MMA News

Category: MMA

  • UFC Legends Glover Teixeira And Shogun Rua Set For Long-Awaited Clash In Brazil On August 29

    Two legendary Brazilian MMA veterans are finally set to share the ring after more than a decade of near misses.

    Glover Teixeira and Mauricio Rua, better known to fight fans as “Shogun,” are scheduled to headline Spaten Fight Night 3 in São Paulo, Brazil, on August 29 in a heavyweight boxing match contested over eight two-minute rounds.

    The matchup is especially notable because the former UFC light heavyweight champions were once expected to fight inside the Octagon back in 2012, though the bout never materialized. Now, years after both men stepped away from MMA competition, they’ll finally collide under boxing rules instead.

    Teixeira enters the event after remaining deeply involved in the sport following his retirement in 2023. While his final UFC appearance ended in a title fight loss to Jamahal Hill, the 46-year-old has stayed active as the longtime coach and mentor of Alex Pereira, who is currently preparing for an interim heavyweight title fight against Ciryl Gane at the UFC White House event.

    Shogun, meanwhile, remains one of the most respected names of the PRIDE era. The 44-year-old built his legacy through violent finishes and memorable wars against names like Quinton Jackson, Alistair Overeem, and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira before eventually becoming UFC light heavyweight champion.

    Spaten Fight Night has quickly become known for bringing iconic MMA names into crossover combat events. Previous editions featured exhibition-style bouts involving Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen, and Wanderlei Silva.

    The upcoming card will also include high-level judo matches featuring Olympic gold medalists Rafaela Silva and Beatriz Souza, adding another layer to the Brazil-based combat sports showcase.

  • Young MMA Fighter’s UFC Dream Ends In Tragic Bear Attack In Canada

    A tragic story out of northern Saskatchewan has revealed the heartbreaking final chapter of a young man chasing a dream of fighting in the UFC.

    Hrishikesh Koloth, a 27-year-old originally from Kerala, India, was killed in a rare bear attack on May 8 while working at a uranium exploration site near Nordbye Lake.

    According to his family, Koloth had spent years training in mixed martial arts and moved to Canada to pursue a professional fighting career.

    Speaking in an interview with CBC News after the tragedy, his brother Arjun described Hrishikesh as someone completely devoted to combat sports.

    “That was his dream. That’s why he came here,” Arjun said. “He wanted to fight in the UFC.”

    Koloth had reportedly trained for more than a decade and worked with Skoden Martial Arts in Penticton, British Columbia. His brother said he was also preparing to begin a new job as a boxing coach in Vancouver next month.

    Authorities confirmed the bear was later shot and killed at the scene. The incident marks only the fourth recorded fatal bear attack in Saskatchewan history.

  • Joe Rogan Says He Always Believed Sean Strickland Could Beat Khamzat Chimaev And Explains Why

    Joe Rogan Says He Always Believed Sean Strickland Could Beat Khamzat Chimaev And Explains Why

    Joe Rogan says he was never surprised that Sean Strickland could upset Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328, pointing to Strickland’s unquantifiable durability and heart as the traits that always kept him dangerous.

    Rogan discussed the fight on his podcast with Tom Segura, explaining why he gave Strickland a genuine chance despite the massive odds against him.

    “I thought it could happen that way. Ari was arguing with me. He’s like, ‘you always say that when someone doesn’t have a chance, you always hype it up.’ Like, I think Strickland can win this fight because Strickland is insanely durable. He’s scary because he doesn’t go away. He’s not going to get tired. He doesn’t go away. He’s tough as s—. He was abused when he was young, so he’s angry. He is dangerous and he’s super skillful, very hard to hit. And he fought in one with a blown out shoulder. He f—ed his shoulder up like the week of the fight. Like did something bad. He f—ed it up and he doesn’t even know what it was, but he couldn’t use it right.”

    Strickland dethroned Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328 in Newark to claim the middleweight title for the second time. He had previously been submitted by Chimaev and outpointed by Dricus Du Plessis twice during his reign.

  • Robert Whittaker Says He Is Not Bothered By Prelim Spot At UFC 329 For His Light Heavyweight Debut

    Robert Whittaker Says He Is Not Bothered By Prelim Spot At UFC 329 For His Light Heavyweight Debut

    Robert Whittaker says he is not bothered by being placed on the preliminary card for UFC 329, calling the silver lining an earlier fight time that spares him from late nights.

    Whittaker makes his light heavyweight debut at UFC 329 on July 11 against Nikita Krylov. He spoke to Submission Radio about the prelim placement.

