MMA News
Photo | Kamaru Usman looks absolutely massive ahead of UFC 261 rematch with Jorge Masvidal
Harry Kettle - March 25, 2021
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman appears to be in the best shape of his career heading into his UFC 261 rematch against Jorge Masvidal. “The Nigerian Nightmare” was able to defeat “Gamebred” last summer on Fight Island to retain his belt in a short-notice fight, and now, they’ll be locking horns again in an absolutely vital fight for the welterweight division.
James Krause invites Julia Avila to train with him after she was kicked out of her gym
Adam D Martin - March 25, 2021
UFC welterweight James Krause invited women’s bantamweight fighter Julia Avila to train with him after she was kicked out of her gym. It’s been a tough week for Avila, to say the least. “Raging Panda” was supposed to fight at UFC Vegas 22 last Saturday, but the fight was scratched during the weigh-ins when her opponent, Julija Stoliarenko, fainted twice on the scale. Not only did Avila’s fight fall off, but she also took to social media the next day to announce that she had been booted out of her gym, the Oklahoma Martial Arts Academy, though she didn’t explain why she had been kicked out of the gym. Regardless, Avila is now looking for a new gym to call home.
Miesha Tate gunning for rematch with Amanda Nunes: "I’d love to run that one back"
Adam D Martin - March 25, 2021
Miesha Tate is coming out of retirement and her goal is to land a rematch with UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes. Tate announced on Wednesday that she is ending her nearly-five year retirement from MMA and is returning to the Octagon this summer when she takes on Marion Reneau. Following a 2016 loss to Raquel Pennington at UFC 205, Tate decided to hang up her gloves and start a family. She also worked for ONE Championship during that time. However, once COVID-19 hit, Tate moved her family back to Las Vegas. It appears as though being around the fight game in Vegas got her fighting spirit back and now she’s coming back.
Neil Magny shuts down Khamzat Chimaev’s request to fight in July
Adam D Martin - March 25, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Neil Magny shut down Khamzat Chimaev’s request to fight in July, saying that Chimaev should get healthy first. Chimaev announced this week that he will be returning to the Octagon this summer, and he’s already been busy calling out Magny again. Chimaev is hoping to get a fight with someone ranked near the top-10 and Magny is available. Hopefully, Chimaev has been ill with COVID-19 for the last few months and he hasn’t been able to fight. Now that there is light at the end of the tunnel and he plans on making his return this summer, he’s looking to make a splash in his comeback, and beating a veteran like Magny qualifies as doing that.
Sean O'Malley on Casey Kenney-Megan Anderson comments: 'You can't let someone else's words effect how you feel emotionally'
Drake Riggs - March 24, 2021
Ahead of Casey Kenney’s last fight with Dominick Cruz, he made some controversial remarks about Megan Anderson on Sean O’Malley’s podcast. Getting ready to get back in action himself this weekend at UFC 260, O’Malley briefly reflected on the incident that happened on his show.
Craig Jones puts career on the line in intergender grappling match with Gabi Garcia
Drake Riggs - March 24, 2021
Gabi Garcia has been looking for a challenge lately. Well, her call has been answered in the form of Craig Jones who puts his career on the line. When it comes to the world’s absolute best jiu-jitsu practitioners, regardless of gender, Garcia and Jones are at the top of the mountain.
Stipe Miocic says Francis Ngannou "won’t be champ until I’m done"
Cole Shelton - March 24, 2021
Stipe Miocic expects to defend his belt once again against Francis Ngannou. In the main event of UFC 260, Miocic and Ngannou will rematch three years after the champ dominated ‘The Predator’ at UFC 220. Entering the fight, the talk was Ngannou would knock Miocic out early, but the champ used his wrestling to control and dominate the fight and win a decision.
Tyron Woodley plans to go "out on top" despite recent skid: "I’m a better fighter than all of them"
Cole Shelton - March 24, 2021
Tyron Woodley knows he is better than all three of the fighters he has lost to in his last three fights. During his skid, Woodley lost his belt to Kamaru Usman by decision and then suffered a decision loss to Gilbert Burns and a fifth-round TKO loss to Colby Covington. However, Woodley believes he hasn’t been performing to the best of his ability but still plans on retiring on top of the welterweight division.
Khamzat Chimaev eyes July return against Neil Magny, plans to train with alligators
Cole Shelton - March 24, 2021
Khamzat Chimaev is planning to return to the Octagon in July and will have a unique training style in preparation for it. After Chimaev was forced out of his March 13 main event against Leon Edwards due to lingering COVID-19 effects, he announced his retirement from the sport. However, on Tuesday, he revealed he is coming back. He also wants Neil Magny in his return, according to his manager, Ali Abdelaziz.
