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Category: UFC

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

  • Conor McGregor’s Coach On Whether Islam Makhachev Can Outdo Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Legacy

    Conor McGregor’s Coach On Whether Islam Makhachev Can Outdo Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Legacy

    It almost seemed written in the stars that after Khabib Nurmagomedov retired on top of the lightweight division, Islam Makhachev would take over in his place.

    What wasn’t predictable at the time was that Makhachev would go on to be arguably the best fighter in the sport today.

    The current lightweight champion has been so impressive since winning the belt at UFC 280 that it has led to the conversation of whether he’s better than “The Eagle” ever was.

    Another big question is whether Makhachev will ever be able to overtake his close friend’s legacy after Nurmagomedov retired with an undefeated record of 29-0.

    Though there isn’t competition between them, the 32-year old was always going to have high expectations hanging over him.

    John Kavanagh Outlines How Islam Makhachev Can Potentially Overtake Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Though Makhachev doesn’t have the option of beating Nurmagomedov’s undefeated run, there are ways that he can accomplish feats that the former champion didn’t.

    The current 155-pound king has spoken a lot about wanting to move to welterweight in the near future though those plans seem to have been put on hold now that Belal Muhammad, who does parts of his camps with Makhachev and Nurmagomedov, has become the 170-pound champion.

    In a recent interview with Islam Babadzhanov, John Kavanagh gave his take on if and how Makhachev can pull out in front of “The Eagle”.

    The long-time coach of Conor McGregor at SBG Ireland also pointed to the lightweight champion adding a second belt to his collection which Nurmagomedov never had the option to do.

    “Wow. I’m sure there is [a chance for him to outdo Khabib] but it’s hard. You know, Khabib had obviously such a fantastic run. Maybe Islam can do a ‘champ champ’ and go up some weight classes. We will see.”

    Read also: ‘That Was A Fluke Too’ – Former UFC Champ Questions O’Malley’s Win Over Sterling After UFC 306

  • VIDEO: Fan Goads Brian Ortega About Tracy Cortez Relationship After UFC 306 Loss

    VIDEO: Fan Goads Brian Ortega About Tracy Cortez Relationship After UFC 306 Loss

    Brian Ortega recently became embroiled in a fiery altercation with a fan who hurled comments at him about ex-girlfriend, Tracy Cortez, following his defeat at Noche UFC 306.

    “T-City” finally met Diego Lopes in the Octagon on the main card of one of the most highly anticipated pay-per-view events last weekend at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, Ortega never found his footing in the bout, as Lopes came dangerously close to finishing him in the opening round. From there, the rising Brazilian star unleashed a relentless assault throughout the fight.

    By the final bell, Ortega was left battered and bruised, his left leg nearly crippled from Lopes’ unforgiving barrage of leg kicks. In the end, Lopes secured a unanimous decision victory.

    Ortega and Lopes were originally set to face off in a featherweight showdown as the co-main event of UFC 303 in June. However, the 33-year-old Californian had to withdraw on the day of the event due to health complications stemming from a difficult weight cut, even after the fight was moved to lightweight.

    Ortega Shows Frustration When Linked To Cortez

    As Ortega made his way backstage after a disheartening loss to Lopes, a fan in the crowd taunted him with a cruel remark, shouting that, after losing the fight, Cortez surely wouldn’t want him now.

    “Tracy ain’t not want you no more,” the fan said. “Tracy’s done with you.”

    What the naysayer likely didn’t anticipate was that ‘T-City,’ already reeling from his defeat, would charge at him in a fit of fury, ready to confront the taunts head-on. However, before things could escalate, security intervened, pulling Ortega back and preventing the situation from spiraling out of control.

    The romantic connection between Ortega and Cortez became one of the UFC’s most talked-about love stories. The pair dated for nearly two years and were even rumored to be engaged at one point. Frequently seen together at UFC events or supporting each other from their respective corners, the couple never hesitated to flaunt their affection on social media.

    However, the couple called it quits early last year, and their highly publicized separation fueled a flurry of speculation. Yet, despite the public drama, the real reason behind their breakup remains cloaked in mystery.

  • Jon Jones: Stipe Miocic Fight At UFC 309 Is ‘Gonna Be The Last Time’

    Jon Jones: Stipe Miocic Fight At UFC 309 Is ‘Gonna Be The Last Time’

    Jon Jones’ return to the Octagon was confirmed this past weekend after the UFC announced more details for UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.

    It has been clear for a long time now that “Bones” would be defending his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic after their fight at UFC 295 was postponed due to a long-term injury.

    They are once again booked to headline MSG in November and though this match-up taking place on this card has been known but not made official, there is one other big question hanging over this fight.

    Many expected that at UFC 295 last year, there was a strong possibility that both Jones and Miocic would retire after meeting each other inside the Octagon for the first time.

    Despite Dana White’s wishes, that still looks to be on the cards.

    Jon Jones Says That UFC 309 Will Be ‘More Than Likely’ His Last Dance

    There has been a lot of debate about Jones returning to defend his heavyweight title against Miocic.

    Most of this has revolved around interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who believes that he should be getting the opportunity to unify the belts later this year.

    Jones has made it pretty clear that this fight against the surging Brit isn’t a priority for him and he doubled down on that in a recent interview.

    As the consensus greatest of all time was leaving the Sphere after being in attendance at UFC 306 this past weekend, he was stopped and asked about how he’s feeling before returning from another long lay-off.

    The heavyweight champ told Clocked N’ Loaded that he’s raring to go.

    “I feel great, yeah, I feel really, really good. I’m about 250 pounds, lean and strong.”

    Jones was also asked whether he thinks that this will be the final fight of what will potentially end as a 30-fight career following his first heavyweight title defense.

    Though the writing has been on the wall regarding the status of his career after UFC 309, he personally confirmed that this is looking like his last ride.

    “This is gonna be the last time. Gonna be the last time. More than likely.”

