UFC veteran Dan Hooker has revealed why he opted to fight Arman Tsarukyan in the co-main event of UFC Qatar.
Next month, Dan Hooker will go head to head with Arman Tsarukyan in what will serve as a really important fight in the UFC’s lightweight division. While not guaranteed, there’s an excellent chance that the winner will go on to compete for the UFC lightweight championship – especially if it’s Arman that gets his hand raised.
Alas, Dan Hooker is as live of an underdog as someone can be, especially given the experience he has in high profile bouts like this. ‘Hangman’ is the kind of fighter who has never been afraid to take on a tough challenge and although the odds may seem to be stacked against him, he is the kind of guy who would battle Thanos himself if it meant getting into the title picture.
In a recent interview, Dan Hooker spoke candidly about why he was more than happy to take on Tsarukyan.
Dan Hooker explains wanting to fight Arman Tsarukyan
“I knew that the fight would come together eventually… because a lot of people try to avoid him in the division. They look for the fights that make the most sense for them and talk their way out of tough matchups. But that’s why this drew me in—I think he is the best fighter in the division at this weight and I want to beat him.”
Get ready, folks, because this one has the potential to be a barnburner.
Former UFC champion Alex Pereira has said that he’s excited to show a new version of himself when he challenges Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320.
In the main event of UFC 320 on Saturday night, Alex Pereira will face Magomed Ankalaev for the UFC light heavyweight championship. It’s a rematch from their first encounter earlier this year and on that occasion, it was Ankalaev who was able to walk away with the world title around his waist. Now, however, ‘Poatan’ is back, and he’s ready to prove that he’s more than good enough to become champion once again.
Alex Pereira has faced his fair share of adversity before, but he’s arguably never been as much of an underdog as he is heading into this encounter. Ankalaev has looked pretty dominant for most of his UFC career and although he’s experienced a few hiccups, he’s still one of the best fighters in the UFC.
In a recent interview, Pereira explained why the actual result of the fight isn’t everything to him this weekend.
Alex Pereira is ready to show his improvements
“Of course I want to win, but the result doesn’t define everything. What I trained, what I’ve evolved— in the first fight it was very even, and I couldn’t show everything I learned. Now I’ve had the opportunity to show what I corrected and how much I’ve improved.”
Pereira knows the level of opponent that he’s taking on here, and he’s well aware of the fact that he needs to be the best version of himself if he wants to stand a chance at victory.
UFC star Conor McGregor has claimed that a deal has been struck for him to make his return to the promotion at next summer’s White House event.
For the longest time now, Conor McGregor has been teasing the idea of a return to professional mixed martial arts. While he still has plenty of fans around the world, his reputation has certainly taken a blow as a result of his many controversies outside of the cage. Alas, Dana White seems to be interested in getting him back, and the Irishman has his eyes set on next year’s blockbuster White House event.
For Conor McGregor, it’s seemingly all about proving that he has what it takes to continue competing at an elite level. Even if he doesn’t, he has the kind of star power that is always going to bring in some casual fans, especially for when the UFC hits up the White House.
In a recent interview, McGregor had the following to say about his return.
🚨 Conor McGregor says his fight at the White House fight is SIGNED and a DONE DEAL 👀
"Done deal, signed, delivered. McGregor will compete in the White House for America's 250th birthday."
Conor McGregor claims UFC White House is a done deal
“Done deal, signed, delivered. It ain’t a negotiation, it’s a done deal, signed, delivered. McGregor will compete in the White House for America’s 250th birthday.”
“Me and Dana are in constant communication, we’ve done incredible business together, I’m the highest generating fighter of all time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. They’ve just signed a breathtaking deal with Paramount where we go to cable TV, $7.7 billion that deal. Ready to rokc, baby. Bring in the big dog, the Mac, the Mac G.”
The official weigh-ins for PFL Champions Series: Dubai are wrapped up, with all 22 fighters on the card making weight.
The MMA promotion’s marquee event is set for Friday, October 3, at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Ahead of fight night, Thursday morning saw the fighters step on the scales at the PFL host hotel in Dubai
In the main event, former Bellator lightweight king Usman Nurmagomedov will once again lock horns with Paul Hughes in a rematch of their thrilling clash from last year. Both fighters came in exactly at 155 pounds, making their showdown for the vacant PFL title official.
Usman Nurmagomedov: 155 pounds
Paul Hughes: 155 pounds.
The #PFL lightweight title fight rematch is official. The first one was one of the best fights of the year. Looking forward to the sequel! pic.twitter.com/Zn94ZulMhi
Meanwhile, in the co-main event of PFL Champions Series, Corey Anderson is set to fight Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov for the vacant light heavyweight title. Both contenders looked sharp on the scales, with “Overtime” weighing in at 204.6 pounds and Yagshimuradov coming in right at 205.
⚖️ PFL Dubai Weigh Ins
PFL Light Heavyweight World Title Bout 🏆 Corey Anderson: 204.6 lbs Dovlet Yagshimuradov: 205 lbs
Per a report from NJ.com’s Kevin Armstrong, Edgar will no longer be competing on the BKFC 82 card against fellow New Jersey native Jimmie Rivera.
