MMA News
Leon Edwards believes setting up Conor McGregor fight "would be easy to make"
Cole Shelton - October 13, 2022
Leon Edwards believes setting up a welterweight title fight against Conor McGregor would be easy to make. Edwards became the UFC’s welterweight champion with a comeback fifth-round head kick KO over Kamaru Usman in the rematch. Although all signs point towards the trilogy happening next, Edwards is also open to taking some super fights and the biggest one he eyes is against Conor McGregor.
Uriah Hall reveals the "only reason" he's boxing Le'Veon Bell is to secure the Jake Paul fight next
Cole Shelton - October 13, 2022
Uriah Hall is hoping to land the Jake Paul fight next time out. Hall is set to make his pro boxing debut on the Paul vs. Anderson Silva undercard against former NFL running back Le’Veon Bell. The news caught many by surprise given that Hall announced his retirement from MMA just months prior but admits he is coming back to hopefully secure the Paul fight.
Mike Jackson still just fighting for "shits and giggles", but confident he'll KO Pete Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 62: "Everyone knows I'm coming for the knockout"
Cole Shelton - October 13, 2022
Mike Jackson will be returning to the Octagon on Saturday for the second time in 2022. Jackson fought Dean Barry in April, and he won by DQ due to Barry eye-gouging him. After the win, Jackson was unsure when he would fight again but will make a relatively quick turnaround as he’s set to face Pete Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 62.
Henry Cejudo explains why Alex Volkanovski is making a “mistake” by taking on backup fighter role for UFC 280 main event
Ryan Harkness - October 13, 2022
Alexander Volkanovski recently revealed that he will be the official back-up for UFC 280’s lightweight title bout between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira. Should either fighter be unable to compete in Abu Dhabi come October 22nd, the featherweight champ will step up to lightweight and compete for a second title. Speaking as a former double champ himself, Henry Cejudo thinks that’s a bad idea. He’s convinced it’s such a mistake that he’s made an eight minute video detailing all the reasons why Volkanovski is shooting himself in the foot with the move.
Da Un Jung vs. Devin Clark targeted for February Fight Night card in Korea
Cole Shelton - October 13, 2022
The UFC will be heading to Korea in February and local fighter Da Un Jung will be on the card. Multiple sources informed BJPENN.com that Jung will face Devin Clark on February 4, with the event likely taking place in Seoul, South Korea. The location has not been finalized as of yet but is trending in the right direction, while the bout is also only verbally agreed to. It will be the first time the UFC is in Korea since UFC Busan in December of 2019 which saw Korean Zombie vs. Frankie Edgar in the main event.
UFC and Facebook parent company Meta announce partnership to bring MMA to virtual reality
Ryan Harkness - October 13, 2022
The UFC and Facebook’s parent company Meta have officially announced a partnership that will bring UFC and MMA events to the Metaverse in virtual reality. Speculation abounded when UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan on October 1st was closed to the press and public. In the end, a small handful of Meta employees including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan were on hand to see Mackenzie Dern and Yan Xiaonan battle it out for five rounds in the UFC APEX.
Marlon Vera discusses Sean O’Malley’s chances in upcoming fight with Petr Yan: “You also have to be realistic”
Harry Kettle - October 13, 2022
Marlon Vera has given his thoughts on Sean O’Malley’s chances against Petr Yan in their grudge match at UFC 280. Next Saturday night in Abu Dhabi, Sean O’Malley will get the chance to register the biggest win of his mixed martial arts career thus far when he meets former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan at UFC 280.
TJ Dillashaw believes Aljamain Sterling is trying “to play mental warfare” with continuous PED accusations: “It ain’t gonna work with me”
Harry Kettle - October 13, 2022
TJ Dillashaw believes Aljamain Sterling is trying to play mental warfare with him ahead of their UFC 280 title fight. After getting back to winning ways against Cory Sandhagen last year following his two-year suspension from mixed martial arts, TJ Dillashaw will now get the chance to become a three-time UFC bantamweight champion when he goes head to head with current king of the mountain Aljamain Sterling next weekend.
