MMA News
Chris Weidman says he knows he's a "bad matchup" for Israel Adesanya, expects to earn title shot with two more wins
Cole Shelton - April 21, 2021
Chris Weidman knows he is a bad style matchup for Israel Adesanya and is excited for the chance to prove it. Weidman returned to the win column in August with a hard-fought decision over Omari Akhmedov. After that fight, he said he was chasing another title shot as he knows he’s a bad style matchup for Adesanya and believes Jan Blachowicz’s win proves that.
Kamaru Usman says he's lapping the field right now, but walking away in the future an option
Adam D Martin - April 21, 2021
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman says he’s lapping the field right now, but he admitted walking away in the future is an option. With a perfect 13-0 record in the Octagon, Usman has been smoking everyone in the UFC welterweight division ever since winning TUF. Usman has shown exceptional skills in all areas of the game, especially with his trademark wrestling and improved striking. When he takes on Jorge Masvidal this weekend at UFC 261, Usman will look to continue making records in the promotion’s trademark division. Ever since Georges St-Pierre retired, Usman has been a tremendous heir replacement to the throne. But at some point, there comes a time when everyone walks away. GSP did it, and Usman knows he will one day, too.
Tristan Connelly ecstatic to finally make return and featherweight drop at UFC 261, expects a "three-round war" against Pat Sabatini
Cole Shelton - April 21, 2021
Tristan Connelly will finally make the walk to the Octagon at UFC 261 and will do so two weight classes lower than his debut fight. Connelly made his UFC debut on short notice against Michel Pereira at UFC Vancouver in 2019, he also moved up to welterweight for the fight. Connelly ended up pulling off a big upset and earned a decision win.
UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2 full betting odds
Cole Shelton - April 21, 2021
Check out the complete betting odds for this Saturday’s UFC 261 card featuring three title fights including Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal running it back. The UFC 261 main event sees Usman look to defend his welterweight title for the fourth time as he rematches Masvidal. The two fought back at UFC 251 last July with Usman winning the fight by decision, but “Gamebred” took it on six day’s notice. Since that fight, Usman TKO’d Gilbert Burns, while Masvidal has not fought since.
Lorenz Larkin returns to the Bellator cage in May in middleweight bout against Costello Van Steenis
Adam D Martin - April 21, 2021
Former UFC welterweight Lorenz Larkin will move up to middleweight when he takes on Costello Van Steenis at Bellator 258 next month. Many fans have been wondering what Larkin has been up to. When Bellator released its inaugural promotional rankings last week, Larkin was nowhere to be found in the 170lbs rankings because he had a 15-month layoff. Still, it made fans wonder where “Da Monsoon” was. Now we know, as the striker just had next his MMA fight announced.
Conor McGregor reacts to UFC 264 being sold out
Adam D Martin - April 21, 2021
UFC superstar Conor McGregor shared his reaction to UFC 264, which goes down this July in Las Vegas, being completely sold out. McGregor meets his rival Dustin Poirier for the third time on July 10 when he meets him in the main event of UFC 264. The two lightweights have previously met twice in the Octagon. The first meeting took place at UFC 178 in September 2014, with McGregor winning that fight via first-round TKO. Seven years later and they met again at UFC 257 in January 2021, with Poirier returning the favor with a second-round knockout of his own. Instead of booking Poirier for a title shot, the UFC decided to give him this money fight with McGregor. The two will now meet with a full arena of fans at the T-Mobile Arena in July.
Ronda Rousey announces pregnancy
Adam D Martin - April 21, 2021
UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey has publicly announced that she is pregnant and she will have a child with Travis Browne in September. Rousey made the announcement in a YouTube video posted to her channel on Wednesday that she and her husband, Browne, are having a baby this fall. The UFC Hall of Famer said that she and Browne found out they were having a baby in January and the baby is due in September. Check out the official announcement that Rousey and Browne made below.
UFC 261 | Pro fighters make their picks for Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - April 21, 2021
In the main event of UFC 261, Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal are running it back in front of a full capacity crowd in Jacksonville. Heading into the fight, Usman is a -400 favorite while “Gamebred” is a +300 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The majority believe Usman beats Masvidal just like he did at UFC 251 as he will defend his welterweight title again.
