MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Islam Makhachev has everything to lose at UFC 322, says former UFC champion

    Islam Makhachev has everything to lose at UFC 322, says former UFC champion

    UFC legend Robert Whittaker believes Islam Makhachev has everything to lose when he faces Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322.

    As we know, Islam Makhachev will headline UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden when he challenges Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC welterweight championship. While many believe he is the favorite to walk away from New York City with the belt, others are of the belief that JDM is being underestimated.

    In a recent episode of his podcast, Robert Whittaker had the following to say on the pressure currently resting on the shoulders of Islam Makhachev.

    Robert Whittaker’s view on Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev

    “Jack has nothing to lose, and I think Islam’s got everything to lose,” Whittaker said on his MMArcade Podcast. “He’s the hottest prospect right now in MMA. Everyone expects Islam to just run through him.”

    “I think what was unexpected was the relinquishing of the lightweight title,” Whittaker said. “I expected it in a sense that because Topuria did it, people would have to follow suit, but Islam’s kind of like the poster boy right now for the UFC in terms of like megastar sort of things. I didn’t see them doing that.”

    “I’m going to go Jack,” Whittaker said. “I think Jack has that X-factor. I think he has the gut, the grit, the determination to fight the takedowns, to fight the takedown attacks that Islam is going to go for, and I think in a striking fight straight up, Jack is better. I think he wins in the hands. 

    “I think Jack’s got the better game to strike over five rounds than Islam does, as well, especially if Islam is trying to go for takedowns during the fight. People sleep on Jack’s grappling game. They sleep on his jiu-jitsu.

    “I don’t think Islam is going to be as gung-ho with the takedowns as everybody believes because Jack has that level of offense off his back. From the things I remember seeing in the (Alexander Volkanovski) fight, their first pairing, I see the fight potentially going that way.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Dillon Danis’ future: MMA analyst doubts his ability to compete in UFC

    Dillon Danis’ future: MMA analyst doubts his ability to compete in UFC

    MMA analyst Din Thomas has serious doubts over Dillon Danis‘ ability to compete in the UFC.

    Last weekend, Dillon Danis returned to competitive mixed martial arts with a win over Warren Spencer at Misfits Boxing 22. Of course, many felt as if Spencer was pretty overmatched, with the majority rolling their eyes at the choice of opponent for Dillon.

    Now, though, as we look ahead to the future, it certainly seems as if Dillon Danis has some big plans for himself. He’s already been talking about what could be on the horizon and one idea is him signing for the UFC, although it doesn’t particularly feel like the kind of move that Dana White would be open to making.

    In a recent interview, Din Thomas weighed in on what’s next for Dillon Danis and why he isn’t confident about a potential UFC stint.

    Din Thomas’ view on Dillon Danis

    “He’s very good at jiu-jitsu. At MMA, no one knows how good he is,” Thomas told MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn on “The Bohnfire” podcast. “… I’m not sure we’ll ever get to see him at a high level. I don’t think he has the level of professionalism to fight at a high UFC level – to show up to the UFC on fight week and fight a really good guy. I don’t think he has the level of professionalism to do that.”

    “To fight a low-level guy on a Misfits card that everybody’s just kind of tuning in and he can make some money this way? It’s easy to do that. It’s easy to do that,” Thomas said. “But to show up to the UFC – I know that might be his goal, ultimately – it takes a completely different level of professionalism, and I don’t know that he has that.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape Headlines UFC Vegas 112 To Close Out UFC’s 2025

    Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape Headlines UFC Vegas 112 To Close Out UFC’s 2025

    Flyweight is a division filled with talent, and two prominent names in that division have been chosen to try and close the UFC’s 2025 calendar year with a bang in the main event of UFC Vegas 112.

    Former title challenger Brandon Royval and former RIZIN bantamweight champion Manel Kape will face off at the event, which takes place on December 13 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The bout was first reported by Marcel Dorff.

    As of September 1, Royval and Kape are both ranked in the top 10 at flyweight at No. 3 and No. 7, respectively. And with Royval having already fallen to champion Alexandre Pantoja — and Pantoja’s expected next title defense against Joshua Van at the end of 2025 or start of 2026 — a win by Kape here could elevate him into the next in line for the Pantoja-Van winner.

    Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape To Headline UFC Vegas 112 On December 13

    Royval, the former LFA flyweight champion, will be looking to bounce back from a loss to Van at UFC 317 in June. Royval has won five of his last eight — with his losses in that span coming to both Van and Pantoja.

    Kape has won two straight and six of his last seven. He’ll come into this bout off a TKO of Asu Almabayev at UFC Vegas 103 in March.

    UFC Vegas 112, which takes place one week after UFC 323, will also mark the final UFC broadcast on ESPN in the U.S. before numbered cards and Fight Night events move to Paramount at the start of 2026.

  • Colby Covington wants a Superfight against Paddy Pimblett “You’re a bum. You’re a gimmick”

    Colby Covington wants a Superfight against Paddy Pimblett “You’re a bum. You’re a gimmick”

    UFC star Colby Covington has called for a potential superfight against Paddy Pimblett.

    Colby Covington has made a career out of calling people out and generally being quite controversial. He’s never been particularly shy about that fact and as we look ahead to his immediate future, it certainly feels like he’ll need to get vocal if he wants to secure another big fight in the UFC.

    Following losses to Leon Edwards and Joaquin Buckley, it’s not clear as to where Colby Covington sits in terms of the elite in the welterweight division. Of course, he still has name value, but there are a lot of fighters higher up in the pecking order than him at 170 pounds.

    In a recent interview, Colby Covington made it known who he wants to fight.

