MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • Julianna Peña Targets UFC International Fight Week 2025 For First Title Defense

    Julianna Peña Targets UFC International Fight Week 2025 For First Title Defense

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña is expecting a break from competition spanning eight to nine months before putting her newly won gold on the line.

    Peña achieved two-time titleholder status at the UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City, Utah earlier this month, where she made the reign of longtime rival Raquel Pennington a short one.

    The pair went the full five rounds in the card’s co-headliner, with “The Venezuelan Vixen” controversially getting the nod on two of the three scorecards to be crowned queen.

    On the same card, Kayla Harrison extended her UFC record to a perfect 2-0 by outpointing Ketlen Vieira. That result appeared to signal her as first in line for a shot at Peña in her opening defense.

    But it would appear fans could be waiting some time before seeing that matchup play out inside the Octagon…

    Peña Has ‘Things To Do’ Before UFC Return, Targets Mid-2025

    During an appearance on the debut episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Peña reflected on her title-winning performance in the “Beehive State” and looked ahead to what could await her next.

    After insisting that she’s willing to face Harrison should Nunes stay on the sidelines to potentially fight the winner, the champ pointed to next summer’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas as a potential date for her return.

    “I’m not sure (when I will return). That’s something that the machine and my dogs, my agents and everything like that, we’re going to have to be going back and forth for a while and make sure this is going to be the best-case scenario for me,” Peña said. “That is a bridge that we can’t cross yet.

    “Whenever I text Hunter (Campbell), they’re like, ‘Chill, just enjoy the win, relax.’ That’s kind of what I’m getting right now,” Peña said, before outlining her desired return date. “I don’t know, I think maybe International Fight Week would be a good time. We’ll see. There are some things I need to do on my end.”

    For the time being, “The Venezuelan Vixen” will be enjoying the start of her second stint as bantamweight queen before looking ahead to her sophomore attempt at adding a successful defense to her résumé.

    And in the meantime, she doesn’t appear likely to let up in her pursuit of drawing Amanda Nunes back to complete their trilogy in 2025.

  • Sean O’Malley Didn’t Pull Out Of UFC 306 Despite Injury Because ‘Merab Sucks’ 

    Sean O’Malley Didn’t Pull Out Of UFC 306 Despite Injury Because ‘Merab Sucks’ 

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley says withdrawing from his title defense opposite Merab Dvalishvili was never an option.

    O’Malley was forced to relinquish his grip on the crown at 135 pounds in his second defense, which headlined last month’s UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view inside the Sphere in Las Vegas.

    Six months on from an emphatic five-round display to exact revenge on Marlon “Chito” Vera in Miami, “Sugar” had a more difficult 25-minute experience when sharing the Octagon with Dvalishvili.

    The Georgian utilized his relentless pressure and smothering grappling game to secure the decision victory, extending his winning run to 11 straight fights and completing his championship ambitions in the process.

    In the aftermath of the result, O’Malley revealed a long spell on the sidelines awaited him, having fought through a torn labrum at UFC 306.

    O’Malley Doesn’t Regret Fighting Through Injury, Expects To ‘Whoop’ Dvalishvili In Rematch

    During an appearance on the debut episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, O’Malley reflected on the disappointing end to his short title reign in Las Vegas last month.

    In terms of the injury he competed with, “Sugar” insisted that withdrawing and delaying his second defense was not a possibility, partly down to his confidence when it came to having superiority over “The Machine.”

    “I had a torn labrum. 10 weeks before the fight, I f*cking snapped my labrum. It is what it is. … It was unfortunate,” O’Malley said. “No, (I didn’t consider pulling out). UFC Noche, f*cking Merab sucks. There was no reason to pull out.

    “No, (I don’t regret not pulling out). Because I’m going to whoop Merab’s ass, and it’s going to make it that much sweeter when I beat him the second time,” O’Malley continued. “Overall, I had a good camp. Way better camp than the Aljo camp. The rib injury was a lot harder to train with than the torn labrum. The labrum, it’s just pain. … I was able to do a lot more.”

    O’Malley has little doubt that a second dance with Dvalishvili lies in his future.

    And with some uncertainty surrounding the Georgian’s expected title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov coming to fruition before the Dagestani takes a break for Ramadan, “Sugar” is hoping for a faster-than-predicted recovery in order to be a available for a possible rematch with the champ in March or April 2025.

  • Francis Ngannou On Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic: ‘If He Shows Up…’

    Francis Ngannou On Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic: ‘If He Shows Up…’

    Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou won’t dismiss Stipe Miocic’s chances of unseating Jon Jones from the throne next month.

    For only the second time since “The Predator” exited the promotion and relinquished the gold, the UFC’s heavyweight belt will be on the line at the annual Madison Square Garden-held pay-per-view in November

    After capturing the vacant strap with a rapid submission of Ciryl Gane in his divisional debut last year, Jones will return from an injury layoff for a rescheduled defense opposite Miocic.

    The 42-year-old Ohio native hasn’t competed since being brutally knocked out by Ngannou well over three years ago. That fact has left many doubting his prospects of regaining the heavyweight crown, and it’s made the Cameroonian fall on the side of “Bones.”

    Ngannou Leans To Jones In UFC 309 Prediction, Says Miocic ‘Not Getting Any Younger’

    During an appearance on the debut episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Ngannou was asked for his thoughts on the upcoming title fight in the division he formerly ruled over.

    Given Miocic’s long spell on the sidelines and the uncertainty surrounding his fighting condition, “The Predator” is narrowly leaning the way of Jones for the UFC 309 headliner.

    But should his ex-opponent turn up in the state that paved the way for two title reigns, Ngannou wouldn’t be surprised to see Madison Square Garden play host to an upset.

    “Stipe hasn’t fought since what, three years and a half? So I don’t really know where he’s at. I don’t really know how he’ll show up,” Ngannou said. “He always shows up good, but it’s been a while, and he’s not getting younger. I think all those questions makes me slightly shift to Jones’ side.

    “But Stipe is a guy that is very committed. When he shows up, he shows up in full,” Ngannou continued. “If he shows up in full, he can really surprise you. So I wouldn’t be surprised also if he wins.”

    Regardless of Miocic’s condition when he makes the walk for the first time since 2021, Jones will look to establish firm dominance over the heavyweight legend to keep ahold of the belt in what many anticipate to be his final fight.

    Ngannou, meanwhile, is just days away from his long-awaited return to mixed martial arts competition.

