MMA News

Chris Taylor - November 28, 2025

The Octagon will take center stage at T-Mobile Arena on January 24th, with two title bouts set to headline the fight card. In the main event, the promotion‘s interim lightweight title will be up for grabs as Paddy Pimblett takes on Justin Gaethje. An interim belt was introduced after reigning champion Ilia Topuria revealed he needed extended time off to deal with some personal issues.

Dylan Bowker - November 28, 2025

The UFC has announced the first marquee bouts to kick off their new Paramount deal, and it did not seem to impress Aljamain Sterling. The reaction of the former bantamweight champion seems to be a more emerging microcosm of a sentiment regarding the UFC matchmaking not being as potent as it once was. This particular bit of discourse kicked off when widely known media personality Ariel Helwani took to his personal X account to offer his thoughts on some of the announced bouts for UFC 324, as Helwani quipped,

Dylan Bowker - November 28, 2025

Alexa Grasso versus Rose Namajunas is set for UFC 324 and will help kick off the promotion’s 2026 campaign in a big way. The former flyweight champion and former strawweight champion, respectively, will throw down as Grasso versus Najamunas will see the winner make a strong leap forward within the 125-pound hierarchy. This contest takes place on the preliminary portion of the event, which speaks to the depth of UFC’s kickoff effort on their new media rights deal with Paramount.

Dylan Bowker - November 28, 2025

Ilia Topuria recently tipped his proverbial cap to Cristiano Ronaldo as the soccer star has revealed he now has major stakes in an MMA promotion partly owned by the UFC lightweight champion. Way of the Warrior FC is a surging Spanish mixed martial arts organization, and via his X account @Cristiano, Ronaldo said, “I’m excited to share some big news: I will become a shareholder of @wowfcmma ! We share values I truly believe in – discipline, respect, resilience, and the constant pursuit of excellence. WOW FC is building something unique and powerful, and I’m proud to join this project to help elevate the sport and inspire the next generation.”

Fernando Quiles Jr. - November 28, 2025

Paddy Pimblett wouldn’t be surprised if fans discredit him should he emerge victorious at UFC 324. Pimblett has been put in a big spot for UFC’s debut on Paramount+. “The Baddy” will be facing Justin Gaethje for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship in the UFC 324 headliner on Jan. 24. Ilia Topuria is the main 155-pound champion, but he’s currently dealing with personal issues.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - November 28, 2025

Arman Tsarukyan wasn’t snubbed of a headlining spot at UFC 324 if you believe one MMA legend. During halftime for the NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving, UFC CEO Dana White made some significant announcements. Among them was the news that Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will collide in the main event of UFC 324. The interim UFC Lightweight Championship will be at stake.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - November 28, 2025

One renowned coach believes Alexander Volkanovski is in a difficult position ahead of UFC 325. UFC CEO Dana White dropped some big fight news on Thanksgiving. White revealed that the UFC 324 main event will be an interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. It was also revealed that Volkanovski will be defending the UFC Featherweight Championship against Diego Lopes in a rematch at UFC 325.

Harry Kettle - November 28, 2025

UFC star Lerone Murphy has reacted to the booking of Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2 at UFC 325. For the longest time now, Lerone Murphy has been viewed as a legitimate title threat in the UFC’s featherweight division. He has been able to knock off a string of notable names, and most recently, he knocked Aaron Pico out cold. Many, including Alexander Volkanovski himself, wanted to see Lerone earn a championship opportunity off the back of that. However, it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen.

Harry Kettle - November 28, 2025

UFC veteran Renato Moicano has responded to Dan Hooker’s amusing callout following the latter’s loss at UFC Qatar. For the longest time, Renato Moicano has been a permanent fixture in the UFC’s lightweight division. He even fought for the world title against Islam Makhachev once upon a time, but he lost in a short notice effort. Nowadays, as a veteran in mixed martial arts, it’s not quite clear as to what will be next for him.

