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  • Joe Rogan Wonders How Khamzat Chimaev’s Cardio Will Fare Against Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 319

    Joe Rogan Wonders How Khamzat Chimaev’s Cardio Will Fare Against Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 319

    Joe Rogan is skeptical about Khamzat Chimaev’s endurance.

    Chimaev is locked in to headline UFC 319 this Saturday at the United Center in Chicago, where he will challenge reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis for the title.

    Although “Borz” remains undefeated in his professional career, he has only gone the distance twice in the UFC. In both bouts, Chimaev faced significant challenges, and as the fights progressed into the later rounds, he appeared to fade, raising questions about the durability of his cardio.

    Meeting Death Created Khamzat Chimaev as We Know Him Today If you're not ready to die when it comes, you'll be scared

    Joe Rogan Questions Whether Khamzat Chimaev Can Last Against Dricus Du Plessis

    During a recent episode of his JRE MMA Show, Joe Rogan shared his insights on the highly anticipated clash between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev. The veteran commentator also discussed the undefeated Russian’s preparation for UFC 319, discussing whether “Borz” has made any gains in endurance while training with renowned conditioning coach Sam Calavitta.

    “What’s going to be interesting is if it gets into deep water, because I know he started training with Calvita—for his conditioning,” Rogan said. “He went to Sam Calvita who trained TJ Dillashaw, works with Aaron Pico, Arman Tsarukyan’s doing it with him, too. And that guy is a legend, man… He’s using real science to do it. This is the first time he’s ever been through a camp like this where he’s coming in fresh, where he’s not overtrained.”

    Rogan also questioned how Khamzat Chimaev’s cardio would hold up in championship rounds, warning that Du Plessis could become a serious threat late in the fight.

    “That’s the question—is can he sprint for five rounds? ‘Cause we know DDP can. Him and Sean Strickland, they were ready to have heart attacks at the end of that fight. Getting his nose busted like that and still staying and fighting with staph. He had staph. He had staph through the second fight. That’s why he was listless. He was on antibiotics and everything. He was all messed up.”

    “Borz” enters UFC 319 riding a first-round submission win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October of last year. Chimaev currently holds a perfect 14-0 professional record, with 12 victories coming by stoppage.

    It is a problem - Khamzat Chimaev Winning The UFC Middleweight Throne is a Promotional Disaster, According to UFC Veterans



  • Patricio Pitbull Reportedly Booked To Face Promising New Signee At UFC Paris On Sept. 6

    Patricio Pitbull Reportedly Booked To Face Promising New Signee At UFC Paris On Sept. 6

    Patricio Pitbull will reportedly return for his third UFC fight of the year.

    According to Maîtres Fumiers on Instagram, Pitbull is expected to face promotional newcomer Losene Keita at UFC Paris on September 6 inside the Accor Arena in France.

    The upcoming Fight Night will be headlined by a pivotal middleweight showdown between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho, with potential title implications on the line. Meanwhile, the main card will also feature Benoît Saint Denis facing rising talent Mauricio Ruffy in a lightweight showdown.

    UFC Paris Poster
    Image: UFC.com

    How Does Patricio Pitbull’s Record Compare To Losene Keita’s Ahead Of UFC Paris?

    Patricio Pitbull kicked off his UFC journey earlier this year at UFC 314, facing former interim featherweight champion and suffering a one-sided unanimous decision loss. The former Bellator two division titleholder bounced back at UFC 318 last month, reclaiming victory with a hard-fought decision over Dan Ige.

    Pitbull boasts a professional MMA record of 37-8, with an impressive 24 of those victories earned via stoppage.

    Meanwhile, Losene Keita, who officially signed a UFC contract on Friday, is a two-division champion in OKTAGON. “Black Panther” enters UFC Paris on a five-fight winning streak, having last competed at OKTAGON 65 in December 2024, where he secured a second-round TKO over Ronald Paradeiser to successfully defend his lightweight title.

    Keita currently holds a 16-1 professional record, with 10 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

    Patricio Pitbull vs. Losene Keita set for UFC Paris
    Images: @patriciopitbull/@keitaplusser/Instagram
  • Joe Rogan Hopes UFC Maintains ESPN Ties Despite Historic Paramount+ Agreement

    Joe Rogan Hopes UFC Maintains ESPN Ties Despite Historic Paramount+ Agreement

    Joe Rogan hopes UFC’s latest deal won’t sever ties with its longtime partner.

    The UFC’s exclusive five-year rights agreement with ESPN is set to conclude at the close of 2025. The promotion has already locked in its next landmark deal with a seven-year, $7.7 billion U.S. broadcasting partnership with Paramount Skydance Corporation.

    During its partnership with the UFC, ESPN showcased the promotion’s full slate of events across both its television network and the ESPN+ streaming platform, while holding exclusive rights to distribute pay-per-views.

    The sports media powerhouse also delivered extensive UFC coverage and featured several former fighters as analysts and commentators. However, with the UFC now shifting to a new broadcast home, questions remain about how ESPN’s role in covering the sport will evolve moving forward.

    UFC-ESPN broadcast deal to conclude at the end of 2025
    Image: ESPN.com

    Joe Rogan Wants UFC To Keep ESPN Association Despite Paramount+ Switch In 2026

    During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the veteran UFC commentator weighed in on the promotion’s new broadcasting deal with Paramount+. While Joe Rogan voiced his enthusiasm for the partnership set to kick off next year, he also admitted he hopes the UFC won’t sever its relationship with ESPN, which he sees as a crucial bridge to casual sports fans.

    The 58-year-old acclaimed podcaster emphasized that ESPN remains a vital gateway for introducing new audiences to the world of MMA.

