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Category: UFC

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

  • “An Ultimate Achiever” – Fans & Fighters React As Modestas Bukauskas Sends Paul Craig Into Retirement After Leaving Him Unable To Continue Past First Round At UFC Paris

    “An Ultimate Achiever” – Fans & Fighters React As Modestas Bukauskas Sends Paul Craig Into Retirement After Leaving Him Unable To Continue Past First Round At UFC Paris

    Paul Craig has called it a career after getting stopped by Modestas Bukauskas at UFC Paris.

    Bukauskas looked to target the legs early and tried to use the clinch to his advantage. Craig attempted to bring the fight to his world, the mat, but Bukauskas kept control and looked to position himself for some strong ground-and-pound.

    Bukauskas got that in the closing seconds of the first round, which included a final elbow right before the horn. However, Craig was unable to stand up after the horn and appeared to be out cold, leading to a stoppage at the end of the first round.

    Following the fight, Craig laid his gloves down in the Octagon, confirming his retirement from MMA.

    Modestas Bukauskas Retires Paul Craig With Buzzer-Beater First-Round KO

    Bukauskas has now won four straight and eight wins in his last nine fights.

    Craig’s MMA career ends with a five-fight winless record (0-4-1). Craig made his UFC debut in December 2016 as an 8-0 fighter. He’d start his UFC tenure 3-4, though he’d pick up performance bonuses in those wins. He’d then go 5-0-1 between September 2019 and March 2022.

  • Patricio Pitbull Torches ‘The Fat Panther’ Losene Keita After Major Weight Miss Cancels UFC Paris Fight

    Patricio Pitbull Torches ‘The Fat Panther’ Losene Keita After Major Weight Miss Cancels UFC Paris Fight

    Patricio Pitbull is left fuming as his fight with Losene Keita is cancelled.

    Pitbull was set to face two-division OKTAGON champion Keita on the main card of UFC Paris this weekend at the Accor Arena in France.

    However, at Friday’s official weigh-ins, Keita tipped the scales three pounds over the 146-pound featherweight limit for his UFC debut, leading to the cancellation of his bout with Pitbull, who successfully weighed in at 145 pounds.

    After the fight was scrapped, “Black Panther” took to social media to apologize to fans, admitting that the grueling cut had drained his body to the point where he couldn’t push any further.

    Keita insisted he was determined to keep the fight alive, even offering to forfeit his purse to Pitbull. However, he alleged the former Bellator champion declined the proposal.

    Patricio Pitbull Left Disappointed After Losene Keita Misses Weight For UFC Paris

    During a recent interview with Full Send MMA, Patricio Pitbull didn’t hold back when addressing the cancellation of his UFC Paris bout after Losene Keita missed weight. The featherweight veteran criticized Keita for failing to make the extra effort during the additional time given to cut down and made it clear he wasn’t after his opponent’s purse, he just wanted the chance to compete.

    “I can’t believe that [he didn’t put effort to make weight] so he’s not professional. I am professional,” Pitbull said. “He said in some interviews he’s faster, younger, stronger but he can’t make weight. I have a video he came to me saying that was his fault… I am about 11 or 12 years making championship weight. If the people want to blame somebody, blame the fat panther.”

    Pitbull later took to X, reminding fans that he had accepted the fight with Keita on short notice and voicing his frustration over how it fell apart. The former Bellator champ also set his sights on a quick turnaround, declaring his desire to compete at UFC Rio on October 11 and even calling out Arnold Allen as his preferred opponent.

    Patricio Pitbull last competed at UFC 318 in July, earning a unanimous decision victory over Dan Ige to rebound from a one-sided defeat to Yair Rodriguez in his Octagon debut at UFC 314. The 38-year-old Brazilian now carries a professional record of 37-8, with a 24 of those victories coming by way of finish.

    Patricio Pitbull
    Image: UFC.com
  • “Give Mason Jones That 50K” – Fans & Fighters React To Mason Jones Go From Nearly Getting Stopped To Scoring Impressive TKO Of Bolaji Oki At UFC Paris

    “Give Mason Jones That 50K” – Fans & Fighters React To Mason Jones Go From Nearly Getting Stopped To Scoring Impressive TKO Of Bolaji Oki At UFC Paris

    After looking like it would be a dominant, quick victory for Bolaji Oki at UFC Paris, Mason Jones pulled off one of the most incredible comebacks of the MMA year to score a second-round finish.

    Oki came out strong against Jones, dropping him twice with heavy strikes during the opening frame and nearly finishing with strong ground-and-pound. A headstrong Jones, however, survived the storm and took back momentum, even scoring a near-submission attempt. Then, Jones was in complete control during the second round, troubling Oki with his striking.

    After a slam, Jones managed to work his way into full mount and land elbows and ground-and-pound. Though Oki defended well to start, it became too much and Jones scored the second-round TKO win.

    Mason Jones Comes From Behind To Finish Bolaji Oki At UFC Paris

    https://twitter.com/showmethepod/status/1964424889672040667

    Jones has now won six straight since the end of his first UFC tenure. Jones returned to the UFC in May with a gritty, hard-fought victory over Jeremy Stephen at UFC Des Moines.

    Oki is now 2-2 in the UFC, including his only two losses since dropping his professional MMA debut.

