MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Michael Bisping: Anthony Smith Will Be ‘Embarrassed’ Watching UFC 310 Fight Back, But He Shouldn’t Retire

    Michael Bisping: Anthony Smith Will Be ‘Embarrassed’ Watching UFC 310 Fight Back, But He Shouldn’t Retire

    Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping would like to see his podcast co-host, light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith, continue his active career inside the cage.

    Smith’s latest outing on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage came at last weekend’s UFC 310 pay-per-view, where he competed in the featured preliminary bout opposite a fellow former title challenger in Dominick Reyes.

    “Lionheart” was open during fight week about his recent struggles following the passing of a coach and friend. And the veteran was visibly emotional en route to the Octagon inside T-Mobile Arena, to the point where the commentary team questioned whether he was in the right head space to fight.

    That theory only grew stronger when Smith fell by way of a long-lasting TKO stoppage at the hands of “The Devastator,” which was followed by the defeated contender admitting fans may have seen him in action for the very last time.

    One prominent name who knows the 36-year-old well, however, doesn’t think that’s the case.

    During a recent episode of his Believe You Me podcast, Bisping gave his reaction to Smith’s latest setback, which leaves him 1-3 across his last four bouts.

    Similar to his thoughts on “Lionheart’s” defeat to Khalil Rountree a year ago, “The Count” suggested he was against Smith taking the fight in the first place. With that in mind, the Brit plans to share some advice to the light heavyweight if he chooses to make the walk again — something he’s expecting.

    “I don’t think he should’ve taken that fight, at all,” Bisping said (h/t Bloody Elbow). “But I don’t think he will retire. I think when he watches that back, he’s going to be embarrassed when he watches it, and it’ll inspire him to come back. The world doesn’t deserve to remember him like that.

    “Maybe it was therapeutic in some ways, but I’d like to see him fight again. … This isn’t a sport that you play, and that’s why Dana White says Chris Weidman and Clay Guida need to retire. That s*** will stay with you,” Bisping continued. “If he fights, I’m going to give him a call, and say, ‘If you do this, do it for the right reasons. Train as if you’re training for a world title fight, as if you’re going against Jon Jones. Leave no stone unturned, otherwise if you’re not willing to do that, then don’t even think about it in the first place!’”

    It remains to be seen what comes next for Smith, and if UFC 310 did indeed mark a disappointing farewell.

    Reyes, meanwhile, will look to continue his resurgence at 205 pounds next year. “The Devastator” has now won back-to-back fights since a knockout loss to Ryan Spann in late 2022 left him 0-3 post-fighting Jon Jones.

  • Gilbert Burns Predicts Colby Covington Will ‘Overwhelm’ Joaquin Buckley At UFC Tampa

    Gilbert Burns Predicts Colby Covington Will ‘Overwhelm’ Joaquin Buckley At UFC Tampa

    Gilbert Burns believes Joaquin Buckley may face significant challenges when he steps into the Octagon against Colby Covington. The highly anticipated fight is set to headline this Saturday’s UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

    Burns reflected on Buckley’s 2018 loss to Logan Storley at Bellator 197, a bout that took place in a higher weight class. The Brazilian thinks Storley’s dominant wrestling performance in that fight offers insight into how Covington might approach the matchup.

    “I think Buckley’s in the best momentum right now, but (wrestling is) Buckley’s kryptonite,” Burns explained during an interview on Submission Radio. “One of my favorite teammates is Logan Storley — he was the interim Bellator champ. He fought Buckley and just outwrestled him. Logan took him down, beat him up with ground-and-pound, and did it over and over. That’s something Colby can really do.”

    Since moving down to welterweight, Buckley has built an impressive 5-0 record, including a knockout victory over Stephen Thompson at UFC 307 in October.

    Despite “New Mansa’s” recent momentum, however Burns predicts Covington’s relentless pace and wrestling prowess could give him the upper hand, especially in the later rounds.

    “Colby might give a lot of problems to Buckley, taking him down repeatedly with that crazy pace,” Burns noted. “Buckley’s a big guy with a lot of muscle. If Buckley cannot put Colby out in the first or second round, I think Colby will overwhelm him. Colby could win with a dominant decision, but Buckley could also score a quick knockout early in the fight.”

    The clash between Buckley’s power and Covington’s endurance promises to deliver a high-stakes battle.

  • Alexandre Pantoja Picks Most Likely Choice For His Next Fight Following Demetrious Johnson’s Rejection

    Alexandre Pantoja Picks Most Likely Choice For His Next Fight Following Demetrious Johnson’s Rejection

    UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja is devoid of fresh options heading into 2025, and so he’s pointed to which potential rematch makes the “most sense” for his next fight.

    Pantoja continued his reign of the 125-pound weight class at last weekend’s UFC 310 pay-per-view, which he headlined in defense of his throne opposite promotional newcomer Kai Asakura.

    The former Rizin champ became the latest to fail in their bid to unseat “The Cannibal,” succumbing to a submission in round two to join Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg on Pantoja’s list of victims since he captured the crown in mid-2023.

    With that, the Brazilian has beaten most of the top names inside the flyweight top 15, creating some uncertainty over who he could put the gold on the line against in 2025. That led to an ambitious callout of the retired Demetrious Johnson at T-Mobile Arena, which was quickly dismissed by “Mighty Mouse.”

    During an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Pantoja assessed the realistic options he has next year.

    When presented with three — a rematch with Kai Kara-France, a second dance with current bantamweight Deiveson Figueiredo, or a first-time clash with a re-signed Muhammad Mokaev — “The Cannibal” pointed to which he sees as the most likely.

