MMA News

Category: MMA

  • 11-Fight UFC Veteran Gets Honest While Announcing His Release: ‘I Don’t Deserve To Be There’

    The always entertaining Matthew Semelsberger will no longer be plying his trade under the UFC banner.

    Semelsberger debuted for the mixed martial arts leader in 2020 after a knockout under the Art of War Cage Fighting banner moved him to 6-2 as a professional.

    “Semi the Jedi” went on to compete 11 times inside the Octagon, going 5-6. The 32-year-old delivered plenty of highlights, including thunderous knockouts of Jason Witt and Martin Sano Jr. that both came in under 20 seconds.

    He’s struggled in recent years, though, having not had his hand raised since 2022. And four defeats on the bounce was all she wrote for Semelsberger’s time in the UFC, as he revealed in an Instagram post on Sunday.

    Giving an honest assessment of his most recent years in the Octagon, “Semi the Jedi” admitted that he no longer deserves a place on the UFC roster.

    “Officially released from the UFC. Par for the course, I don’t deserve to be there with the best of the best and ive shown that these last few fights in particular,” Semelsberger wrote. “Everyone hits plateaus & filters in life and in their careers. It’s happened many times in my life and I’ve tasted the pain of both discipline and regret in succeeding or failing to climb levels. The whole you either die a hero or live to become the enemy rings true to me because life is a serious of metaphorical deaths and rebirths.

    “You can’t stay the same, you gotta grow and let go of your old self to evolve a stronger heart and spirit. Letting go has been difficult for me the last few years but ya know I’ve found that eventually, often late, God gets the truth through to me and I respond accordingly. Everything that’s happening is setting me up for greatness, I got faith on that. It is up to me to answer the call to adventure though. So I’ll BRB, gonna go die and be reborn from the ashes right quick.. Really think you’ll like the new guy 😉”

    It remains to be seen what will come next in MMA for Semelsberger, whose last outing saw him knocked out by Charles Radtke at UFC Vegas 100.

    But at the age of just 32, it would stand to reason that the Maryland native still has plenty of entertainment to give fans inside the cage.

  • Israel Adesanya’s Coach Breaks Down KO Loss To Nassourdine Imavov

    Israel Adesanya’s Coach Breaks Down KO Loss To Nassourdine Imavov

    Israel Adesanya’s striking coach has pinpointed the crucial mistake that cost him his fight against Nassourdine Imavov.

    “The Last Stylebender” found himself overwhelmed by Imavov’s relentless assault, ultimately succumbing to a knockout loss in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia last Saturday at anb Arena in Riyadh.

    The momentum shifted early in the second round when Adesanya protested an eye poke but chose not to take a timeout. Before he could properly reset, Imavov capitalized, landing a devastating right hand. Seconds later, a barrage of ground-and-pound forced the referee to step in and stop the fight.

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Adesanya’s striking coach, Mike Angove, praised Imavov for executing a thoughtful game plan and capitalizing on the moment to claim the victory.

    He also highlighted that the former UFC middleweight champion’s decision to forgo the timeout after the eye poke prevented him from resetting, which eventually led to the knockout.

    “The name of the game, particularly in small gloves: You can’t make mistakes,” Angove said. “We made a mistake. Nassourdine, I would say, with his team, recognized when we made that mistake and they jumped on it – which means they have to have planned. So you’ve got to congratulate them for that. Izzy got poked in the eye. There was a break. Izzy didn’t want to take the break – was just keen on getting on with it. But in doing that, he didn’t reset as you normally would and create some space.

    “That means you’re still in the firing zone, and then you want him to keep the pressure on. It’s just one of those things. It just happens. He felt he was doing well in the fight and wanted to keep that pressure on, and Nassourdine caught him switching – beautiful right hand that resonated around the stadium and he couldn’t recover from that. It was right on the button, and then he followed up with a left hook against the cage and the referee came and stopped it.”

    Adesanya’s reign as the 185-pound champion came to an end when he lost to Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in September 2023. He then suffered another setback in his attempt to regain the title, falling short against the reigning champion, Dricus Du Plessis, at UFC 305 this past August

  • VIDEO: UFC’s Conor McGregor Spits In Face Of Fan Who Remarked ‘Let’s Go Khabib’

    VIDEO: UFC’s Conor McGregor Spits In Face Of Fan Who Remarked ‘Let’s Go Khabib’

    It seems that not a day goes past without a new controversy surrounding former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor.

    Following years of questionable antics and run-ins with the law, the Irishman was back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons last year after he was found liable for assault in a civil court case stemming from a rape accusation.

    More recently, McGregor’s latest tirade against longtime rival and ex-opponent Khabib Nurmagomedov drew backlash due to his use of racial slurs. The social media post marked one of many verbal attacks on the Dagestani, who submitted him to retain the lightweight title at UFC 229 in 2018.

    While it’s long been clear that McGregor isn’t over his feud with Khabib and his team, if anyone doubted that, footage showing what happens at the mere mention of “The Eagle’s” name in his presence should prove as much.

