MMA News

BJ Penn Staff - May 30, 2025

Over the last few years, Sean O’Malley has become one of the biggest stars in the UFC. It’s been a dream come true for the bantamweight star, and he remembers the specific fight where he realized everything he had hoped for was becoming a reality. It was in the lead up to a 2022 fight with former bantamweight champ Petr Yan that O’Malley recognized his dreams were coming true. At the time, O’Malley was ranked way below Yan in the bantamweight rankings. So much so that many fans felt the fight was a huge mismatch. In the end, however, O’Malley defeated the former champ by decision in a thrilling, three-round war, cementing himself as a legit title contender in the offing.

BJ Penn Staff - May 30, 2025

Jake Paul has been at war with the UFC for years, and his latest move against the MMA promotion could be a big one. Paul, 28, got his start as a YouTuber and Disney star, but has recently become one of the biggest stars in boxing. His stardom may never equate to an actual world championship, but he’s fresh off a decision win over the legendary Mike Tyson, and will look to take another step up the ladder against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 30, 2025

Merab Dvalishvili doesn’t anticipate his rematch against Sean O’Malley being an exact repeat of their first encounter. While Dvalishvili anticipates another victory over “Suga,” he has a different feeling going into UFC 316. “The Machine” will put the UFC Bantamweight Championship at stake against O’Malley on June 7 in Newark. In their first meeting back in Sept. 2024, Dvalishvili took the 135-pound gold from O’Malley via unanimous decision.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 30, 2025

The UFC Vegas 107 weigh-ins have wrapped up, and there was a significant miss on the scales on Friday. A pivotal women’s flyweight matchup between Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber is set to headline Saturday’s card inside the UFC Apex. While Blanchfield made championship weight for a non-title fight at 125 pounds, Barber missed the mark. Barber clocked in at 126.5 pounds While Barber barely missed the 126-pound mark, she won’t be cutting more weight.

Harry Kettle - May 30, 2025

UFC champion Jon Jones has given his thoughts on who the most overrated fighter in the promotion is. Right now, there are far more questions than answers when it comes to Jon Jones. The UFC heavyweight champion is obviously one of the greatest of all time, but the majority of fans and pundits are feeling pretty frustrated with him at the moment. He is seemingly refusing to fight interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, despite the fact that it’s the biggest fight available to make right now in the sport – perhaps outside of Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria.

Harry Kettle - May 30, 2025

UFC star Petr Yan has been booked against Sean O’Malley’s teammate Marcus McGhee – and fans have some thoughts about it. Over the course of the last five years, Petr Yan has been on an interesting journey. From bantamweight champion to top contender, he’s been through a whole lot of ups and downs. Now, after getting back on the winning trail, he’s trying desperately to vault his way back into contention.

Harry Kettle - May 30, 2025

UFC star Israel Adesanya has given his thoughts on a potential rematch between former foe Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev. As we know, Alex Pereira is one of the most exciting fighters in all of mixed martial arts. He’s an incredible athlete and has accomplished some great things, but one thing that he’s perhaps known for best is his rivalry with Israel Adesanya. He currently holds a 3-1 lead over ‘Stylebender’ and hopefully, some day, we get to see them run it back once again.

BJPENN.COM Staff - May 29, 2025

Flyweight Muay Thai standout Johan Ghazali isn’t overlooking his upcoming clash with Diego Paez. But he does have his eye on a number of top names in his division. “Jojo” returns next Friday, 6 June. There, he meets Paez in flyweight Muay Thai action at ONE Fight Night 32, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.

Cole Shelton - May 29, 2025

Michael Chandler has broken his silence on his UFC 314 loss to Paddy Pimblett. Chandler took a risk in fighting Pimblett back in April, and he was dominated en route to a third-round TKO loss. It was a surprising result given that Chandler had fought the better competition, but ‘Iron’ has nothing but praise for Pimbeltt, looking back on the fight.

Cole Shelton - May 29, 2025

Mateusz Gamrot knows he’s taking a risk by fighting unranked L’udovit Klein at UFC Vegas 107 on Saturday. Gamrot hasn’t fought since August of 2024 when he dropped a very close split decision to Dan Hooker. The hope was he would make a quick turnaround, but that didn’t happen. So, after months of waiting, Gamrot moved on from wanting a ranked opponent and was open to fighting anyone.

BJ Penn Staff - May 29, 2025

Nate Diaz believes he has what it takes to beat Belal Muhammad in the UFC. Muhammad begs to differ. Diaz, who left the UFC after a long Octagon career in 2022, is hoping to return to the promotion. He’s named a number of fighters that he’d like to fight if that happens. One of those fighters is Belal Muhammad.

BJ Penn Staff - May 29, 2025

Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar were involved in one of the most iconic fights in UFC history. However, they later became friends — and it sounds like they got up to some craziness together. Griffin and Bonnar first met in the Octagon way back in 2005, in the final of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Griffin ultimately won the fight by decision to earn a UFC contract, but the action was so exciting that Bonnar received a contract too.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 29, 2025

One UFC welterweight who is on the verge of contender status is expecting Islam Makhachev to hold his own at 170 pounds. Makhachev will be challenging UFC Welterweight Champion Jack Della Maddalena at some point in 2025. While Makhachev is the current UFC Lightweight Champion, he will officially vacate the gold at the start of Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 on June 28. Once Maddalena defeated Belal Muhammad to capture the welterweight gold at UFC 315, it opened the door for Makhachev to attempt capturing UFC gold in a second weight class.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 29, 2025

Jon Jones has still yet to make a decision on what’s next for his fighting career. Many have called for “Bones” to vacate the UFC Heavyweight Championship if he doesn’t plan on facing interim champion Tom Aspinall in a title unification bout. Jones has teased fans with both possibilities of returning and retiring. The wild goose chase has left many wondering when the UFC will step in to make a decision on what’s next at heavyweight.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 29, 2025

Sean O’Malley has explained why he truly decided to quit some of his hobbies, and it isn’t because of Merab Dvalishvili. O’Malley will collide with “The Machine” a second time for the UFC Bantamweight Championship. “Suga” lost the gold to Dvalishvili back in Sept. 2024. The two will share the Octagon again in the main event of UFC 316 in Newark on June 7.

Harry Kettle - May 29, 2025

UFC star Ian Machado Garry has voiced his interest in a future fight with surging middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev. As we know, Ian Machado Garry isn’t exactly someone who is short on confidence. Within the context of mixed martial arts, he is an exceptionally talented fighter who has the potential to go all the way in the welterweight division. Of course, he isn’t afraid to voice his thoughts from time to time, which often leads to a lot of beef online between him and other fighters.

Harry Kettle - May 29, 2025

UFC lightweight Mateusz Gamrot has explained his difficulty in securing a fight with a ranked opponent. As we know, Mateusz Gamrot will return to action this weekend when he collides with Ludovit Klein. While this is expected by many to be an exciting and intriguing lightweight affair, a lot of people would’ve expected to see the Polish sensation take on someone a bit higher up the rankings.

Harry Kettle - May 29, 2025

UFC star Maycee Barber is ready to prove that she’s ready for a title shot by defeating Erin Blanchfield in their upcoming clash. This weekend, Maycee Barber and Erin Blanchfield will attempt to prove that they are finally ready for a shot at the UFC women’s flyweight championship. While Valentina Shevchenko is the current queen of the division, many people believe that both of these woman have the potential to dethrone her.