MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Brandon Royval: Brandon Moreno’s Latest Win Cleared Way For My UFC Title Shot

    Brandon Royval: Brandon Moreno’s Latest Win Cleared Way For My UFC Title Shot

    Brandon Royval was hoping for Brandon Moreno to have his hand raised in victory when he faced Amir Albazi at UFC Fight Night 246 this past Saturday in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. And that’s exactly what happened. The former champion returned to peak form, delivering a dominant performance against Albazi.

    Royval himself has two recent wins over Moreno, followed by an impressive victory against Tatsuro Taira in a “Fight of the Night” showing. In his view, these achievements position him as the new #1 contender for a title shot.

    “I think the only thing that was cleared up completely was that I’m next for the title shot,” Royval told MMA Junkie. “That’s what this fight did: It cleared the way for me. I thought he [Moreno] looked amazing. I had such a good time watching him. The moment he walked out, I was like, ‘All right, cool, this is what I want to see: a fired-up Brandon Moreno, ready to go.’”

    Royval continued, “He fought with attitude and a chip on his shoulder, and I loved that. I really believe the flyweight division has been more exciting than ever. People often criticize us, saying the top three or four guys are just clearing out everyone else, but I think the division is at its peak.”

    Royval will now have to wait for the outcome of flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja’s title defense against former RIZIN champion Kai Asakura on Dec. 7 at UFC 310. Regardless, he expects to face the winner.

  • CSAC Director Supports Overturning Jon Jones’ Controversial Loss

    CSAC Director Supports Overturning Jon Jones’ Controversial Loss

    Jon Jones might finally see the sole blemish on his otherwise flawless record erased, with California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster voicing his backing for this change.

    “Bones” one loss in his 29-fight MMA career came against Matt Hamill at The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 Finale in December 2009. Despite overwhelming Hamill throughout the first round, Jones was disqualified for delivering a then-illegal 12-6 elbow.

    Jones, with longstanding support from UFC CEO Dana White, has made numerous attempts over the years to overturn his disputed loss, though each effort has fallen short. Recently, however, the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports lifted the ban on 12-6 elbow strikes, with the revised rules taking effect last weekend at UFC Fight Night in Edmonton.

    A faint ray of hope appears to be emerging for the UFC heavyweight champion as Foster, one of the key advocates behind the legalization of the once-banned strike, has now stepped forward to support Jones in his quest to have the loss overturned.

    During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, the Athletic Commission director expressed his dissatisfaction with how the ruling was handled at the time, suggesting that the outcome could have been changed to a no contest rather than a DQ.

    “The rule is what it was then; it’s different now. It would be hard to go back…I’d be actually supportive of getting rid of [his loss], but it’s not my decision. … I didn’t like the way it was enforced back then, but that was 14 years ago,” Foster said. “I think there were — look, we’re talking about 14 years later. At the time, I thought there were other ways you could handle that situation rather than flat giving the guy a loss.”

    Although Foster is a staunch supporter of “Bones” having his loss overturned, the final decision rests with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. However, they have consistently declined to make any changes since 2009.

    After a hiatus of over a year, Jones is preparing for his return to the Octagon, where he will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the headliner of UFC 309. The eagerly anticipated clash is scheduled to take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Nov. 16.

  • Colby Covington Includes Paddy Pimblett On List Of Opponents He’d Welcome For His UFC Return

    Colby Covington Includes Paddy Pimblett On List Of Opponents He’d Welcome For His UFC Return

    Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington is eyeing a return to action next year, and he has a couple of potential foes in mind.

    Covington hasn’t appeared inside the Octagon since his third failed attempt at capturing undisputed gold on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage last December.

    Having previously had his ambitions stalled by Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards continued the trend against Covington at UFC 296 to record his second — and ultimately last — successful defense of the 170-pound belt.

    “Chaos” put that result down to a broken foot sustained in the very first round. And although he targeted a return once healing from that this past summer, he most recently pointed to his work on the campaign trail for Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election as the reason behind his ongoing absence.

    With that, the controversial UFC veteran now has his sights on an early 2025 return to active competition.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Covington claimed that talks are ongoing over a potential showdown with Jack Della Maddalena in the first quarter of 2025.

    While “Chaos” was surprisingly respectful when discussing the Australian, the same can’t be said when his attention turned to an option from outside his division…

    “A fight that’s being talked about, this guy’s running his mouth a little bit, which is weird because every time I see this guy, he puts his eyes down and he walks past me like a little b*tch,” Covington said. “Now he wants to throw stones in the media. I don’t know if you’ve seen, Paddy Pimblett, he’s been throwing some stones.

    “He’s been running his mouth in the media, saying, ‘I’ll go up to welterweight, I’ll fight Colby.’ Of course he wants to come up to welterweight and fight me or Conor (McGregor), the two biggest names in the UFC right now,” Covington continued. “He’d be honored and be lucky to get this fight. But I think we need to get it going. I don’t like when people talk big to the media and don’t back up their talk. … We need to hold him accountable for his words…stupid, dumb bowl cut.”

    Pimblett has long expressed a firm dislike toward Covington, calling him out for the supposed persona he’s employed for much of his UFC career.

    “The Baddy” was notably among the vocal critics of the American’s conduct at the pre-fight press conference for UFC 296 last December, during which he made unsavory comments about Edwards’ deceased father.

  • Kamaru Usman Discusses Fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov On Short Notice At UFC 310: ‘The UFC Knows Who To Call’

    Kamaru Usman Discusses Fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov On Short Notice At UFC 310: ‘The UFC Knows Who To Call’

    Kamaru Usman seems ready to step up on short notice to face Shavkat Rakhmonov and keep the UFC 310 main event intact.

    The headliner for the final UFC pay-per-view event between reigning welterweight champion Belal Muhammad and Rakhmonov was called off last month after “Remember the Name” disclosed he had to pull out due to a bone infection in his foot.

