MMA News

Author: Andrew Ravens

  • Jon Jones Shares Bare-Knuckle Training Footage Amid UFC Feud

    Jon Jones Shares Bare-Knuckle Training Footage Amid UFC Feud

    Jon Jones shared new training footage on social media Tuesday, showing sharp bare-knuckle pad work as he continues pursuing an MMA return. The former UFC heavyweight champion posted the video amid an ongoing dispute with the promotion over his contract status.

    “Right now, I’m exactly where I need to be, I’m excited to see myself in a few months when things actually start to ramp up. Feeling sharp across the board. #MMA,” Jones captioned the video of him hitting pads without gloves.

    The training footage comes after Jones attended his first IBA Bare-Knuckle event in St. Petersburg this past weekend, where Yoel Romero competed in the main event. Jones recently signed as an ambassador with the bare-knuckle promotion.

    White House Event Dispute

    The conflict between Jones and UFC boss Dana White escalated earlier this year when Jones was excluded from the UFC White House event despite expressing interest in competing on the card. White claimed Jones was never in contention for the event, contradicting Jones’ account of failed negotiations.

    Jones subsequently requested his release from the UFC to continue his MMA career elsewhere, though the promotion has not granted that request. White has repeatedly referenced Jones’ arthritis issues when discussing the 38-year-old’s future, pointing to footage of Jones telling a fan about his hip condition.

    Potential Ngannou Fight

    Speculation about a potential matchup between Jones and Francis Ngannou has resurfaced as Ngannou prepares for his MMA return on May 16 on the MVP MMA Netflix card. Ngannou publicly supported Jones during his dispute with the UFC, with Jones acknowledging the gesture on social media.

    Despite the renewed interest in the fight, the UFC appears unlikely to release Jones from his contract. Jones’ training footage suggests he remains committed to competing again, though his path back to the octagon remains unclear.

  • UFC Fighter Calls For Michael Chandler To Be Removed From Rankings After UFC 314 Loss

    UFC Fighter Calls For Michael Chandler To Be Removed From Rankings After UFC 314 Loss

    Grant Dawson is doubling down on his critical assessment of Michael Chandler’s position within the UFC lightweight rankings.

    Following Chandler’s recent third-round TKO loss to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314 in Miami, Dawson has reiterated his long-held belief that Chandler is undeserving of his top-15 ranking.

    Dawson has been vocal about Chandler’s ranking for an extended period. His stance only solidified after Chandler’s latest defeat, which marks his third consecutive loss and his fifth loss in his last six outings. This leaves his UFC record at 2-5.

    “I’ve been calling out Chandler for years,” Dawson told MMA Junkie. “I’ve always thought Chandler was undeserving of being in the top 15. He’s now 2-5, I believe, in the UFC. All good guys for sure, but we’re all fighting good guys. If Michael Chandler’s next fight is a big name, not an up-and-comer, I think the UFC is doing a disservice.” Dawson argues that rewarding a fighter with Chandler’s recent record with another high-profile matchup against a rising contender would be unfair to those consistently climbing the ranks.

    Furthermore, Dawson admitted that Pimblett’s performance against Chandler significantly exceeded his expectations. Despite predicting a Pimblett victory, Dawson was surprised by the dominant nature of the finish.

    “I thought he looked great. I thought he looked much improved,” Dawson said of Pimblett’s performance. “I, from Day 1, was picking Paddy to beat Michael Chandler, and I didn’t think he would do it like that. I thought Michael Chandler was going to be winning the entire fight and then do something Michael Chandler does and find a way to lose. But, no, he got his butt kicked the entire time. Paddy is definitely a force to be reckoned with. I’m interested to see who they match him up with next.”

  • Paddy Pimblett Vows To ‘Do the Same Thing’ To Ilia Topuria That He Did To Michael Chandler

    Paddy Pimblett Vows To ‘Do the Same Thing’ To Ilia Topuria That He Did To Michael Chandler

    Paddy Pimblett, riding high after his dominant victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314, expressed his interest in welcoming Ilia Topuria to the lightweight division.

    Following his TKO win in Miami, Pimblett was asked about a potential future matchup with the former featherweight champion after calling out names like Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Arman Tsarukyan.

    “To be honest, I forgot about him. I forgot all about him, or I would’ve mentioned him in the cage. … That’s how irrelevant he is. I’m ranked higher than he is at lightweight, so I’d love to welcome him at 155, but apparently, he’s sitting out and waiting for the title shot.”

    Pimblett believes his performance against Chandler provides a blueprint for defeating Topuria.

    “But what I’ve just done to Chandler, [that’s] the blueprint to beating him. I’ll do the exact same thing to Ilia what I’ve done to Chandler.”

    Looking ahead, Pimblett hopes to contend for the lightweight title in 2026, regardless of who holds the belt, be it Islam Makhachev or another fighter.

    Pimblett acknowledged how fluid the division came be and mentioned potential scenarios involving Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena.

    “I’ve seen stuff where Islam might retire after another defense or two, or if [Jack Della Maddalena] beats Belal Muhammad, he’ll move up and fight for the welterweight belt,” Pimblett explained.

    Ultimately, his focus remains on facing whoever the UFC puts in front of him.

    “Whoever’s in front of me, that’s who I fight. Whoever the UFC sends me… that’s who I fight next, and that’ll be whoever I fight next.”

