UFC News
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 150 with Bruce Buffer, Gillian Robertson, and Jimmy Flick
Cole Shelton - January 16, 2024
The 150th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC 297 in Toronto this Saturday. We’re first joined by the voice of the Octagon Bruce Buffer (1:14). Next, UFC strawweight Gillian Robertson (13:49) stops by. Closing out the program is UFC flyweight Jimmy Flick (23:36).
Conor McGregor scoffs at Michael Chandler’s claim about being the stronger man: “Lifting belts > Lifting weights”
Harry Kettle - January 16, 2024
UFC star Conor McGregor has laughed off Michael Chandler’s claim that he is the stronger man between them. At some point this year, we’re expected to see Conor McGregor finally square off with Michael Chandler. The expectation is that it’ll happen during International Fight Week this summer, but there’s been no official confirmation of that one way or the other.
Arman Tsarukyan's coach believes Charles Oliveira is “more dangerous” than current UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev: “He's dangerous everywhere”
Harry Kettle - January 16, 2024
Arman Tsarukyan’s coach believes that Charles Oliveira is actually more dangerous than UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. At UFC 300, Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan will collide in a number one contender fight. The winner is expected to take on Islam Makhachev later this year, with their contest being used as a way to determine who the true top guy is to battle Makhachev.
Brandon Moreno opens as betting favorite in newly announced UFC Mexico City main event
Harry Kettle - January 16, 2024
Brandon Moreno has opened as the betting favorite in his updated UFC Mexico City main event against Brandon Royval. Over the course of the last few years, Brandon Moreno has established himself as something of a superstar in mixed martial arts. That’s especially true in his homeland of Mexico, which is where his next bout will be held.
What's next for Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker after UFC Vegas 84?
Cole Shelton - January 15, 2024
In the main event of UFC Vegas 84, top 10 light heavyweights collided as Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker had their rematch. Ankalaev and Walker had first fought back in October at UFC 294, and the fight ended in a No Contest due to the Dagestani native landing an illegal knee in the first round. Before that, Ankalaev was coming off a draw to Jan Blachowicz for the vacant light heavyweight title. Walker, meanwhile, was on a three-fight winning streak before the NC against Ankalaev.
Jiri Prochazka explains why he didn't pull out of UFC 295 title fight despite battling staph infection
Cole Shelton - January 15, 2024
Jiri Prochazka battled a staph infection before his UFC 295 title fight against Alex Pereira but never thought of pulling out. Prochazka was set for his first fight since vacating the light heavyweight title due to a shoulder injury. After being away from the Octagon for nearly a year-and-a-half, Prochazka says he was adamant he would fight even though he couldn’t train and prepare properly due to the infection, which was started on his leg and went all the way to his ear.
Khamzat Chimaev reveals heavyweight contender is his dream fight: "Nobody like him"
Josh Evanoff - January 15, 2024
UFC middleweight contender Khamzat Chimav hopes to meet Jon Jones in the octagon before all is said and done. ‘Borz’ has been out of the octagon since UFC 294 in October. That night saw Khamzat Chimev face former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, in the biggest test of his MMA career. There, the Chechen defeated ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ by unanimous decision, notching a potential title shot in the process.
Dricus du Plessis doubles down on 'Mr. Moral Compass' Sean Strickland: "He had that victim mentality"
Josh Evanoff - January 15, 2024
UFC middleweight contender Dricus du Plessis doesn’t care about Sean Strickland’s recent comments. The rivalry between ‘Stillknocks’ and ‘Tarzan’ has quickly, quickly become a heated one. Following Sean Strickland’s win over Israel Adesanya in September, he became UFC champion. This Saturday night in Canada, he will look to make his first title defense against the rising Dricus du Plessis.
Sean Strickland threatens to “stab” Dricus Du Plessis at the UFC 297 presser if he crosses the line: “I’m gonna go to jail”
Susan Cox - January 15, 2024
Sean Strickland is threatening to ‘stab’ Dricus Du Plessis at the UFC 297 presser if he crosses the line. Strickland (28-5 MMA) will be making his first middleweight title defense against Du Plessis (20-2 MMA) this coming Saturday, January 20th at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Report | UFC Saudi Arabia postponed to June in order to produce a "more entertaining fight card"
Cole Shelton - January 15, 2024
The UFC will not be going to Saudi Arabia in March as expected. On Monday, MMA reporter Ariel Helwani revealed on ‘The MMA Hour’ that the event scheduled for March 2 has been postponed until June. Helwani claims the higher-ups in Saudi Arabia pushed for the event to be postponed so the card could be deeper and have more well-known names.