    Since then, “Nomad” has voiced his desire to remain on the card, even campaigning for an interim title showdown, ideally against former longtime champion Usman. Rakhmonov’s manager, Sayat Abdrakhmanov, confirmed that the UFC is currently in talks and has proposed “The Nigerian Nightmare” as a possible opponent for the matchup.

    During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman discussed the possibility of stepping in on just a month’s notice to face Rakhmonov at UFC 310. He stated that the UFC would reach out to a fighter primed to challenge the undefeated Kazakhstani, and should the promotion come calling, he would unquestionably accept.

    “I’m still in that gym, you know,” Usman said. “If the UFC is going to call who they think is going to be legit tough enough and man enough to step in there on this crazy enough to step in there on short notice and go out there and possibly shock the world, definitely the UFC knows who to call when that situation happens. And if they do give me a call, I’m going to answer the call. We get a couple of things straight, and if we have to do it, I don’t shy away from any of that.”

    “The Nigerian Nightmare” is no stranger to stepping in on short notice to face undefeated fighters. Usman took on the challenge of fighting Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023 with less than two weeks’ notice, ultimately suffering a majority decision loss.

    Usman is currently enduring the most challenging phase of his career, having lost his 170-pound title to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 in August 2022. Since then, he has gone 0-2 in his last two Octagon appearances.

  • Alexandre Pantoja: Henry Cejudo Would Need ‘Surgery’ To Make Flyweight Again

    Alexandre Pantoja: Henry Cejudo Would Need ‘Surgery’ To Make Flyweight Again

    UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja isn’t buying former two-division king Henry Cejudo’s talk of a return to 125 pounds next year.

    Cejudo’s comeback from a short-lived retirement hasn’t gone to plan thus far. “Triple C” has gone 0-2 at bantamweight since returning three years on from his successful title defense opposite Dominick Cruz.

    After narrowly falling short of immediately regaining the crown against Aljamain Sterling in May 2023, Cejudo failed to stake his claim for another opportunity when he battled Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298 this past February.

    Having now slipped down the pecking order at 135 pounds, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist plans to take his pursuit of another stint as UFC champ back down to flyweight.

    In the summer, Cejudo provided an update on his current status, noting that an injury has been keeping him on the sidelines. When he is healthy and ready to make the walk again, he seemingly expects to do so as part of the division he ruled over after unseating the great Demetrious Johnson in 2018.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura, Pantoja reacted to Cejudo’s apparent plans to cut down for another title run at flyweight.

    Suffice to say, the champ has his doubts…

    “When you go to the surgery doctor, yeah, he needs (liposuction) to make the weight,” Pantoja said jokingly. “I don’t think he can make the weight again. He’s too big. I’d love the opportunity. If Cejudo can do that, I’ll give him five pounds to fight. It will be a dream to fight with Cejudo, of course. He’s a legend.”

    For now, Pantoja will have his full attention on a different name set to arrive in the division.

    In Kai Asakura, “The Cannibal” is scheduled to meet a former Rizin champion who has his sights on a memorable first foray into the Octagon at UFC 310 on Dec. 7.

  • Chael Sonnen Highlights UFC 309 Prelim Fighter: ‘A Bit Of A Triple Threat’

    Chael Sonnen Highlights UFC 309 Prelim Fighter: ‘A Bit Of A Triple Threat’

    At UFC 309 on November 16, one fighter will make a childhood dream come true when he makes the walk at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. 2024 has been a year of bucket list moments for Oban Elliott who has earned back-to-back wins inside the Octagon.

    The Welsh fighter secured his UFC contract on the Contender Series and will now look to make it three wins in a row at welterweight when he faces off with Bassil Hafez on the prelims. Elliott is a big pro wrestling fans and therefore, it’s no surprise that his MMA idol growing up was none other than “The Bad Guy”, Chael Sonnen.

    They’ve been in communication for many years but at Elliott’s debut at UFC 298 in February, they finally got to meet in person. Though this was clearly a full-circle moment for “The Welsh Gangster”, it was also a great interaction for Sonnen, as he spoke about in a recent video on his YouTube channel.

    Sonnen gave some insight into Elliott’s life and career so far and how he feels privileged that the rising talent would take him along for each step of the journey.

    “It’s a bit of a triple threat from Oban. He’s got the skills, came with the DNA and the grit. Little boy that had a dream and never lost sight of it, right. All discipline is is remembering what your goal is. That’s all it is but it’s a very hard thing to do and he embraced social media, he was a smart guy… when he did the whole thing, he stayed nice. He’s a real triple threat.”

    Elliott’s personality and mentality is what Sonnen wanted to draw the most attention to. He went on to compare him to Anthony Smith who Sonnen believes is another fighter that doesn’t just know how to fight and play the game, he’s a strong individual outside the cage too.

    “He never got somewhere and forgot how he got there and that’s a special kind of person. The fighter, yeah man, this guy can squabble. He’s about to fight at Madison Square Garden. He went from a railroad with a guy with a dream thanking Lord in heaven above that he got airtime on Ariel Helwani’s show, he’s going to be fighting at Madison Square Garden so it’s quite a story and there’s a lot more to it. I’m just getting started but moving forward, learn the name.”

  • UFC Exec Provides Response To Calls For Second Sphere Show: ‘Dana Is Pretty Intent…’ 

    UFC Exec Provides Response To Calls For Second Sphere Show: ‘Dana Is Pretty Intent…’ 

    UFC 306 had a lot to live up to after the hype that Dana White and the UFC had created around the event. There was criticism of the card on paper but all of that changed once the event got underway.

    The MMA leader’s use of the ground-breaking Las Vegas Sphere made for an incredible spectacle that we’ve never seen before and seemingly, won’t again for some time. White was very clear that their decision to run the Sphere was because the T-Mobile Arena was already booked for the night that they wanted to do the second annual Noche UFC.

    Since the event took place, both fans and fighters have called for the promotion to do it again but there hasn’t been any movement on this since. Endeavour President Mark Shapiro recently spoke about this in a recent statement, making it clear once again that White wants to double down on it being a one of a kind show.

