MMA News

Author: Andrew Ravens

  • Amanda Nunes Shuts Down Interim Title Talk

    Amanda Nunes Shuts Down Interim Title Talk

    Amanda Nunes has made her position on the UFC bantamweight title picture completely clear: she will wait for Kayla Harrison, and she has no interest in an interim belt in the meantime.

    Nunes was scheduled to return at UFC 324 in January after nearly three years in retirement, but Harrison’s neck injury forced the cancellation of their title fight at the last minute. Rather than accepting an alternative opponent or pursuing an interim championship, Nunes told MMA Junkie she has no intention of changing her approach.

    “I know everybody wants a chance. I know everybody wants to fight me, and I know everybody wants to get a paycheck. I know that. But, it’s like if you put it on the table, it’s not how it is, though. I only fight for the undisputed belt, and I cannot make what they want. I feel like I’m going to have an opportunity for all of them, so they just have to wait, like I did. I waited so much to fight for the belt. One day, I did it, so then I have an opportunity for everybody, and I think they should wait. I’m gonna fight Kayla and take my belt back.”

    Nunes also identified her preferred date for the comeback, pointing to International Fight Week and the UFC 329 card on July 11 in Las Vegas as the ideal landing spot.

    “I feel like International Fight Week would be a good one. I feel like UFC wanted that too. So I hope Kayla is ready for it, and I can’t wait for the call. I hope she’s ready, though, because I am. And let’s see what is gonna happen.”

    Harrison returned to training at the end of March, though whether she will be ready for a summer showdown remains uncertain. UFC 329 fight announcements are expected imminently.

  • Tom Aspinall Says UFC Bosses Told Him He’ll Fight Pereira vs Gane Winner

    Tom Aspinall Says UFC Bosses Told Him He’ll Fight Pereira vs Gane Winner

    Tom Aspinall has delivered one of the most encouraging updates yet on his recovery, revealing that contact clearance may be imminent following a positive scan at the eye hospital.

    Aspinall shared the update on his YouTube channel after returning from a hospital appointment that gave him reason for genuine optimism.

    “We are just en route back from the eye hospital, where today I’ve had a scan, and things are progressing f***ing nicely, which I’m very happy about. They’re saying, pretty soon – if things keep moving in the right direction – I will be cleared for contact. I am back in the gym, I am back training, but not sparring just yet. But if things keep going the way they’re going, we are back.”

    He also addressed the question that has followed him throughout his recovery regarding when and who he will fight next.

    “Everyone keeps asking when I’m going to fight. The obvious answer is the other two guys, Alex and Ciryl, have to fight for the interim title. I’m obviously going to fight the winner. The UFC has told me that I’m fighting the winner. First and foremost, I should get my health right, which is on the right track. I have to wait for that to be done, and we fight the winner. Simple as that. No specific month. I’m waiting to get clearance, which is going to be coming soon, they’ve just told me. And any specific month depends on the UFC. Those two have got to fight each other. Let them do the thing first, recover from that, and then when everybody’s ready, we’ll do it.”

    Aspinall has been sidelined since October 2025, when his first heavyweight title defense against Ciryl Gane ended in a no-contest following multiple eye pokes. He underwent double eye surgery. His overall record stands at 15-3 with one no-contest, and all 15 of his wins have come by stoppage.

  • Dana White Reveals UFC White House Event Could Be Rescheduled During Fight Week

    Dana White Reveals UFC White House Event Could Be Rescheduled During Fight Week

    Dana White has revealed that the start time for UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 remains subject to change based on weather conditions, with the military playing a direct role in monitoring conditions in the days leading up to the event.

    Speaking on Fox News Channel’s My View with Lara Trump, White explained the specific protocol put in place to manage the unpredictability of hosting an outdoor event on the White House South Lawn.

    “I hate outdoors, outdoors is just way too unpredictable and we’ve gone over this and if it rains, we’re going, if it snows, we’re going, the only thing that will stop us is lightning. But we’re working with the military. So, the military knows the weather 10 days out and they’ll notify us every two hours 10 days out, 7 days out they’ll notify us every hour. There’s also another company that does it for concerts and things like that, they’re very good too. So what could happen is, the only thing that kills us is lightning so we can move the event two hours earlier, two hours later, so these are all things that we’ll be playing with the week of the event on top of all of the other things we’ll have going on.”

    White has previously noted that the only other time the UFC held an outdoor event was in Abu Dhabi, an experience he described as frustrating due to heat and insects. The White House card features seven fights, a leaner card than usual, which White indicated will lead to longer breaks between bouts similar to the pacing used at the UFC’s Sphere event.

    The main event features Ilia Topuria defending the undisputed lightweight championship against Justin Gaethje, with Alex Pereira challenging Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title in the co-main event.

  • Josh Hokit Debunks UFC AI Claims: ‘We Stand There Like Idiots’

    Josh Hokit Debunks UFC AI Claims: ‘We Stand There Like Idiots’

    Josh Hokit has stepped in to defend the UFC over accusations that the Tale of the Tape videos seen at UFC Perth were generated by artificial intelligence, and his explanation is both straightforward and amusing.

