Indiana is getting a senior year official visit from class of 2026 5-star wing Anthony Thompson.

According to a report by 247Sports national analyst Travis Branham, Thompson will come to Bloomington for an official visit the weekend of Sept. 12.

For Thompson it will be a return trip, as he came to Bloomington multiple times when the prior staff was in charge.

The 6-foot-8 Thompson will also take officials to North Carolina (Aug. 22), Ohio State (Aug. 29), Michigan (Sept. 5), Texas (Sept. 19) and Kentucky (Sept. 24).

The Ohio native recently named a top-seven that also included Purdue, but he has not scheduled a visit there yet, according to Branham.

“Coach DeVries, I’ve developed a good relationship with him and his staff at Indiana,” Thompson told TDH last month at the Adidas 3SSB event in Rock Hill S.C.

The 6-foot-8 and 205-pound Thompson has a 7-foot-3 and-a-half wingspan. He attends Western Reserve Academy.

Thompson is currently a 5-star, ranked No. 8 overall in the 2026 class, and the No. 3 small forward according to the average of the national outlets.

Playing for Indiana Elite this spring and summer, Thompson was one of the top scorers on the Adidas circuit. He averaged 22.8 points to go with 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

Indiana is up to four rising seniors with scheduled visits over the next three months.  They are all ranked in the national top-40:

• Tay Kinney:  Aug. 29-31
• Davion Adkins:  Sept. 12-14
• Anthony Thompson:  Sept. 12-14
• Deron Rippey:  Oct. 17-19

For a complete overview of Indiana’s 2026 through 2028 offers and prospects, GO HERE.

For all of our IU basketball recruiting coverage, GO HERE.

The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

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Sam Hoiberg has high expectations for the Nebraska men’s basketball team going into the 2025-26 season.

After winning the Crown tournament last season, the fifth-year senior guard believes that, thanks to their strong culture, the team is poised to make a big jump in his final season with the program.

“We’re just trying to continue to build that culture and just have those expectations of getting this program to a place it’s never been before,” Hoiberg said. “And we’re not going to stop now.”

According to Coach Fred Hoiberg, the theme for the Huskers during summer workouts is the competitive nature they’ve shown.

“I love how they compete every day,” Coach Hoiberg said. “The guys have never come in where we’ve had to jump them to get them going. That’s been an innate quality of this team, is they come in the gym ready to go, and that’s been huge for the coaching staff.”

The team has done a great job picking the material up quickly. Although the younger players sometimes need a little more guidance, they are catching on at a fast rate.

“Overall, this has been a team that’s learned, I think, very quickly,” Hoiberg said. “We’ve thrown a lot at them. We put a clean-up edit for them to watch on their own in the evening just because we have a limited number of hours we can be with them in the gym, and they’ve been very diligent with their work. That’s the biggest thing I’ve been impressed with, is how they’ve come in every day and competed.”

The Huskers are getting a big boost this season with the return of senior forward Rienk Mast. Mast missed the entire 2024-25 season after undergoing knee surgery following his 2023-24 campaign. In his first season with the Big Red, he started all 32 games, averaging 12.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He totaled 20 double-digit scoring games while also finishing in the top 15 in the Big Ten in rebounds (seventh) and assists (15th).

Mast also helped lead Nebraska to the postseason for the first time since 2014. Hoiberg is excited to have Mast back after being cleared to return to practice.

“It’s just so good to have him out there,” Hoiberg said. “You kind of forget all the things that he does for this team, not only with his ability to shoot it and stretch the floor, but defensively. He’s one of the better pick-and-roll defenders on this team. His deflections and his communication, the way he talks throughout the possession on both ends of the floor, we really missed that last year.

“So it’s been awesome to have him. He’s still rusty, as expected when you have over a year off the court, but he’s getting better every practice. It’s such a luxury having him back out there on the floor.”

Junior guard Cale Jacobsen is a player that Hoiberg has been impressed with throughout the summer. Jacobsen was a crucial member of the team in last year’s Crown tournament run and Hoiberg said that he’s has only continued to get better.

“I think a big thing is confidence, knowing that he can go out there and make a big impact,” Hoiberg said. “He was as important as anybody on the floor for us in that little run we made at the end of the season in the tournament, and he’s carried that over into the summer. Cale’s a guy that’s always going to get out there and work. You see him in the gym all the time.”

Using your voice has been a point of emphasis for the Huskers this year. Last season’s team was not as vocal, but Hoiberg wants that to be different this year. He said that Sam Hoiberg, Jacobsen, Mast and others have done a great job of this all summer.