    “Well, it’s different. I haven’t been in a prelim fight for a long time. On paper, intellectually, you look at it, it makes sense-ish. My first move up to 205, coming back after a big layoff. I’m looking forward to getting back in there. Honestly, the silver lining is that I get to get my fight out of the way a little bit earlier. I hate those late nights, they kill me a little bit. Honestly, it’s just about getting in there and getting to business. I want to get in there, and I want to execute all of the things that I’ve been working on up until now, I want to feel myself out, I want to feel how the fight feels. Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”

    Whittaker is a former two-time UFC middleweight champion. His move to light heavyweight has drawn some concern about whether he will be undersized at 205 pounds.

  • TJ Dillashaw Claims Khamzat Chimaev Was ‘On The Verge Of Death’ During His UFC 328 Weight Cut

    TJ Dillashaw Claims Khamzat Chimaev Was ‘On The Verge Of Death’ During His UFC 328 Weight Cut

    T.J. Dillashaw says Khamzat Chimaev was “almost dying” during his weight cut ahead of UFC 328 and believes his performance against Sean Strickland — including going the distance despite being so compromised — is a testament to just how tough Chimaev is.

    Dillashaw, a former two-time UFC bantamweight champion who was part of Chimaev’s camp, spoke to MMA Fighting about the full picture of what happened behind the scenes.

    “Khamzat looked like an animal for his camp, like he was unbeatable. There was no way he was going to get beat, but then you get someone that you’re paying — there’s a lot of frauds in this world — and the way that they made him cut weight was horrible.”

    Dillashaw attributed the weight cut disaster to poor water management.

    “Well, the water. I mean, if I could put it to one thing — your body will shut down. Like you can’t go and lose 10 pounds all at once and not drink enough water to tell your brain and your body to, ‘Hey, let’s keep losing weight. Let’s keep pushing water.’ If you lose too much of it too fast in one sitting, your body will stop sweating. Yeah, you might only have three pounds to go, but guess what? That’s gonna take you seven, eight hours because you’re dying. You’re straight up dying. Your body’s telling you you’re dying.”

    He described the full extent of what Chimaev was going through before stepping into the cage.

    “He wanted to give Strickland $1 million and say, ‘Hey, take it. I can’t make it, I’m going to die.’ And you forget this guy’s got half a thyroid, right? His metabolism is half of a normal man. And so if you’re not treating it the right way, you could kill him. And I really believe he was on the verge of death making that weight cut. He should not have made it to the fight. And to see how he performed still — Round 5, Round 4, he still had the better fight in cardio than Strickland, and Strickland’s supposed to be a cardio guy. Khamzat’s the one going forward landing the bigger shots. So Sean won a fight going backwards, throwing a jab? I don’t see it that way. But it makes me realize how tough Khamzat is to do as well as he did on almost dying before getting on that scale.”

    Dillashaw said Chimaev only showed up to fight week 16 pounds over, and argued the situation was entirely avoidable.

    “People need to understand: What he pushed through to fight is impressive. He just needs to do it the right way. He was only 16 pounds over showing up to fight week. That is easy. It’s about the water displacement. And unfortunately they didn’t do that.”

  • Holly Holm On Ronda Rousey’s Retirement: ‘I’d Always Be Open To Fight Her Again’

    Holly Holm On Ronda Rousey’s Retirement: ‘I’d Always Be Open To Fight Her Again’

    Holly Holm says she highly doubts Ronda Rousey will ever accept a rematch, but made clear the invitation has always been open and always will be.

    Holm spoke to MMA Fighting ahead of her boxing title fight against Stephanie Han on Saturday, with Rousey’s name coming up repeatedly following her 17-second submission of Gina Carano at MVP MMA 1.

    “Yes, a lot of talk with the Ronda fight. I highly doubt she’ll ever want a rematch. I always have said since the minute the last fight was over, I’ll always rematch her. That’s always been available. But she wanted to come back and have this win and go back and enjoy and have a win like that. No hate from me. I hope she does well. I hope she does whatever she wants with her life. That’s her life. I’d always be open to fight her again.”

    Holm was not surprised by how the Rousey-Carano fight ended, having witnessed Rousey do the same to ranked UFC fighters in her prime.

    “She did that a lot to women who were ranked at the top, Ronda was still doing that. You can’t judge someone who lost like that. You know what? It takes a lot of courage to step back in when you haven’t felt that in a long time and in that many years.”

    Holm also praised Carano for what it took to return after 17 years away.

    “To be able to come back after time off, it’s uncomfortable. Fights are uncomfortable. I don’t like it. I hate fight week. I hate fight day. I always have. It is very uncomfortable and that’s why a very small percentage of people can actually do this. It’s not just the physical aspect you put your body through. It is more emotionally and mentally. For her to come back and face it, that takes a lot of courage, too.”

    On Holm’s own legacy, she expressed pride in what her knockout of Rousey represented.

