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Category: UFC

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

  • Jon Jones ‘Amused’ By Watching Colby Covington ‘Fail Repeatedly’ After Latest UFC Loss

    Jon Jones ‘Amused’ By Watching Colby Covington ‘Fail Repeatedly’ After Latest UFC Loss

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has become the latest to express joy over Colby Covington’s recent setback inside the cage.

    After a third failed attempt at capturing the undisputed welterweight crown against Leon Edwards 12 months ago, Covington returned on short notice in pursuit of a key bounce-back victory.

    But while he hoped that would come at the expense of Joaquin Buckley, the polarizing former interim champ was soundly beaten at the year-ending UFC Fight Night in Tampa this past weekend.

    Though a doctor’s stoppage brought a close to proceedings in round three, many believed the writing was on the wall after “New Mansa” largely beat Covington up for the duration of the main event.

    Given his antics on the mic, “Chaos” isn’t short on enemies and detractors. And from those in the fanbase to current welterweight kingpin Belal Muhammad, plenty got a laugh out of Saturday’s headline result.

    The latest to do so is Jones, who shares a bitter beef with Covington, a former roommate of his at Central Iowa Community College.

    “Big shoutout to Colby Covington for skipping training to get President Trump ‘ready’—we all appreciate the sacrifice (clown emoji) At least he got to see me win,” Jones wrote on X.

    “Bones” later shared a laugh with a responding fan about the litany of excuses Covington often comes up with to explain his defeats.

    “That’s what I find the most hilarious, listening to what he’s gonna come up with next after getting his ass whooped”

    And Jones later pointed to his history with the veteran welterweight, who has frequently criticized the former light heavyweight titleholder.

    “I know I shouldn’t but it’s just so much fun. It’s amusing watching someone you know hate you fail repeatedly.”

    With the result at Tampa’s Amalie Arena, Covington is now 2-4 across his last six and 0-4 against names currently inside the welterweight top 15.

    It remains to be seen what comes next for the 36-year-old, but it’s safe to say his chances of a fourth crack at the undisputed belt have slimmed dramatically.

  • Joaquin Buckley Vows To ‘Take Over’ In 2025: ‘I’ve Done Enough To Earn A Title Shot

    Joaquin Buckley Vows To ‘Take Over’ In 2025: ‘I’ve Done Enough To Earn A Title Shot

    Joaquin Buckley delivered a dominant performance against Colby Covington in the main event of UFC Tampa on Saturday night, and he’s now got his sights on the welterweight gold.

    The fight came to an unexpected conclusion when the ringside physician stopped the contest due to a severe cut on Covington’s face. The injury worsened as the fight progressed, sparking concern that the former interim welterweight champion might lose his eyelid. After consulting the doctor, the referee called off the fight.

    With this victory, Buckley extended his winning streak to six, further solidifying his place among the UFC elite. He now believes he deserves a title shot after the highly anticipated bout between Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov but also envisions a potential matchup against Kamaru Usman in the future.

    “I feel like my fight shouldn’t have been stopped. But it is what it is. You gotta protect the fighters,” Buckley remarked post-fight. “2025 is definitely my year, and we’re taking over. This is a six-fight winning streak. I’ve got eight knockouts within the UFC. I feel like I’ve done enough to earn a title shot.”

    Buckley expressed his readiness to step in if the Muhammad vs. Rakhmonov fight falls through.

    “Even though I know that Shavkat is next — blessings to that fight — if anything happens where Shavkat or Belal doesn’t step up into the octagon, I’m willing to face them,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’re keeping this short. I’m definitely looking to take that throne, man. 2025, bro. So we out, baby. Thank you.”

  • Conor McGregor Reveals Logan Paul Exhibition Boxing Match Is In The Works

    Conor McGregor Reveals Logan Paul Exhibition Boxing Match Is In The Works

    While uncertainty surrounds his return to the Octagon, it seems that UFC star Conor McGregor is eyeing an opportunity inside the ring instead.

    McGregor hasn’t competed in any form of the fight game since UFC 264 in July 2021, where his main event trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier came to a shocking conclusion at the end of round one when the Irishman suffered a gruesome broken leg.

    After a lengthy period of recovery on the sidelines, the Irishman had his return to action announced toward the start of 2023, as he was penciled in to face opposition TUF coach Michael Chandler. That is still yet to come to fruition, however, with multiple rumored and one official fight date falling through across the past two calendar years.

    While that’s left some doubting that “The Notorious” will make the walk again — a sentiment that only gained traction after he was found liable for assault in a civil case last month after being accused of rape — McGregor has continued to dismiss those claims and set his sights on a 2025 comeback.

    But in the new year, the UFC might not be his first port of call…

    The Dublin native took to social media this week, first to dismiss rumors of an Ilia Topuria fight inside the Octagon. And in the same post, McGregor suddenly announced that an exhibition boxing match with YouTuber-turned-pugilist and professional wrestler Logan Paul is in the works.

    He also named a location, claiming the Ambani family is looking to put the bout together for an event in India. The Ambani family topped the 2017 Forbes list of Asia’s richest families with a net worth of $44.8 billion.

    “The rumors of a bout with topurio (Ilia Topuria) are false. I am in preliminary agreements with the Ambani family to face Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition in India,” McGregor wrote on X. “I have agreed. I will then seek my return to the Octagon.”

    Paul, like his younger brother Jake, has experience in the exhibition and crossover boxing game. The 29-year-old battled fellow online star KSI twice as YouTube boxing began to rise to prominence over five years ago.

    Since then, “The Maverick” has fought a shared opponent with McGregor in Floyd Mayweather. After going the distance in their exhibition, Paul returned to the ring last October to defeat Dillon Danis in a professional affair before turning his attention to a pro wrestling career in the WWE.

