MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • Jamahal Hill Expects ‘Hate’ For Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev Prediction

    Jamahal Hill Expects ‘Hate’ For Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev Prediction

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill has given his take on Saturday’s main event between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev — and he doesn’t foresee it being a popular one.

    This weekend’s UFC 313 pay-per-view will conclude with Pereira’s fourth defense of the light heavyweight gold, which he held through three challenges in 2024.

    Among the fallen contenders was Hill, who was knocked out by “Poatan” inside the first round at UFC 300 last April.

    But despite feeling the full force of Pereira’s patented left hook, “Sweet Dreams” doesn’t expect Magomed Ankalaev to suffer the same fate inside T-Mobile Arena on March 8.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Hill broke down the latest title fight in his division. Of note was his belief that Ankalaev’s striking threat is being wrongly counted out.

    “Magomed’s striking is seriously being slept on here,” Hill said. “I don’t believe that Pereira sits back and wants to fight out of the pocket. He wants to put the pressure on him and land good, hard shots on the outside. The problem with that is, Magomed is a counter striker.

    “If you look at his last few fights, he counters. He waits for you to throw, to overexert yourself, and even off of feints, if you feint and it puts your feet in the wrong spot, he’s countering you. He counters with combinations. They’re fast, and he mixes up his punches. So, he has a variety of strikes available at his disposal.”

    That, coupled with the Dagestani’s well-known grappling ability, has left Hill leaning on the challenger’s side with his prediction.

    “I know I’m going to get hate for this,” Hill stated. “But I get hate anyway, f*ck y’all. I’m probably going to go with Magomed. I’ve just got a feeling. … I feel he has more tools to win. Alex has that one-hit wonder…but I believe Magomed also has that.

    “He’s been in this position for. He let the title slip away, slip out of his hands once before. I believe he’ll be a lot more focused, locked in for this,” Hill continued. “Ultimately, he just has more ways to win.”

    Hill will look to stake his claim for a showdown with the winner down the line when he returns to action at the UFC Fight Night in Kansas City next month.

    After a loss to Jiří Procházka at UFC 311 this past January, “Sweet Dreams” is now tasked with dispatching of Khalil Rountree Jr. if he’s to avoid a three-fight losing skid.

  • PFL World Tournament HW & LHW Rosters Revealed

    PFL World Tournament HW & LHW Rosters Revealed

    The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has finished announcing the rosters for eight World Tournaments set for 2025, with the final releases being the heavyweight and light heavyweight lineups.

    Major change is coming to the PFL this year, with the promotion making the decision to eliminate the season and playoff format from its yearly structure. Replacing that and the $1 million prize money will be Grand Prix-style tournaments across eight divisions, with the winners of each collecting $500,000.

    After confirming the dates and venue for four events that will host first-round matchups, the PFL has been announcing the full rosters. Prior to this week, the welterweight, featherweight, women’s flyweight, bantamweight, middleweight, and lightweight lineups were confirmed.

    And the rollouts have now concluded with the 16 men set to compete in the inaugural heavyweight and light heavyweight tournaments.

    Among the most notable inclusions for the former bracket is Alexandr Romanov, a once highly touted UFC prospect who went 7-3 in the Octagon, losing only to top 10 names in Alexander Volkov, Marcin Tybura, and Jailton Almeida.

    See below for the full eight-man roster for this year’s heavyweight World Tournament, as announced in a recent press release.

    • Valentin Moldavsky (13-4) 
    • Alexandr Romanov (18-3)
    • Oleg Popov (19-2)
    • Linton Vassell (25-10)
    • Sergey Bilostenniy (13-3)
    • Tim Johnson (18-11)
    • Pouya Rahmani (4-0)
    • Abraham Bably (5-1)

    At 205 pounds, meanwhile, former PFL champions Rob Wilkinson and Antonio Carlos Jr. feature, alongside PFL Europe standout Simeon Powell and ex-Bellator light heavyweight kingpin Phil Davis.

    See below for the full eight-man roster for this year’s light heavyweight World Tournament, in addition to a pair of alternates.

    • Phil Davis (24-7) 
    • Rob Wilkinson (19-3)
    • Karl Moore (12-3)
    • Marcelo Nunes (11-2)
    • Antonio Carlos Jr. (16-6)
    • Simeon Powell (10-1)
    • Karl Albrektsson (14-6)
    • Sullivan Cauley (6-1)
    • Alternate – Alex Polizzi (11-4)
    • Alternate – Rafael Xavier (13-8)
  • Turki Alalshikh, TKO Partner For New Boxing Promotion Led By UFC’s Dana White

    Turki Alalshikh, TKO Partner For New Boxing Promotion Led By UFC’s Dana White

    Turki Alalshikh and TKO Group Holdings have announced a multi-year partnership that will see the creation of a brand new boxing promotion, the executive leadership of which will be jointly led by UFC CEO Dana White and WWE President Nick Khan.

    White has picked up talk of venturing back into the boxing realm in recent years, and the start of 2025 saw reports of the UFC chief being in advanced talks with Alalshikh — Saudi Arabia’s Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority — over a potential new league.

    That’s proved to be true, with the official partnership to establish a new promotion being announced Wednesday in a press release.