    “We do not intend to do another event at the Sphere. That was a one and done, I think we’ve signalled that to the market. Of course, anything can change like rock bands do their farewell tours and seem to stick around for another 20 years but Dana is pretty intent that this is a one and done, that’s why we spent so much, that’s why we made so much out of it.”

    Shapiro added that though the Vegas Sphere has already been ticked off the bucket list, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t do another event like this in a different location much further down the line.

    “By the way, last time I checked, the Sphere is launching in Abu Dhabi. Dana did say no more events at the Sphere in Vegas, but that doesn’t mean we can’t go to Abu Dhabi. So, I’m looking forward to pursuing that when that gets built, probably two decades from now.”

  • Colby Covington: ‘Weight Bully’ Makhachev’s Champ-Champ Plans ‘All Talk’ Like Khabib

    Colby Covington: ‘Weight Bully’ Makhachev’s Champ-Champ Plans ‘All Talk’ Like Khabib

    With Belal Muhammad now reigning as the welterweight champion and his next challenger already lined up for the first quarter of 2025, it doesn’t look like Islam Makhachev will be making the jump to 170-pounds anytime soon. The pound-for-pound number one has spoken about wanting to challenge himself up a weight class many times.

    Having fought and defeated Alexander Volkanovski, who was the featherweight champion at the time, on two occasions, Makhachev wanted his opportunity to try and win a second belt. Instead, he’s now gearing up for a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan in the near future.

    One fighter that was very outspoken about the idea of Makhachev moving up was the former interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington. Given his trash talking public persona, a fight between him and the lightweight king would’ve been a huge fight.

    He recently criticized Makhachev for going back on his plans during a recent interview with Submission Radio where he accused the champion, and Khabib Nurmagomedov, of being weight bullies who don’t commit to anything they say.

    “Not really, you know. We saw the same thing with Khabib. He talked a big game his whole career, ‘Oh I’m going to go to 170, I’m going to stop cutting all this weight,’ because both those guys are legitimately cutting chromosomes off their bodies. Those guys are huge lightweights. I mean they’re bigger than me and I’m a weight class up so those guys are walking around at 190 plus, probably closer to 200. So, you know, they’re just weight bullies and that’s what they do best.

    “They talk a big game like they’re going to come up to welterweight but they’ve never actually done it so if he wanted to come up and look for big fights, look no further than me. USA versus Russia, this is the biggest fight you could possibly get. I mean it’s a mega blockbuster fight but I think Islam’s all talk just like Khabib. They’re never actually going to come up to welterweight, they’re just going to stay at lightweight and throw stones from the lightweight division.”

  • Francis Ngannou’s Coach Breaks Down How He Would Game Plan For Jon Jones

    Francis Ngannou’s Coach Breaks Down How He Would Game Plan For Jon Jones

    Unfortunately, it looks like the biggest fight in the heavyweight division across MMA may never happen. The prospect of seeing Jon Jones move up to heavyweight to face Francis Ngannou was one of the most talked about fights that we didn’t get to see when both men were in the UFC.

    Unfortunately, Jones debuting in his new weight class saw him win the vacant title that was left behind when Ngannou departed the promotion and signed to the PFL. Though this super fight between champions is something that the PFL is very keen on, it seems incredibly unlikely that a deal will ever take place between the two promotions.

    It’s still going to be used as a talking point for fans for many years to come and in a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Ngannou’s coach spoke about how he would have tried to approach the fight if it had happened inside the Octagon. Eric Nicksick broke down where he believes they would have had success in the fight.

    Like many would assume, competing against the consensus greatest of all time in a technical back-and-forth would not have been the desired strategy for the Xtreme Couture head coach.

    “I definitely think you had to put Jon on his back foot, you had to put pressure on him, you had to put him up against the corner post and you couldn’t get in a technical fight with Jon and you couldn’t allow him to dictate the hand play right, where he starts to occupy your hands and that’s a slow paced type of fight where Jon is very technical there and he starts to pick you apart with elbows and the clinch and the knees and the things that he does so well.

    “For me, I thought we got to get this guy on his back foot and we got to apply pressure right away and make it an ugly fight, don’t make it a technical fight. You’re going to have to make this grimy and try to get out of there, try to get him out of there in the first two-three rounds. I think the longer a fight would have gone between him and Francis, it would have favored more Jon and that was where I felt like if we put a game plan on him, we were going to have to put the pace on him.”

  • Reinier de Ridder On What Is Required In UFC Debut: ‘The Top Dogs Finish Gerald’

    Reinier de Ridder On What Is Required In UFC Debut: ‘The Top Dogs Finish Gerald’

    Newly signed UFC middleweight Reinier de Ridder says a victory is not enough when he debuts inside the Octagon this weekend at the Apex.

    Among the most notable storylines set to play out at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night is the arrival of de Ridder, a former two-division titleholder under the ONE Championship banner over in Asia.

    After losing his undefeated record in addition to his 205- and 225-pound belts to Russian behemoth Anatoly Malykhin, “The Dutch Knight” departed ONE earlier this year. And after getting back to the win column opposite Magomedmurad Khasaev at UAE Warriors 51, the 34-year-old put pen to paper on a deal with the UFC.

    While he’ll no doubt hope to walk through an arena crowd soon enough, his first taste of Octagon action will come in the serene surroundings of the Apex on Nov. 9, where veteran Gerald Meerschaert is set to await him.

    During his appearance at UFC Vegas 100 media day on Wednesday, de Ridder looked ahead to his first foray into the cage in his new promotion and assessed what he must do to establish himself as a force to be reckoned with on the sport’s biggest stage.

    “Finally, after all these years of talking about the top guys, to finally be close to getting them is very cool,” de Ridder said. “The most important this is Gerald first. It’s a very cool matchup. … A win is not enough – the top dogs finish Gerald and I want to prove I’m one of them. … I’ve always watched his fights and that’s a great thing for this fight as well. There’s so much tape to study. He has so much fights. He has a really difficult style.

