MMA News

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.

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 17, 2025

British striker Liam Nolan decided to call it a day at the young age of 27 years old following a loss in February 2024. That was, however, until an encouraging call came from ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. Nolan returns at ONE Fight Night 31: Kongthoranee vs. Nong-O II on Friday, May 2, as he seeks revenge against Nauzet Trujillo in a lightweight Muay Thai rematch inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 17, 2025

Flyweight Muay Thai star Sean Climaco is currently tackling the arduous process of grief after losing his dad last summer, a frightening part of life that nobody ever truly prepares for. He’s taking it day by day. “The One” meets Akif Guluzada in a flyweight Muay Thai encounter at ONE Fight Night 31: Kongthoranee vs. Nong-O II on Friday, May 2, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.

BJ Penn Staff - April 16, 2025

Andrew Benibe, an MMA veteran from the Philippines and a one-time ONE Championship veteran, has passed away. The sad news was announced by authoritative Filipino MMA journalist Nissi Icasiano on Facebook.

BJ Penn Staff - April 16, 2025

We’ve seen a lot of former Bellator fighters make the move to the UFC over the last few years. From the sounds of it, another fighter is preparing to make that same move. For many years, Bellator was considered the second biggest promotion in MMA. However, the promotion was recently purchased by the Professional Fighters League (PFL). While some Bellator fighters have been successfully integrated into the PFL roster, a great many have expressed dissatisfaction with the a lack of fight offers from PFL brass. That includes decorated MMA veterans like Gegard Mousasi and Corey Anderson. It also includes Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, who came up short in his UFC debut against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314 last weekend. Aaron Pico also makes the list. The wrestler-turned-KO-artist recently signed with the UFC himself, though his debut is not yet set.

Cole Shelton - April 16, 2025

Ilia Topuria is confident his next fight will be against Islam Makhachev. Topuira vacated his featherweight title as he planned to move up to lightweight. The thought was that he would face Makhachev for the belt right away. However, the lightweight champ has said he doesn’t want to fight Topuria and instead believes he needs to get a win first.

BJ Penn Staff - April 16, 2025

UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington is known as one of the biggest trash talkers in MMA. Some of his remarks have been somewhat questionable in terms of veracity, and his recent remarks about Hollywood actress Megan Fox definitely fit that bill. Covington recently linked up with streamer N3on, and during their conversation, claimed he got a DM from Fox.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 16, 2025

Ilia Topuria has reacted to Paddy Pimblett’s dominant UFC 314 win over Michael Chandler. Pimblett has been a rising star in the UFC lightweight division, but many wondered how he would fare against “Iron.” It was a high-profile fight for “The Baddy,” and he passed the test with exceptional results. He battered Chandler to score a third-round TKO finish. It was a one-sided thrashing, and Pimblett has now emerged as a top lightweight contender.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 16, 2025

Kyoji Horiguchi has no problem fighting Alexandre Pantoja for the right price and prize. Horiguchi and Pantoja are longtime training partners. The two have been able to avoid fighting one another, as Horiguchi had been competing under the Rizin banner. Now that Horiguchi has returned to the UFC, it’s left the door open to fight Pantoja, who happens to be the reigning UFC Flyweight Champion.