    Following a pair of lucrative boxing matches opposite Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, “The Predator” will debut in the SmartCage as the headline act for the upcoming PFL pay-per-view in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Paddy Pimblett Ties With Former Lightweight Champion

    UFC Rankings Report: Paddy Pimblett Ties With Former Lightweight Champion

    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 Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira, 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: No changes.

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: No changes.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: The UFC rankings at 155 pounds have had a slight adjustment, with Jalin Turner moving above former champion Rafael dos Anjos (#14) to #13 in the division. The rising Paddy Pimblett has also received a boost, climbing one place to share #14 with “RDA.”

    Paddy Pimblett & King Green
    Image: @UFCEurope/X

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • PFL Founder Anticipates UFC Attempt To Stifle Ngannou’s Return: ‘What Will Dana White Announce?’

    PFL Founder Anticipates UFC Attempt To Stifle Ngannou’s Return: ‘What Will Dana White Announce?’

    Francis Ngannou makes his PFL debut this weekend, and the promotion is expecting his ex-employers to do what they can to steal the spotlight.

    For the first time since January 2022, Ngannou will enter the cage for an MMA contest on Saturday, October 19. In his last appearance close to three years ago, “The Predator” got the better of Ciryl Gane to remain UFC heavyweight champion.

    On this occasion, the Cameroonian will debut in new surroundings as the headline act for the Professional Fighters League’s second pay-per-view event of 2024.

    After completing his long-desired transition to boxing to do battle with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, the former UFC champ will adjust his sights back to MMA to face 2022 PFL title winner Renan Ferreira in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    And as his first MMA fight week since departing the UFC gets underway, the PFL higher-ups are seemingly expecting some outside efforts to drag the spotlight away from Ngannou…

    Davis Predicts White Announcement In Light Of Ngannou’s PFL Fight Week

    PFL founder, chairman, and co-owner Donn Davis has caused a stir in recent times owing to repeated shots at his organization’s former fighter, two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison.

    To kick off the PFL’s ‘Battle of the Giants’ fight week, Davis once again had his sights on a UFC figure, this time the boss.

    In a social media post, Davis suggested the UFC CEO will no doubt be preparing a major announcement in the hope of stifling Ngannou’s return — a habit of the UFC’s that has become a running joke in the MMA community.

    “PFL Super Fight Week! Francis Ngannou makes his highly anticipated return with @PFLMMA!” Davis wrote on X. “So what will @danawhite announce to try to steal spotlight from THE biggest fight of 2024?? #PFLSuperFights“

    It would stand to reason that no announcement could affect the anticipation for Ngannou’s return, which comes after he took Fury to the limit and suffered a brutal KO to Joshua in the squared circle.

    Ngannou vs. Ferreira headlines Saturday’s card, with the likes of women’s MMA legend Cris Cyborg, reigning Bellator middleweight kingpin Johnny Eblen, and former Bellator champion AJ McKee making up the undercard.

  • ‘Super Disrespectful To Belal’ – Fans React To Shavkat Rakhmonov Being Heavy Favorite To Win Gold At UFC 310

    ‘Super Disrespectful To Belal’ – Fans React To Shavkat Rakhmonov Being Heavy Favorite To Win Gold At UFC 310

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad will seemingly have to spring an upset if he’s to stall Shavkat Rakhmonov’s title ambitions.

    The schedule for the last quarter of 2024 is beginning to be finalized, and UFC CEO Dana White recently took to social media to reveal two championship headliners for the final pay-per-view of the year, UFC 310 on Dec. 7.

    Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena will play host as both the welterweight and flyweight belts get put on the line. And in regard to the former, Muhammad will be making his very first defense five months on from a dominant display to win the crown in Manchester.

    If he’s to begin his ascent to a place in the divisional GOAT discussion, Muhammad must first retain the belt at the expense of an undefeated phenom in Rakhmonov.

    “Remember the Name” has long been counted out, and his emphatic performance to unseat Leon Edwards from the throne has seemingly done little to alter his status as a perennial underdog.

    Fans React To UFC 310 Odds As Muhammad Gets Underdog Status vs. Rakhmonov

    Prior to confirmation of their fight later this year, Rakhmonov opened as a -265 favorite on BetOnline.ag to make +225 underdog Muhammad’s reign a quick one.

    Fight fans reacted to those odds — which have since shifted to -205 on the challenger’s side and +175 for the champ — after the bout was announced as the UFC 310 headliner this past weekend.

    Many expressed surprise at Muhammad’s line, with some branding it “disrespectful” and others questioning when the market will “learn.”

  • Umar Nurmagomedov Tells Merab Dvalishvili To Start ‘Talking Like A Champion’

    Umar Nurmagomedov Tells Merab Dvalishvili To Start ‘Talking Like A Champion’

    UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov has sent some advice the way of newly crowned champion Merab Dvalishvili.

    Dvalishvili achieved his title ambitions on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere last month, closing out the UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view with a dominant display to dethrone Sean O’Malley.

    With the result, the Georgian standout extended his winning run to 11, avenged teammate Aljamain Sterling’s loss to “Sugar” in 2023, and exited the cage with gold in his possession for the first time.

    But according to the consensus next in line, Dvalishvili hasn’t adjusted well to life as champ…

    Nurmagomedov Tells Dvalishvili He ‘Looks Bad’ After Comments About First Defense

    During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Nurmagomedov provided an update on his hopes to compete for the title next time out and reacted to Dvalishvili’s attempts to dismiss him as a worthy contender.

    In addition to naming Deiveson Figueiredo as a more deserving challenger pre-fight, Dvalishvili snubbed the opportunity to set up a clash with Nurmagomedov inside the Octagon at UFC 306. And in the weeks since, the Georgian has even pitched a rematch with O’Malley.

    Nurmagomedov has frequently hit back at the champ’s remarks. According to the Russian, Dvalishvili needs to start acting like a divisional kingpin instead of shying away from a threat to his rule.

    “Right now, he’s champion. Everybody is pushing. But he’s looking very bad when Joe Rogan or UFC ask him in some interviews about me and he go away and says he can’t talk (pretends to stutter),” Nurmagomedov said. “He’s looking very bad. He has to talk like a champion. He has to be a champion. He has to know he can beat everybody. Right now, you have belt, you are number one.”

    It remains to be seen when Nurmagomedov will have the opportunity to cash in on his expected title shot.

