MMA News

Josh Evanoff - January 9, 2025

Former UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo believes he’ll stop Song Yadong next month. ‘Triple C’ recently had his return to the cage announced for the main event of UFC Seattle in February. For Henry Cejudo, the bout will end a yearlong hiatus from the octagon. The former two-weight champion was last seen in the cage last February, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili.

Josh Evanoff - January 9, 2025

Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov isn’t worried about Conor McGregor or Paul Hughes. The 26-year-old hasn’t been seen in the Bellator cage since a title defense against Alexandr Shabliy in September. While some expected the challenger to pose some issues for Usman Nurmagomedov, the champion largely dominated. The unanimous decision victory helped set the stage for a heated clash with Paul Hughes later this month.

Josh Evanoff - January 9, 2025

UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns is opening up on his previous meeting with Colby Covington. ‘Durinho’ and ‘Chaos’ have been feuding for a few weeks now. For his part, Colby Covington is fresh off a return to the cage in the main event of UFC Tampa last month. Stepping up on short notice alongside new coach Chael Sonnen, the former interim welterweight champion was handed a third-round stoppage loss against Joaquin Buckley.

Cole Shelton - January 9, 2025

UFC commentator Joe Rogan has walked back on his claim that Jon Jones wants $30 million to fight Tom Aspinall. Rogan sent shockwaves through the MMA community after he said Jones wants $30 million to take the fight. However, on his podcast, the UFC commentator claimed that the rumor wasn’t true.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 9, 2025

An ex-UFC title challenger feels that Alex Pereira would have a good chance at defeating Jon Jones. The future of Jones, who is the reigning UFC heavyweight champion, is uncertain. While UFC CEO Dana White has been trying to book Jones to face interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall, “Bones” has said he needs a big payday to make that fight a reality. The future UFC Hall of Famer has also expressed more interest in facing Pereira.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 9, 2025

Kamaru Usman has sent a clear message to the UFC welterweight division. Usman hasn’t been in action since October 2023 when he took a short notice fight against Khamzat Chimaev. “The Nigerian Nightmare” has said he isn’t 100 percent and is waiting to get healthy before he takes another fight. That hasn’t stopped the likes of Ian Machado Garry from claiming that the former UFC welterweight champion is afraid to step back inside the Octagon.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 9, 2025

Joe Rogan has been informed by Dana White that the rumored $30 million asking price from Jon Jones is fake news. Rogan had taken to his podcast to reveal a rumor he heard that “Bones” was seeking the massive payout to fight Tom Aspinall sometime this year. The UFC color commentator was also under the belief that the promotion might just cash that check to Jones as well.

Harry Kettle - January 9, 2025

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has released mixed martial arts legend Urijah Faber, who many didn’t realize was still on the roster. When it comes to legendary fighters who turned to coaching in mixed martial arts, Urijah Faber is right up there with the best of them. He has achieved some wonderful things in his career, and that goes for both in and outside of the cage. Regardless of whether you liked him or hated him during his prime, there’s no denying what he’s been able to accomplish.

Harry Kettle - January 9, 2025

UFC president Dana White has revealed when he felt the most vulnerable during his many years with the promotion. As we know, Dana White has played a huge role in the success of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. For the last few decades, he has served as the face of the company. Whether things go right or they go wrong, he is there to talk about it and lay it all out on the table.

Cole Shelton - January 8, 2025

Mackenzie Dern is looking to avenge her 2019 loss to Amanda Ribas on Saturday. Dern is set to return to the Octagon in the main event of UFC Vegas 101 in a rematch against Ribas. It’s an intriguing matchup and serves as a rematch of their 2019 fight which Ribas won by decision.

Josh Evanoff - January 8, 2025

According to a recent report, Saudi Arabia’s PIF, and the UFC could announce a boxing league as soon as this month. It’s no secret that longtime UFC CEO Dana White has wanted to break into the boxing business. Having co-promoted Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor in August 2017, the promoter quickly announced plans for Zuffa Boxing. Almost eight years later, it appears that White’s vision could be coming to fruition.

Josh Evanoff - January 8, 2025

It appears that Conor McGregor could meet KSI, and not Logan Paul, in the boxing ring next. ‘The Notorious’ hasn’t been seen in combat sports since a stoppage loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. As fans likely recall, Conor McGregor broke his leg in the final seconds of the first round of that trilogy bout. While the Irishman promised a return to fighting by the end of 2022, that never came. Instead, McGregor has sat on the sidelines.

Josh Evanoff - January 8, 2025

UFC bantamweight contender Payton Talbott wants a fight with Andrew Tate. The 26-year-old is one of the bantamweight division’s fastest-rising stars. Holding an undefeated 9-0 record inside the octagon, Payton Talbott was last seen in June at UFC 303. There, the young prospect scored a stunning first-round knockout win over Yanis Ghemmouri in seconds. A few months removed from that win, Talbott is set to return.

Cole Shelton - January 8, 2025

Amanda Ribas believes she will earn a strawweight title shot with a win over Mackenzie Dern at UFC Vegas 101. Ribas is set to headline the first card of 2025 in a rematch against Dern. It’s a pivotal fight for the strawweight division as the winner will be closing in on a title shot. But, given the fact Ribas has never faced champion Weili Zhang, she thinks she could get a title shot with a win.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 8, 2025

Sean O’Malley has taken a break from social media, and his head coach has explained why. O’Malley is currently recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. It’s an injury that “Suga” was dealing with prior to his UFC Bantamweight Championship loss to Merab Dvalishvili. While some might’ve thought that the time away from training would make O’Malley want to rev up his business on social media, that isn’t the case.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 8, 2025

Michael Bisping feels a move up to the middleweight division would be a tough challenge for Colby Covington. Covington recently stepped up on short notice to fight Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Tampa. Things didn’t go Covington’s way, as he struggled to find consistent success with his grappling. Buckley was able to stuff takedowns and when he did find himself on the mat, it wasn’t for long. Buckley did damage on the feet, leading to a third-round TKO finish after the Octagon-side doctor determined a cut on Covington’s eyelid was too deep for the fight to continue.

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 8, 2025

Fourth-ranked ONE atomweight contender Alyona Rassohyna believes she’s on the cusp of achieving her dream of holding gold in ONE Championship.   The Ukrainian standout battles #2-ranked contender Denice Zamboanga for the ONE Interim Atomweight MMA World Title at ONE Fight Night 27: Tang vs. Abdullaev, this Friday, 10 January, in Bangkok, Thailand, at Lumpinee Stadium. 

Harry Kettle - January 8, 2025

UFC fighter Chris Curtis has revealed the repairs that have been made in his complicated friendship with Sean Strickland. As we know, Sean Strickland is a pretty complex individual. He has done and said plenty of things to frustrate mixed martial arts fans over the years, and he’ll likely continue to do so. For as long as he’s around, he’ll make the masses feel uncomfortable in any way he can.