MMA News

Category: MMA

  • VIDEO: Former PFL Champion Raush Manfio Suffers Scary KO vs. Russian Nicknamed ‘Headhunter’ 

    VIDEO: Former PFL Champion Raush Manfio Suffers Scary KO vs. Russian Nicknamed ‘Headhunter’ 

    2021 PFL lightweight champion Raush Manfio’s struggles since leaving the promotion have continued.

    Manfio was among the PFL’s leading names after he joined in 2021 off the back of title success under the Titan FC banner. “Cavalo da Guerra” won the championship in his first season, defeating Joilton Lutterbach, Anthony Pettis, and Clayton Collard en route to a victory over Loik Radzhabov in the final.

    But the Brazilian’s PFL tenure came to an end on bad terms in 2023. Manfio was booked opposite friend and fellow countryman Natan Schulte in the final round of regular season matchups, losing by unanimous decision in a low-output and lackluster contest.

    The promotion had been accused of pairing them up in order to boost Shane Burgos’ chances of qualification. And when the ex-UFC fighter couldn’t capitalize, the victorious Schulte was suspended and forced to sacrifice his playoff place to Burgos due to what the PFL branded an unacceptable level of effort against Manfio, who was also penalized.

    Both later departed the PFL, with Schulte yet to make his return and Manfio competing twice.

    After a submission defeat under the XFC banner this past May, “Cavalo da Guerra” moved to 0-2 in 2024 this weekend when he fought Bibert “Headhunter” Tumenov at ACA 182 in Moscow. Manfio’s woes were compounded in brutal fashion, as he was folded against the fence and rendered unconscious inside one round.

    The result has left Manfio winless in three fights. Prior to his recent defeats, the Brazilian hadn’t fallen to a losing skid across his professional career.

    Tumenov, meanwhile, has now won back-to-back outings opposite PFL alums under Russia’s ACA banner. He previously stopped Lance Palmer with strikes to move his winning run to three bouts. “Headhunter” also boasts a victory over Diego Brandão.

  • Dana White Teases Something In The Works That Fans Will ‘Never F**king See Coming’ For 2025

    Dana White Teases Something In The Works That Fans Will ‘Never F**king See Coming’ For 2025

    Following UFC Tampa, the promotion’s final event of the year, Dana White dropped a tantalizing hint that has fight fans buzzing.

    Reflecting on a banner year for his promotion — one filled with massive fights, record-breaking moments, and unforgettable highlights — White suggested that even bigger surprises await in the near future.

    Speaking to the media at the post-fight press conference, the UFC CEO shared his excitement about what lies ahead for both the organization and his other ventures, including Power Slap and Nitro Circus. While he remained tight-lipped about specifics, his comments hinted at seismic plans in the works.

    “Every year over the last 17 years, I’ve said, ‘How is next year gonna be bigger than this year?’” White said. “And some of the stuff that we’re already working on is…on multiple levels, not just UFC. We got Power Slap meetings going on down there. SLS [Street League Skateboarding], which I own a piece of, did an event down there today, and UFC stuff is being worked on right now in Brazil.”

    White then upped the intrigue, promising a major announcement that would shock fans.

    “I anticipate a lot of big fights,” he said with a grin. “I’ve got something in the works right now that’ll drive you [media] crazy. All you guys will be running around. I got something in the works that you will never f**ing see coming for 2025. It literally started to come together last night. Yeah, we got some fun stuff coming up.”

    While fans speculate about the cryptic remarks, the UFC is gearing up for its first event of 2025. UFC Vegas 101 is set to take place on Jan. 11 at Las Vegas’ Apex, headlined by a women’s strawweight rematch between Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas.

    With White’s tease of groundbreaking news for 2025, anticipation for what the new year will bring is already at an all-time high.

  • Top MMA Coach Picks Joaquin Buckley As ‘Fighter Of The Year’ Over Alex Pereira & Ilia Topuria

    Top MMA Coach Picks Joaquin Buckley As ‘Fighter Of The Year’ Over Alex Pereira & Ilia Topuria

    Coach Eric Nicksick, for one, has been extremely impressed by UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley’s efforts in 2024.

    Buckley closed out his year in style on Saturday night when he headlined the final event of 2024. Opposite him inside Tampa’s Amalie Arena was former interim champion Colby Covington, who planned on placing his name back into title contention a year on from a third failed bid for undisputed status.

    “Chaos” didn’t succeed in that ambition, however, with Buckley dominating him in the opening two rounds before a deep cut sustained just above Covington’s right eye proved too bad for him to continue.

    With the result, “New Mansa” has gone 4-0 this year, having previously knocked out Vicente Luque, outpointed Nursulton Ruziboev, and stopped Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.

    And according to Nicksick, that’s elevated him not only into the “Fighter of the Year” discussion, but above both consensus leading candidates Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria.

    “Real talk, @Newmansa94 (Buckley) resurrection needs to be studied,” Nicksick wrote on X. “6-0 in a new division w/ 4 stoppages, 4-0 in 2024. Ladies and Gentlemen, he’s your 2024 Fighter of the Year. I’m out”

    Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight kingpin, has staked his claim with three title defenses in 2024. After knockouts of Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka, “Poatan” most recently came from behind to batter Khalil Rountree in round four of their headline battle this past October.

