MMA News
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Song Yadong fires back at Petr Yan following UFC Vegas 83 win: "His last fight was boring, too"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 10, 2023
Song Yadong is having none of Petr Yan’s emojis. Yadong took center stage in the main event of UFC Vegas 83 on December 9. He shared the Octagon with Chris Gutierrez inside the UFC Apex. Yadong was able to take a unanimous decision victory after the fight went all five rounds.
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.
UFC Vegas 83: 'Song vs. Gutiérrez' Live Results and Highlights
Chris Taylor - December 9, 2023
The Octagon returns to Nevada for tonight’s UFC Vegas 83 event, an eleven-bout fight card headlined by Song Yadong vs. Chris Gutiérrez. Yadong (20-7-1 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.
Colby Covington becomes the latest fighter to take issue with Ian Garry: “The guy's a f**king joke”
Harry Kettle - December 9, 2023
Colby Covington has become the latest fighter to take a shot at Ian Garry as the public scrutiny against the Irishman continues. It’s been a rough few weeks for Ian Garry. While the youngster has been solid so far in the Octagon, things have been tricky outside of the cage. Between stories about him in the gym to accusations against his wife, he’s had to deal with some real adversity. Despite that, he’s still deep in preparation mode for his upcoming showdown with Vicente Luque at UFC 296.