    A video emerged this week showing an individual shouting, “Let’s go Khabib,” at McGregor, who was attending some sort of function. The Dubliner can be seen turning around and approaching the man, before shockingly spitting in his face.

    “I spit in your face, what’d you do? Nothing,” the UFC star says to the individual in the clip, which was originally posted to TikTok by @jgomez9.

    Neither McGregor nor his representatives have commented on the footage as of writing.

  • UFC 312 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2, Zhang vs. Suarez, & More

    UFC 312 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2, Zhang vs. Suarez, & More

    UFC 312 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis, who is tasked with getting the better of a familiar foe in Sean Strickland if he’s to record a second successful title defense.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see another champ in action as Zhang Weili returns to defend her strawweight gold for the third time since reclaiming the belt in 2022. To ensure her reign continues, “Magnum” must stall the title ambitions of undefeated challenger Tatiana Suarez.

    Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of heavyweight Justin Tafa, featherweight Jack Jenkins, and bantamweight Aleksandre Topuria, brother of UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria.

    UFC 312: Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 312 (as of 2/3), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Dricus Du Plessis (-198) vs. Sean Strickland (+164)
    • Zhang Weili (+102) vs. Tatiana Suarez (-122)
    • Justin Tafa (+120) vs. Tallison Teixeira (-142)
    • Jimmy Crute (+136) vs. Rodolfo Bellato (-162)
    • Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado

    Preliminary Card:

    • Jack Jenkins (+185) vs. Gabriel Santos (-225)
    • Tom Nolan (+120) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (-142)
    • Wang Cong (-485) vs. Bruna Brasil (+370)
    • Colby Thicknesse (+330) vs. Aleksandre Topuria (-425)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Rongzhu (+200) vs. Kody Steele (-245)
    • Kevin Jousset (-245) vs. Jonathan Micallef (+200)
    • Quillan Salkilld (-550) vs. Anshul Jubli (+410)
    • HyunSung Park (-218) vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (+180)
  • UFC Middleweight Shuts Down Future Bout With Shara Magomedov After MVP Loss: ‘Don’t Want To Fight A Bad Fighter!’

    UFC Middleweight Shuts Down Future Bout With Shara Magomedov After MVP Loss: ‘Don’t Want To Fight A Bad Fighter!’

    Shara Magomedov’s stock has seemingly taken a considerable hit courtesy of his first professional defeat in mixed martial arts this past weekend.

    After a perfect 4-0 start to life on MMA’s biggest stage and a spinning backfist knockout last October that was among the best finishes of 2024, Magomedov hoped to continue that momentum into his first assignment of 2025.

    “Bullet” co-headlined this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia against welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page. The Dagestani was unable to find success on the feet against the unique game of “MVP,” ultimately falling to a convincing decision defeat.

    In the aftermath, Magomedov put the result down to a “nightmarish health condition” that he claimed put the bout at risk during the lead-up to the event in Riyadh on Feb. 1. But that hasn’t prevented a sizable hit to his reputation. And that includes among fellow fighters.

    After the Full Violence account on Instagram pitched Magomedov vs. Michel Pereira as a potential next fight for “Bullet,” the Brazilian quickly appeared in the comments to shut that down.

    Michel Pereira

    “(thumbs down) I don’t want to fight a bad fighter!”

    Pereira himself is also booked for his first outing of the new year. Following a crushing defeat to Anthony Hernandez last October, “Demolidor” is set to return against Abus Magomedov at the UFC Fight Night in Kansas City on April 26.

  • Dricus Du Plessis On Why He’s UFC Champion: I Am ‘Willing To Kill A Man In Front Of His Family’

    Dricus Du Plessis On Why He’s UFC Champion: I Am ‘Willing To Kill A Man In Front Of His Family’

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis recently shared a brutally intense perspective on fighting, taking the idea of giving it all for victory to another level.

    In an interview with Mark Bouris, Du Plessis revealed his ruthless in-cage mentality:

    “When I go in there, if the ref doesn’t stop it, I’m not stopping. I can be sitting on you for 10 minutes bashing your face, and if the ref doesn’t say stop, I’m not stopping.”

    He then posed a chilling question.

    “Am I still willing to die? Absolutely. That’s easy. It is, are you willing to kill a man in front of his family? Yes, I am, and that’s why I’m the world champion, because I say yes to that question every single time.”

    Despite his stark words, the South African emphasized the distinction between his fighting persona, Dricus “Stillknocks” Du Plessis, and his everyday self.

    Up next, the champ faces Sean Strickland in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 312 on February 8. Their previous bout at UFC 297 ended in a razor-thin split decision victory for Du Plessis, leaving both fighters eager to settle the score.

    With both competitors vocal about their intentions, this showdown promises to be a must-watch for MMA fans.

  • Colby Covington Joins Chael Sonnen’s Coaching Team For TUF Series vs. Daniel Cormier

    Colby Covington Joins Chael Sonnen’s Coaching Team For TUF Series vs. Daniel Cormier

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington will be returning the favor after having Chael Sonnen in his corner late last year in Tampa.

