The UFC lightweight division’s top contender has spoken out on being passed over for a title shot. Arman Tsarukyan told Demetrious Johnson’s MightyCast that the interim championship bout between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 represents a business decision over merit, one that leaves the true number one contender on the sidelines.
“For me it’s a joke that these guys are fighting for the belt when I’m the number one contender,” Tsarukyan said during the January 20 interview. The Armenian fighter currently holds the top ranking at 155 pounds after defeating Dan Hooker via second-round submission in November 2025, cementing his status with a Performance of the Night bonus.
Arman Tsarukyan Calls Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje a “Joke”
Tsarukyan made no attempt to hide his feelings about the matchup. When asked who he favored between the two fighters, his response was blunt: “I hope it’s Gaethje, because I don’t like Paddy.”
The disdain runs deeper than simple rivalry. Tsarukyan explained that a Pimblett victory could derail his title aspirations. “It’s going to be hard to fight him because UFC going to push me back for a couple years,” he told Johnson. The two fighters have traded barbs for months, with Pimblett recently questioning Tsarukyan’s resume while the Armenian has criticized the Brit’s path to contention.
“If it was me versus Paddy right now it would be such a big fight,” Tsarukyan argued, “Both young, both never been knocked out. They’re hungry.”
Criticism of Gaethje’s Title Path
While Tsarukyan hopes Gaethje wins, he questions whether the American deserves the opportunity at all. “Gaethje’s not that interesting – he barely beat Fiziev and they give him a title fight,” the contender said, referencing the controversial majority decision victory over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 286 in March 2023.
“He’s old. He had his chance. He got knocked out. He lost a lot of times,” Tsarukyan said, likely alluding to Gaethje’s brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway.
Gaethje holds a 26-5 record with a 9-5 mark inside the Octagon, having lost multiple title bids during his UFC tenure.
It’s Just Business
Tsarukyan acknowledged the reality of UFC matchmaking when pressed about his title shot prospects. “Yeah, it’s just business,” he told Johnson when discussing the decision to pass him over. The fighter expressed frustration at being asked to serve as backup despite his ranking, noting he would take the fight on short notice if called upon at 155 pounds.
“I’ll get my title for sure,” Tsarukyan said. He pulled out of a scheduled championship bout against Makhachev at UFC 311 in January 2025 due to a back injury sustained during his weight cut, which may have factored into the UFC’s decision to move forward without him.
The Armenian has remained active through grappling competitions and submission wrestling events while waiting for his next UFC booking.
Justin Gaethje dismissed Paddy Pimblett’s recent verbal challenges and questioned the Liverpool fighter’s readiness for the championship distance as the two prepare to meet for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on January 24 in Las Vegas.
Speaking at Wednesday’s pre-fight press conference, Gaethje remained unfazed by Pimblett’s promise to deliver a beating unlike any the veteran has experienced. The former BMF champion instead pointed to a critical difference between the two fighters heading into their main event clash at T-Mobile Arena.
“I certainly take nothing from those comments. It’s 25 minutes in time right now; what he’s saying right now does not matter,” Gaethje said. “All it tells me is hopefully he’s going to be overconfident, and the last thing you can do in this sport is have a false confidence. He’d be crazy not to know that I’m one of the most dangerous guys he’s ever fought.”
The 37-year-old emphasized the experience gap when it comes to five-round contests, a format Pimblett has never encountered in the UFC. Gaethje noted he has been scheduled for championship-distance fights at least 20 times throughout his career, including multiple five-round title bouts during his undefeated World Series of Fighting run and seven five-round UFC appearances.
“I’ve been scheduled for a five-round fight at least 20 times in my career. It’s a different ball game,” Gaethje explained. “I want to take him to the fourth and fifth round. I want to do the same thing I’ve done before – turn his face into minced meat. I’ve done it to higher-caliber fighters, but this guy has a lot of momentum and confidence, and those are some of the most dangerous variables I’ll be facing.”
Gaethje elaborated on how the extended format changes preparation, particularly for fighters without that experience. “You don’t know what you don’t know. He hasn’t been there,” he continued. “Out of my 26 or 31 fights, I’ve been scheduled for at least 20 five-rounders. It’s different training, different mindset, different tactics. I train at elevation – if I’m tired, I know they’re really tired. He’s going to be exhausted when we get to those rounds.”
The former interim champion referenced his recent three-round battles as evidence of his championship conditioning advantages. “You watch my three-round fights – Michael Chandler, Rafael Fiziev – those were close fights on paper, but if they went to the fourth and fifth round, I would have hurt them very badly,” Gaethje said. “That’s what I’m hoping I can do this Saturday.”
Pimblett, who holds a perfect 7-0 UFC record, has only competed in five-round fights three times during his Cage Warriors tenure, losing two of those contests. The 30-year-old from Liverpool has never been past the third round in his UFC career.
Despite recognizing Pimblett as a legitimate threat, Gaethje maintained confidence in his ability to expose the durability and conditioning questions that come with championship rounds. “I think he’s really good. This sport is crazy – anything can happen at any moment,” Gaethje acknowledged.
“All the people that have those opinions, that say the guys he beat were over the hill or past their prime, they’ve never taken the risk that we take. A bunch of cowards that just like to talk. I don’t care what people say about him. I know that he’s dangerous, I know that he’s confident, and those are two huge variables. It’s a constant battle for momentum and I’m going to have to take it early and keep it.”
When asked about Pimblett’s claim that “Scousers don’t get knocked out,” Gaethje offered a clinical response that underscored his finishing pedigree of 20 career knockouts. “You don’t have to be a doctor to know that if you have a brain, you can get shut off if I just shake it. I’ll show him – if I can shake his head and make his brain touch his skull, he’s going to go to sleep,” he stated.
“The only thing that appeals to me right now is knocking a Scouser out and representing America. That’s what I’m here to do… whatever a Scouser is.”
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley addressed the controversy surrounding his COVID-style face mask during an initial staredown with upcoming opponent Song Yadong, while the Chinese fighter remained focused on the fight itself ahead of their co-main event clash at UFC 324 on Saturday, January 24, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The incident occurred at the UFC seasonal press conference in December 2025, when O’Malley wore a surgical face mask during the first face-off with Song. The gesture sparked immediate backlash, with many interpreting it as a reference to COVID-19’s origins in China.
Sean O’Malley Clarifies COVID Mask Incident With Song Yadong Ahead of UFC 324 Showdown
At Wednesday’s UFC 324 media day, O’Malley issued an apology for the incident. “My intentions were never harmful,” O’Malley stated.
“It was supposed to be a little silly joke, you know, it was that, and it got taken out of [context]. I apologize if I offended anybody. It was never meant to be disrespectful, just me trying to have a little fun, and it turned into something else”.
Song responded to the apology during his own media session, acknowledging O’Malley’s penchant for promotional tactics while dismissing any impact on his preparation. “Sean is very good at promotion. He likes to play little mind games, do things at the face-off, talk a lot online,” Song explained.
“I don’t really care about that. I’m not here to play games with him, I’m here to fight. When the cage door closes, it’s just me and him, and all that talk and all that show doesn’t help him. I won’t let anything he does take me out of my focus”.
The 28-year-old Chinese fighter elaborated on his perspective regarding the stunt. “I’m fine, but I believe we shouldn’t introduce racism into this sport,” Song remarked at media day. “Let’s keep it about the competition. He already expressed regret. In an interview from China, he apologized to fans. He’s trying to play mind games with me, but I’m not concerned about that. My focus is solely on the fight. I just want to win. I’m concentrated”.
O’Malley enters UFC 324 on a two-fight losing streak, having lost the bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 in September 2024 and falling short in their rematch at UFC 316 in June 2025. The former champion holds an 18-3 MMA record and 10-3 UFC mark, with his last victory coming against Marlon Vera at UFC 299.
Song, ranked fifth in the bantamweight division, carries a record of 22-8-1 overall and 11-3-1 in the UFC. The Team Alpha Male fighter most recently defeated former two-division champion Henry Cejudo via technical decision in February 2025, earning the victory when the bout was stopped due to an accidental eye poke while Song was ahead on the scorecards.
Both fighters view the bout as critical for their championship aspirations. O’Malley believes a victory positions him for a rematch with current bantamweight champion Petr Yan, whom he controversially defeated at UFC 280 in October 2022. Yan reclaimed the title by defeating Dvalishvili at UFC 323 in December 2025, ending “The Machine’s” reign after three successful title defenses.
“It’s got to be me versus Petr next, if I go out there and take care of business,” O’Malley declared at media day. “I think I go out there and put on a beautiful performance, [then] me versus Petr at the White House is huge”.
Song similarly sees the fight as his pathway to title contention. “This fight is crucial for me because a win over Sean would be a major accomplishment,” Song acknowledged. “I’m just one step away from a title shot”.
Natalia Silva has made her intentions clear heading into Saturday’s UFC 324 fight against Rose Namajunas. The Brazilian contender believes she can defeat flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko in every facet of mixed martial arts, and a victory this weekend would put her in position to prove it.
Speaking at the UFC 324 pre-fight press conference at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Silva expressed supreme confidence in her ability to dethrone Shevchenko, who reclaimed the flyweight title in September 2024 and has since defended it twice. The 27-year-old from Brazil stated her case with conviction.
Natalia Silva Eyes Valentina Shevchenko After Rose Namajunas Showdown at UFC 324
“Valentina definitely is not going to beat me in any area,” Silva said. “I train every day to be champion and it doesn’t matter if the fight is on the feet or on the ground – I am ready to beat her. I work every day in every area possible. If it’s striking, I’m going to beat her. If it’s any sort of grappling, I’m going to beat her and I’m going to be champion. In the name of Jesus, yes – I am training for that and I believe that a victory over Rose already puts a belt on this table within the next 12 months”.
Silva’s path to a title shot has already encountered delays. The Team Borracha fighter revealed that she expected to challenge Shevchenko sooner, but the UFC needed the champion to recover from her dominant November victory over Zhang Weili at UFC 322. That five-round shutout saw Shevchenko score 50-45 on all three judges’ scorecards.
“I wanted to have fought for the title already, but the UFC said Valentina would not be available to fight now and that they needed me to take another fight,” Silva explained. “They offered Rose’s name and we accepted. I believe that if Zhang Weili hadn’t fought Valentina, I would already have fought for the belt. For everything I’ve done in the organization, I think the person who was most ready for this opportunity was me. I believe that, yes. And a win over Rose already credentials me for a title shot. The UFC told me this fight is an eliminator and that the next one will be for the title”.
