MMA News

Author: Andrew Ravens

  • 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.

  • Paddy Pimblett Comes Clean on UFC 324 Loss: ‘A Little Bit of My Ego Got in the Way’

    Paddy Pimblett Comes Clean on UFC 324 Loss: ‘A Little Bit of My Ego Got in the Way’

    Paddy Pimblett has admitted that his ego cost him in his interim lightweight title fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 in January, acknowledging that a desire to prove something led him away from the game plan that gave him his best chance of winning.

    Pimblett was dropped twice and lost a unanimous decision in what was his first defeat inside the UFC, and he has now reflected openly on what went wrong during his loss to the man who would go on to challenge Ilia Topuria for the undisputed title at UFC White House.

    Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pimblett was candid about the mental error that shaped the fight’s outcome.

    “To be honest, with the last fight, I think a little bit of my ego got in the way. I wanted to knock him out. I wanted to strike with him and show everyone I could strike. I wanted a war. When you’re trying to take him down in the fifth round after he bludgeoned you at the end of the second, it’s quite hard. Back to fight IQ, back to the game plan, and not just swinging recklessly.”

    Pimblett is currently in camp preparing for his next fight. He offered a hint about his likely opponent by appearing in a beret while holding a baguette, widely interpreted as a nod toward Benoit Saint-Denis, the French contender who has been linked to him for UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas.

  • Matt Brown Calls Out Dana White’s ‘Awesome’ Shooting Comment Using His Own Mass Shooting Survival

    Matt Brown Calls Out Dana White’s ‘Awesome’ Shooting Comment Using His Own Mass Shooting Survival

    Matt Brown has a very specific reason for criticizing Dana White’s description of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting as “f***ing awesome,” and it stems from direct personal experience.

    White attended the dinner as a guest of President Donald Trump and was present when a gunman breached a security checkpoint and opened fire before being subdued. One police officer was shot but survived thanks to a bulletproof vest. In the aftermath, White told reporters he did not duck under a table and called the experience awesome, describing it as a unique moment he fully took in.

    Brown heard those comments and could not let them pass without a response, drawing on something he has rarely discussed publicly. In 2004, Brown attended a Damageplan concert in Columbus, Ohio, when Nathan Gale charged the stage and murdered guitarist Dimebag Darrell Abbott along with three other people before being shot and killed by an off-duty police officer.

    “I’m absolutely flabbergasted. I’ve been in a mass shooting before. I’ve been there when there was a shooting going on, which most people probably haven’t. It is not awesome in any sense of the word. It is not f*cking cool one bit,” Brown said onThe Fighter vs. The Writer. “A dude got shot. Maybe he survived but got shot. That’s a traumatic experience for him. There’s not a single fing thing awesome about that.”

    Brown described standing near the stage when Gale began shooting and watching the officer’s fatal response unfold in real time.

    “I watched Nathan Gale get his head blown off when Officer Niggemeyer shot him. He had to make a decision in about two or three seconds because the shooter had a hostage. He wasn’t even on duty. He comes in and his whole life changed right there. Someone got shot right next to me.”

    He was careful to separate his criticism of White’s word choice from a broader pattern of criticism of the UFC CEO’s public statements.

    “Dana says a lot of stuff I think that we could all have opinions about. I’m not very critical of it. I’m like he’s promoting a fight, what do you expect? But that one, I don’t have a lot of respect for. It was very tone-deaf. You just don’t say that. Even if you somehow oddly feel that, it’s just not what you say.”

  • Francis Ngannou Diagnoses What’s Wrong With UFC Heavyweight

    Francis Ngannou Diagnoses What’s Wrong With UFC Heavyweight

    Francis Ngannou believes the UFC heavyweight division is suffering from mismanagement, and he pointed to Tom Aspinall’s ongoing situation with the promotion as a prime example of what has gone wrong.

    Ngannou departed the UFC in 2023 as heavyweight champion following a contentious split and has since fought twice in boxing against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, and has also won the PFL Super Fights heavyweight title with a first-round knockout of Renan Ferreira in October 2024. 

    “I think there is a lot of, I would say, mismanagement,” Ngannou told The Schmo. “There is a lot of mismanagement that sometimes gets stuff screwed up, and then that’s where we are today. You see, even now, there’s a lot of heavyweights out there like Tom Aspinall. He’s having troubles with this. I think there’s a mismanagement. You see all these situations that don’t come and entertain. When I say mismanagement, I wasn’t talking about, like, managers. I was talking mostly about the promotion.”

