MMA News
Conor McGregor calls out 'crazy' anti-doping test numbers ahead of anticipated UFC comeback announcement
Curtis Calhoun - May 15, 2026
UFC superstar Conor McGregor isn’t happy with leading the pack in annual anti-doping tests despite five years away from the Octagon. 2026 is nearly halfway through, and UFC superstar Conor McGregor has more than twice as many anti-doping tests as months eclipsed in the calendar year.
Allycia Hellen Rodrigues finally gets Phetjeeja showdown as The Inner Circle on June 19 loads two ONE World Title fights
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 15, 2026
Allycia Hellen Rodrigues defends the ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Title against ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom in the main event of The Inner Circle, streaming live for members at live.onefc.com from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on June 19. The fight was first booked for ONE Fight Night 41 in March before injuries to both athletes forced a postponement. Now fully healthy, Rodrigues enters on a four-title-defense run that includes a third-round knockout of WBC Muay Thai World Champion Johanna Persson at ONE Fight Night 33 last July.
VIDEO | Derrick Lewis shares Dana White call about late notice UFC White House fight
Curtis Calhoun - May 15, 2026
UFC heavyweight fan favorite Derrick Lewis shared footage of his live reaction to Dana White’s White House fight pitch. The UFC’s historic card on the White House lawn is weeks away as Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje headline a stacked event. After U.S. President Donald Trump requested UFC head Dana White to organize an event at the White House, White made it come to fruition with seven intriguing matchups.
Sean Strickland could've been more dominant against Khamzat Chimaev, says Daniel Cormier: "He really could've made Khamzat struggle"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 15, 2026
Daniel Cormier believes Sean Strickland could’ve had a more definitive win over Khamzat Chimaev with one change. Strickland secured his second UFC title when he earned a split nod over Chimaev on May 9. The two collided in the UFC 328 headliner. “Borz” put the middleweight title at stake inside the Prudential Center in Newark. Chimaev had early success with his grappling, but Strickland was able to thwart that area of his game throughout the fight.
Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano make weight for Saturday's Netflix MMA card, Diaz and Perry also on point
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 15, 2026
Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano tipped the scales ahead of their big comeback fight in Inglewood. Rousey and Carano are set to collide in a women’s featherweight battle, and now that matchup is official following the weigh-ins. Rousey weighed in at 142 pounds, while Carano clocked in at 141.4 pounds.
Ciryl Gane tries to explain his controversial double eye poke against Tom Aspinall
Harry Kettle - May 15, 2026
UFC heavyweight Ciryl Gane has tried to explain his controversial double eye poke that led to Tom Aspinall requiring surgery. As we know, Ciryl Gane is set to compete for the interim UFC heavyweight championship at UFC Freedom 250. He will be going up against Alex Pereira, and the fight comes in the wake of his controversial no contest against Tom Aspinall, which happened as a result of the Frenchman committing a nasty double eye poke on Tom that left him unable to continue.
Gina Carano's coach gives her high praise ahead of first fight since 2009
Harry Kettle - May 15, 2026
Gina Carano’s coach has provided an update on her progress ahead of her return to mixed martial arts tomorrow night. As we know, Gina Carano will compete in professional mixed martial arts for the first time since 2009 on Saturday when she squares off against Ronda Rousey. It’s widely considered to be a dream fight for a lot of fans all over the world, even though neither woman has been in their prime, or even competed, for many years now.
Ronda Rousey destroys former UFC champion Khamzat Chimaev after recent comments
Harry Kettle - May 15, 2026
MMA legend Ronda Rousey has given her thoughts on recent remarks made by former UFC champion Khamzat Chimaev. Tomorrow night, Ronda Rousey will compete in mixed martial arts for the first time in almost 10 years when she squares off with Gina Carano. There’s been a lot of talk about the fight and the implications of it, mainly related to the emergence of MVP MMA and what that could mean for the future of the sport.
Daniel Cormier claims UFC rival Jon Jones is gay
BJ Penn Staff - May 15, 2026
Daniel Cormier claims his chief UFC rival Jon Jones is gay. Cormier and Jones, both of whom have held the UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight titles, once shared one of the fiercest rivalries in MMA history. Today, both men are retired, but their rivalry has been rekindled as they serve as rival coaches on a Russian reality TV show akin to The Ultimate Fighter.
