MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal In The Works For UFC Fight Night On Feb. 15

    Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal In The Works For UFC Fight Night On Feb. 15

    Veteran UFC featherweight contender Calvin Kattar will need to defend his spot in the rankings this year following a difficult period.

    After a battering at the hands of Max Holloway, Kattar (23-8) kept his name close to the title picture in 2022 by being on the opposite end of a destructive display against Giga Chikadze.

    But “The Boston Finisher” hasn’t had his hand raised since. He fell on the wrong side of a contentious split decision against Josh Emmett, lost to Arnold Allen after tearing his ACL mid-fight, and most recently failed to spoil Aljamain Sterling’s featherweight debut at UFC 300.

    With that losing skid in mind, Kattar will unsurprisingly be fighting down the pecking order in 2025. And should plans come to fruition, that’ll seemingly be against the charging Youssef Zalal (16-5-1).

    The fight was announced by Zalal during an appearance on the JAXXON Podcast.

    Zalal exited the UFC in 2022 after going 0-3-1 across a four-fight run, in which he lost to Ilia Topuria, Seungwoo Choi, and Sean Woodson. But since working his way back with three wins on the regional scene, he’s been unstoppable.

    The 28-year-old Moroccan went 3-0 under the UFC banner in 2024, submitting Billy Quarantillo, Jarno Errens, and Jack Shore to earn a shot at the rankings and the featherweight top 10.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night on Feb. 15 are as follows:

    • Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight main event)
    • Edson Barboza vs. Steve Garcia (featherweight)
    • Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal (featherweight)
    • Yuneisy Duben vs. Carli Judice (women’s flyweight)
    • Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov (lightweight)
    • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (welterweight)
    • Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews (featherweight)
    • Billy Ray Goff vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (welterweight)
    • Dylan Budka vs. Edmen Shahbazyan (middleweight)
    • Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith (bantamweight)
    • Jesus Aguilar vs. Rafael Estevam (lightweight)
    • Don’Tale Mayes vs. Valter Walker (heavyweight)
    • Kaue Fernandes vs. Jared Gordon (lightweight)
  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Sees Only 1 Big Fight For Alexandre Pantoja: ‘If I’m A Promoter Like Dana…’

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Sees Only 1 Big Fight For Alexandre Pantoja: ‘If I’m A Promoter Like Dana…’

    In Khabib Nurmagomedov’s view, there’s only one compelling matchup left for UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja: a fight against former dual-champion Henry Cejudo.

    Pantoja has solidified his dominance in the 125-pound division with three successful title defenses against Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, and most recently Kai Asakura at UFC 310. With victories over most of the UFC’s top 15 flyweights, Pantoja now faces a lack of fresh challenges in the division.

    “There is no other option for Pantoja. There is no fight,” Khabib said during an interview on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. “I think if they want some big fight for this weight class, they have to make this: Cejudo vs. Pantoja.”

    Cejudo, who vacated the flyweight and bantamweight titles and retired in May 2020, has teased a return to the 125-pound division after back-to-back losses at bantamweight to Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili. Khabib directly asked “Triple C” if he could make the 125-pound weight limit again.

    “Yeah, I can make it. It’s just a lot of discipline,” Cejudo responded. “I’ve got to maybe fast for like a week, lose a good 10 pounds, and then from there just be on a strict diet. Only water. I think I’d lose about 15 pounds.”

    “The Eagle” expressed confidence in the potential of the matchup, emphasizing its importance for the division and Pantoja’s legacy.

    “We have to recognize real things. If I’m a promoter like Dana [White], I try to make Pantoja fight with you because there is nobody else. Cejudo vs. Pantoja is going to be a big name. Bring somebody old with a big name, make them fight.”

    Cejudo agreed, noting that even a loss to him could elevate Pantoja’s profile.

    “Even if he was to beat me, it elevates him because he beat a legend.”

    Khabib laid out a roadmap for Cejudo to return and reclaim the flyweight title, stressing the discipline required to achieve greatness.

    “You fight February, March, take off, and jump [into] April training camp. Fight June or July, International Fight Week at 125 [pounds] for the title. Can you imagine you come back and win 125 [title]? You can. I’m going to talk with Dana, too.”

    If the UFC can make this fight happen, it would bring significant intrigue to the flyweight division, pairing a reigning champion in his prime against a returning legend looking to reclaim his former glory.

  • Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer Targeted For UFC Mexico On March 29

    Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer Targeted For UFC Mexico On March 29

    The UFC is set to return to Mexico in the first quarter of this year, and the promotion appears to be bringing a former title challenger with it in the form of Kelvin Gastelum.

    It’s been a difficult few years for Gastelum (19-9, 1 NC). After going 2-5 across a seven-fight run that started with his memorable interim championship clash with Israel Adesanya, the 33-year-old most recently experienced a failed return to welterweight.

    After being submitted by Sean Brady in late 2023, Gastelum did have his hand raised over Daniel Rodriguez. But owing to a weight miss in Saudi Arabia that left UFC CEO Dana White less than happy, his stock didn’t rise in victory.

    Unsurprisingly, the Californian looks to have once again been forced to close the book on his 170-pound plans. And he seems close to being booked for a difficult welcome back to the 185-pound class.

    Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, a clash between Gastelum and the highly touted Joe Pyfer (13-3) is in the works for the UFC Fight Night in Mexico on March 29.

    After breaking through in a big way on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022, Pyfer began Octagon life on the front foot with three straight wins.

    But after knocking out Alen Amedovski and Gerald Meerschaert and submitting Abdul Razak Alhassan, “Bodybagz” was unable to get past his toughest test to date, falling via decision to perennial contender Jack Hermansson in an Apex main event last February.

    Pyfer, however, wasn’t coming off a defeat for long. He returned to his violent ways during International Fight Week four months later by sleeping Marc-André Barriault. He’ll now look to return to a win streak at Gastelum’s expense.

    The addition of Gastelum vs. Pyfer would mark the third bout on the UFC Mexico lineup. Thus far, Edgar Cháirez and Ronaldo Rodríguez both have home country fights set, with the former facing CJ Vergara and the latter dueling Kevin Borjas.