    “The whole reason why me beating her was such a big deal is because she was so dominant. You have to have a dominant champion in order to have a big upset. So I have all the respect for her and to her. I’ll never say anything negative. But then there’s like the fighter pride of things and a win is great but also to try to win that good or put that much of a stamp on something, anybody would be lying if they said they weren’t proud of it.”

    Holm fights Han in a boxing lightweight title rematch on Saturday. The original bout ended in a technical decision after a clash of heads caused a cut. Holm, 44, is a current MVP boxing signee.

  • Ray J Hospitalized Following Brutal Brand Risk 14 KO Against Supa Hot Fire

    Ray J has reportedly been hospitalized in Las Vegas following his viral knockout loss at Adin Ross’ Brand Risk 14 event over the weekend.

    According to TMZ, the R&B star checked himself into a hospital just hours after his amateur MMA bout against internet personality Supa Hot Fire, whose real name is DeWayne DeShawn Stevenson. Sources close to Ray J told the outlet that he has remained under medical supervision for multiple days while doctors continue evaluating his condition.

    The report claims medical staff are investigating a possible concussion stemming from the knockout, while also monitoring concerns related to his heart rate allegedly slowing down after the fight.

    The frightening update comes after the 45-year-old appeared visibly disoriented during the second-round stoppage loss at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas last weekend. Supa Hot Fire landed a heavy right hand that sent Ray J stumbling into the ropes before collapsing to the canvas in a sequence that quickly spread across social media.

    The aftermath of the fight drew even more attention when Ray J made bizarre comments during his post-fight interview, appearing to suggest there had been some sort of pre-fight understanding between the two competitors.

    “Yo, I thought we had a plan,” Ray J said after the bout, fueling online speculation surrounding the fight.

    The hospitalization also raises further concern because Ray J has publicly discussed ongoing health issues throughout the year. Earlier in 2026, he revealed he had been dealing with pneumonia, heart-related complications, and other medical concerns serious enough to require hospitalization and extended bed rest.

    Despite those issues, Ray J still stepped into the cage for the chaotic influencer event promoted by Adin Ross, which featured a mix of celebrity fights and viral personalities.

  • Chris Weidman Stunned By UFC Hall Of Fame Honor After Career Highs And Lows – ‘I Was Completely Clueless’

    Chris Weidman never saw this moment coming.

    The former UFC middleweight champion is set to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, but the announcement caught him completely off guard.

    Known for one of the biggest upsets in MMA history when he dethroned Anderson Silva in 2013, Weidman’s legacy has long been debated due to the contrasting chapters of his career.

    That’s part of why the honor came as such a surprise.

    “It’s a huge honor – I was completely caught off guard with it,” Weidman said in an interview with MMA Junkie Radio. “Was not expecting it… I was completely clueless and it was an awesome surprise.”

    The reveal was orchestrated during UFC 328 in Newark, where “The All-American” was brought cageside under the pretense of a routine broadcast segment. Instead, he was met with a tribute video announcing his induction.

    Weidman’s early career run remains one of the most impressive in middleweight history. He began with 13 straight victories, including two wins over Silva, and successful title defenses against elite contenders like Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida.

    However, the latter part of his career told a different story. A series of losses after his championship reign left Weidman unsure if his accomplishments would ultimately be enough for Hall of Fame recognition.

    “After I had my first loss, I lost a lot,” he admitted. “Thank God they measure you from your prime… I’m glad I did some great things while I was young.”

    “The All-American” now joins a stacked 2026 class that includes Demetrious Johnson and Dominick Cruz, further cementing his place in UFC history.

  • Justin Gaethje Claims UFC Tried To Push Him Out Before White House Showdown

    Justin Gaethje has built a reputation on chaos inside the cage, but heading into the biggest fight of his career, his mindset is rooted in something much simpler — survival at the top.

    Set to face Ilia Topuria in a lightweight title unification bout at the UFC’s historic White House event on June 14, Gaethje knows exactly what’s at stake. Despite multiple runs with interim gold and years spent among the elite, undisputed championship status has remained just out of reach.

    Speaking to Grind City Media, “The Highlight” reflected on how he’s managed to stay in the title picture for so long, even as a new generation continues to rise.

    “Honestly, I just stayed the course and I win when I need to win,” Gaethje said. “I’ve only lost to past champions or in championship fights… then I come back, I get back to work.”

    The road hasn’t been easy. Gaethje believes the UFC has consistently matched him against dangerous, hungry contenders looking to take his spot.

    “They’ve tried to get rid of me… I’ve held off these young up-and-comers… these guys are so hungry,” he said, referencing names like Paddy Pimblett and Rafael Fiziev.

    Rather than shy away from that pressure, “The Highlight” has embraced it. In fact, he claims setbacks have only made him more dangerous.

    “Coming off losses, I’m much more dangerous than I am coming off wins,” he explained, pointing to his knockout defeat to Max Holloway as a constant motivator in training.

