MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Aljamain Sterling On UFC 310 Prelim Placement: ‘I Am A Main Card Fighter!’

    Aljamain Sterling On UFC 310 Prelim Placement: ‘I Am A Main Card Fighter!’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling was puzzled to see his crucial featherweight clash with Movsar Evloev demoted to this weekend’s preliminary card.

    Sterling is widely regarded as one of the best fighters in the world, showcasing his talent across two weight classes. He excelled as a 135-pound kingpin before transitioning to 145 pounds, where he continues to make waves.

    “Funk Master’s” rise to prominence included an impressive winning streak that culminated in capturing the bantamweight title at UFC 259 with a disqualification victory over Petr Yan. He then successfully defended the belt three times, defeating Yan in a rematch, TJ Dillashaw, and Henry Cejudo.

    However, his reign ended at UFC 292, where he lost the title to Sean O’Malley. Undeterred, Sterling moved to the featherweight division and secured a notable victory over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300 this past April

    Now, Sterling is set to face top-five contender Movsar Evloev at UFC 310 on Dec. 7. Surprisingly, the fight will be featured on the prelims rather than the pay-per-view main card. In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sterling expressed mixed feelings about the placement.

    “I didn’t know if I should have been insulted by the placement on the fight card or glass half-full. I guess that’s the best way I try to look at everything in life,” Sterling said. “I get to fight earlier and get to be done earlier. I get to pop open a fresh bottle of Funk Harbor, hang out with the friends, and celebrate a big win. I was a little confused by it, of course.

    “I guess they have their rhyme or reason for what they do, the UFC brass, and it is what it is. At the end of the day, it’s not my organization. I don’t call the shots. I just go out there and compete, and it’s up to me to go out there and prove these guys wrong,” Sterling continued. “Hey, I am a main card fighter. I think people are going to be in for a very big surprise, and the UFC is going to realize we messed up big time by not putting this on the main card.”

    Sterling’s confidence and determination to prove his worth as a main card fighter could make his bout against Evloev one of the most talked-about moments of the night, regardless of its placement.

  • Joaquin Buckley: Ian Garry Will Beat Shavkat Rakhmonov By ‘Fleeing’ At UFC 310

    Joaquin Buckley: Ian Garry Will Beat Shavkat Rakhmonov By ‘Fleeing’ At UFC 310

    UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley is expecting Ian Garry to maintain his ‘0’ when he does battle with fellow undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    Garry has been drafted in on late notice to co-headline this weekend’s UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas, where the T-Mobile Arena will play host to a crucial clash at 170 pounds between two of the top unbeaten talents at 170 pounds.

    While Rakhmonov was originally set to challenge for Belal Muhammad’s gold in the main event, an infection forced the champion’s withdrawal. With that, the Kazakh standout will have to defend his top contender spot opposite a former training partner.

    Betting odds currently have “Nomad” a signifcant favorite to do so, with his line sitting at -375 on DraftKings. The man who had his matchup with Garry fall through as a result of the recent shuffle, however, sees the underdog having his hand raised.

    During an interview with MiddleEasy, Buckley provided his thoughts on Garry’s new bout with Rakhmonov, which spoiled “New Mansa’s” plan to become the first to defeat the Irishman a week later in the UFC Tampa headliner.

    In recent bouts, “The Future” has been criticized for grinding out decision wins with a technical and safe approach. And Buckley expects the Dubliner to employ that exact strategy en route to an upset at UFC 310.

    “A lot of people are not going to believe me, but I think Ian Garry is going to win – by the skin of his teeth, just like the rest of his wins that he had,” Buckley said. “Whether that’s with ‘MVP’ or with Geoff Neal. He does a good job of staying safe and surviving, and if you don’t have the feet to kind of hunt down guys like that, where they’re constantly moving and constantly evading, and you set up traps.

    “Obviously, you’re not going to be able to land those power shots. … If you get in the fire with Shavkat Rakhmonov, you’re going to get burned,” Buckley continued. “But I don’t see Ian Garry running into that burning house. He’s going to try to flee and evade the whole time, and I can see Ian Garry getting his hand raised by decision.”

    Garry will look to prove Buckley’s prediction correct come fight night versus Rakhmonov in “Sin City” this weekend — thought perhaps in a more emphatic and impressive faction than the American is envisioning.

    “New Mansa,” meanwhile, has a new target in his sights for Dec. 14 in Tampa.

    The #9-ranked contender will still have the opportunity to climb the ranks, as he looks to add to the woes of Colby Covington following his third failed bid for the undisputed crown last December.

  • Ciryl Gane Addresses ‘Total Misunderstanding Of What Was Happening’ In Jon Jones Loss

    Ciryl Gane is just days away from stepping back into the Octagon, where he will face former Bellator heavyweight champion Alexander Volkov in a rematch at UFC 310 on Dec. 7. This bout was initially scheduled for October at UFC 308, but Volkov withdrew due to a knee injury.

    Ahead of his next outing, Gane continues to reflect on his devastating loss to UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones at UFC 285 in March 2023 — a defeat he describes as a pivotal learning experience.

    He rebounded impressively with a TKO victory over Serghei Spivac at a UFC Fight Night event in Paris six months later.

    Speaking during the UFC 310 Countdown episode, Gane opened up about his mindset during the Jones fight, admitting that he felt disconnected in the cage.

