MMA News
Asu Almabayev expecting title shot with win over Manel Kape in UFC Vegas 103 main event: "I'm ready!"
Josh Evanoff - February 27, 2025
Asu Almabayev wants a UFC title shot with a victory over Manel Kape on Saturday. The 31-year-old flyweight has slowly, but surely, become a top contender at 125 pounds. Debuting in the UFC back in 2023, Asu Almabayev has rattled off four straight wins inside the octagon. Last October, he scored the biggest win of his promotional run thus far, handing longtime flyweight Matheus Nicolau a unanimous decision defeat.
Dustin Poirier believes Conor McGregor could return to the UFC despite long hiatus: "He's addicted to the limelight"
Josh Evanoff - February 27, 2025
Former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has mixed feelings on Conor McGregor’s return. ‘The Notorious’ hasn’t been seen in the cage in over three years now. Conor McGregor last appeared in the cage in July 2021, for his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier. The bout took place just a few months after ‘The Diamond’ handed the Irishman a knockout loss, and the former UFC champion was eager to get his revenge.
Dustin Poirier claims he asked UFC for Justin Gaethje trilogy at UFC 313: "I'm the one who reached out"
Cole Shelton - February 27, 2025
Dustin Poirier says he asked the UFC for the trilogy match against Justin Gaethje at UFC 313. Gaethje was supposed to fight Dan Hooker in a highly-anticipated bout, but just over a week out from the fight, it was revealed ‘The Hangman’ was out of the fight due to an injury. After he pulled out, several fighters expressed interest in replacing him but ultimately, it will be Rafael Fiziev who will be rematching Gaethje at UFC 313.
Jack Della Maddalena plans to 'steamroll' Belal Muhammad in UFC 315 title fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 27, 2025
Jack Della Maddalena isn’t short on confidence going into his first UFC championship opportunity. Maddalena will challenge Belal Muhammad for the UFC welterweight title in the main event of UFC 315 on May 10. Initially, the UFC brass planned to have Shavkat Rakhmonov challenge Muhammad for the 170-pound gold. Rakhmonov suffered an injury and won’t be ready to compete, so Maddalena stepped up.
UFC parts ways with five fighters in latest roster purge
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 27, 2025
More UFC roster exits have been revealed at the end of February. The UFC is the ultimate proving ground in MMA and not everyone can stick around until the end of their careers. Some athletes willingly part ways with the promotion, while others are forced out. In a recent update, five fighters are no longer a part of the UFC roster.
Chuck Liddell reveals his favorite active UFC champion
Harry Kettle - February 27, 2025
UFC legend Chuck Liddell has revealed who his favorite current UFC world champion is to watch in the Octagon. When it comes to iconic figures from the world of mixed martial arts, Chuck Liddell is up there with the best of them. While he may not be the most accomplished in the ‘GOAT’ discussion, he had some of the most remarkable moments in the history of the sport throughout the course of his career.
Justin Gaethje’s official replacement for UFC 313 fight revealed
Harry Kettle - February 27, 2025
UFC star Justin Gaethje officially has a replacement for his co-main event at UFC 313 in the wake of Dan Hooker pulling out of the contest. As we know, Justin Gaethje’s fight against Dan Hooker is off due to a hand injury sustained by Hooker. That left many lightweights vying for the chance to battle it out with Justin on what would be a pretty short notice contest at UFC 313.
UFC contender Joaquin Buckley questions why boxers are still making more than him: “I’d beat the dog out of these pugilists b*tches”
Harry Kettle - February 27, 2025
UFC contender Joaquin Buckley has questioned why boxers are still making more money than him in the midst of his recent run of form. Over the course of the last few years, Joaquin Buckley has really been able to put it all together. He has emerged as one of the most exciting welterweights out there, to the point where it’s not hard to picture him excelling even further and earning a world championship opportunity in the near future.
John Lineker promises to stop Hiroki Akimoto at ONE 172
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 26, 2025
Former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John Lineker has completed many side quests in ONE Championship. His latest venture takes him into the bantamweight kickboxing world, where he’ll meet former division champ Hiroki Akimoto. This happens at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang on Sunday, March 23, inside Japan’s Saitama Super Arena.
