MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • Ian Garry ‘Livid’ At UFC For Giving Jack Della Maddalena Next Title Shot Over Him

    Ian Garry ‘Livid’ At UFC For Giving Jack Della Maddalena Next Title Shot Over Him

    It’s safe to say that UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry isn’t pleased with the promotion’s choice of replacement for the injured Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    After an injury to champion Belal Muhammad stalled his plans to win gold late last year, Rakhmonov maintained his top contender status by getting the better of short-notice opponent Garry at UFC 310.

    But while “Nomad” was looking ahead to a rescheduled showdown with Muhammad, another injury — this time to the Kazakh star — has once again scuppered those plans.

    In Rakhmonov’s place at UFC 315 in Montreal on May 10 will be Jack Della Maddalena. The decision to pull the Australian from his original clash with Leon Edwards in London and grant him a title shot hasn’t sat well with one fellow contender.

    During a recent video uploaded to his Instagram account, Garry didn’t shy away from expressing his bemusement with the UFC’s call. The Irishman questioned why he wasn’t the promotion’s first thought, especially given his belief that Rakhmonov’s injury derived from damage sustained in their fight last December.

    “Why aren’t I fighting for the title? I had a chat with my agent. I rang him when he told me about this news and I was livid — still am to this day,” Ian Garry said. “I had a number one contender’s fight, where the guy (Rakhmonov) now has to get knee reconstruction and is out for a year.

    “I’m not fighting for a world title because I’m coming off a loss and they’re giving it to a guy who’s been injured for a year, and they think that’s more exciting. But they’re wrong,” Garry continued, taking credit for Rakhmonov’s injury. “The title fight was meant to be Shavkat Rakhmonov taking on Belal Muhammad, but Shavkat is out injured. I wonder how that happened? Now they’re pulling in a guy who hasn’t fought in a year…hasn’t been active. They’ve given it to Jack Della Maddalena. It’s okay. Don’t worry. I’ll get you all. You’re all mine.”

    Prior to losing his undefeated status at the hands of Rakhmonov, Ian Garry had risen the ranks with victories over Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Michael “Venom” Page.

  • Bo Nickal Gives Honest Review Of The Apex After UFC Mocked Criticism During Latest Fight Night

    Bo Nickal Gives Honest Review Of The Apex After UFC Mocked Criticism During Latest Fight Night

    The UFC attempted a victory lap of sorts after the latest event at the Apex delivered plenty of highlights, but it would seem the fighters themselves are still less than thrilled by the prospect of competing inside the low-capacity venue.

    The Apex in Las Vegas emerged as a savior during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the building designed as a temporary solution to combat travel restrictions. To the frustration of many fans and pundits, the venue is still being utilized for UFC Fight Nights four years on from the promotion’s return to arenas.

    The UFC and its higher-ups took pride in frequently reminding fans that they were the first sporting organization to resume action after the virus’ outbreak, but they’ve been widely criticized for being the last to return to pre-lockdown conditions.

    And recent comments from UFC executives made it clear that the Apex is not going anywhere, with the promotion favoring the financial benefits that derive from avoiding a full calendar on the road.

    The debate surrounding the Apex recently reared its head again during the broadcast of UFC Vegas 104. After a card branded lackluster on paper delivered a high number of finishes, the UFC’s social media team took the opportunity to mock critics of the Apex.

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, however, middleweight prospect Bo Nickal backed up what many have been saying regarding the Apex experience.

    “I fought twice in the Apex and I would say that the virality of the moment is like a fraction of what it would be with the crowd,” Nickal said. “I think of some big fights in the Apex, Francis-Stipe, Poirier-Hooker…imagine those fights with the crowd.

    “It doesn’t even feel close to the real arena and a real crowd,” Nickal continued. “It feels like you’re just going out there to spar. I think that it affects the competition.”

    The UFC’s next Apex card takes place on April 5, when entertaining featherweights Josh Emmett and Lerone Murphy will do battle in a bout many wish was taking place in front of a full crowd.

    Before that, the promotion is scheduled for returns to England and Mexico. The UFC has visited just two new countries since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, staging cards in Saudi Arabia and France.

  • Leon Edwards Backs Jack Della Maddalena To Dethrone Belal Muhammad At UFC 315

    Leon Edwards Backs Jack Della Maddalena To Dethrone Belal Muhammad At UFC 315

    Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards doesn’t expect the man who removed him from the division’s throne to occupy it for much longer.

    After losing his grip on the 170-pound title courtesy of Belal Muhammad last July, Edwards was expecting to return to action opposite Jack Della Maddalena in London this weekend.

    That changed last month, however, when the Australian contender was pulled from the UFC Fight Night main event to challenge Muhammad at UFC 315 on May 10 in Montreal. Edwards, meanwhile, will now battle Sean Brady on March 22.

    Ahead of his appearance at The O2, Edwards has been vocal in stating that a victory will earn him a quick shot at returning to the welterweight mountaintop.

    While he’d like nothing more than to exact revenge on Muhammad, he seemingly doesn’t foresee “Remember the Name” still being on the throne by the time he gets back to it.

    “If I had to put money on it, I’d probably favor JDM,” Leon Edwards said during an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned. “I feel like JDM, his boxing is what will probably shut him (Muhammad) down. And he’s a good anti-grappler, JDM. It’s easy to take him down, but his scrambles on the floor are good. I feel like Belal won’t be enough to hold him down for that long. So maybe JDM, if I had to put money on it.”

    Muhammad’s first title defense was expected to come against Shavkat Rakhmonov. But after an injury to the champion scrapped that last December, the Kazakh contender is now the one ruled out.