    “When I look back at it, it was obvious that I was not there. It represented exactly how I felt on the day of the fight. It was a total misunderstanding of what was happening,” Gane said. “I don’t recognize myself there. It’s something I’ve never done in my life. I’ve never fought that way before. My distance management, my movement, the alertness that I love to show — I had none of that.”

    Despite the setback, Gane views the experience as a turning point in his career.

    “Looking back, I think that this experience may have been beneficial,” Gane continued. “For me personally, it helped me to refocus on myself. It gave me a spirit of revenge, a competitive spirit.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBuiZj5Jzlc

    Now fully refocused and determined, Gane will look to capitalize on his growth as he prepares for a second meeting with Volkov, hoping to solidify his path back to the top of the heavyweight division.

  • Former UFC Title Challenger Becomes Champion At 43 Years Old

    Former UFC Title Challenger Becomes Champion At 43 Years Old

    Former UFC title challenger Yushin Okami has become a champion following his recent win at Shooto 2024 Vol. 8 on November 30. The 33-year old Japanese legend earned his second consecutive victory over Kim Jae-young in Tokyo to win the vacant Shooto middleweight title.

    Having made his MMA debut in 2002, the 54-fight veteran has fought in several of the top promotions in the sport. With outings in the likes of Pancrase, PRIDE and Rumble on the Rock, Okami debuted with the UFC in 2006 where he defeated Alan Belcher at UFC 62.

    He would go on to have a very successful first run with the promotion, winning multiple title eliminators and even challenging Anderson Silva for the middleweight belt at UFC 134. Following a loss to Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in 2013, Okami was surprisingly cut from the promotion despite winning three in a row before that defeat.

    Dana White told Yahoo Sports at the time that though he “liked” Okami, he had become a gatekeeper and with the roster being full, they needed to give opportunities to other fighters. Following several appearances in the World Series of Fighting, which later became the PFL, Okami returned to the UFC in 2017 where he fought three more times, ending his time in the promotion with an overall record of 14-7.

    From there, he signed to ONE Championship where he fought four times before his back-to-back fights with Jae-young in Shooto. Okami posted on social media to celebrate his recent title win, reflecting on how he has come up short as the runner-up several times throughout his career but now, he has reached the top.

    “I was able to win the Shooto World Middleweight Championship. I made my professional debut at the age of 20, and experienced a bitter defeat in my final fight for the UFC middleweight championship. After that, I lost the WSOF championship, fought overseas one after another, and now I’m in my 23rd year. I’ve shed so many tears, but winning this belt at the age of 43 is special to me. Thank you for your support.”

  • Khamzat Chimaev Uses Donald Trump To Aim Cryptic Post At Dricus Du Plessis

    Khamzat Chimaev Uses Donald Trump To Aim Cryptic Post At Dricus Du Plessis

    It looked for a long time like Dricus Du Plessis’ next middleweight title defense would see him face Sean Strickland in a rematch but that was until Khamzat Chimaev changed the narrative. Du Plessis won the middleweight title at UFC 297 in January by beating Strickland via a split decision and after the former champ rebounded with a win, this was the clear direction to go in.

    The only other potential candidate at the time was another former champion in Robert Whittaker but when he was booked to face Chimaev at UFC 308, all the title plans needed to be put on hold until that fight played out. What we ended up getting was a statement win from the undefeated Chimaev who became just the second man to submit “The Reaper” in 34 pro fights.

    As a result, Chimaev challenging Du Plessis for the belt is now the most exciting fight in the division but one barrier to it happening could be the issues that “Borz” has faced in regards to staying active. His recent social media post appears to address that and remove it from the conversation.

    Chimaev has not fought in the United States since UFC 279 in 2022 with his wins over Whittaker and Kamaru Usman both taking place in Abu Dhabi. He previously told Kevin Iole that if Donald Trump was re-elected as President, fighting in the United States wouldn’t be an issue for him.

    “Let Donald Trump win the fight and I will be there.”

    Posting on X, Chimaev tagged the 185-pound champion with nothing more than an image and eye emoji attached to get across his point that there is nothing that can get in the way of him being the next challenger. It now looks likely that we will see this huge fight take place at middleweight with it potentially being held in the United States.

  • Jorge Masvidal Confirms UFC Return For April In Miami

    Jorge Masvidal Confirms UFC Return For April In Miami

    Jorge Masvidal appears to have a date and location for his UFC return as he recently confirmed in an appearance on Jake Shields’ Fight Back podcast. “Gamebred” has been talking about stepping foot inside the Octagon once again for several months now but it now looks like plans are starting to be putting in place.

    His last fight in the UFC to this point came at UFC 287 in Miami where after a loss to Gilbert Burns, he announced that he would be stepping away. This decision loss in April of 2023 marked his fourth outing in a row without a win, suffering defeats to Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington in the run that followed his three-fight win streak that turned him into a major star.

    Masvidal then stepped into the boxing world where he lost a majority decision to Nate Diaz this past July having previously beaten him in the UFC to become the inaugural BMF titleholder at UFC 244. He told Shields that his return will take place in the same city two years on from his loss to Burns though he doesn’t have an opponent confirmed as of yet.

