UFC News

Ilia Topuria challenges Conor McGregor to a sparring match, explains why UFC fight is now "Impossible"
Curtis Calhoun - October 15, 2024
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has officially given up his pursuit of a booking with Conor McGregor but issued an open invitation to the Irish superstar. Topuria will face BMF titleholder Max Holloway in the UFC 308 main event next weekend in Abu Dhabi. He’ll make his first UFC featherweight title defense after finishing Alexander Volkanovski for the belt in February.

Dustin Poirier shares prediction for potential Conor McGregor vs. Dan Hooker fight
Cole Shelton - October 15, 2024
Dustin Poirier thinks a potential fight between Conor McGregor and Dan Hooker would be fun for however long it lasts. On Saturday, McGregor claimed he would be fighting Hooker in February in Saudi Arabia in his UFC return. It caught many by surprise, as most assumed the Irishman would wait to see what happened in the Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira fight.

Tom Aspinall questions Francis Ngannou's elite status outside UFC: "These aren’t the best guys in the world"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 15, 2024
Tom Aspinall believes it’s tough to put Francis Ngannou in an elite class if he isn’t fighting under the UFC banner. Ngannou is a former UFC heavyweight champion, and he was never beaten for the belt. “The Predator” and the UFC couldn’t come to terms on a new deal. Ngannou ended up having lucrative boxing matches with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, as well as inking a deal with PFL.

Belal Muhammad has no fear of Shavkat Rakhmonov ahead of UFC 310, says coach
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 15, 2024
Coach Mike Valle isn’t fazed by the challenge Shavkat Rakhmonov presents to Belal Muhammad. UFC CEO Dana White recently announced that Rakhmonov will take on UFC welterweight champion Muhammad at the UFC 310 pay-per-view. The title fight is set to headline the event inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on December 7th.

What's next for Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira after UFC Vegas 98?
Cole Shelton - October 15, 2024
The UFC returned to the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday for UFC Vegas 98 in a battle of top-ranked flyweights between Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira. In the main event, top-ranked flyweight contender Brandon Royval took on Tatsuro Taira. Roval entered the bout coming off a decision win over Brandon Moreno while Taira beat Alex Perez by TKO due to an injury as he was 6-0 in the UFC.

Just Scrap Radio Ep. 180 with Mario Bautista and Brady Hiestand
Cole Shelton - October 15, 2024
The 180th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC Vegas 99 and recap UFC 307. We’re joined by ninth-ranked UFC bantamweight Mario Bautista (0:40). We close things out by chatting with UFC bantamweight Brady Hiestand (12:10).

Tatsuro Taira issues statement following FOTN loss to Brandon Royval at UFC Vegas 98
Harry Kettle - October 15, 2024
UFC contender Tatsuro Taira has issued a statement following his dramatic defeat to Brandon Royval last weekend. Last Saturday night, Tatsuro Taira stepped up to battle it out with Brandon Royval in a blockbuster flyweight main event. The two men were expected to go out there and put on a show, and boy oh boy is that what they did. They tore the house down in a true Fight of the Night contender that only left us wishing more fans had been in attendance to see it.

Francis Ngannou explains why he “wouldn't be surprised” if Stipe Miocic beats Jon Jones at UFC 309
Harry Kettle - October 15, 2024
Francis Ngannou has explained why he wouldn’t be surprised to see Stipe Miocic defeat Jon Jones at UFC 309 next month. As we know, Stipe Miocic will challenge Jon Jones for the UFC heavyweight championship next month. If he’s able to win the strap, he’ll become a three-time UFC world champion. In doing so, he’ll surely cement his legacy as the greatest heavyweight ever.

Tom Aspinall responds to Jon Jones's declaration he won't win more UFC titles than him
Curtis Calhoun - October 14, 2024
Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall responded to Jon Jones’s latest promise that the UK star won’t surpass him when it comes to title victories. Jones will return to the Octagon to defend the UFC lineal heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 next month. He was supposed to face Miocic at UFC 295 before withdrawing due to injury.

Conor McGregor offers Sean O'Malley all-expenses paid trip to train with him in Ireland: "He would regain his title!"
Curtis Calhoun - October 14, 2024
Now that Conor McGregor and Sean O’Malley have squashed their beef, McGregor wants O’Malley and his longtime coach Tim Welch to train on his home soil. O’Malley lost the UFC bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 last month. The loss snapped a lengthy unbeaten streak and ended his bantamweight title reign.

Tony Ferguson confirms he's not retired, announces plans for early 2025 UFC return: "F*ck no I'm not retiring!"
Josh Evanoff - October 14, 2024
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson isn’t done quite yet. ‘El Cucuy’ has been out of the cage since a trip to Abu Dhabi in August. Back for the first time since a unanimous decision loss to Paddy Pimblett in December, Tony Ferguson faced fellow veteran Michael Chiesa. Ahead of the bout, Dana White stated that the 40-year-old would have to retire afterward, win or lose.

Sean O'Malley shows interest in facing 'legend' Jose Aldo in UFC return: "That would be f*cking crazy"
Josh Evanoff - October 14, 2024
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley wants to fight Jose Aldo. ‘Sugar’ is fresh off his return to the cage at the Las Vegas Sphere last month. Back for the first time since a unanimous decision victory over Marlon Vera in April, Sean O’Malley faced Merab Dvalishvili. The two headlined the massive Noche UFC card, in what was supposed to be another star-making performance for the champion.

Michael Chandler says Conor McGregor's MMA legacy is on the line after long UFC absence
Curtis Calhoun - October 14, 2024
Former UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler feels Conor McGregor’s fighting legacy is in jeopardy if he doesn’t return. Chandler will face former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in the UFC 309 co-main event. He returns to the Octagon almost two full years after his last fight amidst a long wait for the McGregor booking.

UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis predicts a finish in his next fight
Harry Kettle - October 14, 2024
UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has seemingly predicted a finish for his next fight inside the cage. Over the course of the last few years, Dricus du Plessis has made a real name for himself in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He introduced himself as an emerging contender but in a short space of time, he made his way to the very top of the division.

Belal Muhammad responds after being labeled a “fake champion” by Ilia Topuria
Harry Kettle - October 14, 2024
Belal Muhammad has issued a response in the wake of being called a fake champion by UFC star Ilia Topuria. Earlier this year, Belal Muhammad produced a masterful performance to become the new UFC welterweight champion. He did so by dominating Leon Edwards, picking up what many considered to be one of the most dominant title wins of the year thus far.

Conor McGregor hits out at Belal Muhammad in latest social media rant
Harry Kettle - October 14, 2024
UFC star Conor McGregor has lashed out at UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in his latest social media rant. As we know, Conor McGregor is a pretty outspoken chap. He has never been afraid to speak his mind, especially when it comes to social media. The former two-weight UFC champion has made it crystal clear that he’s interested in a return to the Octagon but at this moment in time, nothing is set in stone.

Dana White and Joe Rogan think UFC 307 judges got it wrong with co-main event title fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 13, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White and Joe Rogan were puzzled by the judging of the UFC 307 co-main event. Rogan was on commentary for the women’s bantamweight title fight between Raquel Pennington and Julianna Pena. White had the best seat in the house for the championship fight.

Umar Nurmagomedov thinks Merab Dvalishvili is avoiding him: "It's looking very bad"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 13, 2024
Umar Nurmagomedov has accused Merab Dvalishvili of ducking him. Dvalishvili is the UFC bantamweight champion. He captured the gold by defeating Sean O’Malley via unanimous decision at UFC 306 inside the Sphere in Las Vegas.