    Aspinall has been sidelined since suffering double-eye injuries against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October 2025, and the ongoing wait for his return, while an interim title is created between Pereira and Gane, has drawn scrutiny from multiple corners of the sport.

    Ngannou also addressed his approach to opponent selection, acknowledging that chasing specific names has not served him well in the past.

    “Nowadays with all these different companies, it’s hard to just focus on a name. I’ve done that for a while, and it didn’t work really good. We can take a good example of the Jon Jones fight that we’ve been talking about around six years. So whatever fight makes sense, just fight. Remember, the goal at the end of the day is to fight.”

    Ngannou faces Philipe Lins on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on the first-ever MVP MMA card on Netflix.

  • Jorge Masvidal Proposes Radical Eye Poke Solution

    Jorge Masvidal Proposes Radical Eye Poke Solution

    Jorge Masvidal wants eye pokes treated like financial crimes, and he has a specific penalty structure in mind that he believes would eliminate the problem almost overnight.

    Speaking on Deep Waters, Masvidal drew on personal experience with two severe eye pokes during his career to make the case for immediate point deductions combined with purse penalties, describing a system similar to what is used in Japanese combat sports.

    “Go Japan style. Hit him with the yellow card right away. Pay deductions and points,” Masvidal said. “I’ve been eye poked in a fight two different times and one of them actually stuck with me for, like, three weeks. Colby’s bitch ass f***ing dug his nails in my eye and that was, like, three weeks later I was still seeing spots and it was bad and my eye was swollen, I had to go to the doctor to get it checked. I had to get medication, antibiotics on my eyes, it sucked.”

    Masvidal argued that the only meaningful deterrent for a professional fighter is financial.

    “Immediate point deduction, yellow card. Take money from the purse, too. Take 20 percent.”

    He was equally clear about where that money should go.

    “To the other fighter. Not to no commission, not no damn commission. I’m done with these commissions getting exchange, all to the guy that got poked in the eye. Everybody’s robbing us, man.”

    Deep Waters co-host Dustin Poirier agreed that degrees of severity matter and that particularly harmful infractions need to be addressed immediately rather than through repeated warnings. Masvidal acknowledged that five percent on the first offense might be a more realistic starting point, but maintained the principle is what matters.

    “I’m telling you, ain’t nobody eye poking no more. That’s how it should be, don’t f***ing eye poke people.”

  • Jiri Prochazka Shuts Down Mercy Debate, Eyes October Comeback Against Two Names

    Jiri Prochazka Shuts Down Mercy Debate, Eyes October Comeback Against Two Names

    Jiri Prochazka is done talking about the mercy controversy and has his eyes on an October return, with Paulo Costa and Magomed Ankalaev the two names he is targeting.

    Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Prochazka pushed back against comments from new light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg, who had labeled him a pretender over his post-fight claim that he showed mercy after Ulberg suffered a torn ACL during their UFC 327 fight.

    “I don’t want to hear this bulls— from a stripper,” Prochazka said of Ulberg’s comments. He then clarified his position on what happened in the fight, arguing his explanation was taken out of context. “I believe that in the cage, the fighters, we are one of the most rare people in the world and does anyone think that I prepared my words after the fight to tell the crowd ‘I was so merciful’. First of all, I didn’t say that because Joe Rogan said to me ‘mercy.’ It was not about the mercy but I just saw him and he was hurt and then I just didn’t accept the scenario of the fight.”

    He acknowledged the result while making clear he has no interest in revisiting the argument further.

    “Congrats, he is the champion, really, he caught me I accept that, but all these things that Ulberg said, man, maybe I’m too old to play something. I’m too old, I want to be real, that was bulls— what he said. I lost, I accept, let’s go.”

    Prochazka is now focused on what comes next, targeting a return around October. Costa, who made his light heavyweight debut at UFC 327 with an impressive knockout of Azamat Murzakanov, is one option. Ankalaev, the former champion linked to a potential UFC Baku matchup against Khalil Rountree Jr., is the other.

    “Right now, I believe somewhere around October. Right now, Costa or Ankalaev makes sense,” Prochazka said.

