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Category: UFC

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

  • Bo Nickal Doubles Down On Defense Of UFC 309 Performance: ‘This Fight Was Picture-Perfect’

    Bo Nickal Doubles Down On Defense Of UFC 309 Performance: ‘This Fight Was Picture-Perfect’

    UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal continues to push back on suggestions he underperformed this past weekend.

    Nickal was among those to have their hand raised on the main card of Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view. But unlike his previous Octagon outings ā€” all of which came by way of knockout or submission ā€” the American didn’t draw a positive reaction from the crowd.

    The audience in attendance at Madison Square Garden made their displeasure known throughout Nickal’s three-round contest with formerly ranked middleweight and light heavyweight contender Paul Craig.

    After the decorated wrestling specialist got the nod after 15 minutes of largely forgettable striking, he was heavily booed during his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. And they rained down even heavier when Nickal defended the display and expressed how happy he was with the win.

    During his post-fight press conference at MSG, Nickal shared the same sentiment, even going as far as to call his performance in New York City “picture-perfect.”

    “Definitely, itā€™s way better for me and my development,ā€ Nickal said. ā€œIf you look at my cage time and what I had before this, I over-doubled it, for sure. Thatā€™s something that for me Iā€™ve really cornered myself with this reputation of a guy who finishes them and destroys them ā€“ because thatā€™s when the expectation is set. My expectation is to compete to the best of my ability at 100 percent effort.

    “Itā€™s not anything to do with the result. It doesnā€™t matter: decisions, submissions, knockouts. Iā€™m definitely not disappointed with this result. I was way more disappointed with my last fight and I subbed the guy,” Nickal continued. “This fight, for me, was picture-perfect.ā€

    With the result, Nickal has moved to a perfect 4-0 in the UFC and 7-0 overall as a professional mixed martial artist.

    TheĀ three-time NCAA Division I national championĀ and three-timeĀ Big Ten ConferenceĀ champion out ofĀ Pennsylvania State University will now look ahead to his first assignment of 2025, as he edges closer to putting a number next to his name at 185 pounds.

  • Francis Ngannou Sends Messages To Both Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic After UFC 309

    Francis Ngannou Sends Messages To Both Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic After UFC 309

    PFL champion Francis Ngannou had a close eye on what unfolded when Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic finally shared the Octagon this past weekend.

    Over a year on from their originally scheduled fight date, Jones and Miocic collided inside the prestigious surroundings of Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, with the former putting his heavyweight title on the line for the first time at UFC 309.

    Those who feared a difficult night at the office for the returning former champion, who hadn’t competed in three and a half years, had their worries come to fruition.

    After a difficult first round in which he was taken down and battered with elbows, Miocic was eventually finished in round three when a brutal spinning side kick to the body sent him to the canvas.

    The result saw Jones add a successful heavyweight defense to his already illustrious rĆ©sumĆ©, and that unsurprisingly drew a reaction from a man he’s long gone back and forth with.

    Taking to X with his reaction moments after the main event concluded, Ngannou returned the favor by repeating the “I see you” line Jones posted in response to the Cameroonian’s winning debut under the PFL banner last month.

    “Jones looked great out there tonight,” Ngannou wrote. “Congrats Jonny boy. I see you (wink)”

    While a possible showdown between Jones and Ngannou looks set to enter the “what if” realm of matchups, “The Predator” had a lengthier address for a man whom he has thrown down with ā€” twice.

    Following his defeat in New York City, Miocic announced his retirement, and Ngannou was among those paying tribute to the former two-time heavyweight king on social media.

    “Thank you, champion @stipemiocic, for all youā€™ve done for our sport and, above all, for the class you embody and the example you set,” Ngannou wrote. “Iā€™m grateful for how our battles have shaped me into a better fighter; those moments taught me more than years in the sport. Enjoy your well-earned retirement and best wishes for all your future endeavors.”

    Miocic faced MMA’s hardest hitter twice in the UFC, first outpointing Ngannou to become the first man to beat him in the Octagon at UFC 220.

    Three years later, the pair renewed hostilities at the Apex, where “The Predator” got his redemption and crowning moment in violent fashion.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Bryce Mitchell vs. Kron Gracie Joins UFC 310 Card

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Bryce Mitchell vs. Kron Gracie Joins UFC 310 Card

    MMA News has you covered with this weekā€™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 theyā€™re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, November 10, and Sunday, November 17, a number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported by reputable sources. For those matchups, check out the list below:

    But it wasnā€™t all positive, with two fights falling through or being adjusted. For those, see below:

  • Jon Jones Reiterates Desire To Fight Alex Pereira After UFC 309 Win: ‘I’m Not Worried About The Tom Fight’

    Jon Jones Reiterates Desire To Fight Alex Pereira After UFC 309 Win: ‘I’m Not Worried About The Tom Fight’

    If Jon Jones steps back into the Octagon, heā€™s made it clear he expects to be compensated handsomely. Following his dominant third-round victory over former champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Jones addressed his future in the sport.

    The fight concluded with a spinning back kick to Miocicā€™s body, solidifying Jonesā€™ position as one of MMAā€™s most formidable fighters. However, the conversation has now shifted to whatā€”or whoā€”comes next for the reigning heavyweight champion.

    Two potential matchups are on the table: a clash with interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall or a showdown with reigning light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. At the UFC 309 post-fight press conference, Jones made it clear which fight he prefers.

