MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Joaquin Buckley Expects To Leapfrog Rakhmonov For Next Title Shot With KO Over Covington

    Joaquin Buckley Expects To Leapfrog Rakhmonov For Next Title Shot With KO Over Covington

    The final UFC events of 2024 come with some big stakes attached for the welterweight division. Last weekend at UFC 310 in Las Vegas, Shavkat Rakhmonov cemented his status as the number one contender.

    In the battle of the undefeated 170-pounds in the co-main event on December 7, “Nomad” earned his first decision win to defeat Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry. Having been set to face Belal Muhammad for the title on this date until the champion withdrew, the two men shared a face-off inside the Octagon after Rakhmonov got his hand raised.

    UFC Tampa is up next where in the main event of the Octagon’s final stop of the year, Joaquin Buckley will look to continue his career-best form when he takes on the former interim champion, Colby Covington. “New Mansa” was originally set to face Garry on this card but against a returning Covington, he believes he still has the opportunity to shake up the division by making a statement.

    With a five-fight winning streak and the #9-ranking next to his name, Buckley told UFC.com in a recent interview that he believes he could insert himself into the title picture if he becomes just the second man to knockout “Chaos” at the Amalie Arena on Saturday night.

    “We saw the performance that Ian Garry and Shavkat put on, it wasn’t that fun to watch right. I feel like for me, it’s just like the performance that I’m gonna put on Colby Covington, I can probably take the opportunity to fight for the belt one day. Even though Shavkat earned his spot, sometimes things happen, some things fall out so with that being said, once I get a good knockout over Colby Covington, I feel like I’m next to fight for that belt.”

  • Former UFC Star Nate Diaz Charged With Battery After Allegedly Striking Nightclub Employee

    Former UFC Star Nate Diaz Charged With Battery After Allegedly Striking Nightclub Employee

    Nate Diaz, the former UFC star, is in the spotlight once again following an alleged altercation earlier this year.

    Diaz has been charged with battery after reportedly striking a Las Vegas nightclub employee in the face during an incident at Omnia nightclub in Caesars Palace.

    According to court documents obtained by TMZ Sports, the alleged altercation occurred on Aug. 25, just after midnight. Witnesses told police that Diaz and his group were holding up the cashier line when a club security guard approached to assess the situation. Things escalated when the fighter reportedly pushed the guard. In response, the guard shoved Diaz back, prompting the ex-UFC star to allegedly strike him in the face with “an open right hand.”

    This account aligns with video footage that circulated on social media at the time. The video shows that Diaz engaged in a shoving match near the nightclub entrance before swiping at the guard’s face, knocking his glasses off.

    Court documents note that the two were separated by other security guards before police arrived, but the fighter had already left the scene.

    An arrest warrant was issued for the Stockton native, and the misdemeanor case against the 39-year-old is ongoing.

    Since his departure from the UFC after a victory over Tony Ferguson in 2022, Diaz has pursued boxing, competing in high-profile bouts against Jake Paul and Jorge Masvidal.

  • Muhammad Mokaev Gets Replacement Opponent On 2 Days’ Notice For First Fight Since UFC Exit

    Muhammad Mokaev will face a late-notice replacement opponent this week, keeping the date for his first outing since exiting the UFC intact.

    Mokaev enjoyed an undefeated run in the UFC during a three-year stint, rising up the ladder in a fashion that saw many predict potential championship glory in his future. And by getting the better of Manel Kape at UFC 304 in Manchester this past July, the Dagestan-born Brit appeared to be close to the front of the queue.

    But more than just being snubbed for Alexandre Pantoja’s subsequent title defense, “The Punisher” was eliminated from the equation altogether when the UFC opted not to renew his contract.

    The decision came after he struck Kape at a hotel during fight week, with UFC CEO Dana White suggesting a number of issues away from the cage left the matchmakers with negative views on the young fighter.

    After his push for an immediate Octagon return fell on deaf ears, Mokaev put pen to paper on a deal with his former organization, Brave Combat Federation. His debut was later confirmed for this weekend’s Brave CF 91 event in Bahrain.

    Disaster struck just days out from the card, with Mokaev’s opponent Luthando Biko withdrawing due to a health issue. Fortunately, it’s not taking long for Brave CF to secure a new foe, with Joevincent Soe stepping in for a 130-pound catchweight. The news was first reported by MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz.

    The 24-year-old didn’t address the news of his first opponent’s withdrawal himself, instead reposting a number of comments on X calling for his re-signing with the UFC in the aftermath of Pantoja’s submission victory over Kai Asakura this past weekend.

    “The Cannibal’s” UFC 310 triumph has left him short on fresh challenges to his reign in 2025, only adding to the confusion of many when it comes to the decision to let Mokaev go.

  • Renato Moicano Admits Disappointment At Beneil Dariush Matchup: ‘I Don’t Think It’s What I Deserve’

    Renato Moicano Admits Disappointment At Beneil Dariush Matchup: ‘I Don’t Think It’s What I Deserve’

    At UFC 311, Renato Moicano will look to earn the biggest win of his career by extending his current winning streak to five. “Money” has been on a great run of form since beating Brad Riddell in 2022, stopping Benoit Saint Denis in Paris last September to make a real dent in the lightweight rankings.

    On his return at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, he will face UFC veteran and 155-pound staple, Beneil Dariush. The #9-ranked contender may be coming off of back-to-back first round knockout losses but suffering setbacks to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan aren’t major red flags.