    The Palestinian-American’s clash with Della Maddalena will mark one of two title bouts on the UFC 315 card, with Valentina Shevchenko also putting her flyweight title on the line opposite France’s Manon Fiorot.

  • Paddy Pimblett: Arman Tsarukyan ‘Deserves’ Lightweight Title Shot Over Ilia Topuria

    Paddy Pimblett: Arman Tsarukyan ‘Deserves’ Lightweight Title Shot Over Ilia Topuria

    UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett doesn’t like the idea of Ilia Topuria being granted an immediate title shot at 155 pounds.

    Topuria has set his sights on achieving two-division glory after choosing to vacate the featherweight gold this year following just one defense. “El Matador” 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 figure in the lightweight division. And given his success below, Topuria has seemingly been expecting a showdown with Islam Makhachev straight away.

    During a recent interview with Jon Anik for ESPN MMA, Paddy Pimblett rejected that as a logical next fight for the champion. “The Baddy,” who has long had a rivalry with Topuria, insisted that current top contender Arman Tsarukyan is far more deserving of the opportunity.

    “I felt a bit bad for him (Tsarukyan) when Dana said, ‘No, he’s not next. He’s going to have to go back to the drawing board.’ I was like, wow, shots fired,” Pimblett said. “I think personally, Arman still deserves the next title shot. Islam’s already beat Charles (Oliveira), beat (Dustin) Poirier.

    “I think the only person right for him to fight is Arman,” Pimblett continued. “Arman deserves that title shot more than ‘Hand Sanitizer Boy’ (Topuria) does.”

    Tsarukyan entered the year with a title shot in the bank, but a last-second withdrawal from UFC 311 left the promotion bumping him down the pecking order.

    While the Russian-Armenian looks ahead to his chance to restore top contender status, Paddy Pimblett will soon have the chance to climb the ranks opposite former title challenger Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in Miami next month.

  • Robert Whittaker Responds To Roman Dolidze’s UFC Vegas 104 Callout

    Robert Whittaker Responds To Roman Dolidze’s UFC Vegas 104 Callout

    UFC middleweight contender Roman Dolidze outlined two desired options for his next fight, but it would it seem that he’s already down to one.

    Dolidze continued his charge up the 185-pound ladder in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night at the Apex, where he exacted his revenge on Marvin Vettori by way of a comfortable unanimous decision.

    Since defeats to the Italian in 2023 and Jack Hermansson last February left him on a losing skid, the Georgian has won three on the bounce. And with that, Dolidze believes he’s earned a shot at one of the division’s top names.

    “The Caucasian” pointed to former champions Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker as two “realistic” but high-ranked opponents for his next assignment. But during the latest episode of his MMArcade Podcast, the latter was quick to decline.

    “I’m trying to fight a top five guy, dude. Join the queue,” Robert Whittaker said.

    Like many fans and pundits, “The Reaper” also didn’t appear too enthralled by Saturday’s main event in his division at the Apex — perhaps compounding his lack of interest in a showdown with Dolidze.

    “I watched a round and a half and was like, ‘Dude, I have nothing to gain from this,’ and I went back to Monster Hunter Wilds,” Whittaker said. “Bro, it was just like the exact same as their first fight. They’re still at the same pub. They’re just like, ‘Ah, it’s you,’ and then they just started punching on again. It’s the exact same thing. I reckon they should run it back to break the trilogy, to get some proper closure on whatever reason they’re having a brawl.”

    Whittaker last competed in October 2024, suffering a crushing submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev that left him requiring dental surgery.

    The Australian had previously defeated Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov to push closer to a rematch with Dricus Du Plessis. He’s now welcomed a possible showdown with the champion’s most recent challenger, Sean Strickland, for this summer.

    Dolidze, meanwhile, will be eagerly awaiting an answer from Adesanya.

  • PFL Founder Rejects Speculation About Francis Ngannou’s Future: ‘Fake News!’

    PFL Founder Rejects Speculation About Francis Ngannou’s Future: ‘Fake News!’

    According to PFL founder and chairman Donn Davis, there’s no truth behind talk of Francis Ngannou approaching a potential termination clause in his contract.

    Ngannou has competed just once in the PFL since signing in May 2023 off the back of his highly publicized exit from the UFC. “The Predator” debuted by knocking out Renan Ferreira in quick time last October.

    Having previously fought Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in boxing, the Cameroonian appears likely to return to the ring for his next combat sports outing before adding to his MMA tally again.

    While his next appearance in the cage is expected to come under the PFL banner, journalist John Nash recently addressed a rumored termination clause that could see Ngannou leave the organization as early as this month during his Hey, Not The Face podcast.

    “If it’s true that his contract has a termination date and that termination date is the end of this month, they better get on that!” Nash said. “Because this is one of their major selling points, and if they’re looking for a big TV deal after UFC maybe leaves (ESPN), you’re gonna need Francis Ngannou to get that sale. That just shows you in some ways the message are communicating to the CEOs and in the corporate world, those are things that we as fans that know the sport would see through, but they don’t.”

    It didn’t take long for Davis to attempt to quash such speculation on social media, writing on X that talk of Francis Ngannou departing the PFL soon is nothing but “fake news.”

    “No truth, fake news. Francis has at least one more fight with @PFLMMA. Further Francis is long-term business partner as Chairman @PFLAfrica“

    It remains to be seen what lies in the immediate fighting future of Ngannou, but talk of a showdown with former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has been intensifying in recent weeks.

    And in terms of MMA opposition, ex-Bellator light heavyweight kingpin Vadim Nemkov has been widely pointed to as the PFL’s best option. The Russian has gone 2-0 since moving up in weight last year, most recently submitting Timothy Johnson in the first round at PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai.