    The deal sees Alalshikh, TKO — founded by Endeavor as part of a merger between WWE and Zuffa LLC, the parent company of UFC — and entertainment conglomerate Sela come together in pursuit of providing the new “premier” platform in the sport of boxing.

    “This landmark partnership between industry powerhouses sets the stage for an unparalleled experience for boxers and fans,” Alalshikh said. “Together, we are developing the next generation of talent and delivering world-class events at a time when the sport is primed for further disruption.”

    The release outlined that TKO will serve as managing partner, providing day-to-day operational expertise, management, and oversight of the new boxing promotion.

    Meanwhile, Sela is credited for delivering international events such as Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov in Los Angeles and Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois in London, as well as being the lead sponsor for Newcastle United Football Club.

    Though further details will emerge in the coming weeks and months, the recent announcement did reveal some of the major components of the deal.

    • A highly structured system to develop new talent from around the world, including athlete combines and academies.
    • Access for all boxers to the UFC Performance Institute, the world’s leading combat sports performance training, research, rehabilitation, and nutrition center.
    • TKO’s production, media, and promotional expertise, to deliver both in-arena experiences and top-tier, state-of-the-art broadcasts to fans around the world.
  • Curtis Blaydes ‘Had To Google’ Debuting UFC 313 Opponent

    Curtis Blaydes ‘Had To Google’ Debuting UFC 313 Opponent

    UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes was left having to do some additional research when the latest assignment was slid across his desk.

    Blaydes is set to return to action at this weekend’s UFC 313 pay-per-view, almost eight months on from his failed first title bid on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage last July in England.

    Off the back of a crushing first-round knockout loss to Tom Aspinall, “Razor” will look to bounce back in his first appearance of 2025. And to do so, he’s tasked with defending his #5 spot on the heavyweight ladder against a newcomer to the Octagon.

    Blaydes will top Saturday’s preliminary card opposite Rizvan Kuniev, a Dagestani heavyweight who followed a brief stint in the PFL with victory on Dana White’s Contender Series last August.

    The booking came as a surprise to many. And it wasn’t just some in the fanbase who had to look up the man placed opposite Blaydes…

    “I did (a double take), but like I always say, the money’s the same regardless if it’s Jon Jones or if it’s a debut guy,” Blaydes said during an interview with MMA Fighting. “The money’s the same so I’ll always be down.

    “I had to Google him. I watched his fight on The (Dana White’s) Contender (Series), that’s really the only fight of his I watched. He looks like your traditional heavyweight — swings heavy and hopes to knock you out early.”

    While his opponent may not be an established name in the UFC heavyweight division, Blaydes will no doubt still be motivated to ensure he doesn’t fall to the first losing skid of his career inside T-Mobile Arena on March 8.

  • VIDEO: Colby Covington Sees Former Teammate At UFC PI, Runs Away

    VIDEO: Colby Covington Sees Former Teammate At UFC PI, Runs Away

    UFC welterweight Colby Covington almost had a run-in with an ex-training partner at the UFC Performance Institute this week.

    Covington, a polarizing figure in mixed martial arts, isn’t short on enemies amassed throughout his career. From American Top Team fighters like Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal to former opponents in Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards, “Chaos” has his fair share of detractors in the sport.

    With that in mind, being in places swarming with fighters like the UFC PI no doubt always runs the risk of the 37-year-old bumping into a hostile face. And that’s exactly what happened during a recent Twitch stream on Covington’s channel.

    Footage was spread on social media showing “Chaos” turning a corner into a training area before glancing back at his cameraman. After a concerned look, the former interim titleholder quickly bolted and headed elsewhere.

    His swift exit was due to the presence of Themba Gorimbo, a former training partner of his at MMA Masters.

    Gorimbo, who also competes in the UFC welterweight division, previously sung the praises of Covington. While teammates in Florida, “The Answer” lauded his peer for helping him during a time of need during his early days in the promotion.

    Coincidentally, Gorimbo puts their falling out down to an incident at the UFC PI. He accused Covington of ‘kicking’ him out while he was using a treadmill so that he could cut weight without company for his UFC 296 title fight.

    The Zimbabwean subsequently left MMA Masters and switched to Xtreme Couture.

  • PFL’s Dakota Ditcheva ‘Freaked Out’ After Fan Used Instagram Post To Track Her Down

    PFL’s Dakota Ditcheva ‘Freaked Out’ After Fan Used Instagram Post To Track Her Down

    PFL standout Dakota Ditcheva was left spooked after an unexpected encounter with a fan.

    Ditcheva’s star has grown no end in recent times. After establishing herself as one to watch with success in the PFL Europe regional expansion in 2023, “Dangerous” proved herself on the global stage.

    The 26-year-old striking specialist most recently steamrolled through former UFC title challenger Taila Santos to remain undefeated and capture the 2024 PFL women’s flyweight title.

    With that, Ditcheva has significantly grown her fanbase. But one supporter recently showed too much enthusiasm.

    During a video uploaded to her YouTube channel late last month, Ditcheva detailed her time in Dubai for the PFL Champions Series event in January. At one point, the British fighter spoke to the camera and described an interaction with a fan at the hotel she was staying at.

