MMA News
Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou made official for October 28 in Saudi Arabia
Susan Cox - July 11, 2023
Its official – save the date – Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou – October 28th in Saudi Arabia. ESPN Boxing Insider, Mike Coppinger took to ‘Twitter’ with a picture of Fury and Ngannou and the news:
Kevin Lee announces his retirement from the UFC
Susan Cox - July 11, 2023
Kevin Lee has announced his retirement from the UFC. ‘The Motown Phenom’ (18-8 MMA) most recently fought Rinat Fakhretdinov (21-1 MMA) on Saturday July 1st in a welterweight bout. The outcome was a submission win for ‘Gladiator’ at 0:55 of Round 1.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 130 with Terrance McKinney, Austin Lingo, and Evan Elder
Cole Shelton - July 11, 2023
The 130th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC Vegas 77 this Saturday. We’re first joined by UFC lightweight Terrance McKinney (2:06). Next, UFC featherweight Austin Lingo (15:04) comes on. Closing out the program is UFC lightweight Evan Elder (23:14).
Miesha Tate says there is a new lease on life for UFC bantamweights following Amanda Nunes’ retirement: “There’s no way any of us were beating her”
Harry Kettle - July 11, 2023
Miesha Tate believes there’s a new lease on life for the UFC women’s bantamweight division following the retirement of Amanda Nunes. Last month, Amanda Nunes retired from mixed martial arts. She did so as a two-weight UFC champion, going out on top – something very few fighters are able to do. In doing so, she vacated both belts, including the bantamweight strap – a championship she had to win back from Julianna Pena.
Israel Adesanya takes aim at Dricus du Plessis for “playing the victim” after heated confrontation at UFC 290
Harry Kettle - July 11, 2023
Israel Adesanya has taken aim at Dricus du Plessis following their confrontation at UFC 290 last weekend. On Saturday night, Dricus du Plessis secured the biggest win of his career thus far with a dominant performance and finish over Robert Whittaker. Based on the reaction, we’d say it was deemed a pretty big upset in the eyes of many.
Geoff Neal sounds off after upcoming opponent Ian Garry wore a t-shirt with his mugshot to UFC 290: “He’s dead”
Harry Kettle - July 11, 2023
Geoff Neal and his father have gone off on Ian Garry for wearing a t-shirt with his mugshot on as the countdown to their fight continues. At UFC 292 next month in Boston, Geoff Neal and Ian Garry are set to go head to head. For Garry, he’ll be aiming to maintain his unbeaten record. For Neal, he’ll try and get back on the winning trail after his fascinating contest with Shavkat Rakhmonov earlier this year. Both still view themselves as welterweight contenders, but there’s certainly more hype on the Garry train right now.
Robert Whittaker issues statement following TKO loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290
Chris Taylor - July 10, 2023
Robert Whittaker has issued a statement following his TKO loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290. Whittaker (24-7 MMA), the promotion’s former middleweight title holder, collided with surging 185lbs contender Du Plessis (20-2 MMA) on the main card of Saturday’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas. It was a high stakes matchup as the winner would be awarded the next title shot against reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
What's next for the stars of UFC 290?
Cole Shelton - July 10, 2023
The annual International Fight Week card took place on Saturday night in Las Vegas and UFC 290 did not disappoint. In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski was defending his featherweight title against the interim champ, Yair Rodriguez. The co-main event saw Brandon Moreno looking to defend his flyweight title against Alexandre Pantoja in their third meeting.
Michael Chandler defends Conor McGregor's coaching on TUF 31: "Conor's getting a little bit of a raw deal"
Cole Shelton - July 10, 2023
Michael Chandler thinks Conor McGregor is getting a raw deal on TUF 31. Chandler and McGregor are serving as the coaches of the show and so far, Team Chandler is a perfect 6-0 in the fights. As well, on the show, McGregor isn’t seen at weigh-ins and some contestants on the show have said he isn’t always there for training. However, Michael Chandler says that is not true, as it was only weigh-ins that Conor McGregor never attended.
