MMA News

Brandon Royval
Exclusive MMA Interviews

UFC 290 backup fighter Brandon Royval breaks down Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2

Cole Shelton - July 5, 2023

Brandon Royval is more than ready to fight for UFC gold on Saturday night at UFC 290. In the co-main event of UFC 290, Brandon Moreno is looking to defend his flyweight title as he takes on Alexandre Pantoja. The two have fought twice – with Pantoja winning both, although one was on TUF so it was ruled an exhibition.

Robbie Lawler and UFC 290
UFC

Robbie Lawler explains when he realized UFC 290 would be his retirement fight

Cole Shelton - July 5, 2023

Robbie Lawler will be making the walk to the Octagon for the final time on Saturday at UFC 290. Lawler made his MMA debut in 2001 and made his UFC debut at UFC 37 in 2002. After a seven-fight UFC stint, he left to fight in different promotions but returned to the Las Vegas-based promotion in 2013 and has been a member of the UFC roster since then.

Kevin Lee
UFC

Coach says he saw 'warning signs' ahead of Kevin Lee's failed UFC comeback

Susan Cox - July 5, 2023

Coach Javier Mendez says he saw ‘warning signs’ ahead of Kevin Lee’s failed comeback at UFC Vegas 76. Kevin Lee (19-8 MMA) returned to the Octagon to face Rinat Fakhretdinov (21-1 MMA) this past Saturday, July 1st at UFC Vegas 76. Unfortunately for Lee, he was defeated by guillotine choke at 00 :55 of Round 1.

Dillon Danis and Alex Pereira
Bellator

WATCH | Dillon Danis shares recent training video with Alex Pereira

Cole Shelton - July 5, 2023

Dillon Danis recently trained with former UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira. Danis has recently rekindled his relationship with Conor McGregor and posted photos of the two training with one another. In addition, Danis also posted some videos of him training with former UFC middleweight title holder Alex Pereira. In the video, Dillon Danis is seen wrestling ‘Poatan’, and he had success getting him down and keeping him there.

Jorge Masvidal and KSI
Jorge Masvidal

Jorge Masvidal rejects potential fight with KSI: "That's the dude throwing elbows in boxing!"

Josh Evanoff - July 5, 2023

Former UFC welterweight title challenger Jorge Masvidal has no interest in facing KSI, and he believes it’s mutual. ‘Gamebred’ retired in April, having suffered four losses in a row inside the octagon. Following his loss to Gilbert Burns in Miami, the former title challenger announced his retirement. However, Jorge Masvidal has routinely teased that he could return to fighting, but in the boxing ring instead.

Alexander Volkanovski and Aljamain Sterling
Aljamain Sterling

Alexander Volkanovski offers Aljamain Sterling chance at champ-champ status: "Paid his dues"

Josh Evanoff - July 5, 2023

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is willing to offer Aljamain Sterling a chance at history. ‘The Great’ is currently slated to return in the main event of UFC 290 this Saturday night. There, the featherweight champion will face Yair Rodriguez, who captured interim gold this February. The bout will be Alexander Volkanovski’s first since his loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 284.

Jake Paul and Conor McGregor
Jake Paul

Jake Paul eyeing MMA fight with Conor McGregor after Nate Diaz: "I'm not afraid"

Josh Evanoff - July 5, 2023

Boxing star Jake Paul is ready to step into the cage with Conor McGregor after his August clash with Nate Diaz. ‘The Problem Child’ is currently slated to face the Stockton native later this year. The two will headline a DAZN pay-per-view offering, Jake Paul’s first since his loss to Tommy Fury in February. Following that loss to ‘TNT’, the YouTuber-turned-boxer called for an instant rematch.

Julianna Pena
Julianna Pena

Julianna Pena still frustrated by Amanda Nunes retiring: "We do have unfinished business"

Josh Evanoff - July 5, 2023

Nearly a month on from UFC 289, Julianna Pena is still upset about Amanda Nunes’ retirement. ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ has been out of the cage since her rematch with ‘The Lioness’ last July. The bout took place just six months after Julianna Pena shook up the world, submitting the Brazilian. However, in the rematch, she was dominated by Amanda Nunes, who reclaimed the gold by unanimous decision.

Brendan Schaub
Francis Ngannou

Brendan Schaub reacts to rumored Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury exhibition match

Susan Cox - July 5, 2023

Brendan Schaub is reacting to the rumored Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury exhibition match. According to sources, Tyson Fury’s next fight will be an exhibition bout against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

Alexander Volkanovski
UFC

Alex Volkanovski will not shy away from striking battle with Yair Rodriguez: “Taekwondo Volk's gonna come for Yair”

Susan Cox - July 5, 2023

Alex Volkanovski is not shying away from a striking battle with Yair Rodriguez. It will be this coming Saturday, July 8th at UFC 290 where Alexander Volkanovski (25-2 MMA) will meet Yair Rodriguez (16-3 MMA) in the featherweight main event title fight.

Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja
Brandon Moreno

UFC 290 | Pro fighters make their picks for Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2 title fight

Cole Shelton - July 5, 2023

In the co-main event of UFC 290, Brandon Moreno looks to defend his flyweight title as he rematches Alexandre Pantoja. It’s technically the third fight as they fought on TUF but it was an exhibition so it doesn’t count, but Pantoja has won both of them. Heading into the fight, Moreno is a -205 favorite while the Brazilian is a +158 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight at UFC 290, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros are split in this one but the slight majority lean towards Moreno getting his hand raised and defending his belt.

Henry Cejudo, Conor McGregor
Henry Cejudo

Henry Cejudo trolls Conor McGregor over his upcoming court case: “It’ll be the 1st win you get this decade”

Harry Kettle - July 5, 2023

Henry Cejudo has taken a shot at Conor McGregor as the Irishman continues to deal with recent legal issues. Conor McGregor’s future is uncertain, to put it lightly. The expectation in recent months has been that he would return to the Octagon to take on Michael Chandler. Unfortunately, given that he has yet to enroll back into the USADA testing pool, it doesn’t seem like that’ll happen anytime soon. Instead, the former two-weight UFC champion has been dealing with some legal problems related to his appearance at a Miami Heat game.

Yair Rodriguez, UFC Mexico
Yair Rodriguez

Photo | Yair Rodriguez introduces custom-made featherweight belt ahead of UFC 290

Harry Kettle - July 5, 2023

Yair Rodriguez has shown off the custom-made belt he has received ahead of his title fight at UFC 290 this weekend. After winning the UFC interim featherweight championship, Yair Rodriguez knew his next task was Alexander Volkanovski. ‘The Great’ is one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the sport and this Saturday, the two will collide as they unify the gold at 145 pounds. While Volkanovski is the favorite, many believe Rodriguez has what it takes to shock the world.

Robbie Lawler
UFC

Video | The Ultimate Fighting Championship pays tribute to Robbie Lawler ahead of his final fight at UFC 290

Harry Kettle - July 5, 2023

The UFC has released a tribute video to Robbie Lawler as he prepares for the final fight of his career with the promotion. Over the course of the last few decades, Robbie Lawler has made memories that will last a lifetime. The 41-year-old has been there and done it all, fighting the best of the best ever since his debut in 2001. He’s been to the very top, too, capturing the UFC welterweight championship in late 2014 before successfully defending it twice.

Dricus Du Plessis UFC 290
Exclusive MMA Interviews

Dricus Du Plessis plans to prove he's the "new star" by finishing "gatekeeper" Robert Whittaker at UFC 290

Cole Shelton - July 4, 2023

Dricus Du Plessis is ready to make a statement at UFC 290. Du Plessis is set to take on Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator fight on the main card in Las Vegas on Saturday. While the booking admittedly came as a bit of a surprise, the South African was fine taking the fight as he wants to earn his title shot by beating the best.

Cris Lencioni
Cris Lencioni

WATCH | Bellator's Cris Lencioni takes his first steps since suffering brain injury from cardiac arrest

Cole Shelton - July 4, 2023

Cris Lencioni has started to walk again. Lencioni – who fights for Bellator – recently had a cardiac arrest while he was practicing which resulted in brain damage. After being in a coma, he was released from ICU as he started to get healthier. It was massive news that Lencioni was starting to get healthy – as doctors told Lencoini’s wife only around 10 percent of people survive what happened to him.

Alexander Volkanovski and Robert Whittaker
Dricus du Plessis

Alexander Volkanovski rips people that think Dricus Du Plessis will beat Robert Whittaker at UFC 290

Cole Shelton - July 4, 2023

Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t think Robert Whittaker vs. Dricus Du Plessis will be all that competitive. Whittaker is set to take on Du Plessis on the main card of UFC 290 as the fight serves as a title eliminator. It’s a crucial fight and one the Aussie is a sizeable betting favorite in. However, Dricus Du Plessis is confident he has all the tools to beat Robert Whittaker and finish him.

Khabib-Nurmagomedov
UFC

Khabib Nurmagomedov 'had enough' of USADA says Javier Mendez

Zain Bando - July 4, 2023

After two years of speculation, the truth is finally out about why Khabib Nurmagomedov, the former UFC lightweight champion from 2018-2021, retired from the sport of MMA. Khabib Nurmagomedov left the UFC early on in 2021 after Dustin Poirier exacted revenge on Conor McGregor. There were hints that he might return if a McGregor rematch materialized, as UFC president Dana White hinted at the possibility in a ’Dana White: Lookin’ For a Fight’ episode a week ahead of McGregor-Poirier 2. Obviously, it never did.