MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Jake Paul Blasts Dana White Over Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway UFC 329 Announcement

    Jake Paul recently fired back at UFC President Dana White as the latter announced Conor McGregor’s return.

    The boxing promoter accused White of attempting to steal attention from his MVP’s debut MMA card.

    On Saturday, White went live on Instagram to officially announce McGregor’s Octagon return, confirming a July 11 main event clash against former rival Max Holloway at UFC 329. The announcement will serve as the headline attraction for this year’s International Fight Week.

    The timing raised eyebrows across the combat sports world. White’s reveal coincided exactly with Francis Ngannou’s walk to the cage at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California for his heavyweight bout against Philipe Lins on the undercard of the debut MVP MMA event streaming on Netflix.

    Jake Paul Accuses Dana White of Piggybacking Off MVP Event

    During the MVP MMA post-event press conference, Paul was asked about White’s announcement timing. The co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions didn’t hold back in his response.

    “Oh, the cokehead is back,” Paul said, according to LowKickMMA. “That’s cool, bro. Drop it during our event. Insecure boys trying to piggyback.”

    Paul appeared largely unfazed by the tactic despite fans and pundits anticipating White might attempt to divert attention from the MVP card. The boxing promoter has maintained an ongoing public feud with the UFC president, including past criticisms of fighter pay and UFC business practices.

    The MVP MMA debut event featured a card headlined by Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano and streamed on Netflix.

  • Arnold Allen Outworks Melquizael Costa In UFC Vegas 117 Headliner

    Needing a win to keep himself in the upper echelon of featherweight contenders, Arnold Allen delivered in style, nearly sweeping the scorecards in a win over Melquizael Costa in the UFC Vegas 117 main event.

    Costa found success early with kicks to the body and scoring control on the ground. Allen, however, responded with his takedowns and boxing, landing strong combinations.

    Allen’s boxing became key, working Costa over with the jab while putting together strong combinations and limiting Costa’s offense. Costa worked the body and looked for submission attempts on the ground, but they were no match for the pressure and defense of Allen, limiting Costa’s attack.

    Allen’s positional pressure continued in the championship rounds, going on to take all three scorecards.

    Arnold Allen Scores Decision Over Melquizael Costa At UFC Vegas 117

    Allen started his MMA career 19-1. He entered this fight, however, having dropped three of his last four. He most recently dropped a decision to Jean Silva at UFC 325.

    Costa sees a six-fight win streak snapped. He entered this bout off a finish of Dan Ige at UFC Houston in February.

  • Jon Jones Says He’s Focused On Trying To Get UFC Release

    Jon Jones Says He’s Focused On Trying To Get UFC Release

    Jon Jones was present for the MVP MMA card and said he’d need to get out of his UFC contract to face Francis Ngannou.

    Jones was a guest at the analysts’ desk, present to react to Ngannou’s performance against Phillips Lins. Ngannou ended up finishing Lins in just under five minutes.

    Following the fight, Ariel Helwani asked Ngannou about potential next fights. Jake Paul was brought up as a possible opponent, as was Jones, but all parties seemed to recognize the difficulty of such a fight happening while Jones is locked under a UFC contract.

    Jon Jones Looking To Get Out Of UFC Contract For Francis Ngannou Matchup

    Jones was then asked to follow up on his thoughts, and he appeared to hint that he might be looking to get out of his contract.

    “I’ve got to try to focus on getting out of my UFC contract,” Jones said. “That’s going to be the difficult part if this fight [with Francis Ngannou] is going to happen. I don’t think [UFC CEO and President] Dana [White] is interested in doing business with Francis, so doing it with MVP would probably be the only way to make it happen, and if we can get out of my contract that would be great.”

    Jones has not fought since defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Jones and Tom Aspinall’s negotiations for a heavyweight title fight ended with Jones’ retirement. That retirement only lasted two weeks, when Jones requested to be put on the UFC White House card.

    When Jones was not placed on the card, he asked for his release.

    Jones and Ngannou have had previous negotiations with the UFC for a fight, but the fight fell through more than once before Ngannou left the UFC in 2023.

    The win over Lins was Ngannou’s first fight since his sole PFL bout — a first-round knockout of Renan Ferreira in October 2024.

  • UFC Confirms Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2, UFC 329 Card

    UFC Confirms Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2, UFC 329 Card

    Those predicting a Conor McGregor announcement to counter the MVP MMA 1 card were proven correct.

    Before the UFC Vegas 117 main event, just as Francis Ngannou vs. Phillipe Lins was getting underway, the UFC dropped a promo confirming the second encounter between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway.

    The fight will headline UFC 329, which will take place on July 11 in Las Vegas, serving as the card for this year’s UFC International Fight Week. The bout, as reported by the New York Post, will take place at welterweight.

    This will be McGregor’s first fight in five years, having not fought since losing his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.

    Holloway last fought in March, dropping the BMF title to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326.

    UFC 329 Revealed, Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 To Headline

    In addition to the main event, the broadcast also revealed the rest of the UFC 329 card.

    The co-main event will be a key lightweight matchup as Benoit Saint-Denis battles Paddy Pimblett. BSD comes into this bout on a four-fight win streak, most recently finishing Dan Hooker at UFC 325. Pimblett will enter this fight off his loss to Justin Gaethje in the interim lightweight title main event at UFC 324.

    UFC 329 will also feature the UFC debut of former Olympic gold medalist and multiple-time NCAA wrestling champion Gable Stevenson, as he takes on Elisha Ellison.

