MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • Michael Bisping Pitches ‘Rematch 5 Years In The Making’ For Jared Cannonier After UFC Vegas 102

    Michael Bisping Pitches ‘Rematch 5 Years In The Making’ For Jared Cannonier After UFC Vegas 102

    While Jared Cannonier might be unsure about his next step following Saturday’s result, one former champion thinks he’s got just the idea for the UFC middleweight contender.

    Cannonier proved that he’s got plenty left in the tank this past weekend when he headlined the latest UFC Fight Night at the Apex in Las Vegas.

    Though he entered the cage as the underdog, the former title challenger overcame a couple of early knockdowns to turn the tide on Gregory Rodrigues en route to a TKO stoppage in the opening exchanges of round four.

    Moving forward, “The Killa Gorilla” has admitted that his past results and the landscape of the division leaves him in a tricky position when it comes to rising the ranks.

    But during a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Bisping identified a second dance with a top contender that the former champ believes makes perfect sense.

    “A rematch five years in the making, I think that makes all the sense in the world,” Bisping said about Cannonier running it back with Robert Whittaker. “Robert would want it because he’d look at it as a good fight to find his mojo, to come back from, to get a win, to get back in the win column, to beat somebody that he’s beaten before.

    “And, of course, for Jared Cannonier, at 40 years old, Robert Whittaker is a massive household name in mixed martial arts,” Bisping continued. “Everyone would want to see that fight and it’s a chance for Jared to get that one back.”

    Whittaker has been out of action since having his surge toward another championship fight emphatically stalled by Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi last October.

    Having previously won back-to-back contests opposite Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov, the Australian remains close to the top and will be looking to revive his ongoing title ambitions in 2025.

    With that, perhaps a second meeting with Cannonier could be in store. The pair previously did battle at UFC 254 in 2020, with Whittaker’s success on the feet including a broken arm suffered by “The Killa Gorilla” and culminating in a unanimous decision win.

  • VIDEO: Former Rivals Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman Have Awkward Encounter At UFC Vegas 102

    VIDEO: Former Rivals Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman Have Awkward Encounter At UFC Vegas 102

    Colby Covington didn’t seem to get the response he was after when bumping into former bitter rival Kamaru Usman at Saturday’s UFC event at the Apex.

    The polarizing former interim welterweight champion was in attendance this weekend as the mixed martial arts leader staged its latest UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas.

    As has often been the case in recent weeks and months, “Chaos” was streaming live on his Twitch account. And while speaking to his followers, Covington crossed paths with one of the night’s ESPN desk analysts, whom it’s fair to say he’s more than familiar with.

    But while his and Usman’s feud is far from as heated as it was when they shared the Octagon twice a number of years ago, Covington’s attempt to initiate a conversation looked to be brushed off by the former undisputed champ.

    “Yes, that was Usman guys,” Covington said after the awkward interaction. “I don’t think he wanted to talk on the stream ’cause he didn’t want the chat to hear what he had to say. But yeah, we’ll definitely chop it up a little bit. Maybe we’ll get a picture, or maybe we’ll just fight. You never know, when ‘Chaos’ is in the building, it’s unpredictable. … No hard feelings.”

    Two of Covington’s three failed attempts at reaching the welterweight throne came opposite Usman at UFC 245 in 2019 and UFC 268 in 2021. While he was stopped in the fifth frame first time around, “Chaos” was unable to outpoint the then-champ in the rematch two years later.

    Since then, the 36-year-old has gone 1-2, defeating Jorge Masvidal but losing emphatically to both Leon Edwards and Joaquin Buckley. His future is uncertain in 2025 following his setback at the hands of “New Mansa” last December.

  • Ilia Topuria Says Dagestani MMA Fighters Lose ‘Every Competitive Fight’ Amid Talk Of Islam Makhachev Clash

    Ilia Topuria Says Dagestani MMA Fighters Lose ‘Every Competitive Fight’ Amid Talk Of Islam Makhachev Clash

    UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria continues to fan the flames of a potential rivalry with lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev.

    Considerable uncertainty surrounds Topuria’s next assignment. While the likes of Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes target his 145-pound gold, the Spaniard has made clear his goal of pursuing two-division glory.

    With that, talk of a clash with Makhachev continues to float around the mixed martial arts community and both men have frequently addressed it during interviews.

    During a recent appearance on the Full Send Podcast, Topuria no doubt added further heat to the back and forth by taking aim at Makhachev and his fellow Dagestani fighters.

    According to “El Matador,” fighters from the region flounder if they can’t establish their dominance early on in fights.

    “None of them have special cardio and stamina. The way they do it, if you fight any of them, the thing they need when they go inside the Octagon, in the first contact, they want to feel like they’ve dominated you,” Topuria said. “They start to build their confidence off that. It’s like, ‘I can dominate you, maybe you escape, and we strike again, but I feel like I’m stronger than you.’

    “If they feel like in the first contact in the first round that they can’t control you and it’s very competitive, then their head goes down.,” Topuria continued. “This is what they try to do, to beat you in the early rounds, that they can dominate you, that they are stronger than you. But when they realize that it’s not like that, most of the time, they lose those kinds of fights. All of the competitive fights they lose — all of them.”

    While some might suggest that Umar Nurmagomedov’s five-round defeat to Merab Dvalishvili last month supports Topuria’s hypothesis, the bantamweight contender’s brother found a different outcome in his January outing. Usman Nurmagomedov got the better of Irish challenger Paul Hughes in their competitive main event title fight at PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai.

