MMA News
K-1 World Champion Masaaki Noiri joins ONE Championship: "I’ve been waiting for this moment"
BJPENN.COM Staff - April 24, 2024
ONE Championship has added another of the world’s top kickboxers to its ranks. Japanese superstar Masaaki Noiri announced that he joined the ONE roster this week, where he will compete in the talent-rich featherweight kickboxing division.
Mike Malott's UFC return booked for July 13th against Gilbert Urbina
Curtis Calhoun - April 24, 2024
UFC welterweight prospect Mike Malott will look to avenge his first career loss against a former The Ultimate Fighter finalist. According to reports, Malott will face TUF 29 standout Gilbert Urbina on July 13th at a to-be-announced location and venue. News of the Malott vs. Urbina fight was first reported by Sportsnet.
Anthony Smith eyes future fight with Alex Pereira: "I would step in the fire with him"
Cole Shelton - April 24, 2024
Anthony Smith is hopeful to secure a future fight with Alex Pereira. Smith and Pereira have taken shots at each other in the past, and now that the Brazilian is the light heavyweight champion, ‘Lionheart’ is hopeful he can face him down the line. Smith believes it would be a fan-friendly fight as he says he would step in the fire with the Brazilian.
Jamahal Hill changes tune on referee Herb Dean's non-stoppage at UFC 300: "It makes me think before obeying a ref's command!"
Curtis Calhoun - April 24, 2024
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill has changed his previously neutral stance on referee Herb Dean’s inaction during the UFC 300 main event. Hill’s UFC comeback at UFC 300 fell short as he lost by first-round knockout to Alex Pereira in the main event. It was his first fight after winning and then vacating the title in 2023.
PHOTO | Jon Jones returns to training for the first time since suffering torn pec
Josh Evanoff - April 24, 2024
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is now back in training for his return to the cage. ‘Bones’ has been out of action since a first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 last year. That win snapped a three-year hiatus for the former light-heavyweight and also saw him earn heavyweight gold. Jon Jones famously won the title that Francis Ngannou left vacant upon his exit from the company last year.
Arman Tsarukyan slams Islam Makhachev after comments about avoiding rematch: "When was the last time you fought 2 times in 6 weeks?
Josh Evanoff - April 24, 2024
Arman Tsarukyan isn’t happy with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. The Armenian fighter is fresh off his return at UFC 300 against Charles Oliveira. There, the two lightweights competed in a title eliminator of sorts, and put on a show. After three rounds of action, it was Arman Tsarukyan who emerged with a split-decision victory over ‘Do Bronx’. In the process, he earned a shot at Islam Makhachev.
Lyoto Machida responds after being called out by Luke Rockhold at Karate Combat 45: “The Dragon is already breathing fire!”
Curtis Calhoun - April 24, 2024
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida might be nearing a fighting comeback against Luke Rockhold in Karate Combat. Rockhold knocked out Joe Schilling at Karate Combat 45 last weekend in Dubai. He returned to the combat sports win column after a loss to Mike Perry in his bare-knuckle debut last year.
Jamahal Hill opens as betting favorite ahead of UFC 303 co-main event fight against Khalil Rountree
Cole Shelton - April 24, 2024
Jamahal Hill has opened as the betting favorite ahead of his UFC 303 fight against Khalil Rountree. Hill is making a quick turnaround after losing to Alex Pereira by first-round knockout at UFC 300 for the light heavyweight title. Despite being knocked out, Hill will return on June 29 against Rountree, which the UFC announced would be the co-main event of UFC 303. Of course, the main event sees Conor McGregor taking on Michael Chandler.
Michael Bisping reacts to Devin Haney’s post-fight celebrations following Ryan Garcia loss: “That’s crazy”
Harry Kettle - April 24, 2024
UFC commentator Michael Bisping has reacted to Devin Haney celebrating following his defeat to Ryan Garcia. Last weekend, Ryan Garcia pulled off quite the upset. He defeated Devin Haney via majority decision, but was unable to capture the belt as a result of him missing weight. Either way, it was quite the shock for many, with Haney suffering the first professional loss of his career.
