MMA News

Cole Shelton - October 5, 2021

Randy Brown wanted to get another fight in this year and he jumped at the chance to take a fight at UFC Vegas 39 against Jared Gooden. Brown is coming off a submission win over Alex Oliveira at UFC 261 and many thought he would get another high-profile name. Yet, that isn’t the case as he will battle Jared Gooden in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 39. For Brown, he says he just wanted to fight and this was a chance to get back in there.

Adam D Martin - October 5, 2021

Michael Bisping explained how former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov took himself out of the MMA GOAT conversation. Nurmagomedov is considered one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time as he went 29-0 in his amazing MMA career, including 13-0 in the UFC. However, he decided to walk away from the sport following his submission win over Justin Gaethje last year. Despite being only 33 years old, in his prime, and undefeated, “The Eagle” decided that it was time to hang up his gloves. But as far as Bisping goes, Nurmagomedov retiring so early means that he has taken himself out of the conversation for the greatest MMA fighter of all time.

Cole Shelton - October 5, 2021

The 53rd episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 39. We’re first joined by one-half of the main event in fourth-ranked strawweight, Mackenzie Dern (2:34). Next, UFC welterweight, Randy Brown (18:3) comes on. Ninth-ranked flyweight, Tim Elliott (33:47) then joins the program. UFC featherweight, Charles Rosa (46:57) joins the show. Closing out the program is UFC heavyweight, Jared Vanderaa (1:03:11).

Harry Kettle - October 5, 2021

Cory Sandhagen has said he would feel like the undisputed bantamweight champion if he can beat Petr Yan at UFC 267. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Cory Sandhagen in recent months in the wake of his controversial decision loss to the returning TJ Dillashaw. Some felt he won it and others thought he lost but either way, he now has the chance to ascend to the top of the division in a short notice interim title showdown with Petr Yan.

Drake Riggs - October 4, 2021

Henry Cejudo is feeling rather confident in his new training partner. Ahead of her upcoming title fight rematch with Rose Namajunas, former champion Zhang Weili has taken her talents to the U.S. where she’s training in Scottsdale. Aiding “Magnum” at the Fight Ready team along the way is none other than the former dual-division titlist in Cejudo.

Drake Riggs - October 4, 2021

After so many run-ins with the law, many believe Jon Jones needs to start being more responsible – Miesha Tate included. “Cupcake” recently shared her thoughts on her fellow former UFC champion and his latest arrest in Las Vegas after his Hall of Fame induction ceremony for his first Alexander Gustafsson fight at UFC 165 in 2013.

Cole Shelton - October 4, 2021

Justin Thornton, who fought 24 times in MMA and was 0-1 in BKFC, died following his knockout loss at BKFC 20 in August. He was 38-years-old. Thornton, who was making his Bare Knuckle debut at BKFC 20 on August 20 in Mississippi, took on Dillon Cleckler, who was 2-0 in BKFC in a heavyweight bout. Both men also had MMA experience as Thornton was 6-18 and Cleckler was 11-1. It seemed like a mismatch on paper and it was exactly that as Cleckler KO’d Thornton in just 19 seconds and Thornton left the ring on a stretcher and immediately was taken to the hospital.

Adam D Martin - October 4, 2021

UFC superstar Conor McGregor revealed that the UFC 257 sold over 1.5 million pay-per-views for his rematch with his rival Dustin Poirier. UFC 257 took place in January of this year in Abu Dhabi. It was the rematch between McGregor and Poirier, and “The Diamond” knocked out “Notorious” in the second round in what was a big upset at the time. Six months later, they rematched at UFC 264, and Poirier defeated McGregor via first-round TKO when his leg broke. While we are still waiting for the PPV numbers from UFC 264 to come in, McGregor had no problem sharing the numbers for UFC 257. According to McGregor, who posted a legal document from Zuffa, the UFC 257 card sold over 1.5 million PPVs. Check out what McGregor shared on his Twitter below.

Adam D Martin - October 4, 2021

UFC middleweight contender Kevin Holland noted his improved takedown defense as he called for a rematch with Kyle Daukaus after UFC Vegas 38. Holland was knocked out by an accidental clash of heads, but he quickly woke back up and continued fighting against Daukaus in the co-main event of this past Saturday’s UFC Vegas 38 card. About a minute after suffering the unfortunate knockdown, Holland was choked out by Daukaus. However, the fight was overturned to a No Contest after instant replay was used and it was deemed that the end of the fight was a result of the clash of heads.

