MMA News
Ayaka Miura breathes sigh of relief after ONE Fight Night 16: "I had to win this fight""
BJPENN.COM Staff - November 8, 2023
At ONE Fight Night 16 on Prime Video last Friday, November 3, Ayaka Miura found her way back to the winner’s circle. The former ONE MMA World Title contender authored a rousing victory in a strawweight bout against Meng Bo. There, she submitted the Chinese knockout artist with her signature scarf-hold Americana in the first round.
Dustin Poirier weighs in on the UFC’s split with USADA
Harry Kettle - November 8, 2023
UFC fighter Dustin Poirier has given his thoughts on the promotion’s recent split with USADA. Last month, it was announced that USADA and the Ultimate Fighting Championship will be ending their working relationship. Their association with one another will conclude in January 2024, following a pretty public fallout between the two companies.
Matt Frevola hopes Benoit Saint-Denis tries to grapple him at UFC 295, believes it's a "perfect fight" for him
Cole Shelton - November 7, 2023
Matt Frevola always knew his next fight would be at Madison Square Garden. Frevola started the year off with an upset first-round TKO win over Drew Dober in May. After the victory, Frevola knew he would be fighting at home at Madison Square Garden but wasn’t sure if he’d be able to sneak in another fight before then.
Jason Knight expects to make Randy Costa "quit" at Gambred Bareknuckle MMA, hopes UFC call comes next
Cole Shelton - November 7, 2023
Jason Knight will be fighting for the first time since he competed on The Ultimate Fighter. Knight lost in the semi-finals of TUF 21 to the eventual winner Kurt Holobaugh in a back-and-forth war. Although Knight lost by second-round TKO, Dana White called it the fight of the season, so ‘Hick Diaz’ was hopeful to get a UFC deal which unfortunately never came.
Tom Aspinall admits knee injury made him want to "quit" MMA: "I didn’t want to carry on"
Cole Shelton - November 7, 2023
Tom Aspinall admits he wanted to quit MMA after he tore his ACL during his UFC London main event against Curtis Blaydes. Aspinall was set for his second UFC headliner spot back in July of 2022 when he took on Blaydes. It was a pivotal fight as had the Brit won he likely would have gotten a title shot. However, just 15 seconds into the fight, Aspinall blew his knee out and needed to be stretched out of the Octagon.
Sean O'Malley reveals UFC signed off on potential Ryan Garcia boxing match: "If it makes us money, we'll do it"
Josh Evanoff - November 7, 2023
UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley could face Ryan Garcia in the boxing ring, if it makes money. ‘Sugar’ recently booked his 2024 return, and a rematch with Marlon Vera. Sean O’Malley is currently expected to face ‘Chito’ once again at UFC 299 in March, for the first time since 2020. That year, the Ecuadorian scored a first-round stoppage win over the future champion after he suffered an injury.
Alex Pereira doesn't buy Israel Adesanya's hiatus talk: "He needs a bit more motivation"
Josh Evanoff - November 7, 2023
Former UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira believes Israel Adesanya is just lacking some motivation. ‘The Last Stylebender’ has been out of action since a title defense against Sean Strickland at UFC 293. Despite heading into the matchup a massive favorite, Israel Adesanya was dominated that night earlier this year. ‘Tarzan’ dropped the champion in round one, eventually winning by unanimous decision on the scorecards.
WATCH | Tony Ferguson trains with David Goggins ahead of UFC 296 return against Paddy Pimblett
Josh Evanoff - November 7, 2023
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson is pulling out all the stops ahead of his return against Paddy Pimblett. ‘El Cucuy’ has been out of the octagon since a clash with Bobby Green in July at UFC 291. Despite dropping ‘King’ in the first round, Tony Ferguson suffered a third-round submission defeat. The loss was the former champion’s sixth in a row, and he received many calls to retire post-fight.
