MMA News
Chael Sonnen explains how Alex Pereira can become the undisputed GOAT of MMA: “We won't even have the discussion anymore”
Harry Kettle - June 21, 2024
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has explained Alex Pereira’s route to becoming one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters of all time. Next weekend, Alex Pereira will make his return to the Octagon. He will fight Jiri Prochazka on short notice, defending his UFC light heavyweight championship in the process. It’s the kind of act that has made him one of the most popular UFC fighters in recent memory, and it seems as if his star will only continue to rise.
Rose Namajunas reacts to former rival Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s UFC Hall of Fame induction: “I looked up to her”
Harry Kettle - June 21, 2024
Rose Namajunas has given her thoughts on the UFC Hall of Fame induction of former foe Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The careers of Rose Namajunas and Joanna Jedrzejczyk have been intertwined for quite some time now. It dates back almost a decade, when Namajunas pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC title history. She claimed the UFC strawweight championship by knocking out Joanna in New York City, before successfully defending the belt against her.
Kang Ji Won aims to use “best weapons” against Kirill Grishenko
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 21, 2024
Kang Ji Won knows exactly what he must do to beat Kirill Grishenko in their upcoming encounter. This heavyweight MMA clash takes place at ONE Fight Night 23 on Prime Video. The U.S. primetime event airs live from the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 5.
Impa Kasanganay confident he'll get a first-round finish against Jakob Nedoh, hopes to fight Rob Wilkinson next
Cole Shelton - June 20, 2024
Impa Kasanganay is looking to secure another first-round finish at PFL 5 to cement his spot in the playoffs. Kasanganay is coming off a first-round TKO win over Alex Polizzi back in April to earn six points. It was a solid performance from the UFC vet, which got him back into the win column after his controversial loss to Johnny Eblen.
Ikram Aliskerov sends a warning to Robert Whittaker ahead of UFC Saudi Arabia: "Unpleasantly surprise him"
Cole Shelton - June 20, 2024
Ikram Aliskerov has sent a warning to Robert Whittaker ahead of their UFC Saudi Arabia main event fight. Aliskerov stepped up on short notice to face Whittaker after Khamzat Chimaev was forced out of the bout. Aliskerov was supposed to fight last weekend, so he delayed his fight a week to take on the former middleweight title challenger.
Sean O'Malley shares his MMA striker 'Mount Rushmore' featuring two current UFC titleholders
Curtis Calhoun - June 20, 2024
UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley holds three current MMA fighters in high esteem when discussing the sport’s all-time great strikers. O’Malley is expected to face Merab Dvalishvili later this year in his latest UFC bantamweight title defense. He most recently defeated Marlon Vera in the UFC 299 main event by unanimous decision after capturing the belt last August.
Tom Aspinall is focusing on his own legacy ahead of UFC 304 title defense: "I don't need Jon Jones"
Josh Evanoff - June 20, 2024
While UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall wants to fight Jon Jones, he doesn’t need to. The British fighter is just a month away from defending his gold on home soil. Just a few months removed from his knockout win over Sergei Pavlovich to win the interim title, Tom Aspinall will meet Curtis Blaydes. ‘Razor’ is coming off a second-round knockout victory over Jailton Almeida at UFC 299 in March.
Floyd Mayweather vs. John Gotti III rematch set for August 24th in Mexico
Josh Evanoff - June 20, 2024
It seems that boxing legend Floyd Mayweather will be running it back with John Gotti III later this summer. ‘Money’ has remained retired as a professional boxer since his 2017 knockout win over Conor McGregor. However, in the years since then, Floyd Mayweather has continued to compete in exhibition boxing matches. Since December 2018, the former champion has faced everyone from Logan Paul to Tenshin Nasukawa.
Kamaru Usman admits he was "super nervous" ahead of first Jorge Masvidal showdown: "Is he gonna baptize me?"
Curtis Calhoun - June 20, 2024
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal have turned the page on their once-heated rivalry in the Octagon. Usman defeated Masvidal twice during their UFC tenures, including a vicious one-punch knockout at UFC 261. The two welterweight legends will forever be linked for their two scraps inside the Octagon.
