MMA News

Author: Thomas Albano

  • ‘MJ’s Best Performance Since Poirier’ – Fans React As Michael Johnson Adds Another Brutal KO To His Reel At UFC Tampa

    ‘MJ’s Best Performance Since Poirier’ – Fans React As Michael Johnson Adds Another Brutal KO To His Reel At UFC Tampa

    Michael Johnson put on a vintage performance to close out the UFC Tampa preliminary card, delivering a devastating knockout of Ottman Azaitar.

    Johnson picked Azaitar apart on the feet during the opening round, putting on a strong striking display and rocking the German-Moroccan on more than one occasion.

    “The Menace” then put him away brutally in the second round. As Azaitar attempted to come forward, Johnson landed a brutal, lightning quick hook that faceplanted him. He followed up with two vicious strikes before the referee was able to push him off his unconscious opponent.

    Michael Johnson Brings Devastation With KO Of Ottman Azaitar At UFC Tampa

    https://twitter.com/benhasfailed/status/1868128974884470882
    https://twitter.com/ErnieTastyFresh/status/1868130100648268172

    Johnson has now won three of his last four and four of his last six, continuing to secure victories at 38 years of age.

    Azaitar, meanwhile, has now lost three straight since starting his professional MMA career 13-0.

  • VIDEO: Joel Álvarez Attempts Guillotine After Already KO’ing Drakkar Klose With Switch Knee At UFC Tampa

    VIDEO: Joel Álvarez Attempts Guillotine After Already KO’ing Drakkar Klose With Switch Knee At UFC Tampa

    It’s not every day that we see someone finish an opponent twice in the same fight, but that appeared to be what we saw during the UFC Tampa prelims in Joel Álvarez’s win over Drakkar Klose.

    The Spaniard landed a strong combination that stumbled Klose backward toward the fence. Alvarez then appeared to slump Klose with a jumping knee.

    The flashy striker seemed to be nearing a guillotine choke as he landed follow-up shots on Klose, who was evidently already out. The referee then jumped in to declare Álvarez the winner.

    After UFC Tampa, Álvarez has now won three straight and is 7-2 in the Octagon, with one of his losses coming against upcoming lightweight title challenger Arman Tsarukyan. He last fought in August, defeating Elves Brener.

    Klose, meanwhile, sees a four-fight win streak snapped with this loss. He had most recently been in action at UFC 301 earlier this year, defeating Joaquim Silva.

  • Sean Woodson Ties Movsar Evloev For Featherweight Record With Quick Knockout At UFC Tampa

    Sean Woodson Ties Movsar Evloev For Featherweight Record With Quick Knockout At UFC Tampa

    Sean Woodson continues to score wins, and this time it came with a bang as he pulled off a major finish of Fernando Padilla during the preliminary card of UFC Tampa.

    Woodson had to outlast an early surge from Padilla, but he fought back to fire off his own flurries during the second half of the first round.

    “The Sniper” then fired off back-to-back powerful one-two combinations to drop the Mexican in the closing seconds of the first round. Woodson needed just a little ground-and-pound before the referee stepped in to wave off the fight.

    This UFC Tampa victory increased Woodson’s run without a defeat to eight straight fights, tying him for longest active unbeaten streak in the UFC’s featherweight division. Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy have the same kind of streak currently.

    The 32-year-old finishes 2024 3-0, defeating Charles Jourdain and Alex Caceres earlier this year.

    Padilla., meanwhile, falls to 2-2 since making his UFC debut in April 2023.

  • ‘Ok, Demetrious Johnson Next Challenger’ – Fans React As Alexandre Pantoja Sleeps Kai Asakura At UFC 310 With Rear-Naked Choke

    ‘Ok, Demetrious Johnson Next Challenger’ – Fans React As Alexandre Pantoja Sleeps Kai Asakura At UFC 310 With Rear-Naked Choke

    Despite the hype Kai Asakura came into the UFC from RIZIN with, Alexandre Pantoja was able to pull off a flawless victory in the main event of UFC 310, winning by submission.

    The action started hot and heavy, with the reigning flyweight champion absorbing a knee from Asakura and landing a hard right hand on the former RIZIN bantamweight titleholder. “The Cannibal” was able to score the takedown and got the better of the striking exchanges during the round, and he was on the front foot for most of that duration.

    Pantoja got back to work in the second, managing to scramble and pin his Japanese opponent against the fence. He then scored a takedown and got a body lock in before looking for the rear-naked choke. The Brazilian locked it in and Asakura passed out trying to break out of the choke, giving the win and another successful defense to Pantoja.

