MMA News
Merab Dvalishvili sparred five rounds on the day of UFC 320, says Khalil Rountree Jr
Harry Kettle - October 10, 2025
UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili sparred for five full rounds on the day of UFC 320, according to Khalil Rountree Jr. Last weekend, Merab Dvalishvili defeated Cory Sandhagen and successfully defended the UFC bantamweight championship for the third time. Once again, he proved that his insane cardio is on a different level, and he even managed to show off some of his new striking abilities by dropping Sandhagen in the second round.
Kamaru Usman explains why he wants to see Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 3
Harry Kettle - October 10, 2025
Kamaru Usman has explained why he’s interested in seeing Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 3 take place. Last weekend, Alex Pereira finished Magomed Ankalaev via TKO to recapture the UFC light heavyweight championship. It was a huge moment for ‘Poatan’, and it was one that not a lot of people realistically saw coming. Now, many have started focusing on what’s next for the Brazilian sensation.
TJ Dillashaw gives his thoughts on Merab Dvalishvili vs Umar Nurmagomedov rematch
Harry Kettle - October 10, 2025
UFC veteran TJ Dillashaw has given his thoughts on a possible rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov. As we know, Merab Dvalishvili is one of the most exciting intriguing in all of mixed martial arts right now. He’s also one of the most successful, having just defended his UFC bantamweight championship for the third time. He defeated Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320, cementing his position as one of the best to ever do it at 135 pounds.
Nabil Anane details story behind One Piece fascination: "The character just fits me"
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 10, 2025
Pop culture bleeds into combat sports when fighters discover characters that mirror their souls. Nabil Anane found his reflection in Monkey D. Luffy, the rubber-bodied pirate whose boundless ambition matches the young champion’s hunger for glory. Anane defends his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title against Jonathan Haggerty at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, inside Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The 21-year-old Algerian-Thai champion faces his toughest test against the former two-sport king in Japan, the birthplace of his anime hero.
Liam Harrison returns to ONE Championship in kickboxing clash against Shinji Suzuki
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 9, 2025
Retirement rarely sticks when legends discover the fire still burns. Liam Harrison proved that truth when he stepped back into competition after laying his gloves down at ONE 168, and now he’s ready for another comeback. Harrison faces Shinji Suzuki in bantamweight kickboxing at ONE Fight Night 38 on Friday, December 5, live from Bangkok, Thailand in U.S. primetime. The 40-year-old British legend makes his kickboxing debut in ONE Championship against the 39-year-old Japanese striker seeking consistency after alternating wins and losses.
Dan Hooker eager to throw down with Arman Tsarukayn at UFC Qatar: 'There's bad blood'
Cole Shelton - October 9, 2025
Dan Hooker is ready to get into a scrap with Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Qatar. Hooker is set to headline UFC Qatar on Nov. 22 against Tsarukyan in a pivotal fight at lightweight. The winner of the fight could get the next title shot, but in the lead-up to the bout, Hooker and Tsarukyan have taken aim at one another.
UFC Rio loses key fight featuring two brothers of legendary fighters just hours before weigh-ins
Curtis Calhoun - October 9, 2025
UFC heavyweight Mohammed Usman has withdrawn from UFC Rio on hours’ notice. UFC Rio is a solid UFC Fight Night card with a clash between lightweights Charles Oliveira and Mateusz Gamrot headlining the event. This will mark Oliveira’s return to the Octagon for the first time since a knockout loss to Ilia Topuria for the then-vacant belt at UFC 317.
Daniel Cormier: Alex Pereira would become UFC GOAT with win over Jon Jones
Curtis Calhoun - October 9, 2025
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier believes Alex Pereira could cement himself as the greatest of all time with a heavyweight win over Jon Jones. Alex Pereira got his revenge over Magomed Ankalaev last Saturday at UFC 320 to reclaim the light heavyweight title. He knocked out Ankalaev in under two minutes to reclaim the belt, just months after Ankalaev outpointed him in their first fight at UFC 313.
Muhammad Mokaev set to fight for Brave CF flyweight title in latest post-UFC booking
Curtis Calhoun - October 9, 2025
Former UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev will face a surging prospect for the Brave CF 125lb championship. Muhammad Mokaev will meet surging flyweight star Gerard Burns in the Brave CF 100 main event on November 7th. Mokaev and Burns will fight for the men’s flyweight championship in a massive showdown to mark the promotion’s 100th event.
