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Category: UFC

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

  • Luis Felipe Dias Cracks Yi Sak Lee For Quick Finish In Debut

    Luis Felipe Dias Cracks Yi Sak Lee For Quick Finish In Debut

    Luis Felipe Dias put a bow on a strong preliminary card for UFC Macau, landing a right hand to score a finish of Yi Sak Lee in the featured bout of the early card.

    The fight was slow to start, with both fighters trying to read the other before leg kicks were traded. Lee tried to get his boxing going, but Dias landed a couple of strong counterpunches, one of which briefly knocked Lee down.

    Dias landed another strong punch that dropped Lee, causing him to go to his knees and fall on his stomach on the canvas. A couple of follow-up shots brought about the stoppage, giving Dias the win.

    Luis Felipe Dias Crumbles Yi Sak Lee At UFC Macau

    Dias has now won four straight. This marked his UFC debut after submitting Donavon Hedrick to win a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series last year.

    Lee, who falls to 8-2, was also making his UFC debut tonight. He came into this bout off a last-second submission of Daichi Mikami in September.

  • Rei Tsuruya Drops, Submits Short-Notice Opponent At UFC Macau

    Rei Tsuruya Drops, Submits Short-Notice Opponent At UFC Macau

    It was a valiant effort from Luis Gurule, who took a spot on UFC Macau on short notice; however, the offense of Rei Tsuruya was too much to overcome.

    Tsuruya scored a first-round finish of Gurule during the preliminary card of UFC Macau.

    Tsuruya troubled Gurule early, doing damage with a sharp left hand before scoring a takedown. Tsuruya landed plenty of ground-and-pound, controlling the action from the top.

    Rei Tsuruya Submits Short-Notice Opponent Luis Gurule At UFC Macau

    When he wasn’t able to get a TKO finish, Tsuruya looked to lock up a choke. Despite getting back to his feet one time, Gurule wasn’t able to defend another attempt. Tsuruya managed to lock in a body triangle before scoring the submission.

    Tsuruya is now 11-1 in his career and 2-1 in the UFC. He rebounds from his only career loss, which came at UFC 313 at the hands of current UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van.

    Gurule is now just 1-4 in the UFC since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024. He fought just two weeks ago at UFC Vegas 117, scoring a decision over Daniel Barez.

  • Rodrigo Vera Rattles, Drops Kangjie Zhu For KO At UFC Macau

    Rodrigo Vera Rattles, Drops Kangjie Zhu For KO At UFC Macau

    After previously being passed over for a spot on The Ultimate Fighter, Rodrigo Vera sent a statement to those who doubted him.

    In his UFC debut during the UFC Macau prelims, Vera scored a brutal first-round finish of Kangjie Zhu.

    The two went to a striking battle right in the first minute, with both focusing on leg kicks. Vera looked to pressure by closing the distance and trying to land strikes from close range, adding in a takedown attempt to the mix as well.

    Rodrigo Vera Blasts Kangjie Zhu At UFC Macau

    Things quickly came to an end in the second minute of the fight when Vera landed a left hook that dropped Zhu to the mat. Vera followed up with punches that left Zhu defenseless and out cold.

    Vera now improves to a career record of 22-1-1, having not dropped a fight since 2019. This marked his UFC debut after competing on the regional scene with FFC, where he was a champion, as well as bouts in the LFA and Shooto Brazil.

    This also marked Zhu’s UFC debut. He competed in three Road to UFC bouts over the last couple of years, scoring decision wins over Tatsuya Ando, Shin Haraguchi and Bin Xie.

  • Jaqueline Amorim Locks Looma Lookboonmee In Nasty Armbar

    Jaqueline Amorim Locks Looma Lookboonmee In Nasty Armbar

    The China crowd saw action right out of the gate during the UFC Macau prelims, as Jaqueline Amorim scored a devastating submission win over Loma Lookboonmee.

    Amorim look to bring her grappling game right away, pressuring Lookboonmee to the fence before securing a takedown. Amorim got in top position and got to work, looking to score multiple submission attempts.

    After failing to secure a kimura, Amorim secured an armbar late in the first round. Lookboonmee looked to show toughness and defend the attempt, but she submitted as Amorim tightened the extension further.

    Jaqueline Amorim Lands Submission Of Loma Lookboonmee With Tight Armbar At UFC Macau

    Amorim has now won five of her last six fights, with all of her wins in MMA thus far coming via a finish. Amorim rebounds here after losing to Mizuki Inoue at UFC 321.

    This is Lookboonmee’s first time dropping consecutive fights in her MMA career. After previously going on a four-fight win streak, she entered this fight off a loss to Alexia Thainara in September.

  • UFC Macau Results: Yadong vs. Figueiredo Live Updates & Highlights

    UFC Macau Results: Yadong vs. Figueiredo Live Updates & Highlights

    MMA News updates UFC Macau results and highlights live as the action unfolds from the Galaxy Arena in Macau, China. The main event will feature a bantamweight bout between Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Song Yadong vs. Deiveson Figueiredo – Bantamweight Main Event

    Yadong enters this fight with three wins in his last five fights and a 7-3 record in his last 10. Yadong has lost two of his three most recent fights, but those losses came against current champion Petr Yan and former champion Sean O’Malley — the latter happening at UFC 324 in January.

