MMA News
VIDEO | Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad stare each other down during awkward elevator encounter
Curtis Calhoun - July 24, 2024
UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad ran into each other in a closed space just days before UFC 304. Edwards and Muhammad headline UFC 304 this Saturday in Manchester. The two top welterweights will clash in a rematch of the 2021 fight that ended abruptly due to an accidental eye poke.
Official: Hiroba Minowa vs. Sanzhar Zakirov added to ONE 168
BJPENN.COM Staff - July 24, 2024
ONE Championship’s much-awaited return to the U.S. plays host to an intriguing strawweight MMA matchup on its supporting card. The additional three-round duel pits #4-ranked contender Hiroba Minowa against Sanzhar Zakirov at ONE 168: Denver. The event takes place at the 21,000-seat Ball Arena on September 6.
Belal Muhammad shares his list of the top five welterweights in the UFC: “I would put Leon (at) four”
Susan Cox - July 24, 2024
Belal Muhammad is sharing his list of the top five welterweights in the UFC. UFC 304 is taking place this coming Saturday, July 27th at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England.
Francis Ngannou accuses boxing promoters of using dirty tactics to assist Anthony Joshua: “They did quite some stuff that wasn’t fair”
Susan Cox - July 24, 2024
Francis Ngannou is accusing boxing promoters of using dirty tactics to assist his most recent opponent Anthony Joshua. Ngannou made his boxing debut in October of 2023 when he met and was defeated by Tyson Fury by split decision. The fighter in his second outing, got in the ring with Anthony Joshua this past March. That fight ended in a KO victory for Joshua. The 37-year-old former UFC champion is now 0-2 in the ring.
UFC 304 | Pro fighters make their picks for Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad title fight
Cole Shelton - July 24, 2024
In the main event of UFC 304, the welterweight title is up for grabs as Leon Edwards is looking to defend his belt against Belal Muhammad. Heading into the fight, Edwards is a sizeable -265 favorite while the challenger is a +200 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the welterweight title fight. The majority of pros believe it will be Edwards getting the win to remain the welterweight champion in what could be a lackluster fight.
Daniel Pineda expects Nathaniel Wood fight at UFC 304 to end early: "One of us is getting knocked out"
Cole Shelton - July 24, 2024
Daniel Pineda expects his UFC 304 fight against Nathaniel Wood to end early. Pineda hasn’t fought in over a year, due to an opponent withdrawing from a fight and then him getting hurt. He ended up getting booked to fight Wood at UFC 304 in England, which he is eager to go fight in enemy territory.
Sean O’Malley believes Mike Perry would probably beat Jake Paul in Bare Knuckle Boxing: “He’s the king of that sport”
Harry Kettle - July 24, 2024
Sean O’Malley believes Mike Perry would be able to defeat Jake Paul if they had a rematch in bare-knuckle boxing. Last weekend, Jake Paul and Mike Perry went head to head in a blockbuster boxing showdown. In the end, though, Perry was stopped in the sixth round by Paul. While many felt as if ‘Platinum’ had a real chance to spring the upset, he ultimately wasn’t able to overcome the size difference between the two.
Kamaru Usman weighs in on a potential Jake Paul vs. Alex Pereira boxing match: “I don’t think it’s an unwinnable fight for Jake”
Harry Kettle - July 24, 2024
UFC legend Kamaru Usman has explained why he thinks there’s a chance Jake Paul could actually beat Alex Pereira in a boxing match. Last weekend, Jake Paul continued his streak of beating MMA fighters in boxing matches. He did so by stopping Mike Perry, who is also known as the biggest star in BKFC. Following the bout, he opted to call out Alex Pereira – the current UFC light heavyweight champion.
Fight fans react to the mysterious demotion of ‘Kape vs. Mokaev’ at UFC 304
Harry Kettle - July 24, 2024
Fight fans have given their thoughts on Manel Kape vs Muhammad Mokaev seemingly being demoted to the early prelims at UFC 304. This weekend, the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Manchester, England for a blockbuster event. We will see two title fights, the return of Paddy Pimblett, and a whole host of other elite fighters competing.