The reason for Edgar’s removal is currently unknown. BKFC President David Feldman told Ariel Helwani on October 1 that there was a potential medical issue for Edgar that left his status unknown.
When the news of Edgar’s BKFC debut first came to light, many in the combat community expressed concern over the well-being of Edgar. Edgar, who will turn 44 in a couple of weeks, has not been in action since UFC 281 in November 2022.
Frankie Edgar Removed From BKFC Debut Days Before BKFC 82
Armstrong reports that in order to cleared for the BKFC event, Edgar had to undergo an echocardiogram, stress test, and eye examination, as well as a bloodwork panel, EKG, and MRI.
Armstrong added that Edgar’s family and friends have asked him not to return to action but Edgar reportedly felt the BKFC environment was safer because of the punching-only focus.
The UFC Hall of Famer lost five of his last six fights in the UFC, occuring between 2019 and 2022.
Rivera, a fellow UFC veteran, will remain on the card, taking on Timmy Mason.
BKFC 82 will take place on October 4 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. It is the first bare-knuckle event to take place in the Garden State.
On Wednesday, UFC CEO Dana White announed that UFC Qatar will feature a pivotal lightweight showdown in the main event, as top contender Arman Tsarukyan takes on Dan Hooker.
Tsarukyan has not competed since defeating out former 155-pound champion Charles Oliveira by split decision at UFC 300 in April 2024. “Ahalkalakets” was originally scheduled to challenge then-titleholder Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 this past January, but a back injury suffered during fight week forced him to withdraw from the bout.
He is currently riding a four-fight win streak and holds a 9-2 record in the UFC, with four of those victories coming by way of finish.
On the other hand, Hooker returns to action after edging out Mateusz Gamrot by split decision at UFC 305 in August 2024. The 35-year-old New Zealander has long been calling for a showdown with Tsarukyan, but a string of recurring injuries has repeatedly kept him sidelined.
“The Hangman” comes into the fight on a three-fight winning streak and owns a 14-8 record in the UFC, including nine victories by stoppage.
Meanwhile, the co-main event of UFC Qatar will see former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad facing off against Ian Garry. Muhammad returns to the Octagon following a unanimous decision loss to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 in May, a defeat that ended both his title reign and an 11-fight unbeaten streak. “Remember the Name” currently holds a 15-4 record with one no-contest in the UFC.
Garry was last seen in the Octagon at UFC Kansas City in April, where he bounced back from his first career loss by earning a unanimous decision victory over Carlos Prates. His only defeat came against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December 2024. “The Future” currently boasts a 9-1 record in the UFC, including three stoppage wins.
Your #UFCQatar main and co-main event is HERE 🤩 🇶🇦
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has an interesting theory regarding Jon Jones requesting $40 million to take on Tom Aspinall.
Right now, Jon Jones is not the UFC heavyweight champion. He was, but he gave up that belt and decided to retire from mixed martial arts instead of fighting Tom Aspinall. However, after the promotion revealed that they’d be heading to the White House for an event next year, ‘Bones’ seemed to change his mind.
Now, fans are left to wait and see whether or not Dana White will change his mind regarding Jon Jones taking part on that card. Either way, there’s a great deal of uncertainty in the air, and it’s clear that Jon will ask for a substantial amount of money in order to agree to the fight.
After it was suggested that Jon Jones wanted $40 million to fight Aspinall, Sonnen felt the need to respond in a recent video.
Chael Sonnen’s view on Jon Jones’ financial request
“I was at the press conference right after Jon Jones beats Stipe Miocic and Jones to fight Tom Aspinall throws out the biggest number he could think of, and that was 40 million. Now, the reason that number happened to be on Jon’s brain is there was just a report that came out that a fight that happened the day before on Netflix, Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson, that Jake Paul was paid $40 million.
“It was not true. It was never true… But when he was asked how much he was going to need to fight Aspinall, he yelled out the biggest number he could think of, which at that time was 40 million because he just read the article about Jake Paul.
“But when you get back home and it’s time to actually find a date in a venue and get this fight done, Jon’s locked in at $40 million. Jon had forgot why he said $40 million. Jon forgot that this was part of the show.”
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has rejected the notion that Conor McGregor is negotiating directly with the US government regarding his return to the cage.
Right now, UFC sensation Conor McGregor is making it clear that he is interested in a comeback fight – at the White House next summer. Alas, given the many controversies that he’s been involved in, there isn’t quite as much intrigue from the MMA fanbase as there once was when it comes to his mixed martial arts future.
Still, this is Conor McGregor we’re talking about here. He is a global superstar and nobody can deny that, even though he may not be at the level that he once was. In a recent interview, the Irishman claimed that instead of communicating with the UFC, he was speaking directly with the US government ahead of the promotion’s first ever event at the White House next year.
Chael Sonnen, however, doesn’t believe a word that Conor McGregor is saying.
Chael Sonnen’s view on Conor McGregor
“It’s not a matter of, okay, here’s the information that we got from Conor. If it was, I would just tell you not one word of that is true, and I would get up and walk out of the room. But that’s not a very fun conversation.
