MMA News
UFC and ESPN announce price hike beginning with this month’s pay-per-view event
Harry Kettle - January 7, 2022
The UFC and ESPN have announced an increase in the price of pay-per-views – beginning this month with UFC 270. Over the course of the last few years, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and ESPN have enjoyed a strong relationship with one another. The UFC serves as one of the top products ESPN has at their disposal, with ESPN offering the UFC some great exposure.
Khamzat Chimaev agrees to fight former UFC title challenger Gilbert Burns on April 9
Christopher Taylor - January 6, 2022
Khamzat Chimaev has agreed to fight former UFC welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns on April 9. Chimaev (10-0 MMA) last competed at October’s UFC 267 event, where he needed less than a round to dispose of ranked welterweight Li Jingliang. That contest was Khamzat’s first since September of 2020, where he had scored a sensational 18-second knockout win over Gerald Meerschaert (see that here).
Sean O'Malley doesn't blame Dana White for his stance on fighter pay: "Some of these f*cking people have zero following"
Christopher Taylor - January 6, 2022
Bantamweight standout Sean O’Malley does not blame UFC President Dana White for his current stance on fighter pay. The UFC’s pay structure has been a hot topic in recent months, with boxer Jake Paul doing his best to promote changes in the way Dana White and company treat fighters.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega is 'the greatest fight in MMA history,' claims Henry Cejudo
Cole Shelton - January 6, 2022
Henry Cejudo believes Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega at UFC 266 was the greatest fight in MMA history. Volkanovski was looking to defend his belt for the second time as he took on Ortega in a highly-anticipated bout. The two coached TUF and on the show, they began to dislike one another which only added to the excitement of the fight.
Urijah Faber responds to Cub Swanson's callout: 'We might find out who the king of California is'
Cole Shelton - January 6, 2022
Urijah Faber has some interest in fighting Cub Swanson. After Swanson beat Darren Elkins back in December, he hinted at a possible matchup with Faber and a drop to bantamweight. Swanson said Urijah is his dream fight and he wants the two to fight in California to find out who the real ‘King of Cali’ is.
Gregor Gillespie blasts Tony Ferguson for ducking him: 'I will f**k you up'
Cole Shelton - January 6, 2022
Gregor Gillespie believes Tony Ferguson is ducking him. Gillespie recently called out Ferguson, and sources close to the situation informed BJPENN.com that there were discussions for the fight to take place at UFC 271 this February in Houston, but it never came to fruition.
Sean O'Malley shuts down Cody Garbrandt fight, claims the former champ has CTE
Cole Shelton - January 6, 2022
Sean O’Malley doesn’t have much interest in facing Cody Garbrandt next. O’Malley and Garbrandt have taken shots at one another over the past year and that continued at last month’s UFC 269 press conference. So, after Garbrandt was knocked out by Kai Kara-France in his UFC flyweight debut, he hinted at possibly moving back up to 135lbs to fight O’Malley.
Tyson Fury open to having a boxing match with Francis a Ngannou in UFC gloves
Susan Cox - January 6, 2022
Francis Ngannou has expressed an interest in boxing Tyson Fury for years and both have taken to Twitter today citing a challenge to one another. Fury tweeting: “Who would like to see me fight this beast boxing rules @ufc gloves?”
Tai Tuivasa calls out viral self defense trainer Dale Brown: “Everyone wants to fight Jake Paul, but I want to fight this gammon”
Susan Cox - January 6, 2022
In a recent Instagram post Tai Tuivasa sarcastically took aim at Dale Brown to meet him for a fight inside the Octagon: “Everyone wants to fight Jake Paul, but I want to fight this gammon c**t @danawhite set it up unk yellah 🙄🤣 ESSSSHHHAAAAY.”
Dustin Poirier shares what his wife and coach told him following loss to Charles Oliveira: “They both told me the same thing”
Susan Cox - January 6, 2022
Dustin Poirier says he received the same words of encouragement from both his wife and coach following UFC 269. Poirier (28-7 MMA) challenged reigning UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira (32-8 MMA) in the headliner of last month’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas.
Derrick Lewis explains why a fight with Stipe Miocic makes sense: “He’s more of a wrestler, and I’m more of a wrestler, too”
Harry Kettle - January 6, 2022
UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis has explained why a fight between him and Stipe Miocic “makes sense”. After his defeat to Ciryl Gane last summer, many fans questioned whether or not Derrick Lewis was closing in on retirement. Then, last month, he rejected that notion in a big way by knocking Chris Daukaus out in impressive fashion to round off the year for the UFC.
Brendan Schaub believes the UFC learned their lesson with Conor McGregor: “I don't think they are ever going to let another guy get as much power”
Harry Kettle - January 6, 2022
Brendan Schaub believes the UFC won’t allow a fighter to have as much power as Conor McGregor did ever again. While Conor McGregor may not have the same kind of stock he once did in the eyes of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, there’s no denying that he’s the biggest star in the history of mixed martial arts. He’s been able to do some incredible things in the sport and as he eyes a return to the Octagon in 2022, it’s safe to say his days of making headlines are far from over.
Chael Sonnen: 'Khabib was telling the truth!' 'The American Gangster' recalls Gaethje armbar incident
Andrew Whitelaw - January 5, 2022
Chael Sonnen has backed up Khabib Nurmagomedov’s story of what went down at the end of his infamous retirement fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. Khabib submitted ‘the Highlight’ with a triangle choke in the second round. The Dagestani had the opportunity to finish the fight with an armbar but later admitted that he switched to the triangle because didn’t want to break Gaethje’s arm in front of his parents who were in attendance.
Jake Paul makes last ditch offer to Dana White: 'I’m willing to reduce my ask'
Cole Shelton - January 5, 2022
Jake Paul has updated his offer to Dana White. Paul, who has taken the boxing world by storm, recently took verbal shots at Dana White over how little he pays UFC fighters. He then decided to take the matters into his own hands and offered White a deal that would see him retire from boxing if the UFC boss improves fighter pay.
Ciryl Gane dropped Francis Ngannou in sparring, claims Fernand Lopez: 'I’ll release the footage'
Cole Shelton - January 5, 2022
The rivalry between Ciryl Gane and Francis Ngannou has only grown over the past few weeks in the lead-up to their title fight at UFC 270. Gane and Ngannou used to train together under Fernand Lopez in France, but ‘The Predator’ and Lopez had a major falling out which forced the heavyweight champ to change gyms. Now, given they are about to fight on January 22, sparring footage was leaked of the two training with one another.
Artem Lobov says retirement was hard because he had to admit he wasn't 'good enough'
Cole Shelton - January 5, 2022
Artem Lobov says he had a hard time realizing he had to retire from fighting. Lobov is a fan favorite and is known as ‘the GOAT’ to much of the MMA community, but his record did not illustrate such. He finished with an MMA record of 13-15-1 and one No Contest along with a bare-knuckle record of 2-2.
Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley's pass fight night drug tests by Florida commission
Cole Shelton - January 5, 2022
Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley have passed their fight night drug tests. According to The Sun, multiple sources informed them that the Florida State Athletic Commission did indeed take urine samples on fight night from both Paul and Woodley. Both tests also produced negative results for all prohibited substances.
Two title fights announced for UFC 272, including Sterling vs. Yan 2
Cole Shelton - January 5, 2022
Two title fights have been announced for UFC 272 in March, including Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan 2. UFC President Dana White revealed to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that Sterling will look to defend his belt at the event in a rematch against Petr Yan. In addition, Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway will also have their trilogy bout at the pay-per-view event likely to take place in Las Vegas on March 5.