MMA News

Curtis Calhoun - January 13, 2026

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will headline UFC Seattle on March 28th as he looks to snap a three-fight skid. After winning 23 of his first 24 MMA fights, former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has lost four of his last five bouts, including back-to-back stoppage defeats to Dricus du Plessis and Nassourdine Imavov. Adesanya faces a must-win situation if he wants to get back into the middleweight title mix amid a three-fight losing streak.

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 13, 2026

ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon delivered a message about their Superbon Training Camp teammate Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon. The 22-year-old Thai sensation is ready for bantamweight gold. He tests that confidence when he faces dangerous Russian knockout artist Abdulla Dayakaev in bantamweight Muay Thai in the main event at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 23, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.

Curtis Calhoun - January 13, 2026

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka had an unusual response to an award he received for one of his recent performances. UFC star Jiri Prochazka has proven himself to be one of combat sports’ most colorful characters.

Curtis Calhoun - January 13, 2026

UFC legend Nick Diaz is back in the gym after multiple failed comeback attempts in 2024 and growing concerns about his well-being. Former UFC title challenger and superstar fighter Nick Diaz looks to be in great spirits after a tumultuous last few years away from the Octagon.

Curtis Calhoun - January 13, 2026

One of the most exciting fighters outside of the UFC, Bryan Battle, will make his Professional Fighters League debut against a huge name. The PFL continues to go under a massive restructuring with its fighter roster and business leadership as 2026 kicks off. One of the league’s biggest recent signings was former The Ultimate Fighter winner Bryan Battle, who signed a contract with the league after a recent two-fight stint in Dirty Boxing Championship.

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 13, 2026

Ryohei Kurosawa doesn’t just see victory coming. He’s already visualized exactly when it arrives. The Japanese striker meets Bokang Masunyane in strawweight MMA at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 23, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. The 32-year-old brings a six-fight winning streak that includes three knockouts into his sophomore promotional appearance. His confidence sits at career highs after dominating Jayson Miralpez last September in his promotional debut.

Curtis Calhoun - January 13, 2026

Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is leaving no stone unturned ahead of his BMF title fight with Max Holloway. We’re just under two weeks away from the UFC’s long-awaited return to action to kick off 2026, after weeks of inactivity. It was recently announced that one of the first Paramount+ cards of the year, UFC 326, will feature a BMF title fight between former UFC titleholders Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira in a highly anticipated rematch.

BJ Penn Staff - January 13, 2026

Dana White will be making a “special announcement” for UFC fans on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Plans for an announcement from White were revealed by UFC social media accounts early in the day. The announcement will be made on Instagram Live, but an exact time was not specified.

BJ Penn Staff - January 13, 2026

A jury trial has begun for a former UFC fighter accused of murdering a 17-year-old. The fighter in question is former UFC heavyweight Icho Larenas (born Edouardo Larenas), 45. The incident occurred almost four years ago during a home invasion in Laval, Quebec, Canada—a city that borders Montreal.

Dylan Bowker - January 12, 2026

Arman Tsarukyan confronted MMA Guru recently regarding the latter’s thoughts on a potential mega fight between two of the top pound-for-pound ranked fighters in the UFC today. The surging UFC lightweight contender appeared with the controversial MMA pundit on a recent live stream curated by Adin Ross. During this stream, Tsarukyan stated how he thinks the reigning UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria would have no chance against the current UFC welterweight titleholder Islam Makhachev. Then Tsarukyan asked MMA Guru if he thinks Topuria can beat Makhachev, with MMA Guru then quipping about how he thinks Topuria could defeat Makhachev at 155 pounds but not at the welterweight limit.

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 12, 2026

Stamp Fairtex survived the comeback. Now she wants the crown back. The former three-sport ONE World Champion returned from a career-threatening knee injury last November against Kana Morimoto in atomweight kickboxing at ONE 173 inside Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.

Curtis Calhoun - January 12, 2026

Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has faced many top names, but one name stands above the rest for the superstar fighter. Sean O’Malley is days away from his return to the Octagon as he faces surging bantamweight contender Song Yadong at UFC 324 in Las Vegas. O’Malley will look to snap the first losing skid of his career against Yadong in an elite striking matchup.

BJPENN.COM Staff - January 12, 2026

Natalie Salcedo never imagined insurance work would lead her to fighting. But routine has a way of pushing people toward the unexpected. The undefeated atomweight meets Chihiro Sawada in an MMA clash at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 23, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium. The 33-year-old American brings a perfect 4-0 professional record into her second promotional appearance after submitting Macarena Aragon via armbar at ONE Fight Night 35 last September.

Cole Shelton - January 12, 2026

Bo Nickal is hopeful to fight Colby Covington at the White House event. Covington has hinted at moving up to middleweight, and if he does, Nickal would like to welcome him to the division. The two got into it verbally at the RAF wrestling event over the weekend, which has led to Nickal wanting the fight. If the fight does happen, Nickal would like it to be at the White House.

Curtis Calhoun - January 12, 2026

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou’s longtime coach wants to see Dana White and his pupil call a truce on their ongoing feud. The longstanding beef between UFC CEO Dana White and former heavyweight titleholder Francis Ngannou remains as tense as ever, years after their feud led to Ngannou parting ways with the promotion. Ngannou signed with the PFL in 2023 after a long contract dispute with White and the UFC.

Cole Shelton - January 12, 2026

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has shot down retirement rumors ahead of UFC 325. Volkanovski is set to headline UFC 325 on January 31 in Australia against Diego Lopes in a rematch of their fight from last year. The champ enters the bout as a -164 favorite while Lopes is a +128 underdog on FanDuel.

BJ Penn Staff - January 12, 2026

Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk is one of the best female fighters ever. Apparently, one aggressive party guest learned that the hard way back in the day. During a recent conversation with fellow UFC legend Chuck Liddell on King of Violence, Jedrzejczyk was asked if she had ever been in a street fight. The former champ didn’t have to think about it long.

BJ Penn Staff - January 12, 2026

Francis Ngannou is keen to return to MMA, and his coach would love to see it happen in the UFC Octagon. Ngannou is the former UFC heavyweight champion. Several years ago, he famously left the promotion—vacating the title in the process—to seek out new opportunities as a free agent.