MMA News
Teddy Atlas praises Leon Edwards ahead of UFC 296: "He got 30 percent better when he won that title"
Zain Bando - December 12, 2023
Teddy Atlas is a fixture of the fight game, specifically boxing. But when it comes to the UFC, specifically UFC 296, which takes place Saturday night from Las Vegas, Nevada, he also knows a thing or two.
Ian Machado Garry plans to do "something pretty spectacular" against Vicente Luque at UFC 296: "100 percent”
Cole Shelton - December 12, 2023
Ian Machado Garry is ready to make a statement at UFC 296 on Saturday. Garry is set to take on Vicente Luque in a very intriguing welterweight fight. The two are former teammates at Kill Cliff and have trained and sparred with one another in the past. However, despite their history, he had no hesitation to take the fight as the Irishman had changed his camp to Chute Box.
UFC parts ways with four more fighters
Cole Shelton - December 12, 2023
The UFC has trimmed its roster again as four fighters have been removed from the roster. On Tuesday evening, X account UFC Roster Tracker which tracks the UFC roster and who has been added and removed – revealed four fighters have been let go. According to the account, Austin Lingo, Johny Munoz Jr., Nick Aguirre, and Terrence Mitchell have all been removed from the roster.
Paddy Pimblett wants the old Tony Ferguson to show up at UFC 296, but doubts it happens: "He isn't the same fighter"
Cole Shelton - December 12, 2023
Paddy Pimblett wants Tony Ferguson to turn back the clock at UFC 296. Pimblett is set for his first fight in a year as he takes on Ferguson who’s on a six-fight losing streak. During the losing skid, Ferguson has been finished in four of those defeats, and his last win came back in June of 2019.
Kamaru Usman shares prediction for Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington title fight at UFC 296
Cole Shelton - December 12, 2023
Kamaru Usman has shared his prediction for the welterweight title fight between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington at UFC 296. Usman has fought Edwards three times, winning once and suffering two defeats which saw him surrender his welterweight title. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ has also fought Colby Covington on two occasions in the past, where he successfully defended the welterweight title in both fights. Given that he has spent plenty of time in the Octagon with both men, Usman is familiar with both of their styles.
Jailton Almeida vs. Curtis Blaydes and several other matchups added to UFC 299 in March
Josh Evanoff - December 12, 2023
UFC 299 has gotten a big boost in the form of Jailton Almeida vs. Curtis Blaydes, as well as several other fight announcements. The card is currently slated for next March and will be held in Miami. In the main event, Sean O’Malley will return to the octagon to defend his bantamweight gold against Marlon Vera. The bout is a rematch of their prior encounter in 2020, which saw ‘Chito’ win by first-round stoppage.
Daniel Cormier believes Islam Makhachev's rematch comments are an early sign of retirement: "Only a couple more years"
Josh Evanoff - December 12, 2023
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier believes Islam Makhachev’s recent comments could be a sign of his impending retirement. The Russian has been out of the cage since a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski in October. There, Islam Makhachev picked up his second win over ‘The Great’ by knockout, with names such as Daniel Cormier watching by. Following the win, he was called out by many top lightweights.
Georges St-Pierre names his 'favorite' fighters he hopes to see in the UFC's 2024 superfight
Josh Evanoff - December 12, 2023
UFC legend Georges St-Pierre won’t be fighting in 2024, but he has an idea of who might be. Last month, Dana White revealed plans for a massive UFC superfight, going down next year. Many, quickly began to speculate who that matchup could involve. The executive stated only that the superfight itself doesn’t involve Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler. Famously, the two lightweights coached the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter against each other earlier this year.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 148 with Ian Machado Garry, Vicente Luque, Dustin Jacoby, and Brian Kelleher
Cole Shelton - December 12, 2023
The 148th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC 296. We’re first joined by 10th-ranked UFC welterweight Ian Machado Garry (1:45). Next, ninth-ranked UFC welterweight Vicente Luque (16:11). 15th-ranked UFC light heavyweight Dustin Jacoby (30:51) then comes on. Closing out the program is UFC bantamweight Brian Kelleher (44:39).
