MMA News
Khabib Nurmagomedov tells Islam Makhachev to "call out Dana White" with win over Dan Hooker at UFC 267
Adam D Martin - October 29, 2021
Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov told Islam Makhachev to “call out Dana White” with a win over Dan Hooker at UFC 267. Nurmagomedov is the former UFC lightweight champion, but he vacated his belt earlier this year after officially announcing his retirement from MMA. With Nurmagomedov now on the sidelines, there have been many analysts who have said that Makhachev is the next lightweight champion. He has a fighting style that is similar to Nurmagomedov and so far in the UFC, he has been extremely dominant with a 9-1 record including an eight-fight win streak at the moment. On Saturday at UFC 267, Makhachev will look to defeat Hooker.
Aljamain Sterling explains why he favors Cory Sandhagen to defeat Petr Yan at UFC 267
Adam D Martin - October 29, 2021
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling explained why he favors Cory Sandhagen to defeat Petr Yan this weekend at UFC 267. Sterling has fought both Sandhagen and Yan, so he has a pretty good idea of what both men bring to the cage. With Sandhagen, Sterling was able to tap him out and submit him with a rear-naked choke when they met at UFC 250 in June 2020. As for Yan, he was beating Sterling at UFC 259 earlier this year up until he landed an illegal knee and was DQed. It was the first time that a title changed hands in UFC history due to a disqualification, and Sterling has been the UFC bantamweight champ for six months now.
UFC 267 weigh-in results: Khamzat Chimaev makes weight on third attempt, one fight scratched
Adam D Martin - October 29, 2021
The official weigh-ins for UFC 267 took place on Friday in Abu Dhabi, and 29 of the 30 fighters scheduled to compete have made weight. In the main event, headliners Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira are official for their UFC light heavyweight title fight after both men weighed in at 205lbs on the dot. As for the co-main event, Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen both weighed in successfully for their interim bantamweight title bout. Yan was 135lbs while Sandhagen was 135lbs. And with that, both of the title fights scheduled to take place at Saturday’s UFC 267 card are now official.
Bruce Buffer provides positive health update after missing UFC 267
Adam D Martin - October 29, 2021
UFC Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer provided a positive health update after missing UFC 267 due to testing positive for COVID-19. Buffer is typically the man on the mic in the Octagon during the UFC’s numbered cards, but for the first since in 25 years, he will be missing a numbered UFC card. The reason is that Buffer recently tested positive for COVID-19. He has been feeling under the weather and, as much as he wanted to be in Abu Dhabi, he had no choice but to withdraw from the card.
Khamzat Chimaev shares his thoughts on upcoming Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington rematch: “Both guys tough guys but nothing special”
Harry Kettle - October 29, 2021
Khamzat Chimaev has given his thoughts on the upcoming welterweight title clash between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington. Chimaev is set to return to the UFC’s Octagon tomorrow night when he takes on Li Jingliang in a highly anticipated welterweight showdown at UFC 267. The Fight Island clash offers up a huge chance for Chimaev to prove that he is, as many believe, a future star in the UFC.
Khamzat Chimaev offers to train Darren Till to help him with his wrestling: 'I feel sorry for him'
Cole Shelton - October 28, 2021
Khamzat Chimaev has offered to train Darren Till to help improve his wrestling. Chimaev and Till went back-and-forth earlier this year on an Instagram Live joking about possibly fighting one another. Many fans wanted to see the fight due to them both being fan-favorites but Chimaev made it clear he would smash Till.
Diego Sanchez wants to fight Dillon Danis in Jorge Masvidal's bare-knuckle MMA promotion
Cole Shelton - October 28, 2021
Diego Sanchez is hoping to fight Dillon Danis and wants it to be sans gloves. Recently, Danis was on The MMA Hour where he said he wanted to fight Sanchez. He claimed the longtime UFC fighter was DM’ing him, and after that, many thought the fight made sense.
Bruce Buffer contracts COVID-19 ahead of UFC 267, will miss first numbered event in 25 years
Cole Shelton - October 28, 2021
Bruce Buffer’s historic streak of calling UFC numbered events will end. Buffer will miss UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday after contracting COVID-19. MMAJunkie first reported the news he wouldn’t be the Octagon announcer and at the press conference, White confirmed Buffer had COVID-19.
Petr Yan not interested in Aljamain Sterling rematch with win at UFC 267
Adam D Martin - October 28, 2021
Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan says that he is not interested in the Aljamain Sterling rematch even with a win at UFC 267. Yan was supposed to fight Sterling in a rematch in the co-main event of UFC 267, which takes place on Saturday on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Yan and Sterling met earlier this year at UFC 259 when Yan was the champion defending his belt. However, Yan made a massive blunder in that fight when he landed an illegal knee on Sterling in the fourth round and finished him with it, leading to a disqualification. The ending of the fight was very controversial and the UFC immediately booked the rematch.
