MMA News

Category: MMA

  • UFC Perth Loses Another Fight As Oban Elliott Pulls Out Due To Illness

    UFC Perth Loses Another Fight As Oban Elliott Pulls Out Due To Illness

    After already losing its originally scheduled co-main event bout earlier this week, UFC Perth has taken another hit to its card.

    A scheduled preliminary card bout featuring Oban Elliott and Jonathan Micallef is now off mere hours before weigh-ins, per a report from MMAJunkie’s Nolan King.

    According to King, the bout was scrapped after Elliott came down with an illness.

    Oban Elliott vs. Jonathan Micallef Scrapped From UFC Perth

    The UFC has confirmed the news of both this bout’s cancelation, as well as that of the originally planned co-headliner featuring Junior Tafa and Ibo Aslan. Tafa withdrew earlier this week due to injury.

    No replacement opponent will be found for Micallef; meanwhile, Jimmy Crute vs. Ivan Erslan has been promoted to the new co-main event slot.

    Elliott, who won a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023, went 3-0 in the Octagon in 2024 before a loss to Seok Hyeon Ko at UFC Baku in June.

    Micallef, who won a UFC contract on DWCS last year, made his UFC debut at UFC 312 in February, scoring a decision win over Kevin Jousset.

  • “Think It’s The Right Call To Move On From MMA” – Kiefer Crosbie Requests Release From UFC

    “Think It’s The Right Call To Move On From MMA” – Kiefer Crosbie Requests Release From UFC

    UFC welterweight Kiefer Crosbie appears to be interested in other combat sports ventures outside the world of MMA, and he has requested his release from the promotion.

    A recent post on Instagram from Crosbie pictured a pair of UFC gloves, with Crosbie thanking the UFC in the caption. This led to the belief from many that Crosbie was hanging up the gloves and retiring from the sport of MMA.

    In a new Instagram post, however, Crosbie provided an update of clarification. Crosbie confirmed that he has no interest in competing in MMA anymore; however, he still wishes to be a professional fighter, competing in other disciplines of martial arts.

    In order to fulfill these desires, however, Crosbie is requesting that the UFC let him go from his contract.

    Kiefer Crosbie Desires UFC Release To Pursue Other Combat Sports Avenues

    “I’ve been doing this sport a long time,” Crosbie said in the Instagram video. “My body is absolutely rallied and broke up my life, my money, my mental and physical health on the line for so long. And to be honest with you, it’s not worth it continuing on the MMA journey. That being said, that doesn’t mean I’m retired. I absolutely would love to fight again, multiple times, and explore different avenues.

    “Now, funny enough, the UFC haven’t actually cut me or released me. I don’t know what the gameplan is there. Maybe that want to honor me another fight because I was f***** over so bad the last time. But, to be completely honest with you, I would like to ask for a release. I have no desire to step foot in the Octagon and have another MMA fight…”

    Crosbie’s last fight at UFC Shanghai came under controversy. Opponent Taiyilake Nueraji hit Crosbie with an illegal knee but was allowed to continue. He was quickly finished seconds later.

    Crosbie then alleged that he was not checked on by any doctor and given any concussion test or brain scan. He alleges he was “just stitched up and f**ked in a taxi and good luck.”

    Crosbie, an SBG Ireland product, went 10-6 in professional MMA, including an 0-3 UFC record and a 4-3 Bellator record.

  • $100 Million And 100 “Golden Visas” – Conor McGregor Laying Out Demand To Fight At UFC White House?

    $100 Million And 100 “Golden Visas” – Conor McGregor Laying Out Demand To Fight At UFC White House?

    Conor McGregor is seemingly in preparations to compete at the UFC White House card next summer, but did he just post a demand he needs to see for that to be met?

    It appeared that McGregor would never compete in the Octagon ever again given the amount of money and brand he’s made over the years. But since U.S. President Donald Trump and the UFC first started teasing the idea of a UFC card on the White House lawn — in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the United States — there arguably has been no fighter who has done more advocating to compete on the card than McGregor.

    In a post on social media, however, McGregor appeared to state that he was looking for a $100 million payday to compete on the special UFC card in Washington D.C. He would also be looking for 100 “Golden Visas” in the U.S. for his family and friends.

    “I look very forward to entertaining the fighting world once again,” McGregor added in his social media post. “A pleasure I never take for granted!”

    Conor McGregor Wants $100 Million And 100 Golden Visas To Compete At UFC White House?

    The “Golden Visa” McGregor may be referring to is a newly announced “Gold Card” plan by U.S. President Trump that would see residency and citizenship given to those who gift $1 million ($2 million for corporations) to the U.S. government’s Department of Commerce.

    This would mark a departure from the country’s EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which saw foreign investors qualify to become lawful U.S. residents by making “the necessary investment in a commercial enterprise in the United States” and planning “to create or preserve 10 permanent full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers.”

    McGregor teased a bid for the Ireland presidency earlier this year before withdrawing. McGregor is no strange to controversy over his UFC career; however, he’s come under fire in particular over the last year, thanks to being found civilly liable of the rape of Nikita Hand in a hotel room in December 2018.

    McGregor has not competed in the Octagon since his UFC 264 loss to Dustin Poirier. He was scheduled to face Michael Chandler, his opposing coach on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter, at UFC 303 last year before pulling out of the fight less than one month prior to the card.

    McGregor recently teased on Fox and Friends, however, that a fight with Chandler would be the headline fight for UFC White House.

  • UFC Perth Reportedly Facing Poor Ticket Sales Days Before Event

    UFC Perth Reportedly Facing Poor Ticket Sales Days Before Event

    While the Australian fanbase has been one of the strongest and most vocal in terms of internal UFC audiences and attendees, UFC Perth is struggling to get fans in the door.

    A recent broadcast report from 7 News Australia stated that the venue of this weekend’s card, RAC Arena, in Perth, is only at about half capacity — a poor number in comparisons to sellouts in previous UFC events across the country over the recent years.

    “The WA [Western Australian] government’s financial investment in cage fighting is in question tonight with poor ticket sales to a UFC event this weekend,” 7 News Australia’s Rick Ardon said. “UFC Fight Night is being staged at RAC Arena, but the venue is only about half full, and tickets are now being discounted.”

