MMA News
Alexander Volkanovski offers to be backup fighter for Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev
Josh Evanoff - August 11, 2022
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is serious about his move to lightweight. ‘The Great’ is fresh off his decision victory over Max Holloway at UFC 276 last month. The win moved Volkanovski to 3-0 in his series with ‘Blessed’. Following the bout, the Australian made it clear he wants to move up to lightweight.
Dana White appreciates Oscar De La Hoya's apology, but will never be friends: "That guy did way too much damage"
Josh Evanoff - August 11, 2022
Dana White appreciates Oscar De La Hoya’s apology, but he’s fine not working with him. The two promoters have been embroiled in a heated feud for years. First going at each other’s throats as rivals, things took a personal turn in 2018. De La Hoya began promoting MMA fights, starting with Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz 3. In turn, White poked fun at the boxer’s addiction problems.
Patricky Pitbull to defend lightweight title vs. Usman Nurmagomedov at Bellator 288
Josh Evanoff - August 11, 2022
Bellator lightweight champion Patricky Pitbull has his first assignment as champion. He will face Usman Nurmagomedov at Bellator 288 in November. The Brazilian captured the Bellator lightweight strap with a knockout win over Peter Queally in November 2021. The win avenged a previous defeat to the Irishman from that May. With that, Pitbull joined his brother, Patricio, as a Bellator titleholder.
Jiri Prochazka vs. Glover Teixeira 2 set for UFC 282 in December
Josh Evanoff - August 11, 2022
It seems that UFC light-heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka will get his wish, and rematch Glover Teixeira. The two first squared off in the main event of UFC 275 in June. The bout was the Brazilian’s first title defense after capturing the light-heavyweight scrap in October 2021, with a win over Jan Blachowicz. Teixeira also teased his fight with Prochazka could be his last.
Josh Thomson shares prediction for Islam Makhachev vs Charles Oliveira title fight at UFC 280: “I think he's gonna get submitted”
Susan Cox - August 11, 2022
Josh Thomson has shared his prediction for the Islam Makhachev vs Charles Oliveira title fight at UFC 280. It will be on October 22nd at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates that Makhachev (22-1 MMA) will meet Oliveira (33-8 MMA) in the lightweight main event.
Khabib Nurmagomedov reacts after Charles Oliveira suggests Islam Makhachev and his team are “arrogant” individuals: “I simply think he's starting to feel the pressure of the fight”
Susan Cox - August 11, 2022
Khabib Nurmagomedov is reacting after Charles Oliveira suggested Islam Makhachev and his team are ‘arrogant’ individuals. In a recent interview, Oliveira sent a message of warning to Islam Makhachev and his team, which includes Nurmagomedov, not to be too arrogant heading into UFC 280.
Kayla Harrison attempts to lure Cris Cyborg into accepting a fight with winner take all offer
Susan Cox - August 11, 2022
Kayla Harrison is attempting to lure Cris Cyborg into accepting a fight with a winner take all offer. Harrison, is hungry, hungry to fight Cris Cyborg and claim another PFL title this year. The two time champ is ready to fight reigning Bellator featherweight champ Cris Cyborg.
Dominick Cruz reveals how his previous injuries took him to a dark place: “I was so depressed at one time that I didn't even want to live”
Susan Cox - August 11, 2022
Dominick Cruz is revealing how his previous injuries took him to a dark place. Cruz, 37, (24-3 MMA) last fought in December of 2021 at UFC 269 where he defeated Pedro Munhoz (19-7 MMA) by unanimous decision.
Pro fighters make their picks for Marlon Vera vs. Dominick Cruz
Cole Shelton - August 11, 2022
In the main event of UFC San Diego, Marlon Vera is set to headline his second straight UFC event as he takes on former champ, Dominick Cruz. Heading into the fight, Vera is a -250 favorite while the former champ is a +190 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros lean towards Vera getting the job done in a closer fight than the odds suggest.
