MMA News

Adam D Martin - November 2, 2021

Former UFC commentator Dan Hardy recalled the Herb Dean incident on Fight Island, saying that “we had a back and forth conversation.” On Fight Island in July 2020, there was a lightweight bout between Francisco Trinaldo and Jai Herbert that had a very controversial ending. Trinaldo landed a massive punch on Herbert that appeared to knock him out, but Dean did not wave off the fight and allowed Trinaldo to land extra punches on the ground despite his opponent being knocked out. Hardy, who was working as the UFC commentator that night, got into a verbal altercation with Dean. Some believe this incident is the reason why the UFC let go of Hardy.

Cole Shelton - November 2, 2021

The 57th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC 268. We’re first joined by UFC featherweight, Billy Quarantillo (2:33). Next, UFC middleweight Chris Curtis (16:10) stops by. UFC welterweight, Jordan Williams (32:52) then comes on. Closing out the program is UFC flyweight, Ode Osbourne (46:25).

Adam D Martin - November 2, 2021

Kamaru Usman believes there is mutual respect with “great competitor” Colby Covington, suggesting that “I know he respects me.” Usman and Covington are bitter rivals who first met at UFC 245 in December 2019, with Usman winning in the fifth round via TKO. For the past two years since that fight, Covington has been doing everything in his power to secure a rematch. Finally, he gets what he wants this Saturday night when he steps into the Octagon with Usman again in the main event of UFC 268. Usman, by the way, is the betting favorite to defend his title.

Adam D Martin - November 2, 2021

UFC commentator Michael Bisping shared his predictions for the upcoming Usman vs. Covington 2 and Gaethje vs. Chandler fights at UFC 268. Bisping is one of the UFC’s top commentators. Speaking on the BT Sport pre-fight show ahead of this weekend’s UFC 268 card, Bisping was asked to share his prediction for two of this weekend’s big fights. First, Bisping predicted who will win this Saturday’s lightweight bout between Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje. Check out “The Count’s” prediction.

Harry Kettle - November 2, 2021

When you put a self-proclaimed kung-fu master against a K1-Grand Prix winner, things probably aren’t going to go so well. As fans of mixed martial arts and all the elements that come with it, we all know what it takes to be a high-level competitor on the world stage. It requires years of dedication, commitment and the kind of ability that’s hard to find in combat sports.

Christopher Taylor - November 1, 2021

A woman’s personal injury case against UFC star Conor McGregor adjourned to 2022 due to issues with CCTV footage. The plaintiff, Nikita Ni, is taking a multi-million euro claim against McGregor suggesting personal damage stemming from an alleged incident at the Beacon Hotel in 2018.

Cole Shelton - November 1, 2021

Michael Bisping believes Khamzat Chimaev put the entire welterweight division on notice with his UFC 267 win over Li Jingliang. Chimaev made his return to the Octagon on the main card of UFC 267 against Jingliang. Many expected the fight to be a more competitive one but Chimaev took Jingliang down right away and ground and pounded him until he sunk in the choke and the fight was over in the first round.

Cole Shelton - November 1, 2021

Anthony Smith could be facing Jan Blachowicz next time out. Smith revealed on Monday on The MMA Hour that he did agree to face Aleksandar Rakic on December 18. The fight was agreed to but Smith says he has a small injury that forced him out of the fight, but now he said just hours after Blachowicz lost his title to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267, the promotion offered him a fight against the Pole.

Cole Shelton - November 1, 2021

Aljamain Sterling was impressed with Petr Yan’s performance at UFC 267. In the co-main event of the card from Abu Dhabi, Yan was facing Cory Sandhagen for the interim bantamweight title. Originally, Yan and Sterling were going to have their rematch but the champ wasn’t medically cleared. When he was watching the fight, however, Sterling was impressed with Yan’s technical approach.

Adam D Martin - November 1, 2021

UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev trolled UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya after beating Dan Hooker at UFC 267. Makhachev absolutely smashed Hooker in their lightweight bout that took place at last Saturday’s UFC 267 card. The Russian took Hooker down immediately in the first round and began to go to work with his submissions, and soon afterward he was able to lock up the kimura and force Hooker to tap out. It was an absolutely phenomenal victory by Makhachev, who proved without a doubt that he is one of the top-five fighters in the UFC lightweight division. It was also the type of victory that gave Makhachev a lot more confidence in himself, and now he is taking shots at Hooker’s teammate in Adesanya.

Adam D Martin - November 1, 2021

UFC superstar Conor McGregor is reported to be “ahead of schedule” in his recovery from the broken leg that he suffered at UFC 264. McGregor broke his leg in a first-round TKO loss to Dustin Poirier back in July at UFC 264. For McGregor, it was his second straight loss to Poirier, and this time he suffered an injury that is expected to keep him out until mid-way in 2022. But according to his management team, McGregor is reportedly recovering well ahead of schedule from his broken leg.

