MMA News

BJPENN.COM Staff - May 21, 2025

Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi’s career as a fighter, for the most part, is a lonesome journey. Once you step in the ring and that bell sounds, it comes down to you. Recently, the flyweight Muay Thai star has felt an overwhelming amount of support. At ONE Fight Night 32, he makes his main roster debut versus #4-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender Nakrob Fairtex on Friday, June 6, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.

BJPENN.COM Staff - May 21, 2025

Leaving the nest to chase your wildest dreams without a backup plan is a scary move. It’s enough to get your heart racing and your hair standing tall. That said, lightweight MMA star Maurice Abevi experienced all those emotions when he moved from Switzerland to Thailand. Abevi has become a force within the division. Above all, he looks to cement his position as a World Title threat at ONE Fight Night 32. He takes on the unbeaten Alibeg Rasulov on Friday, June 6, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium.

BJPENN.COM Staff - May 21, 2025

Japanese ace Yuki Yoza rides a 10-fight winning streak into his ONE Championship debut. And that run has given him the confidence he needs. The K-1 Champion takes on undefeated Russian Elbrus Osmanov in a bantamweight kickboxing bout at ONE Friday Fights 109 inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

BJPENN.COM Staff - May 21, 2025

Newly minted ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion Denice Zamboanga insists she’s destined to battle former three-sport queen Stamp Fairtex. Their previous bouts have seen injuries, cancellations, and other unforeseen circumstances occur.

Cole Shelton - May 20, 2025

Sean Strickland has shared his prediction for the middleweight title fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev. Du Plessis is set to defend his middleweight title in the main event of UFC 319 on August 16. It’s a highly anticipated bout, and heading into the fight, Du Plessis is a +162 underdog while the challenger is a -210 favorite on FanDuel.

BJ Penn Staff - May 20, 2025

Former UFC star Kevin Lee has a new home for the next phase of his MMA career. “The Motown Phenom” has signed a new, multi-fight deal with the PFL (Professional Fighters League). Damon Martin of MMA Fighting was first to report the news.

BJ Penn Staff - May 20, 2025

Islam Makhachev is headed up to the UFC welterweight division, and there are some very tough matchups awaiting him there. One of them might turn out to be his “worst nightmare.” That would be Joaquin Buckley. Makhachev is the long-reigning UFC welterweight champion, and the promotion’s top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter right now. Earlier this month, he announced plans to vacate his lightweight belt and head up to welterweight. The expectation is that he will walk right into a title fight with the division’s new champion, Jack Della Maddalena.

BJ Penn Staff - May 20, 2025

Jon Jones has cleared the air after generating a bit of controversy with a comment about his fellow UFC champ Islam Makhachev. Jones is currently in Thailand filming a Russian reality television show with fellow UFC star Nate Diaz. In a recent clip from the show, Jones could be heard saying Makhachev is “new in the sport still.”

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 20, 2025

A former UFC veteran doesn’t understand why some believe that Islam Makhachev ducked Ilia Topuria. Makhachev has long made it clear that his goal is to capture a second UFC title, this time at welterweight. He found the right opportunity to achieve his goal when his teammate Belal Muhammad was beaten by Jack Della Maddalena, who is now the 170-pound titleholder. Makhachev will vacate the lightweight gold once the UFC 317 main event between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira begins.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 20, 2025

One emerging UFC contender believes he has pinpointed some of Ilia Topuria’s biggest flaws. Topuria will be attempting to win UFC gold again, this time in the lightweight division. “El Matador” vacated the UFC Featherweight Championship, and he will face Charles Oliveira for the vacant 155-pound hardware on June 28. The title fight will headline UFC 317 inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Harry Kettle - May 20, 2025

Merab Dvalishvili’s coach has revealed that they nearly pulled him from his UFC 311 title fight against Umar Nurmagomedov. At UFC 316, Merab Dvalishvili will attempt to successfully defend his UFC bantamweight championship for the second time. He’ll do so by going up against Sean O’Malley, the same man that he defeated to win the belt in the first place. Since that initial title win, he’s kept himself busy by also locking horns with Umar Nurmagomedov, who he was able to defeat at the start of the year in a really competitive affair.

Harry Kettle - May 20, 2025

UFC contender Ian Machado Garry has responded to recent comments made by Jack Della Maddalena regarding his child. One thing we know about Ian Machado Garry is that he isn’t afraid to get under the skin of his opponents. He is more than happy to go blow for blow with them on the microphone, largely in the name of building interest for their eventual encounter in the cage. For the most part, he seems pretty comfortable in this environment, and he did during UFC 315 fight week when he decided to have some fun with Jack Della Maddalena.

Harry Kettle - May 20, 2025

UFC lightweight Beneil Dariush still believes he could climb into title contention at 155 pounds with a few big wins. For the longest time now, Beneil Dariush has been a notable contender in the lightweight division. However, after a few poor results in his last few outings, many have been left to wonder whether or not he still belongs in the elite class. Of course, he also has big wins under his belt, but the top 15 is starting to look incredibly stacked once again.

Cole Shelton - May 20, 2025

The UFC was at the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday for UFC Vegas 106. In the main event, welterweight contenders threw down as Michael Morales took on Gilbert Burns. Entering the fight, Morales was a perfect 17-0 as a pro, including being 5-0 in the UFC, and was coming off a TKO win over Neil Magny. Burns, meanwhile, was on a three-fight losing streak and was looking to snap his losing skid and remain a title contender.

BJ Penn Staff - May 19, 2025

Ilia Topuria is set for one of the biggest fights of his life at UFC 317. That hasn’t stopped him from changing up his coaching staff. Spain’s Topuria is the former UFC featherweight champion. After vacating the belt last year, he is set to challenge Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title in the main event of UFC 317 on June 28.

BJ Penn Staff - May 19, 2025

Claressa Shields is done with MMA. Shields, 30, is best known for her boxing accolades. The Flint, Michigan native has held titles in five weight classes, and is considered one of the best female boxers of all time. However, several years ago, she boldly transitioned into MMA.

BJ Penn Staff - May 19, 2025

Paddy Pimblett has something special in mind for a potential fight with fellow UFC star Ilia Topuria. England’s Pimblett is currently ranked No. 8 in the UFC lightweight division, and is probably just a few more wins from a crack at the division’s title. That title, of course, was recently vacated by long-time champion Islam Makhachev, who is headed up to welterweight. That cleared the way for Spain’s Topuria, the former featherweight champ, to battle Charles Oliveira for the vacant belt in his lightweight debut. The fight goes down at UFC 317 on June 28.

Cole Shelton - May 19, 2025

Ian Machado Garry has taken aim at Jack Della Maddalena over his performance at UFC 315. Della Maddalena beat Belal Muhammad by decision to win the welterweight title. The Aussie was able to keep the fight standings and landed the more damaging shots. Although Della Maddalena pulled off the upset, Machado Garry felt like the Aussie wasn’t all that impressive in the win.