  • Muhammad Mokaev Sees Only One Threat To Alexandre Pantoja’s UFC Reign

    Muhammad Mokaev Sees Only One Threat To Alexandre Pantoja’s UFC Reign

    Aside from himself, former UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev has one name in mind when it comes to fighters capable of dethroning Alexandre Pantoja.

    Pantoja has kept a firm grip on the gold since capturing it from Brandon Moreno in a brutal five-round battle during International Fight Week back in July 2023.

    “The Cannibal” has since successfully defended the belt on three occasions, pushing past the challenges of Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg by way of the scorecards and most recently submitting newcomer Kai Asakura at UFC 310 last December.

    With the undefeated Mokaev ousted from the UFC owing to apparent issues away from the cage, many have questioned if anyone on the current UFC flyweight roster has what it takes to beat Pantoja.

    According to Mokaev, the answer is no. But away from the division’s current crop of contenders and prospects, “The Punisher” does see a threat…

    “Right now I see only Kyoji Horiguchi making a problem for Pantoja,” Mokaev wrote on X. “The rest he will beat 2-3 times and more.”

    In another post, Mokaev did admit that Kai Kara-France has a “chance,” but noted that the Kiwi standout already fell short against the champ during a season of The Ultimate Fighter back in 2016.

    Kara-France is expected to challenge “The Cannibal” at UFC 316 in Newark this coming June.

    Kyoji Horiguchi, meanwhile, hasn’t competed in the UFC in close to a decade. He’s since achieved two-division championship glory under the Rizin banner, as well as collecting Bellator’s bantamweight title.

    The Japanese veteran most recently defended his Rizin flyweight belt against Nkazimulo Zulu last December, prior to which he opened the door to a possible UFC return and clash with Pantoja, his American Top Team stablemate.

  • Alex Pereira Accused Of Cheating At UFC 313 By Magomed Ankalaev’s Coach

    Alex Pereira Accused Of Cheating At UFC 313 By Magomed Ankalaev’s Coach

    Over a week on from Magomed Ankalaev’s victory over Alex Pereira, the newly crowned UFC light heavyweight champion’s coach has leveled an allegation against his man’s foe.

    Ankalaev got the better of Pereira in the main event of UFC 313 on March 8, ending the Brazilian’s reign on the 205-pound throne in the process.

    While “Poatan” had successfully pushed through three challenges, he fell at the hurdle that had long been tipped to be his tallest in the division given Ankalaev’s well-rounded arsenal and wrestling prowess.

    In the end, the Dagestani was actually unable to drag Pereira to the mat, with the kickboxing specialist showing a staunch takedown defense inside T-Mobile Arena.

    During a recent interview with Ushatayka, however, coach Sukhrab Magomedov suggested that the now-former light heavyweight kingpin’s ability to withstand Ankalaev’s grappling was not down to increasing skill, but a forbidden “substance.”

    “To be honest, the plan from the beginning was to engage in wrestling; get close, in the clinch, wear him down,” Magomedov said. “But, when Magomed pushed him to the fence near our corner, it seemed to me that Pereira had some kind of substance on him. If my experience isn’t wrong, that’s what I’d say was the case.

    “The sweat didn’t flow off his body, it gelled up. That’s what it looks like on his body, too. Magomed said afterward that he smelled like he had some ointment on and was sticky,” Magomed continued. “Let’s not forget that Glover Teixeira is a veteran of the game and knows all the tricks.”

    Alex Pereira and his coaching team are yet to responded to the accusation.

    Should the pair’s expected rematch be cemented into the calendar for later this year, the topic of ‘greasing’ will likely rear its head again closer to the occasion.

  • Prominent MMA Coach Reached Major Milestone With UFC Vegas 104 Victory

    Prominent MMA Coach Reached Major Milestone With UFC Vegas 104 Victory

    This weekend’s UFC Vegas 104 event represented a big moment for Sayif Saud and his Fortis MMA team.

    The preliminary portion of Saturday’s card at the Apex included an under-the-radar storyline, as Saud shot for his 100th victory as a coach since opening the Fortis MMA team back in 2017.

    Tasked with bringing that result home was strawweight fighter Sam Hughes, who shared the Octagon with Stephanie Luciano.

    After a closely contested three rounds, Hughes fell on the right side of a split decision, sparking celebrations in the Fortis MMA corner.

    The milestone didn’t come without an element of controversy, however.

    Many questioned the decision, believing Luciano did enough to deserve the nod from the judges at UFC Vegas 104. On MMA Decisions, just three out of nine media members scored the fight in favor of Hughes. The fan scorecards, meanwhile, saw less than 30 percent backing “Sampage.”

    Interestingly, Saud recently pondered retiring from coaching while looking ahead to his goal of achieving 100 UFC wins early in 2025.

    “I always said that 100 UFC wins and I was going to be done,” Saud told MMA Junkie in December. “One hundred UFC wins, win a title – I would like to win a title back and get it one more time for (Moreno) – but 100 wins and this will be 20 years. Next year will be 20 years. 2005 is when I started. I moved to Albuquerque in 2006, then came to Dallas in 2009, and now in 2025, it will be 20 years in MMA. And it’s been great, man. It’s been an incredible run, but it’s definitely coming towards the end.

    “I look forward to being home and kind of spending time with my kids. I don’t really realize how nice it is to be home and just be around my family, be around my kids and be around them and see them and hug them and kiss them. Just be around them more as they’re getting older. I’m getting into a different period in my life. I’m 44 and getting to the next generation of guys, we’re going to hopefully put that 100 up on the board.”

