MMA News
Diego Lopes claims UFC forced Ilia Topuria to vacate featherweight title for lightweight move: "They were very clear"
Josh Evanoff - February 21, 2025
Featherweight contender Diego Lopes has claimed the UFC is done with two-division champions. The Brazilian recently signed a deal to face Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 314 in April. While the bout itself has been rumored for a while, what wasn’t, is that the fight will be for the vacant featherweight title. Less than two years into his UFC journey, Diego Lopes has the possibility of becoming the 145-pound king.
Michael Chandler predicts first-round knockout win over Paddy Pimblett ahead of UFC 314: "It's a bad matchup"
Josh Evanoff - February 21, 2025
Michael Chandler believes his UFC 314 meeting with Paddy Pimblett won’t be close. ‘Iron’ was last seen in the cage at UFC 309 in November, for a rematch with Charles Oliveira. The fight ended a two-year layoff for Michael Chandler, having spent the time waiting for a long-awaited bout with Conor McGregor. Sadly for the hard-hitting lightweight, ‘Do Bronx’ handed him a unanimous decision loss in his return last fall.
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.
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.
Belal Muhammad reacts to Jack Della Maddalena title fight at UFC 315
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 21, 2025
Belal Muhammad has given his reaction to being booked against Jack Della Maddalena. UFC CEO Dana White dropped a slew of fight announcements this week. One of the more surprising matchups he revealed was a UFC Welterweight Championship fight between titleholder Muhammad and Maddalena. The title bout made more sense when Shavkat Rakhmonov hopped on social media to say that he’s dealing with an injury.
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.
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.
Alexander Gustafsson admits he's not at the UFC level anymore
Harry Kettle - February 21, 2025
MMA veteran Alexander Gustafsson has admitted that he’s not at the UFC level anymore after signing for GFL. In the world of mixed martial arts, Alexander Gustafsson is an iconic figure. In the history books, he’ll likely go down as one of the best fighters ever to not win a UFC world title. He came close on several occasions, but couldn’t quite get over the finish line.
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.
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.