UFC News
Jimmy Crute provides update on injured leg in Anthony Smith fight at UFC 261
Adam D Martin - April 29, 2021
UFC light heavyweight contender Jimmy Crute provided an update on his injured leg from the Anthony Smith fight at UFC 261. Crute appeared to be in serious pain due to a leg injury and unable to walk properly at the end of the first round with Smith. After attempting to put pressure on the leg, his knee buckled and the cage-side doctor called a stop to the fight as Crute lost via injury TKO. A few days after the fight and Crute has now provided an update on the injury he suffered. According to the Aussie, there is the belief he suffered a knee injury in the fight.
Pro fighters make their picks for Dominick Reyes vs. Jiri Prochazka
Cole Shelton - April 29, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 25 on May 1, Dominick Reyes is looking to snap his two-fight losing streak as he battles Jiri Prochazka. Entering the fight, Reyes is a +110 underdog while the former RIZIN champ is a -130 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros are split on this one but the slight majority lean towards Prochazka picking up his second UFC win.
Kevin Holland stumps for short-notice opportunity against Donald Cerrone
Adam D Martin - April 29, 2021
UFC middleweight Kevin Holland is stumping to take on veteran Donald Cerrone on short notice next weekend in a 175lbs catchweight bout. Holland has lost his last two fights to Marvin Vettori and Derek Brunson after being taken down and controlled for 25 minutes in both of those bouts. “Trailblazer” was expected to take some time off to work on his wrestling skills, but it appears as though he wants to step back into the Octagon as soon as possible for a short-notice fight with Cerrone.
Beneil Dariush ready to step up in case anything happens to Michael Chandler or Charles Oliveira at UFC 262
Adam D Martin - April 29, 2021
UFC lightweight Beneil Dariush says he is willing to step up to fight if anything happens to Charles Oliveira or Michael Chandler at UFC 262. Dariush steps back into the Octagon on May 15 at UFC 262 when he takes on Tony Ferguson in the biggest fight of his career to date. And while Dariush is absolutely not looking past Ferguson by any means, he is aware that he could step in and fight for the belt should anything happen to Oliveira or Chandler before their fight. If anything does happen to Oliveira or Chandler, Dariush is preparing to fight for five rounds or less.
Tyson Fury sends message to Francis Ngannou and 'UFC guys'
Drake Riggs - April 28, 2021
Francis Ngannou’s original intentions in combat sports were driven towards boxing. Now as UFC heavyweight champion, he’s gained Tyson Fury’s attention. As he’s progressed in MMA, Ngannou has remained interested in potential boxing matches. With Fury atop the throne as arguably the best heavyweight boxer in the world, it would only make sense for the best of the best to square off… in theory, of course.
Michelle Waterson confirms flyweight main event fight on May 8 against Marina Rodriguez
Cole Shelton - April 28, 2021
Michelle Waterson and Marina Rodriguez will headline UFC Vegas 26 on May 8, but the fight will take place at flyweight, Waterson revealed to BJPENN.com. After TJ Dillashaw was forced out of the headlining spot against Cory Sandhagen due to a nasty cut, the UFC reached out to Waterson and Rodriguez to step up on short notice to headline the card. Now, according to “The Karate Hottie” the fight is a done deal and the scrap will happen at 125lbs.
Derrick Lewis says he will KO Francis Ngannou in the "first exchange"
Cole Shelton - April 28, 2021
Derrick Lewis believes he will beat Francis Ngannou again, but this time will do it in a more dramatic fashion. Lewis and Ngannou first met in the co-main event of UFC 226. It was a highly anticipated heavyweight scrap as they are to KO artists. However, the fight was a lackluster one as Lewis was dealing with a bad back and Ngannou was coming off being dominated by Stipe Miocic so his confidence wasn’t there. It resulted in the two barely throwing any punches and Lewis edging out a boring decision.
Video | Israel Adesanya reacts to Chris Weidman’s horrible leg break at UFC 261
Cole Shelton - April 28, 2021
Israel Adesanya had a similar reaction to many others when Chris Weidman broke his leg at UFC 261. On the main card of the stacked pay-per-view, Weidman and Uriah Hall were having a rematch over 10 years in the making. It was a crucial fight for both men, but unfortunately, on the first strike of the fight, Weidman threw a leg kick that was checked and his leg completely snapped.
Report | Diego Sanchez out of May 8 fight against Donald Cerrone, replacement sought after
Cole Shelton - April 28, 2021
UFC Vegas 26 on May 8 has taken another hit as Diego Sanchez is reportedly out of his fight against Donald Cerrone. MMA reporter, C. Contreras Legaspi was first to report the news. It’s not known why Sanchez is out of the fight but the good news is, the UFC is searching for a replacement to face Cerrone.
