MMA News
The UFC’s roster purge continues as 6 more fighters part ways with the promotion
Harry Kettle - October 11, 2024
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has continued to release fighters with six more being let go from the promotion. As we know, the UFC has a pretty substantial roster size. When you consider the fact that it only seems to be getting bigger courtesy of new signings, Contender Series and The Ultimate Fighter, it’s amazing that they’ve even kept this many people on the books. With that being said, it seems as if they’re slowly but surely starting to trim things down.
Israel Adesanya gives Khalil Rountree props following UFC 307 effort against Alex Pereira
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 11, 2024
Israel Adesanya believes Khalil Rountree did himself plenty of favors despite a loss. Rountree challenged Alex Pereira for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship on October 5th. “The War Horse” was finished in the fourth round, but he was certainly competitive against arguably the top pound-for-pound fighter today.
Nabil Anane vows to sustain impressive streak in ONE Championship
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 11, 2024
Nabil Anane is determined to keep his professional career on a winning trajectory. The 20-year-old phenom recently secured his fifth consecutive win, beating Soe Lin Oo by unanimous decision at ONE Friday Fights 81 in September.
Cain Velasquez shares how he'd match up with Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall in his prime
Curtis Calhoun - October 10, 2024
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez sized up two of the top heavyweight fighters on the planet, Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, and how the fights would go in his prime. Velasquez is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time after a decorated run in the UFC. His otherworldly cardio, combined with his elite wrestling skillset, made him a nightmare matchup for the heavyweight division to study.
Jorge Masvidal reveals timeframe for his potential UFC return: "I’m gonna f**k somebody up"
Cole Shelton - October 10, 2024
Jorge Masvidal is looking to make his return to the UFC in March, preferably in Miami. Masvidal retired from MMA following his decision loss to Gilbert Burns in April 2023. He then boxed Nate Diaz in July and dropped a razor close decision. After some time away from MMA, Masvidal recently revealed he’s in talks to return to the UFC, and ‘Gamebred’ says he plans on returning in March.
Daniel Cormier praises Ilia Topuria's "Smart" approach to viral Max Holloway face-to-face
Curtis Calhoun - October 10, 2024
UFC analyst Daniel Cormier believes UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria might’ve helped himself dramatically in his recent joint interview with Max Holloway. Topuria will make his first UFC featherweight title defense against Holloway in the UFC 308 main event. He returns to the Octagon after finishing Alexander Volkanovski to cap off his unbeaten run with a world championship.
Khalil Rountree reflects on UFC 307 title fight against 'real life final boss' Alex Pereira: "He just kept making adjustments"
Josh Evanoff - October 10, 2024
Khalil Rountree has nothing but respect for Alex Pereira after their war at UFC 307. ‘The War Horse’ and ‘Poatan’ faced off in Salt Lake City over the weekend. For Khalil Rountree, the title fight was his first appearance in the cage since knocking out Anthony Smith last December. Meanwhile, Alex Pereira was fresh off a second-round stoppage win over Jiri Prochazka in their June rematch in Las Vegas.
Francis Ngannou opens up on retirement plans ahead of PFL debut: "I would like to leave at the top of my game"
Josh Evanoff - October 10, 2024
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is discussing retirement ahead of his PFL debut. ‘The Predator’ hasn’t been seen in the cage since defeating Ciryl Gane by unanimous decision in early 2022. That fight wound up being Francis Ngannou’s last in the UFC, as he left the company soon afterward. In early 2023, the former heavyweight champion shockingly signed with Donn Davis and the PFL.
Valentina Shevchenko won't rule out UFC bantamweight return after flyweight title win: "We will make the decision"
Josh Evanoff - October 10, 2024
Fresh off a UFC flyweight title win, Valentina Shevchenko won’t rule out a move to bantamweight. ‘Bullet’ recently appeared in the cage in the co-main event of Noche UFC last month in Las Vegas. There, Valentina Shevchenko faced Alexa Grasso for the third, and likely final time. Over a year and a half after losing the gold to the Mexican fighter, the former champion avenged her defeat.
