MMA News
ONE Championship inks broadcast partnership with Japan’s U-NEXT
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 16, 2024
Max Holloway shares prediction for Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria: "There's a reason they didn't give me Ilia"
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2024
Max Holloway has shared his prediction for the UFC 298 featherweight title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria. Volkanovski is returning to the featherweight division to take on the undefeated Topuria in a highly-anticipated matchup. It’s a scrap that many fans are looking forward to and one many are torn on who will win.
Ian Machado Garry clears up rumors about highly publicized marriage: "My wife does not have a boyfriend"
Josh Evanoff - February 16, 2024
UFC welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry wants to clear a few things up. ‘The Future’ is currently slated to return at UFC 298 tomorrow night against Geoff Neal. The bout is a re-booking, as the two were set to fight last August. However, ‘Handz of Steel’ was forced to withdraw due to injury, and Ian Machado Garry wound up defeating short-notice replacement Neil Magny.
Michael Bisping downplays Alexander Volkanovski age concerns heading into UFC 298: "He's a special fighter"
Josh Evanoff - February 16, 2024
UFC commentator Michael Bisping doesn’t buy into talk of Alexander Volkanovski being old. ‘The Great’ is currently slated to return to the octagon this Saturday night at UFC 298. There, Alexander Volkanovski will return to featherweight for the first time since last summer, to face the rising Ilia Topuria. ‘El Matador’ last demolished Josh Emmett in June, handing him a lopsided unanimous decision loss.
Joe Rogan doesn't hold back on Sean Strickland's sparring session with Sneako: "I don't know why he wanted to do that"
Josh Evanoff - February 16, 2024
UFC commentator Joe Rogan wasn’t happy to see Sean Strickland’s sparring session with Sneako last week. ‘Tarzan’ has become one of the most controversial fighters in the UFC today, and it didn’t happen by accident. In Sean Strickland’s career thus far, he’s made a name for himself in a variety of ways. One thing that consistently keeps the former champion in the news, is his wild sparring sessions.
UFC 298 gets replacement fight, Junior Tafa steps in to fight Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 16, 2024
Marcos Rogerio de Lima will remain on the UFC 298 card in a wild turn of events. On the ESPN portion of the UFC 298 prelims, de Lima was expected to take on Justin Tafa. During the UFC’s live broadcast of the weigh-ins, it was announced that Tafa was forced off the card due to an injury. Despite this, the UFC was able to work out a last-minute deal to secure a fight for de Lima.
UFC 298's Merab Dvalishvili scolds Sean O’Malley over money comments on Henry Cejudo: "This is bullsh*t"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 16, 2024
UFC 298 fighter Merab Dvalishvili has caught wind of recent comments about Henry Cejudo made by Sean O’Malley. O’Malley and Cejudo have had verbal exchanges, with O’Malley expressing his belief that “Triple C” is down bad and will be fighting this Saturday night because he needs money. This is despite Cejudo vowing to retire if he is unable to defeat Merab.
UFC 298 Weigh-Ins: Fight Cancelled, Main Event Title Bout between Alexander Volkanovski & Ilia Topuria Official
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 16, 2024
One fight on the UFC 298 card has been cancelled, but thankfully the championship main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria is still on. Weigh-in day is always a stressful time for the fighters and fans. You never know who might have issues before, during, and after tipping the scale. In this case. a fight that had been scheduled for the ESPN portion of the UFC 298 prelims has been scrapped. The kicker is that an injury is to blame.
UFC veteran Matt Brown lauds Ian Machado Garry for "championship level" striking ahead of UFC 298: "The dude looks f*cking tremendous"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 16, 2024
UFC veteran Matt Brown believes that Ian Machado Garry has what it takes to win a UFC title. Garry is set to take on Geoff Neal on the main card of UFC 298 this Saturday night. Garry will look to keep his unbeaten record intact when he meets “Handz of Steel” inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. “The Future” has been on the fast track on his climb up the welterweight rankings. If Garry continues to win in impressive fashion, he could be become one of the UFC’s biggest stars, whether you like him or not.
