MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Watch Leon Edwards, Sean Brady Face Off At UFC London Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    Watch Leon Edwards, Sean Brady Face Off At UFC London Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    UFC London takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    The upcoming UFC Fight Night event at The O2 in London, England, provides a chance for ex-welterweight champion Leon Edwards to bounce back after losing the title to Belal Muhammad last July. To return to winning ways, “Rocky” must get the better of another grappling specialist in Philadelphia’s Sean Brady.

    Co-headlining will be former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz, who will look to reinsert his name into the title conversation at 205 pounds almost two years on from his last bout opposite Alex Pereira. In his return, the Polish standout is tasked with defending his ranking against Carlos Ulberg.

    Elsewhere on the card, the likes of Gunnar Nelson, Molly McCann, Morgan Charriere, Nathaniel Wood, Jai Herbert, and Mick Parkin mark some of the European names looking to impress close to home.

    Ahead of the event, all fighters set to compete tomorrow successfully made weight, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC London ceremonial weigh-ins.

    Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 2 PM ET.

    UFC London Ceremonial Weigh-In Video

  • UFC London Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady Card

    UFC London Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady Card

    UFC London 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, March 22, at The O2 in London, England. The main card begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards. After losing his grip on the title courtesy of Belal Muhammad’s efforts last July, “Rocky” will look to get back on track opposite another grappling specialist in Philadelphia’s Sean Brady.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see ranked light heavyweight contenders Jan Blachowicz and Carlos Ulberg collide. The Polish ex-champ will be returning having overcome shoulder injuries that kept him away for close to two years. He’s tasked with stalling the rise of “Black Jag,” who has won seven straight and most recently beat Volkan Oezdemir to reach #6 in the rankings.

    And also making the walk on Saturday will be the likes of Molly McCann, Gunnar Nelson, Kevin Holland, Nathaniel Wood, Jordan Vucenic, Jai Herbert, and Marcin Tybura.

    UFC London: Edwards vs. Brady Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC London (as of 3/21), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Leon Edwards (+130) vs. Sean Brady (-155)
    • Jan Blachowicz (+245) vs. Carlos Ulberg (-305)
    • Gunnar Nelson (-120) vs. Kevin Holland (+100)
    • Molly McCann (+180) vs. Alexia Thainara (-218)
    • Jordan Vucenic (-455) vs. Chris Duncan (+350)
    • Nathaniel Wood (+120) vs. Morgan Charriere (-142)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Jai Herbert (-110) vs. Chris Padilla (-110)
    • Lone’er Kavanagh (-278) vs. Felipe dos Santos (+225)
    • Marcin Tybura (+105) vs. Mick Parkin (-125)
    • Christian Leroy Duncan (-575) vs. Andrey Pulyaev (+425)
    • Shauna Bannon (-170) vs. Puja Tomar (+142)
    • Nathan Fletcher (-122) vs. Caolan Loughran (+102)
    • Guram Kutateladze (-440) vs. Kaue Fernandes (+330)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi7WRz9Ll3c
  • UFC Fight Night: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results.

    The mixed martial arts leader is back across the pond this week to stage its latest event from The O2 in England’s capital.

    Headlining will be former welterweight champion Leon Edwards. After losing his grip on the title courtesy of Belal Muhammad’s efforts last July, “Rocky” will look to immediately bounce back on home soil at the expense of another grappling specialist in Sean Brady.

    Elsewhere, the likes of Jan Blachowicz, Molly McCann, Gunnar Nelson, Nathaniel Wood, and Mick Parkin will all be in action

    UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Brady Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Brady takes place on Saturday, March 22, at The O2 in London, England. The main card begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT.

    See above for a replay of the weigh-ins via MMA Junkie, and check out the results below.

    Main Card:

    • Welterweight: Leon Edwards (171lbs) vs. Sean Brady (170lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Jan Blachowicz (205lbs) vs. Carlos Ulberg (205lbs)
    • Welterweight: Gunnar Nelson (170lbs) vs. Kevin Holland (171lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Molly McCann (116lbs) vs. Alexia Thainara (116lbs)
    • Lightweight: Jordan Vucenic (155lbs) vs. Chris Duncan (155lbs)
    • Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood (145lbs) vs. Morgan Charriere (146lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Jai Herbert (156lbs) vs. Chris Padilla (155lbs)
    • Flyweight: Lone’er Kavanagh (126lbs) vs. Felipe dos Santos (125lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura (250lbs) vs. Mick Parkin (260lbs)
    • Middleweight: Christian Leroy Duncan (186lbs) vs. Andrey Pulyaev (185lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Shauna Bannon (116lbs) vs. Puja Tomar (116lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Nathan Fletcher (135lbs) vs. Caolan Loughran (136lbs)
    • Lightweight: Guram Kutateladze (155lbs) vs. Kaue Fernandes (155lbs)
  • Possible Challenger For Pantoja Emerges As UFC ‘Close’ To Re-Signing Ex-Opponent Of Demetrious Johnson’s

    Possible Challenger For Pantoja Emerges As UFC ‘Close’ To Re-Signing Ex-Opponent Of Demetrious Johnson’s

    Alexandre Pantoja could soon have a new challenger for his UFC flyweight title, as the promotion is reportedly on the verge of re-signing a former contender to shake up the division.

    Pantoja defended his 125-pound title at UFC 310 last December, securing a dominant second-round submission win over promotional debutant and former RIZIN FF bantamweight champion Kai Asakura.