    Alexandre Pantoja Puts On Masterclass Performance In Successful Defense vs. UFC Debutant Kai Asakura

    https://twitter.com/LoswitheMos/status/1865641386546278575

    Pantoja captured the UFC flyweight championship with a decision win over Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 last year. He retained the title with decision wins over Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg at UFC 296 and UFC 301, respectively.

    Asakura, meanwhile, originally won the RIZIN bantamweight championship with a knockout of Hiromasa Ougikubo at RIZIN 23 in August 2020. He dropped the title to Kyoji Horiguchi that December but regained it with a win over Juan Archuleta at RIZIN 45 last New Year’s Eve. That win marked Asakura’s final fight in RIZIN before jumping over to the UFC.

    Though Asakura was more known as a bantamweight during his time in Japan, he did compete as a flyweight between 2015 and 2017.

  • ‘Fire These Judges’ – Fans React To Ciryl Gane’s Controversial Win Over Alexander Volkov At UFC 310

    ‘Fire These Judges’ – Fans React To Ciryl Gane’s Controversial Win Over Alexander Volkov At UFC 310

    Ciryl Gane made it 2-0 against Alexander Volkov, but not without plenty of controversy coming out of the split decision ruling at UFC 310.

    Gane was tested early, as Volkov scored a takedown within the opening minute. Though it took a little bit of time, the Frenchman was able to work his way back up to his feet and even managed to score his own takedown during the frame. “Drago” looked to isolate an arm while on the ground, and the former interim champion tried to respond with a leg lock attempt. The Russian spun out of it and the fight returned to the feet.

    In the closing seconds of the round, Gane seemed to trouble Volkov with a tight guillotine attempt, but time expired.

    Volkov rocked Gane with a spinning backfist and followed it up with a knee to the body and a series of shots. The MMA Factory standout recovered and battled back, stumbling his opponent at one point, but the Russian troubled him late in the round with a choke.

    As the fight returned to the ground in the third, Gane looked to lock up a kimura for a few minutes but couldn’t get it. Volkov, who threw punches to the body the whole time, worked his way out and looked to flatten out the Frenchman. “Drago” cradled “Bon Gamin” and rode the closing seconds of the fight on top.

    Two judges gave the fight to Gane 29-28, with round one ultimately being where the split occurred. The Paris native and his team, weirdly enough, were leaving the Octagon and had to be pulled back into it for the post-fight interview.

    Ciryl Gane Wins Controversial Decision In Rematch With Alexander Volkov At UFC 310

    https://twitter.com/ElonovMMA/status/1865620465806651645

    Gane was 3-2 since the first fight with Volkov, including an interim title win over Derrick Lewis and losses in title shots against Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones.

    Meanwhile, Saturday’s result snapped a four-fight win streak Volkov entered UFC 310 bout with. His sole defeat in the time since the initial Gane fight came against current interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

  • ‘Put On A Massacre’ – Fans React As ‘Korean Superboy’ Dooho Choi Finishes Nate Landwehr With Crucifix TKO At UFC 310

    ‘Put On A Massacre’ – Fans React As ‘Korean Superboy’ Dooho Choi Finishes Nate Landwehr With Crucifix TKO At UFC 310

    What many expected to be a competitive battle proved to be a one-sided affair, as Dooho Choi put on a dominant showing against Nate Landwehr to open up the UFC 310 pay-per-view card.

    “The Train” tried to get aggressive early, but Choi made him feel his power, including a hook that briefly stumbled Landwehr. “Korean Superboy” continued to land at will on the feet and scored a takedown after getting to the back of the American, who made it back to his feet with a little less than two minutes to go in the round. Choi’s shots were clearly more effective.

    The UFC Hall of Fame Fight Wing inductee continued to be crisper and cleaner with his shots as the fight entered the second round, even after Landwehr landed a spinning elbow. Choi managed to score another pair of takedowns, demonstrating complete control over Landwehr.

    “The Train” looked to get to swinging away in the third round, but his opponent managed to return the fight to the mat. There, the “Korean Superboy” was able to put Landwehr away with elbow strikes in the crucifix position.

    Doohoi Choi Dominates, Finishes Nate Landwehr At UFC 310

    https://twitter.com/RAVISWrld/status/1865601857197900006

    The “Korean Superboy” is now unbeaten in his last three fights and may have earned a spot in the UFC featherweight rankings.

    Landwehr, meanwhile, has now dropped two of his last three, but still holds post-fight bonuses in his last four victories.

