MMA News

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.

Josh Evanoff - January 23, 2025

Former Bellator champion Vadim Nemkov is opening up on his PFL future. The Russian hasn’t been seen in the cage in almost a year now. Last February, Vadim Nemkov moved up from light-heavyweight, vacating his Bellator title in the process to face Bruno Cappelozza. In his first bout up at heavyweight, the former champion scored an impressive second-round submission victory.

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.

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.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 23, 2025

Merab Dvalishvili has been on a tear, and Ray Longo believes the UFC played a significant role. Dvalishvili is the reigning UFC bantamweight champion. He’s fresh off his first successful title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov in the co-main event of UFC 311. The 135-pound titleholder displayed his elite conditioning and grappling to outlast the challenger after five rounds of action.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 23, 2025

Aljamain Sterling has reacted to Chris Weidman’s retirement announcement, and he has one regret. Weidman appeared on the official UFC 311 weigh-in show last Friday and announced that he is walking away from pro MMA competition. The former UFC middleweight champion has retired with a pro MMA record of 16-8. While some feel the retirement may have been past due, Weidman will not be fighting past the age of 40, which is a sigh of relief for many fight fans.

Cole Shelton - January 22, 2025

Conor McGregor appears to be truly interested in wanting to box the Paul brothers and KSI. McGregor and Logan Paul were rumored to box in India, which Dana White then shut down. But, on Monday while McGregor was at Trump’s Inauguration, he was in a van alongside the Paul brothers who have both called him out. While talking to them, the Irishman said he wanted to slap them and called it a little side job before his return to the UFC.

Josh Evanoff - January 22, 2025

Former Bellator champion Patricky Pitbull has parted ways with the PFL to sign with the GFL. The 39-year-old Brazilian has seen better days. Patricky Pitbull, much like his brother, Patricio Pitbull, hoped for success after joining the PFL in late 2023. Bellator was famously bought out by the Donn Davis-led company that fall, which retained all of its talent. In 2024, the older Pitbull brother entered the lightweight tournament.

Josh Evanoff - January 22, 2025

Jeremy Stephens is still hoping to score a showdown with his BKFC boss, Conor McGregor. ‘Lil Heathen’ is one of the many, many former UFC stars who’s headed for the bare-knuckle boxing ring. Jeremy Stephens signed with David Feldman’s BKFC in late 2023, scoring a stoppage win over Jimmie Rivera in his promotional debut. The following September, he scored a unanimous decision victory over Bobby Taylor in Salt Lake City.

Josh Evanoff - January 22, 2025

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is healing well from his fight with Khamzat Chimaev. ‘The Reaper’ and ‘Borz’ met in the co-main event of UFC 308 in late October. Back for the first time since scoring a knockout win over Ikram Aliskerov in June, Robert Whittaker hoped to secure a title shot. Meanwhile, Khamzat Chimaev last appeared in the cage last October, scoring a decision victory over Kamaru Usman.

Cole Shelton - January 22, 2025

Payton Talbott issued his first statement after his stunning loss to Raoni Barcelos at UFC 311. Talbott entered the fight as the biggest betting favorite on the card and many expected him to cruise to a win. However, Talbott was dominated in all three rounds to lose by decision which was his first career loss.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 22, 2025

An ex-foe of Jon Jones thinks the reigning UFC heavyweight champion should have the top pound-for-pound distinction over Islam Makhachev. The pound-for-pound argument continues within the MMA community. Those who believe Makhachev, the reigning UFC lightweight champion, deserves the number one spot argue that he has been more active as of late than “Bones.” Those who argue in favor of Jones are factoring in his longevity as an elite MMA titleholder.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 22, 2025

Sean Strickland has proposed a pact to Dricus du Plessis ahead of their UFC 312 title rematch. Strickland will challenge du Plessis for the UFC Middleweight Championship inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia on February 8th. The two had a highly competitive title bout back in early 2024. Going into that bout, Strickland was the 185-pound titleholder. He dropped the belt to du Plessis via split decision.

Harry Kettle - January 22, 2025

Khabib Nurmagomedov has sent a message of positivity to Umar Nurmagomedov following his loss at UFC 311. As we know, Khabib Nurmagomedov will go down as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. In addition to that, he’s on his way to becoming one of the best coaches in the history of the game too.

Harry Kettle - January 22, 2025

UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has given his thoughts on Dana White declaring Islam Makhachev his new pound-for-pound #1 ahead of Jon Jones. As we know, there’s one thing Tom Aspinall wants in this world above all else: an undisputed title shot. He wants to face Jon Jones, and he wants to do it sooner rather than later. The Englishman has jumped through every hoop necessary and now, he wants what he believes he deserves.

Harry Kettle - January 22, 2025

UFC star Geoff Neal has revealed what he would like for himself in the welterweight division moving forward. Throughout the course of his career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Geoff Neal has always been willing to take on just about anybody. He’s been involved in some absolute wars along the way, too, experiencing the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 21, 2025

British striking legend Liam “Hitman” Harrison has never been one to mince words, and he’s got plenty to say about ONE 170.   One bout in particular that Harrison is paying attention to is the ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title clash between #2-ranked contender Nico Carrillo and #5-ranked Nabil Anane. That goes down this Friday, 24 January, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Impact Arena. 

Cole Shelton - January 21, 2025

Max Holloway is open to rematching Charles Oliveira next time out. Oliveira recently called out Holloway to fight for the BMF belt if Islam Makhachev doesn’t want to fight until October. The Brazilian believes it would make sense for a No. 1 contender fight and is a fight he wants back.