    Regardless, the Dagestani plans on competing prior to Ramadan in 2025, be it in competition for Dvalishvili’s bantamweight gold or against another top contender at 135 pounds.

  • Julianna Peña: Fans ‘Want To See’ Me Fight Amanda Nunes, Not Kayla Harrison

    Julianna Peña: Fans ‘Want To See’ Me Fight Amanda Nunes, Not Kayla Harrison

    When it comes to her desire to avoid Kayla Harrison and run it back with the retired Amanda Nunes, UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña claims to have the support of the masses.

    Peña recently commenced the start of a second stint with UFC gold in her possession, having fallen on the right side of a controversial split decision after five rounds against defending champ Raquel Pennington earlier this month in Salt Lake City.

    The bout marked “The Venezuelan Vixen’s” first since her first divisional rule was brought to an emphatic halt by Nunes in their July 2022 rematch.

    There was plenty of backlash toward Peña receiving an immediate shot in her comeback, and even more regarding the contentious decision in Utah.

    But in addition to the scorecards, another post-fight topic has seen the newly crowned bantamweight queen on the receiving end of criticism.

    Peña Reiterates Dismissal Of Harrison As Top Contender, Cites Fan Support

    In her Octagon interview with Joe Rogan at UFC 307, Peña made good on her promise to call out Nunes, encouraging the “Lioness” to return from retirement in order for the pair to complete their trilogy.

    The champ’s decision to snub Harrison was widely questioned, with many insisting the two-time Olympic gold medalist should be next in line following her victory over Ketlen Vieira on the same pay-per-view card.

    Peña evidently hasn’t been swayed from her pursuit of Nunes in the days since, citing Harrison’s weight cut and fan support for another clash with the Brazilian legend as two reasons behind her preference during an interview with MMA Today on SiriusXM.

    “The girl wants to take time off because she even knows that she can’t make the weight and that she’s not a rightful 135er,” Peña said. “She’s too big! She obviously can’t even make the first fight, which is making it to the Octagon. She needs time off. That, to me, is already a loss.

    “Secondly, there was nothing that I saw in her fight against Ketlen Vieira that was (like), ‘Oh, some world beater! Oh my gosh, I’m terrified, Kayla Harrison!’ Give me a break. She went out there three weeks early and still gassed out,” Peña continued. “Kayla Harrison, get in line. I’ve got unfinished business to attend to. … Harrison just came to the party. Amanda Nunes is the big fight, the money fight, the fight that people want to see.”

    Nunes’ comeback teases in 2024 have come as little surprise to Peña and many others in the community, who branded her retirement at UFC 289 in Canada last year as premature. And the “Lioness” further fueled talk of a return by encouraging UFC CEO Dana White to call her in a recent social media video.

    It remains to be seen whether the former two-division champ is planning to head back into competition in pursuit of settling the score with Peña or facing ex-teammate Kayla Harrison.

    Her bemusement at the American Top Team standout’s decision not to call her out at UFC 300 earlier this year would perhaps suggest the latter.

  • Ilia Topuria Gets Personal During Online Spat With Fellow UFC Champ Belal Muhammad

    Ilia Topuria Gets Personal During Online Spat With Fellow UFC Champ Belal Muhammad

    UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria has plenty of foes in MMA’s leading promotion, and it appears another titleholder in Belal Muhammad just joined the list.

    Topuria completed his ascent to the mountaintop at 145 pounds this past March, knocking out all-time great Alexander Volkanovski to extend his perfect promotional and professional records in violent fashion.

    The Georgian-Spaniard marked the third new divisional champion of the year, and the fourth came five months later when Muhammad unseated Leon Edwards from the welterweight throne in Manchester, England.

    But while they both joined the champs’ club in 2024, the two haven’t exactly been bonding over their newfound title glory…

    Topuria Mocks Muhammad After ‘Fake BMF Belt’ Jibe

    A video recently surfaced on social media showing Topuria backing Shavkat Rakhmonov to defeat Muhammad. The pair were recently confirmed as the headliners for the UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas this December.

    “Remember the Name” didn’t take too kindly to the prediction, mocking his featherweight counterpart for purchasing his own BMF belt ahead of his showdown with the symbolic title’s current owner, Max Holloway, at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi later this month.

    That caused a back and forth between the pair, with “El Matador” taking aim at Muhammad’s UFC record and personal life alongside a video of him in the aftermath of an eye poke against Edwards back in 2021.

    “NO FINISHES NO KNOCKOUTS NO KNOCKDOWNS NO GIRLFRIEND NO KIDS BELAL HAS NEVER FINISHED ANY MAN OR WOMAN”

    Muhammad hit back by accusing Topuria of copying well-known “memes” instead of coming up with his own retorts.

    “Now ur just copying stuff word for word off memes,” Muhammad responded.

    While his heated exchanges with Holloway will soon be settled inside the Octagon — and disagreements with the likes of Sean O’Malley could be down the line — the gulf in weight between Topuria and Muhammad means this battle will likely remain in the internet realm.

  • Tatsuro Taira Issues First Statement After UFC Fight Night Loss To Brandon Royval

    Tatsuro Taira Issues First Statement After UFC Fight Night Loss To Brandon Royval

    Tatsuro Taira has released his first statement on social media after suffering the first loss of his career in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event.

    After winning his first six outings on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, Taira had the opportunity to impress opposite the #1-ranked contender at 125 pounds on Saturday night inside the Apex.

    And although he exited the cage with a defeat added to his previously perfect record, the rising Japanese star certainly made a splash in his sophomore experience in the headline spotlight.

    Taira Keeps Eyes On Ultimate Prize After First UFC Setback

    Taira played his part in one of the best main events and fights seen under the UFC banner in 2024, going toe-to-toe with Brandon Royval across 25 minutes in Las Vegas.

    The Japanese 24-year-old earned the nod on one of the judges’ scorecards, but he ultimately fell on the wrong side of a split decision verdict.

    Nevertheless, Taira’s stock didn’t appear to fall with the result, which came after he had overcome notable adversity in round three to avoid being finished.

    And moving forward, the loss has seemingly done little to affect the Okinawa native’s drive to reach the top. In fact, he appears more eager to achieve title glory in the UFC than ever.

    “Thank you so much for all your support. I’m also grateful to my team for coming to the U.S. and supporting me,” Taira wrote on X (translated from Japanese). “Even though I was overcome with emotion after losing, I felt a strong desire to become UFC champion and give back to everyone, even if just a little. I will look forward and come back stronger.”