    “I’m kind of bummed out, and I hope they don’t lose the relationship that they had with ESPN with all their MMA shows,” Joe Rogan said. “I hope they don’t go, like, ‘F**k them. They went to Paramount.’ I hope it’s a mutually beneficial thing, like the UFC at least does some content still on ESPN, because I think that’s also a big factor in pulling people from casual viewers that watch other sports that might occasionally watch a UFC fight and then they see, like, Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway and they’re like, ‘Holy sh*t.’

    “And then they’re hooked. Having that coverage on SportsCenter, that shit’s huge. Having those post-fight shows on ESPN+, that sh*t is huge for the real dorks like me, that’s huge.”

    As part of the new agreement, Paramount+ will become the primary U.S. destination for all 13 numbered UFC pay-per-view cards and 30 Fight Night events annually. Every fight will stream live on the platform, while select high-profile cards will also receive a primetime broadcast on Paramount’s flagship network, CBS.

    The UFC will also move away from its long-standing pay-per-view model, making every event accessible to Paramount+ subscribers. However, UFC CEO Dana White has hinted that the promotion may roll out special “one-off” PPV cards on rare occasions.

    UFC Octagon
    Image: UFC.com


  • Why is Dricus du Plessis Underdog Against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319? UFC Veteran Argues

    Why is Dricus du Plessis Underdog Against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319? UFC Veteran Argues

    Dricus du Plessis is a betting underdog this weekend as he steps into the cage against Khamzat Chimaev. DDP being seen as an underdog at UFC 319 as he enters the cage in Chicago on August 16th to defend his middleweight crown has drawn the attention of many, including a former multi-time UFC middleweight title challenger.

    Chael Sonnen recently took the time to discuss the oddsmakers perceptions of Saturday night’s main event with a localized focus on DDP’s career but also on a more macro view of the sport. While discussing instances where du Plessis has been an underdog before only to shock the broader MMA world and also observing how the public has historically looked at certain stylistic matchups, Sonnen said,

    “I think you just found out how good Dricus is. I think that’s what happened here. And I accuse you of that because I feel it, too. But I can’t identify it for you. I can’t verbalize it for you. Dricus fought Izzy and he showed a couple of things ever so slight. To get Izzy tired is hard to do and Dricus did. There’s nothing more intimidating than a guy that can weaponize pace, and we saw that he did it and he struck with Izzy, so all of a sudden you got to check off that box.”

    Dricus du Plessis’ stand up and Khamzat Chimaev’s grappling

    When touching on how public perception on upcoming fights has largely leaned toward particular approaches over other stylistic frameworks in the context of the Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev betting line, Sonnen continued,

    “Never in history, and I’m going back to 1993, has DraftKings favored the striker over the grappler. Not a literal statement, but close enough. So Dricus showed you what a great and well-conditioned striker he is. When has that ever made you change your bet when you’re taking on one of the great grapplers ever? Go all the way back to ’93. Go all the way back to Royce and Severn. Go to Shamrock and tell me what you were so impressed with those guys.“

  • “The Best Lightweight In PFL” – Fans React To Alfie Davis Pulling Off Massive Upset To Defeat Gadzhi Rabadanov And Claim Lightweight PFL World Tournament Title

    “The Best Lightweight In PFL” – Fans React To Alfie Davis Pulling Off Massive Upset To Defeat Gadzhi Rabadanov And Claim Lightweight PFL World Tournament Title

    Gadzhi Rabadanov’s desires for a second straight PFL lightweight title are for naught. Alfie Davis put on an excellent striking performance to outlast Rabadanov’s grappling-heavy efforts to claim the 2025 PFL World Tournament lightweight title in the main event of the PFL’s card in Charlotte, North Carolina.

    The fight opened with a tactical first round, with Davis working kicks from range as Rabadanov tried to pressure. Raabdanov was trying to overwhelm Davis with his takedown attempts and grappling, but Davis executed well on his high kicks and body shots.

    Rabadanov took control in the second round, scoring an early takedown and imposing his will from the top position. He stayed on top for most of the frame, landing body shots and advancing through half guard. Davis rebounded with a dynamic striking effort in the third round, working combinations and scoring in the exchanges, in particular landing kicks and sharp elbows.

    Rabadanov repeated his second-round performance in round four, but Davis’ sharp striking and tagging of Rabadanov helped him secure the fifth round, resulting in all three judges awarding 48-47 scores and the PFL tournament title to Davis.

    Alfie Davis Claims 2025 PFL Lightweight World Tournament Title With Decision Over Gadzhi Rabadanov

    Rabadanov reached his second straight PFL lightweight final thanks to finishes of Marc Diakiese and Kevin Lee.

    Davis’ final spot was secured thanks to victories over Clay Collard and Brent Primus.

  • “The Epitome Of A Timeless Fighter” – Fans React As Liz Carmouche Crushes Jena Bishop With Devastating Left Hand To Claim Women’s Flyweight PFL World Tournament Title

    “The Epitome Of A Timeless Fighter” – Fans React As Liz Carmouche Crushes Jena Bishop With Devastating Left Hand To Claim Women’s Flyweight PFL World Tournament Title

    Liz Carmouche’s legacy grows following the PFL World Tournament event in Charlotte, North Carolina, as she claimed the women’s flyweight tournament gold with a knockout of Jena Bishop in the co-main event.

    The opening round saw both women trading jabs, with Bishop landing combinations to the body while Carmouche answered with steady low kicks. Bishop pressed forward with volume and clinch control, but Carmouche battled back with short strikes inside and a late flurry.

    Round two saw the drama go up to another level, with the fight going to the ground after a caught kick by Bishop. Bishop nearly locked up an armbar and then transitioned to a triangle choke. Carmouche escaped and threatened her own submissions. The round ended with the two trading heavy shots and battling for positional control.

    After a slow start to the third round, with Bishop trying to establish her range again, Carmouche exploded with a big left hand that dropped Bishop for the finish.

