MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • VIDEO: UFC 311 Post-Fight Press Conference After Islam Makhachev, Merab Dvalishvili’s Headline Wins

    VIDEO: UFC 311 Post-Fight Press Conference After Islam Makhachev, Merab Dvalishvili’s Headline Wins

    The UFC 311 pay-per-view recently concluded, and MMA News has you covered with the post-fight press conference in Los Angeles.

    The Intuit Dome played host to Octagon action on Jan. 18, as the mixed martial arts leader opened its PPV schedule for 2025 with a strong lineup that featured two championships, top contenders, experienced veterans, and some promising prospects.

    Of note were victories for Islam Makhachev, Merab Dvalishvili, Jiří Procházka, Jailton Almeida and Reinier de Ridder.

    And before attention turns to the UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia early next month, there remains some business to attend to backstage at UFC 311.

    Shortly after the main event’s ending, Dana White will appear in front of the media to reveal the recipients of the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses before answering questions. The victorious fighters from UFC 311 will also take queries from the press in reaction to their performances.

    With that said, see below for a live stream of the UFC 311 post-fight press conference via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 1:15 AM ET.

  • ‘Dagestan, You Have Been Merab’d’ – Fans React As Merab Dvalishvili Outlasts Umar Nurmagomedov In Grueling UFC 311 Battle

    ‘Dagestan, You Have Been Merab’d’ – Fans React As Merab Dvalishvili Outlasts Umar Nurmagomedov In Grueling UFC 311 Battle

    In the co-main event at UFC 311, Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended the bantamweight title against Umar Nurmagomedov in an instant classic title fight.

    The matchup more than lived up to the hype, with the pair delivering an incredibly high-level bout that was fought at an unbelievable pace.

    Nurmagomedov started the fight well with his superior striking and remarkable takedown defense allowing him to dictate the fight and stop the champion from implementing his relentless approach. But as the fight went on, the tide started to turn.

    Dvalishvili won the final three rounds to retain the title and become the first man to defeat his Dagestani challenger.

    The gas tank of “The Machine” was once again the thing that separated him from his opponent, with a crazy amount of takedown attempts that didn’t seem to take any energy away from him. Nurmagomedov may have lost his undefeated record, but despite tiring in the second half of the fight, he proved himself to be an incredible adversary for the reigning titleholder.

    Fight fans reacted on social media to the first title fight of 2025, which set an extremely high bar for the rest of the year.

    https://twitter.com/bushnak313/status/1880852431350992943

  • ‘Waiting On Hill’s Excuse’ – Fans React As Jiří Procházka Knocks Out Jamahal Hill In Battle Of Ex-Champs At UFC 311

    ‘Waiting On Hill’s Excuse’ – Fans React As Jiří Procházka Knocks Out Jamahal Hill In Battle Of Ex-Champs At UFC 311

    With plenty of anticipation around their fight, Jiří Procházka managed to come out on top in a battle of former UFC light heavyweight champions, defeating Jamahal Hill at UFC 311.

    After feints and feeling out on both sides, Hill started to work combinations, but Procházka soon found his rhythm and landed power shots, one of which dropped his opponent. The two traded throughout the later portion of the opening frame, but it appeared that the American was tiring from loading up, reaching, and missing his punches.

    “Denisa” and “Sweet Dreams” each had their moments in the second round, landing inside and connecting with powerful single punches and combinations, momentum swinging both ways.

    But the Czech fan favorite caught Hill at the right moment during the third round, dropping him with a one-two combination, punctuated with a right hand, before finishing things with some ground-and-pound.

    Jiří Procházka KOs Jamahal Hill In Back & Forth War At UFC 311

    Both of these men came into this fight off unsuccessful title shots against Alex Pereira last year. They are also both former light heavyweight champions who didn’t lose their title in the Octagon.

    Procházka defeated Glover Teixeira at UFC 275 to win the 205-pound championship but vacated due to injury. He lost to Pereira twice (at UFC 295 and UFC 303), with a win over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 300 sandwiched in between.

    Hill, meanwhile, defeated Teixeira for the vacated title at UFC 283 but had to relinquish the gold himself due to injury. He lost to Pereira at UFC 300 last April.

  • Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev Official For UFC 313 On March 8

    Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev Official For UFC 313 On March 8

    At UFC 313, Alex Pereira will defend his light heavyweight title against the number one contender at 205 pounds, Magomed Ankalaev.

    This long-awaited clash will headline the promotion’s return to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 8 as the 2025 calendar continues to take shape.

    The fight was made official during the UFC 311 broadcast and is certainly one that fight fans have been eagerly anticipating.

