MMA News

Harry Kettle - June 3, 2025

UFC commentator Jon Anik has given his thoughts on the star power potential of bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison. This weekend, Kayla Harrison will attempt to claim UFC gold for the first time in her career. She will challenge Julianna Pena for the FUC women’s bantamweight championship, and while many consider her to be the favorite, that’s certainly no guarantee of success – not by a long shot.

Cole Shelton - June 3, 2025

The 196th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC 316. We’re first joined by 10th-ranked UFC bantamweight Mario Bautista (0:53). We close things out by chatting with boxer Tristan Hamm (12:31) to get an update on his career.

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 2, 2025

Former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John Lineker has become everything he has wanted and more in combat sports. And he puts that down to the options on hand in ONE Championship. The Brazilian gained notoriety in the all-encompassing sport for his ridiculous knockout power. That quickly transformed him into his moniker — “Hands of Stone.”

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 2, 2025

Fifth-ranked flyweight Muay Thai star Johan Estupinan has had a whirlwind run through his division. He’s defeated promising prospects and rising stars. He’ll now face a grizzled veteran who he plans to make an example of. “Panda Kick” meets Japanese striking ace Taiki Naito at ONE Fight Night 32. The duo collide in a flyweight Muay Thai outing this Friday, 6 June, at Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.

BJ Penn Staff - June 2, 2025

Former UFC lightweight contender Kevin Lee is taking serious legal action against one of the recent MMA promotions he signed with. Lee (20-8) entered the MMA limelight in 2014, when he signed with the UFC. He was defeated by Al Iaquinta in his first fight in the Octagon, but then went 9-1 in 10 fights to set up an interim lightweight title fight with Tony Ferguson. Lee got off to a strong start in his fight with Ferguson, but ultimately fell apart, becoming part of the lightweight legend’s famous 12-fight win-streak.

BJ Penn Staff - June 2, 2025

If you’ve been comparing UFC heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall to Michael Chandler… think again. England’s Aspinall claimed the UFC interim heavyweight title with a quick knockout of Russia’s Sergei Pavlovich in 2023. He has since defended that interim title once with an even faster KO of Curtis Blaydes, which further proved he’s one of the best fighters alive.

Cole Shelton - June 2, 2025

Sean O’Malley isn’t a fan of Merab Dvalishvili and the way he fights at UFC 316. O’Malley is set to rematch Dvalishvili in their fight back in September, which Dvalishvili won by decision to become the bantamweight champion. It was a disappointing result for O’Malley, who’s now looking to reclaim his belt.

Cole Shelton - June 2, 2025

Patchy Mix is ready to make a statement in his UFC debut against Mario Bautista. Mix is the former Bellator bantamweight champion, and he will make his debut on Saturday at UFC 316 against Bautista. It’s an intriguing matchup, and heading into the fight, Mix is confident he won’t just win his debut but will submit Bautista, as he doesn’t think highly of his opponent.

BJ Penn Staff - June 2, 2025

Veteran MMA referee John McCarthy has fired an incendiary accusation at UFC star Jon Jones. Jones is the former UFC light heavyweight champion, and today, holds the promotion’s heavyweight title. His two-division title reign has cemented him as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history (even if he no longer watches the sport). However, he’s certainly no stranger to controversy in his life outside the cage.

Harry Kettle - June 2, 2025

UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko believes she’ll battle strawweight queen Zhang Weili in her next outing. As we know, Valentina Shevchenko is one of the greatest female fighters of all time. She has achieved some remarkable things in the world of mixed martial arts and as we look ahead to the future, it feels like she still has a lot of gas left in the tank. Of course, if she’s going to stay at the top, she’ll face some stiff competition – which seems to be taking us down the route of her battling Zhang Weili.

Harry Kettle - June 2, 2025

UFC legend Don Frye has given Alex Pereira some advice as he prepares for a seemingly inevitable rematch with Magomed Ankalaev. As we know, Alex Pereira is easily one of the most exciting fighters in all of mixed martial arts. The former UFC light heavyweight and middleweight champion has achieved some truly incredible things throughout the course of his career and as we look ahead to the future, there’s every chance that he’ll continue to find success in the promotion.

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 1, 2025

Flyweight Muay Thai star Diego Paez is on a mission to show the world there’s more to him following an unfortunate debut earlier this year. The mullet-rocking mauler meets spirited youngster Johan Ghazali at ONE Fight Night 32. The pair square off in flyweight Muay Thai at Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium, on Friday, June 6.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 1, 2025

Mateusz Gamrot has a new nickname for one UFC lightweight who he’s been trying to fight. Gamrot is fresh off a unanimous decision victory over Ľudovít Klein in what ended up being the final bout on the UFC Vegas 107 card. It was a one-sided showing in favor of the No. 7-ranked UFC lightweight, who had a clean sweep of 30-27 score totals. Gamrot has gone 4-1 in his last five outings, with the lone defeat being a split decision.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 1, 2025

Jon Jones isn’t pounding the table to have his lone career defeat removed from his record. Jones has had 30 pro MMA fights and has officially won 29 of them. The lone defeat occurred on Dec. 5, 2009. Jones went one-on-one with Matt Hamill. “Bones” was dominating the opening frame and rained down strikes while in top control. Referee Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight, and it looked as if Jones had won via TKO. Instead, Mazzagatti disqualified Jones for using 12-6 elbows, which were illegal at the time.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 1, 2025

A top UFC commentator believes Merab Dvalishvili has already cemented himself as the greatest bantamweight of all time. Dvalishvili may have just one successful UFC bantamweight title defense, but his road to the title featured wins over elite competition. Before capturing gold, Dvalishvili had victories over UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo, former two-division champion Henry Cejudo, and former UFC bantamweight titleholder Petr Yan.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 1, 2025

Arman Tsarukyan is throwing his name in the hat for backup roles if needed. Tsarukyan hasn’t exactly been in the UFC’s good graces as of late. He was forced out of a UFC Lightweight Championship fight against Islam Makhachev before the UFC 311 weigh-ins due to a back injury. UFC CEO Dana White made it clear that “Akhalkalakets” would not be getting the next title shot.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 1, 2025

Erin Blanchfield didn’t get a chance to compete at UFC Vegas 107, but she didn’t leave Las Vegas empty-handed. Blanchfield was expecting to share the Octagon with Maycee Barber in a headlining fight inside the UFC Apex. The bout was set to have major implications in the women’s flyweight division. Blanchfield told Athlon Sports that she believed there was a chance an impressive finish over Barber could’ve boosted her to a championship fight against Valentina Shevchenko.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 1, 2025

Jon Jones has mocked Tom Aspinall and a petition to have him stripped of his UFC gold, and the interim champion is firing back. The wait for movement in the UFC’s heavyweight division continues. Aspinall has held the interim UFC heavyweight title since Nov. 2023, but he still hasn’t gotten an undisputed championship fight. The UFC chose to go through with Jones’ title defense against Stipe Miocic, which had been delayed one year due to an injury.