“As a whole collectively, I do think it’s a better talking group,” Hoiberg said. “The true test is are they going to continue to do it when things get tough? When adversity hits us, are they going to continue to go out there and talk as a group? Because if you don’t, you put your head down, in this league, you’re done.”

Depth is not a problem that Nebraska has going into the season this fall. Although he’s not yet sure exactly what the rotation will look like, Hoiberg is encouraged by how competitive each player is.

“Right now, I have no idea who’s going to actually be in the rotation,” Hoiberg said. “We’ve had some guys that have stood out that I know will be in it, but there’s still guys fighting for spots in the rotation. It’s great, it’s been fun, it’s been a lot of fun this summer. Just because again, with the competitive spirit of this group, all that will be determined here when we get back from the break.”

A big emphasis during the offseason was adding more perimeter shooting. As part of the transfer portal haul, Nebraska landed a pair of 40% 3-point shooters in Pryce Sandfort and Kendall Blue and brought back Jamarques Lawrence after he shot 39.1% last season at Rhode Island. Hoiberg also added some versatile frontcourt pieces to complement Mast’s return, giving Hoiberg the ability to play the true five-out style he prefers.

“It’s having as many playmakers on the floor as you can,” Hoiberg said. “I think that’s when you’re toughest to guard, is when you’ve got five guys that can pass, shoot and dribble. This year, I do think we have a better shooting team; at least, that has shown in the summer with our percentages.”

With summer workouts nearly complete, Hoiberg said he is happy with the progress that he’s seen.

“I’ve just been impressed with the overall group,” Hoiberg said. “I’ve seen, pretty much, growth across the board. I don’t think there’s been one guy that has gone the wrong direction in these five-plus weeks that we’ve had. For us, that’s what you want to see. That’s what makes you proud of them.”

This list presents the top 5 BJJ practitioners who currently compete inside the UFC’s Octagon. 

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was a dominant fighting style in the early days of the UFC. The promotion set the narrative that the Gracie family was instrumental in building the foundation for modern MMA, both inside and outside the cage.

Even though the Gracie influence is now in the past, BJJ still remains one of the best fighting styles. Wrestling may challenge its status, but one thing is certain: to reach the top of the MMA world, your ground game must be strong.

Today, we will look at the top 5 BJJ practitioners in the UFC. Some have notable grappling achievements. Others show how BJJ skills can be adapted successfully to MMA.

#1 Charles Oliveira — Record Holder for Most Submission Wins in UFC History

Charles “Do Bronxs” Oliveira is a former UFC lightweight champion and holds a record-setting 16 submission victories in the Octagon.

He made his UFC debut in 2010, submitting Darren Elkins with a triangle armbar. This was a sign of things to come. Over the next 15 years, he earned 15 more submission wins and captured the lightweight title. His arsenal includes a variety of chokeholds, most often the rear-naked choke and the guillotine. Oliveira is known for relentlessly hunting submissions from any position.

A 4th-degree BJJ black belt under Ericson Cardoso and Jorge “Macaco” Patino, Oliveira shares his love for grappling through the Charles Do Bronxs Institute (ICBronxs). Founded in 2012 in his old neighborhood of Vicente de Carvalho, the institute offers free BJJ lessons to children, aiming to promote positive values.

#2 Mackenzie Dern — One of the Best Female Grapplers in History

A BJJ black belt under her father, the legendary Wellington Dias, Mackenzie Dern has excelled in both competitive grappling and the UFC.

In her UFC career, she has secured five submission wins — a strawweight division record — and set the record for most submission attempts in the division. She is just two submission wins away from tying Gillian Robertson’s all-time women’s record.

Her competitive grappling résumé includes 75 wins, 45 by submission. She has captured titles at the ADCC World Championships, IBJJF Gi and No-Gi Worlds, and won Pan-American and European Championships.

#3 Marcus Almeida — IBJJF Hall of Famer

Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida is considered one of the greatest BJJ competitors of all time. A black belt under Rodrigo Cavaca, Almeida dominated the absolute division for years.

He is both an ADCC and multiple-time IBJJF world champion and won gold in both the +100 kg and Absolute divisions across multiple years (2012–2014, 2016–2017, 2019). His grappling record stands at 138 wins and only 14 losses.

In MMA, Almeida fought in ONE Championship before making his UFC debut at UFC on ABC 9.