Adam D Martin - October 4, 2021

UFC welterweight fan favorite Niko Price says he is open to fighting either Nick Diaz or Nate Diaz following his latest win at UFC Vegas 38. Price won a unanimous decision over Alex Oliveira in a main card welterweight battle that took place at this past Saturday’s UFC Vegas 38 card. For Price, it was a much-needed win after going winless in his last three fights entering the contest. Following the fight, the fan favorite spoke to reporters and was asked who he wants to fight next. As far as Price goes, he’s down for another exciting fight for the fans, and he feels the Diaz brothers are perfect.

Adam D Martin - October 4, 2021

Dustin Poirier says the Charles Oliveira contract for their UFC lightweight title fight at UFC 269 is now “signed, sealed, delivered.” Poirier and Oliveira are set to meet in the main event of the UFC 269 pay-per-view card that is set to take place on December 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. There have been rumors for weeks that this is the fight the UFC wanted to book, but it wasn’t made official until Sunday night when Poirier took to his social media and confirmed it.

Cole Shelton - October 4, 2021

In the main event of UFC Vegas 38, top-10 light heavyweights collided as Thiago Santos was looking to return to the win column opposite Johnny Walker. Santos entered the fight coming off a lackluster decision loss to Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 259. Prior to that, he was submitted by Glover Teixeira and before that, lost a split decision to Jon Jones for the belt. Walker, meanwhile, hadn’t fought in a year but was coming off a TKO win over Ryan Spann to get back into the win column.

Adam D Martin - October 4, 2021

UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling explained why he withdrew from his scheduled UFC 267 rematch against his rival, Petr Yan. Sterling defeat Yan via a controversial fourth-round DQ back at UFC 259 in March. Yan was in complete control of the fight and was well on his way to finishing it or at least winning a decision. However, he made a colossal error when he landed an illegal knee to the head of a downed opponent. Sterling was not able to continue and, in a UFC first, the belt changed hands via DQ. Although Yan deserved to be punished for his infraction, there are many fans out there who are not buying Sterling as a champion due to him winning the fight by DQ.

Adam D Martin - October 4, 2021

Chael Sonnen believes the UFC is punishing former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones by keeping him under contract with the promotion. Sonnen and Jones were former rivals and even fought once in the Octagon, with Jones winning by TKO back in 2013 after the two coached The Ultimate Fighter. Last week, Jones was arrested in Las Vegas on charges of domestic battery and damaging a police vehicle. It has led to calls from some fans and media for the UFC to release Jones from his contract.

Harry Kettle - October 4, 2021

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker has explained why getting a win over Islam Makhachev is the best way to show how he would’ve fared against Khabib Nurmagomedov. Just weeks after beating Nasrat Haqparast to get back in the win column, Dan Hooker is set to take on one of the most intimidating forces in the 155-pound division – Islam Makhachev. He’ll do so at UFC 267 on Fight Island in a move that has received a great deal of praise from mixed martial arts fans all over the world.

Harry Kettle - October 4, 2021

Jiri Prochazka has responded to Thiago Santos suggesting that the two should meet in their next fight. Santos managed to get himself back in the win column last weekend as he managed to grind out a unanimous decision win over Johnny Walker. It may not have been the prettiest win he’s ever had, but a win is all that matters given the direction he was heading in.

Adam Martin - October 3, 2021

Bellator welterweight contender Michael Page wants a trilogy fight with Douglas Lima following their controversial rematch at Bellator 267. Page defeated Lima via split decision in the main event of Bellator 267 in what was a three-round welterweight fight. It was a close contest for as long as it was contested, but many fans and media felt that Lima did enough to take home the decision. In the end, the judges sided with Page via split decision, but it appears as though “MVP” is not satisfied with the result. Speaking to reporters following Bellator 267, Page called for a trilogy fight with Lima to settle the score. And better yet, Page is asking Bellator to book the fight for five rounds.

Adam Martin - October 3, 2021

Former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo called for the Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler trilogy fight following their recent rematch at UFC 266. Diaz and Lawler met in a middleweight bout at UFC 266 last month, and Lawler won the fight in the third round by TKO. It was a rematch 17 years in the making after the two previously met at UFC 47 in 2004, with Diaz winning that fight via knockout. All these years later and these two rivals met again, but this time with Lawler getting the better of Diaz and getting the finish. It was a good fight for as long as it lasted, and UFC president Dana White praised Diaz for his performance in the fight. But at the end of the day, Diaz lost the fight via TKO and it’s unknown if he has any interest in fighting in the UFC again.