MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • UFC Rankings Report: Steve Erceg On Wrong Side Of Only Change After UFC Mexico

    UFC Rankings Report: Steve Erceg On Wrong Side Of Only Change After UFC Mexico

    In the aftermath of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, 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: The sole update to the UFC rankings this week comes at 125 pounds, where Steve Erceg has received a small downgrade following his third straight defeat. After falling by way of decision to Brandon Moreno in this past weekend’s main event, the Australian has fallen one place to #9. That’s pushed Asu Almabayev up to #8 despite the Kazakh getting stopped by Manel Kape early last month.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Fabian Edwards Out Of PFL World Tournament Days On From Brother Leon’s Latest UFC Setback

    Fabian Edwards Out Of PFL World Tournament Days On From Brother Leon’s Latest UFC Setback

    March has been a month to forget for the Edwards brothers.

    Fabian was in the corner of his brother Leon earlier this month as the former UFC welterweight champion looked to bounce back from his title defeat to Belal Muhammad last July. But inside The O2 in London, “Rocky” fell to the first two-fight losing skid of his career courtesy of Sean Brady’s grappling prowess.

    Leon’s preparation for that took place alongside training for Fabian’s own return under the PFL banner. After a second failed attempt at unseating Johnny Eblen last October, the Bellator veteran was set to be part of the inaugural PFL World Tournament.

    But while a first-round clash with Impa Kasanganay on April 18 would have provided a quick opportunity to boost morale in the team following Leon’s setback, that bout is no more.

    The promotion announced Sunday that Edwards has withdrawn from the middleweight tournament and has been replaced by the undefeated Jordan Newman.

    It remains to be seen when Fabian’s return will be rescheduled for, and what the PFL will have planned for him following a swift exit from the 2025 World Tournament.

  • UFC 314 Loses Main Card Fight Weeks Out From Miami PPV

    UFC 314 Loses Main Card Fight Weeks Out From Miami PPV

    The lineup for next month’s UFC 314 pay-per-view has taken a big hit.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will be back in Florida soon to host another April numbered event from inside Miami’s Kaseya Center.

    The March PPV in Las Vegas saw multiple bouts struck off the card on fight day due to illness. Now, the injury curse has reared its head again in 2025, with one of the most intriguing matchups booked for UFC 314 falling through.

    After establishing himself as one of the fastest-rising names on MMA’s biggest stage, Carlos Prates was gearing up for a showdown with longtime welterweight contender Geoff Neal.

    But during the broadcast for Saturday’s UFC Mexico event, it was announced that “Handz of Steel” has been forced to withdraw, taking both him and Prates off the April 12 lineup.

    It remains to be seen what comes next for Prates after this cancellation, but play-by-play commentator Jon Anik implied news regarding that is on the way.

  • Joe Pyfer Pulls Out Of UFC Mexico Hours Before The Event

    Joe Pyfer Pulls Out Of UFC Mexico Hours Before The Event

    Tonight’s UFC Fight Night card in Mexico City will go ahead without the middleweight matchup between Joe Pyfer and Kelvin Gastelum.

    This month’s UFC 313 pay-per-view served as a reminder that no bout is good to go until the cage door closes behind both athletes, with two fights falling through just hours before the card.

    And the curse has struck again, this time in Mexico.

    After both making weight and facing off on Friday, Joe Pyfer and Kelvin Gastelum will no longer throw down inside the Octagon after the former was struck down by illness.

    The promotion announced the news Saturday, marking a sizable blow to the March 29 lineup at Arena CDMX.

    It remains to be seen whether the UFC will reschedule the matchup for a later date. It was slated to serve as Gastelum’s return to middleweight after a failed stint back at 170 pounds, which most recently saw his win over Daniel Rodriguez marred by a weight miss.

    Pyfer, meanwhile, will have to wait to continue his momentum in the division. After falling short in his maiden main event against Jack Hermansson, “Bodybagz” bounced back emphatically by knocking out Marc-André Barriault last July.

  • Ilia Topuria Names The 2 Lightweights He’s Training For After Ditching Featherweight Reign

    Ilia Topuria is hard at work preparing for his fight since committing to a permanent move up to the lightweight division. And although an opponent is unconfirmed, the UFC’s top Spanish star is preparing for one of two men.