  • VIDEO: Vicente Luque Chokes Themba Gorimbo Unconscious In Under A Minute At UFC 310

    VIDEO: Vicente Luque Chokes Themba Gorimbo Unconscious In Under A Minute At UFC 310

    Those who were counting Vicente Luque out were sorely mistaken.

    The longtime welterweight contender returned to the win column in impactful fashion with a quick victory over Themba Gorimbo as part of the UFC 310 preliminary card Saturday night.

    “The Silent Assassin” dropped Gorimbo with a short right hand just seconds into the fight. The Brazilian then jumped immediately for the Zimbabwean’s neck, looking for the submission.

    And after he managed to lock in a D’arce choke, Gorimbo went unconscious seconds later, giving the Kill Cliff FC standout a memorable submission.

    Vicente Luque Scores Sub-Minute Submission Of Themba Gorimbo At UFC 310

    After a pair of losses in 2022, including one to current welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, Luque has now won two of his last three fights.

    Gorimbo, meanwhile, sees a four-fight win streak snapped with this loss tonight.

  • ‘Time To Hang Them Up’ – Fans React As Eryk Anders Overcomes Knockdown To Stop Chris Weidman At UFC 310

    ‘Time To Hang Them Up’ – Fans React As Eryk Anders Overcomes Knockdown To Stop Chris Weidman At UFC 310

    After the matchup was postponed on fight day at UFC 309 last month, Eryk Anders was able to score a win over former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman to close out the early preliminary portion of UFC 310.

    Anders got off to a strong start with his striking to start the opening round. After a brief timeout due to an illegal knee from “Ya Boi,” however, Weidman managed to score a knockdown and took control of the rest of the frame.

    But in the second stanza, Anders managed to outwork the former champ in his specialty area — grappling. The 37-year-old controlled the pace on top and delivered ground-and-pound that, while not powerful and ruthless, slowly drowned and overwhelmed Weidman over the course of the round before the fight was stopped in the closing seconds.

    MMA Fans React As Eryk Anders Finishes Chris Weidman With Ground-And-Pound

    The ex-middleweight kingpin has now lost two of three fights since returning last year from the devastating leg injury he suffered at UFC 261 in 2021.

    Anders, meanwhile, has now won three of his last four fights.

  • VIDEO: Kennedy Nzechukwu Kicks Off UFC 310 With Quick Right Hook Knockout

    VIDEO: Kennedy Nzechukwu Kicks Off UFC 310 With Quick Right Hook Knockout

    Some say Kennedy Nzechukwu has looked like a new man up at heavyweight, and that may have been evident with his victory over Łukasz Brzeski that kicked off UFC 310.

    Nzechukwu’s striking was on display at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, where he landed speedy, crisp, and powerful strikes over the course of the first round.

    Then, the Nigerian fighter put his opponent away in sudden fashion with a right hook with mere seconds left to go in the opening frame.

    Nzechuwku Moves To 2-0 At Heavyweight With Another First-Round Finish At UFC 310

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1865534681749299532

    After a mixed bag of results at light heavyweight, Nzechukwu made his heavyweight debut less than two months ago at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, needing just one round to put away Chris Barnett.

    “African Savage” was a short-notice fill-in for this fight following an injury to Tallison Teixeira.

    Brzeski, meanwhile, is 1-5 since entering the UFC off a 2021 appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series.

  • ‘Could Smoke Topuria’ – Fans React As Unbeaten Timur Khizriev Beats Brendan Loughnane To Win 2024 PFL Featherweight Title

    ‘Could Smoke Topuria’ – Fans React As Unbeaten Timur Khizriev Beats Brendan Loughnane To Win 2024 PFL Featherweight Title

    Timur Khizriev put a beating on former PFL featherweight champion Brendan Loughnane to capture this year’s 145-pound gold in the main event of the 2024 PFL World Championship.

    Khizriev established dominance early with consistent kicks, eventually securing a takedown. On the ground, he pressured and smothered Loughnane, leaving little room for the former champ to do offense.

    The Russian continued to outstrike him in the second round, mixing in precise jabs and hard combinations. The British standout found brief success wtih a check hook, but Khizriev’s pressure and accuracy left him a bloodied mess by the round’s end.

    The undefeated grappling specialist continued his offense before scoring another takedown. Loughnane continued to batted back to his feet and went toe-to-toe with Khizriev at times, but the Russian’s jab continued to be his key.

    This pace continued the championship rounds, with Khizriev’s striking wearing Loughnane out and his grappling pressure proving to lock up his control of the fight.

    One judge gave Khizriev a sweep, while the other gave him the fight 49-46.

