MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Jon Jones Is Doing Something He Has Never Done Before And Francis Ngannou Has Noticed

    Jon Jones Is Doing Something He Has Never Done Before And Francis Ngannou Has Noticed

    Francis Ngannou says he finds it “very interesting” that Jon Jones will be part of the broadcast team for Saturday’s MVP MMA 1 event.

    Ngannou competes on the main card of the Netflix event at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, facing Philipe Lins. Jones was announced as an analyst for the broadcast, marking his first time working behind the desk.

    Speaking to reporters following Wednesday’s open workout, Ngannou reflected on Jones’ presence.

    “Well, it’s going to be very interesting to have Jon Jones in the same arena at night watching. It’s very interesting to see how it’s going to be, but we will see. It will be great. It adds to be what I’m saying, this event is just like one-standing event. Jon Jones never broadcast, did he?”

    Ngannou and Jones had previously been discussed as a potential matchup when both were under the UFC banner, but the fight never materialized. Jones is currently at odds with the UFC and has even requested his release. His work with MVP MMA this weekend has prompted speculation about what his involvement could mean going forward.

    Ngannou’s last MMA fight was a finish of Renan Ferreira in October 2024 to capture the PFL Super Fights heavyweight championship.

  • Nate Diaz Just Went Viral For What He Said About Ilia Topuria And It Did Not Hold Back

    Nate Diaz Just Went Viral For What He Said About Ilia Topuria And It Did Not Hold Back

    Nate Diaz unloaded on Ilia Topuria during an interview with Ariel Helwani, calling the UFC lightweight champion a “dumbass” and mocking his height in a viral clip.

    Diaz, who returns to MMA on Saturday’s MVP MMA 1 undercard against Mike Perry, made clear he has no respect for the undefeated champion.

    “He’s a little B——, too. I’m years ahead of them fools. I’ve got better fights, and they’re like, ‘He sucks!’ He just said I suck. Bro, you suck!”

    Diaz cited Topuria’s comments about Jake Paul as the origin of his frustration before escalating.

    “He was saying some dumb s— about how he’d beat up Jake Paul in boxing. All cool about how he sucked and s—, and I was taking offense. You won’t do s—. I’ll beat the — out of Ilia Topuria. This fool’s a dumbass just because of how he was talking all cocky and s—. You don’t know what you’re talking about, you’re —ing four feet tall.”

    “Bro, I’ll slap the s— out of you. What the f— are you talking about? It’s a new day and age where there’s a bunch of little b—-es running around that need to be slapped. Yeah, I don’t like him.”

    Diaz last competed in MMA in September 2022, submitting Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. Following Saturday’s fight with Perry, he becomes a free agent and has been linked to potential returns against Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Topuria himself.

  • Eddie Alvarez Warns Justin Gaethje On The One Thing He Cannot Do Against Ilia Topuria

    Eddie Alvarez Warns Justin Gaethje On The One Thing He Cannot Do Against Ilia Topuria

    Eddie Alvarez says Justin Gaethje is being underestimated heading into his lightweight unification bout with Ilia Topuria at UFC White House on June 14.

    Gaethje holds the interim UFC Lightweight Championship after defeating Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision in January. Topuria is a heavy betting favorite for the unification fight, but Alvarez, who faced Gaethje in a memorable clash in 2017, told MMA Junkie the outcome is far from certain.

    “Everyone’s writing him off, but I don’t know, man — this could go either way. I saw a clip recently of Ilia’s brother explaining to Ilia how to beat Justin, his tactics of what he would do against a guy like Justin, and it was scary of how spot-on he was. I was like, sh*t man. During my camp, I was trying to formulate a camp for a guy like Justin and how he steps in the pocket and forces you to fight. How do we beat a guy like this?”

    Alvarez identified one specific area where Gaethje needs to be disciplined.

    “Justin loses his eyes a little bit, and I don’t like that. In the exchanges you’ll see him look and throw this way. He can’t lose his eyes during this match, because what Ilia does, is Ilia keeps such a beautiful posture that his posture is so beautiful that he’s always ready to strike, and he doesn’t lose his eyes ever.”

    Alvarez knocked out Gaethje in the third round of their 2017 fight. Gaethje has gone 8-4 since that loss.

  • MVP MMA Odds, Picks & Best Bets: Predictions for Every Fight on the Card

    MVP MMA Odds, Picks & Best Bets: Predictions for Every Fight on the Card

    The first MVP MMA card comes this weekend, and the inaugural MMA outing from Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions brings the returns of two women’s MMA legends.

    In the main event of MVP MMA, Ronda Rousey takes on Gina Carano in a women’s featherweight matchup.

    After winning a judo bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics, Rousey made her pro MMA debut in 2011, quickly going on to win the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight championship. She became the UFC’s inaugural champion in the weight class and competed in the UFC’s first women’s MMA bout, going on to have a legendary title reign until Holly Holm ended it at UFC 193.

    Rousey hasn’t fought since her loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. She has since had two stints with the WWE, going on to become a multiple-time women’s world champion in professional wrestling.

    Carano made her professional MMA debut in 2006, winning seven straight fights while competing for promotions like Strikeforce and EliteXC. Carano has not fought since her sole pro loss, losing the inaugural Strikeforce women’s featherweight title fight in 2009 against Cris Cyborg. Carano has since gone on to have a career in film and television.

    The co-main event will feature another legendary MMA name, Nate Diaz, taking on Mike Perry.

    This will be Diaz’s first professional MMA fight since defeating Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. Diaz has since fought twice in boxing, losing to Jake Paul and defeating former UFC rival Jorge Masvidal.

    This will be Perry’s first MMA fight in five years, having not competed in the discipline since his April 2021 loss to Daniel Rodriguez. He’s since made a name for himself with BKFC, becoming their King of Violence and scoring wins over the likes of Michael “Venom” Page, Eddie Alvarez, and Jeremy Stephens.

    Also featured will be the return of Francis Ngannou, as he takes on Phillipe Lins. After departing the UFC as heavyweight champion, Ngannou fought just once with the PFL, defeating Renan Ferreira in October 2024. Lins, who won the inaugural PFL heavyweight season in 2018, hasn’t fought since defeating Ion Cutelaba at UFC 299. He departed the UFC on a four-fight win streak, going 4-2 in the promotion.

    The main card will also feature Salahdine Parnasse vs. Kenneth Cross and Junior dos Santos vs. Robelis Despaigne.

