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Category: UFC

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

  • BREAKING: Jon Jones Officially Retired, Tom Aspinall Named UFC Heavyweight Champion

    BREAKING: Jon Jones Officially Retired, Tom Aspinall Named UFC Heavyweight Champion

    All this time waiting, and the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall fight will not come to pass.

    At the UFC Baku Post-Fight Press Conference, UFC CEO and President Dana White officially declared the status of Jon Jones as “retired,” officially ending Jones’ two-year run as the UFC heavyweight champion.

    As a result, the UFC head honcho has announced, Tom Aspinall, who was the interim UFC heavyweight champion, will now be elevated to undisputed champion.

    “Jon Jones called us last night and retired,” White said. “Jon Jones is officially retired. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC.”

    Tom Aspinall Named New Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion Following Jon Jones Retirement

    Since Aspinall’s interim title win, talks have circulated around a potential undisputed title fight between Jones and Aspinall — with those talks intensifying after Jones’ win over Miocic. Constant debates were had over if Jones would actually take up the fight.

    While there had been moments of hope — for instance, White claiming the fight was nearly signed — there had been plenty of moments that showed the fight might not happen. Instances included Aspinall’s “duck” callout earlier in the year at UFC London, as well as Aspinall’s father berating Jones and his team about dragging out negotiations.

    Just a couple of days ago, Jones appeared on the Full Send Podcast and stated that he is at a point where he doesn’t care about fighting.

    “I am retired,” Jones said. “Right now, I could really care less about fighting. I’ve been doing it all my life at a very high level. When the itch comes back, if it comes back, then I’ll do it with my whole heart, and I’ll do it to the best of my abilities.”

    Jones had been heavyweight champion since submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 — which marked his first fight in the UFC after vacating the UFC light heavyweight championship — a division that Jones dominated throughout the 2010s — three years prior.

    Jones only made one defense of the championship, defeating former champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 this past November. The two had been scheduled to meet at UFC 295 the previous year, also at Madison Square Garden, before a torn pec put Jones on the shelf.

    It was at that UFC 295 card where Aspinall defeated Sergei Pavlovich to become interim heavyweight champion. He defended the interim title in a rare feat at UFC 304, scoring a first-round finish of Curtis Blaydes.

  • ‘Give Me Rountree vs. Prochazka All Day Next’ – Jiri Prochazka, Magomed Ankalaev, & Other Fighters & Fans Fans React To Khalil Rountree Jr. Putting On Striking Clinic To Easily Beat Jamahal Hill At UFC Baku

    ‘Give Me Rountree vs. Prochazka All Day Next’ – Jiri Prochazka, Magomed Ankalaev, & Other Fighters & Fans Fans React To Khalil Rountree Jr. Putting On Striking Clinic To Easily Beat Jamahal Hill At UFC Baku

    Khalil Rountree Jr.’s leg kicks have always been his key to success, and he continues to show why he is a legit contender in the light heavyweight division with a major, dominant victory over former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill in the main event of UFC Baku.

    After a very quiet opening round that saw plenty of leg kicks from each man, Rountree started to open up more in the second round. Rountree continued with the leg kicks, one of his specialties, and he notably damaged up one of Hill’s legs before starting to target the other. Hill’s movement was seemingly compromised by the middle of this second.

    The third round had the familiar slow pace, but Rountree continued to pound away with the leg kicks. But Rountree scored the biggest moment of the night with a left hand that briefly sat Hill down. He followed that up that doing it again in the round’s dying seconds, this time with a big right hand.

    Rountree continued his cerebral approach in the fourth, slowly chopping away at Hill outside of a body shot that stumbled Hill back. The fight’s pace went the same for the fifth round, as Rountree swept two judges’ scorecards in a clear, one-sided decision.

    Khalil Rountree Jr. Scores One-Sided Decision Over Jamahal Hill

    https://twitter.com/WhyGarth/status/1936547490997682451

    Rountree Jr. has now won six of his last seven. This was his first fight since coming up short in a light heavyweight title fight against Alex Pereira at UFC 307.

    Hill has now lost three straight since vacating the UFC light heavyweight title due to injury. This skid has also included a title fight loss against Pereira at UFC 300 and a loss to Jiri Prochazka at UFC 311 in January.

  • ‘Who Saw Fiziev’s Wrestling Becoming A Factor?’ – Fans & Fighters React To Rafael Fiziev Putting On All-Around Performance To Earn First Win In Three Years At UFC Baku

    ‘Who Saw Fiziev’s Wrestling Becoming A Factor?’ – Fans & Fighters React To Rafael Fiziev Putting On All-Around Performance To Earn First Win In Three Years At UFC Baku

    For the first time since 2022, Rafael Fiziev is finally back in the win column, coming out on top in the UFC Baku co-main event against Ignacio Bahamondes.

    The first round between the two was a slow one, with both men landing leg kicks and feeling each other out. Fiziev, however, did seem to do more, thanks to his focus on working the body. Bahamondes looked to get inside during the second round, failing on a takedown attempt before pressing Fiziev into the fence. But Fiziev defended those attempts well, in addition to excellent striking defense, and continued to land sharply, including a pair of takedowns and a knockdown of Bahamondes in the later stages of the second.

    The two did plenty of trading early in the third round, with Fiziev even denying a Bahamondes opportunity to bring the fight to the ground. Fiziev was getting the better of the exchanges once more, and he scored one more takedown in the final minute of the round. Bahamondes went frantic with elbows on the ground, but Fiziev’s ground strikes were too much. The fight returned to the feet and Bahamondes went for a drastic submission, but Fiziev countered it and ended the fight in full mount.