    Read also: ‘That Was A Fluke Too’ – Former UFC Champ Questions O’Malley’s Win Over Sterling After UFC 306

  • Kamaru Usman Tells Merab Dvalishvili To ‘Embrace’ Umar Nurmagomedov Challenge: ‘I Had Colby Covington’

    Kamaru Usman Tells Merab Dvalishvili To ‘Embrace’ Umar Nurmagomedov Challenge: ‘I Had Colby Covington’

    Following his bantamweight title win in the main event of UFC 306, the promotion was clearly looking to set Merab Dvalishvili up for his first title defense.

    Joe Rogan asked the new champion what he thought about the match-up with Umar Nurmagomedov, which is likely next for him.

    Despite the broadcast capturing Nurmagomedov’s reaction live from the Sphere, Dvalishvili didn’t answer the question that had been posed to him.

    He instead spoke about having a conversation with Dana White first and later, in his post-fight press conference, stated once again that in his opinion, Deiveson Figueiredo is more deserving of the next title shot.

    Kamaru Usman Advises Merab Dvalishvili To Face Umar Nurmagomedov Challenge Head-On

    In an interview with Dvalishvili on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Kamaru Usman had offered some words of advice to the title challenger before UFC 306 got underway.

    The former welterweight champion said that the Georgian fighter should look to capitalize on his time as champion by securing the biggest fights possible, meaning that he should welcome a fight with Nurmagomedov rather than pointing to alternatives.

    During his post-event recap alongside Henry Cejudo, Usman once again stressed why he thinks that Dvalishvili should be pushing for this fight.

    Having already made the case that it’s the biggest fight out there for him right now, Usman also believes that this kind of challenge could elevate the new champion.

    Every great fighter needs great rivals to push themselves further than before and “The Nigerian Nightmare” believes that Nurmagomedov offers that.

    He referenced his own welterweight title reign and how his two tough fights against Colby Covington were highly significant moments in his career that helped take him to another level in terms of popularity and influence within the organisation.

    “Merab is not afraid but I know he’s worried about a guy like Umar and sometimes those are the guys that really put you on that next level. Merab might come out there and look like freaking the best we’ve ever seen. So you, and I needed that dance partner. Colby Covington gave me that and so that’s what Merab, at this point, I think if I had any advice for Merab, it’s too embrace that. It’s too embrace that. You’re right, when they did ask him that question, he kinda danced around it.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals What He Said To Enrage Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

  • Robert Whittaker: Alexa Grasso Didn’t Want To Be In There Against Valentina Shevchenko

    Robert Whittaker: Alexa Grasso Didn’t Want To Be In There Against Valentina Shevchenko

    Valentina Shevchenko closed out her trilogy with Alexa Grasso in dominant fashion in the co-main event of UFC 306.

    The former champion was able to reclaim the title after a controversial rematch that ended in a draw, following their first encounter where she was shockingly submitted.

    Though the second fight between them was very close, no one has been clamouring to see a fourth contest between them after how one-sided the trilogy was, this past weekend.

    The takedowns from Shevchenko totally shut down Grasso’s boxing skills and aside from a few submission attempts, she wasn’t able to stop the challenger’s takedowns which led to her being stuck on the floor for the majority of the duration.

    Robert Whittaker Questions How The Match-Up Was Ever Close After Watching UFC 306

    On a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker gave his analysis of the co-main event.

    He pointed to the fact that there was a huge gap between them this time around compared to their prior encounter at last year’s Noche UFC.

    Even though Grasso was able to secure one of the biggest upsets in UFC history when she submitted Shevchenko at UFC 285, she was down on the scorecards at the time.

    Having seen how easy the “Bullet” made the fight look at points inside the Sphere, Whittaker questioned how this match-up was ever competitive.

    “They’ve fought three times now. I don’t know how Grasso won the first, well I do, she was losing until she submitted Shevchenko right? And then I don’t know how the second one was a draw because this third fight like Grasso did nothing. I don’t want to come down hard on her okay because maybe she was just shut down that heavy but it was a draw last fight.

    “I don’t know, it didn’t look like Grasso wanted to be in that fight. It looked like a significant level difference this time around.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals What He Said To Enrage Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

  • ‘That Was A Fluke Too’ – Former UFC Champ Questions O’Malley’s Win Over Sterling After UFC 306

    ‘That Was A Fluke Too’ – Former UFC Champ Questions O’Malley’s Win Over Sterling After UFC 306

    Merab Dvalishvili proved in the main event of UFC 306 that he had the counter to Sean O’Malley’s style.

    The new bantamweight champion was able to close the distance on “Suga” and implement his grappling and despite several close scorecards, the challenger was seemingly in control of the fight for the vast majority of the duration.

    O’Malley did have some success with his striking, especially in the final moments of the fight but he wasn’t able to catch Dvalishvili in the same way that he was able to his teammate, Aljamain Sterling.

    The “Funkmaster” has openly admitted that he made some crucial mistakes in that fight back at UFC 292 that as we saw this past weekend, could have been very different if Sterling had more effectively closed the gap on his opponent.

    Henry Cejudo Reviews Sean O’Malley’s Performance At UFC 306

    On a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, former bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo weighed in with his thoughts on the fight.

    “Triple C” took this opportunity to gloat about how he correctly predicted how the main event would play out based on what he has seen from both men.

    Having faced both Sterling and Dvalishvili in the past, Cejudo felt that the challenger would be too much for O’Malley over five rounds.

    He also believes that O’Malley’s title back at UFC 292 was a “fluke” after he was able to stop Sterling without really having his grappling game put to the test.

    Cejudo made reference to how he was able to put up a better fight against Dvalishvili at UFC 298, where he lost via unanimous decision.

    “What can I say? I predicted these things. Sean is not accustomed to going five rounds and he is no accustomed to people on his legs and I just felt like, I still go back and say hey, that fight with Aljamain Sterling, that was a fluke too. Aljamain was still in that fight and people thought I was just hating. It’s like no, I’ve been in there with Merab, I did a whole lot better than Sean did when I fought Merab. I mean I took down Merab, like Merab is lucky that I had that groin injury.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals What He Said To Enrage Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

  • Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals What He Said To Enrage Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals What He Said To Enrage Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

    Merab Dvalishvili captured the UFC bantamweight championship at Noche UFC 306, and while it was a dominant performance, it also came with one of the most bizarre openings to a fight in recent memory.

