MMA News

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 16, 2026 at 1:00 PM PDT // 0 Comments

He wasn’t on a team. He had no recruiting profile. His parents drove past the Clemson camp on a random afternoon and asked if he wanted to stop. He got out of the car, did his thing, and got an offer. That is how Regan Upshaw’s path to two NCAA National Championships began — and the same instinct that put him in that camp is now putting him on the ONE Championship stage. Upshaw makes his professional MMA debut against British heavyweight Paul “King of the North” Elliott at ONE Fight Night 44: Jarvis vs. Rungrawee II on Prime Video, broadcasting live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, June 26.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 16, 2026 at 11:54 AM PDT // 0 Comments

Arman Tsarukyan believes he is the clear-cut No. 1 contender for the lightweight title following UFC Freedom 250. This past Sunday, Ilia Topuria looked to continue his unbeaten streak, while Justin Gaethje had plans of winning undisputed UFC gold for the first time in his career. It was Gaethje who ended up getting his way, battering Topuria’s face to force a corner stoppage before the fifth round began.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 16, 2026 at 11:31 AM PDT // 0 Comments

Don’t hold your breath for another outdoor UFC show following the historic White House event. UFC Freedom 250 took place this past Sunday and while things ultimately worked out, UFC CEO Dana White was stressing about the logistics all the way until the card began. The event endured a slight rain delay, but the weather didn’t negatively impact the show otherwise, which delivered a knockout in every fight.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 16, 2026 at 11:10 AM PDT // 0 Comments

Ilia Topuria was battered in the first loss of his pro MMA career, and while he was competitive in defeat, one ex-UFC slugger thinks he may never be the same. Topuria headlined the historic UFC Freedom 250 card this past Sunday in a lightweight title unification bout against Justin Gaethje. The story was there for both men as Topuria looked to continue his dominance and possibly set up a super fight with welterweight champion Islam Makahchev. For Gaethje, it was likely the last opportunity he’d get to earn the undisputed distinction.

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 15, 2026 at 4:00 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Win. Lose. Win. Lose. Win. Lose. Masaaki Noiri has described his ONE Championship record himself, in exactly those terms, and said it ends now. Noiri enters the ONE SAMURAI Featherweight Kickboxing Tournament at ONE SAMURAI 2, broadcasting live and exclusively on live.onefc.com from Ebara Wave Arena Ota in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday, August 8. The 33-year-old Team Vasileus fighter opens with a quarterfinal rematch against Chinese contender Liu “Spirit Dragon” Mengyang, who handed him a decision loss at ONE Friday Fights 92 in December 2024.

Cole Shelton - June 15, 2026 at 3:52 PM PDT // 0 Comments

The UFC had its card on the White House lawn on Sunday, which will go down as one of the greatest sporting spectacles ever. In the main event, Ilia Topuria was defending his lightweight title against Justin Gaethje, while the co-main event saw Ciryl Gane taking on Alex Pereira for the interim heavyweight belt. Ultimately, it was Gaethje who pulled off a stunning upset as he scored a corner stoppage at the end of the fourth round against Topuria to become the new lightweight champion. In the co-main event, it was Gane who scored a second-round TKO over Pereira to become a two-time interim heavyweight champion.

Curtis Calhoun - June 15, 2026 at 3:44 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is the latest to taunt Ilia Topuria following the latter’s stunning loss at the White House. For the first time in his otherwise legendary UFC career, Ilia Topuria left the Octagon without his hand raised, as he lost his lightweight belt to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. It was a shocking end to a star-studded card on the White House lawn, capped off by an instant classic between Topuria and Gaethje before Topuria’s corner opted to stop the fight just before Round 5.

Curtis Calhoun - June 15, 2026 at 2:47 PM PDT // 0 Comments

BMF champion Charles Oliveira attempted to persuade newly minted UFC lightweight champ Justin Gaethje to let him skip the line. Justin Gaethje pulled off a historic upset on the south lawn of the White House at UFC Freedom 250. Gaethje handed UFC lightweight titleholder Ilia Topuria his first career loss in an instant classic for as long as the fight lasted.

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM PDT // 0 Comments

He beat Superlek an Petchtanong Petchfergus. He challenged Jonathan Haggerty for the belt and came up short. Now Yuki Yoza needs a win to stay in the title conversation. Standing across from him is the man who stopped John Lineker and proved himself one of the division’s most dangerous newcomers. Yoza faces Ben “The Problem” Woolliss in a bantamweight kickboxing bout at The Inner Circle 22, streaming live for members at live.onefc.com from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, July 17.

Cole Shelton - June 15, 2026 at 12:49 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Ilia Topuria suffered a stunning stoppage loss to Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC White House to lose his lightweight title. Topuria was defending his belt for the first time and entered the bout as a sizable favorite. Early on, Topuria had success as he looked like he was on his way to finishing Gaethje in the second round. However, Gaethje was able to survive and then took over and dominated Topuria, as he battered him en route to a corner stoppage after the fourth round.

Curtis Calhoun - June 15, 2026 at 12:33 PM PDT // 0 Comments

UFC superstar Conor McGregor surprisingly defended Ilia Topuria against boxer Terence Crawford’s taunts following UFC White House. Justin Gaethje pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history by defeating reigning lightweight champ Ilia Topuria on Sunday at UFC White House. The 37-year-old Gaethje claimed the lightweight throne after two previously failed attempts to win the undisputed title.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 15, 2026 at 11:59 AM PDT // 0 Comments

A social media post earlier this year has come back to bite Ilia Topuria. About six months prior to UFC Freedom 250, Topuria slammed Paddy Pimblett for dropping a unanimous decision to Justin Gaethje. Had Pimblett won the fight, he would’ve set himself up for a lightweight title unification bout against Topuria. Instead, Gaethje battered “The Baddy,” who was able to survive until the final horn.

