MMA News

Bo Nickal
UFC

Bo Nickal responds to strange challenge from YouTuber MrBeast

Harry Kettle - April 29, 2025

UFC star Bo Nickal has responded to an insane idea that has been pitched by famous yet controversial YouTuber MrBeast. We’re all aware of the fact that Bo Nickal is an incredibly dangerous fighter. Within the context of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, many believe he has what it takes to become a title contender one day. Of course, he’s taking his time in building up his name value right now, but the goal is still a simple one: win the gold and establish yourself as one of the very best in all of mixed martial arts.

Abdulla Dayakaev
ONE Championship

Saemapetch targeted by Russian finisher: "Stoppage win for me"

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 28, 2025

Bantamweight Muay Thai brawler Abdulla Dayakaev won’t rest until he solidifies himself as the greatest striker in the division. Fresh off a fiery stint in ONE Friday Fights, the 23-year-old makes his main roster debut versus Saemapetch Fairtex in bantamweight Muay Thai. This happens at ONE Fight Night 31: Kongthoranee vs. Nong-O II on Friday, May 2, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.

Tye Ruotolo
ONE Championship

Tye Ruotolo outlines path to victory against Dante Leon at ONE Fight Night 31

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 28, 2025

ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo has lit up ONE Championship with his dynamic, unorthodox approach to grappling. With that, he believes it will lead him to victory at ONE Fight Night 31: Kongthoranee vs. Nong-O II. He defends his welterweight gold versus fierce rival Dante Leon in the co-main event this Friday, May 2, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.

Anthony Smith
UFC

Anthony Smith explains why he flipped off the fan after UFC Kansas City loss: "I was so mad"

Cole Shelton - April 28, 2025

Anthony Smith opened up on why he flipped off the fan after his UFC Kansas City loss. Smith was set for his retirement fight against Mingyang Zhang. ‘Lionheart’ entered the bout as a sizeable underdog, and he suffered a first-round TKO loss. After the loss, while the doctors were attending to him in the Octagon, he was flipping someone off and he revealed it was a fan.

Khabib Nurmagomedov, Patrice Evra
UFC

Khabib Nurmagomedov offers to train former soccer star Patrice Evra ahead of PFL debut: "I’m going to teach you"

Cole Shelton - April 28, 2025

Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is open to training Patrice Evra ahead of his MMA debut. Evra is a former captain for both Manchester United and the France men’s national team in his career. He’s widely considered to be one of the greatest full-backs of his generation, and at age 43, he will be making his MMA debut at PFL Paris on May 23 at the Accor Arena.

Vinc Pichel, UFC
Vinc Pichel

12-fight UFC veteran announces retirement from MMA: 'I’m sad, I’m excited, I’m happy, I’m afraid'

BJ Penn Staff - April 28, 2025

Vinc Pichel, a 12-fight veteran of the UFC Octagon, is hanging up his gloves. While most fighters tend to announce their retirements immediately after their fights, Pichel quietly announced his decision on social media, almost one month removed from his last fight.

Dana White, UFC 318, MMA
Ian Garry

Dana White confirms backup fighter for UFC 315 welterweight title bout

BJ Penn Staff - April 28, 2025

If disaster strikes the UFC 315 main event, Ian Machado Garry will be ready, according to Dana White. UFC 315 goes down on May 10 in Montreal, Canada. The main event will see welterweight champ Belal Muhammad attempt the first title defense of his reign against Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena.

Dustin Poirier, UFC MMA
UFC

Dustin Poirier reveals he's had 'at least 10 fights' that aren't listed on his record

BJ Penn Staff - April 28, 2025

Dustin Poirier is one of the most experienced fighters in the UFC, with 30-9 record contested at both lightweight and featherweight. Yet apparently, that’s just scratching the surface. During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Poirier revealed that he’s had a number of pro fights that aren’t listed on his record. In fact, he says there are nine wins and one loss that don’t appear on his official resume.

Joaquin Buckley and Kamaru Usman
Joaquin Buckley

Ian Machado Garry makes shocking prediction for Joaquin Buckley vs. Kamaru Usman at UFC Atlanta

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 28, 2025

Ian Machado Garry has fired back at Joaquin Buckley, but he also made a stunning prediction for his foe’s clash with Kamaru Usman. Garry stepped up on short notice to take a main event slot against Carlos Prates this past Saturday at UFC Kansas City. While Prates was preparing for Geoff Neal, “The Future” entered the fray when Neal suffered an injury. Garry looked sharp for most of the fight, but he had to overcome a late scare to take the unanimous decision victory.

