MMA News
Conor McGregor addresses his long layoff: “There was political shadiness going on in the background”
Zain Bando - October 10, 2023
Conor McGregor, former UFC double-champion, makes very few public media appearances when he’s inactive. But when he does, it garners buzz and intrigue like any other major sporting figure. McGregor has yet to compete since losing back-to-back fights against Dustin Poirier in 2021 and has not won in the Octagon since a 46-second stoppage victory over Donald Cerrone in January of 2020.
Curtis Blaydes releases statement after having to pull out of UFC Sao Paulo main event
Cole Shelton - October 10, 2023
Curtis Blaydes has opened up on his decision to withdraw from the UFC Sao Paulo main event against Jailton Almeida. On Monday it was revealed that Blaydes withdrew from his Nov. 4 main event and was replaced by Derrick Lewis. At the time, it wasn’t revealed what happened to Blaydes, but it has since been reported he suffered an ankle injury.
Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou pay-per-view price revealed
Cole Shelton - October 10, 2023
Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou will be live on pay-per-view on Oct. 28 and the price has been revealed. Fury and Ngannou are set to box in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Oct. 28 in a highly-anticipated matchup. The full fight card has still yet to be determined/announced, but the pay-per-view price has been at $79.99. The fight will take place on ESPN+ pay-per-view as well as all traditional pay-per-view outlets with the broadcast scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. ET.
Logan Paul issues lengthy response to Brendan Schaub after being accused of breaking the first rule of fight club
Cole Shelton - October 10, 2023
Logan Paul has fired back at Brendan Schaub. Paul is set to return to the boxing ring on Saturday, Oct. 14 in Manchester, England as he faces Dillon Danis. In the lead-up to the fight, Danis has been posting unflattering photos of Paul’s fiancée Nina Agdal with other men. It has gone on for so long that Agdal is now suing Danis which Schaub isn’t a fan of.
Aljamain Sterling believes “there's a very good chance” Marlon Vera defeats Sean O’Malley for a second time
Susan Cox - October 10, 2023
Aljamain Sterling believes ‘there’s a very good chance’ Marlon Vera defeats Sean O’Malley. Sean O’Malley (17-1 MMA) is expected to rematch with Marlon Vera (23-8 MMA) in his first title defence.
Khamzat Chimaev accused of “sabotaging” Paulo Costa fight camp ahead of UFC 294
Susan Cox - October 10, 2023
Khamzat Chimaev is being accused of ‘sabotaging’ Paulo Costa fight camp ahead of UFC 294. UFC 294 takes place on Saturday, October 21st at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The co-main event will feature Paulo Costa (14-2 MMA) going up against Khamzat Chimaev (12-0 MMA) in a middleweight bout.
Sean Strickland explains why the 90’s was such “a better time” for humanity: “Y’all ever see True Lies?”
Susan Cox - October 10, 2023
Sean Strickland is explaining why the 90’s was such ‘a better time’ for humanity. The currently crowned UFC middleweight champion is in the news yet again. Strickland (28-5 MMA) recently defeated Israel Adesanya (24-3 MMA) by unanimous decision this past September at UFC 293 to claim the belt.
Gordon Ryan suggests Jon Jones will “leave the sport at the top” following his fight with Stipe Miocic at UFC 295
Harry Kettle - October 10, 2023
Grappling sensation Gordon Ryan has hinted that Jon Jones will retire from mixed martial arts after UFC 295. Next month at UFC 295, Jon Jones will defend his UFC heavyweight championship against Stipe Miocic. If he wins, many believe Jones will cement his status as the greatest of all time. In fact, some already believe he holds that distinction. In order to get ready for the contest, ‘Bones’ is doing everything in his power to improve in training, which includes rolling with BJJ star Gordon Ryan.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 142 with Sodiq Yusuff, Adrian Yanez, and Ashley Yoder
Cole Shelton - October 10, 2023
The 142nd episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC Vegas 81 this Saturday. We’re first joined by 11th-ranked UFC featherweight Sodiq Yusuf (1:18). Next, 14th-ranked UFC bantamweight Adrian Yanez (16:31) comes on. Closing out the program is UFC strawweight Ashley Yoder (38:21).