    Colby Covington goes after Paddy Pimblett

    “I mean, the Paddy Pimblett fight super interests me ’cause in Miami, he was talking… running his mouth backstage. Like, I wasn’t even looking at him or talking to him. He wants to start some shit. He’s been saying some shit. He was saying in an interview the other day his doctor said he had liver failure from cutting to 155. 

    “Dude, come up a weight class. Come to 170. Why are you being a weight bully, Paddy? You know, you’re a bum. You’re a gimmick. Your little English accent and your little bowl cut. That’s the only reason people know you. So, let’s get it going, Paddy. And if I can’t get Paddy, then maybe Gilbert Burns. That would be good.”

    “Yeah, I’ve been talking to Hunter Campbell and we’re looking for October and November. Maybe November in the Garden. But wherever Hunter decides in the UFC, I’ll be ready. 

    “If they need to push me to December in the T-Mobile event, then December in Vegas sounds good. But I want to get in there as soon as possible and on a full training camp. You know, I didn’t get a training camp last fight. So, full training camp. Bring anybody in the world. I’m ready to go. Let’s go, Hunter. In UFC.”

  • Miesha Tate provides big update on her UFC future aged 39

    Miesha Tate provides big update on her UFC future aged 39

    UFC star Miesha Tate has provided an update on her future in the promotion and mixed martial arts in general.

    As we know, Miesha Tate is a legend within the world of women’s mixed martial arts – and MMA as a whole. She is a former world champion, a superstar, and she’s been involved in some absolutely huge fights over the years against the likes of Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes.

    However, after an inconsistent run of form since returning to the cage, Miesha Tate has been left questioning her future in the sport. She’s an icon in her own right, but it certainly feels like her best days are behind her.

    In a recent podcast appearance, Miesha Tate spoke openly and honestly about what’s next.

    Miesha Tate reveals plans for UFC future

    “I’m not officially done,” Tate said on the Jaxxon Podcast.

    “I still have a fight on my contract. One fight. I wouldn’t fight more than one more time.

    “I’m not looking to re-sign,” Tate said of her UFC contract.

    I think just one more, if that, but I haven’t decided for sure.

    “I might be leaning towards not [fighting again],” Tate added.

    “You’d have to ask [the UFC to do a boxing match], but I’m not,” Tate said, when asked if she’d ever box.

    “Boxing, for real? Like, I’m not gonna go do that.”

    Quotes via Bloody Elbow

    Miesha doesn’t owe the sport anything and could easily ride off into the sunset right now. In equal measure, if she wants to get a big send-off, that’s also something she truly deserves.

    Regardless of whether or not you’re a fan of Tate’s work, it’d be great to be given the opportunity to send her off into retirement in style at the end of what has been an important and amazing career.

  • Noche UFC: Rob Font To Face Replacement Opponent After Raul Rosas Jr. Pulls Out Of Co Main Event

    Noche UFC: Rob Font To Face Replacement Opponent After Raul Rosas Jr. Pulls Out Of Co Main Event

    The Noche UFC lineup has undergone a shake-up with a little more than two weeks left before fight night.

    According to MMA Junkie’s Nolan, the bantamweight co-main event of Noche UFC between Rob Font and Raul Rosas Jr. has been scrapped after “El Niño Problema” withdrew for undisclosed reasons.

    In turn, Font will now square off against late-replacement David Martinez, who was originally scheduled to face Quang Le on the same card.

    Font will make his second walk to the Octagon this year after edging Jean Matsumoto by split decision at UFC Seattle in February. The 38-year-old heads into the bout riding a two-fight win streak, though inconsistency has marked his recent run with a 3-4 record over his last seven appearances. Holding a 12-7 slate in the UFC, the American has secured seven of those victories by stoppage.

    Meanwhile, Martinez is fresh off an impressive first-round knockout of Saimon Oliveira in his promotional debut at UFC Mexico City this past March. The 27-year-old Mexican earned his UFC deal just months earlier, securing a decision victory over Xavier Franklin on Dana White’s Contender Series in October 2024.

    “Black Spartan” boasts a professional record of 12-1, with 10 of those victories coming by knockout. His lone setback came in April 2021, when he dropped a split decision under the Combate Global banner.

    Image: @blackspartan_official/Instagram

    Who Will Headline Noche UFC?

    This year’s Noche UFC marks the third annual celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day and will take place on September 13 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. The event was originally slated to be UFC 320 in Guadalajara, Mexico, however delays in completing Arena Guadalajara led the promotion to relocate the card to Texas and repackage it as a Fight Night.

    The main event of the upcoming card will feature a marquee featherweight clash, as former title challenger Diego Lopes takes on rising knockout artist Jean Silva. The card also showcases a strawweight bout between former title contenders Tatiana Suarez and Amanda Lemos.

    Here is the confirmed lineup of Noche UFC:

    • Featherweight: Diego Lopes vs. Jean Silva
    • Bantamweight: Rob Font vs. David Martinez
    • Strawweight: Tatiana Suarez vs. Amanda Lemos
    • Welterweight: Rodrigo Sezinando vs. Daniil Donchenko
    • Middleweight: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
    • Lightweight: Jared Gordon vs. Rafa García
    • Flyweight: Jesus Aguilar vs. Luis Gurule
    • Women’s bantamweight: Alice Pereira vs. Montserrat Rendon
    • Lightweight: Claudio Puelles vs. Joaquim Silva
    • Middleweight: José Medina vs. Duško Todorović
    • Middleweight: Zach Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas
    • Flyweight: Alessandro Costa vs. Alden Coria
    • Bantamweight: Quang Le vs. TBD

  • Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev: Sean Brady backs the champion

    UFC welterweight contender Sean Brady believes that Jack Della Maddalena has what it takes to defeat Islam Makhachev at UFC 322.

