MMA News
Robert Whittaker's manager reveals Sean Strickland rejected UFC 305 clash: "We said absolutely!"
Josh Evanoff - September 6, 2024
Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker nearly fought Sean Strickland at UFC 305. For his part, ‘The Reaper’ has been out of the cage since a first-round knockout win over Ikram Aliskerov in June. As many likely remember, Robert Whittaker was originally set to face Khamzat Chimaev in Saudi Arabia. However, ‘Borz’ was forced out on a week’s notice due to illness. Following the win, Whittaker called to re-book the fight with Chimaev.
Francis Ngannou heaps praise on 'mean' Alex Pereira: "You're going to get some tough nights against him"
Josh Evanoff - September 6, 2024
PFL heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou has a lot of respect for UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. ‘The Predator’ is currently set to make his return to the cage next month in Saudi Arabia. Back for the first time since losing to Anthony Joshua in the boxing ring earlier this year, Francis Ngannou will face Renan Ferreira. The bout will be the heavyweight’s first in the cage since leaving the UFC in 2023, and his first in the PFL cage.
Michael Page teases future middleweight move after "cleaning out" welterweight: "There's some fun fights"
Josh Evanoff - September 6, 2024
UFC welterweight contender Michael Page is already eyeing a move up in weight. The man known to fans simply as ‘Venom’ has been out of the cage since June. At UFC 303, the former Bellator met Ian Garry in his second promotional appearance. While ‘The Future’ hoped to meet Colby Covington at the event, ‘Chaos’ rejected the bout and Michael Page stepped up.
Robert Whittaker details "Superpower" Dricus du Plessis uses to fuel his UFC success
Curtis Calhoun - September 6, 2024
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker believes one aspect of Dricus du Plessis’s skillset has fueled his rise to the world title. Whittaker will face the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 308 co-main event on October 26th in Abu Dhabi. The card is headlined by a UFC featherweight title clash between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway.
Israel Adesanya makes serious accusations towards man in roadside altercation
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 6, 2024
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has issued a statement following his viral street incident. Footage surfaced of a roadside altercation between “The Last Stylebender” and an unidentified man in New Zealand. At the end of their argument, Adesanya spat in the man’s direction. The two did not come to blows, but Adesanya has made serious accusations towards the man.
UFC 306: Alexa Grasso names Zhang Weili as dream opponent ahead of Valentina Shevchenko Trilogy
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 6, 2024
Alexa Grasso has revealed who would be her dream opponent inside the Octagon. Grasso is the reigning UFC women’s flyweight titleholder. She will be putting her gold at stake against Valentina Shevchenko in a trilogy fight. The two will collide inside the Sphere in Las Vegas on September 14th.
Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov picks Islam Makhachev over Jon Jones in UFC pound-for-pound debate
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 6, 2024
Usman Nurmagomedov has weighed in on the pound-for-pound debate. At the top of the official UFC pound-for-pound rankings currently is UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. UFC light heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira has the number two spot, while Jon Jones sits at number three.
Chael Sonnen claims Alex Pereira was “not sincere” with his callout of Dricus du Plessis: “The play here was a final nail in the coffin of his rivalry with Adesanya”
Harry Kettle - September 6, 2024
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen doesn’t believe Alex Pereira was being sincere when he challenged Dricus du Plessis recently. As we know, Alex Pereira is easily one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts. He also happens to be one of the most successful, too. He has won world titles in two weight classes in the UFC, and he is the current king of the light heavyweight division.
UFC Paris: ‘Moicano vs. Saint-Denis’ Fight Card and Start Times
Harry Kettle - September 6, 2024
We’re on the verge of UFC Paris as Renato Moicano and Benoit Saint-Denis prepare to battle it out in an important match-up. Event: UFC Paris: Moicano vs. Saint-Denis Date: Saturday, 28th September 2024 Location: Accor Arena (Paris, France) Broadcast: ESPN+ (12pm EST prelims, 3pm EST main card)
Conor McGregor teases “exciting” future BKFC fight with ‘Who the fook is that guy’ Jeremy Stephens
Harry Kettle - September 6, 2024
UFC sensation Conor McGregor has teased the idea of a BKFC fight against former rival Jeremy Stephens. For the longest time, Conor McGregor has been the biggest star in mixed martial arts. While a lot of that stems from his accomplishments in the cage, it also has a lot to do with his personality. He’s one of the most infectious characters to ever step foot in the Octagon, and that much is an understatement.
