MMA News
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 95 with Mackenzie Dern, Ben Rothwell, Randy Costa, and John Castaneda
Cole Shelton - September 27, 2022
The 95th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC Vegas 61 and BKFC 30. We’re first joined by one-half of the main event in fifth-ranked strawweight Mackenzie Dern (2:10). Next, former UFC heavyweight and current BKFC heavyweight Ben Rothwell (18:41) comes on. UFC bantamweight Randy Costa (31:51) then joins the show. Closing out the program is UFC bantamweight John Castaneda (50:55).
Maryna Moroz becomes first UFC fighter to be featured in Playboy
Harry Kettle - September 27, 2022
Maryna Moroz has announced that she is the first UFC fighter to feature in Playboy as her rise to prominence continues. After going 3-3 in her first six fights with the promotion, with a lot of time out between appearances, Maryna Moroz made the move back to flyweight in 2019 where she beat Sabina Mazo via unanimous decision. That was followed up by an impressive victory over Mayra Bueno Silva on the infamous UFC Brasilia card in 2020, before two years went by without her stepping foot inside the Octagon.
Anderson Silva reveals retirement timeline for MMA: "When I'm done, I'm done"
Josh Evanoff - September 26, 2022
Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has laid out his retirement plans. ‘The Spider’ is set to return to the boxing ring next month against Jake Paul. The pair will headline a Showtime pay-per-view from the Gila River Arena in Arizona. The bout will be the fourth straight appearance in the boxing ring since Silva left the UFC in 2020.
Photo | Sean O’Malley flaunts his physique ahead of UFC 280: “Ready for war”
Josh Evanoff - September 26, 2022
It seems that bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley is ready for his return to the octagon. ‘Sugar’ has been out of action since his showdown with Pedro Munhoz in July. At UFC 276, the two bantamweight contenders fought to a no-contest, after the Brazilian was poked in the eye. The result snapped a three-fight winning streak for O’Malley, but he doesn’t view it that way.
Anderson Silva names BJ Penn as his GOAT of MMA: “Penn is the best MMA fighter I saw fight in my entire life”
Josh Evanoff - September 26, 2022
Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva believes BJ Penn is the greatest to ever do it. ‘The Spider’ is set to return to the boxing ring next month against Jake Paul. The Showtime pay-per-view headliner will take place from the Gila River Arena in Arizona. Ahead of the bout, many have praised Silva as the greatest fighter in MMA history.
Scott Coker unsure if Dillon Danis will fight in Bellator again: "Dillon is a kid we had a lot of high hopes for"
Cole Shelton - September 26, 2022
Scott Coker doesn’t know if Dillon Danis will fight in Bellator again. Danis was a high-profile signing for Bellator as he was highly known for his work in jiu-jitsu as well as being a training partner and grappling coach of Conor McGregor. However, the signing hasn’t panned out as Danis has fought just twice in Bellator and hasn’t competed since 2019 and Coker is unsure if he will fight again.
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno 4 targeted for UFC 283
Cole Shelton - September 26, 2022
Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno will be fighting for the fourth time in January. According to MMA reporter Rodrigo Del Campo Gonzalez, Figueiredo and Moreno are targeted to fight at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 21. It’s uncertain if the fight will serve as the main event, but all signs point to the fight being made official soon.
Watch Conor McGregor hit a spinning back kick to flying knee combo while sparring
Ryan Harkness - September 26, 2022
While Conor McGregor may have taken his full attention off MMA for a moment to star in the upcoming Roadhouse remake alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, he’d like you to know he’s still getting some proper training in. McGregor’s own news site The Mac Life recently posted footage of ‘The Notorious’ hard at work on his wrestling skills, coating the mats at Straight Blast Gym with sweat as he tripped, reversed, and stuffed various teammates over four and a half minutes of film.
Video | Wanderlei Silva's son Thor wins MMA debut via first round TKO
Ryan Harkness - September 26, 2022
Wanderlei Silva’s son Thor Silva made his amateur MMA debut on Sunday at Fight Music Show 2 in Brazil, winning his bout via first round TKO. The 19-year-old showed no hesitation in the cage as he attacked Gabriel Bonfim early, hitting a single-leg takedown and escaping an armbar attempt. He then punished his opponent with relentless ground and pound before securing mount. Bonfim did his best to try and cling to Thor, but couldn’t escape the damage he was taking and gave up his back. The ref stepped in at 2:13 of the first round to wave things off.
