MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Alexander Volkanovski’s Coach Assesses Movsar Evloev’s Chances In Potential UFC Title Fight

    Alexander Volkanovski’s Coach Assesses Movsar Evloev’s Chances In Potential UFC Title Fight

    The coach of Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t believe Movsar Evloev would be able to deal with the newly crowned UFC featherweight champion’s strength.

    Evloev has been staking his claim for the next title shot following Volkanovski’s return to the throne at this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view.

    The Australian veteran got the better of Diego Lopes across five rounds to bounce back from consecutive knockout losses to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, beginning a second reign at 145 pounds in the process.

    Attention has already turned to the first defense of his new divisional rule, and Evloev is widely being branded the most deserving of the opportunity.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, coach Joe Lopez assessed the Russian’s game and how it stacks up against the strengths of the champ.

    “I think he is a good wrestler, but he’s not a – what would you call him? He’s good at getting people down, but he doesn’t really do much with it once he gets them down. And that’s what I guess makes him boring,” Lopez said. “So he just hangs on to them, and I don’t think he’s going to be able to hang onto Volk. Volk is just so strong, and his scrambling skills, and his jiu-jitsu and wrestling are another level. Volk just picks things up, if you look at the the beginning of the camp, when we break things down, and we see what each person’s really good at.

    “So we’ve got Diego. Diego’s got a pretty good guard. The way he switches from armbars to triangles to sweeps, he’s very good at. He’s got a really good repertoire there, and at the beginning with the guys that we had, Volk was getting stuck in there. (But) by the end of the camp, Volk was not having any problems at all in those positions, and I think that’s what Diego felt when Alex took him down – that it’s not a place he wants to be with Alex on top of him because like I said, Alex’s pressure when he’s on top, he feels like a heavyweight on top of you, and then he just doesn’t hang onto you. He’s just looking to land some bombs or an elbow or something on you. So, you don’t want to be on the bottom when Alex is on top.”

  • Dustin Poirier Pitches Next Opponent For ‘Real Deal’ Paddy Pimblett After UFC 314

    Dustin Poirier Pitches Next Opponent For ‘Real Deal’ Paddy Pimblett After UFC 314

    UFC lightweight veteran Dustin Poirier has an idea in mind for Paddy Pimblett’s next test inside the Octagon.

    Pimblett continued his charge up the 155-pound ladder at this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view, which he co-headlined against Michael Chandler inside Miami’s Kaseya Center.

    “The Baddy” made a statement by laying a devastating beating on “Iron Mike” in the third round to secure a TKO stoppage, extending his undefeated UFC record in the process.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Poirier praised Paddy Pimblett’s performance in “The Magic City” and pondered what could come next for him in the stacked lightweight division.

    “He’s legit,” Poirier said. “How can I deny him any more? Chandler’s a tough guy. I don’t think Chandler looked great. … I definitely think Chandler didn’t look great, but not taking away from Paddy’s performance. Paddy went out there, dropped the first round, came out confident and hit Chandler with good shots. Then he took him down. Who would’ve have had that on their bingo card that Paddy is going to take down Chandler to the mat like that and get on top of him and dominate him like that. Paddy’s the real deal.

    “The guy was a prospect. Now he’s a contender,” Poirier continued. “You have to take him for real now. Not that Chandler wasn’t a big fight, but his next fight has to be a really big one. Like a (Mateusz) Gamrot, Arman (Tsarukyan), (Charles) Oliveira. … For me as a fan, put him in there with Dan Hooker. That would be an incredible fight. That’s a fun fight. The build up is going to be fun. Dan is going to stand and trade with him. Dan has good takedown defense, on the ground. That’s the fight, I think.”

    Dan Hooker is coming off a split decision victory over Mateusz Gamrot in Australia last September. He was scheduled to battle Justin Gaethje at UFC 313 last month but had to withdraw due to injury.

  • Marvin Vettori Mourns Loss Of His Younger Brother Due To Devastating House Fire

    Marvin Vettori Mourns Loss Of His Younger Brother Due To Devastating House Fire

    Marvin Vettori has recently endured an unimaginable loss.

    On Tuesday morning, reports emerged in Italian media revealing the heartbreaking news that Patrick Vettori, the younger brother of former UFC middleweight title challenger Marvin Vettori, sadly passed away in a house fire at his residence in Mezzocorona, Italy.

    The fire is believed to have started after Patrick accidentally left a pan on the stove and fell asleep on the couch. Although emergency services were alerted by neighbors, police, and firefighters arrived at scene too late — he had already succumbed to smoke inhalation.

    “The Italian Dream” took to Instagram to confirm the unfortunate demise of his 30-year-old brother. In a deeply emotional tribute, Vettori shared a series of poignant childhood photos and penned a heartfelt message for Patrick.

    “You were and always will be No. 1 my little brother! You left us leaving an unfillable void, I will love you until my last breath. I don’t think I’ll be the same after today because maybe I never told you but you’ve always been my strength. You were the smartest and smartest of the 2, you were creating a wonderful future for yourself and I can’t get over it.”

    “It is said that Jesus calls back the most beautiful souls prematurely to have them with him in heaven and then I hope that you are there with him looking and watching over us with that goodness that has always set you apart. I love you my brother, and even though it won’t be easy to continue life without you, it gives me heart to know that one day I’ll be buried next to you.”