    This is especially true considering that his loss to Oliveira at UFC 289 broke his eight-fight winning streak which put him within reach of a title shot if he was able to get past “Do Bronx”. With Moicano being one spot behind him in the top 15, it seems that the Brazilian isn’t overjoyed about this particular matchup.

    Considering that he already has wins over two other ranked opponents, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see Moicano take on a much higher ranked contender next time out though that’s usually easier said than done when it comes to everything falling into place.

    Though he isn’t going to let it affect his preparations and mindset, he was very open and honest during his recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. Moicano often jokes about wanting easy money instead of tough opponents and clearly he considers Dariush someone that falls into the latter category.

    “Dariush, he’s a tough fighter. That is not what I was expecting and I don’t think it’s what I deserve, but who gives a f***. It’s a fight. Anything can happen and I don’t care who I’m fighting. I just have to be competitive and keep showing up.”

  • Patrício Pitbull Wants PFL Release By Christmas After ‘Lack Of Transparency, Events, & Answers’ 

    Patrício Pitbull Wants PFL Release By Christmas After ‘Lack Of Transparency, Events, & Answers’ 

    Patrício Pitbull has spoken out once again about wanting to be released from his PFL contract so that he can go and fight elsewhere. The Bellator featherweight champion last fought in March where he stopped Jeremy Kennedy to defend his title in Belfast.

    He recently stated in an article from MMA Fighting that he has had several fights cancelled with no plans to reschedule them or find him a different opponent. The Brazilian claims that fights with Aaron Pico and a rematch with Chihiro Suzuki in RIZIN both fell by the wayside and as a result, he would like to leave the promotion if they don’t have any plans for him.

    Pitbull specifically mentioned wanting to use this opportunity to finally fight in the UFC before it is too late for him.

    “I have to fight in the UFC. I have to face those guys. I see myself doing a good job there. I don’t see anything very special there. I can fight anyone there, even the champion. [Ilia Topuria] has some holes we can take advantage of. I’m sure they think the same about me, but I have to trust myself. This is the time.”

    Dana White was asked to give his opinion on this during his post-fight press conference after UFC 310 this past weekend. In response to the UFC boss’ comments, Pitbull posted on X to vent his frustrations about the lack of communication and activity for some of the fighters on the PFL roster.

    He ended the post by giving the promotion a deadline that he wants answers by.

    “The lack of transparency, events and answers from @PFLMMA about its future and @BellatorMMA ‘s is making both promotions look bad. What do you all think about what’s going on? Christmas is coming up and I’d love to receive my release by then.”

  • Robert Whittaker Gives Strickland ‘Props’ For Sticking To His Guns, Predicts Du Plessis Rematch

    Robert Whittaker Gives Strickland ‘Props’ For Sticking To His Guns, Predicts Du Plessis Rematch

    Just over a year on from their first meeting, middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and former titleholder Sean Strickland are set to meet in a rematch at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia. Following his bounce back win over Paulo Costa in June, Strickland has remained confident that he deserved the opportunity to fight for the title again.

    His first encounter with “Stillknocks” at UFC 297 went the way of the South African via a split decision and though the fight was close, there weren’t a ton of people calling for the rematch to take place. This was especially true following Khamzat Chimaev’s recent win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 where Du Plessis said himself that a matchup with the undefeated contender would excite him more than running it back with Strickland.

    In a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker gave his reaction to the fight announcement. The former champion took his hat off to Strickland for sticking to his guns and getting what he asked for even when it looked like it might slip away from him.

    “I’m surprised Sean just literally sat out. Like everyone was laughing at him when he said, ‘I’m going to sit out till I get my title shot.’ Dude straight up got a title shot, props for that. You got to give it him, guy like straight up stuck by what he said.”

    Despite this, Whittaker isn’t sure that Strickland will be able to make the adjustments needed to reclaim the middleweight title.

    “In my opinion, I don’t see the fight going any different. Du Plessis is such a dog in there, he’s going to come with the same aggressiveness and game plan. What could Sean do differently to change the outcome than last time? Okay because if we look at it, it doesn’t happen often but the challenger beats a champion by decision, okay. Du Plessis did that and now he’s a champion and that was a close first fight, you know what I mean. You see where I’m angling with this. I just don’t know what Sean can do differently to change the outcome from happening again.”

  • Molly McCann’s Return Announced For UFC London On March 22

    Molly McCann’s Return Announced For UFC London On March 22

    A series of official fight announcement’s for the UFC’s upcoming return to London, England have confirmed the Octagon return of Liverpool’s Molly McCann. “Meatball” is set to face Brazil’s Istela Nunes on March 22 at the O2 Arena in one of two strawweight bouts that are currently scheduled for the card.

    McCann fought twice in 2024 where she kicked off her year by recording the first submission win of her pro career against Diana Belbiţă in February. After breaking her two-fight skid, the 34-year old lost a unanimous decision to The Fighting Nerds’ Bruna Brasil at UFC 304 in July.

    This took her overall UFC record to 7-6 after being beaten by the better woman on the night. Her next opponent, Nunes, is in desperate need of a win if she’s going to keep her place on the strawweight roster.

    The former ONE Championship contender arrived in the UFC three years ago and in four outings, she is yet to get her hand raised inside the Octagon. Defeats to Ariane Carnelossi, Sam Hughes, Yazmin Jauregui and Victoria Dudakova have her coming into London with her back up against the wall.

    Her loss to Dudakova in July of 2023 ended in just over 30 seconds due to a dislocated elbow and Nunes hasn’t fought since. Several other fights were also confirmed for the card in this latest spree of announcements.