    Topuria has set his sights on achieving two-division glory after choosing to vacate the featherweight gold this year following just one defense. “La Leyenda” went 2-0 in 2024, dethroning Alexander Volkanovski before becoming the first to knock out Max Holloway.

    Due to an apparent struggle to make the 145-pound weight limit, the Spaniard will move forward as a permanent fixture at 155 pounds. And given his success below, Topuria has seemingly been expecting a showdown with Islam Makhachev straight away.

    During a recent media scrum recorded by Álvaro Colmenero, Topuria reiterated that desire while also naming the other possible foe he is preparing to face for his arrival into the division.

    Both, he says, are “scared.”

    “All my training is focused on Islam or Charles, because I don’t see any other opponents,” Ilia Topuria said (h/t @ChampRDS). “Neither of them seems to dare (to fight me)… These are the symptoms of fear, we all know that, but it’s normal. I’d be scared too.”

    With reports spreading that Makhachev and his team wish for Topuria to fight a contender before challenging his reign, “La Leyenda” may need to defeat someone like Oliveira this year.

    “Do Bronx,” though, has been making his own push to face Makhachev next time out. The Brazilian former champ has been seeking a rematch with the Dagestani ever since their 2022 clash in Abu Dhabi.

  • Muhammad Mokaev’s Next Fight To Come In Striking-Only Sport, Not MMA

    Former UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev will be leaving mixed martial arts for his next fight.

    Mokaev surprisingly found himself outside of the sport’s leading promotion shortly after his win at UFC 304 in Manchester last July. In a lackluster affair, the Dagestan-born Brit outpointed Manel Kape to move to 13-0 as a pro and 7-0 in the UFC.

    With a victory over “Starboy,” Mokaev was anticipating a potential title shot. But seemingly owing to his conduct behind the scenes, “The Punisher” was instead let go after fighting out his contract.

    The 24-year-old was quick to complain about the decision publicly, even offering to fight for free if it would allow him back into the UFC. His efforts evidently fell on deaf ears, however, and he’ll need to put the work in outside of the Octagon to stake his claim for a new deal.

    Thus far, that has included one victory back under the Brave CF banner last December. To kick off his campaign for 2025, however, Mokaev is venturing outside of his comfort zone.

    After much speculation, “The Punisher” confirmed this week that he’ll debut in Karate Combat at the organization’s upcoming event in Dubai on May 2.

    “May 2nd, Dubai. @KarateCombat. My first ever sport was karate, then I moved to wrestling,” Muhammad Mokaev wrote. “I just wanna compete and stay active. And building my striking experience. I always will have plan B, which is wrestling, but I need to work on plan A”

    The move will see Mokaev swap the cage for “the pit,” with Karate Combat fighting taking place in a square combat pit surrounded by 45-degree angled walls. Wrestling, submissions, and elbows are not permitted.

    Mokaev will mark the latest high-profile name to compete in the promotion, which has already staged fights featuring the likes of Luke Rockhold, James Vick, Benson Henderson, and Anthony Pettis.

  • Alex Pereira Brands Magomed Ankalaev’s Greasing Accusation An ‘Excuse’ For Failed Takedowns

    Alex Pereira has responded after being accused of cheating by the man who ended his light heavyweight reign at UFC 313 earlier this month.

    Pereira’s perfect start to life at 205 pounds came to an emphatic halt inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on March 8, where Magomed Ankalaev made good on his promise to dethrone “Poatan.”

    Despite earning a unanimous decision victory to capture the title, Ankalaev wasn’t entirely happy in the aftermath.

    While he ultimately didn’t need successful takedowns to get the win, the Russian was still bothered by Pereira’s ability to withstand the wrestling, which his team believes derived from some form of slippery substance rather than skill.

    During an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Pereira had his chance to respond to that claim. Suffice it to say, he rejected any suggestion that he sought an illegal advantage on fight night.

    “I absolutely didn’t put anything on my body. For me, that’s him trying to make an excuse to justify the fact that he trained a guy to take me down, but the guy got stuffed for 12 of his takedown attempts,” Alex Pereira said. “You didn’t do what you’re supposed to do, and now you’re trying to make excuses to justify that.”

    Pereira will hope to showcase similar strength in the takedown defense department should his expected rematch with Ankalaev come to fruition later this year. Second time around, though, he’ll look to pair his usual striking dominance with it.

