MMA News
Gable Steveson signs with NFL's Buffalo Bills, forgoes MMA career
Josh Evanoff - May 31, 2024
Former Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson is heading to the NFL over the UFC. The 24-year-old recently wrapped up a controversial stint with the WWE. Gable Steveson chose to sign with the professional wrestling company despite offers from the UFC and others in 2021. Ultimately, the former Minnesota amateur wrestler just wasn’t a good fit. After years of training, Steveson was released after just one televised match earlier this month.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson postponed due to 'Iron Mike' suffering a medical emergency
Josh Evanoff - May 31, 2024
The professional boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson is no longer going down on July 20th. ‘The Problem Child’ and ‘Iron Mike’ were set to headline a Netflix-promoted event this summer in Dallas. While many cautioned Mike Tyson away from fighting given his age, the legend felt that he had to face Jake Paul. Furthermore, the bout was sanctioned as an actual professional boxing match, and not an exhibition, earlier this month.
WATCH: Sean Strickland spars with Bellator star Johnny Eblen just hours before UFC 302
Curtis Calhoun - May 31, 2024
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland isn’t pulling any punches ahead of his Octagon return against Paulo Costa. Strickland and Costa will fight in the UFC 302 co-main event on Saturday in Newark. The matchup is a potential No. 1 contender fight and a chance for Strickland to make a great case for another middleweight title shot.
Bo Nickal gives less-than-glowing review of Islam Makhachev's wrestling ahead of UFC 302
Curtis Calhoun - May 31, 2024
UFC middleweight star Bo Nickal doesn’t put Islam Makhachev’s wrestling in high esteem ahead of the lightweight champ’s return. Makhachev will face Dustin Poirier in the UFC 302 main event on Saturday in Newark. He returns to defend the UFC lightweight title after back-to-back wins over Alexander Volkanovski in 2023.
Javier Mendez dismisses Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria: "He doesn't need to fight him"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 31, 2024
American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez isn’t a fan of the idea of matching up UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev against Ilia Topuria, at least not right now. Topuria has quickly risen up the featherweight rankings to capture UFC gold at 145 pounds. His popularity has also gotten a nice jolt along the way and he has been laying out some lofty goal, including becoming a two-division champ.
UFC 302: ‘Makhachev vs. Poirier’ Weigh-in Results
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 31, 2024
The UFC 302 weigh-ins are in the books, and the championship main event has been made official. The early morning weigh-ins took place today, and fans will be pleased to know that UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier have made weight, both tipping the scales at 155 pounds. They will collide in the UFC 302 headliner inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey tomorrow night.
Listen | Hear what Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier had to say during tense faceoff for UFC 302: “Don’t say that or I’ll slap you”
Harry Kettle - May 31, 2024
Things got heated last night during Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier’s intense faceoff ahead of UFC 302. Tomorrow night, Dustin Poirier will challenge Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight championship. It’s an absolutely huge fight with massive stakes attached to it, as we all know. Makhachev is the favorite, but many fans of ‘The Diamond’ believe he can pull off the upset.
Sean Strickland reacts after Conor McGregor is voted top BLF in the UFC: “No that f***ing little leprechaun”
Harry Kettle - May 31, 2024
UFC star Sean Strickland has reacted to Conor McGregor being voted the “best looking” fighter in the UFC by AI. We all know that Sean Strickland is a divisive figure in mixed martial arts. From his fight style to what he says in the media, you never quite know what’s coming next from him. Of course, he’s a commodity for the promotion, if only because he makes so many headlines.
Fight fans react after photo suggests Paulo Costa may have a staph infection ahead of UFC 302
Harry Kettle - May 31, 2024
Fight fans have reacted to a photo that suggests Paulo Costa may be suffering with a staph infection heading into UFC 302. On Saturday night, Paulo Costa will make his return to the Octagon. We all know that Paulo is a pretty divisive figure, and while he may not be the most consistent fighter in the cage, he knows how to make noise outside of it.
