Arman Tsarukyan is under fire after choking a fan unconscious during a live stream. The UFC lightweight contender’s actions have drawn widespread criticism.
The incident occurred during what appeared to be a casual interaction that escalated quickly. Video footage shows Tsarukyan applying a chokehold to the individual until they lost consciousness.
The live stream captured the entire sequence, which has since circulated across social media platforms. Fans and fellow fighters have questioned whether the fighter crossed a line with his actions.
Community Response
The incident has sparked debate about fighter conduct outside the cage. While some have defended Tsarukyan’s actions as consensual demonstration, others argue the situation went too far.
Tsarukyan is currently ranked among the top lightweights in the UFC. The fighter has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident.
The promotion has not commented on whether any disciplinary action will be taken. The incident adds to ongoing discussions about fighter behavior and professional responsibility.
Paddy Pimblett revealed he walks into the cage at 191 pounds on fight night after cutting to the 155-pound lightweight limit. The claim represents a 36-pound weight gain between weigh-ins and competition.
The Liverpool fighter made the disclosure in a video posted to his own channel. Pimblett explained the extreme nature of his weight cut and rehydration process between official weigh-ins and fight time.
Lightweight Weight Management
Pimblett competes in the UFC’s lightweight division, which has a 155-pound limit for non-title fights and 156 pounds for championship bouts. His stated cage weight would place him well above the middleweight limit of 185 pounds by the time he enters competition.
The fighter’s comments highlight ongoing discussions about weight cutting practices in mixed martial arts. Many fighters cut significant amounts of water weight to compete in lower divisions, then rehydrate rapidly after weigh-ins.
Pimblett’s UFC Career
The former Cage Warriors champion has built a following with his fighting style and outspoken personality. His weight management approach has drawn attention throughout his UFC tenure.
Weight cutting remains a controversial topic in combat sports, with some promotions implementing same-day weigh-ins or additional weight checks to limit extreme cuts. The UFC currently conducts weigh-ins the day before fight night for most events.
⚖️Paddy Pimblett says his fight weight is 87kg (191lbs)
“I’m only ever 70kg (155lbs) for 1 or 2 hours. I get back in the cage at 87kg (191lbs”
Kamaru Usman believes Israel Adesanya still has the technical ability to compete at the highest level, but the former middleweight champion needs to overcome a mental battle to return to winning ways. Adesanya is currently on a four-fight losing streak following his loss to Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle this past Saturday.
Speaking on his Pound-4-Pound podcast, Usman addressed his longtime friend’s recent struggles. The former welterweight champion sees a fighter who still displays brilliance but struggles when facing adversity inside the cage.
“I’m a fan of Israel’s, and as a spectator, as well, I see it from that perspective. But I also see it as a fighter who has been in a situation like this,” Usman said. “And God, it’s difficult, because he still has it. You can see it. He can still twitch you and land and chop you up, to where I think, when you’re in a situation like this, it’s almost impossible not to doubt yourself.”
The Mental Challenge of Losing Streaks
Usman explained how self-doubt creeps in after falling from championship status. He contrasted the mindset of a rising contender with that of a former champion on a losing streak, noting the psychological toll of consecutive defeats.
“When you’re on the way up, and you’re young, you’re just, ‘Next one, next one, next one.’ You’re consistently just going in there and doing it and being victorious. You don’t have time to doubt yourself,” Usman explained. “But when you’ve been to the top, and now you’re rolling back down, you start to doubt yourself while you’re rolling back down. Do I still have it? Can I still do it? Am I still that good? So, you have to find some way to anchor yourself and turn the boat around.”
Usman pointed to specific moments in the Pyfer fight where Adesanya showed his technical prowess. He noted a body kick and knee strike that nearly finished the fight, demonstrating that the skills remain intact despite the results.
Drawing From Personal Experience
Usman’s perspective comes from personal experience with adversity. Like Adesanya, he recorded five title defenses as a UFC champion before losing his belt and dropping three consecutive fights. He rebounded with a victory over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta last year.
“It’s just a few things throughout the course of that fight,” Usman said. “You see the brilliance. You see, when he switched stances and kicked the body, he measured, he measured, found that knee that was an inch off. A little bit more with that knee, fight’s over, Pyfer’s gone. So, he shows that brilliance, it’s still there, but when you start to face resistance, especially a guy as powerful as Pyfer, and he starts to hit you really, really hard, and you take those shots, can you anchor yourself and say, ‘You know what, I still got what it takes. Let me get back to the game plan. Let me use this fight IQ here and let me win.’”
Usman emphasized that only Adesanya can determine whether he can overcome the mental obstacles. The physical skills and fight IQ remain present, but the ability to stay composed under fire will determine his future success.
“But the only person who can answer that is Izzy. Can he still anchor himself? Can he still find that? Because he still has the skills. He’s still sharp. He can still put combinations together,” Usman concluded.
Legal tensions between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal have resurfaced years after their heated fallout, with the latest chapter now unfolding in civil court.
As per recent reports, the former UFC interim welterweight champion filed a lawsuit in Miami-Dade County last month seeking damages exceeding $50,000 in connection with the incident. Court records also indicate that the total compensation sought could exceed $100,000.
The latest development stems from events that unfolded after their bout at UFC 272 in March 2022, where Covington secured a clear unanimous decision victory. In the aftermath of that fight, Masvidal made a public statement saying, “If I see him out in the streets, I’m going to give him everything I got to break his f**king jaw.”
Less than three weeks later, the situation escalated outside Papi Steak. According to the lawsuit, Covington was leaving the venue when the former BMF champion approached and struck him without warning, triggering a physical altercation.
The incident led to criminal proceedings, which concluded in November 2023 when “Gamebred” entered a guilty plea. He was sentenced to time already served and ordered to pay the associated legal costs, avoiding additional jail time despite the seriousness of the charges.
