MMA News
Jonathan Haggerty enjoys having a target on his back: "It’s a good thing, really"
BJPENN.COM Staff - August 25, 2023
Jonathan Haggerty finds himself in a unique position, one that he not only relishes but welcomes with open arms. Having achieved the remarkable feat of becoming a two-division ONE World Champion by ousting Nong-O Hama from his bantamweight Muay Thai throne this past April, Haggerty now has a metaphorical target on his back.
Chan Sung Jung says he's "back to the classic Korean Zombie" at UFC Singapore against Max Holloway
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2023
Chan Sung Jung believes he’s back to the old Korean Zombie ahead of UFC Singapore. Korean Zombie is set to nearly a year-and-a-half layoff when he headlines UFC Singapore against Max Holloway. It’s a fight that both are expecting to be exciting and a war, although the Hawaiian is a massive betting favorite and many expect him to cruise to a win.
Merab Dvalishvili willing to wait a "year or more" for a title shot against Sean O'Malley: "I’m going to fight for the title next"
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2023
Merab Dvalishvili says he won’t fight again unless it’s for the title. Dvalishvil is currently the second-ranked bantamweight and believes he has earned a title shot. However, at UFC 292, his close friend and teammate, Aljamain Sterling lost his title by second-round TKO to Sean O’Malley. Since then, Sterling has been campaigning for an immediate rematch, which Dvalishvili believes should happen.
Logan Paul confirms plans to callout Conor McGregor with win over 'his b*tch' Dillon Danis
Josh Evanoff - August 25, 2023
Logan Paul is already targeting Conor McGregor ahead of his boxing match with Dillon Danis. ‘The Maverick’ hasn’t been as active in the ring as his brother, Jake Paul, having made a career in the WWE instead. However, Logan Paul is now slated to return to the ring against ‘El Jefe’ in October. His boxing match with Dillon Danis will co-main event the ‘PRIME Card’, headlined by Tommy Fury vs. KSI.
Tyson Fury unbothered by Mike Tyson training Francis Ngannou: "I am inevitable"
Josh Evanoff - August 25, 2023
Lineal heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury isn’t worried about Mike Tyson or Francis Ngannou. ‘Iron Mike’ and ‘The Predator’ have made a lot of headlines over the last few weeks. Slated for his boxing match opposite ‘The Gypsy King’ in October, Francis Ngannou decided to bring the boxing legend to his camp. Since becoming his trainer, Mike Tyson has been vocal about the PFL heavyweight pulling the upset.
Stephen Thompson declares intentions for one final title run after canceled return: "I'm not a gatekeeper"
Josh Evanoff - August 25, 2023
UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson has his eye on the title. ‘Wonderboy’ was slated to return opposite Michel Pereira last month at UFC 291. However, the Brazilian badly missed weight, causing the bout to be scrapped. Leading into the bout, Stephen Thompson was coming off a win over Kevin Holland and was ready to build on his momentum.
Korean Zombie expecting UFC Singapore fight against Max Holloway to be a "slugfest"
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2023
The Korean Zombie expects his UFC Singapore fight against Max Holloway to be a slugfest. Zombie is set to fight for the first time since April 2022 when he headlines UFC Singapore against Holloway. Heading into the fight, he’s a sizeable betting underdog and many are writing him off ahead of the matchup. However, ‘TKZ’ has confidence he can pull off the upset as he knows it will be a back-and-forth slugfest.
Ian Machado Garry promises Stephen Thompson fight happens next, says it will be a "show for the ages"
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2023
Ian Machado Garry is confident he will face Stephen Thompson his next time out. Garry is coming off a one-sided dominant decision win over Neil Magny at UFC 292, and after the win, he called out Stephen Thompson. He said he wanted to prove he was the best striker in the world, but after UFC 292, Dana White claimed ‘Wonderboy’ turned down the scrap.
Anthony Smith says he wouldn’t still be fighting if he didn’t believe he could become a UFC champion: “The whole reason I’m still here and still in this journey is the title”
Susan Cox - August 25, 2023
Anthony Smith is sharing that he wouldn’t still be fighting if he didn’t still believe he could become a UFC champion. It will be Anthony Smith (36-18 MMA) in a rematch with Ryan Spann (21-8 MMA) this Saturday, August 26th at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, in Singapore.
