MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Robert Whittaker Backs Chimaev to Dominate Strickland: ‘Chimaev’s Going to Run Him Over’

    Robert Whittaker Backs Chimaev to Dominate Strickland: ‘Chimaev’s Going to Run Him Over’

    Robert Whittaker has a specific reason why his UFC 328 prediction carries more weight than most. He has already been in the cage with Khamzat Chimaev, felt the pressure firsthand, and was submitted in the first round at UFC 308. That experience shapes everything he said about the Chimaev and Sean Strickland matchup.

    Speaking in a clip posted by UFC on Paramount+ on X, Whittaker acknowledged that Strickland’s confidence and trash talk have made him stop and think before ultimately landing on the same conclusion.

    “We want to see if Strickland has what it takes. All the things he’s talking, he talks a big game, he almost convinces me that he can do it. But having been in there with Chimaev, having seen what Chimaev can do once he gets his hands on him — and he will, because he shoots from so far away and he commits wholeheartedly, and he will get you to the mat. It’s what happens after. Seeing that he has the cardio to be able to do that for five rounds as well, mate, gun to my head, Chimaev’s going to run him over.”

    Whittaker’s framing of the problem is precise. He is not questioning Strickland’s toughness or his boxing ability. He is pointing to the specific sequence that defines Chimaev’s style: entries from distance, total commitment to the shot, and then sustained pressure once the fight reaches the mat. For five rounds.

    Strickland enters at 30-7 as a former middleweight champion with a boxing-heavy game built around controlling range and forcing opponents to react to his pace. Chimaev, unbeaten at 15-0, attacks that comfort zone from the first exchange.

    UFC 328 takes place May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

  • Dustin Poirier Would Come Out of Retirement for Certain Fight And It’s Not Against Conor McGregor

    Dustin Poirier Would Come Out of Retirement for Certain Fight And It’s Not Against Conor McGregor

    Dustin Poirier has not been retired for 12 months yet, and he is already naming a second opponent he would come back to fight.

    Speaking on Paramount’s Deep Waters podcast, Poirier responded to a suggestion from co-host Jorge Masvidal that a fight with Nate Diaz still makes sense, and the response made clear the idea has never left his mind.

    “Man, I still want to whip Nate’s a–.”

    When Din Thomas suggested Diaz might be the one opponent he would genuinely return for, Poirier did not disagree. He then explained the history behind the fight that never happened, addressing the 2018 Madison Square Garden situation, where the bout fell apart, and Diaz used the circumstances to paint Poirier as the reason.

    “I’d come back to fight him because it got away and he lied and the fans were on his side. The UFC knew I was going to fight Nate during our first matchup at Madison Square Garden but Nate was having trouble with his negotiation. I don’t know what was going on but UFC called me and said ‘hey, we want to keep you on the Madison Square Garden card, would you fight so-and-so?’ I said ‘listen, if it’s not Nate I’m not fighting. I’m going to go and have my hip taken care of. If it’s Nate I’ll fight.’ They offered me Kevin Lee, they offered me a few other names. I said ‘I’m going to go have surgery on my hip.’ Then Nate used that to use me as like the fall guy, fight’s off because I pulled out. But I never pulled out, I just didn’t want to fight anyone but Nate. Why not?”

    Poirier retired following a loss to Max Holloway in Louisiana last year. He had previously entertained the idea of a third fight with Justin Gaethje. Diaz is currently preparing for his fight against Mike Perry on the MVP MMA card on Netflix on May 16.

  • Chael Sonnen Says Jorge Masvidal Will Never Fight in UFC

    Chael Sonnen Says Jorge Masvidal Will Never Fight in UFC

    Chael Sonnen is not backing down from his position on Jorge Masvidal’s UFC return prospects, and he has expanded the dispute well beyond the original argument about whether a fight will happen.

    Speaking with Ariel Helwani, Sonnen doubled down after Masvidal’s public rebuttal and made his core claim plainly.

    “Well, that’s a tough one. It’s very tough because I don’t take Jorge as like an equal. I don’t look at him as like an unequal. And he is claiming that he’s going to fight in the Octagon, and I don’t come to him to hurt his dreams. I’m coming just to let his life get on track. Don’t pause. Don’t cancel your plans on the weekend. You’re not fighting in the Octagon.”

    Sonnen suggested Masvidal may have been given incorrect information by someone within the UFC rather than intentionally fabricating a story.

    “I’m either right or I’m wrong. But for me to be right, he doesn’t have to actually go in there and fight. He just has to have been told by somebody in authority that he’s going to go in there and fight. And I think he should call that person back. There was a misunderstanding. Jorge Masvidal will never fight in the UFC. That’s not a knock to Jorge Masvidal. That’s a reality. I made that claim and that really struck a nerve. I don’t know why that made him so upset.”

    On the question of fighting Masvidal himself, Sonnen drew a clear distinction between acceptance and pursuit.

    “I would never turn down a fight with Jorge Masvidal, but I would never seek a fight with Jorge Masvidal. The guys that I come out on your show when I call these guys like Jon Jones, like Fedor Emelianenko. This is Jorge Masvidal. Like Jorge, I don’t really know what to do with this.”

    He also proposed settling the size argument on the spot.

