MMA News

Author: Craig Pekios

  • Video: Amanda Mazza Snaps Her Own Arm in Grappling Match, Stunning Finish against Emily Hansen

    Video: Amanda Mazza Snaps Her Own Arm in Grappling Match, Stunning Finish against Emily Hansen

    Amanda Mazza was working hard to cinch in a rear-naked choke when disaster struck.

    Competing against Emily Hansen at a Cage Fury FC BJJ event in Philadelphia on Saturday, Mazza found herself in a good spot just two minutes into the contest, taking Hansen’s back looking to lock in an RNC. Suddenly, something truly bizarre happened.

    As Mazza fought to secure the choke, her arm made an unmistakable popping sound, leading to widespread confusion.

    After referee Vitor Ribeiro stepped in, bringing a brief halt to the contest, the match was restarted with Mazza back in control. However, it didn’t take long for them to realize that something was terribly wrong. The bout was ultimately stopped moments later due to the shocking injury.

    Amanda Mazza Remains in Good Spirits Following Freak Injury

    While no details regarding the extent of the injury have been released, Mazza took to social media and made light of the situation.

    “Thank you everyone for the love and sweet messages,” Mazza wrote on her Instagram Stories. “I’m still smiling and will be back and better. That mat return though, damn I felt good out there. So good I didn’t even feel my arm crack on her chin.”

    Initially, both competitors thought it was Hansen who had suffered some type of jaw injury during the attempted choke. In the end, it was Mazza who required the immediate medical attention.

    “Ummm, so I won by iron chin tonight,” Hansen wrote on Instagram Stories. “In all seriousness, this was not even in the realm of possibilities for tonight. Amanda is such a good person that she stopped because she thought it was my jaw that popped. I wish her a quick recovery and maybe we can run it back.”

  • After Arrest, Raja Jackson Has Now Been Released on Bail Thanks to ‘Rampage’

    After Arrest, Raja Jackson Has Now Been Released on Bail Thanks to ‘Rampage’

    Mere hours after being taken into custody, Raja Jackson is back home.

    Around 9 a.m. on Thursday, September 18, Jackson was arrested on a felony charge of battery with serious bodily injury nearly a month after he viciously attacked Stuart Smith (also known as Syko Stu) at a professional wrestling event in the Sun Valley neighborhood of Los Angeles. TMZ released footage of the arrest, which took place in Huntington Beach, California. According to the report, Jackson was transported roughly 50 miles north and booked at a jail in Pacoima.

    Jackson was held for several hours on $50,000 bail, but ultimately bonded out at some point overnight.

    ‘Rampage’ Comments on Raja Jackson’s Arrest

    While Raja Jackson has not publicly commented on the situation, his father and former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson has been very forthcoming about the fact that his son “f*cked up” and should pay the price for his actions.

    “I’m doing OK, I’m holding up well,” ‘Rampage’ said in a statement … adding he understands the situation is no longer under his control. “He f***ed up, he f***ed up. He gotta learn his lesson. It is what it is, all I can do is be a dad. He don’t listen to me, at the end of the day, he can’t say I didn’t do what I was supposed to do as a dad.”

    Following a backstage altercation between the two at the KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy, Jackson slid into the ring during Smith’s match roughly an hour later, picked him up, and violently slammed him to the mat before unleashing more than 20 full-forcing punches to the unconscious wrestler. Eventually, Jackson was pulled off of Smith by other wrestlers before fleeing the scene.

    Smith spent several days in intensive care before being released on August 31. He later detailed his injuries on social media, revealing he sustained a “serious head injury, … trauma to both the upper and lower jaws, a laceration to his upper lip and a fracture to the maxilla bone, which unfortunately resulted in the loss of several teeth,” according to a post on his Instagram.

  • What Makes Yoel Romero So Special? UFC All-Time Great Breaks Down His BKFC 80 Knockout

    What Makes Yoel Romero So Special? UFC All-Time Great Breaks Down His BKFC 80 Knockout

    Yoel Romero is truly something special.

    After making his mark in the world’s biggest mixed martial arts promotions—Strikeforce, the UFC, Bellator, and PFL—Romero has made the move to boxing where, despite being 48-years-old, he continues to dominate the competition. After scoring a pair of highlight-reel finishes under the Dirty Boxing Championship banner, ‘Soldier of God’ made his bare-knuckle debut earlier this month and did it yet again, finishing Theo Doukas via a vicious second-round KO.

    Looking back on the Cuban’s impressive performance at BKFC 80, former UFC and ONE world champion Demetrious Johnson commended Romero’s ability to take control of every environment he steps into, whether it be a ring, a cage, or an Octagon.

    “The movement, the constant rhythm change, the constant in and out rhythm, high guard, dropping in the right hand or straight shots down the middle of that guy’s guard was pretty much the story of the fight,” Johnson said via his YouTube channel. “All right, here we go. By that rhythm in the B. Boom. Right here. Boom. Right down the middle. Right down the middle. Look at his—look at his face. Look, man. Look at the blood just drop right here. Look at this. Then whack. Like, he’s just able to dictate what the guy’s going to do and move a certain way and be able to land those shots. My goodness.”

    “I think the biggest thing is Yoel’s movement, him putting things down the middle of the pipe on his opponent and then constantly just being active. Being absolutely active.”

    What’s next for Romero remains to be seen, but after his impressive showing in Hollywood, Florida, the ‘Soldier of God’ could already be queued up for a shot at the BKFC heavyweight crown.

  • Reinier de Ridder Reveals Secret Training Partner: Robbie Lawler

    Reinier de Ridder Reveals Secret Training Partner: Robbie Lawler

    Reinier de Ridder has an ace up his sleeve in the form of a UFC Hall of Famer.

    Since making his Octagon debut in November 2024, ‘RDR’ has taken the UFC by storm, securing four straight wins, including a highlight-reel finish of Bo Nickal and a gritty split decision victory over ex-titleholder Robert Whittaker. Now, the Dutchman is gearing up for another tough test when he takes on Brendan Allen in the UFC Vancouver main event on Saturday, October 18.

    Determined to leave no stone unturned, de Ridder revealed during a recent interview that his team has brought in former welterweight king Robbie Lawler to help hone his skills.

    “Robbie [Lawler] is a big part of it as well at the moment,” de Ridder told MMA Junkie. “It’s nice to have that inside–all the knowledge that Robbie has in training is very useful, it’s very helpful… Technique-wise, he’s really helped me a lot. I think maybe personality-wise we’re pretty similar.”

