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Category: UFC

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

  • Max Holloway Addresses His Future After Suffering First Knockout At UFC 308

    Max Holloway Addresses His Future After Suffering First Knockout At UFC 308

    Though he had a strong performance against Ilia Topuria, Max Holloway’s efforts were not enough. He was knocked out for the first time in his professional career as Ilia Topuria retained the featherweight championship in the main event of UFC 308.

    Holloway appeared to be performing well, getting into his groove late in the first round and trying to keep distance to land counterstrikes and combinations. But the former champ was caught in the third round, eating a flurry and being dropped by a right hand.

    “It is what it is, I felt good,” Holloway said during his UFC 308 post-fight press conference. “Showing off my hands, I was landing, I was being fast, I think I had him surprised in there. Like I said, I was doing good until I wasn’t.

    “Game of inches. He landed something that I found myself looking up from the ground.”

    Max Holloway Mulling Over Potential Full-Time Move To Lightweight After UFC 308 Setback

    Holloway originally became undisputed featherweight champion with a TKO of José Aldo at UFC 212. He retained the title against the Brazilian legend, Brian Ortega, and Frankie Edgar before losing to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 245.

    Since then, Holloway has rematched Volkanovski for the title twice, losing both times. UFC 308 marked the third time “Blessed” has unsuccessfully attempted to win back the 145-pound UFC gold. However, those are his only losses at the weight class since becoming the champion.

    So what could be next for Holloway? He isn’t ruling out, and is even thinking hard about, a potential move up in weight class given the potential fights that could happen there. But the Hawaiian said he’s not looking to fight again until the middle of 2025, and so there is time to think things over in full.

    “We’ll sit down with the team, relax, there’s nothing needed to be rushing back right now,” Holloway said. “[I’ll] probably try to come back summer, big July card in Vegas, do something, see what happens. [Lightweight] looks really good right now.

    “I had a couple of times to reclaim [the featherweight title], new guys coming up, that would be fun, but I think ’55 looks more fun…”

    Holloway earned the title shot against Topuria through his famed knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 earlier this year, which gave him the BMF belt.

    “Blessed” fought at lightweight in the UFC just once prior to that, losing an interim title fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 236.

  • Robert Whittaker Issues First Statement On Brutal Submission Loss To Khamzat Chimaev

    Robert Whittaker Issues First Statement On Brutal Submission Loss To Khamzat Chimaev

    UFC 308 proved to be a night to forget for Robert Whittaker, as he lost to Khamzat Chimaev in the evening’s co-main event and suffered a gruesome injury in the process.

    Chimaev was easily able to take Whittaker down and maintained complete control, never letting the former champion get out of his grasp for most of the fight. “Borz” landed a devastating elbow on Whittaker before locking in a face crank, which saw the Australian tap almost immediately.

    During the UFC 308 commentary team’s wrap-up at the end of the pay-per-view, Daniel Cormier displayed a graphic image of the hold’s aftermath, showing Whittaker’s front teeth damaged and sparking fears of a jaw fracture.

    Whittaker took to social media early on Oct. 27 to release a statement following the loss.

    Robert Whittaker Says His Jaw ‘Is Good’ Following UFC 308 Loss To Khamzat Chimaev

    https://twitter.com/acdmma_/status/1850479744732594223

    With the win, Chimaev improved to 14-0 in his career, including an 8-0 Octagon record. It was his first win since his triumph over Kamaru Usman one year ago.

    Whittaker and Chimaev were originally supposed to fight in June before the latter withdrew due to illness. “The Reaper” defeated short-notice replacement Ikram Aliskerov on that card in Saudi Arabia.

    Chimaev became just the third person to defeat Whittaker at 185 pounds since the former champ moved up to middleweight about a decade ago. The other two are names that have also gone on to win the UFC middleweight belt — former two-time champ Israel Adesanya and current kingpin Dricus Du Plessis.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Warns Khamzat Chimaev After UFC 308

    Dricus Du Plessis Warns Khamzat Chimaev After UFC 308

    Khamzat Chimaev scored a major victory on Saturday night at UFC 308, submitting Robert Whittaker in the first round of their co-main event fight. Dricus Du Plessis, watching alongside fans worldwide, is eager for a chance to end Chimaev’s undefeated streak.

    Following the fight, Chimaev clarified that he wants a title shot next. If the promotion decides to schedule a rematch between Du Plessis and Sean Strickland, he would likely need to wait for that to happen.

    UFC CEO Dana White discussed potential matchups post-fight, leaving all options open. Meanwhile, Du Plessis took to social media to call his shot, expressing both respect for Whittaker and his desire to put the first loss on Chimaev’s record.

    “Feel really sorry for Rob; he looked super ready, but this is the fight game. Well done on a good performance, Khamzat. That being said, I can’t wait to take your 0,” Du Plessis tweeted.

    With this win, Chimaev made a strong statement and solidified his position as a top midweight title contender.

  • Ilia Topuria Declares Himself The New ‘BMF’ Champ After Max Holloway Win

    Ilia Topuria Declares Himself The New ‘BMF’ Champ After Max Holloway Win

    Ilia Topuria made a powerful statement on Saturday night, becoming the first fighter in history to finish Max Holloway as he defeated the future Hall of Famer in the main event of UFC 308.

