MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • Muhammad Mokaev Gets Replacement Opponent On 2 Days’ Notice For First Fight Since UFC Exit

    Muhammad Mokaev will face a late-notice replacement opponent this week, keeping the date for his first outing since exiting the UFC intact.

    Mokaev enjoyed an undefeated run in the UFC during a three-year stint, rising up the ladder in a fashion that saw many predict potential championship glory in his future. And by getting the better of Manel Kape at UFC 304 in Manchester this past July, the Dagestan-born Brit appeared to be close to the front of the queue.

    But more than just being snubbed for Alexandre Pantoja’s subsequent title defense, “The Punisher” was eliminated from the equation altogether when the UFC opted not to renew his contract.

    The decision came after he struck Kape at a hotel during fight week, with UFC CEO Dana White suggesting a number of issues away from the cage left the matchmakers with negative views on the young fighter.

    After his push for an immediate Octagon return fell on deaf ears, Mokaev put pen to paper on a deal with his former organization, Brave Combat Federation. His debut was later confirmed for this weekend’s Brave CF 91 event in Bahrain.

    Disaster struck just days out from the card, with Mokaev’s opponent Luthando Biko withdrawing due to a health issue. Fortunately, it’s not taking long for Brave CF to secure a new foe, with Joevincent Soe stepping in for a 130-pound catchweight. The news was first reported by MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz.

    The 24-year-old didn’t address the news of his first opponent’s withdrawal himself, instead reposting a number of comments on X calling for his re-signing with the UFC in the aftermath of Pantoja’s submission victory over Kai Asakura this past weekend.

    “The Cannibal’s” UFC 310 triumph has left him short on fresh challenges to his reign in 2025, only adding to the confusion of many when it comes to the decision to let Mokaev go.

  • Michael ‘Venom’ Page: UFC 310 Version Of Rakhmonov Would Get ‘Munched’ By Muhammad

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page: UFC 310 Version Of Rakhmonov Would Get ‘Munched’ By Muhammad

    UFC welterweight Michael “Venom” Page believes Shavkat Rakhmonov will have to be a lot better than he was this past weekend if he’s to successfully dethrone Belal Muhammad.

    Rakhmonov successfully defended his top contender status at the UFC 310 pay-per-view on Dec. 7, a date that was originally set to mark his first title shot on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    The undefeated Kazakh saw his opportunity fall through when an injury ruled Muhammad out, and he was instead tasked with stalling Ian Garry’s hopes of leapfrogging him to the front of the queue.

    He did so on the night but had to overcome plenty of adversity to have his hand raised after five rounds of action inside the T-Mobile Arena.

    The competitive nature of the bout has led many to different conclusions, be it Garry being more elite than some had thought or “Nomad” underperforming.

    During a UFC 310 reaction video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Page fell on the latter side of that.

    The former Bellator standout suggested that the reigning welterweight champ would have enjoyed a comfortable first title defense opposite the iteration of Rakhmonov that made the walk in Las Vegas this past weekend.

    “Shavkat couldn’t get anything. Rakhmonov’s fitness and muscular endurance definitely let him down. His balance seems to be very off. This was definitely, by far, not the best Rakhmonov we’ve seen,” Page said. “Although he’s won it, I think anybody looking at this will look at him like, ‘Yeah, I can beat this guy.’

    “Not saying he’s not dangerous. You can see he’s definitely a dangerous person. But this wasn’t good. This wasn’t his best performance,” Page continued. “A hundred percent now, this Shavkat here, if he had fought Belal, Belal was munching him, yamming him for breakfast.”

    Had things turned out differently in the summer, “MVP” could have been the one sharing the cage with Rakhmonov at this year’s final PPV. The Londoner was narrowly outpointed by the Irishman at UFC 303 in June, moving him to an even 1-1 record since joining the promotion in late 2023.

    While he and Garry looked ahead to their respective opportunities to return to the win column in 2025, Rakhmonov will have his eyes on nothing but Muhammad and the champ’s belt.

  • Report: Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo Added To UFC 313 In Las Vegas On March 12

    Report: Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo Added To UFC 313 In Las Vegas On March 12

    Fights deeper into next year’s calendar are beginning to come together, including the first for the Las Vegas-held UFC 313 pay-per-view.

    After opening its year with numbered events in Los Angeles and Sydney, PPV action will hit the T-Mobile Arena for the first time on March 12. And per Ag. Fight, the first addition to the lineup will be an important one in the context of the strawweight division.

    A month after 115-pound queen Zhang Weili puts her gold on the line opposite Tatiana Suarez, the charging Iasmin Lucindo (17-5) will look to stake her claim for the next shot when she gets the chance to leap into the top five at the expense of Amanda Lemos (14-4-1) at UFC 313.

    Lemos will be looking to bounce back at UFC 313, having been submitted by another Brazilian standout in Virna Jandiroba this past July. That result has left her 1-1 since a failed title bid against Zhang in August 2023. Her 2024 opened with a decision victory over Mackenzie Dern.

    Lucindo, meanwhile, has established herself as one of the promotion’s most promising prospects since impressing in defeat on debut versus Yazmin Jauregui. She’s since won four on the bounce, including key triumphs over Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Marina Rodriguez to climb to #7 in the rankings this year.

  • Paddy Pimblett Gives Enthusiastic Reaction To Ilia Topuria’s Lightweight Claim: ‘New Blood?’

    Paddy Pimblett Gives Enthusiastic Reaction To Ilia Topuria’s Lightweight Claim: ‘New Blood?’

    UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett appears ready to renew hostilities with featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria.