    While details about Patrick Vettori’s personal life remain limited, his Instagram profile offers a glimpse into his professional ventures. He was the owner of a real estate firm called Vettori Homes and the co-founder of Padel Hall, a paddle tennis facility based in Trento.

  • Michael Chandler Breaks Silence On Crushing UFC 314 Loss To Paddy Pimblett

    Michael Chandler Breaks Silence On Crushing UFC 314 Loss To Paddy Pimblett

    Michael Chandler has spoken publicly for the first time since a devastating defeat at the hands of Paddy Pimblett.

    The pair of lightweight contenders co-headlined this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view inside Miami’s Kaseya Center, setting the stage for Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes’ featherweight title clash.

    Chandler had hoped to insert his name back into the championship conversation at 155 pounds months on from a defeat to Charles Oliveira that left him 2-4 in the UFC.

    Unfortunately for the ex-Bellator kingpin, Pimblett proved to be a hurdle too tall. The American was soundly beaten en route to a TKO stoppage in round three.

    Now, days later, Chandler has addressed the brutal setback on social media, commenting on an image posted by his wife in the aftermath of his latest defeat on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “Never out of the fight,” Michael Chandler wrote. “This picture sums it all up. As long as I’ve got these heartbeats and hands to hold, I’ve already won.”

    It remains to be seen what comes next for the 38-year-old, who is now winless since a 2022 knockout of Tony Ferguson.

  • Bryce Mitchell On UFC 314 Loss To Jean Silva: ‘He Put Me To Sleep, I Had Nothing Left’

    Bryce Mitchell On UFC 314 Loss To Jean Silva: ‘He Put Me To Sleep, I Had Nothing Left’

    Bryce Mitchell made no excuses for tapping out to Jean Silva this past weekend.

    At UFC 314 in Miami’s Kaseya Center, Mitchell was completely outmatched by Silva, who controlled the fight throughout before submitting him with a brutal ninja choke in the second round.

    Before securing the finish, “Lord” displayed sharp striking and showcased a clear grappling edge, neutralizing the American in nearly every exchange en route to locking in the submission win.

    After suffering his second submission defeat in the UFC, “Thug Nasty” took to Instagram to reflect on the loss, admitting he was heartbroken by the outcome but stood by the fact that he left everything he had in the Octagon.

    “Thank God, he protected me, Bryce Mitchell said. “I didn’t lose my teeth. I don’t got no broken bones. So I feel good about that. I fought as hard as I possibly could. I couldn’t have fought any harder. I could have fought smarter. I’m going to go make some adjustments but I mean he put me to sleep. I had nothing left to give. I’m happy about that, knowing that I tried my best. But I’ve got to get better. That’s just the lesson learned here, I’ve got to get better.

    “I really thought that I was going to win the fight. 100 percent believed it. Because I just never had a fight that big before and I was like wow out of nowhere, this fight just got this much hype. God’s chosen me to win this fight but that wasn’t the case… I’m just going to keep fighting. That’s all I can do,” Mitchell said. “That’s all we can all do. Any time you take a loss, just learn from it and keep fighting. That’s what I’m going to do.”

    “Thug Nasty” finds himself on uneven footing, going 2-3 in his last five appearances—each of the three losses coming by way of stoppage. His most recent win came at UFC 310 in December, when he scored a third-round knockout over Kron Gracie amidst an inconsistent run.

  • Paddy Pimblett Vows To ‘Do the Same Thing’ To Ilia Topuria That He Did To Michael Chandler

    Paddy Pimblett Vows To ‘Do the Same Thing’ To Ilia Topuria That He Did To Michael Chandler

    Paddy Pimblett, riding high after his dominant victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314, expressed his interest in welcoming Ilia Topuria to the lightweight division.

    Following his TKO win in Miami, Pimblett was asked about a potential future matchup with the former featherweight champion after calling out names like Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Arman Tsarukyan.

    “To be honest, I forgot about him. I forgot all about him, or I would’ve mentioned him in the cage. … That’s how irrelevant he is. I’m ranked higher than he is at lightweight, so I’d love to welcome him at 155, but apparently, he’s sitting out and waiting for the title shot.”

    Pimblett believes his performance against Chandler provides a blueprint for defeating Topuria.

    “But what I’ve just done to Chandler, [that’s] the blueprint to beating him. I’ll do the exact same thing to Ilia what I’ve done to Chandler.”

    Looking ahead, Pimblett hopes to contend for the lightweight title in 2026, regardless of who holds the belt, be it Islam Makhachev or another fighter.

    Pimblett acknowledged how fluid the division came be and mentioned potential scenarios involving Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena.

    “I’ve seen stuff where Islam might retire after another defense or two, or if [Jack Della Maddalena] beats Belal Muhammad, he’ll move up and fight for the welterweight belt,” Pimblett explained.

    Ultimately, his focus remains on facing whoever the UFC puts in front of him.

    “Whoever’s in front of me, that’s who I fight. Whoever the UFC sends me… that’s who I fight next, and that’ll be whoever I fight next.”

