UFC News

Harry Kettle - September 24, 2021

Din Thomas has called out Nick Diaz for requesting a swap from welterweight to middleweight just days before his fight against Robbie Lawler. It was reported earlier in the week that Diaz, who has been known to make waves during fight week before, had asked the UFC to change his fight versus Lawler from 170 pounds to 185 pounds. It appears as if Lawler obliged, meaning the change was confirmed for UFC 266.

Harry Kettle - September 24, 2021

UFC middleweight Kelvin Gastelum has revealed that he’s considering hiring a dietitian to help him move back down to welterweight. Just a few years ago Gastelum was on the verge of winning the strap at 185 pounds but now, he’s lost five of his last six with many being left to question whether or not he’s really at that elite level anymore.

Cole Shelton - September 23, 2021

Alexander Volkanovski truly doesn’t like Brian Ortega. Volkanovski was supposed to fight Ortega in March but he tested positive for COVID-19 and the fight was delayed. Once the fight was delayed, the two ended up coaching The Ultimate Fighter and throughout the season, Volkanovski began to dislike Ortega. At the press conference ahead of their main event fight at UFC 266, the two took shots at one another. Yet, during their faceoff, it was Volkanovski who brought up Ortega’s past as the American tested positive for steroids in his UFC debut.

Cole Shelton - September 23, 2021

Israel Adesanya has given up on his dream of headlining a UFC card in New Zealand. Adesanya called for his next title defense to happen in Auckland as he wanted to fight at home. Yet, as the country continues to lock down to the pandemic, which includes shutting down gyms like City Kickboxing and making it hard for fighters like Dan Hooker to fight, “The Last Stylebender” has no interest in fighting at home. Instead, he says the ‘bureaucrats’ can make their money elsewhere.

Adam D Martin - September 23, 2021

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski ripped “unprofessional” opponent Brian Ortega ahead of their title fight at UFC 266. Volkanovski puts his 145lbs belt on the line this Saturday night when he faces his TUF 29 coaching rival Ortega for featherweight supremacy. Volkanovski enters this fight on a 19-fight win streak, which includes a perfect 9-0 mark in the UFC alone, while Ortega enters this fight with a 7-1, 1 NC record in the Octagon. Fans are very much looking forward to this fight, one that pits two of the best featherweights on the planet against one another, not to mention two men that do not necessarily like each other.

Cole Shelton - September 23, 2021

Martin Sano Jr. is eager to finally make the walk to the Octagon. Sano Jr., a protégé of Nick Diaz, has not fought since 2017 and is 0-2-1 in his last three fights. However, he still is 4-2-1 as a pro and has fought for promotions likes Bellator and WSOF, but when Diaz was announced to make his return, he got his pupil in Sano Jr. signed to the UFC and to fight Matthew Semeslberger at UFC 266.

Adam D Martin - September 23, 2021

Former UFC featherweight champion and current bantamweight title contender Jose Aldo welcomed new challengers, saying to them “Let’s fight!” Aldo last fought at UFC 265 in August when he won a unanimous decision over fellow Brazilian Pedro Munhoz. It was Aldo’s second straight win at 135lbs following a decision nod over Marlon Vera last year. Following the win over Munhoz, Aldo used his post-fight interview as an opportunity to call out former bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw. However, it appears as if Dillashaw is banged up and likely won’t be able to fight before the end of the year. If it’s Aldo’s goal to step back into the cage before 2021 is up, then he will likely have to fight someone else instead, and that’s why he is now welcoming new challengers.

Cole Shelton - September 23, 2021

On the main card of UFC 266, Nick Diaz is set to make his highly-anticipated return as he rematches Robbie Lawler in a middleweight bout. Diaz is a +120 underdog while the former UFC welterweight champ is a -140 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros are nearly unanimous in thinking Robbie Lawler wins due to activity but the pros admit this is a tough one to call.

Harry Kettle - September 23, 2021

UFC featherweight Brian Ortega has explained how TJ Dillashaw’s big comeback win over Cory Sandhagen has helped him heading into UFC 266. This Saturday night, Ortega will return to the Octagon for the first time in almost a year to take on Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight championship. It’ll serve as his second bite at the cherry to win the strap, almost three years on from when he fell short against Max Holloway.

