MMA News

Cole Shelton - December 16, 2025

Tom Aspinall has taken aim at Ciryl Gane as their feud continues to take shape. Aspinall was defending his heavyweight title for the first time at UFC 321 back in October against Gane. It was a highly anticipated fight, and early on, Gane was having success. However, Gane poked Aspinall in both of his eyes, and the champ said he couldn’t see, so the fight was ruled a No Contest.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 16, 2025

Nine months removed from his first kickboxing loss, Tawanchai PK Saenchai carries unfinished business back into the ring. The ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion refuses to let one setback derail his two-sport dream. The 26-year-old Thai superstar faces Chinese standout Liu Mengyang in featherweight kickboxing at ONE Friday Fights 137 on December 19, inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The main event clash represents his first kickboxing appearance since former K-1 Champion Masaaki Noiri finished him in the third round at ONE 172 in Saitama, Japan.

Curtis Calhoun - December 16, 2025

Former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad accused Islam Makhachev of cherry picking opponents ahead of his first title defense. Islam Makhachev won a second UFC title by defeating Jack Della Maddalena by unanimous decision at UFC 322 last month. Makhachev, just months after vacating the lightweight belt, put on one of the most dominant performances of his career to dethrone Maddalena and win the welterweight championship.

Curtis Calhoun - December 16, 2025

UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen had a similar run-in with Francis Ngannou that UFC CEO Dana White recently alleged. Despite being two years removed from their nasty split, UFC CEO Dana White and former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou remain at odds.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 16, 2025

A former UFC title contender isn’t sold on Conor McGregor fighting on the White House card. McGregor hasn’t fought since 2021, yet UFC continues to use him to market the promotion’s debut on Paramount+. The “Notorious” one is the biggest name to ever compete in UFC and he has vowed to fight again. It hasn’t happened since he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier in their trilogy fight.

Harry Kettle - December 16, 2025

Arman Tsarukyan has spoken about what he would like to do once his mixed martial arts career comes to an end. Right now, Arman Tsarukyan is in a tricky spot. Despite demolishing Dan Hooker in their UFC Qatar main event, Arman didn’t get the call to be part of the UFC 324 main event for the interim UFC lightweight championship. Instead, that went to Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje, who will compete for the belt next month.

Harry Kettle - December 16, 2025

UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has spoken openly about what he misses from his mixed martial arts career. These days, Daniel Cormier is best known for commentating on fights and breaking down everything MMA and boxing related on his podcast with Chael Sonnen. Back in the day, though, he was one of the best fighters of his generation, standing tall as a two-weight world champion in the UFC.

Dylan Bowker - December 15, 2025

Ailin Perez and Macy Chiasson will throw down in Q1 of 2026, with both looking to further climb up the hierarchy of 135 pounds in the UFC. This bantamweight bout bolsters UFC Mexico, which transpires on February 28th in Mexico City. This UFC Fight Night offering at Arena CDMX in Mexico City features a main event attraction with former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno taking on surging contender Asu Almabayev.

Dylan Bowker - December 15, 2025

Justin Gaethje realizes that he is authoring the final chapters of his story as a competitive fighter heading into the new year, but he has navigated a plan to go on a 2026 run that will dovetail his narrative together seamlessly. During a video address posted to his personal YouTube channel ahead of his interim 155-pound title bout against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 in January 2026, with an excerpt of the video footage posted to X account @RedCorner_MMA, Gaethje said,

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 15, 2025

Four straight victories put Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai within striking distance of redemption. The Thai southpaw believes one more statement performance separates him from the life-changing contract he desperately wants. The 27-year-old two-division Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion meets PTT Apichart Farm in bantamweight Muay Thai at ONE Friday Fights 137 on December 19 inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The co-main event represents everything at stake for a fighter who previously competed on ONE’s global stage.

Curtis Calhoun - December 15, 2025

UFC welterweight and former Bellator champion Yaroslav Amosov is tired of hearing fighters compare their career to war. Former Bellator welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov passed his first UFC test with flying colors in a dominant win at UFC Vegas 112 last weekend.

Cole Shelton - December 15, 2025

The UFC held its final card of 2025 on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday. In the main event, a pivotal flyweight bout went down as Manel Kape took on Brandon Royval in a potential No. 1 contender fight. Entering the bout, Kape was riding a two-fight winning streak and was coming off a TKO win over Asu Almabayev. Royval, meanwhile, was coming off a decision loss to Joshua Van back in June.

Curtis Calhoun - December 15, 2025

Former UFC flyweight title challenger Kyoji Horiguchi could secure another shot at the belt with a win in his upcoming fight. UFC flyweight contender Kyoji Horiguchi’s return to the promotion has greatly exceeded the expectations of fans and pundits. After finding success in Rizin and Bellator following an up-and-down first UFC stint, the UFC gave Horiguchi another opportunity to make a run at the title, winning his promotional return earlier this year at UFC Qatar.

Curtis Calhoun - December 15, 2025

One of the UFC’s hottest feuds might be concluding, with recent remarks by Ilia Topuria about Paddy Pimblett. Ilia Topuria’s ongoing hiatus from competition resulted in the UFC booking an interim lightweight title fight between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 next month. As Topuria deals with issues away from the Octagon, Pimblett and Gaethje will fight to face Topuria in the undisputed lightweight titleholder’s return to the Octagon.

Curtis Calhoun - December 15, 2025

UFC featherweight star Giga Chikadze addressed retirement speculation after a brutal knockout loss at UFC Vegas 112 to continue his ongoing skid. Once on the cusp of a UFC featherweight title shot, Giga Chikadze’s struggles in the Octagon continued brutally at UFC Vegas 112 last Saturday.

Cole Shelton - December 15, 2025

Former UFC title challenger Darren Till is looking to re-engage some of his past rivalries. Till has taken up boxing since his UFC departure and has had a lot of success, as he’s become the Misfits bridgerweight champion. He won the inaugural belt with a KO win over Luke Rockhold, which was a statement win for Till.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 15, 2025

Michael Bisping has had his issues with Jake Paul, but he doesn’t want to see “The Problem Child” get hurt against Anthony Joshua. Paul is scheduled to collide with Joshua in a heavyweight boxing match scheduled for eight rounds. This will be a professional bout, which has some concerned for Paul ahead of Friday. You can count Bisping, a UFC Hall of Famer, as one of those names who is worried.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 15, 2025

When Ilia Topuria revealed that personal matters would be keeping him away from the UFC Octagon, few could’ve anticipated the details that were inevitably unveiled. Topuria appeared to be a prime candidate to headline UFC’s debut show on Paramount+ on Jan. 24, but that won’t be the case. Instead, Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje will collide with the interim UFC Lightweight Championship at stake. While the winner figures to get an undisputed title fight against Topuria, there’s no telling how long the main 155-pound champion will be out of action.