    In addition to the recently victorious Hughes, Fortis MMA also houses the likes of former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, Geoff Neal, Macy Chiasson, and Ryan Spann, among others.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: New Fights For Bo Nickal, Molly McCann, 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 10, and Sunday, March 16, a small 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 two fights falling through or being adjusted:

  • Marvin Vettori: Trilogy With Roman Dolidze ‘Has To Happen’ After UFC Vegas 104

    Marvin Vettori: Trilogy With Roman Dolidze ‘Has To Happen’ After UFC Vegas 104

    UFC middleweight contender Marvin Vettori sees only one option following Saturday’s UFC Vegas 104 result.

    Vettori’s plan to ascend back into the championship conversation at 185 pounds took a hit this weekend at the Apex, where he suffered a third loss in the space of four fights.

    In his first outing since a setback against Jared Cannonier in June 2023, “The Italian Dream” ran it back with the man he last defeated, Roman Dolidze.

    Vettori was unable to repeat his feat from London two years ago, instead falling on the wrong side of a decision in their five-round rematch.

    Like their first contest, Saturday’s main event wasn’t among the most enthralling and entertaining of the year to date. With that in mind, it would seem that not many are pandering to see the 1-1 feud get settled in a trilogy.

    The Italian former title challenger, however, sees it as essential.

    “I guess we’ll need a trilogy,” Marvin Vettori wrote on X. “The most nonsense trilogy, I agree with you bastards lol. But at this point it has to happen.”

    While Vettori returns to the drawing board and looks to bounce back next time out, Dolidze can expect to return to the middleweight top 10 come Tuesday’s rankings update.

  • UFC Fight Night: Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze 2 Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze 2 Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze 2 takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results.

    After staging its latest pay-per-view event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena last weekend, the mixed martial arts leader is back at its home base of the Apex to continues its March schedule.

    Headlining will be former middleweight title challenger Marvin Vettori. The Italian will return from a near-two-year layoff to run it back with Roman Dolidze, whom he previously outpointed in a lackluster three-round clash in 2023.

    Elsewhere, Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, Alexander Hernandez, Cody Gibson, SeungWoo Choi, and Ryan Spann will be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2 Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2 takes place on Saturday, March 15, 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 results below.

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight: Marvin Vettori (186lbs) vs. Roman Dolidze (186lbs)
    • Welterweight: Chidi Njokuani (172.25lbs)* vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (171lbs)
    • Lightweight: Alexander Hernandez (156lbs) vs. Kurt Holobaugh (155.5lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Da’Mon Blackshear (136lbs) vs. Cody Gibson (136lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Diyar Nurgozhay (120.5lbs)** vs. Brendson Ribeiro (205.5lbs)
    • Featherweight: SeungWoo Choi (146lbs) vs. Kevin Vallejos (145.5lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Heavyweight: Waldo Cortes-Acosta (261.5lbs) vs. Ryan Spann (249lbs)
    • Bantamweight: SuYoung You (136lbs) vs. AJ Cunningham (136lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Carlos Vera (136lbs) vs. Josias Musasa (136.5lbs)*
    • Women’s Strawweight: Stephanie Luciano (116lbs) vs. Sam Hughes (116lbs)
    • Flyweight: Daniel Barez (126lbs) vs. Andre Lima (126lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Josiane Nunes (136lbs) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (135lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Yuneisy Duben (125.5lbs) vs. Carli Judice (125lbs)

    *Chidi Njokuani missed the welterweight limit by 1.25 pounds, fine TBA

    **Diyar Nurgozhay missed the light heavyweight limit by 4.5 pounds, fine TBA

    ***Josias Musasa missed the bantamweight limit by 0.5 pounds, fine TBA

  • Molly McCann Gets New Opponent For UFC London Return

    Molly McCann Gets New Opponent For UFC London Return

    Local fan favorite Molly McCann has a new target in her sights for next weekend’s UFC Fight Night in London.

    The mixed martial arts leader will head back across the pond soon to stage another card in England’s capital. As usual, a number of the country’s own will be in action, with former champion Leon Edwards headlining.

    Among the most prominent names on the undercard is McCann (14-7), a longtime flyweight veteran who dropped down to 115 pounds last year. After going 1-1 in her return to division, most recently falling to defeat opposite Bruna Brasil at UFC 304 in Manchester, “Meatball” will look to get back to winning ways on March 22.

    To do so, the Liverpudlian will need to defeat a late-notice replacement opponent. While she was originally set to face Istela Nunes, McCann will now share the cage with Alexia Thainara (11-1).

    News of the matchup change was first reported by Ag. Fight.

    Brazil’s Thainara has won nine straight, with her most recent victory coming via decision on Dana White’s Contender Series last year. She shares an opponent with McCann, having suffered her sole career loss to Brasil back in 2019.

  • UFC Vegas 104 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze Card

    UFC Vegas 104 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze Card

    UFC Vegas 104 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 15, at the UFC Apex in Enterprise, Nevada. 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 a pair of ranked middleweights, with former title challenger Marvin Vettori and Roman Dolidze running it back two years on from their lackluster three-round clash in London, which was won by the Italian. 

    And also making the walk on Saturday will be the likes of Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, Alexander Hernandez, and Ryan Spann.

