MMA News
Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu planning to crash top-five rankings at ONE Fight Night 18
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 9, 2024
Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu is gearing up for a pivotal bout that he sees as the stepping stone to ONE Championship’s competitive bantamweight MMA rankings. In his next outing, he squares off with #4-ranked Artem Belakh at ONE Fight Night 18 on Prime Video, This event emanates live in U.S. primetime from the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, this Friday, January 12.
Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo to defend belt against Tommy Langaker at ONE 165
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 9, 2024
The stage is set for a riveting rematch as Kade Ruotolo defends his ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Title against Tommy Langaker. This grappling duel headlines ONE 165: Superlek vs. Takeru and airs live from the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on January 28.
Louis Smolka entering tech world as fighting future in doubt after UFC release: "I went back to school"
Cole Shelton - January 8, 2024
Louis Smolka has done a complete 180 with his career. After Smolka suffered a KO loss to Davey Grant at UFC Vegas 54 in May of 2022, which was his second straight loss, he was released from the UFC. With Smolka having been cut from the promotion for the second time, the Hawaiian wasn’t sure what his future held, so he decided to go back to school with an eye toward a tech job.
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones provides injury update after undergoing second surgery
Jeffrey Walter - January 8, 2024
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has provided an injury update after undergoing a second surgery, this time on his elbow. Jones (27-1 MMA) captured the promotion’s vacant heavyweight world title in March of 2023, scoring a first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane in the main event of the UFC 285.
Israel Adesanya opens up on decision to take UFC hiatus: "I missed the beast"
Josh Evanoff - January 8, 2024
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya felt that he badly needed time off after his last fight. ‘The Last Stylebender’ has been out of the octagon since a clash with Sean Strickland last September. Fighting in Australia in the main event of UFC 293, Israel Adesanya approached the title defense as any other. The normally-active middleweight had famously re-captured the title from Alex Pereira just months prior, by knockout.
Bo Nickal opens up on 2024 plans, reveals plans to fight four times
Josh Evanoff - January 8, 2024
UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal is hoping to have a busy, busy year in MMA. The former NCAA champion has been out of action since a knockout win over Val Woodburn in July at UFC 290. That stoppage victory was Bo Nickal’s fifth, all of which came in the first round. The middleweight is largely viewed as MMA’s greatest prospect at the moment, and for good reason.
Michael Chandler shares interesting theory as to why Conor McGregor called for their fight to be at 185lbs
Cole Shelton - January 8, 2024
Michael Chandler has a theory as to why Conor McGregor called for their fight to be at middleweight. Chandler and McGregor have been linked to fighting one another for over a year now, but on New Year’s Eve, the Irishman announced on his social media he would be returning on June 29 against Chandler. However, the biggest surprise was McGregor saying the fight would take place at 185lbs, which is of course the middleweight division.
Francis Ngannou commits to PFL fight despite Anthony Joshua boxing match: "We're in business together"
Josh Evanoff - January 8, 2024
Despite his boxing match against Anthony Joshua, Francis Ngannou is still planning on fighting in the PFL. Last week, ‘The Predator’ signed his return to the boxing ring against ‘AJ’. Just a few months removed from his split-decision loss to Tyson Fury, Francis Ngannou will look to earn his first win. For his part, Anthony Joshua enters the matchup riding a three-fight winning streak. He last defeated Otto Wallin by knockout last month, before his plans for a Deontay Wilder clash this Spring were foiled.
Israel Adesanya reveals his corner advised him against going for broke in fifth round of UFC title fight with Sean Strickland
Susan Cox - January 8, 2024
Israel Adesanya has revealed that his corner advised him against going for broke in the fifth round of his UFC title fight with Sean Strickland. UFC 293, which took place in September of last year, saw the then current champion Israel Adesanya (24-3 MMA) take on Sean Strickland (28-5 MMA) in a middleweight title bout.
Francis Ngannou on a potential rematch with Tyson Fury: “It’s going to happen”
Susan Cox - January 8, 2024
Francis Ngannou is speaking out on a potential rematch with Tyson Fury. It was on Saturday, October 28th of last year, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that Francis Ngannou made his first professional boxing debut against Tyson Fury.
Renato Moicano says Paddy Pimblett’s weight gains between fights will be “very detrimental” to his career: “Look how fat he is!”
Susan Cox - January 8, 2024
Renato Moicano says Paddy Pimblett’s weight gains between fights will be ‘very detrimental’ to his UFC career. Pimblett (21-3 MMA) most recently fought and defeated Tony Ferguson (25-10 MMA) in a lightweight battle this past December at UFC 296. The 29-year-old has won all 5 of his fights since joining the UFC in 2021.
Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier open as betting underdogs in their recently announced UFC fights
Susan Cox - January 8, 2024
Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier have opened as betting underdogs for their recently announced UFC fights. UFC CEO Dana White recently announced fights featuring lightweight veterans Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier.
Alexander Gustafsson is back to training and not ruling out a UFC return: “I’m still in the business”
Harry Kettle - January 8, 2024
UFC veteran Alexander Gustafsson has refused to rule out a return to active competition in the future. Throughout the course of his career, Alexander Gustafsson was known as one of the best light heavyweights on the planet. His abilities took him to great heights and to the verge of a world championship in the UFC. While he may never have gotten over that final hurdle, he’s still a well-respected member of the MMA community.
Video | Sean Strickland shot “right in the face” during ‘Roman candle war’
Harry Kettle - January 8, 2024
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland is back to his chaotic best just weeks before he returns at UFC 297. It’s been quite an interesting few months for Sean Strickland. He won the middleweight championship, became a star, got embroiled in a rivalry with Dricus du Plessis, and even had a physical altercation with him at UFC 296.
Dana White announces two massive lightweight fights including Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint-Denis
Harry Kettle - January 8, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White has announced Dustin Poirier vs Benoit Saint-Denis and Charles Oliveira vs Arman Tsarukyan for later this year. Over the course of the next few months, we’re set to see some electric fights take place across a handful of blockbuster events. That includes UFC 299 and UFC 300, both of which are shaping up to be mammoth occasions.
Mark Abelardo welcomes unbeaten prospect in U.S. primetime debut
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 8, 2024
Mark Abelardo faces an intriguing opponent in his ONE Championship U.S. primetime debut on January 12. He squares off against undefeated MMA prospect Ibragim Dauev in a bantamweight bout at ONE Fight Night 18 on Prime Video. The event takes place at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Cory Sandhagen reveals key reason he's had success in UFC: "It will take you vastly further than what you think it will"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 7, 2024
Rising bantamweight star Cory Sandhagen has unveiled a key factor in his success under the UFC banner. Sandhagen is the number four-ranked UFC bantamweight. He’s riding a three-fight winning streak, and if he can keep his hot streak going, he could find himself in a title fight. While no one will mistake Sandhagen for a massive star the likes of Sean O’Malley, he’s one of the top bantamweight fighters in the world.
Sean O'Malley admits he doesn't think Conor McGregor will reach his peak again: "You just aren’t going to be the same guy"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 7, 2024
Sean O’Malley believes Conor McGregor has some fight left in him, but he doesn’t think peak “Notorious” will make a comeback. McGregor recently announced that he will be making his return for a UFC fight on June 29. He claimed he’ll be fighting Michael Chandler inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The big bombshell was that McGregor claimed the fight will be contested at 185 pounds. Some have questioned the Irishman’s motivation over having this fight take place at middleweight.