Natalia Silva vs. Rose Namajunas at UFC 324
Silva stepped into the UFC 324 matchup on short notice after former champion Alexa Grasso withdrew due to injury in early December. The Brazilian had most recently defeated Grasso by unanimous decision at UFC 315 in May 2025, extending her winning streak to 13 fights and maintaining her perfect 7-0 UFC record.
Namajunas, a former two-time strawweight champion, moved up to flyweight in 2023 and holds a 3-2 record at 125 pounds. The 33-year-old last competed in June when she defeated Miranda Maverick by unanimous decision. The UFC has informed Namajunas that a victory over Silva would earn her a flyweight title shot against Shevchenko, setting up a clash between friends and training partners.
When discussing Namajunas, Silva acknowledged her opponent’s adaptability but expressed confidence in dictating the pace of their encounter. The Brazilian noted Namajunas recently announced a return to her taekwondo roots in preparation for facing Silva’s striking style.
“I don’t have much to say about her; I have a lot to say about myself,” Silva stated. “Rose adapts a lot to the style of whoever she’s fighting. The difficult part will be for her to adapt to my game. When I go in there to fight, I will be the one dictating the cards. She said she had to go back to her taekwondo roots because of my style. I never had to ‘go back’ to my roots – I always trained taekwondo. It’s good that she went back, but I don’t think the time she’s had will be enough”.
Silva began training taekwondo at age 16. Since her last defeat in December 2017 to Marina Rodriguez, Silva has won 13 consecutive fights.
Shevchenko, now 37, has not yet announced her next opponent following her victories over Manon Fiorot and Zhang Weili in 2025. The champion holds a 26-4-1 career record and sits at the top of the UFC women’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Ali Abdelaziz has stirred the pot once again, this time floating the idea of Conor McGregor facing Justin Gaethje at the White House.
The Dominance MMA manager’s pitch is blunt, referring to McGregor as an “Irish drunk guy” and questioning whether he could handle Gaethje ahead of the UFC’s historic event scheduled for June 14, 2026. The timing is particularly interesting given that Gaethje is set to face Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 this Saturday, January 24.
Ali Abdelaziz Calls Conor McGregor ‘Irish Drunk Guy,’ Pitches Justin Gaethje Fight at UFC White House
Speaking with Submission Radio, Abdelaziz laid out his vision with typical flair. His proposal skips the interim belt discussion entirely, instead focusing on what he describes as a long-overdue grudge match between the Irishman and “The Highlight”.
“Justin Gaethje versus Conor McGregor. What about that? Do you understand? America’s birthday – bring an Irish drunk guy to the White House, make sure he doesn’t have any drugs on him or cocaine, and fight Justin. Conor’s been running from Justin all his life.”
According to the manager, McGregor has been avoiding Gaethje throughout his career, turning down the fight “at least five times” over several years. Abdelaziz claims the UFC even advised him to stop mentioning the matchup because McGregor allegedly refuses to fight opponents who criticize him publicly.
The suggestion comes with particular bite given the White House event’s significance. Set to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, President Trump announced the date coincides with his 80th birthday, and Dana White has indicated he’s holding back major fights to stack the card.
The McGregor-Gaethje matchup has long been discussed but never materialized. Their styles suggest an explosive clash. McGregor’s precision striking and southpaw stance theoretically create openings against Gaethje’s aggressive, face-first approach and leg-heavy attack.
However, the Irishman hasn’t won a lightweight fight since 2016, and both of his recent losses to Dustin Poirier exposed vulnerability to leg kicks, Gaethje’s specialty. The 37-year-old is coming off a broken leg sustained in 2021.
Gaethje enters UFC 324 on Saturday with everything to prove. The 37-year-old veteran has made it clear this is likely his final run at undisputed gold after previous title shot failures against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. His coach, Trevor Wittman, confirmed this won’t be a “retirement fight” and that Gaethje has no intention of continuing without a clear championship path.
Should he defeat Pimblett and secure the interim belt, Gaethje is expected to face Ilia Topuria later in 2026 for the undisputed lightweight championship. A McGregor fight, while lucrative, would represent a detour from that trajectory unless positioned as a White House spectacle worth the risk.
For now, Abdelaziz’s proposal remains speculation ahead of a more immediate priority. Saturday’s UFC 324 will determine whether Gaethje even has the interim belt to bargain with.
Arman Tsarukyan got skipped for a title shot he earned. Now he is everywhere. The streaming circuit, grappling events, cooking shows, he is building a brand while the UFC decides what to do with him. This is not a choice anymore. It is the cost of doing business in the modern UFC.
The numbers tell the story. Tsarukyan beat Dan Hooker in November 2025. He held the number one contender spot. The UFC gave the interim title fight to Justin Gaethje versus Paddy Pimblett for UFC 324 on January 24. The official reason involved Tsarukyan’s past actions, the UFC 311 withdrawal, the Hooker headbutt, the fan incident at UFC 300. Dana White invests in promotional campaigns, and when fighters bail, Dana does not forget.
Arman Tsarukyan’s Media Tour
Tsarukyan pivoted. He appeared on Adin Ross‘s stream with MMA Guru on January 10, 2026, hanging out for nearly ten hours with fans. He joined Matan Even‘s show, where a co-host named “Mike Mike” added to the chaos. When Matan pushed buttons, Tsarukyan threatened to slap him.
Then came the cooking. On January 18, Tsarukyan made a chopped cheese sandwich in Brooklyn, the “Ocky Way“. This is not traditional fighter behavior. Food influencers reach audiences that MMA never touches. Tsarukyan knows he needs those eyes.
Tsarukyan’s Grappling
The grappling matches keep him sharp and in the news. He submitted Mehdi Baydulaev at ACBJJ 20 in December 2025. He fought Sharabutdin Magomedov to a draw at Hype FC. He dominated Lance Palmer 10-0 in a wrestling match at RAF 5 on January 10, 2026. These events do not pay UFC money. They pay in relevance.
The New UFC
Ariel Helwani called it. On his show, Helwani said Tsarukyan is “becoming the second most popular lightweight in the world behind Ilia”. Helwani pointed out that Dana White follows this stuff closely. The UFC tracks engagement metrics. A viral clip matters more than a win sometimes.
The promotion’s Paramount+ partnership factors in. The UFC needs Western market appeal for its broadcast debut. Paddy Pimblett brings a built-in audience. Tsarukyan’s wrestling wins, while impressive, stay inside the hardcore bubble. The UFC wants mainstream. Mainstream means memes, streams, and chopped cheese videos.
Justin Gaethje understood the situation. He admitted Tsarukyan deserved the shot but recognized the UFC’s stance. Gaethje cited the same incidents White did, the withdrawal, the headbutt, the fan fight. These moments cost Tsarukyan trust.
But this is the new model. Fighters cannot just train and win, that’s just not enough for the UFC anymore. They must create content, build followings, and stay visible across platforms. The UFC has shifted from a sports organization to an entertainment company that happens to feature fighting. Rankings matter, but algorithms matter more.
Derrick Lewis is making a statement ahead of his heavyweight clash against Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 324 on January 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The 40-year-old knockout artist told UFC Embedded that he expects the fight to end quickly, possibly in the first exchange.
“Expect A Quick Fight”: Derrick Lewis Chases Another KO At UFC 324
Lewis enters the bout with a 29-12 record and holds the UFC record for most knockouts in history with 16. His most recent performance backs up the confidence, as he demolished previously undefeated Tallison Teixeira in just 35 seconds at UFC Nashville in July 2025. That knockout gave Lewis back-to-back wins for the first time in several years and added to his reputation for explosive power. ‘The Black Beast’ explained:
“I’m one of the best I’ve felt in a long time in one of my camps. I feel like I’m in great shape right now. I’m in better shape than I was my last fight, so I’m feeling good. What you’re going to expect to see next Saturday is a quick fight. I believe I can really get him out of there in the first exchange. Don’t worry about getting any sleep, because Saturday you will get plenty of sleep. I promise you that.”
The training camp appears to have made a difference for Lewis. He weighed in at 261 pounds for the Teixeira fight, his lowest weight since 2014. Lewis extended his camp from the typical five weeks to three months, focusing on running six miles every other day to improve conditioning. At 40 years old, he ranks as the eighth-ranked heavyweight but has been in the division long enough to compile 20 UFC heavyweight wins, second only to Andrei Arlovski’s 23.
Cortes-Acosta presents a different challenge. The fifth-ranked heavyweight from the Dominican Republic holds a 16-2 record and has fought six times in 2025. His activity level is remarkable especially by heavyweight standards. He won five straight fights between March and November 2025 before accepting the Lewis matchup. The 34-year-old stands 6’4″ and has finished four of his nine UFC wins by knockout.
The matchup pits Lewis’s one-punch power against Cortes-Acosta’s youth and durability. Lewis has built a career on landing single fight-ending shots, often after absorbing damage earlier in fights.
UFC 324 marks the promotion’s first numbered event under its new Paramount+ deal, replacing the previous pay-per-view model, with Justin Gaethje facing Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title in the main event.
Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson has thrown his support behind Paddy Pimblett ahead of the Liverpool fighter’s interim lightweight title clash against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324. Johnson, who holds the UFC record for most consecutive title defenses with 11, believes Pimblett possesses the skills and mental fortitude to handle Gaethje’s pressure striking game when the two meet on January 24 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Why Demetrious Johnson Thinks Paddy Pimblett Is Ready For Justin Gaethje
In a detailed breakdown of Pimblett’s third-round TKO victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April 2025, Johnson highlighted the Englishman’s ability to stay composed in dangerous positions. The 30-year-old Pimblett dominated a former Bellator champion and UFC title challenger, securing his seventh consecutive UFC victory in what represented the biggest win of his career to date.
“The one thing that I like about Paddy Pimblett is that when he’s in a dangerous position, he’s going to start attacking submissions to keep the fight going,” ‘Mighty Mouse’ explained in his YouTube breakdown. “He’s done it against multiple opponents, even before the UFC days. You go back and watch him fight in Cage Warriors – he’ll lock up a kimura, he’ll jump for a flying triangle.”
Johnson pointed to specific moments in the Chandler fight where Pimblett’s submission instincts kept him in control. When Chandler attempted to smother him against the cage, Pimblett threw a flying triangle that changed the dynamic of the exchange. “He does a flying triangle, gets slammed back on his back, then he pushes Michael Chandler down, tries to get the triangle more situated, and when Chandler postures up to defend, he kicks him off and gets up,” Johnson noted.