    He has been very outspoken about wanting to settle the score with Leon Edwards which stems all the way back to their backstage altercation at the O2 Arena in London over five years ago. With “Rocky” recently stating on a DAZN broadcast over the weekend that he will be making his return to headline the London card on March 22, it doesn’t look like he will be a potential candidate to welcome Masvidal back.

    “I will be back. April next year in the UFC. Yes sir. We don’t have the opponent yet. Hopefully, by December we get the opponent. In April, Miami card.”

  • Dan Hardy: Jon Jones ‘Certainly Not’ World’s Best Heavyweight

    Dan Hardy: Jon Jones ‘Certainly Not’ World’s Best Heavyweight

    Jon Jones isn’t just the reigning UFC heavyweight champion, he’s largely considered to be the greatest of all time. However, as Dan Hardy spoke about in a recent interview with MMA Fighting, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s the best in his weight class right now.

    Many believe that with the sheer amount of heavyweights he has beaten compared to Jones, interim champion Tom Aspinall might be the best in the weight class even if he doesn’t have the longevity of somebody like “Bones” just yet. Francis Ngannou left the UFC without ever losing his heavyweight title and in his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira, he showed that he also has to be in the conversation.

    Hardy believes that if there was a fight to decide the best heavyweight on the planet, Jones wouldn’t even factor into the equation.

    “I think Jon Jones is the pound-for-pound best. I think he’s the best representation of mixed martial arts generally that we’ve ever seen. I think he’s still evolving, which is terrifying. But is he the best current heavyweight on the planet? I don’t think so.

    “I think the winner of Aspinall versus Ngannou would be the answer … no disrespect in any way to Jon. Current heavyweight champion but not the current best heavyweight on the planet. Certainly not.”

    Hardy went on to describe Jones as “bottom of the rung” in regards to the incredible physicality that Aspinall and Ngannou bring to the table as legitimate heavyweight-sized competitors though he would hold advantages in other areas.

    “The creativity of Jon Jones and the wisdom, the fight IQ, that reigns supreme. I just wonder if he’s got that ability in the heavyweight division with someone as fast as Tom Aspinall and someone as powerful as Francis Ngannou. There were times when Stipe [Miocic] landed [on Jones at UFC 309] and I think if Ngannou lands those shots, Jon Jones doesn’t get back up.

    “I also think the speed of Tom Aspinall would allow him to land punches against Jon Jones and Ngannou that both of those guys wouldn’t see coming and wouldn’t be able to stop. The question is would he be able to do that kind of damage to knock them out. I don’t know. I’ve seen Francis take some big shots. I know obviously he got knocked out by Anthony Joshua but at the same time, you’re talking of an elite level boxer who’s an incredible athlete at the same time. I mean, it’s just so difficult to pick one.”

  • Igor Severino Returns After Being Cut From The UFC Over Biting Disqualification

    Igor Severino Returns After Being Cut From The UFC Over Biting Disqualification

    Igor Severino is set to make his MMA return after serving a nine-month suspension due to a disqualification loss in the UFC. The Brazilian earned his spot on the roster via last year’s season of the Contender Series where he improved to 8-0.

    At just 21-years old with all eight wins coming by way of finish, Severino looked to be an exciting addition to the flyweight division but that all came crumbling down in his Octagon debut. At the UFC Fight Night event that was headlined by Amanda Ribas vs. Rose Namajunas at the Apex on March 23, he was disqualified for biting André Lima in the second round.

    Lima complained to the referee and with visible bite marks on his arm, there was no denying what had just happened. As a result, Severino was cut from the UFC, fined by the Nevada Athletic Commission and suspended until the 23rd of December.

    He’s now set to make his debut for European promotion OKTAGON on their end of year card, OKTAGON 65, which takes place at the O2 Arena in Praha on December 29. He will move up a weight class to face the promotion’s former bantamweight champion, Jonas Mågård, who previously lost the title to Felipe Lima who has since earned a debut win inside the Octagon.

    Lima was very honest in the aftermath of his disqualification loss and the consequences that came with his actions. He now has the opportunity to put this behind him by moving on with his career. In a video posted by OKTAGON on social media, he announced his arrival.

    “Hey guys, Igor here. I will make my debut in OKTAGON MMA against Jonas Mågård. I’m very excited for the fight, I can’t wait to go there and put on a show for everybody. Jonas, I see you soon, I’m ready. December 29th, let’s go.”

  • VIDEO: UFC 310 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Pantoja vs. Asakura & Rakhmonov vs. Garry

    VIDEO: UFC 310 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Pantoja vs. Asakura & Rakhmonov vs. Garry

    Fight week for the UFC 310 pay-per-view this Saturday has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode.

    Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura and the co-main event between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry.

    Saturday’s UFC 310 lineup is topped by a championship clash, with flyweight kingpin Pantoja (28-5) looking to add a third successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a memorable victory over Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 in July 2023.

    If “The Cannibal” is to continue his rule atop the 125-pound mountain, he must stall the title ambitions of a UFC newcomer in Asakura (21-4). The former Rizin bantamweight champ marks a rare example of a debuting fighter competing for gold inside the Octagon, which he’ll enter off the back of consecutive knockouts of Yuki Motoya and Juan Archuleta.

    Before those two collide in the main event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, the stakes will also be high for a crucial five-round welterweight clash.

    After an infection resulted in UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad’s withdrawal from his scheduled defense against Rakhmonov (18-0), some matchup shuffling has seen Garry (15-0) drafted in to face his fellow undefeated contender.

