UFC News
UFC heavyweight's Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa open as betting favorites to join WWE following Endeavor merger
Lewis Simpson - April 4, 2023
Following the news of the UFC and WWE joining forces as a new company under the control of the Endeavor Group, UFC heavyweight stars Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa have opened up as betting favourites to make the transition into pro-wrestling. The news has sparked a debate across the mixed martial arts and wrestling scene, with a handful of questions still to be answered. What does this mean for the UFC and WWE?
Israel Adesanya plans on "dominating from start to finish" against Alex Pereira at UFC 287: "I don’t get paid by the round"
Cole Shelton - April 4, 2023
Israel Adesanya is extremely confident he will get his belt back this Saturday at UFC 287. Adesanya is set to rematch Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 287 from Miami. The two previously fought twice in kickboxing, with ‘Poatan’ winning both of those contests. The rivals collided for a third time at UFC 281 last November, with the Brazilian winning by fifth-round TKO to become the new middleweight champ.
Chris Weidman shares advice to Israel Adesanya on facing criticism from the media: "You have to answer all those questions"
Lewis Simpson - April 4, 2023
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman shares some friendly advice to Israel Adesanya as he prepares to reclaim the title he lost in November last year. This Saturday, at UFC 287, in Miami, Florida, Adesanya will look to avenge his first middleweight loss in MMA against a longtime foe, Alex Pereira. Pereira snatched Adesanya’s middleweight crown in the fifth round of their third combat sports encounter at UFC 281 in Maddison Square Garden.
Michael Bisping shares his thoughts on last weekend’s Vitor Belfort vs. Jacare Souza boxing match: “He looked like a soggy teabag that’d been used about 50 times”
Susan Cox - April 4, 2023
Michael Bisping is sharing his thoughts on last weekend’s Vitor Belfort vs Jacare Souza boxing match. Gamebred Boxing 4 took place on Saturday, April 1st at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The result was Belfort defeating Souza via unanimous decision.
Jake Paul shares his thoughts on the UFC - WWE merger
Susan Cox - April 4, 2023
Jake Paul is sharing his thoughts on the UFC – WWE merger. It was confirmed yesterday, Monday, April 3rd that the UFC’s parent company, Endeavor, has purchased a majority share of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 117 with Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Rob Font, Adrian Yanez, and Loopy Godinez
Cole Shelton - April 4, 2023
The 117th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC 287. We’re first joined by 10th-ranked UFC strawweight Michelle Waterson-Gomez (3:07). Next, we are joined by sixth-ranked UFC bantamweight Rob Font (18:27). 12th-ranked UFC bantamweight Adrian Yanez (36:10) then stops by. Closing out the program is UFC strawweight Loopy Godinez (1:03:16).
Tyron Woodley rips Instagram post for ranking Nick Diaz and Robbie Lawler ahead of him in GOAT welterweights: “I smashed him. Nick never won a title”
Harry Kettle - April 4, 2023
Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has torn into an Instagram post ranking the best 170-pounders of all time. While he may have most recently been in the boxing ring, Tyron Woodley is best known for his mixed martial arts career. Towards the end of his run with UFC, as we know, he lost four straight.
Ari Emanuel confirms Dana White and Vince McMahon will continue key roles in UFC and WWE: “That’s pretty unstoppable”
Harry Kettle - April 4, 2023
Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel has confirmed that Dana White and Vince McMahon will continue to have key roles in UFC and WWE. Earlier this week, Endeavor made the blockbuster announcement that they had purchased a 51% stake in WWE. In addition to that, it was revealed that WWE and UFC would be forming a new publicly listed company together.
UFC President Dana White reacts after Endeavor strikes deal to purchase WWE: “There is no limit to what this company can accomplish in the next few years”
Harry Kettle - April 4, 2023
UFC president Dana White has given his thoughts on Endeavor confirming their purchase of WWE on Monday morning. In a monumental announcement, Endeavor confirmed reports that they will be buying a 51% share in WWE. In addition to that, they will create a new publicly traded company between WWE and UFC, believed to be worth over $21 billion.
