MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Darren Till Reacts To Khabib Nurmagomedov Dismissing Dagestan vs. Ireland Rivalry: ‘For Him To Sit There & Say…’

    Darren Till Reacts To Khabib Nurmagomedov Dismissing Dagestan vs. Ireland Rivalry: ‘For Him To Sit There & Say…’

    Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov aims to further cement his legacy when he faces Ireland’s Paul Hughes on Jan. 25 in Dubai. Hughes earned his shot at the title after a victory over AJ McKee in October, setting the stage for this high-stakes clash.

    The fight has sparked comparisons to the legendary rivalry between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, which peaked in 2018 when Khabib secured a dominant submission victory over McGregor. However, Khabib dismissed the notion of a deep rivalry between Ireland and Dagestan in MMA, making some blunt remarks about the talent disparity.

    “Ireland don’t have fighters, brother,” Khabib said in a recent interview posted by PFL. “Let’s be honest. How many fighters do you know from Ireland? Paul Hughes and Conor [McGregor], and who else? There are no fighters. You come to Dagestan, you understand. So many organizations don’t even sign Dagestan fighters because they worry everybody can become champion. Dagestan’s level of MMA is up here. But Ireland’s level? Not even half of Dagestan’s level.”

    This comment sparked a response from former UFC contender Darren Till, who defended Irish MMA on X.

    “I’ve always respected Khabib and his team a lot, they are fantastic fighters,” Till wrote.” But for him to sit there and say fighters from Ireland are low level. In comparison of sizes of countries and production, Ireland is actually way ahead. Ireland is so f*cking small and Russia is so f*cking big. Ireland has produced amazing fighters over the years. I would said just over size and production of the country, Ireland wins every time, and this is not me being biased because I am neither friends with khabib’s side or Ireland’s side I’m just stating my opinion.”

    The contrasting views have ignited debate among fans, further heightening interest in the Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes matchup.

    While Khabib Nurmagomedov’s remarks highlight Dagestan’s dominance in MMA, Till’s defense of Ireland emphasizes the remarkable achievements of Irish fighters given their country’s size.

  • Daniel Cormier On His 2024 Fight Of The Year Pick: ‘I’m Not Falling Victim To The Name’

    Daniel Cormier On His 2024 Fight Of The Year Pick: ‘I’m Not Falling Victim To The Name’

    When selecting his Fight of the Year candidate, UFC Hall of Famer and current color commentator Daniel Cormier prioritized performance over star power.

    While many fans have pegged high-profile bouts like Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 — featuring Holloway’s dramatic last-second knockout — or Dricus Du Plessis’ stunning submission win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 as contenders, Cormier opted for a less mainstream choice. For him, Esteban Ribovics’ thrilling battle with Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306 stood out as the year’s best.

    The bout, held at the Sphere, was a back-and-forth war filled with momentum swings. Ultimately, Ribovics emerged victorious via split decision.

    “I’m not falling victim to the name,” Cormier explained during his an episode of his Good Guy/Bad Guy show with Chael Sonnen. “As pundits, as fans, and as people who watch the sport, we often fall in love with big names. That’s why you see main event fighters earning Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night bonuses, even when there are undercard fights that are better. Just because they’re the main attraction and making more money doesn’t mean the fight itself was superior. I’m not buying into the blockbuster names.

    “My pick is Zellhuber vs. Ribovics at UFC 306,” he continued. “Remember how badly Daniel Zellhuber hurt Ribovics early? And how Ribovics turned the tables and had Zellhuber in serious trouble late? The grit and determination these two young fighters showed on Mexican Independence Day — on a huge card at the Sphere — was remarkable. It was all stand-up action, barely any wrestling, and tit-for-tat exchanges. It was as good as any fight we’ve seen this year, regardless of the names involved.”

  • Umar Nurmagomedov Accuses Merab Dvalishvili Of Seeking Easy Opponents Ahead Of UFC 311 Clash

    Umar Nurmagomedov Accuses Merab Dvalishvili Of Seeking Easy Opponents Ahead Of UFC 311 Clash

    Umar Nurmagomedov believes Merab Dvalishvili selectively targets opponents he deems less challenging.

    Nurmagomedov is gearing up to challenge reigning bantamweight champion Dvalishvili in the co-main event of UFC 311, scheduled for Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    “The Young Eagle” has been on a relentless quest for his first title opportunity since his dominant unanimous decision victory over Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi in August 2024. However, Dvalishvili has appeared hesitant to put his belt on the line against Nurmagomedov ever since claiming the championship at UFC 306.

    “The Machine” initially refuted claims that the undefeated Dagestani deserves a title shot, advocating instead for rematches with familiar foes like Sean O’Malley and Petr Yan. He even went further, suggesting that former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo is a more deserving challenger for the 135-pound crown.

    This led to widespread speculation among fans and pundits, with many accusing Dvalishvili of avoiding Nurmagomedov out of fear. Now that the fight has been officially scheduled, “The Young Eagle” has dismissed these claims as unfounded.

    During a recent UFC interview (via MMA Fighting), Nurmagomedov accused Dvalishvili of cherry-picking low-risk opponents to safeguard his record and earn easy paydays. He emphasized that facing him would present an entirely different challenge.

    “I think he just wants to fight with a guy who [he] can beat,” Nurmagomedov said. “It does not mean I 100 percent go inside the cage and smash him. No. He knows, other guys, he will beat [them]. Me? It’s going to be hard. That’s why he tried to be champion a long time. He wants to fight with O’Malley or with Petr Yan or someone else because he knows these guys, easy money. Me? Not.

    “What I know, what I understand, he does not [want a] risky fight. He can beat me; it can happen. It’s not going to break me. I will be the same Umar. Fighting is fighting. Everybody can lose, everybody can win. We’re not talking about what’s going to happen in the fight. If we’re talking about scared, I think he just wants to take [less] risk.”

    Nurmagomedov is on an impressive six-fight win streak in the UFC since making his debut in January 2021.

    Meanwhile, “The Machine” extended his remarkable unbeaten run to 11 straight victories after claiming the bantamweight title with a dominant win over Sean O’Malley in September 2024.