    Will Allen Capitalize on His Golden Opportunity Against Reinier de Ridder?

    Originally, ‘RDR’ was scheduled to fight Anthony Hernandez in the evening’s headliner, before ‘Fluffy’ bowed out due to an injury. Instead it’ll be Allen stepping into the spotlight to take on the former two-division ONE world champion.

    ‘All In’ is fresh off a big win over Marvin Vettori in July, snapping a two-fight losing skid and keeping him within earshot of the middleweight top 10. With a win over de Ridder in The Great White North, Allen could skyrocket himself all the way into the top five, putting him potentially one big win away from his own shot at UFC gold.

    Of course, de Ridder will do everything he can to prevent that from happening, and bringing in a legend like ‘Ruthless’ Robbie Lawler is a pretty good start.

  • “When the UFC Calls, They Say ‘I Can’t,’” — Charles Oliveira Rips Fake Volunteers in the Lightweight Division

    “When the UFC Calls, They Say ‘I Can’t,’” — Charles Oliveira Rips Fake Volunteers in the Lightweight Division

    Charles Oliveira just wants to fight at UFC Rio.

    After coming up short against Ilia Topuria in June, ‘Do Bronx’ was ready to jump back inside the Octagon in October for the promotion’s highly anticipated return to Rio de Janeiro. It looked to be all systems go with Oliveira set to face Rafael Fiziev in the evening’s headliner. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case after ‘Ataman’ bowed out of the bout due to injury.

    In the wake of the news, multiple fighters, including Benoit Saint-Denix, Mateusz Gamrot, Joaquim Silva, and even Diego Lopes, have shown interest in stepping in. But according to Oliveira, it’s all been nothing but talk.

    “Everybody knows my UFC Rio fight is off, but don’t fall for the talk of these guys out there saying ‘I’m here, I’ll go,’ because the UFC is calling and they’re all saying, ‘Oh, there’s not enough time to make weight. Oh, I can’t.’ They’re posting this on the internet to get hype,” Oliveira said in a recent interview. “Stop it. It’s not a good look. I saw one saying this, another saying that. But when the UFC calls, what do they say? ‘Oh I can’t. I got a belly ache. I broke a finger. I hurt my hand.’

    “Enough with that. It’s not a good look. I want to fight at UFC Rio, I asked for this fight. My opponent got hurt, then 10 guys show up saying they would fight. So far, every time the UFC calls ‘Let’s fight?’ they say, ‘I can’t.’ So stop with that because it’s not a good look. Do you want fame? Do something else. Don’t come saying you’ll fight, when it’s a lie, okay?”

    Charles Olivera confirms his Rio fight is off and puts other fighters on blast
    byu/IzzyVPerira3-1 inufc

    With no replacement opponent locked in, UFC Rio is currently without a main event.

    Deiveson Figueredo Looks to Snap 2-Fight Skid at UFC Rio

    Also scheduled for the event is former flyweight titleholder Deiveson Figueiredo, who is scheduled to meet streaking standout Montel Jackson. Since making the move up to 135 pounds, Figueiredo has strung together wins against Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. However, he’ll look to snap a two-fight losing skid in Rio when he puts his No. 6 bantamweight ranking on the line against the unranked Jackson.

    Here’s how the promotion’s return to Brazil currently stacks up without Oliveira:

    UFC Rio Main Card On ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

    • Vitor Petrino vs. Thomas Petersen (heavyweight)
    • Julia Polastri vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (strawweight)
    • Vicente Luque vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio (welterweight)
    • Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Montel Jackson (bantamweight)
    • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Randy Brown (welterweight)

    UFC Rio Preliminary Card On ESPN+ (4 p.m. ET):

    • Lucas Rocha vs. Stewart Nicoll (flyweight)
    • Jhonata Diniz vs. Mario Pinto (heavyweight)
    • Irina Alekseeva vs. Beatriz Mesquita (bantamweight)
    • Jafel Filho vs. Clayton Carpenter (flyweight)
    • Lucas Almeida vs. Michael Aswell (lightweight)
    • Ricardo Ramos vs. Kaan Ofli (featherweight)
    • Valter Walker vs. Mohammed Usman (heavyweight)
  • Conor McGregor Fighting at the White House? I Doubt it, Says UFC Veteran

    Conor McGregor Fighting at the White House? I Doubt it, Says UFC Veteran

    Is Conor McGregor really going to fight at the White House next year?

    ‘Mystic Mac’ sent the MMA world into a frenzy when he revealed on an episode of Fox & Friends that he was already booked for the UFC’s highly anticipated fight card at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 2026. However, not everyone is buying it.

    “The story that Conor McGregor is being talked to headline the White House card. I don’t buy it,” Chael Sonnen said via a video on his YouTube channel. “I can’t buy it. Why or would we be turning to Conor McGregor? And the answer is also out there because he is the sport’s biggest star. That is true.

    “So, is that what you need? If you’ve got the open checkbook and you’ve got the magic wand, without saying names, do you say I’m going to put as my main event the sport’s biggest star? Is that your answer? Doesn’t matter who he’s fighting.”

    Conor McGregor Says He’ll Fight Michael Chandler in the Nation’s Capital

    McGregor went on to claim that he already has an opponent lined up for the history-making event, and it’s none other than the man he’s been linked two for the last three years—Michael Chandler.

    After an underwhelming stint as opposing coaches on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter, McGregor and Chandler were rumored to fight in December 2023. When that didn’t happen, the focus shifted to UFC 303 where the bout was officially booked for the main event. Unfortunately, that card came and went with McGregor once again sitting on the sidelines, this time due to a broken pinky toe he suffered whilst training for the clash.

    Despite having been more than four years since his last Octagon appearance, McGregor has continued to dominate headlines, albeit for all the wrong reasons.

    So, what say you? Is McGregor’s “greatest comeback in combat sports history” finally happening, or is ‘The Notorious’ just pulling our leg again?

  • Darren Till Launches Tirade Aimed at MMA Guru: “Keep ya mouth shut”

    Darren Till Launches Tirade Aimed at MMA Guru: “Keep ya mouth shut”

    Darren Till and The MMA Guru are going at it online.