    “Yeah, (I’m interested in Kara-France). I think for now, that’s the fight that makes sense,” Pantoja said. “In the last three fights, he lost twice. But for now, after what I did in my division, everything doesn’t make sense anymore. I fight with the number one, number two, top 10, then you bring someone else. I think everybody has a chance right now.

    “Kara-France is a very exciting fighter. That’s someone who is going to bring me to another level,” Pantoja continued. “Kai Kara-France is the only one in my division. Mokaev is not on the UFC roster right now…and Figueiredo’s coming off one loss. Everything can happen, nothing makes sense right now. But I think I am ready for the UFC to give me Kai Kara-France. This fight maybe can make good numbers and big pay-per-view…but I’m not going to Australia.”

    Pantoja and Kara-France met way back in 2016 on season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter. The Brazilian defeated the New Zealander in the quarterfinal by way of unanimous decision.

    While “The Cannibal” has since risen to the top, “Don’t Blink” fell short in his sole shot at UFC gold thus far opposite Brandon Moreno in 2022. Kara-France has gone 1-1 post-title fight, most recently knocking out Erceg in memorable fashion at UFC 305 this past August in what marked his first fight in 14 months.

    Whether or not that result was enough to net him an opportunity at Pantoja remains to be seen. For now, the champ will no doubt still be celebrating his latest triumph and enjoying a break before resuming his divisional rule in the new year.

  • Deiveson Figueiredo Down For Flyweight Return To Challenge Alexandre Pantoja: ‘I’m The Best Option’

    Deiveson Figueiredo Down For Flyweight Return To Challenge Alexandre Pantoja: ‘I’m The Best Option’

    It seems UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja may not be devoid of exciting options for his next fight after all.

    Pantoja further cemented his grip on the crown at 125 pounds this past weekend when he headlined the UFC 310 pay-per-view inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    “The Cannibal” closed out the final numbered event of 2024 in style, submitting UFC newcomer Kai Asakura in round two with a rear-naked choke. The victory over the ex-Rizin champion, who was left unconscious by the fight-ending sequence, marked Pantoja’s third successful defense.

    With that, the Brazilian has defeated many of the notable names toward the top of the division, leaving him somewhat short of fresh and intriguing options.

    There might be one rematch, however, that gets the champ’s fire lit…

    During a recent interview with Brazilian reporter Laerte Viana, former two-time flyweight champ and current top-10 bantamweight contender Deiveson Figueiredo threw his name in the hat to be Pantoja’s next challenger.

    While “The Cannibal” already boasts victories over many vying for a shot in the flyweight rankings, he lost his 2019 contest with “Deus da Guerra” on the scorecards. And feeling that things were comfortable back then, Figueiredo likes his chances of repeating the feat in a championship scenario.

    “Since Pantoja is looking for someone, I think I’m the best option,” Figueiredo said in Portuguese (translated by @Home_of_Fight). “I’m available, man. In my entire career in the UFC, I only missed weight once. If I have to make weight, I’ll go there and fulfill my commitment. And our first fight wasn’t easy for Pantoja. It was a three-round fight and I certainly won all three.”

    Figueiredo departed the weight class following the end of his second reign on the flyweight throne at the hands of Brandon Moreno early last year. He began life at the more comfortable weight of 135 pounds in strong fashion, dominating Rob Font and submitting Cody Garbrandt.

    But while that put the Brazilian on the cusp of an opportunity to achieve two-division glory, his push for a shot at Merab Dvalishvili’s belt was stalled last month in Macau, where he was comfortably beaten across five rounds by Petr Yan.

  • 9-Fight UFC Veteran Announces Shock MMA Retirement At 29

    UFC featherweight Jack Shore has suddenly called time on his career as a professional fighter.

    Shore (17-3), a former bantamweight champion under the Cage Warriors banner, began life on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in impressive fashion, winning all five of his opening UFC bouts en route to a ranking at 135 pounds.

    But after Ricky Simón took his ‘0’ by way of submission in 2022, the Welshman bid farewell to the bantamweight division and started anew at 145 pounds. The 29-year-old has since gone 1-2 in the featherweight class, first defeating Makwan Amirkhani but then suffering consecutive setbacks versus Joanderson Brito and Youssef Zalal.

    And the moment he tapped to the latter’s arm-triangle choke in Canada early last month will surprisingly mark Shore’s final action inside the Octagon.

    After fighting out his UFC contract, “Tank” has opted against re-signing with the MMA leader — or any other organization for that matter.

    Taking to social media this week, Shore announced in a lengthy and heartfelt post that his time competing as a professional MMA fighter is over.

    “Hello guys, been quiet for a while enjoying time with my friends and family,” Shore wrote. “As what may come as a surprise to a few I’ve decided to hang up the gloves on my professional fighting career. After fighting out my contract and taking some time to think about what’s next it’s clear to me that my time with professional fighting is done. Although I had the chance to re sign with ufc I’ve decided my times done. I want to thank the ufc for letting me live out my childhood dream of fighting for the worlds biggest organisation and against some of the best in the world, I’ve enjoyed every minute!

    “From what started as a kid with a dream lead me to amateur titles, world titles and living out my dream of fighting in the ufc. I can truly say for every single fight I gave the training and the fights my all, never said no, never asked questions just kept my head down, stayed true to myself and achieved more than I ever thought possible,” Shore continued. “For the entirety of my 20’s fighting and training was my life and sole focus, however the last few weeks/months have showed this is no longer the case. And I always promised myself when I was mentality checked out I would retire from the sport rather than the sport retire me. Injures have caught up with me after a lifetime in the sport. I’m leaving with my mental in check, good health, financially stable and am fully ready to move onto the future.”

    Shore now plans on continuing his involvement in the sport by coaching the next generation of United Kingdom fighters alongside his father.

