MMA News
Brendan Allen explains how he can get UFC middleweight title shot with win over Marvin Vettori: "It's really up to me"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 9, 2024
Brendan Allen believes he has a chance to secure a UFC Middleweight Championship opportunity after his next fight. Allen is scheduled to collide with Marvin Vettori at a UFC Fight Night event on April 6. Allen is riding a six-fight winning streak and he is hoping to make a strong case for a shot at the 185-pound gold held by Dricus Du Plessis. Vettori will be fighting to return to the middleweight title conversation. Vettori has had losses to Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier. While those are three outstanding 185-pounders, Vettori wants to show that he can win those type of fights.
Ilia Topuria's confidence reminds Daniel Cormier of Conor McGregor ahead of UFC 298: "This dude has updated his bio with another win"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 9, 2024
UFC 298 headliner Ilia Topuria has confidence the levels of Conor McGregor, says UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier. Topuria will be challenging Alex Volkanovski for the UFC Featherweight Championship on February 17. The action will be held inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Ahead of the title fight, Topuria hasn’t been shy in talking trash about not just the 145-pound titleholder, but the entire featherweight division. It’s led many to believe that “El Matador” is either in for a meteoric rise, or an embarrassing fall.
Former champion Yosuke Saruta battles Mansur Malachiev at ONE Fight Night 19
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 9, 2024
Former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Yosuke Saruta will make a grand return to action at ONE Fight Night 19 on Prime Video this February 16. The Japanese dynamo faces #5-ranked contender Mansur Malachiev. The card emanates live in U.S. primetime from the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Devin Clark planning for a "dominant" win over Marcin Prachnio on last fight of his deal at UFC Vegas 86
Cole Shelton - February 8, 2024
Devin Clark knows he could be fighting for his job on Saturday night at UFC Vegas 86. Clark hasn’t fought since May of last year when he suffered a submission loss to Kennedy Nzechukwu. After that, he was hoping to fight one more time in 2023, but he decided to spend time with his family and get his mindset right for his next fight.
UFC CEO Dana White reacts after Jon Anik has “meltdown” over toxic MMA fans
Cole Shelton - February 8, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White gave his thoughts on Jon Anik and his recent comments about MMA fans. Following UFC 297 which saw Dricus Du Plessis beat Sean Strickland by split decision to become the new champ, Anik says he was tired of the toxicity of MMA fans after he thought Du Plessis won. He says the hate got so bad he thought about stepping away from his role as a UFC commentator.
Dana White claimed Scott Coker was a "very, very bad promoter" in leaked text messages in antitrust lawsuit deposition
Cole Shelton - February 8, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White had some harsh words for Scott Coker during a deposition for the antitrust lawsuit. Several text messages have been uncovered during the lawsuit, and on Thursday, BloodyElbow was able to unearth more text messages and deposition statements. The latest text exchange was Lorenzo Fertitta sending a message to Dana White about Scott Coker and Bellator making a fight between Tito Ortiz and Rampage Jackson.
Joe Pyfer explains why he's so confident he will KO "desperate" Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 86
Cole Shelton - February 8, 2024
Joe Pyfer has full confidence he will KO Jack Hermansson in the main event of UFC Vegas 86 on Saturday at the UFC Apex. Pyfer is set for his first UFC main event and he gets the chance to fight Hermansson who is ranked 10th at middleweight. Although Pyfer is unranked, he is a sizeable betting favorite as he’s a -258 favorite as the oddsmakers expect the American to remain undefeated in the UFC.
RIZIN President Nobuyuki Sakakibara meets with Dana White, teases announcement: "Stay tuned!"
Josh Evanoff - February 8, 2024
It seems that RIZIN President Nobuyuki Sakakibara and UFC executive Dana White have something cooking. In recent weeks, Dana White has been seen with a variety of fellow combat sports promoters. Names such as Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn, BKFC’s David Feldman, and more, have been seen meeting with the UFC boss. Now, fans can add RIZIN President Nobuyuki Sakakibara to that list.
Cris Cyborg announces boxing return after PFL talks fall through: "I want to be active"
Josh Evanoff - February 8, 2024
Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg is heading back to the boxing ring. It’s been a strange few months for the Brazilian. In October, Cris Cyborg scored yet another title defense in a heated fight against Cat Zingano at Bellator 300. The first-round victory took place just weeks before the Scott Coker-led company was sold to the PFL.
