MMA News
Raul Rosas Jr. responds to criticism surrounding his main card placement at UFC 287
Zain Bando - April 5, 2023
Raul Rosas Jr. didn’t mince words ahead of his UFC 287 bantamweight bout against Christian Rodriguez. The 18-year-old Rosas Jr. lived up to his billing with a quick first-round win against Jay Perrin in December, and now, he’s letting everyone in the know that he’s here to stay. “I don’t know who said that, but at the end of the day, they’re all just hating,” Rosas said Wednesday during media day. “They should take some notes if they want to be on the pay-per-view card. They should take some notes and learn some stuff from me. I already got in the UFC and I’m already on the pay-per-view, not like other regular fighters that are prelim fighters. I don’t want to say names, but yeah.”
Alexander Volkanovski and Robert Whittaker dress up as pro wrestling icons Stone Cold and Hulk Hogan after UFC-WWE Merger
Susan Cox - April 5, 2023
Alexander Volkanovski and Robert Whittaker dressed up as pro-wrestling icons Stone Cold and Hulk Hogan following the UFC-WWE merger. It was just this past Monday, April 3rd, that the announcement was made that UFC’s parent company, Endeavor, bought a majority share in WWE (World Wresting Entertainment) to combine the two promotions into one publicly traded sports and entertainment entity.
Jorge Masvidal questions how Colby Covington can fight for the belt while claiming he has a "brain injury": "I didn’t do s**t to him"
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2023
Jorge Masvidal doesn’t understand how Colby Covington can get the next title shot. After Leon Edwards defended his belt at UFC 286, Dana White announced Covington would be next and the fight is now targeted to happen in London in July. Yet, Masvidal is confused about how ‘Chaos’ can even fight as Covington is claiming that Masvidal gave him a brain injury in an alleged assault last year.
Adrian Yanez hopes to secure Sean O'Malley fight after "starching" Rob Font at UFC 287
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2023
Adrian Yanez is ready to show the mainstream just how good he is. Yanez is set to make his pay-per-view debut on Saturday in the featured fight right before the main and co-main events. It’s a massive opportunity as he will also be facing the sixth-ranked bantamweight in Rob Font who is someone Yanez knows likes to bring the fight.
Gilbert Burns calls for opportunity to slap Brock Lesnar after WWE-UFC merger made official: "He cannot push DC like that"
Josh Evanoff - April 5, 2023
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns is ready to get revenge for Daniel Cormier. ‘Durinho’ is slated to return this weekend at UFC 287 against Jorge Masvidal. The bout will be the Brazilian’s first since January when he submitted Neil Magny. Meanwhile, ‘Gamebred’ enters the contest riding a three-fight losing streak with losses to Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington.
Kayla Harrison reveals that uncertainty with tournament and Cris Cyborg's future could lead to missing all of 2023: "Just trying to stay patient"
Josh Evanoff - April 5, 2023
Former PFL women’s lightweight tournament winner Kayla Harrison is unsure of her future. The Judoka has been out of action since her trilogy bout with Larissa Pacheco last November. While the pair headlined PFL’s maiden voyage on pay-per-view, few expected the matchup to be competitive. In their previous two matchups, Harrison dominated and won every single round.
VIDEO | Kevin Holland gets into verbal altercation with Jorge Masvidal at fighter hotel ahead of UFC 287
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2023
Kevin Holland had plenty to say when he saw Jorge Masvidal at the fighter hotel at UFC 287. Holland is set to face Santiago Ponzinibbio on the pay-per-view main card while Masvidal is in the co-main event against Gilbert Burns. Although the welterweights aren’t fighting one another, that didn’t stop them from getting into a verbal altercation at the fighter hotel.
Justin Gaethje reveals when he plans to retire from MMA: "Ultimately it is the backend of my career in this sport"
Josh Evanoff - April 5, 2023
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje only has a few more years left in him. ‘The Highlight’ is fresh off his lightweight showcase with Rafael Fiziev last month in London. In the co-main event of UFC 286, the two put on a classic. Ultimately, it was Gaethje who earned the win by majority decision after 15 minutes of action.
Israel Adesanya plans to remind everyone "how great” he is at UFC 287: "What if I butcher him and beat the f**k out of him"
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2023
Israel Adesanya is ready to remind everyone why he was the UFC’s middleweight champion. Adesanya is coming off a fifth-round TKO loss to Alex Pereira back in November to lose his belt. It was also the third time he has lost to Pereira in combat sports as the Brazilian beat Adesanya twice in kickboxing.