    Many believe that Ankalaev has long deserved another shot at the title following his unbeaten streak in the division. He solidified his spot by beating Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 last October to make him undeniable.

    In order to secure UFC gold for the first time, he will need to end the incredible winning streak of “Poatan,” who successfully defended the title three times last year. Since moving up to light heavyweight, Pereira has won five fights in a row but many believe that Ankalaev will be his toughest test to date.

    Jon Anik also confirmed a five-round co-main event for March 8 between fan favorites Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker at lightweight.

  • Justin Gaethje vs. Dan Hooker Announced As UFC 313 Co-Main Event In Las Vegas

    Justin Gaethje vs. Dan Hooker Announced As UFC 313 Co-Main Event In Las Vegas

    A huge lightweight contest between Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker has been confirmed for the UFC 313 co-main event on March 8.

    MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin reported on the matchup back in December, noting it had been talked about for UFC 313 on March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    And the fight was made official during the UFC 311 broadcast, alongside the news that Alex Pereira will defend his gold opposite Magomed Ankalaev.

    Gaethje has been out of action since his knockout loss against Max Holloway in the incredible BMF title fight that took place at UFC 300 in April. “The Highlight” has produced some instant classics against many of the division’s best and though the same can be said for Hooker, they’re somehow yet to cross paths.

    “The Hangman” recently made his return to the top of the weight class by pulling off a massive victory over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305 in August. Hooker previously ruled himself out of a return for UFC 312 that takes place in February in Sydney but stated that the Gaethje fight would be his preferred option.

  • ‘Team Good Guy, Team Bad Guy’ – Daniel Cormier & Chael Sonnen Announced As Coaches For Season 33 Of The Ultimate Fighter

    ‘Team Good Guy, Team Bad Guy’ – Daniel Cormier & Chael Sonnen Announced As Coaches For Season 33 Of The Ultimate Fighter

    Quickly following the announcement that the producer of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, Craig Piligian, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, the next set of coaches for TUF were announced on the UFC 311 broadcast.

    A fourth man appeared in the commentary booth as Jon Anik revealed that Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen will go toe-to-toe on the upcoming season.

    Unlike most instalments of the show, season 33 will not build to a fight between the coaches when everything wraps up. What you are guaranteed is plenty of hi-jinx between the two men who often co-host ESPN’s Good Guy/Bad Guy show, where they comment on the biggest talking points in the sport.

    The two men briefly went back and forth on the broadcast, setting the stage for what is sure to be an entertaining series between two of the biggest personalities in the sport. Further details including the weight classes that will feature on the series are yet to be revealed.

    Both Cormier and Sonnen have been team captains in the past, with Sonnen coaching against Jon Jones back in 2013 and Cormier going up against Stipe Miocic in 2018.

    This will be the fifth consecutive year of TUF following the three-year hiatus between 2018 and 2021.

  • ‘Dricus Du Plessis 2.0’ – Fans React As Reinier de Ridder Taps Kevin Holland In One Round At UFC 311

    ‘Dricus Du Plessis 2.0’ – Fans React As Reinier de Ridder Taps Kevin Holland In One Round At UFC 311

    After a shaky outing in his UFC debut, Reinier de Ridder scored an impressive victory in his first performance on pay-per-view, opening up the UFC 311 main card with a submission of Kevin Holland.

    De Ridder scored a takedown in the opening seconds of round one. Despite a triangle attempt from Holland, the Dutchman was able to control the action and had success in top position. As “Trailblazer” tried to stand up, “RDR” got to Holland’s back, bringing him back to the ground and locking in a body triangle and choke for the first-round submission.

    Reinier de Ridder Makes Quick Work Of Kevin Holland Via First-Round Submission At UFC 311

    https://twitter.com/MacMallyMMA/status/1880820364751859830
    https://twitter.com/FelixT2021/status/1880820233591787953

    De Ridder, the former champ-champ in ONE Championship, made his Octagon debut at UFC Vegas 100 last November, getting rocked by Gerald Meerschaert before coming back to score a third-round submission.

    Holland, meanwhile, has now lost four of his last five fights.

  • ‘Needs To Go To Dagestan’ – Fans React As Payton Talbott Suffers First Career Loss In One-Sided Fashion vs. Raoni Barcelos At UFC 311

    ‘Needs To Go To Dagestan’ – Fans React As Payton Talbott Suffers First Career Loss In One-Sided Fashion vs. Raoni Barcelos At UFC 311

    In what has perhaps been the biggest shock of the night thus far at UFC 311 — the promotion’s first pay-per-view card of the year — Payton Talbott’s undefeated record came to an end at the hands of Raoni Barcelos.

