MMA News

Category: UFC

Latest UFC news articles, interviews and more covering the world’s top Mixed Martial Arts promotion.

  • “A New Contender” – Gabriel Bonfim Dominates Belal Muhammad

    “A New Contender” – Gabriel Bonfim Dominates Belal Muhammad

    In the biggest opportunity of his MMA career, Gabriel Bonfim fought the best performance he’s ever had in his career, defeating former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the UFC Vegas 118 main event.

    Muhammad got off to a head start in the opening frame, working well with his strikes despite being on the back foot. Bonfim, however, managed to string things well together, landing strong strikes late in the round to add to the pressure. Bonfim continued this in the second, landing some power while mixing in leg kicks to slow the former champ down.

    Muhammad looked for a takedown at the start of round three, but Bonfim was able to stuff it.

    Gabriel Bonfim Dominates Belal Muhammad In UFC Vegas 118 Main Event

    Bonfim has now won five straight and is 7-1 in the UFC. He came into this fight off a finish of Randy Brown this past November.

    Muhammad has now lost three straight since winning the UFC welterweight title at UFC 304. He came into this fight after losing the title to Jack Della Maddalena and losing to Ian Machado Garry in 2025.

  • “Put Some Respect…” – Brendan Allen Batters Edmen Shahabzyan

    “Put Some Respect…” – Brendan Allen Batters Edmen Shahabzyan

    Though taking a fight against an unranked fighter was a risk, Brendan Allen delivered a statement victory over Edmen Shahbazyan in the UFC Vegas 118 co-main event, solidifying his status in the UFC middleweight title picture.

    Allen got off to a strong start, controlling things with his striking. He continued to try to pressure, but Shahbazyan ensured Allen couldn’t get a takedown. The “Golden Boy” then scored multiple strong shots in the closing stages of round one.

    The two continued to trade in the second, but Allen’s power picked up, landing some harsh blows that did damage to Shahbazyan. That story remained in the third, as Allen’s punching power left Shahbazyan a bloody mess.

    Allen ultimately came away with the decision win, dropping just one round on one judge’s scorecard and sweeping on the other two.

    Brendan Allen Beats, Bloodies Edmen Shahabzyan At UFC Vegas 118

    Allen has now won three straight and 10 of his last 12 fights. He came into this bout off a short-notice victory over Reinier de Ridder in the UFC Vancouver main event this past October.

    Shahbazyan sees a three-fight win streak snapped with this defeat.

  • Bryce Mitchell Nabs Last-Second Submission Of Santiago Luna

    Bryce Mitchell Nabs Last-Second Submission Of Santiago Luna

    It’s felt like a while since Bryce Mitchell scored a finish, let alone one via submission, but that happened at UFC Vegas 118. With less than 10 seconds left, “Thug Nasty” scored a submission victory over Santiago Luna.

    While Luna attempted to take control early with his striking, Mitchell took over and just about dominated the first round with his grappling, controlling the action on the ground. Mitchell, in fact, spent most of the first two rounds on top, working Luna over with his positioning and preventing Luna from using his striking skillset.

    Luna appeared to take control in the grappling department with a takedown in the third round. Mitchell, however, quickly found a way to reverse the position and get back to business. Eventually, he locked up an arm-triangle choke on Luna, forcing a submission with under 10 seconds remaining.

    Bryce Mitchell Submits Santiago Luna At UFC Vegas 118

    Mitchell has now won two straight — making him 2-0 at bantamweight — and three of his last four in the Octagon. This was Mitchell’s first finish since defeating Kron Gracie at UFC 310. This also marks his first submission win in the UFC since his twister of Matt Sayles in 2019.

    This marks the first loss of Luna’s MMA career, entering this fight 8-0. He is now 2-1 in the UFC after scoring a finish of Quang Le and a decision over Angel Pacheco.

  • Iwo Baraniewski Gets Another Finish In Under 90 Seconds

    Iwo Baraniewski Gets Another Finish In Under 90 Seconds

    Make it another quick finish for Iwo Baraniewski, as he made easy work of Junior Tafa to kick off the UFC Vegas 118 main card.

    The two were slow to start, with Tafa notably pinning Baraniewski briefly against the fence. That quickly changed, with things returning to the center of the Octagon, where Baraniewski landed multiple leg kicks.

    The kicks seemed to bother Tafa, with one hurting him so much that he fell to the ground. Baraniewski jumped right on Tafa, landing ground-and-pound until the referee stepped in.

    Iwo Baraniewski Quickly Stops Junior Tafa At UFC Vegas 118

    Baraniewski now extends his undefeated record to 9-0, including a 3-0 UFC record. After earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, Baraniewski scored quick finishes of Ibo Aslan and Austen Lane, with none of his UFC wins (or his DWCS win) going past 90 seconds.

