MMA News

Harry Kettle - October 8, 2025

Demetrious Johnson doesn’t believe that the UFC White House card needs Conor McGregor or Jon Jones to succeed. As we know, there’s been a whole lot of talk recently about the upcoming UFC event at the White House, currently scheduled for next summer. While Dana White insists that no fights will even be discussed until February, that hasn’t stopped the masses from fantasy booking – and in a lot of instances, Jon Jones and Conor McGregor are mentioned as potential fighters on the card.

Harry Kettle - October 8, 2025

UFC prospect Edmen Shahbazyan is keeping his feet on the ground despite extending his win streak to three at UFC 320. For many years now, Edmen Shahbazyan has been considered a really interesting rising contender in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. While he started off like a house on fire, a loss to Derek Brunson a few years back really seemed to knock his confidence. However, after a few more hiccups including a submission defeat to Gerald Meerschaert, he has bounced back in a big way in 2025.

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 8, 2025

Knockout defeats create two types of fighters — those who shrink from pressure and those who weaponize pain into something dangerous. Rambong Sor Therapat belongs firmly in the second category. Rambong faces Stephen Irvine in the 130-pound Muay Thai main event at ONE Friday Fights 128 on Friday, October 10, inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The 28-year-old Thai striker seeks redemption three months after Suriyanlek Por Yenying’s second-round knockout ended his seven-fight winning streak at ONE Friday Fights 115.

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 7, 2025

For Yuya Wakamatsu, defending his ONE Flyweight MMA World Title carries stakes that transcend sport — failure simply isn’t survivable in his mind. Wakamatsu defends his strap against Joshua Pacio at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, inside Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The 30-year-old Japanese fighter makes his first title defense against the reigning strawweight king in a rare champion-versus-champion clash.

Cole Shelton - October 7, 2025

Arman Tsarukyan believes Ilia Topuria is avoiding him, as he knows he’s a difficult matchup. Tsarukyan is coming off a split decision win over Charles Oliveira back in April of 2024 to become the No. 1 contender. However,  injuries have kept him on the sidelines as he will now headline UFC Qatar against Dan Hooker.

Dylan Bowker - October 7, 2025

Deiveson Figueiredo sees himself in prime position to vault towards a title shot with a strong showing at UFC Rio. While some might see the former UFC flyweight champion in a bit of a compromised spot coming off of consecutive defeats, Figueiredo has an interesting line of logic as to why he could get a title crack. The Brazilian mixed martial artist is preparing to clash with Montel Jackson in Rio de Janeiro with Figueiredo facing his first unranked opponent since his 2017 promotional debut.

Curtis Calhoun - October 7, 2025

Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan revealed he fought Merab Dvalishvili significantly compromised ahead of a likely rematch. UFC bantamweight titleholder Merab Dvalishvili retained his title in largely dominant fashion against Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320 last Saturday. Despite Sandhagen proving to be a tough test on the feet, Dvalishvili challenged Sandhagen with his vastly improved striking en route to a decision victory.

Curtis Calhoun - October 7, 2025

Josh Thomson doesn’t have faith in UFC bantamweight Patchy Mix turning things around after a 0-2 start with the promotion. Former Bellator champion Patchy Mix was regarded as one of the biggest UFC signings earlier this year and a potential threat to Merab Dvalishvili. But after another disastrous outing at UFC 320 last Saturday, Mix’s roster spot might be in grave danger.

BJ Penn Staff - October 7, 2025

Conor McGregor has been handed an 18-month suspension by Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD), the internal organization responsible for drug-testing in the UFC. McGregor, a former two-division UFC champion, received the suspension after failing to produce samples on repeated occasions. Specifically, he violated CSAD’s whereabouts policies.

Dylan Bowker - October 7, 2025

Daniel Cormier went on to put together one of the biggest legacies in mixed martial arts. An established boxing champion who clashed with DC early on in Cormier’s career has given insights into that contest. Lucas Browne is the combatant in question, and he is coming off a finish over Corey Harrison. This came via TKO, doctor’s stoppage at the end of round one in what was Browne’s bare-knuckle boxing debut at BKB 45.

Dylan Bowker - October 7, 2025

Ilia Topuria has tipped his cap to fellow Georgian fighter Merab Dvalishvili after the latter’s UFC 320 victory. Dvalishvili notched the third defense of his bantamweight title across a reign that now has many referring to him as MMA’s GOAT at 135 pounds. The 34-year-old bested Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event of the promotion’s October 4th pay-per-view offering. It was a historic outing for Dvalishvili who broke a UFC record related to takedowns that he already held going into the card at 97 takedowns overall. That record is one that the Georgian standout kept building on as Dvalishvili left the cage having recorded 117 takedowns as the dust settled on the clash with ‘Sandman’.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 7, 2025

A former UFC veteran thinks Alex Pereira might be walking into a bad matchup against Jon Jones. Pereira is fresh off a first-round TKO finish over Magomed Ankalaev in their UFC 320 rematch. With the win, “Poatan” is now a two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. During his post-fight speech, Pereira called for a moment of silence for Jones’ brother, Arthur, who passed away on Oct. 3. Pereira told reporters that his plan had been to call out “Bones” for a fight at the White House next year.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 7, 2025

If one ex-UFC champion is correct, then Alex Pereira might be the one to hand Jon Jones his first non-disqualification loss. Pereira has dazzled fight fans throughout his combat sports career, and he secured another signature moment this past Saturday. “Poatan” challenged Magomed Ankalaev for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship in a rematch. Pereira had lost the gold in their first encounter, but things were quite different at UFC 320.

Harry Kettle - October 7, 2025

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has made a notable jump up in the promotion’s pound-for-pound rankings. Last weekend, Alex Pereira was able to silence a lot of doubters – and that much is an understatement. In the main event of UFC 320, he finished Magomed Ankalaev in just 80 seconds to recapture the UFC light heavyweight championship that he lost earlier this year. It was the kind of emphatic performance that reminded us all why ‘Poatan’ is considered to be one of the most special talents in the history of mixed martial arts.

Harry Kettle - October 7, 2025

UFC middleweight Joe Pyfer has admitted that he felt flat at UFC 320, despite his submission win over Abus Magomedov. For quite some time now, Joe Pyfer has been seen as a real contender in the UFC’s middleweight division. It’s been a gradual rise but every time he gets in there, his power alone serves as proof that he has the potential to do some really big things at 185 pounds.

Harry Kettle - October 7, 2025

UFC contender Sean O’Malley has given his thoughts on Merab Dvalishvili’s striking following his win at UFC 320. Last Saturday night, Merab Dvalishvili defeated Cory Sandhagen to retain his UFC bantamweight championship. It was the result many expected, but in addition to his incredible wrestling prowess, he also managed to drop Sandhagen – to the point where he almost got him out of there in the second round.

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 6, 2025

Body shots changed everything for Jonathan Di Bella. The moment Prajanchai’s expression shifted in round one, the Italian-Canadian knew his corner had called the perfect strategy. Di Bella unified the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship with a unanimous decision victory over Prajanchai PK Saenchai at ONE Fight Night 36 on Friday, October 3, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium. The 29-year-old erased his only career defeat while earning a $50,000 performance bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 6, 2025

Twenty-one years of sacrifice compressed into one final walk for Aung La N Sang. The emotions hadn’t fully settled when Myanmar’s greatest sports hero reflected on his retirement victory against Zebaztian Kadestam. The 40-year-old former two-division ONE MMA World Champion defeated Kadestam via second-round TKO at ONE Fight Night 36 on Friday, October 3, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium. He secured the 31st victory of his professional MMA career while earning a $50,000 performance bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.