Paddy Pimblett’s Scramble Game Has Justin Gaethje Written All Over It, Says ‘Mighty Mouse’
The distance management Pimblett displayed against Chandler particularly impressed the former champion. Johnson identified what he called “the void” between the two fighters, explaining how Pimblett controlled the middle distance and made it difficult for Chandler to get inside.
“We have the void right here. Each time Chandler comes into this space to try to start anything, it’s either a jab, a leg kick, the inside kick, or Paddy will blitz him, or he’ll back up throwing combinations,” Johnson said. “So Paddy is basically owning this area, giving Michael a hard time getting to him.”
Johnson acknowledged that Gaethje presents different challenges than Chandler, particularly with his striking arsenal. The 36-year-old Gaethje has built a reputation as one of the most devastating leg kickers in UFC history, using the technique to compromise opponents’ mobility and set up finishes. “I believe Justin is going to have that jab, that leg kick, and we’ll see how Paddy goes about it on the feet,” Johnson stated.
Despite the threat Gaethje poses, Johnson praised Pimblett’s fearless approach to fighting. “Paddy doesn’t play dog – Paddy just goes, and he’s not scared to fight. He thrives more when the fight’s going, when the scrambles start, people picking him up, trying to slam him. That’s where he starts to thrive because he’s always in great condition, he’s always doing different submission attacks.”
Johnson has consistently backed Pimblett’s championship potential, even when others have dismissed the Liverpool native. “I’ve always been chirping about Paddy Pimblett being a world champion just because he’s so dynamic – the way he moves, he’s very diverse with his submissions, he’s not scared to exchange. I don’t know why people overlook him. Look what he just did to Michael Chandler. Nobody’s done that to Michael Chandler in the UFC.”
Jorge Masvidal has made clear why securing a spot on the UFC’s historic White House event means everything to him, describing the opportunity as a once-in-a-lifetime validation of his journey from Miami’s backyards to the nation’s most prestigious address.
The June 14 card, set to coincide with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, represents far more than another fight for the 41-year-old former BMF champion. Masvidal recently told reporters that people constantly ask why he remains obsessed with getting on the card when other marquee events happen regularly.
Masvidal explained that while fans might see another UFC card at Madison Square Garden or Las Vegas annually, a UFC card at the White House will never happen again. For someone who grew up as the son of immigrants fighting in backyards with Kimbo Slice and other street fighters, the symbolism carries profound weight.
“People say, ‘Why are you so obsessed with this White House thing?’ Because this doesn’t happen again, man. You might see another UFC card at Madison Square Garden or Vegas every year, but a UFC card at the White House?
“That’s once-in-a-lifetime shit. I’m a kid from the streets of Miami, son of immigrants, who grew up fighting in backyards with Kimbo and those guys. You put that kid on the White House lawn with gloves on, representing his flag, his family, his people… that’s powerful.”
Why Jorge Masvidal Will Take Any Fight to Get on the White House Card
Masvidal‘s father fled Cuba as a teenager on a self-made raft constructed from tractor tires, spending five days at sea before reaching the Virgin Islands and eventually Miami. His Peruvian mother worked multiple jobs starting at 4 a.m., yet the family remained among the poorest on their block. That background fuels his drive to represent on the White House lawn.
“For me it’s like, man, I’m just some Latin dude from Miami that can fight really good,” Masvidal said in recent interviews. “I’m in the White House showcasing my skills, showing the world that, especially us Latin people, we ain’t just what they make us out to be.”
Masvidal started his combat career in chaotic backyard brawls. Those informal contests, promoted by the late Kimbo Slice, took place in parking lots and yards around Miami with no medical staff present.
Now Masvidal envisions himself fighting on the South Lawn with gloves on, representing his flag, family, and community. He sees it as sending a message to every young Latino that they can rise from nothing and perform in front of the president.
The fighter has confirmed he recently spoke with Trump about getting on the card. During a call when Masvidal was in New York for fights, he quickly pitched his case. Trump responded simply with “Got you, Mas,” though Masvidal says he hasn’t played that card fully yet, saving the favor for when timing matters most.
Masvidal told reporters his manager Ali Abdelaziz is actively negotiating with UFC President Dana White and executive Hunter Campbell. When asked about his chances of securing a spot against Conor McGregor, Masvidal said things are “not looking bad right now” with dialogue remaining open.
Masvidal emphasized he would fight anyone at any weight to make the card, though he doesn’t care about the opponent as much as the venue itself. Whether it’s McGregor or another fighter, his priority remains getting on the historic event.
Looking back, Masvidal describes the trajectory from backyard fighting to potentially competing at the White House as the most polar opposite journey imaginable. He attributes everything to faith, noting it happened not because he’s the smartest or fastest, but through divine intervention.
White has confirmed the June 14 date and promised what he called “the greatest fight card ever” for the UFC’s first event at the presidential residence. The promotion plans to invest $700,000 just to replace the South Lawn grass, with attendance capped around 4,000 people.
“For me it’s like, man, I’m just some Latin dude from Miami that can fight really good. I’m in the White House showcasing my skills, showing the world that, especially us Latin people, we ain’t just what they make us out to be. We’re a lot better than what they give us. Now I get to perform my skill set at this place which is responsible for this great nation.”
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier is settling into retirement with a new nickname, a new physique, and a fresh perspective on life after combat sports.
Speaking with Ariel Helwani on Monday, the Louisiana native opened up about his transformation from elite lightweight contender to what he jokingly calls “Peptide Papi.”
Retired UFC Star Dustin Poirier Embraces Life as “Peptide Papi” After Calling Time on 16-Year Career
Poirier, who retired in July 2025 following a decision loss to Max Holloway at UFC 318 in New Orleans, has been hitting the weights hard at his home gym, which he has christened “The Silly Goose Fitness Club.” The 36-year-old, who spent most of his career cutting down to 155 pounds, now weighs around 187 pounds and admits he probably couldn’t pass a USADA test.
“I’m Peptide Papi, man. I don’t think I can pass a drug test,” Poirier told Helwani during the interview. “I’m lifting probably five, six days a week. I built a gym at my house – the Silly Goose Fitness Club, we’re not taking applications.”
The weight gain is a significant shift for a fighter who struggled with weight cuts throughout his career. Poirier explained that the constant need to make 155 pounds, and 145 pounds prior to his lightweight jump, prevented him from bulking the way he wanted to.
“I’ve worked out my whole life, but I was always conscious of putting on too much weight, couldn’t eat too many calories, couldn’t lift too heavy, because making 155 was never easy,” Poirier explained. “Now that I don’t have to make weight, I can eat all the carbs and calories I want, I can lift heavy. I’m just trying to see where my body balances out at.”
In the context of performance enhancement, athletes sometimes use peptides to stimulate muscle growth, increase strength, and speed up recovery from training. These compounds are banned by most sports organizations, including the UFC’s USADA anti-doping program.
The Lafayette native has been training alongside his friend Kyle at his home gym five to six days per week, embracing the freedom to build muscle without worrying about weight classes or USADA testing. Before his retirement fight, Poirier had joked with ESPN about getting “on steroids” once USADA stopped knocking on his door.
Dustin Poirier on Sobriety
While the physical transformation has been visible on social media, Poirier also addressed a more serious aspect of his retirement journey. In November, he posted cryptically about “soul searching” and making changes, later clarifying in the comments that he was committing to sobriety. During his interview with Helwani, Poirier provided context for that decision.
“I had retired and had so much time on my hands, and I’m always battling something in my mind,” Poirier said. “I’ve always drank alcohol growing up, but it was celebratory – vacation, get-togethers, things like that. Now I’m retired and I’m sitting at home and I can have a drink every day. I don’t have to wake up and run miles, I don’t have to wake up and go to the gym or be somewhere. I just wanted to pull back from drinking.”
Poirier emphasized that he does not have an alcohol problem but wanted to stay ahead of potential issues. He completed roughly 40 days of sobriety leading up to New Year’s, when he had champagne to celebrate. The former fighter explained that he enjoys bourbon and whiskey but recognized the danger of slipping into daily drinking habits without the structure of training camps.
“I’m not going to be sober my whole life – for New Year’s I drank champagne – I just wanted to take a step back because that can get ugly quick,” Poirier said. “We’ve seen it before. When your hands are full every day trying to be the best at something and then boom, it’s gone, you’re retired, you have a lot of time on your hands. I just wanted to be smart.”
Paddy Pimblett has cast doubt on Justin Gaethje’s hunger for the interim lightweight title ahead of their UFC 324 showdown, suggesting the veteran fighter has lost his competitive edge and is simply chasing one final payday.
In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, the Liverpool fighter questioned whether Gaethje remains fully committed to the sport, pointing to his financial success as evidence of waning motivation. The comments come just days before the pair meet for the interim 155-pound championship on January 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“Justin’s got a lot of money now. He’s driving around in a Lamborghini,” Pimblett said. “I think he’s just after one last big payday, but I’m not going to underestimate him. I think everyone underestimates me and I’d never do that to anyone else. The one time I did it, years ago with Jared Gordon, I nearly got beat. So I’ll never do that ever again.”
The reference to his controversial unanimous decision victory over Gordon at UFC 282 in December 2022 showed a rare moment of candour from the typically confident 31-year-old. That fight saw all three judges score the bout 29-28 in Pimblett’s favour despite widespread belief that Gordon had done enough to win, with fans booing the decision announcement at T-Mobile Arena.
Pimblett also challenged the narrative around Gaethje‘s knockout power, a trademark of the 37-year-old’s career that has produced 20 knockout victories across 26 professional wins.
“People keep saying about his knockout power and I think I’ve got more knockout power than him,” Pimblett stated. “The last person he knocked out with his hands was James Vick in like 2018 or something – they were still wearing Reebok then.”
“He finishes people with the accumulation of punches, but I don’t think he’s going to be able to hit me that much,” Pimblett added. “I’ll be too fast, too elusive, too good in my range.”
The interim title fight was created after current lightweight champion Ilia Topuria announced he would not compete in the first quarter of 2026 due to personal issues.
Gaethje, ranked fourth in the UFC’s lightweight division, enters the fight having won his last bout against Rafael Fiziev via majority decision in March 2025. Pimblett, ranked fifth, carries a perfect 7-0 UFC record and is coming off a TKO victory over Michael Chandler in April 2025.
