MMA News

BJ Penn Staff - March 25, 2025

UFC star Ilia Topuria has unveiled his new Octagon nickname ahead of his move up to the lightweight division. The Georgian-Spanish MMA star has, to this point, fought with the nickname “El Matador.” However, he recently revealed plans to change his nickname ahead of his next fight.

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.

Harry Kettle - March 25, 2025

MMA legend Demetrious Johnson has reiterated his desire to stay retired, despite lots of offers coming in for him to break that retirement. There’s no denying that Demetrious Johnson is one of the greatest of all time. He has achieved some truly remarkable things throughout the course of his career, especially in the UFC and ONE Championship. Alas, the 38-year-old made it known recently that he would be retiring from mixed martial arts, walking away as one of the undisputed best to ever do it.

Harry Kettle - March 25, 2025

UFC interim champion Tom Aspinall has provided an update on a possible undisputed title fight with Jon Jones. For the longest time now, fans have been waiting to see Tom Aspinall fight Jon Jones. With the passage of time comes more and more interest in the idea of this contest happening. Unfortunately, up to this point, we haven’t heard a whole lot about the fight actually getting made. Tom seems to be as eager as anyone to get it over the finish line, but the same can’t be said for Jones.

Harry Kettle - March 25, 2025

Former two-weight UFC champion Henry Cejudo has said during a brief interaction with Donald Trump that he plans on retiring from MMA soon. Throughout the course of his career, Henry Cejudo has achieved some incredible things. First and foremost, he’s an Olympic gold medal winner. Then, after making the transition over to mixed martial arts, he was able to win world titles in two weight classes in the UFC. While he hasn’t quite been able to find success since returning from retirement with three straight losses, his resume is still pretty remarkable.

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 24, 2025

Former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon was just as surprised as fans at his 80-second spectacle this past weekend at ONE 172. “The Iron Man” demolished three-division K-1 Champion Takeru Segawa in the first round of their flyweight kickboxing super-fight. It took place this past Sunday, March 23, inside Japan’s Saitama Super Arena.

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 24, 2025

ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane continues to evolve in front of our eyes. His performance this past weekend at ONE 172 was no exception. There, he outclassed former two-division, two-sport ONE World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9. The Algerian-Thai dominated “The Kicking Machine” in a non-title bantamweight Muay Thai bout on Sunday, March 23, inside Japan’s Saitama Super Arena to earn the unanimous decision.

Josh Evanoff - March 24, 2025

Heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk is down for a fight in the cage against Jake Paul. It’s not exactly a secret that ‘The Cat’ is winding down his historic career. Approaching his 40s, Oleksandr Usyk is a former undisputed heavyweight champion and cruiserweight champion. In December, the Ukrainian boxer handed Tyson Fury his second straight loss, this time by unanimous decision. As of now, Usyk has no set opponent for his next bout but has been linked to a rematch with Daniel Dubois.

Josh Evanoff - March 24, 2025

Charles Oliveira wants to headline UFC 317 against Islam Makhachev in June. ‘Do Bronx’ hasn’t been seen in the cage since a rematch with Michael Chandler in November. The bout ended a two-year layoff for ‘Iron’, who famously sat out waiting for Conor McGregor. Sadly for Chandler, Charles Oliveira handed him another loss last year, this time by unanimous decision. The former champion previously defeated him at UFC 262 in May 2021, to win UFC lightweight gold for the first time.

Cole Shelton - March 24, 2025

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been sentenced to five years in prison for his 2022 shooting. Velasquez’s sentencing came down from Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Arthur Bocanegra on Monday. The maximum time Velasquez could have served in jail was 40 years, or as little as walking away with zero prison time. According to KRON4, Deputy District Attorney Aaron French asked the Judge for a sentence of 30 years to life in prison, while Velasquez’s camp was hoping to walk away.

Cole Shelton - March 24, 2025

Sean Brady doesn’t see a need to fight Ian Machado Garry next time out. Brady picked up the biggest win of his career as he scored a submission win over Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC London. It was a stellar performance from Brady who dominated Edwards from start to finish en route to the stoppage win.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 24, 2025

One former standup warrior under the UFC banner has made his pick for Islam Makhachev’s next UFC lightweight title challenger. UFC CEO Dana White recently told reporters that Makhachev isn’t short on options when it comes to his next championship defense. The 155-pound ruler has key names such as Justin Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan, and of course, Ilia Topuria gunning for his gold. While “El Matador” recently vacated the 145-pound title, it appears he is not guaranteed a crack at the 155-pound championship.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 24, 2025

Joe Rogan has a stunning outlook for a potential Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria fight. When Dana White announced that Topuria is vacating the UFC Featherweight Championship, many thought “El Matador” would get an immediate crack at Makhachev’s lightweight gold. Ariel Helwani even reported that the UFC was looking to book the matchup possibly as early as International Fight Week. White told reporters that Makhachev has other options on the table and that the Topuria fight wasn’t a lock.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 23, 2025

One rising welterweight contender bashed Leon Edwards’ team for their corner advice during the UFC London main event. Edwards was hoping to bounce back from his UFC Welterweight Championship loss to Belal Muhammad. He was expecting to share the Octagon with Jack Della Maddalena, but Sean Brady stepped up when Maddalena was moved to a title fight against Muhammad for UFC 315. Brady had no trouble entering enemy territory and giving Edwards a one-sided submission loss.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 23, 2025

A recently retired UFC fighter has issued a statement. Careers come and go in the fight business. We’ve seen the likes of Jalin Turner hang up the gloves following two straight finishing losses. Turner had also gone 1-4 in his last five outings.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 23, 2025

Paddy Pimblett has responded to the notion that Michael Chandler bends the rules during his fights. Some have accused Chandler of cheating, and point to his Nov. 2024 clash with Charles Oliveira as an example. Chandler almost finished the former UFC Lightweight Champion after being down in the fight, but he couldn’t seal the deal. Numerous shots were landed to the back of Oliveira’s head.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 23, 2025

One UFC fan favorite wants a chance to punch Colby Covington in the face. Covington is trying to figure out his next move after dropping two bouts in a row. The 37-year-old has lost four of his last six fights inside the Octagon. Covington has insisted that he doesn’t plan to walk away from pro MMA competition just yet.