    In the main event of UFC 322, Jack Della Maddalena will take on an incredibly tough assignment. He will be locking horns with Islam Makhachev, who is moving up from 155 pounds in order to try and win a second world title. While a lot of people are backing Islam to get it done, JDM is the kind of fighter who has proven the masses wrong before – and on multiple occasions.

    The rest of the welterweight division, understandably, will be watching closely to see how it plays out. In a recent podcast appearance, Sean Brady explained why he favors Jack Della Maddalena here.

    Sean Brady backs Jack Della Maddalena

    “I think it’s a lot tougher of a fight for Islam than people are giving Jack credit for,” Brady said on UFC Unfiltered. “Jack’s very hard to hold down. He’s a big body, hits like a freight train, has knockout power and he’s showed that getting someone down doesn’t mean d*ck. Can you hold him down? Jack’s really good at creating scrambles, getting back to his feet, separating the hands. Like, we’d seen that with Belal.

    “Gilbert (Burns) did better at taking Jack down than Belal did. He had better positions on him, but I don’t know. Selfishly for me, I want Islam to win because I want to fight Islam for a legacy thing, and I think I can beat Islam. I think I can beat anybody in the world, and I want my grappling to go against his grappling and see who’s better. I really would love for that to play out. But if I had to pick, and I know Jack would be the underdog, I would pick Jack.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Merab Dvalishvili names potential future bantamweight title contender

    Merab Dvalishvili names potential future bantamweight title contender

    UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has made it crystal clear that he is interested in the idea of a rematch against Petr Yan.

    In his next outing, Merab Dvalishvili will defend the UFC bantamweight championship against Cory Sandhagen. In a lot of ways, this is the fight that makes the most sense, and Merab himself acknowledges that. However, the majority of fans and pundits do believe that the champion has more than enough in his locker to keep hold of the title.

    For Merab Dvalishvili, though, this isn’t just about beating Sandhagen – it’s about building a real legacy for himself as champion. In a recent interview, he spoke about a possible future rematch against top contender Petr Yan.

    Merab Dvalishvili wants Petr Yan rematch

    “I don’t overlook Cory Sandhagen. It’s going to be a tough fight. But God willing, I’m going to do my best to win this fight, and if I win, I want a quick turnaround and I want to fight in December,” Dvalishvili said on the “Full Send Podcast.”

    “I will ask the UFC for a favor to give me another fight in December or even November. I don’t care. Petr Yan is the clear contender right now. He deserves it. I don’t want to make him wait too long. I can take a quick turnaround and fight him, and after we will see who will be the next contender.”

    “Every fight I have a different plan, but against Petr Yan, I don’t have a plan because I was scratching my head: How am I going to fight him?,” Dvalishvili said. “He has good takedown defense, he’s a great striker and he’s a dog. I was like, ‘How am I going to fight this motherf*cker?’ So the day before, when we made weight, he pushed me. Then my mind opened. I’m like: I’m going to teach you.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Justin Gaethje will make Ilia Topuria wrestle, says his manager

    Justin Gaethje will make Ilia Topuria wrestle, says his manager

    Ali Abdelaziz believes that Ilia Topuria will try and wrestle Justin Gaethje in their proposed UFC lightweight championship fight.

    As we all know, Justin Gaethje wants one thing and one thing only in mixed martial arts right now: the UFC lightweight title. It’s something he’s been pursuing for many years, and this feels like his best opportunity to try and seize it. Of course, Ilia Topuria will certainly have other plans, especially given how dominant he’s been since arriving in the promotion.

    Right now, Justin Gaethje taking on Ilia Topuria for the belt is entirely hypothetical. However, while we don’t know for sure that this is the direction we’re heading in, it definitely seems like the idea of this fight is picking up a lot of momentum.

    Ahead of any possible announcement, Justin Gaethje’s manager Ali Abdelaziz gave his thoughts on the whole thing.

    Ali Abdelaziz’s view on Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje

    “It’s a car crash (fight),” Abdelaziz said.

    “Whoever is gonna land first, is gonna go to sleep. This is my opinion.

    “I think Topuria might try to wrestle Justin, also,” Abdelaziz continued. “I think Justin Gaethje is way too dangerous to just stand in front of and throw punches.

    “Justin is a very powerful striker, he’s very dangerous. Honestly, it’s one of the best fights you can make in the UFC.”

    Quotes via Bloody Elbow

    Get ready, fight fans, because this contest – if it happens – has the potential to be one of the most entertaining fights of the year.

  • Jack Della Maddalena’s Coach: Islam Makhachev doesn’t have a chin as tough as Belal Muhammad’s

    Jack Della Maddalena’s Coach: Islam Makhachev doesn’t have a chin as tough as Belal Muhammad’s

    Jack Della Maddalena‘s coach Ben Vickers doesn’t believe that Islam Makhachev’s chin is as good as Belal Muhammad’s.

    As we know, Jack Della Maddalena is set to defend his UFC welterweight championship at UFC 322 against Islam Makhachev. It’ll serve as the first time he has put the belt on the line in the wake of his stunning title victory over Belal Muhammad. Of course, a lot of people are backing Islam to get the job done, but getting through JDM is going to be no easy task.

    Against Belal Muhammad, Jack Della Maddalena managed to put it all together pretty seamlessly. Sure, he had to deal with some adversity, but he came through that test with flying colours. Now, he’ll have to do it all over again, against arguably a harder opponent.

