MMA News
Manel Kape vs. Matheus Nicolau removed from UFC Vegas 84
Cole Shelton - January 12, 2024
UFC Vegas 84 has taken a major hit as the co-main event between Manel Kape and Matheus Nicolau is off the card. Kape missed weight on Friday morning, hitting the scale at 129.5lbs. Originally, it was reported that the fight would continue as Kape was fined 25 percent of his purse. However, shortly thereafter, MMAJunkie reporter Nolan King reported the fight is now off. At this time, it’s uncertain what caused the fight to be scratched after Nicolau had accepted 25% of Kape’s purse.
Former UFC heavyweight contender Mark Hunt reveals he was offered millions to “take a dive” in Australia
Susan Cox - January 12, 2024
Former UFC heavyweight contender Mark Hunt is revealing that he was offered millions to ‘take a dive’ in Australia. Hunt (13-14 MMA) parted ways with the UFC back in 2018 after three consecutive losses in the cage.
Sean O’Malley says super fight with Ilia Topuria will be next if both men win their upcoming bouts
Susan Cox - January 12, 2024
Sean O’Malley is advising that a super fight with Ilia Topuria will happen next if both men win their upcoming bouts. UFC 298 takes place on Saturday, February 17th at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Dricus Du Plessis reacts after Khamzat Chimaev claims he will be fighting the winner of the UFC 297 main event: “That makes absolutely no sense”
Susan Cox - January 12, 2024
Dricus Du Plessis is reacting after Khamzat Chimaev claimed he will be fighting the winner of the UFC 297 main event next. UFC 297 takes place on Saturday, January 20th at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
ONE Championship announces two dates for U.S. events in 2024
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 12, 2024
ONE Championship makes a grand return to the United States with two live events scheduled for 2024. Following the success of its debut show in Broomfield, Colorado, in May 2023, the promotion is gearing up to build on that momentum and captivate American audiences once again.
UFC bantamweight Cody Stamann reveals that he once pulled a gun on USADA: “Just standing there completely balls-out naked”
Harry Kettle - January 12, 2024
UFC fighter Cody Stamann has told the insane story of when he pulled a gun on a USADA official. It’s a new year, and that means the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s relationship with USADA has officially come to an end. It turned out to be quite a controversial addition to the UFC’s schedule, and that’s an understatement.
UFC 299: ‘O’Malley vs. Vera 2’ Fight Card
Harry Kettle - January 12, 2024
The fight card has been all but confirmed for UFC 299 – one of the most stacked events in the history of mixed martial arts. Over the course of the next few months, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is gearing up for one hell of a run. UFC 297 through UFC 300 all look set to be blockbuster shows, but right now, the one on paper that’s really standing out is UFC 299.
Joe Rogan reveals current UFC middleweight broke Francis Ngannou’s punching power record: “They didn’t want to register it”
Harry Kettle - January 12, 2024
UFC commentator Joe Rogan has revealed that a current UFC middleweight has allegedly broken Francis Ngannou’s punching power record. As much as the Ultimate Fighting Championship may not want to acknowledge it, Francis Ngannou is a history-maker. He is easily one of the most exciting MMA fighters who has ever lived, and he’s a former UFC heavyweight champion. Now, though, he’s no longer part of the company, and he’s instead opted to sign for PFL. Alongside that, he’s also coming off the back of a blockbuster boxing match against Tyson Fury.
Oh Ho Taek embraces challenge in ONE Fight Night 18 bout against Shamil Gasanov
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 12, 2024
Oh Ho Taek is gearing up for the toughest test of his career to date. The South Korean dynamo faces #4-ranked featherweight MMA contender Shamil Gasanov in the main event of ONE Fight Night 18 on Prime Video. This event emanates live in U.S. primetime from the iconic Lumpine Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, this Friday, January 12.
Brandon Moreno gets new opponent after Amir Albazi is forced out of UFC Mexico City headliner
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2024
Brandon Moreno will still be headlining UFC Mexico City but will be against a different opponent. Moreno was originally set to headline UFC Mexico City on Feb. 24 against Amir Albazi, but on Thursday it was revealed Albazi was forced out of the fight with an injury. However, third-ranked flyweight Brandon Royval has agreed to step up to rematch Moreno in the main event of the card. The news was announced by the UFC.