The aftermath of Jorge Masvidal attacking Colby Covington at Papi Steak in Miami about 10-11 hours ago. pic.twitter.com/0LgYdRjbP6
In the civil filing, “Chaos” claims he sustained physical injuries as a result of the attack and points to ongoing effects linked to the incident. The lawsuit also cites property damage, including a Rolex watch valued at around $15,000.
His legal team argues that the attack was deliberate and intended to cause damage and is seeking compensation for medical expenses, losses, and other applicable damages under the law.
Covington has requested a jury trial in this case. As of now, no court date has been scheduled, meaning the dispute between the former teammates from American Top Team continues to unfold through legal proceedings.
Chael Sonnen believes the UFC can book Conor McGregor against any opponent and still sell out an arena. The former title challenger says McGregor remains one of the biggest draws in combat sports despite approaching five years without a fight.
McGregor has not competed since July 2021 at UFC 264, where he suffered a broken leg in a trilogy bout loss to Dustin Poirier. The 37-year-old was scheduled to return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 but withdrew due to injury.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Sonnen addressed the ongoing speculation about McGregor’s comeback opponent. Names like Jorge Masvidal, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and Nate Diaz have been frequently mentioned as potential matchups.
Red Panty Night Still Real
Sonnen stated that McGregor’s drawing power transcends his opponents’ quality. He believes the former champion can generate massive interest regardless of who stands across from him.
“Conor’s in a unique spot. ‘Red Panty Night’ is still real,” Sonnen said. “Conor can be in there with Ian Garry. Conor can be in there with Max Holloway. Conor McGregor could be in there with your neighbor, it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference. They’ve only got so many tickets and they’re going to sell them all.”
The reference to “Red Panty Night” stems from McGregor’s own phrase describing the financial windfall opponents receive when fighting him. Sonnen believes that phenomenon remains intact despite McGregor’s extended absence.
Potential Opponents and UFC Strategy
Sonnen stated the UFC might give McGregor a relevant contender rather than a legacy matchup. He specifically mentioned welterweight contender Ian Garry as a possibility.
“I have a feeling that Conor’s going to get dealt right from the bottom of the deck,” Sonnen said. “I have a feeling they’re going to throw an ace on the table because Conor is willing to do it. I have a feeling he’s going to fight Ian Garry or an Ian Garry type.”
Nate Diaz recently claimed the UFC offered him a trilogy bout with McGregor, but he turned it down to fight Mike Perry at an upcoming event. Sonnen believes that matchup could still materialize if circumstances change.
McGregor has just one victory since 2016, a 40-second knockout of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. His reputation has been impacted by both in-cage struggles and legal issues, including being found liable for sexual assault in a civil case in November 2024.
Sonnen added that while the UFC has flexibility in booking McGregor, fan sentiment could ultimately influence the decision on his comeback opponent.
Charles Oliveira has responded to Nate Diaz’s recent callout, but the veteran fighter remains focused on his primary goal of regaining the UFC lightweight championship. Oliveira, who has competed 37 times in the UFC, addressed Diaz’s comments while discussing his future plans.
Diaz recently stated in an interview with Theo Von that he would “beat the fucking shit out of Charles Oliveira.” The comments came after Oliveira’s recent performances in the lightweight division.
“I told [my coach/manager] Diego [Lima] that this is the moment for us to think carefully about what’s going to happen,” Oliveira told Canal Encarada. “Would a fight with Nate be good? Of course, definitely. Given everything he’s been saying — he’s a guy who sells a lot, someone who would help us make money, it would be a big fight and a lot of people would want to see it.”
McGregor Return Speculation
Oliveira also addressed the possibility of facing Conor McGregor, who has been away from the octagon for almost five years. The Brazilian fighter expressed renewed confidence that McGregor could actually return this time.
“We’ve heard so many times that Conor is coming back and nothing happens,” Oliveira said. “But one of the reasons I believe he might return this time is that Dana usually wouldn’t say anything, and this time he has spoken. So I do believe he could come back to fight at [International] Fight Week.”
Backup Fighter Role
Oliveira revealed interest in serving as backup fighter for the lightweight title bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14. However, he outlined specific conditions for accepting that role.
“Do Bronx” said he would need a guarantee that Topuria, if victorious, would defend the lightweight title instead of moving to welterweight. In a scenario where Topuria wins and leaves the division, the UFC could ask Oliveira to fight in July or August for the vacant belt, forcing him into another camp on shorter notice.
“I’m going after the title,” Oliveira said. “I want to become champion again, but I think nobody is naive, everyone is doing the math. The belt will be unified in June. I could be a backup for the fight. But I stay focused on training, make weight, and when I get there, there’s no fight [for me].”
Former Interim UFC Welterweight Champion Colby Covington recently filed a lawsuit against fellow fighter Jorge Masvidal, seeking damages in excess of $50,000. It comes after an attack outside a restaurant in Miami Beach in 2022.
The lawsuit was filed in Miami-Dade County, Florida, on March 23. The legal action stems from an incident that occurred on March 21, 2022, just weeks after the two welterweights faced off at UFC 272 on March 5, 2022, where Covington defeated Masvidal by unanimous decision.
In documentation filed with the courts, Covington’s attorneys detailed how Masvidal threatened him during his post-fight interview, stating “if I see him out in the streets, I’m going to give him everything I got to break his f*cking jaw.”
Attack Outside Papi Steak Restaurant
On March 21, as Covington left Papi Steak restaurant in Miami Beach, Masvidal “ambushed” him and “initiated a physical attack without warning.”
The lawsuit further stated that “Gamebred” struck Covington “with a closed fist” to the face. The assault was “sudden, intentional, and calculated” and the 38-year-old fighter had no chance to protect himself.