    In the opening seconds, Dvalishvili could be seen mouthing off, but it wasn’t to opponent O’Malley. Rather, the Georgian challenger appeared to be in an argument with the champion’s corner, particularly his coach Tim Welch.

    Referee Herb Dean brought a swift halt to the bout to warn Dvalishvili for talking to O’Malley’s corner. Dean also gave a warning to Welch for what commentators referred to as “excessive coaching.” Dean would warn O’Malley’s corner later on in the fight.

    The bizarre nature of the pause left many fans confused and looking for clarification. This came especially when the UFC commentary team mentioned that O’Malley’s corner may have initiated the conversation with the title challenger.

    On social media the following day, Welch provided clarification on what he was saying.

    Tim Welch Reveals What He Told Merab Dvalishvili, Tips His Cap To The New Bantamweight Champion

    This is not the first time O’Malley’s corner has been at the center of controversy for talking with a fighter.

    As shown by the UFC documentary on Roku earlier this year, O’Malley’s corner appeared to communicate with Aljamain Sterling when O’Malley challenged him for the bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 292. “Sugar” to connect with Sterling not long after and finished the fight from there.

    On this occasion, O’Malley struggled with the grappling expertise of Dvalishvili, Sterling’s friend and teammate, as he was taken down several times and nearly submitted in a unanimous decision.

    O’Malley had successfully defended the title just once, defeating longtime rival Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299.

    Dvalishvili, meanwhile, has now won 11 straight fights inside the Octagon.

  • Sean O’Malley Makes Statement Following Title Loss To Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

    Sean O’Malley Makes Statement Following Title Loss To Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

    It would not be far off to say that the performance of Sean O’Malley at Noche UFC (UFC 306) was perhaps the worst he’s ever had in the Octagon — and it ultimately cost him the UFC bantamweight championship.

    O’Malley appeared to struggle with the pressure and takedowns brought on by Merab Dvalishvili as the two faced off in the main event at the Sphere. Though “Suga” gave the Georgian some trouble in the fight’s final round, Dvalishvili ended up scoring a unanimous decision to win the title.

    Not long after the loss, O’Malley made a brief statement on social media, noting the disappointment left in his performance and the result.

    “Over promised under delivered. Sorry. Love you guys,” O’Malley wrote.

    Sean O’Malley Admits Bad Night, Dana White Says He Looked ‘Flat’

    Though there were bizarre circumstances at the start of the fight, the opening rounds saw Dvalishvili make a statement with several takedowns and a couple of guillotine attempts that troubled O’Malley. The defending champ landed the fight’s strongest strikes toward the end of the third round, but that was after another four minutes of grappling masterclass from the Georgian.

    Several front kicks to the midsection left Dvalishvili hurt and in danger in the fifth round, but O’Malley did not turn up the intensity, and it was too little, too late.

    Even UFC CEO Dana White noted the poor performance from O’Malley, saying he looked “flat.”

    “He didn’t look sharp. He didn’t look crisp,” White said at the UFC 306 post-fight press conference.

    Dvalishvili has now won 11 straight fights after dropping his first two Octagon outings. He also gained an ounce of revenge for his teammate and good friend Aljamain Sterling, who O’Malley knocked out at UFC 292 to capture the bantamweight gold.

    O’Malley retained the title once, defeating Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299 in March.

  • ‘Not The Funnest Fight’ – Daniel Cormier Compares UFC 306 Co-Main Event To Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili

    ‘Not The Funnest Fight’ – Daniel Cormier Compares UFC 306 Co-Main Event To Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili

    The first three fights on the UFC 306 main card had everyone hyped up. Ronaldo Rodriguez, Esteban Ribovics, and Diego Lopes secured decision wins but the back-and-forth action compensated for the lack of finishes.

    There was a mixed reaction towards the co-main and main event of the night in MMA circles, though. Alexa Grasso was completely dominated by Valentina Shevchenko in their trilogy after the exciting first two fights. Similarly, Sean O’Malley had a few good moments but had no answer for Merab Dvalishvili’s wrestling and pace.

    Daniel Cormier compared the two title fights at UFC 306 and explained what made the main event relatively better than the co-main…

    Daniel Cormier Claims Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Was More Exciting Than Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko Despite Similar Outcome

    Cormier recently admitted Grasso vs. Shevchenko to be lackluster while reacting to UFC 306 on his YouTube channel. He hesitated but called “Bullet” the better fighter between the two.

    Although Dvalishvili had a similar game plan against O’Malley, the former UFC double champ credited “Suga” for maintaining threats throughout the fight. On the flip side, Grasso spent much of the fight trying to get back on her feet and gathering failed submission attempts.

    “It was not the funniest fight. It felt like the Merab fight was a little more intriguing because of the danger that Sean O’Malley always seemed to possess. But, Alexa just got dominated and she’s going to have to figure that out. She seemed to spend a lot of time trying to fight off of her back because she knew she would get taken down. But all that did was allow for time to run and when time runs and you’re on your back, you’re losing. Sure, she had some good submission attempts but that’s not enough.”

    “The Machine” beat O’Malley via decision comfortably but the latter landed several good shots and won the last round with constant body shots. Fans could sense a finish whenever the fight went to the feet.

    The former women’s UFC flyweight champion, according to Cormier, could not gain Shevchenko’s respect in striking or on the ground. He expected Grasso to show more urgency and hopes that she fixes these holes in her game going forward.

  • Former UFC Champ Describes Brian Ortega’s ‘Moral Kind Of Victory’ Against Diego Lopes At UFC 306

    Former UFC Champ Describes Brian Ortega’s ‘Moral Kind Of Victory’ Against Diego Lopes At UFC 306

    Diego Lopes beat Brian Ortega via decision at UFC 306 to rise to the top ranks of the UFC featherweight division. He almost secured a finish in the first, but unsurprisingly, Ortega showed unbelievable toughness and survived until the final bell.

    Lopes earned a takedown and controlled Ortega for nearly three minutes while the latter struggled to get going throughout the fight. The prospect outstruck the former title challenger and fans are excited to see him face the likes of Max Holloway or Ilia Topuria for UFC featherweight gold.

