MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Manon Fiorot Loses Patience In Title Fight Wait, Tells Valentina Shevchenko ‘Sign The Contract Or Retire’

    Manon Fiorot Loses Patience In Title Fight Wait, Tells Valentina Shevchenko ‘Sign The Contract Or Retire’

    UFC women’s flyweight Manon Fiorot continues to berate Valentina Shevchenko over their expected championship collision.

    Fiorot earned her shot this past March when she got the better of Erin Blanchfield in Atlantic City. The result, which came in the Frenchwoman’s maiden main event on MMA’s biggest stage, extended her professional win streak to 12 and perfect UFC record to 7-0.

    Having defeated “Cold Blooded,” Rose Namajunas, Katlyn Cerminara and Jennifer Maia consecutively, there’s little doubt over the #2-ranked contender’s place at the front of the queue. But for much of this year, “The Beast” was made to wait as Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso completed their trilogy.

    “Bullet” emerged victorious from it at the Sphere, returning to the throne and beginning a second reign as 125-pound queen. Fortunately for the matchmakers, Shevchenko’s first challenge was already seemingly lined up — and it’s safe to say she’s in a hurry…

    Fiorot recently took to social media to express frustration at the ongoing wait for her title chance, tagging Shevchenko and calling for her to either put pen to paper on a bout agreement or hang up her gloves.

    “@BulletValentina You can’t hide anymore, so sign this contract or retire,” Fiorot wrote.

    For now, a date and event for Fiorot’s likely title shot is unclear, but she’ll no doubt be preparing for the her shot at joining Ciryl Gane as only the second French UFC champ — first to achieve the feat as an undisputed titleholder.

    With two championship fights set for both UFC 311 in Los Angeles on Jan. 18 and UFC 312 in Australia the following month, it would appear that the earliest Shevchenko vs. Fiorot could come together is March.

  • Vicente Luque Reveals Only Non-Top 10 Opponent He’ll Accept After UFC 310: ‘I Have An Exception…’ 

    Vicente Luque Reveals Only Non-Top 10 Opponent He’ll Accept After UFC 310: ‘I Have An Exception…’ 

    Following a crucial victory at this past weekend’s pay-per-view, UFC welterweight Vicente Luque’s eyes are on those above him at 170 pounds — unless…

    Luque made the walk at UFC 310 off the back of a 2-3 run across his previous five fights and a difficult knockout loss at the hands of Joaquin Buckley earlier this year. With that, his place in the divisional top 15 was at stake.

    But while Themba Gorimbo entered his short-notice opportunity to rise the ranks with momentum from four straight wins, “The Silent Assassin” showed that he has plenty left in the tank by putting on an emphatic and dominant performance.

    It took the Brazilian-American just 52 seconds to stall the Zimbabwean’s push toward contention, first dropping him on the feet before choking him unconscious with a tight anaconda choke.

    During his post-fight press conference, Luque reflected on his return to the win column inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena and looked ahead to what could await him in the new year.

    After reiterating his title aspirations, the 33-year-old unsurprisingly outlined his intention to face a name high up the welterweight ladder in 2025. But Luque would entertain one name who is far from being in the championship conversation.

    “2025 is that run for the title, and I want that Miami card. I want top 10, but I have an exception,” Luque said. “If Masvidal really wants to step back in there, and he wants to get it done, I would love to have a battle against him.

    “I want him as an opponent because I know it’s going to be a war,” Luque continued. “I know that the fans are going to enjoy that, and I know that we both can deliver a battle.”

    Masvidal hasn’t competed since a decision defeat to Gilbert Burns at the Miami-held UFC 287 PPV in April 2023. The result, which marked a fourth straight loss for “Gamebred,” was quickly followed by a retirement announcement that many in the community supported.

    But after competing against former Octagon rival Nate Diaz in the boxing ring, the ex-BMF champ has insisted that a UFC return is in store next year.

    It remains to be seen who that MMA comeback will come against, but Luque evidently fancies his chances in what would no doubt be one of the more high-profile bouts in his career.

  • Ian Garry’s Takeaway From Shavkat Rakhmonov Loss: ‘I’m The Scarier Fighter’

    Ian Garry’s Takeaway From Shavkat Rakhmonov Loss: ‘I’m The Scarier Fighter’

    He may not have got the result he wanted at this past weekend’s pay-per-view, but that hasn’t stopped UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry from taking a victory lap of sorts.

    Garry had his record blemished for the first time in his professional career at UFC 310, an event he co-headlined opposite a former training partner and fellow rising star at 170 pounds in Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    Their contest, which came about after the withdrawal of champion Belal Muhammad from his scheduled defense against “Nomad” due to injury, went the distance inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, with the Kazakh emerging with his undefeated résumé intact.

    Despite having his hopes to challenge for “Remember the Name’s” gold next year dented by Rakhmonov, however, Garry appears more enthusiastic and confident about his chances of reaching the top than ever before.

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Garry reflected on his losing performance in “Sin City,” highlighting the difficult circumstances that his first title eliminator in the UFC came in.

    Ultimately, aside from having his hand raised, Garry seemingly doesn’t think the night could have gone much better in terms of proving that his self-belief when it comes to beating everyone in his path on MMA’s biggest stage is well placed.

    “I went in there on short notice against the scariest man in the division and I made him human,” Garry said. “I proved to the world how talented I am against a guy who they thought was unbeatable. … There’s no argument in my mind that when that fight finished, you can’t sit there and say anything else other than I am the scarier fighter.

    “He didn’t beat me anywhere,” Garry continued. “Significant strikes, I won. The grappling exchanges, I was winning; I was defending and shooting down everything he was doing. The gameplan and everything that I had come up (with) and told my team I wanted to do, it worked. It’s a matter of seconds and four to five extra shots, and you’re talking about five rounds in my favor.”

    With those comments in mind, the Irishman will evidently be entering 2025 with even more confidence and expectation for himself. First things first, Garry must return to winning ways, and from there, perhaps another chance to secure an opening shot at gold in his UFC career will await.