Criminal charges were filed against Masvidal, and he later reached a plea deal with prosecutors where he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery. Former UFC “BMF” Champion was sentenced to time served, and he was held responsible for paying all fees associated to the case. However, he faced no additional jail time.
Masvidal’s Response and Legal Claims
Following his court hearing, Masvidal took to social media, where he fired back at Covington again over the incident.
“F*ck you, Colby,” Masvidal said. “It’s going to be a f*cking movie now. All these orders, all these restraining orders been lifted off. It’s going to be a f*cking movie.”
Covington’s attorneys claim that Masvidal’s attack was “unprovoked” and “deliberate, malicious and carried out with the intent to cause harm.”
As a result of the attack, “Chaos” claimed he “suffered bodily injury and resulting pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, physical impairment, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, expense of hospitalization, medical and nursing care and treatment.”
Covington’s attorneys argue that the injuries “are either permanent or continuing” and the veteran Welterweight fighter “will suffer the losses in the future.” In the cover sheet to his lawsuit, Covington’s attorneys noted that he was actually seeking over $100,000 in total damages.
No court date has been announced yet after the lawsuit was filed in March.
Islam Makhachev may be one of the most dominant champions in UFC history, but his success has created an unexpected problem. Former title challenger Chael Sonnen believes the welterweight champion’s overwhelming skill level makes it hard for fans to get excited about his fights.
UFC President Dana White recently confirmed that Makhachev will return in August to defend his welterweight title for the first time. The Russian won the 170-pound belt via unanimous decision over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 on November 15, 2025, after vacating the lightweight title months earlier.
Potential challengers like Ian Machado Garry and Kamaru Usman have been mentioned as options for Makhachev’s first defense. Moving up a weight class has given the champion fresh matchups, but Sonnen questions whether those fights will capture fans’ interest.
Sonnen Questions Excitement Level for Makhachev Fights
In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen explained his perspective on the challenge Makhachev faces as a dominant champion.
“It wasn’t to insult, Islam’s great. I fully get Islam’s greatness,” Sonnen said. “I’m saying I don’t think there’s an exciting fight. I think Islam has gotten to that level of greatness where it’s hard to think that someone can deal with that and if you can’t make believe that someone can deal with that, you can not be excited for the fight.”
Makhachev’s dominant performance against Della Maddalena answered questions about how he would handle larger opponents at welterweight. All three judges scored the bout in his favor, establishing him as a two-division champion.
Historical Precedent for Dominant Champions
Sonnen’s observation echoes patterns seen with other legendary UFC champions. Demetrious Johnson, who enters the Hall of Fame this year, was so far ahead of his flyweight competition that his title defenses sometimes felt like formalities.
Jon Jones experienced similar dynamics during his final run as light heavyweight champion. While he had some competitive fights, no single challenger emerged as a clear threat to his dominance.
The welterweight division does offer opponents who could pose interesting challenges to Makhachev, even if the champion would enter as the favorite.
Cory Sandhagen expressed frustration with Sean O’Malley after learning he would not be facing the former bantamweight champion next. Instead, O’Malley is set to face Aiemann Zahabi at UFC White House on June 14 in Washington, D.C., on a card headlined by Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje for the undisputed lightweight title.
Following the announcement, O’Malley stated on The Ariel Helwani Show that he never turned down a fight with Sandhagen because the UFC never offered it. Sandhagen addressed O’Malley’s response ahead of training partner Elias Rodriguez’s fight at LFA 230 this Friday.
Sandhagen Says O’Malley Should Have Pushed for the Fight
“No, I mean the proper response — when you know that there’s a fight that everyone wants to see you fight in – the proper response when the UFC calls you and says, ‘Hey, we want to do you and so and so,’ you go, ‘Hey, what about this person? That’s who the people want to see,” Sandhagen told MMA Fighting. “That’s the proper response in that situation and that’s not what he gave.”
Sandhagen acknowledged O’Malley’s explanation had some validity but maintained that the former champion should have advocated for the fight fans wanted. “It just sucks that the fans are calling for this one and it didn’t get to happen. That’s what sucks the most,” he said.
Both fighters suffered title fight losses to then-champion Merab Dvalishvili in 2025, with Sandhagen dropping a decision at UFC 320 this past October. Sandhagen noted he was not particularly disappointed from a financial standpoint, as the fight would not have resulted in a new contract or significant payday.
Payton Talbott Fight Offer Fell Through
Sandhagen revealed that the UFC presented him with a matchup against surging bantamweight contender Payton Talbott, who dominated Henry Cejudo in the former two-division champion’s final MMA fight at UFC 323 this past December. “They kind of floated that idea by me and I was game for it, and then they went in a different direction,” Sandhagen said.
The 33-year-old fighter confirmed he accepted the Talbott fight and began preparing for it before the UFC changed course. “I said yes to that fight. I thought that I was going to fight him for a couple days, started kind of getting ready for that a little bit, and then they decided to go in another direction and give me a different opponent, so that’s kind of where I’m at now.”
Sandhagen Eyes Summer Return
Sandhagen hopes to return to the octagon this summer, targeting International Fight Week as his preferred date. He outlined his plan to fight twice a year for the next few years before retiring from the sport.
“I’m shooting on that and then just try to get two more a year for the next few years and then probably, that’ll be it for me. So I just want to fight twice a year for the next few years and then I’ll be a happy guy,” Sandhagen explained.
Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili has opted out of surgery after breaking his nose during a sparring accident.
The 35-year-old revealed that the injury occurred as he was kneed during training. Dvalishvili has revealed his nose is broken in two places, which would require surgery. In an Instagram video, Dvalishvili said:
“What a good day and what a stupid accident. Again, 12 years after, my nose is f—ed up even worse. As you see, it’s even more cracked, same direction. When I touch, my bones are broken inside, and one side I can’t even breathe.”
