UFC News

Jon Jones, Derek Brunson, UFC
UFC

Former Jon Jones rival claims retirement was the smart move: “His legacy outweighs that”

Cole Shelton - June 26, 2025

Jon Jones’ former teammate and rival, Rashad Evans, thinks ‘Bones’ retiring was a good decision. Jones announced his retirement from the sport as the heavyweight champ, which meant he wouldn’t fight Tom Aspinall. Although that was a fight many fans wanted to see, Evans doesn’t think it’s a big deal for Jon Jones’ legacy that he won’t fight the Brit.

Brandon Royval
UFC

Brandon Royval claims he's the "most disrespected fighter in the UFC" ahead of UFC 317

Cole Shelton - June 26, 2025

Brandon Royval believes he doesn’t get the respect he deserves. Royval is set to take on Joshua Van at UFC 317 on Saturday in a potential No. 1 contender bout. Heading into the fight, Royval is once again the underdog, despite Van being ranked below him and taking it on short notice.

Renato Moicano, UFC 317
UFC

Renato Moicano believes he has "to kill" Beneil Dariush at UFC 317 to remain in title picture

Cole Shelton - June 26, 2025

Renato Moicano believes the pressure is on him to not just beat Beneil Dariush but finish him at UFC 317. Moicano was supposed to face Dariush back in January. But, on weigh-in day, after Arman Tsarukyan pulled out, Moicano stepped up on a day’s notice to face Islam Makhachev for the belt. The Brazilian ended up losing by first-round submission and was rebooked to face Dariush at UFC 317 on Saturday.

Kai Kara-France UFC fight
Kai Kara-France

Kai Kara-France isn't expecting to finish Alexandre Pantoja early at UFC 317

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 26, 2025

Kai Kara-France believes he has realistic expectations for his title fight against Alexandre Pantoja. Kara-France and Pantoja will collide in the UFC 317 co-headliner on Saturday. Pantoja’s UFC Flyweight Championship will be at stake. While Kara-France has competed for interim gold, this will be his first undisputed UFC title fight.

Islam Makhachev training UFC Perfomance Institute
Islam Makhachev

UFC 317 fighter is 'extremely disappointed' about Islam Makhachev vacating lightweight title

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 26, 2025

One fighter scheduled for the UFC 317 card can’t help but feel disappointed after Islam Makhachev’s move to the welterweight division. Once Saturday’s main event between Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria begins, Makhachev will officially vacate the lightweight gold. Oliveira vs. Topuria is being contested to determine a new 155-pound titleholder. Makhachev will challenge UFC Welterweight Champion Jack Della Maddalena at a date to be announced.

Max Holloway, UFC 317
Max Holloway

Max Holloway cautions fans against doubting Charles Oliveira at UFC 317: 'This fight is up in the air'

BJ Penn Staff - June 26, 2025

Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is better positioned than most to break down this weekend’s Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira fight. Topuria and Oliveira are set to meet for the vacant lightweight title in the main event of 317. It goes down tomorrow night in Las Vegas.

Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones, UFC, MMA
UFC

New UFC heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall lays out plans for busy 2025: 'I've wasted enough time'

BJ Penn Staff - June 26, 2025

Tom Aspinall waited a long time to be promoted to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion. With that settled, he’s hoping to make up for lost time. Aspinall claimed the interim heavyweight title with a quick knockout of Sergei Pavlovich in late 2023. He spent nearly all of the time since chasing a fight with Jon Jones, who held the division’s undisputed title. However, Jones had no interest in the matchup, and instead beat an aging Stipe Miocic last November, and after months of pulling Aspinall along, finally announced his retirement last weekend. That meant that Aspinall was finally became the true heavyweight king.

Charles Oliveira, Ilia Topuria, UFC 317, MMA
Ilia Topuria

WATCH | Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira share wholesome moment ahead of UFC 317 fight

BJ Penn Staff - June 26, 2025

Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira are set to fight for UFC gold in just over 24 hours, but there is clearly nothing but respect between then. Topuria and Oliveira will meet in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 317 card in Las Vegas. They’ll be competing for the vacant lightweight title, which Islam Makhachev left behind with plans to move up to welterweight.

Alexandre Pantoja
UFC

Alexandre Pantoja reveals potential next opponent should he win at UFC 317

Cole Shelton - June 25, 2025

Alexandre Pantoja is committed to staying at flyweight. Pantoja is looking to defend his flyweight title for the fourth time. He’s set to take on Kai Kara-France in the co-main event of UFC 317. Given that Pantoja has already beaten a lot of the contenders, who he fights next is a big question.

Charles Oliveira
Ilia Topuria

Charles Oliveira expects Ilia Topuria to "fold" at UFC 317: "This is for my legacy"

Cole Shelton - June 25, 2025

Charles Oliveira believes he will be too much and will make Ilia Topuria fold at UFC 317. Oliveira is set to face Topuria in the main event of UFC 317 for the vacant lightweight title. It’s an intriguing matchup, and despite Oliveira being a sizeable underdog, he has plenty of confidence that he won’t just beat, but will finish Topuria to once again become the lightweight champion.

Jack Della Maddalena, Islam Makhachev, UFC, Perth Australia, UFC Perth, UFC Australia
UFC

Islam Makhachev reveals targeted date for UFC super fight with Jack Della Maddalena

BJ Penn Staff - June 25, 2025

It is not yet known when Islam Makhachev will fight Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC welterweight title, but the pound-for-pound king knows when he wants it to happen. Russia’s Makhachev is widely considered the best fighter on earth right now. He enjoyed a long reign as the UFC lightweight champion, but recently vacated his throne to move up to welterweight. Given his status among the sport’s best fighters, he’s expected to walk right into a fight with welterweight champ Jack Della Maddalena of Australia.

Kevin Holland, UFC, MMA
Kevin Holland

Kevin Holland gets unranked opponent in 4th UFC fight of 2025

BJ Penn Staff - June 25, 2025

If you thought Kevin Holland would be getting a ranked opponent after taking out Vicente Luque earlier this month, think again. Holland met Luque, a staple of the welterweight top-15, at UFC 316. He won the fight with a second-round anaconda choke—a finish so slick it earned him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.