  • Dana White Only Has ‘Great Things’ To Say About UFC’s Time At ESPN Despite ‘Rocky’ Moments

    Dana White Only Has ‘Great Things’ To Say About UFC’s Time At ESPN Despite ‘Rocky’ Moments

    Dana White recently addressed the impending conclusion of the UFC’s broadcast rights deal with ESPN.

    The exclusive negotiating window between the UFC and ESPN is set to close on Tuesday, allowing the promotion to explore other agreements with other networks for 2026 onwards.

    The UFC inked a five-year, $1.5 billion deal with ESPN in 2018 for domestic broadcast rights, commencing in 2019. This agreement was extended by two years in early 2019, incorporating pay-per-view streaming rights.

    Speaking at the UFC 314 post-fight press conference, White commented on the situation.

    “When the window opens, we’ll obviously start talking to lots of different people and we’ll see what the options are out there. We’ve said this every time: There could be a time when we end up on several different networks like all other sports do. I like ESPN. I’ve said it many times: We had a bit of a rocky start, which is normal in any relationship, but we’re in a great place with ESPN. Whether we re-sign with them or do not, I have nothing but great things to say about my time at ESPN.”

    White was also asked about maintaining the current event format, which saw 42 events in 2024.

    “I don’t know. It depends on what ESPN or wherever else we go is looking for. Most of the times when you do these deals, you’re catering to what the network needs. Plus, they’ll have other programming, other sports that they’re already committed to at certain times and seasons and whatever it may be. It always changes. It doesn’t matter to me.”

    White also commented on a Bloomberg report suggesting the UFC is seeking over $1 billion annually for its new broadcast rights deal, stating, “Sounds good to me.”

    With the possibility of the UFC following WWE’s move to Netflix, the question of the pay-per-view model’s future arose.

    “We do what works for the network – what do they want to do? Do they want to just put it on their air? Do they want to do pay-per-view? Do they want to put it behind a paywall? I don’t know any of those things. Tuesday, the window opens and we start talking to other networks and we’ll get more into that.”

  • Dominick Reyes ‘Hurt’ By Bonus Snub After First-Round Knockout At UFC 314

    Dominick Reyes ‘Hurt’ By Bonus Snub After First-Round Knockout At UFC 314

    UFC light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes enjoyed a fruitful trip to Miami last week, but not quite as much so as he feels was merited.

    Reyes was tasked with opening the main card of Saturday’s UFC 314 pay-per-view inside Miami’s Kaseya Center opposite longtime top 10 contender Nikita Krylov.

    “The Devastator” continued his impressive career resurgence with a third straight victory, which came by way of a brutal knockout in the opening round that drew comparisons to Conor McGregor’s title-winning finish of Jose Aldo.

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Reyes reflected on his victory at UFC 314 and addressed the fact that it did not earn him a $50K performance bonus from the promotion.

    “It’s definitely upsetting (not to get a bonus),” Dominick Reyes said. “Number 11 vs. number eight. I knocked him out in the first round to jump off the main card of the best card of the year.

    “It definitely hurt, but it is what it is. Bottom line, I’m winning, man, we’re moving forward,” Reyes concluded.

  • Colby Covington: ‘B*tch Boy’ Paddy Pimblett Is Never Going To Be Champion

    Colby Covington: ‘B*tch Boy’ Paddy Pimblett Is Never Going To Be Champion

    Colby Covington has found himself in yet another rivalry, this time with rising lightweight Paddy Pimblett.

    The outspoken welterweight veteran made his presence known backstage at UFC 314 in Miami this past Saturday, having a verbal altercation with “The Baddy.”

    Covington questioned the caliber of Pimblett’s UFC opponents, while the Scouser fired back by highlighting the American’s recent string of losses.

    Pimblett dismissed Covington as “irrelevant” during an interview with ESPN. “Chaos,” never one to back down from a verbal sparring match, responded through his YouTube channel, offering a scathing assessment of “The Baddy” and his recent competition.

    “Paddy wanted to say some sh*t when I was walking by, so I had to confront him. I had to let him know he’s a little bItch boy. The combined losing streak of his last three opponents, look it up, guys, it’s 13 losses in a row. He wants to act like he’s relevant and he’s a star, he’s a f*cking nobody, bro. You’re a nobody. You’ve never headlined an event. You’ve never done anything worthy. You’ve never been a top contender. You’re a f*cking scrub. The only reason people f*cking care about you is because you’re an Ellen Degeneres-looking f*cking scrub and, to be honest, it’s because you’ve got a bowl cut and an English accent, that’s the only reason people want to look at you.”

    Covington’s animosity toward Pimblett is evident. Now, he has issued a challenge to the rising star.

    “Paddy Pimblett’s a little b*tch. He needs to stop running my name through his mouth to stay relevant. Because he’s just using me to stay relevant because he’s never accomplished anything. He’s never going to get to a title fight. He’s never going to win a title, period. He’s a f*cking irrelevant bum. So when he stops cutting all that weight and cutting chromosomes and he wants to come to a real man’s weight class, and fight a real man, he can get his ass whooped. So he needs to keep my name out of his mouth, otherwise he’s going to end up with my foot in his ass and that’s a fact.” 