    During the UFC 311 pay-per-view broadcast last month, the promotion announced the coaching lineup for its upcoming 33rd edition of The Ultimate Fighter reality series.

    While the show traditionally pitches active fighters against each other as they coach teams before doing battle themselves inside the cage, this year will see two former competitors and current podcast co-hosts lead the rosters.

    Ex-title challenger Sonnen and former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier will take a break from discussing the world of MMA on ESPN’s Good Guy/Bad Guy show to go head-to-head as TUF coaches.

    And in a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Sonnen became the first to divulge which prominent names he’s adding to his coaching team for the season, including Covington.

    “The head coach will be Clayton Hires,” Sonnen said. “Clayton Hires is my coach, he’s my mentor. He is not my assistant ever. He will be the boss. I will have on the jersey: ‘Clayton’s Team.’ It will consist of me, it will consist of ‘Cowboy’ Steve. He’s going to do what generally Mike Dolce would do in terms of helping these guys with their weight, their nutrition, their strength and conditioning.

    “I would never do an Ultimate Fighter (series) without bringing the greatest grappler, Vinny Magalhaes. The last man to beat Gordon Ryan I might add, and he beat Gordon easily. That’s just the truth,” Sonnen continued. “And Colby Covington. Colby is going to to come in.”

    Sonnen was notably in Covington’s corner for his unsuccessful UFC Fight Night main event opposite Joaquin Buckley last December. “Chaos” lost by way of doctor’s stoppage after sustaining damage that “The Bad Guy” admitted left him pondering throwing in the towel.

    Season 33 of TUF is set to air every Tuesday on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ from May 27, 2025.

  • Tatiana Suarez Says Title Fight Against Zhang Weili Is The ‘Real’ UFC 312 Main Event

    Tatiana Suarez is set to challenge Zhang Weili for the UFC women’s strawweight championship on February 8 at UFC 312. A middleweight title rematch between Dricus du Plessis and former champ Sean Strickland will headline the event.

    For Suarez, however, her fight feels like the true main event of the night. She believes the matchup will deliver non-stop action, making it one of the most exciting bouts on the card.

    “I think it’s going to be fireworks. I think we’re both go-getters. She doesn’t stand around. I don’t stand around. So it doesn’t make for a boring fight, I don’t think at all,” Suarez said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “I think we’re both going after it. We both want to win. We both work really, really hard. I think it makes for a good co-main event. I think it’s the real main event, but we’re not big dudes, so we didn’t get the main event slot.”

    Despite not being in the headlining position, Suarez remains focused on the task at hand.

    “I don’t care. We could be the first fight,” she continued. “Obviously, that would never happen because we’re a title fight, but you know what I mean. I think this makes for a great fight. It’s going to be amazing. I’m going to go out there and win the world title in a dominant fashion.”

  • VIDEO: UFC 312 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 & Zhang vs. Suarez

    VIDEO: UFC 312 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 & Zhang vs. Suarez

    Fight week for the UFC 312 pay-per-view this Saturday has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode.

    Under the spotlight in this edition is the headline rematch between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland and the co-main event between Zhang Weili and Tatiana Suarez.

    Saturday’s UFC 312 lineup is topped by a championship clash, with middleweight kingpin Du Plessis (22-2) looking to add a second successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a narrow victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024.

    If the South African is to continue his rule atop the 185-pound mountain, he must stall the title ambitions of a familiar foe in Strickland (29-6). Since having his championship reign quickly ended by “Stillknocks,” the polarizing American has recorded a sole win over Paulo Costa to earn a shot at redemption.

    Before those two run it back in the main event at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, another UFC title will be at stake.

    The strawweight gold will be contested by current champ Zhang (25-3) and undefeated contender Suarez (10-0). While “Magnum” will return 10 months on from the second defense of her sophomore title reign opposite Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300, the Californian challenger is set to make the walk for the first time since a statement-making victory over ex-champ Jéssica Andrade in August 2023.

    Ahead of those two contests in Australia, fans can catch previews in the full episode of UFC 312 Countdown on the promotion’s official YouTube channel.

    UFC 312 Countdown: Full Episode

  • Nassourdine Imavov Clear On What Awaits Him After ‘Cleaning Out’ UFC Middleweight Division: ‘Next Is The Belt’

    Nassourdine Imavov Clear On What Awaits Him After ‘Cleaning Out’ UFC Middleweight Division: ‘Next Is The Belt’

    UFC middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov has no doubt that a first championship opportunity should be in his immediate future following Saturday’s result.

    Imavov emerged as the biggest winner from the MMA leader’s second visit to Saudi Arabia. The Frenchman headlined the UFC Fight Night card opposite his most prominent opponent to date, former two-time champion Israel Adesanya.

    While “The Last Stylebender” started well in his pursuit of a first win since 2023 and a rebound result after consecutive losses, Imavov turned the tables with one clean right hand seconds into round two. The shot, which badly wobbled Adesanya, ultimately set up the TKO finish.

