MMA News
Colby Covington claims UFC threatened to strip Kamaru Usman of welterweight title
Adam D Martin - October 19, 2021
Top contender Colby Covington claims that the UFC threatened to strip his rival, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, of his 170lbs title. Covington returns to the Octagon next month when he fights Usman in the main event of UFC 268 in what is a rematch between the two longtime rivals. The two welterweights previously met in the main event of UFC 245 in December 2019, a fight that Usman won via fifth-round TKO. Nearly two years later and now Covington will finally get his chance to fight Usman again. Only, according to Covington, it nearly didn’t happen at all.
Tim Johnson expecting a 'war' with Fedor Emelianenko but knows he has to finish the fight: 'I'm probably not winning a decision in Russia'
Cole Shelton - October 19, 2021
Tim Johnson says it is still surreal to think he is fighting Fedor Emelianenko in Russia, in what could be the Russian’s final fight. When Bellator announced Emelianenko would be fighting back home in Russia, many thought he would be fighting a fellow legend. Yet, that wasn’t the case as instead, he will be fighting Johnson at Bellator 269, who has a theory as to why Emelianenko picked him.
Grant Dawson 'disappointed' he's not fighting Diego Ferreira, but plans to 'beat up' Ricky Glenn until he 'quits'
Cole Shelton - October 19, 2021
Grant Dawson was supposed to get his shot to enter the lightweight rankings back on October 2 against Diego Ferreira, but Ferreira was forced out of the fight. After Dawson heard the news that Ferreira was out of the fight, he admits it was frustrating and disappointing. However, he made it clear to the UFC he still wanted to fight in October and he got his wish as he will face Ricky Glenn at UFC Vegas 41.
Marvin Vettori plans on having face-to-face chat with "puppet" Paul Felder over UFC commentary
Adam D Martin - October 19, 2021
UFC middleweight contender Marvin Vettori plans on having face-to-face chat with “puppet” Paul Felder over his UFC commentary. Vettori recently took to social media to put Felder on blast following his commentary in the Dan Hooker vs. Nasrat Haqparst fight at UFC 266 last month. According to the Italian, he was not being fair to Haqparast during his commentary for the fight, and he took to Twitter to put Felder on blast. As far as “The Italian Dream” goes, Felder was being biased during his commentary and he felt like he had no choice but to call him out for his analysis.
Colby Covington criticizes Kamaru Usman for "knocking out lightweights" ahead of rematch at UFC 268
Adam D Martin - October 19, 2021
Colby Covington criticized UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman for “knocking out lightweights” ahead of their rematch at UFC 268. Covington and Usman finally meet for the second time next month when they fight in a rematch that serves as the main event of UFC 268. For Covington, this rematch has been two years in the making after losing via fifth-round TKO at UFC 245. Ever since that first fight, Covington has been pursuing the rematch and now he finally gets it. As for Usman, he has stayed busy since beating Covington, putting up three title defenses since then.
Miesha Tate turned down Holly Holm rematch, says coach
Adam D Martin - October 19, 2021
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate turned down a Holly Holm rematch, says Holm’s coach Mike Winkeljohn. Tate and Holm first met back at UFC 196 in March 2016. In what was one of the most incredible comebacks of all time, Tate came back in the fifth round and choked Holm out to win the women’s 135lbs title. It was a night of upsets, as Nate Diaz submitted Conor McGregor that same night. Of course, it was also over five years ago now, and so much has changed in the three years since then. For Tate, she was retired for the majority of that time before recently returning to active competition. Holm, meanwhile, has never been able to recapture her belt at 135lbs, though she has remained active in the weight class.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 55 with Tim Johnson, Grant Dawson, Ricky Glenn, Ike Villanueva, and Jeff Molina
Cole Shelton - October 19, 2021
The 55th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 41 and Bellator 269. We’re first joined by one-half of the Bellator 269 headliner in heavyweight, Tim Johnson (2:10). Next, UFC lightweight Grant Dawson (15:14) joins the show. UFC lightweight, Ricky Glenn (36:20) also joins the show. UFC heavyweight, Ike Villanueva (48:06) then comes on. Closing out the program is UFC flyweight, Jeff Molina (59:01).
Dillon Danis opens up on his recent arrest, accuses bouncer of impersonating a police officer
Harry Kettle - October 19, 2021
Bellator fighter Dillon Danis has opened up on his recent arrest and provided his account of what went down. Last month, footage emerged of Danis being choked on the ground and restrained by a security guard at a bar in New Jersey. Many fans took the opportunity to openly mock and tease Danis, highlighting his confidence on social media as well as the fact that he hasn’t fought inside the cage for two years.
Henry Cejudo declares Tyron Woodley the second cringiest fighter behind himself
Drake Riggs - October 18, 2021
Henry Cejudo is the self-proclaimed king of cringe… but every king needs a jester. Being in the public eye doesn’t come naturally to everyone as it can either be shunned or embraced in various fashions. For those like Cejudo (16-2), there’s the path of being as wacky as possible intentionally. In the former dual-division UFC champions’ mind, it’s even worse to be awkwardly self-unaware.
