MMA News
UFC 323's Joshua Van gains support amid criticism for celebrating marred title win
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 9, 2025
Joshua Van has been under some scrutiny following UFC 323, but a retired fan favorite is coming to his defense. Van shared the Octagon with Alexandre Pantoja for just 26 seconds this past Saturday. Van was challenging for the UFC Flyweight Championship. Early on, Pantoja injured his shoulder while trying to break his fall. The fight was called off and Van was awarded the win.
Gillian Robertson expects to submit Amanda Lemos to secure title shot at UFC Vegas 112
Cole Shelton - December 9, 2025
Gillian Robertson believes she can secure a title shot with a win on Saturday. Robertson is set to take on Amanda Lemos in a pivotal fight at strawweight at UFC Vegas 112. She was originally supposed to fight Iasmin Lucindo, but Lucindo had to pull out and was replaced by Lemos, which Robertson was happy about. Despite Lemos being ranked higher, Robertson enters the fight as a -184 favorite on FanDuel.
Sean O'Malley discusses possible rematch against UFC champion Petr Yan
Harry Kettle - December 9, 2025
UFC star Sean O’Malley has given his thoughts on a possible rematch between himself and new bantamweight champion Petr Yan. As we know, Sean O’Malley is a former UFC bantamweight champion and one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts. After consecutive losses to Merab Dvalishvili, though, he needs to rebuild his reputation at 135 pounds, and that starts with a clash against Song Yadong next month.
Demetrious Johnson gives his thoughts on Alexandre Pantoja's freak injury loss at UFC 323
Harry Kettle - December 9, 2025
Demetrious Johnson has given his thoughts on Alexandre Pantoja’s unfortunate arm injury that occurred at UFC 323. Last Saturday night at UFC 323, Alexandre Pantoja lost his UFC flyweight championship. He was beaten by Joshua Van, but the result came under controversial circumstances as the Brazilian star fell on his arm and was rendered unable to continue due to injury.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 212 with Gillian Robertson
Cole Shelton - December 9, 2025
The 212th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC Vegas 112. We’re joined by 10th-ranked UFC strawweight Gillian Robertson (0:53) to preview her fight against Amanda Lemos.
Phetjeeja calls for ONE Muay Thai World Title shot after first-round destruction: "I have come back for the belt"
BJPENN.COM Staff - December 9, 2025
Phetjeeja demolished Martyna Dominczak via first-round TKO at ONE Fight Night 38 on Friday, December 6, inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Three knockdowns in one round told the story. The ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion returned to Muay Thai after more than two years away from the sport and looked like she never left. Her punching power overwhelmed the 23-year-old Polish WMC Muay Thai World Champion from the opening bell.
Henry Cejudo asks "how good is Raoni Barcelos?" after Payton Talbott loss, Talbott responds post-UFC 323
Dylan Bowker - December 8, 2025
Henry Cejudo made a playful reference to Raoni Barcelos, and Chael Sonnen by proxy, in the wake of Cejudo’s loss to Payton Talbott, and Talbott has since responded. The MMA reference point of “just how good is…” refers to a trope that Chael Sonnen established years ago, asking the ever-present question of “just how good is Kevin Lee?”, which became a common reference framework in mixed martial arts circles since. With the Olympic gold medalist retiring from mixed martial arts over the weekend, Henry Cejudo took to his personal X page to interject something a bit light-hearted in the fallout of losing his swan song bout, as Cejudo said,
ONE Fight Night 39: Bokang Masunyane drops back to strawweight for Japanese contender test
BJPENN.COM Staff - December 8, 2025
Bokang Masunyane faces Ryohei Kurosawa in strawweight MMA at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 24, inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The #3-ranked contender spent his last appearance testing himself at flyweight. That experiment against Sanzhar Zakirov revealed improved ground skills but ended with a decision loss after three hard rounds. Now Masunyane drops back down where his blinding speed and explosive athleticism have always played best.
What's next for the stars of UFC 323?
Cole Shelton - December 8, 2025
The UFC had its final pay-per-view card of the year on Saturday as the promotion was in Las Vegas, Nevada, for UFC 323. The main event saw Merab Dvalishvili defending his bantamweight title in a rematch against Petr Yan. The co-main event saw Alexandre Pantoja defending his flyweight strap against Joshua Van. In the end, it was Yan who pulled off the upset as he dominated Dvalishvili in all five rounds to cruise to a lopsided decision win to reclaim his bantamweight title. Van, meanwhile, became the new flyweight champ as Pantoja suffered an arm injury not even a minute into the fight.
