MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Sends Supportive Message To Paul Hughes After Conor McGregor’s Attack: ‘You Are A Real Irishman!’

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Sends Supportive Message To Paul Hughes After Conor McGregor’s Attack: ‘You Are A Real Irishman!’

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has unsurprisingly taken aim at longtime rival Conor McGregor and backed Paul Hughes in the Irishman’s sudden back and forth with “The Notorious.”

    The relationship between Hughes and McGregor has taken a firm downward turn this week after footage emerged of “Big News” discussing Ireland’s most prominent fighter while in conversation with Khabib.

    Hughes spoke to “The Eagle” inside the cage at the PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai event last weekend, where the former Cage Warriors standout pushed Khabib’s cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov, all the way in their Bellator lightweight title fight.

    While much of the lead-up had been heated with a “Dagestan vs. Ireland” narrative, Usman showed respect to Hughes after taking the decision win. And the defeated challenger was keen to express to the opposition team that he’s far from the same as another Irish fighter whose controversial nature Khabib got to know very well a few years ago.

    Footage of Hughes making that point to the former UFC champ quickly went viral and found its way to McGregor, who has since been slamming “Big News” in a series of tweets, one of which saw him question Hughes’ Irish heritage.

    Though Hughes has been garnering support with his own firm responses to McGregor, he also received some backing from “The Eagle,” who branded his rival a “rapist and drug addict” in a post on his Instagram Stories.

    “You are a real Irishman @paulhughesmma and not a rapist and drug addict like this bastard,” Nurmagomedov wrote.

    McGregor was recently embroiled in a civil court case after being accused of rape by Nikita Hand. He was found civilly liable for the assault late last year and forced to pay the victim almost โ‚ฌ250,000.

    The Irishman’s troubles appear far from ending, too, after he was sued by a woman who claims he sexually assaulted her during the Heat vs. Celtics NBA game in June 2023.

  • Alex Pereira To Corner Sean Strickland For UFC 312 Title Challenge In Sydney

    Alex Pereira To Corner Sean Strickland For UFC 312 Title Challenge In Sydney

    Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland will have a familiar face in his corner in Australia early next month.

    Strickland is set to headline the promotion’s second pay-per-view of the new year, UFC 312 at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Feb. 8. There, he will look to exact revenge on Dricus Du Plessis and win back the 185-pound gold.

    The polarizing American will be back at the venue inside of which he became champ in September 2023 by outpointing Israel Adesanya. He’ll hope to repeat that feat in a rematch with Du Plessis, who brought “Tarzan’s” reign to an end in its first defense 12 months ago.

    And in his bid to reclaim the throne, Strickland is employing the help of a prominent former opponent-turned-occasional training partner.

    “We will have Alex Pereira in the corner, so dropping the news right now,” coach Eric Nicksick said told The Schmo.. “He’s a good friend of Sean. He’s a great training partner. Obviously, these guys have fought, but after the fight, I think it takes a man to go and learn from the guy who caught you with something.”

    Pereira and Strickland shared the cage in the summer of 2022, with “Poatan” violently stopping the latter in the first round to secure his title shot opposite Israel Adesanya later in the year.

    The pair have since formed a friendship and have frequently been seen training together. The Brazilian has also cornered his ex-opponent in the past, assuming the role for Strickland’s narrow defeat to Du Plessis in Canada last January.

  • Report: No Backups Set For UFC 312 Title Fights Despite Late Scramble To Save UFC 311 Main Event

    Report: No Backups Set For UFC 312 Title Fights Despite Late Scramble To Save UFC 311 Main Event

    Dana White and co. will have their fingers crossed that there isn’t a repeat of the late withdrawal in Los Angeles earlier this month when the promotion heads Down Under for UFC 312.

    After opening its pay-per-view schedule for 2025 with UFC 311 from Inglewood’s Intuit Dome, the mixed martial arts leader is taking the Octagon abroad for a return to Australia in February.

    Two names familiar to the attending Aussie fanbase will compete inside Qudos Bank Arena, with last year’s Sydney headliner, Dricus Du Plessis, meeting 2023’s main event victor in the city, Sean Strickland.

    Their middleweight championship rematch won’t be the only title fight on the UFC 312 card, with strawweight queen Zhang Weili also set to defend her throne opposite undefeated challenger Tatiana Suarez.

    While anticipation is building for those contests, fans will be well aware that no matchup is certain to go down until the cage door closes behind the athletes.

    That much was evident a few weeks back when Arman Tsarukyan pulled out of the UFC 311 main event, forcing the promotion to find a new foe for Islam Makhachev on just 24 hours’ notice. The Dagestani ultimately faced Renato Moicano, whom he steamrolled in minutes.

    Disappointment was evident when the highly awaited second clash between Makhachev and Tsarukyan fell through, but that scenario hasn’t convinced the UFC to make additional arrangements for the second PPV of the year.

    Per MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin, no fighters are currently expected to make the long-haul flight to Australia to serve as backup for the UFC 312 main or co-main events.

    The organization has often paid contenders to hit the scale as alternative options should injury or illness strike late in the day. But that hasn’t been the case since Tom Aspinall did so back at UFC 309 in November.

    Backups were neither present for Alexandre Pantoja’s title defense at UFC 310 against Kai Asakura nor the pair of championship clashes on Jan. 18. UFC 312 will now make it three PPVs on the bounce in that regard.

  • Michael Bisping Describes ‘Likely’ Outcome Of Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Michael Bisping Describes ‘Likely’ Outcome Of Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Israel Adesanya has the backing of a fellow former UFC middleweight champion ahead of his return to action in the Middle East this weekend.

    Adesanya is set to headline the MMA leader’s second visit to Saudi Arabia, coming in the form of another UFC Fight Night card in Riyadh on Saturday.

