MMA News
Jorge Masvidal shares his predictions for UFC 263, including a Nate Diaz win over Leon Edwards
Christopher Taylor - June 11, 2021
Jorge Masvidal has shared his predictions for tomorrow night’s UFC 263 event, including a Nate Diaz victory over Leon Edwards. Masvidal (35-15 MMA), the promotions inaugural BMF champion, is coming off back-to-back title fight losses to reigning UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in his most recent efforts.
UFC 263: ‘Adesanya vs Vettori 2’ Live Results and Highlights
Chris Taylor - June 11, 2021
The Octagon returns to Arizona for tonight’s UFC 263 event, a fourteen-bout fight card headlined by a rematch between Israel Adesanya and Marvin Vettori. Adesanya (20-1 MMA) and Vettori (17-4-1 MMA) originally collided in April of 2018, with the promotions reigning middleweight champion emerging victorious by way of split decision.
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.
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.
Brian Maxwell believes he would've beat Chad Johnson if it was judged, says he plans on training with 'Ochocino' ahead of BKFC return
Cole Shelton - June 11, 2021
Brian Maxwell didn’t really believe he was fighting Chad Johnson until fight week came along. Maxwell, a combat sports veteran, was messaged out of the blue to box the NFL Pro Bowler of the Mayweather-Paul undercard. It was surreal for Maxwell, but he says even though it was a massive fight, he wasn’t nervous.
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.
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.
Leon Edwards sounds off on Covington vs Usman 2: “I don’t know how Dana's justifying giving Colby the title shot next”
Harry Kettle - June 11, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards has questioned the logic of Colby Covington getting the next shot at Kamaru Usman. Ever since losing to Usman back in December 2015, Edwards has gone on a phenomenal run that saw him win eight fights in a row prior to his unfortunate no contest against Belal Muhammad. On the flip side, Covington bounced back from a brutal loss to Usman at UFC 245 with a TKO victory over rival Tyron Woodley.
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.
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.
Israel Adesanya says Kamaru Usman "inspired" him to beat Marvin Vettori again, plans to "shut him down"
Cole Shelton - June 10, 2021
Israel Adesanya admits he wasn’t too interested in fighting Marvin Vettori again. Adesanya and Vettori fought back in 2018 with Adesanya winning a split decision win. Since then, Vettori claimed he won the scrap and was eager for the rematch. Now that they are set to meet in the main event of UFC 263 the rivalry between the two have gotten intense including a hotel run-in. Yet, according to “The Last Stylebender” he says Vettori wasn’t as loud as he was in person.
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.
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.
UFC 263 | Pro fighters make their picks for Leon Edwards vs. Nate Diaz
Cole Shelton - June 10, 2021
In a very intriguing five-round welterweight bout at UFC 263, Leon Edwards welcomes back fan favorite Nate Diaz. Heading into the fight, Edwards is the biggest favorite on the card at -600 while the Stockton native is a +450 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. To no surprise, the majority believe Edwards will get his hand raised as many don’t see a path to victory for Diaz.