    Barcelos dominated the fight from start to finish, using his size and wrestling to success. The Brazilian, in fact, dominated the opening round and appeared to put a hurting on the American up-and-comer. Talbott had a sense of urgency in the second round, trying to take control and come out on the front foot, but Barcelos simply did more.

    The veteran’s success continued into the third round, as he swept the judges’ scorecards.

    Raoni Barcelos Hands Payton Talbott First Loss In Dominant Display At UFC 311

    https://twitter.com/HomelanderMMA/status/1880809647537566052

    Arriving to the UFC off a win on Dana White’s Contender Series, Talbott had scored wins over Nick Aguirre, Cameron Saaiman, and Yanis Ghemmouri.

    Meanwhile, Saturday’s result marked Barcelos’ second straight win, with his last fight coming back at UFC Mexico City last year, where he defeated Cristian Quiñonez.

  • VIDEO: Debutant Produces Brutal Ground & Pound Knockout To Announce His Arrival At UFC 311

    VIDEO: Debutant Produces Brutal Ground & Pound Knockout To Announce His Arrival At UFC 311

    Azamat Bekoev secured the second finish of the night at UFC 311 with a highly impressive debut for the middleweight newcomer. As he spoke about in his post-fight interview, the 29-year old may have had to wait some time to get his opportunity, but when it finally arrived, he capitalized in style.

    The Russian stepped in on short notice to replace Sedriques Dumas and take on Zachary Reese, who was coming off of back-to-back wins after suffering a loss in his UFC debut. The American has proven himself to be a dangerous striker, but this didn’t end up playing into the preliminary matchup on Jan. 18.

    Bekoev got his hand raised via first-round finish having delivered some devastating ground-and-pound. After threatening with a submission attempt, Reese found himself on the bottom, where he ate several big shots from his opponent before the referee stepped in as he went out.

    With the result at UFC 311, Bekoev has now won seven fights in a row with an overall record of 19-3, and he looks to be a serious threat at 185 pounds based on the short amount of time fans have seen of him in the UFC.

    Watch the highlight reel finish from UFC 311 below:

    https://twitter.com/TakeruCigarra/status/1880801474990793177

  • Khamzat Chimaev Shares His Unfiltered Opinion On Islam Makhachev’s Potential Move To Middleweight

    Khamzat Chimaev Shares His Unfiltered Opinion On Islam Makhachev’s Potential Move To Middleweight

    Khamzat Chimaev has given a candid take on the prospect of Islam Makhachev making a leap to higher weight classes down the line.

    Makhachev will defend his lightweight title against Renato Moicano in the headline bout of Saturday’s UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Originally, the Dagestani champion was set to make his fourth title defense against Arman Tsarukyan, but just a day before the fight, “Ahalkalakets” was forced to withdraw due to a back injury.

    The reigning UFC 155-pound champion has long voiced his desire to become a two-division champion by moving up a weight class, vowing not to retire until he achieves this goal. However, standing in the way of Makhachev’s quest for a second UFC title is welterweight champ Belal Muhammad.

    Despite this, Makhachev has made it clear that he would steer clear of a clash with “Remember the Name” due to their shared respect. Makhachev’s manager has even hinted that, if necessary, his client could bypass welterweight altogether and leap straight to middleweight in the future to claim ‘champ-champ’ status.

    During a recent interview with Aslanbek Badaev, “Borz” weighed in on the possibility of Makhachev making the leap to the 185-pound division. Chimaev offered a measured response, stating that if anyone was truly capable of climbing weight classes and dominating, it would be UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    “Well if Islam wants to, and Abdelaziz wants, let him go and try, Chimaev said. “I don’t know. i can’t give an asnwer about Islam now as I haven’t trained with him. Maybe it’s possible, maybe not. I anyone could move [and complete] at 170 or 185 [pounds], it would be Khabib. As for Islam, if have many doubts becuase of his last fight at 155. It was tough for him. Although I had a tough fightwith Gilbert Buns [at 170], then I moved up to 185 and it was easier [to fight] there. Maybe Islam will have the same situation. He might move up and it will become much esasier. Well only the Octagon can show.”

    Makhachev is on an impressive 14-fight win streak, with his latest victory coming at UFC 303 in June 2024. There, he secured a gritty fifth-round submission over Dustin Poirier to successfully retain his title.

  • MMA Legend Discusses Why Renato Moicano Could Be Bigger Test For Islam Makhachev Than Arman Tsarukyan

    MMA Legend Discusses Why Renato Moicano Could Be Bigger Test For Islam Makhachev Than Arman Tsarukyan

    Renato Moicano might pose a more demanding test for Islam Makhachev than Arman Tsarukyan — at least, that’s the perspective of an MMA legend.

