MMA News
Jon Jones leaks UFC return date in social media post
Curtis Calhoun - May 16, 2024
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has announced his return before the promotion got a chance to formally share it. Jones hasn’t fought since securing the then-vacant UFC heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 last year. He was supposed to face Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 in November before suffering a torn pectoral, resulting in his withdrawal.
Opening odds released for newly announced UFC 304 fights, Paddy Pimblett opens as sizeable underdog to Bobby Green
Cole Shelton - May 16, 2024
The opening odds for the UFC 304 fights announced on Thursday have been released. UFC CEO Dana White announced five marquee fights for UFC 304 in Manchester, England including Leon Edwards defending his welterweight title against Belal Muhammad. The co-main event will be Tom Aspinall defending his interim heavyweight title against Curtis Blaydes.
Islam Makhachev welcomes Conor McGregor super fight after upcoming UFC 302 return: "August or September"
Curtis Calhoun - May 16, 2024
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev might be on the verge of a ‘red panty night’ against Conor McGregor after his June 1 title defense. Makhachev will defend the UFC lightweight title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in Newark. He returns after knocking out Alexander Volkanovski with a head kick in his most recent title defense in October.
Patchy Mix feels that he's the best bantamweight on the planet ahead of Bellator return: "I'm the most dominant"
Josh Evanoff - May 16, 2024
Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix believes he’s the best 135-pound fighter on the planet. ‘War Ready’ has been out of the cage since a second-round submission victory over Sergio Pettis last November. That victory at Bellator 301 saw Patchy Mix become the undisputed bantamweight champion. He previously won the interim title while ‘The Phenom’ was on the shelf due to injury, and won the bantamweight Grand Prix.
Islam Makhachev admits that Khabib Nurmagomedov "misses fighting" after abrupt end to UFC run
Curtis Calhoun - May 16, 2024
UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov’s lust for improvement in MMA hasn’t faltered, according to Islam Makhachev. Nurmagomedov retired from MMA after a successful UFC lightweight title defense against Justin Gaethje in 2020. He cited a promise to his mother as the significant reason for his retirement, after his father Abdulmanap tragically passed away.
Adrian Yanez vows to put Vinicius Salvador "asleep" at UFC Vegas 92 in "do-or-die" fight for his career
Cole Shelton - May 16, 2024
Adrian Yanez believes he could be fighting for his job at UFC Vegas 92 on Saturday. Yanez is coming off back-to-back stoppage losses to Jonathan Martinez and Rob Font and has fallen out of the rankings. It was a tough 2023 for Yanez as he went 0-2, but he says the blame is on himself as he got too comfortable and started to find shortcuts in his preparation.
Tom Aspinall reveals Ciryl Gane turned down UFC 304 interim title fight
Cole Shelton - May 16, 2024
Tom Aspinall will be defending his interim heavyweight title at UFC 304 in Manchester against Curtis Blaydes but that wasn’t the original plan. Aspinall will be rematching Blaydes in the co-main event of UFC 304 in an intriguing matchup. Most fans seemed to think that was the fight that made the most sense, but according to Aspinall, Ciryl Gane was originally offered the title fight but he turned it down due to him filming a movie.
Watch: Sean O'Malley and Ryan Garcia's heated FaceTime call as fight talks ramp up: 'I will murder you!"
Curtis Calhoun - May 16, 2024
Sean O’Malley and Ryan Garcia came face-to-face as talks of a potential crossover fight ramp up. Well, sort of.
Jonathan Di Bella vs. Prajanchai set for ONE Friday Fights 68 in June
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 16, 2024
The highly anticipated matchup between Jonathan Di Bella and Prajanchai PK Saenchai will finally happen on June 28. The five-round clash for the vacant ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title headlines ONE Friday Fights 68. It airs live in Asian primetime from the fabled Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Renato Moicano explains why he’s rooting for Conor McGregor to defeat “fake” Michael Chandler: “I pray to MMA gods that Conor wins”
Susan Cox - May 16, 2024
Renato Moicano is explaining why he’s rooting for Conor McGregor to defeat ‘fake’ Michael Chandler. UFC 303 will take place on Saturday June 29th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Joe Rogan calls for UFC to make changes to current ruleset: “If it’s boring for the audience, tough sh*t”
Susan Cox - May 16, 2024
Joe Rogan is calling for the UFC to make changes to its current ruleset. This is not the first time Rogan has suggested changing the rules when it comes to MMA fighting.
Dana White announces two title fights for UFC 304, including Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad
Susan Cox - May 16, 2024
Dana White has just announced two title fights for UFC 304, including Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad. UFC 304 is set to take place on Saturday, July 27th at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England.
Michael Bisping doesn’t foresee Khabib Nurmagomedov receiving any serious punishment for alleged tax fraud
Harry Kettle - May 16, 2024
UFC commentator Michael Bisping can’t imagine Khabib Nurmagomedov will recieve a serious punishment for his alleged tax fraud. As we all know, Khabib Nurmagomedov is a mixed martial arts legend. He retired undefeated, he was the UFC lightweight champion, and he’s one of the biggest stars in the history of the sport. However, he’s recently been forced to confront an entirely different opponent.
Jorge Masvidal blames “f**king idiot” Nate Diaz for shift in fight date
Harry Kettle - May 16, 2024
Former UFC star Jorge Masvidal has blamed rival Nate Diaz for their fight date having to be pushed back. As we know, Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz are scheduled to square off in a blockbuster boxing match. The contest was initially set to go down on June 1, meaning it would’ve directly competed with UFC 302.
Rafael dos Anjos calls for the UFC remove him from the lightweight rankings, requests July return
Harry Kettle - May 16, 2024
Former UFC champion Rafael dos Anjos has asked for the promotion to remove him from the lightweight rankings. For many years now, Rafael dos Anjos has been seen as a respected veteran in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He’s fought against the best of the best, and he’s always willing to take on a tough challenge. Alas, in recent times, he hasn’t been that successful in terms of results.
Fight music: Kade Ruotolo reveals his favorite genre ahead of MMA debut at ONE 167
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 16, 2024
Apart from his exceptional skills, Kade Ruotolo also stands out for his unique pre-fight preparation. The reigning ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion is gearing up for his much-awaited MMA debut at ONE 167 on Prime Video. There, he battles Blake Cooper on a U.S. primetime card set to air live from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 7.
Ilia Topuria says he “already has a date” for UFC Spain
Susan Cox - May 15, 2024
Ilia Topuria is saying that he ‘already has a date’ for UFC Spain. The UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria (15-0 MMA) is claiming that he has a date for the promotion’s debut in Spain, where “El Matador” will make the first title defense.
Diego Ferreira believes Mateusz Rebecki's corner should have stopped the fight to save him, eyes Bobby Green next
Cole Shelton - May 15, 2024
Diego Ferreira wasn’t surprised he was such a big underdog to Mateusz Rebecki at UFC St. Louis, but despite that, he thought it was a good matchup for him. Ferreira was ending his year-long layoff, but in the first round, the Brazilian got dropped. The two had a clash of heads, which the ref didn’t notice, so as Ferreira tried to wipe his head to check for blood, Rebecki dropped him.