    Liz Carmouche KOs Jena Bishop For 2025 PFL Women’s Flyweight World Tournament Title

    After falling short in last year’s women’s flyweight competition, Carmouche reached the finals this year through wins over Ilara Joanne and Elora Dana.

    Bishop also fell just short of the final last year, losing to eventual champion Dakota Ditcheva. She reached the final with wins over Kana Watanabe and Ekaterina Shakalova.

  • “Contender Series For Him In 2 Years” – Fans React As Marcirley Alves Staves Off Justin Wetzell For 2025 PFL Bantamweight World Tournament Title

    “Contender Series For Him In 2 Years” – Fans React As Marcirley Alves Staves Off Justin Wetzell For 2025 PFL Bantamweight World Tournament Title

    In a battle of two men who started the PFL bantamweight tournament as alternates before being official participants, Marcirley Alves managed to outwork Justin Wetzell in a featured bout at the PFL World Tournament card in Charlotte, North Carolina, to become the 2025 PFL World Tournament champion at bantamweight.

    Alves started strong, finding his range early with combinations, including a sharp left that caught Wetzell in the opening round. Wetzell tried to slow the pace, but Alves’ striking volume and takedown defense controlled most of the fight’s first half.

    Momentum shifted in round four, as Wetzell finally secured takedowns and pressured Alves, mixing knees and body shots. Wetzell took his grappling pressure and combined it with clinch pressure in the fifth.

    Wetzell then landed a huge knee in the fifth that dropped Alves. He nearly scored a D’Arce choke, but Alves narrowly escaped. Wetzell pushed forward with flurries and cage control, though Alves stayed in control and fired back.

    Marcirley Alves Defeats Justin Wetzell For PFL Bantamweight World Tournament Title

    Alves reached the final with a finish of Leandro Higo in the first round and a win over former Bellator champion Brent Primus in the semifinals.

    Wetzell, who entered with 11 wins in his last 12, secured his spot in the final through wins over Kasum Kasumov and Mando Gutierrez.

  • UFC 319 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Du Plessis vs. Chimaev And More

    UFC 319 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Du Plessis vs. Chimaev And More

    UFC 319 is almost here, and we here at MMA News are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.

    The card takes place from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, August 16. The pay-per-view main card portion of the event will start at 10PM ET/7PM PT, with preliminary action starting at 6PM ET/3PM PT.

    The headline attraction for the event will feature Dricus Du Plessis taking on Khamzat Chimaev with the UFC middleweight championship on the line.

    The co-main event will see the undefeated Lerone Murphy welcoming Aaron Pico to the Octagon.

    The pay-per-view card will also feature Geoff Neal facing Carlos Prates, Jared Cannonier clashing with Michael “Venom” Page, and Tim Elliott meeting Kai Asakura.

    UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 319 as of August 15 at 9:30pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight Championship: Dricus Du Plessis (+215) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (-265)
    • Featherweight: Lerone Murphy (+154) vs. Aaron Pico (-185)
    • Welterweight: Geoff Neal (+180) vs. Carlos Prates (-218)
    • Middleweight: Jared Cannonier (+180) vs. Michael Page (-218)
    • Flyweight: Tim Elliott (+250) vs. Kai Asakura (-310)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Welterweight: Baysangur Susurkaev (-950) vs. Eric Nolan (+625)
    • Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert (+180) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (-210)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Jessica Andrade (+120) vs. Loopy Godinez (-142)
    • Lightweight: Chase Hooper (-325) vs. Alexander Hernandez (+260)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Edson Barboza (-130) vs. Drakkar Klose (+110)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Karine Silva (-198) vs. Dione Barbosa (+164)
    • Flyweight: TUF Finale: Alibi Idiris (-455) vs. Joseph Morales (+350)
  • PFL World Tournament Week 9 Results & Highlights

    PFL World Tournament Week 9 Results & Highlights

    The second of three events to mark the conclusion of the PFL’s 2025 World Tournaments goes down in Charlotte, North Carolina tonight — and MMA News has you covered with all the action.

    The World Tournament is the spiritual successor to the season-and-the-playoffs has had since its inaugural season in 2018. As part of the changes in format to the PFL upon the official folding of the Bellator brand earlier this year, the PFL changed its global season to a single-elimination tournament format, adding more weight classes, eight fighters per weight class.

    First-round action took place in April and May, with June — previously hosting the second leg of the regular season — hosting semifinal action. This month will see the conclusion of these tournaments, with eight winners receiving PFL World Tournament title belts and $100,000.

    This evening will be headlined by the lightweight tournament final between defending champion Gadzhi Rabadanov and Alfie Davis. Rabadanov, who defeated Brent Primus to claim the 2024 lightweight title, looks to become just one of a handful of PFL fighters to become a back-to-back tournament champion, let alone a two-time PFL tournament champion. Rabadanov made it to the finals with a pair of first-round finishes against Marc Diakiese and Kevin Lee. Davis, meanwhile, advanced here with a first-round knockout of Clay Collard and a decision win over Primus.

    The co-main event will be the women’s flyweight tournament final between Liz Carmouche and Jena Bishop. Carmouche, the former Bellator women’s flyweight champion, reached the finals through an 85-second finish of Ilara Joanne and a decision over Elora Dana. Bishop reached with a unanimous decision over Kana Watanabe and a second-round submission of Ekaterina Shakalova.

    Also featured will be the bantamweight tournament final featuring Marcirley Alves and Justin Wetzell. Alves made it to the final through decision wins over Leandro Higo and Jake Hadley. Wetzell scored decision wins over Kasum Kasumov and Mando Gutierrez.