    Fiziev swept the judges’ scorecards in a unanimous decision victory.

    Rafael Fiziev Sweeps Scorecards Against Ignacio Bahamondes In UFC Baku Co-Main

    Fiziev had entered this fight on a three-fight losing skid, with two of those fights coming against Justin Gaethje at UFC 286 and UFC 313. Between those fights, Fiziev lost to Mateusz Gamrot in September 2023 after suffering an injury.

    Bahamondes had come into this fight on a three-fight winning streak, all three of which he earned performance bonuses in. His most recent win had come against Jalin Turner at UFC 313 in March.

  • ‘Judges Continue To Be A Joke’ – Fans Trash Curtis Blaydes Decision Win Over Rizvan Kuniev At UFC Baku

    ‘Judges Continue To Be A Joke’ – Fans Trash Curtis Blaydes Decision Win Over Rizvan Kuniev At UFC Baku

    Curtis Blaydes may have come out on top in his UFC Baku bout against Rizvan Kuniev, but it was a close fight that nearly saw him, a No. 5 fighter, lose to a UFC debutant.

    Blaydes asserted his wrestling early with a takedown right away. Blaydes dominated with his grappling, controlling Kuniev against the fence and winning the clinch battles.

    Kuniev adjusted and took some momentum in the second round, stuffing takedowns and landing clean combos, busting up Bladyes’ left eye.

    Kuniev stunned Blaydes with a knee during the third round, though Blaydes landed plenty of his own shots, and he controlled the clinch with knees. Kuniev added a late flurry, with wild exchanges to conclude the fight.

    All three judges scored the fight 29-28, with two scoring the fight for Blaydes, giving him the win.

    Curtis Blaydes Scores Controversial Win Over Rizvan Kuniev At UFC Baku

    This was Blaydes’s first fight since his knockout loss at UFC 304, when he challenged Tom Aspinall for the interim UFC heavyweight championship.

    Kuniev has competed previously for PFL and Eagle FC, the latter of which he won the heavyweight championship in.

  • VIDEO: Watch Myktybek Orolbai Spoil Homecoming Of Tofiq Musayev With First-Round Kimura At UFC Baku

    VIDEO: Watch Myktybek Orolbai Spoil Homecoming Of Tofiq Musayev With First-Round Kimura At UFC Baku

    Though Tofiq Musayev was one of several fighters connected with Azerbaijan competing on the main card of UFC Baku, the homecoming ended up being one to forget, as he was submitted in the first round by opponent Myktybek Orolbai.

    Orolbai had tried for an early takedown, but Musayev resisted and landed a sneaky uppercut. Orolbai eventually was able to overpower Musayev and take over in the grappling exchanges. Musayev tried for a guillotine, but Orolbai took top control.

    Orolbai would take Musayev down to the ground again later in the first, where he’d lock up a nasty kimura lock to score the submission.

    Myktybek Orolbai Submits Tofiq Musayev At UFC Baku

    Orolbai is now 3-1 in the UFC, rebounding from a split-decision loss to Mateusz Rebecki at UFC 308 this past October.

    Musyaev is a veteran of Bellator and RIZIN who was making his UFC debut tonight. This was his first fight since scoring a knockout victory over Koji Takeda at Rizin Landmark 7 in November 2023.

  • ‘The Best 8 Minutes Of Fighting You’re Likely To See This Year’ – Fans & Fighters React To Nazim Sadykhov Scoring KO In Fight Of The Year Nominee With Nikolas Motta

    ‘The Best 8 Minutes Of Fighting You’re Likely To See This Year’ – Fans & Fighters React To Nazim Sadykhov Scoring KO In Fight Of The Year Nominee With Nikolas Motta

    Nazim Sadykhov and Nikolas Motta put on a wild war that ultimately ended with Sadykhov, who was born in Baku, score a win in front of a native crowd during the main card of UFC Baku.

    Sadykhov and Motta both put on offensive displays during the opening frame. Sadykhov appeared to get hurt by Motta, who poured on a flurry was Sadykhov was against the fence. But Sadykhov managed to survive getting rocked, and Sadykhov took advantage of a drained Motta by pouring on his own striking display.

    The two continued to land in great numbers during the second round, but it was in the final minute of the round when Sadykhov landed a combination that dropped Motta, securing the win.

    Nazim Sadykhov KOs Nikolas Motta In Bloody, High-Impact Battle At UFC Baku

    Sadykhov hasn’t lost since dropping his professional MMA debut. He’s now 4-0-1 with four finishes in his UFC tenure since his appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022.

    Motta is now 2-2 (1 NC) in his last five.

  • ‘Physical Monster’ – Fans React To Ko Seok-hyun’s Massive Upset Over Oban Elliott To Close Out UFC Baku Prelims

    ‘Physical Monster’ – Fans React To Ko Seok-hyun’s Massive Upset Over Oban Elliott To Close Out UFC Baku Prelims

    Ko Seok-hyun secured perhaps the biggest victory of his career, and perhaps the biggest win out of all who came out on top in the UFC Baku prelims, scoring a major upset of Oban Elliott.

    Elliott had come into the bout as a -485 favorite, according to Draftkings, while Seok-hyun was a +370 underdog.

    Seok-hyun wasted no time showcasing his power, landing a hard left hand early and showing off his impressive judo abilities. Elliott had his moments with body kicks in the first, but Seok-hyun showed more aggression and landed the heavier shots.