    RAC Arena Showing Poor Sales For UFC Perth

    The last UFC event to take place in Australia was UFC 312 in February, held at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. A sold-out crowd of 18,537 saw Dricus Du Plessis score a decision win over Sean Strickland to retain the UFC middleweight title. The last event held in Perth prior to this weekend’s card was UFC 305 in August 2024, which saw Du Plessis retain via submission over Israel Adesanya.

    The sales for this coming weekend’s card, however, have been, in the words of reporter Geoff Parry, “disappointing, not the sellout of previous years.”

    Andy Hickey confirmed the news on social media, calling UFC Perth, “easily the worst selling event at this point post-COVID” and noting that ticket prices have dropped to $167 AUS.

    Yahoo Sports points to a number of factors for the poor sales, including the number of notable names on this weekend’s card being lackluster, as well as injury forcing native Junior Tafa out of the originally scheduled co-main event against Ibo Aslan.

    Yahoo also notes, however, that the UFC will profit from the event off site fees alone, which may mean the UFC won’t be too bothered by poor ticket sales for this outing.

    The UFC signed a deal with the Western Australian tourism board earlier this year to bring a number of events to Perth in the coming years.

  • PFL CEO John Martin Says He Plans To Discuss Future With Francis Ngannou

    PFL CEO John Martin Says He Plans To Discuss Future With Francis Ngannou

    PFL CEO John Martin is hoping to gain clarity into what the future is for the promotion and Francis Ngannou, who has not fought since the PFL Battle of the Giants event in October 2024.

    A recent press release from Martin addressed the PFL’s championship picture, in which he stated he will be looking to simplify the PFL’s championships to demonstrate one true champion at the top of each weight class in the PFL.

    Part of that press release stated that the PFL Super Fights heavyweight title Ngannou won last year was a “special, one-time designation” and that “going forward, those belts may be used only for occasional special events.”

    Martin, who took over as the new CEO of PFL this past July, added that “importantly, I will be engaging directly with Francis to determine what’s next for him in the PFL.”

    John Martin To “Engage Directly” With Francis Ngannou Over Future

    After his UFC departure at the start of 2023, Ngannou and the PFL agreed to a contract in May, with Ngannou competing in the pay-per-view Super Fights division and receiving perks such as becoming the owner and chairman of the PFL Africa promotion and being a member of the PFL’s global advisory board.

    Ngannou’s fight with Ferreira, however, has been the only fight he’s had in the PFL thus far. Ngannou, meanwhile, competed twice in boxing, nearly upsetting then-WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in October 2023 before getting knocked out by Anthony Joshua in March 2024.

    The relationship with the PFL and Ngannou, however, has seemed to hit a bit of a rocky road. PFL Chairman Donn Davis expressed disappointment in Ngannou for not attending either of the first two PFL Africa events this summer. Ngannou would respond on The Ariel Helwani Show in August, expressing disappointment in how the PFL Africa brand has been built in comparison to the vision he had for it. Ngannou specifically noted not as much of a focus on African fighters as he preferred.

  • PFL CEO Vows A Simple System For Championships

    PFL CEO Vows A Simple System For Championships

    Since John Martin took the reigns of the PFL during the summer, many in the MMA community have wondered what changes could potentially come under the new CEO. And it appears that Martin’s first mission is to address the PFL’s championship situation.

    After a 2025 season that was filled with uncertainty over what would happen with Bellator champions, the re-branding of the regular season to the World Tournament and making championships for them and PFL world titles, Martin is looking to make things simple.

    “My goal is clear: one champion, one division, one world title, a system that is simple for athletes to chase and for PFL fans to follow,” Martin said in a press release.

    The PFL’s champions originally were determined annually through the regular season-and-playoffs format that was in effect from the inaugural 2018 season through 2024. The championship pictures, however, became more complicated over the past couple of years since the PFL’s purchase of Bellator in November 2023. Bellator champions defended their titles in Bellator Champions Series branded events, which became PFL Champions Series events following the full dissolution of the Bellator brand.

    PFL CEO John Martin Clarifies PFL Championship Picture

    Martin stated that the annual champions did create “some confusion about who truly sat atop of each division” and admitted the handling of Bellator’s brand and champions left “fans unclear on who was the definitive champion in each weight class.”

    “We are now simplifying our championship system,” Martin said. Going forward, each division will have one PFL World Champion, the single, undisputed titleholder in that weight class.”

    A PFL middleweight champion was crowned at PFL Cape Town in July, which saw Costello Van Steenis score a last-minute, come-from-behind submission of Johnny Eblen to win the title. The rematches between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Huges and Corey Anderson and Dovlet Yagshimuradov to be held next week at PFL Champions Series 3 will determine the PFL lightweight and light heavyweight champions, respectively.

    Martin additionally announced two world title fights to be held at the 2025 PFL Europe Championships in December — a PFL heavyweight title fight between former Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov and 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira, and a women’s featherweight title fight that will see the legendary Cris Cyborg face Sara Collins.

    The PFL title picture may have more confusion thanks to the PFL Battle of the Giants event held in October 2024, which saw Francis Ngannou beat Ferreira for the PFL Super Fights heavyweight title and Cyborg defeat Larissa Pacheco for the PFL Super Fights women’s featherweight title.

    Martin, however, claimed these title were special one-off titles that could be used occasionally for special events. Martin further claimed he will speak with Ngannou about what is next for him and the PFL.

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 7 Highlights As 6 Awarded UFC Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 7 Highlights As 6 Awarded UFC Contracts

    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 seven of season nine this week saw six prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.

    The night had a strong start, courtesy of Rafael Tobias scoring a win over Jair de Oliveira. Tobias landed a counter shot in the opening minute of the fight, appearing to hurt de Oliveira and forcing him to use the clinch to recover. Tobias did not let up on the pressure and power, however, cutting off the cage on a constant basis. Tobias was able to score a takedown after a body kick, and he locked in a rear-naked choke on de Oliveira, scoring a first-round submission and earning a UFC deal.

    Things only got better with Javier Torres pulling off a comeback finish of Justice Torres. Torres looked to bring pressure to Reyes early and get him toward the fence with his striking. But Reyes was able to find an opening and land a right hook to the body, starting up a sequence of power that overwhelmed Torres. The shots would bring Torres down to the mat covering up, giving Reyes the first-round finish and a UFC contract.

