MMA News
Manel Kape dismisses eye poke 'excuse' in recent win over Asu Almabayev: "I was beating him"
Josh Evanoff - March 13, 2025
UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape doesn’t want to hear any excuses about his fight with Asu Almabayev. ‘Starboy’ and ‘Zulfikar’ are fresh off their meeting at UFC Vegas 103 earlier this month in Las Vegas. Both men entered the flyweight headliner riding lengthy winning streaks, and hoping to earn a crack at reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja. In the end, the bout ended up being quite lopsided. Manel Kape broke down the younger Asu Almabayev, en route to a third-round stoppage victory.
Josh Thomson calls out PFL, says he has no faith they can be a top promotion: "They don't know the sport"
Cole Shelton - March 13, 2025
Former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson isn’t a fan of the PFL. Thomson has been retired since 2020, despite not fighting since 2017. Since then, he has gotten into commentary as he was an analyst for Bellator and even did some commentary for the PFL. Yet, he says after being around the PFL he realized they won’t be a top promotion, especially with how they are run.
Report: TKO plotting 'mega card' featuring UFC, boxing and WWE
BJ Penn Staff - March 13, 2025
Combat sports fans could soon be offered a smorgasbord of action the likes of which we have never seen before, featuring UFC, boxing and WWE all in one night. That’s according to a new report from Wrestling Informer, who claim “a mega card” featuring “UFC, boxing, and WWE all on the same event” is expected to take place in Saudi Arabia “this year or next.”
Belal Muhammad makes bold promise for UFC 315 title fight against Jack Della Maddalena
Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 13, 2025
Belal Muhammad has quite the promise for his UFC 315 title defense against Jack Della Maddalena. Muhammad will be making his first UFC Welterweight Championship defense against Maddalena on May 10. UFC matchmakers were looking to have Shavkat Rakhmonov’s title shot against Muhammad rebooked, but Rakhmonov wasn’t ready due to an injury. Now, Muhammad and Maddalena will share the Octagon inside Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Alexander Volkanovski hopes to prove he can beat 'new school' Diego Lopes at UFC 314
Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 13, 2025
Alexander Volkanovski wants to show the MMA world that he can reign supreme in the new era of featherweights. Volkanovski was down on his luck the last two outings. He suffered back-to-back knockout losses to UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. Volkanovski’s UFC 314 clash against Diego Lopes will be telling, as fans are wondering how much juice “The Great” has left. A win over Lopes would earn Volkanovski his second UFC Featherweight Championship.
Regian Eersel to face Alexis Nicolas in world title trilogy at ONE Fight Night 30
BJPENN.COM Staff - March 13, 2025
A magnificent trilogy will take place on Friday, April 4, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium. Live in U.S. primetime, reigning ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Champion Regian Eersel will meet Alexis Nicolas in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 30: Kryklia vs. Knowles. The pair hope to settle the score in one of the most intriguing all-striking trilogies in recent times.
Daniel Cormier isn't convinced Alex Pereira would have success at heavyweight
Harry Kettle - March 13, 2025
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier isn’t convinced that Alex Pereira would find success in the heavyweight division. Last weekend, Alex Pereira lost for just the second time in his run with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He was defeated by Magomed Ankalaev and, in the process, he lost his UFC light heavyweight title. Ever since then, many have been wondering whether or not he’ll shift up to heavyweight in an attempt to become the first ever three-weight UFC champion.
Beneil Dariush believes Paddy Pimblett could have success against Michael Chandler
Harry Kettle - March 13, 2025
UFC lightweight Beneil Dariush believes Paddy Pimblett could have a lot of success against Michael Chandler at UFC 314. Next month, Paddy Pimblett will face the toughest test of his mixed martial arts career thus far. He will go head to head with Michael Chandler, in a fight that many believe he has a good chance of winning.
Jeremy Stephens returns to the UFC in Iowa homecoming fight
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.
How Rodtang's childhood struggles created an elite Muay Thai superstar
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.
Marvin Vettori plans to prove he's still a title contender at UFC Vegas 104: "My comeback starts with Saturday"
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.
Jalin Turner releases emotional statement following stunning retirement at UFC 313: "I'm sorry I lost my focus"
Josh Evanoff - March 12, 2025
Former UFC lightweight contender Jalin Turner has released a statement confirming his retirement. ‘The Tarantula’ is fresh off his return to the cage on the UFC 313 main card on Saturday night. The bout was a pivotal one for the young Jalin Turner, who entered the bout having lost three of his last four fights. Sadly for the lightweight, he was handed another defeat over the weekend. In round one, Ignacio Bahamondes scored a stunning submission victory over Turner, his third stoppage win in a row.
Jason 'Mayhem' Miller gets brutally honest on life struggles after leaving MMA: "Every man has to walk his own path"
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.
Jan Blachowicz lays out plans for the rest of his career ahead of UFC London return: "This is the perfect scenario"
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.
Paddy Pimblett: Dustin Poirier 'must be an idiot' for summer retirement plan
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.
Alex Pereira believes he did an "excellent" job against Magomed Ankalaev, confirms talks for a rematch are ongoing
Cole Shelton - March 12, 2025
Alex Pereira thinks he did an excellent job against Magomed Ankalaev and is confident going into a rematch. Pereira lost his light heavyweight title to Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 313. It was a disappointing loss for Pereira, and although he has yet to watch back the fight, he says he thought he did well, but he knows there are things he can improve on.
UFC legend goes off on Jon Jones record debate: 'It's still a loss, motherf*****'
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.
Former UFC champion shares interesting theory on Alex Pereira's UFC 313 performance
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.