MMA News
Curtis Blaydes says UFC has to pay him more to fight Jon Jones: "I can fight a bum to make 200k"
Adam Martin - November 24, 2020
UFC heavyweight Curtis Blaydes says the promotion has to pay him more if it wants to book him against pound-for-pound great Jon Jones. Blaydes returns to the Octagon this weekend when he takes on Derrick Lewis in the main event of UFC Vegas 15, with the winner of this fight closing in on title contention. In Blaydes’ last fight, he won a unanimous decision over Alexander Volkov and was criticized by UFC president Dana White for his cardio and for pre-fight comments where he suggested he deserved a raise. Blaydes, though, doesn’t care what White thinks.
Khabib Nurmagomedov to Dana White: "See you soon"
Tom Taylor - November 24, 2020
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has sent a message to UFC President Dana White—and it’s going to send fans into a frenzy. Khabib last fought in the main event of UFC 254 in October, defending the lightweight belt with a second-round submission win, and improving his record to 29-0 in the process. After that victory, he shocked the MMA world by announcing his retirement from competition.
Cub Swanson open to cross-divisional fights with Anthony Pettis, Urijah Faber, and Jose Aldo
Adam Martin - November 24, 2020
Veteran UFC featherweight Cub Swanson says he is open to cross-divisional fights with Anthony Pettis, Urijah Faber, and Jose Aldo. Swanson’s return to the Octagon was recently announced as he will take on Daniel Pineda next month at UFC 256. Swanson has been a member of the UFC roster since 2011 and has been one of the top-15 ranked fighters in the division for most of that time. However, he suffered a four-fight losing skid between 2017 and 2019 before finally snapping it with a “Fight of the Night” decision win over Kron Gracie last fall.
ONE Championship uninterested in signing Anderson Silva
Tom Taylor - November 24, 2020
ONE Championship will not be pursuing the services of new free agent, former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Silva, widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time, was released from his UFC contract after a loss to Uriah Hall on Halloween night. While he intends to continue fighting rather than hang up the gloves, his list of options in terms of his new home is growing shorter.
Francis Ngannou "very interested" in a potential showdown with "Rumble"
Tom Taylor - November 24, 2020
Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Francis Ngannou says he’s “very interested” in a potential heavyweight fight with Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. Johnson, who has competed as low as the welterweight division in the past, achieved his biggest successes in the UFC light heavyweight division, where he twice challenged for the title. While he announced his retirement from MMA in 2017, he is now plotting a return to the Octagon, perhaps to the heavyweight division.
Video | Relive the first time Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier ever crossed paths
Tom Taylor - November 24, 2020
Years ago, ahead of their UFC 178 fight in the featherweight division, Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier crossed paths for the very first time. You can relive their first-ever encounter, which occurred in the lobby of the UFC 178 fighter hotel, in a recent Instagram post from the UFC. See it below:
Israel Adesanya to serve as "ringside analyst" for Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. card
Tom Taylor - November 24, 2020
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is slated to appear as a “ringside analyst” for the upcoming Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. boxing card. Tyson and Jones, two legends of the boxing ring, will meet in a special, eight-round exhibition bout this Saturday night. The undercard of the event will feature names like Jake Paul, Nate Robinson, Badou Jack, Rashad Coulter, and as it turns out, we’ll also be hearing from Adesanya during the broadcast.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 20 with Badou Jack, Viddal Riley, Gina Mazany & Parker Porter
Cole Shelton - November 24, 2020
The 20th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with Cole Shelton is here ahead of Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. and UFC Vegas 15. We’re first joined by former WBC super-middleweight and WBA light heavyweight champion, Badou Jack (2:43). Next, one of boxing’s top prospects, Viddal Riley (14:42) joins the show. Then, UFC flyweight, Gina Mazany (32:14) comes on. Closing out the program is UFC heavyweight, Parker Porter (47:10).
Dustin Poirier: Conor McGregor rematch "isn't about getting even"
Tom Taylor - November 24, 2020
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier claims his upcoming rematch with Conor McGregor is not about revenge. After months of rumors and negotiations, Poirier is officially slated to take on McGregor in the main event of UFC 257 on January 23. The bout will mark the second time they’ve met, after McGregor knocked Poirier out in the featherweight division back in 2014.