    “I’m not really worried about the Tom fight; I’m worried about the Pereira fight; that’s what I want to do,” Jones said. “I think if the UFC wants me back, that’s the fight they’ll make. I’ve been really clear about my intentions… I’ll retire the heavyweight belt if I have to. Give the dude what he wants at the end of the day. I feel like I’m at a place where I want to take super-fights. I don’t want to fight dangerous up-and-comers anymore. I want to fight dangerous, established champions. So, Tom can have the heavyweight championship; I don’t really care about it.”

    Jones also hinted at retirement if his terms arenā€™t met, stating, “One of the really good things about negotiating is being willing to walk away from a deal, and that’s the deal that I want. If that’s not what the fans want, I guess I’ll say Sayonara.”

    Additionally, Jones emphasized that he expects a lucrative payday, referencing his desire for ā€œfā€”k you money,” should the UFC want him to fight Tom.

  • Dana White Reacts To Jon Jones’ UFC 309 Win: Heā€™s The Best Pound-for-Pound Fighter In The World

    Fight fans were treated to an extraordinary performance from Jon Jones as he defeated former champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.

    The dominant win culminated in the third round when Jones landed a spinning back kick to Miocic’s body, securing a spectacular finish. UFC CEO Dana White lauded Jones’ achievement, declaring it solid proof of his status as the greatest fighter in MMA history and the current best in the world.

    ā€œThis guyā€™s fight IQ is off the charts,ā€ White said at the UFC 309 post-fight press conference. ā€œIs everybody going to admit now heā€™s the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world? Let me tell you, this thing had upset written all over it. All the talk about Jon Jonesā€”Stipe seemed pissed, focused, and he came here to win. He looked good, he was in phenomenal shape, and the list goes on. Jon picked him apart. ā€¦ He looked incredible. I just donā€™t know how any of you guys donā€™t see how heā€™s the greatest fighter in the history of f*cking people fighting.ā€

    As for whatā€™s next for Jones, his future plans remain uncertain. However, White suggested that a fight against rising star Tom Aspinall could be the biggest heavyweight bout in MMA history. Jones is leaning towards a fight with light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira.

  • ‘As Impressive As Jake Paul’s Win Over Mike Tyson’ – Fans React As Jon Jones Sends Stipe Miocic Into Retirement With UFC 309 Finish

    ‘As Impressive As Jake Paul’s Win Over Mike Tyson’ – Fans React As Jon Jones Sends Stipe Miocic Into Retirement With UFC 309 Finish

    The UFC’s GOAT battle ended with Jones adding another name to his long list of fallen opponents, as he finished Stipe Miocic to retain the UFC heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC 309 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

    Jones had a strong start after a feeling out process to start the fight, scoring a takedown a couple of minutes into the round and landing some brutal elbows that could have finished the outing.

    The Rochester native seemed to take the second frame off but still landed the better shots. He then finished off Miocic in the third with a brutal spinning kick to the body.

    Miocic announced his retirement from MMA after the fight. Jones, meanwhile, did not commit to calling it quits, but stated he’d have to do some negotiating with Dana White and Hunter Campbell before signing on for a fight with either interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall or light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira.

    Jon Jones Puts Stipe Miocic Into Retirement With Third-Round Finish To Retain Heavyweight Title At UFC 309

    Jones and Miocic were originally set to clash at last year’s Madison Square Garden event, UFC 295, before Jones tore his pec.

    This marked his first defense of the UFC heavyweight title since winning the then-vacant belt with a submission of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.

    Meanwhile, Saturday’s headliner was Miocic’s first fight since losing the heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 in March 2021.

  • UFC 309 Results & Highlights: Jon Jones TKOs Stipe MiocicĀ Ā 

    UFC 309 Results & Highlights: Jon Jones TKOs Stipe MiocicĀ Ā 

    UFC 309 took place tonight from Madison Square Garden in New York, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!Ā 

    In the main event, Jon Jones put his heavyweight title on the line against Stipe Miocic. While in the co-main event, Charles Oliveira faced Michael Chandler in a lightweight matchup.Ā 

    Make sure to catch all the UFC 309 results and highlights as they happen below!Ā 

    UFC 309 Results: Main Card

    • Heavyweight Championship Main Event: Jon Jones def. Stipe Miocic via TKO:Ā R3, 4.29
    • Lightweight Co-Main Event: Charles Oliveira def. Michael Chandler via unanimous decision (49-46×2, 49-45)
    • Middleweight: Bo Nickal def. Paul Craig via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Womenā€™s Flyweight: Viviane AraĆŗjo def. Karine Silva via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Catchweight (165lbs): Mauricio Ruffy def. James Llontop via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

     
    Preliminary Card

    • Bantamweight: Marcus McGhee def. Jonathan Martinez via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Lightweight: Jim Miller def. Damon Jackson via submission: R1, 2:44
    • Featherweight: David Onama def. Roberto Romero via unanimous decision (30-27×3) 

     
    Early Preliminary Card

    • Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura def. Jhonata Diniz via TKO (doctor’s stoppage): R2, 5.00 
    • Welterweight: Ramiz Brahimaj def. Mickey Gall via TKO: R1, 2.55
    • Welterweight: Oban Elliott def. Bassil Hafez via KO: R3, 0.40

    Womenā€™s Flyweight: Eduarda Moura def. Veronica Hardy via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Oban ElliottĀ def. Bassil Hafez

    In this welterweight matchup, Oban ElliottĀ earned a KO of Bassil Hafez in the third round.

    Ramiz BrahimajĀ def. Mickey Gall

    Ramiz BrahimajĀ earned a first-round TKO of Mickey Gall in their welterweight scrap.