    Following his impressive third-round knockout of Luke Rockhold at Misfits Boxing 22, Till has decided to pick another fight, this time with the controversial influencer known for his brutally honest hot takes on all things related to combat sports.

    “Who’s getting real real tired of that fat c*nt smelly tw*t @THATBOYMMAGURU,” Till wrote on X. Like am tired of him now. Like yeah… we know you speak ur mind. But ur fat. And ur definitely smelly. What’s ur comeback mate????? MATE????? F*cking fat c*nt. Keep ya mouth shut cos you’d get strangled in the street.”

    Darren Till and MMA Guru Continue to Trade Barbs on Social Media

    Things only escalated from there with MMA Guru snapping back at the former UFC title challenger and sparking an intense back-and-forth between the two.

    “How this bloated mong Darren Till reacts to seeing me join his gay little interview,” The MMA Guru wrote in response. “Got a face like a f*cking drowned man found at the bottom of a river with rocks in his pockets. Probably not the only rocks you’ve had in your pockets either is it mate no wonder your nose is so f*cked up go call out another 50 year old or influencer you fat little tramp.”

    “Look how uninterested I am to see this fucking beg while he smiles himself into a Song Yadong impression Just sad honestly…” he added in a follow-up post.

    “Are you calling me a coke head like Luke?” Till replied.

    “Holy sh*t you figured that out all by yourself?” the Guru added. “For that kind of IQ they should have a statue of you in Liverpool with knives hanging out of it. You’d look like a down syndrome popup pirate.”

    While some commenters were quick to take sides, others speculated as to whether or not this was all just a marketing stunt to score some clicks. Especially considering just a few weeks back, The MMA Guru commended Till on his performance against Rockhold and suggested ‘The Gorilla’ would absolutely destroy KSI in a potential boxing bout.

    What are your thoughts? Is this just a bit of ribbing between two friends, or is there some legit beef brewing?

  • Dakota Ditcheva Should be Traded for Magomed Ankalaev, says UFC Employee

    Dakota Ditcheva Should be Traded for Magomed Ankalaev, says UFC Employee

    Former UFC fighter turned analyst Din Thomas thinks the UFC should trade off Magomed Ankalaev for PFL star Dakota Ditcheva.

    Trades between MMA organizations are extremely rare. In fact, it’s only happened once. In October 2018, the UFC sent former flyweight king Demetrious Johnson to ONE Championship in exchange for Ben Akren. Now, Thomas thinks it’s time for the the UFC to initiate another trade, this time sending it’s reigning light heavyweight champion over to Donn Davis and Co. in exchange for their British bombshell.

    “We gotta understand that MMA is a star-driven sport,” Thomas said on The Casuals MMA podcast back in February. “We have a star problem in the UFC. [PFL] got Dakota Ditcheva, who’s a star. I’m like, ‘Yo, please listen, if you guys like MMA, do this for MMA. Trade her to the UFC, you know she belongs in the UFC.’ Just trade, listen, get rid of Ankalaev in the UFC, trade her for Ankalaev, we don’t need Ankalaev, you know what I’m saying.”

    Of course, Thomas’ comments came before Ankalaev unseated Alex Pereira as the UFC light heavyweight champion, though his victory did little to create excitement in the fledgling division.

    Is Dakota Ditcheva the Next Big Thing in Women’s MMA?

    Meanwhile, Ditcheva continues to take the world MMA world by storm despite having a limited number of viable opponents to contend with under the PFL banner. After handily defeating Taila Santos—who once took Valentina Shevchenko to the limit—to win the 2024 PFL flyweight tournament, Ditcheva scored a decisive decision victory over Sumiko Inaba during the promotion’s inaugural event in Cape Town, South Africa.

    Given her 15-0 record and 80% finish rate inside the Smart Cage, it’s clear that Ditcheva is ready for the next level of competition—something she’s unlikely to get in the PFL.

    As for Ankalaev, he’ll put his gold up for grabs on October 4 when he runs it back with ‘Poatan’ at UFC 320 in Las Vegas. Ankalaev bested Pereira at UFC 313 after the Brazilian bruiser delivered an uncharacteristically lackluster performance in their light heavyweight headliner.

    Ankalaev is currently trending as a 2-to-1 favorite to retain his title.

  • Ronda Rousey Sparks Comeback Rumors With New Training Clips

    Ronda Rousey Sparks Comeback Rumors With New Training Clips

    The Ronda Rousey rumor mill is up and running again.

    Ever since she last stepped inside the Octagon nearly a decade ago, rumors have continued to run rampant that the former UFC bantamweight champion was gearing up for an MMA comeback. Often times, the speculation is quickly shot down by either Dana White or Rousey herself. But this time, it feels a little different.

    That’s because Rousey herself is pouring a little bit of fuel on the fire via a recent clip on Instagram.

    “The first clip is my first session working with [@aj_mma] I was super self conscious, embarrassed of how much I regressed, and honestly trying my very best not to pee my pants throwing punches so soon after having baby Pā’ū,” Rousey wrote.

    “Second clip was yesterday, I’ve never laughed or smiled so much on the mat as I do these days. The last 6 months have been an absolute blast, feels like I have so much left to grow, and without the weight of the world on my shoulders nothing is holding me back. ‘What we learn with pleasure we never forget’ Alfred Mercier.”

    After going 12-0 in her mixed martial arts career with 12-straight finishes, Rousey hit a brick wall in November 2015 named Holly Holm. ‘Rowdy’ went into the fight as one of the biggest favorites in UFC history, but was promptly beaten 59-seconds into the second round, ending her run as the most dominant force in MMA.

    A year later, Rousey’s comeback bid was halted less than a minute into her clash with Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. ‘The Lioness’ properly pummeled the Olympic bronze medalist, bringing a bitter end to Rousey’s illustrious career inside the Octagon.

    Ronda Rousey Finds Second Life as a WWE Superstar

    Since then, Rousey has found success in the world of sports entertainment, signing with WWE and making history as one of the first women to ever headline the promotion’s annual showcase of the immortals, Wrestlemania. During her run, Rousey held four championships in WWE: the Raw Women’s Championship, the SmackDown Women’s Championship on two separate occasions, and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship with her partner Shayna Baszler.

    Today, Rousey is happy to live a quiet life away from the spotlight with her husband, former UFC heavyweight Travis Browne, and their two children.

    With the weight of the world seemingly off her shoulders, is ‘Rowdy’ gearing up for a potential return to the Octagon? Only time will tell.

