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Category: UFC

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

  • Dricus Du Plessis’ Fiancée Reacts With Heartfelt Post After “Stillknocks” Drops Middleweight Title To Khamzat Chimaev At UFC 319

    Dricus Du Plessis’ Fiancée Reacts With Heartfelt Post After “Stillknocks” Drops Middleweight Title To Khamzat Chimaev At UFC 319

    Dricus Du Plessis receives an encouraging message from his fiancée after his recent loss.

    On Saturday night at Chicago’s United Center, Du Plessis dropped his middleweight title after a lopsided unanimous decision defeat to Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event.

    The fight unfolded as expected, with Chimaev immediately asserting his dominance by taking Du Plessis down and keeping him grounded throughout the first round. That approach defined the bout, as “Borz” repeatedly controlled the South African on the canvas over five rounds, landing 12 of 17 takedowns and leaving Du Plessis little room to mount any offense.

    On the ground, Chimaev moved Du Plessis across the Octagon at will, landing ground strikes that, while not heavily damaging, prevented any meaningful counterattack. It wasn’t until the fifth round that “Stillknocks” found a brief spark with his striking, landing some clean shots, but it was too late to turn the tide. The judges unanimously scored the fight 50-44, handing Chimaev a dominant win and crowning him the new UFC middleweight champion.

    In the wake of his loss, Dricus Du Plessis finds comfort and encouragement from his closest loved ones.

    Khamzat Chimaev defeats Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319
    Image: @ufc/X

    Vasti Spiller Pens Supportive Message After Dricus Du Plessis’ Title Loss At UFC 319

    After his tough defeat at UFC 319, Dricus Du Plessis’ fiancée, Vasti Spiller, turned to social media to send an uplifting message to “Stillknocks,” proving she remains a constant pillar of support in his life.

    “My world. This is just the beginning,” Spiller posted on Instagram.

    This defeat marked Du Plessis’ first loss in the UFC since his debut in October 2020. Before that, “Stillknocks” hadn’t experienced defeat since October 2018 at KSW 45, where he suffered a third-round TKO at the hands of Roberto Soldić.

    The 31-year-old South African captured the UFC middleweight title in January 2024, defeating Sean Strickland via split decision at UFC 297. He then successfully defended his belt twice, first against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and later in a rematch with Strickland at UFC 312.

    Dricus Du Plessis
    Image: UFC.com
  • “Most Dominant Performance In UFC History” – Conor McGregor, Paulo Costa, And Other Fighters & Fans React As Khamzat Chimaev Pulls Off Complete Shutout Of Dricus Du Plessis To Win UFC Middleweight Title At UFC 319

    “Most Dominant Performance In UFC History” – Conor McGregor, Paulo Costa, And Other Fighters & Fans React As Khamzat Chimaev Pulls Off Complete Shutout Of Dricus Du Plessis To Win UFC Middleweight Title At UFC 319

    Khamzat Chimaev has put on one of the most dominant displays in the history of UFC title fights, completing blanking Dricus Du Plessis over five rounds to claim the UFC middleweight championship in the UFC 319 main event.

    Mere seconds into the fight, Chimaev level changed and scored a takedown. DDP attempted to get an arm around Chimaev but was forced to release. Chimaev got Du Plessis in a crucifix, landing short punches around the head of the trapped defending champion. Chimaev continued to work DDP over in top position for most of the round, until Du Plessis got back to his feet in the final 20 seconds. Du Plessis went for another guillotine but was unsuccessful.

    Chimaev scored another takedown seconds into the second round, getting right into back control and maintaining it despite Du Plessis’ attempts to shake him off. Du Plessis got to the fence, but Chimaev continued to smother him with pressure, nearly locking in a rear-naked choke at one point.

    The process continued in the third round, where Chimaev wrapped DDP up in another crucifix and landed more short shots. Du Plessis avoided the first takedown attempt in the fourth round, but Chimaev was right back to work with another successful takedown seconds later. Chimaev dominated through back and side control during the fourth.

    Du Plessis tried to bring out strong strikes in the fifth round, and even through in a guillotine attempt, but it all was for naught.

    Khamzat Chimaev Defeats Dricus Du Plessis To Become UFC Middleweight Champion At UFC 319

    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1956941950780572009
    https://twitter.com/camhashoes/status/1956939549063483410

    Chimaev now improves to 15-0 in MMA and completes the destiny that seemed set for him when he made his Octagon debut in July 2020. Chimaev earned the title shot with a submission of Robert Whittaker at UFC 308.

    Du Plessis had won the middleweight title with a decision over Sean Strickland at UFC 297. He retained the belt against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and in a rematch with Strickland at UFC 312.

  • “See You In December” – Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, And Other Fighters & Fans React As Lerone Murphy Gives UFC 319 A Second Straight Spinning Back Elbow KO

    “See You In December” – Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, And Other Fighters & Fans React As Lerone Murphy Gives UFC 319 A Second Straight Spinning Back Elbow KO

    It was crazy enough when Carlos Prates unleashed a spinning back elbow on Geoff Neal for a Knockout of the Year contender. One fight later, we get a second kind of spinning elbow — a UFC first, and one that potentially will give Lerone Murphy a title shot.

    Murphy took advantage of Aaron Pico’s aggression and scored a spinning back elbow to score a first-round knockout in the UFC 319 co-main event.

    Pico came out with strong strikes from the start, looking to bring the fight to Murphy and connecting on the body. Murphy, however, troubled Pico with a knee that landed in close.

    “The Miracle” picked up on Pico’s forward movement and caught him being careless, landing a surprise spinning back elbow that dropped Pico out cold in devastating fashion.

