MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Colby Covington Responds To Jon Jones Mocking His Latest UFC Loss: ‘He’s Cheated His Whole Career’

    Colby Covington Responds To Jon Jones Mocking His Latest UFC Loss: ‘He’s Cheated His Whole Career’

    The former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington made his return to the Octagon this past weekend in Tampa where he suffered his second consecutive loss. “Chaos” was stopped in the third round after the doctor waved off his fight with Joaquin Buckley due to a cut above his right eye that he suffered early on in the fight.

    Covington has since disputed the loss despite Buckley producing an impressive performance to end 2024 going 4-0 in the welterweight division. Given his history of being extremely critical of other fighters, it’s not surprising that there were members of the UFC roster that were happy to see him suffer another defeat inside the Octagon.

    One of those fighters is the UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones who Covington has a long history with “Bones” expressed his enjoyment on social media via the following post.

    During a recent Twitch stream, Covington responded to Jones’ comments on X where he hit back at the champion by attacking him with many of the criticism that he has voiced in the past. The #9-ranked welterweight made reference to Jones’ controversial past and some of the issues that he has faced both in and out of the Octagon.

    “Yeah, of course he’s talking about me. He wishes he looked like me. He wishes he had these kinds of looks and was this beautiful and had this much respect. He has no respect. He lost all his respect when he started doing drugs and hitting pregnant ladies. There’s nothing to respect about Jon, he’s cheating his whole career. He’s cheated on his wife, he’s cheating on his taxes so he’s a terrible person. Of course he’s talking about a saint and someone who’s a law abiding citizen like myself. You know, someone that stands for law and order. Someone that stands for the military, the troops, the Trumps. So f*** Jon Jones, he’s nothing.”

    In the same clip, Covington once again spoke about the doctor’s decision to stop his fight with Buckley in the third round, claiming that it was a “cheat job” and a “fake stoppage”.

  • Jamahal Hill Downplays Alex Pereira Clash At UFC PI As Nothing But A ‘Fun Interaction’

    Jamahal Hill Downplays Alex Pereira Clash At UFC PI As Nothing But A ‘Fun Interaction’

    At UFC 300, Alex Pereira seemed to produce the definitive statement in his short-lived rivalry with Jamahal Hill after stopping the former light heavyweight champion in the first round and taunting him immediately after. “Sweet Dreams” unsurprisingly didn’t take to this too kindly and with his Octagon return taking place next month at UFC 311, Hill is going to want to run that fight back if he gets his hand raised against Jiří Procházka in California.

    It appeared that the two men nearly came to blows during a recent confrontation between them at the UFC PI in Las Vegas during fight week for UFC 310 this month. A video posted on social media showed that Hill approached “Poatan” who was getting some work in with his close team before they started trading words.

    Pereira even threw a pair of gloves at Hill at one point in the video and though nothing physical happened between them, it could have been a different story if the champion’s coach, Plinio Cruz, wasn’t there to diffuse the situation and tell his fighter to back up. Hill, however, doesn’t believe that it was a big deal in hindsight.

    Whilst he was quite casually walking over to his former opponent, it seemed from his reaction that Pereira did not appreciate Hill’s conduct or comments in the moment. The champion made it pretty clear that if Hill wanted to, they could go a couple rounds right then and there.

    He spoke in a recent interview with James Lynch for Bodog Canada where he tried to tell his version of events. Hill said that there was a bit of a breakdown in terms of the communication of what was being said back and forth after Cruz stopped relaying the messages back and forth. Despite this, Hill looks back at the exchange as a positive without it being anything too significant.

    ”After he [Pereira] said that last part he [translator] kind of stopped translating to me, he kind of stopped translating what he was saying to me. The situation ain’t even that serious bro, it’s a fun interaction, I mean seeing that competitive fire is there, he’s down to go, I’m ready to step up and fight him…as ready to go, to step up and fight.”

  • Daniel Cormier Picks ‘Most Marketable’ UFC Welterweight Champ — Snubs Muhammad, Rakhmonov, Edwards, Garry

    Daniel Cormier Picks ‘Most Marketable’ UFC Welterweight Champ — Snubs Muhammad, Rakhmonov, Edwards, Garry

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier has given a somewhat surprising answer when pondering who would be the “most marketable” titleholder for the promotion at 170 pounds.

    The welterweight division has finished the year as one of the most talked about weight classes, largely thanks to standout contenders Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry co-headlining UFC 310 in arguably the most highly anticipated fight on the final pay-per-view card of 2024.

    The Kazakh star emerged victorious from that, keeping his ‘0’ intact and maintaining his status as top contender, which he was made to defend after an injury forced champion Belal Muhammad out.

    With that, Muhammad vs. Rakhmonov is still expected to mark the next title fight at 170 pounds. But regardless of who wins, Cormier doesn’t think the UFC will be left with the best option for peak marketability.

    During a recent episode of his Good Guy/Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier explained why the rising Jack Della Maddalena might just be the UFC’s top choice when it comes to a future welterweight champ.

    “I think Jack Della Maddalena is one fight away from becoming a guy fighting for the belt,” Cormier said. “If that fight is against Kamaru Usman, he will be rushed into that title fight. Let me tell you something about the UFC: Vince McMahon famously said, ‘I don’t like the UFC because I cannot control the outcome.’ What the UFC will do, they do know how to follow a game plan and they do know star-building.

    “So when you get a guy like Jack Della Maddalena who has an entire country behind him, that everybody is excited about, they will find a way to get him into the position if he earns it,” Cormier continued. “So, if he beats a Kamaru Usman, there will be no other obstacle because, if I am being honest with you, right now at 170 (pounds), the most marketable guy as a champion right now is Jack Della Maddalena because of where he’s from, because of the entire country behind him, and because of the way they are excited about him.”

    Della Maddalena is currently being brought up in the discussion for Comeback of the Year for 2024, having prevented a certain defeat on the scorecards by knocking Gilbert Burns out with just over a minute left in their fight at UFC 299 this past March.