    The videos, which feature fighters holding poses for an extended period of time before fights, drew claims on social media that they were AI-generated. Hokit, who appeared in one of those videos ahead of his upcoming bout at the UFC White House event on June 14, set the record straight on X.

    “It’s not AI. We really have to stand there like idiots for 30 seconds.”

    The UFC has been under sustained criticism for its use of AI in marketing, a trend that accelerated following the start of its $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount. UFC CEO Dana White responded to earlier criticism by telling fans to shut up and watch the fights, while the promotion’s executive producer defended AI use as a tool to amplify content rather than replace it. The Tale of the Tape videos represent a newer format compared to the static images the UFC previously used in its pre-fight fighter breakdowns.

    Hokit faces Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, a matchup that was reportedly put together at the personal request of Donald Trump and Joe Rogan.

  • UFC Releases Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland Countdown Episode Ahead of UFC 328

    UFC Releases Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland Countdown Episode Ahead of UFC 328

    The UFC has released the Countdown episode for this Saturday’s UFC 328 main event, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at both Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland as they prepare for their middleweight title fight in Newark, New Jersey.

    The segment follows both champion and challenger through their final preparations for a bout that has generated extraordinary pre-fight tension, including threats of violence from both sides and a level of genuine animosity that has prompted the UFC to beef up security throughout fight week.

    Chimaev enters the fight at 15-0 making his first title defense, while Strickland comes in at 30-7 as a heavy underdog attempting to become a two-time middleweight champion. The pair have a history stemming from time they spent together at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, with Strickland claiming he dominated Chimaev in those sessions and Chimaev flatly rejecting that account.

    The Countdown is available on the UFC’s YouTube channel. UFC 328 takes place Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, streaming on Paramount+.

    UFC 328 Main Event on Paramount+:

    185 lbs.: Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland

    UFC 328 Main Card on Paramount+ (9 p.m. ET):

    125 lbs.: UFC Flyweight Champion Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira
    265 lbs.: Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
    170 lbs.: Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley
    155 lbs.: King Green vs. Jeremy Stephens

    UFC 328 ‘Prelims’ Card On Paramount+ (7 p.m. ET):

    185 lbs.: Ateba Gautier vs. Osman Diaz
    170 lbs.: Joel Alvarez vs. Yaroslav Amosov
    155 lbs.: Grant Dawson vs. Mateusz Rebecki
    155 lbs.: Jared Gordon vs. Jim Miller

    UFC 328 ‘Prelims’ Card On Paramount+ (5 p.m. ET):

    185 lbs.: Roman Kopylov vs. Marco Tulio
    145 lbs.: William Gomis vs. Pat Sabatini
    185 lbs.: Baisangur Susurkaev vs. Djorden Santos
    125 lbs.: Clayton Carpenter vs. Jose Ochoa

  • Dominick Cruz Warns UFC May Skip Faceoff Entirely as Chimaev and Strickland Escalate Threats Before UFC 328

    Dominick Cruz Warns UFC May Skip Faceoff Entirely as Chimaev and Strickland Escalate Threats Before UFC 328

    Dominick Cruz has watched plenty of fight-week theatrics during his career, but he sees something distinct in the escalating back-and-forth between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland ahead of UFC 328, and he is not dismissing it as mere promotion.

    Speaking with MMA Junkie, the UFC Hall of Famer and commentator offered a nuanced take on what is driving the intensity, arguing that both men are caught in a pressure loop where neither can afford to show weakness without undermining the image they have spent careers building.

    “I think this is just fight week pressure and they both have an image to uphold, and both of them are going to flex bigger than the other one because that’s the personality they’re trying to bring. They can’t start being nice now. They’ve got to be the crazy guys. And now they’re going to out-crazy each other to see who’s tougher. That’s how I see it. Like, ‘No, I’m crazier than you, you can’t be crazier than me because I’ve already shown you how crazy I am.’ It’s just a show to me. But at the same time, the nerves of the fight going to the death is real. Two things can be true at the same time.”

    Cruz also pointed to the specific ego pressures each fighter carries into fight week, framing the championship stakes as an amplifier of behavior that might otherwise remain within more recognizable bounds.

    “I do believe there’s a lot of pressure. Think of the pressure for these guys? Strickland on his way to another title. Khamzat is just the undefeated guy that — think of the things people have been telling his ego? ‘You’re unbeatable, you’re the strongest guy ever, nobody will ever touch you.’ You can tell by the way that he talks that he really believes the hype about himself, too, to uphold. Imagine what his ego is telling him every day? That’s the pressure we have as fighters.”

    On the question of whether UFC will modify its standard fight week activities to account for the very real possibility of a pre-fight confrontation getting out of hand, Cruz said he would not be surprised to see the faceoff scrapped entirely, drawing a comparison to the infamous Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones brawl at a pre-fight press conference.

    “I doubt they’ll have faceoffs, right? If they’re saying that, why would you have a faceoff? Why would you even take the risk if you’re Dana with these two guys? Kind of like DC and Jones and you could have another one of those situations where they just scrap and knock everything off the table. I don’t think they’re faking, I think they’re just talking crazy because they’re making sure you know: Don’t test me. And UFC will say, ‘OK, we’re going to listen. Bring the security out.’”

