MMA News
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.
Laura Sanko explains why she "actually liked" Sean Strickland fighting Dricus Du Plessis in the crowd at UFC 296: "I actually prefer guys have physical fights than do this s**t"
Chris Taylor - January 6, 2024
Laura Sanko has weighed in on all the drama surrounding this month’s Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis title fight at UFC 297. Strickland (28-5 MMA) will be looking to defend his newly acquired UFC middleweight championship for the first time when he squares off with Du Plessis (20-2 MMA) in the main event of UFC 297 on January 20 in Toronto, Canada.
UFC flag ban still applies to one country: "They said no"
Chris Taylor - January 6, 2024
The UFC flag ban still applies to at least one country according to bantamweight fighter Farid Basharat. Basharat (11-0 MMA) is set to compete against Taylor Lapilus on next weekend’s UFC Vegas 84 fight card. ‘Ferocious’ has gone 2-0 inside of the Octagon thus far, scoring wins over Da’Mon Blackshear (decision) and Kleydson Rodrigues (submission).
Pro fighters react after Francis Ngannou books boxing match with Anthony Joshua
Chris Taylor - January 6, 2024
Several pro fighters have reacted after news broke that Francis Ngannou will be boxing Anthony Joshua this coming March. It was just yesterday afternoon when MMA journalist Ariel Helwani announced that the former UFC heavyweight champion, Ngannou (0-1), had booked his second professional boxing bout against former WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (27-3).
UFC commentator Joe Rogan responds to callout from comedian Katt Williams
Chris Taylor - January 6, 2024
UFC commentator Joe Rogan has offered a response after being called out by comedian Katt Williams. The longtime funnyman, Williams, was a recent guest on ‘Club Shay Shay’ with NFL legend Shannon Sharpe where he called out Rogan for never having him on his podcast.
Opening odds released for Francis Ngannou vs. Anthony Joshua
Cole Shelton - January 5, 2024
The opening odds have been released for the boxing fight between Francis Ngannou and Anthony Joshua. On Friday afternoon, MMA journalist, Ariel Helwani through Turki Alashikh, announced that Ngannou would return to the boxing ring against Anthony Joshua on March 9. The fight will be ten rounds and will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The two will also have a press conference in London to start the promotion of the boxing match.
Belal Muhammad vows to not let anyone, even Conor McGregor, skip the line as champion: "Here to make a legacy"
Josh Evanoff - January 5, 2024
UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad doesn’t care if it’s Conor McGregor or anyone else, he wants to be a defending champion. ‘Remember The Name’ has been out of action since a title eliminator with Gilbert Burns in May. That night saw Belal Muhammad dominate the Brazilian, en route to a unanimous decision victory. The win moved him to a 10-fight undefeated streak and became a prime candidate to face welterweight champion, Leon Edwards.
Michael Chandler vows to retire Conor McGregor in June: "It's been a great career"
Josh Evanoff - January 5, 2024
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler believes he will be the final opponent of Conor McGregor’s career. The long-awaited bout between ‘Iron’ and ‘The Notorious’ received something of a fight date earlier this month. Taking to social media, Conor McGregor announced plans to face Michael Chandler on June 29th, at International Fight Week. As of now, the fight is yet to be confirmed by the promotion, or Dana White, however.
Francis Ngannou releases first statement after booking Anthony Joshua boxing match
Josh Evanoff - January 5, 2024
PFL heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou is ready for his upcoming boxing match with Anthony Joshua. ‘AJ’ has been looking for an opponent after his long-awaited boxing match with Deontay Wilder was blown up last month. Both men competed in the high-profile DAZN event titled ‘Day of Reckoning’. In the main event, Anthony Joshua scored a knockout win over Otto Wallin, while Wilder suffered a loss to Joseph Parker in the co-main.