    The Australian hasn’t competed since, and after missing out on a home fight in Perth this year, it appears that the striking specialist may also be absent from the Sydney-held UFC 312 lineup next February following a recent report from Alex Behunin.

  • Muhammad Mokaev Fires Back After Being Branded ‘Boring’ By Kai Kara-France: ‘Kape Owns You!’

    Muhammad Mokaev Fires Back After Being Branded ‘Boring’ By Kai Kara-France: ‘Kape Owns You!’

    Former UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev has looked to give Kai Kara-France a lesson in mathematics.

    Mokaev and Kara-France once looked on a collision course as they plied their trade under the same banner. But that changed this year when the UFC opted not to renew the former’s contract following his controversial fight week in Manchester and subsequent decision win over Manel Kape at UFC 304.

    With that, “The Punisher’s” plans to challenge Alexandre Pantoja were squashed, and he’s been made to work his way back to the Octagon elsewhere. That journey began on the front foot this month when Mokaev landed a quick submission at Brave CF 91.

    Kara-France, meanwhile, is widely expected to be the man opposite Pantoja in 2025 following his emphatic knockout of recent title challenger Steve Erceg in Perth this past August.

    And while staking his claim for a shot and rematch opposite “The Cannibal” during an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, the New Zealander sought to explain why he’s in this position instead of Mokaev.

    “[Mokaev] is boring, bro. This is fighting. It’s not wrestling. It’s not hugging. Don’t pull someone’s pants down in the middle of a fight,” Kara-France said. “No one pays all this money to see someone just dry hump someone on the ground.”

    Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take the always vocal Mokaev long to hit back.

    In a post on X, “The Punisher” poked holes in Kara-France’s assessment by noting his higher finishing rate on MMA’s biggest stage. He also remarked on the City Kickboxing fighter’s feud with Kape, which almost boiled over at a press conference in Australia last year.

    “More finishes than you in the UFC, bro,” Mokaev wrote. “Only been in the UFC 2 years, had 7 fights and 4 finishes with 2 heavy injuries. You have been in the UFC 8 years now, do the maths. Kape owns you btw.”

    For now, the pair’s animosity can’t be settled inside the Octagon.

    But should Kara-France unseat Pantoja next year and Mokaev find himself back under the UFC banner courtesy of a few more standout performances with Brave CF, perhaps the matchup will be back on the table soon enough.

  • Colby Covington Motivated To ‘Prove People Wrong’ After ‘Cheat Job’ vs. Joaquin Buckley

    Colby Covington Motivated To ‘Prove People Wrong’ After ‘Cheat Job’ vs. Joaquin Buckley

    Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington insists he is far from finished.

    Covington’s hopes of a fourth crack at securing the undisputed crown at 170 pounds suffered a big blow this past weekend in Tampa, where he headlined the year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena opposite Joaquin Buckley.

    The charging “New Mansa” entered the contest riding momentum from three straight wins earlier in the year, and he remained unbeaten at welterweight at Covington’s expense on Dec. 14.

    After dominating through two rounds, Buckley had his hand raised in the third frame when a cut above Covington’s right eye was deemed too severe for him to continue. “Chaos” unsurprisingly used the doctor’s stoppage as a means to peddle his usual excuses post-fight.

    And that continued during a recent Twitch stream, during which the 36-year-old dismissed any suggestions that he is done in the sport and expressed excitement at the possibility of proving his detractors wrong in 2025.

    “I’m motivated, man. I want to prove people wrong,” Covington said. “Dude, that was a bullsh*t stoppage, let’s be honest. I was still in the fight. I was getting takedowns. He was getting slower. None of his punches did any significant damage. … I feel like there was an eye poke or something…an inadvertent one. I couldn’t see, I was out of one eye.

    “I’m a warrior. That’s what I signed up for. I love this sh*t. Let me go out on my shield though,” Covington continued. “It was a bullsh*t stoppage. Fake stoppage. Another f*cking cheat job.”

    With the result last Saturday, “Chaos” is now 2-4 across his last six fights and 0-4 against those currently ranked inside the welterweight top 15.

  • Alex Pereira Reveals Magomed Ankalaev Isn’t Getting Next Title Shot, Ankalaev Cries ‘Chicken’

    Alex Pereira Reveals Magomed Ankalaev Isn’t Getting Next Title Shot, Ankalaev Cries ‘Chicken’

    While it’s not clear who he’ll be fighting first in 2025, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira says it won’t be the man many see as his biggest threat in the division.

    “Poatan,” a former titleholder at 185 pounds, enjoyed a standout year in the Octagon. After being crowned a two-division king last November, the Brazilian successfully defended the 205-pound gold three times in 2024.

    Knockout wins over Jamahal Hill, Jiří Procházka, and Khalil Rountree have left Pereira as a leading candidate for Fighter of the Year. But there remains one point of discussion used by his limited group of detractors.

    Even prior to his win over Aleksandar Rakić in October, Ankalaev was seen by many as the most deserving of a title shot. With that not coming to fruition, some concluded that the promotion has been looking to ‘protect’ Pereira from the well-rounded game of the Russian.

    And that fire has now had considerable fuel thrown on it.

    Despite Ankalaev’s unbeaten run and place on the light heavyweight ladder, Pereira has seemingly heard from the promotion that he won’t be stood opposite the Brazilian next time out.

    “It won’t be Ankalaev!” the light heavyweight titleholder wrote on X.

    It didn’t take long for a frustrated Ankalaev to appear in the comments section, once again accusing Pereira of deliberately avoiding him by branding the champ a “chicken.”

    “Chicken”

    With a clash with Ankalaev seemingly out of the running, it remains to be seen what will come next for Pereira.

    Given that the Russian sits as the clear top contender at 205 pounds, “Poatan’s” recent post could suggest a much-discussed heavyweight venture in pursuit of historic three-weight glory.

