MMA News
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.
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.
Beneil Dariush is contemplating his UFC future following KO loss to Arman Tsarukyan: “Do I go forward or am I done”
Harry Kettle - December 11, 2023
UFC lightweight Beneil Dariush has admitted that he’s contemplating his future in MMA after his recent knockout loss. Earlier this month, Beneil Dariush suffered a pretty bad knockout loss at the hands of Arman Tsarukyan. The defeat came in the first round, and it served as the second loss of the year for Dariush following his defeat to Charles Oliveira in June. Now, at the age of 34, it appears as if Dariush is questioning his future in the sport of mixed martial arts.
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.
Alexandre Pantoja feels Brandon Royval deserves UFC 296 title opportunity: "He's fought with everybody in the top 10"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 10, 2023
UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja isn’t going to downplay Brandon Royval as a challenger. Pantoja and Royval are no strangers to one another. Back in August 2021, Pantoja submitted Royval via rear-naked choke in the second round. Since that fight, Royval has gone on a three-fight winning streak. In that span, he’s beaten Rogério Bontorin, Matt Schnell, and Matheus Nicolau. The streak has earned Royval the number two spot on the official UFC flyweight rankings, and a championship opportunity.
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.