MMA News

Conor McGregor and Justin Gaethje
Justin Gaethje

Conor McGregor eyes showdown with 'atrocious' Justin Gaethje after Max Holloway comeback fight

Curtis Calhoun - June 16, 2026 at 2:39 PM PDT // 0 Comments

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.

Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier face off at the UFC 291 ceremonial weigh-in
Justin Gaethje

Dustin Poirier teases Justin Gaethje trilogy in classy message after UFC White House

Curtis Calhoun - June 16, 2026 at 1:49 PM PDT // 0 Comments

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.

Conor McGregor power walks inside the UFC Octagon
UFC

Conor McGregor reveals he has his next fight set after UFC 329 return against Max Holloway

Cole Shelton - June 16, 2026 at 1:11 PM PDT // 0 Comments

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.

Regan Upshaw
Regan Upshaw

Regan Upshaw's journey from NCAA to ONE Championship: "It's always been in my realm"

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.

Dana White at the UFC Freedom 250 press conference
UFC

Dana White has no plans to hold another UFC event outdoors: "I don't want to ever be f***ing outside ever again"

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.

Ilia Topuria suffers first loss against Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250
Matt Brown

Ilia Topuria may never be the same after UFC Freedom 250 loss, says former UFC star: "We all have a breaking point"

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.

Dana White, Khamzat Chimaev and Dillon Danis
Dillon Danis

Dana White reacts to Khamzat Chimaev/Dillon Danis brawl as UFC plots former champ's return

Curtis Calhoun - June 15, 2026 at 4:33 PM PDT // 0 Comments

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.

Masaaki Noiri
ONE Championship

Masaaki Noiri carries the weight of Japanese kickboxing into the ONE SAMURAI 2 featherweight tournament on August 8

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.

Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria
Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev taunts 'humbled' Ilia Topuria after shocking UFC White House defeat

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.

Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje touch gloves at UFC 274
Justin Gaethje

Charles Oliveira calls out Justin Gaethje for 'winner takes all' rematch after UFC White House

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.

Tom Aspinall, Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane
Ciryl Gane

Tom Aspinall scolds Ciryl Gane for 'illegal elbows' at UFC White House, responds to Paris rematch pitch

Curtis Calhoun - June 15, 2026 at 2:07 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Undisputed UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall claimed Ciryl Gane was up to his old tricks in his UFC White House win. Multi-time interim UFC heavyweight titleholder Ciryl Gane became a two-time interim titleholder when he defeated Alex Pereira in the UFC White House co-main event on Sunday. Gane finished Pereira by TKO in a stunning result that secured him a rematch with undisputed champion Tom Aspinall.

yuki yoza
Yuki Yoza

Yuki Yoza and Ben Woolliss meet at The Inner Circle 22 on July 17

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.

UFC

Sean O'Malley and Aiemann Zahabi face off at a pre-fight press conference
UFC

Sean O'Malley voices bonus frustration after UFC Freedom 250 victory

Harry Kettle - June 17, 2026

UFC star Sean O’Malley has voiced his frustration after not being awarded a bonus for his big win at UFC Freedom 250 last weekend. On Sunday night, Sean O’Malley made his case for another UFC bantamweight title opportunity when he knocked out Aiemann Zahabi. It was a beautiful exchange that led to the finish, with Sean even hitting a salute as he walked off in victory in front of a jubilant crowd.

Israel Adesanya gets interviewed ahead of UFC 305, opposite Alex Pereira after his loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313
Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya praises Alex Pereira following UFC Freedom 250 defeat

Harry Kettle - June 17, 2026

UFC legend Israel Adesanya has praised his former rival Alex Pereira despite his TKO defeat at UFC Freedom 250. Last weekend, Alex Pereira attempted to become the first three-weight world champion in UFC history. He went head to head with Ciryl Gane, but in the end, he came up short as he fell to a devastating TKO loss at the hands of the Frenchman.

Demetrious Johnson
UFC

Demetrious Johnson thinks Josh Hokit "was just playing" with botched UFC Freedom 250 armbar, and UFC legend agrees

Dylan Bowker - June 16, 2026

Demetrious Johnson stood up for Josh Hokit and those who were clowning on him for what many perceived as improper jiu-jitsu technique implementation. The supposedly fudged armbar sequence from the controversial surging heavyweight at UFC Freedom 250 during his fight against Derrick Lewis, another UFC legend, also felt like Hokit was trolling to use the parlance of the digital age. That combatant in question is Israel Adesanya, who took part in a post-event recap on Johnson’s YouTube channel Mighty, as the former UFC titleholder and ONE Championship kingpin touched on several subjects with ‘The Last Stylebender.’ When touching upon the widely circulated footage of Hokit improperly applying the submission maneuver to ‘The Black Beast’, Johnson said,

Jamahal Hill and Josh Hokit
Josh Hokit

Jamahal Hill announces heavyweight move after recent skid, calls out Josh Hokit for debut

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.

Justin Gaethje punches Ilia Topuria during their fight at UFC Freedom 250
UFC

Justin Gaethje's coach highlights 'big mistake' Ilia Topuria made in stunning UFC White House loss

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.

Alex Pereira applauds Ciryl Gane in the Octagon at UFC Freedom 250
Ciryl Gane

Alex Pereira backs Tom Aspinall's stance against 'dirty' Ciryl Gane after UFC White House

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.

Conor McGregor inside the UFC Octagon
UFC

Conor McGregor addresses reports he took PEDs during time off due to injury

Cole Shelton - June 16, 2026

Conor McGregor was accused of taking PEDs while he was recovering from the broken leg he sustained in the trilogy match against Dustin Poirier. McGregor took his name out of the USADA testing pool, which many fans thought was interesting. Now, ahead of his return to the Octagon at UFC 329 on July 11, The New York Times reported that McGregor took performance-enhancing drugs, which were supported by his surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, throughout his leg treatment. ElAttrache is the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Rams physician and is regarded as one of the best sports doctors in the world.

Conor McGregor and Justin Gaethje
Justin Gaethje

Conor McGregor eyes showdown with 'atrocious' Justin Gaethje after Max Holloway comeback fight

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.

Conor McGregor power walks inside the UFC Octagon
UFC

Conor McGregor reveals he has his next fight set after UFC 329 return against Max Holloway

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.

Arman Tsarukyan speaks during UFC post-fight interview
UFC

Arman Tsarukyan declares himself No. 1 lightweight contender following UFC Freedom 250: "It has to be me"

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.

Dana White at the UFC Freedom 250 press conference
UFC

Dana White has no plans to hold another UFC event outdoors: "I don't want to ever be f***ing outside ever again"

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 16, 2026

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.

Ilia Topuria suffers first loss against Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250
Matt Brown

Ilia Topuria may never be the same after UFC Freedom 250 loss, says former UFC star: "We all have a breaking point"

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.