“However, there’s not one word of that that’s true. Conor is not negotiating with the United States government. And there’s people that you can pull into your routine. There’s people that are willful participants, and when you’re doing a ruse with the media, that person becomes your tag team partner. They’ve got to be willing.”
UFC star Jiri Prochazka has discussed ditching his signature hair as he prepares for his return to the cage at UFC 320.
On Saturday night, Jiri Prochazka will collide with Khalil Rountree Jr in what has the potential to be a thrilling encounter at UFC 320. While there are no guarantees, there’s every chance that the winner could earn a crack at the UFC light heavyweight championship. When you consider that Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira are battling for the belt in the main event, that makes UFC 320 a pretty important event for those at 205 pounds.
Jiri Prochazka, as we know, has been a real force of nature since arriving in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He holds an impressive 5-2 record since his debut with the promotion, and the only two defeats that he’s suffered have come against Pereira.
In a recent media scrum, Jiri Prochazka opened up on why he decided to depart with his samurai-style hair not so long ago.
Jiri Prochazka discusses dropping his iconic hairstyle
“Right now I’m on the point where I don’t need to have some special hair or some special visualize to show something in a cage. After my last fight, I said myself, man, I know who I am and I want I know why I’m going there and I know what I want to show there. This hair others like tattoos or whatever is just like other things. Everything I have here. So that’s what I’m going to show.”
Former UFC fighter Ben Askren has admitted that he couldn’t believe it when he was informed that he had received a double lung transplant.
As we know, one of the biggest stories in mixed martial arts this year has been the incredible tale of Ben Askren. After a severe bout of staph infection which led to pneumonia, it seemed as if the former UFC and ONE Championship star was in a pretty bad way. Ultimately, though, he was able to fight back against his illness, to the point where he received a double lung transplant that quite literally saved his life.
The MMA and wrestling community came out with as much support as they possibly could for Ben Askren during what were obviously very traumatic times. Now, though, he’s on the road to recovery, and while his life will look very different moving forward, he has been given a second chance that many don’t get.
In a recent interview, Ben Askren spoke openly about what happened and his surprise to learn that he had two new lungs upon waking up.
Ben Askren details medical situation
“When I woke up, I had two new lungs. They called it necrotizing pneumonia. Prior to going to the hospital, I felt fine—I’d even worked out. It was shocking. One doctor told my wife I wouldn’t make it; another friend said my heart stopped for 20 seconds. I don’t remember it, but I was on so many machines to stay alive.”
UFC star Alex Pereira isn’t too bothered about what Magomed Ankalaev brings to the cage when they collide once again at UFC 320.
On Saturday night, Alex Pereira gets his chance at revenge when he locks horns with Magomed Ankalaev. The two men met earlier this year and in that instance, it was Ankalaev who was able to come out on top. As a result, he became the new UFC light heavyweight champion, sending Pereira back to the drawing board in the process.
Now, Alex Pereira has the opportunity to really cement his position as one of the all-time greats by overcoming Ankalaev and winning the title for the second time. ‘Poatan’ isn’t immune to adversity and he’s been through a lot in his career already, but this time, it definitely feels like the stakes are high.
In a recent media scrum, however, Alex Pereira made it known that he doesn’t put too much thought into what Ankalaev is doing.
Alex Pereira isn’t interested when it comes to Magomed Ankalaev
“When I’m watching these videos that have me and him there, when it gets to his part, I skip forward. I swear by my children, I never watch it. I don’t want to see what he’s doing strategically. I never watch, truly, I never watch.
“I watch my fight, but I don’t watch what he’s doing there. So when it gets to my part, it’s a 30-minute video, there’s 5 minutes of my part, I don’t even watch, I skip forward, my part ends, the video ends.”
DWCS rolled on with Episode 8 of Season 9 on Tuesday, September 30th. Five fights took place at the UFC Apex, with four of the winners walking away with UFC contracts. The UFC will officially be adding the following fighters to the UFC roster:
Kurtis “Pink Panther” Campbell – 8-0 Featherweight
Louis “Mad Prince” Jourdain – 9-3 Bantamweight (brother of current UFC fighter Charles Jourdain)
Chris “The Newborn” Alvidrez – 7-1 Welterweight
Damian “Baba Yaga” Pinas – 8-1 Middleweight
All four of these fighters secured their victory via finish, proving this week’s roster is ready for the big show. Although winning on the contender series is the first step, we will be looking forward and predicting some potential matchups that could fit well for these fighters UFC debuts.
Kurtis “The Pink Panther” Campbell– 8-1 Featherweight
Kurtis “The Pink Panther” Campbell secured perhaps the most viral finish of the evening, annihilating his opponent Demba Seck with massive elbows from top position. Following his performance, Campbell walked out of the cage to The Pink Panther theme, showing that the UFC brass is already getting behind the 23 year old scouser.
Kurtis Campbell is an excellent prospect, very similar to Paddy Pimblett in his size and skill set. The Liverpool native is a former champion of England’s FCC promotion, and has a variety of finishes on his record. Long kicks, powerful punches, and an awkward yet effectively wrestling game make up his primary skillset on the feet, but where he is truly dangerous is in on the ground. When Campbell gets top position, he is brutal with his ground and pound and showcased in his contender series bout.