    “Jorge is greatly out of shape. And Jorge made a claim that he would come up to heavyweight to face me. And I just, I thought that would be fun for your show. Like, hey Jorge, let’s both fly into Ariel’s show and let’s just do a weigh-in right now. I won’t have a lot of time to lose weight. You won’t have a little bit. Let’s just go right into Ariel’s show and let’s just get on a scale because there is no way that he is the smaller guy.”

    Sonnen also questioned whether Masvidal actually controls Gamebred MMA in any operational sense, pressing Helwani repeatedly on whether Masvidal personally signs checks for fighters or holds a promoter’s license, ultimately concluding he does not believe Masvidal is the person paying the talent.

  • Conor McGregor Stirs Middleweight Title Talk With Bold Deleted Post Ahead of UFC 328

    Conor McGregor Stirs Middleweight Title Talk With Bold Deleted Post Ahead of UFC 328

    Conor McGregor sent a brief and eyebrow-raising message about the UFC 328 middleweight title fight before quickly removing it from his timeline, claiming ownership of a belt he has never competed for.

    Previewing the Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland main event in Newark, McGregor posted on X with unusual framing before deleting it.

    “Very excited for the Newark, New Jersey UFC card, with my 185lb UFC title on the line! TUNE IN ON @UFConParamount.”

    The post was removed shortly after it went up, though it had already been captured and circulated widely. McGregor has never competed at middleweight and is best known as a former featherweight and lightweight champion. He is currently preparing to return to the Octagon at welterweight, with a rumored rematch against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas as the most discussed option.

    He has bulked up significantly since his last fight in 2021 and has previously expressed interest in competing as high as 185 pounds, citing the idea that a genuine fighter should not be constrained by the scale.

    UFC 328 takes place May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

  • Rafael Fiziev vs. Manuel Torres Set to Headline UFC Baku on June 27

    The UFC has announced its return to Baku, Azerbaijan on June 27, with Rafael Fiziev headlining the event at the National Gymnastics Arena against Manuel Torres in a lightweight main event.

    Fiziev gets the chance to perform in front of his home country crowd, though he arrives in difficult form. The 33-year-old is 1-4 in his last five fights, with his only win during that stretch coming against Ignacio Bahamondes at last year’s inaugural UFC Baku event. His most recent outing was a second-round knockout loss to Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 325.

    Torres enters on contrasting momentum, riding a two-fight winning streak built on back-to-back first-round knockouts of Drew Dober and Grant Dawson. A win over the ranked Fiziev would be the result that finally cracks Torres into the lightweight top 15.

    The co-feature brings together two of the division’s most entertaining performers. Shara Magomedov returns to face fan-favorite Michel Pereira in a middleweight clash that promises fireworks from the opening bell. Magomedov is coming off a win over Marc-Andre Barriault that helped him rebound from his first professional loss against Michael Page. Pereira enters having snapped a three-fight losing streak with a split decision victory over Zachary Reese.

    UFC Baku takes place June 27 at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan, one week before UFC Freedom 250 at the White House.

  • White House Shooting Triggers Lockdown Weeks Before UFC Freedom 250 Event On South Lawn

    White House Shooting Triggers Lockdown Weeks Before UFC Freedom 250 Event On South Lawn

    A shooting near the White House on Monday has placed renewed focus on security planning ahead of the UFC’s upcoming event on the South Lawn.

    According to the Secret Service, an armed individual was shot by law enforcement following a confrontation near the Washington Monument, just a few blocks from the White House complex. The incident prompted a brief lockdown, with reporters escorted inside as authorities responded.

    A bystander was also struck, while emergency crews transported at least one individual to the hospital. No injuries were reported within the White House itself, and scheduled activities continued.

    The development comes just over a month before UFC Freedom 250, a first-of-its-kind event scheduled for June 14 in Washington, D.C. The UFC plans to stage the card inside a custom-built structure on the South Lawn, with approximately 4,300 attendees expected, the majority of them military personnel.

    Meanwhile, up to 85,000 fans are set to gather at the nearby Ellipse, where large screens, stages, and fan activations will be set up for public viewing.

    Given the scale and high-profile location, security has already been a central component of planning. UFC CEO Dana White previously confirmed coordination with military officials, who will monitor conditions closely in the lead-up to the event. White has also acknowledged the unpredictability of outdoor hosting, noting that the start time could be adjusted based on conditions during fight week.

    At this stage, there is no indication that Monday’s incident will impact the UFC card. However, it highlights the level of logistical and security coordination required for an event of this scale at one of the most closely monitored locations in the United States.

    The fight card is set to be headlined by Ilia Topuria defending the undisputed lightweight title against Justin Gaethje, with Alex Pereira taking on Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title in the co-main event, alongside five additional bouts scheduled for the card.

  • Beneil Dariush Announces he is Taking Time Off After UFC Perth Stoppage Loss

    Beneil Dariush Announces he is Taking Time Off After UFC Perth Stoppage Loss

    Beneil Dariush has announced he will be taking time away from fighting following his TKO loss to Quillan Salkilld in the co-main event of UFC Perth on Saturday, a defeat that extended a difficult recent stretch for the veteran lightweight.

    Dariush posted a brief update on Instagram after the fight, reassuring fans about his immediate physical condition while making clear he needs a break.

