MMA News
John Castaneda plans to walk down Douglas Silva de Andrade at UFC Vegas 103: "I'm going to hurt him"
Cole Shelton - February 25, 2025
John Castaneda expects to be the aggressor in his UFC Vegas 103 fight against Douglas Silva de Andrade. Castaneda is set to fight for the first time since June, in a much longer layoff than he wanted. However, the bantamweight contender says he used the time to get better in the gym.
Henry Cejudo calls to fight Petr Yan in potential retirement fight: "I would like to just fight one more time"
Cole Shelton - February 25, 2025
Henry Cejudo could soon be retiring from MMA again. Cejudo suffered a technical decision loss to Song Yadong in the main event of UFC Seattle on Saturday. Cejudo got poked in the eye near the end of the third round but decided to fight through it. However, the fight was stopped at the beginning of the fourth round due to the eye poke.
REPORT | Jose Aldo vs. Aiemann Zahabi targeted for UFC 315 in Montreal
Josh Evanoff - February 25, 2025
Jose Aldo will reportedly meet Aiemann Zahabi at UFC 315 in Montreal later this year. Earlier this month, Dana White announced plans to return to Canada in May. Returning to Montreal for the first time since UFC 186 in April 2015, a welterweight title clash between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena will headline the event. The co-main event will see the return of women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko against the rising Manon Fiorot.
Patricio Pitbull reveals he would've retired if the UFC declined to sign him: "It was them or retirement"
Josh Evanoff - February 25, 2025
Former Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull would’ve retired if the UFC didn’t sign him. The Brazilian hasn’t been seen in the cage since a knockout win over UFC veteran Jeremy Kennedy last March. That victory wound up being Patricio Pitbull’s final appearance in the Bellator cage, as he was released from the PFL last month. The move came after the featherweight publically feuded with company executive Donn Davis over inactivity.
Paddy Pimblett says Ilia Topuria going to lightweight will be "the downfall of his career"
Cole Shelton - February 25, 2025
Paddy Pimblett doesn’t expect Ilia Topuria to have much success at lightweight. Pimblett and Topuria have taken shots at each other in the past, as both have shown interest in fighting one another. However, Topuria was at featherweight and wound up becoming the champ. But, after one title defense, he announced he would be vacating his belt and moving up to lightweight.
UFC color commentator 'pissed off' at Nikolay Veretennikov over UFC Seattle post-fight fiasco
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 25, 2025
One UFC commentator remains puzzled by the actions of Nikolay Veretennikov at UFC Seattle. Veretennikov was featured on the preliminary portion of the card against UFC debutant Austin Vanderford. Things didn’t go Veretennikov’s way, as he was stopped in the second round via TKO. It didn’t take long for Veretennikov to protest the stoppage, but he didn’t solely take his frustration out on the referee. He shoved Vanderford from behind as he was celebrating, prompting the former Bellator fighter to shove him back before flipping two birds.
Daniel Cormier: Henry Cejudo's retirement mistake has come back to haunt him
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 25, 2025
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier believes Henry Cejudo made a mistake with his initial retirement back in 2020. After ending the record-setting UFC Flyweight Championship reign of Demetrious Johnson, Cejudo went on to stop TJ Dillashaw in the first round to capture the bantamweight gold, becoming a “champ-champ” in the process. Cejudo followed that up with a second-round TKO finish over Dominick Cruz to successfully defend the 135-pound title.
Former UFC star blasts PFL over Aaron Pico contract debacle: 'Let the f****** kid go'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 25, 2025
One ex-UFC fan favorite has an axe to grind with PFL over its treatment of Aaron Pico. It’s no secret that the UFC brass are interested in Pico. During a recent press conference, Dana White told reporters that UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby has been gushing over the 28-year-old star. The only problem is that Pico is under PFL contract.
Dana White discusses UFC signing Bellator legend Patricio Pitbull
Harry Kettle - February 25, 2025
UFC president Dana White has spoken candidly about the promotion’s decision to sign Bellator legend Patricio Pitbull to a contract. As we now know, Patricio Pitbull has officially been signed to a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He’s set to make his official debut at UFC 314, with the plan being for him to battle it out with Yair Rodriguez at featherweight. Of course, many fans are already wondering about the possibility of him going on to compete for a world title.
Two top UFC lightweights offer to step in for Dan Hooker against Justin Gaethje
Harry Kettle - February 25, 2025
Two top UFC lightweights have offered to step in and fight Justin Gaethje in place of Dan Hooker at UFC 313 next month. In case you missed the news overnight, Dan Hooker will no longer be competing against Justin Gaethje at UFC 313 in March. He seems to have suffered a hand injury that will put him on the shelf for an undisclosed period of time, leaving Gaethje without an opponent.
Dan Hooker confirms he is out of UFC 313 fight against Justin Gaethje
Harry Kettle - February 25, 2025
UFC star Dan Hooker has announced that he is out of his scheduled UFC 313 fight against Justin Gaethje. As we know, Dan Hooker was set to return to the Octagon for an absolutely insane lightweight collision with Justin Gaethje at UFC 313. Unfortunately, that’ll no longer be happening. Following on from reports in the MMA media, the man himself posted a video that confirmed he will be out of action as a result of a hand injury.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 191 with John Castaneda and Austen Lane
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).
Jonathan Haggerty shows vast improvements at ONE 171: Qatar
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.
Dricus du Plessis praises Roberto Soldic after KO win at ONE 171
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.
Michael Chandler finally casts doubt on Conor McGregor ever fighting again: "I wouldn't put money on it"
Josh Evanoff - February 24, 2025
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler wouldn’t bet on Conor McGregor fighting again. ‘Iron’ hasn’t been seen in the cage since a rematch with Charles Oliveira in November. Ending a two-year layoff, Michael Chandler was handed a second loss by ‘Do Bronx’, this time by unanimous decision. The defeat was a brutal one for the former Bellator star, who famously sat on the sidelines for years trying to secure a fight with Conor McGregor.
Dustin Poirier reveals retirement fight is targeted for this summer in New Orleans: "It would be incredible"
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.
Dana White confirms interest in signing new free agent Aaron Pico: "We love him!"
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.
Jamahal Hill wishes the ref let him go out on his "shield" against Jiri Prochazka
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.