    During his career in the cage, “Tank” defeated notable names like Hunter Azure and Timur Valiev. He departs active competition with a 6-3 UFC record and his health intact.

  • Daniel Cormier Blames ‘Mental Fatigue’ For Ilia Topuria’s Callout Of Charles Oliveira

    Daniel Cormier Blames ‘Mental Fatigue’ For Ilia Topuria’s Callout Of Charles Oliveira

    Daniel Cormier has shared his thoughts on why UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria might lack the motivation to defend his title, despite his dominant performances against elite competition.

    Topuria’s recent victories include knockout wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, with the latter marking the first time “Blessed” has ever been finished via strikes during their bout at UFC 308 this past October.

    The Spaniard recently revealed his interest in moving up to the lightweight division for a potential fight against top contender Charles Oliveira. He also hinted that his days competing at 145 pounds might be behind him.

    Cormier, speaking on his Funky and the Champ show alongside Ben Askren, suggested that Topuria’s mindset could be affected by a type of mental fatigue rather than physical exhaustion.

    “When you beat the best guys, especially the two guys that ruled the division for so long, there can be a little bit of fatigue in there,” Cormier said. “It’s not like muscle fatigue; it’s mental fatigue. You have to be so up to do what he did to Max Holloway and to do what he did to Volkanovski. I don’t care what people tell you. The only ones that believed he would do what he did were Ilia Topuria and his team. You don’t knock out Max Holloway. He knocked out Volkanovski. You don’t do those things back-to-back.”

    While contenders such as Movsar Evloev and Diego Lopes are waiting in the featherweight division, Cormier believes Topuria may struggle to find motivation after defeating such iconic names.

    For now, it appears the champion’s sights are set on new challenges at lightweight, where bigger fights and greater stakes may reignite his drive.

  • Colby Covington Gets Honest On Troubles After Third Failed UFC Title Bid: ‘Mentally Speaking…’

    Colby Covington Gets Honest On Troubles After Third Failed UFC Title Bid: ‘Mentally Speaking…’

    Colby Covington is set to headline the UFC Fight Night in Tampa this Saturday at Amalie Arena in a highly anticipated matchup against Joaquin Buckley. Ahead of his return, it’s safe to say that the former interim champion’s career since 2018 has been a roller coaster of triumphs and setbacks.

    The journey began with Covington claiming the interim welterweight title at UFC 225 with a win over Rafael dos Anjos. However, he was later stripped of the title due to injury.

    At UFC 245 in 2019, he lost to Kamaru Usman via TKO in a bid for the undisputed belt. Covington rebounded in September 2020 with a TKO victory over Tyron Woodley, but subsequent fights brought mixed results.

    “Chaos” suffered another loss to Usman at UFC 268, claimed a decisive win against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 in March 2022, and most recently fell to Leon Edwards via decision for the title at UFC 296.

    Reflecting on his year-long hiatus, Covington shared insight into his personal and professional growth during the first episode of UFC Journey for this weekend’s main event on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel.

    “It’s been a year since my last fight, and I’ve used that time to really grow myself as a martial artist and as a person,” Covington said. “Mentally speaking, I’m in a better place than I’ve ever been. After I lost three shots at the undisputed title, it felt like the lowest of lows. I lost and forgot who I was, and that was a good reminder that woke me up again. I just had to cancel out the bad energy.”

    Covington emphasized his renewed commitment to his goal of becoming the undisputed champion.

    “I knew that I couldn’t let that hype and ego get to my head. I had to train harder to be the No. 1 contender again because all I ever wanted was to be the undisputed champion. That’s all I cared about.”

    As the fight against Buckley approaches, Covington sees this as a chance to rewrite past wrongs and silence the critics who have doubted him.

  • Robert Whittaker: Neither Dricus Du Plessis Nor Sean Strickland Could Stop Khamzat Chimaev’s Grappling

    Robert Whittaker: Neither Dricus Du Plessis Nor Sean Strickland Could Stop Khamzat Chimaev’s Grappling

    Robert Whittaker, a former UFC middleweight champion, is eager to see how Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland would fare if they faced Khamzat Chimaev.

    Strickland is set to challenge reigning titleholder Du Plessis in a rematch that headlines UFC 312 on Feb. 8 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.

    Chimaev, fresh off a dominant first-round submission victory over Whittaker at UFC 308 in October, is likely to face the winner. “Borz’s” last win saw him claim victory via a crushing face crank, leaving Whittaker with significant injuries.

    Reflecting on the potential matchups that lie in his recent opponent’s future, Whittaker expressed doubts about either Du Plessis or Strickland being able to defend against Chimaev’s relentless takedown game.

    “I think he just takes them down and does the same thing — not necessarily to me, but like how he beat (Kamaru) Usman or Gilbert Burns,” Whittaker shared on his MMArcade Podcast. “I can see those sorts of fights. I think he’d have more success with Strickland than Du Plessis because Du Plessis is a big dude. Stopping that first takedown is so crazy. The way he shoots that first shot is crazy. How do you stop that dude? Jump over him?”

    Whittaker also questioned whether Strickland could make the necessary adjustments to avenge his previous loss to the South African, which came via split decision at UFC 297 in Canada this past January.

  • Joaquin Buckley Expects To Leapfrog Rakhmonov For Next Title Shot With KO Over Covington

    Joaquin Buckley Expects To Leapfrog Rakhmonov For Next Title Shot With KO Over Covington

    The final UFC events of 2024 come with some big stakes attached for the welterweight division. Last weekend at UFC 310 in Las Vegas, Shavkat Rakhmonov cemented his status as the number one contender.