Anthony Pettis expresses interest in fighting Anderson Silva following his recent victory over Roy Jones Jr.: "That was supposed to happen in the UFC”
Susan Cox - April 5, 2023
Anthony Pettis is expressing interest in fighting Anderson Silva following his recent victory over boxing Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. It was at Gamebred Boxing 4, at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin last Saturday night, that featured Anthony Pettis’ boxing debut against Roy Jones Jr. in the main event.
Daniel Cormier praises Conor McGregor for his ability to turn opponents into stars: “He has elevated two of my best friends”
Susan Cox - April 5, 2023
Daniel Cormier is praising Conor McGregor for his ability to turn opponents into stars. Conor McGregor (22-6 MMA) joined the UFC in 2013 and will be marking his tenth anniversary with the promotion this August. ‘Notorious’ has not fought in the Octagon since July of 2021 where he went down to defeat against Dustin Poirier (29-7 MMA) via way of TKO.
UFC 287 | Pro fighters make their picks for Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2023
In the main event of UFC 287, the middleweight title is up for grabs as Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya have their rematch in MMA. Heading into the fight, Pereira is a +114 underdog while the challenger is a -146 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros have a slight lean towards Adesanya getting the belt back but many think Pereira’s power will be too much for the former champ.
Justin Gaethje explains why Michael Bisping is not his favorite UFC commentator: “I'm a pretty petty person, and, you know, some things you don't forget”
Harry Kettle - April 5, 2023
UFC fighter Justin Gaethje has explained why Michael Bisping isn’t exactly his favourite commentator in the promotion. Back at UFC 286, Michael Bisping was on commentary for the duration of the event. In the co-main event of that card, Justin Gaethje fought and defeated Rafael Fiziev. Then, in the main event, Leon Edwards was able to beat Kamaru Usman via decision in their trilogy bout.
Chael Sonnen says it’s time for Francis Ngannou to “wake up” and call Dana White: “Everyday he’s not signed, he’s losing”
Harry Kettle - April 5, 2023
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has given Francis Ngannou some advice as he continues to play the field in free agency. Ever since leaving the UFC earlier this year, many have wondered what Francis Ngannou’s next move will be. The popular opinion, given he wants to be paid well, is that he’ll enter the world of professional boxing.
Eddie Alvarez calls out Nate Diaz for BKFC fight to settle 2015 incident: “We’re not in the third grade here dude”
Harry Kettle - April 5, 2023
Former UFC star Eddie Alvarez has called out Nate Diaz for a fight in BKFC to settle an incident that happened eight years ago. Ever since leaving the UFC, Nate Diaz has been one of the hottest free agents out there alongside Francis Ngannou. Everyone, and we mean everyone, wants to get in there and mix it up with the king of Stockton.
Rob Font plans to "mix it up" and submit Adrian Yanez at UFC 287 to silence his doubters: "I want to get him down and get him out of there"
Cole Shelton - April 4, 2023
Rob Font is excited to remind everyone just how good he is at UFC 287. Font will be making his return to the Octagon for the first time in a year after losing a decision to Marlon Vera. The 35-year-old knew he needed to take some time off absorbing a lot of damage in back-to-back fights with ‘Chito’ and Jose Aldo.
Jorge Masvidal sends a warning to Gilbert Burns ahead of UFC 287: "You know what I do to crotch sniffers"
Cole Shelton - April 4, 2023
Jorge Masvidal has sent a warning to Gilbert Burns ahead of UFC 287. Masvidal is set to return to the Octagon in the co-main event of UFC 287 against Burns in a highly-anticipated fight. It’s also an important scrap for Masvidal’s career as he is on a three-fight losing skid and has hinted at retirement if he loses.
Paul Heyman warns "clown" Conor McGregor of "picking a fight" with Roman Reigns after UFC-WWE merger
Cole Shelton - April 4, 2023
Paul Heyman doesn’t see a fight between Conor McGregor and Roman Reigns ending well for the Irishman. After Endeavor bought WWE and merged them with the UFC, McGregor tweeted a photo of himself holding a UFC and WWE belt. Heyman then took a shot at him to which the Irishman fired back saying he would break his jaw in three different places.