MMA News

BJ Penn Staff - August 13, 2025

Contender Series, a run of live fights that airs on Tuesdays each summer, is now one of the main ways Dana White and his UFC team scout new talent. The 2025 edition of the program kicked off last night. Unfortunately, it was a bit disappointing.

BJ Penn Staff - August 13, 2025

Khamzat Chimaev is the latest UFC fighter to get a pair of custom shorts. The undefeated Chechen star is set to challenge middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of this weekend’s UFC 319 card in Chicago, Illinois. Main event fighters have increasingly been getting their own custom shorts, so it’s no surprise that Chimaev is getting some of his own.

Harry Kettle - August 13, 2025

UFC boss Dana White has given his thoughts on the future of Joe Rogan in the promotion after their new TV deal was announced. Throughout the course of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s history, Joe Rogan has been an ever-present member of the company. He has been on the call for the majority of the UFC’s major moments and even now, he is still a regular commentator for them. While some aren’t a big fan of his style, others recognize just how many eyes he’s been able to bring to the sport of mixed martial arts.

Harry Kettle - August 13, 2025

UFC legend Demetrious Johnson has given his thoughts on why Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling is so effective. On Saturday night, Khamzat Chimaev will finally get the chance to compete for a UFC world title. He will challenge Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight championship and, based on what we know about both men, this has the potential to be one of the most entertaining bouts of the year thus far.

Harry Kettle - August 13, 2025

UFC boss Dana White has revealed that UFC performance bonuses will increase following their recent Paramount TV deal announcement. For the longest time now, Dana White has been helping to grow the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s brand and image. Sometimes it’s worked, and sometimes it hasn’t – but when you look at the numbers, it’s clear to see that he’s helped them achieved some wonderful things throughout the course of his time there.

BJPENN.COM Staff - August 12, 2025

Ayaka “Zombie” Miura couldn’t have scripted a better scenario for her second championship opportunity. The Japanese contender gets to chase atomweight gold in front of her home crowd after falling short in her previous title attempt. Miura challenges Denice Zamboanga for the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The 34-year-old enters riding a five-fight winning streak with four submission victories since dropping to 115 pounds.

BJPENN.COM Staff - August 12, 2025

Professional wrestling’s biggest crossover star provided the blueprint for Anatoly Malykhin’s relentless pursuit of greatness. The Russian traces his competitive drive back to watching Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson dominate both squared circle and silver screen. Malykhin attempts to reclaim the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title from “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on November 16 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The 33-year-old current ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight MMA World Champion seeks to complete his unprecedented title collection once again.

Cole Shelton - August 12, 2025

Diego Ferreira is expecting a fan-friendly fight in his return to the Octagon at UFC 319. Ferreira is coming off a decision loss to Grant Dawson earlier this year. After the loss, he decided he needed to move to Dallas full-time so he could train full-time at Fortis. After months of training, he was booked to face King Green at UFC 319, which Ferreira is excited about.

Cole Shelton - August 12, 2025

Charles Oliveira is excited to see a potential title fight between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan. Topuria became the UFC’s lightweight champion with a knockout win over Oliveira back in June. After the win, Paddy Pimblett went into the cage, which could be the next fight. However, Arman Tsarukyan could be in line to get the title shot, as he is the top-ranked contender.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 12, 2025

Roman Dolidze was stopped at the conclusion of UFC Vegas 109, and he’s issued a statement in the aftermath. Dolidze was submitted for the first time in his pro MMA career by Anthony Hernandez this past Saturday. The defeat put an end to Dolidze’s three-fight winning streak. He has also dropped two spots down in the official UFC middleweight rankings, now holding the No. 11 spot.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 12, 2025

Dricus du Plessis could be facing the winner of Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho, and he’s made a prediction. Imavov and Borralho are set to headline UFC Paris on Sept. 6. “The Sniper” will have fans inside Acc0r Arena on his side and he is currently a slight betting favorite. This figures to be a crucial bout in the middleweight division, as an impressive showing from the winner could lead to a UFC Middleweight Championship opportunity.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 12, 2025

Alexander Volkanovski is used to having a target on his back, and one UFC 319 fighter has fired a warning shot. Volkanovski regained the UFC Featherweight Championship when he defeated Diego Lopes for the vacant gold back in April. “The Great” is now a two-time 145-pound titleholder, but his next bout hasn’t been made clear. While rumors of a title defense against Yair Rodriguez surfaced, the UFC has yet to make Volkanovski’s challenger official.

Harry Kettle - August 12, 2025

UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has given his thoughts on a possible slam ban after Elijah Smith’s slam KO win over Toshiomi Kazama at UFC Vegas 109. Last Saturday night, we saw a handful of pretty wild finishes in the latest UFC Apex event. One of the biggest examples of that came from Elijah Smith, who was able to defeat and knock out Toshiomi Kazama in the first round. The manner in which he did it, though, was the real story, as he slammed Kazama to the ground which led to him being knocked out cold.

Harry Kettle - August 12, 2025

Miles Johns has released a statement in the wake of his controversial loss to Jean Matsumoto last weekend. Heading into their encounter last Saturday night, Miles Johns made it crystal clear that he wanted to go to war with Jean Matsumoto. He was ready to go out there and put on a show for the fans and, in the end, that’s exactly what they did in what proved to be a fascinating fight in Las Vegas.

Harry Kettle - August 12, 2025

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has revealed that he’s not interested in fighting Jon Jones at UFC’s White House event. For the longest time, Tom Aspinall was campaigning to get a crack at Jon Jones and the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship. Unfortunately, Jones wasn’t at all interested in making that fight happen. A lot of fans, pundits and critics felt as if he was clearly ducking the Englishman, but regardless of the circumstances behind it, the bout never came to fruition after Jon opted to retire from mixed martial arts.

Cole Shelton - August 12, 2025

The 202nd episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC 319. We’re first joined by UFC lightweight Diego Ferreira (0:58). We close things out by chatting with UFC lightweight Drakkar Klose (11:40).

BJPENN.COM Staff - August 11, 2025

Brotherhood runs deeper than blood for Nabil Anane when it comes to his relationship with younger sibling Yonis Anane. The ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion found his closest ally and training partner within his own family. The Anane brothers have forged their careers side by side at ONE Championship, with Nabil currently holding undisputed gold while 18-year-old Yonis begins his own ascent through the strawweight Muay Thai ranks. Their parallel journeys started in childhood when both brothers embraced “the art of eight limbs” simultaneously.

Cole Shelton - August 11, 2025

The UFC was in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, August 9, for UFC Vegas 109. The main event saw middleweight contenders throw down as Anthony Hernandez took on Roman Dolidze. Entering the fight, Hernandez was riding a seven-fight winning streak, while Dolidze was on a three-fight winning streak and was coming off a win over Marvin Vettori.