    For the time being, though, focus will be on the UFC 310 co-main event winner as Rakhmonov pursues a second official booking opposite Muhammad in the new year.

  • Alexandre Pantoja Explains Demetrious Johnson Callout At UFC 310: ‘Fighters Like Me & Makhachev…’

    Alexandre Pantoja Explains Demetrious Johnson Callout At UFC 310: ‘Fighters Like Me & Makhachev…’

    Alexandre Pantoja had fight fans buzzing with his performance at UFC 310 and the bold post-fight promo he delivered.

    In the main event, Pantoja secured a dominant win by putting Kai Asakura to sleep, successfully defending his flyweight title in the process. However, it was his unexpected callout of former UFC champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson that stole the spotlight.

    At the post-fight press conference, “The Cannibal” explained his reasoning behind the challenge, emphasizing both respect and legacy.

    “I beat the No. 1, the No. 2 multiple times. The UFC brought me another guy, another champ from across the world, and I finished him. That is the fight that makes sense for me,” Pantoja said. “The flyweight division is so different right now. Back when Demetrious Johnson fought, it was not like this. My last four fights were against a Mexican, Australian, American, and Japanese fighter. Times have changed. It’s so hard to keep this belt now.”

    He continued, reflecting on the challenge of maintaining his title in today’s competitive landscape.

    “Right now, fighters like me and [Islam] Makhachev have three title defenses. But these are tough times. It’s not like before. All my respect to Demetrious Johnson — I love him for opening the doors for us. But that’s the fight I want. If you ask me what I want for Christmas, that’s what I want.”

    Johnson, who retired from MMA this past September at ONE 168 after last competing in May 2023, took to X to respond to Pantoja’s challenge.

    “Guys, I got offered $2 million to fight!! I turned it down. I don’t care to fight anymore,” Johnson wrote.

    The former champ’s response left fans speculating, especially since his retirement announcement came after a successful career capped by years of dominance. It is, however, believed that Johnson remains contractually tied to ONE Championship, where he fought after being traded from the UFC.

    Despite “Mighty Mouse’s” apparent disinterest, Pantoja believes the potential fight transcends money, focusing instead on legacy. The reigning flyweight champ wants to prove himself against a legend of the division, saying it’s about testing who the better fighter truly is.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Reacts To Confirmation Of Sean Strickland Rematch: ‘They’ll Call It Attempted Murder…’ 

    Dricus Du Plessis Reacts To Confirmation Of Sean Strickland Rematch: ‘They’ll Call It Attempted Murder…’ 

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis is looking to put a stamp on his rivalry with Sean Strickland when they run it back early next year.

    As 2024 approaches its conclusion, Du Plessis already has his first assignment of the new year in the calendar. After being crowned 185-pound kingpin this past January and subsequently defending that status against Israel Adesanya in Australia seven months later, “Stillknocks” will return Down Under.

    The promotion confirmed during this past weekend’s pay-per-view broadcast that Du Plessis will headline February’s UFC 312 event in Sydney, running it back with the man at the expense of whom he won the middleweight belt, the #1-ranked Strickland.

    Reacting to that announcement on social media this week, the South African vowed to record a more definitive triumph over the polarizing American former champ.

    “This time they won’t call it a robbery, they’ll call it attempted murder. #UFC312 #preparetobeamazed”

    The pair first met in Strickland’s sole title defense in Canada, with the then-challenger falling on the right side of a split decision verdict following five rounds of close and competitive action.

    While “Tarzan’s” only bout since then saw him emerge victorious from a lackluster contest with Paulo Costa, he’s gotten the nod for a shot at redemption opposite Du Plessis over Khamzat Chimaev, whose own claim to an opportunity gained support after he ran through Robert Whittaker in October.

    Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 will top a lineup that features two title fights, the other being a highly anticipated strawweight championship contest between Zhang Weili and the undefeated Tatiana Suarez.

  • Dominick Reyes Reveals Anthony Smith’s Strange Mid-Fight Request At UFC 310

    Dominick Reyes Reveals Anthony Smith’s Strange Mid-Fight Request At UFC 310

    Dominick Reyes continued his resurgence at UFC 310 on Saturday night, earning a second consecutive victory with a TKO win over fellow former title challenger Anthony Smith.

    Despite Reyes’ success, the fight was marked by emotional and unusual moments from Smith, who is grappling with the recent loss of one of his coaches and friends.

    Smith entered the Octagon visibly affected, crying throughout his walkout. His emotions carried into the fight, leading to an unusual mid-fight moment that Reyes discussed at the post-fight press conference.

    “When I went into the cage – I haven’t been around Anthony much in my life, for the record – but I could see he was emotional,” Reyes said. “That’s a dangerous man. He’s said it himself: he’s fighting for a friend, and he doesn’t care about the outcome. He just wants to feel something.”

    Reyes described a surprising exchange in the first round when Smith dropped his hands and asked him to punch him.

    After the fight, “Lionheart” hinted at the possibility of retirement, a sentiment echoed by UFC CEO Dana White, who suggested it might be time for Smith to step away. The veteran light heavyweight has now lost two consecutive fights, including a decision defeat to Roman Dolidze at UFC 303.

    “There was a point in the first round when he put his hands down and just said, ‘Punch me in the face,’ and I obliged. That’s my job. My job is to finish you and get you out of there, whether you’re going through something or not. If you’re going to give me free shots, I’m going to hit you. We are professional fighters, and it’s a very dangerous game. God bless Anthony.”

    Reyes, for his part, acknowledged the difficulty Smith is facing but reiterated his own focus.

    “Losing someone is never easy; I’ve lost people this year as well, and it’s terrible. I’m glad he got to come out and be the warrior that he is — this is his outlet,” Reyes said. “My job is to win and give my best performance, and that’s all I was focused on. Whatever you’re going through, when the door closes, it’s wartime.”

