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  • ‘I Want To Feel His Blood’ – The TUF Stuff: The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 Episode 2 Recap

    ‘I Want To Feel His Blood’ – The TUF Stuff: The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 Episode 2 Recap

    Welcome, everyone, to the second edition of The TUF Stuff!

    Each week, I’ll be guiding you through a recap of this season’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter, providing updates on what happens in each episode — from the drama and storylines out of the Octagon, to the looks into who the competing fighters are, to what goes down inside the cage.

    This season celebrates the 20th anniversary of TUF. That inaugural season from 2005 helped to influence many future MMA fans, media members, and fighters (yours truly included). And now, two more fighters this summer will get the opportunity to call themselves TUF champions when it’s all said and done.

    Last week saw the usual premiere fun, as coaches Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen picked their teams, fighters got to move into The TUF House, and we got the first fight of the season.

    There wasn’t any short of drama already though! Team Cormier welterweight Rodrigo Sezinado showed that he seemed to be the most energetic one of this bunch; however, that put him at odds with Team Sonnen welterweight Diego Bianchini.

    It was a battle of No. 1 overall picks as Team Cormier’s Eduardo Henrique took on Team Sonnen’s Joseph Morales. Though Morales needed the box to weigh in successfully, his grappling advantage worked to his plan, as the UFC alumnus submitted the former LFA champion in less than three minutes — eliminating the No. 1 overall pick of the competition in the very first fight of the season!

    Recap of The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 – Episode 2

    Tonight, it’s the first 170-pound fight, as Team Cormier’s Daniil Donchenko will take on Team Sonnen’s Richard Martins. After striking first blood at flyweight, can Team Sonnen do the same at welterweight?

    Let’s get into episode two of The Ultimate Fighter!

    Team Sonnen Training Session

    Good to see Morales giving Henrique some love after the fight. Morales says “there wasn’t as much blood as I wanted” and that he wanted to set the tone by taking out the No. 1 pick. He said the job isn’t done until he wins the TUF title.

    Chael Sonnen introduces this week’s special TUF alum guest — former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw. UFC President White goes into Dillashaw’s run on TUF as a contestant (finishing runner-up) and a coach against rival Cody Garbrandt.

    Dillashaw told the contestants that TUF provided an opportunity for escape from the real world, and he said that his TUF coach, Michael Bisping, was able to give him sound advice that’d help lead to his successful career.

    Dillashaw leads the training session, and all of the team seems to be very receptive to him. Dillashaw, by the way, adds that while he couldn’t wait to retire as a fighter, he now misses the adrenaline that fighting provides.

    Danill Donchenko Backstory

    Danill Donchenko talks about home life in Ukraine and mentions that three of his friends from school died in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. A video package then airs about Donchenko’s life with loved ones in Ukraine. Donchenko calls it an honor to represent his country on TUF.

    Donchenko talks about joining the world of MMA as a young boy, learning how to defend himself, and moving to Thailand with $800 in his pocket to train and make a new life for himself. Video footage shows of Donchenko training at Tiger Muay Thai, alongside training partner Robert Valentin — who was a runner-up on last year’s season of TUF.

    Donchenko says that “No one will beat me. I can smash everyone, and I can prove it.”

    Martins Fight Prep

    Martins admits to Sonnen that he wants to strike with Martins because he’s more comfortable — and he thinks he’s a better striker than Martins. Sonnen seems to would rather Donchenko make use of his jiu-jitsu brown belt — but Martins says that’s his “Plan B.” Martins says that Donchenko uses his kicks more, and he plans to neutralize that and make him feel his punches.

    We then see footage of some of Martins’ fights on the regional circuit, showing off his Muay Thai style. Martins admits he prefers to end fights via KO.

    Martins notes how Donchenko focuses on low kicks and that he wants to be aggressive. Sonnen feels Martins’ size disadvantage might actually give him the edge when it comes to speed — and make him difficult to hit.

    TUF House

    Manyamala reflects on being in the TUF House, saying it’s a surreal experience that he couldn’t have imagined. He and other fights look back on the famous picture of season 1’s TUF cast. With no phone or TV access, the pictures serve as entertainment — and as a goal for fighters to have their picture up in the house one day.

    Richard Martins Backstory

    Martins reflects on how the TUF experience has left him away from his wife — and how much he misses her. Martins discusses life in Brazil with his wife and the support she has for his dream.

    Martins then guides us on a tour of his house, showing off his birds.

    Martins’ team uses an Aikido Gym, sharing the space. Martins has been able to train full time for four years now and says he feels he’s at his best now.

    Donchenko Fight Prep

    Cormier says Martins has power and pressure, and that Donchenko needs to lead the dance and mix up his strikes. Cormier praises Donchenko’s creativity in his striking, and he tells Donchenko he needs to put that on display in the fight.

    Donchenko says he loves Martins’ style, but Donchenko says Martins will not have the time to realize what will happen — promising a fast finish.

    We then get footage of Donchenko competing on the regional circuit. Donchenko describes his fighting style as “putting a lot of damage on my opponent.”

    Donchenko promises he will kick and throw a lot of punches; he promises to do anything for the win.

    The Fight: Danill Donchenko vs. Richard Martins

    —–IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THE EPISODE AND DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO TURN AWAY NOW.———

    Donchenko weighs in at 171. Martins weighs in at 169.5. Fight is on!

    Jeff Creighton says Martins is a great opponent for Donchenko because of his experiencing and striking power. Matt Dixon, meanwhile, says Martins being so well-rounded will make the difference, calling Martins “the cream of the crop.”

    Donchenko promises that the fight will show how he will fight and says he promises to fight like it’s the last one of his life. Martins, meanwhile, says he is quite a distance away from home, and that he knows he is ready.

    Danill Donchenko vs. Richard Martins

    Round 1

    Donchenko opens with leg kicks, while Martins tries to close the distance right away. Strong front kick thrown by Donchenko. Strong right hand ROCKS Martins! Donchenko swarms Martins against the fence. Donchenko continues to lay it in! Herb Dean warns Martins to fight back – and Martins clinches Donchenko up JUST before Dean was going to step in! Wow!

    Clinch battle against the fence, with Donchenko’s back to it. Sonnen telling Martins to keep the underhook, while Donchenko lands a knee. Cormier telling Donchenko to turn out of the clinch. Elbow and a turn — and Donchenko escapes. A couple of right hands from Donchenko. Martins catches a kick. Right hand from Donchenko. One-two from Martins. Low kick from Donchenko, followed by a right. Cormier yelling at Donchenko to stop loading up on his punches.

    Left hand from Donchenko. Low kick from Donchenko. Donchenko misses a high kick, and Cormier tells him to slow down. Donchenko throws a left. Sonnen tells Martin to just touch him. Cormier telling Donchenko he’s “way ahead” and telling him not to rush things again. Donchenko pressures Martins back. Low kick from Donchenko. Combinations from both men now. Leg kick from Donchenko. Sharp round kick from Martins. Front kick from Donchenko. Low kick from Donchenko. Another combination from Donchenko before the horn — capping off a strong round from the Ukranian.

    Round 2

    Martins coming out on the front foot, trying to gain some momentum here. Left jab from Martins, and Donchenko answers with a low kick and a jab. Donchenko trying to come forward here. Quick left from both men. Right hand and a low kick from Donchenko. Martins presses, but Donchenko presses right back. Left hand from Donchenko. Cormier telling Donchenko to keep ahead.

    Donchenko grabs a leg and presses Martins against the fence. Strong one-two from Donchenko on the separation. Right hand, followed by a one-two from Donchenko. Right hand from Martins. Right hand now from Donchenko. Low kick from Donchenko. Sonnen begging for activity from Martins. Right hand from Donchenko. More combinations from Donchenko as the halfway point lands.

    Left hands from Donchenko. Sonnen trying to bring a sense of urgency into Martins. “Touch him now!” Right jab from Martins. Donchenko flashes the left. Front kick from Donchenko to the body. One-two thrown by Donchenko. Low kick from Donchenko. Combination from Donchenko. A couple of more kicks from Donchenko.

    A couple of left hands from Martins, but Donchenko answers back. One minute left. Cormier telling Donchenko to keep pushing. Dana White is shown on screen mentioning how Donchenko has done everything in this fight to Martins, and yet Martins still stands. Donchenko lands one takedown briefly on Martins. Donchenko continues to press. One-two from Donchenko. Knee by Martins, but Donchenko with a one-two again. Quick left hand from Martins. The horn sounds.

    Donchenko’s eye is busted up — but that’s the fight. A decision is in after two rounds.

    Dominant performance from Donchenko.

    Winner: Danill Donchenko via unanimous decision after two rounds

    Conclusion

    White gives his commentary, noting that Donchenko went into the fight to make a statement. The coaches were impressed by Donchenko but noting that Martins did little to answer back — or couldn’t answer back because of Donchenko’s assertive pressure, taking charge of this fight from the very beginning and, in Sonnen’s words “leading the dance” the whole way. White noted that Martins had good exchanges, but Donchenko was too much for him.

    Team Cormier draws first blood at 170.

    Martins reflects and says he wishes he could have done more, but he feels it was a learning experience. He says while he feels sad now, this will allow him to improve things and “everything will work out.”

    Donchenko says he promised violence — and he proved it. He promises his gloves will read “UFC” soon.

    With Team Cormier’s first victory, he names the next flyweight fight: Team Cormier’s Imanol Rodriguez vs. Team Sonnen’s Arshiyan Memon. The two have an intense staredown with some expletives — though it’s more entertaining than tense.

    Carla Esparza will be the guest fighter next week, joining Team Sonnen. But it looks like Sezinado and Bianchini’s drama will continue to boil next week at the TUF House!

    What will happen next week? Join alongside us then!

    Thanks for joining me in the second-ever edition of The TUF Stuff!

