MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • Former UFC Fighter Explains Why Cardio Isn’t Merab Dvalishvili’s ‘Biggest Strength’

    Former UFC Fighter Explains Why Cardio Isn’t Merab Dvalishvili’s ‘Biggest Strength’

    UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili may be known for his cardio, but one analyst has pointed to another attribute as being his most important.

    Dvalishvili opened his account for 2025 in style this past weekend, co-headlining the very first pay-per-view event of the new year in defense of his 135-pound gold.

    The Georgian entered UFC 311 as an underdog, with many backing undefeated challenger Umar Nurmagomedov to become the latest from his team to secure championship glory.

    That script wasn’t followed by “The Machine,” however, as he lived up to his moniker by putting a relentless pace on Nurmagomedov through rounds three, four, and five to overcome a strong start from the Russian and get the nod on all three scorecards.

    In the aftermath, Dvalishvili’s engine has unsurprisingly been the main talking point and leading point of praise directed at the champ. But one ex-fighter has highlighted a different skill while identifying the Georgian’s greatest strength.

    “I attribute a lot of Merab’s success to his — which is a skill in itself, it’s an underappreciated skill in itself — and that is his ability to stay comfortable at all times,” Din Thomas said during an episode of MMA Today on SiriusXM. “Nothing makes him uncomfortable. Like, missing a shot? ‘I don’t care.’ Losing two rounds in the beginning? ‘I don’t care.’

    “Nothing makes him panic and he still keeps the same pace. Nothing breaks him,” Thomas continued. “That is a remarkable skill, and I think that’s his biggest strength. It’s not his cardio. I think his ability to just stay focused on task and remain comfortable while he’s doing it is his greatest asset.”

    Nurmagomedov has questioned the result in the aftermath. Regardless, he’ll need to bounce back next time out and begin the road toward earning a second title opportunity on MMA’s biggest stage.

    For Dvalishvili, on the other hand, Saturday’s result ensured that his reign got past its first hurdle four months on from his crowning at the expense of Sean O’Malley.

    “The Machine” is now targeting an incredibly active year, with his next defense potentially coming in the year’s second quarter.

  • Belal Muhammad Attempts To Put Kamaru Usman In His Place: ‘You’re Just A Podcaster Now!’

    Belal Muhammad Attempts To Put Kamaru Usman In His Place: ‘You’re Just A Podcaster Now!’

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad hasn’t liked the recent remarks coming from the mouth of his division’s former titleholder, Kamaru Usman.

    Usman hasn’t competed since October 2023, sitting out the entirety of 2024 following a narrow decision loss to the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev up at middleweight.

    Prior to that, he suffered consecutive defeats at the hands of Leon Edwards, once to lose the title and then to fail in his attempt at regaining it.

    Nevertheless, “The Nigerian Nightmare” hasn’t lost faith in his ability to still compete at the top, something he plans to prove in his return later this year.

    Though it remains to be seen what opposition that could come against, Usman won’t be short on options. He’s spent recent times berating those in the division who frequently call him out, outlining that he will face whomever once fit and healthy.

    But during a recent appearance on MMA Junkie Radio, Muhammad criticized the tone of those comments with a fiery onslaught, which included him branding Usman a “coward” and “just a podcaster.”

    “It’s so funny when you have a guy like him, right?” Muhammad said. “He’s on a three-fight losing streak, and when these guys are calling him out, he’s acting like — he’s putting himself on this pedestal like he’s still the champion, like they shouldn’t be calling him out. Bro, you’re just a podcaster now. You haven’t fought in over a year, and if you’re not gonna defend your ranking, then leave, quit!

    “I just need Usman to get a win,” Muhammad continued. “Like, he sucks so bad right now, like it’s just embarrassing where I just feel bad for him. Like he goes out there, you obviously have to fight somebody that’s on a streak. I think (Joaquin) Buckley called him out. Buckley’s been killing it at 170 (pounds). He just made Colby (Covington) look like a rookie. I think he goes out there and figures out a way to beat him. I know they offered him JDM (Jack Della Maddalena), but he turned it down because he’s a coward.”

    The pair’s heated exchanges have certainly set the stage nicely for a possible showdown. For the time being, though, that is some way off from coming to fruition.

    Muhammad will first have his sights on Shavkat Rakhmonov. After the cancellation of their planned headliner at UFC 310 last month following an injury to the champ, they’re expected to renew hostilities for the next welterweight title fight.

    Usman, meanwhile, remains at the very least one win over a high-ranked contender away from reinserting himself into the championship conversation.

  • Payton Talbott Issues Statement On First Career Loss At UFC 311

    Payton Talbott Issues Statement On First Career Loss At UFC 311

    UFC bantamweight prospect Payton Talbott has broken his silence after having the undefeated start to his professional career brought to a close this past weekend.

    Talbott was among the heavy favorites to emerge victorious from the first pay-per-view event of 2025, UFC 311 from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on Jan. 18.

    But in the featured preliminary contest, the charismatic 135lber had his charge up the ladder stalled by a veteran of the sport in Raoni Barcelos, who utilized his grappling prowess to outpoint his much younger opponent across three rounds.

    While three straight UFC wins and an unblemished 9-0 record brought plenty of hype to Talbott’s name, cries of “fraud checked” were quick to fly around some MMA circles — as is often the case when a promising prospect endures a setback.

    But after taking some days to digest the result before releasing a statement, it doesn’t appear as though the defeat in Los Angeles has dented the up-and-comer’s motivation.