    It remains to be seen whether Topuria will get the chance to prove his remarks right against Makhachev this year or be made to defend his featherweight belt for a second time.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: UFC Seattle Card Undergoes Major Changes

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: UFC Seattle Card Undergoes Major Changes

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards.

    With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, February 10, and Sunday, February 16, a number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources.

    For those matchups, including the planned main event for the Apex on April 5, check out the list below:

    But it wasn’t all positive, with four fights falling through or being adjusted:

  • Henry Cejudo Suggests Alternative To ‘Stupid’ Sean O’Malley Rematch For Merab Dvalishvili

    Henry Cejudo Suggests Alternative To ‘Stupid’ Sean O’Malley Rematch For Merab Dvalishvili

    Ahead of his return to action this weekend, former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo has assessed the landscape of the bantamweight title picture.

    Merab Dvalishvili has ruled over the division since his dominant victory over Sean O’Malley at the Sphere last September. He’s defended the crown once, getting the better of undefeated challenger Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January.

    The Georgian champ has outlined his intention to remain active and put the gold on the line again in the first half of 2025. And when it comes to the opposition, one ex-foe is expecting to have the chance for redemption.

    After being sidelined with a torn labrum following his title defeat in 2024, O’Malley was quick to insist that he’ll return straight into a rematch with Dvalishvili this year.

    During a recent interview with Home of Fight, Cejudo rejected the notion that “Sugar” deserves a second dance with “The Machine,” instead pitching Cory Sandhagen as a better challenger.

    “I think that’s stupid,” Cejudo said of Dvalishvili potentially running it back with O’Malley. “It’s not like O’Malley’s a pay-per-view king. Like, his fights don’t do sh*t, man. I think the person that they should give him (is) Sandhagen.

    “Sandhagen makes a lot of sense. Sandhagen could potentially beat him,” Cejudo continued. “I mean, I still think Merab beats him, but he has the tools to really shut out Merab’s freaking lights. That’s the cool thing about it.”

    “The Sandman” is coming off a defeat to Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi last August.

    Cejudo, meanwhile, is still seeking the first win of his comeback, having lost back-to-back outings opposite Aljamain Sterling and Dvalishvili since returning from retirement.

    “Triple C” will hope the long-awaited triumph finally arrives next weekend, when he headlines the UFC’s return to Seattle against Song Yadong.

  • ‘That Makes Up For 312’ – Fans React To Reveal Of Full Main Card For UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev

    ‘That Makes Up For 312’ – Fans React To Reveal Of Full Main Card For UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev

    The main card for next month’s UFC 313 pay-per-view event has been confirmed — and fans are expecting violence.

    After a disappointing numbered event Down Under in Sydney, Australia earlier this month, the promotion’s March offering on PPV comes from within the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    Two highly anticipated clashes are set to headline, with fan favorite Alex Pereira defending his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev in the main event and Justin Gaethje meeting Dan Hooker in a sure-fire barnburner at 155 pounds.

    During the broadcast of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night event at the Apex, the MMA leader confirmed which other three fights will go down on the UFC 313 main card, including two further lightweight bouts and a key contest at 115 pounds.

    • Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira (C) vs. Magomed Ankalaev
    • Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs. Dan Hooker
    • Lightweight: Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
    • Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo
    • Lightweight: King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy

    Fans quickly flocked to social media to react, with the majority seemingly anticipating a much more electric card at UFC 313 than was delivered to Aussie fans at Qudos Bank Arena on Feb. 8.

    https://twitter.com/AintFredoYou/status/1890957073996767684
    https://twitter.com/philipleone/status/1890962195602714881
  • Youssef Zalal Accuses Calvin Kattar Of Underhanded Tactics At UFC Vegas 102: ‘Slipperiest Guy I’ve Ever Seen’

    Youssef Zalal Accuses Calvin Kattar Of Underhanded Tactics At UFC Vegas 102: ‘Slipperiest Guy I’ve Ever Seen’

    Youssef Zalal may have had his hand raised at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, but he believes achieving the win was made more difficult by some potential cheating.

    Zalal recorded the biggest win of his career to date in this weekend’s co-main event at the Apex, where he outpointed top-10 opposition in perennial featherweight contender Calvin Kattar.

    But while he’s now won seven straight and can expect a high number next to his name come Tuesday’s rankings update, “The Moroccan Devil” wasn’t totally happy in the aftermath of his triumph.

    During his post-fight press conference, Zalal appeared to accuse Kattar of cheating by greasing his body to ensure an advantage in grappling exchanges.

    “This is the crazy part: We worked a lot of grappling, and I sh*t you not, I felt like there’s Vaseline all over his legs,” Zalal said. “I swear to God, he was the most slipperiest guy I’ve ever seen in my life, and I felt like I’m not trying to be that guy with this and that (excuse). But man, that was suspicious, bro.

    “Nobody slides like that – that quick. I’ve fought a lot of good guys – Jack Shore and all those guys – and I felt when you’re dry and all that stuff, there’s no way. It is what it is. You can cheat the sport, you can do whatever you want.”

  • ‘Abuse Of Elders’ – Fans React As GFL Announces Frank Mir vs. Fabrício Werdum Matchup With Combined Age of 92

    ‘Abuse Of Elders’ – Fans React As GFL Announces Frank Mir vs. Fabrício Werdum Matchup With Combined Age of 92

    The Global Fight League’s rollout of matchups for its inaugural season isn’t exactly being met with positive reactions, especially the most recently confirmed bout between former UFC heavyweight champions Frank Mir and Fabrício Werdum.

    This year, the GFL is set to stage events for the first time, as the new organization targets success in mixed martial arts with a team-based format. 15 shows are apparently lined up until August, before a pair of playoff cards and one final event goes down at the end of 2025.