    The individual, who outlined that he’d been “looking” for her, discovered Ditcheva’s location from a post on her Instagram Story that featured the hotel’s branding.

    “On the way back from breakfast, then somebody had seen that I was in this hotel on Instagram,” Ditcheva said. “It’s my fault because I put a photo on of that board, the chocolate board that they brought to my room. I put it on my Instagram Story…I don’t normally share my location until I’ve gone.”

    Despite the fan being friendly, Ditcheva admitted the experience had still ‘freaked her out’.

    “Stupidly, I did that and I just got approached on the way back from breakfast, which was fine, I love for you guys to come up and say hi and things like that, but when I’m on my own, it freaks me out a little bit,” Ditcheva continued. “He said he’d seen me on Instagram and he’d been DM-ing me and was basically looking for me. He was dead excited to see me, which is really nice and he was a really nice guy, but it does freak me out a little.

    “It’s always lovely to meet you guys, but when I’m on my own and I haven’t got my brother or my mum with me, it does just scare me a little bit,” she concluded.

    Ditcheva’s incident comes soon after tennis star Emma Raducanu’s harrowing stalking experience. The 2021 US Open champion was said to have been followed across four countries by a man whose behavior was described as being ‘fixated’ on Raducanu.

    The individual was handed a restraining order after the British tennis player spotted him in the crowd at a recent championship in Dubai.

  • Dan Hardy Names The Only ‘Legit’ Fight For Tom Aspinall Aside From Jon Jones — And It’s Not Alex Pereira

    Dan Hardy Names The Only ‘Legit’ Fight For Tom Aspinall Aside From Jon Jones — And It’s Not Alex Pereira

    In Dan Hardy’s eyes, the only intriguing opponent for Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall sits outside of the promotion.

    Aspinall continues to await news of his next assignment. Despite the division boasting two titleholders for the past 16 months, it remains unclear whether the British powerhouse and Jon Jones will meet in a unification fight.

    Following Jones’ successful defense against Stipe Miocic last November, Dana White gave his backing for “Bones” to face Aspinall next. Negotiations for that coming to fruition are seemingly underway.

    And according to Hardy, the UFC higher-ups better make Jones an offer he can’t refuse lest they be left with zero “legit” matchups for Aspinall.

    Though many might disagree and point to a heavyweight clash with current 205-pound kingpin Alex Pereira, “The Outlaw” believes only PFL star Francis Ngannou would be adequate opposition for the Manchester native.

    “Of course, Pereira could touch anybody on the chin on the planet and knock them out. But if you’re looking for a real, legit heavyweight contender for Tom, maybe I’m a broken record, but it has to be Ngannou,” Hardy said during a recent appearance on Submission Radio. “There isn’t anybody else, really. I don’t see any other fight that truly excites me. I can point at that and say, ‘That’s the heavyweight king.’ And I don’t even think I could say that if it was Jones versus Aspinall at this point, because I don’t feel like Jones is — I mean, he’s potentially number three in the heavyweight division right now, behind Ngannou and Aspinall.

    “You have to admit, though, someone else in Tom Aspinall’s position might just say, ‘Hey, give me Pereira. Let’s just fight now,’ because that would bring so much money,” Hardy continued. “But he wants the tougher fight in Jon Jones, and if Francis Ngannou were around, he’d want the tougher fight in Francis Ngannou. So it’s one of those things where we should reward the guys that deserve to be rewarded.”

    The topic of Pereira moving up another division has long been a prominent topic. And it’ll no doubt return to the surface should he dispatch of Magomed Ankalaev for a fourth successful light heavyweight title defense this weekend at UFC 313.

    Ngannou, meanwhile, emerged victorious from his PFL debut last October. He’s expected to next return to the boxing ring.

  • Julianna Peña On Lopsided Odds For Kayla Harrison Fight: ‘People Are Always Counting Me Out’

    Julianna Peña On Lopsided Odds For Kayla Harrison Fight: ‘People Are Always Counting Me Out’

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña isn’t fazed by her underdog status for the expected clash against Kayla Harrison this year.

    Peña and Harrison, who’ve long gone back and forth regarding a potential fight, appeared to set up their inevitable future showdown by emerging victorious at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City last month.

    While “The Venezeulan Vixen” secured a widely debated decision over Raquel Pennington to return to the 135-pound throne, the two-time PFL titleholder and Olympic gold medalist outpointed Ketlen Vieira earlier in the night to move to 2-0 in her UFC debut year.

    Though the champ has pushed for Amanda Nunes to return from retirement for their trilogy, it seems she’ll be tasked with stalling Harrison’s surge toward the top sometime this summer.

    The oddsmakers, for one, don’t seem to believe that is likely. The opening lines placed Peña as a huge +700 underdog.

    During an appearance on the OverDogs Podcast, the bantamweight queen reacted to those odds, outlining the edge she has over heavy favorite Harrison.

    “I think that one of the reasons why I’m a 7-1 underdog, or why I always get overlooked, or why people are always counting me out, is maybe I’m not the most technically sound,” Peña said. “(Maybe I don’t) make everything perfect, where I’m so technical. But I’ve always had this one thing that has set me apart from everybody else, and that is my mindset. And I’ve never put a ceiling on myself as far as what I’m capable of doing. I’ve always believed that I can.

