MMA News
Sean Strickland opens up on challenges since winning UFC title: "It's hard to go to Walmart these days"
Josh Evanoff - January 16, 2024
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has had his life changed quite a lot in the last year. ‘Tarzan’ has been out of the octagon since his middleweight title shot in September. Facing Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC 293, Sean Strickland shocked the world. He dominated ‘The Last Stylebender’, en route to a lopsided unanimous decision win. In the process, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in MMA history.
Renato Moicano admits that he 'hates' fighting at the UFC Apex: "Who gives a f*ck?"
Josh Evanoff - January 16, 2024
UFC lightweight contender Renato Moicano isn’t thrilled about the location of his next fight. The Brazilian has been out of action since a win over Brad Riddell in November at UFC 281. That victory was Renato Moicano’s third in his last four appearances in the cage. That one defeat came at the hands of former champion Rafael dos Anjos last March.
Sean Strickland takes aim at "fraudulent" Colby Covington
Cole Shelton - January 16, 2024
Sean Strickland has taken a shot at Colby Covington. Strickland and Covington haven’t seen eye-to-eye for quite some time, but after ‘Chaos’ brought up Leon Edwards’ deceased father at UFC 296, their rivalry only escalated. Covington ripped Strickland for his comments about women and also said ‘Tarzan’ moved up to middleweight because he couldn’t hang with the “real division” of welterweight.
Official poster released for next month’s UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria event
Susan Cox - January 16, 2024
The official poster has been released for next month’s UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria event. UFC 298 will take place on Saturday, February 17th at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Jonathan Haggerty to defend Muay Thai crown against Felipe Lobo at ONE Fight Night 19
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 16, 2024
ONE Championship’s next live event in U.S. primetime this 2024 will prominently feature Jonathan Haggerty’s highly anticipated first World Title defense. “The General” will put his bantamweight Muay Thai crown at stake against Felipe Lobo in the main event of ONE Fight Night 19 on Prime Video. This broadcasts from the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 16.
Bruce Buffer very excited "to perform for the Canadians" at UFC 297: "The fans are rabid and they love the UFC"
Cole Shelton - January 16, 2024
Bruce Buffer was excited to see the UFC returning to Canada in 2024, and Toronto for that matter. Buffer has been to plenty of countries, where he has introduced several fighters inside of the Octagon. Buffer knows no matter where the UFC goes the crowd is always loud and electric, but the voice of the UFC says Canada, and especially Toronto, is always one of the rowdiest and loudest crowds of the year.
Several bouts announced for PFL vs. Bellator event, including Yoel Romero vs. Thiago Santos
Susan Cox - January 16, 2024
Several bouts have been announced for the PFL vs. Bellator event, including Yoel Romero vs. Thiago Santos. The much-anticipated PFL vs. Bellator event is set for Saturday, February 24th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 150 with Bruce Buffer, Gillian Robertson, and Jimmy Flick
Cole Shelton - January 16, 2024
The 150th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC 297 in Toronto this Saturday. We’re first joined by the voice of the Octagon Bruce Buffer (1:14). Next, UFC strawweight Gillian Robertson (13:49) stops by. Closing out the program is UFC flyweight Jimmy Flick (23:36).
Arman Tsarukyan's coach believes Charles Oliveira is “more dangerous” than current UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev: “He's dangerous everywhere”
Harry Kettle - January 16, 2024
Arman Tsarukyan’s coach believes that Charles Oliveira is actually more dangerous than UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. At UFC 300, Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan will collide in a number one contender fight. The winner is expected to take on Islam Makhachev later this year, with their contest being used as a way to determine who the true top guy is to battle Makhachev.
Brandon Moreno opens as betting favorite in newly announced UFC Mexico City main event
Harry Kettle - January 16, 2024
Brandon Moreno has opened as the betting favorite in his updated UFC Mexico City main event against Brandon Royval. Over the course of the last few years, Brandon Moreno has established himself as something of a superstar in mixed martial arts. That’s especially true in his homeland of Mexico, which is where his next bout will be held.