    In the eyes of Ben Vickers, though, one thing Jack Della Maddalena doesn’t have to worry about is Makhachev’s chin.

    Jack Della Maddalena’s coach on Islam Makhachev’s chin

    “Yeah, I do. I just don’t think Islam has the chin that Belal has. We know for a fact if Jack clips someone clean on the chin they can go over. So it could happen in the first minute, it could happen in the 24th minute, it could happen in the 24 minute 59 seconds, it could happen three rounds in. Jack likes long fights, he likes to be in there. But obviously we’re not getting paid for overtime. So, if the opportunity arises, we’re happy to take it.”

  • Youssef Zalal: UFC Followers Are “The worst fans I’ve ever seen in my life”

    Youssef Zalal: UFC Followers Are “The worst fans I’ve ever seen in my life”

    Youssef Zalal is not particularly fond of the mixed martial arts fanbase and recently expressed why ahead of a high stakes featherweight fight. During an interview with Farah Hannoun of MMA Junkie, Zalal touched on multiple topics ahead of his consequential contest with Josh Emmett at UFC 320 on October 4th.

    When touching on the MMA fanbase’s style of interfacing with the sport from a fighter’s perspective, Zalal said,

    “The fans are spoiled. All they care about is what you did the last fight. That’s all they care about. They don’t care about your whole story. They don’t care about nothing. Some guys didn’t even, like, I saw some comments, I think they were saying like, ‘Oh, he’s on a like three and three or something like that.’”

    “I’m like, you guys obviously are the worst fans I ever seen in my life. I fought four fights in 11 months. I was one of the most active guys in the featherweight. And to go have three finishes and two bonuses, and then they still; it’s not enough. We’re spoiled human beings. It’s crazy.”

    Youssef Zalal: Josh Emmett “had no choice” in accepting UFC 320 bout

    Youssef Zalal and Josh Emmett have quasi history with one another with the two set to settle their score in the cage in the coming weeks. Zalal previously called out the former UFC interim title challenger but Emmett at the time of the callout, circa February, indicated he was looking for something a bit bigger in the division. Touching on their prior interactions and how we got to this bout booking becoming locked in, Zalal stated [via MMA Junkie],

    “He’s at a point where he had no choice. He either had to wait a year or so to fight, or fight right now. Obviously, we’ve got a bunch of young guys coming in and a bunch of prospects coming in, and they need to fight, and that’s why I feel he had no choice in a way. It is what it is.”

    Zalal vs. Emmett pits the number nine and number eight ranked contenders, respectively, at 145 pounds against one another in Las Vegas at UFC 320.

  • “This Is Going To Be Awesome” – Dana White Says UFC White House Event Is A Done Deal

    “This Is Going To Be Awesome” – Dana White Says UFC White House Event Is A Done Deal

    Ever since it was first brought into the wild, the idea of a UFC White House event has been debated, discussed, derided, and defended. Now, approximately 10 months before the 250th anniversary of the United States, UFC CEO and President Dana White claims plans for an event are now official.

    White made the announcement during an Instagram Live stream on the evening of August 28, stating he had spent the day in Washington, D.C. trying to figure out details in regard to the event

    “We had the meeting at the White House; could not have gone better,” White said. “This is going to be awesome. The White House fight is on. I will have more details on that in the next couple of weeks. But we got it done today.”

    Dana White Says UFC White House Event Is A Go Following Meeting In Washington, D.C.

    U.S. President Donald Trump first teased the idea about a card at the White House during Fourth of July festivities last month. He stated such an event as part of a big series of events to celebrate the Semiquincentennial of the U.S.

    The UFC and White, in a series of interviews, would later indicate the plans were one of serious nature, with full intentions of a card to take place on the lawn of the White House on July 4, 2026.

    White has previously claimed he intends to make the one of the “baddest” cards in UFC history at such an event, though he wouldn’t name any potential names or matchups due to the distance of time between now and the White House card.

    Many fighters have expressed their desire to be selected for such an event, including Conor McGregor and Jon Jones. McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC since 2021 but has since returned to the UFC’s testing pool. Jones’ retirement lasted only two weeks due to the announcement; however, White has expressed trepidation and a lack of desire in placing Jones on the card.

    It is believed many or all of the tickets for the White House card will be complimentary, and it is unclear if this event would be broadcast on Paramount+ exclusively or on linear CBS networks as well with the UFC’s new U.S. broadcasting deal with Paramount that begins in 2026.

  • Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern For Vacant Strawweight Title To Co-Headline UFC 321, Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista Added To Card

    Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern For Vacant Strawweight Title To Co-Headline UFC 321, Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista Added To Card

    Following the confirmation that Weili Zhang will be moving up to flyweight to challenge Valentina Shevchenko, a new UFC women’s strawweight champion will be crowned at UFC 321, as Virna Jandiroba faces off with Mackenzie Dern.

    UFC CEO and President Dana White confirmed the news on Instagram Live before a confirmation graphic posted to the UFC on social media.

    White confirmed in the same announcement stream the end of Zhang’s second reign as champion, finalizing the long-awaited showdown between she and Valentina Shevchenko for the latter’s 125-pound title in the co-main event of UFC 322, three weeks after UFC 321.

    Zhang defended the strawweight title three times in her second reign as champion, defeating Amanda Lemos, Yan Xiaonan, and Tatiana Suarez.

    Virna Jandiroba And Mackenzie Dern To Fight At UFC 321 To Determine New Strawweight Champion

    Jandiroba has won five straight and six of her last seven fights. Her two most recent victories are two of the names Zhang defeated in her second title run; Jandiroba defeated Lemos in the main event of UFC Vegas 94 in July 2024 and Xiaonan at UFC 314 in April.

