The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will be taking the SmartCage to Nashville, Kansas, and Chicago for this year’s World Tournament semifinal events.
And that’s not the only change in strategy in 2025. The PFL will also be abandoning its season and playoff format after many had questioned its sustainability. Instead, Grand Prix-style tournaments will take place across eight divisions, with $500,000 prize money going to each winner.
Those names will begin their campaigns with first-round bouts across four events on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Florida on April 3, April 11, April 18, and May 1. And the dates and locations for the subsequent semifinal cards in the summer have now been confirmed.
On Thursday, June 12, 2025 PFL World Tournament 5: Semifinals will take place at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, with tickets ranging from $35 to $300.
Eight days later, the promotion makes its debut in ‘Cowtown’ with the 2025 PFL World Tournament 6: Semifinals at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. Tickets range from $40 to $250.
The last semifinal event is scheduled for June 27 and will be held at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, with ticket prices ranging from $50 to $350.
It would seem that Jalin Turner’s time competing in mixed martial arts came to an end at UFC 313.
Turner returned to action for the first time since a crushing loss to Renato Moicano at UFC 300 last April. On the main card of Saturday’s pay-per-view event, “The Tarantula” was tasked with defending his ranking opposite the up-and-coming Ignacio Bahamondes.
As it turns out, Turner entered the cage inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena following months of contemplation regarding his future. And a first-round submission loss to “La Jaula” proved to be the final straw for the 29-year-old.
He removed his gloves inside the Octagon and informed press cageside that he was retiring.
Speaking to Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter backstage at T-Mobile Arena, Jalin Turner expanded on what has led to his likely decision to hang up the gloves for good.
“It’s hard, man. Fighting’s hard, and I’ve been doing it for 12 years. You either gotta be all in or not. And even being in there now, I wasn’t fully all in as I thought I would be. And the decision to stay or not was honestly based off this fight for me,” Jalin Turner said. “I felt like I’d get the nod, get the win. I watched him. He’s an up and coming prospect. He deserved the opportunity. And I felt like I would’ve got my hand raised and I didn’t. I know it’s emotional right now, but I’ve been thinking about this for the last 11 months, if I’m gonna keep fighting or not. I was bad on signing the fight contract because I didn’t know if I was gonna retire or not. I didn’t know, how much longer I wanted to keep doing this.
“Now my kids are getting older. I don’t want to keep taking damage,” Turner continued. “Training camps are hard. Life is really taking a toll. It’s been taking a toll the last 11 months, so I just need to step away for a little bit. I mean, maybe forever. At this point, the competition just gets better. I’m just getting older. So yeah, I’m gonna just sit down and think about it. You know? But I think that’s it. … Doubts come, there’s always gonna be things that deter you. … I was in love with it. I love the sport. I love competing, and the fire is just not there.”
An emotional Jalin Turner discusses his decision to retire from the sport following his loss at UFC 313 pic.twitter.com/mOyx4aJiZ1
Should Jalin Turner commit to retirement, his career will conclude after a 7-6 run in the UFC, during which he defeated the likes of Brad Riddell and King Green.
A unanimous decision verdict saw the title change hands after a reign that spanned three successful defenses for Pereira. The Brazilian is now looking ahead to the adjustments he’ll need to make for a likely rematch this year.
Magomed Ankalaev, meanwhile, continues to celebrate his championship triumph, which came at the second time of trying just over two years on from a draw with Jan Blachowicz.
The new kingpin was most recently seen returning to his homeland. A video posted by Ushatayka showed Ankalaev with the light heavyweight gold in tow as he landed back in Dagestan, where he was greeted by a hero’s welcome from the masses.
🇷🇺 Magomed Ankalaev received a hero’s welcome upon returning to Dagestan after winning the UFC lightheavyweight title 🏆
Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Magomed Ankalaev has debuted on the P4P list following his light heavyweight title win over Alex Pereira in this past weekend’s main event. The Dagestani has entered at #6, putting him above fellow champions Belal Muhammad (#7), Alexandre Pantoja (#9), and Tom Aspinall (#10). The defeated “Poatan” has fallen five places to #8, while Sean Strickland is out of the top 15 entirely.
After #UFC313 Magomed Ankalaev has the third longest active UFC unbeaten streak AND the belt 🏆
Women’s Strawweight: Iasmin Lucindo’s charge up the UFC rankings was stalled on Saturday by Amanda Lemos. As a result, the young contender has dropped one spot to #8, elevating Amanda Ribas to #7.
Women’s Flyweight: While neither were in action at UFC 313, Miranda Maverick (#12) has moved above Ariane Lipski da Silva (#13) at 125 pounds.
Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.
Flyweight: No changes.
Bantamweight: No changes.
Featherweight: No changes.
Lightweight: Ignacio Bahamondes has been rewarded for his submission victory at UFC 313, arriving in the lightweight UFC rankings at #15. His opponent, Jalin Turner, announced his retirement in the aftermath, and he’s now out of the top 15. Those changes have seen Benoît Saint Denis move up by two places to #13 despite his current two-fight losing skid.
Welterweight: No changes.
Middleweight: There’s been some movement at 185 pounds unrelated to UFC 313. Both Paulo Costa (#11) and Reinier de Ridder (#13) are on the up, while Roman Dolidze (#12), Michel Pereira (#14), and Roman Kopylov (#15) have all moved down one spot each.