  • Full Card Confirmed For Paul Hughes-Headlined PFL Europe Event In Belfast On May 10

    Full Card Confirmed For Paul Hughes-Headlined PFL Europe Event In Belfast On May 10

    The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has officially announced the final fight card for next month’s PFL Europe event in Belfast.

    Headlining the card is the return of Paul Hughes (13-2). Following his valiant performance against Usman Nurmagomedov, “Big News” gets his homecoming bout versus Bruno “Robusto” Miranda (17-5).

    The co-main event will showcase the return of the 2024 PFL Europe Bantamweight Champion, Lewis “The McGrizzla” McGrillen (11-1). McGrillen is coming off a year where he clinched the title with two consecutive knockout victories. His opponent, Alan “Super Ali” Philpott (21-16-0, 1 NC),  aims to silence any doubters in his first fight on home soil in 11 years.

    See below for the full lineup for the PFL Europe event on May 10.

    • Lightweight Main Event: Paul Hughes (13-2) vs. Bruno Miranda (17-5)
    • Bantamweight Co-Main Event: Lewis McGrillen (11-1) vs. Alan Philpott (21-16-0, 1 NC)
    • Lightweight Tournament: Connor Hughes (10-2) vs. Sebastian Di Franco (10-3)
    • Lightweight Tournament: Mark Ewen (6-1) vs. Alex Chizov (10-3)
    • Lightweight Showcase Bout: John Mitchell (10-2) vs. Lorenzo Parente (4-0)
    • Lightweight Tournament Bout: Claudio Pacella (5-2) vs. Gavin Hughes (11-4)
    • Lightweight Tournament Bout: Decky McAleenan (9-5-1) vs. Gino Van Steenis (5-1)
    • Middleweight Showcase Bout: Haider Khan (9-1) vs. Sean McCormac (3-2)
    • Women’s Flyweight Showcase Bout: Gemma Auld (1-0) vs. Sammy-Jo Luxton (2-0)
    • Welterweight Showcase Bout: Eoin Sheridan (2-0) vs. Malichi Edwards (4-1)
    • Featherweight Showcase Bout: Corey McLaughlin (0-1) vs. Nahom Wedi (0-0)

    PFL Europe Belfast will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN in the UK and Ireland, as well as other parts of Europe. Tickets for the event are currently available for purchase via ticketmaster.ie.

  • Alexander Volkanovski May Have Suffered Significant Injury Early In UFC 314 Fight

    Alexander Volkanovski May Have Suffered Significant Injury Early In UFC 314 Fight

    Alexander Volkanovski’s victory over Diego Lopes at UFC 314 on Saturday night came at a cost, as he potentially sustained a broken hand during the five-round featherweight title bout.

    Despite the injury, Volkanovski secured a unanimous decision win with scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47, reclaiming the 145-pound belt. 

    Volkanovski’s coach, Joe Lopez, discussed the potential injury in a recent interview with Submission Radio.

    “He might have broke his hand, we still gotta get that X-ray. He did hurt his hand … It was earlier in the fight. Alex didn’t say anything about it [at the time], just at the end he was just saying, ‘I think I busted my hand.’” Lopez also noted the physical toll of the fight, adding, “I can’t remember which round. But yeah, he’s got a bit of a sore foot and just the bumps and bruises after having a five round war with a warrior.”  

    Lopez credited Diego Lopes for disrupting their initial game plan.

    “After that first round, Diego channeled his inner Jose Aldo because man, his hips were on fire. We couldn’t get him back down. He did not wanna go back down there … We wanted to take Diego down or get him against the fence because he is very dangerous. He’s very explosive, and you could see he’s super tough. Alex put some big shots on him, and he he wore them like they were nothing.” 

  • New UFC Signing Aaron Pico Backs Jean Silva For Next Title Shot Over Movsar Evloev

    New UFC Signing Aaron Pico Backs Jean Silva For Next Title Shot Over Movsar Evloev

    According to UFC newcomer Aaron Pico, Jean Silva’s destruction of Bryce Mitchell is enough to warrant a title shot.

    The featherweight gold returned to Alexander Volkanovski at this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view, which was headlined by a clash for the belt vacated by Ilia Topuria.

    To begin a fresh reign on the 145-pound throne, Volkanovski got the better of charging contender Diego Lopes across five rounds in Miami. And though the Australian’s victory is just days old, it hasn’t taken long for focus to turn to what could await him next.

    For many, that should be a showdown with the undefeated Movsar Evloev, who has beaten Lopes, Arnold Allen, and Aljamain Sterling consecutively to stake his claim.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, however, Pico pointed to another figure in the featherweight top 15 as a more “exciting” option for the UFC and “Alexander the Great.”

    “Honestly, I think Jean Silva,” Pico said. “He’s 5-0 in the UFC with five finishes. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got the title shot. He put on a great performance (at UFC 314). The crowd loved him and he’s starting to get a lot of fans. And I think he’s very exciting.

    “Movsar is a great fighter, of course. But I think to the fans, it’s very, very boring,” Pico added.

    Silva continued his surge up the ladder on MMA’s biggest stage at UFC 314 by choking out the controversial Mitchell on the main card.

    With significant hype behind his name, perhaps “Lord” could be in for a shock rise to title challenger next time out.

