MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Magomed Ankalaev Surpasses Makhachev, Dvalishvili For UFC Social Media Record In 2025

    Magomed Ankalaev Surpasses Makhachev, Dvalishvili For UFC Social Media Record In 2025

    Magomed Ankalaev outshined several reigning UFC champions in a key statistic following his latest Octagon appearance.

    Ankalaev realized his lifelong dream of becoming a UFC titleholder this past Saturday, toppling long-reigning light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira with a unanimous decision victory in the UFC 313 main event.

    The Dagestani stepped into the fight with a calculated game plan, but despite his high-level wrestling credentials, he failed to take Pereira down. Instead, he maintained steady aggression and strategically timed his strikes, ultimately convincing the judges to rule in his favor.

    Despite widespread criticism of his fighting style as “boring,” Ankalaev’s social media popularity skyrocketed, gaining massive traction across platforms.

    Recently, a sharp-eyed MMA fan on X compiled snippets from the UFC’s Instagram, showcasing every champion having their belt wrapped around their waist after the first three pay-per-views of the year. To many fans’ surprise, Magomed Ankalaev topped the list with a staggering 26.8 million views.

    Trailing behind him was reigning lightweight champ Islam Makhachev, who racked up 19.1 million views, followed by bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili with 17 million. Middleweight titleholder Dricus Du Plessis secured 11.8 million, while strawweight queen Zhang Weili rounded out the list with 4.3 million views.

    At the time of writing, the video capturing Ankalaev’s crowning moment has amassed over 46.2 million views and garnered an impressive 1.4 million likes.

    Ankalaev previously vied for the 205-pound title at UFC 282 in December 2022, facing Jan Błachowicz. After an intense back-and-forth battle, the contest ended in a draw.

    With his win at UFC 313, the 32-year-old Russian extended his unbeaten streak to 14 fights. Remarkably, the only blemish on his professional record dates back to March 2018, when he fell to Paul Craig via submission in the final seconds of their bout.

  • Kamaru Usman Urges Teammate Justin Gaethje To Improve In One Area After UFC 313

    Kamaru Usman Urges Teammate Justin Gaethje To Improve In One Area After UFC 313

    Justin Gaethje couldn’t have done much more to impress at UFC 313 — though Kamaru Usman does have one thing in mind.

    Gaethje recorded a crucial victory in the co-main event of this past weekend’s pay-per-view in Las Vegas, which came 11 months on from his devastating knockout loss at the hands of Max Holloway.

    To keep his name in the championship conversation and avoid a first losing skid since 2018, “The Highlight” was tasked with once again getting the better of Rafael Fiziev, who stepped in on short notice to replace the injured Dan Hooker.

    Despite a valiant effort from the Azerbaijani, Gaethje repeated his 2023 decision victory over him, this time getting the nod on all three scorecards after a brutal three-round battle at T-Mobile Arena.

    The fan-favorite brawler was relatively reserved on the microphone during his Octagon interview with Joe Rogan, much to the frustration of his longtime teammate.

    “You gotta sell yourself sometimes,” Usman said of Justin Gaethje on his Pound 4 Pound podcast. “This is where you do it because as much of a performer you are in there, you gotta give them something to look forward to. … This is WWE, and ‘The Rock’ and these guys do so well.

    “Justin, you gotta do a little better job of that,” he continued. “But he’s just so damn honest, which is why I love that frickin’ dude.”

    Gaethje and Usman have both trained under the tutelage of renowned coach Trevor Wittman for years.

  • Alex Pereira Joined Conor McGregor And Jon Jones In Exclusive Club At UFC 313

    Alex Pereira Joined Conor McGregor And Jon Jones In Exclusive Club At UFC 313

    Alex Pereira recently entered an elite UFC club, becoming only the third fighter in history to achieve this rare milestone.

    Pereira’s lightning-fast ascent in the UFC has been remarkable, establishing him as one of the sport’s most accomplished athletes. In just seven fights over a span of two years, “Poatan” defied the odds, securing championship gold in two different weight divisions.

    Within the last year, Pereira dominated the UFC light heavyweight division, defending his title three times — all via knockouts. His résumé boasts finishes over former champions like Israel Adesanya, Jan Błachowicz, and Jiří Procházka (twice), to name a few.

    Pereira put his 205-pound title on the line for the fourth time this past weekend, facing Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 313. However, the outcome didn’t go his way, as he suffered a debated unanimous decision loss.

    Ahead of the opening bell, Alex Pereira received some notable recognition, joining a prestigious group that includes only Conor McGregor and Jon Jones.

    The legendary voice of the Octagon, Bruce Buffer, acknowledged Pereira’s status by introducing him as “The One, The Only” — a distinguished title reserved for the sport’s most iconic figures.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ-w2cB2Zbw

    Buffer first bestowed this accolade upon “The Notorious” when he made his much-anticipated return to the Octagon at UFC 246 in January 2020 against Donald Cerrone. McGregor delivered a knockout victory in just 40 seconds.

    At UFC 285 in March 2023, Buffer honored “Bones” with the same iconic introduction as he made his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane. Jones secured a first-round submission victory to claim the title.