    According to veteran MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, the UFC is now reportedly “very close” to finalizing a deal to bring back Kyoji Horiguchi, marking his return to the promotion after nine years.

    Helwani reported that the UFC is in active discussions to schedule Horiguchi vs. Tagir Ulanbekov for a potential June clash, possibly at a Fight Night event that could mark the promotion’s historic debut in Azerbaijan.

    “The Typhoon” spent nearly four years on the UFC roster, compiling a decent 7-1 record. His lone defeat in the Octagon came at UFC 186 in April 2015, where he challenged MMA legend Demetrious Johnson for the flyweight title, only to suffer a last-second submission loss.

    The 34-year-old Japanese powerhouse left the UFC on a three-fight win streak before signing with RIZIN FF, where he first captured the bantamweight title. He then had a brief stint in Bellator MMA, securing championship gold there as well. Upon returning to RIZIN, he cemented his legacy by claiming the flyweight belt.

    While it remains uncertain whether Horiguchi will need multiple fights or earn an immediate shot at the UFC flyweight title in his potential return, one thing is clear: he’s no stranger to the reigning champion. As a longtime training partner of ” The Cannibal’s” at American Top Team, Horiguchi is already well-versed in the champion’s skill set.

    “The Typhoon” last stepped into the ring at RIZIN 49: Decade in December, where he showcased his elite skills with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Nkazimulo Zulu

    Horiguchi boasts a impressive professional record of 35-5, with 15 wins by knockout and five by submission. Currently riding a six-fight unbeaten streak, the Japanese standout hasn’t tasted defeat since April 2022, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Patchy Mix at Bellator 279.

  • UFC Targeting Debut Event In New Country This Summer

    The UFC appears to be planning its first trip to a new country in the coming months.

    According to Ariel Helwani, the promotion is “close to finalizing” an event in the Republic of Azerbaijan, set for June 2025. This move aligns with the UFC’s ongoing efforts to expand its presence in Europe and Asia, with several major events scheduled throughout the year.

    Helwani shared the news in a video posted on X.

    “Some breaking news, if you guys want some. … According to sources, the UFC is close to finalizing a debut event in the Republic of Azerbaijan in June later this year,” Helwani said. “Now you may be thinking to yourself, wow, Azerbaijan, that is pretty random. Well, I do want to remind you that there are over 10 million people who reside in the Republic of Azerbaijan. It is technically located in Asia but is bordered by four countries: Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and Iran.

    “Now, I do want to stress this — there were a lot of reports that the UFC was going to Qatar in May. Then they seemingly called an audible, and now that event, I think, is happening at the Apex, which is quite the shift,” Helwani continued. “So, I do want to say that things are very fluid right now, but there’s a lot of money being thrown around. Mark Shapiro, the head man over at TKO, mentioned in that conference call we’ve talked about a few times that they were going to move a few Apex events to international locations, right? This would certainly fit as one of them. A date that I’ve seen thrown around is June 21. So, let’s see.”

    Meanwhile, the UFC’s next event is scheduled for an overseas location, as The O2 in London hosts the Octagon on March 22. The main event will feature former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards taking on Sean Brady. Originally, Edwards was slated to fight Jack Della Maddalena, but the Australian was reallocated to a title bout against current champ Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, leading to Brady stepping in as Edwards’ opponent.

    The co-main event will see former light heavyweight titleholder Jan Błachowicz against Carlos Ulberg.

    UFC Executive Dave Shaw recently announced plans to reduce the number of events at the UFC Apex facility in 2025, shifting focus toward more international locations, particularly in Europe. This strategic move aims to bring more live-action events to European fans.

    With the UFC’s European schedule for 2025 taking shape, additional event announcements are expected.

  • Weight Class Isn’t The Only Thing Ilia Topuria Is Changing For His Next UFC Fight

    Weight Class Isn’t The Only Thing Ilia Topuria Is Changing For His Next UFC Fight

    Ilia Topuria is set to unveil an entirely new version of himself the next time he steps into the Octagon.

    Topuria’s four-year journey in the UFC has been nothing short of spectacular. With an undefeated record and an ever-expanding highlight reel, he has cemented himself as one of the brightest stars in the MMA world.

    The Spaniard knocked out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February 2024 to claim the featherweight throne. He then solidified his reign at UFC 308 in October, making history as the first fighter to ever knock out Max Holloway while successfully defending his championship.

    However, last month, “El Matador” vacated his 145-pound title, setting his sights on the lightweight division in pursuit of becoming a two-division UFC champion. UFC CEO Dana White stated that Topuria chose to take this step after asserting that he had nothing left to prove at featherweight. Additionally, the growing challenge of cutting down to 145 pounds played a key role in his decision to move up a division.

    But it appears that Ilia Topuria’s transformation goes beyond just a change in weight class.

    Taking to X on Thursday, “El Matador” announced that he would be dropping his moniker — which translates to “The Killer” — and completely reinventing his identity for his next Octagon appearance.

    “‘El Matador’ has been my ally in every fight. But next time, I’ll step into the octagon with a new identity. #NewEra,” Topuria wrote.

    Ilia Topuria has been relentless in his pursuit of a title fight against reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. He even teased a major announcement, claiming fans “won’t believe it.”

    However, Makhachev’s camp has reportedly hinted that the Dagestani champion is not ready to grant Topuria a title shot just yet. Instead, they believe he must first prove himself in a title eliminator bout against a top contender.

