MMA News
Kevin Lee believes he poses the biggest threat to Kamaru Usman: "There's nobody else that has my style that can take it to him"
Cole Shelton - August 27, 2021
Kevin Lee believes he is a bad matchup for the welterweight champ, Kamaru Usman. Lee is set to make his return to welterweight on the main card of UFC Vegas 35 against Daniel Rodriguez who took the fight on short notice. It’s an intriguing matchup and Lee already told BJPENN.com he believes he is a top-five welterweight and will only need a few wins to get a title shot. That played a big role in why he decided to move up in weight, and the fact he believes he has the style to defeat Usman.
Frankie Edgar vs. Marlon Vera added to UFC 268
Adam D Martin - August 27, 2021
An exciting bantamweight contest between top-15 ranked veterans Frankie Edgar and Marlon Vera has been added to UFC 268. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to confirm that Edgar vs. Vera will take place at UFC 268, which is set to take place on November 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The UFC had been looking for an opponent for Edgar for several weeks now, and had offered the fight to top prospect Sean O’Malley, but “Suga” turned down the fight, saying he didn’t want to fight in NYC. Instead, the only man to defeat O’Malley in the UFC in Vera will be the one who ends up getting the fight against Edgar at UFC 268 after all.
Stipe Miocic confident he can make the proper adjustments against Francis Ngannou in potential trilogy fight
Adam D Martin - August 27, 2021
Stipe Miocic is confident he can make the proper adjustments against UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in a potential trilogy fight. Miocic and Ngannou have fought twice now, with the pair going 1-1 against each other over the course of their two fights. Back at UFC 220 in January 2018, Miocic defeated Ngannou via a unanimous decision to defend his title. The two then rematched at UFC 260 earlier this year, with Ngannou knocking out Miocic in the second round to claim his belt. Since their second meeting, we haven’t heard much from Miocic as he’s stayed out of the limelight in the wake of his loss. However, he has been suggesting as of late that he wants to come back and fight again, and he hopes that the UFC gives him the Ngannou trilogy.
UFC Vegas 35 weigh-in results: Edson Barboza, Giga Chikadze on point for featherweight headliner
Adam D Martin - August 27, 2021
The official weigh-ins for UFC Vegas 35 took place on Friday in Las Vegas, and 23 of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete made weight. The main event of UFC Vegas 35 is a good one as two of the top-10 ranked featherweights in the UFC collide when Edson Barboza faces off against Giga Chikadze. Barboza is 2-1 since moving down to featherweight, including a KO win over Shane Burgos in his last fight. As for Chikadze, he is a perfect 6-0 since joining the UFC featherweight division in 2019. Both Barboza and Chikadze successfully made weight for this contest, and the winner of the bout seems destined to take on a top-five ranked opponent next time out.
Jake Paul says he's "not sorry" for Team Paul's skirmish with Tyron Woodley and his mother
Adam D Martin - August 27, 2021
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul says that he’s “not sorry” for Team Paul’s skirmish with Tyron Woodley and his mother at the press conference. Paul and Woodley are in Cleveland, Ohio ahead of their boxing match on Sunday night, and at the pre-fight press conference, a member of Paul’s team had some choice words to say to Woodley’s mother. The comments led to an altercation between Team Paul and Team Woodley before cooler heads prevailed. Speaking to MMAjunkie.com following the press conference, Paul said that his team isn’t sorry about what happened with Woodley’s mom.
Andre Petroski didn't expect to be on TUF 29 finale but expects to finish Micheal Gilmore
Cole Shelton - August 27, 2021
Andre Petroski knew the camera crew on TUF liked him, and he thought he would get a UFC fight but didn’t expect it to be on the finale. At UFC Vegas 35, which also serves as the TUF 29 finals, Petroski will face fellow middleweight castmate, Micheal Gilmore. For Petroski, he says he only found out about this fight less than two weeks before the event but immediately accepted it.
Logan Paul says he almost caused Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov to fight in a restaurant
Adam D Martin - August 27, 2021
YouTuber-turned-boxer Logan Paul says he almost caused UFC superstars Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov to fight in a restaurant. Paul, who fought legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather to a draw in an exhibition match back in June, will be in Cleveland, Ohio this weekend to support his brother Jake Paul, who takes on former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. Ahead of the fight between the YouTuber and the former UFC champ, Paul went on his “Impaulsive” podcast recently and told a story about another fight that nearly broke out between two UFC stars in McGregor and Nurmagomedov. According to Paul, it was a situation where he tried to book a table for his chef Eric, who has a connection to McGregor as he was cooking for him in his camp. Apparently, Nurmagomedov was also at the same restaurant and nearly ran into McGregor.
Edson Barboza hopes for top-five opponent next with win over Giga Chikadze at UFC Vegas 35
Adam D Martin - August 27, 2021
UFC featherweight contender Edson Barboza says he hopes for a top-five opponent next with a win over Giga Chikadze at UFC Vegas 35. Barboza steps back into the Octagon on Saturday night when he takes on Chikadze in what should be an entertaining fight between two high-level strikers. For Barboza, he enters this fight with a lot of momentum after having defeated Shane Burgos via third-round TKO at UFC 262 back in May, not to mention picking up a win over Makwan Amirkhani prior to that. With a win over Chikadze, who is a perfect 6-0 since he joined the UFC back in 2019, Barboza is hoping that he fights someone in the UFC featherweight the division’s elite.
