MMA News

Josh Evanoff - March 26, 2025

Alex Pereira entered his UFC 313 fight against Magomed Ankalaev with a hand injury. ‘Poatan’ is fresh off his return to the cage earlier this month in Las Vegas. Back for the first time since a dominant knockout win over Khalil Rountree Jr. last fall, Alex Pereira finally met Magomed Ankalaev. The Russian entered the bout riding a 14-fight unbeaten streak, last beating Aleksandar Rakic last October. While Pereira entered the cage dreaming of a boxing match against Oleksandr Usyk, those plans were foiled earlier this month.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 26, 2025

One surging UFC middleweight didn’t take too kindly to Robert Whittaker’s recent comments. Whittaker has made it clear that he’s eyeing a summer showdown with fellow ex-UFC middleweight titleholder Sean Strickland. Despite this, “The Reaper” has been called out by rising contenders such as Caio Borralho and Roman Dolidze.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 26, 2025

It’s one thing to become a UFC champion; it’s another to have the heart of a fighter. Much has been made about former UFC welterweight titleholder Leon Edwards following back-to-back losses in front of favorable crowds. “Rocky” struggled with Belal Muhammad’s grappling, which caused him to lose the 170-pound gold. He was once again dominated in the grappling department in the UFC London main event, but it was far worse this time against Sean Brady.

Harry Kettle - March 26, 2025

UFC star Paddy Pimblett wrote a heartfelt tribute to his friend Molly McCann following her retirement from mixed martial arts. Last weekend at UFC London, Molly McCann retired from mixed martial arts. It came at the end of another disappointing loss in the Octagon, as she proceeded to give a passionate speech to the crowd at The O2 Arena in the English capital. Ever since then, fighters and fans alike have been looking back on her career and praising her for what she was able to do for the sport and women’s MMA as a whole.

Harry Kettle - March 26, 2025

UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has expressed his disappointment over the atmosphere at UFC London. When the Ultimate Fighting Championship rolls up to London, England, fans are often expected to show up in a big way. From a big card to an atmosphere that shows off why these crowds are so incredible, the expectations are always high. Sometimes, they deliver. Sometimes, however, things fall a bit flat, as was the case when the promotion decided to put on fights at US primetime last year.

Harry Kettle - March 26, 2025

UFC legend Demetrious Johnson has explained why he considers Islam Makhachev to be his current #1 pound-for-pound fighter. Right now, nobody can touch Islam Makhachev. He has achieved some wonderful things in his mixed martial arts career already, and it doesn’t appear as if he’s going to slow down anytime soon. He is the undisputed UFC lightweight champion and as we look ahead to the future, it certainly feels as if he has the upper hand over the majority of contenders in that division. Even if he moved up to welterweight, you’d fancy his chances against plenty of the guys up there.

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 25, 2025

Leaving Japan’s Saitama Super Arena with the ONE Interim Strawweight Kickboxing World Title was a prolific moment in the career of Jonathan Di Bella. But going toe-to-toe with former two-division ONE World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao was also a huge honor for him. The Canadian-Italian outstruck the Thai legend for 15 minutes to pick up the weight bracket’s interim crown at ONE 172 this past Sunday, March 23.

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 25, 2025

Newly minted ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya Wakamatsu’s journey to the division’s pinnacle was more than physical. If anything, the mental aspect was a much tougher task. And he showed a whole new attitude at ONE 172. “Little Piranha” blew the roof off of Japan’s Saitama Super Arena this past Sunday, March 23. There, he knocked out former flyweight MMA kingpin Adriano Moraes in a rematch three years in the making. In doing so, he claimed the vacant throne inside one round in front of his hometown supporters.

Josh Evanoff - March 25, 2025

Dana White didn’t respond to Logan Paul’s offer to fight in the UFC. ‘The Maverick’ hasn’t been seen in action since his boxing match with Dillon Danis in October 2023. That night saw Logan Paul largely dominate ‘El Jefe’, ultimately earning a disqualification win in the sixth round after a failed takedown from the grappler. Following that win, the YouTuber-turned-fighter announced his “retirement” from boxing. However, that doesn’t mean that Paul is done competing.

Josh Evanoff - March 25, 2025

Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz has released a statement following his loss to Carlos Ulberg. The 42-year-old light-heavyweight made his return to the cage Saturday night at UFC London. Back for the first time since a split-decision loss to Alex Pereira in July 2023, Jan Blachowicz met the rising Carlos Ulberg. ‘Black Jag’ entered the octagon riding an eight-fight winning streak, last scoring a win over Volkan Oezdemir in November. Given Blachowicz’s shoulder injury last year and Ulberg’s momentum, the former champion entered the bout a heavy underdog.

Josh Evanoff - March 25, 2025

Women’s flyweight contenders Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber will headline UFC Vegas 106 in May. While there have been several fan and fighter complaints about the UFC Apex lately, they have no plans of leaving the venue anytime soon. The promotion was initially hoping to travel to Qatar in late May, but they’ll instead be returning to Las Vegas for another event. As of now, no fights are booked for UFC Vegas 106, and the card lacks a main event. However, that changed earlier today.

Josh Evanoff - March 25, 2025

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is interested in fighting Sean Brady in his return. It’s been nearly two years since ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ last appeared in the cage. Kamaru Usman last fought at UFC 294 in October 2023, stepping up on short notice for a rare middleweight appearance against Khamzat Chimaev. That night saw the wrestler bring the fight to the undefeated Chechen, but still suffer a majority decision loss. The defeat was Usman’s third in a row, previously suffering back-to-back losses to Leon Edwards.

BJ Penn Staff - March 25, 2025

Paul Felder is generally loved by MMA fans, both for the epic fights he gave us in the Octagon, and for his impeccable work as a cage-side commentator. According to welterweight star Colby Covington, however, Felder isn’t as squeaky-clean as some fans might guess. During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Covington was asked about some recent comments Felder made. Specifically, the UFC commentator claimed that Covington’s trash-talking shtick had lost some of its authenticity.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 25, 2025

Colby Covington has fired back at Michael Page. Recently, Page had a fan Q&A session before the UFC London card. When discussing potential opponents, “MVP” turned his attention to Covington. Page said he has an urge to punch Covington in the face, but he admits he doesn’t know why. He even went as far as to say he’d look for a highlight reel finish against “Chaos” similar to his flying knee on Evangelista Santos back in 2016.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 25, 2025

Sean Brady has some choice words for Leon Edwards and his team. Brady and Edwards collided in the main event of UFC London this past Saturday. “Rocky” didn’t have an answer for his opponent’s grappling and it cost him. Brady locked up a guillotine choke in the fourth round to secure the submission finish.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 25, 2025

Joe Rogan believes there is one business mistake the UFC and Dana White have made. It’s no secret that Rogan is loyal to the top MMA organization and White. The comedian and podcaster has been linked to the UFC since 1997 and he’s remained with the promotion since. Rogan brings significant value to UFC broadcasts to the point where he’s allowed to only work pay-per-views in the United States.

Cole Shelton - March 25, 2025

The 192nd episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC Mexico City. We’re first joined by eighth-ranked UFC flyweight Steve Erceg (0:48). We close things out by talking with UFC bantamweight Vince Morales (11:42).

Cole Shelton - March 25, 2025

The UFC was in London, England on Saturday, March 22 for UFC London. The main event saw Sean Brady taking on former welterweight champion Leon Edwards. Brady was coming off a decision win over Gilbert Burns to extend his win streak to two. Edwards, meanwhile, suffered a decision loss to Belal Muhammad to lose his welterweight title.