UFC News
Robert Whittaker excited to go out and "hurt" Paulo Costa at UFC 298: "I'm coming for violence"
Cole Shelton - February 13, 2024
Robert Whittaker is glad he and Paulo Costa will finally fight. Whittaker and Costa have been scheduled to fight one another twice previously, including last February, but both times the Brazilian was the reason for the proposed contest falling apart. Despite that, when Whittaker was offered to face Costa at UFC 298 in Anaheim, he jumped at the chance to do so.
Dana White reveals he will announce the UFC 300 main event on Saturday
Cole Shelton - February 13, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White has revealed he will announce the main event for the historic UFC 300 event on Saturday. White has been working on the main event for the pay-per-view card in April for quite some time now, but nothing has been finalized. But, now, speaking to MMA reporter Kevin Iole, he revealed he will announce the headliner for UFC 300 at the post-fight press conference following UFC 298 on Saturday.
Sean Strickland agrees to spar influencer Bryce Hall after demolishing Sneako: "I'll tell you when you're done"
Josh Evanoff - February 13, 2024
It seems that Sean Strickland and Bryce Hall will be facing off sooner rather than later. ‘Tarzan’ is fresh off his battering of popular Rumble streamer Sneako last week. The influencer has been training in boxing for a few months now and decided to test himself against Sean Strickland at the UFC Apex. Predictably, the former middleweight champion bloodied him up.
Tom Aspinall officially moving on from Jon Jones, Stipe Miocic fights: "It's not happening"
Josh Evanoff - February 13, 2024
Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is moving on from Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. The British fighter is fresh off a first-round knockout win over Sergei Pavlovich in November at UFC 295. Tom Aspinall famously stepped in on two weeks’ notice to face the Russian, after Jon Jones suffered an injury. As a result, his scheduled title defense with Stipe Miocic was scrapped.
UFC middleweight Sedriques Dumas arrested on felony battery charges just a month out from upcoming fight
Cole Shelton - February 13, 2024
Sedriques Dumas was arrested on felony battery charges on Tuesday. TMZ Sports first reported the news that Dumas was arrested in Florida following a tense confrontation with police. According to Escambia County jail records, Dumas was booked on a charge of battery at around 6:13 AM.
Alexander Volkanovski calls Henry Cejudo a "piece of s**t" for removing his coach on UFC Countdown
Cole Shelton - February 13, 2024
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is not a fan of Henry Cejudo removing his coach Eric Albarracin from his corner on UFC Countdown. Cejudo has been with Albarracin before his UFC career but before ‘Triple C’s’ return fight against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298, the former flyweight and bantamweight champion removed his longtime coach from his corner.
Henry Cejudo's split from coach Eric Albarracin looked "pre-planned," says UFC veteran Matt Brown: "What their assumed plan was seemed to have worked"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 13, 2024
UFC fan favorite Matt Brown is skeptical of the video showing Henry Cejudo drop Eric Albarracin as his coach. Cejudo stunned MMA fans when a video surfaced of him telling “Captain Eric” that he won’t be including him for his UFC 298 bantamweight clash with Merab Dvalishvili. Despite having great success under the mentorship of Albarracin, including champ-champ status, “Triple C” feels he’s in a do or die situation with his pro MMA career. He has gone as far as to say he might retire if he can’t defeat Merab.
Sean Strickland explains what caused his run-in with Machine Gun Kelly at Power Slap 6: “He looked at me like I was less than human”
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 13, 2024
Sean Strickland has offered an explanation for his awkward run-in with music star Machine Gun Kelly. Strickland has been known for speaking his mind and going against traditional social norms. The former UFC middleweight champion even told Megan Olivi prior to his fight with Dricus Du Plessis last month that fans like him because he reminds them of their “White trash uncle.” Strickland certainly isn’t afraid to ruffle some feathers, and that’s what he did with MGK during a recent Power Slap event.
WWE Champion Seth Rollins explains why no current UFC fighter can successfully transition to pro wrestling: “They don’t have the stamina for it”
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 13, 2024
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins thinks there’s one key aspect MMA fighters are lacking when it comes to transitioning to pro wrestling. In the past we’ve seen fighters such as Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn find success in pro wrestling. In the modern era, it was Ronda Rousey who became a multiple-time women’s champion under the WWE banner. Even in the best case scenario, such as Rousey’s, however, Rollins believes it was a struggle even for the “Rowdy” one.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 153 with Robert Whittaker and Geoff Neal
Cole Shelton - February 13, 2024
The 153rd episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC 298 this Saturday. We’re first joined by former UFC middleweight champion and third-ranked middleweight Robert Whittaker (0:58). Next, eighth-ranked UFC welterweight Geoff Neal (14:22) comes on.