    Makhachev had spent months training to defend his lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan in the highly anticipated main event of UFC 311 this Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. However, on Friday, the matchup was abruptly derailed when UFC CEO Dana White revealed that “Ahalkalakets” had to withdraw from their rematch because of a back injury.

    Eventually, “Money” swooped in at the last moment to save the UFC 311 main event, stepping up as Tsarukyan’s replacement. Moicano had originally been scheduled to face Beneil Dariush on the same card.

    Many fans and analysts alike see Moicano as an easy matchup for Makhachev, a sentiment echoed by the oddsmakers who have installed the Dagestani as an overwhelming favorite heading into the fight. However, Demetrious Johnson sees things quite differently.

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, “Mighty” weighed in on the reshuffled UFC 311 main event between Makhachev and Moicano following Tsarukyan’s sudden withdrawal. The former UFC flyweight champion emphasized how the short-notice aspect of the matchup brings a fresh dynamic, and boldly suggested that “Money” might pose a more formidable challenge for Makhachev than many expect.

    “I think it’s a better fight, Johnson said. “Here’s the reason why: you look at what ‘Money’ Moicano has done recently. He is on a tear because the man ‘can’t afford to lose,’ and I think it’s a tougher fight for Islam Makhachev. The reason is that you have to do it within 24 hours; you have no idea what the game plan’s going to be, and the whole thing changes.

    “But right now, Islam Makhachev is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, so he can fight anybody on any given day. But you do have to make some adjustments, because the way that ‘Money’ fights compared to what Arman does is night and day different. I feel Renato Moicano is way more dangerous than Arman just because he’s not going to rely on the wrestling. He’s gonna go after him, he’s gonna throw knees, he’s gonna throw combinations. And he’s a f**king dog. He’s gonna bring a dog fight.”

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Explains Why Coaching Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier Was Harder Than Fighting Him

    Khabib Nurmagomedov and current UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev share a notable common opponent in Dustin Poirier. Both fighters secured submission victories over “The Diamond” during their respective UFC careers.

    Khabib defeated Poirier at UFC 242 in September 2019, winning via submission in a dominant performance. Makhachev’s most recent title defense also came against Poirier, ending with a fifth-round submission. Reflecting on these encounters, “The Eagle” admitted that fighting Poirier himself was much easier than cornering Makhachev against him.

    “Inside the cage was much better,” Nurmagomedov told ESPN in a recent interview. “When I was inside, I didn’t have to talk. Only a couple of times I spoke with him. I remember during my fight with Dustin, after the first round, I asked him how he felt, and he said, ‘Nothing, you win the first round.’”

    Nurmagomedov explained that coaching from the outside presented an entirely different challenge.

    “When I was outside with Islam, for almost 25 minutes I was just talking. I couldn’t do anything. To be honest, I don’t like this. But it was an amazing fight—an amazing finish in the fifth round and a very good experience for Islam.”

    Coach Javier Mendez also weighed in, calling Poirier the toughest opponent Makhachev has faced to date.

  • UFC 311: Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC 311: Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC 311 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    The upcoming pay-per-view event at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California provides a chance for UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev to record his fourth successful title defense.

    While that was initially set to come in the form of a rematch opposite top contender Arman Tsarukyan, a back injury sustained during his weight cut forced the planned challenger to withdraw. Stepping in on 24 hours’ notice will be Renato Moicano, who was originally slated to share the cage with Beneil Dariush on Saturday’s main card.

    The stakes will also be high in the co-main event, which will see undefeated bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili look to complete his ascent to the top by unseating current kingpin Merab Dvalishvili in his first defense.

    Elsewhere on the UFC 311 card, a pair of former light heavyweight champs in Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill collide, the always entertaining Kevin Holland meets ex-ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder, and Jailton Almeida and Serghei Spivac battle to establish themselves in the heavyweight title picture.

    Ahead of the event, all fighters set to compete tomorrow night successfully made weight, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 311 ceremonial weigh-ins!

    Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 7 PM ET.

    UFC 311 Ceremonial Weigh-In Video

  • Leon Edwards vs. Jack Della Maddalena Official For UFC London Main Event

    Leon Edwards vs. Jack Della Maddalena Official For UFC London Main Event

    Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards has had his return to action in the first quarter of next year confirmed.

    Edwards hasn’t competed since losing his grip on the 170-pound crown at UFC 304 in Manchester this past July, where he was convincingly defeated by Belal Muhammad in their headline rematch.

    “Rocky” has vowed to finish the new year with the gold back in his possession and announced that the path toward achieving that will start with a return in the main event of the UFC’s confirmed return to London on March 22.

