MMA News
Julianna Pena takes shot at Amanda Nunes holding UFC featherweight title: "Can you name anyone else in the division?"
Josh Evanoff - April 5, 2022
Julianna Pena is set to rematch UFC featherweight champion, Amanda Nunes, later this year. However, the bantamweight titleholder doesn’t really see it as a “champion vs. champion” clash. ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ first clashed with ‘The Lioness’ at UFC 269 in December 2021. Despite being a massive underdog, Pena preserved through a first-round knockout to win in the second round via submission. With the win, she captured the UFC bantamweight title and ended Nunes’s five-year run with the belt.
Brendan Schaub perplexed by UFC's hesitation to sign Jake Paul: "He's more suited than CM Punk"
Josh Evanoff - April 5, 2022
Brendan Schaub is a little confused by the UFC’s hesitation to sign Jake Paul. ‘The Problem Child’ has spent the last year running down the promotion and various fighters. He’s called out names such as Jorge Masvidal, Nate Diaz, and Conor McGregor. Meanwhile, in the boxing ring, he’s knocked out UFC alumni such as Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley.
Alex Volkanovski says the decision to stop trying to please everyone has paid off ahead of UFC 273
Susan Cox - April 5, 2022
Leading up to UFC 273 this coming Saturday, April 9th has Alex Volkanovski stating that the decision to stop trying to please everyone has paid off. It will be Alex Volkanovski (23-1 MMA) vs The Korean Zombie (17-6 MMA) in the featherweight main event title bout at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
Khamzat Chimaev sends a message to the welterweight division ahead of UFC 273: "If sombody stands in my way, I'm going to kill them"
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2022
Khamzat Chimaev has sent a stern warning to the entire welterweight division. Chimaev is set for the toughest test of his career when he faces Gilbert Burns on the main card of UFC 273 in what is a very intriguing matchup. Chimaev (10-0 MMA) has run through all of his opponents to date, which includes four straight finishes under the UFC banner. During that impressive four-fight stretch, ‘Borz’ has only been hit with one significant strike. He has been hyped up as a future title challenger and the Swede has now sent a message to the division about what’s coming.
Alexander Volkanovski plans to silence his doubters in UFC 273 title fight with Korean Zombie: "I do think it will be an eye-opener"
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2022
Alexander Volkanovski plans to make a statement against Korean Zombie at UFC 273. Volkanovski will collide with ‘TKZ’ in Saturday night’s event headliner, this after his original opponent Max Holloway was forced out due to injury. Zombie was quick to step up in place of ‘Blessed’ and Volkanovski says this is now a “legacy fight” and one that he’s wanted for years.
Conor McGregor unloads on Henry Cejudo for continuing to criticize his training videos
Susan Cox - April 5, 2022
Apparently Conor McGregor has had enough and is tired of Henry Cejudo continuing to criticize his training videos. McGregor (22-6 MMA) has been out of the Octagon since his loss to Dustin Poirier (28-7 MMA) at UFC 264 in July 2021. It was at that fight that ‘The Notorious’ suffered a leg injury, forcing a halt to the bout at the end of the first round. It was the third time Poirier and McGregor had met in the cage, with Poirier ending up 2-1 in the series.
Petr Yan slams Aljamain Sterling for trying to make things political ahead of UFC 273: “Smiling, standing with Ukrainian flags”
Susan Cox - April 5, 2022
Petr Yan has had no lack of words for Ajamain Sterling in the lead up to UFC 273 this weekend, on Saturday, April 9th. Yan’s latest comments towards ‘Funk Master’ accuse him of making things political ahead of their rematch. It will be Yan (16-2 MMA) vs. Sterling (20-3 MMA) who will set the record straight in the Octagon this weekend, but both fighters have been sparing outside the cage for over a year now.
Henry Cejudo will no longer be cornering Petr Yan at UFC 273: “It’s just too much illegal activity for me to be involved in”
Susan Cox - April 5, 2022
Henry Cejudo will not be cornering Petr Yan at UFC 273 this coming Saturday, April 9th at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. It will be Petr Yan (16-2 MMA) vs Aljamain Sterling (20-3 MMA) II in the much anticipated bantamweight co-main even this coming weekend. Yan is looking to reclaim his UFC title after losing it by disqualification (the use of an illegal knee) to Sterling back in March 2021 at UFC 259.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 73 with Alexander Volkanovski, Mackenzie Dern, Ian Garry, Eddie Cha, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Vinc Pichel, and Jared Vanderaa
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2022
The 73rd episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC 273 and it is stacked. We’re first joined by the UFC’s featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski (3:23). Fifth-ranked strawweight, Mackenzie Dern (26:57) then comes on. UFC welterweight, Ian Garry (42:58) joins the show. Korean Zombie’s head coach, Eddie Cha (1:04:42) then stops by. Eighth-ranked UFC heavyweight, Jairzinho Rozenstruik (1:18:29) then joins the show. UFC lightweight, Vinc Pichel (1:30:45) comes on. Closing out the program is UFC heavyweight, Jared Vanderaa (1:47:37).