  • Merab Dvalishvili On Goal Of 4 UFC Title Defenses In 2025: Yan In March, O’Malley In April…

    Merab Dvalishvili On Goal Of 4 UFC Title Defenses In 2025: Yan In March, O’Malley In April…

    UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili intends on living up to his “Machine” moniker in 2025.

    Dvalishvili will enter a new year with gold in his possession for the first time, having dethroned Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 306 at the Sphere this past September.

    But the Georgian won’t have long to celebrate the start of a fresh year before getting back to work inside the cage. He’s slated to co-headline the very first pay-per-view of 2025, defending his belt against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.

    While the champ will make the walk at UFC 311 as the underdog, he’s confident of emerging from Inglewood’s Intuit Dome with the belt still around his waist. And beyond Jan. 18, Dvalishvili isn’t planning on taking things slow.

    During a recent interview uploaded to the UFC Espanol YouTube channel, Dvalishvili outlined his target of four defenses this calendar year, including three in the first two quarters.

    “I want to win this fight and I want to be busy in 2025,” Dvalishvili said. “I’m fighting early this year, Jan. 18, and I just want to be busy. I know (Sean) O’Malley wants to come back in April. I think Petr (Yan) will be ready in March. So maybe fight Petr in March, rematch (O’Malley) in April, and whoever will be the next contender (after that), I will take. I will clean the division again.”

    Petr Yan staked his claim for a rematch opposite Dvalishvili by comfortably getting the better of Deiveson Figueiredo in Macau last Month. The result left him 2-0 since falling short against “The Machine” in early 2023.

    O’Malley, meanwhile, headed for the operating room to repair a torn labrum in the aftermath of his decision loss to Dvalishvili a few months back. He’s made clear his plan to secure redemption against the Georgian upon his recovery.

  • Former UFC Champ Sees Weakness In Jiří Procházka, Backs Jamahal Hill For UFC 311 Fight

    Former UFC Champ Sees Weakness In Jiří Procházka, Backs Jamahal Hill For UFC 311 Fight

    Jiří Procházka doesn’t have what it takes to defeat Jamahal Hill in their upcoming bout, claims a former UFC middleweight champion.

    Procházka and Hill are set to collide in a crucial matchup on the main card of UFC 311, scheduled for Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    Both former UFC light heavyweight champions are coming off crushing knockout losses to reigning divisional kingpin Alex Pereira in their most recent Octagon appearances. In fact, “Denisa” experienced his first UFC defeat at the hands of Pereira when they fought for the then-vacant 205-pound title at UFC 295 in November 2023.

    Procházka’s unorthodox fighting style has made it difficult for his past opponents to decipher, but Luke Rockhold believes that this very uniqueness also exposes significant vulnerabilities — especially when facing someone like Hill.

    During a recent appearance on the JAXXON PODCAST, Rockhold lambasted Procházka’s tactics in his rematch against “Poatan” this past June, asserting that the Czech fighter lacked any coherent strategy in the bout.

    “I didn’t like the way that Jiří fought his last time out versus Pereira,” Rockhold said. “He just didn’t look like he would follow the game plan. Like, what were you doing? I don’t know. To think you could stand with him and play this karate style, Kung Fu game. You can’t fight like that, a guy that he’s so dangerous, you can’t fight with your hands down and you got to go for takedowns. You identified his weakness, but you didn’t even try to exploit it.”

    The former UFC middleweight champion went on to assert that “Sweet Dreams” holds a distinct tactical advantage over Procházka and is more than capable of getting the job done at UFC 311.

    “Jamahal Hill’s more dangerous. He’s got pop, he’s got power, he goes for the kill and Jamahal’s got funky — he’s weirdly athletic sometimes. He’s hard to take down. You’ve seen in the Glover [Teixeira] fight, he was able to get up and get his way and funks his way through a lot of things and he ends up finding his shot, the kill shot. But, like I said, this is a rebuilding process for both of them and you don’t know, but I don’t know. I might favor Jamahal in this one.”

  • UFC Fighter With 1 Win In Last 5 Backtracks On Retirement: ‘I’m Still In It 100 Percent’

    UFC Fighter With 1 Win In Last 5 Backtracks On Retirement: ‘I’m Still In It 100 Percent’

    At UFC 309 last month, it appeared that Damon Jackson’s MMA career had come to an end. The 36-year old was submitted by Jim Miller in the first round at Madison Square Garden and left his gloves inside the Octagon before making his exit.

    In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, he announced that he has decided against retirement, stating that the entire situation was overwhelming which led to him making a rash decision in the moment.

    “It was a very emotional night,” Jackson told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’ve had a lot going on this past two or three years that I haven’t really shared with anyone. I kind of kept it to myself, and I’ve just had a lot going on. It was very frustrating to go out there and be on that stage and to go out there and lose that way, a way that I’ve prided myself in with my jiu-jitsu, with my wrestling.

    “To go out there and take a loss like that, it was just really frustrating – so surprising and so shocking. I couldn’t even really comprehend the fact that I just lost.”

    Jackson previously competed at featherweight where at one point, following a loss to Ilia Topuria, he was riding a four-fight win streak. His meeting with Miller saw him make the move up to lightweight where he was submitted for the second time in his career. He is currently focused on taking some time off to divert his attention elsewhere but in the mean time, he’s continuing to remain active in the gym.

    “I’m not done, man – I’m really not,” Jackson said. “I’ve been in the gym doing two- and three-a-days just like normal. I’m still in it 100 percent, it’s just mentally I really checked out that night and it was an overload, really. But I’m not done. I just need to figure out the path to what I want to do next. But I’m not done fighting, for sure.”

    Jackson also revealed that he has three fights left on his current UFC contract and that the matchmakers are behind his decision to continue. His return won’t be anytime soon following his recent exit from the anti-doping testing pool which requires a six-month testing period before he will be cleared to compete again.

