MMA News
Former UFC champ Petr Yan to take big step down in competition for next fight
BJ Penn Staff - May 6, 2025
Petr Yan will be taking a huge step down in competition for his next UFC fight — unless his fellow contender Cory Sandhagen agrees to a matchup. Yan is the former UFC bantamweight champion, and is ranked No. 2 in the weight class at present. He is currently riding back-to-back decision wins over Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo. Ordinarily, that might be enough to warrant a title shot. There’s just one problem. Yan has already lost to champion Merab Dvalishvili, as well as No. 1 contender Sean O’Malley, who will challenge for the belt at UFC 316 in June.
UFC 315 ticket sales are a disaster just days ahead of time: 'No one gives a f**k
BJ Penn Staff - May 6, 2025
The UFC is set to return to Montreal, Quebec, Canada this Saturday. The card may not be the home run the promotion hoped for. UFC 315 features two title fights, and appearances from a handful of decorated veterans and promising prospects. Given how rarely the promotion visits Canada, you might assume tickets are flying off the shelves.
Jack Della Maddalena vows to come out "guns blazing" against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 to get KO win
Cole Shelton - May 6, 2025
Jack Della Maddalena plans to come out aggressively against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315. Della Maddalena is challenging Muhammad for the welterweight title in the main event of the pay-per-view card in Montreal. Entering the fight, Della Maddalena is a betting underdog, but he has full confidence in his skill that he won’t just win, but will finish Muhammad.
Bo Nickal admits he got 'exposed' in devastating UFC loss to Reinier de Ridder
BJ Penn Staff - May 6, 2025
UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal got his first taste of defeat in MMA last Saturday, suffering a devastating TKO loss to Reinier De Ridder. He is not shying away from the experience. Nickal met De Ridder in the co-main event of the UFC’s debut in Des Moines, Iowa. It was the wrestling standout’s chance to improve to 8-0 as a pro and vault into the middleweight rankings, but it was not meant to be. Instead, Nickal was dominated by De Ridder in round one, and finished by a knee to the body in round two.
Injured UFC star reveals infection prior to devastating loss in Des Moines
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 6, 2025
One former UFC champion claims he was infected prior to his defeat this past weekend. The UFC was back on the road for a Fight Night card in Des Moines. The event saw Bo Nickal suffer the first loss of his pro MMA career against Reinier de Ridder. There was also the main event flyweight clash between Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo. While “Figgy” had some moments in the fight, they were few and far between.
Daniel Cormier concerned after top UFC prospect suffers first loss
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 6, 2025
Daniel Cormier has some concerns after a once-unbeaten UFC star suffered his first loss. UFC Des Moines featured a flyweight main event between Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo, but the co-headliner showcased a top prospect going one-on-one with a former two-division ONE Championship titleholder. Bo Nickal tried his hand against Reinier de Ridder, and it proved to be too much too soon. Nickal was stopped via second-round TKO.
Former MMA champion advises the UFC to cut ties with Bo Nickal for a little bit: “You need to go, you need to tighten up everything”
Harry Kettle - May 6, 2025
MMA analyst Josh Thomson has a pretty interesting point of view regarding UFC’s potential stance on Bo Nickal. Last weekend, Bo Nickal suffered his first defeat in professional mixed martial arts. He went head to head with Reinier de Ridder and, in more ways than one, he simply couldn’t keep up with the Dutchman. RDR was all over him from beginning to end, finishing off the American wrestling star with a nasty knee to the body.
Mateusz Gamrot slams Benoit Saint-Denis for allegedly turning him down as new UFC 315 opponent: “Grow some balls!”
Harry Kettle - May 6, 2025
Mateusz Gamrot has slammed Benoit Saint-Denis for reportedly turning him down as a new opponent for UFC 315. While he may have had a few setbacks, Mateusz Gamrot is still one of the most intriguing lightweight contenders in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The Polish sensation is capable of mixing it up with anyone in the top 15, and although he isn’t seen by many as a legitimate title threat, he certainly has the potential to get to that level based on the evidence presented thus far.
What's next for Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo after UFC Des Moines?
Cole Shelton - May 6, 2025
The UFC was in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, May 3, for UFC Des Moines. In the main event, bantamweight contenders threw down as Cory Sandhagen took on Deiveson Figueiredo in a pivotal bout. Entering the fight, Sandhagen was coming off a decision loss to Umar Nurmagomedov, which snapped his three-fight winning streak. Figueiredo, meanwhile, was coming off a decision loss to Petr Yan, which was his first loss at bantamweight after going 3-0.
