MMA News
Conor McGregor looks insanely lean as he spars at UFC gym
Harry Kettle - October 12, 2022
UFC star Conor McGregor looks to be in great shape as he posts training footage of him sparring at a UFC gym. Ever since breaking his leg last summer against Dustin Poirier, fans have been watching and waiting to see when Conor McGregor would finally make his mixed martial arts comeback. The Irishman has slowly been working his way back to full fitness and in recent weeks, he’s been teasing the masses by posting frequent training footage as he gears up, potentially, for another appearance inside the Octagon.
Alexander Volkanovski opens as betting underdog to both Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev at UFC 280
Cole Shelton - October 11, 2022
Alexander Volkanovski will be the betting underdog if he does step into fight at UFC 280. On Tuesday, Volkanovski revealed he was confirmed to be the backup fighter for the vacant lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev. The event will take place on October 22 in Abu Dhabi, Dubai.
Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev booked for UFC 282
Cole Shelton - October 11, 2022
A pivotal light heavyweight bout between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev has been booked for UFC 282. According to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Blachowicz and Ankalaev are set to fight in a likely title eliminator bout between Blachowicz and Ankalaev will go down on December 10 in Las Vegas. The event does not have the main event as of right now but it is rumored that Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira will have their rematch.
Justin Gaethje still on the hunt for gold ahead of return to the octagon next year: "My goal is to be the world champion"
Josh Evanoff - October 11, 2022
UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje has revealed when he will return next. ‘The Highlight’ has been out of action since his lightweight title fight with Charles Oliveira in May. Prior to the fight itself, the Brazilian missed weight, meaning the title was only on the line for Gaethje. Unfortunately, he was submitted in round one, ending his title chances.
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.
Tyron Woodley warns Anderson Silva from underestimating Jake Paul in boxing match: "He's training his a*s off"
Josh Evanoff - October 11, 2022
Tyron Woodley hopes that Anderson Silva isn’t taking Jake Paul lightly. ‘The Spider’ and ‘The Problem Child’ are set to faceoff on Showtime pay-per-view later this month. It’ll be Silva’s third boxing match since exiting the UFC in 2020. Since then, he’s captured lopsided victories in the ring over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Tito Ortiz.
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.
Scott Coker explains what it would take for Bellator to add a 165lbs division
Harry Kettle - October 11, 2022
Bellator president Scott Coker has explained what it would take for the promotion to add a 165lbs division. For the longest time now, a lot of fans, fighters and pundit have been discussing the possibility of a 165-pound division being added across mixed martial arts. Alongside this being implemented, it would also probably shift the welterweight limit from 170 up to 175, largely to maintain the 10-pound gap between so many of the weight classes.
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.
Coach: Sean O'Malley is ready "to die" in the Octagon against Petr Yan, but confident 'Suga' gets a KO win at UFC 280
Cole Shelton - October 10, 2022
Sean O’Malley is ready to go the entire 15 minutes with Petr Yan, but ‘Suga’ is confident he will get a KO win, according to his coach Tim Welch. O’Malley is set for the toughest test of his career as he’s set to face the former champ in Yan – who’s also ranked one at bantamweight, on October 22 at UFC 280. If O’Malley can get the win, he could get a title shot his next time out. The fight announcement also caught many by surprise but Welch revealed it was the UFC’s idea to make the bout.
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.