    Now 32 fights into his career, the interim UFC lightweight champion has also started thinking about the endgame. But his criteria for walking away is clear.

    “When I think my younger self would beat myself now, then it would be time to call it quits,” he said.

    For now, though, retirement is the last thing on his mind. Standing across from an undefeated champion in Topuria, Gaethje is preparing for yet another test against a fighter many see as the future of the division.

    “I’m fighting a guy that is absolutely incredible… but I have a great coach, we’re going to have a great plan, and I’m going to change his face just like I always do,” he said.

  • Matt Brown Laid Out The Full Stakes Of Conor McGregor’s UFC 329 Return And It Is Lot Of Pressure

    Matt Brown says simply making it to the cage for his UFC 329 fight against Max Holloway may matter as much as winning for Conor McGregor, and that a loss would effectively end his relevance as a world-class competitor.

    Brown addressed McGregor’s comeback on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast, laying out the stakes plainly.

    “If he doesn’t make this walk, I think it’s going to be unanimous agreement he’s done and he’s never fighting again. If he doesn’t go in there and win, I think it’s going to be a unanimous agreement that no one wants to see him fight again either. Even if he looks good. He goes in, he actually fights Max Holloway, he loses, I don’t see anybody really interested in seeing him fight again. Of course, everybody will watch. He’s a big enough star, he could fight and lose the next five or 10 times and people will still watch. He’s a big enough star, that’s what’s going to happen, but the interest will wane hugely if he doesn’t make this walk and find a way to win. It’s a lot of pressure on his side.”

    Brown said a win over Holloway specifically would be significant given who Holloway has become since their first meeting.

    “Whether he wins or loses, I have to have some respect for Conor for taking the fight against Max Holloway. A known killer who has had a ton of success since last time they fought. If he goes in and makes that walk, that’s a gigantic risk for him. If he loses this fight, his relevance as a fighter drops dramatically. We’ll watch, he could fight another 10 times, I’m sure everyone would watch. But his relevance as a world-class competitor, pretty much drops off the map. Any fights he does after that is kind of like influencer fights or something along those lines.”

    Brown did acknowledge McGregor has a path to victory.

    “I can see the argument where you think Conor would have a good chance. For one, it’s at 170 and Conor has good power at 170. Max is hittable. He’s certainly a hittable guy. Conor has a win over him in the past. Max has been through the ringer. He’s got a lot of miles on those tires. I can see where you can make that argument where it’s not the worst matchup.”

    McGregor has not competed since suffering a broken leg at UFC 264 in July 2021. Holloway has competed eight times since then, all in main events or title fights.

  • Sean Strickland Has Blunt Take On Fantasy Matchup With Anderson Silva

    Sean Strickland Has Blunt Take On Fantasy Matchup With Anderson Silva

    Sean Strickland says he would beat a prime Anderson Silva, arguing that the sport has evolved to a level where Silva’s game from his era would not hold up today.

    Strickland reclaimed the UFC middleweight title by upsetting Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 earlier this month. Speaking to Nina Drama, he was asked about a fantasy matchup with Silva, who holds the record for most consecutive UFC middleweight title defenses at 10.

    “I’d f*ck him up. I think there’s a big level difference now. If you could take Anderson Silva and bring him into modern time, you know what I’m saying? Every generation gets better and better and better. So it’s kind of one of those hard fights to say, ‘Would I beat this guy up?’ Well, yeah, like naturally the sport is getting better.”

    Strickland has built a resume that includes wins over Chimaev, Israel Adesanya, Nassourdine Imavov, Brendan Allen, Paulo Costa, and Anthony Hernandez.

  • Michael Bisping Watched Alex Pereira’s Heavyweight Sparring And Was Not Reassured By What He Saw

    Michael Bisping Watched Alex Pereira’s Heavyweight Sparring And Was Not Reassured By What He Saw

    Michael Bisping says sparring footage of Alex Pereira working with UFC heavyweight Tallison Teixeira looks concerning ahead of his move up to the heavyweight division at UFC Freedom 250.

    Pereira faces Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title on June 14 at the White House. Bisping addressed the training footage on his YouTube channel.

    “He is going to put on 30 pounds, something like that. So that means he’s going to be slower. It means he’s going to be fighting bigger guys, and it means he’s probably going to be fighting people that can punch harder. What do you do to prepare for such a thing? You spar other heavyweights, and lately some footage has come out. I’ve got to say, it looks a little concerning for Alex Pereira.”

    Bisping walked through a specific sequence from the footage.

    “For Alex Pereira going up against Ciryl Gane, you would think that he would be having his way. We see here, he’s backing him up against the fence, he’s about to go on the attack, nice 1-2, but Tallison fires back with some heavy firepower — cracks him with the right hand. And you know that Ciryl Gane is going to have the speed advantage. He’s also going to be lighter on the feet. Now granted, this is sparring, and we don’t know. Maybe Pereira wasn’t feeling it that day.”