    A number of names floated around regarding an opponent, from the seemingly unretired Jorge Masvidal to top 10 contenders Ian Garry and Sean Brady. Ultimately, the assignment has fallen to Jack Della Maddalena.

    During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Australian insider Benny P first reported on Della Maddalena’s planned trip to London to share the cage with “Rocky.”

    And Friday night, the promotion officially announced the bout, alongside the rest of the lineup for March 22.

    Della Maddalena hasn’t made the walk since a victory over Gilbert Burns at UFC 299 this past March. The Australian put his name in Comeback of the Year discussion by avoiding certain defeat on the scorecards with a late knockout.

    The Perth native has now won 17 straight fights since an 0-2 start to his professional career, a run that includes a perfect 7-0 UFC record. With that in mind, a triumph over a recent champ in Edwards would likely secure the #4-ranked contender a first title shot.

  • Islam Makhachev Reacts To Late-Notice UFC 311 Opponent Change: ‘It Doesn’t Matter Who’

    Islam Makhachev Reacts To Late-Notice UFC 311 Opponent Change: ‘It Doesn’t Matter Who’

    Islam Makhachev remains unfazed by whoever stands across from him in the Octagon on Saturday night, as he’s focused on accomplishing the task at hand.

    Makhachev was initially slated to defend his lightweight title against former rival Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC 311 this weekend at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    However, on Friday morning, the headliner took an unforeseen turn when UFC CEO Dana White announced that “Ahalkalakets” had been forced to withdraw from the rematch due to a back injury.

    Makhachev will now square off against Renato Moicano in the newly revamped main event of UFC 311. Originally scheduled to face Beneil Dariush in a 155-pound clash on the main card, “Money” has now seized the eleventh-hour opportunity to challenge for the UFC title after Tsarukyan’s injury sidelined the original matchup.

    The Dagestani champion embraced the unanticipated shift, proudly echoing his own quote, which White had prominently displayed on the walls of the UFC Performance Institute.

    “‘What does this title represent? It means you’re the best in the world and if you’re the best in the world, it doesn’t matter who’s going to be standing across from you. What do I say? No? NEVER. Let’s do this!’” Makhachev wrote on X.

    Makhachev is riding a remarkable 14-fight win streak, with his most recent appearance at UFC 303 in June 2024. There, he secured a gritty fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier to successfully retain his title.

    Meanwhile, Moicano is on a four-fight win streak and has been relentless since his move to the 155-pound division, boasting six victories in his last seven bouts. “Money” enters this title fight on the back of a dominant second-round TKO (doctor’s stoppage) over Benoît Saint Denis at UFC Paris in September.

  • Arman Tsarukyan’s First Statement On UFC 311 Withdrawal: ‘Hardest Decision I’ve Ever Had To Make’

    Arman Tsarukyan has spoken publicly following his decision to pull out of Saturday’s UFC 311 pay-per-view.

    Tsarukyan is currently in Los Angeles, where he had hoped to avenge his 2019 loss to Islam Makhachev to capture the lightweight crown and cement himself among the all-time top names at 155 pounds.

    But the chance to do so will have to wait, with the Armenian withdrawing from the opening numbered event of 2025 just one day out after injuring his back while cutting weight.

    The news was first reported by Red Corner MMA before being confirmed by UFC CEO Dana White, who also revealed that Renato Moicano has been pulled from his original showdown with Beneil Dariush to challenge Makhachev in tomorrow night’s headliner.

    A clearly devastated Tsarukyan, meanwhile, recently took to social media with his first remarks since the disappointing revelation emerged.

    “I regret to inform everyone that the news is that I had to pull out of UFC 311 with a back injury is true. This was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my fighting career. I would like to thank the UFC for understanding and I look forward to competing for my first UFC Championship in the future. Thank you all for your support.”

  • Arman Tsarukyan Out Of Islam Makhachev Rematch At UFC 311, Renato Moicano Steps In

    Arman Tsarukyan Out Of Islam Makhachev Rematch At UFC 311, Renato Moicano Steps In

    Disaster has struck one day out from the first pay-per-view of 2025, with Arman Tsarukyan out of UFC 311.

    Tsarukyan and Makhachev faced off at Thursday’s press conference ahead of their second meeting inside the cage Saturday night in Los Angeles.

    Years on from their competitive collision at a 2019 UFC Fight Night in Moscow, which the Russian won on the scorecards, the pair were set to do battle for Makhachev’s lightweight crown on Jan. 18.

    But during the weigh-ins, a report from Red Corner MMA emerged revealing that Tsarukyan has withdrawn just north of 24 hours out from his first title challenge on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    Dana White later confirmed the news himself on social media, while also announcing that Renato Moicano will step in to challenge Makhachev in tomorrow night’s headliner.

