MMA News

Josh Evanoff - January 7, 2025

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has opened up on his decision to join the GFL. The 42-year-old former champion famously retired following a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou in early 2019. While Cain Velasquez hoped to have a successful stint in the WWE, injuries and poor booking led to his release in early 2020. Less than two years later, the former UFC champion had his life upended by a first-degree attempted murder charge.

Josh Evanoff - January 7, 2025

Former UFC lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee has opened up on his MMA comeback. ‘The Motown Phenom’ famously retired from fighting following a first-round submission loss to Rinat Fakhretdinov in July 2023. Just one fight into his second stint with the UFC, Kevin Lee decided to hang up the gloves for good. However, like many, many retirements in MMA, this one didn’t stick. Just months after retiring, Lee announced plans for a comeback.

Josh Evanoff - January 7, 2025

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has opened up on his near-brawl with Nate Diaz. The two stars were in Las Vegas for last month’s UFC 311 presser. In the pay-per-view headliner next month in Los Angeles, Islam Makhachev will meet rising contender Arman Tsarukyan. The Russian famously handed the young lightweight a unanimous decision loss in Saint Petersburg back in 2019. However, tensions weren’t high between Makhachev and his next title challenger at the press conference.

Cole Shelton - January 7, 2025

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has shared his prediction for a heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. Jones vs Aspinall would be one of the biggest fights to make this year and many hope it will happen. UFC CEO Dana White has said he thinks the fight will happen, and if it does, many would be torn on who would win.

Harry Kettle - January 7, 2025

UFC star Movsar Evloev has made it clear that he wants to hunt down Ilia Topuria – regardless of the weight class. Over the course of the last few years, Movsar Evloev has emerged as one of the primary contenders in the featherweight division. Following his win over Aljamain Sterling recently, the expectation is that he’ll receive a title shot sooner rather than later.

Harry Kettle - January 7, 2025

UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili has been tipped to become the greatest bantamweight all of time sooner rather than later. As we know, Merab Dvalishvili is the current king of the bantamweight division. We also know that 135 pounds is one of the most competitive weight classes in all of mixed martial arts, and that’s been the case for a long time now in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As a result of that, we haven’t really seen too many people dominate the division in comparison to others.

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 7, 2025

Limb-different striking sensation Jake Peacock takes on Shinji Suzuki inside Qatar’s Lusail Sports Arena on Thursday, February 20, in a bantamweight Muay Thai showdown at ONE 171: Qatar.  Peacock entered the fray at ONE Friday Fights 58 last April. The Road to ONE: Canada winner wowed onlookers with a three-round showcase against Kohei Shinjo, receiving many plaudits across social media.  

Harry Kettle - January 7, 2025

UFC star Michael Chandler’s spot in the UFC lightweight rankings has been questioned by Grant Dawson. As we know, Michael Chandler is a real “do or die” kind of fighter. He goes out there and puts on a show regardless of who he’s up against, and he proved that once again in his rematch with Charles Oliveira.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 7, 2025

One ex-UFC titleholder believes that Jon Jones may have a bit of fear going into a potential mega fight with Tom Aspinall. Many fans and experts agree that the biggest fight that can be made in the UFC is a heavyweight title unification bout between Jones and Aspinall. “Bones” is the reigning champion with one successful title defense. Aspinall holds the interim gold and he also has a successful defense. Something has got to give at heavyweight, and UFC CEO Dana White has guaranteed that he will make Jones vs. Aspinall a reality this year.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 7, 2025

Bo Nickal believes that his wrestling is a cut above Khamzat Chimaev’s. Nickal’s name has been in the spotlight despite only having seven pro MMA fights. Some fans believe a showdown with Chimaev is inevitable, although others are skeptical following Nickal’s recent showing against Paul Craig at UFC 309 back in November. There is still time for Nickal to grow in the sport of MMA, but Chimaev is already on the cusp of championship gold.

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 7, 2025

Reigning ONE Atomweight MMA World Champion Stamp Fairtex was ready for a landmark year in 2024. That was up until injury struck and broke the Thai queen’s heart.   Stamp will watch as #2-ranked contender Denice Zamboanga and #4-ranked contender Alyona Rassohyna vie to become the interim champ at ONE Fight Night 27: Tang vs. Abdullaev this Friday, January 10, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.  

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 6, 2025

Two-weight ONE MMA World Champion Anatoly Malykhin is out for revenge in 2025.   The Russian knockout artist suffered the first loss of his professional MMA career this past November at ONE 169. He lost his heavyweight crown by unanimous decision to “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane. 

Josh Evanoff - January 6, 2025

UFC CEO Dana White has joined Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta. It’s no secret that the 55-year-old promoter has been attempting to expand his business portfolio lately. After over two decades as the face of the UFC, Dana White founded the slap-fighting league ‘PowerSlap’ in early 2023. While that promotion has largely received negative reviews, he has no plans of shutting down the league.

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 6, 2025

ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion Tang Kai is a renowned finisher with five stoppages in eight promotional showings. But the Chinese terror wants to continue his exceptional handiwork at ONE Fight Night 27.  Tang meets #5-ranked featherweight MMA contender Akbar Abdullaev in the main event on Friday, January 10, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.  

Josh Evanoff - January 6, 2025

A bout between bantamweight contenders Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong is being targeted for UFC Seattle. ‘Triple C’ hasn’t been seen since his clash with Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298 last February. The bout was just Henry Cejudo’s second since ending his retirement the previous year to face Aljamain Sterling. Sadly for the former two-weight champion, ‘The Machine’ largely dominated down the stretch of their bantamweight contest to secure a decision win.

Josh Evanoff - January 6, 2025

Over eight years removed from UFC 205, Eddie Alvarez is still frustrated by his loss to Conor McGregor. ‘The Underground King’ was the b-side of one of the UFC’s biggest pay-per-views ever in November 2016. Months removed from a knockout win over Rafael dos Anjos to win lightweight gold, Eddie Alvarez met Conor McGregor. ‘The Notorious’ was in the midst of his sensational run, the reigning featherweight champion and fresh off a win over Nate Diaz.

Cole Shelton - January 6, 2025

Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans will soon be fighting one another again. Jackson and Evans fought back in May of 2010 at UFC 114 with Evans winning by decision. The two were linked to fighting each other years before it came to fruition. After the bout, many thought a rematch would happen, but it never happened.

Cole Shelton - January 6, 2025

Colby Covington believes he would retire Gilbert Burns if the two fight next. Covington called out Burns after the Brazilian leaked the phone number of his head coach Chael Sonnen. Covington wasn’t happy with the Brazilian and now he continues to pursue the fight.