MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Conor McGregor Snubs UFC When Naming ‘Best Heavyweight Division In Combat Sports’

    Conor McGregor Snubs UFC When Naming ‘Best Heavyweight Division In Combat Sports’

    Jon Jones and the rest of the UFC’s heavyweight division may need to take notice, as the promotion has been snubbed by one of its biggest box office attractions — Conor McGregor.

    The former two-division UFC champion recently praised Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship’s (BKFC) heavyweight division, drawing attention to its growing roster.

    On Tuesday, the BKFC confirmed that Kenzie “TCB” Morrison, son of the late Tommy Morrison, had officially signed with the organization. Morrison, who boasts a knockout record of 20 wins in 22 fights, joins BKFC after a successful boxing career.

    His signing has drawn praise from the promotion’s part-owner, Conor McGregor, who took to X to celebrate BKFC’s heavyweight division, calling it “the best” in all of combat sports in response to BKFC’s claim that things were “getting interesting.”

    BKFC founder Dave Feldman has called Morrison an “enormous addition” to their stacked heavyweight division. The date and location of his debut fight are yet to be announced.

    Tommy Morrison, best known for his 1993 WBO heavyweight title victory over George Foreman and his role as “Tommy Gunn” in Rocky V, passed away in September 2013 at the age of 44.

  • Renato Moicano Sends Supportive Message To Retiring Former Opponent Jalin Turner

    Renato Moicano Sends Supportive Message To Retiring Former Opponent Jalin Turner

    Longtime UFC lightweight contender Jalin Turner has officially called time on his career, and a former opponent of his has emerged among the prominent names sending congratulatory messages.

    Turner announced his shock retirement at the age of just 29 moments after his latest setback inside the Octagon this past weekend.

    Returning to the cage at UFC 313 for the first time since a crushing loss to Renato Moicano last April, “The Tarantula” was quickly submitted by up-and-coming prospect Ignacio Bahamondes.

    After removing his gloves, Turner informed reporters cageside that his time competing on MMA’s biggest stage was over. And a few days later, the American officially confirmed his decision to retire in a heartfelt social media post.

    Turner has since received plenty of supportive messages, with one of the most recent coming from Moicano.

    “One of the dangerous mdfker in the game! Congrats on your (career)! I wish you all the best and enjoy life,” Moicano wrote on X.

    While explaining his decision to hang up the gloves, Jalin Turner admitted he’d been pondering an exit from MMA in the months on from his knockout loss to “Money” Moicano at UFC 300.

    “The Tarantula’s” career has concluded after a 7-6 run in the UFC, during which he defeated the likes of Brad Riddell and King Green.

  • Jan Błachowicz Outlines Goal Of Thwarting Alex Pereira’s Plan For Ankalaev Rematch

    Jan Błachowicz Outlines Goal Of Thwarting Alex Pereira’s Plan For Ankalaev Rematch

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz plans to alter the expected direction of his division’s title picture — and the expected future of Alex Pereira.

    The 205-pound weight class received a shake-up this past weekend when Magomed Ankalaev ended the reign of Pereira, which had successfully moved through three challenges before running into the Dagestani at UFC 313.

    Following his lackluster performance en route to a unanimous decision defeat, “Poatan” has echoed the sentiments of Dana White in suggesting that an immediate rematch is likely for later this year.

    But a former opponent of Pereira’s plans to scupper such plans.

    During an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Błachowicz outlined his goal of securing a rematch with Ankalaev for the gold by making a statement in his return against Carlos Ulberg next weekend in London.

    “I beat (Ulberg), then I take a title shot against (Ankalaev),” Błachowicz said. “I beat Ankalaev and then rematch against (Pereira). I defend the belt against Pereira. This is the perfect scenario for me. Then I can go to the mountains again.”

    Following a draw in his battle with Ankalaev for the then-vacant title in late 2022, Jan Błachowicz welcomed Alex Pereira to the light heavyweight division in mid-2023.

    The Polish veteran fell on the wrong side of a split decision after an incredibly close three-round clash. He’s since been looking toward a chance for redemption against Pereira, and he intends to reach that as a two-time champion at 205 pounds.

  • Tsarukyan Hits Back At Justin Gaethje’s Title Plea: ‘You Barely Got Past #11 On Short Notice’

    Tsarukyan Hits Back At Justin Gaethje’s Title Plea: ‘You Barely Got Past #11 On Short Notice’

    UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan evidently wasn’t impressed by Justin Gaethje’s performance this past weekend — and decision to call for a title shot off the back of it.

    Gaethje bounced back from his brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway in his return to action Saturday night. “The Highlight” co-headlined the UFC 313 pay-per-view in a rematch against Rafael Fiziev.

    While “Ataman” performed valiantly on short notice, he once again fell short to Gaethje on the scorecards, having suffered the same fate in London back in 2023.

    As the Azerbaijani contemplates a move down to the featherweight division, the American fan favorite was quick to stake his claim for a third crack at achieving undisputed lightweight glory on MMA’s biggest stage. But Tsarukyan, the top contender at 155 pounds, firmly disagrees with “The Highlight’s” recent demand to UFC CEO Dana White.

    In a social media post Wednesday, the Russian-Armenian categorically dismissed any suggestion that Justin Gaethje deserves the next shot at Islam Makhachev’s gold.

    “You barely got past #11 on short notice, and before that, you got sent to the shadow realm,” Tsarukyan wrote on X. “If you really want to be the #1 contender and fight for the belt, you have to go through me first.”

