MMA News
Jack Della Maddalena's coach explains why Islam Makhachev is 'a bit easier' than Belal Muhammad
Cole Shelton - October 21, 2025
Ben Vickers, the coach of Jack Della Maddalena, believes Islam Makhachev will be an easier fight than Belal Muhammad was. Della Maddalena is set to defend his welterweight title for the first time when he takes on Makhachev. Della Maddalena is coming off a decision win over Muhammad earlier this year to become the welterweight champion.
Sergio Pettis on Patchy Mix UFC 320 loss: "I feel for Patch"
Dylan Bowker - October 21, 2025
Sergio Pettis has a history with Patchy Mix and weighed in on the former Bellator MMA champion taking his second loss in the UFC at UFC 320. Patchy Mix actually finished Pettis to claim the Bellator strap, with Mix entering the UFC with the backing of some tremendous hype. Now he is 0-2 in the UFC, and while Mix fell short to Jakub Wikłacz by way of split decision, in some people’s eyes, that bout verdict was on the controversial side. When asked for his particular thoughts on that Mix fight at UFC 320 and if he was able to catch it, considering his return travel plans from his own emphatic win under the PFL umbrella vs. Magomed Magomedov, which was also on October 4th, Pettis said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
Ciryl Gane reveals mindset change after Jon Jones loss: 'It's different than before'
Cole Shelton - October 21, 2025
Ciryl Gane made a major change to his mindset after he lost to Jon Jones in the first round for the heavyweight title. Gane was fighting for the UFC’s undisputed heavyweight title for the second time, but for the second time, he came up short. After the first round submission loss to Jones, Gane realized he had to make some major changes if he was going to be a UFC champion when it’s all said and done.
MMA has "become an aggressively right wing sport", per prominent analyst
Dylan Bowker - October 21, 2025
MMA has been quite overt about its political partisanship as of late, according to one of the most widely known analysts within mixed martial arts. This was discussed during a recent interview conducted by acclaimed MMA great Demetrious Johnson when he had Luke Thomas as a guest on his personal YouTube channel. On his channel Mighty, Luke Thomas got into which part of the political continuum the UFC is nestled in, Thomas said, “Dude, like let’s just be honest, it’s become an aggressively right-wing sport. I bring this up to say, some people will like that, some people will not like that. I’m not trying to tell anybody they don’t have to like that if they, in fact do. In fact, what I’m quite aware of is even if I did, they wouldn’t listen. It’s not really about that.”
UFC legend slams athletic commissions amid Dan Miragliotta debacle in Vancouver
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 21, 2025
A former UFC slugger has some strong words for athletic commissions following Dan Miragliotta’s performance as an official in Vancouver. Miragliotta received heavy criticism for how he handled the Kyle Nelson vs. Matt Frevola fight at the end of the first round. While Nelson was raining down strikes, Miragliotta pulled him off of Frevola with three seconds remaining. Despite the fact that a horn never sounded, Miragliotta thought the round ended and the fight continued. Ultimately, Nelson earned a unanimous decision win.
UFC 321 fight between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane will be one-sided, says popular analyst
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 21, 2025
UFC 321 will be headlined by Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane, and one analyst thinks it’ll be a one-sided affair. Gane will challenge Aspinall for the UFC Heavyweight Championship on Saturday. Being a contender for UFC gold isn’t unusual territory for “Bon Gamin.” He is a former interim champion and has challenged Ngannou and Jon Jones. Those bout ended up being losing efforts for Gane, and an ex-UFC fighter thinks history will repeat itself.
Joe Rogan argues Max Holloway is not 'the real BMF' in the UFC
BJ Penn Staff - October 21, 2025
If you consider Max Holloway the UFC’s true “BMF” champion, Joe Rogan has a message for you: “Shut the f**k up.”
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 207 with Mario Bautista and Chris Barnett
Cole Shelton - October 21, 2025
The 207th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC 321. We’re first joined by eighth-ranked UFC bantamweight Mario Bautista (1:12). We close things out by chatting with UFC heavyweight Chris Barnett (14:18).
Drew Dober reveals he lost his unborn child during UFC Vancouver camp
Harry Kettle - October 21, 2025
UFC veteran Drew Dober has revealed that he lost his unborn child during training camp for UFC Vancouver. It’s safe to say that Drew Dober has been through his fair share of adversity in the Octagon recently. Last Saturday night, though, Drew was able to get back in the win column when he defeated and finished Kyle Prepolec in a great battle at UFC Vancouver.
