UFC News
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 51 with Dan Hooker, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Cynthia Calvillo, Martin Sano Jr., and Jalin Turner
Cole Shelton - September 21, 2021
The 51st episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC 266. We’re first joined by the eighth-ranked lightweight Dan Hooker (2:01). Next, sixth-ranked heavyweight, Jairzinho Rozenstruik (24:54) joins the show. Fifth-ranked flyweight, Cynthia Calvillo (39:44) then comes on. UFC welterweight, Martin Sano Jr. (54:32) joins the program. Closing out the show is UFC lightweight, Jalin Turner (1:04:31).
Justin Gaethje takes aim at “b*tch” Kevin Lee: “That knockout against Gillespie was the worst thing that could’ve happened to him”
Adam D Martin - September 21, 2021
Justin Gaethje took aim at “b*tch” Kevin Lee, saying “that knockout against Gillespie was the worst thing that could’ve happened to him.” Gaethje was recently a guest of UFC Unfiltered and he was asked his thoughts on the rest of the lightweight division. When asked about UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira’s current win streak, Geathje criticized the Brazilian for what he perceives to be a soft schedule of competition. Outside of Tony Ferguson, according to Gaethje, Oliveira didn’t have any good wins during his win streak before he fought Michael Chandler for the vacant title at UFC 262. Well, he says, Lee was a pretty good win too — with a caveat.
Derek Brunson responds to callout from Jake Paul: “This isn’t Disney, I’d cook you’”
Harry Kettle - September 21, 2021
UFC middleweight Derek Brunson has given his thoughts, in no uncertain terms, on what would happen if he fought Jake Paul. It’s another day in the workroom and another mixed martial artist has opted to call out Jake Paul. It’s become a pretty regular occurrence in the last few months after Paul managed to beat both Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, two former UFC welterweights, in his last two outings.
Nasrat Haqparast vs. Dan Hooker fight once again in jeopardy for UFC 266
Christopher Taylor - September 20, 2021
A highly anticipated lightweight bout between Nasrat Haqparast and Dan Hooker is once again in jeopardy for this Saturday’s UFC 266 event. Haqparast (13-3 MMA) and Hooker (20-10 MMA) are slated to collide on the televised prelims of this weekend’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas.
Nick Diaz says he's 'way more of a dangerous fighter' now than when he first fought Robbie Lawler
Cole Shelton - September 20, 2021
Nick Diaz believes he’s more dangerous now compared to when he first fought Robbie Lawler in 2004. Diaz will make his highly-anticipated return to the Octagon in a five-round rematch against Lawler at UFC 266. It’s an intriguing matchup due to the fact Diaz has not fought since 2015 but he says he is here to dominate and is confident he will beat Lawler again.
Jan Blachowicz shares the most painful experience he has ever gone through in a fight
Adam D Martin - September 20, 2021
UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz shared the most painful experience he has ever gone through in a fight. Blachowicz, the UFC’s 205lbs champion, took to his social media on Sunday night to answer a series of questions from his fans during a Q&A session. One of the questions that a fan asked Blachowicz was about what the most painful shot he’s ever taken during a fight was. Considering Blachowicz has 36 professional MMA fights to his name, he has taken quite a few shots during his time in the cage. However, the champ said that it wasn’t a shot he took during an MMA fight, but one he took from a friend in Poland that hurt him the most.
Brian Kelleher says Sean O'Malley has accepted fight against him after recent callout
Adam D Martin - September 20, 2021
UFC bantamweight veteran Brian Kelleher says that rising star Sean O’Malley has accepted a fight against him after recently calling him out. Kelleher recently defeated Domingo Pilarte via dominant unanimous decision, and following the fight, he used his post-fight interview as an opportunity to call out O’Malley. We didn’t hear much from O’Malley at first, but after a fight against Frankie Edgar was scrapped when Marlon Vera got the fight instead, O’Malley had to move on and find someone else to fight. With Kelleher being available to fight now and with him already publicly calling out O’Malley, this fight made a ton of sense to book and the UFC has apparently booked it.
Nate Diaz is "training like he has a fight" coming up, says teammate
Adam D Martin - September 20, 2021
UFC welterweight superstar Nate Diaz is “training like he has a fight” coming up, according to his teammate Nick Maximov. Maximov is a training partner of the Diaz brothers and he makes his UFC debut this Saturday night at UFC 266 when he takes on Karl Roberson in a middleweight bout. Nick Diaz, of course, also fights this weekend when he takes on Robbie Lawler, so the whole team has been training hard ahead of the big event. Ahead of his UFC debut, Maximov spoke to MMA reporter James Lynch and was asked about how his training camp is going.
What's next for Anthony Smith and Ryan Spann after UFC Vegas 37?
Cole Shelton - September 20, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 37, top-15 middleweights collided as Anthony Smith looked to extend his winning streak against surging contender, Ryan Spann. Smith entered the fight coming off back-to-back stoppage wins over Jimmy Crute and Devin Clark. Prior to that, “Lionheart” had some setbacks as he lost to Aleksandar Rakic and Glover Teixeira. Ryan Spann, meanwhile, was coming off a first-round KO over Misha Cirkunov after a loss to Johnny Walker which had some controversy to it.
Anthony Smith says he has squashed his beef with Ryan Spann
Adam D Martin - September 20, 2021
UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith says he has squashed his beef with Ryan Spann following their recent fight at UFC Vegas 37. Smith finished Spann in the first round of their main event fight by submission after knocking his opponent down twice prior to choking him out. It was an incredible performance by Smith, who was fighting with a lot of emotion in the cage on Saturday night. Heading into this fight, Spann had some negative things to say about Smith, and “Lionheart” was not thrilled with that. At the end of the day, however, Smith got the last laugh when he entered the Octagon and took care of business with his rival Spann.
Sean O'Malley admits Paddy Pimblett is "kind of smart" with his trash talking
Adam D Martin - September 20, 2021
UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley admitted that lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett is “kind of smart” with his trash talking. Ever since making his UFC debut earlier this month with a KO win over Luigi Vendramini, Pimblett has been a thorn in the side of many other UFC fighters with his trash talking. One of the fighters who he has targeted with his trash talk is O’Malley, who is one of the UFC’s youngest and brightest stars. While one would figure O’Malley wouldn’t exactly be thrilled with what Pimblett has said about him, O’Malley said that he appreciates that he’s trying.
Rafael dos Anjos believes he is still on Conor McGregor's radar
Adam D Martin - September 20, 2021
Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos believes that he is still on Conor McGregor’s radar for when the Irishman returns to action. Dos Anjos is set to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 267 next month in what could potentially be a title eliminator at 155lbs. As for McGregor, he is currently on the sidelines injured after breaking his leg at UFC 264 against Dustin Poirier. While McGregor will be out for up to one year with his injury, he has promised that he will do everything in his power to return to the Octagon, and dos Anjos believes that he will indeed make a comeback.