MMA News
Roxanne Modafferi throws support behind Maycee Barber following second consecutive loss: "I was impressed"
Adam Martin - February 16, 2021
UFC women’s flyweight veteran Roxanne Modafferi threw her support behind Maycee Barber following her second straight loss to Alexa Grasso. Barber was on her way to the top of the UFC 125lbs division when she suffered a one-sided unanimous decision loss to Modafferi last January at UFC 246 in a fight where she also injured her knee. After missing a year of action, Barber was back in the cage at UFC 258 when she took on Grasso in the co-main event. Unfortunately for Barber, it was her second straight loss as she was outboxed and dropped a unanimous decision. After winning her first eight career fights, Barber now finds herself on a two-fight losing skid.
Photo | Brian Kelleher shows off brutal cut sustained in Ricky Simon fight at UFC 258
Adam Martin - February 16, 2021
UFC veteran Brian Kelleher showed off the brutal cut he sustained on his forehead in his unanimous decision loss to Ricky Simon at UFC 258. Kelleher moved up to 145lbs for the short-notice fight with Simon for this past weekend’s UFC 258 card. He lost a decision at the end of 15 minutes on the judges’ scorecards, with Simon controlling the majority of the bout with his wrestling. At one point during the match, Kelleher received a nasty cut to the middle of his forehead. It wasn’t bad enough to stop the fight, but it looks like Kelleher needed to get some stitches to fix the cut. Check out the cut photo that Kelleher shared with his followers on his social media.
Julian Marquez credits James Krause for bringing out "the animal inside me" to get comeback win at UFC 258
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2021
Julian Marquez was making his long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC 258 on Saturday night. Marquez was set for his first fight in 953 days after dealing with an injury. In the lead-up to the fight, “The Cuban Missile Crisis” said ring rust wouldn’t be a factor but admits his timing was a bit off early in the fight.
Alexey Oleynik expecting a tough fight against Chris Daukaus in his 75th professional MMA fight
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2021
Alexey Oleynik will make the walk for his 75th professional MMA fight on Saturday night at UFC Vegas 19. On the main card, the Russian is set to face unranked, Chris Daukaus in a very intriguing fight. Oleynik is coming off a second-round TKO loss to Derrick Lewis in August in the main event of the card. Although the Russian is not fighting a ranked opponent or another legend, Oleynik is still looking forward to the fight.
Khamzat Chimaev flying to Las Vegas to receive medical care, hopes to fight by June
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2021
Khamzat Chimaev is en route to Las Vegas to receive medical care for his lingering effects from COVID-19. After Chimaev got COVID-19, his fight against Leon Edwards on January 20 was postponed until March 13. However, recently, it was revealed the fight was canceled again due to Chimaev still dealing with lingering effects from the virus.
Mike Perry set to return in April against Daniel Rodriguez
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2021
Mike Perry is set to return to the Octagon on April 10 against Daniel Rodriguez. FighterPath was the first to report the news of the booking and sources have confirmed to BJPENN.com that Perry vs. Rodriguez is set for April 10.
Leon Edwards wants Colby Covington to step up and fight him: "Stop being a b*tch"
Adam Martin - February 16, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards wants Colby Covington to step up and fight him in March, telling his rival to “stop being a b*tch.” Edwards was set to fight Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card on March 13. Unfortunately, Chimaev was forced to withdraw from the fight due to complications from COVID-19. That means that Edwards is currently without an opponent, with UFC president Dana White suggesting most recently that he fight Covington. When White said that it was a bit of a surprise because many assumed Covington and Jorge Masvidal would be coaching TUF 29. However, it appears that the promotion has other plans, and that means Edwards vs. Covington is the desired booking.
Jan Blachowicz says fan told him he won $50,000 for knocking out Luke Rockhold at UFC 239
Adam Martin - February 16, 2021
UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz said a fan told him that he won $50,000 when he knocked out Luke Rockhold at UFC 239. Blachowicz finds himself in a familiar position next month at UFC 259 when he defends his belt against Israel Adesanya. Despite being the champion, Blachowicz is once again the underdog in this fight. The oddsmakers opened him as a +210 betting underdog in this fight, and it’s up to +220 now. It’s a role the Pole has found himself used to over the course of his UFC career, but especially as of late, being named underdog in four straight bookings now. Even though Blachowicz is the 205lbs champion, he still has his doubters.
