MMA News
Daniel Cormier weighs in on ‘champ-champ” aspirations from Dricus du Plessis
Harry Kettle - August 16, 2024
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has given his thoughts on Dricus du Plessis wanting to become a two-weight world champion. Since arriving in the UFC, Dricus du Plessis has been on fire. He has been able to tear through the middleweight division and now, he’s the UFC middleweight champion. He won the strap by defeating Sean Strickland earlier this year.
Kade Ruotolo admits to feeling “a bit invincible” after successful MMA debut
BJPENN.COM Staff - August 15, 2024
An added dose of confidence is coursing through Kade Ruotolo’s veins as he gears up for his next outing. The American phenom defends his ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Title against flyweight king Mikey Musumeci at ONE 168: Denver. This takes place at the Ball Arena on September 6.
Michael Chiesa reveals the "version" of Tony Ferguson he thinks would've beaten Khabib Nurmagomedov
Cole Shelton - August 15, 2024
Michael Chiesa thinks the version of Tony Ferguson that beat Rafael dos Anjos would’ve beaten Khabib Nurmagomedov. Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov was one of the biggest fights that never came to fruition. It was booked on multiple occasions, but the pair never ended up meeting in the Octagon for a variety of reasons. According to Chiesa, he thinks had Ferguson and Nurmagomedov fought after ‘El Cucuy’ beat dos Anjos, he thinks Ferguson could’ve won.
Dana White walks back on comments regarding Conor McGregor not fighting this year: "We'll see how it plays out"
Cole Shelton - August 15, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White appears to walk back his comment that Conor McGregor won’t fight again this year. On Tuesday after the Contender Series, White said that the Irishman won’t fight in 2024 after he had to pull out of his UFC 303 fight back in June due to a broken pinky toe.
Max Holloway touts UFC 305 main card fighter as a "Future world champion"
Curtis Calhoun - August 15, 2024
BMF titleholder Max Holloway has his eyes on one prominent name competing at UFC 305 this weekend in a highly-anticipated matchup. UFC 305 is headlined by a middleweight title clash between Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya. This will be du Plessis’s first career UFC title defense against Adesanya, who returns after a nearly full year away from competition.
REPORT | Khabib Nurmagomedov pays off over $3 million in debt to Russian Federal Tax Service
Josh Evanoff - August 15, 2024
It appears that former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov no longer owes the Russian government. ‘The Eagle’ is one of the sport’s biggest stars. Even in retirement, Khabib Nurmagomedov remains a fixture at UFC events, cornering the likes of Umar Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and Belal Muhammad. As a fighter, the Russian hasn’t competed since a second-round submission victory over Justin Gaethje in October 2020.
PHOTO | Noche UFC poster released ahead of September event at the Las Vegas Sphere
Josh Evanoff - August 15, 2024
The Noche UFC poster has been released for September’s massive event at the Las Vegas Sphere. The card is set to go head-to-head with Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga and take place on Mexican Independence Day. For what it’s worth, the show is expected to be one of the UFC’s biggest of the year. In the main event, is bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley defending the gold against Merab Dvalishvili.
Michael Chandler still hoping that Conor McGregor fight happens despite Dana White's statement: "Give you misinformation"
Josh Evanoff - August 15, 2024
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler is holding out hope that he’ll get to fight Conor McGregor. ‘Iron’ and ‘The Notorious’ were expected to collide at UFC 303 on June 29th in Las Vegas. However a few weeks before fight day, Conor McGregor pulled out of the bout due to a broken toe. Afterward, Michael Chandler was also pulled, despite some talk of a short-notice fight with Max Holloway. In the months since then, the two lightweights have called for a December fight date.
Dricus Du Plessis explains why Sean Strickland is just a bad matchup for Israel Adesanya and it wasn't an "off night"
Cole Shelton - August 15, 2024
Dricus Du Plessis doesn’t think Israel Adesanya had an off night against Sean Strickland after all. Adesanya suffered a stunning decision loss to Strickland last September to lose his middleweight title. Adesanya was a sizeable betting favorite, but Strickland dominated him for all five rounds to cruise to a lopsided decision win.