  • Shara Magomedov’s Callout Gets Positive Response From Top 10 UFC Middleweight

    UFC middleweight prospect Shara Magomedov is expecting to be back in action soon, and he might have netted himself a high-ranked opponent.

    For the first time in his professional career, Magomedov is coming off a loss. The Dagestani suffered a setback at the UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia early last month, falling to defeat on the scorecards against welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page.

    The result stalled Magomedov’s quick surge to prominence on MMA’s biggest stage, which had included a memorable double spinning backfist knockout of Armen Petrosyan during a perfect 4-0 start to life in the UFC.

    “Bullet” will look to return to that kind of performance in his sophomore fight of 2025, which he recently revealed is expected for the summer. With the UFC set to stage an event in Abu Dhabi on July 26, that appears likely to feature Magomedov, who is yet to enter the Octagon outside of the Middle East.

    Among the desired options for his next fight is the #10-ranked Marvin Vettori, who has previously gone back and forth with Shara Magomedov regarding a potential fight.

    Though a defeat would usually rule out a clash with ranked opposition, Magomedov might be in luck. “The Italian Dream” took to social media on Wednesday to provide a positive response to the Russian’s callout.

    “Shara i accept the offer,” Vettori wrote.

    Vettori himself is licking his wounds after a defeat, having fallen short to Roman Dolidze in their headlining rematch at the Apex earlier this month.

  • Darren Till Says Khamzat Chimaev Will ‘Run Over’ Dricus Du Plessis

    One fighter familiar with both Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev expects the former to lose his grip on the UFC middleweight title should their expected fight come to fruition this year.

    Having successfully defended his belt against Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, the reign of Du Plessis could meet its tallest hurdle to date next time out.

    “Stillknocks” appears likely to face the challenge of Chimaev, an undefeated phenom who most recently steamrolled Robert Whittaker by way of a teeth-breaking face crank submission last October.

    And by the sounds of things, an ex-opponent of the champ’s and occasional training partner of Chimaev’s expects “Borz” to repeat that dominance in his first title fight on MMA’s biggest stage.

    During an interview with Genting Casino, Darren Till gave a one-sided prediction for Du Plessis’ potential clash with the Chechen contender.

    “I think Chimaev is gonna run over him. I think he’ll just completely run over. That’s what I think,” Till said. “I think he’ll win the title. I think he’s done what he’s done to do that, and I think Chimaev will get out, earn the money, and then I think he’ll live his life happily and peacefully then.”

    The top contender didn’t think too highly of Du Plessis’ second championship defense, which came by way of decision in a rematch versus Strickland in Australia last month.

    While “Borz” looks to unseat the South African from the middleweight throne, Till is focused on ventures away from the UFC after requesting his release months on from a submission setback to Du Plessis in late 2022.

  • Jon Jones Won’t Turn Down Tom Aspinall Fight, Insists Self-Proclaimed ‘Greatest Insider’ In MMA

    According to Chael Sonnen, UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones won’t hesitate to say yes when presented with an official offer to fight Tom Aspinall this year.

    Aspinall has pushed for unification showdown with Jones since winning interim gold in November 2023. The Brit made the most of the cancellation of Jones’ planned defense against Stipe Miocic by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich on short notice.

    17 months later, the heavyweight division continues to be ruled over by multiple titleholders, both of whom have faced other opponents instead of colliding in a title unifier. With Jones remaining steadfast on his desire to face Miocic, Aspinall passed the time by dominantly defending his interim strap against Curtis Blaydes last July.

    Since “Bones” had his hand raised four months later, talk of the pair unifying the titles has only increased, with the UFC also seemingly now firmly behind that plan.

    The one delay in getting it booked? According to the British champ, a familiar reluctance from Jon Jones.

    But in a video posted to his Instagram account, Sonnen dismissed any suggestion that his former rival will have rejected any offers from the UFC.

    “My permission as the greatest insider in this sport, Jon will not turn that fight down,” Sonnen said. “Jon has not been offered that fight. That’s the monster in the closet that people don’t seem to want to be true. There has not been a suggestion of a date or a venue, not yet, and a phone call to Jon where his opponent would be Tom for the undisputed title. If you believe that Jon Jones is refusing to do those things, you’re wrong. He’s not yet been presented with that offer.”

    Aspinall recently continued his taunting of Jones by holding up a duck toy while in attendance at this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in London, England.