    Pimblett and Topuria developed a sudden feud in 2022 after the latter took offense to remarks made about Georgia by the Liverpool native. They almost came to blows at the fighter hotel ahead of their respective matchups on a UFC Fight Night card in London.

    At the time, the pair appeared to be on a collision course. Since then, however, “El Matador” has moved clear of “The Baddy” when it comes to UFC status, dropping to 145 pounds and capturing the crowd. Knockouts of Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in 2024 have left him a leading candidate for the Fighter of the Year accolade.

    2025, however, could see a major career switch for Topuria, who recently outlined his plan to vacate the 145-pound gold and permanently return to lightweight.

    And it didn’t take long for Pimblett to take notice…

    “New blood at 155?” Pimblett wrote on Instagram.

    The Scouser still has some places to make up on the 155-pound ladder to put himself in the conversation for a clash against Topuria.

    With champion Islam Makhachev preoccupied dealing with the threat posed by Arman Tsarukyan, “El Matador” has called for a title eliminator opposite the #2-ranked Charles Oliveira.

    Pimblett, meanwhile, sits 11 places lower than “do Bronx” in the pecking order, with his most recent wins coming over Tony Ferguson and King Green.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Threatens Dagestan Visit To ‘Slap’ Umar Nurmagomedov: ‘If He Doesn’t Apologize…’

    Merab Dvalishvili Threatens Dagestan Visit To ‘Slap’ Umar Nurmagomedov: ‘If He Doesn’t Apologize…’

    The tension between UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov shows no sign of decreasing ahead of their upcoming title fight.

    Dvalishvili recently had his first defense since capturing the 135-pound crown at the expense of Sean O’Malley added to the calendar. Four months on from his triumph inside the Sphere, the Georgian will head to Los Angeles to do battle with an undefeated contender.

    “The Machine” is set to co-headline next month’s year-opening UFC 311 pay-per-view opposite Nurmagomedov, who has gotten his wish to compete for the gold despite the champ previously dismissing his worthiness when it came to a championship opportunity.

    Dvalishvili’s repeated attempts to pitch alternative fights drew plenty of backlash from the Dagestani online, and it would appear that the remarks have not been forgotten…

    That much was evident when the pair almost came to blows backstage at last week’s UFC 311 press conference in Las Vegas before trading verbal barbs on stage.

    And during an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Dvalishvili further addressed his growing disdain for his challenger. He stated that Nurmagomedov needs to say sorry for what he perceived as disrespect or he would be getting “slapped,” even if it means the Georgian heading to Dagestan or facing consequences such as prison.

    “If you come to my face and if you disrespect me, you’re going to get slapped,” Dvalishvili said. “Don’t try that because I’m a man and I will never forgive you, even if I have to go to jail. I don’t care, man. I have so much to lose. I don’t care [about] this belt, I don’t care [about] this money, I don’t care [about] this legacy. I’m a man, I live in a respectful way, and that’s all I believe.

    “Especially now I’m a U S. citizen, I can f***ing fight, beat the s*** out of these motherf***ers and I have no problem to pay the bill, ticket, or go to jail. Because I don’t care. Don’t disrespect me,” Dvalishvili continued. “He may get a slap after the fight. … The fight in the Octagon is not a real fight, it’s a sport. Yeah, [the fight will continue] if Umar does not apologize. … It’s going to happen, even if I have to go in Dagestan, I will go.”

    It remains to be seen whether Dvalishvili will deliver on that threat, but the Georgian’s frequent altercations with fans at events — the most recent of which happened just this past weekend at UFC 310 — suggests “The Machine” won’t hold bak outside of the cage if he feels disrespected.

    Regardless, it’s safe to say that the build-up toward their collision at the Intuit Dome on Jan. 18 will continue to be a heated one.

  • Dricus Du Plessis On UFC Dismissing His Chimaev Preference For Next Defense: ‘Just For Clarification…’ 

    Dricus Du Plessis On UFC Dismissing His Chimaev Preference For Next Defense: ‘Just For Clarification…’ 

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis insists he is not “unhappy” about the promotion’s decision regarding his next challenger.

    During this past weekend’s pay-per-view broadcast, it was announced that Du Plessis will return to Australia — the site of his successful first defense against Israel Adesanya in August — to headline UFC 312 at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.

    Against him will be former champ Sean Strickland, who staked his claim for a chance at redemption opposite the man who dethroned him this past January when he outpointed Paulo Costa in a lackluster affair four months later. But while his shot has ultimately come to fruition, there was some doubt prior to the recent reveal.

    The undefeated Khamzat Chimaev ran through Robert Whittaker in quick time at UFC 308 in October, garnering support for his claim to the next opportunity at Du Plessis’ belt. Even the champ himself made it clear that he favored a first-time clash with “Borz.”

    But although that evidently fell on deaf ears, the South African says he’s more than happy to beat whomever the UFC places in front of him.

    “Just for clarification, I preferred the Khamzat fight but the rematch is a fight most wanted before Khamzat vs (Whittaker),” Du Plessis wrote on X. “I’m not unhappy with the UFC’s decision. Like I said, I’ll fight the man fans think is the next best guy he was promised the fight so Strickland it is.”

    He did, however, reiterate his belief that Strickland is not truly deserving of the shot at UFC 312 in response to a commenter.

    “I have to agree with you on that one”

    After falling on the right side of a split decision to capture the crown at Strickland’s expense in Canada, “Stillknocks” continued to prove his doubters wrong by submitting former two-time champ Adesanya at UFC 305.

    Du Plessis will now look to secure a more definitive victory over Strickland to extend his lead in their rivalry to 2-0, before likely turning attention to Chimaev later in the year.