  • Eddie Alvarez Explains Why Michael Chandler’s UFC Tenure Has Been ‘Frustrating’ To Watch

    Eddie Alvarez Explains Why Michael Chandler’s UFC Tenure Has Been ‘Frustrating’ To Watch

    Eddie Alvarez has been closely following Michael Chandler’s UFC career.

    Chandler entered the UFC with an impressive 21-5 MMA record and has since gone 2-4 over his last six fights. His most recent victory was a spectacular knockout of Tony Ferguson at UFC 274 in May 2022. However, the former Bellator champ’s momentum faltered he was submitted by Dustin Poirier, followed by another defeat at UFC 309, where he fell at the hands of former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira for the second time.

    Despite Chandler’s successes, Alvarez believes his former Bellator rival has not reached his full potential in the UFC. Speaking with MMA Junkie, “The Underground King” shared his perspective:

    “If you ask him, he’s underperformed. He’ll know the reason for that or whatever the reasons are, but for sure I think he has all the tools to win the UFC title. It’s a matter of whether he uses the tools he has, and I don’t think he has properly, and I don’t know why. It’s very frustrating for me to watch because I know what he’s capable of, and what kind of grit and champion spirit he has.”

    Alvarez emphasized Chandler’s need to adjust his fighting style to leverage his strengths, particularly his wrestling ability.

    “I think it’s more of him tweaking the way he fights and using the weapons that he has. He just doesn’t use them, and it’s frustrating for me to watch, to be honest with you. I think it’s frustrating for a lot of people who are fans of him who want him to win because he can. He just doesn’t use the stuff that God’s given to him. He doesn’t use his wrestling at all, and it’s very dominant. He’s a very strong guy.”

    For Alvarez, Chandler’s unrealized potential and strategic decisions in the Octagon are what make his performances so perplexing to watch.

  • Islam Makhachev’s Training Partners Have To Be ‘Helped Emotionally’, Claims Manager

    Islam Makhachev’s Training Partners Have To Be ‘Helped Emotionally’, Claims Manager

    When Khabib Nurmagomedov made the decision to retire and vacate the UFC lightweight title, it meant that his teammate, Islam Makhachev, would get his time to shine. Following the title reign of Charles Oliveira that took place in-between, Makhachev ascended to the throne and he now sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings.

    Makhachev was always a highly regarded competitor but he seems to make visual improvements each and every time that he steps inside the Octagon. A big reason for that and his consistency is because like his training partner and coach, he has an incredible work ethic and drive.

    Fans have seen glimpses and heard stories about how hard Khabib works his team in the gym now that he’s leading the practices. With Makhachev set to headline UFC 311 on January 18 in a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan and Umar Nurmagomedov challenging for the bantamweight title in the co-main event, this has been no different during their residency at the UFC PI in Las Vegas.

    In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Dominance MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz provided some insight regarding the kind of cycle that Makhachev puts his training partners through on a daily basis. He said that fighters have to take rest days after going head-to-head with the lightweight champion and that has only continued to grow in recent times.

    “Listen, we have to give his training partners days off from training for them to be ready for sparring day. Seriously. We have to help guys emotionally… I grappled with him the other day and I was like, ‘What the hell am I doing?’ I can hold my own against anybody in grappling, somebody my size. But I felt like I was a little kid playing with a bear. This is how I felt. I was like, ‘There’s no sense in me even training with this guy ever again.’ In a way I felt bad, because I’m a man. But in reality, I felt so confident, how good [Makhachev] is.”

  • Chael Sonnen Reveals Colby Covington Walkout Idea That Hulk Hogan Deemed ‘Too Far’

    Chael Sonnen Reveals Colby Covington Walkout Idea That Hulk Hogan Deemed ‘Too Far’

    Colby Covington’s return to the Octagon in Tampa at the final event of 2024 didn’t go to plan. “Chaos” was defeated by Joaquin Buckley in convincing fashion and though he struggled to make an impact inside the cage, what he did on route to the middle of the Amalie Arena did stick with a lot of fans.

    One of the most memorable walk-outs of the previous year was the very last one to take place in the UFC as Covington entered the building flanked by Chael Sonnen and Hulk Hogan of all people. Sonnen’s presence was already known about following his appearance at the weigh-ins but it’s safe to say that people didn’t expect to see “The Hulkster” walking down to the Octagon.

    All in all, this was mostly just a surprising image and a shock reaction, even if Sonnen has claimed that he was close to throwing in the towel due to Covington’s cut which certainly would have generated some talking points. “The Bad Guy” did recently reveal that Covington’s original plan for the walk-out was changed before they went through the curtain.

    The WWE icon may have accompanied Covington to the cage but he wasn’t quite willing to let “Hulkamania” run completely wild in the UFC. Instead, he wanted to take a step back in order to be the red corner’s wingman rather than the focal point.

    “It was a cool thing, it was Hulk Hogan… Very first thing Colby says to him, ‘When the camera hits, Hulk, I wanted you with the American flag…I come out behind you’. And Hulk cut him off and said, ‘Colby, too far. I am a guest in your house. You go first, I’m at your back… I won’t have it any other way.’ And that was his attitude right from the beginning and he was more than welcome in that locker room.”

  • Paul Hughes Gives 4-Word Reaction To Khabib Nurmagomedov Claiming ‘Ireland Don’t Have Fighters’

    Paul Hughes Gives 4-Word Reaction To Khabib Nurmagomedov Claiming ‘Ireland Don’t Have Fighters’

    In a recent social media video posted by the PFL, Khabib Nurmagomedov criticized the credibility of Irish fighters. The former UFC lightweight champion has his own well-documented history with one fighter in particular from this region which led to the biggest fight in the history of the sport seven years ago.

    For team Khabib, they’ve got an extremely busy start to 2025 as after UFC 311 takes place, where Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov will feature at the top of the card, it’s Usman Nurmagomedov’s turn at the PFL’s Road to Dubai event on January 25. At the Coca-Cola Arena, the undefeated Bellator lightweight champion will defend his title against Ireland’s Paul Hughes in a highly anticipated showdown.

