MMA News
3 reasons why you can't miss ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang
BJPENN.COM Staff - March 21, 2025
ONE Championship’s year has got off to a monumental start. But nothing comes close to this weekend’s ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang. Fourteen bouts are on hand this Sunday, March 23, inside Japan’s Saitama Super Arena. There, Japan’s greatest athletes take on the very best from around the globe. With that, here are three reasons why you can’t miss this weekend’s action.
Jon Jones becomes co-owner of Mike Perry's Dirty Boxing promotion: "Powerhouse of combat sports"
Josh Evanoff - March 21, 2025
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is now a co-owner of Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing fighting promotion. Last fall, ‘Platinum’ announced plans to break into the fight business. Mike Perry has made a name for himself fighting in the bare-knuckle boxing ring, so it should come as no surprise that he wants to promote boxing. However, his league has a bit of a mixed ruleset. Fighters will use four-ounce gloves, be able to use elbows, and occasionally engage on the ground. In the main event of the first show last November, Yoel Romero scored a highlight reel knockout win over Duane Crespo.
Norma Dumont pitches interim title fight against Kayla Harrison as division slows: "It's the fight that makes sense"
Josh Evanoff - March 21, 2025
With Julianna Pena on the shelf, Norma Dumont wants an interim UFC title fight against Kayla Harrison. It’s not exactly a secret that the UFC women’s bantamweight division has slowed to a crawl. Since 2022, there have been just four fights for 135-pound gold. Last October in Salt Lake City, Julianna Pena earned her second run with the title, scoring a controversial split-decision win over Raquel Pennington. Post-fight, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ called for a longshot trilogy bout against the still-retired Amanda Nunes. However, talks quickly shifted to Kayla Harrison.
Tom Aspinall pitches WWE crossover to promote long-awaited fight against Jon Jones: "Babyfaces versus heels"
Josh Evanoff - March 21, 2025
Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall wants to work with the WWE to promote his fight against Jon Jones. As many fans are aware, the British heavyweight is currently waiting for ‘Bones’. Tom Aspinall was last seen in the cage last summer in Manchester, where he scored a first-round knockout win over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304. That night, the interim champion called for a title unification with the legendary Jon Jones. While the 37-year-old turned down Aspinall’s offer at first, he’s currently in discussions with the UFC to make the bout.
Mike Perry confused by Jeremy Stephens' callout following UFC Des Moines booking
Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 21, 2025
Mike Perry is puzzled by Jeremy Stephens’ request for a fight between the two. Stephens has been enjoying a bit of a career resurgence, much in the way that Perry has. The two have made waves under the BKFC banner. More recently, Stephens stopped Eddie Alvarez at KnuckleMania V. He is now set to make his return to the UFC against Mason Jones on May 3.
Dillon Danis reacts to KSI fight being postponed: "I remember my first cold"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 21, 2025
KSI and Dillon Danis will not be fighting on March 29. The two were set to collide in the main event of Misfits Boxing 21 inside the AO Arena in Manchester. Plans have now changed, as Misfits Boxing announced that KSI will not be able to make the fight date due to an illness.
UFC commentator thinks Jon Jones should be given ultimatum on Tom Aspinall fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 21, 2025
One UFC commentator believes it’s time for Jon Jones to defend UFC gold or retire. The UFC has been without an undisputed heavyweight champion since Tom Aspinall captured the interim title in Nov. 2023. Jones holds the main heavyweight strap, and he’s had one title defense against Stipe Miocic. Aspinall has also defended his gold.
Jake Paul names the one boxer he knows he can't beat: 'I would get torn up'
BJ Penn Staff - March 21, 2025
Jake Paul is full of confidence, but that doesn’t mean he believes he can beat every boxer he encounters in the ring. In fact, there is one boxer he is certain he could not defeat. That would be WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez.
Yuya Wakamatsu believes sacrifices will pay dividends in world title rematch at ONE 172
BJPENN.COM Staff - March 21, 2025
Second-ranked flyweight MMA contender Yuya Wakamatsu has spent the last three years working his way back to a World Title opportunity. Through blood, sweat, and tears, he’s now just days away from his second chance at gold. “Little Piranha” meets former divisional king Adriano Moraes for the vacant ONE Flyweight MMA World Title. This happens at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang, this Sunday, March 23, at Japan’s Saitama Super Arena.
