MMA News

Harry Kettle - March 13, 2025

UFC commentator Jon Anik believes Justin Gaethje deserves a crack at Islam Makhachev’s UFC title. Last weekend, Justin Gaethje proved that he’s still an elite competitor in the lightweight division. He went toe to toe with Rafael Fiziev for the second time, and for the second time, he came away with a blockbuster victory.

Harry Kettle - March 13, 2025

UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens is set to return to the promotion, almost four years after he had his last fight with the company. For the longest time, Jeremy Stephens was an ever-present in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He fought some of the very best that the company had to offer, and he did so with all the passion in the world. However, following a poor run of form, he left the UFC in pursuit of a new venture with PFL. There, he was only able to put together a record of 1-2.

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 12, 2025

When you think about fighters’ origins, they rarely emerge from comfort. They rise from hardship, desperation, necessity. Former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon’s story exemplifies this truth.  “The Iron Man” faces Japanese kickboxing megastar Takeru Segawa at ONE 172 in a five-round flyweight kickboxing super-fight on Sunday, March 23, inside Japan’s Saitama Super Arena. 

Cole Shelton - March 12, 2025

Marvin Vettori plans to remind everyone that he’s still a title contender at middleweight Vettori is set to headline UFC Vegas 104 on Saturday against Roman Dolidze. It’s his first fight since June of 2023 when he lost to Jared Cannonier. As he’s set to rematch Dolidze, who he beat by decision in 2023, he is confident he will get his hand raised and prove he’s still a legit contender at middleweight.

Josh Evanoff - March 12, 2025

UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan doesn’t plan on letting Justin Gaethje get a title shot. ‘The Highlight’ is fresh off his return to the octagon in the co-main event of UFC 313 on Saturday. Back for the first time since a knockout loss to Max Holloway last April, Justin Gaethje met Rafael Fiziev. The former ‘BMF’ titleholder had previously handed the striker a unanimous decision defeat in 2023, and he made it 2-0 in the series over the weekend. Gaethje knocked down Fiziev in round two, en route to a decision victory.

Josh Evanoff - March 12, 2025

Former UFC star Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller wants to see some sort of change in MMA. Before there were stars such as Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria, there was the man known to fans as ‘Mayhem’. In the late 2000s, Jason Miller became a star through his crazy antics, fun fighting style, and rivalries with the likes of Nick Diaz. While he never held UFC gold or anything like that, his fanbase was massive. In 2009, he began hosting MTV’s ‘Bully Beatdown’, a reality show about MMA fighters facing off with real-life bullies.

Josh Evanoff - March 12, 2025

UFC light-heavyweight contender Jan Blachowicz wants to end his career as a champion. The 42-year-old hasn’t been seen since his meeting with Alex Pereira in July 2023. That night saw Jan Blachowicz take down the future UFC champion several times, but ultimately gas out doing so. After 15 minutes of action, it was ‘Poatan’ who emerged with a split-decision victory. The defeat was a brutal one for the former champion, who would then sit out the next two years due to a devastating shoulder injury.

BJ Penn Staff - March 12, 2025

Paddy Pimblett has some questions about Dustin Poirier’s intelligence. Pimblett, one of the fastest-rising lightweights in the UFC, is set for the biggest fight of his career at UFC 314 in Miami, when he takes on former Bellator champ Michael Chandler in a fight that could catapult him into title contention.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 12, 2025

One seasoned UFC veteran says his next fight will be his MMA swan song, and he won’t be looking back. Anthony Smith is scheduled to compete on the UFC Kansas City card. He will take on Zhang Mingyang inside T-Mobile Center on Aug. 26. Headlining that card will be a light heavyweight battle between former 205-pound champion Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 12, 2025

One former UFC legend has heard enough of those who say Jon Jones should be undefeated. Jones is considered to be one of the best fighters to ever join the UFC roster. For years, “Bones” dominated the light heavyweight division and reigned as champion in the weight class before taking heavyweight gold. Jones only has one loss in his legendary pro MMA career. That was a disqualification against Matt Hamill back in 2009.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 12, 2025

An ex-UFC champion has his own take on what may have led to Alex Pereira’s performance at UFC 313. Fans have grown accustomed to seeing “Poatan” walk forward no matter what dangers his opponent may possess. In the main event of UFC 313, Pereira had to prepare for the threat of takedowns from Magomed Ankalaev. Even so, many were stunned to see Pereira backing up throughout his unsuccessful UFC Light Heavyweight Championship defense against the well-rounded fighter from Dagestan.

Harry Kettle - March 12, 2025

UFC star Conor McGregor has teased the possibility of an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast at some point in the future. As we know, Conor McGregor is a pretty controversial figure in the world of mixed martial arts. He’s been at the very top of the sport, and he’s experienced some pretty dramatic lows. At this point, it’s been nearly four years since we’ve seen the Irishman compete in the Octagon, when he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier.

Harry Kettle - March 12, 2025

Michael Chandler isn’t interested in reigniting his Bellator feud with Patricio Pitbull now that they’re both in the UFC. As we know, Michael Chandler has achieved some incredible things in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. What some fans forget, however, is that he already had a great resume before that, courtesy of his tenure in Bellator.

Harry Kettle - March 12, 2025

UFC legend Ronda Rousey has continued to tease the idea of a potential return to the world of mixed martial arts. It’s been almost a decade since we’ve seen Ronda Rousey compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. To begin with, she was easily one of the biggest stars in the entire sport of MMA. She quickly emerged as the number one female fighter in the world and from there, she only continued to get better with each and every passing performance.

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 11, 2025

ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane has a point to prove at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang.   The Algerian-Thai giant looks to exact revenge on two-division, two-sport ONE World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 on Sunday, March 23. He challenges “The Kicking Machine” for the latter’s lineal gold inside Japan’s combat sports cathedral, Saitama Super Arena.  

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 11, 2025

For the first time in Rodtang Jitmuangnon’s life, fighting isn’t just about him anymore.   The former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion faces Japanese star Takeru Segawa in a five-round flyweight kickboxing super-fight at ONE 172 on Sunday, March 23, at Japan’s Saitama Super Arena.  

Josh Evanoff - March 11, 2025

Justin Gaethje badly wants a fight against UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. ‘The Highlight’ is fresh off his return to the octagon at UFC 313 over the weekend. Appearing in the co-main event, Justin Gaethje faced Rafael Fiziev. The bout was his first since his devastating knockout loss to Max Holloway last April. While the former ‘BMF’ titleholder was coming off a brutal stoppage defeat, it didn’t look that way on Saturday.

Josh Evanoff - March 11, 2025

Jamahal Hill is confident ahead of his UFC Kansas City headliner against Khalil Rountree. ‘Sweet Dreams’ hasn’t been seen in the octagon since his clash against Jiri Prochazka in January. Ending a near yearlong layoff following a loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 300, Jamahal Hill hoped to get back on the right track. Sadly for the former champion, Prochazka knocked him down several times en route to a third-round stoppage win.