  • Jan Błachowicz Set To Return After 20-Month Layoff At UFC London In 2025

    Jan Błachowicz Set To Return After 20-Month Layoff At UFC London In 2025

    The first fights are in for next March’s UFC Fight Night in London, and one includes the return of former light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz.

    After staging its United Kingdom event in Manchester this past July, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will head back to England’s capital in the first quarter of 2025, with London’s O2 arena once again playing host to Octagon action.

    A main event is yet to be announced, and a number of home favorites are expected to make the walk in front of their compatriots. The first major announcement, however, will pit a Polish ex-titleholder against a charging New Zealander.

    The UFC announced this week that Błachowicz’s (29-10-1) lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury will come to a close 20 months on from his most recent appearance — a narrow decision loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 291.

    On March 22, the #4-ranked contender will attempt to defend his position in the top five opposite the surging Carlos Ulberg (11-1). That fight was announced alongside another, with English heavyweight Mick Parkin set for a big opportunity against a veteran of the top 10 in Marcin Tybura on home soil.

    Prior to his tight loss to then-future and now-reigning light heavyweight champion Pereira, Błachowicz failed to regain the 205-pound gold against Magomed Ankalaev, whom he fought to a draw against in the main event of UFC 282.

    Ulberg, meanwhile, hasn’t tasted defeat since a UFC debut defeat to Kennedy Nzechukwu in 2021. Since then, “Black Jag” has won six fights consecutively, most recently outpointing former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Macau late last month.

  • Ilia Topuria Drops Bombshell On UFC Career: ‘Very Likely’ We’ve Seen My Last Featherweight Fight

    Ilia Topuria Drops Bombshell On UFC Career: ‘Very Likely’ We’ve Seen My Last Featherweight Fight

    It would appear that UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria’s reign might have been a one-and-done affair…

    Topuria enjoyed a standout 2024 inside the cage, with a title crowning via knockout at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski and successful defense by way of a violent finish against Max Holloway leaving him in a strong year within Fighter of the Year discussions.

    While the Spaniard has been getting plenty of plaudits since becoming the first man to sleep “Blessed” in Abu Dhabi this past October, talk has unsurprisingly turned to what could await him in 2025.

    From a rematch with Volkanovski to first-time showdowns with Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev, the latter of whom staked his claim with a victory over Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310 this past weekend, Topuria doesn’t appear short on options.

    According to the champ himself, however, those names aren’t enticing enough.

    During a recent interview with Spanish radio show El Partidazo de COPE, Topuria dropped a bombshell on his UFC career, suggesting that he’s likely competed at featherweight for the final time and will vacate the belt in order to move up to lightweight.

    “There were talks of Miami, but I’m not sure because there are still some pending conversations,” Topuria said. “We need to talk about it and take a look at my future. For me, it is very clear how I want to do it. I’d like to move up to the next weight class.

    With a superfight against 155-pound kingpin Islam Makhachev not on the table right now as the Dagestani gears up to meet the challenge of Arman Tsarukyan in Los Angeles next month, Topuria pitched a title eliminator with Charles Oliveira instead.

    “Since Islam is the champion fighting in January and won’t be ready for April or May, I’d like to fight the number one contender right now, who’s Charles Oliveira,” Topuria stated. “I’d like to move up a weight class. … Maybe there’s a change coming. … (It’s) very likely (you’ve seen my last fight at featherweight).”

    Oliveira believes he secured a shot at returning to the lightweight throne when he once again got the better of Michael Chandler at the Madison Square Garden-held UFC 309 pay-per-view last month.

    “Do Bronx” has outlined his intention to be present at the Intuit Dome when Makhachev and Tsarukyan collide, anticipating that his next opponent will be decided.

    Topuria’s plans could throw a curveball into the mix, however. But it remains to be seen if his plan to shockingly end his featherweight stint will be supported by the promotion, especially with growing calls for “El Matador” to defend his gold in Spain next year.

  • Manon Fiorot Loses Patience In Title Fight Wait, Tells Valentina Shevchenko ‘Sign The Contract Or Retire’

    Manon Fiorot Loses Patience In Title Fight Wait, Tells Valentina Shevchenko ‘Sign The Contract Or Retire’

    UFC women’s flyweight Manon Fiorot continues to berate Valentina Shevchenko over their expected championship collision.

    Fiorot earned her shot this past March when she got the better of Erin Blanchfield in Atlantic City. The result, which came in the Frenchwoman’s maiden main event on MMA’s biggest stage, extended her professional win streak to 12 and perfect UFC record to 7-0.

    Having defeated “Cold Blooded,” Rose Namajunas, Katlyn Cerminara and Jennifer Maia consecutively, there’s little doubt over the #2-ranked contender’s place at the front of the queue. But for much of this year, “The Beast” was made to wait as Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso completed their trilogy.

    “Bullet” emerged victorious from it at the Sphere, returning to the throne and beginning a second reign as 125-pound queen. Fortunately for the matchmakers, Shevchenko’s first challenge was already seemingly lined up — and it’s safe to say she’s in a hurry…

    Fiorot recently took to social media to express frustration at the ongoing wait for her title chance, tagging Shevchenko and calling for her to either put pen to paper on a bout agreement or hang up her gloves.

    “@BulletValentina You can’t hide anymore, so sign this contract or retire,” Fiorot wrote.

    For now, a date and event for Fiorot’s likely title shot is unclear, but she’ll no doubt be preparing for the her shot at joining Ciryl Gane as only the second French UFC champ — first to achieve the feat as an undisputed titleholder.

    With two championship fights set for both UFC 311 in Los Angeles on Jan. 18 and UFC 312 in Australia the following month, it would appear that the earliest Shevchenko vs. Fiorot could come together is March.