    “When you have that mental toughness of, ‘I don’t care what you do, I’m still going to get up and still keep coming at you a million miles an hour,’ you’re going to have to literally cut my head off to get me to stop, because I’m not going to stop.”

    A date remains unconfirmed for Peña’s first title defense since regaining the gold at Pennington’s expense in 2024.

  • Watch KSI Slap Dillon Danis During Misfits & DAZN X Series 21 Press Conference

    Watch KSI Slap Dillon Danis During Misfits & DAZN X Series 21 Press Conference

    The launch press conference for Misfits & DAZN X Series 21 takes place today, as headliners KSI and Dillon Danis went face to face.

    British YouTube star, rapper, and celebrity boxer KSI and combat sports figure Danis are set for a second attempt at having their feud reach the ring.

    After the American pulled out from their scheduled January 2023 showdown, the former Bellator MMA fighter has now stepped in to replace Wayne Bridge in the main event later this month. The contest will mark his first since a defeat to Logan Paul and comes months out from his MMA return to face Tony Ferguson in the GFL.

    Misfits & DAZN X Series 21 is set for March 29 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. Below KSI vs. Danis, ex-UFC title challenger Darren Till is set to co-headline against a fellow Octagon veteran in Darren Stewart.

    Out of those four, all but Till appeared at Tuesday’s launch press conference in London. See below for a replay via the official DAZN YouTube channel, followed by the highlights, including one brutal slap.

    Misfits Boxing: KSI vs. Danis Press Conference Video

    Misfits Boxing: KSI vs. Danis Press Conference Highlights

  • Magomed Ankalaev: UFC Will ‘Appreciate Me’ After I Beat Alex Pereira

    Light heavyweight title challenger Magomed Ankalaev is aware that he’s not among the UFC’s favorite fighters. But at the very least, he expects to gain the “appreciation” of the higher-ups with his performance this weekend at UFC 313.

    Ankalaev is finally getting his second shot at the title, and first opportunity at handing champion Alex Pereira his opening defeat at 205 pounds.

    While Jamahal Hill, Jiří Procházka, and Khalil Rountree Jr. all failed in that quest last year, Ankalaev has been widely branded the biggest threat to “Poatan’s” reign owing to his wrestling prowess.

    But the Russian’s style has previously been under fire for a perceived lack of entertainment, something that has seemingly put the top contender out of favor with the UFC brass.

    During a recent media scrum ahead of UFC 313, Ankalaev acknowledged as much but outlined his plan to rectify that with an emphatic display inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on March 8.

    “I don’t know if they (UFC) appreciate me yet,” he said. “But after this fight, they will make sure to appreciate me.” (h/t TheMacLifePlus)

    The Dagestani’s first chance at top spot in the division came back in December 2022, when he and former champ Jan Blachowicz fought to a split draw.

    He enters his next opportunity off the back of victories over Johnny Walker and Aleksandar Rakić.

  • UFC Rankings Report: UFC Vegas 103 Winner Debuts After Extending Winning Streak To 11

    UFC Rankings Report: UFC Vegas 103 Winner Debuts After Extending Winning Streak To 11

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

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: No changes.

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

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: Following his defeat to Manel Kape in Saturday’s headliner, Asu Almabayev has fallen one place below former title challenger Steve Erceg to #9 in the UFC rankings. Further down, Ramazan Temirov has debuted on the list at #13 after his decision victory over Charles Johnson, who has now slipped three positions to #15. As a result of those changes, Joshua Van has been pushed out of the top 15.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Paige VanZant: Husband Austin Vanderford’s UFC Debut ‘Almost Felt More Special Than Any Of My Wins’

    Paige VanZant: Husband Austin Vanderford’s UFC Debut ‘Almost Felt More Special Than Any Of My Wins’

    Paige VanZant was proud as she watched Austin Vanderford announce his UFC arrival in style last month.

    Former title challenger Vanderford, the husband of former UFC fighter and recent GFL signing VanZant, signed with the UFC after entering free agency in February 2024.

    He made his debut on just days’ notice at the UFC Fight Night in Seattle on Feb. 22. Despite the lack of preparation, “The Gentlemen” impressed inside the Octagon by dominating and stopping Nikolay Veretennikov.

    During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, VanZant reflected on her man’s successful first foray into the cage on MMA’s biggest stage, admitting the moment might have surpassed her own triumphs in the UFC.

    “It almost felt more special than any of my wins,” VanZant said. “Just seeing him in that moment. He’s my best friend. Seeing him finally make the walk was incredible.

    “Now that he’s in, he’s in the UFC, it’s just playing that game of who they want him to be matched up with and going from there,” VanZant added. “He’s been training with me for this entire week, and all the coaches are like, ‘Hey, you need to take a few days off?’ But he’s like, ‘No, if I get another short notice (fight), I gotta be ready at any second.’”

    Vanderford no doubt secured his continued stay in the promotion and will look to keep his ball rolling when he makes his sophomore appearance in the Octagon.

