MMA News
Superbon confident in teammate's chances against Yuki Yoza at ONE Friday Fights 116
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 27, 2025
ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon has thrown his full support behind former bantamweight kickboxing king Petchtanong Petchfergus when the latter returns at ONE Friday Fights 116. Petchtanong meets former K-1 Champion Yuki Yoza on Friday, July 18, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Nico Carrillo reveals the life-changing advice he learned after KO loss: "It will rot your heart"
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 27, 2025
Fourth-ranked featherweight Muay Thai star Nico Carrillo has learned valuable lessons about moving forward after setbacks. And he’s offered advice to everyday people on how to do the same. The Scottish striker suffered a devastating loss to ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane at ONE 170 in January. Carrillo was stopped in the first round by the Algerian-Thai powerhouse. The loss left many questioning whether “King of the North” could bounce back from such a crushing blow.
George Jarvis "always knew" he'd cross paths with Regian Eersel
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 27, 2025
For as long as he’s been fighting, British Muay Thai contender George Jarvis has felt a clash with two-sport ONE World Champion Regian Eersel has been inevitable. Jarvis challenges Eersel for the ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE Fight Night 34 on Friday, August 1, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Fifth time's the charm: Muangthai eager to topple Seksan at ONE Friday Fights 114
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 27, 2025
Thai fan favorite Muangthai PK Saenchai has been chasing redemption against fierce striker Seksan Or Kwanmuang for almost a decade. And he feels their fifth encounter will see him finally get his hand raised. The seasoned strikers meet for the fifth time in 140-pound Muay Thai action at ONE Friday Fights 114 on Friday, June 27, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Former Jon Jones rival claims retirement was the smart move: “His legacy outweighs that”
Cole Shelton - June 26, 2025
Jon Jones’ former teammate and rival, Rashad Evans, thinks ‘Bones’ retiring was a good decision. Jones announced his retirement from the sport as the heavyweight champ, which meant he wouldn’t fight Tom Aspinall. Although that was a fight many fans wanted to see, Evans doesn’t think it’s a big deal for Jon Jones’ legacy that he won’t fight the Brit.
Brandon Royval claims he's the "most disrespected fighter in the UFC" ahead of UFC 317
Cole Shelton - June 26, 2025
Brandon Royval believes he doesn’t get the respect he deserves. Royval is set to take on Joshua Van at UFC 317 on Saturday in a potential No. 1 contender bout. Heading into the fight, Royval is once again the underdog, despite Van being ranked below him and taking it on short notice.
Renato Moicano believes he has "to kill" Beneil Dariush at UFC 317 to remain in title picture
Cole Shelton - June 26, 2025
Renato Moicano believes the pressure is on him to not just beat Beneil Dariush but finish him at UFC 317. Moicano was supposed to face Dariush back in January. But, on weigh-in day, after Arman Tsarukyan pulled out, Moicano stepped up on a day’s notice to face Islam Makhachev for the belt. The Brazilian ended up losing by first-round submission and was rebooked to face Dariush at UFC 317 on Saturday.
Kai Kara-France isn't expecting to finish Alexandre Pantoja early at UFC 317
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 26, 2025
Kai Kara-France believes he has realistic expectations for his title fight against Alexandre Pantoja. Kara-France and Pantoja will collide in the UFC 317 co-headliner on Saturday. Pantoja’s UFC Flyweight Championship will be at stake. While Kara-France has competed for interim gold, this will be his first undisputed UFC title fight.
UFC 317 fighter is 'extremely disappointed' about Islam Makhachev vacating lightweight title
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 26, 2025
One fighter scheduled for the UFC 317 card can’t help but feel disappointed after Islam Makhachev’s move to the welterweight division. Once Saturday’s main event between Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria begins, Makhachev will officially vacate the lightweight gold. Oliveira vs. Topuria is being contested to determine a new 155-pound titleholder. Makhachev will challenge UFC Welterweight Champion Jack Della Maddalena at a date to be announced.