    Following Hughes’ prompt, the promotion has marketed the main event as the next instalment in the MMA rivalry between Ireland and Dagestan but Khabib doesn’t think that this is any kind of competition. Despite the amount of success that Ireland has had in combat sports despite its population, “The Eagle” is yet to be impressed by what the emerald isle has to offer, especially in regards to comparisons with Dagestan.

    “Ireland don’t have fighters, brother,” Nurmagomedov said in an interview with PFL. “Let’s be honest: How many fighters from Ireland? Paul Hughes and Conor. Who else? There is no fighters, brother. You come to Dagestan, you can understand. So many organizations, they don’t even want to sign Dagestan fighters because they worry about like, everybody can become champion.

    “Let’s be honest: Dagestan level of MMA here (up high),” Nurmagomedov said. “But Ireland level, like not even half of Dagestan level.”

    Hughes’ response was simple and to the point. With coach Khabib seemingly having a front row seat for January 25 from the corner of the defending champion, “Big News” is excited to prove him wrong.

  • Manager Explains Magomed Ankalaev’s Confidence About KOing Alex Pereira: ‘He Said…Izzy Can’t Even Wash My Boots In Striking’

    Manager Explains Magomed Ankalaev’s Confidence About KOing Alex Pereira: ‘He Said…Izzy Can’t Even Wash My Boots In Striking’

    For a long time now, fight fans have theorized that Magomed Ankalaev is the biggest threat to the current light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira. The #1-ranked contender has beaten a lot of top opposition but it was his recent win over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 which seemingly solidified his status as the next in line at long last.

    However, the Rakić fight did also raise some concerns regarding the way that Ankalaev might approach a clash with “Poatan”. Throughout 2024, Ankalaev was very clear on the idea that in a fight with Pereira, he would stand and strike with him, believing that he would knock the champion out whilst many have made the case for why this wouldn’t be a smart approach.

    The Russian traded with Rakić for all three rounds this past October even after he lost the first five minutes because he didn’t attempt to test his opponent’s grappling and though he came out on top, he was clearly going out of his way to prove a point. Ankalaev has shown himself to be a very effective striker but in the current titleholder, you’re talking about a hall of fame level kickboxer.

    Ali Abdelaziz spoke in a recent interview with MMA Junkie about the confidence of the challenger right now in regards to his striking. As the manager of the number one contender, he said that his fighter is convinced that he will shock the world by stopping “Poatan” without using his grappling when they eventually go head-to-head.

    “Ankalaev, what he told me, he said, ‘I’m not wrestling with [Pereira]. I’m gonna show everybody. Izzy can’t even wash my boots in striking. I’m gonna knock Alex Pereira out. Get the respect I’ve deserved for a long time.’ It’s a long task to strike with [Pereira] and knock him out. But I believe Ankalaev can do it.”

  • Ex-Title Challenger Steve Erceg Booked For UFC Return, Faces Prospect On 17-Fight Winning Streak

    Ex-Title Challenger Steve Erceg Booked For UFC Return, Faces Prospect On 17-Fight Winning Streak

    Former UFC flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg will seemingly need to stall the surge of a highly touted up-and-comer if he’s to return to winning ways this year.

    While Erceg’s (12-3) year started out well with a brutal knockout win over Matt Schnell to remain undefeated in the UFC and further climb the ladder, he finished 2024 on a losing skid.

    After a narrow defeat to Alexandre Pantoja in his surprise May title shot at UFC 301, “AstroBoy” failed to rebound three months later on home soil, with Kai Kara-France instead finding a quick finish to put his name back into the championship conversation.

    With back-to-back losses on his record, Erceg will be fighting slightly further down pecking order next time out. And the man looking to extend his woes in the cage at the UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on March 1 will reportedly be Asu Almabayev (21-2).

    The news was first reported by @darteam.kazakhstan on Instagram before being corroborated by known Australian MMA insider Benny P.

    Almabayev has established himself as one to watch at 125 pounds since joining the UFC from Brave CF in 2023. The Kazakh fighter has reeled off four wins in the Octagon, most recently outpointing Matheus Nicolau to ascend to #8 in the rankings and extend his winning streak to 17.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night on March 1 are as follows:

    • Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape (flyweight main event)
    • Steve Erceg vs. Asu Almabayev (flyweight)
    • William Gomis vs. Lucas Almeida (featherweight)
    • Nasrat Haqparast vs. Esteban Ribovics (lightweight)
    • Danny Barlow vs. Sam Patterson (welterweight)
    • Cody Brundage vs. Julian Marquez (middleweight)
    • Montana De La Rosa vs. Luana Carolina (women’s flyweight)
    • Lucas Almeida vs. Danny Silva (featherweight)
  • Colby Covington: Joaquin Buckley Got Me At 30% Percent & I Still Should Have Beat Him On No Notice

    Colby Covington: Joaquin Buckley Got Me At 30% Percent & I Still Should Have Beat Him On No Notice

    Joaquin Buckley delivered a commanding performance against Colby Covington in the UFC Tampa main event last month.

    However, the fight ended on an anticlimactic note when the ringside physician halted the contest due to a gruesome cut on Covington’s face. The injury, which worsened as the fight progressed, raised concerns about potential damage to Covington’s eyelid, prompting the doctor to stop the bout in the third round.

    Reflecting on the fight in a YouTube video titled My Honest Reaction to UFC Fight Night in Tampa, Covington shared his perspective, emphasizing that he felt the fight was competitive and that he wasn’t outclassed.

    “There was a little cut that happened,” Covington said. “I rewatched the film, it was like minute two, it was like a headbutt … It wasn’t from a punch. So, you know, that’s the only thing that really limited my potential to be at 100% was the fact that I had blood draining in my eye. I couldn’t see. I’m seeing three, four different people. It’s hard to keep fighting through that, but that’s what I signed up for. I’m a gladiator. This is what I love to do.”

    Covington elaborated on his resilience during adversity.

    “In moments like that, I show my real character — to push through and rise up stronger. So it’s unfortunate that the DEI doctor stopped the fight early. I feel like the fight was just getting started, and there was a lot more that needed to be settled in there.”