    Timur Khizriev Dominates Brendan Loughnane To Become 2024 PFL Featherweight Champion

    Khizriev, the former Wushu Sanda champion, made it to the championship bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with wins over Brett Johns, Enrique Barzola, and Gabriel Braga earlier this year.

    Loughnane, meanwhile, became PFL featherweight champion in 2022 but was upset by Jesus Pinedo in 2023. He made it to his second PFL final today with wins over Pedro Carvalho, Justin Gonzales, and Kai Kamaka III during the regular season.

  • VIDEO: Impa Kasanganay ‘Absolutely Murdered’ In Sub-Minute Finish At 2024 PFL World Championship

    VIDEO: Impa Kasanganay ‘Absolutely Murdered’ In Sub-Minute Finish At 2024 PFL World Championship

    Turkmenistan now has an MMA world champion after Dovlet Yagshimuradov needed less than a minute to put away Impa Kasanganay and become the 2024 PFL light heavyweight champion.

    The two brought the action right away with a pair of exchanges. It was in the second, near the edge of the cage, when Yagshimuragdov rocked the former UFC fighter and 2023 PFL champ with a couple of counterpunches.

    Yagshimuradov then landed a series of uppercuts to drop Kasanganay and put away his hopes of back-to-back titles.

    Dovlet Yagshimuradov Finishes Impa Kasanganay In 58 Seconds, Captures PFL Light Heavyweight Championship

    Yagshimuradov joined the PFL earlier this year after the promotion’s purchase of Bellator. He reached today’s title fight in Riyadh after wins over Jakob Nedoh, Simon Biyong, and 2022 PFL champion Rob Wilkinson.

    Kasanganay, meanwhile, was one of MMA’s top underdog stories of 2023, going from sleeping in his car to defeating Josh Silveira to become PFL light heavyweight champion.

    After a competitive loss to Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen this past February, Kasanganay reached the 205-pound final for the second year in a row with wins over Alex Polizzi, Nedoh, and Silveira.

  • ‘Million Dollar Faceplant’ – Fans React As Gadzhi Rabadanov Becomes Latest From Team Khabib To Win Gold At PFL World Championship

    ‘Million Dollar Faceplant’ – Fans React As Gadzhi Rabadanov Becomes Latest From Team Khabib To Win Gold At PFL World Championship

    Dagestan now has another world champion in MMA after Gadzhi Rabadanov pulled off a strong finish of Brent Primus to become this year’s lightweight title winner at the 2024 PFL World Championship in Saudi Arabia.

    Rabadanov and Primus traded strikes early, with the former landing low kicks and his American counterpart responding with elbows and submission attempts when the fight went to the ground.

    Primus notably looked for a guillotine, and even a rare gogoplata. The Dagestani defended the attempts well, delivering ground-and-pound as the ex-Bellator champ looked for openings.

    Rabadanov dropped Primus in the second round with a strong right hand. Despite the veteran’s attempts at the rubber guard and more submission attempts, the Russian controlled the fight on the mat and landed some notable ground strikes.

    The teammate of reigning UFC champion Islam Makhachev and former kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov then put Primus away early in the third with a powerful one-two that faceplanted him.

    Gadzhi Rabadanov Wins PFL Lightweight Title With Third-Round Finish

    A former Combat Sambo world champion, Rabadanov joined the PFL following its acquisition of Bellator. He reached today’s title fight after wins over Solomon Renfro, Elvin Espinoza, and Michael Dufort this season.

    Primus, meanwhile, earned wins over Bruno Miranda, Renfro, and Clay Collard to reach the Riyadh-held event on Nov. 29.

  • VIDEO: Abdullah Al-Qahtani Gets Knockout In Wild First-Round Brawl To Earn PFL MENA Title

    VIDEO: Abdullah Al-Qahtani Gets Knockout In Wild First-Round Brawl To Earn PFL MENA Title

    Abdullah Al-Qahtani has been a prime face of the PFL’s expansion into the Middle East, and he continued that trend by defeating Marouane Bellagouit to become the inaugural PFL MENA featherweight champion.

    The two headlined the MENA portion of the PFL World Championship card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday.

    Al-Qahtani and Bellagouit traded strikes in an intense exchange, with both landing powerful shots. The Saudi favorite ultimately dropped his Moroccan counterpart twice over the course of the round, overwhelming him with a relentless flurry of punches to put him away and win the gold.

    Al-Qahtani debuted in the PFL last year as the first Saudi talent in the promotion’s history. He won five straight fights before losing to Abdalrahman Alhyasat in September. Alhyasat’s inability to make tonight’s title fight, however, resulted in another chance for Al-Qahtani to step up and earn the gold.

