MMA News
Dustin Poirier reveals he hoped for five-rounds against Michael Chandler at UFC 281: "The better fighter usually wins in the distance"
Josh Evanoff - September 27, 2022
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier wanted his UFC 281 return to be five rounds. ‘The Diamond’ has been out of action since his clash with Charles Oliveira last December. In the lightweight title bout, Poirier lost by third-round submission. The defeat snapped a three-fight winning streak which comprised of wins over Conor McGregor and Dan Hooker.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm aiming for 2023 return, rematch with Miesha Tate: "It would come full circle"
Josh Evanoff - September 27, 2022
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm would like to face Miesha Tate next. ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ has been out of action since her clash with Ketlen Vieira in May. After 25 minutes, it was the Brazilian who earned the victory by a split decision. The decision itself was bashed by names such as Daniel Cormier.
Marlon Moraes vs. Shane Burgos booked for 2022 PFL Championship event
Cole Shelton - September 27, 2022
Marlon Moraes and Shane Burgos have their first PFL fight set and it will be against one another. According to ESPN – the broadcast partner of the PFL – Moraes officially signed with PFL and has agreed to face Burgos at the 2022 PFL Championship event. The card is set to take place at a location TBD on November 25. Both Moraes and Burgos just recently signed with the PFL after parting ways with the UFC and it will serve as Moraes’ first featherweight fight since 2011.
Rafael dos Anjos set to return to welterweight, targeted to face Bryan Barberena at UFC Orlando
Cole Shelton - September 27, 2022
Rafael dos Anjos will be returning to welterweight. After dos Anjos suffered a KO loss to Rafael Fiziev, he admitted his title run was over and he was looking for fun fights and legacy fights. He will also be doing so at welterweight as he revealed to Brazilian outlet Canal Encarada that he would be moving up to 170lbs.
Islam Makhachev responds after Michael Chandler suggests his praise is premature
Harry Kettle - September 27, 2022
Islam Makhachev has used social media to laugh off recent criticism from fellow UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler. Next month at UFC 280, Islam Makhachev will finally attempt to capture the UFC lightweight championship when he battles Charles Oliveira for the strap in a highly-anticipated main event clash.
Bellator champion Johnny Eblen discusses a potential fight with Yoel Romero: “I don’t know if that dude’s all natural”
Harry Kettle - September 27, 2022
Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen has given his thoughts on a potential fight against Yoel Romero in the future. This past weekend at Bellator 285 in Dublin, Yoel Romero was able to knock Melvin Manhoef out with a nasty series of elbows to take his current win streak with the promotion up to two. The 45-year-old, known as the ‘Soldier of God’, is still one of the most feared men in the sport – which says a lot about the impact he’s been able to have in the second half of his illustrious career.
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.
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.
Michael Chandler takes aim at "premature praise" for Islam Makhachev: "We just can’t say that he’s that good yet"
Josh Evanoff - September 26, 2022
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler believes we need to pump the breaks on praise for Islam Makhachev. The Russian has been out of action since his first-round TKO over Bobby Green in February. That victory, along with wins over names such as Dan Hooker and Arman Tsarukyan, has secured him a title shot. Makhachev is set to face Charles Oliveira next month at UFC 280 with vacant lightweight gold on the line.
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.
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.
Cris Cyborg defeats Simone Silva in her boxing debut (Video)
Susan Cox - September 26, 2022
Cris Cyborg defeated Simone Silva in her boxing debut. It was at the Fight Music Show 2 last night, Sunday September 25th, that Cris Cyborg defeated Simone Silva via unanimous decision in the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil.
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.
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.
Scott Coker clarifies previous comments about Bellator being in “dialogue” with Nate Diaz
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 25, 2022
Bellator President Scott Coker has cleared the air on the extent of his “dialogue” with Nate Diaz. Coker recently turned some heads when he told reporters that he was in communication with Diaz. The Stockton native has fought out of his UFC contract and he revealed his plan to fight outside of the promotion for a little while, but he vowed to eventually return.