MMA News

Josh Evanoff - January 21, 2025

UFC commentator Daniel Cormier believes Arman Tsarukyan should still be next for Islam Makhachev. The lightweight champion is fresh off his return to the cage in the main event of UFC 311 on Saturday. Back for the first time since submitting Dustin Poirier last June, Islam Makhachev was set to meet Arman Tsarukyan. The bout was going to be a rematch of their prior meeting in April 2019, which saw the Russian win by unanimous decision.

Cole Shelton - January 21, 2025

Anthony Smith says he asked Hunter Campbell and the UFC if he could compete in Power Slap. Smith has been a professional fighter since 2008 and has had 59 professional fights. He has said he will retire after his next fight, but he also had some interest in going to Power Slap, but the UFC told him no.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 21, 2025

One legendary UFC name believes he knows exactly why Arman Tsarukyan was forced out of the UFC 311 main event. Tsarukyan was set to challenge Islam Makhachev for the UFC Lightweight Championship this past Saturday. This would’ve been a rematch from their 2019 encounter, which saw Makhachev have his hand raised via unanimous decision. As it turned out, Tsarukyan couldn’t even make it to the weigh-ins due to a back injury, and he was replaced by Renato Moicano.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 21, 2025

One former UFC fan favorite feels Paddy Pimblett doesn’t truly believe his recent comments about Renato Moicano post-UFC 311. Moicano recently challenged Islam Makhachev for the UFC Lightweight Championship. The fight was put together very late, as Makhachev’s initial challenger, Arman Tsarukyan, was removed from the card due to a back injury. Moicano, who was scheduled to take on Beneil Dariush, served as the replacement for the UFC 311 main event.

Harry Kettle - January 21, 2025

UFC contender Magomed Ankalaev has issued a warning to UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. As we know, Magomed Ankalaev has been waiting a long time to battle Alex Pereira. It felt, in many ways, like a collision that was inevitable. In his first title fight, Ankalaev was unable to get the job done in a draw with Jan Blachowicz. Now, however, he believes he is ready to dethrone ‘Poatan’ and claim the gold at UFC 313.

Harry Kettle - January 21, 2025

UFC fighter Jamahal Hill has broken his social media silence following his loss to Jiri Prochazka at UFC 311. Last weekend, Jamahal Hill fell short against Jiri Prochazka. In what proved to be a really competitive fight, Hill was dropped multiple times before eventually being finished in the third by Prochazka. Despite that, many gave Jamahal credit for the manner in which he conducted himself in the Octagon.

Harry Kettle - January 21, 2025

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has shared graphic footage of his pre-UFC 311 leg injury. Last weekend, Merab Dvalishvili successfully retained the UFC bantamweight championship. He did so in an immensely entertaining fight against Umar Nurmagomedov, in a contest that many expected Nurmagomedov to win. In the end, though, Dvalishvili did more than enough to get himself over the finish line.

Harry Kettle - January 21, 2025

Former MMA fighter Jake Shields has provided a positive update regarding the health of his longtime friend Nick Diaz. As we know, Nick Diaz is a mixed martial arts legend. He may not be known as one of the greatest of all time, but he’s still an exceptional talent who had some incredible moments in his career. Recently, he was scheduled to return against Vicente Luque – only for the fight to be pulled.

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 20, 2025

British striker Freddie Haggerty wants to start 2025 the same way he finished 2024 – with another knockout win.   The 20-year-old meets Colombian newcomer Jordan Estupinan at ONE 170 on Friday, January 24, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s sold-out Impact Arena in flyweight Muay Thai action.

Cole Shelton - January 20, 2025

Alex Pereira says he requested to fight Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March. Pereira originally said he wanted to take some time off, but after being back in the gym he said he called the UFC to request the fight. He says he was never avoiding Ankalaev so he made it clear that he asked the UFC for the fight.

Josh Evanoff - January 20, 2025

UFC Hall of Famers Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen can’t wait to coach The Ultimate Fighter. It’s no secret that the UFC’s long-running reality show has seen better days. Since the creation of the Dana White Contender Series in 2017, The Ultimate Fighter has taken a bit of a backseat. While the show has continued to run with the likes of Conor McGregor as coaches, ratings have badly declined.

Josh Evanoff - January 20, 2025

UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan is ready to do whatever it takes to earn a title shot. The Armenian fighter was set to return to the octagon in the main event of UFC 311 over the weekend. Back for the first time since scoring a decision win over Charles Oliveira last April, Arman Tsarukyan was set to meet Islam Makhachev. Six years after the Russian scored a close decision win, the two were set to run it back for lightweight gold.

BJ Penn Staff - January 20, 2025

Merab Dvalishvili delivered one of the best performances of his career at UFC 311, defending the bantamweight title with an impressive decision victory over Umar Nurmagomedov. However, he nearly didn’t make it to the Octagon at all. In the wake of UFC 311, Dvalishvili opened up on an injury he suffered before the fight. He sustained a bad cut on his shin in training, and he might not have been cleared to compete at all had he not found a way to fool a representative from the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 20, 2025

Kamaru Usman doesn’t believe that Islam Makhachev should hesitate to fight Belal Muhammad. Makhachev recently set a new record for the most successful UFC lightweight title defenses in the promotion’s history. With how dominant he has been at 155 pounds, many believe it’s only a matter of time before he tries his hand at welterweight. Makhachev has even said that his dream is to become a two-division UFC champion.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 20, 2025

Henry Cejudo is giving Merab Dvalishvili the ultimate praise following UFC 311. Dvalishvili opened a lot of eyes when his first UFC Bantamweight Championship defense was over. The Georgian champion put his gold at stake against the previously unbeaten Umar Nurmagomedov. While the challenger had a strong start in the fight, it was Dvalishvili who proved to have the superior conditioning and his grappling was on point against tough opposition. Dvalishvili walked out of the Intuit Dome with his 135-pound gold secured.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 20, 2025

Nate Diaz roasted Conor McGregor, Jake Paul, and Logan Paul during Inauguration Day. Donald Trump is being sworn back in as President of the United States today. Several big names in the combat sports and entertainment world will be present. That includes UFC CEO Dana White.

Harry Kettle - January 20, 2025

UFC sensation Jiri Prochazka has hit back at those who continue to criticize his style following his win at UFC 311. Last weekend, Jiri Prochazka made a real statement against Jamahal Hill. He was able to get back in the win column in style, finishing Hill in the third round of their intense light heavyweight encounter at UFC 311.

Harry Kettle - January 20, 2025

UFC star Reinier de Ridder has called out a few big names following his sophomore triumph at UFC 311 last weekend. So far, so good for Reinier de Ridder in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. After picking up a win and a finish in his debut with the company, de Ridder turned right around and submitted Kevin Holland in the first round at UFC 311 last weekend. It was a statement win, to say the least, even if Holland put in a poor performance.