  • Vicente Luque Reveals Only Non-Top 10 Opponent He’ll Accept After UFC 310: ‘I Have An Exception…’ 

    Vicente Luque Reveals Only Non-Top 10 Opponent He’ll Accept After UFC 310: ‘I Have An Exception…’ 

    Following a crucial victory at this past weekend’s pay-per-view, UFC welterweight Vicente Luque’s eyes are on those above him at 170 pounds — unless…

    Luque made the walk at UFC 310 off the back of a 2-3 run across his previous five fights and a difficult knockout loss at the hands of Joaquin Buckley earlier this year. With that, his place in the divisional top 15 was at stake.

    But while Themba Gorimbo entered his short-notice opportunity to rise the ranks with momentum from four straight wins, “The Silent Assassin” showed that he has plenty left in the tank by putting on an emphatic and dominant performance.

    It took the Brazilian-American just 52 seconds to stall the Zimbabwean’s push toward contention, first dropping him on the feet before choking him unconscious with a tight anaconda choke.

    During his post-fight press conference, Luque reflected on his return to the win column inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena and looked ahead to what could await him in the new year.

    After reiterating his title aspirations, the 33-year-old unsurprisingly outlined his intention to face a name high up the welterweight ladder in 2025. But Luque would entertain one name who is far from being in the championship conversation.

    “2025 is that run for the title, and I want that Miami card. I want top 10, but I have an exception,” Luque said. “If Masvidal really wants to step back in there, and he wants to get it done, I would love to have a battle against him.

    “I want him as an opponent because I know it’s going to be a war,” Luque continued. “I know that the fans are going to enjoy that, and I know that we both can deliver a battle.”

    Masvidal hasn’t competed since a decision defeat to Gilbert Burns at the Miami-held UFC 287 PPV in April 2023. The result, which marked a fourth straight loss for “Gamebred,” was quickly followed by a retirement announcement that many in the community supported.

    But after competing against former Octagon rival Nate Diaz in the boxing ring, the ex-BMF champ has insisted that a UFC return is in store next year.

    It remains to be seen who that MMA comeback will come against, but Luque evidently fancies his chances in what would no doubt be one of the more high-profile bouts in his career.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Kai Asakura Debuts In Flyweight Top 15 After UFC 310 Loss

    UFC Rankings Report: Kai Asakura Debuts In Flyweight Top 15 After UFC 310 Loss

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of UFC 310, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Alexandre Pantoja emerged victorious from Saturday’s main event, choking out newcomer Kai Asakura to stay flyweight kingpin. As a result, the Brazilian has received a boost up the P4P ladder, now sharing the #9 spot with Leon Edwards. Pantoja’s two-place rise has seen Alexander Volkanovski slip the same distance back to #11.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: TBC

    Women’s Strawweight: TBC

    Women’s Flyweight: TBC

    Women’s Bantamweight: TBC

    Flyweight: While unsuccessful in capturing gold on his debut, Asakura has still joined the ranks of contenders with numbers next to their names at 125 pounds. The Japanese star has arrived at #14, with UFC 310 victor Joshua Van also entering at #15. Those debuts have led to Cody Durden, Van’s defeated opponent, and Matt Schnell exiting the UFC rankings.

    Bantamweight: TBC

    Featherweight: Movsar Evloev kept his undefeated record intact on the UF 310 preliminary card, getting past former bantamweight kingpin Aljamain Sterling in a competitive grappling affair. The Russian has now climbed one spot to #4 in the division, demoting Yair Rodríguez to #5.

    Lightweight: TBC

    Welterweight: Shavkat Rakhmonov was among the biggest winners in Las Vegas on Saturday night, as he fought through a torn MCL to outpoint former training partner Ian Garry in the co-main event. The triumph has elevated him above Kamaru Usman to #2 in the UFC rankings ahead of an expected title shot in 2025. The Irishman, meanwhile, has stayed put at #7.

    Middleweight: TBC

    Light Heavyweight: The resurgence of Dominick Reyes continued at UFC 310, where he dominantly put away fellow former title challenger Anthony Smith by way of TKO. “The Devastator” is now up one position to #11, leaving Azamat Murzakanov a place worse off at #11. “Lionheart,” meanwhile, has continued to slip down the pecking order. He;’s now been passed by Bogdan Guskov (#13) and occupies the #14 spot.

    Heavyweight: TBC

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Ian Garry’s Takeaway From Shavkat Rakhmonov Loss: ‘I’m The Scarier Fighter’

    Ian Garry’s Takeaway From Shavkat Rakhmonov Loss: ‘I’m The Scarier Fighter’

    He may not have got the result he wanted at this past weekend’s pay-per-view, but that hasn’t stopped UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry from taking a victory lap of sorts.

    Garry had his record blemished for the first time in his professional career at UFC 310, an event he co-headlined opposite a former training partner and fellow rising star at 170 pounds in Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    Their contest, which came about after the withdrawal of champion Belal Muhammad from his scheduled defense against “Nomad” due to injury, went the distance inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, with the Kazakh emerging with his undefeated résumé intact.

    Despite having his hopes to challenge for “Remember the Name’s” gold next year dented by Rakhmonov, however, Garry appears more enthusiastic and confident about his chances of reaching the top than ever before.

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Garry reflected on his losing performance in “Sin City,” highlighting the difficult circumstances that his first title eliminator in the UFC came in.

    Ultimately, aside from having his hand raised, Garry seemingly doesn’t think the night could have gone much better in terms of proving that his self-belief when it comes to beating everyone in his path on MMA’s biggest stage is well placed.

    “I went in there on short notice against the scariest man in the division and I made him human,” Garry said. “I proved to the world how talented I am against a guy who they thought was unbeatable. … There’s no argument in my mind that when that fight finished, you can’t sit there and say anything else other than I am the scarier fighter.