    After a three-fight win streak to start his time at bantamweight, Figueiredo enters this fight with three losses in his last four. Figueiredo also fought at UFC 324, missing weight and dropping a decision to Umar Nurmagomedov.

    The UFC Macau co-main event will feature Zhang Mingyang against Alonzo Menifield in a light heavyweight matchup.

    Mingyang has been making noise in the light heavyweight division since his UFC debut in early 2024. He, however, saw his 12-fight win streak snapped in his last bout, getting stopped by Johnny Walker in the main event of UFC Shanghai in August.

    After going unbeaten in 2022 and 2023, Menifield is 2-3 since, which includes knockout losses to Azamat Murzakanov and current champion Carlos Ulberg. Menifield comes into this bout off a loss to Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Qatar in November.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from UFC Macau!

    How to Watch UFC Macau

    • Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
    • Venue: Galaxy Arena, Macau, China
    • Streaming: Paramount+ (exclusive)
    • Prelims: 4 AM ET / 1 AM PT
    • Main Card: 7 AM ET / 4 AM PT

    UFC Macau Quick Results

    • Main Event: Song Yadong vs. Deiveson Figueiredo — Song Yadong def. Deiveson Figueiredo via submission (guillotine choke) (Rd. 2, 4:42)
    • Co-Main Event: Zhang Mingyang vs. Alonzo Menifield — Alonzo Menifield def. Zhang Mingyang via TKO (Rd. 1, 4:15)
    • Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tallison Teixeira — Sergei Pavlovich def. Tallison Teixeira via KO (Rd. 1, 0:39)
    • Kai Asakura vs. Cameron Smotherman — Kai Asakura def. Cameron Smotherman via KO (Rd. 1, 1:50)
    • Jake Matthews vs. Carlston Harris — Jake Matthews def. Carlston Harris via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27 x2)
    • Alex Perez vs. Su Mudaerji — Alex Perez vs. Su Mudaerji ends in a no contest (accidental foul) (Rd. 2, 1:45)

    UFC Macau Results & Highlights

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 4 AM ET)

    Women’s Strawweight: Loma Lookboonmee vs. Jaqueline Amorim

    Result: Jaqueline Amorim def. Loma Lookboonmee via submission (armbar) (Rd. 1, 4:04)

    Featherweight: Rodrigo Vera vs. Kangjie Zhu

    Result: Rodrigo Vera def. Kangjie Zhu via KO (Rd. 1, 1:50)

    Women’s Strawweight: Angela Hill vs. Jingnan Xiong

    Result: Angela Hill def. Jingnan Xiong via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Flyweight: Rei Tsuruya vs. Luis Gurule

    Result: Rei Tsuruya def. Luis Gurule via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 1, 3:19)

    Bantamweight: Aoriqileng vs. Cody Haddon

    Result: Cody Haddon def. Aoriqileng via TKO (Rd. 2, 2:11)

    Welterweight: Meng Ding vs. Jose Henrique

    Result: Jose Henrique def. Meng Ding via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    Middleweight: Luis Felipe Dias vs. Yi Sak Lee

    Result: Luis Felipe Dias def. Yi Sak Lee via TKO (Rd. 1, 3:40)

    Main Card (Paramount+, 7 AM ET)

    Flyweight: Alex Perez vs. Su Mudaerji

    Result: Alex Perez vs. Su Mudaerji ends in a no contest (accidental foul) (Rd. 2, 1:45)

    Welterweight: Jake Matthews vs. Carlston Harris

    Result: Jake Matthews def. Carlston Harris via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27 x2)

    Bantamweight: Kai Asakura vs. Cameron Smotherman

    Result: Kai Asakura def. Cameron Smotherman via KO (Rd. 1, 1:50)

    Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tallison Teixeira

    Result: Sergei Pavlovich def. Tallison Teixeira via KO (Rd. 1, 0:39)

    Light Heavyweight: Zhang Mingyang vs. Alonzo Menifield

    Result: Alonzo Menifield def. Zhang Mingyang via TKO (Rd. 1, 4:15)

    Bantamweight: Song Yadong vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

    Result: Song Yadong def. Deiveson Figueiredo via submission (guillotine choke) (Rd. 2, 4:42)

  • Derrick Lewis Goes Viral For Delivering A Body Shot To A Fan

    Derrick Lewis Goes Viral For Delivering A Body Shot To A Fan

    Derrick Lewis was caught on video delivering a body shot to a willing fan in a clip that went viral on social media, with the recipient appearing to drop immediately before eventually getting back to his feet to a round of laughter.

    The video was posted by former UFC fighter Mana Martinez, with the caption suggesting the punch may have been a birthday gift of sorts.

    Lewis appeared to take something off the shot, but it was still enough to drop the man, who needed assistance standing and could be heard laboring to catch his breath as laughter erupted off-screen.

    Lewis faces Josh Hokit at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House in what will be a considerably stiffer challenge. Hokit is undefeated and was personally added to the card at the request of President Donald Trump.

  • Eddie Hearn Challenges Dana White To Release Tom Aspinall

    Eddie Hearn Challenges Dana White To Release Tom Aspinall

    Eddie Hearn has challenged Dana White to release Tom Aspinall from his UFC contract, promising to pay the heavyweight champion a minimum of three times his current UFC salary and offering to drop his legal dispute with Conor Benn as part of the deal.