    McGregor, meanwhile, has not appeared in the ring since being stopped by Mayweather in their lucrative 2017 crossover clash, which marked “Money’s” 50th and final professional victory.

  • Kamaru Usman Gives Frustrated Response To Joaquin Buckley Callout: ‘No One’s Listening To What I’m Saying!’ 

    Kamaru Usman Gives Frustrated Response To Joaquin Buckley Callout: ‘No One’s Listening To What I’m Saying!’ 

    Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is evidently tired of responding to callouts.

    The latest to have “The Nigerian Nightmare’s” name on his lips was Joaquin Buckley, who included the ex-titleholder among his options for 2025 after emerging victorious from the final UFC main event and fight of this year.

    After a 5-0 start to life at 170 pounds, Buckley had the opportunity to climb the ladder into contention in the division by sharing the cage with Colby Covington. “New Mansa” made the most of it, beating up and bloodying “Chaos” through two rounds before a deep cut forced a doctor’s stoppage in the third.

    While Buckley was widely ridiculed for his callout of Conor McGregor post-fight earlier this year, he delivered an improved promo this time around by opening up the floor for the audience at Amalie Arena to select their preference for his next fight.

    The biggest cheers were when a clash opposite Usman was pitched.

    During the latest episode of his Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside fellow former UFC champion Henry Cejudo, Usman reacted to yet another rising welterweight figure expressing interest in a fight.

    Suffice to say, the former champ is tired of repeating himself.

    “It’s almost like no ones listening to what I’m saying,” Usman said. “No one’s getting what I’m saying. Shavkat, Belal, Ian, Buckley, JDM — I don’t care who it is.

    “One thing I won’t do, which is what I’ve done for so long and too much, which is partially why I’m having to take this layoff, is compete when I’m not ready,” Usman continued. “When I am healthy, I don’t care who it is.”

    Usman evidently has no qualms about Buckley being his next opponent. Whether the UFC will give the green light for that matchup, however, remains to be seen.

    Regardless, “New Mansa” is no doubt in line for a high-profile opponent next time out — one that will give him the chance to stake his claim for a first title shot on MMA’s biggest stage.

  • UFC Tampa Winner Confident Of His Chances Against Ilia Topuria: ‘Carries Himself Like He’s Better Than He Is’

    UFC Tampa Winner Confident Of His Chances Against Ilia Topuria: ‘Carries Himself Like He’s Better Than He Is’

    UFC featherweight Sean Woodson sees himself as a difficult matchup for champion Ilia Topuria.

    Woodson was one of the biggest winners to emerge from this past weekend’s year-ending UFC Fight Night in Tampa, where he stopped the highly touted Fernando Padilla with strikes seconds out from the first round coming to a close.

    The result has left “The Sniper” riding a four-fight win streak and unbeaten across his last seven — a run that has him tied with ranked standouts Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy for the longest active unbeaten streak in the featherweight division.

    With that in mind, Woodson is looking to join them in the top 15 soon enough as he looks to surge all the way to the gold, which is currently held by the undefeated Topuria.

    And should “El Matador” still be on the throne when he gets there, the Missouri native likes his chances.

    During his post-fight press conference, Woodson expressed confidence when it comes to how he matches up against the Spaniard.

    Given his height and frame, “The Sniper” insisted that he wouldn’t fall to the same fate against Topuria as both Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway did this year.

    “(Topuria’s) super good – what he’s done so far is,” Woodson said. “But I’m not going to hold my tongue at all. I don’t feel like he’d be able to do me the way he’s done other people at all. He’s too small, too short. I’m a bad matchup for him. I saw online somebody say he gets up to like 187 (pounds), 190 (outside of camp). I don’t believe that at all. I don’t even get that big. He carries himself like he’s better than he is.

    “I will say that I would love to fight him. I know I’m a long ways off from that, but I want that fight bad. I would love to fight him one day. I know it sounds crazy. I haven’t had the best (résumé). I ain’t fought (big names), whatever,” Woodson continued. “But I’m telling you right now, they do not do me like he’s done everybody.”

    Woodson has plenty of work to do before having the opportunity to prove that assessment correct opposite Topuria inside the Octagon.

    For now, he’ll be celebrating his latest triumph on MMA’s biggest stage and looking ahead to what he’ll no doubt hope will be a big 2025 in the career of “The Sniper.”

  • Joe Rogan Puts Conor McGregor’s Decline Down To ‘Getting Hit In The Head A Lot’

    Many fight fans agree that Conor McGregor hasn’t been the same fighter — or person — since earning generational wealth from his high-profile boxing match with Floyd Mayweather years ago.

    Once tied to a potential bout with Michael Chandler this year, McGregor’s return to the Octagon was ultimately scrapped. Despite UFC CEO Dana White’s insistence that the irishman will fight again, the former two-division champion has been absent from competition since July 2021, when he suffered a gruesome leg injury.

    Notably, McGregor has won only one fight since November 2016, posting a 1-3 record during that time.

    During a conversation with YouTuber Derek Munro of More Plates More Dates on the Joe Rogan Experience, the color commentator weighed in on McGregor’s ongoing controversies, including a recent guilty civil verdict for sexual assault in Ireland and his turbulent behavior outside the cage. Rogan speculated that McGregor’s decline may be attributed to head trauma and drug use, including alleged cocaine use.

    “I don’t know if Conor’s ever going to fight again,” Rogan said. “I don’t know the real details of that case. I know his version of it, her version of it, and what played out in court. But the reality is, that guy’s partying, and he’s partying real hard. He talked about it in the court case. He was talking about cocaine. That was the whole thing: ‘We were all doing cocaine and we were f**king.’”

