MMA News

Harry Kettle - July 1, 2025

UFC bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili has provided an update on the next time he steps into the Octagon. As we know, Merab Dvalishvili is easily one of the best fighters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship today. He is the king of the bantamweight division and after successfully defending his belt against Sean O’Malley, many have started to call him the greatest bantamweight of all time.

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 30, 2025

ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane refuses to bite any of the bait thrown his way by two-weight ONE MMA king Anatoly Malykhin. The pair clash in a ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title rematch at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, at Tokyo, Japan’s Ariake Arena.

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 30, 2025

Suablack Tor Pran49 revealed he felt like the restraints were let loose this past Friday, June 27, as he shocked the world in his kickboxing debut. The Thai striker ended his three-fight losing streak in spectacular fashion as he dominated Sangarthit Looksaikongdin in 140-pound kickboxing action at ONE Friday Fights 114, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.

Cole Shelton - June 30, 2025

The UFC was in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday for a solid UFC 317 card. The main event saw Ilia Topuria taking on Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title. The co-main event saw Alexandre Pantoja defending his flyweight strap against Kai Kara-France. Ultimately, it was Topuria who scored a first-round knockout win over Oliveira to become the lightweight champ. Pantoja dominated Kara-France, en route to a submission win to defend his flyweight title. Following UFC 317, here is what I think should be next for the stars of the event.

BJ Penn Staff - June 30, 2025

Dricus Du Plessis just dropped some absolutely huge UFC news. Apparently, Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje are set to fight before the summer is over. Du Plessis, the UFC middleweight champion, is set to defend his title against undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, which goes on August 16 in Chicago. He claims that top lightweight contenders Pimblett and Gaethje are set to meet in the card’s co-main event.

BJ Penn Staff - June 30, 2025

Gregory Rodrigues has heard the criticism of his brutal UFC 317 knockout victory, but doesn’t seem to bothered by it. Rodrigues was back in action on the event’s undercard, taking on long-time staple of the middleweight top-15, Jack Hermansson. It was a crucial fight for the Brazilian, who was beaten by Jared Cannonier in his first bout with a ranked opponent earlier this year. To say he won his rebound fight impressively would be an understatement.

Cole Shelton - June 30, 2025

Javier Mendez, the head coach of Islam Makhachev, believes his fighter is taking the hardest fight possible. Makhachev vacated his lightweight title to move up to welterweight to face Jack Della Maddalena. It’s an intriguing matchup, but after Ilia Topuria won at UFC 317, many fans want Makhachev back at 155lbs to face Topuria.

Cole Shelton - June 30, 2025

Sean O’Malley is glad he never got the chance to fight Ilia Topuria. While O’Malley and Topuria were UFC champions, ‘Suga’ had been calling out the Georgian-Spaniard for a champ-champ fight. It would have been one of the biggest fights in recent memory, but it didn’t come to fruition.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 30, 2025

Brandon Royval has spoken out after his three-round war against Joshua Van. Royval and Van competed this past Saturday at UFC 317 for a shot at the UFC Flyweight Championship. Both men fought as if the title was on the line at that moment, the fans inside T-Mobile Arena appreciated the nonstop action. A late knockdown helped Van seal the unanimous decision victory. He is now set to challenge Alexandre Pantoja for the 125-pound gold at some point.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 30, 2025

Ben Askren is fighting through a serious health issue, but there is some good news for the retired 22-fight veteran. Severe pneumonia has forced Askren to stay in a hospital bed the past several weeks. Askren’s wife Amy later revealed that the former Bellator and ONE Championship titleholder was put on the transplant list. After weeks of uncertainty, Amy has shared on social media that Askren has undergone surgery for a double lung transplant.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 29, 2025

Charles Oliveira is in high spirits despite suffering a knockout defeat at the hands of Ilia Topuria. Oliveira was hoping to become a two-time UFC Lightweight Champion this past Saturday. He was fighting “El Matador” for the vacant 155-pound gold. Early on, “do Bronx” grabbed a hold of Topuria’s leg, but there was nothing doing there. Once the bout returned to the feet, Topuria landed a right hook that knocked Oliveira unconscious while he was still standing. A left hook for good measure sealed the deal.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 29, 2025

Alexandre Pantoja believes Joshua Van will prove to be his greatest adversary. Pantoja has looked dominant as the 125-pound champion. After defeating Brandon Moreno to capture the gold, Pantoja has successfully thwarted the challenges of Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura, and most recently Kai Kara-France. Pantoja submitted Kara-France in the third round to retain his 125-pound gold.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 29, 2025

UFC CEO Dana White is denying recent claims made by retired MMA legend Jon Jones. White announced Jones’ retirement during the UFC Baku post-fight press conference. As a result, “Bones” vacated the heavyweight gold, and Tom Aspinall now has undisputed status. White has admitted that a title unification bout between Jones and Aspinall had been agreed to, but “Bones” changed his mind.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 29, 2025

Arman Tsarukyan believes Ilia Topuria is already avoiding him. Topuria just scored his third knockout victory in a row against another future UFC Hall of Famer. He went one-on-one with Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship. “El Matador” capped off UFC 317 in Las Vegas with a first-round knockout victory.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 29, 2025

Dana White doesn’t sound like he’ll be giving into Justin Gaethje’s demand for a title shot. Gaethje was in attendance for UFC 317 inside T-Mobile Arena to witness Ilia Topuria knock Chares Oliveira out to capture the lightweight title. Topuria’s prediction came true as he finished the fight in the opening frame. During Topuria’s post-fight interview, he had a staredown with Paddy Pimblett. “El Matador” shoved “The Baddy.”

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 29, 2025

Dana White was just as impressed as anyone who witnessed Ilia Topuria starch Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Topuria and Oliveira fought for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship this past Saturday in Las Vegas. “El Matador” was moving up in weight following his reign with UFC featherweight gold. After Topuria avoided a leg submission attempt from “do Bronx,” he delivered some leg kicks as Oliveira was on his back before referee Marc Goddard ensured the fight returned to the feet. Shortly after, Topuria slept Oliveira with a right hook, followed by a left.

Chris Taylor - June 28, 2025

Tonight’s UFC 317 event was headlined by a fight between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira for the promotion’s vacant lightweight title. Topuria (17-0 MMA) was returning to action for the first time since knocking out Max Holloway at UFC 308 this past October (see that here). Shortly following that first career featherweight title defense, ‘El Matador’ announced that he would be vacating the 145lbs strap in order to move up to the promotion‘s lightweight division.

Chris Taylor - June 28, 2025

We have you covered for all of tonight’s UFC 317 results, including the lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira. Topuria (17-0 MMA) will be returning to action for the first time since knocking out Max Holloway at UFC 308 this past October (see that here). Shortly following his first career featherweight title defense, ‘El Matador’ announced that he would be vacating the 145lbs strap in order to move up to the promotion‘s lightweight division.