    Lerone Murphy Blasts Aaron Pico With Elbow For KO At UFC 319

    Murphy now improves to 17-0-1, having won every bout in the Octagon since going to a draw in his UFC debut.

    This was Pico’s debut in the UFC since coming over from the PFL, having just one fight there following PFL’s purchase of Bellator in late 2023. Pico hadn’t fought since defeating Henry Corrales at the PFL vs. Bellator Champions card in February 2024.

  • “Sounded Like A Golf Ball Getting Hit” – Fighters & Fans React As Carlos Prates Unleashes Destructive Elbow For Walk-Off, Buzzer Beater KO Of Geoff Neal At UFC 319

    “Sounded Like A Golf Ball Getting Hit” – Fighters & Fans React As Carlos Prates Unleashes Destructive Elbow For Walk-Off, Buzzer Beater KO Of Geoff Neal At UFC 319

    Carlos Prates just produced one of the most jaw-dropping knockouts of the year, if not recent MMA history, with his finish of Geoff Neal at UFC 319.

    Neal came out with some aggression, looking to control the pace and come forward with pressure. He executed a few good shots, but focused more on single blows than combination. Prates looked to work over Neal’s legs with kicks. Prates’ pace picked up over the course of the second half of the round.

    And then, right before the horn, Prates pulled off a spinning back elbow that landed on the side of Neal’s head, dropping him out cold.

    Carlos Prates Drops Geoff Neal With KO Of The Year Contender At UFC 319

    Prates has now won five of his six fights in the Octagon since arriving from Dana White’s Contender Series, with all five coming by knockout.

    Neal has now lost three of his last four.

  • “The Most Disrespectful Non-Disrespectful Fighting Style Of All Time” – Fighters & Fans Praise Michael Page’s Output As He Scores Decision Over Jared Cannonier At UFC 319

    “The Most Disrespectful Non-Disrespectful Fighting Style Of All Time” – Fighters & Fans Praise Michael Page’s Output As He Scores Decision Over Jared Cannonier At UFC 319

    Michael Page will be a ranked UFC fighter come Tuesday, as he scored a victory over Jared Cannonier at UFC 319.

    Cannonier tried to close the distance to land on Page, but MVP kept on the outside and used his long range to his advantage. He consistently tagged Cannonier, including a counter punch that dropped Cannonier briefly. “The Gorilla” briefly was able to get a hold of Page and placed him against the fence, but he didn’t do anything with it.

    Page continued to do work in the second round, scoring another knockdown with a one-two combination and taunting Cannonier while trying to keep distance. Cannonier finally got the fight to the ground and held Page there for the third round. He attempted a couple of submissions, but they were for naught.

    Page took the decision on all three judges’ scorecards, 29-28.

    Michael Page Scores Judges’ Nod Over Jared Cannonier At UFC 319

    Page is now 3-1 in the UFC, having also bested Kevin Holland Shara Magomedov. His sole loss came against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 303.

    Cannonier is now 3-3 in his last six. He came into this fight off a knockout of Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues.

  • “Holding It Down For The 35 And Older Club” – Fighters & Fans React To Tim Elliott Pulling Off Shocking Submission Of Kai Asakura At UFC 319

    “Holding It Down For The 35 And Older Club” – Fighters & Fans React To Tim Elliott Pulling Off Shocking Submission Of Kai Asakura At UFC 319

    Tim Elliott may be 38 years old, but don’t count him out yet. That was the statement made in his victory over Kai Asakura that kicked off the main card at UFC 319.

    Elliott seemed to struggle with the footwork of Asakura during the opening frame. That led to Asakura being able to connect on several powerful punches during the round, including a strong one-two in the opening seconds. Asakura was in control and kept the fight standing for about four minutes, but Elliott scored a takedown in the round’s final minute, getting right into side control and landing a few knees to the body.

    Elliott managed to get the fight to the ground during the second round again. This time, however, Elliott completed work over Asakura from top position, eventually making his way to a guillotine choke, scoring the submission with about 20 seconds left in the second round.

    Tim Elliott Scores Second-Round Submission At UFC 319

    https://twitter.com/teamfgarcia/status/1956907042519609790

    This was Elliott’s first fight since December 2023, when he scored a submission of Su Mudaerji.

    Asakura, the former RIZIN champion, made his UFC debut at UFC 310, falling short in a title shot against Alexandre Pantoja.

  • “Time To Officially Learn His Name” – Fans Split On Baysangur Susurkaev’s Performance At UFC 319 Following Quick Turnaround From DWCS

    “Time To Officially Learn His Name” – Fans Split On Baysangur Susurkaev’s Performance At UFC 319 Following Quick Turnaround From DWCS

    Taking the fight on just a few days’ notice, Baysangur Susurkaev faced adversity but managed to score a finish of Eric Nolan in the featured preliminary card bout of UFC 319.

    Susurkaev started the fight with heavy pressure, displaying full confidence. Nolan, however, shook things up in the closing seconds of the first, rocking Susurkaev and nearly scoring the finish.

    Susurkaev, however, stole momentum in the second round with a series of leg kicks to bust up one of Nolan’s legs. Nolan went to the mat, but that allowed Susurkaev to get right on top and work his way to Nolan’s back.

    Susurkaev then finished off the recent CFFC welterweight champion with a rear-naked choke. His post-fight interview, however, appeared to not fly over well with fans, as he called to compete at Noche UFC 3 and failed to get the Chicago crowd to chant his name.