    UFC Vegas 104: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2 Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Vegas 104 (as of 3/11), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Marvin Vettori (-170) vs. Roman Dolidze (+142)
    • Chidi Njokuani (+154) vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (-185)
    • Alexander Hernandez (-205) vs. Kurt Holobaugh (+170)
    • Da’Mon Blackshear (-455) vs. Cody Gibson (+350)
    • Diyar Nurgozhay (-345) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (+275)
    • SeungWoo Choi (+410) vs. Kevin Vallejos (-550)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Waldo Cortes-Acosta (-166) vs. Ryan Spann (+140)
    • SuYoung You (-600) vs. AJ Cunningham (+440)
    • Carlos Vera (+500) vs. Josias Musasa (-700)
    • Stephanie Luciano (-230) vs. Sam Hughes (+190)
    • Daniel Barez (+280) vs. Andre Lima (-355)
    • Josiane Nunes (-185) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (+154)
    • Yuneisy Duben (+295) vs. Carli Judice (-375)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VekL1KtzFzY
  • Jeremy Stephens Makes Shock UFC Return Despite Being Drafted For GFL

    Jeremy Stephens Makes Shock UFC Return Despite Being Drafted For GFL

    Mixed martial arts veteran Jeremy Stephens (29-21, 1 NC) is back for a 35th appearance in the UFC Octagon.

    Stephens’ unexpected return to the sport’s leading promotion comes almost four years on from his exit. “Lil Heathen’s’ submission defeat to Mateusz Gamrot left him winless across his last six fights, a run dating back to 2018.

    A brief stint in the PFL didn’t go too much better, with the 38-year-old going 1-2 and failing to reach the playoffs in his sole season. But he’s since bounced back in a new realm, winning three straight in bare-knuckle boxing.

    And after stopping Eddie Alvarez at BKFC Knucklemania V this past January, a return to MMA appeared to be next for Stephens after he was drafted by Team Miami for the launch year of the Global Fight League (GFL).

    A couple of months later, however, an unexpected announcement has revealed Jeremy Stephens’ sudden return to the UFC for a homecoming fight in Des Moines on May 3. The veteran will face another returning face in Wales’ Mason Jones (15-2, 1 NC) at 155 pounds.

    The news marks another blow to the legitimacy of the GFL. The new promotion was previously accused of announcing fighters for its draft who had not agreed to be included, and that trend has continued since the teams’ selections. After Rashad Evans refuted his signing after being drafted, Stephens has now become the latest to sign elsewhere.

    Jones, meanwhile, returns to the UFC after an unbeaten 4-0 run under the Cage Warriors banner. “The Dragon” will now look to impress in his second stint on MMA’s biggest stage.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC Des Moines on May 3 are as follows:

    • Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (bantamweight)
    • Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal (middleweight)
    • Marina Rodriguez vs. Gillian Robertson (women’s strawweight)
    • Jeremy Stephens vs. Mason Jones (featherweight)
    • Marlon Vera vs. Mario Bautista (bantamweight)
    • Yana Santos vs. Miesha Tate (women’s bantamweight)
    • Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez (welterweight)
    • Montel Jackson vs. Daniel Marcos (bantamweight)
    • JeongYeong Lee vs. Trevor Peek (featherweight)
    • Cameron Smotherman vs. Serhiy Sidey (bantamweight)
    • Junior Tafa vs. Tuco Toccos (heavyweight)
    • Azamat Bekoev vs. Ryan Loder (middleweight)
  • Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal Confirmed For UFC Des Moines On May 3

    Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal Confirmed For UFC Des Moines On May 3

    Undefeated UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal has his latest assignment in the calendar.

    Nickal (7-0) has won all four of his Octagon appearances to date since a pair of victories on Dana White’s Contender Series to net a contract back in 2023.

    After submissions of Jamie Pickett and Cody Brundage sandwiched a knockout of Val Woodburn, the three-time NCAA Division I national champion and three-time Big Ten Conference champion out of Pennsylvania State University was taken to the scorecards for the first time.

    Nevertheless, the 29-year-old got the nod over Paul Craig at UFC 309 last November, and he now has his first opportunity at ranked opposition this year.

    The UFC confirmed this week that Bo Nickal will co-headline the UFC Fight Night in Des Moines on May 3, sharing the cage with #13-ranked middleweight contender Reinier de Ridder (19-2).

    News of the booking was first reported by Sporting News’ Val Dewar.

    De Ridder, too, is yet to taste defeat on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. The Dutchman has won both of his UFC contests since jumping ship from ONE Championship, where he had reigned as a two-division champion.

    After a somewhat lackluster debut win over Gerald Meerschaert in late 2024, de Ridder opened his account for 2025 with a rapid first-round submission of Kevin Holland at UFC 311 in Los Angeles.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC Des Moines on May 3 are as follows:

    • Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (bantamweight)
    • Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal (middleweight)
    • Marina Rodriguez vs. Gillian Robertson (women’s strawweight)
    • Jeremy Stephens vs. Mason Jones (lightweight)
    • Marlon Vera vs. Mario Bautista (bantamweight)
    • Yana Santos vs. Miesha Tate (women’s bantamweight)
    • Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez (welterweight)
    • Montel Jackson vs. Daniel Marcos (bantamweight)
    • JeongYeong Lee vs. Trevor Peek (featherweight)
    • Cameron Smotherman vs. Serhiy Sidey (bantamweight)
    • Junior Tafa vs. Tuco Toccos (heavyweight)
    • Azamat Bekoev vs. Ryan Loder (middleweight)

  • Johnny Walker’s UFC Return Set To Come Against Undefeated Russian On May 17

    UFC light heavyweight contender Johnny Walker will look to get back on track when he returns to action on May 17.

    After having his plans for fight against Bogdan Guskov at UFC 311 this past January scuppered by injury, the Brazilian veteran’s layoff is approaching nine months.

    But per MMA Junkie, Walker (21-9, 1 NC) won’t have too much longer to wait, with the 32-year-old set to face the undefeated Azamat Murzakanov (14-0) at the UFC Fight Night event on May 17.

    For the #10-ranked Johnny Walker, the bout will mark his latest opportunity at recording a first win since he defeated Anthony Smith in May 2023. The Brazilian has since gone winless across three fights, with a no contest against Magomed Ankalaev followed by two brutal knockouts versus the Dagestani in their rematch and Volkan Oezdemir.

