In the main event, the vacant BTC welterweight championship was on the line when undefeated Canadian Clayton Pyle took on the vastly more experienced Thiago Oliveira, who had previously competed for Bellator MMA.

Adam Assenza, a southern Ontario staple, was making his 16th appearance for the promotion, having posted a 10-4-1 record through his first 15 bouts under their banner. With a planned welterweight title fight off, Assenza was set to headline Saturday’s show against Gustavo Wurlitzer.

Where to Watch BTC 32

Saturday, September 13, 2025 sees BTC 32 take place at the Americana Resort in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The action gets underway at 6PM ET, 3PM PT, with the card streaming live on PPV. Full results can be found below.

BTC 32: The Battle of Lundy’s Lane

Main Card

Clay Pye vs. Thiago Oliveira – for the BTC welterweight championship
Adam Assenza def. Gustavo Wurlitzer by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Alana Cook def. Vanessa Melo by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Luke Roberts def. Davis Rapagna by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 3:22
Blake Oswald def. Avinash Chowtee by TKO (arm injury), Round 3, 1:36

Amateur Bouts

Aiden Appel def. Hudson Adair by TKO (strikes), Round 1
Anthony Melendez def. Brandon Buchard by submission (guillotine choke), Round 1, 1:24
Joey Ruscica def. Ryan McNally by submission (arm-triangle choke), Round 2, 1:15
Shane Melo def. Miko Dusek by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Hashir Astor def. TJ Maddox by TKO (head kick and punches), Round 2, 0:10
Belal Zarif def. Zilin by submission (standing guillotine choke), Round 1, 0:52

The post BTC 32: The Battle of Lundy’s Lane Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

The pair join several other UFC fighters in the unemployment line, including Sarah Moras, Rhys McKee, Carlton Minus, and Anthony Ivy. An additional report by MMA Fighting has suggested that nearly a dozen fighters have been handed their walking papers recently, with “Slippery” Peter Barrett, Jacob Kilburn, Vinicius Moreira, Markus Perez, and Cole Williams also shown the door. All of the aforementioned fighters were coming off recent losses.

Not all of those in question have confirmed their exit from the promotion. However, Carlyle took to social media to address the matter.

“I’m sure some of you know, some of you may not, but about three days ago I was released from the UFC. I had one more fight on my contract, but they decided to cut me,” Carlyle stated in a live video stream. “They said it was partially based on my last performance. It’s a little bitter, but it’s also a way lot sweet. I’m actually pretty stoked on it. The UFC was a great experience and a great opportunity and I loved it, but people who truly know me know that my heart’s desire and my dream has always been to fight in Japan. So that is my goal.”

“The Alpha Ginger” isn’t joking. Prior to his UFC run, he spike to Cageside Press about his dream of some day fighting in Japan.

“My goal is to fight for ONE FC or RIZIN. It’s been my dream since I was fifteen to fight in Japan. I feel in love with PRIDE FC,” Carlyle said at the time. Of course, he detoured to the UFC, going 1-2 across three fights in 2020.

Also without a UFC deal currently (and rather surprisingly) is Vanessa Melo, who is the woman who defeated Sarah Moras in what appears to be the Canadian’s final octagon bout. However, rather than a cut, it appears her contract has simply run out. It’s likely the Brazilian could re-sign with the promotion, however.

The post “Alpha Ginger” Carlyle, TUF Brazil Winner Carlos Junior Among Recent UFC Cuts appeared first on Cageside Press.

Canada’s Moras had won just one of her past five fights entering the night. Brazilian Melo, meanwhile, had lost all three of her UFC bouts prior to Saturday — and had missed weight in two of them. With that in mind, weighing in successfully on Friday felt like a win itself for Melo.

In the octagon Saturday, Melo held center early, looking sharp and forcing “Cheesecake” Moras to circle on the outside. Melo worked in jabs, leg kicks, and mixed in some stance switches to keep Moras on her toes. The Canadian, meanwhile, stayed on her bicycle, firing off several kicks, but staying well out of range of Melo’s power shots.

The downside of that, however, was that Moras was too far out to clinch, eliminating any shot of getting the fight to the ground.

The spin cycle for Moras continued in round two. Melo worked to cut her opponent off, and early in the second landed hard enough to knock Moras’ mouthpiece out. Moras landed a couple of kicks on Melo’s lead leg, but Moras was now bloodied — and unable to make the necessary adjustments to take control in the fight. Melo’s right hand was nasty when it landed, and she continued to hunt down her opponent slowly but steadily. Through nearly two full rounds, Moras had not even attempted a takedown, and it was clear that her path to victory was not on the feet. Finally, in the last 30 seconds of round two, Moras shot in. While Melo fought it off, it was a sign that Moras had come to realize the futility of her initial game plan.

