MMA News
Jake Paul believes once he hits Tyron Woodley he won't want to fight: "I'm too powerful"
Cole Shelton - June 17, 2021
Jake Paul believes he will make Tyron Woodley quit in their boxing match on August 28. Paul, the brash YouTuber turned boxer, is 3-0 as a pro and coming off a first-round KO win over Ben Askren. After the fight, Tyron Woodley, who was in Askren’s corner began to call him out. The fight ended up getting made and for Paul, he believes he will make quick work of the former UFC welterweight champion.
Jorge Masvidal eyes end of year return against top-five opponent, claims Leon Edwards is "not a fighter"
Cole Shelton - June 17, 2021
Jorge Masvidal is looking to return sometime in October or November against a top-five opponent. Masvidal is coming off back-to-back losses to Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title including losing by a vicious KO back at UFC 261. Although the losses are disappointing, “Gamebred” says he’s eager to return at the end of this year.
Jan Blachowicz credits Israel Adesanya for improved grappling against Marvin Vettori: "He did his homework"
Adam D Martin - June 17, 2021
UFC 205lbs champion Jan Blachowicz credited Israel Adesanya for improved grappling against Marvin Vettori, saying “he did his homework.” Blachowicz handed Adesanya his first loss in MMA back in March when he won a unanimous decision in a fight where Blachowicz took Adesanya down and controlled him on the mat. There were some who thought Blachowicz laid out the blueprint for how to beat Adesanya, but he showed improvements in his grappling game against Vettori at last Saturday’s UFC 263 in a unanimous decision win. Notably, there was one point in the fight where Vettori got Adesanya’s back, but he was able to explode out of the position and avoid danger.
Oscar De La Hoya vs. Vitor Belfort set for Triller exhibition boxing match
Adam D Martin - June 17, 2021
Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya will return to the ring when he takes on former UFC champion Vitor Belfort in an exhibition boxing match. Mike Coppinger of The Athletic was the first to report that De La Hoya vs. Belfort is on tap for the Triller Fight Club event scheduled for September 11 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will be an exhibition match and the fighters will wear 12-ounce gloves. As the scribe notes, the 48-year-old De La Hoya hasn’t fought since losing to Manny Pacquiao in 2008. The 44-year-old Belfort, meanwhile, hasn’t competed since losing to Lyoto Machida in the UFC in 2018, and his only pro boxing match came back in 2006, which he won by first-round KO.
Aleksei Oleinik believes experience is key against Serghei Spivac, eyes submission win
Cole Shelton - June 17, 2021
Aleksei Oleinik is set for his 76th professional MMA fight as he takes on Serghei Spivac in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 29. Oleinik is coming off of back-to-back knockout losses to Chris Daukaus and Derrick Lewis. He last fought back in February and after that fight, he went back to the gym and was looking to fight again in the summer. He ended up getting his wish and is eager for the opportunity to show his skills once again.
Anderson Silva says he spoke to Chris Weidman after he broke his leg at UFC 261, confident he'll return
Cole Shelton - June 17, 2021
Anderson Silva immediately knew what Chris Weidman was going through. On the main card of the stacked UFC 261 card, Weidman and Uriah Hall were having a rematch years in the making. It was an important fight for the middleweight division but on the first kick Weidman threw, his leg snapped just like Silva’s did against Weidman. Once the dust settled of the injury, the Brazilian reached out to Weidman and gave him some advice and support.
Pro fighters make their picks for Korean Zombie vs. Dan Ige
Cole Shelton - June 17, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 29, Korean Zombie takes on Dan Ige in a pivotal featherweight clash. It’s an evenly matched fight as the oddsmakers have it as a pure pick’em at -110 apiece. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority of pros believe it will be Korean Zombie getting his hand raised on Saturday night.
Claressa Shields says she wants to be the Bo Jackson of MMA and boxing: "I believe I am the greatest woman of all time"
Adam D Martin - June 17, 2021
PFL star Claressa Shields says she wants to be the Bo Jackson of MMA and boxing, saying that “I believe I am the greatest woman of all time.” Jackson was an incredible two-sport athlete who is still the only person to ever be named to a Pro Bowl team in the NFL and an All-Star team in MLB. Many consider Jackson to be one of the greatest athletes who ever lived, and many athletes have come up behind him who have wanted to accomplish what he did, which is being great at two professional sports. Of course, it’s hard enough to be an elite athlete in one sport, but Jackson proved you can be elite in two, and that’s exactly what Shields is hoping to do herself.
Kelvin Gastelum says Robert Whittaker has "real chance at regaining that middleweight title" from Israel Adesanya
Adam D Martin - June 17, 2021
UFC middleweight Kelvin Gastelum says Robert Whittaker has a “real chance at regaining that middleweight title” from champ Israel Adesanya. Gastelum has fought both Whittaker and Adesanya so he knows exactly what both men bring to the table. In the wake of Adesanya’s win over Marvin Vettori at UFC 263, which improved his record as a UFC middleweight to a perfect 10-0, the next fight to make for the 185lbs title seems to be Adesanya against Whittaker. And if you ask Gastelum what he thinks about that potential title fight, he thinks there’s a good chance the champ loses.