Official lineup released for UFC 296: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington, including two title fights
Harry Kettle - December 12, 2023
The official lineup has been released for UFC 296: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington ahead of fight night on Saturday. For the final time this year, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will be putting on a pay-per-view event this weekend – and what a way to go out. UFC 296 will emanate from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, in what can only be described as a blockbuster card. From two title fights to several really fun matchups, this has the potential to be the show of the year.
Colby Covington says he would love to “slap around” UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland: “He’s just a pathetic excuse of a human being”
Harry Kettle - December 12, 2023
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington has gone after UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland and teased a fight between them. One thing we know to be true is that Sean Strickland is a controversial individual. Now, though, he’s also the middleweight champion of the world, knocking off Israel Adesanya earlier this year. Someone else who knows what it feels like to be divisive is Colby Covington, who returns to the cage this weekend.
Paddy Pimblett admits he wants to see Tony Ferguson get another win before retiring: “I just can’t let him do it at my expense”
Harry Kettle - December 12, 2023
UFC star Paddy Pimblett has admitted that he wants to see Tony Ferguson pick up another win before retiring from mixed martial arts. This Saturday night at UFC 296, Paddy Pimblett and Tony Ferguson will battle it out in a fascinating encounter. There are plenty of reasons to get excited about this fight, but if you’re an ‘El Cucuy’ fan, there are also plenty of reasons to be nervous.
What's next for Song Yadong and Chris Gutierrez after UFC Vegas 83?
Cole Shelton - December 11, 2023
In the main event of UFC Vegas 83, ranked bantamweight collided as Song Yadong took on Chris Gutierrez. Yadong entered the fight coming off a TKO win over Ricky Simon to return to the win column after a TKO loss to Cory Sandhagen. Gutierrez, meanwhile, returned to the win column last time out with a decision win over Alatengheili after losing to Pedro Munhoz.
Leon Edwards explains why Colby Covington won't be able to get under his skin
Cole Shelton - December 11, 2023
Leon Edwards doesn’t think Colby Covington’s trash talk will impact him at all. Edwards is set to defend his welterweight title for the second time in the main event of UFC 296 as he takes on Covington in a highly-anticipated matchup. It’s a close fight on paper, as Edwards is a slight betting favorite, but the Brit has full confidence he will get his hand raised.
Colby Covington confident he will make Leon Edwards "quit" at UFC 296: "I've seen the quitter in him"
Cole Shelton - December 11, 2023
Colby Covington believes Leon Edwards has quit in him and expects to show that at UFC 296. Covington is set to headline UFC 296 against Edwards for the welterweight title in a highly-anticipated fight. It’s Covington’s third crack at becoming the undisputed welterweight champion, and he enters the scrap as a small underdog as the oddsmakers believe Edwards will get his hand raised.
Eddie Hearn reveals Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou 2 is likely already official: "Got to cash in"
Josh Evanoff - December 11, 2023
According to Eddie Hearn, Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou will likely meet in the boxing ring again. ‘The Gypsy King’ and ‘The Predator’ faced off in October, in the first boxing match of Francis Ngannou’s combat sports career. Heading into the matchup, the PFL heavyweight was naturally, a major underdog. However, he shocked the combat sports world in Saudi Arabia, nearly upsetting Tyson Fury.
Leon Edwards believes the UFC wants Colby Covington to defeat him: "He's got Dana White privilege"
Josh Evanoff - December 11, 2023
Welterweight champion Leon Edwards is aware that the UFC likely wants him to lose to Colby Covington on Saturday. ‘Rocky’ hasn’t been seen in the cage since a title defense against Kamaru Usman in March. There, Leon Edwards scored his second-straight win over ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’, this time by unanimous decision. Cageside that night was the recently returned Colby Covington.
Colby Covington claims no one's going to beat him while “Donald Trump is in attendance" ahead of UFC 296 title fight
Cole Shelton - December 11, 2023
Colby Covington has full confidence he will become the UFC’s welterweight champion on Saturday at UFC 296. Covington is set to headline the pay-per-view card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada against Leon Edwards. It’s an intriguing matchup and heading into the fight, Edwards is a small betting favorite to get the win.