Light Heavyweight: Having lost his championship in the UFC 313 main event, Pereira has slipped to the 205-pound division’s #1 position.
Heavyweight: Toward the bottom of the heavyweight UFC rankings, Tallison Teixeira (#14) has been boosted above Kennedy Nzechukwu (#15).
Alongside Mauricio Ruffy’s spinning wheel kick knockout and Justin Gaethje’s latest brutal war inside the Octagon, rising lightweight Ignacio Bahamondes notched the biggest win of his career to date.
The Chilean made the most of his first opportunity at cracking the rankings, locking in a shock triangle choke submission to force longtime veteran Jalin Turner to tap out in the very first round.
“Nacho can be a huge star,” Anik wrote on X a couple of days on from UFC 313. “Big personality. Fluent in two languages. One of the best strikers in the UFC. Will also choke you the f*ck out. Latin America couldn’t have a better ambassador in the UFC. Just hope he can keep making 156 (155) lbs!”
Bahamondes has missed weight once in the UFC and twice overall in professional MMA. He came in three quarters of a pound overweight for his clash with John Makdessi back in 2021.
After staging its latest numbered event close to its home base at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena this past weekend, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will soon head back to Miami.
And for its usually annual April PPV inside the Kaseya Center, a stacked lineup is set to unfold, topped by a featherweight championship clash between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes.
To the surprise of many, that contest will close out the preliminary card on April 12, with the light heavyweight bout between Nikita Krylov and Dominick Reyes getting the nod to feature on the five-fight main card instead.
Justin Gaethje couldn’t have done much more to impress at UFC 313 — though Kamaru Usman does have one thing in mind.
Gaethje recorded a crucial victory in the co-main event of this past weekend’s pay-per-view in Las Vegas, which came 11 months on from his devastating knockout loss at the hands of Max Holloway.
To keep his name in the championship conversation and avoid a first losing skid since 2018, “The Highlight” was tasked with once again getting the better of Rafael Fiziev, who stepped in on short notice to replace the injured Dan Hooker.
The fan-favorite brawler was relatively reserved on the microphone during his Octagon interview with Joe Rogan, much to the frustration of his longtime teammate.
“You gotta sell yourself sometimes,” Usman said of Justin Gaethje on his Pound 4 Pound podcast. “This is where you do it because as much of a performer you are in there, you gotta give them something to look forward to. … This is WWE, and ‘The Rock’ and these guys do so well.
“Justin, you gotta do a little better job of that,” he continued. “But he’s just so damn honest, which is why I love that frickin’ dude.”
Gaethje and Usman have both trained under the tutelage of renowned coach Trevor Wittman for years.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir won’t be making his return to mixed martial arts competition anytime soon.
Mir was among the veteran names to sign with the newly created Global Fight League ahead of its inaugural draft this past January. The 45-year-old was ultimately picked alongside Andrei Arlovski for Team Los Angeles.
But those plans will be put on hold after Mir revealed in a post on Instagram that he “underwent an emergency spinal fusion and laminectomy of (his) entire thoracic spine.”
“I wanted to take a moment to update you on my health and share a bit about my recent journey,” Frank Mir wrote. “As many of you know, I’ve been dedicated to martial arts since I was just four years old. My love for hard training has driven me to push my limits as a professional athlete. However, this passion comes with its challenges.
“Recently, I faced a significant hurdle: I underwent an emergency spinal fusion and laminectomy of my entire thoracic spine. Although it was a tough decision, I’m happy to report that the surgery was a complete success!
“Now, I’m diving into rehabilitation and focusing on my recovery. This is just another challenge that I intend to overcome, and I’m committed to coming back stronger, both mentally and physically, than ever.
“Thank you all for your support during this time. Your encouragement means the world to me, and I can’t wait to share my progress with you.
“It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”
Mir, who boasts a 19-13 record in pro MMA, last competed under the Bellator banner in 2019. He outpointed fellow vet Roy Nelson to record his first victory in five fights and four years.
It remains to be seen when the 45-year-old, who beat the likes of Brock Lesnar, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Tim Sylvia, and Mirko Cro Cop during his prime in the sport, will return to the cage.
While the aftermath of the March 8 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the light heavyweight title picture to the featherweight championship conversation.
At UFC 314, set for the Kaseya Center on April 12, former champion Alexander will open his account for the new year. Following Ilia Topuria’s decision to vacate the 145-pound gold and move up to lightweight, the Australian will battle the surging Diego Lopes for the belt.
Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as former three-time Bellator kingpin Michael Chandler looks to defend his spot in the pecking order at 155 pounds and reignite his title ambitions. To do so, the American must become the first to beat Paddy Pimblett inside the UFC Octagon.
Silva, Prates, Reyes Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 314
Before Volkanovski, Lopes, Chandler, and Pimblett make the walk, a number of notable names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 314 card.
Prior to that, another Fighting Nerds product will make the walk in Carlos Prates. He, too, will have the chance to climb a divisional ladder, as he shares the cage with longtime welterweight contender Geoff Neal.
And opening the UFC 314 main card will be former two-time light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes. Having returned to winning ways with consecutive triumphs, “The Devastator” will look to edge closer to the top five at the expense of Nikita Krylov.
Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over MMA legend Patrício Pitbull, who is slated to top the prelims in his debut fight versus ex-interim UFC featherweight champ Yair Rodríguez.
See below for the full UFC 314 card, as it stands.
Main Card:
Featherweight Championship: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes
Lightweight: Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett
Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva
Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes
Preliminary Card:
Featherweight: Yair Rodríguez vs. Patrício Pitbull
Featherweight: Dan Ige vs. Sean Woodson
Women’s Strawweight: Yan Xiaonan vs. Virna Jandiroba
Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. Chase Hooper
Early Preliminary Card:
Featherweight: Darren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa
Middleweight: Sedriques Dumas vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
Flyweight: Sumudaerji vs. Mitch Raposo
Featherweight: Alberto Montes vs. Roberto Romero
Middleweight: Tresean Gore vs. Marco Tulio
Women’s Bantamweight: Nora Cornolle vs. Hailey Cowan
Alex Pereira has hinted at his plans for the future following a disappointing result at UFC 313 this weekend.
Pereira, a former middleweight titleholder, saw his championship reign and undefeated run at 205 pounds come to a halt at Saturday’s pay-per-view event inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.
Following a 2024 in which he defeated Jamahal Hill, Jiří Procházka, and Khalil Rountree Jr. to record three successful defenses, “Poatan” was next handed the challenge of Magomed Ankalaev.
Though fans aren’t exactly clamoring to see the matchup again giving how it played out at UFC 313, Pereira suggested during a video uploaded to his social media accounts that a rematch is likely next.
“Gonna make some adjustments for the rematch, and I’ll be back much better, you can count on it,” Alex Pereira said. “Never give up on your dreams. Chama.”
— Alex "Poatan" Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) March 9, 2025
That sentiment appears to also be shared by the higher-ups, with UFC CEO Dana White confirming during his post-fight press conference that a second dance between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira is “probably” next.
UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad was an animated figure in the corner of Ignacio Bahamondes this weekend.
Bahamondes was among those tasked with setting the stage for Saturday’s championship headliner at UFC 313, and the highly touted lightweight prospect emerged as one of the event’s top performers.
Talking the Chilean 27-year-old through the action cageside was a notable teammate of his in Belal Muhammad. And the UFC posted footage of the champ’s ecstatic reaction as his man forced a tap from “The Tarantula.”
“Let’s go! Best in the world, I told you guys,” Muhammad said to the camera. “He can strike and he can grapple, he does it all!”
Turned revealed his intentions to retire in the aftermath of Saturday’s bout, admitting he’d been pondering the decision since his setback to Renato Moicano at UFC 300 last April.
Bahamondes will likely inherit his #13 position in the lightweight rankings, having moved to a three-fight winning streak with his triumph at UFC 313.
The win marked a rebound for the American 11 months on from a devastating knockout loss to Max Holloway. Beforehand, “The Highlight” was in the conversation for a title shot after sleeping Dustin Poirier, and he now hopes to be back in that discussion.
During his post-fight press conference, Dana White reacted to Gaethje announcing his continued push toward Islam Makhachev’s gold at the age of 36. The UFC CEO’s remarks made for good listening for the ex-interim champ.
“I mean, what’s he ranked right now? Fourth or something, right? Third?” White said. “There you go. He’s still the number three-ranked guy in the world. So the odds of him getting a title shot are pretty good.”
Justin Gaethje has previously fallen short of the undisputed throne on two occasions, with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira submitting him in 2020 and 2022, respectively.
If Jiří Procházka was anticipating a respectful interaction with new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Magomed Ankalaev, he was sorely mistaken.
Procházka, a former titleholder himself, watched on this weekend as his ex-opponent Alex Pereira returned to the cage at UFC 313 in Las Vegas for his fourth defense of the 205-pound title.
After wins over Jamahal Hill, Procházka, and Khalil Rountree Jr. in 2024 grew his stardom, “Poatan” was looking to emerge victorious from his toughest test in the division to date — a clash with the well-rounded Ankalaev.
Amid a mix of praise for the triumph and criticism for the manner of victory, another of the division’s top names in Procházka appeared on social media to give a congratulatory take on Ankalaev’s display.
Congrats to @AnkalaevM, beautiful pressure. Most of people dont like it, but you won the title for now.@AlexPereiraUFC, last dance ?
“Congrats to @AnkalaevM, beautiful pressure. Most of people dont like it, but you won the title for now,” Procházka wrote on X, before turning his attention to Pereira. “@AlexPereiraUFC, last dance?”
While, to most, that reads as the Czech star even defending Magomed Ankalaev against the backlash his fight style continues to receive, the light heavyweight kingpin evidently doesn’t care for such praise from a rival…
I think you are a fraud and so many guys deserve it more than you you need to go win some fights
— Muhammad big ANK Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) March 9, 2025
“I think you are a fraud and so many guys deserve it more than you you need to go win some fights,” Magomed Ankalaev responded.
And after the ESPN MMA account reposted Procházka’s post, Ankalaev was once again close by with a puzzling insult to the Czech fan favorite.
