MMA News
Aspen Ladd plans to "start faster" at PFL 5 believing she needs "a first-round finish" to advance to playoffs
Cole Shelton - June 13, 2023
Aspen Ladd knows the stakes are high for her 2023 PFL 5 fight against Karolina Sobek. Ladd lost her season-opening fight by a majority decision to Olena Kolesnyk. It was a close fight that Ladd really took over late in the bout, so with that, she knows she needs to start faster and be aggressive out of the gate.
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.
Alexander Volkanovski eyeing potential BMF title fight if Islam Makhachev is busy: "I can have three belts!"
Josh Evanoff - June 13, 2023
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski still wants to fight Islam Makhachev. ‘The Great’ has been out of action since his trip to lightweight in February. In the main event of UFC 284, Volkanovski faced Islam Makhachev in an instant classic. The two champions went back and forth for 25 minutes, with the lightweight champion retaining his title by unanimous decision.
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.
Francis Ngannou reacts after UFC President Dana White makes offer to Tyson Fury
Susan Cox - June 13, 2023
Francis Ngannou is reacting after UFC President, Dana White, extended an offer to heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury. Just recently, White proposed an MMA fight in the Octagon between Tyson Fury and UFC heavyweight champion, Jon Jones in order to settle who’s the ‘baddest man on the planet’ debate.
Daniel Cormier weighs in on potential rematch between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev
Susan Cox - June 13, 2023
Daniel Cormier is weighing in on a potential rematch between Charles Oliveira and current UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Oliveira (34-9 MMA) most recently defeated Beneil Dariush (22-5 MMA) via TKO at 4:10 of round 1. It all took place at UFC 289 last Saturday, June 10th, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Nate Diaz requests extended rounds for upcoming Jake Paul boxing match, ‘The Problem Child’ accepts
Susan Cox - June 13, 2023
Nate Diaz is requesting extended rounds in the upcoming Jake Paul boxing match and ‘The Problem Child’ has accepted. It will be Nate Diaz vs Jake Paul on Saturday, August 5th at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The event is being billed as ‘Ready 4 War’.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 126 with Aspen Ladd, Modestas Bukauskas, Kyle Daukaus, Miles Johns, and Nikolas Motta
Cole Shelton - June 13, 2023
The 126th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of 2023 PFL 5, UFC Vegas 75, and CFFC 120 this weekend. We’re first joined by PFL featherweight Aspen Ladd (3:05). Next, UFC light heavyweight Modestas Bukauskas (11:58) stops by. Former UFC middleweight and current CFFC fighter Kyle Daukaus (28:57) then comes on. UFC bantamweight Miles Johns (44:53) joins the program. Closing out the show is UFC lightweight Nikolas Motta (57:26).
Nate Diaz scoffs at the idea of Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje fighting for the BMF title: “I don't feel they fit the criteria”
Harry Kettle - June 13, 2023
Nate Diaz has laughed off the idea of Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje competing for the BMF championship. When the BMF title was first created, it happened as a result of the feud between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal. Dana White needed a pay-per-view main event, and he got one. Diaz ultimately wasn’t able to overcome Masvidal, but it was certainly a memorable night of entertainment.
Amanda Nunes explains why she believes Julianna Pena won’t return to UFC champion status
Harry Kettle - June 13, 2023
Amanda Nunes has explained why she doesn’t believe Julianna Pena will become a UFC champion again. Last weekend at UFC 289, Amanda Nunes retired from professional mixed martial arts. She did so after defeating Irene Aldana, cementing her status as the greatest female fighter of all time in the process. Many had been speculating for months that her time was coming and now, we know it to be true.
Jorge Masvidal blasts Conor McGregor over Miami Heat mascot incident: “For that you banned bitch”
Harry Kettle - June 13, 2023
Jorge Masvidal has hit out at Conor McGregor over the Miami Heat mascot incident that took place last week. As many fans know, Jorge Masvidal lives and breathes the city of Miami. It’s where he first made a name for himself, and it’s where he resides to this day.
What's next for the stars of UFC 289?
Cole Shelton - June 12, 2023
The UFC finally returned to Canada for the first time since 2019 as the promotion headed to Vancouver, British Columbia for UFC 289. In the main event, Amanda Nunes was looking to defend her bantamweight title against Irene Aldana who took the fight on short notice after Julianna Pena was forced out of the scrap. The co-main event saw a pivotal lightweight bout go down as Charles Oliveira took on Beneil Dariush.
Jamahal Hill says it's "next man up" as Jiri Prochazka title fight keeps getting delayed
Cole Shelton - June 12, 2023
Jamahal Hill is ready to move on from Jiri Prochazka. Back in January, Hill became the UFC’s light heavyweight champion as he beat Glover Teixeira by decision to win the vacant title. Since then, he has been adamant about wanting to face Jiri Prochazka, who is the former champ that had to vacate the belt due to a shoulder injury.
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev says the BMF title is for bums
Cole Shelton - June 12, 2023
Islam Makhachev has taken aim at the BMF belt. Makhachev is the current UFC lightweight champion, but in the main event of UFC 291, two of the top 155lbs contenders in Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje are set to collide for the BMF belt. Many fans have mixed feelings on the belt and Makhachev says the BMF belt is for bums.
Julianna Pena reveals coach had to talk her out of storming cage during Amanda Nunes retirement speech: "Be classy"
Josh Evanoff - June 12, 2023
Things nearly got a bit ugly following the UFC 289 main event bout between Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes on Saturday. In the main event, Amanda Nunes returned for yet another title defense. She was initially slated to face ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ in a rare trilogy bout, however, Julianna Pena was forced to withdraw due to injury. As a result, Irene Aldana was given the nod to the short-notice pay-per-view headliner.