MMA News
Alistair Overeem issues statement on UFC release
Tom Taylor - March 4, 2021
Former Strikeforce, DREAM and K-1 heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem has issued a statement on his UFC release. Overeem has been competing under the UFC banner since 2011, but after a knockout loss to Alexander Volkov in his last outing, was released by the promotion earlier this week.
Amanda Nunes makes pick for missed Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg superfight
Tom Taylor - March 4, 2021
Two-division UFC champion Amanda Nunes believes Cris Cyborg would have beaten Ronda Rousey had the pair ever fought in their primes. Today, Nunes is regarded as the best female fighter of all time. For many years, however, Rousey and Cyborg squabbled over that title. At the time, Rousey was the UFC women’s bantamweight champion, while Cyborg was decimating every woman she stepped into the cage with at featherweight.
Manager reveals alleged contents of infamous Ottman Azaitar duffle bag: "It was potatoes"
Tom Taylor - March 4, 2021
In January, lightweight prospect Ottman Azaitar was briefly released by the UFC after violating the safety protocols of the promotion’s Fight Island bubble. According to the reports that emerged at the time, Azaitar had been caught attempting to smuggle a bag into the Fight Island safety zone. The contents of that bag, however, have remained a mystery ever since.
Megan Anderson explains why she's the fighter to beat Amanda Nunes
Tom Taylor - March 4, 2021
Megan Anderson believes she has the skills to defeat two-division UFC champion and pound-for-pound queen Amanda Nunes at UFC 259 this weekend. Anderson will challenge Nunes for the featherweight title in one of three title fights on the UFC 259 bill. While she will enter the cage as a gargantuan underdog, she feels well-positioned to pull off a historic upset.
UFC 259 | Pro fighters make their picks for Amanda Nunes vs Megan Anderson title fight
Cole Shelton - March 4, 2021
In the co-main event of UFC 259, Amanda Nunes is set to defend her featherweight title as she battles Megan Anderson. Heading into the fight, Nunes is a massive -1000 favorite while the challenger is a +600 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros believe Nunes gets the job done and likely does so by stoppage.
UFC 259: ‘Blachowicz vs Adesanya’ Fight Card and Start Times
Harry Kettle - March 4, 2021
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to pay-per-view this weekend with an absolutely electric UFC 259 card featuring three huge title fights – headlined by Jan Blachowicz vs Israel Adesanya for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Event: UFC 259: Blachowicz vs Adesanya Date: Saturday, 6th March 2021 Location: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada Broadcast: ESPN+ – 6pm/8pm/10pm EST
Video | Dana White shares incredible preview for Saturday’s UFC 259 pay-per-view event
Harry Kettle - March 4, 2021
UFC president Dana White has shared the fantastic cold open for UFC 259 as we get closer and closer to fight night in Las Vegas. There’s no way of getting around it – the event White has put together this weekend is absolutely stacked. From the early prelims all the way up to the three title fights, it’s easy to understand why people are getting just a little bit excited about what’s to come.
Anthony Smith sympathizes with Khamzat Chimaev’s emotional struggles: “He’s used to being a f*cking killer”
Christopher Taylor - March 3, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith can relate to the recent emotional struggles of Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev (9-0 MMA) recently shocked fight fans by announcing his retirement from the sport of mixed martial arts. ‘Borz’ was one of many people to fall victim to the global pandemic and lingering symptoms from the virus have kept him out of the Octagon.
Jon Jones responds after Israel Adesanya pushes back superfight
Cole Shelton - March 3, 2021
Jon Jones has responded after Israel Adesanya pushed back their proposed super-fight until December. For quite some time, Jones and Adesanya have been taking shots at one another and many wanted to see the fight take place.
UFC parts ways with Alistair Overeem
Cole Shelton - March 3, 2021
Alistair Overeem is no longer a UFC fighter. On Wednesday, it was revealed both Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem were removed from the rankings. Now, according to Combate, the UFC has parted ways with Overeem.
Junior dos Santos issues statement confirming UFC release
Adam Martin - March 3, 2021
Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos issued a statement confirming that he was released by the world’s leading MMA promotion. Dos Santos and his former rival Alistair Overeem were both removed from the UFC rankings on Wednesday, which indicated they were released by the promotion. Not long after word broke on social media that “Cigano” and “Ubereem” were cut, the Brazilian took to his social media to confirm the news. Check out the statement JDS posted on Instagram.