    UFC 328 takes place May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, with Chimaev defending the middleweight title against Strickland in the main event.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Scoffs at Sean Strickland’s Gun Threat

    Khamzat Chimaev Scoffs at Sean Strickland’s Gun Threat

    Khamzat Chimaev is not losing any sleep over Sean Strickland’s pre-fight threats, and he made his contempt for the rhetoric very clear at the UFC 328 pre-fight media scrum.

    Strickland had escalated the already intense rivalry by stating he would be carrying a gun during fight week in case of a physical confrontation with Chimaev or his team. Chimaev responded by dismissing both the threat and the man making it in the same breath.

    “Clowns always talk. He’ll stop being a clown if he’s quiet. He didn’t shoot any chickens in the world, how’s he going to shoot a human?”

    He then addressed the broader scenario of any genuine pre-fight confrontation, making clear he does not believe Strickland has any intention of following through on his words.

    “I don’t think the guy wants a real war outside the cage. If he wanted a real war, he would be dead already. In New Jersey, this is a Muslim community, it’s my home. I don’t think so that he’s going to come with the guns there. Otherwise, it will be a lot of people injured because he’s there.”

    Interestingly, the comment that drew a sharper reaction from Chimaev was not the gun threat at all. It was Strickland’s claim that he dominated Chimaev during their time training together at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, a claim Chimaev flatly rejected while adding some context about the circumstances of those sessions.

    “He never had success with me. It’s not going to be different this time as well. I was fighting at 170 at that time. Imagine I beat him at that weight and I was cutting the weight and that time I beat him. Right now, people know how big I am. How hungry I am. It’s good meat. I like white American chicken.”

    Rather than viewing Strickland’s escalating trash talk as a distraction, Chimaev said he finds it entertaining and actually wants more of it heading into Saturday.

    “I like his talking. He’s good for me. I don’t worry about that I need to talk. He’s talking for everyone. I hope he’s going to talk more. It’s funny to listen to this guy.”

    UFC CEO Dana White has already confirmed that additional security will be in place during UFC 328 fight week in response to the elevated tension between the two camps. UFC 328 takes place May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

  • Donald Trump Confirms UFC White House Arena Construction Begins Soon

    Donald Trump Confirms UFC White House Arena Construction Begins Soon

    Donald Trump has confirmed that construction on the temporary arena for UFC Freedom 250 will begin at the White House South Lawn within the next week, offering the clearest look yet at the scale of what is being built for the June 14 event.

    Speaking to reporters on May 1, Trump described an approximately 5,000-seat structure that will house the Octagon, while also revealing that an additional 100,000 spectators will be positioned further away at the White House Ellipse with access to screens.

    “The arena, they’re going to start building it over the next week.”

    He also addressed the cost for those watching from the Ellipse.

    “It’s all free. It’s going to be great.”

    A mockup of the arena has already been assembled in Lititz, Pennsylvania, giving a preview of the soaring 90-foot tall open-air structure that will serve as the venue. The White House declined to provide additional details about the structure or the event beyond what Trump shared with reporters.

    The seven-fight card on June 14 falls on Trump’s 80th birthday and coincides with the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. The main event is Ilia Topuria defending the undisputed UFC lightweight championship against Justin Gaethje. UFC CEO Dana White, a close ally of Trump, has said he believes the event will be the most-watched UFC card in history.

    Trump has a long history with combat sports, having hosted boxing matches at his casinos during the 1980s and 1990s and attending UFC events regularly in recent years, including the April 11 event in Miami. 

  • Alexander Volkanovski Feels Responsible for Beneil Dariush Never Getting UFC Title Shot

    Alexander Volkanovski Feels Responsible for Beneil Dariush Never Getting UFC Title Shot

    Alexander Volkanovski has reflected on a period of his career that may have inadvertently derailed one of the lightweight division’s most deserving contenders, and he is not entirely comfortable with the role he played.

    Speaking on his YouTube channel, Volkanovski addressed the timing of his champ-champ pursuit at 155 pounds and its likely impact on Beneil Dariush, who had built an eight-fight winning streak within four years and appeared to be next in line for a title shot before Volkanovski entered the picture.

    “I really do like Dariush. I feel for him. He should have fought for titles, and then that was when I obviously deserved my chance at champ-champ. I ended up taking where he probably would have been.

    He would have been backup, he would have been next if it wasn’t me, and then sh*t, I feel like it’s my fault that he never got that title fight. He’s a good dude, too, and definitely deserved it at that time. But obviously people say I deserved it, and that’s a fight that ended up happening. He was meant to pretty much get it after that, but he ended up losing and sort of went south from there.”

    Dariush’s winning streak was snapped when he suffered a first-round TKO loss to Charles Oliveira in June 2023. He has gone 1-3 in his last four outings since then and is set to face Quillan Salkilld in the co-main event at UFC Perth this weekend, a fight that Dariush himself has acknowledged could be his last in the UFC.

  • Sean Strickland Blames UFC for Not Controlling Khamzat Chimaev

    Sean Strickland Blames UFC for Not Controlling Khamzat Chimaev

    Sean Strickland has placed the responsibility for any potential pre-fight confrontation with Khamzat Chimaev squarely on the UFC, warning the promotion that he will not comply with restrictions if he feels they are being applied unevenly between the two camps.