Sam-A planning to "make up for lost time" at ONE 172
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 26, 2025
Former two-sport, two-division ONE World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao has done it all. And at 41 years old, he’s on a mission to do it all again. The Thai legend meets former strawweight kickboxing king Jonathan Di Bella for the weight bracket’s interim kickboxing crown at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang on Sunday, March 23, at Japan’s Saitama Super Arena.
UFC announces stacked UFC Kansas City card including Jamahal Hill vs Khalil Rountree main event
Cole Shelton - February 26, 2025
The UFC will be returning to Kansas City on April 26 and the promotion announced the first few fights including Jamahal Hill vs Khalil Rountree. The Fight Night card will be headlined by the light heavyweight bout between Hill and Rountree. It’s a crucial fight for both men as they are looking to remain in the title conversation.
Francis Ngannou reveals returning Wladimir Klitschko is an option for boxing return: "There's a lot of options"
Josh Evanoff - February 26, 2025
PFL heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou could meet Wladimir Klitschko in his next boxing match. ‘The Predator’ hasn’t been seen in the cage since his clash with Renan Ferreira in October. Competing in MMA for the first time since 2022, it took just one round for Francis Ngannou to score a stoppage win over ‘Problema’. Following the win, the newly crowned PFL Superfights heavyweight champion revealed plans for a spring 2025 return.
Alexander Volkanovski reveals plans for only a few more fights before UFC retirement: "Sail off in the sunset"
Josh Evanoff - February 26, 2025
Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has an eye on retirement. ‘The Great’ hasn’t been seen in the cage since a title defense against Ilia Topuria last February. In the main event of UFC 298, Alexander Volkanovski suffered his second straight knockout loss, being stopped by ‘El Matador’ in round two. While the former champion expected a rematch with Topuria next, that won’t be happening.
Jean Silva becomes the latest to offer to fight Justin Gaethje at UFC 313: "I'm like a hitman"
Josh Evanoff - February 26, 2025
Rising star Jean Silva wants to face Justin Gaethje at UFC 313. ‘Lord’ is fresh off his return to the octagon at UFC Seattle over the weekend. Back for the first time since a knockout win over Drew Dober last summer up at lightweight, Jean Silva faced Melsik Baghdasaryan. There, the Brazilian scored yet another stoppage win, stopping ‘The Gun’ inside of a round. Fresh off that win, Silva is already interested in a return to the cage.
WATCH | UFC champ Alex Pereira spars with rapper Action Bronson
BJ Penn Staff - February 26, 2025
It’s no secret that Action Bronson is a big UFC fan, but you’ve to be an absolute massive fan to agree to spar with the promotion’s hulking light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Bronson is evidently that kind of fan.
Top UFC bantamweight calls for Umar Nurmagomedov fight amid controversy
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 26, 2025
One high-level UFC bantamweight is calling for a showdown with Umar Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov recently saw his unbeaten streak come to an end in a failed bid for the UFC Bantamweight Championship. He fell short in his title opportunity against Merab Dvalishvili in the co-main event of UFC 311 back in January. Nurmagomedov injured his hand in the fight and it isn’t clear when he’ll be ready to return to action.
Robert Whittaker thinks Sean Strickland fight makes sense: 'We haven't been matched up'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 26, 2025
Robert Whittaker thinks a showdown with Sean Strickland makes sense for his next fight. Whittaker and Strickland are both coming off losses. “The Reaper” was submitted by Khamzat Chimaev and needed to have work done on his bottom teeth following the bout. Strickland fell short in his bid to become a two-time UFC Middleweight Champion, dropping a unanimous decision to Dricus du Plessis back in January.
Renato Moicano throws his name in the hat to fight Justin Gaethje at UFC 313
Harry Kettle - February 26, 2025
Renato Moicano is the latest lightweight to throw his name in the hat for a showdown with Justin Gaethje at UFC 313. As we know, Renato Moicano is a pretty interesting figure within the UFC’s lightweight division. Following a good run of form, his most recent outing saw him battle it out with Islam Makhachev on incredibly short notice. The UFC lightweight championship was on the line, but unfortunately for Renato, he wasn’t able to overcome the unbelievable strength and overall ability of the champion.