    Smith’s future in MMA remains uncertain, but his emotional journey at UFC 310 highlighted the deeply personal battles fighters often face outside the cage.

  • Ciryl Gane Frustrated By Early Toe Injury He Says Impacted UFC 310 Performance

    Ciryl Gane secured a split decision victory over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310, marking his second consecutive win since his title fight loss to Jon Jones. However, the Frenchman expressed dissatisfaction with his performance due to an apparent injury sustained early in the bout.

    In the first round, Gane injured multiple toes on his left foot during his initial teep kick. This inssue significantly impacted his fighting style, limiting his mobility and effectiveness in both striking and grappling exchanges. He elaborated on this during the post-fight press conference.

    “My first teep. You see, this changes a lot of my style because I love to be on my feet and be fast, in and out, land my jab. So I was really focused on it.”

    The toe injury compelled Gane to alter his strategy, opting to grapple more with Volkov. However, the injury hindered his ability to push off his foot, reducing the effectiveness of his grappling techniques.

    “I was frustrated about my fight because of this. I was frustrated because I started my training in July for this fight, and you started your fight like this. Like the first second you land.”

    Looking ahead, Gane expressed a desire to return to action promptly but acknowledged the necessity of allowing his toes to heal fully before resuming training.

    The victory over Volkov was also not without controversy.

    The split decision was met with boos from the crowd, and even UFC CEO Dana White believed Volkov deserved the win. Gane himself appeared uncertain of the outcome, as he began to exit the Octagon in disappointment immediately after the result was announced.

    This fight was a rematch of their 2021 encounter, which Gane won via unanimous decision. Since then, both fighters have experienced different trajectories, with “Bon Gamin” competing for UFC gold three times and “Drago” steadily climbing the rankings.

    Gane’s recent performances, including this contentious win, have sparked discussions among fans and analysts about his standing in the heavyweight division and potential future matchups.

  • Daniel Cormier Reveals Injury Shavkat Rakhmonov Fought Through To Beat Ian Garry At UFC 310

    Daniel Cormier Reveals Injury Shavkat Rakhmonov Fought Through To Beat Ian Garry At UFC 310

    Ian Machado Garry came away from UFC 310 this past weekend with the opinion that even though he suffered his first loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov, it didn’t feel like a setback. The two undefeated welterweights met in the co-main event on Saturday night where at the end of five rounds, the number one contender got his hand raised via a unanimous decision.

    This result saw Rakhmonov’s 100% finishing rate come to an end as he went to the scorecards for the first time in his pro career. His output is largely what won him three of the five rounds on the scorecards as he landed some effective strikes and grappled with Garry without ever really putting him in serious danger.

    In fact, it was the Irishman that had the best moment of the fight after he took his opponent’s back in the fifth round and tried to lock up the rear-naked choke. Garry has received a lot of credit in the aftermath of the fight and rightfully so but new information also points to a reason why Rakhmonov may have looked far more beatable than in the past.

    Daniel Cormier posted his immediate reactions to the fights on his YouTube channel as he reflected on the night’s action whilst still being sat cage-side at the T-Mobile Arena. After saying that he didn’t think Rakhmonov looked at his best on December 7, “DC” states that the Kazakh fighter suffered an injury before the fight which he says may have been a torn MCL.

    Though Garry still deserves praise for his performance, this would also make his opponent’s display more impressive considering what he was potentially fighting through. The severity of the injury may also impact the time frame for his welterweight title fight with Belal Muhammad that was originally set to take place at UFC 310.

    “Shavkat Rakhmonov did not look like himself even though I learned after that he had an injury, I think he might have torn his MCL going into the fight. Granted, with a torn ligament in your knee, you’re not going to look like the killer that you looked like in fights prior.”

    There was also some speculation online that Rakhmonov addressed this during his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan but the translator did not relay that information though this isn’t confirmed.

  • ‘New Favorite Callout’ – Fans React As Dooho Choi Uses Earth Image To Pitch Bryce Mitchell Fight After UFC 310

    ‘New Favorite Callout’ – Fans React As Dooho Choi Uses Earth Image To Pitch Bryce Mitchell Fight After UFC 310

    One of the stand out performances from UFC 310 this past weekend came from Dooho Choi in the main card opener. “The Korean Superboy” produced his best performance to date inside the Octagon with a dominant victory against Nate Landwehr.

    His boxing was incredibly effective early on and after implementing his grappling, Choi was able to shut Landwehr out before capping off his performance with a TKO finish in the third round from the crucifix position. Having earned back-to-back wins inside the Octagon in 2024 for the first time since 2016, the Korean stand out is well and truly back in the mix at 145-pounds.

    In his post-fight interview, Choi called out a fellow featherweight who would be competing in the very next bout on the card. After Bryce Mitchell finished Kron Gracie to return to the win column, the 33-year old posted the following message on Instagram, making reference to Mitchell’s opinions on the earth being flat.

    Fight fans reacted on social media to this creative callout that went above and beyond the usual post-fight interview question that was poised by Joe Rogan at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    “my new favourite ufc call out, Doo Hoo Choi calls out Bruce Mitchell”

    “Not gonna lie s*** kinda looking flat”

    “What a splendid callout….”

    “I hope they make this fight next.”

    “Should’ve posted a picture of a seat belt”

    “Doo Ho by whatever he wants”

  • Themba Gorimbo Recalls Waking Up After Being Choked Out By Vicente Luque At UFC 310: ‘Where Am I?!’

    Themba Gorimbo Recalls Waking Up After Being Choked Out By Vicente Luque At UFC 310: ‘Where Am I?!’

    Themba Gorimbo appears to be in good spirits following the second loss of his UFC career this past weekend in Las Vegas. After Nick Diaz withdrew from his fight with Vicente Luque at UFC 310, the Brazilian needed a new opponent for his second fight of 2024.

