MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Merab Dvalishvili Sparks ‘Shark Attack’ Comparisons With Gruesome Images Of Pre-UFC 311 Injury

    Merab Dvalishvili Sparks ‘Shark Attack’ Comparisons With Gruesome Images Of Pre-UFC 311 Injury

    Merab Dvalishvili produced a remarkable performance in the co-main event of UFC 311 to remain the bantamweight champion. Heading into his first title defense, there were some questions surrounding his decision to take this fight against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov for multiple reasons.

    Not only did the champion appear to be emotional after admitting to taking the fight on six weeks notice because he felt disrespected by his challenger, there was talk ahead of Saturday night about both men coming in at less than 100%. This only makes Dvalishvili’s latest win even more impressive after he detailed some of the struggles he was battling to even make it to the Octagon, let alone the incredible tenacity that he showed inside the Octagon.

    A leg injury in particular seriously threated the fight which considering what happened with Arman Tsarukyan having to withdraw from his rematch with Islam Makhachev due to a back injury, would have been a disaster for the UFC. The Georgian was at serious risk of being pulled from the fight but somehow, it healed enough for him to get the all clear and “The Machine” was never going to let some cuts and bruises stop him from doing what he does best, no matter how bad they were, especially after Nurmagomedov mentioned the champion pulling out to avoid fighting him.

    Dvalishvili did detail these injuries in his post-fight press conference having been cut off by Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview but videos that he has since posted on social media show the true extent of the damage that was done to his leg. The following videos are certainly not for the squeamish but to an iron-willed champion like Dvalishvili, they are but a flesh wound.

    Whilst Dvalishvili seems relatively unfazed by the injury in the video where he gives his initial reaction, he is certainly in the minority in that regard.

    “It looks like he fought after a shark attack.”

    “Sheesh. Merab truly is a machine.”

    “Someone help the shark”

  • Henry Cejudo Admits Merab Dvalishvili Is The Bantamweight GOAT After UFC 311

    Henry Cejudo Admits Merab Dvalishvili Is The Bantamweight GOAT After UFC 311

    Henry Cejudo has expressed admiration for Merab Dvalishvili’s accomplishments in the UFC bantamweight division, even going so far as to call his former opponent the greatest of all time (GOAT) in the division.

    Dvalishvili has built an impressive résumé, defeating top-tier opponents such as José Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo and Sean O’Malley.

    “The Machine” captured the bantamweight title at UFC 306 last September by defeating O’Malley. He successfully defended his title for the first time this past weekend at UFC 311, where he faced undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili won the bout by unanimous decision, earning another Fight of the Night award in the process.

    Speaking on the latest episode of his Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside Kamaru Usman, Cejudo explained why he considers Dvalishvili the bantamweight GOAT.

    “You have to, man,” Cejudo said. “Yan, O’Malley, Cejudo, Umar, (Marlon) Moraes, Aldo. I mean, he’s fought everybody, dude. He’s beat everybody in this division, you could say in their prime. You just can, man. Merab is the bantamweight GOAT, at least in my eyes. He only has one title defense, but the people who he has beaten is great. Great top-five résumé, maybe in UFC period, right now.”

    Dvalishvili’s dominance and ability to defeat elite contenders during their prime have solidified his reputation as one of the best fighters in UFC history. As his career continues, the debate over his legacy in the bantamweight division is likely to grow even stronger.

  • Renato Moicano Urges Dana White To Book His Next Fight Just Days On From UFC 311 Setback

    Renato Moicano Urges Dana White To Book His Next Fight Just Days On From UFC 311 Setback

    UFC lightweight contender Renato Moicano is already looking ahead to his next assignment — and a grudge that he wants to settle in 2025.

    Moicano was the recipient of a surprise title shot this past weekend in Los Angeles, where MMA’s leading promotion opened its pay-per-view account for 2025 with UFC 311 from the Intuit Dome.

    Originally scheduled to do battle with Beneil Dariush on the main card, Moicano found himself making the walk for the headliner and sharing the Octagon with champion Islam Makhachev.

    His sudden title shot came about after the late withdrawal of Arman Tsarukyan. Unfortunately for the Brazilian, he was unable to shock the world on 24 hours’ notice, instead falling to a submission in the first round.

    While some may say it’s difficult to criticize the fan favorite’s efforts given the manner in which his first championship opportunity arrived, longtime rival Paddy Pimblett found a way.

    “The Baddy” berated the Brazilian in a reaction video, questioning why he tapped so quickly instead of ‘going out on his shield’. Those remarks sparked a tense back and forth between the pair on social media, reigniting talk of a clash inside the Octagon from 2024.

    Moicano, for one, is keen for it to come to fruition as soon as possible.

    “@danawhite just book this fight already,” he wrote on X.

    While Moicano is licking his wounds following an unsuccessful opening outing in 2025 and title shot, Pimblett remains without a date in the calendar for his next bout.

    With that in mind, perhaps the #13-ranked lightweight will find himself with the chance to back up his promise to replicate Makhachev’s performance against the Brazilian later this year.

  • Coach Insists ‘Healthy’ Sean O’Malley Can Be The One To Beat Merab Dvalishvili After Watching UFC 311 Performance 

    Coach Insists ‘Healthy’ Sean O’Malley Can Be The One To Beat Merab Dvalishvili After Watching UFC 311 Performance 

    The coach of Sean O’Malley believes the former UFC bantamweight champion can be the “kryptonite” to Merab Dvalishvili.

    Dvalishvili returned four months on from his victory over O’Malley to be crowned champ this past weekend, defending the title for the first time opposite undefeated challenger Umar Nurmagomedov.

    The Georgian enhanced his legacy on MMA’s biggest stage with a massive victory in the UFC 311 co-headliner, utilizing his renowned cardio and pace to outpoint his Dagestani rival across five rounds.

    With the result, “The Machine” is now being firmly discussed in the division’s GOAT conversation, and many have questioned who has what it takes to unseat him at 135 pounds.