Israel Adesanya shares prediction for Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa at UFC 302
Cole Shelton - May 30, 2024
Israel Adesanya has shared his prediction for the UFC 302 co-main event between Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa. Adesanya has fought both Strickland and Costa so he is very familiar with both men. Izzy’s last fight was a loss to Strickland where he surrendered the middleweight title with the setback. Given that he is familiar with both of them, Adesanya has a good idea of how the fight will play out and the best path to victory for both men.
Jailton Almeida explains why he doesn't feel the Curtis Blaydes fight was a loss, expecting a "great fight" against Alexandr Romanov
Cole Shelton - May 30, 2024
Jailton Almeida will be looking to return to the win column on the main card of UFC 302 on Saturday against Alexandr Romanov. Almeida is coming off a knockout loss to Curtis Blaydes at UFC 299 in the second-round, this after he dominated the first round. Although the Brazilian lost the fight, he says it was a good learning lesson which is why he isn’t viewing it as a loss.
Jalin Turner reflects on UFC 300 blunder during potential KO sequence: 'My conscious kicked in!'
Curtis Calhoun - May 30, 2024
UFC lightweight contender Jalin Turner has explained why he believes he walked away from a potential finish of Renato Moicano at UFC 300. Turner fell to Moicano in a wild UFC 300 clash last month in front of a packed house at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It was a back-and-forth battle for as long as the fight lasted before Moicano rallied in Round 2 to finish Turner by TKO.
WATCH | Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier get into intense faceoff after UFC 302 press conference
Cole Shelton - May 30, 2024
Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier got into a heated and intense faceoff after the UFC 302 press conference on Thursday. Makhachev is looking to defend his lightweight title in the main event of the pay-per-view card on Saturday in New Jersey against Poirier. In the lead-up to the fight, both men have vowed to finish the other, and after the press conference, the two got into a lengthy and heated faceoff.
Kamaru Usman turns down Jan Blachowicz's callout: "That fight makes absolutely no sense"
Josh Evanoff - May 30, 2024
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is backing away from a potential Jan Blachowicz fight. A bout between ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ and the former light-heavyweight champion has been discussed before. In 2022, Kamaru Usman, and his longtime friend Israel Adesanya, dominated welterweight and middleweight respectively. However, the 170-pound champion wanted a shot at double-champion status.
Islam Makhachev reflects on sparring session with UFC champion Leon Edwards: "I took him down and held him"
Josh Evanoff - May 30, 2024
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is opening up on his experience training with Leon Edwards. This Saturday night in New Jersey, the Russian is set to headline UFC 302. Standing in Islam Makhachev’s way is longtime contender and former interim champion, Dustin Poirier. Heading into the contest, the lightweight champion has been upfront about the fact that he’s already looking to 170 pounds.
Sean Strickland says the only way he loses to Paulo Costa at UFC 302 is if he "f***s up"
Cole Shelton - May 30, 2024
Sean Strickland knows he is a much better fighter than Paulo Costa. Strickland is set to face Costa in the co-main event of UFC 302 in a five-round fight. Strickland is looking to return to the win column after losing his middleweight title back in January to Dricus Du Plessis.
UFC 302 | Pro fighters make their picks for Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa
Cole Shelton - May 30, 2024
In the co-main event of UFC 302, a middleweight bout goes down as Sean Strickland takes on Paulo Costa. Heading into the fight, Strickland is a -250 favorite while the Brazilian is a +190 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the middleweight fight. The pros believe the five rounds will favor Strickland as they expect the American to beat Costa by decision.
Daniel Cormier agrees with fans who wanted Nick Diaz vs. Tony Ferguson at UFC Abu Dhabi: "That makes more sense to me"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 30, 2024
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier agrees with fans who feel Nick Diaz should’ve been matched up with Tony Ferguson at UFC Abu Dhabi. Dana White dropped a bombshell when he announced the return of the Stockton native for a stacked Fight Night card on August 5th. Diaz will have his first fight since September 2021 when he goes one-on-one with Vicente Luque. Ferguson will also be on that card in a showdown with Michael Chiesa. Many fans have shared their belief that Diaz vs. Ferguson should’ve been the fight to make instead.