MMA News
Francis Ngannou claims UFC champion Jon Jones was “part of the system” that he stood up against: “He at some point was trying to stand in my way”
Harry Kettle - September 28, 2023
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou believes Jon Jones is part of the system he was trying to fight against in the promotion. Next month, Francis Ngannou will step into the boxing ring to take on Tyson Fury. The payday, alongside the opportunity to even battle Fury, is being seen as a huge win for ‘The Predator’ – and a justification for his decision to leave the Ultimate Fighting Championship. For so long, Ngannou was attempting to raise awareness for fighter pay while simultaneously securing the kind of money that he believed he had earned.
Dana White reacts to Bryce Mitchell bringing a bible into the cage at UFC Vegas 79: “There’s no muzzles here”
Cole Shelton - September 27, 2023
UFC CEO Dana White had no problem with Bryce Mitchell bringing a bible into the Octagon after UFC Vegas 79. Mitchell returned to the win column last weekend in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 79 as he beat Dan Ige by decision. Before the win, Mitchell brought the bible into the Octagon and yellow “freedom”. After the victory, he claimed Satan had taken over Earth, specifically pointing to the Hawaiian fires, and wanted to pray with Ige.
Showtime's Stephen Espinoza unloads on Dana White following UFC CEO's recent comments: "There are levels to this"
Cole Shelton - September 27, 2023
Stephen Espinoza, the president of Showtime boxing, has taken aim at UFC CEO Dana White. On Tuesday night following the Contender Series, White was asked about Showtime reportedly pulling the plug on boxing after 2024. The news caught many by surprise, but White who hasn’t seen eye-to-eye with Espinoza, was thrilled to hear the news.
Logan Paul vows to "slaughter" Dillon Danis in the boxing ring or the courtroom
Cole Shelton - September 27, 2023
Logan Paul is ready to beat Dillon Danis, whether it’s in the boxing ring or the courtroom. Paul and Danis are set to box on Oct. 14 in Manchester, England on the Misfits boxing card. Logan was worried that Danis wouldn’t show up so there was a pullout clause put in the contract, so if ‘El Jefe’ backed out he would have to pay Paul $100,000.
Logan Paul confirms VADA drug testing for Dillon Danis boxing match: "My physique is because of my hard work"
Josh Evanoff - September 27, 2023
There will be drug testing for Logan Paul’s boxing match with Dillon Danis. ‘The Maverick’ and ‘El Jefe’ are currently set to face off next month in the U.K. There, Logan Paul and Dillon Danis will be the co-main event of KSI vs. Tommy Fury, in the YouTuber’s first fight in over two years. Meanwhile, the boxing match will be the first in the career of the Bellator star.
Stephen Thompson explains why he took Shavkat Rakhmonov fight after previously not being interested in it
Cole Shelton - September 27, 2023
Stephen Thompson surprised many when he revealed on social media that he had accepted a fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 296. Thompson was offered Rakhmonov last year and told BJPENN.com in August 2022, that he turned it down because he wasn’t interested in the matchup. Part of the reason why ‘Wonderboy’ turned the fight down was because he wanted to face another striker, as he was coming off back-to-back losses to Belal Muhammad and Gilbert Burns.
WATCH | Francis Ngannou hits the pads with Mike Tyson at open workout ahead of Tyson Fury bout
Josh Evanoff - September 27, 2023
Francis Ngannou and Mike Tyson got some work at last night’s open workouts preparing for Tyson Fury. In October, ‘The Predator’ will face ‘The Gypsy King’ in the first boxing match of his career thus far. To help bridge the gap between himself and Tyson Fury, Francis Ngannou has brought Mike Tyson into camp. While the boxing legend isn’t the full-time head coach, he has been heavily involved.
Alex Pereira discusses training with Dillon Danis for Logan Paul fight: "Pick up a lot of stuff"
Josh Evanoff - September 27, 2023
Former UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira is helping Dillon Danis train for Logan Paul. Despite recent rumors, ‘El Jefe’ is still set to face ‘The Maverick’ next month in the U.K. For Logan Paul, the boxing match will be his first since a 2021 exhibition with Floyd Mayweather. Meanwhile, the fight will be Dillon Danis’ first since 2019, which is likely why he’s working with Alex Pereira.
