If you take Conor McGregor’s word for it, when he said he’d fight anyone for his UFC return bout, he meant it.
McGregor was one of several UFC fighters watching along and sharing his thoughts on X (fka Twitter) during the UFC Houston card.
During that time, McGregor posted about making his UFC return, something that he has teased on and off again, especially since U.S. President Donald Trump’s first announcement about a UFC White House card.
Conor McGregor says his return fight could possibly be against "a no name" 🤔
In a now-deleted post, McGregor told the MMA community that his next opponent might be a “no name” — but he also didn’t care.
“It’s a no name up next for me possibly, folks,” McGregor posted. “And as you know, I don’t give a f***. I ACCEPT. Send the contract, lads. CONOR MCGREGOR’S DEAL.”
McGregor would later make a post responding to those saying they were tired of McGregor’s ego.
I have no ego whatsoever but sublime confidence earned through decades of hard work!
“I have no ego whatsoever but sublime confidence earned through decades of hard work!” McGregor posted.
McGregor has been one of the UFC names who have pushed the heaviest to compete on the UFC White House event, which is scheduled for Sunday, June 14.
Still, as of press time, no announcement of any UFC White House fights, let alone a McGregor one, has been announced.
In fact, at the UFC Houston post-fight press conference, when asked about the truth to McGregor’s recent posting about being offered a fight, UFC CEO and President Dana White suggested such a claim was not true.
Dana White when asked about Conor McGregor's recent post that he had been offered a fight: If it was done and he accepted it I would announce it. pic.twitter.com/VSyjKMV7jh
“If it was done and he accepted it, I would announce it,” White said.
Michael Chandler had been teasing a long-awaited fight with McGregor would take place at the White House card, but White nixed that idea last month.
A fight between McGregor and Chandler had been awaited since the two coached season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023. The two were booked for the original UFC 303 main event before McGregor withdrew a few weeks before the fight.
McGregor has not been seen in action since his loss to Dustin Poirier in their trilogy bout that headlined UFC 264 in July 2021.
Sean Strickland wants his middleweight championship back and thinks he’s ready for Khamzat Chimaev, making that statement with a finish of Anthony Hernandez in the main event of UFC Houston.
Strickland started the fight by working behind the jab, looking to keep Hernandez at bay and prevent any takedown attempts. Strickland landed a strong right hand that caught Hernandez’s attention about halfway through the first. Hernandez, however, battled hard during the second half of the round, landing a couple of strong rights.
Strickland continued to work a strong jab during the second round, while Hernandez looked to come forward and turn the momentum with his pressure.
Strickland ended things with a body shot that hurt “Fluffy” during the third, following it up with clinch knees to the body and some ground shots before the referee stopped the action.
That’s what nothing but hours and hours of sparring gets you. Just show up and shit spar everyday and voila! Overthink nothing. Who gives a fuck! Haha! Sean is great!
“The former Champ”….. when talking about Strickland, blows my mind 🤯 dude is tough but f***, feel like he couldn’t carry my jockstrap! With that being said, congrats, Champ! 🤣 #UFCHouston
This was Strickland’s first fight since losing his UFC middleweight championship rematch with Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312 one year ago. Strickland upset Israel Adesanya for the title at UFC 293 before losing to DDP at UFC 297.
“Fluffy” Hernandez sees an eight-fight win streak snapped at the hands of Strickland. He came into this bout off a dominant submission of Roman Dolidze this past summer.
Two men looking to break into the upper echelon of the welterweight contender scene will do battle in the main event of UFC Vegas 116, as Sean Brady takes on Joaquin Buckley.
The UFC confirmed the bout in an announcement during the UFC Houston broadcast.
MAKE OR BREAK! ⛓️💥
Sean Brady & @NewMansa94 go at it for five rounds inside the Meta APEX!
Both men are coming in off losses but are still ranked in the top 10 at 170 pounds, and a strong performance could gain the winner a top-five opponent.
Brady comes into this bout off a loss to Michael Morales at UFC 322 in November. He had won three straight prior to that and was once 15-0 before running into then-future welterweight champion Belal Muhammad.
Buckley last fought this past June, dropping a decision to the returning former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC Atlanta. Prior to that, Buckley had won six straight and hadn’t lost since 2022.
UFC Vegas 116 takes place on April 25 at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A lightweight main event has been booked to headline UFC Vegas 115 on April 4, as former lightweight title challenger Renato Moicano faces Chris Duncan.
The UFC confirmed the pairing in an announcement during the UFC Houston broadcast.
What makes this fight particularly interesting is that both men train at American Top Team in Florida. It is unknown which man, if either, will not train at the facility for this bout.
Moicano is looking to rebound from a pair of losses, losing a short-notice lightweight title bout with Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 and dropping a decision to Beneil Dariush at UFC 317. Moicano is currently ranked No. 10 in the division.
Moicano was scheduled to face Brian Ortega at UFC 326 in early March, but the bout was scrapped following an injury to Ortega.