    “I’m not going to fight for anybody but the UFC,” Jackson said. “I’m not going to go test the contract. I don’t give a sh*t about anybody else’s contracts. I don’t care about anyone else. If I ever fight again, it’ll be with UFC. I told Sean, ‘Listen, I’m going to take some time off. I’m probably not even going to fight until this summer.’”

  • VIDEO: Francis Ngannou & Dakota Ditcheva Feature As PFL Counts Down Top 15 Finishes Of 2024

    VIDEO: Francis Ngannou & Dakota Ditcheva Feature As PFL Counts Down Top 15 Finishes Of 2024

    While the year was far from smooth for the Professional Fighters League (PFL), its events still had plenty of memorable moments.

    2024 marked the first year of PFL action post-acquisition of the Bellator MMA brand. Unfortunately, canceled events and disgruntled fighters have largely dominated headlines for the promotion, with champions Patricio Pitbull and Patchy Mix most notably requesting their releases following public complaints over their treatment.

    But as the organization battles issues away from the cage, the action inside it has still often delivered, with 2024 seeing some of the promotion’s most brutal finishes to date.

    And the PFL recently counted down the top 15 in a YouTube video, featuring Francis Ngannou’s rapid knockout of Renan Ferreira in his MMA return and Dakota Ditcheva’s punishing attack on Taila Santos’ body in their flyweight title clash.

    Those two weren’t able to secure top spot, however, with that instead going to middleweight contender Costello van Steenis. “The Spaniard” moved to 2-0 this year by viciously sleeping João Vitor Dantas in just 48 seconds at last month’s championship event in Saudi Arabia.

    2025 will no doubt see plenty more memorable finishes added to the PFL’s highlight packages, with the first opportunity for additions coming on Jan. 25 in Dubai.

    The opening event of the new year sees Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov and Irish up-and-comer Paul Hughes collide with gold on the line in the Road To Dubai: Champions Series main event. Meanwhile, the likes of Nathan Kelly and Ibragim Ibragimov make up the undercard contests.

  • Michael Bisping Includes Khamzat Chimaev & Tatiana Suarez On List of Likely New UFC Champions In 2025

    Michael Bisping Includes Khamzat Chimaev & Tatiana Suarez On List of Likely New UFC Champions In 2025

    The last two years have produced a staggering amount of title changes in the UFC. Following the record-tying eleven times that we heard “And New” in 2023, 2024 saw seven fighters capture the gold.

    Valentina Shevchenko, Raquel Pennington, Julianna Peña, Merab Dvalishvili, Ilia Topuria, Belal Muhammad and Dricus Du Plessis all got their hands on the most coveted prize in MMA but former champion Michael Bisping believes that 2025 will see less movement. In a recent episode of Fight Week on TNT Sports, Bisping (alongside co-hosts Adam Catterall & Nick Peet) gave his predictions for who will end 2025 as the champion of each division.

    He believes that four belts will be held by different competitors in 12-months time. At women’s strawweight, Bisping predicted that Tatiana Suarez will finally realize her true potential by becoming the new champion whether or not she defeats Weili Zhang in the co-main event of UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia this February.

    “I’ve got to go with Tatiana Suarez – I did say that this time last year. Of course, she’s fighting Zhang Weili, so we’ll see how that plays out. I just think the wrestling that Tatiana Suarez has is going to cause a lot of problems for a lot of people. This time next year, one way or another, she’ll be the champ.”

    Bisping also believes that the women’s bantamweight division will have a new face in the form of Kayla Harrison. The former PFL star has made a huge impact since arriving in the UFC, producing back-to-back wins over Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira to put her in title contention.

    “The women’s bantamweight champion, there’s only going to be one name in discussion: Kayla Harrison. No offense to Julianna Peña, I think she’s great for the sport, she’s a fun person. She’s fun to sit and watch fights with because she talks a lot of s-h-i-t the whole time. She’s great, but Kayla Harrison, I believe, will be too big, too strong, too good at judo, too mentally strong, too fit. She’ll drag her down, she’ll get the submission, and she’ll also get the belt.”

    The middleweight title is also set to be on the line at UFC 312 on February 8 but “The Count” does not see either man in that matchup ending the year on top. He believes that Khamzat Chimaev will become the champion by the end of the year, regardless of who he has to face to finally get his hands on the belt.

    “It’s interesting because I’m looking at the rankings here. I never thought we’d see a year where Robert Whittaker wasn’t in the conversation. It just shows the sport is such a cruel mistress. Obviously, Khamzat Chimaev squeezed his teeth out last time, and yeah, I’m gonna have to say Khazmzat. Dricus (Du Plessis) is a tremendous champion. I think him and Sean (Strickland) will have another close fight, but I think regardless, when Khamzat gets his chance, he’ll be victorious. I mean, what he did to Robert Whittaker – I’ll never underestimate that man ever again.”

    Last but not least, the Brit rounds out his four changes with a big one. Not only does Bisping think that Jon Jones will face Tom Aspinall this year, he predicts that the interim champion will unify the belts by becoming the first man to defeat the consensus greatest of all time (not including Matt Hamill via disqualification).

    “If there is an interim champion, it will be Tom Aspinall. However, I don’t think there will be one. I believe that the reason Tom isn’t fighting at London is because Jon Jones–Tom Aspinall will go down. The biggest heavyweight fight the sport has ever seen. Maybe the biggest fight period that this sport has ever seen. Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall, and when the dust settles, ‘Tommy Aspinall, Aspinall, Tommy Aspinall! Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na!’”

  • Undefeated UFC Contender Handed 6-Month Suspension For Second Failed Drug Test

    Undefeated UFC Contender Handed 6-Month Suspension For Second Failed Drug Test

    Azamat Murzakanov will be spending the first few months of 2025 on the side lines after it was announced on Monday that he has been serving a six-month suspension. The UFC’s anti-doping partner, Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) stated that the undefeated light heavyweight had tested positive for LGD-4033.

    CSAD also revealed that they believe the result from the out-of-competition test that was taken on October 8 was due to a “purported dietary supplement” which Murzakanov had submitted to them. They found traces of LGD-4033 in the supplement but the #12-ranked contender at 205-pounds was still suspended because, as CSAD states, the supplement was not “third-party tested and certified”.

