MMA News

Author: Thomas Albano

  • Arman Tsarukyan Reacts To Islam Makhachev’s Latest Welterweight Tease At UFC 302: ‘Don’t Try To Run…’

    Islam Makhachev continued to show his prowess with his fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier to retain the UFC lightweight title in the main event of UFC 302.

    Makhachev’s victory now sparks questions about what could be next for him. It’s no secret that the next target date for the Dagestani could be in late October in Abu Dhabi, as Makhachev has done the last two years and his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, did before him.

    However, while many speculated that the next logical step would be a title defense against Arman Tsarukyan, Makhachev stated in his UFC 302 post-fight interview that he’s eyeing a new challenge in moving up to challenge current UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards.

    In a response on X (formerly Twitter), Tsarukyan gave a respectful congratulations to the lightweight champ but suggested that he was looking to run away from him.

    “Congrats to Islam! But don’t try to run away to another division. You’ve only defended your title once against a real lightweight, and I’m next in line,” Tsarukyan wrote.

    Tsarukyan Implies Makhachev Is Trying To Run From Him By Targeting Welterweight Title

    Tsarukyan seemingly became the next contender to the lightweight title by way of his finish of former champion, and previous top contender, Charles Oliveira in a title eliminator at UFC 300 in April.

    Makhachev defeated Oliveira at UFC 280 in October 2022 to capture the lightweight championship. He has since defended the title twice against then-featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, in addition to Poirier.

    Edwards, meanwhile, is scheduled to defend the welterweight championship against Belal Muhammad at UFC 304, which takes place on July 27 in Manchester, England.

    The UFC has previously announced that this year’s Abu Dhabi pay-per-view card will be UFC 308, which will take place on October 26. Makhachev has also teased another appearance on US soil instead, specifically Madison Square Garden the following month.

  • Kyoji Horiguchi Calls Out UFC After Having Return Interest Dismissed: ‘They’re Not Putting Effort In The Flyweight Division’

    Since parting ways with the UFC after 2016, Kyoji Horiguchi has enjoyed continued success in MMA.

    He went on to hold the Bellator and RIZIN bantamweight championships simultaneously until getting injured, and he is now the current (and inaugural) RIZIN flyweight champion.

    With his ongoing triumphs outside of the Octagon, and given his success during his tenure with the UFC, some have wondered if Horiguchi would ever be given another shot at competing in the UFC. That question became more prominent when the fighter himself expressed interest in an Octagon comeback.

    If one were to ask Horiguchi now, however, that day will never come.

    In the latest episode of RIZIN Confessions, Horiguchi said he’s heard the UFC has no interest in signing him. He also called the promotion out for being focused on profits more than fighters, including a lack of promotion for the UFC’s flyweight division.

    Kyoji Horiguchi Says ‘Big Shot’ UFC Has No Interest In Signing Him

    “[Everyone at American Top Team is] like ‘Why can’t you get signed?’” Horiguchi said. “It’s a big mystery. ‘What? They don’t want Kyoji?’ They’re like, ‘That’s insane…if they don’t want you, I don’t know what else to do.’

    “They went public and now they’re big shots. They are prioritizing profit is what I think. Like, their fight purses are very low. There are only a limited amount of guys who can live off of it. They’re not putting in the efforts for the flyweight division.”

    The UFC and the flyweight division have had a tumultuous history since Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson was crowned the first champion at UFC 152 in September 2012. 

    After Johnson was finally dethroned by Henry Cejudo at UFC 227 in August 2018 and traded to ONE Championship, there were rumors that the UFC was looking to close the flyweight division.

    Horiguchi competed in the Octagon eight times between late 2013 and late 2016, going 7-1. His sole loss came against Johnson, challenging for the flyweight title at UFC 186 and getting submitted with just one second remaining in the fight.

    Endeavor, the UFC’s parent company since 2016, became a publicly traded company in 2021 and was merged with WWE to form TKO in 2023.

    Horiguchi will face former Bellator bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis at RIZIN 47 on June 9. This will be a rematch of their Bellator bantamweight title fight from Bellator 272, which saw Pettis pull off a comeback with a spinning-backfist knockout in the fourth round to retain the title.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Open To Dustin Poirier Fight At Lightweight After His UFC 302 Title Loss

    Alexander Volkanovski Open To Dustin Poirier Fight At Lightweight After His UFC 302 Title Loss

    Heading into UFC 302, Dustin Poirier claimed that if he did not walk out of the Octagon as UFC lightweight champion, he could leave his gloves in the middle of the cage and walk away from the sport.

    Poirier lost to Islam Makhachev in the card’s main event, and while he didn’t retire, “The Diamond” suggested that competing “just to fight” may not be enough to convince him to come back.

    One man, however, seems to think a fight with him may hold the key to convince Poirier to not wrap up his career yet — Alexander Volkanovski.

    In a new video on his YouTube channel, the former UFC featherweight champion suggested that a fight with him at lightweight may pose a new challenge for Poirier that could convince him to go at least another bout.

