MMA News
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.
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.
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.
Joe Rogan assesses Khamzat Chimaev's possible UFC move to light heavyweight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 11, 2025
UFC color commentator Joe Rogan has some thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev possibly moving up in weight. Chimaev won the UFC Middleweight Championship back in August. Despite not having a title defense, “Borz” has already discussed possibly moving up to the light heavyweight division. Chimaev’s first title defense hasn’t even been booked yet, but many feel Nassourdine Imavov is the likely No. 1 contender.
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.
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 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.
Francis Ngannou responds to Dana White claims about a physical altercation: "We shouldn't have gone this way"
Dylan Bowker - December 10, 2025
Francis Ngannou has since offered up his response to Dana White after the latter made inflammatory claims about the former, which centered on the heavyweight fighter reportedly getting physical with the UFC CEO. Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show, Ngannou responded to a multitude of related questions Helwani had for the standout combat sports athlete regarding those aforementioned recent comments that White made. Helwani referenced the story that White told on the Flagrant podcast, hosted by comedian Andrew Schulz, where White purported that Ngannou grabbed his collar to get a point across regarding a post-fight bonus and a requested jet. The lineal MMA heavyweight champion was not surprised that the UFC figurehead was talking about him putting his hands on him, as well as UFC CBO Hunter Campbell.
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.
Paddy Pimblett lays out his ideal plan to become champ-champ after UFC 324
Cole Shelton - December 10, 2025
Paddy Pimblett has his eyes set on becoming a two-division UFC champion. Pimblett is set to headline UFC 324 on January 24 against Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title. The winner of the fight is expected to face Ilia Topuria for the undisputed lightweight title later in 2026.
Mario Bautista set to headline UFC Vegas 113 against dangerous knockout artist
Curtis Calhoun - December 10, 2025
UFC bantamweight contender Mario Bautista will reportedly headline UFC Vegas 113 at the Apex opposite one of the division’s surging stars. Mario Bautista’s bid for a UFC bantamweight title shot came to a screeching halt as he lost to former title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 321 earlier this year. After an eight-fight win streak entering UFC 321, Bautista fell to Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision.
Joe Rogan says UFC must put Jon Jones on White House card
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 10, 2025
Joe Rogan believes UFC needs to book Jon Jones for the White House card. Jones has made it clear that he plans to ditch retirement if he can fight at the historic event. “Bones” has even said he’d be willing to fight Alex Pereira below the main event. UFC CEO Dana White has been hesitant about booking Jones for the show given his legal history. There’s also the failed talks to get Jones to fight Tom Aspinall, which left the heavyweight division in a lurch.
Former UFC champion Dricus du Plessis slammed for 'ducking' top contender
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 10, 2025
A top UFC middleweight contender believes Dricus du Plessis is avoiding him. Back in August, du Plessis lost the 185-pound gold to Khamzat Chimaev in one-sided fashion. Chimaev was in control for nearly 22 minutes and du Plessis couldn’t get anything going. It was a total wipeout and many are wondering what “Stillknocks” will do next.
Maycee Barber gives emotional response when asked about return from injury
Harry Kettle - December 10, 2025
UFC star Maycee Barber has given her thoughts on the road back to the Octagon after her UFC 323 victory over Karine Silva. Last Saturday night at UFC 323, Maycee Barber made her big return to the cage after an extended period of time away due to some health problems. She was able to defeat Karine Silva and in doing so, she vaulted herself right back into contention in the women’s flyweight title picture.
Joshua Van should defend title before Alexandre Pantoja rematch, says Daniel Cormier
Harry Kettle - December 10, 2025
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier believes Joshua Van should defend his title against Tatsuro Taira prior to Alexandre Pantoja returning. Last Saturday night at UFC 323, Joshua Van became the new UFC flyweight champion. However, it happened under unfortunate circumstances, as Alexandre Pantoja suffered an arm injury that rendered him unable to continue less than a minute into the first round.
UFC legend offers Merab Dvalishvili some advice following UFC 323 defeat
Harry Kettle - December 10, 2025
UFC legend Michael Bisping has given Merab Dvalishvili some advice following his defeat to Petr Yan at UFC 323. Last weekend at UFC 323, Merab Dvalishvili fell short in his attempt to go 4-0 in 2025. In doing so, he also lost the UFC bantamweight championship, with the title being won from him by Petr Yan. Now, as we look ahead to the future, it certainly feels like Merab will be able to get a trilogy fight at some point next year.
Paddy Pimblett predicts he will KO Justin Gaethje: "I don’t see him getting past the third round"
Dylan Bowker - December 9, 2025
Paddy Pimblett foresees a finish transpiring in his Justin Gaethje fight and envisions that stoppage coming by way of strikes. Piblett and Gathej are set to do battle for the interim UFC lightweight title in their headlining bout at UFC 324 in January. During an interview with Red Corner MMA, with an excerpt of the chat posted to the X account @Home_of_Fight, as Pimblett said,
Panpayak seeks fresh start in kickboxing: "I need to develop myself even more if I want to return to greatness"
BJPENN.COM Staff - December 9, 2025
Panpayak Jitmuangnon meets Zhao Chongyang in flyweight kickboxing at ONE Friday Fights 136 on Thursday, December 12, inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The 29-year-old Thai legend requested the switch after a first-round stoppage loss to Asadula Imangazaliev at ONE Friday Fights 122. The head-kick knockout ended a difficult stretch that saw him alternate between wins and losses across six promotional appearances.