UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev has once again made it clear that he is interested in heading up to light heavyweight to battle Alex Pereira for a second world title.
Following his dominant win over Dricus du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev has made it clear that he wants to stay fairly active. There are a handful of potential challengers for him in the middleweight division, but given what we all know about ‘Borz’, it certainly feels like his preference is to venture up to 205 pounds in order to try and win a second belt.
While that may be an interesting idea, the current champ Alex Pereira doesn’t seem overly interested in this. Instead, he wants to battle it out with Jon Jones in the heavyweight division, and he wants to do it at next summer’s history UFC White House event.
In a recent podcast appearance, Khamzat Chimaev had the following to say about a potential collision with Pereira.
Khamzat Chimaev wants Alex Pereira fight
“I would love to fight for the second belt,” Chimaev said on the Badaev Podcast. “It’s no secret, the guy who’s got the belt at 205 pounds [Pereira] now is a very good matchup for me.”
“They say he has a lot of power, but I’ve never been edged out in that area. He used to fight at 185, too, and then moved up to 205. So I would like to fight at light heavyweight.”
Tom Aspinall‘s father and head coach Andy isn’t too concerned about Ciryl Gane heading into the UFC 321 main event this weekend.
On Saturday night, Tom Aspinall will defend his UFC heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane in the main event of the evening over in Abu Dhabi. While many are expecting the Englishman to successfully retain his belt, there’s always a chance that Gane can provide some kind of upset. After all, he’s a dynamic striker, and he’s been in there against some of the best in the heavyweight division.
Tom Aspinall is incredibly talented but as we know, he hasn’t gone beyond the first round a whole lot in his mixed martial arts career. If Gane can take him there on Saturday, who knows what could happen?
Either way, Aspinall’s father doesn’t seem too worried about what Gane can offer as a challenger.
Tom Aspinall's dad isn't too worried about Ciryl Gane 🤷♂️
"He's a good point fighter… he takes a lot of shots to finish people. Tom's a lot more clinical. I don't think his skill set will cause [Tom] issues at all." #UFC321pic.twitter.com/u4rdBta6lq
“Ciryl Gane, he’s a good point fighter for me. He’s a kickbox, flicker, and toucher. He finishes fights but he takes a lot of shots to finish people. Tom is a lot more clinical. I don’t think his skill set will cause him issues at all.”
Aspinall has the ability to take people down, but Gane knows that’s also been a weak part of his game historically. Who knows, maybe instead of a striking affair, we wind up with some interesting grappling exchanges.
Whatever happens, there will be plenty of eyes on this main event from around the division.
UFC star Islam Makhachev has joked about needing new haters in the wake of receiving praise from former opponent Dan Hooker.
At UFC 322 next month, Islam Makhachev will move up to welterweight in order to challenge for his second UFC title. He will do so against Jack Della Maddalena, and while many believe that Islam has what it takes to get the job done, it’s also been noted that the size difference could prove to be a problem for him – especially after what JDM was able to do in his title fight with Belal Muhammad, who is also a wrestle-heavy kind of fighter.
For Islam Makhachev, winning over critics hasn’t always been the easiest thing, but it’s also never really been his primary objective. He goes out there to put on a show, and now, he’s planning on making history by joining an exclusive group of fighters who have been able to win a UFC title in two different weight classes.
After Dan Hooker recently praised Makhachev for his eagerness to step up to this kind of challenge, Islam couldn’t help but respond on social media.
After Islam Makhachev read about Dan Hooker praising him, he came to X to share his feelings on witnessing an old foe become a fan in the most Islam Makhachev way possible. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/0zSLQu0W7y
Islam Makhachev responds to Dan Hooker praising him
“Need new haters, the old ones are starting to like me [sunglasses emoji]”.
Makhachev knows that there’s a real risk associated with facing someone like JDM, but if he can win the fight and do so convincingly, it’ll be pretty hard to argue against him being the number one pound for pound fighter in the sport.
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria appears set to defend his title against Paddy Pimblett in January 2026, according to Shem Rock, a training partner of the Liverpool contender who spoke recently about the potential matchup.
Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett in 2026
Rock, who trains alongside Pimblett at Next Generation Liverpool, offered insight into his teammate’s preparation and the likelihood of the bout materializing. The newly-signed UFC fighter shared his perspective on what would mark the first UFC event of 2026 and the inaugural numbered card under the promotion’s new Paramount broadcast deal. Speaking to Kyle Diamond of Bloody Elbow, Shem Rock explained:
”What I think and what’s really happening might be two different things, but to me, Paddy versus Ilia makes sense,” Rock said. “He’s a big star; Ilia’s a big star. First pay-per-view of the year should be that. And look — Paddy’s training twice a week sparring, twice a week lifting, every week getting massages. He’s not doing that for fun. He’s training for a reason.”
