MMA News
Tristan Hamm details transition from influencer to boxer ahead of Le'Veon Bell boxing match, eyes future fight with Dillon Danis
Cole Shelton - May 2, 2024
Tristan Hamm made quick work in his boxing debut and now he wants to see how far he can take it. Hamm, also known as Mr. Adventure on social media with over two million Instagram followers, had his boxing debut in January on the Misfits card. He scored a quick knockout win, and although he’s only been boxing for six months, Hamm says being part of the influencer boxing was something he had been interested in.
Alex Pereira tabs Jiří Procházka, not Magomed Ankalaev, for next LHW title defense
Curtis Calhoun - May 2, 2024
UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira wants a rematch with Jiří Procházka over a potential clash with surging contender Magomed Ankalaev. Pereira claimed in a recent media scrum in Rio de Janeiro that he’s likely set to face Procházka next instead of Ankalaev. MMA Fighting‘s Guilherme Cruz was among the first to report the news of Pereira’s intended next title defense.
Anthony Smith claims beating Vitor Petrino at UFC 301 doesn't do "s**t" for him: "The fight means nothing to me"
Cole Shelton - May 2, 2024
Anthony Smith says his UFC 301 fight against Vitor Petrino doesn’t do anything for him. Smith is set to return to the Octagon on the main card of UFC 301 against the undefeated Petrino after the Brazilian called him out following his last win. ‘Lionheart’ is coming off a TKO loss to Khalil Rountree as he is fighting down in the rankings and looking to return to the win column.
Charles Oliveira reveals timeline for UFC return, Top 5 lightweight calls him out
Curtis Calhoun - May 2, 2024
Charles Oliveira is looking ahead to a bounce-back performance in his next UFC fight, and he already has a willing adversary lined up. Oliveira remains in the UFC lightweight title hunt despite a split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300. Before that, he defeated Beneil Dariush at UFC 289 to keep pace in the title picture.
Paige VanZant unloads on "clown" Dillon Danis, shares humiliating encounter with him
Cole Shelton - May 2, 2024
Paige VanZant has shared a humiliating encounter with Dillon Danis after the former Bellator fighter took a shot at her. VanZant recently claimed Danis wasn’t a real fighter, which he wasn’t a fan of, and then took to social media to claim she tried to be with him. Of course, VanZant is married to Bellator fighter Austin Vanderford, so the former UFC fighter took to her Instagram to claim Danis asked her to peg him.
Ronda Rousey to adapt memoirs into Netflix film, 'Rowdy' currently writing scripts for her biopic
Josh Evanoff - May 2, 2024
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will be taking her talents to the film world. Fans have likely seen a lot of interviews featuring ‘Rowdy’ in the last few months. Those have served to promote her new memoir ‘Our Fight’. The book serves as Ronda Rousey’s second autobiography, previously putting out ‘My Fight/Your Fight’ back in 2015. Reviews of the new release have been largely positive, but the former fighter did recently earn a lot of criticism from commentator Jimmy Smith.
Dustin Poirier could retire with win over Islam Makhachev at UFC 302: "It could be my last fight"
Josh Evanoff - May 2, 2024
If Dustin Poirier defeats UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in June, that could be it for him. ‘The Diamond’ is fresh off his return to the cage at UFC 299 in March. Back for the first time since a knockout loss to Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier faced the rising Benoit Saint-Denis. Despite some early success from ‘The God of War’, the longtime lightweight wound up scoring a second-round knockout win.
Chael Sonnen goes to bat for Ilia Topuria following criticism of BMF title demands for Max Holloway fight
Susan Cox - May 2, 2024
Chael Sonnen is going to bat for Ilia Topuria following recent criticism of his BMF title demands for the Max Holloway fight. The undefeated Ilia Topuria (15-0 MMA) most recently defeated Alexander Volkanovski (26-4 MMA) by KO this past February at UFC 298. With the victory ‘El Matador’ became the UFC featherweight champion.
Anatoly Malykhin throws support behind Natalia Diachkova at ONE Fight Night 22
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 2, 2024
Anatoly Malykhin backs his Russian compatriot Natalia Diachkova as she gears up for the most crucial bout of her career. Diachkova challenges Smilla Sundell for the Swede’s ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship in the main event of ONE Fight Night 22 on Prime Video. This U.S. primetime event airs live from the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, May 3.
