MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Deiveson Figueiredo Says Petr Yan ‘Won’t Even Compare’ To Him In One Area

    Deiveson Figueiredo Says Petr Yan ‘Won’t Even Compare’ To Him In One Area

    Top five bantamweights meet for the first time in this weekend’s UFC Macau main event in what should be a fascinating clash of styles. When it comes to fighters who are always exciting to watch, former UFC champions Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo have to be on that list.

    Both men are very well-rounded competitors but it’s no secret that they prefer to keep the fight standing the majority of the time. The idea of seeing Yan’s incredible combinations going up against the one-punch power of Figueiredo is enough to get fight fans tuning in from all over the world but the former flyweight king believes that he holds a huge advantage over his next opponent in one specific area.

    Since moving up to bantamweight following the conclusion of his four fights with Brandon Moreno, Figueiredo has beaten Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt and Marlon Vera. Though he chose to grapple against Garbrandt, where he secured the submission win at UFC 300, “Deus da Guerra” is usually happy to stand and strike because of the power he possesses and the speed advantage he has at 135-pounds.

    In a recent interview with Kevin Iole, the Brazilian was asked about Yan’s lack of finishes in his recent fights. Figueiredo responded by saying, via translator Fabiano Buskei, that he respects the striking of “No Mercy” and is looking forward to testing him there even though, in his opinion, he is levels above him in the grappling.

    “I did see the flaws and he poses a threat there on the kickboxing side but I mean, I won’t even compare his grappling to mine because I just think I’m so much better. I mean I’m a threat at grappling, he does not want to grapple with me. He’d get taken down and finished in that but I want to use my punching power and I want to knock him out in this fight.”    

  • UFC Analyst Believes Colby Covington Was Pushed Into Buckley Fight: ‘You Got To Step Up!’

    UFC Analyst Believes Colby Covington Was Pushed Into Buckley Fight: ‘You Got To Step Up!’

    Following the major reshuffling of the cards that took place at welterweight, the former interim champion Colby Covington is set to return next month to face Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Tampa.

    “Chaos” replaced Ian Machado Garry who in turn, replaced Belal Muhammad in order to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310. Covington and Garry have been going back-and-forth at several points throughout the year with the Irishman accusing, both before and after this fight was announced, the #6-ranked contender of ducking him.

    In three of Covington’s last five appearances inside the Octagon, three of them have been in welterweight title fights. He rebounded from both losses to Kamaru Usman by beating Tyron Woodley and Jorge Masvidal before challenging Leon Edwards in his latest outing at UFC 296 last year where he was convincingly beaten over five rounds.

    Some fans weren’t happy to see Covington got the title shot against Edwards having not fought since his win over Masvidal in March of 2022 and that only increased following his disappointing performance against “Rocky”. When UFC analyst and fellow welterweight Michael Chiesa broke down this fight in an interview with Sportskeeda, he said that Buckley’s hunger is what wins him this fight.

    Chiesa believes that Covington was likely persuaded to take this fight by the UFC rather than it being an opportunity that he was biting their hand off for.

    “Buck, Buck all day. I think Joaquin Buckley is an incredible athlete, tremendous power, very, very hungry and that is the most important part in this match-up between Colby and Joaquin. Buckley is war more hungry than Colby Covington, I can tell you that much, like Buckley is chomping at the bit to fight anybody and everybody. 

    “I think that Colby, I don’t know, I have a feeling, I haven’t heard anything but I have a feeling that the UFC was like, ‘You have to take this fight. At some point, you got to step up.’ I know you kind of got to sweeten the pot with Colby to get him into the Octagon and get him competing but it’s got to the point where it’s like you fought for the title three times, you don’t get the extra flavor to your dish for taking a fight. It’s like you have to just start fighting if you want to get to a title. You can’t have any guarantees.”   

  • Michael Chandler Describes Charles Oliveira Rematch As His ‘Most Painful’ Fight Yet

    Michael Chandler Describes Charles Oliveira Rematch As His ‘Most Painful’ Fight Yet

    Michael Chandler’s latest appearance in the Octagon turned out to be one of the most punishing of his career.

    Chandler ran it back with his former foe Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309 last Saturday, only to fall short in a brutal five-round battle. “Do Bronx” surged out of the gates, dominating the first four rounds with his striking and then smothering Chandler on the ground.

    It seemed like Oliveira was on cruise control toward victory but “Iron” found a second wind in the final round, landing heavy shots that stunned the Brazilian. However, Chandler’s late rally wasn’t enough.

    During a recent appearance on Bussin’ With The Boys, “Iron” revealed that his rematch with Oliveira left him with the most severe damage he’s ever experienced in a fight.

    The injuries sustained were the worst of his career, bringing with them intense pain, swelling, and a host of other physical setbacks.

    “My body, the most pain I’ve ever been in my entire life,” Chandler said. “The most injuries I’ve had in a fight, for sure. Peed blood, inflammation all over, my whole body is swollen… The first [blood in my urine] was very light, which was in my drug test… It had a light tint, and the second one was beet-looking juice. It was dark.”

    “Iron” and Oliveira first collided at UFC 262 in May 2021, where the vacant 155-pound title was on the line. On that night, “Do Bronx” proved to be too much for Chandler and secured a stunning second-round knockout to claim the belt.

    At UFC 309, Chandler made his long-awaited return to the Octagon after a two-year hiatus, during which he patiently waited for a high-profile matchup against Conor McGregor.

    The former Bellator champion was initially booked to face “The Notorious” at UFC 303 in June, but the fight was ultimately called off after McGregor suffered an injury less than a month before the scheduled bout.