    Munro referenced recent viral videos showing McGregor seemingly under the influence, but Rogan emphasized that these allegations remain unconfirmed.

    “A lot of fighters have sustained significant damage over the course of their careers, and there’s no way to avoid it,” Rogan continued. “We’ve all seen Conor get beat up and knocked out. We’ve seen his sparring footage with elite fighters. You’re getting hit in the head. A lot. And for many fighters, especially toward the end of their careers, drugs become an outlet.”

    Rogan highlighted the cumulative toll of years of training and fighting, explaining how consistent head trauma disrupts brain chemistry and can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms.

    “You’re not supposed to get punched in the head a thousand times a year,” Rogan said. “That’s the reality of consistent training. Then you mix in a little bit of coke, and you’re feeling good again. I bet it becomes addictive.”

    He also drew parallels to other fighters with tumultuous personal lives, such as Jon Jones, emphasizing the wild and extreme nature of many elite athletes.

    “The guy obviously likes extreme things, which is why he’s such a great fighter,” Rogan noted. “They’re wild people.”

  • Jan Błachowicz: Magomed Ankalaev Must ‘Change’ To Have A Chance Of Beating Alex Pereira

    Jan Błachowicz: Magomed Ankalaev Must ‘Change’ To Have A Chance Of Beating Alex Pereira

    Following his win over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 in October, it looks like the next time that we see Magomed Ankalaev, he will finally get his long awaited title shot against Alex Pereira. Many expected that this would be the next test for “Poatan” following his wins over Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka earlier this year but instead, he defended the title at UFC 307 by finishing Khalil Rountree Jr.

    In Abu Dhabi, Ankalaev got his hand raised once again after sticking to his word and beating Rakić over three rounds by only striking with him. The Russian has continued to push the idea that when he eventually faced Pereira, he will do the same and will knockout the kickboxing specialist to win the 205-pound gold.

    One fellow top contender who doesn’t think this that applying the same approach is the best idea is the former champion, Jan Błachowicz. In his last outing at UFC 291, “Polish Power” became the closest of anyone to beating Pereira at light heavyweight when he welcomed the former middleweight champion to his new weight class.

    Błachowicz came out on the wrong side of a split decision and though he wasn’t able to land a lot of offense, he did have some success with his grappling and once he became tired, he was able to avoid eating anything too damaging from the Brazilian. Błachowicz gave his thoughts on that potential title fight in a recent interview with James Lynch for Home of Fight.

    He believes that in order for Ankalaev to leave with the title, he needs to take more risks to really put a stamp on the fight instead of simply trying to win each round without taking damage.

    “If Ankalaev will fight like last fight with [Aleksandar] Rakic, he’s going to lose the fight. He needs to do something more. He needs to be like, I don’t know, but – he is good fighter, but it’s not enough for Pereira in this kind of style. He needs to change.

    “He needs to be more – he has to believe in that which he’s doing. I think he doesn’t believe. He just wants to win the fight, but don’t take too much punches. He is very careful in this what he’s doing and I think this kind of way, fighting with Pereira, will not work.”

  • Colby Covington’s Losing Run Blamed On American Top Team Exit: ‘Since He Left…’

    Colby Covington’s Losing Run Blamed On American Top Team Exit: ‘Since He Left…’

    For the first time in his pro career, Colby Covington is currently coming off of back-to-back losses. The former UFC interim welterweight champion returned this past weekend in Tampa where he was beaten by the surging Joaquin Buckley.

    “Chaos” has already spoken about the defeat where he outlined the significance of taking the fight on short notice and the cut that he suffered above his right eye which eventually led to the doctor waving the fight off in the third round. Covington stated that he was only just getting going at the time of the stoppage but up until that point, “New Mansa” was clearly and comfortably winning the fight.

    Many fans and fellow fighters were also very critical about Covington’s previous outing at UFC 296 last December where he was totally shut out by Leon Edwards in a welterweight title fight. Having been 15-1 heading into his first meeting with Kamaru Usman in 2019 to now being 17-5, some may simply put his decline in form down to his age.

    At 36-years old, it’s not surprising that Covington would begin to slow down especially as a fighter whose biggest weapon is his cardio and output. Josh Thomson, however, believes that the controversial welterweight might not be preparing as well as he could be.

    Covington’s nine years at American Top Team in Florida ended in 2020 following several altercations with some of his teammates who had made it very clear that they no longer wanted him on the team due to some of his comments about them. The likes of Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier have remained at ATT whilst Covington has since moved to MMA Masters in Miami.

    Thomson, who is a former fighter turned commentator, said on the Weighing In Podcast that he believes this is taking away from the three-time title challenger.

    “I’m going to simply say that once you’ve trained at a prestigious gym like American Top Team [ATT], and then you find your way out of it, running your own camp in a smaller facility without many top-level people to train with, especially after leaving a gym with a plethora of world-class fighters…. it’s noticeable. You saw it tonight. I don’t know if it’s the age, because I know he’s older, but let’s be honest, within two fights, he doesn’t look like the same person since he left American Top Team.”

    Thomson believes that not having the kind of people that he needs to really push him has taken away what made Covington so effective in the first place. If he was going to beat Buckley on Saturday night, he needed to put the pace on him but if anything, it was the other way round.

    “Those are the rounds where you’re trying to catch your second, sometimes third, wind. But not having the talent that he needs to help push his pace in training is what I feel like I’m seeing right now. I’m seeing a fighter who is having a hard time setting a pace inside the cage against world-class fighters because he doesn’t have world-class fighters to train with anymore.”

