MMA News

Josh Evanoff - January 29, 2025

PFL lightweight star Paul Hughes doesn’t care about Conor McGregor’s recent tirade. ‘Big News’ returned to the cage on Saturday night in Dubai. Back for the first time since defeating former Bellator champion A.J. McKee in October, Paul Hughes finally met Usman Nurmagomedov. The undefeated Russian is a cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov, and the PFL played heavily into the Dagestan/Ireland rivalry heading into the event.

Cole Shelton - January 29, 2025

Michael Page is happy to werstle Shara Magomedov at UFC Saudi Arabia. Page is set to move up to middleweight to face Magomedov and many expect it to be a fun striking fight. Both fighters are known for their striking, but both have said the other will wrestle. However, speaking at UFC Saudi Arabia media day, Michael Page made it clear that he is fine to wrestle Magomedov if that is a path to victory.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 29, 2025

Nassourdine Imavov doesn’t believe Israel Adesanya has lost a step. Imavov and Adesanya are scheduled to collide in the main event of a UFC Saudi Arabia Fight Night card this Saturday. Going into the fight, many are wondering if “The Last Stylebender” has fallen out of the elite tier at 185 pounds. Some have gone as far as to say the former two-time UFC middleweight champion is entering gatekeeper status.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 29, 2025

Head coach Eric Nicksick says there’s a key change in Sean Strickland’s mindset going into his championship rematch with Dricus du Plessis. Strickland and du Plessis are set to collide once again in the main event of UFC 312 on February 8th. Strickland was the UFC middleweight champion going into his first encounter with du Plessis back in early 2024. He ended up losing the title via split decision in a highly contested five-round battle.

Harry Kettle - January 29, 2025

UFC legend Stipe Miocic has launched a campaign that he hopes will help out his old alma mater. Over the years, Stipe Miocic has cemented himself as a true great in the UFC’s heavyweight division. Despite his loss to Jon Jones, many still consider him to be the greatest heavyweight of all time. Now, of course, he’s retired, with many believing he would simply ride off into the sunset, never to be seen again.

Harry Kettle - January 28, 2025

UFC star Brian Ortega recently flew across the country to choke out an online friend of his for trolling. As we know, Brian Ortega is one of the most effective submission artists of this or any other generation. He has been able to produce magic inside the Octagon and while he’s never won a world title, he’s come as close as you can possibly get over the years.

Cole Shelton - January 28, 2025

Israel Adesanya is expecting a striking match against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia. Adesanya is set to headline the Fight Night event in his first non-title fight in 2019 when he fought Anderson Silva. The former middleweight champion is coming off a submission loss to Dricus Du Plessis after losing his belt to Sean Strickland by decision.

BJ Penn Staff - January 28, 2025

BKFC boss David Feldman isn’t holding out hope that the UFC will loan Conor McGregor to his bare-knuckle fight promotion, but he figures there’s no harm in asking. The former two-division UFC champ McGregor, who still has two fights left on his contract with the MMA promotion, recently became a part-owner of BKFC, and has been a recurring presence at its recent events.

Josh Evanoff - January 28, 2025

Longtime UFC lightweight contender Clay Guida has no plans to retire. ‘The Carpenter’ was one of the UFC’s longest-tenured fighters. First debuting in 2006 with a submission win over Justin James, Clay Guida remained a member of the lightweight division for nearly two decades. In that time, the 43-year-old scored wins over names such as Nate Diaz, Rafael dos Anjos, and Anthony Pettis.

Josh Evanoff - January 28, 2025

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya wants to make a statement against Nassourdine Imavov. ‘The Last Stylebender’ is set to return to the octagon this Saturday night in Saudi Arabia. Back for the first time since suffering a submission loss to Dricus du Plessis last August, Israel Adesanya will meet Nassourdine Imavov. ‘The Sniper’ enters the five-round main event riding a three-fight winning streak, last beating Brendan Allen in September.

Josh Evanoff - January 28, 2025

GFL founder Darren Owen is interested in booking Tony Ferguson vs. Dillon Danis. The new team-based MMA league is set to start holding events in April. Earlier this month, the Global Fight League held its inaugural draft where names such as Paige VanZant, Kevin Lee, Chris Weidman, and more were selected. Two fighters selected in the draft include ex-interim UFC champion Tony Ferguson and the ever-controversial Dillon Danis.

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 28, 2025

Teenage Muay Thai phenom Johan Ghazali has sensed that a showdown with fellow brawler Johan Estupinan was inevitable. The pair have been climbing the ranks for some time now, and there’s no better place to see who’ll prevail than at ONE 170.  The fiery flyweights collide on Friday, January 24, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Impact Arena. The contest isn’t expected to go all three rounds.  

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

Dricus du Plessis doesn’t see Islam Makhachev giving him much of a problem if they ever share the Octagon. Both du Plessis and Makhachev currently hold UFC gold. The middleweight title belongs to du Plessis, and he will look to have a second successful defense when he meets Sean Strickland in a rematch on February 8th. As for Makhachev, he recently made history by setting a new record for the most successful UFC Lightweight Championship defenses when he submitted Renato Moicano.

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.