Duncan has won four straight and is 6-1 in the UFC since coming in off a knockout win on Dana White’s Contender Series. He most recently submitted Terrance McKinney at UFC 323 in December.
UFC Vegas 115 takes place on April 4 from the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Uros Medic has scored the biggest win of his career and has most likely forced his way into the welterweight rankings, scoring a first-round knockout of Geoff Neal in the UFC Houston co-main event.
Medic eyed an early end to the fight, looking to use his speed to set up power shots. Medic appeared to be getting the better of Neal in the opening minute of the fight.
Medic landed a brutal combination, cracking Neal with a left hand and dropping him out cold for the win.
HE ONLY NEEDS ONE 👊@Urketaraketa with a vicious Round 1 KO for a massive ranked win!
Medic has now won three straight and four of his last five while retaining his 100 percent finish rate.
Medic called out Leon Edwards for a fight this summer.
Neal has now lost four of his last five. This is his second straight fight where he was knocked out in brutal fashion, following his loss to Carlos Prates at UFC 319.
Melquizael Costa extends his win streak and will most likely become a ranked featherweight, putting away Dan Ige at UFC Houston.
Ige looked to take control of the fight, coming forward with pressure and mixing in a takedown attempt. Costa, however, showed strong work in the clinch to take momentum, adding in some kicks that left their mark on Ige.
Costa then finished things by landing a spinning kick on the side of Ige’s head, crumbling him and landing follow-up shots to end the fight.
SPINNIN BACK KICK RIGHT TO THE FACE 🤯@MelkCostaCauthy earns the biggest win of his career with that kick!
After starting his UFC career 1-2, Costa has now won six consecutive fights. He came into this bout off a head kick knockout of Morgan Charriere this past December.
Ige has now lost four of his last five, and he is 4-8 in his last 12.
Jacobe Smith is making a case of being a rising star in the welterweight division, stamping such with a brutal first-round knockout of Josiah Harrell at UFC Houston.
Smith controlled the fight from the beginning, landing some solid right hands while stopping the takedown attempts of Harrell. One of those attempts from Harrell resulted in Smith rolling through and getting into top control.
Once there, Smith rained down blows to knock out Harrell. He then used his post-fight interview to call out Kevin Holland.
HIS PUNCHES HAVE SERIOUS POWER 👊
Jacobe Smith puts the #UFCHouston crowd on their feet after that KO!
Smith now moves to 12-0 and is 3-0 in the UFC since arriving off a performance on Dana White’s Contender Series. Last year, Smith knocked out Preston Parsons and choked out Niko Price in the Octagon.
This marked the first loss of Harrell’s MMA career. This marked his UFC debut, coming into this bout off a third-round win over Bekmyrza Dosmatov in LFA last month.
A UFC Houston card that seemed to start slow picked up in an eye-opening way during the prelims, courtesy of Joselyne Edwards defeating Nora Cornolle.
Cornolle controlled the action to take the first round on all three judges’ cards. But the second round, however, saw things change with Cornolle in Edwards’ grasp.
Near the midway point of the second round, Edwards lifted Cornolle and slammed her to the mat with a big impact. Cornolle seemed to be finished, as Edwards pounded with some follow-up shots.
Cornolle stood up but still seemed dazed, and Edwards took advantage, scoring a quick takedown and locking in a choke for the submission win.
FINISHING THE REMATCH IN STRONG FASHION 💪
Joselyne Edwards goes slam into submission for the R2 victory!
The aftermath would see Cornolle on the mat in pain, clutching at the shoulder she landed on in the slam. Cornolle needed assistance in leaving the Octagon.
This was a rematch from UFC Paris in September 2023, a bout that Cornolle won via decision.
Edwards has now won four straight. She entered this bout off finishes of Chelsea Chandler and Priscila Cachoeira last year.
Cornolle has now lost three of her last four. She is 2-3 since the win over Edwards.
Sean Strickland shared honest thoughts about pay for fighters in the UFC, criticizing the pay scale as a predatory practice that the fighters have no control over.
Speaking with Complex, Strickland was asked about the promotion’s decision to increase post-fight bonus awards from $50,000 to $100,000 — plus $25,000 for finishes.
Strickland explained that while it looks like the UFC fighters are being paid more under the new Paramount deal, that isn’t exactly the case.
😲Sean Strickland says he’s not making more money with the new paramount deal
"If you compare it to any other sport, the UFC is the most f*cked up. It's not fair. It's predatory."
“The UFC is the most, as far as the pay scale, there is no — you compare it to any other sporting event, the UFC is the most f***** up,” Strickland said. “If you compare it to like pay versus athletes versus what they’re making, there is no argument there. It’s not fair, it’s predatory. There is no argument there.
“Now we’re a bunch of f****** idiots who take our clothes off and go fight for f****** shorten our lives for this. So like, do we deserve better? I don’t f****** know. I’m just telling you that there is no argument here that the UFC is not predatory.”
