MMA News
Video | Merab Dvalishvili ends up in hospital after jumping headfirst into frozen pond
Cole Shelton - February 3, 2021
Merab Dvalishvili was out for a casual run and ended up in the hospital. During his run, the 12th-ranked bantamweight contender in Dvalishvili came across a pond. The Georgian native then decided to jump into it thinking it wasn’t frozen, but it turns out it was as he went headfirst into a frozen pond and cut his head on the ice and branches.
Cody Stamann uninterested in fighting Merab Dvalishvili next: "There are a lot bigger fish in the sea"
Cole Shelton - February 3, 2021
Cody Stamann isn’t sure he fights Merab Dvalishvili next. Stamann and Dvalishvili were supposed to fight on December 5 and February 6. Yet, Stamann hurt his back the first time it was booked and Dvalishvili got COVID-19 the second. For the 13th-ranked bantamweight in Stamann, he says having the fight postponed again wasn’t an option.
Dustin Poirier responds to Conor McGregor’s request for a trilogy fight: "We are going to do it a 3rd time"
Cole Shelton - February 3, 2021
Dustin Poirier remains confident he will have his trilogy with Conor McGregor. At UFC 257, Poirier and McGregor had a rematch over six years in the making. The first time they met, they fought at featherweight and it was McGregor winning by first-round knockout. However, in the rematch, it was Poirier who got the job done with a second-round knockout.
Conor McGregor admits he overlooked Dustin Poirier with eye on Manny Pacquiao boxing match
Adam Martin - February 3, 2021
UFC superstar Conor McGregor admitted he overlooked Dustin Poirier because he was already thinking about a boxing match with Manny Pacquiao. McGregor entered the rematch with Poirier as a big favorite, but he suffered a second-round knockout loss when Poirier was able to finish him with strikes. “The Diamond” came into the bout with a great gameplan of using low kicks to slow McGregor’s mobility, only to wear him out and then eventually go for the finish with punches. It was an amazing performance by Poirier, no doubt about it. But it was also a big disappointment seeing McGregor receive his first knockout loss in MMA.
Dominick Reyes injured, out of fight with Jiri Prochazka
Tom Taylor - February 3, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes has sustained an injury, and is out of his planned fight with Jiri Prochazka. Reyes was slated to fight Prochazka, the former RIZIN Fighting Federation light heavyweight champion, on February 28 in Las Vegas. According to a report from MMA Fighting, that unfortunately won’t be happening due to an undisclosed Reyes injury.
MMA community reacts to Stephen A. Smith's comments about female fighters
Tom Taylor - February 3, 2021
Stephen A. Smith is in hot water after expressing his disinterest in seeing women compete in mixed martial arts and boxing. Smith recently appeared on the “Black on the Air” podcast, where he expressed his objection to women fighting men in combat sports, and later, his disinterest in seeing women fight at all.
Chris Weidman shares plan for 2021: KO Uriah Hall and make a run at the belt
Adam Martin - February 3, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman says he plans to KO Uriah Hall at UFC 261 and make another run at the belt he once held. Weidman was supposed to fight Hall this weekend in the co-main event of UFC 258, but the fight was postponed until UFC 261 in April after Weidman caught COVID-19. Weidman was once the UFC middleweight champion and one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but it’s been a struggle for him the last few years. Though he got back into the win column against Omari Akhmedov in his last fight, Weidman had lost five of six fights by knockout before that much-needed win. Despite the losing skid, however, Weidman has remained confident the whole time.
Israel Adesanya will not put on extra weight or muscle ahead of 205lbs debut against Jan Blachowicz
Adam Martin - February 3, 2021
Israel Adesanya will not put on any extra weight or muscle ahead of his upcoming UFC light heavyweight title fight against Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, is moving up to light heavyweight to take on Blachowicz in a champion vs. champion superfight that headlines UFC 259. With Blachowicz being one of the biggest and strongest light heavyweights, many thought Adesanya would maybe want to bulk up and put on some extra weight or muscle for this 205lbs fight. However, that isn’t the case.
Joe Rogan lauds "excellent" Jake Paul ahead of fight with Ben Askren
Tom Taylor - February 3, 2021
Joe Rogan has some high praise for Jake Paul ahead of the YouTube star’s professional boxing match with former UFC fighter Ben Askren. Paul will meet Askren, who previously held the ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight titles, in an eight-round boxing match on April 17. The bout will be Paul’s third as a pro after stopping fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib and former NBA star Nate Robinson. Askren, meanwhile, will be making his pro boxing debut.