  • “Nah That Stoppage Was Crazy” – Fans & Fighters React To Herb Dean’s Controversial Stoppage As Axel Sola Wins UFC Debut Against Rhys McKee At UFC Paris

    “Nah That Stoppage Was Crazy” – Fans & Fighters React To Herb Dean’s Controversial Stoppage As Axel Sola Wins UFC Debut Against Rhys McKee At UFC Paris

    In what unfortunately seems to become an often occurance during UFC events, referee Herb Dean has come under fire from the MMA community once again following Axel Sola’s third-round finish of Rhys McKee during UFC Paris.

    McKee had moments of success with heavy punches and pressure, but Sola found success throughout the fight thanks to clean left hands and body shots. The finish, however, came in the third round, with Sola seemingly dropping McKee with a body shot. McKee appeared to look for a takedown before Sola’s ground-and-pound. Dean, however, seemed to only give a second or two for McKee to respond before stepping in, giving Sola the win and prompting protests from McKee.

    Dean already faced from scrutiny earlier in the card, accused of not taking better, sooner action when Harry Hardwick was left unable to stand following leg kicks from Kaue Fernandes.

    Herb Dean Under Fire For Axel Sola Third-Round TKO Win Over Rhys McKee At UFC Paris

    https://twitter.com/tDonBomb/status/1964419789285101660

    This marked the UFC debut for Sola, the former ARES FC lightweight champion and BRAVE CF veteran, who improves to 10-0-1.

    McKee has now lost three of his last four.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Nassourdine Imavov Decisions Caio Borralho 

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Nassourdine Imavov Decisions Caio Borralho 

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the Accor Arena in Paris, France and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, middleweights Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho clashed. While in the co-main event, Benoit Saint Denis faced off with Mauricio Ruffy in a lightweight matchup.  

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Middleweight bout: Nassourdine Imavov def. Caio Borralho via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46×2)
    • Lightweight bout: Benoit Saint Denis def. Mauricio Ruffy via submission: R2, 2:56
    • Light heavyweight bout: Modestas Bukauskas def. Paul Craig via KO: R1, 5:00
    • Lightweight bout: Mason Jones def. Bolaji Oki via TKO: R2, 3.18
    • Welterweight bout: Axel Sola def. Rhys McKee via TKO: R3, 2:02
    • Featherweight bout: William Gomis def. Robert Ruchala via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)

    Preliminary Card

    • Light Heavyweight bout: Oumar Sy def. Brendson Ribeiro via TKO: R1, 4:42
    • Heavyweight bout: Ante Delija def. Marcin Tybura via KO: R1: 2:03
    • Lightweight bout: Kaue Fernandes def. Harry Hardwick via TKO: R1, 3:21
    • Welterweight bout: Sam Patterson def. Trey Waters via TKO: R1, 3:01
    • Middleweight bout: Robert Bryczek def. Brad Tavares via TKO: R3, 1:43
    • Welterweight bout: Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Andreas Gustafsson via TKO: R1, 0:54 

    Strawweight bout: Sam Hughes def. Shauna Bannon via submission: R2, 1:58  

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Sam Hughes def. Shauna Bannon

    Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Andreas Gustafsson

    Robert Bryczek def. Brad Tavares

    Sam Patterson def. Trey Waters

    Kaue Fernandes def. Harry Hardwick

    Ante Delija def. Marcin Tybura

    Oumar Sy def. Brendson Ribeiro

    Main Card Highlights

    William Gomis def. Robert Ruchala

    William Gomis got it done with a unanimous decision.

    Axel Sola def. Rhys McKee

    Axel Sola earned a TKO in the third round.

    Mason Jones def. Bolaji Oki

    Mason Jones earned a TKO in round two.

    Modestas Bukauskas def. Paul Craig

    Modestas Bukauskas earned a KO at the end of round one, with Paul Craig announcing his retirement after the fight.

    Benoit Saint Denis def. Mauricio Ruffy

    In the co-main event, Benoit Saint Denis locked in a rear-naked choke to get the win in this lightweight bout.

    Nassourdine Imavov def. Caio Borralho 

    In the main event, Nassourdine Imavov earned a comfortable unanimous decision victory over Caio Borralho.

  • “The Heavyweight Division Needs A Destroyer Like Ante Delija” – Fans & Fighters React To Delija’s UFC Debut, Avenging Previous Loss To Marcin Tybura At UFC Paris

    “The Heavyweight Division Needs A Destroyer Like Ante Delija” – Fans & Fighters React To Delija’s UFC Debut, Avenging Previous Loss To Marcin Tybura At UFC Paris

    Ten years ago, Ante Delija looked to win the M-1 Global heavyweight title in a battle with Marcin Tybura, but a leg injury in the first round of that fight prevented that from happening. Now, the two squared off again in Delija’s UFC debut at UFC Paris, and Delija is the one who came out with his hand raised this time around.

    Delija looked to bring pressure right away, landing on Tybura, but he’d get caught in Tybura’s grasp and placed on the fence. Tybura would look for the takedown, but Delija managed to escape. Tybura started to connect with the right hand, and the fight’s momentum would not change from there.

    A short series of right hands from Delija would rock Tybura and send him to the mat, finishing the fight in an emotional UFC debut performance for the former PFL champion.

    Ante Delija Brutally KOs Marcin Tybura In UFC Debut At UFC Paris

    Delija is a veteran of the PFL, having been a finalist in the 2021 PFL heavyweight season and winning the 2022 PFL heavyweight title. After parting ways with the PFL, with his last fight with the promotion coming in 2024, Delija last fought in April, finishing Yorgan De Castro this past April at FNC 22.

    Tybura is 3-2 in his last five.

