MMA News

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

Diego Lopes plans to ask for a rematch against Movsar Evloev with a win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 314. The Brazilian is currently preparing for his return to the cage later this month in Miami. Back for the first time since a unanimous decision victory over Brian Ortega last September, Diego Lopes will meet Alexander Volkanovski. ‘The Great’ will enter UFC 314 riding a two-fight losing streak, last being knocked out by Ilia Topuria last February.

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.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 4, 2025

The UFC Vegas 105 weigh-in results are in, and there has been one fight cancellation. The main event featherweight clash between Josh Emmett and Lerone Murphy remains intact. Emmett tipped the scales at 146 pounds, while Murphy clocked in at 145.5 pounds. Co-headliners Pat Sabatini and Joanderson Brito also made weight for their own featherweight scrap. Sabatini weighed in at 145.5 pounds, and his opponent’s weight was 146 pounds.

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

British Muay Thai star George Jarvis has bad intentions when he makes his main roster debut at ONE Fight Night 30: Kryklia vs. Knowles. “G-Unit” meets Spanish-Moroccan striker Mouhcine Chafi in a lightweight Muay Thai contest 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.

Cole Shelton - April 3, 2025

Josh Emmett doesn’t understand why he’s such a big underdog against Lerone Murphy at UFC Vegas 105. Emmett hasn’t fought since December of 2023, when he knocked out Bryce Mitchell. Despite Emmett fighting someone below him in the rankings, he is a +240 underdog, which he doesn’t get. However, he says he does like that as he wants all his fans to make money off him.

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.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 3, 2025

UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping thinks the new UFC Kansas main event between Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates is a home run in terms of matchmaking. The original headliner for the card was set to be a battle between former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree. That fight will have to wait, as Hill was pulled from the event due to an injury. As a result, Rountree has also been pulled from UFC Kansas.