    Topuria, meanwhile, seemingly has the edge over the Brazilian in terms of competition level. Though he’s fought once less than Pereira, the Spaniard dethroned the highly regarded Alexander Volkanovski in brutal fashion before becoming the first man to knock out Max Holloway to retain the featherweight gold.

    But taking into account his career revival since dropping to 170 pounds, Buckley appears to have the vote of one renowned trainer in the fight game.

  • Dana White On Colby Covington’s Defeat To Joaquin Buckley: ‘That Fight Doesn’t Get Stopped In Vegas’

    Dana White On Colby Covington’s Defeat To Joaquin Buckley: ‘That Fight Doesn’t Get Stopped In Vegas’

    Joaquin Buckley delivered a commanding performance against Colby Covington in the UFC Tampa main event. However, the fight concluded on a somewhat anticlimactic note when the ringside physician halted the contest due to a gruesome cut on Covington’s face.

    The injury, which worsened as the fight progressed, raised concerns about potential damage to the former interim welterweight champion’s eyelid, prompting the doctor to stop the fight in the third round.

    Dana White shared his thoughts on the stoppage during the post-fight press conference. While acknowledging Buckley’s dominant performance, the UFC CEO expressed disagreement with the decision to end the fight, suggesting the outcome might have been different under different circumstances.

    “No doubt that was a bad cut, but that fight doesn’t get stopped in Vegas,” White stated. “That fight keeps going in Vegas. 100 percent.

    “Listen, Colby’s an older guy who fights every once in a while. He’s always durable and tough. Did you hear the body shots he was taking tonight? And the head shots? Those would have stopped other guys. Colby’s tough, but I feel like he wasn’t too pissed about the stoppage. The cut was definitely bothering him.”

    White emphasized Covington’s resilience, noting that, despite the damage, “Chaos” remained competitive.

    “He’s obviously still one of the top-ranked guys. What we were saying about him all night — he took big shots and stayed in there. But I also believe if that fight’s in Vegas, that fight doesn’t get stopped with that cut. Still, I don’t think Colby was very upset when it did. The cut was bothering him.”

    While the fight’s ending sparked some debate, Buckley’s victory underscored his status as a rising force in the division, with a performance that left no doubt about his dominance.

  • Belal Muhammad Mocks Colby Covington After Dominant UFC Tampa Loss: ‘He Just Sucks’

    Belal Muhammad Mocks Colby Covington After Dominant UFC Tampa Loss: ‘He Just Sucks’

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad was among those roasting the polarizing Colby Covington after his latest defeat.

    Saturday proved to be a difficult night for Covington, as the former interim titleholder returned to action for the first time since a third failed bid at securing the undisputed crown against Leon Edwards last December.

    In his push to reinsert himself into the championship equation, “Chaos” accepted a short-notice UFC Fight Night headliner opposite the charging Joaquin Buckley in Tampa, looking to hand “New Mansa” his first loss since dropping to the division.

    But the controversial veteran convincingly failed in that task, with Buckley putting a beating on him en route to a TKO via doctor’s stoppage in round three.

    While a cut caused the bout’s end, there was little doubt over who was having the better of things. That, unsurprisingly, brought out Covington’s sizable group of enemies and detractors.

    As expected, champ Muhammad was among those enjoying the result…

    “(laughing) man I knows he’s gonna have a bunch of excuses but he just sucks,” Muhammad wrote on X.

    Muhammad and Covington have frequently gone back and forth across recent years.

    But with the former on the throne following his win over Edwards this past July and the latter far from challenging for it again post-UFC Tampa, it would appear that the chances of the pair settling their score inside the cage are now slim.

  • ‘Perfect End To His Silly Career’ – Fans React As Colby Covington Gets Battered By Joaquin Buckley At UFC Tampa

    ‘Perfect End To His Silly Career’ – Fans React As Colby Covington Gets Battered By Joaquin Buckley At UFC Tampa

    Joaquin Buckley added to the woes of Colby Covington on Saturday night, battering the former interim welterweight champion in the main event of UFC Tampa.

    Buckley clearly took the opening round, stopping every takedown attempt from Covington and damaging his eye, including a knockdown of “Chaos” late in the round. The rising contender continued to land well in the second round, and while he was taken down once, “New Mansa” managed to work his way up with strength and still showed strong defense.

    Covington, who was warned about the cut around his eye that had been busted up over two rounds, continued to be battered as the fight entered the third. Even when the fight was on the ground, Buckley’s attack showed no sign of slowing, targeting that cut.

    In the midst of the third round, the doctor was called in to check on the cut and ruled that Covington could no longer safely continue.

    https://twitter.com/KINGV0NBURNER/status/1868179302883156020

    This marked Buckley’s sixth straight win and perhaps his biggest since a viral knockout of Impa Kasaganay. This most likely will give him a top-five contender as his next opponent.

