MMA News
Zuhayr Al-Qahtani anticipates tough fight vs. Mehdi Zatout at ONE 166: Qatar
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 1, 2024
The anticipation is building as Zuhayr Al-Qahtani prepares to make his promotional debut at ONE 166: Qatar on March 1. His maiden appearance takes place at the majestic Lusail Sports Arena, where he squares off with Mehdi Zatout in a 147-pound boxing bout.
Dominick Reyes reveals he's "lucky to be alive" after dealing with blood clots
Cole Shelton - February 1, 2024
Dominick Reyes says he’s lucky to be alive. Reyes was scheduled to face Carlos Ulberg at UFC 297 in Toronto on Jan. 20, but the fight was scratched after Ulberg suffered an injury. The two were then rebooked to fight on March 30 at UFC Atlantic City, but Reyes was forced to withdraw, due to an undisclosed reason.
Jon Anik walks back on comments about leaving the UFC after fan controversy: "This is my life's work"
Josh Evanoff - February 1, 2024
Don’t expect to see UFC commentator Jon Anik going anywhere, anytime soon. The UFC 297 main event featuring Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis was as controversial as it gets. While the fight itself was very close, many fans were angry at ‘Stillknocks’ getting the judges’ nod. Many on social media slammed those who agreed with the decision, including Jon Anik.
Daniel Cormier explains why he would "love" to see Tom Aspinall defend interim heavyweight title
Josh Evanoff - February 1, 2024
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier wants to see Tom Aspinall defend his interim heavyweight gold. The British heavyweight has famously been out of the cage since an interim heavyweight title bout last November. Following Jon Jones’s withdrawal against Stipe Miocic, the promotion scrambled to book Tom Aspinall against Sergei Pavlovich. They put an interim title on the line, as ‘Bones’ was expected to be out of action for quite a while.
Mike Tyson denies reports of boxing matches with Fedor Emelianenko, Mark Hunt: "This is false"
Josh Evanoff - February 1, 2024
Don’t expect to see Mike Tyson back in a boxing ring against Fedor Emelianenko or Mark Hunt. ‘Iron Mike’ hasn’t competed in a professional boxing match since a 2005 loss to Kevin McBride. 15 years after that defeat, Mike Tyson returned to the ring for an exhibition. On Triller Fight Club pay-per-view in November 2020, he fought to a draw with fellow legend, Roy Jones Jr.
Dustin Poirier says UFC 299 fight against Benoit Saint-Denis is back on after a "misunderstanding"
Cole Shelton - February 1, 2024
Dustin Poirier and Benoit Saint-Denis will be fighting at UFC 299 after all. Back in January, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Poirier will face Saint-Denis in the co-main event of UFC 299, which will also be a five-round fight. It’s a highly-anticipated scrap and a massive fight for the lightweight division, but on Thursday morning, ‘The Diamond’ took to social media to claim the fight was off.
Israel Adesanya teases potential return at UFC 300: "The gods must be crazy"
Cole Shelton - February 1, 2024
Former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is teasing a return at UFC 300. Adesanya is coming off a decision loss to Sean Strickland in September to lose his middleweight title and after the fight, he said he would be taking some much-needed time off. ‘The Last Stylebender’ originally joked he would be off until 2027, but clarified he’s focusing on quality fights and not quantity in the back-end of his career.
Dana White slams "scumbag" reporters who claimed Poirier vs. Saint-Denis was never agreed to
Cole Shelton - February 1, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White is firing back at reporters who claimed Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299 was never agreed to. On Thursday, Poirier took to social media to reveal his fight with Saint-Denis was off. He then texted ESPN’s Brett Okamoto saying the fight was never agreed to.
UFC commentator Joe Rogan reacts to the “wild” Vince McMahon - WWE lawsuit
Susan Cox - February 1, 2024
UFC commentator Joe Rogan is reacting to the ‘wild’ Vince McMahon – WWE lawsuit. It was just last week that WWE founder Vince McMahon resigned from the company and the board.
