MMA News

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.

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

Chael Sonnen has given his thoughts on the possibility of Kamaru Usman facing Shavkat Rakhmonov in a huge welterweight clash. As we know, Kamaru Usman’s win over Joaquin Buckley has vaulted him right back into championship contention at 170 pounds. He was able to prove that he still has what it takes to defeat top guys in the welterweight division, cementing his status as one of the true all-time greats.

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

UFC CEO Dana White is promising fans a decisive answer about a long-awaited fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall “in the next couple weeks.” The UFC boss provided an update on the fight, which is easily the greatest source of frustration among fans right now, during an interview with Jim Rome.

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.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 17, 2025

Jorge Masvidal has some big praise for one surging UFC contender. The featherweight division is stacked with the likes of champion Alexander Volkanovski, Diego Lopes, Aljamain Sterling, and Yair Rodriguez. One 145-pounder has developed the reputation of being the boogeyman of the weight class. That man is Movsar Evloev, who is undefeated at this point in his pro MMA career.

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.

Harry Kettle - June 17, 2025

Islam Makhachev’s coach Javier Mendez is of the belief that a fight against Kamaru Usman could be possible in the future. As we know, Kamaru Usman got back to winning ways last weekend with a convincing victory over Joaquin Buckley. While he had to overcome some adversity in the fifth round, he was able to persevere and make it known that he’s far from done in mixed martial arts.

Harry Kettle - June 17, 2025

Alexandre Pantoja understands the threat he’ll be facing when he battles Kai Kara-France ahead of their upcoming title fight. In the co-main event of UFC 317 next weekend, Alexandre Pantoja will defend his UFC flyweight championship against Kai Kara-France. It’s the moment that KKF has been waiting a long time for and now, he’ll finally get the opportunity to battle it out for the belt.

Harry Kettle - June 17, 2025

UFC star Jamahal Hill doesn’t believe that Khalil Rountree Jr is on his level ahead of their UFC Baku main event clash. This weekend, Jamahal Hill will attempt to get back in the win column. He’ll do so in a fascinating fight against Khalil Rountree Jr, pitting two elite light heavyweight contenders against each other. If one of them scores a convincing knockout, they may even be in the running for a championship opportunity again sooner rather than later.