MMA News
Kamaru Usman shares grim outlook on Conor McGregor’s comeback aspirations: “He’s not necessarily done, but he’s done as a champion”
Harry Kettle - August 10, 2022
Kamaru Usman has explained why he doesn’t think Conor McGregor will become a champion again in the UFC. While he isn’t exactly the most active fighter in the UFC these days, largely due to his recovery from a leg break last summer, Conor McGregor is still the biggest name in mixed martial arts by a country mile.
Dana White explains why he did not offer Bo Nickal a UFC contract despite his dominant win on DWCS
Harry Kettle - August 10, 2022
Dana White has explained why he didn’t offer Bo Nickal a UFC contract despite his dominant Contender Series win last night. Over the last few years, UFC president Dana White has seen plenty of standout performances on the Tuesday Night Contender Series. Some fighters have been signed and others haven’t but along the way, we’ve had the chance to witness some breakout stars make their mark.
Dana White explains why he cancelled Hulu deal for Mike Tyson
Andrew Whitelaw - August 9, 2022
Dana White was hailed by Mike Tyson earlier this week for siding with the boxing legend in his feud with Hulu and the UFC boss has now explained his side of the story. Speaking in the wake of the latest edition of Dana White’s Contender series, the 53-year-old said,
Brandon Moreno's coach will "be surprised" if fourth Deiveson Figueiredo fight happens, expects undisputed title fight against Alexandre Pantoja
Cole Shelton - August 9, 2022
James Krause can finally claim to have instructed a world champion as he coached Brandon Moreno to his UFC 277 win. Throughout Krause’s time as a fighter and a coach, he has been vocal in saying he never wanted to be a world champion, but rather coach one. At UFC 277, he had the chance to do that was he was coaching Brandon Moreno for the interim flyweight title.
Paulo Costa leaves manager Wallid Ismail ahead of UFC 278 fight, now represented by his girlfriend
Cole Shelton - August 9, 2022
Paulo Costa has made some changes ahead of his UFC 278 fight. Costa is set to return in the co-main event of UFC 278 against former middleweight champ Luke Rockhold. It’s a big fight for both men as they both look to get back into the title picture, yet ahead of the fight, the Brazilian dropped his longtime manager Wallid Ismail. He took to his YouTube channel to discuss his career and said he has nothing but good things to say about Ismail but decided a change was needed.
Jan Blachowicz pleas with Dana White for Jiri Prochazka fight: "Unlike him I always keep my word"
Josh Evanoff - August 9, 2022
Jan Blachowicz believes he should be the one to face UFC light-heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka next. The Poland-native is fresh off a stoppage victory over Aleksandar Rakic in May. In the third round, the latter suffered a brutal leg injury. Thus, ending the contest, and giving Blachowicz his first win since losing his light-heavyweight crown in October 2021.
Kamaru Usman explains interest in fighting Canelo Alvarez: "If I'm gonna gamble, I'm gonna gamble well"
Josh Evanoff - August 9, 2022
Kamaru Usman is interested in boxing Canelo Alvarez, but not Jake Paul. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ is set to face Leon Edwards later this month at UFC 278. The bout will be a rematch of their previous encounter, at a UFC Fight Night in December 2015. On that night, Usman scored a unanimous decision victory.
Sam Alvey announces he’s “not under contract” with the UFC anymore, calls out Jake Paul
Cole Shelton - August 9, 2022
Sam Alvey is no longer on the UFC roster. Following Alvey’s first-round TKO loss to Michal Oleksiejczuk, he fought out his UFC contract and it was likely that was going to be it for him. Prior to the fight, he told BJPENN.com’s Just Scrap Radio that the UFC was allowing him to fight out his deal.
Cris Cyborg reveals she's a free agent, targeting move to boxing: "It's one of my dreams"
Josh Evanoff - August 9, 2022
Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg is currently a free agent. The Brazilian is fresh off her decision victory over Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 279 in April. The victory was Cyborg’s fourth title defense, as she captured the 145-pound title in January 2020. That win over Blencowe could go down as her last championship defense.
