MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Sean Brady Outlasts Gilbert Burns

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Sean Brady Outlasts Gilbert Burns

    The mixed martial arts leader staged its latest UFC Fight Night event on Saturday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action.

    Before all focus turns to a highly anticipated and significantly built-up Noche UFC pay-per-view at the Sphere next weekend, the promotion put on another card at a much more low-key Las Vegas venue in the Apex.

    The headline spot fell in the welterweight division, where former title challenger Gilbert Burns attempted to defend his #6 spot on the ladder and keep his hopes of a late-career second opportunity at the gold alive at the expense of Sean Brady.

    “Durinho” ultimately failed in that mission, with his Philadelphian opponent putting on a dominant display en route to a lopsided unanimous decision victory.

    Before that, a former champion was in action as ex-strawweight queen Jéssica Andrade shared the cage with her surging fellow countrywoman Natália Silva. The latter put on another striking masterclass to earn the nod from all three judges, catapulting her into the title picture at 125 pounds.

    With that said, see below for the full results, followed by all the highlights!

    UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Welterweight Main Event: Sean Brady def. Gilbert Burns via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
    • Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: Natália Silva def. Jéssica Andrade via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Featherweight: Steve Garcia def. Kyle Nelson via TKO (ground strikes): R1, 3:59
    • Bantamweight: Cody Durden def. Matt Schnell via submission (ninja choke): R2, 0:29
    • Lightweight: Yanal Ashmouz def. Trevor Peek via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Chris Padilla def. Rongzhu via TKO (doctor stoppage): R3, 4:14
    • Featherweight: Isaac Dulgarian def. Brendon Marotte via submission (arm-triangle choke): R2, 4:19
    • Flyweight: André Lima def. Felipe dos Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Featherweight: Gabriel Santos def. Yizha via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Jaqueline Amorim def. Vanessa Demopoulos via submission (armbar): R1, 3:28
    • Middleweight: Andre Petroski def. Dylan Budka via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Featherweight: Nathan Fletcher def. Zygimantas Ramaska via submission (arm-triangle choke): R2, 1:14

    Nathan Fletcher Def. Zygimantas Ramaska

    Andre Petroski Def. Dylan Budka

    Jaqueline Amorim Def. Vanessa Demopoulos

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1832525623090381020

    Gabriel Santos Def. Yizha

    André Lima Def. Felipe dos Santos

    Isaac Dulgarian Def. Brendon Marotte

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1832546395653337462

    Chris Padilla Def. Rongzhu

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1832552709209096224

    Yanal Ashmouz Def. Trevor Peek

    Cody Durden Def. Matt Schnell

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1832567560644014199

    Steve Garcia Def. Kyle Nelson

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1832573926872064167

    Natália Silva Def. Jéssica Andrade

    Sean Brady Def. Gilbert Burns

    https://twitter.com/MMAUnderrated/status/1832593826826895750
    https://twitter.com/MMAUnderrated/status/1832595807461060651
  • Demetrious Johnson Announces MMA Retirement, Inducted Into ONE Championship Hall Of Fame

    Demetrious Johnson Announces MMA Retirement, Inducted Into ONE Championship Hall Of Fame

    The mixed martial arts career of UFC and ONE Championship legend Demetrious Johnson has reached its conclusion.

    Johnson officially announced his retirement from the sport of MMA following 15 months of uncertainty. His final appearance was a headline victory at ONE Fight Night 10, the Asian promotion’s United States debut in May 2023.

    After outpointing Adriano Moraes in their trilogy to keep hold of the ONE flyweight title, “Mighty Mouse” hinted that the victory may have marked his farewell.

    That has ultimately turned out to be the case, with Johnson confirming his decision to hang up the gloves by delivering an emotional speech in front of his family and adoring fans at Friday’s ONE 168 event at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

    ONE chairman Chatri Sityodtong also entered the Circle to announce Johnson as the first inductee into the organization’s Hall of Fame.

    Before finding success in ONE Championship, where he secured Grand Prix and title glory, Johnson established himself as one of the greatest of all time during a record-breaking reign in the UFC.

    While competing on MMA’s biggest stage, “Mighty Mouse” ruled over the 125-pound division for six years, making 11 consecutive successful defenses after becoming the inaugural UFC flyweight champ in 2012.

    From his so-far unmatched streak of defenses to individual moments such as the suplex armbar he used to submit Ray Borg and flying knee that exacted revenge on Moraes, not many will depart the sport with a legacy as illustrious as Johnson’s.

  • ONE 168 Results & Highlights: Superlek KOs Jonathan Haggerty In 49 Seconds, Becomes Two-Sport Champ

    ONE 168 Results & Highlights: Superlek KOs Jonathan Haggerty In 49 Seconds, Becomes Two-Sport Champ

    ONE Championship was back for its second event in the United States this week, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

    In May 2023, the organization presented ONE Fight Night 10 from the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado. The event marked its on-site debut in the United States, and ONE Championship brought a stacked card worthy of the occasion that was topped by American legend Demetrious Johnson.

    This year, a new set of prominent names are looking to make a splash on US soil, starting at ONE 168 inside the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday night.

    A championship was once again on the line in the closing act. Rather than MMA, however, ONE’s sophomore card in “The Centennial State” saw Muay Thai gold at stake in the main event as two-sport titleholder Jonathan Haggerty defended his bantamweight belt against flyweight kickboxing kingpin Superlek Kiatmoo9.

    The Thai star continued his streak of dominance, following victories over Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Takeru Segawa with a 49-second knockout of Haggerty to become a two-sport kingpin.

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1832273221225173415

    One of the United States’ top submission grapplers was expected to compete until early on fight day. Mikey Musumeci was originally set to challenge ONE lightweight submission grappling king Kade Ruotolo weeks on from the Hawaiian’s $1 million triumph at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational. However, an injury stemming from that event forced his late withdrawal this week.

    Musumeci initially remained on the card, but that decision came at a cost. While initially scheduled to challenge for the 170-pound gold, “Darth Rigatoni” was instead booked to defend his 135-pound belt opposite Bebeto Oliveira. But after missing weight and hydration on Thursday, Musumeci was stripped of the title and, due to the effects of his unsuccessful weight cut, has subsequently decided not to compete.

    Nevertheless, the lineup still saw British brawler Liam Harrison make his return from injury opposite the always exciting Seksan, former UFC fighter and ex-ONE MMA titleholder John Lineker debut in Muay Thai, Kill Cliff FC standout Aung La N Sang in next assignment, and the highly touted Adrian Lee make his second ONE appearance.

    With that said, see below for the full results followed by all the highlights!

    ONE 168: Denver Results & Highlights

    Full Card:

    • Bantamweight Muay Thai Championship: Superlek Kiatmoo9 def. Jonathan Haggerty via KO (elbow): R1, 0:49
    • Flyweight Submission Grappling Championship: Mikey Musumeci vs. Bebeto Oliveira
    • Catchweight (140lbs) Muay Thai: Seksan Or. Kwanmuang def. Liam Harrison via TKO: R2, 1:49
    • Catchweight (213.75lbs) MMA: Shamil Erdogan def. Aung La N Sang via TKO (ground strikes): R2, 2:48
    • Bantamweight Muay Thai: John Lineker def. Asa Ten Pow via KO (punch): R2, 2:50
    • Lightweight MMA: Maurice Abevi vs. Samat Mamedov
    • Atomweight MMA: Victoria Souza def. Alyse Anderson via unanimous decision
    • Welterweight MMA: Isi Fitikefu def. Hiroyuki Tetsuka via unanimous decision
    • Lightweight MMA: Adrian Lee def. Nico Cornejo via submission (rear-naked choke): R1, 2:37
    • Flyweight Muay Thai: Johan Ghazali def. Josue Cruz via KO (punch): R1, 3:00
    • Flyweight Muay Thai: Johan Estupinan def. Sean Climaco via TKO: R2, 1:28

    Johan Estupinan Def. Sean Climaco

    Johan Ghazali Def. Josue Cruz

    Adrian Lee Def. Nico Cornejo

    Isi Fitikefu Def. Hiroyuki Tetsuka

    Victoria Souza Def. Alyse Anderson

    John Lineker Def. Asa Ten Pow

    Shamil Erdogan Def. Aung La N Sang

    Seksan Or. Kwanmuang Def. Liam Harrison

    Superlek Kiatmoo9 Def. Jonathan Haggerty

  • UFC Fight Night: Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady Weigh-In Results: Two Miss Weight

    UFC Fight Night: Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady Weigh-In Results: Two Miss Weight

    UFC Fight Night: Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After a brief break from action, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back to put on another card at the Apex facility in Las Vegas.