Khabib Nurmagomedov awarded with ‘Best Mom’ medal in Dagestan
Harry Kettle - November 24, 2020
UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has been awarded an amusing “Best Mom” medal in Dagestan following his retirement. “The Eagle” decided to hang up his gloves in the wake of his recent win over Justin Gaethje, taking his official record to 29-0. He did so after a discussion with his mother in which he promised to end his mixed martial arts career after the Gaethje bout.
Henry Cejudo takes aim at Ariel Helwani for suggesting Deiveson Figueiredo saved the flyweight division
Harry Kettle - November 24, 2020
Former UFC two-weight world champion Henry Cejudo has taken a shot at ESPN’s Ariel Helwani for comments he made about Deiveson Figueiredo. Figueiredo is coming off the back of a strong submission win against Alex Perez at UFC 255, and now, he’s already preparing to defend the Flyweight Championship once again next month when he locks horns with top contender Brandon Moreno.
Dana White hints at "very fun fight" between Valentina Shevchenko and Jessica Andrade
Adam Martin - November 23, 2020
UFC president Dana White called a matchup between UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko and Jessica Andrade a “very fun fight.” A dominant Shevchenko defeated challenger Jennifer Maia via unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC 255. The win improved Shevchenko’s UFC flyweight record to a perfect 6-0, and she is quickly running out of new challenges in the division. One fighter that has emerged as a potential contender, however, is Jessica Andrade. The former UFC women’s strawweight champion knocked out Katlyn Chookagian in her flyweight debut and she looks poised to challenge Shevchenko for the title sometime in 2021.
Sean O’Malley says he is returning to the Octagon at UFC 258
Adam Martin - November 23, 2020
UFC bantamweight prospect Sean O’Malley says he will be returning to the Octagon at UFC 258, though he didn’t reveal his next opponent. O’Malley is coming off of a devastating first-round TKO loss to Marlon Vera at UFC 252 that halted his progression up the bantamweight rankings. O’Malley was coming off of an incredible one-punch KO win over Eddie Wineland at UFC 250 and the promotion rewarded him with a high-profile spot on the UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier III card. Unfortunately for O’Malley, he suffered an ankle injury early in the fight and Vera took advantage of it as he finished O’Malley with strikes, handing him his first career loss.
Michael Chandler reveals signing with the UFC was "a competition thing" as it wasn't the most lucrative offer
Cole Shelton - November 23, 2020
Michael Chandler reveals the UFC did not offer him the most amount of money during his free agency. Following Chandler’s first-round KO over Benson Henderson, the former Bellator lightweight champion headed to free agency which is something he wanted to do. When he became a free agent, “Iron” admits he wanted to sign with the UFC but it needed to make financial sense.
Rashad Coulter plans to "derail" Viddal Riley's career with KO win and earn his ticket back to the UFC
Cole Shelton - November 23, 2020
Rashad Coulter believes he is being brought in to lose this weekend. On the main card of Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr., former UFC heavyweight Rashad Coulter is taking on one of boxing’s brightest prospects in Viddal Riley. The Englishman is signed to Mayweather promotions and was the head coach of KSI for his fight against Logan Paul, so Coulter knows the boxing world wants Riley to be a star.
UFC 255 medical suspensions: Alex Perez facing long break
Tom Taylor - November 23, 2020
The medical suspensions for last Saturday’s UFC 255 card are in, and Alex Perez is facing a lengthy suspension after his loss in the main event. Perez challenged Deiveson Figueiredo for the UFC flyweight title in the UFC 255 main event, and lost via first-round submission. While the loss didn’t look particularly damaging, Perez could be out for some time with a hand injury, pending the result of an X-ray.
Ray Sefo says PFL has no interest signing Anderson Silva
Adam Martin - November 23, 2020
PFL president Ray Sefo says that his organization has no interest in signing former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Silva recently became a free agent when the UFC released him following a knockout loss to Uriah Hall on Halloween. Silva is now 45 years old and he has lost his last three fights, but he has vowed to continue to fight. “The Spider” recently took to social media and exclaimed that he finally feels free after being fully released by the UFC. It seems like Silva will soon be testing the free-agent market and see what is out there for him.
Rob Wilkinson hopes struggle to find fights ends with Bellator title run
Tom Taylor - November 23, 2020
Former UFC middleweight Rob Wilkinson, who now competes at light heavyweight, has not had an easy time finding fights since his time with the Las Vegas-based promotion came to an end. He’s hoping that changes soon.