    He also highlighted his short preparation time for the fight.

    “I showed up for the company on two and a half weeks’ notice,” he explained. “I wasn’t even training. Didn’t have any training partners, didn’t get a proper training camp like this guy. He was in training camp for twelve weeks. He was preparing for the best version of someone. I’m coming off the couch. This guy got me at 30%, and I still should have beat him on no notice.”

  • Aljamain Sterling Predicts The Four Most Likely New UFC Champions In 2025

    Aljamain Sterling Predicts The Four Most Likely New UFC Champions In 2025

    A lot can change across 12 months in MMA which means that at the start of 2025, it’s time to speculate about what the year has in store for fight fans. Aljamain Sterling did just that via his podcast where he went division by division to pick out names that could become UFC champions by the end of the year.

    The former UFC bantamweight champion picked out four names contenders who he believes have the potential to dethrone the current titleholders in their respective divisions. He started at flyweight where a recently reported clash for March 1 between the #1 and #6-ranked competitors will likely decide the next opponent for Alexandre Pantoja.

    “I can see Manel Kape as 125. Dude, he’s just a super fun fighter to watch. He’s very well-rounded, his ground game might be as good as his standup but he’s very well-rounded. If he can keep the fight standing long enough, he’s clean enough where I think he actually gives Pantoja a run for his money.”

    Sterling also named a challenger who has already had his title fight made official for the first PPV card of the year. Though he didn’t necessarily pick Arman Tsarukyan to beat Islam Makhachev in their lightweight title rematch, “Funkmaster” believes that he has a good chance of doing it.

    “Arman Tsarukyan I think has a very great potential for an upset in January and that’s just based on how he looked when he fought Islam the first time, how he’s looked over the years, growing, and he was only 22.”

    The final two picks on Sterling’s list came down to the two heavyweight weight classes in the sport. If there was a consensus list from the fans, you’d probably expect to see both Magomed Ankalaev and Tom Aspinall make the cut.

    Ankalaev is believed to be the toughest test for Alex Pereira and in Aspinall’s case, he might not even get the chance to fight Jon Jones before being promoted to the world champion if there title unification never takes place.

    “I could see Ankalaev becoming champ in 2025. I could see that.

    “Heavyweight I think Tom Aspinall. I don’t see Jon Jones sticking around much longer. I think he does one more fight whether it’s against Pereira or Tommy Aspinall but I think at some point, Tommy Aspinall will become the undisputed champion.”

  • Former Opponent Reveals What Arman Tsarukyan Can Take From First Makhachev Fight

    Former Opponent Reveals What Arman Tsarukyan Can Take From First Makhachev Fight

    On January 18, Arman Tsarukyan will finally get an opportunity that he has been chasing for a long time. The #1-ranked contender will not only get the chance to challenge for the lightweight title in the main event of UFC 311 but he has the possibility of avenging one of his only losses in the process.

    Tsarukyan debuted in the UFC back in April of 2019 where he stepped in on short notice to face Islam Makhachev in Russia. He didn’t get his hand raised on that occasion but in a fight of the night winning contest, he showed that he was a serious player in the 155-pound division.

    Makhachev’s success after that fight only made Tsarukyan’s debut performance against him even more impressive but now he gets the chance to run it back with the man who handed him the second defeat of his career. In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, Beneil Dariush gave his thoughts on the matchup.

    Dariush faced Tsarukyan in December of 2023 where he was caught early on by a huge right hand that ended the contest in just over a minute. He believes that if there’s anything that the challenger needs to take from his first meeting with the current champion, it’s that same hunger and aggression.

    He thinks that Tsarukyan’s best chance of winning the fight is by being on the front foot early on which is where he had success against both Makhachev and Dariush in the past.

    “It was so long ago. I think if you look at Arman’s mentality in that fight, that’s the right mentality. Take the fight to him, right. I think that’s what he should do. So I think that he could take that from that fight as like, ‘Hey, when I took the fight to him, I won’. I want to say people, was it the first round that he won according the judges? He went out there and he want hard, you know. He went after him in the first round so I think that’s something he could do.”

  • Former UFC Fighter Praises Major Breakthrough To Help Medical Condition: ‘For The First Time In 41 Years…’

    Former UFC Fighter Praises Major Breakthrough To Help Medical Condition: ‘For The First Time In 41 Years…’

    Former UFC fighter Matt Hamill has one of the most remarkable stories of anyone that has stepped inside the Octagon. Having been deaf since birth, the Ohio native found his way to the highest level of the sport via season 3 of The Ultimate Fighter where he competed as a member of team Tito Ortiz.

    He would go on to have 15 of his 20 pro fights inside the Octagon having left the promotion in 2013 before he fought for the last time in 2018. During his UFC run, Hamill faced some of the top names from his era with wins over the likes of Mark Muñoz, Keith Jardine and Tito Ortiz.

    His time in the promotion is likely most well known for the fact that he is the only man to hold a pro victory over Jon Jones after the consensus greatest of all time was disqualified due to the now legal 12-6 elbow rule back in 2009. In a piece of remarkable news that has got 2025 off to a strong start, Hamill shared a post on social media which detailed a massive change that has happened in his life.

    Via a new digital hearing aid that he has received, after being deaf for all 48 years of his life, he’s able to hear for the very first time.

    “I just got the most powerful digital hearing aids ever made. For the first time in 41 years, I can finally hear my kids’ voices, the sounds of people walking and laughing. I finally heard my mom’s voice and she cried. I’m looking forward to hearing my brother Pat’s voice too. I only hope he doesn’t have a voice like a foghorn. This is awesome although I know it will take time to adapt to all of this. Happy New Year!”

  • Merab Dvalishvili Details Plans To Retire After Going 1-2 At The Start Of Pro Career

    Merab Dvalishvili Details Plans To Retire After Going 1-2 At The Start Of Pro Career

    In the build up to his first title defense at UFC 311, bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has spoken a lot about respect and hard work. He does not believe that his challenger, the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov, has earned his spot like he and others have by continuing to push their way to the top.