    “The vet gave me my first scar,” he wrote on Instagram. “May the skin heal itself to be strong and never split again. lucky to have such people in my life. fortunate to be able to learn valuable lessons. still had fun.”

    Having opened his Octagon account for the year with a first career loss, Talbott will be looking to reverse his 2025 fortunes when he makes the walk once again.

    And at the age of just 26, it’s safe to say that there’s plenty of time for the talented striker to round out his game in the months and years to come.

  • Max Holloway Pitches Date For BMF Title Defense vs. Charles Oliveira

    Max Holloway Pitches Date For BMF Title Defense vs. Charles Oliveira

    BMF titleholder Max Holloway is not only down to run it back with former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, but he even has a date in mind for their second showdown.

    Talk of “Blessed” and “Do Bronx” sharing the cage a decade on from their featherweight battle has reignited this week after the latter pondered his next step in the UFC.

    Fresh off a dominant win over Michael Chandler last November, Oliveira attended UFC 311 on Saturday, expecting to potentially have his next opponent decided.

    Islam Makhachev ultimately emerged victorious and with the lightweight belt still in his possession, submitting Renato Moicano after he replaced Arman Tsarukyan on just 24 hours’ notice.

    With the Armenian seemingly needing to re-earn his shot, Oliveira believes he warrants top contender status. But should the Dagestani champ look to sit out until the promotion’s annual Abu Dhabi PPV in October, the former titleholder wants to compete in the meantime.

    And rather than a possible title eliminator rematch with Tsarukyan, “Do Bronx” has another rematch in mind, recently calling for a shot at Holloway’s symbolic BMF belt.

    The Hawaiian has now quickly given his approval to that suggestion, even attaching a potential event to the discussion.

    “International Fight Week?” Holloway wrote on X.

    Holloway last competed at UFC 294 in October, where he failed in his pursuit of another reign at 145 pounds. He was knocked out for the first time by reigning champ Ilia Topuria.

    Having previously earned the BMF title and a ranking at lightweight by sleeping Justin Gaethje, it would appear that a return to the higher weight class is likely for the fan favorite.

  • Beating Umar Nurmagomedov ‘Easier Than Expected’ At UFC 311, Says Merab Dvalishvili’s Coach

    Beating Umar Nurmagomedov ‘Easier Than Expected’ At UFC 311, Says Merab Dvalishvili’s Coach

    The coach of Merab Dvalishvili expected the UFC bantamweight champion to face more adversity when sharing the Octagon with Umar Nurmagomedov.

    The pair collided in the co-main event of this past weekend’s UFC 311 pay-per-view, which marked the MMA leader’s very first numbered event of 2025.

    Their co-headliner went the distance and collected Fight of the Night honors, with defending champ Dvalishvili ultimately emerging with his hand raised and the 135-pound gold still in his possession.

    While the Dagestani challenger enjoyed a strong start inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome, the Georgian’s renowned pace and cardio ultimately proved to be the difference across the final three rounds.

    Though he’d have no doubt expected that to be the case, one of the champ’s coaches admitted the victory over Nurmagomedov on Jan. 18 came more comfortably than he had foreseen during a recent appearance on Submission Radio.

    “No, (nothing surprised us), not at all,” Syndicate MMA’s John Wood said. “He did what I thought he would do, and maybe he broke his hand in the first round, maybe he didn’t, who knows. I don’t think a broken hand affects your cardio from the last I checked. I don’t think your hand and your lungs are connected, so I don’t think that played into anything. And who cares? It’s a fight, that’s what happens.

    “If anything, the only thing I’d say is it was maybe easier than expected,” Wood continued. “That’s not being disrespectful (to Nurmagomedov), it’s how good Merab is, and I really want people to start noticing that.”

    Nurmagomedov evidently sees things differently.

    After initially questioning the judges’ scorecards during his Octagon interview, the previously undefeated Russian doubled down on that take in his latest remarks.

    He’ll now look to work his way back to a second championship opportunity and the chance to achieve redemption against “The Machine.”

  • Jiří Procházka Reveals Post-Fight Message To ‘Really Good Guy’ Jamahal Hill After UFC 311

    Jiří Procházka Reveals Post-Fight Message To ‘Really Good Guy’ Jamahal Hill After UFC 311

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiří Procházka disregarded any and all trash talk that Jamahal Hill had thrown his way when they shared a drink this past weekend.

    The two ex-titleholders collided in one of the most important and highly anticipated matchups on the opening pay-per-view card of the year, UFC 311 inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome.

    “BJP” was largely on top throughout an entertaining scrap, dropping “Sweet Dreams” more than once before a final flurry in round three forced the referee’s intervention to award the Czech star victory by way of TKO.

    Though Hill gained a reputation as somewhat of a ‘sore loser’ in some circles of the MMA community owing to his reaction post-KO defeat to Alex Pereira, he was gracious and classy in reacting to the Jan. 18 setback.

    That was most visible when the two combatants shared a drink following their battle. And during an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Procházka detailed what was said.

    “We saw each other after the fight and in the bar when we were back in the hotel,” Procházka said. “I bought him a glass of vodka. So, we took a shot and I just told him like, ‘We fight together, we drink together…all good between us,’ and he is the same.

    “He’s a good guy, man. He’s a really, really good guy,” Procházka continued. “In some situations, I don’t know why he was (talking trash) before the fight. We spoke about his speeches and all these things, but I don’t care right now. It is behind us.”