    “I’m good friends. I have no injuries and I appreciate everyone checking on me. I’ll be taking some time off and heading over to Sydney tomorrow for the week. God bless.”

    The 36-year-old had started the fight well, dropping Salkilld in the early going, before the undefeated Perth native recovered and stopped Dariush in the first round. The loss was Dariush’s fourth knockout defeat in his last five fights, all of them coming in the opening round. His only win during that span was a unanimous decision over Renato Moicano at UFC 317 last June.

    Dariush carries a 23-8-1 overall record and a 17-8-1 mark in the UFC, having spent years as one of the more respected names in the lightweight division. His run of form has raised broader questions about his future in the sport, though he has offered no indication beyond the need for rest at this stage.

  • Josh Hokit Teases a Big UFC White House Announcement

    Josh Hokit Teases a Big UFC White House Announcement

    Josh Hokit has sent the MMA world into a spin with a cryptic social media post teasing an imminent update about the UFC White House card.

    The breakout heavyweight contender posted “Uh oh” alongside a pair of shifty eyes emojis on X before following it up with a more direct tease.

    “BIG WHITE HOUSE FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT.”

    No additional details were provided, leaving fans to speculate in the comments about what the update might entail. Theories ranged from a fight cancellation to a new addition to the card, with Derrick Lewis being among the names fans mentioned as possibly pulling out of his scheduled bout against Hokit.

    Hokit vs. Lewis was the last of seven fights booked for the June 14 event and was put together at the personal request of Donald Trump and Joe Rogan following Hokit’s performance at UFC 327. The announcement tease has not been followed up at the time of writing.

    The full UFC White House card, as currently announced, features Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje in the main event, Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane in the co-main event, Sean O’Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi, Mauricio Ruffy vs. Michael Chandler, Bo Nickal vs. Kyle Daukaus, Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia, and Hokit vs. Lewis.

  • Dana White Reveals UFC White House Crowd Details: Military Take Priority, Fans Get Free Ellipse Tickets

    Dana White Reveals UFC White House Crowd Details: Military Take Priority, Fans Get Free Ellipse Tickets

    Dana White has confirmed the attendance breakdown for UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, revealing that the crowd inside the White House South Lawn will be made up primarily of military personnel with tickets unavailable for public purchase.

    Speaking on Fox News Channel’s My View with Lara Trump, White explained the breakdown directly.

    “Well, your father-in-law, he wants this to be mostly for the military. So there’s going to be 4,300 people there. I just literally went over it right now, 4,300 people, and most of them will be military.”

    Fans who want to be part of the experience will have an alternative option across the street. White confirmed that the Ellipse, a large park adjacent to the White House, will host approximately 85,000 people with screens, stages, music, and activations throughout the day. Those tickets will be free through a registration process.

    “Across the street is the Ellipse. For those who don’t know, the Ellipse is a massive park that’s literally, you’ll be able to see the fight from the Ellipse. But we have screens, we’ve got stages, we have music, we have activations over there. We’re going to give away about 85,000 tickets. And there’s a process. You have to register for tickets, and they’re free. But you should come to Washington, D.C. that week, the week of the fight. We’re going to be doing all kinds of things in D.C. for fans. It’s really a cool city.”

    The seven-fight card is headlined by Ilia Topuria defending the undisputed lightweight championship against Justin Gaethje, with Alex Pereira challenging Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title in the co-main event.

  • Daniel Cormier Says Nobody Would Complain if Carlos Prates Got the Next Welterweight Title Shot

    Daniel Cormier Says Nobody Would Complain if Carlos Prates Got the Next Welterweight Title Shot

    Daniel Cormier watched Carlos Prates dismantle Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Perth and came away with one conclusion: the Brazilian is ready to fight for a world title right now.

    Speaking on his YouTube channel, Cormier offered a thorough breakdown of what Prates’ third-round stoppage of the former welterweight champion means for the division’s title picture.

    “Carlos Prates has now put himself on the short-list of fighters who could potentially challenge the champion, Islam Makhachev. Before he goes in there with Jack Della Maddalena, that happens when you’ve already got a victory over Leon Edwards, when you already have beaten guys like Geoff Neal and so many others on your way towards a fight with a former champion. He’s on a short list. He’s already close. You beat the former champion in the way that he beat Della Maddalena – because that was bad. That was bad. Honestly, when I was watching that from afar, I thought to myself — because I’ve never seen Jack just get beat on like that — ‘How does Prates win?’ going into the fight.”

    Cormier also identified a specific lesson in growth from the way Prates handled his main event opportunity compared to his previous stumble on the big stage.

    “That performance told me two things: One, Prates is ready to compete for the UFC championship. Two, Prates learned. The first time Prates did that, against Ian Garry, he froze. He froze. He did not fight well. Not this time, though. I watched him deliver at a level that tells me he’s championship-ready. Dude’s championship-ready. He’s championship-ready right now.”

    He acknowledged the crowded nature of the welterweight division while making clear he would not object to Prates leapfrogging the queue.

    “Here’s the issue though: The weight class is so stacked. It feels like it’s going to be Ian Garry, but if it was to be Prates after that? Nobody would complain. Nobody would complain, and I’ll tell you why: We just saw Islam beat Jack Della Maddalena in the way that he did. We saw him dominate Jack Della Maddalena to win the championship. The way Islam beat Jack was not nearly as impressive as what Carlos Prates did the other day. It was impressive. He made it look easy. But that, yesterday, was crazy. It looked like Della Maddalena didn’t belong in there with Prates.”