  • Former UFC Champion Frank Mir’s MMA Comeback Delayed After Emergency Surgery

    Former UFC Champion Frank Mir’s MMA Comeback Delayed After Emergency Surgery

    Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir won’t be making his return to mixed martial arts competition anytime soon.

    Mir was among the veteran names to sign with the newly created Global Fight League ahead of its inaugural draft this past January. The 45-year-old was ultimately picked alongside Andrei Arlovski for Team Los Angeles.

    And Mir was also among the first to have their opening matchup announced on social media, with the Las Vegas native penciled in to share the cage with a fellow former UFC champ in Fabrício Werdum of Team São Paulo.

    But those plans will be put on hold after Mir revealed in a post on Instagram that he “underwent an emergency spinal fusion and laminectomy of (his) entire thoracic spine.”

    “I wanted to take a moment to update you on my health and share a bit about my recent journey,” Frank Mir wrote. “As many of you know, I’ve been dedicated to martial arts since I was just four years old. My love for hard training has driven me to push my limits as a professional athlete. However, this passion comes with its challenges.

    “Recently, I faced a significant hurdle: I underwent an emergency spinal fusion and laminectomy of my entire thoracic spine. Although it was a tough decision, I’m happy to report that the surgery was a complete success!

    “Now, I’m diving into rehabilitation and focusing on my recovery. This is just another challenge that I intend to overcome, and I’m committed to coming back stronger, both mentally and physically, than ever.

    “Thank you all for your support during this time. Your encouragement means the world to me, and I can’t wait to share my progress with you.

    “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”

    Mir, who boasts a 19-13 record in pro MMA, last competed under the Bellator banner in 2019. He outpointed fellow vet Roy Nelson to record his first victory in five fights and four years.

    It remains to be seen when the 45-year-old, who beat the likes of Brock Lesnar, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Tim Sylvia, and Mirko Cro Cop during his prime in the sport, will return to the cage.

  • Dana White Responds To Kash Patel’s Push For UFC-FBI Partnership

    Dana White Responds To Kash Patel’s Push For UFC-FBI Partnership

    Dana White has reacted after newly appointed FBI Director Kash Patel discussed how he is considering making MMA training a mandatory requirement for agents, an initiative that has received support from at least one former agent.

    This idea is part of Patel’s broader agenda, which includes aligning the bureau with the Trump administration’s priorities and enhancing the physical fitness of FBI personnel.

    In addition to the MMA training regimen, Patel is reportedly focused on removing agents who do not align with the administration’s goals. The focus on physical fitness, particularly through MMA, is seen as a way to ensure agents are prepared for the physical demands of their roles.

    Jody Weis, a former FBI special agent in charge and former superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, has publicly backed the idea. He believes it would be a beneficial addition to agent training.

    Patel was in attendance at UFC 313 on Saturday, where he spoke with UFC CEO Dana White about a possible collaboration. White later addressed the conversation, indicating that Patel is serious about the initiative.

    “Well, after he (Patel) said that, my phone blew up,” Dana White said. “You know, everybody wants to be the trainers to the FBI now. … But he’s dead serious about that. I talked to him about it tonight. Yeah, he’s dead serious. So, we’ll see. We’ll see how that starts to come together.”

  • Magomed Ankalaev Baffled By ‘Boring’ Label After UFC 313

    Magomed Ankalaev Baffled By ‘Boring’ Label After UFC 313

    Magomed Ankalaev appears indifferent to the widespread criticism from MMA fans who perceived his recent performance as lackluster.

    Ankalaev claimed the UFC light heavyweight throne this past weekend, narrowly defeating Alex Pereira via unanimous decision in the headlining matchup at UFC 313 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    The fight remained tightly contested from start to finish. “Poatan” set the tone with a sharp opening round, but Ankalaev responded in the second, finding his rhythm and rocking Pereira with a thunderous left hand — arguably the biggest moment of the fight.

    Despite his reputation as the superior wrestler, the Dagestani struggled to secure a takedown, failing on all his attempts. However, he compensated by relentlessly pressing forward, dictating the tempo, and trapping Pereira against the cage for extended stretches in the later stages of the fight.

    Two judges scored the bout 48-47, while the third had it 49-46, all siding with Ankalaev. However, with several rounds feeling razor-close in real-time, many in the MMA community argued that while the newly crowned champ’s approach proved successful against Pereira, it often results in uneventful fights that lack excitement.

    At the UFC 313 post-fight press conference, the newly minted UFC 205-pound champion addressed criticism of his fighting style, expressing confusion over why many label it as boring.

    Instead, he shifted the blame toward “Poatan,” suggesting that the Brazilian’s cautious approach was the real reason for the lack of action.

    “I don’t understand why people think that my fights are boring,” Magomed Ankalaev said. “Everybody thought that Alex Pereira, coming into this fight, was the most exciting striker in the division, and then you saw the way he fought against me. It seems as though when people come out and fight against me, they all become boring. You saw what he did, so it’s not just dependent on me — it also depends on the dance partner, on the opponent that I’m fighting.”