    It remains to be seen what will come next for either man, but judging by his Octagon interview with Joe Rogan, it’s clear that “BJP” has his sights set on a third opportunity to defeat Pereira.

    For now, “Poatan” will be planning on how to stall the title ambitions of Magomed Ankalaev, who will have his long-awaited crack at the Brazilian in the main event spot of UFC 313 on March 8 in Las Vegas.

  • Charles Oliveira Has Different Next UFC Fight In Mind Despite Arman Tsarukyan Callout

    Charles Oliveira Has Different Next UFC Fight In Mind Despite Arman Tsarukyan Callout

    Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is after redemption next time out, but not necessarily opposite Arman Tsarukyan.

    Oliveira was in Los Angeles last week, expecting to see his likely next opponent decided in a planned title clash between champ Islam Makhachev and challenger Tsarukyan at UFC 311.

    But after the Armenian withdrew 24 hours out from the pay-per-view event through injury, Oliveira’s countryman Renato Moicano stepped in and was quickly submitted inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome.

    With that turn of events, it’s unclear what lies ahead for Makhachev following his fourth successful defense, especially after UFC CEO Dana White stated in no uncertain terms that Tsarukyan must re-earn the title opportunity he initially secured with a win over Oliveira last April.

    The man ousted from the number one contender spot seemingly plans to repeat the feat, pitching a five-round rematch with “Do Bronx” following this past weekend’s disappointment.

    But should the wait for a potential second clash with Makhachev be too long for his liking, a sophomore dance with Tsarukyan apparently won’t be the direction Oliveira looks in.

    During a recent interview with the UFC, the Brazilian pointed to a different former adversary whom he’d like to run it back with.

    “I prefer to leave it to my managers and focus only on training and being with my family, but we’ll have to see when he (Makhachev) will want to come back now,” Oliveira said. “If he only wants to fight in October, I definitely want to fight before that, so why not challenge Max Holloway for the BMF belt?

    “I think Max himself talked about it (a possible rematch). We met before, but I suffered an injury right in the beginning, so there wasn’t an actual fight,” Oliveira continued. “I think we deserve to make this fight happen. He’s moved up, he’s the BMF, the toughest one. I’m very tough myself, I hold a lot of UFC records, so that would be huge.”

    When the pair first fought back in 2015, a sudden oesophagus injury sustained by Oliveira handed Holloway the win by TKO.

    Talk of a rematch between the pair arose last November in the aftermath of “Do Bronx’s” win over Michael Chandler, with “Blessed” welcoming the chance to defend his symbolic BMF belt for the first time opposite the Brazilian fan favorite.

  • Anthony Smith Maintains Jon Jones Is P4P Best Because Islam Makhachev ‘Has Taken A Legitimate Loss’

    Anthony Smith Maintains Jon Jones Is P4P Best Because Islam Makhachev ‘Has Taken A Legitimate Loss’

    When it comes to the ever-polarizing pound-for-pound debate between Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev, UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith is in the corner of his former opponent.

    This past weekend, Makhachev did no harm to his claim to top spot, where he already currently sits in the official UFC rankings. The Dagestani secured a record-breaking fourth successful defense of his lightweight belt and fifth UFC title win at the expense of Renato Moicano.

    One man who has long been against that has been UFC CEO Dana White, instead putting forth heavyweight kingpin Jones as the clear and obvious P4P number one.

    Interestingly, despite Moicano being a lower-ranked and late-notice replacement opponent for Makhachev after the withdrawal of Arman Tsarukyan, White finally acknowledged Makhachev as the P4P best while interacting with the media in Los Angeles.

    During an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, though, Smith dismissed that take owing to one discrepancy when it comes to Jones and Makhachev’s record — one “legitimate” defeat.

    “I still think it’s Jon Jones,” Smith said. “He’s gone through three different generations of fighters and has continued to win. And again, Islam has taken a legitimate loss and Jon Jones hasn’t.

    “I think you take them all and put them in a room, Jon Jones walks out,” Smith concluded.

    Makhachev’s sole career loss came a decade ago at UFC 192, where he was knocked out cold by Adriano Martins.

    On paper, Jones boasts the same number of setbacks. But the importance of that has long been dismissed in MMA circles due to it coming via disqualification for a now-legal 12-6 elbow against Matt Hamill in 2009.

  • CSAC Releases Fight-Day Weights For UFC 311; Dvalishvili, Moicano, Talbott Among Biggest Changes

    CSAC Releases Fight-Day Weights For UFC 311; Dvalishvili, Moicano, Talbott Among Biggest Changes

    Some fighters piled on plenty of pounds between hitting the scale last Friday and making the walk for the UFC 311 pay-per-view on Saturday.

    The mixed martial arts leader opened its PPV account for 2025 this past weekend in Los Angeles, where Inglewood’s Intuit Dome played host to two championship contests and a host of intriguing matchups.

    While facts such as fight-day weights and base purses are rarely seen officially, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) provides more disclosure for events under its jurisdiction.

    And amid conversations in the MMA community after the release of payouts for those who competed at UFC 311, there’s a new topic of discussion regarding weight discrepancy.

    Renowned MMA reporter Aaron Bronsteter shared the figures via CSAC this week, with the most notable increases from weigh-in day to fight night coming from Tagir Ulanbekov, Payton Talbott, Merab Dvalishvili, Raoni Barcelos and Renato Moicano — all of whom weighed 17 percent more a day on from weighing in.