Jeff Molina expected to KO Daniel Da Silva, open to fighting anyone but interested in facing Francisco Figueiredo next
Cole Shelton - October 28, 2021
Jeff Molina was confident he would be able to finish Daniel Da Silva at UFC Vegas 41. Molina was coming off his successful UFC debut and early on against Da Silva it was a back-and-forth fight. Da Silva was searching for submissions but didn’t get one and when the fight went into the second round, Molina knew his opponent was gassed.
Ricky Glenn confident Grant Dawson went out with the choke, wants to 'run it back'
Cole Shelton - October 28, 2021
Ricky Glenn knew going into the third round he needed a dominant round or a finish if he was going to get his hand raised over Grant Dawson at UFC Vegas 41. Glenn stepped up on short notice and after the first two rounds, he was well aware he lost both of them. Entering the third round, his team told him he needed to get the finish, and right from the get-go, Glenn was able to dominate the round. He then got ahold of a choke but the bell rang and the fight went the distance. However, Glenn says he knew Dawson’s body went limp and the fight should’ve been stopped.
Bruno Cappelozza reacts after learning his father passed away just minutes after winning PFL heavyweight title
Adam D Martin - October 28, 2021
Bruno Cappelozza reacted after learning his father passed away just minutes after winning the PFL heavyweight title and $1 million. Cappelozza defeated Ante Delija in a five-round heavyweight slugfest to win the PFL heavyweight championship and the $1 million grand prize. Just minutes after Cappelozza won the heavyweight tournament, the broadcast revealed that his family told him following his win that his father, Joao, passed away on Sunday. Cappelozza’s family wanted him to stay completely focused on his fight against Delija and they did not tell Cappelozza that his father had passed away until after the fight. It was an incredibly emotional moment for Cappelozza, and following the event, he took to his social media to react to the sad news.
Dan Hooker on Islam Makhachev fight at UFC 267: "This is his party. I’m just here to spoil it"
Adam D Martin - October 28, 2021
UFC lightweight Dan Hooker commented on the Islam Makhachev fight at UFC 267, saying that “this is his party. I’m just here to spoil it.” Hooker takes on Makhachev this Saturday at UFC 267 in what is one of the biggest fights of his career. Hooker took the fight with Makhachev on short notice after Rafael dos Anjos fell off the card. Just a few days after he beat Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266, Hooker then decided that he would take the chance and fight Makhachev on short notice at UFC 267.
UFC 267 | Pro fighters make their picks for Petr Yan vs. Cory Sandhagen interim title fight
Cole Shelton - October 28, 2021
In the co-main event of UFC 267, Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen are set to fight for the interim bantamweight title. Ahead of the fight, Yan is a -235 favorite while the American is a +190 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority of pros are torn on this one but the slight majority believes Sandhagen leaves Abu Dhabi with the belt.
Kayla Harrison non-committal to joining the UFC following expiration of PFL contract
Adam D Martin - October 28, 2021
PFL women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison is non-committal to joining the UFC following the expiration of her PFL contract. Harrison defeated Taylor Guardado via second-round submission in the women’s lightweight finals at the PFL Championship on Wednesday night at the Seminole Hard Rock & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Harrison dominated the fight from beginning to end by utilizing her dominant grappling game to get her opponent to the mat and finally submit her. It was the second straight tournament championship victory for Harrison in PFL, and the fight also marked the end of her contract with the promotion. Now that she has fought out the final fight of her deal, Harrison is headed towards free agency for the first time.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk wants more money from the UFC: "I feel like I deserve a bigger piece of the cake"
Adam D Martin - October 28, 2021
Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk wants more money from the UFC, saying “I feel like I deserve a bigger piece of the cake.” Jedrzejczyk is the former UFC women’s strawweight champion and one of the greatest female fighters in UFC history. The Pole hasn’t fought since March 2020, when she lost a close split decision to Weili Zhang in one of the greatest women’s MMA fights of all time. She was most recently in the news, however, when the UFC removed her from the promotion’s official rankings due to her having been inactive for over 18 months now.
PFL 10 Results and Highlights: Ray Cooper lll and Kayla Harrison earn $1 million with stunning finishes
Harry Kettle - October 28, 2021
Ray Cooper III and Kayla Harrison were amongst the newly crowned millionaire champions on PFL 10 last night. It was another thrilling evening of PFL action on Wednesday with six champions, and six $1 million payouts, being made from the prelims all the way up to the main event. The usual contenders were in the mix with everything from dramatic decisions to world-class finishes being on display for the masses to enjoy.
Dana White reacts after Mike Perry signs a multi-fight deal with BKFC
Christopher Taylor - October 27, 2021
Dana White has reacted after news broke that former UFC welterweight Mike Perry has inked a multi-fight deal with BKFC. ‘Platinum’ (14-8 MMA) fought out his UFC contract back in April, suffering a unanimous decision loss to Daniel Rodriguez. The setback marked Perry’s second in a row, and fourth in his past five fights overall.