UFC News
Laura Sanko reacts after being named to the commentary team for UFC 293: “Dream come true”
Susan Cox - September 5, 2023
Laura Sanko is reacting after being named to the commentary team for UFC 293. Sanko, 40, will make history as becoming the first female color commentator to be part of the PPV team when she appears in the booth for UFC 293.
Josh Barnett offers his services to AEW following CM Punk firing: “If Tony needs someone to keep discipline and sort out conflict”
Susan Cox - September 5, 2023
Former UFC champion Josh Barnett is offering his services to AEW (All Elite Wrestling) following the CM Punk firing. It was an official statement from AEW this past weekend which stated:
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 138 with John Makdessi and Chepe Mariscal
Cole Shelton - September 5, 2023
The 138th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC 293 this Saturday. We’re first joined by UFC lightweight John Makdessi (1:49). Closing out the program is UFC featherweight Chepe Mariscal (16:27).
Israel Adesanya weighs in on the upcoming middleweight fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Paulo Costa: “I might be favoring Khamzat a little bit more”
Harry Kettle - September 5, 2023
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has given his thoughts on the upcoming fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Paulo Costa. This weekend, Israel Adesanya will defend his UFC title against Sean Strickland. While that is his primary focus right now, he knows better than anyone that other contenders are waiting for their moment to shine. In addition to Dricus du Plessis, we also have Khamzat Chimaev and Paulo Costa, who will square off next month at UFC 294.
Jared Cannonier set to weigh-in as backup fighter for UFC 293 main event between Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland
Harry Kettle - September 5, 2023
UFC star Jared Cannonier is set to weigh-in as the backup fighter for the UFC 293 main event, as per MMA Fighting. This weekend, Israel Adesanya will defend his UFC middleweight championship against Sean Strickland. It’ll serve as the first time he’s defended the belt in his second reign following his knockout win over Alex Pereira earlier this year. Strickland, meanwhile, is getting his first crack at the title, largely as a result of Dricus du Plessis not being ready in time for this contest.
Video | Conor McGregor receives BJJ black belt from Coach Kavanagh at SBG
Harry Kettle - September 5, 2023
UFC star Conor McGregor has formally received his BJJ black belt from head coach John Kavanagh at SBG Ireland. For the longest time now, Conor McGregor has been part of the SBG Ireland family. He made his name under the umbrella of the gym, and it’s where he’s been training since he first started his mixed martial arts journey. It’s been one hell of a road to get to this point, but at this stage, nobody can deny that he’s the biggest star in the history of the sport.
Former WWE champion Kurt Angle reveals multiple declined UFC offers: "Three different times"
Josh Evanoff - September 4, 2023
Former WWE champion Kurt Angle turned down not one, not two, but three offers from the UFC. The former WWE star is considered to be one of the greatest shoot wrestlers of all time. A multiple-time All-American and former national champion, he famously won the gold at the 1996 Olympic Games. Furthermore, Kurt Angle accomplished the feat injured, wrestling with a broken neck.
UFC veteran Jason 'Mayhem' Miller arrested for choking out fan in West Hollywood club
Josh Evanoff - September 4, 2023
Former UFC middleweight contender Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller is back in legal trouble. The 42-year-old is still one of the most colorful figures in MMA history. First debuting at UFC 52 opposite Georges St-Pierre, Jason Miller quickly became a fan favorite. Over the following years, he would compete in Dream, Strikeforce, and the WEC.
Former MMA champion pleads with Rose Namajunas to stop “sabotaging” her career
Susan Cox - September 4, 2023
Former MMA champion Josh Thomson is pleading with Rose Namajunas to stop ‘sabotaging’ her career. UFC Paris saw Rose Namajunas (12-6 MMA) and Manon Fiorot (11-1 MMA) battle it out in the women’s flyweight event this past Saturday night, September 2nd, at the Accor Arena in Paris, France. It was Fiorot who would come out with a unanimous decision victory over ‘Thug’.
Josh Thomson shares some advice for newly crowned BMF champion Justin Gaethje: “I would probably do one last fight”
Susan Cox - September 4, 2023
Josh Thomson is sharing some advice for the newly crowned BMF champion Justin Gaethje. Gaethje (25-4 MMA) recently fought Dustin Poirier (29-8 MMA) this past July at UFC 291. The result was a KO victory for ‘The Highlight’, and in the process the 34-year-old claimed the vacant BMF title.