    With his 26.8-pound change, Moicano was 3.8 pounds heavier for his unsuccessful title challenger opposite Islam Makhachev in the UFC 311 main event.

    The biggest discrepancy, meanwhile, came in the main card middleweight contest between Reinier de Ridder and Kevin Holland. With a 15 percent increase, the Dutchman boasted a 21.6-pound advantage over “Trailblazer,” who gained just 4 percent post-weigh-in.

    Second in that regard was the gap between Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka. “Sweet Dreams” took to the cage 13.6 pounds heavier than his fellow former champ, who ultimately emerged victorious after knocking the American out in round three.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Merab Dvalishvili Jumps Dricus Du Plessis & Belal Muhammad On The P4P List

    UFC Rankings Report: Merab Dvalishvili Jumps Dricus Du Plessis & Belal Muhammad On The P4P List

    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 311, MMA News has you covered with this week’s complete updates.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili is on the up. After successfully defending his title at the expense of Umar Nurmagomedov, the Georgian has climbed two positions on the P4P ladder to #5, surpassing two fellow champs in Belal Muhammad (#6) and Dricus Du Plessis (#7).

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: 

    Flyweight: No changes.

    Bantamweight: After Holly Holm’s departure from the promotion, the former champ has been removed from the UFC rankings. With a spot free, France’s Nora Cornolle has arrived at #15 despite losing her last outing to Jacqueline Cavalcanti.

    Further up, Ailín Pérez has reaped some reward from her decision victory over Karol Rosa at UFC 311. The Argentine has risen by two spots to #11. That does, however, still leave her three places below the woman she defeated days ago in Los Angeles.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: Grant Dawson outpointed Diego Ferreira on Jan. 18 to make it three wins on the bounce since his knockout loss to King Green. With that, “KGD” has returned to the UFC rankings at #15, replacing Joel Alvarez.

    Also, Benoît Saint Denis has found himself down the pecking order. He’s slipped two positions to #14, now leaving him below Paddy Pimblett (#12) and Jalin Turner (#13).

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: Jamahal Hill slipped to the first losing skid of his career this past weekend, falling via knockout to fellow ex-champ Jiří Procházka. As a result, “Sweet Dreams” has dropped one spot to #4, boosting Jan Błachowicz up to #3.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Renato Moicano Urges Dana White To Book His Next Fight Just Days On From UFC 311 Setback

    Renato Moicano Urges Dana White To Book His Next Fight Just Days On From UFC 311 Setback

    UFC lightweight contender Renato Moicano is already looking ahead to his next assignment — and a grudge that he wants to settle in 2025.

    Moicano was the recipient of a surprise title shot this past weekend in Los Angeles, where MMA’s leading promotion opened its pay-per-view account for 2025 with UFC 311 from the Intuit Dome.

    Originally scheduled to do battle with Beneil Dariush on the main card, Moicano found himself making the walk for the headliner and sharing the Octagon with champion Islam Makhachev.

    His sudden title shot came about after the late withdrawal of Arman Tsarukyan. Unfortunately for the Brazilian, he was unable to shock the world on 24 hours’ notice, instead falling to a submission in the first round.

    While some may say it’s difficult to criticize the fan favorite’s efforts given the manner in which his first championship opportunity arrived, longtime rival Paddy Pimblett found a way.

    “The Baddy” berated the Brazilian in a reaction video, questioning why he tapped so quickly instead of ‘going out on his shield’. Those remarks sparked a tense back and forth between the pair on social media, reigniting talk of a clash inside the Octagon from 2024.

    Moicano, for one, is keen for it to come to fruition as soon as possible.

    “@danawhite just book this fight already,” he wrote on X.

    While Moicano is licking his wounds following an unsuccessful opening outing in 2025 and title shot, Pimblett remains without a date in the calendar for his next bout.

    With that in mind, perhaps the #13-ranked lightweight will find himself with the chance to back up his promise to replicate Makhachev’s performance against the Brazilian later this year.

  • Coach Insists ‘Healthy’ Sean O’Malley Can Be The One To Beat Merab Dvalishvili After Watching UFC 311 Performance 

    Coach Insists ‘Healthy’ Sean O’Malley Can Be The One To Beat Merab Dvalishvili After Watching UFC 311 Performance 

    The coach of Sean O’Malley believes the former UFC bantamweight champion can be the “kryptonite” to Merab Dvalishvili.

    Dvalishvili returned four months on from his victory over O’Malley to be crowned champ this past weekend, defending the title for the first time opposite undefeated challenger Umar Nurmagomedov.

    The Georgian enhanced his legacy on MMA’s biggest stage with a massive victory in the UFC 311 co-headliner, utilizing his renowned cardio and pace to outpoint his Dagestani rival across five rounds.

    With the result, “The Machine” is now being firmly discussed in the division’s GOAT conversation, and many have questioned who has what it takes to unseat him at 135 pounds.

    According to coach Tim Welch, the one hope is O’Malley.

    “(Dvalishvili) is on a streak, I’ll tell you what,” Welch said in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel. “You could tell after that fourth round that Umar was seriously gassed; he was really tired. He did a good job wrestling. Merab was shooting a ton and Umar was doing a great job at stuffing all of his shots. If he did hit his butt, he hit his butt just for a second and popped right up. But Merab just kept that pace and cardio on him. He’s got some cardio, I’ll tell you that.