    Lopes is the new talk of the town after his dominant win, but former UFC champ Michael Bisping has found a silver lining for Ortega as well…

    Michael Bisping Explains Why Diego Lopes Couldn’t Finish Brian Ortega At UFC 306

    Bisping heavily appreciated Lopes for getting the better of Ortega at UFC 306 while reacting to the event on his YouTube channel. However, he believes that losing via decision is better for the veteran than being finished.

    “Lopes, was kind of, he wanted to test his ground game. He wanted to send a message, he wanted to choke him out, and beat Brian Ortega at his own game. Because of that, he kind of allowed Brian to get back into the fight and see the final bell. There’s a moral kind of victory if you’re Brian Ortega and you see the final bell. Trust me, as a fighter, you want to lose by decision rather than getting finished. And there were finishes multiple times for Diego Lopes.”

    “The Count” explained that trying to submit Ortega on the ground worked against Lopes. “T-City” used his experience to get a guard quickly and rejuvenate himself.

    Bisping had an interesting theory about the knockdown in the first too. He claimed that the right hand knocked Ortega out and the left hook pushed him back to his senses. The former UFC champ feels the fight could have been stopped early if the Brazilian fighter stuck to striking.

    Although he couldn’t get a finish, Lopes’ stock is higher than ever. He can either fight another top-ranked contender in a title eliminator or get the opportunity to grab the UFC featherweight title next.

  • ‘That’s What A Fair Fight Looks Like…’ – Aljamain Sterling, Umar Nurmagomedov, & Other MMA Fighters React To Merab Dvalishvili’s Grappling Masterclass Against Sean O’Malley At UFC 306

    ‘That’s What A Fair Fight Looks Like…’ – Aljamain Sterling, Umar Nurmagomedov, & Other MMA Fighters React To Merab Dvalishvili’s Grappling Masterclass Against Sean O’Malley At UFC 306

    In a fight that will definitely go down as one of the weirdest title fights in UFC history, Merab Dvalishvili gains revenge on behalf of his team and secures the UFC bantamweight championship, defeating Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 306: Noche UFC.

    After a start that saw Dvalishvili and O’Malley’s corner be warned for verbally sparring with one another during the fight’s opening seconds, Dvalishvili had a strong performance in the first, thanks to a couple of takedowns and a guillotine choke attempt.

    Dvalishvili continued his dominance in the second round, scoring a couple more takedowns and rode it out in top position. Dvalishvili had another choke attempt in the second round’s closing seconds when more bizarreness unfolded. The Georgian kissed O’Malley’s back, causing O’Malley to fire off a punch to the back of Dvalishvili’s head before the end of the round.

    The third round proved to be more even, with Dvalishvili continuing to find success on the ground, but O’Malley delivering the fight’s strongest strikes in the final minute of the round. Dvalishvili needed just a minute or so in the fourth round to score another takedown, working over O’Malley in top position and continuing to pummel to keep control of the defending champion.

    Even with O’Malley stuffing takedown attempts in the latter rounds, Dvalishvili was dominant when he got on top. Dvalishvili even rocked O’Malley in the closing seconds of the fourth round — a round in which he completely outlanded O’Malley by approximately 60 punches.

    Dvalishvili looked to stay on the outside in the fifth round but had to deal with damaging front kicks from O’Malley. Dvalishvili, however, managed to survive the round and landed two additional takedowns.

    One judge scored the fight 49-46 and the other two 48-47, all in Dvalishvili’s favor.

    Merab Dvalishvili Captures Bantamweight Championship With Strong Decision Win Over Sean O’Malley

    https://twitter.com/MovsarUFC/status/1835198312867045704
    https://twitter.com/chitoveraUFC/status/1835198227202949422

    Dvalishvili has now 11 straight wins after dropping his initial two in the Octagon, coming into the UFC off Dana White: Looking for a Fight.

    O’Malley suffers the second loss of his MMA career. O’Malley won the championship with a knockout of Aljamain Sterling – Dvalishvili’s friend and teammate – at UFC 292. O’Malley retained the title against Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299 in a rematch from O’Malley’s first UFC loss.

  • Noche UFC 306 Results & Highlights: Merab Dvalishvili Decisions Sean O’Malley

    Noche UFC 306 Results & Highlights: Merab Dvalishvili Decisions Sean O’Malley

    Noche UFC (UFC 306) took place tonight from the Sphere in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, Sean O’Malley put his bantamweight title on the line against Merab Dvalishvili. While in the co-main event, Alexa Grasso looked to defend her flyweight title in a trilogy bout with former champ Valentina Shevchenko. 

    Noche UFC 306 Results: Main Card

    • Bantamweight Championship Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili def. Sean O’Malley via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47×2) 
    • Flyweight Championship Co-Main Event: Valentina Shevchenko def. Alexa Grasso via unanimous decision (50-45×3) 
    • Featherweight: Diego Lopes def. Brian Ortega via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27×2)
    • Lightweight: Esteban Ribovics def. Daniel Zellhuber via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Flyweight: Ronaldo Rodriguez def. Ode’ Osbourne via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27×2)

    Preliminary Card

    • Bantamweight: Norma Dumont def. Irena Aldana via unanimous decision (30-27×3) 
    • Lightweight: Ignacio Bahamondes def. Manuel Torres via TKO: R1, 4.02
    • Strawweight: Ketlen Souza def. Yazmin Jauregui via submission: R1, 3.02
    • Flyweight: Joshua Van def. Edgar ChĂĄirez via unanimous decision (29-28×3) 
    • Bantamweight: Raul Rosas Jr. def. Aoriqileng via unanimous decision (29-28×3) 

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Ketlen Souza def. Yazmin Jauregui

    Ketlen Souza earned the first finish of UFC Noche with a submission of Yazmin Jauregui in the first round of their strawweight bout.

    Ignacio Bahamondes def. Manuel Torres

    In this lightweight matchup, Ignacio Bahamondes earned a first-round TKO of Manuel Torres.

    Main Card Highlights

    Ronaldo Rodriguez def. Ode’ Osbourne

    In this flyweight bout, Ronaldo Rodriguez earned a unanimous decision against def. Ode’ Osbourne.