    With the win, “The Sniper” has now won four straight since a no contest against Chris Curtis. He still has five names inside the middleweight top 10 to add to his record’s win column, but the Frenchman believes he’s now ‘cleaned out’ the weight class.

    Imavov shared that claim during his post-fight press conference in Riyadh, during which he also made it clear what he’s expecting to come as a result of Saturday’s main event knockout.

    “I cleaned (out) the weight class in one year,” Imavov said. “Four fights, two wins against top-10 competition, two (finishes) against top-five competition. Next is the belt.”

    In addition to Adesanya, Imavov has defeated Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, and Roman Dolidze in recent times.

    He’ll now pay close attention to next weekend’s UFC 312 headliner between middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland. While he intends to face the winner, “The Sniper” could have stiff competition for the next shot given the way Khamzat Chimaev dispatched Robert Whittaker last October.

  • Tom Aspinall Reacts To Lackluster Pavlovich vs. Rozenstruik: ‘These Heavyweight Fights Absolutely Stink!’

    Tom Aspinall Reacts To Lackluster Pavlovich vs. Rozenstruik: ‘These Heavyweight Fights Absolutely Stink!’

    Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall was among those unimpressed by Sergei Pavlovich’s decision win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik this past Saturday.

    Two of the division’s biggest power punchers collided on the main card of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night, which marked the mixed martial arts leader’s second visit to Saudi Arabia.

    While the crowd inside the anb Arena anticipated a knockout, they were instead treated to three rounds of lackluster action between the Russian and Surinamese behemoths, with the former emerging victorious on the scorecards.

    Many fans were quick to express their discontent with the two fighters, and they weren’t the only ones bemused by how the bout unfolded.

    Aspinall took to his Instagram Stories to slam his former opponent and “Bigi Boy,” before calling for his return in order to bring “excitement” back to the weight class.

    Tom Aspinall

    “These heavyweight fights lately absolutely stink,” Aspinall wrote. “Let’s get some excitement back and stop holding it up.”

    Aspinall has held the interim belt since a first-round knockout triumph over Pavlovich in November 2023. He’s since defended it in a rematch with Curtis Blaydes, which he also won by way of stoppage in the opening frame.

    All the while, Jon Jones has sat on the heavyweight throne and repeatedly dismissed a unification showdown, instead choosing to face Stipe Miocic last November in New York City.

    Dana White has insisted that he intends on booking Jones vs. Aspinall in 2025, but it remains to be seen whether or not that will come to fruition. In his most recent remarks, the UFC CEO admitted the promotion could “move on” from the matchup.

  • Michael Bisping Says ‘Israel Adesanya’s Time At The Top Is Done’ After UFC Saudi Arabia Defeat

    Michael Bisping Says ‘Israel Adesanya’s Time At The Top Is Done’ After UFC Saudi Arabia Defeat

    Israel Adesanya aimed to get his career back on track in his latest fight but suffered his third consecutive loss after a brutal knockout at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov in the UFC Saudi Arabia main event.

    The former two-time UFC middleweight champion fell to the rising French contender following previous losses to reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis and ex-titleholder Sean Strickland.

    Another former middleweight champ in Michael Bisping acknowledged Adesanya’s achievements in the aftermath but expressed doubts about his ability to reclaim the title.

    “The biggest takeaway is that it’s over,” Bisping said on the UFC Saudi Arabia post-fight show (h/t MMA Fighting). “Israel Adesanya’s reign as champion, I don’t think will come again. I say that with the greatest of respect, and I truly mean that. An original. An incredible fighter. A legend of the sport. A future Hall of Famer. But his time at the top is done.”

    Bisping pointed to the cumulative toll of years of fighting and training as a major factor in his decline. 

    “A long career at the highest level brings a lot of wear and tear, not just from fights but from training camps,” Bisping explained. “The training camps are worse than the fights. A fight might last a few rounds, and we’ve seen Adesanya dominate opponents with leg kicks and precise striking. But that’s not how training works. You don’t improve unless you’re pushed — getting taken down, wrestling, dealing with ground and pound, getting choked out.

    “You tweak ankles, take punches, and endure constant physical strain. When you train at the highest level, it takes its toll. Yes, he’s absorbed some tough shots in the octagon, including tonight, but it’s the years of preparation leading up to this that become the real challenge.”

    Adesanya outlined his intention to take some time away from the sport before deciding his next step.

  • Michael Page Open To Going One Further After Middleweight Win At UFC Saudi Arabia: ‘Fight Someone Like Jiří…’

    Michael Page Open To Going One Further After Middleweight Win At UFC Saudi Arabia: ‘Fight Someone Like Jiří…’

    UFC welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page doesn’t think his ability to compete with the best stops at 185 pounds following a successful venture up to middleweight this past Saturday.

    After a defeat to Ian Garry last summer stalled his charge up the 170-pound ladder, Page chose to open his year with a one-off assignment up a division.

