MMA News
Former UFC star Francis Ngannou defends his professional boxing career
Harry Kettle - August 2, 2024
Dana White laughs off Jake Paul vs Alex Pereira boxing match
Harry Kettle - August 2, 2024
UFC president Dana White has laughed off the idea of Jake Paul taking on UFC champion Alex Pereira in a boxing match. As we know, Jake Paul and Dana White have had their fair share of debates in the past. Most of them come in the form of a cold war, with each passing judgment about the other on social media or in interviews.
John Lineker draws Asa Ten Pow for Muay Thai debut at ONE 168: Denver
BJPENN.COM Staff - August 2, 2024
John Lineker’s long-teased debut in Muay Thai finally has a date. The former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion’s first assignment in “the art of eight limbs” happens at the highly anticipated ONE 168: Denver. This premium live event takes place at the 21,000-seat Ball Arena on September 6.
Sean Strickland blames "Political wokeness" for Summer Olympics boxing controversy
Curtis Calhoun - August 1, 2024
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland didn’t mince words in expressing his views on the controversy surrounding Olympic boxing. Strickland is in line for another UFC middleweight title shot after defeating Paulo Costa at UFC 302. Before that, he lost to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297, ending his middleweight title reign.
Marlon Vera vows to “slice” up Deiveson Figueiredo with elbows if he tries to wrestle at UFC Abu Dhabi
Cole Shelton - August 1, 2024
Marlon Vera has sent a warning to Deiveson Figueiredo incase he decides to wrestle at UFC Abu Dhabi Vera is set to take on Figueiredo on the main card of UFC Abu Dhabi in a pivotal bantamweight bout. Figueiredo is looking to improve to 3-0 in the weight class, while Vera is coming off a decision loss to Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight title.
Alexander Volkanovski claps back at Belal Muhammad, believes welterweight champ is "a good stylistic match up" for him
Cole Shelton - August 1, 2024
Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has clapped back at Belal Muhammad. In the lead-up to UFC 304, Volkanovski claimed he thought Muhammad was a good stylistic matchup for him, despite the weight difference. After Muhammad scored an upset win over Leon Edwards at UFC 304 to become the welterweight champion, he fired back at Volkanovski over his recent comments.
Chael Sonnen calls for Tony Ferguson’s retirement “win or lose” at UFC Abu Dhabi, shares recent talk with his father
Curtis Calhoun - August 1, 2024
UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen wants to see Tony Ferguson hang up the gloves this weekend, regardless of the fight result. Ferguson will face fellow The Ultimate Fighter winner Michael Chiesa on Saturday at UFC Abu Dhabi. He returns to welterweight to potentially win his first fight in five years.
Arnold Allen says preparing for UFC 304 early start time caused him to crash his car: “It was pretty scary”
Curtis Calhoun - August 1, 2024
UFC featherweight contender Arnold Allen’s last sparring session ahead of UFC 304 preceded his first-ever car accident due to fatigue and tiredness. Allen defeated Giga Chikadze to kick off the UFC 304 main card on Saturday in Manchester. After back-to-back losses entering UFC 304, Allen got back in the win column and remains a key player in the featherweight title picture.
Pro fighters make their picks for Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa
Cole Shelton - August 1, 2024
On the main card of UFC Abu Dhabi, a highly-anticipated welterweight bout goes down as Tony Ferguson takes on Michael Chiesa. Heading into the fight, Ferguson is a massive +420 underdog while ‘The Maverick’ is a -720 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro-fighters to get their predictions for the fight. Although many pros want to see Ferguson get the win and end his losing streak, the majority of pros expect Chiesa to use his wrestling and size to control ‘El Cucuy’ on the ground.
Farid Basharat opens up on viral altercation with "coward" Michael 'Venom' Page
Curtis Calhoun - August 1, 2024
Undefeated UFC bantamweight Farid Basharat has shed some light on his recent altercation with Michael ‘Venom’ Page at the UFC 304 fighter hotel. Basharat and Page, two former teammates, nearly got into a full-out brawl after crossing paths last week in Manchester. It’s uncertain what led up to the near-brawl, but it almost turned into a chaotic scene at the UFC 304 fighter hotel.
Kayla Harrison set to return to the Octagon at UFC 307
Cole Shelton - August 1, 2024
Kayla Harrison has her second UFC appearance set. According to MMA journalists Damon Martin and Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting, Harrison is set to face Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 on October 5 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The main event of the pay-per-view card has not been announced.
Hiroki Akimoto battles Ilias Ennahachi at ONE Friday Fights 81
BJPENN.COM Staff - August 1, 2024
ONE Friday Fights 81 is shaping up to be an elite striking showcase after the addition of an intriguing bantamweight kickboxing bout. During a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, July 31, it was confirmed that former ONE World Champions Hiroki Akimoto and Ilias Ennahachi would share the same stage on the highly anticipated card.
Israel Adesanya speaks on widely-discussed Olympic boxing controversy: "He couldn't even finish her!"
Curtis Calhoun - August 1, 2024
Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has spoken out on one of the biggest talking points of the 2024 Summer Olympics. Adesanya will return to the UFC Octagon against middleweight titleholder Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 later this month. He returns to the cage almost a full year removed from a loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293.
Dana White is “not very” confident that UFC fans will see Nick Diaz fight in 2024
Susan Cox - August 1, 2024
Dana White is sharing that he is ‘not very’ confident that UFC fans will see Nick Diaz fight in 2024. In the co-main event at UFC Abut Dhabi which takes place this coming Saturday, August 3rd it was to have been Nick Diaz (26-10 MMA) vs. Vicente Luque (22-10 MMA) in a welterweight bout.
Marlon Vera questions Merab Dvalishvili’s chin ahead of UFC title fight with Sean O’Malley: “If you get dropped by Henry Cejudo”
Susan Cox - August 1, 2024
Marlon Vera is questioning Merab Dvalishvili’s chin ahead of his UFC title fight with Sean O’Malley. It will be Marlon Vera (23-9 MMA) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (23-3 MMA) in a bantamweight bout this coming Saturday, August 3rd at the Etihad Arena, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The UFC issues statement after ‘antitrust settlement’ gets denied by judge
Susan Cox - August 1, 2024
The UFC has issued a statement after the ‘antitrust settlement’ was denied by a judge. Judge Richard Boulware, has denied the antitrust lawsuit settlement against the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Tony Ferguson reacts after Dana White calls for his retirement win or lose at UFC Abu Dhabi
Susan Cox - August 1, 2024
Tony Ferguson is reacting after Dana White called for his retirement win or lose at UFC Abu Dhabi. UFC Abu Dhabi takes place this coming Saturday, August 3rd at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Dustin Poirier shares high praise for Paddy Pimblett after finishing King Green at UFC 304: “He’s talking the talk, walking the walk”
Harry Kettle - August 1, 2024
UFC legend Dustin Poirier has praised Paddy Pimblett following his victory over King Green at UFC 304. Last weekend at UFC 304, Paddy Pimblett picked up the biggest win of his career thus far. He was able to submit King Green, and he did so emphatically. Now, as we look ahead to the future, it seems as if ‘The Baddy’ will continue to see his star power grow.
UFC commentator Joe Rogan explains why the Olympics is a giant scam: “There are two things going on simultaneously”
Harry Kettle - August 1, 2024
UFC commentator Joe Rogan has explained why he isn’t the biggest fan of the Olympic Games. As we know, the 2024 Summer Olympics are currently ongoing in Paris, France. There are some incredible athletes taking part in some marvelous events as fans from around the globe gather to watch it all unfold. Of course, not everyone is a massive fan of the Games, including the aforementioned Joe Rogan.