    A win over Gane would make Pereira the first fighter in UFC history to claim a version of the title in three separate weight classes.

  • Justin Gaethje’s Mindset Going Into His Ilia Topuria Fight Is Built Around A Painful Memory From UFC 300

    Justin Gaethje says he is training for his UFC Freedom 250 fight against Ilia Topuria with the mindset of a man who just got knocked out, using his UFC 300 loss to Max Holloway as daily motivation.

    Speaking to Grind City Media ahead of the June 14 title unification bout at the White House, Gaethje described how he approaches fight camp.

    “Coming off of losses, I’m much more dangerous than I am coming off wins. That’s the human mind, and it’s just a tricky, tricky situation to be in when you’re being successful, to stay as committed to the process as you need to. But there’s always a UFC 300 quick reminder — nice knockout. So again, I’m training with the thought of I just got knocked out by Max Holloway. I have had two wins since then, and yeah, it’s been awesome. They tried to get rid of me. They don’t want to get rid of me — obviously I’m a great fighter for the company. But I have held off these young, up-and-coming fighters.”

    Gaethje was direct about his intentions for fight night.

    “These guys are all up-and-comers, and they’re all coming for me. Every time I’ve got the opportunity, I have held them off. I am here for a reason. I’m here because I’m one of the best in the world. I am fighting a guy that is absolutely incredible, but I have a great coach and we’re going to have a great plan. I’m going to change his face, just like I always do to all my opponents.”

  • Usman Nurmagomedov To Return AT PFL New York

    Usman Nurmagomedov To Return AT PFL New York

    Usman Nurmagomedov will defend his PFL Lightweight Championship against undefeated contender Archie Colgan in the July 31 main event at UBS Arena in Long Island, with Dakota Ditcheva also returning in the co-main event against Denise Kielholtz.

    PFL officials announced the bookings to the New York Post.

    Nurmagomedov, 21-0, defended his title by submitting Alfie Davis at PFL Dubai in February. Colgan, 13-0, defeated Jay Jay Wilson by unanimous decision on the same card. The two-time NCAA Championship qualifier in wrestling holds wins over Mansour Barnaoui and Emmanuel Sanchez among others.

    Ditcheva, 15-0, returns from a year-long absence due to a hand injury. The 2024 PFL flyweight tournament winner had previously been booked to face Kielholtz at PFL Dubai before withdrawing. Kielholtz enters on a three-fight winning streak.

  • The Number Paddy Pimblett Is Sitting At Seven Weeks Before His UFC 329 Fight Is Turning Heads Again

    The Number Paddy Pimblett Is Sitting At Seven Weeks Before His UFC 329 Fight Is Turning Heads Again

    Paddy Pimblett revealed he is sitting at 191 pounds seven weeks out from his UFC 329 fight against Benoit Saint Denis, meaning he is preparing for a 35-pound cut to make the 156-pound non-title lightweight limit.

    Pimblett shared the number on his vlog ahead of the July 11 card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    “It’s nice obviously having an opponent, date set, everything’s ready to go when we’re fighting, know how long I’ve got. It’s all about making weight and being ready for the fight.”

    Despite regularly ballooning between fights, Pimblett has never missed weight in eight UFC appearances. He came in under championship weight at 154 pounds for his interim lightweight title fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 in January, a fight he lost by unanimous decision to break his undefeated UFC record.

  • UFC Boss Dana White Lands TIME Cover Ahead Of Historic White House Event

    Dana White has added another milestone to his long list of achievements, landing on the cover of TIME as the UFC prepares for one of its most ambitious events yet.

    The feature arrives just weeks before the promotion stages its historic card on the White House grounds on June 14, a moment that reflects how far the organization has come under White’s leadership.

    The magazine piece focuses on the UFC’s journey from a fringe spectacle to a mainstream powerhouse, while also highlighting White’s longstanding connection with former U.S. President Donald Trump.

    While much of the story revisits familiar ground for longtime fans, it underscores the significance of the upcoming event in Washington, D.C., which will mark the first time the UFC hosts a fight card at such a high-profile location.

    The card itself is expected to feature a lightweight title unification bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje in the main event. In the co-main, Alex Pereira is set to move up in weight to face Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title.

    The TIME cover serves as another sign of the UFC’s growing cultural footprint, with the promotion now preparing to deliver one of the most unique events in combat sports history.

  • Drake Set To Enter Influencer Fight Business With Part Ownership Of Adin Ross’ Brand Risk Promotions

    Drake could be the next big name stepping into the influencer fight game.

    Following the buzz around Adin Ross’ latest Brand Risk event in Las Vegas, the popular streamer has revealed that Drake is in talks to become an owner of his rapidly growing fight promotion. The development came shortly after the chaotic Brand Risk 14 show at the UFC Apex, which drew massive online attention despite mixed reactions to the fights themselves.