#4 Rodolfo Vieira — ‘The Black Belt Hunter’

Rodolfo Vieira earned his nickname after, as a brown belt, he defeated several well-known black belts during the World Cup trials. Shortly after, he was promoted to black belt by Julio Cesar.

He is a one-time ADCC World Champion and a five-time IBJJF World Champion (2011–2014), with additional Pan-American and European titles.

In the UFC, Vieira has won six of nine fights, with five victories coming by submission, most often via arm-triangle and rear-naked chokes.

#5 Gilbert Burns — One of the Top Grapplers of His Generation

Gilbert “Durinho” Burns, a black belt under Rafael Barros, won both IBJJF Gi and No-Gi World Championships before focusing on MMA. He also earned bronze at the 2015 ADCC Worlds.

In the UFC, Burns’ aggressive, submission-focused style has led to victories over top names and five wins by submission.

Interview with Krzysztof Jotko below

Krzysztof Jotko (26-6) discusses his middleweight fight against Marek Mazuch (9-3) at OKTAGON 74 this Saturday as part of the TIPSPORT GAMECHANGER tournament. Krzysztof also spoke about a switch up in opponent for this fight, his prediction for Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev and how he sees this fight playing out.

“I’m going to finish this fight, second or third round. I’m ready for his double overhands. I have a lot of games, I can take you down, I can fight in the standup. I think this guy is more of a striker, just boxing. He doesn’t have too much to bring to the table.”

James Lynch

Covering MMA since 2008, James Lynch is a freelance MMA journalist for MyMMANews and other notable outlets. He’s also a commentator for Rise Fighting Championships. Follow him on Twitter/Instagram @LynchOnSports

Thousands of people crowded the sands of Manhattan Beach, and watched from the Pier for the annual Charlie Saikley Six-Man Beach Volleyball tournament, one of the biggest events of the summer locally. 

It’s notable for volleyball players in ultra-colorful costumes.

Most of the streets leading to downtown were closed all weekend long, as throngs of people came into the city to watch the games. The city expected to open the streets back up by Monday morning. 

Saikley himself was a school teacher at El Segundo High School, and over 50 years ago worked for the city in the Parks and Recreation Department off-hours and summers, where he went on to create the first city-organized volleyball instruction program in Southern California, per the city of Manhattan Beach. The city calls Saikley the “Godfather of Beach Volleyball.” 

UFC veteran Neil Magny was just taken by surprise in a post-fight press conference, as he was awarded with his BJJ black belt. Magny has been a mainstay of the UFC welterweight division for over a decade now and although he’s a well-rounded fighter, his grappling background has always served him well. He started out with wrestling and only took up Jiu-Jitsu as part of his MMA training, but it paid off when he won his debut fight by submission. He then went 7-1 on the regional MMA circuit before joining The Ultimate Fighter, where he had a deep run and earned a shot in the UFC.

That’s where Magny has been ever since, and he’s had over 30 for in the biggest combat sports promotion in the world. He was coming into this latest fight against Elizeu Zaleski on a two-fight losing-streak but he snapped it with a second-round TKO victory. He now sits at 30-13 and will continue fighting in the UFC for the foreseeable future, but after almost 15 years as a professional MMA fighter it was time for him to receive his black belt in BJJ. He was busy celebrating the win and eating some Birthday cake as the post-fight press conference began, when his coach suddenly appeared and presented him with the belt.

UFC Vegas 108 Full Results

Tatsuro Taira defeats Hyun Sung Park via Submission – Face Crank

Chris Duncan defeats Mateusz Rebecki via Decision – Unanimous

Esteban Ribovics defeats Elves Brener via Decision – Unanimous

Karol Rosa defeats Nora Cornolle via Decision – Unanimous

Neil Magny defeats Elizeu Zaleski via TKO – Ground and Pound

Kevin Vallejos defeats Danny Silva via Decision – Unanimous

Preliminary Card

Rinya Nakamura defeats Nathan Fletcher via Knockout – Liver Kick

Rodolfo Vieira defeats Tresean Gore via Decision – Unanimous

Andrey Pulyaev defeats Nick Klein via TKO – Body Kick and Punches

Austin Bashi defeats John Yannis via Submission – Rear-naked Choke

Rafael Estevam defeats Felipe Bunes via Decision – Unanimous

Piera Rodriguez defeats Ketlen Souza via Decision – Split

The full footage of Neil Magny being promoted to BJJ black belt during the UFC Vegas 108 post-fight press conference was uploaded to the official YouTube channel of MMAJunkie: