MMA News
UFC title loss wasn't all negative for Belal Muhammad, says well-known MMA manager
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 16, 2025
Belal Muhammad no longer holds UFC gold, but he didn’t leave Montreal empty-handed. Muhammad attempted to secure a successful UFC welterweight title defense against Jack Della Maddalena on May 10. The championship fight headlined UFC 315. While Muhammad was never out of the fight, Maddalena was a step ahead of him on the feet. Muhammad’s takedown attempts were also thwarted, leading to a unanimous decision win for Maddalena.
UFC 319 oddsmakers are 'insane' for having Dricus du Plessis as underdog against Khamzat Chimaev
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 16, 2025
One MMA legend is in disbelief that middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis is an underdog against Khamzat Chimaev. Dana White recently announced that du Plessis vs. Chimaev will headline UFC 319 in Chicago on Aug. 16. It’s a highly anticipated middleweight title fight, and many fans are excited to see how this one will play out. At the moment, Chimaev is the betting favorite over “Stillknocks.”
UFC Vegas 106 weigh-in results: Gilbert Burns and Michael Morales tip the scales in 'Sin City'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 16, 2025
The weigh-in results are in for UFC Vegas 106, and we have ourselves a main event. Headlining Saturday’s show inside the UFC Apex will be a seasoned welterweight looking to avoid his third loss in a row. To do so, he will need to overcome the surging undefeated 170-pounder Michael Morales. Burns and Morales tipped the scales for the weigh-ins and have reached their target weights.
Khamzat Chimaev opens as favorite in UFC 319 main event vs Dricus du Plessis
Harry Kettle - May 16, 2025
UFC contender Khamzat Chimaev has opened as a betting favorite ahead of his UFC 319 title fight against Dricus du Plessis. At UFC 319 on August 16, Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship. It’s a moment that has been a long time coming for ‘Borz’, who has been on the rise in the promotion for five years now. Ever since his debut, he has been tipped for greatness – and in truth, it took a lot longer than many people imagined for us to get to this point.
TJ Dillashaw admits to being “delusionally optimistic” in title fight with Aljamain Sterling
Harry Kettle - May 16, 2025
Former UFC champion TJ Dillashaw admits that he was delusionally optimistic heading into his title fight against Aljamain Sterling. These days, TJ Dillashaw is enjoying his mixed martial arts retirement. His career was full of many ups and downs, including multiple title wins, weight class changes, controversial decisions, doping violations and injuries. The latter, of course, wound up being the defining story of his retirement, in a lot of ways.
Cris Cyborg reacts to Amanda Nunes coming out of retirement
Harry Kettle - May 16, 2025
MMA legend Cris Cyborg has reacted to Amanda Nunes’ plan to come out of retirement and return to the UFC. As we know, Amanda Nunes is easily one of the greatest female fighters of all time – and she may well stand at the top of the mountain as the very best. She’s had some truly incredible wins over the years, with one of the most notable being against Cris Cyborg. At the time, they were seen as the very best to ever do it, and Nunes managed to knock her out in a sensational back-and-forth encounter.
Julian Erosa expects to secure D'Arce choke against Melquizael Costa at UFC Vegas 106
Cole Shelton - May 15, 2025
Julian Erosa is ecstatic to be making a quick turnaround. Erosa is coming off a first-round stoppage win over Darren Elkins back at UFC 314. Just over a month later, he will return at UFC Vegas 106 when he takes on Melquizael Costa.
Allycia Hellen Rodrigues to defend world title against Shir Cohen at ONE Fight Night 32
BJPENN.COM Staff - May 15, 2025
ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues’ reign of terror enters its next episode. The all-business Brazilian meets undefeated Israeli hitter Shir Cohen in the main event of ONE Fight Night 32. This happens on Friday, June 6, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Deiveson Figueiredo avoids surgery for knee injury, anxious to get back into the Octagon
Cole Shelton - May 15, 2025
Deiveson Figueiredo should be able to return to the Octagon sooner than expected. Figueiredo suffered a knee injury in his loss to Cory Sandhagen back at UFC Des Moines. Figueiredo’s manager, Alex Davis, told MMA Fighting that the Brazilian suffered a tear in the anterolateral ligament in his knee. Although he suffered a tear, he isn’t expected to have surgery.