The fight headlines UFC 324, the first numbered event in the promotion’s landmark partnership with Paramount+. The deal eliminates pay-per-view fees for fans in the United States and Latin America, with all major numbered events and UFC Fight Night cards now available exclusively on the streaming platform.
For Pimblett, the opportunity represents the culmination of a journey that began nearly 16 years ago, “I’ve always said that this is going to happen. I’m going to be UFC champion,” he told TMZ. “So for that dream to finally come true on Saturday night, it’s going to be special.”
New Zealand lightweight Dan Hooker has drawn a line between authenticity and performance in the UFC, taking aim at Colby Covington’s approach to self-promotion during a recent interview with Sky Sports.
Dan Hooker: Don’t Be Fake Like Colby Covington
“People can hate me for being me — I can live with that, that’s all right,” Hooker said. “It’s like, you don’t want to be Colby Covington, where they’re just scared that people won’t like the real them. I’d rather be hated for who I am than loved for something I’m not.”
The comments from the 35-year-old veteran shows tensions around Covington’s admitted use of a character to remain relevant in the UFC. Covington revealed in 2019 that the promotion had told his management they would not re-sign him prior to his October 2017 bout against Demian Maia in Brazil. Facing career uncertainty while earning $30,000 to fight the number two welterweight in the world, Covington delivered the infamous post-fight rant that altered his trajectory.
After dominating Maia to a unanimous decision, Covington grabbed the microphone and called Brazilians “a bunch of filthy animals” and Brazil “a dump”. The promo went viral, forcing the UFC to reverse course. “That promo goes so viral on the internet, that the UFC’s like, we have to keep him, we have to re-sign him because that promo is so big,” Covington explained on The Candace Owens Show. The moment became the turning point that saved his career.
Since adopting the persona, Covington has achieved notable success, including capturing the interim welterweight championship against Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225 in June 2018. However, observers have noted the toll of maintaining the act. Former UFC lightweight Paul Felder suggested in March 2025 that Covington’s persona appears to be fading.
Multiple training partners and opponents have reported that Covington presents as reserved and soft-spoken in private settings, contradicting the bombastic character displayed during fight promotions. Even Demian Maia noted that Covington was respectful during their pre-fight interactions, explaining that the aggressive promotion was simply a business tool.
Covington’s recent career trajectory reflects the challenges Hooker referenced. The former interim champion holds a 17-5 professional record but has won just once in his last four fights. His most recent appearance ended in a third-round TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa on December 14, 2024, when a doctor stopped the contest due to a severe cut above Covington’s eye. Buckley dominated the fight, landing 75 of 151 significant strikes compared to Covington’s 37 of 124.
Covington currently sits at number 14 in the UFC welterweight rankings. His last victory came against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 in March 2022. UFC President Dana White recently questioned Covington’s top-15 ranking during an interview, agreeing with criticism about his placement.
Hooker’s career stands in contrast to Covington’s current situation. The number six ranked lightweight brought a three-fight winning streak into his November 22, 2025 main event against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Qatar. Despite losing via arm-triangle choke submission in the second round, Hooker had compiled victories over Mateusz Gamrot and Jalin Turner in back-to-back split decisions prior to the loss.
The New Zealander returns to action on January 31, 2026, facing number eight ranked Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main event of UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia. With a 24-13 professional record and 14-9 UFC mark, Hooker remains a fixture in the lightweight division’s upper tier.
Paddy Pimblett Beef
Hooker’s comments arrive amid separate controversy involving fellow lightweight Paddy Pimblett. The two engaged in a heated exchange on social media after Pimblett criticized Hooker’s grappling skills during an interview with MMA Guru. Hooker responded by referencing Pimblett’s close friend Ricky, who died by suicide in 2022, writing “RIP Ricky” in a post that sparked backlash.
Pimblett fired back, calling Hooker’s comment “the lowest of the low” for bringing up a personal tragedy. The Liverpool fighter has been an advocate for mental health awareness since his friend’s death and expressed outrage at Hooker using the topic for trash talk.
The exchange occurred as Pimblett prepares for the biggest fight of his career. The number five ranked lightweight faces Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight championship in the main event of UFC 324 on January 24, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The bout was created after current champion Ilia Topuria announced he would not compete in the first quarter of 2026 due to personal reasons.
UFC veteran and pro wrestling fixture Matt Riddle has weighed in on the debate surrounding Jon Jones’ status as the greatest fighter of all time, offering both acknowledgment of their shared history and respect for Jones’ accomplishments.
Matt Riddle Says Jon Jones is “The Baddest Dude on the Planet” Despite Beating Him in Wrestling
Speaking with The Schmo backstage at Real American Freestyle’s RAF05 event in Sunrise, Florida, Riddle addressed his past victories over Jones during their high school wrestling days. “I mean, I did beat Jon Jones back in the day. We have some history, but he is, let’s be real, it’s Jon Jones,” Riddle said. “Anybody can say whatever they want. The guy is the baddest dude on the planet.”
Riddle, who won the New York State wrestling championship in 2004 while attending Saratoga Springs High School defeated Jones twice in state-level tournaments during their amateur careers. Jones, who competed for Union-Endicott High School, finished third at the 2004 state championships before winning the title in 2005.
However, Jones has disputed Riddle’s version of events. In January 2026, the former UFC heavyweight champion responded to Riddle’s claims on Instagram, stating he never actually wrestled Riddle. “I could be the bigger man and let it go, but there’s another side of me that can be extremely petty,” Jones wrote. “The truth is, I never wrestled Matt. I lost in the state semifinals to Jack Sullivan back in 2004.”
Despite the disagreement over their wrestling history, Riddle was effusive in his praise of Jones as a mixed martial artist. “And now that he’s heavyweight, let’s be real, he’s gonna kill everybody,” Riddle said. “You might hit a lucky shot, but pound for pound, time for time, minute per minute, Jon Jones is the best fighter in the world.”
Does Matt Riddle think he could take Jon Jones?
When asked about a potential rematch under the Real American Freestyle banner, Riddle acknowledged the likely outcome.
“If they want to book it, they can. Jon Jones is probably going to smoke my ass,” he said. “But at the same time, never say never. That’s what fighters have in their hearts.”
Jones, who retired from MMA in June 2025 at age 37, compiled a record of 28-1 with his only loss being a controversial disqualification. He held the UFC light heavyweight championship for 14 years across multiple reigns and captured the heavyweight title in 2023 after defeating Ciryl Gane. Jones recently announced plans to return for a potential fight at a White House event celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
Riddle competed in the UFC from 2008 to 2013, posting an 8-3 record before being released after testing positive for marijuana twice. He transitioned to professional wrestling in 2014 and spent several years with WWE before joining Major League Wrestling, where he won the MLW World Heavyweight Championship in January 2025. He lost the title in September 2025.
Justin Gaethje has outlined a damage-focused approach for his interim lightweight title fight against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, scheduled for January 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The 37-year-old veteran detailed his plan to systematically break down the undefeated Liverpool fighter through leg attacks before targeting a knockout finish.
Justin Gaethje Reveals Knockout Strategy for Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324
“Styles make matchups and I think this is a very unique one,” Gaethje said on UFC 324 Countdown. “Paddy is young, hungry, dangerous. It’s everything I wanted, and even better because this guy is hugely popular. Pretty much all of my success has come from creating damage. I really have to start at his legs and make him forget about his head, and then try to punch his hair off. He’s going to look like every other fighter that I fight at the end of the fight – a lot of damage, just nasty.
The matchup comes after UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria announced he would step away from competition through early 2026 due to personal matters, opening the door for an interim title bout between the fourth and fifth-ranked contenders. Gaethje holds a 26-5 record with 20 knockout victories, while Pimblett enters the fight with a 23-3 record and an unblemished 7-0 UFC run.
Gaethje has built a reputation as one of the most devastating leg kickers in UFC history, consistently using the technique to compromise opponents’ mobility before finishing fights. His coach Trevor Wittman has been instrumental in developing this approach, which helped revive Gaethje’s career and earn him multiple Fight of the Night bonuses. Against Michael Chandler at UFC 268, Gaethje used leg kicks to systematically break down his opponent before earning a unanimous decision.
The strategy appears particularly relevant against Pimblett, who has relied on grappling skills and submissions throughout his UFC career, with 10 career wins by submission. Pimblett earned his title shot after a third-round TKO victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April 2025, his biggest career win.
Gaethje acknowledged the stakes involved in what could be his final run at UFC gold. “This is a battle of momentum, but I have goals and ambitions, so I’m going to have to knock him out,” he said. “I do not plan on this fight going the distance. I’ve got this mad vision of knocking him out. I just don’t see how he survives five rounds.”
The Arizona native emphasized the evolution of his fighting approach under Wittman’s guidance. “What really separated me from the other high-level fighters early on was my willingness to take chances,” Gaethje explained. “My best defense is a nonstop offensive attack. I am one of the absolute masters at taking your legs away from you.”
Gaethje has already held an interim lightweight title after defeating Tony Ferguson in 2020, but failed in two attempts to secure the undisputed championship against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. His coach Wittman recently described UFC 324 as their “last run” at the title, stating they would not continue fighting simply for money if they fail to achieve their championship goal.
Pimblett, 30, trains at Next Generation MMA in Liverpool and holds a second-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The Englishman has won nine consecutive fights dating back to 2018, with seven of those victories coming inside the UFC octagon.
Pimblett, 30, trains at Next Generation MMA in Liverpool and holds a second-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The Englishman has won nine consecutive fights dating back to 2018, with seven of those victories coming inside the UFC octagon.
UFC 324 marks the first numbered event under the promotion’s new seven-year, $7.7 billion partnership with Paramount, making it available to Paramount+ subscribers at no additional pay-per-view cost. The main card begins at 9 p.m. ET, with the winner expected to face Topuria for the undisputed lightweight championship upon his return.
“Now I’m fighting for the championship,” Gaethje said. “I’m taking one more run at the title. This is my last hurrah and I would love nothing more than to finish this off exactly how I want it.”
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has weighed in on the heated exchange between Paddy Pimblett and Dan Hooker, suggesting the Liverpool fighter’s comments about Hooker’s mother were inappropriate but that the subsequent response went too far.
Michael Bisping Questions Whether Paddy Pimblett Crossed the Line With Dan Hooker Insults
Pimblett sparked controversy during an interview with The MMA Guru when he criticized Hooker’s grappling abilities using a crude analogy involving Hooker’s mother.