    While “Nomad” recently got the better of Stephen Thompson by way of submission, “The Future” outpointed Michael “Venom” Page during International Fight Week this past summer. They’ll now look to secure top contender status heading into 2025 to ensure they’ll be standing across from champ Muhammad following his recovery.

    Ahead of those two contests in “Sin City,” fans can catch previews in the full episode of UFC 310 Countdown on the promotion’s YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCRcpPPERSA
  • Michael Bisping Reveals The One Thing Ian Garry Must Avoid Or He’ll Get Finished By Shavkat Rakhmonov

    Michael Bisping Reveals The One Thing Ian Garry Must Avoid Or He’ll Get Finished By Shavkat Rakhmonov

    Ian Garry is set to make his return at UFC 310, stepping into the Octagon against fellow unbeaten contender Shavkat Rakhmonov in a highly anticipated, non-title co-main event. The bout, scheduled for five rounds, promises to test the limits of both fighters.

    Garry comes into this matchup riding the momentum of three consecutive decision victories over notable opponents: Neil Magny at UFC 292, Geoff Neal at UFC 298, and Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 303. Despite this impressive streak, the stylistic challenge presented by Rakhmonov has raised questions, even among MMA analysts.

    Former UFC champion Michael Bisping has expressed admiration for Garry’s decision to accept such a tough matchup but also noted the challenges he faces. Bisping is particularly concerned about whether Garry can handle Rakhmonov’s relentless grappling and takedown attempts.

    “Ian Garry is probably going to dance around the Octagon and use the exact same game plan he did against Geoff Neal,” Bisping said. “He’s got to keep Shavkat Rakhmonov off him. If he can’t stop the takedown, he will get finished, and that is no disrespect to Ian Garry.

    “He might be able to dance around, use the reach, use the range, use the movement. Be fast, be elusive, be nice and crisp, be light on his toes, and be disciplined enough to not get involved in a brawl,” Bisping continued. “If he does that, Shavkat is going to get a hold of him. If he gets a hold of him, he’s going to get him down, and if he gets him down, it’s going to be lights out.”

    Bisping emphasized that Garry’s path to victory lies in utilizing his range, sticking and moving, and staying upright to avoid grappling exchanges with Rakhmonov.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: First Fight Added To UFC London

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: First Fight Added To UFC London

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards.

    With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, November 25, and Sunday, December 1, a number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported by reputable sources. For those matchups, check out the list below:

  • Aljamain Sterling: Merab Dvalishvili Is ‘Standing On Business’ With Umar Nurmagomedov Dismissal

    Aljamain Sterling: Merab Dvalishvili Is ‘Standing On Business’ With Umar Nurmagomedov Dismissal

    Aljamain Sterling has voiced his opinion regarding UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili’s decision to reject a fight with Umar Nurmagomedov.

    This follows Dvalishvili’s call for a rematch against Petr Yan after the Russian’s recent victory over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Macau. The proposed bout with Yan has history behind it, as the Georgian previously secured a decision win over him.

    The champion has dismissed Nurmagomedov’s claim to a title shot, arguing that his single win over a ranked contender, Cory Sandhagen, is insufficient to warrant a championship opportunity. Sterling has come forward to support his friend and teammate’s stance, refuting claims that the champ is ‘scared’ of Nurmagomedov.

    “Some people actually think he’s afraid, which is actually hilarious,” Sterling commented. “From what I understand when we talk, Merab is just standing on business. Like, ‘Bro, you haven’t done anything, and I’m supposed to be busting my ass over here?’

    “’I’m from the same area as you, in relation to the Caucasus Mountains, and I had to come here and bust my ass just to get a title shot. And you’re going to get it off of one win? And I had to fight all these contenders.’ That’s crazy.”

    Sterling believes Yan’s record, which includes multiple accolades and high-profile opponents, makes him a more deserving contender for the next title shot.

    He argues that the competitive road Yan has traveled adds weight to his claim, reinforcing Dvalishvili’s decision to prioritize him over Nurmagomedov.

  • Jon Anik Names UFC Champion Who Still ‘Doesn’t Get His Due’

    UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik hopes to see flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja getting more appreciation for his status as one of the promotion’s best.

    Pantoja has solidified his reputation as one of the top fighters in the UFC, earning accolades for his skill, tenacity, and dominance in the 125-pound division. At UFC 310 on Dec. 7, “The Cannibal” is set to defend his title for the third time against Kai Asakura, a formidable newcomer known for his electrifying style.

    Despite his success, Pantoja, like many flyweight champions before him, struggles to gain the widespread recognition enjoyed by fighters in larger weight classes. This sentiment echoes the experiences of former flyweight great Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, whose technical brilliance often went underappreciated due to the division’s lower commercial draw.

    UFC commentator Jon Anik highlighted this ongoing issue during a recent interview with MMA Junkie, praising Pantoja while expressing frustration at the lack of recognition the champion receives.

    “Very excited to see Kai Asakura live for the first time – electric fighter,” Anik said. “I just think that Pantoja is the absolute man. He just doesn’t get his due.”

    This bout was initially scheduled as the UFC 310 co-main event, with the original headliner featuring welterweight champion Belal Muhammad defending his title against Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    However, “Remember the Name’s” injury led to his withdrawal, promoting Pantoja vs. Asakura to the main event slot.