    Dern, the former grappling and jiu-jitsu world champion, has won two straight and three of her last five. Dern comes into this fight off a bonus-earning, buzzer-beater submission of Amanda Ribas in the main event of UFC Vegas 101 this past January.

    White also announced Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista will be added to the main card of UFC 321. Nurmagomedov’s previous-unbeaten record came to an end at UFC 311 in January, falling just short of claiming the bantamweight title from Merab Dvalishvili. Bautista has won eight straight, most recently defeating Patchy Mix at UFC 316.

    UFC 321 takes place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 25. The main event will see Tom Aspinall defend the UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane.

  • Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev Announced For UFC 322 Main Event, Weili Zhang To Vacate Title And Challenge Valentina Shevchenko In Co-Main Event

    Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev Announced For UFC 322 Main Event, Weili Zhang To Vacate Title And Challenge Valentina Shevchenko In Co-Main Event

    The UFC will be returning to New York’s Madison Square Garden for UFC 322 on November 15, featuring a pair of what could be considered championship superfights to headline the night.

    The main event will see Jack Della Maddalena make his first defense of the UFC welterweight championship, as he faces the challenge of former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.

    JDM, an alumnus of Dana White’s Contender Series, has gone unbeaten in professional MMA since dropping his first two fights. His rise up the welterweight ranks ended in successful fashion with a win over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in May to claim the UFC’s 170-pound title.

    Makhachev became UFC lightweight champion with a submission of Charles Oliveira at UFC 280. He defended the title four times, defeating Alexander Volkanovski twice, as well as defeating Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano, before vacating the belt — now held by Ilia Topuria — earlier this year.

    Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev, Valentina Shevchenko vs. Weili Zhang Official For UFC 322

    Like the stories of Makhachev and Topuria, Weili Zhang will be vacating her strawweight championship and challenging Valentina Shevchenko for the women’s flyweight title in the UFC 323 co-main event — a battle of the top two-ranked pound-for-pound women’s fighters in the UFC today.

    Shevchenko initially won the women’s flyweight championship at UFC 231, defending the belt seven times before her trilogy with Alexa Grasso that saw her lose and regain the title. Shevchenko defended the belt earlier this year at UFC 315, defeating Manon Fiorot.

    Zhang, a two-time UFC women’s strawweight champion, began her second run with the gold by submitting Carla Esparza at UFC 281, which was also held at Madison Square Garden. She has since successfully defended the title against Amanda Lemos, Yan Xiaonan, and Tatiana Suarez.

    UFC 322 will also feature former welterweight champion Leon Edwards in action against Carlos Prates. Edwards lost to Sean Brady earlier this year in his first fight since dropping the belt to Belal Muhammad. Prates, meanwhile, scored a highlight knockout of Geoff Neal just a couple of weeks ago at UFC 319.

  • Conor McGregor’s training partner explains why he should stay in the UFC

    Conor McGregor’s training partner explains why he should stay in the UFC

    Dillon Danis has given his thoughts on whether or not Conor McGregor should remain in the Ultimate Fighting Championship or pursue ventures elsewhere.

    As we know, the future of Conor McGregor in the world of mixed martial arts – and combat sports as a whole – is uncertain. While his primary focus seems to be on becoming Ireland’s new president, he’s also been training pretty heavily, giving the impression that he’s gearing up for a return to the UFC. If he does, you’d have to imagine he will have his eyes firmly set on a spot on the UFC White House card.

    Regardless of whether or not that comes to fruition, Conor McGregor returning to the cage is something that a lot of fans want to see. Sure, he has plenty of critics out there, but nobody can deny the star power that he still possesses, even if he isn’t at the same level that he once was back in his prime.

    In a recent interview, Dillon Danis gave his thoughts on the future of Conor McGregor, the man who first introduced him to the limelight.

    Dillon Danis’ view on Conor McGregor’s future

    “I want Conor to stay in the UFC. I want to see him make another run at the title. I know him very well. When he trains right and trains the way he’s supposed to, no one’s beating him. From a friend standpoint, I want to see him be the best mixed martial artist. He is the best mixed martial artist, but I want him to show and prove it again cuz some people talk [__] on his name.”

  • Why Arman Tsarukyan is in UFC ‘Purgatory’, according to MMA Analyst

    Why Arman Tsarukyan is in UFC ‘Purgatory’, according to MMA Analyst

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has given his thoughts on the future of Arman Tsarukyan and the UFC lightweight championship picture.

    As we know, Arman Tsarukyan is one of the top lightweight contenders at 155 pounds and that much is obvious. He even had a title shot on his plate against Islam Makhachev at the start of the year, only for an injury to rule him out of the fight.

    In a recent video, Chael Sonnen gave his thoughts on Arman Tsarukyan and where he’s currently at.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Arman Tsarukyan

    “And we’ll stick him in this purgatory, if you will, of MMA where we don’t quite know what we’re going to do with you now. So, we’re going to do nothing. And it might end up being great; you might end up getting to come to heaven. It might not, though, and you’re gonna have to go to hell. But either way, being in a spot where you don’t know is basically punishment enough.”

    “‘Yes, I believe I should have Ilia Topuria. Yes, I want Ilia Topuria. No, I’m not willing to wait to get Ilia Topuria because of my own personal situation, because of four training camps with no fight. I am not willing to wait. So, I guess I don’t get Ilia next.’ And it was a very interesting negotiating tool, I must tell you. 

    “I mean, regardless of what he said, he still wants Ilia. He did the interview to get himself closer to Ilia. And when I read it, he pulled this whole, you know, not only do I not care—I’m not going to get it—not only am I not going to get it, I’m looking for something else. He pulled this whole blew it off his shoulder, right?”

