MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Valentina Shevchenko Challenges ‘Ill-Mannered’ Manon Fiorot  To ‘Loser Leaves UFC’ Match

    Fight fans are in store for an old-fashioned “loser leaves the promotion” match between Valentina Shevchenko and Manon Fiorot, with tension already building from a heated war of words.

    Fiorot, eager for her shot at the women’s flyweight title, is done waiting. She last fought in March, defeating Erin Blanchfield, and many fans believe this victory should have earned her a title opportunity. However, the title picture has been stalled due to the ongoing rivalry between Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso.

    Grasso claimed the title from Shevchenko in early 2023, only for their rematch at the end of the year to end in a split draw. The UFC capitalized on the rivalry, having them coach opposing teams on The Ultimate Fighter, culminating in a September fight where Shevchenko reclaimed the belt.

    Growing impatient, Fiorot took to Twitter, writing, “Stop making people wait! Let’s do it soon enough so I can send you to retirement and move on.”

    Shevchenko replied with a challenge: “You lose, you retire. Deal?!! Ill-mannered first-grader.” Fiorot responded swiftly, “Deal. I’ll take you seriously when you’ve signed the contract, damn teacher’s pet.”

  • Reinier de Ridder Targets Khamzat Chimaev After Successful UFC Debut: ‘I’m Ready’

    Reinier de Ridder Targets Khamzat Chimaev After Successful UFC Debut: ‘I’m Ready’

    Former two-division ONE champion and UFC newcomer Reinier de Ridder would welcome the chance to hand Khamzat Chimaev his first defeat inside the cage.

    De Ridder arrived in mixed martial arts’ leading promotion this year, having had his two pieces of ONE Championship gold ripped from his grasp by Anatoly Malykhin and becoming angered by the workings of the Asia-based promotion.

    After bouncing back under the UAE Warriors banner in the summer, “The Dutch Knight” put pen to paper on a dream move to the UFC. And his pursuit of adding the organization’s middleweight belt to his trophy cabinet got underway this past weekend at the Apex.

    Co-headlining UFC Vegas 100, de Ridder shared the cage with a former training partner and fellow grappling specialist in Gerald Meerschaert. The Breda, Netherlands native emerged victorious from a competitive and grueling affair by way of submission in round three.

    De Ridder’s debut performance split opinion in the community, with many already writing off his chances of defeating the top names high up the ladder at 185 pounds.

    The former ONE double champ, however, says he’s “ready” for the toughest tests.

    During his post-fight press conference on Saturday night, de Ridder reflected on his first foray into the Octagon, admitting that not everything went how he had envisioned pre-fight.

    “On the floor, I made a few mistakes, especially in the second round,” de Ridder said. “I shouldn’t have went for those (D’arce chokes), I thought I had them but they weren’t there. There’s a few little tweaks I should make there.

    “But I’m happy it happened this way, the fight happened this way. Because normally he’s the guy who lasts longer, he takes some shots and he’s still there and he finishes guys at the end of the second or in the third round,” de Ridder continued. “So it’s cool I was that guy this time.”

    Nevertheless, the manner in which the fight played out hasn’t dented his confidence. In fact, de Ridder has maintained his self-belief when it comes to defeating the best contenders, even calling for the opportunity to blemish Khamzat Chimaev’s perfect record.

    “Why not Khamzat? That would be a nice matchup, grappling wise, it would be cool,” de Ridder suggested. “Whatever the UFC wants of me, I’ll do it. Just give me a call. I’m ready.”

  • Magomed Ankalaev Becomes Latest To Brand Jon Jones ‘Scared’ Of Tom Aspinall, Champ Hits Back

    Magomed Ankalaev Becomes Latest To Brand Jon Jones ‘Scared’ Of Tom Aspinall, Champ Hits Back

    The pressure on UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones to fight Tom Aspinall is continuing to mount just days away from his first title defense.

    Jones will return to the cage 20 months on from his crowning in March 2023, when he debuted at heavyweight by rapidly submitting Ciryl Gane to capture the then-vacant belt.

    While his first challenger was also penciled in last year, an injury forced Jones out of a Madison Square Garden headliner opposite the returning Stipe Miocic. A year on, the pair will give their matchup another go in the main event of UFC 309 at MSG.

    That, however, is despite the presence of an interim titleholder in Aspinall, who had gold wrapped around his waist after knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in their late-notice clash last November, which replaced the original Jones vs. Miocic showdown.

    Having also defended his strap in the months since, Aspinall has plenty of backers when it comes to his calls for a unification fight. But not only did Jones dismiss that for his upcoming defense, he’s also seemingly planning to either hang up his gloves or target the champ from below, Alex Pereira, should he get past Miocic on Saturday night.

    “Bones” has been responding to much criticism online for that stance, and though that’s seen him hit back at fans for the most part, his latest back and forth came with the top contender in the division he formerly ruled.

    Commenting on a social media post detailing Jones’ recent remarks about favoring a clash with “Poatan” over his interim counterpart, Magomed Ankalaev joined in with those suggesting the Rochester native is ducking Aspinall.

    “Sound like someone (scared) of big TOM,” Ankalaev wrote.

    It didn’t take long for Jones to take notice of the Russian’s words, branding him ‘jealous’ and challenging the surging light heavyweight to replicate his résumé on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    “Magomed jealousy won’t earn you legend status, my friend,” Jones wrote. “Train harder, hate less. Want to truly insult me? Break some of my records first. Let’s get started.”