  • UFC Mexico Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg Card

    UFC Mexico Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg Card

    UFC Mexico is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming event takes place Saturday, March 29, at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. The main card begins at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno. After consecutive defeats to Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval, “The Assassin Baby” got back on track with an impressive victory over Amir Albazi last November. To return to a winning streak and place his name back in the title conversation, the Mexican must now get the better of Steve Erceg, who gave champ Pantoja a run for his money before being knocked out by Kai Kara-France in 2024.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see lightweight veteran Drew Dober back in action. The fan favorite is tasked with stalling Manuel Torres’ hopes to bounce back from a first UFC loss to Ignacio Bahamondes last time out. Before that, “El Loco” recorded three straight first-round knockouts to establish himself as one of Mexico’s top prospects.

    And also making the walk on Saturday will be the likes of Kelvin Gastelum, Joe Pyfer, Raul Rosas Jr., Ronaldo Rodriguez, and Loopy Godinez.

    UFC Mexico: Moreno vs. Erceg Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Mexico (as of 3/25), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Brandon Moreno (-238) vs. Steve Erceg (+195)
    • Manuel Torres (-118) vs. Drew Dober (+102)
    • Kelvin Gastelum (+245) vs. Joe Pyfer (-305)
    • Raul Rosas Jr. (-410) vs. Vince Morales (+320)
    • David Martinez (-360) vs. Saimon Oliveira (+285)
    • Ronaldo Rodriguez (-180) vs. Kevin Borjas (+150)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Edgar Chairez (-270) vs. CJ Vergara (+220)
    • Jose Medina (+320) vs. Ateba Gautier (-410)
    • Christian Rodriguez (-155) vs. Melquizael Costa (+130)
    • Loopy Godinez (-238) vs. Julia Polastri (+195)
    • Rafa Garcia (-485) vs. Vinc Pichel (+370)
    • Jamall Emmers (-325) vs. Gabriel Miranda (+260)
    • MarQuel Mederos (-192) vs. Austin Hubbard (+160)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izwT-gvhDVk
  • Steve Erceg Drops Usual Calm Demeanor In Brutal Put-Down Of ‘Massive Knob’ Muhammad Mokaev

    Steve Erceg Drops Usual Calm Demeanor In Brutal Put-Down Of ‘Massive Knob’ Muhammad Mokaev

    It would seem to take a lot to rile up UFC flyweight Steve Erceg, but Muhammad Mokaev has evidently managed it.

    While Erceg isn’t one for trash talk and heated feuds, he did get on the wrong side of Mokaev after giving his take on the Dagestan-born Brit’s sudden UFC exit.

    After the promotion chose not to re-sign “The Punisher,” with Dana White citing issues away from the cage, Erceg claimed that Mokaev had displayed disrespectful behavior toward UFC staff.

    Mokaev was quick to reject that, and he reiterated that Erceg is a ‘liar’ while reacting to an image of the Australian standout following his fknockdown at the hands of Kai Kara-France at UFC 305 last August.

    And Mokaev’s mocking of Erceg seemingly spread into the private realm, with the current UFC contender revealing during an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned that “The Punisher” had messaged him.

    Because of that, “AstroBoy” had some choice words for his former UFC peer.

    “I didn’t like the way (Mokaev) interacted with people around him, and he’s messaged me since,” Erceg said. “I’m thinking more and more that he’s a massive knob. He seemed like a privileged diva. … It was surprising because you would think somebody that grew up the way he grew up would be a little bit more humble.

    “He just seemed like a douche. After I got knocked out, obviously, he messaged me and asked me if I woke up,” Erceg continued. “I’d love to slap him around.”

    For the time being, Erceg won’t have the chance to ‘slap Mokaev around’, with the pair competing under different promotional banners.

    The Aussie will instead look to emerge victorious from a battle with former two-time UFC champion Brandon Moreno at this weekend’s event in Mexico City.

  • Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber To Headline Apex UFC Fight Night On May 31

    Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber To Headline Apex UFC Fight Night On May 31

    A high-stakes women’s flyweight matchup will top the UFC Fight Night lineup on May 31.

    After returning to the win column with an impressive co-headlining victory over former two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas in Edmonton last November, Erin Blanchfield (13-2) will be back in the main event spotlight this year.

    14 months on from suffering her first UFC defeat at the hands of Manon Fiorot, the 25-year-old American will look to stake her claim for a shot at the winner of the Frenchwoman’s title challenge against Valentina Shevchenko on May 10.