    Hearn told iFL TV he was inspired by White’s own words about Benn signing with Zuffa Boxing.

    “One thing that’s actually stuck out with me from his comments is when Conor Benn signed with Zuffa, he said, ‘Eddie should want fighters to earn as much as possible.’ Right? Do you remember that? ‘He should be happy for Conor Benn, that he’s making more money.’ So I’ve been thinking about that line, and I think that I’ve got an idea. I would like Dana White to release Tom Aspinall from his UFC contract, and I will guarantee Dana White, in writing, that I will pay Tom Aspinall a minimum — probably five times more — but a minimum of three times more what Dana White is paying him. And I think for a hardworking, working class man that deserves every penny he can get because of what he puts his body through, that Dana White should be happy for Tom Aspinall to receive that deal.”

    Hearn was direct about his assessment of Aspinall’s current deal.

    “The situation with Tom is, and he is under contract with the UFC, but unfortunately for him he has signed a contract which is one of the worst, most grossly underpaid athletes I have ever seen in the commercial world of sports. I’m looking at this kid, Tom Aspinall, I’m looking at what combat sports athletes are making around the world, and I’ll be honest with you, it’s absolutely disgusting what they’re paying him and things need to change.”

    He also offered to walk away from his ongoing legal dispute with Benn in exchange for Aspinall’s release.

    “I’ll trade that up. I’ll walk away from all their problems they’ve got on the Conor Benn legal situation if they release Tom Aspinall. And I will, in writing, it will be five or six times more money he’ll be making, but I will put in writing that Tom Aspinall will make a minimum of three times more than he will under his current contract. There you go. And then we can all celebrate a great athlete, a great fighter, and someone that deserves, like Dana said, to make as much money as he can from the sport.”

    Aspinall is currently sidelined with eye injuries suffered in his fight with Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October 2025. He signed a management contract with Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency. Benn signed a reported $15 million deal with Zuffa Boxing for a single bout. Hearn and White have been publicly feuding for months, with tensions escalating to the point of both men discussing a fight between themselves before White backed away from that talk

  • Trump Bought UFC Parent Company Stock Before White House Card

    Trump Bought UFC Parent Company Stock Before White House Card

    President Donald Trump purchased stock in TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of the UFC, on March 25, according to a financial disclosure filing reviewed by HuffPost. The purchase fell in a range of $15,001 to $50,000.

    The filing, submitted May 12, surfaced as Trump continues to promote the UFC’s June 14 event on the White House South Lawn, billed as UFC Freedom 250. That card lands on Trump’s 80th birthday and ties into celebrations for the 250th anniversary of American independence.

    Trump has attended multiple UFC events across his second term and counts UFC CEO Dana White as a close friend, a relationship that dates back to 2000 when the Trump Taj Mahal hosted early UFC shows. White confirmed the White House card earlier this year, with the main event set for 8 p.m. ET on June 14.

    The timing of the TKO purchase has drawn scrutiny because of that promotional overlap. Trump has bought and sold stock in numerous companies he has publicly praised or whose industries his administration regulates.

    White House officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have previously said Trump does not personally select which stocks to buy and sell, and that his financial advisers handle those decisions. TKO Group Holdings did not respond to a request for comment from HuffPost.

    TKO reported first quarter 2026 revenue of $1.597 billion, a 26 percent year-over-year increase, with the UFC and WWE driving much of that growth. The fights at the White House will stream on Paramount+, which holds exclusive UFC streaming rights under a seven-year deal.

  • Sean O’Malley’s Response To UFC Freedom 250 Weather Concerns Is Very On Brand

    Sean O’Malley’s Response To UFC Freedom 250 Weather Concerns Is Very On Brand

    Sean O’Malley says he accepted that UFC Freedom 250 would be an outdoor event when he signed the contract and is prepared to deal with whatever conditions come his way on June 14 at the White House.

    O’Malley faces Aiemann Zahabi on the card and was asked by MMA Junkie about Joe Rogan’s concerns that the outdoor setting could affect championship-level bouts.

    “It’s at the White House, so you gotta deal with whatever you gotta deal with. That would suck to lose because of a reason outside of your skillset. May the best man win. If something plays a role because it’s outside and it affects the fight somehow, that would suck. It’s unfortunate, but none of us signed the contract thinking it was inside, you know what I mean? We all know it’s outside. We all know what we’re getting into. Maybe not to an extent, we don’t know what all is gonna happen, but we all know it’s gonna be outside and we’re gonna have to possibly deal with stuff. We all signed it.”

    Rogan recently said on his podcast that he does not believe championship fights should take place in uncontrolled outdoor environments, citing potential heat and bug issues. The Weather Channel currently projects nighttime temperatures in Washington, D.C., ranging from 67 to 85 degrees, with precipitation forecast unavailable at the time of writing. Thunderstorms are common in the area during the summer months.

    Dana White has previously acknowledged that it had rained for eight consecutive days at the White House since his team began building the venue.

  • Ilia Topuria Had A Lot To Say About Arman Tsarukyan’s Grappling And None Of It Was A Compliment

    Ilia Topuria Had A Lot To Say About Arman Tsarukyan’s Grappling And None Of It Was A Compliment

    Ilia Topuria says his next title defense after UFC Freedom 250 will be against Arman Tsarukyan, and delivered a blunt warning about what awaits the contender in the octagon.

