UFC News
Gilbert Burns explains why he accepted fight with Belal Muhammad despite being promised a title shot
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 4, 2023
Number-five-ranked UFC welterweight Gilbert Burns has shared why he took a fight with Belal Muhammad despite being promised another crack at the 170-pound gold. Burns and Muhammad are set to collide in the co-main event of UFC 288. It’s a pivotal clash in the welterweight division. Both men believe the winner should be next in line for a UFC Welterweight Championship opportunity. While UFC President Dana White has insisted that Colby Covington is next in line to challenge Leon Edwards, perhaps an impressive showing from the winner of Burns vs. Muhammad could sway the UFC brass into reversing course.
Devin Clark say his real UFC 288 opponent is coach Sayif Saud, expects to finish Kennedy Nzechukwu and face a ranked fighter next: "After I'm in the top-15, I'll start talking my shit"
Cole Shelton - May 3, 2023
Devin Clark has an interesting wrinkle ahead of his UFC 288 fight against Kennedy Nzechukwu. Clark is coming off an upset win over Da Un Jung in February and will now face Nzechukwu in an intriguing light heavyweight fight. Clark is well aware of how dangerous Nzechukwu can be, but he believes the Fortis light heavyweight is overlooking him.
Robert Whittaker claims Israel Adesanya doesn't want to fight him again: "I’m the biggest threat to him and his reign"
Cole Shelton - May 3, 2023
Robert Whittaker believes Israel Adesanya doesn’t want to fight him again. After Adesanya reclaimed his middleweight title with a KO victory over Alex Pereira at UFC 287, it was uncertain who would be next for him. Yet, Dana White announced Robert Whittaker would face Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290, and the winner of that fight would get the next title shot.
Henry Cejudo says beating Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288 secures him a spot on “The Mount Rushmore of MMA"
Cole Shelton - May 3, 2023
Henry Cejudo believes he will enter the conversation as the best ever after UFC 288. Cejudo is the former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion and retired following the first defense of his bantamweight title against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 in May of 2020. His retirement came to the surprise of many, but three years later he is ending his now returning to face Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 288.
Michael Chandler believes Conor McGregor will "stain" his legacy if he doesn't make their fight happen: "That, to me, screams insecurity and trying to stay relevant"
Cole Shelton - May 3, 2023
Michael Chandler just wants his fight against Conor McGregor to get booked. Chandler and McGregor are the coaches of TUF 31 and the hope was that they would fight later this summer. Yet, the hold-up has been McGregor re-entering the USADA testing pool, but for Chandler, he says he doesn’t care if all the Irishman needs is just two clean tests. Instead, Chandler wants the fight to happen soon, but revealed it now might be the winter.
Henry Cejudo says his UFC 288 fight against Aljamain Sterling is "personal": "I do want to hurt him"
Cole Shelton - May 3, 2023
Henry Cejudo wants to hurt Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288. Cejudo is ending his three-year retirement to face Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight title at UFC 288, as ‘Triple C’ is looking to reclaim the title he vacated after retiring. It’s an intriguing matchup and before the fight was made, the two were cordial with one another. However, since the scrap has been made official, the pair have been trash-talking one another to promote the fight.
Belal Muhammad shares his pick for the most overhyped welterweight in the UFC
Susan Cox - May 3, 2023
Belal Muhammad is sharing his pick for the most overhyped welterweight in the UFC. Muhammad (22-3 MMA) is currently preparing for his fight with Gilbert Burns (22-5 MMA) this coming weekend, Saturday, May 6th at UFC 288 which takes place at the Prudential Center, in Newark, New Jersey.