  • Gordon Ryan Describes ‘Inspiring’ Experience In Jon Jones’ UFC 309 Camp & Corner

    Gordon Ryan Describes ‘Inspiring’ Experience In Jon Jones’ UFC 309 Camp & Corner

    Alongside the former Olympic gold medallist wrestler Gable Steveson, another elite grappler joined Jon Jones’ team for his return to the Octagon at UFC 309. When it comes to heavyweight MMA, there is still some debate over who the very best is even after Jones defended the title in dominant fashion this past weekend.

    The same cannot be said in no-gi grappling where Gordon Ryan is considered by many to be the greatest of all time, like Jones is in mixed martial arts. “The King” will have been an invaluable training partner for the heavyweight champion and the short footage of them training together during the UFC’s Countdown episode for the card was interesting enough let alone getting to watch full sessions.

    After Jones retained the gold at Madison Square Garden, Ryan posted on his Instagram to reflect on the time that he was able to spend alongside Jones and his closely knit team.

    “It is very inspiring to be around greatness. As a fan, I want to see him continue because he’s as exciting as they come and never loses. As a coach, I want to see him continue because despite being better than everyone else, there is so much more for him to learn. As a friend, I want to see him to whatever his heart desires. I want him to press forward if he wants or to leave the sport on top after being on top since the very beginning. I want to see him happy regardless of what he decides to do next.

    “I can’t take credit for any part of Jon’s career, but I am very thankful to be a small part of such an amazing legacy. Thank you for choosing me to help you, and thank you for your friendship. Enjoy this time off that you deserve, and don’t let anyone tell you what to do. Not the fans, not the fighters, only you. You’re the one and only.”

    Last but not least, Ryan gave thanks to several other parties that played a role in this invaluable experience for him including the UFC staff, the rest of Jones’ team and the man that “Bones” stood across from in the Octagon, the great Stipe Miocic who retired after the fight.

    “Also, big thanks to the @ufc for making my experience at the event smooth as ever, as always. Thank you to the rest of the coaches in the camp, all the drilling partners, and all of the pieces that completed the puzzle that is Jon Jones. Being a legend and first responder, I think we were all a little sad to see @stipemiocic lose and retire, but that’s the game. Thank you, legend, for an amazing career. I’ve always been a fan, and I can’t wait to see you at your HOF induction.”

  • Paul Hughes Looks To Secure Revenge For Ireland Against Dagestan: ‘I’ll Find Out Where Islam’s At’

    Paul Hughes Looks To Secure Revenge For Ireland Against Dagestan: ‘I’ll Find Out Where Islam’s At’

    At the PFL’s Battle of the Giants event, Paul Hughes was one of the biggest stories of the night following his great performance. The Irish lightweight was considered to be one of the brightest rising talents in the sport but in a huge step-up against AJ McKee, he showed that he’s the present as well as the future by beating him via the scorecards.

    Just like he wanted to face McKee so that he could make a statement, Hughes knew exactly who was in his sights after getting his hand raised. “Big News” called for a fight with Bellator lightweight champion, Usman Nurmagomedov, which has since been confirmed for January 25 in Dubai in one of the best match-ups that the promotion could possibly put together.

    The challenger also did a lot of the heavy lifting for the PFL when it comes to marketing this fight after on the mic, he pitched it as Dagestan vs Ireland 2. The promotion has ran with that tagline when the fight was announced yesterday, setting it up as the second chapter to the biggest fight in MMA history between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor.

    In a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA, Hughes said that evening the score by getting some revenge for “The Notorious” by beating Khabib’s cousin next time out is a big source of motivation for him. He doesn’t see this being the decider either, teasing the potential of a trilogy bout with the UFC’s lightweight king, Islam Makhachev further down the line.

    “Yeah 100%, I’m going to make it 1-1 for the boys definitely and maybe in the future, make it 2-1. I’ll find out where Islam’s at and maybe do that in the future but I’ll not get ahead of myself now. Usman’s an incredibly, incredibly dangerous fighter that I have to be on my game to beat.”

  • Israel Adesanya Details Lapse In Concentration That Cost Him At UFC 305

    Israel Adesanya Details Lapse In Concentration That Cost Him At UFC 305

    In his return to the Octagon at UFC 305, there were a lot of positives to take from Israel Adesanya’s middleweight title fight with Dricus Du Plessis even if he was defeated. “The Last Stylebender” failed to capture the 185-pound gold for a third time but it was clear that his time away from the spotlight had produced some benefits.

    Heading into the championship rounds, the challenger appeared to be in the ascendancy but eventually, in the fourth round, the unwavering persistence of “Stillknocks” paid off and he was able to catch Adesanya, take him down and secure the rear-naked choke. The former champion said in the aftermath of the fight that he was happy with his performance but he made some crucial mistakes that cost him.

    During a recent appearance on Andrew Schulz’s Flagrant podcast, Adesanya spoke more in detail about the mistake that he made right at the end of the fight.

    “The mistake was just a lapse in focus cuz I tripped, bad footwork, and I tripped and then that was when he was kind of throwing at me and people thought like ‘Oh! You hurt him’ and I got up and I was like (points) the ground.”

    He said that though some may have thought he was pointing to the ground to beckon Du Plessis on, he was instead trying to make the point that he had tripped rather than stumbling due to any damage that he had taken. He went on to say that in his previous fights, you never see him lose concentration for a single second.

    The one instance that the City Kickboxing fighter referenced where he did take his eyes off his opponent was during his fight with Derek Brunson where he gestured towards the referee because Brunson grabbed his shorts multiple times. Adesanya believes that this one moment swung the fight against Du Plessis in the defending champion’s favor with the finish quickly following it.

    “Even that moment right there, I shouldn’t have. Just stay focused on the task at hand cuz you need 30 minutes of focus while you’re in there so you can’t even have just a lapse in judgment for a split second because if not, people can jump on you and capitalize and I’ve done that to people as well but this time, it got done to me.”