  • Dana White Only Has ‘Great Things’ To Say About UFC’s Time At ESPN Despite ‘Rocky’ Moments

    Dana White Only Has ‘Great Things’ To Say About UFC’s Time At ESPN Despite ‘Rocky’ Moments

    Dana White recently addressed the impending conclusion of the UFC’s broadcast rights deal with ESPN.

    The exclusive negotiating window between the UFC and ESPN is set to close on Tuesday, allowing the promotion to explore other agreements with other networks for 2026 onwards.

    The UFC inked a five-year, $1.5 billion deal with ESPN in 2018 for domestic broadcast rights, commencing in 2019. This agreement was extended by two years in early 2019, incorporating pay-per-view streaming rights.

    Speaking at the UFC 314 post-fight press conference, White commented on the situation.

    “When the window opens, we’ll obviously start talking to lots of different people and we’ll see what the options are out there. We’ve said this every time: There could be a time when we end up on several different networks like all other sports do. I like ESPN. I’ve said it many times: We had a bit of a rocky start, which is normal in any relationship, but we’re in a great place with ESPN. Whether we re-sign with them or do not, I have nothing but great things to say about my time at ESPN.”

    White was also asked about maintaining the current event format, which saw 42 events in 2024.

    “I don’t know. It depends on what ESPN or wherever else we go is looking for. Most of the times when you do these deals, you’re catering to what the network needs. Plus, they’ll have other programming, other sports that they’re already committed to at certain times and seasons and whatever it may be. It always changes. It doesn’t matter to me.”

    White also commented on a Bloomberg report suggesting the UFC is seeking over $1 billion annually for its new broadcast rights deal, stating, “Sounds good to me.”

    With the possibility of the UFC following WWE’s move to Netflix, the question of the pay-per-view model’s future arose.

    “We do what works for the network – what do they want to do? Do they want to just put it on their air? Do they want to do pay-per-view? Do they want to put it behind a paywall? I don’t know any of those things. Tuesday, the window opens and we start talking to other networks and we’ll get more into that.”

  • Colby Covington: ‘B*tch Boy’ Paddy Pimblett Is Never Going To Be Champion

    Colby Covington: ‘B*tch Boy’ Paddy Pimblett Is Never Going To Be Champion

    Colby Covington has found himself in yet another rivalry, this time with rising lightweight Paddy Pimblett.

    The outspoken welterweight veteran made his presence known backstage at UFC 314 in Miami this past Saturday, having a verbal altercation with “The Baddy.”

    Covington questioned the caliber of Pimblett’s UFC opponents, while the Scouser fired back by highlighting the American’s recent string of losses.

    Pimblett dismissed Covington as “irrelevant” during an interview with ESPN. “Chaos,” never one to back down from a verbal sparring match, responded through his YouTube channel, offering a scathing assessment of “The Baddy” and his recent competition.

    “Paddy wanted to say some sh*t when I was walking by, so I had to confront him. I had to let him know he’s a little bItch boy. The combined losing streak of his last three opponents, look it up, guys, it’s 13 losses in a row. He wants to act like he’s relevant and he’s a star, he’s a f*cking nobody, bro. You’re a nobody. You’ve never headlined an event. You’ve never done anything worthy. You’ve never been a top contender. You’re a f*cking scrub. The only reason people f*cking care about you is because you’re an Ellen Degeneres-looking f*cking scrub and, to be honest, it’s because you’ve got a bowl cut and an English accent, that’s the only reason people want to look at you.”

    Covington’s animosity toward Pimblett is evident. Now, he has issued a challenge to the rising star.

    “Paddy Pimblett’s a little b*tch. He needs to stop running my name through his mouth to stay relevant. Because he’s just using me to stay relevant because he’s never accomplished anything. He’s never going to get to a title fight. He’s never going to win a title, period. He’s a f*cking irrelevant bum. So when he stops cutting all that weight and cutting chromosomes and he wants to come to a real man’s weight class, and fight a real man, he can get his ass whooped. So he needs to keep my name out of his mouth, otherwise he’s going to end up with my foot in his ass and that’s a fact.” 

  • Full Card Confirmed For Paul Hughes-Headlined PFL Europe Event In Belfast On May 10

    Full Card Confirmed For Paul Hughes-Headlined PFL Europe Event In Belfast On May 10

    The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has officially announced the final fight card for next month’s PFL Europe event in Belfast.

    Headlining the card is the return of Paul Hughes (13-2). Following his valiant performance against Usman Nurmagomedov, “Big News” gets his homecoming bout versus Bruno “Robusto” Miranda (17-5).

    The co-main event will showcase the return of the 2024 PFL Europe Bantamweight Champion, Lewis “The McGrizzla” McGrillen (11-1). McGrillen is coming off a year where he clinched the title with two consecutive knockout victories. His opponent, Alan “Super Ali” Philpott (21-16-0, 1 NC),  aims to silence any doubters in his first fight on home soil in 11 years.

    See below for the full lineup for the PFL Europe event on May 10.