    “That last 30 seconds of the fight I think really made Merab win the fight. He’s a problem, he’s a big problem,” Welch continued. “But I do believe that we can be the kryptonite to Merab with the right game plan and a good fight camp. With ‘Suge’ healthy, I think we take him out. And we’ll find out, now won’t we?”

    Soon after his decision defeat to the current champ inside the Sphere last September, O’Malley headed to the surgery room for a procedure to repair a torn labrum.

    Targeting a return in the second quarter of 2025, “Suga” will hope to do so in the form of an opportunity at redemption opposite Dvalishvili.

  • ‘F*ck them!’ – Jiří Procházka Reacts To UFC 311 Commentary Team Mentioning His Hands-Down Style

    ‘F*ck them!’ – Jiří Procházka Reacts To UFC 311 Commentary Team Mentioning His Hands-Down Style

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiří Procházka wasn’t pleased to be told of one topic that came up during the broadcast of his recent victory.

    Procházka was among the biggest winners to emerge from Saturday’s UFC 311 pay-per-view in Inglewood, California, where he got the better of a fellow ex-titleholder in Jamahal Hill to reignite his hopes of a second title reign.

    The Czech fan favorite had his hand raised in an entertaining affair, following up multiple knockdowns with a fight-ending flurry toward the end of the third and final round.

    During and after the bout, “BJP” was widely praised for seemingly displaying an improved defensive game, especially in regards to his head movement.

    But during his post-fight press conference, Procházka was still unhappy to hear of the same concerns being raised by the broadcast team when it comes to one element of his approach — keeping his hands down.

    “F*ck them. I worked on that so much,” Procházka said. “(People) messaged me every day, ‘You have to keep your hands up.’ So OK, I will do that for this fight. I will keep the hands up, especially for this night.

    “(I keep my hand down because) I believe in my senses. I believe in my feeling in a fight – in my head movement. That’s why I can keep the hands down,” Procházka continued. “To be honest, in the last fight with Alex (Pereira), I was a little bit too hands down. So this is something I’ve worked on. I want to see the video from the fight (against Hill), because I believe that I (kept my hands up).”

    With such a style being widely branded counter-productive in his two efforts opposite Alex Pereira, perhaps Procházka will plan on putting even more emphasis on staying defensively responsible should his wish to meet “Poatan” for a third time come to fruition down the line.

  • Arman Tsarukyan ‘Couldn’t Move’ After Suffering Back Injury During UFC 311 Weight Cut

    Arman Tsarukyan ‘Couldn’t Move’ After Suffering Back Injury During UFC 311 Weight Cut

    UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has described the moment his ambitions of a title crowning in Los Angeles this past weekend came to a crashing halt.

    Tsarukyan completed his media obligations and took to the stage for a press conference appearance last week ahead of the UFC 311 pay-per-view on Saturday night. Unfortunately for the Armenian, however, he didn’t make it to fight night.

    It was announced Friday that Renato Moicano was stepping in on 24 hours’ notice to challenge Islam Makhachev after Tsarukyan suffered a back injury during his weight cut.

    Many were quick to question how the original challenger had gotten hurt while using a stationary bike to cut the pounds. And during an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Tsarukyan revealed that he had actually felt some discomfort the night before.

    “Everything was good, but on the last day, Wednesday after training, I went to sleep and I started to feel my lower back. And I couldn’t sleep all night,” Tsarukyan said. “The next day, I thought it’s going to be good and after press conference I’m going to start my weight cut. And when I started my weight cut. I was (using the) bike and like, that moment my back was stuck and I couldn’t move.”

    That physical issue not only prevented him from running it back with Makhachev inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome on Jan. 18 but also seems to have forced him to relinquish number one contender status.

    After UFC CEO Dana White announced as much during the post-fight press conference, Tsarukyan himself publicly supported the decision and outlined his intentions to re-earn a title shot later this year.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Reveals How He Got Severe Shin Cut Past The Commission To Avoid UFC 311 Cancellation

    Merab Dvalishvili Reveals How He Got Severe Shin Cut Past The Commission To Avoid UFC 311 Cancellation

    Merab Dvalishvili utilized some trickery to ensure an injury went unnoticed during medical checks ahead of UFC 311 — and it’s not a particularly strong advertisement for the California State Athletic Commission’s due diligence…

    Dvalishvili — the reigning bantamweight champion on MMA’s biggest stage — returned for his first title defense this past weekend, co-headlining the opening pay-per-view event of 2025 opposite undefeated challenger Umar Nurmagomedov.

    “The Machine” once again lived up to his moniker, putting on a relentless pace inside the cage that ultimately proved to be the difference, as he outpointed his Dagestani rival across five rounds at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome.

    To make the result even more impressive, the Georgian was seemingly far from 100 percent in the lead-up. He notably sustained a deep cut to his shin just weeks before fight night that even became infected.

    While that left the status of his clash against Nurmagomedov up in the air, nothing was going to stop Dvalishvili from making the walk in Los Angeles — pre-fight medical checks includes.

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, “The Machine” explained how he was able to make the wound on his shin go undetected.

    “I was worried the commission was not going to let me fight. … California has a very strict commission,” Dvalishvili said. “The commission guy asked me to show me him my shin, so I lifted my left leg pant to show him my shin. He kept talking and then asked to show my other leg, so I showed him my left leg again and then he never knew about the cut.”

    Suffice it to say that one CSAC member isn’t too hard to dupe.

    Dvalishvili will have been ecstatic that his deception paid off, as he put on a clinic in the final three frames of the UFC 311 co-headliner to keep hold of the bantamweight championship and extend his reign beyond its first hurdle.