  • Kayla Harrison on falling for judo at six: ‘I believe in love at first sight, that was it for me’

    Kayla Harrison on falling for judo at six: ‘I believe in love at first sight, that was it for me’

    The US-born Kayla Harrison arrives at UFC 316 after a rapid and successful transition from judo to mixed martial arts. After a dominant UFC debut over Holly Holm at UFC 300 and a unanimous decision win against Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307, which secured her title shot. Harrison’s background as a judoka is central to her fighting style. She is known for her powerful ground game and heavy ground-and-pound, attributes that have made her one of the most popular female fighters in MMA today.

    Kayla Harrison And Judo

    A two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, Kayla Harrison, traces her love for the sport back to her childhood. At six years old, Harrison was inspired by a karate commercial on television, which led her mother, who had taken judo in college, to introduce her to the local dojo. “I don’t know what it was about judo specifically, but I definitely believe in love at first sight because I fell in love. That was it. I never played any other sports growing up. It was just judo,” Harrison said, in a recent interview.

    Kayla Harrison’s dedication to judo quickly became apparent, and her talent was confirmed when she won the junior world championships in Thailand at age 18. “I was like, ‘Oh wow, I’m good at this. I won a big tournament. This is good,’” she recalled. Harrison went on to make history at the 2012 London Olympics, becoming the first American to win Olympic gold in judo, and repeated her success at the 2016 Rio Games.

    Kayla Harrison
    Image credit: UFC

    Her achievements were recognized at the highest levels, with her black belt displayed in the Smithsonian Museum. “Sometimes I still can’t believe it. Sometimes I’m like, ‘The Smithsonian has my black belt in the museum because I won the first gold medal for our country.’ I’m just like, ‘What?’ It’s crazy. But it also taught me that you can do anything you set your mind to—even if no one’s done it before, it’s still possible,” Harrison explained.

    Kayla Harrison Discloses Hospitalization Due To Infection Before UFC 307
    Image: @ufc/Instagram

    UFC 316

    After her Olympic career, Kayla Harrison transitioned to MMA, joining the PFL in 2018. She quickly established herself as a dominant force, winning the PFL women’s lightweight tournament twice and compiling an undefeated record until 2022. Harrison’s success in MMA led to her signing with the UFC in early 2024, where she made her debut with a decisive win over former bantamweight champion Holly Holm at UFC 300.

    Kayla Harrison responds to PFL mocking her record
    Image: @kaylaharrisonofficial/Instagram

    Upcoming this weeken at UFC 316, Julianna Peña will look to defend her world championship against Harrison. While some, including former champion Valentina Shevchenko, have predicted a tough night for Kayla Harrison, oddsmakers currently favor the Olympic champion. If Harrison wins, she will become only the second fighter to hold both an Olympic gold medal and a UFC title, further solidifying her legacy as one of the most accomplished athletes in combat sports.

  • Jon Anik Declares Merab Dvalishvili the GOAT – Even Over His Best Friend Dominick Cruz

    Jon Anik Declares Merab Dvalishvili the GOAT – Even Over His Best Friend Dominick Cruz

    Jon Anik already sees Merab Dvalishvili as being the msot accomplished 135 pound fighter in MMA history, over the likes of Dominick Cruz and TJ Dillashaw. The UFC commentator spoke about this on a recent episode of MMA Junkie Radio about several of the big topics heading into UFC 316. This card set to go down on Saturday features a pair of bantamweight title bouts with Merab Dvalishvili defending his crown agaisnt Sean O’Malley in a rematch. While in the co-main event, Julianna Pena defends her 135 pound strap against Kayla Harrison. When touching on the run of the Georgian athlete within the UFC’s bantamweight ranks.

    Merab Dvalishvili Might be the GOAT

    Anik said:

    “Pretty historic, I think. Well, it’s actually 12 straight wins, and he has already defended the title. I do believe he already has status as the greatest bantamweight of all time. And I say that as a man who—if I got married this weekend—Dominick Cruz would be a groomsman. He’s one of my best friends in the world. But when I look at the body of work of Merab Dvalishvili in the modern era, he could be 14–0 in the UFC. He lost to Frankie Saenz and then had a contentious ending against Ricky Simon.

    Merab Dvalishvili & Sean O'Malley
    Image: @ufc/X

    With respect to those two guys, it’s been 12 straight wins ever since. And to your point, he left a murderer’s row of champions in his wake before he even fought for the title—beat Henry Cejudo, beat Petr Yan, beat José Aldo. Then he beat Sean O’Malley, defended the title on the challengers’ timeline by beating Umar Nurmagomedov, and now the rematch with Sean O’Malley.

    As far as I’m concerned—with respect to Aljamain Sterling and my BFF Dominick Cruz—the greatest bantamweight of all time, not so quietly, is Merab ‘The Machine’ Dvalishvili.”

    Merab Dvalishvili
    (Merab Dvalishvili on Instagram)

    Jon Anik discusses Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison title bout

    Jon Anik also touched on the second title clash that is set to go down in Newark this weekend. The acclaimed UFC broadcaster spoke of how if Kayla Harrison can usurp Julianna Pena‘s throne, the multi-time Olympic gold medalist has the potential to become the face of women’s MMA. Jon Anik also spoke of some fighters having global star power but not always the domestic noteriety, in a North American context, but sees Harrison as someone with a great story that can really propel her into that pop culture zeitgeist of broader awareness both in America and around the world.

  • Michael Chandler Explains Why He Called Out Conor McGregor … Again “it’s going to happen”

    Michael Chandler Explains Why He Called Out Conor McGregor … Again “it’s going to happen”

    Michael Chandler has been burned many times regarding the booking of a Conor McGregor fight but the former multi-time Bellator MMA champion stilll keeps calling out the Irishman all the same. ‘Iron’ Michael explained some of his logic behind this during an interview with Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie. This interview was the first that Chandler has done since his devastating setback against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314 and articulated what he wants next.

    Michael Chandler Calls Out Conor McGregor

    On, Conor McGregor Chandler said:

    “It was really funny. I was sitting around with a buddy and we have the same exact anniversary. I looked it up—January 24th is my wife and I’s anniversary, and it just so happens to be a Saturday. So I was like, ‘Let’s throw that out there, let’s speak it into existence.’ The turn of the new year, probably a new TV deal these guys are working on. If that Conor McGregor fight is out there and that needs to happen in January, that makes a lot ofsense.

    “I get asked about it almost every single interview, and rightfully so—the Conor-Chandler thing just stays alive. We were supposed to fight in June, we did The Ultimate Fighter, we have to finish The Ultimate Fighter. If me and Conor McGregor are supposed to fight and he’s supposed to come back, it’s going to happen. I don’t need to force it. If I’m a betting man, I’m not sure if he comes back. Do I want to fight him? Do I want to finish The Ultimate Fighter 31? Absolutely.”

    Chael Sonnen Names 2 Champions Battling To Replace Conor McGregor As 'Face Of The' UFC
    Image: @thenotoriousmma/Instagram

    Michael Chandler touches on the Paddy Pimblett setback

    Michael Chandler has given his first interview since his loss to the former Cage Warriors champion and is finally shining some light on that performance almost fifty days after the loss. In the same interview with MMA Junkie, Chandler spoke about how he felt like like he couldn’t get his rhythm or his range when fighting the surging UK star in their Miami matchup. Michael Chandler mentioned that when he finally started somewhat settling into things a bit more, he ate that emphatic knee to the face from Paddy Pimblett and felt like it was the end of it when he was taken down thereafter.

    It will be interesting to see the next move for Chandler who aims to rebound from setbacks to Pimblett, Charles Oliveira, and Dustin Poirier. Chandler mentioned he wants to take the Summer off and seems to prefer to map out a return bout for later on in the year.

  • ‘Ilia Topuria Beats Islam Makhachev’: Top-Ranked UFC Star Makes Shock Prediction For Superfight At 155

    ‘Ilia Topuria Beats Islam Makhachev’: Top-Ranked UFC Star Makes Shock Prediction For Superfight At 155

    A top UFC bantamweight contender believes Ilia Topuria would hold the stylistic upper hand in a potential lightweight clash against Islam Makhachev.

    Topuria relinquished his UFC featherweight crown in February in an effort to secure an immediate superfight with reigning lightweight champion Makhachev, aiming to etch his name in history as a two-division titleholder. However, the Dagestani offered a lukewarm response to the proposed superfight.

    Instead, Makhachev is set to vacate his 155-pound belt as he shifts his focus to the welterweight division, where he plans to challenge current champion Jack Della Maddalena later this year. With the lightweight strap now up for grabs, “El Matador” is slated to square off against former champion Charles Oliveira for the vacant title in the headlining bout of UFC 317, scheduled for June 28.

    Although Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev appear to be headed down vastly different career trajectories, with little likelihood of their paths crossing inside the Octagon anytime soon, one former UFC interim bantamweight title challenger believes that if the stars were to align, the undefeated Spaniard has owns the style and sharpness to edge out a win.

    Former UFC featherweight Ilia Topuria.

    Cory Sandhagen Claims Ilia Topuria Has Tools To Trouble Islam Makhachev

    During a recent appearance on the Overdogs Podcast, Cory Sandhagen weighed in on a potential lightweight bout between Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev. “Sandman” acknowledged Makhachev’s status as one of the sport’s premier grapplers but suggested that the former UFC featherweight champion’s elite takedown defense and striking prowess could tip the balance in his favor.

    “If Ilia and Islam fight at 155, I honestly think Ilia would win that fight,” Sandhagen said. “His stature is going to be hard to take down for Islam, and if those two are standing, I just think Ilia is a way, way more dangerous guy standing. I can’t really see Islam hurting him because his guard is real good.”

    “El Matador” was last seen in action at UFC 308 in October, where he successfully defended his featherweight title with a third-round knockout of former champion Max Holloway. Meanwhile, Makhachev’s latest outing came at UFC 311 in January, where he successfully defended his lightweight belt with a first-round submission victory over Renato Moicano. 