  • Amanda Nunes Shuts Down Interim Title Talk

    Amanda Nunes Shuts Down Interim Title Talk

    Amanda Nunes has made her position on the UFC bantamweight title picture completely clear: she will wait for Kayla Harrison, and she has no interest in an interim belt in the meantime.

    Nunes was scheduled to return at UFC 324 in January after nearly three years in retirement, but Harrison’s neck injury forced the cancellation of their title fight at the last minute. Rather than accepting an alternative opponent or pursuing an interim championship, Nunes told MMA Junkie she has no intention of changing her approach.

    “I know everybody wants a chance. I know everybody wants to fight me, and I know everybody wants to get a paycheck. I know that. But, it’s like if you put it on the table, it’s not how it is, though. I only fight for the undisputed belt, and I cannot make what they want. I feel like I’m going to have an opportunity for all of them, so they just have to wait, like I did. I waited so much to fight for the belt. One day, I did it, so then I have an opportunity for everybody, and I think they should wait. I’m gonna fight Kayla and take my belt back.”

    Nunes also identified her preferred date for the comeback, pointing to International Fight Week and the UFC 329 card on July 11 in Las Vegas as the ideal landing spot.

    “I feel like International Fight Week would be a good one. I feel like UFC wanted that too. So I hope Kayla is ready for it, and I can’t wait for the call. I hope she’s ready, though, because I am. And let’s see what is gonna happen.”

    Harrison returned to training at the end of March, though whether she will be ready for a summer showdown remains uncertain. UFC 329 fight announcements are expected imminently.

  • Tom Aspinall Says UFC Bosses Told Him He’ll Fight Pereira vs Gane Winner

    Tom Aspinall Says UFC Bosses Told Him He’ll Fight Pereira vs Gane Winner

    Tom Aspinall has delivered one of the most encouraging updates yet on his recovery, revealing that contact clearance may be imminent following a positive scan at the eye hospital.

    Aspinall shared the update on his YouTube channel after returning from a hospital appointment that gave him reason for genuine optimism.

    “We are just en route back from the eye hospital, where today I’ve had a scan, and things are progressing f***ing nicely, which I’m very happy about. They’re saying, pretty soon – if things keep moving in the right direction – I will be cleared for contact. I am back in the gym, I am back training, but not sparring just yet. But if things keep going the way they’re going, we are back.”

    He also addressed the question that has followed him throughout his recovery regarding when and who he will fight next.

    “Everyone keeps asking when I’m going to fight. The obvious answer is the other two guys, Alex and Ciryl, have to fight for the interim title. I’m obviously going to fight the winner. The UFC has told me that I’m fighting the winner. First and foremost, I should get my health right, which is on the right track. I have to wait for that to be done, and we fight the winner. Simple as that. No specific month. I’m waiting to get clearance, which is going to be coming soon, they’ve just told me. And any specific month depends on the UFC. Those two have got to fight each other. Let them do the thing first, recover from that, and then when everybody’s ready, we’ll do it.”

    Aspinall has been sidelined since October 2025, when his first heavyweight title defense against Ciryl Gane ended in a no-contest following multiple eye pokes. He underwent double eye surgery. His overall record stands at 15-3 with one no-contest, and all 15 of his wins have come by stoppage.

  • Dana White Reveals UFC White House Event Could Be Rescheduled During Fight Week

    Dana White Reveals UFC White House Event Could Be Rescheduled During Fight Week

    Dana White has revealed that the start time for UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 remains subject to change based on weather conditions, with the military playing a direct role in monitoring conditions in the days leading up to the event.

    Speaking on Fox News Channel’s My View with Lara Trump, White explained the specific protocol put in place to manage the unpredictability of hosting an outdoor event on the White House South Lawn.

    “I hate outdoors, outdoors is just way too unpredictable and we’ve gone over this and if it rains, we’re going, if it snows, we’re going, the only thing that will stop us is lightning. But we’re working with the military. So, the military knows the weather 10 days out and they’ll notify us every two hours 10 days out, 7 days out they’ll notify us every hour. There’s also another company that does it for concerts and things like that, they’re very good too. So what could happen is, the only thing that kills us is lightning so we can move the event two hours earlier, two hours later, so these are all things that we’ll be playing with the week of the event on top of all of the other things we’ll have going on.”

    White has previously noted that the only other time the UFC held an outdoor event was in Abu Dhabi, an experience he described as frustrating due to heat and insects. The White House card features seven fights, a leaner card than usual, which White indicated will lead to longer breaks between bouts similar to the pacing used at the UFC’s Sphere event.

    The main event features Ilia Topuria defending the undisputed lightweight championship against Justin Gaethje, with Alex Pereira challenging Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title in the co-main event.

  • Josh Hokit Debunks UFC AI Claims: ‘We Stand There Like Idiots’

    Josh Hokit Debunks UFC AI Claims: ‘We Stand There Like Idiots’

    Josh Hokit has stepped in to defend the UFC over accusations that the Tale of the Tape videos seen at UFC Perth were generated by artificial intelligence, and his explanation is both straightforward and amusing.

