MMA News
Darren Till withdraws from fight with Marvin Vettori
Thomas Taylor - March 30, 2021
Middleweight contender Darren Till is out of his fight with Marvin Vettori, which was set to headline next Saturday’s UFC Vegas 23 event. Till announced this unfortunate news on Instagram on Tuesday afternoon.
Patricio Pitbull excited to "shut up" Emmanuel Sanchez and prove he's "the best fighter on the planet"
Cole Shelton - March 30, 2021
Patricio Pitbull knows he can’t just beat Emmanuel Sanchez in the main event of Bellator 255, but he has to finish him. Pitbull and Sanchez first met in 2018 with the Brazilian winning a decision. Since the fight, Sanchez has been campaigning for a rematch given he went the distance with the champ.
Miesha Tate explains why she came out of retirement to return to the UFC and fight Marion Reneau
Adam D Martin - March 30, 2021
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate explained why she came out of retirement to return to the UFC and fight Marion Reneau. Tate recently announced that she was coming out of a five-year retirement to take on Reneau in July, in what will actually be Reneau’s retirement fight. Speaking to Jim West and James Lynch on the “Victory Loves Company” podcast, Tate explained why she made the decision to leave her job with ONE Championship and make her return to the UFC.
Daniel Cormier encourages fans to appreciate UFC champions while they are still here
Adam D Martin - March 30, 2021
UFC legend Daniel Cormier encouraged fans to appreciate the sport’s champions while they are still here because they won’t be here forever. There has been a changing of the guard lately in the sport. Cormier himself, one of the sport’s all-time greats, retired last summer. Cormier’s teammate at American Kickboxing Academy, former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, recently hung up his gloves and retired from the sport. At UFC 260, Cormier’s longtime rival Stipe Miocic was knocked out by Francis Ngannou and could be contemplating retirement. The same goes for former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, who lost to Vicente Luque on the same card. With four straight losses, UFC president Dana White hinted Woodley is done.
Anderson Silva signs contract for Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. boxing match, date and venue set
Adam D Martin - March 30, 2021
Former UFC superstar Anderson Silva has signed his contract for the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. boxing match, and a date and venue are now set. It was recently reported that Silva would be taking his talents from the Octagon to the boxing ring when he takes on Chavez Jr., and now the fight is official. According to TMZ Sports, Silva has signed the contract for the fight against Chavez Jr., which will take place at Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 19. The event, which will be titled the “Tribute to the Kings,” will air live on pay-per-view.
Francis Ngannou sends a message to Jon Jones: Get ready for the biggest challenge of your life
Adam D Martin - March 30, 2021
UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou sent a message to Jon Jones, telling him to get ready for the biggest challenge of his life. Ngannou knocked out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 to capture the promotion’s heavyweight crown, and it’s expected that he fights Jones in his first title defense. Of course, Jones is currently involved in a public battle with UFC president Dana White over fighter pay, so it’s no sure thing that fight happens. But if you ask Ngannou, he wants the UFC to get the fight done because Jones is the man that he wants to see standing across the cage from him.
UFC continues roster cuts, four more fighters released
Harry Kettle - March 30, 2021
The UFC has continued to make roster cuts with four more fighters being released as we continue through the bizarre year that is 2021. UFC president Dana White issued the warning that fighters were going to be cut as recently as late last year. He made it clear that while the UFC is still the pinnacle of MMA competition, they need to trim down.
Vicente Luque: 'I wanted to fight Jorge Masvidal' until Kamaru Usman 'took' it from him
Drake Riggs - March 29, 2021
At UFC 260, Vicente Luque finished a former champion in the first round. Afterward, he was hoping to challenge the BMF himself. Unfortunately for Luque, Jorge Masvidal has now been granted a rematch with the current undisputed UFC welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman. Thus throwing a wrench in the Brazilian’s plan.
Sean O'Malley wants Dominick Cruz as co-main event to Poirier-McGregor 3 in July
Cole Shelton - March 29, 2021
Sean O’Malley is interested in fighting Dominick Cruz next. After O’Malley scored a third-round TKO win over Thomas Almeida at UFC 260, Cruz reportedly texted Chael Sonnen to say he is interested in a fight with ‘Sugar’. It is a matchup that makes sense and would be a very fun stylistic fight. For O’Malley, he says if the fight happens, he wants it to be the co-main event to Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 3 in July.
