MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Alex Pereira Approached To Save The Day — Again — After UFC 310 Loses Main Event

    Alex Pereira Approached To Save The Day — Again — After UFC 310 Loses Main Event

    The UFC has reportedly turned to a familiar face in Alex Pereira after losing its headline attraction for the final pay-per-view event of the year.

    Reports emerged on Thursday regarding a potential injury suffered by UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad, who was booked to headline UFC 310 in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 in defense of his title against Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    “Remember the Name” subsequently confirmed the disappointing news on social media, posting an image of a gruesome bone infection that hospitalized him and will keep him out of training for the next six weeks.

    With that, the promotion will need to secure a new headline matchup to close out its PPV schedule for 2024. And when it comes to saviors, no one has fit the description in 2024 quite like “Poatan.”

    Pereira, a former UFC middleweight champion and the reigning light heavyweight kingpin, has had a bumper year inside the Octagon, reeling off three straight title defenses in record-breaking speed to establish himself as one of the sport’s biggest stars.

    The manner of his first two defenses only added to the plaudits thrown his way, with Pereira saving the promotion after a struggle to secure a suitable UFC 300 main event and the withdrawal of Conor McGregor from UFC 303 less than three months later.

    Having added the name of Khalil Rountree to his reign’s list of victims at UFC 307 earlier this month, it appeared that Pereira would finally be due a long-earned rest.

    While that still might be the case, MMA Mania is reporting that “Poatan” has indeed been contacted about headlining UFC 310 against Magomed Ankalaev in light of Muhammad vs. Rakhmonov being off.

    The welterweight number one contender seemingly has something to say about that, however. After wishing his injured opponent well on X, “Nomad” called to remain on the UFC 310 card in competition for an interim welterweight strap.

    It remains to be seen whether Muhammad will be out for long enough to warrant the creation of another belt. But should no other options come to fruition for the Dec. 7 headline slot, the promotion has previously shown a willingness to add interim belts to the equation in such scenarios.

  • UFC Edmonton Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Moreno vs. Albazi, Blanchfield vs. Namajunas, & More

    UFC Edmonton Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Moreno vs. Albazi, Blanchfield vs. Namajunas, & More

    UFC Edmonton is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming event takes place Saturday, November 2, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The main card begins at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, who will look to bounce back from consecutive split decision losses at the hands of Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval when he competes in the “Great White North.” To Accomplish that feat, the Mexican fan favorite is tasked with stalling the surge of 17-1 contender Amir Albazi.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see ex-strawweight queen Rose Namajunas make the walk for the third time this year. If she’s to make it three flyweight wins in a row and stake her claim for a shot at two-division glory, “Thug Rose” must send the #3-ranked Erin Blanchfield to the first losing skid of her career.

    Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis, welterweight prospect Mike Malott, bantamweight veteran Pedro Munhoz, and the always entertaining Charles Jourdain.

    UFC Edmonton: Moreno vs. Albazi Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Edmonton (as of 10/31), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Brandon Moreno (-175) vs. Amir Albazi (+145)
    • Erin Blanchfield (-130) vs. Rose Namajunas (+110)
    • Derrick Lewis (+145) vs. Jhonata Diniz (-175)
    • Caio Machado (-148) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (+124)
    • Marc-André Barriault (-205) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (+170)
    • Mike Malott (-185) vs. Trevin Giles (+230)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Aiemann Zahabi (-125) vs. Pedro Munhoz (+105)
    • Ariane Lipski (+120) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (-230)
    • Charles Jourdain (-142) vs. Victor Henry (+120)
    • Jack Shore (+250) vs. Youssef Zalal (-310)
    • Alexandr Romanov (-102) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (-118)
    • Serhiy Sidey (-142) vs. Garrett Armfield (+120)
    • Chad Anheliger (+160) vs. Cody Gibson (-192)
    • Jamey-Lyn Horth (-218) vs. Ivana Petrovic (+180)
  • Beneil Dariush Contemplated Moving Divisions After Missing A Full Year For The First Time In His Career

    Beneil Dariush Contemplated Moving Divisions After Missing A Full Year For The First Time In His Career

    Beneil Dariush was originally hoping for a return before the end of the year but with the UFC schedule already looking secured for the remainder of 2024, he’s looking at an early outing in the new year. Though this kind of break isn’t necessarily anything new for fighters, especially if they’ve got injuries to attend to, it is for him.

    Since turning pro back in 2009, Dariush has fought at least once in each consecutive year. Whether he’s fighting twice a year like in 2023 or four times in his debut year with the promotion, the 35-year old has been a consistently active member of the roster.

    Alongside some setbacks outside of the cage to deal with, another issue for him is finding the right fights at this stage in his career. Dariush isn’t opposed to fighting rising contenders but at the #8-ranked lightweight, he can’t be giving his spot away for free either.

    One of the reasons that he’s now targeting January for his Octagon return is that it takes him a bit more time to prepare for competing at 155-pounds at this stage in his career. In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, he said that moving up a weight class so that he could fight more often and open up new opportunities was even a thought at one point because he wants to be as active as possible.

    “It’s been challenging and it’s just weird, you know. I understand you’ll have your ups and downs so I had my ups for a while and now I’m kinda down but like, just not to be able to fight has been weird. I enjoy it so much. I even considered going to 170 just so I can fight more often but I don’t think I’m done with 55 yet so I’ve been trying to really focus on recovery as far as the brain injuries and stuff like that. I want to make sure when I get back into the Octagon, I don’t have to worry about any of that stuff.”

  • Brandon Moreno Reveals What The ‘Break Point’ Was That Led Him To Taking A Hiatus

    Brandon Moreno Reveals What The ‘Break Point’ Was That Led Him To Taking A Hiatus

    Following his second consecutive loss inside the Octagon, Brandon Moreno announced that he would be taking some time off before coming back. The former UFC flyweight champion has fought in nothing but main events and title fights since December of 2020 when he first shared the cage with Deiveson Figueiredo.