    Dustin Poirier Backs Ilia Topuria For Immediate Lightweight Title Shot Against Islam Makhachev
    Images: @iliatopuria/@islam_makhachev/Instagram
  • “Dana White Has a Deadline” UFC Insider Says Jon Jones Could Be Stripped if Tom Aspinall Fight Falls Through

    “Dana White Has a Deadline” UFC Insider Says Jon Jones Could Be Stripped if Tom Aspinall Fight Falls Through

    Jon Jones could be running out of time. The UFC heavyweight division finds itself at a crossroads, and the man holding the map is none other than Dana White. According to UFC insider and perennial provocateur Chael Sonnen, the clock is ticking for Jon Jones, the reigning but rarely seen heavyweight champion, to finally square off with interim champ Tom Aspinall.

    Deadline Dana: Jon Jones Faces the Chop if Aspinall Fight Falls Flat

    If that fight doesn’t materialize, Sonnen warns, Jones could find himself stripped of his title, something the UFC has never done while an undisputed champion is still technically in the picture.“Will the UFC put a deadline on the heavyweight division? Yes, privately, Dana White has a date and location,” Sonnen revealed, adding that, “If Dana doesn’t succeed at getting that fight closer, he’s going to start to get angry—and that’s not a guy you want to say no to. The UFC has never allowed an interim champion to exist in the presence of our undisputed champion. If Jon Jones doesn’t fight Aspinall, I do believe we would have to strip Jones.”

    For months, the saga has played out like a heavyweight soap opera. Jon Jones, the former light heavyweight kingpin, made his long-awaited move to heavyweight. Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall has bulldozed his way through the division, grabbing the interim belt, even defending this title, and calling for a shot at the top. Negotiations have been as slippery, with both fighters and the UFC brass keeping details close to the vest.

    Jon Jones' coach speaks out on fighting Stipe Miocic
    Image: UFC.com

    After Jon Jones captured the vacant heavyweight title in March 2023, a defense against Stipe Miocic was set but fell apart due to Jones’s injury. Enter Tom Aspinall, who seized the interim belt by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich and then defended it in July 2024, all while calling out Jones for a unification bout. But instead of the clash fans craved, negotiations devolved into a slow-motion standoff.

    Aspinall has been ready and waiting, repeatedly stating he’d fight Jones “whenever and wherever.” But Jones, ever the master of mind games, has kept everyone guessing—publicly musing about retirement, focusing on “love and happiness,” and even shifting blame for delays onto the UFC itself. When asked about the holdup, Jones claimed, “Y’all barking up the wrong tree, I told the UFC my plans a long time ago. I have no clue why they haven’t shared them with you guys yet”. Meanwhile, he’s been busy with seminars in Thailand and reality TV, while Aspinall sits idle and frustrated.

    Public pressure has mounted. A fan petition to strip Jones of the title has soared past 150,000 signatures, with accusations that he’s “holding the title hostage”. Even Dana White, usually tight-lipped, has hinted at a deadline, with November at Madison Square Garden rumored as the final window for this fight to materialize. Chael Sonnen, never one to miss a headline, claims the fight is finally booked, but official confirmation remains elusive.

    Over 76,000 Fans Sign Petition For UFC To Strip Jon Jones of Heavyweight Title
    Image: @UFCEspanol/X

    Sonnen, never shy with an analogy, painted a picture of Dana White’s shifting moods: “Whatever Tom and Dana said on a phone call stays right there, whatever Jon and Dana said stays right there. That’s called ‘nice Dana’—and nice Dana gets a lot of fights done. Mad Dana gets every fight done. You’ll know when mad Dana arrives—when you start getting revealed what was said on these calls, that’s the clue that the date is sneaking up on us. But right now, it’s optimistic Dana, calm Dana.”

    The rumored deadline? Sonnen hints at November, with Madison Square Garden as the likely battleground. “I believe I even know when—November. I think I even know where—Madison Square Garden. That’s not inside scoop, I’m just sharing for you. As that date gets closer, if those bout agreements don’t start coming together, you’re going to see mean Dana. But either way, you’re going to see Jon and Tom fight.”

    The message is clear: the UFC’s patience isn’t infinite, and neither is Jon Jones’ reign if he doesn’t defend his throne.

    Tom Aspinall: Jon Jones' Drug Tests Disqualify Him As Greatest Fighter
    Images: @tomaspinallofficial/@jonnybones/Instagram
  • Merab Dvalishvili Says Sean O’Malley Won’t Get Kissed This Time Around – No More Kisses!

    Merab Dvalishvili Says Sean O’Malley Won’t Get Kissed This Time Around – No More Kisses!

    The playful days are over, at least, that’s the message Merab Dvalishvili is sending to Sean O’Malley ahead of their highly anticipated rematch at UFC 316.

    Will Merab Dvalishvili Kiss Sean O’Malley again?

    While their first encounter was memorable for Dvalishvili’s relentless takedowns and, yes, a surprise kiss mid-fight, the Georgian bantamweight insists there will be no repeat of that affectionate moment this time. In an interview, he explained: “I’m looking for a finish. Even if Sean stops my takedowns, I’m going to throw hard punches. First time I kissed him, this time I will try to finish him. No more kisses!” Dvalishvili declared.

    He added: “Yeah, I was laughing, I was showboating, and then I was kissing him. I’m not planning on kissing in this fight—I’m planning to finish him. If a kiss comes, I never plan this stuff, it’s just natural and depends how I’m going to feel. But I already kissed him—now it’s time to smash him,” Dvalishvili explained, making it clear that he’s all business at UFC 316.

    Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley’s rivalry began in March 2023 at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas, a bout that quickly became infamous for reasons beyond just the scorecards. Merab Dvalishvili pressed the action from the opening bell. Sean O’Malley, ever the slick striker, had his moments on the feet but struggled to keep Dvalishvili off him as the Georgian repeatedly scored takedowns and controlled the fight on the ground. Despite O’Malley’s efforts, Dvalishvili’s dominant grappling secured him a unanimous decision win, with the kiss becoming a highlight reel moment that made the rounds on social media.

    The stakes for Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley 2 at UFC 316 could not be higher, with the UFC Bantamweight Championship on the line and both fighters’ legacies hanging in the balance. Dvalishvili, who captured the 135-pound title from O’Malley in their first meeting at UFC 306 and has since defended it against Umar Nurmagomedov, is aiming to cement his dominance in the division and extend a win streak that now spans over seven years.

    Merab Dvalishvili Aims to Be UFC’s Most Active Champ: “Two more this year" After UFC 316

    Fast forward to June 7, 2025, and the stage is set for their rematch at UFC 316, once again in Las Vegas. One thing’s certain: fans shouldn’t expect any more lip service from the Georgian. The only thing Dvalishvili plans to deliver on fight night is a statement win – no kisses attached.

    Merab Dvalishvili
    Image: @UFCEurope/X
  • 3 Hits And 3 Misses From UFC Fight Night: Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber

    3 Hits And 3 Misses From UFC Fight Night: Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber

    It was back to the UFC APEX this past Saturday night, as the UFC held its May 31 Fight Night event — UFC Vegas 107: Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber in its headquarters.

    The night ended up being history making in a way no one expected — the scheduled main event of the evening did not make the walk to the Octagon.

    The planned main event between Blanchfield and Barber would have been a battle of top-five women’s flyweight contenders. Blanchfield has won 10 of her last 11 and was to come into this fight off a November win over Rose Namajunas. Barber, meanwhile, is on a six-fight win streak and would have competed for the first time since UFC 299 after battling several health issues during 2024.

    Only nine bouts went ahead on the night — five on the main card and four in the prelims. The final event of the evening, the originally scheduled co-main event, saw Mateusz Gamrot compete in his first fight since his UFC 305 loss to Dan Hooker, as he took on L’udovit Klein.

    The main card also featured Dustin Jacoby taking on Bruno Lopes, a women’s featherweight battle between Ketlen Vieira and Macy Chiasson, and Zachary Reese facing Duško Todorović.

    Let’s now take in the good and the bad with this week’s edition of Hits and Misses!

    Miss – Boy, Did This Card Fall Apart

    I can’t say for certain that this was the worst card in the history of the UFC like some on a certain social media platform are saying. But after the entertaining Apex night that was the UFC Fight Night on May 17, this one, held in the same venue just two weeks later, definitely has to be up there for the Worst Card of 2025.

    Firstly, “card subject to change” really came into play in this show. Andreas Gustafsson originally gets booked with Jeremiah Wells before an injury to Wells sees him replaced by Trevin Giles — only for Giles to be pulled on the day of weigh-ins after falling in the bathroom. Ramiz Brahimaj and Billy Ray Goff faced each other because their original opponents, Oban Elliott and Ko Seok-hyun, respectively, had visa issues. So, the UFC decided to play “le switcheroo.” Michael Aswell filled in on just days’ notice against Bolaji Oki after MarQuel Mederos fell ill.

    And then of course came what happened in the main event — when Maycee Barber’s sudden medical issue resulted in her fight with Erin Blanchfield being canceled right before Octagon walks. The Fight Night became UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Klein IN RETROSPECT. That is insanity.

    And it’s only after all that you can point to a lack number of fights, a lack of star power, and a lack of finishes.

    Despite some entertaining evenings such as UFCs 314 and 315, as well as the Burns vs. Morales card of two weeks ago, UFC Vegas 107 provided us a stark reminder that the sport of MMA is in a recession period — and that (even some WWE fans may tell you) the UFC under TKO’s rule just may be providing us the darkest modern timelime in this promotion.

    Hit – Jordan Leavitt Reminds Us How Entertaining He Can Be

    Only one finish came on the preliminary card, and fortunately it was such a highlight, as Jordan Leavitt pulled off a quick submission of Kurt Holobaugh.

