MMA News
Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili set to headline UFC Fight Night event on March 11
Harry Kettle - January 18, 2023
Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili are set to meet in the main event of a UFC Fight Night on March 11, Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. The bantamweight division is as stacked as it has ever been. From the top 15 to the rising prospects, there’s a whole lot to like at 135 pounds. In terms of the elite, however, there are a few contenders that stand out above the rest.
Jon Jones won’t reveal how much he’ll weigh in heavyweight debut at UFC 285: “I want Ciryl to see me for the first time and it be a nice surprise”
Cole Shelton - January 17, 2023
Jon Jones won’t let anyone know his weight until he steps onto the scales. Jones is set to make his heavyweight debut for the vacant title in the main event of UFC 285 on March 4 against Ciryl Gane. The fight marks Jones’ heavyweight debut which is something he has teased for years but he won’t be telling anyone what he plans on weighing until he steps onto the scale on weigh-in day.
Terrance McKinney plans to silence the crowd at UFC 283 with a KO win over Ismael Bonfim: "I think it might be something crazy, fans should expect something insane"
Cole Shelton - January 17, 2023
Terrance McKinney has said his dream was to fight in Brazil and he now gets his wish at UFC 283. McKinney is set to face Ismael Bonfim at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Although McKinney is fighting a UFC newcomer, he says the reason he took this fight is because it is in Brazil, which has been his dream to fight there.
Jon Jones lays out his goals for upcoming heavyweight run: "I'm guaranteeing the fans at least two more fights"
Cole Shelton - January 17, 2023
Jon Jones has laid out his ideal plan for his upcoming UFC heavyweight run. Jones is set to return to the Octagon in the main event of UFC 285 against Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title. It’s an intriguing matchup and it also marks the return of Jones who has not fought since 2020.
Dana White slams critics concerned about brain damage in Power Slap league: "If you don't f*cking like it, don't watch it"
Josh Evanoff - January 17, 2023
Dana White has a message for those concerned about brain damage in his upcoming Power Slap league. Last year, the UFC president announced his newest venture, as he revealed the Power Slap league. The new sport quickly received clearance from the Nevada State Athletic Commission to proceed. In the process, they established several rules for the upstart league, slated to hold events at the UFC Apex.
Johnny Walker not ruling out grappling with Paul Craig, plans to get a stoppage win at UFC 283: "If 2023 goes the way I want, I get the title shot in 2024"
Cole Shelton - January 17, 2023
Johnny Walker is prepared to grapple at UFC 283. Walker is set to be on the pay-per-view main card against Paul Craig in an intriguing matchup at light heavyweight. It’s also exciting for Walker as he gets to fight at home in Rio de Janeiro in front of his friends and family.
Leon Edwards admits he's rooting for Jorge Masvidal to secure title shot: "He just keeps losing so it’s hard to make the fight make sense"
Josh Evanoff - January 17, 2023
UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards is rooting for Jorge Masvidal’s success. ‘Gamebred’ has been out of action since his clash with Colby Covington last March at UFC 272. In that outing, Masvidal was dominated, losing by a lopsided unanimous decision. Weeks following the incident, he reportedly assaulted ‘Chaos’ in a Miami bar. He’s currently facing several charges in connection to the incident.
Francis Ngannou reveals plans to make boxing debut in July and names Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua as ideal opponents
Josh Evanoff - January 17, 2023
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is preparing to make his boxing debut in July, and hopefully against a big name. ‘The Predator’ has been out of action since his heavyweight title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. Despite fighting with a devastating knee injury, Ngannou prevailed, using his wrestling en route to a unanimous decision victory last January.