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Inclusion In Manel Kape’s UFC Tampa Octagon Interview

    VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Inclusion In Manel Kape’s UFC Tampa Octagon Interview

    One of the stand out performances from the final UFC event of 2024 came courtesy of Manel “Starboy” Kape. The flyweight contender returned to the win column with one of his best performances inside the Octagon to date against Bruno Silva.

    Kape looked incredibly fast and accurate in Tampa and though he can still be a divisive character, displays like this make it easy to remember why some fans were so excited for him to arrive in the UFC. It doesn’t seem like this win will be enough for him to get his first shot at the title but he won’t be far off following this victory.

    Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was enjoying some food whilst watching the Portuguese stand out go to work during his YouTube reactions to the fights.

    Suddenly, out of nowhere, he heard his own name after Kape used his time on the mic to reignite an old feud. At UFC 293, Kape and Adesanya got into a heated exchange at the press conference due to the flyweight’s comments about one of Adesanya’s close teammates, Kai Kara-France.

    After getting his hand raised, Kape spent part of his post-fight interview calling out the likes of Kara-France, Adesanya and Brandon Moreno. Having just given “Starboy” lots of credit for his performance, “The Last Stylebender” was caught off guard but he did find the whole thing amusing rather than taking it to heart.

    “Why’d he say f*** me for? Man, I give this guy this credit like he’s looking nice and then he said ‘F*** you’. Hey, I still keep it real man, he f****** showed out. Hey man, this shows I been in his head this whole time, I didn’t even think it was like that but he did well, good job… little b**** a** n****.”

  • Chael Sonnen Claims He Was Ready To Throw In The Towel While Cornering Colby Covington At UFC Tampa

    Chael Sonnen Claims He Was Ready To Throw In The Towel While Cornering Colby Covington At UFC Tampa

    If the doctor hadn’t have called off Colby Covington’s UFC Tampa main event this past weekend, cornerman Chael Sonnen was seemingly prepared to.

    Sonnen had a cageside view as the former interim welterweight champion returned to action 12 months on from his third failed attempt at capturing the undisputed crown.

    Covington made the walk to headline the year-ending UFC Fight Night on short notice, doing battle with the charging Joaquin Buckley inside Amalie Arena.

    The polarizing veteran’s pursuit of a fourth shot at the gold began in difficult fashion, with “New Mansa” opening up a deep cut above his eye early before largely beating “Chaos” up through two rounds. And the first-round wound became so severe that the doctor stepped in to call off proceedings.

    Both Dana White and Covington expressed disagreement with the call in the aftermath. One of those in the defeated fighter’s team, however, was apparently prepared to make the decision if the physician had not.

    During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reflected on fight night in Florida, where Covington fell to a 2-4 record across his last six bouts and 0-4 against names currently inside the rankings at 170 pounds.

    Interestingly, “The American Gangster” suggested he had the towel close by to throw in after seeing Covington’s struggles to fight through the deep and bloody cut.

    “Colby was getting hit on his feet with everything you could do, he’s busted open so bad that the doctor has to look at it three times,” Sonnen said (h/t Bloody Elbow). “Twice, he stops the action to let it keep going, the third time he goes, ‘Man we can’t keep going anymore.’ I was going to stop that fight, I already grabbed the towel.

    “When the doctor came in for the third time, and I’m watching that blood, it’s not stopping,” Sonnen continued. “It’s going into the eye, and that’s the only thing you’re really looking for. When we as fight fans, as ‘tough guys’, think the doctor should’ve stopped it, we’re talking about it doesn’t matter how bad the cut is from our perspective, as long as it’s not going in the eye. If it’s blinding the guy, it doesn’t matter if it’s a little or a lot…it’s the exact same thing. I said, ‘Hand me that towel, I’m stopping this.’”

    That ultimately wasn’t required, however, with the cageside doctor advising referee Dan Miragliotta to wave off the contest in fear of Covington losing his eyelid.

    With that, “Chaos” has now gone winless across a second straight calendar year, having not had his hand raised since a pay-per-view main event opposite longtime rival Jorge Masvidal in March 2022.

  • Michael Johnson Outlines Retirement Timeline After UFC Tampa, Pitches Justin Gaethje Rematch

    Michael Johnson Outlines Retirement Timeline After UFC Tampa, Pitches Justin Gaethje Rematch

    UFC lightweight veteran Michael Johnson showed he has plenty left in the tank in Tampa this past weekend, so much so that he’s targeting names toward the top of the division.

    Johnson was among the biggest winners to emerge victorious from Saturday’s year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena.

    On a night that included a host of knockouts, not many came more brutal than “The Menace’s” victory over Ottman Azaitar, who was rendered unconscious before eating some vicious follow-up shots on the ground.

    The result has put Johnson back onto a win streak on MMA’s biggest stage, and despite nearing the 40 mark, he doesn’t plan on leaving life as an active fighter for a long time.

    During his post-fight press conference backstage at Amalie Arena, Johnson reflected on his successful performance and looked ahead to his future.

    On the topic of retirement, the 42-fight MMA veteran outlined a lengthy timeline for the remainder of his career.

    “Five years (more, I want to fight),” Johnson said. “I always tell people I want to do eight to 10 more years and they look at me with this face. I’m not slowing down any time soon. As long as my body’s healthy and I can get through what I need to get through, I’m going to fight for as long as I can.

    “I think Nate Diaz said it the best, and he’s turned into a good friend. He was an opponent of mine. We always keep in touch, but he made a comment that said, ‘Sh*t, I’ll fight till I’m 50. Just getting started.’ So that’s what it is. I’m just getting started,” Johnson continued. “This might be my peak. A lot of people peak at 25, 30 (years old). I might be one peaking at 38, 40.”