    He will be eligible to return to the Octagon on May 1 due to his suspension time rising from 90 to 180 days due this being his second violation. Murzakanov was previously suspended by USADA for two years ahead of his UFC debut back in 2017.

    After winning the BRAVE CF openweight tournament in 2019, he was given the opportunity to compete on the 2021 series of Dana White’s Contender Series where he earned his contract. Since then, he has produced four consecutive wins and three finishes to find himself ranked in the top 15 at light heavyweight, beating the likes of Alonzo Menifield, Dustin Jacoby and Devin Clark.

    He was expected to face the #8-ranked Nikita Krylov at UFC 309 last month in New York until he withdrew from the fight with the reason now being revealed.

  • ‘No One Beats DDP’ – Fans Debate Khamzat Chimaev Being Betting Favorite To End 2025 As UFC MW Champion

    The odds are in for the UFC’s champions in 2025, and the betting line for one particular division has caused a stir…

    As always, titles are expected to change hands on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in the new year. DraftKings has the middleweight class as one in which a new kingpin could be crowned.

    Opening odds for who will have UFC gold in their possession in 12 months’ time recently emerged, with the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev being favorite to be occupying the middleweight throne by the end of 2025.

    As it stands, he’d have to unseat Dricus Du Plessis to do so. The South African will enter the year with the crown after a 2024 in which he took it from Sean Strickland and defended it against Israel Adesanya.

    The odds have “Stillknocks” as the second favorite to finish 2025 as champ at +120, being pipped to the post by “Borz’s” -200 line.

    That, in addition to the figures beside names like Caio Borralho, Sean Strickland, Nassourdine Imavov and Adesanya, have split opinion in the MMA community online.

    https://twitter.com/Percy2mac/status/1873492992167969087
    https://twitter.com/ProchazkaSzn/status/1873461084012863629
    https://twitter.com/thebankrolldon/status/1873461440650301518

    The first chance to dent Du Plessis’ chances of another Christmas as king has fallen to Strickland, who is set to face the South African in a rematch next February. The pair will headline UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia 13 months on from their close five-round contest in Canada.

  • Jon Jones Reflects On Achievements In 2024: ‘Defeated The Greatest Heavyweight In UFC History…’

    Jon Jones Reflects On Achievements In 2024: ‘Defeated The Greatest Heavyweight In UFC History…’

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has been looking back on this year, and it’s safe to say he’s pleased with his accomplishments.

    In terms of his mixed martial arts career, Jones competed once in defense of his title last month in New York City. Within the iconic surroundings of Madison Square Garden, “Bones” finally shared the cage with Stipe Miocic.

    Before the matchup came to fruition a year on from its initial cancellation, Jones came under heavy flak for facing a veteran returning from a near four-year layoff over his division’s interim champ, Tom Aspinall.

    But the Rochester native didn’t budge in his dismissal of the Brit and ultimately had his hand raised as many had predicted, landing a thunderous spinning back kick to the body to stop Miocic at UFC 309.

    And while listing his 2024 triumphs in a recent X post, Jones included his victory over “the greatest heavyweight in UFC history,” alongside actions like voting in a presidential election for the first time and traveling the world to spread his MMA knowledge.

    In a subsequent post, Jones revealed his plans to decide on some New Year’s resolutions ahead of 2025, a year in which he intends to produce a similar list of achievements.

    “It feels amazing to look back at the last year and make a list of achievements like that. I’m sure if I spent more time on it, I’d realize just how many things I left out. Now, I’m excited to start writing down some New Year’s resolutions and even more excited to see the list of things I accomplish after 2025.”

    Should something UFC-related appear in Jones’ post 12 months down the line, it would seemingly come via a long-awaited unification fight with Aspinall.

    While “Bones” has continued to favor other assignments such as Alex Pereira for the new year, UFC CEO Dana White has been clear in stating that any return for Jones would come in the form of a clash with the British interim titleholder.

  • Rampage Jackson Describes What Led To The Downfall Of His MMA Career: ‘Happens To The Best Of Us’

    Rampage Jackson Describes What Led To The Downfall Of His MMA Career: ‘Happens To The Best Of Us’

    Quinton “Rampage” Jackson remains one of the most iconic fighters in MMA history, known for his tenacity, charisma, and unforgettable performances in promotions like PRIDE FC, UFC and Bellator.

    During his illustrious career, Jackson achieved notable accolades, including winning the PRIDE middleweight championship and the UFC light heavyweight title.

    “Rampage” rose to stardom in Japan during his tenure with PRIDE, captivating fans with his dynamic fighting style and larger-than-life personality. After leaving the UFC in 2015 with a decision victory over Fábio Maldonado, he transitioned full-time to Bellator.

    His career concluded on a difficult note, going 1-3 in his last four bouts, with his final fight being a TKO loss to Fedor Emelianenko in 2019.

    Recently, Jackson reflected on his career during the JAXXON Podcast, offering candid insights into the mistakes he made along the way.

    “(Bryan) Battle, don’t get complacent with the scales. Always push yourself harder even if you outgrow your teammates and coaches — don’t feel bad. I’m going to tell you something, with your personality and your skills, you can be a big star in the UFC, and there’s not that many stars. It could be your time soon, right? So make sure you train really hard; I’m talking about taking it super serious.

    “I don’t care if your friends tell you, ‘Oh, you think you’re this.’ F* that. You’ve got to be selfish for a little while because Father Time is undefeated, and it’s going to be a short window. I’m telling you, keep honing in on your skills. Don’t get complacent, because that happens to the best of us. It happened to me. I was like, ‘My s*** don’t stink,’ and I stopped training as hard. I did. I was a big star, and I stopped training as hard like, ‘F*** it.’ Bro, you could be a big star.”

    Jackson’s reflections highlight the importance of consistent dedication and self-discipline in a fighter’s career, offering valuable lessons for the next generation of MMA athletes.

  • Tom Aspinall Predicts Every Men’s UFC Champion When 2025 Ends

    Tom Aspinall Predicts Every Men’s UFC Champion When 2025 Ends

    Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall recently shared his predictions for who will be holding UFC titles across all men’s weight classes by the end of 2025.

