MMA News
UFC 311: Arman Tsarukyan has developed a "new technique" for Islam Makhachev fight
BJ Penn Staff - January 15, 2025
Arman Tsarukyan has something special prepared for Islam Makhachev at UFC 311. The card goes down this Saturday in Los Angeles, and Tsarukyan will challenge Makhachev for the coveted lightweight title in the main event. Makhachev is considered the top pound-for-pound fighter in MMA at present, so Tsarukyan faces an uphill battle, but he says he has developed a new technique he believes will help him win the fight.
Dana White confirms status of UFC 311 amid Los Angeles wildfires
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 15, 2025
UFC 311 is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles this weekend, and Dana White says everything is going according to plan. There has been much speculation over whether or not the event will moved due to the devastating wildfires in California. Recently, the NFL moved a wildcard playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Minnesota Vikings from Inglewood to Arizona.
Chael Sonnen criticizes Mackenzie Dern for not calling for title shot
Harry Kettle - January 15, 2025
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has criticized Mackenzie Dern for not calling for a title shot after defeating Amanda Ribas. Last weekend, Mackenzie Dern avenged her 2019 loss to Amanda Ribas with a really nice submission win in their main event clash. Following the bout, she suggested that she wasn’t interested in calling for a title shot right now. Instead, she wants to focus on improving.
Corey Anderson reacts to Bellator brand being terminated
Harry Kettle - January 15, 2025
Corey Anderson has given his thoughts on PFL seemingly dissolving the Bellator brand following their purchase. As we now know, PFL have officially eliminated the Bellator brand following their purchase in late 2023. It was confirmed by Donn Davis, with all events being branded under the PFL banner moving forward. One man who was always going to be impacted by that is Corey Anderson, the Bellator light heavyweight champion.
Nico Carrillo promises to make ONE World Championship "vision" a reality at ONE 170
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 15, 2025
Second-ranked bantamweight Muay Thai contender Nico “King of the North” Carrillo is on the brink of realizing his dream of holding gold in ONE Championship. “King of the North” battles #5-ranked Nabil Anane for the ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE 170 on Friday, January 24, at Bangkok, Thailand’s Impact Arena.
Diego Ferreira expecting a "scrap" against Grant Dawson at UFC 311: "Look for the finish"
Cole Shelton - January 14, 2025
Diego Ferreira is looking to remind the lightweight division that he’s still a legit contender. Ferreira is coming off a comeback win over Mateusz Rebecki in May. After the victory, the hope for Ferreira was to fight again before the year was up, but that didn’t happen after the UFC couldn’t find him a fight.
Eric Nicksick blasts ref Mark Smith after UFC Vegas 101: "I think he’s an egomaniac"
Cole Shelton - January 14, 2025
Eric Nicksick, the head coach of Chris Curtis, wasn’t a fan of referee Mark Smith and his stoppage at UFC Vegas 101. Curtis suffered a third-round knockout loss to Roman Kopylov on the main card. The fight was stopped with one second left after Kopylov landed a head kick that dropped Curtis, but Kopylov walked away and didn’t land any punches. Many thought it was an early stoppage, especially with one second left.
Denice Zamboanga eager to unify ONE World Titles with Stamp Fairtex
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 14, 2025
ONE Interim Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion Denice Zamboanga made herself undeniable this past Friday, January 10. “The Menace” dismantled Alyona Rassohnya in the second round of their interim World Title bout at ONE Fight Night 27, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium. And now she’s looking at what’s to come.
Donn Davis announces official end of Bellator MMA brand: "All fight events and content will be PFL"
Josh Evanoff - January 14, 2025
According to PFL founder Donn Davis, the Bellator MMA brand is officially no more. Bellator has had a rocky road since being founded by Bjorn Rebney in 2008. After a few years of running a tournament format producing talents such as Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler, Viacom bought the company. In 2014, Rebney parted ways with the company, leading to the signing of former Strikeforce boss, Scott Coker.