This fight was quick work, and there is no doubt Campbell will be looking for fast turnaround for his first fight in the big show. He seems to be on UFC matchmakers good side thus far, so I anticipate a favorable matchup for Campbell’s UFC debut.
Prediction: Kurtis Campbell (8-0) vs Francis Marshall (8-3) – December 2025/January 2026
Louis “Mad Prince” Jourdain – 9-3 Bantamweight
Louis Jourdain had the cleanest and most well rounded performance of the evening. The Canadian bantamweight and younger brother of UFC fighter Charles Jourdain, showcased all of his skills en route to a third round submission of Magno Dias. Jourdain utilizing his lead hand, calf kicks, and excellent grappling game to dominate all phases of the fight. A Jiu Jitsu brown belt with four pro boxing matches, Jourdain is about as well rounded as they come. Not only did he secure a contract, but he also made history as Charles and Louis became the first Canadian siblings in UFC history to be on the roster.
Louis Jourdain’s biggest setbacks have not been losses inside the cage, but rather injuries and lost time. Now that he is back in the metaphorical saddle, there is no doubt he knows the time is now for his career. On the broadcast, he could be seen pleading with Dana White to book him for UFC Vancouver (despite the fact Dana White hasn’t booked a single fight for the UFC in years, that’s all Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard). While it would be a quick turnaround in just two weeks, we can certainly hope the UFC honors his wishes and allows him to share a card with his brother.
Prediction: Louis Jourdain (9-3) vs Kris Moutinho (14-7) – UFC Vancouver – October 18th
Christopher “The Newborn” Alvidrez – 7-1 Welterweight
The only betting underdog of the evening to win his fight, Christopher Avidrez showed excellent heart and desire in his fight, knocking out the unorthodox Eliezer Kubanza in the first round. A former football player who turned his life around through MMA, Alvidrez has overcome a lot to make it to this moment. He relocated to Miami after a brutal car accident ended his football career, and fully committed himself to combat sports while training at The GoatShed.
Alvidrez is the least polished of all the winners of this episode. His toughness and strength are no question, and he utilized outstanding elbows in the clinch, he still has questions that need to be answered in terms of his overall game. We could see Alvidrez being thrown into a tough matchup right away, but his mentality won’t stop him from taking a challenge head on. It should also be noted he was seen with a large wrap around his right knee, so it could be some time before we see him make his debut.
Prediction: Christopher Alvidrez (7-1) vs Daniil Donchenko (12-2) – February 2026
Damian “Baba Yaga” Pinas – 8-1 Middleweight
In the main event of the evening, Damian Pinas made quick work of his opponent, flatlining Vitor Costa with a brutal right hand in the first round. This contract was long overdue, as Pinas was scheduled to be on episode one of this season, but due to visa issues was not able to travel for the fight. Luckily he was rebooked, and now can look forward to being booked in the UFC.
Pinas is a fantastic kickboxer with excellent power in his hands and feet. He will become the second Surinamese fighter in UFC history, following Jair Rozenstruik. Similar to Bigi Boy, Baba Yaga has the kickboxing skill and power to dispatch anyone inside the cage. Now that the visa issues are fully cleared, we can hope to see the young fighter pick up another fight soon. At just 23 years old, time is on Pinas’ side, but it would be advantageous to keep his momentum going. Between his performances and the unique national heritage, I expect Pinas to find early success in the middleweight division, similar to Ateba Gautier who fights this weekend.
Prediction: Damian Pinas (8-1) vs Jackson McVey (6-1) – January 2026
While none of these fights are official nor even rumored, they all are potential interesting first matchups for this week’s winners of DWCS. Stay tuned for next week’s edition following episode 9 of DWCS.
The latest season of Dana White’s Contender Series continued with a highlight, finished-filled night in Las Vegas.
DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.
Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode eight of season nine this week saw four prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.
Kurtis Campbell provided the first highlight of the night, scoring a first-round finish of Demba Seck. Campbell laid in a solid head kick in the opening seconds before Seck tried to fire back with a kick-based offense of his own. Campbell scored a takedown to try and nullify Seck’s offense. Seck was able to work his way to his feet, but Campbell landed a solid knee that put him back down. Some follow-up shots later, and Campbell had done enough for the win and a UFC contract.
Christopher Alvidrez followed that up with a solid performance over Eliezer Kubanza. Alvidrez dictated the pace, mixing up his strikes and nearly scoring a takedown on Kubanza in the first. While Kubanza landed some power shots, Alvidrez landed a solid one-two that caught Kubanza’s attention. Kubanza, however, landed a damaging body kick and caught Alvidrez coming in, briefly using his grappling to pin him to the fence.
Alvidrez turned things into his favor for good with a right hand, followed by a left, to drop Kubanza. Alvidrez then unleashed a flurry on the ground, and despite a long leash from referee Herb Dean, the fight was stopped, giving Alvidrez a late first-round finish and a UFC contract.
In the co-main event, Louis Jourdain, the brother of UFC fighter Charles Jourdain, pulled off a third-round submission of Magno Dias. Jourdain came out with some speed in his strikes, looking to take control early, while Dias looked to pressure him toward the fence. Jourdain briefly dropped Dias with an elbow, but Dias got back to his feet and managed to score a takedown. Dias locked in a neck crank, but Jourdain managed to scramble out and get top position, working his way back to the feet.