  • BKFC President Guarantees Conor McGregor Will Compete in Bare Knuckle

    BKFC President Guarantees Conor McGregor Will Compete in Bare Knuckle

    BKFC president David Feldman is confident that Conor McGregor will step inside the squared circle before long.

    In April 2024, McGregor announced that he’d officially become part-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, a fast-rising promotion featuring a slew of former UFC stars, including ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, Paige VanZant, and Yoel Romero. Almost immediately, speculation ran rampant as to whether or not ‘Mystic Mac’ would ever toe the line in BKFC despite still being firmly under contract with the UFC.

    With McGregor seemingly confirming to the world that he will compete on the UFC’s highly anticipated card at the White House in 2026, people are now once again wondering if the former champ-champ will ever trade in his 4oz gloves for a pair of hand wraps.

    “I think it depends on the outcome of the White House card, right?” Feldman told MMA Fighting of McGregor’s potential move from MMA to bare-knuckle. “If he wins the White House card, which I have every reason to believe no matter who he fights, he’s going to win because they’re going to match him… If he wins and looks good, he’s going to fight another fight.

    “And if that happens, then I would bet 100% he’ll fight for BKFC. Why wouldn’t he? What will he do for the valuation of the company? He’ll double or triple it, and then he just doubled or tripled his interest in this. That’s way more than he’s going to get fighting anywhere else.”

    Conor McGregor Claims He Will Fight Michael Chandler at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

    No official announcements have been made regarding who will compete in the nation’s capital next year, but McGregor seems confident that the event will host a long-awaited clash between himself and former Bellator champion ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler.

    The two were rumored to fight in December 2023 following their stint as opposing coaches on TUF 31 before the bout was officially booked for UFC 303. Unfortunately, the contest was scrapped after McGregor broke his pinky toe whilst training.

    Since then, it’s been a tumultous year for the Irish megastar. In late 2024, McGregor was found guilty of sexual assault, resulting in him losing millions of dollars in sponsorship deals. Then there was his failed bid at the Irish presidency.

  • Netflix: Crawford vs. Canelo Draws an Incredible 41.1M Global Viewers

    Netflix: Crawford vs. Canelo Draws an Incredible 41.1M Global Viewers

    Canelo Alvarez’s clash with Terence Crawford was a smashing success for Netflix.

    According to Netflix, the undisputed title tilt between two of boxing’s brightest stars drew in more than 41 million global viewers, making it the most-viewed men’s championship bout this century.

    “Over 41 million global viewers watched #CaneloCrawford on Netflix, making it the most-viewed men’s championship boxing match this century!” the streaming giant announced on X.

    Per a report from Reteurs, the peak viewership for Crawford-Canelo was more than 24 million concurrent streams and it was the top-ranked program on Netflix in 30 nations, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Philippines, Australia and Argentina.

    Crawford vs. Canelo Gate Good Enough for Third-Highest in Boxing History

    UFC CEO Dana White, who promoted the event alongside Turki Alalshikh in Las Vegas, also revealed that the total gate at Allegiant Stadium was a whopping $47.23 million. That’s good enough to make it the third-highest gate in boxing history, only behind Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor‘s $55 million gate and Mayweather’s showdown with Manny Pacquiao which holds down the top spot, having brought in $72 million.

    Crawford won the bout on Saturday night, securing a unanimous decision victory over Canelo to capture the undisputed super middleweight world championship. With the win, ‘Bud’ improved his overall record to 42-0 (31 KO) while Canelo fell to 63-3 (39 KO) with his only other losses coming against Floyd Mayweather and Dmitry Bivol.

    While 41 million is an undeniably impressive number, it still pales in comparison to November’s fight between Jake Paul and ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, which brought in 108 million global viewers on Netflix.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Is Standing My Way of Becoming the Greatest of All Time, Says Dricus Du Plessis

    Khamzat Chimaev Is Standing My Way of Becoming the Greatest of All Time, Says Dricus Du Plessis

    Khamzat Chimaev is nothing more than another stepping stone toward Dricus du Plessis’ ultimate MMA goal.

    After bagging impressive title defenses against Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, ‘DDP’ will face his toughest test yet when he puts his undisputed middleweight gold on the line against ‘Borz’ at UFC 319 this Saturday night, August 16, in Chicago.

    Sitting on an impressive 9-0 run inside the Octagon, du Plessis dreams of one day retiring from mixed martial arts as the greatest fighter the sport has ever seen. With a win over Chimaev, the South African sensation believes he’ll be one step closer to achieving that goal.

    “I don’t care what the fans see,” du Plessis told Helen Yee. “Every time I defend that title, there’s going to be a next best guy. And that’s how I see him. He’s the next step. He’s the next guy in my way to becoming the greatest.”

    Will Dricus du Plessis continue to defy the odds against Khamzat Chimaev?

    As was the case in seven of his nine fights under the UFC banner, du Plessis goes into UFC 319 as the underdog. As it stands, the undefeated Chechen monster is a 2-to-1 favorite to leave ‘Chi-Town’ with the 185-pound crown wrapped around his waist.

    Of course, du Plessis has made a career out of defying the odds.

    Robert Whittaker was a -400 favorite to defeat ‘DDP’ before getting brutally knocked out by ‘Stillknocks’ at UFC 290. ‘DDP’ was then a +130 underdog in his first title tilt with Sean Strickland and a +150 dog in his subsequent title defense against ‘The Last Stylebender’ in August 2024.

    Will du Plessis defy the odds once again and take another giant step towards MMA immortality? Fortunately, we won’t have to wait much longer to find out.

  • UFC & Paramount: Why Fans Are the Biggest Winners and Fighters The Biggest Losers

    UFC & Paramount: Why Fans Are the Biggest Winners and Fighters The Biggest Losers

    Fans are going to win big with the UFC’s new Paramount partnership. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for fighters.

    On Monday, it was announced that the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s broadcasting deal with ESPN+ will end after Paramount plunked down $7.7 billion to obtain the company’s exclusive streaming rights for the next seven years starting in 2026.

    Perhaps the most exciting bit of news is the fact that fans will no longer have to shell out $80 per month for pay-per-view events as all UFC cards, including premium numbered shows, will air exclusively on on Paramount’s streaming service, effectively killing the promotion’s antiquated pay-per-view era.