The matchup has gained momentum following reports that the UFC originally planned to grant Justin Gaethje the next lightweight title shot. However, multiple sources indicate the promotion pivoted to Topuria-Pimblett to maximize viewership for their first Paramount event, a fight expected to capture more attention given the heated history between the two fighters.
Topuria captured the vacant UFC lightweight championship in June at UFC 317 with a first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira. The Georgian-Spanish fighter, who holds a perfect 17-0 record, became just the tenth fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes after previously reigning as featherweight champion. Following his victory, Topuria immediately called out Pimblett, leading to a confrontation inside the octagon where the champion shoved his rival and the two exchanged heated words.
Pimblett has positioned himself for a title shot after dominating Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April, securing a third-round technical knockout that extended his UFC record to 7-0. The Liverpool fighter climbed to number 10 in the lightweight rankings following the victory and has been vocal about wanting to face Topuria next.
The rivalry between Topuria and Pimblett dates back to March 2022, when they clashed physically at the fighters’ hotel during a UFC event in London. The confrontation stemmed from a social media post by Pimblett in early 2021 that referenced the 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia, which Topuria found deeply offensive as several people he knew had died in the conflict. During the London altercation, Pimblett threw a hand sanitizer bottle at Topuria, who retaliated before being restrained by his team.
Since then, the animosity has remained constant across social media and UFC events. The two fighters were placed on the same card again at UFC 282 in December 2022, where tensions nearly boiled over at the pre-fight press conference. Security intervened to prevent another physical confrontation as Topuria attempted to approach Pimblett during the media obligations.
UFC 324 on Paramount
UFC president Dana White has indicated that Topuria is a possibility to headline the first major UFC card on Paramount in January 2026. The promotion signed a broadcast rights deal with Paramount worth $7.7 billion over seven years, set to begin on January 1, 2026. While White has not officially confirmed the matchup, he told reporters after the Contender Series that matchmaking for the inaugural Paramount card began in mid-October.
The fight would likely take place at UFC 324 in Los Angeles on January 10, though the UFC has not made an official announcement. Topuria addressed the possibility during a press conference in Georgia, describing his participation in the January card as “very possible.” When asked about potential opponents, he left little doubt about his preference for facing Pimblett, citing their history and the demand from fans.
Gaethje’s manager Ali Abdelaziz has maintained that his client deserves the title shot based on his ranking and experience in the division. However, the UFC appears to have prioritized the more marketable and combustible matchup between Topuria and Pimblett for the high-profile Paramount debut.
Pimblett has publicly stated he believes the fight will happen soon, recently suggesting on social media that he has already signed his contract while claiming Topuria has not yet done so. The Liverpool fighter has been open about his training focus, acknowledging that his striking timing needs improvement if he faces Topuria but expressing confidence in his grappling abilities.
Rock’s comments about Pimblett’s consistent training regimen align with the fighter’s known dedication during camp periods. Despite gaining significant weight between fights, Pimblett has successfully made the 155-pound lightweight limit for all his UFC appearances, including a documented 40-pound cut for UFC 314.
As the first numbered event under the new Paramount deal, UFC 324 represents a critical moment for the promotion to establish its partnership with a new broadcast platform. The organization appears to be banking on Topuria and Pimblett’s star power and genuine animosity to deliver a memorable main event that sets the tone for future Paramount cards.
Topuria enters as the favorite based on his status as the reigning champion and number one pound-for-pound fighter. His rise through two divisions has been marked by dominant victories over elite competition, including knockouts of Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Oliveira. This bout would mark only his second fight at lightweight, but the 28-year-old has already proven he belongs among the division’s best.
Pimblett remains undefeated in the UFC since joining from Cage Warriors over four years ago, building a reputation for dramatic finishes and pre-fight entertainment. While bookmakers and analysts are expected to install him as a significant underdog, the British fighter has consistently exceeded expectations and remains confident he can shock the world.
As Rock observed from his position training alongside Pimblett at Next Generation Liverpool, the signs point to a fight happening sooner rather than later. Whether the matchup receives official confirmation in the coming weeks remains to be seen, but the pieces appear to be falling into place for one of the most anticipated grudge matches in recent UFC history.
Despite taking this fight on short notice after an injury to Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez, Brendan Allen lived up to his promise to break Reinier De Ridder, forcing the corner of the two-division ONE champion to throw in the towel after four rounds to give him the win in the main event of UFC Vancouver.
De Ridder looked to use his size early, quickly locking up Allen in a clinch battle seconds into the bout. RDR managed to land a takedown about a minute later, with de Ridder searching for an arm-triangle choke. When Allen defended that, de Ridder looked to transition to the back. RDR worked the rest of the first from the back, landing punches and searching for the rear-naked choke and a late armbar attempt.