  • Rose Namajunas’ UFC Return Set For Atlanta On June 14

    Rose Namajunas’ UFC Return Set For Atlanta On June 14

    Former two-time UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas would appear to have her first assignment of 2025 in the calendar.

    Namajunas (13-7) has gone 2-2 since moving up to flyweight following a lackluster end to her second reign at 115 pounds opposite Carla Esparza in 2022.

    While a debut defeat to Manon Fiorot stalled her plans for two-division glory, “Thug Rose” rose the ranks in her new weight class by outpointing Amanda Ribas and Tracy Cortez.

    But after Erin Blanchfield stalled the veteran’s plans for a perfect 3-0 year in 2024 and surge into title contention, Namajunas must defend her ranking next time out.

    The 32-year-old Wisconsin will return at the UFC Fight Night expected for Atlanta on June 14, where a showdown with the #12-ranked Miranda Maverick (15-5) awaits.

    The news, which was first reported by @realkevink on X, was confirmed by Maverick in a post on Instagram.

    “@rosenamajunas has been an inspiration for so many women, especially in WMMA, and I am no exception,” Maverick wrote. “I watched her fight as I was coming up in the sport and then I got to train with her on a regular basis. We have been training together for the past few years, but luckily train primarily at different gyms. Now it’s time to duke it out in front of the world and then go back to sharpening each other’s tools. I’m honored to share the cage with a champion person and fighter and I am ready to put the stamp on where I belong! #fearthemaverick #mma #wmma“

    “Fear The” Maverick has hit the best run of her UFC career to date, winning four on the bounce since a decision setback to Jasmine Jasudavicius in mid-2023. The 27-year-old most recently got the better of Jamey-Lyn Horth in Tampa last December.

  • Kamaru Usman Pitches Lightweight Opponent For Ilia Topuria — And It’s Not Islam Makhachev

    Kamaru Usman Pitches Lightweight Opponent For Ilia Topuria — And It’s Not Islam Makhachev

    Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has an idea for how Ilia Topuria can earn a shot at two-division glory.

    Topuria is set to embark on a new pursuit of gold this year after choosing to vacate the featherweight title after just one defense.

    While a rematch with the man from whom he took the gold last February, Alexander Volkanovski, was expected to await him following a knockout of Max Holloway, a desire to bid farewell to the grueling weight cut has resulted in Topuria committing to a permanent move up.

    By all accounts, the Spaniard is hoping to immediately challenge the lightweight reign of Islam Makhachev. But recent speculation has suggested the Dagestani is looking to have “El Matador” fight a contender first.

    Should that sentiment be shared by the UFC, Usman named a potential foe for Topuria’s first clash back at 155 pounds during a recent episode of his Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside Henry Cejudo.

    “Ilia Topuria, Mateusz Gamrot,” Usman said before justifying himself following Cejudo’s disapproval. “Hey, hey, hey, hey. The one thing we really don’t see often is Ilia Topuria on his back.”

    It didn’t take long for Gamrot to co-sign Usman’s suggestion, backing the potential matchup in a post on X.

    “Gamer,” who currently occupies the #8 ranking at 155 pounds, hasn’t fought since a narrow split decision loss to Dan Hooker in Perth last August. That result snapped a three-fight winning streak for the Polish standout.

  • Sean Brady Not Shocked He’s Favorite Over Leon Edwards: ‘Look At The Styles’

    Sean Brady Not Shocked He’s Favorite Over Leon Edwards: ‘Look At The Styles’

    Ahead of their March 22 UFC London welterweight main event, Sean Brady is favored at -170, while former champion Leon Edwards is the underdog at +140.

    This fight marks Edwards’ return since losing his title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 last summer. Brady, meanwhile, steps in for Jack Della Maddalena, who was moved to a title shot.

    The betting odds have shifted significantly this week, with Brady’s opening odds of -125 moving to -170 due to increased betting activity on him.

    Brady has a strong submission record, with all three of his UFC finishes coming via submission, including a kimura victory over Kelvin Gastelum. He is considered a strong contender in the welterweight division.

    Edwards has been taken down three or more times in six UFC fights. And despite victories over Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, Sean Brady saw plenty of holes in the Brit’s game.

    While speaking with Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter, Brady explained that he doesn’t pay attention to the odds for the fight but is unsurprised that he’s favored over the ex-titleholder.

    “I mean, I guess if I was to analyze it and take myself out of it, if you look at the styles…man’s been fighting grab orders his whole life, but a lot of them have given him trouble. You know, he was losing the Kamaru fight until he landed the head kick. I personally thought the third Kamaru fight was a lot closer than what people make it seem to be like. You could argue that fight for Kamaru. And then Belal did what Belal did to him.

    “If you look at ages of a lot of the guys he’s fighting, they’re a lot older, kind of at the end of his career. So I can understand why the odds are the way they are. But like I said, I’m not into any of that,” Sean Brady continued. “When I’m fighting, I’m ready for the best Leon Edwards, and you’re going to get the best Sean Brady.”

  • Michael Chandler Targeting Islam Makhachev In June After ‘Starching’ Pimblett At UFC 314

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler expects his performance in Miami next month to be so impressive that it nets him another shot at the division’s title soon after.

    After a second loss to Charles Oliveira left him 2-4 under the UFC banner, 2025 will mark a crucial year for Chandler and his ongoing championship ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage.