    Both men are great grapplers, but Leavitt proved he was the better fighter on this night. He not only was the one who initiated the ground battle, but he dominated with top pressure but putting Holobaugh to sleep with a choke.

    On top of that, he had a solid worm celebration that he showed off following his victory.

    Leavitt hasn’t been the most dominant since bursting onto the UFC scene from Dana White’s Contender Series, but he’s had some great finishes. In addition to this one against Holobaugh, he’s also earned bonuses from his slam KO of Matt Wiman and his finish of Victor Martinez.

    This was Leavitt’s first fight after missing all of 2024, and he reminded fight fans just how exciting he can be to watch here.

    Miss – Ketlen Vieira’s Weight Issues, Macy Chiasson’s Performance

    Ketlen Vieira and Macy Chiasson was a fight I had my eye on solely based on their names alone in this card that didn’t have the greatest of star power. Unfortunately, their name values and their status as top-five bantamweight contenders couldn’t save a fight that ultimately proved to sound a lot better on paper.

    It was a one-sided slaughtering on the side of Vieira. After landing some powerful strikes early on, Vieira was dominant on the ground for most of the fight, overwhelming Chiasson with top pressure and strong positioning, limiting most of Chiasson’s offense. It wasn’t until the closing stages of the last round that Chiasson tried to blitz and overwhelm Vieira on the feet — and even then it wasn’t enough.

    On the Vieira side of the things, it was a strong performance. Unfortunately, part of the problem with this fight is that it took place at a weight class the UFC doesn’t do anything with anymore (not like they did much with it in the first place either) — women’s featherweight. The two were scheduled to face off at 135, but the fight was moved to 145 on the day of weigh-ins because of “weight management” issues on the side of Vieira.

    If this fight had taken place at its originally intended weight class, I think there would have been a lot more talk about her being in line to face the winner of next week’s Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison title fight. There still can be, but the weight management issues will definitely bring that into question. This is especially after how May also saw weight management issues get involved in Jose Aldo’s retirement fight with Aiemann Zahabi.

    Meanwhile, for Chiasson, this was just a brutal outing. This was definitely a step back after a 2024 that saw her earn performance bonuses in finishes of Pannie Kianzad and former title challenger Mayra Bueno Silva. You just have to hope it was an off night, she dusts off and gets back to the planning room and can get back to her recent powerful self in her next outing.

    Hit – Dustin Jacoby Delivers Some Needed Violence

    When this card needed a wake-up call, Dustin Jacoby was the one to deliver it. He also had one of the only finishes on the night, pulling off a quick, powerful victory over Bruno Lopes.

    Jacoby rocked Lopes with a jab. Then he did more damage with an elbow. Then a couple of hooks started a wild flurry against Lopes, who was up against the fence, before Lopes crumbled to the mat for an easy first-round finish.

    After getting knocked out by Dominick Reyes last year, which brought about four losses in five fights, things looked grim for Jacoby. But back-to-back knockout victories now show just how fun it can be to watch the former GLORY Kickboxing star.

    Hopefully this is the start of him getting back to winning ways that he had when he came into the UFC in 2020.

    Hit – From Injury To Shining Performance For Ramiz Brahimaj

    If Jordan Leavitt had the great submission and Dustin Jacoby had the great KO, then Ramiz Brahimaj had the upset of the evening and the feel-good moment of it.

    Brahimaj pulled off a strong submission victory of his own, taking out Billy Ray Goff. He got Goff down and to his back quickly before Goff stood up and got the fight in a clinch, landing a strong elbow in the process. Brahimaj, however, showed off slick submission skills by going from a guillotine choke attempt to a ninja choke that put Goff to sleep — ending things before the referee could.

    Brahimaj was a major underdog going into the fight, and that just adds to the story of how a spinal injury could have ended his career just a couple of years ago.

    A feel good moment for Brahimaj, and it’s hopefully more positive momentum that he can ride.

    Miss – Erin Blanchfield And Maycee Barber Don’t Make The Main Event Walk

    The main event promo package on ESPN+ had just finished airing. The camera transitioned back to the UFC APEX. But no music played. At first I’m sitting there thinking “Well, typical UFC on ESPN and a production botch” — only to then see that the commentary team was confused by no fighters making the walk out just as I was.

    And when the camera transitioned back over to the UFC commentary team before a throw to a sudden commercial break, I just knew this fight wasn’t happening. And indeed it didn’t.

    Unfortunately, since COVID, we’ve seen instances of sudden cancelations of bouts during cards. Trevin Giles fainted moments before his scheduled bout with Kevin Holland. Chas Skelly was already in the Octagon when his February 2021 fight with Jamall Emmers was scrapped due to Emmers suffering back spasms. We’ve seen several instances in this five-year timespan where fighters are pulled on the day of the event due to illness or some sort of medical issue.

    But if we’re talking exclusively main event fights, we haven’t seen a thing like this happen since UFC 24 in March 2000, when Kevin Randleman slipped backstage and received a concussion, canceling a scheduled heavyweight title bout with Pedro Rizzo — ruining the whole “First Defense” tagline of that card.

    As of press time, we have no official word as to what happened other than a last-minute medical issue. Blanchfield claimed in an interview on the broadcast that Barber suffered a seizure but she wouldn’t entertain a re-scheduling with Barber due to Barber’s “unprofessionalism.”

    If it’s true Barber suffered a seizure for whatever reason, Blanchfield’s call of someone being “unprofessional” feels dirty. But simultaneously, you have to feel for her, being ready to go after all her work and preparation — only for the fight to be called off as she’s getting ready to make the walk. Fortunately, she did reportedly receive her show and win money.

    Also, it’s such a shame that Barber goes through this after battling a litany of health issues stemming from Epstein-Barr that included a nine-day hospitalization, with Barber’s health getting so bad to the point she felt she was going to die. And now, here we are. And knowing how brutal the MMA fanbase, let alone the whole industry, can be, this historic circumstance — combined with her weight miss and Blanchfield’s doubts Barber would make it to the cage — may end up being a bad PR time for her.

    The sudden main event cancelation was just the cherry on top of the gross sundae that was the May 31, 2025 UFC Fight Night event.

  • Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber UFC Vegas 107 Main Event Canceled Right Before Walkouts

    Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber UFC Vegas 107 Main Event Canceled Right Before Walkouts

    Just when you think you’ve seen it all in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts, something always can happen to leave you in shock. And UFC Vegas 107 had such an event.

    The scheduled main event bout between Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber was canceled just before the fighters were scheduled to walk out for the fight. ESPN had just played the main event promo package but neither fighter appeared for entrances.

    After a long commercial break, the UFC commentary team announced that Barber had suffered a medical issue and was pulled from the fight by the UFC’s medical staff at the last minute.

    Blanchfield claims that Barber suffered a seizure prior to walkouts.

    Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber Main Event Scrapped Right Before Walkouts At UFC Vegas 107

    This was to be Barber’s first fight since her victory over Katlyn Cerminara at UFC 299. Barber had battled various health issues over the past year, including a bout with Epstein-Barr that resulted in her being hospitalized for nine days.

    Barber had missed weight by half a pound the day before the event. Blanchfield had suggested earlier in the week that Barber may not make it to the fight — and said in a backstage interview immediately after the cancelation that she would, at the word of her coaches, not entertain any sort of re-scheduling with Barber.

    There has been one other occurrence where the UFC lost its main event during the card itself. UFC 24 was originally scheduled to be headlined by UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman defending his title against Pedro Rizzo until Randleman slipped on the concrete floor backstage, hospitalized with a concussion.

    Blanchfield has won 10 of her last 11 bouts, with her sole loss in the span coming against recent title challenger Manon Fiorot. This would have been Blanchfield’s first fight since her win over Rose Namajunas in November.

    Barber was to have entered this fight on a six-fight win streak.

  • ‘Give Him A Top Five Opponent’ – Fans And Fighters React To Mateusz Gamrot Putting On Grappling Clinic Vs. L’udovit Klein At UFC Vegas 107

    ‘Give Him A Top Five Opponent’ – Fans And Fighters React To Mateusz Gamrot Putting On Grappling Clinic Vs. L’udovit Klein At UFC Vegas 107

    Mateusz Gamrot is claiming he’s still a top name at lightweight, making the statement of contender status with a win over L’udovit Klein in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 107.

    Gamrot set the tone early with relentless pressure, mixing striking with takedowns and control. Though Klein had a brief moment when he stunned Gamrot with a jab, Gamrot secured multiple takedowns, controlling from the back and hammering Klein with punches and knees.

    Gamrot continued to smother Klein in the second round, staying active from top position with strikes and stifling Klein’s offense. He used positional grappling effectively, even threatening an arm-triangle to maintain control. Klein came out more aggressive, trying to change the tide with kicks and combinations. While he had some success at range, Gamrot’s takedowns and top control continued, sealing him the round and fight. He ended strong in side control, landing ground-and-pound and securing a crucifix.

    Mateusz Gamrot Dominates In Decision Win Over L’udovit Klein In UFC Vegas 107 Co-Main Event

    https://twitter.com/ProchazkaSzn/status/1929016288623423610
    https://twitter.com/Jimbo_J_/status/1929015566867530058

    Gamrot rebounds here after falling short against Dan Hooker at UFC 305 last year.

    Klein sees a seven-fight unbeaten streak (6-0-1) snapped with the loss here tonight.

  • VIDEO: Ramiz Brahimaj Pulls Off First-Round Submission In Shocking Fashion

    VIDEO: Ramiz Brahimaj Pulls Off First-Round Submission In Shocking Fashion

    Ramiz Brahimaj didn’t let odds get in the way of a major injury a couple of years ago, and he didn’t let them get in the way of pulling off a huge victory over Billy Ray Goff during the main card of UFC Vegas 107.