Allen looked to apply striking pressure to start the second round, but RDR quickly pinned him against the fence and scored a takedown. Halfway through the round, however, Allen managed to reverse the position, doing well with his striking from up top. De Ridder quickly brought the fight back to the ground in the third, getting right into top control on the back. Allen, however, again managed to reverse to top position, and by the end of the round, RDR appeared to be struggling to just get to his stool.
Allen scored a takedown to start the fourth, though De Ridder tried to score a choke from the bottom. Allen’s relenting pressure was too much, and referee Jason Herzog warned RDR after the round he needed to get to his corner or risk losing the fight. In the corner, the cornermen of a spent RDR threw in the towel, giving Allen the TKO win.
Brendan Allen Stops Reinier De Ridder At UFC Vancouver
Wow. Short notice upset. Brendan Allen went out there and broke RDR. That was an Alan Belcher-Rousimar Palhares-esque performance. Showed no fear in playing with fire, and it worked out. Coincidentally, they share that name, huh.
Allen has now won two straight and nine of 11, entering tonight off a unanimous decision win over Marvin Vettori at UFC 318.
RDR was 4-0 in the UFC entering tonight, scoring finishes of Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and Bo Nickal before a win over Robert Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi. This was his first loss since dropping the ONE middleweight title in March 2024.
In what might have been one of the more bizarre fights of recent time, Mike Malott pulled off perhaps the biggest win of his UFC career so far, defeating Kevin Holland in front of a native Canadian crowd in the co-main event of UFC Vancouver.
After a quiet start, Holland managed to catch a kick from Malott and dropped him with a right hand. Malott, however, managed to grab a leg and sweep, getting on top with grappling pressure. Back on the feet, Malott landed a pair of accidental low blows on Holland in a short timespan, the latter being a knee to the groin that clearly hurt Holland. Holland took the full five minutes and continued despite appearing to still be in pain, but nothing significant was landed following that. Despite this and Drew Dober’s point deduction earlier in the evening, Malott was not deducted a point.
After a bizarre sequence of events to check on Holland’s condition, Malott seemed to find success in the second round with technical striking, including a combination and knee to the body that appeared to hurt Holland. Holland seemed to not pour out as much as he should have in the third, and a slam takedown and an arm-triangle attempt helped to secure Malott the decision victory.
Mike Malott Bests Kevin Holland At UFC Vancouver
In any just world, that's a 28-28 draw. But Dan Miragliotta is horrendous as his job so Mike Malott wins.
Mike Malott is genuinely so bad lmao kneed Holland’s balls into his stomach and still couldn’t even finish the guy. Holy fuck what a fraud this guy is. pic.twitter.com/2XppDS1zrH
#UFCVancouver going down as one of the weirdest cards of the year…
1. Malott kicks Holland’s nuts, he’s fine after 1 minute 2. Malott knees Holland’s nuts, waits the full five minutes, then decides to continue fighting 3. Holland clearly in pain still as the doctor asks if he… pic.twitter.com/Hk7puxohGO
Malott has now won three straight and is now 6-1 in the UFC since his 2021 appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series. He entered tonight off a knockout of Charles Radtke at UFC 315.
Holland has now lost four of his last six, coming into tonight off a loss to Daniel Rodriguez at UFC 318.
Aiemann Zahabi continues to make his climb up the bantamweight rankings, as he came away with a decision victory over former title challenger Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC Vancouver.
Vera pressed the action early, opening up a cut on Zahabi’s nose, though Zahabi had his fair share of moments, appearing to out-strike Vera in the opening frame. Vera then pressured Zahabi during the second round, which included a jab in particular that appeared to rock Zahabi. The Canadian, however, managed to survive the second round and rallied in the third, digging with crisp combinations and leg kicks.
All three judges scored the bout 29-28, with Zahabi getting two judges’ nods to score the split decision win.
Aiemann Zahabi Gets Split Decision Nod Over Marlon Vera At UFC Vancouver
I think there was a missed opportunity there for Chito when he had him hurt. #UFCVancouver
Why is Chito Vera acting so pissed off? You had the guy in the 2nd round, and you chose to stall it. Zahabi was much better after stumbling, and it is ironic.#ufcfightnight
Manon Fiorot took many in the MMA community by surprise with just how quickly she disposed of Jasmine Jasudavicius, needing just over a minute to score the victory at UFC Vancouver.
Fiorot worked her jab early, landing flush on Jasudavicius from the very beginning. Fiorot landed a one-two about a minute into the fight, which rocked Jasudavicius. Fiorot then landed a pair of knees on the Canadian before raining down a barrage of blows that would force a referee’s stoppage.