    Topping the lineup will be a crucial clash of ranked contenders in the welterweight division, with former title challenger Gilbert Burns and the highly regarded Sean Brady both looking to put themselves in a strong position within the title picture.

    Elsewhere, the likes of former UFC strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade, the always entertaining Steve Garcia, brawler Trevor Peek, and Ovince Saint Preux will all have their next assignments inside the Octagon.

    UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady takes place on Saturday, September 7, 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 replay of the weigh-ins via MMA Junkie, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Welterweight Main Event: Gilbert Burns (171lbs) vs. Sean Brady (171lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: Jéssica Andrade (124.5lbs) vs. Natália Silva (125.5lbs)
    • Featherweight: Steve Garcia (145.5lbs) vs. Kyle Nelson (148.5lbs)**
    • Flyweight: Matt Schnell (135lbs) vs. Cody Durden (135lbs)
    • Lightweight: Trevor Peek (155lbs) vs. Yanal Ashmouz (154.5lbs)
    • Lightweight: Rongzhu (155.5lbs) vs. Chris Padilla (154lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Isaac Dulgarian (145.5lbs) vs. Brendon Marotte (145lbs)
    • Flyweight: Felipe dos Santos (124.5lbs) vs. André Lima (125.5lbs)
    • Featherweight: Yizha (144.5lbs) vs. Gabriel Santos (146lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Jaqueline Amorim (115.5lbs) vs. Vanessa Demopoulos (116lbs)
    • Middleweight: Andre Petroski (185.5lbs) vs. Dylan Budka (188.5lbs)*
    • Featherweight: Zygimantas Ramaska (145.5lbs) vs. Nathan Fletcher (145lbs)

    *Dylan Budka missed the middleweight limit by 2.5 pounds, forfeits 20 percent of his purse

    **Kyle Nelson missed the featherweight limit by 2.5 pounds, fight status TBA

  • Sean O’Malley Promises To Reopen Merab Dvalishvili Cut At Noche UFC: ‘The Dude’s Just Not That Smart’

    Sean O’Malley Promises To Reopen Merab Dvalishvili Cut At Noche UFC: ‘The Dude’s Just Not That Smart’

    UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley has seemingly made a mental note of the cut Merab Dvalishvili suffered in training.

    O’Malley will put his gold on the line in the main event of Noche UFC/UFC 306 next weekend, topping the lineup alongside Dvalishvili for the promotion’s second Mexican Independence Day celebration.

    Their bout marks the main attraction of the highly anticipated event at the Sphere in Las Vegas. But the lead-up to the card was briefly struck by cancellation fears after Dvalishvili posted a cut from camp on social media a few weeks out.

    While the Georgian challenger insists his title shot was never in jeopardy and has since returned to usual training, that didn’t stop UFC CEO Dana White from publicly slamming “The Machine.”

    “The whole world knows about Merab’s cut. He posted it. Our guys are so dumb, it’s next-level unbelievable,” White said during a DWCS press conference. “All the stuff I talk about boxing, what I will give boxing, is when something happens in a camp, man, let me tell you what, it does not leak. Our guys can’t f*cking wait to throw it up on social media.

    “It’s a small cut. It’s no big deal. But obviously, it needed to be posted,” White continued. “Why the f*ck would you want him to know that? It is next-level stupid. Some of these guys are so stupid it’s mind-boggling. It’s unbelievable.”

    And we can seemingly count O’Malley among those who agree with White’s take…

    O’Malley Puts Dvalishvili’s Cut In His Crosshairs

    During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, O’Malley looked ahead to his sophomore bantamweight title defense, touching on one of the main topics that has arisen in the latter part of the Noche UFC build-up.

    Many suggested Dvalishvili made a mistake by publicly displaying a cut for his opponent to target, and “Sugar” backed that up by insisting he will reopen the blemish at some point in the PPV main event on Sept. 14.

    “I am 100 percent going to open up that cut, whether it’s healed or not,” O’Malley said. “I don’t know how much it can heal. I’ve never really had any bad cuts, so I’m not sure. But that’s the left side of his face. This right hand doesn’t miss.

    “I’ll probably accidentally hit his nose before I hit that cut. That nose just kinda takes up like 85 percent of his face, so I’m gonna try to get around his face and get to that cut,” O’Malley continued. “Dana referring to him as one of the — I don’t remember what he said, one of the stupidest people or beyond stupid. Whatever he said was pretty accurate. I mean, the dude’s just not that smart of a guy.”

    O’Malley will look to inflict that damage, as well as much more, en route to breaking Dvalishvili’s lengthy winning run, both stalling the Georgian’s title ambitions and retaining his place on the bantamweight throne in the process.

  • Gilbert Burns Believes He Can Finish Sean Brady ‘Better Than’ Belal Muhammad Did

    Gilbert Burns Believes He Can Finish Sean Brady ‘Better Than’ Belal Muhammad Did

    UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns is planning to make a statement at Sean Brady’s expense on Saturday night.

    The pair will headline this weekend’s UFC Fight Night at the Apex in Las Vegas, with Burns tasked with defending his #6 position on the divisional ladder off the back of consecutive defeats.

    After falling short across five rounds against then-future champion Belal Muhammad in May 2023, an injury suffered in that fight kept “Durinho” on the sidelines until this past April’s UFC 299 pay-per-view in Miami.

    Although he was just less than two minutes away from a crucial bounce-back victory on the scorecards, he was the victim of a late comeback from Jack Della Maddalena, who rallied to stop him by way of TKO.

    That’s left the 38-year-old in desperate need of a return to winning ways. But more than just rebounding, the Brazilian sees a chance to move to within touching distance of the title against a former opponent of Muhammad’s…

    Burns Envisions Emphatic Finish Of Brady To Secure Title Eliminator

    During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Burns looked ahead to his second Octagon assignment of 2024, detailing his hopes for fight night and what he anticipates coming as a result of a strong display.

    Despite losing two on the bounce and slipping outside the top five at 170 pounds, “Durinho” believes the manner of his performance this weekend could determine whether he earns a title eliminator next time out, especially if he can go above and beyond what now-champ Muhammad accomplished at Brady’s expense back in 2022.

    “I do believe if I go out there and look phenomenal against Sean Brady, then I get another guy, maybe Leon (Edwards), Colby (Covington), Kamaru (Usman). Then beat one of those guys, then I’m there, on the top,” Burns said. “I do believe if I do my homework this Saturday good, show up there and finish Sean Brady, you know, better than Belal did — if I go out there and after that, for sure rest a little bit, come back with a good training camp and beat one of the top guys, I’m there fighting for the title.”

