MMA News

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 24, 2025

Liu Mengyang came to prove he belonged in title conversations. He left with something better than proof. The 22-year-old Chinese striker knocked out ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai in 52 seconds at ONE Friday Fights 137 on December 19 inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. The devastating calf kick didn’t just end Tawanchai’s night. It announced Liu as a legitimate threat to everyone holding gold at featherweight.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 23, 2025

Sam-A Gaiyanghadao knows what the calendar says. At 42 years old, the Thai legend doesn’t have unlimited chances left. The former two-sport, two-division ONE World Champion beat Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi by unanimous decision at ONE Friday Fights 137 on December 19 inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. The victory kept his championship dreams alive against a 24-year-old knockout artist making his strawweight debut.

Curtis Calhoun - December 23, 2025

Former GLORY heavyweight kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven allegedly turned down a high-profile fight at UFC 324 next month. GLORY heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven made headlines just weeks ago when he announced he was parting ways with the kickboxing promotion to become a free agent. In recent weeks, he’s been linked to potential fights across MMA and boxing, including one high-profile showdown with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

Dylan Bowker - December 23, 2025

Rinat Fakhretdinov has posted up an undefeated record in the Ultimate Fighting Championship but he will no longer be a UFC contracted athlete heading into 2026. The UFC has elected to not re-sign the 34-year-old and the beginning of this story kicking off with an initial report from Tom Feely. The Sherdog contributor utilized his X account @omgitsfeely to convey some recent omissions from the UFC roster page, as Feely said,

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 23, 2025

Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn isn’t sold on Zuffa Boxing getting what it wants out of the “sweet science.” Hearn and UFC CEO Dana White have been chummy in the past, but some gamesmanship between the two has taken over recently. Hearn is one of boxing’s top promoters and White is attempting to make waves in the industry. This has led to some banter between Hearn and White through media interviews.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 23, 2025

Jake Paul’s business partner Nakisa Bidarian caused quite a stir with his comments in the aftermath of “El Gallo’s” defeat to Anthony Joshua. Paul accepted a heavyweight bout scheduled for eight rounds against Joshua in Miami this past Friday. Paul lasted until the sixth round when he was blasted by a punch that broke his jaw. He didn’t get off the canvas before the count of 10, and Joshua was awarded the knockout win.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 23, 2025

Jake Paul will not be getting any flowers from an ex-interim UFC champion after his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua. Paul and Joshua went one-on-one inside the Kaseya Center this past Friday. Paul was on the move from the start of the fight, making it difficult for Joshua to find his target. “El Gallo” wasn’t landing anything significant in return, allowing Joshua to stalk him before breaking his jaw for the sixth-round knockout.

Cole Shelton - December 23, 2025

David Dvorak is ready to bring a world title back to the Czech Republic. Dvorak is set to take on Zhalgas Zhumagulov on Sunday in the co-main event of OKTAGON 81 for the flyweight title. It’s an intriguing matchup, and one Dvorak is glad is happening as he admits he wanted this fight in the UFC.

Harry Kettle - December 23, 2025

Sean O’Malley called Jake Paul “inspiring” in the wake of his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua last week. On Friday night, Jake Paul fell short in his attempt to shock the world. He went head to head with Anthony Joshua in a sanctioned heavyweight boxing match, and while he was able to avoid the big shot for long spells, he ultimately fell to a sixth round knockout defeat at the hands of the former world champion.

Harry Kettle - December 23, 2025

Former UFC champion Aljamain Sterling wants some big fights in the featherweight division next year. As we know, once upon a time, Aljamain Sterling was the UFC bantamweight champion. However, after losing the belt to Sean O’Malley, he opted to make the move back up to 145 pounds. He’s gone 2-1 since then, but at the age of 36, it certainly feels like the clock is ticking if he’s serious about making a push to become a two-weight world champion.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 22, 2025

Mohammad Siasarani arrived at ONE Championship ready to bleed. Three years later, he learned when to make opponents bleed instead. The 23-year-old Iranian striker earned a $100,000 contract with ONE Championship after knocking out Jo Nattawut at ONE Friday Fights 137 on Friday, December 19, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. The second-round finish capped a journey that started with raw toughness and ended with calculated violence.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 22, 2025

Three years feels like forever when you’re chasing a dream. Yod-IQ Pimolsri finally caught his. The 23-year-old Thai striker earned a $100,000 contract with ONE Championship after knocking out Alexey Balyko at ONE Friday Fights 137 on December 19 inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. The first-round head kick didn’t just shut Balyko’s lights off. It erased the only loss on Yod-IQ’s ONE record and capped an 11-1 run through the promotion’s weekly series.

Curtis Calhoun - December 22, 2025

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and top contender Arman Tsarukyan continue to go at it from afar. Ilia Topuria’s first lightweight title defense hit an indefinite delay as the champion deals with personal issues outside of the Octagon. Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will fight for the interim lightweight title next month at UFC 324 for the right to welcome Topuria back to the cage.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 22, 2025

Yoel Romero is urging Anderson Silva to share the boxing ring with him. Both Romero and Silva are former UFC middleweights. Romero is regarded as one of the best UFC fighters to never hold gold in the promotion, while Silva is recognized as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. Both men have had success post-UFC.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 22, 2025

Jake Paul couldn’t beat the 10-count in the sixth round of his bout with Anthony Joshua, and one UFC legend is thankful. Paul and Joshua collided inside the Kaseya Center in Miami this past Friday. Joshua was a massive betting favorite going into the fight with many thinking he would dust Paul within the first two rounds. While that didn’t end up happening, Paul did suffer the fate many expected him to and he suffered a broken jaw by the end of the night.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 22, 2025

Robert Whittaker is mulling over a potential run in the boxing world once he wraps up his time with UFC. Whittaker is a former UFC Middleweight Champion and while most would argue he’s no longer in his prime, “The Reaper” continues to be a tough out for most 185-pounders. Still, at the age of 35, Whittaker is closer to the end of his pro MMA run than ever before.

Harry Kettle - December 22, 2025

Tony Ferguson has revealed a big injury problem he was dealing with in the midst of his losing streak in the UFC. This past weekend, Tony Ferguson moved to 2-0 since his transition into boxing with a nice win over Warren Spencer. Of course, while many of his loyal fans are happy to see him finding success in combat sports once again, it’s hard to forget the historic losing streak they also had to endure at the end of Tony’s run in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Harry Kettle - December 22, 2025

UFC flyweight contender Maycee Barber has called for a rematch against Alexa Grasso in February next year. For the longest time now, Maycee Barber has been viewed as someone who could legitimately become a future world champion in the UFC. That much goes without saying, but at the same time, she has also had her fair share of injury setbacks, leaving many to wonder whether she’ll ever be healthy enough to really go after the gold.