MMA News
Chael Sonnen argues Ilia Topuria should already have 3 UFC belts
BJ Penn Staff - July 3, 2025
If you ask Chael Sonnen, Ilia Topuria should already have three UFC titles—not two. Topuria is undefeated at 17-0. His last three wins have been particularly impressive. First, he knocked out featherweight legend Alexander Volkanovski to claim that division’s title. Then he defended the featherweight belt with a knockout o another legend in Max Holloway—who had never been stopped with strikes before. He then vacated the featherweight belt, and moved up to lightweight, where he knocked out a third legend in Charles Oliveira to claim the division’s vacant title.
Swedish fighter believes she can stop Allycia Hellen Rodrigues with elbows: "That's all I can say"
BJPENN.COM Staff - July 2, 2025
Seven years of grinding has led Johanna Persson to this moment. Now she just needs to seize it. The Swedish striker challenges reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues at ONE Fight Night 33 on Friday, July 11, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. For Persson, the title shot represents the culmination of everything she’s worked toward.
Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg predicts vicious ending to Jhanlo Mark Sangiao fight: "Put him to sleep"
BJPENN.COM Staff - July 2, 2025
Confidence isn’t something Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg lacks heading into his next assignment. The question is whether he can back it up. The Mongolian striker faces Filipino prospect Jhanlo Mark Sangiao in bantamweight MMA action at ONE Fight Night 33 on Friday, July 11, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. For Zoltsetseg, the bout represents a chance to silence critics after his recent setback.
Ilia Topuria calls Paddy Pimblett one of the "easiest fights" at lightweight: "I could choose the way I finish him"
Cole Shelton - July 2, 2025
Ilia Topuria believes Paddy Pimblett would be an easy fight for him, and one of the easiest fights in the division. After Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to win the vacant lightweight title, Pimblett went into the Octagon to face off with him. Although Dana White wasn’t happy that happened, many fans are hoping that is the next fight. But if it is the next fight, Topuria has full confidence that he will win.
Colby Covington names ideal opponent for next UFC bout: I want 'Hall-of-Famer type fights'
BJ Penn Staff - July 2, 2025
Colby Covington only wants the biggest names possible in the UFC from here. Covington, known as much for his virulent trash talk as he is for his fighting ability, is one of the best welterweights of this generation. However, he has now lost his last two fights, and is 2-3 dating back 2020. Given his recent losses, and the fact that he is now 37, most fans feel his career is winding down.
Bo Nickal set to return to wrestling following disastrous UFC loss
BJ Penn Staff - July 2, 2025
Bo Nickal is shifting gears after his first UFC loss. Nickal, a decorated amateur wrestler, started 2025 as one of the hottest prospects in the UFC. Then he ran into Reinier de Ridder. De Ridder, a former ONE Championship titleholder, absolutely dominated Nickal when they met in early May, handing the wrestling specialist his first MMA loss with a second-round TKO.
Renato Moicano gets honest with himself in first statement since UFC 317 loss: 'I need to get better'
BJ Penn Staff - July 2, 2025
Renato Moicano knows he needs to get better after his UFC 317 loss to Beneil Dariush. Moicano met Dariush on the event’s main card. At the time, Dariush was ranked No. 9 at lightweight, and Moicano No. 11, so it was a big fight for the division. It was also Moicano’s opportunity to rebound from a quick loss to Islam Makhachev in a short-notice title fight earlier this year.
Arman Tsarukyan sends a message to Ilia Topuria: "See you soon"
Cole Shelton - July 2, 2025
Arman Tsarukyan has sent a message to Ilia Topuria as he looks to get the next title shot. Topuria became the UFC’s lightweight champion with a stunning first-round knockout win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Following the win, Paddy Pimblett came into the Octagon to face off with Topuria, but it’s not definitive that he will be next.
Top UFC contender blames Joe Rogan for Ilia Topuria's staredown with Paddy Pimblett
Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 2, 2025
One top-ranked UFC lightweight has pinned blame on Joe Rogan for the staredown between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett. Topuria is fresh off another stellar knockout victory, capturing the UFC Lightweight Championship in the process. It didn’t take long for “El Matador” to find Charles Oliveira’s chin, scoring the first-round finish. After the bout, Pimblett was brought inside the Octagon for a faceoff with Topuria. The newly minted UFC 155-pound titleholder shoved “The Baddy” before security broke things up.
Ilia Topuria has already surpassed Conor McGregor, says former UFC champion
Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 2, 2025
A former UFC titleholder believes Ilia Topuria’s run has surpassed Conor McGregor’s. Topuria has dazzled fans with his last three performances. “El Matador” captured the UFC Featherweight Championship by knocking Alexander Volkanovski out. He followed that up by becoming the first fighter to put Max Holloway to sleep. Then, at UFC 317, Topuria scored a first-round knockout victory over Charles Oliveira to become the new UFC Lightweight Champion.
Shadow Singha Mawynn opens up about childhood poverty: "I didn't even dare to dream"
BJPENN.COM Staff - July 1, 2025
Success hasn’t made Shadow Singha Mawynn forget where he came from. If anything, it’s made those memories more vivid. The #3-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender faces Mohamed Younes Rabah at ONE Fight Night 33 on Friday, July 11, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. For the 25-year-old Thai striker, the bout represents validation of a journey that seemed impossible just years ago.
Jhanlo Mark Sangiao shares honest feelings about fatherhood: "More nervous than all my fights combined"
BJPENN.COM Staff - July 1, 2025
Jhanlo Mark Sangiao enters his comeback fight carrying extra weight on his shoulders. But this time, it’s the good kind. The Filipino bantamweight MMA fighter faces Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg at ONE Fight Night 33 on Friday, July 11, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. The bout marks his first appearance since losing to Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu in August 2023.
Belal Muhammad questions if Kamaru Usman truly wants to fight him amid beef
Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 1, 2025
Belal Muhammad isn’t exactly sold that Kamaru Usman wants to fight him. There is history between Muhammad and “The Nigerian Nightmare.” The two were involved in a scuffle during an unaired episode of the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast. Since that incident, both men have traded barbs online and through interviews.
Dustin Poirier shares honest assessment of Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev
Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 1, 2025
Dustin Poirier has offered his assessment of a clash between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev. Plans are in place for Maddalena to put the UFC Welterweight Championship at stake against Makhachev at some point in the coming months. While the date hasn’t been confirmed, Dana White admitted to media members that a New York City card in November might be a good landing spot for Maddalena vs. Makhachev.
Tracy Cortez isn't overly happy despite defeating Viviane Araujo at UFC 317
Harry Kettle - July 1, 2025
UFC flyweight contender Tracy Cortez is disappointed she didn’t get the finish against Viviane Araújo at UFC 317 last weekend. For the longest time now, Tracy Cortez has been seen as a legitimate title threat in the women’s flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. However, after falling short in an outing against Rose Namajunas, some questioned whether or not she’d ever be able to win the big one.
Ilia Topuria gives his thoughts on possible UFC title fight against Justin Gaethje
Harry Kettle - July 1, 2025
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has given his thoughts on a potential title fight against Justin Gaethje. Last weekend, Ilia Topuria cemented his position as the #1 pound for pound fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He was able to defeat Charles Oliveira to capture the lightweight title, joining a small group of people who have been able to win belts in two different divisions.
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili provides update on next UFC title fight
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.
Reug Reug unbothered by Anatoly Malykhin's pre-fight banter: "He's gonna talk rubbish"
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.