MMA News
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.
REPORT | Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates booked for November 9th headliner
Curtis Calhoun - October 10, 2024
Experience meets youth on November 9th, as a UFC welterweight clash between Neil Magny and Carlos Prates is reportedly set to headline UFC Vegas 100. MMA Fighting was the first outlet to report the news of the Magny vs. Prates booking.
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.
Jake Paul claims he'd "1000 percent" beat Alex Pereira in Boxing, says Khalil Rountree Jr. exposed glaring holes
Curtis Calhoun - October 10, 2024
Jake Paul is supremely confident in his chances if he comes face-to-face with UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in the boxing ring. Pereira successfully defended the UFC light heavyweight for the third time in 2024 by finishing Khalil Rountree Jr. last Saturday. After falling behind in the early rounds, Pereira badly battered Rountree in Round 4 to eventually finish the title challenger.
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.
UFC CEO Dana White expresses interest in Dustin Poirier’s four-man BMF tournament
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 10, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White appears to be on board with the idea of a BMF tournament. Dustin Poirier recently appeared on SiriusXM’s “MMA Today” and suggested the tourney. He threw his name in the hat along with Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje, and Dan Hooker.
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.
Larissa Pacheco criticizes PFL for "Uncalled for" treatment of Kayla Harrison in recent fight promo
Curtis Calhoun - October 9, 2024
Two-time PFL champion Larissa Pacheco didn’t appreciate the league’s treatment of Kayla Harrison in a questionably timed fight promo ahead of her return. Pacheco will face Bellator Women’s Featherweight Champion Cris Cyborg in the Battle of the Giants co-main event on October 19th. She returns to the cage for the first time since winning the 2023 PFL women’s featherweight title over Marina Mokhnatkina.
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.
Sean O’Malley sends Umar Nurmagomedov a warning over potentially losing bantamweight title shot: "Suck my sac if you don’t like that"
Cole Shelton - October 9, 2024
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has sent Umar Nurmagomedov a warning. Nurmagomedov appears to be next in line for the bantamweight title shot against Merab Dvalishvili. However, O’Malley has been calling for a rematch and Dvalishvili has also expressed interest in it.