Charles Oliveira reveals timeline for UFC return, Top 5 lightweight calls him out
Curtis Calhoun - May 2, 2024
Daniel Cormier envious of José Aldo ahead of UFC 301 return: 'I wanted that moment one time...''
Curtis Calhoun - May 2, 2024
Paige VanZant unloads on "clown" Dillon Danis, shares humiliating encounter with him
Cole Shelton - May 2, 2024
Ronda Rousey to adapt memoirs into Netflix film, 'Rowdy' currently writing scripts for her biopic
Josh Evanoff - May 2, 2024
Dustin Poirier could retire with win over Islam Makhachev at UFC 302: "It could be my last fight"
Josh Evanoff - May 2, 2024
Gervonta Davis backs Ryan Garcia after drug testing failure: "They doing anything to take the win from Ryan"
Josh Evanoff - May 2, 2024
Jake Paul sends a warning to Mike Tyson after their boxing match is now a pro fight
Cole Shelton - May 2, 2024
MMA News
Jackie Buntan, Anissa Meksen battle for inaugural ONE World Title
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 2, 2024
American Muay Thai star Jackie Buntan ventures over into the kickboxing world to take on one of the sport’s greats for World Title glory. The California native faces French-Algerian legend Anissa Meksen for the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Title at ONE Fight Night 23 on Prime Video.
Paul Craig believes the UFC is hoping he will go into Rio and take a loss: “I genuinely believe that”
Harry Kettle - May 2, 2024
UFC star Paul Craig believes that the promotion would prefer for him to lose to Caio Borralho at UFC 301. This weekend, Paul Craig will make his return to the Octagon when he battles Caio Borralho. The Scot is coming off the back of three losses in his last four, but the veteran is still hungry to make an impact in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Coach Tim Welch weighs in on the Alexandre Pantoja - Sean O’Malley sparring controversy: “I don't even think Sean was a professional yet”
Harry Kettle - May 2, 2024
Sean O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch has weighed in on the recent Alexandre Pantoja/O’Malley sparring controversy. This weekend, Alexandre Pantoja will defend his UFC flyweight championship against Steve Erceg. As you may have heard, though, Pantoja has been talking a great deal in the build-up to this contest.
Paul Hughes explains decision to sign with PFL over the UFC: “I deserve to get compensated”
Harry Kettle - May 2, 2024
Cage Warriors champion Paul Hughes has explained why he decided to sign for PFL ahead of UFC. For those of you who don’t know, Paul Hughes is a fascinating lightweight prospect. From his fight style to his impressive 11-1 pro record, there was always going to be a lot of intrigue when it comes to where he was going to sign next. In the end, though, instead of joining the likes of fellow countrymen Conor McGregor and Ian Machado Garry in the UFC, he opted for PFL.
Ilia Topuria calls out Joe Rogan: "UFC never offered me this fight"
Zain Bando - May 1, 2024
Ilia Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), the UFC’s newly minted featherweight champion, is unhappy after recent comments from UFC color commentator Joe Rogan regarding Topuria’s intention not to immediately rematch Alexander Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) at UFC 305 in Australia in August. On a recent episode of “JRE,” the most widely-consumed podcast in the world, Rogan, who has been with the UFC since 2002 after a brief stint in the mid-90s, suggested that Topuria would not fight the former champion in Volkanovski based on rumors he had heard around the community.
Steve Erceg expects "bottles to be thrown" at him after he upsets Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301
Cole Shelton - May 1, 2024
Steve Erceg is expecting a hostile crowd on Saturday when he faces Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title in the main event of UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Erceg knows Brazilian fans like to get loud and chant ‘You Will Die’ in Portuguese to the opposing fighters. With Erceg fighting for the belt and being the main event, he’s expecting to get booed. Not only is he expecting to get booed, but Erceg thinks people will be throwing stuff at him after he finishes Pantoja at UFC 301.
Alexander Volkanovski calls Jose Aldo the featherweight GOAT ahead of UFC 301
Cole Shelton - May 1, 2024
Alexander Volkanovski hails Jose Aldo as the greatest featherweight of all time. Volkanovski defeated Aldo en route to winning the featherweight title, and both are in the conversation of being the greatest ever. However, Volkanovski says he still has to give it to Aldo due to the length of his title reign, and being so dominant in wins makes him the featherweight GOAT.