    VanZant, meanwhile, awaits confirmation of the opponent and date for her GFL debut and MMA return. In the meantime, she’s gearing up for a third Power Slap clash this Friday in Las Vegas.

  • UFC 313 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Pereira vs. Ankalaev, Gaethje vs. Fiziev 2, And More

    UFC 313 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Pereira vs. Ankalaev, Gaethje vs. Fiziev 2, And More

    UFC 313 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, March 8, at the 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.

    Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira, who is tasked with getting the better of Magomed Ankalaev if he’s to record a fourth successful title defense.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see a former interim champ in action as Justin Gaethje returns for his first fight since falling to a brutal knockout at the hands of Max Holloway last April. To put himself back into the title conversation, “The Highlight” must repeat his 2023 triumph over Rafael Fiziev, who’s stepped up on late notice to replace the injured Dan Hooker.

    Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of Jalin Turner, Amanda Lemos, Mauricio Ruffy, and Curtis Blaydes.

    UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 313 (as of 3/3), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Alex Pereira (-115) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (-105)
    • Justin Gaethje (+120) vs. Rafael Fiziev (-142)
    • Jalin Turner (-102) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (-118)
    • Amanda Lemos (+124) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (-148)
    • King Green (+360) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (-470)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Curtis Blaydes (-325) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (+260)
    • Joshua Van (-192) vs. Rei Tsuruya (+160)
    • Brunno Ferreira (+124) vs. Armen Petrosyan (-148)
    • Alex Morono (+500) vs. Carlos Leal (-700)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Mairon Santos (-355) vs. Francis Marshall (+280)
    • Djorden Santos (-192) vs. Ozzy Diaz (+160)
    • Chris Gutierrez vs. John Castañeda
  • Zhang Weili’s Hopes For Champ-Champ Opportunity In The UFC Receive A Big Boost

    Zhang Weili’s Hopes For Champ-Champ Opportunity In The UFC Receive A Big Boost

    UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Zhang Weili is targeting glory in another division — and the queen directly above her has given the green light.

    Zhang has long outlined a desire to add a second belt to her collection, and “Magnum’s” hunger to do so appeared to increase after she recorded yet another successful defense of her 115-pound strap last month.

    At UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia, the Chinese fan favorite dominated the previously undefeated Tatiana Suarez, marking the third defense of her second rule over the strawweight division.

    With limited fresh challenges remaining in her weight class, Zhang pitched a champ vs. champ showdown with flyweight titleholder Valentina Shevchenko in the aftermath of her most recent triumph.

    And during an interview with MMA Junkie‘s Mike Bohn, “Bullet” gave her nod of approval for the potentially huge clash.

    “I’m open to all opportunities,” Shevchenko said of a potential battle with Zhang Weili. “She showed a lot of heart in her fights and with all the years that she’s put into her performances, she’s showed that she’s a great fighter. Why not? It’s an amazing fight and I think all the fans are going to be excited to see that.”

    Shevchenko was speaking while in Montreal to promote her next outing inside the Octagon, which will come eight months on from her return to the top at the expense of Alexa Grasso in their trilogy.

    The Kyrgyz star is set to put her gold on the line against Manon Fiorot at UFC 315 on May 10. Should Shevchenko hand the Frenchwoman her first defeat in the promotion, perhaps her attention will next turn to Zhang Weili.

  • Belal Muhammad Laughs Off Leon Edwards’ Plans For UFC Title Fight In 2025: ‘Someone Tell Him…’ 

    Belal Muhammad Laughs Off Leon Edwards’ Plans For UFC Title Fight In 2025: ‘Someone Tell Him…’ 

    Leon Edwards has his sights set on a shot at redemption against Belal Muhammad before year’s end. To that, however, the UFC welterweight champion has told his rival not to hold his breath.

    Edwards’ reign as kingpin at 170 pounds came to an end last July when he headlined the UFC 304 pay-per-view on home soil in Manchester, England.

    Following successful defenses opposite Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, “Rocky” was looking to continue his pursuit of Georges St-Pierre’s divisional records at the expense of a former adversary in Muhammad.

    But while the Jamaica-born Brit largely got the better of exchanges in their first fight before it came to a premature end due to an eye poke, the same can’t be said for their rematch, which was largely dominated by the challenger.

    In the aftermath, Edwards put the blame on the early morning fight time and has vowed to reclaim the gold by the end of 2025. His journey toward accomplishing that starts with a London main event opposite Sean Brady on March 22.

    But although the former champ expects a victory to net him a shot at the belt, Muhammad has laughed off any suggestion of a trilogy fight coming to fruition anytime soon.

    “(laughing) someone tell him he got three long years ahead of him,” Muhammad wrote on X.

    Muhammad’s comments mark a turn of the tables of sorts, with the reigning champ long accusing Edwards of avoiding their rematch following the no contest at the Apex back in 2021.

    “Remember the Name” waited three years before being given his first opportunity at the title, one which he ultimately made the most of across the pond last year.

  • Jon Jones Or No Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall Reiterates Non-Negotiable Demand For His Next Fight

    Jon Jones Or No Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall Reiterates Non-Negotiable Demand For His Next Fight

    While Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall is willing to entertain opponents other than Jon Jones, he won’t budge on another demand for his next fight.