  • Dustin Poirier Makes His Pick For 2024 Knockout Of The Year: ‘Never Really Seen Him Rocked’

    Dustin Poirier Makes His Pick For 2024 Knockout Of The Year: ‘Never Really Seen Him Rocked’

    UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier has revealed his choice for Knockout of the Year — and it’s not Max Holloway’s finish of Justin Gaethje.

    With mixed martial arts’ leading promotion concluding its schedule for 2024, focus has turned to a number of categories for the annual year-end awards. And perhaps the most discussed is who delivered the top KO across the past 12 months.

    Leading the way for most appears to be the top moment from this past April’s milestone UFC 300 pay-per-view, which saw Holloway sleep Gaethje with just one second remaining to capture the symbolic BMF crown.

    But while many are selecting that as their pick for 2024, Poirier actually has Holloway on the wrong end of his choice…

    During a recent appearance on ESPN MMA‘s Good Guy/Bad Guy show with Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen, Poirier pointed to featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria’s brutal finish of “Blessed” at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

    Explaining his choice, the Louisianan noted Holloway’s status as a fighter yet to be dropped or even hurt significantly on the feet in MMA before October’s numbered event at Etihad Arena.

    “Just how elusive (Holloway) is there but also the guys he fought, he’s never been put down,” Poirier said. “Taking big shots and always answering the bell, always getting back up, always showing up to the next round. Never really seen him rocked or stumble that much. And to get put down for the first time after 30-plus UFC fights is, to me, Knockout of the Year.”

    The result marks one of two candidates for KO of the Year that Topuria delivered in 2024. Eight months prior, the Spaniard rendered Alexander Volkanovski unconscious in the second round of their title fight in Anaheim.

    Having defended the belt at Holloway’s expense to close out his year, “El Matador” will no doubt look to display more violence in 2025, perhaps with a different UFC championship on the light given his recent lightweight tease.

  • Beneil Dariush Admits UFC 311 Fight Will Decide Potential Retirement: ‘It Might Be Time…’

    Beneil Dariush Admits UFC 311 Fight Will Decide Potential Retirement: ‘It Might Be Time…’

    Beneil Dariush acknowledges that he is nearing the end of his MMA career, and a two-fight losing skid has added to the mental strain of contemplating his future.

    Once riding high on an eight-fight winning streak, Dariush faced a setback when he was TKO’d by Charles Oliveira at UFC 289. This was followed by a KO loss to Arman Tsarukyan in December 2023.

    Now, the veteran 155lber prepares to face Renato Moicano at UFC 311 on Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. After 11 years in the UFC, he understands the significance of this crossroads fight in his career.

    “I don’t know exactly when I’m going to retire,” Dariush shared on MMA Junkie Radio. “It’s one of those things where I’m not going to be able to pinpoint, ‘Hey, I’m 36. I’m done. I’m 37. I’m done.’ It’s really two things: Do I have the desire? Then the second part, which is just as important: Do I have the ability?

    “Currently, I feel like I have the desire, and I still feel like I have the ability. I don’t feel like I’m lacking, and I do believe I’ve gotten way better over the year. It’s been a really good year for improvement and growth,” Dariush continued. “All that’s left is being able to prove it — getting into that octagon and demonstrating what I’ve been working on. If I can do that, I’ll continue to fight. If I can’t, then there’s obviously something missing, and you only get so many chances to fix it. At that point, it might be time to consider walking away from this.”

    Dariush will appear on the undercard of next year’s first pay-per-view, which will be headlined by a pair of title fights.

    Before lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev runs it back with Arman Tsarukyan in the main event, Merab Dvalishvili will put his newly won bantamweight gold on the line opposite the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.

  • Islam Makhachev Vows To ‘Make Everyone Shut Up’ In Arman Tsarukyan Fight Like ‘With Volkanovski’

    Islam Makhachev Vows To ‘Make Everyone Shut Up’ In Arman Tsarukyan Fight Like ‘With Volkanovski’

    At UFC 311 in Los Angeles next month, Islam Makhachev — the number one pound-for-pound fighter — will defend his lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan. This highly anticipated bout is a rematch five years in the making, as the two previously faced off in April 2019 in a Fight of the Night clash.

    Makhachev is not just looking to retain his belt; he’s aiming to make a definitive statement by finishing Tsarukyan.

    “With Volkanovski, I told everyone I had to end all doubts and get the finish. That’s why in the second fight, I’m going to be looking for the finish to make everyone shut up,” Makhachev said to ESPN MMA, reflecting on his mindset.

    Some fans believe Tsarukyan could have beaten Makhachev in 2019 if he’d had a full training camp. Now, the Russian-Armenian has the chance to prove them right — or wrong. For the champ, however, familiarity with his opponent gives him confidence.

    “Honestly, I like to fight a second time,” Makhachev said. “I don’t like rematches, but when I fight the same opponent again, I know everything they can do, so there won’t be any surprises. Sometimes, like when Dustin [Poirier] defended my wrestling or submission skills, it surprised me a little. But when I know what my opponent will do, I have more options.”

  • Jan Błachowicz Expects ‘Nothing’ But A Title Shot With UFC London Win Over Carlos Ulberg

    Jan Błachowicz Expects ‘Nothing’ But A Title Shot With UFC London Win Over Carlos Ulberg

    After a year and a half away from the Octagon, Jan Błachowicz is gearing up for his return to the UFC. He is scheduled to face rising contender Carlos Ulberg on March 22, 2025, at UFC London.

    Błachowicz was initially slated for a rematch with Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 297 last January but a shoulder injury required surgery, sidelining him from competition. Across his last four outings, the Polish fighter holds a 1-2-1 record, with his most recent victory coming in May 2022 after an injury to Rakić. Since then, he fought to a split draw for the light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 282 and lost a split decision to Alex Pereira at UFC 291.

    Speaking on Home of Fight, Błachowicz revealed his intentions to make a strong case for a title shot after his fight with Ulberg.

