MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Tom Aspinall Reveals What Surprised Him Most About Watching Jon Jones Up Close

    Tom Aspinall Reveals What Surprised Him Most About Watching Jon Jones Up Close

    Tom Aspinall claims that it wasn’t his intention to make the UFC 309 fight week about him even if he was weighing in as the back-up fighter. The main event at Madison Square Garden featured two of the greatest champions in the history of the promotion colliding for the very first time and yet, a lot of the talk was about the Brit.

    From Jones walking out of interviews to Aspinall chants at the press conference, the presence of the interim champion was clearly felt in New York. After successfully weighing in as the back-up, once it was clear that he wouldn’t be needed, he changed his focus.

    His new goal was to enjoy the fights and watch the man that could be his next opponent if he gets the fight that he wants. Everyone who has been an MMA fan for some time will have seen Jones fight before because he’s been at the top for so long.

    However, Aspinall was able to leave the world’s most famous arena with some new observations after watching the GOAT live and in the flesh. In a recent episode of Tom Aspinall’s Fight Lab on TNT Sports, he broke down his main takeaways from the fight.

    The interim champ highlighted one aspect of the fight that he didn’t see coming, crediting Jones’ aura in the cage and Miocic’s age as the reason why “Bones” was able to dictate the action.

    “Something that surprised me sitting up close was the footwork. Maybe not the footwork as such but just the constant forward motion of Jon Jones and Stipe was just kind of left to go side-to-side with his feet constantly. He was never really on the front foot which is surprising because Stipe is a natural heavyweight, Jon Jones obviously coming up from light heavy. I wouldn’t think that Jon would have the prowess in the Octagon to push him back constantly which I was pretty surprised by.”   

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3gGqrhbfng
  • Ian Garry Outlines ‘Ideal Scenario’ For UFC 310 & Beyond: ‘Take Out Shavkat Early…’

    Ian Garry Outlines ‘Ideal Scenario’ For UFC 310 & Beyond: ‘Take Out Shavkat Early…’

    Ian Garry is setting his sights on a quick finish against Shavkat Rakhmonov in their upcoming showdown, with a strategy for making a lightning-fast return to the Octagon.

    Garry is slated to face Rakhmonov in a crucial five-round welterweight clash that s expected to determine the next title challenger. This highly anticipated showdown is set as the co-main event of UFC 310, taking place on Dec. 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    “The Future” was never part of the original lineup to co-headline the UFC’s final pay-per-view event of the year. Garry had been scheduled to face Joaquin Buckley at the UFC Fight Night in Tampa on Dec. 14. The Irishman stepped up on short notice when reigning 170-pound champion Belal Muhammad withdrew from his title defense against “Nomad” due to a bone infection.

    Consequently, Colby Covington was enlisted as an eleventh-hour substitute to fill the void left by Garry’s departure, stepping in to face Buckley in a reshuffled matchup.

    “Chaos” has been firmly on Garry’s radar for nearly a year, with both fighters sharing a simmering animosity that has only fueled their rivalry. This tension drives “The Future” to aim for a swift and injury-free victory over Rakhmonov this Saturday, paving the way for a hypothetical return the following weekend to finally settle the score with the former UFC interim champion.

    During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Garry said that, following a possible victory over Rakhmonov, he plans to approach the UFC’s top brass with a bold request.

    “Here is my ideal scenario,” Garry said. “I go out there Dec. 7 and I take out Shavkat early. I come out of there unscathed and uninjured. I get on the mic and say, ‘Hey, I could wait until next year when Belal Muhammad is back. Or… Dana [White], Hunter [Campbell], UFC, I could walk my ass all the way down to Florida, and I could beat the bollocks out of Colby Covington for 25 minutes, and I can prove how good I am next week.’

    “I would love to beat Shavkat, and the following week fight in the main event in Tampa and bury Colby Covington and leave him dead and done in the Octagon, never to be seen again.”

    Garry enters the UFC 310 bout on the heels of a dominant unanimous decision victory over Michael ‘Venom’ Page at UFC 303 this past June. The win marked his second triumph of the year and extended his impressive streak to eight consecutive victories inside the Octagon.

  • Sean O’Malley Shuts Down Petr Yan’s Rematch Request, Keeps Sights On Merab Dvalishvili

    Sean O’Malley Shuts Down Petr Yan’s Rematch Request, Keeps Sights On Merab Dvalishvili

    Sean O’Malley appears to have nothing in his crosshairs except redemption opposite UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili next year.

    O’Malley was thrust off the throne in emphatic fashion by Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 306 at the Sphere this past September, bringing an end to his reign in its second defense.

    “Sugar” subsequently headed for surgery to repair a torn labrum and is targeting a return in the first or second quarter of 2025. And he was recently called out by a familiar foe for his comeback fight.

    “I would lean towards a rematch with Sean O’Malley,” Petr Yan told Ariel Helwani. “I don’t know what’s going on with him. He’s out for nine or 12 months, so maybe he got pregnant.”

    Yan’s comments come after he made it two wins from two in 2024 by outpointing Deiveson Figueiredo in Macau. While he’s gone back and forth with Dvalishvili over a rematch for the title, Umar Nurmagomedov is widely seen as the deserving next in line at 135 pounds.

    With that in mind, the Russian may need to look elsewhere for his next assignment. And judging by O’Malley’s reaction to his request for a redo, his door has been firmly shut for “No Mercy.”

    “I predict it will be early Q2. Against Merab. Thanks for asking,” O’Malley wrote in his response on X.

    O’Malley has repeatedly outlined his intention to return straight into a shot at avenging his decision defeat to “The Machine.”

    With the timeline for Nurmagomedov’s expected maiden title opportunity still uncertain as the year approaches its conclusion, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for both O’Malley and Yan in 2025.