    Aspinall has been calling for a unification showdown with Jones ever since capturing interim gold in November 2023. He capitalized on the cancellation of the Rochester native’s planned defense against Stipe Miocic by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich on short notice.

    But 16 months later, the heavyweight division remains under the rule of two titleholders, both of whom have faced other opponents in the meantime. With Jones remaining steadfast on his desire to face Miocic, Aspinall passed the time by dominantly defending his interim strap against Curtis Blaydes last July.

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

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

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Aspinall provided an update on his plans for 2025, outlining that he’s still awaiting the outcome of the UFC’s push to get Jones onboard.

    Ultimately, the Manchester native is open to fighting whomever. But he stressed that undisputed status being on the line is non-negotiable for his next walk to the Octagon.

    “I’m not bothered who it’s against, to be honest, it’s not just the Jon Jones fight I’m looking for,” Aspinall said. “I’m looking to fight. I’m in shape. I’ve been working hard since way before Christmas. I’ve been in the gym twice a day. My diet’s good. I’ve been sparring. I’ve got international training partners here. I am prepared to fight anybody. But what’s holding it back is the UFC wants to make the fight with me and Jon. As far as I’m aware, it’s now about maybe financial, otherwise, I’m not too sure to be honest. I’m just waiting for the call right now. I’m 100 percent ready to go.

    “One thing that I want to be really clear on, I am only fighting for the undisputed title. That’s my only discrepancy,” Aspinall continued. “I will fight absolutely anyone. We can look through my record, you can speak to any promoter that I’ve ever worked with, UFC or otherwise, I have absolutely never turned down a fight in my life. Never turned down an opponent and I’m not going to start now. What we need to be clear on is that I have done enough in the UFC to fight for the undisputed title. I am the best heavyweight in the world and I just want a chance to prove it.”

    For now, Aspinall will be continuing to stay ready in the gym while Dana White and Hunter Campbell look to reach an agreement with the heavyweight kingpin, who has thus far submitted Ciryl Gane and knocked out Miocic as a heavyweight.

  • VIDEO: UFC 313 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev

    VIDEO: UFC 313 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev

    Fight week for the UFC 313 pay-per-view this Saturday has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode. Under the spotlight in this edition is the headline clash between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev.

    Saturday’s UFC 313 lineup is topped by a championship contest, with light heavyweight kingpin Pereira (12-2) looking to add a fourth successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a knockout victory over Jiří Procházka at UFC 295 in November 2023.

    If the Brazilian is to continue his rule atop the 205-pound mountain, he must stall the title ambitions of a longtime foe in Ankalaev (19-1-1, 1 NC). The Dagestani has worked his way back to the gold after falling short in his first challenge against Jan Błachowicz in 2022, which ended in a split draw.

    Since a no contest against Johnny Walker further stalled his push up the ladder, Ankalaev has won two straight, brutally stopping Walker in their rematch before getting the better of the highly regarded Aleksandar Rakić in Abu Dhabi last October.

    The Russian standout will now look to do what Jamahal Hill, Procházka, and Khalil Rountree all failed to in 2024 by unseating “Poatan” from the light heavyweight throne.

    Ahead of that battle in Las Vegas, fans can catch a preview in the full episode of UFC 313 Countdown on the promotion’s official YouTube channel.

    UFC 313 Countdown: Full Episode

  • Muhammad Mokaev Sends ‘Son’ Manel Kape A Reminder After Ex-UFC Rival Nets Second Win Since Their Fight

    Muhammad Mokaev Sends ‘Son’ Manel Kape A Reminder After Ex-UFC Rival Nets Second Win Since Their Fight

    Former UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev was quick to appear on social media with some stern words for this weekend’s main event winner, Manel Kape.

    Mokaev’s tenure on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage concluded with a bitter feud opposite Kape, which included altercations away from the cage and culminated in a lackluster decision win for the Dagestan-born Brit at UFC 304 last July.

    Having done little to impress with his performance and apparently not made friends with the matchmakers, Dana White and the UFC chose not to renew “The Punisher’s” contract.

    His absence from the flyweight pecking order has provide an opportunity for Kape to quickly erase the memory of his 2024 defeat, and he’s done just that with back-to-back wins.

    And in the aftermath of his most recent triumph over Asu Almabayev at UFC Vegas 103, Kape received a reminded about his setback in Manchester from his ex-rival.

    “There’s only one best flyweight in the world (wink),” Mokaev wrote on X.

    And Mokaev followed that up with a sterner post after evidently coming across a clip of Kape trash-talking him.

    “Dirty fighter Popped on steroids Eye poked and didn’t even stopped , when I eyed poked you I stoped and let you recover! I apologised for whatever happened between us and I thought it ended but you still talking sh*t about me in every interview! because live in your head , I beat you not even in my prime and pull your pants down in front the whole world! And you will be my son for rest of life!”

    For now, Mokaev is competing under the Brave CF banner as he looks to work his way back to the UFC this year.

    Kape, meanwhile, is widely thought to have placed himself in line to challenge the winner of Alexandre Pantoja’s expected title defense against Kai Kara-France at UFC 316 in Newark this June.