Round three saw Moras find slightly more success with her jab, but with nothing behind it, and unable to take the fight down and keep it there, any chance “Cheesecake” had of pulling off an upset was quickly expiring. The Canadian arguably did enough to win the frame, but it was Vanessa Melo claiming her first win as a UFC fighter. With the dubious distinction of doing so in a fight with up to 250 missed strikes, as was announced during the broadcast.

Official Result: Vanessa Melo def. Sarah Moras by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

The post UFC Fight Island 7 Results: Vanessa Melo Earns First UFC Win Against Sarah Moras appeared first on Cageside Press.

Like it or not, weight-cutting is deeply rooted in mixed martial arts. MMA adopted its weight-cutting from the sport of wrestling, where it is presumed to be very advantageous to be the biggest and strongest in your weight class. Known as the ‘fight before the fight,’ most UFC fighters cut anywhere from 5-25 pounds, with some fighters even in excess of 30 pounds.

Weight-cutting is the ultimate test of discipline and willpower. Many fighters in the sport consider it very unprofessional to miss weight. In this series, we will shine a light on fighters who cut a massive amount of weight, who have missed weight multiple times in the past, who have made weight-class changes, along with how the weight-cut and weigh-in could affect possible upcoming match-ups. Basically, every aspect of weight-cutting and how it affects the fight game.

Ahead of UFC Fight Island 7, the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first card of 2020, we take a look at a collection of female fighters who have moved up, down, or battled the scales over the years.

Yanan “Mulan” Wu (11-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC)

Flyweight (125lbs): 1-1 (UFC), Missed weight 1 time

Bantamweight (135lbs): 0-1 (UFC)

Yanan Wu has fought at as heavy as 143lbs in a catchweight bout back in 2015. Wu faced Yana Kunitskaya at bantamweight in 2016 just a couple years ahead of her going on to challenge Cris Cyborg for UFC Women’s Featherweight Title. Wu is currently just 24 years old and stands at 5’8″ so there is real potential for her to move up in weight as her career continues.

Yanan made it to the UFC in late 2017 and made her debut as a bantamweight against Gina Mazany in November. Wu would lose a unanimous decision and for her next fight, just a day shy of a full year later, she elected to move down to the flyweight division. Wu successfully made weight for her fight and beat a then-undefeated Lauren Muller with an armbar in the very first round. In Yanan’s most recent fight back in August of 2019, she weighted in at 129lbs for the flyweight bout, missing weight by 3lbs. To add insult to injury Yanan lost a razor close split decision in her bout with Mizuki Inoue in her fight the following day. For UFC Fight Island 7, Wu will again be fighting at 125lbs when she takes on 9-2 Joselyne Edwards.

The post The Weight Cutting Chronicles: UFC Fight Island 7 appeared first on Cageside Press.

MMA Fighting was first to report news of the pairing, which very much feels like a must-win for both athletes.

Moras (6-6) is 3-5 in her UFC career to date, after entering the promotion as part of The Ultimate Fighter 18. She’s won just one of her last five, a TKO over Georgia’s Liana Jojua at UFC 242. Last time out, at UFC Jacksonville in May, she lost a unanimous decision against Sijara Eubanks.

Melo (10-8) might be in an even worse spot. She’s lost all three of her octagon appearances to date, all three via unanimous decisions against her. Those came to Irene Aldana, Tracy Cortez, and Karol Rosa. It’s almost a given that Melo will need a win here to stick with the promotion.

No location or event designation has been announced for the UFC’s November 7 card, which has yet to be officially revealed by the promotion. Throughout August, the organization it at its home base in Las Vegas, utilizing their UFC Apex facility. After that, another trip to “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi is likely, though nothing has been set in stone.

The post UFC: Sarah Moras vs. Vanessa Melo Booked for November 7 appeared first on Cageside Press.

For her part, Rosa had won three straight, two outside the UFC plus her octagon debut last year. Rosa started things off with a leg kick, followed by a great combination behind it. Rosa was really putting her shots together nicely, clearly establishing herself as the more seasoned striker. Rosa began to get off some leg kicks mixed with jabs and circle around the Octagon. With a beautifully timed shot, Rosa was able to get a takedown right into Melo’s full guard. Both women exchanged some shots on the ground before the round ended.

The second round began with Rosa getting back to work on the feet. Melo connected with a nice right hand to get Rosa’s respect, and Rosa responded with a stiff jab. A very nice 1-2 combination connected for Rosa. Melo shot in for a takedown but was unsuccessful, giving Rosa the dominant position against the cage. Rosa got the takedown and went right into half guard, getting off some nice ground-and-pound. Really dominant attacking from Rosa from the top position. Melo survives a beating as the round came to an end.

