MMA News

Harry Kettle - January 3, 2025

UFC 311 is right around the corner as we get ready for two blockbuster championship fights in California. Event: UFC 311: Makhachev vs Tsarukyan 2 Date: Saturday, 18th January 2025 Location: Intuit Dome (Inglewood, California) Broadcast: ESPN+ PPV, ESPN2, ESPN+ (10pm EST main card)

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 2, 2025

January’s huge ONE 170 event has taken an early hit, but the promotion has adapted quickly to alter a high-stakes affair.   Second-ranked bantamweight Muay Thai contender Nico Carrillo was set to collide with reigning king Superlek Kiatmoo9 for the belt. But the Thai superstar was forced to withdraw due to injury.  

Cole Shelton - January 2, 2025

Umar Nurmagomedov believes he will finish Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311. Nuramgomedov is set to challenge Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title in a highly-anticipated matchup. It’s a fight many fans are looking forward to, and Nurmagomedov enters the bout with plenty of confidence, as he believes he won’t just win, but will finish Dvalshvili.

Josh Evanoff - January 2, 2025

UFC Mexico City has reportedly added a middleweight tilt between Kelvin Gastelum and Joe Pyfer. It’s been a rough few years for the 33-year-old former title challenger. He last competed at UFC Saudi Arabia in June, against Daniel Rodriguez. While the bout was initially set for welterweight, the fight was changed to a middleweight contest during fight week, after Kelvin Gastelum let the company know he couldn’t make 170 pounds.

Josh Evanoff - January 2, 2025

Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov seems eager to revive his rivalry with Irish MMA. ‘The Eagle’ is retired as a fighter these days but serves as a coach for several high-profile fighters. One of those fighters is his cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov. The 26-year-old Bellator champion hasn’t been seen since a decision win over Alexandr Shabliy in September, but he’s set to return to the cage later this month.

Cole Shelton - January 2, 2025

Eddie Alvarez is frustrated with how Michael Chandler’s UFC tenure has gone. Alvarez and Chander fought twice in Bellator with both fighters winning a fight. Alvarez went on to become a UFC champ, while Chandler was the Bellator champ, but since joining the UFC, ‘Iron’ has had his struggles.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 2, 2025

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s longtime manager believes there is only one fighter who can match “The Eagle’s” undefeated MMA run. Nurmagomedov ended his pro MMA career with a perfect record of 29-0. He also walked away from pro MMA competition as the reigning UFC lightweight champion. Retiring as an undefeated champion is no small task in the world of MMA, but is there a chance someone can match what Khabib was able to accomplish?

Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 2, 2025

Chael Sonnen believes that 2025 will mark the final year in the historic career of Jon Jones. Jones is widely regarded as the most dominant fighter throughout MMA history. His lone defeat has been heavily debated, as it was a disqualification loss to Matt Hamill back in 2009. “Bones” has reigned as both the light heavyweight and heavyweight champion, and many are wondering when the 37-year-old legend will call it a career.

Harry Kettle - January 2, 2025

UFC star Ian Machado Garry has offered to serve as the backup fighter for Belal Muhammad vs Shavkat Rakhmonov. Ian Machado Garry is one of the most exciting welterweight fighters in the world. We all know that to be true, even if some people are still in a bit of denial. He has an incredible amount of potential and in his last outing against Shavkat Rakhmonov, he pushed his former training partner to the limit before ultimately coming up short on the scorecards.

Harry Kettle - January 2, 2025

UFC president Dana White’s prized bull, Twisted Steel, has sadly passed away. As we know, Dana White has many hobbies and interests outside the realm of mixed martial arts. He likes to keep himself busy, and that includes investing in a variety of other things. Some are sports-related and some aren’t, but perhaps the most fascinating was his purchase of a prized bull called Twisted Steel.

Harry Kettle - January 2, 2025

Jamahal Hill has gone after Michael Johnson for his comments regarding his recent run-in with Alex Pereira. Next weekend, Jamahal Hill will attempt to get back to winning ways. He’ll do so by facing off against Jiri Prochazka, a fellow top light heavyweight contender. Of course, both men are former world champions at 205 pounds, and both had to relinquish the belt due to injury. Another thing they have in common is that they’ve both been knocked out by Alex Pereira.

Harry Kettle - January 2, 2025

Ali Abdelaziz has said that he believes Islam Makhachev is capable of defeating Alex Pereira in a light heavyweight fight. As we know, Islam Makhachev is one of the most dominant champions in mixed martial arts. Next weekend at UFC 311, he’ll put his UFC lightweight championship on the line once again when he locks horns with top contender Arman Tsarukyan.

Josh Evanoff - January 1, 2025

Themba Gorimbo has revealed several of his cousins celebrated his loss to Vicente Luque at UFC 310. ‘The Answer’ is fresh off his return to the cage last month in Las Vegas. Riding a four-fight winning streak, Themba Gorimbo stepped up on short notice to face Vicente Luque. ‘The Silent Assassin’ was initially expected to face Nick Diaz at UFC 310, but the former Strikeforce champion withdrew.

Josh Evanoff - January 1, 2025

Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley wants to fight in Japan. ‘Sugar’ hasn’t been seen in the cage since his title defense against Merab Dvalishvili in September. Just over a year after becoming champion after beating Aljamain Sterling, Sean O’Malley’s title reign came to an end. ‘The Machine’ dominated in the UFC 306 headliner, ultimately earning a unanimous decision.

Josh Evanoff - January 1, 2025

Former UFC women’s strawweight contender Paige VanZant is returning to MMA with Global Fight League. ‘12 Gauge’ has had a rocky last few years. Once a beloved prospect who had Dana White’s approval, the young Paige VanZant rattled off three straight wins to face Rose Namajunas in December 2015. Sadly for the young strawweight, that fight with ‘Thug Rose’ was the end of her time at the top.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 31, 2024

Former ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Demetrious Johnson keeps a keen eye on all the action in ONE Championship. As a master of his craft, the American legend knows greatness when he sees it. That’s why he holds two-sport, two-division ONE World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 in such high regard. Johnson’s admiration was only solidified after witnessing Superlek’s incredible performance in the main event of ONE 168 this past September.

Josh Evanoff - December 31, 2024

Bellator featherweight contender Aaron Pico is officially a free agent. The 28-year-old featherweight has had an interesting career since signing with Scott Coker a decade ago. At just 20 years old, Aaron Pico made his professional debut on the Bellator 180 main card in June 2017. Despite a lot of pre-fight hype, Zach Freeman wound up scoring a first-round submission win over the prospect.

Josh Evanoff - December 31, 2024

UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington is still unhappy with his loss to Joaquin Buckley. ‘Chaos’ returned to the octagon in the main event of UFC Tampa earlier this month. Back for the first time since a loss to Leon Edwards last December, Colby Covington headed to the cage on short notice. After Ian Machado Garry was pulled to face Shavkat Rakhmonov, the former interim champion stepped up to face Joaquin Buckley.