MMA News
Justin Gaethje explains why he turned down Benoit Saint-Denis fight, responds to comments from Joe Rogan
Josh Evanoff - January 26, 2024
The decision for Justin Gaethje to not fight rising UFC lightweight contender Benoit Saint-Denis was a simple one. ‘The Highlight’ recently booked his return to the cage for April, at the milestone UFC 300 event. There, Justin Gaethje will face former featherweight champion Max Holloway in a defense of his ceremonial ‘BMF’ title. The lightweight famously captured the gold with a second-round knockout win over Dustin Poirier last July.
Tony Ferguson reveals he fought Paddy Pimblett with a torn MCL, undergoes knee surgery
Cole Shelton - January 26, 2024
Tony Ferguson entered his UFC 296 fight against Paddy Pimblett with a serious knee injury. Ferguson took to social media to reveal he underwent knee surgery to replace his torn MCL. According to ‘El Cucuy’ he suffered the injury in November just before Thanksgiving but decided to continue with the fight.
Sean O'Malley says UFC 299 performance against Marlon Vera will be something "unseen before"
Cole Shelton - January 26, 2024
Sean O’Malley is promising to do something special against Marlon Vera at UFC 299. O’Malley is set to defend his bantamweight title for the first time against Vera in the main event of UFC 299 on March 9 in Miami, Florida. The two fought back in August of 2020 in the co-main event of UFC 252, where it was Vera who won by first-round TKO as O’Malley had hurt his ankle in the fight.
Merab Dvalishvili releases hilarious video regarding future UFC bantamweight title fights
Susan Cox - January 26, 2024
Merab Dvalishvili has released a hilarious video regarding future UFC bantamweight title fights. Dvalishvili (16-4 MMA) is currently preparing for his upcoming bantamweight bout with Henry Cejudo (16-3 MMA) which will take place on Saturday, February 17th at UFC 298.
Israel Adesanya’s coach names three fighters as “the most obvious options” for his UFC return
Susan Cox - January 26, 2024
Israel Adesanya’s coach has named three fighters as ‘the most obvious options’ for his return to the UFC. Mike Angove of ‘City Kickboxing’ shared with ‘Sky Sports New Zealand’ that Adesanya is back but the decision of when and who he will fight in the Octagon lies in the hands of the UFC:
Former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade books a spot on UFC 300
Susan Cox - January 26, 2024
The former strawweight champion, Jessica Andrade has booked a spot at the historic UFC 300 event. UFC 300 will take place on Saturday, April 13th at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
Takeru determined to dethrone Superlek in Japan: "I will give it my all"
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 26, 2024
Takeru Segawa is not just looking for a victory in his highly anticipated ONE Championship debut this Sunday, January 28. He challenges Superlek Kiatmoo9 for the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title in the main event of ONE 165. This card broadcasts live on pay-per-view from the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
Former UFC champion Brock Lesnar named in WWE sex trafficking lawsuit
Harry Kettle - January 26, 2024
Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has been named in a WWE sex trafficking lawsuit. Yesterday, a bombshell was dropped on the world of professional wrestling. In a report from the Wall Street Journal, it was revealed that former WWE employee Janel Grant had filed a lawsuit that alleged Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis engaged in sex trafficking activities against her. In addition, the report suggested that McMahon sexually abused and exploited Grant on numerous occasions.
Robert Whittaker explains why he’s picking “awkward” Dricus du Plessis to defeat Israel Adesanya
Harry Kettle - January 26, 2024
UFC star Robert Whittaker has explained why he’s picking Dricus du Plessis to defeat Israel Adesanya in their rumored showdown. Last weekend, Dricus du Plessis made a pretty emphatic statement when defeated Sean Strickland to become the new UFC middleweight champion. The win completed his meteoric rise to the top of the 185-pound division.
Jasmine Jasudavicius details hectic UFC 297 fight week over weight dispute
Cole Shelton - January 25, 2024
Jasmine Jasudavicius had to plead for a spot on UFC 297 and then practically had to beg to stay on the card. Jasudavicius is from St. Catharines, Ontario, which is just an hour and a half away from Toronto. So, the flyweight contender really wanted a spot on the UFC 297 lineup and got her wish as she was the final fight added to the event.
