MMA News
Dricus du Plessis doesn't "think there’s a heavyweight in the world that can even compete with" Tom Aspinall
Dylan Bowker - October 24, 2025
Dricus du Plessis is breaking down this weekend’s UFC 321 main event bout and heaped heavy praise on event headliner and UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. The UK native aims to make the first successful defense of his undisputed crown in his return from last July, when Aspinall finished Curtis Blaydes in a rematch to retain his then-interim title. Ciryl Gane will stand in Aspinall’s way on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, with the former UFC middleweight champion offering up his viewpoint on the October 25th pay-per-view closer. During an appearance on Fight Forecast, du Plessis said [via MMA Fighting],
Lerone Murphy hints at next opponent as he 'watches tape' amid Alexander Volkanovski fight uncertainty
Curtis Calhoun - October 24, 2025
UFC featherweight contender Lerone Murphy might be moving on from the next featherweight title shot against Alexander Volkanovski. As 2025 rapidly approaches a close, the UFC featherweight division remains in uncertain territory with multiple top contenders making cases for a shot at Alexander Volkanovski. Volkanovski reclaimed the featherweight title by defeating Diego Lopes at UFC 314 earlier this year to kick off his second title reign.
Justin Gaethje responds to Paddy Pimblett's recent Ilia Topuria callouts as he makes his case for White House title shot
Curtis Calhoun - October 24, 2025
UFC star Justin Gaethje shared a pointed message in response to Paddy Pimblett’s recent claims surrounding an offer on the table to fight Ilia Topuria. Justin Gaethje remains insistent that he’s the most deserving challenger for UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria’s first title defense in 2026. Gaethje, who hasn’t fought since a win over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313, has repeatedly drawn a line in the sand surrounding his Octagon return.
Dustin Poirier explains familiar situation UFC 321 headliner finds himself in
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 24, 2025
Dustin Poirier says he’s been in the same spot that one top UFC 321 headliner is in right now. In the main event of UFC 321 on Saturday, Ciryl Gane will challenge Tom Aspinall for the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Championship. This will be “Bon Gamin’s” third opportunity at an undisputed heavyweight title under the UFC banner. Despite once holding interim gold, Gane has never been an undisputed champion.
Dricus du Plessis scolded by UFC Vancouver winner over sudden silence
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 24, 2025
Dricus du Plessis has been quiet following UFC Vancouver, and one winner on the card thinks he knows why. Brendan Allen stepped up on short notice to fight Reinier de Ridder in the main event of UFC Vancouver inside Rogers Arena. Allen replaced an injured Anthony Hernandez. “All In” capitalized on his opportunity, forcing de Ridder to quit on his stool before the start of the fifth round.
Former Bellator MMA star allegedly bails on fight 'because he didn't like the warmup area back stage'
BJ Penn Staff - October 24, 2025
Former Bellator MMA star James Gallagher was set to return to the cage last night, but it didn’t end up happening. The alleged cause of his fight’s last-minute cancellation will leave fans scratching their heads in confusion. Gallagher fought 12 times for Bellator between 2016 and 2024. He got off to an impressive start in the promotion, winning his first four fights, and finishing three by submission. However, a 2018 knockout loss to Ricky Bandejas kickstarted a long hot-and-cold run for the Irish star, who had frequently been compared to Conor McGregor until that point.
Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones made 'a huge mistake' not fighting Tom Aspinall
BJ Penn Staff - October 24, 2025
Daniel Cormier believes Jon Jones made a big mistake by not defending his UFC heavyweight title against Tom Aspinall. Jones, one of the greatest MMA fighters ever, enjoyed a brief reign as UFC heavyweight champ at the tail end of his career. At the same time, England’s Aspinall held the division’s interim title. Rather than unify his belt with Aspinall’s, however, Jones ultimately decided to retire from competition and relinquish his belt. It was only then that Aspinall was finally promoted to undisputed champion.
Nontachai Jitmuangnon drops to bantamweight seeking redemption against former tormentor: "It's my turn to go down and find him"
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 23, 2025
Nontachai Jitmuangnon will change weight classes for his upcoming redemption fight. The 26-year-old Thai striker abandoned featherweight to pursue unfinished business against the only man who’s beaten him inside the promotion. Nontachai faces Soner Sen in bantamweight Muay Thai at ONE Friday Fights 130 on Friday, October 24, in Bangkok, Thailand. The Jitmuangnon Gym representative suffered his promotional loss against #5-ranked bantamweight contender Abdulla Dayakaev at ONE Fight Night 33 in March, ending his perfect 3-0 start that included knockout victory over Dmitrii Kovtun.