Mackenzie Dern says she has turned the page following struggles in her personal life: “Totally at a better place”
Harry Kettle - February 16, 2024
UFC star Mackenzie Dern believes she has finally moved in a positive direction forward following issues in her personal life. For a long time now, Mackenzie Dern has been seen as a prominent figure in women’s mixed martial arts. Unfortunately, while the 30-year-old has enjoyed plenty of big moments in her career, she’s also had to deal with some problems outside of the cage.
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 4 to showcase eleven former UFC fighters including Junior dos Santos
Harry Kettle - February 16, 2024
Junior dos Santos is one of the former UFC stars who will feature at Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 4 on March 2. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, bare-knuckle combat sports have taken on a life of their own as of late. In the last couple of years, boxing and MMA have both implemented the bare-knuckle style, especially when it comes to Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred brand.
Nauzet Trujillo guarantees epic slugfest against Liam Nolan at ONE Fight Night 19
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 16, 2024
Nauzet Trujillo’s biggest focus ahead of ONE Fight Night 19 on Prime Video is giving the fans a match to remember. The Spanish sensation aims to demonstrate the relentless style he’s become known for in a lightweight Muay Thai clash against Liam Nolan in U.S. primetime this Friday, February 16.
Rose Namajunas set to serve as fight consultant in upcoming movie ‘Strawweight’
Harry Kettle - February 16, 2024
UFC star Rose Namajunas will serve as a fight consultant on upcoming movie Strawweight. With each and every passing year, mixed martial arts continues to grow. Of course, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has been one of the big reasons for that, as the promotion continues to evolve.
WATCH | Ilia Topuria snatches Alexander Volkanovski belt during UFC 298 press conference
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2024
Ilia Topuria has continued the trend of touching and wearing the UFC title before he has won it. Topuria did his UFC 298 photo shoot with the belt on and now during the press conference, he snatched the belt from Volkanovski and put it in the air like he won it. That got a reaction from Volkanovski who told him to touch it all he wanted as it would be going back to Australia after Saturday night in Anaheim.
UFC 298 | Pro fighters make their picks for Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2024
In the co-main event of UFC 298, a pivotal middleweight bout between Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa goes down on Saturday in Anaheim. Heading into the fight, Whittaker is a -265 favorite while the Brazilian is a +200 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the fight at UFC 298. The pros are expecting Whittaker to return to the win column in a big way as the fighters think he’s too technical for Costa.
Paulo Costa explains why he has no interest in rebooking Khamzat Chimaev fight: "F**k him"
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2024
Paulo Costa has no interest in fighting Khamzat Chimaev after the two were supposed to fight back in October in Abu Dhabi. Costa and Chimaev were supposed to fight at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi but while the Brazilian was there he had a nasty elbow infection which forced him out of the bout. Costa ended up being replaced by Kamaru Usman who Chimaev beat by majority decision in a very competitive fight.
PFL's Donn Davis offers update on Francis Ngannou's MMA future: "Bo Jackson of combat sports"
Josh Evanoff - February 15, 2024
PFL founder Donn Davis believes that Francis Ngannou will likely be back in the cage in 2024. ‘The Predator’ has had a good last few years. Following a unanimous decision victory over Ciryl Gane in January 2022, Francis Ngannou became a free agent. As the first reigning UFC champion to leave the company in over two decades, the heavyweight made the decision to sign with Donn Davis and the PFL.
Ian Machado Garry vows to "thump the f*cking mouth" off of Sean Strickland because of wife comments: "That's the truth"
Josh Evanoff - February 15, 2024
UFC welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry will fight former champion Sean Strickland one day. ‘The Future’ is currently slated to return to the octagon this Saturday night at UFC 298. The Irishman has been out of action since a dominant decision victory over Neil Magny in August. That win was the biggest of Ian Machado Garry’s to date and saw him move to 14-0.
Ian Machado Garry believes he's become "too much of a star" to headline a potential UFC Dublin card
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2024
Ian Machado Garry has said he will bring the UFC back to Ireland, but ahead of his fight at UFC 298, he isn’t sure that will happen. The last time the UFC was in Ireland was when Conor McGregor headlined the card against Diego Brandao in 2014. Since then, the promotion hasn’t returned as the arena in Dublin is small and only holds around 10,000 fans which is smaller than what the UFC is used to for attendance.