    2025 PFL World Tournament Week 9 Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Lightweight Final: Alfie Davis def. Gadzhi Rabadanov via unanimous decision (48-47 x3)
    • Women’s Flyweight Final: Liz Carmouche def. Jena Bishop via KO (R3, 2:56)
    • Bantamweight Final: Marcirley Alves def. Justin Wetzell via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47 x2)
    • Lightweight: Robert Watley def. Mads Burnell via TKO (R3, 2:43)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Women’s Flyweight: Juliana Velasquez def. Ekaterina Shakalova via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Lightweight: Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Adryan Grundy via TKO (R3, 3:23)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Sabrinna de Sousa def. Saray Orozco via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
    • Bantamweight: Renat Khavalov def. Vilson Ndregjoni via TKO (R1, 2:49)
    • Welterweight: Chris Mixan def. Kendly St. Louis via TKO (R1, 4:36)
    • Featherweight: Damian Nelson def. Isaiah Diggs via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    Damian Nelson vs. Isaiah Diggs

    Kendly St. Louis vs. Chris Mixan

    Renat Khavalov vs. Vilson Ndregjoni

    Sabrinna de Sousa vs. Saray Orozco

    Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Adryan Grundy

    Juliana Velasquez vs. Ekaterina Shakalova

    Mads Burnell vs. Robert Watley

    Marcirley Alves vs. Justin Wetzell

    Liz Carmouche vs. Jena Bishop

    Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Alfie Davis

  • Watch Dricus Du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev Face Off At UFC 319 Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    Watch Dricus Du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev Face Off At UFC 319 Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    We’re about 24 hours away from UFC 319, and MMA News is here to bring you the video from the ceremonial weigh-ins for the card!

    UFC 319 takes place on August 16 from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

    The main event of the evening will feature Dricus Du Plessis defending the UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev. Du Plessis, unbeaten in the UFC, originally claimed the championship with a decision win over Sean Strickland at UFC 297. He has since defended the title against Israel Adesanya and Strickland at UFC 305 and UFC 312, respectively. Chimaev, who hasn’t lost in MMA, secured this title shot with a finish of another former champion in Robert Whittaker at UFC 308.

    The co-main event will feature the UFC debut of Aaron Pico, as the Bellator veteran faces undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy.

    The rest of the main card sees Geoff Neal face Carlos Prates, Jared Cannonier taking on Michael “Venom” Page, and Tim Elliott going toe-to-toe with Kai Asakura.

    One bout was scrapped on weigh-in day following Bryan Battle’s significant weight miss. But all other bouts are on!

    The ceremonial weigh-ins present the last opportunity for opponents to face off before they meet inside the Octagon. Check them out below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel!

    UFC 319 Ceremonial Weigh-In Video

  • Joe Rogan Predicts UFC’s $7.7 Billion Paramount Plus Deal Will Send MMA ‘Through The Roof’

    Joe Rogan Predicts UFC’s $7.7 Billion Paramount Plus Deal Will Send MMA ‘Through The Roof’

    Joe Rogan is bullish on the UFC’s new broadcast deal.

    The UFC’s exclusive five-year rights deal with ESPN will wrap up at the end of 2025, and the promotion has already lined up its next historic chapter with a seven-year, $7.7 billion U.S. broadcasting partnership with Paramount Skydance Corporation.

    Paramount+ will serve as the premier U.S. home for all 13 marquee numbered UFC cards and 30 Fight Night events each year. Every bout will stream on the platform, with select blockbuster cards also airing simultaneously on Paramount’s flagship network, CBS.

    The biggest shake-up for fans sees the UFC abandoning the traditional pay-per-view model, putting every event within reach for Paramount+ subscribers. In the U.S., plans range from $7.99 to $12.99 a month for the ad-free tier that also includes Showtime. Still, UFC CEO Dana White has teased the possibility of occasional “one-off” pay-per-view events.

    UFC CEO Dana White
    Image: UFC/YouTube

    Joe Rogan Sees UFC-Paramount+ Move As A Massive Win For MMA Fans

    During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the long-time UFC commentator shared his take on the promotion’s blockbuster deal with Paramount+. Rogan believes replacing the conventional pay-per-view model with an all-access streaming approach could be a game-changer, drawing in a wave of new fans and expanding the reach of MMA to a broader, more diverse audience than ever before.

    “Through the roof,” Joe Rogan said. “And it’s a super smart move for Paramount. What a great move to not just have the UFC for seven years, but to have it for free. How much does it cost a month? Ten bucks, let’s say it’s ten bucks. That’s crazy. That’s a $120 a year, you can watch every UFC pay-per-view? Two UFC pay-per-views is, like, 140 bucks, right? Isn’t it? Aren’t they, like, $70? So you get all of them. Everything’s free? That’s incredible. This sport is going to go f**king hypernova.”

    Joe Rogan, who first joined the UFC in 1997 as a backstage interviewer at UFC 12, has witnessed the promotion’s evolution through every major broadcast era, from Spike TV to FOX to ESPN.

    Now, as Dana White confirmed, the 58-year-old MMA mainstay isn’t going anywhere; Rogan will be front and center as the UFC enters its new chapter with Paramount.

  • Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev Off UFC 319 Following Battle’s Weight Miss

    Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev Off UFC 319 Following Battle’s Weight Miss

    UFC 319 has taken yet another hit as a result of the sole weight miss that occurred for the card.

    Per an announcement from the promotion, the early prelim bout between Bryan Battle and Nursulton Ruziboev has been scrapped due to Battle missing weight.

    Battle weighed in at 190 pounds, four pounds above the non-title middleweight limit.

    Initial reports claimed that Battle vs. Ruziboev would proceed, with Battle forfeiting 30 percent of his purse.

    As of press time, it’s unclear what in the circumstances changed that led the fight to being canceled.

    Bryan Battle Misses Weight By Four Pounds, UFC 319 Bout With Nursulton Ruziboev Off

    This is Battle’s second straight scheduled contest that saw him significantly miss weight — and doing so in a heavier weight class this time around. Battle weighed in at 175 pounds for a scheduled welterweight bout against Randy Brown at UFC 310.