This marks the second time Dvalishvili has broken his nose, with the first break occurring 12 years ago during his professional debut. The injury has left his nose more crooked than before, with one side completely obstructing his breathing.
Surgery Would Require Year-Long Recovery
After consulting with a nose surgeon, Dvalishvili learned that fixing the injury would require re-breaking other bones to straighten his nose properly. The recovery timeline of one year proved too long for the active fighter to accept.
“I did my X-ray, and X-ray shows that my nose is broken at two places,” Dvalishvili explained. “I just saw doctor, nose surgeon, and he said if he will fix my nose and then make straight, then he has to re-break other bones too, and it will take one more year to heal up. Of course, I don’t want to do that.”
The surgeon suggested Dvalishvili could postpone the surgery until after retirement, but the fighter rejected that option as well.
“I said, ‘I’m not going into retirement the next 20 years.’ So, I guess I’m going to keep my nose even more crooked than what it used to be before,” he said.
Despite the injury, Dvalishvili confirmed he will move forward with his scheduled wrestling tournament against Henry Cejudo at RAF. “The Machine”, who lost to the current UFC bantamweight champion via unanimous decision at UFC 323, remains committed to competing with the broken nose rather than taking time off for surgery.
UFC commentator Jon Anik has backed Nate Diaz’s decision to turn down a trilogy fight against Conor McGregor.
Diaz recently revealed he turned down a UFC offer to return this year for a fight against the Irishman. The 40-year-old explained he still believes he can compete against the best fighters in the world and requested a bout with Charles Oliveira instead.
Jon Anik Calls Diaz’s Stance ‘Refreshing’
Speaking on Submission Radio, Anik praised the fighter for prioritizing competitive merit over financial gain.
“I think it’s the biggest fight and it makes a lot of sense,” Anik said. “That’s not the fight that he was looking for and I think that’s a little bit refreshing if I could take that side of it, to hear Nate say that he wants something that maybe competitively for him is more juicy, that he’s not necessarily there for the pageantry or the biggest possible pay check.”
Conor McGregor Trilogy Replaced by Max Holloway Bout
With the Stockton native out of the picture, Max Holloway has emerged as the frontrunner to face McGregor in his targeted comeback. Holloway recently lost his BMF title at UFC 326.
The promotion is reportedly targeting UFC 329 during International Fight Week for McGregor’s return. The former ESPN anchor expressed enthusiasm for both potential matchups involving “The Notorious.”
“It may be a little inside baseball of me to think of that Max Holloway fight in the terms that I do but I would really like to see that.
“The Charles Oliveira fight makes a lot of sense as well and as I’m commentating the BMF title fight with Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway, the whole time, (Joe) Rogan and I are thinking, wow, not man, this is boring.
“To me, Charles and Conor for the BMF belt makes a lot of sense, Holloway makes a lot of sense.”
Despite signing with MVP MMA for his next fight, Diaz’s decision likely doesn’t rule out a potential future return to the UFC for a McGregor trilogy down the line.
Nate Diaz is set to face Mike Perry on the MVP MMA Netflix card scheduled for May 16th.
Daniel Cormier delivered a scathing response to recent criticism from Nate Diaz, directly comparing their fighting careers and calling the former UFC lightweight title challenger “average.” The former two-division UFC champion addressed Diaz’s comments in a YouTube video after the 40-year-old criticized MMA analysts during an appearance on Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast.
Diaz had specifically targeted Cormier among other analysts during the podcast appearance, which also saw him discuss turning down a UFC return and criticizing several fighters, including Von’s friend Dustin Poirier. The comments prompted Cormier to break his previous stance of not comparing their careers.
Cormier Counts Diaz’s Losses in Heated Response
The former UFC champion addressed Diaz’s 20-13 MMA record in his video response, contrasting it with his own championship pedigree. Cormier, who held titles at both light heavyweight and heavyweight, emphasized the stark difference in their career trajectories.
“It’s hard for me to fathom losing to 13 people in the sport that you chose and when I lost those fights, I was in my mid to late 30s and two dudes were able to get me,” Cormier said. “You lost to 13 people, you were losing fights in your 20s. You were in your absolute athletic prime in a sport that you chose and you got beat multiple times by all these people. That to me is crazy.”
Cormier suggested there is an “ocean” between what they’ve achieved in their respective careers, despite Diaz’s financial success in recent years.
Former Champion Questions Diaz’s Legacy
The retired champion argued that Diaz’s stock only climbed significantly after his fight with Conor McGregor, calling into question the foundation of his popularity. Cormier made clear he wasn’t interested in comparing bank accounts between two wealthy fighters, but rather their accomplishments inside the cage.
“Somebody got to check him,” Cormier continued. “At this point, he might need a handler because guess what? There’s a chance he goes and gets beat by Mike Perry. I was there when they had to throw the towel in for Josh Thomson. Reality is you’re average. You’ve always been. But, you’ve made a lot of money, that’s good. But, you’re average.”
Cormier clarified multiple times during his response that he doesn’t dislike Diaz personally, but felt compelled to address the criticism after previously choosing not to engage. The former champion referenced Diaz’s 2013 stoppage loss to Josh Thomson as an example of his career struggles.
Colby Covington recently delivered a harsh assessment of Sean Strickland’s chances against Khamzat Chimaev, predicting the former middleweight champion would have no path to victory in a potential matchup. The prediction highlights a perceived stylistic mismatch between the two fighters.
Covington’s outlook for Strickland is decidedly negative. During an interview on Submission Radio, the former interim welterweight champion suggested a significant skill gap exists between Strickland and Chimaev.
Stylistic Concerns for Strickland
Covington’s prediction centers on what he views as a problematic matchup for Strickland. The assessment suggests Chimaev’s wrestling-heavy approach and physical dominance would overwhelm Strickland’s striking-based game.