    Seok-hyun continued to dominate with grappling in the second, repeatedly dragging Elliott to the ground and attacking with heavy punches and elbows — and even threatening a choke at one point.

    Seok-hyun continued to battle strong, opening up a cut on Elliott with an elbow. Elliott battled back and attempted a last-minute submission, but it wasn’t enough, as Seok-hyun swept the judges’ scorecards.

    Ko Seok-hyun Pulls Off Major Upset Of Oban Elliott In UFC Debut At UFC Baku

    Seok-hyun has now won five fights in a row. This marked his UFC debut after a decision win over Igor Cavalcanti on Dana White’s Contender Series last year.

    Elliott sees an eight-fight unbeaten streak snapped with his defeat.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Khalil Rountree Jr. Decisions Jamahal Hill

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Khalil Rountree Jr. Decisions Jamahal Hill

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, light heavyweights Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree clashed. While in the co-main event, Rafael Fiziev faced off with Ignacio Bahamondes in a lightweight matchup. 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Khalil Rountree Jr. def. Jamahal Hill via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45×2)
    • Rafael Fiziev def. Ignacio Bahamondes via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Curtis Blaydes def. Rizvan Kuniev via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Myktybek Orolbai def. Tofiq Musayev via submission: R1, 4.35
    • Nazim Sadykhov def. Nikolas Motta via TKO: R2, 4.17
    • Muhammad Naimov def. Bogdan Grad via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    Preliminary Card

    • SeokHyeon Ko def. Oban Elliott via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Mohammed Usman def. Hamdy Abdelwahab via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • JunYong Park def. Ismail Naurdiev via unanimous decision (29-26×2, 29-25)
    • Daria Zhelezniakova def. Melissa Mullins via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27×2)
    • Klaudia Sygula def. Irina Alekseeva via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Tagir Ulanbekov def. Azat Maksum via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27×2)

    Main Card Highlights

    Muhammad Naimov def. Bogdan Grad

    Muhammad Naimov got it done on the scorecards in this featherweight bout.

    Nazim Sadykhov def. Nikolas Motta

    Nazim Sadykhov stopped Nikolas Motta at the end of round two.

    Myktybek Orolbai def. Tofiq Musayev

    Myktybek Orolbai got it done in the first round with a kimura.

    Curtis Blaydes def. Rizvan Kuniev 

    Curtis Blaydes got a split decision against Rizvan Kuniev.

    Rafael Fiziev def. Ignacio Bahamondes

    In the co-main event, Rafael Fiziev earned a unanimous decision win against Ignacio Bahamondes.

    Khalil Rountree Jr. def. Jamahal Hill

    In the main event, Khalil Rountree Jr. earned a comfortable decision win against Jamahal hill.

  • ‘Another Bloody Battle’ – Fans React As Daria Zheleznyakova Scores Win In Striking Battle With Familiar Foe At UFC Baku

    ‘Another Bloody Battle’ – Fans React As Daria Zheleznyakova Scores Win In Striking Battle With Familiar Foe At UFC Baku

    Daria Zheleznyakova and Melissa Mullins originally met in ARES FC a few years ago, with Mullins scoring a first-round finish. But things have since changed.

    Now both women are in the UFC, and in their second meeting, it’s Zheleznyakova getting revenge with a decision win during the preliminary card of UFC Baku.

    Zheleznyakova was putting a beating on Mullins early, rocking her in the opening seconds of the fight. She continued to pepper Mullins with straights and combinations, and it looked like things would be quick. But Mullins battled back for an action-packed, back-and-forth opening frame. Mullins even scored a takedown late in the round, threatening an armbar before the end of the round.

    The action appeared to slow down in the second round, though Zheleznyakova had the upper hand. Suddenly, with just over a minute left in the round, Zheleznyakova landed a shot on the solar plexus that rocked Mullins. Zheleznyakova went in for the kill, but Mullins scored a takedown to survive the round. Zheleznyakova, however, limited what she could do on the ground.

    Mullins seemed to do more work in the third round, but it was still very back-and-forth. Controversy came, however, when Zheleznyakova used a fence grab to prevent a takedown with about a minute left — with only a warning from the referee.

    The controversy mattered not, however, as Zheleznyakova won a unanimous decision with two 30-27s and a 29-28.

    Daria Zheleznyakova Gets Revenge On Melissa Mullins

    https://twitter.com/BetWithTheBest_/status/1936488542080733512

    Since the loss, Zheleznyakova was 2-1, with a 1-1 UFC record. She made her UFC debut last year with a decision win over Montserrat Rendon and a loss against Ailín Pérez.

    Mullins joined the UFC after the win over Zheleznyakova. She entered tonight 2-1 in the Octagon, coming into this fight off a finish of Klaudia Syguła in November.

  • UFC Baku Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr Card

    UFC Baku Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr Card

    UFC Baku is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming event takes place Saturday, June 21, at the Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. The main card begins at 3 PM ET/12 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT.

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill returns to the Octagon and looks to get back in the win column, as he takes on Khalil Rountree Jr.

    Also making the walk on Saturday will include Rafael Fiziev and Ignacio Bahamondes (who compete in the lightweight co-main event), as well as Curtis Blaydes, Tofiq Musayev and Nazim Sadykhov.

