UFC News

Thiago Santos hopes former rival Jon Jones comes back better than ever: "Jones is a legend of the sport"
Adam D Martin - November 3, 2021
UFC light heavyweight Thiago Santos hopes that former rival Jon Jones comes back better than ever, saying “Jones is a legend of the sport.” Santos and Jones met in the main event of UFC 239 in July 2019. In what was one of the toughest fights of Jones’ UFC light heavyweight title run, he edged out a split decision to get past Santos in what was an incredible fight. Of course, that fight was over two years ago, and so much else has happened in the years since then. Santos is still fighting and just beat Johnny Walker in his last fight, but Jones hasn’t fought since February 2020. Since then, he has mentioned moving up to heavyweight, but that move has since been delayed for numerous issues including Jones’ recent arrest for domestic battery.

Vicente Luque reiterates callout of Nate Diaz for December UFC card: "I want the challenge"
Adam D Martin - November 3, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Vicente Luque reiterated his callout of Nate Diaz for an upcoming December UFC card, saying “I want the challenge.” Luque called out Diaz following his submission win over Michael Chiesa at UFC 265 back in August, and Luque and Diaz have gone back-and-forth on social media over the last few months. Right now, it seems like the UFC is more interested in booking Diaz against Khamzat Chimaev, but if you ask Luque, this is still the fight that he hopes the UFC books.

Daniel Cormier suggests Khamzat Chimaev fight Gilbert Burns next
Adam D Martin - November 3, 2021
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier suggested that emerging welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev fight against Gilbert Burns next. Chimaev absolutely destroyed Li Jingliang on the UFC 267 main card in what was by far the most impressive performance of his career. He is now a perfect 4-0 in the Octagon and there are some who believe that Chimaev should be fast-tracked towards a title shot. However, it seems likely that he will have to fight at least one more time before the UFC gives him the shot at the UFC welterweight title. The promotion is reportedly looking into the possibility of a fight against Nate Diaz, but so far, nothing has been made official.

Jordan Williams eager to steal Ian Garry's hype with his back against the wall at UFC 268: 'I'm hunting for goose eggs'
Cole Shelton - November 3, 2021
Jordan Williams is ecstatic to fight in Madison Square Garden and do so against Ian Garry who has a ton of hype. Garry is a undefeated Irish prospect who many have called him the next Conor McGregor. The Irishman is a big favorite at UFC 268 but for Williams, he knows he has already fought top guys so the level of competiton will be the difference here.

UFC 268 | Pro fighters make their picks for Rose Namajunas vs. Weili Zhang 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - November 3, 2021
In the co-main event of UFC 268, Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang are running it back just seven months after Namajunas scored a 78-second TKO win. Heading into the fight, the champ is a +100 underdog while Zhang is the -120 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros are nearly unanimous in thinking Namajunas defends her belt again and likely does it by stoppage again.

John McCarthy criticizes Vyacheslav Kiselev for controversial non-stoppage at UFC 267
Adam D Martin - November 3, 2021
Veteran mixed martial arts official John McCarthy criticized referee Vyacheslav Kiselev for his controversial non-stoppage at UFC 267. In one of the most prolonged beatings we have ever seen inside the Octagon, Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos emptied the clip against Benoit Saint Denis over the course of a brutal 25-minute battle between the two welterweights at UFC 267. There were numerous points where the referee could have stepped in and stopped the contest, but he refused to do so, which led the fight to go the full distance. It was an incredible show of heart and toughness by Saint Denis, but he also took unnecessary punishment and damage during this bout.

Kamaru Usman explains callout of Canelo Alvarez: “It's not about money, it's about what gets me out of bed, what gets me scared”
Adam D Martin - November 3, 2021
Kamaru Usman explained his callout of Canelo Alvarez, saying “it’s not about money, it’s about what gets me out of bed, what gets me scared.” Usman takes on archrival Colby Covington in the main event of UFC 268 this Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. For Usman, this represents another massive fight for him in his MMA career. Since entering the UFC in 2015, Usman is a perfect 14-0, and if he beats Covington to go 15-0, it would start putting him into the upper-echelon of MMA fighters who have ever lived. But even though he still has plenty of more potential opponents to fight in the UFC welterweight division, Usman is looking big. And when it comes to combat sports, it doesn’t get much bigger than Canelo Alvarez.

Islam Makhachev slams Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler ahead of UFC 268: “Everybody is tired about these guys because they’re old”
Adam D Martin - November 3, 2021
Islam Makhachev ripped Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler ahead of UFC 268, saying “everybody is tired about these guys because they’re old.” Makhachev put on arguably the best performance of his MMA career last Saturday at UFC 268 when he submitted Dan Hooker in the first round. Considering how tough and durable Hooker is — this was his first submission loss in nearly a decade — it was absolutely incredible to see Makhachev go through him like a knife through hot butter. It was the kind of win that the Russian needs in order to really cement himself as one of the top lightweights in the UFC. With a 10-1 record now in the promotion, including the nine-fight win streak that he currently rides, it’s clear that Makhachev is closing in on a title shot.

Jonas Bilharinho scores spinning wheel kick KO on Contender Series (Video)
Cole Shelton - November 2, 2021
Jonas Bilharinho got a highlight-reel KO right in front of Dana White on the final episode of Season 5 of the Contender Series on Tuesday. Bilharino was fighting Canaan Kawaihae in a featherweight bout. Early on, not much action was going on as the two were clinching one another. A rare double low blow happened which caused a pause in the action but when they continued it was much of the same.

Justin Gaethje claims he's 'guaranteed' a title shot after he KO's Michael Chandler at UFC 268
Cole Shelton - November 2, 2021
Justin Gaethje believes he will be fighting for UFC gold after UFC 268. On the main card of the UFC’s return to Madison Square Garden, Gaethje is set to fight Michael Chandler in a potential number one contender bout. It’s Gaethje’s first fight since he lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov for the belt in October of 2020 but he is confident he will not only get the win but will KO Chandler to get the next title shot.

Glover Teixeira gets hero's welcome in Connecticut after winning light heavyweight title at UFC 267 (Video)
Cole Shelton - November 2, 2021
Glover Teixeira returned to his adopted home of Connecticut and got a hero’s welcome after becoming the new UFC light heavyweight champion. In the main event of the card from Abu Dhabi, Teixeira, who turned 42 during fight week, was a sizeable underdog against Jan Blachowicz. Many expected Blachowicz to win the fight, but Teixeira dominated the first round and then got the submission win in the second to become the new champion.

Junior dos Santos signs with a boxing management company, plans to fight and beat Fury, Wilder and Joshua in the future
Cole Shelton - November 2, 2021
Junior dos Santos will be off to boxing. The former UFC heavyweight champion in dos Santos signed with S-Jam BOXING a boxing management company. They will be co-managing him and fight news will be coming soon.