    “He thinks he might be retiring, not sure — maybe, just maybe, depending on what I’m doing…obviously I want to fight later in the year…I don’t want to wait too long either…if the timing works, maybe me and Dustin can maybe have a good fight,” Volkanovski said.

    Alexander Volkanovski Thinks Him vs. Dustin Poirier Will Be A ‘Massive’ Fight

    Volkanovski has lost three of his last four fights. In 2023, with a title defense against Yair Rodriguez sandwiched between, Volkanovski attempted twice to challenge Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight championship.

    The Australian fell short in a classic, close decision at UFC 284 in February 2023 and then, competing on about 10 days’ notice, was brutally knocked out by Makhachev at UFC 294 last October.

    Volkanovski was again viciously slept at UFC 298 this past February, dropping the 145-pound title to Ilia Topuria. The second KO loss in a four-month span prompted plenty of concern around Volkanovski competing again without a long layoff.

    “Alexander the Great” added in his video that this wouldn’t be a complete move up to 155 pounds, but rather something to challenge himself while waiting to get another crack at the featherweight championship.

    “I know he sort of just wants good, fun fights. Obviously, we have a lot of respect for each other, and I think that would be a massive fight,” Volkanovski said. “That’s something I would be willing to do while I’m waiting for that featherweight title — maybe a lightweight fight against someone like Dustin Poirier would be great.”

  • Dana White: You’re ‘Nuts’ If You Think Islam Makhachev Is The Pound-For-Pound Best

    Islam Makhachev continued to impress and showcase his status as one of the sport’s best with his fifth-round submission of Dustin Poirier to retain the UFC lightweight championship in the main event of UFC 302.

    Makhachev certainly has the credentials to show why he is one of the best athletes in MMA, but where does that put him amongst his peers in the pound-for-pound order?

    The UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings currently list Makhachev as #1. UFC CEO Dana White, however, suggests that while nothing can be taken away from Makhachev’s abilities, the top spot should be with Jon Jones until the heavyweight kingpin can’t go anymore.

    Jones is currently ranked second on the P4P list.

    “I think [Islam is] one of the greatest of all time,” White said at the UFC 302 post-fight press conference. “I think he’s incredible. I don’t think he’s the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. For anyone to call Islam the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world when Jon Jones is still f****** fighting is nuts and shouldn’t be ranking in the pound-for-pound, or doing any of the f****** rankings ever if that’s what you really think.

    “Jon Jones has never lost a fight, ever. He’s fought all the baddest dudes in the world, and then when you think about what pound-for-pound rankings really mean — he moved up to heavyweight and destroyed the best guy in the world. As long as Jon Jones is still fighting, active and in the rankings, nobody [else] is pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world.”

    White: Performance After Long Layoff, Moving Up In Weight Gives Jones Edge Over Makhachev

    Jones reigned over the light heavyweight division for most of the 2010s in spite of multiple controversies that interrupted runs as the division’s champion. He then vacated the championship in 2020 to move up to heavyweight, successfully returning at UFC 285 last year to submit Ciryl Gane and win the then-vacant heavyweight title.

    Jones’ only blemish in his MMA career is his controversial December 2009 disqualification loss to Matt Hamill.

    “Three years off — nobody, not even [Muhammad] Ali, nobody’s ever come from three years off and looked the same,” White said. “Jon Jones walked through the number one guy in the heavyweight division like it was nothing with three years off.”

    Weight divisions also plays a role in White’s feelings.

    Makhachev’s only two other title defenses came last year against the same individual — then-UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Volkanovski moved up to 155 pounds and challenged Makhachev at UFC 284, with the Russian winning a close decision, and again on about 10 days’ notice at UFC 294, where Makhachev won via first-round knockout.

    “When you think about what pound-for-pound really means, [Makhachev] fought Volkanovski, who’s a weight class lower than him,” White said. “Jon Jones beat everybody at light heavyweight then beat the best heavyweight in the division like it was nothing at a higher weight class.”

  • ‘Put Up A Last Fight Like He Was Kobe Bryant In His Last Game’ – MMA Fans Serenade Dustin Poirier After He Pushes Islam Makhachev To The Limit In UFC 302 Loss

    ‘Put Up A Last Fight Like He Was Kobe Bryant In His Last Game’ – MMA Fans Serenade Dustin Poirier After He Pushes Islam Makhachev To The Limit In UFC 302 Loss

    While Dustin Poirier didn’t officially retire in the Octagon, he was ultimately unsuccessful in what could be his final fight in his MMA career. Poirier came up short against Islam Makhachev, who retained the UFC lightweight championship in the main event of UFC 302.

    Makhachev got to business right away, landing a combination early before scoring a takedown. Makhachev, with control on the ground, attempted a kimura, and when Poirier looked to roll away, Makhachev transitioned into a rear-naked choke attempt. Poirier survived the round.

    Poirier’s takedown defense was on display in round two, fighting off Makhachev’s attempts until the closing seconds, when Makhachev finally secured a takedown. Makhachev answered that with unrelenting pressure in the third, quickly securing another takedown and locking up a body triangle. 

    Makhachev attempted to secure the choke again, though Poirier managed to escape his grasp when he attempted to transition into full mount, making it a striking battle on the feet again.