    The rest of the UFC 329 main card will feature Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista and Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanaugh.

    The prelims will be headlined by former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker taking on Nikita Krylov.

  • Doo-ho Choi Scores Brutal Finish in War With Daniel Santos

    The winning ways for the “Korean Superboy” continue, perhaps with the most brutal finish from Doo-ho Choi possible, as he put away Daniel Santos in the UFC Vegas 117 co-main event.

    The two fought a wild first round, as Santos looked to bring heat with brutal striking as the two got into exchanges. Choi worked the jab and weathered the storm, taking over as Santos’ pressure slowed entering round two.

    Choi worked Santos over with pressure and combinations in that second round. He then ended things with some brutal body shots that folded Santos.

    Doo-ho Choi Batters Daniel Santos At UFC Vegas 117

    Choi has now won three straight, 3-0-1 in his last four. This was Choi’s first fight since his finish of Nate Landwehr at UFC 310.

    This snaps a four-fight win streak for Santos, who had won every fight since dropping his UFC debut. Santos entered this fight off a win over Joo-sang Yoo at UFC 320.

  • Khaos Williams Wins Power Punching Battle At UFC Vegas 117

    Khaos Williams Wins Power Punching Battle At UFC Vegas 117

    Khaos Williams is now back in the win column with a needed victory to kick off the UFC Vegas 117 main card, defeating Nikolay Veretennikov.

    Veretennikov tried to be the one to get off to an aggressive start, showing his punching power early. Williams, however, weathered the storm and brought it right back, landing the power that’s brought him attention.

    A series of right hands stumbled Veretennikov, giving Williams the first-round finish.

    Khaos Williams Brings Power In KO Of Nikolay Veretennikov At UFC Vegas 117

    Williams entered this fight 2-3 in his last five, coming in off a loss to Andreas Gustafsson at UFC 316.

    Veretennikov entered this fight off a win over Niko Price in February.

  • Alice Ardelean Performs First Capsule Lock At UFC Vegas 117

    Alice Ardelean Performs First Capsule Lock At UFC Vegas 117

    Alice Ardelean has pulled off a submission unlike anyone has ever seen in the Octagon, using a capsule lock to put away Polyana Viana during the UFC Vegas 117 prelims.

    The two battled for control with their striking pressure, with Ardelean taking control thanks to sharp combinations. Ardelean dropped Viana in the first round before scoring a takedown in the second.

    While on the ground, Ardelean uniquely secured Viana’s leg, twisting it, making Viana scream a verbal submission in what goes down as the first capsule lock submission victory in the UFC’s 30+-year history.

    Alice Ardelean Makes History In Submission Win Over Polyana Viana

    Ardelean has now won three straight. She came into this bout off a decision win over Montserrat Conejo Ruiz at UFC Vegas 110 in November.

    Viana has now lost four straight and five of her last six.

  • Conor McGregor WWE Crossover Plans Were Nixed

    Conor McGregor WWE Crossover Plans Were Nixed

    Former WWE star Enzo Amore recently revealed that Vince McMahon once pitched a major crossover storyline which would have seen him publicly antagonize former UFC Double Champion Conor McGregor.

    The payoff would’ve seen McGregor walking into WWE and destroying him on television. The angle never materialized, but Enzo said WWE seriously considered using him as the target for a potential celebrity squash match.

    Speaking on the Mic Check podcast, Enzo explained that after his split from Big Cass, WWE gave both men separate directions. Producers later told him the company was moving him toward the Cruiserweight Title scene, but Vince also wanted him taking shots at McGregor on social media.

    Enzo said Vince wanted him “barking loud” at the ‘Notorious’ because the payoff could have been massive if the UFC star walked into WWE and destroyed him. He noted it could have been the next greatest squash match of all time for a title.

    “When me and Big Cass broke up, he pulled us into a room. He gave Big Cass his direction, and he gave me my direction. Then I got pulled aside at TV another time by some of the producers of the show, letting me know, ‘We’re going in this direction with you with the cruiserweight title.’”

    “Vince wanted me tweeting at McGregor and barking loud, because what would have been better than me talking all this s*** and cutting promos with McGregor, and then him coming in and just taking my f****** head off?” Enzo said. “The place would have blown up, and it could have been the next greatest squash match of all time for a title.”

    He then revealed how that conversation with Vince went. Enzo noted that he was concerned about getting real heat with McGregor and possibly getting hurt. Still, his mindset at the time made him willing to go along with the idea.

    “I’m like, ‘Bro, I don’t want to get killed. I don’t want to get my ass kicked. I’m not trying to get real heat with McGregor,’” Enzo recalled. “But I was also crazy and didn’t really give a s*** at that time, and was like, ‘Hell yeah. Sounds about right, dude.’”

    The crossover never ended up happening. However, Enzo’s revelations made it clear that WWE had plans for using him as the target in a potential angle with McGregor.

  • UFC Vegas 117 Results: Allen vs. Costa Live Updates & Highlights

    UFC Vegas 117 Results: Allen vs. Costa Live Updates & Highlights

    MMA News updates UFC Vegas 117 results and highlights live as the action unfolds from the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event will feature a featherweight bout between Arnold Allen and Melquizael Costa. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa – Featherweight Main Event

    Allen started his professional MMA career 19-1, quickly rising in the UFC’s featherweight ranks. Allen, however, is just 1-3 in the four fights he’s had since 2023. Allen returned to the Octagon for the first time in over a year this past January at UFC 325, losing to Jean Silva.

