MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Watch Fired-Up Belal Muhammad’s Corner Reaction To Ignacio Bahamondes Win At UFC 313

    Watch Fired-Up Belal Muhammad’s Corner Reaction To Ignacio Bahamondes Win At UFC 313

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad was an animated figure in the corner of Ignacio Bahamondes this weekend.

    Bahamondes was among those tasked with setting the stage for Saturday’s championship headliner at UFC 313, and the highly touted lightweight prospect emerged as one of the event’s top performers.

    “La Jaula” made the most of his opportunity to break into the rankings, submitting the once fast-rising Jalin Turner with a shock triangle choke in the very first round.

    Talking the Chilean 27-year-old through the action cageside was a notable teammate of his in Belal Muhammad. And the UFC posted footage of the champ’s ecstatic reaction as his man forced a tap from “The Tarantula.”

    “Let’s go! Best in the world, I told you guys,” Muhammad said to the camera. “He can strike and he can grapple, he does it all!”

    Turned revealed his intentions to retire in the aftermath of Saturday’s bout, admitting he’d been pondering the decision since his setback to Renato Moicano at UFC 300 last April.

    Bahamondes will likely inherit his #13 position in the lightweight rankings, having moved to a three-fight winning streak with his triumph at UFC 313.

  • Justin Gaethje’s Hopes For Another Title Shot Get A Big Boost After UFC 313

    Justin Gaethje’s Hopes For Another Title Shot Get A Big Boost After UFC 313

    It would seem that Justin Gaethje has the higher-ups on board when it comes to his desire to challenge for the UFC lightweight title again.

    Gaethje secured a huge result in the context of his ongoing ambitions on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this weekend, when the promotion staged its latest pay-per-view event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    “The Highlight” co-headlined UFC 313 in a rematch with Rafael Fiziev, who stepped up on short notice to replace the injured Dan Hooker.

    While the Azerbaijani performed admirably across three rounds of brutal back-and-forth action, it wasn’t enough to exact revenge on Gaethje, who once again added Fiziev’s name to his record’s win column by way of decision.

    The win marked a rebound for the American 11 months on from a devastating knockout loss to Max Holloway. Beforehand, “The Highlight” was in the conversation for a title shot after sleeping Dustin Poirier, and he now hopes to be back in that discussion.

    During his post-fight press conference, Dana White reacted to Gaethje announcing his continued push toward Islam Makhachev’s gold at the age of 36. The UFC CEO’s remarks made for good listening for the ex-interim champ.

    “I mean, what’s he ranked right now? Fourth or something, right? Third?” White said. “There you go. He’s still the number three-ranked guy in the world. So the odds of him getting a title shot are pretty good.”

    Justin Gaethje has previously fallen short of the undisputed throne on two occasions, with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira submitting him in 2020 and 2022, respectively.

  • Jiří Procházka Congratulates Magomed Ankalaev On UFC 313, Gets Called ‘Terrible Fighter’ In Return

    Jiří Procházka Congratulates Magomed Ankalaev On UFC 313, Gets Called ‘Terrible Fighter’ In Return

    If Jiří Procházka was anticipating a respectful interaction with new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Magomed Ankalaev, he was sorely mistaken.

    Procházka, a former titleholder himself, watched on this weekend as his ex-opponent Alex Pereira returned to the cage at UFC 313 in Las Vegas for his fourth defense of the 205-pound title.

    After wins over Jamahal Hill, Procházka, and Khalil Rountree Jr. in 2024 grew his stardom, “Poatan” was looking to emerge victorious from his toughest test in the division to date — a clash with the well-rounded Ankalaev.

    But the Russian challenger upset the Brazilian and his sizable fanbase with an impressive performance across five rounds to wrest the gold away via unanimous decision.

    Amid a mix of praise for the triumph and criticism for the manner of victory, another of the division’s top names in Procházka appeared on social media to give a congratulatory take on Ankalaev’s display.

    “Congrats to @AnkalaevM, beautiful pressure. Most of people dont like it, but you won the title for now,” Procházka wrote on X, before turning his attention to Pereira. “@AlexPereiraUFC, last dance?”

    While, to most, that reads as the Czech star even defending Magomed Ankalaev against the backlash his fight style continues to receive, the light heavyweight kingpin evidently doesn’t care for such praise from a rival…

    “I think you are a fraud and so many guys deserve it more than you you need to go win some fights,” Magomed Ankalaev responded.