  • Francis Ngannou Admits He Wanted to Slap Jake Paul When They Met Backstage at LA Press Conference

    Francis Ngannou Admits He Wanted to Slap Jake Paul When They Met Backstage at LA Press Conference

    Francis Ngannou revealed that a backstage meeting with Jake Paul at their Los Angeles press conference nearly turned physical, despite the two presenting a friendly face in public.

    Ngannou is set to fight Philipe Lins on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on the first-ever Most Valuable Promotions MMA card on Netflix. Paul and his business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, promoted the event and were both present at the launch press conference in March.

    The meeting carried some awkward history. There had been talk of Ngannou stepping in as Paul’s opponent when he needed someone to replace Gervonta Davis last year before Anthony Joshua ultimately got the assignment instead.

    When the two came together backstage, the interaction appeared cordial on video. Ngannou’s account of his actual mindset in that moment was considerably less friendly.

    “I just wanted to give him a slap,” Ngannou told The Schmo, before adding a qualifier. He also weighed in on Paul’s decision to continue competing at heavyweight following his jaw being broken by Joshua, suggesting the experience might have prompted a weight class reassessment. “He is talking a lot of crap. I think and I thought after his first heavyweight fight he would understand, but he’s persistent.”

  • Jorge Masvidal Names His Top 5 UFC Stars and His Surprise Fourth Pick Will Spark Debate

    Jorge Masvidal Names His Top 5 UFC Stars and His Surprise Fourth Pick Will Spark Debate

    Jorge Masvidal still has a sharp eye for star power, and his list of the UFC’s five biggest names right now contains at least one pick that will generate debate.

    Speaking on Deep Waters, Masvidal was asked to rank the fighters he considers the promotion’s biggest current stars. His answers reflected a mix of global appeal, television ratings pull, and cultural reach that goes beyond title belts.

    “I got Ilia Topuria, No. 1,” Masvidal said. “Chama at No. 2 because that guy fights. Everybody knows, in Japan, in Korea, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Thailand or Japan. International, he is a star. He is an effing star, bro. Like, it’s crazy, man.”

    Alex Pereira’s global following has grown dramatically since his UFC run began, making his number-two placement easy to understand. Masvidal’s third pick was equally straightforward.

    “No. 3, I’ll go with Chimaev. I think Chimaev is a huge star worldwide.”

    The fourth name is where Masvidal chose to surprise people, framing it as a deliberate curveball while predicting that Sean Strickland’s profile will only rise further after his UFC 328 middleweight title fight against Khamzat Chimaev.

    “No. 4, I’m going to throw a curveball at y’all. But I think especially after his next fight, he’s going to be one of the biggest names, Sean Strickland, bro. And he’s got like that whole love and hate. He’s going to be up there.”

    Masvidal rounded out the list with a nod to one of the sport’s most beloved international figures. “No. 5, I’m going to go with Charles Oliveira. He’s so famous worldwide. He’s got the whole Brazil on his back.”

    Masvidal last competed in the UFC in 2023, suffering a decision loss to Gilbert Burns that extended his losing streak to four consecutive defeats following losses to Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman twice. He lost a boxing match to Nate Diaz in 2024 via controversial decision. Despite his extended competitive absence, Masvidal has repeatedly stated that he is in negotiations for a UFC return.

  • Conor McGregor Teases UFC Return: ‘Whether They Like It or Not’

    Conor McGregor Teases UFC Return: ‘Whether They Like It or Not’

    Conor McGregor is sending a clear message about his timeline, posting training photos over the weekend alongside a declaration that his UFC return is imminent.

    The former two-division champion shared images from recent training sessions on Instagram, delivering a pointed message to anyone doubting his readiness after nearly five years away from competition.

    “Legs still sharper than a guillotine,” McGregor wrote. “Training with the young wolves, sharpening the blade. The return is coming whether they like it or not.”

    McGregor has not competed since suffering a gruesome leg fracture in his third fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, a result that also marked his second consecutive loss to the Louisiana lightweight. The injury required surgery and an extended rehabilitation process that kept his return date perpetually uncertain.

    A scheduled comeback against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in July 2024 fell apart when McGregor withdrew due to a toe injury, extending what has become the longest absence of his career. The 37-year-old has remained in the public eye through business ventures and social media during the layoff, but competitive action has remained elusive.