Michael Chandler explains why he has been targeting Dustin Poirier, not Conor McGregor, in lead-up to UFC 262
Adam D Martin - April 21, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler explained why he has been targeting Dustin Poirier, not Conor McGregor, in the lead-up to UFC 262. Chandler turned heads at his UFC debut earlier this year when he knocked out Dan Hooker. The win was good enough for the promotion to give him a vacant UFC lightweight title shot against Charles Oliveira at UFC 262 in May. And while Chandler is fully focused on that fight, it hasn’t stopped him from taking to social media and interviews to take shots at Poirier. There is a reason for that, according to Chandler.
UFC 261: ‘Usman vs Masvidal 2’ Fight Card and Start Times
Harry Kettle - April 21, 2021
The UFC returns to pay-per-view once again this weekend with an arena full of fans in Jacksonville at UFC 261, headlined by Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal 2. Event: UFC 261: Usman vs Masvidal 2 Date: Saturday, 24th April 2021 Location: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida Broadcast: ESPN+ – 5.45pm/8pm/10pm EST
Jake Paul no longer following through on wrestling match with Ben Askren: "I'm choosing not to do it anymore because he’s a f*cking loser"
Christopher Taylor - April 21, 2021
Jake Paul is no longer interested in having a pay-per-view wrestling match with his recent boxing opponent Ben Askren. Askren (19-2 MMA), a former MMA champion, made his boxing debut against Paul this past Saturday night in Atlanta. The fight itself did not last long, as the YouTuber turned boxer dropped ‘Funky’ with a big right hand early in round one. When Askren got to his feet he was still noticeably wobbled so the referee waved off the fight.
Conor McGregor expresses interest in buying Manchester United
Christopher Taylor - April 20, 2021
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor has expressed interest in purchasing the football club Manchester United. On Tuesday the heavily scrutinized plans for a European Super League seemingly fell apart after football fans worldwide came together to protest the idea.
Khamzat Chimaev believes he will be the Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali of MMA: "I'm going to show everybody"
Cole Shelton - April 20, 2021
Khamzat Chimaev claims he will be the Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali of MMA, now that he’s able to continue his career. After a severe case with COVID-19, Chimaev seemingly announced his retirement from the sport. It was disappointing news for many MMA fans as Chimaev was a top prospect who looked like a future star in the sport.
Jorge Masvidal explains what went wrong in first fight with Kamaru Usman: "I didn't work on my tap dancing enough"
Cole Shelton - April 20, 2021
Jorge Masvidal is eager for the chance to rematch Kamaru Usman. On Saturday night in the main event of UFC 261, Masvidal and Usman are set to collide for a second time. The pair first met in the main event of UFC 251 in July on Fight Island where “The Nigerian Nightmare” won a clear-cut decision, but “Gamebred” took the fight on six day’s notice and since the fight, both men have shown interest in a rematch.
Ben Askren disagrees with ref stoppage but says he didn't take a dive as some suggest: "I got hit"
Cole Shelton - April 20, 2021
Ben Askren has put to bed any doubts that he took a dive against Jake Paul. In the first round of their highly-anticipated boxing match, both men were feeling each other out but after landing a jab, Paul followed it up with a big overhand right that dropped the UFC veteran. The fight was then waived off, and many wondered if the fight was fixed, which Askren says was not the case.
Jake Paul calls out Daniel Cormier: “I’ll beat the f**k out of your fat ass too, just like Stipe did"
Cole Shelton - April 20, 2021
Jake Paul has called out Daniel Cormier as he wants to beat him up just like his fellow Clevelander, Stipe Miocic did. In the lead-up to Paul’s boxing match against Ben Askren, Cormier was vocal about the fight. He had said after “Funky” pushed him at the press conference, Askren was going to win the fight, which is far from what happened.
Daniel Cormier says he would "kill" Jake Paul if they ever fought, suggests Luke Rockhold fight him instead
Adam D Martin - April 20, 2021
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier doesn’t believe Jake Paul actually wants to fight him because he would get destroyed if they ever fought. Cormier, the former UFC double champion, posted his hilarious reaction of watching Ben Askren get finished by Paul at Saturday’s boxing event. The two then got into a bit of a back-and-forth on social media, so it wasn’t a surprise that Cormier had some harsh words for Paul on his podcast.
Clay Collard plans to have a "statement" win over Anthony Pettis to prove "he's one of the best"
Cole Shelton - April 20, 2021
Clay Collard is excited to get back into MMA. In 2019 and 2020, Collard had 14 boxing fights and he became a big boxing star for Top Rank. He was beating a ton of top prospects but his goal was to return to MMA and now that the PFL is back, Collard is eager for the chance to show off his complete skill set.