    His recent performances haven’t necessarily been bad either, having lost split decisions to the current champion Alexandre Pantoja and top contender Brandon Royval. However, the former two-time flyweight titleholder felt that something wasn’t right.

    Though he admitted on media day that it was hard for him to not take a fight again just a few weeks after his defeat in February, Moreno stuck to his word and spent some quality time healing with his family. He’s now back this weekend to headline the UFC’s stop off in Edmonton where he faces Amir Albazi in a top five match-up.

    In a recent interview with Shakiel Mahjouri, Moreno spoke about what it was about his last fight that made him realize that he needed to step away for a while and how that has helped him to come back at his best.

    “In my mind, like trying to remember that moment in the fight like I wasn’t there, you know. My body was there and I was throwing punches, whatever, but my mind wasn’t there and that’s what made me feel very frustrated because I know I’m much better than the guy who fought last February so in that point, I think that’s the break point like, you know, I have to take a little step back. I have to take a little break. It wasn’t like a huge break but those months out of competition, out of thinking about my next fight, my next opponent, help me a lot to heal.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA23OT3MXHg&t=374s
  • Erin Blanchfield Explains How She Overcame One-Sided First UFC Loss

    Erin Blanchfield Explains How She Overcame One-Sided First UFC Loss

    Erin Blanchfield returns this weekend to try and get back on the right path following a tough result last time out. The #3-ranked flyweight faces Rose Namajunas in the co-main event in Edmonton on Saturday night.

    Following a six-fight winning streak inside the Octagon, many had high hopes that Blanchfield’s incredible rise would lead to her fighting for a title. The 25-year old came into her last fight against Manon Fiorot knowing that these were the stakes hanging over the fight.

    Her bout against the French striker showed that for how exciting the new contender is right now, she still has some key areas to work on. She was convincingly beaten by Fiorot who won every round on all three of the scorecards.

    Though losing any fight is always a difficult moment to overcome, Blanchfield told Shakiel Mahjouri in a recent interview that her mindset helps her to take lessons from these experiences and move forward. She said that approaching these setbacks in the same way that she would when she was competing as a kid helps to put them into perspective.

    We will find out this Saturday night whether she’s able to put those lessons into practice against the former two-time strawweight champion.

    “I feel like the last time I lost, I went on a huge winning streak like previous to this fight so I know I can, I’ve been training my whole life. I’ve won a lot, I’ve lost a lot as a kid so I feel like I’ve learned how to deal with losses pretty well and really how to grow from them and not like let them stunt you. I think some people kind of get into that rhythm. It’s still a sport at the end of the day and it’s still kind of like following that same mindset as like a kid like oh, you just get better, you just keep training and improve so once I was over the initial like sucking of losing, I was definitely ready to go back in the gym.”

  • Former PFL Champion Labels UFC Featherweight The Most Underrated Fighter In The UK

    Former PFL Champion Labels UFC Featherweight The Most Underrated Fighter In The UK

    Former PFL champion and upcoming finalist Brendan Loughnane has been around the UK MMA scene for a long time. The veteran has long been considered one of the most talented fighters in the region and he finally got his breakthrough when he signed with the PFL after fighting all over the world before that.

    During a recent episode of Uncaged by talkSPORT, Loughnane used his knowledge of the wide range of competitors to pick out a fighter that is set to return to the Octagon this weekend as his most underrated fighter from the UK. Wales’ Jack Shore is back in action on Saturday night when he heads to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

    “The Tank” will make his third appearance as a featherweight by taking on Youssef Zalal in a fight that has gone totally under the radar for most fight fans. Shore is looking to bounce back from a controversial loss last time out at UFC 301 where his fight with Joanderson Brito was stopped due to a cut on his shin.

    The 29-year old was 16-0 before being stopped by Ricky Simón in his final fight at 135-pounds and was attracting some hype off of his five fight win streak. Though Loughnane is reserving judgement on whether he can replicate that same level of success in the featherweight division, he believes Shore has all the skills he needs to compete at the highest level.

    “I think he’s the most underrated UK fighter right now, I really do, Jack Shore. I think he’s had a bit of bad luck but I think when he puts it together mate, like I don’t know about this move to featherweight…let’s just see, let’s just make an assumption after this fight but I really rate Jack and his team and I think he flies under the radar.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis Says Opponents Make The Same Mistake Against Khamzat Chimaev That They Make Against Him

    Dricus Du Plessis Says Opponents Make The Same Mistake Against Khamzat Chimaev That They Make Against Him

    Dricus Du Plessis is not backing down from the new big challenge that awaits him in the middleweight division. At UFC 308, Khamzat Chimaev delivered a statement performance to put himself into the title picture.

    The undefeated contender submitted former champion Robert Whittaker in the first round and in many people’s eyes, including Du Plessis’, he’s the most exciting option as the next title challenger.

    This is something that “Stillknocks” welcomes, as he recently made clear in his reaction to the fight in an interview. Even in his ruthless performance against “The Reaper” in Abu Dhabi, there’s a narrative that exists around Chimaev.

    Many believe that based on some of his previous fights, “Borz” is extremely dangerous in the opening round but his aggression and intensive grappling quickly drains his gas tank. In a recent interview with ESPN MMA, Du Plessis was asked whether surviving the early stages of a fight with Chimaev would be his focus for a game plan.

    He made the point that fighters would often say the same thing about him until he proved in his last two title fights that he can maintain a consistent pace in the championship rounds. The South African champion said that approaching Chimaev with this mindset would put him at a disadvantage from the very start.

    “Yeah, I’ll be very careful in that sense. I think a lot of guys made that same mistake. I think Sean Strickland made that mistake with me, maybe even Israel. Saying, ‘Listen, get past round one and two with this guy and he’s going to be tired and that’s where you start gaining,’ but if you have a defensive mindset, you’re going to be on the back foot the whole time, especially with a offensive heavy fighter like Khamzat in the offensive wrestling stage and myself in the offensive everything stage.”   

