UFC News
REPORT | Nick Diaz pushed for UFC 300 fight against Colby Covington before booking Abu Dhabi return
Josh Evanoff - May 29, 2024
Nick Diaz wanted many different opponents before settling on a fight with Vicente Luque at UFC Abu Dhabi. Earlier today, Dana White announced that the former Strikeforce champion would be returning in August. For Nick Diaz, the fight will mark his first since a third-round stoppage loss to Robbie Lawler at UFC 266 in September 2021. That bout ended a nearly seven-year hiatus from the sport for the former titleholder.
UFC 302 | Pro fighters make their picks for Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier title fight
Cole Shelton - May 29, 2024
In the main event of UFC 302, the lightweight title is up for grabs as Islam Makhachev looks to defend his belt against Dustin Poirier. Heading into the fight, Makhachev is a sizeable -620 favorite while ‘The Diamond’ is a +400 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the lightweight title fight. The majority of pros are rooting for Poirier to get the job done and become the champ, but they do believe Makhachev will be too much for him.
Sean Strickland explains how detaching from MMA helped change the course of his UFC career: 'I didn't want to lose any validation'
Curtis Calhoun - May 29, 2024
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland made a mental switch earlier in his career that has led to his surge into a star. Strickland will face former UFC middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa in the UFC 302 co-main event on Saturday in Newark. He returns to fight in a five-round clash after losing the middleweight belt to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 earlier this year.
Islam Makhachev invites Charles Oliveira to join his camp for wrestling lessons ahead of potential Colby Covington showdown
Curtis Calhoun - May 29, 2024
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev wants to help Charles Oliveira deal with Colby Covington and other elite wrestlers. Makhachev will face Dustin Poirier in the UFC 302 main event this Saturday in Newark. He returns to defend the undisputed UFC lightweight title after back-to-back wins against Alexander Volkanovski in 2023.
Jack Della Maddalena forced to delay UFC return due to post-surgery infection: "I won't be competing in Perth"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 29, 2024
Jack Della Maddalena hoped to be a part of the UFC 305 card in Perth, but post-surgery complications have derailed that plan. Maddalena competed back in March at UFC 299, and while he scored a knockout win over Gilbert Burns he did not walk away unscathed. The Australian bruiser had to undergo surgery on his arm.
Former UFC champ Henry Cejudo responds to challenge from Song Yadong: “I’ll make you a limp Dong”
Harry Kettle - May 29, 2024
UFC star Henry Cejudo has responded to a challenge issued to him by fellow bantamweight contender Song Yadong. We all know that Henry Cejudo is a legend in combat sports. In addition to his Olympic wrestling gold medal, he’s also a two-weight world champion in the UFC. However, since returning from retirement, he hasn’t been able to find any consistency in the Octagon.
Michael Bisping believes Dustin Poirier’s MMA resume “smokes” that of Islam Makhachev
Harry Kettle - May 29, 2024
UFC commentator Michael Bisping believes that Dustin Poirier has a far better resume in MMA than Islam Makhachev. This weekend, Dustin Poirier will attempt to finally win the big one. He is set to challenge Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight championship in the main event of UFC 302. He’s tried and failed to win the strap on two separate occasions, falling to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira.
Video | Craig Jones dumps $1 million on Joe Rogan’s desk for special invitational event
Harry Kettle - May 29, 2024
BJJ sensation Craig Jones dumped $1 million on the desk of Joe Rogan during their podcast earlier this week. As many of you will know, Craig Jones is quite the superstar in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He’s an elite competitor and a two-time silver medalist at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) tournament, however, he won’t be competing there in 2024. That’s because he’ll be hosting the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) across similar dates in August, with his aim being to raise compensation for competing athletes.
Alex Morono eyes KO win over Niko Price at UFC 302 to avenge 2017 loss: "Going to be a fun fight"
Cole Shelton - May 28, 2024
Alex Morono jumped at the chance to rematch Niko Price at UFC 302. After Morono defeated Court McGee in April, he returned to the gym to prepare for any short-notice fight that came up. Shortly after his win, Jeremiah Wells fell out of his fight against Price and Morono called the UFC to get his rematch.