    To do so, “Cold Blooded” must spoil the return of fellow countrywoman Maycee Barber (14-2). While a six-fight winning streak placed “The Future” in the championship conversation, health problems have kept her away from the cage since a victory over Katlyn Cerminara last March.

    Barber will now have the chance to regain momentum in her maiden main event on MMA’s biggest stage, which the promotion announced for a UFC Fight Night inside the Apex on social media this week.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night on May 31 are as follows:

    • Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber (women’s flyweight main event)
    • Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes (light heavyweight)
    • Allan Nascimento vs. Jafel Filho (flyweight)
    • Zachary Reese vs. Duško Todorović (middleweight)
  • Colby Covington: Leon Edwards Has ‘Made Too Much Money’, Should Retire After UFC London

    Colby Covington: Leon Edwards Has ‘Made Too Much Money’, Should Retire After UFC London

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington has reacted to his former opponent Leon Edwards’ second straight defeat.

    Edwards fell short in his first fight since losing the 170-pound title last July. Like against Belal Muhammad, “Rocky” had his grappling deficiencies exposed by Sean Brady in the UFC London main event.

    With that, the Jamaica-born Brit is now without a win since he recorded a successful title defense against Colby Covington in December 2023. And the last man to be beaten by Edwards is seemingly expecting that to remain the case.

    During his latest appearance on Submission Radio, “Chaos” claimed to have known what was ahead for the former champ in their fight.

    And believing that Edwards’ hunger has dissipated, he suggested retirement for the 33-year-old.

    “I thought that after I fought Leon, the motivation wasn’t there anymore,” Covington said. “I can tell in the fight, I broke my foot immediately and he did nothing. … I can tell after that fight he just wasn’t hungry anymore.

    “He’s made too much money. I made him too much money at that press conference,” Covington added. “So I just don’t think he’s motivated anymore and he should hang them up.”

  • Ilia Topuria Reveals New Nickname After Ditching ‘El Matador’ Moniker

    Ilia Topuria Reveals New Nickname After Ditching ‘El Matador’ Moniker

    Ilia Topuria has revealed his new “identity” as he begins a journey toward two-division UFC championship glory in the coming months.

    Topuria is set to embark on a new pursuit of gold this year after choosing to vacate the featherweight title after just one defense.

    Though a rematch with the man from whom he took the belt last February, Alexander Volkanovski, was expected after his knockout of Max Holloway to retain possession of the title, a desire to bid farewell to the difficult weight cut has seen Topuria commit to a permanent move up.

    The Spaniard is hoping to immediately challenge the lightweight reign of Islam Makhachev, but recent reports have claimed that the Dagestani is looking to have Topuria fight a contender to earn the shot first.

    Regardless of who stands opposite the European star next time out, they won’t be facing “El Matador.”

    After revealing plans to ditch his longtime moniker last week, Topuria has seemingly confirmed that he will now be entering the cage as “La Leyenda,” which translates to “The Legend.”

    That news was reported by Georgian reporter Giorgi Kokiashvili.

    With a new nickname in a new weight class, Ilia Topuria will soon be hoping to have a new piece of gold added to his trophy cabinet on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

  • Fighter Who Left UFC Despite Winning Streak Signs With PFL

    Fighter Who Left UFC Despite Winning Streak Signs With PFL

    Bantamweight fighter Taylor Lapilus has found a home in the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

    Lapilus, 32, has been the subject of two widely questioned departures from the UFC. After going 3-1 in his first stint, “Double Impact” went on a tear away from the Octagon that culminated in Ares FC championship success.

    But it’s been a case of déjà vu for the Frenchman, who was once again removed from the roster this past February despite winning three of four fights since returning to the sport’s leading promotion. It was later reported that Lapilus had chosen not to accept a contract renewal.

    Consecutive wins over Cody Stamann and Vince Morales were evidently not enough to boost his stock among the UFC higher-ups enough for a desirable offer, and Lapilus will now once again ply his trade elsewhere.

    Fans of the 32-year-old found out his next destination this week, with the PFL announcing it has signed Lapilus to a multi-fight deal.

    It remains to be seen whether Lapilus will compete on the PFL’s global stage or regional European expansion.

    “Double Impact” has signed too late to be part of the promotion’s new format in 2025, which gets underway later this week. After ditching its season and playoff format this year, the PFL will kick off a new era on Thursday with the launch of its World Tournament.

