MMA News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 26, 2025

Belal Muhammad believes he has the best standup of all 170 pounders ahead of his first title defense. Muhammad will collide with Jack Della Maddalena in a UFC Welterweight Championship fight on May 10. The title bout is scheduled to headline UFC 315 inside Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Maddalena stepped up with Shavkat Rakhmonov out of action due to an injury.

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.