MMA News
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.
Brendan Schaub confused by Jake Paul's callout of KSI: "You were about to fight a legit guy"
Josh Evanoff - August 9, 2022
Brendan Schaub isn’t a fan of Jake Paul calling out KSI for a boxing match. ‘The Problem Child’ was set to face Hasim Rahman Jr. at Madison Square Garden in New York City this month. However, the fight was canceled, as the two men argued about the weight allowance for the heavyweight. Rahman Jr. famously took the bout on short notice.
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.
Paulo Costa is looking lean and mean ahead of his middleweight return at UFC 278
Susan Cox - August 9, 2022
Paulo Costa is looking lean and mean ahead of his middleweight return at UFC 278. It will be Paulo Costa (13-2 MMA) vs Luke Rockhold (16-5 MMA) in the middleweight co-main event on Saturday, August 20th at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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.
Thiago Santos issues statement following TKO loss to Jamahal Hill at UFC Vegas 59: “I let everything there and still wasn’t enough, no shame about that”
Harry Kettle - August 9, 2022
Thiago Santos has posted a classy statement following his TKO defeat at the hands of Jamahal Hill last weekend. While he may have fought for the UFC light heavyweight championship once upon a time, it’s safe to say that Thiago Santos has been through some tough times in the last couple of years. From surgery to a parade of close losses against elite 205-pounders, the Brazilian has struggled to rediscover the form that got him to the big dance in the first place.
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).
WATCH: Jared Gordon subdues baseball bat-wielding attacker
Andrew Whitelaw - August 8, 2022
Jared Gordon is at it again! The New Yorker showcased how formidable UFC fighters can be in real-life altercations when he subdued a man who attacked him with a baseball bat – but the 155lb-er has experience in this area having been forced to defend friends and family from wild attackers on numerous occasions in the past.
Dominick Cruz makes Rampage Jackson / Marlon Vera comparison ahead of UFC San Diego
Andrew Whitelaw - August 8, 2022
Dominick Cruz says he has respect for his upcoming opponent Marlon Vera despite the Ecuadorian seemingly not liking him. The pair will lock horns in the main event at UFC San Diego this weekend in what will be an important match-up for the top of the bantamweight division.
Anthony Smith discusses his loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 277: “He wasn’t as good as I expected him to be”
Zain Bando - August 8, 2022
Anthony Smith suffered a critical loss at the hands of Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 277 on July 30. The former light heavyweight title challenger also endured a brutal injury in the form of a broken ankle. Smith, who burst on to the scene in 2018, has fought some of the best fighters in the sport. Names like Glover Texiera, Jon Jones, and Rashad Evans quickly come to mind as three of the best fighters that the division has ever seen.
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane eyes retirement fight against friend and mentor Liz Carmouche for the belt: "I have four fights left on this contract and that will be it for me"
Cole Shelton - August 8, 2022
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane will be looking to return to the win column in a big way at Bellator 284. Macfarlane ended her nearly year-and-a-half layoff back in April in Hawaii and suffered a decision loss to Justine Kish. After the loss, Macfarlane told Bellator she wanted to return as soon as possible and got her wish as she will face Bruna Ellen on Friday night.
Toilet accident forces Christos Giagos to withdraw from UFC Paris
Josh Evanoff - August 8, 2022
UFC lightweight Christos Giagos is officially out of his return at UFC Paris. ‘The Spartan’ has been out of action since his submission loss to Thiago Moises in June. The California-native was set to face Benoît Saint-Denis in France next month. The event is set to be the first UFC card in the country.