    “The ways he finishes fights, there’s a few things he’s very dangerous at, there’s a few things he does that I think I can really capitalize as well. But it’s a great matchup,” de Ridder continued. “I’m very happy that they’ve given me him for my first fight because he’s a veteran, he’s a real name, and I think if I can put a stamp on this one, I have some leverage to start calling out some bigger names.”

    De Ridder will look to make good on those remarks by delivering an emphatic finish of Meerschaert on the main card of the promotion’s centennial Apex-held UFC Fight Night.

    Should he do so, the Dutchman has the likes of Bo Nickal in his sights as he hopes to add UFC gold to his already illustrious trophy cabinet in mixed martial arts.

  • UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic Lineup Takes Another Hit With Undefeated Contender Out

    UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic Lineup Takes Another Hit With Undefeated Contender Out

    The upcoming UFC 309 pay-per-view at Madison Square Garden is a ranked matchup down following another fight cancellation.

    Among one of few fights originally set to play out toward the top of a division on Nov. 16, #6-ranked light heavyweight Nikita Krylov was booked to defend his spot opposite undefeated, rising contender Azamat Murzakanov.

    The pair marked perhaps the most high-stakes clash tasked with setting the stage for the likes of Jon Jones, Charles Oliveira, and Bo Nickal on the UFC 309 preliminary card.

    That is no more, however, after it was revealed by MMA Junkie’s Nolan King that Murzakanov has withdrawn from the New York City-held PPV just over one week out.

    The news marks the latest blow to the UFC 309 lineup, coming just hours after Lucas Almeida was confirmed out of his clash with David Onama.

    This marks the latest setback in Murzakanov’s planned surge into the top 10. After getting the better of Dustin Jacoby last year, the Russian subsequently had fights with Volkan Oezdemir and Khalil Rountree fall through. While he had hoped to start a period of activity following a knockout win over Alonzo Menifield this past August in Abu Dhabi, he now looks set to turn his focus toward a 2025 return after another enforced layoff.

    Krylov, meanwhile, has lost his chance to make a long-awaited return to the Octagon. The longtime contender has been absent for 20 months, having not made the walk since submitting Ryan Spann in March 2023. That left him riding high on a three-fight winning run, but he’s now under threat of sitting out the entirety of this calendar year unless an unlikely short-notice matchup gets put together.

    With this cancellation, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 309 on Dec. 7 are as follows:

    Main Card:

    • Heavyweight Championship Main Event: Jon Jones (C) vs. Stipe Miocic
    • Lightweight Co-Main Event: Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler
    • Women’s Flyweight: Viviane Araújo vs. Karine Silva
    • Middleweight: Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig
    • Lightweight: Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop

    Preliminary Card:

    • Middleweight: Eryk Anders vs. Chris Weidman
    • Bantamweight: Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee
    • Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. Damon Jackson

    Early Preliminary Card: 

    • Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura vs. Jhonata Diniz
    • Welterweight: Mickey Gall vs. Ramiz Brahimaj
    • Welterweight: Bassil Hafez vs. Oban Elliott
    • Women’s Flyweight: Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura
  • Colby Covington Claims He Offered To Fight Shavkat Rakhmonov At UFC 310: ‘They Can Call Me On A Week’s Notice’ 

    Colby Covington Claims He Offered To Fight Shavkat Rakhmonov At UFC 310: ‘They Can Call Me On A Week’s Notice’ 

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington has claimed to have thrown his name in the hat to face the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov on short notice next month.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is scrambling for a new main event to close out its pay-per-view schedule for 2024. That’s after the withdrawal of UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad from the Las Vegas-held UFC 310 on Dec. 7.

    “Remember the Name” was scheduled to put his 170-pound belt on the line for the first time opposite Rakhmonov, but a severe bone infection has forced him out.

    Since then, “Nomad” has outlined his hopes to remain on next month’s numbered card in competition for interim gold. Among the possible opponents, the Kazakh has specifically pointed to Kamaru Usman as the most likely.

    And according to a man who knows “The Nigerian Nightmare” well, those plans are firmly in motion, and have even stopped him from stepping up to the plate.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Covington addressed his absence from the Octagon and suggested a comeback in the first quarter of 2025 is likely.

    He did, however, claim that fans could have seen him extremely soon had the UFC accepted his apparent offer to save the day at UFC 310.

    “I offered (to replace Muhammad). I told the UFC that I was willing to step up to the plate. … They know they can call me on a week’s notice and I’m stepping up to the plate,” Covington said. “I would love to save the show and put on a good show for the fans. They pay their hard-earned money for big mega fights, they need a mega fight, that’s not a mega fight. They need someone who is going to put asses in seats and entertain people. So, I was excited. I wanted the fight and I asked for it but I think they have other plans.”

    And had that come to fruition, “Chaos” doesn’t think he’d have had much trouble dispatching of Rakhmonov — something he expects to prove down the line.

    “I can walk him down and pressure him and he’s not going to like my pressure. He doesn’t do very well with southpaws,” Covington explained. “We saw how he did with the busboy Geoff Neal. That was a very competitive fight. He hasn’t fought a top contender yet. He has fought some gatekeepers of the division, some guys on the cusp of the top 10. But he’s never fought a champion like me and a guy who’s going to come at him for five straight rounds and just walk him down.

    “I match up well, he stands very tall. I don’t see anything special with him. He has some good submissions, he’s slick, but that’s when he can control the wrestling. He’s not going to control the wrestling on me,” Covington continued. “I think I can beat him pretty easily and I think it’s a favorable fight, and it’s a fight I win in the future whether he wins or loses in December.”

    Whether or not his claim is true has been quickly debated in the MMA community, with many suggesting that he’s simply capitalizing on an opportunity knowing that different plans are already in the works for Rakhmonov.

    Either way, the American is seemingly eyeing a 2025 return. During the same interview, he put his absence this year down to his work on the campaign trail prior to Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election this week.

  • Daniel Cormier: ‘Sharpest Businessman’ Dana White Can Make Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou

    Daniel Cormier: ‘Sharpest Businessman’ Dana White Can Make Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou

    Francis Ngannou couldn’t have had a better return to MMA as he knocked out Renan Ferreira in the first round to win the PFL heavyweight championship on October 19, 2024. Jon Jones, on the other hand, is finally returning to the Octagon against Stipe Miocic on November 16, 2024.