    Burns will look to move closer to his late-career second title shot coming to fruition this weekend by making good on his vow to stop Brady in violent fashion when they headline Saturday’s UFC Fight Night at the Apex.

  • ‘Going To End Up Like Bigfoot Silva’ – Fans React After Tony Ferguson Teases ‘Big Changes’ Amid Career Uncertainty

    ‘Going To End Up Like Bigfoot Silva’ – Fans React After Tony Ferguson Teases ‘Big Changes’ Amid Career Uncertainty

    Former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson’s latest comments on social media have plenty of fans concerned.

    While once riding a record winning streak on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage and pointed to by some as the biggest threat to the great Khabib Nurmagomedov, Ferguson has experienced quite the fall from grace.

    “El Cucuy” now sits on the longest losing skid in UFC history, having lost eight straight fights since the start of 2020. The most recent addition to that torrid run came at the Abu Dhabi-held UFC Fight Night last month, where he was submitted in one round by Michael Chiesa.

    In the initial aftermath, it appeared that a retirement branded long overdue by many was on its way. But Ferguson’s Octagon interview was a half-retirement at best, and his subsequent press conference suggested a return to the cage was likely.

    Ferguson’s recent video on social media has only increased that conclusion among fans…

    “Check this out, crew,” Ferguson began. “I have some very exciting news for you coming at you. I can’t really say too much right now, but there’s going to be some big changes going on. So make sure you guys stay tuned. Catch you later.”

    While Ferguson didn’t directly mention the UFC or a fight, many connected the dots between his half-retirement in Abu Dhabi that appeared to be quickly backtracked and his promise of changes to suggest “El Cucuy” is likely referring to another outing in the cage.

    UFC Fans React To Ferguson’s Incoming News: ‘Praying That CM Punk Is The Opponent…’

    Members of the MMA community were quick to react to Ferguson’s teaser.

    Suffice to say, the reactions were as expected, with many expressing worries should the “news” and “changes” the 40-year-old mentioned be an indication of his plan to continue his career as an active fighter.

    As expected, the most prominent word throughout the comment section was ‘retire’.

    https://twitter.com/ZenArkana/status/1831614676691480581
  • UFC Vet Rejects Notion Jon Jones’ Legacy Will Be Affected By Avoiding Tom Aspinall: ‘It Will Be Forgotten’ 

    UFC Vet Rejects Notion Jon Jones’ Legacy Will Be Affected By Avoiding Tom Aspinall: ‘It Will Be Forgotten’ 

    According to one record-holding former UFC fighter, Jon Jones isn’t at risk of hampering his legacy should he continue avoiding Tom Aspinall.

    The heavyweight title picture remains one of the most prominent and polarizing discussions currently at the surface of the MMA community, largely centering around the presence of two champions.

    First came Jones, who was crowned in his divisional debut 18 months ago. More recently, Aspinall captured interim gold by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich, a matchup that came about at Madison Square Garden after an injury to Jones delayed his clash with the returning Stipe Miocic.

    Since then, one man has recorded their first successful title defense, with Aspinall emphatically exacting his redemption against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester this past July.

    But despite the presence of an interim titleholder who has already withstood one challenge, both Jones and the UFC remain steadfast on rescheduling the bout against Miocic. The pair are now expected to give their matchup a second go at reaching the cage this November, once again at the annual MSG-held pay-per-view.

    That fact has left Aspinall and many fans, fighters, and pundits bemused. Some have even gone as far as to suggest that avoiding a unification fight with his interim counterpart will leave a negative, lasting impact on Jones’ legacy.

    According to Matt Brown, news isn’t remembered long enough for that to be the case…

    Brown Doubts Jones ‘Ducking’ Aspinall Will Be Remembered

    During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown gave his take on the current championship conversation at heavyweight.

    “The Immortal,” who retired earlier this year as the record holder for most knockouts and finishes in UFC welterweight history, believes that should Jones defeat Miocic at UFC 309 and subsequently retire over meeting the challenge of Aspinall, it would simply be “forgotten” down the line.

    “The fact is, it will be forgotten,” Brown said. “No matter what Tom does. If Jon retires after he beats Stipe, we’re in the age of news is news for a day. Maybe for a day or two, there will be some people on Reddit saying Jon was scared of Tom or whatever. By next week or whatever…he’ll still be the greatest ever. No one’s going to be like, ‘Oh, Jon’s not the greatest ever because he didn’t fight Tom Aspinall.’ I don’t think a single person’s going to say that. They’re just going to talk a little bit of silly stuff for a couple of days and it will be completely forgotten.

    “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t remember Jon ever saying, ‘I’m out here now to try to be the greatest heavyweight.’ He’s like, ‘I’m the greatest fighter, I got that in the bag. I’m the greatest fighter of all time. I’m going to fight a couple heavyweight fights. Yeah, I might be a little bit picky about who I fight. I’m the greatest fighter of all time, b*tch. I get to pick my fights now,’” Brown continued. “I don’t remember him ever saying, ‘I’m out here to attempt to prove I can also be the greatest heavyweight.’ He’s like, ‘No, I’m moving up to get a couple paydays, getting some big fights, having some fun, not have to cut weight, and move on with my life.’”

    Talk of Jones’ potential GOAT status has been a prominent topic as of late, largely thanks to UFC CEO Dana White’s staunch campaigning for the heavyweight kingpin to be moved back to top position in the pound-for-pound pecking order.

    It remains to be seen whether Aspinall will get his wish to share the cage with Jones. But as Brown noted, the Rochester native appears to be paying more attention to his overall place in MMA lore as opposed to a heavyweight legacy.

  • Former Ranked UFC Heavyweight Handed 22-Month Suspension For Drug Test Failure One Fight Into PFL Career

    Former Ranked UFC Heavyweight Handed 22-Month Suspension For Drug Test Failure One Fight Into PFL Career

    Former UFC heavyweight contender Blagoy Ivanov won’t be making his sophomore appearance under the PFL banner anytime soon.

    Ivanov, a former Bellator fighter and WSOF champion, competed eight times in the UFC, defeating Ben Rothwell and Tai Tuivasa en route to the rankings early into his Octagon tenure.

    The Bulgarian fell to consecutive decision defeats opposite Marcin Tybura and Alexandr Romanov in 2023, after which he departed mixed martial arts’ leading promotion and signed with the Professional Fighters League.

    The veteran made his SmartCage debut at event one of this year’s regular season, battling Sergei Bilostenniy in a memorable three-round war. Ivanov once again failed to earn the judges’ nod, and that marked his sole shot at putting points on the board.

    Blagoy Ivanov
    Image: PFL MMA

    Ivanov was scheduled to next face Oleg Popov in June but was pulled on late notice. That cancellation now has some aded context following the announcement of an indiscretion in the drug test department.

    Ivanov Slapped With Lengthy Suspension After Failing Drug Test

    On Wednesday, USADA officials announced that Ivanov tested positive for a substance that violated the PFL’s anti-doping policy during an out-of-competition test on March 28, 2024.

    As a result of the drug test failure, the former UFC heavyweight-turned-PFL newcomer has been handed a 22-month suspension, a reduced term due to his cooperation throughout the investigation.

    “Ivanov, 37, tested positive for an anabolic agent as the result of an out-of-competition sample collected on March 28, 2024,” a USADA statement read. “His urine sample was analyzed using a specialized test that differentiates between anabolic androgenic steroids naturally produced by the body and prohibited anabolic agents of external origin.

    “Ivanov received a reduction to the default period of ineligibility for his full and complete cooperation. Ivanov’s 22-month period of ineligibility began on March 28, 2024, the date his positive sample was collected.”

    It remains to be seen whether Ivanov will remain a part of the PFL roster following confirmation of his failed drugs test and subsequent suspension.