    Covington, meanwhile, has now lost three of his last four. This was his first fight in almost exactly one year since his unsuccessful challenge of then-UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards at UFC 296.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Joaquin Buckley TKOs Colby Covington

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Joaquin Buckley TKOs Colby Covington

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, welterweights Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley clashed. While in the co-main event, Cub Swanson faced Billy Quarantillo in a bantamweight matchup. 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Joaquin Buckley def. Colby Covington via TKO (doctor’s stoppage): R3, 4.42
    • Cub Swanson def. Billy Quarantillo via KO: R3 1.36 
    • Manel Kape def. Bruno Silva via TKO: R3, 1.57  
    • Dustin Jacoby def. Vitor Petrino via KO: R3, 3.44  
    • Daniel Marcos def. Adrian Yañez via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) 
    • Navajo Stirling def. Tuco Tokkos via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

    Preliminary Card

    • Michael Johnson def. Ottman Azaitar via KO: R2, 2.03 
    • Joel Álvarez def. Drakkar Klose via KO: R1, 2.48  
    • Sean Woodson def. Fernando Padilla via TKO: R1, 4.58
    • Felipe Lima def. Miles Johns via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Miranda Maverick def. Jamey-Lyn Horth via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Davey Grant def. Ramon Taveras via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27×2)
    • Piera Rodriguez def. Josefine Knutsson via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Sean Woodson def. Fernando Padilla

    Sean Woodson earned the first finish of the night, getting a TKO of Fernando Padilla in the first round of their featherweight bout.

    Joel Álvarez def. Drakkar Klose

    Joel Álvarez earned a first-round KO of Drakkar Klose in their lightweight bout.

    Michael Johnson def. Ottman Azaitar

    In this lightweight bout, Michael Johnson earned a KO of Ottman Azaitar in the second round.

    Main Card Highlights

    Navajo Stirling def. Tuco Tokkos

    Navajo Stirling got it done on the scorecards against Tuco Tokkos.

    Daniel Marcos def. Adrian Yañez

    Daniel Marcos earned a split decision against Adrian Yañez in their bantamweight matchup.

    Dustin Jacoby def. Vitor Petrino

    Dustin Jacoby got the win with a KO of Vitor Petrino in the third round.

    Manel Kape def. Bruno Silva

    In this flyweight bout, Manel Kape earned a TKO of Bruno Silva in the third round.

    Cub Swanson def. Billy Quarantillo

    In the co-main event, Cub Swanson KO’d Billy Quarantillo in the third round.

    Joaquin Buckley def. Colby Covington

    In the main event, Joaquin Buckley was awarded a doctor’s stoppage TKO of Colby Covington after the latter could not continue due to a cut above his eye.

  • VIDEO: UFC Tampa Post-Fight Press Conference After Joaquin Buckley, Cub Swanson’s Headline Wins

    VIDEO: UFC Tampa Post-Fight Press Conference After Joaquin Buckley, Cub Swanson’s Headline Wins

    The year-ending UFC Tampa event recently concluded, and MMA News has you covered with the post-fight press conference at Amalie Arena.

    The venue played host to Octagon action on Dec. 14, as the mixed martial arts leader closed out its schedule for 2024 with a strong lineup that featured a former interim champion, ranked contenders, experienced veterans, and some promising prospects.

    Of note were victories for Joaquin Buckley, Cub Swanson, Manel Kape, Dustin Jacoby, Daniel Marcos, Michael Johnson and Sean Woodson.

    And before attention turns to next year’s offerings from the mixed martial arts leader, there remains some business to attend to backstage at UFC Tampa.

    Shortly after the main event’s ending, Dana White is expected to appear in front of the media to reveal the recipients of the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses before answering questions. The victorious fighters from UFC Tampa will also take queries from the press in reaction to their performances.

    With that said, see below for a live stream of the UFC Tampa post-fight press conference via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 1 AM ET.

  • ‘Age Is Just A Number’ – Poirier, Masvidal, & More Laud 41-Year-Old Cub Swanson After Classic KO At UFC Tampa

    ‘Age Is Just A Number’ – Poirier, Masvidal, & More Laud 41-Year-Old Cub Swanson After Classic KO At UFC Tampa

    If this was the last time we saw Cub Swanson in the Octagon, he went out with a bang by pulling off a devastating knockout of Billy Quarantillo in the co-main event of UFC Tampa.

    The two pulled off an entertaining first round, with both men looking to pick the other apart and each having their moments of control and rocking the other. They then fought another competitive second frame before the fight came to an end in the final round.

    Swanson landed a one-two that dropped Quarantillo out cold, giving “Killer” a walk-off victory.

    https://twitter.com/Full_Violence/status/1868171200800997456

    Swanson has traded wins and losses consecutively since the start of 2021, and he may increase his record for the most post-fight bonuses in UFC/WEC featherweight history.

    “Billy Q,” meanwhile, has now lost three of his last four.

  • ‘Where Was This When He Fought Mokaev?’ – Fans React As Manel Kape Puts On A Show In UFC Tampa Return

    ‘Where Was This When He Fought Mokaev?’ – Fans React As Manel Kape Puts On A Show In UFC Tampa Return

    Manel Kape looked to make a statement as to why he should be next in line for Alexandre Pantoja and the UFC flyweight championship. And perhaps he’s made a case after his finish of Bruno Silva at UFC Tampa.

    Kape’s path to victory in the fight didn’t come without battle scars. Silva landed three low blows on “Starboy” before the halfway point of the fight, resulting in the Brazilian being deducted one point.