    Unfortunately for Tsarukyan, it would appear that Gaethje might have the support of UFC higher-ups when it comes to his ongoing title ambitions, with White stating backstage at UFC 313 that there’s a “good chance” the American receives another title shot.

  • ‘It’s Not The Same Anymore’ – Anthony Smith Opens Up About Retirement Decision

    ‘It’s Not The Same Anymore’ – Anthony Smith Opens Up About Retirement Decision

    Anthony Smith is set to walk away from professional fighting after his upcoming bout on April 26 in Kansas City. The longtime UFC light heavyweight opened up about his decision in a recent interview with Damon Martin for MMA Fighting, revealing that the passing of his longtime coach and friend, Scott “Scotty” Morton, played a major role in making retirement an easier choice.

    “Retiring now is easy because I’m leaving something that doesn’t feel normal anyways,” Smith said. “A lot of it is just uncomfortable, and it’s different, and you don’t know what to do without it.

    This thing is different for me now. It’s not the same. The whole process feels different. And it’s not even just fighting—my everyday life is different with him gone.”

    Smith admitted he had been contemplating retirement for a while, but he kept pushing it back. “I kept saying three or four more, and then, you know, that three or four just kept getting pushed back,” he said. However, as the demands of training and fight preparation continued to take time away from his family, Smith realized he was ready to move on.

    “I love the fight part of it—there’s nothing I enjoy more than walking into the Octagon and fighting,” he explained.

    “But it’s everything that surrounds it that I’m not willing to do anymore. The media, the travel, the being away from my family, living in hotel rooms—I’m just not as willing to do that anymore.”

    Despite stepping away from competition, Smith will remain a fixture in MMA through his work as an analyst.

    “I want to spend the rest of my life doing what I want to do, not what I have to do,” he said. “I got lucky—so many fighters don’t have a plan for life after fighting.”

    Smith’s final fight against Zhang Mingyang at UFC Kansas City will mark the end of an era—but for him, it already feels like he’s left the old life behind.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Breaks Down ’50-50′ Makhachev vs. Topuria Fight

    Arman Tsarukyan Breaks Down ’50-50′ Makhachev vs. Topuria Fight

    The lightweight division is buzzing with excitement as Islam Makhachev holds the championship, with several contenders eager for a title shot. Amid this competitive landscape, Arman Tsarukyan has shared his thoughts on a potential showdown between Makhachev and former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.

    Tsarukyan, who was originally slated to challenge Makhachev at UFC 311 before a back injury forced him out, brings a unique perspective to the discussion. Weighing in on the potential matchup, he sees it as a close contest, acknowledging Topuria’s striking prowess while questioning his ability to withstand Makhachev’s relentless grappling.

    “It’s a tough fight,” Arman Tsarukyan told The Schmo. “Ilia, he is a better striker; good boxing. I don’t know—like, he’s never fought with guys who can wrestle very well like Islam, so we will see. It is a 50-50 fight.”

    The intrigue of this matchup lies in the stylistic clash between Topuria’s striking power and Makhachev’s elite grappling. While Topuria’s boxing has been a dominant weapon, Makhachev’s wrestling follows the well-established blueprint of Khabib Nurmagomedov. Having faced Makhachev himself, Tsarukyan offers valuable insight into the champion’s approach, making his analysis all the more compelling.

  • PFL Unveils First-Round Matchups For 2025 World Tournament

    PFL Unveils First-Round Matchups For 2025 World Tournament

    The brackets for eight inaugural PFL World Tournaments in 2025 are set.

    After ditching its season and playoff format this year, the Professional Fighters League will kick off a new era next month with the launch of its inaugural World Tournaments.

    The Grand Prix-style structure will see eight fighters in each weight class compete in a single elimination format, culminating in championship finals worth $500,000 for the winners.

    Having completed its rollout of the eight divisional rosters last week, the PFL staged a bracket reveal show on Tuesday to unveil the first-round matchups set to play out across four events in the coming weeks.

    For those bouts, including returns for the likes of Jason Jackson, Jesus Pinedo, Taila Santos, Liz Carmouche, and Alexandr Romanov, see the schedule below.

    2025 PFL World Tournament 1: First Round – April 3

    Main Card (ESPN2/ESPN+, 10 PM ET):

    • Welterweight First Round: Jason Jackson (18-5) vs. Andrey Koreshkov (28-5)
    • Featherweight First Round: Jesus Pinedo (23-6) vs. Adam Borics (19-2)
    • Welterweight First Round: Magomed Umalatov (17-1)vs. Logan Storley (16-3)
    • Featherweight First Round: Jeremy Kennedy (19-4) vs. Movlid Khaybulaev (21-0-1)

    Early Card (ESPN+, 7 PM ET):

    • Welterweight First Round: Mukhamed Berkhamov (17-2) vs. Florim Zendeli (10-1-1) 
    • Featherweight First Round: Gabriel Braga (15-2) vs. Yves Landu (21-9) 
    • Welterweight First Round: Giannis Bachar (9-2) vs. Masayuki Kikuiri (10-2-1)
    • Featherweight First Round: Nathan Kelly (11-3) vs. Taekyun Kim (10-1)
    • Welterweight Alternate: Joseph Luciano (10-2) vs. Thad Jean (8-0)
    • Featherweight Alternate: Fred Dupras (8-1) vs. Nathan Ghareeb (10-3)

