MMA News

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.

BJ Penn Staff - June 18, 2025

Former WWE executive Vince McMahon seems to be trying to get back into the combat sports business. In fact, he recently had is eyes on BKFC. McMahon is one of the most important figures in WWE history. However, he parted ways with the organization following an extremely concerning scandal.

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.

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.

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.

Harry Kettle - June 18, 2025

UFC star Miranda Maverick has confirmed that she has surgery booked following her defeat to Rose Namajunas at UFC Atlanta. Last weekend in the co-main event of UFC Atlanta, Miranda Maverick failed in her attempt to defeat Rose Namajunas. Instead, she was beaten via decision, although she did come close to securing a submission victory at one point in the fight. Still, the result is what matters, as does the fact that Miranda actually sustained a nasty injury during the bout.

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.

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.

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 18, 2025

Former three-sport ONE World Champion Stamp Fairtex’s absence from competition has been felt by many of her fans. But the Thai superstar spoke out to give a glimmer of hope on when she plans to return. The 27-year-old hasn’t been seen since she captured the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title. She claimed the crown in September 2023 at ONE Fight Night 14 in a third-round knockout win over Ham Seo Hee at Singapore Indoor Stadium.

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 18, 2025

ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 is ready to bounce back stronger than ever. The Thai striker suffered a surprising defeat in March at ONE 172 inside Japan’s Saitama Super Arena. He lost to interim bantamweight Muay Thai titleholder Nabil Anane in a non-title affair after being stripped of the weight bracket’s crown for failing to make the championship weight.

Cole Shelton - June 17, 2025

Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley had an embarrassing realization after watching Cody Garbrandt fight last Saturday. O’Malley saw Garbrandt lose to Raoni Barcelos at UFC Atlanta, which was his second-straight loss. In the fight, Garbrandt was sporting a new look with some face tattoos and braided hair, which gave O’Malley an embarrassing realization.

BJ Penn Staff - June 17, 2025

Former UFC champ Charles Oliveira is headed to the big screen. According to a report from Variety, Brazilian filmmaker Eduardo Ferro of 405 Films has acquired the rights to make a film about Oliveira’s life.

BJ Penn Staff - June 17, 2025

After a long run in the UFC featherweight division, Edson Barboza is headed up to lightweight. Barboza started his UFC career as a lightweight. He debuted with the promotion way back in 2010, and got off to a fast start, winning his first four fights. His fourth win was particularly impressive, as he cut down Terry Etim with a wheel kick that still dazzles fans to this day.

BJ Penn Staff - June 17, 2025

The UFC 319 main event no longer has a backup fighter, as Nassourdine Imavov has shrugged off his commitment to the role. UFC 319 is set for August 16 in Chicago, Illinois. The card will be headlined by a middleweight title fight, as champion Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa looks to defend his belt against undefeated Chechen juggernaut Khamzat Chimaev. It’s easily one of the biggest fights of the year, and everyone is hoping it goes down as planned. However, accidents do happen. Chimaev also unfortunately has a track record of withdrawing from fights at the last minute.

Cole Shelton - June 17, 2025

Ben Askren remains in the hospital and may need a lung transplant. Ben’s wife, Amy, posted an update on social media revealing that the former UFC fighter remains in the hospital. In the update, Amy revealed that Ben’s health status remains in limbo, but the sedation isn’t as strong, allowing ‘Funky’ to open his eyes and squeeze hands.

Cole Shelton - June 17, 2025

Conor McGregor has reportedly knocked a man out in an Ibiza nightclub. McGregor was at the Pacha nightclub on the Spanish party island, and video shows him striking a man while drinking early into Tuesday morning, The Sun reported.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 17, 2025

Umar Nurmagomedov wants to share the Octagon with Merab Dvalishvili again, but he won’t beg for it. Back in January, Nurmagomedov challenged “The Machine” for the UFC Bantamweight Championship. Nurmagomedov fell short in the bout and he ended up walking out of the title fight with a broken hand. It was also the first loss of Nurmagomedov’s pro MMA career.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 17, 2025

Was Francis Ngannou’s legacy tarnished by his boxing venture? Ngannou’s decision to leave the UFC while he was the promotion’s heavyweight champion sparked a debate online. “The Predator” sought out the freedom to box, and it almost led to a victory over future Hall of Famer Tyson Fury. “The Predator” ended up getting knocked out by Anthony Joshua, but he made a substantial amount of money for his boxing matches with “The Gypsy King” and Joshua.