    Christian Leroy Duncan vs Andrey Pulyaev – middleweight

    Oumar Sy vs Alonzo Menifield – light heavyweight

    Shauna Bannon vs Puja Tomar – strawweight

  • Merab Dvalishvili Gets Support From UFC Veteran For Latest Fan Altercation: ‘Don’t F*ck With Pro Fighters!’

    Merab Dvalishvili Gets Support From UFC Veteran For Latest Fan Altercation: ‘Don’t F*ck With Pro Fighters!’

    UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has been involved in several altercations with fans in recent times. The latest instance came this past weekend at UFC 310 where a video showed him being separated away from a member of the crowd when he was walking to the back with his teammate, Aljamain Sterling.

    Dvalishvili has since shared a video on social media which suggests that the fan was a friend of Umar Nurmagomedov, who he will face at UFC 311 in his first title defense. This additional footage shows how the person grabbed him which kicked off the series of events that led to UFC fighter Dennis Buzukja trading punches with the man.

    Buzukja later explained that the fan had also been trying to antagonize the 135-pound titleholder on their way to the Octagon for Sterling’s contest against Movsar Evloev. One former member of the roster is able to specifically relate to this kind of situation given his own interactions with fans in the past.

    During the walk out for his fight against Demian Maia in Brazil back in 2016, Matt Brown was grabbed and hit by several people in the audience which led to him hitting back.

    In a recent episode of MMA Fighting’s Fighter vs. Writer, Brown reflected on this experience and stood by Dvalishvili for his response to being provoked.

    “I still say these fans, keep to your f*cking self, bro. You don’t f*ck with professional fighters. Most of us are martial artists that are respectful and stuff, but we’re also human beings and we’ll rip your f*cking throat out. Don’t f*ck with us. It’s stupid.

    “You can’t grab a professional. Someone touches me, I’m f*cking them up.”

    Brown also said that in the aftermath of his incident in Brazil, he wasn’t penalized for the altercation and the UFC looked to make changes to stop this kind of thing from happening.

    “I remember Dana [White] changed things after that,” Brown said. “I don’t know what exactly the changes were but basically talking about separating the fans a little bit more, particularly in Brazil, maybe having a little bit better security when guys are walking out. I was right there in touching range, and they were hitting me and pulling my hat off.

    “I’m not just going to sit here and take this, plus I’m completely fired up ready to walk into a fight. You get hit, it’s a natural reaction — you hit someone back.”

  • Michael ‘Venom’ Page: UFC 310 Version Of Rakhmonov Would Get ‘Munched’ By Muhammad

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page: UFC 310 Version Of Rakhmonov Would Get ‘Munched’ By Muhammad

    UFC welterweight Michael “Venom” Page believes Shavkat Rakhmonov will have to be a lot better than he was this past weekend if he’s to successfully dethrone Belal Muhammad.

    Rakhmonov successfully defended his top contender status at the UFC 310 pay-per-view on Dec. 7, a date that was originally set to mark his first title shot on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    The undefeated Kazakh saw his opportunity fall through when an injury ruled Muhammad out, and he was instead tasked with stalling Ian Garry’s hopes of leapfrogging him to the front of the queue.

    He did so on the night but had to overcome plenty of adversity to have his hand raised after five rounds of action inside the T-Mobile Arena.

    The competitive nature of the bout has led many to different conclusions, be it Garry being more elite than some had thought or “Nomad” underperforming.

    During a UFC 310 reaction video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Page fell on the latter side of that.

    The former Bellator standout suggested that the reigning welterweight champ would have enjoyed a comfortable first title defense opposite the iteration of Rakhmonov that made the walk in Las Vegas this past weekend.

    “Shavkat couldn’t get anything. Rakhmonov’s fitness and muscular endurance definitely let him down. His balance seems to be very off. This was definitely, by far, not the best Rakhmonov we’ve seen,” Page said. “Although he’s won it, I think anybody looking at this will look at him like, ‘Yeah, I can beat this guy.’

    “Not saying he’s not dangerous. You can see he’s definitely a dangerous person. But this wasn’t good. This wasn’t his best performance,” Page continued. “A hundred percent now, this Shavkat here, if he had fought Belal, Belal was munching him, yamming him for breakfast.”

    Had things turned out differently in the summer, “MVP” could have been the one sharing the cage with Rakhmonov at this year’s final PPV. The Londoner was narrowly outpointed by the Irishman at UFC 303 in June, moving him to an even 1-1 record since joining the promotion in late 2023.

    While he and Garry looked ahead to their respective opportunities to return to the win column in 2025, Rakhmonov will have his eyes on nothing but Muhammad and the champ’s belt.

  • Report: Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo Added To UFC 313 In Las Vegas On March 12

    Report: Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo Added To UFC 313 In Las Vegas On March 12

    Fights deeper into next year’s calendar are beginning to come together, including the first for the Las Vegas-held UFC 313 pay-per-view.

    After opening its year with numbered events in Los Angeles and Sydney, PPV action will hit the T-Mobile Arena for the first time on March 12. And per Ag. Fight, the first addition to the lineup will be an important one in the context of the strawweight division.

    A month after 115-pound queen Zhang Weili puts her gold on the line opposite Tatiana Suarez, the charging Iasmin Lucindo (17-5) will look to stake her claim for the next shot when she gets the chance to leap into the top five at the expense of Amanda Lemos (14-4-1) at UFC 313.

    Lemos will be looking to bounce back at UFC 313, having been submitted by another Brazilian standout in Virna Jandiroba this past July. That result has left her 1-1 since a failed title bid against Zhang in August 2023. Her 2024 opened with a decision victory over Mackenzie Dern.

