MMA News

Harry Kettle - December 6, 2023

John McCarthy has given his thoughts on UFC president Dana White’s recent comments regarding PFL purchasing Bellator. The MMA community has had a few weeks to digest the news that PFL has purchased Bellator. As you can imagine, there have been plenty of opinions flying around regarding what it means for the sport and for both brands moving forward.

Harry Kettle - December 6, 2023

UFC heavyweight Jailton Almeida has given his thoughts on the ongoing feud between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. The heavyweight division is in limbo right now. While Jon Jones is the undisputed champion, Tom Aspinall holds the interim gold. The expectation would usually be for the two to compete against one another and unify the belts when Jon is healthy. However, ‘Bones’ is set on facing Stipe Miocic at some point in 2024 before a collision with Aspinall.

Harry Kettle - December 6, 2023

Sean O’Malley has given his thoughts on the controversial referee stoppage in the fight between Jalin Turner and Bobby Green. Last weekend, Jalin Turner took on Bobby Green on short notice. While Green was the one who had a full training camp, it was Turner who got the job done with an incredibly violent knockout win. However, while the victory was celebrated, many couldn’t help but feel like the stoppage was late.

Harry Kettle - December 6, 2023

UFC prospect Raul Rosas Jr has given his thoughts on Sean O’Malley being the bantamweight champion. Right now, Sean O’Malley is on top of the world. He is the king of the bantamweight division in the wake of his incredible knockout win over Aljamain Sterling earlier this year. Now, the big question is whether or not he can keep hold of it, as he prepares to defend the strap against Marlon Vera at UFC 299 next year.

Josh Evanoff - December 5, 2023

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has given his side of training with Ian Garry. ‘The Future’ has found himself in a bit of hot water at the moment. The Irishman is currently slated to face Vicente Luque at UFC 296 later this month. While some might not be aware, Ian Garry is teammates with the Brazilian at Kill Cliff FC alongside names such as Brendan Allen and Michael Chandler.

Josh Evanoff - December 5, 2023

UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington has again slammed Jorge Masvidal. The saga between ‘Chaos’ and ‘Gamebred’ is quite a lengthy one. Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington were close friends and training partners, but after the latter reportedly didn’t pay a coach, they began feuding. As a result, the former interim champion was kicked out of American Top Team as well.

Josh Evanoff - December 5, 2023

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is out to prove a point against Ilia Topuria. ‘The Great’ has been out of the cage since a short-notice rematch with Islam Makhachev in October. There, Alexander Volkanovski suffered his second loss to the lightweight champion, this time by stoppage. Following the bout, he called for a fast turnaround against Ilia Topuria in January.

Zain Bando - December 5, 2023

Cris “Cyborg” Justino is at a crossroads. The former UFC women’s featherweight champion and current Bellator featherweight champion, Cyborg wants to be part of the newly minted PFL-Bellator merger.

Cole Shelton - December 5, 2023

Some details have become public involving Jamahal Hill’s arrest for domestic violence. It was recently reported that Hill was arrested for domestic violence after allegedly inflicting ‘serious or aggravated injury’ upon his brother. However, it wasn’t exactly known what caused the fight, or what exactly happened, but the UFC fighter said he was looking forward to the truth being revealed.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 5, 2023

Colby Covington believes he should’ve had his hand raised in his rematch with Kamaru Usman. Usman had scored a fifth-round TKO victory over Covington in what some considered to be the 2019 fight of the year. In Nov. 2021, the two had their rematch for Usman’s welterweight gold. Usman won a close, but unanimous decision.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 5, 2023

Hiroki Akimoto makes it no secret that he is on a mission to recapture the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title. ONE X in March 2022 marked a significant moment in his career when he took the belt from Capitan Petchyindee. However, his success didn’t last long as a split-decision loss to Petchtanong Petchfergus eight months later left Akimoto without the crown he had fought so hard to claim.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 5, 2023

Don’t expect UFC CEO Dana White to entertain the idea of stripping Jon Jones of the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Jones was expected to put his gold on the line against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 on November 11. That didn’t end up happening, as “Bones” suffered a torn pectoral muscle while preparing for the fight. As a result, the bout was replaced with an interim title fight between Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich. Aspinall scored a knockout win in just over one minute.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 5, 2023

Tom Aspinall has a response to Jon Jones’ recent tirade. Aspinall hasn’t been shy in expressing his belief that Jones should be stripped of the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Jones was scheduled to defend his title against Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 295, but “Bones” suffered a torn pectoral muscle. The bout was replaced by an interim heavyweight title matchup between Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich. Aspinall knocked Pavlovich out in just over a minute.

Cole Shelton - December 4, 2023

In the main event of UFC Austin, a battle of top 10 lightweights went down as Arman Tsarukyan took on Beneil Dariush. Tsarukyan entered the fight on a two-fight win streak and was coming off a TKO win over Joaquim Silva in his most previous effort. It was also his second UFC main event after he dropped a controversial decision to Mateusz Gamrot last year. Dariush, meanwhile, was set for his first UFC main event and was coming off a first-round knockout loss to Charles Oliveira in June.

Cole Shelton - December 4, 2023

Giga Chikadze has been forced out of his UFC 296 fight against Josh Emmett. Emmett took to social media on Monday evening to reveal that Chikadze is out of their fight next weekend at UFC 296. He also confirmed he wants to remain on the card and is hopeful to get a replacement opponent.

Jeffrey Walter - December 4, 2023

Khamzat Chimaev will be going under the knife after suffering an injury during his UFC 294 fight with Kamaru Usman. Chimaev (13-0 MMA) squared off with Usman (20-4 MMA) in a middleweight contest that served as the co-main event of October’s pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ had accepted that bout on just ten days’ notice, this after Khamzat’s original opponent Paulo Costa was forced to withdraw due to injury.

Josh Evanoff - December 4, 2023

It doesn’t matter when former UFC champion Conor McGregor returns, Michael Chandler will be waiting. The saga between ‘The Notorious’ and ‘Iron’ is ongoing for most of this year. Since his UFC debut in 2021, Michael Chandler has been calling to fight Conor McGregor. That callout fell on deaf ears until the two lightweights were tabbed to coach the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter this year.

Josh Evanoff - December 4, 2023

Mike Perry believes that a potential BKFC fight with Dillon Danis is very realistic. ‘Platinum’ returned to the BKFC ring over the weekend to face former UFC champion Eddie Alvarez. There, Mike Perry turned in yet another stoppage win, this time defeating ‘The Underground King’ by second-round TKO. In the process, he claimed the ‘King of Violence’ symbolic championship. Following the win, he was called out by former Bellator fighter, Dillon Danis.