    Ngannou was the UFC heavyweight kingpin before Jones moved up to the division. Many fans eagerly wanted to see them fight, but before anything could materialize, Ngannou left the UFC and signed with the PFL. He also boxed in high-profile matchups against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

    “The Predator” was recently asked on The Ariel Helwani Show if he could still fight “Bones”. The lineal heavyweight MMA champion claimed that the superfight is not completely off the table and that figures like Turki Alalshikh might play a role in it.

    Alalshikh, as the head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, has helped organize several major combat sports events over the last few years.

    Daniel Cormier reviewed Ngannou’s statements on his YouTube channel recently. He admitted that White’s rocky relationship with the PFL champ is a problem, but Riyadh Season’s inclusion could shake things up.

    The former UFC champ mentioned that Riyadh Season sponsoring UFC 306 was a huge development, and might have laid the foundation for crossovers like Jones vs. Ngannou.

    “Dana does not like Francis, that is a massive problem. Massive problem. But hell, when in the world do you put that over business. I don’t know that he will, he’s one of the smartest, sharpest businessman you’ve ever met. If the dollars make sense, the fight could potentially happen,” DC continued. “If Francis is to be believed, and Francis has had these conversations, we’re now entering a world where multiple partnerships already established in this realm. ESPN UFC, ESPN PFL, Riyadh Season UFC. Ladies and gentleman, maybe, just maybe, we get that fight.”

    DC also believes White is smart enough to put personal differences aside for a lucrative business opportunity. He isn’t sure that Ngannou and Jones will fight in MMA, but he’s not ruling out the possibility entirely.

  • Colby Covington Reveals Conversation With Donald Trump On Election Night: ‘Most Historic Night Of My Life…’

    Colby Covington Reveals Conversation With Donald Trump On Election Night: ‘Most Historic Night Of My Life…’

    Donald Trump’s close relationship with Dana White is no secret at this point. The UFC President accompanied Trump during his historic win in the US Presidential election and even gave a speech.

    From Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje to Sean Strickland and Dustin Poirier, Trump has many supporters from the UFC roster. Colby Covington backs the Republican Party member as well, frequently expressing his support during interviews and official UFC media interactions.

    The 47th President of the United States invited White alongside a group of UFC fighters including Covington while votes were being counted. “Chaos” described this as one of the most memorable moments of his life during an interview for the Submission Radio YouTube channel.

    The former interim UFC welterweight champion believes that the 2024 presidential elections make for a landmark moment in US history. Trump has supported the UFC from its early days, and Covington is positive that the promotion will benefit greatly from his win.

    “Probably the most historic night of my life. I mean, when you’re talking in terms of the future of our country. And the future of the world, really, because America. Everything goes to America,” Covington continued. “We exchanged a couple of words, you know. He’s excited. He’s always asking, ‘Colby, when is your next fight? Man, I want to come to your next fight’. And, you know, so he’s going to be there at the next fight.”

    Covington revealed that Trump always asks him about his next fight, and the night of the election was no different. The UFC welterweight expects the President to watch his imminent return to the Octagon live and thanked him for having an inspiring work ethic.

    “Chaos” is naturally elated with Trump’s victory. He had high praise for White too, who introduced Covington to the Trump family. The former title challenger appreciated the UFC CEO’s healthy lifestyle and sharp mic skills, which were on display during the election night.

  • Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Avoids Interviewing Conor McGregor

    Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Avoids Interviewing Conor McGregor

    Even if you’ve lived under a rock, you might have heard about the conflict between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov. The UFC lightweight superstars fought for the title in October 2018, and soon after submitting the Irishman in the fourth, Nurmagomedov jumped over the Octagon to attack Dillon Danis.

    UFC 229 ended with one of the most heated brawls in the promotion’s history. To this day, “The Eagle” has never tried to mend his relationship with McGregor and they’re likely rivals for life.

    Nurmagmedov’s close relationship with former UFC double champ Daniel Cormier is also no secret. The duo makes for a popular bromance in MMA circles and over the years, their bond has strengthened considerably. So much so that Nurmagomedov and Cormier consider each other as close as family.

    During the latest episode of 3 Rounds on his YouTube channel, Cormier admitted to no longer approaching McGregor for interviews and other media interactions. The reason? “The Notorious” conflicts with “The Eagle.”

    “I don’t try to request McGregor for interviews. I don’t think that I would get him but I’m just saying it’s not a request I make every time I’m there. But this like, part of the course for these dudes. Because honestly, Khabib’s not just a teammate. He’s family. And they’re like that with everyone and they feel like if someone’s in conflict, especially at the level that Jones and I. Jones and I were in conflict, they’re very stern in the side they pick. And it’s kind of refreshing because most people aren’t like that guys. They’re just not, especially us, as Americans. So, watching that, that wasn’t crazy for me. Dude, he really is the man. Khabib is the man. He’s got to be one of the most genuine humans I’ve ever met.”

    The former UFC heavyweight champ also highlighted the time when Nurmagomedov claimed Jones would never be a friend because of the latter’s conflict with DC. Cormier acknowledged that the undefeated UFC lightweight’s philosophy is not very common in the United States, but he agrees with it now.

    Both Cormier and Nurmagomedov have retired from MMA, but it is safe to assume their close friendship will remain strong behind the scenes.

  • Bo Nickal: I Want My First UFC Title Fight To Look Like A Masterclass

    Bo Nickal knows he’s destined for greatness and is determined to claim the UFC middleweight title. His journey continues on November 16th at UFC 309, where he’ll face Paul Craig on the main card at Madison Square Garden.

    Nickal has demonstrated dominant performances so far, and he’s committed to maintaining his winning streak. To do so, he’s taken extended time between fights to focus on skill development and preparation—a choice that has sparked some criticism from fans who want to see him compete more frequently.

    This approach has paid off, however, as Nickal has already secured impressive victories over notable opponents, including former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill and top contender Magomed Ankalaev.

