MMA News

Cole Shelton - October 28, 2025

Steve Garcia is eager to headline his first UFC card. After Garcia beat Calvin Kattar earlier this year, he called for a top-10 opponent and wanted a big name. Although he didn’t get a huge name, Garcia will take on David Onama in the main event of UFC Vegas 110.

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 28, 2025

Knockouts write the best championship stories. Yuya Wakamatsu plans to author his first title defense by separating Joshua Pacio from consciousness in front of his hometown crowd. The reigning ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion defends his gold against the ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, inside Ariake Arena at Tokyo, Japan.

Curtis Calhoun - October 28, 2025

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka is the latest to question Tom Aspinall’s eye injuries suffered at UFC 321. UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has come under fire in the hours following a no-contest against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. Just minutes into the UFC 321 main event, accidental eye pokes from Gane left Aspinall badly compromised and unable to continue fighting.

Dylan Bowker - October 28, 2025

Melissa Croden is a more recent addition to the UFC’s bantamweight division and is entering a more intriguing landscape at 135 pounds with the looming Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes bout firing many up. While there has not been a specifically outlined date or location, the promotion is clearly intrigued about booking a Harrison vs. Nunes championship clash. The excitement around that fight is seen as a much-needed shot in the arm for the women’s bantamweight division in the UFC overall. When asked if she feels like there is a certain level of rejuvenation or excitement to the women’s bantamweight division with the Harrison vs. Nunes title fight acting as a lightning rod for that, Croden said [via MMA Canada],

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 28, 2025

Perfect records vanish with a single mistake. Shozo Isojima and Tye Ruotolo both understand this brutal reality as they prepare to settle who remains unbeaten in lightweight MMA competition. The Japanese rising star battles the American submission grappling champion at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri. This goes down on Sunday, November 16, inside Ariake Arena at Tokyo, Japan. Both fighters carry unblemished records into this high-stakes encounter that could launch the winner toward title contention. Isojima brings hometown momentum while Ruotolo seeks to prove his grappling dominance translates seamlessly into mixed martial arts competition.

Curtis Calhoun - October 28, 2025

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall’s father shared a discouraging update on his son’s eye injuries suffered at UFC 321. Tom Aspinall’s first undisputed heavyweight title defense came to an abrupt halt as his fight with Ciryl Gane was ruled a no-contest just minutes into the UFC 321 headliner. Gane accidentally poked both of Aspinall’s eyes as they exchanged strikes, leading to Aspinall losing vision and being deemed unfit to continue competing.

Dylan Bowker - October 28, 2025

What a difference a year can make, and a microcosm of that idea can be seen in Bryce Mitchell’s shifted stance on Donald Trump. Just a few weeks after Trump had won the 2024 US presidential election, Mitchell professed an intense level of support for the MAGA figurehead. Mitchell even went so far as to say he would take a bullet and die for the president who was entering his second term. Mitchell also made comments in 2019 during Trump’s first term in office that he would be willing to beat up fellow politicians for the former host of The Apprentice if needed.

Curtis Calhoun - October 28, 2025

Former UFC champion Aljamain Sterling responded to fans who blasted him for a strong stance on Tom Aspinall’s eye injury at UFC 321. UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall’s first undisputed title defense ended in controversy after Ciryl Gane accidentally double-poked him in the eyes just minutes into the fight at UFC 321. After taking five full minutes to try to recover, Aspinall was deemed unable to continue competing after telling cageside doctors that he couldn’t see.