    According to coach Tim Welch, the one hope is O’Malley.

    “(Dvalishvili) is on a streak, I’ll tell you what,” Welch said in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel. “You could tell after that fourth round that Umar was seriously gassed; he was really tired. He did a good job wrestling. Merab was shooting a ton and Umar was doing a great job at stuffing all of his shots. If he did hit his butt, he hit his butt just for a second and popped right up. But Merab just kept that pace and cardio on him. He’s got some cardio, I’ll tell you that.

    “That last 30 seconds of the fight I think really made Merab win the fight. He’s a problem, he’s a big problem,” Welch continued. “But I do believe that we can be the kryptonite to Merab with the right game plan and a good fight camp. With ‘Suge’ healthy, I think we take him out. And we’ll find out, now won’t we?”

    Soon after his decision defeat to the current champ inside the Sphere last September, O’Malley headed to the surgery room for a procedure to repair a torn labrum.

    Targeting a return in the second quarter of 2025, “Suga” will hope to do so in the form of an opportunity at redemption opposite Dvalishvili.

  • Arman Tsarukyan ‘Couldn’t Move’ After Suffering Back Injury During UFC 311 Weight Cut

    Arman Tsarukyan ‘Couldn’t Move’ After Suffering Back Injury During UFC 311 Weight Cut

    UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has described the moment his ambitions of a title crowning in Los Angeles this past weekend came to a crashing halt.

    Tsarukyan completed his media obligations and took to the stage for a press conference appearance last week ahead of the UFC 311 pay-per-view on Saturday night. Unfortunately for the Armenian, however, he didn’t make it to fight night.

    It was announced Friday that Renato Moicano was stepping in on 24 hours’ notice to challenge Islam Makhachev after Tsarukyan suffered a back injury during his weight cut.

    Many were quick to question how the original challenger had gotten hurt while using a stationary bike to cut the pounds. And during an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Tsarukyan revealed that he had actually felt some discomfort the night before.

    “Everything was good, but on the last day, Wednesday after training, I went to sleep and I started to feel my lower back. And I couldn’t sleep all night,” Tsarukyan said. “The next day, I thought it’s going to be good and after press conference I’m going to start my weight cut. And when I started my weight cut. I was (using the) bike and like, that moment my back was stuck and I couldn’t move.”

    That physical issue not only prevented him from running it back with Makhachev inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome on Jan. 18 but also seems to have forced him to relinquish number one contender status.

    After UFC CEO Dana White announced as much during the post-fight press conference, Tsarukyan himself publicly supported the decision and outlined his intentions to re-earn a title shot later this year.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Reveals How He Got Severe Shin Cut Past The Commission To Avoid UFC 311 Cancellation

    Merab Dvalishvili Reveals How He Got Severe Shin Cut Past The Commission To Avoid UFC 311 Cancellation

    Merab Dvalishvili utilized some trickery to ensure an injury went unnoticed during medical checks ahead of UFC 311 — and it’s not a particularly strong advertisement for the California State Athletic Commission’s due diligence…

    Dvalishvili — the reigning bantamweight champion on MMA’s biggest stage — returned for his first title defense this past weekend, co-headlining the opening pay-per-view event of 2025 opposite undefeated challenger Umar Nurmagomedov.

    “The Machine” once again lived up to his moniker, putting on a relentless pace inside the cage that ultimately proved to be the difference, as he outpointed his Dagestani rival across five rounds at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome.

    To make the result even more impressive, the Georgian was seemingly far from 100 percent in the lead-up. He notably sustained a deep cut to his shin just weeks before fight night that even became infected.

    While that left the status of his clash against Nurmagomedov up in the air, nothing was going to stop Dvalishvili from making the walk in Los Angeles — pre-fight medical checks includes.

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, “The Machine” explained how he was able to make the wound on his shin go undetected.

    “I was worried the commission was not going to let me fight. … California has a very strict commission,” Dvalishvili said. “The commission guy asked me to show me him my shin, so I lifted my left leg pant to show him my shin. He kept talking and then asked to show my other leg, so I showed him my left leg again and then he never knew about the cut.”

    Suffice it to say that one CSAC member isn’t too hard to dupe.

    Dvalishvili will have been ecstatic that his deception paid off, as he put on a clinic in the final three frames of the UFC 311 co-headliner to keep hold of the bantamweight championship and extend his reign beyond its first hurdle.

  • Dan Hooker Doesn’t Hold Back In Assessment Of Arman Tsarukyan’s UFC 311 Pullout: ‘Daddy Can’t Buy You A Backbone’

    Dan Hooker Doesn’t Hold Back In Assessment Of Arman Tsarukyan’s UFC 311 Pullout: ‘Daddy Can’t Buy You A Backbone’

    Dan Hooker is tearing into Arman Tsarukyan for pulling out of the most significant fight of his career to date.

    Tsarukyan was set to face reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the headliner of UFC 311 last Saturday at the Intuit Dome in California. Unfortunately, the highly anticipated rematch faced a devastating setback when “Ahalkalakets” withdrew just hours before the official weigh-ins due to a back injury.

    Makhachev dominated Renato Moicano, who stepped in as Tsarukyan’s late replacement, securing a first-round submission to notch his fourth consecutive title defense in dominant fashion.

    As if the injury wasn’t enough for the 28-year-old Armenian, things took an unexpected turn at the UFC 311 post-fight press conference. UFC CEO Dana White revealed that Tsarukyan won’t be given an immediate title shot. Instead, he’ll need to secure one or two more victories before earning being considered for another crack at the belt.

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Hooker weighed in on Tsarukyan’s withdrawal from his first UFC title shot, expressing shock over the timing of the injury that led to the unexpected setback.

    “How do you get injured on your day off?” Hooker said. “I got no idea… I thought it was pretty, pretty strange, bro, to get such a severe injury that you need to pull out when you’re cutting weight, you know?”