    Bellagouit, a veteran of UAE Warriors, defeated Mido Mohamed earlier this year but lost to Islam Reda in September’s PFL MENA semifinals. However, he also reached the final as a result of Reda being unable to make the walk.

    With the PFL MENA championship card complete, the likes of Brendan Loughnane, Dakota Ditcheva, and Impa Kasanganay will compete for PFL Global gold and $1 million in prize money on the main card at King Saud University.

  • VIDEO: Ali Taleb Demolishes Opponent In Under 2 Minutes To Win PFL MENA Title

    VIDEO: Ali Taleb Demolishes Opponent In Under 2 Minutes To Win PFL MENA Title

    Ali Taleb brought out a vicious performance that ended in a quick knockout to capture the first-ever PFL MENA bantamweight championship in Saudi Arabia.

    After a bit of kick-heavy attacks from his opponent, Rachid El Hazoume, Taleb stunned him with a one-two, namely from an uppercut, before launching a flurry that ended with him dropping the Moroccan with a right hand.

    The fight came to a close with just 85 seconds on the clock.

    Taleb reached the finals at today’s PFL World Championship with wins over Nawras Abzakh and Jalal Al Daja. He competed in the inaugural PFL Europe season last year, falling short against Khurshed Kakhorov in the semifinals.

    El Hazoume, meanwhile, entered the fight with seven wins in his last eight fights, including over Xavier Alaoui and Elias Boudegzdame to reach the 135-pound final.

    After the four PFL MENA titles are handed, 12 fighters will compete for PFL Global glory on the main card at Riyadh’s King Saud University.

  • Jamahal Hill Debates Who Got KO’d Worse By Alex Pereira With Jiří Procházka: ‘You Got Dominated…I Got Caught!’

    Jamahal Hill Debates Who Got KO’d Worse By Alex Pereira With Jiří Procházka: ‘You Got Dominated…I Got Caught!’

    The hype for one of UFC 311’s most anticipated bouts is underway, as former light heavyweight champions Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka traded barbs over who had it worse in their unsuccessful attempts to reclaim the gold earlier this year.

    Both Hill and Procházka never lost the championship inside the Octagon. They also challenged Alex Pereira earlier this year in attempts to claim the gold but were easily disposed of.

    “Sweet Dreams” challenged Pereira at UFC 300, getting dropped and finished in the very first round. “BJP,” meanwhile, was rocked and dropped at the end of the first round in his UFC 303 rematch with “Poatan” before being finished seconds into the second frame.

    Procházka recently brought about his criticism of Hill’s fighting style, putting his fighting IQ into question. Hill responded through a YouTube video, taking shots at several of his light heavyweight counterparts, including a response to his upcoming Czech opponent.

    Jamahal Hill vs. Jiří Procházka: Who Got KO’d Worse By Alex Pereira?

    “We had the same opponent in our last fight, right? In your last performance, you got dominated and knocked out,” Hill said. “You got dominated, and I got caught. There’s a huge difference. You’ve even got your ponytail leaning to the left. I hope you wear that ponytail in our fight so I can lean it back to the right for you.

    “We can compare every performance — while I put on dominant performances, you just survive and scrape by with a win. We’re not the same.”

    Procházka won the light heavyweight championship with a submission of Glover Teixeira at UFC 275. However, he vacated the title by the end of 2022 without making a defense due to an injury.

    Hill went on to capture the belt with his own victory over Teixeira at UFC 283. Hill, however, was forced to vacate the title, too, after his own injury. That allowed for the initial fight between Pereira and Procházka that headlined UFC 295, with the Brazilian finishing “BJP” there as well.

  • Islam Makhachev On Jury Finding Conor McGregor Liable For Assault After Rape Allegation: ‘Many More Facts To Come Out’

    Islam Makhachev On Jury Finding Conor McGregor Liable For Assault After Rape Allegation: ‘Many More Facts To Come Out’

    One UFC fighter who has no love lost for Conor McGregor has let his voice be known after the result of the Irishman’s recent civil trial in Ireland.

    UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev took to social media after McGregor was found liable for assault of a woman that took place in late 2018. Makhachev praised the court case’s ruling against the Dubliner and claimed there is more about the former two-division UFC titleholder that has yet to come out.

    “It was a matter of time till this filthy b****** be exposed,” Makhachev posted on X. “Alcoholic, drug junkie and rapist. Many more facts to come out, trust me!”

    Islam Makhachev Praises ‘Exposure’ Of Conor McGregor After Jury Rules Against Him In Sexual Assault Case

    A jury at Dublin’s High Court ruled that McGregor must pay €248,000 ($257,000) to Nikita Hand, who accused McGregor of sexually assaulting her in a hotel room.