    The charismatic Londoner co-headlined the promotion’s second UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1, where he was tasked with taking the 0 of undefeated Dagestani Shara Magomedov.

    As he did on debut at the expense of Kevin Holland 10 months ago, “MVP” showed his striking prowess, outpointing “Bullet” with his technical and unique standup arsenal across three rounds inside Riyadh’s anb Arena.

    Moving forward, Page is planning to revive his charge toward the top in the welterweight division, though he is open to similar exciting matchups at middleweight down the line.

    In fact, it would seem that a light heavyweight outing isn’t off the table.

    “I’m the kind of person that would move up another weight division and fight someone like Jiří (Procházka) because it’s an exciting fight,” Page said during his post-fight press conference. “Like two tornadoes clashing. So yeah, like I said from the beginning, I wanna make a lot of noise.

    “I haven’t got the highlight I wanted just yet,” Page continued. “But if I can keep get getting some exciting matchups, then why not?”

    Procházka was recently in action at UFC 311, where he put himself back in the title conversation with an emphatic performance and stoppage against a fellow former champion in Jamahal Hill.

    Interestingly, the Czech star previously pondered a move down to the middleweight class after a second loss to current light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira.

    “BJP” recently addressed that possibility again, leaving the door open to a future at 185 pounds should he first reclaim the 205-pound gold.

  • Francis Ngannou Sends Supportive Message To Israel Adesanya After Third Straight Loss At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Francis Ngannou Sends Supportive Message To Israel Adesanya After Third Straight Loss At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has told friend Israel Adesanya to keep his chin up following another setback inside the cage this past Saturday.

    After back-to-back losses at the hands of Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, Adesanya returned to non-title, non-pay-per-view competition on Feb. 1.

    The ex-middleweight kingpin headlined the UFC’s second visit to Saudi Arabia, where he was tasked with stalling the rise of Nassourdine Imavov to avoid the first three-fight skid of his career.

    “The Last Stylebender” ultimately failed in that regard, with his strong opening round being rendered null and void by a thunderous right hand from the Frenchman seconds into the second frame, which soon led to a TKO stoppage inside anb Arena.

    Though understandably frustrated with another defeat, Adesanya didn’t appear too disheartened when reacting to the knockout soon after. And he’s also not short on supporters sending encouraging words, including a prominent one in the form of Ngannou.

    “Unforgiving sport. Champ one day, champ forever,” Ngannou wrote on X. “@stylebender, we love you, man, and will always stand by your side.

    “Congrats to @imavov1 for his amazing performance.”

    Ngannou and Adesanya once ruled over their respective divisions in the UFC at the same time, forming a close bond as two of three reigning African champions on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    Alongside the third, Kamaru Usman, “The Last Stylebender” walked out behind Ngannou for the Cameroonian’s memorable boxing debut opposite former WBC champion Tyson Fury back in October 2023.

  • ‘That’s How The Game Goes’ – Israel Adesanya Watches Back Knockout Loss To Nassourdine Imavov

    ‘That’s How The Game Goes’ – Israel Adesanya Watches Back Knockout Loss To Nassourdine Imavov

    Israel Adesanya sought to get his career back on track in his latest fight after suffering losses to reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland.

    However, the former two-time UFC middleweight champion suffered his third consecutive defeat after a brutal knockout at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov in the UFC Saudi Arabia main event.

    “The Last Stylebender” looked sharp early but was ultimately caught with a decisive blow seconds into round two.

    Late in the fight, an inadvertent eye poke from Imavov occurred. Adesanya had the option to take time to recover, but instead, the Nigerian-New Zealander chose to continue fighting. Moments later, he was rocked by a massive punch, which marked the beginning of the end.

    In the immediate aftermath, Adesanya appeared unhappy with the stoppage. Following his third straight loss, he shared a video on social media where he rewatched the fight’s finish.

    “Fair. Fair game,” Adesanya said after reviewing the stoppage. “Fair game. F*ck. … I’m still alive. That’s how the game goes.”

  • Shara Magomedov Puts UFC Saudi Arabia Loss Down To ‘Nightmarish Health Condition’ He Fought Through

    Shara Magomedov Puts UFC Saudi Arabia Loss Down To ‘Nightmarish Health Condition’ He Fought Through

    UFC middleweight Shara Magomedov has claimed to have competed in Saudi Arabia in spite of an injury.

    Things didn’t go to plan for Magomedov in Riyadh this weekend, with the one-eyed Dagestani falling to his first professional and UFC loss at the mixed martial arts leader’s second event in Saudi Arabia.

    After a 4-0 start to life in the Octagon, Magomedov’s 0 was taken by welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page, whose one-off move up to 185 pounds proved to be a success as he pieced “Bullet” up on the feet across three rounds.

    Magomedov took to Instagram a few hours on to post his first statement, during which he revealed that the fight was actually in doubt during the lead-up due to a “nightmarish health condition” he was suffering from.

    “The pirate sails into the harbor, but I will return!