    In the battle of the undefeated 170-pounds in the co-main event on December 7, “Nomad” earned his first decision win to defeat Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry. Having been set to face Belal Muhammad for the title on this date until the champion withdrew, the two men shared a face-off inside the Octagon after Rakhmonov got his hand raised.

    UFC Tampa is up next where in the main event of the Octagon’s final stop of the year, Joaquin Buckley will look to continue his career-best form when he takes on the former interim champion, Colby Covington. “New Mansa” was originally set to face Garry on this card but against a returning Covington, he believes he still has the opportunity to shake up the division by making a statement.

    With a five-fight winning streak and the #9-ranking next to his name, Buckley told UFC.com in a recent interview that he believes he could insert himself into the title picture if he becomes just the second man to knockout “Chaos” at the Amalie Arena on Saturday night.

    “We saw the performance that Ian Garry and Shavkat put on, it wasn’t that fun to watch right. I feel like for me, it’s just like the performance that I’m gonna put on Colby Covington, I can probably take the opportunity to fight for the belt one day. Even though Shavkat earned his spot, sometimes things happen, some things fall out so with that being said, once I get a good knockout over Colby Covington, I feel like I’m next to fight for that belt.”

  • Former UFC Star Nate Diaz Charged With Battery After Allegedly Striking Nightclub Employee

    Former UFC Star Nate Diaz Charged With Battery After Allegedly Striking Nightclub Employee

    Nate Diaz, the former UFC star, is in the spotlight once again following an alleged altercation earlier this year.

    Diaz has been charged with battery after reportedly striking a Las Vegas nightclub employee in the face during an incident at Omnia nightclub in Caesars Palace.

    According to court documents obtained by TMZ Sports, the alleged altercation occurred on Aug. 25, just after midnight. Witnesses told police that Diaz and his group were holding up the cashier line when a club security guard approached to assess the situation. Things escalated when the fighter reportedly pushed the guard. In response, the guard shoved Diaz back, prompting the ex-UFC star to allegedly strike him in the face with “an open right hand.”

    This account aligns with video footage that circulated on social media at the time. The video shows that Diaz engaged in a shoving match near the nightclub entrance before swiping at the guard’s face, knocking his glasses off.

    Court documents note that the two were separated by other security guards before police arrived, but the fighter had already left the scene.

    An arrest warrant was issued for the Stockton native, and the misdemeanor case against the 39-year-old is ongoing.

    Since his departure from the UFC after a victory over Tony Ferguson in 2022, Diaz has pursued boxing, competing in high-profile bouts against Jake Paul and Jorge Masvidal.

  • Muhammad Mokaev Gets Replacement Opponent On 2 Days’ Notice For First Fight Since UFC Exit

    Muhammad Mokaev will face a late-notice replacement opponent this week, keeping the date for his first outing since exiting the UFC intact.

    Mokaev enjoyed an undefeated run in the UFC during a three-year stint, rising up the ladder in a fashion that saw many predict potential championship glory in his future. And by getting the better of Manel Kape at UFC 304 in Manchester this past July, the Dagestan-born Brit appeared to be close to the front of the queue.

    But more than just being snubbed for Alexandre Pantoja’s subsequent title defense, “The Punisher” was eliminated from the equation altogether when the UFC opted not to renew his contract.

    The decision came after he struck Kape at a hotel during fight week, with UFC CEO Dana White suggesting a number of issues away from the cage left the matchmakers with negative views on the young fighter.

    After his push for an immediate Octagon return fell on deaf ears, Mokaev put pen to paper on a deal with his former organization, Brave Combat Federation. His debut was later confirmed for this weekend’s Brave CF 91 event in Bahrain.

    Disaster struck just days out from the card, with Mokaev’s opponent Luthando Biko withdrawing due to a health issue. Fortunately, it’s not taking long for Brave CF to secure a new foe, with Joevincent Soe stepping in for a 130-pound catchweight. The news was first reported by MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz.

    The 24-year-old didn’t address the news of his first opponent’s withdrawal himself, instead reposting a number of comments on X calling for his re-signing with the UFC in the aftermath of Pantoja’s submission victory over Kai Asakura this past weekend.

    “The Cannibal’s” UFC 310 triumph has left him short on fresh challenges to his reign in 2025, only adding to the confusion of many when it comes to the decision to let Mokaev go.

  • Renato Moicano Admits Disappointment At Beneil Dariush Matchup: ‘I Don’t Think It’s What I Deserve’

    Renato Moicano Admits Disappointment At Beneil Dariush Matchup: ‘I Don’t Think It’s What I Deserve’

    At UFC 311, Renato Moicano will look to earn the biggest win of his career by extending his current winning streak to five. “Money” has been on a great run of form since beating Brad Riddell in 2022, stopping Benoit Saint Denis in Paris last September to make a real dent in the lightweight rankings.

    On his return at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, he will face UFC veteran and 155-pound staple, Beneil Dariush. The #9-ranked contender may be coming off of back-to-back first round knockout losses but suffering setbacks to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan aren’t major red flags.

    This is especially true considering that his loss to Oliveira at UFC 289 broke his eight-fight winning streak which put him within reach of a title shot if he was able to get past “Do Bronx”. With Moicano being one spot behind him in the top 15, it seems that the Brazilian isn’t overjoyed about this particular matchup.

    Considering that he already has wins over two other ranked opponents, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see Moicano take on a much higher ranked contender next time out though that’s usually easier said than done when it comes to everything falling into place.

    Though he isn’t going to let it affect his preparations and mindset, he was very open and honest during his recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. Moicano often jokes about wanting easy money instead of tough opponents and clearly he considers Dariush someone that falls into the latter category.

