MMA News
The UFC parts ways with seven fighters
Susan Cox - July 31, 2024
The UFC has parted ways with seven fighters. In the past three days, CEO Dana White and company have parted ways with seven fighters in preparation for the promotions annual Contender Series signing spree.
Danielle Kelly targets emphatic win over Mayssa Bastos at ONE Fight Night 24
BJPENN.COM Staff - July 31, 2024
Danielle Kelly plans to give Mayssa Bastos a dose of her own medicine when they clash at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video. There, the American standout defends her ONE Atomweight Submission Grappling World Title against the Brazilian challenger. This U.S. primetime event airs live from the fabled Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, August 2.
Jake Hadley sounds off on “clown” Muhammad Mokaev for UFC 304 shenanigans: “He sucker punched Manel Kape and all these geezers”
Harry Kettle - July 31, 2024
UFC fighter Jake Hadley has called out Muhammad Mokaev for his actions during UFC 304 fight week. As we know, Muhammad Mokaev has had an interesting week. He got involved in a brawl with Manel Kape and his team, defeated Kape at UFC 304, and was then released by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. There are allegations that he had been negotiating with PFL while still being signed to UFC, but this has been rejected by Mokaev’s camp.
Umar Nurmagomedov says he’s been promised a title shot with a win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi
Harry Kettle - July 31, 2024
Umar Nurmagomedov has reportedly been promised a title shot if he can defeat Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi. This weekend, Umar Nurmagomedov faces the biggest test of his career thus far. In a bout that has been in the works for a long time now, he’ll go head to head with Cory Sandhagen at bantamweight. As we know, Sandhagen has been a top contender at 135 pounds for years – and Umar is looking to make his mark.
Mike Perry responds after his “employee” Conor McGregor attempts to fire him: “When people want to watch BKFC again, they’ll be calling!”
Harry Kettle - July 31, 2024
Mike Perry has responded to Conor McGregor attempting to fire him from BKFC over social media. As we know, Mike Perry is the biggest name in bare-knuckle boxing. He has done some incredible things during his time with BKFC, and that looks set to continue. Of course, if he’s able to overcome this ongoing spat with Conor McGregor, that is.
Gustavo Balart determined to give family “the life they deserved”
BJPENN.COM Staff - July 31, 2024
Gustavo Balart isn’t just pursuing his dreams at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video – he’s doing it for his family. There, “El Gladiador” battles former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred Brooks for the interim crown. This scheduled five-rounder emanates live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, August 2.
UFC Sphere ticket prices reach near-unaffordable levels
Zain Bando - July 30, 2024
UFC Sphere tickets will be a hot commodity come September, and it didn’t help when the pre-sale ticket release commenced on Monday when it was next to impossible to purchase a seat for the Sept. 14 card in Las Vegas. The price ranges for the UFC event from the Sphere, also known as Riyadh Season Noche UFC, range from USD $ $2,157 to upwards of USD $17,757. For context, UFC 264, headlined by the trilogy fight between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier in July 2021, was under $1,000 for nosebleed-level seats for just one ticket.
UFC CEO Dana White calls himself ‘not political’ in CNN interview
Zain Bando - July 30, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White continues to make the rounds, including several interviews about his friendship with former President Donald Trump. White, 55, has made his stance clear that he doesn’t care about politics despite endorsing Trump at the 2024 RNC just days after Trump was nearly assassinated in Butler, Pa.
Brian Ortega recalls hectic 48 hours that led to UFC 303 withdrawal: "I didn’t come back to life"
Cole Shelton - July 30, 2024
Brian Ortega has opened up on the 48 hours leading to his withdrawal from his UFC 303 fight against Diego Lopes. Ortega was booked on short notice to face Lopes at featherweight to help save the UFC 303 card following Conor McGregor’s withdrawal. However, before weigh-ins, the fight was moved to lightweight as ‘T-City’ was having a hard time making the weight.
Muhammad Mokaev denies rumor that PFL negotiations led to UFC release: "Journalists that make this s*it up"
Josh Evanoff - July 30, 2024
No, former UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev hasn’t spoken with the PFL. ‘The Punisher’ returned to the cage over the weekend on the UFC 304 prelims. Back for the first time since a unanimous decision victory over Alex Perez in March, the flyweight was set for a grudge match with Manel Kape. Muhammad Mokaev and ‘Starboy’ had verbally attacked each other in the build-up to the fight, and even brawled during fight week.
