MMA News

Jake Paul and Anderson Silva.
Boxing News

Anderson Silva believes Jake Paul deserves more credit in boxing

Harry Kettle - December 12, 2025

UFC legend Anderson Silva believes former opponent Jake Paul deserves more credit in the world of boxing. Next Friday night, Jake Paul will take on the toughest test of his career thus far – by a country mile. He will lock horns with former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, in what many believe will be a one-sided beatdown with Joshua coming away with a comprehensive victory.

Dan Hooker
Dan Hooker

Dan Hooker is ready to play spoiler role against Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 325

Harry Kettle - December 12, 2025

UFC veteran Dan Hooker is ready to play the role of spoiler in his clash with Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 325. Just a few weeks ago, Dan Hooker fell short in his attempt to defeat Arman Tsarukyan. While he’s experienced losses in the past, this was the kind of setback that reiterates that, perhaps, that he may no longer be in contention for a world championship opportunity.

ONE Friday Fights 136
ONE Championship

ONE Friday Fights 136 gets new main event after Panpayak withdraws due to illness

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 11, 2025

Panpayak Jitmuangnon won’t be making his kickboxing debut this week. The Thai legend pulled out of ONE Friday Fights 136 on Friday due to illness, forcing ONE Championship to shuffle the deck. Petkhaokradong Lukjaomaesaithong now headlines opposite Ali Kelat at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on December 12. The lightweight Muay Thai clash replaces Panpayak‘s scheduled flyweight kickboxing bout against Zhao Chongyang.

Melissa Croden
UFC

Melissa Croden eyes top 15 rankings spot at final UFC card of 2025

Dylan Bowker - December 11, 2025

Melissa Croden battles Luana Santos on the December 13th UFC Fight Night in what is the promotion’s final card of 2025. With Santos in the number fifteen spot in the 135-pound division, ‘Scare’ Croden could find herself in the rankings hierarchy heading into 2026. When getting her thoughts on what that would mean to her at this juncture, Croden said [via MMA Canada], “Yeah. I mean, again, it’s another; it’s a new thing to think about. It’s a new thing to consider and new goals to be had, right? Like I think it would be, as far as I understand, like if I am successful against Luana [Santos] then I would potentially be within the top 15 after my second fight in the UFC.”

Jack Della Maddalena reacts after his loss at UFC 322
UFC

Jack Della Maddalena and "the rest of Australian MMA" will come back, per PFL title challenger

Dylan Bowker - December 11, 2025

Jack Della Maddalena losing his welterweight title to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 would presumably make many in the Australian MMA scene feel crestfallen, but this was not reflected by a combat compatriot from the land down under vying for PFL gold later this week. Sara Collins is the combatant in question, and she battles Cris Cyborg for the PFL featherweight championship in the co-main event of PFL Europe 4 on December 13th.

Justin Gaethje
Paddy Pimblett

Justin Gaethje shares bold prediction for UFC 324 interim title fight against Paddy Pimblett

Cole Shelton - December 11, 2025

Justin Gaethje has a surprise prediction for his UFC 324 interim title fight against Paddy Pimblett. Gaethje is set to headline the first card of 2025, which will be the UFC’s debut on Paramount. It’s a highly anticipated fight, and Pimblett opened as the betting favorite. Although Gaethje is the underdog, he has confidence he won’t just win, but believes he can submit Pimblett.

Kevin Holland enters the Octagon for his fight against Mike Malott at UFC Vancouver
UFC

Kevin Holland announces UFC Houston return vs. Top 15 welterweight slugger

Curtis Calhoun - December 11, 2025

UFC welterweight fan favorite Kevin Holland will return to the Octagon for a homecoming bout against a dangerous contender. Kevin Holland won’t miss the opportunity to fight in his hometown as he plots his 2026 UFC comeback.

Brandon Moreno walks to the Octagon for his fight at UFC 323
UFC

Report: Brandon Moreno set to make quick turnaround after controversial UFC 323 stoppage

Curtis Calhoun - December 11, 2025

Former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno is reportedly already set for his next Octagon appearance just days after UFC 323. Brandon Moreno was on the losing end of a controversial stoppage at UFC 323 last Saturday in Las Vegas. But just days after his latest setback in the cage, it sounds like Moreno isn’t wasting time in kicking off another fight camp.

Manel Kape, UFC, MMA, Demetrious Johnson
Manel Kape

Manel Kape plans to 'style on' Brandon Royval to secure a title shot at UFC Vegas 112: 'The fighter this division needs'

Cole Shelton - December 11, 2025

Manel Kape believes he can style on Brandon Royval at UFC Vegas 112. Kape is set to headline UFC Vegas 112 on Saturday against Royval in a pivotal fight at flyweight. The winner of the bout could get the next title shot against the new champion Joshua Van.

