MMA News
Dustin Poirier launches ‘Rare Stash’ whiskey company to compete against Conor McGregor’s ‘Proper 12’
Susan Cox - January 7, 2022
Dustin Poirier, former interim UFC lightweight champion, has launched his very own ‘Rare Stash’ bourbon. ‘The Diamond’s’ latest business venture was announced in a twitter video:
The UFC announces 3 new matchups including the return of welterweight veteran Matt Brown
Susan Cox - January 7, 2022
The UFC has announced three new matchups including the return of fan favorite welterweight Matt Brown. Brown (23-18 MMA) will be returning to the Octagon in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio on March 26th opposite opponent Bryan Barberena, according to a report from MMAFighting.
Michael Bisping says fans shouldn’t blame the UFC if Conor McGregor gets a title shot in his return: “Blame yourself because you are ultimately responsible”
Susan Cox - January 7, 2022
Michael Bisping, speaking on his youtube channel is letting fans know they should not blame the UFC, Dana White or anyone else but themselves if Conor McGregor gets a title shot in his return. “A lot of people inside the top-15, top-5, top-10, they’re gonna say: ‘What the f*ck is happening? Why is Conor McGregor getting to skip the line?’ Well guess what? As I said this is prize fighting, this is about pay-per-views. This is the UFC and they put on the fights, historically that we want to see, okay.” Bisping said. “The fights that we want to see, they are the fights the UFC put up. So, if you’re not happy that Conor McGregor might get to skip the line and fight the champion when he’s not even ranked, don’t blame Conor McGregor, don’t blame Dana White, don’t blame the UFC, blame your-f*cking-self because you are ultimately responsible.”
UFC 272 betting odds: Petr Yan and Alex Volkanovski open as favorites
Harry Kettle - January 7, 2022
Petr Yan and Alexander Volkanovski have opened as the two betting favorites for UFC 272 after their recent fight announcements. While a lot of the UFC’s immediate focus is going on UFC 270, and understandably so, the UFC 272 pay-per-view in March is already beginning to take shape. The promotion recently announced that it will be headlined by two blockbuster title bouts: Alexander Volkanovski vs Max Holloway 3 for the UFC featherweight title, and Aljamain Sterling vs Petr Yan 2 for the UFC bantamweight title.
Paddy Pimblett on Dustin Poirier: “Lad, if Oliveira can do that to you Dustin, I can”
Harry Kettle - January 7, 2022
UFC newcomer Paddy Pimblett believes he could submit Dustin Poirier in a similar manner to Charles Oliveira. Ever since arriving in the UFC last year, Paddy Pimblett hasn’t been afraid to make some noise. From his knockout win over Luigi Vendramini to his cocky persona, “The Baddy” is someone that plenty of folks are going to be keeping an eye on throughout 2022.
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.
Chael Sonnen claps back at 'stupid' Paddy Pimblett
Andrew Whitelaw - January 6, 2022
Chael Sonnen has not taken kindly to UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett accusing him of ‘clickbait.’ The Brit was strongly rumoured to be fighting Donald Cerrone but ‘the Baddy’ appeared on Michael Bisping’s podcast where he denied the fight was happening and accused Sonnen of stirring the pot for clicks.
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.
Sean O’Malley responds after receiving “super weird” charity criticism from Marlon Vera: “Some people have no respect”
Susan Cox - January 6, 2022
Sean O’Malley has responded after receiving some “super weird” charity criticism from former opponent Marlon Vera. Over the past year and a half there has been an ongoing feud between Vera and O’Malley. It seemingly began after UFC 252 when Vera defeated O’Malley resulting in the first professional MMA loss of Sean’s career.
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.
Josh Thomson explains why the UFC won’t put together a Nate Diaz vs Dustin Poirier fight: “The UFC does not want to allow him to fight a big name guy for his last fight on his contract”
Harry Kettle - January 6, 2022
Josh Thomson has explained why he doesn’t think the UFC will book the rumoured fight between Nate Diaz and Dustin Poirier. For weeks now we’ve been hearing about a potential showdown between Nate Diaz and Dustin Poirier – a collision that has quite literally been years in the making. Unfortunately for mixed martial arts fans across the globe, it doesn’t appear as if we’re going to get it, at least not for the time being.
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.