MMA News
Aljamain Sterling suggests he will move up in weight if teammate Merab Dvalishvili wins his next fight: “Allow him his chance that he earned, to make history for Georgia”
Harry Kettle - June 1, 2022
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has suggested he will move up in weight if Merab Dvalishvili wins his next fight. For many years now, Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili have been close friends and training partners – despite the fact they’re both members of the division’s elite top 15. At this moment in time Dvalishvili is a rising contender whereas Sterling is the undisputed champion after seeing off the challenge of Petr Yan in their rematch earlier this year.
Dana White has no interest in doing anything with the “broken business” of boxing: “Why would I even want to dive into this nightmare?”
Harry Kettle - June 1, 2022
UFC president Dana White has admitted he has no interest in diving back into the sport of boxing, which he’s described as “broken”. For many years we’ve heard about the prospect of ‘Zuffa Boxing’ with Dana White leading the charge. Alas, as time has gone on, it’s seemed less and less likely that he’d go down that route with his work in the Ultimate Fighting Championship taking priority.
Laura Sanko says she has no shortage of critics: “There is a whole contingent of people out there that think I got this job in some untoward and scandalous way”
Harry Kettle - June 1, 2022
UFC commentator and presenter Laura Sanko has admitted she still has an array of critics across social media. Over the course of the last few years, Laura Sanko has become one of the most integral analysts on the UFC and ESPN roster. From her personality on the weigh-in shows to the tactical analysis she provides, Sanko knows the sport of mixed martial arts as well as any of her peers.
Jordan Leavitt explains why he's "a bit offended" to be fighting Paddy Pimblett at UFC London
Cole Shelton - May 31, 2022
Jordan Leavitt says he was a bit offended when he got the offer to face Paddy Pimblett at UFC London. Leavitt, who’s currently 3-1 in the UFC, wasn’t sure who would be next for him but he was surprised when he was offered Pimblett. According to ‘The Monkey King,’ he says he thought Pimblett was getting easy fights to build his record up in the UFC. With that, he says he was surprised he was the opponent as he doesn’t think he is an easy fight for anyone.
T.J. Dillashaw gives take on rival Cody Garbrandt's recent losses: "He's not the smartest human being in that cage"
Josh Evanoff - May 31, 2022
Former UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw has given his take on Cody Garbrandt’s losing streak. The two were bitter rivals just a few years ago. Previously training partners, they coached opposite one another on The Ultimate Fighter season 25. Following the season, they matched up at UFC 217 in November 2017. Their first outing ended in Dillashaw winning via second-round knockout.
Chael Sonnen questions fighters calling out Conor McGregor while he's injured: "Where was your courage when he was healthy?"
Josh Evanoff - May 31, 2022
Chael Sonnen has issues with those lining up to call out Conor McGregor at the moment. The Irishman has been out of action since UFC 264 in July of last year. That bout was a first-round TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in their trilogy matchup. However, the loss wasn’t due to a knockout, it was due to a horrific injury.
Dan Ige trained with Gaethje and Cejudo ahead of Mosvar Evloev fight, expects to "break" the Russian: "I know I have the ability to break guys"
Cole Shelton - May 31, 2022
Dan Ige made some changes to his usual training camp for his UFC Vegas 56 fight against Movsar Evloev. Ige is set to face the undefeated Russian on Saturday in the co-main event in a crucial fight for both men. The Hawaiian is on a two-fight losing streak after dropping decisions to Josh Emmett and Korean Zombie in his most recent efforts. After the setbacks, Ige expected he’d get someone ranked below him so he wasn’t surprised when he got the offer to face Evloev.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik expects to "put away" Alexander Volkov and face either Tom Aspinall or Tai Tuivasa next
Cole Shelton - May 31, 2022
Jairzinho Rozenstruik is glad to finally make the walk to the Octagon. Rozenstruik was supposed to face Marcin Tybura at UFC Columbus but the fight was ultimately moved to UFC 273 on April 9. However, after weighing in, Tybura fell ill and the fight was canceled again. After that, the promotion quickly booked him to face Alexander Volkov in a main event slot which Rozenstruik is happy about.
Claudia Gadelha challenges Joanna Jedrzejczyk to trilogy match, but in grappling: "It would make me happy if it happens in jiu-jitsu"
Josh Evanoff - May 31, 2022
Former UFC strawweight Claudia Gadelha would like a trilogy match with Joanna Jedrzejczyk. However, she doesn’t want it in the cage. The two strawweights have clashed on two occasions already, in 2014 and 2016. Both of the bouts were won by Jedrzejczyk by decision. However, both bouts were quite close, with their 2014 fight ending in a split decision. Meanwhile, their follow-up bout was one of the best of the year.
Sean Strickland blasts Luke Rockhold after "pedophile supporter" comment: "How much brain damage has this man taken?"
Cole Shelton - May 31, 2022
Sean Strickland isn’t a fan of Luke Rockhold. Strickland and Rockhold were supposed to fight at UFC 268 but the former UFC middleweight champion unfortunately was forced out of the bout. Since then, the two have taken shots at one another and Rockhold claimed Strickland is a pedophile supporter.
Shu-Ki Fita #43: VH.21
Chris Taylor - May 31, 2022
INTRODUCING VH.21 VH.21 is a SINGLE model built exclusively from Air Jordan III’s. Its construction is TOE-DOWN and LACE-to-LACE. His Primary Color is BLACK (COMMON) and his Accent Color is SEAFOAM (S TIER).
Chase Hooper scolds John McCarthy for suggesting Kamaru Usman would get “lit up” by Nick Diaz: “Probably one of the worst MMA takes I’ve seen”
Susan Cox - May 31, 2022
Chase Hopper has scolded John McCarthy for suggesting Kamaru Usman would get ‘lit up’ by Nick Diaz. During a recent interview with ‘TMZ’, Nick Diaz (26-10 MMA) indicated he’s targeting an end-of-year return and he’d like to challenge Kamaru Usman (20-1 MMA) for the title.
UFC fighter Paulo Costa accused of striking a nurse during COVID dispute
Susan Cox - May 31, 2022
UFC fighter Paulo Costa is being accused of striking a nurse during a COVID dispute. Apparently the middleweight contender was arrested by the police in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Costa, 31, is being accused of striking a health care professional at a local medical center after she refused to issue the fighter an immunization card for the COVID-19 vaccine. The claim is that ‘The Eraser‘ wanted the immunization card without actually getting the vaccine.
John McCarthy says he “wouldn’t mind” seeing Nick Diaz fight for a title next: “That doesn’t mean that I am talking about the welterweight title”
Susan Cox - May 31, 2022
John McCarthy expressed his thoughts on seeing Nick Diaz get a title fight next. McCarthy, 59, the former legendary UFC referee, during a ‘Weighing In’ podcast with Josh Thomson, discussed what he believes should be next for Nick Diaz.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 80 with Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Dan Ige, Jeff Molina, Joe Solecki, and Ode Osbourne
Cole Shelton - May 31, 2022
The 80th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC Vegas 56. We’re first joined by eighth-ranked UFC heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik (2:38). 10th-ranked featherweight Dan Ige (13:39). Next, UFC flyweight Jeff Molina (29:45) comes on. UFC lightweight Joe Solecki (49:59). Closing out the program is UFC flyweight Ode Osbourne (1:03:58).
Former UFC fighter Paige VanZant makes in-ring debut for AEW (Highlights)
Harry Kettle - May 31, 2022
Paige VanZant made her in-ring debut for All Elite Wrestling during their Double or Nothing pay-per-view over the weekend. While she may not have made it to the top of the mountain during her run with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Paige VanZant certainly has the potential necessary to go a long way in professional wrestling.
Henry Cejudo shoots down the idea of fighting “Dominick Snooze” in his return: “I hurt him so bad that I literally woke him up”
Harry Kettle - May 31, 2022
Henry Cejudo has shot down the idea of his return fight being a rematch against former foe Dominick Cruz. The former two-weight UFC champion Henry Cejudo announced recently that he’s re-entering the USADA testing pool after more than two years away from competitive mixed martial arts. His plan of action seems to be going after UFC bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling as his primary target but beyond that, he’s also noted that he wants to try and become the featherweight champion in order to be the first fighter to hold a title in three weight classes in the UFC.
Jorge Masvidal fires back at “pigeon brain” comment from Conor McGregor: “You’re either too scared or too stupid to get this check”
Harry Kettle - May 31, 2022
Jorge Masvidal continues to go back and forth with Conor McGregor as their social media feud escalates. In the last couple of years there’s been a lot of talk surrounding the possibility of Jorge Masvidal and Conor McGregor squaring off inside the Octagon. They’ve both teased it on several occasions, they serve as two of the biggest stars in the UFC, and it’d almost certainly be a barnburner of a scrap.