MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic Lineup Takes Another Hit With Undefeated Contender Out

    UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic Lineup Takes Another Hit With Undefeated Contender Out

    The upcoming UFC 309 pay-per-view at Madison Square Garden is a ranked matchup down following another fight cancellation.

    Among one of few fights originally set to play out toward the top of a division on Nov. 16, #6-ranked light heavyweight Nikita Krylov was booked to defend his spot opposite undefeated, rising contender Azamat Murzakanov.

    The pair marked perhaps the most high-stakes clash tasked with setting the stage for the likes of Jon Jones, Charles Oliveira, and Bo Nickal on the UFC 309 preliminary card.

    That is no more, however, after it was revealed by MMA Junkie’s Nolan King that Murzakanov has withdrawn from the New York City-held PPV just over one week out.

    The news marks the latest blow to the UFC 309 lineup, coming just hours after Lucas Almeida was confirmed out of his clash with David Onama.

    This marks the latest setback in Murzakanov’s planned surge into the top 10. After getting the better of Dustin Jacoby last year, the Russian subsequently had fights with Volkan Oezdemir and Khalil Rountree fall through. While he had hoped to start a period of activity following a knockout win over Alonzo Menifield this past August in Abu Dhabi, he now looks set to turn his focus toward a 2025 return after another enforced layoff.

    Krylov, meanwhile, has lost his chance to make a long-awaited return to the Octagon. The longtime contender has been absent for 20 months, having not made the walk since submitting Ryan Spann in March 2023. That left him riding high on a three-fight winning run, but he’s now under threat of sitting out the entirety of this calendar year unless an unlikely short-notice matchup gets put together.

    With this cancellation, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 309 on Dec. 7 are as follows:

    Main Card:

    • Heavyweight Championship Main Event: Jon Jones (C) vs. Stipe Miocic
    • Lightweight Co-Main Event: Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler
    • Women’s Flyweight: Viviane Araújo vs. Karine Silva
    • Middleweight: Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig
    • Lightweight: Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop

    Preliminary Card:

    • Middleweight: Eryk Anders vs. Chris Weidman
    • Bantamweight: Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee
    • Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. Damon Jackson

    Early Preliminary Card: 

    • Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura vs. Jhonata Diniz
    • Welterweight: Mickey Gall vs. Ramiz Brahimaj
    • Welterweight: Bassil Hafez vs. Oban Elliott
    • Women’s Flyweight: Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura
  • Colby Covington Claims He Offered To Fight Shavkat Rakhmonov At UFC 310: ‘They Can Call Me On A Week’s Notice’ 

    Colby Covington Claims He Offered To Fight Shavkat Rakhmonov At UFC 310: ‘They Can Call Me On A Week’s Notice’ 

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington has claimed to have thrown his name in the hat to face the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov on short notice next month.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is scrambling for a new main event to close out its pay-per-view schedule for 2024. That’s after the withdrawal of UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad from the Las Vegas-held UFC 310 on Dec. 7.

    “Remember the Name” was scheduled to put his 170-pound belt on the line for the first time opposite Rakhmonov, but a severe bone infection has forced him out.

    Since then, “Nomad” has outlined his hopes to remain on next month’s numbered card in competition for interim gold. Among the possible opponents, the Kazakh has specifically pointed to Kamaru Usman as the most likely.

    And according to a man who knows “The Nigerian Nightmare” well, those plans are firmly in motion, and have even stopped him from stepping up to the plate.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Covington addressed his absence from the Octagon and suggested a comeback in the first quarter of 2025 is likely.

    He did, however, claim that fans could have seen him extremely soon had the UFC accepted his apparent offer to save the day at UFC 310.

    “I offered (to replace Muhammad). I told the UFC that I was willing to step up to the plate. … They know they can call me on a week’s notice and I’m stepping up to the plate,” Covington said. “I would love to save the show and put on a good show for the fans. They pay their hard-earned money for big mega fights, they need a mega fight, that’s not a mega fight. They need someone who is going to put asses in seats and entertain people. So, I was excited. I wanted the fight and I asked for it but I think they have other plans.”

    And had that come to fruition, “Chaos” doesn’t think he’d have had much trouble dispatching of Rakhmonov — something he expects to prove down the line.

    “I can walk him down and pressure him and he’s not going to like my pressure. He doesn’t do very well with southpaws,” Covington explained. “We saw how he did with the busboy Geoff Neal. That was a very competitive fight. He hasn’t fought a top contender yet. He has fought some gatekeepers of the division, some guys on the cusp of the top 10. But he’s never fought a champion like me and a guy who’s going to come at him for five straight rounds and just walk him down.

    “I match up well, he stands very tall. I don’t see anything special with him. He has some good submissions, he’s slick, but that’s when he can control the wrestling. He’s not going to control the wrestling on me,” Covington continued. “I think I can beat him pretty easily and I think it’s a favorable fight, and it’s a fight I win in the future whether he wins or loses in December.”

    Whether or not his claim is true has been quickly debated in the MMA community, with many suggesting that he’s simply capitalizing on an opportunity knowing that different plans are already in the works for Rakhmonov.

    Either way, the American is seemingly eyeing a 2025 return. During the same interview, he put his absence this year down to his work on the campaign trail prior to Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election this week.

  • Bo Nickal Breaks Down Jones vs. Miocic At UFC 309: ‘When I Look At Jon’s Tools…’

    Bo Nickal Breaks Down Jones vs. Miocic At UFC 309: ‘When I Look At Jon’s Tools…’

    UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal will have a keen eye on the Nov. 16 main event between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic once his assignment on the night is complete.

    Nickal is set to feature on the main card of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden next weekend, where the main attraction will be the long-awaited first heavyweight title defense for an all-time great in Jones.

    20 months on from his crowning and a year removed from an injury scuppering plans for a showdown with Miocic in New York City last year, “Bones” will make his return for a contest that many are expecting to be his last.

    The common consensus appears to be that Jones will get past an aging Miocic who hasn’t competed since falling via knockout to Francis Ngannou in 2021 before hanging up his gloves. Miocic has heard that script and promised something different, vowing to shock the world with his performance.

    Nickal, though, doesn’t appear convinced.

    During a recent interview with former UFC and ONE Championship titleholder Demetrious Johnson, Nickal backed Jones to get the job done at MSG owing to the wide-ranging “tools” in his arsenal.