Rodtang to run it back with Jacob Smith for Muay Thai gold at ONE 169
BJPENN.COM Staff - July 24, 2024
Rodtang Jitmuangnon lures a familiar foe when he defends the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title. The Thai megastar stakes his divisional throne against #3-ranked contender Jacob Smith in a rematch. This happens at ONE 169: Atlanta, emanating live from the State Farm Arena on November 8.
Muhammad Mokaev reveals he's fighting out his contract at UFC 304: "They don't like my style"
Cole Shelton - July 23, 2024
Muhammad Mokaev will be fighting out his contract at UFC 304. Mokaev was originally supposed to take on Manel Kape on the main card, but their fight was moved from the prelims and has since been bumped down to the early prelims. It was surprising that a pivotal flyweight fight was moved to so early in the card, but speaking to MMA on SiriusXM, Mokaev revealed it’s because the UFC doesn’t like his style of fighting.
Jon Jones reacts to the elimination of the 12-6 elbow rule: "Undefeated then, undefeated now"
Curtis Calhoun - July 23, 2024
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones didn’t take long to react to the eradication of the 12-6 elbow ban in MMA’s unified ruleset. The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports lifted the ban of 12-6 elbows on Tuesday in a rules committee meeting. The committee voted unanimously to lift the ban on the controversial technique.
Francis Ngannou shares heartbreaking story of the last time he saw his late son Kobe
Cole Shelton - July 23, 2024
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has opened up on the heartbreaking death of his 15-month-old son Kobe. Ngannou’s son passed away suddenly back in March and months later, the former champ went on The Joe Rogan Podcast and opened up on the last time he saw his son before he passed away.
Julianna Pena becomes latest to slam Ronda Rousey for lack of accountability: "Blaming everybody else"
Josh Evanoff - July 23, 2024
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Pena has taken aim at Ronda Rousey. ‘Rowdy’ has been busy promoting her recently released memoir for most of this year. The book titled ‘Our Fight’ details Ronda Rousey’s UFC exit, as well as her years in the WWE. However, many haven’t been happy with what the former champion said in her book, as well as on her press tour.
Joe Rogan endorses Cédric Doumbé's superstar potential in PFL: "Big loss for the UFC!"
Curtis Calhoun - July 23, 2024
Joe Rogan feels the UFC made a significant error in not sealing the deal on securing Cédric Doumbé’s MMA career. Doumbé bounced back from his first professional MMA loss by knocking out Jaleel Willis at Bellator Paris in May. He got back in the win column following a controversial loss to Baissangour Chamsoudinov in March.
Aljamain Sterling jabs Sean O'Malley after social media blowup with Conor McGregor
Curtis Calhoun - July 23, 2024
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling didn’t hesitate to mock Sean O’Malley over the latter’s budding beef with Conor McGregor. Sterling will face Movsar Evloev in his UFC featherweight return later this year at UFC 307. He recently defeated Calvin Kattar at UFC 300 for a victorious showing in his UFC featherweight debut.
Francis Ngannou announces PFL debut against Renan Ferreira is expected for October 19th in Saudi Arabia
Josh Evanoff - July 23, 2024
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira will finally be going down in the PFL cage later this year. ‘The Predator’ hasn’t been seen since his second-round knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in February. The defeat was a devastating one for Francis Ngannou. Just a few months after nearly upsetting Tyson Fury in the boxing ring, he was utterly dominated by ‘AJ’. However, what the loss did guarantee was his return to the world of MMA.
Patchy Mix vs. Leandro Higo headlines Bellator Champions Series: Paris on Nov. 16
Curtis Calhoun - July 23, 2024
Bellator bantamweight titleholder Patchy Mix will face a new contender for his upcoming title defense in Paris. As announced in a Tuesday press release, Bellator Champions Series: Paris on November 16th will feature a Mix vs. Leandro Higo headliner. Mix last defended the belt in a ‘Fight of the Year’ contender against Magomed Magomedov in May.