  • Belal Muhammad Pinpoints Diego Lopes’ Mistake In UFC 314 Title Fight Loss

    Belal Muhammad Pinpoints Diego Lopes’ Mistake In UFC 314 Title Fight Loss

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad has given his take on Diego Lopes’ approach to his first title shot.

    Lopes competed with gold on the line for the first time in this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view main event, challenging for the vacant featherweight title.

    In the Brazilian’s way of a title crowning was Alexander Volkanovski, a legendary former champ looking to regain his place on the throne following back-to-back knockouts at the hands of Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.

    “Alexander the Great” ultimately proved to be a hurdle too tall for Lopes, who fell to a convincing defeat on the scorecards following five rounds of action.

    The bout wasn’t without moments of success for Lopes, however. The 30-year-old scored a knockdown in round two before finishing the fight with a late flurry.

    And his pedal to the metal approach to the final minute in Miami is exactly how Muhammad thinks the Brazilian should have fought from the start.

    “Diego Should’ve fought the whole fight like he did that last minute,” Muhammad wrote on X.

    Diego Lopes will now look to bounce back following his disappointing night in Miami to ensure his name stays in the championship mix at 145 pounds.

    For now, the only other man to defeat him in the UFC, undefeated Russian contender Movsar Evloev, will push for his first title opportunity in the UFC.

  • Dana White Reacts To Michael Chandler’s UFC 314 Loss: ‘He’s Always In The Fight’

    Dana White Reacts To Michael Chandler’s UFC 314 Loss: ‘He’s Always In The Fight’

    Win or lose, UFC CEO Dana White maintains that Michael Chandler is an always-entertaining and competitive fighter.

    Chandler’s woes on MMA’s biggest stage continued at this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view, which he co-headlined opposite the rising Paddy Pimblett.

    “Iron Mike” was badly beaten en route to a TKO stoppage in round three. The result has ensured he’s remained winless since 2022 and pushed the former Bellator champion’s UFC record to a disappointing 2-5.

    During his appearance at the post-fight press conference, White reacted to Chandler’s latest setback. The UFC chief insisted that regardless of the result, Chandler is in nothing but great fights.

    “(Chandler’s) always in the fight,” White said. “Tonight was a big night for Paddy Pimblett. people have been doubting Paddy Pimblett every single fight he fights in. He’s undefeated in the UFC.

    “Every time that guy (Chandler) goes in, you know you’re in for a good fight, you know it’s going to be a war, and you don’t know if he’s going to win or lose,” White added.

    Michael Chandler will no doubt hope that he can put on a good fight while also having his hand raised when he returns to the cage.

    A return date remains up in the air for the former title challenger, who appeared to sustain significant damage at the hands of Pimblett and swiftly returned to the backstage area before the result was read out at UFC 314.

  • Renato Moicano Changes Tune On Paddy Pimblett After Destruction Of Michael Chandler At UFC 314

    Renato Moicano Changes Tune On Paddy Pimblett After Destruction Of Michael Chandler At UFC 314

    UFC lightweight contender Renato Moicano has acknowledged the impressive nature of longtime rival Paddy Pimblett’s latest triumph inside the cage.

    Pimblett recorded the biggest win of his Octagon career to date at this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view, which he co-headlined inside Miami’s Kaseya Center.

    To keep his undefeated UFC record intact and further climb the ladder toward title contention, “The Baddy” was tasked with adding to the woes of a Michael Chandler who entered the event without a win since 2022.

    And “Iron Mike” was unable to rectify that and improve his negative record in the promotion. Instead, he was battered by Pimblett en route to a TKO stoppage midway through round three.

    The ex-Cage Warriors champion has been collecting plenty of plaudits in the aftermath of his performance in “The Magic City,” and that includes from one man whom he’s frequently gone back and forth with.

    “Paddy pimblett 2024: EASY MONEY…Paddy pimblett 2025: NOT SO EASY,” Moicano wrote on X.

    Moicano and Pimblett have long traded barbs regarding a possible clash inside the Octagon. But with “The Baddy” likely to land above the Brazilian in the rankings this week, he’s now targeting the likes of Justin Gaethje as the Scouser looks to secure a first title opportunity.

  • What’s Next After UFC 314? Full Confirmed UFC 315 Main Card For Montreal On May 10

    What’s Next After UFC 314? Full Confirmed UFC 315 Main Card For Montreal On May 10

    UFC 314 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 315 in Montreal.

    The promotion was in Miami last week, where the Kaseya Center played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its fourth numbered event of the year. Of note were headline wins for Alexander Volkanovski and Paddy Pimblett, as well as important victories for Yair Rodriguez, Jean Silva, and Dominick Reyes.

    While the aftermath of the April 12 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the featherweight title picture to the welterweight championship conversation.

    At UFC 315, set for the Bell Centre on May 10, reigning kingpin Belal Muhammad will open his account for the year in defense of his 170-pound gold. After his crowning against Leon Edwards last July, the first challenge to the Palestinian-American’s reign will come from Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as two-time flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko looks to defend her belt for the first time since winning it back at the expense of Alexa Grasso in 2024. In her way of a continued reign will be the charging Manon Fiorot.