  • UFC’s 2025 Plans For Mexico Reported, Including Noche UFC In Guadalajara

    UFC’s 2025 Plans For Mexico Reported, Including Noche UFC In Guadalajara

    The UFC appears to be returning to Mexico City early next year as the first quarter of 2025 continues to take shape. A recent report from Claro Sports’ Alfredo Bush detailed the promotion’s plans for a Fight Night event on March 29 which could be followed up later in the year with a much bigger show.

    Early next year, Mexico is set to have it’s second-largest arena be completed with a new 20,000 capacity venue for live events. Arena Guadalajara unfortunately won’t be available to the UFC in the early part of 2025 hence why Mexico City is the planned destination for March.

    Bush reports that offers have already been received for that particular date which would likely see the promotion return to Arena CDMX which previously hosted the Fight Night event that was headlined by the rematch between Brandon Moreno and Brandon Royval this past February.

    The recent news stated that Arena Guadalajara will instead be the target for the third annual instalment of Noche UFC in September which has previously been hosted at the T-Mobile Arena and Sphere, both in Las Vegas. This new arena presents a lot of exciting options for the UFC with a hungry fanbase waiting for the Octagon to arrive in the home of the former flyweight champion, Alexa Grasso.

    Guadalajara also makes logistical sense due to the elevation not being quite so steep as it is in Mexico City though it still would be a factor in any event that takes place there.
    Rodrigo Del Campo González posted the key details of the UFC’s plans for Mexico on X where he pointed out that this would be the second time that the promotion has hosted two events in Mexico in the same year.

    The last time around, in 2015, Cain Velasquez defended his heavyweight title against Fabricio Werdum at UFC 188 whilst later on in the year, Neil Magny and Kelvin Gastelum headlined a Fight Night event in Monterrey which failed to become a regular destination for the promotion for a variety of reasons.

  • Bo Nickal Reveals ‘Only Regret’ From UFC 309 Win Over Paul Craig

    Bo Nickal Reveals ‘Only Regret’ From UFC 309 Win Over Paul Craig

    Despite being pleased with his performance this past weekend, UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal does wish he did one thing differently against Paul Craig.

    Nickal extended his undefeated record in the UFC and professional mixed martial arts as a whole at Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view, where he got the better of experienced veteran Paul Craig on the main card.

    The formerly ranked light heavyweight and middleweight was expected to mark the toughest test of Nickal’s career to date owing to his renowned jiu-jitsu ability, but that ultimately didn’t rear its head on fight night.

    Instead, the submission specialist and the decorated wrestler fought out three lackluster rounds on the feet, much to the dismay of the New York crowd in attendance.

    But despite boos raining down on the Octagon following his unanimous decision win, Nickal has been firmly defending his display and expressing his joy at how he was able to emerge victorious from a striking battle.

    However, the three-time NCAA Division I national champion and three-time Big Ten Conference champion out of Pennsylvania State University does have one regret, albeit a small one…

    “I was winning the striking and I was happy to get experience in the cage doing something I’ve never done before,” Nickal wrote on X. “My only (small) regret is not being more aggressive in the 3rd round after I hurt him. I need to build a better system to attack when my opponent is hurt.”

    Having added Craig’s name to a list of defeated UFC opponents that also includes Cody Brundage, Val Woodburn, and Jamie Pickett, Nickal has moved closer to breaking through into contention at 185 pounds.

    But with his latest win leaving a lot to be desired in the eyes of some fans and pundits, it would appear that the 28-year-old still has some work to do before mixing it up with the division’s best.

  • Petr Yan: Nurmagomedov Not A Worthy Challenger, UFC Macau Main Event Is ‘No. 1 Contender’s Fight’ 

    Petr Yan: Nurmagomedov Not A Worthy Challenger, UFC Macau Main Event Is ‘No. 1 Contender’s Fight’ 

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan believes a victory this weekend should put him above Umar Nurmagomedov in the pecking order.

    Yan is set to headline Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Macau, as the promotion returns to the region for the first time in a decade. Inside the Galaxy Arena, “No Mercy” will do battle with ex-flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.

    For Yan, the upcoming event marks the opportunity for him to secure a first win streak since he captured the 135-pound crown at the expense of José Aldo in 2020. He subsequently went on a difficult 1-4 run before bouncing back against Song Yadong at UFC 299 this past March.

    Figueiredo, meanwhile, has enjoyed a perfect start to life as bantamweight, winning all three of his fights to date and most recently getting past Marlon “Chito” Vera in comfortable fashion.

    That result left newly crowned champ Merab Dvalishvili branding “Deus Da Guerra” a more worthy first challenger to his reign than the consensus number one contender, Dagestan’s Nurmagomedov.

    And during an interview with the UFC ahead of his clash with Figueiredo in the “Las Vegas of the East,” Yan suggested that the Georgian’s stance — which he agrees with — could pave the way for his second dance with “The Machine” in 2025.

    “Deiveson is a former champ, and also Merab has been saying that he’s the only real deserving challenger for his belt,” Yan said through an interpreter. “So for me, it’s a good opportunity for me to get this position, to beat him and challenge for the belt instead of him.

    “I believe this is a No. 1 contender’s fight,” Yan continued. “Merab is currently champ, but I believe that he’s not ready to defend his title just yet, especially against Umar. It seems like he is avoiding him. Also, Umar, I believe he maybe needs a couple of good wins too. So, with a win over Deiveson, I believe that I can get back into the title picture and challenge for the belt again.”

    Yan fell to a three-fight losing skid in March 2023 when he was handily defeated across five rounds by Dvalishvili. But should he stall Figueiredo’s two-division ambitions in Macau this week, “No Mercy” is hoping to have the chance for redemption.

    Nurmagomedov would no doubt have something to say about that, however. He’s been widely branded next in line for a shot at the gold ever since he outpointed the highly regarded Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi this past August.