    After confirming the six city teams and manager/head coach combinations for each, 120 athletes were chosen as part of the inaugural draft in January. A few weeks on — and before the release of any information on dates and locations for the upcoming events — the first matchups have emerged.

    Following the announcement of Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold 2, the GFL caused a stir by revealing the return matchup for a well past his prime Maurício “Shogun” Rua, who will face the powerful Yoel Romero.

    And more matchups driving further “Grandad Fight League” jokes among fans look to be on the way, starting with a heavyweight clash between 45-year-old Team Los Angeles representative Mir and 47-year-old Werdum, of Team São Paulo.

    The Brazilian’s inclusion marks one of many concerns highlighted by the MMA community. Werdum and fellow GFL signing Wanderlei Silva both cited irreversible brain damage in their statements for the now-settled antitrust lawsuit against the UFC.

    That was pointed out by some fans while reacting to his first fight since a 2023 decision loss to Junior dos Santos under the Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA banner. Mir, meanwhile, hasn’t fought in MMA since 2019 and lost both his professional boxing debut and Triad Combat bout 2021.

  • UFC Fight Night: Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues Weigh-In Results: One Fight Canceled

    UFC Fight Night: Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues Weigh-In Results: One Fight Canceled

    UFC Fight Night: Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results.

    After staging its latest pay-per-view Down Under in Sydney last weekend, the mixed martial arts leader is back at its home base of the Apex.

    Headlining will once again be the middleweights, as perennial main-eventer and former title challenger Jared Cannonier looks to stall the surge of another rising name at 185 pounds in Gregory Rodrigues.

    Elsewhere, the likes of featherweight contender Calvin Kattar, once-highly touted middleweight Edmen Shahbazyan, and strawweight veteran Angela Hill will be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues takes place on Saturday, February 15, at the Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.

    See above for a replay of the weigh-ins via MMA Junkie, and check out the results below.

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight: Jared Cannonier (185.5lbs) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (186lbs)
    • Featherweight: Calvin Kattar (146lbs) vs. Youssef Zalal (146lbs)
    • Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan (185.5lbs) vs. Dylan Budka (186lbs)
    • Lightweight: Ismail Bonfim (156lbs) vs. Nazim Sadykhov (156lbs)
    • Middleweight: Rodolfo Vieira (185.5lbs) vs. Andre Petroski (186lbs)
    • Featherweight: Connor Matthews (146lbs) vs. Jose Delgado (146lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Women’s Strawweight: Angela Hill (115.5lbs) vs. Ketlen Souza (115.5lbs)
    • Lightweight: Jared Gordon vs. Mashrabjon Ruzibaev*
    • Flyweight: Rafael Estevam (126lbs) vs. Jesus Aguilar (125.5lbs)
    • Welterweight: Gabriel Bonfim (170.5lbs) vs. Khaos Williams (169.5lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Vince Morales (136lbs) vs. Elijah Smith (135.5lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Don’Tale Mayes (266lbs) vs. Valter Walker (245lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Julia Avila (135.5lbs) vs. Julia Cavalcanti (134.5lbs)

    *The lightweight bout between Jared Gordon and Mashrabjon Ruzibaev was canceled due to an issue with the latter.

  • Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold 2, Yoel Romero vs. ‘Shogun’ Rua Announced By Global Fight League

    Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold 2, Yoel Romero vs. ‘Shogun’ Rua Announced By Global Fight League

    A number of veterans have their first outings under the Global Fight League (GFL) banner confirmed, and the opening matchups include a rematch between former UFC middleweight champions Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold.

    After years of preparation, the GFL is set to stage events for the first time this coming April, as the promotion looks to succeed in the fight game with a team-based format and season structure. 15 cards are planned up until August, after which two playoff events and one final will take place before the year’s end. 

    Following the release of the six city teams, as well as a manager and head coach for each, 120 fighters were picked as part of the inaugural draft last month. And while little is known about dates and venues for the first events in April, the matchups have begun to roll out.

    The official GFL social media account announced the first fight on Thursday. As expected after Luke Rockhold was traded from Team Dubai to Team Los Angeles, the Californian will run it back with Team New York’s Weidman, a fellow former UFC middleweight champion.

    The pair first collided way back in 2015, with Rockhold emerging victorious from the Fight of the Night at UFC 194 after stopping the then-defending champ in round four.

    Rockhold, who was also the last 185-pound titleholder in Strikeforce, has competed just once in MMA since 2019. After consecutive knockout losses to Yoel Romero and Jan Błachowicz, the 40-year-old memorably bowed out of the UFC in defeat against Paulo Costa. He’s since gone 1-1 away from MMA, losing to Mike Perry in BKFC and stopping Joe Schilling under the Karate Combat banner.

    Weidman, meanwhile, initially appeared to announce his retirement from the sport last month but was quickly announced as the GFL’s latest big-name signing. The Baldwin native has had his hand raised once in three fights since returning from a broken leg. Weidman was most recently finished by Eryk Anders at UFC 309 last November.

    The rematch between Rockhold and Weidman wasn’t the only confirmed first-round matchup, with the GFL also revealing a clash between Team Miami’s Yoel Romero and Maurício “Shogun” Rua of Team São Paulo.

    The inclusion of Rua was among many that raised concerns in the MMA community. The 43-year-old looked a shadow of his former self when he was knocked out by Ihor Potieria in January 2023. Despite the retirement that followed that fight being widely supported, the former UFC and PRIDE standout now has Romero’s power to deal with.

    While four years older than Rua, the game doesn’t appear to have left “Soldier of God” as of yet. Since a loss in his Bellator debut, the Cuban has won three out of four fights in the cage, most recently defeating fellow former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos under the PFL banner last February.