    Aldo, Grasso, Saint Denis Set The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 315

    Before Muhammad and Shevchenko make the walk to put their championships on the line, a number of notable names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 315 card.

    That includes mixed martial arts legend Jose Aldo. After having his record since returning from retirement leveled at 1-1 courtesy of Mario Bautista’s efforts last October, the Brazilian former champ will look to avoid falling to a losing skid by snapping the winning run of home favorite Aiemann Zahabi.

    Prior to that, another ex-titleholder in Grasso will be in action. After being thrust off the 125-pound throne by Shevchenko in their trilogy inside the Sphere seven months ago, the Mexican will look to stake her claim for a shot at regaining the gold by handing surging contender Natalia Silva her first defeat in the UFC.

    And opening the UFC 315 main card will be “God of War” Benoit Saint Denis. After a difficult 2024 in which he suffered crushing defeats to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano, the Frenchman must now defend his spot in the lightweight top 15 opposite Spain’s Joel Alvarez.

    Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over the likes of Canada’s own Mike Malott and former strawweight queen Jessica Andrade, who are slated to feature on the prelims.

    See below for the UFC 315 lineup, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Welterweight Championship: Belal Muhammad (C) vs. Jack Della Maddalena
    • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Valentina Shevchenko (C) vs. Manon Fiorot
    • Bantamweight: Jose Aldo vs. Aiemann Zahabi
    • Women’s Flyweight: Alexa Grasso vs. Natalia Silva
    • Lightweight: Benoit Saint Denis vs. Joel Alvarez

    Preliminary Card (bout order TBA):

    • Welterweight: Mike Malott vs. Charles Radtke
    • Women’s Flyweight: Jessica Andrade vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
    • Light Heavyweight: Modestas Bukauskas vs. Ion Cutelaba
    • Bantamweight: Brad Katona vs. Bekzat Almakhan
    • Middleweight: Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Bruno Silva
    • Light Heavyweight: Navajo Stirling vs. Ivan Erslan
    Jose Aldo
    Image: Alexandre Loureiro/Zuffa LLC
  • Diego Lopes Speaks Publicly For First Time Since Failed Title Bid At UFC 314

    Diego Lopes Speaks Publicly For First Time Since Failed Title Bid At UFC 314

    UFC featherweight contender Diego Lopes has vowed to come back stronger after falling short in his first title opportunity.

    Having won all five of his subsequent Octagon appearances following a competitive debut defeat to the undefeated Movsar Evloev in 2023, Lopes had his first chance to reach the mountaintop at UFC 314.

    But while the Brazilian found moments of success against Alexander Volkanovski in Saturday’s pay-per-view main event, he was ultimately unable to do enough to earn victory on the scorecards.

    Though no doubt disappointed to be leaving Miami without the featherweight gold in his possession, Lopes doesn’t appear too disheartened and is optimistic about what the future holds for him.

    “Always with my head held high, a smile on my face,” Diego Lopes wrote on X. “I fell short last night, I failed in a few things. I’ll get back to work, improve, correct the mistakes, and move forward. Thank you all for your support. As I always say, ‘NOTHING HAPPENS.’”

    While Lopes looks ahead to his attempt at immediately returning to the winner’s circle, Volkanovski’s second reign is underway. Many have been quick to call for his first defense to come against Evloev later this year.

  • Islam Makhachev Reacts To Former Opponent Alexander Volkanovski’s UFC 314 Title Win

    UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev was a keen observer as two-time opponent Alexander Volkanovski returned to winning ways.

    Many had already deemed Volkanovski’s days as a champ and top competitor on MMA’s biggest stage to have been over following consecutive knockout losses to Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.

    But in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 314 pay-per-view in Miami, “Alexander the Great” proved his detractors wrong with a vintage display to get the better of Diego Lopes and capture the vacant 145-pound gold.

    Volkanovski has been getting plenty of plaudits in the aftermath of his first win since mid-2023, and among the most prominent to lay praise on the Australian was the lightweight king.

    “Congrats @alexvolkanovski great comeback! Real champ in sport and life,” Makhachev wrote on X.

    Prior to knocking the newly crowned two-time featherweight champ out in their short-notice rematch, Makhachev narrowly emerged victorious from a memorable five-round battle with the Aussie veteran in Perth.

  • Dominick Reyes Names Three Options For His Next Fight After UFC 314 Knockout

    Dominick Reyes Names Three Options For His Next Fight After UFC 314 Knockout

    UFC light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes has some big fights in mind following the latest triumph in his career resurgence this weekend.

    Since four straight losses sent Reyes tumbling down the pecking order, the man who pushed Jon Jones to the limit in 2019 has bounced back in a big way.

    Following consecutive triumphs over Dustin Jacoby and Anthony Smith, “The Devastator” put his name back into contention at 205 pounds starching Nikita Krylov at this weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view.

    During a backstage interview with Full Send MMA, Reyes assessed what could lie in his future following a standout performance in Miami.

    “(Aleksandar) Rakic would be a great fight,” Dominick Reyes said. “The winner of Khalil (Rountree) and Jamahal Hill. And who doesn’t want to see me rematch Jiri Prochazka? You know, fight one of them, get the title, and then I’ll fight all of them.”