It’s more common knowledge these days that the revenue share for UFC fighters is lackluster compared to athletes in other sports leagues. While athletes from leagues like the NBA, NFL, and MLB see around a 45-50 percent share of revenue, the UFC fighters — who have no collective bargaining agreement with the promotion — see only about 13-20 percent.
That figure comes courtesy of an antitrust lawsuit — Le v. Zuffa — against the UFC that was settled in 2025. Another antitrust lawsuit — Johnson v. Zuffa — regarding the UFC’s business practices is still ongoing.
Ronda Rousey echoed similar sentiments in a recent interview, claiming TKO’s focus on “cost-effective” fights played into why MVP Promotions, and not the UFC, are hosting her fight with Gina Carano in May. TKO formed in 2023 as part of a business merger between the UFC and WWE.
Strickland added that it doesn’t matter if fighters do or don’t speak out about the pay issue — because there aren’t any hints of the pay for fighters changing anytime soon. In fact, Strickland stated fighters might be better off working corporate jobs than spending all their time training and competing in the Octagon.
“…What are they signing guys [for]? 10 and 10? How much is f****** rent in Vegas? It’s like $2,000, $1,600, $1,400?” Strickland said. “So it’s like, once you pay your managers, your taxes, how the f*** you supposed to live on that? ‘Well, you could fight four times a year.’ Okay, so you go 3-1. Like, no, you’ll make more money at f****** Walmart, dude. But it’s what the UFC wants, man. It’s all just f****** corporate.
“Why do I want to go compete with a Brazilian where he could go make money and live pretty nicely, to where you can’t do that in America? Why would anybody want that? It doesn’t make sense.”
It’s been noted that Kayla Harrison is the only American UFC undisputed champion, with Justin Gaethje holding an interim title and Max Holloway holding the BMF belt.
Strickland hinted this might be something we see for good if the pay structure does not undergo a major overhaul.
“You say no to a fight. Well, guess what? They’re go find some f****** guy in some f****** sandpit and they’ll do it for f****** five and five,” Strickland said. “This is why you’re slowly gonna see the American roster die because it’s outsourced by people…”
Strickland faces Anthony Hernandez in the main event of UFC Houston.
UFC Houston results and highlights are updated live as the action unfolds from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The UFC is on the road with a Fight Night card for the first time this year. The main event will feature a key middleweight battle between Sean Strickland and Anthony Hernandez. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!
Sean Strickland vs. Anthony Hernandez – Middleweight Main Event
This bout marks Strickland’s first since losing a middleweight title rematch to Dricus Du Plessis last year. Strickland defeated Israel Adesanya to win the UFC middleweight title in upset fashion at UFC 293, but he dropped the gold in a close decision against Du Plessis at UFC 297. In the time between the two title fights with DDP, Strickland bested Paulo Costa via split decision at UFC 302.
After a win on Dana White’s Contender Series was overturned and a 1-2 start to his Octagon tenure, Hernandez enters tonight on an eight-fight win streak. In 2025, “Fluffy” scored a unanimous decision over Brendan Allen and a dominant submission of Roman Dolidze.
The co-main event will be a welterweight battle between Geoff Neal and Uros Medic. Neal enters this fight with losses in three of his last four. This is his first fight since getting knocked out by Carlos Prates at UFC 319. Medic, meanwhile, has won three of his last four, including first-round finishes of Gilbert Urbina and Muslim Salikhov last year.
If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from UFC Houston!
Betting odds for UFC Houston are locked in ahead of tonight’s card, and the books have made their picks clear across the board. These are near-final lines, so don’t expect much movement before the first bell.
In the main event, Anthony Hernandez is a significant -240 favorite over former middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who comes back at +205. The total is set at 4.5 rounds, with the under (+156) slightly favored, suggesting oddsmakers expect a finish if Hernandez gets his way.
Geoff Neal is a -190 favorite against Uros Medic (+165) in their welterweight matchup. The fight has a 1.5-round total, with the over (+140) favored — a reflection of both men’s tendency to get the job done early.
Melquizael Costa is a -230 chalk over Dan Ige (+195), with the total set at 2.5. The under (+207) is on the board, meaning oddsmakers strongly expect this one to end before the third round.
Spivac vs. Delija a Near Pick’em
The closest fight on the card per the odds is Ante Delija vs. Serghei Spivac, where Delija is a slim -120 favorite with Spivac at +100. The 1.5-round total sits at +112/-132, making this one of the more unpredictable bouts of the night.
Michel Pereira Favored Over Zach Reese
Michel Pereira opens as a -160 favorite against Zach Reese (+140). The over 1.5 rounds is +105, indicating some uncertainty about whether this one goes the distance — fitting given Pereira’s unpredictable style.
UFC Houston gets underway tonight. Stay tuned to MMA News for live results and post-fight coverage.
UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is reportedly being targeted to face former light heavyweight champion Jiří Procházka for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 327 on April 11 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
The rumor was first reported by MMA content creator @realkevink on social media. UFC has not officially confirmed the matchup
The report suggests Chimaev (15-0) would vacate his middleweight title to pursue a second championship at 205 pounds, bypassing any defense of the belt he won by dominating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in August.
On his JAXXON Podcast appearance Friday, Chimaev expressed his desire to become a two-division champion. “I want to become double champion,” Chimaev said. “I am not like these guys who try to take their retirement from UFC undefeated. I just want to make big fights.”
The move to light heavyweight would mark the third weight class of Chimaev’s UFC career after competing at both welterweight and middleweight. Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman recently suggested on his Pound 4 Pound podcast that Chimaev has simply outgrown 185 pounds, with reports placing his walking weight between 225 and 230 pounds.
Procházka (32-5-1) has rebuilt momentum in the light heavyweight division with back-to-back stoppage victories over Jamahal Hill at UFC 311 in January 2025 and Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 320 in October 2025. The former champion’s only UFC losses have come against Alex Pereira, who is widely expected to vacate the 205-pound title to pursue a heavyweight move.
Notably, this report conflicts with an earlier rumor from Brazilian outlet MMA Hoje, which targeted Procházka vs. Carlos Ulberg for the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 327, with Pereira facing Ciryl Gane for interim heavyweight gold at UFC 328. Whether the Chimaev matchup has replaced that plan or represents a competing report remains unclear.
The UFC 327 card is already taking shape with a confirmed co-main event featuring flyweight champion Joshua Van defending his title against Tatsuro Taira. Additional bouts include Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker, Kevin Holland vs. Randy Brown, and Paulo Costa’s light heavyweight debut against Azamat Murzakanov.
Bo Nickal appears to have publicly signaled his acceptance of a fight with Colby Covington, posting a message on X Friday evening that strongly implies the two fighters are headed for a collision at the UFC’s historic White House card on June 14.
“I have a lot of respect for Colby Covington as a competitor and someone who never backs down from a challenge,” Nickal wrote, tagging Covington, the UFC, Dana White, and President Donald Trump. “The Real American way. See you soon.”
The tweet marks a notable shift in tone from Nickal, who had spent recent weeks aggressively calling out Covington after “Chaos” appeared to pivot toward a matchup with Paddy Pimblett instead. As recently as mid-February, Nickal blasted Covington as a “coward” for seemingly dodging the fight, telling him to “man up and take your beating.”
Bo Nickal vs Colby Covington
The rivalry between the two erupted in January at the RAF 5 press conference, where Covington directed several personal jabs at Nickal, questioning his career trajectory and MMA acumen. After defeating Luke Rockhold at the event, Covington hinted at a move to middleweight — only to later reverse course and declare he preferred to remain at 170 pounds, citing a desire to face a non-American opponent on the patriotic card.
Nickal, a three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion currently competing at middleweight, had previously identified Covington as his top target for the event.
“A matchup with Colby makes a lot of sense, especially considering how the last RAF event unfolded,” Nickal told MMA Fighting earlier this month. “This feels like the fight that needs to happen.”
The UFC’s White House event — set for the South Lawn on Flag Day, June 14, also President Trump’s 80th birthday, is reported to already be finalized internally. Dana White confirmed last week that the card is complete, though no official bouts have been announced.
It remains to be seen whether Nickal vs. Covington has been formally booked or whether Friday’s tweet represents Nickal’s public acceptance of an offer currently in the works. Neither the UFC nor Covington’s camp has issued a response as of publication.
The UFC has officially announced its return to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, with a welterweight main event pitting Gilbert Burns against Mike Malott.
The event, a UFC Fight Night card in Winnipeg, takes place on Saturday, April 18 from the Canada Life Centre. The announcement marks the promotion’s first visit to Manitoba since December 2017, when the UFC last held an event in the Canadian province.
The scoop was first reported by veteran MMA reporter Adam Martin yesterday, and confirmed this afternoon.
I am hearing tonight that the UFC Canada card that was originally set for Ottawa, Ontario, is being shifted to Winnipeg, Manitoba. We should get an official announcement for this event soon, along with a main event. Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg where the Jets play seats 16,000.
Burns (22-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC) is currently on the longest losing skid of his career at four straight defeats. The 39-year-old former title challenger was most recently stopped by Michael Morales in the first round at UFC Vegas 106 in May 2025. Despite the rough stretch, all four of Burns’ losses have come against ranked opposition in Morales, Sean Brady, Jack Della Maddalena, and Belal Muhammad. “Durinho” hasn’t tasted victory since a decision win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287 in April 2023.
Malott (13-2-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) enters the bout riding a three-fight winning streak and will be looking to make the most of his first UFC main event opportunity. The Canadian earned a unanimous decision victory over Kevin Holland at a UFC event in Vancouver in October and knocked out Charles Radtke at UFC 315 in May. The 34-year-old earned his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, and his only Octagon loss came against Neil Magny.