Manon Fiorot Makes Easy Work Of Canada’s Jasmine Jasudavicius At UFC Vancouver
What a left hand from Fiorot! Expected a win from her but not like that!
Manon Fiorot wobbled Jasmine Jasudavicius and closed it out quickly. Massive finish for Fiorot but super tough for Jas in Canada. What a wild finish #UFCVancouver
Fiorot will win the title if she gets her rematch. She clearly folded under the lights last time. What a statement! #UFCVancouverhttps://t.co/SEgnG5ZX2x
This was Fiorot’s first fight since unsuccessfully challenging Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC women’s flyweight championship at UFC 315 in May. That loss marked just the second of Fiorot’s career.
Jasudavicius sees a five-fight win streak snapped with this defeat.
In front of a native Canadian crowd, Charles Jourdain scored another highlight finish, putting away Davey Grant at UFC Vancouver.
Both men came out swinging from the opening bell, with Grant focused on leg kicks, while Jourdain fired back with sharp combinations. Grant looked for his signature flying knee, and after several explosive exchanges, he landed one.
Jourdain then took advantage of a busted-up Grant and landed some strong ground-and-pound. He then locked up a guillotine to score the submission win.
Charles Jourdain Submits Davey Grant At UFC Vancouver
Kyle Nelson came away with the win at UFC Vancouver, but it wasn’t the kind of victory that he could have gotten — and a simple mistake by referee Dan Miragliotta is to blame.
Late in the first round, Nelson was controlling opponent Matt Frevola on the ground, and he executed ground-and-pound that appeared to earn him the finish. Referee Dan Miragliotta appeared to step in with three seconds left in the first round, and Nelson celebrated as if he had scored the win.
Miragliotta, however, then informed Nelson that the fight was not over. Miragliotta appeared to claim he heard the horn that signaled the end of the round, but video replays on the UFC Vancouver broadcast seemed to show no sound of a horn.
Nelson admitted his gas tank was a bit compromised following that, but he managed to outwork Frevola over the next 10 minutes to score the unanimous decision win.
Referee Dan Miragliotta Criticized For Mistake That Robbed Kyle Nelson Of UFC Vancouver Finish
I do not say this lightly, Dan Miragliotta should never be allowed to referee again. #UFCVancouver
🤔 #UFCVancouver What happened here? With 3 seconds left in the round one, the ref stepped in and stopped the fight. … round two starts… ?!?! pic.twitter.com/7WXArFS34d
What happened at the end of the first round of Nelson vs. Frevola is one of many reasons as to why nobody takes MMA seriously. It’s a stain on the sport and it just continually makes the entire sport look like a joke. Dan Miragliotta should be fired and there should be a massive… pic.twitter.com/POfdF9MfyP
Dan Miragliotta clearly waves the fight off with 3 seconds left in Round 1. Kyle Nelson should’ve been credited with a TKO victory. After this the fight continued and Frevola was cornered in a neutral corner instead of the blue corner. WILD. #UFCVancouverpic.twitter.com/T1ANgxcgZj
Talk about not needing to break a sweat. Aori Qileng didn’t need much to get a win at UFC Vancouver, as he put away Cody Gibson in just 21 seconds during the preliminary card portion of the event.
As Gibson tried to start out the fight with leg kicks, Qileng dropped him with a major right hand. He then landed a couple of ground-and-pounds shot before the referee stepped in and stopped the bout.
Aori Qileng Makes Quick Work Of Cody Gibson At UFC Vancouver
The UFC debut of former GLORY Kickboxing title challenger Yousri Belgaroui ends in major success, as he scored an upset of Azamat Bekoev during the UFC Vancouver prelims.
Bekoev constantly tried to push the pace and pressure Belgaroui, but he paid the price for it. Belgaroui’s kickboxing experience was on full display as he delivered with his striking, which helped to open up a cut on the Russian’s head. Belgaroui dictated the pace in the first two rounds through his usage of his strikes, playing into the significant reach advantage he had.
Belgaroui then needed less than a minute in the third round to pour on one more barrage of damaging strikes on an already drained Bekoev, earning the early third-round TKO victory in his UFC debut.
Yousri Belgaroui Stops Azamat Bekoev In Octagon Debut At UFC Vancouver
Belgaroui went 27-7 in kickboxing, unsuccessfully challenging for the GLORY middleweight title on three occasions, two of which have come against current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Belgaroui also fell short in a GLORY Middleweight Tournament appearance, losing to former UFC middleweight king Israel Adesanya.
Belgaroui competed in UAE Warriors and Levels Fight League, along with two appearances on Dana White’s Contender Series, before making his Octagon debut tonight.