    “Dariush, he’s a tough fighter. That is not what I was expecting and I don’t think it’s what I deserve, but who gives a f***. It’s a fight. Anything can happen and I don’t care who I’m fighting. I just have to be competitive and keep showing up.”

  • Robert Whittaker Gives Strickland ‘Props’ For Sticking To His Guns, Predicts Du Plessis Rematch

    Robert Whittaker Gives Strickland ‘Props’ For Sticking To His Guns, Predicts Du Plessis Rematch

    Just over a year on from their first meeting, middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and former titleholder Sean Strickland are set to meet in a rematch at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia. Following his bounce back win over Paulo Costa in June, Strickland has remained confident that he deserved the opportunity to fight for the title again.

    His first encounter with “Stillknocks” at UFC 297 went the way of the South African via a split decision and though the fight was close, there weren’t a ton of people calling for the rematch to take place. This was especially true following Khamzat Chimaev’s recent win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 where Du Plessis said himself that a matchup with the undefeated contender would excite him more than running it back with Strickland.

    In a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker gave his reaction to the fight announcement. The former champion took his hat off to Strickland for sticking to his guns and getting what he asked for even when it looked like it might slip away from him.

    “I’m surprised Sean just literally sat out. Like everyone was laughing at him when he said, ‘I’m going to sit out till I get my title shot.’ Dude straight up got a title shot, props for that. You got to give it him, guy like straight up stuck by what he said.”

    Despite this, Whittaker isn’t sure that Strickland will be able to make the adjustments needed to reclaim the middleweight title.

    “In my opinion, I don’t see the fight going any different. Du Plessis is such a dog in there, he’s going to come with the same aggressiveness and game plan. What could Sean do differently to change the outcome than last time? Okay because if we look at it, it doesn’t happen often but the challenger beats a champion by decision, okay. Du Plessis did that and now he’s a champion and that was a close first fight, you know what I mean. You see where I’m angling with this. I just don’t know what Sean can do differently to change the outcome from happening again.”

  • Molly McCann’s Return Announced For UFC London On March 22

    Molly McCann’s Return Announced For UFC London On March 22

    A series of official fight announcement’s for the UFC’s upcoming return to London, England have confirmed the Octagon return of Liverpool’s Molly McCann. “Meatball” is set to face Brazil’s Istela Nunes on March 22 at the O2 Arena in one of two strawweight bouts that are currently scheduled for the card.

    McCann fought twice in 2024 where she kicked off her year by recording the first submission win of her pro career against Diana Belbiţă in February. After breaking her two-fight skid, the 34-year old lost a unanimous decision to The Fighting Nerds’ Bruna Brasil at UFC 304 in July.

    This took her overall UFC record to 7-6 after being beaten by the better woman on the night. Her next opponent, Nunes, is in desperate need of a win if she’s going to keep her place on the strawweight roster.

    The former ONE Championship contender arrived in the UFC three years ago and in four outings, she is yet to get her hand raised inside the Octagon. Defeats to Ariane Carnelossi, Sam Hughes, Yazmin Jauregui and Victoria Dudakova have her coming into London with her back up against the wall.

    Her loss to Dudakova in July of 2023 ended in just over 30 seconds due to a dislocated elbow and Nunes hasn’t fought since. Several other fights were also confirmed for the card in this latest spree of announcements.

    Christian Leroy Duncan vs Andrey Pulyaev – middleweight

    Oumar Sy vs Alonzo Menifield – light heavyweight

    Shauna Bannon vs Puja Tomar – strawweight

  • Merab Dvalishvili Gets Support From UFC Veteran For Latest Fan Altercation: ‘Don’t F*ck With Pro Fighters!’

    Merab Dvalishvili Gets Support From UFC Veteran For Latest Fan Altercation: ‘Don’t F*ck With Pro Fighters!’

    UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has been involved in several altercations with fans in recent times. The latest instance came this past weekend at UFC 310 where a video showed him being separated away from a member of the crowd when he was walking to the back with his teammate, Aljamain Sterling.

    Dvalishvili has since shared a video on social media which suggests that the fan was a friend of Umar Nurmagomedov, who he will face at UFC 311 in his first title defense. This additional footage shows how the person grabbed him which kicked off the series of events that led to UFC fighter Dennis Buzukja trading punches with the man.

    Buzukja later explained that the fan had also been trying to antagonize the 135-pound titleholder on their way to the Octagon for Sterling’s contest against Movsar Evloev. One former member of the roster is able to specifically relate to this kind of situation given his own interactions with fans in the past.

    During the walk out for his fight against Demian Maia in Brazil back in 2016, Matt Brown was grabbed and hit by several people in the audience which led to him hitting back.

    In a recent episode of MMA Fighting’s Fighter vs. Writer, Brown reflected on this experience and stood by Dvalishvili for his response to being provoked.

    “I still say these fans, keep to your f*cking self, bro. You don’t f*ck with professional fighters. Most of us are martial artists that are respectful and stuff, but we’re also human beings and we’ll rip your f*cking throat out. Don’t f*ck with us. It’s stupid.

    “You can’t grab a professional. Someone touches me, I’m f*cking them up.”

    Brown also said that in the aftermath of his incident in Brazil, he wasn’t penalized for the altercation and the UFC looked to make changes to stop this kind of thing from happening.

    “I remember Dana [White] changed things after that,” Brown said. “I don’t know what exactly the changes were but basically talking about separating the fans a little bit more, particularly in Brazil, maybe having a little bit better security when guys are walking out. I was right there in touching range, and they were hitting me and pulling my hat off.

    “I’m not just going to sit here and take this, plus I’m completely fired up ready to walk into a fight. You get hit, it’s a natural reaction — you hit someone back.”