    Marcin Tybura def. Jhonata Diniz

    In this heavyweight bout, Marcin Tybura earned a TKO of Jhonata Diniz by way of doctor’s stoppage.

    Jim Miller def. Damon Jackson

    In this lightweight bout, Jim Miller earned a first-round submission of Damon Jackson.

    Main Card Highlights

    Mauricio Ruffy def. James Llontop

    In this 165-pound catchweight bout, Mauricio Ruffy earned a unanimous decision against James Llontop.

    Viviane AraĆŗjo def. Karine Silva

    Viviane AraĆŗjo got it done on the scorecards against Karine Silva in their flyweight bout.

    Bo Nickal def. Paul Craig

    Bo Nickal kept his unbeaten streak alive with a unanimous decision against Paul Craig.

    Charles Oliveira def. Michael Chandler

    In the co-main event, Charles Oliveira got it done on the scorecards against Michael Chandler.

    Jon Jones def. Stipe Miocic

    In the main event, Jon Jones retained his heavyweight title with a TKO of Stipe Miocic in the third round.

  • ‘McGregor Probably Laughing’ – Fans React As Charles Oliveira Survives Late Michael Chandler Rally For Lopsided UFC 309 Decision

    ‘McGregor Probably Laughing’ – Fans React As Charles Oliveira Survives Late Michael Chandler Rally For Lopsided UFC 309 Decision

    Charles Oliveira secured his second win over Michael Chandler in the co-main event of UFC 309, but just like their first encounter in 2021, the fight wasn’t without high drama.

    “Do Bronx” dominated the first four rounds and looked one shot away from finishing the fight at multiple points, as proven by the unanimous scorecards of 49-46, 49-46, and 49-45.

    Oliveira looked to grapple a lot more in this fight than in his recent outings, securing consistent takedowns and taking Chandler’s back multiple times. However, in the fifth round, “Iron” nearly turned the tide in what would have been an all-time great comeback.

    The former three-time Bellator champion needed a finish, and after hurting the former champion on the feet, just like in their first fight, he was seemingly one shot away from the referee stepping in. That would have been controversial due to many of the strikes seemingly hitting the back of Oliveira’s head in just one example of fouls going unnoticed by referee Keith Peterson.

    Oliveira was able to protect himself off his back once again, take time to recover, and get back to his feet. After surviving a few more strikes, he secured yet another takedown to close out the round and get his hand raised.

    In one of the highlight reel moments of the night, the Madison Square Garden crowd nearly blew the roof off of the iconic venue when Chandler ended the fight by back-slamming Oliveira, who had taken his back not once but twice in another similarity to UFC 262.

    In his post-fight interview, Oliveira said that he will be ready to face the winner of Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan, while Chandler called out Conor McGregor ā€” again. Fans reacted on social media to the dominant performance from Oliveira, which ended in chaotic fashion.

    Oliveira himself posted an immediate reaction to the fight on X.

    https://twitter.com/CharlesDoBronxs/status/1858026388814520341
  • ‘Khamzat Kills Bo’ – Fans React As Bo Nickal’s UFC 309 Decision Over Paul Craig Draws ‘Overrated’ Chants Inside MSG

    ‘Khamzat Kills Bo’ – Fans React As Bo Nickal’s UFC 309 Decision Over Paul Craig Draws ‘Overrated’ Chants Inside MSG

    New Yorkers are unafraid to show their honest opinions, and that resulted in a harsh reaction toward Bo Nickal as he took a decision win over Paul Craig at UFC 309.

    The fight was ultimately quiet throughout the 15 minutes. The first round could have fallen either way, as Nickal looked to stand in front of Craig and land low kicks. “Bearjew,” however, checked those and landed kicks of his own.

    The second frame saw the American wrestler land the harder strikes, though the round felt quieter than the first. The third stanza saw Nickal stun Craig on a couple of occasions but not follow up on it. That round also saw a brutal reaction from the MSG crowd, bringing down boos and chants of “Overrated!”

    The undefeated prospect ultimately swept the judges’ scorecards for the win.

    Bo Nickal Gets Booed By MSG Crowd As He Defeats Paul Craig At UFC 309

    https://twitter.com/BackPackCamX/status/1858010989452525718

    This marked Nickal’s fourth bout in the UFC after winning a pair of fights on Dana White’s Contender Series. His run in the Octagon thus far has seen him score finishes of Jamie Pickett, Val Woodburn, and Cody Brundage.

    Craig, meanwhile, has now lost three straight and five of his last six.

  • VIDEO: Watch Mauricio Ruffy Drop James Llontop With No-Look Uppercut En Route To UFC 309 Decision

    VIDEO: Watch Mauricio Ruffy Drop James Llontop With No-Look Uppercut En Route To UFC 309 Decision

    Mauricio Ruffy earned his second consecutive win inside the Octagon in the main card opener of UFC 309, defeating James Llontop via unanimous decision.

    The highly touted Brazilian still produced some highlight-reel moments but wasn’t able to secure another show-stealing finish as a huge favorite against his late-notice replacement opponent.

    Llontop missed weight ahead of the fight despite both men agreeing to a catchweight, but it didn’t have the impact that many assumed it would. In the end, it was the Peruvian who got better as the fight went on, winning the third round with his constant pressure as Ruffy appeared to significantly slow down.

    However, it was the toughness of Llontop that earned him the most plaudits after he ate some huge shots, including a devastating look-away uppercut that dropped him in the second round.