    The fight started slow before Brahimaj secured an early takedown, quickly scrambling and getting to Goff’s back. Goff escaped and managed to land a clinch elbow during the round. Brahimaj went from the clinch into a guillotine choke attempt — before transitioning it to a ninja choke attempt. The choke became tight quickly, and he managed to choke out Goff for the victory.

    Ramiz Brahimaj Puts Billy Ray Goff’s Lights Out At UFC Vegas 107

    As of a few hours prior to UFC Vegas 107’s start ,Brahimaj was a +320 underdog heading into the bout, per DraftKings.

    Brahimaj is now 2-1 since returning to action from a devastating spinal injury that could have been a career ender. He is 4-3 overall since coming into the UFC from LFA in 2020.

    Goff has now lost back-to-back fights after a seven-fight win streak.

  • Third Annual Noche UFC Event Being Moved To San Antonio, Goes From PPV To Fight Night Card

    Third Annual Noche UFC Event Being Moved To San Antonio, Goes From PPV To Fight Night Card

    The third annual Noche UFC event to be held this September will be having a change of location from its original plans.

    Per an announcement on the UFC Vegas 107 broadcast, the event will now be taking place on September 13 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas — instead of its originally planned location of Guadalajara, Mexico.

    Furthermore, rather than a planned pay-per-view event with UFC 320, Noche UFC 3 will now be a Fight Night card — akin to the original.

    Noche UFC 3 Becomes Fight Night Card, Moves To San Antonio

    Rodrigo Del Campo Gonzalez had earlier reported several issues with the construction of Arena Guadalajara. In the latest update, all events scheduled for the arena up to September 4 had been canceled or postponed. This put the idea of Noche UFC 3 being held at the arena in doubt.

    Rumors had called for a potential move to Las Vegas, given the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford bout targeted for that same weekend in the city.

    What the future is of a planned UFC 320 event is currently unknown.

    The first Noche UFC event was a Fight Night card held in 2023, featuring Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko battling to a draw in their second women’s flyweight title fight.

    The third Noche UFC event, UFC 306, was held at The Sphere in Las Vegas and featured Merab Dvalishvili capturing the UFC bantamweight title from Sean O’Malley in the main event and Shevchenko regaining the women’s flyweight title from Grasso in their trilogy co-main event.

  • VIDEO: Dustin Jacoby Obliterates Bruno Lopes In Destructive Display At UFC Vegas 107

    VIDEO: Dustin Jacoby Obliterates Bruno Lopes In Destructive Display At UFC Vegas 107

    In a card that hasn’t had the most impressive of performances, Dustin Jacoby offered probably the biggest highlight so far with a quick, scary finish of Bruno Lopes at UFC Vegas 107.

    After some leg kick trading to start things, Jacoby landed a jab that rocked Lopes. Jacoby then landed a small flurry that included a strong elbow to do more damage. Jacoby landed a couple of hooks before a flurry of activity on Lopes, who was being held up by the cage before slumping for Jacoby to get the KO win in under two minutes.

    Dustin Jacoby Fires Away En Route To KO Of Bruno Lopes At UFC Vegas 107

    Jacoby has now won back-to-back fights and has come out on top in three of her last five. He came into this fight off a late knockout of Vitor Petrino at UFC Tampa in December.

    Lopes, the former LFA light heavyweight champion and Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus, is now 1-1 in the Octagon. He made his UFC debut in January, scoring a decision over Magomed Gadzhiyasulov.

  • ‘Would Have Been More Impressive If Vieira Had Made Weight’ – Fans And Fighters React To Ketlen Vieira Putting On Dominant Display Over Macy Chiasson At UFC Vegas 107

    ‘Would Have Been More Impressive If Vieira Had Made Weight’ – Fans And Fighters React To Ketlen Vieira Putting On Dominant Display Over Macy Chiasson At UFC Vegas 107

    Ketlen Vieira’s UFC Vegas 107 performance was stained a bit by weight management issues, moving her scheduled bout with Macy Chiasson from bantamweight to featherweight. It was, however, still a one-sided victory she had during the main card against Macy Chiasson.

    Chiasson looked to stay on the outside and move around, finding early success with her boxing from distance. Vieira, however, displayed strong counterstriking, landing a number of power punches to the head and body. Vieira landed some damaging shots in close with about two minutes left in the round before Chiasson brought the action to a clinch battle against the fence.

    The action quickly went to the ground to start the second, and Chiasson’s size and strength was more on display there. Even when stuck in Chiasson’s guard, Vieira displayed dominant pressure, and Chiasson seemed to have little answer. Even as Chiasson tried to scramble, Vieira countered most of Chiasson’s moves and was on top for just about all of the frame.

    Chiasson tried to pressure Vieira with grappling to start the third, but Vieira got right back on top as the action went to the ground. Chiasson was able to scramble back to her feet with less than 90 seconds remaining, but Vieira, a judo expert, was able to counter Chiasson’s attempts to regain control. Chiasson re-scrambled and tried to attack with ferocity in the closing seconds, but it wasn’t enough.

    Vieira swept the judges’ scorecards to take the decision.

    Ketlen Vieira Scores One-Sided Decision Over Macy Chiasson At UFC Vegas 107

    https://twitter.com/snapxjitsu/status/1928995834412118220

    Vieira has now won four of her last six, rebounding from a loss to upcoming bantamweight title challenger Kayla Harrison at UFC 307.

    Chiasson is now 3-3 in her last six.

  • VIDEO: Jordan Leavitt Breaks Out The Worm After Putting Kurt Holobaugh To Sleep At UFC Vegas 107

    VIDEO: Jordan Leavitt Breaks Out The Worm After Putting Kurt Holobaugh To Sleep At UFC Vegas 107

    Jordan Leavitt continues to be someone to watch out for in the UFC’s lightweight division, as he made quick work of MMA veteran Kurt Holobaugh during the UFC Vegas 107 preliminary card.

    Leavitt wasted no time taking Holobaugh to the mat in this battle of ground experts. Leavitt established top control and bringing pressure right away. Holobaugh attempted to get up, but Leavitt was able to keep him down. When Holobaugh tried to escape again, Leavitt turned the scramble into a choke attempt, locking up a D’Arce. Holobaugh went out, giving Leavitt a submission win in less than two minutes.

    Jordan Leavitt Chokes Out Kurt Holobaugh In Just Over 90 Seconds At UFC Vegas 107

    Following his victory, Leavitt busted out a celebration — doing the worm at the end of his in-the-cage interview.

    Fortunately for Leavitt, he didn’t pull a Johnny Walker and get hurt during it.

    Leavitt is now 5-3 in the UFC and rebounds from a loss he suffered against Chase Hooper in November 2023. This was Leavitt’s first fight since that loss.

    Holobuagh is now just 2-3 in the UFC since returning with his win during The Ultimate Fighter season 31.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Blanchfield vs. Barber Main Event Canceled, Gamrot Decisions Klein

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Blanchfield vs. Barber Main Event Canceled, Gamrot Decisions Klein

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, women’s flyweights Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber were set to clash, however the fight was canceled just as the fighters were about to enter the cage. In the co-main event, Mateusz Gamrot faced off with Ludovit Klein in a lightweight matchup. 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber was canceled due to medical issue with Barber
    • Mateusz Gamrot def. Ludovit Klein via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Ramiz Brahimaj def. Billy Ray Goff via submission: R1, 3.16
    • Dustin Jacoby def. Bruno Lopes via KO: R1, 1.50
    • Ketlen Vieira def. Macy Chiasson via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 30-27)
    • Zachary Reese def. Dusko Todorovic via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    Preliminary Card

    • Allan Nascimento def. Jafel Filho via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Jordan Leavitt def. Kurt Holobaugh via submission: R1, 1.39
    • Bolaji Oki def. Michael Aswell via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    Alice Ardelean def. Rayanne Dos Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Jordan Leavitt def. Kurt Holobaugh

    Jordan Leavitt submitted Kurt Holobaugh in the first round.

    Main Card Highlights

    Zachary Reese def. Dusko Todorovic

    Zachary Reese got a unanimous decision in this middleweight bout.

    Ketlen Vieira def. Macy Chiasson

    Ketlen Vieira earned a unanimous decision win.

    Dustin Jacoby def. Bruno Lopes

    Dustin Jacoby got a first-round KO in this light heavyweight bout.

    Ramiz Brahimaj def. Billy Ray Goff

    Ramiz Brahimaj made quick work of Billy Ray Goff in this welterweight scrap.

    Mateusz Gamrot def. Ludovit Klein

    In the co-main event, Mateusz Gamrot earned a unanimous decision win.

  • UFC Vegas 107 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber Card

    UFC Vegas 107 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber Card

    UFC Vegas 107 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, May 31, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    A top-5 flyweight contenders battle will top off tonight’s action, as former title challenger Erin Blanchfield takes on Maycee Barber.

    Also making the walk on Saturday will include Mateusz Gamrot and L’udovit Klein (who battle in the lightweight co-main event), as well as Dustin Jacoby, Ketlen Vieira and Macy Chiasson.

    UFC Vegas 107: Blanchfield vs. Murphy Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Vegas 107 (as of 1:30pm ET on 5/31), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Erin Blanchfield (-238) vs. Maycee Barber (+195)
    • Mateusz Gamrot (-155) vs. Ľudovít Klein (+130)
      Ramiz Brahimaj (+320) vs. Billy Ray Goff (-410)
    • Dustin Jacoby (-192) vs. Bruno Lopes (+160)
    • Ketlen Vieira (+114) vs. Macy Chiasson (-135)
    • Zachary Reese (-198) vs. Duško Todorović (+164)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Jafel Filho (+102) vs. Allan Nascimento (-122)
    • Kurt Holobaugh (+200) vs. Jordan Leavitt (-245)
    • Bolaji Oki (-470) vs. Michael Aswell (+360)
    • Rayanne dos Santos (-205) vs. Alice Ardelean (+170)
  • “Send Your Wife Applications!” Merab Dvalishvili Looking for Love But Staying Away from Vegas Ladies

    “Send Your Wife Applications!” Merab Dvalishvili Looking for Love But Staying Away from Vegas Ladies

    Merab Dvalishvili, the reigning UFC champion with a gas tank that never quits, is on the hunt for something even more elusive than an undefeated streak: true love. But before you get any ideas, Las Vegas pool party regulars, Merab wants you to know he’s not falling for the Sin City sparkle.