Sean O'Malley says he's "surprised" Petr Yan took the fight against him at UFC 280
Cole Shelton - October 12, 2022
Sean O’Malley didn’t think the Petr Yan fight would actually happen. After O’Malley had a No Contest due to an accidental eye poke against Pedro Munhoz at UFC 276, it was uncertain what was going to be next for him. That fight was ‘Suga’s’ opportunity to face a top-10 opponent but it never ended with a win or a loss.
VIDEO | Cub Swanson doesn't speak, has teammate answer questions for him at UFC Vegas 62 media day
Cole Shelton - October 12, 2022
Cub Swanson had an interesting media day, to say the least. Swanson is set to make his bantamweight debut on Saturday against Jonathan Martinez in a move that surprised many. Swanson has been a perennial contender at featherweight but after his last fight, he hinted at possibly moving down to 135lbs.
Charles Oliveira says he's "always ready" to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov but doubts 'The Eagle' competes again: "He said he’s retired, he’s done"
Cole Shelton - October 12, 2022
Charles Oliveira would love to share the Octagon with Khabib Nurmagomedov but doubts it will happen. After Nurmagomedov submitted Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 to defend his lightweight belt, he announced his retirement from the sport. Yet, many thought he would come back but he still hasn’t and seems set on his retirement.
Alexa Grasso believes impressive win over Viviane Araujo at UFC Vegas 62 could earn a title shot: "I think the champion is going to look at the one who does the best"
Josh Evanoff - October 12, 2022
UFC women’s flyweight contender Alexa Grasso believes she’s on the verge of a title shot. The Mexican fighter has been out of action since her clash with Joanne Wood in March. In that outing, Grasso scored a first-round submission win, moving her win streak to three. She had previously captured victories over Ji Yeon Kim and Maycee Barber.
Aspen Ladd announces clash with Julia Budd for PFL debut on November 25th: "It's a fighter's dream to fight in Madison Square Garden"
Josh Evanoff - October 12, 2022
PFL featherweight Aspen Ladd is now set for her promotional debut. The 29-year-old has been out of action since her loss to Raquel Pennington in April. That bout wound up being the last in the promotion for Ladd. Following that, she had two failed bookings with former title challenger Sara McMann.
Charles Oliveira vows to "shock the world" against Islam Makhachev at UFC 280
Cole Shelton - October 12, 2022
Charles Oliveira is confident he will become the UFC lightweight champion again at UFC 280. Oliveira is set to face Islam Makhachev in the main event of the pay-per-view card in Abu Dhabi. It’s an intriguing matchup but in the lead-up to the scrap, Makhachev is the betting favorite and his team has said they believe Makhachev will dominate the Brazilian.
Khabib Nurmagomedov claims Tony Ferguson is only "fighting for money," urges him to retire because his "time is up"
Cole Shelton - October 12, 2022
Khabib Nurmagomedov has doubled down on thinking Tony Ferguson’s time is up. Nurmagomedov and Ferguson were longtime rivals that never had the chance to share the Octagon with one another. The two were booked multiple times but it never came to fruition due to injuries, botched weight cuts, freak injuries, and even a pandemic.
Jonathan Martinez "surprised" Cub Swanson is dropping down down to bantamweight but honored to welcome him to the division: "It should be a good fight"
Cole Shelton - October 12, 2022
Jonathan Martinez is pumped to be welcoming Cub Swanson to the bantamweight division at UFC Vegas 62. After Martinez picked up his third win in a row, he wasn’t sure what would be next for him, but did want a legend like Frankie Edgar. Although he didn’t get the Edgar fight he did get another legend as he will face Swanson on Saturday.
Khabib Nurmagomedov confident that Islam Makhachev is “more skilled” than Charles Oliveira: “Islam should roll over him”
Susan Cox - October 12, 2022
Khabib Nurmagomedov is confident that Islam Makhachev is ‘more skilled’ than Charles Oliveira. It will be Charles Oliveira (33-8 MMA) vs Islam Makhachev (22-1 MMA) on Saturday, October 22nd at UFC 280 which takes place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Daniel Cormier explains why he’s against the UFC booking an immediate trilogy fight between Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena
Susan Cox - October 12, 2022
Daniel Cormier is explaining why he’s against the UFC booking an immediate trilogy fight between Amanda Nunes and Julianna Peña. Peña (12-5 MMA) dethroned bantamweight champion Nunes (22-5 MMA) at UFC 269 in December of 2021, in what is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in MMA history.