  • Sean Strickland Ousts Eric Nicksick From His Corner Team After Public Criticism Of UFC 312 Performance

    Sean Strickland Ousts Eric Nicksick From His Corner Team After Public Criticism Of UFC 312 Performance

    While former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland doesn’t appear to have any animosity toward his “friend” Eric Nicksick, he seemingly isn’t expecting the renowned coach to lead his corner next time out.

    After sharing a special night in Sydney back in 2023 courtesy of a memorable upset win over Israel Adesanya, Strickland and Nicksick were back Down Under last week challenging the reign of Dricus Du Plessis.

    They narrowly failed to crack the South African’s puzzle 13 months ago in Canada, and the polarizing American was even further from having his hand raised second time around.

    In the main event of UFC 312 on Saturday, Strickland fell to a lopsided decision defeat after a disappointing display across five rounds that has garnered him plenty of flak from the MMA community. And perhaps the most vocally critical this week was the Xtreme Couture standout’s head coach and cornerman.

    During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Nicksick didn’t hold back in his assessment of Strickland’s performance, branding it “uninspiring.” Many have eagerly anticipated the ex-champ’s reaction to those remarks, and he provided them a day later in a video posted on X.

    In addition to outlining his plan to utilize different individuals in his corner moving forward, Strickland highlighted some of the adversity he had to overcome during fight camp for UFC 312.

    “Alright, you guys keep tagging me about this whole Eric thing,” Strickland began. “I like Eric; he’s a friend of mine, and he’s going to continue to be a friend of mine. Will he be in my corner? Probably not. We have so many great guys at Xtreme…we have so many savages who I would love to corner me. … That entire (UFC 312) fight camp was just a struggle. Guys, we all have exuses as to why we didn’t win…and they don’t f*cking matter.

    “The only reason why I’m making this video is because Eric had to go do a f*cking podcast and become an influencer, so now I’ve got to kind of explain myself. Opportunity never comes when it’s supposed to. … You must say yes. This is not an excuse, but that entire camp was just a struggle of, ‘I’m good, I’m good,’ knowing I’m not good,” Strickland continued. “Whether it be the staph infection, the broken arm, having to get a visa that didn’t get approved until a week (before), not being able to get cornerman out there; this entire camp was a struggle of, ‘I’m not good,’ but me looking in the mirror and saying, ‘Sack up!’”

    The 33-year-old also touched on Nicksick’s questioning of his motivation when it comes to a continued career in fighting.

    While the renowned trainer stated in no uncertain terms that he’s only interested in coaching those who aspire to be a world champion, Strickland enters the Octagon for a different reason.

    “You guys, I don’t fight to put belts on the wall. I don’t fight because Eric wants to go do a fancy podcast,” Strickland stated. “Before fighting, you guys, I had the lowest self-esteem. I couldn’t even look at myself in the f*cking mirror. Through fighting, I’ve learned so much, met so many amazing people. … You guys have changed my f*cking life. You’ve made me grow so much as a person, in the ring and out of the ring. That’s why I fight.”

  • Josh Emmett vs. Lerone Murphy In The Works For UFC Fight Night Main Event At The Apex

    Josh Emmett vs. Lerone Murphy In The Works For UFC Fight Night Main Event At The Apex

    A clash between hard-hitting featherweight contenders is targeted for the main event of the UFC Fight Night event in Las Vegas on April 5.

    Before heading to Miami to stage UFC 314 from the Kaseya Center, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will kick off its schedule for April back at the Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada.

    And the planned main event has now been revealed, with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck reporting that an intriguing 145-pound battle between perennial contender Josh Emmett (19-4) and the surging Lerone Murphy (15-0-1) is in the works for the April 5 UFC Fight Night.

    Emmett last appeared back in the cage in December 2023. Before sitting out the entirety of 2024, the #8-ranked featherweight rebounded from consecutive losses by producing one of the most violent knockouts in recent memory at the expense of Bryce Mitchell.

    Looking to avoid falling to the same fate as “Thug Nasty” in a few months’ time will be Murphy, an undefeated Englishman who has risen the ranks with recent triumphs over Edson Barboza and Dan Ige.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night on April 5 are as follows:

    • Josh Emmett vs. Lerone Murphy (featherweight main event)
    • Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Martin Buday (heavyweight)
    • Ode’ Osbourne vs. Luis Gurule (flyweight)
    • Rhys McKee vs. Daniel Frunza (welterweight)
    • Dione Barbosa vs. Diana Belbiţă (women’s flyweight)
    • Joanderson Brito vs. Pat Sabatini (featherweight)
    • Loma Lookboonmee vs. Ariane Carnelossi (women’s strawweight)
    • Robert Valentin vs. Torrez Finney (middleweight)
    • Vanessa Demopoulus vs. Talita Alencar (women’s strawweight)
    • Cortavious Romious vs. Chang Ho Lee (bantamweight)
  • Zhang Weili Reveals Condition UFC Has Laid Down For Potential Two-Division Title Challenge

    Zhang Weili Reveals Condition UFC Has Laid Down For Potential Two-Division Title Challenge

    Should UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Zhang Weili commit to a pursuit of more glory, she’ll have a big decision to make.

    Zhang further enhanced her legacy at this past weekend’s pay-per-view in Sydney, Australia, where she co-headlined UFC 312 in defense of her title against undefeated challenger Tatiana Suarez.

    The Chinese standout delivered one of the performances of her career to dominantly outpoint Suarez across five rounds, recording the third successful defense of her second title reign in the process.

