MMA News
Manager reveals alleged contents of infamous Ottman Azaitar duffle bag: "It was potatoes"
Tom Taylor - March 4, 2021
In January, lightweight prospect Ottman Azaitar was briefly released by the UFC after violating the safety protocols of the promotion’s Fight Island bubble. According to the reports that emerged at the time, Azaitar had been caught attempting to smuggle a bag into the Fight Island safety zone. The contents of that bag, however, have remained a mystery ever since.
Megan Anderson explains why she's the fighter to beat Amanda Nunes
Tom Taylor - March 4, 2021
Megan Anderson believes she has the skills to defeat two-division UFC champion and pound-for-pound queen Amanda Nunes at UFC 259 this weekend. Anderson will challenge Nunes for the featherweight title in one of three title fights on the UFC 259 bill. While she will enter the cage as a gargantuan underdog, she feels well-positioned to pull off a historic upset.
RIZIN boss interested in "working with" Alistair Overeem
Tom Taylor - March 4, 2021
RIZIN CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara is interested in working with heavyweight mixed martial arts legend Alistair Overeem. Overeem, the former DREAM, Strikeforce and K-1 heavyweight champion, has spent the recent years of his illustrious career fighting for the UFC, but was released by the promotion earlier this week.
UFC 259 | Pro fighters make their picks for Amanda Nunes vs Megan Anderson title fight
Cole Shelton - March 4, 2021
In the co-main event of UFC 259, Amanda Nunes is set to defend her featherweight title as she battles Megan Anderson. Heading into the fight, Nunes is a massive -1000 favorite while the challenger is a +600 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros believe Nunes gets the job done and likely does so by stoppage.
Video | Dana White shares incredible preview for Saturday’s UFC 259 pay-per-view event
Harry Kettle - March 4, 2021
UFC president Dana White has shared the fantastic cold open for UFC 259 as we get closer and closer to fight night in Las Vegas. There’s no way of getting around it – the event White has put together this weekend is absolutely stacked. From the early prelims all the way up to the three title fights, it’s easy to understand why people are getting just a little bit excited about what’s to come.
Anthony Smith sympathizes with Khamzat Chimaev’s emotional struggles: “He’s used to being a f*cking killer”
Christopher Taylor - March 3, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith can relate to the recent emotional struggles of Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev (9-0 MMA) recently shocked fight fans by announcing his retirement from the sport of mixed martial arts. ‘Borz’ was one of many people to fall victim to the global pandemic and lingering symptoms from the virus have kept him out of the Octagon.
Israel Adesanya shares extremely bold prediction for Jan Blachowicz title bout: “I’m not getting touched in this fight”
Cole Shelton - March 3, 2021
Israel Adesanya is confident he will hear “And New” on Saturday night. In the main event of UFC 259, Adesanya is moving up to light heavyweight to face Jan Blachowicz in search of becoming a champ-champ. It’s a very intriguing matchup with many believing “The Last Stylebender” gets the job done. However, the Kiwi is not only confident he gets his hand raised but says he won’t get hit in the process.
Jon Jones responds after Israel Adesanya pushes back superfight
Cole Shelton - March 3, 2021
Jon Jones has responded after Israel Adesanya pushed back their proposed super-fight until December. For quite some time, Jones and Adesanya have been taking shots at one another and many wanted to see the fight take place.
Junior dos Santos issues statement confirming UFC release
Adam Martin - March 3, 2021
Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos issued a statement confirming that he was released by the world’s leading MMA promotion. Dos Santos and his former rival Alistair Overeem were both removed from the UFC rankings on Wednesday, which indicated they were released by the promotion. Not long after word broke on social media that “Cigano” and “Ubereem” were cut, the Brazilian took to his social media to confirm the news. Check out the statement JDS posted on Instagram.
Casey Kenney believes Dominick Cruz looked "slow" in his return fight, expects to "put him away"
Cole Shelton - March 3, 2021
Casey Kenney was surprised to see Dominick Cruz’s name on his contract. On the prelims of UFC 259, Kenney is set to face the former bantamweight champion in a very intriguing matchup. Kenney is looking to take a big step up the bantamweight ranks while Cruz is looking to snap his two-fight losing skid. For Kenney, he believes the fight makes sense for that reason.