BJ Penn Staff - October 28, 2025

UFC fighters don’t usually get cut from the promotion’s roster following victories, but that’s not a hard a fast rule. Every now and then, fighters will receive their walking papers even if they were victorious in their most recent Octagon appearance. That, unfortunately, is the reality for one of the winners of last Saturday’s UFC 321 event.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 28, 2025

Sean O’Malley has some words for those who believe Tom Aspinall wanted a way out at UFC 321. Aspinall and Ciryl Gane fought with the UFC Heavyweight Championship at stake this past Saturday. Aspinall walked in as the champion, and the challenger was finding some success against him. Gane utilized his movement and didn’t show fear of his opponent’s punching power.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 28, 2025

Ciryl Gane looked sharp for as long as his bout with Tom Aspinall lasted, but could the rematch be even tougher for “Bon Gamin?” Gane challenged Aspinall for the UFC Heavyweight Championship this past Saturday. The UFC 321 main event saw Gane have early success, as he wasn’t concerned about the champion’s punching power. Things came crashing down when Gane landed an accidental double eye poke, leading to a no-contest ruling.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 28, 2025

As fans await Alex Pereira’s next move, one top UFC contender doesn’t think “Poatan” will meet Jiri Prochazka again next. Pereira is coming off a first-round knockout victory to reclaim the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Speaking to reporters after the fight, Pereira revealed he wants a heavyweight showdown with Jon Jones at the White House. UFC CEO Dana White admitted he’d prefer it if Pereira stays at light heavyweight, but he didn’t rule out “Poatan’s” request.

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 27, 2025

Championship belts fuel ambition rather than satisfy hunger. Roman Kryklia stands on the edge of striking immortality with two ONE World Titles already draped across his shoulders, yet he sees only the one missing piece. The Ukrainian giant battles undefeated Turkish sensation Samet Agdeve for the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Championship at ONE Fight Night 37 on Prime Video on Friday, November 7, live from Bangkok, Thailand. Kryklia seeks his third ONE World Title to cement his legacy as one of striking arts’ all-time greats. The 6-foot-6 powerhouse already holds both the ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing and ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai World Championships.

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 27, 2025

Social media warfare transforms into Circle reality when personal pride meets professional combat. Shinya Aoki finally answers Hiroyuki Tetsuka’s challenge after months of heated exchanges that captivated Japanese fight fans. The legendary submission specialist battles the hard-hitting former Pancrase Welterweight Champion in lightweight MMA action at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, inside Ariake Arena at Tokyo, Japan. This all-Japanese showdown represents far more than another fight on a stacked card. Both men have traded verbal shots across multiple platforms, building genuine animosity that guarantees fireworks when the cage door closes.

Dylan Bowker - October 27, 2025

Khabib Nurmagomedov has been a hugely dominant fighter and also has had quite the winning streak as a coach, but he revealed a lot about himself when one of his charges recently lost to Sergio Pettis. This happened to Magomed Magomedov, who ended up on the wrong end of a spinning back elbow KO loss to Pettis when the two fought at PFL Dubai earlier this month. In the aftermath, there was an abundance of respect shown from the Nurmagamedov team, and when touching on his interaction with Khabib Nurmagamedov after the Magomedov contest, Pettis said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

Cole Shelton - October 27, 2025

The UFC was in Abu Dhabi on Saturday for a solid UFC 321 card. The main event saw heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall defending his belt against Ciryl Gane, while the co-main event saw Mackenzie Dern rematching Virna Jandiroba, with the vacant strawweight title up for grabs. In the end, the main event ended in a No Contest as Gane poked Aspinall in the eye, and the champ couldn’t continue. Dern, meanwhile, edged out a decision in a back-and-forth, fun fight to become the new strawweight champion. Following UFC 321, here is what I think should be next for the stars of the event.

Curtis Calhoun - October 27, 2025

UFC women’s strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern isn’t happy with analyst Din Thomas after his pre-UFC 321 remarks about her ‘insignificant’ title fight. Mackenzie Dern won the then-vacant UFC strawweight title over Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321 last Saturday in Abu Dhabi. She outpointed Jandiroba by unanimous decision to secure a UFC belt and usher in a new era in the strawweight division.

Curtis Calhoun - October 27, 2025

Former UFC champion Aljamain Sterling ruffled many fans’ feathers with a bizarre take after UFC 321. UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall’s long-awaited return was brought to a screeching halt against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 last Saturday. Just minutes into the fight, an accidental double eye poke from Gane left Aspinall unable to continue competing, resulting in a no-contest.