MMA News

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.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 19, 2025

Daniel Cormier didn’t enjoy seeing that one top champion has dismissed being featured on the UFC White House card. UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira had been pounding the table for a spot on the White House card. Jon Jones, who is planning to ditch retirement plans, has called for a clash with “Poatan” at the historic event. Despite Dana White’s hesitancy, Ariel Helwani reported that UFC officials were hoping to book the fight for the event.

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.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 18, 2025

Jackie Buntan gets her shot at redemption against the woman who took away her Muay Thai dreams. The Filipino-American isn’t handing over her kickboxing crown without a fight. Buntan defends her ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Title against Stella Hemetsberger at ONE Fight Night 40 on Friday, February 13, 2026, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. The rematch headlines the U.S. primetime card after their September clash at ONE Fight Night 35 ended with Hemetsberger scoring two first-round knockdowns to capture the vacant ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title.

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.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 18, 2025

A familiar face is open to fighting Ronda Rousey again. Rousey hasn’t stepped inside the Octagon since late 2016. The UFC women’s pioneer was stopped by Amanda Nunes via TKO in 48 seconds. In the bout prior to that, she was brutally knocked out by Holly Holm in her first pro MMA defeat. The loss to Holm was jarring for “Rowdy” and it ultimately led to her exit from combat sports.

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.

Cole Shelton - December 17, 2025

Jake Paul has sent a clear message to Anthony Joshua ahead of their highly anticipated fight on Friday. Paul is set to take on Joshua in an intriguing heavyweight fight, which is a massive step-up in competition for the brash YouTuber-turned-boxer. Heading into the bout, many expect Joshua to make quick work of Paul and get a knockout early; however, some have wondered how seriously Joshua is taking it.

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.

Curtis Calhoun - December 17, 2025

Bare Knuckle FC heavyweight champion and former UFC star Ben Rothwell will face a familiar rival in his upcoming title defense. Ben Rothwell’s first Bare Knuckle FC title defense headlines the promotion’s upcoming card at Knucklemania VI in Philadelphia.