The matchup represents a classic crossroads bout. Burns brings elite experience as a former welterweight title challenger and decorated BJJ world champion, while Malott looks to use a victory over a big name to break into the upper tier of the 170-pound division. Headlining in front of a Canadian crowd adds another layer for Malott, who has thrived in previous outings on home soil.
Additional bouts for the UFC Winnipeg card are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Canada, we’re BACK! 🤩🇨🇦 Catch our return to the North with #UFCWinnipeg April 18!
“It’s time to think about new challenges, to chase new dreams,” Almeida wrote. “It’s going to be that way — there’ll be news very soon. I’ll be back on the scene again.”
Almeida (22-5) was ranked No. 8 at heavyweight when the UFC cut him following back-to-back decision losses to Alexander Volkov at UFC 321 and Rizvan Kuniev at UFC Vegas 113. He had not exhausted his contract, with the promotion electing to release him early.
The 34-year-old Brazilian went 8-3 in the UFC with seven finishes in eight wins, including stoppages of Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and Serghei Spivac. However, criticism of his grappling-heavy style had mounted, and UFC CEO Dana White publicly stated after the Volkov loss that he was pleased Almeida didn’t receive the decision.
Fan speculation has already linked Almeida to PFL, where his elite BJJ credentials and 13 career submission wins could thrive. Based on his message, it appears fans won’t be waiting long for an announcement.
Carol Foro has announced she will no longer compete at UFC Fight Night Seattle on March 28 after testing positive for a banned substance in an out-of-competition drug test.
Foro’s team released a statement on Instagram confirming the positive test, which revealed a type of diuretic in her system earlier this year. The Brazilian had been scheduled to make her UFC debut on the card headlined by Israel Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
In their statement, Foro’s camp maintained that she did not take the substance “consciously or intentionally” and raised the possibility that it may have entered her system through a contaminated supplement. Testing is reportedly underway to support their case as they work to clear her name.
Her planned opponent, Stephanie Luciano, has since been rematched. Per reporter Leo Walker Guimaraes, Luciano is now set to face Alexia Thainara on March 28.
Foro Earned UFC Contract on Contender Series
Foro’s cancelled debut is a significant setback following the impression she made last September. The Brazilian earned her UFC contract via Episode 5 of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, where both she and opponent Shanelle Dyer (who lost her undefeated record in the contest) were awarded contracts after a standout performance.
Thainara, who steps in as Foro’s replacement, has also been highlighted as a fighter to watch, making her a strong substitute for the card. Foro’s team will now focus on resolving the anti-doping matter before her UFC career can get underway.
Sean Strickland and Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez have both made weight for their main event bout at UFC Houston, with Strickland admitting the weight cut was harder on him than any fight could be.
Strickland stepped on the scale first and hit 185lb on the dot — going one pound under the non-title limit in what reads as a statement of intent from the former middleweight champion. Hernandez made use of the extra allowance and came in at 186lb, making the fight officially on for Saturday night.
One of middleweight’s best 💪@SStricklandMMA weighs in at 185 lbs!
The road to the scale was not easy for Strickland, who has been out of action for over a year since losing his title rematch with Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312 last February. During his absence, his weight ballooned to a reported 230lb — nearly two full weight classes above the 185lb middleweight limit.
Strickland shared a video on his Instagram story the night before weigh-ins showing the toll the cut was taking. He posted screenshots of an intense two-hour workout that burned 1,214 calories, with his heart rate climbing from a resting 38bpm to highs of 141bpm during the hardest stretches.
“This is what we really get paid to do,” Strickland told his followers. “Cutting weight is worse than the fight, but we are almost there.”
It’s not the first time Strickland has struggled with the middleweight limit. Earlier in his career he competed at welterweight, and in 2023 he took a short-notice fight at 204lb after insisting he couldn’t reach 185lb in time. His success at middleweight has kept him in the division, but getting back down after a year at 230lb is a different kind of challenge.
What’s at Stake Saturday
Despite the drama surrounding his cut, Strickland arrived at the scale in good shape and ready to go. With Nassourdine Imavov as the current top contender for Khamzat Chimaev’s middleweight title, a statement win for Strickland — the last man to defeat Imavov, back in January 2023 — would put him firmly back in the title picture.
Hernandez enters on an eight-fight winning streak, including victories over Brendan Allen and Roman Dolidze, and is favored by the oddsmakers heading into Saturday night in Houston.
Cunningham revealed the decision in a vlog-style video recorded in his car, explaining that he ruptured a disc in his back that has not healed properly and that ongoing issues with the injury have led him to walk away from competition.
The American ends his career with an overall record of 11 wins and 5 losses, including an 0-2 mark inside the Octagon after earning his opportunity with a victory on Dana White’s Contender Series. His UFC run included a quick stoppage defeat to Jose Johnson in March 2024, part of a brief stint at the highest level that did not produce a win.
Cunningham’s retirement comes after a turbulent spell outside the cage as well. In October 2025, he faced widespread backlash for posting Nazi-themed propaganda on his Instagram account, drawing condemnation across social media and overshadowing his in-cage career.
