MMA News
Islam Makhachev slams Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler ahead of UFC 268: “Everybody is tired about these guys because they’re old”
Adam D Martin - November 3, 2021
Islam Makhachev ripped Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler ahead of UFC 268, saying “everybody is tired about these guys because they’re old.” Makhachev put on arguably the best performance of his MMA career last Saturday at UFC 268 when he submitted Dan Hooker in the first round. Considering how tough and durable Hooker is — this was his first submission loss in nearly a decade — it was absolutely incredible to see Makhachev go through him like a knife through hot butter. It was the kind of win that the Russian needs in order to really cement himself as one of the top lightweights in the UFC. With a 10-1 record now in the promotion, including the nine-fight win streak that he currently rides, it’s clear that Makhachev is closing in on a title shot.
Dana White on what would happen if Amanda Nunes fought Kayla Harrison’s opponents: “Might be the first death in MMA”
Harry Kettle - November 3, 2021
UFC president Dana White has said the “first death in MMA” would happen if Amanda Nunes fought one of Kayla Harrison’s opponents. Harrison, who is now a two-time PFL champion, moved to 12-0 recently and captured her second consecutive title in the process. Many believe she has what it takes to kick on and eventually challenge Amanda Nunes in the UFC but as per Dana White, it doesn’t appear as if that’s going to happen anytime soon.
Mike Perry responds to callout from Julian Lane: “I don’t want my opponents to want to bang, bro”
Harry Kettle - November 3, 2021
New BKFC signing Mike Perry has issued a strange response to Julian Lane after the famous “let me bang bro” fighter called him out. It was confirmed recently that Perry, who was formerly with the UFC, would be making his way over to BKFC in order to begin a new chapter of his career in bare-knuckle boxing. There are many folks who want to be his first opponent in the promotion, and that includes Julian Lane.
Jonas Bilharinho scores spinning wheel kick KO on Contender Series (Video)
Cole Shelton - November 2, 2021
Jonas Bilharinho got a highlight-reel KO right in front of Dana White on the final episode of Season 5 of the Contender Series on Tuesday. Bilharino was fighting Canaan Kawaihae in a featherweight bout. Early on, not much action was going on as the two were clinching one another. A rare double low blow happened which caused a pause in the action but when they continued it was much of the same.
Glover Teixeira gets hero's welcome in Connecticut after winning light heavyweight title at UFC 267 (Video)
Cole Shelton - November 2, 2021
Glover Teixeira returned to his adopted home of Connecticut and got a hero’s welcome after becoming the new UFC light heavyweight champion. In the main event of the card from Abu Dhabi, Teixeira, who turned 42 during fight week, was a sizeable underdog against Jan Blachowicz. Many expected Blachowicz to win the fight, but Teixeira dominated the first round and then got the submission win in the second to become the new champion.
Junior dos Santos signs with a boxing management company, plans to fight and beat Fury, Wilder and Joshua in the future
Cole Shelton - November 2, 2021
Junior dos Santos will be off to boxing. The former UFC heavyweight champion in dos Santos signed with S-Jam BOXING a boxing management company. They will be co-managing him and fight news will be coming soon.
Michael Chandler believes Justin Gaethje also received "Dana White privilege"
Adam D Martin - November 2, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler believes that his rival Justin Gaethje also received “Dana White privilege” from the UFC president. Chandler got the vacant title shot against Charles Oliveira back at UFC 262 in May, and Gaethje made it clear that he was not pleased as he believed it should have been him who got the title shot. However, the UFC went ahead and gave Chandler the shot instead, and he lost via TKO. With Gaethje not getting the fight, he sat on the sidelines and as of right now he’s been out of the Octagon for a full year. But this Saturday at UFC 268, he gets the chance to fight Chandler in what should be one of the best fights on the whole card.
Dana White confirms the UFC will speak to Nate Diaz about fighting Khamzat Chimaev
Adam D Martin - November 2, 2021
UFC president Dana White confirmed that the UFC will speak to Nate Diaz about fighting emerging welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev is coming off of an incredible first-round submission win over Li Jingliang at UFC 267 that improved his pro record to 10-0, including a 4-0 record in the UFC. Incredibly, Chimaev has only been hit with one significant strike through four fights in the Octagon, as he’s completely run through everyone in his path. It has been a phenomenal start to Chimaev’s UFC career, and it looks like the promotion is now considering putting him on the fast-track to superstardom by matching him up against one of the UFC’s biggest names.
Chris Curtis says Sean Strickland pleaded with Mick Maynard to sign him, expects to drown Phil Hawes and 'make him quit' at UFC 268
Cole Shelton - November 2, 2021
Chris Curtis thought his dream of fighting in the UFC was over. Curtis competed on DWCS in 2018 and scored a highlight-reel head kick KO win but didn’t get the contract. It was his seventh win in a row but Dana White passed on him and since then, he has been competing in PFL and on the regional scene and a few weeks ago, he got the call on Thursday night to weigh-in and fight Phil Hawes in two days.
UFC 268 | Pro fighters make their picks for Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - November 2, 2021
In the main event of UFC 268, Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington are set to have their highly-anticipated rematch. Heading into the fight, Usman is a -320 favorite while the challenger is a +250 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 we hear ‘And Still’ as Usman will not only beat but will finish Covington once again.
Sean O’Malley breaks down Saturday’s UFC 268 main card: “I would love to see Colby Covington champ dude”
Adam D Martin - November 2, 2021
UFC bantamweight Sean O’Malley broke down Saturday’s UFC 268 main card, saying that “I would love to see Colby Covington champ, dude.” O’Malley was originally targeted to fight Frankie Edgar on the UFC 268 undercard, but the fight fell apart when O’Malley said that he didn’t want to fight in New York due to high taxes. With O’Malley unable to take that fight, the UFC went ahead and booked Marlon Vera against Edgar instead. But while O’Malley is not going to be fighting on UFC 268, he is still paying attention to the card, both to the main event and to the Edgar vs. Vera fight, too.
Dan Hardy recalls Herb Dean incident on Fight Island: "We had a back and forth conversation"
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.
Kamaru Usman believes there is mutual respect with “great competitor” Colby Covington: “I know he respects me”
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.
Michael Bisping shares his predictions for Usman vs. Covington 2 and Gaethje vs. Chandler at UFC 268
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.
Petr Yan issues a warning to “chicken heart” Aljamain Sterling following UFC 267
Adam D Martin - November 2, 2021
New UFC interim bantamweight champion Petr Yan issued a warning to “chicken heart” Aljamain Sterling following his big win at UFC 267. Yan defeated Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision in the co-main event of this past Saturday’s UFC 267 card. The fight was absolutely phenomenal as both men went back and forth for the entire 25 minutes in one of the best fights of the year. But at the end of the five rounds, it was Yan who ended up getting his hand raised with three 49-46 scorecards.
Video | Alleged ‘Kung Fu Master’ challenges former K-1 Grand Prix Winner to spar, gets owned
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.
Khamzat Chimaev has put Kamaru Usman on notice after his UFC 267 performance, believes Michael Bisping
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.
Anthony Smith reveals he was offered a fight against Jan Blachowicz just hours after UFC 267
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.