MMA News

Adam Martin - February 11, 2021

UFC light heavyweight Dominick Reyes returns to the Octagon against Jiri Prochazka on May 1st, in a fight originally booked for February. The UFC originally intended on Reyes vs. Prochazka headlining the Fight Night card planned for February 27, but the fight was scratched and replaced by a new main event featuring heavyweights Ciryl Gane and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Fortunately, Reyes vs. Prochazka has been quickly salvaged and re-booked for just two months later. It now takes place on May 1. Prochazka’s management team at Paradigm Sports was the first to reveal the new fight announcement. The fight will serve as the five-round main event.

Adam Martin - February 11, 2021

UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns offered his best UFC title shot advice to Charles Oliveira, suggesting that he improves his English. With the welterweight title on the line, Burns takes on Kamaru Usman in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 258 event. This is actually the third time this fight has been scheduled, so if anyone knows a thing-or-two about getting a UFC title shot, it’s Burns. Meanwhile, his fellow Brazilian Oliveira is having a hard time breaking through. Even though Oliveira is riding an eight-fight win streak, it seems like he’ll be passed over for the next UFC lightweight title match.

Tom Taylor - February 11, 2021

UFC President Dana White says Khabib Nurmagomedov is still the UFC lightweight champion, despite his retirement announcement. Nurmagomedov announced his retirement after an October submission victory over Justin Gaethje, citing a request from his mother that he cease fighting.

Cole Shelton - February 11, 2021

Ryan Hall will no longer be making his return to the Octagon on March 13 after all. Multiple sources have informed BJPENN.com that Hall has pulled out of the fight with an injury suffered in training. Sources say the UFC is looking for a replacement to fight Ige.

Tom Taylor - February 11, 2021

Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has made his prediction for the upcoming fight between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns. Usman, the UFC welterweight champion, is slated to defend his title against Burns in the main event of UFC 258 this weekend. The bout is plenty alluring on paper, but has amplified appeal given that Usman and Burns spent many years training together at Sanford MMA and are therefore very familiar with one another.

Tom Taylor - February 11, 2021

UFC President Dana White believes welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will ultimately earn himself a place in MMA’s Greatest of All Time debate. Usman is slated to defend his title against surging contender Gilbert Burns in the main event of UFC 258 this weekend.

Tom Taylor - February 11, 2021

Joe Rogan will call his first fights of the year at UFC 258 this Saturday in Las Vegas, according to MMA Junkie. Rogan will handle color commentary duties for the card alongside former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier, while Jon Anik will lead the commentary team.

Tom Taylor - February 11, 2021

UFC middleweight contender Uriah Hall has some choice words for the people who practice and support Scientology. Scientology has been classified as everything as a pseudo religion to a form of therapy, and has historically been popular among celebrities.

Tom Taylor - February 11, 2021

Gilbert Burns sees a key difference between himself and his upcoming opponent, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Burn will challenge Usman for the welterweight title in the main event of UFC 258 this Saturday. The matchup features many interesting variables. Burns and Usman have trained together extensively at Sanford MMA, and also have many stylistic similarities as grappling specialists with well-rounded skillsets.

Cole Shelton - February 11, 2021

In the main event of UFC 258, Kamaru Usman is looking to defend his welterweight title for the third time as he battles Gilbert Burns. Heading into the fight the champ is a -275 favorite while the Brazilian is a +215 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The slight majority of pros believe we hear “And New” as Gilbert Burns gets it done.

Tom Taylor - February 11, 2021

Eddie Alvarez believes Jake Paul is a “better boxer” than Ben Askren, but the intangibles of the fight will be in Askren’s favor. Askren, who went 1-2 in the UFC and is the former ONE and Bellator welterweight champion, is slated to meet Paul, a YouTube star, in an eight-round pro boxing match in the UFC. While Askren has achieved some amazing things in MMA, the widespread feeling is that he’s actually out-matched in terms of boxing skill against Paul.

Tom Taylor - February 11, 2021

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle says he received an offer from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but turned it down. Angle, an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, achieved superstardom as a member of the WWE roster. However, he says he had the opportunity to try his hand at mixed martial arts in the UFC.

Harry Kettle - February 11, 2021

UFC welterweight Leon Edwards believes Jorge Masvidal will find an excuse not to fight him even if he beats rising contender Khamzat Chimaev. Edwards is set to put his current winning streak on the line when he locks horns with Chimaev next month, with many believing that the latter could prove to be the next big thing in the UFC.

Drake Riggs - February 10, 2021

As Ben Askren prepares for his upcoming boxing match with YouTube star Jake Paul he’ll have the assistance of his good friend and former UFC champion Tyron Woodley. Similar to some others close to Askren like fellow former Bellator champion Michael Chandler, Woodley fully supports the MMA representative in this unique matchup.

Drake Riggs - February 10, 2021

Joe Rogan’s voice has become synonymous with UFC fights. And despite recent criticism over the years, Jon Anik doesn’t see the veteran presence leaving. A mainstay as the color commentator role for UFC broadcasts during every event, Rogan would eventually take on a reduced role throughout his tenure. Thus seeing him now only work domestic pay-per-view events. Ever since Mike Goldberg’s departure in 2016, Anik has been by the podcast legend’s side through thick and thin.

Christopher Taylor - February 10, 2021

Colby Covington went off on Mark Cuban after the Dallas Mavericks owner removed the national anthem from playing before his team’s home games. Covington (16-2 MMA) responded to an article shared by The New York Post where he absolutely unloaded on the uber successful American Entrepreneur.

Cole Shelton - February 10, 2021

Kamaru Usman is set to fight his former training partner and friend, Gilbert Burns in the main event of UFC 258. In the lead-up to the fight, the main storyline has been that Usman and Burns have trained together for years. The Brazilian claims they’ve had over 200 rounds of sparring and many believe one of them got the better of the other so they know who will win on Saturday night.

Cole Shelton - February 10, 2021

When Julian Marquez makes the walk to the Octagon on the main card of UFC 258 it will be 953 days since his last fight. The middleweight contender last fought back in July of 2018 and lost a very controversial split decision to Alessio Di Chirico. However, what made the loss worse was during the fight, Marquez tore latissimus dorsi. The injury eventually led to two other surgeries that kept him out of action. He was then looking to fight in 2020 but a global pandemic and an opponent botching his weight cut kept the layoff even longer. But, on the main card of UFC 258, Marquez will return against Maki Pitlo, and despite the layoff, isn’t too worried about ring rust.