    Tafa falls to 7-6 in MMA. The kickboxer took this fight on short notice after scoring a first-round finish of Kevin Christian at UFC Perth last month.

  • MMA Community Debates The Finish Of Costa vs. Schnell

    MMA Community Debates The Finish Of Costa vs. Schnell

    Though there is debate about the finishing sequence, Alessandro Costa came away with the win over Matt Schnell in the featured prelim of UFC Vegas 118.

    Both men took a cautious approach to start, but Costa started to get his striking going, picking up the pace. Costa landed a combination a couple of minutes in, blasting Schnell with a right hand that made him wobbly before falling flat onto his face.

    Costa got on top and started to throw punches that went unanswered, resulting in referee Herb Dean stepping in to stop the fight.

    Schnell, however, appeared to scramble into grappling for a takedown after the stoppage, needing to be informed by Dean that the fight was over. Schnell protested the stoppage; however, the result will stand.

    Alessandro Costa Gets Bizarre Stoppage Win Over Matt Schnell At UFC Vegas 118

    Costa has now won three of his last four. He came into this bout off a performance bonus-earning finish of Stewart Nicoll in April.

    Schnell has now lost back-to-back fights and five of his last six.

  • Edgar Chairez Eyes UFC Rankings After Submission Of Bruno Silva

    Edgar Chairez Eyes UFC Rankings After Submission Of Bruno Silva

    Edgar Chairez continues his climb up the UFC flyweight rankings, scoring a first-round finish of Bruno Silva during the UFC Vegas 118 prelims.

    The two engaged in a striking scrap early, with both men getting their fair share of shots in. Chairez took over with control, however, by managing to drop Silva twice during the first round.

    The second knockdown came via an uppercut and marked the beginning of the end for Silva. Chairez got on top in the mount, and Silva’s attempt to escape resulted in him giving up his back to Chairez.

    Edgar Chairez Submits Bruno Silva At UFC Vegas 118

    Chairez seized the opportunity and locked in a rear-naked choke for the victory.

    Chairez has now won three straight and is 4-2 (1 NC) in the UFC. His sole losses in the UFC have come against the two most recent flyweight title fight combatants — Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira.

    Silva, who entered ranked No. 15, has now lost four of five and will most likely drop out of the flyweight rankings.

  • Chelsea Chandler Returns In Style With Win Via Armbar

    Chelsea Chandler Returns In Style With Win Via Armbar

    After over a year away from the Octagon and struggles at the start of her UFC career, Chelsea Chandler’s return is a success, submitting Priscila Cachoeira during the UFC Vegas 118 prelims.

    Cachoeira looked to use her size and strength to her advantage early, as her striking had Chandler on the back foot. The momentum shifted, however, when Chandler landed a combination, emphasized by a left hand that rocked Cachoeira.

    Chandler went in for the kill, and Cachoeira gave up her back on the ground. Chandler looked for a choke at first, but she eventually worked her way over to an armbar attempt. Chandler locked one in for a submission victory in round one.

    Chelsea Chandler Submits Priscila Cachoeira At UFC Vegas 118

    Chandler signed with the UFC in 2022 after starting her MMA career 4-1 in Invicta FC. Chandler scored a performance bonus-earning finish in her UFC debut but had since lost three of her last four, missing weight twice as well.

    Chandler had not been seen since her loss to Joselyne Edwards in April 2025.

    Cachoeira has now lost five of her last six.

  • Joanderson Brito Secures UFC Vegas 118 Win With Ninja Choke

    Joanderson Brito Secures UFC Vegas 118 Win With Ninja Choke

    Joanderson Brito picked up another ninja choke victory in the Octagon, scoring a submission of Jordan Levitt with it late in the first round of their UFC Vegas 118 preliminary card matchup.

    Leavitt looked to stop Brito’s forward pressure with his grappling and control, holding Brito against the fence and in a guillotine hold. Brito then looked to use his striking to bring pressure back on Leavitt, which Leavitt eventually responded to with a takedown attempt.

    That opened an opportunity for Brito, who locked on a ninja choke and scored the submission.

    Joanderson Brito Locks Up Jordan Leavitt For Submission Win At UFC Vegas 118

    Brito has now won two straight and seven of his last nine. He entered this fight off a decision win over Isaac Thomson in December.

    Leavitt is now 3-3 in his last six. He came into this fight off a decision win over Yadier del Valle in February.

  • Ketlen Souza grounds, head kick KOs Ariane Carnelossi

    Ketlen Souza grounds, head kick KOs Ariane Carnelossi

    Ketlen Souza got the night off with a bang at UFC Vegas 118, putting a quick beatdown on Ariane Carnelossi for an impressive first-round finish.

    Carnelossi seemed to gain control in the striking at first, backing Souza up in the opening exchanges of the bout. Souza, however, quickly gained the upper hand and eventually the finish, after landing a small flurry of strikes.