  • What’s Next After UFC 311? Full Confirmed UFC 312 Main Card For Sydney On Feb. 8

    What’s Next After UFC 311? Full Confirmed UFC 312 Main Card For Sydney On Feb. 8

    UFC 311 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia.

    The promotion was in Los Angeles this past week, where the Intuit Dome played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its opening numbered event of the new year. Of note were headline wins for Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili, as well as important victories for Jiří Procházka, Jailton Almeida, and Reinier de Ridder.

    While the aftermath of the Jan. 18 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the lightweight title picture to the middleweight championship conversation.

    At UFC 312, set for the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Feb. 8, reigning kingpin Dricus Du Plessis will open his account for the new year, once again in defense of his 185-pound gold. After following his crowning against Sean Strickland with a retention opposite Israel Adesanya, the South African will next run it back with Strickland.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as two-time strawweight champ Zhang Weili looks to defend her gold for the third time since winning it back at the expense of Carla Esparza in 2022. In her way of a continued reign will be the undefeated Tatiana Suarez.

    Tafa, Crute, Matthews Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 312

    Before Du Plessis and Weili defend their belts, a number of local names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 312 card.

    That includes heavyweight powerhouse Justin Tafa. Against undefeated newcomer Tallison Teixeira, the Australian-Samoan will look to bounce back from a decision loss to Karl Williams last March and return to the knockout ways that saw him sleep Austen Lane, Parker Porter, and Harry Hunsucker during a four-fight unbeaten streak between 2021 and 2023.

    Prior to that, another home favorite will be in action as light heavyweight Jimmy Crute returns almost two years on from a submission loss to Alonzo Menifield. “The Brute” hasn’t tasted victory since a 2020 KO of Modestas Bukauskas that left him 12-1 and among the most promising prospects at 205 pounds. To revive his career amid a four-fight winless run, the 28-year-old must stall the charge of former LFA champion Rodolfo Bellato.

    And opening the UFC 312 main card will be Jake Matthews, a longtime Australian prospect who has failed to live up to his promise thus far. “The Celtic Kid” has exchanged wins and losses across six fights since his most recent winning streak in 2020, and against Francisco Prado next month, he’ll be looking to build some momentum following a decision victory over Phil Rowe last time out.

    Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over another Aussie in Jack Jenkins, who is slated to top the prelims against Gabriel Santos.

    See below for the full UFC 312 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Sean Strickland (middleweight championship)
    • Zhang Weili (C) vs. Tatiana Suarez (strawweight championship)
    • Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira (heavyweight)
    • Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato (light heavyweight)
    • Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado (welterweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Jack Jenkins vs. Gabriel Santos (featherweight)
    • Cody Haddon vs. Aleksandre Topuria (bantamweight)
    • Tom Nolan vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (lightweight)
    • HyunSung Park vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (flyweight)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Quillan Salkilld vs. Anshul Jubli (lightweight)
    • Kevin Jousset vs. Jonathan Micallef (welterweight)
    • Wang Cong vs. Bruna Brasil (flyweight)
    • Rongzhu vs. Kody Steele (lightweight)
    Justin Tafa
    Image: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting
  • Khabib Posts Supportive Message To Umar Nurmagomedov After UFC 311 Defeat

    Khabib Posts Supportive Message To Umar Nurmagomedov After UFC 311 Defeat

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has encouraged cousin Umar Nurmagomedov to keep his head held high following a first career setback in Los Angeles this past Saturday night.

    The 29-year-old made the walk inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome for his opening title opportunity on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, looking to become the latest undefeated Nurmagomedov to hold gold in a leading promotion.

    Unfortunately for the Dagestani, he failed in that quest at UFC 311. Instead, Merab Dvalishvili successfully maintained his position on the bantamweight throne, emerging victorious from a memorable five-round battle to record his first defense.

    Having suffered his first defeat as a professional and exited California without the belt in his possession, Nurmagomedov will understandably be disappointed.

    His coach, mentor, and cousin, however, is confident of making the necessary fixes to ensure a successful title challenge down the line.

    “Head up Junior, yesterday you showed that you are one of the best in the world,” Khabib wrote in an Instagram post. “At the moment we have something to work on, we will work on the mistakes and return to the title race”

    “The Eagle” had a busy night in LA, cornering two other fighters at UFC 311.

    Tagir Ulanbekov opened the night in strong fashion for the team, taking Clayton Carpenter’s 0 by way of a convincing decision. And another member of the Dagestani contingent closed out proceedings, with Islam Makhachev retaining his lightweight title via submission at the expense of Renato Moicano.

    Alongside his supportive words toward Umar, Khabib also praised the work of both Makhachev and Ulanbekov.

  • Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Islam Makhachev’s Submission Of Renato Moicano: ‘You Tap That Quick? Go Asleep!’

    Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Islam Makhachev’s Submission Of Renato Moicano: ‘You Tap That Quick? Go Asleep!’

    UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett wasn’t impressed with the quick nature of Renato Moicano’s decision to tap to an Islam Makhachev choke on Saturday night.

    Moicano found himself competing with gold on the line for the first time this weekend, replacing the injured Arman Tsarukyan to challenge Makhachev on just 24 hours’ notice.

    Unfortunately for the Brazilian, it wasn’t to be a fairytale moment in Los Angeles. He was submitted inside the first round of the UFC 311 main event, marking the champ’s fourth consecutive title defense.