    “For me, the most important thing is developing, and I don’t want to skip steps,” Nickal explained. “You mentioned Diego Lopes… These guys have 20-plus pro fights. I’ve fought six times in just over two years. Is that infrequent? I wouldn’t say so. People might forget that I’ve only been fighting professionally since the summer of 2022.

    “But with that said, it’s a good thing that people want to see me fight. I want to compete as much as I can, but I also want to make sure I’m improving. Let’s say I fight a ranked guy next, then a top-five opponent, and then for the title. It’s not a long road to where I want to go.”

    For Nickal, the emphasis remains on training to reach a level where his fights aren’t just victories—they’re masterclasses. “I feel like I can compete with and beat the best right now, but I don’t want it to be competitive when I reach the title fight,” he said. “I want it to look like a masterclass where the opponent isn’t even on my level.”

    He acknowledges that his rapid path to title contention doesn’t allow him the luxury of a 20-fight experience base, but he’s committed to maximizing each training camp. “I’ll probably be in title contention by the time I have 10 or 11 fights,” Nickal noted, confident that his approach will ultimately lead him to the championship.

  • UFC 309 Card Shaken As Exciting Bout Pulled Last Minute

    UFC 309 Card Shaken As Exciting Bout Pulled Last Minute

    UFC 309 has reportedly encountered an unforeseen disruption, with a scheduled matchup being scrapped just 10 days before the event.

    According to a recent report by MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz, Lucas Almeida has been pulled from his scheduled featherweight clash with David Onama due to unspecified reasons. With only a week’s notice, the UFC is now scrambling to find a replacement to take on the “Silent Assassin.”

    Onama is coming off consecutive victories over Gabriel Santos and, most recently, Jonathan Pearce this past April — though he did miss weight for that bout. The 30-year-old Ugandan fighter currently boasts a solid Octagon record of 4-2.

    Meanwhile, Almeida is fresh off a dominant unanimous decision victory over Timmy Cuamba in July, a much-needed rebound after suffering back-to-back losses to Andre Fili and Pat Sabatini last year.

    The 33-year-old Brazilian signed a new contract with the UFC in August, but unfortunately, he will have to wait a bit longer before making his return. Currently, he holds a UFC record of two wins and as many losses.

    UFC 309 is set to take place on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with reigning heavyweight champion Jon Jones defending his title against Stipe Miocic in a highly anticipated main event.

    • Read More: Mauricio Ruffy Gets New Opponent For UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic Prelim
  • Bo Nickal Breaks Down Jones vs. Miocic At UFC 309: ‘When I Look At Jon’s Tools…’

    Bo Nickal Breaks Down Jones vs. Miocic At UFC 309: ‘When I Look At Jon’s Tools…’

    UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal will have a keen eye on the Nov. 16 main event between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic once his assignment on the night is complete.

    Nickal is set to feature on the main card of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden next weekend, where the main attraction will be the long-awaited first heavyweight title defense for an all-time great in Jones.

    20 months on from his crowning and a year removed from an injury scuppering plans for a showdown with Miocic in New York City last year, “Bones” will make his return for a contest that many are expecting to be his last.

    The common consensus appears to be that Jones will get past an aging Miocic who hasn’t competed since falling via knockout to Francis Ngannou in 2021 before hanging up his gloves. Miocic has heard that script and promised something different, vowing to shock the world with his performance.

    Nickal, though, doesn’t appear convinced.

    During a recent interview with former UFC and ONE Championship titleholder Demetrious Johnson, Nickal backed Jones to get the job done at MSG owing to the wide-ranging “tools” in his arsenal.

    He did, however, highlight a potential path to victory for Miocic.

    “First of, I love both those guys. They’re awesome, amazing competitors,” Nickal said. “If I had to pick who’s going to win the fight, I would say Jon, just because the long layoff for Stipe. And when I look at Jon’s tools, he’s just got such a diverse ray of attacks — offense and defense.

    “I think if this fight were to go Stipe’s way, he would probably have to get Jon tired. But I think that Jon is just so savvy in there,” Nickal continued. “I would say the two smartest guys that I’ve seen fight are probably you (Johnson) and him, guys that I really respect their intelligence and their mind. I think a lot of people don’t talk about that in MMA…the most underrated part of Jon’s game.”

    Jones will look to prove Nickal’s prediction right come fight night next weekend, when he headlines a pay-per-view card that also features a highly anticipated rematch between former lightweight champ Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler.

    Elsewhere on the lineup, Nickal himself returns to action opposite Paul Craig and middleweight great Chris Weidman looks to make it two wins from two in 2024 when he faces former American football linebacker Eryk Anders.

  • UFC Vet Pushes Back On Shavkat Rakhmonov’s Interim Talk: ‘Belal Has The F*cking Title’

    UFC Vet Pushes Back On Shavkat Rakhmonov’s Interim Talk: ‘Belal Has The F*cking Title’

    Shavkat Rakhmonov is campaigning for an interim title fight after Belal Muhammad withdrew from their scheduled UFC 310 clash, but a UFC veteran has a contrasting viewpoint.

    Rakhmonov was slated to challenge reigning welterweight champion Muhammad in the headline fight of the final UFC pay-per-view event of 2024, set for Dec. 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    However, just last week, “Remember the Name” revealed that he had been forced to withdraw from the bout due to a bone infection in his foot.

    In light of this regrettable circumstance, Rakhmonov recently turned to social media to advocate for an interim title fight, proposing former champion Kamaru Usman as the ideal opponent to rescue the UFC 310 main event.

    While the prospect of an interim title fight has sparked considerable intrigue within a significant portion of the MMA community, Muhammad was quick to dismiss the idea. Having only claimed the welterweight title four months ago, he believes an interim title would be premature — and Matt Brown shares the same sentiment.

    During a recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast (via MMA Fighting), “The Immortal” recognized the necessity of addressing the void created by Muhammad’s absence but firmly expressed that, from his perspective, an interim title is unnecessary at this juncture.