    Ultimately, that didn’t make a difference for Silva. Kape’s offense was on full display over the course of the second round, and though Silva landed some power during the third frame, the top 10 contender landed a kick that started a flurry and quickly put “Bulldog” away.

    Silva argued (ironically) that the initial kick was a low blow, but it wasn’t enough to overturn referee Keith Petersen’s original no call.

    https://twitter.com/acdmma_/status/1868164107654095108
    https://twitter.com/ElonovMMA/status/1868163847280070901

    Kape has now won five of his last six fights and rebounds from his lackluster fight with Muhammad Mokaev at UFC 304 this past July.

    Meanwhile, this loss snaps a four-fight win streak that Silva rode into UFC Tampa on.

  • ‘Shades Of Usman vs. Masvidal’ – Fans React As Dustin Jacoby Melts Vitor Petrino With One Shot At UFC Tampa

    ‘Shades Of Usman vs. Masvidal’ – Fans React As Dustin Jacoby Melts Vitor Petrino With One Shot At UFC Tampa

    Dustin Jacoby has just pulled off an absolute shocker of a result.

    Jacoby needed just one punch to pull off a third-round knockout of Vitor Petrino during the main card of UFC Tampa.

    The fight featured plenty of back and forth from both men. They looked to stay patient, but the Brazilian was arguably landing the more effective strikes.

    But just when it looked like he would get his hand raised in a decision, “The Hanyak” changed things out of nowhere, landing a perfectly timed right hand to knock Petrino out cold.

    Fans reacted to the brutal result, with many comparing the manner of it to Kamaru Usman’s one-shot KO of Jorge Masvidal in 2021.

    After going 6-0-1 to start his UFC career following an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series, Jacoby had lost four of five entering UFC Tampa and was likely fighting for his job.

    Petrino, after an 11-0 start to his professional MMA career, has now lost back-to-back fights. He was finished by Anthony Smith earlier this year at UFC 301.

  • ‘MJ’s Best Performance Since Poirier’ – Fans React As Michael Johnson Adds Another Brutal KO To His Reel At UFC Tampa

    ‘MJ’s Best Performance Since Poirier’ – Fans React As Michael Johnson Adds Another Brutal KO To His Reel At UFC Tampa

    Michael Johnson put on a vintage performance to close out the UFC Tampa preliminary card, delivering a devastating knockout of Ottman Azaitar.

    Johnson picked Azaitar apart on the feet during the opening round, putting on a strong striking display and rocking the German-Moroccan on more than one occasion.

    “The Menace” then put him away brutally in the second round. As Azaitar attempted to come forward, Johnson landed a brutal, lightning quick hook that faceplanted him. He followed up with two vicious strikes before the referee was able to push him off his unconscious opponent.

    Michael Johnson Brings Devastation With KO Of Ottman Azaitar At UFC Tampa

    https://twitter.com/benhasfailed/status/1868128974884470882
    https://twitter.com/ErnieTastyFresh/status/1868130100648268172

    Johnson has now won three of his last four and four of his last six, continuing to secure victories at 38 years of age.

    Azaitar, meanwhile, has now lost three straight since starting his professional MMA career 13-0.

  • VIDEO: Joel Álvarez Attempts Guillotine After Already KO’ing Drakkar Klose With Switch Knee At UFC Tampa

    VIDEO: Joel Álvarez Attempts Guillotine After Already KO’ing Drakkar Klose With Switch Knee At UFC Tampa

    It’s not every day that we see someone finish an opponent twice in the same fight, but that appeared to be what we saw during the UFC Tampa prelims in Joel Álvarez’s win over Drakkar Klose.

    The Spaniard landed a strong combination that stumbled Klose backward toward the fence. Alvarez then appeared to slump Klose with a jumping knee.

    The flashy striker seemed to be nearing a guillotine choke as he landed follow-up shots on Klose, who was evidently already out. The referee then jumped in to declare Álvarez the winner.

    After UFC Tampa, Álvarez has now won three straight and is 7-2 in the Octagon, with one of his losses coming against upcoming lightweight title challenger Arman Tsarukyan. He last fought in August, defeating Elves Brener.

    Klose, meanwhile, sees a four-fight win streak snapped with this loss. He had most recently been in action at UFC 301 earlier this year, defeating Joaquim Silva.

  • Sean Woodson Ties Movsar Evloev For Featherweight Record With Quick Knockout At UFC Tampa

    Sean Woodson Ties Movsar Evloev For Featherweight Record With Quick Knockout At UFC Tampa

    Sean Woodson continues to score wins, and this time it came with a bang as he pulled off a major finish of Fernando Padilla during the preliminary card of UFC Tampa.

    Woodson had to outlast an early surge from Padilla, but he fought back to fire off his own flurries during the second half of the first round.

    “The Sniper” then fired off back-to-back powerful one-two combinations to drop the Mexican in the closing seconds of the first round. Woodson needed just a little ground-and-pound before the referee stepped in to wave off the fight.

    This UFC Tampa victory increased Woodson’s run without a defeat to eight straight fights, tying him for longest active unbeaten streak in the UFC’s featherweight division. Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy have the same kind of streak currently.