  • VIDEO: Kaue Fernandes Makes UFC Paris Opponent Leave Octagon In Wheelchair After Leg Kick TKO

    VIDEO: Kaue Fernandes Makes UFC Paris Opponent Leave Octagon In Wheelchair After Leg Kick TKO

    In one of the rarest circumstances seen in the Octagon, a finish via leg-kick helped Kaue Fernandes get a first-round victory, defeating Harry Hardwick during the UFC Paris preliminary card.

    Leg kicks seemed to be the focus of Fernandes’ attack, and he noticed the damage those kicks were doing. Less than two minutes into the fight, and Hardwick was notably limping around the Octagon as he was trying to move and attack Fernandes to stay in the fight.

    One leg kick in particular sent Hardwick into a roll on the Octagon mat. Referee Herb Dean waited for Hardwick to stand, but he was unable to do so in a timely manner, resulting in Dean calling a TKO.

    In what may have been an Octagon first, Hardwick was seen leaving the Octagon in a wheelchair.

    Kaue Fernandes Scores First-Round Finish With Leg Kicks At UFC Paris

    Fernandes has now won three straight since dropping his UFC debut to Mark Diakiese and five of his last six.

    Hardwick, the former Cage Warriors featherweight champion, sees a nine-fight unbeaten streak snapped here tonight. This marked his UFC debut.

  • “Get This Man A Ranked Opponent” – Fans & Fighters React To Sam Patterson Starching Trey Waters At UFC Paris For Fourth Straight First-Round Finish

    “Get This Man A Ranked Opponent” – Fans & Fighters React To Sam Patterson Starching Trey Waters At UFC Paris For Fourth Straight First-Round Finish

    Sam Patterson is on a roll in the Octagon, putting away Trey Waters during the preliminary card of UFC Paris to score his fourth consecutive Octagon victory via a first-round finish.

    The two fought conservatively to start off the fight, focusing on single shots as each tried to build his momentum. Waters seemed to be getting the better of the pair early, becoming the aggressor early.

    Patterson started to find success with the right hand, however, snapping Waters’ head back a few times. He turned up the heat, landing several right hooks that did damage, hurting Waters. The referee would step in with both men still on their feet, the right hands of Patterson proving to be too much for Waters to handle.

    Sam Patterson Rocks Trey Waters With Right Hands For First-Round Finish At UFC Paris

    Patterson’s four straight first-round finishes have been a rebound from dropping his UFC debut to Yanal Ashmoud at UFC 286. Patterson earned a UFC contract after a submission win over Vinicius Cenci on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022.

    Waters, the former LFA welterweight champion, loses for the second time in his career, having lost to Gabriel Bonfim on DWCS in 2022. Waters was 2-0 in the UFC entering tonight, scoring decisions over Josh Quinlan and Billy Ray Goff.

  • VIDEO: Rinat Fakhretdinov Makes Quick Work Of Andreas Gustafsson With Fast-Paced Finish At UFC Paris

    VIDEO: Rinat Fakhretdinov Makes Quick Work Of Andreas Gustafsson With Fast-Paced Finish At UFC Paris

    Rinat Fakhretdinov proved to oddsmakers that he shouldn’t have been the underdog in his UFC Paris bout with Andreas Gustafsson, coming away with a quick finish.

    After working Gustafsson over with low kicks and his jab, Fakhretdinov cracked him with a one-two. Fakhretdinov began to pressure and work Gustafsson’s body until getting him to the fence, unleashing his fits as Gustafsson fell to the mat, resulting in a TKO in under a minute.

    Rinat Fakhretdinov Finishes Andreas Gustafsson With A Flurry At UFC Paris

    Fakhretdinov, the former GFC middleweight champion, improves to 24-1-1 in his professional MMA career. His only loss came in his second professional MMA fight, and he now has a 6-0-1 UFC record.

    Fakhretdinov came into this bout off a controversial decision win over Carlos Leal at UFC 308. This was his second UFC KO/TKO victory in under a minute, having done the same to Kevin Lee at UFC Vegas 76.

    Gustafsson sees a four-fight win streak snapped with his defeat.

  • UFC Paris Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Imavov vs. Borralho, Saint-Denis vs. Ruffy, And More

    UFC Paris Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Imavov vs. Borralho, Saint-Denis vs. Ruffy, And More

    UFC Paris 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 Accor Arena in Paris, France, on Saturday, September 6. The main card portion of the event will start at 3PM ET/12PM PT, with preliminary action starting at 12PM ET/9AM PT.

    The main event of the card will see Nassourdine Imavov facing off with Caio Borralho in a major middleweight contenders’ battle.

    In the co-main event, Benoit Saint Denis will take on Mauricio Ruffy in a lightweight matchup.

    The main card will also feature Modestas Bukauskas taking on Paul Craig, Bolaji Oki against Mason Jones, and Axel Sola taking on Rhys McKee. The main card was scheduled to have Patricio Pitbull vs. Losene Keita, but that fight was scrapped after weight management issues for Keita.

    UFC Paris: Imavov vs. Borralho Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Paris as of September 5 at 7pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight: Nassourdine Imavov (+110) vs. Caio Borralho (-130)
    • Lightweight: Benoit Saint Denis (+124) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (-148)
    • Light Heavyweight: Modestas Bukauskas (-325) vs. Paul Craig (+260)
    • Lightweight: Bolajki Oki (+110) vs. Mason Jones (-130)
    • Welterweight: Axel Sola (-130) vs. Rhys McKee (+110)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: William Gomis (-265) vs. Robert Ruchała (+215)
    • Light Heavyweight: Oumar Sy (-500) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (+380)
    • Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura (+105) vs. Ante Delija (-125)
    • Lightweight: Harry Hardwick (+164) vs. Kauê Fernandes (-198)
    • Welterweight: Sam Patterson (-192) vs. Trey Waters (+160)
    • Middleweight: Brad Tavares (-218) vs. Robert Bryczek (+180)
    • Welterweight: Andreas Gustafsson (-130) vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (+110)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Shauna Bannon (+275) vs. Sam Hughes (-345)

  • New Developments As UFC White House Card Set For June 2026

    After UFC CEO and President Dana White called it a “done deal” last week, more details have started to come out for the early planning of a UFC event at the White House.