    Lucindo, meanwhile, has established herself as one of the promotion’s most promising prospects since impressing in defeat on debut versus Yazmin Jauregui. She’s since won four on the bounce, including key triumphs over Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Marina Rodriguez to climb to #7 in the rankings this year.

  • Paddy Pimblett Gives Enthusiastic Reaction To Ilia Topuria’s Lightweight Claim: ‘New Blood?’

    Paddy Pimblett Gives Enthusiastic Reaction To Ilia Topuria’s Lightweight Claim: ‘New Blood?’

    UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett appears ready to renew hostilities with featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria.

    Pimblett and Topuria developed a sudden feud in 2022 after the latter took offense to remarks made about Georgia by the Liverpool native. They almost came to blows at the fighter hotel ahead of their respective matchups on a UFC Fight Night card in London.

    At the time, the pair appeared to be on a collision course. Since then, however, “El Matador” has moved clear of “The Baddy” when it comes to UFC status, dropping to 145 pounds and capturing the crowd. Knockouts of Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in 2024 have left him a leading candidate for the Fighter of the Year accolade.

    2025, however, could see a major career switch for Topuria, who recently outlined his plan to vacate the 145-pound gold and permanently return to lightweight.

    And it didn’t take long for Pimblett to take notice…

    “New blood at 155?” Pimblett wrote on Instagram.

    The Scouser still has some places to make up on the 155-pound ladder to put himself in the conversation for a clash against Topuria.

    With champion Islam Makhachev preoccupied dealing with the threat posed by Arman Tsarukyan, “El Matador” has called for a title eliminator opposite the #2-ranked Charles Oliveira.

    Pimblett, meanwhile, sits 11 places lower than “do Bronx” in the pecking order, with his most recent wins coming over Tony Ferguson and King Green.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Threatens Dagestan Visit To ‘Slap’ Umar Nurmagomedov: ‘If He Doesn’t Apologize…’

    Merab Dvalishvili Threatens Dagestan Visit To ‘Slap’ Umar Nurmagomedov: ‘If He Doesn’t Apologize…’

    The tension between UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov shows no sign of decreasing ahead of their upcoming title fight.

    Dvalishvili recently had his first defense since capturing the 135-pound crown at the expense of Sean O’Malley added to the calendar. Four months on from his triumph inside the Sphere, the Georgian will head to Los Angeles to do battle with an undefeated contender.

    “The Machine” is set to co-headline next month’s year-opening UFC 311 pay-per-view opposite Nurmagomedov, who has gotten his wish to compete for the gold despite the champ previously dismissing his worthiness when it came to a championship opportunity.

    Dvalishvili’s repeated attempts to pitch alternative fights drew plenty of backlash from the Dagestani online, and it would appear that the remarks have not been forgotten…

    That much was evident when the pair almost came to blows backstage at last week’s UFC 311 press conference in Las Vegas before trading verbal barbs on stage.

    And during an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Dvalishvili further addressed his growing disdain for his challenger. He stated that Nurmagomedov needs to say sorry for what he perceived as disrespect or he would be getting “slapped,” even if it means the Georgian heading to Dagestan or facing consequences such as prison.

    “If you come to my face and if you disrespect me, you’re going to get slapped,” Dvalishvili said. “Don’t try that because I’m a man and I will never forgive you, even if I have to go to jail. I don’t care, man. I have so much to lose. I don’t care [about] this belt, I don’t care [about] this money, I don’t care [about] this legacy. I’m a man, I live in a respectful way, and that’s all I believe.

    “Especially now I’m a U S. citizen, I can f***ing fight, beat the s*** out of these motherf***ers and I have no problem to pay the bill, ticket, or go to jail. Because I don’t care. Don’t disrespect me,” Dvalishvili continued. “He may get a slap after the fight. … The fight in the Octagon is not a real fight, it’s a sport. Yeah, [the fight will continue] if Umar does not apologize. … It’s going to happen, even if I have to go in Dagestan, I will go.”

    It remains to be seen whether Dvalishvili will deliver on that threat, but the Georgian’s frequent altercations with fans at events — the most recent of which happened just this past weekend at UFC 310 — suggests “The Machine” won’t hold bak outside of the cage if he feels disrespected.

    Regardless, it’s safe to say that the build-up toward their collision at the Intuit Dome on Jan. 18 will continue to be a heated one.

  • Dricus Du Plessis On UFC Dismissing His Chimaev Preference For Next Defense: ‘Just For Clarification…’ 

    Dricus Du Plessis On UFC Dismissing His Chimaev Preference For Next Defense: ‘Just For Clarification…’ 

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis insists he is not “unhappy” about the promotion’s decision regarding his next challenger.

    During this past weekend’s pay-per-view broadcast, it was announced that Du Plessis will return to Australia — the site of his successful first defense against Israel Adesanya in August — to headline UFC 312 at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.

    Against him will be former champ Sean Strickland, who staked his claim for a chance at redemption opposite the man who dethroned him this past January when he outpointed Paulo Costa in a lackluster affair four months later. But while his shot has ultimately come to fruition, there was some doubt prior to the recent reveal.

    The undefeated Khamzat Chimaev ran through Robert Whittaker in quick time at UFC 308 in October, garnering support for his claim to the next opportunity at Du Plessis’ belt. Even the champ himself made it clear that he favored a first-time clash with “Borz.”

    But although that evidently fell on deaf ears, the South African says he’s more than happy to beat whomever the UFC places in front of him.

