MMA News
Nate Diaz reveals the two opponents who are “worthy” of being his final UFC fight
Susan Cox - July 14, 2022
Nate Diaz is revealing the two opponents he feels are ‘worthy’ of entering the Octagon with him for his final UFC fight. Diaz (20-13 MMA) has not fought since June of 2021 at UFC 263, where he was defeated by unanimous decision in his welterweight bout with Leon Edwards (19-3 MMA).
Pro fighters make their picks for Brian Ortega vs. Yair Rodriguez
Cole Shelton - July 14, 2022
In the main event of UFC Long Island, a pivotal featherweight scrap headlines the card as top-three featherweights collide as Brian Ortega takes on Yair Rodriguez. Heading into the fight, Ortega is a -180 favorite while the Mexican is a +140 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority of pros are leaning towards Ortega getting his hand raised and likely doing it by submission.
Jessica Andrade claims UFC champion Carla Esparza blocked her on social media after she requested a fight
Harry Kettle - July 14, 2022
Jessica Andrade has claimed Carla Esparza blocked her on social media after she asked to fight her for the title. While she may be moving back up to flyweight for a showdown with Manon Fiorot at UFC Paris, Jessica Andrade still very much has her eyes on the prize at strawweight – the division in which she won her first world title in the UFC.
Former flyweight title challenger John Dodson opens up on his UFC release: “I was like, ‘What the hell? First fight in and I’m done?”
Harry Kettle - July 14, 2022
John Dodson has opened up on how surprised he felt upon being released by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. From the moment he knocked out TJ Dillashaw to win The Ultimate Fighter 14, it was clear to see that John Dodson had some real potential. Then, immediately after conquering the bantamweight tournament, he swiftly moved down to flyweight in search of gold.
Alex Pereira says UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya would “never give” him props: “Ask him if he was impressed when I knocked him out”
Harry Kettle - July 14, 2022
UFC middleweight Alex Pereira continues to go after rival Israel Adesanya as speculation regarding a fight between them grows. The rivalry between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya had been dormant for a few years prior to ‘Poatan’ making his way over to the UFC from the world of kickboxing. In that particular martial art, Pereira managed to get the better of Adesanya on two separate occasions – one via knockout, and one via decision.
Brian Ortega still doesn't understand how Alexander Volkanovski didn't tap to his chokes at UFC 266: "How in the f**k did this man get out of that choke?"
Cole Shelton - July 13, 2022
Brian Ortega still can’t believe Alexander Volkanovski didn’t tap at UFC 266. In the third round of their featherweight title fight, Ortega appeared to lock in a guillotine and a triangle choke on two separate occasions and both appeared to be tight. Volkanovski’s face was going red but somehow the champ was able to escape and nearly a year later, ‘T-City’ doesn’t understand how.
Logan Paul gives prediction for his brother's fight with Hasim Rahman Jr.: "Face down on the canvas"
Josh Evanoff - July 13, 2022
Logan Paul believes his brother will knockout Hasim Rahman Jr. on August 6th. Jake Paul is set to headline Madison Square Garden next month on Showtime pay-per-view. While the 25-year-old was originally set to face Tommy Fury, the Brit was forced out due to visa issues. However, ‘TNT’ has now been replaced by ‘Gold Blooded’.
Sean O'Malley works as a gas station attendant, and gives everything away (Video)
Josh Evanoff - July 13, 2022
UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley has seemingly found a second calling. ‘Sugar’ is fresh off his no-contest with Pedro Munhoz at UFC 276 earlier this month. While that bout went down as a no-contest, O’Malley viewed the fight as a win. However, he didn’t receive his win bonus for his effort, as he had previously hoped he would.
Yair Rodriguez believes "it’s going to be important to have a really good strategy and stick to it" against Brian Ortega at UFC Long Island
Cole Shelton - July 13, 2022
Yair Rodriguez knows Brian Ortega will be a tough out at UFC Long Island on Saturday. Rodriguez and Ortega are set to headline the card in a pivotal fight for the featherweight division as the winner could get a title shot. Although the Mexican is coming off a loss to Max Holloway last time out, he says that fight taught him a lot including having a good strategy.