Thai legend Panpayak Jitmuangnon headlines ONE Friday Fights 136 against Chinese knockout artist
BJPENN.COM Staff - December 8, 2025
The legend returns to Bangkok seeking redemption. Panpayak Jitmuangnon meets Zhao Chongyang in flyweight kickboxing at ONE Friday Fights 136 on December 12 inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The seven-time Muay Thai World Champion walks into this matchup carrying the weight of a first-round knockout loss from his last appearance. That defeat stung. But Panpayak’s 29-year-old frame still houses the technical brilliance that made him one of Thailand’s most decorated strikers.
VIDEO | Joanna Jedrzejczyk speaks after clip of Jamahal Hill threatening her at UFC 323 goes viral
Curtis Calhoun - December 8, 2025
UFC Hall of Famer Joanna Jedrzejczyk issued a social media statement addressing her altercation with Jamahal Hill at UFC 323. UFC 323 was a night of great fights and great aura, but two fighters made headlines over the weekend for their actions outside of the Octagon.
Merab Dvalishvili's coach reacts to 'nightmare' loss to Petr Yan at UFC 323
Curtis Calhoun - December 8, 2025
Coach John Wood issued his first public remarks about what went wrong for dethroned bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323. Merab Dvalishvili’s UFC bantamweight title reign came to an abrupt end via a loss to Petr Yan at UFC 323 last Saturday in Las Vegas. In a five-round instant classic, Dvalishvili lost to Yan by unanimous decision as the former titleholder reclaimed the bantamweight belt.
Dana White excited for 'budding superstar's’ future after dominant win at UFC 323
Curtis Calhoun - December 8, 2025
UFC CEO Dana White has his eyes on one unranked bantamweight following his stellar performance in the cage at UFC 323. UFC 323 featured plenty of memorable moments before the main card started last Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. As the main card kicked off, the action delivered shocking finishes, controversy, and technical performances inside the Octagon.
VIDEO | Jamahal Hill threatened to assault Joanna Jedrzejczyk during tense UFC 323 altercation
Curtis Calhoun - December 8, 2025
Jamahal Hill threatened to assault UFC Hall of Famer Joanna Jedrzejczyk in shocking UFC 323 footage. UFC 323 was an exciting night of fights, culminating in a big upset in the main event as Petr Yan defeated UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision. Yan put on one of the signature performances of his career to reclaim the UFC bantamweight championship and end Dvalishvili’s lengthy win streak.
Khamzat Chimaev won't stick around UFC middleweight division much longer
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 8, 2025
Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t plan to make the UFC middleweight division his home permanently. Despite only capturing the UFC Middleweight Championship back in August, Chimaev is already talking about moving up to the light heavyweight division. Chimaev hasn’t been shy about targeting reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira.
Tatsuro Taira reacts to Joshua Van's UFC 323 title win over Alexandre Pantoja
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 8, 2025
Tatsuro Taira may now be in prime position to challenge for the UFC Flyweight Championship. The new titleholder is Joshua Van, who defeated Alexandre Pantoja in 26 seconds at UFC 323. Pantoja suffered a bad shoulder injury and could not continue. Taira competed on that same night, scoring a second-round TKO finish over Brandon Moreno.
Tatsuro Taira gives his thoughts on the stoppage in his win over Brandon Moreno
Harry Kettle - December 8, 2025
UFC flyweight contender Tatsuro Taira has given his thoughts on his UFC 323 stoppage victory over Brandon Moreno. Last weekend at UFC 323, Tatsuro Taira took his mixed martial arts career to a whole new level. He put on an excellent performance against Brandon Moreno on the main card, to the point where he was even able to secure a finish. Of course, there was a bit of controversy regarding this one, mainly because a lot of people felt like the stoppage was a bit early.
UFC star Ilia Topuria receives big praise from fellow UFC champion
Harry Kettle - December 8, 2025
UFC sensation Ilia Topuria has received big praise from fellow UFC champion Tom Aspinall following another strong year. While he may have only fought once this year, it’s safe to say that Ilia Topuria has established himself as one of the biggest stars in all of mixed martial arts. After knocking out Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in back to back fights, some wondered whether or not Ilia would be able to take things any further than that. The short answer is that he was able to, and he did so emphatically.