Bisping acknowledged the comment was out of bounds while offering context about regional humor. “You’ve got to remember he’s a lad from Liverpool where they do have a great sense of humor, but also it can be a little cutting, it can be a little bit dark, and he was speaking to another English guy,” Bisping said. “I’m not defending the fact that he brought up Dan Hooker’s mom – he should not have done that. But in the context it wasn’t that bad. He never said anything too bad. He was basically just talking about the grappling of Dan Hooker.”
Hooker responded on social media by referencing Pimblett’s friend Ricky, who died by suicide in 2022. The New Zealand fighter wrote “RIP Ricky” in a post that questioned whether Pimblett was a good friend. Bisping called the response understandable given the circumstances.
“Dan came out with a response and said, ‘I thought we were mates. Obviously you’re not a very good mate, are you? #PaddyTheBaddy. RIP Ricky.’ And that is having a dig at one of his friends that ended his own life,” Bisping explained. “Paddy’s not happy with that and that is a disgusting comeback, it is. But given what Paddy said, it’s like the gloves are off. All’s fair in love and war.”
The former champion emphasized that bringing up mothers rarely ends well in combat sports. “Any time you bring up the mothers it never ends well,” Bisping said.
“Men’s health and mental health is a huge issue – a tremendous amount of men pass away every year via suicide and it’s not a laughing matter – but as I say, Dan Hooker was offended, he was pissed off, very angry and emotional.”
UFC 324
Bisping outlined potential matchmaking scenarios stemming from the feud. Pimblett faces Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on January 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Hooker meets Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 325 in Sydney one week later.
“If Paddy beats Gaethje he becomes the interim champion. After that, Dan Hooker’s off his radar – he will not get to fight Dan Hooker,” Bisping said. “But if Paddy loses – if he loses – I think we might see this fight happen pretty quickly.”
Regarding acceptable boundaries in trash talk, Bisping was clear about where lines should be drawn. “You don’t talk about families and you certainly don’t talk about mothers and you certainly don’t make fun of people that have passed away,” he said. “Leave all that off the table. Talk about them, their looks, their fights, the way they dress – whatever you want – just leave all that out of it.”
Despite the controversy, Bisping noted the exchange benefits Pimblett’s profile. “It does make it spicy, it does give people like me something to talk about and it certainly makes the matchmaking interesting,” he said. “Whether people love him or hate him, they’re all going to tune in to watch him.”
Swedish MMA fighter Samuel Bark enters his featherweight bout against Mate Sanikidze at Oktagon 79 with clear intentions: a convincing performance that positions him for a title shot while allowing him to showcase the Muay Thai techniques that define his fighting approach.
Samuel Bark Plans Pressure and Power at Oktagon 79, Eyes Title Shot After Sanikidze Test
Bark carries a 12-2 record into the contest, sitting at number six in the Oktagon featherweight rankings. The matchup takes place November 1st at Winning Group Arena in Brno, Czech Republic, forming part of the promotion’s milestone 1,000th fight celebration.
Bark’s fighting background provides context for his competitive approach. The Swedish fighter spent years competing in Thailand’s professional Muay Thai circuit, accumulating over 70 fights before transitioning to MMA. He earned the nickname “Sammon Decker” from his coach Sangtiennoi, who had a trilogy against legendary Dutch striker Ramon Dekker.
After establishing himself domestically in Sweden through multiple promotions, Bark moved into broader European competition with Cage Warriors and UAE Warriors, where he defeated former UFC fighter Ali Al Qaisi to capture the UAE Warriors featherweight title in May 2024.
Following his May 2024 championship victory in Abu Dhabi, Bark returned to action at Allstars Fight Night 10 in June 2025, competing for the AFN belt against Danish fighter Frederik Strauss. The competitive landscape at featherweight in Oktagon remains unsettled, with the champion position currently vacant as of October 2025. Victories against ranked opponents like Sanikidze would solidify Bark’s standing among the division’s elite and strengthen his case for a title fight.
On his fighting philosophy against Sanikidze, Bark stated his intent clearly, in an exclusive interview with Tim Wheaton of MMA News, he said:
“I want to display some Muay Thai, you know how they walk their opponent down with pressure. So like a lot of pressure, a lot of power. Punches, kicks, knees, elbows. I’m not sure. It depends on how much he walks back and runs away, you know.”
Bark’s professional activity level has been notable throughout his MMA career. Between December 2021 and May 2024, he accumulated 10 professional bouts while working to develop his striking-based approach within the MMA ruleset.
The Oktagon 79 event itself carries significance beyond this individual featherweight matchup. The show features reigning welterweight champion Ion Surdu defending his title against Andrej Kalašnik in the main event.
For Bark, victory on November 1st would represent another step toward his stated objectives of securing a title shot within Oktagon. His ability to implement his pressure-based Muay Thai game plan against Sanikidze will determine whether he achieves the statement victory he seeks.
During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, UFC veteran Matt Brown delivered a stark assessment of the current state of fighter representation and compensation in mixed martial arts.
Matt Brown Calls Out Systemic Failure in UFC Fighter Advocacy: No One Fights for Fighters
Speaking with the passion of someone who has spent 16 years inside the UFC while also learning about the business side of the promotion post-retirement, Brown articulated a fundamental problem plaguing the sport: the complete absence of meaningful advocacy for fighters across every level of combat sports infrastructure.
“No one fights for the fighters. The commissions won’t do a single thing for the fighters. That’s literally what their job is for. They’re not there to work for TKO or the UFC. They’re there to work for the fighters. And the politicians have all been bought out. The managers don’t do anything. The media is controlled. There’s no one there for us.”
Brown’s comments came in the aftermath of his testimony before the California State Athletic Commission regarding the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, where he stood out among over 90 public commenters for the raw conviction behind his message. The commission voted 6-0 to support the controversial legislation on October 15, 2025, despite overwhelming opposition from MMA fighters and industry observers who viewed the act as a roadmap for applying UFC-style monopolistic practices to boxing.
The core issue Brown identified extends across multiple institutional failures. He characterized the role of athletic commissions as fundamentally contradictory to their stated purpose. Athletic commissions exist to protect fighters, Brown argued, yet they consistently vote in ways that favor promoters and corporate entities.
In the case of the Ali Act hearing, the commission’s unanimous support for legislation that MMA fighters believe would harm their sport’s athletes demonstrated this misalignment. Brown stated that commissions “won’t do a single thing for the fighters” despite that being “literally what their job is for” and that they exist “to work for the fighters,” not for TKO or the UFC.
The financial disparity between the UFC as a multi-billion-dollar enterprise and fighter compensation underscores the urgency of Brown’s advocacy. The UFC generated $1.4 billion in revenue in 2024, surpassing the previous year’s $1.292 billion. Yet fighters receive an estimated 14.5 to 16 percent of total revenue, translating to approximately $200 million distributed among hundreds of athletes competing across the organization.
This stands in stark contrast to other major sports leagues: the NBA distributes roughly 50 percent of revenue to players, while major league baseball allocates approximately 48 percent. Brown emphasized that despite record-breaking revenues, the UFC’s response involves only minimal increases to discretionary bonuses – amounts he characterized as insignificant relative to the organization’s financial scale. He added:
“Fighting should be about competing and making a living, but the reality is there’s a huge power imbalance. UFC is a multi-billion-dollar business, yet the fighters get 0% of that revenue. They might up the bonuses by 10K or something, but that’s minimal compared to the scale of the business.”
He contended that politicians involved in regulatory and legislative decisions affecting fighters have been compromised through lobbying and financial influence. This assessment aligns with documented evidence of UFC influence over athletic commissions and regulatory bodies.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission, which oversees events in the state where the UFC hosts its most significant fights, has historically maintained close relationships with UFC leadership. Lorenzo Fertitta, one of the UFC’s original owners, was appointed to the Nevada commission in 1996, and subsequent UFC executives have maintained strategic relationships with regulatory bodies and political figures.
Perhaps most cutting was Brown’s assessment of fighter representation structures. He highlighted the failure of managers and agents to advocate on behalf of their clients. According to Brown, attorney Rob Macy, a lawyer working on fighter advocacy initiatives, reached out to multiple managers regarding participation in antitrust litigation, and not a single manager agreed to work with the plaintiffs. This represents a systemic betrayal of fighter interests, as managers’ primary obligation should theoretically be to their clients rather than to their relationship with the promotion.
Brown suggested that managers consistently prioritize maintaining favorable standing with the UFC over advocating for the fighters they represent, a dynamic that undermines the entire fighter advocacy structure.
Brown’s frustration ultimately stemmed from a recognition that despite clear evidence of monopolistic market conditions and fighter exploitation, no institutional actor possesses both the power and the motivation to intervene on the fighters’ behalf. The 2024 settlement of the Le v. Zuffa antitrust lawsuit resulted in a $375 million payout to fighters, with Judge Richard Boulware specifically criticizing the UFC’s contract practices and noting the prevalence of class-action waivers that prevented many fighters from participating in the lawsuit.
Yet even this landmark victory failed to produce structural reforms that would address the underlying power imbalance. The UFC remains the only viable employer for most elite fighters, granting it unilateral control over contract terms, compensation structures, and the ability to suspend or restrict any fighter’s career.
Photo by Tim Wheaton
The reality Brown articulated reflects a system where power has concentrated entirely with promoters, where regulatory bodies have become captured by the industries they oversee, where political actors lack adequate incentive to intervene, and where the fighters themselves lack sufficient leverage to enforce their own interests.
David Onama enters Saturday’s main event at UFC Fight Night 263 with a clear objective: secure a victory over Steve Garcia and break into the UFC featherweight top 10.
David Onama Targets Top 10 After Steve Garcia UFC Main Event Win
Speaking at the pre-fight press conference, Onama articulated how this matchup represents the culmination of his journey and a critical stepping stone toward contention. “A win over Steve Garcia will definitely put me in the top 10 of the division. Getting a win over him, especially in the main event against a tough opponent, will boost me up for sure.”
The 31-year-old Ugandan fighter’s emphasis on the top 10 positioning shows the significance of this encounter, as both competitors sit just outside that threshold in the UFC rankings heading into November 1st. Garcia, ranked No. 12, carries a six-fight win streak with five of those victories coming by knockout.
