MMA News

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

It sounds like a potential showdown between UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and Jon Jones at the White House has hit a dead end. Alex Pereira reclaimed the UFC light heavyweight title by knocking out Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC 320 main event earlier this year. He avenged his lone light heavyweight MMA defeat by putting on one of the most dominant performances of his career.

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.

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.

Curtis Calhoun - December 15, 2025

One of UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria’s former foes, Bryce Mitchell, went on an unhinged rant over domestic violence allegations. Fight fans shouldn’t expect UFC superstar Ilia Topuria to return to the Octagon anytime soon.

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.

Harry Kettle - December 15, 2025

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has revealed his future plans to leave mixed martial arts for professional boxing. As we know, Ilia Topuria is one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts today. He is a fantastic fighter in every sense of the word and in his last three fights alone, he has been able to knock out Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira to become a two-weight UFC world champion.

Harry Kettle - December 15, 2025

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has said he’d be interested in a boxing match against Francis Ngannou. Right now, Tom Aspinall is in a tricky spot. He is coming off the back of a nasty eye injury that he suffered against Ciryl Gane and, as of this writing, it’s not clear as to when exactly the Englishman is going to return. He has made it crystal clear that he wants to run it back against Gane, in an attempt to get some revenge for what happened to him.

Harry Kettle - December 15, 2025

UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van has responded to Manel Kape’s title ambitions after UFC Vegas 112 last weekend. On Saturday night, Manel Kape made a real statement. He was able to quickly finish Brandon Royval in the main event of UFC Vegas 112, and in the process, he vaulted himself into contention for a world championship opportunity. Soon after, he officially called out Joshua Van and made it clear that he is coming for the title.

Harry Kettle - December 15, 2025

UFC veteran King Green will continue to fight his own style following his recent victory over Lance Gibson Jr. Last Saturday night, King Green was able to defeat Lance Gibson Jr on short notice to break his recent two-fight losing streak. In doing so, the 39-year-old proved to all his critics that he is far from done in mixed martial arts, and that he wants to continue to go out there and put on a show for the fans.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 14, 2025

Three straight losses put Jo Nattawut’s back against the wall. The Thai veteran heard every whisper questioning whether his fire burned out. The 36-year-old former ONE World Title challenger meets Mohammad Siasarani in a featherweight Muay Thai clash at ONE Friday Fights 137 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on December 19. The stakes couldn’t be clearer for a fighter who built his reputation on explosive power and technical excellence.

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 14, 2025

Defeat changes everything. Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi watched his five-fight winning streak vanish in October, forcing serious reflection about his future. The 24-year-old Thai knockout artist now drops to strawweight Muay Thai for ONE Friday Fights 137 on December 19, facing former two-sport, two-division ONE World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The move represents strategic calculation rather than retreat from competition.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 14, 2025

Following Henry Cejudo’s second UFC retirement, few could’ve expected what “Triple C’s” new venture would be. Cejudo entered the Octagon for the final time at UFC 323 in Las Vegas. He went one-on-one with Payton Talbott, who earned a unanimous decision victory to send Cejudo off to retirement on a loss. UFC honored Cejudo with a touching video package recapping his pro MMA career.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 14, 2025

Ilia Topuria admits he finds both Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje to be deserving of their interim title fight at UFC 324. Topuria would’ve been a clear choice to headline UFC’s debut on Paramount+ on Jan. 24. The problem is, the reigning lightweight titleholder in on hiatus to deal with personal matters. As a result, Pimblett vs. Gaethje has been booked with the interim championship at stake.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 14, 2025

Brandon Royval has spoken out after suffering a first-round knockout defeat to Manel Kape at UFC Vegas 112. Royval was hoping to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss to current UFC Flyweight Champion Joshua Van. It wasn’t meant to be, as Kape dropped Royval and finished him with ground-and-pound this past Saturday. Kape has now elevated his status as a potential title contender.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 14, 2025

Despite having beef with Ilia Topuria, Paddy Pimblett hopes “El Matador’s” personal issues can be squared away. Topuria, the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion, recently revealed that he is on hiatus to handle his current situation. As a result, an interim title fight has been booked between Pimblett and Justin Gaethje. That bout will headline UFC 324 on Jan. 24.