MMA News
Belal Muhammad calls Ben Askren wrestling match a 'lose-lose situation' for him
Cole Shelton - June 2, 2026
Belal Muhammad knows he’s in a no-win situation for his upcoming wrestling match. Muhammad is set to take on former Bellator and ONE Championship champion Ben Askren at RAF 11 on July 18. It’s Askren’s first time competing since his near-death encounter, which resulted in him having a double lung transplant.
Josh Hokit reacts to Sean O'Malley's admission he should've sided with 'Team Hokit' at UFC White House presser
Curtis Calhoun - June 2, 2026
UFC heavyweight contender Josh Hokit has a potential ally in Sean O’Malley if he gets into another altercation ahead of UFC White House. Josh Hokit will look to back up his ongoing trash talk with another win inside the Octagon when he faces UFC fan favorite Derrick Lewis at the White House later this month. Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje headlines a stacked card at UFC Freedom 250, featuring the biggest spotlight of Hokit’s young UFC career.
Scott Coker details what he thinks is wrong with UFC: 'Name four champions, I don't think I could do it'
Cole Shelton - June 2, 2026
Former Bellator President Scott Coker believes the UFC is overstaurated right now. Coker has been away from MMA since 2024, when PFL bought Bellator. However, Coker announced he’s set to launch a new MA promotion beginning in 2027, and he has already raised $60 million.
Kongchai chasing knockout at The Inner Circle main event on June 5
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 2, 2026
Kongchai Chanaidonmueang faces Moldovan striker Valerii Strungari in the strawweight Muay Thai main event of The Inner Circle, streaming live for members at live.onefc.com from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, June 5. The 23-year-old Tor Sangtiennoi product carries a 78-16 professional record, a three-fight promotional winning streak, and a performance bonus in mind that goes beyond career momentum. A finish over Strungari would put the contract conversation to rest and put a significant bonus into the hands of the family that needs it most. Of Kongchai’s 11 promotional wins, only two came inside the distance. He has identified that as the gap he must close on Friday.
Ronda Rousey would get 'f***** up' by Holly Holm again if they rematch, says ex-UFC KO artist: "Who do you think you're fooling here?"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 2, 2026
Ronda Rousey’s recent comments about a fantasy rematch with Holly Holm has one ex-UFC star at his wits’ end. Rousey enjoyed a successful comeback fight against Gina Carano in the MVP MMA 1 main event in May. “Rowdy” said she considers the return a one-off and is back to retirement so that she can have more children. Despite this, Rousey appeared on “Up and Adams” and claimed that she would run through Holm in a rematch.
Justin Gaethje says he understands why Ilia Topuria's ex-wife left him: "No way I would put up with his s***"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 2, 2026
Justin Gaethje is making things personal with Ilia Topuria just two weeks prior to UFC Freedom 250. Gaethje and Topuria are set to collide in a lightweight title unification bout on June 14. In the buildup to the fight, things had been fairly cordial between “The Highlight” and “El Matador” outside of the typical competitive talk. Things took a bit of a turn when Topuria released a video of himself attending a mock funeral for all of his fallen opponents, and included Gaethje as his next “victim.”
Ciryl Gane looks ahead to huge Alex Pereira challenge at UFC Freedom 250
Harry Kettle - June 2, 2026
UFC star Ciryl Gane has taken the time to look ahead to his blockbuster fight against Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250. In the co-main event of UFC Freedom 250, Ciryl Gane will compete against Alex Pereira for the UFC interim heavyweight championship. The hope, of course, is that the winner will go on to face current undisputed champion Tom Aspinall, but his return to action is still up in the air due to his eye injuries.
Ben Askren sees upcoming wrestling return as the 'second act' of his life
Harry Kettle - June 2, 2026
Ben Askren is ready for the second act of his story as he prepares to face Belal Muhammad at RAF 11. When you talk about inspirational figures in combat sports, Ben Askren has to feature in the conversation. His ability to fight his way back from a double-lung transplant has been nothing short of phenomenal, and now, he’s getting ready to go one step further by competing in wrestling again.
What's next for Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo after UFC Macau?
Cole Shelton - June 1, 2026
The UFC was in Macau, China, over the weekend for a Fight Night card. In the main event, bantamweight contenders threw down as Song Yadong took on Deiveson Figueiredo. Yadong entered the fight coming off a decision loss to Sean O’Malley after a win over Henry Cejudo. Figueiredo, meanwhile, was coming off a loss to Umar Nurmagomedov after a split decision win over Montel Jackson.