  • Former Title Challenger Calls Out UFC For Playing Dominick Cruz’s Retirement Package At The Apex

    Former Title Challenger Calls Out UFC For Playing Dominick Cruz’s Retirement Package At The Apex

    One prominent ex-fighter has joined plenty of fans in questioning the UFC’s decision to play a tribute package on bantamweight legend Dominick Cruz this weekend.

    Cruz, who held gold under the WEC banner before becoming a two-time titleholder on MMA’s biggest stage, competed for the last time in the main event of a UFC Fight Night in San Diego back in August 2022. Following a knockout loss to Marlon Vera that stalled his charge back up the ladder, “The Dominator” set his sights on one final bout.

    But after a familiar foe in the form of injury away from the cage prevented that being booked until 2025, disaster struck once again last month when it emerged that Cruz had been forced out of his scheduled retirement fight against Rob Font in Seattle on Feb. 22.

    Having sustained another serious physical setback, revealed to be a second dislocated shoulder in a matter of months, the 39-year-old confirmed his decision to call time on his active career.

    Cruz remains a color commentator for the promotion, and while filling that role at Saturday’s UFC Vegas 103 event at the Apex, he watched on as a highlights package from his career was played.

    The UFC’s decision to air it drew mixed responses, however, with many questioning why a legend like Cruz had his farewell moment take place inside the low-capacity Apex.

    And among the most prominent to raise their dissatisfaction was former lightweight title challenger Al Iaquinta.

    “Dominick Cruz deserves way more than the apex guy cmon,” Iaquinta wrote on X.

    Many are wondering why the organization didn’t wait another week to play the video during the high-profile UFC 313 pay-per-view broadcast inside T-Mobile Arena.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: New Fights For Gaethje, Mitchell, Hill, Aldo, 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, February 14, and Sunday, March 2, a number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources.

    For those matchups, including the main event for Kansas City next month, check out the list below:

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

  • Henry Cejudo Brands Eye Pokes ‘Greatest Threat’ To MMA Growth After Another UFC Main Event Controversy

    Henry Cejudo Brands Eye Pokes ‘Greatest Threat’ To MMA Growth After Another UFC Main Event Controversy

    Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo watched on this weekend as another fighter became the victim of a nasty eye poke in a main event.

    Cejudo’s hopes for a first win since returning from retirement were dealt a blow last month in Seattle, where he headlined against Chinese standout Song Yadong.

    After a difficult first two rounds, “Triple C” was the victim of a deep eye poke in the third. And after the 2008 Olympic gold medalist was deemed unable to continue, an unpunished “Kung Fu Kid” took home the victory by way of technical decision.

    The ex-flyweight and bantamweight kingpin spent the subsequent days criticizing referee Jason Herzog’s handling of the situation. And one of his fellow officials has come under fire after yet another UFC Fight Night main event result was marred by a foul.

    Manel Kape was the headline winner inside the Apex this weekend, stopping Asu Almabayev in round three. The finishing sequence, however, included a clear poke or scrap of the Kazakh’s left eye, leaving him compromised as “Starboy” swarmed for the TKO.

    After witnessing another fighter fall victim to what is undoubtedly a frequent foul in the UFC, Cejudo sent a stark warning out on social media.

    “Eye pokes are the greatest threat to the growth of this sport (unbiased) #UFCVegas103“

    While Kape appeared well on his way to a definitive victory on March 1 regardless of the foul, which was not spotted by Mike Beltran, that hasn’t dimmed the concerns of many when it comes to the impact eye pokes could continue to have on prominent bouts in the sport’s leading promotion.

  • UFC 313: Magomed Ankalaev Seemingly Walks Back Stand And Bang Claim For Alex Pereira Fight

    UFC 313: Magomed Ankalaev Seemingly Walks Back Stand And Bang Claim For Alex Pereira Fight

    It appears that UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira will need to have his wrestling shoes on after all when he faces Magomed Ankalaev next weekend.

    Following action at the Apex on Saturday night, all eyes will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 313 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on March 8.

    Headlining will be Pereira’s first defense of 2025. After three straight wins last year to cement his status as 205-pound kingpin, “Poatan” will next meet the challenge of Ankalaev.

    The Russian has long been branded the biggest threat to the Brazilian’s reign, largely owing to his wrestling prowess. The challenger, however, has frequently vowed to get the better of Pereira on the feet.

    As many predicted, though, that proclamation looks to have been retracted…

    “CHAMA is a dead man walking,” he wrote on X. “I’m going to drown this man (wrestling emojis)”

    Ankalaev’s knockout power was on display when he stopped Johnny Walker early last year.

    But Pereira marks an entirely different beast on the feet, having stopped the likes of Israel Adesanya, Jamahal Hill, and Jiří Procházka with strikes and once reigned as a two-division Glory Kickboxing champ.

  • Watch Manel Kape Break Down Alexandre Pantoja’s Flaws To His Face After UFC Vegas 103

    Watch Manel Kape Break Down Alexandre Pantoja’s Flaws To His Face After UFC Vegas 103

    UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape believes he knows how to get revenge on champion Alexandre Pantoja and secure the throne at 125 pounds.

