MMA News
Team Sterling responds after Petr Yan threatens a potential hotel brawl ahead of UFC 273
Cole Shelton - April 6, 2022
Aljamain Sterling’s team doesn’t think Petr Yan will actually do anything after his threat at media day. Yan and Sterling are set to rematch in the co-main event of UFC 273 after they first met at UFC 259. The lead-up to their first fight was intense and in the fourth round, Yan threw an illegal knee and was DQ’d leaving Sterling to become the new champ. Since then, Yan has taken shots at ‘Funkmaster’ and at media day said if he sees Sterling and his team he will kill them all prior to the actual event.
Alexander Volkanovski gives take on Colby Covington getting attacked by Jorge Masvidal: "I'd have put one on his chin too"
Josh Evanoff - April 6, 2022
Alexander Volkanovski has given his take on the ongoing saga between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. ‘Chaos’ and ‘Gamebred’ fought last month in the main event of UFC 272. The build-up to the bout saw both men trade tremendous trash talk. However, the majority of the talking came from Covington’s end, who discussed Masvidal’s previous marriage and children.
Gilbert Burns sees "nothing special" with Khamzat Chimaev, confident he will derail the hype train: "I don’t see a monster"
Cole Shelton - April 6, 2022
Gilbert Burns doesn’t think Khamzat Chimaev is as good as many people have talked him up to be. Ever since Chimaev got to the UFC and got two wins in 10 days on Fight Island, many have hyped him up as the next big thing. He backed it up with a one-punch KO over Gerald Meerschaert and a dominant submission win over Li Jingliang. In all four of his UFC fights, he has only absorbed one significant strike.
Paulo Costa claims UFC legend Vitor Belfort is his biological father: "Now everyone knows."
Christopher Taylor - April 6, 2022
Paulo Costa took to social media this evening where he revealed that UFC legend Vitor Belfort is his biological father. Costa (13-2 MMA) has not competed since going to war with Marvin Vettori in October of 2021. Despite a strong showing, the Brazilian ultimately suffered a decision defeat to the ‘Italian Dream’ that evening.
Luke Rockhold accuses Paulo Costa of making excuses to avoid fight: "He's looking for a way out"
Josh Evanoff - April 6, 2022
Luke Rockhold has taken aim at Paulo Costa for allegedly turning down a July fight against him. The former UFC middleweight champion announced that he would be returning to the cage last year. He was scheduled to fight Sean Strickland last November, but that bout was scrapped after Rockhold had an injury. Since that cancelation, the former champ has been looking for a fight with Paulo Costa.
Ian Garry expects another highlight reel finish against Darian Weeks at UFC 273: "It won't just be an easy finish, it will be beautiful"
Cole Shelton - April 6, 2022
Ian Garry is eyeing another spectacular finish when he squares off with Darian Weeks at UFC 273 on Saturday night. Garry is set to make his sophomore Octagon appearance this weekend against Weeks. It’s an intriguing matchup but when Garry was offered the fight, he says he didn’t know who Weeks was but the one thing he does know now, is his foe is a very game opponent.
Logan Paul reveals Paddy Pimblett as ideal UFC opponent: "Paddy can sell"
Josh Evanoff - April 6, 2022
Logan Paul has revealed his ideal opponent for a proposed UFC fight. The YouTuber would like to face Paddy Pimblett. The 27-year-old is currently active in both professional wrestling and boxing. However, he’s teased an MMA fight over the years. Paul was previously an accomplished collegiate wrestler before his days as a social media influencer.
Alexander Volkanovski reveals goal to move to lightweight by the end of 2022
Josh Evanoff - April 6, 2022
Alexander Volkanovski has revealed his plans to move to lightweight sooner rather than later. ‘The Great’ is currently set to face Chan Sung Jung this weekend at UFC 273. If he retains his UFC featherweight title, he’s expected to face Max Holloway for a trilogy bout. The two were originally scheduled to fight already, but ‘Blessed’ was forced out of the third installment due to injury.
Petr Yan slams Aljamain Sterling ahead of UFC 273: “He doesn’t behave like a worthy rival or like a man”
Susan Cox - April 6, 2022
With UFC 273 just days away, Petr Yan has slammed Aljamain Sterling claiming he isn’t behaving like a worthy opponent let alone a man. The Petr Yan (16-2 MMA) vs Aljamain Sterling (20-3 MMA) II match-up will take place on Saturday, April 9th at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
UFC 273 | Pro fighters make their picks for Alexander Volkanovski vs. Korean Zombie title fight
Cole Shelton - April 6, 2022
In the main event of UFC 273, the featherweight title is up for grabs as Alexander Volkanovski is set to take on Korean Zombie. Heading into the fight, Volkanovski is a massive -720 favorite while the challenger is a +500 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros actually believe the fight is much closer than the odds make it out to be, but the slight majority are thinking Volkanovski defends his belt.
Robert Whittaker and Tai Tuivasa critical of Aljamain Sterling’s champ status: “You didn’t win the belt, you were given it. It’s different.”
Susan Cox - April 6, 2022
Robert Whittaker and Tai Tuivasa are not mincing words and are both being critical of Aljamain Sterling’s champ status ahead of his upcoming match with Petr Yan this weekend. It will be Aljamain Sterling (20-3 MMA) vs Petr Yan (16-2 MMA) II at UFC 273 this Saturday, April 9th in the bantamweight co-main event.
Khamzat Chimaev responds after Daniel Cormier asks “what is this s**t with Darren Till”
Susan Cox - April 6, 2022
Khamzat Chimaev has responded after Daniel Cormier questioned what this bromance thing with Darren Till is all about. The former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier (22-3 MMA) recently expressed his concerns about the relationship and offered up some advice to Khamzat:
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.