Nate Diaz responds to Islam Makhachev over water bottle incident at UFC 311 presser: "Thought religious people didn't lie"
Josh Evanoff - January 14, 2025
Nate Diaz has responded to UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. The rivalry between the Diaz brothers and the Eagles MMA team is quite a lengthy one. A decade ago, Nate Diaz famously got into a scuffle with former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at a World Series of Fighting event. While things didn’t get too out of hand that night, the two have been at odds ever since.
Dominick Cruz alleges Henry Cejudo turned down rematch for UFC Seattle: "He won't take that fight"
Josh Evanoff - January 14, 2025
Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz badly wanted his last fight to be against Henry Cejudo. ‘The Dominator’ recently signed a deal to return to the octagon in the co-main event of UFC Seattle next month. Back for the first time since a knockout loss to Marlon Vera in late 2022, Dominick Cruz will meet Rob Font. For his part, the latter was last seen in the cage in October, scoring a unanimous decision win over Kyler Phillips.
PFL releases longtime Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull after lengthy rant: "We are all about opportunity"
Josh Evanoff - January 14, 2025
Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull is no longer with the PFL. When Donn Davis and the PFL bought Bellator in late 2023, there was a lot of optimism from all parties involved. The new owners promised a loaded schedule for 2024 and quickly revealed a new broadcasting deal with Max. Sadly for Bellator fighters such as Patricio Pitbull, many of those promises went unfulfilled.
Akbar Abdullaev planning snatch and grab of Featherweight MMA World Title at ONE Fight Night 27
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 14, 2025
Fifth-ranked featherweight MMA contender Akbar Abdullaev is looking to pull off the heist of the year at ONE Fight Night 27. “Bakal” challenges ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion Tang Kai this Friday, January 10. The pair meet in the main event inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Javier Mendez insists Islam Makhachev isn't overlooking Arman Tsarukyan prior to UFC 311: "We got a hell of a challenge in front of us'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 14, 2025
American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez isn’t overlooking Arman Tsarukyan, but he thinks Islam Makhachev will further prove just how good he is at UFC 311. Makhachev will put his UFC Lightweight Championship at stake when he collides with Tsarukyan a second time. Makhachev scored a unanimous decision victory over Tsarukyan in their first meeting back in 2019. While that fight was a competitive three-round grappling exchange, what could the rematch have in store?
Aljamain Sterling thinks Umar Nurmagomedov is unproven, expects Merab Dvalishvili to shut doubters up at UFC 311
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 14, 2025
Aljamain Sterling believes Merab Dvalishvili will silence the doubters once his UFC 311 clash with Umar Nurmagomedov has come to a close. Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov are set to clash this Saturday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA. The UFC Bantamweight Championship will be at stake, and Dvalishvili is in search of his first successful title defense. A win for Nurmagomedov would mark his first UFC title victory.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 186 with Diego Ferreira
Cole Shelton - January 14, 2025
The 186th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC 311. We’re joined by UFC lightweight contender Diego Ferreira (0:52) to preview his UFC 311 fight.
What's next for Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas after UFC Vegas 101?
Cole Shelton - January 14, 2025
Islam Makhachev reveals he wanted to step in for Khabib Nurmagomedov to fight Tony Ferguson
Harry Kettle - January 14, 2025
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has revealed that he previously wanted to step in for Khabib Nurmagomedov and fight Tony Ferguson. Right now, Islam Makhachev is easily one of the most impressive fighters in mixed martial arts. In fact, some would argue he’s the pound for pound best. This weekend, he’ll put that on the line – alongside his belt – when he defends against Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC 311.
Jiri Prochazka predicts getting a third crack at Alex Pereira
Harry Kettle - January 14, 2025
UFC star Jiri Prochazka believes he will eventually get a third opportunity to fight UFC champion Alex Pereira. Over the years, Jiri Prochazka has made a career out of proving people wrong. While he’s always been exceptionally talented, he has an unorthodox style that isn’t to everyone’s taste. Since arriving in the UFC, it’s been more of the same, with Jiri becoming UFC light heavyweight champion pretty quickly.