MMA News

Chris Taylor - April 5, 2025

We have you covered for all of tonight’s UFC Vegas 105 results, including the middleweight contest between Brad Tavares and Gerald Meerschaert. Tavares (21-10 MMA) will enter tonight’s contest with hopes of snapping a two-fight losing skid. The Hawaiian is coming off setbacks against Gregory Rodriguez and Park Jun-yong respectively. Prior to those losses, the Kailua native had earned a unanimous decision victory over former title holder Chris Weidman at UFC 292.

Chris Taylor - April 5, 2025

The Octagon returns to Nevada for tonight’s UFC Vegas 105 event, a 12-bout fight card headlined by Josh Emmett vs. Lerone Murphy. Emmett (19-4 MMA) will be returning to action for the first time since scoring a devastating knockout victory over Bryce Mitchell this past December at UFC 296 (see that here). Prior to that stunning finish, the 40-year-old had suffered back-to-back losses against Ilia Topuria and Yair Rodriguez respectively.

Josh Evanoff - April 4, 2025

‘The Smashing Machine’ featuring Dwayne Johnson as UFC legend Mark Kerr will release in October. In late 2023, it was announced that Dwayne Johnson’s passion project about Mark Kerr will finally come to fruition. Some fans likely remember ‘The Rock’ announcing plans for the movie at the UFC 244 pre-fight press conference in 2019. While the film stalled in development hell for years, it finally started filming last year. Quickly, details about the cast began to leak out.

Josh Evanoff - April 4, 2025

UFC commentator Daniel Cormier believes Islam Makhachev vs. Justin Gaethje is likely next. The UFC lightweight champion last appeared in the octagon in January. While Islam Makhachev was initially slated to face Arman Tsarukyan in Los Angeles, the Armenian was forced out on weigh-in day. As a result, the Russian wound up facing short-notice replacement Renato Moicano. Ultimately, it took just one round for Makhachev to score a submission win over ‘Money Moicano’.

Josh Evanoff - April 4, 2025

UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja has no issues with fighting Kyoji Horiguchi. ‘The Cannibal’ was last seen in the octagon in the main event of UFC 310 in December. That night in Las Vegas saw Alexandre Pantoja dominate the newly signed Kai Asakura, ultimately securing a second-round submission win. As of now, the Brazilian remains unbooked. However, has been linked to a clash with Kai Kara-France this summer at International Fight Week.

BJ Penn Staff - April 4, 2025

Aleksei Oleinik fans, look away. The 47-year-old Russian heavyweight, known for his exciting run in the UFC, was back in action on April 4, when he took on fellow MMA veteran Geronimo Dos Santos in a bare knuckle boxing fight at BKFC Dubai. It could not have gone much worse for him.

BJ Penn Staff - April 4, 2025

Rising UFC featherweight contender Nathaniel Wood has finally revealed his new nickname. England’s Wood, 31, has been a part of the UFC roster since 2018. The former Cage Warriors champ began his time in the Octagon as a bantamweight, but is now an impressive 5-1 as a featherweight, and is closing in on the Top-15 as a result.

BJ Penn Staff - April 4, 2025

Curtis Blaydes had every reason to pull out of UFC 313 last month. The long-time heavyweight contender was set to meet the debuting Rivzan Kuniev on the card. It was definitely a surprising matchup, but fans were disappointed all the same when it fell through at the last minute.

BJ Penn Staff - April 4, 2025

It’s safe to say Conor McGregor won’t be getting an endorsement from his fellow UFC star Daniel Cormier. McGregor is the biggest star in MMA history. However, the Irishman has not fought since a disastrous 2021 stoppage loss to Dustin Poirier. His long absence from the Octagon has led many fans to speculate he will never fight again, and those concerns were amplified when, following a visit with U.S. President Donald Trump, he announced plans to run for the Irish presidency.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 4, 2025

A former UFC champion believes Belal Muhammad’s trash talk isn’t too far off from Colby Covington’s style. Muhammad hasn’t been afraid to hold his tongue. The reigning UFC Welterweight Champion has traded barbs with the likes of Conor McGregor, UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis, Leon Edwards, and his UFC 315 opponent Jack Della Maddalena. Recently, a false rumor spread claiming that Maddalena needed to raise money to fly his coaches to Montreal for the title fight against Muhammad.

BJ Penn Staff - April 4, 2025

Muay Thai is a crucial component of the MMA toolkit, and there are some excellent practitioners of the art in the UFC. Of course, the best Muay Thai fighters in the world still compete under Muay Thai rules, rather than MMA rules, and these days, the top fighters in the sport typically flock to ONE Championship. That includes England’s Liam Harrison. Harrison, who is considered one of the greatest foreigners to ever compete in Muay Thai, spent his early career competing in Thai stadiums against the best fighters in the country. However, in recent years, he has called ONE home, and is one of the bigger stars on the promotion’s roster.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 4, 2025

Aljamain Sterling isn’t convinced that Sean O’Malley’s lifestyle adjustments are the answer to his hopes of regaining UFC gold. O’Malley lost the UFC Bantamweight Championship to Merab Dvalishvili in their UFC 306 title fight back in Sept. 2024. The “Sugar” show had to be sidelined after undergoing surgery for a torn labrum in his left hip. Upon his return to action, O’Malley will be receiving a title rematch against “The Machine” at UFC 316 on June 7.

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 4, 2025

Heavyweight Muay Thai standout Lyndon Knowles’ debut in ONE Championship has been a long time coming, and it arrives with plenty of support from the combat sports community, including some from Jonathan and Freddie Haggerty. The moustached mauler attempts to dethrone two-sport king Roman Kryklia and become the ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai World Champion at ONE Fight Night 30, this Friday, April 4, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 3, 2025

Former divisional kingpin Alexis Nicolas was supposed to face Regian Eersel in a trilogy fight for the latter’s ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title at ONE Fight Night 30. However, plans have changed. Eersel missed weight on Thursday, consequently losing his gold.

Cole Shelton - April 3, 2025

Drew Dober thinks his UFC Mexico City fight against Manuel Torres should have been stopped earlier. Dober was dropped and was hanging onto Torres’ leg while Torres was landing down hammerfists shots. On the broadcast, the commentators called for the fight to be stopped, but the referee let Dober take several unnecessary punches.

Cole Shelton - April 3, 2025

Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling wasn’t surprised that Sean O’Malley to an immediate rematch against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316 on June 7. O’Malley lost his UFC bantamweight title to Dvalishvili last September at UFC 306 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Since then, O’Malley has yet to fight against, while Dvalishvili beat Umar Nurmagomedov to defend his belt for the first time.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 3, 2025

A UFC fighter who was on the receiving end of a controversial referee stoppage loss has spoken out. Usually, a highly debated fight stoppage from an official means that some feel the bout ended prematurely. In this case, fans have criticized a referee, believing that he stepped in too late. The fight in question was a UFC Mexico City clash between Drew Dober and Manuel Torres.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 3, 2025

Jack Della Maddalena has a take on Belal Muhammad’s fighting style that may surprise you. Maddalena is set to challenge Muhammad for the UFC Welterweight Championship in the main event of UFC 315. The title fight will be taking place inside Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on May 10. Maddalena was initially scheduled to meet Leon Edwards in the UFC London headliner, but he received a shot at gold after Shavkat Rakhmonov suffered an injury.