Maycee Barber says UFC 258 loss "was a bitter pill to swallow," eyes May return
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2021
Maycee Barber’s return to the Octagon did not go her way. In the co-main event of UFC 258, Barber fought Alexa Grasso in her first fight since she lost to Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 246 in a fight she also tore her ACL. Entering the scrap, Barber didn’t think ring rust would be a factor but admits she had a hard time finding her timing in the first two rounds.
Marcin Tybura returns to the Octagon at UFC 260 against Blagoy Ivanov
Adam Martin - February 16, 2021
A heavyweight bout between top-15 ranked contenders Marcin Tybura and Blagoy Ivanov is the latest addition to the UFC 260 pay-per-view card. Tybura and Ivanov will clash on the UFC 260 undercard and is a welcome addition to the event given it’s a battle between two ranked fighters. The event takes place on March 27 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is headlined by UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic’s rematch against Francis Ngannou. WP Sportowe Fakty broke the news.
Gilbert Burns issues positive statement after loss to Kamaru Usman: "I'll be back!"
Tom Taylor - February 16, 2021
Gilbert Burns has issued a statement after his loss to UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Burns, the UFC’s No. 1-ranked welterweight, challenged Usman for the welterweight strap in the main event of UFC 258 last weekend. Despite a strong start, he was ultimately stopped by the champion in round three.
Gina Carano says she found out about Lucasfilm firing on social media
Tom Taylor - February 16, 2021
Gina Carano says she found about her exit from Lucasilm’s popular Star Wars spinoff, The Mandalorian, on social media. Carano, who is widely credited as a pioneer of women’s mixed martial arts, lost her role on The Mandalorian after sharing a controversial social media post that compared the treatment of conservatives in the United States to the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany.
Dana White hoping for sold-out UFC events by the summer in Florida or Las Vegas
Adam Martin - February 16, 2021
UFC president Dana White said that the world’s leading MMA promotion is hoping to host sold-out arenas of MMA fans by the summer of 2021. The UFC has not been able to host a house full of fans since UFC 248 in March 2020. The coronavirus pandemic led to the promotion literally shutting its doors for two months only to return in May 2020 in Florida for a series of events. The promotion has been able to hold events back in Las Vegas and in Abu Dhabi for the last nine months, but for the most part, fans have not been allowed except for a select few who were allowed into Fight Island. The UFC has not held a sold-out show with fans in a year.
Alexa Grasso responds to Ronda Rousey comparison from UFC boss Dana White
Tom Taylor - February 16, 2021
UFC flyweight contender Alexa Grasso has responded after UFC President Dana White compared her to Ronda Rousey. Rousey, the former UFC bantamweight champion, is one of the biggest stars in MMA history, having parlayed her success in the Octagon into mainstream endorsement deals, Hollywood film roles and more.
Colby Covington responds to rumored Leon Edwards fight
Tom Taylor - February 16, 2021
Colby Covington has responded to the rumors about a potential welterweight contender fight with Leon Edwards. Edwards was slated to return to the cage against unranked prospect Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of a card on March 13. Regrettably, Chimaev was forced out of the fight due to health issues stemming from a previous COVID-19 infection, leaving Edwards without an opponent.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 28 with Alexey Oleynik, Chris Daukaus, Jared Gordon, and Drakkar Klose
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2021
The 28th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 19. var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_22657822", "obj": {"id":"22947","width":"100%","height":"","video":"720455"} });
Alexa Grasso could be the best boxer in women's MMA, says Daniel Cormier
Tom Taylor - February 16, 2021
UFC flyweight contender Alexa Grasso received some high praise from UFC commentator Daniel Cormier after her latest win. Grasso, 27, returned to action in the co-main event of UFC 258 last Saturday, picking up a clear-cut decision victory over highly regarded prospect Maycee Barber.
Colby Covington reacts to Kamaru Usman's win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 258
Tom Taylor - February 16, 2021
Outspoken UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington has shared his initial reaction to the recent Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns fight. Usman, the UFC welterweight champion, fought Burns, the No. 1-ranked welterweight contender in the main event of UFC 258 on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Usman was dropped early in the fight, but ultimately rallied for a third-round TKO win to defend his title.