    2025 PFL World Tournament 2: First Round – April 11

    Main Card (ESPN2/ESPN+, 11 PM ET):

    • Bantamweight First Round: Magomed Magomedov (20-3) vs. Leandro Higo (23-6)
    • Women’s Flyweight First Round: Taila Santos (24-4) vs. Juliana Velasquez (13-3)
    • Bantamweight First Round: Savarjon Khamidov (16-0) vs. Jake Hadley (11-4)
    • Bantamweight First Round: Ciaran Clarke (10-0) vs. Kasum Kasumov (16-1) 

    Early Card (ESPN+, 8 PM ET):

    • Women’s Flyweight First Round: Liz Carmouche (22-8) vs. Ilara Joanna (12-9)
    • Bantamweight First Round: Ali Taleb (11-1) vs. Zebenzui Ruiz (12-3) 
    • Women’s Flyweight First Round: Kana Watanabe (13-3-1) vs. Jena Bishop (7-2) 
    • Women’s Flyweight First Round: Elora Dana (7-0) vs. Diana Avsaragova (6-1)
    • Bantamweight Alternate: Francesco Nuzzi (10-1) vs. Matheus Mattos (14-3-1)
    • Women’s Flyweight Alternate: Ekaterina Shakalova (8-2) vs. Saray Orozco (8-6) 

    2025 PFL World Tournament 3: First Round – April 18

    Main Card (ESPN/ESPN+, 7 PM ET):

    • Middleweight First Round: Impa Kasanganay (18-5) vs. Fabian Edwards (13-4) 
    • Lightweight First Round: Alexander Shabliy (24-4) vs. Brent Primus (15-4-0, 1 NC)
    • Lightweight First Round: Gadzhi Rabadanov (24-4-2) vs. Marc Diakiese (18-7) 
    • Lightweight First Round: Mads Burnell (20-6) vs. Jay-Jay Wilson (10-1)

    Early Card (ESPN+, 4:30 PM ET):

    • Middleweight First Round: Sadibou Sy (17-8-2, 1 NC ) vs. Dalton Rosta (9-1)
    • Middleweight First Round: Josh Silveira (13-4) vs. Mike Shipman (17-4)
    • Lightweight First Round: Clay Collard (25-14) vs. Alfie Davis (17-4-1) 
    • Middleweight First Round: Aaron Jeffery (15-5) vs. Murad Ramazanov (12-2)
    • Middleweight Alternate: Khalid Murtazaliev (17-3) vs. Jordan Newman (7-0)
    • Lightweight Alternate: Sergio Cossio (27-10-1) vs. Robert Watley (15-3)

    2025 PFL World Tournament 4: First Round – May 1

    Main Card (ESPN2/ESPN+, 10 PM ET):

    • Light Heavyweight First Round: Phil Davis (24-7, 1 NC) vs. Rob Wilkinson (19-3,1 NC) 
    • Heavyweight First Round: Valentin Moldavsky (13-4) vs. Sergey Bilostenniy (13-3) 
    • Light Heavyweight First Round: Antonio Carlos Jr. (16-6, 2 NC) vs. Karl Moore (12-3)
    • Light Heavyweight First Round: Karl Albrektsson (14-6) vs. Simeon Powell (10-1) 

    Early Card (ESPN+, 7 PM ET):

    • Heavyweight First Round: Alexandr Romanov (18-3) vs. Tim Johnson (18-11) 
    • Heavyweight First Round: Linton Vassell (25-10) vs. Oleg Popov (19-1) 
    • Light Heavyweight First Round: Sullivan Cauley (6-1) vs. Marcelo Nunes (11-2) 
    • Heavyweight First Round: Pouya Rahmani (4-0) vs. Abraham Bably (5-1) 
    • Light Heavyweight Alternate: Alex Polizzi (11-4) vs. Rafael Xavier (13-8) 
  • Paul Hughes’ Opponent For PFL Belfast Homecoming Revealed

    Paul Hughes’ Opponent For PFL Belfast Homecoming Revealed

    PFL star Paul Hughes now has a target in his sights for later this year.

    Hughes (13-2) boosted his stock despite a loss in January when he battled Usman Nurmagomedov for the Bellator lightweight title in the main event of PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai.

    While he was largely dismissed by the Russian standout during the build-up, “Big News” pushed him to the limit across five rounds. Some even maintain that the ex-Cage Warriors champion did enough to deserve the victory, a sentiment shared by Hughes himself.

    With that in mind, the Northern Irishman was quick to call for an immediate rematch in his native country, and he appeared to have the backing of the PFL higher-ups and many in the community.

    But with Nurmagomedov seemingly planning to sit out until September or October, Hughes has had to settle for just half of his callout coming to fruition.

    After much speculation, the PFL officially confirmed this week that Paul Hughes will headline a PFL Europe event in his country’s capital city, Belfast, on May 10.

    And an opponent has now been attached to Hughes’ return, with “Big News” lined up to share the cage with Bruno Miranda (17-5), a former PFL semifinalist who most recently defeated Patricky Pitbull.

    Paul Hughes will look to return to winning ways at Miranda’s expense and stake his claim for a second showdown with Nurmagomedov before the year’s end.

  • Curtis Blaydes’ Return Gets New Date After Fight-Day UFC 313 Cancellation

    Curtis Blaydes’ Return Gets New Date After Fight-Day UFC 313 Cancellation

    UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes and newcomer Rizvan Kuniev will hope it’s second time lucky later this year when it comes to their matchup reaching the Octagon.