Kevin Lee doesn’t believe Mike Perry should still be in the UFC: “You’re holding up some other kid’s dream”
Harry Kettle - August 27, 2021
Kevin Lee doesn’t think Mike Perry should still be a member of the UFC roster after reportedly rejecting the prospect of fighting him. Perry, who is coming off the back of seven losses in his last ten fights, has been the subject of great debate as of late when it comes to his future in the promotion. Some feel as if he’s too entertaining to cut, whereas others want to see him being given one last chance to shine under the lights.
Pros react to post-presser scuffle between Team Woodley and Team Paul
Harry Kettle - August 27, 2021
Pro fighters have reacted to the scuffle between Team Woodley and Team Paul from yesterday’s press conference in Cleveland. On Sunday night, Jake Paul will face the toughest test of his pro boxing career thus far as he prepares to square off against former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. Paul is coming into this bout off the back of a 3-0 record, whereas Woodley will be making his professional boxing debut.
Ben Askren says he will "feel much better" about his loss if Jake Paul defeats Tyron Woodley
Cole Shelton - August 26, 2021
Ben Askren admitted he was embarrassed he got knocked out by Jake Paul but says he will feel better about it if the YouTuber defeats Tyron Woodley. In the main event of the Showtime boxing pay-per-view on Sunday in Cleveland, Paul is putting his undefeated record on the line as he takes on Woodley. It’s an intriguing matchup as Paul knocked out Woodley’s friend and training partner in Askren back in April.
Tyron Woodley reacts to Jake Paul's team's 'unacceptable' encounter with his mother
Drake Riggs - August 26, 2021
Don’t speak to Tyron Woodley’s mother. During a Thursday press conference ahead of their Sunday boxing match, Woodley and Jake Paul got into a bit of a verbal sparring match — as is commonplace for anything involving the Paul brothers.
Cris Cyborg believes 'Ronda Rousey was more dangerous than Kayla Harrison'
Drake Riggs - August 26, 2021
Cris “Cyborg” Justino and Ronda Rousey were never too fond of one another. A super-fight between the two all-time greats was something fans fantasized about for years as the two went from Strikeforce to the UFC. However, it never came to fruition.
Jake Paul says he hasn't been drug tested for Tyron Woodley fight, fires back at critics saying he's using PEDs
Cole Shelton - August 26, 2021
Jake Paul says he isn’t taking performance enhancement drugs as Firas Zahabi accused him of, but he revealed he hasn’t been drug tested. Paul will return to the ring on Sunday night when he faces Tyron Woodley in an intriguing matchup on Showtime PPV and Fite TV. However, in the lead-up to the bout, many have claimed Paul is using steroids which he says is absolutely not true.
Tyron Woodley and his family get into heated argument with Team Jake Paul at boxing press conference (Video)
Adam D Martin - August 26, 2021
Former UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley and his family got into a heated argument with Team Jake Paul at their boxing press conference. Woodley and Paul had their pre-fight press conference on Thursday, and ahead of the fight, there was a lot of trash-talking between the two camps, as expected. However, things got personal when a member of Paul’s camp made a comment about Woodley’s mom, who is often in the front row for his fights. After Team Jake Paul made the comment, Woodley’s sister got into it with a member of Team Paul, which led to a heated argument between both camps. Take a look at the crazy scene that went down via MMA reporter Ariel Helwani.
Jamahal Hill shares hilarious meme following elbow injury against Paul Craig at UFC 263
Adam D Martin - August 26, 2021
UFC light heavyweight contender Jamahal Hill shared a hilarious meme following his nasty elbow injury suffered against Paul Craig at UFC 263. Despite being the heavy betting favorite entering the fight on account of his unbeaten 8-0, 1 NC record heading into UFC 263, Hill was finished by Craig early in the first round of their quick, but exciting fight. Craig was able to pull guard quickly in the first round, get Hill to the mat, and then lock him up in an armbar, which Hill refused to tap to. Hill’s elbow then dislocated but referee Al Guinee didn’t see the injury and let the fight go on for a few more seconds, which resulted in Craig smashing Hill with ground strikes to win via TKO.
Ronaldo Souza admits retirement was a long time coming: "I haven't been wanting to fight anymore for some time"
Adam D Martin - August 26, 2021
Former UFC fighter Ronaldo Souza admits retirement was a long time coming, saying “I haven’t been wanting to fight anymore for some time.” At age 41, Souza recently announced his retirement from MMA after being released by the UFC. Once an elite middleweight fight, “Jacare” lost four straight fights to close out his UFC career, including a brutal submission loss to Andre Muniz at UFC 262 where Souza suffered a nasty broken arm. Following that loss, the UFC decided not to re-sign the middleweight great to another contract, and soon after, Souza announced his retirement from the sport.
Pro fighters make their picks for Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley
Cole Shelton - August 26, 2021
In the main event of a Showtime boxing pay-per-view and on Fite TV on Sunday, brash YouTuber turned boxer, Jake Paul takes on Tyron Woodley. Heading into the fight, Paul is a -200 favorite while the former UFC welterweight champ is a +160 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the boxing match. To no surprise, all the MMA fighters polled are rooting for Woodley to pull off the upset but they all admit Paul is better than many give him credit for.