    The Georgian certainly didn’t have an easy road to eventually becoming champion at UFC 306 this past September where he defeated Sean O’Malley. After losing his first two fights inside the Octagon, Dvalishvili turned his fortunes around fight-by-fight by winning ten in a row before he got the chance to fight for the title.

    However, the adversity that he faced early in his career nearly stopped him from ever pursuing his dream of competing in the UFC at the highest level of the sport. After turning pro in 2014, Dvalishvili fought three times and ended the year with an overall record of 1-2 after losing two decisions against Darren Mima and Ricky Bandejas.

    In a recent appearance on Eric Nicksick’s Verse Us podcast, the champion spoke about how the difficult start to his pro career nearly led to him throwing the towel in for good and never looking back.

    “I was booked for my next fight but I had like headaches and you know, I wasn’t happy and not motivated and I tell them maybe first time ever, cancel fight. I said no, I want some time off and I was thinking I’m gonna live normal life like normal people.”

    Dvalishvili spoke about how he had resigned himself to the idea that he would continue working in construction whilst trying to raise a family but eventually, he found the desire to compete again. He revealed that though he did resume his career, he had decided that the likes of the UFC and Bellator might be off the table for him but he could still make good money by travelling and competing elsewhere.

    After winning five fights in a row, his fight against Raufeon Stots was featured on Dana White’s Lookin’ For A Fight where he produced a spinning backfist knockout in the opening 15 seconds to earn his UFC contract.

    “I came back because I missed it and I said, ‘I don’t care if I lose’. In my head I was thinking I’m not the best because if I lost here in Ring of Combat, I was 1-2, how am I gonna win in the UFC and how am I going to make it to UFC. But, I said I missed this, I don’t care. Win or lose, I’m just gonna keep fighting.”

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Manager Names ‘The Only Guy’ Who Can Surpass His 29-0 Record

    Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Manager Names ‘The Only Guy’ Who Can Surpass His 29-0 Record

    According to the manager of Khabib Nurmagomedov, there is just one fighter capable of surpassing the former UFC lightweight champion’s unblemished record in mixed martial arts.

    Khabib is widely regarded as one of the all-time best in MMA, having never tasted defeat throughout his career. The Dagestani secured the throne with a victory over Al iaquinta before recording successful defenses over Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje.

    “The Eagle” ultimately decided to hang up his gloves owing to the passing of his father. But while many believe he exited the sport prematurely, there’s still doubt over whether anyone will even come close to his unbeaten run.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, however, his manager Ali Abdelaziz pinpointed another Nurmagomedov who could accomplish such a feat.

    “There’s no doubt in my mind Umar (Nurmagomedov) will be a champion at 135 pounds, and I believe Umar is going to be a champion for a long time,” Abdelaziz said. “I think Umar is the only guy who can really challenge Khabib’s record. He can retire undefeated, 29-0, 30-0. Of course he has a tough opponent, but I believe Umar is better everywhere.

    “Umar is one of the best fighters I’ve ever seen,” Abdelaziz continued. “He is so good everywhere, and he’s so humble and so nice. He was offered Merab in Madison Square Garden and he said yes. He was offered Merab in December and he said yes. … Obviously Merab did not want this fight, he didn’t think Umar deserves it. … Sometimes you have to defend your turf. His turf is his title. He was pushed into this fight, he did not want this fight, he didn’t think Umar deserves this fight.”

    Nurmagomedov will need to win another 11 straight fights to match Khabib’s record and 12 to surpass it, having gone 18-0 as a professional to date.

    And his ‘0’ will meet its toughest test to date later this month when he competes for Merab Dvalishvili’s bantamweight title in the co-main event of UFC 311, the promotion’s first pay-per-view of the new year.

  • Former Champion Names Top Five UFC Fights Of 2024, Leaves Out Holloway vs. Gaethje

    Former Champion Names Top Five UFC Fights Of 2024, Leaves Out Holloway vs. Gaethje

    With 2025 underway, the MMA world is already starting to look ahead to the action that we have to look forward to over the coming 12 months rather than reflecting on the past. 2024 produced some great fights and it’s always fun to look back on them and revisit some of the most exciting moments from throughout the year.

    During a recent episode of his podcast, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling did just that by listing what he thinks were the best fights of the previous year. His picks featured some key differences to the consensus picks that you’re sure to see on most peoples lists from 2024.

    For a start, the BMF title fight between Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje from UFC 300 is nowhere to be seen in the five fights that Sterling discussed. This fight has accumulated the majority of the fight of the year awards but some would argue that in order for it to rank highly in this category, it needs to be a back-and-forth affair.

    Holloway versus Gaethje was definitely the most memorable fight of the year but “Blessed” was fairly dominant before he capped the performance off with one of the all-time great UFC knockouts. Sterling applied this same logic when choosing highly competitive fights that saw both men have success.

    “The one that comes to mind is probably Du Plessis and Strickland and I think the next one after that, not in any order, I mean back and forth, you got Gamrot versus Dan Hooker and then you also have Islam Makhachev versus Dustin Poirier.”

    Sterling later pointed out a pair of split decision contests that are absolutely deserving of their recognition even if they don’t have the name value of the three previous selections. Esteban Ribovics’ war with Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306 was undoubtedly the highlight of the promotion’s debut at the Sphere and though UFC 308 was littered with stand out moments, the battle between Mateusz Rębecki and Myktybek Orolbai is the one that “Funkmaster” thinks should take the top spot.

    “So I don’t know, I think between all of those, they were all pretty good but the Orolbai one to me, because he was able to, his eye looked like it was swollen shut and they were going to stop the fight. They let him continue even though his eye was a balloon and from there, came back and looked like he was about to get Rębecki out of there… great, great fight and I think it showed a lot of heart, a lot of grit and just like the sheer will to win.”

  • Coach: Brandon Moreno ‘Matches Up The Best’ With Alexandre Pantoja

    Coach: Brandon Moreno ‘Matches Up The Best’ With Alexandre Pantoja

    Brandon Moreno has faced UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja three times, but victory has eluded him each time.