    Gorimbo stepped up and looked to earn the biggest win of his career whilst extending his current winning streak inside the Octagon to five. Instead, the welterweight staple was able to produce the fastest finish on the card where after dropping his opponent, Luque locked up an anaconda choke to get the submission victory inside the opening minute of their prelim bout.

    The 33-year old contender from Zimbabwe has since posted his reaction to the fight on social media where he has been able to take the positives from this latest setback. Alongside a video on Instagram, he wrote the following caption:

    “My little dream story, it’s crazy life sometimes you the nail man. 2024 was and a good year for my career 3-1 in ufc in 10 months that was something to be thankful for. Busiest year of my career. Learn and grow from this.”

    In the video, Gorimbo details what the experience was like of being choked out and waking up inside the Octagon with no recollection of what had just happened.

    “One of the craziest things that happen in my career was Yesterday man. Woke up from like a little dream land, boom, open my eyes, see a black guy and a white guy. I’m like, ‘Damn! Where am I?’ and they were like, ‘The fight is over Themba’, the black guy said. The white guy said ‘Stay down’, I guess he was the doctor. I’m like, ‘Hold up, let me up, where am I?’ and then I’m like ‘Oh coach, is the fight done? Damn!’. Yeah man, one of the craziest moments of my career. It’s funny what happened, it happens man. Honestly like, I worked hard. My entire career I’ve always worked hard. For this fight camp, I worked hard. There’s things that I can fix, there’s things definitely that needs to be adjusted. Some healing need to be done… No excuse. Luque caught me with a good one. That was so cool man, still in dream land now.”

  • Shavkat Rakhmonov Reacts To Losing 100 Percent Finish Rate At UFC 310: ‘Ian Had Great Preparation’

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Reacts To Losing 100 Percent Finish Rate At UFC 310: ‘Ian Had Great Preparation’

    In the co-main event of UFC 310, Shavkat Rakhmonov remained undefeated as he became the first man to defeat Ian Machado Garry in a welterweight title eliminator. The five-round contest was also the first time that “Nomad” has been to the scorecards in his pro career.

    Coming into December 7 off of a six-fight win streak inside the Octagon, Rakhmonov has earned five submissions and one knockout during his time in the promotion. Despite him still winning three of the five rounds on all three scorecards, Garry was able to keep himself out of danger for the majority of the 25-minutes to make it competitive.

    The Irishman may not have come away with the win but in his toughest fight to date on short notice, he proved that he belongs at the elite level and to some, he showed that the boogeyman of the division isn’t unbeatable. In his post-fight press conference, Rakhmonov said that though he’s disappointed to have not got the finish for the first time, he gave credit to his opponent for this.

    “Who doesn’t want to finish fights? I did everything in my power to do so, but Ian had a great preparation, but I believe next fight I will continue my finishing streak.”

    Rakhmonov also agreed with Garry’s sentiment that this won’t be the last time that the two former training partners at Kill Cliff FC will meet inside the Octagon. For now, they will go their separate ways as the 19-0 contender moves on to his title fight with Belal Muhammad which was set to take place this past weekend until the champion withdrew several weeks ago.

    “We’re going to keep winning and if he keeps winning, we’re going to meet again.”

  • Cris Cyborg Sends Message To Dana White Amid Growing Discontent Among PFL Fighters

    Cris Cyborg Sends Message To Dana White Amid Growing Discontent Among PFL Fighters

    Since acquiring Bellator and the majority of the promotion’s roster towards the end of 2023, it has been a difficult year for the PFL in some ways. Throughout 2024, several big names and champions have publicly voiced their issues with not being offered fights for various reasons.

    As a result, we’ve seen big names like Gegard Mousasi leave the promotion whilst other top stars like Patricio Pitbull and Patchy Mix have recently started to air their issues over fights being cancelled and not rescheduled with little communication. Pitbull in particular stated that if he isn’t going to be offered any fights, he would like to be released so that he can go and fight elsewhere with an opportunity to finally compete in the UFC being a big attraction for him.

    In his post-fight press conference for UFC 310 this past Saturday, Dana White gave his thoughts on the fighters that are becoming frustrated with how they have been treated in the PFL.

    “Listen, the last couple of months, we’ve been talking a lot about the PFL. They’re cancelling a lot of shows, I know that a lot of guys that are supposed to fight aren’t fighting and… I mean, you guys know what the f*** is going on. When you see that start to happen, you’re running out of money, things aren’t looking good and you’re gonna have people that want to jump ship. These guys want to fight. You have a very limited time of opportunity when you’re a professional athlete and even less when you’re a fighter. So I’m sure you’re gonna see a lot of that and we’ll see how this plays out over the next several months going into 25.”

    Arguably the most outspoken major name regarding being unsatisfied with their treatment in the PFL has been Cris Cyborg. After beating Cat Zingano at the second to last Bellator event before the promotion was sold, she had to wait just over a year to get her next fight booked.

    Despite getting the fight that she wanted against Larissa Pacheco at Battle of the Giants where she won the inaugural PFL Super Fights title in the women’s featherweight division, this hasn’t completely mended the bridge between Cyborg and the PFL.

    Following her win over Felicia Spencer back in 2019, White stated that the UFC would not be re-signing the former champion after Cyborg’s contract had expired following a less than stellar relationship between the two parties. However, in a social media post reacting to the UFC boss’ recent comments at the press conference, it appears that the Brazilian isn’t opposed to stepping back inside the Octagon, especially if it means settling a score once and for all.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Gives His Side Of Fan Altercation At UFC 310: ‘Deliberate Provocation From Umar’s Team!’

    Merab Dvalishvili Gives His Side Of Fan Altercation At UFC 310: ‘Deliberate Provocation From Umar’s Team!’

    At UFC 310, Merab Dvalishvili appeared to get into a heated confrontation with a fan in the audience whilst he was walking out with his teammate, Aljamain Sterling. The video posted on social media sees the UFC bantamweight champion getting pulled away by security as another member of the corner traded punches with the fan.