    Speculation about his return has been building steadily since Dana White said at UFC Winnipeg that negotiations for a McGregor comeback are “looking good,” with UFC 329 on July 11 during International Fight Week in Las Vegas the most frequently cited destination. McGregor was passed over for a spot at the UFC White House event on June 14, which will be headlined by Ilia Topuria defending the lightweight championship against Justin Gaethje.

    Max Holloway remains the frontrunner as McGregor’s most likely opponent for UFC 329, though nothing has been officially confirmed by either side or the UFC.

  • Paulo Costa Calls Out Khamzat Chimaev to Move Up to 205 and Warns It Will Be ‘Tragic’ for Him

    Paulo Costa Calls Out Khamzat Chimaev to Move Up to 205 and Warns It Will Be ‘Tragic’ for Him

    Paulo Costa is not done pursuing a fight with Khamzat Chimaev, and he has a very specific vision for how it should happen.

    Costa moved up to light heavyweight and knocked out the previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327, establishing himself as a genuine presence at 205 pounds while keeping his eyes on the middleweight champion. The two have been on a collision course in conversation for some time, but a fight has never materialized, given that Chimaev has remained at 185 pounds.

    Costa’s solution is straightforward: Chimaev should come up to meet him.

    “I just wish he comes to 205,” Costa told Submission Radio. “I’m going to be here with my arms open, waiting for him. This is going to be even worse for him. At 205, I’m a monster. I don’t need to burn any muscle, I don’t need to sacrifice any muscle of my body to make 185. At 205, I have full ‘secret juice’ power. That is going to be tragic for him.”

    The callout is not without logic from Costa’s perspective. Chimaev has discussed the possibility of moving up to light heavyweight at various points, and Costa’s argument is that facing him at 205 would only amplify his own advantages while removing the physical toll that a middleweight cut has historically placed on him.

    Chimaev is currently preparing for his first title defense against former champion Sean Strickland in the UFC 328 main event on May 9 in Newark, New Jersey. The undefeated middleweight champion carries a 15-0 record into the fight, while Strickland is 30-7 and looking to reclaim the gold he previously lost to Dricus du Plessis.

  • UFC Fighter Dismisses Conor McGregor Fight Reports

    UFC Fighter Dismisses Conor McGregor Fight Reports

    Carlos Prates does not believe Conor McGregor ever seriously agreed to fight him, and he has a straightforward explanation for why the rumored matchup was never going to happen.

    Reports surfaced earlier this year suggesting McGregor had accepted a fight against Prates before the UFC moved away from the idea. Prates addressed those claims in an interview with Nicolas Henrique, making clear he never took the speculation seriously from the moment he heard it.

    “The only thing that I heard from Conor was that my name was there, and nobody knew if he would accept it or not,” Prates said. “It’s something I didn’t get my hopes up for because I already knew it was a fight that wasn’t going to happen.”

    The 32-year-old laid out the logic from McGregor’s perspective in simple terms, arguing there was never a compelling reason for a five-year inactive fighter to take such a significant risk against someone with his finishing record.

    “I’m a guy who’s been knocking everyone out, and the guy has been inactive for five years. There’s no reason for him to come fight. I’ve never been a champion. I’m not close to him. I’m nobody, man. There’s no reason for him to come take such a big risk,” Prates said. “I knew that the fight was very difficult to happen. It was difficult for him to accept. There were rumors saying he accepted, but I don’t believe it. If he had accepted, the UFC would have made the fight happen.”

    Prates turns his attention to a more realistic title opportunity this weekend when he faces former welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Perth on Saturday in Australia. A victory would position him for a shot at Islam Makhachev, who is expected to defend his welterweight championship at UFC 330 on August 15 against either Ian Machado Garry or Michael Morales.

    Prates confirmed he plans to attend UFC 330 in Philadelphia regardless of who Makhachev faces.

    “Regardless of who it is, I’ll be there in the front row, keeping an eye on my title. I’ll be there to challenge the champion.”

  • Tom Aspinall Shuts Down Boxing Rumors, Commits to UFC

    Tom Aspinall Shuts Down Boxing Rumors, Commits to UFC

    Tom Aspinall has shut down speculation about a move to boxing, making clear that despite his relationship with promoter Eddie Hearn, his focus remains entirely on the UFC and his eventual return to the heavyweight division.