    The mixed martial arts leader staged its third numbered card of 2025 this past weekend, with UFC 313 going down from inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. Fight week went smoothly and saw all 24 athletes make weight, but fight day saw the card take some hits.

    After John Castañeda was confirmed to be out of his early preliminary contest with Chris Gutierrez, illness struck a more notable pairing. Former interim heavyweight title challenger Curtis Blaydes pulled out of the UFC 313 featured prelim, which was set to see him welcome newcomer Rizvan Kuniev to the Octagon.

    In a post on his Facebook page, “Razor” revealed the reason behind his late decision not to compete.

    “Last night I got sick with norovirus,” Blaydes wrote. “Worked through the night to try and recover but my body wouldn’t cooperate. Fight going to be booked for a later date. Apologize to fans and my opponent be we will have this fight very soon.”

    Fortunately for both men, it hasn’t taken long for the UFC to reschedule the clash for down the line.

    Per Vestnik MMA, Blaydes will now face the Dagestani debutant at the promotion’s first event in Qatar on May 17. The report was later corroborated by Eurosport Nederland’s Marcel Dorff.

    Curtis Blaydes hasn’t competed since a first-round knockout loss to Tom Aspinall in what marked his first title fight on MMA’s biggest stage last July.

    Rizvan Kuniev, meanwhile, last fought in August 2024 when he earned a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series.

  • Justin Gaethje Demands Title Shot From Dana White After UFC 313

    Justin Gaethje Demands Title Shot From Dana White After UFC 313

    Justin Gaethje is campaigning for what could be his final shot at the undisputed UFC lightweight title.

    After nearly a year away from the Octagon, Gaethje made his highly anticipated return last Saturday, accepting a short-notice rematch against Rafael Fiziev in the UFC 313 co-main event. He battled through adversity to earn a unanimous decision victory over “Ataman.”

    Back in the win column, “The Highlight” rebounded from his heartbreaking last-second knockout loss to Max Holloway for the BMF title at UFC 300 in April. The former interim UFC 155-pound champion confidently maintained that defeating Fiziev could put him right back in the title conversation.

    On Tuesday, Gaethje took to social media to make his case for a third crack at the undisputed gold, urging UFC CEO Dana White to grant him the opportunity. He argued that his setback to “Blessed” shouldn’t stand in the way of his championship ambitions.

    “I won 3 out of my last 4, only losing in an exhibition fight. I have to fight for the belt. @danawhite I am ready,” Justin Gaethje wrote.

    The 36-year-old Arizona native has come up short in two previous title bids, falling to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 in October 2020 and Charles Oliveira at UFC 274 in May 2022. Undeterred, Justin Gaethje has long set his sights on a showdown with reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.

    Interestingly, at the UFC 313 post-fight press conference, White subtly signaled his approval of “The Highlight” jumping ahead of Arman Tsarukyan and Oliveira in the race for a potential clash with Makhachev.

  • Rafael Fiziev Pondering Major Career Change After UFC 313 Defeat

    Rafael Fiziev Pondering Major Career Change After UFC 313 Defeat

    Rafael Fiziev could be bidding the lightweight division farewell following his latest setback at UFC 313.

    Fiziev returned to action at this past weekend’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas 18 months on from tearing his ACL in an Apex headliner versus Mateusz Gamrot.

    “Ataman” stepped in on short notice to replace the injured Dan Hooker opposite Justin Gaethje, marking the second time that Fiziev has shared the cage with “The Highlight.”

    Just like first time around in London, the Azerbaijani performed valiantly but was unable to do enough to secure victory on the scorecards. And a second defeat to Gaethje and third overall has left Fiziev assessing his future.

    During an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Fiziev suggested that a drop down to the featherweight division could mark his next step on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “I’m (starting) to think right now about changing weight divisions because I cut weight very easy this time, and this was short notice,” Rafael Fiziev said. “All this week, my nutritionist, he tried to gain my weight because my weight go low so fast. Right now, I have to think about it.

    “I’ve been thinking about it a long time. Like I say, I am not big in this division,” Fiziev continued. “These guys have trouble if I come there. They’ll be in trouble, man, everybody.”

    Should Rafael Fiziev commit to that change, he’d depart the 155-pound weight class as its #11-ranked contender. Prior to running into Gaethje, “Ataman” had won six straight fights, including over Renato Moicano, King Green, and Rafael dos Anjos.

  • BJ Penn Video Alleging Government Killed His Mother Alarms MMA Fans

    BJ Penn Video Alleging Government Killed His Mother Alarms MMA Fans

    Former UFC champion BJ Penn has shared a troubling Instagram video in which he alleges that the government murdered his mother and replaced her with a lookalike impostor.

    The 46-year-old former fighter, who previously held titles in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions, made the shocking claim while pointing at a woman he insists is not his real mother.

    “This lady right here, look at her a** and legs,” Penn says in the video. “She is acting like my 79-year-old mother, but she is not my 79-year-old mother. She’s trying to steal everything and this is not my mother. And I’m putting this out because she’s saying she’s going to get an attorney and try to do something. She’s trying to throw me out and if I attack her, she’ll try to do something, TRO [temporary restraining order] or something else.”

    Penn also took to social media with a post accusing a man named Paul Abiley—whom he also refers to as Carlos Riveira—of being involved in the alleged conspiracy with government help.