This guy is a terrible fighter
— Muhammad big ANK Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) March 9, 2025
“This guy is a terrible fighter”
It’s unclear exactly what “BJP” did to upset the newly crowned champ. He did predict defeat for the Russian if he attempted to strike with Pereira, so perhaps Magomed Ankalaev is one to hold a grudge over such remarks.
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 3, and Sunday, March 9, a small number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources.
The gym where featherweight fighter Francis Marshall trains has joined many in calling out his controversial decision loss at UFC 313.
Marshall was among those making the walk early at Saturday’s pay-per-view event inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. On the undercard of Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev’s light heavyweight title fight, the American prospect faced Mairon Santos.
“Fire” entered the cage at UFC 313 as an underdog against the Brazilian, who was highly touted and riding the wave from success on last year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter.
In spite of the odds, Marshall fought admirably, dropping Santos in the first round and enjoying success across the remaining two frames. But although that netted him one 30-27 scorecard, experienced judges Chris Lee and David Lethaby saw the contest 29-28 in favor of his opponent.
Marshall and his team will evidently be feeling hard done by after the result at UFC 313, evidenced by a recent post on the X account of American Top Team, the renowned Florida gym out of which “Fire” trains.
A real shame when a fighter trains his ass off and clearly wins, only to get screwed.
— American Top Team (@AmericanTopTeam) March 9, 2025
“A real shame when a fighter trains his ass off and clearly wins, only to get screwed.”
Marshall, 26, is now 8-3 in professional MMA. Since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series as an undefeated fighter, he’s gone 2-3 in the UFC. Of the defeats, two have come via split decision.
Middleweight prospect Brunno “The Hulk” Ferreira was one of the standout performers during UFC 313’s preliminary card, overcoming some painful adversity to submit Armen Petrosyan in style.
Ferreira and Petrosyan were among those tasked with setting the stage for some notable names at tonight’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas, which will culminate in a light heavyweight championship clash between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev.
The Brazilian certainly did his best to build momentum heading toward the main card, but his victory didn’t come easy.
That was due to a difficult first round at UFC 313 that saw “The Hulk” eat back-to-back low blows within seconds. The consecutive fouls resulted in Mark Smith taking a point from Petrosyan.
Ultimately, that scorecard blemish wasn’t allowed to play a part in proceedings, as Ferreira closed the show in round two with a brutal-looking armbar that drew a quick tap from Petrosyan.
Brunno Ferreira Punishes Armen Petrosyan’s Low Blows With Brutal Armbar At UFC 313
The result at UFC 313 moved Ferreira to 12-2 as a professional and marked a rebound from his defeat to Abus Magomedov last October. The Brazilian is now 4-2 across his six outings in the Octagon.
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.”
With today’s two cancellations, UFC 313 will move ahead with 10 contests.
For Curtis Blaydes, the sickness has pushed back his return to action. The American hasn’t competed since a first-round knockout loss to Tom Aspinall in what marked his first title fight on MMA’s biggest stage.
After John Castañeda was confirmed to be out of his early prelim with Chris Gutierrez, illness also struck a more high-profile matchup, with former interim heavyweight title challenger Curtis Blaydes withdrawing from UFC 313’s featured prelim opposite newcomer Rizvan Kuniev.
Tonight’s event will move forward with 10 fights, culminating in a light heavyweight title battle between champion Alex Pereira and challenger Magomed Ankalaev.
The active Brazilian got his wish to be the one with an opportunity to make Mitchell pay inside the cage for his recent pro-Nazi podcast remarks.
And while that controversy resulted in Silva leading “f*ck Bryce Mitchell” chants alongside the fans in attendance at Friday’s presser in Las Vegas, “Lord” also had another topic the American has frequently given his two cents on in mind.
The Fighting Nerds standout arrived with a globe, poking fun at “Thug Nasty’s” belief that the Earth is flat.
Things are getting interesting at this #UFC314 press conference 👀
The press conference came just over a month out from UFC 314, which goes down inside Miami’s Kaseya Center on April 12.
Silva and Mitchell’s battle makes up a stacked undercard, which will see the likes of Michael Chandler, Patricio Pitbull, Yan Xiaonan, and Carlos Prates set the stage for Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes’ championship headliner.
UFC 313 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!
The upcoming pay-per-view event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada provides a chance for UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira to record his fourth successful title defense. To continue his reign beyond the March 8 main event, “Poatan” is tasked with spoiling the ambitions of top contender Magomed Ankalaev.
Co-headlining will be former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who will look to bounce back from his brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 11 months ago getting the better of striking specialist Rafael Fiziev for a second time.
Elsewhere on the card, entertaining lightweights Jalin Turner and Ignacio Bahamondes collide, ex-strawweight title challenger Amanda Lemos looks to halt up-and-coming Iasmin Lucindo’s surge up the ladder, and Fighting Nerds product Mauricio Ruffy meets veteran King Green.
UFC 313 takes place tomorrow night, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!
After staging fights in Los Angeles and Sydney to open its pay-per-view schedule for 2025, the mixed martial arts leader’s next port of call comes close to its home base in Las Vegas.
One title will be on the line at the top of the card, with Alex Pereira defending his light heavyweight belt against top contender Magomed Ankalaev in the main event. Co-headlining, meanwhile, will be a crucial rematch at 155 pounds between former interim champion Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev.