    With his victory over Alex Pereira, Magomed Ankalaev extended his unbeaten streak to 14 fights — the third-longest active run in the UFC. Along the way, he has claimed wins over top contenders like Aleksandar Rakić, Thiago Santos, and Anthony Smith.

  • What’s Next After UFC 313? Current UFC 314 Card For Miami On April 12

    What’s Next After UFC 313? Current UFC 314 Card For Miami On April 12

    UFC 313 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 314 in Miami.

    The promotion was in Las Vegas this past week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its third numbered event of the year. Of note were headline wins for Magomed Ankalaev and Justin Gaethje, as well as important victories for Ignacio Bahamondes, Amanda Lemos, and Mauricio Ruffy.

    While the aftermath of the March 8 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the light heavyweight title picture to the featherweight championship conversation.

    At UFC 314, set for the Kaseya Center on April 12, former champion Alexander will open his account for the new year. Following Ilia Topuria’s decision to vacate the 145-pound gold and move up to lightweight, the Australian will battle the surging Diego Lopes for the belt.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as former three-time Bellator kingpin Michael Chandler looks to defend his spot in the pecking order at 155 pounds and reignite his title ambitions. To do so, the American must become the first to beat Paddy Pimblett inside the UFC Octagon.

    Silva, Prates, Reyes Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 314

    Before Volkanovski, Lopes, Chandler, and Pimblett make the walk, a number of notable names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 314 card.

    That includes charging featherweight Jean Silva. Less than two months on from his latest crushing knockout victory in Seattle, “Lord” will get his first crack at the rankings opposite Bryce Mitchell in Miami.

    Prior to that, another Fighting Nerds product will make the walk in Carlos Prates. He, too, will have the chance to climb a divisional ladder, as he shares the cage with longtime welterweight contender Geoff Neal.

    And opening the UFC 314 main card will be former two-time light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes. Having returned to winning ways with consecutive triumphs, “The Devastator” will look to edge closer to the top five at the expense of Nikita Krylov.

    Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over MMA legend Patrício Pitbull, who is slated to top the prelims in his debut fight versus ex-interim UFC featherweight champ Yair Rodríguez.

    See below for the full UFC 314 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Featherweight Championship: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes
    • Lightweight: Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett
    • Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva
    • Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
    • Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes

    Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Yair Rodríguez vs. Patrício Pitbull
    • Featherweight: Dan Ige vs. Sean Woodson
    • Women’s Strawweight: Yan Xiaonan vs. Virna Jandiroba
    • Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. Chase Hooper

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Darren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa
    • Middleweight: Sedriques Dumas vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
    • Flyweight: Sumudaerji vs. Mitch Raposo
    • Featherweight: Alberto Montes vs. Roberto Romero
    • Middleweight: Tresean Gore vs. Marco Tulio
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Nora Cornolle vs. Hailey Cowan
    Patricio Pitbull Freire
    Image: Bellator MMA
  • Watch Adesanya React To Magomed Ankalaev Nearly KO’ing Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    Watch Adesanya React To Magomed Ankalaev Nearly KO’ing Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    Israel Adesanya, a close observer of UFC 313 due to his storied rivalry-turned-friendship with Alex Pereira, strongly contested the judges’ scoring in “Poatan’s” defeat to Magomed Ankalaev.

    Pereira’s unanimous decision loss to Ankalaev prompted Adesanya to share his reaction on his YouTube channel. His main point of contention was the 49-46 scorecard, which he dismissed as “stupid,” while also expressing his continued passion for the sport.

    Adesanya’s scoring differed significantly from the official verdict by the judges. He believed the fight was tied 1-1 after the first two rounds, then awarded rounds three and five to Pereira, giving him a 3-2 edge overall. This discrepancy underscored his disagreement with the judges’ decision.

    “I had Alex winning, but I’m not sure,” Adesanya said of the Brazilian’s defeat to Magomed Ankalaev. “I’d have to watch it again and score the fight properly. Round two might have played a factor just because he dropped him, but then holding against the fence — I don’t really remember him getting any takedowns.

    “It was a competitive fight, back-and-forth,” Adesanya added. “They’re both going to level up, and I’m sure he’s going to get a rematch. Spin the block.”

    Given the controversial scoring and the close nature of the fight, Israel Adesanya believes an immediate rematch between Pereira and Ankalaev is a strong possibility. He pointed to Pereira’s past willingness to step in on short notice and headline major UFC events, such as UFC 300 and UFC 303, as a factor that could influence the UFC to grant him a second chance.

  • Top UFC Lightweight Appears To Leak Dustin Poirier’s Retirement Fight

    Top UFC Lightweight Appears To Leak Dustin Poirier’s Retirement Fight

    Beneil Dariush has seemingly heard something about Dustin Poirier’s spectacular farewell to his UFC career.

    Poirier, who last fought in a title bout against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302, had been contemplating retirement in the aftermath of his latest setback but recently confirmed his intention to return for one final fight.

    With 40 professional bouts under his belt, Poirier has hinted at a set date and an “incredible” location for his farewell appearance, likely being in his home state of Louisiana.

    However, he has remained secretive about his opponent, revealing only that it will be a “legends only” matchup.

    And the bout Dariush suggested is in the works during a recent appearance on Submission Radio would certainly fit that billing.