The Golden Cage looks to make MMA mainstream in Italy—starting Feb. 6 on UFC FIGHT PASS
Tom Taylor - February 3, 2021
Italy is as sports-crazed as any country on earth, but so far, mixed martial arts has not caught on inside its famous, boot-shaped border. The Golden Cage, an upstart MMA promotion based in Rome, is hoping to change that. TGC is the brainchild of President Luigi Perillo, a tax lawyer and the president of the Swiss MMA Federation, and Steve Dapper, a music industry executive and expert in linguistics. After two successful events in 2017 and 2018, the TGC team will promote its third this Saturday in Rome. The card, which will feature 10 pro bouts and 10 amateur bouts, will mark the promotion’s debut on UFC FIGHT PASS.
Chris Weidman opens up on battle with COVID-19: "I ended up losing 12 pounds"
Tom Taylor - February 3, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman has opened up on his battle with COVID-19, and it does not sound fun. Weidman had been expected to rematch fellow middleweight contender Uriah Hall at UFC 258 next weekend, but was unfortunately forced out of the fight when he tested positive for COVID-19. The matchup has been rescheduled April 24, and it sounds like the new date was very necessary.
Victoria Lee, 16-year-old sister of champs Angela and Christian, booked for ONE debut
Tom Taylor - February 3, 2021
Victoria Lee, the 16-year-old sister of ONE lightweight champion Christian Lee and atomweight champion Angela Lee, is set for her pro debut. The prospect will battle Sunisa Srisen at ONE: Fists of Fury on February 26 in Singapore. ONE Championship announced this bout, along with appearances from striking stars Ilias Ennahachi, Giorgio Petrosyan and Rodtang Jitmuangnon, on Wednesday.
Pro fighters make their picks for Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov
Cole Shelton - February 3, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 18, Alistair Overeem is looking to continue his final run to a heavyweight title shot as he battles Alexander Volkov. Heading into the fight, Overeem is a +155 underdog while the Russian is a -190 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. Maybe to some surprise, nearly all the pros have Overeem edging it out as he will mix in his striking and wrestling.
Raphael Assuncao forced out of UFC Vegas 20 fight with Raoni Barcelos
Harry Kettle - February 3, 2021
Raphael Assuncao has been forced out of his scheduled UFC Vegas 20 fight against fellow bantamweight Raoni Barcelos, MMA Junkie reports. The report in question indicates that Assuncao has withdrawn for unknown reasons, marking just the second time he has pulled out of a scheduled fight since 2013.
Petr Yan discusses his gameplan for upcoming fight with Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259
Harry Kettle - February 3, 2021
Petr Yan has discussed his planned strategy for his highly anticipated title fight against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259. The two men are set to meet for the UFC Bantamweight Championship in March on a card that will feature three title fights, although you could argue that this is the most personal out of the three.
Petr Yan: 'I don't know what happened to Aljamain Sterling's big mouth'
Drake Riggs - February 2, 2021
In the build-up to the long-awaited bantamweight showdown between champion Petr Yan and challenger Aljamain Sterling, there’s been no shortage of trash talk. However, things have gone a bit quieter on Sterling’s end in the eyes of Yan.
Alistair Overeem makes pick for Miocic vs Ngannou 2
Andrew Whitelaw - February 2, 2021
Alistair Overeem knows Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou well, having fought both of them. Ngannou will again look to wrench the UFC heavyweight title from Miocic when the pair meet at UFC 260 next month.
Sean O’Malley makes his return to the cage at UFC 260 against Thomas Almeida
Adam Martin - February 2, 2021
A bantamweight bout between Sean O’Malley and Thomas Almeida is the latest addition to the upcoming UFC 260 pay-per-view in March. UFC 260 takes place on March 27 and is headlined by a heavyweight title fight rematch between Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou. Also on the card is a co-main event featherweight title fight between champion Alexander Volkanvoski and challenger Brian Ortega. O’Malley vs. Almeida could open up the main card or it could be placed on the prelims for this event. Regardless of where it lands on the card, this is a very fun fight that is likely going to be a stand-up war based on their styles.