  • Jorge Masvidal Sets Sights On Conor McGregor Or Leon Edwards For Return Fight

    Jorge Masvidal Sets Sights On Conor McGregor Or Leon Edwards For Return Fight

    Jorge Masvidal is gearing up for a return to competition and has his sights set on two marquee opponents: Conor McGregor or Leon Edwards. The former UFC title challenger retired from MMA in April 2023 but appears eager to make a high-profile comeback.

    Masvidal, currently on a four-fight losing streak, saw his skid begin in July 2020 when he lost a decision to Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title at UFC 251. Their rematch at UFC 261 in April 2021 ended with Usman delivering a devastating knockout to retain his belt.

    The Miami native then dropped a decision to Colby Covington at UFC 272 in March 2022 and again to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 in April 2023. Following his MMA retirement, Masvidal ventured into boxing, where he lost a decision to Nate Diaz in July 2023.

    Speaking with MMA Junkie in Spanish, Masvidal explained why both McGregor and Edwards make sense as opponents, citing their winnability and storyline appeal.

    “I’d like for it to be Conor [McGregor] because I heard he also wants to fight on that same date,” Masvidal said. “He’s never mentioned my name because he knows I’ll rip his head off. However, if him and the UFC make that mistake, I’ll take his head off in Miami in April. But I don’t know if he wants it. He knows I’ll break him and make him look bad. I won’t take him down. I’ll strike with him and take him out of this orbit. He’s never mentioned my name, and it’s for a reason.”

    Masvidal also addressed the possibility of facing Leon Edwards, the current UFC Welterweight Champion, with whom he shares a heated history stemming from their infamous backstage altercation in 2019.

    “They’re saying [McGregor] might want to do it, but I’m chilling. If he wants to do it, great, I’ll kill him. If not, Leon Edwards. He and I have history, and it’s time to settle it. He’s not booked, and neither am I. Let’s go, sign the contract, and I’ll break your face.”

    Masvidal hinted at a possible April 2024 return, which could align with UFC’s plans for a major event in Miami.

  • Michael Chandler Targets Conor McGregor For UFC International Fight Week 2025

    Michael Chandler Targets Conor McGregor For UFC International Fight Week 2025

    Despite falling short in his previous outing, Michael Chandler remains focused on securing a long-awaited fight with Conor McGregor.

    Chandler last fought at UFC 309, where former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira defeated him. Over his last six fights, Chandler holds a 2-4 record, with his most recent victory being a knockout of Tony Ferguson at UFC 274 in May 2022. That win earned him Performance of the Night honors. Later in the year, Chandler engaged in a grueling bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 281, which was awarded Fight of the Night despite ending in a submission loss for Chandler.

    The highly anticipated matchup with McGregor was once within reach but ultimately fell apart. However, Chandler remains optimistic. While appearing on Bussin’ with the Boys, he expressed interest in reigniting the fight, targeting the summer of 2025.

    “I think me and Conor International Fight Week is the next fight,” Chandler said. “That’s what I’m throwing out there. I think June, July.”

    Chandler believes the fight is still on the table because both McGregor and the UFC want to finish the story they started on The Ultimate Fighter. He suggested that McGregor’s return to the octagon could lead directly to their long-awaited clash.

    “I’m not saying it’s a real reality, but I am saying if he does, his road comes straight through Nashville, Tennessee,” Chandler explained. “His road back to the UFC, we have to finish The Ultimate Fighter. The UFC wants us to finish it. Conor wants to fight me, and he can fight anybody. He made a commitment.

    “I’ve said this numerous times: I have no problem giving my opponents props. I think he is more sentimental and romantic about the sport than people give him credit for because he’s become this big, infamous brand. But he knows he’s nothing without the UFC octagon. He knows he’s nothing without the UFC. He was a plumber on welfare, sleeping on a couch. Without the UFC, he’s nothing. I don’t say that to take that away from him. We need our employers and brands to take us to the next level to create our lives.”

  • UFC 310 Loses Two More Fights Following Main Event Switch-Up

    The year-ending UFC 310 pay-per-view has already taken plenty of damage to its lineup, and the withdrawals don’t appear to be slowing down.

    Things haven’t been easy going for the MMA leader’s final numbered card of 2024, which has already undergone some notable changes. The original co-headliner between UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja and newcomer Kai Asakura is now in the main event spotlight.

    That’s following the cancellation of Belal Muhammad’s title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov after an injury to the champ. “Nomad” has remained on the card and will instead do battle with a fellow undefeated contender in Ian Garry.

    Further down the UFC 310 lineup, a crucial strawweight clash between Tatiana Suarez and Virna Jandiroba was scrapped under mysterious circumstances, while Nick Diaz’s planned return against Vicente Luque fell through for the second time this year.

    And this week, the preliminary card took a pair of blows with the cancellation of two heavyweight bouts.

    News of the first came by way of Eurosport Nederland’s Marcel Dorff, who revealed that Slovakia’s Martin Buday is out of his UFC 310 matchup with former Eagle FC and PFL fighter Rizvan Kuniev.

    Minutes later, MMA Junkie’s Nolan King emerged with news of another bout for the scrap heap, posting that recent Dana White’s Contender Series alum Tallison Teixeira has been forced out of his planned debut against “The Bull” Łukasz Brzeski.

    It remains to be seen whether Kuniev and Brzeski will remain on the card. Given that they both compete in the same weight class, perhaps the promotion will simply pair them together for UFC 310.

    As it stands, the Dec. 7 card does still boasts 13 fights, partially thanks to the rescheduling of Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders after that bout’s fight-day cancellation last weekend in New York City.

  • Michael Chandler Says First-Round Injury Affected Performance Against Charles Oliveira At UFC 309

    Michael Chandler Says First-Round Injury Affected Performance Against Charles Oliveira At UFC 309

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler believes he fought “23 minutes” of his rematch against Charles Oliveira with a severely compromised leg.