    Holloway came into the fight with momentum, fresh off a knockout victory over Justin Gaethje that earned him the BMF (Baddest Motherf*cker) title. However, there’s now a new, unofficial champion in town.

    Unofficial Champion Crowned

    Although the BMF belt wasn’t officially up for grabs, that hasn’t stopped Topuria from claiming the title for himself.

    “I never understood why they didn’t put the BMF title on the line,” Topuria told reporters at the UFC 308 post-fight press conference. “It should have been on the line from day one. But if they don’t want to make it official, I’ll make it official myself. Now, I’m the new ‘Baddest Motherf*cker’ world champion.”

    With this victory, Topuria extended his undefeated streak to 16-0. He previously became the featherweight king in February at UFC 298 with a knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski.

  • PHOTO: Robert Whittaker Shows Gruesome Injury From Khamzat Chimaev Face Crank At UFC 308 (GRAPHIC)

    PHOTO: Robert Whittaker Shows Gruesome Injury From Khamzat Chimaev Face Crank At UFC 308 (GRAPHIC)

    The MMA world was taken aback with how easily Khamzat Chimaev defeated Robert Whittaker in the co-main event of UFC 308, namely pointing to how quick the former champion tapped as Chimaev was locking in a face crank.

    The commentary team suggested that the Australian may have suffered a dislocated jaw — and the results from the crank ended up being as damaging as some have feared.

    During the commentary team’s wrap-up segment, Cormier showed a picture on his phone that showed Whittaker’s front teeth crushed. He also confirmed that Whittaker’s jaw was indeed fractured by Chimaev’s submission hold.

    https://twitter.com/jaypettry/status/1850283116423962941

    Robert Whittaker’s Teeth Crushed, Jaw Fractured As A Result Of Khamzat Chimaev’s Face Crank

    Chimaev was easily able to take down his opponent mere seconds into their fight, having complete control in the exchanges on the ground and dominant grappling position up to the submission.

    “Borz” improved to 14-0 after a year-long layoff, with an 8-0 UFC record since his promotional debut in 2020. His fight with the Aussie was originally supposed to take place at the inaugural UFC card in Saudi Arabia this past June before Chimaev fell violently ill.

    The Chechen-born UAE resident also became just the third man to defeat (and finish) Whittaker since “The Reaper” moved up to 185 pounds about a decade ago. The only two other men to accomplish that is current UFC Middleweight hampion Dricus Du Plessis and former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya.

    Chimaev’s performance gives speculation as to if he will now be next to challenge “Stillknocks.”

  • ‘Scariest 145er Of All Time’ – Fans, Fighters React As Ilia Topuria Becomes First To KO Max Holloway At UFC 308

    ‘Scariest 145er Of All Time’ – Fans, Fighters React As Ilia Topuria Becomes First To KO Max Holloway At UFC 308

    Ilia Topuria may have picked up more believers and fans with his successful title defense against Max Holloway in a wild fight that saw the champion become the first man in MMA history to knock out “Blessed.”

    After Holloway refused his offer to throw down in the center of the Octagon right away, Topuria managed to be patient and connected on several key combinations that busted up the former champ’s nose.

    “El Matador” also scored a pair of takedowns on Holloway in the first five minutes and landed a number of leg kicks. “Blessed,” however, brought out his usual volume and found his groove late in the round, forming a mousse around one of Topuria’s eyes — in addition to leg kicks of his own.

    The Spaniard continued to bring his power punching in the second round, looking to get inside, while Holloway looked to keep his distance and catch the reigning titleholder coming in.

    Topuria, however, brought things to an end in the third round with a cracking right hand that rocked Holloway. While the 32-year-old legend got away from the first flurry, he was dropped by a left hook in the second round before some ground-and-pounded finished the fight.

    Ilia Topuria Scores Third-Round KO Of Max Holloway To Cap Off UFC 308

    Topuria was 8-0 in the UFC and 15-0 in MMA entering tonight’s bout. This was his first fight as UFC featherweight champion after knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February.

    Holloway, meanwhile, became interim UFC featherweight champion at UFC 206 with a win over Anthony Pettis before defeating José Aldo at UFC 212 to become undisputed champion. He defended the title successfully against Aldo, Brian Ortega, and Frankie Edgar. “Blessed” lost the title at UFC 245 to Alexander Volkanovski, with the Australian being the only one at 145 pounds to defeat Holloway since his five-year unbeaten streak between 2014 and 2019.

    The Hawaiian had won his last three fights and five of his last six, including his last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 earlier this year to win the BMF title.

  • UFC 308 Results & Highlights: Ilia Topuria KOs Max Holloway

    UFC 308 Results & Highlights: Ilia Topuria KOs Max Holloway

    UFC 308 took place tonight from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, Ilia Topuria put his featherweight title on the line against former champ Max Holloway. While in the co-main event, Robert Whittaker took on Khamzat Chimaev in a middleweight matchup. 

