MMA News
Aaron Pico receives prudent advice from UFC Shanghai fighter following KO loss to Lerone Murphy
Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 22, 2025
A main card UFC Shanghai fighter has some guidance for Aaron Pico. Pico entered his UFC debut with some buzz, but he was thrown to the wolves immediately. The former Bellator and PFL standout shared the Octagon with Lerone Murphy in the UFC 319 co-headliner. Pico ran into a spinning back elbow that shut his lights off. One criticism of Pico throughout his career has been over aggression, and it cost him once again.
UFC 319 referee Marc Goddard gets support amid debate involving Khamzat Chimaev
Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 22, 2025
Marc Goddard was the center of attention at times during the UFC 319 main event thanks to the commentary of Joe Rogan. Goddard officiated the middleweight title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev. While du Plessis entered as the champion, Chimaev took the gold in a landslide decision victory. It was the relentless takedowns and nearly 22 minutes of control that won “Borz” the 185-pound title.
Zhang Mingyang questions Alex Pereira's motivation ahead of Magomed Ankalaev rematch
Harry Kettle - August 22, 2025
UFC light heavyweight Zhang Mingyang has questioned Alex Pereira’s motivation ahead of his upcoming rematch at UFC 320. At UFC 320, Alex Pereira will attempt to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight championship. He’ll do so when he challenges Magomed Ankalaev for the belt, the same man who took the title from him. Some believe the rematch will go differently to the first fight, whereas others imagine a similar outcome playing out.
UFC lightweight provides big update on Ilia Topuria's potential return date
Harry Kettle - August 22, 2025
UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan has provided an update on Ilia Topuria’s potential return to the Octagon. As we know, there’s been a great deal of speculation over Ilia Topuria’s future for a while now. Some believe that he’s going to fight Justin Gaethje, others think it’s going to be Arman Tsarukyan, and some don’t really care who it is – they just want an active champion.
Aljamain Sterling vs Brian Ortega officially changed to catchweight fight
Harry Kettle - August 22, 2025
Tomorrow night’s Aljamain Sterling vs Brian Ortega fight will now take place at a catchweight of 153 pounds. This weekend, Aljamain Sterling and Brian Ortega will meet in what was set to be a crucial featherweight contest. Both men have got ambitions of going after another title shot, and both men are known for being pretty solid on the ground. It has the potential to be one of the most intriguing bouts of the year, and it’ll take place in the co-main event of UFC Shanghai.
Johan Ghazali unimpressed by Zakaria El Jamari's abilities ahead of ONE Fight Night 35
BJPENN.COM Staff - August 21, 2025
Johan “Jojo” Ghazali seeks to end his losing streak against an opponent he considers inferior. The teenage knockout artist faces Zakaria El Jamari determined to prove his recent setbacks were temporary obstacles rather than permanent problems. Ghazali meets El Jamari in flyweight Muay Thai action at ONE Fight Night 35: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger on Prime Video on Friday, September 5, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium. The 18-year-old Malaysian-American enters seeking his first victory since consecutive defeats to Johan Estupinan and Diego Paez.
Jarred Brooks to settle rivalry with Mansur Malachiev at ONE Fight Night 36
BJPENN.COM Staff - August 21, 2025
Jarred Brooks gets his chance to silence a persistent critic when he faces Mansur Malachiev in flyweight action. The former strawweight champion moves up a weight class to settle their long-standing rivalry against the dangerous Dagestani contender. Brooks battles Malachiev in flyweight MMA action at ONE Fight Night 36 on Prime Video on Friday, October 3, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium. Both fighters seek to establish themselves in the 135-pound division.
BKFC Fighter only worried about "Ben Rothwell and [Leonardo] Perdomo" in $25 Million Dollar Tournament
Dylan Bowker - August 21, 2025
A bare knuckle fighter who initially entered BKFC as a heavyweight before moving to cruiserweight has his eyes on the $25 million dollar tournament and is only concerned with two possible combatants in that potential field. Esteban Rodriguez stopped Julio Perez Rodriguez with a blink and you missed it, three-second KO on July 12th in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship’s squared circle. Rodriguez appeared on Bare Knuckle Bowker and when giving his thoughts on the BKFC 78 main event that saw Leonardo Perdomo finish Arnold Adams on the twelfth of July, Rodriguez said,
Brian Ortega doesn't expect to get credit if he defeats Aljamain Sterling at UFC Shanghai
Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 21, 2025
Brian Ortega isn’t convinced that he’ll get credit if he gets past Aljamain Sterling. Ortega and Sterling are scheduled to collide on Saturday. Their featherweight clash will serve as the co-main event of UFC Shanghai. Both men are coming off losses and could use a boost to stay relevant in the 145-pound title conversation.
