MMA News

BJ Penn Staff - April 18, 2025

Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman are two of the greatest fighters in UFC history. They also happen to be good friends. Adesanya is the former UFC middleweight champ. Usman is the former champion at welterweight. While Adesanya currently lives in New Zealand, and Usman in the United States, both were born in Nigeria, and bonded over their shared heritage during their time as UFC champions.

BJ Penn Staff - April 18, 2025

UFC commentator Joe Rogan is very, very high on Alex Pereira. In recent years, Rogan has frequently praised Pereira on his podcast, as well as during the Brazilian’s fights. He hasn’t been the only one. Pereira has had one of the most legendary careers in combat sports history. He’s the subject of frequent praise from all kinds of fight fans as a result.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 18, 2025

Islam Makhachev’s coach has some favorable comments for emerging contender Paddy Pimblett. “The Baddy” had his highest profile fight to date when he clashed with Michael Chandler at UFC 314. Outside of a brief barrage from Chandler early, Pimblett destroyed “Iron” up until the third round, where he scored the TKO finish. It was an emphatic win over a dangerous opponent.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 18, 2025

Dan Ige has come to the defense of a referee under scrutiny for a recent UFC fight stoppage. On the featured preliminary bout on the UFC 314 card, Ige went one-on-one with Sean Woodson. Ige was ahead two rounds on the judges’ scorecard going into the final frame. At some point in the third round, referee Andrew Glenn felt he had seen enough damage on Woodson to stop the fight.

Harry Kettle - April 18, 2025

UFC lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot has made it clear that he’s very eager to get back in the Octagon and compete. Over the course of the last few years, Mateusz Gamrot has had a series of ups and downs in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. At times, he’s looked like one of the most exciting contenders in the lightweight division. At others, he’s looked like someone who isn’t quite able to get over the hump when it comes to beating some of the best that 155 pounds has to offer.

Harry Kettle - April 18, 2025

UFC star Ilia Topuria is of the belief that his rival Paddy Pimblett would be able to defeat both Justin Gaethje and Conor McGregor. As we know, Paddy Pimblett is now considered to be a top contender in the UFC’s lightweight division. He has been able to take his game to a whole new level, largely thanks to his victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314. Now, there are a handful of big names being linked with a fight against ‘The Baddy’, and all of them would make for pretty intriguing matchups in the future.

Harry Kettle - April 18, 2025

UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has big praise for reigning UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad. As we know, the reigning 170-pound champion of the world is Belal Muhammad. He earned that title by dethroning Leon Edwards, and doing so in convincing fashion. As we look ahead to the immediate future, the champ faces a new challenge at UFC 315 when he defends the belt against Jack Della Maddalena. While he’s the favorite in this contest, we all know that nothing is guaranteed in mixed martial arts.

Harry Kettle - April 18, 2025

UFC featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez believes Alexander Volkanovski is the best to ever do it at 145 pounds. As we know, Alexander Volkanovski is once again the reigning, defending UFC featherweight champion. He accomplished that goal by defeating Diego Lopes to claim the vacant belt at UFC 314 last weekend. On the same card, Yair Rodriguez was able to get past Patricio Pitbull in his UFC debut, leading many to wonder whether or not a rematch could be imminent between the two men.

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 17, 2025

Former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama plans to bring back his classic hits after taking a different approach to his flyweight debut this past February. The Thai legend meets #3-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender Kongthoranee Sor Sommai in a rematch. This happens at ONE Fight Night 31 on Friday, May 2, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium. And he’s looking to inject himself into the ranks.

Cole Shelton - April 17, 2025

PFL superstar Dakota Ditcheva is not happy with the promotion as she’s searching for a fight. Ditcheva won the PFL’s flyweight tournament as she beat former UFC title challenger Taila Santos by TKO in the finals. It was a stellar year for Ditcheva, who looked to become the face of the PFL. However, she last fought in November and has nothing on the books as he’s frustrated she doesn’t have anything booked.

Cole Shelton - April 17, 2025

Carlos Prates has taken aim at Ian Machado Garry as the Irishman called him a quitter ahead of their UFC Kansas City main event. Prates was supposed to fight Geoff Neal at UFC 314, but after the American had to pull out, the UFC pushed Prates two weeks to face Garry at UFC Kansas City. It’s a highly anticipated bout, and in the lead-up, Garry accused Prates of being a quitter and vowed to finish him.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 17, 2025

Joe Rogan believes there’s one glaring issue with a potential Conor McGregor return to the UFC. The status of McGregor has been heavily discussed ever since he fractured his tibia and fibula during a 2021 trilogy against Dustin Poirier. McGregor has not been seen inside the Octagon ever since that fight. He had been scheduled for a UFC 303 showdown with Michael Chandler, but an injured toe put the Irishman out of commission.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 17, 2025

Patricio “Pitbull” Freire believes he knows what went wrong at UFC 314. The former two-division Bellator champion made his UFC debut on April 12 against Yair Rodriguez. It was a big moment for the 37-year-old Freire. “Pitbull” could not emerge victorious in the fight, as Rodriguez was often one step ahead of him.

Harry Kettle - April 17, 2025

Former UFC star Cain Velasquez could wind up paying significant damages to the victims of his shooting incident in 2022. As we know, Cain Velasquez was recently sentenced to five years in prison after a no-contest plea on numerous charges, including attempted murder, relating to an incident back in 2022. This has been one of the biggest stories outside of the cage in the world of mixed martial arts in recent years, with Cain receiving a great deal of support from the community.

Harry Kettle - April 17, 2025

UFC star Renato Moicano has said that he believes Conor McGregor assisted with the downfall of Michael Chandler’s MMA career. As we know, Michael Chandler fell to yet another defeat inside the Octagon last weekend. He went up against Paddy Pimblett in the co-main event of UFC 314 and in the end, he was finished in the third round. In truth, it wasn’t a particularly close fight whatsoever, with the Liverpudlian shutting down any kind of attack that the former Bellator champion was trying to put forward.

Harry Kettle - April 17, 2025

UFC star Paddy Pimblett has shared backstage footage of an interaction he had with Michael Chandler after their fight at UFC 314. In the co-main event of UFC 314, Paddy Pimblett put a real beating on Michael Chandler. The two men went to war in the lightweight division and in the third round, it was ‘The Baddy’ who was able to pick up a decisive finish. Now, many are already questioning what’s next for him, with the popular opinion being that he should face a top contender like Justin Gaethje or Charles Oliveira.

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 17, 2025

Competition has been a constant in the life of ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo. But that all changed when he suffered a debilitating knee injury last summer. On Friday, May 2, at ONE Fight Night 31: Kongthoranee vs. Nong-O II, the submission magician returns to action inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium when he defends his gold versus Canadian standout Dante Leon.

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 17, 2025

Rising welterweight MMA star Isi Fitikefu didn’t sign with ONE Championship to make up the numbers. He’s committed to reaching the division’s pinnacle, and he wants to face the very best fighters in the world en route to the top. “Doxz” meets his toughest test yet in former ONE Welterweight MMA World Champion Zebaztian Kadestam at ONE Fight Night 31: Kongthoranee vs. Nong-O II, which airs on Friday, May 2, from Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.