    The Brazilian had already hit the scale for UFC 311, with Moicano making championship weight ahead of his previously scheduled three-round contest with Beneil Dariush.

    While he is only ranked #10 in the division, he is riding a four-fight win streak. He’s also coming off a dominant showing opposite Benoît Saint Denis in Paris, a similar result that netted Dustin Poirier a title shot against Makhachev last year.

  • Jiří Procházka Warns Jamahal Hill About ‘Big Mistake’ Ahead Of UFC 311 Clash

    Jiří Procházka Warns Jamahal Hill About ‘Big Mistake’ Ahead Of UFC 311 Clash

    Jamahal Hill is set to face fellow former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiří Procházka this weekend at UFC 311. Hill has made it clear that he believes a victory would solidify his claim to the next title shot.

    Hill’s rivalry with current 205-pound kingpin Alex Pereira has added extra intrigue to his journey back to the top. The two were involved in a controversial altercation at the UFC Performance Institute last month, a situation that drew criticism toward “Sweet Dreams.” This incident has further motivated him to prove his worthiness for another championship opportunity.

    For Procházka, the focus remains firmly on the task at hand. He has warned his opponent that overlooking him in favor of thoughts about a title shot or Pereira would be a costly mistake.

    “I would just say that it is a big mistake when you are not focused on what’s before you, and you’re looking at another opponent — it will cost you a lot,” Procházka said during the UFC 311 media day. “So, it’s just about staying humble and focused on what’s before you. I don’t speak about other opponents, about who will be the next. Even if I did say I want to fight Alex Pereira for a third time because I believe in myself and the changes in my style.

    “No, this is not the time or place right now. There is Jamahal Hill this Saturday, and I want to win,” he continued. “And I’m going to win this fight. Then we can talk about others.”

  • Henry Cejudo Promises ‘Live Assassination’ Of Song Yadong At UFC Seattle

    Henry Cejudo Promises ‘Live Assassination’ Of Song Yadong At UFC Seattle

    Henry Cejudo is set to return for his third outing inside the Octagon since he came out of retirement to fight Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight title in 2023. The former two-weight titleholder has been unable to reclaim the top spot since he left the sport on top back in 2020 after winning six fights in a row.

    Having bean beaten by teammates in Sterling and the current champion Merab Dvalishvili, Cejudo is now set to look a few positions further down the 135-pound rankings after failing to immediately re-establish himself as a top contender. In the main event on February 22, he will face the #8-ranked Song Yadong at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.

    Yadong is also looking to bounce back from a defeat last time out but “Triple C” is incredibly confident that he will show levels in this fight. He spoke in a recent interview with Cageside Press about how he sees the matchup playing out in this pivotal moment for his career at the highest level.

    “You guys can witness a damn assassination man. You guys are going to witness a live assassination. Song Yadong you ain’t that long,” Cejudo told Cageside Press.

    Cejudo also continued to make references to his opponent’s name in what appears to be the return of his trash talking persona which we have had a significant break from in recent times. Despite this, “King Triple C” knows what is at stake for him in this fight.

    He did not return just to take part in the division but a third consecutive loss would be a big uphill battle for him at this stage in his career.

    “Song doesn’t have that long dong that you guys think he does and that he’s gonna bend the knee and everybody watching should also bend a knee to KING TRIPLE C.”

  • Rising UFC Featherweight Favors BMF Title Win Over Undisputed: ‘To Be One Of The Baddest Dudes…’

    Rising UFC Featherweight Favors BMF Title Win Over Undisputed: ‘To Be One Of The Baddest Dudes…’

    The BMF title has been a divisive subject in MMA but there’s no denying that in the three fights that it has featured in, it has produced some iconic moments and performances. One of the most exciting contenders in the featherweight division recently revealed that he wants a piece of that action over getting his hands on UFC gold.

    Steve Garcia has been proving himself to be one of the most dangerous contenders at 145-pounds with his current winning streak. Since a knockout loss to Maheshate Hayisaer at UFC 275 in 2022, he has won five consecutive fights with each victory coming by way of KO/TKO. With 14 of his 17 pro wins coming via this method, the 32-year old certainly qualifies for the category of being a victory or death kind of fighter.

    Garcia recently spoke to MMA Junkie ahead of his huge clash with the #15-ranked Edson Barboza on February 22. During the interview, he spoke about his featherweight title aspirations and why he believes that the BMF belt holds more weight to him personally because not every fighter qualifies for it just by securing wins.

    “If I would say that there’s a title I prefer to fight for, it would be the BMF title,” Garcia said. “I’ve been able to knock out a lot of these guys. There’s nothing against the undisputed title, but the undisputed title, you could literally win the undisputed title, and you can win on decisions the whole entire time.

