MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Muhammad Mokaev’s Rumored Opponent For First Fight Post-UFC Exit Revealed

    Muhammad Mokaev’s Rumored Opponent For First Fight Post-UFC Exit Revealed

    Muhammad Mokaev is still yet to make his return to MMA following his controversial UFC departure earlier this year. The promotion chose not to re-sign him following his seventh consecutive win inside the Octagon over Manel Kape.

    Mokaev has since signed with Brave CF, the promotion where he had most of his early pro fights before joining the UFC back in 2022. Mokaev did recently make his competition return in a grappling match loss to Rogério Bontorin but now, there are rumours of a potential MMA opponent being lined up for him.

    Rather than Brave looking to attract a former UFC fighter or name that fans may be familiar with, recent reports from Вестник ММА on X suggest that Mokaev could be taking on a fighter that is seemingly on the same path that he was once on.

    The undefeated Asaf Chopurov has been very impressive during his six-fight pro career having fought on promotions like RCC in Russia and UAE Warriors. In six wins, he’s got five finishes with four of them coming in the first round.

    What makes the 22-year old so exciting is that like Mokaev in the early days of his pro career, Chopurov amassed so much experience during his amateur career that he’s already fighting at a high level despite being so young in his journey.

    As a former three-time Russian MMA and IMAAF world champion, Chopurov ended his amateur career with an overall record of 30-1. Mokaev, for reference, left behind arguably the most impressive amateur career to date at 22-0.

    Chopurov may not be a household name just yet but he’s an undefeated star on the rise who could become that in the near future. Facing Mokaev at this stage in his career could be a huge moment for the rising prospect.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Continues To Berate Alex Pereira: ‘Willing To Fight Everyone Short Notice But Me’

    Magomed Ankalaev Continues To Berate Alex Pereira: ‘Willing To Fight Everyone Short Notice But Me’

    When Belal Muhammad was announced to have withdrawn from his upcoming welterweight title defense at UFC 310, everyone had the same thought. If the UFC needed someone to step in and save the main event, there was only one name they could call.

    The biggest argument for Alex Pereira being the 2024 fighter of the year is that he has stepped up and delivered for the UFC when they needed him most on several occasions. “Poatan” has already saved two big cards in UFC 300 and UFC 303 but doing it again would have been unthinkable.

    It also appeared from his social media that his likely challenger, Magomed Ankalaev, was down to make a quick turnaround from UFC 308 to fight on December 7 in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, it now looks like Pereira’s last fight against Khalil Rountree in October will stop him from doing that.

    During a recent appearance on the Podpah podcast, Pereira revealed that he’s dealing with a hand injury after Rountree was able to withstand a lot of damage before being stopped in the fourth round.

    “In that 4th round, I was throwing jabs and it was hurting my hand man, I swear. I was thinking ‘my hand must be broken’. It still hurts today. It’s not that bad, but if I touch right here it hurts.”

    Though Pereira has fought through injuries in the past, “Poatan” faces a tough test in Ankalaev who he’ll surely want to be at his best for. This was echoed in Ankalaev’s response to the video on social media.

    The top light heavyweight contender replied to Pereira’s comments and claimed that the champion knows that he can’t risk it this time around unlike some of his previous fights.

    “Willing to fight everyone short notice but with me, he knows he have to be ready he’s not stupid”

  • Volkanovski’s Coach: Ilia Topuria Doesn’t Have ‘The Right’ To Go For Second Title Yet

    Volkanovski’s Coach: Ilia Topuria Doesn’t Have ‘The Right’ To Go For Second Title Yet

    The coach of Alexander Volkanovski believes UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria hasn’t yet earned a chance to add the lightweight belt to his collection.

    Topuria has risen to the 145-pound mountaintop in brutal fashion this year, first knocking out Volkanovski to capture the crown at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February.

    Eight months later, “El Matador” cemented his grip on the title by becoming the first man to stop the great Max Holloway with strikes. Topuria achieved that feat in the main event of last month’s UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi, closing the show with a vicious left hook in round three.

    The Spaniard is quickly building a strong legacy at featherweight, and at the age of just 27, he has plenty of time to achieve his goal of surpassing the champs that came before him in the division.

    Topuria, however, appears to already have one eye on conquering another weight class. Even before he added Holloway’s name and a first defense to his résumé, the fast-rising star outlined his plans to dethrone lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev.

    In addition to going back and forth with the Dagestani on social media, Topuria has even vowed to beat Makhachev at his own game by becoming the first to submit him.

    One man who is certainly familiar with the lightweight champ, however, has told Topuria to hold his horses…

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, coach Joe Lopez reacted to Topuria’s talk of a move up in weight. Volkanovski’s trainer insisted that “El Matador” remains far from having earned the right to challenge the titleholder above him.

    “That’s great (Topuria wanting Makhachev), but you’ve gotta have — like with anybody, you’ve gotta have at least five or six title defenses before you start looking at doubling up,” Lopez said. “You’re just holding up divisions. When you’ve cleaned out a division, then you’ve got the right to jump up a division. Until then, you’ve just gotta fight the cause in your division, you know?

