MMA News
Khamzat Chimaev makes a big prediction for his UFC run in 2025
Harry Kettle - January 27, 2025
UFC star Khamzat Chimaev has made a big prediction for his run in the promotion this year. As we know, Khamzat Chimaev is one of the scariest fighters in all of mixed martial arts. He has achieved some incredible things up to this point in his career, but of course, his biggest goal is still ahead of him. The man known as ‘Borz’ is hungry to become a UFC champion, with many believing he should be the next in line for a shot at the winner of Dricus du Plessis vs Sean Strickland 2.
Nong-O meets Kongthoranee in flyweight Muay Thai showdown at ONE Fight Night 28
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 26, 2025
The fight announcements are coming thick and fast for ONE Fight Night 28: Prajanchai vs. Barboza next month. In line with that, a huge bantamweight Muay Thai showdown has been added to the fold. It’s a new dawn, a new day for former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama. The legendary striker will make a fresh start when he moves to the flyweight division to meet #4-ranked contender Kongthoranee Sor Sommai on Friday, February 8, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Aljamain Sterling eyes April return, names Brian Ortega as potential opponent
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 26, 2025
Aljamain Sterling is circling a potential April return date. Sterling is hoping to make his first fight of 2025 a successful one. He ended 2024 with disappointment, losing a highly competitive clash against Movsar Evloev on the UFC 311 prelims. It’s a fight that the former UFC bantamweight champion believes he should’ve won.
Islam Makhachev shares preference on who he wants to fight next: 'I like this idea'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 26, 2025
Islam Makhachev wants a fresh UFC title challenger for his next defense. Makhachev put his name in the history books after he set a new record for the most successful UFC lightweight title defenses. He defeated Renato Mociano, who was a late replacement opponent after Arman Tsarukyan pulled out of the fight due to a back injury. Makhachev ended up submitting Moicano in the opening frame to push his title defenses to four.
Paul Hughes speaks out on close decision loss to Usman Nurmagomedov: 'I thought it was mine'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 26, 2025
Paul Hughes has spoken out following his loss against Usman Nurmagomedov. Hughes and Nurmagomedov put on a classic in the main event of PFL Champions: Road to Dubai. Nurmagomedov’s Bellator Lightweight Championship was on the line inside the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. Hughes showcased effective takedown defense and was highly competitive against the 155-pound champion, but it wasn’t enough, as he dropped a majority decision.
Newly minted BKFC heavyweight champion Ben Rothwell responds to Mark Hunt's callout
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 26, 2025
Ben Rothwell wouldn’t mind throwing down with Mark Hunt again. Rothwell scored a massive victory this past Saturday night at BKFC KnuckleMania V. The former UFC star challenged Mick Terrill for the BKFC Heavyweight Championship. It only took Rothwell 36 seconds to deliver an emphatic one-punch knockout to claim gold. Winning a title for a major promotion has been a long time coming for “Big” Ben, who has been fighting professionally since 2001.
Conor McGregor claims he's fighting Jeremy Stephens in BKFC following KnuckleMania V
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 26, 2025
BKFC President David Feldman has been told that Conor McGregor wants to fight Jeremy Stephens under bare knuckle rules, but will it happen? This past Saturday, Stephens entered enemy territory to take on former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez. The matchup headlined BKFC KnuckleMania V inside a packed Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. After two rounds of action, “Lil Heathen” dropped Alvarez in the third stanza. “The Underground King” couldn’t recover and was dropped again before the fight was waved off.
Usman Nurmagomedov dismisses immediate rematch with Paul Hughes following instant classic
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 26, 2025
Usman Nurmagomedov isn’t gung-ho over the idea of fighting Paul Hughes again anytime soon. Nurmagomedov and Hughes shared the cage this past Saturday in the main event of PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai. Nurmagomedov’s Bellator Lightweight Championship was at stake. Many wondered how Hughes would handle the champion’s grappling in this one. The Irishman put forth a brilliant effort, matching Nurmagomedov throughout the five rounds of highly competitive action.
Conor McGregor confirms UFC shot down rumored boxing match against Logan Paul: "They weren't into it"
Josh Evanoff - January 24, 2025
Conor McGregor has confirmed the UFC shot down his planned boxing match against Logan Paul. ‘The Notorious’ hasn’t been seen in action since his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier in mid-2021. That night saw Conor McGregor snap his leg in the final seconds of the first round, in a brutal injury. While the Irishman promised a return to the cage by the end of 2022, that return never came. Even when McGregor booked a comeback fight against Michael Chandler last year, he withdrew due to injury.