    What is certain, however, is that the Bulgarian won’t be a part of the 2025 heavyweight season or any other events until January 2026 at the earliest.

  • Nate Maness Signs With New Promotion Following Public Complaints Over Shock UFC Exit

    After his well-supported push for a UFC re-signing fell on deaf ears, Nate Maness has his next career step confirmed.

    Maness competed seven times inside the Octagon after signing in 2020, going 5-2 and recording three finishes in the process. His only defeats came at the hands of the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov at 135 pounds and ranked flyweight Tagir Ulanbekov.

    Following those back-to-back losses, “Mayhem” bounced back with a first-round knockout of Mateus Mendonça last October and a decision win over Jimmy Flick this past June. But while those results built momentum for the 33-year-old, his contract was not renewed.

    That decision drew plenty of backlash across the mixed martial arts community, especially when Maness revealed he was told by UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard that he was not exciting enough to remain on the 125-pound roster.

    Maness Becomes Latest Ex-UFC Fighter To Join BKFC

    Despite his bemusement and disappointment regarding his forced departure from the UFC being widely shared by fans and analysts, Maness will need to continue his career in combat sports elsewhere.

    And more than just exiting MMA’s leading promotion, “Mayhem’s” next step sees him depart the sport as a whole for the time being.

    This week, it was confirmed that Maness is BKFC bound, having signed a multi-fight deal with the top bare-knuckle boxing organization, which is part-owned by UFC star Conor McGregor and boasts the likes of Mike Perry under its banner.

    “News is out. We’re @bareknucklefc bound,” Maness wrote on X.

    It remains to be seen when Maness will make his debut in the BKFC ring. But when he does, the 33-year-old will look to prove that the UFC made the wrong decision by not offering him a new deal.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Doesn’t Regret Social Media Post That Angered Dana White: ‘This Is Who I Am!’

    Merab Dvalishvili Doesn’t Regret Social Media Post That Angered Dana White: ‘This Is Who I Am!’

    Should top bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili sustain more cuts in the lead-up to major UFC fights, Dana White can expect them to be broadcast across social media.

    Dvalishvili is currently gearing up for about as big an assignment possible, with the Georgian scheduled to challenge for Sean O’Malley’s title in the main event of Noche UFC at the Sphere next weekend.

    But a few weeks out, concern arose when the challenger displayed a worrisome cut sustained to his face during a training session on social media.

    While Dvalishvili and his team eventually clarified that the blemish was by no means a threat to his monumental headliner going ahead on September 14, that didn’t stop “The Machine” catching the wrath of his boss.

    “The whole world knows about Merab’s cut. He posted it. Our guys are so dumb, it’s next-level unbelievable,” White said during a DWCS press conference. “All the stuff I talk about boxing, what I will give boxing, is when something happens in a camp, man, let me tell you what, it does not leak. Our guys can’t f*cking wait to throw it up on social media.

    “It’s a small cut. It’s no big deal. But obviously, it needed to be posted,” White continued. “Why the f*ck would you want him to know that? It is next-level stupid. Some of these guys are so stupid it’s mind-boggling. It’s unbelievable.”

    Despite that, though, Dvalishvili has no regrets.

    Dvalishvili On UFC Backlash For Cut Post: ‘It Wasn’t A Big Deal’

    During a recent interview with Mike Bohn for MMA Junkie, Dvalishvili addressed his post revealing the cut suffered in training and the subsequent reaction from White.

    While he noted that upsetting the promotion and its higher-ups is by no means a desire of his, the Georgian contender did suggest that such actions are simply part of who he is as a fighter.

    “I never regret what I did, you know? I post this because I post everything on my social media. It wasn’t a big deal because I had more than three weeks after I got cut,” Dvalishvili said. “This cut (had) no effect on my training, my sparring. As you see, I healed up and everything is good.

    “Yeah, when I see Dana was upset, of course, like, I don’t want to upset Dana White and the UFC. But I was very calm and relaxed because it wasn’t a big deal,” Dvalishvili continued. “I don’t regret nothing. This is who I am. This is what I do. This is my life. I am a fighter.”

    Fortunately, Dvalishvili’s confidence regarding the cut’s healing time proved not to be misplaced, with the Georgian quickly being able to resume normal training as the lead-up to his first title challenge nears its conclusion.

  • Bellator Champions Series London Loses Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards On Late Notice, New Main Event Confirmed

    Bellator Champions Series London Loses Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards On Late Notice, New Main Event Confirmed

    The return of the Bellator brand to England’s capital has taken a major blow less than two weeks out.

    After the Professional Fighters League (PFL) acquired Bellator MMA and announced the Bellator Champions Series, founder Donn Davis outlined plans for two titles to be on the line at each of the eight events.

    While that promise came through for event one in Belfast, the subsequent cards in Paris and Dublin saw just one piece of gold at stake. And although that trend continues in San Diego this week, London has now lost its one and only championship clash.

    Following a lightweight title showdown between Usman Nurmagomedov and Alexandr Shabliy on US soil this coming Saturday, the Bellator Champions Series will cross the pond to stage its fifth event of the year inside London’s OVO Arena Wembley.

    But just days out, fans planning to attend have received some disastrous news…

    Eblen vs. Edwards Postponed, McCourt Headlines Championshipless Champions Series Card

    Topping the lineup on Sept. 14 was scheduled to be middleweight kingpin Johnny Eblen and England’s own Fabian Edwards, with the latter slated to challenge for “The Human Cheat Code’s” title for the second time in as many years.

    On Tuesday, however, a post on the Bellator MMA social media accounts announced that the pair’s main event has been scrapped from the card and will be rescheduled for a later date. The reason for the cancellation is unclear as of this writing.

    With insufficient time to book a replacement bout with similar stakes and name value, the original women’s featherweight co-main event between Leah McCourt and Sara Collins has been elevated to the headline spotlight.

    That news was met with frustration from plenty of UK fans, some of whom took to the comment sections on X and Instagram to enquire about possible refunds.

    Below the promoted main event matchup, notable UK names like former PFL Europe standout Simeon Powell, ex-UFC contender Marc Diakiese, and highly touted American Archie Colgan are all set to be in action.

  • Brandon Moreno Set To Return In UFC Fight Night Edmonton Main Event On Nov. 2

    Former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno will bring his brief layoff to an end in the “Great White North” later this year.

    The changes keep on coming for the promotion’s return to Edmonton in Canada on November 2. When the card was originally announced, a flyweight showdown between Rose Namajunas and Erin Blanchfield was set as the main event, with heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Alexandr Romanov co-headlining.

    But after the latter of those bouts was split in two to create fresh matchups, the UFC Fight Night in Alberta now has a new headline pairing.

    UFC CEO Dana White revealed in a social media video this week that Mexico’s Moreno (21-8-2) will make his return in the main event for a rearranged clash against rising contender Amir Albazi (17-1).

    Moreno Looks To End Losing Skid, Albazi’s Perfect UFC Record

    When he makes the walk this November, Moreno will be looking to break his first losing skid since 2018.

    “The Assassin Baby” enjoyed a strong start to 2023, regaining the flyweight gold from longtime rival Deiveson Figueiredo six months on from an interim title win over Kai Kara-France. But as was the case with his first reign, Moreno fell short in his attempt at recording a successful defense, with Alexandre Pantoja emerging victorious from their Fight of the Year war at UFC 290.

    The Mexican return this past February for an appearance on home soil, where he was scheduled to do battle with Albazi. But after an injury forced the Iraqi out, Moreno fell on the wrong side of a narrow split decision against replacement opponent Brandon Royval.