    Among those tuning in for Makhachev’s latest defense was another 155lber frequently linked to a showdown with Moicano, the #13-ranked Pimblett.

    “The Baddy” posted his reaction to the fight-ending sequence from the first PPV headliner of 2025. While he gave props to Moicano for stepping up on late notice, he berated the challenger for not ‘going out on his shield’.

    “You f*cking tap that quick, Renato? Go asleep, lad. Go out on your shield,” Pimblett said following Makhachev’s submission. “I f*cking hate that. You’re in a f*cking choke. You’re not going to snap your neck. Go asleep.

    “Second straight win by D’Arce choke. That was too easy. “It was like, ‘Yeah, give him the sub, lad.’ I thought that would put more of a fight than that,” Pimblett continued. “Credit to Renato for stepping up on 24 hours’ notice, but come on brother, you’re never going to get that opportunity again, at least go out on your shield and go to sleep.”

    Before being initially booked to compete against Beneil Dariush at UFC 311, Moicano had been linked to a clash with the rising Pimblett in 2025.

    With the Liverpool native yet to have his next assignment added to the calendar, perhaps talk will turn back toward that matchup following the setback to Moicano’s title hopes in California.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Has Surprising Reaction To Dana White Taking Away Title Shot After UFC 311 Withdrawal

    Arman Tsarukyan Has Surprising Reaction To Dana White Taking Away Title Shot After UFC 311 Withdrawal

    It would seem that Arman Tsarukyan is no longer the number one contender at 155 pounds.

    Tsarukyan was gearing up last week for his first shot at championship glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. Instead of that, however, he watched on as Islam Makhachev shared the cage with Renato Moicano at UFC 311.

    That came about after the Armenian withdrew on weigh-in day after sustaining a back injury. Moicano was subsequently pulled from his main card clash with Beneil Dariush and handed a sudden title opportunity, which he was unable to capitalize on.

    After quickly submitting the Brazilian by way of a D’Arce choke, Makhachev’s reign has reached a record-breaking four successful defenses. And when it comes to his attempt at a fifth, there’s some uncertainty over opposition.

    During his press conference inside the Intuit Dome, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Tsarukyan would not be keeping his title shot following his injury dropout.

    Interestingly, that decision has been supported by the man himself.

    “I agree with @danawhite. Once my back heals, I’ll be ready to prove I’m the true #1 contender by taking on anyone they put in front of me!” Tsarukyan wrote on X.

    Tsarukyan also identified a potential opponent, green-lighting a rematch with Charles Oliveira in a subsequent post.

    After recording a second win over Michael Chandler last November, “Do Bronx” was expecting to face the winner of the original UFC 311 main event later this year.

    But with the division appearing to be without a definitive next in line — assuming White’s remarks on Tsarukyan’s status prove true — perhaps the Brazilian will have the chance to avenge his UFC 300 setback to the Armenian.

  • ‘Free Money On Poatan’ – Fans React To Magomed Ankalaev Opening As Betting Favorite To Beat Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    ‘Free Money On Poatan’ – Fans React To Magomed Ankalaev Opening As Betting Favorite To Beat Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    The release of opening odds for the recently announced UFC 313 headliner between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev have raised some eyebrows.

    Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion, had his first assignment of 2025 announced during the broadcast of UFC 311 on Saturday night. “Poatan” was present as his long-awaited battle with Ankalaev was made official.

    Following months of back and forth on social media and questions surrounding his next step, the Brazilian has been lined up to face the consensus top contender in the main event of UFC 313 in Las Vegas on March 8.

    As always, the fight news was quickly followed by the release of opening odds. And interestingly, despite his impressive streak of successful title defenses in 2024, Pereira is the underdog.

    On BetOnline.ag, the champ opened at +170, with the challenger’s line reading -200.

    That split opinion online, with many expressing their confidence in Pereira maintaining his place on the light heavyweight throne come fight night at T-Mobile Arena.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Lineup Grows For UFC London On March 22

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Lineup Grows For UFC London On March 22

    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, January 13, and Sunday, January 19, a few notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, see the links below:

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

    But it wasn’t all positive, with one fight falling through:

  • UFC 311 Payouts Revealed: Islam Makhachev Gets Less Than Moicano, Holland, & 5 Others

    UFC 311 Payouts Revealed: Islam Makhachev Gets Less Than Moicano, Holland, & 5 Others

    The base payouts for Saturday’s UFC 311 pay-per-view have been disclosed, and it’s safe to say that some of the figures have raised eyebrows in the mixed martial arts community.

    MMA’s leading promotion opened its PPV schedule for the new year this weekend in Los Angeles, where Inglewood’s Intuit Dome played host to a number of intriguing contests, including two championship battles and the latest outings for a number of promising prospects.

    Closing the show was lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev, who submitted Renato Moicano on just 24 hours’ notice following the sudden withdrawal of original challenger Arman Tsarukyan. Despite his main event spot, though, the Dagestani wasn’t the highest paid champ on the card when it comes to base pay.

    The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) revealed the payouts to MMA Fighting following the conclusion of UFC 311, with bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili’s $500K marking the highest figure. Makhachev’s number, meanwhile, emerged as $200K.

    Interestingly, that also puts the lightweight titleholder behind six others in addition to “The Machine,” including defeated opponent Moicano ($200K), Jiří Procházka ($250K), Kevin Holland ($250K), Reinier de Ridder ($210K), Jailton Almeida ($220K) and Grant Dawson ($212K).