Also on the main card will be returns for lightweight contender Jalin Turner, former strawweight title challenger Amanda Lemos, and Fighting Nerds standout Mauricio Ruffy.
UFC 313 Weigh-In Video, Results
UFC 313 takes place Saturday, March 8 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT.
See above for a replay of the UFC 313 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below.
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira (205lbs) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (205lbs)
Lightweight: Justin Gaethje (156lbs) vs. Rafael Fiziev (156lbs)
Lightweight: Jalin Turner (154.5lbs) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (156lbs)
Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Lemos (116lbs) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (115.5lbs)
Lightweight: King Green (155.5lbs) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (155.5lbs)
Preliminary Card:
Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes (262lbs) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (264.5lbs)
Flyweight: Joshua Van (125.5lbs) vs. Rei Tsuruya (125.5lbs)
Middleweight: Brunno Ferreira (186lbs) vs. Armen Petrosyan (186lbs)
Welterweight: Alex Morono (171lbs) vs. Carlos Leal (169lbs)
Early Preliminary Card:
Featherweight: Mairon Santos (145.5lbs) vs. Francis Marshall (146lbs)
Featherweight: Chris Gutierrez (144.5lbs) vs. John Castañeda (145lbs)
Middleweight: Djorden Santos (185.5lbs) vs. Ozzy Diaz (185.5lbs)
Setting the stage for the UFC 313 headliners will be a key rematch at 155 pounds. Former interim champ Justin Gaethje will look to emerge victorious from his first fight since a brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway last April, as he runs it back with a man he’s previously gotten the better of in Azerbaijan’s Rafael Fiziev.
Also on pay-per-view will be a clash of lightweight strikers in Jalin Turner and Ignacio Bahamondes, an important strawweight bout between Amanda Lemos and Iasmin Lucindo, and the latest test for Fighting Nerds standout Mauricio Ruffy opposite King Green.
As is customary during major fight weeks, the athletes will take to the stage on Thursday for the UFC 313 pre-fight press conference. The latest edition will see the main and co-main events, as well as Turner and Bahamondes, with mic in hand.
The main event will see light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira defend his title for the fourth time since capturing it at the expense of Jiří Procházka 16 months ago. To continue his reign, “Poatan” is tasked with spoiling the ambitions of top contender Magomed Ankalaev.
Co-headlining will be former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who will look to bounce back from his brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway last April by once again getting the better of striking specialist Rafael Fiziev.
Elsewhere on the card, entertaining lightweights Jalin Turner and Ignacio Bahamondes collide, ex-strawweight title challenger Amanda Lemos looks to halt up-and-coming Iasmin Lucindo’s rise, and Fighting Nerds standout Mauricio Ruffy meets King Green.
UFC 313: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 313 event, Thomas Albano, Ryan Jarrell, Pranav Pandey, and Aakrit Sharma have provided their picks for the five matchups set for the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through two cards in 2025.
Thomas Albano (6-2) & Pranav Pandey (6-2)
Ryan Jarrell (4-4) & Aakrit Sharma (4-4)
And with that, it’s time for the team’s predictions for UFC 313.
Lightweight: King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: I want to commend King Green for the run and wins that he continues to have all these years later in the UFC – at the age of 38. But this is a problem fight for him. Mauricio Ruffy and the Fighting Nerds have been the biggest names to watch for this year in the UFC. The team dominated the scene in 2024 and continues to rack up wins and popularity. Ruffy is a dangerous finisher who can give Green, who has finishing ability and power in his own right, trouble. Someone on the Fighting Nerds should be UFC champion within these next couple of years. Mark my words. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)
Ryan Jarrell: I’ve always been a big fan of Green’s fan-friendly fighting style. He always comes to fight, even if it gets him into a bit of trouble. At some point, Father Time catches up to us all, and I think that time is getting very close for the 26-fight UFC veteran. Ruffy is just 28 years old and is coming into this fight with a ton of momentum and confidence. If he fights smart and doesn’t get dragged into a dog fight, then it’s his fight to lose. Give me the young lion to kick off the PPV card with a win. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)
Pranav Pandey: This feels like a brutal assignment for the American, and I can’t help but think the matchmakers did him no favors with this one. Green brings swagger to the cage, pairing it with a slick boxing game, but he’s up against a relentless young menace with a knack for finishing fights. Ruffy’s surge is undeniable, and underestimating him would be a mistake. He’s got the power, elite grappling, and a killer instinct to make this a nightmare for Green — and I wouldn’t be surprised if he adds another stoppage to his record. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)
Aakrit Sharma: Ruffy’s last win against James Llontop was a good showcase of his striking. He has yet another durable opponent in Green, who wouldn’t mind a standup battle for three rounds. The lightweight veteran looked impressive against Jim Miller, but he’s started to struggle against up-and-coming talent or explosive strikers such as Paddy Pimblett, Jalin Turner, and Drew Dober. At 38 years old, I’m not expecting him to get any better skill-wise, and at UFC 313, he’s likely being used to push Ruffy up the rankings and help the McGregor-esque striker become a bigger draw.