    He did, however, highlight a potential path to victory for Miocic.

    “First of, I love both those guys. They’re awesome, amazing competitors,” Nickal said. “If I had to pick who’s going to win the fight, I would say Jon, just because the long layoff for Stipe. And when I look at Jon’s tools, he’s just got such a diverse ray of attacks — offense and defense.

    “I think if this fight were to go Stipe’s way, he would probably have to get Jon tired. But I think that Jon is just so savvy in there,” Nickal continued. “I would say the two smartest guys that I’ve seen fight are probably you (Johnson) and him, guys that I really respect their intelligence and their mind. I think a lot of people don’t talk about that in MMA…the most underrated part of Jon’s game.”

    Jones will look to prove Nickal’s prediction right come fight night next weekend, when he headlines a pay-per-view card that also features a highly anticipated rematch between former lightweight champ Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler.

    Elsewhere on the lineup, Nickal himself returns to action opposite Paul Craig and middleweight great Chris Weidman looks to make it two wins from two in 2024 when he faces former American football linebacker Eryk Anders.

  • Israel Adesanya, Khamzat Chimaev, & Other UFC Fighters React As Donald Trump Wins The 2024 US Presidential Election

    Israel Adesanya, Khamzat Chimaev, & Other UFC Fighters React As Donald Trump Wins The 2024 US Presidential Election

    A number of UFC fighters were vocal on social media across last night and this morning, as Donald Trump emerged victorious from the 2024 US presidential election.

    Republican Trump will return to the White House after defeating Democrat opponent Kamala Harris. His victory was confirmed after he surpassed 270 electoral college votes, and he looks set to collect all seven swing states.

    The triumph has secured a second term in office for the 78-year-old, who has become only the second president in history to win a non-consecutive second term following Joe Biden’s success in the 2020 election.

    While polls were predicting a tight contest, Trump comfortably beat Harris after taking a firm lead in the national poplar vote. He’ll now mark the oldest man elected to the United States’ highest office.

    Despite becoming the first former president to be convicted of a criminal offense, Trump — whose first term concluded in controversy after his supporters stormed the Capitol in protest of Biden’s 2020 win — has had plenty of prominent supporters, especially in the fight game.

    In addition to his friendship with UFC CEO Dana White, a number of fighters have voiced their support for the 45th and soon-to-be 47th US president. That trend largely continued on social media during election night and in the aftermath of Trump’s win being confirmed.

    Active and former UFC athletes commented on the result, from former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and Khamzat Chimaev to staunch Trump supporters Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.

  • Shavkat Rakhmonov Rejects Ian Garry’s Confidence About Future Fight: ‘Same Thing’s Going To Happen That’s Happened In Training’

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Rejects Ian Garry’s Confidence About Future Fight: ‘Same Thing’s Going To Happen That’s Happened In Training’

    Top UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov has dismissed the self-belief Ian Garry has when it comes to their likely fight down the line.

    When it comes to undefeated prospects rising the ranks on MMA’s biggest stage, the 170-pound division has boasted two of the most prominent and highly touted in recent years — former M-1 Global champion Rakhmonov and ex-Cage Warriors titleholder Garry.

    The pair both find themselves inside the top 10, with Rakhmonov being the first to earn a shot at gold. That was set to come in the main event of UFC 310 next month, but his challenge against Belal Muhammad will have to wait after the champ withdrew through injury.

    With the Kazakh campaigning to face a fellow contender for interim gold on Dec. 7, Garry has thrown his name into the hat, coming as his latest confident callout of Rakhmonov in recent times.

    “Nomad,” however, unsurprisingly thinks that self-belief is misplaced.

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Rakhmonov noted Garry’s frequent callouts, seemingly questioning the Irishman’s confidence given how the Kazakh recalls their training sessions at Kill Cliff FC playing out.

    “I’m ready if it’s going to be (Garry) after he wins his fight,” Rakhmonov said. “If it’s a date that’s good for both of us, we can do it, you know? If he wants to try and take my 0, he can try, but I know the same thing’s going to happen that’s happened in training. I’m just going to keep it the same way and I’m pretty confident that I’m going to beat him.

    “It’s just training. I don’t want to praise myself too much, but I felt comfortable whether its striking or ground. I felt comfortable and in control. So, I’m pretty confident in this matchup.”

    For now, it appears results will have to go a certain way on both sides for their paths to cross.

    While Garry gears up to defend his spot opposite Joaquin Buckley in Tampa, Florida next month, Rakhmonov is campaigning for an interim welterweight title clash against former champ Kamaru Usman.

    Whether or not that comes to fruition remains to be seen, but it would appear that a “Nomad” vs. “The Future” clash is not out of the realms of possibility for 2025.

  • Cody Garbrandt Withdraws Days Out From UFC Vegas 100 Return

    Cody Garbrandt Withdraws Days Out From UFC Vegas 100 Return

    The 100th UFC Fight Night card to take place at the Apex has lost its former champion, with Cody Garbrandt forced out due to undisclosed reasons.

    Garbrandt (14-6), who rose to the bantamweight throne as an undefeated fighter with a memorable performance against Dominick Cruz back in 2016, has made the walk once in 2024 thus far.

    After having his hand raised in two straight over Trevin Jones and Brian Kelleher for his first win streak in seven years, “No Love’s” planned surge back to the top was once again stalled when he fell via submission to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300 this past April.

    The Ohio native was looking to rebound outside the rankings this weekend in Las Vegas, where he was scheduled to do battle with the heavy-hitting Miles Johns in the UFC Vegas 100 co-main event.

    Per MMA reporter Cole Shelton, however, the ex-bantamweight champ has withdrawn days out from the Apex-held event. The reason for his pull-out has not yet been disclosed.

    The hope is for Johns (15-2, 1 NC) to remain on the card and face a late-notice replacement opponent, if the promotion is able to find one.

    The 30-year-old was looking to make it three wins out of three outings this year at the expense of Garbrandt. After his one appearance in 2023 saw a victory overturned when he tested positive for the banned substance turinabol, “Chapo” has bounced back with consecutive unanimous decision wins over Cody Gibson and Douglas Silva de Andrade in 2024.

