MMA News
Israel Adesanya issues statement following TKO loss to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia
Chris Taylor - February 1, 2025
Israel Adesanya has issued a statement after suffering his third consecutive loss at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia. Adesanya (24-5 MMA) was returning to action this afternoon for the first time since suffering a submission loss to Dricus Du Plessis (22-2 MMA) this past August at UFC 305. The former UFC middleweight champion was looking to avoid the first three-fight losing skid of his career, as he had dropped a decision to Sean Strickland prior to being tapped out by ‘DDP’.
Pros react after Michael Page hands Shara Magomedov his first loss at UFC Saudi Arabia
Chris Taylor - February 1, 2025
Today’s UFC Saudi Arabia event was co-headlined by a middleweight bout between Michael Page and Shara Magomedov. Michael Page (23-3 MMA) was returning to action for the first time since suffering a unanimous decision loss at the hands of Ian Machado Garry at UFC 303 this past June. That setback was of course preceded by a decision victory over Kevin Holland in his Octagon debut at March’s UFC 299 event.
UFC Saudi Arabia Bonus Report: Nassourdine Imavov one of four fighters to take home $50k
Chris Taylor - February 1, 2025
The Octagon returned to Riyadh for today’s UFC Saudi Arabia event, an 11-bout fight card headlined by Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov. The highly anticipated middleweight main event resulted in a second-round TKO victory for ‘The Sniper’. After a back-and-forth opening round, Imavov was able to drop Adesanya with a big uppercut in the early stages of the second round. Nassourdine immediately pounced on Izzy with ground and pound, which forced the referee to step in and wave off the contest.
Pros react after Nassourdine Imavov stops Israel Adesanya at UFC Saudi Arabia
Chris Taylor - February 1, 2025
Today’s UFC Saudi Arabia event was headlined by a middleweight contest featuring Nassourdine Imavov taking on Israel Adesanya. Adesanya (24-5 MMA) had entered the contest with hopes of snapping a two-fight losing skid. The former UFC middleweight champion was coming off losses to Dricus Du Plessis (submission) and Sean Strickland (decision) in his most previous Octagon appearances.
UFC Saudi Arabia: 'Adesanya vs. Imavov' Live Results and Highlights
Chris Taylor - February 1, 2025
The Octagon returns to Riyadh for today’s UFC Saudi Arabia event, an 11-bout fight card headlined by Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov. Adesanya (24-4 MMA) will enter the contest with hopes of snapping a two-fight losing skid. The former UFC middleweight champion is coming off losses to Dricus Du Plessis (submission) and Sean Strickland (decision) in his most recent Octagon appearances. ‘The Last Stylebender’ has gone 2-3 over his past five fights overall, earning wins over Alex Pereira and Jared Cannonier during that stretch.
REPORT | Kevin Holland set for welterweight return at UFC London against Gunnar Nelson
Josh Evanoff - January 31, 2025
Kevin Holland will reportedly meet Gunnar Nelson at UFC London in March. ‘Trailblazer’ has had a rough last few years. While still one of the most entertaining strikers in the UFC, Kevin Holland has lost four of his last five fights. After suffering losses to Jack Della Maddalena and Michael Page, he decided on a return to 185 pounds. In his first bout back at middleweight last June, he scored a submission win over Michal Oleksiejczuk.
Chael Sonnen reveals Global Fight League attempted to get him out of retirement: "I'm not fighting again"
Josh Evanoff - January 31, 2025
The newly founded Global Fight League reportedly wanted to sign UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen. The upstart promotion founded by Darren Owen has been making a lot of headlines as of late. While the GFL has no events scheduled, nor an announced broadcast partner, they’re full-steam ahead on an April debut. Earlier this month, fighters were divided into six teams for a “draft” criticized for its runtime and use of AI.
Dana White admits the UFC could move on from Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: "If we don't get the fight done..."
Josh Evanoff - January 31, 2025
UFC President Dana White has offered an update on Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall. ‘Bones’ is just a few months removed from his return to the cage in the main event of UFC 309. Ending a long layoff due to injury, Jon Jones faced former champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of the New York-based pay-per-view. With interim champion Tom Aspinall watching cageside, the light-heavyweight great scored a fourth-round knockout win.
UFC star Paddy Pimblett explains why he didn't let go of choke on Denis Frimpong during gym fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 31, 2025
Paddy Pimblett has explained why he didn’t let go of his choke on Denis Frimpong during their gym scuffle. Footage surfaced of Pimblett and Frimpong having a gym fight that was previously agreed upon. The UFC star sunk in a rear-naked choke that forced Frimpong to tap out. Despite the tap, Pimblett continued to hold onto the choke before fellow gym members broke things up.
