UFC News
A slated welterweight matchup has been scratched from UFC 277
Cole Shelton - July 14, 2022
For the second straight day, a fight at UFC 277 has been scratched due to an injury. Yesterday, BJPENN.com reported that Diego Ferreira was forced out of his lightweight bout against Drakkar Klose. Now, sources tell BJPENN.com that Ferreira’s teammate in Ramiz Brahimaj has also been forced out of his UFC 277 fight against Michael Morales due to an undisclosed injury. The promotion is searching for a replacement for Morales, sources say.
Brian Ortega explains why he didn’t want to fight Yair Rodriguez
Cole Shelton - July 14, 2022
Brian Ortega didn’t want to be fighting Yair Rodriguez at UFC Long Island. The two are set to headline the card where the winner could get the next featherweight title shot. However, for Ortega, he says this is a fight he didn’t want due to the fact he and Rodriguez are friends given their Mexican heritage, and admits he didn’t want this fight to happen.
Lauren Murphy reflects on Valentina Shevchenko loss, reveals she battled with infection: "I 100 percent wish I had withdrawn from that fight"
Josh Evanoff - July 14, 2022
UFC women’s flyweight contender Lauren Murphy wishes she hadn’t fought Valentina Shevchenko. ‘Lucky’ faced ‘Bullet’ last September at UFC 266. In the co-main event, Shevchenko dominated the contest. In the fourth round, the women’s flyweight champion landed a devastating combination to secure the victory.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk happily retired, but admits she may return for one fight: "I could come back for the female BMF title"
Josh Evanoff - July 14, 2022
Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk could possibly return for one fight. Last month at UFC 275, the 34-year-old faced off against Weili Zhang for the second time. While the first outing was an incredible fight, the second encounter was more one-sided. The Poland-native was brutally knocked out in round two by ‘Magnum’.
Daniel Cormier disapproves of Jiri Prochazka vs. Glover Teixeira 2: "What about Jan Blachowicz?"
Josh Evanoff - July 14, 2022
Daniel Cormier doesn’t want to see Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira go again. Last month at UFC 275, the two light-heavyweights faced off in Singapore. The bout was a back-and-forth war. With the Brazilian winning on the cards, Prochazka secured a submission victory in the waning seconds of round five.
Jan Blachowicz teases Israel Adesanya rematch at middleweight: "I can sacrifice myself a little bit"
Josh Evanoff - July 14, 2022
Jan Blachowicz has teased that he could meet UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya again. In March 2021, fans were treated to a super fight between two champions. In the main event of UFC 259, the then-light-heavyweight champion faced off with middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya. Despite being an underdog, the Poland-native pulled off the upset.
Yair Rodriguez reacts to Zabit Magomedsharipov’s retirement from MMA: “There was a lot of things between him and I that was said”
Susan Cox - July 14, 2022
Yair Rodriguez has weighed in on Zabit Magomedsharipov’s retirement from MMA. Zabit (18-1 MMA) has not been in the Octagon since November of 2019, when he fought and defeated Calvin Kattar (23-6 MMA) by unanimous decision. The Russian’s only career loss was back in 2013 when he went down to defeat against Igor Egorov (13-8 MMA).
Chael Sonnen questions Jiri Prochazka’s call for a rematch with Glover Teixeira: “Why Do You Want To Fight A 42-Year-Old?”
Susan Cox - July 14, 2022
Chael Sonnen is questioning Jiri Prochazka’s call for a rematch with Glover Teixeira. It was Jiri Prochazka (29-3 MMA) vs Glover Teixeira (33-8 MMA) this past June at UFC 275 in Singapore. The result was Jiri Prochazka becoming the UFC light heavyweight champion with a stunning late submission of Glover Teixeira.
Pro fighters make their picks for Brian Ortega vs. Yair Rodriguez
Cole Shelton - July 14, 2022
In the main event of UFC Long Island, a pivotal featherweight scrap headlines the card as top-three featherweights collide as Brian Ortega takes on Yair Rodriguez. Heading into the fight, Ortega is a -180 favorite while the Mexican is a +140 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority of pros are leaning towards Ortega getting his hand raised and likely doing it by submission.