Bekoev, the former LFA middleweight champion, had won eight straight and nine of 10 entering tonight’s bout. Bekoev had won both his appearance in the UFC so far, knocking out Zachary Reese at UFC 311 and finishing Ryan Loder at UFC Des Moines in May.
UFC Fight Night took place tonight from Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
In the main event, former two-division ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder took on Brendan Allen in a middleweight bout. In the co-main event, Kevin Holland faced off with Mike Malott in a welterweight matchup.
UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card
Middleweight bout: Brendan Allen def. Reinier de Ridder via TKO: R4, 5.00
Welterweight bout: Mike Malott def. Kevin Holland via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Bantamweight bout: Aiemann Zahabi def. Marlon Vera via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
UFC star Mackenzie Dern believes her five round experience will help her significantly heading into her UFC 321 title fight.
In the co-main event of UFC 321, Mackenzie Dern will battle Virna Jandiroba for the vacant UFC strawweight championship. This has been a long time coming for Dern and after fighting for years to try and get her way to a title shot, the opportunity has finally arrived – and she’s as prepared as one could ever hope to be.
Mackenzie Dern is a great fighter but she’s certainly faced a few setbacks in her time. Alas, her experience has worked wonders for her career, and a lot of that has come in five round fights as a result of her headline slots on fight night cards.
In a recent interview, Mackenzie Dern explained why that’s going to be really important for her heading into this bout.
Mackenzie Dern recognizes her five-round experience
“I’ve had about four or five five-round fights in the last five years. It changes the game a bit compared to three rounds—you have some rounds where you can feel out and see how your opponent is fighting, find your timing. Three rounds go by so fast; you don’t want to fall behind. But in five rounds, you have 25 minutes to really figure out your opponent and see.”
“We’ve been training hard to make sure we don’t run out of cardio, keep the pace the whole time, but also to have a champion mindset—be able to take time and play smart in the strawweight division.”
Ilia Topuria has stated that he believes Merab Dvalishvili would be able to defeat Alexander Volkanovski if he challenged for the UFC featherweight championship.
Right now, Merab Dvalishvili is on top of the world. He has already achieved some incredible things in the sport of mixed martial arts and this year alone, he has successfully defended the UFC bantamweight championship three times. Later this year, he will attempt to make it four when he goes head to head with Petr Yan for the second time.
Merab Dvalishvili is known as ‘The Machine’, and for good reason. He is well on his way to being viewed as the consensus greatest bantamweight of all time, and it’s hard to see how many would be able to argue against that if he’s able to get the win over Yan in December.
In a recent appearance, Ilia Topuria gave his thoughts on Merab Dvalishvili’s chances if he opted to make the shift up to 145 pounds to face Alexander Volkanovski.
Ilia Topuria believes Merab Dvalishvili has everything it takes to dethrone Alexander Volkanovski and become a two-division champ ⚔️
"I’ve already told Merab once that he needs to change weight class because he has a 100% chance of winning a second belt. As for Merab’s potential… pic.twitter.com/HpdWvOLIzF
“On that note, I’d like to wish good luck to Merab, as he just had yet another fight scheduled. That man is not normal. He’s an awesome guy, salt of the earth. I haven’t met many good people like him.
“I’ve already told Merab once that he needs to change weight class because he has a 100% chance of winning a second belt. As for Merab’s potential fight with Volkanovski, I have no doubt that Merab will end up winning.”
Former UFC champion Kamaru Usman has some pretty big goals for his last two fights in mixed martial arts.
As we know, Kamaru Usman is a true legend of the sport. He has achieved some wonderful things throughout the course of his tenure as a fighter, and he is often considered to be one of the greatest welterweights of all time. Now, though, many believe that he is in the final farewell portion of his run.
While he did beat Joaquin Buckley in his last outing, Kamaru Usman is still not considered to be a frontrunner in the chase for the world title. With that being said, it would make sense if the promotion wanted to vault him into a championship opportunity off the back of what he’s already done in MMA.
In a recent interview, Kamaru Usman made it clear that he wants to win two world titles before retiring.
Kamaru Usman has just two UFC fights left in his "dream scenario"
"Next fight, win the welterweight title. Vacate. Win the middleweight title. Retire. You can't top that." 👀
“In this part of my career, the dream scenario is next fight, win the welterweight title. Vacate. Win the middleweight title, retire. Yeah. Just boom boom, one two, and then we’re done. You can’t top that. It’s like, what else do I wanna do?”
Many will say that this is unrealistic but at the very least, it’s not impossible for Usman to get back to a title shot, even if he has to beat one more contender in order to do it. Regardless of what you think of him, this is the kind of thought pattern that makes you great.