    Per a report from the Wall Street Journal, White met with U.S. President Donald Trump and members of Trump’s administration this past week to officially confirm plans for the event — one of several events in Washington, D.C. around that time to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.

    Though originally intended to be held on July 4, which falls on a Saturday in 2026, the card will instead take place in late June. Logistical challenges reportedly were the cause of moving up the date of the event. UFC officials do say, however, that plans for the event remain on track.

    The event will reportedly include both a press conference and weigh-ins to take place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Fighters may warm up in the White House and make their Octagon walks through different ceremonial routes, including going through the Oval Office or Rose Garden, before entering the Octagon located on the White House lawn.

    UFC White House Event Reportedly Set For June 2026

    The UFC will reportedly have various fan engagement events in the days leading up to the card. This will include autograph sessions and other interactive activities occuring at the National Mall, as well as viewing screens for broader public access.

    Fireworks and laser-light displays will reportedly be involved during the event.

    Given the spectacle nature of this event, combined with the card’s historic nature and various events, it is still unclear how this will effect plans for International Fight Week in 2026.

    The historical nature of the event has brought out several fighters to ask for placement on the card, including both Conor McGregor and Jon Jones. McGregor has not fought since UFC 264 in July 2021, while Jones announced a comeback following the first tease of such an event — coming just two weeks after he retired and surrendered the UFC heavyweight title.

    This card also comes in more historic times for the UFC — the first year of a seven-year, $7.7 billion U.S. broadcasting deal with Paramount.

  • Caio Borralho is okay with fighting friend Khamzat Chimaev for UFC title

    Caio Borralho is okay with fighting friend Khamzat Chimaev for UFC title

    UFC star Caio Borralho has made it clear that he’s okay with fighting his friend Khamzat Chimaev if the fight ends up happening.

    Tomorrow night, Caio Borralho takes on Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of UFC Paris. If he’s able to pick up the win, and do so impressively, he could easily get a shot at Khamzat Chimaev and the UFC middleweight championship.

    There’s no guarantee, but for Caio Borralho, it’s all about going out there and proving himself. If he does get the crack at Chimaev, he’ll be facing his friend who he’s trained with extensively in the past.

    In a recent interview, Caio Borralho made it known that he’s fine with fighting ‘Borz’.

    Caio Borralho is fine with fighting his friend Khamzat Chimaev

    “It’s business,” Borralho said on the Pound-4-Pound podcast. “It’s for feeding our families. He’s my friend. We talk about it, we speak, we chat in Instagram and all that. When I had my child, he was one of the first guys to come to me and congratulate me and all that. We kind of got into each other.

    “And actually, I was the only one in his training camp that became friends with him, because I knew how to train with him. I knew how to help him and I made him realize that. So he knew I was there to help him, not just to compete against him and try to show that I’m better than him or something like that. 

    “There’s no ego in me. There’s no problem for me to go there, if I’m helping the guy, to get my ass beat for five rounds. I don’t care, because I’m there to help him.

    “But at the same time, I’m seeing everything, I’m studying everything, I’m taking notes. I’m paying attention to everything, and this is something that I did a lot in Sweden.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Benoit Saint Denis is fine dealing with pressure heading into UFC Paris fight

    Benoit Saint Denis is fine dealing with pressure heading into UFC Paris fight

    UFC star Benoit Saint Denis has said that he’s fine with the feeling of pressure as he prepares to face Mauricio Ruffy.

    Tomorrow night, Benoit Saint Denis returns to action when he goes head to head with Mauricio Ruffy at UFC Paris. This is a pretty important fight for both men in the lightweight division as it’ll give us a clear idea of which man is best suited to push on and go after a title shot.

    Benoit Saint Denis has lost two of his last three and while he won his last fight, it wasn’t the most convincing performance in the world. Now, against Ruffy, he’ll be tested in a way that will let us all know whether or not he is able to really step up to that next level.

    In a recent interview, Benoit Saint Denis made it clear that pressure is a privilege, even against someone as dangerous as Ruffy.

    Benoit Saint Denis thrives on pressure

    “I have learned over time that it is unnecessary to put yourself under too much pressure,” Saint Denis told MMA Junkie Radio. “Also, pressure is not a bad thing. It’s a privilege. If you have pressure, it’s because there’s stuff on the line when you are fighting. I enjoy the process. 

    “Of course, it was difficult through the last couple of years. I felt a lot of pressure, and I was not used to it. Now I feel back to doing what I love, and that’s fighting and winning.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Why Did Paul Craig Move To Light Heavyweight Again? In His Own Words

    UFC star Paul Craig has explained his decision to move back to the light heavyweight division from middleweight.

    As we know, Paul Craig is a pretty popular character in the world of mixed martial arts. While he may not always get his hand raised, he’s unpredictable – and he’s got the kind of personality that makes it easy to root for him whenever he gets into the cage.