    While Taira looks ahead to his chance to quickly return to winning ways next time out, gold is no doubt on the mind of Royval.

    “Raw Dawg” has now won back-to-back main events against top-five opposition since falling short against Alexandre Pantoja in his first title shot last December. He’ll now have a close eye on “The Cannibal’s” upcoming defense opposite newcomer Kai Asakura.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates Headlines UFC Vegas 100

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates Headlines UFC Vegas 100

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

    With UFC 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 7, and Sunday, October 13, a couple 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:

    A number 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 being adjusted. For those, see below:

  • Belal Muhammad vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov Set For UFC 310 Main Event, Pantoja Defense Co-headlines

    Belal Muhammad vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov Set For UFC 310 Main Event, Pantoja Defense Co-headlines

    The UFC will close out its pay-per-view schedule for 2024 with two major championship fights in Las Vegas on December 7.

    With the final quarter of this year well underway, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is beginning to fill the remaining slots on its fight schedule. And in two of the most prominent ones now sit reigning titleholders.

    UFC CEO Dana White took to social media on Saturday to announce the headline bouts for UFC 310, the promotion’s final PPV of the year.

    Closing out 2024 in style, a highly anticipated welterweight title fight between newly crowned champion Belal Muhammad (24-3, 1 NC) and undefeated challenger Shavkat Rakhmonov (18-0) will top the lineup inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    There will also be title stakes in the co-headliner, as flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja (28-5) returns for his second defense of the year and third overall. Having turned away the threats posed by Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg, “The Cannibal” will next share the cage with a newcomer in former Rizin champ Kai Asakura (21-4).

    Muhammad captured the 170-pound gold in enemy territory this past July, beating Leon Edwards in dominant fashion to extend his unbeaten run to 11 straight fights. Rakhmonov, meanwhile, has won all six of his Octagon outings to date, submitting both Geoff Neal and Stephen Thompson in his most recent fights.

    Pantoja is deeper into his reign on the throne at 125 pounds, having held the crown since a memorable win over Brandon Moreno in the summer of 2023. After a scare against Australia’s Erceg in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year, the Brazilian will look to increase his grip on the title against a highly regarded debutant in Japan’s Asakura.

    White also confirmed that Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov and Vicente Luque vs. Nick Diaz — matchups postponed from cards in October and August, respectively — have been rescheduled for the same event.

    With these additions, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 310 on Dec. 7 are as follows:

    • Belal Muhammad (C) vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov (welterweight championship main event)
    • Alexandre Pantoja (C) vs. Kai Asakura (flyweight championship co-main event)
    • Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov (heavyweight)
    • Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling (featherweight)
    • Vicente Luque vs. Nick Diaz (welterweight)
    • Tatiana Suarez vs. Virna Jandiroba (women’s strawweight)
    • Anthony Smith vs. Dominick Reyes (light heavyweight)
    • Michael Chiesa vs. Max Griffin (welterweight)
    • Clay Guida vs. Chase Hooper (lightweight)
    • Cody Durden vs. Joshua Van (flyweight)
  • UFC Fight Night: Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira Weigh-In Results: 3 Miss Weight

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira Weigh-In Results: 3 Miss Weight

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

    After returning to Salt Lake City, Utah for its latest numbered event, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back at its home base to stage another card at the Apex.

    Topping the lineup will be a high-stakes flyweight affair, as former title challenger Brandon Royval looks to secure another shot at unseating Alexandre Pantoja from the throne. To do so, he’ll need to blemish the perfect professional record of rising Japanese contender Tatsuro Taira.

    Elsewhere, the likes of middleweight veteran Brad Tavares, formerly ranked lightweight Grant Dawson, and knockout artist Abdul Razak Alhassan will all be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira takes place on Saturday, October 12, at the Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.

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

    Main Card:

    • Flyweight Main Event: Brandon Royval (125.5lbs) vs. Tatsuro Taira (125.5lbs)
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Brad Tavares (185lbs) vs. JunYong Park (185.5lbs)
    • Welterweight: Chidi Njokuani (170.5lbs) vs. Jared Gooden (172.5lbs)**
    • Lightweight: Grant Dawson (156lbs) vs. Rafa Garcia (154.5lbs)
    • Welterweight: Daniel Rodriguez (170lbs) vs. Alex Morono (170.5lbs)
    • Middleweight: Abdul Razak Alhassan (186lbs) vs. Josh Fremd (189lbs)*

    Preliminary Card:

    • Flyweight: CJ Vergara (126lbs) vs. Ramazonbek Temirov (125.5lbs)
    • Featherweight: Jonathan Pearce (145lbs) vs. Pat Sabatini (145lbs)
    • Welterweight: Themba Gorimbo (170.5lbs) vs. Niko Price (170.5lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Junior Tafa (241lbs) vs. Sean Sharaf (252lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Julia Polastri (115lbs) vs. Cory McKenna (115lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Dan Argueta (138.5lbs)*** vs. Cody Haddon (135lbs)
    • Flyweight: Clayton Carpenter (125.5lbs) vs. Lucas Rocha (125.5lbs)

    *Josh Fremd missed the middleweight limit by 3 pounds, fight canceled

    **Jared Gooden missed the welterweight limit by 1.5 pounds, fight status TBC

    ***Dan Argueta missed the bantamweight limit by 2.5 pounds, fight status TBC

  • Mario Bautista Blames José Aldo For Grappling-Heavy UFC 307 Ending: ‘He Chose To Stay There’

    Bantamweight contender Mario Bautista believes the criticism of how his fight with José Aldo unfolded at UFC 307 should be directed at the Brazilian.

    The pair collided on the main card of this past weekend’s pay-per-view event in Salt Lake City, with Bautista looking to replace Aldo inside the top 10 at 135 pounds.

    Across three rounds, the 31-year-old achieved that feat, extending his winning run to seven and securing a rise to #9 in the rankings by falling on the right side of a split decision verdict in Utah.

    The manner with which he had his hand raised, however, caused considerable debate online, with many suggesting that his low-action grappling was over-rewarded by two judges.

    Bautista Claims Aldo Could Have Escaped Positions At UFC 307, Opted Not To

    During a recent interview on MMA Junkie Radio, Bautista reflected on his successful display in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5, which saw his record’s win column receive its biggest addition to date.