Jon Jones not interested in fighting fellow UFC “star” Israel Adesanya, names the one opponent who can keep him from retiring
Susan Cox - May 3, 2023
Jon Jones is not interested in fighting fellow UFC ‘star’ Israel Adesanya and is naming the one opponent who can keep him from retiring. It was during a recent interview with ‘Fox Sports’ Australia that Jones opened up about a potential fight with UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya:
Coach says Francis Ngannou’s pay would have significantly dropped if he’d lost to Jon Jones: “It wasn’t 8 million PER fight”
Susan Cox - May 3, 2023
Coach Nicksick says Francis Ngannou’s pay would have significantly dropped if he’d lost to Jon Jones. Erick Nicksick is the head coach and general manager of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Paul Craig calls out Sean Strickland after announcing move to the UFC’s middleweight division
Harry Kettle - May 3, 2023
Paul Craig has called out Sean Strickland after announcing plans to make a move to the UFC’s middleweight division. While he may not be the most consistent, Paul Craig is certainly entertaining. In addition to his fun personality, he also holds UFC wins over the likes of Magomed Ankalaev and Jamahal Hill. If that doesn’t prove his credentials, nothing will.
UFC heavyweight contender says fight fans need to forget about a Jon Jones vs. Sergei Pavlovich matchup: “There’s no chance”
Harry Kettle - May 3, 2023
UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall has explained why he doesn’t think fight fans should get excited about a Jon Jones vs Sergei Pavlovich showdown. Right now, Jon Jones is the king of the world at heavyweight. He won the belt against Ciryl Gane, with the expectation being that he’ll take on Stipe Miocic later this year.
Matt Frevola admits he was "surprised" to get Drew Dober fight at UFC 288, vows to be the first person to KO him in the UFC: "He's never been hit by me before"
Cole Shelton - May 2, 2023
Matt Frevola didn’t expect to get a ranked opponent for his next fight, but was thrilled when he was offered Drew Dober at UFC 288. After Frevola picked up a KO win over Ottman Azaitar at UFC 281 last November, he thought he would be fighting someone like Michael Johnson or Clay Guida his next time out. Yet, he was offered Dober and couldn’t be more excited for the matchup.
Julianna Pena out of UFC 289 with a broken rib, Amanda Nunes now defends title against Irene Aldana
Cole Shelton - May 2, 2023
The trilogy between Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes will no longer be happening at UFC 289. UFC president, Dana White took to Instagram to announce that Pena has suffered a broken rib and is out of their scheduled main event fight. However, Irene Aldana has agreed to step up on short notice and will now headline the pay-per-view event for the bantamweight title against Nunes on June 10 in Vancouver, Canada.
Nate Diaz set for court hearing in June for involvement in New Orleans street fight
Cole Shelton - May 2, 2023
Nate Diaz will be heading to a New Orleans court in June. MMAFighting revealed that Diaz is scheduled for a preliminary court hearing on June 27 at 3 p.m. in New Orleans for his involvement in a brawl that occurred on Bourbon Street. Diaz is facing second-degree battery charges which carry a potential penalty of up to eight years in prison “with or without hard labor” and/or up to a $2,000 fine.
Khaos Williams expects to add to his highlight-reel with KO win over Rolando Bedoya at UFC 288: "He's going to get put out, it's that simple"
Cole Shelton - May 2, 2023
Khaos Williams will finally be making the walk to the Octagon again. Williams hasn’t fought since May of last year when he suffered a split decision loss to Randy Brown. After the defeat, Williams says the plan was to take time off and just improve on his game, which is exactly what he did.
Bryce Mitchell forced out of UFC 288 fight against Movsar Evloev, replacement opponent found
Cole Shelton - May 2, 2023
UFC 288 has taken a hit as Bryce Mitchell is out of his scheduled fight. According to Carlos Contreras Legaspi of ESPN Deportes, Mitchell has suffered an undisclosed injury and was forced to pull out of his slated main card contest against Movsar Evloev.
The rivalry between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira is far from over: “I’m still better”
Susan Cox - May 2, 2023
The rivalry between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira is far from over. Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira have a history from kickboxing to MMA.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 121 with Matt Frevola, Khaos Williams, Devin Clark, and Parker Porter
Cole Shelton - May 2, 2023
The 121st episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC 288 on Saturday. We’re first joined by UFC lightweight Matt Frevola (2:13). Next, UFC welterweight Khaos Williams (17:13) comes on. UFC light heavyweight Devin Clark (29:15) then joins the show. Closing out the program is UFC heavyweight Parker Porter (45:31).