    Costa made his UFC debut in 2023, losing two of his first three fights. Since then, however, Costa has built his name, entering tonight on a six-fight win streak. Costa most recently fought at UFC Houston in February, finishing Dan Ige.

    The UFC Vegas 117 co-main event will also be fought at featherweight, as Doo-ho Choi takes on Daniel Santos.

    Choi is 2-0-1 in his last three; however, this will mark his first fight since UFC 310 in December 2024, where he finished Nate Landwehr. After dropping his UFC debut, meanwhile, Santos enters this fight on a four-fight win streak. Santos most recently fought at UFC 320, finishing Joo-sang Yoo.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from UFC Vegas 117!

    How to Watch UFC Vegas 117

    • Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
    • Venue: Meta Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada
    • Streaming: Paramount+ (exclusive)
    • Prelims: 5 PM ET / 2 PM PT
    • Main Card: 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT

    UFC Vegas 117 Quick Results

    • Main Event: Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa — Arnold Allen def. Melquizael Costa via unanimous decision (50-45 x2, 49-46)
    • Co-Main Event: Doo-ho Choi vs. Daniel Santos — Doo-ho Choi def. Daniel Santos via TKO (Rd. 2, 4:29)
    • Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Juan Diaz — Juan Diaz def. Malcolm Wellmaker via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 2, 4:08)
    • Modestas Bukauskas vs. Christian Edwards — Modestas Bukauskas def. Christian Edwards via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
    • Timmy Cuamba vs. Bernardo Sopaj — Bernardo Sopaj def. Timmy Cuamba via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 2, 2:25)
    • Nikolay Veretennikov vs. Khaos Williams — Khaos Williams def. Nikolay Veretennikov via TKO (Rd. 1, 3:31)

    UFC Vegas 117 Results & Highlights

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 5 PM ET)

    Women’s Strawweight: Shauna Bannon vs. Nicolle Caliari

    Result: Nicolle Caliari def. Shauna Bannon via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 3, 3:08)

    Flyweight: Daniel Barez vs. Luis Gurule

    Result: Luis Gurule def. Daniel Barez via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Women’s Strawweight: Alice Ardelean vs. Polyana Viana

    Result: Alice Ardelean def. Polyana Viana via submission (capsule lock) (Rd. 2, 4:36)

    Middleweight: Cody Brundage vs. Andre Petroski

    Result: Cody Brundage def. Andre Petroski via TKO (Rd. 2, 0:44)

    Women’s Bantamweight: Ketlen Vieira vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti

    Result: Ketlen Vieira def. Jacqueline Cavalcanti via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Lightweight: Thomas Gantt vs. Artur Minev

    Result: Thomas Gantt def. Artur Minev via TKO (Rd. 2, 2:51)

    Light Heavyweight: Tuco Tokkos vs. Ivan Erslan

    Result: Ivan Erslan def. Tuco Tokkos via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Main Card (Paramount+, 8 PM ET)

    Welterweight: Nikolay Veretennikov vs. Khaos Williams

    Result: Khaos Williams def. Nikolay Veretennikov via TKO (Rd. 1, 3:31)

    Bantamweight: Timmy Cuamba vs. Bernardo Sopaj

    Result: Bernardo Sopaj def. Timmy Cuamba via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 2, 2:25)

    Catchweight (215 lbs): Modestas Bukauskas vs. Christian Edwards

    Result: Modestas Bukauskas def. Christian Edwards via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    Bantamweight: Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Juan Diaz

    Result: Juan Diaz def. Malcolm Wellmaker via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 2, 4:08)

    Featherweight: Doo-ho Choi vs. Daniel Santos

    Result: Doo-ho Choi def. Daniel Santos via TKO (Rd. 2, 4:29)

    Featherweight: Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa

    Result: Arnold Allen def. Melquizael Costa via unanimous decision (50-45 x2, 49-46)

  • UFC Finalizing Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway At UFC 329

    UFC Finalizing Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway At UFC 329

    After a saga for years that saw one fight fall through and reported contract disputes, the long hiatus of Conor McGregor may finally be coming to an end.

    Per a report from the New York Post, the UFC is close to finalizing a deal that will see McGregor return to the Octagon against Max Holloway.

    The UFC has not yet announced the bout. Rumors and speculation, however, plan for an announcement during tomorrow night’s UFC Vegas 117 broadcast — potentially as a way to draw attention away from the MVP MMA event.

    UFC CEO and President Dana White claimed during the UFC 328 post-fight press conference that he was more confident than ever that McGregor’s return announcement would be coming sooner rather than later.

    The bout, as previous rumors and reports have speculated, is expected to serve as the main event of UFC 329 on July 11, during the UFC’s International Fight Week.

    Of particular note, the bout is expected to be fought at welterweight. McGregor has fought once at 170 pounds, which occurred in his sub-minute finish of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in January 2020. Holloway, meanwhile, has never fought at 170 in the Octagon.

    The two first fought in August 2013, with McGregor winning by decision.

    This July marks five years since McGregor last fought in the UFC. That came at UFC 264 in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier, losing due to injury after one round.

    McGregor has since gone through various ventures, including taking part-ownership in BKFC and a failed bid at the Irish presidency. McGregor has also faced several sexual misconduct allegations, with an Irish jury finding him liable for the December 2018 rape of Nikita Hand.

    This will be Holloway’s first fight since losing the BMF title to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 this past March.