The third and final round started off with more leg kicks from Rosa. Rosa continued to establish herself as the dominant striker, putting together more combinations and defending well. Melo stuffed a takedown attempt from Rosa and made her pay with a big hook. Melo then began to press forward, connecting sporadically but still being outclassed by Rosa. Rosa clinched up with Melo against the cage and both women exchanged knees to end the fight.

Official Result: Karol Rosa def. Vanessa Melo via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)

The post UFC 251 Results: Karol Rosa Outclasses Vanessa Melo appeared first on Cageside Press.

Like it or not, weight-cutting is deeply rooted in mixed martial arts. MMA adopted its weight-cutting from the sport of wrestling, where it is presumed to be very advantageous to be the biggest and strongest in your weight class. Known as the ‘fight before the fight,’ most UFC fighters cut anywhere from 5-25 pounds, with some fighters even in excess of 30 pounds.

Weight-cutting is the ultimate test of discipline and willpower. Many fighters in the sport consider it very unprofessional to miss weight. In this series, we will shine a light on fighters who cut a massive amount of weight, who have missed weight multiple times in the past, who have made weight-class changes, along with how the weight-cut and weigh-in could affect possible upcoming match-ups. Basically, every aspect of weight-cutting and how it affects the fight game.

Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal (35-13 MMA, 12-7 UFC)

Lightweight (155lbs): 5-2 (UFC)

Welterweight (170lbs): 7-5 (UFC), Challenger for the UFC Welterweight Championship, Inagural ‘BMF’ Title Belt Holder

Jorge Masvidal is a fighter that has been around the way a few times. Jorge began his fighting journey in the backyards of Flordia, fighting on an underground circuit, before moving on to compete in Bellator and Strikeforce then finally making his way to the UFC in 2013.

Masvidal had a very successful 7-fight stint in the UFC’s lightweight division, with wins over solid competition like Tim Means, Michael Chiesa, and James Krause. Masvidal took his first welterweight fight in the UFC in July of 2015, just three months after losing a split decision to Al Iaquinta in what would be his last fight at 155lbs. Jorge’s split decision loss to Iaquinta was one of the most controversial decisions of 2015 and undoubtedly left him looking to make a change. Jorge was 30 years old at this time and with a 5’11” frame and a 73″ reach, making the move to welterweight seemed like just the change that was needed.

Jorge has been at welterweight ever since. His bout on July 11 will be his 13th fight at welterweight. Even though Jorge technically has a worse record in the UFC at 170lbs, than at 155lbs, all of his losses were by split decision save for one unanimous decision. Gamebred’s move 170lbs. birthed a lot of exciting finishes, belt opportunities, and a contract restructuring so it’s safe to say that he made the right choice back in 2015.

The post The Weight Cutting Chronicles: UFC 251 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Tracy Cortez, an Invicta FC standout who won her way into the UFC on Dana White’s Contender Series back in July, was making her promotional debut Saturday at UFC Sao Paulo. Cortez, a 25-year-old who had not lost since her pro debut, was opening up the Brazilian Fight Night card against Vanessa Melo, who had lost her own promotional debut in September.

Adding a bit of last-minute drama to the affair, Melo and Cortez were initially deemed to have missed weight for the fight. However, since they both missed by equal amounts, the fight was allowed to continue at a catchweight with no fine to either fighter. Then, the Brazilian commission CABMMA ruled that the scale used at the official weigh-ins was off, and both fighters had actually hit the bantamweight limit.

Either way, Melo and Cortez were set to throw down Saturday for three rounds or less.

Round 1:

Both fighters got right at it and opened the action throwing hard shots. Cortez mixed in legs kicks while Melo stood in the pocket and fired off punches. The Brazilian won the early exchanges until the Arizona native began to find her range and attacked with varied striking combinations. Her body kicks and jab were effective at keeping ‘Miss Simpatia’ at range. The Dana White’s Contender Series alum was able to win the round by using her speed advantage to attack and then slide out of range.

CageSide Press scored the round 10-9 Cortez. 

Round 2:

Cortez looked for a takedown to start the action. She wasn’t able to get Melo down but did back her against the cage where the American worked the body and legs with knees. The Fight Ready export grabbed the legs once again and took Melo down. She was unable to keep the Brazilian down, who quickly worked back up. Cortez was relentless with the pressure and kept Melo pinned against the cage. She dumped Melo on her butt once again but the Brazilian worked back to the feet with Cortez hanging on her until the round ended.