Dana White denies notion that UFC is a pro-Republican promotion: "I'd treat Joe Biden the same way!"
Curtis Calhoun - August 15, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White doesn’t believe his promotion favors former U.S. President Donald Trump and other Republicans over others with different political beliefs. White is longtime friends with Trump, who is running in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. Trump, a Republican, has attended many marquee UFC events, including UFC 299 in March.
Belal Muhammad responds after Kamaru Usman claims he is a “not so good version” of himself: “Put your money where your mouth is”
Susan Cox - August 15, 2024
Belal Muhammad is responding after Kamaru Usman claimed he was a ‘not so good version’ of himself. ‘Remember the Name’ (24-3 MMA) is hot off a unanimous decision victory over Leon Edwards (22-4 MMA) just last month at UFC 304 which took place at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik gives his honest assessment of the UFC’s heavyweight title picture: “Jon Jones is the real champ”
Susan Cox - August 15, 2024
Jairzinho Rozenstruik is giving his honest assessment of the UFC’s heavyweight title picture. While some fans in MMA consider interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall (15-3 MMA), who’s coming off back-to-back first-round knockouts of Sergei Pavlovich (18-3 MMA) and Curtis Blaydes (18-5 MMA), the true champion, Rozenstriuk is setting the record straight – the heavyweight champion is Jon ‘Bones’ Jones.
Rose Namajunas vs. Erin Blanchfield set to main event UFC Edmonton, Derrick Lewis vs. Alexander Romanov announced as co-headliner
Susan Cox - August 15, 2024
Rose Namajnas vs. Erin Blanchfield will be the main event at UFC Edmonton, with the co-main featuring Derrick Lewis vs. Alexander Romanov. The UFC will be back in Canada with UFC Edmonton which will take place on Saturday, November 2nd at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta.
Dana White reveals new details for UFC's huge debut event at the Sphere
Harry Kettle - August 15, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White has revealed just details for the promotion’s big debut at the Sphere in Las Vegas. On September 14, the Ultimate Fighting Championship heads to the Sphere in Las Vegas. The event, titled Noche UFC (previously UFC 306), is set to serve as a landmark moment for the venue. It will be the first major sporting occasion to take place inside the Sphere, and Dana White is putting everything he’s got into making it work.
Michael Page shares bold prediction for Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya title fight at UFC 305
Harry Kettle - August 15, 2024
UFC star Michael Page has given his prediction for Dricus du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya in the UFC 305 main event. This weekend, Israel Adesanya will attempt to become a three-time UFC middleweight champion. He’ll do so by going up against Dricus du Plessis, the reigning king of the division. The two will attempt to settle a feud that has been going on for quite some time now.
UFC CEO Dana White explains why Paddy Pimblett reminds him of a young Conor McGregor: “They just keep sticking it to everybody”
Harry Kettle - August 15, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White has explained why Paddy Pimblett genuinely reminds him of a young Conor McGregor. As we know, Paddy Pimblett is a star on the rise in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. While everyone continues to wait for him to falter, he’s only getting better. Of course, nobody knows just how far he can go, but that’s part of the fun.
Demetrious Johnson, Adriano Moraes may renew rivalry in BJJ
BJPENN.COM Staff - August 15, 2024
Demetrious Johnson and Adriano Moraes — two of the biggest names in ONE Championship’s flyweight MMA division — are set to compete in the World Master IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2024. Taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada, from August 29 to 31, the event will see the pair suit up in gi for the Master 2 featherweight category.
Aljamain Sterling speaks up after Sean Strickland accuses his manager of sexual misconduct
Curtis Calhoun - August 14, 2024
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is the first big-name fighter to speak out publically after his manager, Tiki Ghosn, was accused of sexual misconduct by Sean Strickland. Sterling will face unbeaten featherweight Movsar Evloev at UFC 307 in October. He returns to the Octagon and the 145lb division after a dominant performance against Calvin Kattar at UFC 300.