    “He’s a standup fighter. I’m a standup fighter,” Błachowicz said about Ulberg. “But you know, if I have to use my wrestling, I’ll do it. It’s MMA, but I like fighting standup, so people can expect to see a lot of punches.

    “He’s a very good fighter — great left hand, solid footwork. I’m excited. Seven wins in a row, that’s amazing. It’s time to stop him. … I think if I win this fight in a good way, I will start talking only about the title shot — nothing else.”

  • Curtis Blaydes Explains Why He Envisions Former Opponent Tom Aspinall Stopping Jon Jones Early

    Curtis Blaydes Explains Why He Envisions Former Opponent Tom Aspinall Stopping Jon Jones Early

    Arguably the most anticipated fight in MMA right now is a potential UFC heavyweight title unification clash between Jon Jones and the interim titleholder, Tom Aspinall. It has been one of the main talking points that has dominated conversation throughout 2024 but after Jones’ recent win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, it still remains unclear whether it will happen or not.

    Jones has come under some criticism for the way that he has spoken about the fight and played down the significance of fighting a guy like Aspinall who he sees as just another name. A lot of fight fans however believe that the Brit is the toughest fight out there for the consensus greatest of all time right now and as the interim champion, he deserves this opportunity to challenge “Bones” before he hangs up the gloves.

    Curtis Blaydes is the only man to face Aspinall twice in his career and he’s also the only person to defeat the current interim champion in the UFC. After their first meeting back in 2022 ended in just 15 seconds when Aspinall suffered a devastating knee injury, they ran it back at UFC 304 this past July where on home turf, the interim titleholder defended his belt by stopping “Razor” in the first round.

    In a recent interview with James Lynch for Sportskeeda MMA, Blaydes gave his thoughts on how a Jones and Aspinall matchup would play out if we do ever get to see it. He believes that (aside from his controversial disqualification loss against Matt Hamill) Aspinall could be the first man to defeat Jones inside the Octagon.

    Blaydes says that though the fight is still an incredibly difficult one to predict, the speed and power of Aspinall could counter the range and distance striking of the current heavyweight champion.

    “I would pick him (Aspinall). Like, I would go 55 (percent) him. Obviously, it’s not going to be a landslide. Like, we’re going to get Jon Jones. He’s a legend. He’s got all the weapons. I think one area where Tom can win is just a presence inside. Like, Jon Jones gets away with being able to stand in front of his opponent and just paw and pick at him with the inside leg kicks and the teeps and the jabs.

    “(Aspinall) definitely has the speed. He doesn’t have the range that Jon has, but who does? But I think he knows that. I think he’ll get on the inside of that range, and I think he’ll be able to land a overhand. And it’ll probably be early because he likes to blitz. He doesn’t like to wait. So yeah, I think it’ll happen early.”

  • Brendan Schaub: Only Francis Ngannou Return Would Live Up To Dana White’s Tease For 2025

    Brendan Schaub: Only Francis Ngannou Return Would Live Up To Dana White’s Tease For 2025

    Dana White teased fight fans in his final UFC press conference of 2024 by claiming that there is something in the works for 2025 that will have fans losing their minds when it gets announced. Speaking after the promotion’s Fight Night event in Tampa, the UFC boss spoke about how they always manage to exceed the previous year after going all out.

    Without giving anything away, he said that alongside the big fights that have already been announced for next year’s schedule, there’s something fresh off the press that nobody will be able to predict ahead of time.

    “I anticipate a lot of big fights, I’ve got something in the works right now that’ll drive you [media] crazy. All you guys will be running around. I got something in the works that you will never f**ing see coming for 2025. It literally started to come together last night. Yeah, we got some fun stuff coming up.”

    In a response to White’s comments, former UFC fighter Brendan Schaub attempted to speculate what this mind-blowing fight announcement could possibly be. The return of the former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov would elicit that kind of reaction in Schaub’s opinion but he also knows that “The Eagle” has made it very clear that he will not go back on his decision to retire.

    One potential major shift in the MMA landscape that Schaub did pinpoint is the current status of Francis Ngannou. “The Predator” recently made his return to the cage in his PFL debut at Battle of the Giants where he stopped Renan Ferreira in the first round.

    After tearing right through his Brazilian foe, there were two big questions on everyone’s mind, who is out there for Ngannou to face next and is he still the best heavyweight on the planet considering that he never lost the UFC title having vacated it when he departed the promotion? Schaub believes that Ngannou stepping back inside the Octagon to mix it up with the likes of the division’s two titleholders, Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, would come out of left field and set the bar extremely high for 2025.

    “With the internet today, and like the rumors and fake news, it’s damn near impossible to blow somebody. No matter what he [White] says, when I heard them like, ‘What could it be?’ The only thing that would blow me, like blow me hard, like b*st hard, would be if it’s Francis. He has one fight left on PFL contract. He’s going to finish that out fighting who, God knows what poor soul they’re going to find to get knocked out by him.

    “And then, he’ll be a free agent. If they’re like, ‘We got Francis back in the mix. Francis is going to fight the winner, guaranteed winner, of Aspinall-Jones.’ That would blow me. But that’s where I’m at. That’s very difficult to get done. Outside that, what else could it be?”

  • Cory Sandhagen Hopes To See Dvalishvili ‘Get Served Up’ At UFC 311: ‘Merab’s Been Talking A Lot’

    Cory Sandhagen Hopes To See Dvalishvili ‘Get Served Up’ At UFC 311: ‘Merab’s Been Talking A Lot’

    UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen will be backing his most recent opponent when champion Merab Dvalishvili’s first title defense rolls around next month.

    Dvalishvili will put his 135-pound gold on the line four months on from his crowning, which came at the expense of Sean O’Malley inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere this past September.

    After much discourse regarding his next opponent, and in spite of his preference not to face the challenge of Umar Nurmagomedov, the Georgian will share the cage with the undefeated Dagestani at UFC 311 in Los Angeles on Jan. 18.