    The videos, which feature fighters holding poses for an extended period of time before fights, drew claims on social media that they were AI-generated. Hokit, who appeared in one of those videos ahead of his upcoming bout at the UFC White House event on June 14, set the record straight on X.

    “It’s not AI. We really have to stand there like idiots for 30 seconds.”

    The UFC has been under sustained criticism for its use of AI in marketing, a trend that accelerated following the start of its $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount. UFC CEO Dana White responded to earlier criticism by telling fans to shut up and watch the fights, while the promotion’s executive producer defended AI use as a tool to amplify content rather than replace it. The Tale of the Tape videos represent a newer format compared to the static images the UFC previously used in its pre-fight fighter breakdowns.

    Hokit faces Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, a matchup that was reportedly put together at the personal request of Donald Trump and Joe Rogan.

  • UFC Releases Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland Countdown Episode Ahead of UFC 328

    UFC Releases Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland Countdown Episode Ahead of UFC 328

    The UFC has released the Countdown episode for this Saturday’s UFC 328 main event, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at both Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland as they prepare for their middleweight title fight in Newark, New Jersey.

    The segment follows both champion and challenger through their final preparations for a bout that has generated extraordinary pre-fight tension, including threats of violence from both sides and a level of genuine animosity that has prompted the UFC to beef up security throughout fight week.

    Chimaev enters the fight at 15-0 making his first title defense, while Strickland comes in at 30-7 as a heavy underdog attempting to become a two-time middleweight champion. The pair have a history stemming from time they spent together at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, with Strickland claiming he dominated Chimaev in those sessions and Chimaev flatly rejecting that account.

    The Countdown is available on the UFC’s YouTube channel. UFC 328 takes place Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, streaming on Paramount+.

    UFC 328 Main Event on Paramount+:

    185 lbs.: Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland

    UFC 328 Main Card on Paramount+ (9 p.m. ET):

    125 lbs.: UFC Flyweight Champion Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira
    265 lbs.: Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
    170 lbs.: Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley
    155 lbs.: King Green vs. Jeremy Stephens

    UFC 328 ‘Prelims’ Card On Paramount+ (7 p.m. ET):

    185 lbs.: Ateba Gautier vs. Osman Diaz
    170 lbs.: Joel Alvarez vs. Yaroslav Amosov
    155 lbs.: Grant Dawson vs. Mateusz Rebecki
    155 lbs.: Jared Gordon vs. Jim Miller

    UFC 328 ‘Prelims’ Card On Paramount+ (5 p.m. ET):

    185 lbs.: Roman Kopylov vs. Marco Tulio
    145 lbs.: William Gomis vs. Pat Sabatini
    185 lbs.: Baisangur Susurkaev vs. Djorden Santos
    125 lbs.: Clayton Carpenter vs. Jose Ochoa

  • Dominick Cruz Warns UFC May Skip Faceoff Entirely as Chimaev and Strickland Escalate Threats Before UFC 328

    Dominick Cruz Warns UFC May Skip Faceoff Entirely as Chimaev and Strickland Escalate Threats Before UFC 328

    Dominick Cruz has watched plenty of fight-week theatrics during his career, but he sees something distinct in the escalating back-and-forth between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland ahead of UFC 328, and he is not dismissing it as mere promotion.

    Speaking with MMA Junkie, the UFC Hall of Famer and commentator offered a nuanced take on what is driving the intensity, arguing that both men are caught in a pressure loop where neither can afford to show weakness without undermining the image they have spent careers building.

    “I think this is just fight week pressure and they both have an image to uphold, and both of them are going to flex bigger than the other one because that’s the personality they’re trying to bring. They can’t start being nice now. They’ve got to be the crazy guys. And now they’re going to out-crazy each other to see who’s tougher. That’s how I see it. Like, ‘No, I’m crazier than you, you can’t be crazier than me because I’ve already shown you how crazy I am.’ It’s just a show to me. But at the same time, the nerves of the fight going to the death is real. Two things can be true at the same time.”

    Cruz also pointed to the specific ego pressures each fighter carries into fight week, framing the championship stakes as an amplifier of behavior that might otherwise remain within more recognizable bounds.

    “I do believe there’s a lot of pressure. Think of the pressure for these guys? Strickland on his way to another title. Khamzat is just the undefeated guy that — think of the things people have been telling his ego? ‘You’re unbeatable, you’re the strongest guy ever, nobody will ever touch you.’ You can tell by the way that he talks that he really believes the hype about himself, too, to uphold. Imagine what his ego is telling him every day? That’s the pressure we have as fighters.”

    On the question of whether UFC will modify its standard fight week activities to account for the very real possibility of a pre-fight confrontation getting out of hand, Cruz said he would not be surprised to see the faceoff scrapped entirely, drawing a comparison to the infamous Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones brawl at a pre-fight press conference.

    “I doubt they’ll have faceoffs, right? If they’re saying that, why would you have a faceoff? Why would you even take the risk if you’re Dana with these two guys? Kind of like DC and Jones and you could have another one of those situations where they just scrap and knock everything off the table. I don’t think they’re faking, I think they’re just talking crazy because they’re making sure you know: Don’t test me. And UFC will say, ‘OK, we’re going to listen. Bring the security out.’”