    According to Hand, the Irishman raped her in a penthouse suite at the Beacon Hotel in Sandyford, Dublin on Dec. 9, 2018, following the two meeting at a Christmas party. McGregor is alleged to have restrained Hand on a bed and bruised her.

    The UFC fighter and his team have vehemently denied the allegations, claiming that McGregor and Hand’s interactions were completely consensual and that Hand is trying to exploit the situation for profit.

    Makhachev is the protégé of Khabib Nurmagomedov, the retired undefeated former UFC lightweight champion and longtime rival of McGregor’s. “The Eagle” and “The Notorious” are famous for a highly intense rivalry that led up to their infamous bout at UFC 229 — and, more infamously, the bout’s aftermath.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Reacts To Former Opponent Petr Yan’s Win & Callout At UFC Macau

    Merab Dvalishvili Reacts To Former Opponent Petr Yan’s Win & Callout At UFC Macau

    Petr Yan made a statement at UFC Macau, defeating Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event before calling for a rematch with current UFC Bantamweight hampion Merab Dvalishvili.

    Yan won a five-round decision, sweeping the scorecards against the ex-UFC flyweight champion. He then mentioned wanting a rematch with Dvalishvili and an opportunity to regain the bantamweight gold during his post-fight interview.

    “Before my fight, Merab [said] Deiveson Figueiredo [was the] No. 1 contender who deserved title fight,” Yan said. “Merab, what do you say now when I beat [the] No. 1 contender in my division? I want to do [a] rematch with Merab. Let’s get it.”

    Dvalishvili heard Yan’s callout and responded on social media, starting with praise of the UFC Macau main event and the Russian’s performance before expressing interest in the pair facing off at UFC 313 in Las Vegas on March 8.

    Merab Dvalishvili Open To Rematch With Petr Yan, Perhaps As Soon As UFC 313

    Dvalishvili and Yan met in the main event of UFC Las Vegas in March 2023, with the Georgian standout taking a five-round unanimous decision.

    That fight marked Yan’s third straight loss and fourth defeat in five fights, stemming back to him controversially dropping the bantamweight championship via disqualification to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259.

    “No Mercy” has since won a pair of fights in 2024, defeating Song Yadong at UFC 299 before his win over Figueiredo in Macau. Yan put on a striking clinic against “Deus Da Guerra,” and he even showed control on the ground the majority of the time he grappled with Figueiredo on the mat.

    Dvalishvili, following the win over Yan, went on to defeat Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 before scoring a decision over Sean O’Malley to capture the bantamweight championship at UFC 306 (Noche UFC).

  • Jiří Procházka Announces Return vs. Jamahal Hill At UFC 311 On Jan. 18

    Jiří Procházka Announces Return vs. Jamahal Hill At UFC 311 On Jan. 18

    After both unsuccessfully attempted to regain the gold they never lost in the Octagon earlier this year, two former UFC light heavyweight champions will do battle at the promotion’s first pay-per-view of 2025.

    Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill are set to do battle at UFC 311, which takes place on Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, CA.

    Procházka confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Nov. 23.

    Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill To Take Place At UFC 311

    This will be both men’s first fight since unsuccessful challenges of current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira.

    The Czech star originally won the championship with a submission of Glover Teixeira at UFC 275 in June 2022. Before the end of the year, however, he vacated the belt after suffering a shoulder injury without ever making a title defense.

    Hill would then go on to claim the title with his own victory over Teixeira at UFC 283 the following January. Hill, however, also surrendered the gold after zero title defenses due to his own injury.

    Pereira then went on to defeat Procházka at UFC 295 for the vacant championship and later defend the title against Hill at UFC 300. That same night this past April, Procházka finished Aleksandar Rakić.

    Pereira and Procházka rematched on short notice at UFC 303, with Pereira scoring an early second-round KO.

    UFC 311 is yet to have a confirmed main event, but the rematch between lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev and top contender Arman Tsarukyan is expected to headline.

  • ‘Give Him The O’Malley Rematch’ – Fans React To Petr Yan’s Vintage Striking Performance To Beat Deiveson Figueiredo At UFC Macau

    ‘Give Him The O’Malley Rematch’ – Fans React To Petr Yan’s Vintage Striking Performance To Beat Deiveson Figueiredo At UFC Macau

    Petr Yan made a statement that he wants the UFC bantamweight championship back, making his case with a dominant decision win over Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event of UFC Macau.