    It stands to reason that Aspinall will be a prominent topic throughout UFC 309 fight week, especially given the interim champ’s presence in New York City as the backup fighter for the main event.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Miles Johns Rebooked For Tampa After Garbrandt Cancellation

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Miles Johns Rebooked For Tampa After Garbrandt Cancellation

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming 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 4, and Sunday, November 10, 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 wasn’t all positive, with three fights falling through or being adjusted. For those, see below:

  • Michael Chandler Looks Sharp In UFC 309 Training Footage

    Michael Chandler is looking sharp as he trains ahead of his expected return at UFC 309 in just six days, where he will face UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira for the second time.

    For Chandler, this fight represents a huge opportunity to claim the UFC championship—possibly his last chance—after pivoting from a potential mega-fight with Conor McGregor to this title bout against his old rival. In his last five fights, Chandler is 2-3, with his most recent victory coming by way of a knockout against Tony Ferguson at UFC 274 in May 2022, which earned him Performance of the Night honors. Later that year, he was awarded Fight of the Night after a hard-fought bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 281, where he ultimately lost by submission.

    Chandler recently shared a clip of his training, where he looks sharper than ever. With peak conditioning and a determined mindset, Chandler is ready to pursue his goal of holding the UFC lightweight title in less than a week. He captioned the post, “Keep it simple. Keep it devastating. #ufc309 @henrihooft.”

    For Chandler, he has a tall task in front of him, as oddsmakers have him as a sizeable underdog. He is a +200 dog against the worthy champion at -250.

  • Jon Jones Admits Retirement Decision Will Depend On His UFC 309 Performance

    Jon Jones Admits Retirement Decision Will Depend On His UFC 309 Performance

    The UFC 309 heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, set to take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City, is now less than a week away. Leading up to the event, it appeared that Jones—who has previously been called by UFC CEO Dana White the greatest of all time—might be nearing the end of his pro-MMA career and considering retirement after this fight.

    However, Jones may be reconsidering his plans, with a potential matchup against interim champion Tom Aspinall now on the horizon. In a recent interview with KetoneIQ, he shared his thoughts on his future in the sport.

    “I feel like whether I retire or not will depend on this next performance,” Jones stated. “One of my main goals is to make it look really easy. If I can accomplish that, then curiosity will keep me in the game—just to see how far we can really take this thing.”

    Jones continued, “But at the same time, I’m really happy with my career. It’s been unbelievable, truly unbelievable. I work on looking in the mirror and reminding myself that I am enough, that I’ve accomplished enough, and that I don’t have anything left to prove. Sometimes, you can get caught up in always needing more and more.”

    This will be Jones’ second heavyweight fight following his victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023. It’s also only his second fight in the past four years due to his move to heavyweight and injuries.

  • ‘This Dude Is Legit’ – Fans & Fighters React As Carlos Prates Adds Neil Magny To His List Of KO Victims At UFC Vegas 100

    ‘This Dude Is Legit’ – Fans & Fighters React As Carlos Prates Adds Neil Magny To His List Of KO Victims At UFC Vegas 100

    The violent start to Carlos Prates’ Octagon career continued at the expense of veteran contender Neil Magny at UFC Vegas 100.

    Prates had already staked a strong claim for this year’s Newcomer of the Year accolade, having followed a contract-winning performance on Dana White’s Contender Series 14 months ago with three straight UFC knockouts in 2024.

    And if his brutal finishes of Trevin Giles, Charles Radtke, and Li Jingliang weren’t enough to get some aboard the Prates hype train, his quick night at the office opposite “The Haitian Sensation” Saturday night likely did the trick.

    The Brazilian immediately had his grappling defense tested by Magny, who looked to avoid his opponent’s renowned power at any and all cost.

    But the 37-year-old quickly found himself hurt and backpedaling after being struck by the prolific knockout artist. And with short time remaining in round one, “The Nightmare” shut Magny’s lights out and faceplanted him with a glancing left hand.

    Prates Showered With Praise After Magny KO In UFC Vegas 100 Main Event

    Unsurprisingly, the MMA community was abuzz in the aftermath of the Brazilian’s latest display of violence. Both fellow fighters and fans took to social media to express shock and awe.

    The common theme? “Legit.”

    With the result, “The Nightmare’s” winning run now stands at 11 straight fights spanning seven years. He’s expected to inherit Magny’s #15 spot inside the welterweight rankings come next week’s update.

    “The Haitian Sensation,” meanwhile, has now lost consecutive bouts for the first time since 2013. While his year opened in style when he stalled the surge of Canada’s Mike Malott, he’s now dropped back-to-back outings against two highly regarded names in Michael Morales and Prates.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Carlos Prates KOs Neil Magny

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Carlos Prates KOs Neil Magny

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, welterweights Neil Magny and Carlos Prates clashed. While in the co-main event, Gerald Meerschaert faced Reinier de Ridder in a middleweight matchup. 