  • Jake Paul vs Gervonta Davis: Former UFC champion hits out at exhibition match

    Jake Paul vs Gervonta Davis: Former UFC champion hits out at exhibition match

    UFC legend Michael Bisping has given his thoughts on the upcoming Jake Paul vs Gervonta Davis exhibition boxing match.

    As we know, Paul and Gervonta Davis are set to square off in an exhibition boxing match later this year. While some are intrigued to see how it all plays out, most boxing fans are furious – mainly because they want to see ‘Tank’ take on bigger challenges than this one.

    Of course, boxing has changed a lot since the introduction of Jake Paul to the party, but we all knew that. As we look ahead to this fight, it’s hard to know how both men are even going to approach it.

    In a recent video, Michael Bisping made it crystal clear that he doesn’t want to see Jake Paul vs Gervonta Davis whatsoever.

    Michael Bisping’s view on Jake Paul vs Gervonta Davis

    “This fight, in my opinion, was a bit of a mockery of boxing because it doesn’t have the legitimacy or fairness that you’d expect in a high-level contest. It’s more of a spectacle than a sporting event, and it leaves a lot of questions about what Jake Paul’s real ambitions are in boxing.”

    “You’re talking about a massive size difference between Jake Paul and Gervonta Davis. This isn’t a professional fight, it’s an exhibition. But man, you can’t help but notice the mockery element to it. It’s like watching David fighting Goliath in the boxing ring, but with a huge weight disadvantage for Paul.”

    Do you agree with Bisping?

  • Chael Sonnen Drops Striking Theory On What Drove Jon Jones To PEDs – ‘That’s The Life He Chose’

    Chael Sonnen Drops Striking Theory On What Drove Jon Jones To PEDs – ‘That’s The Life He Chose’

    Chael Sonnen believes he knows why Jon Jones chose a tainted path in his career.

    Jones is often hailed as the greatest MMA fighter of all time, and his resume more than justifies that. At 23, “Bones” made history as the UFC’s youngest champion by winning the light heavyweight title. He holds a 28-1 record and has remained unbeaten in 17 world title fights.

    However, Jones’ longtime rival Daniel Cormier holds a starkly different perspective. The UFC Hall of Famer recently stirred headlines by leaving Jones off his Mount Rushmore of MMA greats, pointing to the shadow of failed drug tests and controversies that cloud his otherwise legendary career.

    The former two-division UFC champion’s illustrious career has been marred by multiple failed drug tests, most notably a positive result for a turinabol metabolite following his knockout win over “DC” in their UFC 214 rematch in July 2017, which was later overturned to a no contest.

    “Bones” also failed a drug test for the estrogen blockers clomiphene and letrozole following his victory over Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 197 in April 2016, costing him the UFC 205-pound title.

    Jon Jones
    Image: @espnmma/X

    Chael Sonnen Claims Jon Jones Used PEDs Out Of Insecurity, Not Necessity

    During a recent episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy with Daniel Cormier, Chael Sonnen, who has openly acknowledged using performance-enhancing drugs during his fighting days, offered his theory on what may have pushed Jon Jones to resort to banned substances despite his repeated denials.

    The UFC veteran-turned-analyst suggested that “Bones” resorted to PEDs out of insecurity, arguing that even with his extraordinary talent, there came a point where self-doubt crept in.

    “Everybody goes down that road where they cheat the rules because they somewhere had an insecurity,” Chael Sonnen said. “They somewhere wanted an edge and then they come back, go, ‘But I could have done it anyway.’ Well, maybe you didn’t think you could. If you thought you could, you would have not put a synthetic chemical substance into your as*.

    “It’s just one of those things, and Jon really gets upset about that. He doesn’t deny the hit-and-runs. He doesn’t deny the cocaine allegations. That’s the one that bothers him, the picogram and the couple of failed tests. That’s a very common thing with athletes. I do believe Jon could have been champ of the world without steroids, but somewhere within him, at some point, he doubted that, and that’s the life he chose.”

  • Luke Rockhold’s old rival believes Darren Till will knock him out in boxing match

    Luke Rockhold‘s old rival Michael Bisping has given his thoughts on Luke’s upcoming boxing showdown against Darren Till.

    As we know, Luke Rockhold has had a rollercoaster ride of a career. While he was UFC middleweight champion, he’s also had a number of high profile defeats both in and outside of the promotion. Now, on Saturday night, he is preparing for his next challenge as he looks set to collide with Darren Till in the main event of Misfits Boxing 22.

    For some, this is a silly fight that shouldn’t be happening. For others, though, it’s the kind of contest that brings in a lot of intrigue, if only because it’s a fight we never got to see in the cage.

    In a recent video, Michael Bisping predicted that Darren Till will be the one to get his hand raised in his collision with Luke Rockhold.

    Michael Bisping’s view on Darren Till vs Luke Rockhold

    “So yeah, I think Darren Till goes out there and probably gets the knockout. Might even be in the first round. But I tell you what, may the best man win. I wish Luke Rockhold nothing but the best. I got nothing against this man. I actually think he’s a solid human being. I got to hang out with him a bit down at the gym last time after the training session. He’s a good dude. 

    “We were just competing at the same time and yeah, I was talking a bit of [expletive] back in the day. He was talking a bit of [expletive]. That’s what we do. We’re trying to sell fights. But when that’s all out the window, the man’s a good human being and he’s just trying to live his life the best way he can by using these things to make a living. And so is Darren Till.”

    “My official prediction: Luke Rockhold gets knocked out by Darren Till probably rounds two or three.”