    MVP MMA Betting Odds

    Here are the latest betting odds for MVP MMA, as of 1 am ET on May 14, courtesy of DraftKings:

    NOTE: As of the time of writing, many prop bets for prelim bouts are not available

    Preliminary Card (YouTube, 6 pm ET)

    Catchweight (165 lbs): Chris Avila (+250) vs. Brandon Jenkins (-310)

    Catchweight (130 lbs): Aline Pereira (-425) vs. Jade Masson-Wong (+330)

    Featherweight: David Mgoyan (-535) vs. Albert Morales (+400)

    Welterweight: Jason Jackson (N/A) vs. Jefferson Creighton (N/A)

    Catchweight (130 lbs): Adriano Moraes (N/A) vs. Phumi Nkuta (N/A)

    Welterweight: Namo Fazil (-345) vs. Jake Bobian (+275)

    Main Card (Netflix, 9 PM ET)

    Heavyweight: Junior dos Santos (+300) vs. Robelis Despaigne (-380)

    Lightweight: Salahdine Parnasse (-1100) vs. Kenneth Cross (+700)

    Heavyweight: Francis Ngannou (-1450) vs. Philipe Lins (+850)

    Welterweight: Nate Diaz (+180) vs. Mike Perry (-218)

    Women’s Featherweight: Ronda Rousey (-535) vs. Gina Carano (+400)

    MVP MMA Predictions & Best Bets

    Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano: It’s been a very long time since we’ve seen either woman in action, and somehow, still one woman has been way out of the cage longer than the other. This one is ultimately going to come down to who has more rust on them and how seriously the two take this fight. Some feel that Carano will have a size factor in this fight and overwhelm Rousey with her striking; however, it’s hard to pick Carano when it’s been 17 years since her last fight. At least the time in WWE has kept Rousey in some form of combative, athletic action. (Prediction: Rousey) (Best Bet: Rousey to win via submission in Round 1 [+100])

    Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry: This one is WILD and can fall any way. Both men have been away from professional MMA for a few years, with Diaz having a couple of boxing matchups and Perry becoming the star of BKFC. Diaz could look to use his grappling to his advantage, but how much of that will he do compared to trying to get into a wild scrap with “Platinum” Perry? Let’s lean toward Diaz being smart in this one and catching a wild Perry for a victory. The fight’s going one of two ways, and both don’t see this fight going to the final horn. (Prediction: Diaz) (Best Bet: Fight does NOT go the distance [-130])

    Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins: Philipe Lins might have exited the UFC on a four-fight win streak, but he and Ngannou have been out of action for a similar amount of time. And when it comes to strength, Lins doesn’t compare to what “The Predator” can offer. He is going to need to find a way to touch up Ngannou while avoiding his power. Doing that for 15 full minutes is a lot easier said than done, though. (Prediction: Ngannou) (Best Bet: Ngannou to win via KO/TKO/DQ in Round 1 [-135])

    Salahdine Parnasse vs. Kenneth Cross: For this event to be more than just a one-and-done, it needs to have some strong undercard and rising names to balance out with the big stars. Those who really love this sport and have not seen Salahdine Parnasse fight yet will be in for a treat. He’s won two titles in the KSW, and his boxing base has provided him with strong knockout power and a great finishing ability (with great ground game to balance it out). Meanwhile, Kenneth Cross is a solid veteran with a strong wrestling background who looks to end things on the ground. This should be a fun outing, but Parnasse has more to him in terms of skillset and upside, and that should give him the edge here. (Prediction: Parnasse) (Prediction: Parnasse to win in Round 2 [+330])

    Junior dos Santos vs. Robelis Despaigne: Junior dos Santos is a legendary name in the UFC, but his tenure there ended with a four-fight losing skid between 2019 and 2020. He’s fought just three times since — two times competing in bare-knuckle MMA. Robelis Despaigne had a strong UFC start at UFC 299, but his two losses afterward left a lot to be desired. Still, he’s found a home for himself in Karate Combat, where he knocked out Sam Alvey to become their heavyweight champion. JDS’ age and time away from competition are not going to fare well for him here, especially against someone like Despaigne who can use his size and Taekwondo and karate-based striking to put the former UFC heavyweight champion in trouble. (Prediction: Despaigne) (Best Bet: Despaigne to Win by KO/TKO/DQ in Round 1 [-125])

    Namo Fazil vs. Jake Babian: These two are up-and-coming welterweights looking to make a statement on a big stage. Both are strong strikers, with Fazil combining Muay Thai and taekwondo, while Babian mixes up his boxing with work in jiu-jitsu. This might be closer than what the odds suggest as of now, but Fazil’s striking seems just that more developed, and it probably leads him to a win. (Prediction: Fazil)

    Adriano Moraes vs. Phumi Nkuta: It’s a shame that we’re not getting Adriano Moraes vs. Muhammad Mokaev, but Phumi Nkuta is one to watch. Nkuta, who trains under Ray Longo, is 11-0, a champion of Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat and Warrior Cage Grappling, ranked one of the top regional flyweights in the U.S., let alone the Northeast U.S. Moraes found plenty of success in ONE as their flyweight champion, but he’s lost three of his last four. This is going to be a battle between two grappling-heavy talents, and while Moraes has the experience, don’t be surprised if the younger Nkuta, fired up to make a statement, pulls off the victory. (Prediction: Nkuta)

    Jason Jackson vs. Jeff Creighton: After spending the last couple of years with the PFL, following its acquisition of Bellator, Jason Jackson gets the chance to show why he’s been a solid talent outside of the UFC. The former Bellator champ takes on Jeff Creighton, replacing Lorenz Larkin, who came onto the MMA scene after his time with The Ultimate Fighter last year. When you take into account the experience and championship factors of Jackson, combined with opponent history, it’s a solid chance for Creighton to impress, but it’s going to be hard for him to win against Jackson. (Prediction: Jackson)

    David Mgoyan vs. Albert Morales: Spotlight opportunity time for David Mgoyan. At just 21, Mgoyan is already 8-1, looking to continue to build himself following his loss to Tommy McMillen on Dana White’s Contender Series last year. Albert Morales has experience in the UFC and Bellator, but he’s fought a lot more on the regional circuit. And while he’s clearly the more experienced fighter, Mgoyan’s wrestling (benefited by being the training partner of Arman Tsarukyan) will elevate the young man to a win in this one. (Prediction: Mgoyan)

    Aline Pereira vs. Jade Masson-Wong: MVP hopes that they have an answer to “Poatan” — his younger sister. Though just 2-2 in professional MMA, Aline Pereira has shown herself to be an excellent striker through her experience in kickboxing and karate. Pereira, in fact, is a Karate Combat champion. Don’t count out Jade Masson-Wong, however, an accomplished striker herself with plenty of experience in BKFC. Let’s hope for a fun war in this one. (Prediction: Pereira)

    Chris Avila vs. Brandon Jenkins: Chris Avila has had fights with UFC and Bellator, but he’s more known for his boxing of late, battling the likes of Benson Henderson, Anthony Pettis, and Jeremy Stephens. Jenkins has also fought for the UFC, as well as the PFL and LFA in the past, with a lot of his recent work coming in karate and bare-knuckle MMA. While Jenkins doesn’t have the recent winning momentum, Avila hasn’t fought in MMA since 2021, and Jenkins has a better record under his belt. (Prediction: Jenkins)

  • Sean O’Malley Blasts UFC Freedom 250 Fight Kits Ahead Of White House Clash – ‘Did They Go On Fiverr?’

