MMA News

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 17, 2026

Tye Ruotolo left Bangkok with his ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Title intact after a grinding third defense at ONE Fight Night 41: Sinsamut vs. Jarvis on Prime Video on Friday, March 13, inside Lumpinee Stadium. It was the toughest test of his title reign. The 23-year-old Californian opened the bout with a moment months in the making — a pro wrestling-style spear off the ropes that sent challenger Pawel Jaworski crashing to the mat. He had rehearsed the move with twin brother Kade before ever deploying it in competition.

Cole Shelton - March 17, 2026

Michael Page wants to prove he’s still a dangerous fighter at UFC London. Page is set to take on Sam Patterson on the main card of UFC London in what should be a fun fight at welterweight. Heading into the bout, Page is a -180 favorite, while the fellow Brit is a +140 underdog on FanDuel.

Curtis Calhoun - March 17, 2026

Former UFC rivals Jorge Masvidal and Ben Askren were at the center of one of MMA’s ‘feel good’ stories of the year. Former UFC star Ben Askren overcame a lot of obstacles outside of combat sports last year. After a bout of Pneumonia combined with a Staph infection left him in a coma, Askren was able to make a miraculous recovery despite the initial odds.

Curtis Calhoun - March 17, 2026

UFC bantamweight contender Aiemann Zahabi found out about his upcoming fight vs. Sean O’Malley as fans and pundits did. One of the biggest fights of the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 card at the White House features two of the bantamweight division’s top contenders: former champion Sean O’Malley and streaking star Aiemann Zahabi. The winner could potentially be in the mix for another bantamweight title shot against either Petr Yan or Merab Dvalishvili.

Curtis Calhoun - March 17, 2026

Former two-division UFC champion Jon Jones’ pursuit of a comeback fight might be back on track after recent help from Joe Rogan. Jon Jones announced his retirement from MMA last summer after long contract talks with the promotion to fight then-interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. After Jones quickly reversed his retirement following the UFC’s announced White House card set for this coming summer, Jones’ wishes to be featured at the event weren’t granted by UFC CEO Dana White.

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 17, 2026

ONE Championship has added three MMA bouts to ONE Samurai 1, going down live on Wednesday, April 29, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The event now pits two of Japan’s most dangerous grapplers against each other. Ayaka “Zombie” Miura faces Chihiro Sawada in an all-Japan atomweight MMA clash. Miura, a third-degree judo black belt and former osteopathic clinical educator, enters at 16-5 and riding a five-fight winning streak built almost entirely on submissions.

Cole Shelton - March 17, 2026

Aljamain Sterling knows beating Youssef Zalal at UFC Vegas 116 won’t be easy. Sterling is set to headline the Fight Night card on April 25 at the Apex in a pivotal fight at featherweight. The winner of the fight could very well get the next title shot, so the stakes are high.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 17, 2026

Alistair Overeem agrees with those who feel the UFC heavyweight division is experiencing a down period. Tom Aspinall is an exciting fighter who reigns at the top of the weight class, but he’s been recovering from double eye surgery. Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira will be fighting Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 17, 2026

Jorge Masvidal believes Jon Jones deserves to get paid, but he also gets why the UFC brass may not trust him. Jones had been pounding the table for a spot on the UFC Freedom 250 card at the White House. Ultimately, “Bones” didn’t get picked to compete on the special June 14 event. UFC CEO Dana White told reporters that while Jones may have had some conversations, he personally never planned to have “Bones” fight on the card.

Harry Kettle - March 17, 2026

UFC star Sean O’Malley has given his thoughts on fighters, both past and present, criticizing the promotion recently. As we know, Sean O’Malley is easily one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts today. The former UFC bantamweight champion will make his return at the White House this summer against Aiemann Zahabi, with many believing he still has what it takes to go after the title one more time.

Cole Shelton - March 17, 2026

The 217th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC London. We’re joined by UFC light heavyweight Austen Lane to preview his UFC London main card fight against Iwo Baraniewski.

Curtis Calhoun - March 16, 2026

The oft-controversial Dillon Danis and former UFC superstar Jorge Masvidal’s feud is intensifying after leaked DMs surfaced Monday. Dillon Danis will make his Real American Freestyle debut against Colby Covington next weekend, and Danis has a brewing feud with one of Covington’s former rivals.

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 16, 2026

ONE Championship has added three bouts to ONE Fight Night 42 on Prime Video, set for Friday, April 10, live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The addition pits two undefeated welterweights against each other. Chase “Mannimal” Mann, a 29-year-old Arkansas native with a 7-0 record and five stoppages, collides with Turkish finisher Dzhabir Dzhabrailov, who is 6-0 with all six victories coming by finish — three of them inside two minutes inside ONE Championship. Both men enter with a potential title shot against Christian Lee’s welterweight MMA crown on the line for the winner.

Curtis Calhoun - March 16, 2026

UFC welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry believes Islam Makhachev is intentionally delaying a potential title fight. UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev was pitched as a potential headliner for the upcoming White House card, opposite the likes of Ilia Topuria or Kamaru Usman. But Makhachev continues to recover from a hand injury suffered shortly after his fight with Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 last year.

Curtis Calhoun - March 16, 2026

Former UFC two-division champion Alex Pereira has big plans for his future after signing a massive new contract with the promotion. Alex Pereira raised eyebrows when he vacated the UFC light heavyweight title earlier this month to pursue a full-time move to the heavyweight division. Pereira, who hasn’t fought since reclaiming the light heavyweight title at UFC 320, will fight Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250, the promotion’s upcoming card at the White House.

Curtis Calhoun - March 16, 2026

Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz appeared to end his long-standing feud with one of MMA’s veteran referees, Keith Peterson. Dominick Cruz ended his illustrious UFC career abruptly ahead of his planned retirement fight at UFC Seattle last year. Cruz, who was supposed to fight Rob Font in the card’s co-main event, withdrew from the bout due to a significant shoulder injury that required surgery.

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 16, 2026

Tang Kai makes his second featherweight title defense when he faces Russia’s Shamil “The Cobra” Gasanov in the main event of ONE Fight Night 43 on Prime Video on May 16 live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The 30-year-old Sunkin International Fight Club representative has been a dominant force at featherweight since arriving in ONE Championship. He became China’s first male MMA world champion at ONE 160 in August 2022, outpointing then-divisional king Thanh Le across five rounds with composed, surgical striking. He returned home to Shaoyang to a hero’s welcome.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 16, 2026

Harry Hardwick has seen better days, but he’s taking his injury following UFC Vegas 114 in stride. Hardwick was in action this past Saturday for a clash with the undefeated Marwan Rahiki. Hardwick could not make it to the third round as he informed his corner that he had suffered a broken jaw. Rahiki was awarded the second-round TKO finish.