Jessica Andrade claims UFC champion Carla Esparza blocked her on social media after she requested a fight
Harry Kettle - July 14, 2022
Jessica Andrade has claimed Carla Esparza blocked her on social media after she asked to fight her for the title. While she may be moving back up to flyweight for a showdown with Manon Fiorot at UFC Paris, Jessica Andrade still very much has her eyes on the prize at strawweight – the division in which she won her first world title in the UFC.
Former flyweight title challenger John Dodson opens up on his UFC release: “I was like, ‘What the hell? First fight in and I’m done?”
Harry Kettle - July 14, 2022
John Dodson has opened up on how surprised he felt upon being released by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. From the moment he knocked out TJ Dillashaw to win The Ultimate Fighter 14, it was clear to see that John Dodson had some real potential. Then, immediately after conquering the bantamweight tournament, he swiftly moved down to flyweight in search of gold.
Darren Till says he’s at a “f**king low point” in his UFC career: “It’s so f*cking frustrating for me at the same time because I know my potential”
Harry Kettle - July 14, 2022
UFC star Darren Till has admitted he’s at a low point in his career after withdrawing from his UFC London fight against Jack Hermansson. In the wake of four losses in his last five bouts, it was clear to see that Darren Till needed to go back to the drawing board. So, that’s exactly what he did, mixing up his training in Liverpool with some work in Sweden at Allstars – with a particularly notable friendship brewing between himself and Khamzat Chimaev.
Brian Ortega still doesn't understand how Alexander Volkanovski didn't tap to his chokes at UFC 266: "How in the f**k did this man get out of that choke?"
Cole Shelton - July 13, 2022
Brian Ortega still can’t believe Alexander Volkanovski didn’t tap at UFC 266. In the third round of their featherweight title fight, Ortega appeared to lock in a guillotine and a triangle choke on two separate occasions and both appeared to be tight. Volkanovski’s face was going red but somehow the champ was able to escape and nearly a year later, ‘T-City’ doesn’t understand how.
Sean O'Malley works as a gas station attendant, and gives everything away (Video)
Josh Evanoff - July 13, 2022
UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley has seemingly found a second calling. ‘Sugar’ is fresh off his no-contest with Pedro Munhoz at UFC 276 earlier this month. While that bout went down as a no-contest, O’Malley viewed the fight as a win. However, he didn’t receive his win bonus for his effort, as he had previously hoped he would.
Maycee Barber sees herself challenging for UFC gold within two years: "I want to make sure I'm fully prepared for that"
Josh Evanoff - July 13, 2022
UFC women’s flyweight contender Maycee Barber sees herself fighting for gold soon. ‘The Future’ is fresh off a unanimous decision victory over Jessica Eye at UFC 276 earlier this month. The win moved her current winning streak to three. Barber had previously captured victories over Montana De La Rosa and Miranda Maverick.
Yair Rodriguez believes "it’s going to be important to have a really good strategy and stick to it" against Brian Ortega at UFC Long Island
Cole Shelton - July 13, 2022
Yair Rodriguez knows Brian Ortega will be a tough out at UFC Long Island on Saturday. Rodriguez and Ortega are set to headline the card in a pivotal fight for the featherweight division as the winner could get a title shot. Although the Mexican is coming off a loss to Max Holloway last time out, he says that fight taught him a lot including having a good strategy.
Darren Till says he would've finished Marvin Vettori in the first round when they were booked in 2021: "He just wouldn’t have been able to take my shots"
Cole Shelton - July 13, 2022
Darren Till believes he would’ve finished Marvin Vettori when they were scheduled to fight in April of 2021. Till and Vettori were set to headline UFC on ABC 2 but unfortunately just a few weeks before the event, the Brit broke his collarbone and was forced out of the fight. Vettori then fought Kevin Holland who he beat and proceeded to get a title shot against Israel Adesanya in the fight after.
Kamaru Usman says Alex Volkanovski is “phenomenal” but not the pound for pound best: “The world has to just realize that, right now, I am P4P best fighter on the planet”
Susan Cox - July 13, 2022
Kamaru Usman is dismissing the idea that Alex Volkanovski is the best pound for pound fighter on the planet. Usman (20-1 MMA) has 19 wins in his last 19 fights, his latest victory coming against Colby Covington (17-3 MMA) at UFC 268 in November of 2021.