MMA News
Patricio Pitbull takes aim at Aljamain Sterling for rejecting offer to fight him: "He ran!"
Josh Evanoff - February 21, 2025
Former Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull is taking aim at Aljamain Sterling ahead of his UFC debut. The 37-year-old hasn’t been seen in the cage for nearly a year. Last March, Patricio Pitbull made what would be his final Bellator appearance, scoring a third-round knockout win over UFC veteran Jeremy Kennedy. Afterward, the Brazilian was famously kept on the sidelines. Due to the inactivity, Pitbull requested and was later granted his release from the PFL.
Henry Cejudo considering return to flyweight division after UFC Seattle: "There could be a resurrection"
Cole Shelton - February 21, 2025
Henry Cejudo is open to returning to his former stomping grounds. Cejudo is set to headline UFC Seattle on Saturday against Song Yadong. It’s a crucial fight for the bantamweight division, but it may be Cejudo’s last in the division.
Islam Makhachev's team not keen on fighting Ilia Topuria next after 'El Matador' vacates UFC gold
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 21, 2025
Islam Makhachev’s coach has praise for Ilia Topuria, but he’s still not keen on “El Matador” getting a UFC lightweight title shot. UFC CEO Dana White recently announced that Ilia Topuria has vacated the UFC Featherweight Championship. Fighting for the vacant gold will be Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes in the main event of UFC 314. While Topuria vs. Makhachev has not been made official at this time, Ariel Helwani reports that this is being planned potentially as early as International Fight Week. Helwani later noted that Topuria wouldn’t have vacated the featherweight title for a number one contender fight.
Leon Edwards entering 'nightmare situation' with short notice fight against Sean Brady, says UFC legend
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 21, 2025
One UFC legend believes Leon Edwards could be walking into a bad situation with the Sean Brady fight. Edwards was expected to go one-on-one with Jack Della Maddalena on March 22 in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card in London. When the UFC needed a title challenger for welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, Maddalena was moved to the UFC 315 main event. Taking Maddalena’s place in the UFC London fight with Edwards is Brady.
Joshua Pacio and four others bag $50K bonuses at ONE 171
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 21, 2025
ONE 171: Qatar returned to the Middle East packing a punch as Joshua Pacio and four other fighters walked away with big wins and even bigger paydays. ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Pacio, Roberto Soldic, Shamil Erdogan, Ayaka Miura, and lightweight submission grappling king Kade Ruotolo all took home US$50,000 bonuses. This happened on Thursday, February 20, inside Doha’s Lusail Sports Arena.
Diego Lopes reacts to UFC title fight against Alexander Volkanovski
Harry Kettle - February 21, 2025
UFC star Diego Lopes has reacted to getting a world title shot against former champion Alexander Volkanovski. As we know, Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will collide at UFC 314. The pair will meet in the main event for the UFC featherweight championship, which was recently vacated by Ilia Topuria as he pursues a move to the lightweight division. As you can imagine, fans are pretty excited about this matchup.
Henry Cejudo has surprising criticism for Dominick Cruz following his retirement
Harry Kettle - February 21, 2025
UFC veteran Henry Cejudo has criticized Dominick Cruz in the wake of the latter’s retirement from mixed martial arts. As we know, Dominick Cruz has made the decision to retire from mixed martial arts. While he’s still got the ability necessary to compete in the eyes of many, he’s accumulated far too many injuries over the years to keep going. So, he’s opted to ride off into the sunset after an incredible career.
Roberto Soldic levitates Turkish opponent with terrifying knockout at ONE 171: Qatar
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 21, 2025
Welterweight knockout artist Roberto Soldic had a momentous return to form at ONE 171: Qatar. “Robocop” made quick work of fellow revered slugger Dagi Arslanaliev on Thursday, February 20. In their welterweight MMA showdown, he scored a knockout of the year contender in just 1:55 of the first frame inside Lusail Sports Arena.
Dana White explains Ilia Topuria vacating UFC featherweight title
Harry Kettle - February 21, 2025
UFC president Dana White has explained why Ilia Topuria decided to vacate the featherweight championship. As announced by Dana White, Ilia Topuria is leaving the featherweight division. In the wake of his incredible wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, he’s decided to make the jump up to lightweight. He’s already going to go down as one of the best ever at 145 pounds, and now, he has his sights firmly on acquiring a second world title at a brand new weight class.
Michael Chandler teases Paddy Pimblett in amusing new video
Harry Kettle - February 21, 2025
UFC star Michael Chandler has mocked Paddy Pimblett in a recent video after their first was confirmed. As we know, Michael Chandler will make his return to the Octagon at UFC 314 when he goes head to head with Paddy Pimblett. The pair will meet in a blockbuster co-main event at the show, and if ‘Iron Mike’ can get back in the win column, he’ll inject some real life back into his mixed martial arts career.
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cory Sandhagen targeted for UFC Des Moines event in May
Josh Evanoff - February 20, 2025
Bantamweight contenders Deiveson Figueiredo and Cory Sandhagen will reportedly meet in May. ‘Deus da Guerra’ is fresh off his return to the octagon in the main event of UFC Macau in November. He entered the event riding a two-fight winning streak and met former bantamweight champion Petr Yan. Despite Deiveson Figueiredo’s newfound success at 135 pounds, he was outpointed by ‘No Mercy’ en route to a unanimous decision loss.
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.
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.
Ex-UFC fighter believes Jon Jones will retire instead of fighting Tom Aspinall
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 20, 2025
One retired UFC fighter is of the belief that it’s more likely that Jon Jones retires. Jones is a surefire Hall of Famer down the road, but many are wondering if he will return to the Octagon for a UFC heavyweight title unification bout against Tom Aspinall. “Bones” hasn’t committed to his next move and has publicly shown more interest in a fight with 205-pound champion Alex Pereira instead of the interim heavyweight titleholder Aspinall.
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.
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.