  • Former UFC Champion Announces Retirement: ‘I Begged The UFC For 1 More’

    Germaine de Randamie has announced her retirement from mixed martial arts, bringing an 11-year stint in the UFC to an end.

    After establishing her name under the Strikeforce banner, a strong start to life inside the Octagon peaked with de Randamie becoming the inaugural UFC women’s featherweight champion in 2017.

    Having beaten Holly Holm to capture the title, “The Iron Lady” didn’t make a defense after turning down a fight with Cris Cyborg owing to the Brazilian’s history of PED usage, a move that resulted in the UFC stripping her of the gold.

    The Dutchwoman returned to 135 pounds in 2018 and reeled off wins over then-future champ Raquel Pennington and Aspen Ladd before a failed title bid opposite Amanda Nunes in December 2019.

    After a win over another future bantamweight queen in Julianna Peña was followed by a hiatus spanning three and a half years, de Randamie was outpointed by Norma Dumont in her comeback fight this past April. Per a recent Instagram post, that result will go down as the last addition to the 40-year-old’s record.

    Despite being booked to face Jacqueline Cavalcanti next January following the cancellation of her scheduled clash against Nora Cornolle in Paris last month, de Randamie has ultimately decided to hang up her gloves after being denied a final farewell fight before the close of this calendar year.

    “Hey guys, with so many mixed feelings I’m sharing this message with you guys,” de Randamie wrote. “I definitely didn’t plan or envision/dream it this way, but hey it is what it is sometimes. I begged the UFC for 1 more fight. But it had to be this year. I promised myself I would retire from fighting December 31, 2024. Unfortunately the UFC told me all cards are fully booked.

    “That’s why I decided that the time is now. I really wished I could have walked the walk one more time. But I guess it was not meant to be. To many people to thank personally so thank you all for being a part of my journey ❤️ Thank you for all the amazing memories. I’m forever grateful for all of them,” de Randamie continued. “Like I always say, ‘DIE WITH MEMORIES, NOT DREAMS’”

    In addition to her 15-fight career inside the cage, de Randamie also enjoyed a successful stint in the kickboxing realm, where she amassed an undefeated record of 46-0.

  • Armen Petrosyan Doesn’t Consider Shara Magomedov’s ‘Lucky Punch’ At UFC 308 A Loss

    Armen Petrosyan Doesn’t Consider Shara Magomedov’s ‘Lucky Punch’ At UFC 308 A Loss

    UFC middleweight Armen Petrosyan believes Shara Magomedov was saved by an early stoppage in their clash this past weekend.

    Petrosyan was on the wrong end of one of the top highlights to come from Saturday’s UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi, where he opened the main card opposite a fellow striking specialist in Magomedov.

    The Armenian was looking to stall the undefeated Dagestani’s rise, and he looked in a good place to do so through a competitive opening round. But in the second, “Superman” fell victim to an innovative spinning backfist.

    After being put down by the blow, Petrosyan quickly found the referee standing over him while “Bullet” vaulted the cage wall to celebrate.

    Though there hasn’t been much discourse surrounding the stoppage, Petrosyan firmly believes it to have been egregious, going as far as to state that Magomedov was “gifted” the win at Etihad Arena.

    “It was a lucky punch,” Petrosyan told Red Corner MMA. “I was conscious, I was still in control. I heard the coaches shouting that it was the end of the round with 30 seconds left, so I kept working. He caught me. I thought he would go for the finish but he apparently didn’t. So I looked up and saw the referee (waving the fight off). I didn’t understand what’s up. … I was speechless.

    “I don’t consider it a loss. He got gifted a W. The win was simply gifted to him, that’s all. … I’ve gotten a billion messages by now (saying the same),” Petrosyan continued. “Shara can say whatever he wants now. … I saw in his eyes that he was lost. He couldn’t complete any of his actions. … He couldn’t do anything. I eliminated all of his moves. … Of course I would like to get an immediate rematch.”

    It appears unlikely that Petrosyan will get his wish for a rematch, with Magomedov’s entry into the middleweight rankings this week seemingly paving the way for a more high-profile matchup for “Bullet” next time out.

    If Magomedov gets his wish, that’ll be against former two-time champion Israel Adesanya. But having not received a positive response to that ambitious callout, the Dagestani may have to settle for “The Last Stylebender’s” friend, Michael “Venom” Page, instead.

  • Ben Askren Not Shocked By Dana White’s Bashing Of Francis Ngannou: ‘When He Can’t Get What He Wants…’ 

    Ben Askren Not Shocked By Dana White’s Bashing Of Francis Ngannou: ‘When He Can’t Get What He Wants…’ 

    Former Bellator and ONE Championship titleholder Ben Askren can relate to Francis Ngannou’s recent back and forth with UFC CEO Dana White.

    The aftermath of Ngannou’s successful return to mixed martial arts and PFL debut earlier this month has largely centered around the disparaging comments made by his ex-employer.

    White has claimed that he didn’t like and even wanted to release Ngannou — who went on to win the title and become one of the greatest heavyweights of all-time — following his loss to Derrick Lewis in 2018.

    The UFC boss has also accused the Cameroonian of being “all about the money” while simultaneously insisting that Ngannou turned down a more lucrative future in the Octagon. That’s in addition to saying he ran from Jon Jones despite “The Predator” calling to fight “Bones” in the same year he defeated Stipe Miocic to capture gold.

    Though White has usual set of backers in the community, many have poked holes in the UFC president’s remarks. That includes someone previously on the receiving end of such a barrage.

    During a recent episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Daniel Cormier, Askren likened Ngannou’s situation to his own when a potential UFC signing back in 2013 fell through.