    Having established her superiority at 115 pounds, Zhang’s ambitions have begun to spread beyond that divisional realm and to the flyweight division, currently ruled by Valentina Shevchenko.

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, “Magnum” further addressed that possibility, revealing the UFC’s stance on the matter.

    “I always wanted to go up one weight class, but it’s never good timing,” Zhang said. “For very quite a long time, I was a little bit confused, like, ‘OK, who should I fight? Because they all have their own arrangements and matches. But eventually it will work out with UFC because I really want to get a fight.’

    “There’s no concrete plan or ask from our side just yet. I’m willing to fight Valentina, but again, timing has to be right. Everything has to play in our favor, then it could happen,” Zhang continued. “Anything works. If we ended up in the flyweight (division), then I don’t have to go through so much pain to cut weight. Why not? … UFC kind of wants me to, if I actually go up to 125 (pounds), just kind of stay in there — don’t move (back down) again. But that’s something I need to consider myself.”

    Should Zhang choose against a permanent switch to 125 pounds and continue to defend the gold currently in her possession, it remains to be seen who will get the next shot.

    It could well be a rematch lying in wait for “Magnum.” While Virna Jandiroba is deemed by many to have already earned an opportunity, she’ll first need to get past Yan Xiaonan at UFC 314 this coming April.

  • Usman Nurmagomedov: Conor McGregor’s Kids Have To Live With The Fact Khabib ‘Kicked His Ass’

    Usman Nurmagomedov: Conor McGregor’s Kids Have To Live With The Fact Khabib ‘Kicked His Ass’

    Usman Nurmagomedov isn’t fazed by UFC star Conor McGregor’s continued focus on his cousin and family as a whole.

    McGregor has bashed Khabib Nurmagomedov and the region of Dagestan online and in interviews ever since his heated feud with “The Eagle” reached the cage in 2018.

    While the Irishman was viciously submitted by the then-UFC lightweight champion, that hasn’t stopped him from repeatedly continuing the kind of controversial trash talk he dished out in the lead-up to UFC 229.

    Most recently, McGregor’s disdain for the Nurmagomedovs was on full display when he lambasted Paul Hughes for his positive interactions with Khabib and co. after taking Usman to the limit in their title fight at PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Usman reflected on McGregor’s reaction to the niceties, explaining what he perceives to be the reason for the Dubliner’s ongoing hatred for all things Nurmagomedov.

    “Maybe because Khabib kicked his ass,” Nurmagomedov said. “He wants a rematch but he has to live with this all his life and his kids have to live with this all his life. When his kids will grow up, when his kids are 18 (years old), people will say, ‘Hey, your father tried to do some crazy stuff but some guy from Dagestan came to America and kicked your father’s ass.’ That’s it. That’s why he cannot sleep even.

    “He has to live with this and pass with this. All his family, all his legacy, all this, is around this. He lost to Khabib when (he) had to win. But it (did not) happen. Khabib smashed his face, his team and all for what he was working (for),” Nurmagomedov continued. “When Khabib beat him, he (did not) come back to fighting, even for life I think. He’s going to drink. He’s going to beat some women. He’s stupid.”

    McGregor hasn’t been active as a fighter in recent years. He’s remained in the headlines by way of controversy after controversy, with the most notable coming late last year when he was found liable for the assault of a woman who accused him of rape in Ireland.

  • Michael Chandler Pitches Matchup For UFC 317 Return At International Fight Week

    Michael Chandler Pitches Matchup For UFC 317 Return At International Fight Week

    Former UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler is eyeing his next fight — and he’s got both an opponent and date in mind.

    Chandler last competed in November 2024, returning from an ultimately failed layoff awaiting a planned showdown with Conor McGregor. Instead, “Iron” ran it back with Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.

    While he came close to defeating “Do Bronx” first time around to capture the title, he was soundly beaten in their rematch. And the result has left Chandler with a negative 2-4 record under the UFC banner.

    The American will look to rectify that in 2025, potentially starting with a showdown opposite a rising name in the division this summer.

    After a long period of speculation regarding a potential clash between Chandler and Paddy Pimblett, the former took to his Instagram Stories this week to pitch it for the International Fight Week-headlining UFC 317 event on June 28.

    Pimblett most recently moved to 6-0 in the UFC with an emphatic first-round submission win over King Green last year, catapulting him into the rankings at #12.

    “The Baddy” has since repeatedly teased a pursuit of Chandler next time out. And if the ex-Bellator champ’s post is any indication of the UFC’s plans, it looks as though he could be getting his wish in 2025.

  • Undefeated Dagestani Returns From Retirement, Joins Featherweight Roster For PFL World Tournament

    Undefeated Dagestani Returns From Retirement, Joins Featherweight Roster For PFL World Tournament

    The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has begun to roll out the rosters for eight “World Tournaments” set for 2025, with the latest being a featherweight lineup topped by former champion Movlid Khaybulaev.

    Major change is coming to the PFL this year, with the promotion making the decision to eliminate the season and playoff format from its yearly structure. Replacing that and the $1 million prize money will be Grand Prix-style tournaments across eight divisions, with the winners of each collecting $500,000.

    After confirming the dates and venue for four events that will host first-round matchups, the PFL announced the first full roster on Tuesday, with ex-Bellator champion Jason Jackson marking the standout name set for the single-elimination welterweight tournament.

    On Wednesday, it was the turn of the featherweights. And the inclusion of one “Killer” Khaybulaev has turned heads.

    The unbeaten Dagestani has competed just twice since winning the 2021 PFL featherweight season. While he qualified for the playoffs two years later, an eye injury later led to his premature retirement.