    Aspinall addressed the boxing rumors during a training trip to Croatia, where he works with former WBA light heavyweight champion Stipe Drviš. Despite the natural assumption that a connection to one of boxing’s most prominent promoters signals a potential crossover, Aspinall’s answer left little room for ambiguity.

    “Maybe,” Aspinall said when asked if Drviš could help him transition to boxing, before clarifying his actual position. “To be honest, I ain’t thinking about boxing that much right now. No. I’ve got more stuff to do with the UFC.”

    Aspinall has been out of action since October 2025, when his first title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 ended in a no-contest after he was poked in both eyes during the fight. He subsequently underwent double eye surgery in February 2026 to address the injuries. Recent social media posts have shown him back in the gym, though he confirmed he is not back training fully yet.

    Drviš, who holds a 32-2 boxing record, joined Aspinall’s coaching staff last year with a specific focus on enhancing his striking for MMA competition rather than preparing him for a boxing career. The Croatian boxing legend’s role is focused on making Aspinall a better UFC fighter, not on building a second career in the squared circle.

    In Aspinall’s absence, the UFC has created an interim heavyweight title, with Alex Pereira and Gane scheduled to fight for the belt at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14. Aspinall is expected to unify the division by facing the winner of that bout later this year if his recovery continues on its current trajectory.

  • Conor McGregor Appears to Rock Dong Hyun Kim With Body Shot in SBG Ireland Sparring Footage

    Conor McGregor Appears to Rock Dong Hyun Kim With Body Shot in SBG Ireland Sparring Footage

    Conor McGregor appears to have landed a significant body shot on former UFC welterweight contender Dong Hyun Kim during a sparring session at SBG Ireland in Dublin, with footage of the exchange making its way onto social media buried within a series of clips.

    Kim visited SBG Ireland while traveling through Ireland and the UK, training with both McGregor and Paddy Pimblett. At SBG, veteran coach John Kavanagh welcomed Kim to the facility, where McGregor has been making increasingly regular appearances as he prepares for his long-awaited comeback.

    One clip from the session appears to show Kim doubling over after absorbing a McGregor body shot, though it’s difficult to confirm from the footage whether he was genuinely hurt or simply reacting as the round ended. The clip appeared as the tenth in a series of pictures and videos Kim shared on social media.

    McGregor is currently splitting his training between SBG Ireland’s South Dublin headquarters and his personal gym at his County Kildare home. He recently participated in an exhibition boxing bout at the Crumlin Boxing Club’s Good Friday Show, scoring two standing eight-counts across three rounds with one of the club’s veterans.

    He is rumored to return to the UFC at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas during International Fight Week, with Max Holloway currently the frontrunner as his likely opponent. Dana White said at UFC Winnipeg that McGregor’s return negotiations are “looking good,” though no official announcement has been made.

  • Tom Aspinall Ditches the Sunglasses and Gets Back on the Pads in Positive Recovery Update

    Tom Aspinall Ditches the Sunglasses and Gets Back on the Pads in Positive Recovery Update

    Tom Aspinall is showing signs of a genuine return to form, sharing brief pad work footage in a new YouTube video that represents one of the most encouraging updates yet from the UFC heavyweight champion during his recovery.

    The footage, filmed during a visit to Croatia, shows Aspinall hitting mitts with a coach. While only a few frames of the pad work are visible, the clip represents a notable step forward from his lowest point during recovery, and he has conspicuously dropped the sunglasses that had become part of his appearance during his most difficult period.

    Aspinall has been sidelined since suffering a double eye injury from eye pokes during his fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October, subsequently undergoing double eye surgery. Throughout his recovery, he has maintained a consistent presence with his fanbase through his YouTube channel, sharing honest updates about his rehabilitation.

    He will watch from the sidelines as an interim heavyweight title is determined at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, where Alex Pereira challenges Gane in the co-main event of the White House card. The champion is expected to face the winner of that bout upon his return, though no date has been confirmed. He also recently signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency.

    The pad footage adds to optimism that Aspinall is working his way back toward active competition, though the UFC has not announced a return timeline.

  • PFL Sioux Falls: Full Card, How To Watch

    PFL Sioux Falls: Full Card, How To Watch

    PFL returns to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, this Saturday for the first time in two years, with welterweight Logan Storley headlining against Florim Zendeli at the Sanford Pentagon.