    That’ll save UFC fans nearly $1,000 annually, but it may come with a cost.

    “The fans are big winners because now it goes from having a plus subscription, plus having to buy pay-per-views for $79.99,” Ariel Helwani said while discussing the UFC/Paramount deal. “If you’re a hardcore fan, that equals approximately $1,000 a year. Now, you don’t have to do that anymore. And as of right now, it’s either eight bucks or 13 bucks to be a Paramount+ subscriber. Way cheaper than being an ESPN Plus UFC fan.”

    “The fighters, to me, they’re the big losers here. Not because the viewership gets affected, that remains to be seen. But they’re sitting here watching all the executives wave their pompoms and say how great this is. They’re hearing Dana White say, this is good for the fighters. So I ask, how is it good for the fighters? Is the base pay going up? Is the introductory pay going up? Are they getting rid of the show-win model? Are the performance bonuses now going to be $100k a pop as opposed to 50k? What becomes of the champions with pay-per-view points? No one has told the fighters. They didn’t consult them. They don’t have to. There’s no collective bargaining agreement.”

    Dana White confirms fighter bonuses will increase with Paramount deal

    With implementation of the UFC/Paramount deal still months away, there’s plenty of time for Dana White and Co. to figure out how to make up for a fighter’s lost PPV points, though White did acknowledge that bonuses would be “going up” following Tuesday’s episode of DWCS.

    “Bonuses are obviously going up,” White said. “So that’ll be big. And just forget about the tide rising with all the other fighters. I mean, just the number that the bonuses bring to a fighter is millions of dollars.”

  • What will the Fighters Get from the New Paramount & UFC Deal? Dana White Explains

    What will the Fighters Get from the New Paramount & UFC Deal? Dana White Explains

    Dana White attempted to quell some of the concerns regarding fighter pay following the UFC’s groundbreaking deal with Paramount.

    On Monday, it was announced that starting in 2026, Ultimate Fighting Championship events will be exclusive to Paramount+ after the streamer plunked down a whopping $7.7 billion dollars for seven years. Perhaps the most exciting bit of news was the reveal that the UFC’s premium numbered events typically reserved for pay-per-view would be included in the deal, meaning fight fans will no longer have to shell out $80 per month on top of a subscription fee.

    However, the deal did leave pundits with one question — how will this effect fighter pay? Specifically, what happens to the hundreds of thousands of dollars that UFC champions and top stars earn annually via PPV points?

    “The fighters are going to get tons of promotion, you know, built by all these different unbelievable networks that these guys own,” White said following Tuesday’s new episode of DWCS. “And, you know, they’re aggressive, smart guys that that are going to build a big media company.

    “It’s not massive restructuring. You know, we got a bunch of smart kids over there that work in the accounting department to figure out how to make all this stuff work. But it’s so good for the fighters and what I love about being with one company that made such a big investment in us is they’re all in with us.”

    White confirms fighter bonuses will be ‘going up’ with new Paramount partnership

    While White was light on the specifics, he did confirm that fighter bonuses would see a significant increase starting next year.

    “Bonuses are obviously going up,” White continued. “So that’ll be big. And just forget about the tide rising with all the other fighters. I mean, just the number that the bonuses bring to a fighter is millions of dollars.”

  • Watch: Conor McGregor hits the gym and trains with his youngest son

    Watch: Conor McGregor hits the gym and trains with his youngest son

    Conor McGregor is getting his youngest son started early.

    Despite not competing inside the Octagon for more than four years, the former two-division champion has continued to post training clips on social media and boasting about his highly anticipated return to the Octagon. When, where, or even if that ever happens is uncertain, but it looks like McGregor is already readying his son, Mack McGregor, to follow in his footsteps.

    Check out the clip below, which features the youngest of McGregor clan showing off his boxing skills and even throwing a kick on command.

    McGregor has four children with his longtime fiancée, Dee Devlin, including three older children: Conor Jr., Croia, and Rian, and the youngest being Mack, who was born in 2023.  

    Conor McGregor maintains a strong foothold in combat sports despite a slew of legal issues and lack of activity

    Once upon a time, McGregor was the biggest star in the UFC. Hell, he was one of the biggest sports stars in the world, period. And while ‘The Notorious’ still carries a lot of star power, many fight fans have become disenfranchised with the Irish icon following a string of brutal losses inside the Octagon and a slew of legal troubles outside the cage.

    Last year, McGregor was found liable for the 2018 rape of a woman at a Dublin hotel and was ordered to pay $285,000 in damages on top of $1.5 million in legal fees to the plaintiff. McGregor attempted to appeal the ruling, but that was ultimately thrown out, leaving him on the hook for nearly $2 million.

    And that wasn’t even the worst of it.

    McGregor lost numerous sponsorship deals, including a lucrative spokesmanship job for Proper No. 12, the brand of Irish whiskey he co-founded before selling the product to Proximo Spirits for a whopping $600 million.

    Still, McGregor maintains a strong presence in the world of combat sports as a co-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

  • Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Eviscerates Khamzat Chimaev’s ‘Sh*t Stand-Up’ Ahead of UFC 319

    Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Eviscerates Khamzat Chimaev’s ‘Sh*t Stand-Up’ Ahead of UFC 319

    Dricus du Plessis’ coach, Morne Visser, is confident that his fighter will come out on top against “one-dimensional” Khamzat Chimaev.

    Emanating from the United Center in Chicago, ‘DDP’ will put his middleweight championship on the line for the third time when he takes on the undefeated Chechen monster this Saturday, August 16, at UFC 319.

    Chimaev is a perfect 14-0 and has become something of a boogeyman in the division courtesy of his relentless wrestling and brutal submissions. For many, the game plan has been the same—survive the early onslaught in hopes that Chimaev will deplete his gas tank before hitting the latter rounds. To some extent, it’s worked for fighters like Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman, though both of them still fell to the unbeaten bruiser.

    However, du Plessis’ team plans to take a much different approach.

    “Khamzat doesn’t know what it is when people wanna wrestle him,” Visser said via UFC 319 Countdown. “He’s only facing guys who are trying to get away from him, from his wrestling. We don’t want to try and get away from his wrestling, we want to f–k him up in these games.

    “You can’t think that you’re gonna beat my guy with one thing, and that’s wrestling. That guy’s one dimensional. We’ve seen his stand-up. I wouldn’t even give him a pro license for his s–t stand-up. He doesn’t present any problem for us. We are the problem.”