    “I guess it’s like jumping the queue and you want to have the title shot before somebody else that’s above you, you know? But it’s just human nature, I guess,” Lopez continued. “Everybody wants that double champ status ’cause it’s very rare to get.”

    Volkanovski himself recorded four successful defenses before his first opportunity to add a second title to his trophy cabinet in 2023. A fifth then came ahead of a sophomore chance at unseating Makhachev on short notice that same year.

    With that in mind, it would appear Topuria has some work to do before looking to prove his confidence correct when it comes to outgrappling Makhachev inside the cage.

  • Alexandre Pantoja Reacts To Former Opponent Brandon Moreno’s UFC Edmonton Win

    Alexandre Pantoja Reacts To Former Opponent Brandon Moreno’s UFC Edmonton Win

    UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja was watching on as Brandon Moreno returned to winning ways in memorable fashion this past weekend.

    Pantoja unseated Moreno from the 125-pound throne in July 2023, falling on the right side of a split decision in a memorable contest widely seen as last year’s best fight. Since then, “The Cannibal” has cemented his grip on the crown with successful defenses opposite Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg.

    “The Assassin Baby,” meanwhile, has been looking to work his way back to the Brazilian. That endeavor got underway on the wrong foot this past February in Mexico City, where Moreno once again found his opponent — Royval, this time — getting the nod on two out of the three scorecards.

    That left the Mexican outlining plans for an extended break from competition and seemingly out of the flyweight title equation for the foreseeable future. But he returned to it in Edmonton on Saturday night, and in some style.

    In the main event, Moreno handed Albazi his first defeat in the UFC, beating “The Prince” up across five rounds en route to a lopsided decision victory.

    The former two-time champ received heavy praise across the community in the aftermath, including from a multi-time opponent of his. But Pantoja didn’t miss an opportunity to slide in a small jibe at the victorious Moreno in his X post…

    “Very good fight my son,” Pantoja wrote in Portuguese.

    Pantoja’s victory over Moreno last year marked his third over the Mexican in MMA. While the Brazilian’s gotten the better of him twice in professional UFC bouts, he also forced a tap from “The Assassin Baby” way back in 2016 during season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter.

    With Moreno’s triumph in Canada on Nov. 2, it appears that a rare tetralogy could be on the table despite the Mexican’s 3-0 deficit to Pantoja. Before that comes to fruition, though, both men would appear to have some work to do.

    In addition to Moreno acknowledging that he likely requires another strong performance to secure a shot, Pantoja is currently gearing up for his third defense. He’ll welcome former Rizin titleholder Kai Asakura to the Octagon at UFC 310 next month.

  • Jon Jones’ Coach Approaching UFC 309 Camp Like It’s His ‘Last’

    Jon Jones’ Coach Approaching UFC 309 Camp Like It’s His ‘Last’

    The coach of Jon Jones has further fueled retirement speculation ahead of the UFC heavyweight champion’s title defense this month.

    Jones is less than two weeks out from putting his gold on the line for the very first time 20 months on from winning it at the expense of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.

    The delay in his clash with Stipe Miocic has been down to the injury “Bones” sustained weeks out from their scheduled battle at Madison Square Garden last November. A year later, the pair of UFC greats will give their matchup another go.

    The decision to do so has received heavy scrutiny given the presence of an interim titleholder in Tom Aspinall. Jones has been heavily berated for avoiding a unification fight, and even if he emerges from UFC 309 next weekend with the title still in his possession, many are expecting him to continue to do so.

    Jones has hinted at retiring following the Miocic fight numerous times this year. And while UFC CEO Dana White has suggested the Rochester native would continue as an active competitor to face the deserving next in line, the latest remarks out of his coach aren’t encouraging.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Brandon Gibson looked ahead to his man’s next assignment inside the Octagon, which headlines UFC 309 in New York City on Nov. 16.

    On the topic of retirement, Gibson noted that he would fully back Jones should he decide to hang up his gloves, even going as far as to say he’s “ready” to see the former light heavyweight kingpin do so.

    And with that in mind, the trainer has been approaching their latest camp as if it’s the final one.

    “Whenever Jon’s ready (to retire), I’m right there with him. I’m approaching this one like it’s our last go, it’s our last rodeo,” Gibson said. “I think physically, mentally, he could go in there and have five or six more great performances. There’s nothing left for Jon to prove. I think he really wants this fight with Stipe. I think this fight will help solidify Jon’s status as that great heavyweight champion but it’s not something we talk about every night at the gym.

    “We’re definitely all eyes on Nov. 16. But each time I go to a practice, I’m approaching it as this is my last camp. I’m giving it my all,” Gibson continued. “If we get one more after this, if we get two more, that would be a great blessing. I’m also ready to see Jon hang it up. Put the belt up. I’d prefer them to walk away obviously earlier than later. Out of all the fighters, Jon deserves to walk away any time he wants. I’m always going to support those guys.”

    It remains to be seen whether Jones would following a triumph in MSG with a retirement, closing out his heavyweight stint with wins over Gane and Miocic.

    But before even contemplating that, “Bones” must first get the better of a former champion widely branded the division’s greatest of all time. While he’s been widely counted out owing to his age and inactivity, Miocic plans on shocking the world come fight night in “The Big Apple.”