    “The Hangman” didn’t hold back, taking sharp jabs at Tsarukyan for missing out on an immediate title shot, while mocking his apparently privileged background and his father Nairi Tsarukyan’s wealth.

    “It must be a pretty severe injury. But, like, your world title is your absolutely everything. I don’t know how you would pass up on that opportunity. Yeah, like, I obviously saw Dana White just say that he ain’t getting the title shot next and he’s going to have to work his way back up to the belt, you know. Daddy can’t buy you a backbone, can he?”

    Hooker is placing himself in the mix for a lightweight title shot as he’s set to clash with former interim champion Justin Gaethje in a five-round battle. The high-stakes bout will take place as the co-main event of UFC 311 on March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Warns Alex Pereira He ‘Just Signed His Death Certificate’ After UFC 313 Title Fight Booking

    Magomed Ankalaev Warns Alex Pereira He ‘Just Signed His Death Certificate’ After UFC 313 Title Fight Booking

    Magomed Ankalaev is vowing to make Alex Pereira pay after their highly anticipated title fight was officially confirmed.

    Ankalaev is primed to challenge reigning light heavyweight champion Pereira in the main event of UFC 313, set to take place on March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    For Ankalaev, his long-awaited second title shot has been a journey months in the making, as he has been calling out “Poatan” ever since the Brazilian champion successfully defended his title against Jiří Procházka at UFC 303 this past June. However, the MMA promotion took an unexpected turn by booking Khalil Rountree to face Pereira at UFC 307 in October, only adding to the Russian’s mounting frustration.

    Subsequently, Ankalaev was matched up with Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308, where he delivered a dominant performance to further cement his status as the top contender for the title. Pereira cheekily teased him on social media, suggesting he had other opponents in mind for his next challenge. This sparked a wave of speculation from several fans and even the former title challenger himself, with many claiming that “Poatan” was attempting to sidestep their inevitable showdown.

    Following the announcement of their matchup during the UFC 311 broadcast this past weekend, Pereira took to X to deliver a message to his future opponent, writing, “See you soon, Ankalaev.”

    Ankalaev wasted no time firing back at Pereira, issuing a menacing ultimatum and mocking his past as a tire shop worker. He vowed to make the 205-pound champion regret allegedly stalling their upcoming bout.

    “You just signed your death certificate. I’m gonna punish you for ducking me, and I’m gonna make you look like a guy work in a tire shop not professional Fighter.” Ankalaev wrote on X.

    The 32-year-old Dagestani further asserted that he is far better prepared for this bout than Pereira.

    “Alex Pereira, he goes to all UFC fights to get free alcohol and get camera time. On the other hand, I’ve been training so hard. March 8, alcohol won’t help you. CHAMA.”

    Ankalaev is on an impressive 13-fight unbeaten streak, having secured two victories last year. He contended for the vacant light heavyweight title against former champion Jan Błachowicz at UFC 282 in December 2022, which ultimately ended in a draw.

    Meanwhile, Pereira enjoyed a remarkable 2024, successfully defending his title three times, with each victory punctuated by a spectacular knockout.

  • Umar Nurmagomedov Doubles Down On Belief He Beat Merab Dvalishvili At UFC 311

    Umar Nurmagomedov Doubles Down On Belief He Beat Merab Dvalishvili At UFC 311

    In the co-main event of UFC 311, Umar Nurmagomedov suffered the very first defeat of his career. For the first time in 19 fights, his opponent was the better man on the night following an instant classic title bout against Merab Dvalishvili at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

    Nurmagomedov may have failed to capture the bantamweight belt at the first time of asking but he still gave a good account of himself when facing the current best in the world. He won the first two rounds on two of the scorecards and it was only until the pace and output of Dvalishvili started to really become a factor that the fight started to slip away from his control.

    There’s no doubt that he will come back better from this and whilst he has repeatedly said that he isn’t making excuses for the defeat, the 29-year old did reveal in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan that he thought he won the fight despite seemingly breaking his hand in the first round which limited him over the five rounds.

    Nurmagomedov has since doubled down on both of these points via his own social media platforms by putting out a short statement to reflect on the fight. Whilst he is now focused on recovering from his injuries and getting back to it, he believes that we should have heard “And New” leave Bruce Buffer’s mouth on Saturday night.

    “No excuses. InshaAllah I will become a champion. Nothing else matters. Praise be to Allah in any situation. And I don’t think I lost this fight. Even if the whole world convinces me otherwise. I’ll deal with my injuries and get back into action. InshaAllah.”

  • Islam Makhachev Gets Sent A Reminder: ‘The Lightweight Champion Is Called Charles Oliveira!’

    Islam Makhachev Gets Sent A Reminder: ‘The Lightweight Champion Is Called Charles Oliveira!’

    Islam Makhachev broke the record for consecutive title defenses in the lightweight division this past weekend at UFC 311. The pound-for-pound best fighter in the sport continued living up to his approach of not caring who is put in front of him by accepting to fight Renato Moicano on just one days notice before submitting him in the first round.

    Makhachev’s dominant streak has many believing that the biggest test for him will be when he moves up a weight class, rather than anyone that currently competes at 155-pounds. There has already been talk of what could possibly be next for the champion and the options at lightweight are fairly limited right now.

    Alongside rebooking the rematch with Arman Tsarukyan or potentially facing the winner of Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker, there is one name that appears to have been excluded from conversations despite him being one of the most popular fighters on the roster. Charles Oliveira may have been beaten by Makhachev once in the past but the two men were scheduled to meet in a rematch that never happened.

    After bouncing back from his loss at UFC 280, he was set to challenge the champion at UFC 294 but “Do Bronx” withdrew from the fight due to a cut that he suffered in his final training session. The former champ recently put on a dominant performance against Michael Chandler in November to return to the win column following a defeat to Tsarukyan at UFC 300.

    Oliveira was in attendance at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Saturday night where in a video posted on social media by the UFC, he called for his long awaited rematch with Makhachev.