    Storley carries an 18-4 record into the matchup, with notable wins over Michael Page, Joaquin Buckley, Neiman Gracie, and Brennan Ward during his PFL tenure. Zendeli is 11-1-1 and represents a meaningful test for Storley’s continued push toward PFL gold.

    The co-main event features lightweight Gadzhi Rabadanov, who holds a 26-5-2 record and has notable wins over Kevin Lee, Marc Diakiese, and Brent Primus, taking on Aleksandr Chizov in what should be a competitive matchup at 155 pounds.

    The three-fight main card also includes a heavyweight bout between Sergey Bilostenniy and PFL veteran Renan Ferreira, as well as Simeon Powell against Emiliano Sordi and a bantamweight clash between Leandro Higo and Magomed Magomedov.

    The preliminary card airs on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET, with the main card on ESPN2 and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET. Here is the full card:

    MAIN CARD (ESPN2, 10 p.m. ET)

    • Logan Storley vs. Florim Zendeli
    • Aleksandr Chizov vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov
    • Simeon Powell vs. Emiliano Sordi
    • Sergey Bilostenniy vs. Renan Ferreira
    • Leandro Higo vs. Magomed Magomedov

    PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

    • Rasul Magomedov vs. Rafael Xavier
    • Cheyanne Bowers vs. Sabrinna de Sousa
    • Humberto Bandenay vs. Sang Won Kim
    • Taila Santos vs. Yan Qihui
    • Angel Alvarez vs. Bryce Logan
    • Brett Bye vs. Taylor Michels
    • Maxwell Djantou Nana vs. Karl Williams
  • UFC Perth Preview: Full Card, How To Watch

    UFC Perth Preview: Full Card, How To Watch

    Jack Della Maddalena returns to his home country this week when he headlines UFC Perth against Carlos Prates in a welterweight main event that could determine the next title challenger at 170 pounds.

    Della Maddalena carries an 18-3 MMA record and an 8-1 mark inside the UFC into the fight, with his only Octagon loss coming against Islam Makhachev last November when he moved up from lightweight to challenge for a second belt. That defeat snapped a winning streak of nearly a decade, including his first eight UFC appearances. His most recent welterweight win came against Belal Muhammad nearly a year ago, a Performance of the Night drubbing that earned him the title before Makhachev vacated it to move up in weight.

    Prates arrives in Perth in the form of his career. The Brazilian holds a 23-7 MMA record and a 6-1 UFC mark, with his only promotion loss coming against Ian Machado Garry a year ago. He has since delivered back-to-back bonus-winning knockouts, finishing Geoff Neal and then former champion Leon Edwards at UFC 322 in November at Madison Square Garden.

    The co-main event features Perth native Quillan Salkilld, who is 11-1 in MMA with a perfect 4-0 UFC record, taking on veteran lightweight Beneil Dariush. Salkilld has finished three of his four UFC opponents in the first round and will have the home crowd behind him. Dariush is trying to arrest a slide that has seen him lose three of his last four fights, including a 16-second knockout at the hands of Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 322.

    The main card also includes Tim Elliott vs. Steve Erceg, Shamil Gaziev vs. Brando Pericic, and Louie Sutherland vs. Tai Tuivasa in a heavyweight bout where Tuivasa is looking to end a six-fight losing streak.

    The main card streams on Paramount+ at 7 a.m. ET, with prelims beginning at 4 a.m. ET. Here is the full card: 

    MAIN CARD (Paramount+, 7 a.m. ET)

    • Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates
    • Beneil Dariush vs. Quillan Salkilld
    • Tim Elliott vs. Steve Erceg
    • Shamil Gaziev vs. Brando Pericic
    • Louie Sutherland vs. Tai Tuivasa

    PRELIMINARY CARD (Paramount+, 4 a.m. ET)

    • Robert Bryczek vs. Cam Rowston
    • Kevin Christian vs. Junior Tafa
    • Jacob Malkoun vs. Gerald Meerschaert
    • Vince Morales vs. Colby Thicknesse
    • Ben Johnston vs. Wes Schultz
    • Themba Gorimbo vs. Jonathan Micallef
  • Joe Rogan Weighs In on UFC Heavyweight GOAT Debate

    Joe Rogan Weighs In on UFC Heavyweight GOAT Debate

    Joe Rogan has taken on one of MMA’s most enduring debates and arrived at a conclusion that may surprise fans expecting a single definitive answer: in the UFC heavyweight division, there is no true greatest of all time.

