MMA News
Boxing champion Regis Prograis reflects on sparring session with Nate Diaz: "We just beat each other up"
Josh Evanoff - June 14, 2023
WBC light welterweight champion Regis Prograis has discussed sparring with Nate Diaz. The Stockton slugger is set to return in August, in his first fight since leaving the UFC last September. However, this won’t be a fight in a cage. Instead, it’ll be Nate Diaz’s boxing debut, as he’s slated to face Jake Paul in August on DAZN pay-per-view. ‘The Problem Child’ is coming off a decision loss to Tommy Fury in February.
Conor McGregor reportedly has two days to enter USADA testing pool in order to fight in 2023
Cole Shelton - June 14, 2023
Time is running out on Conor McGregor if he wants to fight in 2023. Ever since it was announced McGregor would coach TUF 31 opposite Michael Chandler, many expect the two to fight at the end of the year. However, a major holdup has been that the Irishman is not in the USADA testing pool but last month, USADA came out and said McGregor would be back in the pool shortly.
Ian Machado Garry booked to return at UFC 292 opposite Geoff Neal
Cole Shelton - June 14, 2023
Ian Machado Garry will get the toughest test of his career at UFC 292 as he looks to break into the top 10 of the welterweight division. RTE Sport first broke the news that Garry is set to return to the Octagon at UFC 292 on August 19 in Boston, Massachusetts against Geoff Neal. The news was later confirmed by Garry on social media, who posted about the matchup. The main event of the pay-per-view card sees Aljamain Sterling defending his bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley.
Bellator 297: Yoel Romero says the MMA community ‘knows what happened’ in last title fight appearance
Zain Bando - June 14, 2023
Yoel Romero has not forgotten what happened the last time he competed in Chicago. The 46-year-old Cuban light heavyweight was on the wrong end of a 2018 middleweight title fight with Robert Whittaker, a fight many believed Romero did enough to earn a decision.
Official main card lineup announced for next month’s UFC London event
Susan Cox - June 14, 2023
The official main card lineup for next month’s UFC London event has been announced. UFC London will take place on Saturday July 22nd at the O2 Arena in London, England.
Michael Chandler eyes rematch with “absolute savage” Charles Oliveira following UFC 289: “See you at the top”
Susan Cox - June 14, 2023
Michael Chandler is eyeing a rematch with ‘absolute savage’ Charles Oliveira following the former champ’s win at UFC 289. The lightweight co-main event at UFC 289 took place last Saturday, June 10th and saw Charles Oliveira (34-9 MMA) vs Beneil Dariush (22-5 MMA) with ‘do Bronx’ achieving victory by knockout at 4:10 of Round 1 (see that here).
Israel Adesanya believes Francis Ngannou’s split with the UFC will be short-lived: “The story's not over yet”
Susan Cox - June 14, 2023
Israel Adesanya believes Francis Ngannou’s split with the UFC will be short-lived. Ngannou and the UFC parted ways in January of this year after ongoing contract negotiations ultimately failed.
Pro fighters make their picks for Marvin Vettori vs. Jared Cannonier
Cole Shelton - June 14, 2023
In the main event of UFC Vegas 75, a battle of top-five middleweights goes down as Marvin Vettori takes on Jared Cannonier. Heading into the fight, Vettori is a -120 favorite while the American is a slight -106 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight at UFC Vegas 75, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their predictions for the scrap. The pros lean towards Vettori getting his hand raised, likely by decision in what should be a close, competitive fight.
Nate Landwehr issues statement following loss to Dan Ige at UFC 289: “Ain’t no shame in my game man”
Harry Kettle - June 14, 2023
UFC fighter Nate Landwehr has issued a statement following his defeat to Dan Ige at UFC 289 last weekend. Any fans who have watched UFC in the last few years will know just how exciting Nate Landwehr is. The 35-year-old is the kind of fighter who never gives up, and he always wants to put on a show for the fans. Heading into his meeting with Dan Ige on Saturday night, he was riding a three-fight win streak with all three victories landing him a bonus.