    The former fighter’s claims have sparked concern among fans, many of whom have urged him to seek professional help.

    Penn, who retired from MMA in 2019 following a seven-fight losing streak, has remained in the public eye for various controversies. In 2022, he ran for governor of Hawaii but failed to secure the Republican primary nomination.

    Penn has not responded to the widespread concern regarding his latest statements.

  • UFC Commentator ‘Pissed Off’ By Alex Pereira’s ‘Lazy’ UFC 313 Performance

    UFC Commentator ‘Pissed Off’ By Alex Pereira’s ‘Lazy’ UFC 313 Performance

    Alex Pereira’s ascent to light heavyweight dominance — marked by five straight wins, four knockout title fights, and victories over former champions — had built an aura of invincibility.

    At UFC 313, however, Magomed Ankalaev dismantled that perception, ending Pereira’s reign in a decisive five-round encounter.

    While the fight remained competitive, Pereira appeared uncharacteristically passive, often yielding ground to Ankalaev’s relentless pressure and cage control.

    UFC color commentator Michael Bisping discussed Pereira’s performance on the Believe You Me podcast, with fellow analyst Paul Felder voicing strong criticism. “The Irish Dragon” called out Pereira for what he perceived as a lack of urgency.

    “He never really opened up,” Felder said of Alex Pereira. “I was getting — I don’t wanna say mad, I’m not his coach, I’m not a training partner — but as a fan of the guy and somebody that I like to see perform, I was p*ssed off, dude.

    “I agree that it was a bit lazy and one-sided on his part for a guy that’s got dynamite and apparently rocks in those hands,” Felder continued. “He never let them go. That’s just lazy.”

  • Arman Tsarukyan Sends Justin Gaethje Reality Check About UFC Title Hopes

    Arman Tsarukyan Sends Justin Gaethje Reality Check About UFC Title Hopes

    When it comes to Justin Gaethje’s hopes to secure a third crack at the undisputed UFC lightweight title, Arman Tsarukyan has told him to hold his horses.

    Gaethje placed his name back into the championship conversation at 155 pounds this past weekend by emerging victorious from the UFC 313 co-main event.

    “The Highlight” ran it back with Rafael Fiziev at the pay-per-view after original opponent Dan Hooker withdrew due to a broken hand. And for the second time in under three years, the American exited the cage a decision winner over “Ataman.”

    In the aftermath, Gaethje outlined his hopes to challenge Islam Makhachev down the line. That ambition received a sizable boost during Dana White’s post-fight press conference, with the UFC CEO suggesting the ex-interim champ has a “good chance” of another title shot.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, however, Tsarukyan insisted that “The Highlight” must go through either him or former titleholder Charles Oliveira first.

    “It’s Gaethje or Oliveira,” Arman Tsarukyan said of his next opponent. “Gaethje wants to fight for the title. It makes sense to fight with me, because nobody’s going to give him (the) title fight. It’s not going to be fair that he’s going to get (the) title fight. So he’s got to beat me or Oliveira to get a title fight. There is Ilia (Topuria) too. … I’m open to everybody from (the) top five.”

    Tsarukyan has been left needing to record another victory over a top contender despite entering the year with a first title shot bagged.

    A late pullout from January’s UFC 311 event saw him lose out on the opportunity, leaving the next step for Makhachev uncertain after he dispatched of late-notice replacement Renato Moicano in Los Angeles.

  • Matt Brown: UFC ‘Overplayed Their Cards’ With Alex Pereira Hype

    Matt Brown: UFC ‘Overplayed Their Cards’ With Alex Pereira Hype

    Alex Pereira’s light heavyweight journey, marked by five consecutive wins, four title fight knockouts, and victories over multiple former champions, had elevated him to another-level status. However, at UFC 313, Magomed Ankalaev ended the Brazilian’s reign, outpointing him in a five-round main event.

    Despite the competitive nature of the fight, Pereira appeared hesitant at times, spending much of the bout under Ankalaev’s pressure and control. The Dagestani strategically avoided takedowns while maintaining control, exposing vulnerabilities in “Poatan’s” previously impenetrable aura at 205 pounds.

    While the loss is a setback, it doesn’t mean Alex Pereira has been fully figured out. Instead, Ankalaev’s calculated approach highlighted areas for the former champion to address, suggesting that his story is far from over.

    “I don’t think exposed is the right word, but I think it humanized him,” UFC legend Matt Brown said of Alex Pereira on the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer. “Because he was living off all this hype. The UFC is masterful at hyping guys up. I think all of us — it’s hard for anybody, even astute followers of the game like me or you or fighters that understand all the intricacies — it’s hard for us to ignore the amount of hype people put into him. They do this all the time.

    “They did it with Conor [McGregor], they did it with Ronda [Rousey], they do it with Alex. It’s a constant thing. Jon Jones is the only guy that’s kind of lived up to that, and I say kind of because he lost to [Dominick] Reyes. He had some close fights, but he’s kind of the only guy who really just lived up to that hype and not lost,” Brown continued. “(Alex Pereira’s) still a great fighter. He’s still everything we thought he was, but the UFC kind of overplayed their cards.”

    Pereira’s rapid rise through the light heavyweight division has sometimes overshadowed the challenges he faced earlier in his UFC tenure.

    While he has been dominant in his title fights at 205 pounds, his knockout loss to Israel Adesanya before moving up in weight serves as a reminder of his past struggles.