    In what will go down as one of the best fights DWCS has ever seen, Jeisla Chaves came out on top in a war with Sofia Montenegro. Chaves and Montenegro came out with striking exchanges right away, with both ladies sporting blood on the sides of their faces within the first minute. Montenegro’s straight shots were finding their mark, but Chaves’ combinations and hooks were also leaving an impact. After a violent first round that earned praises for both women, Montenegro’s striking dropped Chaves in the first minute of round two. Chaves was able to get to her feet and landed some strong shots in the round’s final minute, but most of the round saw her pinned to the ground and fence by Montenegro.

    The bloody war continued into a solid third round, with Chaves earning the split decision victory in a fight that could have fallen either way. It truly was one of the best fights of the DWCS season, and White displayed that by giving both women contracts. This makes both women’s fights this season the two fights so far to have both the winner and loser earn contracts.

    Finishes returned in the co-main event, as Murtazali Magomedov pulled off a victory over Brahyan Zurcher. As the two seemed to get their striking going in the opening frame, Magomedov landed a jab that appeared to stumble Zurcher, getting through his guard and wobbling him. Magomedov then pressed and scored the finish seconds later, earning a victory and a UFC contract in quick fashion.

    And one more strong performance came courtesy of the main event, as Mantas Kondratavicius put away Dani Barbir. Kondratavicius pressured right away, intending to get the fight to the ground quickly. He was able to do so, but Barbir scambled up and pressed himself. After a minute, Kondratavicius landed a one-two with a right hand that put Barbir’s lights out, giving him a UFC contract and capping off one of the best DWCS nights of the season.

    Rafael Tobias vs. Jair de Oliveira

    Javier Reyes vs. Justice Torres

    Sofia Montenegro vs. Jeisla Chaves

    Brahyan Zurcher vs. Murtazali Magomedov

    Dani Barbir vs. Mantas Kondratavicius

  • UFC Fans Hit Again With Price Hike Ahead Of MMA Promotion’s ESPN Broadcast Deal Coming To An End In 2025

    UFC Fans Hit Again With Price Hike Ahead Of MMA Promotion’s ESPN Broadcast Deal Coming To An End In 2025

    UFC fans in the U.S. will have to shell out more to catch the action on ESPN networks.

    Back in 2019, the UFC inked a five-year exclusive broadcasting deal with ESPN. Throughout the partnership, ESPN aired the promotion’s full lineup of events on its television network and ESPN+ streaming platform, while also holding the rights to distribute pay-per-view cards.

    As the ESPN deal nears its conclusion at the end of 2025, the UFC has striked a staggering seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement with Paramount Skydance. Under the new arrangement, the promotion will move away from the traditional PPV model for its biggest events, instead broadcasting these cards live to Paramount+ subscribers at no additional cost.

    ESPN still has four UFC PPV events remaining before their departure, but viewers will have to pay extra to catch three of those cards.

    UFC Octagon
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC

    ESPN To Hike Streaming Costs From October With UFC Exit On The Horizon

    On Tuesday, Disney, ESPN’s parent company, revealed that ESPN+ has been officially rebranded as ESPN Select. The announcement also included price hikes across several of Disney’s streaming services, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select, as well as increases to bundled packages. These changes will also impact UFC fans.

    Beginning October 21, the monthly subscription for ESPN Select will rise from $11.99 to $12.99, while the annual plan will increase from $119.99 to $129.99. Fans can also access ESPN Select content through the new ESPN Unlimited streaming service, priced at $29.99 per month or $299.99 per year.

    Meanwhile, bundle pricing is also set to rise. The ad-supported Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select package will increase from $16.99 to $19.99 per month, while the ad-free version will climb from $26.99 to $29.99 per month.

    Since launching its streaming service, ESPN has consistently raised subscription prices year after year. The recent hikes also extend to the UFC’s PPV events, which previously cost $59.99 and now run $79.99.

    By comparison, Paramount+ is priced at $7.99 per month with ads or $12.99 per month for the ad-free tier. While the company has not announced any upcoming price changes, an increase seems possible once the UFC’s new broadcast deal begins next year.

  • Charles Oliveira Set To Face Late Replacement Who Campaigned Hard For UFC Rio Headliner Spot

    Charles Oliveira Set To Face Late Replacement Who Campaigned Hard For UFC Rio Headliner Spot

    Charles Oliveira finally has an opponent set for his next Octagon appearance.

    Oliveira was originally slated to face Rafael Fiziev in a lightweight bout headlining UFC Rio on October 11 at the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. However, last week it was revealed that “Ataman” had to withdraw due to injury, prompting a search for a new opponent for the former UFC 155-pound champion.

    Several fighters, including Benoit Saint Denis, Mateusz Gamrot, and even former UFC featherweight title contender Diego Lopes, emerged as potential short-notice replacements for “Do Bronx”.

    Charles Oliveira Matched With Mateusz Gamrot In UFC Rio Main Event

    On Tuesday, Charles Oliveira revealed that he has agreed to face Mateusz Gamrot in the UFC Rio main event following Rafael Fiziev’s withdrawal.

    “Opponent: Mateusz Gamrot,” Charles Oliveira said on social media. “This is the guy we’re going to battle in a great war. The rest just wanted the hype, just wanted to stall and talk but that’s part of it, that’s how it is… Mateusz Gamrot, thank you for accepting the fight. It’s going to be a big war! The lion is hungry. I’m full of willpower. We’ll meet on Oct. 11.”

    “Do Bronx” is coming off a devastating first-round knockout loss to reigning lightweight champion Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 this past June. Once riding an impressive 11-fight win streak, Oliveira is now navigating a challenging period in his career, going 3-3 in his last six bouts.

    He holds a 23-11 record with one no contest in the UFC, with 16 of those victories coming via submission.

    Meanwhile, Gamrot had been eager for a showdown with the Brazilian veteran for quite some time, and when the headliner spot at UFC Rio became vacant, he threw his hat in the ring and kept campaigning on social media until the UFC finally made the call.

    “Gamer” last stepped into the Octagon at UFC Vegas 107 this past May, securing a unanimous decision victory over Ludovit Klein. The 34-year-old Polish fighter holds an 8-3 UFC record, with four of those wins coming by stoppage.

    Mateusz Gamrot
    Image: Mateusz Gamrot on Instagram


  • Darren Till opens up about “cruel” UFC sponsorship situation

    Darren Till opens up about “cruel” UFC sponsorship situation

    Former UFC fighter Darren Till has spoken about the sponsorship deal regarding fighter kits that he believes was “cruel”.

