MMA News
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones reflects on his individual growth: “10 years ago, I was an asshole”
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2024
Jon Jones has taken time to reflect on his past self. Jones has been one of the biggest stars in the UFC for nearly 15 years. He became the youngest UFC champion when he won the light heavyweight title in 2011, but throughout his time in the UFC, he has had many ups and downs with legal issues and failed drug tests.
Dana White shuts down rumors that UFC Saudi Arabia was postponed because the lineup wasn't good enough: "That's all bullshit"
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2024
Dana White has shut down rumors that UFC Saudi Arabia was postponed because the lineup wasn’t good enough. The UFC was expected to host its first event in Saudi Arabia on March 2, 2024. However, on Monday it was reported by Ariel Helwani that the event was going to be postponed.
Jim Miller fires back at Daniel Cormier over UFC Hall of Fame comments
Susan Cox - January 18, 2024
Jim Miller is firing back at Daniel Cormier over his recent remarks regarding his credentials for the UFC Hall of Fame. It was Cormier, speaking on his ‘DC & RC’ show who reflected on Miller’s wins and while agreeing his longevity is impressive, he doesn’t believe he’s worthy of Hall of Fame status:
Henry Cejudo explains why he’s picking Dricus Du Plessis to defeat Sean Strickland at UFC 297: “His head is in the right place”
Susan Cox - January 18, 2024
Henry Cejudo is explaining why he’s picking Dricus Du Plessis to defeat Sean Strickland at UFC 297. UFC 297 is only days away, taking place on Saturday, January 20th at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
UFC 297 | Pro fighters make their picks for Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva title fight
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2024
In the co-main event of UFC 297 in Toronto on Saturday, the vacant women’s bantamweight title is up for grabs as Raquel Pennington takes on Mayra Bueno Silva. Heading into the fight, Pennington is a +136 underdog while the Brazilian is a -174 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to some pro fighters to make their picks for the title fight at UFC 297. The majority of the pros believe Pennington will leave Toronto as the bantamweight champ, and likely doing so by decision.
Sean Strickland responds after being labeled a hypocrite by Israel Adesanya, Ian Garry and other UFC fighters: “Do you think I give a f**k?”
Susan Cox - January 18, 2024
Sean Strickland is responding after being labeled a hypocrite by Israel Adesanya, Ian Garry and other UFC fighters. Strickland, 32, is known for trash talking opponents (and others) leading up to or following fights. As of late, fighters, like ‘The Last Stylebender‘, have come forward saying that while he can easily hand out the trash talk, he can’t take it.
Gillian Robertson trained with UFC 297 opponent Polyana Viana in the past, eyes TKO victory in front of hometown crowd
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2024
Gillian Robertson is eager to fight back home in Canada. Robertson hasn’t fought in Canada since July of 2019 at UFC 240, where she scored a first round TKO victory over Sarah Frota. After missing out on the UFC’s return to Vancouver last June, Robertson was ecstatic when she found out she’d be on UFC 297 in Toronto.
Dricus du Plessis reveals the “mistake” Israel Adesanya made in UFC 293 fight with Sean Strickland: “He just saw a guy that is not on his level”
Harry Kettle - January 18, 2024
UFC star Dricus du Plessis has explained the mistake he believes Israel Adesanya made against Sean Strickland. At UFC 293, Sean Strickland shocked the world. He defeated Israel Adesanya to claim the UFC middleweight championship, and he did so with relative ease. Now, just four months later, he has the chance to defend what he earned when he goes head to head with Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297.
Megan Anderson reacts after UFC champion Sean Strickland goes off on Canadian journalist: “Maybe don't give him a platform”
Harry Kettle - January 18, 2024
MMA fighter Megan Anderson has given her thoughts on Sean Strickland’s recent rant during UFC 297 fight week. On Saturday night, Sean Strickland returns to the Octagon to defend his UFC middleweight championship. He’ll do so against Dricus du Plessis, in what has become a pretty personal rivalry over the course of the last few months.