    UFC 328 takes place May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, with Chimaev defending the middleweight title against Strickland in the main event.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Scoffs at Sean Strickland’s Gun Threat

    Khamzat Chimaev Scoffs at Sean Strickland’s Gun Threat

    Khamzat Chimaev is not losing any sleep over Sean Strickland’s pre-fight threats, and he made his contempt for the rhetoric very clear at the UFC 328 pre-fight media scrum.

    Strickland had escalated the already intense rivalry by stating he would be carrying a gun during fight week in case of a physical confrontation with Chimaev or his team. Chimaev responded by dismissing both the threat and the man making it in the same breath.

    “Clowns always talk. He’ll stop being a clown if he’s quiet. He didn’t shoot any chickens in the world, how’s he going to shoot a human?”

    He then addressed the broader scenario of any genuine pre-fight confrontation, making clear he does not believe Strickland has any intention of following through on his words.

    “I don’t think the guy wants a real war outside the cage. If he wanted a real war, he would be dead already. In New Jersey, this is a Muslim community, it’s my home. I don’t think so that he’s going to come with the guns there. Otherwise, it will be a lot of people injured because he’s there.”

    Interestingly, the comment that drew a sharper reaction from Chimaev was not the gun threat at all. It was Strickland’s claim that he dominated Chimaev during their time training together at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, a claim Chimaev flatly rejected while adding some context about the circumstances of those sessions.

    “He never had success with me. It’s not going to be different this time as well. I was fighting at 170 at that time. Imagine I beat him at that weight and I was cutting the weight and that time I beat him. Right now, people know how big I am. How hungry I am. It’s good meat. I like white American chicken.”

    Rather than viewing Strickland’s escalating trash talk as a distraction, Chimaev said he finds it entertaining and actually wants more of it heading into Saturday.

    “I like his talking. He’s good for me. I don’t worry about that I need to talk. He’s talking for everyone. I hope he’s going to talk more. It’s funny to listen to this guy.”

    UFC CEO Dana White has already confirmed that additional security will be in place during UFC 328 fight week in response to the elevated tension between the two camps. UFC 328 takes place May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

  • Hometown Hero Logan Storley Scores Decision At PFL Sioux Falls

    Hometown Hero Logan Storley Scores Decision At PFL Sioux Falls

    It was another successful homecoming in the MMA career of Logan Storley, as the former standout wrestler from South Dakota defeated Florim Zendeli in the PFL Sioux Falls main event.

    Storley, in typical fashion, scored a strong early takedown. Zendeli was not only unable to get out of his grasp, but he also was deducted two points in the first round for repeated fence grabs.

    Zendeli held his own defensively in the first half of the second round, and he even landed close shots that opened a cut on Storley. Zendeli went for a throw, but Storley rolled through and managed to get right back in control.

    Logan Storley Wrestles His Way To Clean Decision Win Over Florim Zendeli At PFL Sioux Falls

    Zendeli looked to get his striking going in the early portion of the third round. Storley, however, scored another takedown halfway through the frame, remaining in top control until the horn.

    All three judges scored the bout 30-25 for Storley.

    Storley, the former Bellator welterweight champion, has now won four of his last five. Storley competed in last year’s Welterweight World Tournament, defeating Joseph Lucaino and Masayuki Kikuiri before losing to Thad Jean in the final.

    This loss snaps a seven-fight unbeaten streak for Zendeli. Zendeli defeated Tomas Langowski, Jack Grant, and Daniele Miceli to capture the 2024 PFL Europe welterweight title. He then fought in Abu Dhabi this past October, defeating Omar El Dafrawy.

  • Gadzhi Rabadanov Takes Decision Win Over Alex Chizov

    Gadzhi Rabadanov Takes Decision Win Over Alex Chizov

    Gadzhi Rabadanov hopes PFL Sioux Falls started a new long win streak for him, as he defeated Alex Chizov in the evening’s co-main event.

    Rabadanov controlled most of the action during round one, scoring a pair of takedown attempts. Chizov almost made him pay for one to start the second round; however, thanks to his guillotine attempt.

    Chizov managed to work his jab well in the second round, but Rabadanov’s strikes swelled up one of his eyes, and Rabadanov still maintained the grappling advantage.

    Gadzhi Rabadanov Earns Decision Over Alex Chizov In PFL Sioux Falls Co-Main

    Chizov picked up the pace in the third round, landing a knee and holding off most of Rabadanov’s grappling attempts.

    This was Rabadanov’s first fight since losing the 2025 PFL Lightweight World Tournament final to Alfie Davis. That loss marked the end of a 12-fight win streak for Rabadanov, who was the lightweight champion of the PFL’s 2024 season.

    This was Chizov’s first fight since running through Mark Ewen, Claudio Pacella, and Connor Hughes last year to capture the 2025 PFL Europe lightweight title.

  • Simeon Powell Cracks Emiliano Sordi For Wild TKO Win

    Simeon Powell Cracks Emiliano Sordi For Wild TKO Win

    A wild, back-and-forth fight that could have seen a finish for either fighter ended with Simeon Powell’s success. Powell defeated Emiliano Sordi at PFL Sioux Falls.

    Sordi’s relentless pressure and grappling gave him control for most of the early portion of the fight. Powell rallied late in the first round, however, rocking Sordi with combinations, with Sordi saved by the bell.