Gillian Robertson says UFC 297 fight was "picture-perfect", hopes a ranked opponent is next
Cole Shelton - January 25, 2024
Gillian Robertson knew she would have a ton of success on the ground against Polyana Viana at UFC 297. Robertson entered the fight as the betting favorite and on paper it was a grappler vs. grappler matchup. However, when Robertson fights she knows not many people want to go to the ground with her, so she was glad to get matched up with Viana at UFC 297 as she knew that wouldn’t be a problem.
OKTAGON's Matěj Peňáz says "direct offer to UFC" is goal
Zain Bando - January 25, 2024
OKTAGON’s Matěj Peňáz returns to the cage for the first time since December on a two-fight winning streak opposite Matthew Bonner (16-9-1 MMA) on Saturday at OKTAGON 52 in Newcastle, England. The event airs live on DAZN and the promotion’s official website (via internet pay-per-view), beginning at noon ET/9 a.m. PT in the U.S. Peňáz (8-1 MMA) spoke to BJPenn.com ahead of his middleweight fight about his training camp, Bonner as an opponent, and future MMA career aspirations.
Brendan Schaub offers promising update after daughter's emergency surgery: "Forever grateful"
Josh Evanoff - January 25, 2024
Former UFC heavyweight contender Brendan Schaub has released a promising update about the health of his daughter. ‘Big Brown’ has been retired from fighting for nearly a decade now. Following a knockout loss to Travis Browne, Brendan Schaub decided to hang the gloves up for good. At the urging of his friend Joe Rogan, the heavyweight contender instead got into podcasting and later stand-up comedy.
Max Holloway unbothered by worried fan reactions to Justin Gaethje fight: "Always going to be naysayers"
Josh Evanoff - January 25, 2024
Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is ready to prove fans wrong against Justin Gaethje. ‘Blessed’ has been out of action since a knockout win over The Korean Zombie in August. That victory was Max Holloway’s second in a row, but being locked out of the featherweight title picture has made him look upwards. Following his win last year, he called to face ‘BMF’ champion, Justin Gaethje.
John McCarthy and Josh Thomson weigh in on Kayla Harrison’s decision to sign with UFC: “I think she went where the easier fights are”
Cole Shelton - January 25, 2024
John McCarthy and Josh Thomson believe Kayla Harrison signed with the UFC to go after easier fights. Earlier this week, UFC CEO Dana White announced the promotion has signed Harrison and she will debut at UFC 300 against Holly Holm. It was a shocking announcement and former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson was disappointed with the signing.
Mark Hunt sends a warning to UFC CEO Dana White and former opponent Brock Lesnar: “Karma is going to sting your ass so hard this year”
Josh Evanoff - January 25, 2024
Former UFC heavyweight contender Mark Hunt is still unhappy with Dana White and Brock Lesnar. ‘The Super Samoan’ recently announced his intention to return to fighting under the BKFC banner. While Mark Hunt hasn’t competed in MMA since a December 2018 loss to Justin Willis, he has been busy in boxing. In November 2022, he handed the previously undefeated Sonny Bill Williams his first career loss by knockout.
WATCH | Dricus Du Plessis gets incredible reception as he returns to South Africa with UFC title
Cole Shelton - January 25, 2024
Dricus Du Plessis got a hero’s welcome in South Africa after becoming the UFC middleweight champion at UFC 297. Du Plessis scored a split-decision win over Sean Strickland on Saturday night to become the promotion’s new 185lbs champion. After the win, he stayed in Toronto for a couple of days to celebrate. When he returned home, ‘DDP’ got an incredible reception as it looked like hundreds, if not thousands of people were there to welcome Du Plessis back to South Africa.
PFL CEO Peter Murray reacts after Kayla Harrison signs with the UFC
Susan Cox - January 25, 2024
PFL CEO Peter Murray is reacting to Kayla Harrison signing with the UFC. UFC CEO Dana White announced this past Tuesday that Kayla Harrison (16-1 MMA) had signed with the promotion and would be making her UFC debut at the historic UFC 300 on April 13th of this year. Harrison will be fighting Holly Holm (15-6 MMA) in a bantamweight bout in Las Vegas, Nevada.