    The 32-year-old finishes 2024 3-0, defeating Charles Jourdain and Alex Caceres earlier this year.

    Padilla., meanwhile, falls to 2-2 since making his UFC debut in April 2023.

  • Tom Aspinall: Jon Jones’ Failed Drug Tests Disqualify Him As Greatest Fighter

    Tom Aspinall: Jon Jones’ Failed Drug Tests Disqualify Him As Greatest Fighter

    Tom Aspinall has shared a compelling argument for why Jon Jones might not be regarded as the greatest fighter of all time.

    For years, Jones’ name has been enshrined in conversations about the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, with his career achievements loudly affirming why he’s often seen as deserving of that title.

    “Bones” cemented his place in UFC history as the youngest champion ever, capturing the light heavyweight title at just 23 years old. With a remarkable career record of 28-1, his sole loss remains a hotly debated blemish. Furthermore, Jones holds an unbroken streak in 16 world title fights, underscoring his dominance in the sport.

    However, as the saying goes, nothing in this universe is flawless.

    Jones’ decorated career has not been without its blemishes, plagued by a string of high-profile controversies, including multiple notorious positive tests for banned substances. It’s this shadow over his legacy that fuels Aspinall’s belief that, despite Jones’ monumental achievements, the reigning UFC heavyweight champion falls short of earning the GOAT title.

    During a recent interview with Piers Morgan, Aspinall began by recognizing “Bones” for his impressive achievements but quickly shifted focus to the American’s failed drug tests, calling him a cheat. According to the Brit, those infractions gave Jones an unfair advantage over his opponents.

    “Let me first start by saying Jon is absolutely elite, and I completely agree with the notion that he’s one of the best fighters ever,” Aspinall said. “Potentially [the greatest], but the way that I look at is he has failed a couple of drug tests. To me, that rules you out of being the best of all-time. For me, personally.

    “If you’re on steroids or whatever — I don’t think he was on steroids, but he was on PEDs, performance-enhancing drugs. If you’re on PEDs and your opponent isn’t, that’s absolutely cheating in my book unless you’re both allowed to do it.”

    Jones made the first defense of his heavyweight title with a dominant third-round TKO victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Since then, speculation has been running rampant about who might be next in line to challenge him. As the interim heavyweight champion, Aspinall is widely regarded as the natural contender for a shot at the undisputed title.

    Despite Jones’ consistent lack of interest in facing Aspinall, UFC CEO Dana White has expressed a strong intention to make the highly anticipated title unification clash happen in the near future.

  • Global Fight League Signee Alexander Gustafsson Also Eyeing BKFC Debut After UFC Release

    Global Fight League Signee Alexander Gustafsson Also Eyeing BKFC Debut After UFC Release

    Alexander Gustafsson, widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists to never capture a UFC title, is officially parting ways with the promotion after 15 years and 18 fights.

    The Swedish star’s most iconic moment came at UFC 165 in September 2013, where he pushed Jon Jones to the limit in a fight many consider one of the greatest in UFC history. Although Gustafsson lost by decision, some fans and analysts believed he had done enough to win. He later challenged for the light heavyweight championship on two more occasions, falling short against Daniel Cormier and in a rematch with Jones.

    In recent years, “The Mauler” has struggled to find his footing, losing his last four fights. These include a knockout loss to Jones in their rematch, submission defeats to Anthony Smith and Fabricio Werdum, and a KO loss to Nikita Krylov in July 2022, which marked his most recent bout.

    In a recent interview with Matias Andres of Maximum Sports, Gustafsson’s manager, Majdi Shammas, revealed that the veteran fighter had requested and been granted his release from the UFC.

    “We asked the UFC to release Alex from his contract,” Shammas said. “They agreed, and we’re grateful for that.”

    Gustafsson has since signed a lucrative deal with the Global Fight League (GFL), although the terms allow him to pick and choose his fights rather than locking him into an exclusive contract.

    “There are a lot of interesting things that could come up along the way,” Shammas explained. “The GFL has given us a very appealing deal at this stage of our careers, and it’s simply the right time and the right place to strike a deal like this.”

    In addition to his GFL deal, Gustafsson has reportedly received an offer from the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). He is expected to debut against a well-known former UFC or Bellator fighter, potentially adding an exciting new chapter to his storied career.

  • 2024 PFL Europe Championship Results & Highlights

    2024 PFL Europe Championship Results & Highlights

    After carrying out the second PFL Europe regular season and playoffs, the Professional Fighters League’s first continental expansion brought the SmartCage back to France for the 2024 Championship.

    A few weeks on from the conclusion of the PFL’s global season at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the LDLC Arena in Lyon played host to PFL Europe’s final event of this year. Unsurprisingly, a number of France’s own were in action, and that included Abdoul Abdouraguimov at the top of the lineup.

    Victories over Brad Wheeler and Jack Grant after signing with the PFL moved “Lazy King’s” overall record to 18-1. And the highly touted 29-year-old further extended his winning run at the expense of former UFC veteran Laureano Staropoli in Friday’s main event.

    Elsewhere on the card, the second PFL Europe welterweight, lightweight, and bantamweight kingpins were crowned, in addition to a singular queen at 125 pounds as one woman looked to succeed Dakota Ditcheva and hopes to follow her path to global glory next year.