Jake Paul vows to "embarrass" Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and make him "quit"
Cole Shelton - May 15, 2025
Jake Paul is oozing with confidence ahead of his boxing match against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28 in Anaheim, California. It’s an intriguing matchup and a fight that they both say is a long time coming. Although Chavez Jr. has much more experience than Paul, the brash YouTuber-turned-boxer is confident he won’t just beat the Mexican but will make him quit.
Darren Till vows to 'annihilate' fellow UFC veteran in Friday boxing match
BJ Penn Staff - May 15, 2025
Former UFC contender Darren Till is set to return to the boxing ring this Friday, and he’s promising a violent spectacle once he steps through the ropes. Till, 32, is set to meet fellow UFC veteran Darren Stewart, 34, in the main event of the Misfits Boxing 21 card in Derby, England.
Ilia Topuria suggests UFC super fight with Islam Makhachev could still happen at welterweight
BJ Penn Staff - May 15, 2025
A fight between Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev is among the biggest the UFC can make right now. Unfortunately, it won’t be happening. At least, not yet. By late 2024, the undefeated Spaniard Topuria was the UFC featherweight champion, while Russia’s Makhachev was the lightweight champ. A lot has changed since then.
Ian Machado Garry would rather be a celebrity than UFC champion, says Jack Della Maddalena's coach
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 15, 2025
Jack Della Maddalena’s team believes Ian Machado Garry needs to focus more on fighting than his brand. Maddalena is the new UFC Welterweight Champion after defeating Belal Muhammad in Montreal on May 10. In the week leading up to UFC 315, backup fighter Ian Machado Garry stole some shine from the title fight by having his son offer Maddalena chocolate. Many feel Garry was playing mind games knowing that Maddalena was in the midst of a weight cut.
Ilia Topuria calls Islam Makhachev a 'coward' for avoiding UFC lightweight title fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 15, 2025
Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev are in a war of words following the UFC’s bombshell announcement. Topuria will be getting a crack at the UFC Lightweight Championship, but it won’t be against Makhachev. Instead, the 155-pound gold will be vacated, as Makhachev will challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title. Topuria will be facing Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317.
Jessice Eye makes bare knuckle debut against fellow UFC veteran at BKFC 76
BJ Penn Staff - May 15, 2025
Former UFC flyweight title challenger Jessica Eye is set to make her bare knuckle debut at BKFC 76 on June 21. Her opponent on the card, which will go down in Fort Worth, Texas, will be fellow UFC veteran Mariya Agapova. BKFC officials announced the matchup to MMA Fighting on May. 14.
Report: Former Bellator champ gets short-notice UFC debut against Mario Bautista
BJ Penn Staff - May 15, 2025
Marlon “Chito” Vera will not be fighting Mario Bautista at UFC 316. Instead, Bautista be fighting former Bellator champion Patchy Mix at the June 7 card in Newark, New Jersey. That’s according to X user @MagicM_MMABets, who has a good track record for breaking fight news.
Gilbert Burns agrees with Islam Makhachev's decision to vacate UFC lightweight title
Harry Kettle - May 15, 2025
Gilbert Burns agrees with Islam Makhachev’s decision to vacate the UFC lightweight title in order to move up to welterweight. As we know, Islam Makhachev is vacating the UFC lightweight championship. He’s doing so as a result of his decision to pursue the welterweight belt, which is currently held by Jack Della Maddalena. If Belal Muhammad had been able to defeat JDM in their UFC 315 title fight, Islam likely would’ve remained at 155 pounds to defend the strap against Ilia Topuria.
Daniel Cormier questions Jon Jones' prediction for hypothetical heavyweight fight
Harry Kettle - May 15, 2025
UFC legend Daniel Cormier doesn’t agree with Jon Jones’ thoughts on what would’ve happened if they fought each other at heavyweight. As we know, Daniel Cormier is one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. He accomplished some great things throughout the course of his career, especially in the UFC. However, there was one man he couldn’t overcome: Jon Jones. These two warriors battled it out twice in two of the most bitterly contested bouts in the history of the promotion. On both occasions, Jones got the win, with the second of those victories later being ruled a no contest.