    While he announced plans to take an extended period away from the cage to recharge, Moreno will be back in action just nine months later, looking for his matchup with Albazi to make it to the cage at the second time of trying.

    For “The Prince,” the Nov. 2 headliner marks the opportunity for him to stake his claim for a first shot at title glory on MMA’s biggest stage. The former Brave CF standout has gone 5-0 in the Octagon thus far, most recently outpointing Kara-France in a tight five-round main event at the Apex in June 2023.

    With this addition, the fights currently expected to take place at UFC Fight Night Edmonton on Nov. 2 are as follows:

    • Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi (flyweight main event)
    • Erin Blanchfield vs. Rose Namajunas (women’s flyweight co-main event)
    • Derrick Lewis vs. Jhonata Diniz (heavyweight)
    • Pedro Munhoz vs. Aiemann Zahabi (bantamweight)
    • Ariane da Silva vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (women’s flyweight)
    • Mike Malott vs. Trevin Giles (welterweight)
    • Marc-André Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (middleweight)
    • Serhiy Sidey vs. Garrett Armfield (bantamweight)
    • Alexandr Romanov vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (heavyweight)
    • Chad Anheliger vs. Cody Gibson (bantamweight)
    • Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Ivana Petrović (women’s flyweight)
    • Caio Machado vs. Brendson Ribeiro (light heavyweight)
    Amir Albazi
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 4 Highlights As 5 Prospects Secure Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 4 Highlights As 5 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 three episodes of season eight, 12 prospects moved a step closer to their title dreams on MMA’s biggest stage.

    And the fourth added another five talents to the UFC roster. That included Venezuela’s Yuneisy Duben, who delivered the highlight of the night in fight two by brutally knocking heavy favorite Shannon Clark out cold inside the very first round.

    There was just one other finish on the lineup, with Austin Bashi locking in a tight rear-naked choke for the submission win over Dorian Ramos. While unable to stop their opponents inside the distance, Quilan Salkilld, Djorden Santos, and Seok Hyun Ko were also granted contracts to mark a perfect night for the victors.

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

    Quillan Salkilld Def. Gauge Young Via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

    Yuneisy Duben Def. Shannon Clark Via KO (punch): R1, 1:13

    Austin Bashi Def. Dorian Ramos Via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) – R2, 3:15

    Djorden Santos Def. Will Currie Via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

    Seok Hyun Ko Def. Igor Cavalcanti Via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

  • Chael Sonnen Outlines What He Wants To See Next For Alexander Volkanovski: ‘Unless You Want To Be A Gatekeeper…’ 

    Chael Sonnen Outlines What He Wants To See Next For Alexander Volkanovski: ‘Unless You Want To Be A Gatekeeper…’ 

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen believes lightweight is a must if Alexander Volkanovski wants to continue fighting at the highest level.

    It’s uncertain what the future holds for Volkanovski, who has lost three of four fights since the start of 2023. While the first came in narrow fashion against Islam Makhachev, he’s since suffered brutal knockouts at the hands of the Dagestani lightweight king and Ilia Topuria.

    The Australian hasn’t been in action since being unseated from the featherweight throne by Topuria this past February, but it appears “Alexander the Great” is ready to bring his layoff to a close.

    The questions is: featherweight or lightweight?

    While Volkanovski has set his sights on regaining the strap at 145 pounds, he’s also pondered taking a fun matchup at 155 pounds while “El Matador” and Max Holloway handle business at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi next month.

    The Aussie’s most recent comments saw him express a willingness to wait for a showdown with the winner of the October 26 main event. Sonnen, however, thinks remaining at featherweight and insisting on a title bout could prove unwise…

    Sonnen Advises Volkanovski To Fight Oliveira, Avoid Another Title Fight Next

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen pondered the position that Volkanovski currently finds himself in.

    “The American Gangster” acknowledged talk of the Aussie having a third attempt at entering the 155-pound winner’s circle against Charles Oliveira, advising him to push for that over potential “gatekeeper” status in the featherweight division should he lose another title fight.

    “Volk still wants to come back. Where do we want to put him?” Sonnen asked. “If he came in and said, ‘I’m a title shot guy, that’s it,’ I believe they would say, ‘Okay.’ … But he doesn’t want to fight anyone specific…he just wants the title back. That is a different motivation. I won’t question it. I’m speaking for me, as a fan; I would rather a match, a specific match.

    “You wanna know what I want for Volk? … I want him at ’55. And I don’t want to talk about titles right now. I want to see an awesome match. I want to see Volk and Charles Oliveira at 155 pounds,” Sonnen continued. “I also think outcome-wise, I think you land in a higher spot whether you beat Charles or you don’t beat Charles. You go into a championship (fight) and you get beat, that will never return. That hope and dream is gone forever, forever. … It’s to the point where unless you want to be a gatekeeper of some regard, here are your walking papers. It would be that severe in a title fight. That would not be the case at 155 versus Charles.”

    Whether or not Volkanovski heeds Sonnen’s advice remains to be seen.

    But regardless, it’s clear that the Australian standout hasn’t lost his fire and motivation to have his hand raised inside the Octagon once again.

  • Kayla Harrison On How Julianna Peña Reached The Top In UFC: ‘Pretty, Tough As Nails, & Got A Big Mouth’

    Kayla Harrison On How Julianna Peña Reached The Top In UFC: ‘Pretty, Tough As Nails, & Got A Big Mouth’

    UFC women’s bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison doesn’t believe Julianna Peña’s rise has been down to fighting ability.

    Both women are in pursuit of the 135-pound belt, and it’ll be Peña who first gets a crack at two-time status before the ex-PFL champion gets the chance to realize her title ambitions on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen,” who hasn’t competed since losing the gold to Amanda Nunes in their immediate 2022 rematch, is set to challenge newly crowned bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington in the co-main event of UFC 307 early next month.

    Also in action on the pay-per-view lineup in Salt Lake City will be Harrison, who is tasked with following her successful UFC debut opposite Holly Holm with a triumph over the #2-ranked Ketlen Vieira.

    The decision to grant the ex-titleholder a shot in her comeback fight over Harrison caused debate in the MMA community. And when it comes to the position Peña finds herself in, Harrison thinks the reasons are unrelated to talent.

    Harrison Theorizes On ‘Annoying’ Peña’s Position

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, Harrison touched on her growing and evidently bitter feud with Peña, which peaked when the former UFC champ accused the two-time Olympic gold medalist of PED use.

    “She’s annoying,” Harrison said. “I mean, she’s just low class. To me — I don’t know. I think it’s pathetic and it’s low class. She’s just looking for a built-in excuse for when I whoop her ass.”

    Harrison then addressed to what extent she believes Peña’s often brash and vocal nature has paved the way for her success on MMA’s biggest stage, her tenure on which began with victory on The Ultimate Fighter way back in 2013.

    “No,” Harrison responded when asked if Peña would be in her current position without utilizing trash talk. “I think Juliana’s pretty, I think she’s tough as nails, and I think she’s got a big mouth. Sometimes that’s all you need to get to a certain point.

    “But eventually, you run into a bigger, badder dog than you who might have a bigger mouth than you,” Harrison warned. “So keep f*cking running it.”

    Before the pair get the chance to settle their beef inside the Octagon, both will have to emerge victorious from UFC 307 on October 5. In doing so, Peña will look to answer Harrison’s claim by letting her fighting do the talking once the cage door closes behind her and Pennington.

  • Alex Pereira Reiterates Plan For Middleweight Return Post-UFC 307, Magomed Ankalaev Reacts With Anger

    Alex Pereira Reiterates Plan For Middleweight Return Post-UFC 307, Magomed Ankalaev Reacts With Anger

    It would appear that UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira’s middleweight tease last month was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

    Pereira’s first taste of title success on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage came at 185 pounds, where he unseated Israel Adesanya in late 2022. Having fallen short in his first defense, “Poatan” bid farewell to the division and ventured up to 205 pounds.