Onama, ranked No. 13, has strung together four consecutive wins, most recently defeating former ranked featherweight Giga Chikadze via unanimous decision in April.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxkCVKlyAjQ
When asked about his mindset heading into the bout, Onama maintained focus on the immediate task at hand rather than looking ahead. “I’m just focused on Steve Garcia right now. My time will come, like I said. Defeat him, get top 10, but for now, let’s focus on what’s in front of us and then see what’s next.”
David Onama Credits Factory X for Career Trajectory
The fighter credits his transformation to Factory X Muay Thai, the Colorado-based camp led by head coach Marc Montoya. When discussing his trajectory, Onama emphasized the collective environment. “The keys to why I’ve been so successful? For sure, it’s the team. I’ve trained at one of the best gyms in the world. Having those people around me, training with them, bettering each other, that’s what it is.”
Onama trains alongside featherweight contenders Youssef Zalal and Jonathan Martinez, as well as fellow top prospects like Chris Gutierrez.
The Ugandan fighter first watched Garcia’s career trajectory from a distance before the bout materialized. Onama noted his familiarity with Garcia’s work, particularly his performance against Calvin Kattar in July. “I’ve been watching Steve for a pretty long time, especially since he fought Kattar . When he called me out, I wasn’t surprised because I was actually thinking the same thing, that we could end up fighting in the future.”
The featherweight division landscape makes this main event particularly consequential. Alexander Volkanovski currently holds the title, while fighters ranked above both Garcia and Onama include Movsar Evloev, Diego Lopes, Yair Rodríguez, Lerone Murphy, Aljamain Sterling, Arnold Allen, and Youssef Zalal. The top 10 represents prestige and also tangible movement toward title contention opportunities.
Onama characterized the matchup as mutually beneficial for both main event competitors. “It’s a very, very fun matchup between two guys who go for the finish and are exciting fighters.” The fighter’s striking-first approach has defined his recent performances, as he demonstrated against Chikadze by controlling the striking exchanges while maintaining grappling competency. This versatility positions him as a serious threat against Garcia’s knockout-heavy style.
Victory for either fighter establishes them as a legitimate threat to the established top 10, potentially opening doors to matchups against currently ranked opponents. For Onama specifically, a top 10 finish would align him with his Factory X teammate Zalal, creating a situation where two fighters from the same camp occupy top-15 status.
Misfits Boxing announced a significant leadership change on October 30, 2025, with Andrew Tate taking over as CEO of the influencer boxing promotion. The former athlete will make his professional boxing debut against Misfits heavyweight champion Chase DeMoor on December 20, 2025, at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
🚨 BREAKING: Andrew Tate has been announced to be the new CEO of Misfits.
He will be fighting the Misfits Heavyweight Champion Chase DeMoor on December 20th in Dubai 🇦🇪
Former CEO KSI has been relinquishing from his position vis board of directors.
The announcement was made through a promotional video featuring Mams Taylor, co-president of Misfits Boxing, who stated that YouTuber and co-founder KSI has been removed from his CEO position.
In the announcement video, Tate described his ascension to the role as a planned transition. “Welcome to your new CEO, it wasn’t a hostile takeover, but it was certainly planned, and Mams and I are going to be working together to finally put Misfits where it belongs on the world stage,” he said. “The largest disruptive force in sports entertainment history, so considering that somebody that failed at their obligations to make this organization as big as it should’ve been has been ousted and I’m the new CEO”.
Tate later explained to Fred Talks Fighting that a tweet posted by KSI three years ago prompted his takeover. “Well, KSI tweeted something that annoyed me about three years ago. So, long story short, I took his company from him,” Tate said, adding that he has never met KSI and hopes he is okay.
KSI
KSI responded with fury on social media platform X. “This year people are trying to test me fr. WHAT THE ACTUAL F*** IS GOING ON? This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Let’s make ANDREW TATE THE CEO OF MISFITS?!? ARE YOU F****** SERIOUS?!?” he wrote. He also criticized Taylor, stating: “Bro has been focused on misfits rather than managing me lol. And you decide to do this s***”.
Many fans have expressed skepticism about the situation, believing it may be a promotional storyline designed to set up a future fight between KSI and Tate. Multiple social media users described the announcement as a “WWE storyline,” suggesting the conflict is manufactured to generate interest in a potential showdown for the CEO position.
Misfits Boxing was founded in May 2022 by KSI, Mams Taylor, and boxing promoters Kalle Sauerland and Nisse Sauerland as a partnership with Wasserman Boxing. The promotion organizes events featuring influencers and former combat sports professionals, streaming primarily through DAZN. Since its inception, Misfits has held 22 events, with the most recent featuring former UFC fighters Darren Till and Luke Rockhold.
Andrew Tate’ Upcoming Boxing Match
The December 20 bout will mark Tate’s professional boxing debut, as his previous experience has been exclusively in full-contact kickboxing.
The appointment of Tate as CEO has generated controversy given his ongoing legal issues across multiple countries. He and his brother Tristan face charges in the United Kingdom, Romania, and are under investigation in the United States related to allegations of sexual assault and human trafficking, which both brothers deny.
UFC President Dana White delivered a controversial response to the eye poke incident that ended UFC 321’s main event, telling reporters “Who gives a s–? What are you going to do?” when asked about the organization’s longstanding eye poke problem.
The highly anticipated heavyweight title defense between champion Tom Aspinall and challenger Ciryl Gane came to an abrupt halt at 4:35 of the first round when Gane accidentally poked both of Aspinall’s eyes. Unable to see properly after the incident, Aspinall could not continue, leading referee Jason Herzog to declare the bout a no-contest.
”I just got poked knuckle deep in the eyeball. What am I supposed to do about it? I can’t see,” Aspinall said in the octagon while addressing the booing crowd. The champion was immediately taken to the hospital following the incident.
During the post-fight press conference, White appeared unsympathetic to both the situation and calls for reform. When pressed about potential solutions to prevent eye pokes, he responded: “Who the f– knows? Who gives a s–? What are you going to do? Just happens. Yeah. I mean, no matter what you do with the glove, I mean, they’re going to happen.”
White’s comments drew criticism from fans and media members who viewed his response as dismissive of fighter safety concerns. The UFC president also made controversial remarks suggesting Aspinall may have chosen not to continue, stating “Only Tom knows what happened. Could he see? Couldn’t he see? Could he continue? Only he knows that.”
The Persistent UFC Eye Poke Problem
Eye pokes have plagued the UFC for years, with research showing the organization has a significantly higher rate of incidents compared to other promotions. A 2022 study by the Association of Ringside Physicians found the UFC’s eye poke rate was 23 incidents in 233 bouts, translating to one eye poke per ten fights. This rate was dramatically higher than Bellator’s rate of 2 incidents in 87 bouts, or one in every 44 fights.
The UFC has had seven fights end in a no-contest due to eye pokes since 2005. Between 2001 and 2020, Nevada State Athletic Commission data showed 369 eye injuries occurred across 2,208 professional MMA fights, with 73 percent of events reporting at least one eye injury.
Notable fighters like Jon Jones have faced repeated accusations of eye poking throughout their careers. Analysis shows Jones has committed at least 33 genuine eye pokes across his UFC career, with 58 instances of fingers in opponents’ eyes. Despite this history, Jones has never received a point deduction specifically for eye pokes.
Photo By Tim Wheaton
Failed Solutions and Glove Design Issues
The current UFC glove design has been identified as a contributing factor to the eye poke problem. The gloves naturally extend fighters’ fingers outward, increasing the likelihood of accidental contact with opponents’ eyes.
MMA coach Trevor Wittman developed alternative glove designs through his ONX Sports company that curve fighters’ fingers inward to promote a natural fist position, potentially reducing eye poke incidents. The gloves received widespread praise from fighters and commentators like Joe Rogan, who called them “absolutely superior.”
However, negotiations between Wittman and the UFC broke down when the organization demanded exclusive ownership of the patent. Wittman refused to sell the rights to his design, creating an impasse that has prevented implementation of the improved gloves.
In 2024 the uFC introduced a new glove design to help lower eye pokes in the sport. However, the organization later threw away the gloves and reverted to the original design. The reasons are still unclear.
Impact on Fighter Safety and Careers
Eye poke incidents can have severe consequences for fighters. Research shows 57 fighters who sustained eye injuries were recommended for further ophthalmology clearance, with 43 receiving no-contact recommendations ranging from three to five weeks. More serious injuries like retinal damage require longer recovery periods.
In the UFC 321 incident, Aspinall suffered what he described as being “poked knuckle deep” in both eyes. Medical examination revealed both eyes were affected, with his right eye bearing the worst damage. The champion shared images on social media showing the extent of the injury aftermath.
White confirmed that Aspinall and Gane will have an immediate rematch, despite the controversial ending. “Total pain in the a** but yeah,” White said regarding rebooking the fight. The rematch announcement came unusually quickly, as White typically avoids booking fights at post-event press conferences.
UFC 321 takes place on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The event features two championship bouts, with Tom Aspinall defending his heavyweight title against former interim champion Ciryl Gane in the main event, and Virna Jandiroba facing Mackenzie Dern for the vacant women’s strawweight championship in the co-main event.
UFC 321 Event Date and Location
The event marks the UFC’s 22nd visit to Abu Dhabi and the organization’s first trip to the emirate since July 2025. UFC 321 will be held at the 18,000-capacity Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
Global Start Times by Timezone and Region – What Time Is UFC 321?
The event operates on a three-tier broadcast structure, beginning with early prelims, followed by prelims, and culminating with the pay-per-view main card. What time does UFC 321 start in my country?
United States and Canada
Early Prelims: 10:00 AM ET / 7:00 AM PT Prelims: 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT Main Card: 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT Main Event Walkouts (approximate): 4:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM PT
United Kingdom and Ireland
Early Prelims: 3:00 PM BST Prelims: 5:00 PM BST Main Card: 7:00 PM BST Main Event Walkouts (approximate): 9:30 PM BST
United Arab Emirates
Early Prelims: 6:00 PM GST Main Card: 10:00 PM GST
India
Early Prelims: 7:30 PM IST Main Card: 11:30 PM IST
Australia
Early Prelims: 1:00 AM AEDT (Sunday, October 26) Main Card: 5:00 AM AEDT (Sunday, October 26)
For viewers in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory, the main card begins at 5:00 AM AEDT, while South Australia follows at 4:30 AM ACDT.