    “I think we all know at least it’s not a title,” Brown said. “Belal has the f**king title. He’ll be back soon. He’s going to fight the winner. This is a title contender match. Great. It’s a great fight. I’m stoked to see the fight. I’m just as stoked to see Shavkat and Usman as I would be for Shavkat and Belal, except it would be for the actual title with Belal.

    “They usually do that because they need to sell the pay-per-view and put a title on it, right? I feel Usman would be selling PPVs. We all know who Usman is. We all want to watch Usman fight. I don’t think putting a title in front of that fight really changes the dynamic of that fight,” Brown continued. “I get why they would do it, and I understand the logic behind it and maybe it makes it a bigger fight, but I don’t see why you can’t keep it five rounds and just say it’s not for the title. … Unfortunately, it kind of diminishes what an interim title is.”

    “Remember the Name” secured the welterweight title with a commanding unanimous decision victory over Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in July. Muhammad is now riding an impressive 11-fight unbeaten streak.

    Meanwhile, Rakhmonov is fresh off a second-round submission victory over Stephen Thompson at UFC 296 in December 2023. “Nomad” has yet to taste defeat in his professional career, boasting a flawless 6-0 record inside the Octagon.

  • Chris Weidman Doesn’t Plan On Ever Laying His Gloves Down Inside The Octagon

    Chris Weidman Doesn’t Plan On Ever Laying His Gloves Down Inside The Octagon

    At 40 years old, no one would have been surprised or complained if Chris Weidman made the decision to retire and step away from the UFC. The New York native has already achieved some great things in his career as a former middleweight champion.

    He’s also overcome some tough losses and in recent times, some devastating injuries that would have been the end for many fighters. Losing his return fight in August last year against Brad Tavares didn’t discourage him from continuing to compete.

    In his last fight, he returned to the win column and though it was a fight that carried a lot of controversy with it, Weidman did look good in the fight. Unfortunately, a lot of the praise for him was undone by the multiple eye pokes that Bruno Silva suffered which ultimately led to the fight being stopped and changed from a TKO to a decision verdict due to the injury.

    Weidman is now set to return to face Eryk Anders at UFC 309 and though his luck when fighting at Madison Square Garden has been less than ideal with two knockout losses, it would make a lot of sense to wrap things up in front of a home crowd at the world’s most famous arena.

    In an interview with MMA Fighting, the former champion revealed that is very unlikely to be the case on November 9. Instead, he’s choosing to take each fight as it comes and will decide whether or not he wants to continue after the fact rather than before or during his time in the Octagon.

    “Honestly, I’m still taking it fight by fight to see how I feel, to see how I perform. Right now in the gym my body, I feel good and I’m doing great in the gym but I’ve got to be able to perform under the lights. So that’s all just fight to fight at this point at my age and everything. We’ll see how I feel and we’ll just play it from there.

    “I’m pretty much taking it fight by fight, I’ll make my decision after the fight. I’m not planning on putting my gloves down or anything like that either win or lose. But I’m planning to just not make any rushed decisions. Right now, I still feel great. I’m excited. I love training. I love being in camps. I love just the whole discipline of it and how it keeps you on routine. It’s really addictive. I’m super competitive so it’s just like the ultimate best thing for me to be doing. But obviously you can’t do it forever. So that’s why I’ve got to take it fight by fight and kind of just weigh the pros and cons of everything and see where we’re at.”

  • Bo Nickal Says He Won’t Avoid Grappling With Paul Craig To Test His Own Jiu-Jitsu

    Bo Nickal Says He Won’t Avoid Grappling With Paul Craig To Test His Own Jiu-Jitsu

    Bo Nickal is back at UFC 309 where he looks to secure his fourth win inside the Octagon against his toughest opponent to date. The undefeated middleweight super prospect will be making the walk at Madison Square Garden to face off with a fellow specialist at 185-pounds.

    Whilst Nickal brings a wrestling pedigree to the table that very few can match, the same can be said for the jiu-jitsu skills of Scotland’s Paul Craig. Though both men have put a lot of work into rounding out their games, it’s clear that this is where both men excel.

    In 26 pro fights, Craig has finished half of them by submission and rather than having an approach like Charles Oliveira for example, many of those wins in the UFC have come off of his back when opponents try to land ground and pound from the top position.

    In a recent interview with Demetrious Johnson on The MightyCast, Nickal spoke about preparing for an opponent that is so dangerous in one specific area. Though he believes he’s been able to adapt to jiu-jitsu very quickly, he’s still very young in his MMA career.

    This doesn’t discourage him from wanting to test himself against a dangerous grappler Craig like who has submitted elite fighters in the Octagon in the past. In fact, it’s something that he looks forward to in this fight even though he believes he holds the striking advantage in this match-up.

    “I think that I have an advantage on the feet but I also think that it would be nice to be able to show my improvements on the ground in my jiu-jitsu game and to be able to compete against a guy like that and just kind of challenge myself, you know. I think that again, there’s problems that he poses and it’s definitely an unusual maybe unorthodox type of style, you don’t see many guys pulling guard anymore. You don’t see guys throwing up triangles and throwing up armbars but I feel prepared.” 

  • Israel Adesanya, Khamzat Chimaev, & Other UFC Fighters React As Donald Trump Wins The 2024 US Presidential Election

    Israel Adesanya, Khamzat Chimaev, & Other UFC Fighters React As Donald Trump Wins The 2024 US Presidential Election

    A number of UFC fighters were vocal on social media across last night and this morning, as Donald Trump emerged victorious from the 2024 US presidential election.

    Republican Trump will return to the White House after defeating Democrat opponent Kamala Harris. His victory was confirmed after he surpassed 270 electoral college votes, and he looks set to collect all seven swing states.

    The triumph has secured a second term in office for the 78-year-old, who has become only the second president in history to win a non-consecutive second term following Joe Biden’s success in the 2020 election.

    While polls were predicting a tight contest, Trump comfortably beat Harris after taking a firm lead in the national poplar vote. He’ll now mark the oldest man elected to the United States’ highest office.