    Given the depth of talent in the promotion’s divisions, his projections during a recent interview with TNT Sports provide interesting insights into how a UFC champ assesses the title picture in other divisions.

    • Flyweight:
      “I mean, I would have chosen Muhammad Mokaev, but he’s gone. So, [Alexandre] Pantoja, I would say – Pantoja will still be there this time next year.”
    • Bantamweight:
      “I mean it’d be between Merab [Dvalishvili] and Umar [Nurmagomedov] next year. That’s an interesting fight, but I would back Merab.”
    • Featherweight:
      “I’ll say Lerone Murphy will be getting up there by this time next year, but I don’t think he’ll have won a title just yet – I think that’s probably the year after. I think Ilia Topuria will still be champion by this time next year. Easily.”
    • Lightweight:
      “Islam [Makhachev] is going to be champion, again, by this time next year.”
    • Welterweight:
      “I think Belal [Muhammad] is massively underrated, and I think that he’s still going to be the champion next year.”
    • Middleweight:
      “Right, I’ve picked against Dricus [du Plessis] so many times, and I’m not going to do it again. But I think to say that Khamzat Chimaev is not going to be a champion by this time next year is just silly – so I’m going to say Khamzat.”
    • Light Heavyweight:
      “I think Alex Pereira – ah, I don’t know. He’s got a tough fight with Magomed Ankalaev. I think that’s a really tough fight, so I don’t know with that one. I’m going to sit on the fence; it’s going to be one of them two: either Ankalaev or Pereira.”
    • Heavyweight:
      “Ah, come on, come on. This time next year – as Ricky Gervais said [in The Office], I could be sitting in this hot seat yet – so I’m going to say me by this time next year, definitely.”

    Aspinall remains optimistic about securing a bout with current heavyweight champion Jon Jones in 2025. Jones has also expressed interest in a potential light heavyweight showdown with Alex Pereira instead.

  • Colby Covington Opens Up About Chael Sonnen’s Near Towel Throw At UFC Tampa

    Colby Covington Opens Up About Chael Sonnen’s Near Towel Throw At UFC Tampa

    Colby Covington fully acknowledges the gravity of Chael Sonnen’s revelation that he was moments away from throwing in the towel during UFC Tampa.

    Earlier this month, Covington stepped into the Octagon against Joaquin Buckley in the main event of the final UFC Fight Night of 2024. From the opening bell to the fight’s dramatic conclusion, “Chaos” found himself overwhelmed by Buckley’s relentless onslaught, resulting in a TKO (doctor stoppage) defeat.

    “New Mansa” unleashed brutal combinations that left Covington struggling to keep up. A vicious uppercut in the first round opened a deep gash above the former UFC interim welterweight champion’s eye, causing a torrent of blood that worsened with every subsequent strike.

    By the third round, referee Dan Miragliotta was compelled to halt the action, calling the Octagon-side doctor to assess the gruesome gash above Covington’s eye. After a brief evaluation, the doctor advised Miragliotta to stop the fight, deeming the injury too severe to continue.

    After the fight, Sonnen, who served as Covington’s cornerman, shared on his YouTube channel that, in light of the injury’s nature, he was prepared to throw in the towel himself — if the doctor or referee didn’t take action first.

    During a recent Twitch stream, “Chaos” reflected on Sonnen’s decision and expressed that he harbors no ill will toward his mentor. The 36-year-old Californian admitted that, while the moment was tough to swallow, he recognizes it as a well-judged call given the circumstances, no matter how challenging it may have been.

    “Chael cares about me. He’s a real one,” Covington said. “If he was throwing it in, it’s because he knows that I couldn’t see. He knows that where the cut was at, it was bleeding into my right eye and I couldn’t see. I was seeing three of four different people.

    “He knew that I couldn’t see. So if he’s going to do it, it’s because he cares about me and he knows that I couldn’t see and that was going to be tough to overcome. I thought I was coming on stronger, and I feel like they were going to have to throw in the towel for Buckley by the end of round five. So it sucks, it’s unfortunate.”

    Covington is currently navigating the most difficult stretch of his career, having posted a 2-4 record in his last six UFC bouts, which includes three defeats in high-stakes title fights.

  • Islam Makhachev Reveals How He’ll Know When To Retire From MMA: ‘Beterbiev Is 39…’

    Islam Makhachev continues to solidify his legacy as one of MMA’s most dominant forces. The UFC lightweight champion has showcased his skills against elite competition, establishing himself as a formidable presence in the sport.

    Makhachev claimed the vacant lightweight title with a submission victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 280. He successfully defended it with a decision win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 and followed it up with a knockout win in their rematch at UFC 294.

    Most recently, at UFC 302, Makhachev submitted Dustin Poirier, further cementing his reign. His next title defense is set for Jan. 18, 2025, at UFC 311, where he will face Arman Tsarukyan in a highly anticipated rematch.

    In a recent interview with Yukah MMA (h/t Bloody Elbow), Makhachev addressed questions about his career longevity and whether he has a specific retirement age in mind.

    “I wouldn’t say it’s that bad; if I feel like I have stopped [developing], then that’s it — I have to quit. No, [there is no age in mind], I don’t associate anything with age… [Artur] Beterbiev is 39 years old, and he’s the best boxer in the world. Years are not the limit. I don’t have any [title] numbers at all [in mind].”

    When asked how he would recognize when it’s time to step away from the sport, Makhachev explained that he’ll rely on comparisons with his training partners.

    “I train with a lot of young guys in the gym. If I see that I can’t keep up, that they are catching up with me, overtaking me, then why should I torture myself? I’ll stop [then].”

    For Makhachev, the focus remains on continuous improvement and maintaining dominance, with no immediate plans to slow down.

  • Jiří Procházka Explains How Second UFC Title Reign Would Be Different: ‘I Didn’t Really Realize…’

    Jiří Procházka Explains How Second UFC Title Reign Would Be Different: ‘I Didn’t Really Realize…’

    Jiří Procházka is aware of the mistakes he made during a brief stint as UFC light heavyweight champion in 2022.

