MMA News

Dylan Bowker - April 30, 2026

Aaron Pico will don the wrestling singlet once again as the UFC star will compete under the Real American Freestyle banner against a former PFL kingpin. The former multi-time titleholder inside the PFL smart cage is Lance Palmer, who was also a former Ohio State All-American, and he will wrestle Pico in St. Louis at RAF 10 on June 13th. Pico was a standout American wrestling prospect before getting into MMA, and he came just a single victory short of representing America in the 2016 Olympics. The former Bellator MMA product looks to gain momentum with consecutive wins in different competitive disciplines after recently securing his first win inside the UFC. Pico did this at UFC 327 against fellow former Bellator MMA alum and multi-division Bellator champ Patricio Pitbull when the former bested the latter via unanimous decision.

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 30, 2026

Takeru Segawa is a ONE World Champion. He is also retired. On April 29 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, he did both in the same night. Takeru stopped Rodtang Jitmuangnon in the fifth round to claim the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Title in the main event of ONE SAMURAI 1, closing his professional career at 46-5 and collecting a 15 million yen performance bonus in the process.

Curtis Calhoun - April 30, 2026

UFC light heavyweight star Johnny Walker will make the move to heavyweight to face one of the division’s most accomplished contenders. UFC fan favorite Johnny Walker’s most recent outing against former title challenger Dominick Reyes at UFC 327 wasn’t well-received by the fans earlier this month. In what was expected to be a back-and-forth battle with a potential highlight-reel finish, Walker and Reyes opted for a slow-paced fight that left the Kaseya Center crowd antsy.

Curtis Calhoun - April 30, 2026

UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush will enter his upcoming co-main event bout vs. Quillan Salkilld with a freak injury. UFC lightweight veteran Beneil Dariush could potentially fight for the final time this weekend at UFC Perth. Dariush will square off with streaking prospect Quillan Salkilld in the UFC Perth main event just before the highly-anticipated Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates headliner.

Cole Shelton - April 30, 2026

Jack Della Maddalena knows there’s added pressure on him, given he’s headlining a UFC card in his hometown. Della Maddalena is from Perth, Australia, and will headline UFC Perth on Saturday against Carlos Prates in a pivotal welterweight fight. It’s Della Maddalena’s first fight since losing his welterweight title, and although he’s eager to fight at home, he admits there is some added pressure on him.

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 30, 2026

He walked into Ariake Arena haunted by nightmares and doubts about whether his body would hold. He walked out a ONE World Champion. ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong watched every second of it, and he had plenty to say. Takeru Segawa stopped Rodtang Jitmuangnon in the fifth round to claim the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Title at ONE SAMURAI 1, on April 29 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, closing his professional career at 46-5.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 30, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t appear to be pressed over Sean Strickland’s gun warning ahead of their UFC 328 title bout. Strickland is known for making some off-the-wall comments, but some are concerned given his latest remark. Both Chimaev and Strickland have threatened to take things to the streets amid some heated trash talk. Strickland went as far as to say he would shoot Chimaev and his team if they attempted to jump him.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 30, 2026

Josh Hokit has garnered attention with his polarizing pre-fight antics, but it’s something he feels had been missing in MMA. Hokit turned some heads during media week for UFC 327. Ahead of his heavyweight tilt with Curtis Blaydes, Hokit dressed up as a Mexican gangster and cut some bizarre promos on the mic. He even tried ruffling the feathers of headliners Carlos Ulberg and Jiri Prochazka.

BJ Penn Staff - April 30, 2026

According to UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan, the promotion now values drama more than actual fighting. Tsarukyan is one of the top contenders in his division at present. However, a title shot has so far eluded him.

BJ Penn Staff - April 30, 2026

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev has never experienced a loss in MMA, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. That’s according to his frequent training partner, Darren Till.

Curtis Calhoun - April 29, 2026

Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili was shocked by how good Gina Carano looks in camp ahead of her Ronda Rousey fight. UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey will make her highly anticipated return to Mixed Martial Arts almost a full decade after her star-studded run in the Octagon came to an end. After back-to-back losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, Rousey seemed destined for a permanent retirement, before Most Valuable Promotions knocked on the door and offered her the Gina Carano fight.

Curtis Calhoun - April 29, 2026

Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili was ‘disappointed’ with Arman Tsarukyan’s tactics against Urijah Faber on the RAF mats. Top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan remains unbooked for his next appearance in the Octagon as he potentially awaits the Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje title fight winner. Topuria and Gaethje headline a stacked card at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House lawn, an event which Tsarukyan allegedly nearly partook in.

Dylan Bowker - April 29, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev will defend his UFC middleweight crown against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 and a teammate of the reigning titleholder has offered insight into the match up. Alex Chizov is the combatant in question and the training partner of ‘Borz’ will soon fight a teammate of Khabib Nurmagomedov. Chizov clashes with Gadzhi Rabadanov in the co-main event of  PFL Sioux Falls on May 2nd. When asked how he sees his champion teammate getting it done in that Sean Strickland fight coming up, Chizov said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

Curtis Calhoun - April 29, 2026

Longtime Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer reflected on his latest viral slip-up on the mic at UFC Seattle, when he announced the wrong winner. Over three decades of the UFC’s rise to prominence, longtime Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer is one of the longest-tenured personalities on UFC broadcasts. He made his announcing debut in 1996 at UFC 8, and is known for his own signature ‘Buffer 180’ move while setting the scene for marquee bouts.

Curtis Calhoun - April 29, 2026

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland is the latest big-name star to question Dana White’s current passion for Mixed Martial Arts. Sean Strickland will look to reclaim the UFC middleweight throne when he faces the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 next month in Newark. Ahead of UFC 328, Strickland and Chimaev have traded personal attacks, and fight week is expected to be as eventful as ever between these two longtime adversaries.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 29, 2026

Caio Borralho went looking for Dricus du Plessis in South Africa, and he got a response. Borralho has been calling for a clash with the former UFC Middleweight Champion. So far, there has been little movement, and the Fighting Nerds representative is getting impatient. Borralho took a trip to Johannesburg and trolled du Plessis on social media (via MMAMania).

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 29, 2026

Jake Paul doesn’t believe Dana White is mentally in it when it comes to UFC business. White has long been the face of the top MMA promotion, but some have wondered if he’s as invested in the sport as he once was. White hasn’t been shy in dabbling into other ventures and hobbies, such as Power Slap, bull riding, and gambling.

Harry Kettle - April 29, 2026

UFC welterweight star Carlos Prates believes he can earn a world title opportunity with a win over Jack Della Maddalena. At UFC Perth in just a few days, Carlos Prates will attempt to pick up one of the biggest wins of his career thus far when he faces off against Jack Della Maddalena. Many believe that if he wins, the Brazilian sensation should receive a crack at the UFC welterweight champion, whether it be Islam Makhachev or Ian Machado Garry following their heavily rumored showdown.