    Dana White said in his post-fight press conference that he tried his best to keep Dvalishvili separate from Umar Nurmagomedov and his team but he can’t help “The Machine” fighting with fans. In a recent post on his X account, the champion looked to give his account of what happened.

    Dvalishvili shared a video of the encounter with a voiceover that claims that the fan wasn’t just a regular ticket buyer who insulted him but is in fact a friend of the likes of Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. The video shows what started the whole thing with the fan tapping Merab as he walks past him, talking to him whilst recording on his phone.

    The video also shows several Instagram posts from Nurmagomedov, who will face Dvalishvili for the 135-pound title at UFC 311, from later that day of him and Makhachev being with and seemingly eating dinner with the fan. The same clip also shows older photos of the “fan” alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov and the rest of the team, disputing the idea that Merab got into it with a member of the public who claims that Dvalishvili said something disrespectful about Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    The Georgian has had several encounters with fans who provoked him in the past and at the press conference for the UFC’s upcoming PPV card in January, it was clear that the champion felt disrespected by Nurmagomedov and his team.

    “More lies, disrespect, and deliberate provocations from Umar’s team. Here’s the real story …”

  • Ian Garry Feels He ‘Won’ Against Shavkat Rakhmonov At UFC 310: ‘Very Happy With My Performance’

    Ian Garry Feels He ‘Won’ Against Shavkat Rakhmonov At UFC 310: ‘Very Happy With My Performance’

    UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry emerged from this past weekend’s pay-per-view pleased with his efforts.

    Rakhmonov appeared in the Octagon for the third time this year on Saturday night, co-headlining the UFC 310 event opposite Shavkat Rakhmonov inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    The Irishman was originally set to feature in 2024’s final UFC fight next weekend in Tampa, but the withdrawal of champion Belal Muhammad from his scheduled defense on Dec. 7 saw “The Future” agree to a short-notice showdown with a fellow undefeated contender in “Nomad.”

    And the pair fought out the kind of competitive battle many had anticipated from two former training partners who had never tasted defeat on the professional stage. Ultimately, one man’s ‘0’ had to go.

    Unfortunately for Garry, he was the one who exited the cage with a blemished record, having fallen on the wrong side of three 48-47 scorecards in “Sin City.” With that, Rakhmonov has successfully defended his spot as next in line for a crack at Muhammad’s gold.

    While that’s dealt a setback for Garry, he seems far from downbeat in the aftermath of his loss.

    During his post-fight press conference, Garry explained why he sees UFC 310 as a victorious night in his career.

    “I’m humble in victory and in defeat and always have been, and I do not feel like I lost today,” Garry said. “My hand might not have been raised, but I came out and I fought a giant, I came out and I fought the boogeyman, and I showed that he’s f*cking human. I went out there on three weeks’ notice and I saved this event. I saved this card against the scariest man in the division and I went out there and I stopped almost everything.

    “I showed that I can hang with the single best in the division and I proved tonight that I can absolutely be a champion,” Garry continued. “He won by opinion, and that’s okay, I can live with that, and I’m very happy with my performance tonight.”

    Having maintained immense confidence in his abilities and future rise to top spot at 170 pounds, Garry will no doubt look to continue his development in 2025 and bounce back to winning ways.

  • VIDEO: Dana White Tells Alexander Volkov The Judges ‘F*cked’ Him In Cageside Interaction At UFC 310

    VIDEO: Dana White Tells Alexander Volkov The Judges ‘F*cked’ Him In Cageside Interaction At UFC 310

    UFC CEO Dana White offered words of support to Alexander Volkov after the heavyweight contender was controversially beaten by Ciryl Gane at this past weekend’s pay-per-view.

    Volkov returned at UFC 310 on Saturday night for his second outing of the year, having extended his winning run to four straight fights with an upset win over Sergei Pavlovich in Saudi Arabia this past June. That result put the Russian up to #3 in the rankings and earned him a shot at avenging his 2021 main event loss to Gane.

    In the eyes of many, “Drago” did enough to do just that inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. But while judge Eric Colón agreed, Adalaide Byrd and Junichiro Kamijo shocked plenty by submitting scorecards in favor of the Frenchman.

    Among those who disagreed with the result in an arena filled with boos after the result was the UFC CEO, who engaged in discourse with a clearly baffled and distraught Volkov as he exited the cage.

    The moment was captured and posted by ESPN MMA on X.

    White told the Russian he was “f*cked” by the judges and that the promotion would try to do right by him.

    The result marked Gane’s second victory over the Russian, coming three years on from a more convincing five-round decision over the former Bellator champion. “Bon Gamin” has now won back-to-back fights since a crushing defeat to Jon Jones in March 2023.

  • What’s Next After UFC 310? Full Confirmed UFC 311 Main Card For Los Angeles On Jan. 18

    What’s Next After UFC 310? Full Confirmed UFC 311 Main Card For Los Angeles On Jan. 18

    UFC 310 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 311 in Los Angeles.

    The promotion was in Las Vegas this past week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest major card in “Sin City.” Of note were headline wins for Alexandre Pantoja and Shavkat Rakhmonov, as well as important victories for Bryce Mitchell, Dominick Reyes, and Movsar Evloev.

    While the aftermath of the Dec. 7 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the flyweight title picture to the lightweight championship conversation.

    At UFC 311, set for the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Jan. 18, reigning kingpin Islam Makhachev will open his account for the new year, once again in defense of his 155-pound gold. After following his crowning against Charles Oliveira with retentions opposite Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier, the Dagestani will next run it back with top contender Arman Tsarukyan.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili looks to defend his gold for the first time since winning it at the expense of Sean O’Malley. In his way of a continued reign will be the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Procházka, Moicano, de Ridder, Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 311

    Before Makhachev and Dvalishvili defend their belts, a number of other notable names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 311 card.