Rashad Evans suggests Jon Jones is doing things “backwards” in his attempt to negotiate with the UFC
Cole Shelton - March 29, 2021
Rashad Evans believes Jon Jones and his team should’ve handled his move to heavyweight much better. After Jones vacated his light heavyweight title, he said he would be moving up to heavyweight. The plan was to face the winner of Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou 2 this summer. However, after Ngannou became the new champ, Jones started to say the UFC needs to pay him what he wants. For Evans, he believes “Bones” gave up all his negotiating power by already vacating the belt and changing his body for a heavyweight move.
Sean O'Malley explains why he walked away after dropping Thomas Almeida in the first round
Cole Shelton - March 29, 2021
Sean O’Malley has an interesting reason as to why he didn’t finish Thomas Almeida in the first round. Early on in their UFC 260 fight, O’Malley was having a ton of success and landing heavy shots. Midway through the first round, he dropped the Brazilian with a left hand and walked away as he thought he had the walkoff KO. However, the ref didn’t stop the fight and it then took O’Malley until the third-round to get the TKO finish.
Chael Sonnen believes Jon Jones "doesn't want to fight" Francis Ngannou
Cole Shelton - March 29, 2021
Chael Sonnen doesn’t think Jon Jones truly wants to fight Francis Ngannou. In the lead-up to UFC 260, it was well known that the winner of Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou 2 would welcome Jon Jones to the heavyweight division. It would be a massive fight, but after UFC 260 ended, it became uncertain if Jones would fight Ngannou.
Alessio Di Chirico to return to the Octagon in June against Roman Dolidze
Alfredo Zullino - March 29, 2021
A middleweight encounter between Alessio Di Chirico (13-5 MMA, 4-5 UFC) and Roman Dolidze (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) is slated for later this summer, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation told BJPENN.com. The sources asked for anonymity since the news hasn’t been officially confirmed yet. No word on the official location.
Francis Ngannou issues statement following KO win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 260
Adam Martin - March 29, 2021
UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou issued a statement following his brutal second-round KO win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 260. Ngannou and Miocic met in the main event rematch this past Saturday night at UFC 260 in Las Vegas. Though Miocic won the first fight at UFC 220 in 2018, Ngannou dominated the rematch, showing improved takedown defense and then scoring the knockout in the second. It was an incredible knockout by Ngannou and now he’s the champion. Now, following his title fight victory, “The Predator” has issued a statement on his victory.
Daniel Cormier says Jon Jones is not afraid of Francis Ngannou
Adam Martin - March 29, 2021
Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier came to the defense of longtime rival Jon Jones, saying he is not scared of fighting Francis Ngannou. Ngannou knocked out Cormier’s other rival Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 260 this past weekend to capture the UFC heavyweight title. Following the fight, UFC president Dana White suggested that Jones should move down to 185lbs and that he’s scared of fighting Ngannou. Ever since then, Jones has taken to social media to vent his frustrations with the UFC and with White following his comments. Jones has gone on to say that he hopes that the UFC just releases him so that he can move on with his fighting career.
Joe Rogan believes Stipe Miocic may retire after UFC 260 KO loss: "It could be the end of a long and storied career"
Cole Shelton - March 29, 2021
Joe Rogan thinks there is a chance UFC 260 was the final time Stipe Miocic competes. In the main event of the pay-per-view card, Miocic fought Francis Ngannou three years after he dominated the first fight to defend his heavyweight title. However, in the rematch, Ngannou showed off his improved takedown defense and sprawling abilities. On the feet, he was landing heavy shots and in the second round, after dropping Miocic, he landed a clean shot that put the heavyweight champ out cold.
Bellator releases inaugural rankings, Patricio Pitbull and Cris Cyborg top P4P lists
Adam Martin - March 29, 2021
Bellator released its inaugural rankings and Patricio Pitbull and Cris Cyborg have topped the promotion’s pound-for-pound rankings lists. Bellator announced the first-ever edition of its promotional fighter rankings on Monday. 17 media members voted on the Bellator rankings, and you can see them all below.
Jon Jones asks the UFC to "please just cut me already"
Adam Martin - March 29, 2021
UFC superstar Jon Jones took to social media on Monday afternoon and asked the world’s leading MMA promotion to release him from his deal. Jones and the UFC are currently going head-to-head over a potential Francis Ngannou superfight. Jones announced last summer that he would be moving up to heavyweight in 2021, and UFC president Dana White teased that he would be next in line to fight the winner of Ngannou vs. Stipe Miocic at UFC 260, which turned out to be Ngannou. However, after the event was over, White insinuated that Jones was scared of moving up to heavyweight to fight Ngannou and instead suggested he move down to middleweight.