  • Amir Albazi Issues First Statement On Lopsided Loss To Brandon Moreno At UFC Edmonton

    Amir Albazi Issues First Statement On Lopsided Loss To Brandon Moreno At UFC Edmonton

    Having tasted defeat for the first time in the UFC, flyweight contender Amir Albazi has vowed to fix the holes in his game and bounce back stronger.

    After health issues kept him out of the cage for 17 months following a main event win over Kai Kara-France, Albazi finally had the opportunity to stake his claim for a title shot this past weekend in Edmonton.

    Instead of doing so, however, and nothing his biggest victory to date, his perfect UFC record was blemished courtesy of Brandon Moreno’s efforts.

    The Mexican snapped “The Prince’s” six-fight winning run in emphatic fashion to close out Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, beating the Iraqi up across five rounds to collect convincing nods on all three scorecards.

    A disappointed Albazi took to Instagram a day later to speak on the result, thanking his supporters and promising to display an improved version of himself next time out.

    “It wasn’t my night last night, but this is part of life. You win some, you lose some,” Albazi said. “All respect to Brandon Moreno, he was the better man. I’ll be back, I promise. I’ll be back on that horse and keep improving, keep getting better. You guys will see me soon. Thank you for the support.”

    “No excuses,” Albazi wrote in the caption. “You win some and lose some but i will be back better 👊🏽 i promise. Thanks for the support.”

    For Moreno, this past weekend’s main event marked a crucial rebound result. He previously lost two straight by split decision to Alexandre Pantoja — losing the flyweight gold in the process — and Brandon Royval.

    He’ll now look ahead to a potential title eliminator, as he seeks the chance to achieve three-time champ status on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Payton Talbott’s Next Fight Set For UFC 311

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Payton Talbott’s Next Fight Set For UFC 311

    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, October 28, and Sunday, November 3, a number of notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:

    Plenty of lower-profile matchups also came together. For those, check out this week’s quick hits:

    But it wasn’t all positive, with two fights falling through or being adjusted. For those, see below:

  • ‘Like Holloway vs. Kattar’ – Fans React To Brandon Moreno’s Masterclass Against Amir Albazi In UFC Edmonton Main Event

    ‘Like Holloway vs. Kattar’ – Fans React To Brandon Moreno’s Masterclass Against Amir Albazi In UFC Edmonton Main Event

    Anyone who tried to write off Brandon Moreno was taught a lesson in Saturday night’s UFC Edmonton main event, where the former two-time flyweight champion put a beatdown on fellow top contender Amir Albazi.

    From the get go, Moreno looked to utilize his striking to the nth degree. And it was a strong start in the first round, as he landed notable combinations and used his right hand to put Albazi on the back foot, even causing a slip at one point. “The Prince” seemed to be too patient as the fight stretched into the second frame, which saw the Mexican continue to land, land, and land some more.

    Moreno’s pacing and accuracy continued to the point where Albazi’s coaches berated him at one point, stating that he was losing every single round with brutal honesty. However, the Iraqi had no answer in the championship rounds despite his best efforts.

    “The Assassin Baby” won on all three judges’ scorecards (49-46, 50-45, 50-45) in a masterclass domination.

    Brandon Moreno Dominates Amir Albazi In UFC Edmonton Main Event

    https://twitter.com/MMAGamblingtips/status/1852915629235269778
    https://twitter.com/GuillotineGeeks/status/1852916926185410629

    Moreno vs. Albazi was originally scheduled to take place in February at UFC Mexico City, but a neck injury forced the Iraqi contender to withdraw. The home favorite ended up being defeated by Brandon Royval in the main event of that card.

    That result came in the Mexican’s first fight since dropping the UFC flyweight title to Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290 in July 2023.

    Meanwhile, the Canada-held card this weekend was Albazi’s first loss in the Octagon and saw his six-fight win streak snapped. Albazi’s last loss prior to tonight came against Jose “Shorty” Torres in Brave CF back in April 2019.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Brandon Moreno Dominates Amir Albazi 

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Brandon Moreno Dominates Amir Albazi 

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, top-five flyweights Brandon Moreno (#2) and Amir Albazi (#3) clashed. While in the co-main event, Erin Blanchfield faced Rose Namajunas in a women’s flyweight matchup. 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Flyweight Main Event: Brandon Moreno def. Amir Albazi via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45×2) 
    • Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: Erin Blanchfield def. Rose Namajunas via unanimous decision (48-47×3)
    • Light Heavyweight: Brendson Ribeiro def. Caio Machado via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Ariane da Silva via submission: R3, 2.28 
    • Middleweight: Dustin Stoltzfus def. Marc-André Barriault via KO: R1, 4.28
    • Welterweight: Mike Malott def. Trevin Giles via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)

    Preliminary Card

    • Bantamweight: Aiemann Zahabi def. Pedro Munhoz via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2) 
    • Bantamweight: Charles Jourdain def. Victor Henry via submission: R2, 3.43 
    • Featherweight: Youssef Zalal def. Jack Shore via submission: R2, 0.59  
    • Heavyweight: Alexandr Romanov def. Rodrigo Nascimento via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Bantamweight: Serhiy Sidey def. Garrett Armfield via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Bantamweight: Cody Gibson def. Chad Anheliger via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 30-26)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Ivana Petrovic via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) 

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Youssef Zalal def. Jack Shore

    In this featherweight contest, Youssef Zalal got it done with an arm triangle submission of Jack Shore in the second round.