    Du Plessis is going to fight his fight against Khamzat Chimaev

    In seven of his nine career UFC fights, du Plessis has opened as the underdog. UFC 319 will be no different as Chimaev goes into his first title tilt as a 2-to-1 favorite. Of course, that just gives ‘DDP’ another chance to defy the odds, and he plans to do exactly that by beating ‘Borz’ at his own game.

    “I’m not going in there to fight his fight,” du Plessis said. “I’m going in there to fight my fight. Just like I dealt with Adesanya’s striking, Strickland’s boxing, I’m going to deal with Khamzat’s wrestling.”

  • Reinier de Ridder Picks Khamzat Chimaev, But Hopes Dricus Du Plessis Wins So He Doesn’t Have to Wait for a Stalled Title Shot

    Reinier de Ridder Picks Khamzat Chimaev, But Hopes Dricus Du Plessis Wins So He Doesn’t Have to Wait for a Stalled Title Shot

    Reiner de Ridder’s mind says Khamzat Chimaev, but his heart is hoping for Dricus du Plessis.

    After logging an impressive split-decision win over Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi, ‘RDR’ appears to be the next man up in the middleweight division. But before getting his first shot at UFC gold, the Dutchman will have to sit back and wait to see out things play out at UFC 319 when du Plessis puts his 185-pound crown on the line against the undefeated Chechen monster.

    Speaking with MMA Fighting, de Ridder revealed that while he believes Chimaev is likely to come out on top, he’s keeping his fingers crossed for du Plessis to pull off another upset.

    “Khamzat is of course—I think if Khamzat wins this one, especially if he wins decisively, he’ll be like a huge name,” de Ridder said. “That might come with him taking a lot of time off after. So it might be better if Dricus wins, and then we can fight in four to six months. That would be best, I think.”

    Can ‘DDP’ continue to defy the odds against Khamzat Chimaev?

    Since 2022, Chimaev has only competed once per year — a far cry from his days of beating three opponents in eight weeks. With a slew of illnesses, cancellations, and one egregious weight miss, some have speculated that Chimaev’s potential UFC 319 title win could spell disaster for the promotion.

    Clearly, ‘RDR’ feels similarly.

    But there is good news for de Ridder. In seven of his nine career fights inside the Octagon, Dricus du Plessis has opened up as an underdog, and his clash against Chimaev is no different. In fact, ‘Borz’ is trending as a 2-to-1 favorite less than a week away from fight night. But despite being repeatedly counted out, ‘DDP’ is a perfect 9-0 under the UFC banner, proving that you can never truly count out the South African sensation.

  • Michael ‘Venom’ Page Ready to Make Headlines with Statement Knockout in the UFC

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Ready to Make Headlines with Statement Knockout in the UFC

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page is ready to deliver something spectacular in Chicago.

    After taking Shara Magomedov’s ‘O’ in February, the former Bellator star will step back inside the Octagon this Saturday, August 16, for a high-stakes scrap with perennial middleweight contender Jared Cannonier at UFC 319.

    Thus far, Page is 2-1 under the UFC banner, with a pair of fairly dominant decision victories over ‘Bullet’ and Kevin Holland. But this time, ‘Venom’ plans to make a statement and give fans a moment to remember in ‘The Windy City.’

    “I’ve always gone into a fight wanting a knockout,” Page told Ariel Helwani while discussing his upcoming clash with Cannonier. “I go in there to deliver that to the fans.”

    Page may not be necessarily known for delivering highlight-reel knockouts, but that doesn’t mean he’s incapable of doing so. Just ask Evangelista Santos…

    Clinging to his No. 8 spot in the middleweight rankings, Cannonier will look to score a second straight win after delivering an impressive bounce-back performance against Gregory ‘Robocop’ Rodrigues in February. Before that, ‘Killa Gorilla’ had dropped back-to-back bouts Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho — two fighters who will face off at UFC Paris to determine the middleweight division’s next title contender.

    ‘Venom’ claims political B.S. prompted his move up from welterweight to middleweight

    Page typically competes at welterweight, but after struggling to get big-name fights in his home division, ‘Venom’ decided to make the move up to middleweight where things aren’t nearly as political.

    “I want all the smoke, I want to go where the smoke is,” Page told The Independent. “It feels like the guys in the welterweight division are not carrying any fire. It seems to be very political, it’s a bit too technical about who fights who.

    “There’s even more people with even more claims of getting that title shot [than at middleweight], so a lot of people don’t want to take those dangerous fights if they don’t have to. And to add to the welterweight division, Islam [Makhachev] is moving up as well now, which just holds up the division even more.”

    A win over Cannonier in ‘Chi-Town’ would skyrocket Page into the top 10 of the middleweight division, instantly making him a contender in not one, but two weight classes.

  • “It is a problem” – Khamzat Chimaev Winning The UFC Middleweight Throne is a Promotional Disaster, According to UFC Veterans

    “It is a problem” – Khamzat Chimaev Winning The UFC Middleweight Throne is a Promotional Disaster, According to UFC Veterans

    Could Khamzat Chimaev’s potential title win at UFC 319 pose a big problem for the promotion?

    On Saturday, August 16, ‘Borz’ will step into the main event spotlight in Chicago, challenging reigning and defending middleweight king Dricus du Plessis.

    After making his spectacular UFC debut in 2020, pummeling three opponents in the span of eight weeks, everyone thought Chimaev was on the fast track to title contention. Unfortunately, Chimaev’s momentum was halted due to an especially difficult bout with COVID-19 followed by a slew of post-pandemic illnesses that kept his appearances inside the Octagon few and far between.

    Since 2022, ‘Borz’ has only competed once a year, leading some to speculate that a win over du Plessis in ‘The Windy City’ could be a disastrous turn of events for the UFC.

    “Would Khamzat Chimaev winning the belt be a disaster for the division?,” ex-UFC champ Michael Bisping questioned on his Believe You Me podcast. “I got to agree that as far as promotion-wise, yeah, it could be, right?”

    “Until we see him fight more regularly, then it is a question,” co-host and former fighter Paul Felder added. “It is a problem.”

    UFC 319 will be Khamzat Chimaev’s first time fighting in the U.S. since 2022

    Aside from Chimaev’s inconsistent schedule and laundry-list of cancelled bouts, another cause for concern could be his willingness to fight stateside. When ‘Borz’ steps inside the United Center this weekend, it will be his first time competing in the U.S. since September 10, 2022. On that night, Chimaev was originally scheduled to face Nate Diaz in the UFC 279 main event.

