MMA News
UFC champ Tom Aspinall sends classy final message to newly retired Jon Jones
BJ Penn Staff - June 27, 2025
England’s Tom Aspinall has spent the last few years of his career doing everything he could to set up a UFC showdown with Jon Jones. It’s now clear that won’t be happening, but the Brit isn’t holding onto any animosity toward his would-be opponent. Jones is best known for his reign as UFC light heavyweight champion, but spent the last few years as the promotion’s heavyweight champion. During much of that time, Aspinall was the division’s interim champion. He relentlessly campaigned for a title-unifying showdown with Jones. Yet in the end, the former light heavyweight champ retired before the fight came together.
Sean Strickland makes worrying claim about Nick and Nate Diaz's mental health issues
BJ Penn Staff - June 27, 2025
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has made a concerning claim about the mental health troubles of MMA stars Nick and Nate Diaz. Strickland got to talking about the Diaz brothers during a recent interaction on X. It started when he responded to a recent post from former UFC middleweight Derek Brunson, who explained why he was forced to end his friendship with Jon Jones.
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.
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.
Terrance McKinney vows to "test" Viacheslav Borshchev's chin early at UFC 317: "I'm coming for the first-round finish"
Cole Shelton - June 26, 2025
Terrance McKinney is looking to put on a statement at UFC 317. McKinney is set to take on Viacheslav Borshchev in an intriguing lightweight scrap. McKinney is coming off a dominant win over Damir Hadzovic back in February. After the win, McKinney wasn’t sure what would be next, but he was thrilled when he got the call to fight at International Fight Week.
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.
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.
Former UFC champion shares grim prediction for Charles Oliveira's fight against Ilia Topuria
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 26, 2025
An ex-UFC titleholder doesn’t believe Saturday night ends well for Charles Oliveira. Oliveira will be facing Ilia Topuria for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship. The title fight will headline UFC 317 on Saturday in Las Vegas. Once the fight begins, Islam Makhachev will officially relinquish the 155-pound gold.
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.
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.
UFC vet Derek Brunson explains why Jon Jones friendship ended: 'I couldn't sit back and watch'
BJ Penn Staff - June 26, 2025
Derek Brunson and Jon Jones shared a brief friendship while they were both competing in the UFC, but it didn’t last. Brunson has now explained why. Brunson and Jones became friends around 2011. That was back when the former had just joined the UFC middleweight division, and the latter was beginning his legendary reign as promotion’s light heavyweight champion. During that time, Brunson would visit Jones’ hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, to train at the famed Jackson Wink MMA gym.
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.
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.
Islam Makhachev reveals targeted date for UFC super fight with Jack Della Maddalena
BJ Penn Staff - June 25, 2025
It is not yet known when Islam Makhachev will fight Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC welterweight title, but the pound-for-pound king knows when he wants it to happen. Russia’s Makhachev is widely considered the best fighter on earth right now. He enjoyed a long reign as the UFC lightweight champion, but recently vacated his throne to move up to welterweight. Given his status among the sport’s best fighters, he’s expected to walk right into a fight with welterweight champ Jack Della Maddalena of Australia.