  • Vicente Luque Admits Nick Diaz Withdrawal Has Left Him With UFC 310 Bout That ‘Makes More Sense’ 

    Vicente Luque Admits Nick Diaz Withdrawal Has Left Him With UFC 310 Bout That ‘Makes More Sense’ 

    When it comes to achieving his ongoing goals in the UFC, welterweight Vicente Luque believes he’s in line to be better placed following the withdrawal of Nick Diaz.

    Luque, a veteran contender who has slipped to #14 in the rankings following three losses in his last four fights, will make his return on the preliminary card of this weekend’s UFC 310 pay-per-view.

    “The Silent Assassin” is tasked with defending his spot on the ladder against the charging Themba Gorimbo, who has won four straight since a loss on debut in the UFC early last year.

    The Brazilian was originally slated to appear opposite Diaz, marking their second attempt at sharing the cage in 2024. The pair previously had a clash at the UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi this past August called off, with visa issues on the side of the Stockton native being branded the reason.

    Their rescheduled booking also fell through shortly after a concerning video emerged that appeared to show Diaz attempting to light grass on fire in the street.

    While fans and fighters alike express worry over Diaz’s status, Luque has a new foe in his sights. And although his new matchup isn’t quite as prominent following his high-profile opponent pulling out, “The Silent Assassin” sees a silver lining.

    “Nick brought a lot of that hype from the fans,” Luque said during an interview with MMA Fighting. “When I look to the UFC, there are a lot of things that can push you over. Maybe the biggest of all is hype, and I think the Nick fight brought that. Now, when I look at this fight, from a sportive side, it makes way more sense.

    “It’s a challenge, a good guy who is coming hungry for the victory, and he wants to enter the rankings,” Luque continued. “I’m here to defend my position and at the same time show I’m still going for the top, gunning to become champion. This fight brings that.”

    Luque will now look to make the most of his opportunity to stall the rise of an in-form prospect and prove that he’s still got plenty to give toward the top of the standings at 170 pounds.

  • Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues In The Works For UFC Fight Night Main Event On Feb. 15

    Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues In The Works For UFC Fight Night Main Event On Feb. 15

    High-profile fights are beginning to come together for 2025, and the latest report places longtime middleweight contender Jared Cannonier in another UFC Fight Night main event.

    Cannonier (17-8), who sits alongside Conor McGregor as one of two fighters to have recorded knockout victories in three different weight classes, has slipped down the pecking order at 185 pounds.

    A controversial stoppage loss to Nassourdine Imavov and decision defeat in a Fight of the Night with Caio Borralho has seen “The Killa Gorilla” go 0-2 in 2024. Having fallen to his first losing skid as a middleweight, the #8-ranked Cannonier is in need of a rebound performance next year to maintain his spot inside the top 10.

    And per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, that’ll come in a fifth consecutive main event for the 40-year-old, this time opposite a first-time headliner in Gregory Rodrigues (16-5) at the Apex-held UFC Fight Night on Feb. 15.

    Rodrigues has gained a reputation as an all-action fighter at 185 pounds since debuting following LFA championship success three years ago.

    While losses to Armen Petrosyan and Brunno Ferreira stalled his rise, “Robocop” is currently on his best UFC run to date, having won three straight over Denis Tiuliulin, Brad Tavares, and Christian Leroy Duncan.

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

    • Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight main event)
    • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (welterweight)
    • Juliana Miller vs. Carli Judice (women’s flyweight)
    • Jacob Malkoun vs. Rodolfo Vieira (middleweight)
    • Julia Avila vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (women’s bantamweight)
    • Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews (featherweight)
    • Billy Goff vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (welterweight)
  • Khamzat Chimaev Reacts To Ian Garry’s Middleweight Plan: ‘You’re Too Skinny!’

    Khamzat Chimaev Reacts To Ian Garry’s Middleweight Plan: ‘You’re Too Skinny!’

    Undefeated UFC middleweight Khamzat Chimaev evidently isn’t taking Ian Garry’s 185-pound ambitions too seriously.

    Garry’s current focus is on rising the ranks at 170 pounds en route to the gold. The next step on that journey comes this weekend when he co-headlines the UFC 310 pay-per-view opposite top contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    Fittingly, “The Future” has never been on to avoid looking into the future. And when it comes to his plan post-Dec. 7, the Irishman has more than one belt in mind.

    “I’m a young kid who’s dreamed of being here, who wanted to see his face on billboards.” Garry told Ariel Helwani this week. “(I) wanted to do shows against the scariest people in the world. I’ve said to you before, how my ideal scenario is I fight and beat Shavkat, and then win the welterweight title. I go up to middleweight, I fight Khamzat and win that belt too.

    “I’m not afraid of any man. I know how talented I am. I know the gifts God gave me,” Garry added.

    It didn’t take long for the middleweight specifically named by Garry while he became the latest expressing two-division goals to give his thoughts.

    Taking to social media, Chimaev sent the unbeaten Dublin native a stern warning.

    “@ianagaryy You’re too skinny kid, don’t go near the Wolf’s teeth, you’ll end up headless,” Chimaev wrote on X.

    While Chimaev rose into title contention at welterweight, struggles to hit the 171-pound limit resulted in a permanent move to 185 pounds. He’s since thrived, defeating both Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker to rise to #3 on the divisional ladder.

    With “Borz” widely expected to challenge for Dricus du Plessis’ gold next, the Chechen star could well occupy the throne by the time Garry has the chance to realize his middleweight aspirations.

    First things first, though, Garry has another undefeated phenom to handle at T-Mobile Arena this Saturday night.

  • UFC Veteran: Aljamain Sterling & Chris Weidman Being On UFC 310 Prelims ‘Feels Like They’re Demoted’

    UFC Veteran: Aljamain Sterling & Chris Weidman Being On UFC 310 Prelims ‘Feels Like They’re Demoted’

    Former UFC champions Aljamain Sterling and Chris Weidman will both compete on the preliminary card of Saturday’s UFC 310 event, a decision that has sparked debate among fighters and fans alike.

