UFC News
Michael Bisping explains why 'crazy' Tom Aspinall vs. Brock Lesnar fight could headline UFC 300
Josh Evanoff - January 9, 2024
UFC commentator Michael Bisping believes that Tom Aspinall vs. Brock Lesnar isn’t as crazy as it sounds. The milestone UFC 300 event is now just a few months away. As of now, there are a slew of matchups announced for the event, including Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan. However, beyond comments from names such as Leon Edwards, there’s no clear champion to headline the card.
Manager details why Islam Makhachev doesn't have a fight booked, gives timeframe for return
Cole Shelton - January 9, 2024
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev appears to be on the sidelines for quite some time. Makhachev defended his lightweight title for the second time with a first-round knockout over Alexander Volkanovski back in October. After the fight, many expected Makhachev to return in the first quarter of 2024 before Ramadan and he was pushing to return on March 9.
Jon Jones sounds off on Tom Aspinall following recent Twitter exchange: “That intern championship means absolutely nothing if you seriously haven’t noticed yet”
Susan Cox - January 9, 2024
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has sounded off on Tom Aspinall following their recent exchange on ‘Twitter’. Tom Aspinall (14-3 MMA) is not giving up on his claims that he should be given undisputed champion status and if the UFC won’t do that, it is he who should get the opportunity to fight Jon Jones for the heavyweight belt.
Khamzat Chimaev says he will “one hundred percent” be fighting the winner of Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis: “They should be afraid”
Susan Cox - January 9, 2024
Khamzat Chimaev says he will ‘one hundred percent’ be fighting the winner of Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis. Strickland (28-5 MMA) is set to make his first title defense against Dricus Du Plessis (20-2 MMA) at UFC 297 which takes place on Saturday, January 20th at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Jon Jones responds to latest troll job from UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall
Susan Cox - January 9, 2024
Jon Jones has responded to the latest troll job from UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. Jones (27-1 MMA) is the current UFC heavyweight champion.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 149 with Jim Miller, Mario Bautista, and Marcus McGhee
Cole Shelton - January 9, 2024
The 149th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC Vegas 84, which is the first event of 2024. We’re first joined by UFC lightweight Jim Miller (1:33). Next, UFC bantamweight Mario Bautista (17:24) comes on. Closing out the program is UFC bantamweight Marcus McGhee (25:21).
Demetrious Johnson reacts to rumors that Joe Rogan facilitated his trade from UFC to ONE Championship
Harry Kettle - January 9, 2024
Demetrious Johnson has given his thoughts on the rumors suggesting Joe Rogan helped facilitate his trade to ONE Championship. Many years ago, Demetrious Johnson was traded to ONE Championship with Ben Askren joining the UFC in return. It was a fairly unprecedented move in the world of mixed martial arts, as “trades” don’t tend to happen often in the sport. Alas, it happened the way it happened, and it seemed to work out well for everyone involved.
Henry Cejudo critical of Sean Strickland and Alex Volkanovski opening up about mental health: “Keep some of that sh*t to yourself”
Harry Kettle - January 9, 2024
Henry Cejudo has questioned Sean Strickland and Alexander Volkanovski for opening up on their mental health issues. It’s been, to put it lightly, a chaotic few months for Sean Strickland. From winning the UFC middleweight championship to getting in brawls at events, he’s as much of a wildcard as he’s ever been. Now, fans have seen another side of him after he got visibly emotional talking about his childhood trauma during an interview with Theo Von.
Louis Smolka entering tech world as fighting future in doubt after UFC release: "I went back to school"
Cole Shelton - January 8, 2024
Louis Smolka has done a complete 180 with his career. After Smolka suffered a KO loss to Davey Grant at UFC Vegas 54 in May of 2022, which was his second straight loss, he was released from the UFC. With Smolka having been cut from the promotion for the second time, the Hawaiian wasn’t sure what his future held, so he decided to go back to school with an eye toward a tech job.