Wanderlei Silva announces November boxing debut against Brazilian bodybuilder Felipe Franco
Josh Evanoff - July 10, 2023
MMA legend Wanderlei Silva will be making his boxing debut against Felipe Franco in November. ‘The Axe Murderer’ has been out of action for nearly five years, last facing Rampage Jackson. That was the fourth fight between the two, taking place at Bellator 206 in September 2018. There, Wanderlei Silva came up short, losing by second-round knockout moving the series to 2-2.
Alexander Volkanovski slams 'delusional' Ilia Topuria: "Do you watch me fight?"
Josh Evanoff - July 10, 2023
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has some choice words for Ilia Topuria. ‘The Great’ returned to the cage for yet another title defense against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290. While ‘El Pantera’ held interim gold stemming from a destructive win over Josh Emmett in February, he was no match. In the pay-per-view headliner, Alexander Volkanovski dominated en route to a fourth-round knockout win.
Brandon Moreno issues statement following title loss to Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290
Josh Evanoff - July 10, 2023
Former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno has released a statement following his loss to Alexandre Pantoja. On Saturday night, ‘The Assassin Baby’ made his highly-anticipated return to the cage. In the co-main event of UFC 290, Brandon Moreno faced ‘The Cannibal’. While it wasn’t highly publicized leading into the contest, the two had fought previously, including a fight on The Ultimate Fighter. In both contests, Alexandre Pantoja prevailed.
Newly crowned UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja reveals he was driving for Uber Eats two fight’s ago
Josh Evanoff - July 10, 2023
UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja has only become a full-time fighter again recently. ‘The Cannibal’ made his return to the cage at UFC 290 on Saturday night against Brandon Moreno. While many likely didn’t know, the contest was actually a trilogy bout. In prior outings in 2016 and 2018, Alexandre Pantoja claimed victories over ‘The Assassin Baby’.
Stipe Miocic plans to prove that he deserves to be “the heavyweight champ" at UFC 295 against Jon Jones
Cole Shelton - July 10, 2023
Stipe Miocic is ready to be the UFC’s heavyweight champion again. Miocic is set to headline UFC 295 on November 11 at Madison Square Garden against Jon Jones. It’s an intriguing matchup and one Jones called for after he became the UFC’s heavyweight champ back in March. However, the hope was the fight would’ve happened on Saturday at International Fight Week, but Miocic is fine with having to wait until November.
Sean O’Malley believes Aljamain Sterling’s large weight cut will play a factor at UFC 292: “That brain liquid goes away, it doesn’t take many shots”
Susan Cox - July 10, 2023
Sean O’Malley believes Aljamain Sterling’s large weight cut will play a factor in their title fight at UFC 292. UFC 292 takes place on Saturday, August 19th at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Sean Strickland says “there’s a chance” that he and Ali Abdelaziz will be fist fighting: “I’m really hoping that I see Ali”
Susan Cox - July 10, 2023
Sean Strickland is saying ‘there’s a chance’ that he and Ali Abdelaziz will be fist fighting. The controversial middleweight, Sean Strickland, claims he still has a score to settle with Ali Abdelaziz following his most recent fight.
Watch | Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum share wholesome moment at UFC 290 (Video)
Susan Cox - July 10, 2023
Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum shared a wholesome moment at UFC 290. UFC 290 took place last Saturday, July 8th, at the T-Mobile Arena facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Charles Oliveira says he will “not be ready” to fight Islam Makhachev at October’s UFC 294 event in Abu Dhabi
Harry Kettle - July 10, 2023
Charles Oliveira has revealed that he will not be ready in time to take on Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 in October. Earlier this year, Charles Oliveira got back to winning ways in style. He finished Beneil Dariush in their title eliminator match-up, setting himself up for a rematch with Islam Makhachev. As many fans remember, Makhachev was able to dethrone ‘Do Bronx’ and capture the UFC lightweight championship last year.