MMA News
Ok Rae Yoon flabbergasted by Ham Seo Hee’s "extreme" training routine: "Doesn’t she ever get tired?"
BJPENN.COM Staff - September 5, 2023
On September 29, Ok Rae Yoon will watch closely when his friend and teammate, Ham Seo Hee, meets Stamp Fairtex. Ham, ranked #2 in the atomweight MMA division, battles top-ranked Stamp Fairtex for the ONE Interim Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title. The bout headlines ONE Fight Night 14 on Prime Video and airs live in U.S. primetime from the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 138 with John Makdessi and Chepe Mariscal
Cole Shelton - September 5, 2023
The 138th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC 293 this Saturday. We’re first joined by UFC lightweight John Makdessi (1:49). Closing out the program is UFC featherweight Chepe Mariscal (16:27).
Israel Adesanya weighs in on the upcoming middleweight fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Paulo Costa: “I might be favoring Khamzat a little bit more”
Harry Kettle - September 5, 2023
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has given his thoughts on the upcoming fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Paulo Costa. This weekend, Israel Adesanya will defend his UFC title against Sean Strickland. While that is his primary focus right now, he knows better than anyone that other contenders are waiting for their moment to shine. In addition to Dricus du Plessis, we also have Khamzat Chimaev and Paulo Costa, who will square off next month at UFC 294.
Rose Namajunas issues statement following loss to Manon Fiorot at UFC Paris: “Everybody wants to sh*t on Pat”
Harry Kettle - September 5, 2023
UFC star Rose Namajunas has explained why Trevor Wittman wasn’t in her corner at UFC Paris last weekend. On Saturday night, Rose Namajunas made her flyweight debut as she went toe to toe with top contender Manon Fiorot. While she put up a valiant effort, she ultimately fell short and lost via decision. One of the reasons for that, as many now know, is due to the fact she suffered a broken finger early on in the contest.
Video | Conor McGregor receives BJJ black belt from Coach Kavanagh at SBG
Harry Kettle - September 5, 2023
UFC star Conor McGregor has formally received his BJJ black belt from head coach John Kavanagh at SBG Ireland. For the longest time now, Conor McGregor has been part of the SBG Ireland family. He made his name under the umbrella of the gym, and it’s where he’s been training since he first started his mixed martial arts journey. It’s been one hell of a road to get to this point, but at this stage, nobody can deny that he’s the biggest star in the history of the sport.
Danielle Kelly eager to exact revenge on Jessa Khan: "She’s beatable"
BJPENN.COM Staff - September 4, 2023
Danielle Kelly wants to earn some redemption at ONE Fight Night 14 on Prime Video. Her fight, which airs live via Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service on September 29, allows her to settle the score with rival Jessa Khan. After all, this is a rematch of their February 2021 encounter, which the latter won by unanimous decision.
Rampage Jackson confirms December grudge match with former Ultimate Fighter rival
Josh Evanoff - September 4, 2023
Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Rampage Jackson has confirmed his comeback fight. The fan-favorite has been out of the cage for nearly four years, last fighting in Bellator. In December 2019, Rampage Jackson traveled to Japan to face Fedor Emelianenko. In the main event of Bellator 237, ‘The Last Emperor’ easily scored a first-round knockout victory.
Former WWE champion Kurt Angle reveals multiple declined UFC offers: "Three different times"
Josh Evanoff - September 4, 2023
Former WWE champion Kurt Angle turned down not one, not two, but three offers from the UFC. The former WWE star is considered to be one of the greatest shoot wrestlers of all time. A multiple-time All-American and former national champion, he famously won the gold at the 1996 Olympic Games. Furthermore, Kurt Angle accomplished the feat injured, wrestling with a broken neck.
Max Holloway hoping for longshot 2024 quadrilogy with Alexander Volkanovski: "Got to be undeniable"
Josh Evanoff - September 4, 2023
Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway still wants to fight Alexander Volkanovski. ‘Blessed’ returned to the win column last month at UFC Singapore against The Korean Zombie. Facing the South Korean fighter in his final fight, Max Holloway scored a highlight-reel third-round knockout. The win was his second in a row, previously defeating Arnold Allen in the main event of UFC Kansas City in April.