    “He didn’t beat me anywhere,” Garry continued. “Significant strikes, I won. The grappling exchanges, I was winning; I was defending and shooting down everything he was doing. The gameplan and everything that I had come up (with) and told my team I wanted to do, it worked. It’s a matter of seconds and four to five extra shots, and you’re talking about five rounds in my favor.”

    With those comments in mind, the Irishman will evidently be entering 2025 with even more confidence and expectation for himself. First things first, Garry must return to winning ways, and from there, perhaps another chance to secure an opening shot at gold in his UFC career will await.

    For the time being, though, focus will be on the UFC 310 co-main event winner as Rakhmonov pursues a second official booking opposite Muhammad in the new year.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Reacts To Confirmation Of Sean Strickland Rematch: ‘They’ll Call It Attempted Murder…’ 

    Dricus Du Plessis Reacts To Confirmation Of Sean Strickland Rematch: ‘They’ll Call It Attempted Murder…’ 

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis is looking to put a stamp on his rivalry with Sean Strickland when they run it back early next year.

    As 2024 approaches its conclusion, Du Plessis already has his first assignment of the new year in the calendar. After being crowned 185-pound kingpin this past January and subsequently defending that status against Israel Adesanya in Australia seven months later, “Stillknocks” will return Down Under.

    The promotion confirmed during this past weekend’s pay-per-view broadcast that Du Plessis will headline February’s UFC 312 event in Sydney, running it back with the man at the expense of whom he won the middleweight belt, the #1-ranked Strickland.

    Reacting to that announcement on social media this week, the South African vowed to record a more definitive triumph over the polarizing American former champ.

    “This time they won’t call it a robbery, they’ll call it attempted murder. #UFC312 #preparetobeamazed”

    The pair first met in Strickland’s sole title defense in Canada, with the then-challenger falling on the right side of a split decision verdict following five rounds of close and competitive action.

    While “Tarzan’s” only bout since then saw him emerge victorious from a lackluster contest with Paulo Costa, he’s gotten the nod for a shot at redemption opposite Du Plessis over Khamzat Chimaev, whose own claim to an opportunity gained support after he ran through Robert Whittaker in October.

    Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 will top a lineup that features two title fights, the other being a highly anticipated strawweight championship contest between Zhang Weili and the undefeated Tatiana Suarez.

  • Ian Garry Feels He ‘Won’ Against Shavkat Rakhmonov At UFC 310: ‘Very Happy With My Performance’

    Ian Garry Feels He ‘Won’ Against Shavkat Rakhmonov At UFC 310: ‘Very Happy With My Performance’

    UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry emerged from this past weekend’s pay-per-view pleased with his efforts.

    Rakhmonov appeared in the Octagon for the third time this year on Saturday night, co-headlining the UFC 310 event opposite Shavkat Rakhmonov inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    The Irishman was originally set to feature in 2024’s final UFC fight next weekend in Tampa, but the withdrawal of champion Belal Muhammad from his scheduled defense on Dec. 7 saw “The Future” agree to a short-notice showdown with a fellow undefeated contender in “Nomad.”

    And the pair fought out the kind of competitive battle many had anticipated from two former training partners who had never tasted defeat on the professional stage. Ultimately, one man’s ‘0’ had to go.

    Unfortunately for Garry, he was the one who exited the cage with a blemished record, having fallen on the wrong side of three 48-47 scorecards in “Sin City.” With that, Rakhmonov has successfully defended his spot as next in line for a crack at Muhammad’s gold.

    While that’s dealt a setback for Garry, he seems far from downbeat in the aftermath of his loss.

    During his post-fight press conference, Garry explained why he sees UFC 310 as a victorious night in his career.

    “I’m humble in victory and in defeat and always have been, and I do not feel like I lost today,” Garry said. “My hand might not have been raised, but I came out and I fought a giant, I came out and I fought the boogeyman, and I showed that he’s f*cking human. I went out there on three weeks’ notice and I saved this event. I saved this card against the scariest man in the division and I went out there and I stopped almost everything.

    “I showed that I can hang with the single best in the division and I proved tonight that I can absolutely be a champion,” Garry continued. “He won by opinion, and that’s okay, I can live with that, and I’m very happy with my performance tonight.”

    Having maintained immense confidence in his abilities and future rise to top spot at 170 pounds, Garry will no doubt look to continue his development in 2025 and bounce back to winning ways.

  • VIDEO: Dana White Tells Alexander Volkov The Judges ‘F*cked’ Him In Cageside Interaction At UFC 310

    VIDEO: Dana White Tells Alexander Volkov The Judges ‘F*cked’ Him In Cageside Interaction At UFC 310

    UFC CEO Dana White offered words of support to Alexander Volkov after the heavyweight contender was controversially beaten by Ciryl Gane at this past weekend’s pay-per-view.

    Volkov returned at UFC 310 on Saturday night for his second outing of the year, having extended his winning run to four straight fights with an upset win over Sergei Pavlovich in Saudi Arabia this past June. That result put the Russian up to #3 in the rankings and earned him a shot at avenging his 2021 main event loss to Gane.

    In the eyes of many, “Drago” did enough to do just that inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. But while judge Eric Colón agreed, Adalaide Byrd and Junichiro Kamijo shocked plenty by submitting scorecards in favor of the Frenchman.

    Among those who disagreed with the result in an arena filled with boos after the result was the UFC CEO, who engaged in discourse with a clearly baffled and distraught Volkov as he exited the cage.

    The moment was captured and posted by ESPN MMA on X.