    Elsewhere, a pair of PFL regulars will enter the bracket in 2023 champ Jesus Pinedo and the man he beat to win the gold, Gabriel Braga. The tournament will also see Ireland’s Nathan Kelly look to make a splash on the global stage following consecutive wins at Bellator Champions Series events in 2024.

    See below for the full eight-man roster for this year’s featherweight “World Tournament,” as confirmed by a press release this week.

    • Jesus Pinedo (23-6-1)
    • Gabriel Braga (15-2)
    • Adam Borics (19-2)
    • Movlid Khaybulaev (21-0-1, 1 NC)
    • Jeremy Kennedy (19-5)
    • Yves Landu (21-9)
    • Nathan Kelly (11-3)
    • Tae Kyun Kim (10-1)
  • Stipe Miocic Makes His Pick For The Current Best Heavyweight — And It’s Not Jon Jones

    Stipe Miocic Makes His Pick For The Current Best Heavyweight — And It’s Not Jon Jones

    Don’t tell Jon Jones, but former UFC champion Stipe Miocic sees a prominent name competing away from the Octagon as the best heavyweight in the game.

    Miocic’s final taste of action on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage came against Jones in New York City last November, with the pair headlining UFC 309 inside the prestigious surroundings of Madison Square Garden.

    The veteran heavyweight’s return after close to four years away went as many had predicted, with Jones finding a finish in the third round of their championship clash.

    But despite feeling the full force of the reigning UFC heavyweight champ’s arsenal, in Miocic’s eyes that wasn’t enough for “Bones” to usurp the man who previously stopped him — Francis Ngannou.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, Miocic was asked to pick between the UFC champ and PFL Super Fights titleholder.

    “I mean, I’d go Francis (over Jones), just ’cause he is tearing it up, he’s doing great with his boxing,” Miocic said. “I go Francis.” 

    Ngannou secured a devastating knockout of Miocic to capture the UFC crown in 2021, exacting revenge on the American for the decision defeat he inflicted on him three years prior.

    The interview question did eliminate current interim UFC heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall from the equation. The Brit, who has long been campaigning to face Jones, would no doubt put his name into the mix.

    Unfortunately, talk of Jones and Ngannou’s competing greatness will likely never be settle in the cage, with the UFC not entertaining talk of a cross-promotion deal with the PFL to stage the highly desired heavyweight showdown.

  • PFL Announces Welterweight Roster For Inaugural World Tournament, Includes Ex-Bellator Champ Jason Jackson

    PFL Announces Welterweight Roster For Inaugural World Tournament, Includes Ex-Bellator Champ Jason Jackson

    The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has begun to roll out the rosters for eight “World Tournaments” set for 2025, starting with a welterweight lineup topped by former Bellator champion Jason Jackson.

    Major change is coming to the PFL this year, with the promotion making the decision to eliminate the season and playoff format from its yearly structure.

    Replacing that and the $1 million prize money will be Grand Prix-style tournaments across eight divisions, with the winners of each collecting $500,000.

    After confirming the dates and venue for four events that will host first-round matchups this week, the PFL announced the first full roster in a social media post.

    The standout name set for the single-elimination welterweight tournament is Jackson, who memorably knocked out Yaroslav Amosov in 2023 to win Bellator’s 170-pound title. After defeating Ray Cooper III last February, “The Ass-Kicking Machine” had his reign ended by Ramazan Kuramagomedov at the Bellator Champions Series event in Dublin.

    The 34-year-old Jamaican will now look to return to winning ways as part of the organization’s new format.

    Jackson won’t be the only former Bellator titleholder in the mix. After a 1-1 season record failed to put him into the playoffs last year, Andrey Koreshkov will look to emerge victorious in his second year under the PFL banner.

    Also of note is the arrival of Florim Zendeli on to the global stage. The Albanian, who is undefeated since 2021, won the 2024 PFL Europe welterweight season by choking out Daniele Miceli at last December’s championship event. He’ll now look to follow in the footsteps of Dakota Ditcheva by making the step up from the regional expansion.

    See below for the full eight-man roster for this year’s welterweight “World Tournament.”

    • Jason Jackson (18-5)
    • Florim Zendeli (10-1)
    • Andrey Koreshkov (28-5)
    • Magomed Umalatov (17-1)
    • Mukhamed Berkhamov (17-2, 1 NC)
    • Giannis Bachar (9-2)
    • Logan Storley (16-3)
    • Masayuki Kikuiri (10-2-1)
  • Coach Eric Nicksick Gives Brutal Assessment Of Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘To Show Up And Do That…Uninspiring’

    Coach Eric Nicksick Gives Brutal Assessment Of Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘To Show Up And Do That…Uninspiring’

    Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has been receiving plenty of flak for his defeat this past weekend, and it’s clear that even his own team is under no illusion about their man’s underperformance.

    Strickland vowed to put on a war in pursuit of redemption against Dricus Du Plessis — the man who took the 185-pound gold from him early last year — in the UFC 312 main event on Feb. 8.

    But in his return to the site where he shockingly dethroned Israel Adesanya in 2023, the polarizing American was unable to repeat the feat. Instead, the South African once again got the better of him on the scorecards, this time much more definitively.

    The defeated challenger has been criticized for not letting his hands go and putting any sort of pressure on the champ throughout the five-round contest. And perhaps the most brutally honest take to date has come from the lips of his head coach.

    During an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Nicksick described his frustrations as he watched Strickland’s lackluster display from the corner inside Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.

    “I think (Strickland) needs to evaluate what he wants to do in the sport,” Nicksick said. “If it’s just to make money, then that’s great. Let us know. I wanna coach world champions. My motivations are different. Just to kind of show up and do that and not really back it up, to me, was just kind of uninspiring.