    Sterling, a former bantamweight champion, is set to face featherweight contender Movsar Evloev. Ex-middleweight king Weidman, meanwhile, takes on Eryk Anders. The placement has left Sterling particularly puzzled, as he expected a higher-profile slot at the event.

    The issue of card placement was a topic on the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, where former UFC fighter Matt Brown shared insight into how such decisions impact fighters’ morale.

    Brown explained that being on the prelims often feels like a demotion, particularly for established veterans and former champions.

    “When they put us on the prelims, you feel like you’re kind of demoted,” Brown said.

    He elaborated on the stark difference in atmosphere, noting the impact of performing in front of smaller crowds compared to the energy of a packed arena later in the event.

    “Especially when you’ve got a guy like Chris Weidman, who’s a former champion, and Aljamain Sterling, who’s a former champion. They feel like they’re demoted. I guarantee. I feel that way when I’d get put on the prelims. Like you don’t care about me as much. Like you think I’m on my way out.”

    Brown underscored that every fighter aims to climb the card toward main events, as those slots reflect respect and relevance in the promotion. For veterans like Sterling and Weidman, prelim placement at UFC 310 may feel like a sign the promotion sees their careers winding down.

    The conversation around card placement highlights a deeper issue in how fighters’ legacies are perceived and celebrated within the UFC. As Sterling and Weidman prepare for their bouts at UFC 310, the debate continues over whether their preliminary card placement is a missed opportunity to showcase their enduring star power.

  • Report: Mackenzie Dern To Headline First UFC Event Of 2025

    Report: Mackenzie Dern To Headline First UFC Event Of 2025

    UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern’s next fight will no longer be a year-ending clash in Tampa — it’ll be a year-opening assignment in Las Vegas.

    Dern (14-5) has had an inconsistent run in recent years and entered her most recent outing in Abu Dhabi this past August off the back of consecutive losses at the hands of Jéssica Andrade and Amanda Lemos.

    But the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist successfully avoided the first three-fight losing skid of her career, outpointing Loopy Godinez to return to winning ways. And Dern initially looked set for the chance to end the year on a streak.

    She was booked for the opportunity to avenge her first professional defeat in a rematch with Amanda Ribas (13-5) at the UFC Fight Night in Tampa next weekend. The Brazilian is currently ranked two places below Dern at #8.

    Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, however, that second dance has been pushed back and will instead now top the lineup for UFC Vegas 101 at the Apex on Jan. 11.

    For Ribas, the rematch will mark her return to 115 pounds after suffering defeat to Rose Namajunas last time out at flyweight, another division in which she occupies a spot inside the top 10.

    In her last appearance as a strawweight, the 31-year-old stopped Luana Pinheiro in highlight reel fashion with a late spinning wheel kick. She’s riding back-to-back wins in the weight class, having previously got the better of a top-five contender in Virna Jandiroba.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC Vegas 101 on Jan. 11 are as follows:

    • Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas (women’s strawweight main event)
    • Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov (middleweight)
    • Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Carlston Harris (welterweight)
    • Thiago Moisés vs. Trey Ogden (lightweight)
    • Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. César Almeida (middleweight)
    • Austin Bashi vs. Christian Rodriguez (featherweight)
    • Nurullo Aliev vs. Yanal Ashmouz (lightweight)
    • Ernesta Kareckaite vs. Nicolle Caliari (women’s flyweight)
    • Punahele Soriano vs. Uroš Medić (welterweight)
    • Jose Johnson vs. Felipe Bunes (flyweight)
    • Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Bruno Lopes (light heavyweight)
    • Andreas Gustafsson vs. Preston Parsons (welterweight)
    • Victoria Dudakova vs. Fatima Kline (women’s strawweight)
  • Charles Oliveira To Corner Ian Garry For UFC 310 Co-Main Event

    Charles Oliveira To Corner Ian Garry For UFC 310 Co-Main Event

    Ian Garry will be benefiting from Charles Oliveira’s expertise during his high-stakes bout on Saturday.

    “The Future” is set to clash with fellow unbeaten star Shavkat Rakhmonov in a welterweight battle that could determine the next title contender. The five-round showdown will take the spotlight as the co-main event of UFC 310 on Dec. 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    With title implications hanging in the balance, Garry is sparing no effort in preparing for what is arguably the biggest fight of his career. To bolster his chances, the rising Irishman will have former UFC lightweight champion Oliveira in his corner this weekend.

    During a recent Q&A video on his YouTube channel, “The Future” showered praise on “do Bronx,” his training partner at Brazil’s renowned Chute Boxe Academy. He also revealed that the Brazilian veteran will bring his wealth of knowledge to steer him through the highly anticipated bout against Rakhmonov.

    “Charles ‘Do Bronx’ — man’s never been in an unentertaining fight. He’s an absolute savage. I love him, and he’s going to be in my corner for this fight.”

    Garry was originally poised to headline the UFC Fight Night in Tampa on Dec. 14, taking on Joaquin Buckley. However, when reigning welterweight champion Belal Muhammad had to pull out of the UFC 310 main event due to a bone infection, “The Future” didn’t hesitate to step up and agreed to face Rakhmonov on short notice.

    UFC 310 will mark Garry’s third appearance in the Octagon this year. Fresh off a unanimous decision victory over Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 303 in June, he enters the fight with an unblemished 8-0 promotional record.

  • Ciryl Gane Turns The Tables On Claim He Rejected Tom Aspinall Fight

    Ciryl Gane has expressed his willingness to face Tom Aspinall in the Octagon, a matchup he claims could have even materialized earlier this year.

