MMA News
Sergei Pavlovich sends warning to the UFC heavyweight division: “Don’t relax, I’ll be back soon!”
Harry Kettle - December 12, 2023
UFC heavyweight contender Sergei Pavlovich has issued a warning to the rest of the division ahead of his comeback. For the last few years, Sergei Pavlovich has been seen as a top star in the UFC’s heavyweight division. However, last month, his trajectory took a bit of a hit. On short notice, he took on Tom Aspinall for the interim championship. Despite landing a few nice shots, the Russian was ultimately overmatched, with Aspinall securing a knockout victory.
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.
Michael Chandler mocks Conor McGregor after Petr Yan faceoff: "I need relevancy"
Josh Evanoff - December 11, 2023
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler wasn’t a fan of Conor McGregor’s faceoff with Petr Yan. As of now, ‘Iron’ and ‘The Notorious’ are currently awaiting their fight date. Earlier this year, Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler coached the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter against one another. The hope was that the two lightweights would eventually clash in late 2023.
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.
Georges St-Pierre shuts down rumors that he will be part of a 2024 UFC super fight: “I am absolutely not”
Harry Kettle - December 11, 2023
UFC legend Georges St-Pierre has shut down rumors that he will be part of an MMA superfight in 2024. Hardcore mixed martial art fans recognize Georges St-Pierre as one of the greatest fighters of all time. His record in the sport speaks for itself, with the other contenders often being Anderson Silva and Jon Jones. Regardless of who you favor, though, there’s no denying that St-Pierre has an incredible legacy following a truly sensational career.
Leon Edwards sheds light on Ian Machado Garry gym KO rumors: “He got a little taste for sure”
Harry Kettle - December 11, 2023
Leon Edwards has shed some light on the rumors that he knocked out Ian Machado Garry in training. This weekend, Leon Edwards will return to the Octagon at UFC 296. In the main event of the evening, he will defend his UFC welterweight championship against Colby Covington, the former interim champ. Many believe Colby doesn’t deserve a crack at the belt, but either way, he’s getting one.
Early bird tickets to ONE 166: Qatar now on sale
BJPENN.COM Staff - December 10, 2023
ONE Championship will make history with its first-ever live event in Qatar on March 1. The much-anticipated spectacle — ONE 166: Qatar — happens at the state-of-the-art Lusail Sports Arena in Doha.
Johan Ghazali dreams of facing Rodtang Jitmuangnon in ONE Championship: "I'll still try to beat him up"
BJPENN.COM Staff - December 10, 2023
Johan Ghazali harbors a fervent desire to someday share the same stage with none other than ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon. For the Malaysian-American teenage phenom, Rodtang is a source of inspiration. The 17-year-old passionately reveres “The Iron Man” as one of the pound-for-pound greats in Muay Thai today.
Anthony Smith issues statement on UFC Vegas 83 loss to Khalil Rountree
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 10, 2023
Anthony Smith didn’t waste time addressing his UFC Vegas 83 defeat. Smith went one-on-one with Khalil Rountree inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 9. Smith entered the bout on short-notice, hoping to make a big enough statement that reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira would call him out to settle their grudge.
Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili scheduled for UFC 298 in Anaheim
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 10, 2023
A massive bantamweight clash with title implications has been booked between Henry Cejudo and Merab Dvalishvili. Cejudo made the announcement in a video on his YouTube channel. Cejudo vs. Dvalishvili will be featured on the same card headlined by a featherweight title fight between champion Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria. UFC 298 has been shaping up with the event taking place two months from now.
Belal Muhammad serving as backup fighter for UFC 296 main event: “I think obviously they know Colby and Leon are the two most inactive welterweights in the division"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 10, 2023
Belal Muhammad will be an emergency backup in the event that something goes awry with the planned UFC 296 headliner. The scheduled main event for UFC 296 is a UFC Welterweight Championship fight between titleholder Leon Edwards and Colby Covington. It certainly isn’t unusual for the UFC to have backup fighters for title bouts. In this case, however, Muhammad believes he’s been chosen because the UFC doesn’t trust Edwards or Covington to make it to fight night.
Khalil Rountree explains why fighting UFC champion Alex Pereira would make sense: "You have two explosive, dynamic fighters"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 10, 2023
Khalil Rountree isn’t pounding the table to fight UFC lightweight champion Alex Pereira this second, but he does believe the fight would have some juice to it. Rountree has been rolling inside the Octagon as of late. He recently extended his winning streak to five by stopping Anthony Smith via TKO in the third round. “The War Horse” earned his second “Performance of the Night” bonus as a result of his handiwork at UFC Vegas 83.
Islam Makhachev dismisses rematches with Charles Oliveira & Arman Tsarukyan: "If you want to be a champion in a good way, you have to add new names"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 10, 2023
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev isn’t a fan of rematches. Makhachev was scheduled to have a second bout with Charles Oliveira at UFC 294 back in October. Oliveira was forced to pull out due to a nasty gash he suffered while sparring. As a result, Makhachev took another rematch, but with UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski. It was a sensational showing for Makhachev, as he scored a first-round head kick for knockout win.
UFC Vegas 83 Results: Song Yadong defeats Chris Gutiérrez
Chris Taylor - December 9, 2023
We have you covered for all of tonight’s UFC Vegas 83 results, including the main event between Song Yadong and Chris Gutiérrez. Yadong (21-7-1 MMA) will be returning to action for the first time since scoring a fifth-round finish over Ricky Simon this past April. That victory was preceded by a TKO loss to Cory Sandhagen, a setback which snapped ‘The Kung Fu Kid’s’ three-fight winning streak.
Pros react after Khalil Roundtree Jr. TKO's Anthony Smith at UFC Vegas 83
Chris Taylor - December 9, 2023
Tonight’s UFC Vegas 83 event was co-headlined by a light heavyweight bout featuring Anthony Smith taking on Khalil Rountree Jr. Smith (37-19 MMA) was returning to action for the first time since earning a split decision win over Ryan Spann at August’s UFC Singapore event. That victory had snapped a two-fight losing skid for ‘Lionheart’, as the 35-year-old veteran had previously suffered setbacks to Johnny Walker and Magomed Ankalaev respectively.