    Rogan made the comments during a conversation with rapper Action Bronson on his podcast, drawing on years of experience as a UFC color commentator to explain why the heavyweight division’s best fighters exist in a category where any one of them could have beaten the others on the right night.

    “I don’t think there’s a real GOAT in heavyweight, because there’s times where one guy would have beaten all the other guys,” Rogan said.

    That framing did not stop him from naming the fighters he believes belong in the conversation, and the list included some names that often go underappreciated in the broader discussion.

    Cain Velasquez was the first name Rogan reached for, and the praise was emphatic.

    “I love Cain. He’s in there, he’s in the GOAT category. Prime Cain against anyone ever, who knows? Prime Cain was an unstoppable tornado of punches and takedowns. No fatigue. It’s not coming. You think he’s going to get tired, he’ll never get tired.”

    Rogan made the case for Stipe Miocic on the strength of a specific achievement no other heavyweight can claim.

    “You’ve got to put Stipe in there because he defended the heavyweight title more than anybody. He beat Ngannou when Ngannou was in his prime, and got rocked a bunch of times and came back. You’ve got to give it to him. He’s always going to be in the GOAT category.”

    Fedor Emelianenko, who never competed inside the UFC but is widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight in MMA history by hardcore fans, received his acknowledgment as well. “Fedor, of course. The real connoisseur, the real hardcore MMA heads, they’re like ‘Fedor is the GOAT.’”

    “I always say everyone forgets about Fabricio Werdum,” he said. “Fabricio Werdum tapped Cain Velasquez, Minotauro Nogueira, and Fedor. He tapped Fedor when Fedor was Fedor. When you look at Fabricio Werdum in his prime, he’s in that range. He beat Cain Velasquez, he beat Mark Hunt with a flying knee to win the title. Bro, he beat the best of the best. He beat them all, and he tapped three of the all time greats.”

  • UFC 328 Ticket Sales Struggling With Weeks Before Chimaev vs. Strickland

    UFC 328 Ticket Sales Struggling With Weeks Before Chimaev vs. Strickland

    UFC 328 is still two weeks away and tickets are not moving, with the cheapest available seat for the May 9 event in Newark currently sitting at $386 on Ticketmaster.

    Fight Opinion flagged sluggish sales on X, with screenshots showing a significant number of seats still available at Prudential Center. The card features Khamzat Chimaev defending the middleweight championship against Sean Strickland in the main event alongside a flyweight title fight, making the slow uptake difficult to attribute to card quality alone.

    The situation points to pricing as the primary obstacle rather than fan interest in the fights themselves. The Chimaev and Strickland matchup has been one of the most anticipated bouts in the middleweight division given the long-running animosity between the two fighters, and the card is regarded as strong on paper.

    The pattern mirrors what has been playing out across TKO’s broader portfolio. WWE’s WrestleMania 42 drew roughly 18,000 fewer fans over both nights than last year’s edition at the same venue, with rising ticket prices and card quality cited as contributing factors. WWE quietly discounted tickets heading into the show and Pat McAfee announced a flash sale on SmackDown.

    UFC 327 in Miami also saw a significant drop in live gate numbers compared to recent comparable events, suggesting a broader trend across TKO’s live-event business rather than an isolated issue tied to any single card.

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

  • Justin Gaethje Defends UFC White House Card

    Justin Gaethje Defends UFC White House Card

    Justin Gaethje is heading into the biggest fight of his career at the UFC White House event on June 14, and he has made his intentions clear: fans are going to get exactly what they always get from him.

    The interim lightweight champion and two-time interim title holder faces Ilia Topuria for the undisputed lightweight championship on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington D.C.

    Speaking with Bloody Elbow via Duelbits, Gaethje addressed the weight of the moment and made clear that his approach will not change regardless of the occasion.

    “I understand what this moment represents,” Gaethje said. “Fighting on a stage like that, in front of that kind of audience, it’s an unbelievable experience. I’m proud to represent where I come from, no doubt about that. Every time I step in there, I carry that with me. At the end of the day, the best thing I can do for everyone watching is go out there and perform the way I know. That’s always been my approach, giving everything to the fans, to the sport and my family and people.”

