MMA News

Curtis Calhoun - December 19, 2025

Matchroom Boxing CEO Eddie Hearn alleges Dana White is at the center of a new controversy over fighter pay under Zuffa Boxing. UFC CEO Dana White’s long-teased adventure into boxing is set to come to fruition in 2026.

Curtis Calhoun - December 19, 2025

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall doesn’t understand the critics of the upcoming Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua boxing match. Jake Paul and former heavyweight boxing titleholder Anthony Joshua are hours away from squaring off in the ring on Friday night in Miami. The upcoming fight marks easily the toughest test of Paul’s boxing career, and would be an all-time upset in boxing if he gets it done against Joshua.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 19, 2025

Anderson Silva is happy that his relationship with Chael Sonnen is on far better terms these days. At one time, Silva and Sonnen had the most intense rivalry in all of combat sports. Sonnen made his share of disparaging remarks about Silva and Brazil to the point where the UFC brass feared for his safety. Ultimately, Silva defeated Sonnen twice inside the Octagon and the two squashed their beef. By the time Silva and Sonnen fought once more inside a boxing ring, there was no animosity at all.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 19, 2025

Jake Paul has slammed those who are comparing him to Francis Ngannou ahead of his showdown with Anthony Joshua. Paul will share the ring with Joshua on Friday inside the Kaseya Center in Miami. It’ll be a professional heavyweight boxing match scheduled for eight rounds. “The Problem Child” is a massive underdog going into the fight. Most combat sports experts believe Paul will suffer the same fate that Ngannou did when he fought Joshua.

Harry Kettle - December 19, 2025

UFC star Paddy Pimblett believes that fellow lightweight Arman Tsarukyan is lucky he wasn’t cut from the promotion. As we know, Arman Tsarukyan is one of the best lightweights in all of mixed martial arts. However, he also isn’t the most popular fighter on the UFC roster – far from it, in fact. Arman has been receiving a lot of criticism over the course of the last few years, and even after demolishing Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar, he still didn’t seem to be getting too much respect from the masses – and that includes UFC boss Dana White.

Harry Kettle - December 19, 2025

UFC middleweight Sean Strickland has torn into Tom Aspinall for the saga surrounding his recent eye injury. While he may be the UFC heavyweight champion, things aren’t going great for Tom Aspinall right now. He is on the verge of needing surgery to correct a nasty eye injury that he sustained at the hands of Ciryl Gane back at UFC 321, when the Frenchman poked him directly in both of his eyes to cause a no contest.

Harry Kettle - December 19, 2025

Joaquin Buckley isn’t convinced that Islam Makhachev will compete much longer, even if he fights and defeats Kamaru Usman. Right now, Islam Makhachev is on top of the world as the UFC welterweight champion. While there’s been no confirmation about what’s next for him, it certainly seems as if the idea of him being challenged by former champion Kamaru Usman is building momentum.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 18, 2025

Adrian Lee’s perfect start hit a wall in September. The Hawaiian phenom gets his chance to bounce back against someone who knows exactly how that feels. Lee meets Shozo Isojima in a lightweight MMA clash at ONE Fight Night 40 on Friday, February 13, 2026, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. Both fighters look to rebound from their first career defeats, creating a must-win atmosphere for the U.S. primetime card.

Curtis Calhoun - December 18, 2025

UFC lightweight star Paddy Pimblett clarified his stance towards Ilia Topuria after their recent classy back-and-forths. Paddy Pimblett will fight for the interim lightweight title next month against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324, with the winner set for a likely showdown against undisputed champ Ilia Topuria. Topuria is dealing with issues outside of fighting and is taking an indefinite hiatus from competition.

Curtis Calhoun - December 18, 2025

UFC superstar Conor McGregor will keep a keen eye on Jake Paul’s upcoming boxing match against former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. The polarizing boxing career of Jake Paul will face its biggest chapter on Friday night as he prepares to face former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua. Paul will be at a significant size disadvantage against Joshua, who returns to the ring for the first time since a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois last year.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 18, 2025

Tyron Woodley once ruled the UFC welterweight division, but he feels he lost sight of what got him to the dance. Once Georges St-Pierre vacated the 170-pound gold in late 2013, it opened the door for some new blood at the top. The title bounced from Johny Hendricks to Robbie Lawler, and then Woodley. Of the three names mentioned after GSP, who held the gold for over 2,000 days, Woodley had the longest reign at 945 days.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 18, 2025

Reigning UFC Flyweight Champion Joshua Van has received another harsh warning from the man who could be his first challenger. Van captured the 125-pound gold due to unfortunate circumstances. His first world title opportunity against Alexandre Pantoja ended in just 26 seconds. Pantoja suffered a horrific arm injury and he could not continue.

Harry Kettle - December 18, 2025

Former UFC champion Aljamain Sterling didn’t hold back when giving his thoughts on the state of doping in mixed martial arts. Throughout the last few years, Aljamain Sterling has consistently possessed something that many fighters lack – a great physique. He is also a former UFC bantamweight champion, and his goal is to try and achieve that feat once again, this time in the featherweight division.

Harry Kettle - December 18, 2025

Former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has given his thoughts on the current state of the division. As we know, Dricus du Plessis is one of the top middleweight fighters in mixed martial arts right now. However, he is no longer the champion in the UFC after he was beaten in a fairly one-sided fight against Khamzat Chimaev earlier this year.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 18, 2025

Sam-A Gaiyanghadao knows the weight cut changes everything. The Thai legend plans to exploit that vulnerability when Jaosuayai drops down to strawweight. The former two-sport, two-division ONE World Champion welcomes Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi to the strawweight Muay Thai ranks at ONE Friday Fights 137 on Friday, December 19, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. The 42-year-old icon has lived through those physical adjustments himself and believes they offer a clear opening against his younger compatriot.

Curtis Calhoun - December 17, 2025

UFC middleweight contender Reinier de Ridder was medically cleared to compete faster than expected and will return at UFC 326. Former ONE two-division champion Reinier de Ridder hinted at a long absence from competition due to medical issues stemming from his loss to Brendan Allen at UFC Vancouver. But months later, it appears De Ridder has worked through some of his health issues and will return to the Octagon on one of the first cards of 2026, way ahead of schedule.

Curtis Calhoun - December 17, 2025

2025 PFL featherweight title winner Movlid Khaybulaev’s championship belt has been forfeited after he was served a one-year USADA suspension. One of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s top proteges, Movlid Khaybulaev, is in hot water after he was handed a one-year USADA suspension stemming from testing positive for a banned substance.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 17, 2025

Chihiro Sawada gets another shot at breaking into title contention, but the Japanese grappler needs to solve an undefeated puzzle first. Sawada meets Natalie Salcedo in a women’s atomweight MMA clash at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 23, 2026, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. The event opens ONE Championship’s U.S. primetime calendar and features two fighters desperate to crack the championship picture.