    Esteban Ribovics def. Daniel Zellhuber

    Esteban Ribovics earned a split decision against Daniel Zellhuber in what was a potential fight of the year.

    Diego Lopes def. Brian Ortega

    Diego Lopes got it done on the scorecards against Brian Ortega in their featherweight bout.

    Valentina Shevchenko def. Alexa Grasso

    In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko regained her women’s flyweight title with a unanimous decision against Alexa Grasso.

    Merab Dvalishvili def. Sean O’Malley

    In the main event, Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley on the scorecards to claim the UFC bantamweight crown.

  • ‘Valentina Dvalishvili’ – MMA Fighters & Fans React To Shevchenko’s Total Domination Over Alexa Grasso At UFC 306

    ‘Valentina Dvalishvili’ – MMA Fighters & Fans React To Shevchenko’s Total Domination Over Alexa Grasso At UFC 306

    In the co-main event of UFC 306, Valentina Shevchenko reclaimed the UFC flyweight title from Alexa Grasso in their third meeting.

    The former champ was able to execute a game plan that saw her strike from distance before securing takedowns and dominating the fight with her wrestling, making for an impressive display but a slow fight.

    Grasso was able to threaten with several submission attempts but none of them were close enough to really sway any of the rounds in her favor as she was beaten 50-45 across all three scorecards.

    Despite them now being 1-1-1 in their trilogy of fights, this was by far the most one-sided of their encounters and with many believing that Shevchenko deserved to win the rematch, there isn’t likely to be one more fight between them as of right now.

    MMA Fans React To The Conclusion Of Alexa Grasso & Valentina Shevchenko’s Trilogy

    The first-ever trilogy of fights between two women in the UFC has come to an end with Shevchenko once again reigning at the top of the flyweight division.

    MMA fans and fellow fighters reacted to the dominant grappling display from the “Bullet” inside the Sphere.

    Read also: Noche UFC 306: Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Live Results & Highlights

  • ‘This Dude Is Going To Be One Of The Greats’ – Islam Makhachev, Aljamain Sterling, & Other UFC Fighters React To Diego Lopes’ Dominant Win Over Brian Ortega At UFC 306

    ‘This Dude Is Going To Be One Of The Greats’ – Islam Makhachev, Aljamain Sterling, & Other UFC Fighters React To Diego Lopes’ Dominant Win Over Brian Ortega At UFC 306

    Fight fans and UFC featherweight division – if you didn’t believe in Diego Lopes, do you now?

    In a fight that was originally supposed to happen at UFC 303 before Brian Ortega’s day-of pull-out due to a 103-degree fever, Lopes ended up making a statement scoring a win in a featured bout at Noche UFC 306.

    Lopes managed to drop Ortega in the fight’s opening minute, but Ortega managed to survive a follow-up flurry from the rising featherweight contender.

    The former featherweight title challenger was rocked again during the second round, with Lopes landing a head kick before knocking him down with a vicious leg kick. That combined with a series of leg kicks throughout the fight appeared to do damage and leave a welt on one of Ortega’s legs.

    Lopes rocked Ortega hard with a combination in the third round, dropping him once more, though Ortega was able to get up and throw down until the final horn.

    Diego Lopes Puts On Dominant Display In Victory Over Former Title Challenger Brian Ortega

    Lopes earned respect in his UFC debut, a short-notice loss to Movsar Evolev at UFC 288, and he’s now won five straight since.

    Ortega, meanwhile, has now lost three of his last four, including an unsuccessful challenge of Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title at UFC 266 in September 2021.

  • ‘And That, Ladies & Gentleman, Is Mexican Style’ – UFC Fighters All Praise After Daniel Zellhuber & Esteban Ribovics Put On War For The Ages At UFC 306

    ‘And That, Ladies & Gentleman, Is Mexican Style’ – UFC Fighters All Praise After Daniel Zellhuber & Esteban Ribovics Put On War For The Ages At UFC 306

    In perhaps one of the most competitive and thrilling fights that we’ll see in the UFC this year, Esteban Ribovics managed to just narrowly eke out a victory over Daniel Zellhuber at Noche UFC 306.

    The fight was even throughout, with both men seemingly equal in their striking and damage. Both men displayed high-level striking, trading with one another throughout as momentum and advantage continuously shifted over the course of their 15 minutes of battle.

    The third round proved to be the most intense and thrilling, starting with Zellhuber dropping Ribovics in the opening minute.

    Then, about a minute or so later, Ribovics landed a right hook that wobbled Zellhuber, with Ribovics nearly finishing him against the fence — but Zellhuber fought back and managed to survive.

    Ultimately, neither man swept the scorecards in any of the three rounds. Ribovics, however, managed to just score a split decision.

    Esteban Ribovics Narrowly Defeats Daniel Zellhuber In Fight Of The Year Contender

    https://twitter.com/Actionman513/status/1835158120676704301

    Ribovics has now won three straight after initially dropping his UFC debut last year.

    Zellhuber, meanwhile, sees a three-fight win streak snapped.

  • ‘You Can’t Have A Close Fight Against A Mexican…’ – MMA Fans Unhappy With Judges Giving Ronaldo Rodriguez Win Over Ode Osbourne In UFC 306 Banger

    ‘You Can’t Have A Close Fight Against A Mexican…’ – MMA Fans Unhappy With Judges Giving Ronaldo Rodriguez Win Over Ode Osbourne In UFC 306 Banger

    The PPV main card of UFC 306 kicked off with a bang as Ronaldo Rodriguez and Ode Osbourne delivered a fantastic flyweight fight.

    With a stunning use of the Sphere’s visuals as a backdrop, the two men went back-and-forth with Rodriguez taking the unanimous decision.

    The Mexican fighter had to face some serious adversity in the first round after being dropped by Osbourne and caught in a triangle choke that looked to be the end of the fight.

    He battled his way back into the fight and though his comeback was impressive, the scorecards appeared to suggest that the following rounds were less competitive than they were in reality.

    With two judges scoring the fight 29-27 for Rodriguez, some fans were left scratching their heads, questioning whether they just watched the same fight.

    Adalaide Byrd and Ron McCarthy both gave the victor a 10-8 in the second round which brings up the debate as to why that is a more dominant round than the first was for Osbourne.