Michael Bisping Anthony Smith
Michael Bisping

Michael Bisping reacts to Anthony Smith's loss in retirement fight at UFC Kansas City

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 28, 2025

Michael Bisping has given his reaction to Anthony Smith’s swan song. Smith entered the Octagon for the final time in the co-main event of UFC Kansas City. Zhang Mingyang was his dance partner, and the fight didn’t make it out of the opening frame. Mingyang delivered some sharp elbows that split the top of Smith’s head. He then rained down strikes on the ground before referee Jason Herzog stopped the fight.

Georges St-Pierre, UFC, MMA
UFC

Georges St-Pierre provides an update on a potential return to active competition

Harry Kettle - April 28, 2025

UFC legend Georges St-Pierre has given his thoughts on the possibility of a return to active competition. When you’re talking about the very best fighters in the history of mixed martial arts, Georges St-Pierre has to be located towards the top of that list. He achieved some truly incredible things throughout the course of his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and he went out in style after defeating Michael Bisping to become a two-weight world champion.

CM Punk, Mickey Gall
Matt Brown

UFC legend Matt Brown is still shocked that CM Punk fought for the promotion

Harry Kettle - April 28, 2025

UFC legend Matt Brown has given his thoughts on the fact that WWE superstar CM Punk competed for the promotion. These days, CM Punk is enjoying his second run with WWE. After ten years away from the company, he finally made his way back into the mix – and he hasn’t looked back since. He’s been on a great run of form with great match after great match, and many believe he’ll eventually be back in world title contention before too long.

Carlos Prates, UFC Kansas City, MMA
UFC

Carlos Prates' smoking may have hurt UFC Kansas City performance, says Josh Thomson

Harry Kettle - April 28, 2025

MMA analyst Josh Thomson has given his thoughts on Carlos Prates’ smoking after his loss at UFC Kansas City. Last weekend, Carlos Prates fell short in his attempt to overcome the challenge of Ian Machado Garry. The two men went to war in the main event in Kansas City, with the Irishman coming away with the victory. However, he didn’t have things all his own way. In the fifth and final round, Prates was able to hurt Machado Garry pretty badly – to the point where it seemed as if he was close to getting him out of there.

Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones, UFC, MMA
Jon Jones

Dana White provides positive update on potential Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall fight

Harry Kettle - April 28, 2025

UFC president Dana White has provided an update on the possibility of a fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. For the longest time now, fans have been demanding answers when it comes to Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall. Both men hold gold in the heavyweight division, and we’ve all been waiting to see whether or not the promotion would actually be able to get this fight made. Ever since this saga began, it’s been clear to see that if there has been one hold-up in this process, it’s been Jon.

Anatoly Malykhin
ONE Championship

Anatoly Malykhin "ready" for return to ONE Championship heavyweight division

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 27, 2025

Reigning two-weight ONE MMA World Champion Anatoly Malykhin is coming back to the heavyweight division as an even bigger problem. “Sladkiy” was in action at ONE 169 last November, where he suffered a narrow defeat to “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane for the heavyweight MMA gold inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.

Nong-O Gaiyanghadao
Nong-O Hama

Nong-O plans to be more aggressive in pivotal rematch versus Kongthoranee

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 27, 2025

Former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama is out to prove that his flyweight Muay Thai loss to Kongthoranee Sor Sommai earlier this year was nothing more than a fluke. The Thai legend meets the #3-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender in the main event of ONE Fight Night 31 this Friday, May 2, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.

Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones, UFC, MMA
Tom Aspinall

Tom Aspinall's dad unleashes another rant amid wait for Jon Jones

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 27, 2025

Tom Aspinall’s father continues to show frustration over the wait for Jon Jones. Aspinall has made it clear that while he’d like to fight Jones to determine the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion, he’s willing to have another fight just to remain active. It appears the UFC is insisting on waiting for Jones, which has upset Aspinall’s camp.

UFC Apex
Matt Brown

UFC legend remains shocked that former WWE superstar was allowed to fight inside the Octagon

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 27, 2025

One former UFC veteran remains surprised that a WWE superstar was allowed to compete inside the Octagon. MMA and pro wrestling have been linked throughout the years. Many of the UFC’s top stars have taken inspiration from WWE with special walkouts. We’ve even see a former WWE champion in Brock Lesnar become a UFC heavyweight titleholder. While Lesnar had the amateur wrestling credentials to earn his spot on the UFC roster, one fellow WWE superstar did not.