Casey Kenney believes Dominick Cruz looked "slow" in his return fight, expects to "put him away"
Cole Shelton - March 3, 2021
Casey Kenney was surprised to see Dominick Cruz’s name on his contract. On the prelims of UFC 259, Kenney is set to face the former bantamweight champion in a very intriguing matchup. Kenney is looking to take a big step up the bantamweight ranks while Cruz is looking to snap his two-fight losing skid. For Kenney, he believes the fight makes sense for that reason.
Cub Swanson fights Giga Chikadze in battle of strikers at UFC Fight Night card in May
Adam Martin - March 3, 2021
A featherweight bout between strikers Cub Swanson and Giga Chikadze is set to take place on the UFC Fight Night card set for May 1. Swanson was originally set to fight Gavin Tucker on the May 1 card, but Tucker was removed from that event and re-booked against Dan Ige on the March 13 card. With Swanson in need of an opponent, the UFC matchmakers were able to secure Chikadze to step in and fight him two months from now. Swanson himself confirmed the fight on his Instagram, following an initial report from Adjara Sport. The UFC Fight Night card on May 1 is targeted to be headlined by light heavyweights Jiri Prochazka and Dominick Reyes.
Israel Adesanya facing the "hardest fight" fight of his career at UFC 259, says head coach
Tom Taylor - March 3, 2021
Israel Adesanya is days out from the toughest fight of his career, according to his head coach, Eugene Bareman. Adesanya, the UFC middleweight champion, is slated to move up to light heavyweight to challenge Jan Blachowicz in a bid for a second-title at UFC 259 this Saturday.
UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya full betting odds
Adam Martin - March 3, 2021
Check out the complete betting odds for this Saturday’s UFC 259 PPV card featuring Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya in the main event. The stacked card features three title fights, with the marquee headliner featuring UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya moving up to 205lbs in an attempt to challenge light heavyweight kingpin Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya is a perfect 20-0 in MMA and 9-0 in the UFC alone, so he’s a big favorite here at the sportsbooks to win a second UFC title. Blachowicz, meanwhile, is the underdog yet again, a role he has played in 12 UFC fights thus far in his career. Incredibly, he’s won eight fights as an underdog in the Octagon. Can he pull off his ninth underdog win at UFC 259 this weekend? We’ll find out on Saturday.
Petr Yan believes Aljamain Sterling will run from him at UFC 259: "It's gameplan of a mouse, yeah?"
Adam Martin - March 3, 2021
UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan believes Aljamain Sterling will run from him at UFC 259, suggesting he will have the gameplan of a mouse. Yan vs. Sterling is one of three title fights featured on this Saturday’s stacked UFC 259 card. Yan is coming off of a successful TKO victory over Jose Aldo to capture the vacant belt back at UFC 251 on Fight Island, while Sterling is coming off of a first-round submission over top contender Cory Sandhagen in his last fight. This matchup is very much a clash of styles, as Yan prefers to stand and trade on the feet, where he can unleash his wicked KO power, while Sterling prefers to go to the ground and submit his opponents. It makes this weekend’s 135lbs title fight a fascinating matchup and a tough one to predict.
UFC 259 | Pro fighters make their picks for Petr Yan vs Aljamain Sterling title fight
Cole Shelton - March 3, 2021
In the first of three title fights on the stacked UFC 259 pay-per-view, Petr Yan is set to defend his bantamweight title for the first time. Heading into the fight, Yan is a -120 favorite with the comeback on the American at -110. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros are actually split on this one just like the odds have it as a pick’em fight.
Jan Blachowicz reveals massive weight advantage for Israel Adesanya superfight at UFC 259
Adam Martin - March 3, 2021
UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz says he expects to weigh between 215lbs and 220lbs when he fights Israel Adesanya at UFC 259. Adesanya is moving up to the UFC light heavyweight division for the first time in an attempt to become a rare double champion. “The Last Stylebender” has said that he plans on weighing around 193lbs come fight night, which would obviously make him one of the lightest light heavyweights in the division. Standing across from him on Saturday night will be Blachowicz, the reigning and defending UFC light heavyweight champion. And while Adesanya is two inches taller than him, there is going to be a major difference in weight.