    Topuria faces Justin Gaethje in a lightweight title unification bout on June 14 at the White House. Speaking to DeepCut, he addressed Tsarukyan’s patience while waiting for his shot.

    “The fight with Arman is going to be a good fight. The thing is that they used to take a lot of confidence because they fight with fighters that — his last fight was against Dan Hooker. He has, I don’t know, 20 losses in his professional career. It’s like, bro, you never, ever, like forget about it, never ever in your entire life you faced someone like me.”

    Topuria dismissed the idea that Tsarukyan’s renowned grappling would pose a significant problem.

    “It’s like, I’m going to embarrass you in front of everyone. Because with him, he thinks that he’s tough, he thinks that like his wrestling is I don’t know what. Like, he feels that he’s an Olympic champion. Anyway, if he’s the best in the world in wrestling, when it comes to the octagon, bro, I’m the king. In there, I’m the king. I do with you whatever I want to f*cking do. And I told him like I’m going to break his jaw in the first round.”

    “He’s going to try to take me down since the beginning of the fight and when he’s going to realize that, bro, it’s not that easy. And then he’s going to start to panic. And then when I break his jaw, bam. In front of all his crowd, all his people, his family, who gives a f*ck. Bam!”

    Tsarukyan has won his last three fights over Beneil Dariush, Charles Oliveira, and Dan Hooker and has been waiting for his title shot since being passed over for the interim bout that went to Gaethje.

  • Cain Velasquez Addressed His MMA Future And The Answer Is Final

    Cain Velasquez Addressed His MMA Future And The Answer Is Final

    Cain Velasquez says a return to MMA would require a payday no one is willing to offer, and made clear he has no interest in competing or coaching again.

    Velasquez appeared at the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano ceremonial weigh-ins two weeks ago to oversee the heavyweight faceoffs, leading some to speculate about a potential comeback. He quickly dismissed that idea on the Weighing In podcast with Josh Thomson.

    “The money has to make me want to do it because, I’ve said this before, I don’t want to do it. I have other interests now. But the money really has to make me want to do it, and I don’t think anybody is willing to pay that.”

    At 43 and having not competed since 2019, Velasquez was honest about what a return would realistically look like.

    “I mean, I can always fight again, but to what degree is something different, as well. Of course, we could always do it. But to what degree are you doing it at?”

    He also ruled out a coaching path back into the sport despite spending time at American Kickboxing Academy helping younger fighters.

    “In that way, I don’t. It doesn’t interest me anymore. I get so into what I’m doing that, whatever you want to call it, it doesn’t do it for me anymore.”

    Velasquez’s last fight came in February 2019 when Francis Ngannou knocked him out in 26 seconds. He paroled in February after a 10-month prison term following a no contest plea to an attempted murder charge on a man accused of molesting his son.

  • Chael Sonnen Sends Message For Nassourdine Imavov About Why He Is Losing The Middleweight Title Picture

    Chael Sonnen Sends Message For Nassourdine Imavov About Why He Is Losing The Middleweight Title Picture

    Chael Sonnen says Nassourdine Imavov is squandering his opportunity to secure a UFC middleweight title shot by staying silent while Khamzat Chimaev dominates the post-UFC 328 conversation.

    Sonnen addressed the situation on his YouTube channel, pointing out that Imavov has both Sean Strickland’s endorsement and the community’s backing — but has done nothing to capitalize on either.

    “Imavov, rightfully by us as a community, should be next for a world title, regardless of who is champion. Imavov was next. As a community, that is what we believe. But Imavov hasn’t demanded that. Imavov hasn’t said a word. He has not spoken up. He’s got the blessing of Sean Strickland. Sean Strickland spoke about this one time and say, ‘Yes, I will rematch Chimaev, but that’s going to have to wait, but Imavov is owed. Imavov is the rightful guy. I’m going to fight Imavov.’ That is the blessing and the kiss. That is all Imavov needs in conjunction with some headlines, and he’s not getting them.”

    Sonnen dismissed the weight cut narrative Chimaev’s team has been pushing, framing it as a storyline that only works because Imavov has created nothing to compete with it.

    “It doesn’t matter to any of them, including Chimaev’s team. They’re just pretending it matters. Why? Because it keeps a headline and a topic that involves Chimaev and Strickland. We’re going to have a real hard time building a beef between Chimaev and Strickland who just got done laughing at us for believing their beef in the first place, so they’ve gone to a new angle. Which is the angle of the weight cut. The built-in excuse.”

    “‘Chimaev should beat Strickland and Chimaev should rematch Strickland because he can flip the result, and he can flip the result because of this one thing, the weight cut,’ is a lot bigger story than Imavov’s put out, which is nothing.”

    Imavov has responded on social media by posting that he believes everyone will stand on what they said, tagging Strickland and UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard. He is currently riding a five-fight winning streak and has not lost since a short-notice light heavyweight bout against Strickland in 2023.

    Dana White has acknowledged the UFC has not decided what to do with the middleweight title picture. Strickland entered UFC 328 with several injuries and is expected to need several months of recovery before returning to action.

  • UFC Macau Weigh-In Results

    UFC Macau Weigh-In Results

    All 26 fighters on Saturday’s UFC Macau card made weight at Friday morning’s official weigh-ins.

    Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo headline the event in a bantamweight non-title bout, with both men coming in under the 136-pound limit. Zhang Mingyang and Alonzo Menifield meet in the light heavyweight co-main event.

    Full UFC Macau weigh-in results:

    Main Card (Paramount+, 7 a.m. ET)

    • Song Yadong (136) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (135.5)
    • Zhang Mingyang (205) vs. Alonzo Menifield (206)
    • Sergei Pavlovich (257) vs. Tallison Teixeira (250)
    • Kai Asakura (135.5) vs. Cameron Smotherman (135.5)
    • Jake Matthews (170) vs. Carlston Harris (170.5)
    • Alex Perez (125.5) vs. Sumudaerji (126)

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 4 a.m. ET)

    • Yi Sak Lee (185) vs. Luis Felipe Dias (184.5)
    • Ding Meng (170.5) vs. Jose Souza (170.5)
    • Aoriqileng (135) vs. Cody Haddon (135)
    • Rei Tsuruya (135) vs. Luis Gurule (135)
    • Angela Hill (115) vs. Xiong Jing Nan (115.5)
    • Zhu Kangjie (145) vs. Rodrigo Vera (145)
    • Loma Lookboonmee (115) vs. Jaqueline Amorim (115.5)
  • Ronda Rousey Says She Would ‘Clean Holly Holm’s Clock’ In A Rematch

    Ronda Rousey Says She Would ‘Clean Holly Holm’s Clock’ In A Rematch

    Ronda Rousey says she is confident she would beat Holly Holm in a rematch and credits new medication for allowing her to fight without the neurological issues that affected the final stages of her UFC career, but insists she has no interest in fighting again.

    Rousey addressed Holm directly on Up and Adams following her retirement after submitting Gina Carano at MVP MMA 1.

    “I said I’m retired, A and B, I think that I am a completely different fighter now. I would clean her clock and definitely now that I got that new medication. I took it before. I was diagnosed with cortical spreading depression, which was always happening in my last fights and basically why I was like I need to stop. I thought my concussions were catching up to me. This is the first fight where I was able to take it and when I spiked my head into the mat, that’s exactly the kind of thing that would have set me off before. I would have lost big chunks of my vision and it didn’t come back at all. It ended up working perfectly in a live situation.”

    Rousey said the things she once wanted most no longer hold the same weight.

    “I’m better than I’ve ever been. I have better coaches than I’ve ever had. I finally don’t have these neurological issues that I had before. But now that I have it all set in front of me, I’ve changed and the things that I want have changed and suddenly these aren’t the most important things in the world to me anymore. It’s these kids and spending time with them.”

    She was unequivocal about the rematch never happening.

    “I think I definitely have the ability and the opportunity to be able to f*cking clean her clock and rewrite all of that but it’s no longer important to me anymore. It doesn’t haunt me. It’s not the most important thing in my life and these people’s perceptions and knowing how great I am and all this stuff. I know how good I am and my kids need me in their life and I want to be there for them.”

    Holm knocked out Rousey in 2015 to claim the UFC bantamweight title in one of the biggest upsets in MMA history. Holm has previously said she would always be open to a rematch.

  • Dana White Explains Why There Are No Women On UFC Freedom 250

    Dana White Explains Why There Are No Women On UFC Freedom 250

    Dana White says there were supposed to be women on the UFC Freedom 250 card but it did not work out, offering the first explanation for their notable absence from the June 14 White House event.

    White spoke to Time magazine about the card, which features two championship fights in Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje and Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane but no women’s bouts.

    “There was supposed to be women on the card. I wanted women on the card. It just didn’t work out that way.”

    White also explained the philosophy behind the fighter selections, emphasizing reliability and mental toughness over star power in an unusual environment.

    “The only thing I really cared about going into this card was having people I could depend on being on the card, fighters that you know. They’re gonna deal with levels of stress and weird things that they’re not used to. For instance, the night of the fight when they show up, they’re gonna have to go through crazy security. We’re gonna be inside rooms at the White House. They’re used to going to arenas with rooms that are laid out for them and all this. So, you need not only the best fights you could possibly make because they mean something and they matter in our ecosystem. You also need fighters you could trust that are gonna show up and deliver, and mentally and emotionally be able to deal with the different atmosphere they’re gonna be in that night. And that is the card that we built.”

    Neither Conor McGregor nor Jon Jones appear on the card despite their repeated attempts to be included.

  • Dustin Poirier Says He Would Come Out Of Retirement For A Fourth Fight With Conor McGregor

    Dustin Poirier Says He Would Come Out Of Retirement For A Fourth Fight With Conor McGregor

    Dustin Poirier says he would strongly consider coming out of retirement if a fourth fight with Conor McGregor became a realistic possibility.

    Poirier retired in 2025 following a fight with Max Holloway but told the Weighing In podcast he has not fully closed the door.

    “If it was realistic and they called me and said, ‘Hey,’ I would probably get back in the drug-testing protocol and get licensed again, yeah.”

    Poirier went 2-1 in his trilogy with McGregor, with McGregor suffering a broken leg in their third fight at UFC 264 in July 2021 — an injury that triggered his five-year absence. He assessed McGregor’s chances against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 while noting a specific concern about Holloway’s recent durability.