  • Michael ‘Venom’ Page: UFC 310 Version Of Rakhmonov Would Get ‘Munched’ By Muhammad

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page: UFC 310 Version Of Rakhmonov Would Get ‘Munched’ By Muhammad

    UFC welterweight Michael “Venom” Page believes Shavkat Rakhmonov will have to be a lot better than he was this past weekend if he’s to successfully dethrone Belal Muhammad.

    Rakhmonov successfully defended his top contender status at the UFC 310 pay-per-view on Dec. 7, a date that was originally set to mark his first title shot on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    The undefeated Kazakh saw his opportunity fall through when an injury ruled Muhammad out, and he was instead tasked with stalling Ian Garry’s hopes of leapfrogging him to the front of the queue.

    He did so on the night but had to overcome plenty of adversity to have his hand raised after five rounds of action inside the T-Mobile Arena.

    The competitive nature of the bout has led many to different conclusions, be it Garry being more elite than some had thought or “Nomad” underperforming.

    During a UFC 310 reaction video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Page fell on the latter side of that.

    The former Bellator standout suggested that the reigning welterweight champ would have enjoyed a comfortable first title defense opposite the iteration of Rakhmonov that made the walk in Las Vegas this past weekend.

    “Shavkat couldn’t get anything. Rakhmonov’s fitness and muscular endurance definitely let him down. His balance seems to be very off. This was definitely, by far, not the best Rakhmonov we’ve seen,” Page said. “Although he’s won it, I think anybody looking at this will look at him like, ‘Yeah, I can beat this guy.’

    “Not saying he’s not dangerous. You can see he’s definitely a dangerous person. But this wasn’t good. This wasn’t his best performance,” Page continued. “A hundred percent now, this Shavkat here, if he had fought Belal, Belal was munching him, yamming him for breakfast.”

    Had things turned out differently in the summer, “MVP” could have been the one sharing the cage with Rakhmonov at this year’s final PPV. The Londoner was narrowly outpointed by the Irishman at UFC 303 in June, moving him to an even 1-1 record since joining the promotion in late 2023.

    While he and Garry looked ahead to their respective opportunities to return to the win column in 2025, Rakhmonov will have his eyes on nothing but Muhammad and the champ’s belt.

  • Report: Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo Added To UFC 313 In Las Vegas On March 12

    Report: Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo Added To UFC 313 In Las Vegas On March 12

    Fights deeper into next year’s calendar are beginning to come together, including the first for the Las Vegas-held UFC 313 pay-per-view.

    After opening its year with numbered events in Los Angeles and Sydney, PPV action will hit the T-Mobile Arena for the first time on March 12. And per Ag. Fight, the first addition to the lineup will be an important one in the context of the strawweight division.

    A month after 115-pound queen Zhang Weili puts her gold on the line opposite Tatiana Suarez, the charging Iasmin Lucindo (17-5) will look to stake her claim for the next shot when she gets the chance to leap into the top five at the expense of Amanda Lemos (14-4-1) at UFC 313.

    Lemos will be looking to bounce back at UFC 313, having been submitted by another Brazilian standout in Virna Jandiroba this past July. That result has left her 1-1 since a failed title bid against Zhang in August 2023. Her 2024 opened with a decision victory over Mackenzie Dern.

    Lucindo, meanwhile, has established herself as one of the promotion’s most promising prospects since impressing in defeat on debut versus Yazmin Jauregui. She’s since won four on the bounce, including key triumphs over Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Marina Rodriguez to climb to #7 in the rankings this year.

  • Paddy Pimblett Gives Enthusiastic Reaction To Ilia Topuria’s Lightweight Claim: ‘New Blood?’

    Paddy Pimblett Gives Enthusiastic Reaction To Ilia Topuria’s Lightweight Claim: ‘New Blood?’

    UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett appears ready to renew hostilities with featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria.

    Pimblett and Topuria developed a sudden feud in 2022 after the latter took offense to remarks made about Georgia by the Liverpool native. They almost came to blows at the fighter hotel ahead of their respective matchups on a UFC Fight Night card in London.

    At the time, the pair appeared to be on a collision course. Since then, however, “El Matador” has moved clear of “The Baddy” when it comes to UFC status, dropping to 145 pounds and capturing the crowd. Knockouts of Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in 2024 have left him a leading candidate for the Fighter of the Year accolade.

    2025, however, could see a major career switch for Topuria, who recently outlined his plan to vacate the 145-pound gold and permanently return to lightweight.

    And it didn’t take long for Pimblett to take notice…

    “New blood at 155?” Pimblett wrote on Instagram.

    The Scouser still has some places to make up on the 155-pound ladder to put himself in the conversation for a clash against Topuria.

    With champion Islam Makhachev preoccupied dealing with the threat posed by Arman Tsarukyan, “El Matador” has called for a title eliminator opposite the #2-ranked Charles Oliveira.

    Pimblett, meanwhile, sits 11 places lower than “do Bronx” in the pecking order, with his most recent wins coming over Tony Ferguson and King Green.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Threatens Dagestan Visit To ‘Slap’ Umar Nurmagomedov: ‘If He Doesn’t Apologize…’

    Merab Dvalishvili Threatens Dagestan Visit To ‘Slap’ Umar Nurmagomedov: ‘If He Doesn’t Apologize…’

    The tension between UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov shows no sign of decreasing ahead of their upcoming title fight.

    Dvalishvili recently had his first defense since capturing the 135-pound crown at the expense of Sean O’Malley added to the calendar. Four months on from his triumph inside the Sphere, the Georgian will head to Los Angeles to do battle with an undefeated contender.

    “The Machine” is set to co-headline next month’s year-opening UFC 311 pay-per-view opposite Nurmagomedov, who has gotten his wish to compete for the gold despite the champ previously dismissing his worthiness when it came to a championship opportunity.