  • Jamahal Hill Debates Who Got KO’d Worse By Alex Pereira With Jiří Procházka: ‘You Got Dominated…I Got Caught!’

    Jamahal Hill Debates Who Got KO’d Worse By Alex Pereira With Jiří Procházka: ‘You Got Dominated…I Got Caught!’

    The hype for one of UFC 311’s most anticipated bouts is underway, as former light heavyweight champions Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka traded barbs over who had it worse in their unsuccessful attempts to reclaim the gold earlier this year.

    Both Hill and Procházka never lost the championship inside the Octagon. They also challenged Alex Pereira earlier this year in attempts to claim the gold but were easily disposed of.

    “Sweet Dreams” challenged Pereira at UFC 300, getting dropped and finished in the very first round. “BJP,” meanwhile, was rocked and dropped at the end of the first round in his UFC 303 rematch with “Poatan” before being finished seconds into the second frame.

    Procházka recently brought about his criticism of Hill’s fighting style, putting his fighting IQ into question. Hill responded through a YouTube video, taking shots at several of his light heavyweight counterparts, including a response to his upcoming Czech opponent.

    Jamahal Hill vs. Jiří Procházka: Who Got KO’d Worse By Alex Pereira?

    “We had the same opponent in our last fight, right? In your last performance, you got dominated and knocked out,” Hill said. “You got dominated, and I got caught. There’s a huge difference. You’ve even got your ponytail leaning to the left. I hope you wear that ponytail in our fight so I can lean it back to the right for you.

    “We can compare every performance — while I put on dominant performances, you just survive and scrape by with a win. We’re not the same.”

    Procházka won the light heavyweight championship with a submission of Glover Teixeira at UFC 275. However, he vacated the title by the end of 2022 without making a defense due to an injury.

    Hill went on to capture the belt with his own victory over Teixeira at UFC 283. Hill, however, was forced to vacate the title, too, after his own injury. That allowed for the initial fight between Pereira and Procházka that headlined UFC 295, with the Brazilian finishing “BJP” there as well.

  • Daniel Cormier Pitches Next Fights For O’Malley, Yan, Figueiredo At Bantamweight

    Daniel Cormier Pitches Next Fights For O’Malley, Yan, Figueiredo At Bantamweight

    Former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier has some matchups in mind for the bantamweight division in 2025, including the next outings for Sean O’Malley and Petr Yan.

    The 135-pound weight class is entering the new year with a fresh champion at the helm and a number of hungry contenders chasing him down.

    Merab Dvalishvili achieved his title ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage by dethroning O’Malley inside the Sphere this past September. While “Suga” eyes a shot at redemption in his return from injury next March or April, Umar Nurmagomedov sits as the consensus number one contender.

    In spite of the Georgian’s ongoing attempts to push that matchup away, the Dagestani has plenty of support when it comes to his claim to an opportunity, including from Cormier.

    During a recent episode of his Good Guy/Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier pointed to Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov as the logical next title fight in the bantamweight division.

    And in terms of how the rest of the top names should be matched up, “DC” has some ideas for that too.

    “There is a bunch of guys at 135 that need to be matched up. So I figured, it’s time for some matchmaking,” Cormier began. “For the title…easy, Merab vs. Umar. … Then I go Yan vs. Sandhagen (2) as my second fight, Chael. Because then it gives you a clear number one contender.

    “Sean O’Malley needs a big fight, right? You know who else needs a big fight? Henry Cejudo. These guys have a beef, an easy beef to sell…I say put Sean O’Malley in there with the former champion Henry Cejudo. That means more than a win over Cory Sandhagen,” Cormier continued. “After that, I’m going Figgy (Deiveson Figueiredo) vs. Dominick Cruz. And my last one, Chael, we’ve got to give Mario Bautista a chance. … I’m giving him (Marlon) ‘Chito’ Vera.”

    It remains to be seen whether or not the UFC higher-ups will share Cormier’s view of the division. For now, it doesn’t appear the champ himself does.

    Having previously pointed to others as more worthy of challenging for his gold than Nurmagomedov, Dvalishvili most recently called for a rematch with Yan following “No Mercy’s” decision win over Figueiredo in Macau last weekend.

  • Anthony Hernandez Says Brendan Allen Has Got A Lot Better Since Their First Fight: ‘I Just Think I Have His Number’

    Anthony Hernandez Says Brendan Allen Has Got A Lot Better Since Their First Fight: ‘I Just Think I Have His Number’

    Top 15 middleweights are set to meet for the second time in their careers on February 22 in a huge fight for both men. Anthony Hernandez is one of the surging contenders at 185-pounds right now following his main event win over Michel Pereira last time out where his relentless output was the story of the fight once again.

    His next opponent, Brendan Allen, was another one of of middleweight’s most in-form fighters until a recent loss to Nassourdine Imavov halted his winning streak. The two men first met all the way back in 2018 in a five-round fight that had a huge impact on their careers.

    Hernandez got the win at LFA 32 and went on to receive an opportunity on Dana White’s Contender Series. Allen, on the other hand, secured a few more wins in order to bounce back and join his former foe in the UFC where he has been incredibly active to climb up the rankings quickly.

