MMA News
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.
Vadim Nemkov opens up on PFL future ahead of final fight on contract: "I'm not sure what they're going to offer me"
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.
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.
Retired UFC veteran thinks Dana White should give Arman Tsarukyan title shot following UFC 311 pullout
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 23, 2025
An ex-UFC bruiser doesn’t believe Arman Tsarukyan should be punished by Dana White after his removal from the UFC 311 card. Tsarukyan was expected to challenge Islam Makhachev for the UFC Lightweight Championship inside the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA. During the weigh-ins, White revealed on social media that Tsarukyan pulled out of the fight due to a back injury. Makhachev ended up submitting replacement opponent Renato Moicano in the first round.
Coach Ray Longo explains how UFC 'created a monster' in Merab Dvalishvili
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.
Aljamain Sterling has one regret following Chris Weidman's retirement: 'It was just kind of rough'
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.
Former Bellator champion Patricky Pitbull parts ways with the PFL, signs with upstart Global Fight League
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.
Robert Whittaker opens up on former feud with Israel Adesanya: "If I could've hit him with a car I would have"
Josh Evanoff - January 22, 2025
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has buried the hatchet with Israel Adesanya. ‘The Reaper’ and ‘The Last Stylebender’ famously have had two clashes for UFC gold. They first met in late 2019, in Robert Whittaker’s first title defense. Over a year after going to war with Yoel Romero for five rounds, the champion met interim champion, Israel Adesanya. In Whittaker’s absence, he scored a decision win over Kelvin Gastelum to claim interim gold.
Jeremy Stephens eyeing fight with BKFC boss Conor McGregor ahead of Eddie Alvarez bout: "Beat up my f*cking boss"
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.
Robert Whittaker offers update on jaw injury suffered against Khamzat Chimaev: "You can't fight through that"
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.
Former Jon Jones rival still thinks 'Bones' tops UFC pound-for-pound list over Islam Makhachev
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.
Top UFC bantamweight contender thinks he can dethrone Merab Dvalishvili: 'Styles make fights'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 22, 2025
Merab Dvalishvili has one top UFC bantamweight contender knocking on his door. Dvalishvili is the reigning 135-pound champion, who is fresh off a successful title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov collided in the co-main event of UFC 311. The Georgian champion was able to retain his gold thanks to some elite conditioning and grappling.
Sean Strickland sends expletive-laden challenge to Dricus du Plessis, UFC champion responds
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.
Khabib Nurmagomedov sends positive message to Umar Nurmagomedov after UFC 311 defeat
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.
Geoff Neal reveals future plans in UFC welterweight division
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.
Rob Font expects the best version of Dominick Cruz at UFC Seattle
Harry Kettle - January 22, 2025
UFC fighter Rob Font has said he expects to see the best version of Dominick Cruz when they collide at UFC Seattle. On February 22, Dominick Cruz will make the walk to the Octagon for the last time in his career. Following on from an iconic run, he is set to collide with Rob Font in what will serve as his last ever mixed martial arts contest.