    However, Chimaev infamously stepped in the scale eight pounds over the welterweight limit, forcing the UFC to shake-up the top of the card 24 hours before fight night.

    Chimaev went on to ragdoll Kevin Holland in the co-main event, earning his sixth win inside the Octagon. He was subsequently forced to move up from 170 to middleweight, where he’s since added wins over Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker, setting the stage for his scrap with ‘DDP’ in ‘Chi-Town.’

    Between illnesses, weight misses, and cancellations aplenty, are Bisping and Felder right to be concerned about what the middleweight division could look like with Chimaev sitting on the throne?

  • Why did Nassourdine Imavov Request Caio Borralho for UFC Paris Main Event?

    Why did Nassourdine Imavov Request Caio Borralho for UFC Paris Main Event?

    Caio Borralho was just the next man up for Nassourdine Imavov.

    After stringing together a quartet of impressive victories over Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, Brendan Allen, and Israel Adesanya, Imavov was ready to take on anyone else standing in the way of his first middleweight title opportunity. As it turns out, that man just so happens to be Borralho — the Brazilian fan favorite and co-founder of the immensely popular Fighting Nerds.

    Now, Imavov and Borralho will do battle on September 6 when the UFC makes its annual pit stop in Paris, France.

    Following his impressive second-round knockout of ‘The Last Stylebender’ in February, Imavov was eager to get back to work. Speaking with MMA Junkie, the Dagestani revealed what inspired him to ask for a fight against Borralho in ‘The City of Light.’

    “I did four fights in 11 months against all top-10 ranked opponents,” Imavov said. “The next contender was Caio. So I asked the UFC to bring him in Paris.”

    A shot at UFC gold hangs in the balance between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho

    With an 8-2 record inside the Octagon, Imavov has more than earned his spot as the No. 1 ranked contender in the middleweight division. But if he hopes to keep that top spot, he’ll have to do what no man has been able to inside the Octagon — beat Borralho.

    ‘The Natural’ goes into his eighth promotional appearance with an umblemished 7-0 UFC record, including highlight-reel finishes against Michał Oleksiejczuk and Paul Craig. Borralho’s most recent outing saw him score a unanimous decision win over aforementioned contender Jared Cannonier last August.

    With a win over Imavov, Borralho could steal the No. 1 spot in the rankings, setting the stage for a massive title tilt against the winner of this month’s middleweight championship showdown between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.

  • Meeting Death Created Khamzat Chimaev as We Know Him Today: “If you’re not ready to die when it comes, you’ll be scared”

    Meeting Death Created Khamzat Chimaev as We Know Him Today: “If you’re not ready to die when it comes, you’ll be scared”

    Khamzat Chimaev does not fear death.

    Exploding onto the scene in 2020, ‘Borz’ will look to add a UFC title to his resume when he challenges reigning and defending middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 this Saturday, August 16, in Chicago.

    After winning his first three fights UFC in the span of eight weeks, Chimaev appeared to be on the fast track to fame, fortune, and gold. Sadly, his mometum was halted due to an especially bad bout with COVID-19. The illness was so extreme that the undefeated Chechen monster was contemplating retirement.

    Fortunately, Chimaev made a full recovery returned to the UFC 13 months later, but ‘Borz’ was fully prepared to meet his maker.

    “I believe in God, so I wanna meet Him as well. Life is going really fast — I’m already 31,” Chimaev told ESPN. “I remember being 6 or 7 years old, and it feels like yesterday. I believe in God, so do good things before I meet Him. If you’re not ready to die when it comes, you’ll be scared. Maybe my thinking about that made me who I am today.”

    Will Khamzat Chimaev’s reign of terror continue at UFC 319?

    Since making his return, Chimaev has added five more wins to his resume, none more impressive than his horrifying first-round submission victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi. That on top of big wins over Kevin Holland and Kamaru Usman moved Chimaev into the No. 3 spot in the middleweight rankings, setting the stage for his highly anticipated clash with du Plessis in ‘Chi-Town.’

    Overall, Chimaev is 14-0 in his mixed martial arts career with an 85% finish rate — five KOs and seven submissions. He enters Saturday’s scrap with the South African sensation as a 2-to-1 favorite to leave ‘The Windy City’ with the 185-pound crown.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Shows Off Cardio While Trash-Talking Dricus Du Plessis: “Come here and let’s see!”

    Khamzat Chimaev Shows Off Cardio While Trash-Talking Dricus Du Plessis: “Come here and let’s see!”

    Cardio won’t be an issue for Khamzat Chimaev.

    After scoring a stunning first-round submission victory over Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi, ‘Borz’ will look to cash in on his first title opportunity when he challenges reigning and defending middleweight king Dricus du Plessis this Saturday night at UFC 319 in Chicago.

    While Chimaev goes into the contest with an unblemished 14-0 record and a slew of impressive performances, some have suggested that the Chechen’s gas tank could be his biggest Achille’s heel come fight night. Chimaev recently attempted to quell any concerns that his cardio could be a problem while sending a very clear message to his opponent.

    “What did you say, Dricus? You think my cardio won’t hold up? Come here and let’s see!” Chimaev said in a training clip via The MAC Life.

    Khamzat Chimaev’s cardio coach says his strength and conditioning is on a ‘different level’

    Chimaev is always looking to end things early inside the Octagon, but in the instances where he’s dragged into deeper waters, ‘Borz’ has been known to fade down the stretch. That was ever apparent in his bouts against Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman.

    And while he went on to win both of those fights via decision, Chimaev’s cardio coach Joakim Karlsson thinks that today’s version of ‘Borz’ is far more dangerous than the one who fought Burns and the ‘Nigerian Nightmare.’

    “Man, you can’t compare Khamzat, now, this time, with (the one from) one, two years ago,” Karlsson said at a UFC 319 media event. “It’s totally different. He has a different strength and conditioning coach now. It’s a different level now. I don’t think it’s fair to compare him from one, two years ago. It’s not the same.

    “He’s just taking training more serious now. He has good dedication to what he does because now it’s serious stuff, it’s coming up to a championship fight. So he’s been more serious about everything. He’s taking care of nutrition, sleep, recovery and everything. He’s good.”