    • Lightweight Main Event: Paul Hughes (13-2) vs. Bruno Miranda (17-5)
    • Bantamweight Co-Main Event: Lewis McGrillen (11-1) vs. Alan Philpott (21-16-0, 1 NC)
    • Lightweight Tournament: Connor Hughes (10-2) vs. Sebastian Di Franco (10-3)
    • Lightweight Tournament: Mark Ewen (6-1) vs. Alex Chizov (10-3)
    • Lightweight Showcase Bout: John Mitchell (10-2) vs. Lorenzo Parente (4-0)
    • Lightweight Tournament Bout: Claudio Pacella (5-2) vs. Gavin Hughes (11-4)
    • Lightweight Tournament Bout: Decky McAleenan (9-5-1) vs. Gino Van Steenis (5-1)
    • Middleweight Showcase Bout: Haider Khan (9-1) vs. Sean McCormac (3-2)
    • Women’s Flyweight Showcase Bout: Gemma Auld (1-0) vs. Sammy-Jo Luxton (2-0)
    • Welterweight Showcase Bout: Eoin Sheridan (2-0) vs. Malichi Edwards (4-1)
    • Featherweight Showcase Bout: Corey McLaughlin (0-1) vs. Nahom Wedi (0-0)

    PFL Europe Belfast will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN in the UK and Ireland, as well as other parts of Europe. Tickets for the event are currently available for purchase via ticketmaster.ie.

  • Alexander Volkanovski May Have Suffered Significant Injury Early In UFC 314 Fight

    Alexander Volkanovski May Have Suffered Significant Injury Early In UFC 314 Fight

    Alexander Volkanovski’s victory over Diego Lopes at UFC 314 on Saturday night came at a cost, as he potentially sustained a broken hand during the five-round featherweight title bout.

    Despite the injury, Volkanovski secured a unanimous decision win with scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47, reclaiming the 145-pound belt. 

    Volkanovski’s coach, Joe Lopez, discussed the potential injury in a recent interview with Submission Radio.

    “He might have broke his hand, we still gotta get that X-ray. He did hurt his hand … It was earlier in the fight. Alex didn’t say anything about it [at the time], just at the end he was just saying, ‘I think I busted my hand.’” Lopez also noted the physical toll of the fight, adding, “I can’t remember which round. But yeah, he’s got a bit of a sore foot and just the bumps and bruises after having a five round war with a warrior.”  

    Lopez credited Diego Lopes for disrupting their initial game plan.

    “After that first round, Diego channeled his inner Jose Aldo because man, his hips were on fire. We couldn’t get him back down. He did not wanna go back down there … We wanted to take Diego down or get him against the fence because he is very dangerous. He’s very explosive, and you could see he’s super tough. Alex put some big shots on him, and he he wore them like they were nothing.” 

  • Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Backstage Colby Covington Confrontation At UFC 314

    Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Backstage Colby Covington Confrontation At UFC 314

    A feud is developing between UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett and welterweight Colby Covington.

    Following his co-main event victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in Miami, Pimblett was unexpectedly confronted by Covington.

    Covington criticized the caliber of Pimblett’s opponents, while Pimblett retorted by highlighting Covington’s recent losing streak.

    Pimblett later detailed the exchange on ESPN’s post-event show, referring to Covington as a “little maggot” who “only does something when there’s a camera about.”

    Paddy Pimblett recounted a prior interaction at Power Slap where Covington allegedly avoided eye contact. In their latest meeting, Pimblett stated he told Covington, “‘Lad, I’ll come and slap you, but you’ll go and ring the police on me like you did with Masvidal, you little grass [snitch].’”

    This alludes to Covington’s past altercation with Jorge Masvidal, who attacked him outside a restaurant, leading to Masvidal’s arrest and a misdemeanor battery plea.

    Pimblett is firmly focused on a lightweight title opportunity and dismissed Covington during his post-fight press conference.

    “He can eat sh*t. He pays supermodels to stand with him, the f*cking bum. He’s a nobody. He’s on a three-fight losing streak or something, he’s irrelevant. He’s trying to use me now to stay relevant because he’s a nobody, he’s a bum. I’d beat Colby Covington for a laugh, but I’ve got bigger fish to fry than that little mushroom.”

  • Paddy Pimblett Hopes For Strong Refereeing vs. ‘Dirty’ Michael Chandler at UFC 314

    Paddy Pimblett Hopes For Strong Refereeing vs. ‘Dirty’ Michael Chandler at UFC 314

    Paddy Pimblett has intensified the build-up for his UFC 314 co-main event against Michael Chandler, branding him a “dirty bastard” and voicing concerns about the officiating leading into it.

    Speaking to reporters during media day, Pimblett didn’t mince words regarding Chandler’s fighting tactics, explicitly citing the eye poke in his fight against Tony Ferguson.

    “He’s the nicest man in the world outside the cage. And when he gets in there, he’s a dirty bastard, isn’t he?” Paddy Pimblett said. “But I always say if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying. So I understand what he’s trying to do, he wants to win, and that’s the main thing when it comes to this game.”

    Pimblett mentioned his jiu-jitsu and cardio, envisioning a scenario where he takes Chandler into the deeper rounds and secures a finish. He dismissed Chandler’s belief of being a “different animal” at welterweight, reminding him that their bout is contracted at lightweight.

    Despite Chandler’s experience against elite competition, Pimblett remains unfazed, viewing this matchup as his platform to demonstrate his own top-tier credentials.

    “As I said, Chandler’s a real nice fellow outside the Octagon,” Pimblett added. “I’ve bumped into him yesterday and had a chat with him. But in there, he’s a very, very dirty man.”