    Ruffy never looked like losing the fight after landing significant damage in the first two frames en route scorecards of 29-28 across the board, but it was certainly a tougher outing than many expected following his incredible debut win over Jamie Mullarkey at UFC 301 this past May.

    The Fighting Nerds standout called out BenoƮt Saint Denis as both Ruffy and his teammates continue to have massive campaigns in 2024.

    Check out the moment that nearly closed the show in the second round below:

  • ‘Retired Someone 5 Years Younger’ – Dustin Poirier & Others React As Jim Miller Successfully ‘Jumps The Gilly’ At UFC 309

    ‘Retired Someone 5 Years Younger’ – Dustin Poirier & Others React As Jim Miller Successfully ‘Jumps The Gilly’ At UFC 309

    The ageless wonder that is Jim Miller earned his 27th win inside the Octagon at UFC 309, where he submitted Damon Jackson on the preliminary card.

    The record holder for the most fights and victories in UFC history extended both stats after he caught his opponent in a vintage Miller guillotine choke for the first-round finish.

    The 21st submission win of his career saw him bounce back from a one-sided loss to Bobby Green at UFC 300 this past April, and it doesn’t look like he is going anywhere just yet. He told Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview that at 41 years old, he’s still got a few more left in him while also pointing out his incredible record for finishing fights at the highest level.

    Jon Anik did bring attention on the broadcast to Jackson laying his gloves down inside the Octagon in retirement but declining a post-fight interview. He moved up to lightweight for this fight after a decision loss to Chepe Mariscal last time out, seemingly ending his UFC career with a record of 6-6, in addition to one no contest and one draw.

    MMA fans reacted to Miller’s slick submission win at the world’s most famous arena via social media. Miller even got a tip of the hat from a man that will always show respect for any fighter that jumps for the guillotine choke, Dustin Poirier.

  • VIDEO: Marcin Tybura Bloodies Jhonata Diniz With Elbows To End His Undefeated Streak At UFC 309

    VIDEO: Marcin Tybura Bloodies Jhonata Diniz With Elbows To End His Undefeated Streak At UFC 309

    The experience of Marcin Tybura ultimately proved to be too much for Jhonata Diniz at Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view, as the veteran heavyweight took the victory following a doctor’s stoppage after two rounds.

    The previously undefeated prospect had a strong start when he appeared to catch Tybura in the opening seconds of the fight, stunning him. The fight ended up going to the ground, where Diniz tried to work and get the finish. A leg-lock submission attempt, however, saw the Polish contender end his offensive attack and take top control for the remainder of the round.

    Tybura brought even more intensity with seconds left in the second frame, working his way into full mount and landing some nasty elbows that busted Diniz wide open.

    The doctor would not allow Diniz to continue into the third round, forcing the TKO win.

    Marcin Tybura Brutally Causes Doctor’s Stoppage In Win Over Jhonata Diniz At UFC 309

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1857958864299143246

    Tybura has won two of four and four of his last six now.

    Meanwhile, this marked Diniz’s first loss in professional MMA. He and Derrick Lewis were scheduled to face off at UFC Edmonton earlier this month before Lewis was pulled from the card one day before the event.

    Prior to tonight, Diniz, an alumnus of Dana White’s Contender Series, defeated Austen Lane and Karl Williams in the Octagon.

  • VIDEO: ‘Welsh Gangster’ Oban Elliott Flattens Bassil Hafez In Brutal KO At UFC 309

    VIDEO: ‘Welsh Gangster’ Oban Elliott Flattens Bassil Hafez In Brutal KO At UFC 309

    Oban Elliott secured his first finish inside the Octagon in the second fight of the night at UFC 309 when he squared off with Bassil Hafez at welterweight.

    “The Welsh Gangster” came into the fight off back-to-back wins since signing via Dana White’s Contender Series last year but wanted to produce a statement this time around.

    His displays against Val Woodburn and Preston Parsons showed a lot of sides to his game, but with both wins coming via decision, a finish is what he wanted at UFC 309. That’s exactly what he delivered at the world’s most famous arena.

    The opening two rounds weren’t particularly action-packed, with Elliott seemingly winning the fight convincingly with his striking from the outside, utilizing his speed and a variety of kicks to stop Hafez from closing the distance. Despite the favorite appearing in control up until the finish, two judges had the fight even going into the third whilst one had Hafez up two.

    At the start of the third frame, a huge right overhand from the Welshman sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.

    Several follow-up strikes on the ground forced Marc Goddard to step in and wave the fight off, producing the first finish of the night back in the old gloves.

    Watch the highlight reel finish below:

  • Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders Canceled Due To Medical Issue Hours Before UFC 309 Clash

    Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders Canceled Due To Medical Issue Hours Before UFC 309 Clash

    Chris Weidman’s return to New York at UFC 309, which some anticipated to be a potential retirement fight, will now not take place.

    Just hours before he and Eryk Anders were scheduled to make the walk for their fight on the preliminary card at Madison Square Garden, Anders was forced out of the bout with a medical issue, per an announcement at the start of the early prelim broadcast.

    The reports of the fight’s cancelation were first reported on X by users @TheMMAFoo and @MagicM_MMABets.

    Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders Scrapped From UFC 309 At Last Minute

    This was to be Weidman’s first fight in New York since being knocked out by Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at UFC 230.

    Weidman is 1-1 in his comeback from his horrific leg break against Uriah Hall at UFC 261. His retirement bout was not confirmed, but plenty of pundits and fans expected the former middleweight champion to potentially call time on his career after tonight’s bout.

    Anders, meanwhile, last fought in March, defeating Jamie Pickett.