    Merab Dvalishvili Does Not Want Las Vegas Women

    “I have to stay away from ladies! We are in Las Vegas, so many opportunities, so many pool parties. You have to balance – you need endorphins in life, but life’s about balance,” he said in an interview with Helen Yee.

    Merab Dvalishvili and His Search for a Wife

    With UFC 316 looming, Merab’s focus is sharper than ever, on his opponent and, apparently, on dodging the neon-lit temptations of Vegas nightlife. It’s not that he doesn’t appreciate a good time, but Merab’s got bigger plans: “Eventually, I want to get married and find the only one, the mother of my kids. I’m looking for a perfect woman – VIP material, good reputation, loyal, kind, smart, a teammate, someone who wants a family. It’s hard to find here in Vegas, but I’m still searching!”

    While his Instagram is flooded with messages, let’s face it, who wouldn’t want a DM from the champ? Merab has a pro tip for any hopefuls: “Maybe one month after my fight, I’ll be looking more for a wife. My Instagram is busy, so maybe send messages on Threads – it will be easier!” There you have it, ladies. Slide into those Threads DMs, but only if you’re ready for five rounds of loyalty and a lifetime of post-fight celebrations.

    The main event at UFC 316 is a high-stakes bantamweight title rematch between champion Merab Dvalishvili and former champ Sean O’Malley, set for June 7 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Dvalishvili, who took the belt from O’Malley at UFC 306, is putting his title on the line, with both fighters looking to settle the score and shake up the division.

    Merab Dvalishvili
    Image: @UFCEurope/X

    As Merab gears up for UFC 316, his reputation as a relentless fighter is matched only by his determination to find “the one.” He’s not just looking for a partner, he’s looking for a teammate, someone who can go the distance. So, if you think you’ve got what it takes, applications are open.

    Merab Dvalishvili
    Image: UFC.com
  • Petr Yan Returns At UFC Abu Dhabi On July 26 To Face Budding Bantamweight Contender

    Petr Yan Returns At UFC Abu Dhabi On July 26 To Face Budding Bantamweight Contender

    Petr Yan is reportedly staying active in his quest to reclaim the UFC bantamweight crown.

    According to a recent report from Cageside Press, Yan is set to return to the Octagon on July 26 at UFC Abu Dhabi, where he’ll face rising bantamweight contender Marcus McGhee at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, United Arab Emirates.

    “No Mercy” last stepped into the Octagon at UFC Macau in November, where he secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, marking his second straight win following a strong performance against Song Yadong at UFC 299.

    The back-to-back triumphs marked a crucial turnaround for the former 135-pound champion, who had previously endured a three-fight skid, including a split decision loss in his title rematch with Aljamain Sterling at UFC 273 in April 2022. Yan boasts a 10-4 record inside the Octagon, with four of those victories earned by knockout.

    Meanwhile, McGhee is riding a wave of momentum after a commanding unanimous decision victory over Jonathan Martinez at UFC 309 last November. Since making his promotional debut in April 2023, “The Maniac” has been unstoppable, boasting an impressive four-fight winning streak, with three of those wins coming by finishes.

    Images: @petr_yan/@maniac_mcgheemma/Instagram

    What Does the UFC Abu Dhabi Lineup Currently Look Like?

    UFC Abu Dhabi will be headlined by a pivotal middleweight showdown as former champion Robert Whittaker is set to square off against fast-rising contender Reinier de Ridder.

    Here are the officially confirmed matchups for the upcoming Fight Night event:

    • Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder; middleweight
    • Shara Magomedov vs. Marc-Andre Barriault; middleweight
    • Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee; bantamweight
    • Nikita Krylov vs. Bogdan Guskov; light heavyweight
    • Asu Almabayev vs. Ramazan Temirov; flyweight
    • Ibo Aslan vs. Billy Elekana; light heavyweight
  • Ian Garry: ‘Khamzat Chimaev has never faced anyone like me – I can beat anyone in this sport’

    Ian Garry: ‘Khamzat Chimaev has never faced anyone like me – I can beat anyone in this sport’

    Ian Garry wants a shot at Khamzat Chimaev. If you’re looking for someone in the UFC who isn’t afraid to stir the pot, Ian Garry is your man. The Irish welterweight has never been one to hide his ambitions, or his opinions, and now he’s set his sights on a challenge that has the MMA world buzzing: a future clash with Khamzat Chimaev.

    Ian Garry wants Khamzat Chimaev

    “I’m not afraid of anyone, and I believe I can beat everyone in this sport. If there’s a way to do it, I can find it,” Garry said in an interview with Covers.com, adding a nod to Khamzat Chimaev’s reputation but insisting, “I think Khamzat is phenomenal at what he does.. I just believe he’s not fought anyone who can do to him what I could. I love a challenge, and that would absolutely be a challenge. And with what he’s done in his career, and how he’s done it. That would get me excited.”

    Khamzat Chimaev
    (Khamzat Chimaev on Instagram)

    Ian Machado Garry, always up for a challenge, says a fight with Chimaev would get him excited, and he’s not one to back down from a test. For those catching up, Ian Garry is one of the UFC’s promising welterweights. Ian Machado Garry’s most recent appearance came on April 26, 2025, when he earned a unanimous decision win over Carlos Prates in the main event at UFC Fight Night in Kansas City.

    The victory was a bounce-back after suffering his first career loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov in December 2024. Garry, now 16-1, remains firmly in the welterweight title mix and is reportedly in the conversation for a shot at new champion Jack Della Maddalena, though the next bout has yet to be officially announced.

    Ian Garry Targets Quick Finish Against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310
    Image: @iangarry/Instagram

    Khamzat Chimaev, meanwhile, is making waves in a different division. The stakes couldn’t be higher; a win would put Chimaev at the top of the middleweight mountain and cement his status as one of the sport’s elite. Khamzat Chimaev, meanwhile, last fought in October 2024, where he submitted former champion Robert Whittaker in the first round at UFC 308.

    That win cemented his status as a top contender in the middleweight division. Chimaev is now scheduled for his first UFC title shot, taking on reigning middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025. The stakes are high, with Chimaev looking to capture gold and extend his undefeated record in what is expected to be one of the year’s most anticipated title fights

    While Garry is climbing the welterweight ladder, Chimaev is knocking on the door of middleweight gold. Should their paths cross, expect plenty of fireworks.

    Khamzat Chimaev
    Image: @KChimaev on X
  • UFC Legend Slams Jon Jones: ‘Champ Shouldn’t Dictate Terms – He Must Be Held Accountable’ says Former Titleholder

    UFC Legend Slams Jon Jones: ‘Champ Shouldn’t Dictate Terms – He Must Be Held Accountable’ says Former Titleholder

    UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock has never been shy about speaking his mind, and this week he’s set his sights on another legend: Jon Jones. If there’s one thing fight fans know about Ken Shamrock, it’s that he’s never been one to pull his punches – inside or outside the cage. Now, the UFC Hall of Famer is landing verbal jabs at Jon Jones, calling out the heavyweight champ for playing matchmaker with his own career. In classic Shamrock style, he’s not asking politely, he’s demanding accountability, and he’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers along the way.

    Ken Shamrock talks Jon Jones

    In a recent interview wih PokerScout, Shamrock didn’t mince words, saying, “It just feels like you should not ever let a world champion be able to dictate terms.” According to Shamrock, even the biggest stars in the sport shouldn’t get to pick and choose their opponents, no matter how many belts are hanging in their closet.

    Ken Shamrock

    For those who need a refresher, Ken Shamrock is one of the original faces of mixed martial arts. He was a pioneer in the early days of the UFC, known for his grappling and willingness to fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. Shamrock’s battles with Royce Gracie and Tito Ortiz are the stuff of MMA legend, and he helped lay the groundwork for the sport’s global explosion.

    Shamrock’s comments come at a time when Jon Jones, widely considered one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, is under fire for his handling of the heavyweight title picture. Jones, who made a triumphant move up to heavyweight, has left the division in limbo refusing to fight. Meanwhile, interim champ Tom Aspinall has been tearing through opponents, making a strong case for a shot at the undisputed title.

    But with Jon Jones reportedly uninterested in facing Aspinall, the UFC’s matchmaking has become a hot topic. Ken Shamrock says that it’s up to the organization to keep things fair. “It is up to the organization to hold everybody accountable,” he insists. The UFC Hall of Fame athlete points out that while champions have earned some perks, those perks shouldn’t come at the expense of hungry contenders like Aspinall, who deserve their shot at glory.

    Jon Jones
    Image: Jon Jones on Instagram

    So, as the heavyweight division waits for clarity, Shamrock’s message is clear: being champion is about more than just holding a belt. It’s about facing the best, even if they’re the new kids on the block. And if the UFC wants to keep things interesting, maybe it’s time to remind everyone – yes, even Jon Jones – that nobody is above the game.

  • ‘Embrace The Grind’ – The TUF Stuff: The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 Episode 1 Recap

    ‘Embrace The Grind’ – The TUF Stuff: The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 Episode 1 Recap

    Welcome, everyone, to the first edition of a weekly series here on MMANews called The TUF Stuff.

    Each week, I’ll be guiding you through a recap of this season’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter, providing updates on what happens in each episode — from the drama and storylines out of the Octagon, to the looks into who the competing fighters are, to what goes down inside the cage.

    This season celebrates the 20th anniversary of TUF. That inaugural season from 2005 helped to influence many future MMA fans, media members, and fighters (yours truly included). And now, two more fighters this summer will get the opportunity to call themselves TUF champions when it’s all said and done.