    Make sure to catch all the UFC Fight Night results and highlights as they happen below! 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Welterweight Main Event: Carlos Prates def. Neil Magny via KO: R1, 4.50
    • Middleweight: Reinier de Ridder def. Gerald Meerschaert via submission: R3, 1.44
    • Bantamweight: Gaston Bolaños def. Cortavious Romious via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27×2)   
    • Women’s Strawweight: Gillian Robertson def. Luana Pinheiro via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28×2)  
    • Middleweight: Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Duško Todorović via TKO: R1, 2.44

    Preliminary Card

    • Women’s Strawweight: Denise Gomes def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28) 
    • Welterweight: Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Zachary Scroggin via TKO: R1, 1.15
    • Welterweight: Charles Radtke def. Matthew Semelsberger via TKO: R1, 0.51
    • Bantamweight: Da’Mon Blackshear def. Cody Stamann via submission: R1, 4.19
    • Middleweight: Tresean Gore def. Antonio Trócoli via submission: R1, 1.23 
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Melissa Mullins def. Klaudia Sygula via TKO: R2, 1.20  

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Melissa Mullins def. Klaudia Sygula

    In this women’s bantamweight bout, Melissa Mullins got it done with a Klaudia Sygula

    Tresean Gore def. Antonio Trócoli

    Tresean Gore earned a first-round submission of Antonio Trócoli in their middleweight contest.

    Da’Mon Blackshear def. Cody Stamann

    Da’Mon Blackshear locked in a rear-naked choke to get the win against Cody Stamann.

    Charles Radtke def. Matthew Semelsberger

    In this welterweight bout, Charles Radtke took just 51 seconds to TKO Matthew Semelsberger.

    Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Zachary Scroggin

    In this welterweight bout, Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos earned a TKO of Zachary Scroggin in round one.

    Main Card Highlights

    Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Duško Todorović

    In this middleweight bout, Mansur Abdul-Malik earned a first-round TKO against Duško Todorović.

    Gillian Robertson def. Luana Pinheiro

    Gillian Robertson earned a unanimous decision win against Luana Pinheiro.

    Gaston Bolaños def. Cortavious Romious

    In this bantamweight bout, Gaston Bolaños earned a unanimous decision win against Cortavious Romious.

    Reinier de Ridder def. Gerald Meerschaert

    In the co-main event, Reinier de Ridder submitted Gerald Meerschaert in the third round.

    Carlos Prates def. Neil Magny

    In the main event, Carlos Prates knocked out Neil Magny in the first round of their welterweight fight.

  • ‘How Bad Is ONE’s MMA Pool?’ – Fans Give Mixed Reviews As Reinier de Ridder Wins UFC Vegas 100 Debut

    ‘How Bad Is ONE’s MMA Pool?’ – Fans Give Mixed Reviews As Reinier de Ridder Wins UFC Vegas 100 Debut

    Reinier de Ridder got his UFC career off to a winning start at UFC Vegas 100, submitting Gerald Meerschaert in the co-main event.

    De Ridder, a former two-division kingpin under the ONE Championship banner, departed Asia’s leading martial arts promotion after being unseated by Anatoly Malykhin at both middleweight (205lbs) and light heavyweight (225lbs).

    Following a bounce-back win at UAE Warriors 51 this past July, the Dutchman put pen to paper on a deal with the UFC, vowing to make a splash and compete with the best in the 185-pound class.

    His path to doing so got underway Saturday night at the Apex, where de Ridder shared the cage with a former training partner of his and fellow submission specialist in Wisconsin’s Meerschaert.

    Things started off rocky for “The Dutch Knight,” who found himself getting hit by the UFC veteran throughout the first round. But de Ridder finished the frame in strong fashion, dropping “GM3” and threatening a finish before the buzzer.

    After a grueling second round, the Octagon newcomer looked to take advantage of his opponent’s apparent fatigue, which paved the way for him to establish control on the ground in the final stanza.

    It was there where he locked in an arm-triangle choke, extending his submission tally to 13 in the cage and forcing Meerschaert’s first tap since a defeat to Jack Hermansson way back in 2018.

    Fans React To de Ridder’s Successful UFC Debut

    While the former ONE double champ had his hand raised, his performance received mixed reviews from MMA peers and the fanbase on social media.

    Some were quick to write off de Ridder’s chances of adding UFC gold to his trophy cabinet, predicting that his striking deficiencies will be exposed by those occupying spots inside the middleweight top 15.

    Others, however, noted that de Ridder’s display at UFC Vegas 100 followed a similar trend to his previous performances on the other side of the world — which he was able to repeat all the way to multiple thrones.

    For Meerschaert, Saturday’s result snapped his two-fight winning run. The veteran had previously strung together consecutive submission triumphs over Bryan Barberena and Edmen Shahbazyan to reignite his ambitions of earning a number next to his name at 185 pounds.

  • Jon Jones: I’m ‘Grateful’ For Dana White’s Strong Support Of No. 1 P4P Status

    For years, Dana White has praised Jon Jones as the greatest fighter of all time. The UFC 309 heavyweight title fight between Jones and Stipe Miocic, held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, has been promoted as the bout that could finally settle who deserves the title of greatest heavyweight fighter ever. UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly referred to Jones as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the promotion.

    However, some fight fans believe Jones doesn’t deserve that top spot due to his inactivity, arguing that fighters like Alex Pereira and Islam Makhachev might be more deserving. For Jones, though, just being mentioned in this conversation is an honor.

    “It’s just an honor, that’s all,” Jones told Kevin Iole with a smile. “It’s a huge honor to even be considered, at 37 years old, one of the most well-rounded fighters in the sport. I’m just very grateful that my boss—a man who’s sat front row for all our fights—sees that in me.”

    Jones went on to share White’s sentiments: “For [Dana] to say, ‘Hey, listen guys, trust me. I know what I’m watching. I know what I’m looking at, and in my opinion, if Jon was the same size as a lot of these other guys, Jon would be in the mix,’ is just incredible.”

    Jones recognizes that with many new fans entering the sport, there’s a “what-have-you-done-lately” mentality. He appreciates that White acknowledges his full body of work, not just his recent performances.