Ilia Topuria sends Justin Gaethje's father a cold message ahead of UFC White House
Curtis Calhoun - June 1, 2026
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is getting Justin Gaethje’s family, and more specifically his father, involved in trash talk. Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje are days away from clashing on the White House lawn at UFC Freedom 250. In a highly anticipated UFC lightweight title unification bout, Topuria and Gaethje will headline the first outdoors UFC card of the modern era.
Gina Carano called out by former undisputed boxing champ for MMA fight after Ronda Rousey loss
Curtis Calhoun - June 1, 2026
If Gina Carano wants to fight in Mixed Martial Arts again after her 17-second loss to Ronda Rousey, a boxing legend is ready to oblige. MMA legend Gina Carano’s return to the sport after 17 years away ended in just 17 seconds against UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey last month at MVP MMA 1. After weeks of anticipation for the all-legends clash, Rousey made quick work of Carano with another of her patented armbar submissions.
Yodlekpet faces Lethwei-trained Saw Min Min in flyweight Muay Thai main event of ONE Friday Fights 157
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 1, 2026
He learned to fight with no gloves at age 8. Now Saw Min Min steps into the most high-profile bout of his career against one of Muay Thai’s most decorated active fighters. Yodlekpet Or Atchariya faces Myanmar’s Saw Min Min in the flyweight Muay Thai main event of ONE Friday Fights 157, streaming live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, June 5.
VIDEO | Islam Makhachev surprises fan with life-threatening illness with tickets to expected UFC 330 return
Curtis Calhoun - June 1, 2026
UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev made an extremely ill fan’s ‘dream come true’ in a recent FaceTime call, and offered him a huge surprise. Islam Makhachev is expected to return to the Octagon later this year against one of several intriguing young welterweight contenders. UFC 330, set to take place in Philadelphia, PA, on August 15th, is expected to be headlined by Makhachev’s first welterweight title defense.
Justin Gaethje adopting 'feeling of heatstroke' to prep for humid UFC White House conditions
Curtis Calhoun - June 1, 2026
Interim UFC champion Justin Gaethje is pushing his body to its limits to prepare for the expected humid climate outside at UFC White House. Justin Gaethje will look to add a unified UFC lightweight title to his legendary resume later this month against Ilia Topuria at UFC White House. At a one-of-a-kind event, Topuria and Gaethje will square off on the White House lawn, the first UFC event held outdoors in the modern era.
Ilia Topuria's 'flaws' exposed by top coach that Justin Gaethje could exploit at UFC White House
Curtis Calhoun - June 1, 2026
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is vulnerable to one of Justin Gaethje’s greatest strengths, according to one of MMA’s best coaches. Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje headlines the UFC’s upcoming card on the White House lawn, in a matchup to unify the UFC lightweight titles. Topuria, who won the then-vacant lightweight belt last year at UFC 317, is considered a significant favorite against the interim champ Gaethje entering UFC Freedom 250.
Conor McGregor's longtime rival predicts why he won't oblige to Max Holloway's 'point down' at UFC 329
Curtis Calhoun - June 1, 2026
One of Conor McGregor’s biggest rivals believes his five-year hiatus will lead to him declining a potentially viral moment at UFC 329. Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor is, as of this writing, just weeks away from his highly anticipated return to the Octagon at UFC 329. McGregor and former BMF titleholder Max Holloway headline an intriguing card for the UFC’s annual International Fight Week event in Las Vegas.
Arman Tsarukyan shares surprising prediction for his next opponent
Cole Shelton - June 1, 2026
Arman Tsarukyan doesn’t think his next fight will be for the lightweight title. Tsarukyan has been announced as the backup fighter for the lightweight title fight at the White House between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. Although Tsarukyan is the backup fighter, that doesn’t mean he will get the next title shot; instead, he believes his next opponent could be a rematch against Charles Oliveira.
Ben Askren returns to competition at RAF 11 after double lung transplant, faces former UFC champion Belal Muhammad
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 1, 2026
Ben Askren is making his return to competition at RAF 11, and the announcement comes just shy of one full year since he had a double lung transplant. Askren made the stunning reveal during Monday’s appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” The former Bellator and ONE Championship titleholder announced that he will be wrestling former UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad. It’s an announcement that has shocked the MMA and freestyle wrestling communities as many have been in awe of Askren’s recovery.