MMA News
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 46 with Vicente Luque, Casey Kenney, Alonzo Menifield, and Ode Osbourne
Cole Shelton - August 3, 2021
The 46th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC 265. We’re first joined by sixth-ranked UFC welterweight, Vicente Luque (2:31) joins the show. Next, UFC bantamweight, Casey Kenney (14:32) comes on. UFC light heavyweight, Alonzo Menifield (25:56) then joins the program. Closing out the show is UFC flyweight, Ode Osbourne (36:23).
Dustin Poirier hints that a win over UFC champion Charles Oliveira could result in his retirement
Christopher Taylor - August 2, 2021
Dustin Poirier is expected to be the first fighter to challenge newly crowned UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. After falling short in his effort to dethrone former lightweight kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242, ‘The Diamond’ has since gone on to win three fights in a row.
Rafael dos Anjos set to take on Islam Makhachev in October, 'Islam doesn't want to fight five rounds'
Drake Riggs - August 2, 2021
Islam Makhachev is officially set for his biggest fight yet as he and Rafael dos Anjos have been rebooked for an October showdown. ESPN broke the news on Monday that the pair of ranked lightweights are set to compete at UFC 267 on October 30 in Abu Dhabi. They were originally scheduled to clash twice in 2020. The first being for October only to fall through due to dos Anjos contracting COVID-19. Makhachev was then forced out with an injury when rebooked for a month later.
Coach believes AJ McKee and Patricio Pitbull should rematch in Brazil
Drake Riggs - August 2, 2021
AJ McKee is the new Bellator featherweight king. Bellator 263 this past Saturday night saw the 26-year old crowned to close out the 145-pound one-million-dollar Grand Prix. To do so, McKee put away the greatest fighter in promotional history, Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, in just a single round.
Paulo Costa set to headline Fight Night card against Marvin Vettori in October
Cole Shelton - August 2, 2021
Paulo Costa will make his return to the Octagon in October. Costa was supposed to fight Jared Cannonier in August but he withdrew from the fight due to undisclosed reasons. Since then, he has been taking shots at Marvin Vettori and according to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, the two have agreed to headline a Fight Night card on October 23. There is no location listed, but it’s likely it will take place at the UFC Apex.
Dustin Poirier after checking Conor McGregor's kicks at UFC 264: "Never before have I left fight week and been sore on my actual bone"
Chris Taylor - August 2, 2021
Dustin Poirier admittedly felt the effects of Conor McGregor’s leg kicks after UFC 264, suggesting that he had never left a fight week so sore. Poirier and McGregor collided for a third time in the headliner of last months UFC pay-per-view event, with ‘The Diamond’ once again emerging victorious. While the fight only last one round, ‘The Diamond’ says the leg kicks he received from ‘Notorious’ during their trilogy definitely left a mark.
What's next for Sean Strickland and Uriah Hall after UFC Vegas 33?
Cole Shelton - August 2, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 33, top-15 middleweights collided as Sean Strickland took on Uriah Hall. Strickland entered the fight riding a four-fight winning streak including being 3-0 since making his return to middleweight after a motorcycle accident. He also was 17-0 at middleweight entering the fight. Hall, meanwhile, was also on a four-fight winning skid and he was looking to cement himself as a legit middleweight contender once again.
Watch Nick Diaz's live reaction to his brother Nate rocking Leon Edwards at UFC 263
Chris Taylor - August 2, 2021
Nick Diaz was in attendance to watch his younger brother Nate battle Leon Edwards in a five-round welterweight contest at June’s UFC 263 event. Nate (20-13 MMA) was returning to action that evening for the first time since suffering a TKO loss (doctors stoppage) to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244 in November of 2019.
Showtime announces undercard for Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley
Chris Taylor - August 2, 2021
Showtime officials announced the undercard for Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley on Monday, a lineup which includes Tommy Fury vs. Anthony Taylor. Paul (3-0), a famous YouTuber turned boxer, and Woodley (0-0), a former UFC welterweight champion, will square off in a boxing match on August 29 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
Video | 3 on 1 MMA match in Poland turns out exactly how you would expect
Harry Kettle - August 2, 2021
If you want to watch something utterly mad happen in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), heading to Poland is probably a good idea. In addition to KSW, often regarded as one of the best MMA promotions in Europe, Poland is the home of some really wacky events. From celebrities squaring off to new innovations previously never seen before at the elite level, they’re always looking to find interesting ways of reinventing the sport.
Conor McGregor set to compete in charity wheelchair boxing match on September 11th
Harry Kettle - August 2, 2021
Conor McGregor is set to return to his Dublin roots in order to compete in a charity wheelchair boxing match. Just a few short weeks ago McGregor competed in the main event of UFC 264 against Dustin Poirier as their thrilling trilogy came to an end. Despite the Irishman coming forward with real purpose, he ultimately came up short as a result of a broken leg in the dying seconds of the first round.