    Charles Jourdain def. Victor Henry

    Charles Jourdain locked in a guillotine to get the win against Victor Henry in their bantamweight bout.

    Main Card Highlights

    Mike Malott def. Trevin Giles

    In this welterweight bout, Mike Malott earned a unanimous decision against Trevin Giles.

    Dustin Stoltzfus def. Marc-André Barriault

    Dustin Stoltzfus got the win with a first-round KO of Marc-André Barriault.

    Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Ariane da Silva

    In this women’s flyweight matchup, Jasmine Jasudavicius submitted Ariane da Silva with a D’arce choke in round three.

    Brendson Ribeiro def. Caio Machado

    Brendson Ribeiro earned a split decision win against Caio Machado in their light heavyweight contest.

    Erin Blanchfield def. Rose Namajunas

    In the co-main event, Erin Blanchfield got it done on the scorecards to defeat Rose Namajunas in their flyweight bout.

    Brandon Moreno def. Amir Albazi

    In the main event, Brandon Moreno earned a unanimous decision against Amir Albazi.

  • ‘Imagine What Shevchenko Would Do’ – Fans React As Erin Blanchfield Outpoints Rose Namajunas At UFC Edmonton

    ‘Imagine What Shevchenko Would Do’ – Fans React As Erin Blanchfield Outpoints Rose Namajunas At UFC Edmonton

    Erin Blanchfield pulled off a reverse sweep and earned a win over another former UFC champion, defeating Rose Namajunas in the UFC Edmonton co-main event.

    Namajunas had early control of the fight, utilizing her striking over the course of the first two rounds. While Blanchfield had bright spots in the opening frame, “Thug Rose’s” striking was on complete display in the second, showing the crispness and accuracy that helped elevate her to two UFC strawweight championships previously.

    “Cold Blooded” entered tonight with the significant advantage in grappling, and that was on display in the third round. Blanchfield was able to get Namajunas to the ground and controlled the action, but the veteran wasn’t going down without a fight.

    Blanchfield was able to get her striking going in the fourth round, finding her range and landing her targets with a solid pace. Namajunas, however, battled back and used her pressure and accuracy for a strong final minute.

    The #3-ranked contender got the fight back down and controlled the action there in the final stanza, completing the 48-47 decision win on all three judges’ scorecards.

    Erin Blanchfield Pulls Off Reverse Sweep Over Rose Namajunas In UFC Edmonton Co-Main Event

    https://twitter.com/beachsand503/status/1852906606696276184

    With the result, Blanchfield rebounded from a loss to Manon Fiorot at UFC Atlantic City in March. Prior to that loss, she had been on a solid winning streak that stretched back to her days with Invicta FC. Her recent wins came against former title challenger Taila Santos and ex-strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade.

    Namajunas, meanwhile, is now 2-2 since moving up to flyweight after her second strawweight title reign came to an end. She lost to Fiorot last year in Paris but rebounded with wins over Amanda Ribas and Tracy Cortez in 2024.

  • ‘Fought Like Strickland’ – Fans React As Mike Malott Bounces Back From Magny Loss In Lackluster UFC Edmonton Fight

    ‘Fought Like Strickland’ – Fans React As Mike Malott Bounces Back From Magny Loss In Lackluster UFC Edmonton Fight

    After his winning streak was snapped in his last outing, Mike Malott is now back in the green column after getting the better of Trevin Giles as part of the UFC Edmonton main card.

    The first round didn’t bring a lot of activity, with Malott controlling the action. The Canadian continued to control the action in the second, picking up his pacing toward the end. Giles, meanwhile, seemed to be unable or unwilling to pull the trigger.

    “Proper” had a notable kick-based attack in the third round, doing damage to Giles’ body and legs. The American, however, did land some significant shots that busted up Malott’s face some.

    Ultimately, the home favorite took a decision, sweeping the scorecards after three rounds of action that failed to impress the MMA masses.

    Mike Malott Rebounds With Decision Over Trevin Giles At UFC Edmonton

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    After entering the UFC with a win over Shimon Smotritsky on Dana White’s Contender Series, Malott earned victories against Mickey Gall, Yohan Lainesse, and Adam Fugitt before a loss to Neil Magny at UFC 297.

    Giles, meanwhile, has now lost three straight fights.

  • VIDEO: Youssef Zalal Sets Up Club & Sub With Brutal Knee At UFC Edmonton

    VIDEO: Youssef Zalal Sets Up Club & Sub With Brutal Knee At UFC Edmonton

    Youssef Zalal is definitely a name to look out for moving forward after he racked up a third straight finish courtesy of a submission during the UFC Edmonton preliminary card.