    With the cancellation of Garbrandt vs. Johns, the current fights expected to take place at this weekend’s UFC Fight Night at the Apex are as follows:

    Main Card:

    • Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates (welterweight main event)
    • Gerald Meerschaert vs. Reinier de Ridder (middleweight)
    • Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)
    • Luana Pinheiro vs. Gillian Robertson (women’s strawweight)
    • Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Dusko Todorović (middleweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Denise Gomes (women’s strawweight)
    • Gaston Bolaños vs. Cortavious Romious (bantamweight)
    • Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Zachary Scroggin (welterweight)
    • Matthew Semelsberger vs. Charles Radtke (welterweight)
    • Cody Stamann vs. Da’Mon Blackshear (bantamweight)
    • Tresean Gore vs. Antonio Trócoli (middleweight)
    • Melissa Dixon vs. Klaudia Sygula (women’s bantamweight)
  • Jon Anik On UFC’s P4P Debate: ‘It Is Islam Makhachev Every Day Of The Week’

    Jon Anik On UFC’s P4P Debate: ‘It Is Islam Makhachev Every Day Of The Week’

    UFC commentator Jon Anik believes Islam Makhachev is right to hold the pound-for-pound throne over fellow champions like Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, and Ilia Topuria.

    Not many topics have received the kind of discourse and scrutiny as the P4P debate in 2024, largely down to UFC CEO Dana White’s fury at the current order.

    Leading the way is lightweight kingpin Makhachev, who followed a pair of title defenses against Alexander Volkanovski in 2023 by stalling the late-career championship ambitions of Dustin Poirier this past June.

    For White, that’s ludicrous. His view is that heavyweight titleholder Jones is the clear and obvious choice, despite not yet defending his gold in the 19 months since his crowning and competing just once since February 2020.

    Before getting back to top spot, “Bones” also has to climb above Alex Pereira. After reeling off three straight title defenses in 2024, the light heavyweight champ occupies the number two position.

    And most recently, Topuria staked his claim and received the nods from some in the community after completing a memorable year of activity with a featherweight defense against Max Holloway. Like he did Alexander Volkanovski this past February, “El Matador” floored “Blessed” with his brutal power, putting himself in a good position to collect the Fighter of the Year accolades.

    During a recent interview with MMA reporter Kevin Iole, Anik assessed the current standings, explaining why he gives the clear advantage to Makhachev over Topuria when it comes to P4P.

    He also detailed why he doesn’t consider Jones worthy of top spot at this moment in time (cover your eyes, Dana).

    “I am but one man with one opinion. … Ilia Topuria’s accomplishments this year are undeniable. To do what he did to Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway successively, relatively close or in their fighting primes, is otherworldly. But for me, KI, Islam Makhachev’s ability to find that takedown and find that submission in his last title defense against Dustin Poirier is about as good as it gets, right?

    “And he was the guy (pound-for-pound number one) going in, so I don’t know that he loses that perch for me. I have always put 155 pounds on a pedestal. I do believe 155 pounds is the deepest division,” Anik continued. “For me, it is Islam Makhachev every day of the week. Jon Jones is in the conversation, but inactivity I think largely takes him out of the discourse.”

    Makhachev has held the crown ever since usurping Jones weeks after his knockout win over Volkanovski in October 2023.

    While Jones has the chance to rise again with a victory over Stipe Miocic next weekend, should the Dagestani get the better of Arman Tsarukyan in their expected title clash next January, “Bones” may have to settle for silver — or perhaps bronze if Alex Pereira holds his position.

  • Tracy Cortez Injured, Out Of UFC Tampa Fight On Dec. 14

    Tracy Cortez Injured, Out Of UFC Tampa Fight On Dec. 14

    UFC women’s flyweight contender Tracy Cortez has been forced out of her scheduled return to the Octagon next month.

    Cortez (11-2) is 0-1 in 2024, having fallen short in a late-notice main event against former strawweight queen Rose Namajunas in Denver this past July. When the Phoenix native replaced Maycee Barber, her sights briefly shifted away from Miranda Maverick.

    But after failing to climb the ladder at the expense of “Thug Rose,” Cortez’s attention went back to the unranked 27-year-old, with the pair’s rearranged bout added to the lineup for the UFC Fight Night in Tampa, Florida on Dec. 14.

    Unfortunately for “Fear The” Maverick, she’s once again had that matchup fall through. MMA Junkie’s Nolan King reported on Tuesday that Cortez has withdrawn due to an injury.

    The hope is that a replacement opponent will be found to allow Maverick (14-5) to remain on the card and complete her third outing of the year. After closing out her 2023 with a submission of Priscila Cachoeira, the Missouri standout has added the names of Andrea Lee and Dione Barbosa to her win streak in 2024.

    With this removal, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night inside Tampa’s Amalie Arena on Dec. 14 are as follows:

    • Ian Garry vs. Joaquin Buckley (welterweight main event)
    • Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas (strawweight co-main event)
    • Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo (featherweight)
    • Michael Johnson vs. Ottman Azaitar (lightweight)
    • Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva (flyweight)
    • Joel Álvarez vs. Drakkar Klose (lightweight)
    • Adrian Yañez vs. Daniel Marcos (bantamweight)
    • Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras (bantamweight)
    • Josefine Knutsson vs. Piera Rodriguez (strawweight)
    • Navajo Sterling vs. Tuco Tokkos (light heavyweight)
    • Sean Woodson vs. Fernando Padilla (featherweight)
  • Cormier: Max Holloway Should Look For Lesser ‘Challenge’ Than Dustin Poirier In Lightweight Return

    Cormier: Max Holloway Should Look For Lesser ‘Challenge’ Than Dustin Poirier In Lightweight Return

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier hopes to see Max Holloway work his way up the the competition levels at 155 pounds.

    A new chapter in the illustrious career of Holloway appears set to get underway in 2025. After falling short of regaining the featherweight title last month in Abu Dhabi, the fan favorite will soon bid farewell to 145 pounds.

    “Blessed” hinted at a permanent move up to lightweight in the immediate aftermath of his first knockout loss at the hands of Ilia Topuria, and he subsequently confirmed that decision this past weekend.

    Courtesy of his BMF title-winning knockout of Justin Gaethje this past April, Holloway already finds himself inside the top five at 155 pounds. With that in mind, a potential title eliminator against a high-ranked name could be awaiting him.

    Cormier, though, hopes that isn’t the case.

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier acknowledged that bouts against the top names in the lightweight division will be available for Holloway.

    “DC,” however, would much rather see the Hawaiian start from the ground up.