    Battle is unbeaten in his last five fights.

    This is the third fight in the last 26 hours that UFC 319 has lost. The scheduled prelim headliner between King Green and Carlos Diego Ferreira was canceled after Green withdrew due to injury. Then, the welterweight TUF Finale fight between Rodrigo Sezinando and Daniil Donchenko was pushed back to Noche UFC 3 due to injury to Sezinando.

    UFC 319 will proceed on with 12 fights — down from its scheduled 15 after Baysangur Susurkaev’s quick turnaround from the Dana White’s Contender Series premiere.

  • Aaron Pico recalls entertaining story regarding his son ahead of UFC debut

    Aaron Pico recalls entertaining story regarding his son ahead of UFC debut

    UFC newcomer Aaron Pico has recalled an amusing conversation with his son as he prepares for his first appearance with the promotion this weekend.

    On Saturday night, Aaron Pico will compete in the co-main event of UFC 319 in Chicago. He’ll do so against Lerone Murphy, who is currently undefeated and could be just one win away from a shot at the UFC featherweight championship.

    For Aaron Pico, this is all about proving he belongs in the big dance. He was more than willing to square off with Movsar Evloev but now that it isn’t going to happen, beating Murphy is still a pretty good sign that he’s ready to mix it up with the very best at 145 pounds.

    In his media day interview earlier this week, Aaron Pico spoke about his son’s point of view on him competing in the UFC.

    Aaron Pico reflects on amusing conversation with his son

    “It’s always funny to explain to somebody that just doesn’t get it,” Pico said. “I have a funny story, my son is four years old and we watch the fights all the time and when I told him, ‘Dad’s going to fight in the UFC on TV,’ he said, ‘Wow, Dad, you’re finally a professional.’

    “I said, ‘Yeah, dad’s finally a professional.’ It’s funny, but now it’s going to be-I don’t really tell people when I’m out in public, they always ask me, ‘What do you do for a living?’ I just say, ‘I’m an artist’ and I don’t go into detail. Then if they pry, I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m a fighter.’ 

    “Then you tell them back then I fought for this organization, they’re like, ‘OK, so one day you’ll be in the UFC.’ I said, ‘Yeah, one day I’ll be in the UFC.’ Now if I get that question, it’s just, ‘Yeah, I’m a UFC fighter.’ The conversation is, like, ‘Wow, you’re big time and blah blah blah,’ but it feels good.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Khamzat Chimaev’s kryptonite potentially exposed by UFC legend

    Khamzat Chimaev’s kryptonite potentially exposed by UFC legend

    UFC legend Max Holloway has given his thoughts on an area of Khamzat Chimaev‘s game that Dricus du Plessis could expose.

    Tomorrow night, Dricus du Plessis will defend his UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev. The two men have been circling one another for a long time, and this has always felt like the natural next step in their rivalry.

    Nobody really knows how it’s going to go, but one thing is for sure – if Khamzat Chimaev can get his wrestling game going early, he’s got an excellent chance of walking out of Chicago with the belt around his waist.

    Max Holloway, however, believes that there’s a way in which Dricus du Plessis could use Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling advantage against him.

    Max Holloway’s view on Khamzat Chimaev

    “I like both guys,” Holloway said on his YouTube channel. “Both guys are awesome. This is crazy. I understand why, but this is crazy. The champion — especially with who the champion beat — is an underdog. It’s kinda crazy. The reason why he is, I understand who Chimaev is.

    “The one biggest thing that I can point out that I hope this fight du Plessis watched was the fight that Chimaev fought Kamaru Usman. If you watch that fight — not many people are going to pick up on this, but here’s a little spoiler for you guys — every time Kamaru Usman decided to anti-wrestle and not wrestle back with Chimaev, he actually defended a takedown. 

    “Go watch. Go watch all the takedowns that Kamaru Usman defended. It was takedowns that he didn’t try to counter-wrestle with him, he just anti-wrestled, meaning he was just trying to go for full breaks and that’s it. He had great success when he wasn’t trying to counter back. …

    “Any time Usman did try to wrestle back with him, guess who won the exchange? You guessed it right, Chimaev. if du Plessis took anything — I saw his coach saying they want to take the wrestling to him, that’s not the way you’re going to beat him. This guy is just going to wrestle back with you. You need to anti-wrestle. Then, maybe later on, you wrestle back.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Khamzat Chimaev Does Not Care About Dricus Du Plessis: “Beat him up and take my money and go home”

    Khamzat Chimaev Does Not Care About Dricus Du Plessis: “Beat him up and take my money and go home”

    UFC star Khamzat Chimaev has made it clear that he doesn’t really care too much about Dricus du Plessis’ comments and that he’s focused on claiming the title.

    On Saturday night, Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship. It’s been a long time coming for Khamzat who, for years now, has been seen as the next big thing in mixed martial arts. If he’s able to win the title convincingly, and go on to have a solid title reign, his star power will go through the roof – which we’ve been expecting to happen ever since he first debued.

    Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t seem to take things too personally when it comes to back and forth spats with his foes, whereas Dricus du Plessis thrives on getting under the skin of his opponents. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, and this time around, Chimaev certainly seems to be keeping his cool.

    Outside of a heated face-off, Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis seem to be showing one another a lot of mutual respect. In a recent interview, ‘Borz’ made it known that he isn’t that bothered about anything DDP says at this point.

  • Dricus Du Plessis is a Better Striker than Khamzat Chimaev – But It Won’t Matter Explains UFC Legend

    Dricus Du Plessis is a Better Striker than Khamzat Chimaev – But It Won’t Matter Explains UFC Legend

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has given his thoughts on the striking differences between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.