    The first round between Zalal and Welsh standout Jack Shore was close, with the latter having the better quality action. The Moroccan, however, had more control time that prevented Shore from mounting additional attacks.

    Things quickly came to an end early in the second round when Zalal landed a perfectly timed knee that dropped Shore. “The Moroccan Devil| followed his stricken opponent to the mat and delivered some strong ground-and-pound before locking up an arm-triangle choke that scored the tap.

    Youssef Zalal Earns Third Straight Submission With Victory Over Jack Shore At UFC Edmonton

    The result marked Zalal’s third straight submission, all coming this year, after he defeated Billy Quarantillo in March and Jarno Errens in August.

    Meanwhile, after starting his career 16-0, former bantamweight Shore has now lost three of his last four Octagon outings.

  • VIDEO: Highlights As Michael ‘Venom’ Page Beats Carlos Condit In Polaris Grappling Match

    VIDEO: Highlights As Michael ‘Venom’ Page Beats Carlos Condit In Polaris Grappling Match

    Michael “Venom” Page and Carlos Condit were back in action tonight, but it wasn’t in a cage that they competed in.

    The two faced off as the featured match at Polaris 30 in London, England with “MVP” coming out on top against the former interim UFC welterweight champion.

    After the Brit comically feinting a jab to start off the grappling match, the two felt each other out before Page stopped a Condit takedown attempt, ending up on top after the first minute.

    The currently ranked UFC welterweight contender looked to score a takedown of his own about a minute later, but both men went out of bounds.

    He did, however, score a highlight by getting behind Condit and landing a flashy takedown with just under six minutes left.

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Scores Takedown, Defeats Carlos Condit At Polaris 30

    With less than four minutes to go, Condit looked to go after Page’s leg and looked for a submission, but “Venom” fought it well.

    The former Bellator title challenger was able to prevent another takedown attempt from Condit not long after and held his own for the remaining competitive couple of minutes en route to scoring the decision win.

  • Max Holloway Reaches Definitive Decision On His Next Step After UFC 308 Title Loss

    Max Holloway Reaches Definitive Decision On His Next Step After UFC 308 Title Loss

    There has been plenty of speculation on what Max Holloway’s next move will be following his loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308. And now, Holloway has revealed his decision — and it’s speculation that most expected.

    In a new video on his YouTube channel, the former 145-pound kingpin officially confirmed his decision to move up to lightweight.

    “155 (pounds) here we come, and 155 is where I want to stay,” Holloway said. “This is a new chapter. This is where we start. This is where we begin. I cannot wait.”

    Max Holloway Announces Move To Lightweight, Doubts He’ll Compete At Featherweight Ever Again

    While Holloway’s boxing was on full display in his bout with Topuria, the champ’s aggressiveness and power led him to become the first fighter to knock “Blessed” out. The Hawaiian is neither holding any negative feelings nor making excuses, knowing how long he’s been at the top at 145 pounds.

    It was Holloway’s third unsuccessful challenge to regain the featherweight strap after already losing twice in rematches with the man who snatched the belt from him at UFC 245 in 2019, Alexander Volkanovski.

    Volkanovski and Topuria are the only fighters to have beaten Holloway since his long featherweight winning streak that ran between 2013 and 2019. However, with Holloway likely far from another featherweight title shot, the logical choice is to move up.

    “I can honestly look you guys in the eye and tell you guys, I’m probably not ever going back to ’45,” Holloway said. “I love what I did. I did what I did. I did what I had to do there. I worked my way back, I clawed my back to the championship fight multiple times there. I was a champion. I defended at that weight.

    “Now it’s time to move on to the next chapter, and (at) 155 there’s a bunch of fun fights that I cannot wait to take.”

    Holloway’s decision now opens up a variety of potential options for opponents, including Charles Oliveira, Michael Chandler, Dan Hooker and champion Islam Makhachev. Rematches with Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier — who is expected to retire after one or two more fights in 2025 — are in the mix as well.

    “Blessed” has fought twice at lightweight previously, losing to Poirier in an interim title match at UFC 236 and famously defeating Gaethje for the BMF title at UFC 300 earlier this year.

  • Derrick Lewis Off UFC Fight Night Edmonton Card After Medical Issue

    Derrick Lewis Off UFC Fight Night Edmonton Card After Medical Issue

    UFC heavyweight fan favorite Derrick Lewis will no longer be making the walk inside Rogers Place later today.

    Lewis has been in Edmonton, Canada this week preparing for his latest opportunity to extend his lead on the promotion’s knockout throne. That was set to come on the main card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, which will be headlined by former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno and his showdown with Amir Albazi.

    There didn’t appear to be any hitches on Friday morning, with “The Black Beast” successfully hitting the scale and making weight. But alarm bells rang when he didn’t show at the ceremonial weigh-ins.

    While an update at the time noted that Lewis’ fight with Jhonata Diniz remained on, it was subsequently confirmed to have been scrapped owing to a non-weight cutting medical issue on the side of the former title challenger.

    Lewis was hoping to make it back-to-back wins in 2024 following a five-round setback opposite Jailton Almeida in November 2023. He most recently got the better of Rodrigo Nascimento in the UFC Fight Night St. Louis main event this past May.