  • UFC Icon Rebuffs Brendan Schaub on Dricus Du Plessis Becoming a Three-Division Champ

    UFC Icon Rebuffs Brendan Schaub on Dricus Du Plessis Becoming a Three-Division Champ

    Brendan Schaub thinks Dricus du Plessis could be the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion. Chael Sonnen isn’t so sure.

    Following dominant defenses against Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland in his last two outings, ‘DDP’ will arguably face his toughest test yet when he puts his middleweight gold on the line against undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev. ‘DDP’ and Chimaev will headline UFC 319 this Saturday, August 16, when the promotion heads back to Chicago for a loaded pay-per-view lineup, which includes the Octagon debut of former Bellator star Aaron Pico.

    When du Plessis and Chimaev step inside the cage, they’ll be fighting for much more than gold.

    Both fighters enter the bout undefeated in their UFC careers, and both have dreams of etching their names in the history books as a three-division champion. But despite Schaub’s strong belief that ‘DDP’ can accomplish his goal, Sonnen thinks that could be a pretty tall order for du Plessis. Especially when the man you have to go through is Chimaev.

    “Brendan Schaub did a piece, and he likes Dricus,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “He likes Dricus to the point that he thinks he could be a three-division champion. Brendan laid out the math: 185, where he’s already king. Go up to 205, grab the belt, slide up to heavyweight, beat those guys.

    “I don’t hate the idea. I’m grateful that Brendan brought this to our attention because I too find that Dricus, in his next fight, is not fighting for nothing. I think there is something there. Take it from me, Mr. Division Expert: it has never been this difficult.”

    Who’s ‘O’ will go when Dricus du Plessis meets Khamzat Chimaev in ‘The Windy City’?

    ‘DDP’ heads to Chi-Town with a perfect 9-0 record inside the Octagon and wins over a slew of former world champions. Meanwhile, ‘Borz’ will look to cash in on his long-awaited title opportunity after ragdolling opponents on his way to a 14-0 record, including a teeth-cracking submission win over Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi last year.

    As it stands, Chimaev is a moderate favorite to come out on top, but du Plessis is known for defying the odds. In fact, the South African sensation has opened as the underdog in seven of his nine UFC bouts.

    Will du Plessis defy the odds once again, or is it Chimaev’s time to finally strap UFC gold around his waist?

  • UFC Icons Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman Gearing Up for Long-Awaited Trilogy Fight

    UFC Icons Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman Gearing Up for Long-Awaited Trilogy Fight

    Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman are ready to run it back one more time.

    After competing twice under the UFC banner, the former world titleholders will complete their trilogy — this time in a boxing bout. No official announcement has been made, but according to a report from Main Event TV, Weidman spilled the tea while attending a wrestling tournament in Atlanta.

    “A credible source who spoke directly with Chris Weidman at a wrestling tournament in Atlanta last week confirmed to Maurits School (@MauritsSchool) that the trilogy fight with Anderson Silva is happening, and it will be under Boxing rules,” the outlet wrote in a post on Instagram.

    Weidman ended Silva’s 2,457-day reign as the undisputed middleweight champion in July 2013, knocking out ‘The Spider’ in the second round of their UFC 162 headliner. Five months later, they’d run it back at UFC 168. Weidman once again came out on top after Silva suffered a horrific leg break just 76 seconds into the contest.

    Silva returned from the injury 13 months later, but failed to find the same success he enjoyed during the previous seven years.

    Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman 3 comes eight years after the UFC tried to book the trilogy bout

    According to Weidman, the UFC attempted to book a threequel between the two in 2017, but being that it would have been a short-notice situation, ‘All-American’ respectfully declined.

    Weidman went on to successfully defend the 185-pound crown three times, adding wins over Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort before surrendering the strap to Luke Rockhold in December 2015. Weidman would only find the win column three more times over the next nine years, prompting him to retire from the UFC following a loss against Eryk Anders at UFC 310.

    While this would be Weidman’s first foray into boxing, Silva has already tested his mettle in the sweet science, amassing a 3-2 record with wins over Julio César Chávez Jr. and Tito Ortiz. Silva’s last boxing bout came in October 2022 against YouTube sensation Jake Paul.

  • Disney and Gina Carano Reach Shocking Settlement in Star Wars Lawsuit

    Disney and Gina Carano Reach Shocking Settlement in Star Wars Lawsuit

    Gina Carano has settled her lawsuit with the ‘House of Mouse.’

    The former MMA fighter was unceremoniously fired from her recurring role on the hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian in 2021 after she made a controversial post on social media comparing the treatment of modern-day republicans to Jews during the Holocaust.

    “Jews were beaten in the streets, not by Nazi soldiers but by their neighbors…. even by children, because history is edited, most people today don’t realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews,” the actress posted at the time. “How is that any different from hating someone for their political views?”

    Despite the utter ignorance of the post, Carano maintained that she was being discriminated against due to her conservative views, and, in turn, filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Disney with a little financial assistance from tech billionaire and Donald Trump’s on-again-off-again bestie, Elon Musk.

    On Thursday, Carano announced that she had settled the years-long suit with both Disney and it’s subsidary responsible for producing Star Wars content, Lucasfilm LTD.

    “I have come to an agreement with Disney/Lucasfilm @disney @Lucasfilm which I believe is the best outcome for all parties involved,” Carano said in a statement. “I hope this brings some healing to the force… I hope to make you proud. I am excited to flip the page and move onto the next chapter. My desires remain in the arts, which is where I hope you will join me.”

    Disney is seemingly open to working with Gina Carano again

    Before parting ways, Disney had reportedly floated the idea of producing a spin-off series based on Carano’s fan favorite character on the show, Cara Dune. Of course, those plans were quickly scrapped after her firing, but in a statement following the settlement, Disney seemingly left the door open to work with Carano in the future.

    “The Walt Disney Company and Lucasfilm are pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with Gina Carano to resolve the issues in her pending lawsuit against the companies. Ms. Carano was always well respected by her directors, co-stars, and staff, and she worked hard to perfect her craft while treating her colleagues with kindness and respect.

    “With this lawsuit concluded, we look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future,” Disney said in a statement. 

    After Disney showed her the door, Carano continued to act in and produce projects for conservative media outlet Daily Wire. One of her projects included Terror on the Prairie, a western co-starring herself and UFC Hall of Famer Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone.