MMA News
WATCH | UFC champ Alex Pereira slugs it out with heavyweight boxer
BJ Penn Staff - January 14, 2025
UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira got all he could handle in a recent sparring session with heavyweight boxer Igor Adiel Macedo. You can watch the pair go toe-to-toe below. As you can see, they were not holding back much at all.
Akbar Abdullaev planning snatch and grab of Featherweight MMA World Title at ONE Fight Night 27
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 14, 2025
Fifth-ranked featherweight MMA contender Akbar Abdullaev is looking to pull off the heist of the year at ONE Fight Night 27. “Bakal” challenges ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion Tang Kai this Friday, January 10. The pair meet in the main event inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Javier Mendez insists Islam Makhachev isn't overlooking Arman Tsarukyan prior to UFC 311: "We got a hell of a challenge in front of us'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 14, 2025
American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez isn’t overlooking Arman Tsarukyan, but he thinks Islam Makhachev will further prove just how good he is at UFC 311. Makhachev will put his UFC Lightweight Championship at stake when he collides with Tsarukyan a second time. Makhachev scored a unanimous decision victory over Tsarukyan in their first meeting back in 2019. While that fight was a competitive three-round grappling exchange, what could the rematch have in store?
Aljamain Sterling thinks Umar Nurmagomedov is unproven, expects Merab Dvalishvili to shut doubters up at UFC 311
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 14, 2025
Aljamain Sterling believes Merab Dvalishvili will silence the doubters once his UFC 311 clash with Umar Nurmagomedov has come to a close. Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov are set to clash this Saturday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA. The UFC Bantamweight Championship will be at stake, and Dvalishvili is in search of his first successful title defense. A win for Nurmagomedov would mark his first UFC title victory.
What's next for Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas after UFC Vegas 101?
Cole Shelton - January 14, 2025
The UFC opened up 2025 with a strawweight main event as Mackenzie Dern took on Amanda Ribas on Saturday at UFC Vegas 101. The fight served as a rematch of their 2019 fight. Dern entered the fight coming off a decision win over Loopy Godinez which snapped her two-fight losing streak. Ribas, meanwhile, was coming off a decision loss to Rose Namajunas at flyweight as she dropped back down to 115lbs.
Islam Makhachev reveals he wanted to step in for Khabib Nurmagomedov to fight Tony Ferguson
Harry Kettle - January 14, 2025
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has revealed that he previously wanted to step in for Khabib Nurmagomedov and fight Tony Ferguson. Right now, Islam Makhachev is easily one of the most impressive fighters in mixed martial arts. In fact, some would argue he’s the pound for pound best. This weekend, he’ll put that on the line – alongside his belt – when he defends against Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC 311.
Jiri Prochazka predicts getting a third crack at Alex Pereira
Harry Kettle - January 14, 2025
UFC star Jiri Prochazka believes he will eventually get a third opportunity to fight UFC champion Alex Pereira. Over the years, Jiri Prochazka has made a career out of proving people wrong. While he’s always been exceptionally talented, he has an unorthodox style that isn’t to everyone’s taste. Since arriving in the UFC, it’s been more of the same, with Jiri becoming UFC light heavyweight champion pretty quickly.
Eddie Alvarez teases Bellator following dissolution of the brand
Harry Kettle - January 14, 2025
MMA veteran Eddie Alvarez has teased Bellator after the branding of the promotion was reportedly cut by PFL. As we know, Eddie Alvarez has been there and done it all in mixed martial arts. He’s won belts in pretty much every promotion he’s performed in, and he’s put on incredible fights along the way. Alas, we likely wouldn’t have known a whole lot about him if it wasn’t for his initial run in Bellator.
Arman Tsarukyan already targeting money fights ahead of UFC 311 clash with Islam Makhachev: "Just business"
Josh Evanoff - January 13, 2025
Ahead of his UFC title fight against Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan is thinking all about the money. The 28-year-old was last seen in the cage against Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April. Riding a three-fight winning streak heading into the event, Arman Tsarukyan scored an impressive decision win over the former champion. In the process, he helped set the stage for a long-awaited rematch with Islam Makhachev.