    With UFC 328 on May 9 approaching, the animosity between Strickland and Chimaev has reached a point where Dana White has confirmed that extra security will be in place during media week. Strickland addressed the situation directly on X, making clear he has a specific threshold for what he will accept.

    “The UFC is trying to limit my interactions with the dog. Listen I will say this now. I will not be controlled by a third world dog. If I find there is unequal treatment between our camps I will walk to the lobby and wait for him. Control your whore or don’t. I don’t care. Let the chips fall where they may, this is America.”

    Chimaev’s coach has publicly dismissed Strickland’s gun warning as nonsense, stating he does not believe things will escalate to actual violence, and Chimaev himself has reportedly laughed off the threats. Strickland has previously stated he would draw a weapon if approached by Chimaev and his team in a group setting.

    The situation has drawn comparisons to the post-fight brawl between Khabib Nurmagomedov’s and Conor McGregor’s teams at UFC 229 in 2018, an event the promotion is clearly attempting to prevent from repeating itself.

    UFC 328 takes place May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

  • Darren Till Names Two Fighters Who Could Beat Khamzat Chimaev

    Darren Till Names Two Fighters Who Could Beat Khamzat Chimaev

    Darren Till believes Khamzat Chimaev is beatable, but he does not see anyone in the current middleweight division capable of doing it right now except possibly the man standing across from him at UFC 328.

    Speaking with Full Mount MMA, Till drew on his firsthand experience training with the undefeated champion to offer his most honest assessment of where Chimaev stands heading into his first title defense against Sean Strickland.

    “Anyone’s beatable. He knows that himself. That’s why he trains so hard. He’s not stupid. Right now, with the current state of the middleweight division, I don’t see anyone beating him. Sean’s probably got the chance if that, but in this era now, I think he’s going to be dominant.”

    Till identified a second fighter outside of Strickland who he believes poses a credible threat, while making clear which matchup excites him most.

    “Paulo Costa’s a good fight, because Paulo’s big and strong. I do like that fight as well, I know there’s a big beef there. I think for me the fight that waters my mouth the most is the Sean Strickland fight, and obviously we’re getting that now.”

    Chimaev carries a perfect 15-0 record into UFC 328, which takes place May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Says McGregor vs. Khabib Proves UFC Rewards Chaos Over Competition

    Arman Tsarukyan Says McGregor vs. Khabib Proves UFC Rewards Chaos Over Competition

    Arman Tsarukyan has a theory about what the UFC actually values in 2026, and he believes his own non-stop activity outside the cage is proof the promotion has embraced it.

    Speaking to Patrick Bet-David, Tsarukyan argued that drama and viral moments have become more important to the sport’s growth than the fights themselves. He cited the most significant period in UFC history as evidence.

    “It’s good for the UFC. You think they didn’t like it? They liked it. The sport is getting big because of drama, not because of fighting. Like Conor, Khabib, Diaz — the trash talk, everything.

    Not just fighting, but what’s going on before the fight. The bus thing went viral too. Because of that, that fight was the biggest fight in the UFC. If it wasn’t for the conflict before that, yeah, Conor-Khabib, they talk s— in the press conference, they fight, it’s gone.”

    Tsarukyan last competed in October when he submitted Dan Hooker. His most recent significant win before that came in 2024 when he defeated Charles Oliveira by decision.

    He does not currently have a fight booked but is widely expected to challenge the winner of the Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje lightweight title fight at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14. He has also offered to serve as backup for that matchup.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Makes Pick for Rousey vs. Carano After Being Blown Away in Training

    Merab Dvalishvili Makes Pick for Rousey vs. Carano After Being Blown Away in Training

    Merab Dvalishvili has trained with Gina Carano ahead of her May 16 Netflix fight against Ronda Rousey, and what he saw was enough to make him pick the significant underdog.

    Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, the former UFC bantamweight champion shared a genuinely surprised reaction to his experience working alongside Carano in camp.

    “It was a great honor for me to train with her. I was surprised with how good Gina is. Ronda Rousey has a judo background, and I also do, but I think Gina Carano will win this fight. When she was fighting, I was really young and had never seen her fight before, but when I trained with her, I was so impressed and went back and checked everything. She’s the real deal!”

    Dvalishvili also framed the potential upset in terms of what it would mean for the broader combat sports landscape.

    “It’s going to make UFC fighters look bad, and she’s going to make Judo also look bad, but I think she’s going to win. She’s training really hard. I’ve seen her body and her training change in this camp.”

    Carano has not won an MMA fight since a unanimous decision over Kelly Kobold in 2008, and last competed professionally in 2009. Rousey is entering as a big favorite despite being nearly a decade away from the sport. Dvalishvili is expected to return to the UFC Octagon later this year for a trilogy fight against Petr Yan.

  • Darren Till Calls the MVP MMA Event a Full Card of ‘Mongoloids,’ Says Perry vs. Diaz Is ‘American Trash’

    Darren Till Calls the MVP MMA Event a Full Card of ‘Mongoloids,’ Says Perry vs. Diaz Is ‘American Trash’

    Darren Till has opinions about the MVP MMA card on May 16, and none of them are particularly generous toward the fighters involved.

