MMA News

Leon Edwards
UFC

Leon Edwards announces he will be defending his welterweight title at UFC 300

Harry Kettle - January 2, 2024

UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards has revealed that he will be defending his belt at UFC 300. Last month, Leon Edwards successfully defended his belt for the second time. He did so by defeating Colby Covington, confirming his status as the best 170-pounder on the planet. In the immediate aftermath, many called for him to take on either Belal Muhammad or Shavkat Rakhmonov in his next outing.

Tawanchai PK Saenchai
ONE Championship

Tawanchai PK Saenchai open to challenging Chingiz Allazov for kickboxing crown

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 2, 2024

Tawanchai PK Saenchai is considering the prospect of facing Chingiz Allazov for the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship. The 24-year-old featherweight Muay Thai king has developed a fondness for Allazov, who has undeniably had a stellar 2023.

Phetjeeja
ONE Championship

Phetjeeja targets unification bout against Janet Todd after ONE interim world title win

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 2, 2024

It’s safe to assume that “The Queen” Phetjeeja is not resting on her laurels after her latest victory in Bangkok, Thailand. Fresh off her win over Anissa Meksen at ONE Friday Fights 46 on December 22 to clinch the ONE Interim Atomweight Kickboxing World Title, the Thai sensation has set her sights on a unification bout against lineal champion Janet Todd.

Chingiz Allazov
ONE Championship

Chingiz Allazov sees Takeru Segawa prevailing over Rodtang Jitmuangnon at ONE 165

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 2, 2024

Chingiz Allazov made his stance clear in the lead-up to the high-stakes showdown between Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Takeru Segawa. Both men will collide in a flyweight kickboxing super-fight, which will headline ONE Championship’s return to Japan — ONE 165. The event takes place at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on January 28.

Conor McGregor
UFC

Conor McGregor reveals announcement date for his next fight

Harry Kettle - December 30, 2023

UFC star Conor McGregor has revealed that he will make an announcement regarding his next fight on New Year’s Day. For the longest time now, fight fans have been waiting for some kind of announcement regarding the return of the Irishman. It’s been well over two years since we’ve seen him in the Octagon, with many believing 2023 would be the year that he made his comeback.

Juan Archuleta, Patchy Mix
Juan Archuleta

RIZIN champion Juan Archuleta calls for rematch with Bellator's Patchy Mix: "Only guy to beat him"

Josh Evanoff - December 29, 2023

RIZIN bantamweight champion Juan Archuleta is ready for a rematch with Bellator titleholder Patchy Mix. ‘The Spaniard’ is slated to make the first title defense of his bantamweight title reign this Saturday. In the co-main event of RIZIN 45, Juan Archuleta will face former titleholder Kai Asaukra. If he can get through the Japanese fighter this weekend, he hopes to meet Patchy Mix in the near future.

Islam Makhachev, Paul Felder
Paul Felder

Paul Felder implores Islam Makhachev to stay at lightweight amid double-champ talk: "Stay in your freaking division"

Josh Evanoff - December 29, 2023

UFC analyst Paul Felder sees no reason why Islam Makhachev needs to challenge Leon Edwards, yet. ‘Rocky’ is fresh off his return earlier this month at UFC 296 against Colby Covington. There, Edwards turned in a dominant performance, scoring a unanimous decision win over ‘Chaos’. While his second title defense was an impressive one to many, Islam Makhachev didn’t exactly feel threatened.

Gilbert Burns, Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis
Gilbert Burns

Gilbert Burns shares his side of Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis' melee: "It was a draw!"

Josh Evanoff - December 29, 2023

UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns had a front-row seat for Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis. Earlier this month at UFC 296, ‘Tarzan’ and ‘Stillknocks’ famously got into a brawl. It wasn’t terribly surprising, given their heated press conference earlier in the week. In the post-fight press conference, Dana White took the blame for the incident and explained that he shouldn’t have sat the middleweights so close.

Paul Felder and Paddy Pimblett
Paul Felder

Paul Felder explains why he doubts Paddy Pimblett can beat any ranked lightweight after his UFC 296 performance

Cole Shelton - December 29, 2023

Paul Felder doesn’t think Paddy Pimblett would have success against any of the ranked lightweights in the UFC. Pimblett improved to 5-0 in the UFC with a one-sided decision win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 296. With that said, the Brit wasn’t able to finish the aging veteran and actually started to gas in the third round.

Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler TUF 31 Face-Off with Dana White.
Michael Chandler

Michael Chandler provides update on possible Conor McGregor fight

Harry Kettle - December 29, 2023

UFC star Michael Chandler has provided an update on his possible showdown with Conor McGregor. For the longest time now, fight fans have been waiting to hear an announcement regarding a fight between Michael Chandler and Conor McGregor. The two men coached opposite one another on the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter, with the expectation being that they’d meet inside the Octagon after their collision.

Dana White and Conor McGregor shaking hands
Conor McGregor

Chael Sonnen doesn’t think Conor McGregor is trying to duck Michael Chandler

Harry Kettle - December 29, 2023

MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has said that he doesn’t think Conor McGregor is trying to “duck” Michael Chandler. For the longest time now, fans have been waiting for more information regarding the return of Conor McGregor. It’s been two and a half years since his nasty leg injury against Dustin Poirier, with many believing he would come back in 2023. Alas, that hasn’t come to fruition, as the masses continue to get frustrated over this stalemate between the promotion and McGregor.

Jon Jones
Jon Jones

Dan Henderson compares UFC legend Jon Jones to controversial cycling star Lance Armstrong

Harry Kettle - December 29, 2023

Dan Henderson has compared UFC legend Jon Jones to controversial cycling star Lance Armstrong in a fascinating interview. While many people see him as one of the greatest fighters of all time, Jon Jones hasn’t been without his critics. From his antics outside of the cage to some of his actions in it, ‘Bones’ has a few enemies out there and many won’t be surprised by that.

Tyron Woodley, Georges St-Pierre
Tyron Woodley

Tyron Woodley alleges that Georges St-Pierre turned down a "dumb bag" to fight him: "Eight figures"

Josh Evanoff - December 28, 2023

Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has alleged that Georges St-Pierre turned down a massive payday against him. ‘The Chosen One’ hasn’t been seen in combat sports since a sixth-round knockout loss to Jake Paul in the boxing ring in December 2021. Since then, Tyron Woodley has been quiet about a potential return. However, he did show interest in facing ‘The Problem Child’ in his PFL debut, slated for late 2024.

Chael Sonnen and Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya

Chael Sonnen reveals Israel Adesanya's return fight at UFC 300

Cole Shelton - December 28, 2023

Chael Sonnen believes he knows who and when Israel Adesanya will be making his return to the Octagon. Adesanya hasn’t fought since September when he suffered a lopsided decision loss to Sean Strickland to lose his middleweight title. Since then, Adesanya jokingly said he wouldn’t return until 2027, which he has walked back on and claimed he will be back sooner rather than later.

Nobuyuki Sakaibara and Scott Coker
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

RIZIN's Nobuyuki Sakakibara open to PFL co-promotion after Bellator sale: "Doors always open"

Josh Evanoff - December 28, 2023

RIZIN President Nobuyuki Sakakibara is open to working with PFL and Donn Davis, but it will take some time. The annual New Year’s event for RIZIN is slated for this weekend. Headlined by Kyoji Horiguchi’s rematch against Makoto Takahashi, the card also features high-profile names such as Juan Archuleta, Kai Asakura, John Dodson, and more. While a fun event, this year’s event will look radically different than last year’s.

Colby Covington and Michael Chandler
Michael Chandler

Colby Covington responds to 'complete scrub' Michael Chandler after prelim comment: "I'm an all-time great!"

Josh Evanoff - December 28, 2023

Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington is unhappy with Michael Chandler. ‘Chaos’ is fresh off his return to the octagon at UFC 296 earlier this month. For Colby Covington, the bout was his first in well over a year, and it didn’t go well. Facing Leon Edwards in the main event of the pay-per-view offering from Las Vegas, he was dominated. The sight of Covington losing was a delight to some, including Michael Chandler.

Alex Pereira and Tom Aspinall
Tom Aspinall

Alex Pereira believes heavyweight move has to happen "the right way," shuts down rumors of Tom Aspinall fight

Cole Shelton - December 28, 2023

Alex Pereira isn’t ruling out a move up to heavyweight but says he will need to make the jump in weight the right way. Pereira moved up to light heavyweight after losing his middleweight title in April after suffering a KO loss to Israel Adesanya. He ended up beating Jan Blachowicz in his light heavyweight debut and then scored a knockout win over Jiri Prochazka in November to become the promotion’s new light heavyweight champion.

Colby Covington
Ian Garry

Colby Covington doubles down on comments about Ian Machado Garry’s marriage: “I'd be honoured to settle that”

Susan Cox - December 28, 2023

Colby Covington is doubling down on the comments he’s made regarding Ian Machado Garry’s marriage. Covington (17-4 MMA) is licking his wounds after his unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards (22-3 MMA) at UFC 296 on December 16th. The main event welterweight title fight saw ‘Rocky’ retain the belt.