    Tomorrow night, Dricus du Plessis will defend his UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev. He’ll do so in the main event of UFC 319, and he’ll do so with a lot of people doubting his ability to get the job done. Of course, that’s nothing new for DDP in his UFC career.

    He has constantly been able to flip the script and spring an upset – or at least, what would be seen as an upset in the eyes of the fans. Alas, Dricus du Plessis is far more talented than a lot of people give him credit for, especially in the striking department.

    Speaking of which, Chael Sonnen recently weighed in on how the striking exchanges could go between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev on Saturday.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev

    “In the history of Chimaev’s striking, there was one moment — one shot — landed by Gilbert Burns. It got through, and Chimaev went down to a knee. He popped right back up. He won the standup battle in that fight, which was an instant classic, colossally hard and close. And against Kamaru Usman — who can handle himself everywhere, who was even in talks to box Canelo — Chimaev still won the standup portion. That one Gilbert shot has made people think he can’t strike, but that’s not what the record shows.”

    “Dricus is much better in understanding and experience if you were to put him in pure boxing or kickboxing. Which one would do better in that environment? Dricus. But does that mean he can beat Chimaev in an MMA striking exchange? Very different. Chimaev is ugly, street-fighter-esque. He’s punching you just to get in and clinch — which would be a foul in boxing — but in MMA, it works. He still lands punches, he still throws a lot, there’s still power on them, and they’re still aimed right at your face.”

    “I’m not asking if they just stand and box. I’m asking if they’re on their feet in an MMA fight — are you sure Dricus is better? That’s the question.”

  • “Khamzat Chimaev is good, but he’s not great” says Former UFC Welterweight Champion

    “Khamzat Chimaev is good, but he’s not great” says Former UFC Welterweight Champion

    Former UFC champion Tyron Woodley has given his thoughts on the rise of Khamzat Chimaev ahead of UFC 319 tomorrow night.

    As we know, Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship on Saturday evening. The two will collide in the main event of UFC 319 in Chicago, and there’s a lot of excitement in the air for what this fight could look like. The pair have very different styles, and that has the potential to turn this into a thrilling encounter between two absolute warriors.

    Khamzat Chimaev has achieved some wonderful things throughout the course of his mixed martial arts career but up to this point, he’s never managed to hold UFC gold. The hope from his fans is that this is the time for him to finally do it, but he needs to get off to a fast start if he’s going to put someone like DDP away.

    In a recent interview with Action Network, Tyron Woodley gave his thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev.

    Tyron Woodley’s view on Khamzat Chimaev

    “Khamzat is good, but he’s not great. He could be, and likely will be, but he’s not great right now he’s not. DDP has to be a spoiler, stay focused. He’s shown up in fights and beaten people like Stye Bender.  He’s kind of like the underdog, the people’s champion, he doesn’t talk much trash but he wins a lot of fights. I think he could win this fight.”

    Is he right? We’ll have to wait and see.

  • UFC 319: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev Full Weigh-In Results: One Significant Weight Miss Scraps Fight

    UFC 319: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev Full Weigh-In Results: One Significant Weight Miss Scraps Fight

    We are just one day away from UFC 319, and we’ve got the official weigh-in results for you here at MMA News.

    UFC 319 takes place from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, featuring a number of noteworthy matchups, including a highly-anticipated middleweight title fight.

    The UFC middleweight championship is on the line in the evening’s main event, as Dricus Du Plessis defends against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev.

    Du Plessis, who made his UFC debut in October 2020, won the UFC middleweight title with a decision win over Sean Strickland at UFC 297. He has since retained the belt twice, defeating Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and winning a rematch against Strickland at UFC 312.

    Chimaev, who made his UFC debut in July 2020, has also quickly risen up the ranks with his impressive performances. He earned this title shot with a finish of Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October.

    The co-main event will see the undefeated Lerone Murphy, coming in off a win over Josh Emmett, face a man who will be making his UFC debut — Bellator veteran Aaron Pico.

    The main card will also feature a welterweight bout between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates, a middleweight battle between Jared Cannonier and Michael Page, and a flyweight fight featuring Tim Elliott and Kai Asakura.

    UFC 319 Weigh-In Video, Results

    UFC 319 takes place Saturday, August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    See above to watch the UFC 319 Weigh-In Show (beginning at 9:50 a.m. ET), and check out the full results below.

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight Championship: Dricus Du Plessis (185) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (183) (Backup fighter: Caio Borralho (184 lbs))
    • Featherweight: Lerone Murphy (146) vs. Aaron Pico (145)
    • Welterweight: Geoff Neal (171) vs. Carlos Prates (170)
    • Middleweight: Jared Cannonier (186) vs. Michael Page (186)
    • Flyweight: Tim Elliott (126) vs. Kai Asakura (126)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Middleweight: Baysangur Susurkaev (186) vs. Eric Nolan (183)
    • Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert (185) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (186)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Jessica Andrade (116) vs. Loopy Godinez (115)
    • Lightweight: Chase Hooper (155) vs. Alexander Hernandez (156)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Edson Barboza (155.5) vs. Drakkar Klose (156)
    • Middleweight: Bryan Battle (190)* vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (186)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Karine Silva (125) vs. Dione Barbosa (125.5)
    • Flyweight: TUF Finale: Alibi Idiris (126) vs. Joseph Morales (126)

    *Battle missed weight by 4 pounds, fight is off (originally reported to remain on with a 30 percent fine of his purse)

  • PFL 2025 Finalist on PFL vs. ONE Idea: “I’ll be the lineal champ across the board”

    PFL 2025 Finalist on PFL vs. ONE Idea: “I’ll be the lineal champ across the board”

    Justin Wetzell is squarely focused on capturing PFL gold this week but also has a peripheral focus on other PFL belts as well as some ONE Championship titleholders to boot.