    “He’s asking for Dustin Poirier. That would be absolutely fantastic. But is there a better way to introduce Max Holloway into the lightweight division?” Cormier said. “Do we put him in there with a Dustin for a third time? Or do we see what happens with Michael Chandler after he fights Charles Oliveira? Or do we start to kind of look down the rankings a little bit, Chael, and say, ‘Well, it would be fun to watch him fight a Rafael Fiziev. It would be fun to watch him fight a Benoît Saint Denis. It would be fun to watch him fight a Paddy Pimblett.’

    “I know that might not be fun for Max, might not be great for Max, but it would give him an opportunity to work his way back into contention without being in there with these absolute killers,” Cormier continued. “Personally, I would like to see Max Holloway not stand across from Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Alexander Volkanovski. … Something not as crazy of a challenge.”

    Unfortunately for Cormier, his pleas may prove to be too little, too late.

    The ball seems to be firmly rolling on a third chapter in Poirier and Holloway’s story, with the former recently giving his approval to “Blessed’s” callout on social media.

  • UFC Omits Francis Ngannou’s Title Win Over Miocic From Top 100 Apex Knockouts

    UFC Omits Francis Ngannou’s Title Win Over Miocic From Top 100 Apex Knockouts

    The UFC’s attempt to erase heavyweight great Francis Ngannou from its history continues.

    The knockout artist departed MMA’s leading promotion at the start of 2023, bringing to an end a lengthy contractual dispute that saw the Cameroonian fail to secure the terms he was after.

    He’s since found them under the PFL banner, where he’s made the most of the freedom granted to him to explore a career in the professional boxing ring and begin a role as chairman for the promotion’s Africa expansion.

    After two blockbuster boxing matchups against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, Ngannou made his long-awaited return to the cage last month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Headlining the PFL’s latest pay-per-view, “The Predator” became the inaugural Super Fights heavyweight champion by battering Renan Ferreira en route to a first-round TKO.

    The weeks since have seen Dana White attempt to detract from Ngannou. The UFC CEO has claimed that he didn’t like and even wanted to release Ngannou — who went on to win the title and become one of the greatest heavyweights of all-time — following his loss to Derrick Lewis in 2018.

    He’s also insisted that Ngannou is “all about the money,” but simultaneously claimed that he turned down a more lucrative future in the UFC. That’s without mentioning the narrative that he ran from Jon Jones despite calling to fight “Bones” in the same year he defeated Stipe Miocic to capture gold.

    And speaking of his title crowning, it would seem the UFC is doing what it can to erase the memory of it.

    As the promotion prepares to stage the 100th UFC Fight Night to be hosted at the Apex this weekend, it compiled the “top 100 Apex knockouts” in a recent YouTube video. In terms of KOs witnessed there, not many were more brutal and important as Ngannou’s to finish the great Miocic in 2021.

    With that in mind, surely it cracked the top five? Top 10? At the very least the top 50, right?! Okay, but it’s in the top 100, surely?!

    The full video is below, so you can see for yourself which 100 knockouts were apparently better than Ngannou leaving the consensus heavyweight GOAT sleeping on the canvas…

    Ngannou’s omission, which was first highlighted by MMA Orbit’s Logan Offord, is far from the first time that the UFC has been accused of attempting to eliminate the 38-year-old from its history.

    The promotion has previously described Tafon Nchukwi as the first and only Cameroonian fighter in UFC history, of course ignoring Ngannou’s presence in that regard.

    And just this past August, controversy swirled when Israel Adesanya’s comments were edited to take his mention of Ngannou as an African champion alongside him and Kamaru Usman out during the UFC 305 Countdown episode.

    “The Last Stylebender” publicly spoke out against that, leading to White accepting responsibility for what he branded a mishap and call the former two-time middleweight champion to apologize.

    But judging by the recent YouTube video, that incident evidently didn’t do much to alter the ‘avoid mentioning Ngannou’ approach.

  • Shavkat Rakhmonov Doubts Belal Muhammad Had To Withdraw From UFC 310: ‘I Think He Was Able’ 

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Doubts Belal Muhammad Had To Withdraw From UFC 310: ‘I Think He Was Able’ 

    Top UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov believes champion Belal Muhammad could have made their planned fight date if he really wanted to.

    Rakhmonov entered November with a first shot at title glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in the calendar. The undefeated “Nomad” was booked in as the first challenger in the reign of Muhammad, which got underway with a dominant display opposite Leon Edwards this past July.

    But their UFC 310 main event is no more following an injury to the champ, who revealed this past weekend that he had been hospitalized with a gruesome bone infection that will prevent him from training for the next six weeks.

    With that, the Dec. 7 headline spot is in limbo, as is Rakhmonov’s place on the lineup for the promotion’s final pay-per-view of the year.

    But the Kazakh contender evidently doesn’t believe this difficult scenario had to come to fruition.

    During Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Rakhmonov addressed the current situation, questioning if Muhammad really did have to withdraw.

    “I think he was able to fight on Dec. 7, but he wasn’t sure and is being extra careful,” Rakhmonov said. “I was just envisioning myself getting the win and it doesn’t matter how or which way. Belal is a good opponent, but I believe I can work with him in any field. I can counter him, I can pressure him, I just only see my (hand) getting raised in a fight against him.

    “I don’t believe it’s going to be six weeks (to recover), to be honest. I believe Jack Della (had) the same problem with infection and he’s still not back. It can take a while,” Rakhmonov continued. “Belal doesn’t need to be greedy. If I become interim champ, he’s still going to have a belt too.”

    Nevertheless, should he capture an interim title in Muhammad’s absence, Rakhmonov believes that will only make his eventual showdown with “Remember the Name” even bigger in 2025.

    “It’s good for Belal, too. It’s only going to make the fight bigger,” Rakhmonov stated. “Champ vs. champ whenever Belal is ready. Obviously, after I secure the interim title, I’m going to fight him. First quarter of next year I believe is already scheduled and taken so he cannot come back soon, anyway.”

    “Nomad” appeared more sympathetic toward his division’s champ soon after news of his injury emerged, taking to social media to wish Muhammad well in his recovery.

    The Kazakh fighter can likely now expect some backlash from Muhammad after questioning the serious nature of his bone infection.

  • Michael Chandler Makes Bold Promise To Fans Ahead Of UFC 309 Return: ‘What You Will See…’

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler evidently isn’t worried about increasing the pressure on him to perform well next weekend.