    As a result of the cancellation, the preliminary card start time has been pushed back to 6:30pm ET.

  • Dana White On Khamzat Chimaev: ‘I Want Him To Fight For A Title Here In The United States’

    UFC CEO Dana White is keeping the hype alive for Khamzat Chimaev, whose meteoric rise in the MMA world continues to turn heads.

    At UFC 308, the undefeated star delivered a stunning performance, submitting former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the first round and breaking the Australian’s teeth in the process.

    Following this dominant victory, many believe Chimaev is now on a collision course with current middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis. While White previously hinted that Sean Strickland was next in line for a title shot, Chimaevā€™s overwhelming display of skill has sparked speculation about a shift in plans.

    During an appearance on The Jim Rome Show, White praised Chimaevā€™s performance and hinted at big plans for the fighter.

    ā€œHe looked incredible. His manager was telling me before the fight that mentally, physically, and emotionally, heā€™s the best heā€™s ever been. He said, ā€˜Iā€™m telling you, wait until you see him on Saturday,ā€™ and he was right. He was dead on.

    ā€œThis guyā€™s never looked better, especially against the competition that he had. Iā€™m looking forward to him getting a title fight in ā€™25. Weā€™ll see how this plays out here, but I want him to fight in the United States. I want him to fight for a title here in the U.S.ā€

    With Whiteā€™s endorsement and a flawless record, Chimaevā€™s path to a title fight appears inevitable. Whether itā€™s Du Plessis or another challenger standing across the Octagon, 2025 could mark the year Chimaev claims UFC gold.

  • Nick Diaz Out Of UFC 310, Themba Gorimbo Fills In To Fight Vicente Luque

    Nick Diaz Out Of UFC 310, Themba Gorimbo Fills In To Fight Vicente Luque

    Fan favorite Nick Diazā€™s highly anticipated return to the Octagon has been delayed.

    Diaz was initially scheduled to face Vicente Luque at UFC 310 on Dec. 7, marking his first fight in over three years. However, the matchup has been scrapped as Diaz has officially withdrawn.

    Stepping in for the Stockton native, per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, Themba Gorimbo will now take on Luque at the event. While the UFC has not yet confirmed the new bout, an announcement is expected soon.

    Diaz last competed in September 2021 at UFC 266, where he suffered a TKO loss to Robbie Lawler. Before that, he endured a challenging stretch in his career, going 0-2-1. His losses include decision defeats to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in 2012 and Georges St-Pierre at UFC 158 in 2013. Additionally, his 2015 bout with Anderson Silva at UFC 183 was overturned to a no contest after Silva failed a drug test.

    Gorimbo, who steps in for Diaz, boasts a professional record of 14-4 and is currently riding a four-fight winning streak. Since joining the UFC, Gorimbo has achieved a solid 4-1 record, with notable decision victories over fighters such as Ramiz Brahimaj and Niko Price.

    This reshuffle comes amid other significant changes to the UFC 310 lineup. A toe infection forced UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad out of the main event, leading title challenger Shavkat Rakhmonov to pivot and now face Ian Garry.

    The event will be headlined by a UFC flyweight championship bout between current titleholder Alexandre Pantoja and challenger Kai Asakura.

  • Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Garry Official For UFC 310, Colby Covington Fills vs. Buckley

    Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Garry Official For UFC 310, Colby Covington Fills vs. Buckley

    After a toe infection to Belal Muhammad forced the UFC welterweight champion out of UFC 310, the Dec. 7 card now has an answer to who will be headlining.

    Per an announcement from UFC CEO Dana White that dropped during Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, intended title challenger Shavkat Rakhmonov will no longer be competing in the main event of UFC 310.

    Tha Kazakh star has instead been moved to the co-main event slot and will face fellow undefeated contender Ian Garry in a five-round, non-title fight.

    The UFC flyweight championship match between champion Alexandre Pantoja and his latest challenger, debutant Kai Asakura, has been promoted to the new UFC 310 main event.

    Furthermore, as a result of Garry competing at UFC 310, Colby Covington will be filling in for him in the UFC Tampa main event on Dec. 14 against the Irishman’s originally booked opponent, Joaquin Buckley.

    Garry Replaces Muhammad In UFC 310 Bout vs. Rakhmonov, Pantoja vs. Asakura Promoted To Main Event

    Rakhmonov became next in line for the welterweight title after his finish of Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, as well as Muhammad’s title win against Leon Edwards at UFC 304. But “Nomad” will now have to put his shot on the line in a matchup with Garry.

    The Irish rising star has fought twice in 2024, earning decision wins over Geoff Neal in February and Michael “Venom” Page four months later.

    Garry and Covington, meanwhile, had been linked to face one another over the course of the last year due to intense hatred between the two seen across social media. “Chaos,” however, has previously stated that he does not feel “The Future” deserves a fight with him.

    Covington is also on the outside looking in of the welterweight title picture, having not fought since his own disappointing outing against Edwards at UFC 296 last year.

    Buckley, on the other hand, has won five straight, most recently knocking out “Wonderboy” at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City just last month.

  • Sean Strickland & Dricus Du Plessis Team Up To Blast ‘Clown’ Jake Paul Over Mike Tyson Clash

    Sean Strickland & Dricus Du Plessis Team Up To Blast ‘Clown’ Jake Paul Over Mike Tyson Clash

    UFC rivals Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis unexpectedly united to slam Jake Paul for fighting Mike Tyson.