Colby Covington reveals plans for summer return, promises to "shock" fans in comeback
Josh Evanoff - February 8, 2024
UFC welterweight title challenger Colby Covington will be back in the octagon this summer. ‘Chaos’ has been out of the cage since a heated bout with welterweight champion Leon Edwards last December. For Colby Covington, the fight was his first in over a year, last defeating Jorge Masvidal in March 2022. In the build to the contest, the former interim UFC titleholder mocked the deceased father of ‘Rocky’, and promised to send him to hell.
Sage Northcutt takes aim at ONE Championship over fight withdrawal: "That is completely inaccurate"
Cole Shelton - February 8, 2024
Sage Northcutt has fired back at ONE Championship over his fight cancellation. Northcutt was supposed to fight Shinya Aoki at ONE 165 at the end of January. However, on the day of the fight, it was revealed ‘Super’ pulled out of the fight due to his cornermen not getting visas in time. Since then, Chatri Sityodtong said other people would corner Northcutt but the American didn’t want to fight.
Patricio Freire thinks Michael Chandler turned into a "b*tch" after signing UFC deal, feels Conor McGregor could KO him
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 8, 2024
Bellator featherweight champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire believes Michael Chandler has gone soft since joining the UFC roster. It’s no secret that former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler has been biding his time for a lucrative matchup against Conor McGregor. The “Notorious” one has expressed frustration with the UFC over what he believes to be stalling on the promotion’s end. UFC CEO Dana White is hoping to have the fight booked for the fall of 2024.
Gilbert Burns isn't sold on Colby Covington's post-UFC 296 injury claims: "He was going everywhere here"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 8, 2024
Gilbert Burns has called Colby Covington’s foot injury into question. Covington was widely panned for his performance against Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 296 in late 2023. “Chaos” didn’t have the forward pressure that he’s been known for throughout his pro MMA career. Many, including UFC CEO Dana White, wondered if being largely inactive prior to the welterweight title fight cost Covington an undisputed UFC championship.
Cris Cyborg Will Help Holly Holm Prepare Ahead Of UFC 300 Fight With Kayla Harrison
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 8, 2024
Cris Cyborg will be giving an assist to Holly Holm, who is preparing for a UFC 300 showdown with former PFL champion Kayla Harrison. Cyborg and Holm shared the Octagon back in late 2017. At the time, Cyborg was the UFC women’s featherweight champion. On that night, Cyborg successfully retained the 145-pound gold via unanimous decision. Fast forward to 2024, and Cyborg is now helping “The Preacher’s Daughter” prepare for the big April 13 showdown with Harrison.
Ian Machado Garry unloads on “idiot” Rampage Jackson for suggesting he was “afraid” to come on his podcast
Harry Kettle - February 8, 2024
UFC star Ian Machado Garry has hit back at Rampage Jackson for suggesting he was afraid to come on his podcast. Over the course of the last few months, Ian Machado Garry has made a lot of enemies. While he’s still a massive prospect in the welterweight division, there are far more questions than answers when it comes to his future in the cage. Now, as he prepares to meet Geoff Neal at UFC 298 next weekend, he has another problem to deal with.
Alexander Volkanovski shares his prediction for Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC 300: “I do not think it’s going to be a whitewash”
Harry Kettle - February 8, 2024
Alexander Volkanovski has given his thoughts on the upcoming showdown between Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje. At UFC 300, Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje will collide for the BMF championship. As you can imagine, there’s a great deal of anticipation for this meeting. Both men are electric fighters and have the potential to make magic happen in the Octagon.
Dricus Du Plessis says UFC 300 is just a number: “It’s not as massive as UFC Africa”
Harry Kettle - February 8, 2024
UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis believes that UFC Africa is bigger than UFC 300. Last month, Dricus du Plessis finally reached the top of the middleweight mountain. He defeated Sean Strickland to become the new king in what proved to be a barnburner of a fight. Now, of course, the big question is this: what’s next?
Yuya Wakamatsu, Gustavo Balart move up in ONE Championship’s rankings
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 8, 2024
In the aftermath of ONE 165 on January 28, Yuya Wakamatsu and Gustavo Balart made a significant leap in ONE Championship’s athlete rankings. While the majority of divisions maintained their status quo, the flyweight and strawweight MMA brackets witnessed notable shake-ups.