    Nowadays, Darren Till is one of the most exciting influencer boxers out there in the space. There’s even been talk of him getting a big fight against someone like Jake Paul or Andrew Tate, but of course, that has yet to be confirmed – and it’d take a lot of work to make it happen.

    Alas, Darren Till is enjoying a pretty successful run post-UFC, most recently knocking out Luke Rockhold in pretty devastating fashion. During his UFC days, however, he had a strong career, even earning himself a shot at the UFC welterweight championship.

    In a recent interview, though, Darren Till spoke about the Reebok/Venum sponsorship deals that restricted what fighters could earn from their attire.

    Darren Till’s view on UFC’s sponsorship complications

    “I don’t like to slander Dana too much, he gets a lot of heat, but obviously I have to be a truthful guy as well. I always stand on business with what I believe in as well, but even when you’re in the UFC, it’s like, ‘We’re going to take away your sponsorship now. We’re going to put Venum in there or Reebok,’” Till said. 

    “I was like, ‘What the f*cks going on now?’ So now the fighters aren’t even making money outside of it. It was actually quite cruel, some of it. It was, it was cruel.

    “That sort of stuff, 10 plus 10, and then your fight’s set in stone, f*ck all that, that does not—For me now, I couldn’t be loving life more, I’ll be honest. I’ve just made a s**t-ton of money.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Conor McGregor’s return: Daniel Cormier has questions regarding possible UFC comeback

    Conor McGregor’s return: Daniel Cormier has questions regarding possible UFC comeback

    UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has given his thoughts on the latest rumors regarding a potential return to the cage for Conor McGregor.

    At this point in his career, Conor McGregor is a pretty controversial figure. He’s been involved in many controversies and along the way, he seems to have lost a fair amount of his fans. With that being said, many would still be intrigued to see him step back inside the octagon, and it definitely feels like UFC’s White House event is when he wants to do that.

    Daniel Cormier, who has followed Conor McGregor’s career closely for many years, has the following to say on the matter.

    Daniel Cormier’s view on Conor McGregor

    “He’s told us time and time again that he’ll be there and he hasn’t shown up. I believe that this time, there’s a stronger possibility because of all the time that’s passed and I believe the White House is going be that big of a deal to him.”

    “But, I think the biggest factor in why Conor McGregor may fight is because no one believes him anymore and some of that shine is starting to wear off. 

    “It doesn’t matter how much money you’ve got Chael, when you’re a guy that develops the level of stardom that he reached, when you’re a guy that loves the attention and the adulation and it starts to fade, then you come back and you do what you did before.

    “I think he’s coming back, but it’s not because he wants to compete,” Cormier said. “I think he understands now that people just aren’t in on the Conor McGregor business anymore.”

    Quotes via Bloody Elbow

  • Robbie Lawler remembers details behind iconic war with Rory MacDonald

    Robbie Lawler remembers details behind iconic war with Rory MacDonald

    UFC legend Robbie Lawler has taken a look back at his incredible rematch against Rory MacDonald from back at UFC 189.

    When it comes to absolute warriors, Robbie Lawler is up there with the best of them in the history of mixed martial arts. He has achieved some amazing things throughout the course of his career, and he’s been involved in some absolute wars. One of the most notable, of course, was his battle with Rory MacDonald at UFC 189.

    Robbie Lawler was at the top of his game as UFC world champion and while MacDonald was able to keep up with him for most of the fight, ‘Ruthless’ was just operating at a different level.

    In a recent interview, Robbie Lawler spoke openly about what went down in that encounter and in the immediate aftermath.

    Robbie Lawler looks back at Rory MacDonald rematch

    “It actually healed [his lip] pretty fast within, like, two weeks,” Lawler said. “I was like, ‘Man, this actually looks pretty freaking good.’ Obviously, the UFC [had] everything lined up so food wasn’t falling out, water wasn’t falling out of my mouth, so it was good. I didn’t realize how bad it was when I was in the fight and I’m talking to Dana and he’s, like, ‘Hey man, don’t talk.’ I just started laughing.

    “Because really in my eyes, you ever seen the movie Predator? It’s one of my favorite lines: ‘Hey, you’re bleeding.’ ‘I don’t have time to bleed.’ So that’s kind of my mindset. Whatever, there’s blood, it’s not a big deal, but I didn’t realize it was this lip.”

    “At that point in time, it’s funny, I was thinking, ‘Let’s go,’” Lawler said recalling the incident. “I felt like he was running, but really it wasn’t, he was being strategic and I was like, ‘Let’s go, it’s freaking time,’ is what I was thinking.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Charles Oliveira vs Mateusz Gamrot: Michael Bisping expects fight to happen

    Charles Oliveira vs Mateusz Gamrot: Michael Bisping expects fight to happen

    UFC commentator Michael Bisping has explained why he believes Charles Oliveira will accept a fight against Mateusz Gamrot on short notice.

    As we know, Charles Oliveira is an absolute warrior and a true fan favorite in the world of mixed martial arts. However, after his knockout loss to Ilia Topuria, the Brazilian sensation decided to jump back on the horse by booking a fight at UFC Rio – not long after the KO defeat.

    Unfortunately, after his opponent Rafael Fiziev pulled out, Charles Oliveira has been left without an opponent. Mateusz Gamrot is someone who has been poking the bear and implying that he will take on ‘Do Bronx’ and in the eyes of Michael Bisping, that makes sense.

    Michael Bisping’s thoughts on Charles Oliveira vs Mateusz Gamrot

    “I can’t imagine Charles Oliveira will turn this down,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “Remember, these are tweets on Sunday from Mateusz Gamrot. I’m sure that when Charles Oliveira gets wind of this, I’m sure the UFC would like to make this matchup. … Mateusz Gamrot 100 percent wants the fight. I think that’s the fight to make.”

    “I’m sure Charles Oliveira is not worried about the style of Mateusz Gamrot,” Bisping said. “Charles Oliveira has stepped in there against the very best. He’s not scared of anyone. Fighters at this level, they aren’t scared. The stylistic matchup that he has, the way that he goes forward, the way that he walks people down, the way that he strikes, he’s got knockout power. He’s got finishing ability in every bloody fiber of his body.

    “And Mateusz Gamrot, given his style, isn’t going to knock him out because he’s just not that guy. He tends to go forward, he’ll use a single-leg takedown, head on the outside, which is dangerous against Oliveira for the guillotines, but that’s what he does. He takes people down and he’s got a really smothering style on the ground and, of course, a tremendous ground game, but it’s not the striking that he’s known for. 