    Paul is primed to collide with Tyson in an eight-round heavyweight bout scheduled for Friday at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

    The highly debated boxing showdown has dominated headlines since its announcement, though not for the most favorable of reasons. The focal point has been the jaw-dropping 31-year age gap between the YouTuber-turned-boxer and the former undisputed heavyweight champion, a record-breaking divide that has sparked widespread skepticism about the competitiveness of the matchup.

    Among the many critics of the Paul vs. Tyson bout, Strickland, who is no stranger to bashing “The Problem Child,” has joined the chorus. The former UFC middleweight champion recently took to X and lashed out at Paul over his matchup with the boxing legend in a series of tweets.

    “@jakepaul [Jake Paul] is a clown,” Strickland tweeted. “Your ability to make money off stupid people is impressive, but being rich won’t buy you dignity. You’re fighting a 60-year-old man who is just trying to make a dollar by risking his life.. scum bag.”

    Strickland then reacted to the Netflix promotional video for the fight, taking issue with the “All it takes is one punch” tagline.

    “You’re fighting a 60-year-old… are you a f**king idiot?? This should be illegal… The man had a medical emergency a month before this because he’s too f**king old. F**king clown.”

    Surprisingly, reigning UFC 185-pound champion Du Plessis chimed into the conversation, backing Stricklandā€™s criticism of “The Problem Child”.

    “I donā€™t always agree with you, but I second that,” Du Plessis wrote. “Still, believe Iron Mike KOā€™s him.”

    “Iron Mike” hung up his gloves after a loss to Kevin McBride in June 2005. However, Tyson made a comeback to the ring for an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. in November 2020, a bout that ultimately ended in a draw.

    The Paul vs. Tyson fight was originally scheduled for July 20 but was delayed to November after Tyson experienced an ulcer flare-up during a flight from Miami to Los Angeles in May.

  • UFC 309: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC 309: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC 309 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    The upcoming pay-per-view event at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York CityĀ provides a chance for UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones to record his first successful title defense.

    After capturing the gold in March 2023 by quickly submitting Ciryl Gane, ā€œBonesā€ is next tasked with stalling Stipe Miocic’s ambitions of a return to the 265-pound mountaintop in what will mark the Ohio native’s first outing in three and a half years.

    The stakes will also be high in the co-main event, which will see former lightweight champ Charles Oliveira look to secure another shot at regaining the crown by once again getting the better of Michael Chandler.

    Elsewhere on the UFC 309 card, middleweight prospect Bo Nickal, rising flyweight Karine Silva, the always entertaining Mauricio Ruffy and former champion Chris Weidman have their next assignments inside the Octagon.

    Ahead of the event,Ā 25 of the 26 fighters successfully made weight, with James Llontop’s 1.2-pound miss of the 165-pound catchweight limit marking the sole indiscretion on the scale. Nevertheless, every fight is intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 309 ceremonial weigh-ins!

    Check out a live stream viaĀ the official UFC YouTube channelĀ below, commencing at 5 PM ET.

    UFC 309 Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • UFC 309: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic Weigh-In Results

    UFC 309: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic Weigh-In Results

    UFC 309 takes place tomorrow night, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After staging fights in Edmonton and Las Vegas to kick off the month, the mixed martial arts leader will host its annual November numbered event from Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    One title will be on the line at the top of the card, with Jon Jones defending his heavyweight belt against returning former champion Stipe Miocic n the main event. Co-headlining, meanwhile, will be a crucial lightweight rematch between ex-titleholder Charles Oliveira and the always entertaining Michael Chandler

    Also on the main card will be returns for highly touted middleweight prospect Bo Nickal, surging flyweight contender Karine Silva, and electric lightweight newcomer Mauricio Ruffy.

    UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic Weigh-In Results

    UFC 309 takes place Saturday, November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    See above for a replay of the UFC 309 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below.

    Main Card:

    • Heavyweight Championship Main Event: Jon Jones (237.6lbs) vs. Stipe Miocic (248.6lbs)
    • Lightweight Co-Main Event: Charles Oliveira (155.6lbs) vs. Michael Chandler (155.6lbs)
    • Womenā€™s Flyweight: Viviane AraĆŗjo (125.6lbs) vs. Karine Silva (125.8lbs)
    • Middleweight: Bo Nickal (185.4lbs) vs. Paul Craig (186lbs)
    • Catchweight (165lbs): Mauricio Ruffy (164.4lbs) vs. James Llontop (166.2lbs)*

    Preliminary Card:

    • Bantamweight: Jonathan Martinez (135.8lbs) vs. Marcus McGhee (135.6lbs)
    • Middleweight: Eryk Anders (185.6lbs) vs. Chris Weidman (186lbs)
    • Lightweight: Jim Miller (155.6lbs) vs. Damon Jackson (155.2lbs)
    • Featherweight: David Onama (155.6lbs) vs. Roberto Romero (155lbs)

    Early Preliminary Card: 

    • Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura (251lbs) vs. Jhonata Diniz (253.2lbs)
    • Welterweight: Mickey Gall (170.8lbs) vs. Ramiz Brahimaj (170.2lbs)
    • Welterweight: Bassil Hafez (171lbs) vs. Oban Elliott (170lbs)
    • Womenā€™s Flyweight: Veronica Hardy (125.8lbs) vs. Eduarda Moura (125.2lbs)

    *James Llontop missed the catchweight limit by 1.2 pounds

  • UFC 309 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Jones vs. Miocic, Oliveira vs. Chandler 2, & More

    UFC 309 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Jones vs. Miocic, Oliveira vs. Chandler 2, & More

    UFC 309 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekendā€™s lineup.