    That includes a pair of former light heavyweight champions in Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill. After falling to the renowned power of reigning kingpin Alex Pereira this year, both will be looking to bounce back and reinsert themselves into the title picture at 205 pounds.

    Prior to that, an important lightweight clash goes down. Fresh off a 3-0 run in 2024 and main event triumph over Benoît Saint Denis in Paris, Renato Moicano gets the chance to further climb the 155-pound ladder against veteran contender Beneil Dariush, who hasn’t competed since a knockout to Tsarukyan in December 2023.

    And opening the UFC 311 main card will be promotional newcomer Reinier de Ridder. The former two-division ONE championship titleholder debuted this past November in a grueling clash with Gerald Meerschaert at the Apex. If he’s to move to 2-0 in the Octagon, the Dutchman must add to the woes of Kevin Holland, who most recently fell to an injury TKO loss opposite Roman Dolidze.

    Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over ranked light heavyweights Johnny Walker and Bogdan Guskov, as well as a top 10 heavyweight bout between Jailton Almeida and Serghei Spivac.

    See below for the full UFC 311 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight championship)
    • Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight championship)
    • Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
    • Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano (lightweight)
    • Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
    • Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight)
    • Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
    • Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira (lightweight)
    • Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
    • Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
    • Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)
    • Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clay Carpenter (flyweight)
    Jiri Prochazka
    Image: Zuffa LLC/UFC
  • Dana White On Merab Dvalishvili After UFC 310 Fan Clash: ‘He’s My Mini-Sean Strickland — Without The Mouth’

    Dana White On Merab Dvalishvili After UFC 310 Fan Clash: ‘He’s My Mini-Sean Strickland — Without The Mouth’

    Fight fans — and even UFC CEO Dana White — are drawing comparisons between former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland and current bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili, albeit with a twist.

    Dvalishvili is being dubbed the “mini-Strickland,” but “without the mouth,” according to White.

    The Georgian is set to make his first title defense against undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 on Jan. 18, 2025. However, his antics outside the octagon are grabbing the headlines.

    At UFC 310 on Saturday night, Dvalishvili was involved in an altercation with a fan after cornering Aljamain Sterling for his bout against Movsar Evloev. Security stepped in to separate “The Machine” from the fan, but the situation escalated when the fan began exchanging punches with another member of Sterling’s coaching team, UFC featherweight Dennis Buzukja.

    Addressing the incident during the UFC 310 post-fight press conference, White expressed both exasperation and resignation.

    “He’s my mini-Strickland — without the mouth,” White said of Dvalishvili. “What do you do? Let him buy the pay-per-view, I guess. You can’t keep fighting with f*cking fans. You can do it, but it’s going to cost you a lot of money. I say it all the time: we’re in the f*cking fight business. This happens. We’ve got to deal with it.”

    This isn’t Dvalishvili’s first clash with fans. In August, he confronted a heckler during the Craig Jones Invitational in Las Vegas, climbing into the audience to address the situation.

    At the UFC 311 on-sale press conference this week, White admitted he had to keep an eye on Dvalishvili after noticing another fan taunting him from the crowd.

  • Demetrious Johnson Reacts To Alexandre Pantoja’s Callout At UFC 310

    Demetrious Johnson Reacts To Alexandre Pantoja’s Callout At UFC 310

    It doesn’t appear that even the unstoppable Alexandre Pantoja can draw UFC flyweight legend Demetrious Johnson out of retirement.

    Pantoja further enhanced his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this weekend, emerging victorious from the UFC 310 pay-per-view main event inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    Having begun his reign with successful defenses against Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg after dethroning Brandon Moreno in 2023, “The Cannibal” was dealt a unique challenge on Saturday night. Sharing the cage with him was a promotional newcomer in Kai Asakura.

    The former Rizin bantamweight champion arrived with an impressive résumé and plenty of hype, and an early flying knee confirmed the Japanese star as an exciting addition to the division. But it wasn’t to be for Asakura in his debut, as he fell by way of submission to Pantoja in round two.

    With that, Pantoja has firmly placed himself among the all-time greats and brought about some uncertainty over fresh opponent options in 2025. He proposed a solution to that during his Octagon interview, however, calling out “Mighty Mouse.”

    Johnson — who enjoyed a record-breaking, six-year flyweight reign in the UFC before finding success in ONE Championship — was quick to react to “The Cannibal’s” comments, reiterating that he intends to stick to the retirement he announced at ONE 168 in Denver this past September.

    “Guys I got offered 2 million dollars to fight!! I turned it down I don’t care to fight anymore YouTube video dropping soon,” Johnson wrote on X.

    Of course, beyond just Johnson’s lack of interest in a comeback, there would be the small matter of his contractual situation with ONE, Asia’s largest martial arts organization. The likelihood of the promotion and its CEO, Chatri Sityodtong, releasing “Mighty Mouse” for a UFC return against Pantoja would appear extremely slim.

    That hasn’t stopped fans getting behind Pantoja’s callout, though, with many pushing for the legendary former champ to make another walk to the cage in his illustrious career.

  • Aljamain Sterling On UFC 310 Loss To Movsar Evloev: ‘Thought I Might’ve Edged It’

    Aljamain Sterling On UFC 310 Loss To Movsar Evloev: ‘Thought I Might’ve Edged It’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling isn’t giving up his hope of two-division glory after a setback in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

    After debuting at 145 pounds with a convincing decision victory over Calvin Kattar this past April, Sterling was tasked with blemishing the perfect record of Movsar Evloev at UFC 310 to break into the divisional top five and stake his claim for a shot at Ilia Topuria’s gold.

    “Funk Master” was narrowly unable to achieve that feat, with his Russian counterpart grinding out a hard-fought decision victory across three rounds at T-Mobile Arena.

    The result marks a second defeat in three fights for Sterling, who was thrust off the bantamweight throne by Sean O’Malley before committing to a long-awaited featherweight switch this year.

