MMA News
Dagi Arslanaliev sees nothing "particularly dangerous" about KO artist Roberto Soldic
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 13, 2025
Welterweight MMA star Dagi Arslanaliev fears no man – not even revered knockout artist Roberto Soldic. The Turkish standout meets the Croatian superstar at ONE 171: Qatar next Thursday, February 20, inside Doha, Qatar’s Lusail Sports Arena in what’s expected to be a welterweight MMA slugfest.
Youssef Zalal eager to "solve the puzzle" of Calvin Kattar at UFC Vegas 102: "Shake up the division"
Cole Shelton - February 12, 2025
Youssef Zalal is excited to prove he’s a true title contender at UFC Vegas 102. Zalal was brought back into the UFC last year and went 3-0 to show he’s a true contender. He will now get a tough test as he will face Calvin Kattar in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 102 on Saturday night at the Apex.
Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen pitch Colby Covington vs Michael Chiesa to fight after TUF 33
Cole Shelton - February 12, 2025
Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen are set to coach TUF 33 and they want their assistant coaches to fight at season’s end. Usually, the coaches of The Ultimate Fighter fight at the season’s end. However, Sonnen and Cormier are both retired and have no plans to fight again. With that, there won’t be a fight at season’s end, but Cormier has Michael Chiesa on his coaching staff, while Sonnen has Covington so they want them to fight instead.
UFC commentator Joe Rogan offers his pick for the greatest heavyweight of all time: "He was a monster!"
Josh Evanoff - February 12, 2025
UFC commentator Joe Rogan has named Fedor Emelianenko as the heavyweight GOAT. There is almost nothing sports fans like to do more than debate greatness, and MMA is no exception. A few months ago, the UFC promoted the return of Stipe Miocic in his bout against Jon Jones as the return of the “Greatest Heavyweight of All-Time”. However, commentator Joe Rogan doesn’t agree with that assessment.
Michael Chandler calls out Paddy Pimblett for International Fight Week: "opportunity of a lifetime for a young lad"
Cole Shelton - February 12, 2025
Michael Chandler has his eyes on his next opponent. Chandler is coming off a decision loss to Charles Oliveira and will likely need to fight below him in the rankings next time after his rumored bout against Arman Tsarukyan has fizzled. Taking to social media, Chandler called out Paddy Pimblett for a fight at International Fight Week.
Kamaru Usman's brutally honest take on Tatiana Suarez's UFC 312 loss to Zhang Weili
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 12, 2025
Kamaru Usman was disappointed by Tatiana Suarez’s performance against Zhang Weili. Suarez challenged Weili for the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship this past Saturday night. The title fight served as the UFC 312 co-main event inside the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. In the opening frame, Suarez was able to score a takedown, but Weili did a good job avoiding damage and scrambling back to her feet.
Former UFC champion thinks Dricus du Plessis would beat Alex Pereira in super fight: 'I'll definitely put my money on DDP'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 12, 2025
One former UFC double champion believes Dricus du Plessis would defeat Alex Pereira if the two share the Octagon. Following du Plessis’ dominant middleweight title defense over Sean Strickland in their rematch at UFC 312, “Stillknocks” challenged Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion. Du Plessis later clarified to reporters that he expects to fight Khamzat Chimaev next, but he wants the “Poatan” bout if he gets past “Borz.”
Paddy Pimblett wants in on UFC 314 card in Miami: 'That's the plan if I can get it'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 12, 2025
Paddy Pimblett is the latest fighter to throw his name in the hat for a potential spot on the UFC 314 card. The event is scheduled to take place inside the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida on April 12th. Many rumors have been swirling regarding potential matchups for the card. Rising UFC star Bo Nickal even claimed he had been hearing the planned main event is a featherweight title rematch between Ilia Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski. The UFC has not announced a headliner at this time.
Michael Chiesa and WWE superstar feature on Daniel Cormier's coaching team for The Ultimate Fighter
Harry Kettle - February 12, 2025
A few interesting faces have made an appearance on Daniel Cormier’s coaching team for the new season of The Ultimate Fighter. For the new season of The Ultimate Fighter, the UFC has decided to do something different. Instead of putting two fighters as coaches, with the intention being that they’ll square off at the end of the season, they’ve gone for Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen. As we know, both of these men have long since retired from mixed martial arts.
