MMA News
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Merab Dvalishvili's coach sends stern warning to Umar Nurmagomedov on potential rematch
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 25, 2025
The head coach of Merab Dvalishvili doesn’t think Umar Nurmagomedov would fare much better against his fighter in a rematch. Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov first shared the Octagon back in January. “The Machine” put the UFC Bantamweight Championship at stake against the previously unbeaten Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili ended up winning the fight via unanimous decision to retain the 135-pound gold.
Former Charles Oliveira opponent reveals key to defeating Ilia Topuria at UFC 317
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 25, 2025
A former opponent of Charles Oliveira believes he knows what “do Bronx” must do to defeat Ilia Topuria. Oliveira and Topuria are set to collide for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship on Saturday. The bout will headline UFC 317 to cap off “International Fight Week” in Las Vegas. Oliveira is the underdog going into this bout.