    UFC Baku: Hill vs. Rountree Jr Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Baku (as of 11:30 pm ET on 6/20), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Jamahal Hill (-110) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. (-110)
    • Rafael Fiziev (+124) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (-148)
    • Curtis Blaydes (-258) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (+210)
    • Tofiq Musayev (+130) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (-155)
    • Nazim Sadykhov (-410) vs. Nikolas Motta (+320)
    • Muhammad Naimov (-258) vs. Bogdan Grad (+210)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Ko Seok-hyun (+370) vs. Oban Elliott (-485)
    • Ismail Naurdiev (+145) vs. Park Jun-yong (-175)
    • Daria Zheleznyakova (+210) vs. Melissa Mullins (-258)
    • Irina Alekseeva (-265) vs. Klaudia Sygula (+215)
    • Tagir Ulanbekov (-500) vs. Azat Maksum (+380)
    • Hamdy Abdelwahab (-162) vs. Mohammed Usman (+136)
  • Khalil Rountree Jr: Why Waiting for Jamahal Hill Could Be His Biggest Advantage Yet

    Khalil Rountree Jr: Why Waiting for Jamahal Hill Could Be His Biggest Advantage Yet

    Khalil Rountree Jr has made it crystal clear that he is as ready as he can be for the challenge of facing Jamahal Hill tomorrow night.

    On Saturday, Khalil Rountree Jr will stand across the cage from Jamahal Hill in the main event of UFC Baku. It will serve as the first time that the promotion has visited Azerbaijan, and they’ve certainly put on a fascinating main event for the occasion. Both of these fighters know what it’s like to compete for the title, and that’s where they want to be all over again.

    For Khalil Rountree Jr, this is a chance to prove that while his performance against Alex Pereira was impressive, it wasn’t a one off. In a recent interview, he spoke openly on the matter.

    Khalil Rountree Jr previews Jamahal Hill fight

    “A win over Jamahal Hill just kind of solidifies that I belong, that I still belong up here. There wasn’t too much thought into it. It was just like, ‘Hey, let’s keep things as they are.’ I don’t mind waiting a little bit more. We’ve already prepared for this guy, so let’s just give it a little bit more time and everything will work out. This is one of those rare circumstances where waiting might have actually paid off for me.”

    “He thinks he’s more skilled. I’ve heard it before. I just try not to pay too much attention to it. For me, the priority is making sure that I’m at my best when that cage closes and the ref asks me if I’m ready. I would say with conviction, ‘Yes.’ Everything else after that is the way it’s supposed to be. I’m prepared for the best version of Jamahal Hill.”

  • Joaquin Buckley Unleashes Explosive Rant on Israel Adesanya: “You Ain’t a Real Fighter”

    Joaquin Buckley Unleashes Explosive Rant on Israel Adesanya: “You Ain’t a Real Fighter”

    UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley has unleashed a rant on Israel Adesanya after some recent disparaging remarks from ‘Stylebender’.

    As we know, Joaquin Buckley is one of the top welterweights in the world right now. Unfortunately for him, last weekend, that reputation took a bit of a knock. That’s because he fell short in his attempt to defeat Kamaru Usman, largely getting dominated on the ground. As we look ahead to the future, it’ll be interesting to see how he builds himself back up from this after what was clearly a big loss for him to take.

    In a reaction video posted to his YouTube channel, Israel Adesanya made it known that he isn’t a big fan of Joaquin Buckley – in fact, he went a bit further than that. As you can imagine, Buckley wasn’t too pleased to hear this, and he’s decided to respond. These two men are obviously in different weight classes and in different phases of their respective careers, but it’s interesting to see that a feud has developed out of it.

    In his own video, Joaquin Buckley had this to say on the matter.

    Joaquin Buckley shows frustration towards Israel Adesanya

    “I don’t know why you on my d*ck anyway… You ain’t a real fighter, you wanna be a lil pretty boy. I would give you a sample but I don’t like boy p*ssy.”

    Buckley has always been a guy who likes to talk trash to people, and we’re intrigued to see how this develops, if at all.

  • Alexandre Pantoja Ready to Move Up and Face ‘Suga’: “I Would Fight Sean O’Malley for Free”

    Alexandre Pantoja Ready to Move Up and Face ‘Suga’: “I Would Fight Sean O’Malley for Free”

    UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja is ready to make the move up and face Sean O’Malley in the bantamweight division, suggesting that he’d even do it for free.

    Over the course of the last few years, Alexandre Pantoja has really come into his own as the champion at 125 pounds. He’s been able to turn back a parade of challengers and now, we’re at the point where he’s one of the best pound for pound fighters in the entire UFC. As we look ahead to the future, his next test will see him defend the strap against Kai Kara-France at UFC 317.

    Beyond that, though, nobody really knows what’s next for him. In a recent interview with Stake, Alexandre Pantoja made it known that bantamweight is a real possibility – and that he has an opponent in mind.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYBhYG1ncwc

    Alexandre Pantoja is open to Sean O’Malley fight

    “If it makes sense to the UFC, I think it’s going to happen. I would need to gain 10lbs of muscle, which takes time. For bigger guys, it’s easier to change weight classes, but I would need time. If I had the chance to fight for the belt, or fight someone like O’Malley, I would do it. 

    “O’Malley has stopped the weed, has more connection to his family, and maybe Merab made him humble, which is good for the world. O’Malley is super good, but Merab has something O’Malley never had. Merab had to fight to eat. I am very proud to have given my kids a good life, but I say to them, that they never had to struggle like me, and that’s the same with Merab and O’Malley. I would fight O’Malley for free.”

    Quotes via Stake

  • Khalil Rountree Jr: How Facing Alex Pereira Forged Unbreakable Grit ‘It helped me have some pride’

    Khalil Rountree Jr: How Facing Alex Pereira Forged Unbreakable Grit ‘It helped me have some pride’

    UFC light heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr has spoken candidly about his title showdown with Alex Pereira.