Curtis Calhoun - June 16, 2026

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill entered the Josh Hokit fight sweepstakes after announcing a major change. Jamahal Hill has lost three straight fights since claiming the UFC light heavyweight throne by defeating Glover Teixeira at UFC 283. Hill hasn’t fought since a unanimous decision loss to Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC Baku last summer, and although he recently hinted at a ‘new fire’ for fighting, things have remained quiet on the matchmaking front.

Curtis Calhoun - June 16, 2026

Referee Herb Dean took notice of former two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira’s harsh criticism after UFC Freedom 250. Former two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira’s bid at history fell short on Sunday at UFC Freedom 250. In his highly anticipated heavyweight debut, Pereira lost to now two-time interim titleholder Ciryl Gane by TKO in just the second stoppage loss of his UFC career.

Curtis Calhoun - June 16, 2026

Justin Gaethje’s longtime coach Trevor Wittman believes Ilia Topuria made a costly mistake when Gaethje was badly compromised. Justin Gaethje claimed the UFC lightweight throne by handing Ilia Topuria the first loss of his career on Sunday on the White House lawn. Gaethje won the UFC lightweight title after Topuria’s corner opted to throw in the towel just before the start of Round 5 after Topuria suffered a likely broken orbital bone.

Curtis Calhoun - June 16, 2026

Former two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira abandoned his usual stoicism in a fiery post-fight statement after UFC Freedom 250. Ciryl Gane became a two-time interim UFC heavyweight titleholder by handing Alex Pereira the second TKO loss of his UFC career on Sunday at the White House. After fighting to a no-contest with Tom Aspinall at UFC 321, Gane spoiled Pereira’s heavyweight debut, battering the former two-division champion with nasty shots.

Curtis Calhoun - June 16, 2026

Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor has new UFC lightweight titleholder Justin Gaethje in his crosshairs. Justin Gaethje pulled off one of the greatest upsets in UFC history last weekend at UFC Freedom 250, as he defeated Ilia Topuria by TKO (corner stoppage) on the White House lawn. After coming up short in several past title shot opportunities, Gaethje seized the moment and handed Topuria the first loss of his otherwise stellar career.

Curtis Calhoun - June 16, 2026

Recently retired UFC legend Dustin Poirier could potentially be on his way back to the Octagon to face two-time foe Justin Gaethje. After two previously failed attempts to win undisputed gold, Justin Gaethje climbed the lightweight mountaintop by defeating Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 to win the UFC lightweight championship. It was one of the most stunning upsets in UFC history as Gaethje battered and left Topuria almost unrecognizable as the defeated champion left the Octagon.

Cole Shelton - June 16, 2026

Conor McGregor claims he already has his next fight booked. McGregor is set to return to the Octagon in the main event of UFC 329 on July 11 in a welterweight bout against Max Holloway. Heading into his return fight, McGregor is a sizable +230 underdog while the Hawaiian is a -310 favorite on FanDuel.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 16, 2026

Arman Tsarukyan believes he is the clear-cut No. 1 contender for the lightweight title following UFC Freedom 250. This past Sunday, Ilia Topuria looked to continue his unbeaten streak, while Justin Gaethje had plans of winning undisputed UFC gold for the first time in his career. It was Gaethje who ended up getting his way, battering Topuria’s face to force a corner stoppage before the fifth round began.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 16, 2026

Ilia Topuria was battered in the first loss of his pro MMA career, and while he was competitive in defeat, one ex-UFC slugger thinks he may never be the same. Topuria headlined the historic UFC Freedom 250 card this past Sunday in a lightweight title unification bout against Justin Gaethje. The story was there for both men as Topuria looked to continue his dominance and possibly set up a super fight with welterweight champion Islam Makahchev. For Gaethje, it was likely the last opportunity he’d get to earn the undisputed distinction.

Curtis Calhoun - June 15, 2026

UFC CEO Dana White responded to calls to discipline Khamzat Chimaev following the former champ’s viral brawl with Dillon Danis. Former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev’s decision to remain active just weeks after his stunning loss to Sean Strickland resulted in a wild brawl at Real American Freestyle 10.

Cole Shelton - June 15, 2026

The UFC had its card on the White House lawn on Sunday, which will go down as one of the greatest sporting spectacles ever. In the main event, Ilia Topuria was defending his lightweight title against Justin Gaethje, while the co-main event saw Ciryl Gane taking on Alex Pereira for the interim heavyweight belt. Ultimately, it was Gaethje who pulled off a stunning upset as he scored a corner stoppage at the end of the fourth round against Topuria to become the new lightweight champion. In the co-main event, it was Gane who scored a second-round TKO over Pereira to become a two-time interim heavyweight champion.

Curtis Calhoun - June 15, 2026

Former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is the latest to taunt Ilia Topuria following the latter’s stunning loss at the White House. For the first time in his otherwise legendary UFC career, Ilia Topuria left the Octagon without his hand raised, as he lost his lightweight belt to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. It was a shocking end to a star-studded card on the White House lawn, capped off by an instant classic between Topuria and Gaethje before Topuria’s corner opted to stop the fight just before Round 5.