    With that in mind, Johnson looks set to have plenty of time to tick off some of his remaining ambitions. And when it comes to advancing his late-career title aspirations and exacting revenge for a past result, “The Menace” has a perfect next opponent in mind.

    “The Justin Gaethje fight – that’s the one that I want,” Johnson explained. “I think everybody would love a Gaethje-Johnson (rematch). I gave him that opportunity when he came over (from WSOF), when nobody else wanted to. So, I think he should go ahead and give that back. We need to run one ’cause I know he knows he got away with that one.”

    Johnson welcomed Gaethje to the UFC back in 2017, a bout that came after the 38-year-old had battled Beneil Dariush, Nate Diaz, Dustin Poirier and Khabib Nurmagomedov in consecutive assignments. The promotional newcomer got his hand raised after finding the knockout late in round two of a fight that was widely seen as the year’s best.

    Whether Gaethje and the UFC will reciprocate the interest in a rematch remains to be seen. “The Highlight” hasn’t competed since suffering a vicious last-second knockout at the hands of Max Holloway at UFC 300 this past April.

    Regardless, be it the former interim champion or perhaps another name inside the top 15, it would appear that Johnson has earned the chance to climb back up the ladder in 2025 following a perfect 2-0 run this year.

  • Colby Covington Issues First Comments On Brutal UFC Tampa Setback: ‘I Came Off The Couch!’

    Colby Covington Issues First Comments On Brutal UFC Tampa Setback: ‘I Came Off The Couch!’

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington was up to his usual antics when addressing his defeat this past weekend for the first time.

    Saturday’s event in Tampa didn’t go to plan for the former interim champion, who returned on short notice to headline the year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena.

    The bout came 12 months on from Covington’s third failed attempt at claiming the undisputed crown, and in order to return to winning ways, he was tasked with stalling the charge of Joaquin Buckley.

    Instead, “New Mansa” continued to climb the ladder toward gold at the polarizing veteran’s expense, beating him up across two rounds before a cut he caused with an elbow in the first frame proved too deep for “Chaos” to continue.

    While the ending was somewhat anticlimactic and saw Dana White suggest wouldn’t have happened had the fight been staged in Las Vegas, many believed the writing was already on the wall for Covington’s chances of victory.

    Unsurprisingly, the “many” does not include the man himself…

    During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Covington took fans behind the scenes before and after his headliner at Amalie Arena.

    “Chaos” spoke to the camera post-fight, giving his first comments on a result that has left him 2-4 across his last six and 0-4 against names currently inside the welterweight top 15.

    From the late-notice nature of the bout to the debated stoppage, “Chaos” had his usual litany of reasons to explain the loss ready.

    “We’re gonna be back stronger than ever, this is just the beginning for me,” Covington said. “I wasn’t at my best tonight. I came off the couch but it was for the company, I did this for the company that I love so much that changed my life. … I know there’s still a lot of fight in me and the best is still yet to come.

    “I was just getting warmed up in that fight, I think it was tied up 1-1 and I was starting to wear on him. I see him breathing out of his mouth, I was starting to catch him with more shots so it’s unfortunate that they stopped it,” Covington continued. “Even Dana (White) came out and said if that was in Vegas, it would’ve never been stopped. I took his hardest shots and they didn’t phase me at all. … We’ll come back stronger.”

    It remains to be seen what the future holds for the 36-year-old, but he’s evidently not planning on hanging up his gloves — as some had advised following a defeat that leaves him firmly out of the championship conversation.

    Buckley, meanwhile, looks set for even bigger things in 2025 after extending his perfect welterweight stint with a 4-0 run this year. Though he’s prepared to step in with gold on the line should Shavkat Rakhmonov fall out of his expected shot, “New Mansa” also set his sights on Kamaru Usman post-fight in Tampa.

  • Manel Kape Has Title Shot Pleas Rejected After Standout UFC Tampa Performance

    Manel Kape Has Title Shot Pleas Rejected After Standout UFC Tampa Performance

    UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape didn’t shy away from letting the brass know what he wants at Saturday’s event in Tampa.

    After having his title plans stalled by Muhammad Mokaev in Manchester this past July, Kape returned to action at the UFC’s final event of 2024, where he was tasked with defending his position on the ladder against Bruno Silva.

    “Starboy” bounced back in style, putting on a show with the kind of striking and confident showboating that attracted the MMA leader’s attention while he held gold under the Rizin banner.

    And following two strong rounds, Kape closed the show with strikes in the final frame to cap off a near-flawless return to the win column.

    In the aftermath, the Angola-born Portuguese fighter pleaded with Dana White cageside, making his case for the next shot at Alexandre Pantoja. That was a continuation of a conversation Kape also attempted to start in-between rounds.

    Unfortunately for “Starboy,” he seemingly wasn’t persuasive enough.

    During the post-fight press conference backstage at Amalie Arena, UFC CEO Dana White reflected on Kape’s perseverance when it came to pitching a rematch with champ Pantoja, whom he lost to in his promotional debut back in 2021.

    White did not, however, have the answer the flyweight contender would have been hoping for.

    “No, he’s not getting a title shot,” White said. “But we’ll definitely give him what he’s looking for.”

    It’s unclear what White is referring to, given that Kape was looking for a shot at redemption opposite Pantoja with the flyweight gold on the line next year.

    Regardless, it seems “Starboy” has some work to do if he’s to secure a first championship opportunity on MMA’s biggest stage and the chance to add UFC gold to his trophy cabinet in the sport.

  • Dana White Teases Something In The Works That Fans Will ‘Never F**king See Coming’ For 2025

    Dana White Teases Something In The Works That Fans Will ‘Never F**king See Coming’ For 2025

    Following UFC Tampa, the promotion’s final event of the year, Dana White dropped a tantalizing hint that has fight fans buzzing.