    “Right now, my understanding is Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway are going to fight,” Dariush said. “I don’t know if it’s 100 percent sealed and done, but that’s what I am hearing.”

    Holloway, who last fought in October, is looking to rebound from his first career knockout loss against Ilia Topuria. Despite that setback, he remains the reigning BMF champion, a symbolic title he claimed with a stunning knockout victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April 2024.

    In their initial encounter at UFC 143 in January 2012, a young Holloway, making his UFC debut at just 20 years old, faced a tough introduction to the octagon. His more experienced opponent, holding an 11-1 record, quickly secured a submission victory, highlighting the significant experience gap between the two fighters.

  • Alex Pereira Reveals Likely Next Fight In First Statement After UFC 313 Loss

    Alex Pereira Reveals Likely Next Fight In First Statement After UFC 313 Loss

    Alex Pereira has hinted at his plans for the future following a disappointing result at UFC 313 this weekend.

    Pereira, a former middleweight titleholder, saw his championship reign and undefeated run at 205 pounds come to a halt at Saturday’s pay-per-view event inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    Following a 2024 in which he defeated Jamahal Hill, Jiří Procházka, and Khalil Rountree Jr. to record three successful defenses, “Poatan” was next handed the challenge of Magomed Ankalaev.

    It ultimately proved a hurdle too much for “Poatan,” who fell victim to the Dagestani’s well-rounded skillset in their lackluster five-round clash on March 8.

    Though fans aren’t exactly clamoring to see the matchup again giving how it played out at UFC 313, Pereira suggested during a video uploaded to his social media accounts that a rematch is likely next.

    “Gonna make some adjustments for the rematch, and I’ll be back much better, you can count on it,” Alex Pereira said. “Never give up on your dreams. Chama.”

    That sentiment appears to also be shared by the higher-ups, with UFC CEO Dana White confirming during his post-fight press conference that a second dance between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira is “probably” next.

  • Watch Fired-Up Belal Muhammad’s Corner Reaction To Ignacio Bahamondes Win At UFC 313

    Watch Fired-Up Belal Muhammad’s Corner Reaction To Ignacio Bahamondes Win At UFC 313

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad was an animated figure in the corner of Ignacio Bahamondes this weekend.

    Bahamondes was among those tasked with setting the stage for Saturday’s championship headliner at UFC 313, and the highly touted lightweight prospect emerged as one of the event’s top performers.

    “La Jaula” made the most of his opportunity to break into the rankings, submitting the once fast-rising Jalin Turner with a shock triangle choke in the very first round.

    Talking the Chilean 27-year-old through the action cageside was a notable teammate of his in Belal Muhammad. And the UFC posted footage of the champ’s ecstatic reaction as his man forced a tap from “The Tarantula.”

    “Let’s go! Best in the world, I told you guys,” Muhammad said to the camera. “He can strike and he can grapple, he does it all!”

    Turned revealed his intentions to retire in the aftermath of Saturday’s bout, admitting he’d been pondering the decision since his setback to Renato Moicano at UFC 300 last April.

    Bahamondes will likely inherit his #13 position in the lightweight rankings, having moved to a three-fight winning streak with his triumph at UFC 313.

  • Justin Gaethje’s Hopes For Another Title Shot Get A Big Boost After UFC 313

    Justin Gaethje’s Hopes For Another Title Shot Get A Big Boost After UFC 313

    It would seem that Justin Gaethje has the higher-ups on board when it comes to his desire to challenge for the UFC lightweight title again.

    Gaethje secured a huge result in the context of his ongoing ambitions on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this weekend, when the promotion staged its latest pay-per-view event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    “The Highlight” co-headlined UFC 313 in a rematch with Rafael Fiziev, who stepped up on short notice to replace the injured Dan Hooker.

    While the Azerbaijani performed admirably across three rounds of brutal back-and-forth action, it wasn’t enough to exact revenge on Gaethje, who once again added Fiziev’s name to his record’s win column by way of decision.

    The win marked a rebound for the American 11 months on from a devastating knockout loss to Max Holloway. Beforehand, “The Highlight” was in the conversation for a title shot after sleeping Dustin Poirier, and he now hopes to be back in that discussion.

    During his post-fight press conference, Dana White reacted to Gaethje announcing his continued push toward Islam Makhachev’s gold at the age of 36. The UFC CEO’s remarks made for good listening for the ex-interim champ.

    “I mean, what’s he ranked right now? Fourth or something, right? Third?” White said. “There you go. He’s still the number three-ranked guy in the world. So the odds of him getting a title shot are pretty good.”

    Justin Gaethje has previously fallen short of the undisputed throne on two occasions, with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira submitting him in 2020 and 2022, respectively.

  • Jiří Procházka Congratulates Magomed Ankalaev On UFC 313, Gets Called ‘Terrible Fighter’ In Return

    Jiří Procházka Congratulates Magomed Ankalaev On UFC 313, Gets Called ‘Terrible Fighter’ In Return

    If Jiří Procházka was anticipating a respectful interaction with new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Magomed Ankalaev, he was sorely mistaken.