  • Cris Cyborg’s Boxing Return Set To Come In Scott Coker’s Fight Night Promotion

    Cris Cyborg is set to box Precious Harris-McCray on May 17 in the co-main event of Fight Night 3: San Jose, promotion officials announced. The six-round boxing match will take place at the Tech CU Arena in San Jose, California.

    Cyborg, a multi-promotion MMA champion with a 6-0 record in boxing, will be entering her third boxing match this year. She recently secured two knockout victories in Colombia in March. 

    Her decision to participate in this boxing match under the Fight Night banner, promoted in part by Scott Coker, marks a reunion with a familiar figure from her Strikeforce and Bellator MMA days.

    Cyborg reflected on the upcoming bout and her career milestone in a post on Instagram.

    “Back in the Bay! 🚨May 17th 2005 is the anniversary of my first professional fight. This year is the 20th year of my professional career and to celebrate: May 17th 2025. I will be fighting Precious Harris-McCray in a 6 round professional boxing fight in San Jose, CA with @fightnightsanjose.”

    While actively competing in boxing, Cyborg last stepped into the MMA cage in October 2024, where she defeated Larissa Pacheco at PFL: Battle of the Giants. 

  • Paddy Pimblett Went Viral After Submitting 10 US Marines Back-To-Back

    Paddy Pimblett Went Viral After Submitting 10 US Marines Back-To-Back

    In a video that has garnered over 13 million views since its uploaded two years ago, UFC star Paddy Pimblett showcased his impressive grappling skills by submitting 10 US Marines consecutively at Camp Pendleton.

    During his visit to the USMC Martial Arts Program, Pimblett shared his jiu-jitsu knowledge and took part in a grueling grappling contest.

    The video captures Pimblett undergoing intense combat conditioning with the Marines before demonstrating his expertise on the mat. He faced 10 Marines one by one, forcing each to tap out. Despite the Marines’ fitness and strength, Pimblett’s skill proved dominant, securing a perfect 10-0 record. 

    While he admitted to being exhausted after the challenge, he joked about his unusual physique and grappling skills. Pimblett has continued his success in the Octagon, securing three UFC victories since the video was made. 

    He is set for his first fight against top 10-ranked opposition at UFC 314 against Michael Chandler this Saturday.

  • Daniel Cormier Names The Only Fighter With More Pressure On Them Than Alexander Volkanovski At UFC 314

    Daniel Cormier believes Michael Chandler faces more pressure than headliner Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 314.

    Speaking on his Good Guy/Bad Guy show with Chael Sonnen, Cormier argued that while Chandler’s UFC losses have been to top-tier opponents, a defeat against Paddy Pimblett would be a significant setback.

    “You cannot lose to the next generation guy,” Cormier stated.

    Cormier highlighted Chandler’s history in the UFC, noting his two wins and four losses against fighters like Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje. He believes that another loss to a rising star like Pimblett would change the narrative surrounding Chandler’s career.

    With that, “DC” thinks Chandler has more pressure on him in Miami than Volkanovski, who is coming off two consecutive knockout losses.

    “I asked you earlier if the most pressure was on Volk, it’s not, and I said I believe Chandler has more pressure,” Cormier said. “You want me to tell you why? Michael Chandler has found himself in a very, very hard-to-reach bit of company. He’s that guy that, win or lose, nothing really affects him, right? If he wins, people go, ‘Wow, that’s amazing.’ Knocked out Dan Hooker, kicked Tony Ferguson in the face. If he loses – man, him and Charles Oliveira, he had him. It was this close, about to become the champion, Charles got him.

    “Eh, not that big of a deal. Him and Dustin Poirier, he loses. ‘Oh, that was a great fight,’ but Dustin got the job done, submitted him. He fought Justin Gaethje, that was a tremendous fight, but Gaethje won. Charles Oliveira, he stood up with him and slammed him backwards. What I’m getting at, Chael, is Michael Chandler has fought in the UFC six times. He’s won twice. If he loses again, now you’re not losing to Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira. You’re losing to the next generation. You cannot lose to the next generation guy.”

    Dustin Poirier will be an analyst at UFC 314, adding another layer to the event, given his past rivalry with Chandler.

  • Ben Askren Explains Why Sean O’Malley Taking Merab Dvalishvili Rematch Is ‘A Bad Move’

    Ben Askren Explains Why Sean O’Malley Taking Merab Dvalishvili Rematch Is ‘A Bad Move’

    Ben Askren believes Sean O’Malley’s decision to have an immediate rematch against Merab Dvalishvili is a risky career move.

    O’Malley is set to challenge Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title at UFC 316 in Newark on June 7. This follows his unanimous decision loss to Dvalishvili at UFC 306 last September.

    Askren, speaking on his Funky and the Champ show alongside Daniel Cormier, broke down why he thinks it is a bad move by the former champ. 

    “I kind of think this is a bad move. If he gets beat up by Merab again, then he loses a whole bunch of attraction because it’s like, well, you already lost to the champ twice, so until the champ goes away, they’re not going to give you a third shot against him. He could have fought some, maybe, lower-ranked guys.”

    Askren further explained his reasoning, suggesting that O’Malley could have benefited from facing opponents less likely to expose his wrestling weaknesses. 

    “Against guys who can’t take him down, he kind of looks like a real freaking superstar, right? He’s really exciting, very diverse striking attack, so he could have looked really good, built the fight back up into something bigger. But now, I feel like everyone is feeling, ‘Hey, we just saw this, it wasn’t competitive. Why do we need to see this again?’”