    On Saturday night, Khalil Rountree Jr will return to the cage when he goes head to head with Jamahal Hill in the main event of UFC Baku. There’s a lot of excitement in the air regarding how this fight may look, and for the most part, that’s because both men are strikers, and they’re both more than happy to stand and bang.

    The story of Khalil Rountree Jr has been a pretty inspirational one ever since he first entered the promotion. If he can pick up a decisive win here, there’s a solid chance he could vault back into championship contention.

    In a recent interview, Khalil Rountree Jr spoke about what he took away from the Alex Pereira fight.

    Khalil Rountree Jr discusses Alex Pereira defeat

    “I think that I proved to myself how far I was willing to go. You know, before it was over, had he not put me down with that shot, I would have just kept going. My entire face would have probably been even more mangled than it was. I just wasn’t going to give up. And, you know, obviously it hurt after—emotionally and physically—but I rose up from it because I was able to go through the fire. 

    “I think going through the fire really builds character, especially when you know that you gave your best and not one moment in that fight was I ever discouraged or wanted to quit. It just helped me have some pride, some inner grit. I got this like rock of gold, and I was like, ‘Ah, okay, cool.’ I can store that and hold on to that for myself, for no one else but myself.”

  • Kevin Lee: Why Facing Fear and a Dangerous Opponent Brings Out His Best

    Kevin Lee: Why Facing Fear and a Dangerous Opponent Brings Out His Best

    Former UFC star Kevin Lee has said that facing a dangerous opponent is what brings out the best in him.

    As we know, Kevin Lee was once considered to be the next big thing at 155 pounds in mixed martial arts. Unfortunately, he was never quite able to live up to his potential in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Even after re-signing, he lost pretty quickly in his return fight, and he even retired at one point.

    Now, at the age of 32, Kevin Lee is hoping that he can finally prove himself – this time under the PFL umbrella. He’s set to face Gadzhi Rabadanov tonight and ahead of the fight, he spoke candidly about his excitement for this contest.

    Kevin Lee looks ahead to MMA return

    “This is exactly what I’m talking about. I’m not saying give me a warm-up fight, give me an alternate fight—I’m jumping in there against one of the most dangerous lightweights on planet Earth. That’s the thing that excites me. The fights where I’m most scared, those are the fights where I really turn up and I really show my best. I like fights where I’m a little bit scared, a little bit nervous getting in there. 

    “I don’t know how fast this guy is, I don’t know how hard he hits. He obviously has a tremendous left hook that he’s hit a lot of people with. But the good thing is, I’ve got a lot of years left on my body and in this game, so there’s still a big future ahead, and I’m excited to go out there and show that.”

  • UFC Baku Weigh-In Results: No Misses, One Late Catchweight Adjustment

    UFC Baku Weigh-In Results: No Misses, One Late Catchweight Adjustment

    The countdown to UFC Baku is almost over. All fighters have stepped on the scale, and we’ve got the final weigh-in results right here at MMA News.

    The UFC is set to break new ground this Saturday, June 21, as it makes its debut in Azerbaijan, bringing a stacked Fight Night card to the Baku Crystal Hall.

    Image: @ufc/X

    UFC Baku will be headlined by a crucial showdown between top light heavyweight contenders Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr. Originally scheduled to collide at UFC 303 in June 2024, their matchup was shelved after “The War Horse” was handed a suspension for testing positive for the banned anabolic steroid DHEA.

    The duo was rebooked to headline UFC Kansas City this past April, but the bout was once again postponed when Hill was forced to withdraw due to an undisclosed injury.

    Meanwhile, the co-main event features a compelling lightweight clash between Rafael Fiziev and rising prospect Ignacio Bahamondes. Elsewhere on the main card, former interim heavyweight title challenger Curtis Blaydes returns to welcome promotional newcomer Rizvan Kuniev.

    Ahead of UFC Baku, the official weigh-ins took place Friday morning at the UFC host hotel in Azerbaijan, where headliners Hill and Rountree Jr. successfully hit the non-title light heavyweight limit at 206 pounds. While Fiziev and Bahamondes each came in on point at 155.5 pounds, making their fight official without issue.

    However, the weigh-ins did feature a late change, as the scheduled lightweight bout between Myktybek Orolbai and Octagon debutant Tofiq Musayev was shifted to a catchweight of 165 pounds for undisclosed reasons. Musayev weighed in at 163 pounds, while Orolbai hit the agreed limit exactly at 165.

    UFC Baku Complete Weigh-In Results

    Main Card

    • Light heavyweight: Jamahal Hill (206) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. (206)
    • Lightweight: Rafael Fiziev (155.5) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (155.5)
    • Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes (258) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (264.5)
    • Catchweight: Tofiq Musayev (163) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (165)
    • Lightweight: Nazim Sadykhov (155) vs. Nikolas Motta (155.5)
    • Featherweight: Muhammad Naimov (146) vs. Bogdan Grad (146)

    Preliminary Card

    • Welterweight: SeokHyeon Ko (169.5) vs. Oban Elliott (170.5)
    • Middleweight: Ismael Naurdiev (186) vs. JunYong Park (186)
    • Women’s bantamweight: Daria Zhelezniakova (136) vs. Melissa Mullins (136)
    • Women’s bantamweight: Irina Alekseeva (135.5) vs. Klaudia Sygula (135)
    • Flyweight: Tagir Ulanbekov (126) vs. Azat Maksum (126)
    • Heavyweight: Hamdy Abdelwahab (264.5) vs. Mohammed Usman (244.5)
  • Joaquin Buckley Admits “There’s Levels to This Game” After Devastating Defeat to Kamaru Usman

    Joaquin Buckley Admits “There’s Levels to This Game” After Devastating Defeat to Kamaru Usman

    UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley has opened up regarding his devastating loss at the hands of Kamaru Usman last weekend.