Ian Machado Garry might be teasing that he’s next in line to challenge Islam Makhachev; however, Javier Mendez, Makhachev’s coach, is implying that Garry is no threat.
Garry has recently revealed that he is in Georgia, looking to improve his wrestling abilities for a potential title matchup with Makhachev. Georgia is known for producing high-level wrestling talent, including former bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili.
Given the current state of the welterweight rankings, it’s not confirmed who will be the first to challenge Makhachev, but Garry — currently ranked No. 2 — is making a big push.
But according to Mendez, the head of the American Kickboxing Academy, that won’t matter because of Makhachev’s advantages when the fight goes to the mat.
“He does well with Islam on the standup because he’s rangy, he’s tricky, all those — but on the ground, he does okay, but he doesn’t survive on the ground,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “He might survive five rounds, but he won’t get the the best of Islam on the ground. That I’m 100 percent sure about that.
Though Garry has studied judo, he is better known for using his size and range. The 6’3″ welterweight uses his lankiness and frame to get the better of opponents with his striking.
“On the stand up, he’s pretty tricky,” Mendez admitted. “So, one punch can change everything on that. One kick, one punch, one knee…so, that’s a different story. But on the ground, I don’t see him dominating. I see him surviving, possibly…and then the takedown defense, that he is decent, but not great enough to stop Islam from taking him down.”
Mendez also admitted that Makhachev had preferred a matchup with Kamaru Usman, given Usman is a former champion and has perhaps the most star power out of the potential challenger list.
A matchup with Garry, however, is still entertaining and more than welcome.
“I feel good about it,” Mendez said. “He’s a well-known guy. He’s very highly skilled, and I look forward to the challenge.”
Makhachev claimed the welterweight title with a dominant win over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322. The win made Makhachev the latest UFC fighter to win titles in two different weight divisions during their career.
Garry is 17-1 and most recently bested another former welterweight champion in Belal Muhammad at UFC Qatar two weeks after Makhachev’s title win over JDM.
The UFC has yet to announce the next title challenger at 170. Shavkat Rakhmonov was recently removed from the welterweight rankings due to inactivity, as he suffered another setback due to injury.
Sean Strickland feels he has all the skills that will give him a big edge when he faces off with Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez in the main event of UFC Houston this weekend.
Strickland is known for being a pressure-heavy fighter, but most of that comes from his boxing. Strickland, in fact, prefers to use his fists when in combat.
But that doesn’t mean he’s not a good grappler; in fact, Strickland, who is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, is considered underrated in the discipline.
Hernandez is known for his grappling, but Strickland says anyone expecting “Fluffy” to succeed with takedowns and wrestling might be in for a surprise.
During the UFC Houston media day, Strickland hinted that he may use grappling to help him set up a late finish.
“I’m not the hardest guy to take down — and I don’t care about getting taken down,” Strickland said. “I think it’s going to be a five-round grappling match, which I will out-grapple him. And then I’ll TKO him in the fourth or fifth round.”
Strickland, in fact, says he’s been looking forward to this matchup with Hernandez as a means of testing his grappling capabilities.
“I’ve never done much grappling, especially this late into my career, so this is a test that I wanted,” Strickland said. “I do much more wrestling than I do striking in my training camps — so really it’s just having the gas tank to wrestle for five rounds.
“Generally, he takes guys down and breaks them, but I’m not a guy who breaks.”
Strickland is 4-2 in his last six. This will be his first fight since losing a middleweight championship rematch with Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312. Strickland upset Israel Adesanya for the title at UFC 293 but dropped the title to DDP at UFC 297.
Hernandez has won eight straight, including a decision win over Brendan Allen and a submission win over Roman Dolidze last year.
UFC president Dana White is pushing back at critics who are outraged by Sean Strickland’s “colorful” remarks this week, insisting that anyone offended by the controversial middleweight should stop asking him questions instead of demanding the promotion rein him in.
“If you get your feelings hurt that bad, you probably shouldn’t ask the kind of questions when you know the answer you’re going to get from Strickland.”
When Dana White was asked about policing Sean Strickland on a UFC microphone
“If you get your feelings hurt that bad you shouldn’t ask these questions when you know the response you’ll get from Strickland. I don’t tell any human what to say or think, there’s no leashes” pic.twitter.com/6PHqG0AxUP
Sean Strickland’s UFC Houston media day appearance turned into a torrent of slurs and inflammatory remarks that quickly escaped the MMA bubble. As detailed by Variety and other mainstream outlets, Strickland used a homophobic slur to describe upcoming Super Bowl halftime performer Bad Bunny, mocked the NFL for “gaying up” football with its entertainment choices, and derided him as a “gay foreigner” brought in to perform.
He also claimed women have been empowered “too much” and “ruined society,” then reduced their value to domestic roles like cooking and cleaning while dismissing interest in women’s sports.
