MMA News
Francis Ngannou praises friend Israel Adesanya following loss to Dricus du Plessis: "We'll always support each other"
Josh Evanoff - August 22, 2024
Francis Ngannou has nothing but respect for former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. ‘The Last Stylebender’ is fresh off his return to the cage at UFC 305 over the weekend. Back for the first time since losing to Sean Strickland a year ago, Israel Adesanya faced Dricus du Plessis. The South African won the gold in the former champion’s absence, defeating ‘Tarzan’ by split decision in January.
Belal Muhammad confirms plans for UFC 310 return, eyeing Kamaru Usman or Shavkat Rakhmonov next
Josh Evanoff - August 22, 2024
UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad will likely be back in the cage in December. ‘Remember The Name’ is fresh off his return to the cage in July at UFC 304. In the main event, Belal Muhammad finally got his crack at welterweight gold against Leon Edwards. He faced ‘Rocky’ three years prior, fighting to a no-contest at the UFC Apex. Since then, both men have accelerated to the top of the welterweight division.
Francis Ngannou laughs off Dana White's comment that he's scared to fight Jon Jones: "He didn't want to fight me!"
Josh Evanoff - August 22, 2024
PFL heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou has responded to Dana White’s comments about fighting Jon Jones. ‘The Predator’ is finally set to return to the cage in October. Francis Ngannou last appeared in the octagon at UFC 270 in January 2022, where he handed Ciryl Gane a unanimous decision defeat. The fight was the last on his contract with the promotion, and he left the following year. Due to his exit, fans missed out on a long-awaited bout against Jon Jones.
Jonathan Haggerty adamant about vying for Fabricio Andrade’s MMA title
BJPENN.COM Staff - August 22, 2024
It’s safe to say that Jonathan Haggerty has no plans of slowing down once he’s done with his next assignment. The two-sport ONE World Champion stakes his bantamweight Muay Thai crown against flyweight kickboxing king Superlek Kiatmoo9 in the main event on ONE 168: Denver. This takes place at Ball Arena on September 6.
Renan Ferreira tells Francis Ngannou he's gonna be "the toughest challenge in his life and in his year" despite losing his son
Cole Shelton - August 22, 2024
Renan Ferreira has made a controversial comment to Francis Ngannou in the lead-up to their October 19 fight. Ngannou is set to make his PFL debut in Saudi Arabia against last year’s heavyweight champion in Ferreira in an intriguing bout. Ahead of the fight, the two were involved in the PFL’s press conference, and during it, Ferreira made a controversial comment towards Ngannou.
Dricus Du Plessis leapfrogs Sean O’Malley in latest UFC pound-for-pound rankings update
Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 22, 2024
UFC Middleweight Champion, Dricus du Plessis, has moved past bantamweight kingpin Sean O’Malley on the official pound-for-pound rankings. In his first title defense, du Plessis had a barnburner with former two-time 185-pound titleholder Israel Adesanya. “The Last Stylebender” threw the kitchen sink at du Plessis, but it was “Stillknocks” who successfully retained his gold via fourth-round submission.
Dana White explains what Magomed Ankalaev must do to earn another UFC title shot
Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 22, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White has revealed how Magomed Ankalaev can secure another light heavyweight title opportunity. When it was announced that 205-pound champion Alex Pereira will put his gold at stake against Khalil Rountree in the main event of UFC 307, the reaction within the MMA community was mixed. While many are expecting a barnburner between the two knockout artists, Rountree’s credibility as a title contender has come into question.
Muhammad Mokaev slams Steve Erceg following UFC 305 loss to Kai Kara-France
Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 22, 2024
Former UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev has hit back at Steve Erceg following UFC 305. Mokaev and Erceg found themselves in a war of words following “The Punisher’s” unceremonious UFC exit. Dana White, UFC CEO, had been adamant that despite Mokaev’s success inside the Octagon he had become difficult to work with and the promotion has passed on signing him to a new deal.
Dana White confident Jon Jones will fight Tom Aspinall if he retains heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic: “I personally think Jon challenges himself”
Harry Kettle - August 22, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White believes Jon Jones will push ahead with fighting Tom Aspinall if he can get through Stipe Miocic. As we know, the UFC heavyweight champion ‘Bones’ looks set to return later this year. When he does, he’ll defend the belt against former champion – and heavyweight GOAT – Stipe Miocic.