    The 31-year-old questioned the reaction to his approach in round three, insisting that any and all backlash to the way the fight concluded should be directed at Aldo.

    “I just wanted him to keep on working. I just wanted him to break out of the clinch, use that energy to get out. And then just kind of stay stuck to him. Keep him working, working,” Bautista said. “I just didn’t really think he was going to — I don’t know, I guess just stay on the wall.

    “I thought he was going to get out. … There were points where like, yeah he was defending the takedown and maybe he could have circled off, but he just chose to stay there,” Bautista continued. “Yeah, I was holding him against the cage. But at the same, I think he did have opportunities to circle off, it’s just he chose not to. … Maybe that’s his resting area. … ‘Maybe the ref will separate us and I’ll be able to get my strikes off,’ and this and that.”

    Bautista went on to say that, as a fan of the sport himself, frustration in that situation should always be toward the fighter who is unable to break the clinch and circle away.

    In addition to the portions of the fanbase giving him stick, Bautista also hit back at one specific individual on social media post-fight, taking aim at Henry Cejudo for the former champ’s negative assessment of his UFC 307 performance.

  • Francis Ngannou: PFL Opponent Renan Ferreira A ‘Little Less Than Me’ In All Areas

    Francis Ngannou: PFL Opponent Renan Ferreira A ‘Little Less Than Me’ In All Areas

    While Francis Ngannou respects the threat that upcoming PFL foe Renan Ferreira brings to the table, he doesn’t see where the Brazilian is superior.

    Ngannou is set to make the walk for an MMA fight for the first time since a successful UFC title defense against Ciryl Gane in January 2022. Following that, “The Predator” was sidelined through injury before choosing to exit the promotion at the start of last year.

    After putting pen to paper on an MMA deal with the Professional Fighters League, Ngannou used his newfound freedom to make his long-held boxing ambitions a reality.

    And although consecutive bouts with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua led many to question his future in the cage, the Cameroonian will indeed resume his MMA career on Oct. 19 in Saudi Arabia, where he’s slated to headline a PFL pay-per-view against Ferreira.

    The Brazilian veteran is coming off title success in the PFL’s heavyweight season last year and a rapid knockout of Bellator kingpin Ryan Bader this past February.

    Despite his opponent’s winning form, however, Ngannou sees no area of the game where he’ll be outmatched by Ferreira come fight night…

    Ngannou Brands Ferreira A ‘Lesser Version’ Of Him

    During a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Ngannou looked ahead to his upcoming return to MMA competition in the Middle East.

    When discussing the threat posed by “Problema,” Ngannou acknowledged that his foe is solid in all areas. But in terms of where the Brazilian’s abilities could surpass his, “The Predator” sees nothing.

    “I don’t know. He is very athletic. He’s very skilled, well-rounded,” Ngannou said. “But I think whatever it is, it’s a little less than me [laughs]. He is a little less version of me, I would say so.”

    Ngannou will look to prove that assessment correct come fight night in Riyadh next weekend, when he dips his toes back into mixed martial arts waters for the first time in close to three years.

  • Brandon Royval On Failed Talks To Fight UFC Newcomer: ‘Asked For More Money…They Said No’

    Brandon Royval On Failed Talks To Fight UFC Newcomer: ‘Asked For More Money…They Said No’

    UFC flyweight contender Brandon Royval returns to action on Saturday night at the Apex, but he nearly had a much different assignment a couple of months ago.

    Royval last competed in Mexico City this past February, where he exacted revenge on Brandon Moreno in their headlining rematch. With that result, “Raw Dawg” is ranked #1 at 125 pounds.

    He’ll now have the chance to potentially secure another shot at Alexandre Pantoja’s title this weekend, when he tops a UFC Fight Night lineup at the Apex opposite the #5-ranked Tatsuro Taira.

    Had the UFC’s plans come to fruition, however, Royval would have been set to compete in other surroundings against a fighter without a number next to their name — or a UFC fight on their record…

    Royval On Rejecting Asakura Fight: ‘Not Getting A Guaranteed Title Shot, Not Getting More Money…’

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Royval looked ahead to his upcoming headliner with Taira and revealed that he was almost set for a much different test far from home.

    “Raw Dawg” said he was offered the chance to welcome Kai Asakura to the promotion at the UFC 305 pay-per-view in Perth, Australia this past August.

    But after his requests for additional payment for the long-distance trip and guarantees of a title shot should he win were rejected, Royval opted against heading Down Under to face the former Rizin champion.

    “They offered me that fight (Asakura) in Australia,” Royval said. “I asked them for more money, I asked for a handful of stuff, and they said no. And then I asked them for one of any of those things, and they said no. And I was like, all right, well, then I’m not gonna go f*cking fight some dude, not in the UFC, for not much money, all the way across the (world) where I’m not getting any sleep. I’m not getting any of this, I’m not getting a guaranteed title shot, I’m not getting any more money.

    “I got to bring my whole team out there if I’m going to go out there because I need to get my Arcadian rhythm in cycle. So it’s like, I got to fly out my whole team and guys that look like Kai Asakura. So it was one of those (things where) financially, (it) doesn’t make sense to me,” Royval continued. “And then it’s also, like, the risk doesn’t (exceed) the reward. If I go out there and lose, I just lost (to) somebody without a ranking, and if I go out there and win, they’re not guaranteeing me a title shot or anything. So there was really no reward in that.”

    Things have seemingly worked out well for Royval, who is now days away from facing a fellow top-five contender in what will mark his second consecutive UFC main event.

  • TJ Dillashaw ‘Not Mad’ With José Aldo Losing UFC 307 Decision: ‘Lost The Fight Himself’

    TJ Dillashaw ‘Not Mad’ With José Aldo Losing UFC 307 Decision: ‘Lost The Fight Himself’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw doesn’t have much sympathy for José Aldo after he came up short in Salt Lake City this past weekend.

    Aldo returned on the main card of the UFC 307 pay-per-view on Oct. 5, making his second appearance inside the Octagon since bringing his short-lived retirement to an end in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year.

    While the Brazilian immediately forged a path back into the rankings at 135 pounds by getting the better of Jonathan Martinez, Mario Bautista was able to spoil his plans for a late-career title shot in Utah.

    The 33-year-old fell on the right side of a split decision verdict, a result that proved controversial. Many gave the nod to Aldo after determining that Bautista didn’t do enough with his control against the cage.