Aaaaaaand he was just getting started.
When asked about Netflix’s planned MMA exhibition between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, he suggested they should fight “half naked,” joked about Rousey’s history of being abused by a former partner, and sexualized Carano while reminiscing about watching her fight as a teenager.
Paramount paid $7.7 billion for this operation. Strickland’s been doing this kind of routine for a long time. By every indication available, Paramount’s getting exactly what they wanted. Entreaties for them to challenge what they asked for won’t work. https://t.co/yK4A49gOwT
— Luke Thomas Gets Political (LTGP) (@LTGetsPolitical) February 19, 2026
The media day was staged to promote his main event bout with Anthony Hernandez this Saturday in Houston, airing on Paramount+, and marks Strickland’s first fight since a 2025 suspension for attacking another fighter while working as a cornerman.
The combination of misogynistic, anti-LGBTQ and xenophobic rhetoric turned what was supposed to be a standard promotional hit into a corporate headache. Variety noted that both Paramount+ and the UFC did not immediately respond to requests for comment, underscoring how sensitive the situation is for the promotion and its broadcast partner as the clip circulates beyond fight fans.
Dana White: ‘Don’t ask him if you’re going to cry about it’
While broadcast partners and sponsors may be bracing for fallout, Dana White’s stance on Strickland remains consistent with how he has handled past controversies involving the former middleweight champion.
Speaking previously about backlash to Strickland’s offensive comments, White argued that members of the media who get their “feelings hurt” by Strickland’s answers are partly to blame when they knowingly toss him provocative questions.
“If you get your feelings hurt that bad, you probably shouldn’t ask the kind of questions when you know the answer you’re going to get from Strickland,” White said when asked about criticism of the fighter’s language.
He scoffed at the idea that the UFC gives Strickland a long “leash,” insisting that he doesn’t try to police fighters’ speech and that they are responsible for what comes out of their own mouths.
White has framed the issue as one of individual freedom rather than corporate responsibility.
“I don’t tell any other human being what to say or what to think,” he said, rejecting the notion that he should intervene when Strickland’s talking points veer into bigotry or hate.
In his view, the media have a clear idea of who Strickland is and what kind of soundbites he generates, and they should not act surprised when he delivers exactly that.
‘No leashes’ and the UFC’s free-speech posture
White’s broader message is that fights are the UFC’s product, but fighters’ speech belongs to them—even when it crosses lines that many fans, media members and advocacy groups find offensive.
He has repeatedly rejected calls to muzzle Strickland, saying he does not put “leashes” on athletes or script their personalities, even as sponsors and partners must live with the fallout of what they say.
That posture is now being stress-tested as Strickland’s comments are amplified by mainstream outlets like Variety, which framed the Houston media day appearance as a “bigoted tirade” that targeted women, LGBTQ people and immigrants.
Instead of signaling a change in approach, White is doubling down on the idea that Strickland is an uncensored personality and that anyone offended by him should stop treating him like a reliable spokesman for the sport.
UFC, Paramount+ and the optics problem
The tension for the UFC is that Strickland is not just a random undercard fighter ranting on social media; he is a former champion headlining a Paramount+-streamed event that the company is actively promoting.
His tirade unfolded on an official UFC media platform, with UFC branding everywhere, and directly tied to a fight the promotion and its partners want fans to watch on Saturday.
UFC’s silence when reached for comment, combined with White’s “no leashes” rhetoric, paints the picture of a company willing to absorb reputational damage in exchange for the attention and viral clips that come with Strickland’s persona.
At the same time, Strickland’s opponent Anthony Hernandez has already addressed racially charged material involving Strickland in the build-up to UFC Houston, vowing to “torture” him in the cage after a racist post depicted Hernandez using stereotypical Mexican imagery.
For now, there is no indication that White plans to discipline Strickland over his latest comments, much less tell him to tone down his rhetoric.
With Strickland set to headline in Houston on Paramount+, the fallout from this week’s comments (and White’s refusal to distance himself from them) will loom over Saturday night’s broadcast.
Carlos Prates has taken to social media to put pressure on an unnamed opponent, posting an Instagram story urging them to sign a fight contract.
“I was told the offer is on your hands,” Prates wrote. “The fans are waiting, I’m waiting… Are we doing this or just playing around? Let’s give them the fight of the year. Sign this contract, man.”
While Prates did not name his target, the callout is widely believed to be directed at former UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena. The two have been publicly linked since their respective performances at UFC 322 in November, where Prates knocked out Leon Edwards while Della Maddalena lost his title to Islam Makhachev.
The back-and-forth has been building since December 2025. Della Maddalena accepted the challenge in January, telling streamer N3on he was “in” and predicting he would finish Prates in a five-round fight.
Despite mutual interest, delays have persisted, with reports linking the bout to a potential UFC Fight Night card in Perth on May 3.
However, the landscape may have shifted. Just yesterday, Fighting Nerds coach Flavio Alvaro told Sherdog that while he personally wanted the Della Maddalena fight, Prates’ next opponent could end up being someone different, with an announcement expected soon.