Teammates Ian Machado Garry and Vicente Luque share conversation to discuss fighting one another at UFC 296
Cole Shelton - September 27, 2023
Ian Machado Garry and Vicente Luque are teammates and will be fighting one another at UFC 296. Garry and Luque are both in the top 15, so the fight does make sense as the winner will get another big fight next time out. Yet, some were surprised that they are fighting one another as they are teammates. Garry even told BJPENN.com after his win over Magny that he wanted to avoid fighting his teammates.
Aljamain Sterling weighs in on rumored Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera rematch: “Why are we making this a WWE sport?”
Susan Cox - September 27, 2023
Aljamain Sterling is weighing in on the rumored Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera rematch. The former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is having a hard time understanding why the UFC would skip over other contenders and give Sean O’Malley (17-1 MMA) a rematch with Chito Vera (23-8 MMA).
UFC CEO Dana White comments on Mark Hunt after lawsuit comes to a close: “He's a bit of a delusional guy”
Susan Cox - September 27, 2023
UFC CEO Dana White is commenting on Mark Hunt after his recent lawsuit against the Ultimate Fighting Championship came to a close. It was earlier this week that the lawsuit between Mark Hunt and the UFC was dismissed. The case had gone on for four years.
Chael Sonnen shares his thoughts on the recent Paddy Pimblett vs. Tony Ferguson fight booking: “This isn’t a hard bet”
Susan Cox - September 27, 2023
Chael Sonnen is sharing his thoughts on the recent Paddy Pimblett vs. Tony Ferguson fight booking. UFC 296 is taking place on Saturday, December 16th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
UFC CEO Dana White reacts to Israel Adesanya’s drunk driving charge: “Thank God nobody was hurt”
Harry Kettle - September 27, 2023
UFC CEO and president Dana White has given his thoughts on Israel Adesanya’s recent drink driving charge. Earlier this month, Israel Adesanya suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 293. As a result, he lost his UFC middleweight championship.
Dana White reacts after Stephen Thompson suggests he will receive backpay for UFC 296 fight with Shavkat Rakhmonov
Harry Kettle - September 27, 2023
UFC president Dana White has reacted to Stephen Thompson’s claim that he will receive some backpay for his upcoming fight at UFC 296. In the last few days, it’s been confirmed that Stephen Thompson will return to take on Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 296. It comes after Thompson’s scheduled bout with Michel Pereira was cancelled, with ‘Wonderboy’ refusing to accept the bout after Pereira missed weight. This led to a dispute between the veteran and the promotion, with Thompson noting that he wasn’t paid for making weight and doing his job.
Belal Muhammad claims he “said yes” to a fight with UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland
Harry Kettle - September 27, 2023
UFC fighter Belal Muhammad has claimed that he said yes to a fight against middleweight champion Sean Strickland. Over the course of the last few years, Belal Muhammad has really turned his career around in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The 35-year-old is riding a 10-fight unbeaten streak with his latest win coming over Gilbert Burns back in May. As you can imagine, the veteran has been pretty relentless in his calls for a shot at the UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards.
Stephen Loman gets vote of confidence from former teammate in bout against John Lineker
BJPENN.COM Staff - September 27, 2023
Stephen Loman and John Lineker will clash in a battle that could have major implications for the future of ONE Championship’s bantamweight MMA division. Both men collide at ONE Fight Night 14 on Prime Video, which airs live in U.S. primetime from the Singapore Indoor Stadium on September 29.
Xiong Jing Nan training with former boxing champ for special rules bout at ONE Fight Night 14
BJPENN.COM Staff - September 27, 2023
Xiong Jing Nan has enlisted the expertise of a former Boxing World Champion to prepare for her upcoming one-of-a-kind showdown. The ONE Women’s Strawweight MMA World Champion faces Nat “Wondergirl” Jaroonsak in a special rules punching-only contest. The matchup takes place at ONE Fight Night 14 on Prime Video, airing live in U.S. primetime from the Singapore Indoor Stadium on September 29.
Jessa Khan unimpressed by Danielle Kelly’s game: ‘I don’t really see too much’
BJPENN.COM Staff - September 27, 2023
Danielle Kelly may have made her mark in ONE Championship, but Jessa Khan isn’t losing sleep over her opponent’s reputation. Khan and Kelly will collide for the inaugural ONE Atomweight Submission Grappling World Title at ONE Fight Night 14 on Prime Video. The event airs live in U.S. primetime from the Singapore Indoor Stadium on September 29.