MMA News
Shavkat Rakhmonov discusses a potential fight with Khamzat Chimaev: “There's nothing extraordinary in what he does”
Susan Cox - April 6, 2022
Shavkat Rakhmonov, 27, the Kazakhstani MMA who competes in the welterweight division of the UFC has discussed the potential of a fight with Khamzat Chimaev. Khamzat Chimaev, also 27, is sporting a current record of 10-0 MMA and is set up to fight Gilbert Burns (20-4 MMA) this coming Saturday, April 9th at UFC 273. Chimaev, a Russian born Swedish fighter, has had dominant performances in the cage and is looking to up his wins to 11 this weekend.
PFL Challenger Series event flagged for suspicious betting activity
Harry Kettle - April 6, 2022
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is under investigation after an event of theirs was flagged for suspicious betting activity. Last Friday night on April 1, the PFL put on a Challenger Series event that was intended to showcase some new faces within the mixed martial arts sphere. However, those who decided to bet on the outcome of the fights involved were left with their accounts under review over the weekend after some strange activity was seen in the hours leading up to the show.
Hasbulla says it’s “on sight” with Abdu Rozik in first-ever interview with Barstool Sports (Video)
Harry Kettle - April 6, 2022
Internet sensation Hasbulla Magomedov has sent a warning to his rival and potential opponent Abdu Rozik. Some pretty bizarre trends have been making headlines on the web over the course of the last few years, but one that’s been particularly relevant in the combat sports space is the rise of Hasbulla Magomedov.
Chael Sonnen agrees with Daniel Cormier that Khamzat Chimaev should try and remain a mystery: “In the short term Daniel is right”
Harry Kettle - April 6, 2022
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has agreed with Daniel Cormier that for now, Khamzat Chimaev needs to remain a mystery in the media. This Saturday night at UFC 273, Khamzat Chimaev will meet Gilbert Burns in what is easily the biggest fight of his professional mixed martial arts career thus far. If he’s able to secure an impressive finish over the Brazilian, there’s every chance he could be rewarded with a title shot against Kamaru Usman.
Khamzat Chimaev criticizes Kamaru Usman's win streak: "Who he beat, brother?"
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2022
Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t think highly of Kamaru Usman. Chimaev is set to face Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 and should he win, it seems likely he would get a title shot against Usman. It would be a fight many fans would like to see as it would be a very intriguing matchup but one that Chimaev is confident in.
"I don't subscribe to the idea he looked bad in his last fights" - Chael Sonnen believes Tony Ferguson not declining ahead of Michael Chandler bout
Josh Evanoff - April 5, 2022
Chael Sonnen doesn’t seem to believe that Tony Ferguson has lost a step ahead of his fight with Michael Chandler. The former UFC interim lightweight champion is currently on a three-fight losing streak. ‘El Cucuy’ has suffered recent defeats at the hands of Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveria, and Beneil Dariush. It’s worth noting that all three of those bouts were very lopsided as well.
"I don't care if he wins" - Sean O'Malley announces he won't be cornering Petr Yan at UFC 273
Josh Evanoff - April 5, 2022
Sean O’Malley has joined Henry Cejudo by announcing he won’t be cornering Petr Yan this weekend. ‘No Mercy’ is set to return at UFC 273 this Saturday in a rematch against Aljamain Sterling. Their first encounter in March 2021 ended in a fourth-round disqualification victory for ‘Funk Master’. With the loss, Yan became the first-ever UFC fighter to lose his title via DQ.
Julianna Pena takes shot at Amanda Nunes holding UFC featherweight title: "Can you name anyone else in the division?"
Josh Evanoff - April 5, 2022
Julianna Pena is set to rematch UFC featherweight champion, Amanda Nunes, later this year. However, the bantamweight titleholder doesn’t really see it as a “champion vs. champion” clash. ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ first clashed with ‘The Lioness’ at UFC 269 in December 2021. Despite being a massive underdog, Pena preserved through a first-round knockout to win in the second round via submission. With the win, she captured the UFC bantamweight title and ended Nunes’s five-year run with the belt.
Alex Volkanovski says the decision to stop trying to please everyone has paid off ahead of UFC 273
Susan Cox - April 5, 2022
Leading up to UFC 273 this coming Saturday, April 9th has Alex Volkanovski stating that the decision to stop trying to please everyone has paid off. It will be Alex Volkanovski (23-1 MMA) vs The Korean Zombie (17-6 MMA) in the featherweight main event title bout at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
Khamzat Chimaev sends a message to the welterweight division ahead of UFC 273: "If sombody stands in my way, I'm going to kill them"
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2022
Khamzat Chimaev has sent a stern warning to the entire welterweight division. Chimaev is set for the toughest test of his career when he faces Gilbert Burns on the main card of UFC 273 in what is a very intriguing matchup. Chimaev (10-0 MMA) has run through all of his opponents to date, which includes four straight finishes under the UFC banner. During that impressive four-fight stretch, ‘Borz’ has only been hit with one significant strike. He has been hyped up as a future title challenger and the Swede has now sent a message to the division about what’s coming.