Alex Pereira isn’t interested in hearing about any Magomed Ankalaev injuries following their battle at UFC 320.
As we know, Alex Pereira defeated Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 320 to become the new UFC light heavyweight champion. He did so in pretty impressive fashion, finishing him via TKO within 80 seconds of the fight getting underway.
It’s safe to assume that we won’t be seeing a trilogy fight anytime soon as a result of how dominant the rematch was. Still, Alex Pereira did lose their first meeting, and after noting that he was dealing with some injuries, Ankalaev did the same thing following the rematch, raising a few eyebrows about just how compromised he may have been.
In a recent interview, Alex Pereira had the following to say about any injury worries that Ankalaev was having.
Alex Pereira reacts to reports of Magomed Ankalaev's rib injury:
"Bro, if you saw my injuries right now… he'd feel like sh*t. He wouldn't even come back to fight again…
I'll show you my medical results. What I've got versus what you've got. I doubt this guy has dealt with… pic.twitter.com/rOiOU3IbfK
“I’ve always been injured and injuries man, it’s all the same. Now, Ankalaev is talking about a broken rib or whatever he had. Bro, if you saw my injuries right now, me, fighting him today, he’d feel like s***. He wouldn’t even come back to fight again.
“He’d be like ‘damn, what am I even doing in this organization?’. He’d quit, man. I’m not even gonna say anything. I’ll bet him though, I’ll show you my medical results. What I’ve got versus what you’ve got. I doubt this guy has dealt with the things I’ve dealt with, man.”
Ilia Topuria has teased Islam Makhachev ahead of his upcoming title fight against Jack Della Maddalena.
As we know, Islam Makhachev is one of the best fighters in all of mixed martial arts. He has proven himself time and time again, and as we look ahead to the future, it certainly feels like he has a lot of gas left in the tank. In his next outing at UFC 322, he will attempt to become a two-weight world champion when he locks horns with Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC welterweight championship.
There’s no denying that this is one of the toughest tests of Islam Makhachev’s career. In equal measure, his sheer dominance at 155 pounds means that many people are feeling pretty confident about his chances of dethroning JDM – rightly or wrongly.
In a recent interview, Ilia Topuria spoke about the possibility of him locking horns with Islam Makhachev one day.
Ilia Topuria was asked if he’d still fight Islam Makhachev if he lost to JDM at #UFC322
“If Islam loses, he can go back to Dagestan to his farm and continue herding his sheep.” 😭
“Sorry, I couldn’t remember the word. If Islam loses, he can go back to Dagestan to his farm and continue shepherding his sheep. That’s the word, right? But if he wins, I’ll definitely move up. Definitely. 100%.”
There is obviously a lot of intrigue behind this fight and what exactly it would look like. Regardless of who you would favor, though, nobody can look past the fact that it would be one of the biggest fights in the recent history of the sport, and that it has the potential to be fight of the year.
UFC Vancouver is almost here, and we here at MMA News are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.
The card takes place from the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Saturday, October 18. The main card portion of the event will start at 7PM ET/4PM PT, with preliminary action starting at 4PM ET/1PM PT.
The main event will see a middleweight title eliminator featuring Reinier de Ridder and Brendan Allen.
The co-main event will see welterweight action as Kevin Holland faces Mike Malott.
The main card will also feature Marlon “Chito” Vera facing Aiemann Zahabi, Manon Fiorot fighting Jasmine Jasudavicius, Cody Gibson taking on Aori Qileng, and Kyle Nelson in action against Matt Frevola.
UFC Vancouver: De Ridder vs. Allen Betting Odds
Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Vancouver as of October 17 at 9:15 pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.
Main Card:
Middleweight: Reinier de Ridder (-198) vs Brendan Allen (+164)
Welterweight: Kevin Holland (-105) vs Mike Malott (-115)
Bantamweight: Marlon Vera (+110) vs Aiemann Zahabi (-130)
Women’s Flyweight: Manon Fiorot (-230) vs Jasmine Jasudavicius (+190)
Bantamweight: Cody Gibson (-185) vs Aoriqileng (+154)
Lightweight: Kyle Nelson (+102) vs Matt Frevola (-122)
Preliminary Card:
Bantamweight: Charles Jourdain (-180) vs Davey Grant (+150)
Flyweight: Bruno Silva (+200) vs HyunSung Park (-245)
Middleweight: Danny Barlow (-278) vs Djorden Santos (+225)
Lightweight: Kyle Prepolec (+300) vs Drew Dober (-380)
Women’s Strawweight: Stephanie Luciano (-298) vs Ravena Oliveira (+240)
Middleweight: Azamat Bekoev (-298) vs Yousri Belgaroui (+240)
Women’s Bantamweight: Melissa Croden (-130) vs Tainara Lisboa (+110)
We’re a little less than 24 hours away from UFC Vancouver, and MMA News is here to bring you the video from the ceremonial weigh-ins for the card!