    Figueiredo appeared to be on path to a strong start when he scored a takedown in the fight’s opening minute. Yan, however, survived his opponent’s thoughts of a potential early submission to control the action on the ground and get into top position. The Russian then returned the fight to the feet and outstruck the former flyweight champion from there.

    “Deus Da Guerra” managed to land some very strong shots in the second round, but Yan continued to keep busy with effective activity as the two had a close, competitive striking clinic in that five-minute span. “No Mercy,” however, took complete control of the fight in the third round, seemingly landing at will with brutal strikes and even dropping Figueiredo at one point.

    Yan continued to land at will and pressure, doing damage, but Figueiredo brought a scare when he appeared to damage Yan with a body shot in the closing seconds of the round. The Brazilian tried to pursue the ex-bantamweight kingpin and go after a late finish that he needed, but the time in the round expired.

    Petr Yan Dominantes Deiveson Figueiredo In Striking Battle That Topped UFC Macau

    Yan has now won back-to-back fights, having previously defeated Song Yadong at UFC 299 earlier this year. Prior to 2024, the Russian had been on a three-fight losing skid that began with him losing a rematch against Aljamain Sterling. The run also included a controversial decision loss against Sean O’Malley and a lopsided defeat to current bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili.

    Meanwhile, Saturday marked Figueiredo’s first loss since moving up to bantamweight. He had been 3-0 at 135 pounds after losing the UFC flyweight title for the second time. Figueiredo defeated Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, and Marlon “Chito” Vera prior to the Macau event.

  • ‘Can We Just get Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan 2?’ – Fans React As Xiaonan Dominates Tabatha Ricci In UFC Macau Co-Headliner

    ‘Can We Just get Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan 2?’ – Fans React As Xiaonan Dominates Tabatha Ricci In UFC Macau Co-Headliner

    Competing in China for the first time in six years, Yan Xiaonan made the most of the experience by putting on one of her best performances in the Octagon, defeating Tabatha Ricci in the UFC Macau co-main event.

    Xiaonan was fully on the attack in the opening round, having complete control as Ricci continuously bit down on her strikes. The Brazilian seemed to find a range by the end of the first round and took it into the second, even getting a hold of her Chinese opponent’s back at one point. But that moment only came after Xiaonan managed to wobble her.

    Ricci continued to stay on the outside in that second frame, as Xiaonan appeared to overwhelm her with the speed and crispness of her strikes. “Fury” did not deter from this strategy and went on to sweep the judges’ scorecards before calling out Zhang Weili for a strawweight title rematch.

    Yan Xiaonan Cruises To Easy Decision Win Over Tabatha Ricci At UFC Macau

    https://twitter.com/5Noxa/status/1860314605349744779

    Xiaonan now returns to the win column in her first fight since unsuccessfully challenging Zhang for the UFC women’s strawweight title at UFC 300 earlier this year. She has won three of her last four.

    Meanwhile, after a four-fight win streak between late 2021 and early 2023, Ricci is 2-2 across the four fights she’s had in the last year.

  • VIDEO: 40-Year-Old Muslim Salikhov Sleeps Song Kenan With Spinning Wheel Kick At UFC Macau

    VIDEO: 40-Year-Old Muslim Salikhov Sleeps Song Kenan With Spinning Wheel Kick At UFC Macau

    If you thought UFC Macau was filled with highlights heading into the final three bouts of the card, Muslim Salikhov then went and took things to another level thanks to his first-round finish of Song Kenan.

    Salikhov delivered a brutal spinning wheel kick that landed flush on the home favorite, dropping him for the knockout win. The 40-year-old Russian made history inside the Galaxy Arena by becoming the first UFC fighter with two finishes via spinning wheel kick.

    Salikhov, a former Wushu world champion, has now won back-to-back bouts and eight of his last 11, continuing to impress despite being 40.

    Song, meanwhile, has now lost four of his last six.

  • ‘Hype Train Was Fun While It Lasted’ – Fans React As Gabriella Fernandes Club & Subs ‘The Joker’ In Major UFC Macau Upset

    ‘Hype Train Was Fun While It Lasted’ – Fans React As Gabriella Fernandes Club & Subs ‘The Joker’ In Major UFC Macau Upset

    A fight that appeared to be a showcase for Wang Cong ended up being such for Gabriella Fernandes, as the Brazilian finished “The Joker” in a huge upset at UFC Macau.

    Cong looked sharp in the first round, landing strikes with crisp power while also stuffing a pair of takedown attempts from Fernandes. But the underdog brought her momentum to a quick halt in the middle of the second round.

    Fernandes rocked her Chinese opponent with a head kick before landing a hook that dropped her again. She subsequently sunk in a rear-naked choke that left “The Joker” unconscious.

