MMA News
BREAKING: Ryan Hall to make return to the Octagon against Dan Ige on March 13
Cole Shelton - January 14, 2021
Ryan Hall is back. Multiple sources have confirmed to BJPENN.com that Ryan Hall and Dan Ige is agreed to for March 13 with contracts having already been sent out. The event currently does not have a location.
Conor McGregor explains how he's changed since MMA career began
Tom Taylor - January 14, 2021
Former two-division UFC Conor McGregor says he’s matured since he began his mixed martial arts journey back in 2007. McGregor is currently gearing up for a lightweight showdown with No. 2-ranked contender Dustin Poirier, which will headline the UFC 257 card on January 23.
Khamzat Chimaev re-opens as betting favorite for Leon Edwards fight
Adam Martin - January 14, 2021
The betting odds for the new booking between welterweights Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev features Chimaev opening as the favorite this time. Edwards and Chimaev were previously set to fight at UFC Vegas 17 in Las Vegas and then on January 20 in Fight Island. The first time the betting odds opened up, Edwards opened as the favorite with Chimaev as the underdog, but bettors quickly scooped up the plus-money on Chimaev and the line flipped the other way. With Edwards and Chimaev now re-booked to fight again on March 13, the oddsmakers were quick to re-open the line. Only this time, Chimaev opened up as the favorite.
Paul Felder down to fight "legend" Nate Diaz: "I would love that fight"
Adam Martin - January 14, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Paul Felder says he would love to fight Nate Diaz and says he doesn’t care what weight class the fight is at. Felder is in Fight Island where he will be doing his usual commentary duties. The No. 8 fighter in the lightweight division, Felder is coming off of back-to-back losses to Dan Hooker and Rafael dos Anjos. However, both of those were competitive fights and there’s no shame in losing to either fighter. There was some talk that Felder could potentially hang up his gloves, but he ended up changing his mind. He then signed a contract extension with the UFC for several more fights. He is not done yet.
Conor McGregor: Manny Pacquiao talks "intensifying," fight could happen "this year"
Tom Taylor - January 14, 2021
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor believes he’ll meet Manny Pacquiao in the boxing ring before the year is over. McGregor is currently gearing up for a fight with the UFC’s No. 2-ranked lightweight contender, Dustin Poirier, which will headline the UFC 257 card on January 23.
Michael Bisping wants more accountability for MMA judges: "One judge’s decision can change your life"
Tom Taylor - January 14, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping wants MMA judges to be held accountable for their errors. The former champ weighed in on the topic on a recent episode of his Believe You Me podcast, first criticizing the oft-used MMA adage “never leave it in the hands of judges.”
Pro fighters make their picks for Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar
Cole Shelton - January 14, 2021
In the main event of UFC Fight Island 7, Max Holloway looks to return to the win column when he battles Calvin Kattar. Heading into the fight, the Hawaiian is a -160 favorite while Kattar is a +130 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. To some surprise, all the fighters are unanimous in thinking Max Holloway gets his hand raised.
Dana White believes McGregor vs. Poirier rematch will be "a war"
Tom Taylor - January 14, 2021
UFC President Dana White believes that the upcoming rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier will be “a war.” McGregor and Poirier have fought once before, in the featherweight division, back in 2014. On that night, McGregor won by first-round knockout.
Conor McGregor on Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement: "I was not surprised to see him scurry away"
Tom Taylor - January 14, 2021
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor has reacted to the recent retirement of his arch rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor and Nurmagomedov fought in 2018, in the main event of UFC 229, which went down as the highest-selling pay-per-view in the company’s history. Nurmagomedov won that fight by fourth-round submission, dashing McGregor’s dreams of reclaiming the UFC lightweight title.
Dan Hardy breaks down upcoming Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier rematch
Harry Kettle - January 14, 2021
UFC analyst and former fighter Dan Hardy has given his thoughts on the upcoming rematch between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor at UFC 257. Through his work with UFC, BT Sport and his Full Reptile YouTube channel, Hardy has been able to emerge as one of the most engaging and interesting pundits in all of mixed martial arts over the course of the last few years.