    UFC 308 Results: Main Card:

    • Featherweight Championship Main Event: Ilia Topuria def. Max Holloway via KO: R3, 1.34 
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Khamzat Chimaev def. Robert Whittaker via submission: R1, 3.34  
    • Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev def. Aleksandar Rakić via unanimous decision (29-28×3) 
    • Featherweight: Lerone Murphy def. Dan Ige via unanimous decision (29-28×3) 
    • Middleweight: Sharabutdin Magomedov def. Armen Petrosyan via KO: R2, 4.52  

    Preliminary Card:  

    • Light Heavyweight: Ibo Aslan def. Raffael Cerqueira via TKO (punches): R1, 0:51
    • Welterweight: Geoff Neal def. Rafael dos Anjos via TKO (injury): R1, 1:30
    • Catchweight (160lbs): Mateusz Rębecki def. Myktybek Orolbai via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
    • Middleweight: Abus Magomedov def. Brunno Ferreira via submission (arm-triangle choke): R3, 3:14
    • Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Chris Barnett via TKO (punches): R1, 4:27
    • Featherweight: Farid Basharat def. Victor Hugo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Middleweight: Ismail Naurdiev def. Bruno Silva via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Welterweight: Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Carlos Leal via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

    Main Card Highlights

    Sharabutdin Magomedov def. Armen Petrosyan

    Sharabutdin Magomedov continued his rise through the UFC middleweight ranks with a KO of Armen Petrosyan in the second round.

    Lerone Murphy def. Dan Ige

    In this featherweight bout, Lerone Murphy got it done on the scorecards against Dan Ige.

    Magomed Ankalaev def. Aleksandar Rakić

    Magomed Ankalaev earned a unanimous decision win against Aleksandar Rakić in their light heavyweight bout.

    Khamzat Chimaev def. Robert Whittaker

    In the co-main event, Khamzat Chimaev got it done in the first round with a submission of Robert Whittaker.

    Preliminary Card Highlights  

    Rinat Fakhretdinov Def. Carlos Leal

    Kennedy Nzechukwu Def. Chris Barnett

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1850205142257152384

    Abus Magomedov Def. Brunno Ferreira

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1850213432378712424

    Mateusz Rębecki Def. Myktybek Orolbai

    Geoff Neal Def. Rafael dos Anjos

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1850225049556451709

    Ibo Aslan Def. Raffael Cerqueira

    Ilia Topuria def. Max Holloway

    In the main event, Ilia Topuria retained his featherweight belt with a KO of Max Holloway in round three.

  • ‘Du Plessis Losing That Belt’ – Fans React As Khamzat Chimaev Crushes Robert Whittaker In 1 Round At UFC 308

    ‘Du Plessis Losing That Belt’ – Fans React As Khamzat Chimaev Crushes Robert Whittaker In 1 Round At UFC 308

    UFC 308 presented the biggest test of Khamzat Chimaev’s career to date, and he passed it with flying colors.

    The undefeated contender shot for a takedown early against former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and got it, looking for the rear-naked choke throughout the first round.

    Despite Whittaker’s experience showing in his composure, once Chimaev was able to apply some real pressure in the choke attempt, “The Reaper” quickly tapped.

    The commentators said that it appeared Whittaker communicated to his team that he dislocated his jaw, It appeared clear that there was some kind of injury after how quick the tap came when the face crank was applied.

    Chimaev seconded this in in his post-fight interview, saying he felt something click before calling for a shot at Dricus Du Plessis’ middleweight belt.

    We still don’t know how “Borz” will fair against elite competition later on into the fight, but when he can finish opponents like Whittaker that quickly, we may never need to find out.

    Fans reacted to this absolutely ruthless performance from Chimaev, which reminded them why there was so much hype around him in the first place.

    https://twitter.com/sgtt101/status/1850270032431083825
    https://twitter.com/Yasinator5000M/status/1850269858560352589
  • ‘Ain’t Beating Pereira’ – Fans React As Magomed Ankalaev Outpoints Aleksandar Rakić At UFC 308

    ‘Ain’t Beating Pereira’ – Fans React As Magomed Ankalaev Outpoints Aleksandar Rakić At UFC 308

    Is Magomed Ankalaev next in line to face Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title? That’s what the question is following his victory over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308.

    The first round saw plenty of leg kick trading, with Rakić using his attacks to pile on damage to Ankalaev’s lower body. The Russian, however, slowly found success with the left hand, and that extended into the second round. In another close round, Ankalaev’s left hand proved to be a powerful weapon, with “Rocket” seemingly troubled by its attack toward his body.

    Ankalaev continued to find success, while Rakić sought for a takedown in the third round and hoped to play things safe — after his corner controversially told him he was up two rounds.

    The Austrian’s team may have been shocked (unlike plenty of others) then to find out the judges all gave 29-28 nods to Ankalaev.

    Magomed Ankalev Gets Decision Win At UFC 308, Tells Alex Pereira To ‘Stop Running’

    https://twitter.com/ElonovMMA/status/1850263439480111541
    https://twitter.com/ElonovMMA/status/1850262537285390678

    The top contender is unbeaten since dropping his UFC debut in 2018. He came into this fight off a brutal knockout of Johnny Walker in January.

    Rakić, meanwhile, has now lost three straight, which also includes a TKO loss to former champion Jiří Procházka at UFC 300.