    This season’s coaches have both coached previous TUF seasons but will not be two current active fighters who will go on to face each other at the end of the season. Instead, we get two names who MMA fans are more than familiar with — two guys who butt heads every week on their own ESPN TV program — Good Guy, Bad Guy. Those two names, of course, are Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen.

    This season of TUF will focus on flyweights and welterweights, and it will feature 16 fighters from 10 different nations.

    This season’s participants include:

    • Flyweights:
    • Arshiyan Memon: A 7-0 fighter from India — the first Indian participant in TUF history.
    • Eduardo Henrique: A 13-2 fighter from Brazil who has fought for promotions including LFA and Jungle Fight — and is the former LFA flyweight champion.
    • Furkatbek Yokubov: A 14-4 fighter from Uzbekistan who is a kickboxing and wrestling specialist. He has competed in UAE Warriors, the LFA, and Belarusian Fighting Championship. He is a former BFC flyweight champion.
    • Idiris Alibi: A 10-0 fighter from Kazakhstan who, up until now, has fought exclusively in Naiza FC — and is their former flyweight champion.
    • Imanol Rodriguez: A 5-0 fighter from Mexico, who has competed for Combate Global, Budo Sento Championship, and Fury FC. All five of his wins have come via a finish, and not one of his fights has reached the third round.
    • Joseph Morales: A 12-2 fighter from the United States who has fought three times for the UFC between 2017 and 2018, defeating Roberto Sanchez but losing to Devieson Figueiredo and Eric Shelton. He’s 3-0 since his UFC release, including capturing the flyweight title in Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat promotion.
    • Roybert Echeverria: A 10-2 fighter from Venezuela who has fought for Titan FC, Xtreme Fighting Nation, and Anthony Pettis FC, having captured flyweight gold in APFC back in November. He fought on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022, losing to Jafel Filho.
    • Tumelo Manyamala: A 6-1 fighter from South Africa who has scored finishes in all of his victories so far. All of his wins have come in the EFC Africa promotion, with his sole loss being a split decision in his lone bout for UAE Warriors.
    • Welterweights:
    • Alex Sanchez: A 15-3 fighter from Mexico who has fought for promotions including Lux Fight League, UWC, Combate Global, and Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat. He is a former tournament champion in Combate and a former lightweight champion in A1 Combat.
    • Andreeas Binder: A 10-2 fighter from Ireland known for his expertise in judo. Binder was recently the welterweight champion of Levels Fight League and has also fought for Cage Conflict and Clan Wars. He had been scheduled for a pair of bouts with the PFL in 2023 and 2024, but both fights fell out.
    • Daniil Donchenko: An 11-2 fighter from Ukraine who has primarily fought for Naiza FC, where he was recently a lightweight champion.
    • Diego Bianchini: A 9-1 fighter who is a product of the Fighting Nerds. Known as “The Brazilian Bad Boy,” six of his wins have come via submission, including a sub-two-minute submission of Bakhromjon Mashrapov at LFA 178 last year.
    • Jeff Creighton: “Jazzy” Jeff is an 11-2-1 fighter from the United States. Creighton is a noteworthy U.S. welterweight prospect who has fought for a number of noteworthy regional promotions, including Bellator, Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat, Fury FC, King of the Cage, and Cage Warriors. He has won welterweight gold in A1 Combat and in Melee Combat Championship.
    • Matt Dixon: An 11-1 fighter from the United States who has primarily fought in the Xtreme Fight Night promotion, having been a former welterweight champion there. Dixon fought on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020, where he lost to Orion Cosce.
    • Richard Martins: A 9-1 fighter from Brazil who hasn’t lost since dropping his second professional fight. All but one of his wins have come via a finish (including seven wins via KO/TKO), and his last four fights have all come in the LFA.
    • Rodrigo Sezinando: An 8-1 fighter from Brazil who has scored finishes in all but one of his victories. He is a former Battlefield Fight League super lightweight champion and the former Samourai MMA welterweight champion.

    Now, let’s dive into this week’s season premiere episode!

    Recap of The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 – Episode 1

    In typical Dana White fashion, he promises the best season ever.

    After the TV/streaming audiences are given introductions to the two UFC Hall of Fame coaches, White notes that there will be previous TUF contestants who will be giving insights into this season’s contestants. This week’s guest is season one winner and former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin.

    White tells the contestants to not be scared and to keep their heads on straight with the opportunity ahead of them.

    We now go into evaluations, with Sonnen working with fighters in the boxing ring and Cormier working with fighters on the wrestling mats.

    Sonnen and Cormier both note how they are looking for fighters’ attitudes and motivations, in addition to their speed, technique, power, and athleticism.

    Cormier emphasizes that he’s looking for good wrestling — with him even being brutally honest in saying he was disappointed by the flyweights’ lack of urgency in their wrestling. Eduardo Henrique, however, impresses Cormier with his striking in the boxing ring.

    Team Selection

    Griffin leads the Team Selection process. Cormier wins the coin toss and decides he wants to pick the first fighters. Flyweights will be picked first, followed by welterweights, then back to flyweights, and so on.

    The teams end up as follows:

    • Cormier Flyweights:
    • Eduardo Henrique
    • Idiris Alibi
    • Imanol Rodriguez
    • Tumelo Manyamala
    • Cormier Welterweights:
    • Rodrigo Sezinando
    • Daniil Donchenko
    • Jeff Creighton
    • Alex Sanchez
    • Sonnen Flyweights:
    • Joseph Morales
    • Furkatbek Yokubov
    • Roybert Echeverria
    • Arshiyan Memon
    • Sonnen Welterweights:
    • Diego Bianchini
    • Matt Dixon
    • Richard Martins
    • Andreeas Binder

    Joseph Morales was surprised by Henrique getting picked No. 1 overall over him, feeling that he is not only the better striker, but the better all-around product. Sonnen appeared to agree.

    In a humorous moment, as Cormier is trying to give a motivational speech to Sanchez and Binder, the final picks, noting that Brandon Moreno was a final pick on TUF and ended up a world champion, Sonnen “dozed off” to try and get Cormier to move things along.

    Griffin tells the fighters they are now part of the 20-year legacy of TUF and that they need to make their moments count.

    TUF House

    Of course, no TUF season is complete without the fighters running into the TUF House — their home for the duration of the competition.

    Memon, who is seen immediately washing his foot in a bathroom sink, discussed his pride in being the first TUF contestant from India. Binder, meanwhile, notes the cultural diversity that is present in the house.

    Sezinado proposes a friendly barbeque before the fighters all “smash each other.” Dixon and Morales note how Sezinado is perhaps the most energetic and “crazy” of all the TUF contestants so far. Bianchini, meanwhile, notes how he’s not here to make friends, especially in his weight class — just to whoop the competition.

    Team Cormier Training Session

    Cormier discusses with his team the importance of hard work and “embracing the grind” (ETG, as Cormier puts it), even when things get tough.

    “Make it the best part of your day,” Cormier said.

    Michael Chiesa, who is a part of Cormier’s coaching staff, remembers the opportunities TUF provided him and how it feels full circle to be back as a coach.

    Team Sonnen Training Session

    Sonnen notes that most TUF coaches miss the fact that coaches are vulnerable to overplanning (or underplanning) and overtraining and hurting their fighters in such a short time.

    “A coach is not going to be able to help an athlete very much, in the short period of time that we’re here,” Sonnen said. “But he can damn sure hurt him.”

    Sonnen also took pride in that his team has no weak links — noting that the competition is so fierce this year that it’s more than likely a No. 1 pick could fall.

    Fight Announcement

    Team Sonnen picks the first fight: flyweights Joseph Morales will battle Eduardo Henrique in a battle of No. 1 flyweight picks! Sonnen notes that Morales told Sonnen this is what he wanted, with Morales attributing the decision to his hard-headedness. Henrique appeared to not be surprised to be a target, given his status as a recent LFA flyweight champion.

    Henrique Fight Prep

    Cormier notes that Henrique isn’t much of a wrestler, but he’s a great striker. The focus of their training camp is going to be working on his wrestling.

    DC states that the key to victory will be for Henrique to keep distance and force Morales to exchange strikes with him.

    We then get a video package of Henrique’s highlights in the LFA.

    We get a bit of a look into Henrique’s life, too, noting how his mom went down a wrong path and trafficked drugs while working in a bar when Henrique was a baby. As a result, Henrique was raised by his grandparents.

    Morales Fight Prep

    Morales showed photos of his wife and two sons, who he misses while in the TUF House. Morales noted that if it wasn’t for the support of his wife, he probably wouldn’t be chasing the MMA dreams he has.

    Morales also noted his previous tenure with the UFC, noting he felt invulnerable until running into Deiveson Figueiredo and getting finished by him.

    “I’ve felt like I’ve improved a lot. I’m ready to get back into the UFC and fight the best guys,” Morales said.

    Morales told Sonnen he wanted to get into Henrique’s face and pressure him, trying to get Henrique to over-commit before taking him down. Sonnen emphasized Morales cannot settle for being on the bottom in grappling exchanges.

    Morales also noted it’s been about two years since his last fight and he feels an extra sense of motivation. Morales noted how Henrique’s weakness is his ground game, and he looks to catch and submit him or open him up with elbows.

    Colby Covington is seen working with Morales on his wrestling work, with Sonnen noting how fighters look to him when trying to improve the aspects of their game — especially with wrestling.

    The Fight: Eduardo Henrique vs. Joseph Morales

    —–IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THE EPISODE AND DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO TURN AWAY NOW.———

    Henrique weighs in at 125.5, but Morales weighs in at 126.5 — a half-pound overweight. Morales weighs in successfully at 126 with the box.

    Of particular note, Sezinado and Bianchini trade barbs during the weigh-ins, with Sezinado even flipping the Team Sonnen member off.