    Procházka, a former titleholder himself, watched on this weekend as his ex-opponent Alex Pereira returned to the cage at UFC 313 in Las Vegas for his fourth defense of the 205-pound title.

    After wins over Jamahal Hill, Procházka, and Khalil Rountree Jr. in 2024 grew his stardom, “Poatan” was looking to emerge victorious from his toughest test in the division to date — a clash with the well-rounded Ankalaev.

    But the Russian challenger upset the Brazilian and his sizable fanbase with an impressive performance across five rounds to wrest the gold away via unanimous decision.

    Amid a mix of praise for the triumph and criticism for the manner of victory, another of the division’s top names in Procházka appeared on social media to give a congratulatory take on Ankalaev’s display.

    “Congrats to @AnkalaevM, beautiful pressure. Most of people dont like it, but you won the title for now,” Procházka wrote on X, before turning his attention to Pereira. “@AlexPereiraUFC, last dance?”

    While, to most, that reads as the Czech star even defending Magomed Ankalaev against the backlash his fight style continues to receive, the light heavyweight kingpin evidently doesn’t care for such praise from a rival…

    “I think you are a fraud and so many guys deserve it more than you you need to go win some fights,” Magomed Ankalaev responded.

    And after the ESPN MMA account reposted Procházka’s post, Ankalaev was once again close by with a puzzling insult to the Czech fan favorite.

    “This guy is a terrible fighter”

    It’s unclear exactly what “BJP” did to upset the newly crowned champ. He did predict defeat for the Russian if he attempted to strike with Pereira, so perhaps Magomed Ankalaev is one to hold a grudge over such remarks.

  • Alex Pereira Addresses ‘Boring Style’ That Led To UFC 313 Loss

    Alex Pereira Addresses ‘Boring Style’ That Led To UFC 313 Loss

    Alex Pereira’s post-fight demeanor at UFC 313 reflected his disappointment after losing the light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev in a five-round decision.

    Known for his knockout power and exciting fights, Pereira struggled to find his rhythm against Ankalaev’s pressure. 

    “Poatan’s” offensive output was limited in the fight. Aside from his last-round surge, there were few notable moments for him. The most significant strike of the night came from Ankalaev — a powerful left hook in the second round that visibly hurt Pereira.

    Ankalaev’s constant forward pressure and prolonged cage control during the championship rounds further compounded the Brazilian’s struggles. Ultimately, the judges awarded Ankalaev a unanimous decision victory with scores of 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47, crowning him the new UFC light heavyweight champion.

    “I knew it would be a war,” Alex Pereira said during his post-fight interview. “Every fight of mine is a war. He put some pressure in the second round. I felt some of his strikes, but putting me up against the cage, he didn’t really do anything. We followed our strategy. We know that he puts people against the fence, and he plays that game.

    “Giving him the win with a game plan like that kind of incentivizes people to do that,” he continued. “People might say it’s a boring style, but when a guy gets a win doing that, it kind of makes people want to do that, too. I hurt him against the fence — the only difference is I was the one against the fence.”

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: New Fights For Rosas Jr., Cutelaba, And More

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards.

    With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, March 3, and Sunday, March 9, a small number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources.

    For those matchups, check out the list below:

  • Justin Gaethje Says One Matchup Definitely Off The Table After UFC 313 Win

    Justin Gaethje Says One Matchup Definitely Off The Table After UFC 313 Win

    Despite his past title failures, Justin Gaethje remains determined to capture the UFC lightweight championship.

    His recent victory over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 has reignited his hopes of reclaiming the title, currently held by Islam Makhachev.

    Gaethje, bouncing back from a knockout loss to Max Holloway, expressed his interest in facing the Dagestani post-fight. While he acknowledges that his second win over Fiziev may not guarantee him a title shot next, “The Highlight” recognizes its positive impact on his position in the division.

    His recent record showcases a strong run, with three wins in his last four fights, including decision victories over Fiziev and a knockout of Dustin Poirier that earned him the BMF title. His only loss in that span came against Holloway at UFC 300.

    “I want to fight for the belt, obviously,” Justin Gaethje said at the UFC 313 post-fight press conference. “That’s a much different matchup than the one I just had. They tried to give me a doughnut. I took a bite, but I’ve got to get back to running if I’m going to fight Makhachev.”

    Following his UFC 313 victory, Gaethje is weighing his options for his next fight. One potential matchup is off the table: a third bout against Poirier.

    “No, I’ve stated many times that I don’t think either one of our families deserves that,” Gaethje said. “We’re 1-1. I’m OK with it. If he’s OK with it, then no. I think we’re contenders, but we need to beat other people. If I beat him, I don’t think either one of us would be considered a contender.”

  • Magomed Ankalaev: Alex Pereira Was ‘Running For 20 Minutes’ In UFC 313 Title Fight

    Magomed Ankalaev: Alex Pereira Was ‘Running For 20 Minutes’ In UFC 313 Title Fight

    Magomed Ankalaev has addressed criticism surrounding the perceived lack of excitement in his UFC 313 main event victory over Alex Pereira, placing the blame on his opponent.

    Ankalaev’s unanimous decision win, which secured him the UFC light heavyweight championship, was notably less explosive than Pereira’s previous title fights, drawing criticism from both fans and fellow fighters.