Dominick Cruz recounts the marketing advice he received from Conor McGregor: “Those are moments in time I look back at”
Susan Cox - January 15, 2024
Dominick Cruz is recounting the marketing advice he received from Conor McGregor. Cruz (24-4 MMA) last fought and was defeated by Marlon Vera (23-8 MMA) in a bantamweight bout in August of 2022.
Matt Brown believes he's the "front-runner" to face "f*****g legend" Jim Miller at UFC 300
Cole Shelton - January 15, 2024
Matt Brown has already texted Sean Shelby to try and make the Jim Miller fight at UFC 300. After Miller scored a third-round submission over Gabriel Benitez at UFC Vegas 84 on Saturday, he called out Paul Felder and Matt Brown as potential opponents for UFC 300. Miller has competed at UFC 100 and UFC 200, so Dana White has already promised him a spot on April’s historic UFC 300 fight card.
Joe Rogan believes Colby Covington’s brash trash talk “backfired” at UFC 296
Susan Cox - January 15, 2024
Joe Rogan believes Colby Covington’s brash trash talk ‘backfired’ at UFC 296. UFC 296 saw Leon Edwards (22-3 MMA) in a welterweight title fight against Colby Covington (17-4 MMA) this past December. The result was a unanimous decision victory for ‘Rocky’.
Magomed Ankalaev extends unique offer to current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira: “No wrestling”
Harry Kettle - January 15, 2024
Magomed Ankalaev has issued a pretty clear challenge to Alex Pereira ahead of a potential showdown between the two UFC stars. Right now, Magomed Ankalaev is feeling back to his best. Last weekend, he finally brought his rivalry with Johnny Walker to an end when he knocked his foe out in vicious fashion. Moving forward, he has one clear focus – dethroning Alex Pereira to finally become the UFC light heavyweight champion. It’s a goal he has had for years, and it finally seems like he’s on the verge of getting another crack at the belt.
Conor McGregor rallies behind Irish MMA fighter Ryan Curtis following 'severe' spinal injury
Harry Kettle - January 15, 2024
Conor McGregor is one of many stars who has rallied behind Irish MMA fighter Ryan Curtis following a tragic injury he suffered recently. Ryan Curtis, 31, has previously fought for the likes of Bellator, BRAVE CF and Cage Warriors. In the following statement on his GoFundMe page, the extent of his injuries were revealed from an accident that occurred in training.
Tony Ferguson undergoes surgery to remove bone fragments from his left arm (Video)
Harry Kettle - January 15, 2024
UFC veteran Tony Ferguson has undergone surgery to remove bone fragments from his left arm. For years now, Tony Ferguson has been seen as a big fan favorite in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. His run through the lightweight division was legendary and will be remembered for a long time to come. Unfortunately, his career has been on quite a downward spiral since 2020. In that time, he’s lost seven straight fights, four of which came via finish.
Fight fans express disappointment over main card lineup for UFC 297: “Looks like a Fight Night”
Fernando Quiles - January 14, 2024
Fans have shared their views on the UFC 297 card, and it isn’t pretty. UFC 297 will be held inside the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario on January 20. In the main event of the first UFC pay-per-view of 2024 it’ll be Sean Strickland putting his UFC Middleweight Championship at stake against Dricus Du Plessis. Strickland and Du Plessis have some bad blood brewing, and it led to the two brawling in the crowd during UFC 296.
Coach Javier Mendez dismisses Khabib Nurmagomedov UFC return rumors: "Stop all this nonsense"
Fernando Quiles - January 14, 2024
Javier Mendez has poured cold water on the Khabib Nurmagomedov rumors. American Kickboxing Academy coach Javier Mendez knows Khabib very well. He even had a heart-to-heart with “The Eagle” during his last UFC fight against Justin Gaethje, reminding his fighter to “remember father’s plan.” That was a nod to Khabib’s late father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, and “The Eagle” ended up winning that fight and then announced his retirement.