    A right hand got Carnelossi off balance and briefly grounded. After Carnelossi got back to both feet, Souza landed a perfectly timed head kick that knocked Carnelossi down. A couple of follow-up shots then put an exclamation point on the fight’s conclusion.

    Ketlen Souza Finishes Ariane Carnelossi With Head Kick At UFC Vegas 118

    Souza and Carnelossi fought previously in Future FC in 2019, with Carnelossi finishing Souza after a body kick.

    Souza has now won two straight and four of her last six. She entered this fight off a decision win over Bruna Brasil in February.

    Carnelossi has now lost three of her last four. She entered this fight off a loss to Talita Alencar at UFC Vegas 110 in November.

  • UFC Vegas 118 Results: Muhammad vs. Bonfim Live Updates & Highlights

    UFC Vegas 118 Results: Muhammad vs. Bonfim Live Updates & Highlights

    MMA News updates UFC Vegas 118 results and highlights live as the action unfolds from the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event will feature a welterweight bout between Belal Muhammad and Gabriel Bonfim. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Belal Muhammad vs. Gabriel Bonfim – Welterweight Main Event

    Muhammad was on a win streak between 2019 and 2024, rising up the welterweight ranks en route to defeating Leon Edwards for the title at UFC 304. Muhammad, however, enters this fight off back-to-back losses. Muhammad dropped the welterweight title to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 and lost to Ian Machado Garry at UFC Qatar in November.

    Bonfim is 6-1 since entering the UFC as an undefeated fighter off Dana White’s Contender Series. Bonfim most recently fought in November, finishing Randy Brown in the main event of UFC Vegas 111.

    The UFC Vegas 118 co-main event will feature Brendan Allen and Edmen Shahbazyan in a middleweight matchup.

    Allen has won two straight and nine of his last 11. He most recently fought on short notice in the main event of UFC Vancouver in October, knocking off Reinier de Ridder in a title eliminator.

    Shahbazyan has won three straight, most recently finishing Andre Muniz at UFC 320.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from UFC Vegas 118!

    How to Watch UFC Vegas 118

    • Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
    • Venue: Meta Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada
    • Streaming: Paramount+ (exclusive)
    • Prelims: 5 PM ET / 2 PM PT
    • Main Card: 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT

    UFC Vegas 118 Quick Results

    • Main Event: Belal Muhammad vs. Gabriel Bonfim — Gabriel Bonfim def. Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision (50-45 x3)
    • Co-Main Event: Brendan Allen vs. Edmen Shahbazyan — Brendan Allen def. Edmen Shahbazyan via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
    • Fares Ziam vs. Tom Nolan — Tom Nolan def. Fares Ziam via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
    • Bryce Mitchell vs. Santiago Luna — Bryce Mitchell def. Santiago Luna via submission (arm-triangle choke) (Rd. 3, 4:52)
    • Iwo Baraniewski vs. Junior Tafa — Iwo Baraniewski def. Junior Tafa via TKO (Rd. 1, 1:25)

    UFC Vegas 118 Results & Highlights

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 5 PM ET)

    Women’s Strawweight: Ketlen Souza vs. Ariane Carnelossi

    Result: Ketlen Souza def. Ariane Carnelossi via TKO (Rd. 1, 1:34)

    Women’s Flyweight: Jeisla Chaves vs. Yuneisy Duben

    Result: Jeisla Chaves def. Yuneisy Duben via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    Featherweight: Jordan Leavitt vs. Joanderson Brito

    Result: Joanderson Brito def. Jordan Leavitt via submission (Ninja choke) (Rd. 1, 4:19)

    Women’s Bantamweight: Priscila Cachoeira vs. Chelsea Chandler

    Result: Chelsea Chandler def. Priscila Cachoeira via submission (armbar) (Rd. 1, 3:42)

    Flyweight: Bruno Silva vs. Edgar Chairez

    Result: Edgar Chairez def. Bruno Silva via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 1, 4:13)

    Bantamweight: Marcus McGhee vs. John Yannis

    Result: Marcus McGhee def. John Yannis via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

    Catchweight (130 lbs.): Matt Schnell vs. Alessandro Costa

    Result: Alessandro Costa def. Matt Schnell via TKO (Rd. 1, 2:32)

    Main Card (Paramount+, 8 PM ET)

    Light Heavyweight: Iwo Baraniewski vs. Junior Tafa

    Result: Iwo Baraniewski def. Junior Tafa via TKO (Rd. 1, 1:25)

    Bantamweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Santiago Luna

    Result: Bryce Mitchell def. Santiago Luna via submission (arm-triangle choke) (Rd. 3, 4:52)

    Lightweight: Fares Ziam vs. Tom Nolan

    Result: Tom Nolan def. Fares Ziam via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Middleweight: Brendan Allen vs. Edmen Shahbazyan

    Result: Brendan Allen def. Edmen Shahbazyan via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

    Welterweight: Belal Muhammad vs. Gabriel Bonfim

    Result: Gabriel Bonfim def. Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision (50-45 x3)

  • UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs. Bonfim Preview, Full Card, How to Watch

    UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs. Bonfim Preview, Full Card, How to Watch

    UFC Fight Night returns to the Meta APEX in Las Vegas on Saturday, June 6, with a welterweight main event carrying real title-picture stakes. Former champion Belal Muhammad faces rising Brazilian contender Gabriel Bonfim in a 12-fight card streaming on Paramount+.