    Their most recent encounter at UFC 290 in July 2023 ended in a razor-close split decision that favored Pantoja. Moreno followed this up with a unanimous decision loss to Brandon Royval in February before taking a step back from competition.

    Despite these setbacks, coach Sayif Saud remains confident that Moreno has what it takes to dethrone Pantoja. Moreno made a triumphant return to the Octagon in November at UFC Alberta, where he defeated Amir Albazi in the main event, snapping the Iranian’s six-fight win streak in the process.

    “You look at the talent of the flyweights — they are so good, all of them,” Saud told MMA Junkie. “Manel [Kape] looked amazing, Royval too. But to me, Brandon [Moreno] is still the most complete fighter overall. If you look at Brandon’s last fight with Pantoja, I feel like if that was judged with today’s criteria emphasizing damage, we win that fight.”

    Saud acknowledges that Moreno’s history with Pantoja complicates the path to a fourth bout. Still, he believes Moreno is better prepared than ever to face the reigning champion.

    “That fight was so close, but it’s kind of gotten lost in the narrative because Brandon has lost to him before,” Saud said. “The thing is, Brandon now is even better, but Pantoja is also better. You can’t take anything away from Pantoja — he’s dominating and finishing opponents. But Brandon’s skill set matches up so well with him. I think Brandon could absolutely win that fight.”

    Saud understands that the UFC might hesitate to book a fourth fight between Moreno and Pantoja so soon, given their history. However, he believes Moreno is always just one fight away from earning another title shot.

    “We’ve got to see what happens with Brandon. He’s one fight away, I think, all the time,” Saud explained. “But the question is, who? I get why Mick Maynard and the UFC aren’t giving us the title shot right now — they’ve already fought so many times. Even though I think it’s probably the best fight out there, personally.”

    Saud speculated about potential contenders, including Kai Kara-France, but questioned whether the New Zealander could handle Pantoja’s dominant ground game.

    “Kai is amazing and will do great on the feet, but I just don’t know if he can handle Pantoja’s ground game. He’s not easy to take down, but you saw Albazi take him down and take his back. Meanwhile, Albazi couldn’t even get close to Brandon — it wasn’t even close.”

    For now, Saud is taking a wait-and-see approach. He remains optimistic that circumstances — such as an injury to another top contender — could pave the way for Moreno to step in.

    “We’ve just got to sit and wait. Maybe one of Manel or Royval gets hurt, and we step in to fight that guy. Or we fight someone else and see what happens. But I truly believe Brandon matches up best with Pantoja, and he’s capable of finally beating him.”

  • Umar Nurmagomedov: ‘Nobody Will Be Surprised’ If Merab Dvalishvili Withdraws From UFC 311

    Umar Nurmagomedov: ‘Nobody Will Be Surprised’ If Merab Dvalishvili Withdraws From UFC 311

    Should something force bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili out of UFC 311, challenger Umar Nurmagomedov would not be the least bit shocked.

    The undefeated Dagestani is set to mark the first threat to the Georgian’s reign this year after his crowning at the expense of Sean O’Malley last September.

    They’ll co-headline the opening pay-per-view event of 2025, UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Top spot on the lineup has fallen to Nurmagomedov’s teammate, lightweight champ Islam Makhachev, and his rematch with Arman Tsarukyan.

    But according to the surging bantamweight, it would come as a surprise to nobody if he ended up watching proceedings from the audience instead of competing on the night.

    During a recent interview uploaded to the UFC’s YouTube channel, Nurmagomedov assessed the likelihood of Dvalishvili withdrawing.

    “I will not be surprised and nobody will be surprised. Even right now, I saw like commentary on Twitter, they said he will pull out, but he never pulled out before. I hope he will not and the fight is going to happen,” Nurmagomedov said.

    Dvalishvili was vocal in expressing displeasure at having to face Nurmagomedov for his first defense. “The Machine” branded the Russian undeserving of the shot and pitched numerous other opponents.

    Nevertheless, the titleholder has remained confident of getting the job done and emerging from the heated rivalry with the gold still in his possession.

  • UFC Veteran Breaks Down Why Organizations Like The PFL, Global Fight League Are Destined To Fail

    UFC Veteran Breaks Down Why Organizations Like The PFL, Global Fight League Are Destined To Fail

    Over the last two decades, MMA fans have witnessed numerous promotions rise and fall, with the UFC standing as the dominant force throughout.

    Organizations such as Strikeforce, PRIDE Fighting Championships, WEC and even ambitious ventures like Affliction failed to establish a lasting presence in the combat sports landscape.

    The latest contender attempting to challenge the UFC’s dominance is the Professional Fighters League (PFL), which made waves in 2023 by acquiring Bellator MMA. This acquisition positioned the PFL as the second-largest MMA promotion. However, the transition has been rocky, with high-profile fighters — including champions Patricio “Pitbull” Freire and Patchy Mix — requesting releases due to inactivity and other frustrations.

    Former UFC fighter Matt Brown shared his skepticism about the business strategies of promotions like the PFL during an episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer. Brown argued that the “fighter-first” model, which includes significant payouts like the PFL’s $1 million prize per weight class, might not be sustainable in the long term.

    “There’s only been one truly successful fight promotion in history — the UFC. They didn’t build it by helping fighters. I think that’s where they’re all kind of messing up,” Brown said. “I say that as a former fighter — I want to see everybody get paid and do well. But the UFC built their business by lowballing fighters and still almost went out of business. Even now, people debate how they treat their fighters. So, making it a fighter-centric promotion is admirable, but I have a hard time believing it’s the way to build a lasting business.”

    Brown questioned how the PFL has managed to sustain itself so far and expressed doubts about its ability to compete at the UFC’s level.

    “To be honest, I’m not sure how they’ve existed this far. If they keep doing whatever they’re doing, maybe they’ll keep existing. They bought Bellator, and we thought maybe they’d become a clear No. 2. But they were already claiming that before, acting like they were close to the UFC, and it’s like, no — not really. It’s basically the UFC, and then there’s everybody else.”

    Reflecting on the history of successful promotions, Brown noted that growth often requires a long-term, incremental approach.

