MMA News
Andre Fili returns against Daniel Pineda at Fight Night card on June 26
Cole Shelton - June 11, 2021
Andre Fili will be back in action on June 26. Multiple sources have informed BJPENN.com that a featherweight bout between Fili and Daniel Pineda will take place on June 26 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Contracts on both sides have been signed sources revealed.
UFC 266: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira gets new date, Jessica Andrade vs. Cynthia Calvillo added to card
Adam D Martin - June 11, 2021
The upcoming UFC 266: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira PPV card has a new date, and Jessica Andrade vs. Cynthia Calvillo has been added to the event. UFC 266 was originally targeted for September 4, but the event has now been moved to September 25. No location or venue was announced. Carlos Contreras Legaspi of ESPN Deportes was the first to report the date, as well as the addition of the Andrade vs. Calvillo fight to the card. In addition to the Blachowicz vs. Texeira UFC light heavyweight title fight in the main event, there have been whispers the UFC featherweight title fight between TUF 29 coaches Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega may also be added to this card.
UFC 263 weigh-in results: Israel Adesanya and Deiveson Figueiredo both on weight, title fights official
Adam D Martin - June 11, 2021
The official weigh-ins for UFC 263 took place on Friday in Glendale, Arizona, and 27 of the 28 fighters scheduled to compete made weight. In the main event of the evening, UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya puts his belt on the line when he takes on rival Marvin Vettori in a rematch. Adesanya came in at 183.5 while Vettori came in at 185 and this title fight is now official for Saturday night.
Colby Covington trashes Leon Edwards for fighting Nate Diaz: "He likes to pick these easy fights with these guys that aren’t even relevant to the division"
Adam D Martin - June 11, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington trashed Leon Edwards for fighting Nate Diaz on Saturday at UFC 263, saying he picks “easy fights.” Edwards and Diaz meet for five rounds or less in the first non-title, non-main event five-round fight in UFC history. UFC president Dana White has already confirmed this matchup has high stakes, with the winner of the bout being next in line to fight for the UFC welterweight title, but only after Covington gets his shot at the champ Kamaru Usman first.
Patricio Pitbull vs. AJ McKee set for Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix finals this summer
Adam D Martin - June 11, 2021
Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull vs. AJ McKee is set for the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix finals this summer. Pitbull and McKee will meet on July 30 on Showtime, according to MMAFighting.com, with Pitbull’s 145lbs belt and the $1 million tournament grand prize up for grabs. The venue and location for the event have not been determined yet, although Bellator has been holding all of its shows at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Uncasville, Connecticut during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it’s possible the promotion could look to book this fight somewhere else where more fans will be allowed to attend since it’s such a big fight for the promotion.
Chris Weidman says he is back in the gym following leg break at UFC 261: "It felt so good to be back in the gym"
Adam D Martin - June 11, 2021
Chris Weidman says he is back in the gym following the leg break incident at UFC 261, saying that “it felt so good to be back in the gym.” Weidman broke his leg on a Uriah Hall checked kick at UFC 261 in April in one of the nastiest injuries we have ever seen inside the Octagon. Amazingly, Weidman is now back in the gym and he even says he’s doing some boxing. Speaking to Michael Bisping on the “Believe You Me” podcast, Weidman said that he got back in the gym to move around and said that he ended up doing some boxing play sparring with some of the other guys there.
Marvin Vettori blasts "fake" Israel Adesanya ahead of UFC 263 rematch: "I get to beat his ass and get his belt"
Adam D Martin - June 11, 2021
Marvin Vettori blasted “fake” Israel Adesanya ahead of their UFC 263 rematch, saying he’s excited “to beat his ass and get his belt.” Vettori and Adesanya meet on Saturday night in the main event of UFC 263 with Adesanya’s middleweight title on the line. Ahead of the fight, the two got into an altercation at the fighter hotel earlier this week. Speaking to TMZ Sports, Vettori shed more like on his run-in with Adesanya, explaining why the champ is “fake” for the cameras.
Francis Ngannou wants Jon Jones next, not Derrick Lewis: "I love that fight"
Adam D Martin - June 11, 2021
UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is still holding out hope that he will fight Jon Jones next and not Derrick Lewis. Ngannou knocked out Stipe Miocic in March at UFC 260 to become the new heavyweight champion of the world. For his first title defense he was fully expected to fight Jones, but the UFC and Jones have not been able to come to terms on a new contract for this heavyweight superfight. With Jones temporarily out of the picture, UFC president Dana White has confirmed that Lewis will be next in line for a belt coming off of a KO win over Curtis Blaydes. The plan is for them to headline UFC 265 in August in Houston, Texas.
PFL 4 Results: Claressa Shields earns a third-round TKO victory in her MMA debut (Video)
Harry Kettle - June 11, 2021
Boxing star Claressa Shields made a successful debut in mixed martial arts with a TKO win at PFL 4 last night. There was a whole lot of speculation heading into last night’s event with regards to how Shields would look at this level. Some felt as if she’d blow through Brittney Elkin, who was 3-6 coming into the fight, but others recognised that having nine fights more than your opponent in MMA is always going to serve as a helping hand – even with a 3-6 record.