BJ Penn details terrifying near-death experience after being trapped inside of a wave pool tank
Christopher Taylor - August 1, 2021
UFC legend BJ Penn took to social media earlier today where he detailed a previous near-death experience after being trapped inside of wave pool tank. The former two-division UFC champion recounted the harrowing incident on Instagram.
Scott Coker challenges Dana White to UFC and Bellator cross-promotion fight with AJ McKee
Adam Martin - August 1, 2021
Bellator president Scott Coker challenged UFC president Dana White to a UFC and Bellator cross-promotion fight with AJ McKee. McKee finished Patricio Pitbull in the main event of Bellator 263 on Saturday night to become the promotions new’s 145lbs champion and the winner of the $1 million grand prize. Just 26 years old, McKee is now a perfect 18-0 in MMA. By taking out Pitbull, who is one of the best featherweights in the world, it showed that “The Mercenary” is one of the best at 145lbs regardless of promotion. McKee is so good, in fact, that Coker believes he matches up well against the best featherweights that the UFC has to offer, including current UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and past champ Max Holloway.
Quinton Jackson could make MMA comeback, hints Bellator champ AJ McKee
Adam Martin - August 1, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson could make an MMA comeback, hinted Bellator new Bellator featherweight champ, AJ McKee. McKee defeated Patricio Pitbull via first-round submission on Saturday night in the main event of Bellator 263 to claim the promotion’s 145lbs title, and the $1 million grand prize for winning the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix sixteen-man tournament. Now a perfect 18-0 in MMA, McKee appears to be a superstar for Bellator for years to come. It hasn’t come out of anywhere either, as the son of former UFC fighter Antonio McKee was always considered a natural in mixed martial arts, training under his veteran father.
Sean Strickland breaks down potential future UFC middleweight title fight against Israel Adesanya
Adam Martin - August 1, 2021
Top-ranked contender Sean Strickland broke down how a potential future UFC middleweight title fight against champion Israel Adesanya would go. Strickland defeated Uriah Hall in the main event of UFC Vegas 33 via unanimous decision to earn the biggest win of his career and jump into the top-10 at 185lbs. Ever since returning from a potentially life-threatening motorcycle accident last fall as a middleweight, Strickland has looked absolutely exceptional. He defeated Jack Marshman in his middleweight debut in a memorable fight that involved plenty of trash-talking, then he knocked out top prospect Brendan Allen, beat veteran Krzysztof Jotko, and then beat Hall to pick up the biggest win of his career and get one step closer to fighting for the belt.
Anthony Johnson vs. Vadim Nemkov, Ryan Bader vs. Corey Anderson set for fall Bellator event
Adam Martin - August 1, 2021
Light heavyweight bouts featuring Anthony Johnson vs. Vadim Nemkov and Ryan Bader vs. Corey Anderson have been set for a fall Bellator event. ESPN’s Marc Raimondi was the first to report that Johnson vs. Nemkov and Bader vs. Anderson will take place on October 16 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The Johnson vs. Nemkov fight will be for the promotion’s 205lbs belt that Nemkov currently possesses, while the winner of Bader vs. Anderson will meet the winner of the Johnson vs. Nemkov fight next year to crown a tournament winner and the new champion at 205lbs.
Sean Strickland says it would make him "super happy" to kill someone in the UFC
Adam D Martin - August 1, 2021
Top-ranked middleweight contender Sean Strickland says it would make him “super happy” to kill someone in the UFC during one of his fights. Strickland defeated former teammate Uriah Hall via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Vegas 33 on Saturday night. In the first five-round fight of his UFC career, Strickland used his jab to piece up Hall over the course of 25 minutes, while also mixing up power strikes and takedowns to seal the deal and pick up the biggest win of his career. With five straight victories, including a perfect 4-0 record in the UFC middleweight division, it is clear that Strickland is one of the best fighters in the world at his weight class, and he hopes to continue fighting bigger and better opponents. But for Strickland, what really makes him happy more than anything is just going in the Octagon and hurting people.
Nina Nunes announces she and Amanda Nunes have tested negative for COVID-19
Adam D Martin - August 1, 2021
Women’s strawweight Nina Nunes announced that she and her wife, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, tested negative for COVID-19. Amanda Nunes was scheduled to fight rival Julianna Pena in the co-main event of UFC 265 next Saturday night at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, but the fight was scratched this week after Nunes was forced to withdraw due to a positive COVID-19 test. According to the UFC, the plan is for the promotion to rebook Nunes vs. Pena later this year for the women’s 135lbs belt, with December being thrown around as a potential date. But according to Nina Nunes, she and her wife have tested negative for COVID-19 and are already feeling better.