    Since their first fight Sean O’Malley underwent hip surgery, while Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his title against Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Despite “Suga’s” striking abilities, Askren remains concerned about the rematch.

    “I wish Sean would have taken some more time to improve his wrestling, but he still has dynamic striking, he has knockout capabilities. Merab has been relatively unstoppable looking in his last handful of fights.”

  • Demetrious Johnson On Paddy Pimblett: ‘One Day He Will Be A Champion’

    Demetrious Johnson On Paddy Pimblett: ‘One Day He Will Be A Champion’

    Demetrious Johnson believes Paddy Pimblett has the potential to become a UFC champion.

    “Mighty Mouse,” a legendary former titleholder on MMA’s biggest stage, has been watching Pimblett’s old fights from Cage Warriors and is extremely impressed by what he’s seen. 

    In a new YouTube video, Johnson shared his take on Pimblett’s personality and all the stuff he does outside the cage, suggesting it hides how good he is at fighting. He also sees him being a champion one day. 

    “This is why he’s so good,” Johnson said of Paddy Pimblett. “I think one day he will be a champion. If he doesn’t become champion, it’ll be like one of the guys who were really good and never became champion, like a Urijah Faber or Joseph Benavidez. He does everything right, in this fight, in this time of his career, and when he fought Bobby Green.”

    “Paddy can grapple, he can strike, he can do it all,” Johnson said. “I think it’s going to be an interesting fight when he takes on Michael Chandler because Michael Chandler is just a big ball of energy that goes from 0-2000(mph), and I know Paddy’s going to meet that once he gets rocked.”

    Johnson believes that even against a powerful striker like Michael Chandler at UFC 314 this weekend, Paddy Pimblett will utilize his jiu-jitsu to try and win on the ground.

  • Former Champion Questions Whether UFC 314 Debutant Patricio Pitbull Has ‘Too Many Miles On The Clock’

    Former Champion Questions Whether UFC 314 Debutant Patricio Pitbull Has ‘Too Many Miles On The Clock’

    Patricio Pitbull is set to make his first appearance in the UFC on April 12 in Miami against Yair Rodriguez. This featherweight match will be part of the main card at UFC 314.

    Pitbull’s most recent fight was in March 2024 when he won by technical knockout in the third round against Jeremy Kennedy. This victory allowed him to defend the Bellator featherweight championship for what turned out to be the last time. 

    Michael Bisping analyzed the main fights scheduled for UFC 314 in a new video on his YouTube channel. Bisping believes Patricio Pitbull’s age is a key point of discussion leading up to the Brazilian’s UFC debut against Rodriguez. 

    “Can the old guy get it done? Patricio ‘Pitbull,’ 37 years old coming over from Bellator, where I think he was a four-time champion. Biggest win, probably, when he knocked out ‘Iron’ Mike Chandler in the very first round, vicious right hand. He’s got good jiu-jitsu, but he’s 37 years old,” Bisping said. “There’s a lot of wear and tear, there’s a lot of miles on the clock, and that’s not surprising when you look at the amount of experience.”

  • Michael Chandler Addresses Cheating Accusations Ahead Of UFC 314

    Michael Chandler Addresses Cheating Accusations Ahead Of UFC 314

    Michael Chandler has acknowledged the challenges of dealing with the public perception that he’s a cheater in the UFC. 

    Despite the noise surrounding him, he asserts that he is confident in his character ahead of his five-round co-main event clash against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314 in Miami this Saturday.

    Chandler is aware of the accusations that followed his loss to Dustin Poirier at Madison Square Garden and most recently against Charles Oliveira at UFC 309. 

    “I mean, the narrative is tough, man,” Chandler told MMA Fighting. “People don’t really know me. Unless you’re in my inner circle, you don’t know who I truly am outside of [being] in front of the camera. People have their sneaky suspicions that I play nice in front of the camera, and I’m a bad guy behind the camera. You’re always going to have those accusations, right?

    “But I know who I am, and I know who I am at my core; I’m a guy who tries to do things right, tries to treat people right, do things with honor and respect. So the cheating narrative is a little tough for me, but also, it’s all part of the court of public opinion, man.”

    Chandler enters his upcoming 2025 octagon appearance with a record of 2-4 in his UFC career. He is now focused on ending a near three-year winless streak.

    “Did I grab Dustin Poirier’s mouthpiece? Yes, I did, because I thought it was his chin,” Chandler said. “I’ve already addressed that one. Things happen in a fight. Are you going to reach over and grab the cage? Are you going to get your fingers in the glove? Yeah. Those things are going to happen in a fight.

    “In the last fight, Charles Oliveira dug his chin so deep into my eye socket that I thought I was going to go blind, which is illegal. It’s an eye gouge, right? He was grabbing my gloves when he was trying to choke me. These things happen when you’re inside of the cage. I would never say that Charles Oliveira is a cheater. His body is reacting and doing things without his brain’s permission. You’re in fight or flight. Things happen. So it’s a tough narrative.”

  • Rashad Evans Reveals ‘Rampage’ Jackson Boxing Match Has Been Canceled

    Rashad Evans Reveals ‘Rampage’ Jackson Boxing Match Has Been Canceled

    Fight fans won’t see the boxing match between Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson after all. It was slated to take place on April 12, but now the fight looks unlikely. 