    MMA Fans React To Questionable Scorecards In UFC 306 Main Card Opener

    Rodriguez’s performance was certainly worth praising but not necessarily to the point where there was a clear 10-8 round.

    Fans reacted on social media as the 25-year old flyweight picked up another win for the Mexican fighters at Noche UFC.

    https://twitter.com/Actionman513/status/1835149025458233810
    https://twitter.com/BriarNelson10/status/1835148792020058251

    Read also: Noche UFC 306: Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Live Results & Highlights

  • ‘Has There Ever Been A Worse Cut In The UFC?’ – Justin Gaethje, Gilbert Burns, & Others React To Irene Aldana’s Nasty Facial Injury At Noche UFC 306 [Graphic]

    ‘Has There Ever Been A Worse Cut In The UFC?’ – Justin Gaethje, Gilbert Burns, & Others React To Irene Aldana’s Nasty Facial Injury At Noche UFC 306 [Graphic]

    Norma Dumont will have a major opportunity in her next outing after putting on a well-rounded performance in a victory over Irene Aldana that closed out the UFC 306 preliminary card at The Sphere.

    But the story of the fight is more centered around the mark or, rather, the nasty gash that was left on Aldana in the fight’s aftermath.

    Late in the second round, Aldana and Dumont accidentally clashed heads, resulting in Aldana being busted open. While the cutman did his best to work with the cut, the cut still lingered into the third round, and the blood was definitely affecting Aldana.

    Dumont continued to deliver an all-around beating, and Aldana was left with perhaps one of, if not the, nastiest and deepest lacerations that has been seen in the Octagon.

    Irene Aldana Left With The Nastiest Gash On Face In Loss To Norma Dumont

    https://twitter.com/PCStricklandMMA/status/1835136936245104763
    https://twitter.com/TrickstahhW3M/status/1835136738248855689

    This marks Dumont’s fifth straight victory in the Octagon, improving to an 8-2 record in the UFC.

    Aldana, the former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger, has traded wins and losses on a consistent basis since mid-2019, going 4-4 in her last eight.

  • ‘I Mean It Looks Cool But I Don’t See What The Hype Was About’ – MMA Fans Provide Early Reactions To Noche UFC 306 At The Sphere

    ‘I Mean It Looks Cool But I Don’t See What The Hype Was About’ – MMA Fans Provide Early Reactions To Noche UFC 306 At The Sphere

    UFC 306 is still yet to hit the heights that the fans were expecting with the PPV main card yet to come as of this writing, but there have been a lot of talking points already.

    Most importantly, the prelim action delivered with a fantastic flyweight fight between Joshua Van and Edgar Chairez and several impressive finishes.

    However, the reaction from fans online pointed to many being underwhelmed at how the Sphere was being utilized but there have been a few glimpses of what is still in store.

    Several transitions of the background itself have produced some very impressive visuals that have certainly added to the spectacle from the opposite side of a screen.

    MMA Fans React To The Early Stages Of UFC 306 Inside The Sphere

    UFC 306 had a lot to live up to and as a result, the reaction online was always going to somewhat critical due to the high expectations.

    The fans were promised something special and though the main card is set to be the real attraction that differentiates itself from anything we have ever seen from the MMA leader, fight fans on social media weighed in with their thoughts from the prelim card at Noche UFC.

    A post from Ariel Helwani on X attracted several criticisms of the event thus far.

    Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen chimed in with a brilliant take, describing the backdrop that surrounded the featured prelim between Irene Aldana and Norma Dumont.

    https://twitter.com/JohnnyEblen/status/1835129123670310964

    Read also: Noche UFC 306: Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Live Results & Highlights

  • ‘Best Striker In The UFC’ – Belal Muhammad & Others React To Ignacio Bahamondes’ Brutal KO At Noche UFC 306

    ‘Best Striker In The UFC’ – Belal Muhammad & Others React To Ignacio Bahamondes’ Brutal KO At Noche UFC 306

    Crisp and brutal striking once again proved key to success for Ignacio Bahamondes, as he scored a first-round finish while competing on the preliminary card of UFC 306.

    Bahamondes managed to drop opponent Manuel Torres earlier in the first round and followed up with ground-and-pound, but Torres managed to survive and throw up his guard.

    Torres returned to his feet and lunged forward with his counter attack. That proved to be his downfall, however, as Bahamondes landed another cracking right hand, finishing the fight from there.

    Ignacio Bahamondes Impresses With Another First-Round Finish At The Sphere

    https://twitter.com/themmalegend/status/1835127561459785868

    Bahamondes has now won five of six fights since dropping his last contest in 2021. Bahamondes entered the UFC off a brutal knockout of Edson Gomez during the 2020 season of Dana White’s Contender Series.

    Torres, a DWCS alum in his own right, suffers his first Octagon defeat and sees a six-fight win streak snapped. He had entered tonight’s fight off a quick submission of Chris Duncan in February.

  • Fans React As Joshua Van & Edgar ChĂĄirez Put On Early FOTN Contender At Noche UFC 306

    Joshua Van came out on top in an early fight of the night contender against Edgar ChĂĄirez at UFC 306.

    After Raul Rosas Jr. got proceedings underway inside the Sphere with a largely uneventful performance, the flyweights in the second fight of the night turned the heat up.

    The second round in particular produced one of the best back-and-forth battles of the year, where both men could have been finished at different points.

    Ultimately, Van did enough to seal the victory after stepping in late notice, taking the second and third rounds to win 29-28 across all three scorecards.

    MMA Fans React To Flyweight Barnburner Between Joshua Van & Edgar ChĂĄirez

    Just like that, Noche UFC feels like it is properly underway after Van and ChĂĄirez helped to set the tone for the rest of the evening.

    MMA fans reacted on social media to a fantastic clash at 125 pounds which featured some vintage Mexican fighting spirit.

    Read also: Noche UFC 306: Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Live Results & Highlights

  • Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic Title Fight Official For UFC 309 On Nov. 16

    Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic Title Fight Official For UFC 309 On Nov. 16

    A year on from their originally scheduled showdown, UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic will finally do battle inside the prestigious surroundings of Madison Square Garden.