    And after the ESPN MMA account reposted Procházka’s post, Ankalaev was once again close by with a puzzling insult to the Czech fan favorite.

    “This guy is a terrible fighter”

    It’s unclear exactly what “BJP” did to upset the newly crowned champ. He did predict defeat for the Russian if he attempted to strike with Pereira, so perhaps Magomed Ankalaev is one to hold a grudge over such remarks.

  • Alex Pereira Addresses ‘Boring Style’ That Led To UFC 313 Loss

    Alex Pereira Addresses ‘Boring Style’ That Led To UFC 313 Loss

    Alex Pereira’s post-fight demeanor at UFC 313 reflected his disappointment after losing the light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev in a five-round decision.

    Known for his knockout power and exciting fights, Pereira struggled to find his rhythm against Ankalaev’s pressure. 

    “Poatan’s” offensive output was limited in the fight. Aside from his last-round surge, there were few notable moments for him. The most significant strike of the night came from Ankalaev — a powerful left hook in the second round that visibly hurt Pereira.

    Ankalaev’s constant forward pressure and prolonged cage control during the championship rounds further compounded the Brazilian’s struggles. Ultimately, the judges awarded Ankalaev a unanimous decision victory with scores of 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47, crowning him the new UFC light heavyweight champion.

    “I knew it would be a war,” Alex Pereira said during his post-fight interview. “Every fight of mine is a war. He put some pressure in the second round. I felt some of his strikes, but putting me up against the cage, he didn’t really do anything. We followed our strategy. We know that he puts people against the fence, and he plays that game.

    “Giving him the win with a game plan like that kind of incentivizes people to do that,” he continued. “People might say it’s a boring style, but when a guy gets a win doing that, it kind of makes people want to do that, too. I hurt him against the fence — the only difference is I was the one against the fence.”

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: New Fights For Rosas Jr., Cutelaba, And More

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards.

    With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, March 3, and Sunday, March 9, a small number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources.

    For those matchups, check out the list below:

  • Justin Gaethje Says One Matchup Definitely Off The Table After UFC 313 Win

    Justin Gaethje Says One Matchup Definitely Off The Table After UFC 313 Win

    Despite his past title failures, Justin Gaethje remains determined to capture the UFC lightweight championship.

    His recent victory over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 has reignited his hopes of reclaiming the title, currently held by Islam Makhachev.

    Gaethje, bouncing back from a knockout loss to Max Holloway, expressed his interest in facing the Dagestani post-fight. While he acknowledges that his second win over Fiziev may not guarantee him a title shot next, “The Highlight” recognizes its positive impact on his position in the division.

    His recent record showcases a strong run, with three wins in his last four fights, including decision victories over Fiziev and a knockout of Dustin Poirier that earned him the BMF title. His only loss in that span came against Holloway at UFC 300.

    “I want to fight for the belt, obviously,” Justin Gaethje said at the UFC 313 post-fight press conference. “That’s a much different matchup than the one I just had. They tried to give me a doughnut. I took a bite, but I’ve got to get back to running if I’m going to fight Makhachev.”

    Following his UFC 313 victory, Gaethje is weighing his options for his next fight. One potential matchup is off the table: a third bout against Poirier.

    “No, I’ve stated many times that I don’t think either one of our families deserves that,” Gaethje said. “We’re 1-1. I’m OK with it. If he’s OK with it, then no. I think we’re contenders, but we need to beat other people. If I beat him, I don’t think either one of us would be considered a contender.”

  • Magomed Ankalaev: Alex Pereira Was ‘Running For 20 Minutes’ In UFC 313 Title Fight

    Magomed Ankalaev: Alex Pereira Was ‘Running For 20 Minutes’ In UFC 313 Title Fight

    Magomed Ankalaev has addressed criticism surrounding the perceived lack of excitement in his UFC 313 main event victory over Alex Pereira, placing the blame on his opponent.

    Ankalaev’s unanimous decision win, which secured him the UFC light heavyweight championship, was notably less explosive than Pereira’s previous title fights, drawing criticism from both fans and fellow fighters.