    Reflecting on a banner year for his promotion — one filled with massive fights, record-breaking moments, and unforgettable highlights — White suggested that even bigger surprises await in the near future.

    Speaking to the media at the post-fight press conference, the UFC CEO shared his excitement about what lies ahead for both the organization and his other ventures, including Power Slap and Nitro Circus. While he remained tight-lipped about specifics, his comments hinted at seismic plans in the works.

    “Every year over the last 17 years, I’ve said, ‘How is next year gonna be bigger than this year?’” White said. “And some of the stuff that we’re already working on is…on multiple levels, not just UFC. We got Power Slap meetings going on down there. SLS [Street League Skateboarding], which I own a piece of, did an event down there today, and UFC stuff is being worked on right now in Brazil.”

    White then upped the intrigue, promising a major announcement that would shock fans.

    “I anticipate a lot of big fights,” he said with a grin. “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.”

    While fans speculate about the cryptic remarks, the UFC is gearing up for its first event of 2025. UFC Vegas 101 is set to take place on Jan. 11 at Las Vegas’ Apex, headlined by a women’s strawweight rematch between Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas.

    With White’s tease of groundbreaking news for 2025, anticipation for what the new year will bring is already at an all-time high.

  • Top MMA Coach Picks Joaquin Buckley As ‘Fighter Of The Year’ Over Alex Pereira & Ilia Topuria

    Top MMA Coach Picks Joaquin Buckley As ‘Fighter Of The Year’ Over Alex Pereira & Ilia Topuria

    Coach Eric Nicksick, for one, has been extremely impressed by UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley’s efforts in 2024.

    Buckley closed out his year in style on Saturday night when he headlined the final event of 2024. Opposite him inside Tampa’s Amalie Arena was former interim champion Colby Covington, who planned on placing his name back into title contention a year on from a third failed bid for undisputed status.

    “Chaos” didn’t succeed in that ambition, however, with Buckley dominating him in the opening two rounds before a deep cut sustained just above Covington’s right eye proved too bad for him to continue.

    With the result, “New Mansa” has gone 4-0 this year, having previously knocked out Vicente Luque, outpointed Nursulton Ruziboev, and stopped Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.

    And according to Nicksick, that’s elevated him not only into the “Fighter of the Year” discussion, but above both consensus leading candidates Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria.

    “Real talk, @Newmansa94 (Buckley) resurrection needs to be studied,” Nicksick wrote on X. “6-0 in a new division w/ 4 stoppages, 4-0 in 2024. Ladies and Gentlemen, he’s your 2024 Fighter of the Year. I’m out”

    Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight kingpin, has staked his claim with three title defenses in 2024. After knockouts of Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka, “Poatan” most recently came from behind to batter Khalil Rountree in round four of their headline battle this past October.

    Topuria, meanwhile, seemingly has the edge over the Brazilian in terms of competition level. Though he’s fought once less than Pereira, the Spaniard dethroned the highly regarded Alexander Volkanovski in brutal fashion before becoming the first man to knock out Max Holloway to retain the featherweight gold.

    But taking into account his career revival since dropping to 170 pounds, Buckley appears to have the vote of one renowned trainer in the fight game.

  • Dana White On Colby Covington’s Defeat To Joaquin Buckley: ‘That Fight Doesn’t Get Stopped In Vegas’

    Dana White On Colby Covington’s Defeat To Joaquin Buckley: ‘That Fight Doesn’t Get Stopped In Vegas’

    Joaquin Buckley delivered a commanding performance against Colby Covington in the UFC Tampa main event. However, the fight concluded on a somewhat 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 the former interim welterweight champion’s eyelid, prompting the doctor to stop the fight in the third round.

    Dana White shared his thoughts on the stoppage during the post-fight press conference. While acknowledging Buckley’s dominant performance, the UFC CEO expressed disagreement with the decision to end the fight, suggesting the outcome might have been different under different circumstances.

    “No doubt that was a bad cut, but that fight doesn’t get stopped in Vegas,” White stated. “That fight keeps going in Vegas. 100 percent.

    “Listen, Colby’s an older guy who fights every once in a while. He’s always durable and tough. Did you hear the body shots he was taking tonight? And the head shots? Those would have stopped other guys. Colby’s tough, but I feel like he wasn’t too pissed about the stoppage. The cut was definitely bothering him.”

    White emphasized Covington’s resilience, noting that, despite the damage, “Chaos” remained competitive.

    “He’s obviously still one of the top-ranked guys. What we were saying about him all night — he took big shots and stayed in there. But I also believe if that fight’s in Vegas, that fight doesn’t get stopped with that cut. Still, I don’t think Colby was very upset when it did. The cut was bothering him.”

    While the fight’s ending sparked some debate, Buckley’s victory underscored his status as a rising force in the division, with a performance that left no doubt about his dominance.

  • Belal Muhammad Mocks Colby Covington After Dominant UFC Tampa Loss: ‘He Just Sucks’

    Belal Muhammad Mocks Colby Covington After Dominant UFC Tampa Loss: ‘He Just Sucks’

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad was among those roasting the polarizing Colby Covington after his latest defeat.

    Saturday proved to be a difficult night for Covington, as the former interim titleholder returned to action for the first time since a third failed bid at securing the undisputed crown against Leon Edwards last December.

    In his push to reinsert himself into the championship equation, “Chaos” accepted a short-notice UFC Fight Night headliner opposite the charging Joaquin Buckley in Tampa, looking to hand “New Mansa” his first loss since dropping to the division.

    But the controversial veteran convincingly failed in that task, with Buckley putting a beating on him en route to a TKO via doctor’s stoppage in round three.