    Not many topics have remained at the surface this year quite like the heavyweight championship conversation, which boasts two titleholders in the form of Jones and Tom Aspinall.

    Although the Brit captured interim gold courtesy of Jones vs. Miocic getting postponed in late 2023, both “Bones” and the UFC have long remained firm in dismissing calls for a unification fight.

    And in spite of plenty of campaigning from Aspinall and many in the MMA community, Jones’ first title defense is now officially set to come against the returning Miocic, who hasn’t been in action since suffering a devastating knockout at the hands of Francis Ngannou over three years ago.

    The promotion confirmed to ESPN that the two legends will give an MSG clash a second go, headlining the UFC 309 pay-per-view on November 16.

    Jones Set For First Defense 20 Months On From UFC Heavyweight Title Win

    Jones (27-1, 1 NC), a former champ at 205 pounds, last entered the cage in March 2023. Over three years on from his final title defense in the lower weight class, the Rochester native debuted at heavyweight by submitting Ciryl Gane in one round to capture the then-vacant title.

    His attempt to get his reign quickly underway with a defense eight months later didn’t come to fruition after a torn pectoral tendon forced him out of the MSG-held UFC 295 last November.

    That injury also significantly delayed the comeback of Miocic (20-4), whose lengthy layoff has been extended by a year. The Ohio native’s previous outing came inside the Apex, where his second reign on the heavyweight throne came to a thunderous halt courtesy of Ngannou. He’d previously defeated Daniel Cormier in back-to-back fights to edge their trilogy.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 309 are as follows:

    • Jon Jones (C) vs. Stipe Miocic (heavyweight championship main event)
    • Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler (lightweight co-main event)
    • Nikita Krylov vs. Azamat Murzakanov (light heavyweight)
    • Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders (middleweight)
    • Viviane AraĂșjo vs. Karine Silva (women’s flyweight)
    • Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee (bantamweight)
    • Karine Silva vs. Viviane AraĂșjo (women’s flyweight)
    • Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura (women’s flyweight)
    Jon Jones
    Image: UFC.com
  • Michael Chandler Moves On From Conor McGregor, Rematches Charles Oliveira At UFC 309

    Michael Chandler Moves On From Conor McGregor, Rematches Charles Oliveira At UFC 309

    It seems that Michael Chandler finally got sick of waiting.

    For the past year-and-a-half, Chandler has been penciled in as the return opponent for Conor McGregor. The former two-division UFC champion had his comeback announced toward the start of 2023, with the Irishman scheduled to coach opposite “Iron” on The Ultimate Fighter before sharing the cage with him.

    But after 2023 passed by without that matchup reaching the Octagon, talk of a UFC 300 headliner dissipated, and an official fight date in the form of UFC 303 fell through, another calendar year looks set to come and go with the absence of “The Notorious” star.

    With that, McGregor’s fans will seemingly be waiting until 2025 for his next fight. One man who won’t be waiting that long, however, is Chandler.

    Plenty have been urging the former Bellator champ to move on and take another fight. Despite frequently dismissing those calls, it seems that Chandler has now listened. After speaking with UFC CEO Dana White, Barstool Sports’ Robbie Fox reported in a social media video that Chandler will indeed take a fight amid the uncertainty surrounding McGregor’s return.

    That bout? A five-round rematch with former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden on November 16.

    Chandler vs. Oliveira 2 Set Three Years On From Title Fight

    The major news means Chandler (23-8) and Oliveira (34-10, 1 NC) will run back their May 2021 showdown, which came just two months before the most recent Octagon appearance for McGregor.

    That bout marked the second UFC outing for Chandler, who debuted earlier in the year with an emphatic first-round knockout of Dan Hooker in Abu Dhabi. While the decision to grant him a shot caused debate, “Iron” came within inches of a title crowning in the opening round of the UFC 262 main event.

    But after “Do Bronx” survived, he quickly landed a fight-changing left hook to drop Chandler seconds into round two, setting up a memorable TKO finish and securing championship glory for the Brazilian.

    Oliveira has since fallen from the throne and failed to regain his place on it opposite Islam Makhachev. Most recently, the ex-champ was unsuccessful in his bid for number one contender status in narrow fashion against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 this past April.

    Chandler, meanwhile, has had his hand raised just once, brutally knoking out Tony Ferguson in 2022. Aside from that, the 38-year-old has suffered defeats to Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier, with his submission setback to the latter in November 2022 marking his last walk to the cage.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 309 are as follows:

    • Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler (lightweight co-main event)
    • Nikita Krylov vs. Azamat Murzakanov (light heavyweight)
    • Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders (middleweight)
    • Viviane AraĂșjo vs. Karine Silva (women’s flyweight)
    • Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee (bantamweight)
    • Karine Silva vs. Viviane AraĂșjo (women’s flyweight)
    • Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura (women’s flyweight)
    Charles Oliveira
    Image: UFC/YouTube
  • Aljamain Sterling Eyes Winner Of Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes If He Beats Movsar Evloev At UFC 307

    Aljamain Sterling Eyes Winner Of Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes If He Beats Movsar Evloev At UFC 307

    Aljamain Sterling defended the UFC bantamweight championship three times before moving up to featherweight. His TKO loss to Sean O’Malley has helped teammate and friend Merab Dvalishvili to get his well-deserved title shot, though.

    Sterling has no plans to move down to bantamweight despite his featherweight debut against Calvin Kattar getting a mixed response in MMA circles. With eight takedowns and almost 11 minutes of control time, he completely shut down the striker, but the bout lacked excitement.

    Aljo is scheduled to fight Movsar Evloev at UFC 307, and he’s already laid down the plan to reach featherweight gold in the promotion after his next fight…

    Aljamain Sterling Discusses His Future In The UFC Featherweight Division If He Wins Against Movsar Evloev

    Sterling was interviewed on the Helen Yee Sports YouTube channel recently. After backing his training partner to win the title at UFC 306, the former UFC bantamweight champ opened up about his plans to reach another division’s top.

    “Funk Master” questioned the UFC ranking Arnold Allen over Evloev even though his upcoming opponent beat Allen via unanimous decision earlier this year. Regardless, his aim is to enter the top 5 ranking with a solid win over Evloev and challenge the winner of Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes in a title eliminator.