    Key Points

    • Main event: Belal Muhammad, ranked #5 at welterweight, looks to snap a two-fight skid against #11-ranked Gabriel Bonfim, who rides a four-fight win streak.
    • Co-main: #4 middleweight Brendan Allen meets Edmen Shahbazyan in a striker-versus-grinder matchup.
    • How to Watch: Prelims at 5 PM ET, main card at 8 PM ET, all on Paramount+.

    What’s at Stake

    Muhammad lost the welterweight title to Jack Della Maddalena and followed it with a decision loss to Ian Garry, the first back-to-back defeats of his career. A win keeps him in the contender mix. A loss likely drops him out of the title conversation entirely while Bonfim, beating a former champ, fast-tracks himself toward an elimination bout or a shot at gold.

    Full Card

    Bout Division
    Belal Muhammad vs. Gabriel Bonfim Welterweight
    Brendan Allen vs. Edmen Shahbazyan Middleweight
    Farès Ziam vs. Tom Nolan Lightweight
    Bryce Mitchell vs. Santiago Luna Bantamweight
    Iwo Baraniewski vs. Junior Tafa Light Heavyweight
    Matt Schnell vs. Alessandro Costa Catchweight
    Marcus McGhee vs. John Yannis Bantamweight
    Bruno Silva vs. Edgar Chairez Flyweight
    Priscila Cachoeira vs. Chelsea Chandler Women’s Bantamweight
    Jordan Leavitt vs. Joanderson Brito Featherweight
    Jeisla Chaves vs. Yuneisy Duben Women’s Flyweight
    Ketlen Souza vs. Ariane Carnelossi Women’s Strawweight

    Fights to Watch

    Welterweight: Belal Muhammad vs. Gabriel Bonfim

    A classic wrestler-versus-striker test that decides who stays relevant at the top of 170 pounds.

    • The matchup: Muhammad’s blueprint is to close distance, secure ties, and grind opponents into the fence. Bonfim wants to keep it standing and let his aggressive striking work.
    • The skid: Muhammad arrives off losses to Jack Della Maddalena and Ian Garry, the first two-fight slide of his career. Garry’s stock has only climbed since, with Islam Makhachev naming him the No. 1 welterweight contender.
    • The run: Bonfim enters on a four-fight win streak, most recently beating Randy Brown, in his second straight main event.
    • The question: Bonfim’s cardio has been flagged in three-round fights, raising doubts about how he handles a five-round headliner against a relentless pace.

    Middleweight: Brendan Allen vs. Edmen Shahbazyan

    The #4-ranked Allen draws a dangerous early finisher in Shahbazyan.

    • The styles: Shahbazyan is most threatening in the opening minutes; Allen’s grinding, submission-heavy approach is built to drag fights into deep water.
    • The stakes: A win keeps Allen near the title picture at 185 pounds.

    Lightweight: Farès Ziam vs. Tom Nolan

    Ranked #14 Ziam takes a sizable betting favorite role against Australia’s Tom Nolan in a contender-tier lightweight bout.

    Bantamweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Santiago Luna

    Mitchell moves into a bantamweight scrap against Mexico’s Santiago Luna on the main card.

    How to Watch

    • Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
    • Venue: Meta APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada
    • Prelims: 5:00 PM ET on Paramount+
    • Main Card: 8:00 PM ET on Paramount+

    Paramount continues to expand its UFC footprint, recently confirmed to become the exclusive Canadian home of UFC numbered events in 2027.

    Don’t Miss MMA News Coverage

    Stay tuned to MMANews.com for live results, fight recaps, and full post-event fallout.

  • Sean O’Malley: Only a Knockout Keeps Me in Title Mix

    Sean O’Malley: Only a Knockout Keeps Me in Title Mix

    Sean O’Malley says a decision win will not be enough at UFC Freedom 250. The former bantamweight champion insists he needs to finish Aiemann Zahabi to keep his name in the title conversation, and he is not interested in grinding out points on the scorecards.

    “I gotta finish Zahabi [to get a title shot], I can’t go out there and get a boring win,” O’Malley said, framing the matchup as a statement opportunity rather than a routine assignment.

    O’Malley made the comments ahead of the bantamweight bout, which is scheduled for June 14, 2026, as part of UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. The reporting comes from Home of Fight.

