MMA News
Islam Makhachev warned by UFC legend to avoid costly mistake: 'It only gets harder'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 19, 2025
One UFC icon hopes Islam Makhachev can avoid making a big mistake. Makhachev will officially relinquish the UFC Lightweight Championship once the vacant title fight between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira begins. Topuria vs. Oliveira will headline UFC 317 in Las Vegas on June 28. As for Makhachev, he will be challenging UFC Welterweight Champion Jack Della Maddalena at a date to be determined.
Conor McGregor punched bar patron 'for absolutely no reason' according to witness
BJ Penn Staff - June 19, 2025
UFC star Conor McGregor has once again found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons. Earlier this week, footage surfaced on social media that appeared to show McGregor punching another man in the face two times at the famous Pacha night club in Ibiza. When the footage first emerged, there wasn’t much information to go on, other than what we could see in the clip.
UFC signs two Polish MMA champions with endorsements from Joanna Jedrzejczyk
BJ Penn Staff - June 19, 2025
The UFC has signed two high-level European MMA champions—both of whom seem to have a seal approval from Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The UFC has been on a role signing new talent lately, adding names like Patricio “Pitbull” Freire and Aaron Pico to its roster. The promotion is not slowing down.
Jon Jones finally confirms he's done with UFC for now: 'I’ve punched and kicked enough people'
BJ Penn Staff - June 19, 2025
At this point, it’s safe to say we can give up hope on a UFC super fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. Fans have been waiting to see Jon Jones defend the UFC heavyweight title against Aspinall, the division’s interim champion, since 2023. Instead, Jones swerved the matchup in favor of a late-2024 fight with Stipe Miocic, forcing Aspinall to make a rare interim title defense against Curtis Blaydes. In fact, Jones has been so publicly against the matchup that fans have long questioned if he intends to fight again at all. UFC boss Dana White has done his best to keep hope alive, but now, holding out hope seems foolish.
Joaquin Buckley admits he feels humilated after defeat to Kamaru Usman
Harry Kettle - June 19, 2025
UFC star Joaquin Buckley has admitted that he feels humiliated in the wake of his loss to Kamaru Usman last weekend. As we know, Joaquin Buckley fell short in his attempt to defeat former UFC champion Kamaru Usman last Saturday night. In the main event of UFC Atlanta, Usman was able to control Joaquin for most of the fight before getting his hand raised on the scorecards.
Darren Till shares boxing hitlist ahead of potential return
Harry Kettle - June 19, 2025
Former UFC sensation Darren Till has shared a list of potential opponents for him to face in his boxing return. As we know, Darren Till is a pretty interesting character. He had a solid run in the Ultimate Fighting Championship but after a string of losses, he decided to test the waters outside of the promotion. Instead of mixed martial arts, though, he opted to venture into the world of boxing.
Kamaru Usman didn't try to KO Joaquin Buckley late after flashback to famous defeat
Harry Kettle - June 19, 2025
UFC legend Kamaru Usman has said that he didn’t try to knock Joaquin Buckley out late in the fight after getting flashbacks to his KO defeat at the hands of Leon Edwards. Last Saturday night, Kamaru Usman got back to winning ways inside the Octagon. After three straight defeats, he was able to pick up a decision win over Joaquin Buckley. For the first four rounds, he was dominating the contest through his wrestling – but that changed in the fifth.
Jamahal Hill responds negatively after being asked about previous UFC losses
Harry Kettle - June 19, 2025
UFC light heavyweight Jamahal Hill has responded negatively to being asked about his recent losses in the Octagon. On Saturday night, Jamahal Hill will make his return to active competition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He will lock horns with Khalil Rountree Jr in the main event of UFC Baku, and if he can pick up a big win, there’s every chance that he could vault himself back into title contention.