Michael Bisping taking Alexandre Pantoja to retain flyweight title: "He’s a nasty bastard"
Zain Bando - May 1, 2024
Michael Bisping is all too familiar with playing the underdog role. Despite Steve Erceg’s (12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) similar position Saturday at UFC 301, Bisping said he plans to go conservative and pick Alexandre Pantoja (27-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC) to defend his flyweight title in his home country of Brazil. “Alexandre Pantoja, this man’s phenomenal,” Michael Bisping said. “He’s pretty much gone through the entire flyweight division. Brandon Moreno, the Royvals, the Kapes. You name it, he’s been there and done it. He’s got no weak areas. He’s got a strong mind. He’s resilient. He’s got an amazing gas tank. He can strike. He can wrestle. He’s got world-class jiu-jitsu, and he’s a nasty bastard on top of it.”
UFC 301 | Pro fighters make their picks for Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg title fight
Cole Shelton - May 1, 2024
In the main event of UFC 301, the flyweight title is up for grabs as Alexandre Pantoja looks to defend his belt against Steve Erceg. Heading into the fight, Pantoja is a -200 favorite while the challenger is a +154 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the flyweight title fight. The pros are unanimous in thinking Pantoja will remain the flyweight champ as they believe this is too big of a step up in competition for Erceg.
Max Holloway hits back after Ilia Topuria questions his desire to fight for the featherweight belt: 'You're spiraling!'
Curtis Calhoun - May 1, 2024
BMF titleholder Max Holloway wasn’t one to hold animosity toward other UFC fighters, until Ilia Topuria claimed the featherweight throne. Holloway earned the BMF belt by knocking out Justin Gaethje with one second left at UFC 300 last month. The win was his first career UFC lightweight victory and opened up many options for his next fight.
Alexander Volkanovski proposes a unique route for Steve Erceg to win the UFC flyweight title at UFC 301
Curtis Calhoun - May 1, 2024
Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski detailed how Steve Erceg can drop jaws and secure the flyweight belt at UFC 301. Erceg will face UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja in the UFC 301 main event on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro. The No. 10 flyweight got the title shot despite a small sample size inside the UFC Octagon, capped off by a recent knockout of Matt Schnell.
WATCH | Alex Pereira outwrestles Daniel Cormier at UFC 301 media day
Josh Evanoff - May 1, 2024
It appears that UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has better wrestling than Daniel Cormier believed. ‘Poatan’ is fresh off his return to the cage in the main event of UFC 300 last month. In the headliner of the historic event, Alex Pereria faced former champion Jamahal Hill. Ultimately, it took the Brazilian less than a round to knock out ‘Sweet Dreams’. However, Hill later stated that Herb Dean’s refereeing played a role in the defeat.
Exclusive MMA Interviews
Drakkar Klose claims Joaquim Silva is the "easiest fight," vows to KO him at UFC 301
Cole Shelton - April 30, 2024
Drakkar Klose called for the easiest fight in the lightweight division after his last win and he says he got his wish. After Klose scored a slam KO over Joe Solecki in December, he said he didn’t care who was next, as he just wanted the easiest guy for the most amount of money. Klose ended up getting the call to face Joaquim Silva at UFC 301 in Brazil, which is exciting for the American to go into enemy territory.
Austen Lane guarantees violence against Jhonata Diniz at UFC Vegas 91: "I will turn it loose"
Cole Shelton - April 24, 2024
Austen Lane wasn’t surprised when he got offered to fight Jhonata Diniz at UFC Vegas 91. Lane is coming off a knockout loss to Justin Tafa back in September at UFC 293, this after their no-contest result. Following the loss, Lane wanted to return much sooner as he wanted to be as active as possible.
Cody Brundage believes he's too much of a "step-up in competiton" for Bo Nickal, confident he will finish him at UFC 300
Cole Shelton - April 12, 2024
Cody Brundage wanted to fight Bo Nickal and he was hoping he’d get the fight at UFC 300. Brundage is on a two-fight winning streak and after his last win, he thought it made sense for him to be Nickal’s next opponent. To no surprise, when his coach called with a fight offer, it was Nickal at UFC 300 which he jumped at.