    Reyes’ 2021 main event with Prochazka served as the third setback on his losing skid. Their back and forth war at the Apex came to an end when a brutal spinning back elbow rendered the American unconscious.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Two Main Events Announced

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards.

    With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, April 7, and Sunday, April 13, a number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources.

    For those matchups, including main events for the Apex on May 17 and Baku on June 21, check out the list below:

  • Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Backstage Colby Covington Confrontation At UFC 314

    Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Backstage Colby Covington Confrontation At UFC 314

    A feud is developing between UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett and welterweight Colby Covington.

    Following his co-main event victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in Miami, Pimblett was unexpectedly confronted by Covington.

    Covington criticized the caliber of Pimblett’s opponents, while Pimblett retorted by highlighting Covington’s recent losing streak.

    Pimblett later detailed the exchange on ESPN’s post-event show, referring to Covington as a “little maggot” who “only does something when there’s a camera about.”

    Paddy Pimblett recounted a prior interaction at Power Slap where Covington allegedly avoided eye contact. In their latest meeting, Pimblett stated he told Covington, “‘Lad, I’ll come and slap you, but you’ll go and ring the police on me like you did with Masvidal, you little grass [snitch].’”

    This alludes to Covington’s past altercation with Jorge Masvidal, who attacked him outside a restaurant, leading to Masvidal’s arrest and a misdemeanor battery plea.

    Pimblett is firmly focused on a lightweight title opportunity and dismissed Covington during his post-fight press conference.

    “He can eat sh*t. He pays supermodels to stand with him, the f*cking bum. He’s a nobody. He’s on a three-fight losing streak or something, he’s irrelevant. He’s trying to use me now to stay relevant because he’s a nobody, he’s a bum. I’d beat Colby Covington for a laugh, but I’ve got bigger fish to fry than that little mushroom.”

  • Patricio Pitbull Issues First Statement On Debut Defeat To Yair Rodriguez At UFC 314

    Patricio Pitbull Issues First Statement On Debut Defeat To Yair Rodriguez At UFC 314

    Mixed martial arts legend Patricio Pitbull is keeping his head up after a less than ideal start to life in the UFC.

    Pitbull, a former champion under the Bellator MMA banner, entered the Octagon for the first time at Saturday’s UFC 314 pay-per-view in Miami, Florida.

    The Brazilian great jumped into the deep end against ex-interim titleholder Yair Rodriguez, and the Mexican’s renowned striking game ultimately proved too much for Pitbull on the night.

    Following three rounds of action, which included a knockdown for “El Pantera,” the UFC newcomer fell to a defeat on the scorecards.

    While Pitbull would appear to have limited time to reach his championship ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage given he’s joined at the age of 37, he remained positive about his goals while making his first public post-fight statement on social media.

    “Congratulations to @panteraufc, we’ll see each other again. I’m injury free and ready to go at any time @ufc,” Pitbull wrote. “Thank you to all the fans, I’ll make you all proud, you can count on that. #UFC314“

  • Movsar Evloev Sends A Message To Alexander Volkanovski After UFC 314 Title Win

    Movsar Evloev Sends A Message To Alexander Volkanovski After UFC 314 Title Win

    It didn’t take long for top UFC featherweight contender Movsar Evloev to make his feelings known on Alexander Volkanovski’s return to the throne.

    Volkanovski became a two-time champion in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 314 pay-per-view event, which went down inside the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

    Following consecutive defeats to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, the Australian overcame a knockdown to convincingly outpoint Diego Lopes, capturing the vacant 145-pound belt in the process.

    Before this weekend’s headliner, both title challengers publicly acknowledged Movsar Evloev’s claim to a shot against the victor. And the undefeated Russian hasn’t forgotten that.

    “Congratulations on an excellent performance, you’re a true champion!” Evloev wrote on X. “Now let’s see what your word is worth! @alexvolkanovski#UFC314“

    Evloev has won all nine of his UFC fights to date, most notably beating Lopes, Arnold Allen, and Aljamain Sterling in his last three appearances in the Octagon.

    A failure to record a single finish, however, has seemingly prevented the former M-1 Global champion from being given a title shot, and the entertaining Yair Rodriguez will hope that works in his favor after staking his own claim with a victory at UFC 314.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Regains Featherweight Title With History-Making Win Over Diego Lopes At UFC 314

    Alexander Volkanovski Regains Featherweight Title With History-Making Win Over Diego Lopes At UFC 314

    It was 14 months ago when Alexander Volkanovski lost his third straight fight and suffered his second straight knockout, losing the UFC featherweight world championship in the process.

    Now, with Ilia Topuria moving up to lightweight, Volkanovski made the most of his opportunity to earn back the gold, defeating Diego Lopes in the main event of UFC 314 in Miami to win the vacant title.

    Volkanovski made history with his victory by becoming the first UFC fighter 35 years or older to win a UFC championship at a weight class below welterweight. He also becomes the second man, joining Jose Aldo, to regain the UFC’s 145-pound title.

