MMA News
Islam Makhachev's manager sounds off on possible Ilia Topuria bout: "We already gave chances to featherweight champ"
Josh Evanoff - February 20, 2025
Islam Makhachev’s manager doesn’t seem to be a fan of a potential bout with former UFC champion Ilia Topuria. The UFC lightweight champion is fresh off his return to the cage last month in Los Angeles. There, Islam Makhachev met a short-notice replacement, Renato Moicano. While he was initially set to face Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC 311, an injury forced him out. As a result, Makhachev handed the short-notice ‘Money Moicano’ a first-round submission loss.
Patricio Pitbull sends message to featherweight division after joining the UFC: "Your future king has arrived!"
Josh Evanoff - February 20, 2025
Former Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull has sent a message after joining the UFC. The Brazilian was one of the key faces of the Bellator brand for well over a decade. From 2010 to 2024, Patricio Pitbull racked up title defense after title defense, and title after title. During his tenure with Scott Coker, he scored victories over names such as A.J. McKee, Michael Chandler, Emmanuel Sanchez, and Wilson Reis.
Song Yadong vows to end Henry Cejudo's career at UFC Seattle: "Time is over, it’s time to retire"
Cole Shelton - February 20, 2025
Song Yadong is looking to end Henry Cejudo’s career on Saturday at UFC Seattle. Yadong is set to headline UFC Seattle on Saturday in a pivotal bantamweight bout. Heading into the bout, Yadong is the favorite. He’s confident he will get his hand raised, and once Cejudo loses, which would be his third straight, he will retire from the sport.
WATCH | Robert Soldic scores early KO of the Year contender in ONE Championship
BJ Penn Staff - February 20, 2025
Roberto Soldic delivered an early frontrunner for 2025’s Knockout of the Year honours at Thursday’s ONE Champions 171 in Doha Qatar. Soldic, from Croatia, is a former two-division KSW champion. He has long been considered one of the top MMA fighters outside the UFC. He signed with ONE in 2022, and was widely expected to make a run at the promotion’s welterweight title, but quickly ran into trouble. First, he suffered a brutal groin shot in his debut fight with future PFL contender Murad Ramazanov. That one ended in a no contest. Then, in his second fight, he suffered a devastating knockout loss to Swedish finisher Zebaztian Kadestam — in a fight he seemed to be winning up until the finishing blow.
Michael Chandler reacts to Dana White announcing Paddy Pimblett fight for UFC 314
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 20, 2025
Michael Chandler is fired up to share the Octagon with Paddy Pimblett. This past Wednesday night, UFC CEO Dana White announced a slew of marquee fights scheduled for the coming months. One of the bouts made official is a lightweight tilt between Chandler and Pimblett. That fight will take place on the UFC 314 card on April 12th. Headlining the card will be a UFC Featherweight Championship bout between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes.
Brendan Allen questions Dricus du Plessis' UFC resume
Harry Kettle - February 20, 2025
Top UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen has questioned the legitimacy of the resume put forward by Dricus du Plessis. As UFC middleweight champion, Dricus du Plessis has already achieved some incredible things. He’s enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top of the division, which has included victories over the likes of Sean Strickland, Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya.
Song Yadong explains where he could have success against Merab Dvalishvili
Harry Kettle - February 20, 2025
UFC star Song Yadong has given his thoughts on where he could find success against bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. As we know, Song Yadong is a top contender in the bantamweight division. While he’s suffered his fair share of setbacks over the years, he’s clearly an incredibly talented fighter who is more than capable of mixing it up with the very best that is available at 135 pounds.
Henry Cejudo teases possible return to UFC's flyweight division
Harry Kettle - February 20, 2025
Henry Cejudo has teased the idea of a return to where it all began for him – the UFC’s flyweight division. As we know, Henry Cejudo has achieved a great deal in mixed martial arts. He’s also done a lot in combat sports as a whole, dating back to his gold medal days at the Olympics. Now, however, the veteran fighter is attempting to vault his way back into another title opportunity, which will be easier said than done.
Jonathan Haggerty insists Superlek would be in for "long night"
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 19, 2025
ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan Haggerty believes there’s still more to come of his rivalry with two-division king Superlek Kiatmoo9 in the future. “The General” returns to action this Thursday, February 20, in the co-main event of ONE 171: Qatar inside Doha’s Lusail Sports Arena. There, he defends his kickboxing gold against #1-ranked contender Wei Rui.
Three fights at ONE 171: Qatar that fans shouldn't miss
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 19, 2025
ONE 171: Qatar is almost here, packed with a superstar-filled card from the opening curtain to the headline attraction. All the action comes to a head this Thursday, February 20, inside Doha, Qatar’s Lusail Sports Arena. There, over a dozen bouts across four combat sports disciplines take centerstage in ONE Championship’s return to the Middle East.
Dana White announces key welterweight fights including Belal Muhammad title defense
Cole Shelton - February 19, 2025
UFC CEO Dana White has made two key welterweight fights official, including Belal Muhammad’s first title defense. On Instagram Live on Wednesday, White announced that Jack Della Maddalena has been pulled from his UFC London main event fight against Leon Edwards. Della Maddalena will now headline UFC 315 in Montreal against Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title. White revealed that Shavkat Rakhmonov is dealing with an injury and will likely face the winner of Muhammad-Della Maddalena.
Dana White announces stacked UFC 314 card including featherweight title fight
Cole Shelton - February 19, 2025
UFC CEO Dana White has announced some key fights for UFC 314 on April 12 in Miami, Florida. White went on Instagram Live and announced the card would be headlined by a featherweight title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes as Ilia Topuria has vacated the belt.
Rob Font reveals Raul Rosas Jr. was originally targeted to replace Dominick Cruz at UFC Seattle
Cole Shelton - February 19, 2025
Rob Font went through a couple of opponents after Dominick Cruz withdrew from their UFC Seattle fight. Font was supposed to take on the former bantamweight champ, but a shoulder injury knocked Cruz out. After Cruz pulled out of the fight, he said the original opponent offered was Raul Rosas Jr., but that didn’t come to fruition.
Aaron Pico vows to never fight for PFL again due to feud with Donn Davis: "I haven't been able to work!"
Josh Evanoff - February 19, 2025
Hard-hitting featherweight star Aaron Pico never wants to fight for the PFL again. The 28-year-old is hitting his prime right now, having won nine of his last ten bouts. He was last seen in the cage at the PFL vs. Bellator event last February, scoring a first-round knockout win over Henry Corrales. While Aaron Pico hoped to book a title fight against Patricio Pitbull next, that bout never came to fruition.
Anthony Smith opens up on retirement fight against Zhang Mingyang: "I was very shocked with the matchup"
Josh Evanoff - February 19, 2025
Anthony Smith was just as shocked as everyone else to learn his final UFC opponent. ‘Lionheart’ has been out of the cage since a clash with Dominick Reyes in December. Anthony Smith entered UFC 310 with a heavy heart, fighting just weeks after the passing of his coach, Scott Morton. Sadly for the former title challenger, he was dominated and handed a second-round stoppage loss by ‘The Devastator’.
Caio Borralho calls for title eliminator against Nassourdine Imavov next: "Running to the title"
Josh Evanoff - February 19, 2025
UFC middleweight contender Caio Borralho wants a fight with Nassourdine Imavov next. ‘The Natural’ is quickly rising up the UFC’s 185-pound rankings. Last August, the hard-hitting Brazilian received the biggest test of his career, in the form of a Fight Night main event against Jared Cannonier. There, Caio Borralho passed the test with flying colors, hurting ‘Killa Gorilla’ several times en route to a unanimous decision win.
Dricus Du Plessis says Khamzat Chimaev fight cements his legacy even though he isn't a "boogeyman" anymore
Cole Shelton - February 19, 2025
UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis doesn’t think Khamzat Chimaev is the boogeyman people think he is. After Du Plessis defended his middleweight title with a decision win over Sean Strickland, the expectation was he would face Chimaev next. It’s an intriguing matchup as many view Chimaev as the boogeyman, but he doesn’t think that is the case.
Caio Borralho reacts to Sean Strickland being at odds with coach Eric Nicksick
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 19, 2025
Caio Borralho has weighed in on the Sean Strickland situation with his coach Eric Nicksick. Many fans were surprised by how critical Nicksick was of Strickland during a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. The Xtreme Couture head coach clearly felt Strickland’s effort in his rematch against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312 was uninspired. Nicksick went as far as to say he trains world champions and Strickland needs to decide what he wants to do going forward.