Jan Blachowicz open to Kamaru Usman showdown: "Why not?"
Josh Evanoff - July 13, 2022
Jan Blachowicz is open to a fight with UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. The Poland-native is fresh off a TKO victory over Aleksandar Rakic at UFC Vegas 54 in May. Blachowicz hopes that the win was enough to secure a title shot next time out. However, if he doesn’t end up fighting Jiri Prochazka, he’d be fine with another fight.
Darren Till says he would've finished Marvin Vettori in the first round when they were booked in 2021: "He just wouldn’t have been able to take my shots"
Cole Shelton - July 13, 2022
Darren Till believes he would’ve finished Marvin Vettori when they were scheduled to fight in April of 2021. Till and Vettori were set to headline UFC on ABC 2 but unfortunately just a few weeks before the event, the Brit broke his collarbone and was forced out of the fight. Vettori then fought Kevin Holland who he beat and proceeded to get a title shot against Israel Adesanya in the fight after.
Kamaru Usman says Alex Volkanovski is “phenomenal” but not the pound for pound best: “The world has to just realize that, right now, I am P4P best fighter on the planet”
Susan Cox - July 13, 2022
Kamaru Usman is dismissing the idea that Alex Volkanovski is the best pound for pound fighter on the planet. Usman (20-1 MMA) has 19 wins in his last 19 fights, his latest victory coming against Colby Covington (17-3 MMA) at UFC 268 in November of 2021.
Diego Ferreira out of UFC 277 fight against Drakkar Klose
Cole Shelton - July 13, 2022
Diego Ferreira will no longer be fighting in front of his adopted home of Dallas, Texas. Multiple sources informed BJPENN.com that Ferreira has been forced to pull out of his UFC 277 fight against Drakkar Klose due to an injury. The UFC is actively searching for an opponent to replace Ferreira and face Klose, the sources said, but it is uncertain if one will be found on two weeks’ notice.
UFC fighters react after Dana White surprises Kyle from Nelk Boys with $250,000 in cash for his birthday
Susan Cox - July 13, 2022
UFC fighters have reacted after Dana White surprises Kyle from Nelk Boys with $250,000 in cash for his birthday. The Nelk Boys, is a Canadian-American YouTube channel and entertainment company. They are known for their prank videos, vlogs, and their brand ‘Full Send Entertainment’.
Felice Herrig explains why she ended retirement to sign with BKFC, reveals they "tripled my UFC contract"
Cole Shelton - July 13, 2022
Felice Herrig ended her retirement rather quickly. After Herrig suffered a submission loss to Karolina Kowalkiewicz in June she announced her retirement from MMA. Yet, she recently signed with BKFC, and according to Herrig, she retired from MMA, not from fighting.
Cody Brundage says KO win over Tresean Gore proves "I don't have to just wrestle"
Cole Shelton - July 13, 2022
Cody Brundage was happy to shut up Tresean Gore. Leading up to his UFC Vegas 58 fight, Brundage heard all the trash talk Gore was saying, and that included throughout fight week. However, Brundage just put his head down as he had all the confidence in the world he would beat Gore and was surprised the former TUF competitor didn’t come out more aggressive.
Brian Ortega reveals he was going to "quit" MMA if he lost to Thiago Tavares in 2015: "I wasn't making money, I had 75 dollars to my name"
Cole Shelton - July 12, 2022
Brian Ortega nearly retired from MMA in 2015. Ortega agreed to fight Thiago Tavares on short notice after his UFC debut was overturned following him testing positive for drostanolone which saw him get suspended for nine months and fined $2500. Entering the fight, Ortega was the betting underdog and before the two weighed in, Tavares came up to Ortega and thanked him for taking the fight.
13 years after rematch, Frank Mir still hunting for Brock Lesnar trilogy fight: "I would be game"
Josh Evanoff - July 12, 2022
Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir wouldn’t mind facing Brock Lesnar again. The two had one of the most high-profile rivalries in UFC history. Mir and Lesnar first faced off at UFC 81, in the latter’s first UFC appearance. Despite early success, the jiu-jitsu ace wound up catching the pro-wrestler in a submission to secure the victory.