The matchup has captured fan interest due to both fighters’ elite finishing ability. Prates has scored knockouts in six of his seven UFC bouts, with his only loss being a decision defeat to Ian Machado Garry. Della Maddalena was riding an 18-fight win streak before his title loss to Makhachev and is looking to fight his way back into title contention.
Alex Pereira is still open to a future fight with Jon Jones despite the former champion’s recent revelation of severe arthritis in his left hip. Jones’ condition, serious enough to qualify him for a hip replacement, has cast doubt on his return to the Octagon.
Jones recently revealed he has severe arthritis, which could impact Pereira’s plans for a potential heavyweight bout. Jones last competed in November 2024, defeating Stipe Miocic via third-round TKO at UFC 309. He also re-entered the USADA drug testing pool in hopes of competing at a UFC White House event.
Jones stated the UFC knows the full extent of his arthritis condition and is considering retirement for a second time, though he remains interested in competing at a UFC White House event if the opportunity justifies the physical demands of his arthritis condition.
Speaking with Valter Walker, Pereira addressed Jones’ revelations stating, “I think every athlete has chronic injuries, serious injuries,”
He also expressed his willingness to face any opponent at light heavyweight or heavyweight.
“Whoever they put in front of me, I’ll be fighting,” Pereira said. “I love fighting, so it doesn’t matter weight classes — of course, if you say middleweight I can’t make that anymore. At the other two divisions, light heavyweight and heavyweight, [the opponent] is indifferent to me.”
Pereira remains interested in competing at the UFC event at the White House in June, even if Jones is not his opponent. He is keeping the door open for a move to the heavyweight division.
Islam Makhachev has backed Kamaru Usman to beat every top welterweight contender, dismissing recent hype around Joaquin Buckley in the process.
Speaking with Ushatayka ENG, the lightweight champion was asked about a potential move up in weight and how Usman would fare against today’s elite at 170 pounds.
Makhachev didn’t hesitate to throw his support behind the former welterweight king.
“I’m confident that if you take those four, Kamaru Usman beats all of them. Recently, they were saying that Buckley is the new star. Kamaru doesn’t even break a sweat, and Buckley is already forgotten.”
Buckley has enjoyed a late surge at welterweight, scoring high‑profile wins that pushed him into the title conversation before dropping a unanimous decision to Usman in June 2025.
Makhachev’s comments underline how highly he still rates Usman’s skill set despite the Nigerian’s title loss and mileage, and they add further intrigue to long‑standing talk of a future super fight between the dominant lightweight champion and the former welterweight ruler.
If one were to believe Javier Mendez, Usman Nurmagomedov will have the same success with a quest for gold in the UFC as he did in PFL.
Nurmagomedov, the current PFL lightweight champion, will be a free agent at the end of the year. While there is no guarantee yet on what his future will be, let alone what his next fight is, many speculate he will jump to the UFC.
This is a move that Mendez sees happening. The American Kickboxing Academy leader, who trains Nurmagomedov, as well as the longtime trainer of his cousin — the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov — guarantees that if Usman Nurmagomedov goes to the UFC, he will become a champion.
“When he gets in there, I believe he’s going to win the title,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “He’s that good. People just — they’re going to doubt because he’s not in the UFC. Whatever; this kid’s that good.”
Mendez quickly followed and clarified that this would be a prediction if he gets to the UFC, saying there is a chance Usman Nurmagomedov never becomes part of the UFC roster during his career.
Javier Mendez Confident Usman Nurmagomedov Will Succeed With a Move to UFC
Lightweight has been a prominent division within the UFC over the last decade. To this day, it is filled with a high level of talented athletes, especially those in the top-10 of the title picture.
A move to the UFC would bring about ideas of new and potentially entertaining matchups for Nurmagomedov that can include the likes of current undisputed champion Ilia Topuria, interim champion Justin Gaethje, Paddy Pimblett, Arman Tsarukyan, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira.
Of course, concern will be had over how Nurmagomedov would fare in the UFC. While some fighters who have jumped from one promotion to the UFC, including Gaethje and Kayla Harrison, have fared well for themselves, others like the recently released Patchy Mix have not.
Mendez feels Nurmagomedov’s work with his cousin, as well as fighters like former UFC lightweight champion and current UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, gives him an edge in being able to hang with this crop of talent.
“That’s why I make some bold statements, because I get to see that,” Mendez said. “If I didn’t get to see that, I don’t think I would make those bold statements. I get to see him, so I can see what he can do.
“…I get to watch him with the best that’s ever done it.”
Nurmagomedov fought in the main event of PFL Dubai earlier this month, retaining the PFL lightweight championship with a finish of Alfie Davis.
The question as of now becomes if the PFL will give him another title defense fight to finish out his contract before the end of 2026 — or leave him on the shelf to end his contract at the latest date possible while trying to work out a new deal with him.