Maycee Barber says she messaged UFC CEO Dana White during “crazy lady” parking lot incident: “I’m going to jail”
Harry Kettle - April 24, 2024
UFC star Maycee Barber has admitted she messaged UFC president Dana White during her recent parking lot incident. As many fight fans know, Maycee Barber is a top flyweight contender. At the age of just 25, many believe she has what it takes to go on and become a world champion in the next few years.
Islam Makhachev’s coach doesn’t believe title fight with “biggest threat” Justin Gaethje will ever come to fruition after UFC 300
Harry Kettle - April 24, 2024
Islam Makhachev’s head coach Javier Mendez has given his thoughts on Justin Gaethje as a potential opponent. At UFC 302, Islam Makhachev will defend his UFC lightweight championship against Dustin Poirier. Prior to Dustin’s recent win over Benoit Saint-Denis, however, he was knocked out cold by Justin Gaethje.
Mike Perry believes Justin Gaethje looked “out of shape” for BMF title fight with Max Holloway at UFC 300
Harry Kettle - April 24, 2024
BKFC star Mike Perry believes Justin Gaethje looked out of shape in his UFC 300 collision with Max Holloway. At UFC 300, Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway went to war. They battled it out in a really intense BMF title showdown, but in the end, Holloway was the on who got the job done.
Undefeated Ben Tynan makes quick turnaround, faces Mauro Cerilli at ONE 167: Stamp vs. Zamboanga
BJPENN.COM Staff - April 23, 2024
Ben Tynan is wasting no time getting back to work as he looks to continue his rapid rise to the top of ONE Championship’s heavyweight MMA division. “Vanilla Thunder” faces former World Title challenger Mauro Cerilli at ONE 167: Stamp vs. Zamboanga on Prime Video. The event goes down in U.S. primetime on June 7 at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
Chris Weidman compares Alex Pereira’s wrestling “deficiency” to Ben Askren’s striking
Cole Shelton - April 23, 2024
Chris Weidman thinks there is a major hole in Alex Pereira’s game, and he’s comparing it to Ben Askren’s striking. Pereira is coming off the first defense of his light heavyweight title as he scored a first-round knockout win over Jamahal Hill in the main event of UFC 300. Pereira hasn’t even been in the UFC for three full years and already has won titles in two different weight classes.
Dan Hooker "would love to" fight Beneil Dariush at UFC 303 at International Fight Week
Cole Shelton - April 23, 2024
Dan Hooker is hoping to face Beneil Dariush next. Hooker has been rehabbing the broken arm he sustained during his win over Jalin Turner from last July. He reinjured the arm in his training camp for Bobby Green which was supposed to take place last December.
Stephen Thompson names top NMF’s in the UFC, including a pair of former champions
Curtis Calhoun - April 23, 2024
Stephen Thompson feels the UFC wouldn’t have any shortage of NMF title challengers if the promotion introduces a friendly-focused championship. Thompson is one of the most decorated kickboxers to ever compete in the UFC Octagon. Despite a recent loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov, he remains one of the top welterweight contenders, and is targeting a UFC comeback for later this year.
Justin Gaethje has no regrets over trading with Max Holloway in final seconds of UFC 300 bout: "There was no other option"
Josh Evanoff - April 23, 2024
Justin Gaethje wasn’t going to say no to trading with Max Holloway in the final seconds of their UFC 300 fight. ‘The Highlight’ returned to the octagon on the main card of the historic card earlier this month. There, Justin Gaethje looked to make the first defense of his ceremonial ‘BMF’ title against Max Holloway. The fight was a rare lightweight appearance for the Hawaiian, and he didn’t disappoint. Despite entering the fight as an underdog, Holloway put on a show.
Islam Makhachev believes that the UFC "has to give" him a shot at Leon Edwards soon: "I already beat all these guys"
Josh Evanoff - April 23, 2024
Islam Makhachev believes that he has to face UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards sooner rather than later. The Russian recently signed a deal to return to the cage at UFC 302 in June against Dustin Poirier. For Islam Makhachev, the contest will be his third lightweight title defense. He heads into his fight with ‘The Diamond’ having captured two straight title defenses against former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.