  • ‘Future Champion’ – Fans React As Lerone Murphy Recovers From Early Knockdown To Beat Dan Ige At UFC 308

    ‘Future Champion’ – Fans React As Lerone Murphy Recovers From Early Knockdown To Beat Dan Ige At UFC 308

    Lerone Murphy earned his seventh consecutive win inside the Octagon at UFC 308 by defeating Dan Ige via unanimous decision.

    The Manchester fighter had to weather some heavy adversity in the opening round after he was dropped, with Ige pouring on the pressure to put him away.

    Murphy survived and was able to turn the fight on it’s head by producing a much better second round, striking off the back foot and outworking his opponent.

    Despite some grappling success from Ige in the third, it was the effective strikes that just about saw him take the final frame in order to earn the victory.

    It was another great display of resilience from the unbeaten fighter, who builds on his headline victory over Edson Barboza by adding another ranked opponent to his current streak.

    In his post-fight interview, Murphy called to face the #8-ranked Josh Emmett in what would be another great test for the rising contender.

    Fans reacted to his performance in a close fight via social media.

  • ‘Coolest F**king Dagestani’ – Fans React As Shara Magomedov Lands Crazy Double Spinning Backfist KO At UFC 308

    ‘Coolest F**king Dagestani’ – Fans React As Shara Magomedov Lands Crazy Double Spinning Backfist KO At UFC 308

    In what may have been a historic finish, Shara Magomedov landed a double spinning backfist en route to scoring a finish of Armen Petrosyan to kick off the main card for UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

    Magomedov actually found himself in trouble early on, as Petrosyan landed a number of rocking blows that hurt the Dagestani in the opening round. “Bullet,” however, managed to battle back and land several low kicks as he took control of the fight.

    In the closing seconds of the second round, Magomedov managed to land a short spinning backfist before spinning right back around and landing another with the opposite hand, dropping Petrosyan to the mat for a walk-off TKO.

    Shara Magomedov Pulls Off Highlight Double Spinning Backfist Finish At UFC 308

    https://twitter.com/MMAPauli/status/1850244615053381935

    Magomedov is now 4-0 in the UFC and is unbeaten in MMA at 15-0. The Russian already defeated Antonio Trócoli and Michał Oleksiejczuk this past summer.

    Petrosyan, meanwhile, has now lost two straight fights and three of his last five.

  • ‘GIVE THEM 100K EACH’ – Fans React To Rębecki & Orolbai’s Bloody Brawl At UFC 308

    ‘GIVE THEM 100K EACH’ – Fans React To Rębecki & Orolbai’s Bloody Brawl At UFC 308

    The undoubted highlight of the UFC 308 prelims came from the incredible catchweight war between Mateusz Rębecki and Myktybek Orolbai.

    In the end, Rębecki secured the win via split decision after taking the first and third rounds on two of the scorecards, but this wasn’t the biggest story of the fight.

    The real talking point here was the incredible toughness displayed by both men, especially Orolbai. Both men looked like zombies by the end of this one.

    Following the first round, the fight looked like it could have been stopped due to Orolbai’s eye appearing to be nearly totally swollen shut, but it continued into the second.

    Rębecki came close to ending it in the third round, but somehow his opponent stayed in the fight and came back into it despite the commentators saying that it could have been stopped.

    UFC 308 may have it’s fight of the night already because if something is going to beat that to the bonus, we’re in for a historic fight at some stages.

    Fans reacted on social media to an instant classic war between the two warriors.

    https://twitter.com/mad_scientistt_/status/1850223400729399330
  • VIDEO: Chris Barnett Stopped In UFC 308 Return After Injuring Leg During Bruce Buffer’s Intro

    VIDEO: Chris Barnett Stopped In UFC 308 Return After Injuring Leg During Bruce Buffer’s Intro

    Chris Barnett’s first UFC fight in two years ended in rough fashion — in more than one way — as he was stopped by Kennedy Nzechukwu during the UFC 308 prelims.

    Nzechukwu tried to come out on the front foot and bring the pressure as the two traded low kicks. “African Savage” got the better of their exchanges, though his opponent looked to catch him coming in — and he did with a couple of solid right overhands.

    Nzechukwu continued his kick-based attack, landing a number of low kicks and front kicks to the stomach. Barnett appeared to be stumbling late in the round with a leg injury while trying to defend against Nzechukwu’s attack. A pair of knees (one to the liver) mixed in with a flurry of fists later, and Nzechuwku was able to secure the first-round finish.

    Upon review of Barnett’s motions during Bruce Buffer’s introduction, it appeared that he hurt himself on a jump, bringing back memories of when Brian Ortega hurt himself prior to his rematch with Yair Rodríguez in February.

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1850205142257152384

    Barnett could be seen after the fight on the edge of the Octagon steps, still writhing in pain.

    This was the heavyweight debut for “African Savage” following back-to-back losses to Dustin Jacoby and Ovince Saint Preux at light heavyweight.

    Barnett, meanwhile, took this fight on short notice, replacing an injured Justin Tafa. It was the fan favorite’s first fight since defeating Jake Collier at UFC 279.