  • Why Tony Ferguson Is Calling Himself The Mad Scientist of the Sweet Science

    Why Tony Ferguson Is Calling Himself The Mad Scientist of the Sweet Science

    Former UFC fighter Tony Ferguson has called himself a “mad scientist” ahead of his battle with Salt Papi at Misfits Boxing 22 this weekend.

    In the co-main event of Misfits Boxing 22 on Saturday night, Tony Ferguson will collide with Salt Papi in a boxing match. It serves as the latest in a long line of steps down the ladder for ‘El Cucuy’ who, once upon a time, was widely considered to be the best lightweight in all of mixed martial arts.

    A lot of people genuinely believe that Salt Papi could give Tony Ferguson some real problems given how he’s performed in some of his recent boxing outings. Others, meanwhile, feel as if this is the moment for Tony to prove that he’s still got something left in the tank.

    In a recent interview, Tony Ferguson gave his thoughts on this bout and how he’s approaching it.

    Tony Ferguson looks ahead to Salt Papi battle

    “I’m not worried about anybody else besides that dude. I’m not looking past him, but looking through him. I’m going to go out there and hit him hard. He’s going to try to hit me, I’m not going to be there. This is boxing. It’s a science, and I’m going to be a mad scientist in this one.”

    Ferguson has a loyal fanbase and they’d love nothing more than to see him pick up a victory here. In equal measure, all we can really hope for is that he doesn’t get hurt, and that he comes out of it relatively healthy.

  • Daniel Cormier Strongly Refutes Khabib Nurmagomedov Giving Arman Tsarukyan ’80-20′ Chance To Beat Ilia Topuria – ‘I Don’t Believe That for One Second’

    Daniel Cormier Strongly Refutes Khabib Nurmagomedov Giving Arman Tsarukyan ’80-20′ Chance To Beat Ilia Topuria – ‘I Don’t Believe That for One Second’

    Daniel Cormier holds a contrasting view to Khabib Nurmagomedov when it comes to Ilia Topuria vs. Arman Tsarukyan.

    Topuria is widely regarded as one of the most well-rounded fighters in modern MMA, holding a flawless 17-0 record with 15 finishes, including victories over former UFC champions Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, and Alexander Volkanovski.

    Adding to his legacy, “El Matador” etched his name in history by becoming a two-division UFC champion, securing the lightweight crown with a knockout win over Oliveira at UFC 317.

    However, “The Eagle” believes Topuria’s reign could be in serious jeopardy if he ever defends his title against Tsarukyan. Nurmagomedov recently claimed that “Ahalkalakets” is far more skilled than the Spaniard and would surely defeat him should they cross paths inside the Octagon.

    Images: @iliatopuria/@arm_011/Instagram

    Daniel Cormier Disputes Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Assessment Of Ilia Topuria Potentially Struggling Against Arman Tsarukyan

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Daniel Cormier shared his thoughts on Khabib Nurmagomedov heavily favoring Arman Tsarukyan to defeat reigning UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria in a potential showdown.

    “80-20 [%] is crazy, though. 80-20 is hard when anyone’s fighting,” Cormier said. “The only time 80-20 could be thought of in fights has been in the case of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jon Jones. They’re the only people that have gone through this whole thing without losing. They are the only two. So you could have possibly said, ‘Well, yeah, it’s probably about 80% that guy’s way, because they never lose.”

    The UFC Hall of Famer firmly pushed back against his former training partner Nurmagomedov’s assertion, arguing that a fighter of Topuria’s caliber is not someone who can be dismissed so easily.

    “Guess who else hasn’t lost? Ilia Topuria. To put him on the opposite side of that 80%-20% is crazy. I don’t believe that for one second. I really do disagree with Khabib on that one. There is not a guy in the world that I believe is gonna beat Ilia Topuria 8 out of 10 times. That’s the truth.”

  • Chael Sonnen responds to Backlash from MMA Community over Raja Jackson

    Chael Sonnen responds to Backlash from MMA Community over Raja Jackson

    Chael Sonnen normally receives almost unilateral praise from his core fans online, but this was not the case after recent takes that he dropped on the Raja Jackson situation. For those not up to speed, the son of Rampage Jackson, Raja Jackson has been grabbing headlines for the wrong reasons as of late following his unhinged, legitimate attack of pro wrestler Syko Stu which has ignited a lot of online discourse.

    Taking to his personal YouTube channel to address some of the vitriol he has been receiving from fans on social media who vehemently disagreed with their interpretation of what the former two-division UFC title challenger was saying about the Raja Jackson situation, Sonnen said,

    “I have the greatest social media following, but it’s known for that. Other people will tell me like how envious they are, how you guys always back me, how you realize I’m the linear champion, how you realize I’m the one that retired Jon Jones, that I’m the one that ripped his toe off. And I got to tell you, I got lit up.”

    Chael Sonnen continues to expand upon the Raja Jackson reactions

    As Chael Sonnen kept expounding upon the reaction to his video on the visceral in-ring beating delivered by Raja Jackson, Sonnen continued,

    “I got lit up last night. I got challenged. I got called the, the, the f-word. Not the one that ends in an R. I got called the other F-word multiple times. And what do you call that on Twitter where you DM somebody and it goes to a box and you have to accept? Well, DM right?”

    “This all has to do with a piece that I made and put out yesterday about Raja Jackson… of which is a word that he actually used. I’m disgusted. And he goes, ‘I know why you did that. You try to be controversial and get clicks, but yeah, you’re on the wrong side of this. It was an attempted murder.’ And he’s going on and on. But much like the people in the DMs and much like the people that I heard from on social media, you didn’t see the piece. It’s about an eight or nine 10-minute piece and what you’re describing is about 8 and 10 seconds.”