Fan-favorite UFC fighter announces he's stepping away from combat sports
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 9, 2025
One UFC slugger is taking a break from prizefighting. Justin Tafa has fought under the UFC banner for most of his pro MMA career. He had been a member of the promotion’s roster since 2019. Known for his fan-friendly fighting style, all of Tafa’s wins have come via knockout.
Justin Gaethje declined fighting top contender, claims UFC Qatar headliner
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 9, 2025
A headliner on the UFC Qatar card says he’s heard that Justin Gaethje turned down a fight against him. Gaethje has made it clear that he wants his next fight to be contested for the UFC Lightweight Championship. The current titleholder is Ilia Topuria. While UFC CEO Dana White hasn’t been too receptive to Gaethje’s demands, he might just cave given how much of a fan favorite “The Highlight” is.
Frankie Edgar 'a little upset' over late BKFC 82 removal
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 9, 2025
BKFC 82 did not feature the combat sports return of Frankie Edgar as initially advertised. The former UFC Lightweight Champion was scheduled to face Jimmie Rivera inside Prudential Center in Newark. “The Answer” was removed from the card late, and many rumors swirled over the situation.
Dan Hooker questions Arman Tsarukyan regarding his wealth ahead of UFC Qatar clash
Harry Kettle - October 9, 2025
UFC star Dan Hooker has called out Arman Tsarukyan over his family’s wealth ahead of their UFC Qatar showdown. Next month, Dan Hooker and Arman Tsarukyan will clash in a blockbuster lightweight encounter. While there’s no guarantee, it certainly feels like the winner will earn the right to challenge Ilia Topuria for the UFC lightweight championship. In equal measure, this fight perhaps serves as the final chance for ‘Hangman’ to get a crack at the gold.
Ian Machado Garry calls Belal Muhammad an "idiot" over approach to Jack Della Maddalena fight
Harry Kettle - October 9, 2025
Ian Machado Garry has called Belal Muhammad an idiot over how he approached his title fight against Jack Della Maddalena. At UFC Qatar next month, Ian Machado Garry will go head to head with Belal Muhammad in a fight he’s been pursuing for quite some time now. While Belal is known for his strong wrestling prowess, he lost the UFC welterweight championship in his last outing at the hands of Jack Della Maddalena.
Israel Adesanya backs Carlos Ulberg to receive UFC title shot against Alex Pereira
Harry Kettle - October 9, 2025
Israel Adesanya believes Carlos Ulberg should receive the next UFC light heavyweight championship shot against Alex Pereira. In the wake of his knockout win over Dominick Reyes, there was a lot of talk about Carlos Ulberg receiving the next title shot at 205 pounds. Of course, we had to wait and see how the UFC 320 main event played out, and we now know that Alex Pereira is once again the king of the division after finishing Magomed Ankalaev in the first round of their rematch.
Stephen Irvine identifies fatal flaw in opponent's approach: "He's crazy, I'm calculated"
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 9, 2025
Technical precision defeats reckless aggression when fighters understand the difference between chaos and control. Stephen Irvine built his game around exploiting opponents who mistake fury for effectiveness. Irvine faces Rambong Sor Therapat in the 130-pound Muay Thai main event at ONE Friday Fights 128 on Friday, October 10, inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The 25-year-old Scottish striker chases a $100,000 contract while hoping to extend his four-fight winning streak against the pressure-fighting Thai veteran.
UFC Vancouver's Aiemann Zahabi "would love to take [Marlon Vera's] place"
Dylan Bowker - October 8, 2025
Aiemann Zahabi is having the biggest run of his career and hopes to vault toward title shot proximity by beating a former title challenger. The Tristar product has the chance to do just that when he battles Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera at UFC Vancouver on October 18th. A lot is falling into place for Zahabi, who spoke with MMA Canada and touched on how he called for this Vera bout after his massive Jose Aldo win in May at UFC 315. When addressing how important it was to him to get that desired next fight locked in, considering the expressed callout of Vera, Zahabi said [via MMA Canada],
Charles Oliveira wants Conor McGregor White House fight: "We’re talking about a lot of money"
Dylan Bowker - October 8, 2025
Charles Oliveira is joining the droves of fighters campaigning for a fight card spot that corresponds with Donald Trump’s birthday and is eyeing a true golden goose in combat sports. The former UFC lightweight champion was referring to a desired Conor McGregor fight at the UFC White House card, even though Oliveira is heading into this next assignment this weekend. ‘do Bronx’ will clash with Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Rio, with Oliveira shifting his focus from a previously scheduled opponent. Oliveira was supposed to fight Rafael Fiziev, but his withdrawal forced a reshifting of his focus on Gamrot.