MMA News

Cole Shelton - June 9, 2026 at 5:39 AM PDT // 0 Comments

The 223rd episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC White House. We’re joined by UFC middleweight Kyle Daukaus (1:00). Next, ninth-ranked UFC featherweight Steve Garcia (18:50) comes on.

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 8, 2026 at 7:00 PM PDT // 0 Comments

He was standing in the ring at Lumpinee Stadium when the announcer started speaking. He thought he was getting another bonus. Then the word “contract” landed. He still could not fully process it when he walked out. Taiga “Black Samurai” Orii stopped Julian Mayorga via ground-and-pound TKO at 3:03 of the first round at The Inner Circle on June 5 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, to claim the US$100,000 ONE Championship contract.

Cole Shelton - June 8, 2026 at 6:47 PM PDT // 0 Comments

The UFC was back at the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday for UFC Vegas 118. The main event saw former champion Belal Muhammad taking on Gabriel Bonfim in a pivotal fight at welterweight. Muhammad entered the fight on a two-bout losing streak after dropping a decision to Ian Machado Garry and Jack Della Maddalena to lose his welterweight title. Bonfim, meanwhile, was set for his second-straight main event and was on a four-fight winning streak.

Curtis Calhoun - June 8, 2026 at 5:26 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Former UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev could be on his way back to the Octagon after an impressive run outside of the promotion. At a time when the UFC’s flyweight division is on fire, one of the division’s former stars is doing everything he can to return to the promotion. Muhammad Mokaev, who parted ways with the UFC after a win over Manel Kape at UFC 304, remains unbeaten in his Mixed Martial Arts career and has won four-straight fights since his UFC finale.

Curtis Calhoun - June 8, 2026 at 3:35 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Former Boxing star Adrien Broner was at the center of one of Jon Jones’ latest controversial moments outside of the Octagon since retiring. Former two-division UFC champion Jon Jones’ exclusion from the upcoming White House card led to bitter animosity between him and UFC CEO Dana White. Jones recently asked for his release from the UFC after contract negotiations fell apart for a fight at the White House, but as of this writing, his request has yet to be fulfilled by the promotion.

Curtis Calhoun - June 8, 2026 at 2:35 PM PDT // 0 Comments

UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen believes Bo Nickal will make the case for a title shot with an impressive win over Kyle Daukaus. UFC middleweight star Bo Nickal will look to continue his positive momentum this weekend at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House lawn. Nickal and Kyle Daukaus will square off as part of a seven-fight card at the White House, featuring the returns of Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira.

Curtis Calhoun - June 8, 2026 at 1:43 PM PDT // 0 Comments

UFC stars Bo Nickal and Josh Hokit squared off in NCAA Division-I wrestling seven years before their fights on the White House lawn. UFC stars Bo Nickal and Josh Hokit will come full circle this weekend at UFC White House.

Cole Shelton - June 8, 2026 at 1:28 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Ilua Topuria has a bold prediction for his upcoming fight against Justin Gaethje. Topuria is set to headline the White House card on Sunday as he defends his lightweight title against Gaethje. It’s a highly anticipated bout, and heading into the fight, Topuria is a massive favorite.

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Every opponent on Sanzhar “Tornado” Zakirov‘s resume came in ranked or dangerous. None of them came in undefeated. On July 17, that changes. Zakirov faces fellow unbeaten flyweight Ruslan Satiev in a flyweight MMA bout at ONE Fight Night 45: Lessei vs. Rabah on Prime Video, broadcasting live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, July 17.

Curtis Calhoun - June 8, 2026 at 12:59 PM PDT // 0 Comments

UFC featherweight contender Diego Lopes hopes Alexander Volkanovski will retire after presumably fighting his former foe. UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is widely expected to return to the Octagon later this year and fight unbeaten contender Movsar Evloev. Rumors are swirling that Volkanovski vs. Evloev will headline an upcoming major event, potentially as soon as September.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 8, 2026 at 12:27 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Alex Pereira has a response to Ciryl Gane receiving advice from the last man to defeat him under kickboxing rules. Back in 2021, Pereira lost the Glory Heavyweight Championship to Artem Vakhitov via majority decision. Rather than look for revenge, “Poatan” ended up moving on to MMA full-time, and he has since carved out his legacy in the sport. Pereira now has a chance to win a UFC title in a third weight class at UFC Freedom 250 when he meets Gane for the interim gold.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 8, 2026 at 12:05 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Dana White believes UFC Freedom 250 is trending towards reaching numbers that match the NFL Super Bowl. The biggest event in MMA history is set to take place on Sunday. It’ll be a historic show, as UFC Freedom 250 will be held on the White House lawn. The event will feature two title fights, including the main event lightweight unification bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. The co-headliner will feature an interim heavyweight title fight between Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira.