    According to the ESPN broadcast, a Fernandes win via submission at UFC Macau had +3000 odds.

    Gabriella Fernandes Pulls Off Major Submission Upset Of Wang Cong At UFC Macau

    https://twitter.com/acdmma_/status/1860298607200477427

    After defeating Paula Luna earlier this year on Road to UFC, Cong — who holds a kickboxing victory over Valentina Shevchenko — made her Octagon debut at UFC Vegas 96 in August, knocking out Victoria Leonardo in just 62 seconds.

    Former LFA interim flyweight champion Fernandes, meanwhile, lost to Jasmine Jasudavicius and Tereza Bledá before a split decision win over Carli Judice earlier this year.

  • ‘Ulberg Starches Hill’ – Fans React As Carlos Ulberg Extends Streak With Win Over Volkan Oezdemir At UFC Macau

    ‘Ulberg Starches Hill’ – Fans React As Carlos Ulberg Extends Streak With Win Over Volkan Oezdemir At UFC Macau

    Carlos Ulberg’s climb up the UFC light heavyweight rankings continues on following possibly the biggest win of his career thus far at UFC Macau, where he took a decision over former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir.

    Though neither man was able to get the knockout blow, both threw with pressure and power over the course of 15 minutes. Plenty of punching from the pair in the first round saw Oezdemir try to bring the pressure, but “Black Jag” landed the stronger strikes and a number of counter-shots on his Swiss opponent.

    Oezdemir looked to continue his pace heading into the second round, attempting to take solid control of the fight. Ulberg had other plans, however, and paced himself while methodically piecing “No Time” up.

    Ulberg ultimately took all three judges’ scorecards with two 30-27s and one 29-28.

    Carlos Ulberg Gets Decision Over Volkan Oezdemir In Top-10 Light Heavyweight Battle At UFC Macau

    After dropping his UFC debut against Kennedy Nzechukwu, Ulberg has now won seven straight to climb the ladder at 205 pounds.

    Oezdemir, meanwhile, has now lost two of his last four and four of his last seven.

  • VIDEO: Zhang Mingyang Sends Home Crowd Wild With Career’s 18th First-Round Finish At UFC Macau

    VIDEO: Zhang Mingyang Sends Home Crowd Wild With Career’s 18th First-Round Finish At UFC Macau

    Zhang Mingyang’s incredible run in MMA continued as he racked up yet another first-round knockout, defeating Ozzy Diaz to start off the UFC Macau main card.

    Just over two minutes into the fight, Mingyang landed a step-in elbow from distance that dropped Diaz. He then finished the fight with a series of ground-and-pound strikes.

    According to the UFC on social media, this was the first time in UFC light heavyweight history — and the 10th time in UFC history altogether — that a fight was finished due to this elbow strike.

    Zhang Mingyang Continues Long Streak Of First-Round KOs At UFC Macau

    After coming into the UFC off a win over Tuco Tokkos in 2022, Mingyang is now 2-0 in the Octagon after finishing Brendson Ribeiro earlier this year at UFC 298. The Chinese standout has incredibly won all 18 of his career wins by way of first-round finishes.

    Meanwhile, this fight marked the UFC debut for Diaz, who is a former LFA middleweight champion.

  • VIDEO: Chinese Doctor Who Hid MMA Career From Parents Wins Road To UFC With Violent Head-Kick KO

    VIDEO: Chinese Doctor Who Hid MMA Career From Parents Wins Road To UFC With Violent Head-Kick KO

    Perhaps the most notable thing about Shi Ming entering her fight at UFC Macau today was the fact that, despite working as a doctor and being a TikTok sensation, her parents and colleagues had no idea of her MMA activity.

    That may not be for much longer after she landed a jaw-dropping, brutal knockout of Feng Xiaocan to win the strawweight bracket of the Road to UFC tournament.

    Early in the third round, Ming made her impact by landing a head kick that came suddenly, dropping Xiaocan in dramatic fashion to earn the knockout victory.

    Shi Ming Wins Road To UFC Tournament With Violent Head Kick KO

    Xiaocan was unresponsive for some time, with a stretcher and neck brace required as she exited the Octagon. Xiaocan, according to the commentary team, was being transported to the hospital in the aftermath of the fight.

    Ming has now won five straight fights and 11 of her last 12. Meanwhile, this was Xiaocan’s first loss since dropping her third and fourth professional bouts, winning eight consecutive outings prior to tonight.

    The UFC Fight Night at Macau’s Galaxy Arena is set to be headlined by a crucial bantamweight bout between former champion Petr Yan and ex-flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.