  • ‘One Of The Worst Robberies’ – Fans Fume As Rinat Fakhretdinov Gets Controversial Decision To Kick Off UFC 308

    ‘One Of The Worst Robberies’ – Fans Fume As Rinat Fakhretdinov Gets Controversial Decision To Kick Off UFC 308

    UFC 308 got off to a controversial start following the opener between Rinat Fakhretdinov and his late replacement opponent, Carlos Leal.

    Leal stepped in for Nursulton Ruziboev after being set to compete at a UAE Warriors event earlier this week, where his coach ended up stepping in for him.

    In what was shaping up to be a big upset, the Brazilian was looking good in the fight, defending takedowns and getting the better of the striking exchnages.

    There was a lot of confusion from the commentary team, however, when the official decision was announced, giving Fakhretdinov the win at UFC 308 via unanimous decision.

    The scorecards were even shown on the broadcast shortly after the decision was read so that they could be broken down even further. All three were different from the next with Mike Bell giving rounds one and three to Fakhretdinov, Hadi Mohamed Ali giving him all three, and David Lethaby seeing rounds two and three for the fighter whohasn’t lost since 2014.

    MMA fans reacted to a clear sign that we could be in for some debatable judging at UFC 308 following that decision.

    It seemed that even in the case that Fakhretdinov was competitive in the fight, Leal had done enough to win at least one of the rounds, let alone losing all three.

    Fans weighed in with their thoughts on social media:

    https://twitter.com/damer67/status/1850188314663330271
    https://twitter.com/SandeepRaj65/status/1850188212162994447
    https://twitter.com/davefretz/status/1850187730522636684
  • Francis Ngannou: Dana White Can’t Stand He Lost, I Won ‘Everything’

    Francis Ngannou: Dana White Can’t Stand He Lost, I Won ‘Everything’

    Francis Ngannou has responded to Dana White’s comments regarding his departure from the UFC after 2023. Ngannou, who vacated his heavyweight title to explore free agency, went on to secure highly lucrative matchups against boxing icons Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

    In his return to MMA, the former UFC heavyweight champion achieved a decisive finish over Renan Ferreira at PFL: Battle of the Giants. Earlier this week, White suggested that financial incentives drove Ngannou’s recent career choices. White shared that he even considered releasing Ngannou after he suffered back-to-back losses to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis in 2018.

    In a recent interview, Ngannou addressed White’s remarks, expressing confusion over why White continues to criticize him. “Regardless of everything that happened, I’m not about him,” Ngannou said in an interview with Sirius XM Fight Nation. “I went out there, did a fight, had a good fight for my son’s memory, but the guy can’t stand— I don’t know what his problem is. He can make everything up as he wants. That’s his problem. I think he needs to make peace with himself.”

    Ngannou elaborated on his perspective, adding, “(He) could’ve just said, ‘We didn’t find an agreement. We couldn’t come to a deal, but good luck to him.’ That’s it, you know? Good for him, and we continue our lives. What’s the problem here? I think the problem is he can’t handle this loss.”

    White’s Intentions

    Ngannou believes White struggles to accept how things played out and even questions whether White wishes to see him fail in the new chapter of his career. For his part, Ngannou is committed to focusing on his own path forward.

    “Dana has lost in this situation, and the only thing is that he cannot stand it,” Ngannou stated. “Bro, I won everything. Now I have made more money than I would have ever made in the UFC. I’d say maybe twice what I could have made in my entire UFC career if I had continued there. I’m not just saying from the moment that I stopped. Either way, even if I’ve made less, if I’m not making as much as I could’ve in the UFC, that would be my problem. Why is he so pissed about me not making that much money? C’mon, man, live your life.”

  • UFC Legend Believes Topuria Is Messing With ‘The Ego’ Of Holloway Ahead Of UFC 308

    UFC Legend Believes Topuria Is Messing With ‘The Ego’ Of Holloway Ahead Of UFC 308

    Ilia Topuria has been fervently indulging in trash talk with Max Holloway ahead of their bout, and a UFC Hall of Famer suggests that it might all be part of a clever strategy.

    Topuria is set to make the first defense of his featherweight title against Holloway in the main event of UFC 308, scheduled for this Saturday at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

    In the lead-up to his upcoming fight, “El Matador” has confidently labeled Holloway as an easy opponent, vowing to be the first fighter to knock out “Blessed.” He has even predicted an early finish, suggesting that if they start trading punches within the first 10 seconds of the opening round, it will be lights out for Holloway.

    However, Michael Bisping contends that Topuria’s words go beyond mere banter; they constitute a psychological strategy to coax Holloway into a style of fighting that could heavily favor the undefeated Spaniard.

    “Topuria is very, very confident,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “But you use trash talk as a psychological weapon to wear your opponent down, to piss them off, to get them mad, and to set a trap so it plays into your game plan.”

    “The Count” went on to acknowledge that while both fighters are highly skilled, he believes Topuria holds the upper hand with his explosive striking. He added that “El Matador” is cleverly toying with the Hawaiian’s pride by persistently downplaying his abilities.