    “I beat a guy like that, I think that puts me in a top-five conversation and then maybe the winner of Diego Lopes vs. Ortega. I fight that guy and then I fight for a world title.”

    If everything goes according to this plan, Sterling can very well look forward to fighting for the UFC featherweight champion after a couple of fights. He acknowledged that Evloev is a high-level grappler and his cardio could be a problem in their bout.

    “It’s a tough fight. Two high-level grapplers and, I think I just edge him out in every department. The only thing, that if I’m being fair, the only thing that Movsar might have on me that he’s been able to show of late that I haven’t shown is the cardio. Because he can go at that pace the whole time, kind of, reminds of a Merab and I’m not ignorant to that. I can break things down and not be biased, but I know we’ll be ready to go 15 minutes.”

    “Funk Master” also understands that he has to get a finish in his next fight to get more fans supporting his rise to the title. As a result, we might see some urgency to get a submission from Sterling as soon as the fight begins.

  • UFC Legend Predicts Umar Nurmagomedov ‘Cameo’ After Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili At UFC 306

    UFC Legend Predicts Umar Nurmagomedov ‘Cameo’ After Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili At UFC 306

    Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili will fight for the UFC bantamweight championship at UFC 306 in The Sphere, Las Vegas. The title fight is predicted to go either way because both fighters boast contrasting yet very effective styles.

    However, the bantamweight division has been so stacked lately that a couple of strong contenders are already waiting for the winner. Former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo is riding a three-fight win streak since moving up and Umar Nurmagomedov has solidified his claim as well with a win over Cory Sandhagen.

    Despite no official confirmation, Chael Sonnen believes that Nurmagomedov is indeed the next title contender in UFC’s bantamweight division. He’s also predicted the perfect way to announce the new challenger at UFC 306 itself…

    Chael Sonnen Looks Forward To Umar Nurmagomedov Facing Winner Of Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili

    On his official YouTube channel, Sonnen revealed that he ran into Nurmagomedov at The Sphere which he doesn’t think of as a coincidence. Instead, the UFC veteran predicts that the no. 2 ranked bantamweight will be seated in the front rows to appear instantly in the Octagon after the main event ends.

    “The American Gangster” stated that the UFC would either have Joe Rogan announce Nurmagomedov’s title shot or he would get a proper face-off with the champ inside the ‘Octagon.

    “I’m not having the debate of does he deserve it. I’m not having the debate of 18 straight, four years in the company, six in the Octagon, six wins straight. I’m not having that debate. I fully understand he could be number one contender. What I’m sharing for you, if he’s here, and they plan to put him in the front row to potentially, whether it’s a cameo for an announcement that maybe say Joe Rogan will make or it’s an organic face off. He gets in the ring and he goes nose to nose with either Merab or Sean.”

    Sonnen then talked about O’Malley and Dvalishvili having contrasting takes on the next title challenger in their division. Dvalishvili thinks Figueiredo’s wins over a former champ and a title challenger make him more deserving of a shot. On the other end, O’Malley seems to have accepted the Russian’s title shot following his win over Sandhagen.

    All of this would naturally not matter if Sonnen’s prediction is true. He strongly believes that the undefeated Dagestani prospect is attending the live event only to help the UFC announce the next bantamweight title fight.

    It is worth noting that Sonnen doesn’t believe Figueiredo doesn’t deserve to fight for the title yet. He just sees Nurmagomedov as a bigger draw because of his last win and his training family which comprises Khabib Nurmagomedov, Usman Nurmagomedov, and Islam Makhachev, among other dominant fighters.

    • Read More: Coach Claims Ilia Topuria Is A More Favorable Matchup For Sean O’Malley Than Max Holloway: ‘He’s Pretty Flat-Footed’
  • Dan Hooker Rejects Rafael Fiziev’s Callout: ‘That Ship Has Long Gone’

    Dan Hooker Rejects Rafael Fiziev’s Callout: ‘That Ship Has Long Gone’

    Dan Hooker recently made it clear that he has no intention of facing Rafael Fiziev.

    “The Hangman” is riding high after a closely contested split decision victory over the highly regarded Mateusz Gamrot on the main card of UFC 305 in Perth last month. This win has propelled Hooker back onto a three-fight win streak, into the top five, and also marked a notable revival of his career.

    Hooker’s recent success has caught the attention of Fiziev, who, earlier this month, threw down the gauntlet on X by challenging the 34-year-old Kiwi. Fiziev even dubbed the potential matchup a “Fight of the Year contender.”

    However, “Ataman’s” ambitions seem to have been tossed into a cold bag by Hooker, who has expressed that he’s no longer interested in the bout


    Hooker Puts Fiziev’s Form Behind Reluctance To Accept The Bout

    During a recent interview with ENGAGE, Hooker addressed Fiziev’s fight callout, revealing that he’s not keen on facing the 31-year-old Azerbaijani due to his recent string of losses.

    “The Hangman” further explained that he had initially called out “Ataman” for a bout at UFC 305 but Fiziev’s request for more time meant that the opportunity has now passed.

    Hooker is now aiming to fight within the top five.

    “I don’t want to fight him. I’m not excited for that fight,” Hooker said. “The guy’s coming off two losses. He’s sitting on the shelf. I called him out for the Perth card; I asked him if he wanted to fight on Perth, but he wasn’t ready. Now he’s ready, but that ship has long sailed, mate. That fight does not excite me;. Obviously, it excites him, but I have absolutely nothing to gain from that fight.”

    After his victory at UFC 305, Hooker expressed a keen interest in facing either Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje next, aiming to take a decisive step closer to securing his first title shot.

    Meanwhile, Fiziev has been on the sidelines for a year following a severe knee injury sustained during his bout against Gamrot in the headliner of a UFC Fight Night event in September 2023.

    Prior to that setback, “Ataman” experienced a hard-fought majority decision loss to Gaethje at UFC 286 in March of that yae. This defeat ended his impressive five-fight win streak, a run that featured pivotal victories over Rafael dos Anjos, Kevin Lee, and Renato Moicano.