Chris Barnett expects to break Hamdy Abdelwahab with his pressure at UFC 321
Cole Shelton - October 23, 2025
Chris Barnett is eager to return to the Octagon after a year off. Barnett hasn’t fought since last October, when he suffered a TKO loss to Kennedy Nzechukwu, in a fight he got hurt. Since then, he has been rehabbing, and he didn’t realize he was cleared much earlier than this.
UFC analyst blasts 'insignificant' UFC 321 co-main event featuring Mackenzie Dern vs. Virna Jandiroba
Cole Shelton - October 23, 2025
UFC analyst Din Thomas isn’t a fan of the UFC 321 co-main event featuring Mackenzie Dern vs. Virna Jandiroba. Dern and Jandiroba are set to rematch for the vacant strawweight title, after Weili Zhang vacated the belt to move up to face Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title. Ahead of the fight on Saturday, Thomas took aim at the fight, calling it the least significant title fight in UFC history.
Conor McGregor sends a message to UFC champ Jack Della Maddalena ahead of Islam Makhachev title fight: “He’ll be light work”
Dylan Bowker - October 23, 2025
Conor McGregor has weighed in on the looming title fight between welterweight titleholder Jack Della Maddalena and his title challenger Islam Makhachev. As JDM looks to show out against an elite pound-for-pound fighter in Makhachev as they fight inside Madison Square Garden, someone with big success at MSG like McGregor offerin g up his viewpoint adds a certain something to the proceedings. The information came from jiu jitsu standout Craig Jones, via footage shared to the Instagram account @mma.pros.pick, who is training with JDM ahead of this Makhachev fight. Jones famously got in work with Alexander Volkanovski ahead of fighting Makhachev, and the grappling considerations of the CJI figurehead clearly paid dividends in the first meeting they had.
Dana White 'hates' Tom Aspinall's remarks about refusing to fight surging heavyweight teammate
Curtis Calhoun - October 23, 2025
UFC CEO Dana White isn’t thrilled with some of Tom Aspinall’s recent comments ahead of his UFC 321 headliner against Ciryl Gane. Undisputed UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall will make his first title defense this Saturday against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. Aspinall was promoted to undisputed titleholder following Jon Jones’s retirement, after months of holding on to the interim title during Jones’s controversial reign.
Martin Buday booked for massive title fight in first bout since controversial UFC ouster
Curtis Calhoun - October 23, 2025
Former UFC heavyweight contender Martin Buday will face a tall test in his first fight since a controversial release from the promotion. Despite a three-fight win streak and being on the cusp of title contention, UFC heavyweight Martin Buday wasn’t re-signed following a win at UFC Abu Dhabi in July. Buday defeated hyped heavyweight Marcus Buchecha, one of the top grapplers in the world and a former ONE standout.
UFC 321 loses fight featuring two touted prospects just days before Abu Dhabi PPV
Curtis Calhoun - October 23, 2025
A UFC 321 undercard bout featuring two touted prospects has been canceled just hours before the pay-per-view event. UFC 321 is one of the biggest cards of the year this Saturday in Abu Dhabi. Headlined by a heavyweight title matchup between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane, UFC 321 features plenty of intriguing bouts, including a vacant strawweight title matchup as the co-main event.
Patchy Mix fails drug test in final Bellator fight, has fight overturned
Cole Shelton - October 23, 2025
Patchy Mix has reportedly failed a drug test in his final Bellator fight. Mix was defending his Bellator bantamweight title in the main event of Bellator Champion Series in Paris in May of 2024 against Magomed Magomedov. Mix ended up edging out a very close split decision. However, a year and a half after the fight, the result was overturned to a loss for Mix.
Tom Aspinall believes new No. 1 contender will be determined at UFC 321
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 23, 2025
Tom Aspinall thinks UFC has a plan for the next heavyweight title contender. Aspinall is set to put the UFC Heavyweight Championship at stake against Ciryl Gane on Saturday. Aspinall’s first fight as the undisputed heavyweight titleholder will headline UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. It’ll be Gane’s third undisputed UFC title fight. While he held the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship, Gane has yet to earn undisputed status.
Dana White tells Umar Nurmagomedov what he must do at UFC 321 to earn another title fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 23, 2025
Dana White has let Umar Nurmagomedov know what he should do to maximize his chances of getting a title rematch. Nurmagomedov will be featured on the UFC 321 card, as he will take on Mario Bautista. It’s a crucial bout in the bantamweight division, and one where the winner could earn a bantamweight title opportunity.
UFC legend Jon Jones breaks silence on brother's sudden passing
BJ Penn Staff - October 23, 2025
Jon Jones, one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, has spoken out following the tragic death of his brother Arthur several weeks ago. Arthur Jones, a Super Bowl champion, died on October 3. The cause was not revealed. He was 39 years old.