    “It was a great fight, he’s the champion. He did what he had to do but I’m next and he knows that. The lightweight champion is called Charles Oliveira, I’m ready for that.”

  • What’s Next After UFC 311? Full Confirmed UFC 312 Main Card For Sydney On Feb. 8

    What’s Next After UFC 311? Full Confirmed UFC 312 Main Card For Sydney On Feb. 8

    UFC 311 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia.

    The promotion was in Los Angeles this past week, where the Intuit Dome played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its opening numbered event of the new year. Of note were headline wins for Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili, as well as important victories for Jiří Procházka, Jailton Almeida, and Reinier de Ridder.

    While the aftermath of the Jan. 18 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the lightweight title picture to the middleweight championship conversation.

    At UFC 312, set for the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Feb. 8, reigning kingpin Dricus Du Plessis will open his account for the new year, once again in defense of his 185-pound gold. After following his crowning against Sean Strickland with a retention opposite Israel Adesanya, the South African will next run it back with Strickland.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as two-time strawweight champ Zhang Weili looks to defend her gold for the third time since winning it back at the expense of Carla Esparza in 2022. In her way of a continued reign will be the undefeated Tatiana Suarez.

    Tafa, Crute, Matthews Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 312

    Before Du Plessis and Weili defend their belts, a number of local names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 312 card.

    That includes heavyweight powerhouse Justin Tafa. Against undefeated newcomer Tallison Teixeira, the Australian-Samoan will look to bounce back from a decision loss to Karl Williams last March and return to the knockout ways that saw him sleep Austen Lane, Parker Porter, and Harry Hunsucker during a four-fight unbeaten streak between 2021 and 2023.

    Prior to that, another home favorite will be in action as light heavyweight Jimmy Crute returns almost two years on from a submission loss to Alonzo Menifield. “The Brute” hasn’t tasted victory since a 2020 KO of Modestas Bukauskas that left him 12-1 and among the most promising prospects at 205 pounds. To revive his career amid a four-fight winless run, the 28-year-old must stall the charge of former LFA champion Rodolfo Bellato.

    And opening the UFC 312 main card will be Jake Matthews, a longtime Australian prospect who has failed to live up to his promise thus far. “The Celtic Kid” has exchanged wins and losses across six fights since his most recent winning streak in 2020, and against Francisco Prado next month, he’ll be looking to build some momentum following a decision victory over Phil Rowe last time out.

    Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over another Aussie in Jack Jenkins, who is slated to top the prelims against Gabriel Santos.

    See below for the full UFC 312 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Sean Strickland (middleweight championship)
    • Zhang Weili (C) vs. Tatiana Suarez (strawweight championship)
    • Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira (heavyweight)
    • Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato (light heavyweight)
    • Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado (welterweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Jack Jenkins vs. Gabriel Santos (featherweight)
    • Cody Haddon vs. Aleksandre Topuria (bantamweight)
    • Tom Nolan vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (lightweight)
    • HyunSung Park vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (flyweight)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Quillan Salkilld vs. Anshul Jubli (lightweight)
    • Kevin Jousset vs. Jonathan Micallef (welterweight)
    • Wang Cong vs. Bruna Brasil (flyweight)
    • Rongzhu vs. Kody Steele (lightweight)
    Justin Tafa
    Image: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting
  • Renato Moicano Reveals Plan For Octagon Interview With Joe Rogan Had He Won At UFC 311

    Renato Moicano Reveals Plan For Octagon Interview With Joe Rogan Had He Won At UFC 311

    Renato Moicano faced a huge uphill battle in the main event of UFC 311. Facing the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the sport today with a full camp would’ve been the toughest test of his career to date, let alone doing it with just one day to prepare.

    “Money” was unable to pull off one of the biggest upsets of all time after replacing Arman Tsarukyan to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title this past Saturday night. The Brazilian has become a fan favorite in recent times, partly down to his winning streak and partly because of his entertaining and unpredictable personality.

    Moicano’s post-fight interviews have become must-watch as he always has a lot to say and you never know where it’s going to go. Following his submission loss at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, a dejected contender spoke about what this setback means to him during his time on the mic.

    “That wasn’t one day notice, that was a life’s notice. I’m very sad, I spent my whole life for this moment and I tap in the first round. Islam was much better than I today and I had so much to say but that’s not the right time. I’m not done and I don’t know if I will ever get a chance like that again but I will try my best to do.”

    As Moicano told Joe Rogan inside the Octagon, a post-fight speech in victory would’ve been vastly different and he’d already given some thought into how he would use his time on the mic. He posted on X after the fight to state his plans for what his first interview as a UFC champion would’ve looked like.

    Rather than basking in the moment of an incredibly emotional win, in true Moicano fashion, he had a book recommendation and a point to get across.

    “I wish I had won yesterday, grabbed the microphone, and told you to read Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money! Why money should be a commodity with a floating price dictated by the free market! Why central banks are institutions that, instead of helping the economy, enslave new generations through debt! The control of interest rates and quantitative easing are driving global economies toward collapse!

    “This book explains how government took over gold and turned it into this cursed fiat currency! And how governments have been doing this long before they were democratic—scraping gold coins, counterfeiting! The first step was to seize real money and then control interest rates! We all know how the story ends: the U.S. government with an almost unpayable debt! History is written by the winners! Yesterday I lost and stayed silent. But I will return to say what needs to be said! Last year, I fought for money; from now on, I fight for freedom! Study Bitcoin!”

  • Paddy Pimblett Responds To Backlash For Holding Rival In Choke During Gym Spar: ‘He Agreed To No Tapping!’

    Paddy Pimblett Responds To Backlash For Holding Rival In Choke During Gym Spar: ‘He Agreed To No Tapping!’

    Paddy Pimblett is no stranger to engaging in online beefs with his fellow fighters but his latest social media feud ended up being settled on the mats. “The Baddy” had been going back and forth with Irish/Ghanaian athlete Denis Frimpong before both men agreed to put on some gloves and shin guards to handle their differences.