    Speaking with MMA Fighting about his BKFC signing and the Perry situation, Till was asked about the Netflix event and delivered a sweeping verdict on the entire card.

    “It’s just a mongoloid fight, isn’t it? Just a pair of f***ing Teletubbies fighting each other. Nate Diaz can’t string a sentence together, neither can Mike. It’s trash. American trash. Just trash. Everyone on that card is trash, actually. In fact, it’s a full card of mongoloids. Trash.”

    Till also revealed that MVP had been in contact with his manager about potentially booking him on the show, but talks went nowhere.

    “MVP were chatting to my manager. I think they were in touch. I was obviously interested in fighting Jake. Jake’s got other plans in life. If that fight ever one day arises, then yeah, it’s there. But they reached out, nothing came to terms. Got nothing bad to say about them, to be honest with you. Nakisa seems like a cool guy. Hopefully, one day we do business.”

    Despite the harsh words for the card, Till acknowledged the financial reality behind Perry and Diaz’s participation and gave credit where he felt it was due.

    “I do slight Mike Perry a lot but if he’s going to make a lot of money there on MVP with Nate Diaz, props to them. But I don’t hate Nate. I don’t hate Mike. I give them s—, but if they’re making a lot of money, I have to give all respect and kudos, too.”

    He also made clear his willingness to say exactly what he thinks is not something he plans to change, regardless of the reaction.

    “Look, I don’t give a f***. I’m going to speak my mind, and people can take it however they want it. I don’t care about it. No one’s above it or anything like that. My ego’s been hurt enough. I’ve been knocked out in front of millions. Imagine how I feel!”

  • Josh Hokit Says UFC Officials Try to Suppress His Personality

    Josh Hokit Says UFC Officials Try to Suppress His Personality

    Josh Hokit has become one of the UFC’s most talked-about new personalities in a matter of months, and he believes the sport badly needs more of what he brings.

    Speaking with Chael Sonnen on Smash Cast, Hokit made the case that modern MMA fighters have become too preoccupied with image management at the expense of the entertainment value that made the sport what it is.

    “The sad part is, all these fighters — that’s the thing with the day and age that we live in. Back then, you had wild men. And so you had all these personalities, everyone is going crazy, everyone is more interesting. Now, it’s like these real athletes. They’re really holding onto their image, like, ‘How can I be cool?’ So, Carlos Ulberg, when I see him, it’s like he’s carrying the weight of looking cool and being this cool guy, where now, ‘The Down Vato,’ he just doesn’t care. That’s where I’m from.”

    He also pointed to UFC officials as part of the problem, describing attempts to rein him in on the microphone as counterproductive to the environment that makes the sport compelling.

    “These people take their jobs so serious. It’s like, no wonder the fighters act like this. It’s like, ‘You need to go out there, and say the right answer, and respect your opponent, and be just a professional. And act like you’re not about to get in this cage.’ Look, I’m in underwear, I’ve got no shirt on, and we’re about to fight to the death basically. Why? We’ve got to remember what the sport is. Everybody doesn’t want to accept, you’re fighting in a cage. You have to be pretty stupid.”

    Hokit earned four bonuses in his first three UFC fights, including both Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night for his victory over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327. He has since been booked against Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House, and he attributed his rapid rise at least in part to winning over one very specific fan.

    “When I was going to the ambulance after the fight, Mick comes up to me and says, ‘You are now Donald Trump’s new favorite fighter.’”

  • Darren Till Rips Mike Perry for Running to MVP Instead of Fighting Him in BKFC

    Darren Till Rips Mike Perry for Running to MVP Instead of Fighting Him in BKFC

    Darren Till has signed with BKFC, and his first order of business was calling out the man who was supposed to be his debut opponent.

    Till joined the promotion under the same banner as Mike Perry, who holds the BKFC King of Violence championship, with the expectation that the two would finally settle years of back-and-forth. Those plans collapsed when Perry signed to face Nate Diaz on the MVP MMA card on Netflix on May 16, leaving Till without his intended opponent. Speaking with MMA Junkie, Till did not disguise his frustration.

    “He’s ran. He’s running toward that big dope Nate Diaz on MVP. I’ve come to BKFC and now he’s run away. Him and his manager need to get a grip of themselves. These two, they’re a pair of bums.

    Sort your s— out and make the fight with me because I’ll rip him to shreds. I hope he will come back. Honestly, I don’t care about them two m—oloids fighting. A pair of down-and-out bums. Look at them. They’re just slow and old, and their faces are all crusty.”

    Till’s BKFC debut will instead come against Aaron Chalmers. The Perry fight remains something he intends to make happen once Perry returns from his MVP commitment.

  • Rousey Calls Out UFC’s Hunter Campbell, Says She Wants to be MVP’s Version of Dana White

    Rousey Calls Out UFC’s Hunter Campbell, Says She Wants to be MVP’s Version of Dana White

    Ronda Rousey has a plan that extends well beyond her May 16 comeback fight against Gina Carano, and it involves taking a leadership position in mixed martial arts if the Netflix event proves successful.

