MMA News
Justin Gaethje opens as underdog in rematch with Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313
Cole Shelton - February 27, 2025
Justin Gaethje has opened as the betting underdog in his rematch against Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313. Gaethje was supposed to fight Dan Hooker next Saturday, but he was forced out of the bout due to a hand injury. The UFC moved quickly to find an opponent as Fiziev agreed to step up on short notice to rematch Gaethje of their 2023 fight.
REPORT | FBI seeking partnership with the UFC to train field agents
Josh Evanoff - February 27, 2025
According to a new report, the FBI wants a partnership with the UFC. It’s no secret that UFC CEO Dana White is a longtime ally of current U.S. President Donald Trump. The promoter routinely hosted the politician at events throughout 2023, and 2024. Whenever Trump showed up at a UFC pay-per-view event, they would always give the Republican a standing ovation, and a lengthy entrance.
Austin Vanderford opens up on crazy circumstances which led to UFC Seattle debut: "It was just cool"
Josh Evanoff - February 27, 2025
Welterweight contender Austin Vanderford couldn’t be happier to finally be a member of the UFC. The 34-year-old has had a rough road to make it to the biggest MMA promotion in the world. In 2018, Dana White famously passed on signing Austin Vanderford, leading to his signing with Bellator the following year. While the wrestler enjoyed his time in the Scott Coker-led promotion, it wouldn’t last.
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 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.
Arman Tsarukyan denies turning down UFC 313 fight against Justin Gaethje
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 27, 2025
Arman Tsarukyan is speaking out following claims that he turned down a UFC 313 fight against Justin Gaethje. Gaethje was expecting to share the Octagon with Dan Hooker inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 8. That plan went awry when Hooker suffered a hand injury during training. While “The Hangman” says he’ll be ready to return around International Fight Week, UFC matchmakers opted to find a replacement.
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.
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.
Former title challenger Marvin Vettori takes aim at Dricus du Plessis’ fight style
Harry Kettle - February 27, 2025
Former UFC title challenger Marvin Vettori has taken a shot at the fight style of reigning middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis. As we know, Dricus du Plessis is the reigning UFC middleweight champion. In addition to that, he’s been on one of the most impressive middleweight runs in recent memory. In addition to wins over Darren Till and Sean Strickland (twice), he’s also been able to knock off former champions in the form of Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya – finishing them both.
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.
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.
WATCH | Henry Cejudo confronts referee Jason Herzog over controversial UFC Seattle main event
Josh Evanoff - February 26, 2025
Henry Cejudo recently caught up with Jason Herzog following their controversial meeting at UFC Seattle. ‘Triple C’ returned to the cage over the weekend against Song Yadong. Back for the first time since a decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili last February, Henry Cejudo hoped to get back on the right track against ‘The Kung Fu Kid’. Sadly, things didn’t go too well for the former two-division UFC champion.
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.
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.