    From PFL standouts Ngannou and Cris Cyborg to former fighters like himself and Randy Couture, “Funky” noted the multitude of examples when it comes to White berating athletes who go against him.

    “Dana spent years lying, saying I didn’t want to fight the best, I didn’t want challenges, I was running away, and that couldn’t have been further from the truth,” Askren said. “So, it sucked to have this guy – it’s essentially slander, saying things about me that I knew weren’t true. Dana has this part of his personality when he can’t get what he wants, and in that case, he didn’t offer me a contract, so he kind of got what he wanted. But then I think because I was continuing to have success and people were continuing to follow me, he wanted me off in a dark corner where everyone ignored me or something.

    “He’s done the same thing with [Cris] Cyborg, I believe Randy Couture had a similar experience, obviously now Francis. If I thought really hard I could probably think of some other ones. But there’s this weird part of Dana’s personality where, if he doesn’t get exactly what he wants, he just starts crapping on people,” Askren continued. “And because he has a big microphone and because he’s generally very truthful and generally correct, people just believe him. So I had to deal with many years of Dana telling lies about me that were very harmful to me, that he had no reason or basis for doing.”

    In this instance, Ngannou has had plenty of support from the MMA masses. A number of fans and media members have called White out for his recent remarks and accused him of contradictory statements regarding “The Predator.”

    The Cameroonian himself doesn’t appear fazed. In addition to securing the contractual terms he was after away from the UFC, Ngannou has also been able to fulfil his dream of competing against the best competition in boxing.

  • Belal Muhammad Out Of Shavkat Rakhmonov Title Fight At UFC 310

    Belal Muhammad Out Of Shavkat Rakhmonov Title Fight At UFC 310

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad is reportedly out of his scheduled title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310.

    Muhammad completed his ascent to the mountaintop at 170 pounds this past July in Manchester, England, where he upset the odds to get the better of Leon Edwards across five rounds in their rematch.

    Eager to be active and face the toughest tests available to him, “Remember the Name” welcomed the challenge of undefeated phenom Rakhmonov. The promotion obliged, booking the pair to headline the UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas on Dec. 7.

    On Wednesday, however, rumors began to circulate of a possible cancellation. Australian MMA insider @Bendaman2001 — who broke news of Khamzat Chimaev’s withdrawal from the Saudi Arabia UFC Fight Night this past June — was the first to suggest an issue with the UFC 310 headliner.

    A more definitive report later came from longtime MMA media figure Al Zullino, who noted that the UFC is actively searching for a replacement fight to headline the final numbered card of 2024.

    Should this news be confirmed, it’ll mark a setback in Rakhmonov’s title ambitions. The Kazakh fighter earned his opportunity with a 6-0 run since signing with the UFC back in 2020 off the back of championship success in M-1 Global.

    It remains to be seen whether “Nomad” will remain on the UFC 310 card and face another top contender or patiently await a rescheduled clash with Muhammad in 2025.

    This marks the latest blow to the Dec. 7 event, which already lost a crucial strawweight clash between the highly regarded Tatiana Suarez and Virna Jandiroba.

    The lineup does still boast a title fight, though, with flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja set to welcome former Rizin champ Kai Asakura to the UFC in defense of his gold.

  • Derrick Lewis Planning Low-Key Celebration At UFC Edmonton: ‘Really Trying To Clean Up My Act’

    Derrick Lewis Planning Low-Key Celebration At UFC Edmonton: ‘Really Trying To Clean Up My Act’

    UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis is looking to tone down his antics this weekend in the “Great White North.”

    Lewis, a former two-time UFC title challenger, is set for his second assignment of the year at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Edmonton. While he was originally announced to be facing Alexandr Romanov, a switch-up has left him preparing to battle a fellow power puncher in the undefeated Jhonata Diniz.

    “The Black Beast” will enter the cage on Nov. 2 riding confidence from his knockout of Rodrigo Nascimento in St. Louis this past May, after which he delivered yet another memorable celebration.

    But for those who enjoy shortless Lewis, hot balls, and crowd flashes, Lewis had some bad news for you during his appearance at UFC media day on Wednesday…

    “This year, I’ve been trying to spend a lot of time with my kids at school, and they’re in elementary and stuff like that. And so me going to school and the kids ask me about my balls and things like that, it’s just very uncomfortable, man,” Lewis said while laughing. “I want to change up everything. I’m not even taking my shorts off no more.

    “I didn’t think about the other kids, the other kids’ families watching stuff like that, hearing me talk the way I talk, and me doing stuff I’m doing, so I’m just really trying to clean up my act,” Lewis continued. “Be a class act this weekend, very professional.”

    Time will tell if that remains the case in the immediate aftermath of a possible victory on Saturday night, especially if it sees him add yet another devastating knockout to his finishing tally inside the Octagon.

  • Joe Rogan: ‘Scary Motherf*cker’ Khamzat Chimaev Deserves UFC Title Shot

    Joe Rogan: ‘Scary Motherf*cker’ Khamzat Chimaev Deserves UFC Title Shot

    Joe Rogan has voiced his support for Khamzat Chimaev, stating that the top contender deserves the next UFC middleweight title shot.

    Chimaev recently scored a decisive first-round victory over Robert Whittaker in the UFC 308 co-main event, sparking debate among fans about whether he or Sean Strickland should be next in line for the title. While UFC CEO Dana White had previously indicated that Strickland was set to challenge for the belt, Chimaev’s dominant performance has led many fans to speculate that plans might change.

    Changing Plans

    “Once he gets a hold of you, it’s so dangerous,” Rogan said during his Fight Companion podcast. “He gets a title shot. Not just that (how he beat Whittaker in the first round), but he ran through him. He didn’t get touched. He ran through him and strangled him in the first round. He might be the guy. Think about this at 185: So this guy was killing himself to get to 170. At 185, he’s the fcking man. That guy’s a scary-ass motherfcker – scary. That grappling is next level.”