New Zealand
Main Card: 7:00 AM NZDT (Sunday, October 26)
Brazil
Early Prelims: 11:00 AM BRT Main Card: 3:00 PM BRT
How to Watch UFC 321
United States
Early Prelims: ESPN+, Disney+, and FX beginning at 10:00 AM ET Prelims: ESPN+, Disney+, and FX starting at 12:00 PM ET Main Card: ESPN+ Pay-Per-View at 2:00 PM ET
The UFC 321 pay-per-view is priced at $79.99 in the United States. Viewers do not require a UFC Fight Pass subscription to access prelims on ESPN+, though Fight Pass subscribers can also stream the early prelims.
United Kingdom and Ireland
Early Prelims: UFC Fight Pass beginning at 3:00 PM BST Prelims: TNT Sports 4 and TNT Sports Box Office starting at 5:00 PM BST Main Card: TNT Sports Box Office at 7:00 PM BST
The event costs £19.99 in the UK and €29.99 in the Republic of Ireland. TNT Sports Box Office can be accessed through multiple platforms without requiring a TNT Sports subscription. Viewers can purchase the event via Discovery+, Sky (channel 490), EE TV (channel 494), Amazon Prime Video, and Virgin Media TV.
Canada
The event streams live on DAZN pay-per-view in Canada. Prelims and the main card follow the same Eastern Time schedule as the United States, with early prelims at 10:00 AM EST and the main card at 2:00 PM EST.
Australia and New Zealand
Australian viewers can watch UFC 321 on Kayo Sports pay-per-view, with no Kayo Sports subscription required to purchase the event. In New Zealand, the event streams on Disney+, UFC Fight Pass, and Sky Sport Now beginning at 7:00 AM NZDT on Sunday, October 26. Sky Arena offers the event for NZD $44.95.
India
UFC 321 broadcasts on Sony Sports Network and streams on Sony LIV, with the main card beginning at 11:30 PM IST.
United Arab Emirates
Fans in the UAE can watch the event live on Starzplay.
UFC 321 Fight Card Breakdown
Main Card (ESPN+ PPV / TNT Sports Box Office)
Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane – UFC Heavyweight Championship Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern – Vacant UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista – Bantamweight Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida – Heavyweight Aleksandar Rakic vs. Azamat Murzakanov – Light Heavyweight
Preliminary Card (ESPN+ / TNT Sports 4)
Nasrat Haqparast vs. Quillan Salkilld – Lightweight Ikram Aliskerov vs. Jun Yong Park – Middleweight Ludovit Klein vs. Mateusz Rębecki – Lightweight Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady vs. Matheus Camilo – Lightweight Valter Walker vs. Louie Sutherland – Heavyweight Nathaniel Wood vs. Jose Miguel Delgado – Featherweight Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Chris Barnett – Heavyweight Azat Maksum vs. Mitch Raposo – Flyweight Jaqueline Amorim vs. Mizuki Inoue – Women’s Strawweight
Championship Context
Tom Aspinall was elevated from interim heavyweight champion to undisputed champion in June 2025 following Jon Jones’ retirement. The 32-year-old British fighter has not competed since July 2024, when he knocked out Curtis Blaydes in the first round at UFC 304 in Manchester. That victory marked Aspinall’s revenge following a 2022 TKO loss to Blaydes caused by a knee injury.
Aspinall holds a professional record of 15-3 and has been dominant inside the octagon, with seven of his eight UFC wins coming by first-round stoppage. His only UFC defeat, aside from the injury against Blaydes, occurred in that same 2022 bout.
Ciryl Gane enters UFC 321 with a 13-2 professional record and ranks as the number one contender in the heavyweight division. The 35-year-old French fighter has won 10 of his 12 UFC appearances, with his only losses coming in championship fights against Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 in 2022 and Jon Jones at UFC 285 in March 2023. Since the Jones defeat, Gane has secured consecutive victories over Serghei Spivac and Alexander Volkov, though his December 2024 win over Volkov was controversial.
The women’s strawweight title became vacant after two-time champion Zhang Weili moved up to flyweight to challenge for that division’s championship. Jandiroba holds a 22-3 record and has won six of her past seven fights, including five consecutive victories. Dern carries a 15-5 record and previously defeated Jandiroba by unanimous decision at UFC 256 in December 2020.
Additional Fight Week Activities
UFC 321 fight week includes several public events in Abu Dhabi. A public workout took place on Wednesday, October 23, at Yas Mall’s Town Centre from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, featuring the headline and co-main event fighters. The press conference was held on Thursday, October 24, at Etihad Arena starting at 5:00 PM. Official weigh-ins occurred Friday morning at 9:00 AM, followed by ceremonial weigh-ins open to the public at Etihad Arena from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
The Brazilian-American strawweight Mackenzie Dern has built her UFC career around this shoulder lock, turning what many consider a low-percentage submission into her signature weapon. Soon she will be competing for the vacant strawweight world title at UFC 321. Ahead of her October 25 matchup, she reflected on her championship career in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Mackenzie Dern’s Favorite Submission
On her favorite submission, speaking during a pre-fight UFC 321 press conference, she explained:
“My favorite submission is the omoplata. I attack it a lot — I did it against Amanda Ribas, Marina Rodriguez, Yan Xiaonan. Even if I don’t finish it, it’s always there. But whatever happens, I just see myself winning.”
Omoplata
The omoplata might not look like much from the outside, but for Mackenzie Dern, it represents a blend of technique, strategy, and opportunity. The omoplata, which means “scapula” in Portuguese, uses the legs and hips to hyperextend an opponent’s shoulder joint beyond its normal range of motion. The technique involves placing one leg under the opponent’s armpit and rotating 180 degrees, with the leg moving over the opponent’s back and around their arm. The submission is completed by controlling the opponent’s body and applying pressure to force the shoulder into an unnatural position.
What makes Dern’s relationship with the omoplata particularly fascinating is how she employs it as a multi-tool rather than just a finishing move. Against Marina Rodriguez in 2021, Dern secured an omoplata on Rodriguez’s back but couldn’t complete the submission before time expired. Similarly, in her battle with Yan Xiaonan, she used the omoplata to transition into an arm triangle choke, demonstrating the technique’s versatility as a gateway to other attacks.
UFC and BJJ
Her most recent victory against Amanda Ribas showcased this perfectly. With about a minute remaining in the second round, Dern threw up an omoplata to escape a bad position, using it as a defensive tool before eventually winning via armbar in the third round. This sequence highlighted how the omoplata serves multiple purposes in her game.
Dern’s mastery of this technique stems from her extraordinary Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu background. She holds a third-degree black belt under her father Wellington “Megaton” Dias, himself a coral belt and BJJ legend. Her competitive resume reads like a who’s who of grappling achievements: 2015 ADCC World Champion, multiple-time IBJJF World Champion, and the only female competitor to win gold medals at all five major IBJJF Gi championships.
Her father’s influence cannot be overstated. Wellington Dias, who earned his nickname “Megaton” for his explosive judo-inspired throws, received his black belt from Royler Gracie at age 18 and became the first coral belt to compete at IBJJF World Championships. This lineage shows in Mackenzie’s technical approach.
In the UFC, Dern currently holds the record for most submission wins in the women’s strawweight division with five, tied for second-most in all UFC women’s divisions. Her submission rate of 53% across 20 professional fights demonstrates how effectively she translates her grappling skills to mixed martial arts.
The technique’s effectiveness lies in its deceptive nature. While opponents prepare for Dern’s more obvious submission threats like armbars and rear naked chokes, the omoplata often appears organically from scrambles and transitions. Against Tecia Torres, she had both kimura and leg lock opportunities but acknowledged being “too respectful” with her finishing attempts. This mindset shift toward a more aggressive approach has coincided with her recent success.
Dern’s use of the omoplata also is related to larger changes in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Once considered a low-percentage technique, the omoplata gained prominence in the 1990s through innovators like Nino Schembri. Today, it’s recognized as both submission and sweeping mechanism, exactly how Dern employs it in the octagon.
UFC 321
Her recent performance against Amanda Ribas demonstrated this evolution perfectly. Rather than hunting for the finish at all costs, Dern used the omoplata threat to create scrambles, improve positions, and ultimately set up the fight-ending armbar.
Mackenzie Dern is looking to use her favorite submission, the omoplata, this weekend when she faces Virna Jandiroba for the UFC strawweight world title live from Abu Dhabi.
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria appears set to defend his title against Paddy Pimblett in January 2026, according to Shem Rock, a training partner of the Liverpool contender who spoke recently about the potential matchup.
Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett in 2026
Rock, who trains alongside Pimblett at Next Generation Liverpool, offered insight into his teammate’s preparation and the likelihood of the bout materializing. The newly-signed UFC fighter shared his perspective on what would mark the first UFC event of 2026 and the inaugural numbered card under the promotion’s new Paramount broadcast deal. Speaking to Kyle Diamond of Bloody Elbow, Shem Rock explained:
”What I think and what’s really happening might be two different things, but to me, Paddy versus Ilia makes sense,” Rock said. “He’s a big star; Ilia’s a big star. First pay-per-view of the year should be that. And look — Paddy’s training twice a week sparring, twice a week lifting, every week getting massages. He’s not doing that for fun. He’s training for a reason.”
The matchup has gained momentum following reports that the UFC originally planned to grant Justin Gaethje the next lightweight title shot. However, multiple sources indicate the promotion pivoted to Topuria-Pimblett to maximize viewership for their first Paramount event, a fight expected to capture more attention given the heated history between the two fighters.
Topuria captured the vacant UFC lightweight championship in June at UFC 317 with a first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira. The Georgian-Spanish fighter, who holds a perfect 17-0 record, became just the tenth fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes after previously reigning as featherweight champion. Following his victory, Topuria immediately called out Pimblett, leading to a confrontation inside the octagon where the champion shoved his rival and the two exchanged heated words.
Pimblett has positioned himself for a title shot after dominating Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April, securing a third-round technical knockout that extended his UFC record to 7-0. The Liverpool fighter climbed to number 10 in the lightweight rankings following the victory and has been vocal about wanting to face Topuria next.
The rivalry between Topuria and Pimblett dates back to March 2022, when they clashed physically at the fighters’ hotel during a UFC event in London. The confrontation stemmed from a social media post by Pimblett in early 2021 that referenced the 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia, which Topuria found deeply offensive as several people he knew had died in the conflict. During the London altercation, Pimblett threw a hand sanitizer bottle at Topuria, who retaliated before being restrained by his team.
