MMA News
Yoshihiro Akiyama battles Nieky Holzken in special rules super-fight at ONE 165
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 18, 2024
Fans are in for an unprecedented treat when ONE 165 on January 28 features a groundbreaking showdown between Yoshihiro Akiyama and Nieky Holzken. This special rules super-fight will keep the crowd at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on the edge of their seats.
Dana White unbothered by ongoing UFC antitrust trial: "It has nothing to do with me"
Josh Evanoff - January 18, 2024
UFC executive Dana White isn’t worried at all about the company’s ongoing antitrust lawsuit. While the situation hasn’t received as much coverage as it should, the UFC is set to go to trial in April. For years, the company has been involved in a slow-moving antitrust lawsuit. Names such as Cung Le and Nate Quarry have bankrolled a class action suit against the company, relating to their status as the MMA leader.
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.
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.
Sean Strickland on a potential rematch with Israel Adesanya at UFC 300: “How much are you paying me?”
Susan Cox - January 18, 2024
Sean Strickland is addressing the idea of a potential rematch with Israel Adesanya at UFC 300. It was Sean Strickland (28-5 MMA) vs. Israel Adesanya (24-3 MMA) in a middleweight title fight last September at UFC 293.
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.
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.
Fight fans react to current UFC 300 lineup: “Looks like a fight night”
Harry Kettle - January 18, 2024
Some fight fans aren’t too happy with the current state of the UFC 300 card as we get closer and closer to the blockbuster event. On April 13, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to Las Vegas, Nevada for their blockbuster UFC 300 event. The promotion aims to stack the card as much as they possibly can, in a similar manner to their landmark 100 and 200 shows.
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.
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.
Dricus Du Plessis opens up on the DM he received from Sean Strickland
Cole Shelton - January 17, 2024
Dricus Du Plessis has revealed that Sean Strickland sent him a DM after their altercation at UFC 296. Du Plessis and Strickland sat a few rows in front of each other at UFC 296, where some trash-talking led to an eventual physical altercation. Shortly after their cage side skirmish, Strickland revealed on his podcast that he sent a message to Du Plessis, and at UFC 297 media, the South African opened up on what was said in the text.
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 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.
WATCH | HBO releases trailer for 'The Unbreakable Tatiana Suarez' documentary
Josh Evanoff - January 17, 2024
HBO has announced plans to release a documentary about UFC women’s strawweight contender Tatiana Suarez. The 33-year-old wrestler has had a rough few years, to put it mildly. Following a 2019 win over Carla Esparza, Tatiana Suarez was forced to undergo a lengthy hiatus. Over the next four years, she missed out on fight after fight, opportunity after opportunity, due to a multitude of injuries. Most of them are neck-related.