Mackenzie Dern plans to make a "statement" and become the first person to finish Tecia Torres at UFC 273: "She hasn't fought someone with my ground game"
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2022
Mackenzie Dern plans to put the strawweight division on notice at UFC 273. Dern is coming off a decision loss to Marina Rodriguez in a bout which served as her first-ever main event. Before that contest, she was dealing a nagging injury but she is now fully healthy for UFC 273. She will return to the Octagon to take on Tores in a fight that has been talked about for years.
Alexander Volkanovski plans to silence his doubters in UFC 273 title fight with Korean Zombie: "I do think it will be an eye-opener"
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2022
Alexander Volkanovski plans to make a statement against Korean Zombie at UFC 273. Volkanovski will collide with ‘TKZ’ in Saturday night’s event headliner, this after his original opponent Max Holloway was forced out due to injury. Zombie was quick to step up in place of ‘Blessed’ and Volkanovski says this is now a “legacy fight” and one that he’s wanted for years.
Petr Yan slams Aljamain Sterling for trying to make things political ahead of UFC 273: “Smiling, standing with Ukrainian flags”
Susan Cox - April 5, 2022
Petr Yan has had no lack of words for Ajamain Sterling in the lead up to UFC 273 this weekend, on Saturday, April 9th. Yan’s latest comments towards ‘Funk Master’ accuse him of making things political ahead of their rematch. It will be Yan (16-2 MMA) vs. Sterling (20-3 MMA) who will set the record straight in the Octagon this weekend, but both fighters have been sparing outside the cage for over a year now.
Henry Cejudo will no longer be cornering Petr Yan at UFC 273: “It’s just too much illegal activity for me to be involved in”
Susan Cox - April 5, 2022
Henry Cejudo will not be cornering Petr Yan at UFC 273 this coming Saturday, April 9th at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. It will be Petr Yan (16-2 MMA) vs Aljamain Sterling (20-3 MMA) II in the much anticipated bantamweight co-main even this coming weekend. Yan is looking to reclaim his UFC title after losing it by disqualification (the use of an illegal knee) to Sterling back in March 2021 at UFC 259.
Alex Volkanovski shares his picks for the three greatest fighters in UFC history
Harry Kettle - April 5, 2022
UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski has picked Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre and Israel Adesanya as his three greatest fighters in UFC history. This Saturday night at UFC 273, Alex Volkanovski returns to action as he puts his 145-pound title on the line against Chan Sung Jung – aka The Korean Zombie. If he wins, some have suggested it could move him pretty close to Kamaru Usman in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings given what he’s been able to accomplish during his time in the promotion thus far.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 73 with Alexander Volkanovski, Mackenzie Dern, Ian Garry, Eddie Cha, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Vinc Pichel, and Jared Vanderaa
Cole Shelton - April 5, 2022
The 73rd episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC 273 and it is stacked. We’re first joined by the UFC’s featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski (3:23). Fifth-ranked strawweight, Mackenzie Dern (26:57) then comes on. UFC welterweight, Ian Garry (42:58) joins the show. Korean Zombie’s head coach, Eddie Cha (1:04:42) then stops by. Eighth-ranked UFC heavyweight, Jairzinho Rozenstruik (1:18:29) then joins the show. UFC lightweight, Vinc Pichel (1:30:45) comes on. Closing out the program is UFC heavyweight, Jared Vanderaa (1:47:37).
Casey O’Neill defends Ronda Rousey following recent criticism from UFC champion Julianna Pena
Harry Kettle - April 5, 2022
UFC flyweight star Casey O’Neill has defended Ronda Rousey following recent criticism from Julianna Pena. There’s a strong argument to be made that without Ronda Rousey, women’s MMA simply would not be where it is today. “Rowdy” came into the UFC and set the place alight with some tremendous performances, firmly establishing herself as one of the biggest stars in the history of the sport.
Throwback! Watch Khamzat Chimaev score a brutal KO at Brave CF 23 (Video)
Harry Kettle - April 5, 2022
As Khamzat Chimaev prepares to return to the Octagon, footage has re-emerged of one of his best pro MMA wins. This Saturday night at UFC 273, Khamzat Chimaev will attempt to grow his legend even further when he steps into the cage to take on Gilbert Burns. “Borz” is 4-0 in the UFC and while he’s already being viewed as a potential title holder, he needs to beat someone like Burns first before he can even think about getting a shot at welterweight king Kamaru Usman.