MMA News
Beneil Dariush stunned that Alexander Volkanovski is set to be backup fighter for UFC 280 lightweight title fight: "I was told I’m the fill-in"
Cole Shelton - October 11, 2022
Beneil Dariush is confused that he won’t be the UFC 280 backup fighter after all. In the main event of UFC 280, the vacant lightweight title is up for grabs as Charles Oliveira is set to take on Islam Makhachev. Also on the card is a lightweight bout between Beneil Dariush vs. Mateusz Gamrot which many thought the winner would get the next title shot.
Tito Ortiz confirms rematch with Chael Sonnen happening next February: "I'll be competing one last time"
Josh Evanoff - October 11, 2022
Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz will reportedly face Chael Sonnen once again. ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ has been out of action since his boxing match with Anderson Silva last September. The bout was Ortiz’s first in the boxing ring, and it didn’t go well. The Brazilian knocked him out in the first round of their Triller Fight Club co-main event.
Tai Tuivasa booked to return in the co-main event of UFC Orlando against Sergei Pavlovich
Cole Shelton - October 11, 2022
Tai Tuivasa will look to return to the win column in December. Tuivasa took on Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC Paris in September and lost by TKO. After the loss, it was uncertain when he would return or who he would fight but according to MMAJunkie, Tuivasa has now been booked as the co-main event of UFC Orlando against Sergei Pavlovich, which does down on December 3. The event will be headlined by a welterweight scrap between Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland.
Former title challenger Alexander Gustafsson set to return against Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 282 in December
Josh Evanoff - October 11, 2022
Former light-heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson has been added to UFC 282. ‘The Mauler’ has been out of action since his fight with Nikita Krylov in July. The matchup was Gustafsson’s return to 205-pounds, as he previously had a one-off heavyweight fight with Fabricio Werdum. In that outing, the Brazilian won by first-round submission.
Islam Makhachev says Michael Chandler’s claims for a title shot are ridiculous: “Fight with young and hungry guys like Tsarukyan or Dober first”
Susan Cox - October 11, 2022
Islam Makhachev is saying Michael Chandler’s claims for a title shot are ridiculous. Michael Chandler, 36, has one thing on his mind and that is getting another shot at the UFC lightweight belt.
Henry Cejudo explains why Sean O’Malley’s new face tattoos are a cause for worry ahead of UFC 280: “When he first came into the UFC, he looked like Milhouse”
Susan Cox - October 11, 2022
Henry Cejudo is explaining why Sean O’Malley’s new face tattoos are a cause for worry ahead of UFC 280. UFC 280 takes place on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 96 with Brandon Royval, Jonathan Martinez, Mike Jackson, and Victor Henry
Cole Shelton - October 11, 2022
The 96th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC Vegas 62. We’re first joined by fifth-ranked UFC flyweight Brandon Royval (2:11). Next, UFC bantamweight Jonathan Martinez (20:36) comes on. UFC welterweight Mike Jackson (28:20) then stops by. Closing out the program is UFC bantamweight Victor Henry (49:21).
Paulo Costa dubs ‘The Axe Murderer’ as his favorite fighter of all time
Harry Kettle - October 11, 2022
UFC fighter Paulo Costa has named mixed martial arts legend Wanderlei Silva as his favourite fighter of all time. Over the course of the last few months, Paulo Costa has seemingly gone from one of the biggest villains in the Ultimate Fighting Championship to one of the biggest heroes – and he’s done so by showing off his incredibly unique personality.
Islam Makhachev is confident he will be able to score a knockdown against Charles Oliveira: “His last three or four opponents, they knock him down”
Harry Kettle - October 11, 2022
Islam Makhachev believes he’ll be able to knock Charles Oliveira down when they collide in the main event of UFC 280. Next weekend at UFC 280, Islam Makhachev will finally get the chance to become UFC lightweight champion when he challenges Charles Oliveira in Abu Dhabi. While the Brazilian isn’t technically the champ, his insane 11-fight win streak – as well as the names he’s beaten since first competing for the gold – has left many believing that he is the best 155-pounder in the world right now.
