MMA News

Tom Taylor - July 7, 2020

No. 1 ranked UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns believes he could hand Nate Diaz a decisive loss in the Octagon, even if he’s infected with COVID-19. Burns was expected to challenge Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 251 this Saturday, but was regrettably forced out of the matchup when he tested positive for COVID-19. Burns was then replaced by Jorge Masvidal.

Tom Taylor - July 7, 2020

After six years competing in the UFC, Paige VanZant says she could have earned the same amount of money working a “regular job.” VanZant is days out from a fight with Amanda Ribas, which will open the UFC 251 main card this Saturday night. The fight marks the final obligation on her current UFC contract.

Tom Taylor - July 7, 2020

UFC President Dana White claims Colby Covington was never in consideration to replace Gilbert Burns against Kamaru Usman in the UFC 251 main event. Until last weekend, Usman, the UFC welterweight champion, was expected to defend his title against Burns at UFC 251. However, Burns then tested positive for COVID-19, thrusting the UFC into a desperate search for a replacement challenger for Usman.

Cole Shelton - July 7, 2020

Alex Volkanovski didn’t think Max Holloway would want to run things back right away. At UFC 245, Volkanovski beat Holloway to become the new featherweight champion. After the event, there was talk of an immediate rematch, but the Aussie admits he didn’t think the Hawaiian in Holloway would take it.

Adam Martin - July 7, 2020

UFC president Dana White called welterweight superstar Jorge Masvidal “absolutely brilliant” for sliding into the UFC 251 main event against Kamaru Usman. Usman was supposed to put the UFC welterweight title on the line against No. 1 contender Gilbert Burns, but when Burns tested positive for COVID-19 and fell off the card, Masvidal put his hand up and said he wanted to take the fight. The UFC spent all weekend getting the Usman vs. Masvidal fight done, and once the fighters tested negative for the coronavirus, the promotion officially announced the new main event of UFC 251.

Cole Shelton - July 7, 2020

The debut episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com is a stacked one ahead of UFC 251 and the debut of UFC Fight Island. Host Cole Shelton is first joined by UFC featherweight champion, Alex Volkanovski. Then, Volkan Oezdemir comes on, and the final guest is future UFC Hall of Famer and friend of the website, Frankie Edgar.

Mike Pendleton - July 7, 2020

The rivalry between UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman and his next challenger Jorge Masvidal will come to a head in the main event of UFC 251 this weekend. Yet the pair very nearly came face-to-face early at the fighter hotel this week. In the lead-up to the fight, the two fighters haven’t hidden their disdain for each other.

Natasha Hooper - July 7, 2020

Georges St-Pierre believes there are only three types of people in combat sports and he recently explained what sets those types apart. The former UFC welterweight champion retired from the sport in 2019 but is still regarded as one of the greatest MMA athletes of all time. He is also celebrated for his thoughtful and philosophical approach, both inside and outside the cage. Now St-Pierre is sharing his knowledge bombs with fans.

Harry Kettle - July 7, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington has shared his prediction for UFC 251’s main event between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal. Ever since his loss to Usman in the main event of UFC 245, “Chaos” has been relentless in calling out many top challengers at 170 pounds—including Usman and Masvidal. 

Natasha Hooper - July 7, 2020

A whole host of fighters have offered to replace Pedro Munhoz against Frankie Edgar. Munhoz is the latest fighter to be pulled from a fight due to a positive COVID-19 test. The No. 7 ranked bantamweight was expected to face Edgar on the UFC’s Fight Island on July 15. Unfortunately, he tested positive for the virus, leaving “The Answer” without an opponent for the upcoming event.

Harry Kettle - July 7, 2020

UFC veteran Frankie Edgar has reacted to the news that Pedro Munhoz is out of their scheduled co-main event on next weekend’s Fight Island card. Edgar hasn’t had the best of luck when it comes to fights of his falling apart, and the same has happened here less than two weeks before he was set to make his debut in the bantamweight division.

Harry Kettle - July 6, 2020

UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski looks to be in the best shape of his career ahead of his rematch against Max Holloway on Saturday night. The popular Australian is set to defend the UFC Featherweight Championship against the former king of the division after winning it from Holloway himself back at UFC 245 in December 2019.

Adam Martin - July 6, 2020

UFC women’s strawweight star Claudia Gadelha will return to the Octagon in September when she takes on Yan Xiaonan at a newly-revealed UFC event in Las Vegas. Gadelha vs. Xiaonan was first revealed by Combate. The fight is set to take place on September 26 at a yet-to-be-announced UFC card in Vegas. It is so far the first fight to be announced for this new event. It is not yet known if this card will be a numbered event or a Fight Night, but with UFC 253 set to take place on September 19, it stands to reason that Gadelha vs. Xiaonan will be part of a Fight Night event.

Adam Martin - July 6, 2020

UFC welterweight superstar Jorge Masvidal says he’s interested in a rematch with Stephen Thompson if he defeats Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 and takes the title. Masvidal spoke to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani on Monday after it was officially announced that he will be taking on Usman for the UFC welterweight title at this Saturday’s UFC 251 card on Fight Island. When asked about who some of his potential opponents could be for his first title defense should he get by Usman and take the belt, Masvidal named both Nate Diaz and Thompson as potential rematches he would like with the title on the line.

Adam Martin - July 6, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns says he’s already “feeling better” after being infected by COVID-19, which knocked him out of UFC 251. Burns was set to fight Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight championship in the main event of UFC 251 on Fight Island, but late Friday night it was revealed that Burns tested positive and was removed from the card. The UFC worked hard all weekend to find a replacement opponent for Usman, and in the end, they were able to strike a deal with Masvidal. Usman vs. Masvidal is now official and will headline UFC 251.

Cole Shelton - July 6, 2020

Pedro Munhoz has tested positive for COVID-19 and his fight against Frankie Edgar is cancelled. Journalist, Raul Lopez was first to report the news, which was later confirmed by ESPN’s Ariel Helwani.

Cole Shelton - July 6, 2020

Petr Yan believes his fight at UFC 251 against Jose Aldo was made for him to become the new UFC bantamweight champion. After Henry Cejudo shockingly announced his retirement after UFC 249 on May 9, Dana White was quick to announce it would be Yan fighting someone for the vacant title. It was later revealed it would be against Jose Aldo, and for the Russian, he is pleased he is fighting for the belt and it will be against a legend like Aldo.

Tom Taylor - July 6, 2020

Conor McGregor has issued a fiery response to a recent comment from his fellow lightweight contender Dustin Poirier. Poirier, who has lost to both McGregor and UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov previously, recently told MMA Junkie that he’d prefer a rematch with the latter over the former—even if there was no belt on the line. He explained that he finds a rematch with Nurmagomedov more alluring than a do-over McGregor because, so far, nobody has been able to beat the lightweight champ.