Dustin Poirier says he needs an opponent that "really, really motivates me" for him to return
Cole Shelton - November 7, 2023
Dustin Poirier isn’t sure when or who he will fight in his return. Poirier is coming off a KO loss to Justin Gaethje in July for the vacant BMF title. It was a rematch of their 2018 fight which Poirier had won by fourth-round TKO in one of the best scraps of the year.
Chael Sonnen unloads on Jorge Masvidal after 'Gamebred' threatens him: "Go see a therapist"
Cole Shelton - November 7, 2023
Chael Sonnen has continued to take aim at Jorge Masvidal. On Monday, Sonnen blasted ‘Gamebred’ on social media over the Colby Covington incident as Masvidal threatened to knock the rest of Covington’s teeth out. Of course, Sonnen and Covington are friends, so after ‘The American Gangster’ ripped ‘Gamebred’, Masvidal took to social media to tell him to say it to his face.
The UFC parts ways with three more fighters, including Mayra Bueno Silva?
Susan Cox - November 7, 2023
The UFC has parted ways with three more fighters according to recent reports from @UFCRosterWatch on ‘X’. It should be noted that it has not been confirmed if all of these moves were outright releases, contracts which were not renewed or suspensions.
Aljamain Sterling discusses his relationship with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones: “We aren't as cool as we once were”
Susan Cox - November 7, 2023
Aljamain Sterling is discussing his relationship with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Sterling (23-4 MMA) and Jones (27-1 MMA) were junior college wrestling teammates at SUNY Morrisville.
Dricus Du Plessis taunts Team Adesanya after receiving title shot against Sean Strickland at UFC 297: “A fumble never looked this good”
Susan Cox - November 7, 2023
Dricus Du Plessis is taunting Team Adesanya after receiving title shot against Sean Strickland at UFC 297. It was not that long ago that City Kickboxing head coach, and coach for former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, Eugene Bareman, told the media that Dricus Du Plesis would have to ‘fight someone else’ after passing on the UFC 293 headliner.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 145 with Matt Frevola, Jason Knight, Loopy Godinez, and John Castaneda
Cole Shelton - November 7, 2023
The 145th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC 295 and Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA. We’re first joined by 14th-ranked UFC lightweight Matt Frevola (2:21). Next, former UFC fighter Jason Knight (18:33) comes on. 13th-ranked UFC strawweight Loopy Godinez (38:59) then joins the show. Closing out the program is UFC bantamweight Jon Castaneda (46:56).
Seksan eager to compete on U.S. soil after ONE Fight Night 16 win: "It's one of my dreams"
BJPENN.COM Staff - November 7, 2023
Following his U.S. primetime debut at ONE Fight Night 16 on Prime Video last Friday, November 3, Seksan Or Kwanmuang harbors a strong desire to showcase his skills in front of a live American audience. His triumphant outing against Karim Bennoui in a 140-pound catchweight Muay Thai contest was not just another win in his illustrious career. It also marked his 200th victory.
Stephen Thompson says the UFC “settled” pay dispute from cancelled Michel Pereira fight
Harry Kettle - November 7, 2023
Stephen Thompson has revealed that his financial dispute with the Ultimate Fighting Championship is now over. Next month, Stephen Thompson will take on top welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov. It serves as a huge opportunity for the veteran as he attempts to make one final title push before walking away from mixed martial arts.
Opening odds released for newly announced title fights at UFC 297, UFC 298 and UFC 299
Harry Kettle - November 7, 2023
A string of odds have been released in the wake of an announcement made by Dana White regarding UFC’s first three PPV main events of the year. Last night, Dana White made a string of blockbuster announcements regarding the first few pay-per-view events of the year for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Tye Ruotolo open to facing twin brother for lightweight gold following inaugural world title win
BJPENN.COM Staff - November 7, 2023
ONE Fight Night 16 last Friday, November 3, marked a momentous occasion for Tye Ruotolo as he captured the inaugural ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Title. On the card at Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, he put forth an impressive performance against Magomed Abdulkadirov. Throughout the match, he launched attacks from various positions, ultimately securing a unanimous decision win.