Anthony Smith on surging UFC light heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev: “He’s not the boogeyman that everyone made him out to be”
Harry Kettle - April 5, 2022
UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith has given his thoughts on divisional rival and rising star Magomed Ankalaev. Out of all divisions in the UFC, there’s an argument to be made that light heavyweight is the most unpredictable. From Glover Teixeira and Jan Blachowicz winning the title to a host of new faces cropping up in the top 15, things have been pretty wild since Jon Jones vacated the belt and started his transition up to heavyweight.
Casey O’Neill defends Ronda Rousey following recent criticism from UFC champion Julianna Pena
Harry Kettle - April 5, 2022
UFC flyweight star Casey O’Neill has defended Ronda Rousey following recent criticism from Julianna Pena. There’s a strong argument to be made that without Ronda Rousey, women’s MMA simply would not be where it is today. “Rowdy” came into the UFC and set the place alight with some tremendous performances, firmly establishing herself as one of the biggest stars in the history of the sport.
Throwback! Watch Khamzat Chimaev score a brutal KO at Brave CF 23 (Video)
Harry Kettle - April 5, 2022
As Khamzat Chimaev prepares to return to the Octagon, footage has re-emerged of one of his best pro MMA wins. This Saturday night at UFC 273, Khamzat Chimaev will attempt to grow his legend even further when he steps into the cage to take on Gilbert Burns. “Borz” is 4-0 in the UFC and while he’s already being viewed as a potential title holder, he needs to beat someone like Burns first before he can even think about getting a shot at welterweight king Kamaru Usman.
Demetrious Johnson blasts the UFC for attempting to book Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno 4: "Let someone totally different fight"
Josh Evanoff - April 4, 2022
Demetrious Johnson has given his thoughts on the UFC booking Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno yet again. ‘Mighty Mouse’ departed the UFC in 2019 in the first-ever “MMA trade”. Johnson was sent to the Asia-based ONE Championship promotion, and Ben Askren was sent to the UFC. The former UFC flyweight champion was last seen in action this past weekend, defeating Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a mixed-rules bout.
Henry Cejudo says Alexander Volkanovski doesn't have any power, believes Korean Zombie sleeps the champ at UFC 273
Cole Shelton - April 4, 2022
Henry Cejudo has all the confidence that his teammate, Korean Zombie will become the new featherweight champion on Saturday. Zombie trains out of Fight Ready in Arizona and Cejudo has been coaching him for his title fight against Volkanovski at UFC 273. Although ‘Triple C’ was campaigning for the fight himself, but has taken a back seat to coach Zombie instead. Since working with him, Cejudo now believes this is a terrible style matchup for the champ as he believes Zombie will find the KO shot.
Julianna Pena takes aim at former UFC champion Ronda Rousey: “She's kind of a joke in the MMA world now”
Josh Evanoff - April 4, 2022
Julianna Pena has taken shots at former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. The current UFC bantamweight champion is currently expected to rematch Amanda Nunes later this year. ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ captured gold by upsetting ‘The Lioness’ at UFC 269 in December 2021.
Khamzat Chimaev explains how Conor McGregor inspired him to pursue MMA
Cole Shelton - April 4, 2022
Khamzat Chimaev says seeing Conor McGregor knock out Jose Aldo made him realize he could become a big star in MMA. Chimaev, at the time of the fight, had yet to make his pro or amateur debut and was instead doing wrestling matches in Sweden. But, after the fight, he began training and finally turned pro in 2018 and has gone 10-0 including four wins in the UFC.
Former NFL star Frank Gore signs on to fight with Jorge Masvidal’s “Gamebred Promotions”
Susan Cox - April 4, 2022
NFL star Frank Gore announced his plans to officially retire from football and enter into a different kind of combat sport. Gore, 38, plans to sign a one-day contract with the 49ers and retire as a member of the team that drafted him way back in 2005. Frank Gore spent 10 seasons with the 49ers, three with the Indianapolis Colts, and one each with the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. In his 16-year NFL career, Gore rushed for exactly 16,000 yards.
Michael Bisping shares his prediction for Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns
Susan Cox - April 4, 2022
Michael Bisping has weighed in on who he thinks will be the victor this weekend at UFC 273. It will be Khamzat Chimaev (10-0 MMA) vs Gilbert Burns (20-4 MMA) in the much anticipated welterweight bout on Saturday April 9th, 2022 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.