MMA News

Cole Shelton - February 25, 2025

The 191st episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC Vegas 103. We’re first joined by UFC bantamweight John Castaneda (0:57). We close things out by chatting with UFC heavyweight Austen Lane (15:07).

Cole Shelton - February 25, 2025

The UFC was in Seattle, Washington on Saturday for UFC Seattle. The main event saw Song Yadong take on Henry Cejudo in a pivotal bantamweight bout. Yadong entered the fight coming off a decision loss to Petr Yan last year. Cejudo, meanwhile, was on a two-fight losing streak losing to Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling for the belt in his return to the sport.

BJPENN.COM Staff - February 25, 2025

ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan Haggerty turned over a new leaf at ONE 171: Qatar.   “The General” out-struck #1-ranked contender Wei Rui at Lusail Sports Arena, earning the unanimous decision on Thursday, February 20, to put his dark days behind him.

BJPENN.COM Staff - February 25, 2025

Welterweight MMA juggernaut Roberto Soldic rocked the world last week at ONE 171, going as far as capturing the attention of UFC Middleweight World Champion Dricus du Plessis.    “Robocop” made a stunning return to the win column at Qatar’s Lusail Sports Arena. There, he faced fellow perennial finisher Dagi Arslanaliev, scoring a monumental first-round stoppage in the process last Thursday, February 20. 

Josh Evanoff - February 24, 2025

UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier is continuing to work for his retirement fight. ‘The Diamond’ hasn’t been seen in the cage since a title fight with Islam Makhachev last summer. In the main event of UFC 302, Dustin Poirier faced the Russian in his third crack at undisputed lightweight gold. Despite entering the cage a massive betting underdog, the 36-year-old brought the fight to the champion.

Josh Evanoff - February 24, 2025

Lightweight contender Michael Chandler is happy to see Patricio Pitbull in the UFC. ‘Iron’ recently signed a deal to return to the cage at UFC 314 in Miami. Fresh off a loss to Charles Oliveira in November, Michael Chandler will face off with the rising Paddy Pimblett in April. For his part, ‘The Baddy’ hasn’t competed since a first-round submission victory over ‘King’ Bobby Green last summer.

Josh Evanoff - February 24, 2025

UFC CEO Dana White has interest in signing former Bellator star Aaron Pico. The 28-year-old striker was a member of Bellator for over a decade. Once considered one of the greatest prospects in the sport, Aaron Pico has quickly become one of the most exciting fighters on the planet. The hard-hitting featherweight has won nine of his last ten bouts, last scoring a knockout win over Henry Corrales last February.

Cole Shelton - February 24, 2025

Jamahal Hill wishes the ref let him go out on his shield against Jiri Prochazka. Hill fought Prochazka in a pivotal light heavyweight bout at UFC 311 and it was Prochazka who won by third-round TKO. Hill got dropped twice and the ref stopped it after Prochazka landed some ground and pound.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 24, 2025

Austin Vanderford may think that Nikolay Veretennikov should get a pink slip, but there’s no beef. Vanderford made his UFC debut this past Saturday inside Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. He went one-on-one with Veretennikov in a short-notice fight. Vanderford scored the second-round TKO finish. Veretennikov immediately protested the stoppage and shoved Vanderford from behind. The man formerly known as “The Gentleman” shoved Veretennikov back and flipped a double bird.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 24, 2025

Dustin Poirier believes Ilia Topuria should receive a crack at the UFC lightweight title right away. Topuria has made the decision to move on from the 145-pound weight class and in doing so, he’s vacated the featherweight gold. Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will be vying for the vacant title in the main event of UFC 314 on April 12. As for Topuria, UFC CEO Dana White has said it isn’t a guarantee that “El Matador” will get the next shot at Islam Makhachev’s UFC Lightweight Championship.

BJ Penn Staff - February 24, 2025

Joe Rogan has been a staple of UFC broadcasts for decades. During his time with the MMA promotion, he’s been part of some of the most legendary post-fight interviews in the sport’s history. Speaking with fellow comedian Felipe Esparza on a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the UFC commentator opened up on his favorite post-fight interview experience.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 24, 2025

Diego Lopes and Aljamain Sterling have gone back and forth on social media following a big UFC 314 announcement. Dana White recently revealed that Alexander Volkanovski and Lopes will collide for the vacant UFC Featherweight Championship on April 12 in Miami. Ilia Topuria has decided to vacate the 145-pound gold to move up to the lightweight division. While Volkanovski vs. Lopes sounds like a fun fight on paper, not everyone is on board with it.

Harry Kettle - February 24, 2025

Georges St-Pierre had an interesting way of managing his rivalry with Matt Serra – by carrying around a brick with his name on it. As we know, Georges St-Pierre is one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. In the eyes of many, he is the de-facto GOAT – with only Jon Jones being a contender in that particular debate.

Harry Kettle - February 24, 2025

UFC champion Dricus du Plessis has hit back at Brendan Allen following the latter’s defeat at UFC Seattle last weekend. At UFC Seattle, Brendan Allen fell short in his battle with Anthony Hernandez. Many felt he had a great chance of making it out of there with a win to his name but instead, he was beaten via decision. Now, it’s time for him to reflect, and consider what direction he’s going to head in from here.

Harry Kettle - February 24, 2025

MMA legend Demetrious Johnson has given his reaction to Henry Cejudo suffering his third straight defeat at UFC Seattle. In the main event of UFC Seattle, Henry Cejudo suffered some bad luck. In addition to a few other fouls, he was subjected to a nasty eye poke that eventually rendered him unable to continue in the contest.

Harry Kettle - February 24, 2025

UFC commentator Michael Bisping doesn’t appear to be the biggest fan of YouTuber turned professional boxer Jake Paul. As we know, Michael Bisping is considered to be a legend in the world of mixed martial arts. He’s achieved some incredible things throughout the course of his career, which includes capturing UFC gold. On the flip side, the aforementioned Jake Paul is also a big name in the combat sports sphere, largely due to some of his more high profile boxing wins.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 23, 2025

Michael Bisping believes Ilia Topuria’s decision to vacate the featherweight title has benefitted Alexander Volkanovski. Many fans wondered what would be next for the 145-pound title picture before Dana White announced that Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will be fighting for the vacant gold at UFC 314 on April 12. Topuria was the reigning champion, but he has decided to move up to the lightweight division.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 23, 2025

One UFC Hall of Famer has seen enough of MMA officials not taking action against eye pokes following the highly discussed conclusion to UFC Seattle. Henry Cejudo had difficulty seeing out of his left eye after receiving an accidental double poke from Song Yadong. Rather than take a point away from Yadong, referee Jason Herzog instead gave the fighter a hard warning. Cejudo continued the fight until the fourth round was ready to begin, as he complained that he couldn’t see out of the left eye. The fight went to a technical decision in favor of Yadong.