Harry Kettle - September 23, 2021

Richard Schaefer has revealed that Jon Jones is hoping to hit 275 lbs as he continues to prepare for his heavyweight debut. While some fans may be getting impatient, there’s no way of denying just how much hype there is behind Jon Jones finally making the shift up to heavyweight. He’s been out of the Octagon for over 18 months now and all that seems to be left is for the two parties to come to terms on the right sum for a UFC title showdown.

Christopher Taylor - September 22, 2021

Nick Diaz says he “took harder punches watching” his little brother fight Leon Edwards at UFC 263 than he ever has in sparring or any fights. Diaz will make his highly anticipated return to the Octagon on Saturday when he squares off in a rematch with Robbie Lawler at UFC 266. The pair originally collided seventeen years ago in a welterweight bout at UFC 47, with the Stockton native emerging victorious by way of second round knockout.

Christopher Taylor - September 22, 2021

Former women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate has been forced to withdraw from her slated UFC main event with Ketlen Vieira. Tate (19-7 MMA) and Vieira (11-2 MMA) were scheduled to clash in the headliner of UFC Fight Night 195 on October 16. However, according to a recent report from Sherdog, ‘Cupcake’ has been forced out of the contest after contracting Covid-19.

Cole Shelton - September 22, 2021

Robbie Lawler not only expects to beat Nick Diaz but expects to finish him. In a five-round middleweight bout on the main card of UFC 266, Diaz is set to return to the Octagon for the first time since 2015 when he rematches Lawler. The two first met in 2004 with Diaz winning the fight by KO but this time, the former UFC welterweight champion is confident he will KO Diaz this time around.

Cole Shelton - September 22, 2021

Robbie Lawler didn’t seem to mad that Nick Diaz asked for their UFC 266 fight to be at middleweight. Diaz is set to return to the Octagon in a highly-anticipated rematch against Lawler. Although both men are known for their time as welterweights, on Tuesday, it was revealed their fight was changed to a middleweight fight due to Diaz asking for it. For Lawler, he says he’s a little light but he’s ready to fight.

Adam D Martin - September 22, 2021

Pound-for-pound boxing great Canelo Alvarez shared his honest thoughts on YouTuber Jake Paul, suggesting that “maybe it’s good for boxing.” Alvarez is the top P4P boxer on the planet right now, and he next steps into the boxing ring when he fights the unbeaten Caleb Plant on November 6. Ahead of the fight, Alvarez and Plant took part in the pre-fight press conference. Following the presser, Alvarez spoke to reporters and he was asked questions on a number of topics, including the YouTuber Paul.

Cole Shelton - September 22, 2021

In the co-main event of UFC 266, Valentina Shevchenko is looking to defend her flyweight belt as she faces Lauren Murphy. Ahead of the fight, the champ is a massive -1250 favorite while the challenger is a +750 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. To no surprise, the pros are unanimous in thinking Shevchenko remains the flyweight champ, the bigger question for the pros was whether or not the champ finishes the fight.

Adam D Martin - September 22, 2021

UFC president Dana White explained why this weekend’s highly-anticipated Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler 2 fight will now take place at 185lbs. Diaz and Lawler will meet in a rematch 17 years after they first fought at UFC 47 in 2004, where Diaz scored a KO over a young Lawler. All these years later and these two are now set to rematch this Saturday night at UFC 266 in Las Vegas. Originally, the fight was set to take place in the welterweight division. But as we draw closer to the fight, Diaz now wants the fight to take place in the middleweight division. Remember, Diaz hasn’t fought since 2015 against Anderson Silva and that fight was at middleweight. The last time that Diaz fought at welterweight was way back in 2013 and he apparently doesn’t want to cut weight again, according to UFC president Dana White when speaking to reporters this week.

Adam D Martin - September 22, 2021

UFC fan-favorite Nick Diaz will be in welterweight title contention with a big win at UFC 266, says his longtime teammate, Gilbert Melendez. Diaz takes on Robbie Lawler in a five-round, non-title welterweight rematch at UFC 266 this Saturday night. The two rivals previously met way back in 2004 at UFC 47, with Diaz knocking Lawler out 17 years ago. All these years later and the two will now rematch. While neither man is ranked right now, it’s a big enough fight that Diaz’s teammate believes that “The Stockton Bad Boy” will move into title contention at 170lbs with a win.