    “I knew all the risks when stepping in with such a nightmarish health condition and preparation. I felt that despite everything, I could still win—but it didn’t work out, and that’s it.

    “Thank you to the @ufc organization for this opportunity and to everyone involved. I wanted to put on a show and meet expectations without canceling the fight.

    “Thank you to everyone who stands by me in any situation! Alhamdulillah.”

    With the hype behind his name somewhat dented by “MVP” in the Middle East, Magomedov will likely look to return to 100 percent physical condition before making his return to the Octagon, where he’ll be tasked with avoiding the first losing skid of his MMA career.

    Prior to the setback against Page, the Dagestani had opened his UFC account with victories over Bruno Silva, Antonio Trócoli, Michał Oleksiejczuk and Armen Petrosyan.

  • UFC’s Bryce Mitchell Releases Statement Addressing Backlash To Hitler Comments: ‘I’m Definitely Not A Nazi’

    UFC’s Bryce Mitchell Releases Statement Addressing Backlash To Hitler Comments: ‘I’m Definitely Not A Nazi’

    Bryce Mitchell has released a statement in response to the massive backlash he has received in the wake of pro-Adolf Hitler comments he made on a podcast.

    In the first episode of his new podcast, ArkanSanity, Mitchell appeared to defend Hitler, the dictator and leader of Germany under Nazi rule. The UFC featherweight claimed that while Hitler wasn’t “perfect,” he was “a good guy.”

    “I honestly think Hitler was a good guy, based upon my own research, not my public education and indoctrination,” Mitchell said. “He fought for his country, he wanted to purify it by kicking the greedy Jews out who were destroying his country and turning them all into gays. Was Hitler perfect? No, but he was fighting for his people. He wanted a pure nation.”

    After significant backlash, Mitchell took to Instagram Saturday, attempting to walk back elements of his remarks.

    “I’m sorry I sounded insensitive,” Mitchell said in the statement, released on his Instagram account. “I definitely was not trying to offend anybody, but I know I did. I know that a lot of people died in the Holocaust, and that’s a fact. Hitler did a lot of evil things, I think we can all agree on that. I’m definitely not a nazi, and definitely do not condone any of the evil things he did.”

    Mitchell added in the post’s description that, [sic] “in the future i will b much more considerate wen talkin about the suffering of all peoples.”

    Mitchell’s original comments, in spite of the apology released today, also had him claiming that the Holocaust was not real, stating “there’s no possible way they could’ve burned and cremated 6 million bodies…” and putting the blame for its existence on the public education system.

    Several fighters and MMA media members came out with criticism targeted toward Mitchell in the wake of his comments. UFC CEO Dana White stated that he was “beyond disgusted” with Mitchell’s comments. White, however, confirmed that Mitchell would not be cut or punished, citing “free speech.”

    Another UFC star, Conor McGregor, would come under fire mere hours later for a profanity-laced rant filled with ethnic and racial slurs fired against Khabib Nurmagomedov.

  • Khabib, Makhachev, & Other Fighters React As Nassourdine Imavov Knocks Out Israel Adesanya At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Khabib, Makhachev, & Other Fighters React As Nassourdine Imavov Knocks Out Israel Adesanya At UFC Saudi Arabia

    In the biggest fight of his life, Nassourdine Imavov has come through — and he’s called his shot for a crack at gold.

    Even in a fight where many were picking against him, Imavov performed in a big way, stunning the world with a second-round stoppage of former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia.

    Adesanya took complete control of the opening round, showing flashes of his vintage self with the way he was striking and defending his French counterpart’s takedown.

    Imavov, however, massively turned things around just seconds into the second round. “The Sniper” rocked Adesanya with a right hand, putting him against the fence and to the ground. There, the 29-year-old dropped several seconds of harsh ground-and-pound until the fight was halted 30 seconds into the second round.

    Nassourdine Imavov Pulls Off Stunning Knockout Of Israel Adesanya At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Imavov is now unbeaten in his last five and has won four straight, previously defeating the likes of Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, and Roman Dolidze.

    Adesanya, meanwhile, has now lost three straight. This was his first non-title fight since 2019, coming into this fight off back-to-back middleweight title fight losses against Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Nassourdine Imavov TKOs Israel Adesanya

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Nassourdine Imavov TKOs Israel Adesanya

    The latest UFC Fight Night took place Saturday in Saudi Arabia, and MMA News has you covered with all of the action!

    After a pay-per-view inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome  — and before focus turns to the UFC’s second numbered event of the year in Sydney, Australia — the MMA leader staged its sophomore event in Riyadh after arriving there last summer.

    Robert Whittaker took headlining honors for the UFC’s debut card in Saudi Arabia, and this time a familiar face of his made the walk last. Off the back of consecutive defeats to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was back in non-title, non PPV competition.

    “The Last Stylebender” failed to avoid a third straight loss at UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia, with rising Frenchman Nassourdine Imavov landing a thunderous knockout inside the anb Arena on Feb. 1.

