MMA News
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.
Cory Sandhagen hopes to use "famous guy leverage" to his advantage in 2024: "Start hanging out with rappers"
Josh Evanoff - January 31, 2024
UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen plans to get more fame this year, and then use it. ‘The Sandman’ has been out of the cage since a unanimous decision victory over Rob Font in August. While it was Cory Sandhagen’s third victory in a row, it came at a cost. In the five-round main event, he suffered a torn triceps, putting him on the shelf indefinitely. As a result, the bantamweight division has been passing him by.
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.
Joe Rogan explains why he 'hates' UFC 300's Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje
Josh Evanoff - January 31, 2024
Joe Rogan isn’t a huge fan of UFC 300’s ‘BMF’ title fight between Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje. Earlier this month, Dana White announced plans for ‘Blessed’ to face ‘The Highlight’ at the milestone event in April. While the fight card isn’t yet filled out, the lightweight contest will serve as one of the main bouts on UFC 300. For Max Holloway, the fight will be his first since a knockout win over The Korean Zombie last August.
VIDEO: Rampage Jackson announces June boxing match with Shannon Briggs
Josh Evanoff - January 31, 2024
It appears that former UFC champion Rampage Jackson will finally be boxing Shannon Briggs. The former UFC champion hasn’t been seen in action since a knockout loss to Fedor Emelianenko in late 2019. That bout was the last of Rampage Jackson’s deal with Bellator, and the company declined to re-sign him following the defeat. For a long time, it appeared that he was done fighting.
Paul Felder details conversations with UFC brass about a potential comeback against Jim Miller at UFC 300
Cole Shelton - January 31, 2024
Paul Felder knew shortly after UFC Vegas 84 that he wasn’t going to be fighting Jim Miller at UFC 300. After Miller scored a submission win, he called out Felder for UFC 300, and ‘The Irish Dragon’ was interested in ending his retirement for the fight. However, after the event, he spoke to Sean Shelby and others in the UFC brass who quickly shot down that fight.
Bruce Buffer shuts down Jim Miller's request for unique introduction at UFC 300: "I don't like cursing in my job"
Cole Shelton - January 31, 2024
Bruce Buffer won’t be announcing Jim Miller with a unique introduction at UFC 300. Miller has competed at both UFC 100 and 200 and got his wish of fighting at UFC 300 as he will take on Bobby Green. Ahead of the fight, Miller asked Buffer if he could announce him a ‘Jim F*****g Miller’.
Sean Brady forced out of UFC Atlantic City main event with Vicente Luque
Susan Cox - January 31, 2024
Sean Brady has been forced out of UFC Atlantic City main event with Vicente Luque. It was recently announced by UFC CEO Dana White that Sean Brady and Vincente Luque were going to headline the welterweight event on Saturday, March 30th at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Robert Whittaker confident Paulo Costa will show up to fight at UFC 298
Susan Cox - January 31, 2024
Robert Whittaker is confident Paulo Costa will show up to fight at UFC 298. UFC 298 will see former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (24-7 MMA) taking on Paulo Costa (14-2 MMA) in the co-main event on Saturday, February 17th, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Raquel Pennington blasts ESPN’s Ryan Clark for calling for the end of women’s bantamweight: “You're not living in our shoes”
Harry Kettle - January 31, 2024
UFC women’s bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington has hit back at Ryan Clark for suggesting the promotion should consider getting rid of the division. At UFC 297, Raquel Pennington finally reached the top of the mountain. She defeated Mayra Bueno Silva to capture the UFC women’s bantamweight championship. While it was a triumphant moment for her, some fans felt as if the bout underdelivered.
Tyron Woodley sounds off on “disrespectful” Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy: “I don’t like him”
Harry Kettle - January 31, 2024
Former UFC fighter Tyron Woodley has lashed out at Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy. It’s been a while since we last saw Tyron Woodley compete. In recent years, his most notable appearances came in the form of back-to-back boxing defeats at the hands of Jake Paul.
Marat Grigorian "feels great" to beat rival Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong again at ONE 165
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 31, 2024
Marat Grigorian left no stone unturned at ONE 165 this past weekend. He claimed what he deems the most satisfying victory in his long-standing rivalry with Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong. Both men faced each other for the sixth time at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, and Grigorian did not disappoint.
Renato Moicano plans to get into "a f**king fight" with Drew Dober at UFC Vegas 85: "The fans will enjoy it"
Cole Shelton - January 30, 2024
Renato Moicano is eager to get into a fight again. Moicano last fought in November of 2022 when he submitted Brad Riddell. He was then booked to fight Arman Tsarukyan in April, but an injury forced him to withdraw, and the Brazilian didn’t get to fight at all in 2023, which was frustrating for him.
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.
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.