    Kape staked his claim for a first championship opportunity on MMA’s biggest stage this weekend at UFC Vegas 103, which he headlined opposite replacement opponent Asu Almabayev.

    A convincing knockout victory marked back-to-back wins for Kape and has left many calling for him to challenge Pantoja next time out.

    The pair have history inside the Octagon, with the current champ having welcomed the ex-Rizin titleholder to the UFC back in 2021. Pantoja emerged victorious via the scorecards.

    Kape has since been pursuing a rematch en route to the title, and during a face-to-face interview alongside the Brazilian on Saturday’s ESPN UFC Post Show, “Starboy” outlined his confidence in succeeding against Pantoja second time around.

    “There is many things I can exploit in Pantoja’s game,” Kape said. “I see that Pantoja walks forward too much, you know? And brother, I’m a sniper. So prepare for that. That hand is heavy. There is 14 knockouts here in MMA. It’s not every weight that has that much knockouts as me — flyweight, welterweight, bantamweight. I have 14 knockouts, so be ready.”

    For now, Pantoja will likely have his attention on another former adversary in Kai Kara-France. He’s expected to defend the flyweight title against “Don’t Blink” at UFC 316 in Newark this coming June.

  • Paul Hughes Set To Return At PFL Event In Northern Ireland Four Months On From Nurmagomedov Battle

    Paul Hughes Set To Return At PFL Event In Northern Ireland Four Months On From Nurmagomedov Battle

    PFL star Paul Hughes has gotten his wish — or, at the very least, half of it.

    Hughes enhanced his reputation in defeat earlier this year when he challenged for Usman Nurmagomedov’s Bellator lightweight title in the main event of PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai.

    Despite being largely dismissed by the Dagestani during the lead-up, “Big News” pushed him to the limit across five rounds. Some even believed the former Cage Warriors champion did enough to deserve the nod, a sentiment shared by the man himself.

    With that in mind, Hughes was quick to call for an immediate rematch in his native country. In that regard, he appeared to have the support of the PFL higher-ups and many in the MMA community.

    But with Nurmagomedov reportedly planning to sit out until the fall, the Northern Irishman has seemingly had to settle for just one of his wishes.

    In a social media post this weekend, Hughes recorded a video in front of a sign advertising a PFL event in Belfast this coming May 10. News of that event was first reported by Al Zullino last week, and the locals look set to see their leading man in action at the top of the card.

    “Dreams come true,” Hughes wrote. “May 10th- SSE Arena Belfast. Apparently Usman needs a wee break. So who the f*ck wants it?” #HOMECOMING”

    With a second dance opposite Nurmagomedov appearing out of the equation for the time being, it remains to be seen who the PFL will line up to share the cage with Hughes in hostile territory later this year.

  • UFC Fight Night: Manel Kape vs. Asu Almabayev Weigh-In Results: Two Bouts Canceled

    UFC Fight Night: Manel Kape vs. Asu Almabayev Weigh-In Results: Two Bouts Canceled

    UFC Fight Night: Manel Kape vs. Asu Almabayev takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results.

    After staging its latest event in Seattle, Washington last weekend, the mixed martial arts leader is back at its home base of the Apex to open its March schedule.

    Headlining will be former Rizin champion and current #6-ranked UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape. After having his hopes to defeat a top-five name dashed after Brandon Royval’s withdrawal, “Starboy” will now need to defend his place against replacement opponent Asu Almabayev.

    Elsewhere, Cody Brundage, Nasrat Haqparast, Hyder Amil, Danny Barlow, Ricardo Ramos and Charles Johnson will be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Almabayev Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Almabayev takes place on Saturday, March 1, 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:

    • Flyweight: Manel Kape (126lbs) vs. Asu Almabayev (126lbs)
    • Middleweight: Cody Brundage (186lbs) vs. Julian Marquez (186lbs)
    • Lightweight: Nasrat Haqparast (156lbs) vs. Esteban Ribovics (156lbs)
    • Featherweight: Hyder Amil (146lbs) vs. William Gomis (146lbs)
    • Welterweight: Danny Barlow (170.5lbs) vs. Sam Patterson (170.5lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Heavyweight: Austen Lane (249.5lbs) vs. Mário Pinto (246.5lbs)
    • Featherweight: Ricardo Ramos (146lbs) vs. Chepe Mariscal (146lbs)
    • Catchweight (140lbs): Douglas Silva de Andrade (140lbs) vs. John Castañeda (140lbs)**
    • Women’s Flyweight: Andrea Lee (126lbs) vs. JJ Aldrich (126lbs)
    • Featherweight: Danny Silva (145.5lbs) vs. Lucas Almeida (148lbs)***
    • Women’s Flyweight: Montana De La Rosa vs. Luana Carolina*
    • Flyweight: Charles Johnson (125lbs) vs. Ramazan Temirov (125.5lbs)

    *The flyweight bout between Montana De La Rosa and Luana Carolina was canceled due to weight management issues for the latter

    **The catchweight bout between Douglas Silva de Andrade and John Castañeda was canceled due to medical issues for the former

    ***Lucas Almeida missed the featherweight limit by two pounds, forfeits 20 percent of his purse