    The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, November 16, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, who is tasked with getting the better of former kingpin Stipe Miocic if heā€™s to record a first successful title defense.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see ex-lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira in action for the second time this year. After failing to get past Arman Tsarukyan, ā€œDo Bronxā€ must add a second win over Michael Chandler to his record if he’s to keep his name in the title conversation.

    Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of elite wrestling specialist Bo Nickal, rising women’s flyweight contender Karine Silva, the entertaining Mauricio Ruffy and former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman.

    Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the UFC 309 main card here.

    UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 309 (as of 11/15), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Jon Jones (-625) vs. Stipe Miocic (+455)
    • Charles Oliveira (-245) vs. Michael Chandler (+200)
    • Viviane AraĆŗjo (+240) vs. Karine Silva (-298)
    • Bo Nickal (-1350) vs. Paul Craig (+800)
    • Mauricio Ruffy (-900) vs. James Llontop (+600)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Jonathan Martinez (+120) vs. Marcus McGhee (-142)
    • Eryk Anders (-115) vs. Chris Weidman (-105)
    • Jim Miller (+150)vvs. Damon Jackson (-180)
    • David Onama (-850) vs. Roberto Romero (+575)

    Early Preliminary Card: 

    • Marcin Tybura (-148) vs. Jhonata Diniz (+124)
    • Mickey Gall (-142) vs. Ramiz Brahimaj (+120)
    • Bassil Hafez (+230) vs. Oban Elliott (-285)
    • Veronica Hardy (-135) vs. Eduarda Moura (+114)
  • UFC 309 Fighter Recalls ā€˜Traumatizingā€™ Weight Cut In Her Last Fight That Wonā€™t Prevent Her From Trying Again

    UFC 309 Fighter Recalls ā€˜Traumatizingā€™ Weight Cut In Her Last Fight That Wonā€™t Prevent Her From Trying Again

    Brazil’s Eduarda Moura returns for her third outing inside the Octagon this weekend at UFC 309 where unlike in her previous UFC bouts, she isn’t expecting to battle with the scales before fight night comes around. Having signed to the promotion last year via the Contender Series, the 30-year old failed to hit the strawweight limit in both of her previous fights.

    Her return at Madison Square Garden on November 16 sees her move up a weight class to flyweight where she will open the card in a bout with Veronica Hardy. Though she has gone 1-1 thus far in the UFC, her attempt to make strawweight last June was a clear indicaton that something needed to change.

    In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, she spoke in detail about the brutal 17-pound weight cut that she went through in order to face Denise Gomes in Louisville, Kentucky. Despite everything that she went through only to lose a split decision, Moura says competing at 115-pounds isn’t out of the question if she can do it right but for the time being, her focus is on staying active and that makes flyweight a better fit.

    “My body rejected it and I felt so many cramps I basically didnā€™t sleep during fight week. Iā€™m traumatized, but Iā€™ll go back to 115ā€”but not right now [laughs]. I think we can change a few things and study more. Truth is, I just want to fight. I think Iā€™ll have more fights at 125 and I need to work.ā€

    Moura believes that along with it negatively impacting her performance against Gomes physically, she thinks her struggles gave her opponent a mental advantage after she handed Moura a bucket to throw up in before they stood face-to-face after the weigh-ins.

    “I kept remembering that scene, her getting me a bucket. That was the first time I felt like crying before a fight. I was so frustrated I couldnā€™t make weight. I was so nervous, and I kept trying to disguise. I was singing as I walked out to play cool, and I never do that. I was completely lost. I felt in my heart something was wrong.”

    Like many fighters, Moura believes that she has more advantages at strawweight because of the size difference between her and her opponents. She’s not ready to fully commit to flyweight but that could all change with a big win on Saturday.

    ā€œI want to be champion and I believe I have great advantage at strawweight. Iā€™m tall and have good reach, and the power, too, but Iā€™m still traumatized [laughs]. We will think about it. It depends on the opportunity.”

  • Ngannou’s Coach Highlights Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic’s Best Attributes Ahead Of UFC 309

    Ngannou’s Coach Highlights Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic’s Best Attributes Ahead Of UFC 309

    Both Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic are not the kind of fighters that have too many questions surrounding their fighting styles and key attributes. There may be questions ahead of UFC 309 this weekend regarding how Jones looks at heavyweight and whether Miocic will be able to roll back the years but we know a lot of the other variables.

    In a recent piece for UFC.com, E. Spencer Kyte sat down with Eric Nicksick, who knows a thing about heavyweight title fights as the coach of Francis Ngannou, to break down this Saturday’s headline bout at Madison Square Garden. Starting with “Bones”, the Xtreme Couture head coach gave his opinion on what the consensus greatest of all time does better than the rest.

    “For Jon, obviously, I think itā€™s his Fight IQ ā€”Ā thatā€™s definitely gonna be No. 1, but the way that heā€™s able to apply different arts to the game plan; I think thatā€™s what makes him the most intriguing fighter ever. He can beat you in any facet of the game and do it very, very well. He has an ego about him too, where if you watch the Cormier fight, ā€˜Oh, youā€™re the best wrestler? Okay, Iā€™ll take your a** down. Gustafsson, youā€™re the best striker? Iā€™m gonna out-strike you.’ There is an edge and an aura to him where he likes to beat his opponent at their best attribute, and thatā€™s what makes him freakinā€™ amazing.”

    Nicksick continued, adding what side of Jones’ game he believes will be the most important for this fight in particular.