    Diniz, meanwhile, planned to make the most of his career’s biggest opportunity to date. The undefeated Brazilian has knocked out Austen Lane and outpointed Karl Williams since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2023.

    With their fight off today’s lineup, home favorite Jasmine Jasudavicius has had her clash with Ariane da Silva (née Lipski) bumped up to the main card.

  • Daniel Cormier Fires Back At ‘Moron’ Rinat Fakhretdinov Over Commentary Criticism

    Daniel Cormier Fires Back At ‘Moron’ Rinat Fakhretdinov Over Commentary Criticism

    Rinat Fakhredinov recently criticized the UFC 308 commentary team for their work during his fight against Carlos Leal. The bout ended in a controversial unanimous decision win for Fakhredinov, which commentator Daniel Cormier openly disagreed with.

    Following the fight, Fakhredinov spoke out during a post-fight press conference, saying the commentators were biased and that he felt he had clearly won the second and third rounds.

    Daniel Cormier Responds

    While doing a Q&A session before UFC Fight Night 246, Cormier was asked about Fakhredinov’s remarks.

    “I don’t know what this dude was talking about,” Cormier said. “Listen, bro, he lost. I don’t care how many times he complains – that’s the thing. These fighters, they go and fight, and it was so clear that the guy lost the fight. He gets a microphone and goes and sticks his foot in his mouth. That’s the problem. He’s a moron, and he just needs to recognize he lost.”

    Cormier continued, “Take it. Just take it. You got gifted a win. Take it, keep your head tucked down until you fight somebody next time.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis: Beating Khamzat Chimaev ‘Warrants A Double Title Fight’

    Dricus Du Plessis: Beating Khamzat Chimaev ‘Warrants A Double Title Fight’

    Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev appear to be on a collision course after Chimaev’s latest statement-making performance. At UFC 308, the undefeated contender submitted former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the first round, breaking Whittaker’s jaw in the process. With this dominant victory, many believe Chimaev is now next in line for a title shot against Du Plessis.

    However, the title picture also includes Sean Strickland, who remains a viable contender. Speaking with ESPN, Du Plessis explained that a win over Chimaev could open the door for a double title fight.

    Double Title Fight Ambitions

    “If I beat Khamzat Chimaev – I beat Robert Whittaker, then I beat Sean Strickland, then I beat Israel Adesanya, then I beat Khamzat Chimaev, that warrants a double title fight,” Du Plessis told ESPN. “I have a vision, and I can’t picture something more perfect than that.”

    Though Du Plessis is open to fighting anyone the UFC presents, he believes fans are more excited about a matchup with Chimaev.

    “But if you go on what the fans want right now, it’s definitely not the Strickland fight,” Du Plessis added. “If you ask what I want, I want to fight the best guy. I want to fight the guy the fans want me to fight, and that 100 percent is Khamzat. If they give me the Strickland fight, great, I’ll fight Strickland in February, March, or whenever, and then fight Khamzat.”

  • Joe Rogan: Ilia Topuria Is MMA’s ‘New High-Water Mark’ 

    Joe Rogan: Ilia Topuria Is MMA’s ‘New High-Water Mark’ 

    People are still buzzing about Ilia Topuria’s stellar performance against Max Holloway at UFC 308, where Topuria made history by becoming the first fighter ever to finish Holloway.

    This victory extended Topuria’s undefeated streak to an impressive 16-0. It came on the heels of his knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, where he claimed the featherweight title.

    The New High-Water Mark

    During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan shared his thoughts on Topuria as the new “measuring stick” in MMA.

    “Ilia is fast as f*ck,” Rogan said. “He’s not slow at all. He doesn’t have any disadvantages. He doesn’t have any weaknesses, man. That’s the thing. That’s why I say he’s the new high-water mark. There are people who think he’s the best pound-for-pound fighter alive.”

    Rogan went on, “There’s a lot of discussion about that online. It’s a little premature, especially with Jon Jones still out there, and there are other elite fighters too – Islam Makhachev is another one. There’s a real argument that he’s the best pound-for-pound guy alive, but it’s f*cking close. Ilia – he might be the best.”

  • Ian Garry Headlines UFC Tampa On Dec. 14, Misses Out On Colby Covington Fight

    Ian Garry Headlines UFC Tampa On Dec. 14, Misses Out On Colby Covington Fight

    UFC welterweight Ian Garry will be headlining the upcoming event in Tampa, but not against the opponent he was hoping for.

    Garry (15-0), a former Cage Warriors champion and the current #7-ranked UFC contender at 170 pounds, has been calling to clash with Covington ever since the American failed to win the undisputed title for the third time last December.

    The Irishman’s campaign for that matchup continued after he got the better of Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 303 this past June. In a recent update, Garry claimed to have even been sent an offer to fight Covington in the main event of UFC Fight Night Tampa next month.

    “The Future” put the hold-up down to the ex-interim champ, and should his claims be correct, the 36-year-old looks to have rejected the fight.

    On Friday, the UFC confirmed that Garry will indeed headline the event in Florida on Dec. 14. But instead of Covington, the Dubliner will do battle with Joaquin Buckley (20-6) to close out the promotion’s 2024 schedule.