    Dvalishvili’s repeated attempts to pitch alternative fights drew plenty of backlash from the Dagestani online, and it would appear that the remarks have not been forgotten…

    That much was evident when the pair almost came to blows backstage at last week’s UFC 311 press conference in Las Vegas before trading verbal barbs on stage.

    And during an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Dvalishvili further addressed his growing disdain for his challenger. He stated that Nurmagomedov needs to say sorry for what he perceived as disrespect or he would be getting “slapped,” even if it means the Georgian heading to Dagestan or facing consequences such as prison.

    “If you come to my face and if you disrespect me, you’re going to get slapped,” Dvalishvili said. “Don’t try that because I’m a man and I will never forgive you, even if I have to go to jail. I don’t care, man. I have so much to lose. I don’t care [about] this belt, I don’t care [about] this money, I don’t care [about] this legacy. I’m a man, I live in a respectful way, and that’s all I believe.

    “Especially now I’m a U S. citizen, I can f***ing fight, beat the s*** out of these motherf***ers and I have no problem to pay the bill, ticket, or go to jail. Because I don’t care. Don’t disrespect me,” Dvalishvili continued. “He may get a slap after the fight. … The fight in the Octagon is not a real fight, it’s a sport. Yeah, [the fight will continue] if Umar does not apologize. … It’s going to happen, even if I have to go in Dagestan, I will go.”

    It remains to be seen whether Dvalishvili will deliver on that threat, but the Georgian’s frequent altercations with fans at events — the most recent of which happened just this past weekend at UFC 310 — suggests “The Machine” won’t hold bak outside of the cage if he feels disrespected.

    Regardless, it’s safe to say that the build-up toward their collision at the Intuit Dome on Jan. 18 will continue to be a heated one.

  • Dricus Du Plessis On UFC Dismissing His Chimaev Preference For Next Defense: ‘Just For Clarification…’ 

    Dricus Du Plessis On UFC Dismissing His Chimaev Preference For Next Defense: ‘Just For Clarification…’ 

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis insists he is not “unhappy” about the promotion’s decision regarding his next challenger.

    During this past weekend’s pay-per-view broadcast, it was announced that Du Plessis will return to Australia — the site of his successful first defense against Israel Adesanya in August — to headline UFC 312 at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.

    Against him will be former champ Sean Strickland, who staked his claim for a chance at redemption opposite the man who dethroned him this past January when he outpointed Paulo Costa in a lackluster affair four months later. But while his shot has ultimately come to fruition, there was some doubt prior to the recent reveal.

    The undefeated Khamzat Chimaev ran through Robert Whittaker in quick time at UFC 308 in October, garnering support for his claim to the next opportunity at Du Plessis’ belt. Even the champ himself made it clear that he favored a first-time clash with “Borz.”

    But although that evidently fell on deaf ears, the South African says he’s more than happy to beat whomever the UFC places in front of him.

    “Just for clarification, I preferred the Khamzat fight but the rematch is a fight most wanted before Khamzat vs (Whittaker),” Du Plessis wrote on X. “I’m not unhappy with the UFC’s decision. Like I said, I’ll fight the man fans think is the next best guy he was promised the fight so Strickland it is.”

    He did, however, reiterate his belief that Strickland is not truly deserving of the shot at UFC 312 in response to a commenter.

    “I have to agree with you on that one”

    After falling on the right side of a split decision to capture the crown at Strickland’s expense in Canada, “Stillknocks” continued to prove his doubters wrong by submitting former two-time champ Adesanya at UFC 305.

    Du Plessis will now look to secure a more definitive victory over Strickland to extend his lead in their rivalry to 2-0, before likely turning attention to Chimaev later in the year.

  • Jan Błachowicz Set To Return After 20-Month Layoff At UFC London In 2025

    Jan Błachowicz Set To Return After 20-Month Layoff At UFC London In 2025

    The first fights are in for next March’s UFC Fight Night in London, and one includes the return of former light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz.

    After staging its United Kingdom event in Manchester this past July, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will head back to England’s capital in the first quarter of 2025, with London’s O2 arena once again playing host to Octagon action.

    A main event is yet to be announced, and a number of home favorites are expected to make the walk in front of their compatriots. The first major announcement, however, will pit a Polish ex-titleholder against a charging New Zealander.

    The UFC announced this week that Błachowicz’s (29-10-1) lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury will come to a close 20 months on from his most recent appearance — a narrow decision loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 291.

    On March 22, the #4-ranked contender will attempt to defend his position in the top five opposite the surging Carlos Ulberg (11-1). That fight was announced alongside another, with English heavyweight Mick Parkin set for a big opportunity against a veteran of the top 10 in Marcin Tybura on home soil.

    Prior to his tight loss to then-future and now-reigning light heavyweight champion Pereira, Błachowicz failed to regain the 205-pound gold against Magomed Ankalaev, whom he fought to a draw against in the main event of UFC 282.

    Ulberg, meanwhile, hasn’t tasted defeat since a UFC debut defeat to Kennedy Nzechukwu in 2021. Since then, “Black Jag” has won six fights consecutively, most recently outpointing former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Macau late last month.

  • Aljamain Sterling Admits Questioning Fighting Future After UFC 310 Loss: ‘I Don’t Want To Retire, But…’

    Aljamain Sterling Admits Questioning Fighting Future After UFC 310 Loss: ‘I Don’t Want To Retire, But…’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling finds himself at a crossroads following a loss to Movsar Evloev at UFC 310.

    The defeat marked a turning point after a brief resurgence in his career, fueled by a notable victory over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300 this past April. That win had temporarily revived Sterling’s momentum after losing his bantamweight title to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 in 2023.

