MMA News
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.
Islam Makhachev reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov will be in his corner for UFC 302: "Eagle has landed in Jersey City"
Cole Shelton - May 28, 2024
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will have Khabib Nurmagomedov in his corner for his title defense at UFC 302 on Saturday. Makhachev is set to headline UFC 302 against Dustin Poirier, and on Tuesday, he revealed that Nurmagomedov is now in New Jersey and will be in his corner on Saturday night. Nurmagomedov had stepped away from fighting and coaching in MMA, but he is set to return and will be in Makhachev’s corner at UFC 302.
Islam Makhachev claims Arman Tsarukyan "should thank" him for jumpstarting his UFC career
Curtis Calhoun - May 28, 2024
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev feels partially responsible for Arman Tsarukyan’s success inside the Octagon. Makhachev will face Dustin Poirier in his next UFC lightweight title defense at UFC 302 this Saturday in Newark. He returns after defeating Alexander Volkanovski in back-to-back fights in 2023.
Islam Makhachev hopes Dustin Poirier doesn't retire with a loss at UFC 302: "I don't think it's a good idea"
Cole Shelton - May 28, 2024
Islam Makhachev is hoping Dustin Poirier continues to fight even if he loses at UFC 302 for the lightweight title. Makhachev is set to defend his lightweight title in the main event against Poirier. It’s an intriguing matchup and heading into the fight, ‘The Diamond’ has hinted that if he loses, he could retire as he knows this is his final crack at the belt.
PHOTOS: Dustin Poirier shows off custom floral shorts he'll wear for UFC 302 title shot
Curtis Calhoun - May 28, 2024
UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier will mimic a two-time Octagon rival when he faces Islam Makhachev at UFC 302. Poirier’s third lineal UFC lightweight title shot will come to fruition this Saturday at UFC 302 in Newark. He returns after knocking out Benoît Saint-Denis at UFC 299 to earn what is likely his final shot at lineal UFC gold.
All-Women MMA promotion Invicta FC to make return on June 28th in Kansas City
Josh Evanoff - May 28, 2024
Shannon Knapp’s Invicta FC will be returning this summer in Kansas City. Founded in 2012 after the end of Strikeforce, the company is exclusively dedicated to women’s MMA. Over the years, many former and future champions fought in Invicta, including Cris Cyborg, Amanda Nunes, and Rose Namajunas. In recent years, the likes of Erin Blanchfield and Miranda Maverick have left the company to become UFC contenders.
UFC legend Demetrious Johnson explains why Boxing has been "more exciting" than MMA in 2024
Josh Evanoff - May 28, 2024
Current ONE Championship titleholder and UFC legend Demetrious Johnson has a hot take about the state of MMA. The year 2024 has been one of the greatest for combat sports in a long, long time. Over in the boxing world, fights such as Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk, Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia, and Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou have been huge. Meanwhile, MMA has had its big moments in the form of the massive UFC 300 card and other bouts such as Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria.
Mike Tyson posts encouraging medical update after recent scare, takes a jab at Jake Paul
Curtis Calhoun - May 28, 2024
Boxing Hall of Famer Mike Tyson is in good spirits after a recent medical emergency just before a flight landing. Tyson is scheduled to make his professional boxing return against Jake Paul on July 20 in Dallas, TX. He returns to the ring to potentially hand the polarizing Paul another defeat inside the boxing ring.
Katsuki Kitano motivated to pull off upset against “big name” Liam Harrison
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 28, 2024
Katsuki Kitano is fully aware of the rewards he could gain if he plays his cards right in the biggest bout of his career. “Bong” locks horns with Muay Thai legend Liam Harrison in a bantamweight clash at ONE 167 on Prime Video. This U.S. primetime card emanates live from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 7.
Dustin Poirier shares prediction for Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler
Cole Shelton - May 28, 2024
Dustin Poirier has shared his prediction for the UFC 303 main event between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler. Poirier has fought McGregor three times and fought Chandler once. Given he has fought both of them, he’s familiar with both of them and surprisingly, he expects McGregor to get his hand raised.
Jorge Masvidal thinks UFC 303 headliner Conor McGregor avoided USADA due to PED use: "Clearly on some s***"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 28, 2024
Jorge Masvidal is convinced that Conor McGregor was on banned substances while he was out of the USADA testing pool. McGregor is scheduled to make his long-awaited return to the Octagon on June 29. The “Notorious” one will headline UFC 303 alongside Michael Chandler in a welterweight showdown. When McGregor undergoes drug testing, it won’t be under USADA after the UFC cut ties with its former anti-doping partner.
Islam Makhachev calls UFC 302 opponent Dustin Poirier a surefire UFC Hall of Famer: "One of the legends of our sport"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 28, 2024
Islam Makhachev has glowing praise for Dustin Poirier ahead of their lightweight title fight at UFC 302. Makhachev and Poirier will be all business when the Octagon door closes this Saturday night (June 1st), but that doesn’t mean there isn’t mutual respect. Poirier has been complimentary of the 155-pound king, and Makhachev is returning the favor.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 166 with Alex Morono
Cole Shelton - May 28, 2024
The 166th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC 302. We’re joined by UFC welterweight Alex Morono (0:43) to preview his UFC 302 fight.
Joaquin Buckley advises Michael Chandler to use his wrestling against Conor McGregor at UFC 303
Harry Kettle - May 28, 2024
Joaquin Buckley believes Michael Chandler needs to use his wrestling in order to find success against Conor McGregor. At UFC 303, Conor McGregor will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon to battle it out with Michael Chandler. Many expect him to keep it standing with Chandler, given his striking ability. Of course, we also know Chandler has what it takes to hang with some of the very best in that department.
Aljamain Sterling accepts fight with the ‘UFC’s most boring’ fighter: “So I can get my title shot”
Harry Kettle - May 28, 2024
UFC featherweight contender Aljamain Sterling has accepted a fight with who he deems to be the UFC’s most boring fighter. As we know, Aljamain Sterling is now a full-time member of the featherweight division. He made the move up from bantamweight, where he won a title, and got off to a winning start at 145 pounds by defeating Calvin Kattar.
Darren Till aiming for Jake Paul fight with KO win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Harry Kettle - May 28, 2024
Former UFC fighter Darren Till has explained his boxing plan if he can knock out Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. On July 20, Darren Till will go head to head with the aforementioned Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. It’ll be a six-round 190 pound fight, with ‘The Gorilla’ hoping to make an impact in the world of boxing. Of course, while this bout is important to him, it isn’t the end goal.
Johan Ghazali plans to leverage age against “old” Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat at ONE 167
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 28, 2024
Johan Ghazali is gearing up for what many consider his toughest assignment to date. The Malaysian-American phenom squares off against Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat in a flyweight Muay Thai bout at ONE 167 on Prime Video. This U.S. primetime event emanates live from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 7.