    Makhachev’s grappling pressure was getting to Poirier, who appeared to have hurt his leg, in the fourth. But when Poirier brought the fight back to the feet, Poirier started to find success with body shots.

    But Makhachev got things back down to the ground in the fifth and locked in a D’Arce choke to secure the submission win.

    Poirier ultimately did not leave his gloves in the Octagon but admitted that fighting “just to fight” isn’t enough for him to continue on.

    Fans Pay Tribute To Dustin Poirier After UFC 302 Showing

    https://twitter.com/LL_Nap/status/1797135481433440305

    Makhachev had made two successful defenses of the UFC lightweight championship prior to tonight. Makhachev bested Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 and again, on short notice, at UFC 294. Makhachev had claimed the lightweight title with a win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 280.

    Poirier earned tonight’s title shot off a win over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299. The former interim lightweight champion had two previous challenges for the lightweight title, coming up short against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 and Oliveira at UFC 269.

  • VIDEO: Kevin Holland Likely Snaps Opponent’s Arm After He Refuses To Tap At UFC 302, MMA Fans React

    VIDEO: Kevin Holland Likely Snaps Opponent’s Arm After He Refuses To Tap At UFC 302, MMA Fans React

    Entering UFC 302 off back-to-back losses, Kevin Holland got a much-needed victory and did it in gruesome fashion.

    Holland took on Michal Oleksiejczuk as part of the event’s pay-per-view card. Holland found himself in trouble in the first round, getting dropped by a left hand.

    However, he recovered enough to throw up his guard and get into a triangle position, eventually getting his legs around one of Oleksiejczuk’s arms. With Oleksiejczuk not tapping, Holland continued to apply pressure until he appeared to break the arm.

    Referee Herb Dean would eventually call the fight, much to the dismay of Oleksiejczuk.

    Kevin Holland Likely Breaks Opponent Michal Oleksiejczuk’s Arm At UFC 302

    https://twitter.com/rachelapdsmith/status/1797109431307518022

    Holland is now 3-2 in his last five fights, with additional wins over Michael Chiesa and Santiago Ponzinibbio. He entered tonight off back-to-back losses against Jack Della Maddalena and Michael “Venom” Page.

    Oleksiejczuk has now lost three of his last four.

  • ‘Remove Solecki From The Roster Yesterday’ – MMA Fans Unhappy With Grappling-Heavy Grant Dawson Decision Win At UFC 302

    UFC 302 didn’t appeal to some MMA fans, even on paper. And things did not get better when Grant Dawson took on Joe Solecki during the preliminary card.

    Dawson, known for his grappling, not only scored on all three of his takedown attempts for the fight, but he also had just under 14 minutes of control time during the 15-minute contest – without landing much damage from top position.

    Solecki may have taken the first round with more effective activity going for a guillotine choke, but it wasn’t enough to get past Dawson’s unrelenting pressure. Dawson scored 30-27s on two judges’ scorecards and 29-28 on the third.

    MMA Community Rips On One-Sided, Grappling-Heavy Victory For Grant Dawson Over Joe Solecki At UFC 302

    https://twitter.com/raffaelprospero/status/1797072351609159731

    https://twitter.com/DLo3434/status/1797072335234547980

    This win helps Dawson rebound from a knockout loss at the hands of Bobby Green in October.

    Meanwhile, this is Solecki’s second straight loss after already losing to Drakkar Klose in December.

  • ‘They Should Be Ashamed’ – Joe Rogan, Daniel Cormier, & MMA Media Go Off On Judge After Unacceptable Scorecard To Kick Off UFC 302

    ‘They Should Be Ashamed’ – Joe Rogan, Daniel Cormier, & MMA Media Go Off On Judge After Unacceptable Scorecard To Kick Off UFC 302

    Fight fans may have to brace themselves after the opening bout of UFC 302 saw quite the controversial scorecard in a one-sided victory.

    The early prelims for UFC 302 opened with a bout between The Ultimate Fighter alumnus Mitch Raposo and Andre Lima. While Lima committed a couple of fouls in the opening round to get a hard warning, Raposo put together little offence of note throughout the fight.

    One judge, Dave Tirelli, however, seemed to be watching a completely different fight and awarded the bout to Raposo with a 29-28 score. The remaining two judges, however, scored the fight for Lima, earning him a split decision.

    The score in Raposo’s favor, however, was enough to get Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier, on the commentary desk for UFC 302, to openly criticize officiating and scoring of fights.

    “I’ve really been an advocate for open scoring and more judges,” Rogan said. “I think three judges is too few.” He also said that “they should be ashamed” to produce a scorecard in favor of Raposo.

    Daniel Cormier also echoed Rogan’s sentiments, heavily criticising the judge with the errant scorecard – Dave Tirelli.

    MMA Community Goes Off On Judge Who Scored Fight For Mitch Raposo Over Andre Lima At UFC 302

    This was Lima’s first fight following his UFC debut, which he won in peculiar circumstances by disqualification after opponent Igor Severino bit him.

    Raposo, who was making his UFC debut, saw a four-fight win streak snapped with this loss.