    Justin Wetzell clashes with Marcirley Alves for the PFL bantamweight tournament title in the promotion’s 2025 World Tournament on August 15th. Wetzell was a recent guest on Bowks Talking Bouts and touched upon his thoughts on the global expansion efforts from the Professional Fighters League. When discussing his thoughts on the PFL’s global expansion efforts with their Europe, Africa and MENA circuits in the context of if this feels like an exciting time to be a contracted combatant with the Professional Fighters League, Justin Wetzell said,

    “Yeah, it’s super cool how they’re expanding and they have different leagues, man. Once I win this belt, I want to fight the champions of the other leagues to show that I’m the best bantamweight in PFL, period.”

    How Wetzell feels about a potential PFL vs. ONE champs against champs card

    It was then referenced some of the recent comments made by the Professional Fighters League’s Donn Davis toward ONE Championship‘s Chatri Sityodtong regarding an idea for a champions versus champions event. When asked what thought on an idea like that becoming a reality someday, Justin Wetzell stated,

    “Yeah, that’d be sick, man. I’ll be the lineal champ across the board. I mean, I believe in my heart I can beat Merab [Dvalishvili], bro. I can beat anyone.”

    When touching on some interesting variables of a possible Professional Fighters League vs. ONE Championship event and things like what ruleset would be utilized for those fights but addressing that it is an exciting concept all the same, Justin Wetzell quipped,

    “Yeah, I like the the collab fights or the co-promotion fights. Those are sick.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis Wonders How Khamzat Chimaev Will Cope With His First Career Loss After UFC 319

    Dricus Du Plessis is curious how Khamzat Chimaev will react to his first loss.

    “Stillknocks” is set to make his third middleweight title defense against Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event this Saturday, August 16, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

    Du Plessis enters this fight riding an impressive 11-fight win streak, nine of which have come inside the UFC. The South African has only suffered defeat twice in his career, but those losses taught him hard lessons and fueled the confidence he carries into this weekend’s bout.

    On the other hand, Chimaev has faced challenges in a few UFC bouts but remains unbeaten across his 14 professional fights. “Borz’s” perfect record has reinforced his mindset, giving him the belief he needs to dethrone “Stillknocks” at UFC 319.

    However, Dricus Du Plessis is determined to put an end to Chimaev’s streak.

    Dricus Du Plessis Raises Questions About Khhamzat Chimaev’s Composure Following First Potential Loss At UFC 319

    During UFC 319 media day, Dricus Du Plessis spoke about his upcoming title defense against Khamzat Chimaev. “Stillknocks” questioned Chimaev’s mental toughness, pondering how the undefeated Russian might react if he suffers his first career defeat and loses his undefeated record.

    “I think after Saturday night, it’s going to be time to go and maybe do some introspection saying ‘how are we approaching this?’ Because I don’t know where he’s at on a mental level,” Du Plessis said. “I know he has a lot of money, as he says. I haven’t checked his bank statements but he says he has a lot of money.

    Du Plessis confidently asserted that as long as he remains in the UFC middleweight division, no one will be able to take his championship away.

    “You know he’s so certain he’s becoming world champion and I’m here to say no. There’s no way you’re becoming world champion while I’m the champion. It’s going to be interesting to see.”

  • “Total Bull****” – Dana White & Conor McGregor Dispute Report Of McGregor’s Removal From UFC Roster

    “Total Bull****” – Dana White & Conor McGregor Dispute Report Of McGregor’s Removal From UFC Roster

    The madness surrounding uncertainty over Conor McGregor’s UFC contract status may need to be put on hold.

    According to UFC President & CEO Dana White, reports of McGregor and the UFC supposedly parting ways are untrue.

    “Total bull***,” White posted on social media in response to a post about the report.

    About an hour later, MMA journalist and personality Ariel Helwani reported that McGregor and his team have informed him that McGregor and the UFC have not parted ways.

    He added that, despite what rumors on social media may say, his testing sample came back clean and he told Helwani, “It’s all systems a go.”

    McGregor has not publicly posted to social media since the report from UFC roster trackers came out.

    Dana White And Conor McGregor Refute Reports Of UFC, McGregor Parting Ways

    This all comes a couple of hours after UFC roster trackers, including UFC Roster Watch, on social media posted that McGregor had been removed from the active UFC roster.

    “To everyone messaging me asking, ‘Is this true?’ Yes, according to the official roster, our API indicates that he has been removed,” the account posted. “We are unaware of any negotiations between Conor and the UFC.”

    No reason has been given as to why the API removed McGregor.

    This post speculated rumors about a potential drug test failure, a sunset clause activation, or a potential contract dispute in the wake of the UFC’s new U.S. broadcasting deal with Paramount.

    McGregor, who is running for Irish presidency, was also found civilly liable this past November of sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel room in December 2018. His appeals to a higher court have been denied. McGregor is also facing sexual assault allegations from an incident in Miami during the 2023 NBA Finals.

    Over the past month or so, McGregor has mentioned having a desire to return to the Octagon, returning to training and giving a sample to UFC Anti-Doping. McGregor has expressed great interest in headlining the UFC’s event at the White House on July 4, 2026.

    McGregor has not fought in the UFC since his UFC 264 trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier. He hasn’t won a UFC fight since knocking out Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 246.

    McGregor and Michael Chandler were initially scheduled to headline UFC 303 last year before McGregor withdrew with a little less than a month to go.

  • ‘What The Fook Is Happenin’ – Fans Stunned As Conor McGregor Reportedly Removed From UFC Roster

    ‘What The Fook Is Happenin’ – Fans Stunned As Conor McGregor Reportedly Removed From UFC Roster

    Conor McGregor’s UFC future is in question.

    McGregor is arguably the biggest star the UFC and perhaps all of combat sports has ever produced, continuing to dominate headlines despite being four years away from active competition.