UFC Vancouver takes place on October 18 from the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
In the main event, a No. 1 contender to middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev could be determined when Reinier de Ridder faces off with Brendan Allen. De Ridder, the former two-division ONE champion, is 4-0 in the UFC with finishes of Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and Bo Nickal, as well as a split decision win over former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi this past July. Allen, who fills in for an injured Anthony Hernandez, enters off his decision win over Marvin Vettori at UFC 318.
The co-main event will see the previously mentioned Holland in action against Mike Malott. Holland came up short against Daniel Rodriguez his last time out at UFC 318. Malott, meanwhile, knocked out Charles Radtke at UFC 315.
The main card also features a noteworthy bantamweight bout between Marlon “Chito” Vera and Aiemann Zahabi, a key women’s strawweight contenders’ bout between Manon Fiorot and Jasmine Jasudavicius, a bantamweight battle between Cody Gibson and Aori Qileng, and a lightweight fight featuring Kyle Nelson and Matt Frevola.
All fighters have made weight, and all fights are good to go!
The ceremonial weigh-ins present the last opportunity for opponents to face off before they meet inside the Octagon. Check them out below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel!
UFC Fight Night: Reinier de Ridder vs. Brendan Allen — UFC Vancouver — takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results.
This will be the seventh time in history that the Octagon touches down in the most populated city of British Columbia, Canada. The last time the UFC was in the Rogers Arena saw Amanda Nunes defeat Irene Aldana at UFC 289 to retain the women’s bantamweight title before retiring.
The main event of UFC Vancouver will be a pivotal middleweight title eliminator, as former two-division ONE champion Reinier de Ridder takes on Brendan Allen. Allen fills in for an injured Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez.
De Ridder comes into this contest off a narrow decision victory over former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi this past July. He’s now 4-0 in the UFC following finishes of Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland and Bo Nickal.
Allen enters this contest off a win over Marvin Vettori at UFC 318 that same month, a bout that earned that card’s Fight of the Night honors.
The aforementioned Holland will be competing in the UFC Vancouver co-main event, taking on Mike Malott. Holland enters this bout off a loss to Daniel Rodriguez at UFC 318. Malott enters off a knockout of Charles Radtke at UFC 315 in May.
The main card also features a noteworthy bantamweight bout between Marlon “Chito” Vera and Aiemann Zahabi, a key women’s strawweight contenders’ bout between Manon Fiorot and Jasmine Jasudavicius, a bantamweight battle between Cody Gibson and Aori Qileng, and a lightweight fight featuring Kyle Nelson and Matt Frevola.
UFC Fight Night: De Ridder vs. Allen Weigh-In Results
UFC Fight Night: De Ridder vs. Allen takes place on Saturday, October 18, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The main card begins at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT.
See below for the official results of the official UFC Vancouver weigh-ins. You can view the weigh-ins in the video player above.
Main Card:
Middleweight: Reinier de Ridder (186) vs Brendan Allen (186)
Welterweight: Kevin Holland (170.5) vs Mike Malott (171)
Bantamweight: Marlon Vera (136) vs Aiemann Zahabi (135.5)
Women’s Flyweight: Manon Fiorot (125.5) vs Jasmine Jasudavicius (125.5)
Bantamweight: Cody Gibson (136) vs Aoriqileng (135.5)
Lightweight: Kyle Nelson (155.5) vs Matt Frevola (155)
Preliminary Card:
Bantamweight: Charles Jourdain (135.5) vs Davey Grant (136)
Flyweight: Bruno Silva (125.5) vs HyunSung Park (126)
Middleweight: Danny Barlow (185.5) vs Djorden Santos (185.5)
Lightweight: Kyle Prepolec (155.5) vs Drew Dober (155.5)
Women’s Strawweight: Stephanie Luciano (116) vs Ravena Oliveira (115.5)
Middleweight: Azamat Bekoev (185) vs Yousri Belgaroui (185.5)
Women’s Bantamweight: Melissa Croden (136) vs Tainara Lisboa (135.5)
UFC boss Dana White has admitted that it took him a while to warm to Merab Dvalishvili as the UFC bantamweight champion prepares to try and defend his world title for a fourth time this year.
At UFC 323, Merab Dvalishvili will make a quick turnaround as he defends his UFC bantamweight title against Petr Yan, who he defeated a few years back. If Merab is able to pick up the win, many believe that it would cement him as the greatest to ever do it at 135 pounds. Regardless of whether or not you agree with that, though, there’s no denying that his level of activity is absolutely out of this world.