    In his return to non-pay-per-view, non-championship assignments after consecutive defeats to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, “The Last Stylebender” is tasked with stalling the charge of a rising up-and-comer in Nassourdine Imavov.

    While his opponent comes into the contest riding momentum from three straight wins, Adesanya plans on showing there’s life in the old dog yet. And former champ Michael Bisping, for one, expects him to do just that.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Bisping explained why he’s picking the Nigerian-New Zealander to emerge victorious inside anb Arena on Feb. 1.

    “More than likely Israel Adesanya gets a decision,” Bisping said. “I think he uses the jab, I think he lowers his base, I think heโ€™s probably pissed off and a little bit embarrassed. Israel Adesanya, when youโ€™re the champion of the world, when youโ€™re defending the belt so many times and you literally think your sh*t donโ€™t stink and you can beat everybody, you do get a little bit embarrassed. Your pride takes a hit when you lose three out of the last four and you see the middleweight division moving along without you.

    “Over five rounds, I do believe Israel Adesanya wins via decision,” Bisping continued. “I think he maintains range, keeps his distance, moves around, uses all of the space inside the Octagon, and in Saudi Arabia, Israel Adesanya will be the winner.”

    “The Last Stylebender” will hope to prove Bisping’s assessment correct come fight night and taste the winning feeling for the first time since his memorable knockout of Alex Pereira to return to the middleweight throne in April 2023.

  • ‘TJ KOs Him For Real’ – Fans Debate Merab Dvalishvili vs. ‘Prime’ TJ Dillashaw Result

    ‘TJ KOs Him For Real’ – Fans Debate Merab Dvalishvili vs. ‘Prime’ TJ Dillashaw Result

    Having cemented his grip on the UFC bantamweight title, talk of where Merab Dvalishvili fits among the division’s all-time greats is picking up.

    Dvalishvili recorded his first defense a few weeks back, following his crowning at the expense of Sean O’Malley four months prior with a successful halting of Umar Nurmagomedov’s championship ambitions.

    While the Georgian made the walk at UFC 311 as the underdog, he overcame a strong start from his undefeated challenger, utilizing his renowned cardio and pace to secure the decision victory in Los Angeles.

    The result extended Dvalishvili’s reign and active win streak to 12, which is enough for some to now award “The Machine” with GOAT status at 135 pounds.

    That’s sparked plenty of debate over how the current champ would stack up against some of the division’s past elites, including former two-time titleholder TJ Dillashaw.

    A recent post on X by @owen_swd posed the question of who would win between Dvalishvili and the retired American in their respective primes.

    Both men had their fair share of backers in the comments section. One common theme involved the controversy surrounding Dillashaw’s use of performance-enhancing drugs.

    https://twitter.com/MeterPeterD/status/1884057885891834178
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    https://twitter.com/RoboBuddyFi/status/1884288209250824414
  • Michael ‘Venom’ Page: Shara Magomedov ‘Tailor-Made’ For Me To Get Early Knockout At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page: Shara Magomedov ‘Tailor-Made’ For Me To Get Early Knockout At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Michael “Venom” Page is confident of recording yet another violent stoppage in mixed martial arts, this time at the expense of undefeated Dagestani Shara Magomedov.

    Page’s first Octagon outing of 2025 will come in new surroundings, with the Londoner briefly departing his usual home of welterweight for a planned one-off battle opposite Magomedov at 185 pounds in Saudi Arabia this Saturday.

    While “MVP” still boasts aspirations of title glory at the lower weight, he’ll look to bounce back from a narrow decision loss to Ian Garry during International Fight Week last year before resuming his pursuit of gold at 170 pounds.

    And to do so, Page isn’t expecting to require the scorecards.

    During a recent interview with The Independent, “MVP” looked ahead to his impending showdown with “Bullet” in Riyadh and predicted that fans will witness the 15th knockout of his career.

    “Honestly speaking, I believe he’s tailor-made for me to get that (knockout) shot early,” he said. “By early, I just mean before the time is up. But he’s equally dangerous, to where if I make those mistakes, that could happen to me. You have to consider both sides. I just really believe in what I can do, and that my style fits perfectly against him.”

    Whichever way the fight goes, many MMA enthusiasts are expecting the result to come by way of a stoppage.

    While Page’s exploits are well known, Magomedov is far from a slouch in the KO department. 12 of the Russian’s 15 professional wins have come via knockout, including two in the UFC.

    “Bullet” most recently finished Armen Petrosyan at UFC 308 last October with an innovative double spinning backfist.

  • Jiล™รญ Prochรกzka Reveals What Must Happen For Him To Move To Middleweight In The UFC

    Jiล™รญ Prochรกzka Reveals What Must Happen For Him To Move To Middleweight In The UFC

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiล™รญ Prochรกzka is still pondering a future drop to 185 pounds โ€” but on one condition.

    Following a second knockout loss to reigning titleholder Alex Pereira last summer, Prochรกzka assessed his options and seemed to point toward a divisional switch.

    The Czech star ultimately decided against an immediate pursuit of two-division glory and got his aspirations of a second championship rule at 205 pounds back on track with a victory over Jamahal Hill at UFC 311 earlier this month.

    With that, “BJP” is staying put for the time being. But that doesn’t mean the door is shut on a middleweight venture.

    During a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, Prochรกzka revealed what must happen for him to test the 185-pound waters on MMA’s biggest stage down the line.

    “I’ve thought about that (middleweight). But the main thing for me is, right now I see the way in light hevayweight. I’m one of the strongest guys in this division. I still feel like there is a way in light heavyweight.

    “I said to myself, ‘Okay, you can go to the middleweight (division), but first show consistency in light heavyweight, take the belt, then you can fight for the belt in middleweight.”