    Frimpong is a 30-year old fighter who previously competed in European promotion OKTAGON before parting ways with the promotion last year but he has recently re-signed with them. He trains out of Manchester Top Team alongside the likes of Lerone Murphy and Lewis McGrillen with the gym recently opening the doors to Liverpool’s Pimblett this past Saturday.

    With fighters from the gym sat around the edges of the mat, Pimblett and Frimpong engaged in some striking which mostly consisted of leg kicks, which Pimblett appeared to get the better of. After Frimpong threw a big right hook, “The Baddy” dipped underneath and secured a body lock takedown to put the fight in his element.

    From here, the 30-year old took his opponent’s back and secured a rear-naked choke which quickly led to Frimpong tapping. Despite multiple taps, Pimblett did not let go of the choke which led to several spectators pulling him off of “The Menace” as tensions flared between the Manchester hosts and their visitors.

    Pimblett has since responded to some of the criticism he has faced after videos of the fight were posted on social media. He posted a statement to say that people were judging him for not letting go the submission despite not knowing about an agreement between the two fighters that had taken place before they started exchanging blows.

    “He agreed to no tapping beforehand. All you butthurt idiots who don’t know what your talking about just pipe down don’t talk when you don’t know the context. Not me fault he tapped like a… when he was saying was going to KO me on the feet and got outstruck.”

  • Islam Makhachev’s Manager Teases ‘Unpredictable’ Plans After UFC 311 That Don’t Include Tsarukyan, Oliveira Or Topuria

    Islam Makhachev’s Manager Teases ‘Unpredictable’ Plans After UFC 311 That Don’t Include Tsarukyan, Oliveira Or Topuria

    Islam Makhachev’s manager hints that the UFC is cooking something truly spectacular for the lightweight champion’s next fight.

    Makhachev swiftly dispatched his short-notice replacement opponent, Renato Moicano, claiming a lopsided first-round submission victory in the UFC 311 main event this past weekend at the Intuit Dome in California.

    The Dagestani champion was originally set to face Arman Tsarukyan in a highly anticipated rematch. However, the plan took an unexpected turn last Friday when UFC CEO Dana White announced that “Ahalkalakets” had been forced to pull out due to a back injury.

    Makhachev’s victory at UFC 311 etched his name into the record books with a remarkable fourth consecutive title defense, reaffirming his status as the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighter. The dominant performance reignited discussions about a potential move to a higher weight class to fulfill his long-held dream of becoming a two-division UFC champion.

    While the reigning lightweight king stated in the UFC 311 post-fight press conference that he isn’t rushing the decision, he emphasized his determination to capture gold in a second weight class. He also outlined plans to make his return during the UFC’s annual International Fight Week, typically held in late June or early July.

    Tsarukyan is still the leading challenger for Makhachev’s 155-pound crown, but White has emphasized that withdrawing from UFC 311 means he’ll need to earn his way back into the title conversation.

    As for Makhachev’s next challenge, a rematch with Charles Oliveira, whom he defeated at UFC 280 to claim the belt, seems like a strong possibility. Meanwhile, reigning featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has also hinted at moving up in weight for a potential champion vs. champion super fight.

    However, according to Makhachev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, none of these three names are even on the table for his client’s next opponent.

    In a recent social media post, Abdelaziz hinted that the UFC is planning something entirely surprising for the 33-year-old Russian.

    “The UFC has a completely different plan for Islam which doesn’t include Oliveira, Arman or Ilia. But it’s an unpredictable sport and you don’t know what could happen.” Abdelaziz wrote on X.

    The Dominance MMA owner further spotlighted two fresh contenders who could be next in line to challenge Makhachev.

    “If Justin Gaethje beats [Dan] Hooker he can be easily next. If Beneil Dariush beats Poirier he can also be next. These would be two new names that Islam hasn’t fought yet.”

    Makhachev is riding an unprecedented 15-fight win streak, a remarkable run that includes triumphs over a roster of high-profile opponents such as Tsarukyan, Dustin Poirier, and Alexander Volkanovski, among others.

  • Khabib Posts Supportive Message To Umar Nurmagomedov After UFC 311 Defeat

    Khabib Posts Supportive Message To Umar Nurmagomedov After UFC 311 Defeat

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has encouraged cousin Umar Nurmagomedov to keep his head held high following a first career setback in Los Angeles this past Saturday night.

    The 29-year-old made the walk inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome for his opening title opportunity on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, looking to become the latest undefeated Nurmagomedov to hold gold in a leading promotion.

    Unfortunately for the Dagestani, he failed in that quest at UFC 311. Instead, Merab Dvalishvili successfully maintained his position on the bantamweight throne, emerging victorious from a memorable five-round battle to record his first defense.

    Having suffered his first defeat as a professional and exited California without the belt in his possession, Nurmagomedov will understandably be disappointed.

    His coach, mentor, and cousin, however, is confident of making the necessary fixes to ensure a successful title challenge down the line.

    “Head up Junior, yesterday you showed that you are one of the best in the world,” Khabib wrote in an Instagram post. “At the moment we have something to work on, we will work on the mistakes and return to the title race”

    “The Eagle” had a busy night in LA, cornering two other fighters at UFC 311.

    Tagir Ulanbekov opened the night in strong fashion for the team, taking Clayton Carpenter’s 0 by way of a convincing decision. And another member of the Dagestani contingent closed out proceedings, with Islam Makhachev retaining his lightweight title via submission at the expense of Renato Moicano.

    Alongside his supportive words toward Umar, Khabib also praised the work of both Makhachev and Ulanbekov.

  • Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Islam Makhachev’s Submission Of Renato Moicano: ‘You Tap That Quick? Go Asleep!’

    Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Islam Makhachev’s Submission Of Renato Moicano: ‘You Tap That Quick? Go Asleep!’

    UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett wasn’t impressed with the quick nature of Renato Moicano’s decision to tap to an Islam Makhachev choke on Saturday night.

    Moicano found himself competing with gold on the line for the first time this weekend, replacing the injured Arman Tsarukyan to challenge Makhachev on just 24 hours’ notice.

    Unfortunately for the Brazilian, it wasn’t to be a fairytale moment in Los Angeles. He was submitted inside the first round of the UFC 311 main event, marking the champ’s fourth consecutive title defense.

    Among those tuning in for Makhachev’s latest defense was another 155lber frequently linked to a showdown with Moicano, the #13-ranked Pimblett.

    “The Baddy” posted his reaction to the fight-ending sequence from the first PPV headliner of 2025. While he gave props to Moicano for stepping up on late notice, he berated the challenger for not ‘going out on his shield’.

    “You f*cking tap that quick, Renato? Go asleep, lad. Go out on your shield,” Pimblett said following Makhachev’s submission. “I f*cking hate that. You’re in a f*cking choke. You’re not going to snap your neck. Go asleep.

    “Second straight win by D’Arce choke. That was too easy. “It was like, ‘Yeah, give him the sub, lad.’ I thought that would put more of a fight than that,” Pimblett continued. “Credit to Renato for stepping up on 24 hours’ notice, but come on brother, you’re never going to get that opportunity again, at least go out on your shield and go to sleep.”

    Before being initially booked to compete against Beneil Dariush at UFC 311, Moicano had been linked to a clash with the rising Pimblett in 2025.

    With the Liverpool native yet to have his next assignment added to the calendar, perhaps talk will turn back toward that matchup following the setback to Moicano’s title hopes in California.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Has Surprising Reaction To Dana White Taking Away Title Shot After UFC 311 Withdrawal

    Arman Tsarukyan Has Surprising Reaction To Dana White Taking Away Title Shot After UFC 311 Withdrawal

    It would seem that Arman Tsarukyan is no longer the number one contender at 155 pounds.

    Tsarukyan was gearing up last week for his first shot at championship glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. Instead of that, however, he watched on as Islam Makhachev shared the cage with Renato Moicano at UFC 311.

    That came about after the Armenian withdrew on weigh-in day after sustaining a back injury. Moicano was subsequently pulled from his main card clash with Beneil Dariush and handed a sudden title opportunity, which he was unable to capitalize on.

    After quickly submitting the Brazilian by way of a D’Arce choke, Makhachev’s reign has reached a record-breaking four successful defenses. And when it comes to his attempt at a fifth, there’s some uncertainty over opposition.

    During his press conference inside the Intuit Dome, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Tsarukyan would not be keeping his title shot following his injury dropout.

    Interestingly, that decision has been supported by the man himself.

    “I agree with @danawhite. Once my back heals, I’ll be ready to prove I’m the true #1 contender by taking on anyone they put in front of me!” Tsarukyan wrote on X.

    Tsarukyan also identified a potential opponent, green-lighting a rematch with Charles Oliveira in a subsequent post.

    After recording a second win over Michael Chandler last November, “Do Bronx” was expecting to face the winner of the original UFC 311 main event later this year.

    But with the division appearing to be without a definitive next in line — assuming White’s remarks on Tsarukyan’s status prove true — perhaps the Brazilian will have the chance to avenge his UFC 300 setback to the Armenian.

  • Manager: ‘No Excuse’ But Umar Nurmagomedov Suffered Broken Hand In UFC 311 Title Fight

    Manager: ‘No Excuse’ But Umar Nurmagomedov Suffered Broken Hand In UFC 311 Title Fight

    Umar Nurmagomedov’s bid to become a UFC champion fell short this weekend, and he also sustained an injury that will likely keep him sidelined for the foreseeable future.

    In the co-main event of UFC 311, Nurmagomedov faced Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title. The fight was highly competitive, with both fighters having their moments. “The Machine” ultimately earned the decision victory, retaining his belt.

    Following the fight, Nurmagomedov initially questioned the decision but admitted that he needed to rewatch the contest before giving a full assessment. The Dagestani also revealed that he may have broken his hand early in the bout.

    Injuries are a common talking point among fighters, often surfacing before, during, and after bouts. Nurmagomedov’s situation was no exception.

    A post from his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, highlighted the extent of the damage, showing a photo of the injury.

    “@UNmgdv broke his hands first round no excuse no excuse Alhamdulillah for everything.”

    This loss for the challenger put an end to his undefeated run as a pro, which had reached 18 straight wins. He earned the title shot after beating Cory Sandhagen via decision last August in a bantamweight title eliminator.

  • ‘Free Money On Poatan’ – Fans React To Magomed Ankalaev Opening As Betting Favorite To Beat Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    ‘Free Money On Poatan’ – Fans React To Magomed Ankalaev Opening As Betting Favorite To Beat Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    The release of opening odds for the recently announced UFC 313 headliner between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev have raised some eyebrows.

    Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion, had his first assignment of 2025 announced during the broadcast of UFC 311 on Saturday night. “Poatan” was present as his long-awaited battle with Ankalaev was made official.

    Following months of back and forth on social media and questions surrounding his next step, the Brazilian has been lined up to face the consensus top contender in the main event of UFC 313 in Las Vegas on March 8.

    As always, the fight news was quickly followed by the release of opening odds. And interestingly, despite his impressive streak of successful title defenses in 2024, Pereira is the underdog.

    On BetOnline.ag, the champ opened at +170, with the challenger’s line reading -200.

    That split opinion online, with many expressing their confidence in Pereira maintaining his place on the light heavyweight throne come fight night at T-Mobile Arena.

  • Dana White Finally Concedes Defeat In Controversial Debate: ‘Are You Happy? Is Everybody Happy Now?’

    Dana White Finally Concedes Defeat In Controversial Debate: ‘Are You Happy? Is Everybody Happy Now?’