    During the post-fight press conference, the Dagestani defended his strategic approach, arguing that Pereira’s reluctance to engage was the primary reason for the fight’s subdued nature. The judges scored the closely contested bout 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 in Ankalaev’s favor. However, some people thought otherwise.

    Despite the close scores and differing opinions, the new champ remained firm that the outcome was never in doubt while speaking at the post-fight press conference. He maintained that Pereira’s hesitancy to engage was the reason for the fight’s lack of action, and therefore, the criticism was unwarranted.

    “It was very different from what we envisioned because, as you know, usually Pereira hunts for the finish,” Magomed Ankalaev said via a Russian translator. “He moves forward, he tries to hunt down his opponents for the finish. Here, it was very different, as you can see. He was running away from me, he wasn’t letting me work, and he himself wasn’t really working much, so you saw the way it played out.

    “I was confident. I kept on moving forward, I kept pressuring him, and he kept running away from me. For 20 minutes, this guy was running away from me. Then I heard at the end of the fight he was saying that he wasn’t sure why the victory was given to me. Who’s supposed to be given the victory? I’ve been pressuring him the entire time, he was running for 20 minutes, and then he’s wondering who’s supposed to get the victory? Listen, I’m happy for a rematch if he wants one. But maybe in the rematch, he can fight for real and not just run away the entire time.”

  • ‘Dana Not Happy’ – Pros React As Magomed Ankalaev Dethrones Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    ‘Dana Not Happy’ – Pros React As Magomed Ankalaev Dethrones Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    The light heavyweight division has been given a major shake-up courtesy of Magomed Ankalaev.

    In upset fashion, Ankalaev’s grappling proved to be too much for “Poatan,” as the Dagestani defeated Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 313 to become the new UFC light heavyweight champion.

    Pereira focused on leg kicks to start the fight, while Ankalaev looked to find a way inside. The challenger tried to increase his output and pressure past the halfway point of the first round, but Pereira continued to work the legs, chewing up Ankalaev’s right leg.

    Ankalaev looked to pressure and take control right away in the second. And while Pereira continued to bother him with leg kicks, it worked in the Russian’s favor. The challenger found success with short strikes on the inside, including a powerful one that rocked Pereira moments before the end of the second round.

    Ankalaev continued his advancement in a quiet third round, and though he couldn’t score a takedown, he continued to find success. The fourth was quiet as well, with the challenger overwhelming the defending champion against the fence a number of times, completely dominating him with grappling control.

    The Dagestani then took this strategy into the fifth round, battling a last-ditch effort from Pereira, before the judges all gave the fight and title to him, with a 49-46 scorecard and two 48-47s.

    Magomed Ankalaev Captures UFC Light Heavyweight Title With Decision Over Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    Magomed Ankalaev continues to remain unbeaten since dropping his 2018 UFC debut. He’s now won three straight.

    The Russian had battled Jan Blachowicz to a controversial split draw at UFC 282 in December 2022 — a fight that Blachowicz stated he thought Ankalaev deserved the nod and title in.

    Meanwhile, Pereira’s reign comes to an end after winning the title with a finish of Jiří Procházka at UFC 295. He defended the belt three times last year against Jamahal Hill, Procházka, and Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 300, UFC 303, and UFC 307, respectively.

  • UFC 313 Results & Highlights: Magomed Ankalaev Decisions Alex Pereira

    UFC 313 Results & Highlights: Magomed Ankalaev Decisions Alex Pereira

    UFC 313 took place tonight from the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, Alex Pereira put his light heavyweight title on the line against Magomed Ankalaev. While in the co-main event, Justin Gaethje faced Rafael Fiziev in a lightweight matchup. 

    UFC 313 Results: Main Card

    • Light Heavyweight Championship: Magomed Ankalaev def. Alex Pereira via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47×2)
    • Lightweight: Justin Gaethje def. Rafael Fiziev via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Lightweight: Ignacio Bahamondes def. Jalin Turner via submission: R1, 2.29
    • Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Lemos def. Iasmin Lucindo via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Lightweight: Mauricio Ruffy def. King Green via KO: R1, 2.07

     
    Preliminary Card

    • Flyweight: Joshua Van def. Rei Tsuruya via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Middleweight: Brunno Ferreira def. Armen Petrosyan via submission: R2, 4.27
    • Welterweight: Carlos Leal def. Alex Morono via TKO: R1, 4.16

     
    Early Preliminary Card

    • Featherweight: Mairon Santos def. Francis Marshall via split decision (29-28×3, 27-30) 

    Middleweight: Ozzy Diaz def. Djorden Santos via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Carlos Leal def. Alex Morono

    Carlos Leal earned a first-round TKO of Alex Morono in their welterweight clash.

    Brunno Ferreira def. Armen Petrosyan

    Brunno Ferreira submitted Armen Petrosyan at the end of the second round of their middleweight bout.

    Main Card Highlights

    Mauricio Ruffy def. King Green

    In this lightweight bout, Mauricio Ruffy knocked out King Green in the first round.

    Amanda Lemos def. Iasmin Lucindo

    Amanda Lemos got it done on the scorecards against Iasmin Lucindo.