    Hernandez recalls that his first fight with Allen was a tough outing and he gives his opponent a lot of respect for the improvements he had made over the past six years. However, as he revealed in a recent interview with Inside Fighting, he still believes that he will get his hand raised once again regardless of how much better Allen has become.

    “I mean he called me out and it’s like all right well if you want to f****** run it back I mean it’s the perfect opportunity because obviously he’s ahead of me, he’s been healthy and he’s, well his last fight he lost, but he’s been winning and stuff and like the kid’s gotten so much f****** better. I just think I have his number, you know what I mean.”

  • MMA Analyst Says Colby Covington Might Regret His Return Decision: ‘That’s A Different Buckley’

    MMA Analyst Says Colby Covington Might Regret His Return Decision: ‘That’s A Different Buckley’

    At UFC Tampa in the promotion’s final event of 2024, Colby Covington makes a somewhat unexpected return to face Joaquin Buckley in the main event on December 14. The former interim welterweight champion has been linked with a lot of different match-ups since his last fight against Leon Edwards in December of last year but none of them have come together.

    Covington will now be replacing Ian Machado Garry to take on the surging Buckley after Garry moved into the co-main event of UFC 310 to face Shavkat Rakhmonov. Though “New Mansa” is in the best form of his life right now, many see Buckley as a more winnable fight for Covington than some of the other names he has been linked with.

    For as good as his winning streak at welterweight has been, he’s got some losses on his record and in some of those, he was outwrestled which is where the former three-time title challenger could get his hand raised.

    Josh Thomson and “Big” John McCarthy raised this point during a recent episode of the Weighing In podcast where they said that “Chaos” may be underestimating Buckley for this very reason. McCarthy spoke about why Covington has decided to come back for this fight in particular.

    “I look and I think Colby actually bit on this fight thinking ‘Alright, I’ve seen people out wrestle Buckley in the past and I can out wrestle him and take him down’. Now, that’s a different Buckley though too, Buckley’s a different fighter.”

    McCarthy also made reference to Buckley’s 2018 loss in Bellator to Logan Storley, using this as a comparison to his next match-up.

    “You can look at that and say well, Logan just outwrestled him and dropped him anytime he wanted and takedown stuff. Logan’s a better wrestler than Colby Covington ever was okay, sorry, and Buckley is way better now than he was back then.”

  • Jamahal Hill Responds To Fans Being ‘Weird’ About Jon Jones Calling Him Out

    Jamahal Hill Responds To Fans Being ‘Weird’ About Jon Jones Calling Him Out

    The former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill had his name brought up in an unexpected conversation during UFC 309 fight week. A huge talking point surrounding the event was Jon Jones’ future after many expected that the consensus greatest of all time would retire after headlining Madison Square Garden.

    Amongst the debate of him fighting Tom Aspinall or Alex Pereira next, Jones suggested a few other options that caught a lot of fight fans by surprise. “Bones” claimed that he only wanted to compete in fights against guy that are similar to him and in fights that the fans wanted to see.

    He proceeded to name Derrick Lewis and Hill as two of those match-ups, much to the surprise of everyone else. “Sweet Dreams” hasn’t been a name that has been heavily linked to Jones, especially after he lost the 205-pound title at UFC 300 earlier this year.

    In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, he gave his reaction to hearing Jones mention his name and the reaction that it brought from the fans.

    “Yeah 100% it did. However, people getting weird about it, it’s like, he called me out?! You know what I mean. Which, that’s a fight that I’ve wanted since I got here. That was the first name that came out of my mouth whenever they put a UFC camera in front of me so for him to say that now to me, lets me know that I’ve been doing the right things.”

    Hil’s attention is currently focused on Jiří Procházka who he will face at UFC 311 in January though he did say that with a potential fight against Jones likely taking place at heavyweight, moving up a weight class is something that is in his future.

    “Yeah, that’s my plan eventually. I got a couple challenges here that I want to have, questions that I want to answer at this weight but then yeah, eventually I do want to move up.”

  • ‘The Math Ain’t Mathing’ – Fans React As Michael Chandler Claims He’d Beat Charles Oliveira ‘9 Times Out Of 10’

    ‘The Math Ain’t Mathing’ – Fans React As Michael Chandler Claims He’d Beat Charles Oliveira ‘9 Times Out Of 10’

    UFC lightweight Michael Chandler is 0-2 against Charles Oliveira but believes he’d go 9-1 against him. Work that one out.

    Chandler is currently weeks on from his second defeat at the hands of Oliveira, having been comfortably outpointed across five rounds by “do Bronx” in the co-main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.

    The result was a more emphatic setback for “Iron” than his previous loss to Oliveira, which saw his strong start and near-finish in round one rendered null by a mighty comeback from the Brazilian at UFC 262 in May 2021.

    Appearing on Wednesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Chandler reflected on his losing performance in New York City earlier this month.

    The former Bellator champion was honest about his display, admitting it fell way short of what he had anticipated and rating it just two out of 10. But Chandler had a more eyebrow-raising figure when it came to a different topic…

    “I’m not happy with my performance. I would give myself a two out of 10,” he said. “I cannot overstate how horrible of a performance this was compared to what my vision was for what I’m capable of. I believe I beat Charles Oliveira 9 times out of 10.”

    Be it the math that went into that equation or Chandler’s confidence given his losing 2-4 record since joining the promotion, it’s safe to say the MMA fanbase had a field day reacting to the 38-year-old’s remarks.