Nate Diaz smokes a joint at UFC 263 press conference, offers Brandon Moreno a hit (Video)
Cole Shelton - June 10, 2021
Nate Diaz was up to his usual tricks at the UFC 263 press conference. While most of the questions were towards Israel Adesanya and Marvin Vettori, Diaz sat back in his seat and started to smoke a joint. Of course, with the Arizona commission, you can smoke marijuana all you want as long as you don’t show up to the fight impaired so Diaz took full advantage of it.
Nate Diaz says UFC 263 scrap against Leon Edwards is "the title" fight
Cole Shelton - June 10, 2021
Nate Diaz says he feels like he’s fighting for the title on Saturday night at UFC 263. Diaz will return to the Octagon in a five-round welterweight scrap against Leon Edwards. It’s an intriguing matchup and one that was a surprise for many as Edwards isn’t the type of big name draw that Diaz is used to fighting. However, for the Stockton native, he says he wanted to fight the best fighter and that is what Edwards is.
Marvin Vettori suggests he's a “superior fighter”, Israel Adesanya responds with bold prediction
Cole Shelton - June 10, 2021
Marvin Vettori believes he’s a much better fighter than Israel Adesanya. In the main event of UFC 263, Adesanya and Vettori will rematch in the same arena where they fought back in 2018 with ‘Stylebender’ winning a split decision. It was a close fight which makes the rematch intriguing and ahead of the scrap, Vettori wants it known that he is the much better fighter.
Diego Sanchez hints at potential move to boxing
Adam D Martin - June 10, 2021
Former Ultimate Fighter winner Diego Sanchez says his fighting career is not over and he is now hinting at a future in the world of boxing. Sanchez was recently released by the UFC following a disagreement between his former coach/manager Joshua Fabia and the promotion regarding the release of medical documents. The UFC decided to let him go and paid off the final fight of his contract, which was supposed to be a welterweight bout against Donald Cerrone. Sanchez later severed ties with Fabia, but he is still technically a free agent now. There is still the possibility things could work out with the UFC now that Fabia is out of the picture, but more than likely it seems like Sanchez will have to go to another promotion, or perhaps another sport.
Joe Rogan praises the boxing skills of Jake Paul: "Jake throws things straight and hard"
Adam D Martin - June 10, 2021
UFC color commentator Joe Rogan praised of Jake Paul, saying that “Jake throws things straight and hard.” Paul takes on former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley on August 28 in a professional boxing match. Paul is coming off of a huge TKO win over Ben Askren which earned him this big opportunity against Woodley, who was recently released from the UFC following the end of his last contract. Paul vs. Woodley is expected to be one of the biggest combat sports events of the summer and it should be a very exciting fight regardless of what happens. And if you ask Rogan, it’s going to be a very competitive boxing match.
Steven Peterson expects to KO Chase Hooper in the first round: "Just totally beat him down with violence"
Cole Shelton - June 10, 2021
Steven Peterson asked for Chase Hooper and he got his wish. Back in January, Peterson revealed to BJPENN.com he was out of his February 6 fight against Seung Woo Choi due to an injury. However, during the interview, he called out Hooper, yet, he didn’t expect the UFC to give him that fight. But, he got his wish as he’ll face the grappling ace at UFC 263.
Matt Frevola believes Ottman Azaitar had IVs to "hide the steroids he's on," plans to give him "a beating he deserves"
Cole Shelton - June 10, 2021
Matt Frevola had a crazy 2020 as he had three canceled fights due to COVID-19 and Frevola fracturing his foot. He was then set to return at UFC 257 but his 2021 also got off to a hectic start. Frevola was set to face Ottman Azaitar at UFC 257 in a highly-anticipated bout. However, on the day of weigh-ins, it was revealed Azaitar was out of the fight due to sneaking people into Fight Island. He ended up having to fight Arman Tsarukyan which he says is a fight he wants back.
Video | Nate Diaz heads to Arizona for UFC 263 with the Skrap Pack
Adam D Martin - June 10, 2021
UFC welterweight superstar Nate Diaz posted a video of him heading to Arizona for UFC 263 along with the rest of his team the Skrap Pack. Diaz takes on Leon Edwards on the UFC 263 pay-per-view main card. It’s the first fight in UFC history that is a non-title, non-main event that is set for five rounds. Both Diaz and Edwards are two of the best in the game and this should be a very exciting fight. UFC president Dana White has already confirmed that the winner of the fight will get a future welterweight title shot after Colby Covington gets his against champion Kamaru Usman.
UFC Vegas 28 rankings update: Santiago Ponzinibbio in at welterweight, Robbie Lawler and Khamzat Chimaev removed
Adam D Martin - June 10, 2021
UFC welterweight Santiago Ponzinibbio is back in the top-15 rankings at welterweight, while Robbie Lawler and Khamzat Chimaev were removed. Ponzinibbio defeated Miguel Baeza at UFC Vegas 28 via unanimous decision in a “Fight of the Night” performance by both men. It was an incredible fight, and Ponzinibbio is now being rewarded with a top-15 ranking once again. He has in fact re-entered the welterweight rankings at No. 13, and Muslim Salikhov broke into the top-15 at No. 15 following his unanimous decision win over Francisco Trinaldo last weekend as well.