    While the event was available on DAZN for select countries, it unfortunately wasn’t broadcast to audiences in the United States. But you can catch up on all the action below.

    PFL Europe Championship Results & Highlights

    • Welterweight: Abdoul Abdouraguimov def. Laureano Staropoli via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
    • Catchweight (165lbs): Patrick Habirora def. Catalin Safta via KO (punch): R3, 2:16
    • Heavyweight: Mickaël Groguhe def. Lamine Sene via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Bantamweight Championship: Lewis McGrillen-Evans def. Alexander Luster via TKO (punches): R2, 3:52
    • Lightweight Championship: Jakub Kaszuba def. Connor Hughes via TKO (punches): R4, 4:07
    • Featherweight: Mathys Duragrin def. Yassin Chtatou via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-25, 30-25)
    • Bantamweight: Mahio Campanella def. Mehdi Saadi via submission (arm-triangle choke): R1, 4:45
    • Catchweight (177lbs): Salvo Giudice def. Atilla Kobas via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-25)
    • Welterweight Championship: Florim Zendeli def. Daniele Miceli via submission (rear-naked choke): R1, 4:24
    • Flyweight Championship: Paulina Wiśniewska def. Valentina Scatizzi via TKO (knee & punches): R1, 0:20
    • Welterweight: Eoin Sheridan def. Brice Belghazi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Lightweight: Claudio Pacella def. Oscar Ownsworth via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

    Claudio Pacella Def. Oscar Ownsworth

    Eoin Sheridan Def. Brice Belghazi

    Paulina Wiśniewska Def. Valentina Scatizzi

    Florim Zendeli Def. Daniele Miceli

    Salvo Giudice Def. Atilla Kobas

    Mahio Campanella Def. Mehdi Saadi

    Mathys Duragrin Def. Yassin Chtatou

    Jakub Kaszuba Def. Connor Hughes

    Lewis McGrillen-Evans Def. Alexander Luster

    Patrick Habirora Def. Catalin Safta

    Abdoul Abdouraguimov Def. Laureano Staropoli

  • Shara Magomedov vs. Michael ‘Venom’ Page To Co-Headline UFC Saudi Arabia

    Shara Magomedov vs. Michael ‘Venom’ Page To Co-Headline UFC Saudi Arabia

    The main event between Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov won’t be the only huge middleweight fight toward the top of the UFC Saudi Arabia lineup.

    The Octagon is set to touch down in Riyadh for the second time on Feb. 1, 2025. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the headliner between Adesanya and Imavov in a social media video this week, alongside an intriguing co-main event that should excite striking fans.

    After Red Corner MMA first reported that Shara Magomedov had agreed to meet welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page in a clash between two of MMA’s most dangerous and exciting standup fighters, White officially announced the UFC Saudi Arabia matchup. Page previously expressed interest in this bout following Magomedov’s latest win, stating that he’d be happy to compete at middleweight.

    This fight at UFC Saudi Arabia sees “MVP” move to 185 pounds after fighting twice inside the Octagon at welterweight. The former Bellator star has gone 1-1 since debuting in the UFC earlier this year. A decisive win over Kevin Holland in March was followed by a decision loss to Ian Garry at UFC 303, where the Irishman lent on his grappling ability to secure the victory.

    Magomedov, meanwhile, has been incredible value for money since his arrival in the promotion last year, winning four in a row to obtain a top 15 ranking next to his name at 185 pounds. In his toughest test to date, “Bullet” secured his third consecutive Performance of the Night bonus by knocking out Armen Petrosyan with a double spinning backfist at UFC 308 last month.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC Saudi Arabia are as follows:

    • Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov (middleweight main event)
    • Shara Magomedov vs. Michael Page (middleweight co-main event)
    • Ikram Aliskerov vs. Andre Muniz (middleweight)
    • Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (heavyweight)
    • Said Nurmagomedov vs. Vinicius Oliveira (bantamweight)
    • Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Jamal Pogues (heavyweight)
    • Bogdan Grad vs. Lucas Alexander (featherweight)
    • Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady vs. Jordan Leavitt (lightweight)
    • Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (women’s flywight)
    • Shamil Gaziev vs. Thomas Petersen (heavyweight)
    • Muhammad Naimov vs. Kaan Ofli (featherweight)
    • Terrance McKinney vs. Damir Hadžović (lightweight)
  • Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov Official For UFC Saudi Arabia Main Event

    Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov Official For UFC Saudi Arabia Main Event

    The UFC has finalized a fight between former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and the rising Nassourdine Imavov for early 2025.

    Knockout Alerts reported a number of weeks ago that the bout was planned to headline the second UFC Fight Night event in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1, 2025, at The Venue in Riyadh. That’s now been made official, with UFC CEO Dana White announcing the matchup in a social media video.

    Israel Adesanya, once unbeaten with a 20-0 record and a dominant reign at middleweight, has faced a turbulent career path in recent years.

    After his first career loss to Jan Błachowicz at UFC 259 in a bid for the light heavyweight title, the Nigerian-New Zealander defended the belt against Marvin Vettori, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier. He lost the championship to Alex Pereira at UFC 281, only to reclaim it one fight later with a spectacular KO victory over “Poatan” at UFC 287.