    “I’m grateful that he’s not letting the naysayers or some fans push me to the side. I’ve done a tremendous amount of work for this company—at a very young age, at middle age, and now even at an older age. I’m just grateful to be recognized.”

  • Charles Oliveira: Islam Makhachev is ‘A Little Step Ahead’ Of Arman Tsarukyan

    Charles Oliveira: Islam Makhachev is ‘A Little Step Ahead’ Of Arman Tsarukyan

    Charles Oliveira will join fans in watching Islam Makhachev’s anticipated title defense against Arman Tsarukyan. The bout is expected to showcase the lightweight champion Makhachev facing the rising contender at UFC 311 on January 18, though the UFC has not yet officially confirmed the fight.

    Oliveira is familiar with both fighters, having suffered losses to each. He lost to Tsarukyan by decision at UFC 300 after previously falling to Makhachev by submission in their title fight at UFC 280. Speaking to New York Post Sports, Oliveira shared that, if the fight is finalized, he would lean toward Makhachev as the likely victor.

    “They have very similar styles, and I think each has to watch for the same things,” Oliveira said. “They need to be cautious with the striking, as both have some striking ability, but they also need to be very mindful of each other’s ground game.”

    He continued, “It’s a very close matchup style-wise, but I think Islam has a slight edge over Arman. He’s just a bit stronger. But when it comes down to it, either of them could come out on top.”

    Oliveira is set to face Michael Chandler next Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

  • Ilia Topuria’s Coach: Potential Paddy Pimblett Fight Would Be ‘Abuse’

    Ilia Topuria’s Coach: Potential Paddy Pimblett Fight Would Be ‘Abuse’

    Ilia Topuria’s coach, Jorge Climent, believes a fight between Topuria and Paddy Pimblett would be a complete mismatch, lacking any real competition. There was discussion two years ago about the potential outcome if the UFC featherweight champion were to face the lightweight star.

    Tensions between the two fighters escalated in March 2022 when they got into a scuffle at a Fight Night event in London. This altercation followed a series of exchanges on social media, where Pimblett made inflammatory remarks about the Russo-Georgian War.

    In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Climent revealed that despite Pimblett’s trash talk, he wasn’t interested in the fight, and that the UFC has seemingly protected him as a rising star, even though Topuria pushed to make the matchup happen. “I don’t know if that kid is ready to fight someone at a championship level right now,” Climent stated. “Who has he beaten? They keep putting average opponents in front of him just so he can stay relevant. He’s popular because of his personality and the way he talks, but I don’t see him having the skill to face Ilia, and I don’t think he’s earned it.”

    When asked how he thinks a potential fight would go, Climent added, “What would that be—abuse?”

  • Bo Nickal Insists He Could Beat Shara Magomedov In ’90 Seconds’

    Bo Nickal Insists He Could Beat Shara Magomedov In ’90 Seconds’

    Bo Nickal radiates confidence, asserting he could handle Shara Magomedov with ease if they were ever to meet in the Octagon.

    Magomedov recently boosted his record to 4-0 in the Octagon and an impressive 15-0 overall, delivering a jaw-dropping double backfist knockout against Armen Petrosyan at UFC 308 last month.

    “Bullet’s” distinctive finish has certainly caught Nickal’s attention, yet he believes the undefeated Russian’s style would make for a straightforward challenge.

    During a recent episode of the Nickals and Dimes podcast, Nickal exuded confidence in his abilities, stating he could effortlessly dominate Magomedov. Eager to make this matchup happen, he’s even willing to step into enemy territory for the showdown.

    “I would like to fight him, but it’s not a tough fight, and I would have to go to Abu Dhabi,” Nickal said. “I would have to go to Saudi (Arabia), which – I would do it, but I think it’s not a tough fight. And also, the UFC probably doesn’t want that right now. Maybe they would. Maybe they don’t give a crap: go over to Saudi, make a quick check, 90 seconds, call it a day, fly back.”

    “Bullet” has consistently appeared on Middle Eastern fight cards, as strict regulations from the American Athletic Commission prevent a one-eyed fighter from being cleared to compete in the United States.

    Nickal is set to face Paul Craig in a middleweight clash at UFC 309, slated for Nov. 16 at New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden. This highly anticipated bout will mark the wrestling sensation’s return to the Octagon following his impressive second-round submission victory over Cody Brundage at UFC 300 this past April.

  • Jon Jones Shrugs Off ‘Ducking’ Aspinall Accusations: ‘Oh No, My World Is Over’

    Jon Jones Shrugs Off ‘Ducking’ Aspinall Accusations: ‘Oh No, My World Is Over’

    Jon Jones seems in no mood to entertain claims that he’s dodging a potential clash with Tom Aspinall.

    Jones is locked in to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the highly anticipated main event of UFC 309, set for Nov. 16 at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    During a recent interview with MMA journalist Kevin Iole, “Bones” decisively dismissed the notion of facing interim champion Aspinall next, should he triumph over Miocic at UFC 309. He argued that, despite Aspinall’s persistent calls for a title unification fight, the Brit has yet to prove himself worthy of sharing the Octagon with him.

    Instead, Jones hinted that the fight he’s truly eyeing after next weekend is a high-stakes showdown with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, a bout that would solidify his legacy for good.

    Jones has faced fierce backlash from a segment of the MMA community, with accusations swirling that he’s “ducking” a showdown with Aspinall. The drama recently spilled onto social media once again, where “Bones” fired back at his critics in a post that has since been deleted.