    Garry’s International Fight Week triumph over Page marked his eighth straight since joining MMA’s leading promotion in 2021. His campaign this year started with a victory over Geoff Neal, who joined the likes of Daniel Rodriguez and Neil Magny on the Irishman’s résumé.

    Buckley, meanwhile, has been fast-charging since dropping to welterweight following an inconsistent period at 185 pounds. A 5-0 run that includes wins over Vicente Luque and Stephen Thompson has seen “New Mansa” vault into the top 10, and he’ll now look to stake his claim for a first championship opportunity by blemishing “The Future’s” record.

    The UFC Fight Night in Tampa will go down inside the Amalie Arena. The current fights expected to take place are as follows:

    • Ian Garry vs. Joaquin Buckley (welterweight main event)
    • Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas (women’s strawweight)
    • Dustin Jacoby vs. Vitor Petrino (light heavyweight)
    • Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva (flyweight)
    • Tracy Cortez vs. Miranda Maverick (women’s flyweight)
    • Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo (featherweight)
    • Michael Johnson vs. Ottman Azaitar (lightweight)
    • Daniel Marcos vs. Adrian Yañez (bantamweight)
    • Piera Rodriguez vs. Josefine Knutsson (women’s strawweight)
    • Navajo Stirling vs. Tuco Tokkos (light heavyweight)
    • Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras (bantamweight)
    • Drakkar Klose vs. Joel Álvarez (lightweight)
    • Sean Woodson vs. Fernando Padilla (featherweight)
  • UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    After staging its latest numbered event at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi last weekend, MMA’s leading promotion has remained on the road for a card inside the Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

    In the main event, former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno returns close to nine months on from a defeat to Brandon Royval in Mexico City. Having now lost two straight by way of split decision, “The Assassin Baby” will look to get back to winning ways at the expense of the charging Amir Albazi.

    Setting the stage for them in another 125-pound contest will be Erin Blanchfield and Rose Namajunas. After winning two straight in the division this year, the ex-strawweight queen will look to notch her biggest flyweight success to date and stake her claim for a title shot by adding to the woes of “Cold Blooded,” who was beaten by Manon Fiorot last time out.

    Elsewhere, heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis makes the walk for his latest assignment, Mike Malott has the chance to rebound on home soil, and bantamweight veteran Pedro Munhoz adds to his Octagon experience.

    Ahead of the event, all 28 fighters successfully made weight. With that, every fight is intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC Fight Night Edmonton ceremonial weigh-ins.

    Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 7 PM ET.

    UFC Fight Night Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • Stipe Miocic Voices Confidence Ahead Of Jon Jones Fight

    Stipe Miocic Voices Confidence Ahead Of Jon Jones Fight

    Stipe Miocic exudes confidence as he prepares for his highly anticipated showdown with Jon Jones. Heading into their UFC 309 heavyweight title fight at Madison Square Garden, Miocic feels secure in his abilities and isn’t showing any worry.

    Jones is heavily favored to win, but Miocic, a former UFC heavyweight champion, is ready to prove his doubters wrong. Miocic has gone 3-2 in his last five fights, securing back-to-back heavyweight title victories over Daniel Cormier in 2019 and 2020. However, he lost his most recent fight via knockout to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 in March 2021, which cost him the heavyweight title.

    Expressing Confidence

    In a recent appearance on BS w/ Jake Paul, Miocic discussed his mindset as the fight approaches. He’s maintained a quiet focus, emphasizing his dedication to his training and his desire to stay mentally prepared.

    “I’m excited, honestly,” Miocic said. “It’s finally here. It was supposed to happen last year, but an injury took it away. Now, we’re three weeks out. I’m ready. I’ve been pumped. I keep quiet and stay focused on the task at hand, just worrying about my fight. That’s all I focus on.”

    Miocic continued, “Jon Jones does a lot of things well, but I have great coaches and teammates who prepare me for whatever happens. I’m not going to wait to see what he’s going to do; I’m going to do what I want to do.”

  • Derrick Lewis: Jon Jones Will Finish Stipe Miocic In First Round At UFC 309

    Derrick Lewis: Jon Jones Will Finish Stipe Miocic In First Round At UFC 309

    Derrick Lewis is paying close attention to the upcoming heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, which will headline the UFC 309 pay-per-view event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

    Heading into the fight, Jones is heavily favored to defeat the former UFC heavyweight champion, and Lewis agrees with the odds.

    First-Round Finish Prediction

    In an interview with MMA Junkie, Lewis shared his prediction for the bout, believing that Jones will finish Miocic in the first round.

    “I think Jones will beat him in the first round,” Lewis told MMA Junkie. “It’s crazy to see so many people disrespect Jones like that, like he isn’t the GOAT, for real. A lot of people keep throwing around these GOAT terms and this and that. Jones has been doing this for so many years at the highest level, taking on top-ranked guys.”

    Lewis continued, “Even though he’s had trouble outside of the UFC, people don’t understand—it’s 80 percent mental going into these fights, and only about 20 percent physical. If you don’t have the mentality going into these fights, you’re not going to do well. For him to be dealing with all he’s been through and still beating these top guys, it says a lot.”