    Sordi battled back with his control again in the second round, as Powell had not much of an answer when the fight went to the ground. Both men, however, had their fair share of strong strikes in the third.

    Powell got the last laugh, however, when he landed a knee that dropped Sordi, en route to a TKO victory.

    Simeon Powell Bests Emiliano Sordi In Back-And-Forth Battle At PFL Sioux Falls

    Powell, the 2023 PFL Europe light heavyweight runner-up, has now won three of his last four. He came into this fight off a loss to Antonio Carlos Junior this past June.

    This was Sordi’s first fight in the PFL since 2022. Sordi, who was the light heavyweight champion of the PFL’s 2019 season, entered this bout on a four-fight win streak.

  • Sergey Bilostenniy Nabs One-Sided Win Over Renan Ferreira

    Sergey Bilostenniy Nabs One-Sided Win Over Renan Ferreira

    Sergey Bilostenniy may now be considered a top heavyweight in the PFL scene after he finished former champion Renan Ferreira at PFL Sioux Falls.

    Bilostenniy stayed on the outside, trying to work around Ferreira’s size advantage. Bilostenniy knocked Ferreira down in the opening minute with an uppercut, going to the ground with the former PFL champ, and dominating on top, but unable to score the finish.

    Bilostenniy connected on a one-two in the first minute of round two before scoring a single-leg takedown and completely controlling again.

    Ferreira appeared to hurt an ankle in an early third-round exchange. Then, Bilostenniy connected with a solid right hand that dropped Ferreira again. Some follow-up shots brought an end to the fight.

    Sergey Bilostenniy Outworks Renan Ferreira On Ground Before Third-Round Finish At PFL Sioux Falls

    Bilostenniy is now 4-1 with three finishes in the PFL since his promotional debut in 2024. He competed in last year’s Heavyweight World Tournament, losing his opening-round bout to Valentin Moldavsky.

    Ferreira has now lost three straight, a stretch that started with his losses to Francis Ngannou at PFL Battle of the Giants. Prior to that, Ferreira won the 2023 PFL heavyweight season and quickly knocked out Ryan Bader in a PFL champion vs. Bellator champion matchup.

  • Taila Santos Lands Liver Kick KO At PFL Sioux Falls

    Taila Santos Lands Liver Kick KO At PFL Sioux Falls

    Taila Santos is back in the win column and made a case for a future PFL women’s flyweight title opportunity after a first-round finish of Yan Qihui during the PFL Sioux Falls preliminary card.

    Santos worked her range well early, using her jab to connect on Qihui. Qihui couldn’t get a rhythm going, as her volume wasn’t there, and Santos fought fire with fire to answer Qihui’s strikes.

    After preventing Qihui from getting inside, Santos landed a quick, hard kick to the liver that crumbled Qihui, finishing the fight in just over two minutes.

    Taila Santos Finishes Yan Qihui With Liver Kick At PFL Sioux Falls

    This was Santos’ first fight after missing all of 2025. She competed in the 2024 women’s flyweight season, defeating Ilia Joanne, Jena Bishop, and Liz Carmouche before losing to Dakota Ditcheva in the final.

    Yan has now lost two straight and is 3-3 in her last six. This was her first fight since August 2024, when she lost to Danni McCormack in Road to UFC.

  • PFL Sioux Falls Results: Storley vs. Zendeli Live Updates And Highlights

    PFL Sioux Falls Results: Storley vs. Zendeli Live Updates And Highlights

    PFL Sioux Falls results and highlights are updated live as the action unfolds from the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The main event will feature a welterweight bout between Logan Storley and Florim Zendeli. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Logan Storley vs. Florim Zendeli – Welterweight Main Event

    Storley, a former four-time NCAA Division-I All-American wrestler, was successful in Bellator, going on to be a one-time Bellator welterweight champion, before the promotion was purchased by the PFL. Storley is 3-2 in PFL thus far, which includes making it to last year’s welterweight World Tournament final, coming up short against Thad Jean.

    Zendeli enters tonight with an 11-1-1 professional MMA record. In 2024, he defeated Tomasz Langowski, Jack Grant, and Daniele Miceli in 2024 to become that year’s PFL Europe welterweight champion. He then competed in Abu Dhabi this past October, defeating Omar El Dafrawy.

    The co-main event will be a lightweight contest featuring Gadzhi Rabadanov and Aleksandar Chizov.

    Rabadanov came over to the PFL from Bellator and went on to defeat Solomon Renfro, Elvin Espinoza, Michael Dufort, and Brent Primus to win the 2024 PFL lightweight title. He then competed in the PFL Lightweight World Tournament last year, defeating Marc Diakiese and Kevin Lee before losing to Alfie Davis in the final.

    After a rough 0-2 start in PFL, Chizov defeated Mark Ewen, Claudio Pacella, and Connor Hughes to capture the 2025 PFL Europe lightweight title.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from PFL Sioux Falls!