    Procházka enjoyed a quick ascent to top spot on MMA’s biggest stage, capturing UFC gold in just his third fight in the promotion. After knockouts of Volkan Oezdemir and Dominick Reyes, he submitted Glover Teixeira to avoid certain defeat on the scorecards in Singapore.

    But the era of “BJP” was a short one, not reaching his planned first defense against Teixeira after a shoulder injury forced the Czech star to vacate the belt.

    The 32-year-old has since failed in two bids to regain champ status against Alex Pereira, with two knockout losses to “Poatan” sandwiching a memorable bounce-back performance against Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 300 this past April.

    Like that result accomplished, Procházka will be looking to put in a display worthy of another crack at recapturing the title when he meets a fellow ex-champion in Jamahal Hill at UFC 311 on Jan. 11.

    During an interview with MMA Fighting‘s Mike Heck, Procházka looked ahead to what a victory over “Sweet Dreams” would bring, reiterating his desire for a third shot at blemishing Pereira’s perfect light heavyweight record.

    And were he to succeed in that ambition, “BJP” is confident he knows how to better approach a second reign.

    “Maybe first time, when I won, I didn’t really realize that it was a big, a big thing in my life, and I was not so — like I say — grateful for that,” Procházka said. “I took that like, automatically, I will be the champion. OK, I’m the champion, and that’s all, yeah. I [didn’t have] these feelings to be humble, grateful in that.

    “So I said to myself, ‘I want to go this way one more time,’ not just one more time, but I want to go there, take this belt, take that position of the best man in the light heavyweight [division], and one more time, but grateful. Be humble. And really appreciate that moment. Really appreciate the life that gave you this chance to fight for that again. And right now, I’m in this process. This is what I feel right now.”

    Procházka features in one of the most prominent and crucial undercard bouts at UFC 311, a pay-per-view that will be headlined by highly anticipated title defenses for lightweight champ Islam Makhachev and bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili.

  • John McCarthy Suggests Improvement To UFC Broadcasts: ‘I’m Being Honest…’

    John McCarthy Suggests Improvement To UFC Broadcasts: ‘I’m Being Honest…’

    “Big” John McCarthy didn’t just help write the Unified Rules of MMA, he knows them like the back of his hand. The veteran referee turned commentator has been using his expertise when it comes to the rules of the sport to assist on the PFL’s broadcasts since the promotion acquired Bellator last year.

    McCarthy is often utilized as a rules analyst who will chime in on the broadcast to explain what is happening in certain scenarios which is no different to what happens in other sports. His current contract with the PFL has recently expired and though he does not intend on going back to the days where he would be constantly flying from A to B, he does think that the MMA leader could benefit from his services.

    “Big” John spoke in a recent interview with MMA Junkie about how the UFC would benefit from having a rules analyst for their broadcasts even if it’s not necessarily him in that role. He explained why this would be beneficial as an added layer of detail which the commentators aren’t currently providing.

    “Oh, absolutely,” McCarthy said. “I don’t know if the UFC would want me, but yeah, I could do it with the UFC. And I’m being honest, I think it’s something the UFC needs. They have too many times that their commentators are unsure about what is going on or what should be done, and that’s not their fault. Their commentators are there to explain the ins and outs of fighting to the fans. To sit there and expect them to know all the rules and what the mechanics of the referee is and what they need – they can’t do that.

    “So, they have Din Thomas kind of off to the side as the coach. I do think they need, and I’m not saying it’s me, but they need somebody there to absolutely clear things up for the fans when they are in a situation when the time has been stopped, a foul has occurred, or something like that, and gives the correct information about what’s occuring and where they can go with what has happened.”

  • Caio Borralho Reveals Message From Israel Adesanya About 2025 Fight

    Caio Borralho Reveals Message From Israel Adesanya About 2025 Fight

    Following his win over Jared Cannonier in August, Caio Borralho has been waiting on a huge fight for his next outing. The #6-ranked middleweight has won seven fights in a row since debuting in the Octagon in April of 2022.

    It appeared for a brief moment that the Brazilian might be being lined-up for arguably the biggest fight in the division outside of fighting for the title. He had expressed interest in facing former champion Israel Adesanya following his loss at UFC 305 and it seemed like this option was being presented to “The Last Stylebender”.

    Several months later it was announced that Adesanya will be headlining the UFC’s return to Saudi Arabia on February 1 but it will be against the contender that is one spot higher than Borralho in the rankings, France’s Nassourdine Imavov. During a recent appearance on the Overdogs Podcast, the Fighting Nerds stand out spoke about this fight and gave his thoughts on how it all played out.

    “I think the UFC offered Izzy two fights: me or Imavov,” Borralho said on the Overdogs Podcast. “And then, he suddenly posted a clip studying Imavov’s tape, and I was like, ‘Come on, bro.’ I sent a message to Izzy, and was like, ‘Bro, why you choosing that?’

    “He was like, ‘Bro, we’re going to fight next year. We’re going to dance next year for the belt.’ It’s OK, I respect you if you choose that. I think he chose right. I think Imavov is a better fight for him, and I think Izzy is the favorite in this fight.”

    Adesanya said a similar thing during a recent YouTube video where he said that though Imavov was the only name that he was offered, Borralho was a name on his radar that he would have accepted if this fight was presented instead. “The Last Stylebender” referenced the message that he sent him, saying that he respects Borralho for wanting to test himself.

    Borralho also weighed in with his thoughts on the fight that has been booked for February 1, giving the former champion an advantage when it comes to the five-round duration.

    “Imavov, I think he’s good and all that, but I don’t think he has the cardio for five rounds,” Borralho said. “I don’t think he has the best mentality for five rounds. He gets frustrated a lot into the fight, and he fought a three-round fight with Brendan Allen in Paris and it was like a boring fight.

    “They were tired since the first round, and I think if he does the same thing with Izzy, Izzy is going to pick him apart. I think he’s good at fighting guys that are shorter than him. I don’t think he’s good when he’s fighting guys who are taller than him.”

