MMA News
Kelvin Gastelum fires back at Conor McGregor for recent comments regarding his UFC Vegas 67 withdrawal
Cole Shelton - January 10, 2023
Kelvin Gastelum has fired back at Conor McGregor after the Irishman took shots at him for pulling out of UFC Vegas 67. Gastelum was set to headline UFC Vegas 67 on Saturday against Nassourdine Imavov which was going to be his first fight in well over a year. Unfortunately, on fight week it was revealed that Gastelum suffered a mouth injury that forced him to pull out.
Dan Ige plans to remind everyone he's "still a force to be reckoned with" at UFC Vegas 67: "I'm ready to go out there and kill someone"
Cole Shelton - January 10, 2023
Dan Ige is looking to prove to everyone he is as dangerous as ever at UFC Vegas 67. Ige is set to return in the co-main event against Damon Jackson in a pivotal fight for his career as he’s on a three-fight losing skid. Last time out, he dropped a decision to Movsar Evloev. It was a tough loss for him, and he wanted to return right away, but that didn’t happen.
Paul Felder uncertain if Conor McGregor fights in 2023, claims the lightweight division is "passing him by badly"
Cole Shelton - January 10, 2023
Paul Felder isn’t sold on Conor McGregor fighting again. McGregor has not fought since UFC 264 in July of 2021 when he had his trilogy match against Dustin Poirier. At the end of the first round, McGregor broke his leg and since then he has been rehabbing it. Although he hasn’t fought in a year-and-a-half, McGregor has said he will return, which Felder isn’t sure of.
Charles Oliveira targeting return in March or April to earn rematch against Islam Makhachev: "I'm one fight away from him"
Josh Evanoff - January 10, 2023
Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is gearing up for a busy year. ‘Do Bronx’ has been out of action since his lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 280 in October. The Brazilian was famously previously stripped of his 155-pound championship in May, prior to a title defense against Justin Gaethje.
Former champion A.J. McKee signs multi-year extension with Bellator
Josh Evanoff - January 10, 2023
Former Bellator featherweight champion A.J. McKee will be sticking around in the promotion for the long haul. ‘Mercenary’ is fresh off his decision victory over Roberto de Souza in the main event of Bellator vs. RIZIN last month. The win was also McKee’s second since moving to the lightweight division earlier this year. He previously defeated Spike Carlyle at Bellator 286 in October.
Diego Sanchez set to face former boxing champion Austin Trout at BKFC KnuckleMania 3 in February
Josh Evanoff - January 10, 2023
Former UFC title challenger Diego Sanchez is now slated for his BKFC debut next month. ‘The Nightmare’ has been out of action since a super lightweight clash with Kevin Lee at Eagle FC 46 last March. The fight marked the first for Sanchez outside the UFC since 2004, as he was released the prior year due to his association with Joshua Fabia. The UFC Hall of Fame inductee later left the controversial coach and guru in 2021.
Rafael Fiziev says he'll be "shocked" if Justin Gaethje fight doesn't happen in March: "When the UFC wants it, they make it happen"
Cole Shelton - January 10, 2023
Rafael Fiziev is confident he will fight Justin Gaethje his next time out. Fiziev has called out Gaethje in the past and ‘The Highlight’ has expressed some interest in the fight as well, but to date it hasn’t come to fruition. Although it hasn’t been booked yet, Fiziev says Dana White and the UFC have told him they want to schedule the contest to take place in March.
Sean O’Malley reacts to news that UFC champion Aljamain Sterling has a torn bicep: “If that’s the case let me beat up Henry”
Susan Cox - January 10, 2023
Sean O’Malley is reacting to the news that UFC champion Aljamain Sterling has a torn bicep. Sterling (22-3 MMA) has not competed since last October at UFC 280 where he defeated T.J. Dillashaw (17-5 MMA) via TKO. With that win, the 33-year-old has an impressive record of 8 consecutive wins in the Octagon.