    “You could win on submissions the whole entire time. You can be great and do knockouts and stuff like that, too, but I think the BMF title, the meaning says it all. To be one of the baddest dudes to step into a cage, throw in my words, chingassos. You’re going for it.”

    Having changed hands three times, the BMF title currently belongs to Max Holloway who was stopped by Ilia Topuria in the main event of UFC 308. Whilst Garcia doesn’t expect to be put in there with “Blessed” anytime soon, he’s prepared to keep doing what he does best in order to work his way there.

    “I would love a fight with Max,” Garcia said. “I’m such a huge fan of him, but my goodness, if you want to watch something that can go off, I think that would be a good fight. I guess I’ve got to keep knocking people out and prove people what I’m able to do to maybe have that opportunity or that shot. I think about the BMF title more than I think about the undisputed title to be honest.”

  • UFC 311: Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2 Weigh-In Live Stream & Results

    UFC 311: Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2 Weigh-In Live Stream & Results

    UFC 311 takes place tomorrow night, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After staging fights at Las Vegas’ Apex facility to kick off 2025, the mixed martial arts leader will host its first pay-per-view of the new year from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    Two titles will be on the line at the top of the card, with Islam Makhachev defending his lightweight belt against familiar foe Arman Tsarukyan in the main event. Co-headlining, meanwhile, will be a first-time clash between reigning bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili and undefeated challenger Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Also on the main card will be returns for ex-light heavyweight champions Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill, as well as charging 155-pound contender Renato Moicano and the always entertaining Kevin Holland.

    UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2 Weigh-In Results

    UFC 311 takes place Saturday, January 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    See above for a replay of the UFC 311 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below.

    Main Card:

    • Lightweight Championship: Islam Makhachev (154.5lbs) vs. Arman Tsarukyan
    • Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili (134lbs) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (135lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Jiří Procházka (204.5lbs) vs. Jamahal Hill (204.5lbs)
    • Lightweight: Beneil Dariush (155lbs) vs. Renato Moicano (155lbs)
    • Middleweight: Kevin Holland (183.5lbs) vs. Reinier de Ridder (184.5lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Bantamweight: Payton Talbott (135.5lbs) vs. Raoni Barcelos (135.5lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Jailton Almeida (235lbs) vs. Serghei Spivac (233lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Bogdan Guskov (205.5lbs) vs. Billy Elekana (200lbs)
    • Lightweight: Grant Dawson (156lbs) vs. Diego Ferreira (156lbs)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Middleweight: Zachary Reese (185.5lbs) vs. Azamat Bekoev (185.5lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Karol Rosa (135.5lbs) vs. Ailín Pérez (135lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Rinya Nakamura (135.5lbs) vs. Muin Gafarov (136lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Ricky Turcios (136lbs) vs. Benardo Sopaj (135lbs)
    • Flyweight: Tagir Ulanbekov (125.5lbs) vs. Clayton Carpenter (125.5lbs)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0mAy87Dps0
  • UFC 311’s Kevin Holland Doesn’t Want To Become Champion Due To The ‘Politics’ Of It

    UFC 311’s Kevin Holland Doesn’t Want To Become Champion Due To The ‘Politics’ Of It

    UFC middleweight Kevin Holland is one of the most unique fighters on the promotion’s roster. We have certainly seen competitors come and go in the past who were company men to the highest degree, willing to step in and fight every weekend of the year if their bodies, and the athletic commissions allowed it, but the middleweight contender is different.

    He has received some criticism in the past for being overly relaxed in fights and not taking things serious enough with the debate that if he really focused on being the best version of himself that he can possibly be, he could achieve more. Ultimately, Holland just wants to fight as much as possible in order to make as much money as possible.

    Whether its his record-tying year in 2020 where he produced five wins inside the Octagon or his attitude to losing, it has always been clear that “Trailblazer” isn’t someone who is focused on one big finish line that he is pursuing. He recently spoke about this ahead of his return at UFC 311 this Saturday night where he takes on Reinier de Ridder.

    Unlike someone like his opponent who wants to continue working his way up the middleweight ladder in order to compete at the very top of the sport, Holland is a prize fighter at heart and though the UFC title is a big shiny goal to strive for, he isn’t overly concerned with adding a belt to his trophy cabinet. In fact, he’s more motivated to break the promotion’s record for most fights which is currently held by the still active Jim Miller.

    The 32-year old recently told ESPN that even if he did find himself in position for a shot at the title, he doesn’t know whether he would take it because it could interfere with his plans and cause him complications.