    Since then, the Brazilian has tasted nothing but success, capturing the light heavyweight gold in his sophomore outing in the division last year and recording two successful defenses at the expense of Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka this year.

    Pereira’s next task will be dispatching the third challenger to his current reign, with the former Glory Kickboxing champion set to headline UFC 307 in Salt Lake City against Khalil Rountree early next month.

    But defeating “The War Horse” isn’t the only thing on Pereira’s mind.

    Prior to his next matchup being announced, “Poatan” teased a surprise return to middleweight, calling out champ Dricus Du Plessis in the immediate aftermath of his victory over Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia in August.

    Despite having business to attend to at light heavyweight for the time being, Pereira recently took to social media to reiterate that he has one eye on the South African, whom he plans on pursuing regardless of the result inside Delta Center on October 5.

    “I’m focused on my next fight and I’m going prepared but you never know what can happen, so regardless of the result I want to go down one more time to the middleweight and go for the belt,” Pereira wrote. “Hey Dricus, bring your will to fight me so you can prove that you are better than me, with your public statement it is easy to make this happen, Chama 🔥”

    Ankalaev Slams Pereira In Response To Fresh MW Ambitions: ‘You Are Weak!’

    One man who was quick to take aim at Pereira for his callout of Du Plessis last month was Magomed Ankalaev, the current #2-ranked light heavyweight contender.

    The Dagestani has been calling for his shot ever since the champ’s quick knockout of Hill at UFC 300. But after being passed up in favor of “BJP” this past July and the lower-ranked Rountree this fall, many have questioned the promotion’s apparent reluctance to grant Ankalaev a shot.

    And although it appears that a victory over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi late next month would make his claim undeniable, Pereira’s newfound ambitions of a second middleweight reign could present yet another hurdle.

    That fact has unsurprisingly frustrated Ankalaev, who took to X shortly after Pereira’s post to brand him “weak” for continuing to avoid him.

    “You are so weak @AlexPereiraUFC you only pick on the guys who are in lower division than you and you think you can beat them people are not stupid there is a reason why you are fighting Khalil and not me,” Ankalaev wrote.

    For now, both Pereira and Ankalaev have opponents to deal with in October. Should the latter emerge victorious, calls for him to be placed opposite “Poatan” next time out will no doubt only increase.

  • Ranked Bantamweight Jonathan Martinez Set To Return At MSG-Held UFC 309

    The lineup for the UFC’s return to Madison Square Garden is beginning to come together, and it now includes a top 15 bantamweight in Jonathan Martinez.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will soon be back in New York City for its usual November event at MSG. As was the plan for last year’s card, a heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and returning legend Stipe Miocic is expected to serve as the UFC 309 main event.

    Below the headliners, fans will no doubt be expecting a number of exciting matchups for the high-profile event. And when it comes to the chances of delivering fireworks, they would appear to be high for the recently confirmed bantamweight bout between Martinez (19-5) and Marcus McGhee (9-1).

    The fight was announced this week by the pair’s management team, Iridium Sports Agency.

    Martinez Targets Bounce-Back Win After Disappointing Defeat To Aldo

    When he returns on November 16, Martinez will be searching for a quick rebound performance following a setback on Brazilian soil this past May.

    Martinez, who currently occupies the #13 spot at 135 pounds, was chosen to welcome the legendary José Aldo back from retirement at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro. Having risen the ladder with six straight wins and recently defeated the highly touted Adrian Yañez, “The Dragon” was targeting the biggest victory of his career to date at the expense of the former featherweight kingpin.

    But the 30-year-old ultimately fell short, putting on a gun-shy display that paved the way for Aldo to secure a comfortable unanimous decision victory in his comeback fight and a return to the bantamweight division’s top 10.

    If he’s to avoid the first losing skid of his professional career, Martinez must now defend his ranking opposite McGhee. “The Maniac” has made a splash in his short Octagon career thus far, going 3-0 since his signing in 2023. The former LFA standout is yet to reach the scorecards in the UFC, finishing Journey Newson and Gaston Bolaños by way of knockout and JP Buys via submission.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 309 on Nov. 16 are as follows:

    • Nikita Krylov vs. Azamat Murzakanov (light heavyweight)
    • Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders (middleweight)
    • Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee (bantamweight)
    • Karine Silva vs. Viviane Araújo (women’s flyweight)
    • Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura (women’s flyweight)
    Araújo
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • Jéssica Andrade Files Lawsuit Accusing Former Coach Of Embezzlement: ‘He Said I Was Shopping Too Much On Amazon…’

    Jéssica Andrade Files Lawsuit Accusing Former Coach Of Embezzlement: ‘He Said I Was Shopping Too Much On Amazon…’

    Former UFC women’s strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade has sued her ex-coach and manager Gilliard Parana for allegedly embezzling $2 million.

    Andrade is set for her next assignment inside the Octagon at this weekend’s UFC Fight Night, where she will feature in a flyweight co-headliner opposite her fellow countrywoman Natália Silva.

    But while she gears up for her pursuit of a third straight win off the back of triumphs over Mackenzie Dern and Marina Rodriguez, it appears that Andrade also has a battle brewing away from the steel surroundings of the cage.

    “Bate Estaca” currently trains alongside the likes of Karol Rosa and Denise Gomes under the guidance of Matheus Naccache, who has been at the helm for the Brazilian veteran’s last two fights.

    Beforehand, Andrade had a longtime coach in Parana of Parana Vale Tudo. The pair’s split hasn’t come on good terms, with some serious accusations being leveled his way…

    Andrade Sues Former Coach, Parana Responds

    Speaking to MMA Fighting, Andrade detailed her allegations against Parana, who became the Brazilian fighter’s coach and manager when she was 21 years old.

    “Bate Estaca” was coached by Parana for 12 years, during which enough trust accumulated for her to agree for him to handle her finances. Andrade claims she had no access to her accounts, and when she began to be short on money, she was told by Parana that excessive shopping was to blame.

    Having since taken a closer look and identified suspicious money transfers, Andrade has accused the former trainer of embezzlement.

    “We have a lawsuit going about TransferWise and the money that was transferred to other people I’ve never seen in my life,” Andrade said. “That happened when he was taking care of my finances, and I had no access to anything. At one point he said, ‘Jessica, look, let me handle this for you, you don’t have to worry about any of this.’ And as always, I trusted him. He removed my access to the account. He said, ‘You don’t need to look at your accounts, you’ll have a monthly salary.’ I was making good money in the beginning, but in the end I don’t know how [that money ran out].

    “He said I was shopping too much on Amazon, but with the investigation and all that, [we saw that] I made $2 million and spent $10,000 on Amazon. Where did the rest of the money go? It makes no sense, and it’s being investigated now, and we’ll find out where every penny went,” Andrade continued. “I’ll just wait for now. I’m preparing for this fight [on Saturday], and as soon as it’s over, I’ll look at this lawsuit again and keep it moving. The lawsuit is moving in the United States and he’s in Brazil, so I don’t know how it’s going to work. He was quite smart, he left before things happened.”

    Following his split with Andrade, Parana announced his retirement from MMA coaching and management and returned to Brazil.

    Parana denied any wrongdoing in a statement to MMA Fighting, insisting that Andrade’s financial situation is entirely down to her expenses. He also dismissed any notion that he hid the true nature of the fighter’s accounts from her.