    “If you look at the big players in combat sports — boxing and the UFC — they all started small and took years to build. You can’t start at the top unless you have immense resources, like Saudi Arabia throwing billions around to fund cool fights as a luxury. That’s a completely different game.”

    The PFL’s ambitious strategy has garnered attention, but whether it can establish a sustainable model to challenge the UFC’s dominance remains uncertain.

    And the same can be said for the recently announced Global Fight League (GFL), which is set to launch in 2025 and boasts of high pay and advantages fighters under its banner will have.

  • Ali Abdelaziz Confident Islam Makhachev Could Finish Alex Pereira At Light Heavyweight

    Ali Abdelaziz Confident Islam Makhachev Could Finish Alex Pereira At Light Heavyweight

    Ali Abdelaziz boldly declared that Islam Makhachev is such a flawlessly versatile fighter that he could defeat anyone in the UFC, even someone three weight classes up like Alex Pereira.

    The reigning UFC lightweight champion stands as the promotion’s current pound-for-pound (P4P) No. 1, a status he’s earned by remaining undefeated since September 2016. With three successful title defenses under his belt, he’s on the brink of surpassing his close friend Khabib Nurmagomedov to solidify his legacy as the greatest 155-pound fighter of all time.

    Makhachev’s remarkable achievements, combined with his relentless, grappling-heavy fighting style, have more than convinced his manager, Abdelaziz, that the Dagestani is unquestionably deserves his place at the top of the P4P rankings.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Abdelaziz even confidently proclaimed that Makhachev’s skills are so exceptional that he could finish any opponent from the UFC’s lightweight to middleweight divisions — going as far as defeating light heavyweight king Pereira.

    “I don’t think any man from 155 pounds to 185 pounds can beat Islam Makhachev,” Abdelaziz said. “It doesn’t exist. I believe 155, 170, 185, I think Islam can beat anybody at any given day. This is what I believe in because what he’s shown me, the development, the improvement. I think Islam will beat Alex Pereira at 205, I do. I swear to Allah. I think Islam Makhachev will beat Alex Pereira.”

    The Dominance MMA owner further conceded that “Poatan” holds a distinct edge in strength and physicality over Makhachev. However, he firmly believes that his client’s superior grappling skills are more than enough to neutralize and ultimately overcome that threat.

    “He’s just going to take him down and finish him. Submit him,” Abdelaziz said. “It’s the style [match up]. I think Alex Pereira can knock out anyone if he touches you. I think Islam is that good. But it is a fight, and anything could happen. Skill for skill, Islam is one of the most complete fighters we’ve ever seen.”

    Makhachev is gearing up for the fourth defense of his 155-pound title, facing former opponent Arman Tsarukyan in the headline bout of UFC 311, set for Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    The champ is coming off a gritty fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in June 2024.

  • Tony Ferguson Teases Fight News Amid 8-Fight UFC Losing Skid: ‘I Aim To Show Something You’ve Never Seen…’

    Tony Ferguson Teases Fight News Amid 8-Fight UFC Losing Skid: ‘I Aim To Show Something You’ve Never Seen…’

    Former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson has entered the new year with his sights firmly set on a return to the cage.

    Retirement has been on the lips of many when discussing Ferguson in recent times. The 40-year-old has lost eight straight fights, leaving him with the unwanted record for the longest losing skid in UFC history.

    “El Cucuy” most recently fell to a quick submission defeat at the hands of fellow veteran Michael Chiesa in his sole outing of 2024, succumbing to a rear-naked choke in under four minutes at the UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi last August.

    While that result finally appeared to be the one that convinced Ferguson to ponder calling it quits, it didn’t take long for the Californian to backtrack and recommit to the continuation of his fighting career.

    And as 2025 gets underway, Ferguson is back to promising big things when he next enters the cage.

    “Completely Destroyed Myself,.. To Re-Invent It’ As an Artist I Aim To show Something You’ve Never Seen Before 🥋 Happy New Year Crew🍃 2025 in my sights- Champ 🦹‍♂️ -CSO- 🇺🇸🏆🇲🇽 # Stay Tuned & Watch The Magic Unfold 🪄💨🍃 New Missions Acknowledged 🔥 # MrDestiny 🚣‍♂️💨🍃 Fight News Coming Soon 📈”

    It remains to be seen what will come next in the career of Ferguson, and whether his upcoming fight news relates to the UFC.

    UFC CEO Dana White has been vocal in his desire to see the former interim champ retire, leading to speculation that “El Cucuy” could be forced to compete elsewhere this year.

  • Kevin Holland Lays Out Scenario Where Belal Muhammad ‘Gets Knocked The F*ck Out’

    Kevin Holland Lays Out Scenario Where Belal Muhammad ‘Gets Knocked The F*ck Out’

    Despite currently competing in a different weight class to Belal Muhammad, Kevin Holland believes he would not only stand a chance against the UFC welterweight champion but could finish him.

    Known for his versatility across multiple divisions under the UFC banner, Holland sees things going favorably in a hypothetical fight with Muhammad compared to middleweight champ Dricus Du Plessis.

    Appearing on the Overdogs Podcast, Holland shared his thoughts on how he would fare against both divisional kingpins:

    “Easier fight, I have to say honestly, probably (is) Belal,” he said. “People can say what they want to say about Du Plessis — his style is ugly, his style is this, his style is that. He is a gritty motherf**ker to fight, and it doesn’t matter what you’re doing that night, you’re going to have to deal with that grit.

    “I like grit, so I’m fine with that. Belal, I really honestly believe (if) I shut down the takedown, Belal gets knocked the f*ck out,” he added.

    Holland’s confidence stems from his striking ability and his belief that he could neutralize Muhammad’s grappling-heavy style.

    Since moving up to middleweight, Holland has had mixed results, splitting his last two fights.

    He is set to face former ONE Championship double champion Reinier de Ridder at UFC 311 on Jan. 18 at the Inuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The fight could determine Holland’s trajectory in the middleweight division and whether he can secure a path toward championship contention.

  • Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal In The Works For UFC Fight Night On Feb. 15

    Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal In The Works For UFC Fight Night On Feb. 15

    Veteran UFC featherweight contender Calvin Kattar will need to defend his spot in the rankings this year following a difficult period.

    After a battering at the hands of Max Holloway, Kattar (23-8) kept his name close to the title picture in 2022 by being on the opposite end of a destructive display against Giga Chikadze.

    But “The Boston Finisher” hasn’t had his hand raised since. He fell on the wrong side of a contentious split decision against Josh Emmett, lost to Arnold Allen after tearing his ACL mid-fight, and most recently failed to spoil Aljamain Sterling’s featherweight debut at UFC 300.

    With that losing skid in mind, Kattar will unsurprisingly be fighting down the pecking order in 2025. And should plans come to fruition, that’ll seemingly be against the charging Youssef Zalal (16-5-1).

    The fight was announced by Zalal during an appearance on the JAXXON Podcast.

    Zalal exited the UFC in 2022 after going 0-3-1 across a four-fight run, in which he lost to Ilia Topuria, Seungwoo Choi, and Sean Woodson. But since working his way back with three wins on the regional scene, he’s been unstoppable.

    The 28-year-old Moroccan went 3-0 under the UFC banner in 2024, submitting Billy Quarantillo, Jarno Errens, and Jack Shore to earn a shot at the rankings and the featherweight top 10.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night on Feb. 15 are as follows:

    • Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight main event)
    • Edson Barboza vs. Steve Garcia (featherweight)
    • Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal (featherweight)
    • Yuneisy Duben vs. Carli Judice (women’s flyweight)
    • Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov (lightweight)
    • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (welterweight)
    • Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews (featherweight)
    • Billy Ray Goff vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (welterweight)
    • Dylan Budka vs. Edmen Shahbazyan (middleweight)
    • Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith (bantamweight)
    • Jesus Aguilar vs. Rafael Estevam (lightweight)
    • Don’Tale Mayes vs. Valter Walker (heavyweight)
    • Kaue Fernandes vs. Jared Gordon (lightweight)
  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Sees Only 1 Big Fight For Alexandre Pantoja: ‘If I’m A Promoter Like Dana…’

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Sees Only 1 Big Fight For Alexandre Pantoja: ‘If I’m A Promoter Like Dana…’

    In Khabib Nurmagomedov’s view, there’s only one compelling matchup left for UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja: a fight against former dual-champion Henry Cejudo.

    Pantoja has solidified his dominance in the 125-pound division with three successful title defenses against Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, and most recently Kai Asakura at UFC 310. With victories over most of the UFC’s top 15 flyweights, Pantoja now faces a lack of fresh challenges in the division.

    “There is no other option for Pantoja. There is no fight,” Khabib said during an interview on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. “I think if they want some big fight for this weight class, they have to make this: Cejudo vs. Pantoja.”

    Cejudo, who vacated the flyweight and bantamweight titles and retired in May 2020, has teased a return to the 125-pound division after back-to-back losses at bantamweight to Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili. Khabib directly asked “Triple C” if he could make the 125-pound weight limit again.

    “Yeah, I can make it. It’s just a lot of discipline,” Cejudo responded. “I’ve got to maybe fast for like a week, lose a good 10 pounds, and then from there just be on a strict diet. Only water. I think I’d lose about 15 pounds.”

    “The Eagle” expressed confidence in the potential of the matchup, emphasizing its importance for the division and Pantoja’s legacy.

    “We have to recognize real things. If I’m a promoter like Dana [White], I try to make Pantoja fight with you because there is nobody else. Cejudo vs. Pantoja is going to be a big name. Bring somebody old with a big name, make them fight.”

    Cejudo agreed, noting that even a loss to him could elevate Pantoja’s profile.

    “Even if he was to beat me, it elevates him because he beat a legend.”

    Khabib laid out a roadmap for Cejudo to return and reclaim the flyweight title, stressing the discipline required to achieve greatness.

    “You fight February, March, take off, and jump [into] April training camp. Fight June or July, International Fight Week at 125 [pounds] for the title. Can you imagine you come back and win 125 [title]? You can. I’m going to talk with Dana, too.”

    If the UFC can make this fight happen, it would bring significant intrigue to the flyweight division, pairing a reigning champion in his prime against a returning legend looking to reclaim his former glory.

  • Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer Targeted For UFC Mexico On March 29

    Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer Targeted For UFC Mexico On March 29

    The UFC is set to return to Mexico in the first quarter of this year, and the promotion appears to be bringing a former title challenger with it in the form of Kelvin Gastelum.

    It’s been a difficult few years for Gastelum (19-9, 1 NC). After going 2-5 across a seven-fight run that started with his memorable interim championship clash with Israel Adesanya, the 33-year-old most recently experienced a failed return to welterweight.

    After being submitted by Sean Brady in late 2023, Gastelum did have his hand raised over Daniel Rodriguez. But owing to a weight miss in Saudi Arabia that left UFC CEO Dana White less than happy, his stock didn’t rise in victory.

    Unsurprisingly, the Californian looks to have once again been forced to close the book on his 170-pound plans. And he seems close to being booked for a difficult welcome back to the 185-pound class.

    Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, a clash between Gastelum and the highly touted Joe Pyfer (13-3) is in the works for the UFC Fight Night in Mexico on March 29.

    After breaking through in a big way on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022, Pyfer began Octagon life on the front foot with three straight wins.

    But after knocking out Alen Amedovski and Gerald Meerschaert and submitting Abdul Razak Alhassan, “Bodybagz” was unable to get past his toughest test to date, falling via decision to perennial contender Jack Hermansson in an Apex main event last February.

    Pyfer, however, wasn’t coming off a defeat for long. He returned to his violent ways during International Fight Week four months later by sleeping Marc-André Barriault. He’ll now look to return to a win streak at Gastelum’s expense.

    The addition of Gastelum vs. Pyfer would mark the third bout on the UFC Mexico lineup. Thus far, Edgar Cháirez and Ronaldo Rodríguez both have home country fights set, with the former facing CJ Vergara and the latter dueling Kevin Borjas.