    Nevertheless, the New York native doesn’t appear deterred from his pursuit of a second belt on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “Tough fight…I thought I might’ve edged it out against a tough opponent, but we came up short,” Sterling wrote on X. “Thank you all for the love and support and I hope the performance was a fun one for you all to watch. Movsar is a beast, I showed where I belong in this division. For now, we decompress and heal up, then get ready to climb the ladder again. The dream doesn’t stop unless you give up! I’ll be back! #UFC310 #FunkHarbor #Perseverance“

    Sterling will now look to rebound in the new year and begin a fresh surge toward the top at 145 pounds.

    At 9-0, meanwhile, Evloev appears to have placed himself well for an opportunity at Topuria in 2025. While the Russian is still awaiting his first finish in the UFC, victories over Arnold Allen and Sterling this year have left his claim to a title shot hard to deny.

  • Dana White Calls For Three Retirements After UFC 310 Results

    Dana White Calls For Three Retirements After UFC 310 Results

    Dana White has made it clear he believes Chris Weidman, Anthony Smith, and Clay Guida should consider hanging up their gloves following their losses at UFC 310.

    During Saturday’s preliminary card, Weidman suffered a TKO defeat at the hands of Eryk Anders, Guida was submitted by Chase Hooper, and Smith fell via TKO to Dominick Reyes.

    Among the three, “Lionheart” hinted at retirement, stating it was “probably” his final fight. However, neither the former middleweight champion nor inaugural Strikeforce lightweight titleholder addressed the possibility during the event.

    At the UFC 310 post-fight press conference, the UFC CEO didn’t mince words, expressing his hope that all three fighters would call it a career.

    “They should all retire tonight,” White said.

    This isn’t the first time White has encouraged Weidman to consider retirement. His loss to Anders marks a 1-3 record in his last four fights.

    Meanwhile, Smith removed his gloves in the octagon but stopped short of making an official announcement.

    For Guida, the defeat extends a challenging stretch, leaving him 1-4 record in his last five bouts.

  • ‘Ok, Demetrious Johnson Next Challenger’ – Fans React As Alexandre Pantoja Sleeps Kai Asakura At UFC 310 With Rear-Naked Choke

    ‘Ok, Demetrious Johnson Next Challenger’ – Fans React As Alexandre Pantoja Sleeps Kai Asakura At UFC 310 With Rear-Naked Choke

    Despite the hype Kai Asakura came into the UFC from RIZIN with, Alexandre Pantoja was able to pull off a flawless victory in the main event of UFC 310, winning by submission.

    The action started hot and heavy, with the reigning flyweight champion absorbing a knee from Asakura and landing a hard right hand on the former RIZIN bantamweight titleholder. “The Cannibal” was able to score the takedown and got the better of the striking exchanges during the round, and he was on the front foot for most of that duration.

    Pantoja got back to work in the second, managing to scramble and pin his Japanese opponent against the fence. He then scored a takedown and got a body lock in before looking for the rear-naked choke. The Brazilian locked it in and Asakura passed out trying to break out of the choke, giving the win and another successful defense to Pantoja.

    Alexandre Pantoja Puts On Masterclass Performance In Successful Defense vs. UFC Debutant Kai Asakura

    https://twitter.com/LoswitheMos/status/1865641386546278575

    Pantoja captured the UFC flyweight championship with a decision win over Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 last year. He retained the title with decision wins over Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg at UFC 296 and UFC 301, respectively.

    Asakura, meanwhile, originally won the RIZIN bantamweight championship with a knockout of Hiromasa Ougikubo at RIZIN 23 in August 2020. He dropped the title to Kyoji Horiguchi that December but regained it with a win over Juan Archuleta at RIZIN 45 last New Year’s Eve. That win marked Asakura’s final fight in RIZIN before jumping over to the UFC.

    Though Asakura was more known as a bantamweight during his time in Japan, he did compete as a flyweight between 2015 and 2017.

  • UFC 310 Results & Highlights: Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Asakura

    UFC 310 Results & Highlights: Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Asakura

    UFC 310 took place tonight from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, Alexandre Pantoja put his flyweight title on the line against Kai Asakura. While in the co-main event, Shavkat Rakhmonov faced Ian Machado Garry in a welterweight matchup. 

    Make sure to catch all the UFC 310 results and highlights as they happen below! 

    UFC 310 Results: Main Card

    • Flyweight Championship Main Event: Alexandre Pantoja def. Kai Asakura via submission: R2, 2.05  
    • Welterweight Co-Main Event: Shavkat Rakhmonov def. Ian Garry via unanimous decision (48-47×3)
    • Heavyweight: Ciryl Gane def. Alexander Volkov via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29) 
    • Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell def. Kron Gracie via KO: R3, 0.39  
    • Featherweight: Dooho Choi def. Nate Landwehr via TKO: R3, 3.21

     
    Preliminary Card

    • Light Heavyweight: Dominick Reyes def. Anthony Smith via TKO: R2, 4.46
    • Welterweight: Vicente Luque def. Themba Gorimbo via submission: R1, 0.52
    • Featherweight: Movsar Evloev def. Aljamain Sterling via unanimous decision (29-28×3) 
    • Welterweight: Bryan Battle def. Randy Brown via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29) 

     
    Early Preliminary Card

    • Catchweight (195lbs): Eryk Anders def. Chris Weidman via TKO: R2, 4.51
    • Flyweight: Joshua Van def. Cody Durden via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-26, 30-27) 
    • Welterweight: Michael Chiesa def. Max Griffin via submission: R3, 1:53
    • Lightweight: Chase Hooper def. Clay Guida via submission: R1, 3.41
    • Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Lukasz Brzeski via TKO: R1, 4.51

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Lukasz Brzeski

    Kennedy Nzechukwu got the first finish of UFC 310 with a first-round TKO of Lukasz Brzeski in their heavyweight fight.

    Chase Hooper def. Clay Guida

    In this lightweight bout, Chase Hooper got it done with a first-round submission of Clay Guida.