    Baysangur Susurkaev Scores Submission Of Eric Nolan On Days’ Notice At UFC 319

    Susurkaev competed just four days ago on the season premiere of Dana White’s Contender Series season nine, scoring the night’s only finish with a body kick on Murtaza Talha.

    Nolan won the CFFC’s 170-pound title with a finish of Blayne Richards in May.

  • VIDEO: Michal Oleksiejczuk Moves To 2-0 With Fighting Nerds, Stops Gerald Meerschaert At UFC 319

    VIDEO: Michal Oleksiejczuk Moves To 2-0 With Fighting Nerds, Stops Gerald Meerschaert At UFC 319

    The move to the Fighting Nerds team continues to pay off for Michal Oleksiejczuk, as he scores a first-round knockout of Gerald Meerschaert during the UFC 319 preliminary card.

    Meerschaert tried to bring the fight to the ground consistently, but Oleksiejczuk continuously stopped his takedown attempts. Oleksiejczuk’s mission to keep the fight standing was successful, blasting Meerschaert with powerful punches and scoring a pair of knockdowns.

    Oleksiejczuk forced Meerschaert to stand until finding an opening to land brutal ground-and-pound and force referee Herb Dean to stop the fight.

    Michal Oleksiejczuk Crushes Gerald Meerschaert At UFC 319

    After three consecutive losses, Oleksiejczuk joined the Fighting Nerds team, and he’s now won back-to-back outings. He scored a first-round finish of Sedriques Dumas at UFC 314.

    Meerschaert has now lost three straight and five of his last seven.

  • VIDEO: Alexander Hernandez Blasts Chase Hooper For KO With Seconds Remaining In First Round At UFC 319

    VIDEO: Alexander Hernandez Blasts Chase Hooper For KO With Seconds Remaining In First Round At UFC 319

    Talk about a photo finish. Alexander Hernandez provided one with his first-round knockout of Chase Hooper during the UFC 319 preliminary card.

    Hooper looked to use his reach advantage, giving Hernandez some trouble with his kicks early on. “The Great Ape” worked his boxing more over the course of the round, however.

    That’d lead to the finish, with one right hand from Hernandez sending Hooper crumbling to the canvas.

    Alexander Hernandez Smashes Chase Hooper Right Before First-Round Horn

    Hernandez has now won three straight and four of his last six.

    Hooper sees a five-fight win streak he’s been on since late 2023 get snapped.

  • Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Labels Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 319 Face-Off Antics ‘Weakness’

    Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Labels Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 319 Face-Off Antics ‘Weakness’

    Dricus Du Plessis’ coach has an unexpected takeaway from the face-off with Khamzat Chimaev.

    Du Plessis is set to put his middleweight crown on the line for the third time tonight, squaring off against Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

    The lead-up to this eagerly awaited clash has been fraught with tension, fueled by fiery exchanges between the fighters on social media. Interestingly, fight week began on a different note, as Du Plessis and Chimaev showed mutual respect and initially steered clear of the usual trash talk.

    However, that initial courtesy quickly evaporated during Thursday’s pre-fight press conference, when both fighters officially faced off for the first time. The intensity spiked, particularly from “Borz”, who fired a barrage of words at the reigning UFC middleweight champion.

    Chimaev turned up the heat physically during the final staredown on Friday at the ceremonial weigh-ins, shoving ‘Stillknocks’ before being pulled apart by UFC CEO Dana White and on-stage security. Dricus Du Plessis, however, appeared completely unfazed by the incident.

    Dricus Du Plessis faces off with Khamzat Chimaev
    Image: @ufc/X

    Morne Visser Believes Dricus Du Plessis Gained Mental Edge Over Khamzat Chimaev Before UFC 319

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Dricus Du Plessis’ longtime coach, Morne Visser, broke down the UFC 319 face-off between ‘Stillknocks’ and Khamzat Chimaev. Visser pointed out that Du Plessis demonstrated control by holding his hands higher than ‘Borz’ and effectively got inside his opponent’s head.

    “You’ll see Khamzat has got his hands close to his chest, and Dricus has got his hands over Khamzat’s arm,” Visser said. “Not a lot of people look at that, but that shows dominance. If you look at that face-off, you know when there are two guys fighting in the street and one guy gets pulled away and his buddies kind of save him. Dana came in between and he pushed them apart, and only then did Khamzat make a big noise.

    “Why wasn’t he so arrogant when he was standing right in front of Dricus? That’s just weird for me. That just shows a little bit of weakness. If you want to be tough, be tough in front of the guy, don’t walk away and then shout stupid things.”

    Dricus Du Plessis last stepped into the Octagon at UFC 312 this past February, where he secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev in their rematch. ‘Stillknocks’ remains undefeated in the UFC with a perfect 9-0 record, including six wins by stoppage.

    Dricus Du Plessis custom shorts
    Image: @dricusduplessis/Instagram
  • “Proved Me Wrong Time And Time Again Throughout The Season” – Fans & Fighters React To Joseph Morales Winning Flyweight TUF Title With Triangle Choke Of Alibi Idiris At UFC 319

    “Proved Me Wrong Time And Time Again Throughout The Season” – Fans & Fighters React To Joseph Morales Winning Flyweight TUF Title With Triangle Choke Of Alibi Idiris At UFC 319

    After Brad Katona did so just a couple of seasons ago, Joseph Morales has re-entered the UFC after winning The Ultimate Fighter, becoming the flyweight winner of season 33 with a second-round submission of Alibi Idiris — a fight that kicked off the action at UFC 319.