    In the main event of UFC Atlanta, Joaquin Buckley fell short in his attempt to defeat Kamaru Usman. Despite having a positive fifth round, he was wrestled and dominated for the first four, eventually losing convincingly on the scorecards. Now, he needs to go back to the drawing board and figure out how he can reach that next level.

    Ever since the loss, Joaquin Buckley has been pretty open in discussing what happened. He isn’t one to shy away and make excuses and instead, he’s been giving Usman his flowers. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, he went into more detail about how it felt to be beaten in that way.

    Joaquin Buckley gets honest after Kamaru Usman defeat

    “You talking about every round, he took me down and kept me there. I couldn’t get back up to my feet. I’m looking at Mike Beltran like ‘bro, come on, stand us up, at least one time, let me get back up to my feet’. I’m not gonna lie to you, I feel so embarrassed man because of that loss. I feel so humiliated man because of that loss.

    “But at the same time, I gotta bow my head. Usman showed me who he was. That night, it really showed, there’s levels to this game.”

    This may be a step backwards, but it’ll be interesting to see how Joaquin Buckley recovers and begins to rebuild.

  • Charles Oliveira: “Ilia Topuria Is the Best Fight for Me Right Now – He’s Fresh, Undefeated, and Full of Hype”

    Charles Oliveira: “Ilia Topuria Is the Best Fight for Me Right Now – He’s Fresh, Undefeated, and Full of Hype”

    UFC legend Charles Oliveira has explained why battling at Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 is the right fight for him.

    In the main event of UFC 317, Charles Oliveira will face Ilia Topuria for the UFC lightweight championship. It serves as Charles’ opportunity to become a two-time world champion after originally winning it by beating Michael Chandler. He eventually lost the strap at the hands of Islam Makhachev, but now that Islam has opted to move up to welterweight, the path has cleared for him to pursue gold once again.

    As for Ilia Topuria, he’s trying to join the very exclusive group of fighters who have been able to win world titles in two weight classes. Whether or not he’ll be able to do it, of course, depends entirely on what kind of performance Charles Oliveira brings to the cage.

    In a recent interview, Charles Oliveira opened up on this matchup and his thoughts about Ilia Topuria.

    Charles Oliveira is excited for Ilia Topuria challenge

    “This is the best fight they could give me right now. Everyone else in the top five would be a rematch. Ilia is a fresh opponent, and he’s coming in with a lot of hype, undefeated. That makes the preparation more exciting and interesting for me.”

    “The first time I was asked about Ilia, I was very respectful. I said, ‘Someone who talks the talk and walks the walk, he’ll have a lot of challenges at lightweight and he’ll be a tough fight.’ But has he shown me the same respect in the lead-up? Not really. Everyone knows who I am and what I’ve done. On June 28, everyone will see who the real champion is.”

  • Jiri Prochazka Slams Ankalaev: “That’s Not How a Champ Speaks” Explains Title Rejection

    Jiri Prochazka Slams Ankalaev: “That’s Not How a Champ Speaks” Explains Title Rejection

    UFC fan favorite Jiri Prochazka has slammed Magomed Ankalev when discussing why he decided to turn down a UFC light heavyweight championship opportunity.

    Recently, it was reported that Jiri Prochazka turned down the chance to challenge Magomed Ankalaev for the aforementioned 205-pound belt. He did so in order to focus on his studies, earning a great deal of praise from the mixed martial arts community. Of course, at some point in the future, this is exactly the kind of fight that fans would want to see, especially given how much quality both men possess in the cage.

    As we look ahead to the rest of the year, it’s hard to say what’s next for Ankalaev as talks continue to circulate regarding a possible rematch against Alex Pereira. As for Jiri Prochazka, once he’s done with his studies, he’ll be free to return as he bids to win back the belt that he gave up due to injury.

    In a recent interview, Jiri Prochazka wasn’t shy when giving his thoughts on the champion.

    Jiri Prochazka talks about Magomed Ankalaev

    “What is right now, what is most important – the priority is school. So, whatever can happen, fights or whatever, this is on my first place, to win the title fight. But right now, this is, it’s open. I’m already preparing for that, so that’s why. He’s a big mouth. He’s a big mouth guy.”

    Regardless of whether or not you love Prochazka and what he brings to the table, there’s no denying that this would be an incredible title fight.

  • Khalil Rountree Jr on UFC Baku Main Event: “I Won’t Bleed This Fight – Jamahal Hill Can’t Say the Same”

    Khalil Rountree Jr on UFC Baku Main Event: “I Won’t Bleed This Fight – Jamahal Hill Can’t Say the Same”

    UFC light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree Jr has issued a chilling statement ahead of his main event collision with Jamahal Hill at UFC Baku.

    As we know, Khalil Rountree Jr is one of the best light heavyweight fighters on the planet. He’s coming off the back of a tremendous performance against Alex Pereira, and while he didn’t pick up the win, he certainly impressed. This time around, he’s coming up against Jamahal Hill – a man who is also in desperate need of a victory after two disappointing losses to Pereira and Jiri Prochazka.