    Speaking to TMZ, Rousey made clear she sees herself as the right person to lead Most Valuable Promotions’ expansion into MMA, and she did not hold back when comparing herself to the UFC’s current business leadership.

    “I mean, I think nobody is more qualified than me. I’m definitely more qualified than Hunter f—ing Campbell.”

    She framed MVP’s approach as a direct contrast to what she sees as a UFC that has lost its way.

    “I think that MVP would be an incredible partner and that Nakisa and Jake Paul really believe in making sure the fighters are compensated fairly. The UFC, I think, has forgot that the fighters are the stars and that the characters are what people tune into see.”

    Rousey also described the broader opportunity she believes exists in the market for a promotion willing to prioritize fighters over corporate interests.

    “The sport is at a crossroads. There’s a huge opportunity here. If this event is a huge success, there’s a huge opportunity to take over the market share in MMA and show everybody what they’ve been missing.”

    Rousey last competed in late 2016 when Amanda Nunes knocked her out. She plans to retire from competition after the Carano fight unless an immediate rematch is warranted. The Netflix event takes place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on May 16.

  • Bruce Buffer Apologizes for UFC Seattle Winner Announcement Error

    Bruce Buffer Apologizes for UFC Seattle Winner Announcement Error

    Bruce Buffer has addressed the announcement error at UFC Seattle that saw Tyrell Fortune briefly believe he had lost his UFC debut, accepting full responsibility and offering a direct apology to both fighters involved.

    The incident unfolded during the heavyweight bout between Fortune and Marcin Tybura at the Climate Pledge Arena, when Buffer announced the wrong winner. Fortune was already walking toward the back in defeat when he was stopped and informed that the judges had actually scored the fight in his favor. Buffer returned to the Octagon to correct the announcement and apologize in the moment.

    Speaking to MMA Fighting, Buffer made clear he had no interest in deflecting blame onto anyone else in the process.

    “Well, I mean, I’m my own worst critic, of course, and I don’t put blame on anybody else. I’m the messenger, I’m the one that delivers it – whether there was some confusion at the commissioner’s desk beforehand or whatever, not even worth talking about.”

    As someone who describes himself as a perfectionist, Buffer said the impact on the fighters is what weighed on him most heavily, not simply the fact that an error occurred.

    “Where I feel bad is that the moment I gave the fighter who thought he won, versus the moment I gave the fighter who thought he lost and then eventually won: For that, I’m dearly sorry.”

    He also framed his role in terms of the responsibility he feels toward the athletes he announces.

    “I have so much respect and I’m so honored to be able to announce these amazing Octagon warriors. I never want to lessen any moment in their lives, I only want to take them to the next level and heighten it as much as possible. So for that, I apologize, and onward and upward.”

    Buffer has served as the voice of the UFC Octagon for over 30 years. Dana White previously noted the rarity of the error, acknowledging that mistakes of this nature are highly unusual for the veteran announcer.

  • Aljamain Sterling Warns Chimaev Could Be in Trouble If This Happens in UFC 328 Fight

    Aljamain Sterling Warns Chimaev Could Be in Trouble If This Happens in UFC 328 Fight

    Aljamain Sterling is not ready to hand Khamzat Chimaev an easy night against Sean Strickland, and he believes the champion is walking into UFC 328 with a strategic dilemma.

    Speaking with Home of Fight, the former UFC bantamweight champion took a different view on a fight most analysts have leaning heavily toward Chimaev, arguing the mental calculation Chimaev has to make in the early rounds could define the entire outcome.

    “If Strickland can weather the early storm, that fight gets interesting really, really quick. I think Khamzat’s conflicted right now. He’s trying to decide whether or not he wants to run through him because he knows possibly, if he doesn’t, he’s going to be tired going into those later rounds, and you don’t want to be tired with a guy like Strickland in front of you. He’s a nightmare, and that’s what makes this fight very, very interesting. Khamzat has the ability to finish this fight in Round 1, or Strickland has the ability to finish Khamzat in the later rounds. Possibly goes to a decision.”

    Sterling acknowledged Chimaev’s status as the favorite while making clear he does not see the result as inevitable.

    “Khamzat’s the favorite coming into this, and everyone knows why. Sean knows what he’s up against going into this fight. He’s got a tall task, not going to be easy for him, but is it possible for him to win this fight? 100 percent. I don’t think it’s an absolute ‘lock’ for Khamzat whatsoever.”

    UFC 328 takes place May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

  • Jake Paul Outlines His Plan to Raid UFC Roster, Reveals What He’s Paying Francis Ngannou

    Jake Paul Outlines His Plan to Raid UFC Roster, Reveals What He’s Paying Francis Ngannou

    Jake Paul has laid out his vision for MVP MMA’s future in the sport, and it is built around one core idea: paying fighters what the UFC will not.

    Speaking in a recent interview with Complex, Paul framed MVP MMA’s entry into the MMA landscape as a structural disruption that benefits fighters and fans equally, drawing a difference between what the UFC offers and what he believes is possible elsewhere.

