MMA News
Dricus Du Plessis reacts after “irrelevant” Israel Adesanya picks him to defeat Sean Strickland at UFC 297
Susan Cox - January 19, 2024
Dricus Du Plessis is reacting after ‘irrelevant’ Israel Adesanya picked him to defeat Sean Strickland at UFC 297. The former middleweight champion, Adesanya (24-3 MMA) weighed in on who he believes will come out the victor at UFC 297.
Turki Alalshikh reveals conversation with UFC about having Conor McGregor fight in Saudi Arabia: "We're ready"
Josh Evanoff - January 19, 2024
Saudi Arabia advisor Turki Alalshikh would love to bring Conor McGregor and the UFC to his country. Saudi Arabia has arguably become the home of boxing, in just a year. Thanks to the guidance of Turki Alalshikh as well as a lot of money, they’ve attracted multiple massive fights, including Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou. Along the way, they’ve paid stars such as Conor McGregor to attend and promote these events.
Jon Jones reveals that he was offered a fight at UFC 300: "We both knew I wouldn't be ready"
Josh Evanoff - January 19, 2024
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones was offered a chance to fight in April at the company’s milestone event. As of now, the UFC 300 card is far from complete. Fights such as Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway and Zhilei Zhang vs. Yan Xiaonan have been added. However, a lot of fans have been waiting for a big draw to potentially fight on the milestone event, like what’s happened with previous historic events.
Dricus Du Plessis admits UFC 297 weight cut was not easy: "I made the weight five minutes before"
Cole Shelton - January 19, 2024
Dricus Du Plessis didn’t have the easiest weight cut for his UFC 297 title fight against Sean Strickland. Du Plessis is set to headline UFC 297 on Saturday night in Toronto opposite Strickland for the middleweight title. It’s an intriguing matchup, and currently, the oddsmakers have it practically a pick’em with a slight lean toward Strickland.
Sean Strickland blames ‘cuck’ Sean O’Malley for initiating bad blood with Dricus Du Plessis
Susan Cox - January 19, 2024
Sean Strickland is blaming ‘cuck’ Sean O’Malley for initiating the bad blood between himself and Dricus Du Plessis. UFC 297 takes place tomorrow, Saturday, January 20th at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
UFC 297: ‘Strickland vs. Du Plessis’ Weigh-in Results - 2 Fighters Miss Weight
Susan Cox - January 19, 2024
UFC 297 will take place tomorrow, Saturday, January 20th at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The highly anticipated UFC 297 fight card marks the promotion‘s first pay-per-view of 2024.
Sean Strickland sends a message to “awesome” Canadian fans at the UFC 297 presser: “I care about you guys having freedom of speech”
Harry Kettle - January 19, 2024
Sean Strickland sent a passionate message to the Canadian fans in attendance during the UFC 297 press conference. Fight week has certainly been busy for UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland. Tomorrow night, he’ll lock horns with Dricus du Plessis as he attempts to defend his belt for the first time successfully. Prior to that, though, he’s had a lot of media commitments to get through. In the last few days, that’s included him launching some controversial remarks at a journalist (and an entire community) and taking part in the pre-fight press conference.
Julianna Pena believes she has “motivated” Mayra Bueno Silva ahead of her UFC 297 title fight: “I live rent free in her head”
Harry Kettle - January 19, 2024
Julianna Pena believes she has been able to motivate Mayra Bueno Silva ahead of her UFC 297 title fight this weekend. On Saturday night, Mayra Bueno Silva will take on Raquel Pennington for the UFC women’s bantamweight championship. It will serve as the dawn of a new era in the division, following the retirement of Amanda Nunes.
Dana White rules out the returns of three former superstars for UFC 300
Harry Kettle - January 19, 2024
UFC president Dana White has seemingly ruled out the return of three superstar names for UFC 300. In April, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will produce their flagship UFC 300 event. It’s set to be one of the biggest shows they’ve ever produced, with eight fights already being announced. However, despite how many big names are already set to appear, some fans aren’t happy with the overall quality when compared to the likes of UFC 100, UFC 200 and even UFC 299.
Ayaka Miura radiates determination to triumph in atomweight debut at ONE 165
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 19, 2024
Ayaka Miura is gearing up for a significant shift in her professional MMA career. At ONE 165 on January 28 she makes her atomweight debut. This highly anticipated bout against compatriot Itsuki Hirata takes place at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
Alexander Volkanovski dismisses the idea that he’s making too quick of a turnaround at UFC 298: “I’m not doing this just to get my head right”
Jeffrey Walter - January 18, 2024
Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t believe he’s making too quick of a turnaround with his upcoming fight against Ilia Topuria at UFC 298. Volkanovski (26-3 MMA) most recently competed at last October’s UFC 294 event, where he suffered a brutal knockout loss to reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. The setback marked the Aussie’s first stoppage defeat since his initial professional loss in 2013.
Jimmy Flick claims he's the reason Malcolm Gordon is in the UFC ahead of UFC 297 fight: "It's not going 15 minutes"
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2024
Jimmy Flick knows his UFC job is on the line this Saturday night in Toronto. Flick is set to face Malcolm Gordon in the first fight of the night at UFC 297. The flyweights are opening the card, which is thrilling for Flick who gets to fight in front of a crowd for the first time in his UFC career.
WATCH | Wild fan rushes the stage to meet Sean Strickland at UFC 297 press conference
Josh Evanoff - January 18, 2024
The UFC 297 press conference between Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis got wild earlier today. ‘Tarzan’ and ‘Stillknocks’ are currently set to meet Saturday night in a wild pay-per-view main event. For Sean Strickland, the bout will be the first defense of his middleweight title reign. Last September, he dominated Israel Adesanya to score an upset decision win, ending the reign of ‘The Last Stylebender’.
Daniel Cormier reveals mind-boggling figure Khabib Nurmagomedov turned down for UFC return
Josh Evanoff - January 18, 2024
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has revealed that Khabib Nurmagomedov turned down $40 million dollars to fight again. ‘The Eagle’ has been firmly in retirement since a 2020 submission win over Justin Gaethje. Sitting at an undefeated 29-0, Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement following the victory. Largely thanks to the death of his father, the Russian decided that he would never fight in the cage again.
Jon Jones fires back after being dubbed a “bad employee” by longtime UFC rival Daniel Cormier
Josh Evanoff - January 18, 2024
The long-running feud between UFC champion Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier will never die. In April, the UFC will go to trial over their antitrust business practices. Names such as Cung Le have bankrolled a decade-long lawsuit, alleging that the company bought out competitors, while also driving down fighter pay. In the last few months, the case has had a lot of activity, and the two sides are finally set to go to trial.
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.
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.