    Azamat Murzakanov, meanwhile, had his first fight in 16 months last August. The Russia reminded the division of his presence with a vicious KO victory over Alonzo Menifield to extend his UFC record to 4-0 and rise to #12 in the rankings.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night on May 17 are as follows:

    • Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev (heavyweight)
    • Johnny Walker vs. Azamat Murzakanov (light heavyweight)
    • Serghei Spivac vs. Shamil Gaziev (heavyweight)
    • JunYong Park vs. Ismail Naurdiev (middleweight)
    • Mohammed Usman vs. Hamdy Abdelwahab (heavyweight)
  • Renato Moicano Sends Supportive Message To Retiring Former Opponent Jalin Turner

    Renato Moicano Sends Supportive Message To Retiring Former Opponent Jalin Turner

    Longtime UFC lightweight contender Jalin Turner has officially called time on his career, and a former opponent of his has emerged among the prominent names sending congratulatory messages.

    Turner announced his shock retirement at the age of just 29 moments after his latest setback inside the Octagon this past weekend.

    Returning to the cage at UFC 313 for the first time since a crushing loss to Renato Moicano last April, “The Tarantula” was quickly submitted by up-and-coming prospect Ignacio Bahamondes.

    After removing his gloves, Turner informed reporters cageside that his time competing on MMA’s biggest stage was over. And a few days later, the American officially confirmed his decision to retire in a heartfelt social media post.

    Turner has since received plenty of supportive messages, with one of the most recent coming from Moicano.

    “One of the dangerous mdfker in the game! Congrats on your (career)! I wish you all the best and enjoy life,” Moicano wrote on X.

    While explaining his decision to hang up the gloves, Jalin Turner admitted he’d been pondering an exit from MMA in the months on from his knockout loss to “Money” Moicano at UFC 300.

    “The Tarantula’s” career has concluded after a 7-6 run in the UFC, during which he defeated the likes of Brad Riddell and King Green.

  • Jan Błachowicz Outlines Goal Of Thwarting Alex Pereira’s Plan For Ankalaev Rematch

    Jan Błachowicz Outlines Goal Of Thwarting Alex Pereira’s Plan For Ankalaev Rematch

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz plans to alter the expected direction of his division’s title picture — and the expected future of Alex Pereira.

    The 205-pound weight class received a shake-up this past weekend when Magomed Ankalaev ended the reign of Pereira, which had successfully moved through three challenges before running into the Dagestani at UFC 313.

    Following his lackluster performance en route to a unanimous decision defeat, “Poatan” has echoed the sentiments of Dana White in suggesting that an immediate rematch is likely for later this year.

    But a former opponent of Pereira’s plans to scupper such plans.

    During an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Błachowicz outlined his goal of securing a rematch with Ankalaev for the gold by making a statement in his return against Carlos Ulberg next weekend in London.

    “I beat (Ulberg), then I take a title shot against (Ankalaev),” Błachowicz said. “I beat Ankalaev and then rematch against (Pereira). I defend the belt against Pereira. This is the perfect scenario for me. Then I can go to the mountains again.”

    Following a draw in his battle with Ankalaev for the then-vacant title in late 2022, Jan Błachowicz welcomed Alex Pereira to the light heavyweight division in mid-2023.

    The Polish veteran fell on the wrong side of a split decision after an incredibly close three-round clash. He’s since been looking toward a chance for redemption against Pereira, and he intends to reach that as a two-time champion at 205 pounds.

  • Tsarukyan Hits Back At Justin Gaethje’s Title Plea: ‘You Barely Got Past #11 On Short Notice’

    Tsarukyan Hits Back At Justin Gaethje’s Title Plea: ‘You Barely Got Past #11 On Short Notice’

    UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan evidently wasn’t impressed by Justin Gaethje’s performance this past weekend — and decision to call for a title shot off the back of it.

    Gaethje bounced back from his brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway in his return to action Saturday night. “The Highlight” co-headlined the UFC 313 pay-per-view in a rematch against Rafael Fiziev.

    While “Ataman” performed valiantly on short notice, he once again fell short to Gaethje on the scorecards, having suffered the same fate in London back in 2023.

    As the Azerbaijani contemplates a move down to the featherweight division, the American fan favorite was quick to stake his claim for a third crack at achieving undisputed lightweight glory on MMA’s biggest stage. But Tsarukyan, the top contender at 155 pounds, firmly disagrees with “The Highlight’s” recent demand to UFC CEO Dana White.

    In a social media post Wednesday, the Russian-Armenian categorically dismissed any suggestion that Justin Gaethje deserves the next shot at Islam Makhachev’s gold.

    “You barely got past #11 on short notice, and before that, you got sent to the shadow realm,” Tsarukyan wrote on X. “If you really want to be the #1 contender and fight for the belt, you have to go through me first.”

    Unfortunately for Tsarukyan, it would appear that Gaethje might have the support of UFC higher-ups when it comes to his ongoing title ambitions, with White stating backstage at UFC 313 that there’s a “good chance” the American receives another title shot.

  • PFL Unveils First-Round Matchups For 2025 World Tournament

    PFL Unveils First-Round Matchups For 2025 World Tournament

    The brackets for eight inaugural PFL World Tournaments in 2025 are set.

    After ditching its season and playoff format this year, the Professional Fighters League will kick off a new era next month with the launch of its inaugural World Tournaments.

    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.

    Having completed its rollout of the eight divisional rosters last week, the PFL staged a bracket reveal show on Tuesday to unveil the first-round matchups set to play out across four events in the coming weeks.

