MMA News
Petr Yan on Aljamain Sterling rematch being pushed back to UFC 273: “UFC simply doesn't want fake champion to headline”
Harry Kettle - January 12, 2022
Petr Yan has given his thoughts on why his rematch with Aljamain Sterling was moved back to UFC 273 from UFC 272. This April, Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling will collide with the UFC bantamweight championship on the line. They had initially been scheduled to meet at UFC 272 one month prior as the co-main event behind Alexander Volkanovski vs Max Holloway. Alas, after Holloway had to pull out through injury, UFC opted to change things up by booking Volkanovski vs Korean Zombie and Sterling vs Yan for UFC 273.
Henry Cejudo scolds Alex Volkanovski for accepting fight with Korean Zombie at UFC 273
Christopher Taylor - January 11, 2022
Henry Cejudo was hoping to earn ‘C4’ status by challenging reigning UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski. Cejudo (16-2 MMA) has been calling for a fight with Volkanovski for some time, so when Max Holloway was forced to withdraw from his scheduled trilogy with the Aussie at UFC 272, ‘Triple C’ immediately offered up his services to Dana White and company.
Charles Oliveira should "go for the money" and fight Conor McGregor next, says Khabib and Islam's coach
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2022
Javier Mendez, the head coach of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, says he would advise Charles Oliveira to fight Conor McGregor next. After Oliveira submitted Dustin Poirier to defend his belt at UFC 269, many expected him to face Justin Gaethje next time out. However, he has recently called out McGregor and the Irishman expressed his mutual interest. Although “Notorious” is on a two-fight losing streak, Mendez believes the Brazilian should try and make the McGregor fight happen for a simple reason.
Coach: Calvin Kattar "has the option" to wrestle Giga Chikadze at UFC Vegas 46: "This isn't Glory kickboxing, it's an MMA fight"
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2022
Calvin Kattar will finally make his return to the Octagon in the main event of UFC Vegas 46. Kattar last fought back in January of 2021 on the first card of the year and suffered a decision loss to Max Holloway. In the fight, Kattar absorbed 445 significant strikes and after the fight, his head coach, Tyson Chartier said they wanted him to take a full year off which is what happened.
Colby Covington sends Jorge Masvidal a message after their UFC 272 fight is confirmed
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2022
Colby Covington has sent a message to Jorge Masvidal. On Tuesday, it was revealed the grudge match between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington is set to headline UFC 272 on March 5. It’s a highly-anticipated bout as the two are former training partners and roommates but are now bitter rivals. After the fight was announced, Covington was quick to send a message to Masvidal.
Leon Edwards reacts to Colby Covington vs Jorge Masvidal booking: “2 bums coming off losses”
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2022
Leon Edwards is not impressed with the UFC’s recent fight booking. On Tuesday, it was revealed the grudge match between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington is set to headline UFC 272 on March 5. It’s a massive fight between two longtime rivals but for Edwards, who was scheduled to fight “Gamebred” at UFC 269, he isn’t too impressed with the scrap.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Korean Zombie set for UFC 273, Sterling-Yan 2 added as co-headliner
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2022
Alexander Volkanovski has his next title fight set. Volkanovski was supposed to fight Max Holloway at UFC 272 on March 5 in Las Vegas, in their highly-anticipated trilogy match. Yet, it was reported the Hawaiian was forced out of the bout due to an injury.
Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington set to headline UFC 272
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2022
Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington will finally be settling their differences. Masvidal and Covington used to be training partners and even lived together for a brief time. Yet, over the years, as both men began to climb the welterweight ranks, they had a falling out which ended up forcing “Chaos” to leave American Top Team.
Aljamain Sterling says rematch with Petr Yan could be delayed: “They’re talking about pushing my fight back to April”
Susan Cox - January 11, 2022
Aljamain Sterling took to Twitter this morning to confirm reports that his upcoming rematch with Petr Yan at UFC 272 may be postponed until April: “Yes, they’re talking about pushing my fight back to April,” Sterling said. “Not because of me. This is what I was told: “Yan isn’t vaccinated so he can’t fight in March”.