    “It was just uninspired fighting to me. It just seemed like (Strickland) was sleepwalking. It was tough, man,” Nicksick continued. “To travel all the way (to Australia) — and let’s not forget, this is a title fight…I take these title fights very seriously. I was just disappointed, man.”

    It remains to be seen how Strickland will react to Nicksick’s stance, and what kind of conversations the two have had behind closed doors in the aftermath of Saturday’s pay-per-view event Down Under.

  • Tatiana Suarez Breaks Her Silence Days On From UFC 312 Defeat To Zhang Weili

    Tatiana Suarez Breaks Her Silence Days On From UFC 312 Defeat To Zhang Weili

    UFC women’s strawweight contender Tatiana Suarez has issued her first statement after falling short of title glory Down Under this past weekend.

    Suarez returned to action for the first time since August 2023 on Saturday, challenging two-time champion Zhang Weili’s reign in the co-main event of UFC 312.

    Having long been tipped for championship success as she overcame adversity after adversity, the undefeated Suarez entered the Octagon in Sydney, Australia as favorite to emerge with the gold in her possession.

    But her plans to reach the top on Feb. 8 were scuppered by Zhang, who delivered one of the performances of her career to dominantly outpoint her latest challenger across five rounds.

    Following on from her first professional defeat and the disappointing setback to her title ambitions, Suarez issued her first statement days on from UFC 312 in an Instagram post this week.

    “‘Champions don’t show up to get everything they want; they show up to give everything they have.’ And that’s what I’ll do every single time,” Suarez wrote. “No matter what! I love it all. Win, lose or draw, I’m right where I want to be. Doing what I love to do every single day of my life. I have the best people around me that love me for me. Living the dream! It’s all about the right mindset and life has taught me time and time again. I’ve experienced it all thrill, agony, happiness, heartbreak. That’s what life is all about. I’m blessed to have this life. And I’ll share these experiences with my children and the future generations to come. 🙏🏻❤️ Thank you to my friends, family, teammates, coaches and fiancé for being there every single time no matter what. Love you guys! On to the next!

    While Suarez goes back to the drawing board, Zhang will keep a keen eye on her division’s happenings across the upcoming months.

    As “Magnum” ponders a possible move up to flyweight to challenge Valentina Shevchenko, her former opponent Yan Xiaonan will meet Virna Jandiroba in a potential title eliminator at 115 pounds this April.

  • PFL Announces Dates & Venue For Opening Events Of New ‘World Tournament’ Format

    PFL Announces Dates & Venue For Opening Events Of New ‘World Tournament’ Format

    The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has laid out the schedule for the first phase of its inaugural “World Tournament” in 2025.

    PFL will be shaking things up this year after a 2024 that was marred by fighter complaints and a largely unsuccessful merger with the Bellator MMA roster. Over a year on from the acquisition, the promotion has decided to eliminate the Bellator brand moving forward.

    And that’s far from the only major shift in strategy entering 2025. The PFL will also be abandoning its season and playoff format after many had questioned its sustainability. Instead of that, Grand Prix-style tournaments will take place across eight divisions, with $500,000 prize money going to each winner.

    The full list of fighters in each weight category is yet to be finalized, but this the week the organization has revealed the dates and venue for the opening events.

    In a press release on Tuesday, the PFL announced that the “World Tournament” will begin with first-round bouts across four events on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Florida on April 3, April 11, April 18 and May 1.

    The annual single-elimination format will feature brackets at heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, featherweight, bantamweight and women’s flyweight.

    The tournament, which will air on ESPN in the United States and DAZN in Canada and across Europe, will span five months, with fighters requiring three wins to be crowned victor.

    In another change, elbows will be permitted in all bouts.

  • Belal Muhammad Breaks Down How Dricus Du Plessis Fight Would Play Out: ‘Then I Put Him To Sleep…’

    Belal Muhammad Breaks Down How Dricus Du Plessis Fight Would Play Out: ‘Then I Put Him To Sleep…’

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad continues to step up talk of a push for two-division title glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    Muhammad was quick to raise the topic of adding middleweight gold to his collection in the aftermath of the latest 185-pound title fight — a lopsided decision victory for Dricus Du Plessis over challenger Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 312.

    While the South African followed up his submission of Israel Adesanya with a dominant display this past weekend in Sydney, “Remember the Name” evidently wasn’t too impressed, claiming that his crowning up a weight class would be comfortable.

    And the 170-pound kingpin reiterated that sentiment on X recently by breaking down exactly how he’d defeat Du Plessis inside the Octagon. Should all go to plan for Muhammad, the bout would end with “Stillknocks” rendered unconscious.

    “I’d come out him with a 1-2 then he’d wing an overhand I’ll duck it change levels and take him down then he’d shrimp and get the underhook to get out but he’ll be to weak to get up so then I’ll hit him with ground and pound for the rest of round 1. Round 2 starts and I come out with a flying knee he shells up then I hit him with the zabit back trip then point and laugh at him (this makes him mad) he gets up and charges foward winging punches at me I slide out of the way with ease then hit him with a 1-2 then he gets frustrated shoots for a takedown I defend with ease but now he’s tired and stays on his knees I kick him to the body while he’s on the ground. End of round 2. .. round 3 starts and he’s distraught he can’t hit me he can’t take me down so then he tries spinning stuff I back up at the right time and end up taking his back he lets me under chin out of frustration then I put him to sleep … and new double champ”

    Before having the chance to bring such a scenario to fruition, Muhammad has work to do in his current division.

