MMA News
Shinya Aoki silences retirement talks following ONE 165 win
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 30, 2024
Shinya Aoki has made it clear that he’s not ready to call it quits just yet. This comes on the heels of Aoki’s first-round submission victory over former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John Lineker in their openweight bout at ONE 165 this past weekend.
Corey Anderson vs. Karl Moore vacant title bout to headline Bellator's 2024 return event
Josh Evanoff - January 30, 2024
Corey Anderson and Karl Moore will fight for the vacant Bellator light-heavyweight title in March. Bellator itself has had a strange last few months, to put it mildly. In November, the Scott Coker-led company was bought out by the PFL, but not to merge the two promotions. Instead, Donn Davis planned to run both companies as separate entities. But, allow for crossover between the two brands.
Henry Cejudo teases return to retirement with UFC 298 loss: "This sport is hard, man"
Josh Evanoff - January 30, 2024
Former UFC dual-weight champion Henry Cejudo might not be back for long. ‘Triple C’ has been out of the octagon since a title fight with Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288 last May. The bout ended a three-year-long hiatus for Henry Cejudo. He famously announced his retirement after a knockout win over Dominick Cruz in May 2020. However, he couldn’t keep away from the cage forever.
Cris Cyborg takes shot at PFL over slow-moving negotiations: "Starting to understand why Kayla tried to leave"
Josh Evanoff - January 30, 2024
Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg appears to be unhappy with the PFL. It’s been a weird month or so for the legendary Brazilian. At the start of the month, Cris Cyborg was eyeing a potential bout with longtime rival Kayla Harrison for later this year. In the meantime, she booked a boxing match against Kelsey Wickstrum, the third of her career.
Dana White reacts to Sean Strickland’s controversial comments at UFC 297: “I don't agree with 95% of what this guy says”
Harry Kettle - January 30, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White has given his thoughts on Sean Strickland’s controversial remarks during UFC 297 fight week. At UFC 297, Sean Strickland fell short in his attempt to successfully defend the UFC middleweight championship. He was beaten by Dricus du Plessis in what served as an electric back-and-forth affair in the main event.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 151 with Renato Moicano
Cole Shelton - January 30, 2024
The 151st episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC Vegas 85 this Saturday. We’re joined by 13th-ranked UFC lightweight Renato Moicano (0:45), as the only guest for this week.
Holly Holm shuts down comparisons between Kayla Harrison and Ronda Rousey ahead of UFC 300
Harry Kettle - January 30, 2024
UFC veteran Holly Holm has shut down the comparisons that people are making between Kayla Harrison and Ronda Rousey. At UFC 300, Holly Holm will attempt to get back in the win column. She’ll do so when she battles it out with the debuting Kayla Harrison, with the contest taking place at bantamweight.
BJJ ace Gordon Ryan issues cautionary warning on steroid abuse: “I’m malnourished and dying”
Harry Kettle - January 30, 2024
Brazilian jiu-jitsu great Gordon Ryan has spoken candidly about his current health condition. For the longest time now, Gordon Ryan has been one of the biggest stars in the jiu-jitsu game. Between his incredible work on the mats to his general persona, he’s certainly a recognizable name in the world of martial arts.
Former UFC champion Carla Esparza shoots down retirement rumors: “Just trying to have an intelligent approach to my comeback”
Harry Kettle - January 30, 2024
Former UFC champion Carla Esparza has responded to rumors suggesting she has retired from mixed martial arts. Throughout the course of her career, Carla Esparza has been through many highs and lows. From winning championships to losing them and beyond, she’s been on quite the journey – especially in the UFC.
Pro fighters react after the Detroit Lions collapse against the San Francisco 49ers: “I’m f**king speechless”
Harry Kettle - January 30, 2024
A parade of pro fighters have given their thoughts on the Detroit Lions’ heartbreaking defeat to the San Francisco 49ers. Last night, the Detroit Lions took on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game. While the 49ers were seen as the favorites by many, the Lions were the ones who got off to a hot start. They stormed out to a 17-point lead and in the eyes of most fans, they’d be able to hold on to that lead.
Neil Magny believes UFC officials wanted him to lose to Mike Malott: “It was very evident”
Harry Kettle - January 30, 2024
UFC star Neil Magny is of the belief that the promotion wanted Mike Malott to beat him at UFC 297. Earlier this month, Neil Magny went toe to toe with Mike Malott in his homeland of Canada. Their UFC 297 collision was seemingly heading in the direction of a win for Malott, until everything changed in the last round. Magny was able to flip the script, securing a late finished against a visibly tired Malott.
Superlek open to moving up in weight: “I want new challenges in my life”
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 30, 2024
Superlek Kiatmoo9 finds himself at a crossroads contemplating the next step in his illustrious career. The Thai megastar defended his ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title against Takeru Segawa at ONE 165 over the weekend. However, it seems that the challenge has only fueled his appetite for more.
Holly Holm eyeing title shot with UFC 300 win over Kayla Harrison: "My goal is always to get to the belt"
Josh Evanoff - January 29, 2024
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm wants a title shot with a win over Kayla Harrison. ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ has been out of the cage since a no-contest with Mayra Bueno Silva last July. That bout was originally a submission win for the Brazilian but was overturned after a failed drug test. For months, there was radio silence on a potential return to the octagon for Holly Holm.
Georges St-Pierre reveals he was never offered to fight at UFC 300: "That hunger is gone"
Cole Shelton - January 29, 2024
Georges St-Pierre can’t see himself fighting again, as he says his hunger to fight is no longer there. St-Pierre hasn’t fought since UFC 217 when he won the middleweight title from Michael Bisping. However, shortly after that historic victory, GSP stepped away from the game due to health reasons. Since then, many fans have wondered if the Canadian would ever return to the Octagon again.
Triple H dismisses questions about Vince McMahon’s sexual abuse allegations during Royal Rumble press conference
Harry Kettle - January 29, 2024
Triple H dismissed questions surrounding Vince McMahon’s sexual abuse allegations during the Royal Rumble press conference on Saturday. Over the weekend, WWE put on an incredible Royal Rumble event down in Florida as the road to WrestleMania began. However, there was a big cloud overshadowing the show from beginning to end. That cloud stems from the sex trafficking allegations that have been made against Vince McMahon, who resigned from TKO last week.
Coach Eric Nicksick reveals how Francis Ngannou can KO Anthony Joshua: "Francis will find you"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 28, 2024
Francis Ngannou’s MMA coach believes he knows where his fighter can catch Anthony Joshua slipping. After shocking the world, not with a win but with his performance against Tyson Fury last year, Ngannou is scheduled to fight Joshua on March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reports have claimed that the winner will most likely compete for undisputed gold after Fury and Oleksandr Usyk settle their February 17 showdown for all the gold.
Bo Nickal dismisses Khamzat Chimaev as credible UFC middleweight challenger: "He has fought less 85'ers than me"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 28, 2024
Bo Nickal thinks it’s inevitable that Khamzat Chimaev will receive a UFC title shot, but he doesn’t feel he deserves one. Chimaev had been promised a UFC Middleweight Championship opportunity with a win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294. Chimaev defeated the former welterweight titleholder via majority decision, and he’s been pounding the table to get his shot. Some believe Israel Adesanya is the favorite to fight Dricus Du Plessis for the gold next despite his hiatus.
Miesha Tate sees Kayla Harrison having rough time in UFC bantamweight division: "It's not the best move"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 28, 2024
Miesha Tate couldn’t believe the news that Kayla Harrison would be cutting down to 135 pounds for her UFC debut. UFC CEO Dana White dropped a bombshell when he announced that former PFL champion Kayla Harrison will be featured on the UFC 300 card on April 13. She’ll be facing former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm at 135 pounds. When Harrison competed under the PFL banner, she was in the lightweight division.