Sean O’Malley responds to fans questioning his “star power” because of UFC 299 card: “It’s so funny”
Harry Kettle - January 16, 2024
UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has responded to fans questioning his star power due to the strength of the UFC 299 card. At UFC 299, Sean O’Malley will defend his title against Marlon Vera in a massive grudge match. In addition to that contest, the Miami event is absolutely stacked with talent from head to toe. When you take a look at it as a whole, there’s a real argument to be made that this is one of the most impressive shows the promotion has ever produced.
Kwon Won Il calls out Fabricio Andrade after ONE Fight Night 18 win: "I’m coming for you"
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 16, 2024
It’s safe to say that Kwon Won Il will not rest on his laurels following his spectacular win at ONE Fight Night 18 on Prime Video last Friday, January 12. The South Korean hard-hitter now has set his sights on a specific target — ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion Fabricio Andrade.
Jiri Prochazka explains why he didn't pull out of UFC 295 title fight despite battling staph infection
Cole Shelton - January 15, 2024
Jiri Prochazka battled a staph infection before his UFC 295 title fight against Alex Pereira but never thought of pulling out. Prochazka was set for his first fight since vacating the light heavyweight title due to a shoulder injury. After being away from the Octagon for nearly a year-and-a-half, Prochazka says he was adamant he would fight even though he couldn’t train and prepare properly due to the infection, which was started on his leg and went all the way to his ear.
Khamzat Chimaev reveals heavyweight contender is his dream fight: "Nobody like him"
Josh Evanoff - January 15, 2024
UFC middleweight contender Khamzat Chimav hopes to meet Jon Jones in the octagon before all is said and done. ‘Borz’ has been out of the octagon since UFC 294 in October. That night saw Khamzat Chimev face former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, in the biggest test of his MMA career. There, the Chechen defeated ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ by unanimous decision, notching a potential title shot in the process.
Dricus du Plessis doubles down on 'Mr. Moral Compass' Sean Strickland: "He had that victim mentality"
Josh Evanoff - January 15, 2024
UFC middleweight contender Dricus du Plessis doesn’t care about Sean Strickland’s recent comments. The rivalry between ‘Stillknocks’ and ‘Tarzan’ has quickly, quickly become a heated one. Following Sean Strickland’s win over Israel Adesanya in September, he became UFC champion. This Saturday night in Canada, he will look to make his first title defense against the rising Dricus du Plessis.
REPORT | Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou winner to likely fight for undisputed heavyweight title next
Josh Evanoff - January 15, 2024
The winner of Francis Ngannou and Anthony Joshua’s boxing match could be fighting for gold next. ‘The Predator’ and ‘AJ’ recently made their March boxing match official. Originally, Anthony Joshua was expected to face Deontay Wilder, but that bout fell apart after December’s Day Of Reckoning event. That night last month saw ‘The Bronze Bomber’ dominated by Joseph Parker, losing by unanimous decision.
Sean Strickland threatens to “stab” Dricus Du Plessis at the UFC 297 presser if he crosses the line: “I’m gonna go to jail”
Susan Cox - January 15, 2024
Sean Strickland is threatening to ‘stab’ Dricus Du Plessis at the UFC 297 presser if he crosses the line. Strickland (28-5 MMA) will be making his first middleweight title defense against Du Plessis (20-2 MMA) this coming Saturday, January 20th at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Report | UFC Saudi Arabia postponed to June in order to produce a "more entertaining fight card"
Cole Shelton - January 15, 2024
The UFC will not be going to Saudi Arabia in March as expected. On Monday, MMA reporter Ariel Helwani revealed on ‘The MMA Hour’ that the event scheduled for March 2 has been postponed until June. Helwani claims the higher-ups in Saudi Arabia pushed for the event to be postponed so the card could be deeper and have more well-known names.