yet that he will be retiring despite the brutal KO loss. Ngannou is currently set to take on Derrick Lewis in a rematch that marks his first title defense, which means that Jones — who was originally set to fight the winner of Ngannou vs. Lewis — is currently on the sidelines waiting for a fight to be booked. With both Miocic and Jones both without opponents and with both men looking to fight for the heavyweight belt, a matchup with them is possible.