Ok Rae Yoon returns to battle Alibeg Rasulov at ONE Fight Night 23
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 2, 2024
Ok Rae Yoon is on a mission to recover the ONE Lightweight MMA World Championship, but first he must overcome a formidable opposition to get a crack at gold. The former divisional king squares off against unbeaten debutant Alibeg Rasulov at ONE Fight Night 23 on Prime Video. This U.S. primetime event takes place at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 5.
Jon Jones slams MMA content creator for spreading false rumors about his sex life: 'Literally some random loser'
Curtis Calhoun - May 2, 2024
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has addressed a prominent MMA content creator’s claims that he’s a homosexual. Jones is working towards an Octagon return after winning the UFC heavyweight title last year at UFC 285. He was booked to face Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 before withdrawing due to injury.
Stephen A. Smith sounds off after Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson gets sanctioned as a professional bout: “I’m disgusted by it”
Susan Cox - May 2, 2024
Stephen A. Smith is sounding off after the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson was sanctioned as a professional bout. On Saturday July 20th at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Jake Paul will get in the ring with former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson. The event will be streamed globally on Netflix.
Jackie Buntan, Anissa Meksen battle for inaugural ONE World Title
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 2, 2024
American Muay Thai star Jackie Buntan ventures over into the kickboxing world to take on one of the sport’s greats for World Title glory. The California native faces French-Algerian legend Anissa Meksen for the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Title at ONE Fight Night 23 on Prime Video.
Paul Craig believes the UFC is hoping he will go into Rio and take a loss: “I genuinely believe that”
Harry Kettle - May 2, 2024
UFC star Paul Craig believes that the promotion would prefer for him to lose to Caio Borralho at UFC 301. This weekend, Paul Craig will make his return to the Octagon when he battles Caio Borralho. The Scot is coming off the back of three losses in his last four, but the veteran is still hungry to make an impact in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Coach Tim Welch weighs in on the Alexandre Pantoja - Sean O’Malley sparring controversy: “I don't even think Sean was a professional yet”
Harry Kettle - May 2, 2024
Sean O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch has weighed in on the recent Alexandre Pantoja/O’Malley sparring controversy. This weekend, Alexandre Pantoja will defend his UFC flyweight championship against Steve Erceg. As you may have heard, though, Pantoja has been talking a great deal in the build-up to this contest.
Paul Hughes explains decision to sign with PFL over the UFC: “I deserve to get compensated”
Harry Kettle - May 2, 2024
Cage Warriors champion Paul Hughes has explained why he decided to sign for PFL ahead of UFC. For those of you who don’t know, Paul Hughes is a fascinating lightweight prospect. From his fight style to his impressive 11-1 pro record, there was always going to be a lot of intrigue when it comes to where he was going to sign next. In the end, though, instead of joining the likes of fellow countrymen Conor McGregor and Ian Machado Garry in the UFC, he opted for PFL.
Ilia Topuria calls out Joe Rogan: "UFC never offered me this fight"
Zain Bando - May 1, 2024
Ilia Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), the UFC’s newly minted featherweight champion, is unhappy after recent comments from UFC color commentator Joe Rogan regarding Topuria’s intention not to immediately rematch Alexander Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) at UFC 305 in Australia in August. On a recent episode of “JRE,” the most widely-consumed podcast in the world, Rogan, who has been with the UFC since 2002 after a brief stint in the mid-90s, suggested that Topuria would not fight the former champion in Volkanovski based on rumors he had heard around the community.
Steve Erceg expects "bottles to be thrown" at him after he upsets Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301
Cole Shelton - May 1, 2024
Steve Erceg is expecting a hostile crowd on Saturday when he faces Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title in the main event of UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Erceg knows Brazilian fans like to get loud and chant ‘You Will Die’ in Portuguese to the opposing fighters. With Erceg fighting for the belt and being the main event, he’s expecting to get booed. Not only is he expecting to get booed, but Erceg thinks people will be throwing stuff at him after he finishes Pantoja at UFC 301.