    In an Instagram post, Evans claimed the “boxing showdown” between the two former UFC light heavyweight champions next week at The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., is not going to happen. The fight had been announced in mid-February. 

    In the video, Evans kept things vague and said, “There were contractual obligations not met, so we had to make this difficult decision to pull the fight.” Evans added that the decision was made to “let the lawyers handle it” and said he hoped the fight would be rescheduled.

    “I’m disappointed to announce the fight between @rampagejackson will NOT take place April 12th in Albuquerque at the PIT. There were contractual obligations not met so we had to make this difficult decision to pull the fight. However we do remain hopeful that this fight can happen at a later date. Sorry to you fight fans, we were really excited to put on a show. Thank you all for the support!”

    The clash was to reignite a feud that reached its zenith during their coaching stint on Season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter. The first fight between Evans and Jackson took place in the main event of UFC 114 in Las Vegas, where Evans emerged victorious via unanimous decision.

    Evans’s most recent in-ring appearance was in January 2022, where he secured another unanimous decision win against Gabriel Checco at Eagle FC 44. On the flip side, Jackson last competed in December 2019, suffering a knockout loss to Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 237.

  • Henry Cejudo Apprehended Suspect Who Allegedly Drove Vehicle Into Neighbor’s House

    Henry Cejudo Apprehended Suspect Who Allegedly Drove Vehicle Into Neighbor’s House

    Henry Cejudo’s evening at his Phoenix home took an unexpected turn when a speeding vehicle, estimated at 80-100 mph, crashed into a neighbor’s house.

    As the driver attempted to flee and passengers followed, Cejudo and the homeowner intervened. 

    Cejudo, a former two-division UFC champion, personally detained and restrained one of the people until law enforcement arrived.

    “You can see inside this room, if someone was standing in there, they would be dead. All these kids are lucky to be alive,” Cejudo said in a statement shared with MMA Junkie. “Once they got out I told them, ‘Hey, you guys aren’t going nowhere.’ The owner of this house tried to stop them and said you need to be held accountable. One of them ended up (punching) my neighbor, and that’s when I had to step in.

    “Pretty much all my neighbours came in to fight the situation. I ended up lifting him, dropping him, slapped him around a little bit and just pretty much controlled him. If it was a couple hours earlier, someone would be seriously injured,” Cejudo said.

    In his last fight, Cejudo faced Song Yadong in the main event of UFC Seattle on February 22. It ended when “Triple C” couldn’t continue after being poked in the eye. Song won the fight by technical decision after the bout was stopped at the beginning of the fourth round.

  • Ben Askren: Islam Makhachev Should Be Stripped Of UFC Title If He Refuses Ilia Topuria Fight

    Ben Askren: Islam Makhachev Should Be Stripped Of UFC Title If He Refuses Ilia Topuria Fight

    Ben Askren is pushing for decisive action against UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev should he refuse a fight with Ilia Topuria.

    The controversy stems from Topuria’s take that the UFC guaranteed him an immediate lightweight title opportunity after relinquishing his featherweight belt. 

    Makhachev and his team are now challenging this claim, insisting that Topuria must first prove his worth by defeating a top-ranked contender before they can fight. This disagreement has cast doubt on the potential matchup.

    Askren’s stance is clear: the UFC should compel Makhachev to face Topuria if they made a promise to the newly crowned featherweight champion. He believes that ignoring Topuria’s claim would set a detrimental precedent, undermining the UFC’s credibility and discouraging future champions from making similar moves. 

    “I think Dana (White) should just do Dana stuff and just say, ‘Hey, Islam, if you don’t want to fight, you’re stripped,’” Askren said on his Funky and the Champ show with Daniel Cormier. “He’s done that. That is in Dana’s repertoire. If you’re the champion, you’re supposed to defend the belt against the best person, right? So Ilia has beaten two legends in a row.

    “Not only beat them but finished them at 145 pounds: Volkanovski and Holloway. Very, very clearly the best, choosing to go up. … Given Arman was supposed to have the title shot, and he pulled out on super-late notice so they want to make him fight someone else first. So, that makes perfect sense for Ilia to pop in given the fact that he’s a champion, he’s undefeated, has defeated two legends in a row. I don’t see how you deny him the title shot.”

  • Patricio Pitbull Open To Showdown With Fellow Brazilian MMA Legend In The UFC

    Patricio Pitbull, now set to debut in the UFC against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314, has expressed an openness to a potential showdown with Jose Aldo.

    This comes as both fighters, who dominated their respective featherweight divisions in Bellator and UFC for years, find themselves under the same promotional banner.

    Pitbull, with a stellar 24-6 record in Bellator, sees the fight as a resolution to a long-standing “what if” scenario.

    “I don’t have this desire to fight Aldo, nothing like that, but for the context, if an offer comes from the UFC, I would be happy to take it,” Pitbull stated to MMA Fighting.

    While Pitbull doesn’t believe a victory over Aldo would definitively crown him the greatest featherweight of all time, he recognizes its significance in settling a long-debated topic. He feels that there’s a bias towards UFC fighters in these discussions.

    “For Aldo and people in the UFC, everybody is sure he’s the best featherweight of all time,” Pitbull said, “But some people that know fighting [say], ‘There’s also Patricio, and maybe he could be fighting for the title of who’s the greatest.’”

    He proposes that a fight would provide a tangible answer, even if it wouldn’t fully define their legacies.

