UFC News

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2020

UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz is plotting an emphatic victory over the promotion’s middleweight titleholder, Israel Adesanya. Blachowicz is expected to defend his belt against Adesanya sometime in the new year. While the fight doesn’t yet have a date or a setting, the light heavyweight champion has named March as his preferred timeframe for the fight.

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2020

UFC lightweight contender Kevin Lee is going to look a little different next time he steps into the Octagon thanks to a brand new head tattoo. Lee began teasing his new ink a few weeks ago, and in a Tuesday post to Instagram, showed off what looks like the nearly-finished product. See it below.

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2020

The official UFC rankings have been updated after last Saturday’s UFC Vegas 12 card, and as always, there have been some interesting changes. The most notable change concerns Uriah Hall, who has cracked the middleweight division’s top-10 after scoring a fourth-round TKO win over retiring legend Anderson Silva in the card’s main event. By moving into the No. 10 spot, Hall pushes former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman into the No. 11 spot.

Tom Taylor - November 4, 2020

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz has won a city council seat in his hometown of Huntington Beach, California. Ortiz has been in the running for this position for several months, and ultimately achieved his political goal by winning 34,901 votes—14.26 percent of the votes cast overall (h/t MMA Junkie).

Harry Kettle - November 4, 2020

UFC featherweight Ryan Hall has immediately issued a callout after being medically cleared to compete once again. Hall, who is considered to be one of the best submission specialists in all of mixed martial arts, hasn’t fought since back in July 2019 when he beat Darren Elkins via unanimous decision. He had, however, twice been booked to fight Ricardo Lamas, only for the bout to fall apart on two separate occasions – the latter being due to Hall sustaining an injury.

Harry Kettle - November 4, 2020

UFC middleweight Robert Whittaker has issued his response after a recent callout by divisional rival Paulo Costa. Whittaker seems to be the next man in line for a shot at Israel Adesanya’s Middleweight Championship after his two decision wins over fellow contenders Darren Till and Jared Cannonier. Costa, on the other hand, was decisively beaten by Adesanya in a one-sided title fight back at UFC 253.

Adam Martin - November 3, 2020

UFC middleweight contender Kevin Holland says that his coach, former UFC fighter Travis Lutter, wants him to fight two more times in 2020. Holland has been one of the most active fighters on the UFC roster during the COVID-19 pandemic era. Dating back to May, Holland has fought four times and he’s won all four fights in impressive fashion. In May, Holland knocked out Anthony Hernandez in the first round at UFC Jacksonville. Holland then returned in August at UFC Vegas: Lewis vs. Overeem and defeated Joaquin Buckley via KO, winning a 50k bonus for his efforts.

Adam Martin - November 3, 2020

Recent UFC free-agent signing Michael Chandler is requesting a matchup against either Tony Ferguson or Justin Gaethje for his Octagon debut. Chandler was the backup for the UFC 254 main event between UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Gaethje, but he wasn’t needed as both men made weight and made it to the fight unscathed. A former three-time lightweight champion in Bellator, Chandler ended up getting introduced on the UFC 254 pay-per-view broadcast to UFC fans for the first time. But he went to Fight Island with the hopes of stepping into the cage.

Cole Shelton - November 3, 2020

Israel Adesanya knows he and Robert Whittaker will fight again in the near future. After Whittaker defeated Jared Cannonier at UFC 254 to become the No. 1 contender, many figured the rematch with Adesanya would be next. However, Whittaker made it clear he would not fight until March as he wanted to spend the holidays with his family.

Cole Shelton - November 3, 2020

Conor McGregor is venting his frustration with the UFC. In November of last year, McGregor announced he would be returning to the Octagon in January. His goal was to fight three times, the first in January, one in the summer, and then the rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov in October. However, that did not happen for a variety of reasons.

Cole Shelton - November 3, 2020

Ian Heinisch and Brendan Allen have been talking about fighting one another for years now. Both Heinisch and Allen were fighting in LFA and Allen had been calling Heinisch out. But, “The Hurricane” went on to win the interim middleweight belt and get on the Contender Series and get a UFC contract. Allen, meanwhile, had to stay fighting in LFA for another year, but when he signed to the Las Vegas-based promotion, he started calling out Heinisch once more, and at UFC Vegas 13, they will finally fight.

Adam Martin - November 3, 2020

Welterweight contender Santiago Ponzinibbio will make his long-awaited return to the UFC against Muslim Salikhov in January. Ponzinibbio vs. Salikhov is set to take place at a UFC event on January 16, one that will most likely take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Other fights that have been announced for the event include Ricky Simon vs. Brian Kelleher, Justin Tafa vs. Carlos Felipe, and Tim Elliott vs. Jordan Espinosa. There is no main event confirmed for this card just yet, though there remains the possibility the Ponzinibbio fight could headline the card.

Tom Taylor - November 3, 2020

Former two-division UFC champ Daniel Cormier believes the UFC made the right move by allowing Khabib Nurmagomedov to keep his title. Nurmagomedov, the UFC lightweight champion and current pound-for-pound king of MMA, announced his retirement after he submitted Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. Despite this announcement, UFC President Dana White expressed optimism that the lightweight star will fight again.

Cole Shelton - November 3, 2020

The 17th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 13. We’re first joined by UFC middleweight, Ian Heinisch (2:32). Next, UFC welterweight, Max Griffin (16:17) joins the program. Closing out the show is UFC welterweight, Ramiz Brahimaj (29:57).

Tom Taylor - November 3, 2020

Uriah Hall apologized to Anderson Silva in the moments after their fight concluded. Hall stepped into the cage with Silva, widely regarded as one of the best fighters ever, in the main event of UFC Vegas 12 last Saturday. The bout was widely expected to be the last of Silva’s UFC career.

Tom Taylor - November 3, 2020

UFC flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko wants a third fight with Amanda Nunes, who holds the promotion’s bantamweight and featherweight belts. Shevchenko and Nunes, two of the greatest female fighters of all time, have fought twice previously. Nunes won both of those fights by decision, but both were extremely close—particularly the second.

Tom Taylor - November 3, 2020

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya isn’t planning to pack on any extra muscle for his upcoming light heavyweight title superfight with Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya and Blachowicz don’t yet have a date for their collision, but UFC President Dana White has confirmed the fight is happening, and it’s already generating massive buzz.

Andrew Whitelaw - November 3, 2020

Tito Ortiz has called out Joe Rogan and others for leaving California. The UFC Hall of Famer is running for City Council in Huntington Beach.