    If he’s to maintain his grip on the bantamweight belt and add a successful retention to his reign, “The Machine” must become the first to defeat Nurmagomedov — a feat that the highly regarded Sandhagen most recently failed to accomplish.

    During a recent interview with MiddleEasy, Sandhagen assessed Dvalishvili’s chances of having his hand raised inside the Intuit Dome early next year.

    “The Sandman” was honest in stating that he simply doesn’t see a single path to victory for the current champ. And beyond just his prediction, Sandhagen is actually hoping to see Dvalishvili beaten given how the Georgian’s been talking in recent weeks and months.

    “I think that Umar will win. I just can’t see a path for Merab to win,” Sandhagen said. “I don’t think that he’s going to be able to strike with him, but I also don’t think he’ll be able to take him down and control him like he was able to do against O’Malley and against other guys. I don’t see a path to success for Merab.

    “I think Umar is going to defend those shots, keep it in the striking realm, and just kind of — Umar’s a sniper, man. People don’t realize just how fast that guy is and how his kicks come out of nowhere,” Sandhagen continued. “Fighting a guy like Merab will be a good opportunity for him to show off a little, and just because Merab’s been talking a lot of sh*t, I kinda want to watch Merab get served up a little bit.”

    After repeatedly dismissing Nurmagomedov’s title shot worthiness, Dvalishvili has cut a frustrated figure since the matchup was officially announced. He notably laid into the Dagestani during the on-sale press conference in Las Vegas earlier this month, later threatening to “slap” the challenger.

    The time for talking will soon be over, with the pair set to co-headline the very first numbered event of 2025.

  • Chael Sonnen Supports Sean Strickland’s UFC Title Shot: ‘Hasn’t Been Given A Damn Thing Since He Got Here!’ 

    Former fighter Chael Sonnen has no qualms about Sean Strickland getting the next opportunity at the UFC middleweight title.

    The promotion confirmed earlier this month that Strickland will indeed get his shot at redemption opposite reigning 185-pound kingpin Dricus Du Plessis 13 months on from their showdown in Canada this past January.

    The pair are tasked with headlining the UFC 312 pay-per-view in Sydney, Australia next February, with the South African returning to the nation in which he recorded a successful first defense of the gold against Israel Adesanya this past August.

    Confirmation of Strickland’s shot has split opinion. Many expected the chance to go to Khamzat Chimaev after his emphatic submission win over Robert Whittaker, with even the champ himself branding “Borz” his preference.

    Sonnen, though, doesn’t think there can be any complaints about the fight going to “Tarzan.”

    During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen dismissed any and all claims that Strickland is being handed the chance to return to the throne after his short four-month reign before running into Du Plessis.

    And in contrast to many in the MMA community, Sonnen seemingly saw “Tarzan’s” five-round performance opposite Paulo Costa earlier this year as worthy of a shot at the gold that he entered 2024 holding.

    “Daniel Cormier asked me what I thought about Sean Strickland being next for Dricus Du Plessis,” Sonnen said. “Excuse me? What do I think about that? That’s a great question to ask me six months ago when Sean Strickland took out Paulo Costa five straight rounds and became the number one contender.

    “Do I believe Chimaev should be next? Yes, with the information I have now. But I’m going to get new information that I would like to be able to process the night that Strickland and Du Plessis fight. And not for nothing, if Strickland beats him, we’ve got to go into the trilogy match,” Sonnen continued. “The idea that Sean should somehow be happy, ‘Thank you to the Twittersphere for doing this, thank you to Dana White and Hunter Campbell.’ F you, times three. He took it. Strickland hasn’t been given a damn thing since he got here, and the only things he has are the things that he took.”

    Strickland had made it clear in the aftermath of his lackluster win over “Borrachinha” that he would entertain nothing but a second dance with Du Plessis next time out.

    While the likes of Whittaker and plenty of fans were surprised to see that stance rewarded by the promotion, “Tarzan” will be heading back Down Under, where he shocked the world in September 2023 by dethroning Israel Adesanya.

  • UFC Veteran Says It’s ‘Clear’ Colby Covington Isn’t Elite: ‘Lived Off His Shtick More So Than His Performances’

    UFC Veteran Says It’s ‘Clear’ Colby Covington Isn’t Elite: ‘Lived Off His Shtick More So Than His Performances’

    One former fighter thinks Colby Covington’s time as an elite UFC welterweight might have been up even before this past weekend’s result.

    Covington had his pursuit of a fourth shot at the undisputed 170-pound crown stalled emphatically by Joaquin Buckley in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event at Tampa’s Amalie Arena.

    After a dominant opening two rounds for the rising “New Mansa,” a cut sustained early on by “Chaos” proved too severe for him to continue, with the cageside doctor advising referee Dan Miragliotta to wave off the fight in the third frame.

    The result has left Covington 2-4 across his last six, 0-4 opposite currently ranked welterweights, and down at #9 in the pecking order.

    Given his struggles, many have suggested the 36-year-old has declined and is no longer able to compete with the best the division has to offer.

    During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, UFC veteran Matt Brown questioned whether that might have already been the case prior to the year-ending event in Florida.

    “It’s hard to argue he’s really been elite for a while,” Brown said. “He hasn’t done anything elite for a long time. I’m not even sure if the door was already closed. I thought this was kind of his chance to show that he is still an elite welterweight, and he didn’t pass the test. I think that door might have already been closed is the only caveat to that. We’ll see.

    “I guess the question is whether he retires. It’s not even whether he’s an elite welterweight anymore. I think that answer’s pretty clear,” Brown continued. “Is he going to stick around? Is he going to keep fighting? Because he’s kind of lived off of his shtick more so than his performances, right?”

    Covington was quick to reject any talk of retirement post-fight. On the contrary, he claimed this is “just the beginning.”