    “He’s trying to mess with the ego of Max Holloway by saying, ‘Come on then, let’s do your trick. Come on, point at the floor, point at the floor. I encourage you to do that because if you do, you’re going to get knocked out.’ And of course, fighters are proud people; we take sh*t like that personally. We want to prove a point, and you never know, if Topuria does that, Max Holloway might just say, ‘Okay then, you know what, brotha, let’s go.’ And if they do that, I believe it plays into the strengths of Ilia Topuria. He’s probably got better one-punch knockout power, especially in the first round.”

    Topuria secured a knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294 in February, capturing the featherweight belt. He has delivered four knockouts in his seven UFC appearances to date.

    Meanwhile, “Blessed” is riding high off a last-second knockout win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April, securing the BMF title. Saturday night will mark Holloway’s third shot at reclaiming the 145-pound crown.

  • UFC 308: Whittaker Anticipates All-Out ‘War’ With Chimaev

    UFC 308: Whittaker Anticipates All-Out ‘War’ With Chimaev

    Robert Whittaker is promising to keep up with Khamzat Chimaev’s relentless intensity this Saturday night.

    Whittaker is gearing up to square off against Chimaev in a five-round middleweight clash, serving as the co-main event of UFC 308, which is set to take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

    “Borz” has exuded confidence in his ability to impose his relentless pace, seamlessly taking the fight to the mat and utilizing his wrestling and grappling prowess to wear down Whittaker right from the opening bell.

    During the media day interaction for UFC 308 on Wednesday, “The Reaper” acknowledged that he anticipates Chimaev to come out firing on all cylinders. However, the former UFC champion emphasized that he has meticulously prepared to make the most of the full 25 minutes of their scheduled bout, aiming to take the undefeated Chechen into deep waters.

    “I am expecting him to come out hard and aggressive from the first second to the last,” Whittaker said. “And I have prepared accordingly for that. I’ve prepared for the hardest fight of my life, to start extremely hard, like sprinting for the first 5 to 10 minutes, but also drag it out the five [rounds]. I’m ready to sprint for 25 minutes if so, and I’m coming for war.”

    Whittaker also remarked that his experience would be a key asset in facing “Borz”, who will be stepping into a five-round fight for the first time. The Aussie asserted that he brings a unique challenge to the table, one that sets him apart from any opponent Chimaev has encountered before.

    “I’m good at what I do. I’m a different fighter than he’s fought before, and I guess maybe the fact that I know how to lose gives me strength; it gives me a reason why I don’t like being there, why I don’t want that to be my reality. It sucks, so I’m going to go out there and give him a taste of it.”

    “The Reaper” is fresh off a first-round knockout victory over Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia in July. Whittaker is determined to deliver a statement performance at UFC 308 to re-establish himself in the title contention picture.

    Whittaker and Chimaev were initially slated to headline the Saudi Arabia event, but just days before the fight, “Borz” was forced to withdraw due to significant health complications.

    Chimaev was last seen in action at UFC 294 in October 2023, where he earned a hard-fought majority decision victory over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

  • Belal Muhammad Trashes Ilia Topuria’s Triple Champ Aspirations

    Belal Muhammad Trashes Ilia Topuria’s Triple Champ Aspirations

    Belal Muhammad is showing little regard for Ilia Topuria’s lofty ambitions of becoming the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion.

    “El Matador” is set to put his featherweight crown on the line for the very first time this Saturday when he faces Max Holloway at UFC 308 inside the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

    Despite the formidable challenge that awaits him this weekend, Topuria has already set his sights beyond the fight, boldly asserting his ambition to become a three-division UFC champion by taking on lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev and welterweight champ Muhammad in the coming years.

    While the undefeated Spaniard has mostly maintained a respectful demeanor toward Makhachev, he hasn’t hesitated to go brakes-free on “Remember the Name,” whom he considers “a walk in the park.” Both Topuria and Muhammad have been embroiled in a fierce war of words on social media ever since the American cautioned “El Matador” about his grand aspirations.

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, “Remember the Name” shrugged off Topuria’s challenge, dismissing it as something not to be taken seriously. Muhammad suggested that the featherweight champion is simply calling out other titleholders in a bid to boost his fan appeal rather than presenting a genuine threat.

    “I think that dude’s got Napoleon syndrome or something,” Muhammad said. “Short guys always act like they’re tough… He’s at that mode where I think he’s trying to find himself and he’s trying to show fans that he’s trash talker and he’s this bad guy. He’s not really good at trash talking. When he comes at me, it’s laughable because he’s basically copying words off memes.

    “At the end of the day, we’re not going to fight in the cage so why are you even giving me those words, you’re trying to talk tough because you know nothing’s really going to come of it. He can say ‘I want to go up to 170 and be a triple champ after this’ but you know you’re not. I don’t even think he’s going to get past Holloway. I think he’s going to lose this fight and then we don’t even have to hear his freaking mouse voice.”

    Muhammad secured the 170-pound belt with a unanimous decision victory over Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in July. Now, he’s poised for his first title defense against the unbeaten Shavkat Rakhmonov in the headlining bout of UFC 310, set for December 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

  • Merab Dvalishvili: Umar Nurmagomedov ‘Doesn’t Deserve To Fight Me’

    Merab Dvalishvili: Umar Nurmagomedov ‘Doesn’t Deserve To Fight Me’

    Merab Dvalishvili is making it clear that he believes Sean O’Malley deserves a rematch with him before Umar Nurmagomedov gets a title shot.