    Chandler’s negative Octagon record took further damage at this past weekend’s UFC 309 pay-per-view, where he fell to 2-4 since making the switch from Bellator to the sport’s leading promotion a number of years ago.

    In the co-main event at Madison Square Garden, Oliveira added his name to the American’s losing column once again, this time in much more convincing fashion.

    While the Brazilian had to mount a memorable comeback to get the better of “Iron” back in 2022, he was on top from the word go when the pair ran it back. And after weathering a late burst from Chandler in round five, “Do Bronx” had his hand raised by way of a lopsided decision.

    Given the success and near-title win he had against Oliveira previously, many were expecting more from the ex-Bellator champ. And that was evidently the case for the man himself, who believes he was prevented from competing at his best by a physical issue.

    During a recent appearance on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, Chandler suggested that an early grappling exchange with Oliveira in the first round injured his knee, thus preventing him from employing his usual forward-pressure style.

    “I think something happened to the knee in that first exchange when he had the leg and I did that full 360, he did a kneebar thing, because I walked back to the stool and I looked down at my left leg and it was not working right,” Chandler said. “It wasn’t stepping, it wasn’t catching, it was unstable, it was weird. … You know what it feels like to be on a solid foundation, to walk forward, move forward, attack, and I just wasn’t. 

    “Moving backwards was no problem, so my body and my brain was telling me moving backwards was cool but moving forward, planting and being in his face, pressure — even if you go back and watch the fifth [round] … whenever I was pursuing him, my leg was almost flopping rather than stalking and moving forward,” Chandler continued. “We’ll see what happened, but essentially for 23 minutes of that fight I don’t know if the leg was really working that well.”

    Regardless, that won’t affect Oliveira’s celebrations as he looks ahead to an expected showdown opposite whoever emerges from Islam Makhachev’s defense against Arman Tsarukyan with the lightweight gold in their possession.

    Chandler, meanwhile, made his intentions for 2025 clear inside the Octagon, once again calling for MMA superstar Conor McGregor to face him for his comeback fight — should that ever happen.

  • Tom Aspinall Explains Why Jon Jones’ Usual Advantage Over Opponents Won’t Work With Him

    Tom Aspinall Explains Why Jon Jones’ Usual Advantage Over Opponents Won’t Work With Him

    Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall remains high on self-belief when it comes to his chances in a fight against the great Jon Jones.

    Jones maintained his place on the heavyweight throne at this past weekend’s UFC 309 pay-per-view, which he headlined inside Madison Square Garden opposite returning former champ Stipe Miocic.

    “Bones,” who achieved two-division glory 20 months prior by submitting Ciryl Gane in one round, threatened another quick finish when he slammed Miocic down and employed some vicious ground-and-pound.

    But the Rochester native ultimately had to wait until the third frame to put Miocic away for good, doing so with a brutal spinning back kick to the body. And with that, Jones has now added a successful defense to his already illustrious résumé.

    Jones’ status as heavyweight king, however, is far from undisputed.

    During Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Aspinall explained why he would expect an edge over Jones.

    While “Bones” would boast a significant lead in Octagon experience, the interim titleholder believes his short fight time would actually play in his favor against the GOAT contender.

    “One of Jon Jones’ biggest advantages that he has over everybody is that he’s a tape studier, as am I,” Aspinall said. “I’m a massive tape studier. I watch my opponents, my coaches watch my opponents, pick up on the tendencies, pick up on what they like, what they don’t like, what they’re good at, when they’re tired, what tires them out, how they’re getting up off the bottom, how’s their defense when you throw this shot, etc.

    “He loves to study opponents like this. He has no chance of doing that with me because my average fight time is the shortest in UFC history at two minutes and two seconds over 10 fights. That’s something that keeps him up at night, that will keep him up at night, for sure. I am a massive, massive question mark for him. I know a lot of his game. He’s got a lot of Octagon time over a lot of years. I’ve got next to nothing. There’s next to no footage of me out there besides me doing anything apart from bouncing peoples’ heads off the canvas, and he has no idea what to prepare for, and that is fantastic for me.”

    It remains to be seen whether or not Aspinall will have the chance to prove as much.

    While Jones appeared to finally entertain the prospect of facing Aspinall during his Octagon interview, he quickly reverted to his stance of avoiding the Brit when backstage at MSG, reiterating his desire to fight Alex Pereira instead.

    The MMA masses continue to push back on that, however, and even the UFC’s official Europe handle on X has seemingly had enough of the apparent ‘ducking’…

  • PFL Announces ‘Dagestan vs. Ireland 2’ As Paul Hughes Challenges Usman Nurmagomedov

    PFL Announces ‘Dagestan vs. Ireland 2’ As Paul Hughes Challenges Usman Nurmagomedov

    The Bellator Champions Series will head to Dubai in 2025, where lightweight kingpin Usman Nurmagomedov headlines in defense of his title.

    In a press release this week, the Professional Fighters League announced a multi-year partnership with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism that will see the promotion return to the United Arab Emirates annually.

    And the first major event there is set for the Coca-Cola Arena on Jan. 25, as the first Bellator Champions Series event of the new year goes down.

    Headlining will be the return of Nurmagomedov (18-0, 1 NC), the Bellator lightweight titleholder who made his first outing since the PFL acquired his previous employer in San Diego this past September.

    Having got past Alexandr Shabliy to maintain his undefeated status, the Dagestani will next look to stall the championship ambitions of Ireland’s Paul Hughes (13-1).

    “I am always excited to challenge myself against the best athletes and I view Paul Hughes as a worthy opponent,” Nurmagomedov said. “I’m proud to be the first MMA main event in Dubai history.”