Max Holloway cautions fans against doubting Charles Oliveira at UFC 317: 'This fight is up in the air'
BJ Penn Staff - June 26, 2025
Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is better positioned than most to break down this weekend’s Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira fight. Topuria and Oliveira are set to meet for the vacant lightweight title in the main event of 317. It goes down tomorrow night in Las Vegas.
New UFC heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall lays out plans for busy 2025: 'I've wasted enough time'
BJ Penn Staff - June 26, 2025
Tom Aspinall waited a long time to be promoted to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion. With that settled, he’s hoping to make up for lost time. Aspinall claimed the interim heavyweight title with a quick knockout of Sergei Pavlovich in late 2023. He spent nearly all of the time since chasing a fight with Jon Jones, who held the division’s undisputed title. However, Jones had no interest in the matchup, and instead beat an aging Stipe Miocic last November, and after months of pulling Aspinall along, finally announced his retirement last weekend. That meant that Aspinall was finally became the true heavyweight king.
WATCH | Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira share wholesome moment ahead of UFC 317 fight
BJ Penn Staff - June 26, 2025
Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira are set to fight for UFC gold in just over 24 hours, but there is clearly nothing but respect between then. Topuria and Oliveira will meet in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 317 card in Las Vegas. They’ll be competing for the vacant lightweight title, which Islam Makhachev left behind with plans to move up to welterweight.
Yuya Wakamatsu calls out Alexandre Pantoja for cross-promotion bout
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 26, 2025
ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya Wakamatsu is scouting for viable contenders to his gold – both in and outside of ONE Championship. “Little Piranha” appeared at this week’s press conference in Tokyo for ONE 173, all but confirming him featuring at the event on Sunday, November 16, inside Tokyo, Japan’s Ariake Arena.
Reug Reug says "African power" is key to victory in Anatoly Malykhin rematch at ONE 173
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 25, 2025
Reigning ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane has revealed he’s unimpressed by two-weight king Anatoly Malykhin‘s firepower. The Senegalese standout shook off many of the Russian’s strikes last November at ONE 169. And that leaves him confident heading into their highly anticipated rematch. The giants will run it back for the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri, on Sunday, November 16, inside Tokyo Japan’s Ariake Arena.
Alexandre Pantoja reveals potential next opponent should he win at UFC 317
Cole Shelton - June 25, 2025
Alexandre Pantoja is committed to staying at flyweight. Pantoja is looking to defend his flyweight title for the fourth time. He’s set to take on Kai Kara-France in the co-main event of UFC 317. Given that Pantoja has already beaten a lot of the contenders, who he fights next is a big question.
Charles Oliveira expects Ilia Topuria to "fold" at UFC 317: "This is for my legacy"
Cole Shelton - June 25, 2025
Charles Oliveira believes he will be too much and will make Ilia Topuria fold at UFC 317. Oliveira is set to face Topuria in the main event of UFC 317 for the vacant lightweight title. It’s an intriguing matchup, and despite Oliveira being a sizeable underdog, he has plenty of confidence that he won’t just beat, but will finish Topuria to once again become the lightweight champion.
Kevin Holland gets unranked opponent in 4th UFC fight of 2025
BJ Penn Staff - June 25, 2025
If you thought Kevin Holland would be getting a ranked opponent after taking out Vicente Luque earlier this month, think again. Holland met Luque, a staple of the welterweight top-15, at UFC 316. He won the fight with a second-round anaconda choke—a finish so slick it earned him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
Jon Jones announces new business venture following UFC retirement
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 25, 2025
Jon Jones has made his first major business move since retiring from pro MMA competition. During the UFC Baku post-fight press conference, Dana White revealed that “Bones” decided to call it a career after a legendary run. The end of Jones’ career wasn’t without controversy, however, as fans have accused the MMA legend of avoiding a title unification bout with Tom Aspinall. Jones has had fun with the messages from angry spectators, using an image of a duck holding UFC gold as his profile pic on social media.