    White told the Russian he was “f*cked” by the judges and that the promotion would try to do right by him.

    The result marked Gane’s second victory over the Russian, coming three years on from a more convincing five-round decision over the former Bellator champion. “Bon Gamin” has now won back-to-back fights since a crushing defeat to Jon Jones in March 2023.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: KO Artist Jean Silva Added To UFC Seattle

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: KO Artist Jean Silva Added To UFC Seattle

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming 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, December 2, and Sunday, December 8, a number 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, check out the links below:

    Plenty of lower-profile matchups also came together. For those, check out this week’s quick hits:

    But it wasn’t all positive, with one fight being delayed. For information on that, see the link below:

  • What’s Next After UFC 310? Full Confirmed UFC 311 Main Card For Los Angeles On Jan. 18

    What’s Next After UFC 310? Full Confirmed UFC 311 Main Card For Los Angeles On Jan. 18

    UFC 310 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 311 in Los Angeles.

    The promotion was in Las Vegas this past week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest major card in “Sin City.” Of note were headline wins for Alexandre Pantoja and Shavkat Rakhmonov, as well as important victories for Bryce Mitchell, Dominick Reyes, and Movsar Evloev.

    While the aftermath of the Dec. 7 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the flyweight title picture to the lightweight championship conversation.

    At UFC 311, set for the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Jan. 18, reigning kingpin Islam Makhachev will open his account for the new year, once again in defense of his 155-pound gold. After following his crowning against Charles Oliveira with retentions opposite Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier, the Dagestani will next run it back with top contender Arman Tsarukyan.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili looks to defend his gold for the first time since winning it at the expense of Sean O’Malley. In his way of a continued reign will be the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Procházka, Moicano, de Ridder, Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 311

    Before Makhachev and Dvalishvili defend their belts, a number of other notable names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 311 card.

    That includes a pair of former light heavyweight champions in Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill. After falling to the renowned power of reigning kingpin Alex Pereira this year, both will be looking to bounce back and reinsert themselves into the title picture at 205 pounds.

    Prior to that, an important lightweight clash goes down. Fresh off a 3-0 run in 2024 and main event triumph over Benoît Saint Denis in Paris, Renato Moicano gets the chance to further climb the 155-pound ladder against veteran contender Beneil Dariush, who hasn’t competed since a knockout to Tsarukyan in December 2023.

    And opening the UFC 311 main card will be promotional newcomer Reinier de Ridder. The former two-division ONE championship titleholder debuted this past November in a grueling clash with Gerald Meerschaert at the Apex. If he’s to move to 2-0 in the Octagon, the Dutchman must add to the woes of Kevin Holland, who most recently fell to an injury TKO loss opposite Roman Dolidze.

    Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over ranked light heavyweights Johnny Walker and Bogdan Guskov, as well as a top 10 heavyweight bout between Jailton Almeida and Serghei Spivac.

    See below for the full UFC 311 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight championship)
    • Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight championship)
    • Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
    • Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano (lightweight)
    • Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
    • Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight)
    • Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
    • Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira (lightweight)
    • Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
    • Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
    • Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)
    • Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clay Carpenter (flyweight)
    Jiri Prochazka
    Image: Zuffa LLC/UFC
  • Demetrious Johnson Reacts To Alexandre Pantoja’s Callout At UFC 310

    Demetrious Johnson Reacts To Alexandre Pantoja’s Callout At UFC 310

    It doesn’t appear that even the unstoppable Alexandre Pantoja can draw UFC flyweight legend Demetrious Johnson out of retirement.

    Pantoja further enhanced his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this weekend, emerging victorious from the UFC 310 pay-per-view main event inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    Having begun his reign with successful defenses against Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg after dethroning Brandon Moreno in 2023, “The Cannibal” was dealt a unique challenge on Saturday night. Sharing the cage with him was a promotional newcomer in Kai Asakura.

    The former Rizin bantamweight champion arrived with an impressive résumé and plenty of hype, and an early flying knee confirmed the Japanese star as an exciting addition to the division. But it wasn’t to be for Asakura in his debut, as he fell by way of submission to Pantoja in round two.

    With that, Pantoja has firmly placed himself among the all-time greats and brought about some uncertainty over fresh opponent options in 2025. He proposed a solution to that during his Octagon interview, however, calling out “Mighty Mouse.”

    Johnson — who enjoyed a record-breaking, six-year flyweight reign in the UFC before finding success in ONE Championship — was quick to react to “The Cannibal’s” comments, reiterating that he intends to stick to the retirement he announced at ONE 168 in Denver this past September.

    “Guys I got offered 2 million dollars to fight!! I turned it down I don’t care to fight anymore YouTube video dropping soon,” Johnson wrote on X.

    Of course, beyond just Johnson’s lack of interest in a comeback, there would be the small matter of his contractual situation with ONE, Asia’s largest martial arts organization. The likelihood of the promotion and its CEO, Chatri Sityodtong, releasing “Mighty Mouse” for a UFC return against Pantoja would appear extremely slim.

    That hasn’t stopped fans getting behind Pantoja’s callout, though, with many pushing for the legendary former champ to make another walk to the cage in his illustrious career.

  • Aljamain Sterling On UFC 310 Loss To Movsar Evloev: ‘Thought I Might’ve Edged It’

    Aljamain Sterling On UFC 310 Loss To Movsar Evloev: ‘Thought I Might’ve Edged It’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling isn’t giving up his hope of two-division glory after a setback in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

    After debuting at 145 pounds with a convincing decision victory over Calvin Kattar this past April, Sterling was tasked with blemishing the perfect record of Movsar Evloev at UFC 310 to break into the divisional top five and stake his claim for a shot at Ilia Topuria’s gold.