Rizin keen to book Nate Diaz vs Floyd Mayweather
Andrew Whitelaw - October 10, 2022
Rizin are interested in booking a boxing super fight between Nate Diaz and Floyd Mayweather. The Stockton legend is now a free agent having fought out his UFC contract with a submission win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. In his post fight interview, the 37-year-old said,
Hasbulla set to corner Islam Makhachev for his lightweight title fight against Charles Oliveira at UFC 280
Cole Shelton - October 10, 2022
Hasbulla will be in the corner of Islam Makhachev at UFC 280. Makhachev is set to headline the pay-per-view card on October 22 in Abu Dhabi for the vacant lightweight title against Charles Oliveira. It’s a massive fight for Makhachev and he will have an interesting addition to his corner. Although Javier Mendez and Khabib Nurmagomedov will be in his corner, as usual, he will also have Hasbulla, according to his manager Ali Abdelaziz.
Sean Strickland reveals his first fight was against an actual "terrorist"
Cole Shelton - October 10, 2022
Sean Strickland had an interesting opponent for his first fight. Before Strickland was a pro-MMA fighter, he and a lot of fighters had “smokers” which are unsanctioned fights in gyms. Fighters just show up and don’t know who they are fighting until an opponent shows up.
Nate Diaz teases crossover with WWE after meeting with Triple H: "We'll see what's bout to happen next"
Josh Evanoff - October 10, 2022
Former UFC welterweight star Nate Diaz could be trading out the octagon for the squared circle. The Stockton native is fresh off his headlining role at UFC 279 last month. Diaz was originally slated to face Khamzat Chimaev in the main event. However, after ‘Borz’ badly missed weight, Tony Ferguson was elevated to the five-round affair.
Sean Strickland unleashes on Ronda Rousey for revealing suicidal thoughts after losing title: "She is everything that’s wrong with the f*cking world"
Josh Evanoff - October 10, 2022
UFC middleweight Sean Strickland has decided to air his grievances with Ronda Rousey. ‘Rowdy’ is one of the biggest stars to ever step into the octagon. Rousey, combined with other stars such as Miesha Tate, helped bring women’s MMA into the mainstream. The Judoka was also the UFC’s first female champion and had the title for nearly three years.
Leon Edwards confirms intention to have trilogy Kamaru Usman, but on his terms: "He has to come here"
Josh Evanoff - October 10, 2022
UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards wants his trilogy fight with Kamaru Usman to take place in his home country. At UFC 278 in August, the two welterweights met in the main event. While not highly discussed, it was actually the second time they had faced one another. Usman first faced Edwards at The Ultimate Fighter Finale in December 2015.
Alexander Volkanovski confirms backup status for Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev at UFC 280: "We're locked in"
Josh Evanoff - October 10, 2022
Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is now the backup fighter for UFC 280’s headliner. ‘The Great’ has been out of action since his trilogy bout with Max Holloway at UFC 276 in July. In that outing, Volkanovski moved to 3-0 in his trilogy with the Hawaiian, as he won by unanimous decision.
Jordan Leavitt finds it funny that homophobic UFC fans keep sending him dick pics
Ryan Harkness - October 10, 2022
Jordan Leavitt is definitely one of the more unique fighters on the UFC lightweight roster. He’s built a solid following of fans (and haters) off his tendency to dance and twerk in the cage following his victories. In the macho world of cage fighting, this sticks out. And it’s generated more than it’s fair share of homophobic feedback. Leavitt – who has been married to his wife Ashlie for three years – revealed that some users on social media have taken to sending him not just gay slurs but penis pictures as well.
Gilbert Burns details what he believes was a “big factor” in the Leon Edwards vs Kamaru Usman rematch: “I see a lot of factors a lot of people didn’t see”
Harry Kettle - October 10, 2022
Gilbert Burns has given his thoughts on what he believed to be a big factor in the Leon Edwards vs Kamaru Usman rematch. Earlier this year at UFC 278, Leon Edwards shocked the world by knocking Kamaru Usman out to become the new UFC welterweight champion. While it was a victory that came as a surprise to many, the man himself always knew that he could win the big one – even when he was seemingly 3-1 down on the scorecards heading into the fifth and final round.