    On Saturday night, Paul Craig will make his way back to 205 pounds after a stint in the middleweight division. He’s set to face off against Modestas Bukauskas and if he’s able to pick up a comprehensive win, his previous victory over Magomed Ankalaev means that he may only be one or two more wins away from a title shot.

    In a recent interview, Paul Craig opened up about his light heavyweight switch.

    Paul Craig discusses return to light heavyweight

    “We made the decision to move to middleweight. We thought we would have had an upper hand on the middleweight division being a good grappler, being that little bit bigger. But unfortunately, it didn’t actually work out that way for me. So, it makes sense to move back up to light heavyweight, enjoy food, enjoy life because I’m getting a little bit older, but also have the fuel in my muscles to continue to work hard. 

    “That was one of the things we missed out is being a middleweight. We weren’t able to push to 100% of your ability because once the energy and the muscles are away, then it’s much harder for you as a fighter to continue. Now we’re fully equipped with carbohydrates. Our muscles are full of glycogen and we’re ready to put on a performance.”

  • Math and Chemistry Teacher: Caio Borralho Explains His Start In Education – Fighting Nerd

    Fighting Nerds sensation Caio Borralho has spoken about his journey to mixed martial arts and how it all started off with his education.

    Tomorrow night, Caio Borralho will take on Nassourdine Imavov in a highly anticipated middleweight showdown. The two will fight in the main event of UFC Paris, and if the winner gets a spectacular knockout, they could well be the next in line to face Khamzat Chimaev for the UFC middleweight championship.

    Of course, there’s no guarantee behind that, but Caio Borralho is feeling pretty confident either way. He knows that he has the skills necessary to defeat Imavov, and he’s ready to prove that he deserves a crack at Chimaev at the championship.

    Alas, MMA wasn’t always the main focus for Caio Borralho. In a recent interview, he opened up about his days as a teacher.

    Caio Borralho looks back at his journey to MMA

    “I was a mathematics and chemistry teacher before I started MMA. I started teaching when I was 15 years old. My grandpa was a math teacher, and one day he had an emergency and left the class. 

    “He came to me and said, ‘You know this subject, you know how to teach this?’ And I said, ‘I think I know.’ So I started teaching my neighbors, eventually teaching people at school who came to my house to learn. So yeah, that’s my background before fighting. Some of the kids I taught are engineers now, which is crazy to see how things change.”

  • Tom Aspinall reveals he “doesn’t really care” about belts ahead of UFC 321

    Tom Aspinall reveals he “doesn’t really care” about belts ahead of UFC 321

    UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has said that he doesn’t really care about titles or interim/undisputed as he prepares for his next fight.

    In the main event of UFC 321, Tom Aspinall will defend his undisputed title for the very first time. He’ll do so against Ciryl Gane, and it’ll serve as the Englishman’s first fight since successfully defending his interim strap against Curtis Blaydes.

    As we look ahead to the fight, it certainly feels like Tom Aspinall is shaping up to be the clear favorite in this one. With that being said, these two have styles that should match up together pretty nicely, which could make for a fascinating showdown.

    In the UFC 321 press conference in Paris earlier today, Tom Aspinall was asked whether or not this feels like the second time he’ll be defending the title.

    Tom Aspinall reveals he “doesn’t really care” about belts ahead of UFC 321

    “To be honest, I don’t really care about belts and stuff. I only care about my next fight. Ciryl is my next fight, he’s the guy I’m focused on. This fight has been simmering for a long time, do you know what I mean? We both got in the UFC around the same time, we’ve been talking about this fight for a long time.

    “So, I’m just ready to fight this guy already and take him out.”

    Regardless of whether or not you’re a fan of Aspinall, there’s no denying that it’s exciting to see him get back in there after all he’s been through.

  • UFC Paris Drops Major Featherweight Bout After Highly Touted Debutant Fails To Make Weight

    UFC Paris Drops Major Featherweight Bout After Highly Touted Debutant Fails To Make Weight

    The UFC Paris card has taken a significant hit.

    The upcoming Fight Night card will see a high-stakes middleweight clash between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho in the main event, a bout carrying significant title ramifications. The UFC Paris co-main event will pit Benoit Saint Denis against Mauricio Ruffy in a lightweight matchup

    The rest of the card is packed with rising French talent, including a much anticipated featherweight clash between Patricio Pitbull and the highly touted two-division OKTAGON champion Losene Keita, who was set to make his UFC debut. Unfortunately, the fight was canceled ahead of the event.

    At Friday’s official UFC Paris weigh-ins, Keita came in three pounds over the 146-pound featherweight limit, forcing the cancellation of his fight with Pitbull, who weighed in at 145 pounds.

    Keita was coming off a five-fight winning streak, most recently competing at OKTAGON 65 in December 2024, where he scored a second-round TKO over Ronald Paradeiser to successfully defend his lightweight title. The 27-year-old Belgian boasts a 16-1 professional record, including 10 wins by knockout.