Liam Harrison seeks redemption in return at ONE 173: Denver
BJPENN.COM Staff - March 21, 2025
There’s still more left in the tank for British Muay Thai star Liam Harrison. “Hitman” will return to ONE Championship this summer. There, he faces Myanmar bruiser Soe Lin Oo at ONE 173: Denver, on Friday, August 1. They will compete in a bantamweight Muay Thai outing that’s not expected to go the distance.
Leon Edwards claims he didn't realize how small Sean Brady was until faceoff
Harry Kettle - March 21, 2025
Former UFC champion Leon Edwards has claimed that he didn’t realize how small Sean Brady was until their recent faceoff. In the last three years or so, Leon Edwards has been on a real rollercoaster ride in the world of mixed martial arts. He captured the belt from Kamaru Usman with one of the most dramatic knockouts we’ve ever seen in the sport, before successfully defending it against both Usman and Colby Covington. From there, you could make the argument that he became one of the biggest names in the sport. “Headshot, dead” alone was enough to make him the poster boy of British MMA – a spot which he had earned through years of hard work and dedication.
Kamaru Usman proposes some fun fights for the UFC's lightweight division
Harry Kettle - March 21, 2025
Former UFC champion Kamaru Usman has put forward some ideas for the future of the promotion’s lightweight division. The Ultimate Fighting Championship has been incredibly lucky over the last five to ten years or so. There are a couple reasons for that, but one that comes to mind is this: the lightweight division. From top to bottom, the UFC has had an absolutely stacked top 15 and beyond at 155 pounds for the longest time. There are some absolute killers residing at lightweight, and we can’t think when that wasn’t the case.
Ilia Topuria says he will be returning to the Octagon with a new identity: “El Matador has been my ally in every fight”
Harry Kettle - March 21, 2025
UFC champion Ilia Topuria has suggested that when he returns to the Octagon, he’ll be doing so with an entirely new identity. Every now and then, a fighter comes along who doesn’t even seem human. They are able to put everything together in a way that defies logic – especially in a sport like mixed martial arts. There are a couple of examples of this in recent years but right now, there’s one man that is on everyone’s lips: Ilia Topuria.
The UFC parts ways with five fighters including Armen Petrosyan
Harry Kettle - March 21, 2025
The UFC has reportedly parted ways with five more fighters, including Armen Petrosyan and Jalin Turner. If there’s one thing we know to be true, it’s that there’s a lot of turnover in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It’s where some of the most elite fighters on the planet ply their trade and while many of the UFC’s big names will continue to find a home there for many years to come, others aren’t quite so lucky. One of the reasons for that is simple: they already have so many names on the roster as it is.
Leon Edwards confirms he had staph weeks ago, says he's fine for UFC London main event against Sean Brady
Cole Shelton - March 20, 2025
Leon Edwards confirmed he did deal with a staph infection during his training camp for UFC London but he says he’s fine. A photo went viral of Edwards’ appearing to have staph near his elbow, which he said happened weeks ago. He also claims the staph infection had no impact on his training or his cardio.
Conor McGregor announces he's running for President of Ireland: "Vote McGregor and have your voice heard"
Cole Shelton - March 20, 2025
Conor McGregor has announced he’s running for the President of Ireland. McGregor has complained about Ireland and the way it’s being run as of late. The Irishman has been frustrated with the country’s crime among other complaints.
Jake Paul unleashes on former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua: "I will f*cking beat his a*s!"
Josh Evanoff - March 20, 2025
Influencer-turned-boxing star Jake Paul seemingly wants to fight former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. ‘The Problem Child’ hasn’t been seen in action since his clash with the legendary Mike Tyson in November. Fresh off a lopsided knockout win over Mike Perry in July, Jake Paul looked to hand the 58-year-old legend a loss. While ‘Iron Mike’ came out firing early, he quickly slowed. After eight rounds of lackluster action, it was Paul who emerged with a unanimous decision victory. Following the win, the influencer called out Canelo Alvarez.
REPORT | RIZIN flyweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi nearing deal to return to the UFC
Josh Evanoff - March 20, 2025
According to a recent report from Ariel Helwani, RIZIN champion Kyoji Horiguchi is nearing a deal to return to the UFC. ‘The Typhoon’ hasn’t been in the RIZIN ring since his title defense against Nkazimulo Zulu in December. Back for the first time since his lopsided decision win over Sergio Pettis last summer, he handed ‘Zulu Boy’ a unanimous decision loss. The win moved Kyoji Horiguchi’s unbeaten streak to seven, and was also his first defense of flyweight gold. However, that will likely go down as his last appearance in the Japanese promotion.