MMA News
Glory 100 star Artem Vakhitov looks back on ‘disappointment’ of lowball UFC offer
BJ Penn Staff - June 13, 2025
Artem Vakhitov didn’t like the offer he received from the UFC, so he rejected it. Vakhitov is an elite kickboxer, and is set to challenge long-reigning heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven in the main event of Glory 100 tomorrow. Before signing his new deal with Glory, he earned a UFC contract with a stoppage win on Dana White’s Contender Series. Despite his massive accomplishments as a kickboxer—which includes a win over former UFC champ Alex Pereira—it was a standard Contender Series contract. In other words, low five figures per fight. Having fought for much greater purses as a kickboxer, he turned it down.
Ilia Topuria names 'pain in the ass' UFC contender who he wants to fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 13, 2025
Ilia Topuria says there’s one surging UFC lightweight contender who he hopes to settle some beef with. Topuria is set to fight for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship on June 28. He will take on former 155-pound titleholder Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317 in Las Vegas. While “El Matador” must focus on the task at hand, he can’t avoid questions about the rest of the lightweight division.
Jose Aldo made a bold change to his training regimen in final years of UFC career
BJ Penn Staff - June 13, 2025
Former UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo is considered one of the best fighters in MMA history. One of the many skills that made him so good was his takedown defense. The Brazilian was renowned for his ability to negate his opponents’ wrestling, and famously stopped 16 of 16 takedown attempts from reigning bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili when they fought. That’s pretty impressive, considering how little he actually practiced wrestling at the time.
Darren Till claims Nate Diaz bailed on boxing match, but another UFC star is 'interested'
BJ Penn Staff - June 13, 2025
Darren Till claims Nate Diaz bailed on plans to meet in the boxing ring this August. The good news is that another UFC veteran is allegedly considering accepting the fight at a later date. Till spent most of his UFC career speaking in the welterweight division, where he notably came up short in a title fight against Tyron Woodley. However, he also competed in the middleweight division.
Justin Gaethje explains frustration with UFC: 'They came to my house begging me'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 13, 2025
Justin Gaethje has detailed his issues with the UFC brass. Gaethje’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, recently turned some heads during his appearance on Submission Radio. The top MMA manager revealed that Gaethje is considering hanging up his gloves if he doesn’t get a UFC lightweight title shot in his next outing. As it stands, Gaethje is upset that he isn’t involved in the vacant title fight scheduled for UFC 317, which will see Ilia Topuria take on Charles Oliveira.
Joaquin Buckley explains the energy he felt during Kamaru Usman face-off
Harry Kettle - June 13, 2025
UFC star Joaquin Buckley has explained the energy that he felt during his recent face-off with opponent Kamaru Usman. Tomorrow night, Joaquin Buckley will step into the cage to fight former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. It is easily the biggest fight of his career to date and if he’s able to pick up the win, it could potentially set him up for a championship opportunity in the not-too-distant future.
Michael Chiesa suggests Colby Covington is moving in a different direction with his career: “He’s a nice guy off camera”
Harry Kettle - June 13, 2025
UFC veteran Michael Chiesa has given his thoughts on the future of Colby Covington in the world of mixed martial arts. As we know, Colby Covington is a pretty controversial figure – and that’s us putting it lightly. He has a tendency to say outrageous things in the name of making headlines and throughout the course of his career, he’s been able to earn a lot of big opportunities off the back of that.
Sean Brady gives his prediction for Kamaru Usman vs Joaquin Buckley
Harry Kettle - June 13, 2025
UFC welterweight Sean Brady has given his prediction for the upcoming Kamaru Usman vs Joaquin Buckley showdown. Tomorrow night, Kamaru Usman will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon when he locks horns with rising welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley. While many consider him to be the underdog in this fight, the 38-year-old has the kind of skill and experience necessary to overcome a tough challenge like this one.
Tagir Khalilov dedicates latest win to newborn son, Malik: "I want to be a champion for him"
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 12, 2025
Victory last weekend at ONE Fight Night 32 wasn’t just a return to winning ways for Russia’s Tagir Khalilov. It also meant delivering on his word to his baby boy, Malik. “Samingpri” defeated renowned Chinese striker Liao Shixu by unanimous decision in 140-pound Muay Thai action on Friday, June 6, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand – a victory he promised his infant son shortly after he was born.