Twenty-six-fight veteran Francisco Trinaldo reacts after receiving UFC release: “We feel a bit offended”
Susan Cox - January 10, 2023
Twenty-six-fight veteran Francisco Trinaldo is reacting following receiving his UFC release. Francisco ‘Massaranduba’ Trinaldo (28-9 MMA) had won 5 of his last 7 fights in the Octagon, most recently meeting and being defeated by Randy Brown (16-4 MMA) by unanimous decision this past October.
Former UFC fighter Brendan Schaub reacts to “brilliant” Jake Paul signing with the PFL: “He’s doing the lord’s work”
Susan Cox - January 10, 2023
Former UFC fighter Brendan Schaub is reacting to the ‘brilliant’ move in Jake Paul signing with the PFL. It was recently announced that Jake Paul was joining the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and will make his debut in the sport in 2023.
Conor McGregor unloads on “scruff” Kelvin Gastelum over his UFC Vegas 67 withdrawal: “Clean your mats. Wash yourself”
Susan Cox - January 10, 2023
Conor McGregor has unloaded on ‘scruff’ Kelvin Gastelum over his UFC Vegas 67 withdrawal. UFC Vegas 67 takes place this coming Saturday night, January 14th, at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 106 with Dan Ige, Damon Jackson, and Isaac Dulgarian
Cole Shelton - January 10, 2023
The 106th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC Vegas 67. We’re first joined by 13th-ranked UFC featherweight Dan Ige (1:54). Next, UFC featherweight Damon Jackson (28:11) then comes on. Closing out the program is UFC featherweight Isaac Dulgarian (40:04).
Brendan Schaub is confident 2023 will be the final year of dominance for UFC champion Valentina Shevchenko: “I would be willing to bet all my cash”
Harry Kettle - January 10, 2023
Former UFC fighter Brendan Schaub has predicted that Valentina Shevchenko will lose her flyweight crown by the end of the year. It’s safe to say that Valentina Shevchenko is one of the greatest female MMA fighters ever. At the age of 34, ‘Bullet’ has done a pretty incredible job of cleaning out the flyweight division. She’d been campaigning for the UFC to introduce the new weight class for years and after capturing the gold in late 2018, she’s gone on to successfully defend it seven times.
Joe Rogan explains why fighters who feel effects from CTE still continue to compete: “It's so above and beyond normal life experiences”
Harry Kettle - January 10, 2023
UFC commentator Joe Rogan has explained why he believes fighters carry on competing despite feeling the extreme effects. The impact of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) has been well documented across the last decade and beyond. Whether it be in the NFL or combat sports, a parade of athletes have been posthumously diagnosed with the condition that impacts the brain.
Kevin Lee explains how he would be “hurting” his “leverage” by returning to the UFC right now
Harry Kettle - January 10, 2023
Kevin Lee has explained how returning to the Ultimate Fighting Championship right now would hurt his leverage. It’s been a while since we saw Kevin Lee in the UFC. The former lightweight title challenger left the company in late 2021 after suffering a loss to Daniel Rodriguez. Ever since then, he’s only had one fight – defeating Diego Sanchez in Eagle FC last March.
Mike Jackson among two fighters removed from UFC roster
Cole Shelton - January 9, 2023
Mike Jackson, who once fought CM Punk, has been removed from the UFC roster. Twitter account, UFC Roster Watch, which tracks who is added or removed from the UFC roster has revealed Mike Jackson and Leah Letson are no longer on the roster.
Valentina Shevchenko has sights set on super fight with Zhang Weili or Amanda Nunes: "I’m definitely ready for Amanda and Weili"
Lewis Simpson - January 9, 2023
UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko is having a tough time getting matched with willing contenders. Shevchenko made the seventh consecutive defence of her gold strap with a controversial split decision win over Taila Santos at UFC 275. It was the first time anyone had seen the champion tested since her second meeting with Amanda Nunes in 2017.
Kelvin Gastelum issues statement after being forced to withdraw from UFC Vegas 67 main event
Josh Evanoff - January 9, 2023
Middleweight contender Kelvin Gastelum has released a statement after being forced out of UFC Vegas 67. The former UFC title challenger has been out of action since a decision loss to Jared Cannonier in August 2021. That defeat was a brutal one, as it set him back to 1-5 in his last six contests. He previously lost to names such as Robert Whittaker, and Darren Till in that stretch.