MMA News
Khabib Nurmagomedov explains why Eagle FC will not feature any women's divisions: “Not many good (female) fighters, only like five or six of them”
Susan Cox - December 16, 2021
Khabib Nurmagomedov has explained why his promotion ‘Eagle FC’ will not feature any women’s divisions. Speaking with media members at a promotional press conference Wednesday in Miami, Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA), discussed a number of topics including his new 165 lb weight division.
Askar Askarov issues bold challenge to Kai Kara-France: “Let’s see if anybody from your country can beat anyone from Dagestan”
Harry Kettle - December 16, 2021
UFC flyweight Askar Askarov has issued a challenge, as well as a slight dig, to Kai Kara-France and City Kickboxing. After years of the 125-pound division been seen as the weakest in the UFC, there’s a new uprising of stars that are making flyweight as exciting as ever. Two men who are hoping to continue playing a key role in that are Askar Askarov and Kai Kara-France.
Top welterweight contender Vicente Luque taunts Khamzat Chimaev: “I didn’t hear him say my name”
Harry Kettle - December 16, 2021
UFC welterweight Vicente Luque has noted that he hasn’t heard Khamzat Chimaev say his name when discussing his next fight. In his last four fights, Vicente Luque has gone 4-0 which includes two big submission wins over Tyron Woodley and Michael Chiesa in the last calendar year. In total, across his last 16 bouts, the Brazilian sensation has gone 14-2 with his only defeats coming at the hands of Leon Edwards and Stephen Thompson.
Derrick Lewis on Saturday’s main event fight with Chris Daukaus: "You don’t wanna get Rodney King’d on ESPN"
Harry Kettle - December 16, 2021
Derrick Lewis gave a typically jaw-dropping response when questioned about his upcoming opponent Chris Daukaus. While he may not have been able to capture the UFC interim heavyweight title earlier this year, Derrick Lewis is still one of the most intimidating fighters in the division. Whether it be a top contender or someone just beginning to rise up through the top 15, “The Black Beast” is willing to take on all comers.
Nate Diaz responds after being dubbed a hypocrite by Jorge Masvidal
Christopher Taylor - December 15, 2021
Nate Diaz has responded after being dubbed a hypocrite by former UFC opponent Jorge Masvidal. Diaz (20-13 MMA) and Masvidal (35-15 MMA) infamously collided in a welterweight bout back at UFC 244 with the promotions inaugural BMF title up for grabs. ‘Gamebred’ wound up emerging victorious by way of TKO (doctors stoppage) that evening in New York, this after opening two nasty cuts on the face of the ‘Stockton Slugger’.
Daniel Cormier believes Amanda Nunes "should've just went to sleep" in loss to Julianna Pena
Christopher Taylor - December 15, 2021
Daniel Cormier believes Amanda Nunes “should’ve just went to sleep” in her loss to Julianna Pena at last Saturday’s UFC 269 event. Nunes (21-5 MMA) and Pena (11-4 MMA) collided in the co-headliner last weekend’s pay-per-view event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Nate Diaz offers to fight Dustin Poirier at January’s UFC 270 event: 'Don’t be a scared lil bitch this time now or never'
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2021
Nate Diaz is hoping to fight Dustin Poirier in January. After Poirier was submitted by Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title at UFC 269, many thought a fight with Diaz made some sense. On Wednesday, Poirier was on The MMA Hour where he even admitted the Diaz fight is the one that gets him the most excited.
Kevin Lee reveals he's getting paid in bitcoin for his fights in Eagle FC: 'It gives me a lot more financial security'
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2021
Kevin Lee wants to be known as a trailblazer and will be just that when he fights for Eagle FC. Lee will make his debut for the promotion on March 11, against an opponent TBD – although Diego Sanchez is the name being thrown around. Although he doesn’t have his first fight booked, his multi-fight deal was announced on Wednesday which he’s excited about.
Stephen Thompson expecting a 'war' against Belal Muhammad but confident he will win: 'I do see some flaws in his style'
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2021
Stephen Thompson is excited to go out and erase his last fight from his memory. Thompson is coming off a lackluster decision loss to Gilbert Burns at UFC 264 and will now return against Belal Muhammad this Saturday at UFC Vegas 45. It’s an intriguing matchup and one Thompson is looking forward to.