    Dvalishvili won the bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over O’Malley at UFC 306, and although Nurmagomedov initially appeared to be next in line after his dominant win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi, Dvalishvili has other ideas. Recent reports suggest that Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong are in talks for a potential showdown, though MMA Fighting reports the deal has yet to be finalized.

    Proving Time

    During a fan Q&A at UFC 308, Dvalishvili responded to questions about his intentions, refuting any notion that he’s avoiding a fight with Nurmagomedov in favor of an O’Malley rematch.

    “Where is this guy? He’s taking [another] fight. He’s scared. He’s fighting somebody else. Where is [he]? Where is [he]? Tell me. He wants to get knocked out by somebody else, and then he’s going to make excuses. He’s not going to make this fight. I’m not the one making fights; Dana White and Hunter [Campbell] decide who I fight next. I don’t make that decision,” Dvalishvili explained.

    He continued, “If Dana White tells me I have to fight Umar, I’m fighting Umar, OK?” Dvalishvili said. “But, you know what? Umar doesn’t deserve to fight me. Sean O’Malley deserves a rematch, and I’m ready to fight him again. After that, Umar will have to prove himself, and I’ll be ready.”

  • Khamzat Chimaev Hopes To Change Dana White’s Mind With UFC 308 Performance

    Khamzat Chimaev is set to make his highly anticipated return to the Octagon this Saturday, facing Robert Whittaker in the co-main event of UFC 308 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. This will be Chimaev’s first fight in a year, and he hopes to make an impression strong enough to alter the current middleweight title landscape.

    Despite Dana White’s recent confirmation that a rematch with former champion Sean Strickland will be middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis’s next title defense, Chimaev is eager to change White’s mind.

    Aiming for a Title Shot

    Du Plessis is riding high after a recent submission victory over former champ Israel Adesanya. Strickland, who previously lost to Du Plessis by decision, will reportedly be his next challenger. However, Chimaev is determined to secure a title shot with an impressive performance against Whittaker.

    “I hope so, but they said that before, as well,” Chimaev remarked at the UFC 308 media day. “When I beat Gilbert Burns, I didn’t get my chance. After that, it was (Kamaru) Usman, and they said, ‘if he beats Usman, he’s going to fight for the title.’ I haven’t fought (for the title) yet, so we’ll see.”

    Chimaev’s last fight was a victory over former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in October at UFC 294, a career pause since caused by health issues. Now, he’s ready to make a statement and position himself as a top contender for the middleweight belt.

  • Dana White: I Was ‘Begged’ Not To Cut Francis Ngannou In 2018

    Dana White: I Was ‘Begged’ Not To Cut Francis Ngannou In 2018

    Dana White remains firm in his stance on Francis Ngannou’s departure from the UFC, even after Ngannou’s recent return to MMA. In his comeback fight, the former UFC heavyweight champion secured a decisive finish over Renan Ferreira at PFL: Battle of the Giants.

    Ngannou’s 2023 UFC exit was turbulent, as he vacated his heavyweight title to pursue free agency. Since then, he has taken on boxing giants Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in highly lucrative matchups.

    At a Power Slap 9 post-event press conference on Thursday, White was asked to share his thoughts on Ngannou’s recent performance. He suggested that financial incentives were the main driver behind Ngannou’s recent career choices.

    White’s Initial Plan to Cut Ngannou in 2018

    White shared that he had considered releasing Ngannou after he suffered back-to-back losses to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis in 2018.

    “I was going to cut Francis when he lost two in a row,” White said. “Somebody around here begged me not to do it. It wouldn’t have mattered to me either way. There’s a much deeper story to this whole thing. He would’ve made more money if he’d stayed in the UFC. He didn’t want to fight Jon Jones. That’s a fact, my friend. We’re moving on.”

  • UFC 308: Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs

    UFC 308: Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs

    UFC 308 takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    The upcoming pay-per-view event at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates provides a chance for UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria to further enhance his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    After capturing the gold this past February by brutally knocking out the previously long-reigning Alexander Volkanovski, “El Matador” is next tasked with stalling Max Holloway’s ambitions of a return to the 145-pound mountaintop.

    The stakes will also be high in the co-main event, which will see former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker look to secure another shot at regaining the crown by blemishing the currently perfect professional record of Khamzat Chimaev.

    Elsewhere on the UFC 308 card, Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakić do battle for a potential shot at Alex Pereira’s light heavyweight title, Dan Ige becomes the latest threat to Lerone Murphy’s ‘O’, and middleweight prospect Shara Magomedov looks to impress once again.

    Ahead of the event, all 26 fighters successfully made weight but two bouts did undergo late adjustments. Nevertheless, every fight has remained intact, and all that remained on Friday was for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 308 ceremonial weigh-ins!

    Check out a replay via the official UFC YouTube channel below, followed by all the highlights.

