MMA News
Urijah Faber believes Conor McGregor will fight again, shares prediction for potential Michael Chandler fight
Cole Shelton - August 7, 2024
Urijah Faber still believes Conor McGregor is hungry to compete and will fight again. McGregor was supposed to make his return at UFC 303 on June 29 against Michael Chandler, but he pulled out of the contest due to a broken pinky toe. Since then, many have wondered if the Irishman will fight again, as Chandler recently said the fight won’t happen.
Aljamain Sterling defends Muhammad Mokaev after UFC release: "I think it's f***ed up"
Curtis Calhoun - August 7, 2024
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling thinks the promotion made a significant error in releasing Muhammad Mokaev. Mokaev defeated Manel Kape by unanimous decision at UFC 304 last month in Manchester. The win moved him to 13-0 in his career, and at the time, moved him one step closer to a flyweight title shot.
Canelo Alvarez issues cold response to Conor McGregor's taunts over contract demands
Curtis Calhoun - August 7, 2024
Boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez has responded to Conor McGregor’s recent social media tirade aimed at his big contract demands. Alvarez will face Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas on September 14th during Mexican Independence Day weekend. The fight will rival the UFC’s pay-per-view on the same night, which features a bantamweight headliner between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili.
Belal Muhammad is already targeting double-champion status after UFC 304 title win: "I've got maybe two fights left"
Josh Evanoff - August 7, 2024
UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad believes that his time is ticking at 170 pounds. ‘Remember The Name’ is fresh off his return to the cage in the main event of UFC 304 last month. Fighting in Manchester, Belal Muhammad faced welterweight champion Leon Edwards in a rematch. In their first meeting back in 2021, ‘Rocky’ largely outstruck the wrestler until a second-round eye poke forced a no-contest.
Islam Makhachev's coach teases possibility of going for middleweight title to become champ-champ
Cole Shelton - August 7, 2024
Javier Mendez, the coach of Islam Makhachev believes his fighter could have a unique path to becoming a champ-champ. Makhachev is the current UFC lightweight champion, but he is good friends with the welterweight champ Belal Muhammad, as the two have also trained with one another in the past. With that, Makhachev has said he won’t fight Muhammad, but instead, Mendez thinks Makhachev is good enough to jump all the way to middleweight and win that belt.
Francis Ngannou admits he contemplated retirement after recent tragic death of his son
Curtis Calhoun - August 7, 2024
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou briefly contemplated retiring after experiencing an unimaginable tragedy. Ngannou will make his return to the cage after a nearly three-year absence on October 19th against 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira. The former UFC standout’s PFL debut will be his first MMA fight since a win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270.
Former middleweight champion Chris Weidman booked for return at UFC 309 in New York
Susan Cox - August 7, 2024
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman is booked to return to the cage at UFC 309 in New York. UFC 309 will take place on Saturday, November 14th at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Francis Ngannou vs Renan Ferreira official for October PFL pay-per-view event
Susan Cox - August 7, 2024
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira is now official for October’s PFL pay-per-view event. The former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou (17-3 MMA) will make his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut on Saturday, October 19th in Saudi Arabia, when he gets in the cage with Renan Ferreira (13-3 MMA) for the heavyweight title.
Chael Sonnen explains how Tony Ferguson “double crossed” Michael Chiesa with post-fight interview at UFC Abu Dhabi: “I’m a little bit surprised with the disconnect of mental awareness”
Susan Cox - August 7, 2024
Chael Sonnen is explaining how Tony Ferguson ‘double crossed’ Michael Chiesa with his post-fight interview at UFC Abu Dhabi. It was just this past Saturday, August 3rd, at UFC Abu Dhabi that Michael Chiesa (19-7 MMA) defeated Tony Ferguson (26-11 MMA) by submission in a welterweight bout.