    With that, it would appear that “Chaos” will be making the walk again in 2025. But after a defeat to a rising name like Buckley, his chances of returning to championship fights have no doubt slimmed significantly.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov: Merab Dvalishvili ‘Cannot Deal’ With Life As A UFC Champion

    Khabib Nurmagomedov: Merab Dvalishvili ‘Cannot Deal’ With Life As A UFC Champion

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is planning to guide a prominent member of his team to title glory at the expense of a riled-up Merab Dvalishvili next month.

    Dvalishvili has his first defense of the bantamweight title in the calendar, coming four months on from his crowning against Sean O’Malley at the Sphere this past September.

    To cement his grip on the crown, the Georgian is tasked with pushing away a challenge from undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov, cousin of the legendary Khabib.

    “The Machine” had been vocal in attempting to dismiss Nurmagomedov’s title claims, branding the Dagestani unworthy of the opportunity despite his five-round triumph over Cory Sandhagen last time out.

    But with the UFC higher-ups seeing things differently, Dvalishvili will indeed put the gold on the line against the highly regarded 28-year-old at UFC 311 on Jan. 18. In the lead-up, the champ still isn’t keeping quiet about his frustration, and that threatened to boil over at the recent on-sale press conference in Las Vegas.

    During an interview posted by Red Corner MMA on Instagram, Khabib assessed Dvalishvili’s ongoing fury about his cousin being granted a first championship opportunity, questioning whether the Georgian is cut out to occupy a throne on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “I think when (Dvalishvili was) beginning his career, he was acting good. When he became champion, he cannot deal with this,” Khabib said. “Because life changing. Before champion and after champion, there is two (lives). You have to deal with this.

    “About Umar (getting a) gift — I think Umar deserves (it). I don’t know why Merab (is) nervous,” Khabib continued. “Umar’s here not because he is my cousin. He’s here because he’s 18-0 and 6-0 in the UFC. Umar wants to create his legacy. January 18, he will show why Merab (is) nervous.”

    Should Khabib and his team have their way in Los Angeles, Dvalishvili will return to life as a contender soon enough.

    But “The Machine” is hell bent on proving his view of Nurmagomedov correct come fight night early next year by emphatically stalling the Russian’s title ambitions in their tracks.

  • Jake Paul Reacts To Conor McGregor Revealing Talks For Logan Paul Boxing Match: ‘Now It All Makes Sense…’

    Jake Paul Reacts To Conor McGregor Revealing Talks For Logan Paul Boxing Match: ‘Now It All Makes Sense…’

    Should it come to fruition, Jake Paul has no doubt that his brother would get the better of former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor inside the boxing ring.

    At the end of a year in which he was found liable of assault on a woman who accused him of rape, McGregor’s combat sports future remains uncertain.

    The Irishman hasn’t competed in any form since breaking his leg at UFC 264 in July 2021. Post-recovery, he initially had a return announced opposite Michael Chandler toward the start of 2023. But their run as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter, as well as multiple rumored and official fight dates, passed by without their matchup reaching the cage.

    While that’s left many doubting McGregor’s comeback plans, the Dublin native has reiterated his intention of sharing the Octagon with Chandler ahead of 2025. A recent social media post, however, would suggest that’s not his immediate priority.

    On X this week, “The Notorious” claimed he’s agreed to an exhibition boxing match against Logan Paul, put together by the billionaire Ambani family for an event in India.

    Reacting to that revelation, Logan’s younger brother, fellow YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, alleged that McGregor’s team have also been attempting to negotiate a clash in the ring with him.

    “Now it all makes sense why Conor Mcgregor & his management team have been desperately trying to get MVP to negotiate for a fight between us,” Paul wrote on X.

    Paul continued, outlining what would need to happen for him to accept a showdown with the “washed” UFC star.

    “As we told them them privately & I’m now saying it publicly…the only way we’re willing to explore me vs Conor in a pro boxing / mma fight is if Dana White / UFC are at the table directly or make it clear they are ok with discussions.

    “Conor is washed. Needs the Paul’s. Logan by however he wants.”

    It remains to be seen how much truth there is to McGregor’s post. Logan, who has recently thrived as a professional wrestler with WWE, is yet to comment on the claim.

  • Islam Makhachev’s Coach Not Interested In Ilia Topuria Fight, Hopes Welterweight Title Will Be ‘Available’ Instead

    Islam Makhachev’s Coach Not Interested In Ilia Topuria Fight, Hopes Welterweight Title Will Be ‘Available’ Instead

    Islam Makhachev, the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, has the record to justify his place at the top. Next month, at UFC 311 in Los Angeles, he will put his lightweight title on the line against Arman Tsarukyan.

    Makhachev, a longtime friend and training partner of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s, is coached by Javier Mendez, who also guided Khabib throughout his career. Mendez believes history will repeat itself, predicting that the current champ will follow in “The Eagle’s” footsteps and retire early.

    “He’s going to probably do what Khabib [Nurmagomedov] did and retire at 35,” Mendez said. “Well, Khabib did it a lot earlier, but I think 35 is the magic number for these guys. They have that in their head, that 35 is the cut-off point. Some will go over, but I think Islam is already set financially. He’s done really well with his money, so I think it will probably be lights out after 35.”

    The UFC champion is currrently 33 years old. A matchup that has fans buzzing is a potential superfight between Makhachev and featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria. However, Mendez has dismissed that bout as something they are not currently considering.

    “I think it’s great that he’s motivated,” Mendez said of Topuria. “He’s a champion, for sure. He’s proven it. He’s gone up in weight. I also was told his coach said he was 187. Islam, I don’t think, has ever been that heavy. When he starts training camp about two months out, Islam is about 179, 178.

    “The guy [Topuria] is a great fighter. He’s got the best boxing hands in the business, I feel — most technical. He can do a lot of damage if he goes up in weight, but I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m not interested in that fight whatsoever at the present time. I’m interested in [Islam] defending against Arman, and then who knows — maybe the welterweight title will be available at that particular time.”