    Speaking during a livestream after the event, \Ross claimed the deal is already in motion.

    “I can’t believe we did it, it’s really going to go down and be legendary. The clips are going everywhere, everyone’s happy with the event,” Ross said on his stream.

    “So I talked to Drake about it, bro. Drake is now an owner of Brand Risk. I’m finalizing that s— today. Like, the thing with this s— is that it’s going to keep getting better… we’re going to keep finding ways to reach new limits.”

    The potential partnership comes after Ross made a significant financial push to elevate his promotion, reportedly spending around $1.5 million to take Brand Risk from its usual Miami warehouse setup to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

    The event featured a mix of influencer bouts and amateur fights, along with appearances from UFC executives like Dana White and Hunter Campbell, who even joined the broadcast.

    While the fight card itself sparked plenty of debate online, it undeniably generated attention, with viral clips spreading across social media and viewership peaking in the hundreds of thousands.

    Drake’s interest in the event also ties back to his close relationship with Johnny Manziel, who headlined the card. But if Ross’ claims hold true, the rapper’s involvement could go far beyond casual support and into a serious business venture.

  • Wang Cong Rips UFC Champ Valentina Shevchenko For Skipping Q&A Appearance With Her

    Wang Cong has reignited her rivalry with Valentina Shevchenko — and this time, it’s happening outside the cage.

    The Chinese contender took to social media ahead of UFC Macau, claiming the reigning flyweight champion pulled out of a planned joint fan Q&A appearance to avoid sharing the stage with her. The two were expected to appear together during fight week festivities, but according to Cong, those plans changed at the last minute.

    “Valentina and I were originally scheduled to appear together at the UFC Macau fan Q&A,” Cong wrote on Instagram. “However, she submitted a request to UFC to opt out of the joint appearance, refusing to share the stage with me.”

    “The Joker” didn’t stop there, launching into a sharp critique of Shevchenko’s character and fighting style while referencing their past encounter.

    “As my defeated opponent, it’s clear she’s afraid I’ll expose the truth behind her lies,” Cong added. “She’s a sore loser with no class—nothing more than a compulsive liar who can’t handle defeat.”

    “Oh, and one more thing. I call her ‘Box Office Poison,’ because boring fights are exactly what she’s good at.”

    The tension between the two dates back to 2015, when Cong defeated “Bullet” by decision in a kickboxing bout — a result that still stands as one of the few losses on the champion’s striking résumé. While Shevchenko’s team has long disputed the outcome, Cong has continued to lean on that victory as leverage in her pursuit of a UFC showdown.

    Currently riding a three-fight win streak, “The Joker” is working her way back into contention after a setback in 2024. She’s now scheduled to face Tracy Cortez at UFC 329 in July, a fight that could bring her closer to a long-awaited clash with Shevchenko.

  • Sean Strickland Wants UFC Exit To Fight Jake Paul After Influencer Boxer Lands Spot On Forbes’ Highest-Paid Athletes List

    Sean Strickland isn’t shy about speaking his mind, and his latest comments make it clear he’s seriously tempted by the kind of money being made outside the UFC.

    The reigning middleweight champion reacted to Jake Paul landing on Forbes’ highest-paid athletes list after reportedly earning around $70 million, and the numbers clearly caught his attention.

    Speaking during a livestream with Nina Drama, the outspoken MMA star openly floated the idea of leaving the UFC altogether to chase a payday against “The Problem Child”.

    “I gotta leave the UFC and go beat up Jake Paul. That’s it. Cut my contract, UFC. It’s time for me to leave,” Strickland said on Nina Drama’s livestream.

    The comments weren’t just made in passing. Strickland doubled down on the financial disparity between MMA and boxing, suggesting that even a partial payday from a Jake Paul fight would eclipse his UFC earnings.

    “If I made even a fraction of that, I’d be making more than the UFC is paying me,” he said. “I’d f—ing beat the s— out of Jake Paul.”

    Strickland also took aim at “The Problem Child’s” in-ring credentials, pointing to his loss against Tommy Fury as evidence that the YouTuber-turned-boxer isn’t operating at a high level.

    “Jake Paul lost against pretty much a reality star named Tommy… He’s not a real boxer,” Strickland added.

    Despite the bravado, Strickland acknowledged that the financial upside is the real driving factor behind his interest. He even claimed a single fight with Paul could surpass what he’s earned throughout his entire UFC career.

    “I’ll make more money f—ing up Jake Paul than I would my entire UFC career. How f—ed up is that?” he said.

  • Did Ray J Expose Fixed Fight With Supa Hot Fire? Adin Ross Responds After Brand Risk 14 Controversy

    The fallout from Adin Ross’ Brand Risk 14 event continues to grow after a bizarre fight between Ray J and Supa Hot Fire left fans questioning what actually happened inside the ring.