    In order to get the job done, he’ll have to walk through fire in what is bound to be a massive striking affair. It’s an unbelievably risky fight for both men to contend with, but one thing we’re pretty sure is going to happen is that we’re going to see fireworks.

    Ahead of fight night, Khalil Rountree Jr issued a pretty chilling warning to his 205 pound foe.

    Khalil Rountree Jr issues chilling message

    “I won’t bleed this fight—can’t say the same for Jamahal Hill.”

    Rountree Jr has worked hard to improve over the course of the last few years and you can really tell. He seems to be moving in an upward trajectory and in a division that seems to be wide open, you’d have to think that a big finish could really vault him back into title contention. It’s not for sure, but you’d have to bet that it’s on the table at least.

  • “Strip Him”: Curtis Blaydes Calls for Jon Jones to Lose the UFC Heavyweight Belt

    “Strip Him”: Curtis Blaydes Calls for Jon Jones to Lose the UFC Heavyweight Belt

    UFC heavyweight Curtis Blaydes is of the belief that Jon Jones, the reigning heavyweight champion of the promotion, should be stripped of his championship belt.

    As we know, Curtis Blaydes has been a top contender in the heavyweight division for a long time now. Alas, whenever he seems to be getting close to earning a title, he falls just short. He’s still able to beat a string of contenders but he’s not quite been able to get over the final hurdle. In his next outing on Saturday night, he’ll face Rizvan Kuniev, and he’ll hope to once again prove that he belongs within the elite.

    Jon Jones is the current champ, but he seems to be doing everything in his power to avoid battling interim champion Tom Aspinall in a unification fight. For the likes of Curtis Blaydes, that’s pretty frustrating, because it likely means that he’ll have to wait even longer for a title shot – should he be able to earn it, that is.

    In a recent scrum, Curtis Blaydes didn’t hold back when giving his thoughts on what should happen regarding the Jones situation.

    Curtis Blaydes wants UFC to strip Jon Jones of title

    “Jon Jones holding the belt and refusing to fight Tom Aspinall just halts the division. It makes it impossible for any of us to have future projections. Who knows who’s got the real belt? We need to get to the bottom of that. My answer is: strip him. It’s not that hard—it’s happened before. If that pisses him off, maybe it’ll get him to fight. If not, he just retires, which is all right. He’s a GOAT, he doesn’t have to fight, but if he wants to hold on to that belt, he needs to fight.”

  • Bogdan Grad: “UFC Money Stays in the Bank – I’m Working Weekends to Stay Grounded”

    Bogdan Grad: “UFC Money Stays in the Bank – I’m Working Weekends to Stay Grounded”

    Bogdan Grad is keeping a surprisingly low profile when it comes to his finances. Despite the spotlight and paydays that come with fighting in the world’s premier MMA promotion, Grad says he has not touched a cent of his UFC earnings. Instead, he continues to referee on weekends and relies on sponsorships to cover his living expenses.

    Bogdan Grad

    Speaking to Kian Laing in an interview with Calf Kick Sports, Bogdan Grad explained:

    “I’m still doing the refereeing. All the money I earned from the UFC, it’s in my bank account, I didn’t take one cent from there. I’m still working some weekends, and thanks to my sponsors, I also get a little bit from there, so I can live with that money. The earnings from the UFC, I have to save and invest. We never know. Maybe I break my foot, or something happens. As a pro athlete, you have to think ahead. That’s also a way of thinking that I want to share and to teach the younger generation to think ahead.”

    Bogdan Grad’s approach to his finances is a rare one in a sport where flashy spending often makes headlines. He emphasizes the importance of planning for the unexpected, especially in a career as physically demanding as MMA.

    On June 21, 2025, Grad will step into the octagon again at UFC on ABC 8 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where he faces Muhammad Naimov. As the only Austrian fighter on the main card, Grad carries the hopes of fans across the nation. Grad’s background is as diverse as his skill set. Before turning professional, he worked a variety of jobs, from detective to real estate agent, and even ran his own bar. This experience outside the cage has shaped his pragmatic outlook on life and career.

    Bogdan Grad is focused on climbing the featherweight ladder, not just in the rankings, but also in building a secure future. For now, Grad’s UFC money remains in the bank, his weekends are split between refereeing and training, and his sponsors keep him moving forward. It’s a routine that might not make headlines, but it’s one that keeps him grounded.

  • UFC Champion on Jon Jones: “Maybe It’s Time to Say Goodbye and Retire – Tom Aspinall Deserves This Fight”

    UFC Champion on Jon Jones: “Maybe It’s Time to Say Goodbye and Retire – Tom Aspinall Deserves This Fight”

    One of the more active UFC champions in the present-day seems to have think it’s time for the inactivity of Jon Jones to be addressed in some way. During a recent interview with Stake, Alexandre Pantoja covered several subjects including one of the more ubiquitous topics in the world of mixed martial arts today which centers on the Jon Jones-Tom Aspinall situation.

    When asked how long it should be for a UFC champion between title defenses before talks of stripping them emerge in the context of the controversy within the heavyweight division presently, Pantoja said,

    “I think maybe six months. Six months to have something scheduled. Let’s put 10 months from fight to fight, and why not? Jon Jones is a very special fighter, everybody loves him, but what is happening now is sad.  Maybe it’s time to say bye. Tom Aspinall deserves this fight, we deserve to see this fight. It’s not right that Aspinall is standing by.”