Dricus du Plessis was satisfied with surviving in UFC 319 title loss, says former champion
Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 21, 2025
An ex-UFC titleholder believes Dricus du Plessis was content with simply surviving against Khamzat Chimaev. Many were excited going into the UFC 319 main event between du Plessis and Chimaev. “DDP” was the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion entering the United Center in Chicago. While it was a highly anticipated fight, the result was a one-sided grappling affair in favor of “Borz.”
Nate Diaz torches 'scared' Khamzat Chimaev following UFC 319 performance
Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 21, 2025
Nate Diaz continues to put Khamzat Chimaev on blast following UFC 319. Chimaev captured the UFC Middleweight Championship thanks to a blowout decision victory over Dricus du Plessis in Chicago. The bout wasn’t competitive, as du Plessis had no answer for the grappling of “Borz.” While there is no doubting that Chimaev put on a masterclass in the grappling department, some fans and even experts believe the lack of action left a lot to be desired.
Anthony Hernandez explains why he took Reinier de Ridder fight at UFC Vancouver
Harry Kettle - August 21, 2025
Anthony Hernandez has explained why he decided to take the fight against Reinier de Ridder at UFC Vancouver. Anthony Hernandez is on a roll right now and after dominating and submitting Roman Dolidze, many felt as if he was on the verge of a UFC middleweight championship opportunity. As it turns out, he’ll have to go through one more guy in order to earn that shot – and that guy is Reinier de Ridder.
Brian Ortega is ready for a war with Aljamain Sterling at UFC Shanghai
Harry Kettle - August 21, 2025
UFC featherweight Brian Ortega is prepared for war when he meets Aljamain Sterling at UFC Shanghai this weekend. For the longest time now, Brian Ortega has been viewed as a legitimate contender in the UFC’s featherweight division. He’s even come pretty close to becoming world champion on a few occasions, most notably when he was able to sink in two incredibly deep submission holds against Alexander Volkanovski. Alas, it wasn’t quite meant to be.
Daniel Cormier shoots down Conor McGregor’s UFC comeback plans: “He wants to stay relevant”
Harry Kettle - August 21, 2025
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier isn’t convinced that Conor McGregor will actually return to mixed martial arts. For the longest time now, Conor McGregor has been talking about the possibility of a return to the Octagon. The Irishman last competed all the way back in 2021 when he suffered a broken leg against Dustin Poirier, and since then, he’s been on a pretty wild journey.
Chris Camozzi vs. Alessio Sakara predicted by BKFC Contender with Historic KO
Dylan Bowker - August 20, 2025
Chris Camozzi and Alessio Sakara are on a collision course with one another in a looming BKFC cruiserweight title bout, with a predominant BKFC cruiserweight contender weighing in on the bout. Esteban Rodriguez is on the heels of one of the quickest knockouts in combat sports history after he finished Julio Perez Rodriguez via three-second KO on July 12th at BKFC 78. Rodriguez was a recent guest on Bare Knuckle Bowker and covered several subjects related to his massive win and the general state of the weight category that he fights in. Alessio Sakara recently made his BKFC debut by finishing a long-time teammate of Rodriguez’s, Erick Lozano, at BKFC Philly in July.
Tim Elliott on Aaron Pico loss: "Don’t know how you comeback from something like that"
Dylan Bowker - August 20, 2025
Tim Elliott is able to bask a bit in the glow of a big win in Chicago, but Aaron Pico did not have the same stroke of luck on August 16th. At UFC 319, both Elliott and Pico entered the cage on the same night but exited the octagon with dramatically different outcomes. Elliott fought against former UFC title challenger and former Rizin titleholder Kai Asakura and, as one of the bigger betting underdogs on the card, secured a submission win in the waning moments of the second stanza.
Sean Brady blasts Ian Machado Garry for turning down UFC Vancouver fight: 'Lost another main event'
Cole Shelton - August 20, 2025
Sean Brady has taken aim at Ian Machado Garry for turning down the UFC Vancouver fight. Brady claims he was offered to headline UFC Vancouver against Garry in a pivotal fight at welterweight. However, Brady claims the Irishman ducked him, which led to the promotion making the Anthony Hernandez vs Reiner de Ridder fight as the main event.
Sean O’Malley reveals preferred timeframe for next UFC fight following submission loss to Merab Dvalishvili
Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 20, 2025
Sean O’Malley has an ideal timeframe for his next UFC outing. O’Malley is hoping to bounce back after failing to become a two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion in his rematch against Merab Dvalishvili. The “Suga” show lost the 135-pound gold to “The Machine” via unanimous decision. In their second encounter, O’Malley was submitted for the first time in his pro MMA career.