Alex Pereira explains how an Israel Adesanya interview motivated him to go into MMA and join the UFC: "I felt challenged"
Cole Shelton - April 3, 2023
Alex Pereira didn’t plan on going into MMA until he saw an interview with Israel Adesanya. The interview took place in 2020 with Sporting News Australia and Adesanya was dismissive of Pereira. He took aim at the Brazilian for always re-posting his KO win after Adesanya did something in the UFC.
Belal Muhammad explains why he's not interested in Shavkat Rahkmonov fight: "I’m only looking upwards"
Cole Shelton - April 3, 2023
Belal Muhammad isn’t too interested in fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov next time out. After Leon Edwards defended his welterweight title at UFC 286, Dana White announced the Brit would face Colby Covington next and Muhammad would take on Rakhmonov. Both fights caught many by surprise, including Muhammad who thought he was either getting a title shot or someone in front of him next.
Robert Whittaker reveals he was never offered rumored fight against Khamzat Chimaev: "Let's wait and see what happens with this title shot"
Josh Evanoff - April 3, 2023
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker doesn’t have any plans to return right now. ‘The Reaper’ has been out of the octagon since his bout with Marvin Vettori at UFC Paris last November. In that outing, the former champion dominated. Whittaker wound up scoring a lopsided unanimous decision that night over ‘The Italian Dream’.
Michael Chiesa reveals he won't fight at UFC 287 after injury to Li Jingliang, eyes Gunnar Nelson in London
Cole Shelton - April 3, 2023
Michael Chiesa won’t be fighting this Saturday at UFC 287. Chiesa was set to take on Li Jingliang in his first fight since November of 2021, as he had been dealing with an injury. However, last week it was revealed Jingliang was forced out of the fight and Chiesa confirmed no replacement opponent was found.
Thiago Santos issues statement after suffering defeat in his PFL debut
Susan Cox - April 3, 2023
Thiago Santos has issued a statement after suffering defeat in his PFL debut. The 39-year-old ‘Marreta’ parted ways with the UFC last Fall and subsequently signed with the PFL to compete in its 205-pound division starting in 2023.
WWE CEO Nick Kahn expects UFC crossovers to continue under new Endeavor deal: “We will be looking to collaborate with them when appropriate”
Susan Cox - April 3, 2023
WWE CEO Nick Kahn expects UFC crossovers to continue under new Endeavor deal. It was announced today, Monday, April 3rd that the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is set to merge with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to form a new publicly traded company under the umbrella of the Endeavor Group.
Jorge Masvidal admits he might call it quits if he loses to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287: “This could be the last one”
Susan Cox - April 3, 2023
Jorge Masvidal is admitting he may call it quits if he loses to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287. UFC 287 takes place this coming Saturday, April 8, 2023, at the Miami-Dade Arena in Miami, Florida.
Israel Adesanya wants to “move on to another head” after defeating Alex Pereira at UFC 287: “I don't like fighting the same people”
Harry Kettle - April 3, 2023
Israel Adesanya wants to move on from Alex Pereira if he’s able to defeat him at UFC 287 this weekend. At UFC 281 last year, Alex Pereira shocked the world. In the main event, he knocked out Israel Adesanya to win the UFC middleweight championship.
Conor McGregor and Paul Heyman trade shots following news of UFC and WWE forming a new publicly traded company: “Careful Grampa”
Harry Kettle - April 3, 2023
Conor McGregor and Paul Heyman squared off on social media last night following the news that UFC and WWE may be forming a new publicly traded company. Yesterday, news broke that Endeavor have reportedly purchased WWE. As many will know, Endeavor also bought the Ultimate Fighting Championship back in 2016 for a fee of around $4 billion.