    “Iron” will feel the Octagon floor beneath his feet for the first time in over two years on Nov. 16, when he co-headlines the UFC 309 pay-per-view inside New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

    The former three-time Bellator champion spent 2023 and much of this year awaiting a planned showdown with Conor McGregor, whom he coached against on The Ultimate Fighter.

    After plenty of rumored fight dates and one officially booked one passed by without the pair meeting inside the cage, Chandler finally decided to move on. That decision has left him with a chance for redemption opposite Charles Oliveira.

    When the pair first met, “Do Bronx” mounted a memorable comeback to capture the then-vacant lightweight crown at UFC 262 in May 2022. 30 months on, the Kill Cliff FC standout is promising to avenge that result with a never-before-seen display.

    “What you will see Nov. 16 will be something you have never seen from me,” Chandler wrote on X. “Something exceptional. Something mind blowing. Champ in 2025. #ufc309“

    While both Chandler and UFC CEO Dana White haven’t ruled out revisiting the McGregor matchup in 2025, hopes of the Irishman making a return to the Octagon appear to be dwindling with every public appearance the former two-division champion makes.

    And should “Iron” have his hand raised next weekend, he expects to be sitting behind Arman Tsarukyan as next in line for a shot at Islam Makhachev’s lightweight crown.

  • Khalil Rountree Reveals Latest Image Of Facial Injuries Suffered At The Hands Of Alex Pereira

    Khalil Rountree Reveals Latest Image Of Facial Injuries Suffered At The Hands Of Alex Pereira

    UFC light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree is still sporting the wounds of what a war with champion Alex Pereira will bring.

    Rountree had his first title opportunity on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage early last month in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he headlined the UFC 307 pay-per-view in competition for Pereira’s 205-pound strap.

    While his shot came as a surprise to many given his position in the rankings, “The War Horse” rode a wave of confidence into the chance for glory owing to a destructive five-fight win streak.

    And against the odds and expectations of many, the challenger got off to a strong start and was on track to extending that run with the addition of some gold.

    But Rountree’s early lead was quickly pulled back in the third frame as “Poatan” began to find a home for his strikes. In the fourth, the show was closed by a brutal onslaught from the Brazilian that left his American opponent bloodied and bruised.

    Rountree wasn’t short on gruesome battle scars in the aftermath, with the worst injury being a severely deviated septum that required a painful procedure to fix.

    And almost exactly a month on from his setback in the “Beehive State,” the 34-year-old has provided the latest update on his condition, posting an image on Instagram of the scars that remain on his nose and around his eyes.

    While he ultimately did not leave the Octagon with the light heavyweight title wrapped around his waist, it certainly seemed that Rountree boosted his stock among the MMA masses with a valiant display at the Delta Center.

    He’ll look to build on that with a return to winning ways in his return. Pereira, meanwhile, appears likely to meet the challenge of Magomed Ankalaev in his fourth defense of the 205-pound championship next year.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Dominick Cruz Makes Way For UFC Edmonton Winner

    UFC Rankings Report: Dominick Cruz Makes Way For UFC Edmonton Winner

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the UFC Octagon has been followed by the release of the updated rankings.

    And in the aftermath of UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: Erin Blanchfield may have stayed put at flyweight following her win over Rose Namajunas this past weekend, but she has received a small boost up the P4P ladder. “Cold Blooded” has climbed one place to #6. Her defeated opponent, meanwhile, is two spots worse off at #8.

    In a bizarre UFC rankings switch further down, Jéssica Andrade (#13) has leapfrogged Natália Silva (#14). That’s despite the former strawweight queen losing to Silva this past September.

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: While she’s been the victim of an odd change on the P4P list, Silva has completed her ascent into the top five at 125 pounds. That’s courtesy of Namajunas’ loss in Edmonton, which has seen her fall to #6.

    Toward the bottom of the top 15, Jasmine Jasudavicius has continued to rise following an impressive submission win over Ariane da Silva. The Canadian now finds herself in the #13 position, one place above her Brazilian counterpart.

    Women’s Bantamweight: Following Germaine de Randamie’s retirement, the former champ has been removed from the UFC rankings at 135 pounds and replaced by Jacqueline Cavalcanti (#15).

    Flyweight: Having been released, Matheus Nicolau has departed the 125-pound list. In his place comes Matt Schnell at #15, despite “Danger” exiting recently after announcing his retirement earlier in the year. The changes have paved the way for the in-form Charles Johnson to climb two places to #13.

    Within the top 10, Manel Kape has further fallen months on from his loss to Muhammad Mokaev. He’s now ranked #9, with Australia’s Steve Erceg benefitting with a small boost to #8.

    Bantamweight: Aiemann Zahabi extended his winning run on home soil this past weekend, and it’s secured a number next to his name for the first time. The Canadian 36-year-old has debuted in the UFC rankings at #14, replacing the legendary Dominick Cruz on the list.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: After their prelim in the “Great White North,” both the defeated Rodrigo Nascimento and out-of-contract Alexandr Romanov have found themselves outside the rankings. As a result, Waldo Cortes-Acosta (#14) and the undefeated Mick Parkin (#15) have arrived in the heavyweight contenders’ list.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Chael Sonnen Suggests Sean O’Malley Could Challenge Ilia Topuria In UFC Return: ‘It’s Not A Crazy Idea!’

    Chael Sonnen Suggests Sean O’Malley Could Challenge Ilia Topuria In UFC Return: ‘It’s Not A Crazy Idea!’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen sees no reason why the promotion couldn’t pair featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria with Sean O’Malley next year.

    O’Malley ignited talk of pursuing two-division glory following Topuria’s rise to the 145-pound throne at the start of 2024. At the time, “Suga” occupied top spot in the bantamweight division and would soon add a successful defense to his reign at the expense of Marlon Vera.

    With work still to do in his own weight class, O’Malley instead met the challenge of Merab Dvalishvili. The Georgian proved to be an insurmountable hurdle for the Montana native inside the Sphere in September, where “The Machine” cruised to a title crowning.

    With that, a possible superfight with “El Matador” appeared to take some damage. But despite O’Malley putting his sights on redemption against Dvalishvili and a second stint with 135-pound gold in his possession, Sonnen has questioned why Topuria is now out of the question.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, “The American Gangster” pointed out that Alex Pereira’s rise to a second title was made possible by his knockout loss to Israel Adesanya.