Robert Whittaker would “love” to get Israel Adesanya “on his back” in UFC 271 rematch
Susan Cox - January 11, 2022
UFC 271 features a middleweight title fight rematch between Robert Whittaker (23-5 MMA) and Israel Adesanya (21-1 MMA) and goes down February 12th at the Toyota Center in Houston. Losing his title to Adesanya back in October 2019 at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia, Whittaker is aiming to reclaim his belt and recently spoke to ‘MMA Junkie‘ about what went wrong with his first fight:
Sean O’Malley reacts to the Dillon Danis - Ariel Helwani beef: “I didn't think I could see a murder on Twitter”
Susan Cox - January 11, 2022
UFC star Sean O’Malley has shared his thoughts on the ongoing beef between Dillon Danis and Ariel Helwani. The Bellator fighter and the longtime MMA journalist have been exchanging blows on Twitter ever since Danis called Helwani a “b*tch” for his support of boxer Jake Paul.
Photos | Cheyanne Vlismas' overseas 'acne facial treatment' did not go so well: "I look like Freddy Krueger"
Harry Kettle - January 11, 2022
UFC fighter Cheyanne Vlismas has confirmed that her overseas acne facial treatment didn’t go as she had planned. 2021 was a mixed bag of a year for Cheyanne Vlismas, formerly known as Cheyanne Buys, as she began her UFC journey after appearing on Dana White’s Contender Series. Her unanimous decision loss to Montserrat Ruiz dropped her pro mixed martial arts record to 5-2, but she was able to bounce back in style with nice wins over Gloria de Paula and Mallory Martin.
Mark Hunt slams the UFC over fighter pay: “Look at the champions in the sport, what have they got?”
Harry Kettle - January 11, 2022
Former UFC fighter Mark Hunt has hit out at the UFC over fighter pay as his ongoing legal battle with the promotion continues. Back in 2016, Mark Hunt’s UFC journey hit a major road block after he was beaten by Brock Lesnar at UFC 200. The win in itself wasn’t too controversial as opposed to the aftermath, in which it was changed to a no-contest due to Lesnar testing positive in a post-fight drug test.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 63 with Brandon Royval, Tyson Chartier, Chase Sherman, Ramiz Brahimaj, and Joseph Holmes
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2022
The 63rd episode and first episode of 2022 of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 46. We’re first joined by fifth-ranked UFC flyweight, Brandon Royval (2:26). Next, Calvin Kattar’s head coach, Tyson Chartier (18:27) comes on. UFC heavyweight, Chase Sherman (33:54) then stops by. UFC welterweight, Ramiz Brahimaj (44:55) then joins the show. Closing out the program is UFC middleweight, Joseph Holmes (1:00:02).
Conor McGregor reigns supreme in top-25 athlete earnings per minute for 2021
Harry Kettle - January 11, 2022
Conor McGregor has topped the 2021 list for athletes’ earnings per minute with an insane $8,695,652 per minute of competition, according to a recent report. The list, conducted by Online Betting Guide, works out how much an athlete received per every minute they were active. However, for McGregor, it only covers his January rematch with Dustin Poirier and not the July trilogy – and their claim that he was only in there for “two and a half minutes” seems to indicate that they’ve only accounted for the second round and not the first.
Cheyanne Vlismas claims she's been in hiding since UFC win, husband JP Buys responds
Christopher Taylor - January 10, 2022
JP Buys has responded after his wife Cheyanne Vlismas claimed she’s been “in hiding” ever since her UFC win last month. Vlismas (7-2 MMA) competed on three occasions in 2021, producing a record of 2-1.
Khamzat Chimaev puts Kamaru Usman 'to sleep' when they fight, says Alexander Gustafsson
Cole Shelton - January 10, 2022
Alexander Gustafsson believes his training partner Khamzat Chimaev is the real deal. Chimaev burst onto the scene in 2020 as he fought twice in 10 days and then scored a one-punch KO over Gerald Meerschaert. He was later booked to headline a card against Leon Edwards, but due to COVID the fight never came to fruition.
Jacare Souza set to make boxing debut after recently retiring from MMA
Cole Shelton - January 10, 2022
Jacare Souza will be taking his talents to the squared circle. Souza, the longtime Strikeforce and UFC fighter, is known for his grappling as he was prolific in jiu-jitsu. Yet, since his retirement from MMA, he says he began training boxing and enjoyed it and now is closing in on a deal that will see him box.