MMA News

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.

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 2, 2025

Two of ONE Championship’s longest-tenured bantamweights in Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai and #3-ranked contender Felipe Lobo will throw down at ONE Friday Fights 114. The knockout artists will duke it out on Friday, 27 June, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium. And a victory could put either fighter on the path to a shot at bantamweight gold.

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

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

The MMA Factory is easily the top gym in France, having already produced two UFC champions in Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane. The Paris-based facility may soon produce another UFC star in the utterly gigantic Dave Fotsing. Fotsing, still just 22, has yet to make his pro MMA debut, but is already off to an excellent start in his combat sports career. The Cameroonian-Parisian is an accomplished BJJ black belt, and has two amateur MMA wins to his credit: a second-round submission win, and a unanimous decision win, both in 2021. Since those amateur fights, he’s been fine-tuning his skills with Gane and coach Fernand Lopez, and there is no question he will be a terrifying challenge for whomever he next meets in the cage.

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.

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.

Chris Taylor - June 1, 2025

Maycee Barber has issued a statement and responded to Erin Blanchfield following last night’s UFC Vegas 107 main event cancellation. Barber (14-2 MMA) and Blanchfield (13-2 MMA) were expected to collide in a high stakes five-round main event yesterday evening at the UFC Apex. Unfortunately, the bout was cancelled at the last second after it was revealed that ‘The Future’ had suffered a seizure backstage and was no longer medically cleared to compete.

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

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

Sean O’Malley hopes to extend his fighting career for as long as he can. O’Malley hasn’t been shy discussing some significant changes he’s made in his life. The “Suga” show has decided to focus less on his brand and more on his training and recovery. O’Malley made the decision after losing the UFC Bantamweight Championship to Merab Dvalishvili before undergoing surgery for a torn labrum in his left hip.

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.

Chris Taylor - May 31, 2025

The Ultimate Fighting Championship was back at the Apex for tonight’s UFC Vegas 107 event, and 4 fighters wound up taking home performance bonuses. This evening’s fight card was supposed to be headlined by a key women’s flyweight bout featuring Maycee Barber taking on Erin Blanchfield. Unfortunately for fight fans, the main event was cancelled at the very last second, this after it was revealed that ‘The Future’ was no longer medically cleared to compete (see more on that here).

Chris Taylor - May 31, 2025

Tonight’s UFC Vegas 107 event was supposed to be headlined by a key women’s flyweight bout between perennial contenders Maycee Barber and Erin Blanchfield. Unfortunately fight fans, this evening’s main event was cancelled at the last second after it was announced that Maycee Barber was no longer medically cleared to compete. It was an unprecedented incident, and rumors are now swirling that ‘The Future’ may have had a seizure backstage. Regardless of what exactly transpired, we can only hope and pray that Barber makes a full recovery.