  • ESPN’s Technical Issues For UFC 313 ‘On Purpose’, Claims Former Fighter

    UFC 313 experienced significant technical issues with ESPN+’s streaming service, which caused widespread frustration among fans and reportedly angered UFC leadership. The problems were particularly disruptive at the start of the main card.

    ESPN acknowledged a “technical issue” that affected PPV purchases and later offered a free event replay for ESPN+ subscribers. UFC CEO Dana White also addressed the situation, noting that there were “a lot of pissed-off people.”

    Former UFC fighter Brendan Schaub weighed in on the controversy during the latest episode of The Schaub Show, suggesting that the disruption may have been intentional.

    “Big Brown” pointed to ongoing negotiations between ESPN and the MMA leader over media rights as a possible motive, arguing that ESPN could use the issue as leverage in talks.

    “The whole ESPN+ PPV not working — they’re in negotiations right now. If you think that wasn’t on purpose, you’re out of your mind,” Schaub said. “That is ESPN, who doesn’t give a flying f*ck about UFC really — they’re in turmoil. But if you don’t think that’s a flex by them — I’ve never had issues.

    “All of a sudden, issues just pop up during negotiation rights? That is somebody going, ‘Oh really, you want to play hardball? This is what your numbers will look like without us.’ That’s what I think with a tinfoil hat on,” Schaub continued. “I’ve never had issues, and all of a sudden, half the f*cking world has issues? That’s weird.

  • Former UFC Fighter On Justin Gaethje’s Unique Style: ‘His Kicks Look Like Trash’

    Former UFC Fighter On Justin Gaethje’s Unique Style: ‘His Kicks Look Like Trash’

    Josh Thomson has offered an honest assessment of Justin Gaethje and his unique fighting style following the former interim UFC lightweight champion’s latest victory.

    Gaethje was originally scheduled to face Dan Hooker at UFC 313 on March 8 but the Kiwi fan favorite withdrew due to a hand injury. Rafael Fiziev stepped in for a rematch, and Gaethje went on to defeat him by unanimous decision, earning yet another Fight of the Night award.

    Speaking on the Weighing In podcast, Thomson highlighted how Gaethje’s striking differs from traditional techniques, emphasizing that he does not conform to conventional boxing or kickboxing styles. He also critiqued Gaethje’s leg kicks, despite their well-documented effectiveness.

    “Justin Gaethje is not a striker like any other striker we’ve seen,” Thomson said. “Not so much in terms of how he fights—it’s really about how he moves his body. He’s not a traditional boxer or kickboxer or any of those styles.

    “Even his kicks — look how hard they are. Fighters have told everyone how hard he kicks, but his leg kicks look like trash,” Thomson continued. “You see him, and you’re like, it’s a weird kick. Like, it just looks weird, but everybody, everybody says they’re so painful.”

  • Dillon Danis Claims Logan Paul Is Blocking Him From UFC And WWE

    Dillon Danis Claims Logan Paul Is Blocking Him From UFC And WWE

    Dillon Danis alleges that Logan Paul is actively preventing him from signing with the UFC, saying the influencer-turned-wrestler has been working behind the scenes to blackball him from major opportunities. In a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Danis claimed that Paul has used his connections to keep him out of both the UFC and WWE.

    “He won’t let me go to WWE events. WWE wanted to do stuff with me, and then he’s like, ‘No, don’t let him in.’ He hates me so much that he’s trying to get me out of everything,” Danis said. “He’s in the background of the UFC, I’m pretty sure he’s the one talking to them, saying not to sign me.”

    Danis believes Paul’s influence is tied to his lucrative partnership with Prime Hydration, which has become a major UFC sponsor.

    “Prime is a big say. If you sign that kid, I’m pulling Prime,” he speculated.

    The bad blood between Danis and Paul escalated during their 2023 boxing match, which led to Paul suing Danis for defamation. The fallout from the fight sent Danis into a personal tailspin.

    “I had a lot of demons, and I still do,” he admitted. “I got really bad after that fight—really bad. Just let myself down.”

    Danis, who says he’s been sober for nearly eight months, is now attempting to rebuild his fighting career. He is set to face KSI in a boxing match on March 29, followed by a planned MMA bout against Tony Ferguson later this year.

  • PFL Reveals Locations For 2025 World Tournament Semifinals

    PFL Reveals Locations For 2025 World Tournament Semifinals

    The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will be taking the SmartCage to Nashville, Kansas, and Chicago for this year’s World Tournament semifinal events.

    PFL will be shaking things up this year after a 2024 that was marred by fighter complaints and a largely unsuccessful merger with the Bellator MMA roster. Over a year on from the acquisition, the promotion has decided to eliminate the Bellator brand moving forward.

    And that’s not the only change in strategy in 2025. The PFL will also be abandoning its season and playoff format after many had questioned its sustainability. Instead, Grand Prix-style tournaments will take place across eight divisions, with $500,000 prize money going to each winner.

    The promotion has completed its roll-out of the roster lists for each tournament, featuring the likes of Taila Santos, Jason Jackson, Movlid Khaybulaev, Liz Carmouche, Fabian Edwards, Jake Hadley, and Alexandr Romanov.

    Those names will begin their campaigns with first-round bouts across four events on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Florida on April 3, April 11, April 18, and May 1. And the dates and locations for the subsequent semifinal cards in the summer have now been confirmed.

