MMA News
Kamaru Usman hopeful to face Islam Makhachev before he retires: "Another blockbuster before I sail off"
Cole Shelton - June 10, 2025
Kamaru Usman would like the chance to fight Islam Makhachev before his career is up. Makhachev is set to move up to the welterweight division after vacating his lightweight belt. The former lightweight champ wants to win a second belt, and although he’s no longer the champ, Usman has his eyes set on him.
Top UFC welterweight thinks he'll get title shot before Islam Makhachev
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 10, 2025
One soaring UFC welterweight contender believes he will get a crack at 170-pound gold before Islam Makhachev does. Makhachev is set to officially relinquish the UFC Lightweight Championship once the UFC 317 main event between Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria begins. The soon-to-be former 155-pound champion made the decision in an effort to secure the welterweight gold, which is held by Jack Della Maddalena. UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed that the plan is indeed Maddalena vs. Makhachev.
Merab Dvalishvili could run into problems with next UFC title defense, says former champion
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 10, 2025
Could Merab Dvalishvili be in for a letdown in his next title defense? Dvalishvili has looked the part of an elite fighter every time he steps inside the Octagon. He further added to his aura by submitting Sean O’Malley in their UFC 316 rematch on Saturday. “The Machine” has lived up to his nickname, riding a 13-fight winning streak. He now has two successful UFC Bantamweight Championship defenses. He hasn’t lost a pro MMA fight since 2018.
Patchy Mix gets brutal assessment of UFC 316 loss from MMA legend
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 10, 2025
One UFC Hall of Famer shared his take on Patchy Mix’s failed UFC debut. Mix entered UFC 316 with some buzz. The former Bellator Bantamweight Champion was regarded by many as the best 135-pounder who wasn’t a part of the UFC roster. When the time arrived for Mix to share the Octagon with Mario Bautista, the former Bellator star didn’t look like a world-beater by any means. He ultimately dropped a unanimous decision, which is his first loss since 2020.
Merab Dvalishvili's coach is confident regarding possible Cory Sandhagen fight
Harry Kettle - June 10, 2025
Merab Dvalishvili’s coach John Wood has given his thoughts on a possible title fight against Cory Sandhagen. Last weekend in the main event of UFC 316, Merab Dvalishvili submitted and defeated Sean O’Malley. It served as the final chapter in their rivalry (at least for the time being), with the champion now set to move on to even bigger things. The expectation is that his next challenger will be Cory Sandhagen, who has been on a pretty solid run of form in recent years.
Jaosuayai credits Superbon for 52-second finish of Nakrob: "His kick is amazing"
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 10, 2025
Flyweight Muay Thai star Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi’s main roster debut could not have been much more prolific. The Thai striker annihilated #5-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender Nakrob Fairtex at ONE Fight Night 32 this past Friday, June 6. He picked apart his compatriot in 52 seconds inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium to score a massive knockout victory.
Daniel Cormier gives honest Sean O'Malley assessment after UFC 316
Harry Kettle - June 10, 2025
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has given his assessment of Sean O’Malley after his defeat at UFC 316. Last Saturday night, Sean O’Malley failed in his attempt to reclaim the UFC bantamweight championship. He was submitted by Merab Dvalishvili, the same man who took the belt from him in the first place. Now, ‘Suga’ will head back to the drawing board and contemplate what’s next for him in his career – which could include a shift up to the featherweight division.
Diego Paez claims Johan Ghazali "looked right past" him in victory at ONE Fight Night 32
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 10, 2025
When flyweight Muay Thai star Diego Paez found out he would fight teenage phenom Johan Ghazali next, he sensed many would overlook him. That includes his Malaysian-American opponent. Paez faced off with Ghazali at ONE Fight Night 32 this past Friday, June 6, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium. He outstruck the 18-year-old across three entertaining rounds to take home a split-decision victory.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 197 with Michael Chiesa and Shawne Merriman
Cole Shelton - June 10, 2025
The 197th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC Atlanta. We’re first joined by UFC welterweight Michael Chiesa (1:13). Next, Lights Out founder and former NFL star Shawne Merriman (15:55) returns to the show.
What's next for the stars of UFC 316?