    Strickland, meanwhile, bounced back with a win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June after losing the title to Du Plessis by split decision at UFC 297.

  • Michael ‘Venom’ Page Offers To Fight Shara Magomedov: ‘Leave My Boy Izzy Alone!’

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Offers To Fight Shara Magomedov: ‘Leave My Boy Izzy Alone!’

    UFC welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page is willing to move up in weight for a striking battle with Shara Magomedov.

    Magomedov was among the biggest winners to emerge from this past weekend’s UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi, where he opened the main card against a fellow striking specialist in Armen Petrosyan.

    After a competitive first round, “Bullet” produced an incredible highlight in the second, unloading a spinning double backfist to drop his Armenian counterpart for the knockout win.

    The result moved Magomedov to 4-0 in the UFC, marked his third win since June, and paved the way for entry into the middleweight rankings at #14.

    In the aftermath, the Dagestani made his plans to keep climbing the ladder clear with an ambitious callout of former two-time champion Israel Adesanya. Having not received a positive response, though, he may need to search elsewhere for his next challenge.

    He might not have to look far, however.

    One notable name has thrown their name into the hat, with longtime 170-pounder “MVP” offering to share the cage with Magomedov up at 185 pounds.

    “Magomedov — he just fought, did the double spinning back [fist] knockout and then he called out my boy Izzy,” Page told MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck. “Mate, I’m at that weight right now. You don’t even have to wait too long. That one there, I’ll just take straight away just for the fun of it.

    “I’m in shape now, ready to go. So that’s a good fight for me, I think. Just a nice stand up fight for everybody, just to come back to the game,” Page continued. “And like I said, leave my boy Izzy alone. He’s trying to get back to the belt, to the throne, so I’ll take his place.”

    Page has gone 1-1 in his debut year competing under the UFC banner. Following his Bellator departure, the Brit got off to a strong start inside the Octagon by outpointing Kevin Holland at UFC 299 in Miami this past March.

    But his charge toward title contention was narrowly stalled by Ian Garry when they met at UFC 303 during June’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

    While “Venom” is currently without an opponent for his UFC return, he is keeping busy with a grappling match opposite former interim UFC champion Carlos Condit at Polaris 30 in London this weekend.

  • UFC Vet Chimes In On Pereira vs. Topuria Fighter Of The Year Debate: ‘Alex Didn’t Knock Out P4P Greats’

    UFC Vet Chimes In On Pereira vs. Topuria Fighter Of The Year Debate: ‘Alex Didn’t Knock Out P4P Greats’

    Matt Brown believes that Ilia Topuria has the edge over Alex Pereira in the discussion for UFC Fighter of the Year.

    “El Matador” secured the featherweight title by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February. Subsequently, Topuria successfully retained his belt last Saturday in the main event of UFC 308, making history as the first fighter to knock out Max Holloway.

    Meanwhile, “Poatan” successfully defended his light heavyweight title three times in just six months, with all victories coming by way of knockout. He began this impressive streak by stopping Jamahal Hill in the first round at UFC 300 in April. He then defeated Jiri Prochazka on two weeks’ notice at UFC 303 in June. Most recently, Pereira stopped Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 earlier this month.

    With less than two full months remaining in 2024, Pereira stood out as the leading contender for Fighter of the Year. However, “The Immortal” contends that Topuria’s impressive knockout victories over two of the top 145-pounders in history had already secured him the year-end accolade, placing him ahead of the Brazilian and all other contenders.

    During a recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer (via MMA Fighting), Brown noted that while “El Matador” might have one fewer win than Pereira this year, the caliber of his opponents in title fights has set a new benchmark for competitive excellence.

    “Alex didn’t knock out three pound-for-pound greats. Ilia knocked out two pound-for-pound greats,” Brown said. “As great as those guys were that Alex fought, they weren’t Holloway or Volkanovski… I don’t think you can compare to that. I’m all on the Ilia train for Fighter of the Year. Again, I wish we could give something to Alex. What he did was remarkable but it wasn’t Max Holloway and Volkanovski.”

    “I think he’s got a lock for Fighter of the Year this year. He’s got a long reign ahead of him. He’s still got a long way to go to be up there with the [Georges St-Pierre’s] and Anderson Silva’s, but he’s right on that path.”

  • Top-5 UFC Contender Battling Mystery Illness Preventing Octagon Return: ‘Over 15 Different Doctors…’ 

    UFC women’s flyweight contender Maycee Barber has revealed the battle she’s been enduring away from the Octagon.

    When it comes to activity inside the cage, Barber has endured nothing but triumphs for the past three years. Since defeats to Roxanne Modafferi and Alexa Grasso stalled her rise, “The Future” has won six straight fights.

    Most recently, Barber followed a a memorable, Performance of the Night-winning display opposite Amanda Ribas last year by getting the better of former title challenger Katlyn Cerminara at UFC 299 in Miami this past March.

    But while that result thrust the 26-year-old into the top five at 125 pounds and left her calling for a title shot, she’s since been struck down by factors away from the fight game.

    Barber first experienced a mystery infection days on from her UFC 299 victory. After being hospitalized, the illness resulted in a bout of pneumonia. Having overcome that scare, she was booked to headline the UFC Fight Night in Denver against Rose Namajunas in July.

    Ongoing health issues saw the Colorado native withdraw, however, and she’s now lifted the lid on her continuing struggle to return to fitness and get past the issue, which Barber says 15 doctors have been unable to diagnose.

    “A bit of transparency. The last several months have been some of the most mentally challenging, frustrating, and discouraging times that I have experienced,” Barber wrote on Instagram. “I have worked with over 15 different drs and medical professionals searching for answers and a path back to not just fighting but the gym itself. I’ve been staying patient, praying daily and trusting in the fact that God has a plan and a purpose for everything in life. But to be honest it’s hard and it hasn’t gotten easier.