UFC fans question Benoit Saint-Denis’ new short notice opponent for UFC 315
Harry Kettle - May 6, 2025
UFC fans have questioned the new opponent that Benoit Saint-Denis has been given on short notice heading into UFC 315. For the longest time, it seemed as if Benoit Saint-Denis was the next big thing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Unfortunately, that reputation has taken a bit of a knock as of late. In his two fights in 2024, the Frenchman was finished in brutal fashion by both Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano. Now, he’s aiming to prove to the masses that he still has what it takes to be a top contender.
Cory Sandhagen open to rematching Petr Yan in a No. 1 contender fight: "I was winning that fight"
Cole Shelton - May 5, 2025
Cory Sandhagen believes he deserves the next title shot, but is open to taking another fight. Sandhagen scored a second-round stoppage win over Deiveson Figueiredo on Saturday at UFC Des Moines. It got him back in the win column, and after the victory, he called for a title shot.
Belal Muhammad explains why he's surprised Ian Machado Garry is the backup fighter at UFC 315
Cole Shelton - May 5, 2025
Belal Muhammad is surprised Ian Machado Garry is serving as the backup fighter for UFC 315. Muhammad is set to defend his welterweight title for the first time against Jack Della Maddalena on Saturday in Montreal in the main event of UFC 315. After Garry beat Carlos Prates, he revealed he’d be the backup fighter, which caught the champ by surprise.
Dana White's involvement in Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight is good for boxing, says UFC legend
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 5, 2025
One UFC Hall of Famer has explained why Dana White’s involvement in the promotion of Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford is positive for boxing. Combat sports fans were stunned after Saudi Arabia’s Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh, announced that White would help promote Alvarez vs. Crawford. The super fight is scheduled to take place on Sept. 12.
Bo Nickal's 'tough weekend' might have been needed, says one veteran UFC coach
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 5, 2025
One well-known head coach has shared his opinion on Bo Nickal’s first pro MMA defeat. Nickal took on Reinier de Ridder in the UFC Des Moines co-headliner this past Saturday. While a win for Nickal would’ve put him in the top 15 UFC middleweight rankings, it wasn’t meant to be. It was the relentless pressure of de Ridder in the standup that overwhelmed the once unbeaten fighter. Nickal was ultimately stopped with a knee to the body in the second stanza.
Tom Aspinall provides update on his current training schedule
Harry Kettle - May 5, 2025
UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has provided an update on his current training schedule. We’re all waiting for one thing in the heavyweight division: Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall. It’s a fight that has been talked about for literal years now but for whatever reason, it hasn’t yet come to fruition. The popular opinion is that Jones simply doesn’t want to fight Tom, which is something that the light heavyweight GOAT has openly admitted in the past.
Belal Muhammad looks to Georges St-Pierre's UFC welterweight title reign for inspiration
Harry Kettle - May 5, 2025
UFC champion Belal Muhammad has spoken of his admiration for former welterweight king Georges St-Pierre ahead of UFC 315. This Saturday night, Belal Muhammad will defend his UFC welterweight championship against Jack Della Maddalena. He’ll do so in the main event of UFC 315 which is set to go down in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. While a lot of people believe that JDM has a chance at pulling off the upset, the popular opinion seems to be that Belal will successfully retain the belt that he won from Leon Edwards.
Deiveson Figueiredo vows to be back after UFC Des Moines defeat
Harry Kettle - May 5, 2025
Deiveson Figueiredo has vowed to come back from his nasty knee injury that he suffered in the main event of UFC Des Moines. On Saturday night, Deiveson Figueiredo fell short in the main event of UFC Des Moines. He went up against Cory Sandhagen and he just wasn’t really able to compete in a way that was going to lead to victory. In addition to losing, though, he also suffered a nasty knee injury which looks set to keep him out of action for an undisclosed period of time.
Jack Della Maddalena lays out his plan for UFC 315 main event
Harry Kettle - May 5, 2025
UFC contender Jack Della Maddalena has laid out his plan for this weekend’s UFC 315 welterweight championship main event. On Saturday night, Jack Della Maddalena will attempt to become the welterweight champion of the world. It’s a goal that he’s been working towards for years and now, it’s within touching distance. Alas, in order to take home the gold, he needs to get through Belal Muhammad, who has looked pretty unbeatable over the course of the last few years.