    Hughes has made a splash since signing with the PFL off the back of title glory under the Cage Warriors banner. After knocking out Bobby King on debut, “Big News” most recently recorded the biggest win of his career over AJ McKee on the undercard of Francis Ngannou’s return.

    A result of that magnitude has unsurprisingly bagged him a first shot at gold opposite Nurmagomedov.

    “The championship has always been in my plans, and now it’s coming to fruition in January when I face Usman,” Paul Hughes said. “I respect what he brings to the table and I am not discrediting him, but I know I will leave Dubai on January 25 as the new champion.”

    The PFL’s “Dagestan vs. Ireland 2” branding references the memorable feud between the great Khabib Nurmagomedov — cousin of Usman — and Conor McGregor back in 2018. In recent months, Hughes has called for his “Notorious” fellow countryman to corner him for his clash with the Russian next year.

    The press release announcing the title fight also revealed that all Bellator Champions Series events will now be co-branded as the “Road to Dubai,” with the cards leading up to the finale in the UAE each year.

  • Former UFC Champion Wants To Fight ‘Fake’ Israel Adesanya If He Ever Returns

    Former UFC Champion Wants To Fight ‘Fake’ Israel Adesanya If He Ever Returns

    In 2021, former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley departed the UFC to explore the next phase of his career. Four consecutive losses inside the Octagon brought an end to his 16-fight run with the promotion which saw him win the title at 170-pounds and record three title defenses, four if you count the draw in his first fight with Stephen Thompson.

    “The Chosen One” then went into boxing where he became the second major name from MMA to face Jake Paul in the ring. After losing a split decision in their first encounter, he was then knocked out in a rematch in December of 2018.

    Woodley has not returned to competition since then but he has spoken about substantial offers that he has regularly received to dust off the gloves for one last dance. In a recent interview with Plejmo, the former champion spoke about who he would want to share the Octagon with if he did ever make a return to the UFC.

    The 42-year old said that there’s one current star in the promotion in particular who is in and around his weight class that he would like to lock horns with. Woodley went on to voice his opinions regarding the former two-time UFC champion Israel Adesanya who he believes is “fake”.

    “I never thought about going back, but now when I look at the UFC, there’s not that many stars. Alex Pereira is a beast. He’s a big-ass 205 pounder, so I can’t see myself getting in there with him. Israel Adesanya is a fighter I would definitely fight. I’m not a huge fan of his. I just don’t like people that are just fake. He was conveniently African. Before that he was UK. Before then, he was like an avatar breakdancing guy.  The UFC needs some star power in there. There’s a lot of fighters that are kind of in my class of fighting that’s still fighting in the UFC. Some of those fights would be kind of cool.”

  • Paul Craig Saw ‘Progress’ In UFC 309 Loss To Bo Nickal: ‘Every Setback Is Just Setup For A Comeback’

    Paul Craig Saw ‘Progress’ In UFC 309 Loss To Bo Nickal: ‘Every Setback Is Just Setup For A Comeback’

    UFC middleweight Paul Craig hasn’t lost confidence despite falling to another defeat this past weekend.

    Craig marked the latest challenge for undefeated prospect Bo Nickal at Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view. The Scotsman joined the likes of Cody Brundage and Val Woodburn on the list of those unable to blemish the decorated wrestler’s MMA record.

    The two grappling specialists remained standing throughout their three-round affair, with Nickal edging a striking-only contest that frustrated the crowd in attendance at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

    For Craig, the result marked his third straight loss, leaves him 1-5 across his last six, and has pushed his middleweight record to a negative 1-4.

    But although things may not have gone his way on fight night, “Bearjew” remains in good spirits and happy with the “progress” he felt was in display.

    “Saturday night didn’t go as I envisioned, but every setback is just a setup for a comeback,” Craig wrote. “Progress is happening, and my resilience is my fuel. Here’s to the relentless pursuit of greatness! #bearjew #bearjewjitsu#setbacks #comebacks”

    Craig, a formerly ranked light heavyweight contender, initially made a strong start at 185 pounds when he knocked out Andre Muniz. But a main event loss to Brendan Allen and brutal knockout setback at the hands of Caio Borralho left him out of the top 15.

    Having fallen short of having his hand raised again, “Bearjew” is in desperate need of a rebound result next time out. And judging by his post-fight statement, he’s evidently confident that he’s moved in a good direction toward achieving that.

  • UFC Analyst References Training Footage To Break Down Rakhmonov vs. Garry

    UFC Analyst References Training Footage To Break Down Rakhmonov vs. Garry

    The co-main event of UFC 310 next month may be a replacement match-up but as far as a stand-in fights go, they don’t get much better than this one. One undefeated streak will come to an end in Las Vegas as Shavkat Rakhmonov faces Ian Machado Garry over five rounds.

    Though there isn’t an interim title on the line following Belal Muhammad’s withdrawal from the card like many expected there would be, both men know what is at stake in this top level clash in the welterweight division. In fact, the two competitors also know a bit about each other already due to the period of time where they were both training out of Kill Cliff FC in Florida.

    Following the fight announcement, a video of the opponents sparring some light rounds with one another went out on social media and though there wasn’t much to gain from this footage, it did show that both men have squared off in the past.

    As a result, UFC analyst and fellow welterweight contender Michael Chiesa believes that this familiarity will show in the fight. He spoke in a recent interview with Sportskeeda about his thoughts on the bout that will take place the same night as his return against Max Griffin.

    Chiesa believes that the element of surprise could decide this fight because of how skilled both fighters are as well as the element of already experiencing each other’s games first-hand.

    “I’ll keep it short. There’s some sparring footage that came out of Ian Garry and Shavkat. I think that they’re both gonna be very familiar with each other and I will go out on a limb and say I think this fight goes to a decision. I think these guys are familiar with each other enough to where they’re going to negate a few of the attacks and it’s going to be a matter of who can come in there and throw a new wrinkle into their game to throw off the opponent.”  