UFC looking into psychedelics for brain health therapy: 'We want to do it the right way'
Drake Riggs - January 13, 2021
After continuous studies reveal more information, the UFC keeps on looking at ways to improve fighter health. In most sports that involve contact with the head, it’s unfortunately common to see brain health deteriorate or be impacted over time. Recently it was revealed via MMA Fighting of the severity of former UFC lightweight, Spencer Fisher, and his recent struggles. Therefore prompting UFC President Dana White to reveal to MMA Junkie that his promotion has begun working with top psychedelic research center, Johns Hopkins University, regarding the possible benefits of psychedelics.
Photo | Jon Jones shows off physical transformation to 250lbs
Adam Martin - January 13, 2021
UFC superstar Jon Jones showed off his physical transformation ahead of his heavyweight debut, saying he weighs 250lbs. Jones announced this past summer that he was vacating the UFC light heavyweight championship and moving up to the heavyweight division, in an attempt to win a second title and cement his legacy as the greatest MMA fighter of all time. “Bones” has for the past six months been training his body to make the move up in weight, showing videos of himself packing on the muscle. Now Jones is showing off, teasing fans that he weighs 250lbs and feels amazing not having to cut weight anymore.
Max Holloway "would love" to rematch Conor McGregor down the road
Cole Shelton - January 13, 2021
Max Holloway is hoping he can fight Conor McGregor again sometime in the future. Back in August of 2013, Holloway and McGregor fought in Boston with the Irishman winning a decision. After the loss, the Hawaiian went on a 13-fight winning streak including winning and defending the featherweight title twice. McGregor, meanwhile, went on to win the featherweight and lightweight title.
Carlos Condit expects to "f**k up" Matt Brown at UFC Fight Island 7
Cole Shelton - January 13, 2021
Carlos Condit expects to beat Matt Brown with ease on Saturday night. In the co-main event of UFC Fight Island 7, Condit and Brown will finally fight one another after being booked two times previously. For Condit, he is eager to share the Octagon with him but expects to finish Brown.
Brendan Fitzgerald details crazy 2020 and preparation for calling fights
Cole Shelton - January 13, 2021
After UFC 248 on March 7, which served as the final event with fans, Brendan Fitzgerald headed on a plane to go to Brasilia. However, while he was in the air, the world changed. As Fitzgerald was set to land in New York before going on another flight to Brasilia everything started to shut down. Sports leagues canceled championships and passed their seasons. For Fitzgerald, he wondered if he should even go on the plane to Brazil as he worried he would be stuck there.
Breaking: Steven Peterson reveals he is out of his fight on February 6, wants Chase Hooper in March
Cole Shelton - January 13, 2021
Steven Peterson will have to wait a bit longer to make his return to the Octagon. Peterson hasn’t fought since he had a highlight-reel spinning backfist KO over Martin Bravo in September of 2019. After that fight, the Fortis MMA product hurt his arm and needed surgery which kept him out of action for all of 2020.
Charles Oliveira turned down short-notice fight against Michael Chandler, confirms Dana White
Adam Martin - January 13, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Charles Oliveira turned down a short-notice fight against Michael Chandler, confirmed UFC president Dana White. Oliveira is one of the hottest fights on the planet right now, having won eight straight fights including a dominant performance against Tony Ferguson at UFC 255. Oliveira dominated the former interim champ, prompting White to call him one of the top-three lightweight fighters in the world. Oliveira himself believes that he should be next in line for a title shot and said he hopes to be in attendance at UFC 257 next week, ready to challenge the winner of Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier.
UFC on ABC 1: Holloway vs. Kattar Full Betting Odds
Adam Martin - January 13, 2021
Check out the full betting odds for this weekend’s UFC on ABC 1 event headlined by featherweight contenders Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar. In the headlining bout, No. 1 ranked Holloway returns to the Octagon for the first time since his controversial split decision loss to UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 251. Many people feel that Holloway is the uncrowned champ right now, but it was a hard sell for the UFC to book a trilogy fight this soon. Instead, Holloway returns to the cage against a very tough opponent in No. 6 ranked Calvin Kattar, who won two fights in 2020 over Jeremy Stephens and Dan Ige.