    “Yeah, I don’t think Conor’s going to look as bad as Nate, that was really bad. I think the punching power’s going to be there regardless. The question for me is the timing, the athleticism, the movement, all those questions need to be answered. If his counter-punching and his timing is anywhere near what it was, he has a chance to beat Max. Look, I love Max, but the career he’s had and the longevity he’s had, he’s touched the canvas in his last three fights. That’s more than he’s touched it in his entire career. I just think time’s catching up with him. Conor can punch. No matter how long he’s been out, he still has the great equalizer and that’s power. Some guys are born with it.”

    Poirier acknowledged he still has six or seven fights remaining on his UFC contract but said retirement remains the right decision — even if part of him disagrees.

    “Some days I wake up and I really feel like this was the right decision, everything’s where it should be. Some days I wake up and I want to fight because I know I can beat these guys still. I don’t know if that ever goes.”

  • Joe Rogan Stresses UFC White House Event Could Be A Disaster Due To Uncontrolled Conditions – ‘I Don’t Like The Idea’

    Joe Rogan Stresses UFC White House Event Could Be A Disaster Due To Uncontrolled Conditions – ‘I Don’t Like The Idea’

    Joe Rogan may be set to call the action at UFC Freedom 250, but the longtime commentator still has major doubts about the promotion’s ambitious White House event.

    During a recent episode of his podcast, Rogan questioned whether hosting championship fights outdoors on the South Lawn is the right move, especially with unpredictable weather conditions expected in Washington, D.C., in mid-June.

    “I don’t like the idea of fighting outside at all,” Rogan said. “The White House thing is odd.”

    One of his biggest concerns is the potential heat. The renowned podcaster noted that temperatures around the same date last year reportedly climbed close to 100 degrees, raising concerns about how fighters will perform under extreme conditions.

    “That’s hot as f–k,” Rogan said while discussing the outdoor setup.

    Rogan also pointed to another issue that could impact the event once the giant lighting structures are switched on.

    “And then the lights… bugs,” he said. “What are you gonna do? How are you gonna stop the bugs?”

    According to Rogan, world title fights should take place inside a fully controlled arena rather than in an open-air environment where heat, humidity, wind, or insects could potentially affect the outcome.

    “I just don’t think you should compete in a world championship fight in a non-controlled environment,” Rogan explained. “It should be inside an air-conditioned arena.”

    Despite his criticism, Rogan is still expected to work the historic card on June 14, which will feature a lightweight title unification bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, along with an interim heavyweight title clash between Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira.

    Construction for the event officially began this week on the White House South Lawn.

  • Conor McGregor Return Sends UFC 329 Ticket Prices Through The Roof Amid Near Sellout

    Conor McGregor Return Sends UFC 329 Ticket Prices Through The Roof Amid Near Sellout

    Conor McGregor’s long-awaited UFC return is already proving to be one of the biggest events in MMA history — and fans hoping to attend UFC 329 in Las Vegas may need deep pockets to witness it live.

    With “The Notorious” set to face former featherweight champion Max Holloway in a rematch on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena, early presale ticket prices for UFC Fight Club members have reportedly surfaced online, and the numbers are staggering even by McGregor standards.

    According to listings circulating on social media, front-row seats are priced above $43,000, while floor tickets are reportedly starting at over $4,000. Lower bowl seats are listed above $1,200, with even upper-level tickets crossing the $600 mark before public sales officially begin.

    Shortly after those prices surfaced, ticketing platform AXS also appeared to show the event as sold out during the early presale window, highlighting the enormous demand surrounding the former two-division champion’s comeback.

    While the prices are eye-catching, they are hardly unexpected for a McGregor comeback fight. UFC 329 marks the Irish superstar’s first appearance inside the Octagon in five years and serves as the centerpiece of International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

    The event is expected to bring a massive fight-week atmosphere back to the city, with additional attractions planned throughout the weekend, including the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony, ceremonial weigh-ins, fan events, and other combat sports showcases connected to the promotion.

    McGregor has not competed since suffering a broken leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021, while Holloway enters the rematch looking to avenge his loss to “The Notorious” from their first meeting more than a decade ago.

    Even for fans unable to secure tickets inside the arena, UFC 329 is shaping up to be one of the promotion’s most heavily watched cards in years, fueled by McGregor’s return, the Holloway rivalry, and the spectacle surrounding International Fight Week.

    Public ticket sales are expected to open later this week, though demand is already appearing sky-high well before general access becomes available.

  • Dana White Defends Low UFC Fighter Pay Amid WNBA Comparisons – ‘Should I Pay You $370K?’

    Dana White is once again defending the UFC’s fighter pay structure amid growing criticism surrounding how little many newcomers earn despite the promotion’s massive financial success.

    The debate intensified after reports surfaced that the UFC’s new media rights agreement with Paramount could be worth roughly $7.7 billion over several years. At the same time, entry-level fighters signed through Dana White’s Contender Series are still believed to start on contracts around $10,000 to show and $10,000 to win.

    Speaking to Rolling Stone, White argued that critics often ignore one key factor when discussing those numbers: many fighters entering the UFC are still unproven.

    “When people talk about fighter pay, you know what they don’t compare it to?” White said. “What a guy makes when he goes into his boxing debut.”

    White pushed back strongly against the idea that every new UFC signing should immediately receive major contracts before proving they belong on the roster.