BJ Penn Staff - November 27, 2025

Almost nobody believes Jake Paul can defeat Anthony Joshua when they box live on Netflix on December 19. There is at least one notable member of the combat sports community who is backing Paul, though. That would be Nate Diaz — and he’s putting his money where his mouth is. Speaking on the social media platform X this week, Diaz revealed that he has placed a $20,000 wager on Paul to win. Given how big of an underdog Paul is, Diaz stands to win $142,000 if he’s right.

BJ Penn Staff - November 27, 2025

NYC mayor elect Zohran Mamdani recently had a highly publicized meeting with President Donald Trump. During the meeting, which was far more cordial than anyone could have imagined, the newly-elected mayor got a glimpse at the plans for next year’s UFC White House event. The UFC White House will go down in June, and is intended to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Both Trump and UFC CEO Dana White have gradually been leaking information about the card, which is expected to be one of the biggest in MMA history. However, fans still don’t really know what the event will actually look like.

BJ Penn Staff - November 27, 2025

There aren’t a lot of people who are giving Jake Paul a chance in his upcoming boxing match with Anthony Joshua. UFC commentator Joe Rogan certainly isn’t. Paul, a social media influencer turned boxer, will take on the former unified heavyweight champion Joshua on Dec. 19. He will be at a massive disadvantage in terms of size, skill, experience, and basically every other factor that matters.

Harry Kettle - November 27, 2025

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has revealed why he isn’t a big fan of former foe Umar Nurmagomedov. Right now, there are few better fighters in mixed martial arts than Merab Dvalishvili. He is carving out quite the legacy for himself and at this point, you could already argue that he is the greatest bantamweight of all time. He will attempt to cement that legacy for himself when he goes head to head with Petr Yan next month in the main event of UFC 323.

Harry Kettle - November 27, 2025

Khabib Nurmagomedov has invited Conor McGregor to a rehabilitation facility in Dagestan as their feud continues. For the longest time now, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor have been bitter enemies. It dates back almost a decade, with their one and only sanctioned fight taking place at UFC 229 in late 2018. On that night, it was Nurmagomedov who was able to pick up the win, and he did so in fairly dominant fashion, dropping Conor on his way to a submission victory.

Dylan Bowker - November 26, 2025

Keith Jardine is an acclaimed ex-UFC vet who also had a role doing some stunt work in John Wick. ‘The Dean of Mean’ has recently delved into some of his on-set experiences and the connection he had with the actor portraying the titular character, Keanu Reeves, even prior to filming. Also of note, Reeves has previously gotten in some training with world-renowned jiu-jitsu practitioner Jean Jacques Machado, working on the gentle art. When asked if there was any direct jiu jitsu training done with Keanu Reeves in terms of whether they ever got a roll in together on the mats, Jardine said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

Dylan Bowker - November 26, 2025

Daniel Cormier recently weighed in on Jon Jones’ travel efforts in Chechnya and wondered why his long-time rival was not on home soil for a popular American holiday. A video was circulating around social media of Jones enjoying some Chechen cuisine during his recent foray in Russia, which has seen him utilize exotic weapons with Ramzan Kadyrov and get into some wrestling-related hijinks with Khamzat Chimaev. A comment came up on the referenced video with Jones enjoying some Chechnyan food that saw a former two-time opponent of Jones’ offer up their thoughts. With an accompanying screenshot captured by X user @ChampRDS along with the video of Jones eating, Daniel Cormier said,

Fernando Quiles Jr. - November 26, 2025

If Jon Jones is a part of the UFC White House card but he doesn’t get the main event spot, he won’t complain about it. Jones has been pounding the table for a spot at the historic event. UFC CEO Dana White has expressed hesitancy in making that a reality. White has told reporters that he doesn’t exactly trust Jones in big situations given his legal history. There was also the debacle surrounding “Bones” pulling out of a verbal agreement to fight reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - November 26, 2025

Islam Makhachev would be in for an interesting test against Michael Morales if one UFC icon is to be believed. Morales had an eye-opening performance against Sean Brady on the main card of UFC 322. Morales didn’t allow the fight to get to the ground, as he scored a first-round TKO finish. The win has elevated Morales’ stock, and now some are wondering if he’ll be next to challenge Makhachev for the UFC Welterweight Championship.