    “Just for clarification, I preferred the Khamzat fight but the rematch is a fight most wanted before Khamzat vs (Whittaker),” Du Plessis wrote on X. “I’m not unhappy with the UFC’s decision. Like I said, I’ll fight the man fans think is the next best guy he was promised the fight so Strickland it is.”

    He did, however, reiterate his belief that Strickland is not truly deserving of the shot at UFC 312 in response to a commenter.

    “I have to agree with you on that one”

    After falling on the right side of a split decision to capture the crown at Strickland’s expense in Canada, “Stillknocks” continued to prove his doubters wrong by submitting former two-time champ Adesanya at UFC 305.

    Du Plessis will now look to secure a more definitive victory over Strickland to extend his lead in their rivalry to 2-0, before likely turning attention to Chimaev later in the year.

  • Jan Błachowicz Set To Return After 20-Month Layoff At UFC London In 2025

    Jan Błachowicz Set To Return After 20-Month Layoff At UFC London In 2025

    The first fights are in for next March’s UFC Fight Night in London, and one includes the return of former light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz.

    After staging its United Kingdom event in Manchester this past July, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will head back to England’s capital in the first quarter of 2025, with London’s O2 arena once again playing host to Octagon action.

    A main event is yet to be announced, and a number of home favorites are expected to make the walk in front of their compatriots. The first major announcement, however, will pit a Polish ex-titleholder against a charging New Zealander.

    The UFC announced this week that Błachowicz’s (29-10-1) lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury will come to a close 20 months on from his most recent appearance — a narrow decision loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 291.

    On March 22, the #4-ranked contender will attempt to defend his position in the top five opposite the surging Carlos Ulberg (11-1). That fight was announced alongside another, with English heavyweight Mick Parkin set for a big opportunity against a veteran of the top 10 in Marcin Tybura on home soil.

    Prior to his tight loss to then-future and now-reigning light heavyweight champion Pereira, Błachowicz failed to regain the 205-pound gold against Magomed Ankalaev, whom he fought to a draw against in the main event of UFC 282.

    Ulberg, meanwhile, hasn’t tasted defeat since a UFC debut defeat to Kennedy Nzechukwu in 2021. Since then, “Black Jag” has won six fights consecutively, most recently outpointing former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Macau late last month.

  • Aljamain Sterling Admits Questioning Fighting Future After UFC 310 Loss: ‘I Don’t Want To Retire, But…’

    Aljamain Sterling Admits Questioning Fighting Future After UFC 310 Loss: ‘I Don’t Want To Retire, But…’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling finds himself at a crossroads following a loss to Movsar Evloev at UFC 310.

    The defeat marked a turning point after a brief resurgence in his career, fueled by a notable victory over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300 this past April. That win had temporarily revived Sterling’s momentum after losing his bantamweight title to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 in 2023.

    Now, having had his push for two-division glory stalled, Sterling is openly questioning his future in mixed martial arts.

    Reflecting on his career trajectory during a YouTube video, “Funk Master” expressed uncertainty about whether he has the motivation to “climb the ladder all over again” in pursuit of the belt. Instead, he is contemplating alternative paths, including supporting his teammates or focusing on high-profile, entertaining matchups.

    “Do I continue, or do I just help out the guys and help them get ready for their fights, and maybe just take fun fights? I don’t know,” Sterling said. “I don’t want to retire, but I’ve got to see what the UFC offers and then kind of make a decision from there to see where my positioning is.

    “It’s tough to even talk like this because I’m only 35,” Sterling continued. “I know people think I still look good and everything, but my body hurts.”

    Sterling acknowledged that his training regimen has evolved as his body no longer endures the intensity it once did. He admitted that the grueling schedule of training three times a day may have given him an edge in his prime — one he feels is harder to maintain now.

  • Michael Chiesa Reveals Record He Wants To Break After UFC 310 win

    Michael Chiesa Reveals Record He Wants To Break After UFC 310 win

    Michael Chiesa is riding high after a submission victory over Max Griffin this past Saturday at UFC 310.

    The win marked the continuance of a significant turnaround for the veteran, who had previously been on a three-fight losing skid from 2021 to 2023 that raised doubts about his future in the sport. This resurgence began in August when Chiesa submitted Tony Ferguson, and he added another milestone by becoming the first fighter to submit Griffin.

    With his latest victory, “Maverick” now boasts seven rear-naked choke wins in the UFC, just two behind the all-time record of nine held by grappling legend Demian Maia. Reflecting on his accomplishment, Chiesa expressed his determination to surpass the Brazilian’s record.

    “I saw that I tied Kenny Florian with seven rear-naked choke finishes – now I’ve got to chase down the great Demian Maia and try to get past nine,” Chiesa said during the UFC 310 post-fight press conference. “It just created another little goal for me.

    “Obviously, the goal remains the same for me: I want to be the world champion. Otherwise, what’s the point of fighting? If you don’t think you’re the best in the world, if you’re not going to chase the title, what the hell are you doing it for?”

    The night before UFC 310, Chiesa achieved another milestone by earning his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Adding to the significance of the occasion, the event also took place on his birthday. Chiesa described the experience as a career highlight and expressed satisfaction with his performance.

  • Daniel Cormier On ‘Weird’ Muhammad-Rakhmonov UFC 310 Faceoff: ‘I Don’t Think It Served The Purpose That You Want’

    Daniel Cormier On ‘Weird’ Muhammad-Rakhmonov UFC 310 Faceoff: ‘I Don’t Think It Served The Purpose That You Want’

    Daniel Cormier has joined many fight fans in critiquing the staredown between UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, describing the moment as underwhelming.