    “I’m going to hide in my mansion and not come outside, people are calling me a duck come oh no my world is over” Jones tweeted. “What is this high school? lol”

    Soon after, the longtime former UFC light heavyweight champion posted a more introspective reply, emphasizing that his actions are driven by purpose and that he remains unfazed by external criticism.

    “As at this point in my career, every decision is rooted in purpose,” Jones posted. “My journey isn’t dictated by hype or outside opinions—it’s about crafting a legacy that speaks for itself, one step at a time. I’m here to do what’s right for my career and my legacy, with a vision that’s clear and unshakable. Focused, driven, and in complete control of myself. The story continues, and it’s unfolding exactly as I’ve envisioned.”

    UFC 309 will mark Jones’ long-awaited return to the Octagon after more than a year on the sidelines since claiming the heavyweight title with a victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.

    He was initially slated to defend his title against Miocic at UFC 295, but the New Yorker was forced to withdraw just two weeks before the fight due to a torn pectoral muscle.

  • UFC Vegas 100 Has Another Co-Main Event Canceled After Late Medical Issue

    UFC Vegas 100 Has Another Co-Main Event Canceled After Late Medical Issue

    After Cody Garbrandt pulled out against Miles Johns, Ricky Turcios vs. Bernardo Sopaj was scheduled to be the UFC Vegas 100 co-main event. However, according to UFC officials, Turcios has pulled out due to medical issues.

    Nolan King reported the news on X:

    Gerald Meerschaert vs. Reinier de Ridder is the new co-main event, and Gastón Bolaños vs. Cortavious Romious has been moved up to the main card as well. Having two co-main event fights canceled is understandably disappointing for fans, but many are happy to see De Ridder up the order.

    UFC Vegas 100 Card Updated Order

    Here’s what the coming UFC card looks like after the latest developments:

    Main Card

    • Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates, welterweight (Main event)
    • Gerald Meerschaert vs. Reinier de Ridder, middleweight (Co-main event)
    • Gaston Bolanos vs. Cortavious Romious, bantamweight
    • Luana Pinheiro vs. Gillian Robertson, women’s strawweight
    • Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Dusko Todorovic, middleweight

    Prelims

    • Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Denise Gomes, women’s strawweight
    • Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Zach Scroggin, welterweight
    • Matthew Semelsberger vs. Charles Radtke, welterweight
    • Cody Stamann vs. Da’Mon Blackshear, bantamweight
    • Tresean Gore vs. Antonio Trocoli, middleweight
    • Melissa Mullins vs. Klaudia Syguła, women’s bantamweight

    Marcel Dorff reported the updated order for UFC Vegas 100 on X:

    “The Dutch Knight” boasts an impressive 17-2 record, and has only lost to undefeated Anatoly Malykhin. De Ridder is a former ONE world champion at middleweight and light heavyweight. He aims to finish Meerschaert in his UFC debut to create a solid first impression in the middleweight division.

    Bantamweight contenders Gastón Bolaños and Cortavious Romious will now fight on a bigger stage too. Bolaños is coming off a TKO loss and Romious is making his UFC debut after earning a contract at Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8 Week 2.

  • UFC Fight Night: Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    Before heading back to New York City to stage its latest pay-per-view at Madison Square Garden next weekend, the mixed martial arts leader has one final piece of Fight Night business to attend to at the Apex.

    The main event presents an opportunity for the highly touted Prates to further climb the ranks at 170 pounds. The Brazilian will mark the latest rising name looking to establish himself in contention at the expense of longtime top 15 veteran Magny.

    Before that, the likes of TUF winner Ricky Turcios, former two-division ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder, and strawweight submission specialist Gillian Robertson will all be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates takes place on Saturday, November 9, at the Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.

    See above for a replay of the weigh-ins via MMA Junkie, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Welterweight Main Event: Neil Magny (171lbs) vs. Carlos Prates (170.5lbs)
    • Bantamweight Co-Main Event: Ricky Turcios (136lbs) vs. Benardo Sopaj (136lbs)
    • Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert (185lbs) vs. Reinier de Ridder (185lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Gillian Robertson (116lbs) vs. Luana Pinheiro (115.5lbs)
    • Middleweight: Mansur Abdul-Malik (186lbs) vs. Duško Todorović (185.5lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Women’s Strawweight: Karolina Kowalkiewicz (115.5lbs) vs. Denise Gomes (115lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Gaston Bolaños (135.5lbs) vs. Cortavious Romious (136lbs)
    • Welterweight: Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (171lbs) vs. Zachary Scroggin (174lbs)*
    • Welterweight: Matthew Semelsberger (171lbs) vs. Charles Radtke (170.5lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Cody Stamann (135.5lbs) vs. Da’Mon Blackshear (135.5lbs)
    • Middleweight: Tresean Gore (186lbs) vs. Antonio Trócoli (186lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Melissa Dixon (137lbs)** vs. Klaudia Sygula (136lbs)

    *Zachary Scroggin missed the welterweight limit by three pounds

    **Melissa Dixon missed the bantamweight limit by one pounds

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm-_sHmg2nA
  • Jon Jones ‘Really Looking Forward’ To Using Once-Illegal Move at UFC 309

    Jon Jones ‘Really Looking Forward’ To Using Once-Illegal Move at UFC 309

    Fight fans are inching closer to the much-anticipated showdown between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. The UFC 309 heavyweight title fight at Madison Square Garden in New York City has been promoted as the bout that could finally determine the greatest heavyweight fighter of all time.