    It’s worth noting that these figures are only the contracted amounts and don’t factor in the kind of PPV bonus Makhachev is likely to be the recipient of behind the scenes.

    See below for the full list of disclosed pay sums for UFC 311.

    UFC 311 Disclosed Payouts

    Islam Makhachev: $200,000 (no win bonus)

    Renato Moicano: $250,000 (no win bonus)

    Merab Dvalishvili: $500,000 (no win bonus)

    Umar Nurmagomedov: $100,000 (no win bonus)

    Jiří Procházka: $250,000 ($200,000 purse, $50,000 win bonus)

    Jamahal Hill: $200,000

    Kevin Holland: $250,000

    Reinier de Ridder: $210,000 ($105,000 purse, $105,000 win bonus)

    Jailton Almeida: $220,000 ($110,000 purse, $110,000 win bonus)

    Serghei Spivac: $100,000

    Payton Talbott: $43,000

    Raoni Barcelos: $96,000 ($48,000 purse, $48,000 win bonus)

    Bogdan Guskov: $86,000 ($43,000 purse, $43,000 win bonus)

    Billy Elekana: $12,000

    Grant Dawson: $212,000 ($106,000 purse, $106,000 win bonus)

    Diego Ferreira: $100,000

    Zachary Reese: $30,000

    Azamat Bekoev: $24,000 ($12,000 purse, $12,000 win bonus)

    Karol Rosa: $75,000

    Ailín Pérez: $72,000 ($36,000 purse, $36,000 win bonus)

    Rinya Nakamura: $26,000

    Muin Gafurov: $28,000 ($14,000 purse, $14,000 win bonus)

    Ricky Turcios: $28,000

    Bernardo Sopai: $24,000 ($12,000 purse, $12,000 win bonus)

    Tagir Ulanbekov: $72,000 ($36,000 purse, $36,000 win bonus)

    Clayton Carpenter: $28,000

  • VIDEO: UFC 311 Post-Fight Press Conference After Islam Makhachev, Merab Dvalishvili’s Headline Wins

    VIDEO: UFC 311 Post-Fight Press Conference After Islam Makhachev, Merab Dvalishvili’s Headline Wins

    The UFC 311 pay-per-view recently concluded, and MMA News has you covered with the post-fight press conference in Los Angeles.

    The Intuit Dome played host to Octagon action on Jan. 18, as the mixed martial arts leader opened its PPV schedule for 2025 with a strong lineup that featured two championships, top contenders, experienced veterans, and some promising prospects.

    Of note were victories for Islam Makhachev, Merab Dvalishvili, Jiří Procházka, Jailton Almeida and Reinier de Ridder.

    And before attention turns to the UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia early next month, there remains some business to attend to backstage at UFC 311.

    Shortly after the main event’s ending, Dana White will appear in front of the media to reveal the recipients of the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses before answering questions. The victorious fighters from UFC 311 will also take queries from the press in reaction to their performances.

    With that said, see below for a live stream of the UFC 311 post-fight press conference via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 1:15 AM ET.

  • UFC 311: Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC 311: Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC 311 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    The upcoming pay-per-view event at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California provides a chance for UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev to record his fourth successful title defense.

    While that was initially set to come in the form of a rematch opposite top contender Arman Tsarukyan, a back injury sustained during his weight cut forced the planned challenger to withdraw. Stepping in on 24 hours’ notice will be Renato Moicano, who was originally slated to share the cage with Beneil Dariush on Saturday’s main card.

    The stakes will also be high in the co-main event, which will see undefeated bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili look to complete his ascent to the top by unseating current kingpin Merab Dvalishvili in his first defense.

    Elsewhere on the UFC 311 card, a pair of former light heavyweight champs in Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill collide, the always entertaining Kevin Holland meets ex-ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder, and Jailton Almeida and Serghei Spivac battle to establish themselves in the heavyweight title picture.

    Ahead of the event, all fighters set to compete tomorrow night successfully made weight, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 311 ceremonial weigh-ins!

    Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 7 PM ET.

    UFC 311 Ceremonial Weigh-In Video

  • Leon Edwards vs. Jack Della Maddalena Official For UFC London Main Event

    Leon Edwards vs. Jack Della Maddalena Official For UFC London Main Event

    Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards has had his return to action in the first quarter of next year confirmed.

    Edwards hasn’t competed since losing his grip on the 170-pound crown at UFC 304 in Manchester this past July, where he was convincingly defeated by Belal Muhammad in their headline rematch.

    “Rocky” has vowed to finish the new year with the gold back in his possession and announced that the path toward achieving that will start with a return in the main event of the UFC’s confirmed return to London on March 22.

    A number of names floated around regarding an opponent, from the seemingly unretired Jorge Masvidal to top 10 contenders Ian Garry and Sean Brady. Ultimately, the assignment has fallen to Jack Della Maddalena.

    During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Australian insider Benny P first reported on Della Maddalena’s planned trip to London to share the cage with “Rocky.”

    And Friday night, the promotion officially announced the bout, alongside the rest of the lineup for March 22.

    Della Maddalena hasn’t made the walk since a victory over Gilbert Burns at UFC 299 this past March. The Australian put his name in Comeback of the Year discussion by avoiding certain defeat on the scorecards with a late knockout.

    The Perth native has now won 17 straight fights since an 0-2 start to his professional career, a run that includes a perfect 7-0 UFC record. With that in mind, a triumph over a recent champ in Edwards would likely secure the #4-ranked contender a first title shot.