    “I think the attribute for him is his length ā€” keeping this fight long and at a pace that favors him. I think heā€™s the ultimate puppet master in the way that he fights ā€”Ā he gets you into his style of fight, he controls that pace, and thatā€™s where I think a lot of guys have problems with him because they get snake-charmed.”

    Ngannou’s coach also highlighted Jones’ offense which has seen him showcase a wide array of weapons, many of which have become adopted by other fighters.

    “Itā€™s in his creativity too that you see how good he is because you donā€™t get to train a lot of that. You donā€™t get to prepare for a spinning back elbow off a right cross. Thatā€™s natural instinct like Saquon Barkley jumping over a guy; you look at it and go, ā€˜Thatā€™s the level of creativity in his mind that heā€™s doing that,ā€™ and you canā€™t train for that, you canā€™t prepare for that.”

    Nicksick then turned his attention to the challenger in this Saturday’s main event. Having trained Ngannou to fight the former two-time heavyweight champion twice before, analyzing Miocic’s game is something that he has plenty of experience doing already.

    “His best traits are his boxing, his toughness, his durability and his heart, all those things, but as someone that had to game-plan for the guy ā€” when you and I were talking about this fight last week, I was looking at some stuff, and it brought back an anxiety like I was going back and preparing for Stipe again. If you look at the trilogy with Cormier, Stipe looked better in every fight and got better in every fight. He was winning the first fight until he wasnā€™t, he was losing the second fight until he wasnā€™t, and then the third fight was a complete wash, but in that third fight, I saw so many different technical evolutions from him in that time.”

    Nicksick believes that based on Miocic’s ability to adapt in the past, we could see even more developments in his game after he’s spent over three years outside of the Octagon.

    “A lot of switch stances, a lot of lateral movement, a lot of shake steps ā€”Ā things that I think are more predicated to lighter weight fighters, and he was implementing these things and very much confused Cormier. So I also think itā€™s his evolution, and thatā€™s a big question: how has he evolved these last three years? What has he been doing? I have to assume that heā€™s only gotten better. With the type of personality and champion that he is, (I have to assume) that heā€™s been working, doing new things.”

  • Cub Swanson Reveals Motivation After Signing New UFC Deal At 41

    Cub Swanson Reveals Motivation After Signing New UFC Deal At 41

    On December 14 in Tampa, Cub Swanson will look to make his 25th appearance inside the Octagon after debuting with the promotion all the way back in 2011. Having alternated wins and losses for the past few years, he’s looking to bounce back against Billy Quarantillo in a very fan-friendly match-up.

    Swanson spoke in a recent interview with MMA Junkie about how he’s taking each fight one at a time at 41-years old. He announced that this bout will be the first of a newly-signed four-fight deal that he believes will take him up to the end of his career.

    ā€œItā€™s fight by fight but this would have been my last one so I told them I didnā€™t intend on fighting out of my contract and going to other places, I want to stay here. I think itā€™s fitting and so yeah, we did a new deal.ā€

    When asked about his motivation to continue competing at this stage, Swanson said that though he now has to balance being a fighter with his other work commitments and family life, it’s his kids that inspire him to keep going. “Killer” Cub is focused on supporting his family but he also wants them to have memories that wouldn’t exist if he’d already hung up his gloves.

    This motivation comes from a deep and emotional place for Swanson based on the experiences he had in regards to his late father. He opened up about this during the interview and explained how this has shaped the later stages of his UFC run.

    ā€œMy father passed away when I was a baby so I grew up people telling me stories about my dad and I was always like, ā€˜Okay, thank you,ā€™ but itā€™s like somebody I never met so it was a little strange. So I did all these cool things and then towards the end of my career I had kids and then they were babies and Iā€™m like man, I donā€™t want them to hear stories about me and not remember it so then it became a motivation for me to want to do it long enough so they would remember and say, ā€˜Yeah, I remember my dad doing that, thatā€™s pretty cool.ā€™ So that became my motivation so it was really important for me.ā€Ā Ā Ā 

  • Former ONE World Champion Signs Exclusive Deal With The UFC

    Former ONE World Champion Signs Exclusive Deal With The UFC

    UFC president Dana White took to social media last night to announce some ground-breaking news for the promotion. In recent years, the UFC Fight Pass Invitational has started to become a major fixture in the submission grappling world and it appears that the UFC is going to double down on this in the next few months.

    White broke the news that former ONE Championship star Mikey Musumeci has signed to become the UFC’s first-ever exclusive grappling competitor. He is set to make his FPI debut on December 5 at the Apex in Las Vegas where he faces Felipe Machado in the main event.

    White’s social media video hyped up Musumeci’s arrival along with the statement that this big signing is set to be the first of many that are coming in the near future.

    “Over the course of the last year, I’ve been working on developing the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu program in the world. I am excited to announce that we’ve signed Mikey Musumeci to the first-ever exclusive BJJ promotional agreement in the company’s history. If you don’t know, Mikey is considered by many to be the best BJJ player in the world and he is a multiple-time world champion and unbeaten over the past eight years at 135-pounds. This will be the first of many we will sign over the coming months.”

    ONE Championship has also looked to capitalize on the growing interest in submission grappling over the past few years by signing some of the top athletes in the sport like Musumeci and the Ruotolo brothers. Musumeci became the promotion’s inaugural flyweight submission grappling world champion and defended the belt several times before announcing his departure from the promotion last week.

    He was recently stripped of the flyweight title after failing to make weight and pass his hydration test after agreeing to a late notice title defense at ONE 168 this past September. A video of Musumeci being sat at the Apex alongside the UFC boss prompted some speculation that this could be his next destination.