It isn't safe for Conor McGregor to fight again, says UFC legend: 'He shouldn't do any form of combat'
Chris Taylor - January 31, 2025
One well-known MMA personality doesn’t believe it’s safe for Conor McGregor to fight competitively again. McGregor has not been seen inside the Octagon since July 2021 where he suffered a broken leg in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier. The former two-division UFC champion was planning on making his return against Michael Chandler in the main event of UFC 303. An injury derailed that plan, and fans have since been wondering if the Irishman will ever return to prizefighting.
Conor McGregor unleashes shocking rant on Khabib Nurmagomedov: 'Show yo wife, show yo kids'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 31, 2025
Conor McGregor has fired perhaps his most nasty dig towards Khabib Nurmagomedov yet. McGregor and Nurmagomedov have been at odds for years. Fight fans still haven’t forgotten a UFC media day incident back in 2018 when McGregor hurled a dolly at a fighter bus that “The Eagle” was in. Despite the fact that Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor in their UFC 229 clash, the “Notorious” one continues to blast Khabib and his team.
What we know so far about wild “Japan against the world” ONE 172 card
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 31, 2025
As if the card for ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang wasn’t big enough, ONE Championship has bolstered its return to Japan with even more striking superstars. The action goes down on Sunday, March 23, inside Saitama Super Arena. In the main event, Japanese kickboxing megastar Takeru Segawa meets former flyweight Muay Thai king Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
Alex Pereira believes he'd be a bigger achievement for Jon Jones than Tom Aspinall
Harry Kettle - January 31, 2025
UFC champion Alex Pereira believes he’d be a bigger achievement for Jon Jones than if he defeated Tom Aspinall. As we know, Alex Pereira is an incredibly ambitious man. He is constantly trying to level up and add to his legacy, which is already pretty spectacular. He is, of course, a two-weight world champion in the UFC, but there’s been talk of him potentially going after a third championship at heavyweight.
Mike Perry agrees to face longtime rival Darren Till in boxing match: “Let’s go!”
Harry Kettle - January 31, 2025
Mike Perry has seemingly agreed to settle his long-running feud with Darren Till in a future boxing match between the two. For many years now, there’s been talk of a fight between Mike Perry and Darren Till. This feud runs all the way back to 2017 and perhaps even beyond, when both men were initially on the rise in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Since then, of course, they’ve both gone in very different directions. In the present day, Till is coming off the back of a Misfits Boxing win, whereas Perry is one of the faces of bare-knuckle boxing with BKFC.
Daniel Cormier says Alex Pereira is making a “dangerous” decision by cornering Sean Strickland at UFC 312: “It seems risky”
Harry Kettle - January 31, 2025
Daniel Cormier believes Alex Pereira is making a risky decision by cornering Sean Strickland at UFC 312 next month. As we know, Alex Pereira is someone who likes to complete the occasional side quest alongside his duties as UFC light heavyweight champion. For his latest venture, he is apparently set to corner Sean Strickland for his UFC 312 main event against Dricus du Plessis. It seems crazy in the eyes of many, and yet, ‘Poatan’ is pushing ahead with it regardless.
Highlights! The Russian Dumpling dethrones Da Crazy Hawaiian at Power Slap 11
Harry Kettle - January 31, 2025
The Russian Dumpling defeated Da Crazy Hawaiian this week at Power Slap 11 which went down in Saudi Arabia. As we know, Power Slap has been a real passion project for UFC president Dana White over the course of the last few years. He has been instrumental in trying to grow the sport, even though it still divides opinion more often than not. With that being said, it does seem like there’s a certain level of intrigue involved in the whole thing.
Aung La N Sang to rematch the last man who beat him at ONE 171: Qatar
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 30, 2025
Former two-weight ONE World Champion Aung La N Sang will be looking for some redemption at ONE 171: Qatar. “The Burmese Python” meets unbeaten Turk Shamil Erdogan in a middleweight MMA rematch on Thursday, February 20, inside Qatar’s Lusail Sports Arena. The stakes will be higher than ever as the victor would take a drastic step closer to challenging for divisional gold.
Superbon reveals vital "mistake" that led to TKO loss at ONE 170
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 30, 2025
At ONE 170 last week, reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon attempted greatness but came up short. The Thai phenom challenged ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai for his crown last Friday, January 24, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Impact Arena.