    Morales, the major underdog in this fight, came out with pressure right away, as the two did some early trading. Though Morales was on the front foot, Idiris did very well while landing on the back foot. Morales would clinch Idiris up, however, getting the upper hand in the grappling department. After Idiris missed a spinning attack, Morales scored a takedown and worked Idiris in top control. Morales got to the back and locked up a body triangle, keeping ahold even as Idiris got to his feet. Though Morales had to release the grip, he’d use a kimura grip to get Idiris back down and back to Idiris’ back. Morales locked up a choke, but the time expired.

    Morales looked to get Idiris down to start the second round, but Idiris managed to do well with defending those attempts. But as Idiris continued to look for big moves, Morales strongly worked him over with boxing, eventually landing a body blow that did big damage. Morales dropped Idiris and looked for a banana split, but he lost it.

    While he was on the bottom, Morales locked up a tight triangle choke, scoring the submission and the TUF 33 flyweight title.

    Joseph Morales Becomes TUF 33 Flyweight Winner

    Morales, a member of Team Sonnen, arrived at the final fight through victories over Eduardo Henrique and Imanol Rodriguez (the latter in controversial fashion). Before TUF, Morales had a prior stint in the UFC, going 1-2 with a submission of Roberto Sanchez and losses to Deiveson Figueriedo and Eric Shelton. Since his UFC release, he’s won three straight.

    Idiris, a member of Team Cormier, reached the TUF Finale thanks to defeating Furkatbek Yokubov and Roybert Echerverria. Prior to his time on TUF, Idiris went 10-0 as a pro while fighting exclusively for Nazia FC, picking up their flyweight title in the process.

    The TUF 33 welterweight winner will be determined at Noche UFC 3 in a fight featuring Team Cormier’s Rodrigo Sezinando and Daniil Donchenko. The fight was scheduled for tonight but was postponed due to Sezinando suffering an injury.

  • UFC 319 Results & Highlights: Khamzat Chimaev Decisions Dricus du Plessis

    UFC 319 Results & Highlights: Khamzat Chimaev Decisions Dricus du Plessis

    UFC 319 took place tonight from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, Dricus du Plessis looked to defend his middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev. While in the co-main event, Lerone Murphy took on Aaron Pico in a featherweight matchup. 

    UFC 319 Results: Main Card

    • Middleweight Championship: Khamzat Chimaev def. Dricus du Plessis via unanimous decision (50-44×3) 
    • Featherweight: Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico via KO: R1, 3.21 
    • Welterweight: Carlos Prates de. Geoff Neal via KO: R1, 4.59
    • Middleweight: Michael Page def. Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Flyweight: Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura via submission: R2, 4.39

     
    Preliminary Card

    • Middleweight: Baysangur Susurkaev def. Eric Nolan via submission: R2, 2.01
    • Middleweight: Michał Oleksiejczuk def. Gerald Meerschaert via TKO: R1, 3.03
    • Women’s Strawweight: Loopy Godinez def. Jessica Andrade via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Lightweight: Alexander Hernandez def. Chase Hooper via TKO: R1, 4.58

    Early Preliminary Card

    • Lightweight: Drakkar Klose def. Edson Barboza via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Karine Silva def. Dione Barbosa via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    Flyweight: TUF Finale: Joseph Morales def. Alibi Idiris via submission: R2, 3.04

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Joseph Morales def. Alibi Idiris

    In the opening bout of UFC 319, Joseph Morales won The Ultimate Fighter flyweight finale with a submission in round two.

    Alexander Hernandez def. Chase Hooper

    Alexander Hernandez earned a first-round TKO.

    Michał Oleksiejczuk def. Gerald Meerschaert

    Michał Oleksiejczuk picked up a first-round TKO in this middleweight bout.

    Baysangur Susurkaev def. Eric Nolan

    Baysangur Susurkaev earned a submission win on his UFC debut.

    Main Card Highlights

    Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura

    Tim Elliott submitted Kai Asakura in the second round of this flyweight bout.

    Michael Page def. Jared Cannonier

    In this middleweight bout, Michael Page got it done on the scorecards against Jared Cannonier.

    Carlos Prates de. Geoff Neal

    Carlos Prates got the KO right at the end of round one.

    Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico

    In the co-main event, Lerone Murphy earned a huge KO in the first round.

    Khamzat Chimaev def. Dricus du Plessis

    In the main event, Khamzat Chimaev earned a unanimous decision to win the middleweight title.

  • Joe Rogan Wonders How Khamzat Chimaev’s Cardio Will Fare Against Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 319

    Joe Rogan Wonders How Khamzat Chimaev’s Cardio Will Fare Against Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 319

    Joe Rogan is skeptical about Khamzat Chimaev’s endurance.

    Chimaev is locked in to headline UFC 319 this Saturday at the United Center in Chicago, where he will challenge reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis for the title.

    Although “Borz” remains undefeated in his professional career, he has only gone the distance twice in the UFC. In both bouts, Chimaev faced significant challenges, and as the fights progressed into the later rounds, he appeared to fade, raising questions about the durability of his cardio.

    Meeting Death Created Khamzat Chimaev as We Know Him Today If you're not ready to die when it comes, you'll be scared

    Joe Rogan Questions Whether Khamzat Chimaev Can Last Against Dricus Du Plessis

    During a recent episode of his JRE MMA Show, Joe Rogan shared his insights on the highly anticipated clash between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev. The veteran commentator also discussed the undefeated Russian’s preparation for UFC 319, discussing whether “Borz” has made any gains in endurance while training with renowned conditioning coach Sam Calavitta.