    Believing it to be easier to move up without a title, Sonnen doesn’t see a clash between Topuria and bantamweight contender O’Malley in 2025 to be a “crazy” idea.

    “One of the big talking points this week is what could have been. What could have been with a superfight between Sean O’Malley and Ilia Topuria, how massive that could have been,” Sonnen said. “The thing holding up a superfight between Topuria and Sean O’Malley is not Merab or Merab getting a decision over Sean or Sean not being the champion. It is none of those things. That is not true. Had Sean won, he and Ilia Topuria would not be fighting. They had not cleaned out their divisions, respectively.

    “If I’m right, but you’re also right in that that’s the massive fight, we can now make it and we can make it right now. The thing in the way of it (was) Sean being the champion at 135. They can now do that fight,” Sonnen continued. “The quickest way you’re ever gonna get Pereira vs. (Tom) Aspinall or Pereira vs. (Jon) Jones…(is) if Pereira is to lose at light heavyweight. That is how we got Pereira to the 205-pound class to start with. … It’s not a crazy idea. … What if he (O’Malley) did take 10 or 12 months? 10 or 12 months to put on some size and he comes right up and challenges Ilia Topuria.”

    It remains to be seen whether O’Malley or the promotion may have the same idea as Sonnen down the line. For now, it appears that “Suga” is intent on avenging his loss to Dvalishvili once healed from the surgery he underwent to repair a torn labrum last month.

    Topuria, meanwhile, appears likely to run it back with Alexander Volkanovski next year after getting past Max Holloway in his first defense in October.

  • Brandon Moreno Assesses Opponent Options After UFC Edmonton, Rules Out One Top-5 Contender

    Brandon Moreno Assesses Opponent Options After UFC Edmonton, Rules Out One Top-5 Contender

    Former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno has his eyes on some prominent names following a return to winning ways this past weekend.

    Moreno entered the Octagon at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Edmonton, Canada facing the prospect of the first three-fight losing skid of his professional career if things didn’t go his way. They did, however, go his way — and then some.

    In Amir Albazi, the Mexican faced a surging contender who boasted a perfect 5-0 UFC record and had most recently climbed the ladder with a main event win over Kai Kara-France.

    But “The Assassin Baby” wasn’t about to be the star at the expense of whom the Iraqi secured a title shot, instead firmly beating “The Prince” up across five rounds to secure a lopsided unanimous decision victory.

    Having put his name back in the title mix at 125 pounds, Moreno assessed what could lie in his immediate future during his post-fight press conference in Edmonton.

    Moreno welcomed the chance to settle the score in a trilogy with Royval. But he doesn’t share the same excitement when it comes to running it back with Kara-France, favoring first-time clashes with Tatsuro Taira or Kai Asakura should the latter fall short of the title at UFC 310 next month.

    “I can get (a rematch) with Royval,” Moreno said. “I don’t want to fight with Kai again because I fought him twice and I beat him, but if I have to do that (I will). Tatsuro Taira is there. Kai Asakura, let’s see what happens there against Pantoja. If he loses, that can be the next one.

    “I don’t know, let’s see what happens,” Moreno concluded.

    While he expects to require another strong performance before earning a shot at regaining the flyweight crown yet again, he seemingly caught the eye of the division’s champion with his display in the “Great White North.”

    Pantoja mixed praise with a small jibe toward the Mexican in a social media post, commending him for the victory but also referring to “The Assassin Baby” as his “son.”

  • Volkanovski’s Coach: Ilia Topuria Doesn’t Have ‘The Right’ To Go For Second Title Yet

    Volkanovski’s Coach: Ilia Topuria Doesn’t Have ‘The Right’ To Go For Second Title Yet

    The coach of Alexander Volkanovski believes UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria hasn’t yet earned a chance to add the lightweight belt to his collection.

    Topuria has risen to the 145-pound mountaintop in brutal fashion this year, first knocking out Volkanovski to capture the crown at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February.

    Eight months later, “El Matador” cemented his grip on the title by becoming the first man to stop the great Max Holloway with strikes. Topuria achieved that feat in the main event of last month’s UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi, closing the show with a vicious left hook in round three.

    The Spaniard is quickly building a strong legacy at featherweight, and at the age of just 27, he has plenty of time to achieve his goal of surpassing the champs that came before him in the division.

    Topuria, however, appears to already have one eye on conquering another weight class. Even before he added Holloway’s name and a first defense to his résumé, the fast-rising star outlined his plans to dethrone lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev.

    In addition to going back and forth with the Dagestani on social media, Topuria has even vowed to beat Makhachev at his own game by becoming the first to submit him.

    One man who is certainly familiar with the lightweight champ, however, has told Topuria to hold his horses…

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, coach Joe Lopez reacted to Topuria’s talk of a move up in weight. Volkanovski’s trainer insisted that “El Matador” remains far from having earned the right to challenge the titleholder above him.

    “That’s great (Topuria wanting Makhachev), but you’ve gotta have — like with anybody, you’ve gotta have at least five or six title defenses before you start looking at doubling up,” Lopez said. “You’re just holding up divisions. When you’ve cleaned out a division, then you’ve got the right to jump up a division. Until then, you’ve just gotta fight the cause in your division, you know?

    “I guess it’s like jumping the queue and you want to have the title shot before somebody else that’s above you, you know? But it’s just human nature, I guess,” Lopez continued. “Everybody wants that double champ status ’cause it’s very rare to get.”

    Volkanovski himself recorded four successful defenses before his first opportunity to add a second title to his trophy cabinet in 2023. A fifth then came ahead of a sophomore chance at unseating Makhachev on short notice that same year.

    With that in mind, it would appear Topuria has some work to do before looking to prove his confidence correct when it comes to outgrappling Makhachev inside the cage.

  • Alexandre Pantoja Reacts To Former Opponent Brandon Moreno’s UFC Edmonton Win

    Alexandre Pantoja Reacts To Former Opponent Brandon Moreno’s UFC Edmonton Win

    UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja was watching on as Brandon Moreno returned to winning ways in memorable fashion this past weekend.

    Pantoja unseated Moreno from the 125-pound throne in July 2023, falling on the right side of a split decision in a memorable contest widely seen as last year’s best fight. Since then, “The Cannibal” has cemented his grip on the crown with successful defenses opposite Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg.