Cageside Press scored the round 10-9 Cortez.

Round 3:

Melo came out aggressive to start the round and got hit with some big shots. Melo made the mistake of throwing a body kick, which the American caught, taking Melo down to the canvas. She peppered Melo with some short elbows from Melo’s closed guard. The remainder of the fight saw Cortez keep heavy top pressure with active ground and pound. She began to really tee off on the grounded Melo as the round and fight came to an end.

Cageside Press scored the round 10-8 and the fight 30-26 Cortez. 

Official Results: Tracy Cortez def. Vanessa Melo by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28). 

Cortez moved to 1-0 in the UFC while Melo fell to 0-2 inside the Octagon. During her post-fight Octagon interview with Michael Bisping, Cortez got visibly emotional as she said her win was for her late mother and brother.

The post UFC Sao Paulo Results: Tracy Cortez Wrestles Her Way to Victory in Octagon Debut appeared first on Cageside Press.

The UFC is coming to Sao Paulo, Brazil on November 16. In a bantamweight bout, it was originally expected that Leah Letson would face Duda Santana. However, Letson would have to pull out, and Tracy Cortez was inserted into the fight. Sources now confirm to Cageside Press that Santana is off the UFC Sao Paulo card as well. With Cortez in need of an opponent, it will be Vanessa Melo (10-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC) stepping up.

The reason for Santana’s withdrawal is not known.

Out of Fight Ready MMA, Cortez earned herself a UFC contract this past summer on the Contender Series. She’s currently 6-1 and on a six-fight win streak.

Cortez has fought for the likes of Combate Americas and Invicta FC. The Arizona-born fighter is making her UFC debut on enemy soil in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This will also be her pro bantamweight debut.

On the other side of the cage will be Brazilian Vanessa Melo. Melo just recently made her promotional debut in September. She came up short against top contender Irene Aldana at UFC Mexico City.

Prior to her debut loss, Melo was on a five-fight win streak. A veteran of the game with sixteen fights, Melo bypassed Invicta FC, but still managed to face some solid competition on the regional scene. That includes a win over Molly McCann, who has been killing it of late in the UFC.

UFC Sao Paulo (UFC Fight Night 164 / UFC on ESPN+ 22) takes place November 16, 2019 at the Ginásio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The card is headlined by a light heavyweight clash between Jacare Souza and Jan Blachowicz.

The post Exclusive: Tracy Cortez vs. Vanessa Melo set for UFC Sao Paulo appeared first on Cageside Press.

Irene Aldana was set to welcome UFC newcomer Vanessa Melo Saturday at UFC Mexico City. The scheduled bantamweight scrap was thrown for a loop when Melo missed weight, however, and instead would proceed at a catchweight, with Melo giving up 30% of her purse.

Aldana was entering the fight off a loss to Raquel Pennington that snapped a three-fight win streak in the promotion. Melo, meanwhile, was heading in on a five fight win streak, but had the disadvantage of being a short-notice replacement.

Round 1

Melo fired a leg kick early, and the pair traded, Aldana backing out of range. Aldana landed a hard leg kick of her own. When Melo could close the distance, she was finding some success with her heavy hands. However more often than not, Aldana was able to fire off a right hand, or combo, and fade back. Her jab got going as well. The pair battled it out to the bell, with Aldana firing a jump knee at the buzzer.

Cageside Press scored the round 10-9 for Irene Aldana

Round 2

Melo let her hands go early in the second, pressing forward and connecting with a number of punches. However Aldana once again got on her horse and outworked her opponent. Aldana landed a jab to the body, then a right hand. She’d later plant a spinning back kick to the body. Melo made a half-hearted single leg attempt, and ate a few punches for her efforts. Melo, to her credit, never stopped pressing forward, but she was unable, through the first two rounds, to get the upper hand against Irene Aldana, whose boxing was simply a step above.

Cageside Press scored the round 10-9 for Irene Aldana

Round 3

Irene Aldana became more creative and more confident as the fight wore on, and she opened the third with a high kick and spinning back fist attempt. A knee off the break followed a clinch. The skill differential was becoming apparent, but Melo charged forward regardless. A power punch was likely the Brazilian’s only hope of victory, but Aldana continued to pick Melo apart instead. She turned it up in the final minute, looking to land a knockout punch, but Melo proved too tough. On the scorecards, though, there was never any question.

Cageside Press scored the round 10-9 for Irene Aldana

Official Decision: Irene Aldana def. Vanessa Melo by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)

The post UFC Mexico City Results: Irene Aldana Puts on a Show, Defeats Vanessa Melo appeared first on Cageside Press.