Dustin Poirier announces his fight with Benoit Saint-Denis is off
Susan Cox - February 1, 2024
Dustin Poirier has announced that his fight with Benoit Saint-Denis is off. It was on Sunday, January 7th that UFC CEO Dana White announced they had added a major lightweight matchup between Poirier and Saint-Denis to their March pay-per-view lineup.
Chael Sonnen shuts down comparisons between Kayla Harrison and Ronda Rousey: “She has never made a dollar for the promoter”
Harry Kettle - February 1, 2024
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has questioned those who compare Kayla Harrison with Ronda Rousey. For the longest time now, Kayla Harrison has been seen by many as the second coming of Ronda Rousey. That isn’t universally true for every MMA fan out there, but it’s certainly been a popular thought.
Lito Adiwang to duke it out against Danial Williams at ONE Fight Night 19
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 1, 2024
Lito Adiwang is set to figure in a bout that promises to be a hard-hitting affair. The Filipino sensation squares off against Australia’s Danial Williams in a strawweight MMA clash at ONE Fight Night 19 on Prime Video. The event emanates live in U.S. primetime from the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 16.
Georges St-Pierre explains why Alexander Volkanovski could still be “the best fighter” despite back-to-back losses to Islam Makhachev
Harry Kettle - February 1, 2024
Georges St-Pierre has given his thoughts on Alexander Volkanovski’s two defeats to Islam Makhachev. At UFC 298 later this month, Alexander Volkanovski will defend his UFC featherweight championship against Ilia Topuria. It will serve as a move back to 145 pounds after his second attempt at capturing the lightweight gold.
Kayla Harrison is “confident” she will make weight at UFC 300 despite not believing in the process: “I don’t believe in cutting weight”
Harry Kettle - February 1, 2024
Kayla Harrison is feeling confident in her ability to make weight at UFC 300 despite concerns for her health. At UFC 300, Kayla Harrison will make her official Ultimate Fighting Championship debut. She’ll do so by taking on veteran Holly Holm in a blockbuster bantamweight collision. While this is a great first bout for her, many wonder whether or not she’ll struggle to make 135 pounds.
Rafael Fiziev claims Justin Gaethje "ran away" from him in their fight, 'The Highlight' fires back
Cole Shelton - January 31, 2024
Rafael Fiziev says Justin Gaethje ran away from him in their UFC 286 fight last March. Fiziev was facing Gaethje in the co-main event of the pay-per-view card in London, England in a massive fight for the lightweight division. It was a back-and-forth scrap that was very entertaining, but in the end, it was Gaethje who got his hand raised by majority decision.
Drew Dober embracing being the "new" Donald Cerrone: "I'll fight whoever, whenever"
Cole Shelton - January 31, 2024
Drew Dober believes he’s the new Donald Cerrone. Dober is set to return to the Octagon in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 85 on Saturday against Renato Moicano. It’s a big fight for the lightweight division, as Dober gets to fight ahead of him in the rankings.
Kevin Lee announces he’s ending his MMA retirement: "I’m dropping weight and getting into shape now"
Cole Shelton - January 31, 2024
Kevin Lee will be ending his retirement from MMA. Lee announced his retirement back in July, in a move that surprised many. The 3o-year-old took to Instagram where he revealed that injuries played a massive role in why he decided to step away from MMA.
Raquel Pennington believes Kayla Harrison will be "exposed" in UFC debut: "She has huge hype following her"
Josh Evanoff - January 31, 2024
UFC women’s bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington believes that Kayla Harrison will be exposed in April. Earlier this month, Dana White announced that the Judoka had finally signed with the UFC. For the former two-time PFL tournament winner, the move was one long in the making. In April, Kayla Harrison will compete in the milestone UFC 300 event, against former champion Holly Holm.