MMA News
Rob Font expects to 'pick apart' Jose Aldo and earn stoppage win to enter title conversation at bantamweight
Cole Shelton - November 23, 2021
Rob Font is eager to be able to share the Octagon with an MMA legend in Jose Aldo. Font and Aldo are set to headline UFC Vegas 44 on December 4 and when Font got the call for the fight, he immediately accepted as it is a massive opportunity for him.
Matt Brown preparing for a 'war' against Bryan Barberena, eyes a violent KO by elbow or knee
Cole Shelton - November 23, 2021
Matt Brown is excited for his matchup against Bryan Barberena at UFC Vegas 44 on December 4. When Brown got the fight offer, he admits he didn’t know a ton about Barberena. But, after watching tape on him, Brown began getting excited as he is expecting a very fan-friendly fight.
Miesha Tate issues statement following loss to Ketlen Vieira at UFC Vegas 43: "I am not sad"
Adam D Martin - November 23, 2021
UFC women’s bantamweight contender Miesha Tate issued a statement following her loss to Ketlen Vieira at UFC Vegas 43, saying “I am not sad.” Tate lost a unanimous decision to Vieira in what was mostly a standup fight between two fighters who generally prefer to grapple with their opponents. Taking to her social media in the days following the loss, Tate issued a statement after her defeat to Vieira. In the statement, Tate admitted that she lost fair and square, but said she was happy with the improvements that she showed in the fight. Take a look at the full statement Tate shared.
Colby Covington still believes he beat Kamaru Usman at UFC 268, calls for trilogy match
Adam D Martin - November 23, 2021
Colby Covington still believes he beat UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 268, and he is calling for a trilogy match. Covington and Usman met earlier this month in the main event of UFC 268 and the fight turned out to be a back-and-forth war, much like their first meeting back at UFC 245. In the first fight, Usman won the fight via fifth-round TKO. This time around, the fight was closer, but it was still Usman who ended up winning via unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards. But if you ask Covington, he should have been named as the fight’s winner.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 60 with Rob Font, Matt Brown, Louis Smolka, and Vince Morales
Cole Shelton - November 23, 2021
The 60th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 44 on December 4. We’re first joined by the fourth-ranked bantamweight and one-half of the main event in Rob Font (2:10). Next, UFC welterweight, Matt Brown (14:30) joins the program. UFC bantamweight, Louis Smolka (27:32) then comes on. UFC bantamweight, Vince Morales (40:02) closes out the show.
Miesha Tate reflects on loss to Ketlen Vieira at UFC Vegas 43: "I don't have any regrets"
Adam D Martin - November 23, 2021
UFC women’s bantamweight Miesha Tate reflected on her decision loss to Ketlen Vieira at UFC Vegas 43, saying “I don’t have any regrets.” Tate returned to the Octagon after a five-year layoff during the summer and she picked up a TKO win over Marion Reneau to announce her return as a title contender at 135lbs. The UFC then matched her up against Vieira in what could have been a fight that earned her a title shot, but Tate ended up losing via unanimous decision. Following the fight, Tate spoke on the Throwing Down with Renee and Miesha podcast and reflected on her performance.
Chael Sonnen calls a fourth fight between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier "a tough sell"
Adam D Martin - November 23, 2021
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen called a fourth fight between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier “a tough sell” for his return fight to the Octagon. McGregor and Poirier fought twice this year, with McGregor losing via TKO both times. Their fight at UFC 257 resulted in Poirier winning by second-round knockout with punches, but at UFC 264, the fight ended with McGregor breaking his leg. Since then, the Irishman has been out on the sidelines with his injury, but he is hoping that he gets the fourth fight when he returns to the Octagon. However, Sonnen believes that is going to be “a tough sell,” as he explained in a new video. As far as Sonnen goes, there is no reason to book this fight.
Daniel Cormier wants fighters to choose championship opportunities over money fights: “What happened to the title being the most important thing?”
Harry Kettle - November 23, 2021
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has questioned the debate between fighters choosing money fights over title opportunities. Cormier, a former two-weight UFC champion, is one of many to pose this question in the mixed martial arts sphere. While some understand the allure behind fighters wanting to chase big paydays, others believe the championship is what everyone on the roster should be pushing for.