Henry Cejudo explains why he thinks Alex Pereira KO's Israel Adesanya at UFC 281: "There are a couple of things that Israel does wrong"
Cole Shelton - August 9, 2022
Henry Cejudo not only thinks we will hear ‘And New’ at UFC 281, but believes Alex Pereira will become the new middleweight champ by knocking out Israel Adesanya. Adesanya and Pereira have fought twice in kickboxing with the Brazilian winning both, including one by KO. Although MMA is much different, Cejudo believes we will see the same result at UFC 281 as he believes Pereira’s striking is on another level, and will KO Adesanya.
Rose Namajunas considering a move up to flyweight, discusses potential fight with longtime friend Valentina Shevchenko
Susan Cox - August 9, 2022
Rose Namajunas is considering a move up to flyweight and has discussed a potential fight with long time friend Vanentina Shevchenko. Namajunas (11-5 MMA) is coming off a loss against Carla Esparza (19-6 MMA) in May of this year at UFC 274. Prior to the loss, ‘Thug’ had 3 victories in a row.
Devin Clark expects to "break" Azamat Murzakanov at UFC San Diego: "Every person can be broken so it will come"
Cole Shelton - August 9, 2022
Devin Clark finally got his first UFC finish his last time out and now wants to build off of that. Clark scored a TKO win over William Knight back in April in his heavyweight debut. After the win, there was some thought about staying at heavyweight. Yet, given he trains with Curtis Blaydes he realized he wasn’t big enough to stay at heavyweight.
UFC Rankings Update: Jamahal Hill and Geoff Neal make big leaps in respective divisions
Susan Cox - August 9, 2022
The UFC Rankings have been updated and Jamahal Hill and Geoff Neal have made big leaps in their respective divisions. Hill, (11-1 MMA) is hot off a victory over Thiago Santos (22-11 MMA) this past Saturday, August 6th in the light heavyweight main event. ‘Sweet Dreams’ defeated Santos by TKO (strikes) at 2:31 of Round 4.
Artem Lobov explains why he refused to accept social welfare despite being jobless in Ireland: “I didn’t want it to be some safety cushion or nothing for me”
Susan Cox - August 9, 2022
Artem Lobov is explaining why he refused to accept social welfare despite being jobless in Ireland. Artem Lobov, 35, (13-15 MMA), is a former professional MMA fighter and boxer who is based in Ireland. ‘The Russian Hammer‘ competed in the featherweight division for the UFC and has most recently competed in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
Marlon Vera explains how Sean O’Malley got the “perfect fight” with UFC 280 matchup against Petr Yan: “He already have insurance plan”
Harry Kettle - August 9, 2022
Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera has explained how Sean O’Malley wound up with the perfect fight against Petr Yan at UFC 280. This weekend, Marlon Vera has a chance to take a huge step forward in the bantamweight division when he locks horns with Dominick Cruz down in San Diego. The top 15 is as stacked as it’s ever been and more so than ever before, every fight counts.
UFC champion Kamaru Usman explains why he tapped instead of being choked unconscious in his lone career MMA defeat
Harry Kettle - August 9, 2022
Kamaru Usman has explained why he tapped out instead of going unconscious in his only pro defeat in mixed martial arts. For many MMA fans across the globe, Kamaru Usman is the pound-for-pound best in the sport right now. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ is the UFC welterweight champion and after successfully defending his belt five times, there are very few individuals who would dispute just how good he is.
Jon Jones applauds Glover Teixeira for being the only fighter to have kept “kicking ass” after fighting him: “I’ve always found this interesting”
Harry Kettle - August 9, 2022
Jon Jones has applauded Glover Teixeira as being his only opponent to continue thriving after fighting him. While he may not be ‘undefeated’ in the traditional sense as a result of a DQ loss and a no contest, Jon Jones is considered by many to be one of the greatest fighters of all-time – and the only one of the modern era, alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov, who has technically never lost a fight.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 90 with James Krause, Devin Clark, David Onama, Tyson Nam, and Ode Osbourne
Cole Shelton - August 9, 2022
The 90th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC San Diego. We’re first joined by MMA coach James Krause (1:48). Next, UFC light heavyweight Devin Clark (12:31) comes on. UFC featherweight David Onama (25:48) then stops by. Closing out the program are UFC flyweights Tyson Nam (36:07) and Ode Osbourne (47:40).