    UFC CEO Dana White was among those questioning the two judges who leant the way of Bautista. One of the division’s former titleholders, however, saw no issue with the result…

    Dillashaw: Aldo ‘Kept Himself’ Against The Cage

    During a recent episode of the JAXXON PODCAST, Dillashaw reflected on the events that unfolded at UFC 307, including the main card clash in the weight class he formerly ruled over.

    Dillashaw differed from many with his take on Aldo vs. Bautista. He insisted that the ex-featherweight kingpin could have done much more to avoid granting Bautista such a long period of control in round three, which ultimately proved to be the difference.

    “It surprises me…there’s techniques like this that (Aldo) doesn’t like — get off the cage,” Dillashaw said. “The loss for him, like with the fight cards, they thought Aldo should’ve won. I don’t know. He kept himself there (against the cage). Like, I’m not too mad. He lost the fight himself.”

    It remains to be seen what comes next for Aldo, who was hoping to defend his spot inside the bantamweight top 10 in Salt Lake City before focusing on those above him.

    With his UFC 307 loss marking the first bout on a new multi-fight deal with MMA’s leading promotion, Aldo will likely look to rebound and revive his ongoing ambitions inside the Octagon soon enough.

  • VIDEO: Ilia Topuria & Max Holloway Trade Barbs In Face-To-Face Interview Ahead Of UFC 308

    VIDEO: Ilia Topuria & Max Holloway Trade Barbs In Face-To-Face Interview Ahead Of UFC 308

    The build-up to the UFC’s annual October pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi has picked up with a face-to-face interview between its two headliners.

    The promotion will be back in the Middle East for the third time this year, and back inside the Etihad Arena just over two months on from UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov being staged at the venue.

    This time, the Abu Dhabi crowd will be treated to championship stakes and one of the most highly anticipated fights of 2024 thus far, as featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria puts his gold on the line opposite legend Max Holloway.

    Topuria, Holloway Verbally Spar Pre-UFC 308

    In the months leading up to UFC 308, the pair set to collide in the main event have gone back and forth on social media and during their respective interviews.

    And that trend continued weeks out from the Oct. 26 event, as “El Matador” and “Blessed” joined UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald for a virtual face-to-face interaction.

    Fitzgerald wasn’t required too often, with Topuria and Holloway frequently abandoning questions to trade barbs at one another.

    On the champ’s side, the Georgian-Spaniard dismissed Holloway’s boxing credentials and gave a critical review of his UFC 300 win over Justin Gaethje, branding the fight “boring” and the last-second knockout absent of technique.

    Holloway’s rebuttals remained consistent throughout: we’ll see what happens on Oct. 26.

  • UFC Fighter Antonio Trócoli Arrested, Accused Of Assaulting Mackenzie Dern’s Ex-Husband

    UFC Fighter Antonio Trócoli Arrested, Accused Of Assaulting Mackenzie Dern’s Ex-Husband

    UFC middleweight Antonio Trócoli was arrested in California last Friday on misdemeanor battery charges.

    The Brazilian was apprehended following an incident in Huntington Beach, which allegedly involved the ex-husband of UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern, to whom Trócoli is now married.

    The arrest was confirmed by police in an email to MMA Fighting this week.

    “A subject by the name of Antonio Trocoli da Silveira Filho was arrested by the Huntington Beach Police Department on Oct. 4, 2024, at approximately 8:30 a.m. in the 8700 block of Dolphin Street, Huntington Beach,” Huntington Beach police said in a statement. “He was arrested for misdemeanor battery, and the case has been sent to the Orange County District Attorney’s Officer for review.”

    The Orange County district attorney’s office has not officially brought a case against Trócoli, 33, who lost his short-notice UFC debut to Sharabutdin Magomedov in Saudi Arabia this past June.

    Antonio Trocoli & Shara Magomedov
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC

    Dern’s Ex-Husband Claims Video Shows Trócoli Punching Him

    Although official details provided by police are scarce, Dern’s ex-husband sent a statement to MMA Fighting in which he claims to have been the victim of Trócoli’s alleged assault.

    Wesley Santos — a professional surfer who was formerly married to Dern and has a daughter, Moa, with the strawweight fighter — accused Trócoli of ongoing harassment, including sending abusive messages by way of his child.

    He claims things came to a head last Friday after he dropped his daughter off at school, following which he says Trócoli pulled up in a car and proceeded to strike him before fleeing.

    “Mackenzie Dern is my ex-wife and after our divorce she married Antonio ‘Malvado’ Jose Trocoli da Silveira Filho,” Santos said. “We divorced and have shared custody of our daughter Moa, but Antonio never stopped following me. We had a deal that he would not be part of the custody but he was always nearby, threatening and disturbing in every custody change. He sent messages through Moa, saying he would beat me up, and Moa told me clearly.

    “I dropped my daughter at school this past Friday and was going back home on a skateboard when I saw a white car stop, and I started recording. It was Antonio. He got out of the car and punched me, and the car kept moving [along], and he ran back inside the car. Cops were called, there were several witnesses, and Antonio was arrested for battery.”

    Dern and Santos’ divorce played out publicly in 2023, with the pair exchanging accusations of domestic abuse.

    In court, the UFC fighter claimed to have been the victim of repeated physical and emotional abuse throughout her marriage with Santos, alleging to have once had a door slammed on her leg while being dragged out of their house during a fight.

    The pro surfer responded by accusing Dern of similar abuse, providing evidence of a bloody nose that he claimed was caused by a punch from his then-wife.

    Trócoli is yet to comment on his arrest and the charges against him. He’s currently scheduled to return for his second UFC outing against Tresean Gore at the Apex on Nov. 9.

  • Dan Hooker Responds To Dustin Poirier’s 4-Man BMF Tournament Pitch

    Dan Hooker Responds To Dustin Poirier’s 4-Man BMF Tournament Pitch

    Former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has committed to one final night in the cage before hanging up his gloves, and he’s got a unique idea in mind for his farewell.

    Poirier initially appeared set to call time on is career following a failed title bid opposite Islam Makhachev this past June. But while his immediate comments post-submission loss at UFC 302 leaned that way, he was quick to tease a return.

    And in recent weeks, “The Diamond” has confirmed that he’s not yet done and has been in search of his final matchup — or potentially two, should his recent pitch come to fruition.

    During a recent interview on SiriusXM’s MMA Today show with Din Thomas and Alan Jouban, Poirier suggested a four-man tournament comprised of three former opponents of his, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, and Dan Hooker.

