MMA News

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 4, 2026 at 4:00 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Valerii Strungari faces former Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Kongchai Chanaidonmueang in the strawweight Muay Thai main event of The Inner Circle, streaming live for members at live.onefc.com from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, June 5. The 24-year-old Moldovan from Team Mehdi Zatout carries a 1-1 ONE Championship record into the bout. His debut produced a third-round knockout of Sanit Aekmuangnon at ONE Friday Fights 133. This happened after two rounds where Sanit controlled the pace.

Cole Shelton - June 4, 2026 at 3:42 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Gabriel Bonfim has high praise for his upcoming opponent, Belal Muhammad. Bonfim is set to headline UFC Vegas 118 on Saturday from the Apex against Muhammad. It’s a tough test for the Brazilian as he takes on a former champion, as Bonfim calls it the toughest test of his career.

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 4, 2026 at 1:00 PM PDT // 0 Comments

He knows exactly what went wrong. He rushed in, got caught with a head kick, stood up too soon, and it was over in 25 seconds. Saw Min Min has spent the months since then making sure it does not happen again. Saw Min Min faces four-time Muay Thai World Champion Yodlekpet Or Atchariya in the flyweight Muay Thai main event of ONE Friday Fights 157, streaming live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, June 5.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 4, 2026 at 12:03 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Sean O’Malley thinks a finish at UFC Freedom 250 gives him the best chance at another title fight, but he doesn’t feel it’s a lock. O’Malley is scheduled to collide with Zahabi in a pivotal bantamweight tilt on June 14. The “Suga” show is looking to build off his January win over Song Yadong during UFC’s debut on Paramount+. As for Zahabi, he’s in search of the biggest win of his pro MMA career, which would extend his winning streak to eight.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 4, 2026 at 10:47 AM PDT // 0 Comments

Josh Hokit doesn’t believe Alex Pereira is as good as the MMA community thinks he is. Hokit has been trying to ruffle some feathers on his climb in the heavyweight division. He revved up his antics during media week for UFC 327 back in April, and he ultimately defeated Curtis Blaydes via unanimous decision in an entertaining scrap. He will meet Derrick Lewis on the UFC Freedom 250 card on June 14 and caused some chaos once again during a press conference back in May.

Harry Kettle - June 3, 2026 at 11:25 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Former UFC star Muhammad Mokaev has suggested he would retire if he were unable to defeat current champion Joshua Van. For the longest time, it seemed like Muhammad Mokaev was destined to become UFC flyweight champion. However, following issues behind the scenes with the promotion, he was let go – and more often than not, when there’s a feud as public as this one, it’s rare that the UFC changes their mind.

Harry Kettle - June 3, 2026 at 11:22 PM PDT // 0 Comments

UFC star Alex Pereira has opened up on his decision to make the jump up to the promotion’s heavyweight division. Fight fans are well aware of the pedigree that Alex Pereira has in mixed martial arts and in combat sports in general. The Brazilian sensation has achieved some wonderful things since his career started, and now, he stands on the verge of history.

Harry Kettle - June 3, 2026 at 11:19 PM PDT // 0 Comments

UFC star Mauricio Ruffy has addressed questions about his relationship with his former Fighting Nerds team. In his next outing, Mauricio Ruffy will go head to head with Michael Chandler as part of the blockbuster UFC Freedom 250 card. For a long time now, it’s seemed as if he was being lined up as the next big thing at lightweight, and if he can defeat a veteran like Chandler, that will only solidify those beliefs.

BJPENN.COM Staff - June 3, 2026 at 4:00 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Johan Estupinan beat Johan Ghazali. That result put him on the map in a way few promotional debuts have managed. Two losses followed, and now he needs to show June 26 is where his real story starts again. Estupinan now faces Akif Guluzada in a flyweight kickboxing bout at ONE Fight Night 44: Jarvis vs. Rungrawee II on Prime Video, broadcasting live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, June 26.

Dylan Bowker - June 3, 2026 at 3:51 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Ilia Topuria will defend his UFC lightweight title in the coming days against interim titleholder Justin Gaethje at the White House in the coming days and someone interwoven within that UFC 155-pound title lineage has weighed in on the bout. Topuria versus Gaethje is a title unification contest that tops the marquee at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14th. The former UFC divisional kingpin being referenced is Benson Henderson, who broke down the machinations of that matchup when preparing for his own MMA return headlining the recent PFL Brussels card. Expounding upon his thoughts related to Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje, Henderson said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

Curtis Calhoun - June 3, 2026 at 3:42 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm responded to her former rival, Ronda Rousey’s recent comments about a rematch. UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey’s highly anticipated return to Mixed Martial Arts lasted just 17 seconds last month, as she submitted Gina Carano with her patented armbar. Rousey hadn’t fought since back-to-back losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes to end her UFC tenure.

