MMA News
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.
UFC 302: Coach Eric Nicksick reveals when he realized Sean Strickland's popularity had grown: 'Tell me I didn't just hear that'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 31, 2024
Sean Strickland’s coach Eric Nicksick recalled the time he knew Sean Strickland reached a higher level of popularity. Strickland’s personality has garnered him a ton of attention from MMA fans. The former UFC Middleweight Champion doesn’t have a filter and is willing to say whatever is on his mind. While Strickland’s viewpoints would be deemed controversial in just about any other industry, the fight game welcomes his blunt style.
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.
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.
Gilbert Burns believes Conor McGregor is “100%” taking the Ryan Garcia approach ahead of UFC 303: “He’s not drinking”
Harry Kettle - May 31, 2024
UFC fighter Gilbert Burns doesn’t believe Conor McGregor was actually drinking in the recent video of him partying. As we know, Conor McGregor will finally make his return to the Octagon next month. He’ll do so by taking on Michael Chandler in a contest that has been in the making for well over a year. In the eyes of many, the Irishman is the favorite, but others wonder how seriously he’s taking this challenge.
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.
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.
Islam Makhachev addresses speculation of a Staph infection ahead of UFC 302
Curtis Calhoun - May 30, 2024
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is at the center of a UFC 302 fight week controversy after images spread online of a possible staph infection. Makhachev will defend the UFC lightweight title against two-time lineal title challenger Dustin Poirier on Saturday in Newark. Makhachev returns after back-to-back successful title defenses against Alexander Volkanovski in 2023, including a knockout in October.
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.
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.
Shavkat Rakhmonov issues cold response to 'delusional' Joaquin Buckley's latest callout
Curtis Calhoun - May 30, 2024
UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov didn’t take long to answer Joaquin Buckley’s latest callout for a fight. Rakhmonov and Buckley are two of the top UFC welterweight contenders hoping to earn a title shot with another win or two in the cage. Rakhmonov is unbeaten in his MMA career, while Buckley has won four consecutive fights to land in the Top 15.
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.
Michael Bisping calls Islam Makhachev a better version of Khabib Nurmagomedov ahead of UFC 302: "New, improved"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 30, 2024
UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping believes fight fans are witnessing the evolved version of Khabib Nurmagomedov in Islam Makhachev. Makhachev is scheduled to put his UFC Lightweight Championship at stake against Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 302. The 155-pound titleholder is gunning for his third successful title defense when he meets “The Diamond” inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey this Saturday night (June 1st).
Sean Strickland trashes new UFC gloves: "Have you ever been in a fight in your f****** life?"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 30, 2024
Sean Strickland is not a fan of the new UFC glove design. MMA gloves have been a topic of conversation for quite a while. Many have called on the UFC to find a way to reduce the number of eye pokes seen in fights. The promotion’s answer has been to design new hand wear for the fighters.