Max Holloway injured, out of UFC Fight Night matchup against Yair Rodriguez
Adam D Martin - June 17, 2021
Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is injured and out of his upcoming UFC Fight Night matchup against Yair Rodriguez. ESPN was the first to report that Holloway is injured and out of the fight with Rodriguez. According to the report, the UFC is hoping to reschedule the bout for a future fight card instead of finding someone to fill in on short notice against Rodriguez. With the Holloway vs. Rodriguez fight now off of the UFC’s July 17 card, the promotion will surely be looking to find a replacement headliner on one month’s notice.
Michel Pereira calls out Nate Diaz: "It would be a very good fight to watch"
Adam D Martin - June 17, 2021
UFC welterweight Michel Pereira called out Nate Diaz for a future matchup, suggesting that it would be a “very good fight” for the fans. Diaz is coming off of a unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 263, but he said that he hopes to get back into the Octagon in the next three or four months. If that’s the case, then Pereira would love to stare across the cage from him. Speaking to AG Fight in the days following the Diaz vs. Edwards fight, Pereira issued a public challenge to Diaz.
Former UFC fighter Erik Koch receives 18-month sanction for violating anti-doping policy
Harry Kettle - June 17, 2021
Former UFC fighter Erik Koch has been handed an 18-month suspension as a result of a doping violation. Koch, 32, has fought across a stretch of different weight classes over the years with his final bout in the Ultimate Fighting Championship coming in July 2019. On that night he beat Kyle Stewart via unanimous decision but as revealed a few months back, he is now no longer under contract with the UFC.
VIDEO | Sean Strickland gets into altercation with BJJ champ after 'dirty' move
Drake Riggs - June 16, 2021
Sean Strickland admittedly has a hot temper in the gym. Consistently bouncing from location to location, the rising middleweight contender recently went to RVCA for some grappling where he ran into BJJ ADCC world champion, Orlando Sanchez.
Dan Hooker hopes for Nate Diaz matchup at UFC 266, 'I'm fighting on that date'
Drake Riggs - June 16, 2021
Dan Hooker is ready to return to action. Nate Diaz made a highly anticipated return at UFC 263 this past Saturday night. In a non-title non-main event five-round welterweight clash with No. 3 ranked contender Leon Edwards, Diaz fell short via a lopsided unanimous decision.
Ramona Pascual ushering in fresh start after return victory and environmental changes
Drake Riggs - June 16, 2021
Ramona Pascual continues to put Hong Kong on the map with her goal of reaching the UFC firmly in mind. This past Friday saw the 32-year-old return from a two-year layoff at iKON 7. In doing so, Pascual put her opponent away in two minutes and 50 seconds with an Americana – her first submission win.
Korean Zombie welcoming a "brawl" against Dan Ige, knows a loss ends his time as a title contender
Cole Shelton - June 16, 2021
Korean Zombie knows his UFC Vegas 29 main event against Dan Ige is do-or-die for his time as a featherweight title contender. Zombie enters the fight coming off a loss to Brian Ortega on Fight Island in October. Had he won, he likely could’ve gotten a title shot but instead, he will face Ige. According to Korean Zombie, he says he didn’t know who the Hawaiian was until he fought Calvin Kattar but he’s expecting a brawl on Saturday.
Marlon Moraes vs. Merab Dvalishvili added to UFC 266
Adam D Martin - June 16, 2021
An exciting matchup between bantamweight contenders Marlon Moraes and Merab Dvalishvili has been added to the UFC 266 pay-per-view card. Ray Longo, Dvalishvili’s coach, broke the news on the Anik & Florian podcast that Moraes vs. Dvalishvili is going to take place this fall. The bout has been targeted to take place at UFC 266, which is set for September 25 at a location that has yet to be determined. The fight between Moraes vs. Dvalishvili features two of the top-10 ranked UFC bantamweights.
Deiveson Figueiredo issues statement following loss at UFC 263, promises to make another title run: "I will definitely work hard to win the belt again"
Adam D Martin - June 16, 2021
Former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo issued a statement following his loss at UFC 263 and he promised to make another title run. Figueiredo was stopped in the third round by a rear-naked choke from Brandon Moreno in the co-main event of this past Saturday night’s UFC 263 pay-per-view event. For Figueiredo, it was disappointing to lose his title, especially after he already fought Moreno to a draw in his last outing. The Brazilian struggled to make weight for the fight and then put on a flat performance, but he has already said that he plans on sticking around 125lbs and making another run for his title when he is able to return to the Octagon.