  • Top Coach Planning Possible MMA Exit After 100th UFC Win: ‘Definitely Coming Towards The End’

    Top Coach Planning Possible MMA Exit After 100th UFC Win: ‘Definitely Coming Towards The End’

    Fortis MMA’s Sayif Saud is recognized as one of the top coaches in mixed martial arts today. With the help of the rest of the coaching staff, this team has gone on to have a lot of success with Saud receiving justified praise but all of that hard work is catching up with him.

    In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Saud spoke about how his days as a coach might be coming to an end. The Dallas-based mastermind has been cornering UFC fighters for over ten years at this stage and during that timeframe, he has racked up 97 UFC wins under his belt.

    The Fortis MMA boss captain has created some great memories alongside fighters like Geoff Neal, Macy Chiasson, Ryan Spann and of course, the man that brought Saud his first UFC title win, Brandon Moreno. With the big 100 being just around the corner, Saud believes that leaving the sport after putting in twenty years makes a lot of sense to him right now.

    “I always said that 100 UFC wins and I was going to be done,” Saud told MMA Junkie. “One hundred UFC wins, win a title – I would like to win a title back and get it one more time for (Moreno) – but 100 wins and this will be 20 years. Next year will be 20 years. 2005 is when I started. I moved to Albuquerque in 2006, then came to Dallas in 2009, and now in 2025, it will be 20 years in MMA. And it’s been great, man. It’s been an incredible run, but it’s definitely coming towards the end.

    “I look forward to being home and kind of spending time with my kids. I don’t really realize how nice it is to be home and just be around my family, be around my kids and be around them and see them and hug them and kiss them. Just be around them more as they’re getting older. I’m getting into a different period in my life. I’m 44 and getting to the next generation of guys, we’re going to hopefully put that 100 up on the board.”

    Saud hopes that in his absence, the outstanding team will continue to push on without him to keep building the momentum they have accumulated in recent years in particular.

    As for when he might wrap things up, the team currently has three big fights on the calendar that are all set to take place before the end of March. Should Diego Ferreira, Chiasson and Spann all get their hands raised in their upcoming outings, Saud could be calling it a year within the first quarter of 2025.

  • Ian Garry Dismisses Placement In UFC Rankings: ‘I’m Definitely Number F**king Two!’

    Ian Garry Dismisses Placement In UFC Rankings: ‘I’m Definitely Number F**king Two!’

    UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry believes his performance in defeat against Shavkat Rakhmonov cemented him as second in the chasing pack.

    Garry had a late-notice opportunity to secure his first title shot on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage earlier this month at UFC 310. He stepped in for the injured Belal Muhammad to face Shavkat Rakhmonov, a fellow undefeated up-and-comer at 170 pounds.

    While “Nomad’s” championship opportunity had turned into a defense of his top contender status, the Kazakh star emerged with his date opposite champ Muhammad still intact after narrowly outpointing Garry.

    “The Future” didn’t lose stock, however, given the competitive nature of his display. But that doesn’t mean he was rewarded with a strong push up the welterweight ladder, on which he remains a few positions off the top five at #7.

    During a recent interview with MMA Knockout, Garry was firm in rejecting that placement, insisting that the way he challenged the highly regarded Rakhmonov leaves him as the division’s clear number two contender.

    “The way I look at this is that the fight against Shavkat was to be the number one contender in the world and go out and fight for the belt next,” Garry said. “If I’m not the number one contender, of which Shavkat got his hand raised and has now cemented himself, I’m definitely number f**king two.

    “That’s the way I look at it. Because there’s no way after that performance, you can’t sit there and say that I’m (not) one of the best in the division,” he continued. “So whatever the rankings want to officially say, it’s okay.”

    It remains to be seen what lies in Garry’s future next year. While he was briefly linked toward the headline spot opposite Leon Edwards at UFC London in March, “The Future” has dismissed talk of an outing in Europe if it isn’t in his home country of Ireland.

  • Dan Hardy Describes What Separates PFL Champ Dakota Ditcheva From ‘Pioneer’ Ronda Rousey

    Dan Hardy Describes What Separates PFL Champ Dakota Ditcheva From ‘Pioneer’ Ronda Rousey

    Dakota Ditcheva was one of the stand out stars of 2024, as seen in MMA News’ end of year awards. The female fighter of the year achieved incredible things in the PFL to prove once and for all that she is the real deal.

    The devastating striker has had clear star potential ever since she signed to the promotion but putting her into the regular season would be the real test for her and she passed each hurdle with flying colors. Her trajectory has been so rapid that some have drawn comparisons to the competitor that really kicked the door down for women in MMA, Ronda Rousey.

    Rousey’s personality and success inside the Octagon brought a new spotlight to the female side of the sport as she transcended MMA to become a mainstream sports star. Given Ditcheva’s star quality and proven capabilities inside the cage, the Brit could be heading the same way.

    In a recent interview with Bloody Elbow, PFL commentator Dan Hardy spoke about what he believes is the key difference between Ditcheva and “Rowdy”. “The Outlaw” thinks that whilst both women have specialist skill sets to some degree, the reigning PFL flyweight champion has shown that she can do everything when she needs to.

    “Ronda was a pioneer in martial arts, women’s martial arts in particular, but the reason why she was so effective is because she was particularly overwhelming in one range, right? Like, she came in, she grabbed a hold of somebody, threw them to the floor, and wrenched their arm off. Whereas Dakota, over the last two years, has also shown that she’s a fully well-rounded MMA fighter.”

    Her performance in the finals where she dismantled Taila Santos before stopping her in the second round was proof of this. Rousey was able to run right through the opposition that was put in front of her as well until all of a sudden, the sport had moved on. For Ditcheva, she has proven this year that she’s far more well-rounded than the former face of women’s MMA.

    “I think that’s another thing that gives people a lot of confidence that she could compete with anyone in the world. She can grapple and stay safe if she hits the floor with a world-class jiu-jitsu player. And her takedown defense coupled with those Muay Thai knees could put anybody away. And she’s also got the frame that’s perfect for this weight class. I could make the argument right now that she could beat anybody in this weight class on the planet.”