    “The Notorious” hasn’t fought since breaking his leg in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, but has teased multiple comebacks in the years since.

    The former two-division UFC champion was set for a blockbuster comeback against ex-title challenger Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024. However, just two weeks out, his return was derailed when a toe injury forced him to withdraw.

    Fast forward to August 2025, and McGregor is showing strong interest in a grand stage return at the proposed UFC event on the White House lawn in July 2026. He’s fueled speculation with a flurry of training videos, and his commitment was further underscored by news that he’s officially re-entered the UFC’s testing pool. Even UFC CEO Dana White has hinted that the Irishman is actively lobbying for a spot on the historic White House card.

    However, on Thursday, speculation surrounding McGregor’s comeback hit a major snag, as renowned roster tracker UFC Roster Watch reported that the superstar has been removed from the promotion’s official fighter roster.

    Fans Stunned As Conor McGregor Reportedly Cut From UFC Roster

    Following reports of Conor McGregor’s potential removal from the UFC roster, social media erupted with reactions from MMA fans. Many expressed shock and confusion over the news, while naysayers seized the moment to throw shade at “The Notorious”.

    Even without stepping into the Octagon, Conor McGregor has remained a headline magnet for all the wrong reasons. In November 2024, an Irish court found him liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in a hotel room back in December 2018.

    He is also facing a separate lawsuit alleging sexual assault during the 2023 NBA Finals. On top of his legal troubles, “The Notorious” has been deeply involved in Irish politics and has publicly expressed strong interest in a potential presidential bid this year.

    Conor McGregor Denounces Muslims In Ireland
    Image: ESPN.com
  • Watch UFC 319 Press Conference Video Featuring Du Plessis, Chimaev, And More (6 p.m. ET)

    Watch UFC 319 Press Conference Video Featuring Du Plessis, Chimaev, And More (6 p.m. ET)

    UFC 319 is just a couple of days away, featuring a highly-anticipated middleweight title fight. Time to stir the pot more and gain more hype for UFC 319, courtesy of a good ol’ fashion question-and-answer session.

    The ninth UFC pay-per-view event of the year goes down from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, August 16. UFC 319 will be headlined by Dricus Du Plessis defending the UFC middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev.

    The co-main event sees undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy facing Bellator veteran Aaron Pico in Pico’s UFC debut.

    The rest of the main card features a welterweight battle between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates, a middleweight fight featuring Jared Cannonier and Michael “Venom” Page, and a flyweight scrap with Tim Elliott taking on Kai Asakura.

    Watch The UFC 319: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev Pre-Fight Press Conference

    As per tradition, the UFC pay-per-view main card participants will be featured in a press conference during fight week. This is the opportunity for fighters to answer questions from media and fans, as well as potentially lay in some smack talk on their opponents.

    Check out a live stream of the presser below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 6 PM ET.

  • Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 319 Gameplan: Eric Nicksick explains his route to victory

    Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 319 Gameplan: Eric Nicksick explains his route to victory

    Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick has given his thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev‘s best path to victory as he prepares to challenge for the UFC middleweight championship.

    On Saturday night, Khamzat Chimaev finally gets his crack at UFC gold. He’ll be going up against reigning champion Dricus du Plessis in a fight that, to put it bluntly, is going to be pretty awesome. There are so many different ways in which it can go, and for Khamzat, you’d have to imagine that his wrestling will be his best bet.

    As it turns out, Eric Nicksick also agrees that Khamzat Chimaev needs to implement his game early.

    Eric Nicksick on Khamzat Chimaev’s route to victory

    “For Chimaev it’s the wrestling, but it’s how he wrestles, the way he gets after these guys that really stands out. He’s on you straight away, suffocating you, not giving you any chance to get settled or prepare for what’s coming. He chains everything together so well, so quickly that it’s hard to react and respond. 

    “He likes to just blitz right away — get across the cage, get connected to you — and then he’s immediately looking to get you down, switching his entries, constantly making you defend. Once he gets you down, he’s flattening you out, looking for ground-and-pound or a choke. We’ve seen it in almost all of his fights — guys are just stuck on the back foot, stuck defending — and Chimaev is too strong, too good for them to be able to stop him.”

    “For Chimaev it’s get out there, get after him, and get it over with in a hurry. He’s not looking to show he can go five rounds or spend any more time in there than he has to. It needs to look like the fight with Whittaker. Shoot right away, get connected, and make him deal with everything you’re giving him, trying to get him out of there.”

  • Michael Page is a Welterweight Fighting a Heavyweight at UFC 319

    Michael Page is a Welterweight Fighting a Heavyweight at UFC 319

    UFC star Michael Page has opened up on the differences between fighting at welterweight and fighting at middleweight.

    As we know, Michael Page, also known as MVP, is one of the most unique and interesting fighters in mixed martial arts. After his recent win over Shara Magomedov, he’ll now be staying in the middleweight division – even if he doesn’t seem particularly thrilled about it.

    Alas, the politics at the top of the division didn’t interest him, which is why we’re now going to see Michael Page vs Jared Cannonier at UFC 319 on Saturday night. It’s the kind of bout that has a whole lot of potential, but it’s also one that could go in one of a million different directions.

    In a recent interview, Michael Page spoke about the journey that Jared Cannonier has gone on from heavyweight all the way down to middleweight.

    Michael Page discusses differences between 170 and 185

    “At welterweight, I’m a sniper. I’m waiting for that right moment and then I’ll land my shot. Wait for the right moment, land my shot. Whereas in the middleweight division, I have to be a bit more aggressive on that front foot—landing combinations and then come back out. Combinations and come back out versus just the one shot hoping to kill these guys because they… again, they are more the natural—especially Jared coming from heavyweight—they are more the natural middleweights.”

    Will MVP be able to earn a UFC world title shot in his next few fights? We’ll have to wait and see.