“No, I’m not giving him a chance,” Covington said. “Hernandez and Khamzat are completely different levels of grapplers and the way they approach their strategies. So, I think Khamzat’s going to take him down and submit him. Schmo went and watched them spar back at Xtreme Couture a couple of years ago, and he pretty much said it wasn’t competitive.
“Khamzat was just taking him down and submitting him, so I expect that same damn plan. He’s not going to be stupid and strike with Sean and make it a kickboxing fight. He’s just going to make it straight grappling, and I think he’s going to put Strickland in some really bad positions and either submit him or just hold him down for 25 minutes.”
Chimaev hasn’t competed since he won the middleweight gold back in August last year. ‘Borz’ had some heated words exchanged on social media with Strickland, and the two will clash at UFC 328 on May 9th in Newark.
Jon Jones shared new training footage on social media Tuesday, showing sharp bare-knuckle pad work as he continues pursuing an MMA return. The former UFC heavyweight champion posted the video amid an ongoing dispute with the promotion over his contract status.
“Right now, I’m exactly where I need to be, I’m excited to see myself in a few months when things actually start to ramp up. Feeling sharp across the board. #MMA,” Jones captioned the video of him hitting pads without gloves.
The training footage comes after Jones attended his first IBA Bare-Knuckle event in St. Petersburg this past weekend, where Yoel Romero competed in the main event. Jones recently signed as an ambassador with the bare-knuckle promotion.
White House Event Dispute
The conflict between Jones and UFC boss Dana White escalated earlier this year when Jones was excluded from the UFC White House event despite expressing interest in competing on the card. White claimed Jones was never in contention for the event, contradicting Jones’ account of failed negotiations.
Jones subsequently requested his release from the UFC to continue his MMA career elsewhere, though the promotion has not granted that request. White has repeatedly referenced Jones’ arthritis issues when discussing the 38-year-old’s future, pointing to footage of Jones telling a fan about his hip condition.
Potential Ngannou Fight
Speculation about a potential matchup between Jones and Francis Ngannou has resurfaced as Ngannou prepares for his MMA return on May 16 on the MVP MMA Netflix card. Ngannou publicly supported Jones during his dispute with the UFC, with Jones acknowledging the gesture on social media.
Despite the renewed interest in the fight, the UFC appears unlikely to release Jones from his contract. Jones’ training footage suggests he remains committed to competing again, though his path back to the octagon remains unclear.
Nate Diaz recently unleashed a profanity-laced tirade against Dustin Poirier and Daniel Cormier during an appearance on the This Past Weekend podcast. The former UFC lightweight contender held nothing back in his criticism of both fighters.
Diaz directed his initial ire toward Poirier, who was scheduled to fight him at UFC 230 in November 2018 before withdrawing due to injury. The Stockton native mocked Poirier’s explanation for missing their bout.
“He had p*ssy surgery when we were supposed to fight,” Diaz said. “There’s a video of it… Penis being removed. He had penis-removal surgery, so we didn’t get to fight. Let’s make fun of him a little bit. Louisiana-ass, p*ssy boy. He quit his job and then was like, ‘I want to box Nate in a thing.’ I’m like, ‘Why’d you quit too early, stupid?’ He’s emotional.”
When podcast host Theo Von attempted to defend ‘The Diamond’, Diaz partially walked back his comments.
“I’m kidding,” Diaz said. “He’s done good. He can’t fight. I’m kidding, I’m just giving you shit.”
Nate Diaz Goes Off On Daniel Cormier Over Analyst Role
The Stockton native then shifted his focus to Cormier, expressing frustration with fighters who transition into analyst roles and criticize active competitors. The former two-division UFC champion became a primary target.
“Then what they do is they go out and give criticism to a fighter like an analyst, I’m like, you were never even a fighter, if that’s what you do,” Diaz said. “You’re a b*tch. And you’re going to f*cking analyze and talk about how fighters are and what they should do? And you know it all? You know it all? Well, what the f*ck happened in your career then? Why are you an analyst now, Mr. Know-It-All?”
Diaz continued his rant as he questioned why Cormier would criticize other fighters given his own career trajectory.
“Why are you Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson and the best of the best? Talking negative about what I should do when I made more money than you ever made in your whole career at any fight, Mr. Champion,” he said.
The criticism appears misguided, considering Cormier won UFC titles at heavyweight and light heavyweight and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Modern Wing in 2022. Cormier lost only to Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic during his career.
Financial Success Over Championship Status
Diaz claimed he witnessed only one Cormier fight in person, referencing what appears to be the first Miocic bout at UFC 241.
“I’ve never seen a single DC fight in my career except for when I was on the same card as him one time and he was picking up the dude and walking around like he was just owned him like he was hella tight, like damn he’s schooling that dude,” Diaz said. “Then I looked back at the screen and he was knocked out on his ass.”
He then questioned whether Cormier’s criticism stems from financial jealousy.
“Are you mad because you were the champion and like when I was nowhere near champion I got paid way more money than you? That’s a f*cking bitter little b*tch who’s analyzing fights,” Diaz said.
Diaz also referenced Cormier’s emotional response following his knockout loss to Jones at UFC 214, a result later overturned to a no-contest after Jones tested positive for banned substances.
“You’re a great wrestler, DC, but you can’t fight for shit,” Diaz said. “You win fights, but you’re a f*cking big old p*ssy. Remember he cried? He got knocked out by Jon and he cried.”
Despite the harsh words, Diaz’s comments appeared at least partially tongue-in-cheek. He acknowledged that his targets benefit from the attention.
“I’m just saying they’re putting themselves in a position to be roasted,” Diaz said. “The bad part about it is they get the favor of me talking and roasting on them and that’s what they wanted me to do. So I take it back, DC, you’re cool. You’re the man.”