    The two heavyweight stars were linked for a potential fight over the summer, with Aspinall suggesting Gane declined a bout at UFC 304 in July. Instead, the Brit fought Curtis Blaydes, securing a first-round TKO victory to retain the interim heavyweight title.

    Coach Fernand Lopez later confirmed that Gane turned down the summer fight due to prior commitments with a Netflix movie project.

    The Frenchman has now clarified that no fight offer involving Aspinall was presented to him for September. “Bon Gamin” even countered Aspinall’s claims, alleging that Aspinall declined a potential matchup in March.

    “Yeah, yeah, of course, for March – but it was not possible,” Gane said during an interview on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned. “He said I refused him in September, but the UFC didn’t propose me any contract with him [for that time]. Like I’ve said, I’m looking for the best opportunities for myself, and he’s doing the same. The UFC knows this is a fight I want.”

    Despite the back and forth, Gane believes a clash with Aspinall is inevitable.

    For now, his focus is on his upcoming fight against Alexander Volkov at UFC 310. The event takes place this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where Gane aims to strengthen his position in the heavyweight division.

  • Ian Garry Reveals Shavkat Rakhmonov’s High Praise Ahead Of UFC 310 Clash

    Ian Garry Reveals Shavkat Rakhmonov’s High Praise Ahead Of UFC 310 Clash

    Ian Garry is claiming that Shavkat Rakhmonov holds him in such high esteem that he recognizes championship potential within him.

    Both undefeated fighters are poised to collide in a five-round welterweight showdown, expected to determine the next title challenger. The high-stakes bout is set to serve as the co-main event for UFC 310 on Dec. 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    “The Future” was originally slated to headline the UFC Fight Night in Tampa on Dec. 14 against Joaquin Buckley. However, with reigning 170-pound champion Belal Muhammad withdrawing from the UFC 310 main event due to a bone infection, he swiftly answered the call to face Rakhmonov on short notice.

    Garry and Rakhmonov are no strangers to each other’s skills and strengths, having previously shared training sessions at the renowned Kill Cliff FC gym in Florida.

    During the UFC 310 Countdown show, Garry mentioned that Kill Cliff FC head coach Henri Hooft relayed Rakhmonov’s view that the Irishman possesses championship potential, though he made it clear it wouldn’t be at the cost of his own goals.

    “Me and Shavkat trained a lot together,” Garry said. “I think he’s a phenomenal fighter. Henri Hooft told me Shavkat Rakhmonov and him had a conversation, and he said ‘Shavkat knows you’re going to be the champion one day. But he says ‘Me first and him later.’ So. It’s unfortunate that one of us is going to have to lose. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that he’s not getting his hand raised.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCRcpPPERSA

    “The Future” is riding high after securing a commanding unanimous decision win over Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 303 in June, pushing his perfect promotional record to 8-0.

    Meanwhile, “Nomad” boasts an unblemished 6-0 streak in the UFC, making his comeback after more than a year away from the Octagon. His last appearance was a submission victory over Stephen Thompson at UFC 296 in December 2023.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Foresees Future Title Defense Against Charles Oliveira: ‘I Would Like To Finish Him’

    Arman Tsarukyan Foresees Future Title Defense Against Charles Oliveira: ‘I Would Like To Finish Him’

    Top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan believes his story with Charles Oliveira is far from complete.

    Islam Makhachev’s highly anticipated lightweight title defense against Tsarukyan is expected to headline UFC 311 on Jan. 18. While the UFC has yet to officially confirm the matchup, excitement among fans is already building.

    Both Makhachev and Tsarukyan have crossed paths with former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, who suffered defeats to each. The Brazilian lost to Makhachev via submission in their title bout at UFC 280 and fell to Tsarukyan by decision at UFC 300 this past April.

    Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the expected showdown, Tsarukyan expressed an eagerness to solidify his standing in the division. And if victorious against Makhachev, he has his sights set on a rematch with Oliveira to make a definitive statement.

    “Of course, I’m down for everybody,” Tsarukyan said. “Charles Oliveira is one of the best in our division. I feel like Islam, Charles, and I are the top three in the lightweight division right now because Charles beat everyone in the top 15. I beat everybody, too. Islam is the champ, pound-for-pound, but I’m down for everybody.

    “But when I become champion, I would like to fight Charles because our fight was pretty close, people think it was pretty close, and I would like to finish him,” Tsarukyan added.

    https://youtu.be/NYvLfJric60?si=0YHk1kbpa05Xk4OE

    Oliveira, meanwhile, remains in the mix for another title opportunity. The former champion is coming off an impressive five-round decision victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 309 and wasted no time calling for a title shot afterward.

    With Makhachev and Tsarukyan poised to clash at UFC 311, the lightweight division continues to deliver some of the sport’s most compelling matchups.

  • Chael Sonnen Questions Ciryl Gane’s Commitment & UFC 310 Betting Favorite Status Over Alexander Volkov

    Chael Sonnen Questions Ciryl Gane’s Commitment & UFC 310 Betting Favorite Status Over Alexander Volkov

    At UFC 310 this weekend, another heavyweight could join the conversation that has been dominated by the division’s two titleholders in Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. Whichever man gets the win, Ciryl Gane or Alexander Volkov will prove that they’re the next in line for a title shot even if the future of the division remains unclear right now.

    Since losing to Aspinall in 2022, Volkov has put together a very strong run with four consecutive wins. Gane, on the other hand, hasn’t fought since his victory over Serghei Spivac in Paris last year which saw him bounce back from his loss to Jones at UFC 285.

    The former interim champion has received some criticism since then over not wanting to pursue a fight with Aspinall and then turning down the interim title fight for UFC 304 in July due to a commitment he had made to filming a TV show for Netflix which has since released. Chael Sonnen believes that with these factors being considered, he doesn’t understand why “Bon Gamin” is a clear favorite according to the oddsmakers.