    Despite becoming the first former president to be convicted of a criminal offense, Trump — whose first term concluded in controversy after his supporters stormed the Capitol in protest of Biden’s 2020 win — has had plenty of prominent supporters, especially in the fight game.

    In addition to his friendship with UFC CEO Dana White, a number of fighters have voiced their support for the 45th and soon-to-be 47th US president. That trend largely continued on social media during election night and in the aftermath of Trump’s win being confirmed.

    Active and former UFC athletes commented on the result, from former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and Khamzat Chimaev to staunch Trump supporters Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.

  • Michael Chiesa Offers Advice To Struggling Fighters After Nearly Retiring Before Recent Bounce Back Win

    Michael Chiesa Offers Advice To Struggling Fighters After Nearly Retiring Before Recent Bounce Back Win

    Before his last fight inside the Octagon in August, Michael Chiesa found himself in the worst patch of form of his career. The former winner of The Ultimate Fighter has overcome losses in the past and did suffer back-to-back defeats to Kevin Lee and Anthony Pettis once before.

    However, in three consecutive outings, he was without a win after being submitted by Vicente Luque and Kevin Holland with a decision loss to Sean Brady in between. Chiesa was able to get back in the win column in Abu Dhabi when he submitted Tony Ferguson in the first round.

    He’s now set to return at UFC 310 in search of a second win when he faces Max Griffin to keep his momentum pushing forward. In the build up to this fight, the commentator and desk analyst revealed that he seriously contemplated retirement during his losing streak.

    If he wasn’t able to compete at the highest level anymore, he would hang up the gloves and look to continue pursuing the avenues that he’s already started to go down in recent years. In an interview with Shakiel Mahjouri, Chiesa spoke about working with a sport psychologist and what his biggest takeaways from that were.

    When asked what advice he would pass on to struggling fighters that may find themselves in a similar position to the one that he was in, he spoke about the importance of having goals but focusing on the present rather than looking too far ahead.

    “I think the biggest thing that I would say is focus on being in the present moment. That is something that I struggled with. Looking too far ahead like I’m looking too far ahead at the title or I’m looking too far ahead at the fight and worrying about getting hurt or like just looking too far ahead and not being present. It’s very important to be present in the moment every single day with your training. It’s good to have goals but you don’t have to dwell on the future and what’s yet to come or what you want to happen. You set the goals and then you put them aside and just focus on being in the moment.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4mtUsvH4gs&t=301s

  • Carlos Prates Reflects On Dana White Comparing Him To Anderson Silva When He Signed To The UFC

    Carlos Prates Reflects On Dana White Comparing Him To Anderson Silva When He Signed To The UFC

    Brazil’s Carlos Prates is set to step into his first main event spotlight this weekend when he faces ranked welterweight Neil Magny at the UFC Apex. The Brazilian has been phenomenal since he arrived in the promotion and made an early impression.

    Prates was one of the highlights of last year’s season of the Contender Series where he stopped Mitch Ramirez in another big win for the Fighting Nerds team. The 31-year olds striking was so accurate and dangerous that his performance earned him a huge compliment from the boss.

    When Dana White announced that Prates would be joining the UFC’s welterweight roster, he compared him to one of the all-time greats by saying that his striking reminded him of a prime Anderson Silva. Since then, he has produced three wins inside the Octagon with finishes and performance of the night bonuses in each of them.

    In a recent interview with Kevin Iole, the rising welterweight contender was asked about what it was like to receive this kind of comparison and whether it added any additional pressure to his shoulders. For a Brazilian fighter to be compared to the former long-reigning middleweight champion, a compliment simply doesn’t get much bigger.

    However, Prates was able to take this in his stride and continue to do what he does best. He hopes that in many years when he’s created his own legacy in the sport, he will become a bench mark for fighters to be measured against like “The Spider” has been for so many.

    “It’s good, I don’t feel any pressure to be honest. I just step inside of the cage and try to do my best. I can win the fight but if I didn’t give my best, I’m not happy, you know. All the time I look to do my best and of course I hear about I look like Anderson Silva. It’s really nice but I’m working hard to maybe in five years or ten years, Dana White coming to another guy and say, ‘Hey, that guy looks like Carlos Prates in his prime.’”

  • Chael Sonnen Makes The Case For Why A Third Fight Between Max Holloway & Dustin Poirier Might Be Different   

    Chael Sonnen Makes The Case For Why A Third Fight Between Max Holloway & Dustin Poirier Might Be Different   

    Following his loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, Max Holloway made an announcement about his career going forwards. The former featherweight champion has spent most of his time in the UFC competing at 145-pounds but no more.

    Before returning to the weight class to challenge Topuria for the title, “Blessed” defeated Justin Gaethje for the BMF title at lightweight and put in one of his best performances to date in the process. With Holloway announcing that lightweight is now his permanent home, this opens up some very exciting options for him.

    One fight that he already mentioned is a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier which could serve as one of the final fights in the great career of “The Diamond”. Poirier already holds two wins over Holloway but that doesn’t stop Chael Sonnen from wanting to see them run it back one more time before Poirier retires.

    In a recent YouTube video, he made it clear that he wouldn’t usually be campaigning to see a third fight between two opponents where one of them is already two up in the series. However, Sonnen also made the case for why the third fight could be different than the previous two.

    Holloway’s first encounter with Poirier came in his UFC debut where he had just four pro fights under his belt at the time. The second time around at UFC 236, Poirier was able to break the Hawaiian’s incredible winning streak but this was Holloway’s first time moving up to 155-pounds and he didn’t look the same as he did at featherweight.

    With him now committing to lightweight, Sonnen thinks this makes the trilogy more interesting than before.

    “So let’s make a case for Max. Is Max better now than he was then? No. But, is Max different? Yeah, he definitely could be. Yeah, you bet your a** he could be different because one thing that is different is Max is not playing at 55 before he goes back to 45. He is done at 45, he has made that commitment, he has absolutely closed that book. That’s a big deal and you’ll never hear me act like 10 pounds is a lot but from 45 to 55, it is.”