Islam Makhachev reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov will be in his corner for UFC 302: "Eagle has landed in Jersey City"
Cole Shelton - May 28, 2024
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will have Khabib Nurmagomedov in his corner for his title defense at UFC 302 on Saturday. Makhachev is set to headline UFC 302 against Dustin Poirier, and on Tuesday, he revealed that Nurmagomedov is now in New Jersey and will be in his corner on Saturday night. Nurmagomedov had stepped away from fighting and coaching in MMA, but he is set to return and will be in Makhachev’s corner at UFC 302.
Islam Makhachev claims Arman Tsarukyan "should thank" him for jumpstarting his UFC career
Curtis Calhoun - May 28, 2024
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev feels partially responsible for Arman Tsarukyan’s success inside the Octagon. Makhachev will face Dustin Poirier in his next UFC lightweight title defense at UFC 302 this Saturday in Newark. He returns after defeating Alexander Volkanovski in back-to-back fights in 2023.
Dustin Poirier's coach admits he's the "most stressful" fighter to corner ahead of UFC 302 return
Curtis Calhoun - May 28, 2024
Dustin Poirier’s head coach admits that the former UFC interim lightweight champion is a hard athlete to coach mid-fight. Poirier will face UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the UFC 302 main event this Saturday in Newark. This is Poirier’s third lineal lightweight title shot after losses to Charles Oliveira and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
PHOTOS: Dustin Poirier shows off custom floral shorts he'll wear for UFC 302 title shot
Curtis Calhoun - May 28, 2024
UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier will mimic a two-time Octagon rival when he faces Islam Makhachev at UFC 302. Poirier’s third lineal UFC lightweight title shot will come to fruition this Saturday at UFC 302 in Newark. He returns after knocking out Benoît Saint-Denis at UFC 299 to earn what is likely his final shot at lineal UFC gold.
UFC legend Demetrious Johnson explains why Boxing has been "more exciting" than MMA in 2024
Josh Evanoff - May 28, 2024
Current ONE Championship titleholder and UFC legend Demetrious Johnson has a hot take about the state of MMA. The year 2024 has been one of the greatest for combat sports in a long, long time. Over in the boxing world, fights such as Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk, Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia, and Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou have been huge. Meanwhile, MMA has had its big moments in the form of the massive UFC 300 card and other bouts such as Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria.
Dustin Poirier shares prediction for Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler
Cole Shelton - May 28, 2024
Dustin Poirier has shared his prediction for the UFC 303 main event between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler. Poirier has fought McGregor three times and fought Chandler once. Given he has fought both of them, he’s familiar with both of them and surprisingly, he expects McGregor to get his hand raised.
Islam Makhachev calls UFC 302 opponent Dustin Poirier a surefire UFC Hall of Famer: "One of the legends of our sport"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 28, 2024
Islam Makhachev has glowing praise for Dustin Poirier ahead of their lightweight title fight at UFC 302. Makhachev and Poirier will be all business when the Octagon door closes this Saturday night (June 1st), but that doesn’t mean there isn’t mutual respect. Poirier has been complimentary of the 155-pound king, and Makhachev is returning the favor.
Joaquin Buckley advises Michael Chandler to use his wrestling against Conor McGregor at UFC 303
Harry Kettle - May 28, 2024
Joaquin Buckley believes Michael Chandler needs to use his wrestling in order to find success against Conor McGregor. At UFC 303, Conor McGregor will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon to battle it out with Michael Chandler. Many expect him to keep it standing with Chandler, given his striking ability. Of course, we also know Chandler has what it takes to hang with some of the very best in that department.
Aljamain Sterling accepts fight with the ‘UFC’s most boring’ fighter: “So I can get my title shot”
Harry Kettle - May 28, 2024
UFC featherweight contender Aljamain Sterling has accepted a fight with who he deems to be the UFC’s most boring fighter. As we know, Aljamain Sterling is now a full-time member of the featherweight division. He made the move up from bantamweight, where he won a title, and got off to a winning start at 145 pounds by defeating Calvin Kattar.