Alistair Overeem and Junior dos Santos have been removed from the UFC rankings
Cole Shelton - March 3, 2021
Alistair Overeem and Junior dos Santos have been removed from the UFC heavyweight ranks. With the rankings being updated every Tuesday, fans were waiting to see if any major changes would take place. Although UFC Vegas 20 shouldn’t have changed up much of the ranks, the heavyweight division saw some notable change as Alistair Overeem and Junior dos Santos were removed from the rankings.
Cub Swanson fights Giga Chikadze in battle of strikers at UFC Fight Night card in May
Adam Martin - March 3, 2021
A featherweight bout between strikers Cub Swanson and Giga Chikadze is set to take place on the UFC Fight Night card set for May 1. Swanson was originally set to fight Gavin Tucker on the May 1 card, but Tucker was removed from that event and re-booked against Dan Ige on the March 13 card. With Swanson in need of an opponent, the UFC matchmakers were able to secure Chikadze to step in and fight him two months from now. Swanson himself confirmed the fight on his Instagram, following an initial report from Adjara Sport. The UFC Fight Night card on May 1 is targeted to be headlined by light heavyweights Jiri Prochazka and Dominick Reyes.
UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya full betting odds
Adam Martin - March 3, 2021
Check out the complete betting odds for this Saturday’s UFC 259 PPV card featuring Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya in the main event. The stacked card features three title fights, with the marquee headliner featuring UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya moving up to 205lbs in an attempt to challenge light heavyweight kingpin Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya is a perfect 20-0 in MMA and 9-0 in the UFC alone, so he’s a big favorite here at the sportsbooks to win a second UFC title. Blachowicz, meanwhile, is the underdog yet again, a role he has played in 12 UFC fights thus far in his career. Incredibly, he’s won eight fights as an underdog in the Octagon. Can he pull off his ninth underdog win at UFC 259 this weekend? We’ll find out on Saturday.
Petr Yan believes Aljamain Sterling will run from him at UFC 259: "It's gameplan of a mouse, yeah?"
Adam Martin - March 3, 2021
UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan believes Aljamain Sterling will run from him at UFC 259, suggesting he will have the gameplan of a mouse. Yan vs. Sterling is one of three title fights featured on this Saturday’s stacked UFC 259 card. Yan is coming off of a successful TKO victory over Jose Aldo to capture the vacant belt back at UFC 251 on Fight Island, while Sterling is coming off of a first-round submission over top contender Cory Sandhagen in his last fight. This matchup is very much a clash of styles, as Yan prefers to stand and trade on the feet, where he can unleash his wicked KO power, while Sterling prefers to go to the ground and submit his opponents. It makes this weekend’s 135lbs title fight a fascinating matchup and a tough one to predict.
Photo | Anthony Johnson looking seriously slimmed-down ahead of Bellator debut
Tom Taylor - March 3, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Johnson is looking seriously slimmed-down ahead of his upcoming debut with Bellator MMA. Johnson retired after a loss to Daniel Cormier in 2017, but has since teased a comeback on numerous occasions. That comeback finally became official earlier this year, when he signed with Bellator to much fanfare.
UFC 259 | Pro fighters make their picks for Petr Yan vs Aljamain Sterling title fight
Cole Shelton - March 3, 2021
In the first of three title fights on the stacked UFC 259 pay-per-view, Petr Yan is set to defend his bantamweight title for the first time. Heading into the fight, Yan is a -120 favorite with the comeback on the American at -110. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros are actually split on this one just like the odds have it as a pick’em fight.
Joe Rogan returns to commentary duties at UFC 259
Tom Taylor - March 3, 2021
Joe Rogan will be back at the commentary desk for UFC 259, alongside play-by-play man Jon Anik and former two-division champion Daniel Cormier. UFC 259 goes down this Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card will be headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between champion Jan Blachowicz and challenger Israel Adesanya, who is the promotion’s middleweight champion. The card will also feature a featherweight title fight between Amanda Nunes and Megan Anderson, a bantamweight title fight between Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling, and a host of other high-profile matchups.
UFC rankings update: Ciryl Gane, Magomed Ankalaev make huge climbs
Tom Taylor - March 3, 2021
The official UFC rankings have been updated after last Saturday’s UFC Vegas 20 card, and as always, there have been so big changes. Most notably, Ciryl Gane is now a top-5 heavyweight after beating Jairzinho Rozenstruik by decision in the card’s main event. Magomed Ankalaev also made a big climb in the light heavyweight rankings after he defeated Nikita Krylov by decision in the card’s co-main event.