Diaz is set to face former UFC fighter Mike Perry on May 16th on a Most Valuable Promotions card.
Nate Diaz has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to complete a trilogy with Conor McGregor, revealing he had no interest in facing the former UFC champion for a third time. The Stockton native made it clear he saw no benefit in another matchup.
During an appearance on “This Past Weekend,” Diaz explained why he didn’t want to lock horns with McGregor at this stage in their lives:
“I want to fight the best of the best when they are the best of the best. Conor’s great, but I’m not trying to go kill off Conor when he’s on his last dying f*cking leg, literally. That’s f*cked up. I’m not trying to be the ending to some f*cker’s story like that. We ain’t friends, we ain’t none of that, but I ain’t trying to finish this dude off. That’s what I plan on doing if we’re fighting. At the same time, I ain’t trying to get f*cked up by nobody who just got knocked out on his ass and broke his leg, this guy’s down and out, now he’s nothing but motivated to fight me because who else are you going to fight in there? They’re probably going to give him a f*cking BMF belt, f*cking bitch-ass Oliveira, who I believe I’ll beat the f*cking shit out of.”
Diaz-McGregor History
The rivalry between Diaz and McGregor produced two of the UFC’s biggest pay-per-view events. Diaz submitted McGregor at UFC 196 in March 2016, handing the Irish star his first UFC loss.
McGregor won the rematch five months later at UFC 202 via majority decision. A trilogy fight has been discussed for years but never materialized while both fighters were under UFC contract.
No Interest in Third Fight
Diaz’s comments indicate he viewed a trilogy as unnecessary. With the series split at one win apiece, the fighter apparently felt no need to settle the score definitively.
Both fighters have since moved on to other ventures. McGregor has been sidelined with injuries and business pursuits, while Diaz departed the UFC in 2022 to pursue boxing and other combat sports opportunities.
Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley recently made a rare public admission of jealousy after learning about Ilia Topuria’s new partnership with luxury watch brand Richard Mille. He described the Richard Mille deal as the type of ultra-luxury sponsorship that signals a fighter has crossed over from star athlete to global A-list status.
O’Malley’s Honest Reaction
O’Malley discussed his reaction on his own show after receiving news of Topuria’s announcement. His longtime coach and friend Tim Welch sent him a screenshot of Topuria’s Richard Mille signing, prompting an unusually candid response from the champion.
“I am jealous. I haven’t felt the jealousy emotion in a long time,” O’Malley said. “I felt it when Tim sent me a screenshot: Ilia signs with Richard Mille. I was like, ‘Oh!’”
O’Malley admits he’s jealous of Ilia’s Richard Mille deal 😂👀
"I am jealous. I haven't felt the jealousy emotion in a long time."
"I felt it when Tim sent me a screenshot: Ilia signs with Richard Mille."
For a bantamweight champion who has built a strong personal brand and social following, O’Malley’s reaction highlights the prestige associated with Richard Mille partnerships. The luxury Swiss watch manufacturer is known for extremely high-profile athlete endorsements that often represent a fighter’s arrival at the highest levels of mainstream recognition.
O’Malley’s honest assessment of his emotional response shows how even established champions view certain sponsorship deals as benchmarks of crossover success. His willingness to openly discuss feeling jealous demonstrates the competitive nature that extends beyond the octagon into business opportunities.
Topuria’s Growing Profile
Topuria’s Richard Mille partnership represents another step in the featherweight contender’s rising profile. The deal positions him among elite athletes across multiple sports who represent the luxury brand, suggesting his marketability has reached significant levels despite being relatively early in his UFC career compared to established champions like O’Malley.
The former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has been removed from the UFC’s middleweight top five rankings following his second-round TKO loss to Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle, ending a seven-year streak in the division’s elite tier.
‘The Last Stylebender’ suffered his fourth consecutive defeat this past weekend, marking a significant turning point in his career trajectory. Unlike his previous three losses, which came against fellow top contenders, Adesanya’s latest setback was against rising prospect Pyfer.
Ranking Implications
Adesanya hasn’t won a fight since April 2023. Despite his recent losses to elite competition, he maintained his top-five status in the 185-pound division. However, the defeat to Pyfer carried different weight as it came against an unranked opponent looking to break into title contention.
The ranking drop represents the most significant impact on Adesanya’s standing since his championship reign ended. Despite many observers feeling he was performing well in the early stages of the fight, the second-round finish ultimately sealed his fate in the updated rankings.
Career Context
Adesanya has already established himself as one of the greatest middleweights in UFC history, with memorable performances throughout his championship runs. The former titleholder produced numerous highlight-reel moments during his peak years in the division.
Following the tough result at UFC Seattle, Adesanya has indicated he has no plans to step away from competition despite the recent struggles. The loss to Pyfer marks a clear inflection point where the former champion now faces rising contenders rather than established elite fighters.
The ranking adjustment reflects the UFC’s assessment that Adesanya’s position among the division’s top tier can no longer be maintained following the loss to an unranked opponent, regardless of his previous accomplishments in the middleweight division.
Francis Ngannou was visibly distraught after watching his longtime friend Israel Adesanya suffer a second-round knockout defeat to Joe Pyfer in the UFC Seattle main event. The former heavyweight champion took to Instagram to share his emotional reaction to Adesanya’s fourth consecutive defeat.
“Watching Izzy’s fight last night, [I] was heartbroken,” Ngannou posted on Instagram. “It reminds you how ungrateful this sport is.”
Adesanya Started Strong Before Knockout Loss
The former middleweight champion seemed to be finding his rhythm early in the fight against Pyfer. He showcased his trademark accuracy and power, landing clean shots on his opponent during the striking exchanges.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Pyfer managed to drag the fight to the ground. After initially looking for a submission, Pyfer transitioned to ground-and-pound, flattening out Adesanya and unleashing a barrage of punches that forced the referee to stop the fight in the second round.