    O’Malley expects the fight to stay on the feet, and he warned that Zahabi’s durability could force him to find the finish more than once. He said he may need to “land a knockout shot multiple times” because of how tough his opponent is.

    O’Malley Expects a Standing Fight at the White House

    The Suga Sean star dismissed the idea that the bout turns into a long wrestling match. “Little to none,” he said when asked how much grappling he expects, adding, “Everyone turns into a grappler at some point when you get hit enough times.”

    That framing matches how O’Malley has described Zahabi in recent interviews, painting him as a tough, durable opponent who will get hurt if O’Malley keeps landing clean. Zahabi was not O’Malley’s first choice for the card, which adds extra pressure to the call for a statement finish. O’Malley has been candid that he originally wanted a different fight for UFC Freedom 250.

    Zahabi brings a measured resume into the bout. He carries a 14-2 overall record, a 68-inch reach and an orthodox stance, with a six-fight UFC winning streak. He has finished eight of his 14 wins, each one coming in the first round, and he earned a unanimous decision over Jose Aldo at UFC 315 in May 2025. Zahabi has also pushed back on O’Malley’s pre-fight bets.

    A Crowded Bantamweight Picture

    O’Malley’s finish-or-bust framing carries weight in a stacked division. Cory Sandhagen has already called out O’Malley for the White House card, underscoring how many contenders are circling the bantamweight title.

    For O’Malley, the message is simple. He is betting that his timing and volume will create an opening before the scorecards become a factor, and on a historic White House card, that kind of finish would keep his name right where he wants it.

  • Paramount To End UFC Pay-Per-View For Canada In 2027

    Paramount To End UFC Pay-Per-View For Canada In 2027

    Canadian UFC fans will stop paying for pay-per-views in 2027. Paramount and TKO Group announced Thursday that Paramount+ will become the exclusive home of all UFC numbered event main cards in Canada for six years, beginning in 2027, with every marquee card included at no extra cost to subscribers.

    The deal covers all 13 numbered event main cards per year, the championship-heavy cards traditionally sold as pay-per-views. It expands the seven-year, multi-territory media rights partnership Paramount and TKO Group Holdings first announced in 2025, which already made Paramount+ the UFC’s home across the United States, Latin America and Australia.

    Canada was the notable gap in that original agreement. When the U.S. deal was unveiled, Sportsnet retained the Canadian rights it took over in 2024, meaning Canadian fans kept buying individual numbered events at roughly $70 each while American viewers moved to a flat subscription. A single fan tracking all the year’s cards faced a bill approaching $1,000.

    “Beginning in 2027, Paramount+ subscribers in Canada will get every UFC Numbered Event main card live, at no additional cost,” UFC President and CEO Dana White said. “Paramount has been an incredible partner that understands the power of UFC, and together we’re going to make it easier than ever for fans in Canada to watch the biggest fights in the sport.”

    Rodrigo Mazón, Paramount+’s Head of Direct-To-Consumer in Latin America and Canada, said the expansion lets the service reach a heavily engaged MMA audience while reinforcing what the platform is built around: premium live sports and global entertainment.

    A Bigger Test For Paramount’s UFC Bet

    The Canadian rollout follows a strong U.S. launch. Paramount said its UFC debut earlier this year became the service’s biggest exclusive live event ever, with more than 10 million households watching over 100 million hours of programming, viewership the company pegged at more than 15 times the average pay-per-view event of the past two years.

    UFC has run 37 premier events across 11 Canadian cities since debuting in the country with UFC 83 in 2008. Those cards have featured names like Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Jose Aldo, Valentina Shevchenko and Max Holloway.

    Paramount and UFC said the first events to stream live in Canada under the new arrangement will be announced later this year.

  • Conor McGregor’s UFC 329 Fight Is Already One Of The Hottest Tickets In Sports History

    Conor McGregor’s UFC 329 Fight Is Already One Of The Hottest Tickets In Sports History

    Conor McGregor’s UFC 329 comeback fight against Max Holloway at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 11 is already commanding extraordinary ticket prices, with the most expensive seats listed at $24,600 and the cheapest still available at $1,822.

    AXS is handling ticket sales for the event. Third-row seats near the octagon are going for up to $24,600, with fourth-row seats on the opposite side priced at $15,990. The cheapest floor seats still available are just over $7,300 each, while the $1,822 option sits in the very last row of the arena. None of the listed prices includes sales tax or fees.

    VIP packages through OnLocation, the event planning arm of TKO Group Holdings, have largely sold out. Both the Elite package with front row floor seats and the “Rising Star” package are gone, with six weeks remaining before fight night. Remaining VIP options start at $8,000 and $13,500 per person.

    McGregor has not competed since suffering a broken leg at UFC 264 in July 2021. The ticket demand reflects his status as the biggest individual draw in UFC history, even after a five-year absence.