    “Funk Master” was narrowly unable to achieve that feat, with his Russian counterpart grinding out a hard-fought decision victory across three rounds at T-Mobile Arena.

    The result marks a second defeat in three fights for Sterling, who was thrust off the bantamweight throne by Sean O’Malley before committing to a long-awaited featherweight switch this year.

    Nevertheless, the New York native doesn’t appear deterred from his pursuit of a second belt on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “Tough fight…I thought I might’ve edged it out against a tough opponent, but we came up short,” Sterling wrote on X. “Thank you all for the love and support and I hope the performance was a fun one for you all to watch. Movsar is a beast, I showed where I belong in this division. For now, we decompress and heal up, then get ready to climb the ladder again. The dream doesn’t stop unless you give up! I’ll be back! #UFC310 #FunkHarbor #Perseverance“

    Sterling will now look to rebound in the new year and begin a fresh surge toward the top at 145 pounds.

    At 9-0, meanwhile, Evloev appears to have placed himself well for an opportunity at Topuria in 2025. While the Russian is still awaiting his first finish in the UFC, victories over Arnold Allen and Sterling this year have left his claim to a title shot hard to deny.

  • VIDEO: UFC 310 Post-Fight Press Conference After Pantoja, Rakhmonov’s Headline Wins

    VIDEO: UFC 310 Post-Fight Press Conference After Pantoja, Rakhmonov’s Headline Wins

    The UFC 310 pay-per-view recently concluded, and MMA News has you covered with the post-fight press conference in Las Vegas.

    T-Mobile Arena played host to Octagon action on Dec. 7, as the mixed martial arts leader closed out its PPV schedule for 2024 with a stacked lineup that featured a championship, top contenders, experienced veterans, and some promising prospects.

    Of note were victories for reigning UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja, top welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, ranked featherweight Bryce Mitchell, “Korean Superboy” Dooho Choi and the undefeated Movsar Evloev.

    And before attention turns to next weekend’s year-ending UFC Fight Night in Tampa, Florida, there remains some business to attend to backstage at UFC 310.

    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 310 will also take queries from the press in reaction to their performances.

    With that said, see below for a live stream of the UFC 310 post-fight press conference via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 1:15 AM ET.

  • Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2, Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez Announced For UFC 312 In Sydney

    Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2, Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez Announced For UFC 312 In Sydney

    MMA’s leading promotion is set for an electric start to the new year, with a blockbuster lineup for Los Angeles in January being followed by two more championship fights at UFC 312 in Australia.

    After opening its pay-per-view account for 2025 with Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2 and Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov at LA’s Intuit Dome, the UFC will be back in Sydney for its latest show at the Qudos Bank Arena.

    And returning to the site where he was shockingly crowned middleweight champion in 2023 will be Sean Strickland (29-6). Despite Khamzat Chimaev gaining support for his claim to a title shot, “Tarzan” will indeed get his chance for redemption at UFC 312 opposite the man who dethroned him this past January, Dricus Du Plessis (22-2).

    That news was announced by the broadcast team during Saturday’s UFC 310 PPV, alongside news of the Feb. 8 co-headliner between strawweight queen Zhang Weili (25-3) and undefeated contender Tatiana Suarez (10-0).

    Du Plessis has recorded one title defense since dethroning Strickland, submitting former two-time champ Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth this past August. The American challenger, meanwhile, successfully staked his claim for a rematch opposite the South African by outpointing Paulo Costa in a lackluster five-round affair in Newark.

    For Zhang, UFC 312 will mark her second challenge since returning to the throne at the expense of Carla Esparza in late 2023. She most recently defeated fellow Chinese standout Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 this past April. In Suarez, “Magnum” faces a highly regarded wrestler who has long been touted for success on MMA’s biggest stage. She’ll look to ensure her injuries are a thing of the past and open a new era at 115 pounds.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 312 in Sydney on Feb. 8 are as follows:

    • Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Sean Strickland (middleweight championship)
    • Zhang Weili (C) vs. Tatiana Suarez (women’s strawweight championship)
    • Jimmy Crute vs. Marcin Prachnio (light heavyweight)
    • Rei Tsuruya vs. Stewart Nicoll (flyweight)
    • Quillan Salkilld vs. Anshul Jubli (lightweight)
  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Calls For Movsar Evloev Title Shot After UFC 310

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Calls For Movsar Evloev Title Shot After UFC 310

    Legendary former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov wants to see his fellow countryman, top-five featherweight Movsar Evloev, as the next challenger for Ilia Topuria.

    Evloev made his latest appearance on the preliminary card of Saturday’s UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas, where his second outing of the year came against an ex-bantamweight titleholder in Aljamain Sterling.

    After his decision victory over Arnold Allen this past January wasn’t enough to impress the promotional higher-ups, the Russian had more work to do to place himself in a strong position heading into 2025.

    And although “Funk Master” gave him a run for his money, Evloev ultimately did just that by earning the nod on all three scorecards following three rounds of entertaining grappling action at T-Mobile Arena.

    Evloev had a ‘what will be, will be’ attitude when asked about whether he’s done enough for a title shot by Joe Rogan post-fight. But there’s little doubt about the merit of the #5-ranked contender’s claim in the eyes of another undefeated Russian…

    “19:0 in MMA and 9:0 in UFC,” Khabib wrote. “I think @MovsarUFC deserves title shot.”

    Evloev’s performance on Saturday night maintained his undefeated record in the Octagon, but he is still searching for his first finish under the UFC banner.

    Whether or not that fact will dent his push for the gold remains to be seen, but Evloev appears to have gained considerable support for his hopes to battle Topuria in 2025 after a hard-fought triumph over Sterling in “Sin City.”

  • UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura, Rakhmonov vs. Garry Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura, Rakhmonov vs. Garry Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC 310 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 T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada provides a chance for UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja to record his third successful title defense.

    After capturing the gold in July 2023 in a barnburner with Brandon Moreno, “The Cannibal” is next tasked with stalling promotional newcomer Kai Asakura’s ambitions of an immediate ascent to the 125-pound mountaintop.

    The stakes will also be high in the co-main event, which will see top welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov look to defend his status as next in line for a shot at Belal Muhammad’s gold by blemishing the perfect record of fellow undefeated rising star Ian Garry.

    Elsewhere on the UFC 310 card, ex-interim heavyweight champ Ciryl Gane runs it back with in-form Russian Alexander Volkov, light heavyweight veterans Dominick Reyes and Anthony Smith collide, and an important clash at 145 pounds goes down between Movsar Evloev and Aljamain Sterling.

    Ahead of the event, 27 of the 28 fighters successfully made weight, with Bryan Battle’s four-pound miss of the welterweight limit marking the sole indiscretion on the scale. Nevertheless, every fight is intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 310 ceremonial weigh-ins!

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

    UFC 310 Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • UFC 311 Press Conference Stream: Featuring Makhachev, Tsarukyan, Dvalishvili & Nurmagomedov

    UFC 311 Press Conference Stream: Featuring Makhachev, Tsarukyan, Dvalishvili & Nurmagomedov

    UFC 311 will kick off the promotion’s pay-per-view schedule for 2025, and MMA News has you covered with this week’s press conference.

    The MMA leader has business to attend to in Las Vegas on Saturday night before focus turns to next year’s opening numbered event, but Friday will see attention briefly on the Jan. 18 card in Los Angeles before the UFC 310 ceremonial weigh-ins.

    Appearing on stage with mic in hand will be the four UFC 311 headliners — Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan, Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov.

    See below for a live stream of the UFC 311 presser via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 6 PM ET.

    UFC 311, set to play out inside the Intuit Dome, will be headlined by Makhachev’s (26-1) fourth defense of the lightweight title. Since capturing it at the expense of Charles Oliveira in 2022, the Dagestani has turned away two challenges from featherweight legend Alexander Volkanovski and one from Dustin Poirier.

    Makhachev could now be set for his toughest test to date as he runs it back with the charging Tsarukyan (22-3). The Russian-Armenian secured his first shot at gold with a victory over Oliveira at UFC 300 this past April. And given how competitive his 2019 fight with the champ was, he’s confident of being the one to start a new chapter at 155 pounds.

    There will also be title stakes in the co-main event, meanwhile, as Dvalishvili (18-4) puts his newly won bantamweight belt on the line for the first time. Four months on from unseating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 inside the Sphere, the Georgian is tasked with blemishing the perfect record of Nurmagomedov (18-0) if he’s to add a successful retention to his résumé.

    A number of other intriguing matchups are scheduled for the stacked card. The current fights expected to take place at UFC 311 in Los Angeles on Jan. 18 are as follows:

    • Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight championship)
    • Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight championship)
    • Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
    • Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)
    • Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano (lightweight)
    • Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
    • Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
    • Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clay Carpenter (flyweight)
    • Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
    • Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
    • Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)
    • Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight)
    • Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira (lightweight)
    • Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)
  • UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura, Rakhmonov vs. Garry Weigh-In Results: One Fighter Misses Big

    UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura, Rakhmonov vs. Garry Weigh-In Results: One Fighter Misses Big

    UFC 310 takes place tomorrow night, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After staging fights in New York City and Macau to close out last month, the mixed martial arts leader’s brief December schedule kicks off with the final numbered event of the year in Las Vegas.

    One title will be on the line at the top of the card, with Alexandre Pantoja defending his flyweight belt against debuting former Rizin champion Kai Asakura in the main event. Co-headlining, meanwhile, will be a crucial clash of undefeated welterweights between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry.

    Also on the main card will be returns for ex-interim heavyweight titleholder Ciryl Gane, ranked featherweight Bryce Mitchell, and the always entertaining Nate Landwehr.

    UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura Weigh-In Results

    UFC 310 takes place Saturday, Dec. 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    See above for a replay of the UFC 310 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below.

    Main Card:

    • Flyweight Championship Main Event: Alexandre Pantoja (124.5lbs) vs. Kai Asakura (124.5lbs)
    • Welterweight Co-Main Event: Shavkat Rakhmonov (171lbs) vs. Ian Garry (171lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Ciryl Gane (245.5lbs) vs. Alexander Volkov (254.5lbs)
    • Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell (146lbs) vs. Kron Gracie (144.5lbs)
    • Featherweight: Nate Landwehr (145.5lbs) vs. Dooho Choi (146lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith (205.5lbs) vs. Dominick Reyes (205lbs)
    • Welterweight: Vicente Luque (170.5lbs) vs. Themba Gorimbo (171lbs)
    • Featherweight: Movsar Evloev (145.5lbs) vs. Aljamain Sterling (145.5lbs)
    • Welterweight: Randy Brown (171lbs) vs. Bryan Battle (175lbs)*

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Catchweight (195lbs): Chris Weidman (194.5lbs) vs. Eryk Anders (193lbs)
    • Flyweight: Cody Durden (126lbs) vs. Joshua Van (126lbs)
    • Welterweight: Michael Chiesa (170.5lbs) vs. Max Griffin (170lbs)
    • Lightweight: Clay Guida (155lbs) vs. Chase Hooper (155.5lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu (236.5lbs) vs. Łukasz Brzeski (234lbs)

    *Bryan Battle missed the welterweight limit by four pounds, fight status TBC