    For now, the ex-champ will be looking toward his next step back to the light heavyweight belt following a standout performance against “Sweet Dreams” in Los Angeles.

    He’ll no doubt have his eyes on the UFC 313 headliner in March, where Pereira will meet the challenge of Magomed Ankalaev following three successful title defenses in 2024.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Has ‘Got To Improve’ As A Coach After Umar’s UFC 311 Loss, Says Ex-Title Challenger

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Has ‘Got To Improve’ As A Coach After Umar’s UFC 311 Loss, Says Ex-Title Challenger

    UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns doesn’t think Khabib Nurmagomedov handled things perfectly in the corner of his cousin, Umar, earlier this month.

    The previously undefeated bantamweight challenged for Merab Dvalishvili’s title in the co-main event of UFC 311, staged inside the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    After a strong start, Nurmagomedov was unable to continue his momentum into the latter rounds, with the Georgian champion’s renowned pace and cardio once again proving to be the difference and setting up a decision victory.

    During an episode of his and Renato Moicano’s Show Me The Money podcast, Burns gave his assessment of the contest and outlined where the challenger’s team might have gone wrong.

    Though he noted his immense respect for Khabib, “Durinho” saw some holes in the coaching game of the former UFC lightweight champion.

    “I have so much respect for the Dagestani guys and Khabib, but I just gotta say this โ€” Khabib Nurmagomedov as a main coach, people gonna hate on this, still got to improve a lot,” Burns said. “When Umar started getting tired, he came to the corner with those question eyes, like, he didnโ€™t know what to do. And when I looked at Khabib and his corner, they had the same eyes โ€” like, ‘Oh my God.’

    “Guys like ‘Parrumpa’ and Henry (Hooft), they calm you down and tell you exactly what to do โ€” ‘You lost that round, now do this and this.’ Theyโ€™ve been in so many corners, you canโ€™t even count,” Burns continued. “I have a lot of respect for him (Khabib), but coaching takes time and repetition.”

    Khabib seemingly won’t be sticking around as long as the trainers named by Burns, however, having outlined his plans to hang up his coaching gloves when his current crop of fighters depart the sport.

    For now, though, the Dagestani remains focused on developing his team. He was most recently in Dubai for a successful PFL main event for another of his cousins, Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov.

  • Israel Adesanya Explains How ‘Talking’ To Ex-Rival Alex Pereira Has Helped Him Prepare For Nassourdine Imavov

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has been burying some hatchets in order to streamline all of his “negative energy” toward one individual โ€” Nassourdine Imavov.

    Adesanya returns in the main event of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia, where his first assignment of the new year will come off the back of consecutive defeats in title fights to Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland.

    Ahead of his opportunity to rebound in the Middle East, the Nigerian-New Zealander notably trained with longtime rival and two-time opponent Robert Whittaker. The pair also filmed a preview video for UFC 311, proving that friendship can emerge from tense rivalries.

    And “The Reaper” seemingly isn’t the only former foe whom Adesanya has been conversing with.

    Since following their two-fight kickboxing series with a pair of MMA contests, Adesanya and Alex Pereira have shared a mutual respect for one another. And during an interview with Stake, the ex-champ revealed he’s spoken to “Poatan” in private as he looks to ensure that any and all negative energy that doesn’t focus on his opponent this weekend dissipates.

    “Making peace helps,”ย Adesanya said. “I’ve been talking a little bit with Alex Pereira (as well as Whittaker). I’ve learnt that whatever doesn’t serve me anymore I can’t hold onto. All the negative energy I have will go to Nassourdine Imavov.

    “I really can’t wait,” he continued. “I’m patiently waiting for the day for the cage door to close and then we can just get it on.”

    Adesanya will hope his newfound approach to dismissing past animosity makes a difference when he enters the cage in Riyadh this Saturday.

  • Eddie Alvarez Reveals X-Ray Of Gruesome Broken Jaw Suffered In BKFC Loss

    Eddie Alvarez Reveals X-Ray Of Gruesome Broken Jaw Suffered In BKFC Loss

    Alongside his first statement on this past weekend’s result, Eddie Alvarez has revealed the brutal injury he sustained at BKFC KnuckleMania V.

    Alvarez, a former UFC lightweight champion, fell to a negative 1-2 record under the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship at Saturday’s high-profile event in his home city of Philadelphia.

    After splitting his first two outings in 2023 โ€” defeating Chad Mendes before a corner stoppage gave Mike Perry victory at his expense โ€” “The Underground King” headlined the fifth installment of KnuckleMania opposite fellow former UFC fighter Jeremy Stephens.

    After three rounds, Alvarez was deemed unable to continued by his corner, who chose to wave off the contest. That decision was widely supported, and anyone who questioned it likely won’t be anymore after seeing the damage “Lil Heathen” dealt his opponent’s way.

    In a recent post on Instagram, the defeated 41-year-old displayed an X-ray image showing the gruesome jaw break he suffered at the hands of Stephens.

    “Got hit with a kill shot in the first or second โ€ฆ I did my best to keep a Gameface and ignore it,” Alvarez wrote. “By the 3rd round the damage was too much. Please understand how bad I wanted this and what I sacrificed in order to Win, it wasnโ€™t my night. Bare Knuckle is as real as it gets. Unpredictable, Fast Pace and violent โ€ฆ. Congrats to all the new Up and coming Philly stand outsย @cody__fightsย @teamgarbarinoย @theanimalbkfcย @hevweightbradyย on their wins. You Men are the Future and made Philadelphia Proud, Iโ€™m soo Happy for our City and the future of our Combat Athletes.