    Image: @keitaplusser/Instagram

    UFC Paris Complete Weigh-In Results

    Main Card

    • Middleweight bout: Nassourdine Imavov (185) vs. Caio Borralho (185)
    • Lightweight bout: Benoit Saint Denis (155) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (156)
    • Light heavyweight bout: Modestas Bukauskas (205) vs. Paul Craig (205)
    • Lightweight bout: Bolaji Oki (156) vs. Mason Jones (156)
    • Welterweight bout: Axel Sola (170) vs. Rhys McKee (170)
    • Featherweight bout: Patricio Pitbull (145) vs. Losene Keita (149)*

    Preliminary Card

    • Featherweight bout: William Gomis (145) vs. Robert Ruchala (146)
    • Light Heavyweight bout: Oumar Sy (206) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (206)
    • Heavyweight bout: Marcin Tybura (256) vs. Ante Delija (239)
    • Lightweight bout: Harry Hardwick (156) vs. Kaue Fernandes (155)
    • Welterweight bout: Sam Patterson (170) vs. Trey Waters (171)
    • Middleweight bout: Brad Tavares (186) vs. Robert Bryczek (186)
    • Welterweight bout: Andreas Gustafsson (171) vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (170)
    • Strawweight bout: Shauna Bannon (116) vs. Sam Hughes (116)

    *Losene Keita came in over the 146-pound featherweight limit, leading to the cancellation of his bout with Patricio Pitbull.

  • Mackenzie Dern ‘Not Surprised’ on Weili Zhang Vacating Her Title pre-UFC 321

    Mackenzie Dern ‘Not Surprised’ on Weili Zhang Vacating Her Title pre-UFC 321

    Mackenzie Dern was not caught off guard by Weili Zhang vacating her strawweight crown ahead of her flyweight championship super fight with reigning titleholder Valentina Shevchenko and had multiple reasons as to why that was the case.

    This was discussed during an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show as Dern heads into her next fight in pursuit of that aforementioned vacant strap at 115 pounds. The 32-year-old will clash with Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321 on October 25th with the victor receiving the strawweight championship. Amid a wild journey where she found out via social media that her Jandiroba clash would be for the title and specifically addressing if she was surprised by the belt being vacant in the first place, Dern said,

    “No, I’m not surprised. I mean, I think like depending on how her fight with Valentina would be, if it would be anything like Alexa [Grasso] and Valentina [Shevchenko], they could do like a trilogy, you know, and all this stuff. So, I think it’s just… it just makes sense, you know, not to put the division on hold. And she was so dominant in the strawweight division, you know what I mean?”

    “It’s just like everyone they were throwing at her, she was just beating. So, I mean, I think even if she wants to come back after the one fight with Valentina, I think that it would make sense. But I mean, I figured maybe she’d want to have two belts, you know, but I think depending how her fight goes with Valentina, she might want to have like trilogy or something like that, and that could take a while.”

    Mackenzie Dern and her prior history in the UFC with Virna Jandiroba

    Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba are on a collision course for championship gold in the coming weeks but this is not the first time that the two prolific combatants will compete against each other. At UFC 256 in December 2020, Dern emerged victorious against Jandiroba by way of unanimous decision.

    Dern is presently the number five ranked contender in the division while Jandiroba enters the octagon as the number one ranked strawweight contender in the UFC for this highly anticipated sequel clash.

  • UFC Paris: Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho Weigh-In Results

    UFC Paris: Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho Weigh-In Results

    UFC Paris takes place this Saturday, September 6, at the Accor Arena, with MMA News bringing you the complete official weigh-in results ahead of fight night.

    The upcoming event will be highlighted by a high-stakes middleweight showdown as top contenders Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho clash, with major title implications on the line.

    Meanwhile, the co-main event will see French fan-favorite Benoit Saint Denis face rising lightweight finisher Mauricio Ruffy. Elsewhere on the card, highly touted Cage Warriors featherweight champion Harry Hardwick makes his UFC debut in a short-notice 155-pound clash against Kaue Fernandes.

    Ahead of UFC Paris, the official weigh-ins were held Friday morning at the UFC host hotel in the ‘City of Light”. Both headliners, Imavov and Borralho, hit the 185-pound mark exactly. Meanwhile, Saint Denis weighed in at 155 pounds, and Ruffy hit the 156-pound lightweight limit, making their bout official without issue.

    However, the weigh-ins weren’t flawless, as the scheduled featherweight clash between Patricio Pitbull and highly anticipated UFC debutant Losene Keita was called off from the UFC Paris lineup. “Black Panther” came in three pounds over the 146-pound non-title limit at 149, while Pitbull weighed in at 145 pounds.

    UFC Paris Complete Weigh-In Results

    Main Card

    • Middleweight bout: Nassourdine Imavov (185) vs. Caio Borralho (185)
    • Lightweight bout: Benoit Saint Denis (155) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (156)
    • Light heavyweight bout: Modestas Bukauskas (205) vs. Paul Craig (205)
    • Lightweight bout: Bolaji Oki (156) vs. Mason Jones (156)
    • Welterweight bout: Axel Sola (170) vs. Rhys McKee (170)
    • Featherweight bout: Patricio Pitbull (145) vs. Losene Keita (149)*

    Preliminary Card

    • Featherweight bout: William Gomis (145) vs. Robert Ruchala (146)
    • Light Heavyweight bout: Oumar Sy (206) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (206)
    • Heavyweight bout: Marcin Tybura (256) vs. Ante Delija (239)
    • Lightweight bout: Harry Hardwick (156) vs. Kaue Fernandes (155)
    • Welterweight bout: Sam Patterson (170) vs. Trey Waters (171)
    • Middleweight bout: Brad Tavares (186) vs. Robert Bryczek (186)
    • Welterweight bout: Andreas Gustafsson (171) vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (170)
    • Strawweight bout: Shauna Bannon (116) vs. Sam Hughes (116)

    *Losene Keita came in over the 146-pound featherweight limit, leading to the cancellation of his bout with Patricio Pitbull.

  • Baisangur Susurkaev Booked For Return At UFC 322 After Dream Octagon Debut

    Baisangur Susurkaev Booked For Return At UFC 322 After Dream Octagon Debut

    Baisangur Susurkaev is already lined up for his sophomore UFC appearance.