Former MMA champion pleads with Rose Namajunas to stop “sabotaging” her career
Susan Cox - September 4, 2023
Former MMA champion Josh Thomson is pleading with Rose Namajunas to stop ‘sabotaging’ her career. UFC Paris saw Rose Namajunas (12-6 MMA) and Manon Fiorot (11-1 MMA) battle it out in the women’s flyweight event this past Saturday night, September 2nd, at the Accor Arena in Paris, France. It was Fiorot who would come out with a unanimous decision victory over ‘Thug’.
Josh Thomson shares some advice for newly crowned BMF champion Justin Gaethje: “I would probably do one last fight”
Susan Cox - September 4, 2023
Josh Thomson is sharing some advice for the newly crowned BMF champion Justin Gaethje. Gaethje (25-4 MMA) recently fought Dustin Poirier (29-8 MMA) this past July at UFC 291. The result was a KO victory for ‘The Highlight’, and in the process the 34-year-old claimed the vacant BMF title.
Ciryl Gane had his home broken into during the UFC Paris main event
Susan Cox - September 4, 2023
Ciryl Gane had his home broken into during the UFC Paris main event. It was Ciryl Gane (12-2 MMA) vs Sergey Spivac (16-4 MMA) last Saturday night at UFC Paris. The heavyweight main event saw Gane defeat Spivac by KO at 3:44 of round 2 inside the Accor Arena.
Daniel Cormier reacts after Jon Jones suggests he’s not interested in fighting Sergei Pavlovich or Tom Aspinall: “He's weighing the business versus the actual competition”
Harry Kettle - September 4, 2023
Daniel Cormier has given his thoughts on Jon Jones potentially not fighting the likes of Sergei Pavlovich or Tom Aspinall. In the main event of UFC 295, Jon Jones is set to defend his UFC heavyweight championship against Stipe Miocic. If he wins, many wonder whether or not he’ll retire from mixed martial arts for good. Some believe it’d be the perfect way to go out, whereas others feel like there are plenty of other contenders ready to step up to the plate.
Photo | Rose Namajunas suffered a nasty broken finger in UFC Paris loss to Manon Fiorot
Harry Kettle - September 4, 2023
UFC star Rose Namajunas has posted a picture of the broken finger she suffered at UFC Paris last weekend. On Saturday night, Rose Namajunas made her flyweight debut as she began her pursuit of a second world title in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Unfortunately, she fell to a unanimous decision loss at the hands of Manon Fiorot, with one of the biggest problems during the bout being a broken finger she suffered in the first round. Despite the injury, her corner insisted that she should continue, and she did.
Dana White praises Rose Namajunas while seemingly throwing shade at Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili
Harry Kettle - September 4, 2023
UFC president Dana White has seemingly used a quote from Rose Namajunas to make a point about Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili. When Dana White is annoyed about something, the rest of the world tends to know about it. The UFC boss has never been one to bite his tongue, and we can’t imagine that’ll change anytime soon.
Henry Cejudo takes aim at Merab Dvalishvili after ‘The Machine’ proclaims himself the number one contender to Sean O’Malley
Harry Kettle - September 4, 2023
Former two-weight UFC champion Henry Cejudo has taken a shot at Merab Dvalishvili over the number one contender spot at bantamweight. The future of the UFC bantamweight championship is somewhat unclear. While we know that Sean O’Malley is the champion after his TKO win over Aljamain Sterling, nobody knows who his next challenger will be. Some want it to be Sterling again in a rematch, others have suggested Merab Dvalishvili, and O’Malley himself has requested former foe Marlon Vera.
Alexander Volkanovski has grim outlook on Sean Strickland's chances against Israel Adesanya
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 3, 2023
Alexander Volkanovski thinks Sean Strickland will be in for a world of hurt against Israel Adesanya. Adesanya is set to put his middleweight championship on the line against Strickland at UFC 293 on September 9. “The Last Stylebender” was expected to meet Dricus du Plessis in a grudge match at the pay-per-view. That plan couldn’t come to fruition, as du Plessis is recovering from an injury and was not going to be healed in time. As a result, Strickland got the call to meet “Izzy.”
UFC commentator Paul Felder reenters USADA testing pool, return to fighting still not guaranteed
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 3, 2023
Paul Felder has made his way back in the USADA testing pool, but a return to the Octagon isn’t a lock. Felder’s last pro MMA fight took place back in late 2020 against Rafael dos Anjos. “The Irish Dragon” lost the fight via unanimous decision, and announced his retirement from pro MMA competition the following year. When Felder retired, he said that he was comfortable with the decision given his age and the lack of fire for competing. Fast forward to 2023 and perhaps there is a newfound spark.