    Lewis is set to return to the octagon himself, taking on Jhonata Diniz at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 246 main card at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

  • UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After staging its latest numbered event from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi last weekend, the MMA leader has remained on the road for a return to the “Great White North,” where Edmonton’s Rogers Place hosts a UFC Fight Night.

    Topping the lineup on Nov. 2 is a clash of ranked flyweights as former champion Brandon Moreno looks to break his two-fight losing skid by stalling the charge and title ambitions of Amir Albazi.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, which will see former strawweight queen Rose Namajunas look to keep her ball rolling at flyweight. To secure a third straight win at 125 pounds this year, “Thug Rose” must get the better of #3-ranked contender Erin Blanchfield.

    Elsewhere, the likes of heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis, home favorite Mike Malott, and bantamweight veteran Pedro Munhoz will all be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi takes place on Saturday, November 2, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

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

    Main Card:

    • Flyweight Main Event: Brandon Moreno (125.5lbs) vs. Amir Albazi (125.5lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: Erin Blanchfield (125.5lbs) vs. Rose Namajunas (125lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis (266lbs) vs. Jhonata Diniz (257lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Caio Machado (205lbs) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (205lbs)
    • Middleweight: Marc-André Barriault (185lbs) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (185.5lbs)
    • Welterweight: Mike Malott (170.5lbs) vs. Trevin Giles (170lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Bantamweight: Aiemann Zahabi (135.5lbs) vs. Pedro Munhoz (135lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Ariane Lipski (125lbs) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (125lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Charles Jourdain (135lbs) vs. Victor Henry (135lbs)
    • Featherweight: Jack Shore (145.5lbs) vs. Youssef Zalal (145lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Alexandr Romanov (261lbs) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (264lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Serhiy Sidey (135lbs) vs. Garrett Armfield (135lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Chad Anheliger (135lbs) vs. Cody Gibson (135.5lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Jamey-Lyn Horth (126lbs) vs. Ivana Petrovic (125lbs)
  • TJ Dillashaw: Max Holloway ‘Got Too Comfortable’ Against Ilia Topuria At UFC 308

    TJ Dillashaw: Max Holloway ‘Got Too Comfortable’ Against Ilia Topuria At UFC 308

    TJ Dillashaw recently shared his thoughts on Ilia Topuria’s impressive performance against Max Holloway at UFC 308, where Topuria made history by becoming the first fighter ever to finish Holloway. This victory kept Topuria’s undefeated streak intact, bringing his record to 16-0. It was his second monumental win after his knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, where he claimed the featherweight title.

    Too Comfortable in the Stand-Up Game

    While speaking on the JAXXON Podcast, Dillashaw praised Holloway’s early approach, noting his effective movement and strategy in the first couple of rounds. However, he felt that Holloway became too comfortable in the stand-up game as the fight progressed.

    “I think he (Holloway) got too comfortable in the second round,” Dillashaw remarked. “He started piecing him (Topuria) up, right? He’s using his distance, he had a great jab, he’s hammering his jab, and Max is a volume guy. His volume’s working; he gets better and better as the fight goes on. But I think when it got into the third round, he got a little comfortable, and Topuria’s fast as f*ck. He did that slapping hook to get his hands away from his face with that overhand right, and then it changed everything.”

    Dillashaw went on to praise Topuria’s boxing skills, calling him the best striker the UFC has to offer in that department.

  • UFC Legends Debate ESPN’s Top 10 List, Question Whether Khabib Deserves His Spot

    UFC Legends Debate ESPN’s Top 10 List, Question Whether Khabib Deserves His Spot

    Lists are always going to create discussion in regards to which options should or shouldn’t have made it onto the final version. This is no different with ESPN’s Top 10 men’s MMA fighters of the 21st century list.

    Unsurprisingly, the current UFC heavyweight champion and consensus greatest of all time, Jon Jones, takes the top spot with the usual cast following behind him. Welterweight great Georges St-Pierre is the runner-up with the long-time champion of the weight class above him, Anderson Silva, rounding out the top three.

    Dominant champions Demetrious Johnson and Khabib Nurmagomedov make up the top five whilst Fedor Emelianenko, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, BJ Penn and Kamaru Usman complete the full list.

    On a recent episode of the Jaxxon Podcast, two men who are in a great position to debate the list did just that as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Liddell spoke about who could have earned a spot that ultimately didn’t.

    Jackson, perhaps controversially, said that he isn’t sure whether the number five pick had enough fights at the highest level to be considered, especially when someone like Matt Hughes didn’t make the cut.

    “Nothing against Khabib, I just don’t think he fought enough fights. To be on there and to not have Matt Hughes on there, you know what I’m saying cus he was champion for a long time.”

    Liddell, who did make the cut, responded by agreeing with his former opponent’s take that Hughes deserves a mention. He also named one other great champion that would have undoubtedly been in contention, even if some of his best work was done before he arrived in the UFC.

    “If you look at the strength of opponents, you know. There’s some other guys in there, José Aldo. A beast man, for years. Those lists are lists man and all those guys are quality guys. It’s tough really.”