Mike Perry says he is planning to fight this weekend regardless if his service are needed: “I might fight that night in the crowd”
Harry Kettle - October 10, 2023
Mike Perry has suggested that he is prepared to fight this weekend, even if he isn’t called upon as backup for Logan Paul vs Dillon Danis. Over the course of the last few years, Mike Perry has completely reinvented himself. He has become an absolute superstar outside of the UFC, establishing himself as the king of bare-knuckle boxing. Some may not agree with that, but his record – and the attention he’s brought to BKFC – speaks volumes.
Cris Cyborg details the post-fight conversation she had with Cat Zingano at Bellator 300: “She was saying something like I was a stalker”
Harry Kettle - October 10, 2023
Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg has revealed the conversation she had with Cat Zingano after Bellator 300. At Bellator 300, Cris Cyborg made a statement by defeating Cat Zingano to successfully retain her Bellator featherweight championship. In doing so, she reminded the world of what many already knew – she is one of the greatest female fighters of all time. In terms of what’s next, nobody really knows for sure, but she’ll happily sit back and bask in the glory of what she’s just achieved for a while yet.
Jon Jones says he’s going to have “trouble sleeping” after being served “a large hot piece of humble pie” from Gordon Ryan
Susan Cox - October 9, 2023
Jon Jones says he’s going to have ‘trouble sleeping’ after being served ‘a large hot piece of humble pie’ from Gordon Ryan. The UFC heavyweight kingpin, Jon Jones, apparently had a rough time against jiu-jitsu extraordinaire Gordon Ryan on the mats.
Mikey Musumeci describes win over Shinya Aoki as "special moment"
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 9, 2023
What's next for Bobby Green and Grant Dawson after UFC Vegas 80?
Cole Shelton - October 9, 2023
In the main event of UFC Vegas 80, lightweights threw down as Bobby Green took on the 10th-ranked Grant Dawson. Green entered the fight coming off a submission victory over Tony Ferguson back in July which got him back into the win column. Prior to that, he had a No Contest against Jared Gordon and lost back-to-back fights to Drew Dober, and Islam Makhachev in what was his first UFC main event.
Cain Velasquez breaks down "the greatest ever" Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic at UFC 295
Cole Shelton - October 9, 2023
Cain Velasquez is interested in seeing how Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic plays out at UFC 295. Jones is set to defend his heavyweight title for the first time when he takes on former champion Miocic in the main event of UFC 295 on Nov. 11 from Madison Square Garden. It’s a massive bout, and there have been rumors that this could be both of their final fights, which only adds to the intrigue.
Jason Knight claims Conor McGregor didn't show up for a "good solid week" of TUF 31 practices
Cole Shelton - October 9, 2023
Jason Knight says Conor McGregor rarely showed up to TUF 31 practices and filming. McGregor returned to coach TUF 31 opposite Michael Chandler, and during the show, the Irishman was noticeably not around for weigh-ins. Kurt Holobaugh then told BJPENN.com that Conor McGregor was the cause of multiple practices being canceled because he didn’t show up.
Nate Diaz calls for New Year's Eve boxing rematch against Jake Paul: "Trilogy is in Mma"
Cole Shelton - October 9, 2023
Nate Diaz is hoping to run it back with Jake Paul before the end of the year. Diaz and Paul boxed back in August and it was ‘The Problem Child’ who won a one-sided decision to return to the win column. After the fight, Paul called for a rematch but wanted to do it in MMA under the PFL brand. He has since doubled down on the offer, as on The Full Send Podcast, Paul explained why he thinks Diaz turned down the MMA rematch.
Sean Strickland takes aim at Belal Muhammad over his “pray for Palestine” post: “This is what you'd call a coward response”
Susan Cox - October 9, 2023
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland is taking aim at Belal Muhammad over his ‘pray for Palestine’ post. Muhammad took to ‘X’ over the weekend with the following comment:
Derrick Lewis replaces Curtis Blaydes, now headlines UFC Sao Paulo against Jailton Almeida
Cole Shelton - October 9, 2023
Derrick Lewis will be going down to Brazil next month to headline UFC Sao Paulo. On Monday, it was reported that Curtis Blaydes was out of his scheduled main event fight against Jailton Almeida at UFC Sao Paulo due to injury. However, Ag.Fight revealed that Derrick Lewis has agreed to step up to face the Brazilian in the main event spot on Nov. 4 at the Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil.