MMA News
Selina Flores, Marie McManamon sound off ahead of ONE Fight Night 36
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 2, 2025
Championship experience breeds confidence, and WBC Muay Thai World Champion Selina Flores carries supreme belief into martial arts’ biggest stage. The American striker refuses to accept anything less than complete dominance against former title challenger Marie McManamon. Flores faces McManamon in atomweight Muay Thai at ONE Fight Night 36: Prajanchai vs. Di Bella II on Prime Video on Friday, October 3, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium. The 27-year-old San Diego native makes her promotional debut against the 35-year-old Irish-English veteran seeking redemption after her tough March setback.
'Something's different'... Israel Adesanya sides with longtime rival in Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2 prediction
Curtis Calhoun - October 2, 2025
Alex Pereira’s four-time combat sports rival, Israel Adesanya, predicts the Brazilian will dethrone Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will look for revenge this weekend when he takes on newly minted light heavyweight titleholder Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC 320 main event. Their rematch comes just months after Ankalaev ended Pereira’s unbeaten light heavyweight run, defeating Pereira by unanimous decision to secure the title.
Kyoji Horiguchi booked for first UFC bout in nine years at UFC Qatar
Curtis Calhoun - October 2, 2025
Former UFC flyweight title challenger Kyoji Horiguchi will return to the Octagon for the promotion’s inaugural event in Qatar next month. It’s been more than 10 years since flyweight Kyoji Horiguchi lost to Demetrious Johnson by a last-second armbar in his lone UFC title fight. Since parting ways with the UFC in 2017, Horiguchi earned titles in Rizin and Bellator, reaffirming himself as one of the best flyweights in modern MMA.
Ian Machado Garry plans to make Belal Muhammad look like an 'amateur' at UFC Qatar
Cole Shelton - October 2, 2025
Ian Machado Garry is confident he will make his UFC Qatar fight look easy. Garry is set to return to the Octagon to take on Belal Muhammad in the co-main event of UFC Qatar on Nov. 22 in an intriguing welterweight fight. The winner of the bout could get the next title shot, and Garry is confident he will dominate Muhammad en route to a rather easy win.
UFC 320 | Pro fighters make their picks for Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen title fight
Cole Shelton - October 2, 2025
In the co-main event of UFC 320, the bantamweight title is up for grabs as Merab Dvalishvili takes on Cory Sandhagen. Heading into the fight, Dvalishvili is a massive -440 favorite while the challenger is a +310 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get the predictions for the bantamweight title fight at UFC 320. The pros are nearly unanimous in thinking Dvalishvili defends his belt with ease, with most thinking he gets a stoppage win.
Former UFC champion blames Wanderlei Silva for post-fight incident that led to injuries
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 2, 2025
An ex-UFC champion believes Wanderlei Silva deserves blame for a recent post-fight melee. Silva shared the ring with Acelino Frietas in a boxing match on Sept. 27. Things went off the rails when Silva was disqualified in the fourth round due to repeated headbutts. Both teams engaged in a post-fight brawl, which led to Frietas’ son, Rafael, knocking “The Axe Murder” out with one punch.
Alex Pereira puzzled by Tom Aspinall's comments about his resume prior to UFC 320
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 2, 2025
Alex Pereira can’t wrap his head around recent comments from UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall. Pereira’s attention has been on avenging his loss to Magomed Ankalaev back in March. “Poatan” lost the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship via unanimous decision, and he’ll have a chance to reclaim the gold at UFC 320 on Saturday. A slew of pro MMA fighters have weighed in on the rematch, including Aspinall.
Magomed Ankalaev makes bold promise ahead of Alex Pereira rematch at UFC 320
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 2, 2025
Magomed Ankalaev has made quite the promise ahead of his UFC 320 rematch against Alex Pereira. Ankalaev walked away with the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship following his first meeting with Pereira back in March. He was able to get “Poatan” moving back throughout the fight, and the judges took note. Ahead of the rematch, which is scheduled for Saturday inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the trash talk has been revved up.
Alex Pereira shows interest in Carlos Ulberg fight following UFC 320
Harry Kettle - October 2, 2025
UFC star Alex Pereira has shown interest in squaring off with Carlos Ulberg after his title fight at UFC 320 this weekend. On Saturday night, Alex Pereira’s aim is simple: defeat Magomed Ankalaev and recapture the UFC light heavyweight championship. Of course, that’s going to be easier said than done, and ‘Poatan’ knows that he will have to be at his absolute best if he’s serious about getting the better of the champion.
Merab Dvalishvili breaks down his expectation for Cory Sandhagen fight
Harry Kettle - October 2, 2025
UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili has explained what he believes could happen in his title fight against Cory Sandhagen. On Saturday night, Merab Dvalishvili will defend his UFC bantamweight championship against Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event of UFC 320. It’s set to be one of the toughest tests of Merab’s unbeaten run, and for Sandhagen, it’ll easily be the biggest fight of his career.
Magomed Ankalaev gives his thoughts on possible UFC light heavyweight contenders
Harry Kettle - October 2, 2025
Magomed Ankalaev has given his thoughts on a handful of possible UFC light heavyweight contenders that he could end up facing. On Saturday night, Magomed Ankalaev will defend his UFC light heavyweight championship against Alex Pereira. While it’s always dangerous to look past your opponent, many believe that ‘Big Ank’ is the favorite to win the fight and successfully retain his belt against the man who he took it from earlier this year.
Striking legend Anissa Meksen battles Myanmar sensation Vero at ONE Fight Night 37
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 1, 2025
Championship redemption drives every move for kickboxing legend Anissa Meksen. The French-Algerian veteran targets another crack at atomweight gold through Myanmar’s rising star Vero. Meksen faces Vero in atomweight kickboxing at ONE Fight Night 37: Kryklia vs. Agdeve on Friday, November 7, in Bangkok, Thailand. The 37-year-old seven-time World Champion carries a staggering 104-7 record against the 29-year-old “Kayan Leopard” riding a 28-4 slate.
UFC Perth "was like a ghost town" compared to "superstar" feel of last UFC Perth trek, per Tom Nolan
Dylan Bowker - October 1, 2025
There was a pretty stark difference between the prior UFC Perth experience Tom Nolan had as compared to his most recent anecdotal happenings being on a Perth-based UFC event. Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show, Nolan covered several subjects in the wake of his first-round rear-naked choke win over Charlie Campbell on the September 27th UFC Fight Night offering. ‘Big Train’ had previously fought in that Western Australia-based city in August 2024, when he secured a unanimous decision win over Alex Reyes. While there were similarities, insofar as he came out on the winning end of both of those MMA fights in Perth, there were also drastic differences, as Nolan said,
Khalil Rountree hoping to avoid a 'violent, bloody fight' against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 320
Cole Shelton - October 1, 2025
Khalil Rountree is hoping to avoid getting into a war with Jiri Prochazka at UFC 320. Rountree is set to take on Prochazka on the main card of UFC 320 in a pivotal fight at light heavyweight. The winner of the fight could get the next title shot, and many are expecting the bout to be a Fight of the Night contender.
Kongthoranee, Ortikov Fire Shots Before ONE Fight Night 36 Showdown
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 1, 2025
Rankings mean everything in combat sports, and Kongthoranee Sor Sommai refuses to surrender his hard-earned position. The Thai veteran recognizes the threat undefeated sensation Aslamjon Ortikov poses to everything he’s built. Kongthoranee faces Ortikov in flyweight Muay Thai at ONE Fight Night 36: Prajanchai vs. Di Bella II on Prime Video on Friday, October 3, in Bangkok, Thailand. The #4-ranked Thai contender defends his position against the 22-year-old Uzbek phenom riding an unblemished 22-0 professional record.
Belal Muhammad targets Conor McGregor in hilarious reaction to UFC Qatar fight news
Curtis Calhoun - October 1, 2025
Former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad apparently didn’t get his desired opponent for his return to the Octagon. Just days away from UFC 320 in Las Vegas, UFC CEO Dana White broke some fight news surrounding the promotion’s inaugural event in Qatar on November 22nd. A lightweight main event between Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker was made official, and Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry was slated for the co-main event of the card.
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker official for UFC Qatar, massive co-main event announced
Curtis Calhoun - October 1, 2025
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker isn’t the only high-stakes fight announced for UFC Qatar on November 22nd by Dana White. UFC lightweights Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker will officially square off in the main event of UFC Qatar next month.
DWCS star gets tattoo of inspirational note from Dana White after securing UFC contract
Curtis Calhoun - October 1, 2025
Newly signed UFC fighter Hecher Sosa will always be reminded of his viral post-event conversation with Dana White following his DWCS contract-winning performance. Bantamweight prospect Hecher Sosa has had a wild year. Just days before he was scheduled to fight for a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series last month, tragedy struck, as his father passed away.