    A significant change to the fight’s rulebook will allow the controversial 12-6 elbow strike, as New York has adopted the updated MMA Unified Rules. Jones is especially enthusiastic about this rule shift, as it directly relates to the only official loss on his record. In December 2009, he was disqualified in the first round by referee Steve Mazzagatti after using a 12-6 elbow against Matt Hamill—without a prior warning, despite dominating the fight until that moment.

    Reflecting on the change, Jones told Kevin Iole, “It just makes me wish that the disqualification was overturned. That’s my biggest thought since I learned the rule is no longer banned. But on the other hand, I’ve accepted it, and I’ve been training extensively on different 12-6 elbow attacks. It’s funny because it’s been such a big no-no, and you train yourself not to go there. Now, being able to use that strike – it’s a very devastating move. It opens up so many more options, both standing and in the top position. I’m excited to hopefully be one of the first UFC athletes to legally display it at Madison Square Garden.”

    Since the rule change in July, Jones has been preparing to make the most of this weapon against Miocic. “In this next fight, I feel like I will be putting myself in some really great positions to land the technique, and I’m really looking forward to it,” Jones said.

  • Watch Tom Aspinall Trade Kicks In Dead-Leg Contest With Kickboxing Champion

    Watch Tom Aspinall Trade Kicks In Dead-Leg Contest With Kickboxing Champion

    UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has been able to build a perfect training regime around him in England where he only works with other large bodies. His specifically tailored training has been a huge benefit to the Brit but it also doesn’t stop him from travelling from time to time to work with some other specialist partners.

    A long-time friend and training partner of his is none other than “The King of Kickboxing”, Rico Verhoeven. The Dutch striker is the long-reigning heavyweight champion in GLORY and with his next title defense scheduled for GLORY Collision 7 on December 7, he recently got some sparring rounds in with one of the best heavyweights in MMA.

    Though he didn’t show what could be PPV quality sparring rounds between the two lethal strikers, Aspinall did put up a YouTube video that featured the elite kickboxer. As well as their conversation regarding a potential crossover fight between Verhoeven and Francis Ngannou, the interim heavyweight champion invited him on the channel for a “dead leg challenge” which guests have featured on in the past.

    Here, both competitors will take turns throwing leg kicks that start at very low percent power and slowly build. However, usually these guests are not fighters so Aspinall is teaching them the technique and then getting them to do it to him which has little impact on him.

    This time around, in his own words, he is the beginner when he’s in the company of Verhoeven who is one of the best leg kickers in the sport. Given that both of them are very effective kickers, they chose to start right from the 70% mark, going up 10% each time for a total of three kicks each.

    Though Aspinall is able to take the punishment and dish it back out, Verhoeven seems to be enjoying himself more and more with each kick that he takes. His incredible durability is one of his biggest strengths, especially when it comes to competing in Grand Prix tournaments and it’s clear to see why in this video.

  • Michael Chandler On What’s Changed Since First Charles Oliveira Fight: ‘A Star Was Born That Night’

    Michael Chandler On What’s Changed Since First Charles Oliveira Fight: ‘A Star Was Born That Night’

    Michael Chandler is out for revenge at UFC 309 when he faces Charles Oliveira in the co-main event at Madison Square Garden. The two men first met back at UFC 262 where only one of two storybook moments could happen.

    Either the former Bellator star was going to finally make his way into the UFC and in two fights, become the lightweight champion or “Do Bronx” would finally win the big one after years of being on the roster. Chandler is happy to admit that it was Oliveira’s night back in 2021 where his dream of winning the gold was temporarily shattered.

    Though he didn’t get the Conor McGregor fight that he waited so long for, this opportunity to avenge his loss to the former champion and get himself back in the title picture was the kind of chance that he knew he has to grab with both hands. In a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Chandler spoke about what has changed since his first encounter with Oliveira.

    He believes that for all of the experience that he accumulated outside of the UFC, he’s a far different competitor now compared to the one that was making just his second appearance inside the Octagon.

    “I was extremely green, extremely early at that point when I fought Charles and yes, I had been fighting for years, I was 34-years old, had 20-something fights but at that point in time, I had only competed in the Octagon for a little over two minutes. I had just beaten Dan Hooker, knocked him out in two and a half minutes… I was inexperienced. Charles, I think a star was born that night. That was really the night, whenever Charles became champion, and then he went on the run and he beat Gaethje, he beat Poirier, and he really became the champion and really solidified himself.”

  • Bo Nickal Explains The Hardest Part Of Transitioning To MMA, Which Aspects Came Easy To Him

    Bo Nickal Explains The Hardest Part Of Transitioning To MMA, Which Aspects Came Easy To Him

    At UFC 309, Bo Nickal looks to continue his ascent up the middleweight ladder by earning just the seventh win of his professional career. It’s not normal for a fighter with this much experience to be competing against a seasoned contender like Paul Craig on the main card at Madison Square Garden.

    Nickal’s highly credentialed wrestling background singled him out as a super prospect from the moment he decided to begin training in MMA. His grappling gives him a huge advantage over many opponents but of course, developing the rest of his skillset is crucial to his success.

    That will be put to the test in his fight against Scotland’s Craig who is an incredibly dangerous submission threat, specifically off his back. With Nickal making it clear that he won’t hesitate to test his own jiu-jitsu skills, this might be the first fight where we see him need to utilize his whole arsenal to get the victory.

    During a recent podcast interview with Demetrious Johnson on The MightyCast, Nickal spoke about which aspects of the sport have been the easiest to pick up and which have taken him more time to get up to speed with.