    On Thursday, June 12, 2025 PFL World Tournament 5: Semifinals will take place at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, with tickets ranging from $35 to $300.

    Eight days later, the promotion makes its debut in ‘Cowtown’ with the 2025 PFL World Tournament 6: Semifinals at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. Tickets range from $40 to $250.

    The last semifinal event is scheduled for June 27 and will be held at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, with ticket prices ranging from $50 to $350.

  • ‘What a Stupid Game We Play’ – Adesanya Reacts To Ankalaev’s Win Over Pereira

    ‘What a Stupid Game We Play’ – Adesanya Reacts To Ankalaev’s Win Over Pereira

    Israel Adesanya shared his live reaction to Magomed Ankalaev’s decision victory over Alex Pereira this past weekend at UFC 313, expressing surprise at the judges’ scorecards and questioning the fight’s outcome.

    “I had Alex winning… but I have to watch it again and score the fight properly,” Adesanya said during his YouTube reaction video. Like many fans, he appeared puzzled by the 49-46 score in favor of Ankalaev, especially given Pereira’s striking success.

    Adesanya acknowledged Ankalaev’s clinch work but wasn’t convinced it was enough to secure the win. “He dropped him, yeah… but the holding? He didn’t really do much with the holding.” Pereira’s aggressive striking seemed to impress Adesanya more, but he admitted the fight was competitive.

    Despite the controversial outcome, Adesanya believes a rematch is likely.

    “I think he’ll get a rematch… spin the block, we out.”

    Given Pereira’s standing in the division and UFC’s history of booking rematches for close fights, Adesanya’s prediction holds weight.

    In classic “Stylebender” fashion, Adesanya ended with a reflective take on the unpredictability of MMA:

    “What a stupid game we play—I f***ing love it.”

    With the controversy surrounding this fight, the debate will rage on, and all eyes will be on whether Pereira gets another shot at Ankalaev.

    Adesanya’s most recent fight was against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250 on February 1, 2025, at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which ended in a second-round knockout loss for the Stylebender. This marked Adesanya’s third consecutive loss, putting him at 1-4 in his past five bouts.

  • Jalin Turner On Shock UFC 313 Retirement: ‘Don’t Want To Keep Taking Damage’

    Jalin Turner On Shock UFC 313 Retirement: ‘Don’t Want To Keep Taking Damage’

    It would seem that Jalin Turner’s time competing in mixed martial arts came to an end at UFC 313.

    Turner returned to action for the first time since a crushing loss to Renato Moicano at UFC 300 last April. On the main card of Saturday’s pay-per-view event, “The Tarantula” was tasked with defending his ranking opposite the up-and-coming Ignacio Bahamondes.

    As it turns out, Turner entered the cage inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena following months of contemplation regarding his future. And a first-round submission loss to “La Jaula” proved to be the final straw for the 29-year-old.

    He removed his gloves inside the Octagon and informed press cageside that he was retiring.

    Speaking to Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter backstage at T-Mobile Arena, Jalin Turner expanded on what has led to his likely decision to hang up the gloves for good.

    “It’s hard, man. Fighting’s hard, and I’ve been doing it for 12 years. You either gotta be all in or not. And even being in there now, I wasn’t fully all in as I thought I would be. And the decision to stay or not was honestly based off this fight for me,” Jalin Turner said. “I felt like I’d get the nod, get the win. I watched him. He’s an up and coming prospect. He deserved the opportunity. And I felt like I would’ve got my hand raised and I didn’t. I know it’s emotional right now, but I’ve been thinking about this for the last 11 months, if I’m gonna keep fighting or not. I was bad on signing the fight contract because I didn’t know if I was gonna retire or not. I didn’t know, how much longer I wanted to keep doing this.

    “Now my kids are getting older. I don’t want to keep taking damage,” Turner continued. “Training camps are hard. Life is really taking a toll. It’s been taking a toll the last 11 months, so I just need to step away for a little bit. I mean, maybe forever. At this point, the competition just gets better. I’m just getting older. So yeah, I’m gonna just sit down and think about it. You know? But I think that’s it. … Doubts come, there’s always gonna be things that deter you. … I was in love with it. I love the sport. I love competing, and the fire is just not there.”

    Should Jalin Turner commit to retirement, his career will conclude after a 7-6 run in the UFC, during which he defeated the likes of Brad Riddell and King Green.

  • Watch Magomed Ankalaev Receive Hero’s Welcome In Dagestan After UFC 313 Title Win

    Watch Magomed Ankalaev Receive Hero’s Welcome In Dagestan After UFC 313 Title Win

    Many supporters flocked to see newly crowned UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Magomed Ankalaev touch back down in Dagestan this week.

    Ankalaev reached the pinnacle on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this past weekend in the headlining act of UFC 313, held inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    While long-reigning champ Alex Pereira showed staunch takedown defense across their five-round contest, Ankalaev made good on his promise to get the better of “Poatan” in the striking realm.

    A unanimous decision verdict saw the title change hands after a reign that spanned three successful defenses for Pereira. The Brazilian is now looking ahead to the adjustments he’ll need to make for a likely rematch this year.

    Magomed Ankalaev, meanwhile, continues to celebrate his championship triumph, which came at the second time of trying just over two years on from a draw with Jan Blachowicz.

    The new kingpin was most recently seen returning to his homeland. A video posted by Ushatayka showed Ankalaev with the light heavyweight gold in tow as he landed back in Dagestan, where he was greeted by a hero’s welcome from the masses.