    “Whether I win or lose is not as important as Philadelphia/Pennsylvania slowly becoming the most dominate Area in the country for Combat Sports.ย @bareknucklefcย is the fastest Growing and will be the Greatest Show on Earth .. Mark my words ๐Ÿ‘Š๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘Š๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘Š๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘Š๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ Thank you Philadelphia for showing out โ€ฆ ๐Ÿ‘Š๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘Š๐Ÿผ”

    Alvarez didn’t provide an update on his fighting future in the caption of the post.

    Prior to a 13-month layoff, “The Underground King” had suffered two orbital fractures during his defeat to “Platinum” Perry in Salt Lake City.

  • Former Ranked UFC Heavyweight Alexandr Romanov Reportedly Signs With PFL

    Former Ranked UFC Heavyweight Alexandr Romanov Reportedly Signs With PFL

    Alexandr Romanov, a former UFC heavyweight contender inside the top 15, has seemingly put pen to paper on a deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

    Romanov was not re-signed by the mixed martial arts leader after fighting out his contract at UFC Edmonton last November, where he outpointed Rodrigo Nascimento to bounce back from a first-round submission loss to Jailton Almeida earlier in the year.

    That result to “Malhadinho” marked the latest setback in the Moldovan’s plan to rise into title contention. He’d also previously fallen to both Marcin Tybura and Alexander Volkov.

    Romanov will now look to pursue gold in different surroundings, and he appeared to reveal where by way of an Instagram bio change this week.

    The @MMA_Matchmaker account on X first noted the addition of the PFL to the heavyweight’s bio, with Combat Sports Today later verifying the news with the Moldovan fighter himself.

    It remains to be seen what the future will hold in the PFL for Romanov, who went 6-4 in the UFC. With reports of a debut in April, it would seem he’s likely to enter this year’s heavyweight tournament.

    Rather than the traditional season format, culminating in title glory and a $1 million prize check for the victors, the PFL will be staging Grand Prix-style brackets moving forward, with the winners taking home $500,000 each.

    The organization will also be creating divisional titles separate from the tournament, which Romanov could also pursue.

  • Former Bellator Analyst Calls Out Usman Nurmagomedov’s ‘Weird’ Comment After Paul Hughes Win

    Former Bellator Analyst Calls Out Usman Nurmagomedov’s ‘Weird’ Comment After Paul Hughes Win

    While Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes showed nothing but respect for one another in the aftermath of their battle at Saturday’s PFL event, a former fighter wasn’t impressed with one aspect of the Bellator lightweight champion’s post-fight approach.

    The Professional Fighters League kicked off its schedule for 2025 with the Champions Series: Road to Dubai card inside Coca-Cola Arena, where Nurmagomedov and Hughes collided in a clash dubbed “Dagestan vs. Ireland 2.”

    Like other results on the night, the win went to the former region, with the reigning Bellator titleholder emerging with the gold still in his possession by narrow margins.

    Nurmagomedov had been largely dismissive of Hughes throughout the buildup, but he got a rude awakening when “Big News” gave him about all he could handle across five rounds in the Middle East.

    The Dagestani acknowledged that he had underestimated his challenger, who echoed the sentiments of some in the community by suggesting he did enough to deserve the victory. With that in mind, he demanded an immediate rematch.

    The champ, however, isn’t keen. And he went as far as to claim that the Irishman will need to beat three or four other opponents to earn a second opportunity.

    During an episode of his Weighing In podcast alongside former referee John McCarthy, ex-UFC fighter Josh Thomson reacted to that suggestion.

    “I didn’t like hearing Usman Nurmagomedov in the back saying, ‘No, he’s got to fight three or four more other fighters.’ That was weird,” Nurmagomedov said. “There’s not even three or four more other fighters in your guys’ weight class.”

    Though Usman has made his stance clear, that hasn’t stopped Hughes from making his case. He recently responded to an invitation to visit Dagestan from Khabib Nurmagomedov by insisting a rematch with his cousin must come first.

    The PFL, meanwhile, hasn’t divulged its plans for either man moving forward.

  • Ilia Topuria vs. Alexander Volkanovski 2 ‘Official’ For UFC 314, Claims Insider

    According to one UFC fighter, the second dance between featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski is officially in the calendar.

    The two standouts at 145 pounds collided almost 12 months ago in Anaheim, where Topuria secured his crowning moment as an undefeated fighter with a thunderous knockout of “Alexander the Great.”

    After a break from competition, Volkanovski outlined his plans to return straight into another title fight, be it a rematch with the Spaniard or Max Holloway, who challenged the champ in Abu Dhabi last October.

    With “El Matador” keeping possession of the gold, his Australian rival has been expected to receive the next shot. And while talk of a lightweight move briefly put doubt over that, it would appear that all signs are pointing to a rematch.

    During the latest episode of the Nickals and Dimes podcast on his YouTube channel, Bo Nickal stoked that flame by going as far as to state that the bout is “official” for UFC 314 in Miami on April 12.

    “April, 314. … Itโ€™s official, I know for a fact,” Nickal said. “I don’t know that it was announced as a fact, but I know that (Topuria vs. Volkanovski 2) is happening.”

    Nickal, who has gone 4-0 in the UFC to date and most recently defeated Paul Craig, went on to outline his own plans to compete on that card.

    The American’s claim comes shortly after Dan Hooker, an occasional training partner of Volkanovski’s, alleged that Topuria had turned down the rematch for UFC 313 in March due to weight concerns.

  • Ilia Topuria’s Brother Gets Alexander Volkanovski’s Teammate As Replacement Opponent For UFC 312

    Ilia Topuria’s Brother Gets Alexander Volkanovski’s Teammate As Replacement Opponent For UFC 312

    UFC debutant Aleksandre Topuria has a new opponent to prepare for, and one that could re-spark the rivalry between his brother Ilia and Alexander Volkanovski.