Michael Bisping weighs in after Francis Ngannou parts ways with the UFC: “I think he’s mishandled that”
Susan Cox - January 17, 2023
Michael Bisping is weighing in after Francis Ngannou parts ways with the UFC. In a press conference last Saturday, January 14th, UFC President Dana White made the following statement:
Francis Ngannou unfazed by Dana White's comments, not ruling out a return to the UFC in the future: "Never say never"
Cole Shelton - January 17, 2023
Francis Ngannou wasn’t surprised by Dana White’s comments after it was announced he was released from the UFC. For months, it was reported that Ngannou and the UFC were in a contract dispute, but many were hopeful a deal would get done. However, on Saturday, it was revealed Jon Jones would face Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title and that Ngannou had been released from the UFC.
UFC flyweight Jeff Molina suspended by NAC for “substantial” involvement in “gaming scheme”
Susan Cox - January 17, 2023
UFC flyweight Jeff Molina has been suspended by NAC for his ‘substantial’ involvement in a ‘gaming scheme’. The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) suspended Molina today, Tuesday January 17th in a scheme that allegedly involved his coach, James Krause.
Francis Ngannou opens up on UFC departure, says he turned down around $8 million to fight Jon Jones: "They control the narrative"
Lewis Simpson - January 17, 2023
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has opened up on his departure from the UFC. On Saturday, UFC President Dana White announced that Ngannou had been stripped of his heavyweight title and released from the company after failing to agree on the terms of a new contract.
Aljamain Sterling believes Francis Ngannou made a mistake by parting ways with the UFC: “How much money is he gonna really generate from these other promotions?”
Susan Cox - January 17, 2023
Aljamain Sterling, the current bantamweight champion, believes Francis Ngannou made a mistake by parting ways with the UFC. The news that the UFC released the heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou (17-3 MMA) made headlines in the MMA. ‘The Predator’ had not fought since defeating Ciryl Gane by unanimous decision in January of 2022 at UFC 270. The 36 year old is now officially a free agent.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 107 with Johnny Walker, Terrance McKinney, and Cody Stamann
Cole Shelton - January 17, 2023
The 107th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC 263. We’re first joined by 12th-ranked UFC light heavyweight Johnny Walker (1:48). Next, UFC lightweight Terrance McKinney (13:47) comes on. Closing out the program is UFC bantamweight Cody Stamann(23:48).
Coach explains that Francis Ngannou refused to be a “sellout” in UFC negotiations: “He’s not scared of anybody”
Harry Kettle - January 17, 2023
Xtreme Couture coach Eric Nicksick has hit back at UFC president Dana White following his claims regarding Francis Ngannou’s release. The news that Francis Ngannou was gone from the Ultimate Fighting Championship hit hard for the MMA community. The former UFC heavyweight champion is now set to explore other options outside of the promotion, and perhaps even outside of mixed martial arts.
Dan Ige sounds off on conspiracy theorists commenting on Victoria Lee’s death: “Give them freaking respect, because that’s their tragedy”
Harry Kettle - January 17, 2023
UFC fighter Dan Ige has hit out at conspiracy theorists over the death of ONE Championship fighter Victoria Lee. Earlier this month, it was announced that Victoria Lee had passed away at the age of 18. Lee had just started her mixed martial arts career, following in the footsteps of her siblings Angela and Christian.
Cris Cyborg congratulates Francis Ngannou on making Dana White’s “doesn’t want to fight” list
Harry Kettle - January 17, 2023
Former UFC fighter Cris Cyborg has congratulated Francis Ngannou for making Dana White’s “doesn’t want to fight” list. Last weekend, it was announced that Francis Ngannou had been released by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The decision came after he and the UFC failed to come to terms on a new contract.
Ciryl Gane does hilarious Nate Diaz impression ahead of UFC 285
Zain Bando - January 16, 2023
Ciryl Gane is on the verge of making history, as a win against Jon Jones March 4 will make him the first vacant heavyweight champion since the division’s inception in 1997. With the fight almost two months away, Gane is embracing his second crack at championship gold, as he fell short against ex-heavyweight champion and UFC superstar, Francis Ngannou, in Jan. 2022.