  • Eric Nicksick’s Explanation Of What Strickland’s Camp Was Thinking During The Weigh-Ins Changes The Story

    Sean Strickland’s head coach Eric Nicksick says the team’s primary concern during the weigh-in controversy at UFC 328 was not whether Khamzat Chimaev made weight — it was the potential fine money.

    Chimaev was the last fighter to the scale ahead of Saturday’s middleweight title fight and drew scrutiny from the MMA community over what many felt was a rushed read by the commission. Strickland believed before and after his split decision win that Chimaev had not made the 185-pound limit. Reports after the fight indicated Chimaev may have been dealing with a significant weight cut after the UFC pivoted from a planned light heavyweight bout with Jiri Prochazka, which his brother claimed would have involved a 46-pound cut.

    Speaking to MMA Fighting, Nicksick addressed the weigh-in situation directly.

    “It’s not like, ‘Oh, he didn’t make the weight,’ and this and that. People forget, I don’t know what Khamzat was getting paid, that’s 20 percent or 30 percent, that’s a big fine, that money goes into Sean’s pocket. That’s all we cared about was like, ‘Yo, we want that fine money. We want that tax, baby.’ Other than that, it is what it is.”

    Nicksick confirmed Strickland would have taken the fight regardless of what the scale said.

    “We were going to fight regardless. He could have been five pounds over, Sean was going to take the fight regardless. It doesn’t matter, but that’s a good chunk of change had he been missing weight, and we would have got a little bit more money off that.”

    On the subject of what comes next, Nicksick said the team has no preference and will fight whoever the UFC calls.

    “I don’t give a shit, man. I don’t care. It’s not up to me. We’re f*cking mercenaries, man. It’s like you call, you tell us who we gotta go out and take out, that’s our job. We got to execute a game plan and go take care of business. It’s simple as that, there’s no emotion behind it. At this point as a champion, it doesn’t matter. You have to defend the belt for whoever they call, so I don’t care who it is.”

    Strickland suffered a shoulder injury on the Tuesday of fight week. Nicksick said he would ideally like to see the new champion take until September or October before returning.

    “Spend some time with your wife, invest back in your family. Anybody that’s been in this sport that has a family, they get it. They’re the ones that suffer the most. But if I had my choice, man, I would like to see him maybe wait until September, October. Just take some time off and chill.”

    Strickland will attend Saturday’s MVP MMA 1 event in Los Angeles alongside Nicksick to watch teammate Francis Ngannou compete against Philipe Lins.

  • Daniel Cormier Says Sean Strickland Made Key Mistake That Cost Him More Decisive Win Over Khamzat Chimaev

    Daniel Cormier Says Sean Strickland Made Key Mistake That Cost Him More Decisive Win Over Khamzat Chimaev

    Daniel Cormier believes Sean Strickland left points on the board against Khamzat Chimaev and could have won more decisively at UFC 328.

    Strickland edged Chimaev by split decision to claim the UFC middleweight title Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Cormier acknowledged the upset but took issue with a key moment in the third round.

    “You got a Sean Strickland that got taken down in Round 1. Round 2 scored his own takedowns, Round 3 controlled the fight with the jab. Honestly, I thought Strickland made a mistake in Round 3 by not really pressing on the gas because I felt like Khamzat had a bit of an adrenaline dump. If he’d really pressed him, he really could have made Khamzat struggle down the stretch, but he didn’t.”

    Cormier said Strickland’s jab was the defining weapon of the fight despite Chimaev’s late pressure.

    “The way he was able to control the fight with that jab, showed you how good Sean Strickland is. The right hand seemed to be available, but he never really threw it. Round 3, 4, and 5, Khamzat Chimaev really got on the gas and started backing up Sean Strickland. But if you know scoring, octagon control is no longer a scoring criteria when judging fights. It’s damage, duration and dominance. Khamzat showed control when he got him down, but even with the six minutes of top time, Sean still outlanded him by 50 strikes, and a whole bunch of significant strikes.”

    Round 5 proved decisive, with two judges awarding it to Strickland. The new champion revealed he is carrying multiple shoulder injuries and plans to take time off.

  • UFC Vegas 117 Weigh-In Results: Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa Official

    UFC Vegas 117 Weigh-In Results: Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa Official

    Arnold Allen and Melquizael Costa headlined Friday’s UFC Vegas 117 weigh-ins ahead of Saturday’s event at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, streaming on Paramount+.

    Allen came in at 145 pounds with Costa at 145.5 for their featherweight main event. Dooho Choi and Daniel Santos also made weight for the featherweight co-feature.

    Full UFC Fight Night 276 weigh-in results:

    Main Card (Paramount+, 8 p.m. ET)

    • Arnold Allen (145) vs. Melquizael Costa (145.5)
    • Dooho Choi (146) vs. Daniel Santos (145)
    • Juan Diaz (135.5) vs. Malcolm Wellmaker (135.5)
    • Modestas Bukauskas (213.5) vs. Christian Edwards (214.5) — 215-pound contract weight
    • Timmy Cuamba (—) vs. Bernardo Sopaj (136)

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 5 p.m. ET)

    • Nikolay Veretennikov (170.5) vs. Khaos Williams (170.5)
    • Ivan Erslan (205.5) vs. Tuco Tokkos (205.5)
    • Thomas Gantt (156) vs. Trey Ogden (155)
    • Jacqueline Cavalcanti (135.5) vs. Ketlen Vieira (136)
    • Cody Brundage (—) vs. Andre Petroski (185.5)
    • Alice Ardelean (116) vs. Polyana Viana (115.5)
    • Daniel Barez (125.5) vs. Luis Gurule (125.5)
    • Shauna Bannon (115.5) vs. Nicolle Caliari (115.5)
  • Nate Diaz Just Went Viral For What He Said About Ilia Topuria And It Did Not Hold Back

    Nate Diaz Just Went Viral For What He Said About Ilia Topuria And It Did Not Hold Back

    Nate Diaz unloaded on Ilia Topuria during an interview with Ariel Helwani, calling the UFC lightweight champion a “dumbass” and mocking his height in a viral clip.