    While plenty of attention has been on Ilia’s impressive rise to championship glory at 145 pounds in the UFC, his sibling has been working away himself, looking to parve his own path to mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    And after signing with the promotion, Aleksandre’s debut was announced for UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia early next month. Originally, the 5-1 bantamweight prospect was set to face Cody Haddon. But with an injury ruling him out, Topuria’s new first matchup brings with it a backstory.

    Per a report from Spanish journalist รlvaro Colmenero, “El Cazador” is now set to share the cage with the undefeated Colby Thicknesse on Feb. 8. Interestingly, as well as being a HEC champion, the Australian is a teammate of Volkanovski’s.

    Ilia knocked Volkanovski out in Anaheim almost 12 months ago to capture the featherweight gold. After repeating that violent feat at the expense of Max Holloway last October, many are expecting the Spaniard to run it back with “Alexander the Great” in 2025.

    Another occasional training partner of the ex-champ’s, City Kickboxing standout Dan Hooker, also recently claimed that Topuria turned down a defense against Volkanovski for UFC 313 in March due to a need for longer to make the weight.

    It remains to be seen whether Ilia and his Aussie rival will renew hostilities inside the cage. For now, though, they’ll be preparing for a different team Topuria vs. team Volkanovski battle at UFC 312.

  • PFL Founder Sheds Light On Plans For Dakota Ditcheva: ‘That’s What You’re Going To See…’

    PFL Founder Sheds Light On Plans For Dakota Ditcheva: ‘That’s What You’re Going To See…’

    While she currently doesn’t have a fight in the calendar, there’s seemingly something major in store for 2024 PFL Women’s Flyweight Champion Dakota Ditcheva.

    Ditcheva has marked one of the breakout names across recent years. After announcing herself as a prospect under the PFL banner, the British standout has won gold in back-to-back campaigns.

    Following title glory in the promotion’s first regional expansion, PFL Europe, Ditcheva backed up her confidence and promise to reach the top in MMA by winning the inaugural 125-pound season on the global stage in 2024.

    “Dangerous” proved her doubters wrong in style last November, battering Taila Santos in the final en route to the championship and $1 million prize check.

    Since then, there’s been some uncertainty over what’s to come for Ditcheva, with many in the fanbase wishing for her to compete on the sport’s biggest stage, the UFC.

    Ditcheva herself was quick to downplay another season stint as a possibility prior to the announcement that the PFL would be dropping the long-debated format in 2025.

    During an interview with talkSPORT MMA, PFL founder and chairman Donn Davis looked to shed some light on Ditcheva’s status.

    Though he didn’t provide an exact assignment, he laid out what he told the rising star when they sat down while in Dubai for this past weekend’s Champions Series event.

    “We had dinner with Dakota the other night. Dakota’s here tonight as our guest,” Davis said. “We simply said to Dakota, ‘Seven of 10 major MMA organizations named you Fighter of the Year. Not Rookie of the Year, not Rising Star of the Year, Fighter of the Year. We want you to be the number one female star on the planet. And we’re going to get behind you to do that. So together, let’s outline a plan, so that that’s achieved.’

    “That takes personality, that takes drive, that takes being the best fighter and it takes the company behind you,” Davis continued. “Let’s put all four of those together and do it. That’s what you’re going to see from Dakota.”

    Ditcheva earned MMA News’ award for Female Fighter of the Year, finishing top spot over the likes of Kayla Harrison, Valentina Shevchenko, and Cris Cyborg after her 4-0 run in 2024.

  • UFC Saudi Arabia Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Adesanya vs. Imavov, Magomedov vs. Page, & More

    UFC Saudi Arabia Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Adesanya vs. Imavov, Magomedov vs. Page, & More

    UFC Saudi Arabia is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekendโ€™s lineup.

    The upcoming event takes place Saturday, February 1, at the anb Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card begins at 2 PM ET/11 AM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 2 PM ET/9 AM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Following consecutive losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, he will look to get back to winning ways by stalling Nassourdine Imavov’s rise.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event between Shara Magomedov and Michael “Venom” Page promises to be an entertaining striking affair. And also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of Sergei Pavlovich, Said Nurmagomedov, and Shamil Gaziev.

    UFC Saudi Arabia: Adesanya vs. Imavov Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Saudi Arabia (as of 1/27), courtesy of DraftKings.

    • Israel Adesanya (-166) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (+140)
    • Sharabutdin Magomedov (-185) vs. Michael Page (+154)
    • Sergei Pavlovich (-305) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (+245)
    • Said Nurmagomedov (-198) vs. Vinicius Oliveira (+164)
    • Muhammad Naimov (-258) vs. Kaan Ofli (+210)
    • Shamil Gaziev (-380) vs. Thomas Petersen (+300)
    • Damir Hadzovic (+285) vs. Terrance McKinney (-360)
    • Mike Davis (-135) vs. Fares Ziam (+114)
    • Hamdy Abdelwahab (-112) vs. Jamal Pogues (-108)
    • Jasmine Jasudavicius (-225) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (+185)
    • Lucas Alexander (+100) vs. Bogdan Grad (-120)
    • Abdul-Kerim Al-Selwady (+142) vs. Bolaji Oki (-170)
  • BKFC’s Ben Rothwell Catches Attention Of Different Ex-UFC Heavyweight After Calling Out Francis Ngannou

    BKFC’s Ben Rothwell Catches Attention Of Different Ex-UFC Heavyweight After Calling Out Francis Ngannou

    Should his callout of Francis Ngannou fall on deaf ears, BKFC star Ben Rothwell looks to have at least one other high-profile option for his next fight.

