MMA News
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.”
Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira is a 'tough fight' to predict, says UFC 321 heavyweight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 21, 2025
Alex Pereira is calling for a UFC White House clash with Jon Jones, and a top contender thinks the dream fight would be a close call. After starching Magomed Ankalaev in the first round of their rematch to reclaim the light heavyweight gold, Pereira started a moment of silence for Jones’ late brother Arthur. When speaking to reporters later on, Pereira admitted that his initial plan was to call out “Bones” for a clash at the White House.
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.
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).
Justin Gaethje gets honest about UFC 254 defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov
Harry Kettle - October 21, 2025
Justin Gaethje has opened up on his submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC 254. Right now, Justin Gaethje is waiting his opportunity to compete for the UFC lightweight championship once again. While it certainly seems like he’s the next man in line to face Ilia Topuria, it’s certainly not guaranteed – which is probably why we haven’t heard an official announcement from the UFC just yet.
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.
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.
Stamp Fairtex "excited, and also nervous" about return to competition ahead of ONE 173
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 20, 2025
Thai superstar Stamp Fairtex spent two years wondering whether her body would cooperate again. The former three-sport queen traded heavy bags for rehab rooms, transforming daily striking sessions into careful stretches that tested patience more than technique. Stamp faces Kana Morimoto in atomweight kickboxing at ONE 173 on Sunday, November 16, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The 27-year-old captured the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title at ONE Fight Night 14 in 2023 before a torn meniscus derailed her championship reign and forced complete lifestyle reconstruction.
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],
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.
Max Holloway brutally shuts down fighting bare-knuckle after UFC retirement: "Stupidest thing"
Curtis Calhoun - October 20, 2025
BMF champion Max Holloway doesn’t have any plans of following up his legendary UFC tenure with a move to the bare-knuckle boxing ring. Several UFC legends have made the move from the Octagon to the ring in recent years, most notably Mike Perry and Darren Till. Perry has become the face of bare-knuckle fighting with his electric tenure in Bare Knuckle FC, while Till remains unbeaten in his boxing career after recently knocking out former UFC champ Luke Rockhold.
'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.
UFC champion Ilia Topuria can be tested with one key strategy, says renowned coach
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 20, 2025
UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria has looked dominant inside the Octagon, but can one strategy halt “El Matador’s” momentum? Many are wondering what’s next for Topuria after he knocked out Charles Oliveira in the first round of their title fight back in June to capture the 155-pound gold. Topuria has already secured championships in two different weight classes, and he’s done so with his boxing.
Max Holloway shuts down UFC featherweight's callout: 'We're not taking it serious'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 20, 2025
Max Holloway doesn’t like the idea of facing one UFC featherweight who is known for their exciting fighting style. Holloway is the BMF Champion and many have been wondering if he’s on a collision course to meet former UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira. The two have shown interest in the bout. They actually shared the Octagon back in 2015, but it ended in the first round due to an injury to Oliveira.