    “I’ve had so many ups and downs and been told so many different things about what could be going on. So many emotions going into each day and many days where I’m mentally exhausted and just want to sleep,” Barber continued. “I never thought that I would be in a position where I feel so close to the belt while feeling so far away at the same time. I definitely didn’t see the path to being a Champion looking like this but nonetheless I will continue to push forward and I WILL BE THE FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION. It’s on God’s time not mine. 🤍”

    When the #4-ranked contender does recover and make her return to the Octagon, the flyweight division will have significantly shifted.

    Valentina Shevchenko returned to the throne by avenging her past defeat to Grasso at UFC 306 last month, and “Bullet” is expected to face the challenge of France’s Manon Fiorot next year.

    Beyond that, Namajunas seemingly has the chance to book her first shot at two-division glory should she get the better of Erin Blanchfield in Edmonton this weekend for her third victory of the year.

  • Top Middleweight Contender Thinks He Has An Advantage Over Khamzat Chimaev Due To Previous Training Experience

    Top Middleweight Contender Thinks He Has An Advantage Over Khamzat Chimaev Due To Previous Training Experience

    Khamzat Chimaev presents a challenge to his fellow middleweight contenders that is unlike anything else they have faced in the division. We saw at UFC 294 last year that Kamaru Usman was able to make the fight competitive after weathering the early storm.

    The problem is that surviving the opening round against the aggressive grappling of the undefeated mauler is far easier than done. UFC 308 this past weekend was the best example of this to date.

    Despite all of his high level experience, former champion Robert Whittaker was unable to stop Chimaev from taking him down early on and submitting him, causing significant damage to his jaw in the process. The difficulty in preparing for someone like “Borz” is that not many people can match his skillset so fighting him comes with an element of battling the unexpected.

    This isn’t a concern for the #6-ranked contender at 185-pounds, Brazil’s Caio Borralho. Borralho previously spent some time in Sweden training with Chimaev for his bout against Nate Diaz that was scheduled for UFC 279 in 2022 but ended up with him facing Kevin Holland instead.

    Borralho isn’t trying to pursue a fight with his former training partner for this exact reason but he’s not opposed to squaring off with him in the future if it means that one of them leaves with the middleweight belt. In a recent interview with Submission Radio, he said that his previous experience training with Chimaev only helps him as both men continue to climb up the ranks.

    He believes that he has somewhat of a head start on figuring out how to beat him compared to the other top names in the division.

    “Yes, definitely. This is something that I’m ahead of all the fighters in because I know what to expect, I know what’s coming, I know how Khamzat works on his wrestling, his wall work and all this. I was with him for like one month so I was dealing with this every day, you know, so definitely I’m ahead of all the guys in the division about it.”

  • Carla Esparza Holds Firm On Retirement Despite Controversial UFC 307 Decision: ‘I’m Good With How I Left Things’

    Carla Esparza Holds Firm On Retirement Despite Controversial UFC 307 Decision: ‘I’m Good With How I Left Things’

    Former two-time strawweight champion Carla Esparza announced ahead of time that UFC 307 would be the final outing of her career. After losing the title to Weili Zhang at UFC 281 in November of 2022, she took a long break from her career in order to give birth to her first child.

    At the start of the month, she returned for one last dance, coming up against Tecia Pennington in Salt Lake City. Many felt that she deserved to get her hand raised following the final bell but this isn’t how the judges saw it.

    The fight was scored as a split decision in Pennington’s favor after judges Stephen Faragher and Dan Furse overruled Sal D’Amato. Faragher gave Esparza the opening round whilst Furse saw all three rounds for Pennington and the fans in Utah certainly let their thoughts on the scorecards be heard.

    Esparza obviously wouldn’t wanted to go out with a win but the controversial nature of her final bout hasn’t changed her decision to walk away at this stage. Regardless of the result, the former champion was still treated to a retirement video package from the UFC that capped off an emotional send off for her.

    In an interview with MMA Fighting looking back on how things ended, she said that though she didn’t quite get the storybook ending, it’s not something that’s going to keep her up at night.

    “It’s just hard. Even if I won in the first round via finish or lost a controversial decision, it’s hard to not want to go back no matter what the outcome was. I love fighting but that’s the last one for me regardless. I’m just glad I went out on a good note. It would have been much sweeter to go out with my hand raised but I’d say I’m good with how I left things.”

  • Rose Namajunas Doesn’t Believe She Deserves The Next Title Shot With Blanchfield Win

    Rose Namajunas Doesn’t Believe She Deserves The Next Title Shot With Blanchfield Win

    Rose Namajunas looks to make it three in a row this weekend when she returns in the co-main event of the UFC’s visit to Edmonton. The #5-ranked contender will take on one of the flyweight division’s most exciting talents in Erin Blanchfield who holds the #3-spot.

    With Blanchfield looking to rebound from the first loss of her UFC career last time out and Namajunas coming off of wins over Amanda Ribas and Tracy Cortez, there are big stakes here but not for anything that “Thug” Rose believes will happen in the near future.

    On her flyweight debut in September last year, the former two-time strawweight champion was beaten by Manon Fiorot who then went on to dominate Blanchfield this past March. Despite her seven-fight win streak against some of the top names in the division, the French fighter is still yet to receive her title shot.

    That’s due to the trilogy of fights between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko that recently wrapped up at UFC 306 where Shevchenko regained the top spot. In a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Namajunas said that even if she beats Blanchfield in impressive fashion this Saturday, she feels it would be wrong for her to get a shot at the belt before Fiorot.

    “I would still feel even with a good performance, well we could cross that bridge when get to it, but I feel like I’d still feel bad for some reason if I jumped her but you know, that’s just kind of, I don’t know. I am a person of integrity so I do feel like she deserves to be next in line. She’s been kind of waiting and although I do know that like I don’t know where her head is at, if she’s like saying no to offers than that’s not a thing to do either. Like if the UFC wants her to fight again then she should do that but ultimately, the UFC is kind of the judge of that and it’s up to me to have a really good performance as well to make that case.”   