    Rothwell has established himself as a dominant force in bare-knuckle boxing since his 17-fight tenure under the UFC banner reached its conclusion in 2021.

    “Big Ben” has gone 4-0 under the BKFC banner, with every win coming via knockout. His most recent triumph was at this past weekend’s KnuckleMania V event in Philadelphia, where the 43-year-old powerhouse delivered an early Knockout of the Year contender.

    With his violent 36-second KO of Mick Terrill, Rothwell captured the BKFC heavyweight title. Plenty of eyes will no doubt now be on the veteran’s next outing, and he’s setting his sights high.

    During his post-fight press conference, Rothwell name-dropped a former UFC champion and the current PFL Super Fights heavyweight titleholder as a potential opponent.

    “Francis Ngannou maybe,” Rothwell said. “We need to get some big names in this. I don’t know who’s on the roster, especially after tonight, that’s jumping in to fight me. They’ll say it but when it really comes down to it and I’m standing in front of you, things change.”

    Whether or not that could come to fruition remains to be seen. Ngannou is tied up with the PFL and expected to explore boxing options in 2025 following battles with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

    But should that rule “The Predator” out, another former UFC heavyweight is interested in the assignment.

    “U sure u want the smoke @rothwellfighter lets see it then,” Mark Hunt wrote on X.

    Rothwell and Hunt are familiar with one another, having shared the Octagon at UFC 135 back in 2011. “The Super Samoan” emerged victorious at the event, outpointing his American counterpart across three rounds.

    While “Big Ben” has been racking up wins in BKFC, the New Zealander hasn’t competed since defeating rugby legend Sonny Bill Williams in the boxing ring three years ago. He’s remained in the headlines due to his legal dispute with the UFC.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Invites Ireland’s Paul Hughes To Dagestan After PFL Battle With Cousin Usman

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Invites Ireland’s Paul Hughes To Dagestan After PFL Battle With Cousin Usman

    After a respectful exchange inside the cage at Saturday’s PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai event, that trend has continued between the Nurmagomedov family and Paul Hughes on social media.

    For a second time this month, a Nurmagomedov was involved in an early Fight of the Year contender. But while Umar came on the losing side of his at UFC 311 in Los Angeles, the bantamweight’s brother Usman had his hand raised in Dubai this past Saturday.

    The Bellator lightweight champion kept the gold in his possession with a hard-fought decision victory over Paul Hughes at the PFL’s first event of the year.

    Following a heated lead-up fueled by promotional material that dubbed the clash Dagestan vs. Ireland 2 โ€” a reference to Khabib and Conor McGregorโ€™s heated rivalry โ€” the pair buried any hatchet that existed post-fight.

    On Usman’s part, he admitted to underestimating “Big News,” whom some believe did enough to deserve the championship. Khabib, meanwhile, has also been giving Hughes praise.

    In fact, the former UFC champion was so impressed โ€” and keen to show that his animosity lies solely at McGregor’s feet rather than Ireland as a whole โ€” that he’s even offered to host Hughes in his native Dagestan.

    “Thank you for the fight @paulhughesmma and for the experience,” Khabib Nurmagomedov wrote. “I invite you and your whole team and family to Dagestan, any time you want, believe me you will like it and your arrival will serve as a good example for many young generations”

    The ex-Cage Warriors standout was quick to respond, outlining his respect for the lightweight legend.

    But when it comes to taking “The Eagle” up on his offer, Hughes had one condition that must be fulfilled first: a rematch.

    “Thankyou @TeamKhabib I have great respect for you, your team and your nation,” Hughes wrote. “I would be honoured to take you up on this offer someday and then return the favour in Ireland. But please, only after I get to rematch Usman.”

    It remains to be seen what the PFL will have in store for Usman Nurmagomedov and Hughes moving forward.

    While many have echoed the Irishman’s calls for an immediate second dance, the champ suggested backstage at the Coca-Cola Arena that “Big News” requires three or four wins to earn another shot.

  • UFC Saudi Arabia Loses Main Card Fight Due To Passport Issues

    UFC Saudi Arabia Loses Main Card Fight Due To Passport Issues

    The lineup for UFC Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1 has taken a hit after middleweight Andrรฉ Muniz ran into passport issues while attempting to fly to the Middle East.

    After closing out its short January schedule with a memorable UFC 311 pay-per-view in Los Angeles, the mixed martial arts leader will hit the road to kick off February at Riyadh’s anb Arena next weekend.

    Headlining UFC Saudi Arabia will be former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya as he looks to bounce back at the expense of rising contender Nassourdine Imavov. Plenty of intrigue also surrounds the co-main event, in which the unbeaten Shara Magomedov will welcome Michael “Venom” Page to the division for a one-off outing at 185 pounds.

    Beyond those contests, a fairly deep UFC Saudi Arabia card was put together. But as has already been the case in 2025, no lineup is safe from late blows.

    In this instance, a middleweight clash between the formerly ranked Muniz and last year’s headliner in Saudi Arabia, Ikram Aliskerov, has fallen through. The Brazilian took to Instagram on Sunday to reveal that an unexpected issue with his passport prevented travel to Riyadh.

    Both men are now off the card, with Muniz noting that the UFC intends on rebooking the fight for a later date.

    โ€œUnfortunately, neither I nor my team, nor the UFC, knew about this in time to let us know, and I havenโ€™t been able to go through the entire process to get this document yet,โ€ Muniz said in Portuguese (h/t MMA Junkie). โ€œThe UFC thought it would be better to reschedule my fight with the same opponent, but it took another date. Iโ€™m waiting for you to set the date right away, and thatโ€™s it.โ€

    The news further delays Muniz’s long-awaited return. The submission specialist hasn’t competed since December 2023, when he outpointed JunYong Park to rebound from a two-fight losing skid.