PFL changes tune on potential signing of former UFC fighter Muhammad Mokaev: “He could absolutely be the future face of Flyweights”
Harry Kettle - August 22, 2024
PFL has seemingly changed their tune on the idea of signing former UFC flyweight star Muhammad Mokaev. Over the course of the last few weeks, Muhammad Mokaev has had to do some serious self-reflection. Despite his win over Manel Kape at UFC 304, he was released from his contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Then, when PFL’s Ray Sefo was asked about the idea of signing him, he swiftly turned it down.
Henry Cejudo expresses interest in a potential return to flyweight: “Getting a fight with Moreno and winning the belt once again”
Harry Kettle - August 22, 2024
Former two-weight UFC champion Henry Cejudo has expressed an interest in making a return to the flyweight division. As we know, Henry Cejudo is a mixed martial arts legend in his own right. He is a former world champion at flyweight and bantamweight, and it seems as if he’s still hungry to compete.
REPORT | Casey Kenney released by the UFC after domestic violence arrest
Curtis Calhoun - August 21, 2024
The UFC has reportedly parted ways with bantamweight Casey Kenney after the fighter was arrested for alleged domestic violence and kidnapping. The news of Kenney’s release was first reported on X account UFC Roster Tracker and later confirmed with promotional officials by MMA Fighting.
Daniel Cormier applauds Tom Aspinall's approach to recent Jon Jones banter: "It was easy to ignore him"
Curtis Calhoun - August 21, 2024
Daniel Cormier believes Tom Aspinall’s more aggressive approach to his banter with Jon Jones is smart. Jones is expected to face former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in his first heavyweight title defense in November. Jones, who won the then-vacant heavyweight belt at UFC 285, has remained insistent on facing Miocic over Aspinall next.
Robert Whittaker claims he now knows what he "needs to do to beat" Dricus Du Plessis after UFC 305
Cole Shelton - August 21, 2024
Robert Whittaker believes he has the blueprint to beating Dricus Du Plessis after UFC 305. Whittaker and Du Plessis fought back in July of 2023 at UFC 290 and it was the South African who won by second-round stoppage. Since then, Whittaker has won back-to-back fights while Du Plessis has become the middleweight champion and coming off a submission win over Israel Adesanya to defend his belt for the first time.
Ronda Rousey re-ignites feud with Cris Cyborg over attempt to save women's MMA: "Cheating a*s b*tch"
Josh Evanoff - August 21, 2024
It appears that former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is again at odds with Cris Cyborg. ‘Rowdy’ is seemingly retired from fighting these days, but her impact on the sport is impossible to ignore. Ronda Rousey came to the UFC straight from Strikeforce, making history as the first woman to fight for Dana White. From 2013 to 2016, she remained one of the most popular members of the roster.
Ilia Topuria confirms the BMF title won’t be up for grabs in fight with Max Holloway at UFC 308: “There’s no way I’m not going to knock him out”
Josh Evanoff - August 21, 2024
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria plans on knocking out Max Holloway in October, ‘BMF’ title or not. ‘El Matador’ hasn’t been in the cage since his title clash with Alexander Volkanovski in February. The bout was Ilia Topuria’s first fight for UFC gold, and he made it count. It took less than two rounds for the Spanish fighter to hand ‘The Great’ a knockout loss. In the process, ending Volkanovski’s stranglehold over 145 pounds.
Donald Trump praises 'warrior' Dustin Poirier for performance against Islam Makhachev: "He didn't lose that fight"
Josh Evanoff - August 21, 2024
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has nothing but praise for UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier. ‘The Diamond’ is fresh off his return to the cage earlier this summer at UFC 302. In the main event of that pay-per-view card, Dustin Poirier faced lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Entering the contest, the longtime fan favorite was a massive underdog. However, Poirier admitted that the bout could be his last and that he was willing to go out on his shield.
Michael Bisping sides with Dana White over reaction to Merab Dvalishvili's leaked cut
Curtis Calhoun - August 21, 2024
UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping feels Merab Dvalishvili made a possible fight-determining mistake in leaking his pre-UFC 306 cut on social media. Dvalishvili scared the masses earlier this week when he posted footage of a nasty face cut he suffered ahead of UFC 306. He posted a clip of him on an operating table to stitch the wound but assured his fans that it wouldn’t put the Sean O’Malley fight in jeopardy.