    Ignacio Bahamondes def. Jalin Turner

    Ignacio Bahamondes earned a first-round triangle choke submission of Jalin Turner in their lightweight bout.

    Justin Gaethje def. Rafael Fiziev

    In the co-main event, Justin Gaethje earned a unanimous decision win against Rafael Fiziev.

    Magomed Ankalaev def. Alex Pereira

    In the main event, Magomed Ankalaev won the light heavyweight title with a unanimous decision win over Alex Pereira.

  • ‘Makhachev vs Gaethje’ – Pros React As Justin Gaethje Wins First Fight Since Holloway KO At UFC 313

    ‘Makhachev vs Gaethje’ – Pros React As Justin Gaethje Wins First Fight Since Holloway KO At UFC 313

    In a rematch that proved to be as entertaining as their first fight at UFC 286 two years ago, Justin Gaethje once again was able to edge out Rafael Fiziev on the scorecards, coming out on top in the co-main event of UFC 313.

    Fiziev pulled off a sudden takedown in the opening minute. Gaethje was able to explode out of it, but Fiziev landed a knee and got the fight back to the ground, where he troubled “The Highlight” briefly with an inverted triangle. Gaethje worked his way back into the round, but “Ataman” landed more and did a strong job working over his opponent’s body.

    Gaethje got back into the fight with more solid output and significant strikes in the second round. This was solidified with about a minute left in the round, dodging a Fiziev punch and throwing a left hand around the Azerbaijani’s head before dropping him with a right uppercut. The former interim champion did some more damage on the ground before the round’s end.

    The third round was back-and-forth, with Fiziev taking control early. “Ataman” got back to working the body in the round, landing a series of kicks to Gaethje’s torso. The American ate a bunch early in the frame, but he landed an uppercut and took the fight to the fence briefly. Gaethje took advantage of a gassed Fiziev and landed a series of hard strikes before the fight’s conclusion.

    Ultimately, “The Highlight’s” forward pressure and significant strikes in the third were enough for the judges, with all three giving him 29-28 scores for the nod.

    Justin Gaethje Edges Out Rafael Fiziev Once Again At UFC 313

    Justin Gaethje has now scored three wins in his last four fights and rebounds from being the highlight-reel KO victim of Max Holloway, to whom he lost the BMF title at UFC 300.

    Meanwhile, this was Rafael Fiziev’s first fight since tearing his ACL in late 2023. He took this fight on short notice following an injury to Gaethje’s originally scheduled opponent, Dan Hooker.

  • Jalin Turner Retires At 29 After Shock Submission Loss At UFC 313

    Jalin Turner Retires At 29 After Shock Submission Loss At UFC 313

    Ignacio Bahamondes pulled off a shock in what was expected to be a strikers’ battle, as he scored a first-round submission of Jalin Turner at UFC 313.

    Turner then pulled off an even bigger shock when, despite pleas from his corner, he elected to retire from mixed martial arts two months before his 30th birthday.

    Commentary first mentioned Turner’s retirement following Bahamondes’ post-fight interview, with reporter John Morgan quickly confirming the decision. Another journalist, Mike Bohn, later provided video of Turner’s remarks to press row.

    Ignacio Bahamondes Scores First-Round Submission Of Retiring Jalin Turner

    Bahamondes and Turner exchanged strikes early before Turner secured a takedown. Bahamondes, however, battled hard from his back on the bottom. He looked to reverse the position but settled for a triangle choke, which got him the submission.

    Turner seemingly ends his career with four losses in his last five fights. His sole win since 2022 was a first-round knockout of King Green in December 2023.

    Bahamondes, meanwhile, has now won three straight and is 6-2 since arriving to the Octagon.

    https://twitter.com/mmaclipz2025/status/1898590989167759434
  • Robbie Lawler To Enter UFC Hall Of Fame ‘Modern Wing’ In 2025

    Robbie Lawler To Enter UFC Hall Of Fame ‘Modern Wing’ In 2025

    A longtime MMA veteran whose active career spanned over 20 years, “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler will be honored for all of his memories in the sport with a solo spot in the UFC Hall of Fame.

    Lawler was announced at UFC 313 as the latest member of the organization’s Hall of Fame Class of 2025 as a member of the “Modern Wing.”

    Robbie Lawler The Latest Entrant Of The UFC Hall of Fame Class Of 2025

    Robbie Lawler’s time in the sport began when he was just 16 years old, taken under the wing of Pat Miletich. At 19, he made his professional MMA debut, finishing John Reed in April 2001. Lawler scored first-round knockouts in his first four professional fights in that year before scoring a UFC contract.

    “Ruthless” made his UFC debut at UFC 37, defeating Aaron Riley via decision. He went 4-3 between 2002 and 2004 while with the UFC, which included a memorable bout with Nick Diaz at UFC 47 that Lawler lost via second-round KO.

    Lawler would go on to develop his craft and gain experience competing in various promotions over the next decade, including EliteXC and Strikeforce. The American defeated Murilo Rua in September 2007 to become EliteXC middleweight champion. He’d retain the title in a pair of bouts against Scott Smith.