Dillon Danis and Tony Ferguson lead the latest group of Global Fight League signings
Josh Evanoff - January 24, 2025
Former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson has finalized a deal with the Global Fight League. Fans are now just hours away from seeing the inaugural Global Fight League draft. Founded by Darren Owen, the team-based MMA league hopes to start holding events in April. Ahead of the draft, the GFL has signed several high-profile former UFC stars such as Tyron Woodley, Paige VanZant, and Luke Rockhold.
Nate Diaz mocks the Paul Brothers' recent run-in with Conor McGregor: "He would've f*cked you both up"
Josh Evanoff - January 24, 2025
Former UFC title challenger Nate Diaz got a good laugh seeing Conor McGregor run into the Paul brothers. ‘The Notorious’ has been publically in talks for an exhibition boxing match against Logan Paul for months now. Having not competed in the UFC for nearly four years, Conor McGregor wanted to end his layoff with a glorified spar with ‘The Maverick’. While Jake Paul is the more experienced boxer of the two, Logan currently holds a win over the Irishman’s teammate, Dillon Danis.
Israel Adesanya expects to train with rival Alex Pereira one day: 'I'll always respect Poatan'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 24, 2025
Israel Adesanya believes it’s only a matter of time before he trains with his former rival Alex Pereira. Adesanya doesn’t anticipate ever fighting Pereira again. The two fought twice under kickboxing rules and two times under the UFC banner. Pereira is 3-1 in total against Adesanya, but “The Last Stylebender” got the last laugh when he knocked “Poatan” out cold in their final meeting.
Alexander Volkanovski reveals ideal timeframe for next UFC fight: 'Nothing's completely locked in'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 24, 2025
Alexander Volkanovski has an idea of when he’d like to return to the Octagon. After a rough end to 2023, things weren’t much better in 2024 for the former UFC featherweight champion inside the Octagon. Volkanovski suffered a head kick knockout loss to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and then went on to lose the featherweight gold to Ilia Topuria via another brutal KO.
Lito Adiwang "excited" to showcase striking against Keito Yamakita
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 23, 2025
Surging strawweight MMA star Lito Adiwang could kickstart his 2025 campaign by breaking into the division’s top five. The Filipino star meets #5-ranked contender Keito Yamakita at ONE Fight Night 28: Prajanchai vs. Barboza on Friday, February 8, at Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Shara Magomedov fires back at Michael Page ahead of UFC Saudi Arabia fight
Cole Shelton - January 23, 2025
Shara Magomedov has fired back at Michael Page ahead of their February 1 fight at UFC Saudi Arabia. Page is set to move up to middleweight to face Magomedov in the co-main event in an intriguing bout. Heading into the bout, Page did an interview with Michael Bisping and vowed to bloody up his opponent.
Cory Sandhagen calls for a showdown with former UFC champion Sean O'Malley: "He's going to get beat up"
Josh Evanoff - January 23, 2025
Cory Sandhagen wants a fight against former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley. ‘Sugar’ hasn’t been seen in the cage since a September title defense against Merab Dvalishvili. The bout was Sean O’Malley’s second defense of bantamweight gold, having scored a decision win over Marlon Vera last April. Ultimately, ‘The Machine’ wound up outwresting the champion en route to a unanimous decision win in the main event of Noche UFC, ending the striker’s title reign.
Alex Pereira reacts to Jamahal Hill's knockout loss at UFC 311: "We respect each other"
Josh Evanoff - January 23, 2025
Alex Pereira didn’t enjoy seeing Jamahal Hill’s loss at UFC 311 over the weekend. ‘Sweet Dreams’ returned to the octagon on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Back for the first time since being knocked out by Alex Pereira at UFC 300 last April, Jamahal Hill met Jiri Prochazka. The latter had also suffered a stoppage loss to ‘Poatan’ in his most recent bout, having been knocked out last June on short notice.
Renato Moicano reveals 'nice check' he got for UFC 311 fight against Islam Makhachev
Cole Shelton - January 23, 2025
Renato Moicano got paid to step up on short notice at UFC 311. On a day’s notice, Moicano stepped up to face Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title. Moicano was originally supposed to fight Beneil Dariush on the card but ended up getting the short-notice fight.