    Diaz, who returns to MMA on Saturday’s MVP MMA 1 undercard against Mike Perry, made clear he has no respect for the undefeated champion.

    “He’s a little B——, too. I’m years ahead of them fools. I’ve got better fights, and they’re like, ‘He sucks!’ He just said I suck. Bro, you suck!”

    Diaz cited Topuria’s comments about Jake Paul as the origin of his frustration before escalating.

    “He was saying some dumb s— about how he’d beat up Jake Paul in boxing. All cool about how he sucked and s—, and I was taking offense. You won’t do s—. I’ll beat the — out of Ilia Topuria. This fool’s a dumbass just because of how he was talking all cocky and s—. You don’t know what you’re talking about, you’re —ing four feet tall.”

    “Bro, I’ll slap the s— out of you. What the f— are you talking about? It’s a new day and age where there’s a bunch of little b—-es running around that need to be slapped. Yeah, I don’t like him.”

    Diaz last competed in MMA in September 2022, submitting Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. Following Saturday’s fight with Perry, he becomes a free agent and has been linked to potential returns against Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Topuria himself.

  • Eddie Alvarez Warns Justin Gaethje On The One Thing He Cannot Do Against Ilia Topuria

    Eddie Alvarez Warns Justin Gaethje On The One Thing He Cannot Do Against Ilia Topuria

    Eddie Alvarez says Justin Gaethje is being underestimated heading into his lightweight unification bout with Ilia Topuria at UFC White House on June 14.

    Gaethje holds the interim UFC Lightweight Championship after defeating Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision in January. Topuria is a heavy betting favorite for the unification fight, but Alvarez, who faced Gaethje in a memorable clash in 2017, told MMA Junkie the outcome is far from certain.

    “Everyone’s writing him off, but I don’t know, man — this could go either way. I saw a clip recently of Ilia’s brother explaining to Ilia how to beat Justin, his tactics of what he would do against a guy like Justin, and it was scary of how spot-on he was. I was like, sh*t man. During my camp, I was trying to formulate a camp for a guy like Justin and how he steps in the pocket and forces you to fight. How do we beat a guy like this?”

    Alvarez identified one specific area where Gaethje needs to be disciplined.

    “Justin loses his eyes a little bit, and I don’t like that. In the exchanges you’ll see him look and throw this way. He can’t lose his eyes during this match, because what Ilia does, is Ilia keeps such a beautiful posture that his posture is so beautiful that he’s always ready to strike, and he doesn’t lose his eyes ever.”

    Alvarez knocked out Gaethje in the third round of their 2017 fight. Gaethje has gone 8-4 since that loss.

  • Sean O’Malley Blasts UFC Freedom 250 Fight Kits Ahead Of White House Clash – ‘Did They Go On Fiverr?’

    Sean O’Malley Blasts UFC Freedom 250 Fight Kits Ahead Of White House Clash – ‘Did They Go On Fiverr?’

    Sean O’Malley is never one to shy away from speaking his mind, and this time his target is the UFC’s newly unveiled fight kits for the upcoming White House card.

    Set to compete at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 in Washington, D.C., O’Malley will face Aiemann Zahabi in a high-profile bantamweight clash. But ahead of the historic event, the former champion has taken issue with the gear he’s expected to wear.

    The promotion recently revealed special red, white, and blue themed kits designed for the event, complete with White House branding. While the concept leans heavily into the patriotic theme, “Suga” made it clear he’s not impressed with the execution.

    “I don’t know if I’m even supposed to say this, but they’re ugly,” O’Malley said on his YouTube channel. “Mine were ugly. I don’t like them.”

    Known for his colorful style and preference for standout looks, O’Malley also pointed out that the design doesn’t reflect his personality.

    “They’re not pink, which is fine… I’ll make my f*cking hair pink, whatever,” he said. “But I’m just like… did they go on Fiverr and say, ‘Hey, you know, we got these guys getting into a fight on the White House lawn? Can you just come up with something?’”

    Despite his criticism, O’Malley isn’t letting the wardrobe choice distract him from the fight itself. In fact, he believes the white shorts could add a different kind of visual impact once the action begins.

    “I do truly believe I’m gonna crack Aiemann,” O’Malley said. “I think I’m gonna beat the f*ck out of him… I’m excited for my white shorts to be red. Like, I want to see how red I can get my white shorts from his blood.”

    “Suga” enters the bout following a win over Song Yadong at UFC 324 in January, looking to build momentum after setbacks in his title pursuits.

  • UFC 328 Aftermath Sees Several Fighters Hit With Lengthy Medical Suspensions

    UFC 328 Aftermath Sees Several Fighters Hit With Lengthy Medical Suspensions

    UFC 328 delivered an action-packed night in Newark, but the aftermath shows just how much damage the fighters endured inside the cage.

