MMA News
UFC CEO Dana White shuts down rumors of a potential Alex Pereira vs. Tom Aspinall fight
Harry Kettle - January 20, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White has dismissed rumors of a possible showdown between Alex Pereira and Tom Aspinall. Right now, Tom Aspinall has no choice but to sit and wait. While he may be the interim heavyweight champion, he can’t challenge for the undisputed title until the UFC rebooks Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic. Then, he’ll likely get the chance to take on the winner of that contest to unify the straps.
Cris Cyborg wins her second professional boxing bout by first round KO (Video)
Harry Kettle - January 20, 2024
MMA legend Cris Cyborg scored a first round knockout in her second professional boxing match last night. At the age of 38, Cris Cyborg is still making history. In addition to winning a title in pretty much every mixed martial arts promotion she’s been a part of, she’s also decided to have a run in boxing. After winning her debut against Gabrielle Holloway last year, she was next scheduled to battle Kelsey Wickstrum.
WATCH | Dricus du Plessis rushes Sean Strickland at UFC 297 ceremonial weigh-ins
Josh Evanoff - January 19, 2024
The UFC 297 ceremonial weigh-ins between Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis were wild. ‘Tarzan’ and ‘Stillknocks’ are currently expected to meet in the main event of UFC 297 tomorrow night in Canada. For Sean Strickland, the championship defense will be the first of his middleweight title reign. Last September, he famously won the title with an upset unanimous decision win over Israel Adesanya.
Joe Rogan dismisses idea Israel Adesanya underestimated Sean Strickland in title loss: "He's just that good"
Josh Evanoff - January 19, 2024
UFC commentator Joe Rogan believes that Sean Strickland is just that good ahead of his first middleweight title defense. ‘Tarzan’ is currently slated to make his first UFC title defense tomorrow night, in Toronto, Canada. In the pay-per-view main event, Sean Strickland will face the rising South African, Dricus du Plessis. ‘Stillknocks’ earned the title opportunity with a knockout win over Robert Whittaker last July.
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.
Bruce Buffer always knew the UFC would be one of "the biggest things in sports worldwide"
Cole Shelton - January 19, 2024
Bruce Buffer has seen it all throughout his time in the UFC. Buffer will have been the voice of the Octagon for 29 years next month, and when he first joined the company, MMA wasn’t very popular, and the UFC was struggling to stay afloat. However, Buffer had full confidence the UFC could become the biggest thing in combat sports, but also one of the biggest things in sports, period.
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.
Sean Strickland states his condition for accepting a fight with undeserving Khamzat Chimaev: “Make the stack of money bigger”
Harry Kettle - January 19, 2024
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has given his thoughts on a potential showdown with Khamzat Chimaev. Back at UFC 293, Sean Strickland defeated Israel Adesanya to capture the UFC middleweight championship. This weekend, at UFC 297, he’ll make his return to the Octagon in order to defend his belt against Dricus du Plessis.
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.
Sean Strickland responds after Israel Adesanya picks Dricus Du Plessis to win at UFC 297: "Shut your f*****g mouth"
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2024
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has responded to Israel Adesanya picking Dricus Du Plessis to beat him at UFC 297. Strickland is coming off a one-sided decision win over Adesanya in September to become the new middleweight champion. It was a shocking result, and ‘The Last Stylebender’ doesn’t see the American’s reign lasting long as he believes Du Plessis’ wrestling and grappling will be the difference.
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.