Ngannou Reflects on Sport’s Unforgiving Nature
Ngannou’s reaction highlights the harsh reality of mixed martial arts, where even former champions can quickly fall from grace. The Cameroonian fighter, who has experienced his own ups and downs in combat sports, understands the mental toll such losses can take.
“He looked sharp. He looked very sharp,” Ngannou said afterwards. “After the first round, I’m like oh we get this, this is good, he’s back. But man, sometimes we plan but God has other plans. I can only imagine how tough Izzy is to come back out of it. To rebound.”
Adesanya made no excuses following the defeat, but Ngannou admitted it was difficult to process his friend’s continued struggles. The loss marked Adesanya’s fourth straight defeat, a stark contrast from his days as the dominant middleweight king.
The friendship between Ngannou and Adesanya has been well-documented, with both fighters supporting each other throughout their respective careers. Ngannou’s emotional response demonstrates the genuine bonds among fighters who understand the unique pressures of competing at the highest level.
UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria’s journey to UFC championship glory was forged through adversity, bullying, and the harsh realities of growing up in Georgia.
‘El Matador’ recently opened up about his difficult childhood and how it shaped him into one of the sport’s elite competitors. Topuria is one of only 11 fighters ever to win titles in two UFC weight classes.
From Germany to Georgia: A Tough Transition
Born in Germany to parents who were refugees from Georgia, Topuria moved back to his family’s home country when he was seven years old. The transition proved challenging for the future champion.
“We lived in Georgia,” Topuria told Charlas Adictivas. “We studied at a school there, and anyone who knows the culture of our country knows that it’s tough. There’s a constant confrontation with the kids at school, and you have to stand up for yourself a lot of the time.”
Learning to Fight Back
The young Topuria faced regular bullying and confrontations at school, experiences that would prove formative in his development as both a fighter and a person.
“When you’re little, you don’t know what’s right, what’s wrong, how to defend yourself, who to turn to, because since I was always a kid who didn’t like confrontation,” Topuria explained.
These early struggles with bullying and the need to defend himself laid the groundwork for his future success in mixed martial arts. The constant need to stand up for himself in Georgia’s tough school environment taught him resilience and fighting spirit that would later translate to the octagon.
From Bullied Kid to UFC Champion
Topuria has transformed those difficult early experiences into championship success. His rise through the UFC ranks has been meteoric, establishing himself as one of the best fighters of his generation.
The Georgian-born champion’s story serves as a powerful example of how adversity can forge champions. What began as a struggle to survive school confrontations eventually became the foundation for one of MMA’s most promising careers.
Topuria’s willingness to share these personal struggles offers insight into the mindset that drives elite fighters and shows how childhood hardships can become the catalyst for greatness in professional sports.
Topuria is set to make his return to the octagon on June 14th at UFC White House, where he defends his lightweight title against interim champion Justin Gaethje in the main event.
Kevin Holland knew he was severely injured after absorbing brutal low blows from Mike Malott at UFC Vancouver, and the welterweight has now revealed just how much the illegal strikes affected his performance in the unanimous decision loss.
Holland was hit with a pair of low blows in the opening round against Malott, with the second shot putting him down on the canvas and requiring a full five-minute recovery period. Despite appearing momentarily unable to continue, Holland eventually got back to his feet and gave the go-ahead to restart the fight.
Holland Details Lasting Impact
Speaking to MMA Fighting, Holland acknowledged that the low blow had lingering effects throughout the remainder of the bout.
“I mean it sucked,” Holland said. “In the moment, it sucked. I didn’t want to continue at all but I’m happy I did. A better man for it. Now in the gym, somebody gets kicked in the nuts, and I’m like we’re not deducting a point, get your ass up, keep sparring. I mean I guess you could say everyone has iron nuts now.”
He added:
“I went home, I couldn’t drive my tractor, I couldn’t ride the horse. Hell, the only thing that felt good was good old chewy from the fcking chew monster, other than that, that thing was hurting. It was one of those situations where it’s like I’m blessed I’ve already got two kids. Those type of things affect you. F** Malott but other than that, good to go.”
Kevin Holland’s Recovery
He was able to finish the fight, but Holland admitted that it actually took several weeks before he finally started feeling good again.
“After like two weeks, I was back on the horse, rode real slow,” Holland said. “I was able to drive the tractor again. It hurt to do it but had to man up and do it because we had shit to do. By the time the fourth and sixth week came around, they felt about natural.
“The trauma from getting hit in the nuts is still there. Any time anybody aims in that area, I’m like whoa, chill out! You guys remember back in the day in the [Joaquin] Buckley fight, he hit me in the nuts a couple of times, and I’m like bro, I’m trying to smack something after this. It never really affected me that much but for some reason that day, they were racking up.”
The welterweight’s candid admission sheds light on how the illegal strikes may have contributed to his loss at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Holland was visibly compromised after the second low blow and spent the full recovery time on the ground before deciding to continue.
Moving Forward After Setback
Despite the disappointing result and circumstances, Holland appears to be taking a philosophical approach to the experience. His comments suggest he’s using the incident as motivation in training, pushing his sparring partners to show the same toughness he displayed in Vancouver.
The loss marked another setback for Holland, who has experienced mixed results in recent outings. The veteran fighter’s willingness to continue despite being clearly compromised by the low blows demonstrated his warrior mentality, even as it may have cost him the fight.
Israel Adesanya has firmly brushed aside any retirement speculation after suffering another emphatic stoppage defeat.
Last Saturday, Adesanya returned from a year-long layoff to headline UFC Seattle against No. 14-ranked Joe Pyfer at Climate Pledge Arena in Washington.