    His momentum faltered again when Sean Strickland defeated him by decision at UFC 293, and he subsequently lost a chance to reclaim the title against Dricus Du Plessis by submission this past August. This upcoming fight could be a crucial step toward getting Adesanya back into title contention.

    Nassourdine Imavov, currently holding a 15-4 record, has been building momentum with three consecutive victories, including two by decision. Most recently, he defeated Brendan Allen in a UFC Fight Night main event in Paris this past September.

    A win over Adesanya would be the biggest of “The Sniper’s” career and could propel him into the middleweight title conversation.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia are as follows:

    • Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov (middleweight main event)
    • Shara Magomedov vs. Michael Page (middleweight co-main event)
    • Ikram Aliskerov vs. Andre Muniz (middleweight)
    • Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (heavyweight)
    • Said Nurmagomedov vs. Vinicius Oliveira (bantamweight)
    • Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Jamal Pogues (heavyweight)
    • Bogdan Grad vs. Lucas Alexander (featherweight)
    • Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady vs. Jordan Leavitt (lightweight)
    • Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (women’s flywight)
    • Shamil Gaziev vs. Thomas Petersen (heavyweight)
    • Muhammad Naimov vs. Kaan Ofli (featherweight)
    • Terrance McKinney vs. Damir Hadžović (lightweight)

    This card promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent as the UFC continues its expansion into the Middle East.

  • Belal Muhammad Hoping Joaquin Buckley Breaks Colby Covington’s Jaw: ‘We’ve Seen It Before…’

    Belal Muhammad Hoping Joaquin Buckley Breaks Colby Covington’s Jaw: ‘We’ve Seen It Before…’

    Belal Muhammad has made it clear that he will be rooting against Colby Covington in the UFC Tampa main event, where “Chaos” is set to face Joaquin Buckley at the Amalie Arena.

    Muhammad and Covington share a long-standing history of animosity, having exchanged verbal jabs for years. Despite the bad blood, the two have never faced off in the Octagon. Now, the reigning welterweight champ hopes Buckley delivers a decisive victory over the ex-interim titleholder.

    “I’m hoping that Buckley breaks his jaw,” Muhammad said. “I hope that Buckley puts him out cold, and I think that Buckley can put him out cold. Colby’s striking is terrible, and his wrestling looked awful in his last fight. I think Buckley is athletic enough to defend those takedowns.”

    Shifting gears, Muhammad provided a detailed analysis of how Buckley could secure a win while highlighting areas where caution will be necessary against the three-time title challenger’s skillset.

    “If Buckley doesn’t get crazy — he throws a lot of wide hooks that leave openings for shots underneath — he just can’t let Colby push him to the fence,” Muhammad explained. “He can’t let Colby keep him on the fence and wear him down. In his last fight against ‘Wonderboy,’ he was getting a little bit tired, but I think that was more because he was offensive wrestling ‘Wonderboy.’ He was taking ‘Wonderboy’ down, ‘Wonderboy’ would get up, he was trying to hold him down, and you don’t really need to hold Colby down.”

    Muhammad emphasized that the primary strategy for “Chaos” would be to rely on takedowns, as he believes the polarizing veteran lacks striking power.

    “Colby can’t strike, and nothing he throws is dangerous,” Muhammad said. “We’ve seen Colby have his jaw broken before by Kamaru (Usman), who isn’t great at striking. So, I think Buckley, who has way more power and way better boxing, can put Colby to sleep.”

  • VIDEO: Muhammad Mokaev Submits Opponent Less Than 2 Minutes Into First Fight Post-UFC

    VIDEO: Muhammad Mokaev Submits Opponent Less Than 2 Minutes Into First Fight Post-UFC

    It was a successful return to action for Muhammad Mokaev (13-0) on Friday, as he emerged victorious from his first fight since departing the UFC earlier this year.

    Mokaev’s tenure on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage came to a surprise end this past July. After extending his perfect professional and Octagon records with a victory over Manel Kape at UFC 304, “The Punisher’s” contract wasn’t renewed.

    UFC CEO Dana White announced the shock decision during the post-fight press conference in Manchester, putting it down to facts outside of the cage, including issues the matchmakers and Hunter Campbell had dealing with the flyweight up-and-comer.

    With his pleas for an immediate return to the promotion falling on deaf ears, Mokaev has frequently vowed to earn his spot back on the UFC roster. And the first step toward achieving that got underway Friday in Bahrain.

    Mokaev made his return to one of his former organizations, competing at Brave CF 91. After his original opponent withdrew, the Dagestan-born Brit shared the cage with replacement Joevincent So on two days’ notice.

    “Chain” didn’t last long, falling by way of submission in under two minutes after being dragged down and locked in a D’arce choke.

    It remains to be seen what the future holds for Mokaev, as well as the specifics of his contractual agreement with Brave CF.

    But with UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja appearing short on fresh options following his third title defense last weekend, perhaps an Octagon return will arrive sooner rather than later for “The Punisher” following an emphatic outing on Dec. 13.