    “Ciryl is a very heavy favorite. I, for the life of me, do not know why.

    “I don’t mean to be negative towards Ciryl but I will share with you, nobody gets better at this sport by not doing it and Ciryl passed up on very big opportunities to go and film a movie that nobody’s ever heard of and most likely will never see but you can’t ever get around that. Every actor wants to be an athlete and every athlete wants to be an actor. There’s no way to ever work that out. So now Ciryl’s going to come in against largely a mere image of himself.”

    Many would point to Gane being a big favorite due to the way that their first meeting played out. In June of 2021, the French fighter dominated against Volkov and won all five rounds on multiple scorecards to earn his sixth consecutive win inside the Octagon.

    Sonnen, however, believes that Volkov has never looked better than he did last time out against Sergei Pavlovich in June in a fight that he believes the Russian coasted through.

    “Volkov went out and didn’t even take him serious. Volkov’s trainer in between rounds brought him water and a comb. He combed his hair in between rounds, I mean he was doing marketing and he was doing a spoof and he was performing cuz he was so unimpressed by your great blonde hope.” 

  • Ian Garry: UFC Tampa Booking Proves ‘Coward’ Colby Covington ‘Avoided Me Like The Plague’

    Ian Garry: UFC Tampa Booking Proves ‘Coward’ Colby Covington ‘Avoided Me Like The Plague’

    Though their paths might not be crossing in the way that he had hoped, there is no love lost between Ian Machado Garry and Colby Covington. The undefeated Irishman has spent a fair few months of 2024 going back-and-forth with the former interim champion.

    Covington was the opponent that he wanted to face at UFC 303 in June which would have been the perfect co-main event to Conor McGregor’s return against Michael Chandler. Instead, Garry would get the main card opener slot against the former Bellator star Michael “Venom” Page which he won to remain undefeated.

    Considering the war of words between them which stems all the way back to UFC 296 in December last year where they were scheduled to share the card with each other before Garry withdrew due to illness, it only made sense to revisit this match-up. With how much time he has spent trying to get “Chaos” to fight him, it’s not surprising that he would be frustrated when the welterweight switch-up happened.

    Garry agreed to fight Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Tampa on December 14, admitting recently that the fight didn’t excite him but no one ranked above him would take the match-up. When Belal Muhammad withdrew from his UFC 310 title defense, Garry replaced him to face Shavkat Rakhmonov this Saturday whilst Covington stepped in to clash with Buckley the following week.

    In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Garry reacted to Covington refusing to fight him only to accept a fight with “New Mansa” instead for the same date that the Irishman was originally targeting.

    “I was seething, how do you think I feel? Because I’ve been screaming and shouting about fighting that man from the rafters,” Garry said. “This man’s made videos about me, my wife, my kids – talking about all this s***. And here’s this man avoiding me like the plague, and then the second I book in against the scariest man in the division, he’s like, ‘Oh, I’ll fight in Florida.’

    “It just proves, it just shows that he’s a coward, that he wants nothing to do with me,” Garry continued. “The truth is I already know I’ve beaten him. I know I’ve already mentally beaten him. He’s weak. He’s an absolute coward.”

  • Merab Dvalishvili Touts Aljamain Sterling’s UFC 310 Prep: ‘Controlled Me, Smashed Me’

    Merab Dvalishvili Touts Aljamain Sterling’s UFC 310 Prep: ‘Controlled Me, Smashed Me’

    Merab Dvalishvili is expecting a strong performance from his teammate Aljamain Sterling, as the former UFC bantamweight champion gears up for his second outing as a featherweight.

    Following the end of his reign at 135 pounds last year — and after having his calls for a rematch with Sean O’Malley fall on deaf ears — Sterling committed to a long-discussed move up in weight.

    And he debuted at 145 pounds in convincing fashion, comfortably outpointing veteran ranked contender Calvin Kattar across three rounds at UFC 300 in Las Vegas this past April.

    After arriving in the featherweight top 10, Sterling’s sophomore appearance in the division at UFC 310 will come against an undefeated contender inside the top five, Russia’s Movsar Evloev.

    Although he’ll enter the cage as a sizable underdog on Dec. 7, Sterling’s team is unsurprisingly confident of an upset.

    During a video recently uploaded to Sterling’s YouTube channel, Dvalishvili spoke about “Funk Master’s” upcoming return, having once again been a part of the 35-year-old’s training camp.

    The reigning bantamweight kingpin admitted struggling to hang with the featherweight contender on the mats. And with that in mind, he foresees Sterling ‘smashing’ the undefeated Evloev.

    “Aljo feels really strong,” Dvalishvili said. “Now he did a bunch of rounds of jiu-jitsu too. He did two rounds with me. I couldn’t do anything. He was on top of me, controlled me, smashed me. That means that Aljo is going to smash his opponent – even though his opponent is really good.

    “I have so much respect for Movsar Evloev, but that’s how the fight game is. The stronger guy wins,” Dvalishvili continued. “I’m very comfortable with Aljo because he’s focused and he feels really strong.”

    Sterling will hope to prove Dvalishvili’s assessment correct come fight night in “Sin City,” where he’ll look to move past his disappointment at being placed on the prelims and deliver a statement-making performance at the expense of Evloev.

    And should he succeed in that goal, a shot at Ilia Topuria’s featherweight gold and two-division glory could await the New York native in 2025.

  • 8-0 MMA Prospect To Make Pro Wrestling Debut Against Former WWE Star Matt Riddle

    8-0 MMA Prospect To Make Pro Wrestling Debut Against Former WWE Star Matt Riddle

    With an undefeated record of 8-0, flyweight talent Phumi Nkuta is someone that fight fans have had their eyes on for some time. The CFFC and Peak Fighting champion is a name that has been tipped for big things but it looks like his MMA career is being put on hold.