  • Cory Sandhagen Suggests Petr Yan Rematch In 2025: ‘I Still Want To Get That One Back’

    Cory Sandhagen Suggests Petr Yan Rematch In 2025: ‘I Still Want To Get That One Back’

    UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen has become the latest to express interest in running it back with ex-champion Petr Yan next year.

    Yan continued his winning form at this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Macau, China, where he headlined in defense of his position on the 135-pound ladder against former two-time flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.

    Having snapped a three-fight losing skid with a victory over Song Yadong this past March, “No Mercy” got back to a win streak at the expense of “Deus Da Guerra,” whom he defeated by way of a lopsided unanimous decision.

    Among others, Yan’s display caught the eye of a familiar foe…

    In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sandhagen broke down Yan’s victorious performance against Figueiredo.

    During it, “The Sandman” pointed to a rematch opposite the Russian as a possible next assignment for him in 2025, having fallen short of staking his claim for a title shot when sharing the cage with Umar Nurmagomedov this past August.

    Sandhagen previously lost to Yan in their interim title fight, which played out at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi just over three years ago.

    “Congrats to Yan, maybe we’ll do it next,” Sandhagen said. “I don’t really know what the division’s going on. I haven’t really heard too much. I was hoping to hear probably sometime next week about the direction that they are going to go in because I know they were waiting on this fight to play out.

    “Congrats to Yan. I still want to get that one back,” Sandhagen continued. “We’ll see if it’ll be next or not.”

    Yan has already responded to one of his former opponents requesting a second dance, none other than the bantamweight champ himself.

    In his continued trend of calling to face top contenders not named Umar Nurmagomedov, Dvalishvili suggested his first title defense in 2025 should come against the man whom he dominantly 50-45’d on the scorecards last year.

  • ‘Rampage’ Jackson Thought Miocic Would Be A Tougher Challenge For Jon Jones Than Aspinall

    ‘Rampage’ Jackson Thought Miocic Would Be A Tougher Challenge For Jon Jones Than Aspinall

    Quinton “Rampage” Jackson joined the MMA community in reflecting on the clash between Stipe Miocic and UFC heavyweight king Jon Jones.

    The UFC 309 headliner saw the Rochester native claim victory in spectacular fashion, finishing the former two-time champion with ease. This dominant performance fueled discussions among fight fans about Jones’ status as the greatest of all time in MMA given his impressive résumé, which includes titles in two weight classes.

    Jackson, who suffered a loss to “Bones” over a decade ago, initially believed Miocic would pose a significant threat to the reigning champ. However, in light of the fight’s outcome, “Rampage” revised his perspective, especially regarding a potential matchup between Jones and interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall.

    “I feel like Jon Jones’ last performance, I don’t even think any heavyweight could beat (him),” Jackson said on Uncrowned’s The Ariel Helwani Show. “I think he solidified himself as one of the greatest fighters on the planet. No disrespect to Aspinall — I think he’s a great fighter, and I’m a fan of his — but I thought Stipe would be a tougher challenge on paper. I think Jon Jones is the Neo of MMA. He’s Neo.”

    The heavyweight kingpin has hinted at discussions with the UFC about a potential 2025 return, targeting a bout with current light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

  • Michael Chandler Unhappy With ‘Narrative’ Painted By UFC 309 Commentary Team: ‘I’m An Honest Guy’ 

    Michael Chandler Unhappy With ‘Narrative’ Painted By UFC 309 Commentary Team: ‘I’m An Honest Guy’ 

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler believes his “integrity” was wrongly called into question in the aftermath of his defeat earlier this month.

    Two years on from a submission loss to Dustin Poirier at Madison Square Garden, Chandler made his long-awaited return inside the same venue on Nov. 16, running it back with Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309.

    Having previously been on the wrong end of a memorable comeback form “do Bronx” in their 2021 title showdown, the former Bellator champion had his sights set on redemption in New York City.

    But “Iron” fell convincingly short of that on fight night, with Oliveira securing a convincing decision victory following a dominant five rounds from the Brazilian.

    As was the case after his setback against “The Diamond,” Chandler has been accused of seeking advantages outside the boundaries of the ruleset, with cries of fence grabs, eye pokes, and egregious back of the head strikes filling social media.

    According to Chandler, however, the claim he consistently fouled at UFC 309 was a lie created by those sat cageside with mic in hand.

    During an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Chandler commented on how his actions were commentated over by Jon Anik, Joe Rogan, and Daniel Cormier after rewatching the broadcast.

    “Watching it on TV wasn’t as appealing to me,” Chandler said. “A little bit of the commentary (bothered me) when it comes to some of the stuff they were saying — the misinterpretation of what the back of the head is by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial arts, the misinterpretation of what cage-grabbing is, and a couple of different things.

    “I’m an honest guy. I try to live pretty full of integrity and full of honest, and a narrative that has been painted is not very interesting to me. I’m not very happy about it,” Chandler continued. “I’m not going to say I didn’t do anything wrong. … (But) 90 percent of the shots at least, most of them…all of them, my hand, my fist was catching the ear. If you’re catching the ear, that is not the back of the head. … A referee who was within two feet away never said one thing about it. Then you’ve got commentators 35 feet away saying it’s the back of the head.”

