MMA News
Bo Nickal opens up on 2024 plans, reveals plans to fight four times
Josh Evanoff - January 8, 2024
UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal is hoping to have a busy, busy year in MMA. The former NCAA champion has been out of action since a knockout win over Val Woodburn in July at UFC 290. That stoppage victory was Bo Nickal’s fifth, all of which came in the first round. The middleweight is largely viewed as MMA’s greatest prospect at the moment, and for good reason.
Michael Chandler shares interesting theory as to why Conor McGregor called for their fight to be at 185lbs
Cole Shelton - January 8, 2024
Michael Chandler has a theory as to why Conor McGregor called for their fight to be at middleweight. Chandler and McGregor have been linked to fighting one another for over a year now, but on New Year’s Eve, the Irishman announced on his social media he would be returning on June 29 against Chandler. However, the biggest surprise was McGregor saying the fight would take place at 185lbs, which is of course the middleweight division.
Francis Ngannou commits to PFL fight despite Anthony Joshua boxing match: "We're in business together"
Josh Evanoff - January 8, 2024
Despite his boxing match against Anthony Joshua, Francis Ngannou is still planning on fighting in the PFL. Last week, ‘The Predator’ signed his return to the boxing ring against ‘AJ’. Just a few months removed from his split-decision loss to Tyson Fury, Francis Ngannou will look to earn his first win. For his part, Anthony Joshua enters the matchup riding a three-fight winning streak. He last defeated Otto Wallin by knockout last month, before his plans for a Deontay Wilder clash this Spring were foiled.
Francis Ngannou plans to “find out” if Anthony Joshua actually has a chin: “I've heard that he doesn't”
Susan Cox - January 8, 2024
Francis Ngannou is planning to ‘find out’ if Anthony Joshua actually has a chin. It will be Francis Ngannou going up against Anthony Joshua on Saturday, March 9th in Saudi Arabia.
Francis Ngannou on a potential rematch with Tyson Fury: “It’s going to happen”
Susan Cox - January 8, 2024
Francis Ngannou is speaking out on a potential rematch with Tyson Fury. It was on Saturday, October 28th of last year, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that Francis Ngannou made his first professional boxing debut against Tyson Fury.
Renato Moicano says Paddy Pimblett’s weight gains between fights will be “very detrimental” to his career: “Look how fat he is!”
Susan Cox - January 8, 2024
Renato Moicano says Paddy Pimblett’s weight gains between fights will be ‘very detrimental’ to his UFC career. Pimblett (21-3 MMA) most recently fought and defeated Tony Ferguson (25-10 MMA) in a lightweight battle this past December at UFC 296. The 29-year-old has won all 5 of his fights since joining the UFC in 2021.
Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier open as betting underdogs in their recently announced UFC fights
Susan Cox - January 8, 2024
Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier have opened as betting underdogs for their recently announced UFC fights. UFC CEO Dana White recently announced fights featuring lightweight veterans Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier.
Anatoly Malykhin determined to make history as first three-division MMA world champ
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 8, 2024
Anatoly Malykhin has already etched his name in the record books as the ONE Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight MMA World Champion. However, his quest for greatness doesn’t end there.
Video | Sean Strickland shot “right in the face” during ‘Roman candle war’
Harry Kettle - January 8, 2024
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland is back to his chaotic best just weeks before he returns at UFC 297. It’s been quite an interesting few months for Sean Strickland. He won the middleweight championship, became a star, got embroiled in a rivalry with Dricus du Plessis, and even had a physical altercation with him at UFC 296.
Dana White announces two massive lightweight fights including Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint-Denis
Harry Kettle - January 8, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White has announced Dustin Poirier vs Benoit Saint-Denis and Charles Oliveira vs Arman Tsarukyan for later this year. Over the course of the next few months, we’re set to see some electric fights take place across a handful of blockbuster events. That includes UFC 299 and UFC 300, both of which are shaping up to be mammoth occasions.
Mark Abelardo welcomes unbeaten prospect in U.S. primetime debut
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 8, 2024
Mark Abelardo faces an intriguing opponent in his ONE Championship U.S. primetime debut on January 12. He squares off against undefeated MMA prospect Ibragim Dauev in a bantamweight bout at ONE Fight Night 18 on Prime Video. The event takes place at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Lito Adiwang aiming for top-ranked contenders in 2024: “Give me anyone!”
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 8, 2024
One name has been steadily rising through the strawweight ranks in ONE Championship, and that is none other than Lito Adiwang. After a remarkable 2023 campaign that saw him overcome an ACL injury, he is now setting his sights on an ambitious goal – breaking into the top five of the strawweight division.
Sean O'Malley admits he doesn't think Conor McGregor will reach his peak again: "You just aren’t going to be the same guy"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 7, 2024
Sean O’Malley believes Conor McGregor has some fight left in him, but he doesn’t think peak “Notorious” will make a comeback. McGregor recently announced that he will be making his return for a UFC fight on June 29. He claimed he’ll be fighting Michael Chandler inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The big bombshell was that McGregor claimed the fight will be contested at 185 pounds. Some have questioned the Irishman’s motivation over having this fight take place at middleweight.
Belal Muhammad details experience training in Dagestan: "Every round feels like it’s a new fight"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 7, 2024
Top-ranked UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad has given some insight on what it’s like for him to train in Dagestan. Muhammad hopes to realize his goal of becoming a UFC champion and he is closer than ever to doing so. While not yet official, Belal is already going to be training in Dagestan in order to prepare for a UFC Welterweight Championship fight against Leon Edwards. He hopes that what he’s learned from the top tier grapplers and MMA fighters will be enough to dethrone “Rocky.”
UFC 297 title challenger Mayra Bueno Silva hasn't fought in front of a full crowd since 2018
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 7, 2024
When Mayra Bueno Silva steps inside the Octagon for UFC 297 on Jan. 20, it’ll be the first time she’ll fight inside a packed arena since late 2018. Silva was forced to fight in front of no fans during the pandemic era, but even once restrictions were lifted, the women’s bantamweight title challenger was simply booked on events inside the UFC Apex. She will finally gets to fight under the bright lights once again when she takes on Raquel Pennington for the vacant UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship.
Josh Emmett reveals who he gives slight edge to for Alex Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria: "It’s hard for me to bet against ..."
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 7, 2024
Josh Emmett doesn’t consider himself to be a modern day Nostradamus, but he does know who he’s leaning towards picking for the UFC 298 main event. Headlining that planned February 17 pay-per-view will be reigning UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski. He’ll be putting his gold at stake against undefeated challenger Ilia Topuria. It’s a tough fight to call between a dominant champion, who is coming off a devastating KO loss to lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev, and the rising Topuria. As it stands now, Volkanovski is the -155 betting favorite, while Topuria is a +130 underdog, per DraftKings Sportsbook.
Court documents reveal UFC CEO Dana White’s reaction to CM Punk salary backlash
Chris Taylor - January 6, 2024
Unsealed court documents from the UFC antitrust lawsuit have revealed Dana White’s reaction to the CM Punk salary backlash. White and the UFC normally try to keep fighter’s salaries close to the vest, but that hasn’t stopped athlete pay from coming to forefront of discussions on a number of occasions.
Song Yadong calls for Sean Strickland to start setting a "good example" following his recent remarks about China
Chris Taylor - January 6, 2024
Song Yadong has called for Sean Strickland to start setting a “good example” following his recent remarks about China. Strickland (28-5 MMA), the UFC’s newly minted middleweight champion, is known for making controversial comments and recently did so when he suggested China’s two biggest exports were Plastic and COVID 19.