  • Islam Makhachev Named His #1 Welterweight Contender

    Islam Makhachev Named His #1 Welterweight Contender

    Islam Makhachev says he will be ready to defend his welterweight title in August and considers Ian Machado Garry the number one contender, while also predicting Ilia Topuria will defeat Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250.

    Makhachev spoke to UFC on TNT Sports while attending the Champions League final in Budapest.

    “Right after here I’m going to camp and I don’t know, August, I will be ready. A lot of contenders, but No. 1 is Ian Garry and we have still a couple more who want to take the belt, but I don’t give to no one.”

    Makhachev weighed in on the Topuria vs. Gaethje lightweight title unification bout on June 14.

    “Topuria is a new generation, but Gaethje, I still believe Gaethje can do some things, but he’s a little bit old right now. He’s a good fighter, legend, he showed us very, very good many, many fights, but now I think it’s Topuria’s time for lightweight.”

    On Conor McGregor’s return at UFC 329 against Max Holloway, Makhachev was measured.

    “It’s good, it’s good. Big name for our sport, but he has a tough opponent. Max Holloway against Conor, I think Max can beat him.”

    Makhachev has been absent since claiming the welterweight title over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November. He is targeting UFC 330 on August 15 in Philadelphia for his return.

  • Sean O’Malley Admits He ‘F*cked Up’ By Not Backing Josh Hokit During UFC Press Conference

    Sean O’Malley Admits He ‘F*cked Up’ By Not Backing Josh Hokit During UFC Press Conference

    Sean O’Malley says Josh Hokit was right to call him out for staying silent during the viral UFC White House press conference incident, where Hokit nearly brawled with Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria — and admitted he was simply too intimidated by who was sitting next to him.

    Speaking to MMA Fighting, O’Malley reflected on the moment and Hokit’s subsequent social media call-out, which he only learned about after the fact since he does not use social media.

    “Dammit, I’m not on social so I don’t see anything. I know that whole moment went viral and I didn’t see Hokit saying that. Yeah, maybe I should have. When you’re that close to Alex Pereira, you don’t really think like ‘I might talk some shit.’ I’m like I’m going to sit here and f*cking shut up. But you know what, he’s not wrong. I should have been on Team Hokit. He’s absolutely right. Maybe I should have stepped back a few feet and got behind him and then started talking shit.”

    O’Malley acknowledged his thought process in the moment before summing up the situation bluntly.

    “I think what went through my mind, if I don’t do anything and I just sit here still, it would look hilarious. That was kind of my thought process and it worked out that way. But Hokit was right. I could have spoke up and said something. I f*cked up.”

    He was transparent about his reluctance to get caught up in what could have turned physical.

    “Two of the greatest knockout artists in the world of all-time, legends sitting within five feet of me, both of them. I wasn’t feeling too gangster right there to say the least. Pereira, I want nothing to f*cking do with that guy.”

    A second UFC White House press conference is scheduled for June 12 in Washington D.C. Dana White has said the seating arrangement will be reconsidered following the first incident.

  • Donald Trump Made A Bold Prediction About UFC Freedom 250’s Viewership

    Donald Trump Made A Bold Prediction About UFC Freedom 250’s Viewership

    President Donald Trump says UFC Freedom 250 at the White House will be the highest-rated sporting event ever and expects over 100,000 people to watch from a park across the street on giant screens.

    Trump spoke to Fox News ahead of the June 14 event on the South Lawn of the White House.

    “It’s right at the front door to the White House, and you’ll never see it again. It’s never happened before, and you’ll never see it again. It’s great and the UFC’s going to have all the best fighters in the world coming that night. They all say we want to fight at the White House. Dana is an amazing man, he’s done an amazing job, he’s put together something that — this will be the highest-rated event, maybe one of them ever in sports.”

    Trump also addressed plans for public viewing areas surrounding the venue.

    “What he’s done is amazing, I’m not sure anybody could have done it but him. You don’t usually say that but not many people could have, he’s a very special man. This is going and it’s all free. It’s going to soldiers. We’re going to have over 100,000, maybe 100,000 people in the park across the street, eight giant screens, and all free.”

    UFC Freedom 250 is headlined by the lightweight title unification between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, with Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title in the co-main event. The event streams exclusively on Paramount+ with approximately 5,000 spectators expected on the South Lawn.

  • UFC Abu Dhabi Announced For July 25 With Magomed Ankalaev vs. Khalil Rountree Headlining

    UFC Abu Dhabi Announced For July 25 With Magomed Ankalaev vs. Khalil Rountree Headlining

    The UFC has announced Magomed Ankalaev vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. as the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25, with Umar Nurmagomedov vs. David Martinez in the co-main event.

    Ankalaev, 21-2-1, makes his first appearance since suffering a stunning 80-second stoppage loss to Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title in October — a defeat that ended a 14-fight unbeaten run inside the octagon. Rountree Jr. also looks to bounce back from a loss to former champion Jiri Prochazka on the same night.