    “The Assassin Baby,” meanwhile, has been looking to work his way back to the Brazilian. That endeavor got underway on the wrong foot this past February in Mexico City, where Moreno once again found his opponent — Royval, this time — getting the nod on two out of the three scorecards.

    That left the Mexican outlining plans for an extended break from competition and seemingly out of the flyweight title equation for the foreseeable future. But he returned to it in Edmonton on Saturday night, and in some style.

    In the main event, Moreno handed Albazi his first defeat in the UFC, beating “The Prince” up across five rounds en route to a lopsided decision victory.

    The former two-time champ received heavy praise across the community in the aftermath, including from a multi-time opponent of his. But Pantoja didn’t miss an opportunity to slide in a small jibe at the victorious Moreno in his X post…

    “Very good fight my son,” Pantoja wrote in Portuguese.

    Pantoja’s victory over Moreno last year marked his third over the Mexican in MMA. While the Brazilian’s gotten the better of him twice in professional UFC bouts, he also forced a tap from “The Assassin Baby” way back in 2016 during season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter.

    With Moreno’s triumph in Canada on Nov. 2, it appears that a rare tetralogy could be on the table despite the Mexican’s 3-0 deficit to Pantoja. Before that comes to fruition, though, both men would appear to have some work to do.

    In addition to Moreno acknowledging that he likely requires another strong performance to secure a shot, Pantoja is currently gearing up for his third defense. He’ll welcome former Rizin titleholder Kai Asakura to the Octagon at UFC 310 next month.

  • Jon Jones’ Coach Approaching UFC 309 Camp Like It’s His ‘Last’

    Jon Jones’ Coach Approaching UFC 309 Camp Like It’s His ‘Last’

    The coach of Jon Jones has further fueled retirement speculation ahead of the UFC heavyweight champion’s title defense this month.

    Jones is less than two weeks out from putting his gold on the line for the very first time 20 months on from winning it at the expense of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.

    The delay in his clash with Stipe Miocic has been down to the injury “Bones” sustained weeks out from their scheduled battle at Madison Square Garden last November. A year later, the pair of UFC greats will give their matchup another go.

    The decision to do so has received heavy scrutiny given the presence of an interim titleholder in Tom Aspinall. Jones has been heavily berated for avoiding a unification fight, and even if he emerges from UFC 309 next weekend with the title still in his possession, many are expecting him to continue to do so.

    Jones has hinted at retiring following the Miocic fight numerous times this year. And while UFC CEO Dana White has suggested the Rochester native would continue as an active competitor to face the deserving next in line, the latest remarks out of his coach aren’t encouraging.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Brandon Gibson looked ahead to his man’s next assignment inside the Octagon, which headlines UFC 309 in New York City on Nov. 16.

    On the topic of retirement, Gibson noted that he would fully back Jones should he decide to hang up his gloves, even going as far as to say he’s “ready” to see the former light heavyweight kingpin do so.

    And with that in mind, the trainer has been approaching their latest camp as if it’s the final one.

    “Whenever Jon’s ready (to retire), I’m right there with him. I’m approaching this one like it’s our last go, it’s our last rodeo,” Gibson said. “I think physically, mentally, he could go in there and have five or six more great performances. There’s nothing left for Jon to prove. I think he really wants this fight with Stipe. I think this fight will help solidify Jon’s status as that great heavyweight champion but it’s not something we talk about every night at the gym.

    “We’re definitely all eyes on Nov. 16. But each time I go to a practice, I’m approaching it as this is my last camp. I’m giving it my all,” Gibson continued. “If we get one more after this, if we get two more, that would be a great blessing. I’m also ready to see Jon hang it up. Put the belt up. I’d prefer them to walk away obviously earlier than later. Out of all the fighters, Jon deserves to walk away any time he wants. I’m always going to support those guys.”

    It remains to be seen whether Jones would following a triumph in MSG with a retirement, closing out his heavyweight stint with wins over Gane and Miocic.

    But before even contemplating that, “Bones” must first get the better of a former champion widely branded the division’s greatest of all time. While he’s been widely counted out owing to his age and inactivity, Miocic plans on shocking the world come fight night in “The Big Apple.”

  • Amir Albazi Issues First Statement On Lopsided Loss To Brandon Moreno At UFC Edmonton

    Amir Albazi Issues First Statement On Lopsided Loss To Brandon Moreno At UFC Edmonton

    Having tasted defeat for the first time in the UFC, flyweight contender Amir Albazi has vowed to fix the holes in his game and bounce back stronger.

    After health issues kept him out of the cage for 17 months following a main event win over Kai Kara-France, Albazi finally had the opportunity to stake his claim for a title shot this past weekend in Edmonton.

    Instead of doing so, however, and nothing his biggest victory to date, his perfect UFC record was blemished courtesy of Brandon Moreno’s efforts.

    The Mexican snapped “The Prince’s” six-fight winning run in emphatic fashion to close out Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, beating the Iraqi up across five rounds to collect convincing nods on all three scorecards.

    A disappointed Albazi took to Instagram a day later to speak on the result, thanking his supporters and promising to display an improved version of himself next time out.

    “It wasn’t my night last night, but this is part of life. You win some, you lose some,” Albazi said. “All respect to Brandon Moreno, he was the better man. I’ll be back, I promise. I’ll be back on that horse and keep improving, keep getting better. You guys will see me soon. Thank you for the support.”

    “No excuses,” Albazi wrote in the caption. “You win some and lose some but i will be back better 👊🏽 i promise. Thanks for the support.”

    For Moreno, this past weekend’s main event marked a crucial rebound result. He previously lost two straight by split decision to Alexandre Pantoja — losing the flyweight gold in the process — and Brandon Royval.

    He’ll now look ahead to a potential title eliminator, as he seeks the chance to achieve three-time champ status on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Payton Talbott’s Next Fight Set For UFC 311

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Payton Talbott’s Next Fight Set For UFC 311

    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, October 28, and Sunday, November 3, a number of notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported 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 two fights falling through or being adjusted. For those, see below:

  • Derrick Lewis Off UFC Fight Night Edmonton Card After Medical Issue

    Derrick Lewis Off UFC Fight Night Edmonton Card After Medical Issue

    UFC heavyweight fan favorite Derrick Lewis will no longer be making the walk inside Rogers Place later today.

    Lewis has been in Edmonton, Canada this week preparing for his latest opportunity to extend his lead on the promotion’s knockout throne. That was set to come on the main card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, which will be headlined by former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno and his showdown with Amir Albazi.

