MMA News
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.
Tim Welch says Sean O'Malley could make Petr Yan look 'Stupid'
Andrew Whitelaw - October 12, 2022
Sean O’Malley is a near impossible puzzle to solve according to his coach Tim Welch. ‘Suga Sean’ will head into the biggest fight of his career at UFC 280 against Petr Yan. #12-ranked O’Malley sits 10 places behind the Russian at bantamweight and has never beaten anyone inside the top-10.
Aljamain Sterling trashes USADA for failing to catch T.J. Dillashaw: "I thought they tested for everything"
Ryan Harkness - October 12, 2022
Aljamain Sterling is set to defend his bantamweight title against T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 280 on October 22nd. And while both men are extensively tested by USADA under a program designed to weed out performance enhancing drug users, Sterling believes Dillashaw is still cheating. Dillashaw was famously stripped of his 135 pound title after testing positive for EPO, an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent that increases the amount of red blood cells in your body, improving stamina and performance. T.J. was suspended for two years over his EPO use, but Aljamain Sterling recently pointed out it wasn’t USADA that caught him.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.