    Before they shared the cage, welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page moved up for a one-off middleweight scrap with fellow striking specialist Shara Magomedov. The Brit returned to winning ways, taking the Dagestani’s 0 on the scorecards.

    Setting the stage for the headliners were a number of notable names, including heavyweight powerhouse Sergei Pavlovich, bantamweight entertainer Vinicius Oliveira, and ranked flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius.

    With the event concluded, see below for the full results, followed by all the highlights.

    UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight Main Event: Nassourdine Imavov def. Israel Adesanya via TKO (punches): R2, 0:30
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Michael Page def. Sharabutdin Magomedov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
    • Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich def. Jairzinho Rozenstruik via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Bantamweight: Vinicius Oliveira def. Said Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Lightweight: Farès Ziam def. Mike Davis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Muhammad Naimov def. Kaan Ofli via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
    • Heavyweight: Shamil Gaziev def. Thomas Petersen via KO (punch): R1, 3:12
    • Lightweight: Terrance McKinney def. Damir Hadžović via TKO (punches): R1, 2:01
    • Women’s Flyweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Mayra Bueno Silva via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Featherweight: Bogdan Grad def. Lucas Alexander via TKO (punches): R2, 4:22
    • Heavyweight: Hamdy Abdelwahab def. Jamal Pogues via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

    Hamdy Abdelwahab Def. Jamal Pogues

    Bogdan Grad Def. Lucas Alexander

    Jasmine Jasudavicius Def. Mayra Bueno Silva

    Terrance McKinney Def. Damir Hadžović

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1885718234499887442

    Shamil Gaziev def. Thomas Petersen

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1885724125890547964

    Muhammad Naimov Def. Kaan Ofli

    Farès Ziam Def. Mike Davis

    Vinicius Oliveira Def. Said Nurmagomedov

    Sergei Pavlovich Def. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

    Michael Page Def. Sharabutdin Magomedov

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1885765147379081708

    Nassourdine Imavov Def. Israel Adesanya

    https://twitter.com/FIGHTZSS/status/1885775139666559246

  • ‘Fraud Checked’ – Fans React As Michael ‘Venom’ Page Takes Shara Magomedov’s 0 At UFC Saudi Arabia

    ‘Fraud Checked’ – Fans React As Michael ‘Venom’ Page Takes Shara Magomedov’s 0 At UFC Saudi Arabia

    The undefeated streak of Shara “Bullet” Magomedov is no more.

    Michael “Venom” Page came in with a strategy and puzzled Magomedov, going on to take a decision win in the co-main event of UFC Saudi Arabia.

    Both fighters brought out a tactical approach to the first round, being selective with their shots. While Magomedov had his moments, Page notably was able to land several countershots after utilizing his jabs and feints.

    “MVP” used his reach to his advantage in the second round, keeping his distance and preventing Magomedov from getting any momentum in his strikes. Even when “Bullet” did manage to close the distance, he was unable to take full advantage.

    Page continued this strategy in the third round, and while Magomedov had his moments there, it wasn’t enough. Page scored a unanimous decision win, earning 30-27s on two judges’ cards and one 29-28.

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Ends The Undefeated Record Of Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov

    https://twitter.com/NNNANOII/status/1885768520484483574
    https://twitter.com/poll_mma/status/1885768369414001052

    “MVP” is now 2-1 in the Octagon, rebounding from a loss to Ian Garry at UFC 303. The Bellator veteran made his UFC debut at UFC 299 last year, defeating Kevin Holland.

    Before tonight, Magomedov had scored victories over Bruno Silva, Antonio Trócoli, Michał Oleksiejczuk and Arman Petrosyan in the Octagon.

  • ‘Division Has Been Sh*t Since Ngannou Left’ – Fans React As Sergei Pavlovich Nets Lackluster Decision Over Jairzinho Rozenstruik At UFC Saudi Arabia

    ‘Division Has Been Sh*t Since Ngannou Left’ – Fans React As Sergei Pavlovich Nets Lackluster Decision Over Jairzinho Rozenstruik At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Early on at UFC Saudi Arabia, we witnessed what happens when there is a heavyweight highlight thanks to Shamil Gaziev’s first-round knockout of Thomas Petersen. Ranked contenders Sergei Pavlovich and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, however, provided the polar opposite of such an outing during the main card portion of the evening.

    Both fighters took a patient approach, with neither man looking to pull the trigger and go to the next level. While Pavlovich landed the bigger shots, he did not connect with anything that would wobble and trouble Rozenstruik.

    The former interim title challenger instead took “Bigi Boy” down, with his top control leading him to sweeping the judges’ scorecards.

    Sergei Pavlovich Scores Decision Win In Snoozefest At UFC Saudi Arabia

    https://twitter.com/NonGMHoee/status/1885760413251354846
    https://twitter.com/t_homie3/status/1885760544373674382

    This win bounces Pavlovich back from a pair of losses to current interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov.

    Rozenstruik, meanwhile, is now 3-2 in his last five fights.