Joilton Lutterbach confirms he used PEDs which led to UFC Saudi Arabia withdrawal: "I actually used Juice"
Cole Shelton - June 20, 2024
Joilton Lutterbach confirms he did take performance-enhancing drugs which led to him being pulled from his UFC Saudi Arabia fight. Lutterbach stepped up on short notice to face Shara Magomedov at UFC Saudi Arabia. However, it was revealed on Wednesday that he was out of the fight, as he claimed the anti-doping commission pulled him from the fight after a banned substance was found in his urine.
Mike Perry vows to humble Jake Paul and foil his future plans: "I'm going to make it look easy"
Susan Cox - June 20, 2024
Mike Perry is vowing to humble Jake Paul and foil his future plans. July 20th was to see Jake Paul vs. former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson in a professional boxing match, however ‘Iron Mike’ had to pull out of the bout due to illness. The two will now meet on Friday, November 15th at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas which will be streamed globally on Netflix.
Team McGregor denies “rehab” claims made by Chael Sonnen
Susan Cox - June 20, 2024
Team McGregor is denying the claims made by Chael Sonnen that ‘Notorious’ is out of UFC 303 due to a stint in rehab. It was almost a week ago that UFC CEO Dana White announced the fight between Conor McGregor (22-6 MMA) and Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA) was off for UFC 303, which was to have taken place on Saturday June 29th. The reason being that McGregor had suffered an injury.
Tawanchai-Jo Nattawut rivalry to ignite ONE 169: Atlanta
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 20, 2024
For the third time, Tawanchai PK Saenchai and “Smokin” Jo Nattawut will lock horns in what promises to be an explosive showdown aimed at settling their unfinished business. The latest installment of their rivalry happens at ONE 169: Atlanta at the State Farm Arena on November 8. There, Tawanchai’s ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship will once again be on the line.
Renan Ferreira says he is just “waiting on the date” for Francis Ngannou showdown: “I’ve been ready for this”
Harry Kettle - June 20, 2024
PFL champion Renan Ferreira has said that he’s waiting on a date for his seemingly inevitable showdown with Francis Ngannou. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Francis Ngannou compete in a mixed martial arts setting. In recent times, he’s been focused on boxing. He battled Tyson Fury in an incredibly close fight, before going on to take on Anthony Joshua. While he did lose via knockout, nobody can deny that he’s made the biggest paydays of his career since leaving the UFC.
Sergei Pavlovich says he feels forgotten about ahead of return at UFC Saudi Arabia: “The facts will be in front of us later”
Harry Kettle - June 20, 2024
UFC heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich admits that he feels forgotten about heading into his return this weekend. On Saturday night, Sergei Pavlovich returns to the Octagon in Saudi Arabia. He will take on Alexander Volkov in a fight that could be absolutely huge for his title prospects. As we know, in his last outing, Pavlovich fell short in a knockout loss to Tom Aspinall for the interim heavyweight championship.
Israel Adesanya shares his prediction for Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Saudi Arabia: “This is a banger”
Harry Kettle - June 20, 2024
Israel Adesanya has shared his prediction for this weekend’s Robert Whittaker vs Ikram Aliskerov showdown. As we know, Robert Whittaker is an all-time great in the UFC’s middleweight division. In addition to being a former champion, he’s also had some genuinely incredible moments in the division. Of course, this weekend, he was expecting to face Khamzat Chimaev – but that isn’t going to happen.
Official: Jarred Brooks, Gustavo Balart to throwdown for interim strawweight title
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 20, 2024
With reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio sidelined due to an ACL injury, Jarred Brooks and Gustavo Balart will clash for the interim title. The #1-ranked contender in Brooks and #3-ranked Balart battle for the belt in the main event of ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video. This U.S. primetime event is set to take place at the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 2.
UFC Saudi Arabia gets another new fight after Joilton Lutterbach tests positive for banned substance
Cole Shelton - June 19, 2024
UFC Saudi Arabia has another new bout after Joilton Lutterbach tested positive for a banned substance and is out of his fight against Shara Magomedov. The UFC’s first event in Saudi Arabia this weekend has seen plenty of key changes as last week the main event was changed from Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev to Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov. According to Tapology, seven fights have been changed or canceled.