    The bout, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas under the oversight of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the night. Not necessarily because of the action itself, but due to how unusual it looked from start to finish.

    In the opening round, Supa Hot Fire appeared reluctant to engage, circling and throwing little to no offense while Ray J pressed forward. The sudden shift in Round 2 raised even more eyebrows, as Supa Hot Fire abruptly turned aggressive and scored a knockout just moments later.

    It was Ray J’s reaction after the fight, however, that truly ignited controversy.

    “Yo, I thought we had a plan,” Ray J said during his post-fight interview. “I don’t wanna say too much because I don’t wanna get anybody in trouble, but damn… We took an L tonight. Do you know how much money we lost?”

    Those comments immediately led to speculation online about whether there had been some kind of pre-arranged understanding between the fighters. While there is no confirmed evidence to support those claims, the optics of the fight, combined with Ray J’s remarks, fueled widespread skepticism.

    Ross, who promoted the event, acknowledged the concerns and suggested the situation would be reviewed.

    “Ray J obviously what he said after the fight… Supahot not throwing a punch in the first round, we need to look into that,” Ross said during a livestream. “We need to investigate that.”

    The streamer also admitted the sequence of events didn’t look right.

    “Supa looked like himself in the second round… but it looked weird,” Ross added. “We’re taking that very seriously.”

  • UFC White House Event Takes Shape As First Construction Image Surfaces Online Ahead Of June 14

    Early signs of history in the making are now visible at the White House.

    MMA journalist Luke Thomas recently shared a birds-eye image on X showing heavy construction activity on the South Lawn, where preparations appear to be underway for the UFC’s unprecedented event.

    While massive cranes can be seen dominating the backdrop, with ongoing work tied to a new State Ballroom and a multi-level underground security complex, a section of the lawn shows clear signs of staging development.

    All of it points toward UFC Freedom 250, scheduled for June 14, which will mark the first time a professional fight card takes place on White House grounds.

    The UFC is reportedly preparing to move in around 350 truckloads of equipment, with each delivery potentially taking hours due to strict White House security protocols. With no existing arena infrastructure on the South Lawn, the promotion is expected to build everything from the ground up, including power supply, broadcast facilities, locker rooms, and operational areas.

    The terrain is also considered a major challenge. The South Lawn has a noticeable slope, and engineers are said to have used detailed measurements to design a raised platform system. This is expected to include large structural support, possibly even a wall on one side, to ensure a completely level surface for the Octagon.

    From a visual standpoint, the setup is expected to be unlike anything the UFC has done before. Plans suggest an open-air Octagon, positioned to keep the White House as a constant backdrop, with a large “claw” lighting rig, developed with assistance from live production specialists at Tait Towers, suspended above to handle lighting and broadcast needs.

    Seating is expected to be limited to around 4,000 invited guests, likely including military personnel and select VIPs, while a nearby fan zone at the Ellipse could accommodate tens of thousands of spectators for a live viewing experience.

    With Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje set for a lightweight title unification bout and Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane expected to clash for the interim heavyweight title, the historic card is no longer just a concept and is rapidly taking shape.

  • Conor McGregor’s Manager Says UFC 329 Is The Start Of A Season: ‘He’s Looking To Stay Active’

    Conor McGregor’s Manager Says UFC 329 Is The Start Of A Season: ‘He’s Looking To Stay Active’

    Conor McGregor’s manager, Audie Attar, says UFC 329 is not a one-fight comeback and that McGregor intends to stay active following his July 11 return against Max Holloway.

    Attar spoke to MMA Junkie ahead of the welterweight main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    “I could tell you he’s looking to stay active. I could tell you that we had planned for a season during the COVID period, and that never got going, unfortunately. But this is the new season, and he’s definitely looking to stay active. We’re definitely looking forward to not only this fight, Max Holloway, July 11, and then that next fight — and we’re not going to wait a year, that’s for sure. And then we’ll see. We’ll see kind of what happens from there. I don’t think we’re looking too far ahead of things. We’re just taking it one step at a time as we should because Max Holloway is a formidable opponent, and we’ve got to go and handle business come July 11.”

    Attar acknowledged the challenge the fight presents after a five-year layoff but expressed confidence in McGregor’s preparation.

    “I think it’s a tough matchup. I think when you’re out as long as Conor’s been out for, you’re taking on a formidable opponent, same age, same experience, but one guy has been very active. But I’m also confident in the preparation Conor’s putting in. I’m confident in where his head and his heart is, and I’m confident that come fight night, that the fans are going to be very happy with that fight.”

    McGregor’s original comeback was scheduled against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024 before he withdrew due to injury. A Nate Diaz trilogy was discussed before the Holloway rematch was finalized.