Miranda Maverick reveals she received death threats and messages to commit suicide following loss at UFC 289: “It is insane”
Harry Kettle - June 14, 2023
UFC fighter Miranda Maverick has opened up on some of the disturbing messages she’s received since her fight last weekend. For a long time now, Miranda Maverick has been seen as an interesting prospect in the women’s flyweight division. At the age of just 25, she already has a great set of tools – and has many years ahead of her to continue developing them.
Watch | Jorge Masvidal attends Donald Trump’s post-arraignment gathering in Little Havana: “We got your back”
Harry Kettle - June 14, 2023
Jorge Masvidal has come out in support of former president Donald Trump following his post-arraignment gathering in Little Havana. While he may be retired from mixed martial arts, Jorge Masvidal is still pretty active in the media spotlight. From interviews to his business ventures, he still wants everyone to know he’s around. The former BMF title holder has several interests outside of fighting and as many of you know, one of them is politics.
Modestas Bukauskas says fighting back at the Apex is a chance to "change the script," vows to finish Zac Pauga
Cole Shelton - June 13, 2023
Modestas Bukauskas wanted to fight in London in July but is ready for redemption at the UFC Apex. Bukauskas was re-signed by the UFC earlier this year as he took on Tyson Pedro on short notice at UFC 284. Heading into the fight, the former Cage Warriors champ was a sizeable underdog but shocked many when he pulled off a decision win.
WATCH | Alex Pereira shares footage of sparring with former opponent Sean Strickland
Cole Shelton - June 13, 2023
Alex Pereira and Sean Strickland did end up sparring with one another. Pereira recently revealed that Strickland was going to Connecticut and the two were going to train and spar with one another. The Brazilian also planned to learn some trash talk and English from Strickland. Although the two are former opponents, both Pereira and Strickland seem kind to one another, and in the sparring video, the American made it clear to keep his hand up.
Aljamain Sterling questions Sean O'Malley's KO power, believes he'll finish "Suga" in the first round at UFC 292
Cole Shelton - June 13, 2023
Aljamain Sterling is confident he will be able to finish Sean O’Malley early at UFC 292. Sterling is set to defend his bantamweight title in the main event of the pay-per-view card in a highly-anticipated bout. The champ is the betting favorite but many point to O’Malley’s KO power as a path to victory. However, Sterling questions how much power O’Malley truly has as he thinks many fans overrate it.
Henry Cejudo wants to settle "bad blood" against Brandon Moreno or fight Max Holloway at 145lbs if Merab Dvalishvili isn't healthy in time
Cole Shelton - June 13, 2023
Henry Cejudo has two names in mind if Merab Dvalishvili isn’t able to get healthy in a timely fashion. Dvalishvili recently underwent surgery and when he will be able to fight again is uncertain. With that, Cejudo says he wants to remain active so if he can’t fight Dvalishvili, he would like to settle his bad blood against Brandon Moreno, but it would have to be at 135lbs, as he can’t see himself fighting at flyweight again.
Max Holloway praises former opponent Charles Oliveira and calls for Islam Makhachev rematch: "Excited to watch it"
Josh Evanoff - June 13, 2023
Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has high praise for Charles Oliveira. ‘Do Bronx’ returned to the octagon over the weekend at UFC 289 in the co-main event. There, he faced Beneil Dariush in a title eliminator fight, with champion Islam Makhachev currently waiting for his next opponent. The two lightweights were highly motivated by that potential title shot headed into Saturday night.
Francis Ngannou confirms "advanced discussions" with Deontay Wilder for two-fight deal
Josh Evanoff - June 13, 2023
PFL heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou has confirmed ongoing talks with Deontay Wilder. ‘The Predator’ has been out of the cage for well over a year, since his win over Ciryl Gane in January 2022. That victory went down as his last in the octagon, as he became a free agent earlier this year. In March, Ngannou signed with the PFL, ending his MMA free agency.
Alexander Volkanovski explains why he thinks Yair Rodriguez is the "most dangerous" fighter he's fought
Cole Shelton - June 13, 2023
UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski has shared some high praise for his upcoming opponent Yair Rodriguez. Volkanovski is set to defend his featherweight title in the main event of UFC 290 – in his first fight since losing to Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title. Although Volkanovski is a sizeable betting favorite, he believes Rodriguez is a more dangerous fight than Makhachev and any other opponent he has faced.