    Following the May 9 event at Prudential Center, the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board issued a lengthy list of medical suspensions, with 11 fighters receiving indefinite suspensions pending medical clearance. The card was headlined by Sean Strickland reclaiming the title in a grueling split decision over Khamzat Chimaev, and both men were among those sidelined.

    Strickland was handed an indefinite suspension until his left hand is cleared by an orthopedist, along with a mandatory 45-day suspension and 30 days of no contact. “Borz” received a 45-day suspension with 30 days no contact.

    The co-main event fighters also did not escape unscathed. Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira were both issued indefinite suspensions. “The Fearless” must receive clearance on his left hand, while Taira requires a CT scan after suffering a late stoppage loss. “The Best” also faces a 90-day suspension with 60 days no contact.

    Several other fighters across the card were also handed medical suspensions, highlighting the physical toll of the event.

    Full UFC 328 medical suspensions:

    • Sean Strickland: Indefinite (left hand), 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Khamzat Chimaev: 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Joshua Van: Indefinite (left hand), 30 days, 21 no contact
    • Tatsuro Taira: Indefinite (CT scan), 90 days, 60 no contact
    • Alexander Volkov: No suspension
    • Waldo Cortes-Acosta: 30 days, 15 no contact
    • Sean Brady: No suspension
    • Joaquin Buckley: 30 days, 21 no contact
    • King Green: No suspension
    • Jeremy Stephens: Indefinite (groin)
    • Ateba Gautier: No suspension
    • Ozzy Diaz: Indefinite (right eye), 60 days, 30 no contact
    • Yaroslav Amosov: No suspension
    • Joel Alvarez: No suspension
    • Grant Dawson: Indefinite (tibia), 30 days, 21 no contact
    • Mateusz Rebecki: Indefinite (orbit), 30 days, 15 no contact
    • Jim Miller: Indefinite (left hand), 30 days, 15 no contact
    • Jared Gordon: 30 days, 15 no contact
    • Roman Kopylov: 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Marco Tulio: Indefinite (foot/ankle), 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Pat Sabatini: No suspension
    • William Gomis: No suspension
    • Baysangur Susurkaev: Indefinite (hand/foot), 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Djorden Santos: 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Jose Ochoa: 30 days, 21 no contact
    • Clayton Carpenter: Indefinite (lower leg), 45 days, 30 no contact

    Notably, clearance from a medical professional can shorten these suspensions.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Explains Why he Squashed Beef With Sean Strickland

    Khamzat Chimaev Explains Why he Squashed Beef With Sean Strickland

    Khamzat Chimaev has explained the moment that confused fans at UFC 328 and made clear that while he has moved past the animosity with Sean Strickland, he has not moved past the result.

    In a video posted to his Instagram Stories, Chimaev addressed the widespread questioning of whether his feud with Strickland was genuine, pointing to a post-fight apology from Strickland as the reason he was willing to shake hands and place the belt around his opponent’s waist.

    “A lot of people were concerned. We will not give up. We will keep winning again, if it is Allah’s will, and we will keep training. The motivation is still there. We still want to take the belt. And regarding that guy: he said a lot of unnecessary things. People were asking why I shook his hand and why I put the belt on him afterward. We don’t have the habit of talking or fighting after a loss. If we fight, we fight inside the cage, and we fought as best as we could. What Allah has decided is no longer in our control. That guy lowered his head and asked for forgiveness. If a person asks for forgiveness, I can forgive him.”

    The forgiveness has not translated into acceptance of the loss. Per ESPN, Chimaev’s team has confirmed that a rematch with Strickland is the only fight he will consider right now.

    “The rematch with Sean Strickland is the only fight that Khamzat wants, he is obsessed with it. That’s the only fight he will accept right now.”

    Whether the UFC grants an immediate rematch is unclear given that Strickland already has a heated feud with Nassourdine Imavov ready to be made, as well as the possibility of a trilogy with Dricus du Plessis, who holds two wins over the new champion.

  • Nate Diaz Calls Out Charles Oliveira for Turning Down His Fight Request While Chasing McGregor Instead

    Nate Diaz has a specific grievance with Charles Oliveira heading into his MVP MMA 1 fight with Mike Perry on Saturday, and it centers on a fight request that was shut down before being replaced by a callout that Diaz cannot understand.

    Speaking with MMA Fighting, Diaz explained that he had made a respectful approach about fighting Oliveira after the Brazilian won the BMF title by defeating Max Holloway, only to be turned down before watching Oliveira pivot to calling out Conor McGregor.

    “Oliveira got the belt and I was waiting for shit to happen. Oliveira’s the man. I’ve been around longer than Oliveira. Everybody thinks that he’ll kill me but I’m like yeah right. I always wondered why me and Oliveira never fought. So when he finally got the belt and was around, I was like oh sht, I’ll fight f**ing Oliveira. So I said what’s up with Oliveira? Respectfully, I’d like to fight Oliveira. He’s been around and he said ‘no, thanks homie.’ ‘I’m trying to fight for titles and do all this big sh*t’ and I’m like OK, you got me on that.”

    The McGregor callout changed Diaz’s assessment entirely.

    “And then he won fing one fight and then he called out Conor. That’s exactly what I thought when he called out Conor. Why are you trying to fight the guy who’s coming off a leg break, just got knocked out and he’s all fed up and on a downward spiral and you’re over here like ‘no thanks, homie, I’m trying to do bigger things.’”