    There didn’t appear to be any hitches on Friday morning, with “The Black Beast” successfully hitting the scale and making weight. But alarm bells rang when he didn’t show at the ceremonial weigh-ins.

    While an update at the time noted that Lewis’ fight with Jhonata Diniz remained on, it was subsequently confirmed to have been scrapped owing to a non-weight cutting medical issue on the side of the former title challenger.

    Lewis was hoping to make it back-to-back wins in 2024 following a five-round setback opposite Jailton Almeida in November 2023. He most recently got the better of Rodrigo Nascimento in the UFC Fight Night St. Louis main event this past May.

    Diniz, meanwhile, planned to make the most of his career’s biggest opportunity to date. The undefeated Brazilian has knocked out Austen Lane and outpointed Karl Williams since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2023.

    With their fight off today’s lineup, home favorite Jasmine Jasudavicius has had her clash with Ariane da Silva (née Lipski) bumped up to the main card.

  • Ian Garry Headlines UFC Tampa On Dec. 14, Misses Out On Colby Covington Fight

    Ian Garry Headlines UFC Tampa On Dec. 14, Misses Out On Colby Covington Fight

    UFC welterweight Ian Garry will be headlining the upcoming event in Tampa, but not against the opponent he was hoping for.

    Garry (15-0), a former Cage Warriors champion and the current #7-ranked UFC contender at 170 pounds, has been calling to clash with Covington ever since the American failed to win the undisputed title for the third time last December.

    The Irishman’s campaign for that matchup continued after he got the better of Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 303 this past June. In a recent update, Garry claimed to have even been sent an offer to fight Covington in the main event of UFC Fight Night Tampa next month.

    “The Future” put the hold-up down to the ex-interim champ, and should his claims be correct, the 36-year-old looks to have rejected the fight.

    On Friday, the UFC confirmed that Garry will indeed headline the event in Florida on Dec. 14. But instead of Covington, the Dubliner will do battle with Joaquin Buckley (20-6) to close out the promotion’s 2024 schedule.

    Garry’s International Fight Week triumph over Page marked his eighth straight since joining MMA’s leading promotion in 2021. His campaign this year started with a victory over Geoff Neal, who joined the likes of Daniel Rodriguez and Neil Magny on the Irishman’s résumé.

    Buckley, meanwhile, has been fast-charging since dropping to welterweight following an inconsistent period at 185 pounds. A 5-0 run that includes wins over Vicente Luque and Stephen Thompson has seen “New Mansa” vault into the top 10, and he’ll now look to stake his claim for a first championship opportunity by blemishing “The Future’s” record.

    The UFC Fight Night in Tampa will go down inside the Amalie Arena. The current fights expected to take place are as follows:

    • Ian Garry vs. Joaquin Buckley (welterweight main event)
    • Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas (women’s strawweight)
    • Dustin Jacoby vs. Vitor Petrino (light heavyweight)
    • Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva (flyweight)
    • Tracy Cortez vs. Miranda Maverick (women’s flyweight)
    • Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo (featherweight)
    • Michael Johnson vs. Ottman Azaitar (lightweight)
    • Daniel Marcos vs. Adrian Yañez (bantamweight)
    • Piera Rodriguez vs. Josefine Knutsson (women’s strawweight)
    • Navajo Stirling vs. Tuco Tokkos (light heavyweight)
    • Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras (bantamweight)
    • Drakkar Klose vs. Joel Álvarez (lightweight)
    • Sean Woodson vs. Fernando Padilla (featherweight)
  • UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    After staging its latest numbered event at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi last weekend, MMA’s leading promotion has remained on the road for a card inside the Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

    In the main event, former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno returns close to nine months on from a defeat to Brandon Royval in Mexico City. Having now lost two straight by way of split decision, “The Assassin Baby” will look to get back to winning ways at the expense of the charging Amir Albazi.

    Setting the stage for them in another 125-pound contest will be Erin Blanchfield and Rose Namajunas. After winning two straight in the division this year, the ex-strawweight queen will look to notch her biggest flyweight success to date and stake her claim for a title shot by adding to the woes of “Cold Blooded,” who was beaten by Manon Fiorot last time out.

    Elsewhere, heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis makes the walk for his latest assignment, Mike Malott has the chance to rebound on home soil, and bantamweight veteran Pedro Munhoz adds to his Octagon experience.

    Ahead of the event, all 28 fighters successfully made weight. With that, every fight is intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC Fight Night Edmonton ceremonial weigh-ins.

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

    UFC Fight Night Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After staging its latest numbered event from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi last weekend, the MMA leader has remained on the road for a return to the “Great White North,” where Edmonton’s Rogers Place hosts a UFC Fight Night.

    Topping the lineup on Nov. 2 is a clash of ranked flyweights as former champion Brandon Moreno looks to break his two-fight losing skid by stalling the charge and title ambitions of Amir Albazi.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, which will see former strawweight queen Rose Namajunas look to keep her ball rolling at flyweight. To secure a third straight win at 125 pounds this year, “Thug Rose” must get the better of #3-ranked contender Erin Blanchfield.

    Elsewhere, the likes of heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis, home favorite Mike Malott, and bantamweight veteran Pedro Munhoz will all be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi takes place on Saturday, November 2, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

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

    Main Card:

    • Flyweight Main Event: Brandon Moreno (125.5lbs) vs. Amir Albazi (125.5lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: Erin Blanchfield (125.5lbs) vs. Rose Namajunas (125lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis (266lbs) vs. Jhonata Diniz (257lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Caio Machado (205lbs) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (205lbs)
    • Middleweight: Marc-André Barriault (185lbs) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (185.5lbs)
    • Welterweight: Mike Malott (170.5lbs) vs. Trevin Giles (170lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Bantamweight: Aiemann Zahabi (135.5lbs) vs. Pedro Munhoz (135lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Ariane Lipski (125lbs) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (125lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Charles Jourdain (135lbs) vs. Victor Henry (135lbs)
    • Featherweight: Jack Shore (145.5lbs) vs. Youssef Zalal (145lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Alexandr Romanov (261lbs) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (264lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Serhiy Sidey (135lbs) vs. Garrett Armfield (135lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Chad Anheliger (135lbs) vs. Cody Gibson (135.5lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Jamey-Lyn Horth (126lbs) vs. Ivana Petrovic (125lbs)