Kevin Lee says Diego Sanchez will probably be his first opponent in Eagle FC: 'I'm going to kick his head into the third row'
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2021
Kevin Lee is the newest fighter to sign with Eagle FC and his debut fight is being closed to begin made. Lee was shockingly released from the UFC late last month and on Wednesday, Khabib Nurmagomedov officially signed Lee to a multi-fight contract. “The Motown Phenom” will have his debut on March 11 and according to Lee, he will likely be fighting Diego Sanchez.
Pro fighters make their picks for Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley 2
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2021
In the main event of a Showtime boxing pay-per-view and on Fite TV, Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley are set to rematch. Heading into the fight, Paul is a -260 favorite while the former UFC champion is a +210 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the boxing match. The majority believe Woodley can get it done as long as he throws more punches although some think Paul is just the better boxer.
Coach Firas Zahabi voices concern about his kids’ school curriculum: “It’s become encouraged now to feminize men”
Susan Cox - December 15, 2021
Firas Zahabi, the coach of UFC icon Georges St-Pierre, has voiced concern about his kids’ school curriculum in Montreal. “It’s become encouraged now to feminize men,” Zahabi said during an episode of The 3Muslims podcast (h/t r/MMAPoliticsAndCulture). “If they want to feminize their men, they can do it, but they aren’t going to feminize our men.”
Sean O’Malley reacts after entering the top-15 of the UFC bantamweight rankings: “I have zero craving to go to parties at the moment”
Susan Cox - December 15, 2021
Fan favorite ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley has reacted after earning a spot in the top-15 of the official UFC bantamweight rankings. O’Malley (15-1 MMA), who had previously dubbed himself ‘The Unranked Champ’, returned to the Octagon at last Saturday’s UFC 269 event for a bantamweight showdown with Raulian Paiva.
Darren Rovell claps back at Dana White for ‘dipsh*t’ remarks about Amanda Nunes: “I’ll debate him in any forum on this topic with data and crush him”
Susan Cox - December 15, 2021
Sport business analyst Darren Rovell has clapped back at Dana White after the UFC President called him a dipsh*t. Rovell and White have a storied past. After Amanda Nunes dethroned Cris Cyborg to become the promotions featherweight champion at UFC 232 in Los Angeles, the Action Network producer suggested the outcome would be “brutally damaging to UFC”.
Tai Tuivasa explains decision to use ‘Barbie Girl’ as his UFC 269 walkout song
Harry Kettle - December 15, 2021
UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa has explained why he decided to use “Barbie Girl” by Aqua as his walkout song at UFC 269. Last weekend, Tai Tuivasa continued his rise up through the ranks of the UFC’s heavyweight division with a nice knockout win over Augusto Sakai. It served as his fourth straight victory and confirmed what many fans already knew – “Bam Bam” is a genuine contender in this weight class.
Rose Namajunas can’t figure out why UFC won’t “get behind” Carla Esparza for a rematch: “Nothing really interests me other than Carla”
Harry Kettle - December 15, 2021
UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas can’t understand why the UFC won’t back Carla Esparza to get a title shot. At UFC 268, Rose Namajunas was able to defeat Zhang Weili for the second time this year to successfully retain her UFC strawweight title. Carla Esparza, meanwhile, finished Yan Xiaonan in May to take her current win streak up to five.
Michael Bisping weighs in on a potential title fight between Conor McGregor and Charles Oliveira: “He could come back and knock out Charles Oliveira”
Harry Kettle - December 15, 2021
UFC commentator Michael Bisping believes Conor McGregor has a genuine chance at beating UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. Last Saturday night at UFC 269, Charles Oliveira submitted Dustin Poirier to successfully retain the UFC lightweight title. It was a fascinating main event encounter but in the end, “Do Bronx” overwhelmed Poirier and secured the finish fairly comfortably in the third round.
Photo | Francis Ngannou appears to have dropped some muscle mass ahead of his title fight with Ciryl Gane at UFC 270
Christopher Taylor - December 14, 2021
Francis Ngannou appears to have dropped some muscle mass ahead of his title unification bout with Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. The former training partners, Ngannou (16-3 MMA) and Gane (10-0 MMA), will collide on January 22 in Anaheim with the title of “baddest man on the planet” up for grabs.