    His chance to return to winning ways comes on April 12, when he co-headlines the UFC 314 pay-per-view inside the Kaseya Center opposite rising Liverpudlian Paddy Pimblett.

    And more than just defending his #7 ranking in the fight, “Iron” is looking to stake his claim for a showdown with the lightweight king.

    During a recent interview with Covers.com, Michael Chandler suggested it’s not far-fetched that an emphatic display opposite Pimblett next month could see him quickly placed opposite Makhachev for a summer showdown.

    “There’s a world in which I go out there and emphatically starch Paddy Pimblett. And it’s the ‘what have you done for me lately business’,” Chandler said. “And all of a sudden, Islam wants to fight me and not someone else, and I fight him in June. Who knows? But with that being said, all of those names are on the table. Conor’s name was talked about. If Conor comes back this year I’m fighting him.

    “I am open to fighting Islam in June. The way this fight plays out, I think I’ll have less than a 60 day suspension, maybe a 30 day suspension, and I could fight again in June because the fight would be June 29, I believe it is,” Chandler continued. “So that’s like, 10 weeks later, so I could jump right back into a training camp and fight for the world title.”

    Makhachev is currently coming off his third defense of the lightweight crown, having submitted late-notice replacement opponent Renato Moicano at UFC 311 this past January.

    With Arman Tsarukyan’s withdrawal from that event costing him a title shot and talk of the Dagestani wanting Ilia Topuria to fight a contender before earning an opportunity at two-division glory, perhaps the door could be open for Chandler to make an impression.

  • Reinier de Ridder Dares Bo Nickal To Wrestle In Their UFC Des Moines Clash

    Reinier de Ridder Dares Bo Nickal To Wrestle In Their UFC Des Moines Clash

    Reinier de Ridder wants Bo Nickal to bring his best weapon to the Octagon when they face off.

    De Ridder is set to clash with Nickal in the co-main event of a UFC Fight Night on May 3, taking place at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

    “RDR” targeted a high-profile opponent, even calling out top contenders like Khamzat Chimaev after securing back-to-back submission wins early in his UFC tenure. Though he didn’t land the matchup he hoped for, he’s content with the direction his career is taking.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, De Ridder admitted that Nickal wasn’t his first choice for an opponent, as he had his eyes set on a top-five ranked fighter. However, the former two-division ONE Championship champion acknowledged the significance of a victory over the undefeated prospect.

    “I’m happy with the fight,” Reinier De Ridder said. “It’s a good one. It’s not what I asked for. I asked for a top-five guy, but I think he’s a top-five name, right? He’s a very popular guy here in the States, and yeah, I’m happy with the matchup. See if we can make him grapple a bit, see if we can make him wrestle a bit. I think whatever happens, I might steal the spotlight in this one.”

    Bo Nickal is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Paul Craig at UFC 309 last November. Despite his elite wrestling background, the American opted to forgo takedowns and relied entirely on his striking.

    Now, De Ridder is eager to see Nickal fully utilize his most dangerous asset in their upcoming matchup.

    “I feel my wrestling is pretty decent, as well. I really want to make him wrestle this time. Last fight he was just sticking and moving, throwing that wild overhand of his, and trying to make sure he didn’t wrestle at all. But let’s make it a wrestling match this time, see if we can get him to shoot a couple of times, see if I can get his neck.”

    “RDR” is fresh off a dominant first-round submission victory over Kevin Holland at UFC 311 in January. After leaving ONE Championship, De Ridder made his UFC debut last year, securing a submission win against Gerald Meerschaert at a Fight Night event in November.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Ranks José Aldo As Tougher Opponent Than O’Malley And Nurmagomedov

    Merab Dvalishvili Ranks José Aldo As Tougher Opponent Than O’Malley And Nurmagomedov

    According to UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili, neither the man from whom he took the title nor the one he recently defended it against come close to being among his toughest opposition.

    Dvalishvili has been on a tear in recent years, winning 10 straight to finally earn a shot at the 135-pound gold on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, capturing it from Sean O’Malley, and retaining it at the expense of previously undefeated Dagestani Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Prior to his championship bouts, the Georgian got past a trio of former champions in José Aldo, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo. And interestingly, Dvalishvili places all three above “Suga” and Nurmagomedov in terms of opponent difficulty.

    The reigning champion recently ranked his past five foes from easiest to hardest in a video uploaded to X by @judobetter995. He placed the man he defeated at UFC 311 this year, Nurmagomedov, in fifth. The bantamweight he dethroned inside the Sphere last September didn’t fare much better, coming in at fourth.

    Judging by the list, Dvalishvili’s toughest bout of the five came in August 2022, when he outpointed Aldo at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City. The manner of victory was widely criticized, and perhaps contributed to the Georgian having to defeat both Yan and Cejudo before getting his opportunity at the strap.

  • Belal Muhammad: Leon Edwards Will Lose To Brady Because Of ‘Flashbacks’ From UFC 304

    Belal Muhammad: Leon Edwards Will Lose To Brady Because Of ‘Flashbacks’ From UFC 304

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad believes the memory of his dominance over Leon Edwards will play a part in this weekend’s main event.

    Edwards is set to return to action on Saturday for the first time since losing his grip on the 170-pound gold last July. “Rocky” was comfortably beaten by Muhammad across five rounds in the UFC 304 headliner.

    In his pursuit of a second title reign, Edwards will share the Octagon with another grappler in the rising Sean Brady inside The O2 in London on March 22.