    Gaethje has won 15 performance bonuses in as many UFC appearances, a record that speaks directly to the style he brings every time he competes. Despite speculation about whether the White House card could be his final fight regardless of result, he pushed back on any retirement conversation.

    He also addressed criticism of the event’s card, arguing that the combination of fighters and styles assembled makes for a night that will stick with fans long after the lights go out.

    “It’s a stacked card from top to bottom. You’ve got a mix of elite fighters, different styles, big personalities. That’s what makes nights like this special. It’s not just one fight that makes people tune in. It’s the whole experience. I think every guy on that card understands the opportunity in front of them. Being part of something this big brings out the best in any fighter. In the end, I am sure the fans would love the experience and will remember the White House event for a long time.”

    UFC Freedom 250 takes place June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington D.C., streaming on Paramount+.

  • Kayla Harrison Fires Back at Ronda Rousey: ‘I’m Chasing Greatness, You’re Chasing Money’

    Kayla Harrison Fires Back at Ronda Rousey: ‘I’m Chasing Greatness, You’re Chasing Money’

    Kayla Harrison has drawn a sharp line between herself and Ronda Rousey, and she did not soften the contrast when she delivered it.

    Speaking on the UFC Vegas 116 pre-fight show, Harrison responded to Rousey’s recent public attacks and framed their current situations as representing two fundamentally different approaches to a combat sports career.

    “I think that the part that bothers me most about Ronda is at one point she was a real athlete,” Harrison said. “She was training for the Olympics. She’s an Olympic bronze medalist. She became a UFC champion. She was really trying to chase greatness.”

    Harrison acknowledged Rousey’s historical significance to women’s MMA without hesitation before turning to where she believes the two part ways.

    “I will never take away the fact that Ronda is probably the most important female fighter. If it weren’t for her, for sure I wouldn’t be where I’m at. I wouldn’t have a job. But this fight is not the greatest fight of all time. It’s between someone who hasn’t fought in 10 years and is coming off two knockout losses and another woman, again another legend, another pioneer, but hasn’t fought in 17 years and is in her 40s. Don’t call it the greatest fight of all time. I’m chasing greatness. You’re chasing money. We’re different.”

    The feud between the two women began when Harrison called Rousey a liar over a training story from their judo days. Rousey responded by repeatedly calling Harrison a derogatory name while promoting her May 16 Netflix comeback against Gina Carano and claiming the event would outperform anything Harrison has accomplished. Harrison offered an alternative explanation for Rousey’s hostility.

    “I think that it would be really hard, I can’t imagine what it would be like for someone to come in and beat everything I’ve ever done. That would be hard. I get it. Imagine hating me and I’m just over here in my backyard feeding chickens. It’s got to be rough.”

    Harrison is currently recovering from neck surgery that postponed her planned title defense against Amanda Nunes at UFC 324 in January. She is expected to return before the end of 2026, with that matchup still waiting to be made.

  • UFC Veteran Tim Means Arrested on Felony Child Abuse Charge

    UFC Veteran Tim Means Arrested on Felony Child Abuse Charge

    UFC veteran Tim Means was arrested on a felony child abuse charge on April 21 and appeared in court on Friday before being released, according to MMA Fighting.

    Online records show Means was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on Wednesday. He was released on Friday with his next court date not yet scheduled.

    According to the Albuquerque Journal, police received a call on April 10 that two people had gotten into a physical altercation. The caller, identified as Means’ daughter, told officers she and her father got into an argument over household chores.

    The criminal complaint states that Means allegedly head-butted her in the nose during the dispute, grabbed her by the neck in what police described as a strangulation manner and held her against a kitchen counter, threw a potato that hit her in the face, and punched her on the right side of her face with a closed fist when she pushed back.

    Police noted in the complaint that there were visible marks on the teenager’s neck consistent with strangulation, blood on her nose from the alleged head-butt, and red marks on her face and cheek.

    Means, 42, has spent the past 12 years on the UFC roster, competing primarily at welterweight. His most recent UFC appearance came in 2024 when he was submitted by Court McGee in the first round, his second consecutive loss in the promotion.