    If there’s one thing that has held Nkuta back in his MMA career, it’s his activity after he had nearly two years out from 2021-2023 due to an injury. Now, he’s looking to progress in a new field by making his professional wrestling debut as House Of Glory’s upcoming event in New York.

    On December 20, HOG “Live For The Moment” will take place at the NYC Arena with a card that boasts the HOG return of one of the most iconic teams in all of wrestling, The Hardy Boyz. Nkuta will also feature on the card against a name and face that will be familiar to both wrestling and MMA fans.

    Matt Riddle came into the UFC via the seventh season of The Ultimate Fighter and would go on to fight inside the Octagon 12 times before being released from the promotion in 2013. Aside from one comeback fight earlier this year in Titan FC, Riddle then left MMA behind to pursue pro wrestling where he would go on to become a major star in the WWE.

    Following several suspensions and controversies, he left the WWE in 2023 and has been working for several other promotions on the independent circuit ever since. He recently made his debut for TNA at their “Turning Point” event on November 29. Now, it will be him that is welcoming an MMA fighter through the ropes on December 20.

  • Shavkat Rakhmonov Sends Welterweight Division Ominous Warning Ahead Of UFC 310 Return

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Sends Welterweight Division Ominous Warning Ahead Of UFC 310 Return

    Shavkat Rakhmonov enters UFC 310 brimming with confidence as he gears up for a five-round welterweight clash against Ian Garry.

    The fight, set to take place this Saturday in the co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, was a shift from the original plan. Rakhmonov was initially slated to challenge Belal Muhammad, but the welterweight champion withdrew from the bout.

    Rakhmonov has built an impeccable 18-0 professional record, with all of his victories coming via knockout or submission. His recent string of dominance includes three consecutive rear-naked choke victories over Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Stephen Thompson, solidifying his reputation as a relentless finisher in the welterweight division.

    Speaking on the UFC 310 Countdown show, Rakhmonov reflected on his ongoing evolution as a fighter and his dedication to continuous improvement.

    “I’ve been training at Kill Cliff gym for about three years,” Rakhmonov shared. “There are many fighters at my level, and the competition here is tougher. I think I have enough abilities, but I need to keep improving them. This sport doesn’t stand still, so it’s important to develop skills in all areas continuously. I aim to grow in every area: technique, grappling, and wrestling. In this weight class, I’m a problem for anyone.”

    As Rakhmonov prepares to face another rising star in Garry, fans are eagerly anticipating a showdown that could further cement his status as one of the most dangerous contenders in the welterweight division.

    https://youtu.be/EBuiZj5Jzlc?si=_G39agC4kNCIDY9O
  • Training Partner Describes ‘Lighting In A Bottle’ Kai Asakura: ‘Hardest Hitting 125’er On Planet Earth’

    Training Partner Describes ‘Lighting In A Bottle’ Kai Asakura: ‘Hardest Hitting 125’er On Planet Earth’

    It’s always exciting when the UFC signs a big name from another promotion and fight fans get to see how they stack up against the rest of the roster. In the case of Kai Asakura, things are a bit different to the other times that we have seen this happen in recent years.

    For a start, unlike fighters like Kayla Harrison or Michael “Venom” Page, he’s going straight into a UFC title shot on his debut this weekend at UFC 310 where he challenges Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight belt in the main event. The other notable difference is that Asakura didn’t become a champion in a promotion that is on a lot of US fans’ radars.

    The 31-year old is a big name in Japan and though some of his wins in RIZIN have certainly put him on the global map, there are a lot of UFC fans who won’t have heard of him until he was signed to the promotion. In a recent interview with The Scrap, Mando Gutierrez looked to help provide some insight into what the title challenger is like and what fans can expect from him.

    Gutierrez has been training alongside Asakura in his first UFC camp and he’s very excited to see what the new arrival will be capable of. He thinks that though the Japanese star has an impressive highlight reel from his time in RIZIN, he will be able to produce these kinds of finishes in the UFC also.

    “Lighting in a bottle bro. Like he has true finishing capabilities. Super strong, super agile, fast as f*** and he cracks man. If there’s one thing I can guarantee you it’s that’s the hardest hitting 125’er on planet earth and I really believe it. Timing, precision, speed, power, all mixed into one just makes him the hardest f****** puncher there is.”  

  • Donald Cerrone Reiterates UFC Return Plan During Kill Tony Appearance

    Donald Cerrone Reiterates UFC Return Plan During Kill Tony Appearance

    During a recent episode of the Kill Tony podcast, live at the Comedy Mothership in Austin, Texas, former UFC icon Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone made a special guest appearance. The 41-year old has recently declared that he plans to return to the Octagon after retiring in July of 2022.

    Cerrone was without a win in his last seven fights but the Hall of Famer, who was inducted in 2023, still has a couple bouts left on his contract and considering that he’s fought 38 times in the UFC, rounding that up to 40 is something he wants to tick off.

    Fighting out of his contract would also allow Cerrone to pursue other options away from the UFC and this is why he was brought out on stage in the first place. “Cowboy” came through the curtain after it was said that there was someone backstage that had a message for Jake Paul.

    After receiving a warm welcome from the fans inside the building, he laid out his current plans for the future which could involve “The Problem Child” once his UFC obligations are fulfilled.

    “I mean if the guy wants to come to MMA, I’ll gladly whip his f****** a** but I am coming out of retirement and I have two more fights on our contract so I want 40 UFC fights, that’s the number so I have two before July to get done and then I’m gonna go out there and give it hell and if Jake wants to jump in line for the a** whipping train, he can jump on and give me all the money.”