    Aliskerov, meanwhile, was hoping for redemption in the Middle East on Feb. 1 after falling to a first-round knockout in his late-notice main event against Robert Whittaker seven months ago.

    With this cancellation, the current lineup for UFC Saudi Arabia next Saturday is as follows:

    • Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov
    • Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Michael Page
    • Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
    • Said Nurmagomedov vs. Vinicius Oliveira
    • Muhammad Naimov vs. Kaan Ofli
    • Shamil Gaziev vs. Thomas Petersen
    • Damir Hadzovic vs. Terrance McKinney
    • Mike Davis vs. Fares Ziam
    • Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
    • Lucas Alexander vs. Bogdan Grad
    • Abdul-Kerim Al-Selwady vs. Bolaji Oki

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: One New Main Event Set, Three Cancellations

    MMA News has you covered with this weekโ€™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 theyโ€™re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, January 20, and Sunday, January 26, a couple of notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, including one UFC Fight Night main event, see the links below:

    Plenty of lower-profile bouts also came together. For those, check out the list below:

    But it wasnโ€™t all positive, with three fights falling through or being adjusted:

  • PFL Road To Dubai Champions Series Results & Highlights: Usman Nurmagomedov Outlasts Paul Hughes

    PFL Road To Dubai Champions Series Results & Highlights: Usman Nurmagomedov Outlasts Paul Hughes

    The PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai event took place on Saturday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action.

    After announcing a slew of changes to its organization for 2025, including the elimination of the Bellator brand, the Professional Fighters League kicked things off for this year with a Bellator champion defending their gold.

    In the main event of today’s event at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, lightweight kingpin Usman Nurmagomedov faced the challenge of highly regarded Irishman Paul Hughes โ€” a headliner branded ‘Dagestani vs. Ireland 2’ promotionally in reference to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor’s heated rivalry from a number of years ago.

    The gold stayed put by narrow margins, with Nurmagomedov getting the nod on two of the three scorecards for the majority decision win following five rounds of competitive and enthralling action.

    Two other clashes between Dagestani and Irish fighters went down on the main card, with Nathan Kelly battling Akhmed Magomedov and Kenny Mokhonoana meeting Ibragim Ibragimov.

    And just before the main attraction, former Bellator light heavyweight champ Vadim Nemkov faced his next heavyweight challenge in the co-main event, sharing the SmartCage with ex-UFC contender and 2024 PFL heavyweight season semifinalist Tim Johnson. In what marked the final fight of his contract, the Russian netted a quick first-round submission.

    With the event concluded, see below for the full results and all the best highlights!

    PFL Champions Series: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Bellator Lightweight Championship Main Event: Usman Nurmagomedov def. Paul Hughes via majority decision (47-47, 48-46, 48-46)
    • Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Vadim Nemkov def. Tim Johnson via submission (rear-naked choke): R1, 3:08
    • Featherweight: Akhmed Magomedov def. Nathan Kelly via submission (rear-naked choke): R2, 4:22
    • Featherweight: Ibragim Ibragimov def. Kenny Mokhonoana via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Bantamweight: Renat Khavalov def. Cleiver Fernandes via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Catchweight (199lbs): Ahmed Samy def. Tarek Suleiman via TKO (punches & elbows): R1, 5:00
    • Lightweight: Mirafzal Akhtamov def. Mike Thompson via technical submission (arm-triangle choke): R2, 2:50
    • Flyweight: Hadi Omar Al Hussaini def. Ruel Panales via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
    • Lightweight: John Mitchell def. Souhil Tairi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Middleweight: Haider Khan def. Mostafa Nada via TKO (arm injury): R1, 3:18
    • Amateur Lightweight: Talal Alqallaf def. Saeed Alhosani via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 30-27)

    Talal Alqallaf Def. Saeed Alhosani

    Haider Khan Def. Mostafa Nada

    John Mitchell Def. Souhil Tairi

    Hadi Omar Al Hussaini Def. Ruel Panales

    Mirafzal Akhtamov Def. Mike Thompson

    Ahmed Samy Def. Tarek Suleiman

    Renat Khavalov Def. Cleiver Fernandes

    Ibragim Ibragimov Def. Kenny Mokhonoana

    Akhmed Magomedov Def. Nathan Kelly

    Vadim Nemkov Def. Tim Johnson

    Usman Nurmagomedov Def. Paul Hughes

  • Global Fight League Announces Signing Of Tony Ferguson After 8-Fight UFC Losing Skid

    Global Fight League Announces Signing Of Tony Ferguson After 8-Fight UFC Losing Skid

    Ahead of its inaugural draft Friday, the Global Fight League (GFL) has claimed to have signed former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson.

    In recent weeks and months, the newly created GFL โ€” the latest attempt at making a team format successful in MMA โ€” has announced a lengthy list of signings ahead of its launch in 2025, including multiple former champions from the UFC and other promotions.

    And while the inaugural draft takes place today, the organization is still rolling out some notable names.

    Among its latest slew of social media announcements, the GFL posted that it has signed Ferguson, whose UFC future has been uncertain after his losing skid reached a record-breaking eight straight setbacks last year.

    It’s worth noting that many names announced by the GFL have refuted their signings, insisting that they remain under contract elsewhere.

    15 GFL cards are planned up until August, after which two playoff events and one final will take place before the yearโ€™s end.ย The first is slated to go down in April.

    The promotion’s team format will see six city teams โ€” Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Sรฃo Paulo, London and Dubai โ€” select 20 fighters each (two per division) from a pool of over 400 fighters at Friday’s draft.

    Each team has been assigned a prominent coach and team manager, with the likes of Ray Longo, Javier Mendez, and Conan Silveira confirmed as trainers and Cain Velasquez, Lyoto Machida, and Thiago Alves as managers.