Anthony Smith discusses the immense struggles he faced trying to make 185 pounds: “I wasn’t sure I was going to live”
Harry Kettle - August 11, 2022
Anthony Smith has detailed how extreme his weight cuts were when he was competing at middleweight in the UFC. While he may have lost to Magomed Ankalaev in his last outing at UFC 277, Anthony Smith is still an important piece of the furniture at 205 pounds. Ever since making the move up to the weight class in 2018, ‘Lionheart’ has had some memorable moments – including fighting for the title, beating Alexander Gustafsson and more.
Michael Bisping sends a cautionary message to Bo Nickal: “Slow your roll a little bit, buddy”
Harry Kettle - August 11, 2022
Former UFC champion Michael Bisping has sent a word of warning to Bo Nickal following his Contender Series win. Throughout the course of his time in mixed martial arts, Michael Bisping has seen pretty much everything there is to see. From dramatic knockouts to huge upsets and beyond, ‘The Count’ is better equipped than most to comment on what’s going on in the sport.
Aljamain Sterling explains why he feels like "the red-headed step-child" when dealing with certain UFC officials
Harry Kettle - August 11, 2022
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has spoken about some of the issues he’s had dealing with the promotion. While his first win over Petr Yan may have come via disqualification, Aljamain Sterling didn’t allow that to deter him from proving to the world that he deserves to have that championship belt around his waist.
Sean O'Malley says he's "okay with losing" to Petr Yan at UFC 280 because he knows he's "gonna be a world champ someday"
Cole Shelton - August 10, 2022
Sean O’Malley is fine with losing to Petr Yan as he says he isn’t scared of losing as many think he is. O’Malley is set for the toughest test of his career as he will face Yan in a potential title eliminator bout. It’s a massive step-up in competition and for O’Malley, he says he knows he’s going to be a champion anyway so he isn’t worried about if he loses this fight or not, yet he’s confident he will get his hand raised.
Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland targeted to headline Fight Night card in October
Cole Shelton - August 10, 2022
Jared Cannonier will be looking to get back into the win column following his title fight loss. According to MMA reporter Ariel Helwani, Jared Cannonier will take on Sean Strickland in the main event of a Fight Night card on October 15. The event is expected to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Daniel Cormier not hot on Tony Ferguson moving to Jackson Wink: "I believe we all have a time, and I believe that time's gone"
Josh Evanoff - August 10, 2022
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier believes Tony Ferguson’s gym switch came too late. ‘El Cucuy’ has been out of the octagon since his knockout loss to Michael Chandler in May. That defeat made it four in a row for the former UFC interim lightweight champion. Due to the losing streak, Ferguson decided it was time to make a change.
Aljamain Sterling bats back idea that T.J. Dillashaw isn't cheating ahead of UFC 280: "Miss me with that s*it"
Josh Evanoff - August 10, 2022
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling believes T.J. Dillashaw is still cheating. ‘Funk Master’ was last seen in the octagon in April, defeating Petr Yan in their rematch by decision. The victory was his first since UFC 251, where he captured the bantamweight title by disqualification. Sterling is now set to return at UFC 280 in October, against Dillashaw.
Sam Alvey explains callout of Jake Paul after UFC release: "I haven’t won in a while, which is the kind of guys he likes to fight, so that makes sense"
Josh Evanoff - August 10, 2022
Former UFC middleweight Sam Alvey has revealed why he called out Jake Paul on social media. ‘Smilin Sam’ is fresh off his knockout loss to Michał Oleksiejczuk at UFC Vegas 59 last Saturday. The bout was the last on his UFC contract, and the promotion doesn’t plan to bring him back. Alvey didn’t win any of his last nine contests in the UFC.
Cris Cyborg's professional boxing debut against Simone Silva set for September 25th
Josh Evanoff - August 10, 2022
Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg will make her professional boxing debut next month. The Brazilian has been out of the cage since her decision victory over Arlene Blencowe in April. While not known at the time, the bout was the last fight on her Bellator contract. She was quickly linked to a possible signing with PFL and a bout with Kayla Harrison.