    The Grand Prix-style bracket would involve BMF stakes, with Hooker being the only one of the four yet to compete with the symbolic title on the line in the UFC.

    “That excites me,” Poirier said. “Because that kind of stuff is for the dogs. That’s like old Pride days or Grand Prix. That’s a real ‘BMF.’ If you can fight a tournament in one night, multiple opponents, that’s the definition of ‘BMF.’

    “That would be it,” Poirier continued. “If they put that together and it was a one-night tournament, that would be it (retirement).”

    And “The Hangman,” for one, seems to be in…

    Hooker Co-Signs Poirier’s BMF Tournament

    Following Poirier’s remarks, which also got somewhat of a green light from UFC CEO Dana White following his latest post-Contender Series press conference, Hooker was quick to give his take on the idea.

    Never one to shy away from the possibility of violence inside the Octagon, Hooker is unsurprisingly up for the same-night format.

    “Don’t threaten me with a good time,” Hooker wrote on X.

    The New Zealander joined Poirier and Gaethje inside the lightweight top five following an upset decision win over the highly regarded Mateusz Gamrot in Perth, Australia this past August.

  • Valentina Shevchenko Won’t ‘Discard’ Possible Bantamweight Return To Challenge Julianna Peña

    Valentina Shevchenko Won’t ‘Discard’ Possible Bantamweight Return To Challenge Julianna Peña

    Newly crowned UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña may have a challenge from below to be concerned about.

    Over two years on from having her reign ended at the first hurdle by Amanda Nunes, Peña returned to the throne by way of a controversial decision win over Raquel Pennington in this past weekend’s UFC 307 co-main event.

    While her second divisional rule has only just got underway, talk has quickly turned to her first defense and the likelihood of Kayla Harrison getting a shot in her third Octagon outing.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen,” however, has made it clear that she would rather complete her trilogy with Amanda Nunes should the Brazilian end her retirement.

    But there’s also been growing talk of another former opponent of the bantamweight queen’s pursuing a second victory over her…

    Shevchenko Open To Bantamweight Return In ‘Right’ Circumstances

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9ww6yYtVT8

    During an interview with Bodog Canada prior to UFC 307, flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko assessed a possible rematch with Peña were she to achieve a similar feat at the expense of Pennington.

    The Kyrgyzstani standout submitted Peña en route to an ultimately unsuccessful bantamweight title bid back in 2017. “Bullet” later dropped to 125 pounds, where she enjoyed a lengthy title reign and recently commenced a second.

    Be it a flyweight defense opposite Manon Fiorot or a bantamweight return, Shevchenko insisted that she’s yet to give any thought to what could await her down the line.

    But “Bullet” was also keen to note that nothing is off the table, including a move back up to 135 pounds in pursuit of two-division champ status.

    “You know, I was so busy working on returning my belt back at flyweight, so I didn’t have a chance to think about anything else,” Shevchenko said. “I was focusing so much on Alexa (Grasso). For a year-and-a-half, the only one person I was thinking of was her.

    “I’m not discarding any opportunities. I’m not saying something like, ‘No!’ But yeah, when I recover from the last fight and we go back and see my team, my manager…we will make the decision,” Shevchenko continued. “Probably for me to go up to bantamweight, it would have to pass some time to build up back my muscles. Spending so long at flyweight, I kind of get smaller. … But if I decide to move up, it has to be right.”

    For now, both Shevchenko and Peña will be continuing to celebrate their recent returns to their respective divisional mountaintops.

    And while both women have challengers waiting in the wings, should they cement their grips on the UFC gold in their possession, perhaps a second dance will be in their futures.

  • Larissa Pacheco Sticks Up For Kayla Harrison After PFL’s ‘Uncalled For’ Fight-Day Dig

    Larissa Pacheco Sticks Up For Kayla Harrison After PFL’s ‘Uncalled For’ Fight-Day Dig

    It wasn’t just those outside of the PFL that took issue with the promotion’s decision to fire shots at Kayla Harrison on the day of her second UFC fight.

    Harrison, who achieved lightweight title glory twice under the PFL banner, made the switch to MMA’s leading promotion this year, making a successful bantamweight and promotional debut at UFC 300 this past April.

    And after dispatching Holly Holm, Harrison had the chance to add more top-five opposition to her record against Ketlen Vieira at this past weekend’s UFC 307 pay-per-view.

    Harrison’s return to the Octagon was a hot topic in the lead-up to the Salt Lake City-held event. And her ex-employer looked to capitalize with a reminder of who handed the two-time Olympic gold medalist her sole defeat in MMA.

    Just hours before her fight, PFL socials posted a video detailing Harrison’s 2022 loss to Larissa Pacheco, a move many saw as an attempt to mock the now-UFC star.

    The post also came just days after PFL founder Donn Davis reiterated his disparaging remarks about Harrison’s PFL departure, accusing her of ‘running’ from a fight with Cris Cyborg and another showdown with Pacheco — whom Harrison has already defeated twice.

    As it turns out, Pacheco herself wasn’t pleased to be used as a tool with which to take away from Harrison shortly before she made the walk in Utah.

    Pacheco Tells PFL ‘You Don’t Need’ To Take Shots At Harrison

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Pacheco reacted to the controversial PFL post, which was widely criticized and branded “nasty” by some in the community.

    The Brazilian appeared to share the same sentiment as most, describing the move as “uncalled for.” She also encouraged her organization to focus on promoting her as its current top women’s fighter rather than putting energy into its former athletes.

    “I thought that was uncalled for, honestly,” Pacheco said. “I think (PFL) have the champion they deserve, they have a respectful champion who has defeated Kayla, so why do that? Promote me right. Let’s promote the champion. ‘Oh, but Larissa beat Kayla.’ You don’t need that. I’ve shown (my work) with other results, I’ve proven myself, so you don’t need that.

    “But anyway, that’s not on me. I have nothing to do with that. I respect Kayla. Our rivalry is over right now because she’s in another organization. Had she stayed here it would be the two of us and Cris clashing heads here, but there’s no reason to talk (about her now),” Pacheco continued. “I wish her good luck. The more she wins, the bigger my win over her gets, so I’ll always cheer for her.”

    Pacheco, the only fighter to win gold in two PFL divisions, is set to make her return in Saudi Arabia next weekend. The Brazilian will do battle with an all-time great in Cyborg, with the pair co-headlining a pay-per-view event topped by Francis Ngannou’s MMA return.