Cole Shelton - June 9, 2025
The UFC was in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday for a solid UFC 316 card. The main event saw Merab Dvalishvili rematching Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight belt. The co-main event saw Julianna Pena defending her bantamweight title against Kayla Harrison. Ultimately, it was Dvalishvili who beat O’Malley again, but this time he submitted ‘Suga’ to defend his bantamweight title. The co-main event saw Harrison submit Pena to win the women’s bantamweight title. Following UFC 316, here is what I think should be next for the stars of the event.
UFC legend warns Kayla Harrison against Amanda Nunes fight: 'I would retire from the sport'
BJ Penn Staff - June 9, 2025
All signs now point to a UFC super fight between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes in the very near future. However, not everybody is on board with the matchup. Harrison claimed the bantamweight title with a submission win over Julianna Peña in the co-main event of last Saturday’s UFC 316 card in Newark. Leading into the fight, Nunes announced plans to end her retirement and return to the Octagon. Now that Harrison has the belt, it’s just a question of when they fight.
WATCH | UFC stars give new champ Kayla Harrison a hero's welcome at American Top Team
BJ Penn Staff - June 9, 2025
New UFC bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison is back home in Florida, and received a hero’s welcome from some of the top fighters in MMA when she returned to American Top Team. Harrison finally won UFC gold at UFC 316 this past weekend in Newark, New Jersey, tapping out trash-talking champion Julianna Peña with a kimura. She didn’t waste any time returning home to South Florida, where her teammates at the renowned gym awaited.
UFC 316 winner Joshua Van booked for lightning quick turnaround against top contender
BJ Penn Staff - June 9, 2025
Joshua Van has the opportunity to completely upend the UFC flyweight rankings in a few weeks time. Myanmar’s Van is one of the division’s most promising young contenders. He took another big step up the ladder at UFC 316 this past weekend, when he stunned fans with a blistering knockout of Bruno Silva. That win him brought him to 14-2 overall, and 7-1 in the UFC.
Joe Pyfer apologizes for calling Mexico a 'sh*t hole', but will still 'never fight there again'
BJ Penn Staff - June 9, 2025
UFC middleweight contender Joe Pyfer is sorry for the things he said about Mexico. Pyfer, one of the division’s fastest rising contenders, was set to fight Kelvin Gastelum when the UFC touched down in Mexico City on March 29. Regrettably, the fight fell through at the very last minute. The cause? Pyfer came down with stomach troubles just hours out from the event, which he later blamed on his travel to Mexico in the least graceful terms possible.
Julianna Pena speaks out following UFC 316 loss to Kayla Harrison
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 9, 2025
Julianna Pena has issued a statement in the aftermath of UFC 316. Pena put the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship at stake against Kayla Harrison on Saturday. While “The Venezuelan Vixen” was in her second reign as a UFC titleholder, she was in search of her first successful defense. It didn’t come in Newark, as Harrison submitted Pena in the second round via kimura to lay claim to the bantamweight gold.
Justin Gaethje considering retirement if UFC doesn't meet his demand
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 9, 2025
Justin Gaethje might walk away from pro MMA competition if the UFC doesn’t grant his request. Gaethje finds himself on the outside looking in as far as the next UFC lightweight title fight is concerned. Ilia Topuria relinquished the UFC Featherweight Championship, and he will receive a shot at the vacant 155-pound gold against Charles Oliveira on June 28. Despite the fact that Oliveira has a submission win over Gaethje, “The Highlight” feels slighted.
Dana White agrees that Merab Dvalishvili should be in the bantamweight GOAT conversation after UFC 316
Harry Kettle - June 9, 2025
UFC president Dana White believes Merab Dvalishvili is in the greatest bantamweight of all time conversation after UFC 316. Last weekend, Merab Dvalishvili cemented himself as the best bantamweight on the planet. Many already knew that he held that title, as well as the actual championship belt, but he doubled down by once again defeating Sean O’Malley in their rematch at UFC 316. While ‘Suga’ certainly showed some improvements from the first fight, ‘The Machine’ was still able to implement his own game plan.
Ben Askren’s wife confirms he has been hospitalized with severe pneumonia
Harry Kettle - June 9, 2025
MMA and wrestling legend Ben Askren has been hospitalized due to a case of severe pneumonia, his wife has announced. Over the course of the last few days, there has been mounting speculation regarding the condition of the great Ben Askren. After fans were asked to pray for him by Ohio State wrestling coach Thomas Ryan, fans were concerned that something serious had happened to the former UFC star. It led to an outpouring of support from the community, many of whom know Ben on a personal level.