    “It’s needed. It’s very, very needed in the sport. I think it’s been a monopoly for so long, run by the UFC, and the fighters haven’t had another place to go where they get the exposure and more pay. And so MVP MMA is providing that with some of the biggest names, and obviously, the biggest streaming platform. So, it’s really a monumental shift in the timeline for MMA fighters, and for MMA fans. Because we want to provide the best and the biggest fights, and go head-to-head with the big dogs. It’s just a very exciting time for everyone because of that.”

    When asked about his ambitions for the roster, Paul was direct about his intentions toward UFC talent.

    “I think we just poach all of them, honestly. Get the fighters what they deserve to be paid, similar to boxing. That’s why a lot of the UFC guys want to box, because they can get 10, 15, 20 million dollars for a fight versus $1.5 million for being the champion.”

    He pointed to Francis Ngannou as the model he hopes other fighters will follow.

    “Hopefully, UFC fighters can start to follow the path of Francis Ngannou, where he fought his way out of his contract, and went on to do multiple boxing matches for 20, 30, 40 million dollars. Now he’s fighting for MVP MMA, making more than the whole UFC roster combined. So, hopefully, fighters can realize they need to fight their way out of their UFC contract and then find more lucrative opportunities elsewhere, with the same or more amount of viewership. Because I think the reason they’ve wanted to stay is, ‘OK, the pay is not good, but this is the best place to become famous.’ And it’s like, no, not anymore.”

    MVP MMA’s debut card takes place May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Netflix, headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano, with Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz also on the card.

  • Darren Till Says Chimaev Will Dominate Strickland But Issues a Key Warning Before UFC 328

    Darren Till Says Chimaev Will Dominate Strickland But Issues a Key Warning Before UFC 328

    Darren Till is backing his close friend Khamzat Chimaev to defend the middleweight title at UFC 328, but he is not doing so without a candid warning about the risk of playing into Strickland’s hands.

    Speaking with MMA Junkie, Till acknowledged the genuine difficulty of the matchup while ultimately siding with the champion, drawing on firsthand experience training with Strickland to frame the challenge Chimaev faces.

    “I love Khamzat to death. He’s my f***ing boy, but I think he’s got a very tough fight with Sean. I’ve trained with Sean, and he’s got very great defense of getting back to the feet. But if you want me to say it as a whole, I think Khamzat’s on a roll, and I think Khamzat’s going to be way too strong and too powerful for him. But also, I would like Khamzat not to run in there and gas himself out because he is very seasoned and is able to go the five rounds. If I’m giving advice as a friend, that’s what I would say to him.”

    Till laid out a straightforward prediction while emphasizing the importance of patience alongside power.

    “How I see the fight, I see Khamzat dominating. But also go in there with a good, strategical plan. You know what I mean?”

    UFC 328 takes place May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

  • Jorge Masvidal Says Topuria Is ‘Very Bad Style Matchup’ for Gaethje at UFC White House

    Jorge Masvidal Says Topuria Is ‘Very Bad Style Matchup’ for Gaethje at UFC White House

    Jorge Masvidal likes Justin Gaethje as a person and as a fighter, but he does not like his chances against Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14.

    Speaking during a YouTube appearance, Masvidal opened by establishing his genuine respect for Gaethje before turning to his honest assessment of the matchup.

    “I’ll tell you the truth, man. I got to kick it with Gaethje for the FBI seminar. You know, we spent a lot of days together. I was with Gaethje, his dad. You know, I definitely like the dude, man. You know, though he said some things about me in the past and stuff, I like the dude. I like him as a person, as a fighter. Obviously, who doesn’t like this dude?”

    The respect did not change his read on the fight itself.

    “Stylistically, statistically, I think his chances are really slim with Ilia. Just a bad style for him. You know, Gaethje has won a lot of tough fights that he’s been getting cracked and then he manages to come back. With Ilia, not only does he have the power, but he ain’t no coming back.”

    Masvidal zeroed in on Topuria’s defensive discipline as the quality that makes him particularly difficult for a fighter with Gaethje’s style.

    “Not just that, he has very good defense. So, it’s not like he opens himself up for things. You know, Ilia is very, very disciplined. The way he throws his punches, the way he brings his head back, the way his head’s always moving off center line. Like, I don’t see many chances for Gaethje. I think this is just a very bad fight for Gaethje.”

    He left the door open for a Gaethje upset while making clear he does not expect it.

    “But if Gaethje wins this fight, holy smokes, right? Like, who the f**k saw that coming? You know, he pulls that sh*t off, that’s gonna be crazy. But I don’t see it, though. I don’t see it happening.”

    The betting market at the time of the segment reflected a similar gap, with Topuria listed as a heavy -520 favorite and Gaethje at +350.

  • Carlos Prates Names His Path to the UFC Welterweight Title

    Carlos Prates Names His Path to the UFC Welterweight Title

    Carlos Prates is walking into UFC Perth with a clear vision of where a win over Jack Della Maddalena will take him, and he is not shy about stating it.

    Speaking with MMA Junkie ahead of the fight, Prates expressed comfort with the setting, noting he already has a performance bonus from the same arena and hopes to earn another.

    “Yeah, it’s gonna be cool, you know? I have good memories in that arena. I have a bonus already there, and I hope to get another one.”