  • Dana White Has Direct Response To Anyone Who Thinks Conor McGregor Announcement Was Shot At MVP

    Dana White Has Direct Response To Anyone Who Thinks Conor McGregor Announcement Was Shot At MVP

    Dana White says the announcement of Conor McGregor’s return during the MVP MMA 1 broadcast had nothing to do with stealing attention from the Netflix event, insisting the deal was simply announced the moment it was finalized.

    White addressed the timing directly in an interview with Fred Talks Fighting.

    “Not a coincidence. I had a fcking fight here that night. Anybody who thinks that I gave a sht what was going on anywhere else is out of their fcking minds. We announced it as soon as we got it done, and we were in the middle of our event. I don’t give a fck what those guys are doing. You kidding me?”

    The announcement came as Francis Ngannou made his walkout to fight Philipe Lins on the Netflix card. Ngannou was asked about the timing after his knockout victory and echoed White’s indifference.

    “And what the f*ck do I have to do with that? So, I should stop my walkout and look at what’s going on? I don’t care, bro. Let’s move on. Life goes on. I’m doing my stuff here, I’m doing good. I have no problem. Everybody can do whatever he wants.”

    The announcement also coincided with the UFC Fight Night 276 broadcast in Las Vegas that same night.

  • UFC Macau: How To Watch, Full Card

    UFC returns to Macau for the first time in 18 months, headlined by a bantamweight clash between Yadong Song and Deiveson Figueiredo on Paramount+.

    Song, 28, enters looking to rebound from a decision loss to Sean O’Malley at UFC 324 in January. Figueiredo, the two-time flyweight champion, is also coming off a loss — a Fight of the Night decision to Umar Nurmagomedov at the same event, his third setback in four fights.

    The co-main event features light heavyweights Alonzo Menifield and Mingyang Zhang, both in need of bounce-back wins. Menifield was knocked out by Volkan Oezdemir in November after two straight decision wins. Zhang, who opened his UFC tenure with three consecutive first-round knockout wins, suffered a shock loss to Johnny Walker on home soil in Shanghai last August.

    Main card (Paramount+, 7 a.m. ET): Yadong Song vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, Alonzo Menifield vs. Mingyang Zhang, Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tallison Teixeira, Kai Asakura vs. Cameron Smotherman, Carlston Harris vs. Jake Matthews, Alex Perez vs. Sumudaerji.

    Preliminary card (Paramount+, 4 a.m. ET): Luis Felipe Dias vs. Yi Sak Lee, Meng Ding vs. José Henrique, Aoriqileng vs. Cody Haddon, Luis Gurule vs. Rei Tsuruya, Angela Hill vs. Jingnan Xiong, Rodrigo Vera vs. Kangjie Zhu, Jaqueline Amorim vs. Loma Lookboonme.

  • Conor McGregor Wanted Michael Chandler For Comeback But UFC Didn’t Approve It

    Conor McGregor Wanted Michael Chandler For Comeback But UFC Didn’t Approve It

    Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return could have looked very different.

    While the former two-division champion is now set to face Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 on July 11, new details reveal that wasn’t the original plan from his side.

    According to his longtime manager Audie Attar, McGregor had his sights set on settling unfinished business with Michael Chandler.

    Speaking to MMA Junkie, Attar explained that McGregor pushed hard to make the Chandler fight happen, especially given their history as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 31 and the previously canceled bout at UFC 303 in June 2024.

    “Conor really wanted to give that to Michael Chandler,” Attar said. “He just felt Michael deserved it, having gone through the show and experienced that camp, the unfortunate injury, and the cancellation of the bout. Conor really, really wanted that to happen, and we did everything to try to push it.”

    Despite those efforts, the matchup never materialized — not because of a lack of interest from McGregor’s team, but due to the promotion’s direction at the time.

    “At the time, it just didn’t make sense for the UFC,” Attar added. “But it doesn’t mean that it might not happen in the future… It can become a reality.”

    Instead, negotiations shifted toward a different high-profile option, ultimately leading to the Holloway rematch. The two first met back in 2013, with McGregor earning a decision win, and the sequel now offers both familiarity and intrigue.

    “Like I said, we pushed for Chandler. That was our main focus initially,” Attar continued. “Different names surfaced in the conversations, and in the negotiations… from a Max Holloway perspective, we know we got one on Max, and he wants to get that back.”

    The weight class also played a role in shaping the final decision.

    “With the time Conor has been out, it just made sense to do it at 170,” Attar said. “Max was game right away and willing to step up and take the matchup.”

    For Chandler, the wait for a showdown with “The Notorious” continues, though Attar made it clear the door isn’t closed. Meanwhile, both fighters move forward with separate fights scheduled this summer, leaving fans to wonder if the long-teased clash could still happen down the line.