MMA News
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
UFC 315's Belal Muhammad: 'I am the best striker in the welterweight division'
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.