    While a cut caused the bout’s end, there was little doubt over who was having the better of things. That, unsurprisingly, brought out Covington’s sizable group of enemies and detractors.

    As expected, champ Muhammad was among those enjoying the result…

    “(laughing) man I knows he’s gonna have a bunch of excuses but he just sucks,” Muhammad wrote on X.

    Muhammad and Covington have frequently gone back and forth across recent years.

    But with the former on the throne following his win over Edwards this past July and the latter far from challenging for it again post-UFC Tampa, it would appear that the chances of the pair settling their score inside the cage are now slim.

  • ‘Perfect End To His Silly Career’ – Fans React As Colby Covington Gets Battered By Joaquin Buckley At UFC Tampa

    ‘Perfect End To His Silly Career’ – Fans React As Colby Covington Gets Battered By Joaquin Buckley At UFC Tampa

    Joaquin Buckley added to the woes of Colby Covington on Saturday night, battering the former interim welterweight champion in the main event of UFC Tampa.

    Buckley clearly took the opening round, stopping every takedown attempt from Covington and damaging his eye, including a knockdown of “Chaos” late in the round. The rising contender continued to land well in the second round, and while he was taken down once, “New Mansa” managed to work his way up with strength and still showed strong defense.

    Covington, who was warned about the cut around his eye that had been busted up over two rounds, continued to be battered as the fight entered the third. Even when the fight was on the ground, Buckley’s attack showed no sign of slowing, targeting that cut.

    In the midst of the third round, the doctor was called in to check on the cut and ruled that Covington could no longer safely continue.

    https://twitter.com/KINGV0NBURNER/status/1868179302883156020

    This marked Buckley’s sixth straight win and perhaps his biggest since a viral knockout of Impa Kasaganay. This most likely will give him a top-five contender as his next opponent.

    Covington, meanwhile, has now lost three of his last four. This was his first fight in almost exactly one year since his unsuccessful challenge of then-UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards at UFC 296.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Joaquin Buckley TKOs Colby Covington

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Joaquin Buckley TKOs Colby Covington

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, welterweights Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley clashed. While in the co-main event, Cub Swanson faced Billy Quarantillo in a bantamweight matchup. 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Joaquin Buckley def. Colby Covington via TKO (doctor’s stoppage): R3, 4.42
    • Cub Swanson def. Billy Quarantillo via KO: R3 1.36 
    • Manel Kape def. Bruno Silva via TKO: R3, 1.57  
    • Dustin Jacoby def. Vitor Petrino via KO: R3, 3.44  
    • Daniel Marcos def. Adrian Yañez via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) 
    • Navajo Stirling def. Tuco Tokkos via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

    Preliminary Card

    • Michael Johnson def. Ottman Azaitar via KO: R2, 2.03 
    • Joel Álvarez def. Drakkar Klose via KO: R1, 2.48  
    • Sean Woodson def. Fernando Padilla via TKO: R1, 4.58
    • Felipe Lima def. Miles Johns via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Miranda Maverick def. Jamey-Lyn Horth via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Davey Grant def. Ramon Taveras via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27×2)
    • Piera Rodriguez def. Josefine Knutsson via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Sean Woodson def. Fernando Padilla

    Sean Woodson earned the first finish of the night, getting a TKO of Fernando Padilla in the first round of their featherweight bout.

    Joel Álvarez def. Drakkar Klose

    Joel Álvarez earned a first-round KO of Drakkar Klose in their lightweight bout.

    Michael Johnson def. Ottman Azaitar

    In this lightweight bout, Michael Johnson earned a KO of Ottman Azaitar in the second round.

    Main Card Highlights

    Navajo Stirling def. Tuco Tokkos

    Navajo Stirling got it done on the scorecards against Tuco Tokkos.

    Daniel Marcos def. Adrian Yañez

    Daniel Marcos earned a split decision against Adrian Yañez in their bantamweight matchup.

    Dustin Jacoby def. Vitor Petrino

    Dustin Jacoby got the win with a KO of Vitor Petrino in the third round.

    Manel Kape def. Bruno Silva

    In this flyweight bout, Manel Kape earned a TKO of Bruno Silva in the third round.

    Cub Swanson def. Billy Quarantillo

    In the co-main event, Cub Swanson KO’d Billy Quarantillo in the third round.

    Joaquin Buckley def. Colby Covington

    In the main event, Joaquin Buckley was awarded a doctor’s stoppage TKO of Colby Covington after the latter could not continue due to a cut above his eye.

  • VIDEO: UFC Tampa Post-Fight Press Conference After Joaquin Buckley, Cub Swanson’s Headline Wins

    VIDEO: UFC Tampa Post-Fight Press Conference After Joaquin Buckley, Cub Swanson’s Headline Wins

    The year-ending UFC Tampa event recently concluded, and MMA News has you covered with the post-fight press conference at Amalie Arena.

    The venue played host to Octagon action on Dec. 14, as the mixed martial arts leader closed out its schedule for 2024 with a strong lineup that featured a former interim champion, ranked contenders, experienced veterans, and some promising prospects.

    Of note were victories for Joaquin Buckley, Cub Swanson, Manel Kape, Dustin Jacoby, Daniel Marcos, Michael Johnson and Sean Woodson.

    And before attention turns to next year’s offerings from the mixed martial arts leader, there remains some business to attend to backstage at UFC Tampa.

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

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

  • ‘Age Is Just A Number’ – Poirier, Masvidal, & More Laud 41-Year-Old Cub Swanson After Classic KO At UFC Tampa

    ‘Age Is Just A Number’ – Poirier, Masvidal, & More Laud 41-Year-Old Cub Swanson After Classic KO At UFC Tampa

    If this was the last time we saw Cub Swanson in the Octagon, he went out with a bang by pulling off a devastating knockout of Billy Quarantillo in the co-main event of UFC Tampa.