Michael Bisping isn't convinced Kevin Holland is retiring: "There’s no way"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 25, 2022
Michael Bisping has given his take on Kevin Holland teasing walking away from his pro MMA career. Holland has emerged as a fan favorite and finds himself in good standing with UFC President Dana White. With that said, Holland teased on social media that he could be moving on from the sport of MMA and questioned what his next career move should be.
Robert Whittaker explains what makes him more dangerous than UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 25, 2022
Robert Whittaker believes he is more dangerous than anyone at 185 pounds, including UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya. Whittaker is one of the top 185-pounders in the world. He is a former UFC Middleweight Champion and has only been beaten by Adesanya in the 185-pound division. With that said, Adesanya has beaten “The Reaper” twice.
Cris Cyborg and Cat Zingano trade barbs over why their fight hasn't materialized: "This b***h left to boxing right when I earned my title shot"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 25, 2022
Bellator Women’s Featherweight Champion Cris Cyborg has found herself in a war of words with Cat Zingano. The two 145-pounders haven’t exactly been chummy. Zingano is a top contender in the women’s featherweight division, but a matchup with Cyborg still hasn’t come to fruition and there’s a lot of finger-pointing going on.
Conor McGregor is the lone fighter on the active UFC roster to not be tested by USADA in 2022
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 25, 2022
It appears Conor McGregor is the only active UFC fighter who has not been tested by USADA this year. TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter did some digging into the USADA testing database and discovered that McGregor stands alone in terms of active UFC fighters who have yet to be tested in 2022.
Sean O’Malley is oozing confidence ahead of his UFC 280 showdown with Petr Yan: “I’ll be surprised if I get hit once”
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 25, 2022
Sean O’Malley isn’t lacking confidence ahead of the biggest bout of his pro MMA career. O’Malley is set to collide with former UFC Bantamweight Champion Petr Yan. The action will be held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. It’ll serve as the co-main event of UFC 280 on October 22.
Nate Diaz sounds off on "fat motherf**ker" Daniel Cormier for his recent comments, 'DC' responds
Chris Taylor - September 24, 2022
Nate Diaz has taken exception to Daniel Cormier suggesting that his nixed fight with Khamzat Chimaev was a gift from God. Diaz (21-13 MMA) and Chimaev (12-0 MMA) were of course slated to headline UFC 279 earlier this month in Las Vegas. However, after ‘Borz’ missed weight by a whopping 7.5lbs, the fight card was ultimately reshuffled in an effort to keep both Nate and Khamzat on the card.
Dana White reveals the shocking news he received from 'mortality expert' Gary Brecka: "He gave me 10.4 years to live"
Chris Taylor - September 24, 2022
UFC President Dana White recently visited ‘mortality expert’ Gary Brecka and the news he got back was not great. During a recent episode of the ‘Action Junkeez Podcast‘, White revealed that he was recently seen by “human biologist & mortality expert,” Gary Brecka, who can apparently tell folks their expiry date based on blood and DNA markers.
Damon Jackson knew he couldn't pull out of his fight after his brother passed, eyes Julian Erosa after TKO win over Pat Sabatini
Cole Shelton - September 24, 2022
Damon Jackson knew he wasn’t going to pull out of his UFC Vegas 60 fight against Pat Sabatini. As Jackson was in Las Vegas getting ready for his fight against Sabatini, he found out his older brother passed away. Immediately, he told his coach he was going to fight and informed the UFC of the news but remained adamant he was going to compete.
Dana White admits that a fight against Khamzat Chimaev "wouldn’t have been good" for Nate Diaz
Chris Taylor - September 23, 2022
Dana White recently reflected on the failed ‘Khamzat Chimaev vs. Nate Diaz’ bout that was supposed to headlined UFC 279. Diaz (21-13 MMA) and Chimaev (12-0 MMA) were of course slated to headline UFC 279 earlier this month in Las Vegas. However, after ‘Borz’ missed weight by a whopping 7.5lbs, the fight card was ultimately reshuffled in an effort to keep both Nate and Khamzat on the card.