MMA News
Bas Rutten opens up on his experience working on The Smashing Machine
Harry Kettle - October 8, 2025
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.
Rambong reveals winning factor against Stephen Irvine at ONE Friday Fights 128: "Whoever is mentally tougher"
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.
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.
Petr Yan claims he was at '50%' health for first fight with Merab Dvalishvili ahead of likely rematch
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.
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.
Ilia Topuria congratulates Merab Dvalishvili post-UFC 320 win
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’.
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.
Alex Pereira is the man to defeat Jon Jones, says former UFC champion
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.
Alex Pereira makes big jump in UFC pound-for-pound rankings after 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.
Joe Pyfer claims he felt flat despite stoppage victory at UFC 320
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.
Carlos Ulberg contemplates his next move following chaotic UFC 320 event
Harry Kettle - October 7, 2025
UFC light heavyweight contender Carlos Ulberg is contemplating his next move following last weekend’s UFC 320 event. Just a few weeks ago, Carlos Ulberg made a real statement at 205 pounds when he knocked out Dominick Reyes. It was the kind of statement win he needed and now, many consider him to be the rightful number one contender for the UFC light heavyweight championship. Of course, with Jiri Prochazka also in the mix, it’s hard to know what direction the UFC is going to go in.
Jonathan Di Bella details winning strategy against Prajanchai: "I saw his face change"
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.