    Diaz made clear that Oliveira’s logic does not hold up under scrutiny.

    “I was like picking on a guy that just got his ass whooped the whole time, motherfer? You’re full of sht. You think you’re fing tight and that’s why I had something to say about Oliveira. I don’t have nothing against him except for that. No thanks, homie, I’m onto bigger, better things. Like what? Picking on a guy who just got his ass whooped the whole time? That’s whack. Those are the motherf**ers that I’m trying to fight. I’m fighting the bullies.”

  • Aiemann Zahabi Shuts Down Sean O’Malley’s UFC White House Bet

    Aiemann Zahabi Shuts Down Sean O’Malley’s UFC White House Bet

    Sean O’Malley tried to add a personal stake to his UFC White House bantamweight matchup against Aiemann Zahabi and got shut down in a single word, before also using his YouTube channel to air his feelings about the new fight kit he has been handed for the June 14 event.

    O’Malley had posted on X, proposing that the loser of their White House matchup have the winner’s country’s flag tattooed on them. Zahabi’s response was immediate and definitive, citing the Islamic prohibition on tattoos as altering what Allah created.

    “Haram brother.”

    The tattoo bet is dead. O’Malley’s design complaints are alive. Speaking on his YouTube channel about the new fight kits unveiled for UFC Freedom 250, O’Malley was pointed about what he thinks of them.

    “I don’t even know if I’m supposed to say but since you brought it up I feel like I can, they’re ugly. Mine were ugly. I don’t like them. I don’t like them. They’re not pink, which is fine. I’ve worn other colors, I’m not gonna not show up because my shorts aren’t pink. I’ll make my hair pink, whatever. But I’m just like, did they go on Fiverr?”

    O’Malley also noted he has been told the White House card is not a title eliminator despite Dana White’s public dismissal of that framing, though a strong performance against Zahabi would push him back into the bantamweight championship conversation. Zahabi is on a seven-fight winning streak heading into the matchup.

    UFC Freedom 250 takes place June 14 at the White House South Lawn in Washington D.C.

  • Nate Diaz Blasts Dustin Poirier Over Future Fight Talk

    Nate Diaz Blasts Dustin Poirier Over Future Fight Talk

    Nate Diaz has responded to Dustin Poirier’s suggestion that he would come out of retirement to fight him, and his answer was not an invitation.

    Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Diaz addressed Poirier’s stated willingness to return for a matchup and delivered a blunt assessment of the retired fighter’s credibility as a potential opponent.

    “I am interested if he f***ing gets in there and starts fighting people. I don’t fight retired fighters. He jumped ship a little early, so it’s not someone that I’m that interested in. Get back in the game and start squabbling with people. Where the hell did you go? ‘I’ll come back for you now.’ No, don’t come back on account of me. Get some sleep. Get you some sleep.”

    Diaz then described the manner of Poirier’s retirement as the core of his problem with the situation.

    “He got emotional when he fought somebody, and he’s like, ‘I’m retired. Oh, this was so great.’ A whole fing little lady moment where he needed to talk about his feelings and how he was all done with all this. And then he went, ‘Oh, what the fk did I do?’ Yeah, you were being a btch in your post-fight interview, and you set your gloves down and you shed a tear, and then two weeks later he’s like, ‘I want to fight Nate, I’ll come back for Nate.’ Like, you didn’t even leave, stupid. You f**ing pssed out. Don’t involve me in that sht. Get back in the game and start squabbling.”

    Poirier retired following his loss to Max Holloway in Louisiana last year and had previously said on the Deep Waters podcast that a Diaz fight was one he would genuinely come back for given the unfinished business between them. Diaz and Poirier were booked to fight at UFC 230 in November 2018 before Poirier’s hip injury forced the cancellation.

    Diaz faces Mike Perry in the co-main event of MVP MMA 1 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Saturday, streaming live on Netflix.

  • Former UFC Star Zabit Magomedsharipov Reveals Why he Retired

    Former UFC Star Zabit Magomedsharipov Reveals Why he Retired

    Zabit Magomedsharipov has finally explained the circumstances behind his 2022 retirement from MMA, and the frustration that drove him away from the sport centers on a specific sequence of canceled fights and what he believes was a deliberate decision by the UFC to deny him a title shot.

    Magomedsharipov, who went 6-0 inside the UFC before his final appearance at UFC 242 in November 2019, spoke on a video posted by ACB JJ ahead of a grappling appearance expected later in 2026. The talk of a UFC return has been replaced by the story of why he left in the first place.

    “There were a lot of reasons I retired, so many reasons. Just couldn’t make the fight happen. I wanted to fight but they’d postpone fights and we couldn’t make a deal. But all these times I was making weight, going through camps, flying out to America. And by the time you get there, you’ve already been through so much: weight cut, training, camp and everything. And then you arrive and two or three weeks before the fight they tell you, ‘That’s it, he’s injured,’ and they postpone again. I’d go back home again, and start getting ready all over again. Imagine that about five times. I got tired of it. Like, how much can you take?”

    He also revealed that an agreement existed with the UFC regarding a title shot in the event of another cancellation, one he says was never honored.

    “We had some agreements with them: if he pulls out of the fight a third time, they’d automatically give me the title fight. That’s what we’ve talked about. And the third time he found excuses, he came up with a lot of reasons. Then they started offering me someone else. First Korean Zombie, then some other guy, but really, at that time, it was me and Rodriguez. The two of us were contenders.”