Jourdain troubled Dias with a calf kick and a solid knee in the second round until Dias pushed Jourdain to the fence. Dias looked to take back control with the fight back on the ground, but Jourdain got the fight standing, landing more leg kicks and troubling Dias’ movement. Jourdain laid in a couple of more knees in the third round before working around Dias’ guard attempt to score a rear-naked choke and UFC contract via submission.
In the main event, Damian Pinas managed to land a devastating blow to score a big knockout of Vitor Costa. Pinas landed an uppercut that split Costa’s guard, landing a strong flurry in the first minute of the fight. Costa landed some low kicks and tried to get on the inside before taking Pinas to the fence briefly. A short time later, however, Pinas cracked Costa with a right hand, dropping Costa out cold for the highlight knockout and UFC contract.
The night opened with Rashid Vagabov sweeping the cards against Paulo Henrique. Vagabov landed from the outside despite Henrique’s pressure, landing low kicks and working combinations. The two had their exchanges of power shots during the opening round, but Vagabov controlled the last portion of the first round, pinning Henrique against the fence before scoring a takedown. Henrique brought the grappling pressure in the second round, pressing Vagabov into the fence. A takedown attempt was reversed, however, and Vagabov quickly brought the action back to the feet, controlling the action there.
Vagabov then dominated the third round with grappling, scoring a takedown and being unrelenting with his pressure, nearly scoring a submission on a couple of occasions before earning a decision win. It wasn’t, however, enough to earn a contract.
Gautier was originally set to clash with Ozzy Diaz on the preliminary card of UFC 320 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, on Monday, the matchup fell through after Diaz withdrew from the middleweight bout due to undisclosed medical issues, leaving the 23-year-old Cameroonian without an opponent.
Ozzy Diaz is OUT of #UFC320, he announced, citing an unspecified medical issue. It’s unclear if Ateba Gautier will remain on the card pic.twitter.com/W6snLt8qHD
Initially, it was uncertain whether “The Silent Assassin” would remain on the UFC 320 card, but a short-notice replacement has now been secured, who is set to make his Octagon debut with just five days’ notice.
Image: @ateba_theassassin/Instagram
Ateba Gautier Will Fight Treston Vines At UFC 320
On Tuesday, Iridium Sports Agency announced via social media that Ateba Gautier will now face promotional debutant Treston Vines, who replaces Ozzy Diaz on the UFC 320 card this Saturday.
Gautier enters UFC 320 riding the momentum of a first-round knockout over Robert Valentin at UFC 318 in July, marking his seventh consecutive knockout victory. He earned his UFC contract in September 2024 with a second-round stoppage of Yura Naito on Dana White’s Contender Series.
“The Silent Assassin” now boasts a professional record of 8-1, including an unbeaten 2-0 slate in the UFC.
Meanwhile, Vines most recently competed at AFC 12: The Great Commission in August, scoring a first-round knockout victory. The 29-year-old American was set to face Andreas Tricomitis at LFA 219 next weekend before earning the call-up to the UFC.
Until now, Vines has primarily competed in regional promotions, amassing a professional record of 10-3, with seven of those wins coming by stoppage.
Dricus Du Plessis trusts Alex Pereira won’t repeat the mistakes he made in the first clash with Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira is set to run it back with reigning light heavyweight champion Ankalaev in the UFC 320 main event on October 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Two titles headline in the Fight Capital 🏆🏆#UFC320 Fight Week has officially started!
The two first met at UFC 313 in March, where “Poatan” showcased his stellar takedown defense by shutting down all 12 of Ankalaev’s attempts to bring the fight to the mat. Despite neutralizing the his opponent’s wrestling, Pereira found himself on the wrong side of the striking exchanges, as the Russian edged him across five rounds to claim the 205-pound title.
Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Dricus Du Plessis Believes Alex Pereira Will Defeat Magomed Ankalaev In UFC 320 Rematch
During a recent interview with Fight Forecast, Dricus Du Plessis shared his thoughts on the upcoming UFC 320 clash between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira. The former middleweight champion credited Ankalaev for emerging victorious at UFC 313 but warned that “Poatan” will return sharper, and far more dangerous in the rematch as he looks to reclaim his crown.
“I’ve been looking at the training footage of Pereira for this one.” Du Plessis said. “He looks scary. He looks angry. And, you know, we’ll see what that loss did to him. He has come back from a loss and came back to reclaim the title, but, this fight is a big fight for him. Ankalaev now has that confidence, of course, of being the champion. But, I’m going to go with Pereira on this one.”
“Stillknocks” went on to say he believes Pereira has addressed the weaknesses that cost him in their first encounter and is confident the Brazilian will correct those mistakes to finish Ankalaev at UFC 320.
“It wasn’t the fact that he got taken down. It’s the fact that he got smothered… He’s going to need to keep his back off the fence, and I do believe that they’ve spent enough time working on that. Him taking some time away from the sport was good for him… I really don’t see this fight going the distance this time, but I’m putting my money on Alex Pereira to claim the title. I have to go with him.”
