MMA News

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 5, 2026

UFC CEO Dana White is no longer involved with fighter contracts, and he’s quite happy about it. While the public widely views White as the end-all and be-all of UFC, he isn’t nearly as hands-on with certain aspects as he once was. White insists it’s all by his choice, especially when it comes to the negotiating table with athletes.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 5, 2026

Jiri Prochazka goes the extra mile with his unconventional training methods before UFC fights, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Prochazka is known to find extreme ways to prepare for battle and few can argue with the results. He has captured world titles for both UFC and RIZIN. Prochazka will have a chance to become a two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion when he meets Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327 on April 11.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 5, 2026

Tresean Gore is putting his past habits behind him amid a sensational comeback win at UFC Vegas 115. Gore had a tall task in front of him when he shared the Octagon with Azamat Bekoev this past Saturday. While Bekoev got off to a strong start, it was Gore who was able to turn the tables. In the third round, “Mr. Vicious” was able to lock in a guillotine choke for the come-from-behind submission finish.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 5, 2026

Former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub doubts Nate Diaz will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on his own merit. Diaz is one of MMA’s most beloved figures. The Stockton native has what most would call a warrior’s record, but his personality and big fight moments have endeared him to combat sports fans worldwide. His two classic battles with Conor McGregor put Diaz over the top in terms of mainstream popularity, and he has kept that momentum to this day.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 5, 2026

Renato Moicano wants to settle things with Brian Ortega following his UFC Vegas 115 victory. Moicano was in action this past Saturday in hopes of avoiding a three-fight skid. To do so, he needed to get past Chris Duncan, who was in search of his fourth straight victory. In the second stanza, Moicano locked in a rear-naked choke to secure the submission finish. It’s his first victory since 2024.

Curtis Calhoun - April 3, 2026

UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey doubled down on her fiery remarks about her former promotion ahead of her MMA comeback. Ronda Rousey is weeks away from her first Mixed Martial Arts fight in ten years, as she prepares to face women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano in a Most Valuable Promotions headliner. This will mark Rousey’s first fight since back-to-back losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes in the UFC Octagon.

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 3, 2026

Tomyamkoong Bhumjaithai is riding a two-fight winning streak into the biggest night of his career. The 21-year-old PK Saenchai Muaythaigym fighter headlines ONE Friday Fights 149 on April 3 against Moldovan debutant Bejenuta Maximus in flyweight Muay Thai, live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Tomyamkoong’s promotional journey started with adversity. Two consecutive losses forced him to go back to the drawing board and overhaul his game before he found his footing. The rebuild paid off with a pair of wins, the latest a devastating one-punch knockout of Watcharaphon Singha Mawynn that announced him as a genuine contract threat.

Curtis Calhoun - April 3, 2026

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka reclaiming gold at UFC 327 could present problems, according to a top analyst. One of the most intriguing fights of the year takes place in the UFC 327 headliner, as Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg square off in a vacant light heavyweight title fight. The booking came to fruition after Alex Pereira vacated the title to make the full-time move to the heavyweight division.

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 3, 2026

Bejenuta “Gladiator” Maximus arrives at ONE Friday Fights 149 on April 3 with a point to prove. The 24-year-old Moldovan makes his ONE debut in the flyweight Muay Thai main event against Tomyamkoong Bhumjaithai at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Maximus carries a 14-3 professional record built across European tournaments and time spent training in Thailand. He represents Team Mehdi Zatout and Fight Club Garuda, and describes his style as deliberately uncomfortable for Thai fighters — built on post-Soviet boxing principles, long-limbed angles, and constant movement.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 3, 2026

Kamaru Usman believes Israel Adesanya still has some juice left in the tank. Adesanya suffered his fourth straight loss in the UFC Seattle main event on March 28. Despite a strong start, “The Last Stylebender” was stopped by Joe Pyfer via second-round TKO.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 3, 2026

BKFC boss David Feldman claims he had a big fight in mind for Mike Perry before “Platinum” accepted an MMA fight with Nate Diaz. Most Valuable Promotions turned some heads with the announcement that Diaz vs. Perry will be featured on the undercard of Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano on May 16.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 3, 2026

The UFC Vegas 115 weigh-ins have concluded, and while the main event is official, there were a couple of hiccups on Friday. Renato Moicano and Chris Duncan both clocked in at 156 pounds, making their lightweight headliner official for Saturday. Co-headliners Virna Jandiroba and Tabatha Ricci also reached their targets. Jandiroba weighed in at 116 pounds, while Ricci was a half pound lighter.

BJ Penn Staff - April 3, 2026

Conor McGregor continues to be the most drug-tested fighter in the UFC, despite not fighting in nearly five years. The UFC’s official drug testing partner routinely tests fighters at random, often showing up to gyms and homes unexpectedly — though seemingly not as relentlessly as they did when the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) was running the show.

BJ Penn Staff - April 3, 2026

UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan is in hot water — again. Tsarukyan is one of the top contenders in his division, thanks to recent wins over Dan Hooker and Charles Oliveira. Unfortunately, a crack at the lightweight title has continued to elude him.

Dylan Bowker - April 2, 2026

Song Yadong had a hotly contested bout in the first quarter of 2026 with Sean O’Malley and while he came out on the losing end, a prior opponent of the Chinese combatant felt like he should have received the nod against ‘Suga’ at UFC 324. The referenced mixed martial artist is Julio Arce who discussed the Yadong-O’Malley bout ahead of his own fight at PFL Pittsburgh against Alexei Pergande on March 28th. Arce competed against Song Yadong in the UFC octagon in November 2021 in an affair that saw the former lose to the latter. When discussing Yadong’s recent fight against Sean O’Malley on January 24th, Arce said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

Cole Shelton - April 2, 2026

Jiri Prochazka wants another crack at Alex Pereira. Prochazka is 0-2 against Pereira in his UFC career, losing both by knockout. Yet, Prochazka has been adamant that he wants another crack, but with Pereira vacating his belt to move up to heavyweight, a third crack seems unlikely.

Dylan Bowker - April 2, 2026

Aiemann Zahabi will be getting in work with one of BKFC’s top pound-for-pound fighters ahead of the former’s Sean O’Malley fight in June, and the combatant in question has his own rivalry with ‘Suga’. The referenced bare-knuckle standout is Kai Stewart, who is coming off a successful defense of his 145-pound title against Nico Gaffie at BKFC Hollywood earlier this month. The BKFC featherweight champion recently traveled to Canada, and enjoyed his time in the great fight north by getting in work with names like Rob Font and the surging bantamweight contender Zahabi. Stewart also has a history with Sean O’Malley, with the two Montana natives disparaging each other at times in the public eye.

BJPENN.COM Staff - April 2, 2026

Rungrawee “Legatron” Sitsongpeenong fights for the vacant ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title against Regian “The Immortal” Eersel at The Inner Circle on April 10, live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. But before one of the sport’s most experienced strikers steps into the biggest fight of his career, there’s the story of where that nickname came from and why it fits so perfectly.