Paddy Pimblett reveals former UFC lightweight champion could be next: "I'll punch his head in"
Josh Evanoff - July 30, 2024
Paddy Pimblett believes a fight with former UFC champion Rafael dos Anjos could be next. ‘The Baddy’ returned to the octagon on the UFC 304 main card Saturday night in Manchester. Back for the first time since a decision victory over Tony Ferguson in December, Paddy Pimblett faced King Green. The longtime veteran was coming off a victory over Jim Miller in April and was considered the Brit’s biggest test to date.
Kamaru Usman believes Leon Edwards should move to middleweight after UFC 304 loss: "Not a lot of them are grappling"
Josh Evanoff - July 30, 2024
Kamaru Usman believes that Leon Edwards should consider a move up in weight following his UFC 304 loss. ‘Rocky’ returned to the octagon in Manchester over the weekend. Back for the first time since a dominant decision victory over Colby Covington in December, Leon Edwards faced Belal Muhammad. The UFC welterweight champion entered the contest a heavy favorite, having dominated their first encounter in March 2021 until an eye poke caused a no-contest.
Colby Covington reveals recent run-in with Dustin Poirier: "If he wanted to do something, he could have done something"
Cole Shelton - July 30, 2024
Colby Covington had a recent run-in with rival and former teammate Dustin Poirier. Covington and Poirier used to train at American Top Team, but ‘Chaos’ left the gym due to him no longer getting along with a couple of fighters. One fighter he didn’t get along with was Poirier who told Covington it was on-sight if he saw him. Many fans hoped that meant the two would fight in the Octagon, but Poirier has made it clear he doesn’t want to fight Covington and give him that attention.
Leon Edwards's coach reveals he entered UFC 304 with a significant back injury: "He couldn't wrestle"
Curtis Calhoun - July 30, 2024
Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards wasn’t at his physical best entering the fight with Belal Muhammad at UFC 304. Edwards lost the UFC welterweight title to Muhammad in the UFC 304 main event on Saturday in Manchester. It was the first fight he’s lost since a 2015 defeat to Kamaru Usman.
Colby Covington reacts after Belal Muhammad dethrones Leon Edwards at UFC 304: “He just doesn’t have that hunger anymore”
Susan Cox - July 30, 2024
Former interim welterweight title holder Colby Covington is reacting after Belal Muhammad dethroned Leon Edwards at UFC 304. The main event at UFC 304 last Saturday night saw Belal Muhammad (24-3 MMA) defeat Leon Edwards (22-4 MMA) by unanimous decision to become the new UFC welterweight champion.
The updated UFC pound-for-pound rankings see Belal Muhammad debut at #6, with Tom Aspinall moving up to #9
Susan Cox - July 30, 2024
The updated UFC pound-for-pound rankings have been released with Belal Muhammad debuting at #6 and Tom Aspinall moving up to #9. Following UFC 304 this past weekend, Saturday July 27th, the P4P rankings have been adjusted.
Daniel Cormier doesn’t believe it is a “foregone conclusion” that Tom Aspinall beats Jon Jones: “He can never been counted out from a fight”
Susan Cox - July 30, 2024
Daniel Cormier doesn’t believe it is a ‘foregone conclusion’ that Tom Aspinall would beat Jon Jones in a potential title unification bout. It was just this past Saturday at UFC 304 that saw Tom Aspinall (15-3 MMA) defend his interim heavyweight title by defeating Curtis Blaydes (18-5 MMA) by KO in just 60 seconds.
Dana White reacts to the potential outcome that both Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic will retire at UFC 309: “I don’t know what we’ll do if that happens”
Harry Kettle - July 30, 2024
UFC president Dana White has given his thoughts on the idea that Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic could both retire following UFC 309. As we know, the current plan is for Jon Jones to defend his UFC heavyweight championship against Stipe Miocic. It appears set to take place at UFC 309 in New York City, but that has yet to be confirmed by the promotion.