    Sean O’Malley Blasts UFC Freedom 250 Fight Kits Ahead Of White House Clash – ‘Did They Go On Fiverr?’

    Sean O’Malley is never one to shy away from speaking his mind, and this time his target is the UFC’s newly unveiled fight kits for the upcoming White House card.

    Set to compete at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 in Washington, D.C., O’Malley will face Aiemann Zahabi in a high-profile bantamweight clash. But ahead of the historic event, the former champion has taken issue with the gear he’s expected to wear.

    The promotion recently revealed special red, white, and blue themed kits designed for the event, complete with White House branding. While the concept leans heavily into the patriotic theme, “Suga” made it clear he’s not impressed with the execution.

    “I don’t know if I’m even supposed to say this, but they’re ugly,” O’Malley said on his YouTube channel. “Mine were ugly. I don’t like them.”

    Known for his colorful style and preference for standout looks, O’Malley also pointed out that the design doesn’t reflect his personality.

    “They’re not pink, which is fine… I’ll make my f*cking hair pink, whatever,” he said. “But I’m just like… did they go on Fiverr and say, ‘Hey, you know, we got these guys getting into a fight on the White House lawn? Can you just come up with something?’”

    Despite his criticism, O’Malley isn’t letting the wardrobe choice distract him from the fight itself. In fact, he believes the white shorts could add a different kind of visual impact once the action begins.

    “I do truly believe I’m gonna crack Aiemann,” O’Malley said. “I think I’m gonna beat the f*ck out of him… I’m excited for my white shorts to be red. Like, I want to see how red I can get my white shorts from his blood.”

    “Suga” enters the bout following a win over Song Yadong at UFC 324 in January, looking to build momentum after setbacks in his title pursuits.

  • UFC 328 Aftermath Sees Several Fighters Hit With Lengthy Medical Suspensions

    UFC 328 Aftermath Sees Several Fighters Hit With Lengthy Medical Suspensions

    UFC 328 delivered an action-packed night in Newark, but the aftermath shows just how much damage the fighters endured inside the cage.

    Following the May 9 event at Prudential Center, the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board issued a lengthy list of medical suspensions, with 11 fighters receiving indefinite suspensions pending medical clearance. The card was headlined by Sean Strickland reclaiming the title in a grueling split decision over Khamzat Chimaev, and both men were among those sidelined.

    Strickland was handed an indefinite suspension until his left hand is cleared by an orthopedist, along with a mandatory 45-day suspension and 30 days of no contact. “Borz” received a 45-day suspension with 30 days no contact.

    The co-main event fighters also did not escape unscathed. Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira were both issued indefinite suspensions. “The Fearless” must receive clearance on his left hand, while Taira requires a CT scan after suffering a late stoppage loss. “The Best” also faces a 90-day suspension with 60 days no contact.

    Several other fighters across the card were also handed medical suspensions, highlighting the physical toll of the event.

    Full UFC 328 medical suspensions:

    • Sean Strickland: Indefinite (left hand), 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Khamzat Chimaev: 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Joshua Van: Indefinite (left hand), 30 days, 21 no contact
    • Tatsuro Taira: Indefinite (CT scan), 90 days, 60 no contact
    • Alexander Volkov: No suspension
    • Waldo Cortes-Acosta: 30 days, 15 no contact
    • Sean Brady: No suspension
    • Joaquin Buckley: 30 days, 21 no contact
    • King Green: No suspension
    • Jeremy Stephens: Indefinite (groin)
    • Ateba Gautier: No suspension
    • Ozzy Diaz: Indefinite (right eye), 60 days, 30 no contact
    • Yaroslav Amosov: No suspension
    • Joel Alvarez: No suspension
    • Grant Dawson: Indefinite (tibia), 30 days, 21 no contact
    • Mateusz Rebecki: Indefinite (orbit), 30 days, 15 no contact
    • Jim Miller: Indefinite (left hand), 30 days, 15 no contact
    • Jared Gordon: 30 days, 15 no contact
    • Roman Kopylov: 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Marco Tulio: Indefinite (foot/ankle), 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Pat Sabatini: No suspension
    • William Gomis: No suspension
    • Baysangur Susurkaev: Indefinite (hand/foot), 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Djorden Santos: 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Jose Ochoa: 30 days, 21 no contact
    • Clayton Carpenter: Indefinite (lower leg), 45 days, 30 no contact

    Notably, clearance from a medical professional can shorten these suspensions.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Explains Why he Squashed Beef With Sean Strickland

    Khamzat Chimaev Explains Why he Squashed Beef With Sean Strickland

    Khamzat Chimaev has explained the moment that confused fans at UFC 328 and made clear that while he has moved past the animosity with Sean Strickland, he has not moved past the result.

    In a video posted to his Instagram Stories, Chimaev addressed the widespread questioning of whether his feud with Strickland was genuine, pointing to a post-fight apology from Strickland as the reason he was willing to shake hands and place the belt around his opponent’s waist.

    “A lot of people were concerned. We will not give up. We will keep winning again, if it is Allah’s will, and we will keep training. The motivation is still there. We still want to take the belt. And regarding that guy: he said a lot of unnecessary things. People were asking why I shook his hand and why I put the belt on him afterward. We don’t have the habit of talking or fighting after a loss. If we fight, we fight inside the cage, and we fought as best as we could. What Allah has decided is no longer in our control. That guy lowered his head and asked for forgiveness. If a person asks for forgiveness, I can forgive him.”

    The forgiveness has not translated into acceptance of the loss. Per ESPN, Chimaev’s team has confirmed that a rematch with Strickland is the only fight he will consider right now.

    “The rematch with Sean Strickland is the only fight that Khamzat wants, he is obsessed with it. That’s the only fight he will accept right now.”

    Whether the UFC grants an immediate rematch is unclear given that Strickland already has a heated feud with Nassourdine Imavov ready to be made, as well as the possibility of a trilogy with Dricus du Plessis, who holds two wins over the new champion.