While “The Last Stylebender” showed flashes of sharpness early on, Pyfer’s relentless pressure gradually took over, leading to a TKO loss in the second round.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE 🫡
Joe Pyfer gets the biggest win of his career tonight with some GNP!
The loss extends Adesanya’s skid to four straight defeats, with his last three coming by way of stoppage, including setbacks to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia in February 2025 and Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in August 2024. Despite the rough run, the former middleweight champion remains in good spirits and has no intention of stepping away from the sport.
Israel Adesanya’s Response to Retirement Questions
During his Octagon interview with Daniel Cormier at UFC Seattle, Israel Adesanya was pressed on the possibility of retirement amid the most challenging stretch of his career.
The Nigerian-born Kiwi swiftly brushed aside the notion, exuding confidence as he vowed to keep pushing forward and emerge stronger from adversity.
“You keep going. Again, and again, and again, and again, and again,” Adesanya said. “I’m not f*king leaving. You’ll never stop me. I might get beat, but I’ll always remain undefeated.”
Adesanya, once the architect of a nine-fight winning streak and a two-time UFC middleweight titleholder, with notable victories over Robert Whittaker, Paulo Costa, and Marvin Vettori, now finds himself 1-5 in his last six Octagon outings.
The 36-year-old carries a professional record of 24-6, including a 13-6 run inside the UFC.
Maycee Barber was transported to a local hospital following her devastating knockout loss to Alexa Grasso at UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer on March 28, 2026 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. Her team has confirmed the flyweight fighter is recovering well after a terrifying finish that left her unconscious on the canvas.
The end came at 2:42 of the opening round with the fighters exchanging strikes on the feet. Grasso blasted Barber with a vicious punch that twisted her entire body around and sent the 27-year-old flyweight down to the canvas. Grasso followed with another punch before grabbing a rear-naked choke, but Barber was already unconscious as referee Mike Beltran rushed in to stop the fight.
Following the finish, Barber grabbed onto the referee out of instinct but then rolled over to the mat where she laid motionless for several minutes as medical personnel tended to her. Barber eventually sat up and left the cage under her own power before she left the arena for treatment.
Team Provides Update From Hospital
Late Saturday night, Barber reposted a message from her boyfriend Oscar Herrera, who posted from the hospital on Instagram.
“Part of the game,” Herrera wrote. “Congrats to Alexa, we got caught but are OK. Will be back soon, thanks for everyone checking in.”
Barber’s striking coach Guilherme Faria also posted an update after the fight was finished.
“Not our night,” Faria wrote. “This is the fight game and sometimes things don’t go our way. No blame, no excuses, just lessons. We learn, we grow and we come back stronger. God is good all the time.”
Barber has not released her own statement on the fight yet.
Second UFC Appearance After Medical Issues
The fight served as Barber’s second appearance in the UFC after medical issues kept her sidelined for over a year and a half. That included another scary situation when she passed out backstage just moments before she was scheduled to walk to the octagon for a fight against Erin Blanchfield in May 2025.
Barber got the help she needed and finally returned this past December where she earned a unanimous decision over Karine Silva at UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2 to extend her overall winning streak to seven in a row. She then booked the rematch against Grasso, who defeated her via decision in their first encounter over five years ago.
The knockout loss on Saturday ended that run and dropped Barber’s professional record to 15-3. She now looks to recover from this fight before looking towards her future in the UFC flyweight division.
Joe Pyfer may have elevated himself into the UFC middleweight title picture, scoring the biggest win of his career by defeating former champion Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC Seattle.
Pyfer appeared to get off to a head start, scoring a body lock on Adesanya, and holding him for a little bit, before landing a quick combination that snapped Adesanya’s head back. The two traded hard shots, with Adesanya landing a knee and Pyfer landing a hook and a takedown late in the round.
Adesanya did a strong job with leg kicks, but Pyfer continued to pursue the takedowns, locking up Adesanya a couple of times. The two traded with bad intentions, and Pyfer appeared to trouble Adesanya near the fence before scoring a takedown.
Pyfer managed to get into mount and locked Adesanya up in a body triangle, searching for a choke. While he didn’t get that, Pyfer was able to flatten Adesanya out and land ground-and-pound for the TKO win.
Joe Pyfer Finishes Israel Adesanya At UFC Seattle
I don’t like to say it, but Adesanya’s era may be over…
Israel got too aggressive and he paid the price. He had Pyfer right where he wanted him, he was tiring, throwing laboured shots and Israel got too far outside himself.
Great win for Pyfer, he weathered the storm, found the opening and scored the finish.
sad to see but israel adesanya doesn’t have it anymore he was doing well early, out landing joe pyfer but got into some wild exchanges and his chin couldn’t handle the power that led to the eventual ending gnp sequence #ufcseattlepic.twitter.com/EI2hETidZQ
Pyfer has now won four straight and is 7-1 in the UFC since famously earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series.
Adesanya has now lost four straight and five of his last six since dropping the middleweight title to Alex Pereira at UFC 281, getting finished in three of these bouts.
There were plenty of people placing doubt on Alexa Grasso in her UFC Seattle co-main event against Maycee Barber; however, Grasso put those doubts, and her opponent, to bed.
With one single strike, Grasso had one of the most brutal knockouts in women’s MMA, scoring a first-round finish.
The two traded for the first couple of minutes, attempting to find each others range while exchanging kicks. The two appeared to be even, as Barber tried to press the pace, but Grasso was more than ready to battle back.
Then, Grasso flashed a right hand, only to crack Barber with a left. Barber was out from the second the punch landed, even as Grasso took the back and looked for a choke.
This was a rematch from UFC 258, which saw Grasso score a decision win over Barber.
This was Grasso’s first win since upsetting Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC women’s flyweight title at UFC 285. Grasso entered this fight off a loss to Natalia Silva at UFC 315.
Barber had won seven straight before tonight’s loss.
