MMA News

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 28, 2025

Reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai looked better than ever at ONE 170. But he’s still hungry for more gold.  The 25-year-old dismantled reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon this past Friday, January 24, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Impact Arena. He scored a TKO over his old foe in round two.  

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 28, 2025

Newly crowned ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane made the most of his opportunity at ONE 170, and now the 6-foot-4 superstar is savoring the most profound moment of his career. Having said that, he has little time to rest.   He became interim champ with a stunning first-round stoppage of #2-ranked contender Nico Carrillo this past Friday, January 24, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s sold-out Impact Arena. 

Cole Shelton - January 28, 2025

Former UFC champion Luke Rockhold claims he was offered to fight Khamzat Chimaev but the undefeated fighter turned him down. Before Rockhold was booked to fight Paulo Costa in 2022, the former champ says he was offered Chimaev. However, he claimed ‘Borz’ turned him down and he isn’t sure why, but the UFC then pivoted to the Costa fight.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 28, 2025

BKFC President David Feldman has provided an update on the contract situations of Jeremy Stephens and Ben Rothwell. Stephens and Rothwell both had massive victories at this past Saturday’s BKFC: KnuckleMania V event in Philadelphia. “Lil Heathen” shared the ring with Eddie Alvarez in the main event, while Rothwell challenged Mick Terrill for the BKFC Heavyweight Championship. Stephens scored a third-round TKO finish over Alvarez, while Rothwell knocked out Terrill in just 36 seconds to win his first major world championship.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 28, 2025

One former UFC titleholder claims that Khamzat Chimaev once turned down a fight with him. Chimaev has been on a tear under the UFC banner. He has a perfect pro MMA record of 14-0 and is coming off the biggest win of his career, submitting ex-UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the first round. Many believe Chimaev is the clear choice to challenge the winner of the upcoming title rematch between Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland.

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 28, 2025

In recent years, Thailand has hosted some of the biggest shows in ONE Championship’s history. But according to ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, none come bigger and better than this week’s ONE 170.   Bangkok, Thailand’s sold-out Impact Arena will play host to the prolific event on Friday, January 24. There, a jam-packed card across Muay Thai, MMA, kickboxing, and submission grappling bouts goes down live in Asia primetime.

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 28, 2025

On and off the mats, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu icon Marcelo Garcia hasn’t had it easy in recent years. The legendary grappler has overcome an arduous battle with stomach cancer, and now he’s ready to embark on a new chapter of his life.  Garcia debuts in ONE Championship at ONE 170 this Friday, January 24, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Impact Arena versus fellow legend Masakazu Imanari. 

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 28, 2025

Reigning two-sport, two-division ONE World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 may be sidelined for this week’s monumental ONE 170 event, but he’ll still be paying attention.  “The Kicking Machine” will watch closely as #2-ranked contender Nico Carrillo and #5-ranked star Nabil Anane vie for the ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship this Friday, January 24, at Bangkok, Thailand’s Impact Arena.  

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 28, 2025

Fifth-ranked bantamweight Muay Thai contender Nabil Anane has the opportunity of a lifetime at ONE 170: Tawanchai vs. Superbon II.   The Thai-Algerian giant steps in to vie for the ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title against #2-ranked contender Nico Carrillo on Friday, January 24, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Impact Arena.  

Harry Kettle - January 28, 2025

UFC Saudi Arabia is right around the corner as fans await the return of the legend that is Israel Adesanya. Event: UFC Saudi Arabia: Adesanya vs Imavov Date: Saturday, 1st February 2025 Location: anb Arena (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) Broadcast: ESPN+ PPV, ESPN2, ESPN+ (12pm EST main card)

Harry Kettle - January 28, 2025

Dan Hooker has given his thoughts on the UFC making his fight against Justin Gaethje five rounds long instead of three. At UFC 313, Dan Hooker will go head to head with Justin Gaethje. To put it lightly, this is one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year. These two lightweights know how to put it all on the line, and you can bet that’s exactly what they’re going to do again later this year.

Harry Kettle - January 28, 2025

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has given his thoughts on Jiri Prochazka’s ‘black magic’ allegations. As we know, Alex Pereira is one of the scariest individuals in mixed martial arts. That extends to combat sports, really. Up to this point, one of his biggest rivals has been Jiri Prochazka – who he’s been able to defeat on two separate occasions.

Cole Shelton - January 28, 2025

The 187th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC Saudi Arabia. We’re first joined by ninth-ranked UFC heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik (0:56). Closing out the program is UFC lightweight Terrance McKinney (9:33).

Cole Shelton - January 27, 2025

Eddie Alvarez broke his jaw in his stoppage loss to Jeremy Stephens at KnuckleMania 5. Alvarez entered the bout as the favorite, but early on, Stephens landed a massive punch that appeared to hurt Alvarez. The former UFC champ had a hard time overcoming Stephens’ power and was even dropped. After the third round, Alvarez’s corner stopped it and he took to Instagram to reveal it was because his jaw was broken.

Josh Evanoff - January 27, 2025

Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman has signed with the Global Fight League. ‘The All-American’ is fresh off his return to the octagon at UFC 310 last month in Las Vegas. Back for the first time since a controversial win over Bruno Silva in March, Chris Weidman faced Eryk Anders. Despite a first-round knockdown from the former champion, he was finished in the closing seconds of the second frame.

Josh Evanoff - January 27, 2025

BKFC welterweight contender Jeremy Stephens is now a free agent after beating Eddie Alvarez. ‘Lil Heathen’ and ‘The Underground King’ met in the main event of BKFC KnuckleMania V over the weekend. Heading into the matchup, Jeremy Stephens was riding a two-fight winning streak, previously scoring wins over Jimmie Rivera and Bobby Taylor. Meanwhile, Alvarez hadn’t been seen since a knockout loss to Mike Perry in late 2023.

Josh Evanoff - January 27, 2025

UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira still wants to fight Jon Jones. ‘Poatan’ just signed a deal to return to the octagon in March. Back for the first time since a stoppage win over Khalil Rountree last fall, Alex Pereira will meet the rising Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 313. The Russian is currently riding a 13-fight unbeaten streak, last defeating Aleksandar Rakic in October.

Cole Shelton - January 27, 2025

TJ Dillashaw believes Cody Garbrandt is the toughest matchup at bantamweight for champion Merab Dvalishvili. Garbrandt is a former UFC bantamweight champion but is unranked. However, his former rival Dillashaw thinks the former champ would pose a lot of problems for Dvalishvili due to his skill set.