    The Grand Prix-style structure will see eight fighters in each weight class compete in a single elimination format, culminating in championship finals worth $500,000 for the winners.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Reveals Date He’s Been Offered For Alex Pereira Rematch

    Magomed Ankalaev Reveals Date He’s Been Offered For Alex Pereira Rematch

    It would seem the ball is firmly already rolling when it comes to a second dance between newly crowned UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira.

    Ankalaev made good on his promise to bring Pereira’s reign to an end at this month’s UFC 313 pay-per-view, which the pair headlined inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    While “Poatan’s” takedown defense held firm, he was unable to establish his usual dominance in the striking realm and fell to a unanimous decision defeat on the scorecards.

    Despite the manner of the loss, both the former 205-pound kingpin and his successor welcomed a rematch in the aftermath, and that received a green light from UFC CEO Dana White.

    Evidently, it hasn’t taken long for the promotion to begin organizing that.

    While responding on X to suggestions Pereira fought compromised in the March 8 main event, Magomed Ankalaev claimed to have been offered his first defense against Pereira for this coming August.

    “Joe Rogan mentioned his team said that Alex fought with a broken hand and Norovirus, when fighters step in the cage nobody is 100%. I was offered a rematch with him in August and I said yes, but if he is not ready I will fight whoever is next it doesn’t matter.”

    That timeline might come as a surprise to many, given the expectation that Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira would renew hostilities for the UFC’s annual October PPV event in Abu Dhabi.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Leon Edwards Ousted From P4P Top 15

    UFC Rankings Report: Leon Edwards Ousted From P4P Top 15

    In the aftermath of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night at The O2 in London, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: After his second straight defeat this past weekend, former welterweight champion Leon Edwards is no longer part of the pound-for-pound UFC rankings. He’s been replaced at #15 by lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan.

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

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: Mayra Bueno Silva’s stay in the flyweight UFC rankings was a short one. She’s been removed and replaced at #15 by JJ Aldrich.

    Women’s Bantamweight: At 135 pounds, Melissa Mullins has entered at #15, replacing Joselyne Edwards.

    Flyweight: After being removed last week, Kai Asakura has quickly returned to the 125-pound rankings. With his entry at #15 and Charles Johnson’s removal, Joshua Van is up one place to #14.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: At 155 pounds, BMF champ Max Holloway has suddenly moved above former opponent Dustin Poirier to #4. “The Diamond,” now at #5, is expected to retire following his next fight.

    Welterweight: The 170-pound division has a new top contender. As a result of his submission win over Edwards, Sean Brady has risen by four positions to #1. “Rocky” has only slipped two spots to #3, leaving him above Kamaru Usman (#4) and upcoming title challenger Jack Della Maddalena (#5)

    Middleweight: The 185-pound list has seen one change, with Roman Dolidze (#8) moving above Anthony Hernandez (#9).

    Light Heavyweight: Carlos Ulberg has been rewarded with a three-place surge to #3 in the light heavyweight division after defeating Jan Blachowicz in London. That’s pushed Aleksandar Rakic (#6) out of the top five and Blachowicz back two places to #5.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Fighters React To Cain Velasquez’s Prison Sentence For Attempted Murder

    Fighters React To Cain Velasquez’s Prison Sentence For Attempted Murder

    A host of professional MMA fighters reacted as former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was sentenced for a 2022 shooting.

    Velasquez spent eight months behind bars following an incident in February 2022. The MMA great was arrested and charged with attempted, premeditated murder after pursuing and shooting at a car that contained Harry Goularte, who’s accused of sexually molesting Velasquez’s four-year-old son at a daycare facility.

    The 42-year-old Salinas native’s arrest came after he opened fire and struck Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender, who was also in the vehicle at the time.

    After eventually being granted bail, Cain Velasquez finally learned his fate on Monday, March 24, when he was sentenced by Judge Arthur Bolcanegra at the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice in San Jose, California.

    While the prosecution was seeking 30 years to life, Velasquez was ultimately handed a five-year sentence, which will be shortened by time served of 1,283 days. With that, the UFC legend is expected to serve less than two years.

    Though many have shed a sigh of relief given the significant sentence sought by the prosecution, many fans and peers of Velasquez’s were quick to express their frustration with the former fighter spending further time behind bars.

