MMA News
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.
Mayra Bueno Silva responds after Sean Strickland suggests he was booked for UFC 297 to "help a couple of ladies" do their job: “He is not a big star”
Susan Cox - January 11, 2024
Mayra Bueno Silva is responding after Sean Strickland suggests he was booked for UFC 297 to help a couple of ladies do their job. UFC 297 will see current middleweight champion Sean Strickland (28-5 MMA) take on Dricus Du Plessis (20-2 MMA) in his first title defense at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Israel Adesanya shares timeline for UFC return after suffering an undisclosed injury
Susan Cox - January 11, 2024
Israel Adesanya is sharing a timeline for his UFC return after suffering an undisclosed injury. The former middleweight champion, Adesanya (24-3 MMA) last fought and was defeated by Sean Strickland (28-5 MMA) last September at UFC 293.
Fabricio Andrade predicts Kwon Won Il vs. Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg at ONE Fight Night 18
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 11, 2024
As the excitement builds for ONE Fight Night 18 on Prime Video, Fabricio Andrade will be keeping a close eye on a pivotal bantamweight MMA bout slated for this Friday, January 12. On the card, #3-ranked Kwon Won Il squares off against the hard-hitting Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg. This three-round encounter could determine the next contender for Andrade’s ONE Bantamweight MMA World Title.
Michael Bisping warns Jon Jones of the “forever narrative” that will exist if he doesn’t fight Tom Aspinall
Harry Kettle - January 11, 2024
UFC commentator Michael Bisping has given his thoughts on the ongoing situation involving Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. We all know that Tom Aspinall wants to fight Jon Jones for the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship. Given his position as interim champion, that bout would make a lot of sense.
Coach explains why Charles Oliveira is “very happy” with the Arman Tsarukyan fight despite previous title talks
Harry Kettle - January 11, 2024
Charles Oliveira’s coach Diego Lima has given his thoughts on their upcoming bout against Arman Tsarukyan. At UFC 300, Charles Oliveira will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon. He’ll do so by squaring off against Arman Tsarukyan, one of the most exciting prospects in all of mixed martial arts. The two will meet in a number one contender fight, with the winner going on to face Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight championship.
Arman Tsarukyan plans to KO Charles Oliveira and earn June title fight with Islam Makhachev: “Gaethje has to wait until October”
Harry Kettle - January 11, 2024
UFC fighter Arman Tsarukyan plans to earn a title shot against Islam Makhachev this summer by knocking out Charles Oliveira. At UFC 300, Arman Tsarukyan will face the biggest test of his career. He is set to lock horns with Charles Oliveira in what has been dubbed a number one contender bout. The winner is expected to take on Islam Makhachev later this year.
Shamil Gasanov expresses admiration for opponent Oh Ho Taek ahead of ONE Fight Night 18
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 11, 2024
Shamil Gasanov is fully aware that his upcoming bout against Oh Ho Taek will be no walk in the park. Both men are set to go head-to-head in the marquee featherweight MMA matchup at ONE Fight Night 18 on Prime Video. The event broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from the fabled Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, this Friday, January 12.
Dana White announces strawweight title fight for UFC 300
Cole Shelton - January 10, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White has announced the first title fight for UFC 300. White teased some fight announcements for UFC 300 on Tuesday but ended up pushing it back until Wednesday. Taking to his Instagram, White announced that Zhang Weili will defend her strawweight title against Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300, which goes down on April 13 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The UFC CEO also revealed that he will announce two more fights for UFC 300 on Thursday.