UFC star thinks Tom Aspinall represents the next stage of divisional dominance
Harry Kettle - October 21, 2025
UFC star Michael ‘Venom’ Page believes Tom Aspinall, like Jon Jones, can dominate his division as world champion. In the main event of UFC 321 this weekend, Tom Aspinall will defend his UFC heavyweight championship. He will do so against Ciryl Gane, and it’ll serve as the first time he defends the belt as the undisputed champ of the division.
Superbon targeting Masaaki Noiri finish: "Ending the fight with a knockout would make it a perfect victory"
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 20, 2025
ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon refuses to leave his Tokyo destiny in the hands of the judges. The Thai striker learned hard lessons from his January loss to Tawanchai, transforming shortcomings into fuel that powers his pursuit of divisional supremacy against an opponent who accomplished what he couldn’t. Superbon faces ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Masaaki Noiri in a unification bout at ONE 173 on Sunday, November 16, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The 35-year-old brings 116 career victories into his clash with Japan’s striking sensation, who captured interim gold by knocking out Tawanchai at ONE 172 in March.
Arman Tsarukyan is "the biggest challenge" for Ilia Topuria, per Kyle Nelson
Dylan Bowker - October 20, 2025
Arman Tsarukyan is someone who could present a stiff test for Ilia Topuria according to a recently victorious UFC lightweight. Kyle Nelson is the combatant in question who thinks this and the former UFC featherweight introduced himself to the lightweight scene in a big way at UFC Vancouver. ‘The Monster’ secured a win against Matt Frevola over the weekend with Frevola being a former opponent of Arman Tsarukyan, someone who was supposed to fight for the 155 pound title in January.
UFC Vancouver's Melissa Croden on potential Canadian MMA boom: "We're all passive and nice until we're not"
Dylan Bowker - October 20, 2025
After her successful UFC debut, amid several big wins for Canadian combatants at UFC Vancouver, Melissa Croden foresees a galvanizing of the Canadian MMA scene taking place. There was a lot of stacked Canadian representation on the UFC Vancouver card, with names like Mike Malott, Aiemann Zahabi, Kyle Nelson, and Charles Jourdain all notching important wins. When asked if it feels like we’re like poised for something big in the Canadian MMA scene as far as getting into a new, peak era and boom period for the great fight north, Croden said [via MMA Canada],
Jean Silva slams Max Holloway in response to mockery of recent UFC callout
Curtis Calhoun - October 20, 2025
UFC featherweight contender Jean Silva hit back at Max Holloway after the BMF titleholder’s cold response to his recent callout. The UFC’s card at The White House is less than a year away, as UFC CEO Dana White plans to host a major event on the South Lawn of the U.S. President’s residence. Many top names have thrown their names into the conversation to feature on the card.
What's next for Brendan Allen and Reinier de Ridder after UFC Vancouver?
Cole Shelton - October 20, 2025
The UFC was in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday, October for a solid UFC Vancouver Fight Night card. The main event saw middleweight contenders throw down as Brendan Allen took on Reinier de Ridder. Entering the fight, de Ridder was coming off an upset win over Robert Whittaker to be a legit title contender. Allen, meanwhile, was coming off a decision win over Marvin Vettori to snap his two-fight losing skid.
Mackenzie Dern admits she 'wouldn't be ready' to fight Zhang Weili at UFC 321 if ex-champ kept title
Curtis Calhoun - October 20, 2025
UFC strawweight star Mackenzie Dern saluted the former strawweight titleholder ahead of her vacant title fight at UFC 321. After Zhang Weili vacated the UFC strawweight title for a move to flyweight, top strawweight contenders Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba got the call from matchmakers that they’ll compete for the vacant title at UFC 321. It’ll be the first title shot for Dern and Jandiroba; after both contenders went through a long journey to reach the top of the division.
'Cheap'...Mike Malott reveals tense exchange backstage with Kevin Holland after UFC Vancouver controversy
Curtis Calhoun - October 20, 2025
Things between UFC welterweights Kevin Holland and Mike Malott nearly escalated backstage after their fight at UFC Vancouver. The UFC Vancouver co-main event bout between surging welterweights Kevin Holland and Mike Malott didn’t disappoint last Saturday. The fight was a barnburner from start-to-finish, with Malott getting the unanimous decision nod over the UFC fan favorite Holland.
Tom Aspinall's father doesn't see how Ciryl Gane can defeat his son at UFC 321
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 20, 2025
Tom Aspinall’s father and coach isn’t sold on Ciryl Gane being able to find success at UFC 321. Aspinall will be defending the UFC Heavyweight Championship against Gane in the main event of UFC 321 on Saturday. The two will collide inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. It’ll be Aspinall’s first fight as the undisputed titleholder, as he held interim gold before Jon Jones retired.