    “Anyone who has a brain and knows how to do math will see that she really doesn’t spend her money on just a few purchases on Amazon,” Parana said. “She has a lot of expenses, and there are so many that she even gets lost in the calculations. Jéssica is not incapable. Jéssica is not a 15-year-old girl. And Jéssica is not illiterate. Jéssica was never forbidden from going to the bank, from calling the bank and from finding out how her accounts were.

    “Jéssica always had full access to her things and was always intelligent enough to know everything that happened in her financial life. And I was never the guy who took care of her financial life. I was just her advisor when she needed it and asked for it. But all of this will be proven if there is a coherent investigation. May justice be served and may the wrongdoer pay, because lying to the authorities and lying to have a trial go your favor is also a crime. Let’s wait and see what happens.”

    It would appear that this story is far from its conclusion.

    For now, however, Andrade will need to have her focus elsewhere if she’s to keep her winning form inside the Octagon alive at the expense of the fast-charging Silva.

  • Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov’s Return Set For UFC 308 In Abu Dhabi

    The surging Sharabutdin Magomedov has his next assignment in the calendar, and it comes on a major card.

    Unbeaten in three UFC fights to date, Magomedov (14-0) has only grown his prominence since arriving on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in October 2023. After a debut win over Bruno Silva, the Dagestani reeled off victories over Antonio Trócoli and Michał Oleksiejczuk this past summer.

    And Magomedov’s work for 2024 is not complete yet. After emerging victorious in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi thus far into his Octagon tenure, “Bullet” is once again set to make the walk in the Middle East.

    The promotion announced this week that Magomedov will share the cage with Armen Petrosyan (9-3) as part of the stacked UFC 308 lineup in Abu Dhabi on October 26.

    Magomedov Targets Fourth Straight UFC Win At Petrosyan’s Expense

    When he makes the walk at Etihad Arena, Magomedov will look to keep his undefeated professional and UFC records intact.

    The latest man tasked with blemishing the Russian’s slate is Petrosyan, a Muay Thai specialist who has experienced a mixed bag of things in the UFC to date. After earning a contract with a brutal head kick knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, the Armenian announced his arrival by outpointing the highly regarded Gregory Rodrigues.

    “Superman” has since gone 2-2, losing out to current top-five contender Caio Borralho and most recently Rodolfo Vieira, with consecutive decision wins over AJ Dobson and Christian Leroy Duncan sandwiched between those setbacks.

    He’ll now look to secure what would go down as his biggest win to date at the expense of a name touted by some to quickly rise the ranks at 185 pounds.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 26 are as follows:

    • Ilia Topuria (C) vs. Max Holloway (featherweight championship main event)
    • Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev (middleweight co-main event)
    • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić (light heavyweight)
    • Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige (featherweight)
    • Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov (heavyweight)
    • Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos (welterweight)
    • Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan (middleweight)
    • Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (welterweight)
    • Mateusz Rębecki vs. Myktybek Orolbai (lightweight)
    • Marcos Rogério de Lima vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (heavyweight)
    • Abus Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira (middleweight)
    • Ibo Aslan vs. Raffael Cerqueira (light heavyweight)
    Shara Magomedov
    Image: @ufc/X

  • Jéssica Andrade Teases Inaugural Women’s BMF Matchup With Retired Legend: ‘I’ve Been Talking To Joanna…’

    While still in pursuit of another UFC title reign, former strawweight queen Jéssica Andrade is also targeting another type of championship…

    Andrade has been searching for a path back to gold ever since Zhang Weili rendered her rule over the 115-pound weight class short-lived back in 2019. That’s been the case at both strawweight and flyweight, with the Brazilian unsuccessfully challenging for the belt in the latter division against Valentina Shevchenko three years ago.

    “Bate Estaca” remains ranked highly in both weight classes and is coming off back-to-back triumphs at the weight she formerly held the title at. Next, however, she’s tasked with defending her #6 position on the 125-pound ladder.

    Andrade will fight a fellow countrywoman for the third straight time at this weekend’s UFC Fight Night, sharing the cage with fast-charging striking specialist Natália Silva inside the Apex.

    While a victory will no doubt see her remain focused on her goal of title crownings in multiple divisions, she’s also eyeing a piece of hardware that transcends divisional boundaries.

    Andrade Reiterates Call For Women’s BMF Title

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Andrade once again had her attention on the possibility of a symbolic BMF strap being introduced for the UFC’s women’s roster.

    After Jorge Masvidal claimed it in a highly anticipated showdown with Nate Diaz five years ago, the BMF title has since been in the hands of Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway, both of whom claimed it by way of violent knockouts.

    Talk of the women getting in on the BMF action has began to pick up this year, and Andrade even believes it could be enough to tempt a UFC Hall of Famer out of retirement.

    “I’ve been talking to Joanna (Jędrzejczyk) and she said she’d come back. If it’s for this belt, she would come back,” Andrade said. “I think that would be a good fight. Joanna, or maybe Angela Hill, who never walks away from a fight and is always there fighting everyone. Or Valentina. Any of those girls would be great, but I think it would be special if it’s Joanna. It would be better.”

    Joanna Jędrzejczyk, a former UFC strawweight champion, called time on her career following a second defeat at the hands of Zhang at the Singapore-held UFC 275 in 2022. While the 37-year-old played her part in one of the greatest-ever fights first time around, “Magnum” recorded a more definitive victory in the rematch, flooring the Polish legend with a spinning backfist.

    Jędrzejczyk has since been honored with an induction into the UFC Hall of Fame, entering the Modern Wing as part of the Class of 2024. But if Andrade is to be believed, a newly created BMF belt could provide enough of a draw for the Pole to reconsider hanging up her gloves.

    Before continuing her push for that belt to be introduced, however, Andrade must handle business this weekend when she has her second Octagon assignment of 2024 thus far.

  • Gilbert Burns Makes Retirement Admission Ahead Of UFC Return: ‘I’m Getting Freaking Old’

    Gilbert Burns Makes Retirement Admission Ahead Of UFC Return: ‘I’m Getting Freaking Old’

    It’s often said that mixed martial arts is a young athlete’s game, and UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns is starting to feel just that.

    At the age of 38 and 22 fights deep into his Octagon tenure, Burns remains highly ranked at #6. And the one-time title challenger isn’t done yet, looking to bounce back from a two-fight skid and revive his hopes of a late-career championship opportunity.

    Having been the victim of a late comeback from Jack Della Maddalena last time out, a result that followed an injury-affected defeat opposite now-champ Belal Muhammad, “Durinho” has been left in desperate need of a rebound.

    And the Brazilian has the chance to achieve that this weekend when he returns to main event a UFC Fight Night at the Apex opposite highly touted grappling specialist Sean Brady.

    As he gears up to share the cage with the American on Saturday night, Burns is under no illusions about which stage of his career the matchup is coming at…

    Burns On Retirement: ‘I Don’t Know How Much Longer…’

    During a recent interview with Grind City Media, Burns looked ahead to his latest assignment on MMA’s biggest stage, which he’s appeared on consistently ever since his debut as an undefeated fighter back in 2014.

    “Durinho” acknowledged that he’s certainly deep into the back end of his active career, the days of which are numbered. But he insisted that sufficient gas remains in the tank, something he plans to prove across the “handful of fights” he has left.

    “I’m getting freaking old,” Burns said. “10 years in the UFC has been very good, but I don’t know how much longer. (I’ve) still got a couple fights left in me, so I’m not here for a long time. I still think I have a couple of good fights left, (but) not a lot. Not two hands full of fights, but (we’ve) still got at least one handful of fights left.”

    One of those remaining bouts gets ticked off this weekend against the 16-1 Brady, who occupies the #8 spot on the welterweight ladder following a kimura submission of Kelvin Gastelum last December.