  • Nate Diaz Calls Out Charles Oliveira for Turning Down His Fight Request While Chasing McGregor Instead

    Nate Diaz has a specific grievance with Charles Oliveira heading into his MVP MMA 1 fight with Mike Perry on Saturday, and it centers on a fight request that was shut down before being replaced by a callout that Diaz cannot understand.

    Speaking with MMA Fighting, Diaz explained that he had made a respectful approach about fighting Oliveira after the Brazilian won the BMF title by defeating Max Holloway, only to be turned down before watching Oliveira pivot to calling out Conor McGregor.

    “Oliveira got the belt and I was waiting for shit to happen. Oliveira’s the man. I’ve been around longer than Oliveira. Everybody thinks that he’ll kill me but I’m like yeah right. I always wondered why me and Oliveira never fought. So when he finally got the belt and was around, I was like oh sht, I’ll fight f**ing Oliveira. So I said what’s up with Oliveira? Respectfully, I’d like to fight Oliveira. He’s been around and he said ‘no, thanks homie.’ ‘I’m trying to fight for titles and do all this big sh*t’ and I’m like OK, you got me on that.”

    The McGregor callout changed Diaz’s assessment entirely.

    “And then he won fing one fight and then he called out Conor. That’s exactly what I thought when he called out Conor. Why are you trying to fight the guy who’s coming off a leg break, just got knocked out and he’s all fed up and on a downward spiral and you’re over here like ‘no thanks, homie, I’m trying to do bigger things.’”

    Diaz made clear that Oliveira’s logic does not hold up under scrutiny.

    “I was like picking on a guy that just got his ass whooped the whole time, motherfer? You’re full of sht. You think you’re fing tight and that’s why I had something to say about Oliveira. I don’t have nothing against him except for that. No thanks, homie, I’m onto bigger, better things. Like what? Picking on a guy who just got his ass whooped the whole time? That’s whack. Those are the motherf**ers that I’m trying to fight. I’m fighting the bullies.”

  • Aiemann Zahabi Shuts Down Sean O’Malley’s UFC White House Bet

    Aiemann Zahabi Shuts Down Sean O’Malley’s UFC White House Bet

    Sean O’Malley tried to add a personal stake to his UFC White House bantamweight matchup against Aiemann Zahabi and got shut down in a single word, before also using his YouTube channel to air his feelings about the new fight kit he has been handed for the June 14 event.

    O’Malley had posted on X, proposing that the loser of their White House matchup have the winner’s country’s flag tattooed on them. Zahabi’s response was immediate and definitive, citing the Islamic prohibition on tattoos as altering what Allah created.

    “Haram brother.”

    The tattoo bet is dead. O’Malley’s design complaints are alive. Speaking on his YouTube channel about the new fight kits unveiled for UFC Freedom 250, O’Malley was pointed about what he thinks of them.

    “I don’t even know if I’m supposed to say but since you brought it up I feel like I can, they’re ugly. Mine were ugly. I don’t like them. I don’t like them. They’re not pink, which is fine. I’ve worn other colors, I’m not gonna not show up because my shorts aren’t pink. I’ll make my hair pink, whatever. But I’m just like, did they go on Fiverr?”

    O’Malley also noted he has been told the White House card is not a title eliminator despite Dana White’s public dismissal of that framing, though a strong performance against Zahabi would push him back into the bantamweight championship conversation. Zahabi is on a seven-fight winning streak heading into the matchup.

    UFC Freedom 250 takes place June 14 at the White House South Lawn in Washington D.C.

  • Nate Diaz Blasts Dustin Poirier Over Future Fight Talk

    Nate Diaz Blasts Dustin Poirier Over Future Fight Talk

    Nate Diaz has responded to Dustin Poirier’s suggestion that he would come out of retirement to fight him, and his answer was not an invitation.

    Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Diaz addressed Poirier’s stated willingness to return for a matchup and delivered a blunt assessment of the retired fighter’s credibility as a potential opponent.

    “I am interested if he f***ing gets in there and starts fighting people. I don’t fight retired fighters. He jumped ship a little early, so it’s not someone that I’m that interested in. Get back in the game and start squabbling with people. Where the hell did you go? ‘I’ll come back for you now.’ No, don’t come back on account of me. Get some sleep. Get you some sleep.”

    Diaz then described the manner of Poirier’s retirement as the core of his problem with the situation.

    “He got emotional when he fought somebody, and he’s like, ‘I’m retired. Oh, this was so great.’ A whole fing little lady moment where he needed to talk about his feelings and how he was all done with all this. And then he went, ‘Oh, what the fk did I do?’ Yeah, you were being a btch in your post-fight interview, and you set your gloves down and you shed a tear, and then two weeks later he’s like, ‘I want to fight Nate, I’ll come back for Nate.’ Like, you didn’t even leave, stupid. You f**ing pssed out. Don’t involve me in that sht. Get back in the game and start squabbling.”

    Poirier retired following his loss to Max Holloway in Louisiana last year and had previously said on the Deep Waters podcast that a Diaz fight was one he would genuinely come back for given the unfinished business between them. Diaz and Poirier were booked to fight at UFC 230 in November 2018 before Poirier’s hip injury forced the cancellation.

    Diaz faces Mike Perry in the co-main event of MVP MMA 1 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Saturday, streaming live on Netflix.

  • Former UFC Star Zabit Magomedsharipov Reveals Why he Retired

    Former UFC Star Zabit Magomedsharipov Reveals Why he Retired

    Zabit Magomedsharipov has finally explained the circumstances behind his 2022 retirement from MMA, and the frustration that drove him away from the sport centers on a specific sequence of canceled fights and what he believes was a deliberate decision by the UFC to deny him a title shot.

    Magomedsharipov, who went 6-0 inside the UFC before his final appearance at UFC 242 in November 2019, spoke on a video posted by ACB JJ ahead of a grappling appearance expected later in 2026. The talk of a UFC return has been replaced by the story of why he left in the first place.

    “There were a lot of reasons I retired, so many reasons. Just couldn’t make the fight happen. I wanted to fight but they’d postpone fights and we couldn’t make a deal. But all these times I was making weight, going through camps, flying out to America. And by the time you get there, you’ve already been through so much: weight cut, training, camp and everything. And then you arrive and two or three weeks before the fight they tell you, ‘That’s it, he’s injured,’ and they postpone again. I’d go back home again, and start getting ready all over again. Imagine that about five times. I got tired of it. Like, how much can you take?”

    He also revealed that an agreement existed with the UFC regarding a title shot in the event of another cancellation, one he says was never honored.