    Nurmagomedov and Martinez meet with a bantamweight title shot on the line. Nurmagomedov has won back-to-back fights over Deiveson Figueiredo and Mario Bautista since his sole career loss to Merab Dvalishvili in a 2025 championship bout. Martinez, 14-1, holds wins over Marlon Vera, Rob Font, and Saimon Oliveira.

    Full UFC Abu Dhabi lineup:

    • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
    • Umar Nurmagomedov vs. David Martinez
    • Valter Walker vs. Thomas Petersen
    • Ismael Bonfim vs. Axel Sola
    • Tyrell Fortune vs. Rizvan Kuniev
    • Steve Erceg vs. Ramazan Temirov
    • Magomed Tuchalov vs. Brendson Ribeiro
    • Dustin Jacoby vs. Uran Satybaldiev
    • Islam Dulatov vs. Wellington Turman
  • Arman Tsarukyan Has A Very Specific Reason He Is Rooting For Ilia Topuria At UFC Freedom 250

    Arman Tsarukyan Has A Very Specific Reason He Is Rooting For Ilia Topuria At UFC Freedom 250

    Arman Tsarukyan says he expects his next UFC fight to be announced after the Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje title unification bout at UFC Freedom 250, with the timing depending on who wins.

    Tsarukyan spoke to MMA Junkie backstage at RAF 9 in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, where he made quick work of Keelon Jimison in his fifth consecutive RAF appearance.

    “I’m waiting for the White House card when they are going to fight and then they are going to announce my next fight, probably September, October, or end of this year. It depends who is going to win. If it’s Ilia, probably the end of this year. If it’s Gaethje, probably September-October.”

    Tsarukyan said he wants Topuria to win and explained his reasoning for preferring that matchup.

    “Ilia Topuria. I want to fight Ilia Topuria. I think Ilia Topuria wins. But I think Justin is an OG and you never know. 60-40.”

    He also addressed speculation that Topuria could jump to welterweight for a third belt instead.

    “If UFC lets him move up, he’s going to move up. It’s better to fight with Islam than me, because it’s a third title, big money, and if he loses to Islam, it’s OK. He moves up two weight classes and moves to pound-for-pound best. But if he loses to me at 155, he’s going to be gone.”

    Tsarukyan serves as the backup fighter for the UFC Freedom 250 lightweight title fight on June 14 at the White House.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Says Hunter Campbell Promised Him A Petr Yan Trilogy

    Merab Dvalishvili Says Hunter Campbell Promised Him A Petr Yan Trilogy

    Merab Dvalishvili says he was promised a trilogy fight with Petr Yan by UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell the night he lost his title, and is growing frustrated by the delay.

    Dvalishvili spoke to MMA Junkie backstage at RAF 9 in Arlington, Texas.

    “The same night when I fought Petr Yan, I saw Hunter Campbell. He told me I was fighting next Petr Yan. He told me, ‘Take your time. When you heal up, call me.’ Of course, I called him a couple weeks later. He was just waiting for Petr Yan. Petr did some small surgery and then he said he was ready for June at White House, but I guess he’s still taking his time. I saw he did his teeth. He did something with his teeth. Now I see he’s on vacation. I haven’t heard anything from UFC. If our fight is in July or August, I must know. It’s not happening. Even in September, I must know. But I’m hoping he will come back soon.”

    Dvalishvili dismissed concerns that a Sean O’Malley win over Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250 could leapfrog him in the title picture.

    “UFC told me there are no interim belts in this weight class. Nothing else. It doesn’t matter if Sean wins or Zahabi wins. I’m fighting Yan. I think Yan is the best guy. Right now, he beat me — and I want to fight the best guy. Everybody wants to see this trilogy fight. It’s going to be good.”

    Yan defeated Dvalishvili by decision in December to claim the bantamweight title.

  • ‘Team Alpha Male Style’ – Song Yadong Submits Deiveson Figueiredo

    ‘Team Alpha Male Style’ – Song Yadong Submits Deiveson Figueiredo

    Deiveson Figueiredo was believed to have the grappling edge in the UFC Macau main event. Song Yadong, however, was the one who jumped the gilly and scored the submission victory.

    A quiet first round saw Figueiredo throw just six strikes in the entire round, while Yadong worked leg kicks while stuffing takedown attempts from Figueiredo — though slipping at the end of the round.

    Yadong continued to defend the takedown attempts in the second round, and he picked up on his striking, landing a couple of strong leg kicks and working a key combination.

    But as Figueiredo went in for another takedown attempt, Yadong was ready and locked in a quick guillotine choke, scoring a submission victory in round two.

    Song Yadong Submits Deiveson Figueiredo At UFC Macau

    Yadong has now won four of his last six bouts and is likely to score a big contender’s battle in his next fight. He entered this fight off a loss to Sean O’Malley at UFC 324.