  • Molly McCann Reflects On Career After UFC London Retirement: ‘Just A Kid Who Worked In Subway’ 

    Molly McCann Reflects On Career After UFC London Retirement: ‘Just A Kid Who Worked In Subway’ 

    While her final fights inside the UFC Octagon didn’t go her way, Molly McCann has been reflecting positively on her journey in mixed martial arts following the conclusion of her career.

    McCann called time on her stint as an active fighter inside The O2 in London this past weekend, where she returned to action in front of her home fans.

    Things didn’t go to plan for “Meatball,” who was quickly taken down and submitted in the first round by debuting Brazilian Alexia Thainara. In the aftermath, the Liverpudlian took to the mic for an emotional retirement announcement.

    During a backstage interview with TNT Sports, a tearful McCann expanded on her decision and looked back on how far she’s come.

    “This is the best of the best in the world, and it doesn’t matter what I’ve done in my past and where I’ve took this sport,” Molly McCann said. “You don’t live off your past and your past performances, you live off your current ones. I’m not good enough right now, and that is the top and the bottom of it.

    “I get to go and party after this and celebrate a f*cking great career, and I just get to be really thankful for everything that I’ve managed to do,” McCann continued. “You’ve got Olympic athletes who do boxing who haven’t done what I’ve managed to do and I’m just a kid who worked in Subway. I can really be proud of who I am and what I’ve done, I really can. Didn’t touch the world title here but got one in Cage Warriors though; still a world champion.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLE94OfekG8

    McCann will now open a new chapter in her life. While it remains to be seen what lies ahead for the former flyweight and strawweight contender, she has teased a potential transition into coaching.

  • Michael Chandler Snubs Tsarukyan, Topuria While Naming Contenders Most Deserving Of A Title Shot

    Michael Chandler Snubs Tsarukyan, Topuria While Naming Contenders Most Deserving Of A Title Shot

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler is backing two of his former opponents as the leading candidates for the next title shot at 155 pounds.

    The championship picture is somewhat unclear in the lightweight division after what unfolded at UFC 311. While Arman Tsarukyan entered the year at the front of the queue, a last-minute withdrawal cost him the opportunity. With that, it appears that the Russian-Armenian will need to once again defeat a fellow contender to re-earn the shot.

    Meanwhile, a few of his targets — namely Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje — have attempted to stake their claim for a shot at Islam Makhachev this summer.

    And that’s without even mentioning the arrival of Ilia Topuria, who is hoping for an immediate chance at achieving two-division glory after leaving behind his reign as featherweight kingpin.

    During a recent Q&A session on X, Michael Chandler was asked to give his take on the situation.

    The former Bellator champ omitted both Tsarukyan and Topuria from his answer when choosing the ‘most deserving’ of the next title shot, instead naming two stars who share three wins over “Iron” inside the Octagon.

    “So hard to say… gaethje or oliveira,” Michael Chandler wrote.

    After mounting a comeback to stop Chandler in their 2022 title fight, Oliveira once again got the better of the American in their rematch inside Madison Square Garden last November. In-between those results, Chandler fell short in a memorable Fight of the Year war with Gaethje.

    Despite being 2-4 in the UFC and coming off a second setback to “Do Bronx,” Chandler is also hoping to insert his name into the title debate soon enough.

    With a knockout victory over Paddy Pimblett next month at UFC 314, Chandler is looking to make himself available for a quick turnaround for a clash with Makhachev at International Fight Week in June.

  • Sean Brady Reveals What Leon Edwards Said After Ill-Advised Takedown Attempt At UFC London

    Sean Brady Reveals What Leon Edwards Said After Ill-Advised Takedown Attempt At UFC London

    It would seem that Leon Edwards was immediately aware of his major blunder during Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event in London.

    Edwards made the walk in front of his home fans this past weekend, hoping to bounce back from his title loss to rival Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in Manchester last July. To do so, he was tasked with getting past Sean Brady.

    The Philadelphian proved to be a hurdle too tall for “Rocky,” however, as the grappling specialist once again exposed holes in the Brit’s wrestling game en route to a fourth-round guillotine submission.

    While appearing on ESPN’s UFC Post Show in the aftermath of his victory, Brady reflected on one particular turning point in the fight. During the third frame, after finding striking success, Edwards left most baffled when he chose to change levels and attempt a takedown.