    “Given the last fight [Oliveira] had against Ilia Topuria, the last thing you want to do is go up against someone with knockout power, which is what he was doing against Fiziev, and that’s why I respected him taking that matchup. This truly is kind of a crazy wrinkle here from Mateusz Gamrot.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Oscar De La Hoya Slams Dana White: “He regrets abandoning the UFC for a sport that doesn’t want him”

    Oscar De La Hoya Slams Dana White: “He regrets abandoning the UFC for a sport that doesn’t want him”

    Boxing promoter Oscar De La Hoya has gone after UFC boss Dana White as their war of words, now spanning years, continues.

    We all know that Oscar De La Hoya and Dana White aren’t exactly big fans of one another. They have spent a long time criticizing the other and now, Dana has actually ventured over into the world of professional boxing. In terms of what that means for both men moving forward, it’s not quite clear, especially given we’re in the early stages of this shift.

    In a recent video, however, Oscar De La Hoya wasn’t about to hold back when describing how he feels about White.

    Oscar De La Hoya goes after Dana White

    “Speaking of poor promotion; Dana White didn’t have his best week. His t shirt shrank smaller every minute. Especially when he was questioned about his attempt to ammend the Muhammad Ali Act.

    “So you’re saying this reporter is an ‘Asshole’ because he’s asking a legitimate question? That’s because te Muhammad Ali Act protects fighters. And TKO needs it to change so they can fuck fighters over. Sorry Uncle Fester. You can’t muzzle boxing media like you do in the UFC.

    “And after this debacle, he decided to skip the undercard and shows up at the beginning of the main event where he’s just watching the UFC on his phone the entire time. I wonder if he regrets abondoning the UFC for a sport that doesn’t want him.”

    Don’t be surprised if we hear a retort soon, folks.

  • What Makes Yoel Romero So Special? UFC All-Time Great Breaks Down His BKFC 80 Knockout

    What Makes Yoel Romero So Special? UFC All-Time Great Breaks Down His BKFC 80 Knockout

    Yoel Romero is truly something special.

    After making his mark in the world’s biggest mixed martial arts promotions—Strikeforce, the UFC, Bellator, and PFL—Romero has made the move to boxing where, despite being 48-years-old, he continues to dominate the competition. After scoring a pair of highlight-reel finishes under the Dirty Boxing Championship banner, ‘Soldier of God’ made his bare-knuckle debut earlier this month and did it yet again, finishing Theo Doukas via a vicious second-round KO.

    Looking back on the Cuban’s impressive performance at BKFC 80, former UFC and ONE world champion Demetrious Johnson commended Romero’s ability to take control of every environment he steps into, whether it be a ring, a cage, or an Octagon.

    “The movement, the constant rhythm change, the constant in and out rhythm, high guard, dropping in the right hand or straight shots down the middle of that guy’s guard was pretty much the story of the fight,” Johnson said via his YouTube channel. “All right, here we go. By that rhythm in the B. Boom. Right here. Boom. Right down the middle. Right down the middle. Look at his—look at his face. Look, man. Look at the blood just drop right here. Look at this. Then whack. Like, he’s just able to dictate what the guy’s going to do and move a certain way and be able to land those shots. My goodness.”

    “I think the biggest thing is Yoel’s movement, him putting things down the middle of the pipe on his opponent and then constantly just being active. Being absolutely active.”

    What’s next for Romero remains to be seen, but after his impressive showing in Hollywood, Florida, the ‘Soldier of God’ could already be queued up for a shot at the BKFC heavyweight crown.

  • Reinier de Ridder Reveals Secret Training Partner: Robbie Lawler

    Reinier de Ridder Reveals Secret Training Partner: Robbie Lawler

    Reinier de Ridder has an ace up his sleeve in the form of a UFC Hall of Famer.

    Since making his Octagon debut in November 2024, ‘RDR’ has taken the UFC by storm, securing four straight wins, including a highlight-reel finish of Bo Nickal and a gritty split decision victory over ex-titleholder Robert Whittaker. Now, the Dutchman is gearing up for another tough test when he takes on Brendan Allen in the UFC Vancouver main event on Saturday, October 18.

    Determined to leave no stone unturned, de Ridder revealed during a recent interview that his team has brought in former welterweight king Robbie Lawler to help hone his skills.

    “Robbie [Lawler] is a big part of it as well at the moment,” de Ridder told MMA Junkie. “It’s nice to have that inside–all the knowledge that Robbie has in training is very useful, it’s very helpful… Technique-wise, he’s really helped me a lot. I think maybe personality-wise we’re pretty similar.”

    Will Allen Capitalize on His Golden Opportunity Against Reinier de Ridder?

    Originally, ‘RDR’ was scheduled to fight Anthony Hernandez in the evening’s headliner, before ‘Fluffy’ bowed out due to an injury. Instead it’ll be Allen stepping into the spotlight to take on the former two-division ONE world champion.

    ‘All In’ is fresh off a big win over Marvin Vettori in July, snapping a two-fight losing skid and keeping him within earshot of the middleweight top 10. With a win over de Ridder in The Great White North, Allen could skyrocket himself all the way into the top five, putting him potentially one big win away from his own shot at UFC gold.

    Of course, de Ridder will do everything he can to prevent that from happening, and bringing in a legend like ‘Ruthless’ Robbie Lawler is a pretty good start.

  • UFC Rio Fight Reportedly Back On Track As Short Notice Replacement Steps In

    UFC Rio Fight Reportedly Back On Track As Short Notice Replacement Steps In

    The UFC Rio lineup has reportedly undergone some adjustments.

    The MMA promotion is slated to return to the “Cidade Maravilhosa” this year with a Fight Night event named UFC Rio, scheduled for October 11 at the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    According to a recent report from an MMA journalist Alvaro Colmenero, the welterweight clash between seasoned contenders Vicente Luque and Santiago Ponzinibbio has fallen through after the “Argentine Dagger” was forced out of UFC Rio with an injury.

    Luque, however, won’t be left without an opponent, as he is now reportedly set to face Joel Alvarez, who will be making his debut in the 170-pound division.