    “What’s going to be interesting is if it gets into deep water, because I know he started training with Calvita—for his conditioning,” Rogan said. “He went to Sam Calvita who trained TJ Dillashaw, works with Aaron Pico, Arman Tsarukyan’s doing it with him, too. And that guy is a legend, man… He’s using real science to do it. This is the first time he’s ever been through a camp like this where he’s coming in fresh, where he’s not overtrained.”

    Rogan also questioned how Khamzat Chimaev’s cardio would hold up in championship rounds, warning that Du Plessis could become a serious threat late in the fight.

    “That’s the question—is can he sprint for five rounds? ‘Cause we know DDP can. Him and Sean Strickland, they were ready to have heart attacks at the end of that fight. Getting his nose busted like that and still staying and fighting with staph. He had staph. He had staph through the second fight. That’s why he was listless. He was on antibiotics and everything. He was all messed up.”

    “Borz” enters UFC 319 riding a first-round submission win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October of last year. Chimaev currently holds a perfect 14-0 professional record, with 12 victories coming by stoppage.

    It is a problem - Khamzat Chimaev Winning The UFC Middleweight Throne is a Promotional Disaster, According to UFC Veterans



  • Patricio Pitbull Reportedly Booked To Face Promising New Signee At UFC Paris On Sept. 6

    Patricio Pitbull Reportedly Booked To Face Promising New Signee At UFC Paris On Sept. 6

    Patricio Pitbull will reportedly return for his third UFC fight of the year.

    According to Maîtres Fumiers on Instagram, Pitbull is expected to face promotional newcomer Losene Keita at UFC Paris on September 6 inside the Accor Arena in France.

    The upcoming Fight Night will be headlined by a pivotal middleweight showdown between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho, with potential title implications on the line. Meanwhile, the main card will also feature Benoît Saint Denis facing rising talent Mauricio Ruffy in a lightweight showdown.

    UFC Paris Poster
    Image: UFC.com

    How Does Patricio Pitbull’s Record Compare To Losene Keita’s Ahead Of UFC Paris?

    Patricio Pitbull kicked off his UFC journey earlier this year at UFC 314, facing former interim featherweight champion and suffering a one-sided unanimous decision loss. The former Bellator two division titleholder bounced back at UFC 318 last month, reclaiming victory with a hard-fought decision over Dan Ige.

    Pitbull boasts a professional MMA record of 37-8, with an impressive 24 of those victories earned via stoppage.

    Meanwhile, Losene Keita, who officially signed a UFC contract on Friday, is a two-division champion in OKTAGON. “Black Panther” enters UFC Paris on a five-fight winning streak, having last competed at OKTAGON 65 in December 2024, where he secured a second-round TKO over Ronald Paradeiser to successfully defend his lightweight title.

    Keita currently holds a 16-1 professional record, with 10 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

    Patricio Pitbull vs. Losene Keita set for UFC Paris
    Images: @patriciopitbull/@keitaplusser/Instagram
  • Joe Rogan Hopes UFC Maintains ESPN Ties Despite Historic Paramount+ Agreement

    Joe Rogan Hopes UFC Maintains ESPN Ties Despite Historic Paramount+ Agreement

    Joe Rogan hopes UFC’s latest deal won’t sever ties with its longtime partner.

    The UFC’s exclusive five-year rights agreement with ESPN is set to conclude at the close of 2025. The promotion has already locked in its next landmark deal with a seven-year, $7.7 billion U.S. broadcasting partnership with Paramount Skydance Corporation.

    During its partnership with the UFC, ESPN showcased the promotion’s full slate of events across both its television network and the ESPN+ streaming platform, while holding exclusive rights to distribute pay-per-views.

    The sports media powerhouse also delivered extensive UFC coverage and featured several former fighters as analysts and commentators. However, with the UFC now shifting to a new broadcast home, questions remain about how ESPN’s role in covering the sport will evolve moving forward.

    UFC-ESPN broadcast deal to conclude at the end of 2025
    Image: ESPN.com

    Joe Rogan Wants UFC To Keep ESPN Association Despite Paramount+ Switch In 2026

    During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the veteran UFC commentator weighed in on the promotion’s new broadcasting deal with Paramount+. While Joe Rogan voiced his enthusiasm for the partnership set to kick off next year, he also admitted he hopes the UFC won’t sever its relationship with ESPN, which he sees as a crucial bridge to casual sports fans.

    The 58-year-old acclaimed podcaster emphasized that ESPN remains a vital gateway for introducing new audiences to the world of MMA.

    “I’m kind of bummed out, and I hope they don’t lose the relationship that they had with ESPN with all their MMA shows,” Joe Rogan said. “I hope they don’t go, like, ‘F**k them. They went to Paramount.’ I hope it’s a mutually beneficial thing, like the UFC at least does some content still on ESPN, because I think that’s also a big factor in pulling people from casual viewers that watch other sports that might occasionally watch a UFC fight and then they see, like, Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway and they’re like, ‘Holy sh*t.’

    “And then they’re hooked. Having that coverage on SportsCenter, that shit’s huge. Having those post-fight shows on ESPN+, that sh*t is huge for the real dorks like me, that’s huge.”

    As part of the new agreement, Paramount+ will become the primary U.S. destination for all 13 numbered UFC pay-per-view cards and 30 Fight Night events annually. Every fight will stream live on the platform, while select high-profile cards will also receive a primetime broadcast on Paramount’s flagship network, CBS.

    The UFC will also move away from its long-standing pay-per-view model, making every event accessible to Paramount+ subscribers. However, UFC CEO Dana White has hinted that the promotion may roll out special “one-off” PPV cards on rare occasions.