    For years, Dana White has hailed Jon Jones as the UFC’s pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter. However, following UFC 311 on Saturday night, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has finally claimed top spot in the UFC CEO’s eyes.

    The recognition came after Makhachev submitted late replacement opponent Renato Moicano in the first round of the main event at Intuit Dome — an accomplishment White acknowledged to reporters.

    “Yeah, I’ll give it to him,” White said during the UFC 311 post-event press conference. “Are you happy? Is everybody happy now? One hundred percent, there’s no doubt about it. He’s the pound-for-pound best in the world, and he’s definitely the best to ever do it in that division.”

    Makhachev’s victory marked his fourth consecutive title defense, surpassing legends Khabib Nurmagomedov, Benson Henderson, and BJ Penn for the most in lightweight division history. Additionally, it was Makhachev’s 15th straight win in the UFC, placing him second only to Anderson Silva’s record of 16 consecutive victories.

    Makhachev was initially scheduled to face Arman Tsarukyan in a highly anticipated rematch. However, Tsarukyan withdrew during Friday’s weigh-ins due to a back injury.

    Despite the sudden change, White commended Makhachev for his readiness to compete against anyone.

    “Islam was willing to fight anybody,” White said. “He’s stayed active, and he went out tonight and performed the way a guy should on a short-notice fight when you’re the best in the world, and you’re the champion.”

  • UFC 311 Payouts Revealed: Islam Makhachev Gets Less Than Moicano, Holland, & 5 Others

    UFC 311 Payouts Revealed: Islam Makhachev Gets Less Than Moicano, Holland, & 5 Others

    The base payouts for Saturday’s UFC 311 pay-per-view have been disclosed, and it’s safe to say that some of the figures have raised eyebrows in the mixed martial arts community.

    MMA’s leading promotion opened its PPV schedule for the new year this weekend in Los Angeles, where Inglewood’s Intuit Dome played host to a number of intriguing contests, including two championship battles and the latest outings for a number of promising prospects.

    Closing the show was lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev, who submitted Renato Moicano on just 24 hours’ notice following the sudden withdrawal of original challenger Arman Tsarukyan. Despite his main event spot, though, the Dagestani wasn’t the highest paid champ on the card when it comes to base pay.

    The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) revealed the payouts to MMA Fighting following the conclusion of UFC 311, with bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili’s $500K marking the highest figure. Makhachev’s number, meanwhile, emerged as $200K.

    Interestingly, that also puts the lightweight titleholder behind six others in addition to “The Machine,” including defeated opponent Moicano ($200K), Jiří Procházka ($250K), Kevin Holland ($250K), Reinier de Ridder ($210K), Jailton Almeida ($220K) and Grant Dawson ($212K).

    It’s worth noting that these figures are only the contracted amounts and don’t factor in the kind of PPV bonus Makhachev is likely to be the recipient of behind the scenes.

    See below for the full list of disclosed pay sums for UFC 311.

    UFC 311 Disclosed Payouts

    Islam Makhachev: $200,000 (no win bonus)

    Renato Moicano: $250,000 (no win bonus)

    Merab Dvalishvili: $500,000 (no win bonus)

    Umar Nurmagomedov: $100,000 (no win bonus)

    Jiří Procházka: $250,000 ($200,000 purse, $50,000 win bonus)

    Jamahal Hill: $200,000

    Kevin Holland: $250,000

    Reinier de Ridder: $210,000 ($105,000 purse, $105,000 win bonus)

    Jailton Almeida: $220,000 ($110,000 purse, $110,000 win bonus)

    Serghei Spivac: $100,000

    Payton Talbott: $43,000

    Raoni Barcelos: $96,000 ($48,000 purse, $48,000 win bonus)

    Bogdan Guskov: $86,000 ($43,000 purse, $43,000 win bonus)

    Billy Elekana: $12,000

    Grant Dawson: $212,000 ($106,000 purse, $106,000 win bonus)

    Diego Ferreira: $100,000

    Zachary Reese: $30,000

    Azamat Bekoev: $24,000 ($12,000 purse, $12,000 win bonus)

    Karol Rosa: $75,000

    Ailín Pérez: $72,000 ($36,000 purse, $36,000 win bonus)

    Rinya Nakamura: $26,000

    Muin Gafurov: $28,000 ($14,000 purse, $14,000 win bonus)

    Ricky Turcios: $28,000

    Bernardo Sopai: $24,000 ($12,000 purse, $12,000 win bonus)

    Tagir Ulanbekov: $72,000 ($36,000 purse, $36,000 win bonus)

    Clayton Carpenter: $28,000

  • Islam Makhachev Welcomes Dricus Du Plessis Title Fight After UFC 311, Says Alex Pereira Is ‘Too Much’

    Islam Makhachev Welcomes Dricus Du Plessis Title Fight After UFC 311, Says Alex Pereira Is ‘Too Much’

    Islam Makhachev is eyeing another championship belt after successfully defending his lightweight title with a first-round submission win over Renato Moicano in the UFC 311 main event.

    This victory marked Makhachev’s fourth consecutive title defense, solidifying his status as one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters and fueling speculation about a move to another weight class to pursue dual-champion status.

    While not rushing the decision, Makhachev is clear about his long-term goal of holding another title.

    “I don’t know when it’s going to happen, but I told them I’m not [going to] leave this sport without [a] second belt,” Makhachev said during the UFC 311 post-fight press conference. “I need the second belt to be, and after I’ll talk like, ‘I’m the greatest’ or something. But right now, my goal is to be double champion. I don’t know if it’s going to be next fight or when, [but] I’m still fighting, still winning. I defend my belt how many times the UFC wants; I will defend. When they give me [a] chance, I want to be double champion.”

    Makhachev, an occasional teammate and training partner of current welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, has ruled out fighting his friend. However, he has expressed openness to facing middleweight titleholder Dricus Du Plessis. The South African is scheduled for a rematch with Sean Strickland at UFC 312, with the winner expected to face Khamzat Chimaev next.

