MMA News

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 25, 2025

One former UFC flyweight thinks he knows who has what it takes to dethrone Alexandre Pantoja. Pantoja has been the reigning UFC titleholder at 125 pounds since July 2023 when he defeated Brandon Moreno via split decision. He has had three successful title defenses. The Brazilian bruiser will look to thwart the challenge of Kai Kara-France at UFC 317 on June 28.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 25, 2025

One highly ranked UFC heavyweight has expressed frustration over the Jon Jones dilemma. Top fighters in the heavyweight division continue to wait for what’s next in the title picture. While UFC CEO Dana White remains confident that current champion Jones and interim titleholder Tom Aspinall will fight, the wait continues. Jones captured the gold back in March 2023, yet has as many title defenses as the interim champion, which is one apiece.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 23, 2025

The recent news of Ilia Topuria parting ways with his coaches has left one UFC Hall of Famer a bit puzzled. Topuria is set for a massive fight in the main event of UFC 317 on June 28. The former UFC Featherweight Champion will attempt to capture gold at 155 pounds. “El Matador” will do battle with Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship in Las Vegas.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 23, 2025

One emerging UFC featherweight isn’t too thrilled about rumblings of Yair Rodriguez potentially getting another title shot. Alexander Volkanovski became a two-time 145-pound titleholder when he defeated Diego Lopes for the vacant gold at UFC 314. Rodriguez also fought on that card, defeating former two-division Bellator champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire. While some felt Rodriguez could be booked in a grudge match with Lopes at UFC 320 in Guadalajara, there are some who think “El Pantera” could be getting a rematch with Volkanovski.

BJ Penn Staff - May 23, 2025

We’ve got some new information about an infamous podcast brawl between former UFC champions Belal Muhammad and Kamaru Usman. That’s thanks to former two-division champ Henry Cejudo. Cejudo, who previously held the UFC bantamweight and flyweight belts, hosts the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Usman. He was in the room when things got physical between Usman and Muhammad, and during a recent appearance on the JAXXON podcast, shed some light on what went down.

Cole Shelton - May 23, 2025

Former bare-knuckle boxer Uly Diaz is looking to put on his gloves and box influencer Tristan Hamm in Misfits. Diaz fought for the BKFC title and interim title throughout his lengthy bare-knuckle career. However, he announced his retirement from bare-knuckle boxing back in August. Although he retired from bare-knuckle, he did fight at the first Dirty Boxing event and now wants to get into boxing and get on a Misfits card.

Harry Kettle - May 23, 2025

UFC legend Miesha Tate has provided an update on her fighting future in the wake of her most recent defeat. As we know, Miesha Tate is an absolute icon within the context of women’s mixed martial arts. She achieved some great things during her tenure in the UFC, including winning the bantamweight championship. Since returning, however, she hasn’t been on the best form, going 2-3 in her last five fights.

Harry Kettle - May 23, 2025

UFC contender Mateusz Gamrot has explained why he isn’t the biggest fan of fellow lightweight Paddy Pimblett. While he’s had some big wins since arriving in the promotion, Mateusz Gamrot has also had his fair share of setbacks. After falling to a defeat against Dan Hooker, he’s been forced to go back to the drawing board. The Polish sensation still believes that he is capable of reaching the very top of the lightweight division, but of course, he needs to get some wins under his belt.

Harry Kettle - May 23, 2025

UFC star Ilia Topuria’s former head coach has opened up on why the two have decided to go their separate ways. As we know, Ilia Topuria is one of the biggest names in all of mixed martial arts right now. He is already known as the UFC featherweight champion and now, he’s moving up to 155 pounds in an attempt to become a two-division world champion. After knocking out the likes of Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski, it’s hard to imagine many people betting against him.

BJPENN.COM Staff - May 23, 2025

Since fighting twice, former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John Lineker and current reigning king Fabricio Andrade have enjoyed their respective runs in combat sports. But they could meet in an all-Brazilian MMA trilogy in the near future. The bantamweight duo are undoubtedly two of the best fighters to emerge from South America. While their trajectories have sent them down differing routes, their paths could intertwine.

BJPENN.COM Staff - May 23, 2025

Former K-1 Champion Yuki Yoza wasn’t always the destructive force he is today. It was a trait he didn’t seem to have in his early days. He wasn’t one to watch among his peers. But by hook or by crook, Yoza’s killer instinct eventually came alive. The 27-year-old makes his ONE Championship debut this Friday, May 23, at ONE Friday Fights 109. There, he takes on unbeaten Russian star Elbrus Osmanov in bantamweight kickboxing inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.

BJ Penn Staff - May 22, 2025

Movsar Evloev won’t be getting his UFC title shot just yet. The Russian featherweight is one of the hottest contenders in any UFC weight class right now. He is 19-0 overall, and a strong 9-0 in the Octagon. Highlights of his run in the UFC include wins over top contenders like Dan Ige, Diego Lopes, Arnold Allen, and most recently, former bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling.

BJ Penn Staff - May 22, 2025

Khabib Nurmagomedov has revealed what he did with the money he made for beating fellow UFC legend Conor McGregor. Khabib met McGregor in the main event of UFC 228 in October of 2018. McGregor was the biggest star in combat sports at the time, and Khabib was his fiercest rival.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 22, 2025

Islam Makhachev has caught wind of one well-known UFC analyst’s ducking accusations, and he’s responded. Makhachev is set to vacate the UFC Lightweight Championship on June 28. Once the UFC 317 main event between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira begins, Makhachev will relinquish the 155-pound gold. The soon-to-be former lightweight champion made the decision in order to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC Welterweight Championship.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 22, 2025

Merab Dvalishvili has received some surprising comments from Sean O’Malley’s head coach. It’s no secret that there’s some gamesmanship between Dvalishvili and O’Malley’s team. With that said, there is also mutual respect between both sides. Dvalishvili defeated O’Malley to become the UFC Bantamweight Champion back in Sept. 2024. O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch recently remarked that the lights inside the Las Vegas Sphere caused his fighter to miss a good portion of his strikes.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 22, 2025

Jack Della Maddalena has shared some key differences between Islam Makhachev and Belal Muhammad. Maddalena captured the UFC Welterweight Championship by defeating Belal Muhammad in the UFC 315 headliner. The win for “JDM” opened the door for Makhachev to move up in weight to challenge for the 170-pound gold. That’s why Makhachev will be vacating the UFC Lightweight Championship.

Harry Kettle - May 22, 2025

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili teased rival Sean O’Malley in a recent skit ahead of UFC 316. At UFC 316, Merab Dvalishvili will defend his UFC bantamweight championship against Sean O’Malley. It comes in the wake of their battle at Noche UFC, where Merab was able to wrestle the belt away from ‘Suga’. Ever since then, O’Malley hasn’t fought, whereas ‘The Machine’ has been able to successfully defend his title against Umar Nurmagomedov.

Harry Kettle - May 22, 2025

UFC star Ian Machado Garry has explained why he’s so excited to see how the new era evolves in the welterweight division. As we know, Ian Machado Garry is one of the top contenders in the welterweight division. However, he has a lot of competition when it comes to determining who gets the next title shot. Islam Makhachev is moving up from 155 pounds, Sean Brady is in the mix, Belal Muhammad will want a rematch, and Shavkat Rakhmonov is waiting around the next corner.