Before his loss to Ankalaev, Alex Pereira successfully defended the light heavyweight title three times in 2024, scoring back-to-back knockout victories over Khalil Rountree Jr., Jiri Prochazka, and Jamahal Hill. “Poatan” now boasts a 9-2 UFC record, with seven of those wins coming via devastating knockouts.
Former UFC champion Jiri Prochazka is ready for war on Saturday night in his UFC 320 clash with Khalil Rountree Jr.
For quite some time now, Jiri Prochazka has been recognized as one of the most entertaining fighters in all of mixed martial arts. Regardless of whether he wins or loses (he currently holds a 5-2 record in the UFC with his only losses coming to Alex Pereira), he puts on a show.
This weekend, Jiri Prochazka will have to dig deep into his bag of tricks when he locks horns with Khalil Rountree Jr, another light heavyweight contender who has been on an absolute tear over the course of the last few years.
With the winner hoping to earn another UFC title shot at 205 pounds, Jiri Prochazka has made it clear that he plans on leaving it all in the cage.
Jiri Prochazka prepares for battle against Khalil Rountree Jr
“I think he’s a dynamic, fast and a tough fighter. He knows how to go long rounds,” Prochazka told MMA Junkie and other reporters Monday at the UFC Performance Institute. “This is something that I needed, to have more patience in the fight and to not want to end it as soon as possible.
“I think that’s my strongest weapon and the other side is a little bit bad because I want to end it as soon as possible. So I’m going all the time. Every attack has to go through. That’s what I worked on. To work lightly, to be precise, and with that to have deadly attacks.”
“I’m always excited to show my performance to show that I made a step-up since the last preparation in January, so that’s it,” Prochazka said. “I’m just excited to be here and finally to go back to the cage.”
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has given his thoughts on what a good strategy would be if you’re hoping to try and defeat Khamzat Chimaev.
Right now, Merab Dvalishvili and Khamzat Chimaev are among two of the most exciting fighters in all of mixed martial arts. While Merab prepares to defend his strap for the third time at UFC 320 this weekend, Khamzat is still basking in the glory of his recent triumph over Dricus du Plessis that saw him become the new UFC middleweight champion.
As we look ahead to the future, it certainly seems like Khamzat Chimaev has a good chance of holding onto the belt for a long time. With that being said, it all comes down to how his opponents approach their fights against him. ‘Borz’ is known for smothering his opponents and making them feel incredibly uncomfortable, specializing in a style that often helps him make it look easy when he takes on his foes.
In a recent interview, Merab Dvalishvili gave his thoughts on what the key to victory might be for anyone who dares step into the cage to face Khamzat.
Merab Dvalishvili’s view on Khamzat Chimaev
“I don’t want to fight Khamzat. But if you want to fight Khamzat, you must know jiu-jitsu very well: escape positions, create space, bottom leg out, and get up. Also, when you’re standing, you have to do work.
“You should not just walk to Khamzat like Kevin Holland. You have to run away, keep distance, because Khamzat touches and shoots. You have to run, take your time, and know how to get up like Gilbert Burns did when escaping.”
Former UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal has called for a long-awaited showdown with Leon Edwards as part of the UFC White House card.
As we know, Jorge Masvidal has had a problem with Leon Edwards for many years now. It goes back to the infamous incident backstage at UFC London, during which ‘Gamebred’ attacked ‘Rocky’ following a back and forth exchange between the two. While they’ve come close to colliding in the cage in the past, it’s never quite come to fruition.
While both men are in a tricky spot in their respective careers, Leon Edwards was able to kick on and become UFC welterweight champion. Jorge Masvidal, meanwhile, is eyeing up a return to the UFC after a few years away.
In a recent chat with Henry Cejudo, Jorge Masvidal made it crystal clear that he is still interested in competing against the Englishman.
Jorge Masvidal wants to fight Leon Edwards at the White House 👀
"Leon I will beat the f*** out of you at the White House. Just like America kicked England's ass…
I'll go crazy on this motherf***er bro. I'll get in shape for you Leon don't worry." pic.twitter.com/WH0FvDqcXX
“If you’re watching this [Leon], I’ll f***ing beat the f*** out of you at the White House. Leon, I will beat the f***ing dogs*** out of you, just to say America, kicked f***ing England’s ass for trying to take over our s***.
“We had to send y’all back, I’m gonna send you back in the same way. On a ship back home. 4th July, America’s birthday, brother. Let them make the mistake and send you as a representative for England. I will crash that party, brother. I’ll go crazy on this motherf***er, bro. I’ll get in shape for you Leon, don’t worry about it brother”
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has said that he wants to continue competing in combat sports until the age of 50.
Right now, Merab Dvalishvili is easily one of the best fighters in all of mixed martial arts. He is building quite the legacy for himself at 135 pounds, having already successfully defended the belt against Umar Nurmagomedov and Sean O’Malley. On Saturday night, he’ll attempt to defend the gold for the third straight time when he locks horns with Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event of UFC 320.
At the age of 34, Merab Dvalishvili has already cemented his position as one of the greatest bantamweights of all time. With that being said, it’s clear to see that ‘The Machine’ has some pretty lofty ambitions for himself – and that much is an understatement.