Ciryl Gane had his home broken into during the UFC Paris main event
Susan Cox - September 4, 2023
Ciryl Gane had his home broken into during the UFC Paris main event. It was Ciryl Gane (12-2 MMA) vs Sergey Spivac (16-4 MMA) last Saturday night at UFC Paris. The heavyweight main event saw Gane defeat Spivac by KO at 3:44 of round 2 inside the Accor Arena.
What's next for Ciryl Gane and Serghei Spivac after UFC Paris?
Cole Shelton - September 4, 2023
In the main event of UFC Paris, a heavyweight bout headlined the card as Ciryl Gane took on Serghei Spivac. Gane entered the fight coming off a first-round submission loss to Jon Jones back in March for the vacant heavyweight title. Prior to that, he scored a KO win over Tai Tuivasa to return to the win column after losing a decision to Francis Ngannou for the heavyweight belt. Spivac, meanwhile, was riding a three-fight win streak and was coming off a first-round submission over Derrick Lewis.
Photo | Rose Namajunas suffered a nasty broken finger in UFC Paris loss to Manon Fiorot
Harry Kettle - September 4, 2023
UFC star Rose Namajunas has posted a picture of the broken finger she suffered at UFC Paris last weekend. On Saturday night, Rose Namajunas made her flyweight debut as she began her pursuit of a second world title in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Unfortunately, she fell to a unanimous decision loss at the hands of Manon Fiorot, with one of the biggest problems during the bout being a broken finger she suffered in the first round. Despite the injury, her corner insisted that she should continue, and she did.
Dana White praises Rose Namajunas while seemingly throwing shade at Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili
Harry Kettle - September 4, 2023
UFC president Dana White has seemingly used a quote from Rose Namajunas to make a point about Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili. When Dana White is annoyed about something, the rest of the world tends to know about it. The UFC boss has never been one to bite his tongue, and we can’t imagine that’ll change anytime soon.
Henry Cejudo takes aim at Merab Dvalishvili after ‘The Machine’ proclaims himself the number one contender to Sean O’Malley
Harry Kettle - September 4, 2023
Former two-weight UFC champion Henry Cejudo has taken a shot at Merab Dvalishvili over the number one contender spot at bantamweight. The future of the UFC bantamweight championship is somewhat unclear. While we know that Sean O’Malley is the champion after his TKO win over Aljamain Sterling, nobody knows who his next challenger will be. Some want it to be Sterling again in a rematch, others have suggested Merab Dvalishvili, and O’Malley himself has requested former foe Marlon Vera.
Ian Machado Garry details how Conor McGregor has served as an inspiration for him: "He's someone people are gonna look up to"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 3, 2023
Ian Machado Garry won’t deny being inspired by fellow Irishman Conor McGregor. Garry and McGregor recently had a sparring session inside the Crumlin Boxing Club. Many have drawn comparisons between the two fighters in terms of marketability. While it’s too early to tell if Garry can rise to the top, he certainly isn’t lacking confidence, much like the “Notorious” one.
Ciryl Gane reacts to Tom Aspinall's callout following UFC Paris: "This is a new era for the heavyweight division"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 3, 2023
Ciryl Gane has responded to Tom Aspinall following UFC Paris. Gane had a successful outing against Serghei Spivac in the main event of the card on September 2. Gane won the fight in the second round via TKO. One fighter who was paying attention to the action was Aspinall, who has called for a fight against “Bon Gamin.” The former interim UFC heavyweight titleholder has responded.
Manon Fiorot following UFC Paris win over Rose Namajunas: "I don't see why I'd fight Erin Blanchfield"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 3, 2023
Manon Fiorot believes she’s due for a title shot following her UFC Paris victory over Rose Namajunas. Fiorot and Namajunas shared the Octagon inside Accor Arena in Paris, France on September 2. The bout went the distance and Fiorot was awarded the unanimous decision victory. Most agree that at this point, Fiorot and Erin Blanchfield are the two names to look at for the winner of Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 2.