MMA News

Josh Evanoff - December 7, 2023

Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier nearly went full Mike Tyson against Jon Jones during their infamous scuffle. ‘DC’ and ‘Bones’ famously had one of the most heated feuds in MMA history. In the cage, the two met on two different occasions. On both occasions, Jon Jones emerged with a win over Daniel Cormier. However, his UFC 214 victory in July 2017 was overturned to a no-contest due to a failed drug test.

Josh Evanoff - December 7, 2023

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler is a bit sad to see their recent sale to the PFL. ‘Iron’ is now one of the UFC’s biggest stars and most entertaining fighters. Although, Michael Chandler hasn’t been seen in the cage since a submission loss to Dustin Poirier well over a year ago. Now, the former Bellator champion has been stuck on the sidelines, waiting for a long-awaited fight with Conor McGregor.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 7, 2023

This Friday, December 8, ONE Championship returns to North American primetime television with a unique year-end offering — ONE Fight Night 17 on Prime Video. Broadcasting live from the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, the event brings an all-Muay Thai card to the forefront.

Josh Evanoff - December 7, 2023

It appears that UFC light heavyweights Jiri Prochazka and Aleksandar Rakic will be fighting at some point in 2024. ‘Rocket’ has been out of action since a third-round stoppage loss at the hands of Jan Blachowicz over a year ago. That bout saw Aleksandar Rakic suffer an injury, which has kept him out of action for most of this year. However, he later booked a rematch with Blachowicz, slated for UFC 297 in January.

Cole Shelton - December 7, 2023

UFC 297 has taken a hit as Jan Blachowicz is out of his rematch with Aleksandar Rakic. Blachowicz and Rakic were set to rematch on Jan. 20 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in a pivotal fight for the division. The winner was immediately in the title conversation, and the fight was one many fans were looking forward to, given the first fight ended due to an injury.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 7, 2023

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t exactly agree with others who say that Ilia Topuria is already on an elite level. Topuria will be in for the biggest fight of his pro MMA career when he takes on Volkanovski for the UFC Featherweight Championship at UFC 298 on February 17, 2024. Up to this point, Topuria has garnered a pro MMA record of 14-0. He’s coming off a unanimous decision victory over Josh Emmett, which earned him a “Fight of the Night” bonus.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 7, 2023

Francis Ngannou believes Deontay Wilder would have a difficult time fighting him under MMA rules. Ngannou has made a huge dent in the boxing world. He scored a knockdown on Tyson Fury in their pro boxing match back in October. Fury narrowly escaped with a split decision victory, and now Ngannou is a hot ticket in boxing’s heavyweight division.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 7, 2023

Anthony Smith doesn’t feel Jon Jones should be stripped of the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Interim titleholder Tom Aspinall has been calling for Jones to vacate the gold due to suffering a torn pectoral muscle, which forced his planned title defense against Stipe Miocic off the UFC 295 card. Aspinall ended up knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in just over one minute to lay claim to the interim gold.

Harry Kettle - December 7, 2023

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has detailed the run-in he had with fellow fighter Ian Garry at the UFC PI. Over the course of the last few weeks, Ian Garry has been taking a lot of heat. Between stories of why he left Leon Edwards’ gym and fans hating on his wife, it’s been a tricky road for the Irishman. Now, he has to focus his attention on Vicente Luque, who he’ll battle next weekend at UFC 296.

Harry Kettle - December 7, 2023

UFC featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell is set to step in on short notice to face Josh Emmett at UFC 296. At UFC 296, Josh Emmett was set to go head to head with Giga Chikadze in a major featherweight showdown. Unfortunately, as a result of a torn groin, Chikadze will no longer be able to compete in Las Vegas.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 7, 2023

Smilla Sundell is at the top of the world, and she couldn’t be any happier to continue molding her promising career in ONE Championship. The 19-year-old Swede’s ascent has been nothing short of spectacular. She currently boasts an immaculate 4-0 record under the promotion’s banner.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 7, 2023

Shamil Gasanov and Oh Ho Taek are gearing up for a pivotal clash at ONE Fight Night 18 on Prime Video this January 12. This bout emanates live in U.S. primetime from the world-renowned Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Cole Shelton - December 6, 2023

Brandon Moreno will be the backup fighter for the UFC 296 flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval. In the co-main event of UFC 296, Pantoja is looking to defend his flyweight title for the first time when he rematches Royval on Dec. 16 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although that fight is official, MMA journalist Marcel Dorff revealed Moreno will be the backup fighter for the title fight.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 6, 2023

When the new year kicks off, fans will be in for a treat when ONE Fight Night 18 on Prime Video features the pivotal bantamweight MMA showdown between Artem Belakh and Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu. The bout takes place at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, and it airs live in U.S. primetime on January 12.

Cole Shelton - December 6, 2023

Tim Elliott has opened up on why he decided to sponsor Tony Soto ahead of his BKFC fight against UFC veteran Kevin Croom. Elliott and Croom used to be teammates and close friends, but earlier this year, the former UFC flyweight title challenger claimed Croom allegedly slept with his wife, Gina Mazany on their wedding night. The two got a divorce but Elliott kept quiet about what happened until people kept continuously asking him about Gina and when she may be fighting again.

Cole Shelton - December 6, 2023

Chris Gutierrez says he is scared to fight and is afraid of his upcoming fight against Song Yadong in the main event of UFC Vegas 83 on Saturday. Gutierrez is set for his first UFC main event against the seventh-ranked bantamweight contender in Yadong. It’s a crucial fight for the division as the winner will likely get a top-five opponent next. Although Gutierrez has full confidence in himself that he will get the win, he admits he is scared to fight Yadong. But, it isn’t just Yadong as he is scared whenever he fights.

Josh Evanoff - December 6, 2023

Dan Henderson has no doubts about how his UFC 151 light-heavyweight title fight with Jon Jones would’ve gone. ‘Hendo’ and ‘Bones’ were famously slated to clash well over a decade ago. As the story goes, Dan Henderson was fresh off his incredible fight with Shogun Rua at UFC 139. That victory, as well as a three-fight winning streak coming over from Strikeforce, was enough to earn a title shot against Jon Jones.

Josh Evanoff - December 6, 2023

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is willing to give Aljamain Sterling a title shot if he beats Max Holloway. ‘The Great’ is currently slated to return at UFC 298 next February against Ilia Topuria. For Alexander Volkanovski, the bout will be his first since a knockout loss to Islam Makhachev in October. It also comes at a time, when the division is welcoming a former champion in the form of Aljamain Sterling. He made the announcement late last month, ending speculation about his future.