In a recent interview, Merab Dvalishvili declared that he wants to keep fighting for longer than the majority of professional MMA fighters ever have.
Merab Dvalishvili wants to fight until 50
“Yeah, I want to do my best. Uh so, um when I’m training, I do my best. When I’m fighting, I’m doing my best. But it’s MMA, you know, like it’s it always will come next guys, the best guys and whatever. Of course, plan is to keep in my belt long as possible, but I don’t think it’s realistic to me stay 16 more years champion. I may lose belt, I may win again, I may lose again, but I want to fight until 50. That’s the goal.”
The UFC 320 card has been dealt its first disruption.
UFC 320 is set for this Saturday, October 4, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The pay-per-view event will be highlighted by a championship doubleheader, with UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev defending his title in a highly anticipated rematch against former champion Alex Pereira in the main event.
Meanwhile, in the co-main event, reigning UFC bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili will aim for his third title defense of the year against perennial contender Cory Sandhagen.
Two titles headline in the Fight Capital 🏆🏆#UFC320 Fight Week has officially started!
However, just five days out from the event, the stacked UFC 320 card has already taken a hit, as Ozzy Diaz announced on Monday via social media that he is withdrawing from his middleweight bout against Ateba Gautier due to medical issues.
As of now, it remains unclear whether Gautier will take on a replacement opponent on such late notice, or if the bout has been completely canceled or postponed to a later date.
Diaz last competed at UFC 313 this past March, securing a unanimous decision victory over Djorden Santos to rebound from a first-round knockout loss to Zhang Mingyang in November 2024. “One Hit” boasts a professional record of 10-3, with nine of his wins coming by stoppage.
On the other hand, Gautier is coming off a first-round knockout win over Robert Valentin at UFC 318 in July, extending his undefeated knockout streak to seven fights. “The Silent Assassin” holds a professional record of 8-1, including 2-0 in the UFC.
Image: UFC.com
How Does The Complete UFC 320 Lineup Stack Up?
Beyond the two headline title fights, UFC 320 features a loaded lineup filled with exciting matchups. Former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka will make his return to the Octagon against ex-title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. Meanwhile, former interim featherweight title contender Josh Emmett is set to clash with Youssef Zalal.
Here’s the current fight card for UFC 320:
Main Card
Light heavyweight title bout: Magomed Ankalaev (c) vs. Alex Pereira
Bantamweight title bout: Merab Dvalishvili (c) vs. Cory Sandhagen
Light heavyweight bout: Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Featherweight bout: Josh Emmett vs. Youssef Zalal
Middleweight bout: Abusupiyan Magomedov vs. Joe Pyfer
Preliminary Card
Middleweight bout: Ateba Gautier vs. TBA
Middleweight bout: Edmen Shahbazyan vs. André Muniz
Bantamweight bout: Chris Gutiérrez vs. Farid Basharat
Featherweight bout: Daniel Santos vs. Yoo Joo-sang
Women’s bantamweight bout: Macy Chiasson vs. Yana Santos
Bantamweight bout: Patchy Mix vs. Jakub Wikłacz
Welterweight bout: Punahele Soriano vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
Welterweight bout: Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Austin Vanderford
Women’s flyweight bout: Veronica Hardy vs. Brogan Walker
The PFL’s women’s flyweight division has added a pair of experienced names to its ranks, as Viviane Araujo and Ariane da Silva have signed with the promotion.
Ali Abdelaziz, the manager of both women, confirmed the signings to Sherdog.
UFC veterans Ariane da Silva (formerly Lipski) and Viviane Araujo have both signed with PFL, per manager Ali Abdelaziz.
Some fresh potential opponents for Dakota Ditcheva enter the scene at 125 pounds. pic.twitter.com/CPLKQupkZC
The two former UFC stars will add a bit of name power to the PFL’s women’s flyweight division and give some competition for Dakota Ditcheva.
It is currently unclear if one or both of the women will compete in the women’s flyweight World Tournament in 2026 or potential face Ditcheva to determine a PFL women’s flyweight champion.
Viviane Araujo, Ariane Da Silva Sign With PFL
Araujo, the former Pancrase women’s strawweight champion, made her UFC debut at UFC 237 in May 2019, defeating Talita Bernardo. She went 7-6 in the promotion, earning wins over the likes of Alexis Davis, Roxanne Modafferi, Andrea Lee, and Jennifer Maia.
Araujo and the UFC parted ways about two weeks after her loss to Tracy Cortez at UFC 317.
Da Silva (formerly Ariane Lipski) is a former KSW women’s flyweight champion who made her UFC debut in January 2019. She went 6-8 in the promotion with wins over JJ Aldrich and Casey O’Neill, while also having bouts with the likes of Molly McCann, Montana De La Rosa, and Jasmine Jasudavicius.
Da Silva was released by the UFC days after her loss to Wang Cong at UFC 316.
UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has prasied Magomed Ankalaev as the latter attempts to successfully defend his UFC light heavyweight title this weekend.
On Saturday night, Magomed Ankalaev will defend the belt for the first time against Alex Pereira. It’s a fight we all somewhat knew was coming in the wake of their first bout earlier this year, but this time around, it feels like most fans and pundits are backing Ankalaev to be the one who gets over the finish line and gets his hand rasied.