    The two were patient to feel each other out, but Volkanovski was the first to get his striking going, landing a series of low kicks before a right hand. Lopes looked for a flurry, but Volkanovski managed to land another straight. Volkanovski cracked Lopes with less than two minutes into the round, rocking him. Volkanovski managed to score a takedown, and while Lopes was quickly back to his feet, he ate a harsh knee to the face. Volkanovski got Lopes back to the ground and troubled him with ground-and-pound until the horn.

    Despite the rough start, and expert opinions his best chances were rushing forward with offense, Lopes continued to be patient in the second round. Volkanovski’s striking continued to remain on point despite Lopes shrugging off a takedown attempt. With less than two minutes in round two, Volkanovski rocked Lopes again in an exchange, bringing Lopes over to the fence to try for another takedown. Lopes was able to get out of it, and the two had another exchange in the closing seconds. Suddenly, Lopes dropped Volkanovski before the horn with a right-left combination, and thoughts circled as to if momentum would change.

    Alexander Volkanovski Becomes Two-Time UFC Featherweight Champion With Decision Win Over Diego Lopes At UFC 314

    Lopes’ corner begged him for more aggression, according to the commentary team, but the round seemed to be a slower-paced one. Volkanovski, however, continued to have more activity, clipping Lopes with a left hand about halfway through the round. Even when Lopes tried to get something going, including stopping a Volkanovski takedown attempt, the former champion was ready with something.

    The championship rounds saw the fight continue the pace it was on. But with just over two minutes to go, Lopes caught momentum with an uppercut that bothered Volkanovski’s eye and rocked him. Lopes continued to chase Volkanovski down, landing a number of shots despite Volkanovski’s attempts to shake off the cobwebs.

    Lopes landed another right hand early in the fifth round as he looked to find a way to get the win as the minutes slipped away. Volkanovski was firing back, however, sometimes landing a number of jabs before Lopes lands his next strike. Lopes continued to eat jabs as Volkanovski had more activity and got the better of the exchanges. Lopes looked to turn things up in the final minute, but Volkanovski was ready, answering back and keeping distance until the final horn.

    This marked Volkanovski’s first fight since losing the UFC featherweight championship to Topuria at UFC 298 last year. Volkanovski came into this fight with a three-fight losing streak, having lost two lightweight title fights with Islam Makhachev within the year prior to the fight with Topuria.

    After coming up short in his short-notice UFC debut against Movsar Evloev at UFC 288, Lopes entered tonight on a five-fight win streak, scoring finishes of Gavin Tucker, Pat Sabatini and Sodiq Yusuff, as well as decisions over Dan Ige and Brian Ortega.

  • UFC 314 Results & Highlights: Alexander Volkanovski Decisions Diego Lopes 

    UFC 314 Results & Highlights: Alexander Volkanovski Decisions Diego Lopes 

    UFC 314 took place tonight from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes faced off for the vacant featherweight title. While in the co-main event, Michael Chandler faced Paddy Pimblett in a lightweight matchup. 

    UFC 314 Results: Main Card

    • Featherweight Championship: Alexander Volkanovski def. Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46×2)
    • Lightweight: Paddy Pimblett def. Michael Chandler via TKO: R3, 3.07
    • Featherweight: Yair Rodriguez def. Patricio Pitbull via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Featherweight: Jean Silva def. Bryce Mitchell via submission: R2, 3.52
    • Light Heavyweight: Dominick Reyes def. Nikita Krylov via KO: R1, 2.24

     
    Preliminary Card

    • Featherweight: Dan Ige def. Sean Woodson via TKO: R3, 1.12  
    • Women’s Strawweight: Virna Jandiroba def. Yan Xiaonan via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Lightweight: Chase Hooper def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 30-27)
    • Featherweight: Julian Erosa def. Darren Elkins via TKO: R1, 4.15

     
    Early Preliminary Card

    • Middleweight: Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Sedriques Dumas via TKO: R1, 2.49
    • Flyweight: Sumudaerji def. Mitch Raposo via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Middleweight: Marco Tulio def. Tresean Gore via TKO: R2, 3.16
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Nora Cornolle def. Hailey Cowan via submission: R2, 1.52

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Nora Cornolle def. Hailey Cowan

    Nora Cornolle earned the first finish of UFC 314 with a rear-naked choke submission of Hailey Cowan.

    Marco Tulio def. Tresean Gore

    In this middleweight bout, Marco Tulio stopped Tresean Gore in the second round.

    Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Sedriques Dumas

    Michal Oleksiejczuk earned a first-round TKO in his middleweight bout with Sedriques Dumas.

    Julian Erosa def. Darren Elkins

    Julian Erosa got it done in the first round against Darren Elkins.

    Main Card Highlights

    Dominick Reyes def. Nikita Krylov

    In this light heavyweight bout, Dominick Reyes earned a first-round KO of Nikita Krylov.

    Jean Silva def. Bryce Mitchell

    Jean Silva submitted Bryce Mitchell in the second round of their featherweight bout.

    Yair Rodriguez def. Patricio Pitbull

    Yair Rodriguez got it done on the scorecards against Patricio Pitbull.

    Paddy Pimblett def. Michael Chandler

    In the co-main event, Paddy Pimblett earned a TKO of Michael Chandler in the third round.

    Alexander Volkanovski def. Diego Lopes

    In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski got it done on the scorecards to regain his featherweight title against Diego Lopes.