  • Caio Borralho Calls For Whittaker In Sydney Or Backup Role For Next Title Fight   

    Caio Borralho Calls For Whittaker In Sydney Or Backup Role For Next Title Fight   

    As the #6-ranked contender in the middleweight division, there aren’t many fights that make sense for the surging Caio Borralho right now. The Brazilian called out a former champion following his win over Jared Cannonier but doesn’t look to have gotten anywhere with it just yet.

    With UFC 312 being announced for Sydney, Australia in February, his proposed fight against Israel Adesanya would make a lot of sense. It now looks like Alexander Volkanovski won’t be on the card so getting some big names from this region in meaningful fights is sure to be high on the UFC’s list of priorities.

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Borralho said that fighting Robert Whittaker on this card could be an option if the former champion has healed in time from his injuries that he suffered this past weekend at UFC 308.

    “I definitely think it’s a great fight, I’m a big fan of Rob, a big fan of what he has done in this sport. I think he’s a great guy, a nice guy, but definitely it’s a fight that I want if Adesanya doesn’t want to face me in the next fight, I think Robert Whittaker is the one that I want.”

    In the mean time, Borralho is happy to wait for the right fight and revealed that he’s already put his name into the mix to be the backup fighter for the next middleweight title fight. He believes that Sean Strickland will be next to challenge the champion, Dricus Du Plessis.

    That leaves Khamzat Chimaev who he’s trained with in the past so isn’t actively pursuing a fight with unless it means securing UFC gold. As a result, Borralho is open to the idea of staying ready in case the UFC needs someone to step in.

    “In fact, I told that to the UFC, I told that to Hunter, to Mick Maynard, that I can be the backup fighter. If they want me to be, I can be the backup fighter. I’m going to make weight and gonna wait. If something happens, I’ll be ready, I’ll be more than ready.”   

  • Sean O’Malley’s Coach Analyzes How He Would Fare Against Ilia Topuria

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Analyzes How He Would Fare Against Ilia Topuria

    UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is the man of the moment right now following his knockout win over Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 308. In the past, there was a lot of people calling out “El Matador” but this has gone quiet following this recent performance.

    The new UFC star has now beaten two great former champions in back-to-back fights, finishing both Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. It wasn’t that long ago that the champion of the weight class below was eyeing up a fight with him.

    Before Sean O’Malley lost his bantamweight belt to Merab Dvalishvili, who certainly isn’t going to fight Topuria, “Suga” had teased the idea of moving up in weight. Topuria appeared to welcome it but after what he did in Abu Dhabi at the weekend, O’Malley jokingly remarked that he’s no longer interested.

    Despite this, O’Malley’s long time coach Tim Welch believes that the 135-pounder could cause Topuria some issues due to the strengths be brings to the table. Many are looking at the featherweight champion and his undefeated record as an unbeatable fighter in this current form.

    Welch explained in a recent interview with Submission Radio why this is never the case and how O’Malley would be able to have success against him.

    “No, I don’t think it’s past. I mean, you never know what’s going to happen in the UFC. It’s not impossible that Volkanovski goes out there and beats Ilia Topuria. I mean, that’s possible so you never know and I do think stylistically, Sean could give Ilia problems. He really could but Ilia Topuria is a very, very scary fight.

    “That’s not a fight that you go in there and be like, ‘Oh yeah man we’re gonna…’, it’s like you make one mistake with Ilia Topuria and you’re going to be lights out, looking up at the ceiling or whatever but that’s a scary, scary fight. But I do believe that Sean, with his range and with his speed and with his, with his I mean, just his, his overall skill set, he could give Ilia problems. I do believe that.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis Picks His Preference Between Strickland Rematch Or Chimaev

    Dricus Du Plessis Picks His Preference Between Strickland Rematch Or Chimaev

    Since his submission win over Israel Adesanya in August, it’s looked like Dricus Du Plessis’ next defense of his middleweight title would be against a former foe. Sean Strickland has stuck to his guns that he’s the next in line for the title despite the actions of other contenders.

    The former champion was beaten by Du Plessis in January where he lost the belt via a split decision, rebounding with a win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302. Strickland getting his rematch looked like it was on the cards for early next year until the aftermath of UFC 308 this past weekend.

    In the co-main event, Khamzat Chimaev submitted former champion Robert Whittaker in the first round to maintain his undefeated record and earn his biggest win to date. As a result, “Borz” has shot up the middleweight rankings, climbing ten places. When you look back at both men’s performances, it’s clear to see who the fans are more excited in seeing challenge Du Plessis next time out.

    During a recent interview with Radioraps, the 185-pound king gave his thoughts on the current situation, stating which fight interests him more at this moment in time. Considering that he’s beaten Strickland before and Chimaev is one of the most talked about fighters in the world right now, his decision was an easy one.

    “I think we always knew that between Rob and Khamzat, if there was going to be something exceptional that happens, there might be a change in the title fight. We have no clarity on that but as a fan of the sport and as the middleweight champion of the world, that’s a fight that gets me more excited. You know, taking somebody’s 0.

    “I’ve beaten Strickland before and I know I’ll beat him again so now getting that Khamzat fight, that gets me excited. I think the whole world, the fans want to see it. The fans ultimately pay to watch the fights so the fight the world thinks is the best next fight, that’s what I want. So yeah, I think the Khamzat fight is 100% what I want, the UFC is going to do what they’re going to do.”  

  • Daniel Cormier: McGregor Had ‘Great Power’ At 145, But Not The ‘Skills’ Of Topuria

    Daniel Cormier: McGregor Had ‘Great Power’ At 145, But Not The ‘Skills’ Of Topuria

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier is full of praise for featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria following this weekend’s pay-per-view event.