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones provides injury update after undergoing second surgery
Jeffrey Walter - January 8, 2024
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has provided an injury update after undergoing a second surgery, this time on his elbow. Jones (27-1 MMA) captured the promotion’s vacant heavyweight world title in March of 2023, scoring a first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane in the main event of the UFC 285.
Israel Adesanya opens up on decision to take UFC hiatus: "I missed the beast"
Josh Evanoff - January 8, 2024
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya felt that he badly needed time off after his last fight. ‘The Last Stylebender’ has been out of the octagon since a clash with Sean Strickland last September. Fighting in Australia in the main event of UFC 293, Israel Adesanya approached the title defense as any other. The normally-active middleweight had famously re-captured the title from Alex Pereira just months prior, by knockout.
Bo Nickal opens up on 2024 plans, reveals plans to fight four times
Josh Evanoff - January 8, 2024
UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal is hoping to have a busy, busy year in MMA. The former NCAA champion has been out of action since a knockout win over Val Woodburn in July at UFC 290. That stoppage victory was Bo Nickal’s fifth, all of which came in the first round. The middleweight is largely viewed as MMA’s greatest prospect at the moment, and for good reason.
Israel Adesanya reveals his corner advised him against going for broke in fifth round of UFC title fight with Sean Strickland
Susan Cox - January 8, 2024
Israel Adesanya has revealed that his corner advised him against going for broke in the fifth round of his UFC title fight with Sean Strickland. UFC 293, which took place in September of last year, saw the then current champion Israel Adesanya (24-3 MMA) take on Sean Strickland (28-5 MMA) in a middleweight title bout.
Renato Moicano says Paddy Pimblett’s weight gains between fights will be “very detrimental” to his career: “Look how fat he is!”
Susan Cox - January 8, 2024
Renato Moicano says Paddy Pimblett’s weight gains between fights will be ‘very detrimental’ to his UFC career. Pimblett (21-3 MMA) most recently fought and defeated Tony Ferguson (25-10 MMA) in a lightweight battle this past December at UFC 296. The 29-year-old has won all 5 of his fights since joining the UFC in 2021.
Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier open as betting underdogs in their recently announced UFC fights
Susan Cox - January 8, 2024
Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier have opened as betting underdogs for their recently announced UFC fights. UFC CEO Dana White recently announced fights featuring lightweight veterans Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier.
Alexander Gustafsson is back to training and not ruling out a UFC return: “I’m still in the business”
Harry Kettle - January 8, 2024
UFC veteran Alexander Gustafsson has refused to rule out a return to active competition in the future. Throughout the course of his career, Alexander Gustafsson was known as one of the best light heavyweights on the planet. His abilities took him to great heights and to the verge of a world championship in the UFC. While he may never have gotten over that final hurdle, he’s still a well-respected member of the MMA community.
Cory Sandhagen reveals key reason he's had success in UFC: "It will take you vastly further than what you think it will"
Fernando Quiles - January 7, 2024
Rising bantamweight star Cory Sandhagen has unveiled a key factor in his success under the UFC banner. Sandhagen is the number four-ranked UFC bantamweight. He’s riding a three-fight winning streak, and if he can keep his hot streak going, he could find himself in a title fight. While no one will mistake Sandhagen for a massive star the likes of Sean O’Malley, he’s one of the top bantamweight fighters in the world.
Belal Muhammad details experience training in Dagestan: "Every round feels like it’s a new fight"
Fernando Quiles - January 7, 2024
Top-ranked UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad has given some insight on what it’s like for him to train in Dagestan. Muhammad hopes to realize his goal of becoming a UFC champion and he is closer than ever to doing so. While not yet official, Belal is already going to be training in Dagestan in order to prepare for a UFC Welterweight Championship fight against Leon Edwards. He hopes that what he’s learned from the top tier grapplers and MMA fighters will be enough to dethrone “Rocky.”