    The faceoff took place after Rakhmonov’s victory over Ian Garry, which positioned him as the next contender for Muhammad’s title. The originally planned headliner between “Remember the Name” and “Nomad” was canceled after the champ withdrew due to a toe infection.

    When Muhammad was finally allowed inside the Octagon for the staredown, the interaction remained respectful, which Cormier felt lacked the intensity needed to hype the fight.

    “I’ve got to be honest. It was weird,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “I don’t love faceoffs when you have a translator, especially when Belal, as much as people want to hate him, he’s not a disrespectful guy. So it doesn’t make that moment that you’re looking for when you bring a champion into the ring.”

    Cormier compared the moment to other notable post-fight interactions, highlighting the promotional value that was missing.

    “When (Alexander Volkanovski) came in after (Ilia) Topuria beat Max (Holloway), they shook hands and they left. It was very respectful. But you understood what they were saying. When (Sean) O’Malley was in there, and he was about to fight Aljo (Aljamain Sterling) for the belt, Merab (Dvalishvili) takes the jacket, that makes a memory. This tonight, I don’t think it served the purpose that you want, as a promotion, in regards to what you’re going to do to try to build that fight.”

    While the staredown was meant to ignite anticipation for their potential title fight, Cormier believes the lack of drama or significant engagement may have fallen short of its promotional goal.

  • Alex Pereira Explains Major Edge Jon Jones Has Over Tom Aspinall

    Alex Pereira Explains Major Edge Jon Jones Has Over Tom Aspinall

    Alex Pereira has shared his thoughts on the ongoing situation involving UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and his potential next opponent.

    Jones has expressed interest in fighting the UFC light heavyweight champ rather than interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall. While “Bones” sees this matchup as the most compelling, UFC CEO Dana White appears less enthusiastic, believing Jones would have a significant advantage over the smaller fighter.

    Some fight fans echo Jones’ preference, considering it the best fight to make. Pereira, meanwhile, has welcomed the idea of a showdown with Jones. But should Aspinall get the nod, “Poatan” recently acknowledged the challenges he would face due to Jones’ extensive experience.

    “I think Jon Jones has a lot of experience on his side,” Pereira told TNT Sports. “Some people say, ‘Aspinall this, Aspinall that,’ but it comes down to experience. Jon Jones is a seasoned guy. He’s been there, so I think he wins.”

    Pereira also spoke about his own desire to face Jones.

    “Everybody knows my interest in fighting him, and I was happy to see the initiative he had to speak that on the microphone, to express to everybody that he wants to fight me,” Pereira said. “We both want it, but it doesn’t come down to us. We have to see what plans the organization has for us.”

    https://youtu.be/WzA8Z6_WIPQ

    As the UFC deliberates on Jones’ next fight, the possibility of a clash between two champions continues to fuel speculation and fan debate.

  • Chase Hooper On Clay Guida After Dana White’s Retirement Plea Post-UFC 310: ‘Didn’t Feel Like He Was As Hungry…’

    Chase Hooper On Clay Guida After Dana White’s Retirement Plea Post-UFC 310: ‘Didn’t Feel Like He Was As Hungry…’

    At UFC 310, Chase Hooper earned his fourth consecutive win in the lightweight division by beating a veteran of the sport in Clay Guida. His armbar in the first round saw him continue to put together the best run of his career to date whilst collecting a performance of the night bonus in the process.

    As for his opponent, some people (including UFC boss Dana White) believe that it is time for Guida to hang up the gloves. “The Carpenter” has fought 37 times inside the Octagon since making his debut with the promotion all the way back at UFC 64 in 2006. At 43-years old, Guida has lost his last three and his submission loss to Hooper saw him break the promotion’s record for the most losses.

    His 19th defeat saw him clear past Jeremy Stephens and Andrei Arlovski who were previously all tied at 18. In a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Hooper recapped his second win of 2024.

    Hooper also gave his opinion on whether Guida needs to step away at this stage in his career and though he admitted that everyone is different, he did think that there was a certain level of intensity missing from his opponent on Saturday night.

    “It’s one of those things where I honestly didn’t feel like, when we were in there, I didn’t feel like he was as hungry for the competition as I was and I think that’s a big piece. I think, I don’t know, I didn’t feel like he was really in there as much as he could be but I think he’s a guy that needs to get pumped up for the fight. I’ll never tell anybody to retire right, I don’t think that’s my business but, you know, what 37 fights in the UFC? I mean I damn sure won’t be doing that when I’m 42. I’d sail off into the sunset but that’s just me.”

  • Leon Edwards Becomes Latest To Get A Laugh Out Of Security Not Recognizing Belal Muhammad At UFC 310

    Leon Edwards Becomes Latest To Get A Laugh Out Of Security Not Recognizing Belal Muhammad At UFC 310

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad made an unexpected attempt to enter the Octagon last Saturday night at UFC 310. He intended to confront Shavkat Rakhmonov, who had just defeated Ian Garry and is now positioned as the next contender for the title.

    However, cageside security initially stopped Muhammad, seemingly failing to recognize him and suspecting he might instigate a disturbance. After clarifying the situation, the 170-pound kingpin was eventually allowed into the cage.

