MMA News
Charles Oliveira shoots down retirement talk ahead of UFC Rio: 'I'm not thinking about it'
Cole Shelton - October 8, 2025
Charles Oliveira shoots down any talk of retirement ahead of his UFC Rio main event. Oliveira is set to headline UFC Rio on Saturday against Mateusz Gamrot in a pivotal fight at lightweight. Oliveira is coming off a knockout loss to Ilia Topuria for the lightweight title back in June. Although he’s making a quick turnaround, there have been talks that Oliveira could retire after the bout.
Dan Hooker threatens Arman Tsarukyan about potential fight cancelation ahead of UFC Qatar
Curtis Calhoun - October 8, 2025
UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker isn’t playing games ahead of his UFC Qatar main event matchup with Arman Tsarukyan. Top UFC lightweight contenders Dan Hooker and Arman Tsarukyan will collide in the upcoming UFC Qatar main event in a pivotal matchup in the division. The UFC Qatar main event winner could potentially earn the next title shot against UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria.
TJ Dillashaw claims UFC 320 fighter battled illness in loss
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 8, 2025
In the aftermath of UFC 320, TJ Dillashaw claims a key fighter on that card was dealing with an ailment. UFC 320 had some memorable moments. Alex Pereira dismantled Magomed Ankalaev to reclaim the light heavyweight gold. Jiri Prochazka pulled off a comeback knockout win over Khalil Rountree. Patchy Mix’s split decision loss to Jakub Wikłacz might be memorable for the wrong reason.
UFC legend predicts massive surprise in Charles Oliveira vs. Mateusz Gamrot fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 8, 2025
One retired UFC icon thinks fans will be surprised during UFC Rio. Charles Oliveira is set to headline the UFC’s next “Fight Night” event on Saturday. He was initially set to meet Rafael Fiziev, who suffered an injury. Mateusz Gamrot has stepped up as a replacement opponent. It’ll be Oliveira’s first fight in Brazil since 2020, and the first time there with a live crowd since 2019.
Bas Rutten opens up on his experience working on The Smashing Machine
Harry Kettle - October 8, 2025
MMA legend Bas Rutten has opened up about his experience working on The Smashing Machine movie with Dwayne Johnson. As we know, Bas Rutten is an icon in the world of mixed martial arts. He accomplished some incredible things throughout the course of his career and to this day, he is a big fan favorite within the sport. He was also, once upon a time, a coach for Mark Kerr, who was recently played by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in The Smashing Machine – a film based on the documentary of the same name.
Henry Cejudo thinks Tom Aspinall vs Jon Jones is biggest possible UFC White House main event
Harry Kettle - October 8, 2025
Henry Cejudo believes that out of the realistic options, Tom Aspinall vs Jon Jones is the best possible choice for the UFC White House main event. In a few short weeks, Tom Aspinall will defend his UFC heavyweight championship for the first time against Ciryl Gane. These two men have been circling one another for a few years now, and finally, we’ll get the chance to see a fight that, style wise, should be pretty interesting to watch.
UFC White House doesn't need Conor McGregor or Jon Jones, says MMA legend
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.
Edmen Shahbazyan stays humble despite three-fight UFC win streak
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.
Yuya Wakamatsu embraces do-or-die mentality: "I'll fight as if it's my last"
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.
Conor McGregor seemingly supported a BKFC champ leaving, Alberto Blas responds
Dylan Bowker - October 7, 2025
Conor McGregor comes across as quite passionate about BKFC, but the partial owner of the bare-knuckle boxing outfit was seen curiously liking a social media post centred on Alberto Blas leaving the promotion. Blas left the company as their reigning bantamweight champion and the unbeaten bare-knuckle boxer, since crossed over to BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, where he won his debut and kept his streak of first-round finishes going. In the wake of Blas announcing that he was signing to BKB, BKFC’s partial owner Conor McGregor had liked an Instagram post regarding Blas switching from one gloveless combat promotion to BKFC’s rival.
Arman Tsarukyan believes Ilia Topuria is avoiding him: 'I'm the only one that can beat Ilia'
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.
Deiveson Figueiredo "at 220%", eyes "fight for the belt" post-UFC Rio
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.
Patchy Mix called for UFC firing by former star fighter after shocking 0-2 Octagon start
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.
UFC staff warned not to drink alcohol amid wave of poisonings in Brazil
BJ Penn Staff - October 7, 2025
UFC staff have been cautioned not to drink alcohol during their upcoming visit to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The warning to staff was delivered in an internal memo, per MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz, following a wave of poisonings in the South American country.
Conor McGregor suspended 18 months for violation of UFC anti-doping policy
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.
When Daniel Cormier gave an ex-boxing champ 13 stitches in a short notice MMA bout
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.
Alex Pereira warned by retired UFC veteran about potential super fight with Jon Jones
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.
Merab Dvalishvili's coach makes brutal prediction for possible Umar Nurmagomedov rematch
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 7, 2025
The head coach of UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili has a scathing prediction for a potential Umar Nurmagomedov rematch. Back in January, Dvalishvili silenced any doubters he may have had left. He successfully defended the 135-pound gold against Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision. While Nurmagomedov was competitive, “The Machine” was a step ahead and outlasted the challenger.