    Sonnen added that he didn’t appreciate Team Cormier chanting “You’re going to die” toward Morales in Brazilian, with Henrique also bringing a prop with him to the weigh-in and face-off. The two got into each other’s faces and had to be separated by the commission and Sonnen.

    Finally, it’s fight day and we’re ready to see the two throw down!

    Eduardo Henrique vs. Joseph Morales

    Round 1

    The two exchange right away. Morales appears to be trying to pressure as promised. Left hand from Morales. Henrique flashes a knee and a jab. Low kick from Henrique. Right hand from Morales. Henrique misses a jumping knee. Jab to the body by Henrique. One-two by Henrique. Combination from Henrique. Jab to the body by Morales. Both men land. Body shot and a kick from Henrique. Low kick from Henrique. Left hand catches Henrique. Henrique answers.

    Morales shoots in and scores a takedown. Morales gets to Henrique’s back quickly. Morales’s coaches tell him to hand fight. More calls for hand fighting from both corners now. Morales wraps an arm around Henrique’s neck, and he scores THE TAPOUT!

    2:25 into the first round, and the No. 1 overall pick of this TUF season goes down via submission! Joseph Morales is one step closer to coming back to the UFC!

    White attributed the victory to Morales’ previous UFC experience and called it “an impressive finish.”

    Winner: Joseph Morales (Team Sonnen) via first-round submission (rear-naked choke, 2:25)

    Conclusion

    Morales is emotional backstage following the win, noting how good it felt to shut Team Cormier up.

    “I feel that I proved I’m one of the top flyweights here,” Morales said. “The pressure is on me to win the show, but I thrive under the pressure.”

    Henrique noted he made mistakes in the fight, but “every champion makes mistakes.” His coach tells him to take the loss on the chin and learn from it — and to bounce back.

    For next week’s fight, the first at welterweight (which is also picked by Sonnen due to the coin toss and Cormier’s choice of picking the first fighters) Team Cormier’s Daniil Donchenko will take on Team Sonnen’s Richard Martins.

    Will Team Sonnen draw first blood in both weight classes to start the season? Or will Team Cormier bounce back in the first 170-pound matchup of the season?

    Find out next week!

    We get a brief montage previewing some of the drama and action that awaits in the rest of the season, as well as some future TUF guests.

    Thanks for joining me in the inaugural edition of The TUF Stuff!

  • “Micromanagy and Stubborn”: Cory Sandhagen Opens Up on Mistakes Before Umar Nurmagomedov Bout

    “Micromanagy and Stubborn”: Cory Sandhagen Opens Up on Mistakes Before Umar Nurmagomedov Bout

    In his most recent bout earlier this month, Cory Sandhagen put on a masterclass performance, pulling off a second-round stoppage of Deiveson Figueriedo in the main event of UFC Des Moines. It was a showing that left many people wondering how sooner it’ll be before we see Sandhagen challenging for the UFC bantamweight championship.

    Funny enough, it was a complete turnaround from when we saw Sandhagen in a title eliminator bout. Prior to facing Figueriedo, Sandhagen’s most recent bout had been a fight with Umar Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi last August — with a shot at the 135-pound gold on the line.

    Against the former flyweight champion, Sandhagen got the better of Figueiredo on the feet and outperformed him in the grappling exchanges. None of that could be said in his fight with Nurmagomedov, with the Dagestani fighter completely wiping the floor with Sandhagen in a one-sided, dominating performance.

    In his recent appearance on the Overdogs Podcast with Mike Perry, Sandhagen said the scorecards told a different story than what the fight came down to. He, in particular, pointed out a mistake of choosing moments an all-around, 25-minute battle.

    “I definitely didn’t perform my best, but I made little tiny errors that would have made the fight winnable for me,” Sandhagen said. “I just got really hyper-focused on having big moments, and that’s just not what I do. I overthought that one a lot too because Umar had a unique style, and I’m the type of idiot to overthink stuff and overdo stuff. I’ll just make corrections and be ready for him next time.”

    Cory Sandhagen Says He Let His Coaches Coach In Lead Up To Fight vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

    Sandhagen added that part of the issue also stemmed from taking control of the training camp he had in the weeks leading up to fighting Nurmagomedov. Looking back, Sandhagen felt he overstepped boundaries and got in the way of his coaches trying to help him perfect his craft.

    Sandhagen said he made sure he took a step back this time around.

    “One major change I made from the last camp to this one was I let my coaches do their job,” Sandhagen said. “Before, I was really micromanagy. This camp, I was just like, ‘Hey guys, last camp I put way too much on my plate and that was my bad. This time, I’m going to just listen and be a good student.’ That took so much stress and junk off my mind. These guys are better than I am at a lot of things – they know more stuff. It’s my own stubbornness that sometimes gets in the way.”

    Sandhagen has now won four of his last five and awaits the winner of the Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley 2 title fight that headlines UFC 316 for a potential title shot.

  • Leon Edwards vs. Michael Morales Targeted for UFC 320 Showdown in Guadalajara

    Leon Edwards vs. Michael Morales Targeted for UFC 320 Showdown in Guadalajara

    UFC is working to finalize a welterweight bout between former champion Leon Edwards and undefeated contender Michael Morales for UFC 320, scheduled for September 13, 2025, in Guadalajara, Mexico. Both fighters have been approached for the matchup, which would take place at Arena Guadalajara as part of the UFC’s annual “Noche UFC” event.

    Leon Edwards vs. Michael Morales

    Leon Edwards, 33, enters this potential fight after a difficult stretch in his career. ‘Rocky’ Edwards, who began his UFC tenure in 2014, rose through the ranks with a series of notable wins, including a knockout victory over Kamaru Usman to claim the UFC welterweight title in August 2022. He successfully defended the belt twice, defeating Usman in a trilogy and Colby Covington, before losing the title to Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision in July 2024.

    Edwards then suffered his first finish loss in the UFC, submitting to Sean Brady in March 2025. Prior to these setbacks, Leon Edwards was on a 13-fight unbeaten streak and was regarded as one of the division’s most consistent performers. He remains ranked among the top welterweights and is aiming to work his way back to title contention.

    Michael Morales, 25, represents a new generation in the division. The Ecuadorian fighter is undefeated in his professional career, holding an 18-0 record with 13 wins by knockout. Morales made his UFC debut in January 2022 and has since accumulated wins over opponents such as Trevin Giles, Adam Fugitt, Max Griffin, Jake Matthews, Neil Magny, and most recently, former title challenger Gilbert Burns.

    His victory over Burns, a first-round technical knockout in May 2025, further established Morales as a rising contender and earned him a second Performance of the Night bonus. Morales has a background in judo and wrestling, and has demonstrated finishing ability and composure against increasingly high-level competition. He is currently ranked in the top 10 of the welterweight division.

    Michael Morales Breaks His Silence After Statement Win Over Gilbert Burns.
    Image: @ufc/Instagram

    UFC 320

    The stakes for this fight are significant. For Leon Edwards, a win would halt his losing streak and reestablish him as a top contender in a division that has seen rapid turnover at the top. For Morales, a victory over a former champion would solidify his status as a legitimate title challenger and potentially set up a future shot at the belt. UFC 320 in Guadalajara is expected to be a major event, with both fighters looking to make a statement in front of an energized Mexican crowd.

    Leon Edwards
    Image: UFC.com
  • Pressure Mounts As Over 80,000 Fans Demand UFC Strip Jon Jones Of Heavyweight Title, “Bones” Remains Unfazed

    Pressure Mounts As Over 80,000 Fans Demand UFC Strip Jon Jones Of Heavyweight Title, “Bones” Remains Unfazed

    Jon Jones appears entirely indifferent by the growing calls from the MMA community for him to be stripped of his UFC heavyweight title.

    Jones clinched the UFC heavyweight title with a first-round submission win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023. However, more than two years have passed since that moment, and he has defended his title only once during that span.

    “Bones” has spent the bulk of his heavyweight reign on the sidelines after suffering a serious torn pectoral injury ahead of his first title defense against former champ Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 in November 2023. Following his injury-induced exit, Tom Aspinall captured the interim heavyweight title and emerged as the division’s new force.

    However, rather than facing Aspinall in a highly anticipated title unification clash, Jon Jones chose a different path upon his return to the Octagon — opting instead to defend his heavyweight belt against Miocic at UFC 309 this past November.

    Although the British standout has relentlessly campaigned for a potential showdown with Jones, “Bones” has expressed minimal interest in the matchup. He has repeatedly suggested that only a massive payday could entice him into the Octagon with Aspinall — otherwise, he seems more inclined to retire. Jones’ stance has remained largely noncommittal, casting serious doubt over whether the fight will ever materialize.

    Jon Jones Responds To Fan-Led Petition To Strip His UFC Heavyweight Belt

    Frustrated by Jon Jones’ seemingly nonchalant attitude toward a potential heavyweight title unification bout with Tom Aspinall, fans launched a petition on Change.org two weeks ago, urging UFC CEO Dana White to take action and strip “Bones” of his title over his ongoing unwillingness to face the interim champion.

    The petition has surprisingly gained momentum, amassing over 82,000 verified signatures at the time of writing.

    The surge of fan backlash has not gone unnoticed by Jones, who addressed the petition on social media by taking a pointed jab at his naysayers.

    “The equivalent to pico grams,” Jon Jones wrote on Instagram.

    Jones’ jab carried a not-so-subtle reference to one of the most controversial moments of his UFC career. The joke traced back to UFC 232 in December 2018, when “Bones” made his return from a 15-month suspension after testing positive for an anabolic steroid, stepping in to rematch Alexander Gustafsson.

    However, just a week before the fight, Jones once again tested positive, this time for trace amounts measured in picograms of the same steroid that had previously led to his suspension. Years later, USADA revised its regulations, clarifying that levels below 100 picograms no longer constitute a violation.

    Image: @jonnybones/Instagram