    “If you come into the UFC, let’s say you sign a three-fight deal,” White explained. “We’re gonna find out if you even belong in the UFC. So, I should pay you $370K to see if you belong in the UFC?”

    The UFC boss also emphasized how dramatically fighter compensation has evolved since the Fertitta era began in 2001, noting that many athletes previously needed second jobs just to survive while competing.

    “When we first bought this, most of these guys had jobs where they would train on the side and fight in the UFC,” White said. “Now it is at a level where everyone is a professional athlete.”

    White further insisted that fighter pay has consistently risen alongside the company’s growth.

    “Since 2001, the pay has gone like this,” he said while motioning upward. “If you look at the deal we just cut with Paramount, imagine how it’s going to look over the next seven years.”

    Still, criticism surrounding UFC pay remains one of the sport’s hottest talking points, especially as the organization continues generating record-breaking revenue while lower-tier fighters reportedly take home only a fraction of their contracts after expenses, taxes, and coaching fees are deducted.

  • Ilia Topuria Claims UFC Is Avoiding Islam Makhachev Mega Fight On Purpose

    Ilia Topuria Claims UFC Is Avoiding Islam Makhachev Mega Fight On Purpose

    Ilia Topuria believes the long-discussed super fight with Islam Makhachev isn’t falling apart because of either fighter. In his eyes, the UFC simply doesn’t want to make it happen right now.

    Speaking during an appearance on DeepCut with VicBlends, Topuria addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding a potential showdown with the former lightweight king after months of public back-and-forth between both camps.

    “I don’t think that it’s because of him that the fight is not happening,” Topuria said. “I truly believe that the UFC doesn’t want to make it happen.”

    The undefeated Spaniard had been heavily linked to a blockbuster clash with Makhachev for the UFC White House card on June 14. Instead, Topuria is now set to defend lightweight gold against Justin Gaethje in the event’s headliner, while Makhachev is expected to move forward with a welterweight title defense later this summer.

    Despite the disappointment surrounding the matchup not materializing, Topuria made it clear he holds no resentment toward Makhachev personally.

    “I don’t hate him. I don’t have anything personal with him,” Topuria explained. “He achieved great things in the sport. He’s a double champion like me.”

    At the same time, Topuria acknowledged just how massive the fight could become if it eventually happens.

    “If you do that crossover, me and Islam, it will be one of the biggest fights in UFC history without any doubt,” he said.

    Still, the reigning lightweight champion insisted his legacy won’t depend on sharing the Octagon with Makhachev.

    “For me personally, it wouldn’t change anything if that fight doesn’t happen,” Topuria said. “I will be happy and proud about myself anyways. I don’t need Islam to feel realized or proud about myself.”

  • UFC Legends Glover Teixeira And Shogun Rua Set For Long-Awaited Clash In Brazil On August 29

    Two legendary Brazilian MMA veterans are finally set to share the ring after more than a decade of near misses.

    Glover Teixeira and Mauricio Rua, better known to fight fans as “Shogun,” are scheduled to headline Spaten Fight Night 3 in São Paulo, Brazil, on August 29 in a heavyweight boxing match contested over eight two-minute rounds.

    The matchup is especially notable because the former UFC light heavyweight champions were once expected to fight inside the Octagon back in 2012, though the bout never materialized. Now, years after both men stepped away from MMA competition, they’ll finally collide under boxing rules instead.

    Teixeira enters the event after remaining deeply involved in the sport following his retirement in 2023. While his final UFC appearance ended in a title fight loss to Jamahal Hill, the 46-year-old has stayed active as the longtime coach and mentor of Alex Pereira, who is currently preparing for an interim heavyweight title fight against Ciryl Gane at the UFC White House event.

    Shogun, meanwhile, remains one of the most respected names of the PRIDE era. The 44-year-old built his legacy through violent finishes and memorable wars against names like Quinton Jackson, Alistair Overeem, and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira before eventually becoming UFC light heavyweight champion.

    Spaten Fight Night has quickly become known for bringing iconic MMA names into crossover combat events. Previous editions featured exhibition-style bouts involving Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen, and Wanderlei Silva.

    The upcoming card will also include high-level judo matches featuring Olympic gold medalists Rafaela Silva and Beatriz Souza, adding another layer to the Brazil-based combat sports showcase.

  • Joe Rogan Says He Always Believed Sean Strickland Could Beat Khamzat Chimaev And Explains Why

    Joe Rogan Says He Always Believed Sean Strickland Could Beat Khamzat Chimaev And Explains Why

    Joe Rogan says he was never surprised that Sean Strickland could upset Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328, pointing to Strickland’s unquantifiable durability and heart as the traits that always kept him dangerous.

    Rogan discussed the fight on his podcast with Tom Segura, explaining why he gave Strickland a genuine chance despite the massive odds against him.

    “I thought it could happen that way. Ari was arguing with me. He’s like, ‘you always say that when someone doesn’t have a chance, you always hype it up.’ Like, I think Strickland can win this fight because Strickland is insanely durable. He’s scary because he doesn’t go away. He’s not going to get tired. He doesn’t go away. He’s tough as s—. He was abused when he was young, so he’s angry. He is dangerous and he’s super skillful, very hard to hit. And he fought in one with a blown out shoulder. He f—ed his shoulder up like the week of the fight. Like did something bad. He f—ed it up and he doesn’t even know what it was, but he couldn’t use it right.”