    Lawler also challenged Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza for the Strikeforce middleweight title in January 2011 but would end up getting submitted.

    “Ruthlss” returned to the UFC after it folded Strikeforce, winning three straight before fighting Johny Hendricks for the then-vacant UFC welterweight title at UFC 171. While Lawler lost the fight, he’d go on to defeat him in a rematch at UFC 181 to become champion.

    Lawler then went on to retain the title in two of the most memorable battles in history, defeating Rory MacDonald at UFC 189 and Carlos Condit at UFC 195, before dropping the gold to Tyron Woodley at UFC 201. Lawler vs. MacDonald was inducted into the Fight Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame in 2023.

    That same weekend, Lawler had one of the most memorable sendoffs in his retirement fight at UFC 290, scoring a first-round knockout of Niko Price.

    Lawler joins longtime UFC producer Craig Piligian and the UFC 236 clash between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum as part of the UFC Hall of Fame’s 2025 class.

  • VIDEO: Mauricio Ruffy Faceplants King Green With Devastating Wheel Kick At UFC 313

    VIDEO: Mauricio Ruffy Faceplants King Green With Devastating Wheel Kick At UFC 313

    The Fighting Nerds continue to do amazing things in the Octagon, with Mauricio Ruffy opening up the UFC 313 pay-per-view main card in style courtesy of a highlight, first-round knockout of King Green.

    Green started the fight on the back foot as he tried to strategize against Ruffy, but that led to “One Shot” hitting him with a hook that left its mark.

    About a minute later, the Brazilian put the veteran away in brutal fashion, landing a spinning head kick that faceplanted Green.

    Mauricio Ruffy Lands Heavy Wheel Kick To KO King Green At UFC 313

    https://twitter.com/mmaclipz2025/status/1898575699029725627

    Ruffy is now 3-0 in the Octagon after winning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in late 2023. He previously scored victories over Jamie Mullarkey and James Llontop at UFC 301 and UFC 309, respectively.

    Green, meanwhile, is now 1-3 in his last four fights but is 3-3 in his most recent six. Last year saw Green defeat Jim Miller but fall short against Paddy Pimblett.

  • American Top Team Speak Out After Their Fighter Gets ‘Screwed’ With UFC 313 Decision

    American Top Team Speak Out After Their Fighter Gets ‘Screwed’ With UFC 313 Decision

    The gym where featherweight fighter Francis Marshall trains has joined many in calling out his controversial decision loss at UFC 313.

    Marshall was among those making the walk early at Saturday’s pay-per-view event inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. On the undercard of Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev’s light heavyweight title fight, the American prospect faced Mairon Santos.

    “Fire” entered the cage at UFC 313 as an underdog against the Brazilian, who was highly touted and riding the wave from success on last year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter.

    In spite of the odds, Marshall fought admirably, dropping Santos in the first round and enjoying success across the remaining two frames. But although that netted him one 30-27 scorecard, experienced judges Chris Lee and David Lethaby saw the contest 29-28 in favor of his opponent.

    The split decision verdict caused immediate uproar on social media, with many fighters, analysts, and fans branding it a “robbery” and the “worst decision of the past 10 years.”

    Marshall and his team will evidently be feeling hard done by after the result at UFC 313, evidenced by a recent post on the X account of American Top Team, the renowned Florida gym out of which “Fire” trains.

    “A real shame when a fighter trains his ass off and clearly wins, only to get screwed.”

    Marshall, 26, is now 8-3 in professional MMA. Since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series as an undefeated fighter, he’s gone 2-3 in the UFC. Of the defeats, two have come via split decision.

  • Watch ‘The Hulk’ Absorb Two Low Blows, Answer Back With Nasty Armbar At UFC 313

    Watch ‘The Hulk’ Absorb Two Low Blows, Answer Back With Nasty Armbar At UFC 313

    Middleweight prospect Brunno “The Hulk” Ferreira was one of the standout performers during UFC 313’s preliminary card, overcoming some painful adversity to submit Armen Petrosyan in style.

    Ferreira and Petrosyan were among those tasked with setting the stage for some notable names at tonight’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas, which will culminate in a light heavyweight championship clash between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev.

    The Brazilian certainly did his best to build momentum heading toward the main card, but his victory didn’t come easy.

    That was due to a difficult first round at UFC 313 that saw “The Hulk” eat back-to-back low blows within seconds. The consecutive fouls resulted in Mark Smith taking a point from Petrosyan.

    Ultimately, that scorecard blemish wasn’t allowed to play a part in proceedings, as Ferreira closed the show in round two with a brutal-looking armbar that drew a quick tap from Petrosyan.

    Brunno Ferreira Punishes Armen Petrosyan’s Low Blows With Brutal Armbar At UFC 313

    The result at UFC 313 moved Ferreira to 12-2 as a professional and marked a rebound from his defeat to Abus Magomedov last October. The Brazilian is now 4-2 across his six outings in the Octagon.

    Petrosyan, meanwhile, remains winless across his past three. The Armenian has been submitted by both Rodolfo Vieira and Ferreira, results that sandwich a vicious double spinning backfist knockout to Shara Magomedov in 2024.