    Among the most notable fighter signings are former UFC championsย Luke Rockhold, Tyron Woodley, Fabrรญcio Werdum, Benson Henderson, Anthony Pettis, Frank Mir, Junior dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski and Renan Barรฃo. That’s in addition to high-profile veterans like Alexander Gustafsson, Yoel Romero, Gegard Mousasi, Aleksei Oleinik, Paige VanZant, Kevin Lee, Thiago Santos, Jeremy Stephens, Hector Lombard and Jimmie Rivera.

    The signing of 48-year-old Wanderlei Silvaโ€™s has been among the most controversial with the MMA community. โ€œThe Axe Murdererโ€ and 47-year-old Werdumย both cited irreversible brain damage in their statements for the now-settled antitrust lawsuit against the UFC last year.

    A number of other comebacks have also raised skeptical eyebrows, including the latest return from retirement for Brazil’s Marlon Moraes. The ex-WSOF champ most recently hung up the gloves after a brief stint in the PFL extended his losing skid to seven straight fights.

  • Umar Nurmagomedov Shows X-Ray Of Surgically Repaired Hand After UFC 311 Injury

    Umar Nurmagomedov Shows X-Ray Of Surgically Repaired Hand After UFC 311 Injury

    UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov has posted an X-ray image of his hand following a surgical procedure in the aftermath of his defeat this past weekend.

    Nurmagomedov is days on from his first title shot on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, which came in the co-main event of the UFC 311 pay-per-view at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    As an undefeated challenger competing out of the renowned team of Dagestanis led by Khabib Nurmagomedov, Umar entered the Jan. 18 card as a betting favorite over defending champion Merab Dvalishvili.

    But “The Machine” upset the odds in style, utilizing his renowned pace and cardio to secure the final three rounds on every scorecard for the decision win.

    In the aftermath, Nurmagomedov revealed that he had broken his hand in the very first round, displaying severe swelling. And the damage was so severe that the Russian has already undergone surgery.

    He posted an X-ray of the repaired hand on Instagram, showing the insertion of a metal rod.

    Nurmagomedov’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has pointed to the summer as a likely return timeframe for his man, when the Dagestani will need to bounce back to keep his name in the championship conversation.

  • Robert Whittaker Has A Bone To Pick With Daniel Cormier After ‘Scummy’ Move

    Robert Whittaker Has A Bone To Pick With Daniel Cormier After ‘Scummy’ Move

    Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker wasn’t pleased to see an image of his damaged teeth quickly circulating online last October.

    Whittaker hasn’t competed since suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

    The undefeated “Borz” emerged victorious from his toughest test to date in emphatic fashion, locking in a face crank for the first-round submission.

    His Australian opponent tapped almost immediately due to the pressure of the submission hold displacing his front teeth. And the severity of the issue was revealed when color commentator Daniel Cormier displayed an image of Whittaker’s damaged mouth toward the end of the broadcast.

    The following month, “The Reaper” questioned the former fighter’s decision to share the image โ€” and it would seem he’s still quite irritated.

    During an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Whittaker addressed “DC” broadcasting the image to the MMA fanbase, explaining why he would have rather it stay behind closed doors.

    “I was super annoyed! Itโ€™s such a scummy thing to do,” Whittaker said. “The doctor took a photo of my mouth and said, โ€˜Iโ€™m just going to go show Dana (White) and Hunter (Campbell) so that they know whatโ€™s up.โ€™ And Iโ€™m like, โ€˜Cool.โ€™ And then DC took a photo off the other guyโ€™s phone to post all over socials. Itโ€™s like, is that not scummy?

    “I donโ€™t care that much (about it being out there), but it looked a lot worse than it (was),” Whittaker continued. “The thing is though,, because it was posted all over the place, I was getting condolence messages, like people thought I was dead. And I would have liked to control the reaction a little better, but it is what it is, what are you gonna do?”

    Whittaker went on to note the quick nature of his recovery from what initially appeared to be a traumatic injury, with the ex-champ returning to training just four weeks later.

    He’ll now be looking ahead to his first assignment of 2025 and attempt to return to winning ways, as he looks to restart his journey back toward the 185-pound gold.

  • Dan Hooker Claims Ilia Topuria Rejected Alexander Volkanovski Rematch For UFC 313 Due To Weight Cut Demand

    According to lightweight contender Dan Hooker, plans for Ilia Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski to run it back this March fell through due to the UFC featherweight champion’s inability to make the weight.

    Hooker recently had his return to action confirmed for UFC 313 in Las Vegas on March 8, where he’ll collide with former interim champion Justin Gaethje in a sure-fire banger.

    The event looks set to be a stacked one, with light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira defending his gold in the main event opposite top contender Magomed Ankalaev.

    As it turns out, though, another high-profile title clash could have found itself on the lineup.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Hooker asserted that occasional teammate and fellow Oceanian fighter Volkanovski agreed to run it back with Topuria in competition for the 145-pound strap he formerly owned. But according to “The Hangman,” the Spaniard allegedly requested half-a-year to drop the pounds.

    “They wanted to put Volk and Ilia on the (UFC 313) card as well but Ilia said he needs six months to make weight or something. I’m like, ‘Bro, what?’”

    Volkanovski was quick to outline his plans to secure redemption against Topuria after being knocked out by “El Matador” 11 months ago.

    While the reigning champ pointed toward that rematch being his next assignment after defending the belt versus Max Holloway in October, he’s since discussed a lightweight move.

    Topuria’s coach has also added context to those plans by outlining the increasing difficult his man is having making the featherweight limit, perhaps adding some supportive evidence behind Hooker’s claim.