Drakkar Klose not happy after being "injured on the job" following shove by Jeremy Stephens
Adam Martin - April 28, 2021
UFC lightweight Drakkar Klose is not happy that he was “injured on the job” following a shove by Jeremy Stephens before UFC Vegas 24. Klose and Stephens were set to meet in the co-main event of the UFC Vegas 24 card two weeks ago. However, the fight fell apart at the last second when Klose was unable to compete after being injured following a shove from Stephens at the weigh-ins on Friday. Klose was apparently feeling the affects of whiplash and he was unable to fight the next day. That meant that the fight was off, and though Klose was eventually paid his show money, he believes that the UFC should have given him his full win bonus, as well.
Photos | Francis Ngannou shares pictures of victory tour in Cameroon
Adam Martin - April 28, 2021
UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou shared photos of his victory tour as he headed back home to his native Cameroon with the heavyweight belt. Ngannou knocked out Stipe Miocic last month at UFC 260 to win the UFC heavyweight title for the first time. Following the victory, Ngannou has now gone back home to Cameroon. On Wednesday, “The Predator” took to his social media to share photos of the trip home.
Dustin Poirier thanks Conor McGregor for charitable donation: "Mission accomplished"
Adam Martin - April 28, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier thanked rival Conor McGregor for his charitable donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana. Poirier recently took to his social media to reveal that McGregor’s $500,000 donation to “The Good Fight Foundation” never came through despite his team suggesting the money had been sent. McGregor then put Poirier on blast for his comments and threatened to break apart their fight at UFC 264. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and the fight remains intact. Still, there was that question about the charity money that McGregor promised floating out there. Now, we know McGregor has made good on his word.
Dustin Jacoby expects to KO Ion Cutelaba "early" and fight a ranked guy next
Cole Shelton - April 28, 2021
Dustin Jacoby is eager to share the Octagon with Ion Cutelaba on Saturday night. Cutelaba was originally set to face Devin Clark but Clark was forced out of the bout. After that happened, the UFC called Jacoby who jumped at the opportunity to face a well-known name in Cutelaba.
Cody Stamann doesn't understand why he's an underdog against Merab Dvalishvili, says he will KO him: "I'm going to put him to sleep"
Cole Shelton - April 28, 2021
Cody Stamann doesn’t understand the hype around Merab Dvalishvili. Stamann and Dvalishvili are set to finally meet at UFC Vegas 25 after being scheduled two times previously. After the fight has fallen apart two times previously, Stamann says he had some reluctance to accept the fight for the third time until Dvalishvili started to train at his gym and some of his training partners told him he would be able to win the fight with ease.
Report | UFC 261 sold over 700k pay-per-view buys domestically in the United States
Harry Kettle - April 28, 2021
A recent report suggests that Saturday night’s UFC 261 event sold over 700,000 PPV buys domestically in the United States. The showcase featured three title fights and also marked the return of fans to the arena after more than a year of them not being able to attend.
Joe Rogan praises amazing fights at UFC 261: "The night was really magic"
Adam Martin - April 28, 2021
UFC color commentator Joe Rogan reacted to the amazing fights at this past weekend’s UFC 261 card, saying that “the night was really magic.” Rogan was cageside alongside former UFC champion Daniel Cormier and veteran play-by-play man Jon Anik for last Saturday’s UFC 261 card. Welcoming fans back for the first time in over a year, the fighters put on an absolute show for the sold-out crowd in Jacksonville, Florida. The card was full of incredible moments, from Kamaru Usman knocking out Jorge Masvidal in the main event to Rose Namajunas finishing Weili Zhang with a head kick in the co-main event. Following the card, Rogan took to his social media to react to the event.
Valentina Shevchenko open to fighting Weili Zhang at 125lbs
Adam Martin - April 28, 2021
UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko says she is open to fighting former women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang at 125lbs. Shevchenko had another extraordinary performance in the Octagon this past Saturday night at UFC 261 when she defeated Jessica Andrade via second-round TKO for her seventh straight win at 125lbs. Shevchenko has been absolutely running through everyone in her path in the flyweight division, and after beating Zhang, it’s hard to say who will be next.
Kamaru Usman says Khabib Nurmagomedov matchup "would be the biggest fight in UFC history," but he's lost faith in it happening
Adam Martin - April 28, 2021
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman believes that a matchup against Khabib Nurmagomedov would be the biggest fight in UFC history. Usman picked up his 14th straight win this past Saturday night when he knocked out Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 261. It was another incredible performance by Usman, who continues to show improvements to his game and evolution to his skill set every time we see him step into the Octagon. At this point, he’s nearly cleaned out the UFC welterweight division as he’s beaten nearly everyone in the top-five rankings. Though Usman seems destined for a rematch with Colby Covington next, he’s already beaten him, too, so you can see why he is considering what other sort of challenges there are out there.