  • VIDEO: Shamil Gaziev Lands Devastating Walk-Off Knockout During UFC Saudi Arabia Prelims

    VIDEO: Shamil Gaziev Lands Devastating Walk-Off Knockout During UFC Saudi Arabia Prelims

    Heavyweight knockouts are a delight to MMA fans, and Shamil Gaziev pulled off such a highlight by getting a first-round finish of Thomas Petersen during the UFC Saudi Arabia prelims.

    Gaziev landed a right hand on the button three minutes into the bout, dropping Petersen. That was all that was needed, with the Bahraini behemoth walking off as the fight was called.

    Shamil Gaziev Lands One-Punch KO To Put Away Thomas Petersen At UFC Saudi Arabia

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1885724125890547964?t=fqnHhzHnQCHznJutYpdUaQ&s=19

    Gaziev is now 3-1 in the Octagon since arriving by way pf Dana White’s Contender Series, with the sole loss coming against Jairzinho Rozenstruik early last year. He initially bounced back with a decision over Don’Tale Mayes before making it two wins on the bounce at Riyadh’s anb Arena.

    Petersen, another DWCS alum, is now 1-2 in the UFC. His one victory in the Octagon came at the expense of Mohammed Usman in 2024.

  • VIDEO: Terrance McKinney Records 15th First-Round Finish Of His Career At UFC Saudi Arabia

    VIDEO: Terrance McKinney Records 15th First-Round Finish Of His Career At UFC Saudi Arabia

    It was another first-round highlight from Terrance McKinney, as he got the job done quick against Damir Hadžović on the preliminary card of UFC Saudi Arabia.

    McKinney did damage right away with his powerful punches in the opening minute. “T. Wrecks” then grabbed the neck and brought the fight to the ground, looking for a choke.

    When that didn’t work, however, the American delivered vicious ground-and-pound until the fight was stopped just over three minutes into the opening frame.

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1885718234499887442?t=nRk8Hc870J0LGTQnhrDObg&s=19

    McKinney has now won three of his last four now, allowing him to rebound from a knockout loss to Esteban Ribovics. The result in Riyadh also marked the 15th first-round finish of his career, with only one of his victories seeing a second stanza.

    Hadžović, meanwhile, has now lost four of his last five.

  • ‘Dark Horse In The Division’ – Fans React As Jasmine Jasudavicius Wins First UFC Women’s Fight In Saudi Arabia

    ‘Dark Horse In The Division’ – Fans React As Jasmine Jasudavicius Wins First UFC Women’s Fight In Saudi Arabia

    Jasmine Jasudavicius continues to come into her own, coming out on top in a historic bout against former title challenger Mayra Bueno Silva on the preliminary card of UFC Saudi Arabia.

    The fight made promotional history in that it was the first women’s UFC bout to take place in the country.

    It was all-around domination from Jasudavicius, who completely outstruck Bueno Silva in the first round and turned a takedown into nearly three minutes of control time — despite having to shove off a submission attempt from “Sheetara.”

    Jasudavicius continued to outstrike Bueno Silva and scored another pair of takedown attempts over the next two rounds, combining for over four minutes more of control time, en route to sweeping the judges’ scorecards.

    Jasmine Jasudavicius Dominates Inaugural Women’s UFC Fight In Saudi Arabia

    Jasudavicius has now won four straight and six of her last seven, with her sole loss coming against Tracy Cortez at the original Noche UFC event.

    Bueno Silva, meanwhile, is 0-3 (1 NC) in her last four. That run includes three straight losses, beginning with her vacant bantamweight title fight loss to Raquel Pennington at UFC 297 early last year.

  • Ex-Fighter Says Israel Adesanya Has ‘Something To Prove’ At UFC Saudi Arabia After 2 Straight Losses

    Ex-Fighter Says Israel Adesanya Has ‘Something To Prove’ At UFC Saudi Arabia After 2 Straight Losses

    Israel Adesanya’s UFC journey has been filled with highs and lows, but his career is far from over — not just in his eyes, but also in the eyes of Matt Brown.

    Adesanya is coming off back-to-back losses, first dropping a decision to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 before suffering a submission defeat to Dricus Du Plessis last August in an attempt to reclaim the middleweight title.

    Now, he is set to face Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of the second UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia. When he does, Brown believes the former champion has something to prove.

    “He’s still there,” Brown said on the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer. “I think him going back to feeling like he has something to prove again is going to pay a lot of dividends for him.”

    Brown sees Adesanya’s mindset as a key factor in his return and believes it signals what could happen on Saturday.

    “I think he just loves to compete,” Brown said. “Doesn’t really care who it’s against, and you’ve got to love that. Obviously, the UFC loves that. The fans love that. But what it tells me is that he has a good mentality of not letting other people’s opinions affect him [mentally].

    “That’s a gigantic thing, especially at the level where he’s at, where everybody’s in his ear. Everybody has an opinion on what he’s doing. He’s getting pulled left and right all the time, and to be able to block all that out and stay true to being a martial artist—that’s a powerful dude right there.”