    UFC Octagon
    Image: UFC.com


  • Why is Dricus du Plessis Underdog Against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319? UFC Veteran Argues

    Why is Dricus du Plessis Underdog Against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319? UFC Veteran Argues

    Dricus du Plessis is a betting underdog this weekend as he steps into the cage against Khamzat Chimaev. DDP being seen as an underdog at UFC 319 as he enters the cage in Chicago on August 16th to defend his middleweight crown has drawn the attention of many, including a former multi-time UFC middleweight title challenger.

    Chael Sonnen recently took the time to discuss the oddsmakers perceptions of Saturday night’s main event with a localized focus on DDP’s career but also on a more macro view of the sport. While discussing instances where du Plessis has been an underdog before only to shock the broader MMA world and also observing how the public has historically looked at certain stylistic matchups, Sonnen said,

    “I think you just found out how good Dricus is. I think that’s what happened here. And I accuse you of that because I feel it, too. But I can’t identify it for you. I can’t verbalize it for you. Dricus fought Izzy and he showed a couple of things ever so slight. To get Izzy tired is hard to do and Dricus did. There’s nothing more intimidating than a guy that can weaponize pace, and we saw that he did it and he struck with Izzy, so all of a sudden you got to check off that box.”

    Dricus du Plessis’ stand up and Khamzat Chimaev’s grappling

    When touching on how public perception on upcoming fights has largely leaned toward particular approaches over other stylistic frameworks in the context of the Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev betting line, Sonnen continued,

    “Never in history, and I’m going back to 1993, has DraftKings favored the striker over the grappler. Not a literal statement, but close enough. So Dricus showed you what a great and well-conditioned striker he is. When has that ever made you change your bet when you’re taking on one of the great grapplers ever? Go all the way back to ’93. Go all the way back to Royce and Severn. Go to Shamrock and tell me what you were so impressed with those guys.“

  • UFC 319 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Du Plessis vs. Chimaev And More

    UFC 319 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Du Plessis vs. Chimaev And More

    UFC 319 is almost here, and we here at MMA News are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.

    The card takes place from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, August 16. The pay-per-view main card portion of the event will start at 10PM ET/7PM PT, with preliminary action starting at 6PM ET/3PM PT.

    The headline attraction for the event will feature Dricus Du Plessis taking on Khamzat Chimaev with the UFC middleweight championship on the line.

    The co-main event will see the undefeated Lerone Murphy welcoming Aaron Pico to the Octagon.

    The pay-per-view card will also feature Geoff Neal facing Carlos Prates, Jared Cannonier clashing with Michael “Venom” Page, and Tim Elliott meeting Kai Asakura.

    UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 319 as of August 15 at 9:30pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight Championship: Dricus Du Plessis (+215) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (-265)
    • Featherweight: Lerone Murphy (+154) vs. Aaron Pico (-185)
    • Welterweight: Geoff Neal (+180) vs. Carlos Prates (-218)
    • Middleweight: Jared Cannonier (+180) vs. Michael Page (-218)
    • Flyweight: Tim Elliott (+250) vs. Kai Asakura (-310)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Welterweight: Baysangur Susurkaev (-950) vs. Eric Nolan (+625)
    • Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert (+180) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (-210)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Jessica Andrade (+120) vs. Loopy Godinez (-142)
    • Lightweight: Chase Hooper (-325) vs. Alexander Hernandez (+260)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Edson Barboza (-130) vs. Drakkar Klose (+110)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Karine Silva (-198) vs. Dione Barbosa (+164)
    • Flyweight: TUF Finale: Alibi Idiris (-455) vs. Joseph Morales (+350)
  • Watch Dricus Du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev Face Off At UFC 319 Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    Watch Dricus Du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev Face Off At UFC 319 Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    We’re about 24 hours away from UFC 319, and MMA News is here to bring you the video from the ceremonial weigh-ins for the card!

    UFC 319 takes place on August 16 from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

    The main event of the evening will feature Dricus Du Plessis defending the UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev. Du Plessis, unbeaten in the UFC, originally claimed the championship with a decision win over Sean Strickland at UFC 297. He has since defended the title against Israel Adesanya and Strickland at UFC 305 and UFC 312, respectively. Chimaev, who hasn’t lost in MMA, secured this title shot with a finish of another former champion in Robert Whittaker at UFC 308.

    The co-main event will feature the UFC debut of Aaron Pico, as the Bellator veteran faces undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy.

    The rest of the main card sees Geoff Neal face Carlos Prates, Jared Cannonier taking on Michael “Venom” Page, and Tim Elliott going toe-to-toe with Kai Asakura.

    One bout was scrapped on weigh-in day following Bryan Battle’s significant weight miss. But all other bouts are on!

    The ceremonial weigh-ins present the last opportunity for opponents to face off before they meet inside the Octagon. Check them out below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel!

    UFC 319 Ceremonial Weigh-In Video

  • Joe Rogan Predicts UFC’s $7.7 Billion Paramount Plus Deal Will Send MMA ‘Through The Roof’

    Joe Rogan Predicts UFC’s $7.7 Billion Paramount Plus Deal Will Send MMA ‘Through The Roof’

    Joe Rogan is bullish on the UFC’s new broadcast deal.

    The UFC’s exclusive five-year rights deal with ESPN will wrap up at the end of 2025, and the promotion has already lined up its next historic chapter with a seven-year, $7.7 billion U.S. broadcasting partnership with Paramount Skydance Corporation.

    Paramount+ will serve as the premier U.S. home for all 13 marquee numbered UFC cards and 30 Fight Night events each year. Every bout will stream on the platform, with select blockbuster cards also airing simultaneously on Paramount’s flagship network, CBS.