Superlek gunning for Jonathan Haggerty's gold: "I want his belt"
BJPENN.COM Staff - August 7, 2024
Superlek Kiatmoo9 may be facing a monumental task in his next outing, but that does not diminish his confidence in the slightest. The reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion challenges Jonathan Haggerty for the Englishman’s bantamweight Muay Thai gold. This matchup headlines ONE 168: Denver, taking place at the Ball Arena on September 6.
MMA fans react after Jon Jones shares hotline for Tom Aspinall fight requests: “DC watching his phone blow up”
Harry Kettle - August 7, 2024
Mixed martial arts fans have reacted to Jon Jones sharing a hotline for Tom Aspinall fight requests. As we know, Jon Jones is likely to battle Stipe Miocic in his next fight. However, many want to see him take on Tom Aspinall instead. The Englishman is the interim UFC heavyweight champion and it seems like the move that makes sense. Alas, Jones and the UFC are ultimately going in the direction of Miocic, which will likely take place at Madison Square Garden later this year.
Jake Paul shares high praise for Dana White, says his only gripe is UFC fighter pay
Harry Kettle - August 7, 2024
Jake Paul has surprisingly given UFC president Dana White some praise following his speech at the Republican National Convention. As we know, Jake Paul and Dana White aren’t exactly best friends. In fact, Paul has taken quite a few shots at White over the years. A lot of the reasons for that stem from ‘The Problem Child’ not believing that fighter pay is where it should be. Of course, many fighters and pundits agree with him, even if they don’t like the man himself.
Khabib Nurmagomedov explains why he’d rather see cousin Umar take on Merab Dvalishvili over Sean O’Malley in pending UFC title fight
Harry Kettle - August 7, 2024
Khabib Nurmagomedov has explained why he’d rather see Umar Nurmagomedov face Merab Dvalishivili as opposed to Sean O’Malley. Last weekend, Umar Nurmagomedov pulled off the biggest win of his career. He defeated Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision, and he did so fairly convincingly. Ever since, fans have been wondering whether or not he’s going to receive a title shot.
Mayssa Bastos affirms that “it feels great” to finally capture ONE World Title
BJPENN.COM Staff - August 7, 2024
Mayssa Bastos is still on cloud nine after capturing the ONE Atomweight Submission Grappling World Title. She achieved the feat at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video last Friday, August 2. There, she overthrew Danielle Kelly from her throne atop the division.
Amy Pirnie further proves that Scotland is the next hotbed for fighting talent
BJPENN.COM Staff - August 6, 2024
Amy Pirnie announced her arrival under the ONE Championship banner in the most emphatic way possible. The Scottish newcomer made quick work of rising star Yu Yau Pui in an atomweight Muay Thai bout at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video last Friday, August 2.
Daniel Cormier says he’s firmly against 12-to-6 elbows, compares it to “street fighting”
Curtis Calhoun - August 6, 2024
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier isn’t a fan of 12-to-6 elbows and feels they should remain banned despite the recent lifting of the rule. The 12-to-6 elbow is a straight vertical attack to a grounded opponent, which was banned for years up until this summer. The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports recently voted unanimously to lift the ban from MMA’s unified ruleset, beginning on November 1st.
Sean Strickland targets homeless people in latest social media rant: "They're drug zombies!"
Curtis Calhoun - August 6, 2024
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland is at it again on social media as he awaits his next Octagon booking. Strickland defeated former UFC title challenger Paulo Costa in his most recent fight at UFC 302. He’s on hiatus as he waits for a middleweight title shot against the Dricus du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya winner.
Ben Askren accuses Dana White of hypocrisy regarding Jon Jones’ delayed heavyweight return
Curtis Calhoun - August 6, 2024
Former UFC welterweight Ben Askren is the latest top name to attempt to push Dana White to let go of the expected Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight. Jones, the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, is expected to return in November against former titleholder Stipe Miocic. He hasn’t fought since winning the then-vacant title at UFC 285, after suffering an injury that forced his withdrawal from a booking against Miocic at UFC 295.