Allycia Hellen Rodrigues puts atomweight crown on line versus Johanna Persson at ONE Fight Night 33
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 19, 2025
Reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues defends her strap against Swedish striker Johanna Persson, ONE Championship has announced. The clash headlines ONE Fight Night 33 on Friday, July 11, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Ignacio Bahamondes claims he's "willing to die" against Rafael Fiziev at UFC Baku: "It's going to be fireworks"
Cole Shelton - June 18, 2025
Ignacio Bahamondes is expecting a war against Rafael Fiziev at UFC Baku. Bahamondes is set to take on the 11th-ranked Fiziev in a three-round co-main event scrap. Both men are strikers, so Bahamondes is eager to throw down, and he says he’s preparing for a war and willing to die against Fiziev.
Lil’ Wayne responds to Dustin Poirier’s UFC 318 retirement walkout request
BJ Penn Staff - June 18, 2025
Dustin Poirier will have prestigious company when he walks to the Octagon for his final UFC fight next month. Poirier, one of the greatest lightweights in MMA history, is set to fight for a final time in the main event of UFC 318 on July 19. His opponent will be former featherweight champion Max Holloway — a man he has already beaten twice, but who is just as legendary a fighter.
UFC 317 suffers major blow as main card fight gets rescheduled
BJ Penn Staff - June 18, 2025
UFC 317 took a major blow this week, as main card matchup involving Paulo Costa was rescheduled for a later date. Brazil’s Costa, a former UFC middleweight title challenger, was set to meet Russia’s Roman Kopylov on the June 28 event’s main card. According to a report from Laerta Viana, however, the Brazilian has come down with an illness. That has forced the UFC to move his fight with Kopylov to UFC 318, which is slated for July 19.
Alex Pereira shares prediction for Jamahal Hill vs Khalil Rountree at UFC Baku
Cole Shelton - June 18, 2025
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has shared his prediction for Saturday’s UFC Baku main event. The main event of UFC Baku sees Jamahal Hill taking on Khalil Rountree in a pivotal light heavyweight bout. Both men are looking to get back into the win column, and both were knocked out by Pereira.
UFC Abu Dhabi fighter Bryce Mitchell explains move to bantamweight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 18, 2025
Bryce Mitchell is trying his hand in the bantamweight division, and he has detailed why that is the case. Mitchell is set to return to action on the UFC Abu Dhabi card, which is scheduled for July 26. He’ll be sharing the Octagon with Said Nurmagomedov. It’s a pivotal clash for both men, as they are coming off losses. In the case of Mitchell, he’s cutting down in weight after spending most of his career at 145 pounds. The lone exception had been Mitchell’s pro MMA debut, which was contested at bantamweight.
Julianna Pena reveals key factor in UFC 316 title loss to Kayla Harrison
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 18, 2025
Julianna Pena believes her UFC 316 performance was hindered. Pena put the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship at stake against Kayla Harrison in Newark on June 7. The title fight served as the co-main event of UFC 316. Harrison’s grappling proved to be too much for Pena, who was submitted via kimura at the end of the second round.
Robert Whittaker's next UFC fight is official and it might surprise you
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 18, 2025
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker has his next fight booked, and it isn’t what fans were expecting. While rising contenders such as Caio Borralho had been pounding the table to fight “The Reaper,” Whittaker made it clear publicly that he preferred to fight Sean Strickland since their paths have never crossed inside the Octagon. Neither Borralho nor Strickland will be facing Whittaker next.
Tom Aspinall's training partner and MMA champion doesn't think Jon Jones fight will happen
Harry Kettle - June 18, 2025
KSW heavyweight champion Phil De Fries isn’t convinced that the proposed Tom Aspinall vs Jon Jones fight will happen. As we know, Jon Jones is the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion – and Tom Aspinall is the interim champion. It makes sense, then, that fans and media members alike want to see the two square off, unifying the championship in the first place. Alas, for whatever reason, Jones doesn’t appear to be too interested in making it happen.
Daniel Cormier questions Islam Makhachev possibly leaving MMA after three more fights
Harry Kettle - June 18, 2025
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has questioned the idea of Islam Makhachev possibly retiring from MMA after three more fights. As we know, Islam Makhachev is set to move up to welterweight after successfully defending his UFC lightweight championship four times. He’s ready for an entirely new kind of challenge at 170 pounds as he goes in search of a second world title. Of course, acquiring that belt is going to be easier said than done.