    “Remember the Name” is yet to defend the belt since wrestling it away from Leon Edwards in Manchester last July. That’s courtesy of a bone infection that canceled his planned showdown with undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov two months ago.

    While Muhammad likely prepares for a second shot at stalling “Nomad’s” championship aspirations, Du Plessis is also expected to face an undefeated challenger next in the form of Khamzat Chimaev.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Zhang Weili Misses Out On P4P Top Spot Despite UFC 312 Win

    UFC Rankings Report: Zhang Weili Misses Out On P4P Top Spot Despite UFC 312 Win

    The latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the UFC rankings toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of UFC 312, MMA News has you covered with this week’s complete updates.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Following his second successful title defense this past weekend, middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis has received a small P4P boost. The South African has climbed above Belal Muhammad to #6, with the welterweight champ now one place worse off at #7.

    Further down, the defeated Sean Strickland is on the edge of elimination from the list having slipped below lightweight fan favorite Charles Oliveira (#14) to #15.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: Zhang Weili’s incredible performance to defeat Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312 was not enough to usurp Valentina Shevchenko on the P4P list. “Magnum” has remained in second place below the flyweight queen.

    There has still been movement in the pecking order though, with Raquel Pennington (#8) passing Rose Namajunas (#9), Yan Xiaonan (#10) leapfrogging Suarez (#11), and Natália Silva (#13) jumping Jéssica Andrade (#14).

    Women’s Strawweight: After having her record blemished for the first time and title hopes dashed, Suarez has fallen one place to #2 in the strawweight UFC rankings. That’s left another former adversary of Zhang’s in Xiaonan as the new #1-ranked contender at 115 pounds.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: No changes.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: After a second loss to Dricus Du Plessis in the space of three fights, Sean Strickland has lost his status as top contender at 185 pounds. The American has slipped to #2, resulting in rising Frenchman Nassourdine Imavov taking the #1 position.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: Jhonata Diniz’s stay in the top 15 was short. After entering last week, the Brazilian has been immediately replaced by Kennedy Nzechukwu, who now has #14 next to his name.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Joe Rogan Calls For Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev Next, Says ‘Who Cares’ About Only 1 Title Defense

    Joe Rogan Calls For Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev Next, Says ‘Who Cares’ About Only 1 Title Defense

    UFC color commentator Joe Rogan knows what he wants to see next from featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria — and it’s not a second dance with Alexander Volkanovski.

    Topuria remains without a date in the calendar for his first fight of 2025, following on from a 2024 in which he dethroned Volkanovski and became the first man to knock out Max Holloway.

    A rematch with “Alexander the Great” was quickly tipped as the Spaniard’s next assignment after he defended the belt against “Blessed” last October. But frequent comments from Topuria and his team regarding a lightweight switch have led to some uncertainty.

    Despite only defending his title once, “El Matador” has made no secret of his desire to challenge Islam Makhachev for two-division glory as soon as possible.

    And for Rogan, there’s no time like the present.

    “As crazy as it sounds, I hope Ilia goes up to (155 pounds). I really do,” Rogan said during his JRE Fight Companion episode for Saturday’s UFC 312 pay-per-view. “Volkanovski-Diego Lopes (at) 145, Ilia goes up to ’55. I don’t care if he only defended the title one time or didn’t, who cares. Let’s go. Let’s f*cking go.

    “It’d be nice [to see him fight some of the other contenders at (featherweight), but also, who cares? Let’s go. Let’s f*cking go,” Rogan added.

    Plenty is evidently left to be decided at 145 pounds, with various reports flying about Topuria vs. Volkanovski 2 and other potential bouts such as Volkanovski against the charging Diego Lopes.

    Makhachev, meanwhile, remains without a next challenger to his throne after top contender Arman Tsarukyan ruled himself out by withdrawing from UFC 311 on 24 hours’ notice.

    The promotion is promising something huge for the Dagestani next time out, though, perhaps boosting Topuria’s chances of securing the matchup.

  • Luke Rockhold Slams Sean Strickland For ‘B*tching Out’ After Nose Break vs. Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 312

    Luke Rockhold Slams Sean Strickland For ‘B*tching Out’ After Nose Break vs. Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 312

    Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland continues to be the recipient of criticism for his latest performance.

    Strickland fell to a 1-2 record since winning the gold in August 2023 this past weekend. His memorable title win over Israel Adesanya was quickly followed by the end of his reign courtesy of Dricus Du Plessis 13 months ago, and the South African once again got the better of the polarizing American on Saturday.

    The pair ran it back Down Under in Sydney, Australia, headlining the UFC 312 pay-per-view. Strickland didn’t come close to redemption, instead suffering a lopsided decision defeat at the hands of “Stillknocks,” whose punches even resulted in a badly broken nose for the challenger.

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, another ex-UFC middleweight champ in Luke Rockhold gave his assessment of Strickland’s display.

    Like many in the MMA community, the 40-year-old was not impressed — to say the least…

    “If someone breaks your nose, you gotta fight like a f*cking man and sack up,” Rockhold said. “This motherf*cker talks such a big game and then he b*tches out and basically quits in a fight after he breaks his nose.

    “When does (Strickland) ever f*cking put his ass on the line and f*cking bite down and really go for it through a whole process of a fight, not just the last 10 seconds of a round? Look at him out there,” Rockhold added.

    Strickland has long faced heavy flak for his fight style, which sees a low-aggression approach follow fight weeks that usually involve proclamations of an impending bloody “war.”

    The likes of Demetrious Johnson have called on the former champ to adjust his style following two defeats to Du Plessis in his last three fights. Whether or not he heeds that advice remains to be seen.