MMA News

Josh Evanoff - February 7, 2025

Former Bellator featherweight contender Aaron Pico is now a free agent. The once-hyped prospect famously signed with Scott Coker’s Bellator over a decade ago. A former collegiate wrestler, Aaron Pico quickly caught the attention of the MMA world. However, the featherweight was famously upset by Zach Freeman in his first fight back in 2017. The defeat was just the first of three losses Pico would suffer in the first two years of his career.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 7, 2025

Dustin Poirier has an idea of when his retirement fight might be. After suffering a fifth-round submission loss to Islam Makhachev in his final bid for undisputed UFC gold, “The Diamond” made it clear that he will not be climbing his way back up the ladder. With 40 pro MMA fights under his belt, Poirier contemplated retiring if he wasn’t given an enticing fight offer.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 7, 2025

The UFC 312 weigh-ins have wrapped up, and fans will be happy to know that the marquee bouts have been made official. Of course, that includes the UFC middleweight title rematch between 185-pound champion Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland. In their first meeting back in early 2024, du Plessis took the gold from Strickland via split decision. Can Strickland regain the middleweight prize?

Harry Kettle - February 7, 2025

UFC fighter Lucas Alexander has revealed he was hospitalized as a result of paint fumes at the UFC Saudi Arabia venue. Last weekend at UFC Saudi Arabia, Lucas Alexander stepped into the Octagon to face Bogdan Grad. The result was Grad getting the finish via punches and elbows from mount in the second round. However, there was actually a whole lot more to the story than that.

Harry Kettle - February 7, 2025

UFC champion Dricus du Plessis has responded to the rumor that Alex Pereira hates him, which stems from Sean Strickland saying that he “harbors hate”. Alex Pereira is an absolute machine and we all know that to be true. Some days, it doesn’t even seem like he’s human. He’s the kind of fighter who comes along once in a lifetime, and when you package it all together, he takes the appearance of perhaps the biggest star in mixed martial arts right now.

Harry Kettle - February 7, 2025

The fighter who dropped Kevin Lee in sparring has given his reaction to footage of the incident leaking online. As we all know, the real hard work in the world of mixed martial arts goes on in the gym. While we all get to see what happens inside the cage, there’s an incredible amount of preparation that goes into it behind the scenes. That’s the same for everyone – including former UFC star Kevin Lee.

BJPENN.COM Staff - February 6, 2025

Fans have certainly not forgotten the bantamweight Muay Thai banger that took place the last time Felipe Lobo and Saemapetch Fairtex went toe-to-toe.    The duo will meet in a highly anticipated rematch at ONE Fight Night 28: Prajanchai vs. Barboza. The event airs this Friday, February 7, from inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium. 

BJPENN.COM Staff - February 6, 2025

Fifth-ranked strawweight MMA contender Keito Yamakita is looking to make an example of fellow divisional star Lito Adiwang at ONE Fight Night 28: Prajanchai vs. Barboza.   The pair will duel at the event, which airs this Friday, February 7, from inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.  

Josh Evanoff - February 6, 2025

UFC flyweight contenders Manel Kape and Asu Almabayev will headline an Apex Fight Night in March. ‘Starboy’ was originally slated to meet Brandon Royval in the main event of UFC Vegas 103. For his part, ‘Raw Dawg’ is riding a two-fight winning streak, comprised of victories over Tatsuro Taira and Brandon Moreno. Meanwhile, Manel Kape is fresh off a third-round knockout win over Bruno Gustavo da Silva in December.

Josh Evanoff - February 6, 2025

UFC commentator Joe Rogan passed on an interview with Kamala Harris to watch Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway. While the 57-year-old is still one of the faces of the UFC, Joe Rogan’s reach has transcended MMA. Over the last few years, he’s taken a heavy interest in American politics. Since 2015, Rogan has had on several prominent political commentators and politicians, everyone from Bernie Sanders and Kyle Kulinski to Matt Walsh and Tulsi Gabbard.

Josh Evanoff - February 6, 2025

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones’ recent announcement has nothing to do with fighting. ‘Bones’ hasn’t been seen in the octagon since his title defense against Stipe Miocic in November. Well over a year after winning UFC heavyweight gold with a submission win over Ciryl Gane, Jon Jones faced the 42-year-old former champion. With Tom Aspinall watching cageside, the light-heavyweight great dominated.

Cole Shelton - February 6, 2025

Jairzinho Rozenstruik has broken his silence after his surprising release from the UFC. After Rozenstruik lost a lackluster decision to Sergei Pavlovich at UFC Saudi Arabia, the UFC quickly released the heavyweight contender. It was a surprise given Rozenstruik was a top-10 heavyweight and just had his two-fight winning streak snapped.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 6, 2025

One high-level UFC contender believes Tatiana Suarez will dominate Zhang Weili in their title fight. Suarez will challenge Weili for the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship this Saturday. The two will collide inside the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia in the co-main event of UFC 312. Weili will be looking for her third successful title defense in her second run with the 115-pound gold. This will be Suarez’s first crack at UFC hardware.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 6, 2025

UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping believes he knows what Sean Strickland has to do in order to sway the judges for his rematch with Dricus du Plessis. The first matchup between Strickland and du Plessis went down to the wire. Neither man could gain a clear advantage over the other before the final horn sounded. In the end, du Plessis won the fight and the UFC Middleweight Championship via split decision.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 6, 2025

Sean Strickland insists he’ll be just fine ahead of his big title rematch against Dricus du Plessis. Strickland and du Plessis are set to collide a second time in the main event of UFC 312 this Saturday. Strickland lost the UFC Middleweight Championship to DDP via split decision in their early 2024 meeting. Their rematch will be held inside the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.

BJPENN.COM Staff - February 6, 2025

British Muay Thai legend Liam Harrison will be watching ONE Fight Night 28: Prajanchai vs. Barboza closely this Friday, February 7.   “Hitman” is excited to see two-sport ONE World Champion Prajanchai PK Saenchai defend his strawweight Muay Thai crown in the main event. The Thai star meets British striker Ellis Badr Barboza inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium. 

Harry Kettle - February 6, 2025

Kamaru Usman has provided his friend Israel Adesanya with some advice following his defeat at UFC Saudi Arabia last weekend. In case you missed it, Israel Adesanya suffered a devastating defeat at UFC Saudi Arabia last Saturday night. He was defeated by Nassourdine Imavov, and on top of that, he was finished. It came early in the second round after what proved to be a competitive first round between the two middleweight contenders.

Harry Kettle - February 6, 2025

UFC legend Lyoto Machida has responded to rumors that he was put into a coma following a loss to Yoel Romero back in 2015. As we all know, Lyoto Machida is an absolute icon in the world of mixed martial arts. He’s achieved some truly incredible things throughout the course of his career, and a lot of his biggest fights came in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Throughout the course of his time in the promotion, he was viewed as a dangerous, impressive opponent for anyone to fact.