    “It’s interesting, I picked up jiu-jitsu pretty quick. Obviously still learning, still growing, trying to improve that area of my game but the jiu-jitsu came pretty fast. I always had a wrestling style that I think fit just because I was rolling on my back a lot. Like if I had to roll to my back to give up a couple points or to get the pin or to get some points, I was never afraid to do that and you mentioned earlier like I wrestled predominantly folk style but as a kid, I wrestled tons of freestyle and Greco, almost just as much as I had wrestled folk style and so just those different styles and I think my experience with scrambling and different things like that, I was really comfortable with that.”

    Nickal then spoke about the aspect of the sport have been the hardest for him to pick up. Unsurprisingly, it’s an element of his striking that has taken him the most time to get used to given his grappling background.

    “The hardest thing for me to learn honestly like kicks. Calf kicks, body kicks, throwing kicks, checking kicks. It’s like such a different thing and you have to be so loose. I noticed like at first when I’m throwing kicks and stuff, I can throw like three or four kicks and I’m gassed out.”

  • Former Opponent On Brandon Moreno’s Win: ‘This Is What I Want To See’

    Former Opponent On Brandon Moreno’s Win: ‘This Is What I Want To See’

    #1-Ranked flyweight contender Brandon Royval was watching closely this past weekend as the UFC returned to Edmonton for a Fight Night event. In the main event, former champion Brandon Moreno reminded everyone just how good he can be.

    The Mexican star put on a dominant performance to hand Amir Albazi his first loss inside the Octagon, looking back to his best after suffering consecutive losses in his last two outings. His boxing skills and speed have always been two of his best attributes but it’s been a while since we really saw him control a fight from start to finish.

    Earlier this year, Moreno faced Royval in a rematch in Mexico City where after losing a split decision, he announced that he would be taking some time off. Though Moreno didn’t stay away from the gym for too long, the time with his family clearly led to him coming back revitalized and Royval enjoyed seeing that from him.

    The result seemingly worked out in favor of “Raw Dawg” who could have found himself waiting behind Albazi in line for a title shot if he had got his hand raised given his winning streak in the division.

    In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Royval said though he’s happy Moreno won because of the impact it has on his standing in the current title picture, he was excited to see his former foe looking dialled in and on point in Canada.

    “I thought he looked sick bro, I had such a good time watching him. I liked the look in his eye when he walked out like the moment he walked out, I was like alright cool, this is what I want to see. It was like a p***** off Brandon Moreno ready to go and he fought with the f****** attitude and a chip on his shoulder and I love that, I love to see that.”

  • Jon Jones Picks Alex Pereira Over Tom Aspinall As Preferred Next Opponent

    Jon Jones Picks Alex Pereira Over Tom Aspinall As Preferred Next Opponent

    Jon Jones will defend his UFC heavyweight championship for the first time against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. After winning the title against Ciryl Gane in March 2023, the newly crowned champion suffered a shoulder injury that delayed his fight with the former UFC heavyweight kingpin.

    While many fans are interested in watching two legends face each other before they hang up their gloves, others simply want the UFC heavyweight division to move forward. Tom Aspinall has defended his interim UFC heavyweight belt once and has finished most top contenders in the first round.

    Jones is a considerable favorite against Miocic, and while he’s teased retirement in the past, he discussed potential future opponents during an interview on the Kevin Iole YouTube channel.

    “Tom Aspinall, is, I don’t want to say nobody but, he just hasn’t proven anything. He hasn’t done anything and I understand that, I mean he won his belt against Sergei. Sergei just got slaughtered by someone else, so, it’s just like, I’m not here to gamble someone else making a name off of me,” He continued. “A guy that’s still on our UFC roster that would be, not only financially worth it, but, legacy worth it, would be Alex Pereira.”

    When asked if he would fight Aspinall after beating Miocic, Jones outright rejected the current interim UFC heavyweight champion. He compared the English heavyweight to Johnny Walker, who many thought could dethrone “Bones” at light heavyweight.

    “Bones” mentioned that he’s accepted a fair amount of risky fights back in the day, and he now only expects an opponent that makes sense to him financially and legacy-wise. On these grounds, he named Alex Pereira a more exciting fight than Aspinall.

    Unsurprisingly, “Bones” is being called out for not giving any credit at all to an interim champion with a title defense. That said, it’s hard to speculate on the future of the heavyweight division accurately until the UFC 309 main event concludes.

  • Michael Chandler Targets ‘Craziest’ Fight Run Against Makhachev, Holloway, & McGregor

    Michael Chandler Targets ‘Craziest’ Fight Run Against Makhachev, Holloway, & McGregor

    Michael Chandler has been out of action for almost two years, having last fought Dustin Poirier in November 2022. Outside of TUF 31, he’s spent most of this time waiting for Conor McGregor, but after the upheaval around UFC 303, he finally moved on to fight Charles Oliveira at UFC 309.

    Following his razor-close split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300, Oliveira is currently the #2 ranked UFC lightweight in the world. So, defeating him should put Chandler in line for a title shot.

    Chandler fought frequently in the UFC since his debut against Dan Hooker. It appears he wants to compensate for the two-year hiatus by fighting as many high-profile names as possible before 2025.

    Chandler recently appeared on the SHAK MMA YouTube channel for an interview. When asked if he would fight McGregor or Makhachev after a win over Oliveira, “Iron” stated that getting the UFC lightweight title is his priority. He also feels the need to settle the rivalry with “The Notorious” which began with TUF 31.