Since then, the animosity has remained constant across social media and UFC events. The two fighters were placed on the same card again at UFC 282 in December 2022, where tensions nearly boiled over at the pre-fight press conference. Security intervened to prevent another physical confrontation as Topuria attempted to approach Pimblett during the media obligations.
UFC 324 on Paramount
UFC president Dana White has indicated that Topuria is a possibility to headline the first major UFC card on Paramount in January 2026. The promotion signed a broadcast rights deal with Paramount worth $7.7 billion over seven years, set to begin on January 1, 2026. While White has not officially confirmed the matchup, he told reporters after the Contender Series that matchmaking for the inaugural Paramount card began in mid-October.
The fight would likely take place at UFC 324 in Los Angeles on January 10, though the UFC has not made an official announcement. Topuria addressed the possibility during a press conference in Georgia, describing his participation in the January card as “very possible.” When asked about potential opponents, he left little doubt about his preference for facing Pimblett, citing their history and the demand from fans.
Gaethje’s manager Ali Abdelaziz has maintained that his client deserves the title shot based on his ranking and experience in the division. However, the UFC appears to have prioritized the more marketable and combustible matchup between Topuria and Pimblett for the high-profile Paramount debut.
Pimblett has publicly stated he believes the fight will happen soon, recently suggesting on social media that he has already signed his contract while claiming Topuria has not yet done so. The Liverpool fighter has been open about his training focus, acknowledging that his striking timing needs improvement if he faces Topuria but expressing confidence in his grappling abilities.
Rock’s comments about Pimblett’s consistent training regimen align with the fighter’s known dedication during camp periods. Despite gaining significant weight between fights, Pimblett has successfully made the 155-pound lightweight limit for all his UFC appearances, including a documented 40-pound cut for UFC 314.
As the first numbered event under the new Paramount deal, UFC 324 represents a critical moment for the promotion to establish its partnership with a new broadcast platform. The organization appears to be banking on Topuria and Pimblett’s star power and genuine animosity to deliver a memorable main event that sets the tone for future Paramount cards.
Topuria enters as the favorite based on his status as the reigning champion and number one pound-for-pound fighter. His rise through two divisions has been marked by dominant victories over elite competition, including knockouts of Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Oliveira. This bout would mark only his second fight at lightweight, but the 28-year-old has already proven he belongs among the division’s best.
Pimblett remains undefeated in the UFC since joining from Cage Warriors over four years ago, building a reputation for dramatic finishes and pre-fight entertainment. While bookmakers and analysts are expected to install him as a significant underdog, the British fighter has consistently exceeded expectations and remains confident he can shock the world.
As Rock observed from his position training alongside Pimblett at Next Generation Liverpool, the signs point to a fight happening sooner rather than later. Whether the matchup receives official confirmation in the coming weeks remains to be seen, but the pieces appear to be falling into place for one of the most anticipated grudge matches in recent UFC history.
President Donald Trump announced during remarks at Naval Station Norfolk on October 5 that the highly anticipated UFC fight at the White House will take place on June 14, 2026, coinciding with his 80th birthday. The announcement provides the first official date for what was previously described as a July 4 event tied to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
The 79-year-old president revealed the date while addressing Navy sailors during a ceremony marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy. He made no mention that June 14 also marks his milestone birthday or that the date falls on Flag Day in the United States.
Donald Trump and the UFC White House Event
The event represents a significant departure from the original July 4, 2026 date that UFC President Dana White had indicated earlier this year. According to reports, the schedule change occurred because Trump’s calendar is heavily committed for Independence Day, when he plans to be in multiple states as part of the broader America 250 celebrations.
“On June 14 next year we’re gonna have a big UFC fight at the White House, right at the White House, on the grounds of the White House.”
UFC officials have revealed substantial logistical challenges and costs associated with staging the event on the White House South Lawn. White disclosed that the organization will spend $700,000 just to replace the grass damaged by the 15,000-pound octagon and associated equipment. The grass replacement represents only one component of what White describes as “the most challenging event we have ever done.”
Security concerns have significantly reduced the planned attendance. While Trump initially suggested accommodating 20,000 to 25,000 spectators, White confirmed the actual capacity will be under 5,000 people due to Secret Service requirements. The limited attendance reflects the unprecedented security challenges of hosting a combat sports event at the nation’s most protected residence.
Fighter Participation Claims
Former UFC champion Conor McGregor has publicly claimed he signed a contract to compete at the White House event, stating the deal is “done, signed, delivered.” McGregor, who has not fought since suffering a broken leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021, also claimed he negotiated directly with the U.S. government rather than through the UFC.
White disputed McGregor’s assertions during the post-fight press conference for UFC 320 on October 5. The UFC president clarified that no fight negotiations have begun and won’t start until February 2026. White acknowledged McGregor’s enthusiasm for participating but emphasized that nothing has been finalized.
America 250 Context
The UFC event forms part of the broader America 250 celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The semiquincentennial festivities will span the entire year 2026, with events planned in all 50 states culminating on July 4, 2026.
Trump has positioned the UFC fight as one of several major sporting events during his second term, alongside the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung previously characterized the event as potentially “one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history.”
Image: @WhiteHouse/X
Trump-White Relationship
The White House UFC event builds on a relationship between Trump and White spanning over two decades. Their partnership began in 2001 when Trump hosted UFC events at his Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City during a period when few venues would accommodate mixed martial arts. White has repeatedly credited Trump with supporting the UFC when the sport faced widespread rejection.
The arrangement reflects Trump’s continued involvement with combat sports and the UFC’s appeal among demographics important to his political base. Trump has attended multiple UFC events during his presidency, often receiving enthusiastic receptions from crowds.
Image: UFC.com
Event Specifications
Current plans call for an elaborate setup featuring a massive illuminated arch structure over the octagon, designed to provide unobstructed views of the White House for cameras and attendees. Fighter weigh-ins are scheduled to take place at the Lincoln Memorial, with fan events planned throughout Washington, D.C. during the week leading up to the fight.
For fans unable to secure tickets to the exclusive South Lawn event, the UFC plans to accommodate up to 85,000 people in a nearby park with large screens and concert stages. White described plans to “take over Washington, D.C. for that entire week” with various activities and events.
The June 14 date confirmation marks a significant milestone in what White promises will be “the greatest fight card ever assembled in the history of this company.” However, the actual fight card remains unannounced, with negotiations not expected to begin until February 2026.
Trump: "On June 14 next year we're gonna have a big UFC fight at the White House, right at the White House, on the grounds of the White House." pic.twitter.com/RJIOKjIhx5
Diego Lopes emerged victorious at Noche UFC, ending Jean Silva’s perfect UFC record with a devastating second-round spinning elbow knockout. The Brazilian featherweight used his post-fight platform to deliver a pointed message to Silva and his celebrated Fighting Nerds team: “Talk less, train more.”
Diego Lopes: Talk less, train more.
The knockout victory came at 4:48 of the second round after Lopes caught Silva with a perfectly timed spinning back elbow that opened a significant cut on Silva’s head. The sequence followed Silva’s aggressive pursuit in the final moments of the round, with Lopes capitalizing on his opponent’s forward momentum to land the decisive strike.
Following the stoppage, tensions escalated when Silva struck Diego Lopes in the back of the head while being attended to by medical personnel. Lopes addressed the incident during his post-fight press conference, expressing surprise at Silva’s reaction. “I was surprised he did that too. I felt the punch on the back of my head. I turned around, like he elbowed me in the back of my head? I don’t understand, for why? But it’s okay. This is maybe the emotion. Because this guy is a little bit hungry because he lost the fight.”
The Brazilian’s advice to Silva was delivered without hesitation when asked about his defeated opponent. “Maybe train more. Talk less, train more,” Diego Lopes stated during his post fight press conference
Lopes also explained his provocative gesture toward Silva’s corner team following the victory. The Brazilian climbed the cage and directed obscene gestures at Silva’s training partners, citing pre-fight verbal exchanges as motivation. “Before I enter the octagon, the cutman put the Vaseline in my face. His partners, his corners were talking a lot, like ‘oh you die today, this guy will kill you, you suck, this guy will knock you out.’ Talking a lot of bad words,” Diego Lopes explained.
The defeat represents a significant setback for the Fighting Nerds organization, which has experienced a dramatic decline in 2025 following their breakout success in 2024. All four major members of the Brazilian team have now suffered losses this year, with Silva’s defeat completing a troubling pattern for the previously dominant squad.
Caio Borralho and Mauricio Ruffy both lost at UFC Paris on September 7, marking the first defeats for these previously unbeaten fighters. Carlos Prates, though he bounced back with a knockout victory over Geoff Neal, also suffered his first UFC loss earlier in the year to Ian Machado Garry.
The Fighting Nerds, founded in 2014 by Borralho and coach Pablo Sucupira, gained international recognition for their analytical approach to fighting and their signature taped glasses worn by team members. The organization was named the “Best MMA Gym in the World” in 2023, surpassing established camps like American Top Team and American Kickboxing Academy.
Silva, who entered the fight riding a 13-fight winning streak dating back to 2018, acknowledged his team’s recent struggles in a post-fight statement. The 28-year-old admitted to abandoning his game plan and fighting emotionally rather than strategically. “Unfortunately, emotions were high on Saturday. I was performing well in the second round but let my fighting spirit take over. I fought independently and didn’t heed my team’s advice. This loss is on me,” Silva said.
The featherweight contender also addressed the broader issues facing his team, stating, “One thing you guys were right about… The Fighting Nerds lost three in a row. So the three of us must be making similar mistakes. So for sure, me, Caio, and Ruffy will have a meeting. We’ll figure this out and improve.”
For Lopes, the victory marked a significant rebound following his unsuccessful title challenge against Alexander Volkanovski in April. The 30-year-old improved to 27-7 overall and positioned himself for another potential title opportunity in the featherweight division.
The Brazilian earned both Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses for his spectacular finish, adding $100,000 to his purse. Despite the animosity during fight week and immediately following the bout, both fighters eventually reconciled backstage, with Silva congratulating Lopes and predicting his future championship success.
Lopes’ message to the Fighting Nerds reflects a broader narrative about the team’s recent struggles and questions surrounding their ability to perform under increased scrutiny and against elite-level competition. Former UFC champion Kamaru Usman has suggested the team needs to incorporate more wrestling into their training approach to achieve championship-level success.
The victory establishes Lopes as a legitimate contender in the featherweight division while highlighting the challenges facing the Fighting Nerds as they attempt to recover from their most difficult period since gaining international prominence.