  • Aljamain Sterling Targets Two Top Names After Claiming UFC 310 Loss ‘Should Be Treated As A W’

    Aljamain Sterling Targets Two Top Names After Claiming UFC 310 Loss ‘Should Be Treated As A W’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling didn’t get the result he wanted in his latest fight, but he’s already looking ahead.

    Sterling fell to Movsar Evloev at UFC 310, marking a setback in his pursuit of two-division glory.

    His recent journey had taken a positive turn at UFC 300 in April, where he secured an impressive victory over Calvin Kattar. That win temporarily revived Sterling’s momentum after losing his bantamweight title to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 in 2023.

    Now, having dismissed brief thoughts of retirement, the former champion has his sights set on a comeback in March and is targeting either Arnold Allen or Brian Ortega as potential opponents.

    “I would like to make a March return,” Sterling told Home of Fight. “If I do get a fight for March, April at the latest, I’d like to fight Arnold Allen or Brian Ortega. I don’t think that loss to Movsar should push me down the rankings. I almost feel like it should be treated as a ‘W.’

    “It’s weird to say it like that because it might come off as funny to people to hear me say that, but honestly, that’s just how I feel. I feel that I shouldn’t have to fight down the rankings after being 1-1 and losing to a guy that people are saying is going to be the next champion, in a fight that a lot of people still think I won.”

  • Colby Covington: The Doctor Beat Me At UFC Tampa, Not Joaquin Buckley

    Colby Covington: The Doctor Beat Me At UFC Tampa, Not Joaquin Buckley

    Colby Covington does not believe that he was beaten by the better man in the main event of the final UFC event of 2024 this past weekend. The former interim welterweight champion stepped in on several weeks notice to take on Joaquin Buckley at the Amalie Arena after Ian Machado Garry was moved into the co-main event of UFC 310.

    The fight ended in the third round after the doctor waved the fight off due to a cut above the right eye of Covington. “New Mansa” appeared to open up the cut with an uppercut early on in the fight which continued to get worse as Buckley dominated the contest.

    In between rounds, the doctor had even warned Covington ahead of time that if he didn’t do a better job or protecting the eye, she would be forced to stop the fight, claiming that he would lose the eyelid if he continued past the third round. The cut was significant but we have certainly seen fights continue with worse injuries and that sentiment was echoed by both Dana White and “Chaos” himself.

    Covington spoke in a behind the scenes video posted on his YouTube channel about the outcome of the fight and how badly he was impacted by the cut. Despite this, he still believes that it shouldn’t have been stopped and that in his opinion, the fight was starting to turn in his favor. At the time of the stoppage, all three judges had Buckley winning both of the first two rounds.

    “We came in close contact, and I felt like there was a headbutt, and as soon as it cut in the first round, I couldn’t see,” Covington said. “I had blurred vision, I was seeing three different people, I was like, ‘F**k, which one do I punch?’ I didn’t know what to do. I was kind of confused, but I knew I had to keep fighting. I had to give the UFC and the fans a show. That’s what they pay their hard-earned money to come for and I’m a warrior. We’re gladiators. I’m not going to stop.

    “I’ve had way worse in fights than a little cut over my eye, so it’s unfortunate that the doctor stopped the fight like that because if we’re in Vegas, I know the fight gets to keep going. I feel like I was really just starting to gain momentum. Like I was starting to wear him out, I could see him breathing out of his mouth. There wasn’t as much volume at that point, so I feel like it was going to be my fight in the championship rounds, so it was an unfortunate stop and I feel like the doctor is the one that beat me tonight. I didn’t feel like I lost to another opponent.”

  • Top-10 UFC Lightweight Down To Fight Paddy Pimblett In London: ‘Sounds Great’

    Top-10 UFC Lightweight Down To Fight Paddy Pimblett In London: ‘Sounds Great’

    The UFC is set to return to London, England on March 22 where it’s expected that Paddy Pimblett will make his seventh appearance inside the Octagon. “The Baddy” has gone 6-0 in the promotion with his last win, a first round submission finish over King Green at UFC 304, seeing him earn the #13-spot in the rankings.

    Though the former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards has recently claimed that he will be one half of the main event at the O2 Arena, Pimblett has become a staple of the UK cards and he always draws lots of attention to them. Given that his next fight will be a big matchup at 155-pounds, if he’s going to get a spot in London, it should make for a pretty significant Fight Night event with multiple high stakes clashes.

    Both Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano could have been potential opponents for the scouse contender but with them being booked against each other for UFC 311 in January, there aren’t too many names that make sense for Pimblett right now. Ranked one spot above Dariush at #8 is a potential opponent that has put his hand up to be the away fighter in London.

    Poland’s Mateusz Gamrot is looking to bounce back from his loss to Dan Hooker at UFC 305 this past August which snapped his three-fight win streak against top names in Jalin Turner, Rafael Fiziev and Rafael dos Anjos. Having recently claimed that a report which matched him and Fiziev for a rematch was false, Gamrot followed that up with a post on X that called for a fight with “The Baddy”.

    Given Gamrot’s list of wins and opponents since he joined the UFC back in 2020, this would definitely be the biggest test of Pimblett’s career to date and an opportunity for him to make some serious headway into the lightweight top 10.

  • Ilia Topuria On Conor McGregor Dismissing Fight Rumors: ‘I Don’t Fight Nor Am I Interested In Fighting With A Rapist’

    Ilia Topuria On Conor McGregor Dismissing Fight Rumors: ‘I Don’t Fight Nor Am I Interested In Fighting With A Rapist’

    In a recent social media post, Conor McGregor outlined plans for the future of his career in combat sports. “The Notorious” claims that he is in “preliminary agreements” for a return to the boxing ring against Logan Paul in India. Once that is settled, he will turn his attention back towards making a long awaited return to the UFC.

    McGregor also stated in the post that there is no truth to any rumors of him coming back to face off with the promotion’s current featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria.