Adam D Martin - November 1, 2021

Cory Sandhagen is making no excuses for his loss to interim bantamweight champ Petr Yan at UFC 267, saying that “he’s a hell of a fighter.” Sandhagen and Yan were involved in a back-and-forth war that co-headlined this past Saturday’s UFC 267 card in Ahu Dhabi. It was an absolutely incredible fight as both men threw the kitchen sink at each other over the course of 25 minutes, with Yan ultimately as the winner via unanimous decision. While Sandhagen may have lost the fight, which was his second-straight defeat in the Octagon following a split decision loss to TJ Dillashaw back in July, he showed the world that he is one of the best in his division. Even though he may have lost the fight against Yan, Sandhagen can hold his head up high knowing that he went toe-to-toe with one of the best MMA fighters on the planet, and he made it competitive.

Adam D Martin - November 1, 2021

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez admits there was “friction” with former UFC rival Brock Lesnar during his WWE stint. Velasquez and Lesnar met at UFC 121 in October 2010. In what was an upset at the time, it was Velasquez who knocked out Lesnar in the first round to become the new UFC heavyweight champion. The two would never end up rematching in the Octagon, but after both men retired from MMA and went to WWE, the two rivals met in a professional wrestling match at WWE Crown Jewel in October 2019. Lesnar would win that match.

Adam D Martin - November 1, 2021

Former UFC fighter Bubba McDaniel was arrested last week following an alleged road rage incident that reportedly took place in 2020. According to MMAjunkie.com, the alleged incident took place in August 2020. In the reported incident, McDaniel and another driver got into a road rage altercation. McDaniel was reportedly upset at the other driver and got out of his car and fired two bullets at the other vehicle. One of the bullets hit the bumper of the vehicle and four firefighters who were nearby witnessed the incident. Police soon made it to the scene of the alleged crime and arrested McDaniel on charges of deadly conduct. However, he made bail and got out.

Adam D Martin - November 1, 2021

UFC light heavyweight contender Volkan Oezdemir reacted after suffering a nasty gash in a decision loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 267. Oezdemir and Ankalaev met in the first fight on the UFC 267 main card. The fight was expected to provide fireworks between two of the hardest-hitting knockout artists in the UFC light heavyweight division, but it instead proved to be a tepid kickboxing affair. In the end, it was Ankalaev who won the unanimous decision, in no small part to the damage he inflicted on Oezdemir. After dropping his opponent in the first round, he later cut his eyelid open in the second. Fortunately for Oezdemir, he was able to continue fighting until the third round and make it to the distance, but he still suffered his second straight defeat.

Adam D Martin - November 1, 2021

Emerging star Khamzat Chimaev has been called out by divisional rival Neil Magny for an upcoming welterweight bout at a UFC Fight Night card. Chimaev destroyed Li Jingliang in the first round of their welterweight bout on the main card of UFC 267, finishing his opponent by technical submission. It was yet another phenomenal performance by Chimaev, who has now won all 10 of his professional MMA fights by submission. It is getting to the point where some analysts believe Chimaev will have difficulty finding opponents due to how dominant he has been. But not so fast, as Magny seems like he has no problem taking this fight against someone so dangerous.

Adam Martin - October 31, 2021

Anthony Johnson congratulated his former foe Glover Teixeira on winning the UFC light heavyweight title, telling him “you deserve the belt.” Teixeira submitted Jan Blachowicz in the second round with a rear-naked choke in the main event of UFC 267 to capture the UFC light heavyweight title for the first time at age 42. It is an absolutely incredible story as Teixeira became the second-oldest fighter behind Randy Couture to win a UFC title. What makes it even more surprising is that it was just a few years ago when Teixeira was brutally knocked out by “Rumble” and left for dead by many fans. That was back in 2016, and two fights later, Teixeira got knocked out by Alexander Gustafsson. At that point, he had lost three of five fights and no one could have realistically expected him to ever win the belt. But he’s won his last six straight and is now a champ.

Adam Martin - October 31, 2021

Watch Chuck Liddell freak out after his longtime friend Glover Teixeira won the UFC light heavyweight title on Saturday at UFC 267. Teixeira and Liddell are longtime friends and former training partners at The Pit under the tutelage of coach John Hackleman. The two fighters have remained good friends for years since then, and this weekend, their careers came full circle when Teixeira won the UFC light heavyweight title with a second-round submission win over Jan Blachowicz. Liddell was once the UFC light heavyweight champ himself, and now all these years later, it is Teixeira who is the champion, becoming the second fighter trained by Hackleman to win a belt.