    Magomedsharipov also claimed the UFC’s reluctance to promote him to a title shot was influenced by the number of Russian champions already on the roster at the time.

    “And they just didn’t want to make me a champion. I know why, too. Because at that time we already had a lot of champions from Russia. Khabib was the champion then, and Yan. And because of that it wasn’t beneficial for them that a third champion would be from Russia. At first, before they were around, they promoted me really well.”

    Magomedsharipov, who turned 35 in March, last fought in November 2019 when he defeated Calvin Kattar by decision to improve to 18-1 overall and 6-0 in the UFC.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Formally Requests Sean Strickland Rematch

    Khamzat Chimaev Formally Requests Sean Strickland Rematch

    Khamzat Chimaev has reversed his position from immediately after UFC 328 and is now formally pursuing a rematch against Sean Strickland, with his brother confirming that the request has been made and that an October event in Abu Dhabi is the target.

    Just hours after the split-decision loss to Strickland on Saturday, Chimaev told Dana White he wants to move up to light heavyweight and is done at middleweight. Within days, he had posted cryptic messages on social media directed at Strickland, and now his brother Artur has confirmed to sports.ru that the camp’s position is clear.

    “We’ve requested a rematch with Strickland. There’s an event in Abu Dhabi in October and we want to do it there. Khamzat isn’t the type of person to move to another weight class and leave unanswered questions behind. We want the second fight. Right now we have no other goals.”

    ESPN has separately reported that Chimaev is obsessed with getting the rematch and will not accept other bookings in the meantime, a posture that puts the UFC in a complicated position, given that Strickland has already identified Nassourdine Imavov as a likely next opponent, and a queue of genuine contenders exists at 185 pounds.

    Artur confirmed that Chimaev cut from 231 pounds down to 185 pounds after being asked to defend the middleweight title instead of competing in a planned 205-pound fight against Jiri Prochazka, for which a contract had already been prepared. Two weeks before the fight, Chimaev weighed 214 pounds. His body shut down during the final stages of the cut, and he required an hour-long pause before continuing.

  • Dustin Poirier Spotlights Exact Moment he Realized Strickland-Chimaev’s Beef Was Fake

    Dustin Poirier Spotlights Exact Moment he Realized Strickland-Chimaev’s Beef Was Fake

    Dustin Poirier believes Khamzat Chimaev walked into UFC 328 carrying an aura that made opponents think twice before they even laced their gloves, and he believes that aura took a significant hit in Newark on Saturday night.

    Speaking on UFC on Paramount+ after the show, Poirier explained why the post-fight reconciliation between Chimaev and Strickland bothered him as much as the result itself.

    Poirier’s point cuts to the specific thing that made Chimaev different as a competitor. The unbeaten record was part of it, but the relentlessness and the implied danger that he carried into every build was equally significant.

    “The next fight, whoever he gets matched up with, it’s going to be tough for him to intimidate because his aura took a hit this week. With the back-and-forth, I thought it was real. I think his whole aura took a hit this week. And putting the belt on Strickland — like, come on, man. They worked us for sure.”

    The split decision itself kept things competitive throughout, with all three judges scoring it two rounds apiece heading into the fifth before two of them gave Strickland the final round and the fight. Whether Chimaev receives an immediate rematch or Strickland moves on to another challenger remains to be confirmed by the UFC.

  • Khamzat Chimaev’s Team Reveals Catastrophic UFC 328 Weight Cut Details

    Khamzat Chimaev’s Team Reveals Catastrophic UFC 328 Weight Cut Details

    The full picture of Khamzat Chimaev’s weight cut for UFC 328 is now public, and it is significantly more alarming than the speculation suggested in the days leading up to the fight.

    Chimaev’s brother, Artur, spoke to sports.ru after the loss to Sean Strickland, confirming that Chimaev had been preparing for a light-heavyweight fight against Jiri Prochazka, with a contract already in place, before the UFC asked him to defend the middleweight title instead. The consequences of that switch on his body were severe.

    “There was a problem with the weight cut. The question became whether to cancel the fight or take the risk. When there was 2.7 pounds left, his body shut down. Oxygen deprivation. His body malfunctioned. We had to stop for an hour because his health wouldn’t allow him to continue. Khamzat himself said he didn’t know how he’d fight in that condition. There was an agreement with the UFC that he would fight Jiri Prochazka at 205. The contract was already prepared, but then they asked him to fight Sean instead. So he accepted and decided to cut from 231 pounds down to 185 pounds. By fight time he had only regained around 11-13 pounds. Two weeks before the fight he weighed 214 pounds.”

    Arman Tsarukyan, who was in Chimaev’s corner, had previously estimated the cut at around 46 pounds. Artur’s account confirms the scale of the problem and adds the detail that Chimaev’s body effectively shut down during the final stages of the cut before he chose to push through and compete.

    Artur also confirmed that Chimaev has formally requested an immediate rematch despite initially telling Dana White he wants to move to light heavyweight.

    “We’ve requested a rematch with Strickland. There’s an event in Abu Dhabi in October and we want to do it there. Khamzat isn’t the type of person to move to another weight class and leave unanswered questions behind. We want the second fight. Right now we have no other goals.”

    ESPN has separately reported that Chimaev is obsessed with getting the rematch and will not accept other fights in the interim. The UFC has not confirmed whether an immediate rematch will be made or whether they will instead book Strickland against Nassourdine Imavov, the contender Strickland himself identified as a likely next opponent.