  • VIDEO: Best UFC Knockouts Of 2024

    VIDEO: Best UFC Knockouts Of 2024

    2024 saw some spectacular knockouts inside the UFC Octagon.

    With the calendar year at its conclusion, recent weeks and days have seen fans and pundits reflecting on what the past 12 months brought us in mixed martial arts.

    And the most enjoyable end-of-year discussion? The best KOs.

    Nothing beats a violent striking stoppage, and 2024 wasn’t short on some special ones. From Max Holloway’s buzzer-beating finish of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 to “Doctor” Ming Shi’s head kick to sleep Xiaocan Feng at UFC Macau, the year had plenty of KOs worthy of getting fans up from there seats.

    And the UFC recently uploaded a compilation of 2024’s best on YouTube for fans’ viewing entertainment before the new year arrives.

    2025 will no doubt see plenty more memorable finishes added to the UFC’s highlight packages, with the first opportunity for additions coming on Jan. 11 at the Apex in Las Vegas.

    The opening event of the new year sees strawweight contenders Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas run it back in the main event, with the likes of Chris Curtis, Abdul Razak Alhassan, Santiago Ponzinibbio and Uroš Medić making up the key undercard contests.

  • Deiveson Figueiredo Explains How Merab Dvalishvili Can Defeat Umar Nurmagomedov At UFC 311

    Deiveson Figueiredo Explains How Merab Dvalishvili Can Defeat Umar Nurmagomedov At UFC 311

    Deiveson Figueiredo wouldn’t be surprised to see Merab Dvalishvili emerge victorious in his first title defense as the bantamweight champion.

    Dvalishvili is set to face Umar Nurmagomedov in the co-main event of UFC 311, a pay-per-view event scheduled for Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    Despite riding an impressive 12-fight winning streak, the Georgian enters the fight as the betting underdog against Nurmagomedov. For Figueiredo, the style of the champion is the key to his success.

    “I tend more for Merab,” Figueiredo told MMA Junkie. “The reason I do this is his striking is not refined, but he manages to tire people and confuse them so he can take them down. On the other hand, Umar is a guy who knows how to submit from the bottom, so there’s that risk for Merab. But after five rounds, I see Merab’s hand being raised.”

    Figueiredo, a former flyweight champion, plans to closely follow UFC 311. The Brazilian expressed his desire to remain at bantamweight and potentially add another divisional title to his résumé.

  • Michael Johnson Reveals The Biggest Problem He Faced When Fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Michael Johnson knows firsthand the challenge of stepping into the Octagon with Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    The two faced off in November 2016 at UFC 205, where Khabib submitted Johnson in the third round of their lightweight bout.

    “The Menace” had taken the fight on just two weeks’ notice, a fact that added to the difficulty of facing the undefeated Dagestani fighter. Fans may remember the intense moment during the fight when Khabib was heard telling Johnson to give up, claiming he needed a title fight.

    “I was like, ‘F*ck you!’” Johnson recalled during an appearance on Mike Perry’s Overdogs Podcast. “I hit him with a backhand like, ‘I’m still in it. I can’t move, but I’m in it.’ I wasn’t going to f*cking give up. He’s good.”

    Reflecting on the fight, Johnson admitted that focusing solely on Nurmagomedov’s wrestling was a mistake:

    “I went into that fight, his wrestling is all I thought about. His wrestling, his wrestling, his wrestling. So, I wasn’t thinking about myself, and that was the mistake. I just went in there kind of waiting for him to shoot, trying to find my motions. I was kind of crouched down, and I couldn’t really move around.”

    Johnson also spoke about Khabib’s strength and dominance:

    “Bro, he’s good, strong. He felt like a middleweight, and that’s a problem. I couldn’t move, but he helped me get better. I went back to the gym and started working on that. Without that fight, I wouldn’t be here.”

    Nurmagomedov went on to capture the UFC lightweight title and successfully defend it three times before retiring undefeated.

    As for Johnson, he recently delivered a standout performance, earning Performance of the Night honors for his knockout of Ottman Azaitar earlier this month at UFC Tampa.

  • Ilia Topuria On Meeting Conor McGregor: It Felt Like His Aura Came From Hell

    Ilia Topuria On Meeting Conor McGregor: It Felt Like His Aura Came From Hell

    Ilia Topuria didn’t have the most positive experience meeting Conor McGregor, largely due to the energy and body language he perceived during their interaction. Topuria shared his thoughts during a resurfaced clip from The Wild Project podcast, where he reflected on the time they both fought at UFC 264.

    At the event, McGregor headlined the card against Dustin Poirier but suffered a gruesome leg break in the first round. Meanwhile, Topuria delivered an impressive first-round KO victory over Ryan Hall. Despite their contrasting outcomes, Topuria recalled an unsettling vibe from McGregor.

    “Super bad vibes,” Topuria described (H/T to MMA Mania). “Look, analyzing people as human beings, let’s look at Conor. A guy, his wife, his children, his family. I can’t give an opinion. I don’t know how these people are. He might be an excellent person, and I perceived his energy in a different way from what it is. He simply came to work, put on a show.

    “But the feeling I had when he was around was, ‘Keep him away!’ Keep him away. Because you can be Conor McGregor and act however you want, but no one is above me, only God, you know what I’m saying? Congratulations on your career, I respect it. But don’t tell me a thing because I’ll take your head off.”

    Topuria went on to describe McGregor’s aura as something he had never encountered before:

    “Just a terrible energy. I swear it felt like his aura came from hell. I wanted to be away from this dude, he had a black energy I have never felt before. Agustin, my trainer, he’s a very spiritual guy. He’s very careful with the energies. He said, ‘This dude is gonna lose badly and split.’ He broke his leg that night. He brought an energy of hell, you know what I’m saying?”

    Since that fateful night at UFC 264, McGregor has yet to return to competition, now over three and a half years later. In contrast, Topuria has continued to rise in the UFC, recently defending his Featherweight Championship against former champion Max Holloway.