WATCH | Mike Perry calls UFC exec to pitch his return fight at UFC 300
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2024
Mike Perry is ready to be a part of UFC 300 if needed. Perry is currently in BKFC and has become the face of the promotion, but he does have some interest in making a big fight happen at UFC 300. Perry currently does not have his next fight booked, so while on his Overdogs Podcast he called UFC executive Hunter Campbell to pitch him on his return fight for UFC 300.
PFL CEO confirms interest in booking Cedric Doumbe against former UFC champion: "They both want to fight"
Josh Evanoff - January 11, 2024
PFL CEO Peter Murray is serious about putting Cedric Doumbe vs. Anthony Pettis together. ‘The Beast’ has the potential to be the Donn Davis-led promotion’s first massive star. A former two-time Glory Kickboxing champion, he was heavily pursued by the UFC. However, he was released from the company in early 2023, for various reasons after a brief stint. Later in the year, Cedric Doumbe signed with the PFL. In late September, made his debut for the company.
REPORT | Ryan Bader, Patricio Pitbull among first fighters added to February's PFL vs. Bellator event
Josh Evanoff - January 11, 2024
The reported Bellator vs. PFL card slated for February 24th is now adding fights. In November, the Viacom-owned company was bought out by the PFL. With that, it marked a departure for figures such as Scott Coker, and others. However, Donn Davis and others plan to keep running Bellator as a separate entity and keep holding events for the foreseeable future.
Kyoji Horiguchi reportedly eyes UFC return weeks after winning RIZIN flyweight title
Josh Evanoff - January 11, 2024
RIZIN flyweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi reportedly plans to return to the UFC. ‘The Typhoon’ is fresh off his return at RIZIN 45 in December. There, Kyoji Horiguchi fought Makamoto Takahashi, in a rematch of their July bout. Their first bout for the vacant Bellator flyweight title ended after just seconds, due to an eye poke. Due to the Scott Coker company being bought out by the PFL, they instead ran it back for RIZIN gold this time around.
Cody Garbrandt set to fight Deiveson Figueiredo in battle of former champions at UFC 300
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2024
A battle of former champions will go down at UFC 300 as Cody Garbrandt will take on Deiveson Figueiredo. According to Brazilian outlet AGFight, Garbrandt and Figueiredo are set to fight at UFC 300 on April 13 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dricus Du Plessis reveals conversation with Dana White about pressing charges against Sean Strickland for UFC 296 assault: “No, no, no, no, no. Please no.”
Susan Cox - January 11, 2024
Dricus Du Plessis has revealed the conversation he had with Dana White about pressing charges against Sean Strickland for his assault at UFC 296. The altercation occurred a month ago when Strickland and Du Plessis were seated in the same section and eventually came to blows at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Magomed Ankalaev believes Johnny Walker wanted out of their first fight after illegal knee
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2024
Magomed Ankalaev doesn’t think Johnny Walker wanted to fight him in October. Ankalaev and Walker first met at October’s UFC 294 event in Abu Dhabi in what was a critical fight for the light heavyweight division. Unfortunately, the fight ended in controversy as in the first round Ankalaev landed an illegal knee which prompted the doctor to step in and stop the fight. After the doctor claimed Walker couldn’t continue, the Brazilian was angry as he wanted the fight to resume, but Ankalaev thinks that was all just for show.
Pro fighters make their picks for Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker 2
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2024
In the first event of 2024, top-10 light heavyweights collide as Magomed Ankalaev rematches Johnny Walker in the main event of UFC Vegas 84. Heading into the fight, Ankalaev is a sizeable -590 favorite while the Brazilian is a +390 underdog on FanDuel. The two fought back at UFC 294 in October in Abu Dhabi, but the fight ended in a No Contest in the first round as Ankalaev landed an illegal knee to Walker and the doctor stopped the scrap. Ahead of their rematch, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the fight at UFC Vegas 84. The pros believe Ankalaev’s grappling will be the difference and will lead to the win over Walker.