What's next for Jack Hermansson and Joe Pyfer after UFC Vegas 86?
Cole Shelton - February 12, 2024
In the main event of UFC Vegas 86, middleweight contenders threw down as Jack Hermansson took on Joe Pyfer. Hermansson entered the fight as the 10th-ranked middleweight and hadn’t fought since December of 2022 when he lost to Roman Dolidze by TKO. Pyfer, meanwhile, was unranked and was 3-0 in the UFC and was set for his first UFC main event.
Yair Rodriguez slams "delusional" Ilia Topuria, claims his career will be "over" after UFC 298
Cole Shelton - February 12, 2024
Yair Rodriguez is not a fan of Ilia Topuria, and he expects the Spaniard-Georgian to lose on Saturday at UFC 298. Topuria is set to headline UFC 298 on Saturday as he takes on Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title. It’s an intriguing matchup and in the lead-up to the scrap, Topuria has been full of confidence that he will beat Volkanovski with ease to become the champ.
VIDEO | Merab Dvalishvili brings coach Eric Albarracin into camp after being fired by Henry Cejudo
Josh Evanoff - February 12, 2024
It seems that Eric Albarracin is in Merab Dvalishvili’s corner ahead of his UFC 298 bout against Henry Cejudo. Earlier this week, ‘Triple C’ formally parted ways with his longtime coach. For the entirety of Henry Cejudo’s UFC career, he has been at the hip of Eric Albarracin. The former wrestler coached the bantamweight to multiple title wins, but their time together will be no more.
Tom Aspinall opens up on UFC 300 negotiations to fight Alex Pereira: "I'm good to go!"
Josh Evanoff - February 12, 2024
Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall was down to fight Alex Pereira in April. The British fighter has been out of action since a short-notice bout with Sergei Pavlovich in November. Tom Aspinall famously stepped up on two weeks’ notice, after Jon Jones pulled out of his title defense with Stipe Miocic. As a result, the Brit faced Pavlovich for interim gold.
Ariel Helwani reveals Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev is reportedly the UFC's "top choice" to headline UFC 300
Cole Shelton - February 12, 2024
MMA reporter Ariel Helwani claims Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev is the UFC’s top choice for the main event of UFC 300. UFC CEO Dana White has vowed to make UFC 300 a historic card, but with the event being just two months away, the main event for the fight card is still not set. With there not being much time left, the UFC will need to announce the main event soon and according to Helwani, a potential holdup is the UFC trying to get Chimaev into the States to fight.
Alex Volkanovski offers grim prediction for UFC 298 title fight against Ilia Topuria: "He’s going to be embarrassed"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 12, 2024
UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski believes Ilia Topuria will have egg on his face once UFC 298 has concluded. Volkanovski is set to put his 145-pound gold at stake against Topuria inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California this Saturday night. The featherweight championship clash will headline UFC 298. If “The Great” can emerge victorious, he’ll have secured his sixth successful UFC featherweight title defense, which would put him one shy of tying Jose Aldo’s 145-pound record.
Henry Cejudo parts ways with longtime coach Eric Albarracin ahead of UFC 298
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 12, 2024
Henry Cejudo will not be having Eric Albarracin in his corner for his upcoming fight with Merab Dvalishvili. Cejudo is taking his bout with Merab quite seriously, to the point where he’s even said he’d likely retire if he can’t beat the Georgian fighter. “Triple C” returned to the sport of MMA last year and was met with disappointment when he was bested by then-UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling via split decision. That loss was enough for Cejudo to make one significant change to his training camp.
Gregory Rodrigues has UFC championship aspirations following TKO finish over Brad Tavares: "I already showed I belong at the top"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 11, 2024
After nabbing his second straight victory at UFC Vegas 86, Gregory Rodrigues sees big things in his future. Rodrigues shared the Octagon with Brad Tavares on the main card of this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night event. The Brazilian bruiser scored a third-round TKO finish, as he tries to wipe away the memory of his early 2023 KO loss to Brunno Ferreira. Rodrigues feels he is back on track, and he has championship aspirations.