  • UFC Fight Night: Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    After staging its latest numbered event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas last weekend, MMA’s leading promotion will close out its 2024 schedule with a card inside the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

    In the main event, the polarizing Covington makes his first appearance of 2024. 12 months on from a third failed attempt at capturing the undisputed welterweight crown, “Chaos” will look to keep his late-career title hopes alive by stalling the charge of Joaquin Buckley.

    Elsewhere, the likes of UFC Hall of Famer Cub Swanson, former Rizin champion Manel Kape, and heavy hitting light heavyweight Vitor Petrino will all be in action.

    Ahead of the event, all 26 fighters successfully made weight. With that, every fight is intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC Fight Night Tampa ceremonial weigh-ins.

    Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 4 PM ET.

    UFC Fight Night Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • Joaquin Buckley: Colby Covington Was ‘Scared’ To Train With Me, Is ‘Nervous’ About UFC Tampa

    Joaquin Buckley: Colby Covington Was ‘Scared’ To Train With Me, Is ‘Nervous’ About UFC Tampa

    Joaquin Buckley and Colby Covington are set to clash in the main event of UFC Tampa, and the buildup has been as intense as expected.

    Both fighters have engaged in their share of trash talk, but Buckley couldn’t help but laugh at Covington’s attempts to dismiss their history.

    According to “New Mansa,” the two once trained together at the MMA Masters gym in Florida, where he even offered to help the former interim champion prepare for a UFC title fight. However, he claims Covington avoided sparring with him.

    “It’s funny how he was scared to just train with me, and now he’s stepping in the cage with me,” Buckley said during UFC Tampa media day. “For real, Colby’s been quiet and he hasn’t been saying anything because he knows the truth. I think he’s really nervous to step in that cage with me.”

    Buckley didn’t stop there, accusing Covington of cherry-picking opponents outside his weight class.

    “He wants to fight 145-pound fighters. He wants to fight Paddy Pimblett, Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira — guys that aren’t welterweights,” Buckley said. “In my opinion, this might be his last fight on his contract. I’m just assuming that. If you want to fight and it’s going to be your last one, you want to go off on top. I really feel like with that being said, he had no choice but to take this fight because it’s his last one.”

    As fight night approaches, the tension between the two headliners is palpable, setting the stage for an explosive showdown.

  • Anthony Smith Considering One More Fight Before Retirement After UFC 310 Setback

    Anthony Smith Considering One More Fight Before Retirement After UFC 310 Setback

    Dominick Reyes continued his resurgence at UFC 310, securing a second consecutive victory with a TKO win over fellow former title challenger Anthony Smith. After the fight, “Lionheart” hinted at the possibility of retirement, a sentiment shared by UFC CEO Dana White, who suggested it might be time for Smith to step away.

    The call for his retirement comes as the veteran light heavyweight has now lost two consecutive fights, including a decision defeat to Roman Dolidze at UFC 303. Despite the speculation, he appears to be reconsidering retirement, indicating his desire to step into the Octagon one more time before calling it quits.

    Smith also faced challenges outside the fight itself following the passing of a friend and coach, leading to his emotional walkout and post-fight remarks at UFC 310.

    Speaking on SiriusXM’s MMA Today show, Smith reflected on the idea of a farewell bout.

    “There’s a circumstance that probably exists where I would do one more,” Smith shared. “It would have to be the perfect scenario — timing, opponent, and situation. I know there’s almost never the perfect sendoff, but having the opportunity to give all the people who supported me a chance to experience fight week knowing it’s the last time would be special.

    “Being able to tell everyone in that process what they’ve meant to me over all these years, like one final fight… Win, lose, or draw, who gives a f*ck? But one final sendoff would be cool, I think,” Smith added.

  • UFC Tampa Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Covington vs. Buckley, Swanson vs. Quarantillo, & More

    UFC Tampa Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Covington vs. Buckley, Swanson vs. Quarantillo, & More

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

    The upcoming event takes place Saturday, December 14, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be former interim welterweight titleholder Colby Covington. A year on from his third failed shot at the undisputed championship, “Chaos” will look to insert himself back into the equation by stalling the charge of Joaquin Buckley.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see two veterans collide in Cub Swanson and Billy Quarantillo. And also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of Manel Kape, Vitor Petrino, and Michael Johnson.

    UFC Tampa: Covington vs. Buckley Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Tampa (as of 12/13), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Colby Covington (+200) vs. Joaquin Buckley (-245)
    • Cub Swanson (+124) vs. Billy Quarantillo (-148)
    • Manel Kape (-380) vs. Bruno Silva (+300)
    • Vitor Petrino (-340) vs. Dustin Jacoby (+270)
    • Adrian Yañez (+185) vs. Daniel Marcos (-225)
    • Navajo Stirling (-750) vs. Tuco Tokkos (+525)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Michael Johnson (-230) vs. Ottman Azaitar (+190)
    • Joel Álvarez (-425) vs. Drakkar Klose (+330)
    • Sean Woodson (-155) vs. Fernando Padilla (+130)
    • Miles Johns (+200) vs. Felipe Lima (-245)
    • Miranda Maverick (-600) vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth (+440)
    • Davey Grant (-122) vs. Ramon Taveras (+102)
    • Josefine Knutsson (-245) vs. Piera Rodriguez (+200)