    Edwards anticipates a victory earning him a shot at regaining the welterweight title. The man who took it from him, however, doesn’t foresee a victory on home soil for the Brit.

    In a recent social media post, Muhammad reacted to Edwards’ continuing claim that injuries and a struggle to adapt to the 5 AM fight time impacted his performance last summer.

    “Remember the Name” pointed to such remarks as evidence that his longtime rival is “weak mentally,” and predicted that the memory of UFC 304 will ultimately hamper Edwards when he makes the walk in a few days’ time.

    “This guys full of excuses that’s why Brady will beat him,” Muhammad wrote on X. “I predict once Brady gets him down two or three times he’ll find a submission…because Leon’s weak mentally and he’ll have flash backs from what I did to him”

    While Leon Edwards looks to prove the champ wrong this weekend, Belal Muhammad will soon return to action himself.

    After having plans for his first defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov late last year scrapped due to injury, the Palestinian-American will instead put the belt on the line against Jack Della Maddalena at the Montreal-held UFC 315 pay-per-view on May 10.

  • Manager: Kayla Harrison Gets Similar ‘Hate’ To Top Dagestani Fighters

    Manager: Kayla Harrison Gets Similar ‘Hate’ To Top Dagestani Fighters

    Former Invicta FC champion and UFC featherweight title contender Megan Anderson doubts Kayla Harrison will achieve a dominant reign similar to Amanda Nunes’ in the UFC, particularly at bantamweight. 

    With the promotion’s 145-pound division defunct after Nunes’ retirement, Harrison, a two-time PFL lightweight champion, has joined the promotion to compete at 135 pounds. 

    While Harrison secured victories over Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira to likely secure a title shot against Julianna Peña, Anderson questioned Harrison’s long-term ability to consistently make the bantamweight limit.

    “The caveat for me with Kayla is — and I said this when it was announced that she was going to drop to 135 — just because you can make the weight, doesn’t always mean you should,” Anderson told MMA Fighting. “For women, these big weight cuts, hormonally, it’s not good. So even if she does go out there, she dominates Julianna, or it’s a back-and-forth battle and she ends up becoming the champion, I don’t see her fighting for too much longer. It’s the toll on the body, it’s the quality of life, you know?

    Ali Abdelaziz, the manager of Harrison, weighed in on the hot take by Anderson on X.

    “I see many fighters and media  member rooting against the guys from Dagstan because they are so dominant @KaylaH get in the same treatment don’t hate congratulate.”

    While the UFC hasn’t officially announced Kayla Harrison as Julianna Peña’s next opponent or set a date for the fight, Anderson stated that she it’s a favorable stylistic matchup.

  • Chael Sonnen Berates Jon Jones Over Reports Of 6-Month Training Demand For Tom Aspinall Fight

    Chael Sonnen Berates Jon Jones Over Reports Of 6-Month Training Demand For Tom Aspinall Fight

    Former fighter Chael Sonnen doesn’t understand UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones’ alleged stance on the timeline for a unification fight with Tom Aspinall.

    Months into 2025, fight fans are still none the wiser about whether or not they’ll see Jones and Aspinall share the Octagon. While the interim champ has been calling for the fight since his crowning in late 2023, “Bones” has continued to actively avoid it.

    Since Jones defeated Stipe Miocic last November, UFC CEO Dana White has expressed confidence in the matchup coming to fruition. The latest update, however, has suggested that even if the promotion comes to terms with the heavyweight kingpin, the fight won’t be reaching the cage anytime soon.

    According to renowned reporter Ariel Helwani, who was speaking on his YouTube channel, Jones “wants six months to prepare once the fight is locked in.”

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, a former rival of Jon Jones’ in Chael Sonnen offered a bemused reaction to that claim.

    “It’s been four and a half months since that fight (against Miocic). Did he not train? Train with Aspinall in mind? Did he not full-well know the undisputed champion was going to take on the interim champion?” Sonnen said. “What do you mean you need six months? Six months from when? Six months starting when? Dare do I guess, you mean from right now, don’t you?”

    While Aspinall continues to wait for news of the UFC’s talks with Jones, he has stressed his willingness to fight any other contender next as long as undisputed status is on the line.

  • Tom Aspinall: Only ‘Uneducated’ Fans Thought Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev Was Boring

    Tom Aspinall: Only ‘Uneducated’ Fans Thought Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev Was Boring

    Tom Aspinall is perplexed by the scoring decisions in the MMA community that favored Alex Pereira in the UFC 313 main event.

    Earlier this month, Magomed Ankalaev defeated Pereira by unanimous decision to become light heavyweight champion at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    The scoring of the UFC 313 main event was highly contested, with media members and fans divided. On MMA Decisions. nine members scored the bout for Pereira, which Aspinall finds incomprehensible.

    And the interim heavyweight champ was similarly baffled by those who branded the March 8 main event “boring.”

    “I think Ankalaev just had him guessing a lot,” Aspinall said in an interview with JNMediaUK. “I think Pereira’s level on the ground, I don’t know what level he’s at, but I think he’s still a bit wary of getting taken down. He definitely defended the takedowns well, but me with an educated eye watching it, I don’t think Ankalaev was really trying to take him down that much. He definitely tried a couple of times. I think he did 10 or 11 takedown attempts, but I would say only two or three of them he went full blast.