Stipe Miocic makes his pick for the current best heavyweight in MMA
Harry Kettle - February 12, 2025
UFC legend Stipe Miocic has given his thoughts on who he believes in the best heavyweight in mixed martial arts right now. Throughout the course of his mixed martial arts career, Stipe Miocic was able to achieve some incredible things. Most notably, he became the most decorated heavyweight fighter in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. From turning back contenders to standing tall as a two-time champion, Stipe did it all and then some in what was a remarkable run.
Wang Cong promises eventual title shot following UFC 312 triumph
Harry Kettle - February 12, 2025
UFC contender Wang Cong has promised she will earn a title shot following her victory at UFC 312 last weekend. After a highlight reel knockout win in her full debut against Victoria Leonardo, Wang Cong was seen as the next big thing at flyweight. Unfortunately, that got somewhat derailed when she was submitted by Gabriella Fernandes in a shocking defeat back in November.
Felipe Lobo wants rematch with Nabil Anane "at the right time"
BJPENN.COM Staff - February 11, 2025
Felipe Lobo took a big step toward re-entering ONE Championship’s bantamweight Muay Thai division’s top-five rankings at ONE Fight Night 28. “Demolition Man” earned a third-round knockout over Thai veteran Saemapetch Fairtex in their rematch last Friday, February 7, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.
Jared Cannonier believes he will KO Gregory Rodrigues once he "slows down" at UFC Vegas 102
Cole Shelton - February 11, 2025
Jared Cannonier expects to get back into the win column in a big way at UFC Vegas 102 on Saturday. Cannonier is set to headline the Fight Night card at the UFC Apex against Gregory Rodrigues. Cannonier is on a two-fight losing streak and because of that, he’s a +176 underdog while Rodrigues is a -230 favorite on FanDuel. Despite being on a two-fight losing streak and being the underdog, Cannonier has full confidence he will get his hand raised and will do so by KO.
Dominick Cruz opens up on 'excruciating' career-ending injury: "This was enough pain to teach me something"
Josh Evanoff - February 11, 2025
Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz has opened up on his decision to retire. ‘The Dominator’ is widely considered one of the greatest bantamweights in MMA history, and for good reason. Sporting a 24-4 record, Dominick Cruz dominated the UFC 135-pound division for years. Despite dealing with a variety of injuries, he managed to hand fellow legends such as Urijah Faber, T.J. Dillashaw, and Demetrious Johnson losses.
KSI claims Nate Diaz and several other ex-UFC stars rejected March boxing match against him: "We were scrambling"
Josh Evanoff - February 11, 2025
YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI has claimed that Nate Diaz and several ex-UFC stars rejected a fight against him. ‘The Nightmare’ recently booked his return to the boxing ring earlier this month. Back for the first time since a unanimous decision loss to Tommy Fury in late 2023, KSI will meet Dillon Danis. ‘El Jefe’ wasn’t the first choice, as the YouTuber was originally set to meet ex-football star Wayne Bridge at Misfits 21 instead.
Sean Strickland's coach gets brutally honest following lopsided UFC 312 title fight: "I wanna coach world champions"
Josh Evanoff - February 11, 2025
Sean Strickland’s coach Eric Nicksick has sounded off on his loss at UFC 312 over the weekend. ‘Tarzan’ returned to the octagon in the main event of the UFC’s pay-per-view offering from Australia on Saturday. There, Sean Strickland again met middleweight champion, Dricus du Plessis. ‘Stillknocks’ famously won the gold from the boxing-heavy American last year, by a controversial split decision.
Paddy Pimblett doubts Ilia Topuria fights Islam Makhachev during International Fight Week: 'He's not Conor McGregor'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 11, 2025
Paddy Pimblett isn’t convinced that Ilia Topuria will fight Islam Makhachev this summer. Topuria has teased trying his hand at 155 pounds in a bid to become a double champion. “El Matador” is currently the reigning UFC featherweight champion and he’s been linked to a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski. The UFC has not made that bout official at this time.
Belal Muhammad explains how he'd defeat Dricus du Plessis in UFC super fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 11, 2025
Belal Muhammad believes he’d defeat UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and he’s even laid out a path to victory. Muhammad is the reigning UFC welterweight champion. He captured the gold back in July 2024 when he defeated Leon Edwards via unanimous decision. He was scheduled to put his gold at stake against Shavkat Rakhmonov in the main event of UFC 310, but an infection derailed that plan.