    The biggest shake-up for fans sees the UFC abandoning the traditional pay-per-view model, putting every event within reach for Paramount+ subscribers. In the U.S., plans range from $7.99 to $12.99 a month for the ad-free tier that also includes Showtime. Still, UFC CEO Dana White has teased the possibility of occasional “one-off” pay-per-view events.

    UFC CEO Dana White
    Image: UFC/YouTube

    Joe Rogan Sees UFC-Paramount+ Move As A Massive Win For MMA Fans

    During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the long-time UFC commentator shared his take on the promotion’s blockbuster deal with Paramount+. Rogan believes replacing the conventional pay-per-view model with an all-access streaming approach could be a game-changer, drawing in a wave of new fans and expanding the reach of MMA to a broader, more diverse audience than ever before.

    “Through the roof,” Joe Rogan said. “And it’s a super smart move for Paramount. What a great move to not just have the UFC for seven years, but to have it for free. How much does it cost a month? Ten bucks, let’s say it’s ten bucks. That’s crazy. That’s a $120 a year, you can watch every UFC pay-per-view? Two UFC pay-per-views is, like, 140 bucks, right? Isn’t it? Aren’t they, like, $70? So you get all of them. Everything’s free? That’s incredible. This sport is going to go f**king hypernova.”

    Joe Rogan, who first joined the UFC in 1997 as a backstage interviewer at UFC 12, has witnessed the promotion’s evolution through every major broadcast era, from Spike TV to FOX to ESPN.

    Now, as Dana White confirmed, the 58-year-old MMA mainstay isn’t going anywhere; Rogan will be front and center as the UFC enters its new chapter with Paramount.

  • Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev Off UFC 319 Following Battle’s Weight Miss

    Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev Off UFC 319 Following Battle’s Weight Miss

    UFC 319 has taken yet another hit as a result of the sole weight miss that occurred for the card.

    Per an announcement from the promotion, the early prelim bout between Bryan Battle and Nursulton Ruziboev has been scrapped due to Battle missing weight.

    Battle weighed in at 190 pounds, four pounds above the non-title middleweight limit.

    Initial reports claimed that Battle vs. Ruziboev would proceed, with Battle forfeiting 30 percent of his purse.

    As of press time, it’s unclear what in the circumstances changed that led the fight to being canceled.

    Bryan Battle Misses Weight By Four Pounds, UFC 319 Bout With Nursulton Ruziboev Off

    This is Battle’s second straight scheduled contest that saw him significantly miss weight — and doing so in a heavier weight class this time around. Battle weighed in at 175 pounds for a scheduled welterweight bout against Randy Brown at UFC 310.

    Battle is unbeaten in his last five fights.

    This is the third fight in the last 26 hours that UFC 319 has lost. The scheduled prelim headliner between King Green and Carlos Diego Ferreira was canceled after Green withdrew due to injury. Then, the welterweight TUF Finale fight between Rodrigo Sezinando and Daniil Donchenko was pushed back to Noche UFC 3 due to injury to Sezinando.

    UFC 319 will proceed on with 12 fights — down from its scheduled 15 after Baysangur Susurkaev’s quick turnaround from the Dana White’s Contender Series premiere.

  • Aaron Pico recalls entertaining story regarding his son ahead of UFC debut

    Aaron Pico recalls entertaining story regarding his son ahead of UFC debut

    UFC newcomer Aaron Pico has recalled an amusing conversation with his son as he prepares for his first appearance with the promotion this weekend.

    On Saturday night, Aaron Pico will compete in the co-main event of UFC 319 in Chicago. He’ll do so against Lerone Murphy, who is currently undefeated and could be just one win away from a shot at the UFC featherweight championship.

    For Aaron Pico, this is all about proving he belongs in the big dance. He was more than willing to square off with Movsar Evloev but now that it isn’t going to happen, beating Murphy is still a pretty good sign that he’s ready to mix it up with the very best at 145 pounds.

    In his media day interview earlier this week, Aaron Pico spoke about his son’s point of view on him competing in the UFC.

    Aaron Pico reflects on amusing conversation with his son

    “It’s always funny to explain to somebody that just doesn’t get it,” Pico said. “I have a funny story, my son is four years old and we watch the fights all the time and when I told him, ‘Dad’s going to fight in the UFC on TV,’ he said, ‘Wow, Dad, you’re finally a professional.’

    “I said, ‘Yeah, dad’s finally a professional.’ It’s funny, but now it’s going to be-I don’t really tell people when I’m out in public, they always ask me, ‘What do you do for a living?’ I just say, ‘I’m an artist’ and I don’t go into detail. Then if they pry, I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m a fighter.’ 

    “Then you tell them back then I fought for this organization, they’re like, ‘OK, so one day you’ll be in the UFC.’ I said, ‘Yeah, one day I’ll be in the UFC.’ Now if I get that question, it’s just, ‘Yeah, I’m a UFC fighter.’ The conversation is, like, ‘Wow, you’re big time and blah blah blah,’ but it feels good.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Khamzat Chimaev’s kryptonite potentially exposed by UFC legend

    Khamzat Chimaev’s kryptonite potentially exposed by UFC legend

    UFC legend Max Holloway has given his thoughts on an area of Khamzat Chimaev‘s game that Dricus du Plessis could expose.

    Tomorrow night, Dricus du Plessis will defend his UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev. The two men have been circling one another for a long time, and this has always felt like the natural next step in their rivalry.

    Nobody really knows how it’s going to go, but one thing is for sure – if Khamzat Chimaev can get his wrestling game going early, he’s got an excellent chance of walking out of Chicago with the belt around his waist.