    Topuria cemented his grip on the crown at 145 pounds on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, where he headlined UFC 308 opposite fan-favorite legend Max Holloway eight months on from his knockout of Alexander Volkanovski.

    Despite being faced with a previously indestructible chin, “El Matador” vowed to put Holloway down for the first time. And against the predictions of many, the 27-year-old did just that after connecting with a vicious left hook in round three.

    With the result, Topuria has added a successful defense to his reign, remained undefeated in MMA, and staked a strong claim for 2024’s Fighter of the Year accolade.

    Among those running out of superlatives for the Spaniard is Cormier, who analyzed where the champ sits among the all-time featherweight greats during a video uploaded to his YouTube channel.

    Plenty of comparisons have been made between Topuria and Conor McGregor in recent times, and the Irishman has even dismissed the reigning titleholder’s talents compared to his featherweight iteration.

    “DC,” however, sees parts of “El Matador’s” game that go above and beyond McGregor’s.

    “I don’t know if we have ever seen a guy at 145 that punches like this dude. He hits like no one I’ve ever seen before,” Cormier said. “Conor McGregor had great power at 145, but Conor McGregor I don’t think had the skills that Ilia Topuria has in terms of his pure boxing, without going and fighting a pure boxing match.

    “I was talking to some of the people in the back and they told me, ‘He’s like GGG (Gennadiy Golovkin),’ and I agree. Remember GGG just used to starch dudes early in his career? Topuria’s like that. Topuria is that guy,” Cormier continued. “He has that power to knock you out and just do it in absolutely devastating fashion. You try to find the words to describe him, but it’s proving very, very difficult. I never thought that anybody would be able to knock out Max Holloway.”

    While getting McGregor back to the cage to fight Michael Chandler proved too much of a challenge in recent years, talk of him doing battle with Topuria has suddenly gained strength in the aftermath of UFC 308.

    Volkanovski will evidently have something to say about that, however, having been confirmed as next in line for Topuria by UFC CEO Dana White following the Abu Dhabi-held PPV.

  • Mauricio Ruffy Gets New Opponent For UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic Prelim

    Mauricio Ruffy Gets New Opponent For UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic Prelim

    Highly touted lightweight prospect Mauricio Ruffy has a new foe to prepare for weeks out from the UFC 309 pay-per-view in New York City.

    After earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series last year, Ruffy announced himself as one of the most promising up-and-comers at 155 pounds when he debuted in style this past May.

    At UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, “One Shot” unloaded his arsenal on Jamie Mullarkey before utilizing a flying knee to set up a first-round knockout. The result left the Fighting Nerds standout riding a streak of five consecutive finishes with strikes.

    Ruffy will look to keep his ball rolling at next month’s UFC 309 event, but not at the expense of the man he was originally lined up to face.

    The Brazilian was added to the card in a matchup against Charlie Campbell, who has won both of his UFC fights to date. The American, however, was forced to withdraw, marking the latest issue in booking Ruffy’s return. He’d previously had plans for outings at UFC 303 and UFC 307 fall through.

    Thankfully, the promotion has been able to secure a replacement opponent for the 28-year-old.

    Mauricio Ruffy
    UFC 309’s Mauricio Ruffy (Image: Alexandre Loureiro/UFC/Zuffa LLC)

    Following the collapse of the Campbell matchup, Ruffy is now set to share the cage with James Llontop at UFC 309. The short-notice lightweight bout was first reported by Te La Canté MMA and later confirmed by Eurosport Nederland’s Marcel Dorff.

    Peru’s Llontop has lost both of his UFC fights since a victory on DWCS in 2023, most recently falling on the wrong side of a split decision verdict opposite Viacheslav Borshchev in August.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 309 on Nov. 16 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
    • Middleweight: Eryk Anders vs. Chris Weidman

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Mauricio Ruffy vs. James llontop
    • Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov vs. Azamat Murzakanov
    • Bantamweight: Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee
    • Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. Damon Jackson

    Early Preliminary Card: 

    • Welterweight: Mickey Gall vs. Ramiz Brahimaj
    • Welterweight: Bassil Hafez vs. Oban Elliott
    • Women’s Flyweight: Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura
  • Aleksandar Rakić On UFC 308 Loss To Ankalaev: ‘The Decision Could Go Either Way’

    Aleksandar Rakić On UFC 308 Loss To Ankalaev: ‘The Decision Could Go Either Way’

    UFC light heavyweight contender Aleksandar Rakić evidently believes he was unlucky not to leave the United Arab Emirates with a win added to his record this past weekend.

    Rakić slumped to 0-2 in 2024 at Saturday’s UFC 308 pay-per-view. He met the division’s top-ranked contender, Magomed Ankalaev, on the main card inside Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena.

    The bout went the distance, with the Dagestani securing three 29-28 scorecards to extend his unbeaten run to 13 straight fights and once again stake his claim for a long-desired shot at Alex Pereira.

    In terms of the result, most appeared to share the same view as the judges. On MMA Decisions, all 14 media members who submitted scorecards had Ankalaev winning, with half giving him all three rounds. Just over 85 percent of fan scorecards, meanwhile, also went the way of the Russian.

    The defeated Rakić, however, seemingly saw it as a fifty-fifty fight…

    “I‘m proud of the support my country my dear people !! Last night I had a competitive fight against the No.1 ranked guy in the world I am proud of my achievement; the decision could go either way,” Rakić wrote on Instagram. “Thanks to my family, friends & team !!!
    I‘ll rest couple days and get back to work 🚀 | #UFC308 🇦🇪”

    The contest marked Rakić’s second since recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in an Apex main event opposite Jan Błachowicz back in May 2022. He made his return this past April at UFC 300, where his strong start against Jiří Procházka was rendered null when he faded and was finished in round two.

    Having fallen short against two names above him in the pecking order this year to send him on a three-fight losing skid, “Rocket” will likely be tasked with defending his #5 spot on the ladder next time out.