UFC champion Sean Strickland says he has not time for Women’s MMA: “I don't want to see two little cats fight”
Harry Kettle - January 18, 2024
UFC champion Sean Strickland has explained why he isn’t the biggest fan of women’s mixed martial arts. Another day, another insane Sean Strickland headline. We’re at the point now where it really shouldn’t be a surprise anymore to hear him come out with something controversial. The UFC middleweight king generates some big headlines off the back of his views, and in the cage, he’s been able to back it up.
Marat Grigorian revisits long-standing rivalry with Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong at ONE 165
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 18, 2024
ONE 165 on January 28 will play host to the sixth encounter between pound-for-pound featherweight kickboxing greats Marat Grigorian and Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong. Both men will go head-to-head in a catchweight kickboxing clash, one of the confirmed attractions in ONE Championship’s much-awaited return to Japan. This spectacle takes place at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.
Michael Bisping says Strickland vs. Du Plessis is 'very personal'
Zain Bando - January 17, 2024
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping is familiar with big fights, as he won the title from Luke Rockhold on under two weeks’ notice at UFC 199 in June 2016. Eight years later, Bisping, now a UFC color commentator and analyst for the U.K.-based television network TNT Sports, broke down the UFC 297 middleweight championship main event between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis on the event’s preview show.
Oscar De La Hoya reacts to Dana White's fighter pay stance: "All I can say or do is laugh"
Zain Bando - January 17, 2024
The famed boxing promoter and former Golden Boy mainstay, Oscar De La Hoya, still hates UFC CEO Dana White’s disdain for fair fighter compensation. De La Hoya, whom MMA Mania recently interviewed, gave his thoughts on how the UFC and White do business, why boxing is thriving in its current environment and the myths White has about the other side of combat sports.
Sean Strickland absolutely goes off on Canadian reporter ahead of UFC 297: “Go f**k yourself”
Cole Shelton - January 17, 2024
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland wasn’t happy with a question a Canadian reporter asked him ahead of his UFC 297 title defense against Dricus Du Plessis. Ahead of his title fight, Strickland was at media day when a reporter asked the middleweight champ about his past comments about the LGBTQ+ community. The reporter said Toronto is known to have a strong LGBTQ+ community, and Strickland wasn’t thrilled about it and proceeded to blast him, ‘Tarzan’ also asked the reporter if he voted for current Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Sean Strickland explains why Dricus Du Plessis is a "harder fight" compared to Israel Adesanya
Cole Shelton - January 17, 2024
Sean Strickland doesn’t think Dricus Du Plessis is better than Israel Adesanya but does think he will be a harder fight. Strickland pulled off arguably the biggest upset of 2023 as he beat Adesanya in a lopsided fashion to become the new middleweight champion. It was a stunning performance, and heading into his first title defense at UFC 297 against Du Plessis, Strickland thinks this fight could be more challenging, despite him thinking Adesanyais a better fighter.
Sean Strickland slams Ian Machado Garry after the Irishman says he wants to fight: “He hides who he is”
Cole Shelton - January 17, 2024
Sean Strickland has blasted Ian Machado Garry after the Irishman said he wanted to fight him. In the lead-up to UFC 296, Strickland trash-talked Garry and his wife, which the Irishman wasn’t happy about. After Garry was forced out of his fight, the middleweight champ continued to trash-talk him, which resulted in the Irishman calling out Strickland.
Dricus Du Plessis says he’s open to fighting Israel Adesanya at UFC 300: “Give the fans what they want”
Josh Evanoff - January 17, 2024
If Dricus du Plessis wins the middleweight title on Saturday, he’s down to face Israel Adesanya at UFC 300 in April. ‘Stillknocks’ is currently set to face Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 297 this Saturday night. In the first title shot of his career, the South African will face the newly crowned champion, Sean Strickland. ‘Tarzan’ famously captured the title last September, with a unanimous decision win over Israel Adesanya.
PFL's Donn Davis takes shot after UFC postpones 'poor' Saudi Arabia event: "I don't think it's any coincidence"
Josh Evanoff - January 17, 2024
PFL executive Donn Davis believes that it’s not a coincidence that the UFC recently moved their March Saudi Arabia event. The rising organization is primed for a big, big 2024. With names such as Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul poised to finally make their promotional debut this year, the PFL is excited about their future. A big part of that future is the influx of cash from Saudi Arabia.