    Max Holloway, however, believes that there’s a way in which Dricus du Plessis could use Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling advantage against him.

    Max Holloway’s view on Khamzat Chimaev

    “I like both guys,” Holloway said on his YouTube channel. “Both guys are awesome. This is crazy. I understand why, but this is crazy. The champion — especially with who the champion beat — is an underdog. It’s kinda crazy. The reason why he is, I understand who Chimaev is.

    “The one biggest thing that I can point out that I hope this fight du Plessis watched was the fight that Chimaev fought Kamaru Usman. If you watch that fight — not many people are going to pick up on this, but here’s a little spoiler for you guys — every time Kamaru Usman decided to anti-wrestle and not wrestle back with Chimaev, he actually defended a takedown. 

    “Go watch. Go watch all the takedowns that Kamaru Usman defended. It was takedowns that he didn’t try to counter-wrestle with him, he just anti-wrestled, meaning he was just trying to go for full breaks and that’s it. He had great success when he wasn’t trying to counter back. …

    “Any time Usman did try to wrestle back with him, guess who won the exchange? You guessed it right, Chimaev. if du Plessis took anything — I saw his coach saying they want to take the wrestling to him, that’s not the way you’re going to beat him. This guy is just going to wrestle back with you. You need to anti-wrestle. Then, maybe later on, you wrestle back.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Khamzat Chimaev Does Not Care About Dricus Du Plessis: “Beat him up and take my money and go home”

    Khamzat Chimaev Does Not Care About Dricus Du Plessis: “Beat him up and take my money and go home”

    UFC star Khamzat Chimaev has made it clear that he doesn’t really care too much about Dricus du Plessis’ comments and that he’s focused on claiming the title.

    On Saturday night, Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship. It’s been a long time coming for Khamzat who, for years now, has been seen as the next big thing in mixed martial arts. If he’s able to win the title convincingly, and go on to have a solid title reign, his star power will go through the roof – which we’ve been expecting to happen ever since he first debued.

    Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t seem to take things too personally when it comes to back and forth spats with his foes, whereas Dricus du Plessis thrives on getting under the skin of his opponents. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, and this time around, Chimaev certainly seems to be keeping his cool.

    Outside of a heated face-off, Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis seem to be showing one another a lot of mutual respect. In a recent interview, ‘Borz’ made it known that he isn’t that bothered about anything DDP says at this point.

  • Dricus Du Plessis is a Better Striker than Khamzat Chimaev – But It Won’t Matter Explains UFC Legend

    Dricus Du Plessis is a Better Striker than Khamzat Chimaev – But It Won’t Matter Explains UFC Legend

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has given his thoughts on the striking differences between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.

    Tomorrow night, Dricus du Plessis will defend his UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev. He’ll do so in the main event of UFC 319, and he’ll do so with a lot of people doubting his ability to get the job done. Of course, that’s nothing new for DDP in his UFC career.

    He has constantly been able to flip the script and spring an upset – or at least, what would be seen as an upset in the eyes of the fans. Alas, Dricus du Plessis is far more talented than a lot of people give him credit for, especially in the striking department.

    Speaking of which, Chael Sonnen recently weighed in on how the striking exchanges could go between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev on Saturday.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev

    “In the history of Chimaev’s striking, there was one moment — one shot — landed by Gilbert Burns. It got through, and Chimaev went down to a knee. He popped right back up. He won the standup battle in that fight, which was an instant classic, colossally hard and close. And against Kamaru Usman — who can handle himself everywhere, who was even in talks to box Canelo — Chimaev still won the standup portion. That one Gilbert shot has made people think he can’t strike, but that’s not what the record shows.”

    “Dricus is much better in understanding and experience if you were to put him in pure boxing or kickboxing. Which one would do better in that environment? Dricus. But does that mean he can beat Chimaev in an MMA striking exchange? Very different. Chimaev is ugly, street-fighter-esque. He’s punching you just to get in and clinch — which would be a foul in boxing — but in MMA, it works. He still lands punches, he still throws a lot, there’s still power on them, and they’re still aimed right at your face.”

    “I’m not asking if they just stand and box. I’m asking if they’re on their feet in an MMA fight — are you sure Dricus is better? That’s the question.”

  • “Khamzat Chimaev is good, but he’s not great” says Former UFC Welterweight Champion

    “Khamzat Chimaev is good, but he’s not great” says Former UFC Welterweight Champion

    Former UFC champion Tyron Woodley has given his thoughts on the rise of Khamzat Chimaev ahead of UFC 319 tomorrow night.

    As we know, Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship on Saturday evening. The two will collide in the main event of UFC 319 in Chicago, and there’s a lot of excitement in the air for what this fight could look like. The pair have very different styles, and that has the potential to turn this into a thrilling encounter between two absolute warriors.

    Khamzat Chimaev has achieved some wonderful things throughout the course of his mixed martial arts career but up to this point, he’s never managed to hold UFC gold. The hope from his fans is that this is the time for him to finally do it, but he needs to get off to a fast start if he’s going to put someone like DDP away.

    In a recent interview with Action Network, Tyron Woodley gave his thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev.

    Tyron Woodley’s view on Khamzat Chimaev

    “Khamzat is good, but he’s not great. He could be, and likely will be, but he’s not great right now he’s not. DDP has to be a spoiler, stay focused. He’s shown up in fights and beaten people like Stye Bender.  He’s kind of like the underdog, the people’s champion, he doesn’t talk much trash but he wins a lot of fights. I think he could win this fight.”

    Is he right? We’ll have to wait and see.