UFC 300 | Pro fighters make their picks for Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsraukyan
Cole Shelton - April 11, 2024
On the main card of UFC 300, former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira takes on Arman Tsarukyan in a potential No. 1 contender fight. Heading into the fight, Oliveira is a +176 underdog while the Armenian is a -230 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the lightweight fight. The pros are actually going with the underdog in Oliveira as they feel like he is getting overlooked.
UFC 300 | Pro fighters make their picks for Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill title fight
Cole Shelton - April 10, 2024
In the main event of UFC 300, the light heavyweight title is up for grabs as Alex Pereira looks to defend the belt for the first time against former champ Jamahal Hill. Heading into the fight, Pereira is a -140 favorite while the American is a +110 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the light heavyweight title fight. The pros believe Pereira will get it done, as his striking will be too much for Hill.
UFC 300 | Pro fighters make their picks for Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan
Cole Shelton - April 10, 2024
In the co-main event of UFC 300, the strawweight title is on the line as Zhang Weili looks to defend her strap against Yan Xiaonan. Heading into the fight, Weili is a sizeable -500 favorite while the challenger is a +340 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the strawweight title fight. To no surprise, the pros believe Zhang Weili will be too much for Yan Xiaonan as she will defend her title with ease.
Jim Miller plans to "frustrate" Bobby Green at UFC 300, lays out retirement plan
Cole Shelton - April 9, 2024
Jim Miller got his wish of fighting on UFC 300. Miller competed at UFC 100 and 200 and for the past couple of years, he has been campaigning to be on UFC 300. Originally the plan was for Miller to retire at UFC 300, but that is no longer the goal, so he says that has taken a bit away from the spectacle of the event.
Coach reveals UFC "compensated" Ricky Turcios, claims Raul Rosas Jr. was cleared to fight at UFC Mexico City
Cole Shelton - April 9, 2024
Alex Morono, the head coach of Ricky Turcios says the UFC took care of the bantamweight after his canceled fight against Raul Rosas Jr. at UFC Mexico City. Just minutes before Turcios was set to make the walk, it was revealed Rosas Jr. was sick and the fight was off. It was disappointing news for Morono and Turcios, who liked the style matchup against the 19-year-old.
Christos Giagos expects to "catch" Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC Vegas 90: "It's going to be fun"
Cole Shelton - April 4, 2024
Christos Giagos is excited to face Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC Vegas 90 on Saturday. Giagos is coming off a submission loss to Daniel Zellhuber in September and after the defeat, he was hoping to return to fight in Anaheim at UFC 298. Although fighting at February’s pay-per-view never came to fruition, Giagos did get offered a fight against Bahamondes on Saturday at UFC Vegas 90 and jumped at the chance.
Damon Jackson expects Alexander Hernandez fight to be a "banger" for however long it lasts: "First round is going to be a fury"
Cole Shelton - April 3, 2024
Damon Jackson is expecting his UFC Vegas 90 co-main event fight against Alexander Hernandez to be wild and chaotic for however long it lasts. Jackson is coming off a decision loss to Billy Quarantillo back in August, which was his second straight defeat. After the loss, Jackson focused on getting healthy and says he is now back to one hundred percent.
Alex Morono excited to continue "legends tour" by facing Court McGee at UFC Vegas 90: "I'm going to go throw some heat"
Cole Shelton - April 2, 2024
Alex Morono is eager for the opportunity to face another veteran in Court McGee at UFC Vegas 90 on Saturday. Morono is set for his 20th UFC fight on Saturday as he will take on McGee who is someone he’s eager to compete against. Morono has fought the likes of Anthony Pettis, Donald Cerrone, and Tim Means among others, so he’s excited to add another OG name to his resume.
Andre Petroski plans to continue to prove he's the best grappler at middleweight by beating Jacob Malkoun at UFC Atlantic City
Cole Shelton - March 28, 2024
Andre Petroski has made it clear that he believes he’s the best grappler in the middleweight division and he wants to continue to prove that. Petroski has been calling out the top grapplers since signing with the UFC and had a ton of success early on. However, in his last fight, he stepped up on short notice to face Michel Pereira and he suffered a first-round knockout loss.