MMA News

BJ Penn Staff - May 13, 2025

If Islam Makhachev moves up to the UFC welterweight division, he will find himself in the crosshairs of most of the weight class’s top fighters. That includes former champ Kamaru Usman. Makhachev is currently the No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. He earned that lofty position as the promotion’s lightweight champion. He won the belt with a submission over the great Charles Oliveira in 2022, and has since defended the belt four times: twice against Alexander Volkanovski, and later against Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano.

BJ Penn Staff - May 13, 2025

UFC legend Vitor Belfort has some big dreams for his life after fighting. Brazil’s Belfort debuted with the UFC way back in 1997. He enjoyed several prominent runs with the promotion. His final run came to an end after a knockout loss to Lyoto Machida in 2018. Highlights of his resume include a light heavyweight title win in 2004, multiple title challenges, and victories over stars like Luke Rockhold, Dan Henderson, and Michael Bisping.

Cole Shelton - May 13, 2025

Jack Della Maddalena doesn’t expect Islam Makhachev to be a welterweight for long. Della Maddalena became the UFC’s welterweight champion on Saturday with a hard-fought decision win over Belal Muhammad. After the fight, Makhachev confirmed he would be moving up to welterweight to try and get the second belt and become a champ-champ.

BJ Penn Staff - May 13, 2025

Islam Makhachev has ambitions to reign over two UFC weight classes at once. His long-time friend and training partner Daniel Cormier is urging him to be cautious as he pursues this goal. Makhachev is already the UFC lightweight champion. He won the division’s coveted belt with a submission win over Charles Oliveira in 2022, and has since defended it four times. His first two defenses came against featherweight legend Alexander Volkanovski. Since then, he has defended the belt with finishes of Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 13, 2025

One longtime UFC veteran will keep his 15-year run intact. Not every fighter in MMA can remain competitive, regardless of their placement on the card. This is especially true in UFC, where a couple of bad performances, along with other factors, can lead to a release. In the case of one fan favorite, who won his most recent outing, his old contract expired and many wondered if this marked the end of the business relationship.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 13, 2025

Islam Makhachev’s coach Javier Mendez thinks Islam Makhachev will prove that Jack Della Maddalena simply isn’t on his level. Makhachev is the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion, and he might get to try his hand at double-champ status. Jack Della Maddalena defeated Makhachev’s training partner Belal Muhammad to capture the UFC Welterweight Championship this past Saturday. This now leaves the door open for Maddalena vs. Makhachev.

Harry Kettle - May 13, 2025

UFC legend Kamaru Usman has claimed that he feels indifferent towards Belal Muhammad’s title loss at UFC 315. One thing we know to be true about Kamaru Usman is that he was a great welterweight champion. He enjoyed some incredible wins throughout the course of his title reign and now, he’s attempting to climb back to the top of the mountain. While his primary focus right now is on his main event clash with Joaquin Buckley next month, the former champ was also keeping an eye on the main event at UFC 315 between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena.

Harry Kettle - May 13, 2025

UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has revealed that he declined an offer to coach on the Russian equivalent of The Ultimate Fighter against Jon Jones. As we know, Daniel Cormier is one of the all-time greats within the world of mixed martial arts. He achieved some incredible things throughout the course of his career, including winning world titles in two different weight classes. However, when it comes to rivalries, perhaps his most notable foe was none other than Jon Jones – the man who many consider to be the GOAT.

Harry Kettle - May 13, 2025

UFC fighter Modestas Bukauskas has responded to those claiming his win was a “robbery” at UFC 315. Throughout the course of his career, Modestas Bukauskas has been through his fair share of ups and downs. From big losses to horrific injuries and beyond, he’s had to overcome some real adversity. Now, though, he’s starting to put the right pieces in place, and the 31-year-old is beginning to look like a promising rising contender in the light heavyweight division.

Cole Shelton - May 13, 2025

The 195th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC Vegas 106. We’re first joined by UFC middleweight Jack Hermansson (1:00). UFC lightweight Thiago Moises (14:32) then joins the show. Julian Erosa (24:02) closes out the program.

Cole Shelton - May 13, 2025

The UFC was in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on Saturday for a solid UFC 315 card. The main event saw Belal Muhammad defending his welterweight title against Jack Della Maddalena, while the co-main event saw Valentina Shevchenko defending her flyweight belt against Manon Fiorot. Ultimately, it was Della Maddalena who pulled off the upset as he beat Muhammad by decision to become the new welterweight champion. Shevchenko, meanwhile, edged out a decision win over Fiorot to defend her belt. Following UFC 315, here is what I think should be next for the stars of the event.

BJPENN.COM Staff - May 12, 2025

Losing someone close to you is always difficult to process. Currently, former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John Lineker is grappling with grief after the passing of a young training partner. Depression and suicide represent a growing crisis among youth worldwide. The Brazilian striker has experienced this tragedy firsthand following the devastating decision made by a youthful teammate to end his own life.

BJ Penn Staff - May 12, 2025

Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski is closing in on 50 years old, but he’s not done fighting yet. He’s now set to debut with BKFC. Arlovski, now 46, enjoyed two lengthy stints with the UFC. In fact, he has the second most fights in Octagon history, at 42.

BJ Penn Staff - May 12, 2025

Dan Hardy was very impressed with the way Jack Della Maddalena fought at UFC 315. So much so that he is now backing the Australian to beat Islam Makhachev in a widely-discussed super fight. UFC 315 went down last Saturday in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Australian knockout artist Jack Della Maddalena claimed the welterweight title in the main event, defeating champion Belal Muhammad by decision.

BJ Penn Staff - May 12, 2025

Most hardcore UFC fans know the name Kyle Snyder. He won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and around the same time, talked a bit about moving to MMA to fight for the promotion. The former UFC hopeful has found himself in hot water.

Cole Shelton - May 12, 2025

UFC welterweight contender Sean Brady believes Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev will be a closer fight than people think. Della Maddalena became the UFC welterweight champion on Saturday with a decision win over Belal Muhammad. After the win, Makhachev called to get that fight to try and become a champ-champ. If that is indeed the next fight, it would be an intriguing matchup, and Brady believes it’s a closer fight than people think.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 12, 2025

Khamzat Chimaev isn’t exactly feeling bad for Belal Muhammad following UFC 315. Muhammad lost the UFC Welterweight Championship to Jack Della Maddalena in Montreal this past Saturday. While many believe it was the most exciting fight Muhammad has ever been in, it didn’t lead to a successful title defense. Maddalena did an effective job stuffing takedowns, which allowed him to work his striking.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 12, 2025

Paddy Pimblett has reacted to Jack Della Maddalena’s UFC welterweight title win over Belal Muhammad. The main event of UFC 315 had major implications for not just the welterweight division, but the 155-pound weight class as well. A successful title defense for Muhammad would’ve likely meant a showdown between UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. Following Maddalena’s title win, however, the door is now open for Makhachev to attempt double-champ status.