    “There are too many politics that come with being a world champion,” he said. “I don’t need it. I never came to the UFC to fight for a world title. I came to get paid. I’ve talked to fighters who are world champions and ones who aren’t. I found out what some were making and how often they were competing. I wouldn’t make that much more fighting as a world champion, and I’d have to fight less often than I do now. It doesn’t make financial sense to me.”

  • Israel Adesanya On How Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan Will Play Out At UFC 311: ‘Going To Be WrestleMania’

    Israel Adesanya On How Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan Will Play Out At UFC 311: ‘Going To Be WrestleMania’

    Israel Adesanya believes that fight fans are in for a grappling-heavy main event this weekend at UFC 311. At the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will face top contender Arman Tsarukyan in a rematch of their first encounter in 2019.

    With Tsarukyan making his UFC debut in their previous meeting, what surprised so many fans is that he was able to compete with Makhachev in the grappling exchanges which very few have been able to do even if he wasn’t able to secure the win. Both men do their best work on the ground but the biggest difference heading into their second bout is the significant improvements that they have made on the feet over the past few years.

    The challenger has shown that he is a dangerous striker with a wide kicking arsenal in particular which allows him to control the range and keep opponents guessing. His knockout over Beneil Dariush showed that he is able to get the job done without needing to get hold of his opponent to drag them to the canvas.

    Makhachev, on the other hand, has a simple but effective style which has led to him having a lot of success with his boxing, particularly in his last fight against Dustin Poirier where he won a lot of the exchanges against “The Diamond”.

    When breaking the fight down on his YouTube channel, the former two-time middleweight champion acknowledged how both of them have evolved into well-rounded mixed martial artists though it still seems likely that they will look test each others grappling once again. “The Last Stylebender” thinks that regardless of the fact that both men are confident strikers, they will revert to type in this matchup.

    “His striking is looking way more comfortable lately, way more polished. Arman as well… He’s got nice kicks, good hands, very explosive. But yeah, it’s gonna be a wrestling fight. It’s gonna be WrestleMania.”

  • Jamahal Hill ‘100 Percent’ Expects Title Shot With UFC 311 Victory: ‘Ankalaev Fought No. 5’

    Jamahal Hill believes he has earned the right to be back in the title conversation in the UFC light heavyweight division, believing a victory in his next fight will guarantee him a shot at reclaiming the championship.

    Hill is set to face fellow former 205-pound kingpin Jiří Procházka on Jan. 18 at UFC 311. Hill, no stranger to championship glory, captured the vacant title at UFC 283 by defeating Glover Teixeira via decision. However, in July 2023, he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during a basketball game at the UFC’s International Fight Week, forcing him to relinquish the belt.

    The American’s road back to the top has been challenging. He faced Alex Pereira for the gold in the main event of UFC 300 last April but suffered a first-round knockout loss. Despite this setback, “Sweet Dreams” is determined to work his way back to the title.

    “Yeah, 100 percent,” he said at UFC 311 media day when asked about earning the next title shot. “I feel a win here, especially a dominant, impressive win, next fight is title. Next is the championship. I don’t see why it wouldn’t be. Ankalaev fought No. 5, No. 4 or something like that last, then that just says title? So, I’m fighting No. 2 in the world. I don’t see me going backward from that.”

    Hill’s rivalry with Alex Pereira extends beyond the Octagon, as they were involved in a controversial altercation at the UFC Performance Institute last month.

    That incident has only added fuel to his determination to prove himself worthy of another championship opportunity.

  • UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2, Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov Press Conference Live Stream

    UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2, Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov Press Conference Live Stream

    We’re deep into UFC 311 fight week, meaning it’s time for the fighters set to be in action on Jan. 18 to take to the stage and answer some questions.

    The MMA leader’s first numbered event of the new year takes place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, where the main attraction will see UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev put his belt on the line against a challenger he’s previously gotten the better of, Arman Tsarukyan.

    Setting the stage for the UFC 311 headliners will be another title fight, this time at 135 pounds. Bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili will look to emerge victorious from his first defense, as he puts the gold he captured four months ago at stake against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Also on pay-per-view will be a clash of former light heavyweight champions Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill, both of whom make the walk for the first time since their respective knockout losses to Alex Pereira in 2024. That’s in addition to an important battle of top 10 lightweights, as Beneil Dariush looks to stall the rise of Renato Moicano.

    The UFC 311 main card will open with the always entertaining Kevin Holland, who will look to begin his 2025 by snapping the losing skid he fell to last year. To do so, “Trailblazer” must hand former two-division ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder his first UFC defeat.

    As is customary during major fight weeks, the athletes will take to the stage on Thursday for the UFC 311 pre-fight press conference. The latest edition will see every fighter on the main card with mic in hand.

    Check out a live stream of the presser below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 10 PM ET.