    Cerrone was then asked by Tony Hinchcliffe whether he would step into boxing to face Paul like several other MMA fighters like Tyron Woodley and Nate Diaz have. He declined this offer, having the self awareness to know that the fight wouldn’t go well for him in this field.

    “No I’m f****** terrible at boxing, I have no head movement. I need to take him down and whip his a**.”

  • Quote: Julianna Peña ‘Guaranteed’ To Lose UFC Title If She Fights Kayla Harrison

    Quote: Julianna Peña ‘Guaranteed’ To Lose UFC Title If She Fights Kayla Harrison

    One of UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña’s peers isn’t giving her much of a chance against the charging Kayla Harrison.

    Peña and Harrison appear to be on a collision course for 2025 after their respective victories at the UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City this past October.

    While the former regained the 135-pound gold in the co-main event by narrowly and controversially outpointing Raquel Pennington, the ex-PFL standout moved to 2-0 in the Octagon with a victory over Ketlen Vieira.

    Harrison had already been pointed to as a worthy title challenger after she emphatically dispatched former champ Holly Holm by way of submission on debut at UFC 300. But having added another name to her record’s win column after being made to fight another contender, the two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo is widely seen as next in line.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen,” however, instead called out longtime rival Amanda Nunes following her victory. And according to one UFC fighter, that’s perhaps smart if she wants to prolong her reign…

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, formerly ranked flyweight Miranda Maverick gave her assessment of the expected next championship contest at 135 pounds.

    Suffice to say, her view won’t make for good reading in the Peña household.

    “I think Kayla will win,” Maverick said. “I think her striking is not very good and hasn’t seemed to improve very much over time, but I think she’ll win regardless. I think she’ll get it to the ground, and Peña won’t be getting back up. Yeah, Peña will lose her title if she goes against Kayla, guaranteed.”

    While an opponent for the first defense of Peña’s second stint on the bantamweight throne has not been confirmed, she has pointed to International Fight Week in mid-2025 as her desired return date.

  • Ian Garry Doesn’t Hold Back On ‘Weak-Minded’ Kamaru Usman: ‘When It Matters Between The Legs, He’s A Little Man’ 

    Ian Garry Doesn’t Hold Back On ‘Weak-Minded’ Kamaru Usman: ‘When It Matters Between The Legs, He’s A Little Man’ 

    It seems there’s no love lost between UFC welterweight contenders Ian Garry and Kamaru Usman.

    The former champion and undefeated Irishman were among four names apparently offered the spot opposite Shavkat Rakhmonov at this weekend’s UFC 310 pay-per-view following the withdrawal of Belal Muhammad.

    It was ultimately the latter who accepted, swapping his headline spot at next Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Tampa to co-headline the final numbered event of 2024 in a title eliminator at 170 pounds.

    Among others — Colby Covington and Carlos Prates, according to Rakhmonov — Garry has benefited from Usman choosing against sharing the cage with “Nomad” inside T-Mobile Arena this week.

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Garry discussed Usman’s rejection of the short-notice assignment against Rakhmonov this weekend, which the Kazakh star says he initially accepted.

    The Irishman went as far as to call Usman “weak-minded,” theorizing that he’ll now push for a showdown with Jack Della Maddalena in 2025 given his weakness in the grappling department.

    “Usman has a big chest and little balls,” Garry said. “He looks good and plays the part, but when it matters between the legs, he’s a little man. That’s my outlook on it. … Him and Colby are older, been through the division, fought these guys. Now they’re getting to the end of their careers and they want to choose the better stylistic matchups. But I guarantee this: Usman is going to try to push for a fight with Jack Della Maddalena because he’s seen how easily Gilbert Burns was able to take him down.

    “If I was in Usman’s shoes, why would I wanna fight the guy that’s long, rangey, difficult to deal with, when I can fight a guy who I watched two people back-to-back be able to take him down quite easily?” Garry continued. “I guarantee you Usman is going to try to push for the JDM fight, because he’s weak-minded.”

    Usman has been the subject of similar criticism from some corners of the fanbase, and he took to his Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside Henry Cejudo this week to hit back at those questioning his decision not to fight Rakhmonov on short notice.

  • Shavkat Rakhmonov Reveals 3 Welterweights Who Were Offered UFC 310 Fight

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Reveals 3 Welterweights Who Were Offered UFC 310 Fight

    According to Shavkat Rakhmonov, upcoming opponent Ian Garry was among four UFC welterweights offered the short-notice assignment for this weekend.

    Rakhmonov and Garry are set to co-headline UFC 310, which comes as the promotion’s final pay-per-view of 2024. The pair will collide across five rounds with a future shot at Belal Muhammad’s title on the line.

    The Kazakh star was originally expecting his championship opportunity to come to fruition on Saturday night but an injury to Muhammad spoiled those plans. As a result, “Nomad” must now defend his status as top contender.

    In “Remember the Name’s” place has stepped Garry, who was initially preparing to headline next weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Tampa against Joaquin Buckley. That booking evidently could have stayed together had one of three other names offered the Rakhmonov fight given positive responses.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Rakhmonov claimed the UFC sent offers to three different names in the division — Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, and Carlos Prates.

    The undefeated welterweight said Usman accepted before backing out, Covington straight up rejected, and an injury prevented the rising Prates from getting a big chance to climb the ranks into title contention.

    “I wanted to fight Kamaru Usman. But he didn’t accept the fight,” Rakhmonov said. “Also, they offered (it) to Prates, but he was injured. And Colby Covington, he rejected the fight. And I’m happy that Ian Garry accepted the fight. … In the beginning, (Usman) accepted the fight, and then he rejected. Maybe he didn’t want to risk.”

    Garry will hope that their loss is his gain when he looks to be the one who takes Rakhmonov’s ‘0’ — and maintain his in the process.

    The Kazakh and Irish fighters will set the stage for a championship main event inside T-Mobile Arena, as Alexandre Pantoja welcomes Kai Asakura to the UFC in defense of his flyweight belt.