    Figueiredo has now lost four of his last five. He entered this bout off a loss to Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 324.

  • Alonzo Menifield Blasts Zhang Mingyang In Upset Victory

    Alonzo Menifield Blasts Zhang Mingyang In Upset Victory

    In a case of deja vu, a fight expected to be a coming-out party for Zhang Mingyang in China ends with him getting finished — and this time, it’s in a more brutal upset fashion.

    Despite being a heavy underdog in the matchup, Alonzo Menifield used a perfect strategy to be the one who scored the first-round finish, defeating Mingyang in the co-main event of UFC Macau.

    The two came out early with striking, as Menifield looked to get inside on Mingyang. The strategy seemed to work, as, while he took a couple of shots, Menifield did some damage before pinning Mingyang against the fence and winning the clinch exchanges.

    Menifield then rocked Mingyang, landing combinations near the fence, before dropping him with a left hand. Menifield’s follow-up shots then quickly brought the fight to a close.

    Alonzo Menifield Scores Upset, First-Round Finish Of Zhang Mingyang At UFC Macau

    Menifield has now won three of his last four fights. He rebounds here after a first-round loss to Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Qatar in November.

    Mingyang has now lost back-to-back fights after a 12-fight win streak. Mingyang entered this fight off a second-round TKO loss to Johnny Walker at UFC Shanghai in August.

  • Sergei Pavlovich Destroys Tallison Teixeira At UFC Macau

    Sergei Pavlovich Destroys Tallison Teixeira At UFC Macau

    If you left your seat for a minute, you completely missed Sergei Pavlovich’s quick and powerful victory over Tallison Teixiera at UFC Macau.

    The two stayed patient in the opening seconds, respecting one another’s power and trying to find an opening. When both of them started to let loose, however, it was Pavlovich who did the landing.

    A pair of right hands stumbled Teixeira, causing Pavlovich to fire off a flurry, finishing Teixeira in just 39 seconds.

    Pavlovich then used his post-fight interview to call for a title shot or a title eliminator.

    Sergei Pavlovich KOs Tallison Texieira In Less Than A Minute At UFC Macau

    Pavlovich, who entered this fight ranked No. 3 at heavyweight in the UFC, has now won three straight. He entered this fight off a win over Waldo Cortes-Acosta in August.

    Teixeira now falls to 9-2 and has lost two of his last three. He entered this fight off a decision win over Tai Tuivasa at UFC 324.

  • Kai Asakura Badly Batters Cameron Smotherman For First UFC Win

    Kai Asakura Badly Batters Cameron Smotherman For First UFC Win

    After struggles in his first pair of UFC fights, Kai Asakura’s move up to bantamweight was the performance that people had been waiting for.

    Asakura landed powerful punches in the first round that dropped Cameron Smotherman out cold in their bout at UFC Macau.

    The two traded leg kicks from the outside, as Asakura waited for the opportunity to open up his strikes. He found it when he landed a right hand, rocking Smotherman.

    Askaura pressed Smotherman to the fence, landing a small flurry that ended with a left hand that landed on the button, dropping Smotherman unconscious.

    Kai Asakura Gets First UFC Win With KO Of Cameron Smotherman At UFC Macau

    Asakura is a former RIZIN bantamweight champion. Asakura made his UFC debut at UFC 310, unsuccessfully challenging Alexandre Pantoja for the UFC flyweight championship. He then fought Tim Elliott at UFC 319, losing via submission.

    Smotherman has now lost three straight after winning his UFC debut. He is now 12-7 as a pro in MMA.

  • Low Blow Ends Alex Perez Vs. Su Mudaerji In No Contest

    Low Blow Ends Alex Perez Vs. Su Mudaerji In No Contest

    While it wasn’t the first foul of the fight, a kick from Su Mudaerji landed on the groin of Alex Perez, resulting in Perez becoming unable to continue their UFC Macau main card opening bout.

    The fight, as a result, was declared a no contest.

    The bout was a competitive one, as Perez looked to make use of his boxing and clinch work during the opening round. Su Mudaerji, however, changed the momentum on the dime during round two when he landed a hard left hand that dropped Perez.

    Perez managed to make it back to his feet despite some heavy ground strikes from Su Mudaerji. The fight, however, ended anti-climatically when a kick from Su Mudaerji landed on Perez’s groin.

    Perez was unable to continue after the five-minute timeout period, resulting in the referee declaring the no contest result.

    Alex Perez vs. Su Mudaerji At UFC Macau Ends In No Contest

    Perez has only won two bouts since unsuccessfully challenging Deiveson Figueiredo for the flyweight title at UFC 255.

    Su Mudaerji sees a three-fight win streak snapped; however, he still has not lost since losing to Charles Johnson in late 2024. Su Mudaerji entered this fight off a win over Jesus Santos Aguilar at UFC 326.