There are very few UFC champions, if any, who have maintained a similar schedule to Merab Dvalishvili with the belt around their waist. He’s known as ‘The Machine’ for a reason, and if he keeps going at this pace, we may need to start talking about where he ranks in the ‘greatest of all time’ conversation. Yes, we’re serious.
In a recent media scrum, Dana White had the following to say about Merab Dvalishvili’s insane run.
Dana White’s view on Merab Dvalishvili
“I love it,” White told reporters at the most recent Contender Series scrum, when asked about Dvalishvili’s quick turnaround. “Listen, it took me a minute to warm up to Merab. I’m very warm now. I love that mentality.
“He wants to be the first guy to defend his title that many times in a year. If you look at what he’s gone out there and done, and how he’s proven himself as a fighter, and as a world champion, it’s impressive.”
MMA newcomer and amateur wrestling legend Gable Steveson has admitted that he’d be very keen to make his UFC debut on next summer’s White House card, perhaps alongside training partner Jon Jones.
While his stint in WWE didn’t work out as planned, Gable Steveson still has a whole lot of potential when it comes to his future in combat sports. His amateur wrestling background is there for all to see and now, he’s entered the world of mixed martial arts, with the likes of Jon Jones helping to train him.
Many believe Gable Steveson will eventually end up in the UFC. When the man himself was asked about possibly entering the promotion at the White House next summer, he had the following to say.
Gable Steveson is open to UFC debut at White House
“Man, that’d be incredible,’ Steveson told MMA Fighting. “I try not to think too big, but sometimes it’s just big moments come and you can’t deny them, and I think having an Olympic champion, an American person, a guy that’s going to go out there and represent the White House on the biggest stage possible, it’s me. And I think it could be really nice.
“The fact that you even asked me, it is cool. It sent a chill on me.”
“I think having a Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira live-in-the-flesh main event, Jon will be ready because I know he will, and he’ll be with me,” Steveson said. “So we’ll make sure resting is good, we’ll make sure everything else is good, and he’ll take care of the rest.”
“But I think in my terms, man, fantastic opportunity. To have me, being younger, saying that you can be on the same card — and not just any card, a White House card, that is a once in a lifetime [event] — with Jon Jones being the main event against Alex Pereira. I couldn’t even fathom. … It’s insane.”
UFC star Jiri Prochazka has praised Khalil Rountree Jr in the wake of their absolute war at UFC 320.
Earlier this month, Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr put on an absolute masterclass at UFC 320. In the first two rounds of the contest, it certainly seemed as if Rountree Jr was getting the better of the exchanges in a really solid, technical performance. Alas, in the third and final round, the samuari spirit of Prochazka came through in a manner that very few could’ve imagined, and he was eventually able to knock Khalil out cold in an absolutely crazy moment.
Both of these men put it all on the line, knowing that the winner would likely be next in line for a shot at the UFC light heavyweight championship. Khalil Rountree Jr, as he did against Alex Pereira in their epic title fight, went out on his shield. In the world of mixed martial arts, that’s the kind of thing that can earn you a great deal of respect.
Unsurprisingly, Jiri Prochazka was one of the first people to praise Khalil Rountree Jr for what he brought to the table in this fight.
Jiri Prochazka praises Khalil Rountree Jr
“Khalil is such a warrior. Unlike some opponents, our relationship was easy. There was no hate, just respect. It was refreshing to meet an opponent like that with respect between us. But I felt I needed some more aggression, a little chip on the shoulder to fuel me.”
UFC middleweight contender Reinier de Ridder has given his thoughts on Paulo Costa after claiming that talks of a fight between them fell through.
This Saturday night, Reinier de Ridder will attempt to lock up a UFC middleweight championship shot when he goes head to head with Brendan Allen. The two will battle it out in the main event of UFC Vancouver, with Allen serving as a late notice replacement for Anthony Hernandez who pulled out due to injury.
For Reinier de Ridder, the path to a world title opportunity is clear – and if he can beat Allen convincingly, he’ll surely be next in line for a showdown with Chimaev. Of course, there are some other names floating around the 185-pound division, including Paulo Costa.
In a recent interview, RDR had the following to say about the Brazilian.
Reinier de Ridder offers Paulo Costa some advice
“Costa was up first. We were in conversation with him first, but he put up too many stipulations. He wanted a catchweight, wanted three rounds instead of five. So we said, if you don’t want it, then you don’t get it. And then we moved on to Brendan, which I’m very happy with as well.”
“If you get an opportunity like that, don’t be an idiot. Just say yes and don’t put any stipulations there. He would’ve had a great chance to be back into title conversation, but he put all the stipulations there and we said we’ll move on and see if there’s somebody else who just wants to take the fight.”