Gillian Robertson opens up on pulling out of UFC 258, expects to submit Miranda Maverick in a "statement" win
Cole Shelton - March 24, 2021
Gillian Robertson is glad she is fighting Miranda Maverick. At UFC 258, Robertson and Maverick were expected to fight in an intriguing matchup. However, on the day of the event, Robertson was forced out of the fight due to her being sick. She believes it was caused by food poisoning and not due to her weight cut or COVID-19.
Miesha Tate ends retirement, meets Marion Reneau on July 17
Cole Shelton - March 24, 2021
Miesha Tate is back. The former UFC women’s bantamweight champion is ending her retirement to fight Marion Reneau on July 17. The event does not have a name and no location was announced. ESPN was the first to report the news of the booking. It’s uncertain if Tate will make another run or of this will be a one-off fight.
Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier set for commentary booth at UFC 260
Adam Martin - March 24, 2021
Joe Rogan and former UFC champion Daniel Cormier will join Jon Anik in the booth for this Saturday night’s UFC 260 pay-per-view event. Rogan and Cormier have both sat alongside Anik during the last couple of pay-per-view cards, so it’s no surprise to see them both back in the booth alongside the stalwart UFC commentator Anik. Both Rogan and Cormier are two of the most popular commentators the UFC has and the promotion likes having this three-man booth alongside Anik for PPV cards.
UFC 260 | Pro fighters make their picks for Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - March 24, 2021
In the main event of UFC 260, Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou are set to rematch three years after their first fight. Heading into the bout, Miocic is a +100 underdog while the challenger is a -120 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros are torn on this but the slight majority believe Ngannou beats Miocic this time around.
Hannah Goldy tests positive for COVID-19, fight with Jessica Penne at UFC 260 off
Adam D Martin - March 24, 2021
UFC women’s strawweight prospect Hannah Goldy tested positive for COVID-19 and her fight with Jessica Penne at UFC 260 is now off. Hannah Goldy hasn’t fought since August 2019, while Penne hasn’t competed since April 2017, so both women were very much looking forward to stepping back into the Octagon again. Unfortunately, they are both going to have to wait a little bit longer to do so. On Wednesday, Goldy announced on her Instagram that she has tested positive for COVID-19. The Florida native says she is hoping the fight with Penne is rescheduled for a future date.
Justin Gaethje upset he was passed over for title shot, says he's everything Dana White wants in a fighter
Adam D Martin - March 24, 2021
UFC lightweight Justin Gaethje is upset that he was passed over for a title shot, saying that he’s everything Dana White wants in a fighter. The UFC recently announced that Michael Chandler will take on Charles Oliveira for the vacant title at UFC 262 on May 15 in Houston, Texas. Although Chandler and Oliveira are tremendous fighters and deserving of fighting for the belt, many fans and media were surprised when Gaethje was passed over. After all, Gaethje was the interim champ not that long ago, and his only recent loss came against UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov. Gaethje is ranked higher than Chandler and Oliveira, so many figured that he would be in the running to fight for the title shot. But the UFC chose to go in another direction instead.
Ronaldo Souza returns to the Octagon at UFC 262 against Andre Muniz
Adam D Martin - March 24, 2021
An intriguing middleweight matchup between former Strikeforce champion Ronaldo Souza and Andre Muniz has been added to the UFC 262 PPV card. UFC 262 takes place on May 15 in Houston, Texas with a full crowd of fans. The main event for the evening sees the vacant UFC lightweight title up for grabs between Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira. In addition to Oliviera, another grappling ace will compete on the pay-per-view card as Souza returns to the Octagon when he takes on Muniz, a Dana White’s Contender Series veteran who has looked sharp so far in the UFC with two victories. The Souza vs. Muniz fight was first reported by Raphael Marinho of Combate.
Belal Muhammad open to fighting Demian Maia if Leon Edwards rematch falls through
Adam D Martin - March 24, 2021
UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad says that he’s open to fighting the legend Demian Maia if he doesn’t get the rematch with Leon Edwards. Muhammad and Edwards recently fought in the main event of UFC Vegas 21, with the fight being booked on short notice. Unfortunately, the fight ended in a controversial fashion when Edwards poked Muhammad in the eye and he was unable to continue. The fight was ruled a No Contest by referee Herb Dean, but Muhammad wants to run it back. Edwards is hoping to get a title shot next, but Muhammad is adamant that they have the rematch.
Jack Hermansson shares interesting theory on Kevin Holland’s in-cage trash talking: “It feels like it’s some kind of self-therapy”
Harry Kettle - March 24, 2021
UFC middleweight Jack Hermansson has given his thoughts on Kevin Holland’s in-cage trash talking after the latter’s loss to Derek Brunson. Holland left plenty of fans feeling pretty confused last weekend during his showdown with Brunson as his main focus seemed to be on maintaining his reputation of “Big Mouth.” Alas, while some found it funny, others felt as if he wasn’t taking the fight seriously at all.