    The scenes were similar to the frequent returns of lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev following his championship fight victories in the UFC.

    Magomed Ankalaev will now look to replicate his fellow Dagestani by racking up some successful defenses in the coming months and years.

  • Alex Pereira Told That UFC 313 Loss Is Evidence His ‘Lifestyle Is Catching Up To Him’

    Alex Pereira Told That UFC 313 Loss Is Evidence His ‘Lifestyle Is Catching Up To Him’

    A former two-division UFC champion suggests that Alex Pereira’s life outside the Octagon may be affecting his performance.

    Pereira’s tenure as the light heavyweight champion concluded this past Saturday when he put his title on the line against Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC 313 main event.

    “Poatan” came out strong, battering his opponent with his signature calf kicks. However, as the fight progressed into the middle rounds, his momentum began to wane. While he couldn’t mount much offense, he showcased impressive takedown defense.

    In the final round, Pereira regained his momentum and pushed the pace, but it wasn’t enough to sway the judges, who awarded Ankalaev a unanimous decision victory.

    In the buildup to UFC 313, Alex Pereira faced heavy skepticism from UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, who joined some others in doubting his commitment to preparation. “DC” pointed to Pereira’s leisure trips and laid-back social media presence as signs that he wasn’t fully focused on his title defense.

    Although the Brazilian fiercely rejected these claims before the fight, insisting he was fully prepared and aware of the challenge, his performance against Ankalaev still lacked the signature explosiveness fans have come to expect.

    He appeared uncharacteristically off, and former two-division champion Henry Cejudo believes he knows exactly what may have caused it.

    During a recent episode of his Pound 4 Pound Podcast, Cejudo shared his thoughts on the Pereira vs. Ankalaev showdown. He suggested that “Poatan’s” extravagant way of living, among other factors, may have finally caught up with him.

    “I think Alex Pereira’s lifestyle is finally kind of catching up to him, it’s finally catching up to him,” Cejudo said. “The travel, the ‘chama’, the lot of the skits and a lot of stuff that he’s actually doing, it’s really not doing him any service. His body looked a little different, dude. He looked a little pudgier, he looked a little thicker in the face going in, but then we have to credit Magomed Ankalaev.”

    Alex Pereira enjoyed a stellar run in 2024, successfully defending his UFC light heavyweight title three times — all by knockout.

    The former champion had previously suffered a setback against Israel Adesanya at UFC 287 in April 2023 but rebounded in dominant fashion, moving up a division and racking up an impressive five-fight winning streak.

  • Jon Anik Sees Stardom In The Future Of Big UFC 313 Winner

    Jon Anik Sees Stardom In The Future Of Big UFC 313 Winner

    Play-by-play commentator Jon Anik is expecting big things down the line from a man who delivered one of the top performances at UFC 313.

    While Saturday’s pay-per-view main event between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev failed to bring the kind of entertainment that fans were hoping for, the undercard wasn’t short on notable action.

    Alongside Mauricio Ruffy’s spinning wheel kick knockout and Justin Gaethje’s latest brutal war inside the Octagon, rising lightweight Ignacio Bahamondes notched the biggest win of his career to date.

    The Chilean made the most of his first opportunity at cracking the rankings, locking in a shock triangle choke submission to force longtime veteran Jalin Turner to tap out in the very first round.

    In Bahamondes’ corner, an ecstatic UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad reiterated to the camera the potential of his teammate, and Anik, too, foresees the possibility of stardom for for “La Jaula” — providing he continues to hit the mark on the scales.

    Anik tweet on UFC 313

    “Nacho can be a huge star,” Anik wrote on X a couple of days on from UFC 313. “Big personality. Fluent in two languages. One of the best strikers in the UFC. Will also choke you the f*ck out. Latin America couldn’t have a better ambassador in the UFC. Just hope he can keep making 156 (155) lbs!”

    Bahamondes has missed weight once in the UFC and twice overall in professional MMA. He came in three quarters of a pound overweight for his clash with John Makdessi back in 2021.

    The Chilean up-and-comer did also appear to have a scare last week prior to UFC 313, requiring a box late in the weigh-in window to hit the 156-pound limit for non-title lightweight bouts.

  • ‘What Disrespect!’ – Fans Fume As UFC 314 Bout Order Has MMA Legend On The Prelims

    ‘What Disrespect!’ – Fans Fume As UFC 314 Bout Order Has MMA Legend On The Prelims

    The current bout order for next month’s UFC 314 pay-per-view has caused quite the stir.

    After staging its latest numbered event close to its home base at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena this past weekend, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will soon head back to Miami.

    And for its usually annual April PPV inside the Kaseya Center, a stacked lineup is set to unfold, topped by a featherweight championship clash between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes.

    Among a host of big-name undercard bouts is the debut of the consensus greatest fighter to ever compete under the Bellator banner, Patrício Pitbull. After signing with the UFC following a public split with the PFL, the Brazilian legend is set to arrive in a battle versus ex-interim titleholder Yair Rodríguez.

    To the surprise of many, that contest will close out the preliminary card on April 12, with the light heavyweight bout between Nikita Krylov and Dominick Reyes getting the nod to feature on the five-fight main card instead.

    That was revealed during the UFC 313 broadcast Saturday night, and fans quickly flocked to social media to give their takes.

    While most were bemused by the decision, some pointed out that it will likely mean more eyes on Pitbull’s first foray into the UFC Octagon.