Cole Shelton - June 3, 2026 at 3:33 PM PDT // 0 Comments

Belal Muhammad plans to remind everyone he’s still one of the best welterweights in the world. Muhammad is set to headline UFC Vegas 118 on Saturday against Gabriel Bonfim in a pivotal fight at welterweight. Despite losing his last two fights, Muhammad enters the bout as a -130 favorite while the Brazilian is a +102 underdog on FanDuel.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 7, 2026

Belal Muhammad didn’t get the result he envisioned at the conclusion of UFC Vegas 118, but he is facing the music without hesitation. The former UFC Welterweight Champion was back in action this past Saturday. “Remember The Name” collided with surging contender Gabriel Bonfim inside the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. Muhammad struggled against the younger Bonfim and was ultimately swept on the scorecards. With the victory, Bonfim has extended his winning streak to five.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 7, 2026

Dana White has taken Eddie Hearn to task over his demand to have Tom Aspinall receive a significant pay raise if he’s expected to fight the winner of Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane. White and Hearn have been engaged in some hostile banter ever since Zuffa Boxing formed. Things took an unexpected turn when Zuffa Boxing signed Conor Benn, who had been in business with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing for a decade. Hearn fired back by signing a disgruntled Aspinall to a talent agency deal.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 5, 2026

Justin Gaethje has dialed up the trash talk ahead of his title unification bout with Ilia Topuria, and Daniel Cormier isn’t complaining at all. Things had been cordial between Topuria and Gaethje before “El Matador” dropped a mock funeral video with “The Highlight” as one of his victims. Gaethje fired back at his UFC Freedom 250 opponent during an appearance on FOX News Australia. Gaethje took aim at Topuria’s divorce from Giorgina Uzcategui.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 5, 2026

Eddie Hearn insists he refuses to allow Tom Aspinall to fight the winner of the UFC Freedom 250 co-headliner without a substantial bump in pay. The co-main event for the historic June 14 show will feature an interim heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane. While the winner should be facing Aspinall in a title unification bout down the line, there are some issues that need to be addressed. Aspinall has been unhappy with how the UFC brass responded to the double eye injury he suffered in his UFC 321 fight against Gane back in Oct. 2025.

Harry Kettle - June 5, 2026

UFC commentator Michael Bisping had some interesting thoughts recently when discussing Tom Aspinall’s recovery from eye surgery. As we know, Tom Aspinall has been on the shelf since suffering a nasty double eye poke at the hands of Ciryl Gane. While the Frenchman has gone on to be rewarded with an interim heavyweight title shot, Tom has been back at home recovering from surgery.

Harry Kettle - June 5, 2026

UFC welterweight Ian Machado Garry has a notable weakness, claims his former opponent Belal Muhammad. While nothing has been confirmed as of this writing, it certainly seems like Ian Machado Garry will get the next shot at Islam Makhachev and the UFC welterweight championship. He has been building towards an opportunity like this for quite some time, and he seems pretty confident in his ability to get the job done.

Dylan Bowker - June 4, 2026

Tatsuro Taira tried to make history in a recent high-octane clash with Joshua Van, and someone close to the former weighed in on that UFC title bout. Taira was aiming to be the first ever Japanese fighter to win a UFC championship, and despite a spirited effort, was halted inside the distance by Joshua Van last month in Newark, New Jersey.  Hiromasa Ougikubo is the referenced combatant in question who is close to Taira, and Ougikubo is one of the top-level flyweights in the world today. Ougikubo is the reigning and defending flyweight champion under the Rizin Fighting Federation banner and defends his belt against Makoto Shinryu at Rizin Landmark 14 on June 6th. Hiromasa Ougikubo is also a frequent training partner of Taira’s, and when weighing in on the latter’s loss to Joshua Van at UFC 328, Ougikubo said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

Cole Shelton - June 4, 2026

Michael Chandler is still hopeful he will get a chance to fight Conor McGregor. Chandler had been holding out to fight McGregor in his return after the two coached TUF against one another. Yet, the bout didn’t happen, and now McGregor will be making his return against Holloway.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 4, 2026

Sean O’Malley thinks a finish at UFC Freedom 250 gives him the best chance at another title fight, but he doesn’t feel it’s a lock. O’Malley is scheduled to collide with Zahabi in a pivotal bantamweight tilt on June 14. The “Suga” show is looking to build off his January win over Song Yadong during UFC’s debut on Paramount+. As for Zahabi, he’s in search of the biggest win of his pro MMA career, which would extend his winning streak to eight.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 4, 2026

Brendan Allen is convinced that Dricus du Plessis doesn’t want the smoke. Allen and du Plessis have been exchanging heated words over the past year, but a bout between the two has yet to materialize. While UFC has yet to make it official, rumors have been swirling of a middleweight clash between du Plessis and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman on July 18. Meanwhile, the No. 4-ranked Allen will be facing unranked Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC Vegas 118 on Saturday.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 4, 2026

Josh Hokit doesn’t believe Alex Pereira is as good as the MMA community thinks he is. Hokit has been trying to ruffle some feathers on his climb in the heavyweight division. He revved up his antics during media week for UFC 327 back in April, and he ultimately defeated Curtis Blaydes via unanimous decision in an entertaining scrap. He will meet Derrick Lewis on the UFC Freedom 250 card on June 14 and caused some chaos once again during a press conference back in May.

Harry Kettle - June 3, 2026

Former UFC star Muhammad Mokaev has suggested he would retire if he were unable to defeat current champion Joshua Van. For the longest time, it seemed like Muhammad Mokaev was destined to become UFC flyweight champion. However, following issues behind the scenes with the promotion, he was let go – and more often than not, when there’s a feud as public as this one, it’s rare that the UFC changes their mind.