    “We know it wouldn’t determine who was the best or who has done more, but in a fight we would at least have an answer, we’d know who catches fire first, and the winner would leave a great mark.”

    Pitbull’s career boasts titles in both Bellator’s featherweight and lightweight divisions, including a victory over RIZIN’s featherweight champion Kleber Koike. His attempt to capture the bantamweight title from Sergio Pettis was unsuccessful, but he remains open to exploring different weight classes within the UFC.

    “Depending on the challenge, we’d do it,” Pitbull said, indicating his willingness to compete from 135 to 170 pounds. He emphasizes the importance of the opponent’s history and experience, suggesting he’d be more inclined to fight a seasoned veteran.

    The potential fight between Pitbull and Aldo carries significant weight, representing a clash of two eras and promotions. It would serve not only as a spectacle for fans but also as a means to settle a debate that has persisted for years. Pitbull’s entry into the UFC and his openness to this matchup have added an intriguing layer to the promotion’s landscape, generating anticipation for what could be a historic encounter.

  • UFC Veteran Explains Why Conor McGregor Passing On Return Fight Isn’t At All ‘Surprising’

    UFC Veteran Explains Why Conor McGregor Passing On Return Fight Isn’t At All ‘Surprising’

    Conor McGregor’s recent statements suggest he might be finished with fighting, nearly four years after his last UFC appearance.

    At a BKFC event in Florida, McGregor said he turned down a chance to fight again and is now focused on a career in politics. He also said, “I’m happy with what I’ve done,” which sounds more like a goodbye than a hint at a future fight.

    However, UFC legend Matt Brown points out that McGregor has been talking about these kinds of plans since he first became famous. Brown says McGregor is simply following through on promises he made years ago.

    “He told us like 10 years ago what he was going to do,” Brown said on the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer. “Do you remember him talking about it? ‘I’m going to come in, I’m going to take over, I’m going to make money and then I’m going to get the f*ck out.’

    “He said something along the lines of this game is brutal, you don’t want to be in it too long. He told us however many 8 or 10 years ago. He literally told us and he has done it.”

    Brown, despite having previously said that McGregor was likely done with fighting, acknowledges the strong pull of attention and fame that comes with being UFC’s biggest star. The retired fighter understands that this kind of spotlight is hard to let go of.

    However, he believes that McGregor has found other ways to stay in the public eye, like a future in politics and becoming a co-owner in BKFC, which might mean he won’t return to fighting. 

    “This is not surprising at all,” Brown said. “He’s just finally, actually [copping to it]. He loves being in the news. He loves staying relevant and putting his two cents into everything. He’s kept his voice out there and we’ve all paid attention and we’re still talking about it.

    “He’s done a good job of that. A good job of playing the media. I told you before, he’s done. I think he’s just confirming what we already knew.”

  • Dillon Danis Vows To Retire Tony Ferguson In GFL Fight

    Dillon Danis Vows To Retire Tony Ferguson In GFL Fight

    Dillon Danis has declared his intention to conclude Tony Ferguson’s professional MMA career.

    Danis, boasting an undefeated record of two wins and zero losses, representing GFL’s Team New York, is scheduled to face Ferguson, who has a record of 25 wins and 11 losses, representing Team Los Angeles. The two fighters will clash in a lightweight main event on May 25 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

    Ferguson enters this contest on a difficult streak. He has lost his last eight consecutive matches in the UFC, a record within the organization. His most recent defeat occurred in August of last year, when Michael Chiesa submitted him. This string of losses has led Danis to confidently state that he will “put the nail in the coffin of Tony Ferguson’s MMA career.”

    Danis, initially scheduled to box KSI in a highly anticipated 185-pound match, saw the bout canceled due to KSI’s unexpected illness. This cancellation extended Danis’s period of inactivity, as he had not competed since his disqualification loss to Logan Paul in a boxing match back in October of 2023. 

    His previous MMA contest occurred in June 2019, when he achieved a submission victory over Max Humphrey at Bellator 222. Despite this, the polarizing grappler is confident of his superiority over Ferguson.

    “I’m going to retire Tony Ferguson and bury ‘El Cucuy’ in the same grave as his win streak,” Danis told MMA Junkie in a text message Tuesday.

  • Ryan Bader Addresses Decision To Split With PFL

    Ryan Bader, a respected mixed martial arts fighter, recently decided it was time to move on from the PFL.

    This decision came after a year-long break from fighting, during which he took on a role in the upcoming movie, The Smashing Machine, a biography about Mark Kerr. This absence made him question when he would compete again, leading to discussions with the PFL about ending their professional relationship amicably.  

    It’s seemingly rare for a fighter and a promotion to part ways without any hard feelings, but Bader insists that there’s no animosity between him and the PFL. Even though he still had one fight left on his contract, they agreed to separate.

    While speaking with MMA Fighting, Bader explained that the decision was mostly his. He held the Bellator heavyweight championship, and with the PFL’s recent acquisition of Bellator, there was some confusion about titles and tournament structures. He felt that the timeline for his next fight was unclear, so they had a positive discussion and decided to go their separate ways.

    He expressed gratitude for his time in Bellator and said he would remember it fondly.

    “For me, I just felt like it’s going to be a little while [before I fight again], it’s kind of unclear so we had a good talk with them and decided to go our own separate ways. We were happy with the outcome. They were great to us, and I had an absolute blast with that run in Bellator. I’ll look back very fondly on that.”