    During the post-fight press conference, the Dagestani defended his strategic approach, arguing that Pereira’s reluctance to engage was the primary reason for the fight’s subdued nature. The judges scored the closely contested bout 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 in Ankalaev’s favor. However, some people thought otherwise.

    Despite the close scores and differing opinions, the new champ remained firm that the outcome was never in doubt while speaking at the post-fight press conference. He maintained that Pereira’s hesitancy to engage was the reason for the fight’s lack of action, and therefore, the criticism was unwarranted.

    “It was very different from what we envisioned because, as you know, usually Pereira hunts for the finish,” Magomed Ankalaev said via a Russian translator. “He moves forward, he tries to hunt down his opponents for the finish. Here, it was very different, as you can see. He was running away from me, he wasn’t letting me work, and he himself wasn’t really working much, so you saw the way it played out.

    “I was confident. I kept on moving forward, I kept pressuring him, and he kept running away from me. For 20 minutes, this guy was running away from me. Then I heard at the end of the fight he was saying that he wasn’t sure why the victory was given to me. Who’s supposed to be given the victory? I’ve been pressuring him the entire time, he was running for 20 minutes, and then he’s wondering who’s supposed to get the victory? Listen, I’m happy for a rematch if he wants one. But maybe in the rematch, he can fight for real and not just run away the entire time.”

  • ‘Dana Not Happy’ – Pros React As Magomed Ankalaev Dethrones Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    ‘Dana Not Happy’ – Pros React As Magomed Ankalaev Dethrones Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    The light heavyweight division has been given a major shake-up courtesy of Magomed Ankalaev.

    In upset fashion, Ankalaev’s grappling proved to be too much for “Poatan,” as the Dagestani defeated Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 313 to become the new UFC light heavyweight champion.

    Pereira focused on leg kicks to start the fight, while Ankalaev looked to find a way inside. The challenger tried to increase his output and pressure past the halfway point of the first round, but Pereira continued to work the legs, chewing up Ankalaev’s right leg.

    Ankalaev looked to pressure and take control right away in the second. And while Pereira continued to bother him with leg kicks, it worked in the Russian’s favor. The challenger found success with short strikes on the inside, including a powerful one that rocked Pereira moments before the end of the second round.

    Ankalaev continued his advancement in a quiet third round, and though he couldn’t score a takedown, he continued to find success. The fourth was quiet as well, with the challenger overwhelming the defending champion against the fence a number of times, completely dominating him with grappling control.

    The Dagestani then took this strategy into the fifth round, battling a last-ditch effort from Pereira, before the judges all gave the fight and title to him, with a 49-46 scorecard and two 48-47s.

    Magomed Ankalaev Captures UFC Light Heavyweight Title With Decision Over Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    Magomed Ankalaev continues to remain unbeaten since dropping his 2018 UFC debut. He’s now won three straight.

    The Russian had battled Jan Blachowicz to a controversial split draw at UFC 282 in December 2022 — a fight that Blachowicz stated he thought Ankalaev deserved the nod and title in.

    Meanwhile, Pereira’s reign comes to an end after winning the title with a finish of Jiří Procházka at UFC 295. He defended the belt three times last year against Jamahal Hill, Procházka, and Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 300, UFC 303, and UFC 307, respectively.

  • UFC 313 Results & Highlights: Magomed Ankalaev Decisions Alex Pereira

    UFC 313 Results & Highlights: Magomed Ankalaev Decisions Alex Pereira

    UFC 313 took place tonight from the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, Alex Pereira put his light heavyweight title on the line against Magomed Ankalaev. While in the co-main event, Justin Gaethje faced Rafael Fiziev in a lightweight matchup. 

    UFC 313 Results: Main Card

    • Light Heavyweight Championship: Magomed Ankalaev def. Alex Pereira via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47×2)
    • Lightweight: Justin Gaethje def. Rafael Fiziev via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Lightweight: Ignacio Bahamondes def. Jalin Turner via submission: R1, 2.29
    • Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Lemos def. Iasmin Lucindo via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Lightweight: Mauricio Ruffy def. King Green via KO: R1, 2.07

     
    Preliminary Card

    • Flyweight: Joshua Van def. Rei Tsuruya via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Middleweight: Brunno Ferreira def. Armen Petrosyan via submission: R2, 4.27
    • Welterweight: Carlos Leal def. Alex Morono via TKO: R1, 4.16

     
    Early Preliminary Card

    • Featherweight: Mairon Santos def. Francis Marshall via split decision (29-28×3, 27-30) 

    Middleweight: Ozzy Diaz def. Djorden Santos via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Carlos Leal def. Alex Morono

    Carlos Leal earned a first-round TKO of Alex Morono in their welterweight clash.

    Brunno Ferreira def. Armen Petrosyan

    Brunno Ferreira submitted Armen Petrosyan at the end of the second round of their middleweight bout.

    Main Card Highlights

    Mauricio Ruffy def. King Green

    In this lightweight bout, Mauricio Ruffy knocked out King Green in the first round.

    Amanda Lemos def. Iasmin Lucindo

    Amanda Lemos got it done on the scorecards against Iasmin Lucindo.

    Ignacio Bahamondes def. Jalin Turner

    Ignacio Bahamondes earned a first-round triangle choke submission of Jalin Turner in their lightweight bout.

    Justin Gaethje def. Rafael Fiziev

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

    Magomed Ankalaev def. Alex Pereira

    In the main event, Magomed Ankalaev won the light heavyweight title with a unanimous decision win over Alex Pereira.

  • ‘Makhachev vs Gaethje’ – Pros React As Justin Gaethje Wins First Fight Since Holloway KO At UFC 313

    ‘Makhachev vs Gaethje’ – Pros React As Justin Gaethje Wins First Fight Since Holloway KO At UFC 313

    In a rematch that proved to be as entertaining as their first fight at UFC 286 two years ago, Justin Gaethje once again was able to edge out Rafael Fiziev on the scorecards, coming out on top in the co-main event of UFC 313.

    Fiziev pulled off a sudden takedown in the opening minute. Gaethje was able to explode out of it, but Fiziev landed a knee and got the fight back to the ground, where he troubled “The Highlight” briefly with an inverted triangle. Gaethje worked his way back into the round, but “Ataman” landed more and did a strong job working over his opponent’s body.

    Gaethje got back into the fight with more solid output and significant strikes in the second round. This was solidified with about a minute left in the round, dodging a Fiziev punch and throwing a left hand around the Azerbaijani’s head before dropping him with a right uppercut. The former interim champion did some more damage on the ground before the round’s end.

    The third round was back-and-forth, with Fiziev taking control early. “Ataman” got back to working the body in the round, landing a series of kicks to Gaethje’s torso. The American ate a bunch early in the frame, but he landed an uppercut and took the fight to the fence briefly. Gaethje took advantage of a gassed Fiziev and landed a series of hard strikes before the fight’s conclusion.

    Ultimately, “The Highlight’s” forward pressure and significant strikes in the third were enough for the judges, with all three giving him 29-28 scores for the nod.

    Justin Gaethje Edges Out Rafael Fiziev Once Again At UFC 313

    Justin Gaethje has now scored three wins in his last four fights and rebounds from being the highlight-reel KO victim of Max Holloway, to whom he lost the BMF title at UFC 300.

    Meanwhile, this was Rafael Fiziev’s first fight since tearing his ACL in late 2023. He took this fight on short notice following an injury to Gaethje’s originally scheduled opponent, Dan Hooker.

  • Jalin Turner Retires At 29 After Shock Submission Loss At UFC 313

    Jalin Turner Retires At 29 After Shock Submission Loss At UFC 313

    Ignacio Bahamondes pulled off a shock in what was expected to be a strikers’ battle, as he scored a first-round submission of Jalin Turner at UFC 313.

    Turner then pulled off an even bigger shock when, despite pleas from his corner, he elected to retire from mixed martial arts two months before his 30th birthday.

    Commentary first mentioned Turner’s retirement following Bahamondes’ post-fight interview, with reporter John Morgan quickly confirming the decision. Another journalist, Mike Bohn, later provided video of Turner’s remarks to press row.

    Ignacio Bahamondes Scores First-Round Submission Of Retiring Jalin Turner

    Bahamondes and Turner exchanged strikes early before Turner secured a takedown. Bahamondes, however, battled hard from his back on the bottom. He looked to reverse the position but settled for a triangle choke, which got him the submission.

    Turner seemingly ends his career with four losses in his last five fights. His sole win since 2022 was a first-round knockout of King Green in December 2023.