All things considered, this should be an easy win for the Brazilian at UFC 313, and I don’t think Green’s ground game is threatening enough to pull off a submission upset. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)
Consensus: 4-0 Mauricio Ruffy
Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: Amanda Lemos is going to look for a needed bounce-back victory at UFC 313 after getting submitted by Virna Jandiroba in what some might consider an upset. Lemos is still a top name at 115 pounds but has now lost two of three, which includes an unsuccessful challenge of champion Weili Zhang. Iasmin Lucindo lost her UFC debut but has since won four straight, which includes wins over Polyana Viana, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and Marina Rodriguez. A win over Lemos would vault her right into one of the names to consider as a top contender.
This is the experience vs. youth battle, and Lucindo may be able to battle for control in grappling situations against Lemos. The former title challenger, however, has power that Lucindo has not come across before, and that could spell trouble for the 23-year-old. (Prediction: Amanda Lemos)
Ryan Jarrell: In the fight game, the young usually eats the old. According to the odds, that’s what may happen here. But Lemos still has plenty left in the tank as far as I’m concerned. Yes, she was caught by Jandiroba in her most recent fight. But outside of that, she’s into lost to Weili and Jéssica Andrade. I just don’t think she is done just yet. Give me the veteran to hold off the charging youngster and win a decision. (Prediction: Amanda Lemos)
Pranav Pandey: The all-Brazilian duel I never knew I needed. Lemos, the seasoned veteran, undoubtedly holds the edge in experience, but the scales seem tilted against her in this matchup. The former title challenger is up against a younger, hungrier opponent with heavier hands, slicker grappling, and a growing reputation for dismantling strawweight veterans. If Lucindo can dictate the pace, I believe she’ll take control and make this fight her own. (Prediction: Iasmin Lucindo)
Aakrit Sharma: This is another veteran vs. newcomer matchup in the UFC women’s strawweight division. To be fair, it’s hard to pick who will favor the 14-year age gap more. While Lucindo, 23, has the potential to show up better with every new fight, Lemos has already faced the top competitors of the division and has impressive wins over the likes of Mackenzie Dern and Angela Hill. Lucindo is an undeniable prospect with a bright future ahead of her. However, after her last fight, I concluded that her time to grab or fight for the title is still far, and she needs to improve her striking significantly.
Even if she wins this weekend at UFC 313, she’ll be heavily outclassed by the division’s top five, which contains Jéssica Andrade, Tatiana Suarez, and Yan Xiaonan. Her last victory was a split decision that was only granted to her based on control, and she can’t afford to be hit that often against a strong opponent like Lemos. I do think this is a 50-50 fight, but I’ll pick Lucindo because of her activity and constantly improving game. If she feels threatened on the feet, she can take the fight to the ground, and Lemos will likely have a hard time getting back up. (Prediction: Iasmin Lucindo)
Consensus: 2-2
Lightweight: Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: Jalin Turner has lost three of his last four, though those losses have come against some great competition. Ignacio Bahamondes, however, has had a decent rise up the lightweight ranks since coming into the UFC in 2021, with just two losses in his Octagon run so far. Bahamondes has got the momentum, obviously. However, Turner has fought better competition and will have the physical advantage when it comes to his long limbs and lanky body. Bahamondes has shown some weakness in the ground game, and Turner should be smart and try to take advantage of that (especially after the bad fight IQ he displayed against Renato Moicano last year).
Turner’s three losses in his current downward trend aren’t bad considering the names, but four losses in five fights and a defeat in this fight may completely dash any chances of Turner reaching noteworthy contender status in the UFC again. I expect him to pull through with a second-round submission. (Prediction: Jalin Turner)
Ryan Jarrell: This is an interesting UFC 313 matchup considering the size of these two for the weight class. Both men are six foot three with a 75.5 inch reach. “The Tarantula” is two years older than Bahamondes, and has definitely faced the tougher competition during his tenure in the UFC. I think it’s Turner’s time to make a run. He’s a little older and probably feels the pressure to win now. Bahamondes will be around for years to come, but I am going with the American to get this win. (Prediction: Jalin Turner)
Pranav Pandey: I think this fight has all the makings of an all-out barnburner. I anticipate a striking-heavy battle, which undoubtedly favors Turner due to his towering reach advantage. However, “La Jaula” arguably possesses the sharper fight IQ — it’s just a matter of whether he can navigate the danger zones without getting tangled in “The Tarantula’s” grappling. With that in mind, Bahamondes is riding a strong wave from back-to-back finishes last year, and if he can find the openings and exploit them with precision, I can see him dishing out serious damage and putting the American through a punishing ordeal. (Prediction: Ignacio Bahamondes)
Aakrit Sharma: Turner looking really good against most of his opponents, including top-ranked fighters, thanks to his power and striking but then losing by a close margin really bugs me. Bahamondes, as good and dangerous on the feet as he is, isn’t a Dan Hooker, Renato Moicano or a Mateusz Gamrot. His submission win over Rongzhu has aged like fine wine, but I don’t see the unranked prospect moving past “The Tarantula” just yet because grappling is not his forte, and Turner is tough as nails on the feet. It’s important to remember that Turner could’ve registered a very impressive KO win over Moicano at UFC 300, and his career trajectory would’ve been completely different. I strongly believe he’s just been unlucky with the matchups and, well, is also competing in the toughest division in the promotion.