Isaac Dulgarian confident he will finish Brendon Marotte "early" at UFC Vegas 97: "I'm the better fighter"
Cole Shelton - September 5, 2024
Isaac Dulgarian is set to return to the Octagon against Brendon Marotte at UFC Vegas 97. It will be Dulgarian’s first fight since he suffered his first career loss. That loss came back in March and was a controversial decision defeat to Christian Rodriguez which is a fight Dulgarian still believes he won.
Umar Nurmagomedov responds to Merab Dvalishvili's dismissal of him getting the next bantamweight title shot
Curtis Calhoun - September 5, 2024
Undefeated UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov didn’t take long to respond to Merab Dvalishvili’s remarks about the next title shot. Dvalishvili faces UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley in the UFC 306 main event next weekend in Las Vegas. After defeating former titleholder Henry Cejudo at UFC 298, he clinched the next bantamweight title shot.
Gilbert Burns hoping for a "war" against Sean Brady but expects to get him out of there quickly at UFC Vegas 97
Cole Shelton - September 5, 2024
Gilbert Burns is hoping his UFC Vegas 97 main event fight against Sean Brady will be a war. Burns enters the bout on a two-fight losing streak and is currently the betting underdog. However, he still has confidence he will be able to pull off the upset. Although Brady is a tough out, Burns thinks he can finish him rather quickly. If a quick stoppage doesn’t come to fruition, the Brazilian is hoping the fight results in a drawn-out war.
Jake Paul offers theory why the UFC hasn't booked Conor McGregor's return: "He has two fights left on his deal..."
Josh Evanoff - September 5, 2024
Jake Paul believes that the UFC is holding back Conor McGregor from competing. ‘The Notorious’ hasn’t competed since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in their July 2021 trilogy bout. Conor McGregor then spent the better part of two years trying to heal, and book his return. As some fans likely recall, the former UFC champion repeatedly called for the chance to fight in 2023, and early 2024.
Kamaru Usman issues fiery retort to Belal Muhammad's "Corny, weak" diss track
Curtis Calhoun - September 5, 2024
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has broken the silence and addressed Belal Muhammad’s trolling on social media. Muhammad earned the UFC welterweight title by defeating Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in July. He hasn’t lost a fight since 2019 and has earned recent wins over the likes of Gilbert Burns, Stephen Thompson, and Sean Brady.
Tony Ferguson teases announcement after parting ways with the UFC: "Some big changes are going on!"
Josh Evanoff - September 5, 2024
It appears that former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson has something in the works. The man known to fans simply as ‘El Cucuy’ has seen better days. Tony Ferguson last competed at UFC Abu Dhabi in August, facing Michael Chiesa. Heading into the bout, the former interim lightweight champion had lost his last seven contests. Pre-fight, Dana White stated that the fight would be Ferguson’s last in the promotion, win or lose.
Pro fighters make their picks for Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady
Cole Shelton - September 5, 2024
In the main event of UFC Vegas 97, a pivotal welterweight bout goes down as Gilbert Burns takes on Sean Brady. Heading into the fight, Burns is a +150 underdog while the American is a -194 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the welterweight fight. The pros believe Burns will pull off the upset and get the win over Brady on Saturday.
Merab Dvalishvili says Umar Nurmagomedov doesn't deserve title shot, pitches an alternate for UFC 306 winner
Curtis Calhoun - September 5, 2024
UFC bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili doesn’t feel the unbeaten Umar Nurmagomedov deserves the next title shot after UFC 306. Dvalishvili faces UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley in the UFC 306 main event next weekend in Las Vegas. After an unbeaten streak inside the Octagon, Dvalishvili finally earned his elusive title shot after an impressive win at UFC 298.