    “We had some agreements with them: if he pulls out of the fight a third time, they’d automatically give me the title fight. That’s what we’ve talked about. And the third time he found excuses, he came up with a lot of reasons. Then they started offering me someone else. First Korean Zombie, then some other guy, but really, at that time, it was me and Rodriguez. The two of us were contenders.”

    Magomedsharipov also claimed the UFC’s reluctance to promote him to a title shot was influenced by the number of Russian champions already on the roster at the time.

    “And they just didn’t want to make me a champion. I know why, too. Because at that time we already had a lot of champions from Russia. Khabib was the champion then, and Yan. And because of that it wasn’t beneficial for them that a third champion would be from Russia. At first, before they were around, they promoted me really well.”

    Magomedsharipov, who turned 35 in March, last fought in November 2019 when he defeated Calvin Kattar by decision to improve to 18-1 overall and 6-0 in the UFC.

  • Ngannou’s Coach Claims Francis Is ‘Best Heavyweight In World’

    Ngannou’s Coach Claims Francis Is ‘Best Heavyweight In World’

    Francis Ngannou’s striking coach Dewey Cooper has delivered a confident assessment of where the former UFC heavyweight champion stands heading into his MVP MMA debut against Philipe Lins on Saturday’s Netflix card, making a sweeping claim about Ngannou’s place in the current heavyweight landscape.

    Speaking on MVP UNCUT, Cooper pointed to Ngannou’s championship record across two organizations as the foundation for his argument.

    “He’s a two-company world champion. He’s never been dethroned. He’s never lost his championship belt in two major organizations. Francis is undoubtedly the best heavyweight mixed martial artist in the world. He’s never lost the championship in either company. So, he has a standard that he puts himself on.”

    Cooper was enthusiastic about Ngannou’s preparation for the return, which marks his first MMA competition since October 2024.

    “Everything is terrific, man. May 16th. We’re super excited. I really feel it’s a great incentive, it being the first mixed martial arts fight on Netflix. I think that puts the cherry on top for him psychologically because he’s been training extremely well and we can’t wait until fight night. He looks phenomenal. We’re excited about what he’s going to show fight night. It’s going to be something fantastic. He’s on another level, guys.”

    Ngannou departed the PFL earlier this year and signed with Most Valuable Promotions, with Saturday’s card at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood marking his promotional debut. Lins is a former PFL heavyweight tournament winner and a credible name for Ngannou’s return without representing a top-five divisional threat. The five-round scheduling of the bout suggests MVP wants Ngannou active and visible on the historic card.

    Rousey vs. Carano headlines the Netflix event with Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry in the co-main event.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Formally Requests Sean Strickland Rematch

    Khamzat Chimaev Formally Requests Sean Strickland Rematch

    Khamzat Chimaev has reversed his position from immediately after UFC 328 and is now formally pursuing a rematch against Sean Strickland, with his brother confirming that the request has been made and that an October event in Abu Dhabi is the target.

    Just hours after the split-decision loss to Strickland on Saturday, Chimaev told Dana White he wants to move up to light heavyweight and is done at middleweight. Within days, he had posted cryptic messages on social media directed at Strickland, and now his brother Artur has confirmed to sports.ru that the camp’s position is clear.

    “We’ve requested a rematch with Strickland. There’s an event in Abu Dhabi in October and we want to do it there. Khamzat isn’t the type of person to move to another weight class and leave unanswered questions behind. We want the second fight. Right now we have no other goals.”

    ESPN has separately reported that Chimaev is obsessed with getting the rematch and will not accept other bookings in the meantime, a posture that puts the UFC in a complicated position, given that Strickland has already identified Nassourdine Imavov as a likely next opponent, and a queue of genuine contenders exists at 185 pounds.

    Artur confirmed that Chimaev cut from 231 pounds down to 185 pounds after being asked to defend the middleweight title instead of competing in a planned 205-pound fight against Jiri Prochazka, for which a contract had already been prepared. Two weeks before the fight, Chimaev weighed 214 pounds. His body shut down during the final stages of the cut, and he required an hour-long pause before continuing.

  • Dustin Poirier Spotlights Exact Moment he Realized Strickland-Chimaev’s Beef Was Fake

    Dustin Poirier Spotlights Exact Moment he Realized Strickland-Chimaev’s Beef Was Fake

    Dustin Poirier believes Khamzat Chimaev walked into UFC 328 carrying an aura that made opponents think twice before they even laced their gloves, and he believes that aura took a significant hit in Newark on Saturday night.

    Speaking on UFC on Paramount+ after the show, Poirier explained why the post-fight reconciliation between Chimaev and Strickland bothered him as much as the result itself.

    Poirier’s point cuts to the specific thing that made Chimaev different as a competitor. The unbeaten record was part of it, but the relentlessness and the implied danger that he carried into every build was equally significant.

    “The next fight, whoever he gets matched up with, it’s going to be tough for him to intimidate because his aura took a hit this week. With the back-and-forth, I thought it was real. I think his whole aura took a hit this week. And putting the belt on Strickland — like, come on, man. They worked us for sure.”

    The split decision itself kept things competitive throughout, with all three judges scoring it two rounds apiece heading into the fifth before two of them gave Strickland the final round and the fight. Whether Chimaev receives an immediate rematch or Strickland moves on to another challenger remains to be confirmed by the UFC.

  • Khamzat Chimaev’s Team Reveals Catastrophic UFC 328 Weight Cut Details

    Khamzat Chimaev’s Team Reveals Catastrophic UFC 328 Weight Cut Details

    The full picture of Khamzat Chimaev’s weight cut for UFC 328 is now public, and it is significantly more alarming than the speculation suggested in the days leading up to the fight.

    Chimaev’s brother, Artur, spoke to sports.ru after the loss to Sean Strickland, confirming that Chimaev had been preparing for a light-heavyweight fight against Jiri Prochazka, with a contract already in place, before the UFC asked him to defend the middleweight title instead. The consequences of that switch on his body were severe.

    “There was a problem with the weight cut. The question became whether to cancel the fight or take the risk. When there was 2.7 pounds left, his body shut down. Oxygen deprivation. His body malfunctioned. We had to stop for an hour because his health wouldn’t allow him to continue. Khamzat himself said he didn’t know how he’d fight in that condition. There was an agreement with the UFC that he would fight Jiri Prochazka at 205. The contract was already prepared, but then they asked him to fight Sean instead. So he accepted and decided to cut from 231 pounds down to 185 pounds. By fight time he had only regained around 11-13 pounds. Two weeks before the fight he weighed 214 pounds.”

    Arman Tsarukyan, who was in Chimaev’s corner, had previously estimated the cut at around 46 pounds. Artur’s account confirms the scale of the problem and adds the detail that Chimaev’s body effectively shut down during the final stages of the cut before he chose to push through and compete.

    Artur also confirmed that Chimaev has formally requested an immediate rematch despite initially telling Dana White he wants to move to light heavyweight.

    “We’ve requested a rematch with Strickland. There’s an event in Abu Dhabi in October and we want to do it there. Khamzat isn’t the type of person to move to another weight class and leave unanswered questions behind. We want the second fight. Right now we have no other goals.”

    ESPN has separately reported that Chimaev is obsessed with getting the rematch and will not accept other fights in the interim. The UFC has not confirmed whether an immediate rematch will be made or whether they will instead book Strickland against Nassourdine Imavov, the contender Strickland himself identified as a likely next opponent.

  • Jorge Masvidal: Sean Strickland is a Hall of Famer and All-Time Great

    Jorge Masvidal: Sean Strickland is a Hall of Famer and All-Time Great

    Jorge Masvidal watched Sean Strickland pull off his second stunning middleweight title upset and came away with a verdict that goes beyond the result of one fight.

    Speaking with Full Send MMA after UFC 328, Masvidal placed Strickland among the all-time greats in the division and argued the case for his eventual Hall of Fame induction.

    “Sean Strickland has to go down as a Hall of Famer, and is an all-time great. Let’s take a little step back. Even before he got the belt, he’s had some amazing performances throughout his career. He fought at 170, he was cutting a little too much weight. He came up, he really started showing out, finishing guys, setting himself up for success. Separating himself from the pack by his fight style. He has a good finishing rate, and he’s beaten a lot of up-and-coming guys, he beat a lot of established guys, and he beat a lot of guys he probably should have never beat.”

    Strickland now holds wins over Khamzat Chimaev, Israel Adesanya, Nassourdine Imavov, Paulo Costa, Anthony Hernandez, and Brendan Allen across a middleweight career that has consistently delivered results most fans did not expect. His two title fight upsets over Adesanya and Chimaev stand among the most shocking in UFC history at any weight class.

  • Nate Diaz Calls Out Chimaev and Strickland for Fake Beef

    Nate Diaz watched the Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland rivalry play out for weeks, saw the post-fight hugs, and came away with one clear conclusion: he wants no part of that approach with Mike Perry.

    Speaking during a Face 2 Face sitdown with Perry ahead of their MVP MMA 1 matchup on Saturday, Diaz was direct about what bothered him when he caught the UFC 328 highlights.

    “They were faking the funk. And they were fing acting like crazy and talking all this sh*t to each other and then hugging and showing love the whole fight like some btches. Fake fing puppets. I’m f**ing cool off that sh*t.”

    He elaborated on what specifically felt like a betrayal once the post-fight goodwill emerged.

    “I saw highlights of them hugging and fing shaking hands right off the bat, and the whole time, it’s fing like you bullshtted me. I didn’t bullsht nobody. I keep it real all the way through. That’s what I got out of that fight. I didn’t watch it, but I saw the highlights and the feedback on it, and I saw the war that was f**ing bullshtted to us. I’m like, you don’t gotta bullsh*t me.”

    You can watch the original clip on X here.

    Diaz’s position is not that fighters should not show respect after competing. His objection is the gap between weeks of selling genuine hatred and the immediate goodwill that followed once the final bell sounded. He wants his build with Perry to reflect what the fight actually is rather than manufacturing a narrative around it.

    “I got a fight with this dude, he’s the most violent motherfer. He knocked out fing middleweight Luke Rockhold, and f**ing Jeremy Stephens, and beat a lot of good people, doing boss sh*t on the outside.”

    He was equally clear about the nature of his relationship with Perry going into the fight.

    “I was already OK with him. We’re not fing friends or anything like that, but I’m not gonna fing play around and make no fake, artificial beef with you. I think you’re great. I think what you’re doing is great. I think you’re violent as f**k, and mean and all that sh*t. I came here to fight, train hard, win and fk your sh*t up, just like I know you’re planning on f**jing my sht up, and I’m not gonna put no artificial beef out there.”

    Diaz and Perry meet on the MVP MMA 1 card on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Netflix. Diaz had a long-standing scheduling history with Chimaev as well, having been booked against him at UFC 279 before the card was reshuffled, with Diaz instead submitting Tony Ferguson in his final UFC appearance.

  • Nate Diaz Reveals Interest in Conor McGregor Trilogy Fight

    Nate Diaz Reveals Interest in Conor McGregor Trilogy Fight

    Nate Diaz has made it clear that his rivalry with Conor McGregor is unfinished business, and he has a very specific vision of how the third chapter should come together.

    Speaking with MMA Fighting ahead of his MVP MMA 1 fight with Mike Perry on Saturday, Diaz addressed the prospect of a McGregor trilogy fight directly and confirmed it remains very much on his radar, though he has no interest in being the opponent that serves as McGregor’s comeback vehicle.

    “F**k no I’m not done with Conor McGregor, that’s just waiting to happen. What I’m saying, I’m a real fighter. Conor McGregor, he’s fing still good, he’s still great. He’s f**king everything he says he is and what UFC says and all that. But I’m not going to let him fing test that out on me. I’m not trying to be part of this fing Conor McGregor comeback motherf*king story.”

    Diaz wants McGregor to prove himself again before they settle the trilogy, framing the dynamic in the language he is most comfortable with.

    “I don’t want to finish him off. Why don’t you come back and do your thing and when you’re doing your thing and I’m doing my thing then we’ll have our fing trilogy that you owe me from a long time ago anyway. I think about it like a fing bully. What are you going to do? Go fight the guy who got his leg broke off? Nah, let him make his comeback and do his thing and then go beat his ass.”

    Diaz and McGregor split their two-fight series one win apiece in 2016, with McGregor winning the rematch at UFC 202. A third fight has been discussed at various points over the following decade without ever materializing. McGregor is currently expected to return against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas during International Fight Week, which would be his first competitive appearance since his leg fracture at UFC 264 in July 2021.

    Diaz returns to MMA competition on Saturday for the first time since 2022, facing Perry in the co-main event of MVP MMA 1 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Netflix.

  • UFC Set to Host Events in Arizona as TKO Signs Three-Year Deal With State Alliance

    UFC Set to Host Events in Arizona as TKO Signs Three-Year Deal With State Alliance

    The UFC is heading to Arizona in a big way. TKO Group Holdings has announced a three-year agreement with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance to bring seven live events to the state — with UFC among the marquee properties set to compete there.

    The deal covers multiple TKO-owned brands, including UFC, WWE, PBR, and Zuffa Boxing, and signals a long-term commitment to Arizona as a key market for live combat sports.

    UFC’s Role in the Partnership

    While TKO has not yet announced which specific UFC events will take place in Arizona, the scope of the deal — seven events over three years — suggests fight fans in the state can expect a regular presence from the promotion. Specific dates, venues, and ticket details are expected to be announced at a later date.

    Peter Dropick, TKO’s Executive Vice President of Event Development and Operations, made clear the company is invested in building something lasting in the region:

    “We’re excited to build this long-term partnership with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance to bring some of our biggest events to the state.”

    Jay Parry, President & CEO of the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance, said the partnership reflects Arizona’s ability to host major sports and entertainment events at the highest level.

    Part of a Growing Live Event Strategy

    TKO described the Arizona partnership as part of a broader push to formalize relationships with government and private entities across the country, securing dedicated markets for its live events pipeline.

    It’s a strategy that makes sense given UFC’s growing live event footprint. The promotion has increasingly leaned into multi-event market agreements to ensure consistent programming for fans outside of Las Vegas.

    TKO Group Holdings owns the UFC, WWE, and PBR outright, and holds a stake in Zuffa Boxing. The company also operates IMG and On Location, its sports marketing and experiential hospitality arms.

    TKO’s Bigger Business Picture

    The Arizona deal comes as TKO continues to post strong financial numbers. The company reported Q1 2026 revenue of $1.597 billion — a 26% increase year-over-year — underscoring the demand for live combat sports content across all of its properties.

    Arizona UFC fans won’t have to wait long for more details. Event announcements are expected in the coming months.

  • Ronda Rousey Reveals Life-Changing Medical Diagnosis Before Gina Carano Fight

    Ronda Rousey Reveals Life-Changing Medical Diagnosis Before Gina Carano Fight

    Ronda Rousey has revealed a medical development ahead of her May 16 return against Gina Carano on Netflix, disclosing that Dana White arranged for her to visit the Cleveland Clinic after she pitched the fight, where doctors identified a condition that has been affecting her for years.

    Speaking with Complex News, Rousey explained that what she had been experiencing was not simply the result of concussions but a more specific condition linked to them.

    “Thanks to Dana, when I was talking about doing this fight, he sent me to the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Bernick thinks what I’m dealing with is not just concussions, but also migraines. The more concussions I get, the easier it is to set off these migraines. I get hit and I lose big chunks of my vision, like if someone took a picture of me. It’s called migraine aura when you lose these chunks of your vision, caused by cortical spreading depression. We were actually able to find a medication that helps me preventatively before sparring. It’s been absolutely life-changing.”

    Rousey also confirmed that the Carano fight marks the end of her competitive career, directly tied to commitments she has made to her husband and plans for her family.

    “It depends on how this fight goes. This fight could end up being some crazy trilogy. But I promised my husband that this is the last one and we want to have more kids. I can’t be taking any more detours at this point.”

    She also described Carano as the fight she has always wanted above any other.

    “Gina is my dream fight. She’s the only person I would come back to fight for and she’s the whole reason why I got into fighting in the first place.”

    Rousey holds a 12-2 MMA record and is returning for the first time since her loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. The bout headlines the first live MMA event in Netflix history, co-promoted with Most Valuable Promotions on Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

  • UFC Vegas 117 Preview: Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa

    UFC Vegas 117 Preview: Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa

    The UFC returns to the Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 16 with a featherweight main event between Arnold Allen and Melquizael Costa, running in direct counter-programming competition with MVP’s Rousey vs. Carano card on Netflix. The main card streams on Paramount+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET, with prelims from 5 p.m. ET.

    Allen, ranked seventh at featherweight, enters the main event in the most difficult position of his UFC career. The 31-year-old has lost three of his last four fights, his only win in that stretch coming against Giga Chikadze in 2024. An extended 2025 absence due to injury was followed by a unanimous decision loss to Jean Silva at UFC 324 in January. A loss on Saturday would push Allen toward the edge of contention.

    Costa presents the most dangerous possible version of that challenge. The Brazilian is ranked twelfth and riding a six-fight winning streak with four finishes, the most recent being a spinning back kick TKO of Dan Ige in February, the first time Ige had ever been finished inside the Octagon. 

    Dooho Choi returns in the co-main event against Daniel Santos in a featherweight matchup that has been rescheduled multiple times, having originally been booked for UFC Perth in September before Choi withdrew, then moved to UFC 328 before being pushed to this card. Malcolm Wellmaker, the standout bantamweight prospect from last year’s Contender Series, faces DWCS signee Juan Diaz in the main card’s most forward-looking fight.

    Main card on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET: Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa at featherweight over five rounds, Dooho Choi vs. Daniel Santos at featherweight, Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Juan Diaz at bantamweight, Modestas Bukauskas vs. Rodolfo Bellato at light heavyweight, and Timmy Cuamba vs. Bernardo Sopaj at bantamweight.

    Preliminary card on Paramount+ at 5 p.m. ET: Jeremiah Wells vs. Nicolas Dalby at welterweight, Tuco Tokkos vs. Ivan Erslan at light heavyweight, Trey Ogden vs. Thomas Gantt at lightweight, Ketlen Vieira vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti at women’s bantamweight, Cody Brundage vs. Andre Petroski at middleweight, Alice Ardelean vs. Polyana Viana at women’s strawweight, Daniel Barez vs. Luis Gurule at flyweight, and Shauna Bannon vs. Nicolle Caliari at women’s strawweight.

  • Ronda Rousey Says UFC Killed Star Power for the Brand

    Ronda Rousey Says UFC Killed Star Power for the Brand

    Ronda Rousey has delivered one of her sharpest critiques of the UFC’s current direction, arguing that the promotion under TKO has made a strategic miscalculation by trying to make the brand the star rather than the fighters inside it.

    Speaking with Complex News ahead of her May 16 return on Netflix, Rousey laid out what she sees as the root cause of the UFC’s current position.

    “They don’t want that star power anymore. They want the brand to be the star. And that’s why they stopped naming the fight cards and started giving them numbers. That’s why they started putting everybody in a uniform and trying to stamp out their individuality. They want people to watch the brand. And that’s why when you have big stars like Nate Diaz and Francis Ngannou knowing their worth and demanding more, they’re telling them to go kick rocks instead of paying them what they’re worth because they think they’re too big to fail.”

    She cited the most-watched combat sports event in history as the most compelling counter-argument to the UFC’s approach.

    “They don’t tune in to watch a belt. They don’t tune in to watch a brand. They tune in to watch two fighters. And that’s what Tyson versus Paul proved. This is the most viewed combat sports event of all time. 108 million live views. And it’s not for a belt. It’s not for two people at the very top of the sport. It’s for two characters that resonate with people. They want to see the conclusion of the story that they have been telling. That’s something that the UFC has lost sight of and something that I’m looking to bring back.”

    Rousey also drew a clear distinction between her loyalty to the people who built the UFC and the organization those people have since sold.

    “I absolutely love Dana and the Fertittas, but my loyalty is to them, not to the company that they sold, and also a company that I helped build. It’s outside of his control now and it’s outside of my control now. It’s not that company anymore, but I can affect the entire industry in this way.”

    She also argued that fighters now have more leverage than many realize at the end of their UFC contracts.

    “UFC puts people in very long contracts. They’ll put you in a set-and-fight contract that’s for seven years or something. Jon Jones is kind of trapped. A lot of people are trapped in that contract. But I think what we’ve done here is we’ve made people realize that there is another option and you can fight out your contract all the way to the end and actually have leverage to negotiate for more.”

  • Ronda Rousey Accuses Hunter Campbell of Sabotaging Gina Carano Fight

    Ronda Rousey Accuses Hunter Campbell of Sabotaging Gina Carano Fight

    Ronda Rousey has made serious accusations against UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell, claiming he worked to undermine her return fight against Gina Carano from inside the company she helped build.

    Speaking with Complex News ahead of the May 16 Netflix event, Rousey described what she says was a deliberate effort by Campbell to derail the matchup.

    “They gave me a great deal for their last ever pay-per-view fight card, but it was them switching over to the streaming model and Hunter Campbell being the new leadership in the company. He actively tried to sabotage this fight. And tried to misrepresent Gina, saying that she wasn’t serious, that she wasn’t going to make the weight. He was trying to get me to fight other people. He was basically just shitting on us and the marketability of our fight.”

    She also described what she says was Campbell’s attitude toward the women’s featherweight division, framing his comments as the final confirmation that the UFC’s priorities had fundamentally changed.

    “The way that he spoke of the 145 pound division. Dana first pitched me to do this as the last title match for 145 division to retire it. And then Hunter was like, ‘Yeah, then we could finally get rid of that division.’ The disdain that he spoke of it. I’m like, f**k, you’re the promoter, okay? If it’s not doing well, it’s your fault. I just had two daughters. My husband’s 6’7″, okay? They’re not going to be 135 pounds. This is my daughter’s future, that division. He’s sh*t all over it.”

    Rousey said her mother, who works for an athletic commission, provided the most damning insight into Campbell’s attitude toward fighters.

    “My mom works for an athletic commission. I brought up to her, ‘Do you know this Hunter Campbell guy?’ And she’s like, ‘Yeah, he’s a f***ing shithead. He would sell tickets to Christians being fed to lions.’ She was talking to him about getting slap legalized in California and he was saying, ‘Oh, this is a big opportunity for these guys. Otherwise, they would just be doing meth in a trailer park.’ This is what this guy thinks of the fighters. And this is the new leadership in the company.”

    Rousey faces Carano on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Netflix in what she has described as her final MMA fight.

  • Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano 2026 Preview: Card, How to Watch

    Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano 2026 Preview: Card, How to Watch

    Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano share a cage on Saturday night for a fight that was supposed to happen in 2009 and has been the subject of speculation, negotiation, and fan longing ever since.

    Carano was the face of women’s MMA during the EliteXC and Strikeforce era, the first woman a major American television network was willing to put on a fight night. Rousey was emerging as a judo-based finishing machine. The matchup everyone wanted never materialized because Cris Cyborg ended Carano’s career with a first-round stoppage in August 2009.

    Seventeen years later, both women arrive at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood carrying very different kinds of rust and very different stories.

    Rousey, 12-2, closed her UFC career on back-to-back knockout losses that ended her aura. Holly Holm’s head kick at UFC 193 in November 2015 was the first crack. Amanda Nunes finished the job in 48 seconds at UFC 207 in December 2016. She has not competed in MMA since, spending the intervening years in WWE, becoming a Hall of Famer, marrying Travis Browne, and having two children. She turns 40 in February. 

    Carano, 7-1, is the larger unknown. She last fought professionally in August 2009 and has spent the intervening period in Hollywood, appearing in Haywire and Fast and Furious 6 before returning to public life in different circumstances. She is 44 years old. 

    Neither woman has competed at the 145-pound women’s featherweight limit. Neither has thrown a competitive punch in a very long time. The fight is scheduled for five rounds.

    Rousey vs. Carano headlines the first live MMA event in Netflix history, co-promoted with Most Valuable Promotions. Main card begins at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 16.

    Main Card (9 p.m. ET, Netflix)

    • Women’s featherweight: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano
    • Heavyweight: Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins
    • Welterweight: Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry
    • Featherweight: Salahdine Parnasse vs. Kenny Cross
    • Heavyweight: Junior dos Santos vs. Robelis Despaigne
    • Flyweight: Muhammad Mokaev vs. Adriano Moraes

    Preliminary Card (6 p.m. ET, Netflix)

    • Welterweight: Jason Jackson vs. Jeff Creighton
    • Welterweight: Namo Fazil vs. Jake Babian
    • Featherweight: David Mgoyan vs. Albert Morales
    • 130-pound catchweight: Aline Pereira vs. Jade Masson-Wong
    • 165-pound catchweight: Chris Avila vs. Brandon Jenkins
  • Ronda Rousey Addresses Possible UFC Return Ahead of Gina Carano Bout

    Ronda Rousey Addresses Possible UFC Return Ahead of Gina Carano Bout

    Ronda Rousey has made it clear that Saturday’s fight against Gina Carano on Netflix is the end of her competitive career, regardless of the result, telling Ariel Helwani that a return to the UFC is not on the table and that her immediate priority after the fight is starting a family again.

    Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show ahead of her return to the cage for the first time since December 2016, Rousey was direct about why the Carano fight is her last.

    “To the UFC, to fight? No. I promised my husband that this is the last one. He is the one that I have to convince to get on board with this promoter shit after. He’s not going for the fighting at all after this. Honestly, I want to get started having babies again right away. I want to have at least two more, if I can. I can’t be taking detours anymore. This is the peak. I can’t go higher than this. This is the dream fight and the absolute pinnacle for me. This is the perfect way to end it.”

    Rousey has been absent from MMA competition since suffering back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes in 2015 and 2016. In the years since, she has had multiple stints with WWE and has two children with her husband, Travis Browne.

    Rousey has also discussed her ambitions beyond fighting, including a potential leadership role in MVP MMA if the Netflix card proves successful, telling TMZ she believes she is more qualified than UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell to help guide the promotion’s expansion into MMA. That promotional ambition, rather than any competitive return, appears to be where her post-fighting energy is directed.

    Rousey vs. Carano takes place Saturday, May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Netflix.