  • Bryan Battle On MMA Fans: “Difference between being held accountable and people just being mean”

    Bryan Battle On MMA Fans: “Difference between being held accountable and people just being mean”

    Bryan Battle has been feeling the heat from MMA fans a bit as of late following his UFC release after his second weight miss across two weight divisions.

    Speaking with Mike Heck of MMA Fighting, Battle discussed how mixed martial arts fans have been interacting with him online as of late after receiving his walking papers from the MMA powerhouse with a signed bout agreement with Dirty Boxing Championship for later this week.

    While he is not obtuse to his own wrongdoings that got him booted from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the entertaining combatant feels like some mixed martial arts fans have crossed a bit of a line here as Battle said,

    “There’s a big difference between being held accountable and people just being mean. You know what I’m saying? A lot of people being nasty. I’m seeing a lot of people’s true colors, but then there’s also people who got my best interest at heart. A lot of people, especially since I took this fight, been on my ass: How’s your weight? How you doing?”

    “What are you gonna do today? What’d you eat? And those are the people who want what’s best for you. They’re not just gonna write this off like, ‘Oh yeah, you’ll get ’em next time.’ No, no, you need to be better. I still love you, but you need to be better. And it’s stuff like that I appreciate as a superstar.”

    Bryan Battle set for DBX 3 clash after UFC departure

    Bryan Battle will attempt his second cut to 185 pounds this month but is preparing for a different combative ruleset altogether.

    ‘The Butcher’ is set to battle Derik de Freitas in a hybrid rules bout as part of DBX 3 which is set for August 29th in Florida. For de Freitas, he has previously had twelve professional mixed martial arts bout and the Brazilian competitor looks for his biggest win ever against a former UFC veteran in Battle.

    DBX 3 also features like notable names such as Jairzinho Rozenstruik who competes for heavyweight gold in the headliner, former Bellator MMA and BKFC champ as well as former UFC veteran Hector Lombard, as well as former UFC vets like Jessica-Rose Clark and Alex Caceres to reference but a few.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Confidently Eyes Heavyweight Future Following UFC 320 Title Defense

    Magomed Ankalaev Confidently Eyes Heavyweight Future Following UFC 320 Title Defense

    Magomed Ankalaev is targeting UFC two-division champion status in the near future.

    Ankalaev captured the light heavyweight crown earlier this year at UFC 313, narrowly defeating former champion Alex Pereira via a hard-fought unanimous decision in March.

    Now, “Big Ank” is setting his sights on moving up a weight class to assert his dominance on an even bigger stage. But before he can chase those ambitions, the Russian champion must first settle the score with Pereira in their highly anticipated rematch, headlining UFC 320 on October 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Magomed Ankalaev Maps Out Path For Moving Up To UFC Heavyweight Division

    Since joining the UFC light heavyweight division in March 2018, Magomed Ankalaev has faced nearly every top contender and compiled an impressive 14-fight unbeaten streak, including notable wins over Aleksandar Rakic, Johnny Walker, and Thiago Santos.

    If “Big Ank” overcomes Alex Pereira once more at UFC 320, he will have little left to prove in the 205-pound division and would instantly be a contender among the heavyweights. During a recent interview with Ushatayka, the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion revealed his plans to fight at least two more times before stepping up to the heavyweight division to test his skills against the biggest names in the sport.

    “A heavy weight? These thoughts keep coming to me,” Ankalaev said. “I think a couple or three more fights. I think, two fights, and then I will think of moving to the heavy division.”

    Ankalaev’s sole professional loss came at UFC London in March 2018, where he fell to Paul Craig via a last-minute submission. Since then, the only mark on his UFC record was a draw against former champion Jan Blachowicz for the 205-pound title at UFC 282 in December 2022.

    Magomed Ankalaev
    Images: @ufc/Instagram

  • Paulo Costa Calls Out Dricus du Plessis For UFC Showdown “He’s so unpredictable”

    Paulo Costa Calls Out Dricus du Plessis For UFC Showdown “He’s so unpredictable”

    Paulo Costa returned to the win column at UFC 318 but is envisioning another opportunity to secure a big win before the year is out. On the heels of his victory over Roman Kopylov, the Brazilian combatant seemingly has a few options in front of him but if Costa gets his ideal bout booking, he’ll next be testing skills with former titleholder Dricus du Plessis.

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, the former UFC middleweight title challenger put DDP in his crosshairs on the heels of the latter losing his belt to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in Chicago earlier this month. When discussing why a clash with the South African mixed martial artist would be such a compelling next step, Costa said,

    “Oh my God. Unpredictable. He’s so unpredictable. Yeah, he’s a tough guy. Tough guy to fight, to be honest. Very tough, you know. And Khamzat knew that. That’s why he held him for so long.”

    Paulo Costa wants Dricus du Plessis fight over Israel Adesanya rematch

    Paulo Costa is more keen to clash with Dricus du Plessis and test himself in that fight than he is to rematch one of his longer standing rivals in the promotion, Israel Adesanya. During the aforementioned Submission Radio interview, Costa admitted that a rematch with the former two time UFC middleweight champion would be good in it’s own way, the desire to fight DDP is more pronounced at this point in time. Costa mentioned that Dricus du Plessis is the better option, if only because he just got off of holding the 185 pound crown.

    With Costa proclaiming that he feels like he’s the man to beat newly minted UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, beating the last man to hold the title would certainly pay dividends for the number thirteen ranked middleweight contender’s goal of securing another title shot someday.