It’s unlikely for this fight to hit the ground unless one of the fighters uses it to recover from a knockdown. And because I believe Turner to be a better and more experienced striker, I pick him to win this fight. Both fighters are arguably in their physical primes, and this is easily a FOTN contender for UFC 313. (Prediction: Jalin Turner)
Consensus: 3-1 Jalin Turner
Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: It’s absolutely heartbreaking that injury has cost us what could have been an amazing UFC 313 war between Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker. But the consolation prize is great as well considering the close encounter these two had in their first fight, with Gaethje coming out on top at UFC 286 in a bout that was one of 2023’s best. Gaethje’s strategy will be more of the same – use leg kicks and combinations to deliver a star-stunning, highlight performance (no play on words intended). While there are questions about him being 36 and coming off the knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300, there should be plenty of questions about Fiziev as well.
Fiziev entered the first fight with Gaethje a 12-1 rising star, but he’s now lost two straight, having not fought since injuring his ACL against Mateusz Gamrot. Overall, I feel Fiziev will be able to have a strong effort in his first fight back from injury, but Gaethje’s pressure and striking will give him the taste of victory once again. (Prediction: Justin Gaethje)
Ryan Jarrell: Two years later, we are getting a rematch that all combat sports will love. The first fight was very close, with both having their moments. I don’t want to see Gaethje walk off into the sunset anytime soon, but I am starting to wonder how many more fights we will see “The Highlight” compete in. After his lopsided loss to Holloway, it was smart to take time off and not book a fight too soon. Will that rest be enough for the 36-year-old to look like himself in this rematch? I’m not sure it is, so for that reason I’m going with the younger fighter in Fiziev to battle his way to a decision victory in this one. (Prediction: Rafael Fiziev)
Pranav Pandey: Both fighters have a deep understanding of each other’s arsenals, and that level of exposure breeds a more refined yet relentless brand of controlled mayhem — especially when Gaethje is involved. Their first encounter was razor-close, and this time, the short-notice booking makes it even more exciting. Both men are returning from a loss and an extended hiatus, but it’s “Ataman” who has been out of action for a significantly longer stretch. I believe that layoff could be a crucial factor in this rematch.
On the other hand, “The Highlight” endured a brutal beating in his last outing, and whether the aftermath of that fight still lingers remains to be seen. That said, I think his relentless aggression and spunk — while both a weapon and a liability — give him the edge in this matchup. One thing’s for sure: I don’t see this fight reaching the judges’ scorecards at UFC 313. (Prediction: Justin Gaethje)
Aakrit Sharma: Two things. First, I am in the minority of people who think Fiziev won the first fight due to the first two rounds. He did get battered in the third, but the eye poke from Gaethje definitely played a role in it. Second, Fiziev is more accurate and faster on the feet, which is not a huge surprise considering his kickboxing background. He proved he has all the tools to outstrike “The Highlight” on any day, but the veteran lightweight is as durable as they come, which helped him in the first fight, too. Gaethje, who’s become a very patient and calculated striker at this point, might want to mix things up by utilizing his wrestling in this fight, but as we know it, that’s not how he secures bonuses every time he enters the Octagon.
This fight will also reveal whether Gaethje has truly recovered from the Holloway KO. It is often said that fighters don’t remain the same after such crushing losses, but I still have faith in Gaethje’s ability to turn this into another brawl to be remembered for ages. Fiziev has had quite the time to recover from the knee injury that occurred in the Gamrot bout, and this time around, he’ll likely come to fight with the necessary adjustments against former interim UFC lightweight champ. Instead of trying to take out Gaethje early, it would make more sense for “Ataman” to spend his gas task wisely and keep up the high output of strikes and kicks across all rounds. I predict that he will perform better than UFC 286 and finally become worthy of a title shot. (Prediction: Rafael Fiziev)
Consensus: 2-2
UFC Light Heavyweight Title: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev
Images: @ufc/X & UFC.com
Thomas Albano: After a 2024 campaign that saw him in contention for the Male Fighter of the Year in MMA across various platforms, Alex Pereira looks to continue his dominant run at 205 pounds. He has saved the UFC a number of times with cards over the course of the last year, and now a win against Magomed Ankaleav could very well put him in the running for a potential superfight against Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall, if recent comments from Dana White are to be believed.
That said, Ankalaev, despite having his own kind of power, is going to need to utilize his takedowns and wrestling to its greatest potential. The Russian needs to set the pace early and may need to weather an early storm. It’s not what some people want to hear, but he needs to start scoring takedowns from the first round on. The more he can get this fight to the ground, the better the chances he has of walking out a champion. While Ankalaev has power in his leg kicks and his hands, we’ve seen how all Pereira needs to do is land one hook to put someone’s lights out. If Ankalaev is not careful at UFC 313, all it will take is just a mere few seconds for that to happen. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Ryan Jarrell: I keep going back and forth about this one. On paper, I think the safe bet is Pereira to continue his dominance and retain the title. But Ankalaev is a very interesting stylistic matchup for the champion. If this fight stays on the feet, it will be Pereira all day. But if Ankalaev can mix things up and get this fight to the ground, he could pull the upset and become the new champ. With how dominant the champion has been, I just can’t pick “Poatan” to lose his title. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Pranav Pandey: I believe the fight will exceed the expectations of what most are anticipating. That being said, while I think Ankalaev is undeniably a stylistic menace for Pereira, I can’t help but feel a certain frustration with the initial disrespect shown by the oddsmakers toward “Poatan”. Let’s not forget — he’s the reigning champion, and not just any champion, but an undeniable force of dominance. I think it’s crucial to remember that his striking prowess and his ability to control a fight elevate him to an entirely different level.