    He also made it clear that he does not expect the fight to go the distance, while emphasizing that he will be ready if it does.

    “I don’t think the fight’s gonna go five rounds, but if it’s there, I’m gonna be ready. I’m ready for everything.”

    Prates then laid out exactly what he believes a win earns him, pointing to his back-to-back victories over former champions Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena as the justification for a mandatory title shot.

    “Nobody gonna beat two former champs in a row, and for sure I will be the next. I mean, I will be the next after August. Islam gonna fight Ian, and then after that, I’m gonna get the winner.”

    Prates’ confidence is built on real momentum. He knocked out Edwards at UFC 322 in November at Madison Square Garden in what was the biggest win of his career, and a victory over Della Maddalena on Saturday would give him consecutive finishes of former champions inside a matter of months.

    Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry are expected to meet for the welterweight title, likely in August. Prates is positioning himself as the next man in line once that fight is settled.

  • Jake Paul Calls Ilia Topuria ‘Tiny,’ Eyes Conor McGregor MMA Fight

    Jake Paul Calls Ilia Topuria ‘Tiny,’ Eyes Conor McGregor MMA Fight

    Jake Paul has three UFC names on his radar for potential crossover fights, and he is not being polite about how he views at least one of them. Speaking to Complex News, Paul discussed potential matchups with Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Ilia Topuria, noting that UFC contracts were the obvious roadblock in each case. Of the three, Topuria drew the most colorful commentary.

    Paul addressed Topuria’s comments about wanting to spar with him by framing the entire conversation as something he does not take seriously, citing a track record he believes speaks for itself.

    “I think a lot of these guys, and I’ve proven it time and time again with the best strikers from MMA, and just beat them pretty easily at an earlier point in my career. And so when they say they can beat me in boxing or whatever this stuff they’re saying is, is like a joke to me.”

    He also claimed he has tried to turn talk into action before, citing an offer he made to Paddy Pimblett that never materialized.

    “I finally just want someone to get in there with me. I tried to send a jet to Paddy Pimblett actually to spar and I was going to give him a million dollars. And then it’s just radio silence and I’m guessing it’ll be the same with Topuria. They have to publicly, when they’re on the live stream, say, ‘I’ll do it right now. Let’s do it.’ And then when it goes to happen, it just doesn’t come to fruition.”

    Paul acknowledged that the ruleset matters when it comes to Topuria, giving the UFC lightweight and former featherweight champion full credit in MMA while leaving no doubt about how he sees a boxing match playing out.

    “We will see. And I have respect for him, but in a boxing match, like that’s like, that’s like honestly a warmup for me. Like not even like all jokes aside, if we did MMA, he would probably win, but you just have to know the truth.”

    When the conversation turned to Paul’s claim that he would not need headgear to spar Topuria, he doubled down and went after Topuria’s size directly.

    “Yeah, no, it would be like playing with a little toy. I’m not even kidding. And also he’s like five five, you know. If we were the same weight, he’s a good striker, same height, it would probably be closer. I would still beat him, but he’s like, he can’t even ride roller coasters, you know. Like the guy is tiny.”

    Topuria is currently preparing to defend the undisputed UFC lightweight championship against Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House.

  • Sean Strickland Issues Violent Warning to Khamzat Chimaev Ahead of Title Fight

    Sean Strickland Issues Violent Warning to Khamzat Chimaev Ahead of Title Fight

    Sean Strickland has dramatically escalated the tension with Khamzat Chimaev ahead of their UFC 328 middleweight title fight, issuing a detailed threat about what would happen if the two crossed paths before fight night in Newark.

    Speaking at a media scrum on Wednesday, Strickland was asked about the possibility of a pre-fight confrontation given that Chimaev had previously declared “if he dies, he dies” about a potential street encounter. Strickland’s response left nothing to the imagination.

    “All I’m going to do, I’m going to pull my gun out and I’m going to shoot him. But if you come up to me with three fing goatfer Chechnyans that don’t speak English, I’m going to pull my gun and I’m going to shoot each and every one of you. I’ll be strapped in New Jersey, too, don’t even worry about that.”

    He drew a distinction between a group approach and a one-on-one confrontation, saying he would handle a solo encounter differently. The group scenario, however, he described as an automatic escalation.

    Strickland also repeatedly targeted Chimaev’s association with Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen Republic, who has been sanctioned by multiple nations, including the United States, and has appeared at UFC events outside America.

    When asked about bypassing Nassourdine Imavov in the title race, Strickland pivoted into a broader attack on international fighters who he feels are not embraced by fans regardless of their ability.

    “The UFC does this. They go find these shy fing people in these third-world fing countries and, like, do you really give a fk about a French guy that doesn’t even claim f**ing France?”

    He contrasted that with Alex Pereira, whom he said has been accepted because he represents something aspirational to American audiences.

    Unlike previous feuds with Dricus du Plessis and Anthony Hernandez that cooled after the final bell, Strickland does not expect the same with Chimaev.

    “I think me and f*ing Khamzat, we die enemies. Whoever wins is going to have bragging rights while the loser is just going to have to eat sh until they die.”

    UFC 328 takes place May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.