    “I can be three-division also,” Makhachev said, referring to his ambitions beyond a second title. “Just give me the chance, that’s it. I will fight with [Dricus] Du Plessis. If they give me the chance, I will fight with him also. I swear, if Dana White sends me [the] contract, I will fight with him.”

    When asked about potentially facing light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, however, Makhachev dismissed the idea with humor.

    “No, it’s too much [laughs],” he said. “I need the [Daniel Cormier] diet program to be 200 pounds [laughs].”

  • Dana White Says Arman Tsarukyan Must Earn Another Title Shot After UFC 311 Dropout

    Arman Tsarukyan was forced to withdraw from UFC 311, costing him a chance to compete for the lightweight championship.

    A back injury prevented him from facing lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev in the originally scheduled main event. The UFC secured Renato Moicano as a last-minute replacement, with the Brazilian ultimately losing to the Dagestani via first-round submission. The victory marked Makhachev’s fourth consecutive title defense.

    At the UFC 311 post-fight press conference, UFC CEO Dana White addressed Tsarukyan’s situation.

    “He’s not getting a title shot,” White stated. “That means he’s going to have to fight his way back to the title.”

    White further elaborated on the circumstances of Tsarukyan’s withdrawal.

    “He’s going back to the drawing board. I don’t want anybody to ever fight hurt, ever. We’ve been in these positions before. Went down there with the doctor, went down there with Heather [Linden] from the [UFC Performance Institute], who you can ask any fighter or anybody else, she’s the best in the world. You miss opportunities sometimes, and he did. So we’ll see how this plays out for him next year.”

  • ‘Jon Jones Could Never’ – Fans React As Islam Makhachev Submits Renato Moicano On 24 Hours’ Notice At UFC 311

    ‘Jon Jones Could Never’ – Fans React As Islam Makhachev Submits Renato Moicano On 24 Hours’ Notice At UFC 311

    New, last-minute challenger, no problem for Islam Makhachev.

    Makhachev became the first fighter in UFC lightweight history to defend the championship four times with a quick submission victory over Renato Moicano in the main event of UFC 311.

    Moicano appeared to get off to a decent start, landing a couple of strong shots on the champ during the first round. When the fight got to the ground, however, it wasn’t close.

    The Dagestani was able to lock in a D’Arce choke and scored a quick submission to retain the gold.

    Islam Makhachev Submits Late-Notice Challenger Renato Moicano To Keep Lightweight Title At UFC 311

    https://twitter.com/zekesnow1135/status/1880858006285656320
    https://twitter.com/ParamPam1990/status/1880858560294474025
    https://twitter.com/destroynectar/status/1880859259208093728

    Makhachev was originally scheduled to defend the championship against No. 1 contender Arman Tsarukyan before the Armenian withdrew on the day of the weigh-ins with a back injury.

    The champ won the title by defeating Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 before retaining the belt against then-featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski twice, at UFC 284 and UFC 294, and Dustin Poirier at UFC 302.

    Moicano, meanwhile, was originally booked to face Beneil Dariush on tonight’s card. He entered UFC 311 on a four-fight win streak and with six wins in his last seven. He had most recently defeated Benoît Saint Denis at UFC Paris in September.

  • UFC 311 Results & Highlights: Islam Makhachev Submits Renato Moicano 

    UFC 311 Results & Highlights: Islam Makhachev Submits Renato Moicano 

    UFC 311 took place tonight from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, Islam Makhachev put his lightweight title on the line against Renato Moicano, who stepped in on short notice due to an injury to Arman Tsarukyan. While in the co-main event, bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili faced Umar Nurmagomedov. 

    UFC 311 Results: Main Card

    • Lightweight Championship: Islam Makhachev def. Renato Moicano via submission: R1, 4.05
    • Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili def. Umar Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision (48-47×2 49-46)
    • Light Heavyweight: Jiří Procházka def. Jamahal Hill via TKO: R3, 3.01
    • Heavyweight: Jailton Almeida def. Serghei Spivac via TKO: R1, 4.53 
    • Middleweight: Reinier de Ridder def. Kevin Holland via submission: R1, 3.31

     
    Preliminary Card

    • Bantamweight: Raoni Barcelos def. Payton Talbott via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 30-26)
    • Middleweight: Azamat Bekoev def. Zachary Reese via KO: R1, 3.04
    • Light Heavyweight: Bogdan Guskov def. Billy Elekana via submission: R2, 3.33
    • Lightweight: Grant Dawson def. Diego Ferreira via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

     
    Early Preliminary Card

    • Women’s Bantamweight: Ailín Pérez def. Karol Rosa via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 30-27)
    • Bantamweight: Muin Gafarov def. Rinya Nakamura via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Bantamweight: Benardo Sopaj def. Ricky Turcios via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)

    Flyweight: Tagir Ulanbekov def. Clayton Carpenter via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Bogdan Guskov def. Billy Elekana

    Bogdan Guskov submitted Billy Elekana with a guillotine choke in the second round of their light heavyweight matchup.

    Azamat Bekoev def. Zachary Reese

    Azamat Bekoev stopped Zachary Reese with ground-and-pound in round one of their middleweight bout.

    Main Card Highlights

    Reinier de Ridder def. Kevin Holland

    Reinier de Ridder sunk in a rear-naked choke to get the win against Kevin Holland in round one.

    Jailton Almeida def. Serghei Spivac

    in this heavyweight bout, Jailton Almeida earned a TKO of Serghei Spivac in the first round.

    Jiří Procházka def. Jamahal Hill

    Jiří Procházka earned a TKO of Jamahal Hill in the third round of their light heavyweight matchup.

    Merab Dvalishvili def. Umar Nurmagomedov

    In the co-main event, Merab Dvalishvili retained his bantamweight strap with a decision against Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Islam Makhachev def. Renato Moicano

    In the main event, Islam Makhachev submitted Renato Moicano in the first round to retain his lightweight title.