    “I think the rest of the time, he was trying to tire him out with the grappling standing, like the cage grappling stuff. I think Ankalaev had the perfect game plan. He didn’t overcommit, tired him out. I can’t believe people watched that fight and thought that Pereira won. It was just wild to me how many uneducated fans are out there and how many uneducated fans thought it was a boring fight, as well. I thought it was an amazing fight, both guys did good, and I think Ankalaev was just a lot better than him on the night. That’s it.”

    Despite Alex Pereira’s recent loss, which potentially benefits Tom Aspinall as he awaits his title unification fight with Jon Jones, Aspinall believes Pereira could still transition to the heavyweight division in the future.

    “He can do whatever he wants, can’t he? He’s an absolute megastar,” Aspinall said. “I think there’s fights to be made at middleweight, light heavy or heavy for him. He can do whatever he wants.”

  • Yoel Romero Sends Former Opponent Israel Adesanya Advice Amid UFC Losing Skid

    Yoel Romero Sends Former Opponent Israel Adesanya Advice Amid UFC Losing Skid

    Former UFC middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero has laid out some words of wisdom for a struggling ex-foe of his.

    Israel Adesanya once ruled over the 185-pound division with an iron fist and surged toward legendary status on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. But he’s currently enduring the worst run of his career to date.

    “The Last Stylebender” has won just once since 2022, with four of his last five bouts ending in defeat. The Nigerian-New Zealander most recently made an unsuccessful return to non-title competition following losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis. He was knocked out by Nassourdine Imavov at the UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia early last month.

    It remains to be seen what lies ahead for Adesanya. While some in the community have advised retirement, one face familiar to the Lagos-born star has outlined a potential path for the former champ to get back to his best.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Yoel Romero sent some advice the way of Adesanya, stressing the importance of rest and recovery.

    “Israel, he needed time, he needed rest,” Romero said. “That’s what I think. He needs to rest a little bit, because too much damage. The problem is, the UFC (doesn’t) give you time. When the UFC calls you, you need to come because you have a contract.

    “Now, he needs to think about training. Not too hard; not too hard in the sparring,” Romero continued. “He needs to go to training like a therapy; recovery for the body. He doesn’t need now too much sparring. That is my opinion for Israel. If he wants to be back again, he needs to recover the body. He’s still training very hard; it’s not good.”

    Adesanya defended the middleweight title against Romero at UFC 248 in early 2020. The highly anticipated clash turned out to be a lackluster contest across five rounds that was firmly overshadowed by the co-main event war between Zhang Weili and Joanna Jędrzejczyk.

    While “The Last Stylebender” looks to regain his winning form in the UFC, Romero is days away from his second fight for Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship this weekend.

    “Soldier of God” is also expected to face Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the Global Fight League, though dates and venues for the new promotion’s first events remain undisclosed.

  • Former Foe Endorses Ilia Topuria’s Immediate Shot At LW Title: ‘He Sort Of Deserves It’

    Former Foe Endorses Ilia Topuria’s Immediate Shot At LW Title: ‘He Sort Of Deserves It’

    A former opponent of Ilia Topuria’s believes ‘El Matador’ has proven himself worthy and has rightfully earned an immediate shot at the UFC lightweight title.

    Last month, Topuria gave up his UFC featherweight championship to chase 155-pound gold and potentially secure his place as the promotion’s 10th two-division titleholder. Consequently, former champion Alexander Volkanovski is set to face the fast-rising Diego Lopes for the vacant 145-pound title at UFC 314 on April 12.

    UFC CEO Dana White previously mentioned that Ilia Topuria’s decision to move up a weight class was driven by his belief that he had already accomplished enough in the featherweight division, along with the increasing difficulty of making the weight limit.

    While the undefeated Spaniard has made it clear that he’s eager to face reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, it’s still uncertain whether he’ll be granted an instant title shot.

    Rumors are also circulating that the Dagestani champion is unwilling to defend his belt until Topuria first proves himself in a title eliminator matchup against a top contender. However, Volkanovski is confident that “El Matador” has earned the opportunity to face Makhachev.

    During a recent appearance on the Believe You Me podcast, ‘The Great’ voiced his support for Ilia Topuria’s shot at the 155-pound title, commending his former foe for not clinging to his featherweight title or chasing simultaneous championships across two divisions.

    “Put it this way, if he was trying to hang on to both belts, I don’t think that was going to happen,” Volkanovski said. “The fact that he’s vacated and the lightweight division’s in a position where, I don’t know, there’s no real clear No. 1, I think it’s fair. The fact that he vacated, I think that that’s fair.

    “If he wanted to hang on and do the double champ thing, I think he needed to do more work, but the fact that he’s like, ‘Look, I’m going to let this one go. Let that division move on. I want to commit to lightweight. I think that’s big. I think that’s fair, so I think he sort of deserves it.”

    Topuria secured the 145-pound title for the first time at UFC 298 in February 2024, delivering a stunning knockout of Volkanovski. He successfully defended his belt at UFC 308 in October, securing another knockout, this time against Max Holloway.

  • Charles Oliveira Still Targeting ‘Only Thing’ UFC Career Is Missing

    Charles Oliveira Still Targeting ‘Only Thing’ UFC Career Is Missing

    Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira likes the sound of adding “reigning BMF titleholder” in front of his name.

    Oliveira has accomplished virtually everything possible during his career on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. A career resurgence post-2017 saw “Do Bronx” win 11 straight, a run that culminated in title glory and a successful defense.

