MMA News
Jon Jones will be "one of the scariest guys" at heavyweight, says former teammate Rashad Evans
Cole Shelton - February 9, 2022
Rashad Evans believes his former teammate Jon Jones will eventually make the move to heavyweight and will have success. Ever since Jones vacated his light heavyweight title he said he would be moving up to heavyweight. However, it has been two years and he has yet to do it but for Evans, he believes ‘Bones’ will move up and will have a ton of success at the weight class.
UFC 271 | Pro fighters make their picks for Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - February 9, 2022
In the main event of UFC 271, Israel Adesanya is set to defend his middleweight belt as he rematches Robert Whittaker. Heading into the fight, Adesanya is a -280 favorite while the former champ is a +225 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros are unanimous in thinking Adesanya has Whittaker’s number and will defend his belt again and continue his reign atop the middleweight division.
Brendan Schaub weighs in on Robert Whittaker’s game plan for Israel Adesanya rematch: “He’s making a huge mistake"
Susan Cox - February 9, 2022
Brendan Schaub, the former UFC heavyweight, weighed in on Robert Whittaker’s game plan for a rematch with Israel Adesanya during his YouTube podcast ‘The Schaub Show’. Schaub thinks Whittaker should come up with his own strategy to beat Israel Adesanya, and not be relying on replicating Jan Blachowicz’s gameplan.
Anthony Smith believes Jon Jones is being very smart with callout of Stipe Miocic: “It’s the easiest fight for him”
Susan Cox - February 9, 2022
Anthony Smith has weighed in on what an interim heavyweight title bout between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic could look like. ‘Bones’ is looking to challenge the former heavyweight kingpin for his next fight.
Josh Thomson praises BJ Penn for changing the sport of MMA in so many ways: “He was the first one to really stick it to the UFC”
Harry Kettle - February 9, 2022
Josh Thomson has praised former two-weight UFC champion BJ Penn for the way he helped to change the sport of mixed martial arts. While he may no longer be an active member of the UFC roster, nobody can deny the impact BJ Penn had during his time in the promotion. Even outside the scope of the UFC, Penn was still able to find success with Rumble on the Rock as well as in Japan.
Former UFC title challenger Alexander Gustafsson praises the work ethic of Khamzat Chimaev: “He works harder than I ever worked”
Harry Kettle - February 9, 2022
UFC light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson has praised training partner and rising star Khamzat Chimaev for his work ethic. Ever since arriving in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Khamzat Chimaev has been one of the most talked-about fighters in all of mixed martial arts. The ruthless manner in which he’s been able to reach 4-0 in the promotion has staggered the masses and now, with a rumoured bout against Gilbert Burns on the horizon, he’s already standing on the verge of a UFC welterweight title shot.
Anthony Smith reveals front kicks from Jon Jones left him with a dead spot: “It killed the nerves”
Harry Kettle - February 9, 2022
UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith has revealed front kicks from Jon Jones gave him a dead spot at UFC 235. Back in March 2019, Anthony Smith put up a valiant effort but ultimately fell short in his attempt to capture the 205-pound title from Jon Jones. “Lionheart” just wasn’t able to get into any kind of rhythm, although he did earn praise from fans and pundits for not opting to win the belt via disqualification following an illegal shot from the champion.
Manimal! Israel Adesanya is absolutely shredded for UFC 271 (Photo)
Christopher Taylor - February 8, 2022
Israel Adesanya appears to be in the best shape of his career ahead of Saturday’s main event rematch with Robert Whittaker at UFC 271. Adesanya (21-1 MMA) will be taking on Whittaker (24-5 MMA) in the much anticipated headliner at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas this Saturday.
Julianna Pena apologizes for previous COVID-19 comments: "I am just angry and frustrated"
Josh Evanoff - February 8, 2022
Julianna Pena has apologized for her previous comments about COVID-19 on the Joe Rogan Experience. Last month, the UFC bantamweight champion went on the show to discuss her victory over Amanda Nunes. During the podcast, the topic of COVID-19 came up, and Pena said that she believed that the virus is a “money grab“.