    For those bouts, including returns for the likes of Jason Jackson, Jesus Pinedo, Taila Santos, Liz Carmouche, and Alexandr Romanov, see the schedule below.

    2025 PFL World Tournament 1: First Round – April 3

    Main Card (ESPN2/ESPN+, 10 PM ET):

    • Welterweight First Round: Jason Jackson (18-5) vs. Andrey Koreshkov (28-5)
    • Featherweight First Round: Jesus Pinedo (23-6) vs. Adam Borics (19-2)
    • Welterweight First Round: Magomed Umalatov (17-1)vs. Logan Storley (16-3)
    • Featherweight First Round: Jeremy Kennedy (19-4) vs. Movlid Khaybulaev (21-0-1)

    Early Card (ESPN+, 7 PM ET):

    • Welterweight First Round: Mukhamed Berkhamov (17-2) vs. Florim Zendeli (10-1-1) 
    • Featherweight First Round: Gabriel Braga (15-2) vs. Yves Landu (21-9) 
    • Welterweight First Round: Giannis Bachar (9-2) vs. Masayuki Kikuiri (10-2-1)
    • Featherweight First Round: Nathan Kelly (11-3) vs. Taekyun Kim (10-1)
    • Welterweight Alternate: Joseph Luciano (10-2) vs. Thad Jean (8-0)
    • Featherweight Alternate: Fred Dupras (8-1) vs. Nathan Ghareeb (10-3)

    2025 PFL World Tournament 2: First Round – April 11

    Main Card (ESPN2/ESPN+, 11 PM ET):

    • Bantamweight First Round: Magomed Magomedov (20-3) vs. Leandro Higo (23-6)
    • Women’s Flyweight First Round: Taila Santos (24-4) vs. Juliana Velasquez (13-3)
    • Bantamweight First Round: Savarjon Khamidov (16-0) vs. Jake Hadley (11-4)
    • Bantamweight First Round: Ciaran Clarke (10-0) vs. Kasum Kasumov (16-1) 

    Early Card (ESPN+, 8 PM ET):

    • Women’s Flyweight First Round: Liz Carmouche (22-8) vs. Ilara Joanna (12-9)
    • Bantamweight First Round: Ali Taleb (11-1) vs. Zebenzui Ruiz (12-3) 
    • Women’s Flyweight First Round: Kana Watanabe (13-3-1) vs. Jena Bishop (7-2) 
    • Women’s Flyweight First Round: Elora Dana (7-0) vs. Diana Avsaragova (6-1)
    • Bantamweight Alternate: Francesco Nuzzi (10-1) vs. Matheus Mattos (14-3-1)
    • Women’s Flyweight Alternate: Ekaterina Shakalova (8-2) vs. Saray Orozco (8-6) 

    2025 PFL World Tournament 3: First Round – April 18

    Main Card (ESPN/ESPN+, 7 PM ET):

    • Middleweight First Round: Impa Kasanganay (18-5) vs. Fabian Edwards (13-4) 
    • Lightweight First Round: Alexander Shabliy (24-4) vs. Brent Primus (15-4-0, 1 NC)
    • Lightweight First Round: Gadzhi Rabadanov (24-4-2) vs. Marc Diakiese (18-7) 
    • Lightweight First Round: Mads Burnell (20-6) vs. Jay-Jay Wilson (10-1)

    Early Card (ESPN+, 4:30 PM ET):

    • Middleweight First Round: Sadibou Sy (17-8-2, 1 NC ) vs. Dalton Rosta (9-1)
    • Middleweight First Round: Josh Silveira (13-4) vs. Mike Shipman (17-4)
    • Lightweight First Round: Clay Collard (25-14) vs. Alfie Davis (17-4-1) 
    • Middleweight First Round: Aaron Jeffery (15-5) vs. Murad Ramazanov (12-2)
    • Middleweight Alternate: Khalid Murtazaliev (17-3) vs. Jordan Newman (7-0)
    • Lightweight Alternate: Sergio Cossio (27-10-1) vs. Robert Watley (15-3)

    2025 PFL World Tournament 4: First Round – May 1

    Main Card (ESPN2/ESPN+, 10 PM ET):

    • Light Heavyweight First Round: Phil Davis (24-7, 1 NC) vs. Rob Wilkinson (19-3,1 NC) 
    • Heavyweight First Round: Valentin Moldavsky (13-4) vs. Sergey Bilostenniy (13-3) 
    • Light Heavyweight First Round: Antonio Carlos Jr. (16-6, 2 NC) vs. Karl Moore (12-3)
    • Light Heavyweight First Round: Karl Albrektsson (14-6) vs. Simeon Powell (10-1) 

    Early Card (ESPN+, 7 PM ET):

    • Heavyweight First Round: Alexandr Romanov (18-3) vs. Tim Johnson (18-11) 
    • Heavyweight First Round: Linton Vassell (25-10) vs. Oleg Popov (19-1) 
    • Light Heavyweight First Round: Sullivan Cauley (6-1) vs. Marcelo Nunes (11-2) 
    • Heavyweight First Round: Pouya Rahmani (4-0) vs. Abraham Bably (5-1) 
    • Light Heavyweight Alternate: Alex Polizzi (11-4) vs. Rafael Xavier (13-8) 
  • Paul Hughes’ Opponent For PFL Belfast Homecoming Revealed

    Paul Hughes’ Opponent For PFL Belfast Homecoming Revealed

    PFL star Paul Hughes now has a target in his sights for later this year.

    Hughes (13-2) boosted his stock despite a loss in January when he battled Usman Nurmagomedov for the Bellator lightweight title in the main event of PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai.

    While he was largely dismissed by the Russian standout during the build-up, “Big News” pushed him to the limit across five rounds. Some even maintain that the ex-Cage Warriors champion did enough to deserve the victory, a sentiment shared by Hughes himself.