    The two pulled off an entertaining first round, with both men looking to pick the other apart and each having their moments of control and rocking the other. They then fought another competitive second frame before the fight came to an end in the final round.

    Swanson landed a one-two that dropped Quarantillo out cold, giving “Killer” a walk-off victory.

    https://twitter.com/Full_Violence/status/1868171200800997456

    Swanson has traded wins and losses consecutively since the start of 2021, and he may increase his record for the most post-fight bonuses in UFC/WEC featherweight history.

    “Billy Q,” meanwhile, has now lost three of his last four.

  • ‘Where Was This When He Fought Mokaev?’ – Fans React As Manel Kape Puts On A Show In UFC Tampa Return

    ‘Where Was This When He Fought Mokaev?’ – Fans React As Manel Kape Puts On A Show In UFC Tampa Return

    Manel Kape looked to make a statement as to why he should be next in line for Alexandre Pantoja and the UFC flyweight championship. And perhaps he’s made a case after his finish of Bruno Silva at UFC Tampa.

    Kape’s path to victory in the fight didn’t come without battle scars. Silva landed three low blows on “Starboy” before the halfway point of the fight, resulting in the Brazilian being deducted one point.

    Ultimately, that didn’t make a difference for Silva. Kape’s offense was on full display over the course of the second round, and though Silva landed some power during the third frame, the top 10 contender landed a kick that started a flurry and quickly put “Bulldog” away.

    Silva argued (ironically) that the initial kick was a low blow, but it wasn’t enough to overturn referee Keith Petersen’s original no call.

    https://twitter.com/acdmma_/status/1868164107654095108
    https://twitter.com/ElonovMMA/status/1868163847280070901

    Kape has now won five of his last six fights and rebounds from his lackluster fight with Muhammad Mokaev at UFC 304 this past July.

    Meanwhile, this loss snaps a four-fight win streak that Silva rode into UFC Tampa on.

  • ‘Shades Of Usman vs. Masvidal’ – Fans React As Dustin Jacoby Melts Vitor Petrino With One Shot At UFC Tampa

    ‘Shades Of Usman vs. Masvidal’ – Fans React As Dustin Jacoby Melts Vitor Petrino With One Shot At UFC Tampa

    Dustin Jacoby has just pulled off an absolute shocker of a result.

    Jacoby needed just one punch to pull off a third-round knockout of Vitor Petrino during the main card of UFC Tampa.

    The fight featured plenty of back and forth from both men. They looked to stay patient, but the Brazilian was arguably landing the more effective strikes.

    But just when it looked like he would get his hand raised in a decision, “The Hanyak” changed things out of nowhere, landing a perfectly timed right hand to knock Petrino out cold.

    Fans reacted to the brutal result, with many comparing the manner of it to Kamaru Usman’s one-shot KO of Jorge Masvidal in 2021.

    After going 6-0-1 to start his UFC career following an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series, Jacoby had lost four of five entering UFC Tampa and was likely fighting for his job.

    Petrino, after an 11-0 start to his professional MMA career, has now lost back-to-back fights. He was finished by Anthony Smith earlier this year at UFC 301.

  • ‘MJ’s Best Performance Since Poirier’ – Fans React As Michael Johnson Adds Another Brutal KO To His Reel At UFC Tampa

    ‘MJ’s Best Performance Since Poirier’ – Fans React As Michael Johnson Adds Another Brutal KO To His Reel At UFC Tampa

    Michael Johnson put on a vintage performance to close out the UFC Tampa preliminary card, delivering a devastating knockout of Ottman Azaitar.

    Johnson picked Azaitar apart on the feet during the opening round, putting on a strong striking display and rocking the German-Moroccan on more than one occasion.

    “The Menace” then put him away brutally in the second round. As Azaitar attempted to come forward, Johnson landed a brutal, lightning quick hook that faceplanted him. He followed up with two vicious strikes before the referee was able to push him off his unconscious opponent.

    Michael Johnson Brings Devastation With KO Of Ottman Azaitar At UFC Tampa

    https://twitter.com/benhasfailed/status/1868128974884470882
    https://twitter.com/ErnieTastyFresh/status/1868130100648268172

    Johnson has now won three of his last four and four of his last six, continuing to secure victories at 38 years of age.

    Azaitar, meanwhile, has now lost three straight since starting his professional MMA career 13-0.

  • VIDEO: Joel Álvarez Attempts Guillotine After Already KO’ing Drakkar Klose With Switch Knee At UFC Tampa

    VIDEO: Joel Álvarez Attempts Guillotine After Already KO’ing Drakkar Klose With Switch Knee At UFC Tampa

    It’s not every day that we see someone finish an opponent twice in the same fight, but that appeared to be what we saw during the UFC Tampa prelims in Joel Álvarez’s win over Drakkar Klose.

    The Spaniard landed a strong combination that stumbled Klose backward toward the fence. Alvarez then appeared to slump Klose with a jumping knee.

    The flashy striker seemed to be nearing a guillotine choke as he landed follow-up shots on Klose, who was evidently already out. The referee then jumped in to declare Álvarez the winner.

    After UFC Tampa, Álvarez has now won three straight and is 7-2 in the Octagon, with one of his losses coming against upcoming lightweight title challenger Arman Tsarukyan. He last fought in August, defeating Elves Brener.

    Klose, meanwhile, sees a four-fight win streak snapped with this loss. He had most recently been in action at UFC 301 earlier this year, defeating Joaquim Silva.