    Brady was quick to defend against the shot and reverse position — a danger Edwards was apparently quick to realize once his takedown failed.

    “Horrible idea,” Sean Brady said of Leon Edwards’ takedown attempt. “I was like, ‘Thank you!’ He said — I think he said, ‘Oh, f*ck!’ He said something. Like, he knew he f*cked up. I was very happy when he did that.”

    Having defeated a former champion and the #1-ranked contender at 170 pounds, Brady’s championship hopes got a sizable boost as a result of his trip across the pond.

    Edwards, meanwhile, now finds himself with a first stoppage defeat and the opening losing skid of his professional MMA career.

  • Charles Oliveira Pleads For UFC To Make Fight ‘Everyone Wants To See’

    Charles Oliveira Pleads For UFC To Make Fight ‘Everyone Wants To See’

    Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira knows what he wants next — and he thinks the MMA masses want it too.

    Oliveira placed his name back into the championship conversation last November by recording a second victory over Michael Chandler. With that result, the Brazilian entered the year with his sights set on the winner of Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan.

    That matchup, however, fell apart on late notice, with the reigning lightweight champ instead defeating Renato Moicano. And after Tsarukyan’s withdrawal, the status of next in line appears to be up in the air.

    With the Russian-Armenian seemingly having to re-earn his opportunity and Makhachev reportedly being less than keen to face Ilia Topuria before the Spaniard has beaten a contender, “Do Bronx” has looked to secure a long-awaited chance at redemption.

    In a video posted to his Instagram Story, Oliveira staked his claim. In a message to the UFC, the Brazilian fan favorite urged the promotion to book him opposite Makhachev for International Fight Week in June, claiming to have the community’s support for the plan.

    “The UFC has a lot of guys who talk a big game. I can talk because I’ve been here for almost 15 years,” Charles Oliveira said (translated by @ChampRDS. “I want to fight during International Fight Week, Makhachev too… UFC, let’s make this happen. This is the fight everyone wants to see.”

    Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev collided at UFC 280 in October 2022. After losing the lightweight gold on the scale prior to his victory over Justin Gaethje, “Do Bronx” hoped to regain the vacant belt at the Dagestani’s expense.

    That ultimately didn’t come to be, however, as Makhachev instead steamrolled through the veteran en route to a second-round submission. He’s since successfully defended the throne three times.

  • Top UFC Lightweight Mocks Paddy Pimblett’s Tearful Reaction To Molly McCann’s Retirement

    Top UFC Lightweight Mocks Paddy Pimblett’s Tearful Reaction To Molly McCann’s Retirement

    A usually laid back lightweight contender had a surprisingly hostile take on Paddy Pimblett’s reaction to Molly McCann’s defeat and subsequent retirement this weekend.

    While he wasn’t in action, Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in London proved to be an emotionally difficult night for Pimblett, who saw two of his teammates fall to defeat inside The O2.

    After Nathan Fletcher fell on the wrong side of a close decision in his second Octagon appearance opposite Caolan Loughran, it was the turn of Molly McCann. The Scouse strawweight has had her fair share of positive memories in England’s capital, but the March 22 bout didn’t go her way.

    “Meatball” was submitted inside the first round by late-notice replacement opponent Alexia Thainara, who needed just four and a half minutes to find the submission victory in her UFC debut. McCann went on to announce her retirement.

    Footage of a tearful Paddy Pimblett was captured cageside as he reacted to the conclusion of his longtime friend’s career in mixed martial arts. One prominent name in his division, however, evidently didn’t care for the moment.

    Mateusz Gamrot dished out a rare piece of trash talk on X, branding his 155-pound peer a “pussy” and vowing to make him cry again inside the cage down the line.

    “Pussy paddy will cry the same way after our fight.. we know it! @PaddyTheBaddy“

    For now, it will be Michael Chandler with the opportunity to dish out some punishment to “The Baddy.” The pair are set to co-headline next month’s UFC 314 pay-per-view in Miami, Florida.

    Gamrot, meanwhile, remains without a date in the calendar for his next fight. “Gamer” most recently suffered a split decision setback against Dan Hooker in Australia last September.

  • Latest UFC Fight Announcements Featuring Rose Namajunas, Paul Craig, And More

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

    With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, March 17, and Sunday, March 23, a number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources.

    For those matchups, check out the list below:

    But it wasn’t all positive, with three fights falling through or being adjusted: