MMA News

Category: MMA

  • UFC Reveals Custom Fight Kits And Special White House-Themed Gear For UFC Freedom 250 Card

    UFC Reveals Custom Fight Kits And Special White House-Themed Gear For UFC Freedom 250 Card

    UFC Freedom 250 continues to lean heavily into its patriotic theme after the promotion officially unveiled the event’s custom fight kits ahead of the historic June 14 card in Washington, D.C.

    Created in partnership with Venum, the specially designed uniforms feature a bold red, white, and blue color palette inspired by the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration. The kits also prominently include White House-inspired branding and commemorative USA 250 patches, further tying the event to the unprecedented setting on the South Lawn.

    According to promotional details released alongside the reveal, the gear was designed to reflect what the UFC described as “the American fighting spirit” while commemorating one of the most unique events in combat sports history.

    UFC Freedom 250 Fight Kits Feature Special White House Branding

    Unlike standard UFC apparel, the Freedom 250 kits include exclusive details created specifically for the event, including collaboration branding involving the White House, Fanatics, and America250.

    The custom uniforms are expected to be worn throughout fight week festivities and during the event itself, which will take place at a temporary outdoor arena being built on White House grounds.

    Fans will also be able to purchase the limited-edition kits online through UFC Store, Venum, and Fanatics, while additional merchandise locations will reportedly be available throughout Washington during fight week festivities.

    The UFC has also already revealed a special one-off championship belt for the card featuring heavy American flag themes and patriotic detailing designed specifically for the White House event.

    The UFC Freedom 250 event itself is shaping up to be one of the biggest cards of the year.

    In the main event, Ilia Topuria is scheduled to defend his lightweight title against interim champion Justin Gaethje. Meanwhile, Alex Pereira will move up to heavyweight to face Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight championship in the co-main event.

  • Dana White Explains How Conor McGregor Will Be Compensated Under UFC’s New Paramount Deal

    Dana White Explains How Conor McGregor Will Be Compensated Under UFC’s New Paramount Deal

    Dana White has addressed one of the more interesting financial questions surrounding Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return, explaining that the UFC has developed a formula to compensate big-name fighters who previously earned pay-per-view points under the old model.

    The UFC launched its new $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount in January 2026, effectively eliminating the traditional pay-per-view purchase requirement for numbered events. Those cards are now included with a Paramount+ subscription, fundamentally changing how fighters who previously earned a percentage of pay-per-view revenue are compensated. McGregor, who was among the sport’s biggest pay-per-view draws, stood to be among the most affected.

    Speaking at UFC 328’s post-fight press conference in Newark, White confirmed a new compensation structure is in place and that McGregor’s earnings under the new system reflect his historical drawing power.

    “There’s a formula to it. McGregor’s going to do just fine. It’s based on if you take the average of his pay-per-view buys, and what they do, there’s an equation for that that you can — we’ve done it with a lot more guys than just McGregor.”

    McGregor last competed at UFC 264 in July 2021, when he suffered a gruesome leg fracture in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier. In the five years since, his only scheduled fight was a bout against Michael Chandler planned for June 2024, which collapsed when McGregor withdrew with a broken toe just weeks before fight night.

    White reiterated his confidence that McGregor will return in 2026, though he confirmed no official deal has been signed at this stage. McGregor’s rumored return against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 during International Fight Week in Las Vegas remains the most discussed option for his comeback.

  • Joe Rogan Suggests Khamzat Chimaev May Have Been Preparing for Weight Change Before UFC 328

    Joe Rogan Suggests Khamzat Chimaev May Have Been Preparing for Weight Change Before UFC 328

    The cageside commentary team at UFC 328 was already raising questions about Khamzat Chimaev’s weight cut during the post-fight broadcast, with Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier suggesting that an aborted plan to move to light heavyweight may have significantly complicated his preparation for the Strickland title defense.

    Chimaev appeared visibly uncomfortable at Friday’s official weigh-ins before coming in at the 185-pound limit, and his conditioning deteriorated after a dominant opening round against Strickland, as he largely abandoned his wrestling and struggled to maintain the same intensity across five rounds. Rogan connected those dots during the broadcast.

    “The fact that he did try to bulk up plus thinking that he was going to fight Jiri Prochazka for 205. Good question, because it could have been a factor.”

    Cormier questioned whether the middleweight division is even the right home for Chimaev going forward.

    “Does Khamzat want to fight at 185? They said he already has his eyes on 205. I don’t know.”

    The theory carries weight given Chimaev’s history with weight management. He infamously missed the 170-pound limit by 7.5 pounds ahead of UFC 279 in September 2022, an incident that forced a reshuffling of the entire card. In this instance, the suggestion is that Chimaev had been building his frame in anticipation of competing at 205 pounds, possibly for a fight with Prochazka, before the Strickland title defense was booked and he was required to shed significant mass in a compressed timeframe.

    You can see the post-fight reaction on X here.

    Dana White confirmed at the post-fight press conference that Chimaev approached him to say he wants to move to light heavyweight. Chimaev posted on X, with “see you soon again” and then “let me know when you are ready,” suggesting a rematch at middleweight has not been fully ruled out.

  • GSP’s Former Coach Offers to Fix Khamzat Chimaev’s Conditioning: ‘I Promise You This Will Never Happen Again’

    GSP’s Former Coach Offers to Fix Khamzat Chimaev’s Conditioning: ‘I Promise You This Will Never Happen Again’

    Firas Zahabi watched Khamzat Chimaev lose the UFC middleweight title at UFC 328 and immediately went public with an offer to help, delivering a direct plea on his YouTube channel for Chimaev to bring his career to Tristar Gym in Montreal.

    Zahabi, who guided Georges St-Pierre through the peak of one of the greatest careers in MMA history, was direct about what he believes he can offer.

    “I’m begging you, somebody get this out there. Khamzat, come train with me. Come to Montreal, come train with me. I promise you, if you come train with me, you’re not going to fade. I promise you. Come and train with me. Bring Arman Tsarukyan. Khamzat Chimaev, Arman Tsarukyan, come train with me. Come see how we prepare to make sure that your fitness level will be better than ever, your striking will be sweeter than ever, and your footwork will be sweeter than ever. I promise you. If Khamzat Chimaev, you come and train with me, this will never happen to you again.”

    He also extended the invitation to include the possibility of working alongside St-Pierre himself.

    “I really hope he gets this message. Please come train with me and Georges St-Pierre, and we will make sure that we do our absolute best to get your hand raised, no matter what the cost, what the energy expenditure, how many hours we have to do, we will focus on you getting your hand raised. So, if Khamzat Chimaev is listening, or anybody who knows him, get this message to him. Please let him know he’s more than welcome, and I would love to have him as soon as possible training at my facility.”

    Chimaev’s conditioning appeared to deteriorate significantly after a dominant opening round against Strickland, with widespread speculation that a demanding weight cut from a heavier frame contributed to his struggles in the championship rounds. Dana White confirmed Chimaev approached him after the fight to say he wants to move to light heavyweight. Chimaev has since posted messages on social media suggesting a Strickland rematch remains on his mind.

  • Josh Hokit Gets Into Confrontation With Paulo Costa at UFC 328

    Josh Hokit Gets Into Confrontation With Paulo Costa at UFC 328

    Josh Hokit has added another altercation to what is becoming a notable collection, getting into a confrontation with Paulo Costa in the crowd at UFC 328 on Saturday night, just one day after being ejected from the UFC White House press conference following his standoff with Ilia Topuria.

    The exchange between Hokit and Costa began when the two started trading words in the crowd before security stepped in to separate them. As officers pulled Costa away, Hokit gave him the middle finger and kept shouting across the divide.

    “There’s only one fing bad guy. Get the fout of here!”

    Costa kept his composure as security maintained the separation while Hokit continued jawing at him from the other side of the crowd.

    You can see the incident on X here.

    The confrontation came 24 hours after Hokit was escorted out of the UFC Freedom 250 press conference in Newark after getting into a back-and-forth with Topuria that ended with the lightweight champion throwing an object at him. Hokit had also targeted Alex Pereira with insults during that same event before turning his attention to Topuria.

    Hokit faces Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House South Lawn in Washington D.C., a matchup reportedly put together at the personal request of Donald Trump and Joe Rogan following his performance against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327.

  • Paddy Pimblett Refuses Future New Jersey Fights Because of One Reason

    Paddy Pimblett Refuses Future New Jersey Fights Because of One Reason

    Paddy Pimblett watched UFC 328 from home and came away with one firm conclusion about where he will not be competing: New Jersey.

    Pimblett noticed during the Jim Miller and Jared Gordon bout that UFC 328 was being contested under older MMA rules, specifically the New Jersey State Athletic Commission’s regulations, which ban 12-6 elbows and consider a fighter grounded with just one hand on the canvas.

    His reaction was immediate.

    “Has he just said, ‘Old rules in play?’ No 12-6 elbows? Wow! That’s ridiculous. I wouldn’t fight there. And if you put your finger on the mat, you basically can’t kick them.”

    Pimblett has been one of the more vocal advocates for the 12-6 elbow since it became legal under the updated unified rules in November 2024, incorporating the strike into his game. The New Jersey commission’s refusal to adopt the new ruleset has been a point of contention among fighters and analysts for some time.

    Pimblett has not competed since his unanimous decision loss to Justin Gaethje in the interim lightweight title fight at UFC 324 in January. He is expected to return at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas during International Fight Week, where a fight against Benoit Saint-Denis is reportedly signed, though nothing has been officially confirmed.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Disputes Controversial Split Decision at UFC 328

    Arman Tsarukyan Disputes Controversial Split Decision at UFC 328

    Arman Tsarukyan was in Khamzat Chimaev’s corner at UFC 328 and he is standing firmly by his teammate after Saturday’s split decision loss to Sean Strickland, posting a message on Instagram that appeared to question the judging.

    “We fought our hearts out tonight and everyone watching knows what really happened. Head up Champ. You will get your belt back soon.”

    Tsarukyan did not reference the scorecards directly, but the implication was clear. Two judges scored the fight 48-47 for Strickland, awarding him rounds two, three, and five, while the third judge had it 48-47 for Chimaev, giving him rounds one, four, and five. The split nature of the decision and the closeness of each round left room for legitimate disagreement about the outcome.

    Tsarukyan worked closely with Chimaev during his training camp for the title defense, making his emotional investment in the result understandable. Chimaev’s performance raised questions about the toll of his weight cut, with reports suggesting he had been bulking up in anticipation of a potential light heavyweight move before being called to defend the middleweight title against Strickland.

    Dana White confirmed after the fight that Chimaev approached him to say he wants to move to 205 pounds, though Chimaev has since posted cryptic messages on social media hinting at a Strickland rematch.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Has Hilarious Reaction to Sean Strickland’s Upset Win Over Khamzat Chimaev At UFC 328

    Dricus Du Plessis Has Hilarious Reaction to Sean Strickland’s Upset Win Over Khamzat Chimaev At UFC 328

    Dricus du Plessis may have been one of the happiest people in the building after Sean Strickland shocked the MMA world by defeating Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 328 main event.

    Strickland reclaimed the middleweight title with a grueling split-decision victory over Chimaev on Saturday night in Newark, handing “Borz” the first loss of his professional career and ending his title reign after just one defense.

    Watching cageside was Du Plessis, who suddenly finds himself right back in the middle of the championship picture thanks to the result.

    The South African previously defeated Strickland twice during his own title reign, first capturing the belt against him at UFC 297 before successfully defending it in their rematch at UFC 312.

    However, Du Plessis later lost the title to Chimaev after being controlled for long stretches in their clash at UFC 319 last year.

    Following UFC 328, “Stillknocks” made it clear he wasn’t surprised by how the fight unfolded.

    Dricus du Plessis Believes Sean Strickland Broke Khamzat Chimaev’s Pace At UFC 328

    “The fight went exactly the way I thought it would,” Du Plessis said in a backstage UFC interview. “Great, great fight by Strickland. Like I said, it’s so hard to keep that man on the ground.”

    Du Plessis explained that Strickland’s ability to repeatedly work his way back to his feet eventually drained Chimaev’s gas tank and shifted the momentum of the fight.

    “He is incredibly tough to hold down,” Du Plessis said. “He made Khamzat tired and that’s exactly what happened.”

    The former champion also reiterated his belief that once the fight stayed standing for extended periods, Strickland held the advantage.

    “And like I said, in the stand-up, [Khamzat] just won’t be able to hang with him,” Du Plessis added. “So congratulations.”

    Du Plessis then jokingly closed his reaction with a line that immediately caught fans’ attention online.

    “I guess this makes me world champion again.”

    Videos circulating on social media also showed Du Plessis celebrating Strickland’s victory cageside, smiling and applauding after the judges announced the decision.

    Although the UFC has not confirmed what comes next at middleweight, Strickland’s win potentially places Du Plessis in a strong position for a trilogy fight, given his two previous victories over the newly crowned champion.

  • WATCH: UFC Star Paddy Pimblett Leaves British TikToker Gassed And Throwing Up After Sparring

    WATCH: UFC Star Paddy Pimblett Leaves British TikToker Gassed And Throwing Up After Sparring

    Paddy Pimblett recently gave a popular TikTok creator a harsh lesson inside the gym during a friendly sparring session.

    British influencer Dean Alex, who built a following online through bizarre fan-requested challenges and his viral catchphrase “do you not know who I am, kid?”, recently teamed up with Pimblett for a sparring session at Next Generation MMA in Liverpool.

    The collaboration came together after one of Alex’s followers challenged him to fight the UFC star.

    At the start of the session, Pimblett appeared to take it easy on the influencer. The former interim UFC lightweight title challenger was noticeably holding back early on and even allowed Alex to land a few shots during the exchange.

    During the spar, Pimblett eventually connected with a spinning elbow before following up with several additional strikes that visibly overwhelmed the TikToker.

    Moments later, Alex was seen running off the mat before eventually throwing up from exhaustion and the punishment he absorbed.

    The 31-year-old Liverpool native last competed at UFC 324 in January, where he challenged Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title. Pimblett ultimately dropped a unanimous decision, bringing his UFC record to 7-1.

    Before the setback against Gaethje, “The Baddy” had built serious momentum in the lightweight division with victories over names such as Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler, and King Green.

    Pimblett is now scheduled to return at UFC 329 on July 11 during International Fight Week, where he’ll face Benoit Saint Denis at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

  • Sean Strickland Won UFC Middleweight Title While Injured

    Sean Strickland Won UFC Middleweight Title While Injured

    Sean Strickland reclaimed the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 328 while dealing with a separated shoulder he sustained just four days before the fight, an injury he revealed in characteristically dramatic fashion at the post-fight press conference in Newark.

    Strickland, who is famously committed to sparring regardless of the timing, was working at Plinio Cruz’s gym in New Jersey on the Tuesday before the Saturday fight when things went wrong during a session with former PFL middleweight champion Johnny Eblen.

    “Funny story. So Tuesday I’m sparring Johnny, that motherfucker, the PFL champ. I’m at Plinio Cruz’s gym and he fing shoots on me. I hit this brick a** wall and I separated my shoulder. So I had a grade one AC joint separation on Tuesday and I remember laying in bed on Tuesday night. I’m sure there’s a video of me somewhere slamming my shoulder — get some better pads! I was laying there and I couldn’t lay on my right.”

    Despite the injury, Strickland competed and won a split decision over Khamzat Chimaev to become a two-time middleweight champion. During the fight itself, Chimaev added to his injury total when a strike broke Strickland’s nose during one of their exchanges.

  • Dana White Calls Internet ‘F***ing Stupid’ Over Khamzat Chimaev Weigh-In Controversy

    Dana White Calls Internet ‘F***ing Stupid’ Over Khamzat Chimaev Weigh-In Controversy

    Dana White has pushed back firmly against theories that Khamzat Chimaev did not legitimately make the 185-pound middleweight limit for UFC 328, while Sean Strickland is equally firm in the opposite direction.

    The controversy arose after a video of Chimaev’s weigh-in showed the needle on the manual scale still moving as it was read at exactly 185 pounds, prompting speculation online that he had not fully made weight. Strickland added fuel to the fire during the ceremonial weigh-ins when he flatly accused Chimaev of cheating the scale.

    Speaking after UFC 328, White had little patience for the narrative.

    “You know the New Jersey State Athletic Commission oversees the weigh-ins, right? Jeremy Stephens missed weight by four pounds and they had to cut a deal. But for Khamzat they’re just going to let him not make weight? Jersey and New York are two of the toughest commissions in the country. The internet is f***ing stupid, I don’t know what to tell you other than that. Listen, Monday morning at 9.02 call the New Jersey Athletic Commission and ask them about that. I have nothing to do with any of that stuff.”

    Strickland was not moved by his boss’s defense of the official result when White’s comments were relayed to him.

    “Show of hands, who thinks he missed weight? His scale was going ‘ding ding ding ding ding’. He 1,000 per cent missed weight.”

    The controversy does not affect the result of the fight itself. Strickland won a split decision to claim the middleweight title for the second time and is now preparing for the first defense of his new reign.

  • Sean Strickland Admits His Feud With Khamzat Chimaev May Have Been Manufactured

    Sean Strickland Admits His Feud With Khamzat Chimaev May Have Been Manufactured

    Sean Strickland has offered a remarkably candid post-fight assessment of the feud that consumed the sport’s attention for weeks, admitting that much of the hatred he felt toward Khamzat Chimaev may have originated entirely within his own mind.

    Speaking to the media after reclaiming the UFC middleweight title at UFC 328, Strickland reflected on the origins of a rivalry that included gun threats, a kicked faceoff, and the heaviest security operation in recent UFC history, only to dissolve into mutual respect within minutes of the final bell.

    “Maybe it’s just who he is as a person but when he was in the gym he was really threatening. He just had that threatening demeanour. And maybe that’s like the little man inside me but when he’s threatening me I’m like ‘I want to f***ing murder you, I want to kill you.’ Maybe he didn’t take it that way, maybe it’s his Chechen sense of humor. But in the gym he was always trying to, like, punk me. I was like ‘let’s go spar’ and we would never go spar.”

    He then went further, acknowledging that the entire intensity of his feelings toward Chimaev may have been a product of his mental state rather than anything Chimaev actually did.

    “So I could have manufactured the whole situation in my head to be honest. There’s times when you’re mentally not well you’ll have interactions with people and sometimes your brain thinks something else happened. You have to sit back and be like ‘wait wait wait’. That’s why I like training and train so much, there’ll be times where I have an interaction with somebody and my brain hallucinates the entire interaction. So there’s a chance that I just hallucinated that entire interaction with Chimaev.”

    Strickland also revealed he competed through a significant shoulder injury sustained during fight week, adding another layer to a victory that already stands as one of the more unlikely in recent middleweight history. His win makes him a two-time UFC middleweight champion, joining Israel Adesanya as the only fighters to accomplish that feat at 185 pounds.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Posts Cryptic ‘See You Again Soon’ Message After UFC 328 Loss

    Khamzat Chimaev Posts Cryptic ‘See You Again Soon’ Message After UFC 328 Loss

    Khamzat Chimaev has sent a cryptic message to Sean Strickland on X following his split decision defeat at UFC 328, complicating the narrative around his reported move to light heavyweight.

    “See you again soon.”

    The post came after what appeared to be a surprisingly cordial conclusion to one of the most heated feuds in recent UFC history. Following weeks of threats, insults, and a kick during the press conference faceoff, Chimaev and Strickland were respectful after the final bell, with Chimaev placing the belt around Strickland’s waist in a gesture that surprised many observers.

    The tweet’s meaning is unclear given the context. Dana White revealed at the post-fight press conference that Chimaev approached him after the fight and stated he wants to move to light heavyweight and does not want to fight at middleweight any longer. Chimaev had already teased the move publicly before the title fight and appeared to struggle significantly at the weigh-ins, with Strickland publicly accusing him of nearly missing weight.

    An immediate rematch is technically possible if Chimaev changes course, though Strickland enters his second reign with a healthy queue of contenders including rematches with Nassourdine Imavov and Brendan Allen, as well as fresh matchups against Caio Borralho and Joe Pyfer. Given Chimaev has fought only once per year since 2023, a definitive answer on his next move may take some time to emerge.

    Strickland’s split decision victory was scored 48-47 on two judges’ cards, making him a two-time middleweight champion and matching Israel Adesanya as the only fighters to accomplish that feat at 185 pounds.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Is Changing Weight Classes After UFC 328 Loss

    Khamzat Chimaev Is Changing Weight Classes After UFC 328 Loss

    Khamzat Chimaev wasted no time making his intentions known after suffering the first loss of his professional career at UFC 328, walking straight up to Dana White after the split decision defeat to Sean Strickland and delivering a clear message about his future.

    White revealed the conversation at the UFC 328 post-fight press conference.

    “He literally walked up to me after the fight and said ‘I want to move up. I don’t want to fight in this weight class anymore.’”

    Chimaev had openly discussed moving to light heavyweight on multiple occasions before the title fight, and a difficult weight cut appeared to be a genuine factor in his performance. After a dominant opening round, his conditioning visibly faded as the fight progressed. He largely abandoned his wrestling for extended stretches and appeared to rely on his striking despite the weight cut appearing to have taken a toll.

    White acknowledged the cut’s likely impact while praising Chimaev’s toughness for continuing to compete at a high level despite the circumstances.

    “What was interesting was the first two times I saw him fight on Fight Island, he used to talk about his standup and his team all the time. I was saying we haven’t seen him stand up and really go toe-to-toe with somebody in a while. But I think he had a rough weight cut. He’s a tough guy. He’s a f***ing savage. I would expect him not to roll over and quit.”

    White agreed with the scorecards that gave Strickland the victory, noting he had it tied going into the championship round.

    “I had it two to two going into the last round. I thought Strickland won the last round.”

    White expressed genuine excitement about the prospect of Chimaev moving up in weight, though he declined to name potential opponents.

    “I’m not even thinking about who he’ll fight next. But him moving up is exciting.”

  • UFC 328 Bonuses: Van vs. Taira Earns Fight of the Night

    UFC 328 Bonuses: Van vs. Taira Earns Fight of the Night

    UFC 328 delivered a record-setting night in Newark on Saturday, with Sean Strickland reclaiming the UFC middleweight championship via split decision over Khamzat Chimaev in the main event before a crowd of 17,783 at Prudential Center.

    The event set a new venue gate record of $7.5 million for the Prudential Center, surpassing all previous events held at the arena. The 13-bout card featured two world title fights and seven finishes across the evening.

    The flyweight championship co-main event between Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira earned Fight of the Night honors, with both fighters receiving $100,000 bonuses for their performance.

    Jim Miller earned a Performance of the Night bonus worth $100,000 for his first-round submission victory over Jared Gordon. In a significant development alongside the bonus, Miller also signed a new five-fight contract with the UFC following the win, extending one of the longest tenures in the promotion’s history.

    Yaroslav Amosov claimed the second Performance of the Night bonus, also worth $100,000, for his second-round arm-triangle choke submission over Joel Alvarez in a dominant grappling showcase.

  • ‘Does It Again’ – Strickland Bests Chimaev For Middleweight Title

    ‘Does It Again’ – Strickland Bests Chimaev For Middleweight Title

    The undefeated record and middleweight title reign of Khamzat Chimaev ends in his first title defense. Sean Strickland has pulled off another major upset for the middleweight championship, defeating Chimaev in the UFC 328 main event.

    In a case of deja vu, Chimaev got a takedown in the opening minute and didn’t let up the entire first round. Chimaev dominated with positioning, gaining mount and back mount, threatening a choke at the end of the fight’s first five minutes.

    Strickland looked to pressure with strikes to start the second round. Then, both times that Chimaev went for takedowns in the round, Strickland stuffed them. This time, it was Strickland who dominated with positioning, mixing in some strikes.

    Chimaev did not do any takedown attempts in round three, electing to stand and trade with Strickland. Strickland landed plenty of combinations early, but Chimaev landed arguably the most effective punch, tripping up Strickland on a late jab.

    This continued into the fourth round, but Chimaev started to pick things up, working with his right hand, while Strickland appeared to tire a little. Chimaev then started to look for a takedown at the end of round four and going into round five. Strickland attempted to defend and landed jabs, but Chimaev was on the front foot for the majority of the last round, and he landed a pair of takedowns.

    Sean Strickland Recaptures UFC Middleweight Title, Hands Khamzat Chimaev First Loss At UFC 328

    Strickland earned this title shot off a finish of Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston in February. Strickland’s first title defense began at UFC 293, when he upset Israel Adesanya. Strickland, however, dropped the title to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 and lost their UFC 312 rematch.

    Chimaev was 15-0 entering this fight. He had claimed the middleweight title with a win over Du Plessis at UFC 319 last August.

  • ‘Take A Bow’ – Joshua Van Retains In War With Tatsuro Taira

    ‘Take A Bow’ – Joshua Van Retains In War With Tatsuro Taira

    Joshua Van put on another strong performance in the Octagon to mark his first title defense, defeating Tatsuro Taira to retain the UFC flyweight championship in the co-main event of UFC 328.

    Taira pressured and scored a takedown on Van in the first minute of the fight, controlling Van for the first half of round one until an unsuccessful guillotine attempt. Van was able to avoid Taira’s grappling to start the second round, and he used slick handwork to land several shots upstairs on his challenger.

    Taira, however, scored another takedown halfway through the second round — though Van landed several shots from the bottom. Van turned things up again in the closing seconds of round two, landing a straight right that nearly put Taira out.

    Van avoided Taira’s takedown efforts and continued to work his striking in the third, touching Taira up and busting him open. Van grounded Taira again, landing ground-and-pound and attempting multiple submissions. Taira did manage to score a takedown at the end of round three.

    After a little trading to start round four, Taira scored another takedown on Van, controlling most of the frame on the ground before the last portion featured trading from both men. Taira also looked for a submission in this round, threatening a triangle armbar.

    The fight would not see the final horn, however. Van landed a couple of combinations, wobbling and dropping Taira in the fifth round, and the referee — despite a brief protest from Taira — waved off the action.

    Joshua Van Stops Tatsuro Taira To Retain Flyweight Title At UFC 328

    Van has lost just twice, with one of those fights coming in the UFC, bringing him to a 17-2 record. This was the first title defense for Van, who has now won seven straight, after claiming the belt from Alexandre Pantoja via injury TKO at UFC 323.

    That marked just the second loss of Taira’s MMA career. Taira earned this title shot off a finish of former champion Brandon Moreno at UFC 323.

  • ‘Heavyweight…Needs New Talent’ – Volkov Defeats Cortes-Acosta

    ‘Heavyweight…Needs New Talent’ – Volkov Defeats Cortes-Acosta

    In a battle of top heavyweight contenders that went down at UFC 328, Alexander Volkov managed to score a victory over Waldo Cortes-Acosta.

    Volkov used leg kicks to his advantage in the opening round, landing a number of them on Cortes-Acosta. Cortes-Acosta landed some powerful shots, but Volkov’s volume and reach advantage helped him gain an early edge.

    Volkov did some damage in the second round as well, landing a solid right jab that pushed Cortes-Acosta back and a leg kick that gave a negative reaction from WCA. WCA, however, brought some power and pressure in the third round, giving it right back to Volkov.

    Volkov, however, did enough to earn the decision on the scorecards.

    Alexander Volkov Gets Decision Over Waldo Cortes-Acosta At UFC 328

    Volkov has now won six of his last seven fights. He came into this bout off a split decision victory over Jailton Almeida in another contender’s bout at UFC 321.

    This snaps a three-fight win streak for WCA. He went 5-1 in 2025, including a pair of knockout wins over Ante Delija and Shamil Gaziev in November.

  • ‘Schooled’ – Sean Brady Dominates Joaquin Buckley On Ground

    ‘Schooled’ – Sean Brady Dominates Joaquin Buckley On Ground

    The ground game of Sean Brady seemed untouchable at UFC 328, as he put on an absolute clinic in a win over Joaquin Buckley.

    Brady scored four takedowns over the course of the 15-minute fight, gaining just over 12 minutes of control time. Buckley was able to get up at times, but Brady’s pressure just proved to be too much.

    Brady, in fact, landed 71 significant ground strikes and landed a total of 245 strikes during the bout. Brady swept the judges’ scorecards, with two judges giving Brady two 10-8 rounds for near finishes — both via TKO and submission.

    Sean Brady Shuts Out Joaquin Buckley At UFC 328

    Brady rebounds from his loss to Michael Morales at UFC 322. That loss had snapped a three-fight losing streak. The only other fighter to defeat Brady is former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad.

    Buckley has now dropped two fights, coming into this bout off a loss to Kamaru Usman at UFC Atlanta in June 2025. That loss snapped a six-fight win streak Buckley was previously on.

  • Paulo Costa, Josh Hokit Forced To Be Separated At UFC 328

    Paulo Costa, Josh Hokit Forced To Be Separated At UFC 328

    After causing a stir at the UFC Freedom 250 press conference one day earlier, Josh Hokit was involved in a mid-crowd confrontation with Paulo Costa at UFC 328.

    Costa and Hokit got into a verbal confrontation while sitting in the crowd at the Prudential Center, with the two getting close to one another. Hokit appeared to try and take Costa’s drink from out of his hand, with security quickly stepping in to separate the pair.

    Costa had teased something happening between the two of them earlier in the day on social media.

    One day before UFC 328, Hokit was present for a press conference for UFC Freedom 250, hyping up his bout at the event with Derrick Lewis.

    Hokit called out Alex Pereira, mocking the idea of Pereira being the “Baddest Man on the Planet.” Pereira appeared to ignore Hokit’s tirade, with Ilia Topuria stepping in to fire expletives at Hokit, with Hokit giving them right back.

    Topuria then threw an object at Hokit, who was quickly escorted off the stage.

    Hokit, who has been divisive in the eyes of the MMA community since his arrival to the UFC, earned the opportunity to compete at UFC Freedom 250 after his win over Curtis Blaydes last month.

    UFC Freedom 250, which takes place on the lawn of the UFC White House, will occur on Sunday, June 14.

    Costa made a jump to light heavyweight last month, knocking out the previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov.

  • Chris Weidman To Be Inducted Into UFC Hall Of Fame Class of 2026

    Chris Weidman To Be Inducted Into UFC Hall Of Fame Class of 2026

    Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, praised for his wrestling and responsible for one of the UFC’s biggest upsets, has been announced as the next inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame.

    Weidman’s induction into the Hall’s 2026 class was announced during UFC 328.

    Chris Weidman Joins UFC Hall Of Fame Class Of 2026

    Weidman was a standout wrestler at Hofstra University, earning the All-American status that served as the basis of his nickname. Weidman made his MMA debut in 2009, winning his first four bouts with Ring of Combat before joining the UFC.

    Weidman won five straight, including wins over Demian Maia and Mark Munoz, before challenging then-longtime reigning middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 163.

    At that event, Weidman produced one of the UFC’s most memorable moments, knocking out a taunting Silva in the second round to become the new champion. Weidman then won the UFC 168 rematch after Silva broke his leg during the second round.

    Weidman then defended the gold against Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida before losing to Luke Rockhold at UFC 194. Weidman would only win three more times in his MMA career.

    Weidman also suffered a nasty leg break, as Silva did before him, suffering the injury against Uriah Hall at UFC 261. He’d successfully come back two years later, showcasing a major display of heart and determination to compete again.

    Weidman’s last fight came at UFC 310, losing to Eryk Anders.

    Weidman joins a Hall of Fame Class of 2026 that also includes Thomas Gerbasi, Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk I, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, Dominick Cruz, and Forrest Griffin Community Service Award winner Alex Pereira.

  • “One-Way Traffic” – King Green Dominates At UFC 328

    “One-Way Traffic” – King Green Dominates At UFC 328

    King Green continues to perform impressively at his age, needing just one round to defeat Jeremy Stephens at UFC 328.

    Green and Stephens looked to trade early, with Green getting the clear upper hand in strikes. After a pause for a low blow, Green scored a takedown, and the end seemed near at that point as Green got to work with strikes.

    After Stephens unsuccessfully attempted a kimura from the bottom, Green rained down heavy ground-and-pound before getting to Stephens’ back, scoring the first-round submission.

    King Green Runs Through Jeremy Stephens At UFC 328

    Green has now won three straight and improves to 35-17 (1 NC).

    Stephens has now lost three straight and has won just one MMA fight since mid-2018.

  • Ateba Gautier Puts Ozzy Diaz’s Lights Out At UFC 328

    Ateba Gautier Puts Ozzy Diaz’s Lights Out At UFC 328

    Mark off another win and another strong outing for Ateba Gautier, as he put Ozzy Diaz to sleep with a knockout win in the featured prelim of UFC 328.

    Diaz tried to test Gautier early, trying to defend Gautier’s power shots early by trying to work his grappling. Gautier continued to search for the perfect punch, finding success with the effective utilization of his jab.

    Finally, Gautier landed the shot he was looking for in round two, landing a right hand that dropped Diaz, prompting the referee to step in almost right away.

    Ateba Gautier KOs Ozzy Diaz At UFC 328

    Gautier has now won 10 straight, moving to 11-0 as a pro. He’s won all five fights he’s had in the UFC since making his promotional debut last year.

    Diaz is now 1-2 in the UFC, arriving after a pair of wins in the LFA. Diaz fought Joe Pyfer in the fight that earned Pyfer a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series.

  • UFC Inducting Thomas Gerbasi Into Hall Of Fame Contributor Wing

    UFC Inducting Thomas Gerbasi Into Hall Of Fame Contributor Wing

    Thomas Gerbasi, the former longtime UFC Editorial Director who passed away in 2025, will be honored posthumously as the next inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

    Gerbasi was on the UFC’s editorial team for over 20 years, serving as an essential historian and record-keeper for everything that is the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

    Gerbasi also contributed to several publications, including The Ring Magazine, ESPN, and the Boston Globe.

    “Tom was a close member of the UFC family and a very talented writer,” UFC CEO and President Dana White said in a statement.

    A New Yorker, Gerbasi graduated from St. John’s University before making a name for himself in the world of boxing content. Gerbasi eventually joined the UFC team and oversaw the official UFC website.

    Gerbasi’s boxing writing landed him a 2022 induction into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame and the 2024 Nat Fleischer Award.

    Gerbasi also authored a number of works, including UFC: A Visual History,The UFC Encyclopedia,The Official UFC Fan Guide, and Boxing: The 100 Greatest Fighters.

    Gerbasi joins a 2026 Hall of Fame class that includes Dominick Cruz, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk I, and Forrest Griffin Community Award winner Alex Pereira.

  • Slam, Submission, Break Dancing: Amosov Celebrates 2nd UFC Win

    Slam, Submission, Break Dancing: Amosov Celebrates 2nd UFC Win

    Yaroslav Amosov’s encore UFC performance saw another impressive outing, as the former Bellator welterweight champion submitted Joel Alvarez during the UFC 328 prelims.

    Amosov was dominant with his wrestling throughout the fight. Even as Alvarez tried to keep distance and work Amosov into exchanges, he was continuously taken down by Amosov, who dominated with positioning and strikes on the ground and against the fence.

    This led to the highlight finishing sequence in round two, where Amosov landed a slam before immediately jumping into a head-and-arm choke submission position. Amosov scored the submission win and promptly celebrated with break dancing.

    Yaroslav Amosov Lands Slam And Submission At UFC 328

    Amosov made his UFC debut in December, scoring a first-round submission of Neil Magny. Amosov is now 30-1 as a pro MMA fighter, with his sole loss coming when he dropped the Bellator title to Jason Jackson at Bellator 301.

    Alvarez sees a four-fight win streak snapped.