Marvin Vettori claps back at Israel Adesanya for Jan Blachowicz comments: “Imma catch you soon enough I swear ill make it right”
Cole Shelton - February 8, 2022
Marvin Vettori has blasted Israel Adesanya over his recent comments about his fight against Jan Blachowicz. Vettori has never seen eye-to-eye with Adesanya ever since they first fought in 2018 where “The Last Stylebender” won by split decision. The Italian was irate as he thought he won the fight and he thought the same after he dropped a second decision to Izzy at UFC 263. That has only added to their rivalry and recently, Adesanya said he was never hurt in the fight against Blachowicz and felt bored in that scrap as well as the Vettori rematch.
Chris Weidman targeting June return: "I am coming back"
Josh Evanoff - February 8, 2022
Chris Weidman has confirmed that he’s looking for a return to the Octagon. It’s also coming a lot sooner than a lot of fans might’ve anticipated. Weidman is coming off a brutal leg injury sustained last year at UFC 261 in April. Facing off against Uriah Hall in a highly-anticipated rematch, they were only seconds into the fight when it ended. The former UFC middleweight champion shattered his leg after Hall checked his kick, ending the bout.
Renato Moicano says he no longer cares about rankings, only focused on making money ahead of UFC 271: "This is sad but this is true"
Cole Shelton - February 8, 2022
Renato Moicano says he no longer cares about fighting ranked opponents as all he cares about is making money. Moicano is set to return to the Octagon at UFC 271 against Alexander Hernandez in a really intriguing fight that he’s looking forward to.
Jorge Masvidal says the UFC will release Colby Covington after the beating he puts on him: "I’m gonna f**k you up"
Cole Shelton - February 8, 2022
Jorge Masvidal has sent a violent warning to Colby Covington. The former roommates and best friends turned enemies, are set to headline UFC 272 on March 5 in a highly-anticipated fight. The two have made it clear they are looking to finish one another and now less than a month away from the fight, Masvidal took to social media to release a heated warning to Covington.
Israel Adesanya claims he was never once in danger during Jan Blachowicz fight: “He was in danger because I rocked him”
Susan Cox - February 8, 2022
Israel Adesanya, (21-1 MMA), heading into UFC 271 this Saturday, February 12th at the Toyota Centre in Houston, spoke with ESPN regarding his loss by unanimous decision to Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 back in March 2021. While acknowledging his first career loss, Adesanya claims that he never felt threatened in the fight with the Polish star in Blachowicz (28-9 MMA).
Robert Whittaker believes "no one expects me to win" but says Israel Adesanya "looks beatable" ahead of UFC 271
Cole Shelton - February 8, 2022
Robert Whittaker says the pressure is off him for his UFC 271 main event title rematch against Israel Adesanya. Whittaker and Adesanya are set to run it back after “The Last Stylebender” scored a second-round TKO win back in 2019 to become the new champ. Since then, Whittaker has won three fights to earn the rematch and for him, he’s glad he had the chance to fight multiple times before running it back with Adesanya.
Former US President Donald Trump weighs in on the Joe Rogan controversy: “He’s got to stop apologizing to the fake news”
Susan Cox - February 8, 2022
The lastest ‘celebrity’ to comment on the Joe Rogan saga is none other than former US President, Donald Trump. While musicians, doctors and medical professionals, actors and the like have weighed in on the controversy surrounding Joe Rogan and his podcast ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’, Donald Trump felt the need to make his own thoughts known.
John McCarthy shares his thoughts on a potential Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic matchup: “Stipe is getting older”
Susan Cox - February 8, 2022
John McCarthy weighed in on what a Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic matchup might look like. McCarthy, ‘Big John’, is a former professional MMA referee and currently a broadcaster for Bellator MMA. Co-hosting the ‘Weighing In’ podcast with former world champion Josh ‘The Punk’ Thomson the two provide listeners with forty plus years of experience and lots of insight and banter.
Former UFC standout Chris Leben hospitalized with COVID-19
Harry Kettle - February 8, 2022
Former UFC middleweight Chris Leben has announced that he’s been hospitalized as a result of a bout with COVID-19. Leben, 41, has been heralded as a true MMA veteran by many fans after the years of commitment he gave to the sport. His time in the UFC featured a lot of ups and downs, including a highlight reel loss to Anderson Silva and big knockout wins over the likes of Wanderlei Silva and Mike Swick.