    The Brazilian, who holds an abundance of records and a certain place in the UFC Hall of Fame upon his career’s conclusion, is currently pursuing a second stint on the 155-pound throne.

    That, however, isn’t the only belt Oliveira has his sights on.

    During an interview with Oddspedia, “Do Bronx” reiterated his desire to run it back with featherweight legend and current 155-pound contender Max Holloway, citing his desire to secure one thing missing from his résumé — Holloway’s BMF strap.

    “The BMF means the toughest guy in the division, right? I want to show that I’m the toughest guy in the division,” Charles Oliveira said. “When we speak about legacy, we speak about being the champion, but BMF is about being the toughest guy, and that’s what I consider myself to be in this division. 

    “I believe that I have shown that and having the BMF belt is the only thing that is missing,” Oliveira concluded.

    Holloway and Oliveira first collided back in 2015, with an esophagus injury rendering the latter unable to continue early into the first round.

  • Paul Craig Booked For Light Heavyweight Return At UFC Vegas 106 After Bo Nickal Loss

    Paul Craig Booked For Light Heavyweight Return At UFC Vegas 106 After Bo Nickal Loss

    It would seem that Paul Craig’s brief middleweight experiment in the UFC has come to a relatively swift end.

    After testing the waters of a cut down to 185 pounds, Craig (17-9-1) looked to re-find winning form in a new division. While his arrival was strong, defeating the once highly touted Andre Muniz by TKO, the Scotsman has since lost three straight.

    Following a submission loss to Brendan Allen and knockout at the hands of Caio Borralho, “Bearjew” was most recently outpointed by the undefeated Bo Nickal at UFC 309 last November.

    That result has evidently marked Craig’s final straw at middleweight, with the veteran set to return to the division in which he was formerly ranked.

    Craig will reportedly share the cage with Rodolfo Bellato (12-2-1) at UFC Vegas 106 on May 17. The news was first reported by @MagicM_MMABets on X and later corroborated by Marcel Dorff.

    Bellato is currently undefeated in his two fights since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023. After a memorable comeback to knock out Ihor Potieria on debut, “Trator” most recently fought to a majority draw against Jimmy Crute at UFC 312 last month.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night at the Apex on May 17 are as follows:

    • Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev (heavyweight)
    • Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato (light heavyweight)
    • Serghei Spivac vs. Shamil Gaziev (heavyweight)
    • Luana Santos vs. Tainara Lisboa (women’s bantamweight)
    • Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Mohammed Usman (heavyweight)
  • ‘Trump Just Agreed To A 700% Tariff On Dagestan’ – Fans React To Conor McGregor’s White House Visit

    ‘Trump Just Agreed To A 700% Tariff On Dagestan’ – Fans React To Conor McGregor’s White House Visit

    Conor McGregor made a notable appearance at the White House in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

    On Monday, McGregor, along with his partner Dee Devlin and their four children, was called upon by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, at the Oval Office in Washington, D.C.. He also had a meeting with X CEO Elon Musk and other prominent officials.

    During his time at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the former two-division UFC champion spoke to the press and once again voiced his concerns about the polarizing issue of illegal immigration in his homeland of Ireland, a topic he has long been outspoken about.

    Fans had a mixed reaction to Conor McGregor’s unexpected visit to the White House to meet Trump, with many referencing “The Notorious” in various creative ways.

    https://twitter.com/baio39273418/status/1901968656835502496
    https://twitter.com/TommyRazan/status/1901715534372302872

    Conor McGregor’s visit to Washington, paired with his outspoken stance on Ireland’s immigration policies, did not go without controversy, as it sparked backlash from the country’s leadership.

    Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin strongly rebuked his statements, while Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris was quick to clarify that the 36-year-old UFC star was not in the White House as a representative of Ireland.

    “The Notorious” has been out of action since suffering a brutal leg fracture in his trilogy bout against longtime rival Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

    After years on the sidelines, McGregor was finally set to make his highly anticipated return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024, following their stint as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter Season 31 in 2023.

    However, just two weeks before fight night, the Irishman withdrew due to a broken toe, leaving fans uncertain about if or when he will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon.

  • UFC Veteran Says Leon Edwards Is Making ‘Excuses’ For Belal Muhammad Loss

    UFC Veteran Says Leon Edwards Is Making ‘Excuses’ For Belal Muhammad Loss

    Leon Edwards has blamed his July loss of the UFC welterweight title to Belal Muhammad on less-than-ideal circumstances. While potentially true, one retired fighter says the Brit is still making “excuses.”

    Edwards and his coach, Dave Lovell, have cited the unusually late fight time (approximately 5 a.m. local time) as a major factor, with “Rocky” describing his reactions as “slow” and Lovell estimating his fighter performed at only “30 to 40 percent” of his potential.

    Retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown understands Edwards’ struggles, having experienced similar issues throughout his own career. However, he believes that publicly airing these grievances after a defeat is generally perceived negatively.

    “I understand where Leon’s coming from, especially being in his home country,” Brown said of Leon Edwards on the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer. “He’s certainly accustomed to a certain rhythm, a routine of sleeping and waking. Belal coming from another country, there’s some excitement and everything’s new. The time zone is new. You’re going to be adjusting to the time zone regardless.