Israel Adesanya roasts his 'children' Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori while breaking down the fight
Cole Shelton - October 18, 2021
Israel Adesanya knows quite a bit about the UFC Vegas 41 main event on Saturday. Headlining the card is a middleweight fight between Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori. Both men are coming off title fight losses to Adesanya and Vettori has lost twice to the champ. Although Adesanya beat both of them, he still says people need to know both Costa and Vettori have failed drug tests in their past.
Chuck Liddell not to be charged after domestic violence arrest
Drake Riggs - October 18, 2021
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office won’t be charging former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell for a recent domestic violence incident involving his wife. Liddell and his estranged partner, Heidi, got into an argument that led to the once-UFC poster boy’s arrest this past week after things allegedly got physical. Prosecutors have now decided not to charge either Chuck or Heidi for the incident, confirms MMA Fighting.
Jorge Masvidal vows to 'do everything in my being to end' Leon Edwards at UFC 269
Cole Shelton - October 18, 2021
Jorge Masvidal is looking to inflict damage on Leon Edwards at UFC 269 on December 11. On the main card of the year-end pay-per-view, Masvidal and Edwards are set to have their highly-anticipated grudge match. Back in March of 2019, Masvidal gave Edwards the three-piece and a soda and many thought they would end up fighting. Yet, the scrap never came to fruition until now and that is because Masvidal decided now was the time,
Corey Anderson fires back at Jan Blachowicz, reminds him that "I left you looking like elephant man"
Adam D Martin - October 18, 2021
Corey Anderson fired back at UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz, reminding him that “I left you looking like elephant man.” Anderson knocked out Ryan Bader at Bellator 268 this past Saturday night to emerge as one of the top title contenders at 205lbs in Bellator. In 2022, Anderson will get the chance to fight Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov for the belt and for a $1 million grand prize. However, even though he hasn’t yet run through the whole bracket, Anderson is feeling very confident these days, and after knocking Bader out at Bellator 268, he said that he feels like he’s the best light heavyweight in the world these days. Blachowicz heard those comments and fired back at Anderson, reminding him that they fought just last February and it was the Pole who got the big victory when he knocked Anderson out.
Ryan Bader issues statement following knockout loss to Corey Anderson at Bellator 268
Adam D Martin - October 18, 2021
Former Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader issued a statement following his knockout loss to Corey Anderson at Bellator 268. Bader suffered a first-round knockout loss when he was caught with an Anderson punch early on in their fight and then finished with ground and pound. For Bader, it was a disappointing loss after beating up Lyoto Machida in his last outing to advance to the tournament semifinals. The former Ultimate Fighter winner is still the Bellator heavyweight champion, but he has struggled as a light heavyweight as he’s lost two of his last three fights in the weight class by knockout to Anderson and to champ Vadim Nemkov before.
Dominick Cruz still open to charity fight against Monster Energy's Hans Molenkamp
Adam D Martin - October 18, 2021
Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz says that he is still open to a charity fight against Monster Energy’s Hans Molenkamp. Following his win over Casey Kenney at UFC 259 earlier this year, Cruz challenged Molenkamp — a top executive at Monster Energy — to a charity fight. It’s been over six months since then and we haven’t heard much about their feud, so it appears as though the rift is over between the two. However, Cruz says he’s still open to fighting Molenkamp.
Jan Blachowicz destroys Corey Anderson after claiming he's the world's best light heavyweight
Adam D Martin - October 18, 2021
UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz destroyed Corey Anderson after he claimed that he’s the world’s best light heavyweight. Blachowicz knocked out Anderson last February at UFC Rio Rancho in a title eliminator for former champion Jon Jones’ title. Following that fight, Jones gave up his belt and Blachowicz ended up fighting Dominick Reyes for the vacant title and won the belt with a TKO victory. Anderson, meanwhile, left the UFC to sign with Bellator and join the promotion’s 205lbs division. So far, Anderson has gone 3-0 in Bellator, and he is now one win away from winning the Bellator light heavyweight title and the $1 million for winning the Grand Prix. He has tons of confidence and believes he’s the best in the world now.
What's next for Norma Dumont and Aspen Ladd after UFC Vegas 40?
Cole Shelton - October 18, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 40, a rare featherweight fight headlined the card as Norma Dumont took on Aspen Ladd. Dumont entered the fight coming off an upset win over Felicia Spencer which was her second in a row as she beat Ashlee Evans-Smith by decision after failing to make weight at 135lbs. Ladd, meanwhile, was returning for the first time since December of 2019 after having knee surgery and two canceled fights including one two weeks ago due to a bad weight cut.
Georges St-Pierre shares his favorite UFC memory
Adam D Martin - October 18, 2021
UFC legend and former welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre shared what his favorite UFC memory was during his career. St-Pierre is one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time and there are so many memorable moments during his incredible career. From beating Matt Hughes for the UFC welterweight title to losing it to Matt Serra to winning it again, defending it many times, and then returning as a middleweight late in his career, GSP has seen and done it all. But for “Rush,” there is one moment that stands out above the rest when it comes to his HOF career.