Curtis Calhoun - June 9, 2026

Former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis believes Kamaru Usman is having second thoughts on fighting him later this year. Dricus du Plessis hasn’t fought in the UFC Octagon since a lopsided defeat to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 last year. After a dominant title reign, Du Plessis suffered his first UFC defeat to Chimaev, but Chimaev’s recent loss puts him back in the title mix.

Cole Shelton - June 9, 2026

Alex Pereira isn’t sure he will fight Tom Aspinall next, even if he becomes the interim heavyweight champion on Sunday. Pereira is set to take on Ciryl Gane in the co-main event of the UFC White House event on Sunday for the interim heavyweight title. It’s an intriguing fight, and oddsmakers have it as a pure pick’em, showing people are torn on who will win.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 9, 2026

Derrick Lewis doesn’t appear to be bothered by Josh Hokit’s bizarre style of trash talk. Hokit has quickly ruffled the feathers of several UFC names, including Alex Pereira and even reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria. Hokit will be Lewis’ opponent on the UFC Freedom 250 card this Sunday on the White House lawn. The two shared the stage for the first press conference promoting the event, but Hokit was kicked out after trading barbs with Pereira and Topuria.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 9, 2026

One former UFC titleholder is a big fan of Justin Gaethje, but he still thinks “The Highlight” will fall to Ilia Topuria. Topuria and Gaethje are on a collision course that will meet its end on Sunday. The two will clash in the UFC Freedom 250 main event on the White House lawn. The winner will have the distinction of unifying the UFC Lightweight Championship. Topuria holds the main title, while Gaethje is the interim champion.

Harry Kettle - June 9, 2026

UFC legend Dustin Poirier has questioned Justin Gaethje’s mentality heading into UFC Freedom 250 this weekend. At UFC Freedom 250, Justin Gaethje will attempt to finally become an undisputed UFC world champion when he faces the current lightweight king Ilia Topuria. Unlike Ilia’s showdown with Charles Oliveira, these two have been back and forth a fair bit in the trash talk department.

Harry Kettle - June 9, 2026

UFC analyst Laura Sanko doesn’t agree with Dana White that Alex Pereira could lead the GOAT debate after this weekend. In the co-main event of UFC Freedom 250, Alex Pereira will collide with Ciryl Gane over the UFC interim heavyweight championship. The winner will go on to face Tom Aspinall for the undisputed belt, but the biggest story here is Poatan.

Harry Kettle - June 9, 2026

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has declared that he will break Justin Gaethje in their collision at UFC Freedom 250. This weekend, Ilia Topuria will defend his UFC lightweight championship against interim champion Justin Gaethje in the main event of the promotion’s blockbuster White House event. Right now, Ilia is considered by many to be the overwhelming favorite.

Cole Shelton - June 9, 2026

The UFC is in Washington, D.C., for their historic event on the White House lawn for a stacked UFC White House card. In the main event, Ilia Topuria defends his lightweight title against interim champion Justin Gaethje. Heading into the fight, Topuria is a massive -670 favorite while the challenger is a +430 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the bout at UFC White House, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the lightweight title fight. The pros do think Topuria will get the win, and likely will do so by knockout to defend his belt for the first time.

Cole Shelton - June 8, 2026

The UFC was back at the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday for UFC Vegas 118. The main event saw former champion Belal Muhammad taking on Gabriel Bonfim in a pivotal fight at welterweight. Muhammad entered the fight on a two-bout losing streak after dropping a decision to Ian Machado Garry and Jack Della Maddalena to lose his welterweight title. Bonfim, meanwhile, was set for his second-straight main event and was on a four-fight winning streak.

Curtis Calhoun - June 8, 2026

Former UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev could be on his way back to the Octagon after an impressive run outside of the promotion. At a time when the UFC’s flyweight division is on fire, one of the division’s former stars is doing everything he can to return to the promotion. Muhammad Mokaev, who parted ways with the UFC after a win over Manel Kape at UFC 304, remains unbeaten in his Mixed Martial Arts career and has won four-straight fights since his UFC finale.

Curtis Calhoun - June 8, 2026

A top UFC analyst predicts Justin Gaethje will pull off another mammoth upset this weekend on the White House lawn. Interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje has had several opportunities to win a lineal UFC title during his legendary career in the Octagon. After defeating Paddy Pimblett earlier this year at UFC 324 to win the interim belt for the second time in his UFC tenure, Gaethje will face Ilia Topuria in the UFC White House main event this weekend.

Curtis Calhoun - June 8, 2026

Former Boxing star Adrien Broner was at the center of one of Jon Jones’ latest controversial moments outside of the Octagon since retiring. Former two-division UFC champion Jon Jones’ exclusion from the upcoming White House card led to bitter animosity between him and UFC CEO Dana White. Jones recently asked for his release from the UFC after contract negotiations fell apart for a fight at the White House, but as of this writing, his request has yet to be fulfilled by the promotion.