    Strickland dethroned Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328 in Newark to claim the middleweight title for the second time. He had previously been submitted by Chimaev and outpointed by Dricus Du Plessis twice during his reign.

  • Robert Whittaker Says He Is Not Bothered By Prelim Spot At UFC 329 For His Light Heavyweight Debut

    Robert Whittaker Says He Is Not Bothered By Prelim Spot At UFC 329 For His Light Heavyweight Debut

    Robert Whittaker says he is not bothered by being placed on the preliminary card for UFC 329, calling the silver lining an earlier fight time that spares him from late nights.

    Whittaker makes his light heavyweight debut at UFC 329 on July 11 against Nikita Krylov. He spoke to Submission Radio about the prelim placement.

    “Well, it’s different. I haven’t been in a prelim fight for a long time. On paper, intellectually, you look at it, it makes sense-ish. My first move up to 205, coming back after a big layoff. I’m looking forward to getting back in there. Honestly, the silver lining is that I get to get my fight out of the way a little bit earlier. I hate those late nights, they kill me a little bit. Honestly, it’s just about getting in there and getting to business. I want to get in there, and I want to execute all of the things that I’ve been working on up until now, I want to feel myself out, I want to feel how the fight feels. Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”

    Whittaker is a former two-time UFC middleweight champion. His move to light heavyweight has drawn some concern about whether he will be undersized at 205 pounds.

  • TJ Dillashaw Claims Khamzat Chimaev Was ‘On The Verge Of Death’ During His UFC 328 Weight Cut

    TJ Dillashaw Claims Khamzat Chimaev Was ‘On The Verge Of Death’ During His UFC 328 Weight Cut

    T.J. Dillashaw says Khamzat Chimaev was “almost dying” during his weight cut ahead of UFC 328 and believes his performance against Sean Strickland — including going the distance despite being so compromised — is a testament to just how tough Chimaev is.

    Dillashaw, a former two-time UFC bantamweight champion who was part of Chimaev’s camp, spoke to MMA Fighting about the full picture of what happened behind the scenes.

    “Khamzat looked like an animal for his camp, like he was unbeatable. There was no way he was going to get beat, but then you get someone that you’re paying — there’s a lot of frauds in this world — and the way that they made him cut weight was horrible.”

    Dillashaw attributed the weight cut disaster to poor water management.

    “Well, the water. I mean, if I could put it to one thing — your body will shut down. Like you can’t go and lose 10 pounds all at once and not drink enough water to tell your brain and your body to, ‘Hey, let’s keep losing weight. Let’s keep pushing water.’ If you lose too much of it too fast in one sitting, your body will stop sweating. Yeah, you might only have three pounds to go, but guess what? That’s gonna take you seven, eight hours because you’re dying. You’re straight up dying. Your body’s telling you you’re dying.”

    He described the full extent of what Chimaev was going through before stepping into the cage.

    “He wanted to give Strickland $1 million and say, ‘Hey, take it. I can’t make it, I’m going to die.’ And you forget this guy’s got half a thyroid, right? His metabolism is half of a normal man. And so if you’re not treating it the right way, you could kill him. And I really believe he was on the verge of death making that weight cut. He should not have made it to the fight. And to see how he performed still — Round 5, Round 4, he still had the better fight in cardio than Strickland, and Strickland’s supposed to be a cardio guy. Khamzat’s the one going forward landing the bigger shots. So Sean won a fight going backwards, throwing a jab? I don’t see it that way. But it makes me realize how tough Khamzat is to do as well as he did on almost dying before getting on that scale.”

    Dillashaw said Chimaev only showed up to fight week 16 pounds over, and argued the situation was entirely avoidable.

    “People need to understand: What he pushed through to fight is impressive. He just needs to do it the right way. He was only 16 pounds over showing up to fight week. That is easy. It’s about the water displacement. And unfortunately they didn’t do that.”

  • Chris Weidman Stunned By UFC Hall Of Fame Honor After Career Highs And Lows – ‘I Was Completely Clueless’

    Chris Weidman never saw this moment coming.

    The former UFC middleweight champion is set to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, but the announcement caught him completely off guard.

    Known for one of the biggest upsets in MMA history when he dethroned Anderson Silva in 2013, Weidman’s legacy has long been debated due to the contrasting chapters of his career.

    That’s part of why the honor came as such a surprise.

    “It’s a huge honor – I was completely caught off guard with it,” Weidman said in an interview with MMA Junkie Radio. “Was not expecting it… I was completely clueless and it was an awesome surprise.”

    The reveal was orchestrated during UFC 328 in Newark, where “The All-American” was brought cageside under the pretense of a routine broadcast segment. Instead, he was met with a tribute video announcing his induction.

    Weidman’s early career run remains one of the most impressive in middleweight history. He began with 13 straight victories, including two wins over Silva, and successful title defenses against elite contenders like Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida.

    However, the latter part of his career told a different story. A series of losses after his championship reign left Weidman unsure if his accomplishments would ultimately be enough for Hall of Fame recognition.

    “After I had my first loss, I lost a lot,” he admitted. “Thank God they measure you from your prime… I’m glad I did some great things while I was young.”

    “The All-American” now joins a stacked 2026 class that includes Demetrious Johnson and Dominick Cruz, further cementing his place in UFC history.