    UFC 308 Ceremonial Weigh-In Full Stream

    UFC 308 Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs

  • UFC 308 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Topuria vs. Holloway, Whittaker vs. Chimaev, & More

    UFC 308 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Topuria vs. Holloway, Whittaker vs. Chimaev, & More

    UFC 308 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, October 26, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The main card begins at 2 PM ET/11 AM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 10 AM ET/7 AM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria, who is tasked with getting the better of former kingpin Max Holloway if he’s to record a first successful title defense.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see ex-middleweight titleholder Robert Whittaker in action for the third time this year. After getting past Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov, “The Reaper” is next tasked with blemishing the perfect record of Khamzat Chimaev.

    Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of top light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev, undefeated featherweight Lerone Murphy, middleweight prospect Shara Magomedov, and former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos.

    Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the UFC 308 main card here.

    UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 308 (as of 10/25), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Ilia Topuria (-230) vs. Max Holloway (+190)
    • Robert Whittaker (+190) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (-230)
    • Magomed Ankalaev (-375) vs. Aleksandar Rakić (+295)
    • Lerone Murphy (-265) vs. Dan Ige (+215)
    • Sharabutdin Magomedov (-170) vs. Armen Petrosyan (+142)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Ibo Aslan (+105) vs. Raffael Cerqueira (-125)
    • Geoff Neal (-298) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (+240)
    • Mateusz Rębecki (+260) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (-325)
    • Abus Magomedov (-142) vs. Brunno Ferreira (+120)
    • Kennedy Nzechukwu (-750) vs. Chris Barnett (+525)
    • Farid Basharat (-750) vs. Victor Hugo (+525)
    • Ismail Naurdiev (-175) vs. Bruno Silva (+145)
    • Rinat Fakhretdinov (-238) vs. Carlos Leal (+195)
  • UFC 308: Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway Weigh-In Results

    UFC 308: Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway Weigh-In Results

    UFC 308 takes place tomorrow, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After staging fights in Salt Lake City, Utah to kick off the month, the mixed martial arts leader will close its October schedule with another numbered event, this time in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

    One title will be on the line at the top of the card, with Ilia Topuria defending his featherweight belt against fan favorite Max Holloway in the main event. Co-headlining, meanwhile, will be a crucial middleweight contest between former champion Robert Whittaker and the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev.

    Also on the main card will be returns for top light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev, unbeaten featherweight Lerone Murphy, and highly active middleweight Shara Magomedov.

    UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway Weigh-In Results

    UFC 308 takes place Saturday, October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The main card begins at 2 PM ET/11 AM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 10 AM ET/7 AM PT.

    See above for a replay of the UFC 308 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below.

    Main Card:

    • Featherweight Championship Main Event: Ilia Topuria (145lbs) vs. Max Holloway (145lbs)
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Robert Whittaker (185.5lbs) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (186lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev (204.5lbs) vs. Aleksandar Rakić (206lbs)
    • Featherweight: Lerone Murphy (145.5lbs) vs. Dan Ige (146lbs)
    • Middleweight: Sharabutdin Magomedov (185lbs) vs. Armen Petrosyan (186lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Light Heavyweight: Ibo Aslan (205lbs) vs. Raffael Cerqueira (203lbs)
    • Welterweight: Geoff Neal (171lbs) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (171lbs)
    • Catchweight (160lbs)*: Mateusz Rębecki (160lbs) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (159lbs)
    • Middleweight: Abus Magomedov (185lbs) vs. Brunno Ferreira (185.5lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu (241lbs) vs. Chris Barnett (264lbs)
    • Featherweight*: Farid Basharat (137lbs) vs. Victor Hugo (145.5lbs)
    • Middleweight: Ismail Naurdiev (185lbs) vs. Bruno Silva (186lbs)
    • Welterweight: Rinat Fakhretdinov (171lbs) vs. Carlos Leal (169.5lbs)

    *The bout between Rębecki and Orolbai was moved from lightweight to a 160-pound catchweight before they weighed in.

    **The bout between Basharat and Hugo was moved from bantamweight to featherweight before they weighed in after the latter was significantly overweight.

  • Dustin Poirier: Ilia Topuria’s Prediction For Max Holloway Fight Is ‘Almost Impossible’

    Dustin Poirier: Ilia Topuria’s Prediction For Max Holloway Fight Is ‘Almost Impossible’

    Dustin Poirier is not convinced by something Ilia Topuria has stated ahead of Topuria’s featherweight title fight at UFC 308 this Saturday. Topuria believes he is capable of knocking out Max Holloway with a single punch, but Poirier has expressed skepticism. Topuria’s confidence is undeniable—he has even suggested that it will be an easy feat. However, given Holloway’s elite caliber, Poirier doubts such a claim.

    While appearing on The Bohnfire podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn, Poirier analyzed the matchup.

    Dustin Poirier’s Dismissal

    “To go out there and one-punch Max is going to be almost impossible, I think,” Poirier said. “It can happen, for sure. But I don’t think it will. This is a big test. If [Topuria] goes in there and beats Max, or lasts with Max in the volume game, outpoints him, outfights him technically on the feet—that’s going to say so much about Ilia and where he’s going to go. I can’t pick against Max. I could see Topuria winning, but Max’s experience and the championship fights he’s been in… it’s hard to bet against that.”

    Holloway, the former featherweight champion, has won 5 of his 15 victories by knockout, including his most recent performance when he knocked out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298.