"Supergirl" gunning to reinvent herself at ONE Fight Night 34
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 12, 2025
After suffering the first stoppage defeat of her ONE Championship tenure, Anna “Supergirl” Jaroonsak is back and ready to reinvent herself. The Thai striker returns to the ring at ONE Fight Night 34: Eersel vs. Jarvis. She meets Bulgarian standout Teodora Kirilova under women’s atomweight Muay Thai rules on Friday, August 1, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Fighter admits he considered 'ending it all' after UFC release: 'It was a bad time'
BJ Penn Staff - June 12, 2025
Kris Moutinho took his UFC release hard. Very hard. Moutinho, 32, signed with the UFC on short notice in 2021, when he stepped in for the injured Louis Smolka against future bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley. Moutinho lost that fight—decisively—but weathered an insane amount of punishment from O’Malley, and ultimately survived all three rounds. His toughness earned him a $75,000 Fight of the Night bonus. Usually, those bonuses are just $50,000, which says something.
Mike Perry opens up on sparring with UFC star Sean Strickland: 'It’s not something I prepared myself for'
BJ Penn Staff - June 12, 2025
Mike Perry recently linked up for a sparring session with UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland. Apparently, it was something the BKFC star had been meaning to do for a while.
Daniel Cormier provides update on Ben Askren's health crisis: 'Everybody’s just kind of praying'
BJ Penn Staff - June 12, 2025
Former UFC star Ben Askren is continue to battle through a frightening health crisis. Earlier this week, Askren’s wife Amy revealed that he has been hospitalized with pneumonia, and that he was effectively non-responsive. From there, several extremely worrying rumors began to surface.
Francis Ngannou ‘wants to make himself available’ for possible UFC return, but faces major hurdle
BJ Penn Staff - June 12, 2025
Francis Ngannou probably won’t be returning to the UFC anytime soon. Ngannou is the former UFC heavyweight champion. He never actually lost his belt. Instead, he vacated the title when he parted ways with the promotion in 2023. In other words, he’s still the lineal MMA heavyweight champion.
Old Jon Jones rival labels him a 'quitter' if he doesn't fight Tom Aspinall
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 12, 2025
One old rival has weighed in on Jon Jones possibly retiring before fighting Tom Aspinall. Much has been made over Jones’ fighting future. “Bones” had long showed more interest in a showdown with Alex Pereira. This is despite the fact that “Poatan” is a light heavyweight. Jones is the UFC Heavyweight Champion, while Aspinall lays claim to the interim gold.
Kayla Harrison responds to MMA legend's bizarre take on Amanda Nunes fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 12, 2025
Kayla Harrison has responded to a warning from one MMA legend regarding a showdown with Amanda Nunes. Harrison competed for UFC gold for the first time in her pro MMA career this past Saturday. She defeated Julianna Pena via second-round submission to secure the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship. After the match, Nunes entered the Octagon and revealed her plans to end her retirement. She then had a staredown with Harrison.
Joe Pyfer questions Joe Rogan’s commentary during his UFC 316 win
Harry Kettle - June 12, 2025
Rising UFC middleweight Joe Pyfer has called the commentary of Joe Rogan into question following UFC 316 last weekend. For a few years now, Joe Pyfer has been seen as one to watch in the UFC’s middleweight division. From his size to his personality to his incredible power, it’s clear to see that he’s a problem at 185 pounds. While he did experience a setback against Jack Hermansson, he’s been able to rebound well, most notably this past weekend.
Ariane da Silva released by UFC after medical issue and UFC 316 defeat
Harry Kettle - June 12, 2025
UFC veteran Ariane da Silva has reportedly been released by the promotion in the wake of her loss to Wang Cong. Back in early 2019, Ariane da Silva made her debut for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The Polish sensation came into the company with a great deal of hype but unfortunately, she was never quite able to live up to that. While she made a real name for herself with KSW, she was far too inconsistent inside the Octagon. Still, she had a lot of heart, and that led to her continually getting booked in interesting matchups.