Ankalaev certainly possesses a well-rounded striking game, with solid reach and the added dimension of a wrestling threat that could pose some problems for Pereira. However, the reality is his takedown skills aren’t quite Khabib Nurmagomedov-esque. While Ankalaev will undoubtedly present challenges, we’ve already seen the blueprint laid out by Jan Błachowicz, who essentially handed every 205-pounder a game plan for neutralizing the Russian’s grappling — by relentlessly attacking his legs with a series of kicks. It’s a strategy that works, and it’s one that Pereira can certainly employ to his advantage.
If there’s one thing we know for certain, it’s that Pereira is a master at imposing his will on his opponents in ways that go beyond the ordinary with his powerful shots. I firmly believe that the prevailing notion — that Ankalaev is a challenge Pereira has never encountered — misses the mark. Honestly, Pereira presents a challenge Ankalaev has never faced. When all is said and done, I have no doubt that Pereira will rise to the occasion (again). (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Aakrit Sharma: MMA math doesn’t work all the time, but the way Jan Blachowicz was able to trouble Ankalaev with his leg kicks, I can foresee Pereira’s gameplan heading into the UFC 313 main event. Ankalaev’s plan, on the other hand, is a slight mystery as he didn’t show any willingness to grapple against a solid striker like Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308. He might’ve been proving a point about being good enough to stand and bang with the champ, but “Poatan” is undeniably miles ahead of the rest of the pack in striking and kickboxing.
The Russian is quick, and Pereira gets hit too, but the champ’s UFC 307 defense against Khalil Rountree made us realize that he has a solid chin at light heavyweight. He’s also fighting after a relatively long break, so I expect him to be in a better state physically. Ankalaev’s grappling advantage is being called the deciding factor for this fight. However, in a heavy division like light heavyweight, grappling exchanges lack the explosiveness, scrambles, agility, and technical intricacies seen in smaller divisions, which explains why upsets like Jiří Procházka submitting Glover Teixeira happen.
So, even with just brute strength and Teixeira’s continued training over the last couple of years, I think Pereira will be able to avert the threat on the ground against Ankalaev. The UFC light heavyweight kingpin also has decent cardio for his age. To win, he should be the one dictating the fight’s pace as usual, and I am picking him to end up with another highlight reel this weekend at UFC 313, as his knockout power is truly special at 205 pounds. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Consensus: 4-0 Alex Pereira
That’ll do it for our UFC 313 staff picks! What do you think? Do your predictions look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 313 card below.
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev
Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev
Lightweight: Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo
Lightweight: King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy
Preliminary Card:
Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev
Flyweight: Joshua Van vs. Rei Tsuruya
Middleweight: Brunno Ferreira vs. Armen Petrosyan
Welterweight: Alex Morono vs. Carlos Leal
Early Preliminary Card:
Featherweight: Mairon Santos vs. Francis Marshall
Featherweight: Chris Gutierrez vs. John Castañeda
Middleweight: Djorden Santos vs. Ozzy Diaz
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 313!
The bout marked the Brazilian’s first in 12 months. And by the sounds of things, fans could be waiting the same amount of time before seeing the 39-year-old back in action.
During a recent interview with Bloody Elbow’s Kyle Dimond prior to her latest win in the boxing ring this week, Cyborg outlined when she expects to make the walk to the PFL SmartCage for the second time.
“I believe my next MMA fight is gonna be in the fall,” she said. “So after the (boxing) fight, I just keep working, keep training, and yes, I believe it’s gonna be around that time.”
While many have suggested there might be a struggle finding adequate opposition for her, Cyborg already has a name in mind.
“PFL have other girls I can fight. They have Leah McCourt who can fight with me. We were already supposed to fight in Bellator to defend the title. They have other girls there.”
Guess who’s ranked number 12 in the world as a professional boxer
Though the night ended in the worst way possible for him, UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje saw plenty of positives to take from his most recent fight.
Gaethje is slated to co-headline this weekend’s UFC 313 pay-per-view in a rematch against Rafael Fiziev, who’s stepped up on late notice to replace the injured Dan Hooker.
For “The Highlight,” Saturday’s event will mark his first outing in 11 months, having not appeared since a crushing last-second knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 last April.
Much has been made about the impact of that setback leading up to Gaethje’s return, and the man himself revealed during media day that he sat down and watched the full fight back for the first time just days out from UFC 313.
“I just watched the Max fight today for the first time,” he said during media day. “I actually think I fought really well. It was just he was so great that night. … I just figured it was about time (to rewatch it). … To be fair, I did stop it with 10 seconds left (laughs). I’ve seen that part plenty of times.”
Ever seen a boring @Justin_Gaethje fight? Neither have we 😮💨
Gaethje went on to address his previous comments about returning to a more aggressive style in 2025. That, coupled with a “refined” skillset, will make for a dangerous combination in the eyes of the ex-interim champ.