    “I guess I could see it a little bit, but we’re right on track with the same thing we always say. You can’t take away from Belal. He fought amazing in that fight. That’s part of being a fighter. You have to deal with shit like that. Things like that have thrown me off in the past, too, 100 percent during fights. I know it. I don’t necessarily say it publicly. But it is factual. It does happen but that’s being a fighter.”

    Brown, a veteran of 15 years in the UFC, recognizes the significant impact that external factors can have on a fighter’s performance. He understands that, beyond skill and ability, numerous outside-the-cage issues have influenced his own outcomes.

    Furthermore, Brown acknowledges that regardless of the candor displayed by fighters and their coaches after a loss, the public reaction from fans, fellow fighters, and the media will inevitably follow a predictable pattern.

    Leon Edwards is set to return to action this weekend, once again on home soil. Unlike last July’s pay-per-view event, Saturday’s UFC London card will take place in UK primetime, perhaps boosting Edwards’ chances of a rebound victory at the expense of Sean Brady.

  • Dricus Du Plessis: Magomed Ankalaev Took The ‘Biggest Payday Of My Life’ At UFC 313

    Dricus Du Plessis: Magomed Ankalaev Took The ‘Biggest Payday Of My Life’ At UFC 313

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis watched on as his chances of a showdown with Alex Pereira appeared to slip away earlier this month.

    Talk of a champ vs. champ clash between the pair dwindled when Pereira’s light heavyweight reign came to an abrupt end at the hands of Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC 313 main event.

    The Dagestani made good on his promise to mark “Poatan’s” toughest test to date, using his well-rounded arsenal to outpoint the Brazilian fan favorite across five rounds inside T-Mobile Arena.

    Among those watching on was Du Plessis, who has long expressed his plans to eventually move up and challenge for two-division glory. Should that occur anytime soon, the South African will no longer be getting a high-profile money fight with arguably the UFC’s top star.

    During a video uploaded to Jackson O’Doherty’s YouTube channel, Du Plessis can be seen reacting live as the UFC 313 main event unfolded.

    “And he (Pereira) wants to go down to middleweight?” Du Plessis said with a laugh while watching the fight. “Ankalaev fought a good game. Thanks Ankalaev for taking the biggest payday of my life.”

    Pereira, though, has plans to return to the 205-pound throne. The former middleweight and light heavyweight kingpin outlined his intention to seek immediate redemption opposite Ankalaev later this year, and UFC CEO Dana White was quick to green light a rematch.

    Du Plessis, meanwhile, is expected to place his attention on the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev next after already pushing past challenges from Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland.

  • UFC Counts Down Top 5 London Moments, Including Brutal Masvidal KO

    UFC Counts Down Top 5 London Moments, Including Brutal Masvidal KO

    Former welterweight star Jorge Masvidal featured as the UFC looked back on some memorable moments in London.

    The mixed martial arts leader is back in England’s capital this week, with The O2 playing host to UFC Fight Night action on Saturday, March 22. Headlining will be former 170-pound champion Leon Edwards, who returns to compete in the city where he recorded a successful title defense back in 2023.

    “Rocky” has had plenty more memorable moments in London, including a backstage altercation with Masvidal.

    A 2019 trip across the pond provided plenty of notable highlights, largely thanks to “Gamebred.” Inside the cage, the Miami native began his surge to stardom by brutally knocking out home favorite Darren Till in the main event. Soon after, he delivered the infamous “three piece and a soda” to Edwards after having his backstage interview interrupted.

    Of those two actions, Masvidal’s victory over “The Gorilla” made it onto the UFC’s recent video looking back on the five best moments from its past London cards.

    The KO of Till was included alongside Arnold Allen’s rapid finish of Dan Hooker, Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev’s barnburner, Michael Bisping’s triumph over the legendary Anderson Silva, and Jan Blachowicz’s Fight of the Night battle with Jimi Manuwa.

    Of those names, only Blachowicz will feature as part of this weekend’s lineup at The O2. The former light heavyweight champion will return from a lengthy injury layoff looking to defend his spot in the rankings against the fast-charging Carlos Ulberg.

  • ‘Angry Marvin Vettori’ Back After Loss In UFC Return ‘Sparked The Fire Again’

    ‘Angry Marvin Vettori’ Back After Loss In UFC Return ‘Sparked The Fire Again’

    According to former UFC middleweight title challenger Marvin Vettori, something good came out of his loss this past weekend.

    Vettori returned to action for the first time in almost two years, running it back with Roman Dolidze in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event at the Apex.

    While the Georgian marked the last man Vettori has beaten, the Italian was unable to repeat his 2023 feat in London when they squared off in a rematch, instead falling to a convincing decision defeat.

    Having now lost three of his last four, Vettori is firmly out of the championship conversation at 185 pounds. But although that will no doubt be a disappointment for him, it isn’t all negative.

    In a recent social media post, “The Italian Dream” claimed his latest setback has “sparked the fire again.”

    Vettori will now look to prove as much when he makes the walk again, and he seemingly has a name in mind for his second outing of 2025.

    “Saturday sparked the fire again, 21 months out was a bit,” Marvin Vettori wrote on X. “Angry Vettori might be back lol. Time to win some fights. Allen before I see you outside, what you doing next? Who is gonna retire who?”

    Brendan Allen also started this year on the wrong foot, having fallen to a two-fight losing skid courtesy of Anthony Hernandez in Seattle last month.

    After consecutive losses to Nassourdine Imavov and “Fluffy,” Allen sits one place below Vettori in the UFC middleweight rankings at #11.