    “Nobody is going to judge Jon Jones, he doesn’t need to fight Aspinall, but if he doesn’t want to fight and he wants to retire, then I think he has to say bye. I hope Aspinall is still training and in the gym and he doesn’t waste his time. Jon is enjoying his life, and he deserves it.”

    Joe Rogan Retracts Claim Of Jon Jones' Pay Demand For Tom Aspinall Fight
    Image: UFC.com

    Jon Jones and Alexandre Pantoja’s championship journeys: compared and contrasted

    Jon Jones and Alexandre Pantoja both won their respective straps in the same calendar year but the stories of their respective reigns have unfurled quite differently. Jones actually won his belt a bit sooner when he claimed the vacant heavyweight crown over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023 while Pantoja won the flyweight belt at UFC 290 against Brandon Moreno in July of that year.

    While it’s fair to mention the pectoral injury that took Jones out of the game for a period circa late 2023-early 2024, ‘Bones’ has only been able to notch a single defense of his crown which came against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last November. Conversely, Pantoja is poised to potentially make his fourth title defense against Kai Kara-France at month’s end in their UFC 317 championship clash on June 28th.

    The prior flyweight championship defenses for the Brazilian mixed martial artist saw Alexandre Pantoja notch successful defenses over Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, and Kai Asakura.

  • UFC 319 Adds Key Undercard Bouts Ahead Of Promotion’s Chicago Return

    UFC 319 Adds Key Undercard Bouts Ahead Of Promotion’s Chicago Return

    UFC 319 just leveled up as fresh matchups join an already stacked lineup.

    The world’s premier MMA organization is gearing up for its return to the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Aug. 16. Marking the ninth pay-per-view event of 2025, the card will be headlined by reigning UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, who defends his title against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev in a highly anticipated clash.

    Image: @ufc/X

    The UFC has already confirmed a thrilling co-main event featuring former 185-pound title challenger Jared Cannonier squaring off against striking specialist Michael “Venom” Page. Further building anticipation, the promotion recently announced a fresh slate of undercard matchups.

    King Green, Edson Barboza Among Notable Names Set To Compete At UFC 319

    King Green will aim to return to the win column at UFC 319 when he takes on fellow lightweight veteran Diego Ferreira. Green has endured an up-and-down stretch recently, going 3-3 over his past six appearances inside the Octagon. Ferreira, too, is looking to rebound, entering the bout off a loss and holding a 2-4 record in his last six fights.

    The card will also feature the return of Edson Barboza to the lightweight division after an extended stint at featherweight. “Junior” has endured a grueling run in recent years, posting a 5-8 record over his last 13 bouts. He now meets Drakkar Klose, who is looking to bounce back after a setback in his most recent outing halted what had been a promising four-fight win streak.

    The UFC 319 lineup will also feature an exciting welterweight clash between rising contenders Bryan Battle and Nursulton Ruziboev. “The Butcher” enters the bout riding a five-fight unbeaten streak, having most recently earned a unanimous decision win over Randy Brown in December. Meanwhile, Ruziboev carries solid momentum of his own, coming off consecutive victories as he looks to continue climbing the ranks.

    Additionally, the August card is set to showcase a women’s flyweight showdown between Karine Silva and JJ Aldrich. Also on tap is a strawweight bout, as former champion Jessica Andrade squares off against rising contender Loopy Godinez.

    Check out the officially confirmed lineup for UFC 319 so far:

    • Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev; middleweight title
    • Jared Cannonier vs. Michael “Venom” Page; middleweight
    • Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura; flyweight
    • King Green vs. Diego Ferreira; lightweight
    • Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose; lightweight
    • Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev; welterweight
    • Chase Hooper vs. Alexander Hernandez; lightweight
    • Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk; middleweight
    • Karine Silva vs. JJ Aldrich; women’s flyweight
    • Jessica Andrade vs. Loopy Godinez; strawweight
    UFC Octagon
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • Francis Ngannou’s Trainer: ‘Absolutely’ Open to UFC Partnership for Jon Jones Superfight

    Francis Ngannou’s Trainer: ‘Absolutely’ Open to UFC Partnership for Jon Jones Superfight

    Francis Ngannou‘s trainer Dewey Cooper has said that ‘The Predator’ would absolutely be open to the idea of a superfight against Jon Jones.

    For the longest time now, Francis Ngannou has been seen as one of the best heavyweights in mixed martial arts – and the same is true for Jon Jones. At one point, it seemed inevitable that the two would collide in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Unfortunately for everyone involved, that never quite came to fruition. Instead, Jones defeated Ciryl Gane and Stipe Miocic, whereas Francis made his way over to PFL.

    Now, they find themselves in two different promotions, with Francis Ngannou making it known that he would be happy to cross-promote with PFL and UFC in order to get this fight over the finish line. Jones, meanwhile, has also hinted at the same thing during a recent series of tweets.

    During a recent interview with Slingo Online Slots, the aforementioned Dewey Cooper had his say on the proposed showdown.

    Dewey Cooper’s view on Francis Ngannou vs Jon Jones

    “Francis Ngannou versus Jon Jones, that’s the MMA fight that the world wants to see. That’s the Mayweather versus Pacquiao fight that the world wants to see in mixed martial arts. “I truly feel if you asked me if he’s willing to go to the table with a co-promotion, absolutely he would, because he wants that fight with Jon Jones as bad as anyone wants it. 

    “I’m sure he’s willing to negotiate some kind of partnership to do it. And if the business truly made sense, I think even if Dana would too – if it really made good business. “I don’t think Dana would be pig-headed to say no, but it has to be done a certain way, or there’s no way it could happen.”