    Last month, Susurkaev achieved a record-fast turnaround in the UFC, scoring a first-round knockout over Murtaza Talha to secure his contract on Contender Series. Following his impressive win, the 24-year-old Russian appealed to UFC CEO Dana White to be added to the UFC 319 card on just four days’ notice alongside fellow countryman Khamzat Chimaev, and his request was approved.

    Having stepped into his DWCS fight with only four days’ notice, “Hunter” was scheduled for his UFC debut with the same lightning-fast turnaround against fellow newcomer Eric Nolan. He lived up to the hype, securing a comeback submission victory in the second round.

    Baisangur Susurkaev Set To Face Eric McConico At UFC 322

    According to a recent report from MMA Fighting, Baisangur Susurkaev is scheduled to take on Eric McConico in a middleweight clash at UFC 322 on November 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    “Hunter” currently boasts a perfect 10-0 professional record, including eight knockouts and one submission victory.

    Meanwhile, McConico UFC 322 following a split decision victory over Cody Brundage at UFC Vegas 109. The 35-year-old American made his Octagon debut in February at UFC Seattle, but suffered a setback when Nursulton Ruziboev stopped him via second-round knockout.

    McConico holds a professional record of 10-3-1, with seven of his victories coming by stoppage.

    UFC 322 will feature a championship double-header, with welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena making his first title defense against former lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev. In the co-main event, former strawweight queen Zhang Weili moves up a division to challenge reigning bantamweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.

    Images: @realhuntermma/@freedomfightnight/Instagram
  • UFC Champ Alexander Volkanovski Joins Cody Rhodes And Roman Reigns In Star-Studded 2026 Street Fighter Movie Cast

    UFC Champ Alexander Volkanovski Joins Cody Rhodes And Roman Reigns In Star-Studded 2026 Street Fighter Movie Cast

    Alexander Volkanovski is set to make his silver screen debut.

    Volkanovski is widely regarded as one of the greatest featherweight champions in UFC history, holding a 27-4 professional record, which includes 16 wins by stoppage. Known for his versatile fighting style, “The Great” has defended his 145-pound crown five times, turning back elite challengers such as Max Holloway, Brian Ortega, and Yair Rodriguez.

    The 36-year-old Australian reclaimed the featherweight title with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Diego Lopes at UFC 314 this past April. Now, after cementing his legacy in the Octagon, Volkanovski is set to showcase his combat skills alongside his acting chops on the big screen.

    On Thursday, Legendary Pictures announced that their upcoming live-action Street Fighter movie is set to hit theaters on October 16, 2026. The studio also unveiled the full cast, with the latest addition, Alexander Volkanovski, joining to bring the iconic Street Fighter character Joe to life.

    As per the film’s backstory, the character Joe, also known as “Superstar,” was once the unbeaten, undisputed U.S. kickboxing champion set for the Pan-American Fighting Championship, until clashes with his temper and financial troubles derailed his path, forcing him to live as a rogue. However, it is not yet known whether the upcoming film will follow the same storyline.

    Image: @Street_Fighter/X

    Which Big Names Are Joining Alexander Volkanovski In Street Fighter Movie?

    The 2026 Street Fighter film marks the third live-action adaptation of Capcom’s iconic fighting game franchise and will be directed by Japanese-American filmmaker Kitao Sakurai, with a screenplay by Dalan Musson.

    The movie features a high-profile, multi-talented cast, including WWE Champion Cody Rhodes as Guile, Roman Reigns as Akuma, Jason Momoa as Blanka, and Alexander Volkanovski.

    Here’s the complete cast and character list for the upcoming Street Fighter movie:

    • Alexander Volkanovski as Joe
    • Cody Rhodes as Guile
    Image: @Street_Fighter/X
    • Roman Reigns as Akuma
    Image: @Street_Fighter/X
    • Jason Momoa as Blanka
    • Noah Centineo as Ken Masters
    • Andrew Koji as Ryu
    • Callina Liang as Chun-Li
    • David Dastmalchian as M. Bison
    • Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki
    • Eric André as Don Sauvage
    • Vidyut Jammwal as Dhalsim
    • 50 Cent as Balrog
    • Olivier Richters as Zangief
    • Hirooki Goto as E. Honda
    • Rayna Vallandingham as Juli
    • Kyle Mooney as Marvin
    • Mel Jarnson as Cammy
    • Orville Peck as Vega

  • ‘Slow And Stiff’ – Fans React To Islam Makhachev Polishing His Striking Skills Ahead Of Jack Della Maddalena Superfight At UFC 322

    ‘Slow And Stiff’ – Fans React To Islam Makhachev Polishing His Striking Skills Ahead Of Jack Della Maddalena Superfight At UFC 322

    Islam Makhachev’s preparation is underway for the biggest fight of his career.

    In June, Makhachev vacated his UFC lightweight titleholder to pursue double-champ status by moving up to welterweight. He is now scheduled to challenge reigning 170-pound champion Jack Della Maddalena in the UFC 322 main event on November 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    The 32-year-old Russian has built his reputation on world-class wrestling and suffocating grappling that has overwhelmed countless opponents. However, his next test is expected to be far more challenging, as Maddalena brings a lethal striking arsenal paired with solid takedown defense.

    Makhachev and his team appear fully aware of the danger the Australian champion presents, and they’re leaving nothing to chance. A noticeably bulked-up Makhachev recently shared training camp footage on his Instagram stories, where he could be seen sharpening his striking skills while working the mitts in preparation for the showdown.