    Security measures at UFC events have been heightened due to past incidents involving fighters storming the Octagon and provoking altercations. Addressing the confusion, Muhammad explained his side of the story during an interview with The Schmo:

    “Yeah, I don’t know, they thought I was gonna do. They thought I was pulling a Merab, like hopping over and going crazy or something like that,” Muhammad said. “No, he called me, bro! If someone calls me into the cage, I’m gonna go in there, right? I don’t think (security) heard it, they didn’t realize what was going on — they thought I was going in to attack him. I’m just like, bro, chill.”

    The tension between Muhammad and Rakhmonov dates back to their originally scheduled matchup in the UFC 310 headliner, which was canceled after Muhammad withdrew due to a toe infection.

    Adding to the drama, Leon Edwards responded to the incident on Instagram with a string of crying-laughing emojis under an ESPN post.

    Muhammad’s surge to the welterweight mountaintop came at the expense of Edwards this past July. “Remember the Name” outpointed “Rocky” across five rounds in the UFC 304 main event, staged in Manchester, England.

    Edwards has vowed to bounce back and regain the gold by the end of 2025. For the time being, though, Muhammad looks set to have his hands full with Rakhmonov before potentially pondering a trilogy with the former champ.

  • Aljamain Sterling’s Teammate On Trading Punches With Fan Who Antagonized Dvalishvili At UFC 310: ‘Hopefully No Charges Pressed…’

    Aljamain Sterling’s Teammate On Trading Punches With Fan Who Antagonized Dvalishvili At UFC 310: ‘Hopefully No Charges Pressed…’

    On his The Weekly Scraps Podcast, Aljamain Sterling looked to recap his recent fight at UFC 310 this past weekend. In his second fight at featherweight, the former bantamweight champion lost a close decision to Movsar Evloev who now occupies the #4-ranking at 145-pounds.

    Though his prelim bout with the undefeated Russian certainly delivered, there was another major talking point regarding Sterling’s team. His long-time training partner and coach, the bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, got into a heated exchange with a member of the audience inside the T-Mobile Arena.

    A video posted on social media shows that as they were walking to the back after the fight, Dvalishvili had to be separated from this fan only for their other teammate and cornerman, Dennis Buzukja, to trade punches with him before security could break it up. Dvalishvili has since shared a video that claims that the fan is actually a close friend of the likes of Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov, who the champion faces at UFC 311 in January.

    Buzukja, who last fought in the UFC this past August, detailed his side of the story during the podcast.

    “I don’t know if he had touched Merab as we were walking in, but somehow he got Merab’s attention and then Merab went and tapped his shoulder and just gave him the finger and then the guy gave him the finger back or whatever, he got all jumpy.

    “Then as the fight finished and we’re walking back on the other side, this f****** guy comes across the whole crowd and then goes and, you’ve seen the video, he grabs Merab’s arm and then says something to him in, I guess Russian or whatever he said, and Merab started going crazy. Then we got into a little physical altercation, but that was really it. So hopefully no charges pressed and we move on.”

    Buzukja went on to say that he had first got involved in the confrontation to dry and diffuse the situation but that quickly changed once he was assaulted.

    “I went and approached him and I just put his hand down, I was trying to deescalate and tell him, ‘Yo, calm down, bro. Relax.’ Merab was going away, I just wanted to tell him to relax, have some respect. Then he cracked me first, actually, he cracked me with a nice little left hook and then it was just instinct to hit him back. Then security came in, but part of me is like, ‘Should I just drop the bucket and just jump over and start swinging?’ Just go full, f****** degenerate, but I’m glad it didn’t happen that way.”

  • Kamaru Usman Assesses Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Garry After UFC 310: ‘There’s Holes In Both Of Their Games’

    Kamaru Usman Assesses Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Garry After UFC 310: ‘There’s Holes In Both Of Their Games’

    Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman was watching closely as two undefeated contenders at 170-pounds met in the co-main event of UFC 310 this past Saturday. Cementing his status as the next title challenger, Shavkat Rakhmonov beat Ian Machado Garry in his first pro win via the scorecards.

    Despite taking the fight on a few weeks notice after Belal Muhammad withdrew from his scheduled title defense against Rakhmonov, Garry was able to test the man that many believe to be the boogeyman of the division, so much so that he doesn’t feel like he lost. Later updates on Rakhmonov’s physical health, along with the Irishman’s performance, could be reasons why he didn’t look at his best despite getting the win.

    Usman was one of the names that many wanted to see step in to face Rakhmonov on December 7 and Garry has publicly criticized “The Nigerian Nightmare” for not taking fights on multiple occasions. During the latest episode of his Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman gave his thoughts on the fight.

    Though he said that he doesn’t want to give too much away in case he ends up fighting either man at some point, Usman believes that Rakhmonov and Garry exposed each others weaknesses at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    “I am a wrestler. Once Ian got taken down a few times, then the fight kinda got away from him. Shavkat, as far as standing and putting the combinations together, he couldn’t really do that well with Ian Garry. There’s holes in both of their games.”

    Despite this, Usman went on to give both men credit for the mentality that they showed in the fight.

    “It shows how Shavkat is a dog. He’s willing to just do whatever it takes to get in there and get that win, and so is Ian. It’s just that Shavkat was a little bit more of a dog than Ian Garry.”

  • Maycee Barber Provides Update On UFC Return Plans After Serious Health Scare

    Maycee Barber Provides Update On UFC Return Plans After Serious Health Scare

    2024 has been an incredibly difficult year for UFC flyweight contender Maycee Barber. At UFC 299 in March, the #4-ranked contender earned her sixth consecutive win by defeating Katlyn Cerminara via a unanimous decision.