    With a victory over the Philadelphia native, Burns could earn himself another chance to return to the division’s top five, where perhaps a second shot at title glory won’t be out of reach for the Brazilian veteran.

  • Injured Kade Ruotolo Out Of ONE 168: Denver Title Fight Following Craig Jones Invitational Win

    Injured Kade Ruotolo Out Of ONE 168: Denver Title Fight Following Craig Jones Invitational Win

    ONE Championship’s upcoming return to the United States has taken a major hit.

    After fortifying its status among combat promotions in Asia, ONE began its pursuit of further prominence on US soil by debuting in the region last year. The successful ONE Fight Night 10 card took place at the 1stBankCenter in Broomfield, where Demetrious Johnson, Rodtang Jitmuangnon, and Stamp Fairtex were among the major winners.

    The organization is back in Colorado almost 16 months later, with Denver’s Ball Arena playing host to ONE’s sophomore US event. But when it comes to putting on a stacked lineup for the American audience, not everything has gone to plan this time around.

    ONE 168, set for this Friday, September 6, first lost its strawweight MMA title headliner between champion Xiong Jing Nan and atomweight queen Stamp after the latter tore her meniscus in May.

    And just as fight week gets underway, the upcoming card has taken another huge blow…

    Ruotolo Out Of Musumeci Super Fight, ‘Dealing With Injuries’ After CJI Triumph

    In the absence of Xiong vs. Stamp, another champ vs. champ showdown was cemented as the main event in Jonathan Haggerty vs. Superlek Kiatmoo9. Co-headlining, meanwhile, was slated to be a submission grappling title fight.

    Among those raising the prominence of submission grappling in ONE are Kade Ruotolo and Mikey Musumeci. The pair were scheduled to do battle for the former’s lightweight title at ONE 168, with “Darth Rigatoni” moving up three weight classes to take on the challenge.

    But after emerging $1 million richer from the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational last month, Ruotolo is carrying injuries and has been left unable to share the Circle with Musumeci in Denver.

    “Just going to start by saying this year has been a hectic one,” Ruotolo wrote on Facebook. “I am proud for accomplishing my goals this year of competing in gi, nogi and mma. I’m unfortunately dealing with injuries. I know a lot of people, including myself and Mikey were looking forward to the One match in Denver but unfortunately it’s off.

    “Im going to be recovering alongside my brother and hope to get back to the mats asap. Massive thank you to @onechampionships for being the best martial arts platform @yodchatri,” he concluded.

    It’s unclear whether Musumeci will remain on the lineup and receive a replacement opponent. But should he and Ruotolo be off the card, ONE 168 will have lost one of its biggest matchups and both of its big-name US athletes.

  • Sean O’Malley’s Coach On Henry Cejudo: ‘Thinks He’s God’s Gift…’ 

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach On Henry Cejudo: ‘Thinks He’s God’s Gift…’ 

    Suffice to say, UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley and his team haven’t sought the aid of Henry Cejudo ahead of their upcoming showdown with Merab Dvalishvili…

    O’Malley is set to make his second defense of the title later this month inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere in Las Vegas, where he’ll headline the second edition of Noche UFC six months on from his five-round beatdown of Marlon “Chito” Vera.

    Next looking to unseat “Sugar” is Dvalishvili, an in-form Georgian who has won 10 straight to earn his long-awaited first opportunity at UFC gold.

    “The Machine’s” path to the top has included memorable performances against the likes of Marlon Moraes and Petr Yan, but he perhaps saved his best for last when he squared off against a former simultaneous two-division champ at UFC 298 this past February. Dvalishvili collided with Cejudo on the main card in Anaheim, further stalling “Triple C’s” pursuit of regaining the belt with a comfortable victory on the scorecards.

    While that left Cejudo with 15 minutes experience of what the Georgian contender brings to the Octagon, O’Malley’s team doesn’t believe he could offer them any advice of value in the lead-up to September 14.

    O’Malley’s Coach Not Interested In Tips From Ex-Dvalishvili Opponent Cejudo

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoNd4U5WNok

    During a recent interview for Bodog Canada, coach Tim Welch looked ahead to his man’s second assignment of 2024, which is currently set to see O’Malley’s challenger make the walk as the favorite.

    But while Welch and co. no doubt have plenty of ways in mind to combat Dvalishvili’s perceived edge in certain realms, picking the brain of an ex-bantamweight and flyweight titleholder, Fight Ready coach, and former opponent of the Georgian’s is not one of them.

    “I don’t know if that (talking to Cejudo) would help,” Welch said. “Everyone I’ve talked to that tried to talk to Henry, even coaches, they have a tough time working with Henry because he thinks he’s god’s gift to this green Earth, and you can’t teach him nothing, and his way is the way. But clearly it’s not, because Merab ragdolled him. So that’s definitely not the guy we want tips from.”

    O’Malley will look to do a better job at stifling Dvalishvili’s offense than Cejudo did come fight night at Las Vegas’ Sphere in less than two weeks’ time.

    The pair’s bantamweight championship clash will top a lineup that also includes another title bout, with flyweight queen Alexa Grasso and all-time great Valentina Shevchenko set to complete their trilogy in the co-main event.

  • 2024 PFL 9 Playoffs Results & Highlights: Brendan Loughnane Outlasts Kai Kamaka III

    2024 PFL 9 Playoffs Results & Highlights: Brendan Loughnane Outlasts Kai Kamaka III

    The 2024 PFL Playoffs continued on Friday night with the last of three semifinal events in the postseason, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

    The Professional Fighters League was back this week, with the championship finals at featherweight and welterweight decided at The Anthem in Washington D.C.

    In the 145-pound main event, 2022 PFL kingpin Brendan Loughnane returned for the next step in his pursuit of a second title. To reach another final, the Brit got the better of ex-UFC fighter Kai Kamaka III across three rounds.

    He’ll now go on to face Timur Khizriev with $1 million prize money and this year’s featherweight championship on the line after the Russian outlasted Gabriel Braga in the other semifinal

    The welterweight bracket, meanwhile, saw Magomed Umalatov make good on his favorite status by defeating Neiman Gracie in the PFL 9 co-main event. That result ensured an always likely all-Russian final, with his compatriot Shamil Musaev beating another Russian in Murad Ramazanov in their immediate rematch.

    With that said, see below for the full results, followed by all the highlights!

    2024 PFL 9 Playoffs Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Featherweight Semifinal Main Event: Brendan Loughnane def. Kai Kamaka III via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
    • Welterweight Semifinal Co-Main Event: Magomed Umalatov def. Neiman Gracie via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Featherweight Semifinal: Timur Khizriev def. Gabriel Braga via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
    • Welterweight Semifinal: Shamil Musaev def. Murad Ramazanov via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Welterweight: Mukhamed Berkhamov def. Ray Cooper III via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
    • Featherweight: Enrique Barzola def. Tyler Diamond via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Featherweight Jose Perez def. Jesse Stirn via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Heavyweight: Maxwell Djantou Nana def. Kent Mafileo via KO (punch): R2, 4:50
    • Welterweight: Shido Boris Esperança def. Tyler Hill via TKO (punches): R1, 3:31

    Shido Boris Esperança Def. Tyler Hill

    Maxwell Djantou Nana Def. Kent Mafileo

    Jose Perez Def. Jesse Stirn

    Enrique Barzola Def. Tyler Diamond

    Mukhamed Berkhamov Def. Ray Cooper III

    Shamil Musaev Def. Murad Ramazanov

    Timur Khizriev Def. Gabriel Braga

    Magomed Umalatov Def. Neiman Gracie

    Brendan Loughnane Def. Kai Kamaka III