    Fans React To Islam Makhachev Sharpening His Striking Before UFC 322

    MMA fans responded with mixed reactions after watching Islam Makhachev working on his striking game ahead of his title clash with Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322.

    While many expressed excitement for the matchup, others downplayed its significance, insisting the former lightweight champion will ultimately lean on his wrestling once again.

    https://twitter.com/WillTheSkillet/status/1963660723625529710
    https://twitter.com/RswAby24/status/1963677902106677419

    Makhachev last competed at UFC 311 this past January, where he made quick work of short-notice replacement Renato Moicano, securing a first-round submission to notch his fourth successful title defense.

    The Dagestani standout is riding an impressive 15-fight win streak, highlighted by statement wins over Alexander Volkanovski, Dustin Poirier, and Charles Oliveira. His lone career blemish came nearly a decade ago at UFC 192 in October 2015, when Adriano Martins handed him a first-round knockout loss.

    Islam Makhachev
    Image: @ufc/Instagram


  • Paulo Costa believes Khamzat Chimaev is afraid to fight him

    UFC middleweight Paulo Costa believes that Khamzat Chimaev is afraid to fight him.

    As we know, Paulo Costa is a pretty interesting fighter in the world of mixed martial arts. While he’s clearly very talented, he’s also been responsible for some pretty outlandish remarks on social media. In addition to that, he hasn’t always lived up to his potential inside the cage, leaving many to wonder whether or not he’ll ever get back to the championship level.

    The good news for Paulo Costa, though, is that his rival Khamzat Chimaev is the new UFC middleweight champion. While that isn’t necessarily a guarantee of securing him a title fight, one or two more wins could well be enough given the demand there is out there to see this fight happen.

    In a recent interview, Paulo Costa doubled down on the idea that Khamzat is scared of making the fight happen.

    Paulo Costa believes Khamzat Chimaev is afraid of him

    “I’m looking always for the highest place, you know. Fight to go Chen, he’s holding the belt right now. And even before I called him in my last fight, my more fight, but let’s see. If it was just about me, I would fight him right now. But I’m going to follow what the matchmakers think would be better and I’ll be ready. But he’s afraid. 

    “He’s afraid always. He just hold the guys, you know, he’s marrying his balls for 25 minutes. Everybody one more fight, everybody going to be enough of that guy. That fight was horrible. I think one more and you know then they’re going to call me to cut his off.”

  • Alex Pereira Breaks Down Miscommunication with the UFC: “I regret that”

    Alex Pereira Breaks Down Miscommunication with the UFC: “I regret that”

    UFC legend Alex Pereira has spoken about the miscommunication he had with the promotion that led to an angry tweet he sent out a few months ago.

    As we know, Alex Pereira is one of the best fighters of his generation. He is a two-weight UFC champion, and he has proven himself to be one of the most exciting, must-see athletes on the planet. In his last outing, however, he lost his UFC light heavyweight championship in a defeat to Magomed Ankalaev.

    As we look ahead to the future, it certainly seems as if Magomed Ankalaev vs Alex Pereira 2 is the right move. Prior to their first meeting, though, ‘Poatan’ landed himself in hot water – or so it seemed – after tweeting out his frustrations with the UFC.

    In a recent interview, Alex Pereira decided to clarify the situation.

    Alex Pereira reveals dispute with UFC

    “Before the first fight, I don’t know the reason, but the UFC didn’t want to put me with him. Everyone saw no one was interested to see him fight. Then his team talked saying I was scared, that I didn’t want to accept the fight or the rematch. 

    “But I already had conversations with the UFC and knew the date—it was October. I had to recover from multiple fights in a short period. I waited for the best date for me, and October works well. If he was ready in June, July or August, that’s before our agreed date, so he doesn’t have the moral of the champion ready and waiting for the challenger.”

    “I was a bit upset and tweeted out of moment because of some promises about the fight. Later I realized it was a miscommunication with the UFC. I didn’t inform my manager before tweeting and I regret that. If I’d called Hunter, I think it would have been solved without any exposure.”

  • Anderson Silva Is Awarded a Whopping $10.3 Million From UFC Antitrust Lawsuit

    Anderson Silva Is Awarded a Whopping $10.3 Million From UFC Antitrust Lawsuit

    MMA legend Anderson Silva is set to receive $10.3 million from the UFC antitrust lawsuit, reports indicate.

    As we know, Anderson Silva is one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. He has achieved some truly unbelievable things throughout the course of his career and he has cemented his legacy as one of the best to ever do it – especially in the UFC.

    As it turns out, though, Anderson Silva will also be receiving a pretty notable payday off the back of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s antitrust lawsuit. This allegation was that the promotion underpaid athletes between 2010 and 2017, with around 1,200 fighters being automatically included in the case.

    This includes the aforementioned Anderson Silva, who is going to be doing pretty well off the back of this news.

    Anderson Silva set for big payout

    “In Le v Zuffa news, the Claims Administrator, Angeion Group, has filed a report on the status of processing Class Member claim submissions. Settlement fund will be distributed no later than September 19 “after permitting Angeion time to complete several administrative tasks.

    “Angeion mailed to 1,121 Class Members individualized claim forms and Angeion received a total of 1,088 claims submissions, of which 37 contented their info.

    “For the class the average payment will be $231,022.29;  median $86,034.65; high is $10,334,240.72; & a low of $16,138.45. Based on the final settlement fund each fighter should get 32.7% of their total bout compensation earned during the class period plus $14,179.33 each bout.”

    Good for ‘The Spider’.