Israel Adesanya vows to make Sean Strickland his “b*tch” at UFC 293: “Behind the scenes he’s soft”
Susan Cox - August 25, 2023
Israel Adesanya is vowing to make Sean Strickland his ‘b*tch’ at UFC 293. UFC 293 takes place on Saturday, September 9th at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
UFC Singapore: ‘Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie’ Weigh-in Results - All Fighters Make Weight
Susan Cox - August 25, 2023
UFC Singapore kicks off with fighter weigh-ins, which took place today, Friday, August 25th at the UFC host hotel in Singapore. UFC Singapore takes place tomorrow, Saturday August 26th at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Tony Ferguson announces he is “not done fighting” following latest loss at UFC 291: “F**k your retirementtal”
Harry Kettle - August 25, 2023
Tony Ferguson has claimed that he will not be retiring from mixed martial arts despite suffering his sixth straight defeat. For many years, Tony Ferguson was widely considered to be the best lightweight on the planet – or at least, one of the top two. He’s always been on the verge of challenging for the undisputed title, but the closest he came was the interim championship.
Giga Chikadze doubts Alex Caceres will attempt to strike with him at UFC Singapore: “I’m a different breed, and he knows it”
Harry Kettle - August 25, 2023
Giga Chikadze doesn’t believe that Alex Caceres will try to strike with him when they collide at UFC Singapore. After more than 18 months away, Giga Chikadze will return to the Octagon this weekend. He’ll do so when he collides with veteran Alex Caceres, as he attempts to get back into the win column following a long lay-off. That time away largely came as a result of his battle with Calvin Kattar, in which he was emphatically beaten by unanimous decision in January 2022.
Police threatened to arrest and jail Ian Garry the night before UFC 292: “I promise you, I will push the boundaries”
Harry Kettle - August 25, 2023
According to Ian Garry, police in Boston threatened to put him in jail the night before his fight at UFC 292. Last weekend at UFC 292, Ian Garry put on a real show in his victory over Neil Magny. The win extended his unbeaten run, and it helped him climb further up the welterweight rankings as he closes in on the top five.
Mario Bautista unsure if he's willing "to take the risk" of accepting a fight against Cody Garbrandt again after UFC 292
Cole Shelton - August 24, 2023
Mario Bautista had called out Cody Garbrandt for quite some time and finally got his wish. Bautista was booked to fight Garbrandt at UFC 292 in Boston, but a week out, it was revealed the former bantamweight champion was forced to withdraw from the bout due to an injury. Although he knew he would remain on the card, Mario was happy to learn that a fellow UFC fighter in Da’Mon Blackshear took the scrap.
Tim Welch believes Sean O'Malley's TKO of Aljamain Sterling "put a little fear" into Merab Dvalishvili
Cole Shelton - August 24, 2023
Tim Welch, the head coach of Sean O’Malley, believes UFC 292 put some fear into Merab Dvalishvili. In the main event of UFC 292, Sean O’Malley became the UFC’s new bantamweight champion with a second-round TKO over Aljamain Sterling. In the corner of Sterling was Dvalishvili who is a top contender at bantamweight, who could be next in line to face O’Malley.
Deontay Wilder brutally honest about Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou: "Heavyweight division is f*cking dead"
Josh Evanoff - August 24, 2023
Former boxing champion Deontay Wilder won’t watch Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou. ‘The Gypsy King’ and ‘The Predator’ are slated to clash in October in Saudi Arabia. For Francis Ngannou, the boxing match will be the first of his career. Meanwhile, Tyson Fury declined a title unification with Oleksandr Usyk to make the bout happen, much to the chagrin of much of the combat sports world.
Dana White shuts down Ronda Rousey UFC return rumors: "No shot"
Josh Evanoff - August 24, 2023
Dana White has squashed rumors that Ronda Rousey would soon return to the UFC. ‘Rowdy’ is still one of the biggest stars to ever compete in MMA. Having been the promotion’s first female champion, she quickly notched wins over names such as Miesha Tate, Liz Carmouche, Cat Zingano, and more. However, back-to-back losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes saw her quietly retire.