    With that in mind, the Northern Irishman was quick to call for an immediate rematch in his native country, and he appeared to have the backing of the PFL higher-ups and many in the community.

    But with Nurmagomedov seemingly planning to sit out until September or October, Hughes has had to settle for just half of his callout coming to fruition.

    After much speculation, the PFL officially confirmed this week that Paul Hughes will headline a PFL Europe event in his country’s capital city, Belfast, on May 10.

    And an opponent has now been attached to Hughes’ return, with “Big News” lined up to share the cage with Bruno Miranda (17-5), a former PFL semifinalist who most recently defeated Patricky Pitbull.

    Paul Hughes will look to return to winning ways at Miranda’s expense and stake his claim for a second showdown with Nurmagomedov before the year’s end.

  • Curtis Blaydes’ Return Gets New Date After Fight-Day UFC 313 Cancellation

    Curtis Blaydes’ Return Gets New Date After Fight-Day UFC 313 Cancellation

    UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes and newcomer Rizvan Kuniev will hope it’s second time lucky later this year when it comes to their matchup reaching the Octagon.

    The mixed martial arts leader staged its third numbered card of 2025 this past weekend, with UFC 313 going down from inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. Fight week went smoothly and saw all 24 athletes make weight, but fight day saw the card take some hits.

    After John Castañeda was confirmed to be out of his early preliminary contest with Chris Gutierrez, illness struck a more notable pairing. Former interim heavyweight title challenger Curtis Blaydes pulled out of the UFC 313 featured prelim, which was set to see him welcome newcomer Rizvan Kuniev to the Octagon.

    In a post on his Facebook page, “Razor” revealed the reason behind his late decision not to compete.

    “Last night I got sick with norovirus,” Blaydes wrote. “Worked through the night to try and recover but my body wouldn’t cooperate. Fight going to be booked for a later date. Apologize to fans and my opponent be we will have this fight very soon.”

    Fortunately for both men, it hasn’t taken long for the UFC to reschedule the clash for down the line.

    Per Vestnik MMA, Blaydes will now face the Dagestani debutant at the promotion’s first event in Qatar on May 17. The report was later corroborated by Eurosport Nederland’s Marcel Dorff.

    Curtis Blaydes hasn’t competed since a first-round knockout loss to Tom Aspinall in what marked his first title fight on MMA’s biggest stage last July.

    Rizvan Kuniev, meanwhile, last fought in August 2024 when he earned a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series.

  • Rafael Fiziev Pondering Major Career Change After UFC 313 Defeat

    Rafael Fiziev Pondering Major Career Change After UFC 313 Defeat

    Rafael Fiziev could be bidding the lightweight division farewell following his latest setback at UFC 313.

    Fiziev returned to action at this past weekend’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas 18 months on from tearing his ACL in an Apex headliner versus Mateusz Gamrot.

    “Ataman” stepped in on short notice to replace the injured Dan Hooker opposite Justin Gaethje, marking the second time that Fiziev has shared the cage with “The Highlight.”

    Just like first time around in London, the Azerbaijani performed valiantly but was unable to do enough to secure victory on the scorecards. And a second defeat to Gaethje and third overall has left Fiziev assessing his future.

    During an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Fiziev suggested that a drop down to the featherweight division could mark his next step on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “I’m (starting) to think right now about changing weight divisions because I cut weight very easy this time, and this was short notice,” Rafael Fiziev said. “All this week, my nutritionist, he tried to gain my weight because my weight go low so fast. Right now, I have to think about it.

    “I’ve been thinking about it a long time. Like I say, I am not big in this division,” Fiziev continued. “These guys have trouble if I come there. They’ll be in trouble, man, everybody.”

    Should Rafael Fiziev commit to that change, he’d depart the 155-pound weight class as its #11-ranked contender. Prior to running into Gaethje, “Ataman” had won six straight fights, including over Renato Moicano, King Green, and Rafael dos Anjos.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Sends Justin Gaethje Reality Check About UFC Title Hopes

    Arman Tsarukyan Sends Justin Gaethje Reality Check About UFC Title Hopes

    When it comes to Justin Gaethje’s hopes to secure a third crack at the undisputed UFC lightweight title, Arman Tsarukyan has told him to hold his horses.

    Gaethje placed his name back into the championship conversation at 155 pounds this past weekend by emerging victorious from the UFC 313 co-main event.

    “The Highlight” ran it back with Rafael Fiziev at the pay-per-view after original opponent Dan Hooker withdrew due to a broken hand. And for the second time in under three years, the American exited the cage a decision winner over “Ataman.”

    In the aftermath, Gaethje outlined his hopes to challenge Islam Makhachev down the line. That ambition received a sizable boost during Dana White’s post-fight press conference, with the UFC CEO suggesting the ex-interim champ has a “good chance” of another title shot.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, however, Tsarukyan insisted that “The Highlight” must go through either him or former titleholder Charles Oliveira first.

    “It’s Gaethje or Oliveira,” Arman Tsarukyan said of his next opponent. “Gaethje wants to fight for the title. It makes sense to fight with me, because nobody’s going to give him (the) title fight. It’s not going to be fair that he’s going to get (the) title fight. So he’s got to beat me or Oliveira to get a title fight. There is Ilia (Topuria) too. … I’m open to everybody from (the) top five.”

    Tsarukyan has been left needing to record another victory over a top contender despite entering the year with a first title shot bagged.

    A late pullout from January’s UFC 311 event saw him lose out on the opportunity, leaving the next step for Makhachev uncertain after he dispatched of late-notice replacement Renato Moicano in Los Angeles.