MMA News
Kevin Holland explains why he believes "scary guy" Islam Makhachev would become welterweight champ if he moves up
Cole Shelton - May 29, 2024
Kevin Holland believes Islam Makhachev would become the welterweight champion if he decided to move up in weight. Makhachev is the current UFC lightweight champion and is set to defend his belt in the main event of UFC 302 against Dustin Poirier. Should Makhachev win, he has hinted at moving up in weight and going to welterweight to try for champ-champ status.
Conor McGregor accuses Islam Makhachev of pre-UFC 302 Staph infection: 'Wash your f***** self!'
Curtis Calhoun - May 29, 2024
Conor McGregor’s latest accusations aimed at UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev add another storyline to UFC 302 fight week. Makhachev will defend the UFC lightweight title against Dustin Poirier this weekend in the UFC 302 main event. He returns to the Octagon after back-to-back successful title defenses against Alexander Volkanovski in 2023.
Rodtang aims to silence Denis Puric: “You will know what hell on earth is”
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 29, 2024
Rodtang Jitmuangnon feels that Denis Puric is biting off more than he can chew. Both men square off at ONE 167 on Prime Video. This U.S. primetime event airs live from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 7.
Conor McGregor trolls Belal Muhammad over lack of UFC knockdowns
Curtis Calhoun - May 29, 2024
Conor McGregor targeted UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad in his latest Twitter outburst. McGregor will make his long-awaited return to the UFC Octagon when he faces Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29. He returns to the cage nearly three full years since shattering his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
Sean Strickland rips “F***** Woman” Tom Brady over post-Netflix roast remarks
Curtis Calhoun - May 29, 2024
Sean Strickland didn’t tune in to watch The Roast of Tom Brady on Netflix, but he didn’t appreciate how Tom Brady handled himself in the event’s aftermath. Strickland will face former UFC middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa in the UFC 302 co-main event this Saturday in Newark. The two middleweights will clash in a potential No. 1 contender fight in a five-round matchup.
Kevin Holland reacts to Joaquin Buckley's recent heel turn, GSP fight comments
Curtis Calhoun - May 29, 2024
Kevin Holland scolded former UFC middleweight foe Joaquin Buckley for his recent declaration that he would beat a prime Georges St-Pierre. Holland will move back up to middleweight for a short-notice clash with Michał Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302 on Saturday. He returns to the Octagon and the middleweight division after a loss to Michael ‘Venom’ Page at UFC 299 in March.
Islam Makhachev takes aim at Dustin Poirier's confidence ahead of UFC 302: "He doesn't believe he can beat me"
Josh Evanoff - May 29, 2024
UFC champion Islam Makhachev believes he’s the greatest fighter on the planet heading into his fight with Dustin Poirier. The Russian is set to fight this Saturday for the first time since a knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski in October. There, Islam Makhachev will meet longtime contender, and former interim champion, Dustin Poirier. For his part, ‘The Diamond’ is fresh off a second-round stoppage victory over Benoit Saint-Denis in February.
REPORT | Nick Diaz pushed for UFC 300 fight against Colby Covington before booking Abu Dhabi return
Josh Evanoff - May 29, 2024
Nick Diaz wanted many different opponents before settling on a fight with Vicente Luque at UFC Abu Dhabi. Earlier today, Dana White announced that the former Strikeforce champion would be returning in August. For Nick Diaz, the fight will mark his first since a third-round stoppage loss to Robbie Lawler at UFC 266 in September 2021. That bout ended a nearly seven-year hiatus from the sport for the former titleholder.
Sean Strickland explains how detaching from MMA helped change the course of his UFC career: 'I didn't want to lose any validation'
Curtis Calhoun - May 29, 2024
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland made a mental switch earlier in his career that has led to his surge into a star. Strickland will face former UFC middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa in the UFC 302 co-main event on Saturday in Newark. He returns to fight in a five-round clash after losing the middleweight belt to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 earlier this year.
Islam Makhachev invites Charles Oliveira to join his camp for wrestling lessons ahead of potential Colby Covington showdown
Curtis Calhoun - May 29, 2024
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev wants to help Charles Oliveira deal with Colby Covington and other elite wrestlers. Makhachev will face Dustin Poirier in the UFC 302 main event this Saturday in Newark. He returns to defend the undisputed UFC lightweight title after back-to-back wins against Alexander Volkanovski in 2023.
Interim champion Tom Aspinall grapples with training adjustments for UFC 304 start time: "I don't know what I'm doing at this point"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 29, 2024
Tom Aspinall is having one heck of a time adjusting his training with the UFC 304 start time. Aspinall is set to put his interim UFC Heavyweight Championship on the line against Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event of UFC 304 in Manchester, England. Unfortunately for Aspinall, the UFC will be sticking with its original 10 p.m. ET start time for the PPV, which will be 3 a.m. ET local time. Aspinall, a Salford native, even attempted to talk the UFC out of sticking with its time, but to no avail.
Jack Della Maddalena forced to delay UFC return due to post-surgery infection: "I won't be competing in Perth"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 29, 2024
Jack Della Maddalena hoped to be a part of the UFC 305 card in Perth, but post-surgery complications have derailed that plan. Maddalena competed back in March at UFC 299, and while he scored a knockout win over Gilbert Burns he did not walk away unscathed. The Australian bruiser had to undergo surgery on his arm.
Blake Cooper promises to spoil Kade Ruotolo’s MMA debut at ONE 167
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 29, 2024
Blake Cooper wants to ensure that Kade Ruotolo’s MMA debut is far from the triumphant moment many are expecting. Both men face each other in a lightweight MMA clash at ONE 167 on Prime Video. This U.S. primetime event emanates live from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 7.
Former UFC champ Henry Cejudo responds to challenge from Song Yadong: “I’ll make you a limp Dong”
Harry Kettle - May 29, 2024
UFC star Henry Cejudo has responded to a challenge issued to him by fellow bantamweight contender Song Yadong. We all know that Henry Cejudo is a legend in combat sports. In addition to his Olympic wrestling gold medal, he’s also a two-weight world champion in the UFC. However, since returning from retirement, he hasn’t been able to find any consistency in the Octagon.
Michael Bisping believes Dustin Poirier’s MMA resume “smokes” that of Islam Makhachev
Harry Kettle - May 29, 2024
UFC commentator Michael Bisping believes that Dustin Poirier has a far better resume in MMA than Islam Makhachev. This weekend, Dustin Poirier will attempt to finally win the big one. He is set to challenge Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight championship in the main event of UFC 302. He’s tried and failed to win the strap on two separate occasions, falling to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira.
Video | Craig Jones dumps $1 million on Joe Rogan’s desk for special invitational event
Harry Kettle - May 29, 2024
BJJ sensation Craig Jones dumped $1 million on the desk of Joe Rogan during their podcast earlier this week. As many of you will know, Craig Jones is quite the superstar in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He’s an elite competitor and a two-time silver medalist at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) tournament, however, he won’t be competing there in 2024. That’s because he’ll be hosting the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) across similar dates in August, with his aim being to raise compensation for competing athletes.
Antonio Mammarella aims to elevate career to new heights at ONE 167
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 29, 2024
Antonio Mammarella finds himself standing at the precipice of a career-defining moment. The 24-year-old prospect hopes to leave a mark on the global stage when he makes his ONE Championship debut in U.S. primetime on June 7.
Alex Morono eyes KO win over Niko Price at UFC 302 to avenge 2017 loss: "Going to be a fun fight"
Cole Shelton - May 28, 2024
Alex Morono jumped at the chance to rematch Niko Price at UFC 302. After Morono defeated Court McGee in April, he returned to the gym to prepare for any short-notice fight that came up. Shortly after his win, Jeremiah Wells fell out of his fight against Price and Morono called the UFC to get his rematch.