Gabi Garcia believes 'There’s no way' Kayla Harrison fights Cris Cyborg
Drake Riggs - November 22, 2021
Gabi Garcia isn’t buying the Kayla Harrison hype. The 31-year old two-time Olympic Judo gold medalist in Harrison is currently testing the free agency waters after an 11-0 career in the PFL (12-0 overall). When it comes to likely options, the UFC, Bellator, or returning to the promotion where she’s won two million-dollar titles seem most likely
Rampage Jackson targets move to boxing, wants to fight 'disrespectful' Shannon Briggs
Drake Riggs - November 22, 2021
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s time in MMA appears to be no more. Rampage began his professional MMA career in 1999 and went on to have an illustrious career most notably taking place in PRIDE FC and the UFC. His most recent stint came inside the Bellator cage where he went 5-3 overall with all losses coming in his most recent four outings.
Dan Hooker makes featherweight in test cut to signal move down: '45 look alive'
Cole Shelton - November 22, 2021
Dan Hooker will be returning to featherweight. Hooker, who entered the UFC as a featherweight, has been competing as lightweight and has been a perennial contender. Yet, after a 1-3 skid, he recently revealed he would be working with the PI to possibly get back to down to 145lbs.
Stipe Miocic disappointed he wasn't asked to fight for interim title, wants Ngannou trilogy or Jones next
Cole Shelton - November 22, 2021
Stipe Miocic was disappointed he wasn’t asked to fight for the interim heavyweight title. Miocic said after his KO loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 to lose his heavyweight title, he would take the rest of the year off. With that, the promotion decided to book Ciryl Gane vs. Derrick Lewis for the interim title, which Miocic is upset he wasn’t asked to fight either one of them.
Ben Askren admits Jake Paul 'is kind of good' at boxing
Cole Shelton - November 22, 2021
Ben Askren, who was considered Jake Paul’s first real test, admits the brash YouTuber turned boxer is pretty good at boxing. Askren ended his retirement to box Paul and in the lead-up to the fight, he made it clear he didn’t think the Disney actor turned Youtuber turned boxer was good. He was just 2-0 with knockout wins over former NBA player Nate Robinson, and YouTuber, AnEsonGib. However, Paul scored a vicious first-round KO over Askren in their boxing match back in April.
Conor McGregor says he's fighting for the lightweight title in his UFC return
Adam D Martin - November 22, 2021
UC superstar Conor McGregor says that he’s fighting for the lightweight title in his UFC return when he steps back into the Octagon. McGregor took to his social media on Monday to respond to an ESPN article about some potential opponents for his return to the cage next year. The Irishman responded and said that he will be fighting whoever holds the UFC lightweight title when he comes back. He also mentioned that he believes he should still get a chance to fight Dustin Poirier again.
Colby Covington reveals Jorge Masvidal pulled out of UFC 269 due to broken ribs
Adam D Martin - November 22, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington revealed that Jorge Masvidal pulled out of the upcoming UFC 269 card due to broken ribs. Masvidal was set to take on Leon Edwards on the UFC 269 main card, but “Gamebred” pulled out of the fight due to an undisclosed injury. According to Covington, however, he knows what the injury was that forced Masvidal out of the fight. Based on what Covington’s sources at American Top Team told him, Masvidal pulled out of the fight due to broken ribs.
Marcus Davis wins return to MMA after seven-year layoff
Adam D Martin - November 22, 2021
Former UFC fighter Marcus Davis, who was active as a pro between 2003 and 2014, recently won his return to MMA after a seven-year layoff. Davis was a former Ultimate Fighter contestant as well as a longtime veteran of the UFC who had memorable fights against the likes of Nate Diaz and Chris Lytle, among others. Now 48 years old, Davis had not competed in the cage since February 2014 when he lost via doctor stoppage TKO on the northeast United States regional circuit. After taking over seven years off of active competition, Davis returned to the cage this past weekend at Premier FC 32 when he fought Stephen Stengel. Watch the video of the finish below.
What's next for Ketlen Vieira and Miesha Tate after UFC Vegas 43?
Cole Shelton - November 22, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 43, top-10 bantamweights were set to collide as Ketlen Vieira was set for her first main event against the former champ in Miesha Tate. Vieira entered the fight coming off a decision loss to Yana Kunitskaya and was just 1-2 in her last three fights. Tate, meanwhile, was coming off a TKO win over Marion Reneau in July which was her comeback fight after retiring in 2016.
Arnold Allen open to fighting The Korean Zombie next: "It'd be a good fight"
Adam D Martin - November 22, 2021
UFC featherweight contender Arnold Allen says he is open to fighting The Korean Zombie next, predicting that “it’d be a good fight.” Allen is the No. 6 ranked featherweight in the UFC rankings, however, he often does not get mentioned when talking about the best fighters in the 145lbs weight class. The reason for that is that Allen is often injured. If he was able to stay healthy more often, then he would be able to gain more momentum in his career. But he keeps getting hurt and missing time.