    Now, having had his push for two-division glory stalled, Sterling is openly questioning his future in mixed martial arts.

    Reflecting on his career trajectory during a YouTube video, “Funk Master” expressed uncertainty about whether he has the motivation to “climb the ladder all over again” in pursuit of the belt. Instead, he is contemplating alternative paths, including supporting his teammates or focusing on high-profile, entertaining matchups.

    “Do I continue, or do I just help out the guys and help them get ready for their fights, and maybe just take fun fights? I don’t know,” Sterling said. “I don’t want to retire, but I’ve got to see what the UFC offers and then kind of make a decision from there to see where my positioning is.

    “It’s tough to even talk like this because I’m only 35,” Sterling continued. “I know people think I still look good and everything, but my body hurts.”

    Sterling acknowledged that his training regimen has evolved as his body no longer endures the intensity it once did. He admitted that the grueling schedule of training three times a day may have given him an edge in his prime — one he feels is harder to maintain now.

  • Michael Chiesa Reveals Record He Wants To Break After UFC 310 win

    Michael Chiesa Reveals Record He Wants To Break After UFC 310 win

    Michael Chiesa is riding high after a submission victory over Max Griffin this past Saturday at UFC 310.

    The win marked the continuance of a significant turnaround for the veteran, who had previously been on a three-fight losing skid from 2021 to 2023 that raised doubts about his future in the sport. This resurgence began in August when Chiesa submitted Tony Ferguson, and he added another milestone by becoming the first fighter to submit Griffin.

    With his latest victory, “Maverick” now boasts seven rear-naked choke wins in the UFC, just two behind the all-time record of nine held by grappling legend Demian Maia. Reflecting on his accomplishment, Chiesa expressed his determination to surpass the Brazilian’s record.

    “I saw that I tied Kenny Florian with seven rear-naked choke finishes – now I’ve got to chase down the great Demian Maia and try to get past nine,” Chiesa said during the UFC 310 post-fight press conference. “It just created another little goal for me.

    “Obviously, the goal remains the same for me: I want to be the world champion. Otherwise, what’s the point of fighting? If you don’t think you’re the best in the world, if you’re not going to chase the title, what the hell are you doing it for?”

    The night before UFC 310, Chiesa achieved another milestone by earning his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Adding to the significance of the occasion, the event also took place on his birthday. Chiesa described the experience as a career highlight and expressed satisfaction with his performance.

  • Daniel Cormier On ‘Weird’ Muhammad-Rakhmonov UFC 310 Faceoff: ‘I Don’t Think It Served The Purpose That You Want’

    Daniel Cormier On ‘Weird’ Muhammad-Rakhmonov UFC 310 Faceoff: ‘I Don’t Think It Served The Purpose That You Want’

    Daniel Cormier has joined many fight fans in critiquing the staredown between UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, describing the moment as underwhelming.

    The faceoff took place after Rakhmonov’s victory over Ian Garry, which positioned him as the next contender for Muhammad’s title. The originally planned headliner between “Remember the Name” and “Nomad” was canceled after the champ withdrew due to a toe infection.

    When Muhammad was finally allowed inside the Octagon for the staredown, the interaction remained respectful, which Cormier felt lacked the intensity needed to hype the fight.

    “I’ve got to be honest. It was weird,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “I don’t love faceoffs when you have a translator, especially when Belal, as much as people want to hate him, he’s not a disrespectful guy. So it doesn’t make that moment that you’re looking for when you bring a champion into the ring.”

    Cormier compared the moment to other notable post-fight interactions, highlighting the promotional value that was missing.

    “When (Alexander Volkanovski) came in after (Ilia) Topuria beat Max (Holloway), they shook hands and they left. It was very respectful. But you understood what they were saying. When (Sean) O’Malley was in there, and he was about to fight Aljo (Aljamain Sterling) for the belt, Merab (Dvalishvili) takes the jacket, that makes a memory. This tonight, I don’t think it served the purpose that you want, as a promotion, in regards to what you’re going to do to try to build that fight.”

    While the staredown was meant to ignite anticipation for their potential title fight, Cormier believes the lack of drama or significant engagement may have fallen short of its promotional goal.

  • Alex Pereira Explains Major Edge Jon Jones Has Over Tom Aspinall

    Alex Pereira Explains Major Edge Jon Jones Has Over Tom Aspinall

    Alex Pereira has shared his thoughts on the ongoing situation involving UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and his potential next opponent.

    Jones has expressed interest in fighting the UFC light heavyweight champ rather than interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall. While “Bones” sees this matchup as the most compelling, UFC CEO Dana White appears less enthusiastic, believing Jones would have a significant advantage over the smaller fighter.

    Some fight fans echo Jones’ preference, considering it the best fight to make. Pereira, meanwhile, has welcomed the idea of a showdown with Jones. But should Aspinall get the nod, “Poatan” recently acknowledged the challenges he would face due to Jones’ extensive experience.

    “I think Jon Jones has a lot of experience on his side,” Pereira told TNT Sports. “Some people say, ‘Aspinall this, Aspinall that,’ but it comes down to experience. Jon Jones is a seasoned guy. He’s been there, so I think he wins.”

    Pereira also spoke about his own desire to face Jones.

    “Everybody knows my interest in fighting him, and I was happy to see the initiative he had to speak that on the microphone, to express to everybody that he wants to fight me,” Pereira said. “We both want it, but it doesn’t come down to us. We have to see what plans the organization has for us.”

    https://youtu.be/WzA8Z6_WIPQ

    As the UFC deliberates on Jones’ next fight, the possibility of a clash between two champions continues to fuel speculation and fan debate.