    “The title is the number one goal but there is some unfinished business. Chandler vs. McGregor TUF 31, it needs, that chapter needs to close to some point. Conor wants that fight. He’s talked about it openly in public, in interviews. Obviously, I want that fight. I’m not focused on it right now. I’m focused on Charles, but it’ll be interesting you know. Because you also got to remember, Islam is fighting probably in January, could be late January. He’s gonna go into Ramadan in February, all of March, won’t be able to go till training camp, won’t be able to fight till June July. I’m not trying to wait till June or July. So, Conor could sneak in there, we could see Chandler vs. Oliveira, Chandler vs. Conor, Chandler vs. Islam, Chandler vs. Max. The craziest four or five fight-run in a 12-month period that anyone’s ever seen.”

    Besides Makhachev and McGregor, “Iron” is also interested in fighting former UFC featherweight champion and the reigning BMF champion Max Holloway in 2025. Fans have been eagerly waiting to see this fight too, as both fighters boast an aggressive, fearless, and striking-heavy fighting style.

    It’ll be interesting to see how many superfights Chandler can be a part of before the end of 2025. For now, he needs to focus on beating Oliveira, who already holds a TKO win over him.

  • Dana White & Jon Jones Can’t Agree On Potential Aspinall Fight After UFC 309

    Dana White & Jon Jones Can’t Agree On Potential Aspinall Fight After UFC 309

    Dana White and Jon Jones recently offered starkly different opinions on whether the much-anticipated fight with Tom Aspinall will come to fruition following UFC 309.

    Jones is set to make the first defense of his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The two were originally scheduled to face off at UFC 295 in November 2023, but the fight was scrapped at the last minute after “Bones” suffered a torn pectoral muscle.

    As a result, Aspinall stepped in to claim the interim heavyweight title with a stunning knockout of Sergei Pavlovich. Since then, the Brit has been outspoken about his desire to face Jones in a title unification bout. However, the former light heavyweight champion has repeatedly brushed off the idea, with the UFC CEO also firmly asserting that Jones’ next challenge will remain Miocic.

    Both Jones and Miocic have repeatedly suggested that their upcoming bout could mark the end of their careers. Despite that, in a recent interview with TNT Sports, White expressed his belief that the winner of UFC 309 would likely face Aspinall next.

    https://youtu.be/aUhZ8UG2cNQ?si=OtrHvO53p7RzjvC4

    But during an interview with MMA reporter Kevin Iole, “Bones” outright rejected the notion of facing Aspinall next should he emerge victorious against Miocic next weekend.

    Jones argued that the interim heavyweight champion has yet to prove himself worthy of facing him in the Octagon.

    “I feel like Tom Aspinall is — I don’t want to say nobody, but he just hasn’t proven anything; he hasn’t done anything. And I understand that, I mean, he won his belt against Sergei, but Sergei just got slaughtered by someone else. So it’s just like, I’m not here to gamble with someone else making a name off of me.”

    Jones went on to say that he’s primarily focused on competing against high-profile opponents, those capable of elevating his already storied career. At the moment, reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira is the opponent who piques his interest the most.

    “If there were to be a fight with a guy that’s still on our UFC roster that would be not only financially worth it but legacy-worthy, it would be Alex Pereira. Alex Pereira and I are both 37 years old right now. I weigh about 235 [pounds]; I’m an incredibly light heavyweight. I think Pereira walks around at 240, and I think that fight would add much more to my legacy than a young man who’s cool today and maybe gone tomorrow.”

    • Read More: Tom Aspinall Explains How Stipe Miocic Can Beat Jon Jones At UFC 309
  • Colby Covington On Why He’s Backing Miocic At UFC 309: ‘A Real American With Morals & Values’

    Colby Covington On Why He’s Backing Miocic At UFC 309: ‘A Real American With Morals & Values’

    Colby Covington is throwing his support behind Stipe Miocic to beat Jon Jones in their upcoming title fight.

    Jones is set to defend his heavyweight belt against Miocic in the main event of UFC 309, slated for Nov. 16 at New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden.

    “Bones” enters the fight as a heavy favorite, with many MMA analysts predicting he’ll dominate the former champion with ease. However, Covington has offered a contrasting view, believing that Miocic is poised to deliver a stunning upset.

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, “Chaos” was asked to predict the UFC 309 headliner. The former interim welterweight champion commended Miocic’s relentless work ethic while casting aspersions on Jones, pointing to his turbulent past as a reason he believes “Bones” is unworthy of the victory.

    “Stipe is a great American; he’s a patriot,” Covington said. “He’s a first responder, and the guy’s a hard worker. He’s managed being a firefighter while being a UFC champion. I mean, to have a double life like that is just so impressive, and I can only imagine his work ethic. So I’m really rooting for a real American, a guy that has morals and values — something that Jon lacks.

    “He [Jones] has no morals and values; he’s a terrible person. He’s beaten his wife, he’s had multiple drug challenges, terrible steroid charges, so he’s not a good person. He doesn’t deserve to win, so I’m rooting for Stipe, and I hope he gets it done.”

    Jones and Miocic were originally scheduled to clash at UFC 295 in November 2023. The fight was unexpectedly called off when the reigning champion sustained a torn pectoral muscle just weeks before the event.

    The New Yorker claimed the heavyweight title with a first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023. Meanwhile, Miocic has been out of action for over three years. His last appearance came at UFC 260 in March 2021, where he was knocked out by Francis Ngannou, costing him the championship.

    • Read More: CSAC Director Supports Overturning Jon Jones’ Controversial Loss