    Harrison, meanwhile, kept her ball rolling with a comfortable decision victory over Vieira at UFC 307. She’s now expected to receive her first shot at reaching the bantamweight mountaintop against newly crowned queen Julianna Peña.

  • Khalil Rountree Reveals Brutal Alex Pereira Loss Forced Him To Undergo ‘Most Painful Procedure’

    Khalil Rountree Reveals Brutal Alex Pereira Loss Forced Him To Undergo ‘Most Painful Procedure’

    The pain for UFC light heavyweight Khalil Rountree did not end with his failed title challenge in Salt Lake City this past weekend.

    Rountree received a surprise opportunity to unseat Alex Pereira from the 205-pound throne in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view, and he was on track to do so through two rounds.

    Against the odds, “The War Horse” started on top, moving two frames clear on all three scorecards. But after the tide began to turn in round three, “Poatan” increased the heat in vicious fashion once they hit the championship rounds.

    The finishing sequence in the fourth stanza made for painful viewing, and the damage suffered by the challenger was unsurprisingly not just superficial…

    Rountree On Post-UFC 307 Surgery: ‘Very, Very Uncomfortable’

    During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Rountree reflected on his valiant performance in Utah on Oct. 5 and detailed the damage that Pereira’s fight-ending onslaught left him with.

    The 34-year-old revealed that he exited the cage at UFC 307 with a badly deviated septum, which required an incredibly painful procedure to correct days on from the defeat.

    “I don’t know what punch, but I know that last uppercut before the body shots definitely landed on my nose. But I already had felt some pain in my head,” Rountree said. “It could’ve been from that, but after we got the scans and everything the night of the fight, the doctors saw that there was some slight fracturing and a severely deviated septum. So we went right ahead and corrected that as soon as I got home.

    “Definitely the most uncomfortable, painful procedure I’ve ever had last night,” Rountree continued. “It was the hardest sleep. My mouth is constantly dry and just a constant headache. Inside my nose, my nasal cavities right now are just stuffed with sponges and splints. It’s very, very uncomfortable.”

    Nevertheless, Rountree stated that every injury and blemish is worth it in his pursuit of championship glory on MMA’s biggest stage.

    And while he didn’t reach it first time around, “The War Horse” has vowed to bounce back stronger in 2025.

  • Michael Chandler Would ‘Bet The Farm’ On Conor McGregor Fight Happening In 2025

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler is still not giving up hope of sharing the Octagon with Conor McGregor down the line.

    Chandler was initially announced as the former two-division UFC champion’s comeback opponent toward the start of 2023, with the pair first coaching opposite one another on The Ultimate Fighter.

    Since the show’s conclusion, multiple rumored dates have passed by, in addition to an officially booked one at International Fight Week this past June. That injury delay and the uncertainty that followed it finally did it for Chandler, whose sights are now set elsewhere.

    The 38-year-old is set to make his return at UFC 309 next month, over two years on from a defeat to Dustin Poirier last time out. Back at Madison Square Garden, Chandler will once again do battle with former UFC champ Charles Oliveira.

    But while “Iron” is expecting to secure a second title shot on MMA’s biggest stage with a victory in New York City, that doesn’t mean McGregor is off his mind for 2025…

    Chandler Confident McGregor Fight Happens Despite Failed Wait

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Andreas Hale, Chandler reflected on his decision to finally move on from McGregor and accept a different assignment for the back end of 2024.

    Chandler, McGregor, and UFC CEO Dana White have noted that the long-awaited clash of last year’s TUF coaches is not completely off the table and could be rebooked.

    The former three-time Bellator champ, for one, is incredibly confident of that coming to fruition, in addition to a championship challenge following a victory at UFC 309 on Nov. 16.

    “There’s no doubt that Chandler versus McGregor happens at some point in 2025,” Chandler said. “And there’s no doubt that when I beat Charles, I’m next in line for the title. Both of those fights will happen. I will fight for the title, and I will fight Conor McGregor. And I will bet the farm on it.”

    For now, Chandler will have his full focus on achieving redemption opposite Oliveira at Madison Square Garden.

    Having had his first shot at reaching the lightweight mountaintop stalled by “Do Bronx” in 2021, “Iron” will hope to secure a second at the Brazilian’s expense next month.

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 9 Highlights As 4 Prospects Secure Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 9 Highlights As 4 Prospects Secure Contracts

    The latest season of Dana White’s Contender Series continued with some memorable highlights on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

    DWCS, the inaugural season of which took place back in 2017, sees some of the top prospects in mixed martial arts enter the cage in front of White and the matchmakers, looking to put in a performance worthy of a place on the UFC roster.

    Last year’s edition saw 46 fighters bag a deal with the sport’s premier promotion across 10 events, up on the 43 from 2022. Through eight episodes of season eight, 34 prospects moved a step closer to their title dreams on MMA’s biggest stage.

    And the ninth added another five talents to the UFC roster. That included German welterweight Islam Dulatov, who delivered the highlight of the night by brutally knocking out Vanilto Antunes with an elbow, making good on his “The Ripper” moniker.

    There were three other finishes on the card, all of which earned the victors contracts. Also at 170 pounds, Kody Steele’s TKO of Chasen Blair was enough to forge his path into the UFC, as was a first-round knockout for heavyweight prospect Mario Pinto.

    A big storyline heading into this week’s episode was the curtain-closer, which featured Artem Vakhitov. The former Glory Kickboxing champion was the last man to defeat Alex Pereira prior to his MMA transition, and he’s now pursuing similar success to “Poatan” in the cage.

    In front of the Brazilian, who was cageside, the Russian stopped Islam Masraf with strikes inside round one. When granting Vakhitov a contract, White noted that Pereira had given his stamp of approval and pushed for his former rival’s signing.

    The first fight of the night was the only contest not to produce a new athlete, with Australia’s Sean Gauci not doing enough in his decision win over Anthony Drilich to impress the UFC boss.

    With that in mind, see below for the results and moments that landed four athletes contracts with the UFC.

    Sean Gauci Def. Anthony Drilich Via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

    Islam Dulatov Def. Vanilto Antunes Via KO (Elbow): R1, 2:44

    Mario Pinto Def. Lucas Camacho Via KO (punches): R1, 1:43

    Kody Steele Def. Chasen Blair Via TKO (Punches): R2, 4:07

    Artem Vakhitov Def. Islem Masraf Via TKO (punches): R1, 4:23