MMA News
Luke Rockhold open to boxing matches after UFC retirement: "My legs need a f*cking break"
Josh Evanoff - October 14, 2022
Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is retired from MMA, but not other combat sports. The former champion was last seen in action at UFC 278 in August. That matchup with Paulo Costa was an important one for the California native. It was his first octagon appearance in over three years and his first middleweight fight in over four years.
Tyron Woodley eyes scrap with Nick or Nate Diaz, believes they will "make quite a few millions of dollars fighting each other"
Cole Shelton - October 14, 2022
Tyron Woodley is hoping to fight either Nick or Nate Diaz his next time out. Woodley is currently a free agent and hasn’t fought since he had the back-to-back boxing matches against Jake Paul. Although he lost both of them, including the second one by KO, he still remains a big name in the sport and is hoping to make a big fight.
WTF! Dominick Reyes reacts to being put deep in the UFC 281 prelims: "It's about disrespect"
Ryan Harkness - October 14, 2022
Dominick Reyes is quickly learning how fast you can go from being a title contender and headliner to hanging off the bottom of the prelims. The light heavyweight fighter came into his title fight against Jon Jones in February 2020 on a twelve fight win streak. And many believe he should have left that fight 13-0 with the 205-pound belt. Instead, he walked away on the losing side of a controversial split decision.
Cub Swanson explains brutal cut to 135 for UFC Vegas 62: "I needed to suffer more"
Ryan Harkness - October 14, 2022
After a four fight losing skid that seemed to signal the end of his days as a UFC contender, Cub Swanson dug deep and turned things around with a 3-1 run over his last four fights. Despite beating Darren Elkins in his last fight with a spectacular spinning wheel kick, ‘Killer’ Cub decided it was time to drop from featherweight to bantamweight for what may be his last career sprint. Swanson faces Jonathan Martinez at 135 pounds in the co-main event of this weekend’s UFC Vegas 62 event. In a new interview with UFC.com, he explained the decision to cut another ten pounds off his frame and how difficult it was to do.
Movsar Evloev forced out of UFC main event with Bryce Mitchell
Harry Kettle - October 14, 2022
UFC featherweight Movsar Evloev has been forced out of his UFC main event against Bryce Mitchell, as per reports. Within the context of the featherweight division, Movsar Evloev and Bryce Mitchell are two of the leading prospects with many believing they could both go on to hold the gold. Of course, the current king Alex Volkanovski may have a thing or two to say about that, but Evloev and Mitchell are definitely making big gains as they continue on through their exciting careers.
Uriah Hall shares his take on UFC fighter pay: “Ring card girls are making $70,000, which is utterly f**king ridiculous”
Harry Kettle - October 14, 2022
Former UFC fighter Uriah Hall has given his thoughts on the current state of fighter pay in the promotion. For so many years, Uriah Hall switched between being one of the most entertaining fighters in mixed martial arts to being someone who couldn’t quite live up to his potential. There was seemingly no point in between and after dropping consecutive losses to André Muniz and Sean Strickland, he was released by the promotion earlier this year.
Kevin Holland doesn’t understand what Khamzat Chimaev was thinking with his training invitation: “I’m not training with that guy”
Harry Kettle - October 14, 2022
Kevin Holland doesn’t understand why Khamzat Chimaev invited him to train together after their fight at UFC 279. In the wake of Khamzat Chimaev missing weight prior to UFC 279, there were many questions regarding what the outcome of the incident would be. In the end, the promotion opted to go in the direction of having Chimaev fight Kevin Holland at a catchweight, which was all the more intriguing due to their altercation earlier in the week.
Alexander Volkanovski responds to Beneil Dariush over UFC 280 backup claims: "I’m not playing any games... I’m getting paid for this"
Cole Shelton - October 13, 2022
Alexander Volkanovski has responded to Beneil Dariush over who the backup fighter for the UFC 280 lightweight title fight is. When it was announced Charles Oliveira would face Islam Makhachev for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 280, a critical 155lbs bout between Beneil Dariush and Mateusz Gamrot was also added to the card. With that, many thought Dariush would be the backup fighter which he said his manager confirmed to him, but that won’t be the case.
Luke Rockhold discusses poor relationship with Dana White and regaining support at UFC 278: "you've got to get dirty and nasty sometimes to show people who the f*ck you are"
Josh Evanoff - October 13, 2022
Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has discussed his relationship with Dana White. The California native was last seen at UFC 278 in August, against Paulo Costa. The fight was an important one for Rockhold, as he hadn’t competed in over three years. Furthermore, prior to his matchup with the Brazilian, the former champion hadn’t competed at middleweight in over four years.
Kevin Holland explains brief retirement, plans on knocking out Stephen Thompson in UFC return: "I think my Kung Fu beats his Karate"
Josh Evanoff - October 13, 2022
UFC welterweight Kevin Holland plans on finishing Stephen Thompson in his octagon return. ‘Trail Blazer’ has been out of action since his submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev last month. The bout was a short-notice one, as ‘Borz’ was originally set to face Nate Diaz at the event. However, after Chimaev missed weight, he was bumped down to the fight with Holland.
Social media star Hasbulla Magomedov confirms UFC signing, fight incoming: "The rumors are true!"
Josh Evanoff - October 13, 2022
Social media star Hasbulla Magomedov will be fighting in the UFC after all. The Russian social media influencer is well-known in the MMA community. While he’s seemingly beloved by many fans and fighters, he’s most known for his friendship with Khabib Nurmagomedov. ‘The Eagle’ and Magomedov have been close friends for a while.
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.
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.
Khabib Nurmagomedov names the three UFC fights he's bothered to wake up and watch this year
Ryan Harkness - October 13, 2022
Khabib Nurmagomedov is enjoying life as a retired former UFC champion, and mainly puts his combat sports energy towards coaching and training with his stable of Dagestani fighters. According to ‘The Eagle,’ he no longer watches a whole lot of mixed martial arts. That’s partly because UFC events regularly air at five AM in his country, and party because he no longer has the same passion he once did. “Maybe it’s because the flame inside of me went out, but I think there’s been a dip in MMA,” he said in a recent forty minute interview with UFC Russia. “That’s what I think, I can be wrong. Everyone has their viewpoint. I think the flame went out a little, that there was a decline. There will always be stars, UFC’s PR machine is strong. Say what you will but they created a powerful machine in the last 30 years. They’ll ignite the flame. But I don’t wake up early to watch fights any more.”
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.
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.