Tom Aspinall offers promising update on long-awaited clash against Jon Jones: "I've said yes to the fight"
Josh Evanoff - January 13, 2025
Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has agreed to fight Jon Jones later this year. The British star last appeared in the octagon at UFC 304 in Manchester last summer. Back for his first title defense of interim gold, Tom Aspinall scored a blistering first-round knockout win over Curtis Blaydes. Following the fight, he called for a long-awaited title unification bout with Jon Jones. Aspinall famously won the interim title with ‘Bones’ out due to injury in late 2023.
Colby Covington still confident he will be a UFC champion: "We’re going to do the unthinkable"
Cole Shelton - January 13, 2025
Colby Covington still believes he will be the undisputed UFC champion despite being on a two-fight losing streak. Covington is coming off a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley back in December at UFC Tampa. It was a disappointing loss and many thought it ended his time as a legit title contender. However, ‘Chaos’ is confident he has all the tools to be the champ and believes the best of his career is yet to come.
Akbar Abdullaev vs. Tang Kai: Why the MMA world needs an immediate rematch
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 13, 2025
Fifth-ranked ONE featherweight MMA star Akbar Abdullaev is a king without a crown, a ruler with no throne. The undefeated phenom dominated reigning ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion Tang Kai at ONE Fight Night 27 this past Friday, January 10. Abdullaev took the Chinese star to hell and back before securing a fifth-round TKO inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals when he'll stop coaching: 'I'm tired of all this'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 13, 2025
Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t plan on coaching for much longer. Nurmagomedov has prepared UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev for some pivotal bouts. This Saturday night will be no exception, as Makhachev will put his gold at stake against Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC 311. “The Eagle” will be in Makhachev’s corner on fight night.
Michael Chandler lashes out over Khabib Nurmagomedov plane controversy
Harry Kettle - January 13, 2025
UFC star Michael Chandler has lashed out over Khabib Nurmagomedov’s recent issue with regards to being removed from a plane. Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the most respected fighters in the history of mixed martial arts. In addition to being a dominant UFC lightweight champion, he also managed to retire with an unbeaten record of 29-0. In a sport like this, that kind of feat is practically unheard of.
Abdul Razak Alhassan provides health update following nasty KO loss
Harry Kettle - January 13, 2025
Abdul Razak Alhassan has provided an update on his health following his nasty knockout loss to Cesar Almeida. As many fans know, Abdul Razak Alhassan is always ready to throw hands. He’s willing to get in there and make it a fire fight if he has to, and more often than not, that’s what happens. Sometimes it goes his way and sometimes it doesn’t, but he goes out there and puts it all on the line in the name of entertaining the masses.
Colby Covington mocks Khabib Nurmagomedov after flight issue
Harry Kettle - January 13, 2025
UFC star Colby Covington has mocked Khabib Nurmagomedov after the latter was recently escorted off a plane for apparent racial profiling. As we know, Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the most well-respected mixed martial artists of all time. That probably has something to do with the fact that he’s also one of the greatest fighters of all time. He was the UFC lightweight champion, he beat some legends of the sport, and he also retired with an unbeaten 29-0 record. As far as careers go in combat sports, it doesn’t get a whole lot better than that.
UFC legends Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya train together
Harry Kettle - January 13, 2025
UFC icons Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya trained together recently, for what seems to be the first time ever. As we know, Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker are two of the greatest middleweights of all time. Some may view that as an overstatement, but it really isn’t. Whittaker is a former champion and has been able to run through many of the other top middleweights of his generation. Adesanya, meanwhile, is one of the best champions of his era, and is a two-time title holder at 185 pounds.
Usman Nurmagomedov says Paul Hughes 'not a bad guy,' but vows to retain Bellator championship
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 12, 2025
Usman Nurmagomedov doesn’t dislike Paul Hughes, but that won’t stop him from guaranteeing victory. Nurmagomedov is set to put his Bellator Bantamweight Championship at stake against Hughes on January 25th. The title fight will headline Bellator Champions Series: Road to Dubai. Nurmagomedov is not only looking to keep his 155-pound gold, but he’s also hoping to remain undefeated in his pro MMA career.