  • UFC 310 Fighter Confirms Retirement After 3 More Bouts: ‘I Ain’t No Spring Chicken’

    One fighter set to be in action at this weekend’s UFC 310 pay-per-view is close to hanging up the gloves.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is set to stage its final numbered event of the year on Saturday night in Las Vegas, with a host of prominent names set to make the walk inside T-Mobile Arena.

    That even includes on the early prelims, which will see a former champion in Chris Weidman making his return. The 40-year-old is set to do battle with Eryk Anders three weeks on from a bout of food poisoning forcing their matchup off the UFC 309 lineup on fight day.

    Having quickly recovered, Anders’ sights are firmly back on Weidman as he looks to make it back-to-back wins in 2024. But even if he does close out the year on a streak, the former American football linebacker has no plans to make a run.

    During an interview with Thomas Gerbasi for UFC.com, Anders reiterated his goals for the future and timeline for retirement. Having put a five-fight limit on the remainder of his career in June 2023, the 37-year-old stayed true to his word by branding this weekend’s assignment one of three left for him inside the cage.

    “I’m only going to fight three more times,” he said. “This would be one of the three. And two more times after this. So I don’t think so. But it’s still a fun fight, so I’m really looking forward to that.”

    During his UFC career, the former LFA champion has picked up wins over the likes of Markus Perez, Vinicius Moreira, Gerald Meerschaert, Darren Stewart, and Kyle Daukaus. He’s struggled to stay consistent, however, with his charge up the ladder being stalled in defeats to names like Lyoto Machida, Thiago Santos, Elias Theodorou, Khalil Rountree and Krzysztof Jotko.

    With his aspirations of a push toward UFC gold evidently a thing of the past, Anders will now be focused on closing out his career in style, starting on Dec. 7 at the expense of Weidman.

  • Ian Garry Predicts Joaquin Buckley Will ‘Starch’ Colby Covington

    Ian Garry Predicts Joaquin Buckley Will ‘Starch’ Colby Covington

    Ian Garry may have a bigger challenge looming ahead, but he’s far from pleased about Colby Covington’s decision to pass on a showdown with him.

    For nearly a year, Garry and Covington have been locked in a simmering rivalry, with both fighters eager to settle their score in the Octagon. The 27-year-old Irishman has been especially vocal about the prospect of facing Covington.

    “The Future” initially had his sights set on a grudge matchup against the former interim welterweight champion in the main event of the UFC Fight Night in Tampa on Dec. 14. However, he was ultimately matched up with Joaquin Buckley instead.

    But when reigning 170-pound champion Belal Muhammad was forced to withdraw from his UFC 310 headliner against Shavkat Rakhmonov due to a bone infection, Garry jumped at the chance to fill the void and salvage the matchup.

    Following the changes, “Chaos” was brought in as a last-minute replacement for Garry, stepping up to face Buckley in the newly adjusted lineup.

    During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Garry didn’t hold back, slamming Covington for attacking his personal life and calling the American a coward for supposedly avoiding a showdown with him.

    “The Future” went on to predict that Buckley will completely overpower Covington.

    “I believe he’s going to go out there and get absolutely steamrolled by Joaquin Buckley. I think Buckley starches him.”

    “Chaos” has been out of action since his unsuccessful attempt to capture the welterweight title in his third bid against Leon Edwards, a fight that ultimately saw him fall short of his championship aspirations.

  • Kamaru Usman Addresses Backlash For Skipping Short-Notice Shavkat Rakhmonov Fight At UFC 310

    Kamaru Usman Addresses Backlash For Skipping Short-Notice Shavkat Rakhmonov Fight At UFC 310

    Kamaru Usman isn’t holding back against the online criticism after choosing to pass on a short-notice clash with Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310.

    Rakhmonov was originally slated to challenge reigning welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the headlining bout of the UFC’s final pay-per-view of the year on Dec. 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. However, the highly anticipated clash was derailed when Muhammad was sidelined by a bone infection in his foot, leaving “Nomad” without an opponent for the big night.

    “The Nigerian Nightmare” initially showed interest in stepping up for a last-minute showdown with Rakhmonov, even hinting that he was gearing up in case the opportunity came his way. However, the former UFC welterweight champion later reconsidered, admitting that the date would come too soon for him to be adequately prepared for such a high-stakes clash.

    As a result, Ian Garry seized the opportunity to step in and face Rakhmonov, relinquishing his previously scheduled main event spot against Joaquin Buckley at the UFC Fight Night in Tampa on Dec. 14.

    This decision sparked a wave of criticism aimed at Usman, with many accusing him of avoiding the undefeated Kazakh.

    During a recent episode of his Pound 4 Pound Podcast, Usman fired back at the fan backlash over his decision. The 37-year-old Nigerian-born American expressed his frustration, stating that fans were quick to judge without fully understanding the circumstances.

    “I’m seeing people online going, ‘Oh, you’re scared, you ducked him,’” Usman said. “When people who are your fans or fans of a fighter don’t get their desired wish, ‘That’s the fight I want,’ then it’s like, ‘Oh no, that guy must be scared because he didn’t take the fight.’ Like, guys, shut up.

    “World champion, defending belts time and time again, oh, he’s scared? Yeah, shut up. Just because you didn’t get what you wanted — guess what? It’s like your mom telling you, ‘No, you can’t have that toy today.’ You know, you can’t have that toy, so shut your mouth.”

    Usman was last seen in action at UFC 294 in October 2023, where he suffered a majority decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev in a short-notice middleweight bout.

    “The Nigerian Nightmare” is currently navigating the toughest stretch of his career, having lost his 170-pound title to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 in August 2022. Since that defeat, he has struggled, posting an 0-2 record in his past two Octagon outings.