Francis Ngannou on UFC departure: "That was the moment I was like, ‘I’m getting out of this contract’"
Dylan Bowker - May 14, 2026
Francis Ngannou looks to show out at the MVP MMA 1 card on May 16th, and the lineal MMA heavyweight champion took time to briefly touch on his UFC departure. Ngannou clashes with Philipe Lins this Saturday, with a global broadcast set for Netflix in the industry leader’s inaugural foray into the MMA live event universe. During a pre-fight interview with Daniel Cormier on DC’s personal YouTube channel, with a specific clip shared to the platform formerly known as Twitter by X user @FREAKMMA1, ‘The Predator’ covered several subjects ahead of returning from his nearly two-year absence from mixed martial arts competition. When asked by the former two-division UFC champion if Ngannou’s infamous UFC departure was just about money or if he felt disrespected by the promotion, Ngannou said,
RIZIN debutant and artist rips UFC AI promos: "Hire a real artist"
Dylan Bowker - May 14, 2026
The UFC has been catching flak from fighters and fans alike for their use of generative AI in some of their recent promotional material in hype packages and a Rizin debutant who emphasizes the A in MMA voiced her thoughts on this topic. Katie Perez is the combatant in question and Perez takes on Kate Lotus in the former’s Rizin Fighting Federation debut at Rizin 53 on May 10th. Katie Perez leaves it all on the canvas in rings and cages but also in a different way. Her Instagram page features examples of her artwork which features detailed renderings of former UFC champions like Jiri Prochazka as well as Merab Dvalishvili.
Andre Petroski looking for stoppage win over Cody Brundage to get on Philadelphia card
Cole Shelton - May 14, 2026
Andre Petroski is looking to make a statement on Saturday to secure a spot at the upcoming Philadelphia event. Petroski is set to return to the Octagon at UFC Vegas 117 on Saturday against Cody Brundage. It’s an intriguing fight and one that Petroski believes is a long time in the making.
Joe Rogan expresses concern for Khamzat Chimaev's RAF debut just weeks after UFC 328
Curtis Calhoun - May 14, 2026
Longtime UFC analyst Joe Rogan believes Khamzat Chimaev might be making a mistake in competing at RAF 10 so soon after UFC 328. Khamzat Chimaev suffered the first defeat of his otherwise stellar MMA career last Saturday at UFC 328.
Nate Diaz blasts 'cocky' Ilia Topuria in latest rant against UFC stars
Curtis Calhoun - May 14, 2026
It’s safe to say that Nate Diaz isn’t a fan of two-division UFC champ Ilia Topuria’s recent antics against him and Jake Paul. Nate Diaz is hours away from returning to Mixed Martial Arts as he prepares to face another UFC legend, Mike Perry, in the co-main event of Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano. This will mark Diaz’s first MMA fight since his UFC finale at UFC 279, in which the UFC superstar defeated former interim lightweight champ Tony Ferguson by submission.
Arnold Allen plans to have a 'career-best performance' against Melquizael Costa at UFC Vegas 117
Cole Shelton - May 14, 2026
Arnold Allen is looking to make a statement at UFC Vegas 117. Allen is set to headline the UFC event on Saturday against Melquizael Costa in a pivotal featherweight fight. The winner of the bout will be closing in on a title shot, and entering the fight, Allen is a -154 favorite while Costa is a +120 underdog on FanDuel.
Kade Ruotolo, Hiroyuki Tetsuka exchange fire before The Inner Circle on May 15
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 14, 2026
He heard the pop. He knew straight away. A freak knee injury in a training room scramble ended Kade Ruotolo’s 2025 before it started and kept him out for over a year. On May 15, he comes back against arguably the toughest test of his MMA career. Ruotolo faces Japanese veteran Hiroyuki “Japanese Beast” Tetsuka in a lightweight MMA bout at The Inner Circle, streaming live for members at live.onefc.com from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday, May 15.
Francis Ngannou intrigued by Jon Jones' presence on Rousey vs. Carano broadcast: "It's very interesting"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 14, 2026
Francis Ngannou was surprised when he heard Jon Jones will be providing analysis for the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano event, but he believes it’s a good thing. Ngannou will be competing on Saturday’s card headlined by Rousey vs. Carano inside the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. “The Predator” is scheduled to clash with former UFC, PFL, and Bellator veteran Philipe Lins. It’ll be Ngannou’s first MMA bout since he starched Renan Ferreira back in Oct. 2024.
Justin Gaethje rival isn't counting him out against Ilia Topuria ahead of UFC Freedom 250: "This could go either way"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 14, 2026
A former foe of Justin Gaethje thinks “The Highlight” is very much a live underdog against Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250. Gaethje and Topuria are scheduled to clash for the undisputed distinction in the lightweight division on June 14. Topuria is the main 155-pound champion, but an interim title was made after he went on a brief hiatus. Gaethje scored a unanimous decision victory over Paddy Pimblett back in January to win the interim UFC Lightweight Championship.