Alexandre Pantoja reacts after his loss to Joshua Van at UFC 323
UFC

Alexandre Pantoja's coach shares medical update after devastating elbow injury at UFC 323

Curtis Calhoun - December 11, 2025

Former UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja might need surgery after a devastating elbow injury suffered at UFC 323 last Saturday. Alexandre Pantoja’s historic run as the UFC flyweight champion came to an abrupt conclusion last Saturday at UFC 323. Just minutes into his fight with Joshua Van, Pantoja suffered a gruesome elbow injury while trying to brace himself on the canvas during a fall.

Alexander Volkanovski enters the Octagon for his fight against Diego Lopes at UFC 314
Movsar Evloev

UFC 325's Alexander Volkanovski reveals when he knew Movsar Evloev wasn't getting title shot

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 11, 2025

Alexander Volkanovski knew he wouldn’t be defending his UFC gold against Movsar Evloev next. Volkanovski will be putting his featherweight title at stake against Diego Lopes in a rematch at UFC 325 on Jan. 31. The matchmaking is not popular among fans, as Volkanovski and Lopes already fought back in April and it wasn’t exactly a nail biter.

Dana White and Francis Ngannou
Francis Ngannou

UFC boss Dana White was thrilled when PFL signed Francis Ngannou

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 11, 2025

UFC CEO Dana White wasn’t exactly shedding tears when Francis Ngannou signed with PFL. White’s beef with Ngannou was initially puzzling to those within the MMA world. “The Predator” scored a big deal with PFL along with two lucrative boxing matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Some felt White was showing a bit of sour grapes before the UFC boss claimed that Ngannou tried to intimidate him and UFC exec Hunter Campbell behind the scenes.

Brandon Royval
Manel Kape

Brandon Royval reveals game plan for UFC Vegas 112 main event against Manel Kape

Harry Kettle - December 11, 2025

UFC flyweight Brandon Royval has spoken about what he plans to do to Manel Kape in the main event of UFC Vegas 112. As we know, Brandon Royval is one of the most respected flyweights currently residing in the top 15. He has fought some of the very best at 125 pounds, and while he hasn’t been able to get his hands on the gold up to this point, you just know that you’re going to be in for a treat whenever you see him compete.

Kamaru Usman speaks at a UFC 322 Q&A, opposite Islam Makhachev celebrating with two UFC belts
Kamaru Usman

Islam Makhachev confirms interest in defending UFC welterweight title against Kamaru Usman

Harry Kettle - December 11, 2025

UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has confirmed his interest in defending the belt against Kamaru Usman. As we know, Islam Makhachev is the current UFC welterweight champion. He earned that title courtesy of his dominant win over Jack Della Maddalena, and now, there are plenty of contenders waiting for their opportunity to try and take the belt away from him.

Liu Mengyang
ONE Championship

ONE Friday Fights 137: Why Liu Mengyang could be Tawanchai PK Saenchai's toughest test

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 10, 2025

Liu Mengyang faces ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai in featherweight kickboxing action at ONE Friday Fights 137 on Thursday, December 19, inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The 22-year-old Chinese striker has won two of three promotional appearances against elite competition. His upset victories over Masaaki Noiri and Shadow Singha Mawynn revealed tools that make him dangerous against anyone standing across from him. Now he faces the biggest test of his career in non-title action.

Lucas Gabriel and Magomed Akaev
ONE Championship

Lucas Gabriel finally meets Dagestani destroyer after injury postponement

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 10, 2025

Lucas Gabriel faces Magomed Akaev in lightweight MMA at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 24, inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The matchup was originally scheduled for ONE Fight Night 38 last weekend before Akaev withdrew due to injury. Now fully healed, the Dagestani powerhouse gets his chance against an undefeated Brazilian who’s carved through three consecutive opponents since earning his main roster contract.

Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan face off at the UFC 323 ceremonial weigh-in
Petr Yan

Merab Dvalishvili goes on social media rampage against Petr Yan just days after UFC 323

Curtis Calhoun - December 10, 2025

It didn’t take long for tensions to ramp back up between Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan after their rematch at UFC 323. Petr Yan got his revenge against Merab Dvalishvili last weekend in the UFC 323 main event. More than two years after Dvalishvili put on a history-making performance in their first fight, Yan outpointed Dvalishvili by unanimous decision, showcasing a ‘master class’ in the eyes of analyst Joe Rogan.

Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan face off at a UFC 311 press conference
Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev criticizes UFC for refusing to award Arman Tsarukyan the next lightweight title shot

Curtis Calhoun - December 10, 2025

Islam Makhachev came to his former rival Arman Tsarukyan’s defense after the recent announcement of the Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett fight. Arman Tsarukyan will have to wait a while longer for another shot at the UFC lightweight belt after UFC CEO Dana White’s recent remarks.