Someone else from that part of the world who has also made a huge impact on mixed martial arts is Khabib Nurmagomedov. Khabib retired as one of the all-time greats and that’s an understatement, whereas Magomed Ankalaev has a lot of work to do before he can be considered in that class.
At the weekend, Magomed Ankalaev will try and silence all of his doubters once and for all. One man who isn’t a hater, though, is the great Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Khabib says Magomed Ankalaev is already one of the best Russian fighters of all time
"He is one of the best to ever do it in Russia already. He is keep improving himself, keep climbing on top to be the best to ever do it. I really believe he has skills." #UFC320pic.twitter.com/VxQPPGEslT
“He is one of the best to ever do it in Russia, already, and he keeps improving himself and keeps climbing on top to be the best to ever do it. I really believe he has the skills (to become the best Russian fighter ever),” Khabib admitted.
UFC legend Kamaru Usman has explained why he understands Dana White’s hesitation over booking Jon Jones for UFC White House.
Next summer, the Ultimate Fighting Championship looks set to put on a blockbuster event at the White House. Conor McGregor is someone who is eager to make his return on that card, and the same can be said for Jon Jones. However, Dana White certainly seems to trust the Irishman a whole lot more than the American.
Jon Jones vacated the UFC heavyweight title after seemingly not being interested in a fight against interim champion Tom Aspinall. With that being said, he quickly made it clear that he wants to come back after the promotion announced the aforementioned White House fight.
In a recent podcast, Kamaru Usman weighed in on the whole debacle regarding Dana White and Jones.
Kamaru Usman’s view on Jon Jones’ attitude
“You’ve got Jon Jones,” Usman said while listing the White House options. “He wants to come back and do it. Listen, I would love that for Jon Jones.
“But Jon, you can’t play with the game the way he’s played with the game and expect Dana to still trust you and let you back in to do this. You can’t play with the game like that.”
‘Bones’ doesn’t really have much of a leg to stand on here whereas Dana White needs to look at this objectively, understanding the constant risks that come with putting Jon in there against just about anyone.
UFC star Cory Sandhagen has explained why he’s decided to play a more comedic character on social media in the build-up to his title fight at UFC 320.
On Saturday night, Cory Sandhagen will attempt to become the new UFC bantamweight champion. It’s a position that he’s been striving for ever since arriving in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and now, he’s just 25 minutes away from making it a reality. Of course, in order to do so, he first has to get through the seemingly unstoppable champion Merab Dvalishvili.
While that may be quite daunting, Cory Sandhagen isn’t showing any signs of fear or trepidation. In fact, he’s actually opening up a whole lot more than we’re used to seeing, to the point where he’s even been posting amusing skits online.
In a recent interview, Cory Sandhagen explained why he’s decided to lean into that side of his personality.
Cory Sandhagen discusses his new comedic persona
“I always thought that I had a really quirky sense of humor, it’s really dry, too,” Sandhagen told MMA Fighting. “For whatever reason, I don’t make a lot of facial expressions, and so it’s really hard to pick up sometimes when I’m joking and when I’m not, I always was just like, ‘Dude, you’re too weird to try to be funny, so, like, just don’t try it.
“But then I was like, f*ck it. People are either going to get it or they’re not going to get it, so I’m just going to do my own version of being funny and doing silly skits and stuff. And yeah, it seems like people like them. I know that they’re probably pretty weird for some people, but I think that they’re really funny and I guess that’s kind of what matters.”
Magomed Ankalaev’s coach has given his thoughts on Alex Pereira‘s striking, and it’s safe to say that he’s not overly impressed.
In the main event of UFC 320, Magomed Ankalaev will defend his UFC light heavyweight championship against Alex Pereira. It’s the same pairing that led to Ankalaev winning the strap earlier this year, and he seems pretty confident that he can get the job done once again in the rematch on Saturday night.
Alex Pereira will have different plans, but Ankalaev has improved a great deal over the course of the last few years, especially in the striking department. As we look ahead to this fight, it’ll be interesting to see how cautious both men are and whether or not they’ll really push for a finish.
In the UFC 320 Countdown show, Magomed Ankalaev’s coach had the following to say about ‘Poatan’.
😬👀 Magomed Ankalaev's head coach thinks that Alex Pereira will wrestle and clinch because nothing will work out for him in striking.
Coach Sukhrab calls Alex "an old kickboxer" that has no speed.
Alex Pereira questioned by Magomed Ankalaev’s coach
“Alex will go for the clinch, wrestle. Why? Because in the stand-up nothing will work out for him. In the fight, the whole arena will be shouting, he hears only my voice.”
“Alex Pereira, there’s nothing with which he can surprise us. Not with his work in the stand-up. In wrestling he definitely cannot surprise. He cannot surprise with anything.”
“His technique is standard, his strikes are standard. He’s an old kickboxer. He has no speed.”
“Powerful punch? Alex, he has a punch, but not the kind that can really knock you out.”
“I tell everyone, if Magomed opens up, he’ll surprise everyone, and can even outplay, in pure stand-up, a better striker than Alex Pereira.”