    “El Matador” is a huge star, but while the fight might make sense in terms of how big it would be following the comments exchanged by the two men, it doesn’t appear to be a realistic option for either right now.

    Following the clarification from the often cryptic McGregor on X, Topuria has provided his own response to “The Notorious.”

    Posting several hours later on his own X account, the 145-pound king posted a scathing message aimed at the Dublin native, which suggests that even if the fight was on the table, he wouldn’t be interested in it.

    Topuria’s post makes reference to the recent verdict of McGregor’s civil case, where he was found liable of assault after being accused of raping Nikita Hand.

    “The rumors of bout with mchicken are false. I don’t fight nor am I interested in fighting with a rapist,” Topuria wrote.

    https://twitter.com/Topuriailia/status/1869010107994194407

    Topuria has recently declared that he intends on moving up to lightweight in the near future but doesn’t plan on vacating the featherweight title in order to do so.

    McGregor, meanwhile, recently posted the following statement on X after being threatened with contempt of court over the comments he shared on social media relating to the verdict of the case.

    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1868939287657619621

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Advises Former Opponents Dustin Poirier & Justin Gaethje To Retire

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov retired on top, leaving the sport after a dominant submission victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.

    Despite UFC CEO Dana White’s efforts to lure him back, Khabib remains firm in his decision to stay retired. However, he remains active in the sport as a trainer and continues to keep a close eye on the MMA landscape.

    The Dagestani has witnessed the decline of several notable fighters, including Dustin Poirier, Gaethje, and Tony Ferguson, and he has urged them to step away from competition.

    “I think Poirier has to stop fighting. I think he’s finished,” Khabib said during an interview on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. “Justin Gaethje, Khabib, Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson — this is old school, brother. Stop fighting. We have to recognize relevance.”

    Khabib’s protégé, Islam Makhachev, recently defeated Poirier to retain the lightweight title. That loss marked the Louisianan’s third failed title bid, and he has since announced that he will retire after his next fight.

    Meanwhile, Gaethje is coming off a brutal knockout loss at UFC 300 and has yet to schedule a return. Ferguson, on the other hand, is on an eight-fight losing streak and hasn’t won a bout since 2019.

  • Michael Chandler Lays Down Ultimatum To Conor McGregor Regarding UFC Fight In 2025

    Michael Chandler Lays Down Ultimatum To Conor McGregor Regarding UFC Fight In 2025

    Michael Chandler has spent a long time waiting for the Octagon return of Conor McGregor but it appears that now, he has drawn a line in the sand. “Iron” Mike has already had to go past the deadline that he set for “The Notorious” once before which led to him returning at UFC 309.

    When the UFC offered him the opportunity to rematch Charles Oliveira at Madison Square Garden last month, he knew that it was the right time to put the McGregor fight on hold and step back inside the Octagon. The fight didn’t go his way but that doesn’t seem to have impacted whether he will get the opportunity to face off with the Irishman if he ever does come back.

    McGregor recently claimed, after being found guilty of sexual assault in a civil case, that he’s currently working on a boxing match against Logan Paul and will turn his attention towards the UFC after that. With the former champ-champ being impossible to predict or decipher at times, Chandler is smartly making his own calls so that his career won’t be dictated by a potential opponent.

    Speaking in a recent interview with Lucky Block, he revealed that he has a new timeframe in mind for the long awaited clash with McGregor. Chandler was happy to have some time off before he came back to face Oliveira but after returning in November, he wants to get back to regular activity with or without his long awaited dance partner.

    “If Conor doesn’t come back in the first half of 2025, I will be fighting someone else,” Chandler said. “There are other fights I’m interested in. I didn’t fight for two years but that wasn’t all waiting, I wanted to take some time and give my body a break after my first five fights in the promotion which included a title fight and fight of the nights and the fight of the year.

    “My body needed a little bit of a break and I was happy to. Part of me was hanging onto this Conor thing but also kind of a little bit of gamesmanship, enjoying the time off, letting my body heal up a little bit,” Chandler continued. ” It was all supposed to come to fruition with a really great performance, getting my hand raised against Charles, becoming the number one contender, fighting for the title. Obviously that didn’t work out, but we continue to press on no matter what.”

  • Dana White Gives Short Reaction To Host Of UFC Veterans Returning For Global Fight League Launch

    Dana White Gives Short Reaction To Host Of UFC Veterans Returning For Global Fight League Launch

    The Global Fight League (GFL) recently announced a huge number of additions to its roster ahead of the promotion’s full launch in 2025. Many of the names are familiar to fight fans as a whole host of former UFC fighters, veterans and champions are available to be drafted before the GFL’s team-based season format gets underway.

    Despite this being a major announcement in the MMA landscape, the reaction from a lot of fans wasn’t overly positive because many of the top names that have come to terms with the GFL are fighters that are either in the final years of their careers or seen to be past their primes. Given his previous comments on other promotions that have looked to change the MMA landscape, it’s not surprising that UFC boss Dana White was sceptical to say the least.

    Rather than criticizing the GFL, White welcomed them to come and try their hand at mixed martial arts during his post-fight press conference in Tampa this past weekend. With a smirk on his face, he is happy to see how other promotions will attempt to compete and do things differently.

    “I actually don’t know anything about it. I saw this all the time, I welcome everybody. Listen, there’s no barrier to get into this sport. I hear a lot of people saying that we ‘don’t do this right’ or we ‘don’t do that right’. Come on in everybody, dive in.”

    Though White said that he wasn’t familiar with the promotion’s recent announcement, after having a list of some of the top signings read out to him, he gave his response to hearing some of the names that GFL has acquired. There was a particular emphasis places on the inclusion of Wanderlei Silva who at 48-years old, hasn’t fought since he departed the UFC in 2013 and returned to fight twice in Bellator in 2017 and 2018.

    “Fascinating. I’ll believe it when I see it.”