    Those controversial strikes came in the final round when Chandler enjoyed his only success of the fight. With that in mind, he gave his performance a “2 out of 10” rating during the same interview with Helwani.

    And although he maintained his reputation as an entertainer in the dying moments at UFC 309, the result has left “Iron” with a losing 2-4 record in the Octagon — something he’ll look to rectify in 2025.

  • Robert Whittaker Reveals Planned UFC Return Date After Crushing Loss To Khamzat Chimaev

    Robert Whittaker Reveals Planned UFC Return Date After Crushing Loss To Khamzat Chimaev

    Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has his eyes on a mid-2025 return after repairing the damage he sustained at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev last month.

    Following two strong appearances in 2024 that saw him outpoint Paulo Costa and knock out the highly touted Ikram Aliskerov, Whittaker hoped to make it three on the bounce at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

    But his pursuit of a rematch with current titleholder Dricus Du Plessis came to an emphatic halt at the hands of Chimaev, who added “The Reaper” to the list of victims on his undefeated record.

    And the result was up there with the Chechen star’s most vicious in the UFC to date, as he dragged Whittaker down before displacing his front teeth with a brutal face crank in the very first round.

    During a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker provided an update on his status, revealing he underwent a procedure to remove and replace the damaged teeth — dental surgery that also uncovered a sizable cyst in the Australian’s jaw.

    But the former champ is now on the mend, and he’s even eyeing a return to action as soon as May 2025.

    “I’m going to give a bit of time. I’m not going to rush into the next fight, because there are some things I want to address,” Whittaker said. “I’m probably looking to return in June. June-ish? End of May? I don’t know. We’ll play with the dates next year.”

    And when he does make the walk again, “The Reaper” is promising to adapt and show new wrinkles to his game.

    “I’m 34 in December,” Whittaker noted. “I still have, I feel like some tricks up my sleeve. I still have some goals that I want to hit. Like I said, I am building some new skills. But that’s just how I look at things. Every obstacle and setback just makes me stronger, it makes the comeback better. I’m looking forward to getting back in there. I’m enjoying training. I’m excited for the next, what I could be.”

    While Whittaker focuses on his recovery and plan to display a new and improved “Bobby Knuckles” next year, Chimaev has his sights set on the middleweight gold.

    Although he’s yet to be confirmed as next in line over Sean Strickland, “Borz” appears to have plenty of support from his peers and the MMA masses when it comes to Du Plessis’ second defense of the 185-pound title.

  • Bo Nickal On Abandoning Wrestling At UFC 309: ‘A Great Step In The Right Direction’

    Bo Nickal On Abandoning Wrestling At UFC 309: ‘A Great Step In The Right Direction’

    Bo Nickal secured another impressive victory earlier this month at UFC 309, defeating Paul Craig on the main card at Madison Square Garden.

    This win added to Nickal’s growing undefeated record, which now includes four victories under the UFC banner. His previous finishes came against Jamie Pickett, Val Woodburn, and Cody Brundage.

    While many expected Nickal to lean on his world-class wrestling skills in the Craig fight, he surprised fans by focusing on his striking. This decision drew mixed reactions from fight fans, some of whom questioned his strategy.

    However, Nickal defended his approach during an appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, expressing joy about his performance.

    “I think that this last fight, even though people didn’t love the performance, was a great step in the right direction,” Nickal said. “I dominated a veteran — a guy who has 26 fights — for three straight rounds just using striking. I didn’t even use my biggest asset. I think people now are saying, ‘Oh, Bo, he can’t wrestle,’ this or that. Bro, trust me, I can wrestle.”

    Nickal reassured fans that his wrestling remains a key weapon in his arsenal and promised to continue dominating opponents in future fights.

  • Paddy Pimblett Explains Dramatic Weight Gain After UFC Fights: ‘I Can Go Up To About 95 kg’

    Paddy Pimblett Explains Dramatic Weight Gain After UFC Fights: ‘I Can Go Up To About 95 kg’

    Although Paddy Pimblett competes in the UFC lightweight division at 155 pounds, he is notorious for walking around at a much heavier weight between fights.

    Known for his love of food, Pimblett frequently undergoes dramatic weight fluctuations. Despite these challenges, the fan-favorite Scouse fighter continues to rack up impressive victories.

    Pimblett has extended his winning streak to eight, with his most recent victories coming over Tony Ferguson via decision at UFC 296 and King Green via submission at UFC 304.

    During an appearance on the Still Talking Show, Pimblett revealed that he typically walks around at 194 pounds before cutting down to the lightweight limit. However, after fights, he can balloon up to as much as 205 pounds due to the body’s reaction to his extreme weight-cutting process.

    “Now I’m just back to my normal weight,” Pimblett explained. “I’m walking around at 88kgs (194 pounds). After a fight week, I can go up to about 95 kg (209.4 pounds) or 93 (205). It’s just where you have depleted your body — it holds onto everything.

    “Where I’ve half put it in starvation mode for the week making weight, your body holds on to everything. So, as soon as I have salty stuff, it just retains the water. That’s why I look bloated, and I look fat. It’s my cheeks—it’s just bloated because I go overboard, I’ll be honest.”

    Although Pimblett does not currently have his next fight scheduled, the UFC is set to return to the UK with a Fight Night event at The O2 Arena on March 22.