  • Mauricio Ruffy Names Another Desired Opponent After Saint Denis Callout At UFC 309

    Mauricio Ruffy Names Another Desired Opponent After Saint Denis Callout At UFC 309

    UFC lightweight prospect Mauricio Ruffy has names on his mind as he looks toward his third outing inside the Octagon.

    Ruffy made it two wins from two appearances on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage at this past weekend’s UFC 309 pay-per-view, where he got the better of late-notice replacement opponent James Llontop.

    As he did on debut against James Llontop, the Fighting Nerds standout once again put his powerful and innovative striking on full display, most memorably flooring his opponent with a no-look uppercut in round two.

    Having ultimately gone the distance and collected a comfortable decision victory, Ruffy is now on the radar of most as one to watch at 155 pounds moving forward.

    The Brazilian, however, isn’t looking to remain a prospect rising the ranks for much longer.

    During his Octagon interview, Ruffy called out a ranked contender in Benoît Saint Denis, who likely has to fight down the ladder next time out after losing consecutive bouts to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano.

    During an interview with MMA Fighting, Ruffy added another name to his list of post-fight callouts, highlighting the formerly ranked King Green as an alternative option should a clash with “God of War” not come together.

    “I’m very excited for a fight with Saint Denis,” Ruffy said. “I think that would be such a cool fight. Some people are advising me to go slow and whatnot, but everything I’ve been through in my life and career earns me that opportunity. The hype is nice, people are talking, and Saint Denis is coming off two losses, so it’s an interesting fight.

    “Another fight that would also be very interesting is Bobby Green,” Ruffy continued. “I’d love to fight any of those two names. I’m hoping the UFC will send me a good name and we’ll fight soon. I’m taking a break now, but already thinking about fights.”

    Green has long shown a willingness to face any and everyone, including young up-and-comers looking to earn a number next to their name at his expense.

    That was the case just this past July when the veteran headed across the pond to face the challenge of Paddy Pimblett in Manchester, England. Green was unable to stall “The Baddy’s” rise, instead finding himself choked unconscious in one round.

  • Cédric Doumbé Hints At Baki Rematch In A Huge Stadium In France Next Year: ‘I Won’t Say More…’

    Cédric Doumbé Hints At Baki Rematch In A Huge Stadium In France Next Year: ‘I Won’t Say More…’

    Cédric Doumbé is still hoping to avenge the one and loss on his MMA record following one of the most controversial endings to a fight in recent times. After winning his PFL debut in just 9 seconds, the French superstar received a step-up for his next test.

    The striking specialist faced off with the undefeated Baysangur Chamsoudinov, or Baki for short, in March this year where their main event at the Accor Arena in Paris became a huge talking point. The fight was waved off by referee Marc Goddard in the third round after Doumbé wanted to pause the action due to a splinter that was in his foot.

    It wasn’t clear whether Baki would re-sign to the promotion following some negative comments that he made about the PFL but in June, it was announced that he had put pen to paper on a new multi-fight deal that would seemingly set up the rematch for the near future.

    Doumbé spoke about this in a recent interview with RMC Sport where he said that the rematch is definitely on the cards now that they’re both back under the same banner.

    “The return match will definitely take place. If the PFL, the organization in which I fight, decided to sign Baki, it is only for this revenge that the whole world is waiting for after the frustration of this famous thorn that is very notorious today.”

    He went on to say that he thinks the fight will happen later on in 2025, suggesting that the PFL has other plans for him early next year. He added that he thinks the fight will take place in a stadium in France but did not share any specific details.

    “In the second quarter of 2025. In France, undeniably, the French public must see this. There will probably be a stadium bigger than Bercy. A stadium that looks like the Parc, I won’t say more.”

  • Bellator Title Contender Announces Free Agency: ‘Who Wants An Exciting Welterweight?’

    Bellator Title Contender Announces Free Agency: ‘Who Wants An Exciting Welterweight?’

    Former Bellator title contender Lorenz Larkin has announced that he is currently a free agent after fighting out his contract. “The Monsoon” had recently said in interviews that he would be in talks with the PFL about re-signing but his latest statement seems to suggest that he is exploring all options right now.

    The final fight of his contract was listed as a welterweight title eliminator at the Bellator Champions Series event in San Diego this past September. After stopping Levan Chokheli in the first round, it seemed clear that he would go on to challenge the undefeated Ramazan Kuramagomedov who won the title by beating Jason Jackson in June.

    After competing both in Strikeforce and the UFC, Larkin signed with Bellator in 2017 after securing back-to-back wins in the Octagon over Jorge Masvidal and Neil Magny making his switch a fairly substantial acquisition. This showed in his debut as he jumped right into a welterweight title shot where he lost a decision to Douglas Lima.

    If this is the end of Larkin’s run with Bellator, he departs having fought 12 times with the promotion with one additional appearance on a PFL card this past June. The 38-year old posted a video on his Instagram story to talk about the next stage of his career.

    “Hey, so just wanted to keep everybody updated who’s interested, your boy is officially a free agent. Me and my team can officially start talking to other promotions. I’m excited, this is another part of the career that we gotta do so I’m pumped, excited for what the future brings and excited to see who wants an exciting welterweight to come in so let’s see.” 

  • Francis Ngannou Waiting To See What PFL Offers Before Making Next Fighting Decision

    Francis Ngannou Waiting To See What PFL Offers Before Making Next Fighting Decision

    In his return to MMA, Francis Ngannou achieved a decisive victory over Renan Ferreira at PFL: Battle of the Giants. Now, fight fans are eager to see what the former UFC heavyweight champion has planned next for his career.

    Ngannou recently spoke with TMZ Sports about his future, revealing that his next fight is still undecided. He explained that the delay is due to his waiting for the PFL to present its next offer. If he doesn’t find their proposal appealing, Ngannou hinted at a potential return to boxing.