    How to Watch PFL Sioux Falls

    • Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
    • Venue: Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
    • Streaming: ESPN Unlimited (full card), ESPN2 (main card), ESPN+ (prelims)
    • Prelims: 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT
    • Main Card: 10 PM ET / 7 PM PT

    PFL Sioux Falls Quick Results

    • Main Event: Logan Storley vs. Florim Zendeli — Logan Storley def. Florim Zendeli via unanimous decision (30-25 x3)
    • Co-Main: Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Aleksandr Chizov — Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Aleksandar Chizov via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
    • Simeon Powell vs. Emiliano Sordi — Simeon Powell def. Emiliano Sordi via TKO (Rd. 3, 3:05)
    • Renan Ferreira vs. Sergey Bilostenniy — Sergey Bilostenniy def. Renan Ferreira via TKO (Rd. 3, 1:56)
    • Magomed Magomedov vs. Leandro Higo — Magomed Magomedov def. Leandro Higo via split decision (30-27 x2, 28-29)

    PFL Sioux Falls Results & Highlights

    Preliminary Card (ESPN+, 7 PM ET)

    Heavyweight: Maxwell Djantou Nana vs. Karl Williams

    Result: Maxwell Djantou Nana def. Karl Williams via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)

    Welterweight: Brett Bye vs. Taylor Michels

    Result: Brett Bye def. Taylor Michels via TKO (Rd. 1, 3:40)

    Lightweight: Angel Alvarez vs. Bryce Logan

    Result: Angel Alvarez def. Bryce Logan via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

    Women’s Flyweight: Taila Santos vs. Yan Qihui

    Result: Taila Santos def. Yan Qihui via TKO (Rd. 1, 2:02)

    Featherweight: Humberto Bandenay vs. Kim Sang-won

    Result: Kim Sang-won def. Humberto Bandenay via TKO (Rd. 2, 2:56)

    Women’s Flyweight: Cheyanne Bowers vs. Sabrinna de Sousa

    Result: Sabrinna de Sousa def. Cheyanne Bowers via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Light Heavyweight: Rasul Magomedov vs. Rafael Xavier

    Result: Rasul Magomedov def. Rafael Xavier via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Main Card (ESPN2, 10 PM ET)

    Bantamweight: Magomed Magomedov vs. Leandro Higo

    Result: Magomed Magomedov def. Leandro Higo via split decision (30-27 x2, 28-29)

    Heavyweight: Renan Ferreira vs. Sergey Bilostenniy

    Result: Sergey Bilostenniy def. Renan Ferreira via TKO (Rd. 3, 1:56)

    Light Heavyweight: Simeon Powell vs. Emiliano Sordi

    Result: Simeon Powell def. Emiliano Sordi via TKO (Rd. 3, 3:05)

    Lightweight: Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Aleksandr Chizov

    Result: Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Aleksandar Chizov via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

    Welterweight: Logan Storley vs. Florim Zendeli

    Result: Logan Storley def. Florim Zendeli via unanimous decision (30-25 x3)

  • “Like Prime Anderson Silva” – Prates Dominates Della Maddalena

    “Like Prime Anderson Silva” – Prates Dominates Della Maddalena

    Carlos Prates has made a statement toward earning a welterweight title shot in the near-future, putting a beating on former champion Jack Della Maddalena with a TKO win in the main event of UFC Perth.

    Prates got his striking going from the beginning. Della Maddalena scored a late takedown in the first and blocked a lot of shots, but Prates got plenty of shots through.

    The volume increased in round two, as Prates scored 41 significant strikes in those five minutes, blowing JDM out of the water in that category. Prates avoided an early rear-naked choke attempt from Della Maddalena before working combinations, doing damage to JDM. A left hand rocked the former champ, and a leg kick from Prates wobbled and downed him before the end of round two.

    Prates continued to pressure in round three, battering JDM. Prates scored another knockdown via leg kick, and he didn’t waste time. Prates went to the ground and rained shots down until Carlos Beltran waved off the bout.

    Carlos Prates Puts One-Sided Beating On Jack Della Maddalena At UFC Perth

    Prates is now 23-7 as a pro and 7-1 in the UFC, with his sole loss in the Octagon coming against Ian Machado Garry. Prates has finishes in all of his UFC victories, and he has now scored back-to-back victories over former welterweight champions. Prates knocked out Leon Edwards at UFC 322.

    Della Maddalena has now lost back-to-back fights for the first time since dropping his first two pro bouts. After those two fights, JDM went on an 18-fight win streak, culminating in him defeating Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title at UFC 315. This was JDM’s first fight since losing the title to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322.

  • “The Kid Is Legit” – Quillan Salkilld Finishes Beneil Dariush

    “The Kid Is Legit” – Quillan Salkilld Finishes Beneil Dariush

    Facing the toughest test of his career so far, Quillan Salkilld passed once again, putting away veteran Beneil Dariush in the co-main event of UFC Perth and scoring another finish.

    Dariush landed a body kick and jab early, stumbling Salkilld in the opening seconds before Dariush looked to use his grappling skillset. Salkilld was troubled but refused to let himself be taken down.

    The second he worked his way out of Dariush’s grasp, however, Salkilld showed why he’s a rising star. He landed combinations that put Dariush down, finishing the veteran in one round.

    Quillan Salkilld Proves Contender Status By Finishing Beneil Dariush At UFC Perth

    Salkilld, who is likely to enter the UFC rankings, has now won 12 straight since dropping his professional debut. Salkilld is now 5-0 in the UFC, entering this fight off a submission of Jamie Mullarkey at UFC 325 in January.

    Dariush has now lost four of his last five. He entered this fight off being finished in seconds by Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 322 in November.