Jamahal Hill explains viral yawn after watching Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree at UFC 307
Curtis Calhoun - October 10, 2024
Wormer UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill opened up on his nonchalant reaction to the Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. UFC 307 headliner. Pereira finished Rountree by fourth-round TKO at UFC 307 last Saturday in Salt Lake City. He defended the light heavyweight belt three times in seven months and plans to take some time off before his return.
Josh Fremd expecting a brawl against Abdul Razak Alhassan at UFC Vegas 98: "Try to take each other's heads off"
Cole Shelton - October 10, 2024
Josh Fremd wasn’t sure if he was going to get another fight in the UFC. Fremd suffered a lackluster decision loss to Andre Petroski back at UFC Denver in a fight that he thought was super boring. He was frustrated with how the fight played out and after the scrap, he wasn’t sure what would be next. Luckily, the UFC quickly offered him Abdul Razak Alhassan at UFC Vegas 98 and he jumped at the offer.
Glover Teixeira interested in ending retirement and making UFC return: "I want to compete"
Cole Shelton - October 10, 2024
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira is interested in ending his retirement. Teixeira announced his retirement from MMA back in January of 2023 after he lost to Jamahal Hill for the vacant light heavyweight title. Since then, Teixeira has gone into a coaching role, as he helps train Alex Pereira. Yet, as he the success the Brazilian is having, Teixeira says he’s getting the itch to compete and is contemplating a return.
Mackenzie Dern’s husband arrested for alleged assault on her ex-husband
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 10, 2024
UFC fighter Antonio Trocoli was arrested for allegedly assaulting Mackenzie Dern’s ex-husband. Huntington Beach police told MMAFighting.com that the arrest for misdemeanor battery took place on October 4th at 8:30 a.m. It was noted that the Orange County District Attorney’s Officer is reviewing the case.
The UFC parts ways with 12 fighters in recent roster purge
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 10, 2024
A new wave of UFC roster cuts has arrived. Roster releases are obviously a tough time for fighters who receive the dreaded pink slip. It is inevitable, however.
Coach Jose Garcia says Cesar Gracie is once again trying to obstruct Nick Diaz's return at UFC 310
Chris Taylor - October 10, 2024
With recent rumor of Nick Diaz returning at UFC 310, BJPENN.com caught up with Nick’s Academy Recovery Coach and Team cut man Jose Garcia (BBJ) for an update on The General! We must say, after speaking with Jose, we were left quite concerned. According to Garcia, Cesar Gracie continues to be the antagonist in this update as we previously reported in our last article (see that here). Nick Diaz’s removal from August’s UFC Abu Dhabi event was apparently due in major part to Gracie attempting to get the Stockton General back under contract so that he can financially benefit from Nick returning to the Octagon.
Sean Strickland mocks Merab Dvalishvili as the UFC's new "King of Cringe"
Curtis Calhoun - October 9, 2024
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland isn’t a fan of Merab Dvalishvili’s growing social media presence since winning the bantamweight belt. Dvalishvili and Strickland are two of the UFC’s biggest fan favorites after their recent successes in the Octagon. Dvalishvili, in particular, surged in popularity after defeating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306.
Ilia Topuria challenges Max Holloway to throw down in the middle of the Octagon in the first 10 seconds at UFC 308
Cole Shelton - October 9, 2024
Ilia Topuria wants Max Holloway to meet in the middle and throw down in the first 10 seconds of their fight as he did in the last 10 seconds against Justin Gaethje. Topuria is set to defend his featherweight title in the main event of UFC 308 on October 26 against Holloway in a highly-anticipated bout. Topuria enters the bout as a -260 favorite while the Hawaiian is a +196 underdog on FanDuel.
Francis Ngannou accuses Dana White of lying over UFC vs. Boxing paydays: "Unless he was writing the check..."
Curtis Calhoun - October 9, 2024
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has responded to Dana White’s claims that he would’ve made more money if he’d stayed with the promotion. Ngannou will make his MMA return against 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira on October 19th in Riyadh. He returns to the cage almost three full years since his UFC finale; a win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270.