    “I will wait a couple of months to see if the PFL pulls something up. If not, I’ll see if there’s something in boxing. But it’s not like it’s top of mind—I know I can do either. Since we last spoke, nothing has changed. In my vision, if I have a couple of fights left, I’d like one of them to be in boxing.”

    There’s been speculation that Ngannou could face Jake Paul, the polarizing social media star-turned-boxer who recently scored a decision win over Mike Tyson. However, Ngannou made it clear he has no interest in such a matchup.

    “No, no, no, no. Come on. Don’t be silly,” he said dismissively. “Maybe if we put the two Paul brothers in the cage and locked it, there’d be something to do there. Come on. Respect me a little bit.”

  • Chael Sonnen Has Firm Stance On Jones vs. Ngannou Prediction After UFC 309: ‘In Hindsight…’

    Chael Sonnen Has Firm Stance On Jones vs. Ngannou Prediction After UFC 309: ‘In Hindsight…’

    A former opponent of UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones’ has a strong opinion on how a clash with Francis Ngannou would have played out inside the Octagon following this past weekend’s event.

    Jones returned to action in defense of his title at Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view. The Rochester native was putting the heavyweight gold on the line for the first time at Madison Square Garden, having had injury derail his plans to do so in late 2023.

    As was scheduled to be the case last year, “Bones” shared the cage with returning former champ Stipe Miocic, despite the presence of an interim titleholder in Tom Aspinall. And as many had predicted given Miocic’s age and lengthy layoff, Jones tore through the veteran en route to a brutal body-kick TKO stoppage in round three.

    But the result did little to affect the bid of Jones’ doubters to dismiss claims he sits as the world’s best heavyweight, with Aspinall front and center in that debate following his recent results.

    Also in the conversation is Ngannou, who departed the UFC as lineal heavyweight kingpin at the start of 2023 and recently made a successful debut under the PFL banner.

    But when it comes to “The Predator,” one man with experience facing Jones has little doubt how that bout would have gone had he stayed in the UFC…

    During a recent episode of his Good Guy/Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Chael Sonnen spoke on Jones’ recent triumph in New York City.

    “The American Gangster” was impressed, so much so that he now firmly believes the heavyweight iteration of Jones would have had little trouble dispatching Ngannou inside the cage.

    “Do you know what Jon would have done to Francis Ngannou in hindsight?” Sonnen said. “Now that we look back, Jon would have picked that big man a part. I mean, I’m just sharing with you, like, that’s a big man’s nightmare. Jon’s not a heavyweight; Jon is fighting at heavyweight. There’s a massive difference.”

    A clash between Jones and Ngannou remains the stuff of fantasy, in spite of both the latter and his organization’s higher-ups calling for a cross-promotional showdown between the two behemoths.

  • Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez Booked For UFC Fight Night On Feb. 22

    Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez Booked For UFC Fight Night On Feb. 22

    Ranked middleweights are set to run it back at a UFC Fight Night in the first quarter of the new year.

    Brendan Allen (24-6), who currently occupies the #9 spot in the middleweight top 15, had his charge toward a desired first title shot on MMA’s biggest stage stalled this past September. At the UFC Fight Night in Paris, France’s own Nassourdine Imavov snapped the American’s seven-fight win streak to defend his place in the championship conversation.

    “All In” will be looking for a quick rebound, and the chance to achieve that will come on Feb. 22 when he also has the opportunity to avenge a past defeat.

    Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, Allen is set to renew hostilities with Anthony Hernandez (13-2, 1 NC). “Fluffy” outpointed the top-10 contender back at LFA 32 in 2018, a result that earned him a shot on Dana White’s Contender Series and paved his path into the UFC.

    A location is yet to be confirmed for the UFC Fight Night on Feb. 22, but Seattle is the reported target.

    Before suffering defeat at the hands of Imavov, Allen had risen the ranks with submission victories over Andre Muniz, Bruno Silva, and Paul Craig, as well as a hard-fought main event decision against Chris Curtis.

    Hernandez, meanwhile, has won six on the bounce since a knockout loss to Kevin Holland in 2020. That run includes memorable submissions of decorated BJJ specialist Rodolfo Vieira and Roman Kopylov, in addition to knockouts of Edmen Shahbazyan and Michel Pereira.

  • BKFC KnuckleMania 5 To Feature Eddie Alvarez vs. Jeremy Stephens

    BKFC KnuckleMania 5 To Feature Eddie Alvarez vs. Jeremy Stephens

    BKFC is headed to Philadelphia this January for its first event in the historic “Quaker City.”

    On Tuesday, BKFC announced that the fifth installment of KnuckleMania will showcase a showdown between UFC veterans Eddie Alvarez and Jeremy Stephens. The highly anticipated bout is scheduled for Jan. 25 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    “The Underground King” made a strong entrance into the world of bare-knuckle fighting with a victory over fellow UFC veteran Chad Mendes at BKFC 41 in April 2023. However, his momentum faltered in his second outing, suffering a TKO loss to BKFC’s marquee star Mike Perry in December.

    Now, Alvarez is gearing up for a homecoming, aiming to deliver a memorable performance in front of his hometown crowd in Philadelphia. This marks his first fight in the city in over 14 years, with his last appearance dating back to October 2010 when he secured a TKO win against Roger Huerta at Bellator 33.

    Meanwhile, Stephens remains unbeaten in his bare-knuckle career, having made a stunning debut with a third-round TKO victory over Jimmie Rivera at BKFC 56. “Lil Heathen” is riding high off a dominant unanimous decision win over Bobby Taylor at BKFC 65 this past September.

    The bare-knuckle promotion is making its long-awaited debut in Pennsylvania, following the state’s athletic commission granting official sanctioning for gloveless boxing in 2023.