    Shortly after, she was hospitalized for nine days due to an illness that doctors couldn’t correctly identify. She later spoke in an interview on The MMA Hour about how at one point, she didn’t think she would be able to overcome this illness, going as far as to call her loved ones because she didn’t think she had much longer to live.

    Over time, her energy started to slowly come back but a scheduled return in a main event against Rose Namajunas would come around too quick for her. Barber withdrew from the fight and was replaced by Tracy Cortez, writing on Instagram that after being told that she would be able to compete by July, she didn’t feel like her body was “even close” to being ready for a fight, let alone a five-rounder against a former champion.

    In a recent interview with Morning Kombat, Barber gave a positive update on her progress and what it was like to miss out on the fight with Namajunas earlier this year.

    “Everything’s going great now. It has been a long journey. I was so bummed when, well first of all, I was so excited to fight Rose because not only was I fighting Rose but I was also fighting in Denver where I made my UFC debut. So for me, it was my first main event, it was a very huge opportunity for me and I was so excited and then I was devastated when I was told, ‘Hey look, you’re not going to fight on this card’. Obviously the health is more important so I was devastated but I have made a lot of progress coming forward and I can’t wait to be back.”

    She also gave a planned timeframe for her return and though it still seems far away, especially considering that she was originally booked to face Namajunas this past July, she’s ahead of her previous estimations.

    “Yeah, actually I was just messaging with Mick (Maynard) and Hunter (Campbell) called me as well. I’m hoping for April honestly. I mean I know it still is a little ways out but for me, that’s the timeline that I was given and so originally, I thought I was gonna be until July, August of next year but it’s looking more like April.”

  • Kai Asakura Doesn’t Lose Confidence After UFC 310 Debut Loss: I’ll ‘Definitely’ Become Champion

    Kai Asakura Doesn’t Lose Confidence After UFC 310 Debut Loss: I’ll ‘Definitely’ Become Champion

    Kai Asakura didn’t get the fairy tale UFC debut that he was hoping for this past weekend in Las Vegas. The former two-time RIZIN bantamweight champion was expecting to face top opposition right away after signing to the UFC but due to the current state of the flyweight division, he went straight into a title shot at the last PPV card of 2024.

    Though Asakura was calm and composed throughout fight week and showed why he is such an exciting addition in the main event of UFC 310, facing the champion, Alexandre Pantoja, proved to be a step too far for him right now. The Brazilian secured his third consecutive title defense after taking his challenger’s back and choking him out in the second round.

    The Japanese star may have come up short but losing to the champion on his debut is only the start of his career in the UFC. With a top 15 ranking now next to his name, the 31-year old can look to build himself back towards the 125-pound gold.

    He’s done this before in RIZIN where despite suffering some substantial defeats, Asakura was able to reclaim the bantamweight title in his final fight before signing to the UFC. The title challenger posted a message on Instagram where he thanked his fans and apologized to them.

    Despite this latest setback, he states that he isn’t discouraged from his dreams of becoming the champion one day.

    “Thank you for all your support. I’m sorry I couldn’t get back with results. Great champions and I was still weak. I didn’t get it this time though I’ll definitely rise up and become a champion. Always have and will keep doing it until I can. I will come back stronger.”

  • Ilia Topuria Drops Bombshell On UFC Career: ‘Very Likely’ We’ve Seen My Last Featherweight Fight

    Ilia Topuria Drops Bombshell On UFC Career: ‘Very Likely’ We’ve Seen My Last Featherweight Fight

    It would appear that UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria’s reign might have been a one-and-done affair…

    Topuria enjoyed a standout 2024 inside the cage, with a title crowning via knockout at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski and successful defense by way of a violent finish against Max Holloway leaving him in a strong year within Fighter of the Year discussions.

    While the Spaniard has been getting plenty of plaudits since becoming the first man to sleep “Blessed” in Abu Dhabi this past October, talk has unsurprisingly turned to what could await him in 2025.

    From a rematch with Volkanovski to first-time showdowns with Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev, the latter of whom staked his claim with a victory over Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310 this past weekend, Topuria doesn’t appear short on options.

    According to the champ himself, however, those names aren’t enticing enough.

    During a recent interview with Spanish radio show El Partidazo de COPE, Topuria dropped a bombshell on his UFC career, suggesting that he’s likely competed at featherweight for the final time and will vacate the belt in order to move up to lightweight.

    “There were talks of Miami, but I’m not sure because there are still some pending conversations,” Topuria said. “We need to talk about it and take a look at my future. For me, it is very clear how I want to do it. I’d like to move up to the next weight class.

    With a superfight against 155-pound kingpin Islam Makhachev not on the table right now as the Dagestani gears up to meet the challenge of Arman Tsarukyan in Los Angeles next month, Topuria pitched a title eliminator with Charles Oliveira instead.

    “Since Islam is the champion fighting in January and won’t be ready for April or May, I’d like to fight the number one contender right now, who’s Charles Oliveira,” Topuria stated. “I’d like to move up a weight class. … Maybe there’s a change coming. … (It’s) very likely (you’ve seen my last fight at featherweight).”

    Oliveira believes he secured a shot at returning to the lightweight throne when he once again got the better of Michael Chandler at the Madison Square Garden-held UFC 309 pay-per-view last month.

    “Do Bronx” has outlined his intention to be present at the Intuit Dome when Makhachev and Tsarukyan collide, anticipating that his next opponent will be decided.

    Topuria’s plans could throw a curveball into the mix, however. But it remains to be seen if his plan to shockingly end his featherweight stint will be supported by the promotion, especially with growing calls for “El Matador” to defend his gold in Spain next year.