    Bader’s only PFL appearance resulted in a loss to Renan Ferreira in February 2024. This fight determined who would face Francis Ngannou in the Cameroonian’s promotional debut. Shortly after, Bader received an unexpected opportunity to act in The Smashing Machine, alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt.

    After securing the movie role, Bader spent several months filming. He appreciated that the PFL allowed him this time, even though he was still under contract with them. He was pleased that they reached a mutually agreeable arrangement. He said that he will always speak well of both organizations.

    One of the main reasons for Bader’s departure from the PFL was his current career stage. At 41, he knew that his retirement was approaching, and he wasn’t interested in participating in a PFL tournament. He also wasn’t sure what suitable opponents would be available, as he had already faced many top heavyweights from the former Bellator roster.

    “I felt like I didn’t have a ton to prove anymore,” Bader said. “For me, I loved my Bellator run. It was so much fun but even then we were kind of recycling guys. I kind of felt it going that same kind of route. The tournaments are kind of weird, because my purse is great money, and nobody really wants to pay that multiple times in a year let alone three times in a year and I get that. So that wasn’t really an option. I don’t know. For me I could get three fights somewhat quickly and then be done but yeah, we that opportunity to do the movie, that was all summer and then haven’t fought for a while.

    “For me, it was just perfect timing. It took away that unknown even though I’m in a different unknown, I can kind of steer where I’m going. We’re happy where we’re at. I had a blast in those organizations. We’ll just see what next. I believe there will be something next, at least one more.”

  • Zack Snyder To Direct ‘Brawler’ Movie For UFC

    Zack Snyder, known for his work directing major Hollywood movies, is now stepping into the world of mixed martial arts.

    According to the Hollywood Reporter, he’s teamed up with the UFC to create a film called Brawler, which promises to deliver intense, realistic fight scenes that will likely surpass the action seen in his superhero movies.  

    Brawler, will tell the story of a young fighter who rises from the tough streets of Los Angeles, aiming for a UFC championship. However, the fighter must also confront his personal struggles as he seeks redemption. This project marks the UFC’s latest effort to bring its sport to the big screen, following its successful immersive event at the Sphere in Las Vegas, where the promotion used a massive LED screen for a live sporting event.

    Snyder, along with his wife and producing partner Deborah Snyder, and Wesley Coller, will produce Brawler through their company, Stone Quarry. Turki Alalshikh and Craig Borsari, the UFC’s chief content officer, will serve as executive producers on the film.

    In addition to directing, Snyder will write the screenplay for Brawler alongside Shay Hatten and Kurt Johnstad, his frequent collaborator. They have previously worked together on films like 300, based on the Frank Miller comic, and the Rebel Moon movies.  

    “Behind every great fighter is the story of how they got there. UFC is the world leader in combat sports, and I’m honored to be partnering with them to tell this incredible story,” Snyder stated.

    Turki Alalshikh, who is the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, also owns The Ring Magazine.

    Snyder’s production company, Stone Quarry, is also developing an untitled LAPD project for Netflix, which is their fourth project under their partnership, following Rebel Moon, Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver, and Army of the Dead.

    The Snyders also produced Zack Snyder’s Justice League for HBO Max. Zack Snyder is represented by CAA.

  • Ilia Topuria: The UFC Has Promised Lightweight Title Fight

    Ilia Topuria is placing his trust in Dana White and the UFC as he plans to move up to the 155-pound division.

    Though he hasn’t received official confirmation on his next opponent, whether it will be lightweight champion Islam Makhachev or another contender, Topuria remains confident that his next fight will be for the lightweight title.

    This comes as Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes are set to fight for the featherweight belt that Topuria will vacate at UFC 314.

    Speaking to the media after an event in Madrid, Spain, Topuria reassured his supporters that the UFC has guaranteed him a title fight.

    “I’m not entirely sure what my next fight will be,” Topuria said  (h/t MMA Marca, translation via Championship Rounds). “The only thing I’m sure of is that the UFC’s word is that my next fight will be for the world title. That’s all I know. Afterwards, if it’s going to be Islam, if it’s going to be Charles, I have no idea.” He emphasized the importance of the title being on the line, stating, “The belt will be on the line. That was the promise for leaving my title vacant. They’ve always kept their promises.”

    Topuria isn’t demanding that Makhachev be his opponent. He’s open to either fighting Makhachev for the lightweight title or competing for a vacant belt if Makhachev moves up to 170 pounds. Another potential opponent is Charles Oliveira, whom Topuria has previously expressed interest in fighting. However, Oliveira recently dismissed Topuria, saying he’s not “a big fight,” which led to a strong response from Topuria, who questioned Oliveira’s past record.

    “I haven’t dissed [Oliveira], I’ve told the truth,” Topuria explained. “He has 10 losses. I haven’t said anything else. He has 10 losses. Five by knockout, four by submission, one by decision. He says [lightweight] is the toughest division there is. When he was fighting at 145, even Cub Swanson beat him up. That’s where the conversation ends.

    Topuria continued, “Something he couldn’t achieve at 145 pounds, he did at 155, where he became champion. So why is that division tougher than the one I come from? I don’t find any logic in it. And that’s why I said it seems like he hasn’t read a single page of a newspaper. So if that’s disrespectful, I don’t know since when telling the truth is disrespectful.”