    Michael Chiesa def. Max Griffin

    In this welterweight bout, Michael Chiesa submitted Max Griffin with a rear-naked choke in the third round.

    Eryk Anders def. Chris Weidman

    Eryk Anders got the win with a TKO of Chris Weidman in the second round of their catchweight bout.

    Vicente Luque def. Themba Gorimbo

    Vicente Luque locked in an anaconda choke to get the win against Themba Gorimbo.

    Dominick Reyes def. Anthony Smith

    Dominick Reyes earned his second win in a row with a TKO of Anthony Smith in the second round.

    Main Card Highlights

    Dooho Choi def. Nate Landwehr

    Dooho Choi put on a stellar performance to kick off the main card, finishing Nate Landwehr by TKO in the third.

    Bryce Mitchell def. Kron Gracie

    In this featherweight bout, Bryce Mitchell knocked out Kron Gracie with a vicious elbow in the third round.

    Ciryl Gane def. Alexander Volkov

    In this heavyweight bout, Ciryl Gane earned a split decision win against Alexander Volkov.

    Shavkat Rakhmonov def. Ian Garry

    In the co-main event, Shavkat Rakhmonov kept his unbeaten record intact with a decision win over Ian Garry

    Alexandre Pantoja def. Kai Asakura

    In the main event, Alexandre Pantoja retained his flyweight strap by submitting Kai Asakura in the second round.

  • VIDEO: UFC 310 Post-Fight Press Conference After Pantoja, Rakhmonov’s Headline Wins

    VIDEO: UFC 310 Post-Fight Press Conference After Pantoja, Rakhmonov’s Headline Wins

    The UFC 310 pay-per-view recently concluded, and MMA News has you covered with the post-fight press conference in Las Vegas.

    T-Mobile Arena played host to Octagon action on Dec. 7, as the mixed martial arts leader closed out its PPV schedule for 2024 with a stacked lineup that featured a championship, top contenders, experienced veterans, and some promising prospects.

    Of note were victories for reigning UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja, top welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, ranked featherweight Bryce Mitchell, “Korean Superboy” Dooho Choi and the undefeated Movsar Evloev.

    And before attention turns to next weekend’s year-ending UFC Fight Night in Tampa, Florida, there remains some business to attend to backstage at UFC 310.

    Shortly after the main event’s ending, Dana White will 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 310 will also take queries from the press in reaction to their performances.

    With that said, see below for a live stream of the UFC 310 post-fight press conference via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 1:15 AM ET.

  • McGregor, Muhammad, & Others React As Shavkat Rakhmonov Defends Top Contender Status With Win Over Ian Garry At UFC 310

    McGregor, Muhammad, & Others React As Shavkat Rakhmonov Defends Top Contender Status With Win Over Ian Garry At UFC 310

    In the co-main event of UFC 310, Shavkat Rakhmonov defeated Ian Garry to earn his biggest win to date via unanimous decision.

    The two undefeated contenders fought an incredibly tactical contest. In multiple rounds, there was very little to separate them.

    Throughout the early frames, in particular, the number one contender was able to stay just in front of the Irishman by being more active and landing the more impactful strikes. Though he wasn’t able to threaten with his grappling, “Nomad” did use it effectively to take away the movement and speed of his opponent.

    Garry was able to pick things up at points, especially in the fifth round, which was his best of the fight. After taking Rakhmonov’s back, “The Future” searched for the rear-naked choke but, despite several attempts, he wasn’t able to get fully under the neck.

    In his post-fight interview, Rakhmonov was joined in the cage by welterweight champ Belal Muhammad, whom he was set to fight at this event until the titleholder withdrew due to an injury. They shared a respectful exchange, during which “Remember the Name” congratulated Rakhmonov.

    Fans and fighters reacted on social media as the Kazakh star moved to 19-0 and, for the first time in his career, got his hand raised via the scorecards.

    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1865632236453724293
    https://twitter.com/aydubya5/status/1865634205008318595

  • ‘Fire These Judges’ – Fans React To Ciryl Gane’s Controversial Win Over Alexander Volkov At UFC 310

    ‘Fire These Judges’ – Fans React To Ciryl Gane’s Controversial Win Over Alexander Volkov At UFC 310

    Ciryl Gane made it 2-0 against Alexander Volkov, but not without plenty of controversy coming out of the split decision ruling at UFC 310.

    Gane was tested early, as Volkov scored a takedown within the opening minute. Though it took a little bit of time, the Frenchman was able to work his way back up to his feet and even managed to score his own takedown during the frame. “Drago” looked to isolate an arm while on the ground, and the former interim champion tried to respond with a leg lock attempt. The Russian spun out of it and the fight returned to the feet.

    In the closing seconds of the round, Gane seemed to trouble Volkov with a tight guillotine attempt, but time expired.

    Volkov rocked Gane with a spinning backfist and followed it up with a knee to the body and a series of shots. The MMA Factory standout recovered and battled back, stumbling his opponent at one point, but the Russian troubled him late in the round with a choke.

    As the fight returned to the ground in the third, Gane looked to lock up a kimura for a few minutes but couldn’t get it. Volkov, who threw punches to the body the whole time, worked his way out and looked to flatten out the Frenchman. “Drago” cradled “Bon Gamin” and rode the closing seconds of the fight on top.

    Two judges gave the fight to Gane 29-28, with round one ultimately being where the split occurred. The Paris native and his team, weirdly enough, were leaving the Octagon and had to be pulled back into it for the post-fight interview.

    Ciryl Gane Wins Controversial Decision In Rematch With Alexander Volkov At UFC 310

    https://twitter.com/ElonovMMA/status/1865620465806651645

    Gane was 3-2 since the first fight with Volkov, including an interim title win over Derrick Lewis and losses in title shots against Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones.

    Meanwhile, Saturday’s result snapped a four-fight win streak Volkov entered UFC 310 bout with. His sole defeat in the time since the initial Gane fight came against current interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.