    “The Silent Assassin” last competed at UFC 316 in June, where he was submitted by Kevin Holland in the second round. Luque’s recent run has been a tough one, with just two wins in his last six outings. The 33-year-old Brazilian holds a 16-7 UFC record, with 14 of those victories coming by way of finish.

    Meanwhile, Alvarez has been out of action since December 2024, when he scored a first-round knockout over Drakkar Klose at UFC Tampa. Riding a three-fight win streak, “El Fenomeno” carries a flawless finishing rate across his 22-3 professional record and has gone 7-2 under the UFC banner.

    Images: @luquevicente/@joelelfenomenoalvarez/Instagram

    What Other Bouts Are Lined Up For UFC Rio?

    The UFC Rio card was originally set to be headlined by a lightweight clash between former champion Charles Oliveira and Rafael Fiziev. However, Fiziev had to step away from the fight due to injury, and the promotion is now working to secure a replacement opponent for “Do Bronx”.

    Meanwhile in the co-main event, former flyweight king Deiveson Figueiredo is slated to take on Montel Jackson in a bantamweight clash.

    Take a look at the updated UFC Rio lineup below:

    Main Card

    • Lightweight bout: Charles Oliveira vs. TBA
    • Bantamweight bout: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Montel Jackson
    • Welterweight bout: Gabriel Bonfim vs. Randy Brown
    • Heavyweight bout: Jhonata Diniz vs. Mário Pinto
    • Heavyweight bout: Valter Walker vs. Mohammed Usman
    • Welterweight bout: Vicente Luque vs. Joel Alvarez

    Preliminary Card

    • Flyweight bout: Jafel Filho vs. Clayton Carpenter
    • Featherweight bout: Lucas Almeida vs. Michael Aswell
    • Heavyweight bout: Vitor Petrino vs. Thomas Petersen
    • Featherweight bout: Ricardo Ramos vs. Kaan Ofli
    • Flyweight bout: Lucas Rocha vs. Stewart Nicoll
    • Strawweight bout: Julia Polastri vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz
    UFC Octagon
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC

  • “When the UFC Calls, They Say ‘I Can’t,’” — Charles Oliveira Rips Fake Volunteers in the Lightweight Division

    “When the UFC Calls, They Say ‘I Can’t,’” — Charles Oliveira Rips Fake Volunteers in the Lightweight Division

    Charles Oliveira just wants to fight at UFC Rio.

    After coming up short against Ilia Topuria in June, ‘Do Bronx’ was ready to jump back inside the Octagon in October for the promotion’s highly anticipated return to Rio de Janeiro. It looked to be all systems go with Oliveira set to face Rafael Fiziev in the evening’s headliner. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case after ‘Ataman’ bowed out of the bout due to injury.

    In the wake of the news, multiple fighters, including Benoit Saint-Denix, Mateusz Gamrot, Joaquim Silva, and even Diego Lopes, have shown interest in stepping in. But according to Oliveira, it’s all been nothing but talk.

    “Everybody knows my UFC Rio fight is off, but don’t fall for the talk of these guys out there saying ‘I’m here, I’ll go,’ because the UFC is calling and they’re all saying, ‘Oh, there’s not enough time to make weight. Oh, I can’t.’ They’re posting this on the internet to get hype,” Oliveira said in a recent interview. “Stop it. It’s not a good look. I saw one saying this, another saying that. But when the UFC calls, what do they say? ‘Oh I can’t. I got a belly ache. I broke a finger. I hurt my hand.’

    “Enough with that. It’s not a good look. I want to fight at UFC Rio, I asked for this fight. My opponent got hurt, then 10 guys show up saying they would fight. So far, every time the UFC calls ‘Let’s fight?’ they say, ‘I can’t.’ So stop with that because it’s not a good look. Do you want fame? Do something else. Don’t come saying you’ll fight, when it’s a lie, okay?”

    Charles Olivera confirms his Rio fight is off and puts other fighters on blast
    byu/IzzyVPerira3-1 inufc

    With no replacement opponent locked in, UFC Rio is currently without a main event.

    Deiveson Figueredo Looks to Snap 2-Fight Skid at UFC Rio

    Also scheduled for the event is former flyweight titleholder Deiveson Figueiredo, who is scheduled to meet streaking standout Montel Jackson. Since making the move up to 135 pounds, Figueiredo has strung together wins against Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. However, he’ll look to snap a two-fight losing skid in Rio when he puts his No. 6 bantamweight ranking on the line against the unranked Jackson.

    Here’s how the promotion’s return to Brazil currently stacks up without Oliveira:

    UFC Rio Main Card On ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

    • Vitor Petrino vs. Thomas Petersen (heavyweight)
    • Julia Polastri vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (strawweight)
    • Vicente Luque vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio (welterweight)
    • Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Montel Jackson (bantamweight)
    • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Randy Brown (welterweight)

    UFC Rio Preliminary Card On ESPN+ (4 p.m. ET):

    • Lucas Rocha vs. Stewart Nicoll (flyweight)
    • Jhonata Diniz vs. Mario Pinto (heavyweight)
    • Irina Alekseeva vs. Beatriz Mesquita (bantamweight)
    • Jafel Filho vs. Clayton Carpenter (flyweight)
    • Lucas Almeida vs. Michael Aswell (lightweight)
    • Ricardo Ramos vs. Kaan Ofli (featherweight)
    • Valter Walker vs. Mohammed Usman (heavyweight)
  • Conor McGregor Fighting at the White House? I Doubt it, Says UFC Veteran

    Conor McGregor Fighting at the White House? I Doubt it, Says UFC Veteran

    Is Conor McGregor really going to fight at the White House next year?

    ‘Mystic Mac’ sent the MMA world into a frenzy when he revealed on an episode of Fox & Friends that he was already booked for the UFC’s highly anticipated fight card at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 2026. However, not everyone is buying it.

    “The story that Conor McGregor is being talked to headline the White House card. I don’t buy it,” Chael Sonnen said via a video on his YouTube channel. “I can’t buy it. Why or would we be turning to Conor McGregor? And the answer is also out there because he is the sport’s biggest star. That is true.

    “So, is that what you need? If you’ve got the open checkbook and you’ve got the magic wand, without saying names, do you say I’m going to put as my main event the sport’s biggest star? Is that your answer? Doesn’t matter who he’s fighting.”

    Conor McGregor Says He’ll Fight Michael Chandler in the Nation’s Capital

    McGregor went on to claim that he already has an opponent lined up for the history-making event, and it’s none other than the man he’s been linked two for the last three years—Michael Chandler.

    After an underwhelming stint as opposing coaches on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter, McGregor and Chandler were rumored to fight in December 2023. When that didn’t happen, the focus shifted to UFC 303 where the bout was officially booked for the main event. Unfortunately, that card came and went with McGregor once again sitting on the sidelines, this time due to a broken pinky toe he suffered whilst training for the clash.

    Despite having been more than four years since his last Octagon appearance, McGregor has continued to dominate headlines, albeit for all the wrong reasons.

    So, what say you? Is McGregor’s “greatest comeback in combat sports history” finally happening, or is ‘The Notorious’ just pulling our leg again?

  • Dakota Ditcheva Should be Traded for Magomed Ankalaev, says UFC Employee

    Dakota Ditcheva Should be Traded for Magomed Ankalaev, says UFC Employee

    Former UFC fighter turned analyst Din Thomas thinks the UFC should trade off Magomed Ankalaev for PFL star Dakota Ditcheva.

    Trades between MMA organizations are extremely rare. In fact, it’s only happened once. In October 2018, the UFC sent former flyweight king Demetrious Johnson to ONE Championship in exchange for Ben Akren. Now, Thomas thinks it’s time for the the UFC to initiate another trade, this time sending it’s reigning light heavyweight champion over to Donn Davis and Co. in exchange for their British bombshell.

    “We gotta understand that MMA is a star-driven sport,” Thomas said on The Casuals MMA podcast back in February. “We have a star problem in the UFC. [PFL] got Dakota Ditcheva, who’s a star. I’m like, ‘Yo, please listen, if you guys like MMA, do this for MMA. Trade her to the UFC, you know she belongs in the UFC.’ Just trade, listen, get rid of Ankalaev in the UFC, trade her for Ankalaev, we don’t need Ankalaev, you know what I’m saying.”

    Of course, Thomas’ comments came before Ankalaev unseated Alex Pereira as the UFC light heavyweight champion, though his victory did little to create excitement in the fledgling division.

    Is Dakota Ditcheva the Next Big Thing in Women’s MMA?

    Meanwhile, Ditcheva continues to take the world MMA world by storm despite having a limited number of viable opponents to contend with under the PFL banner. After handily defeating Taila Santos—who once took Valentina Shevchenko to the limit—to win the 2024 PFL flyweight tournament, Ditcheva scored a decisive decision victory over Sumiko Inaba during the promotion’s inaugural event in Cape Town, South Africa.

    Given her 15-0 record and 80% finish rate inside the Smart Cage, it’s clear that Ditcheva is ready for the next level of competition—something she’s unlikely to get in the PFL.

    As for Ankalaev, he’ll put his gold up for grabs on October 4 when he runs it back with ‘Poatan’ at UFC 320 in Las Vegas. Ankalaev bested Pereira at UFC 313 after the Brazilian bruiser delivered an uncharacteristically lackluster performance in their light heavyweight headliner.

    Ankalaev is currently trending as a 2-to-1 favorite to retain his title.

  • Dakota Ditcheva To Defeat Valentina Shevchenko According to UFC Veteran

    Dakota Ditcheva To Defeat Valentina Shevchenko According to UFC Veteran

    Dakota Ditcheva would get it done over Valentina Shevchenko if the two were to fight now, according to a former UFC title challenger. This was expressed by Dan Hardy who was asked about how a hypothetical fight would play out between the undefeated PFL standout and the UFC flyweight champion.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Hardy said [via Fighters Only],

    “I would put my money on her [Ditcheva] against Valentina right now. That’s with all due respect to Valentina, who I’ve held in high regard for a long time. The thing that Valentina always made challenging about my job when I was doing Inside the Octagon for the UFC was there’s no highlight reel moments in her fights really. Very, very rarely—and that’s because she completely dominates people with just this steady pace. The kind of person that would break that style of fighting is someone that attacks ferociously.”

    “Dakota’s got the height and reach, the power, she’s got the viciousness, and the reality is American Top Team is probably one of the toughest mats, especially for a female fighter. I’ve got to expect her to at least hold her own on the ground with Valentina, if not be able to defend the takedowns. I think Dakota beats anybody right now in her weight class. I think pound-for-pound, if she’s not top three, then I’m crazy. I think she has a damn good chance against anybody and even going up to bantamweight and fighting there and having a lot of success there as well.”

    Dakota Ditcheva
    Image: PFL MMA

    Dakota Ditcheva and her pro MMA resume so far

    Dakota Ditcheva boasts a 15-0 overall record in professional mixed martial arts. The surging star out of the United Kingdom has captured tournament titles in both the PFL Europe and main stage PFL circuits.

    Ditcheva has become one of the big grassroots stars in the promotion and since debuting with that promotion in 2022, has become one of the first fighters you think of who compete inside the Smart Cage.

  • Ronda Rousey Sparks Comeback Rumors With New Training Clips

    Ronda Rousey Sparks Comeback Rumors With New Training Clips

    The Ronda Rousey rumor mill is up and running again.

    Ever since she last stepped inside the Octagon nearly a decade ago, rumors have continued to run rampant that the former UFC bantamweight champion was gearing up for an MMA comeback. Often times, the speculation is quickly shot down by either Dana White or Rousey herself. But this time, it feels a little different.

    That’s because Rousey herself is pouring a little bit of fuel on the fire via a recent clip on Instagram.

    “The first clip is my first session working with [@aj_mma] I was super self conscious, embarrassed of how much I regressed, and honestly trying my very best not to pee my pants throwing punches so soon after having baby Pā’ū,” Rousey wrote.

    “Second clip was yesterday, I’ve never laughed or smiled so much on the mat as I do these days. The last 6 months have been an absolute blast, feels like I have so much left to grow, and without the weight of the world on my shoulders nothing is holding me back. ‘What we learn with pleasure we never forget’ Alfred Mercier.”

    After going 12-0 in her mixed martial arts career with 12-straight finishes, Rousey hit a brick wall in November 2015 named Holly Holm. ‘Rowdy’ went into the fight as one of the biggest favorites in UFC history, but was promptly beaten 59-seconds into the second round, ending her run as the most dominant force in MMA.

    A year later, Rousey’s comeback bid was halted less than a minute into her clash with Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. ‘The Lioness’ properly pummeled the Olympic bronze medalist, bringing a bitter end to Rousey’s illustrious career inside the Octagon.

    Ronda Rousey Finds Second Life as a WWE Superstar

    Since then, Rousey has found success in the world of sports entertainment, signing with WWE and making history as one of the first women to ever headline the promotion’s annual showcase of the immortals, Wrestlemania. During her run, Rousey held four championships in WWE: the Raw Women’s Championship, the SmackDown Women’s Championship on two separate occasions, and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship with her partner Shayna Baszler.

    Today, Rousey is happy to live a quiet life away from the spotlight with her husband, former UFC heavyweight Travis Browne, and their two children.

    With the weight of the world seemingly off her shoulders, is ‘Rowdy’ gearing up for a potential return to the Octagon? Only time will tell.

  • How Mark Kerr’s Legendary Toughness Inspired Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in The Smashing Machine

    How Mark Kerr’s Legendary Toughness Inspired Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in The Smashing Machine

    Mark Kerr has had a decorated MMA career filled with impressive wins but it was the valor he showed in one of his losses that inspired Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and was captured in The Smashing Machine.

    At a recent media appearance that saw Kerr and Johnson discuss the cinematic effort, the two titanic figures touched on the Kazuyuki Fujita fight in the Pride 2000 openweight grand prix. The fight saw Kerr fatigue after blasting ‘Iron Head’ with devastating shots that Fujita withstood en route to capturing the unofficial distinction of lineal MMA heavyweight champion from Kerr.

    When touching upon how impactful he felt it was to see that grit and resolve that Kerr showed in taking his first official MMA loss, Johnson said,

    “And Mark [Kerr] is the one who experienced this loss where he couldn’t move in the ring and he was getting rocked. And what’s so moving about that when you see it in the documentary and then you obviously watch it and you pull it up, his fights on YouTube, is that as Mark is getting rocked in that moment, his eyes are open. He’s with it. And he’s not knocked out. He’s getting his bell rung. He’s getting kneed in the guts and in the rib cage. And then also, but he’s not quitting and he’s not tapping and he’s just there.”

    Dwayne Johnson on Mark Kerr “The man who lived his life so we could all feel it”

    As he kept expounding on that iconic fight that Mark Kerr had in May 2000, Johnson continued,

    “I said to Mark just you and I here. Why couldn’t you move? Why were you… you know I said there’s 30-40,000 people there in Japan. And he goes that’s exactly it DJ. There’s 30-40,000 people there in Japan. They all came to see me. I’m not going to quit. I just could not move my arm. So, the best thing for me to do was just to take it. And I was going to take it until I couldn’t take it anymore or take it until the ref stops it. Obviously, the ref stops. I have chills now thinking as he was telling me that. The man who lived his life so we could all feel it.”

  • BKFC President Guarantees Conor McGregor Will Compete in Bare Knuckle

    BKFC President Guarantees Conor McGregor Will Compete in Bare Knuckle

    BKFC president David Feldman is confident that Conor McGregor will step inside the squared circle before long.

    In April 2024, McGregor announced that he’d officially become part-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, a fast-rising promotion featuring a slew of former UFC stars, including ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, Paige VanZant, and Yoel Romero. Almost immediately, speculation ran rampant as to whether or not ‘Mystic Mac’ would ever toe the line in BKFC despite still being firmly under contract with the UFC.

    With McGregor seemingly confirming to the world that he will compete on the UFC’s highly anticipated card at the White House in 2026, people are now once again wondering if the former champ-champ will ever trade in his 4oz gloves for a pair of hand wraps.

    “I think it depends on the outcome of the White House card, right?” Feldman told MMA Fighting of McGregor’s potential move from MMA to bare-knuckle. “If he wins the White House card, which I have every reason to believe no matter who he fights, he’s going to win because they’re going to match him… If he wins and looks good, he’s going to fight another fight.

    “And if that happens, then I would bet 100% he’ll fight for BKFC. Why wouldn’t he? What will he do for the valuation of the company? He’ll double or triple it, and then he just doubled or tripled his interest in this. That’s way more than he’s going to get fighting anywhere else.”

    Conor McGregor Claims He Will Fight Michael Chandler at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

    No official announcements have been made regarding who will compete in the nation’s capital next year, but McGregor seems confident that the event will host a long-awaited clash between himself and former Bellator champion ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler.

    The two were rumored to fight in December 2023 following their stint as opposing coaches on TUF 31 before the bout was officially booked for UFC 303. Unfortunately, the contest was scrapped after McGregor broke his pinky toe whilst training.

    Since then, it’s been a tumultous year for the Irish megastar. In late 2024, McGregor was found guilty of sexual assault, resulting in him losing millions of dollars in sponsorship deals. Then there was his failed bid at the Irish presidency.

  • Conor McGregor Claims Fight With Michael Chandler Will Happen At UFC White House

    Conor McGregor Claims Fight With Michael Chandler Will Happen At UFC White House

    To those who have completely wiped away the idea that Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler would ever happen, McGregor is here to say you wrote the demise of that fight too early (supposedly).

    McGregor has long campaigned for a spot on the UFC White House card next summer to mark his return to the Octagon. Now, he’s gone as far as to name Chandler as his opponent for such a fight.

    McGregor announced his intentions for the previously-scrapped fight to take place at the White House while making an appearance on the Fox & Friends television program.

    “I’m on it,” McGregor said. “I am, this is me. Michael Chandler. Michael Chandler and myself have done the show, The Ultimate Fighter. We’ve had a good back-and-forth. He’s a good, tough guy. And ‘The Mac’ is excited to be back, for sure.”

    Conor McGregor Says He Will Fight Michael Chandler At UFC White House Card

    McGregor and Chandler both coached season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023. But as the year came and went, there was no news on a potential coaches’ fight for these two, despite it being announced at the end of the season.

    Finally, at the UFC 300 post-fight press conference, UFC CEO and President Dana White confirmed that McGregor and Chandler would serve as the main event for UFC 303 in June 2024. But just weeks before the fight, a planned press conference in Dublin was canceled at the 11th hour, and the fight never came to fruition.

    The fight seemed to be further dead following Chandler’s losses to Charles Oliveira and Paddy Pimblett at UFC 309 and UFC 314, respectively. But Chandler has recently expressed great belief that he and McGregor will headline the UFC’s planned White House card in June 2026.

    McGregor, who recently dropped out of the race for Ireland’s presidency, has not fought in the Octagon since his loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.