    Bahamondes, meanwhile, has now won three straight and is 6-2 since arriving to the Octagon.

    https://twitter.com/mmaclipz2025/status/1898590989167759434
  • Robbie Lawler To Enter UFC Hall Of Fame ‘Modern Wing’ In 2025

    Robbie Lawler To Enter UFC Hall Of Fame ‘Modern Wing’ In 2025

    A longtime MMA veteran whose active career spanned over 20 years, “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler will be honored for all of his memories in the sport with a solo spot in the UFC Hall of Fame.

    Lawler was announced at UFC 313 as the latest member of the organization’s Hall of Fame Class of 2025 as a member of the “Modern Wing.”

    Robbie Lawler The Latest Entrant Of The UFC Hall of Fame Class Of 2025

    Robbie Lawler’s time in the sport began when he was just 16 years old, taken under the wing of Pat Miletich. At 19, he made his professional MMA debut, finishing John Reed in April 2001. Lawler scored first-round knockouts in his first four professional fights in that year before scoring a UFC contract.

    “Ruthless” made his UFC debut at UFC 37, defeating Aaron Riley via decision. He went 4-3 between 2002 and 2004 while with the UFC, which included a memorable bout with Nick Diaz at UFC 47 that Lawler lost via second-round KO.

    Lawler would go on to develop his craft and gain experience competing in various promotions over the next decade, including EliteXC and Strikeforce. The American defeated Murilo Rua in September 2007 to become EliteXC middleweight champion. He’d retain the title in a pair of bouts against Scott Smith.

    Lawler also challenged Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza for the Strikeforce middleweight title in January 2011 but would end up getting submitted.

    “Ruthlss” returned to the UFC after it folded Strikeforce, winning three straight before fighting Johny Hendricks for the then-vacant UFC welterweight title at UFC 171. While Lawler lost the fight, he’d go on to defeat him in a rematch at UFC 181 to become champion.

    Lawler then went on to retain the title in two of the most memorable battles in history, defeating Rory MacDonald at UFC 189 and Carlos Condit at UFC 195, before dropping the gold to Tyron Woodley at UFC 201. Lawler vs. MacDonald was inducted into the Fight Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame in 2023.

    That same weekend, Lawler had one of the most memorable sendoffs in his retirement fight at UFC 290, scoring a first-round knockout of Niko Price.

    Lawler joins longtime UFC producer Craig Piligian and the UFC 236 clash between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum as part of the UFC Hall of Fame’s 2025 class.

  • VIDEO: Mauricio Ruffy Faceplants King Green With Devastating Wheel Kick At UFC 313

    VIDEO: Mauricio Ruffy Faceplants King Green With Devastating Wheel Kick At UFC 313

    The Fighting Nerds continue to do amazing things in the Octagon, with Mauricio Ruffy opening up the UFC 313 pay-per-view main card in style courtesy of a highlight, first-round knockout of King Green.

    Green started the fight on the back foot as he tried to strategize against Ruffy, but that led to “One Shot” hitting him with a hook that left its mark.

    About a minute later, the Brazilian put the veteran away in brutal fashion, landing a spinning head kick that faceplanted Green.

    Mauricio Ruffy Lands Heavy Wheel Kick To KO King Green At UFC 313

    https://twitter.com/mmaclipz2025/status/1898575699029725627

    Ruffy is now 3-0 in the Octagon after winning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in late 2023. He previously scored victories over Jamie Mullarkey and James Llontop at UFC 301 and UFC 309, respectively.

    Green, meanwhile, is now 1-3 in his last four fights but is 3-3 in his most recent six. Last year saw Green defeat Jim Miller but fall short against Paddy Pimblett.

  • American Top Team Speak Out After Their Fighter Gets ‘Screwed’ With UFC 313 Decision

    American Top Team Speak Out After Their Fighter Gets ‘Screwed’ With UFC 313 Decision

    The gym where featherweight fighter Francis Marshall trains has joined many in calling out his controversial decision loss at UFC 313.

    Marshall was among those making the walk early at Saturday’s pay-per-view event inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. On the undercard of Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev’s light heavyweight title fight, the American prospect faced Mairon Santos.

    “Fire” entered the cage at UFC 313 as an underdog against the Brazilian, who was highly touted and riding the wave from success on last year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter.

    In spite of the odds, Marshall fought admirably, dropping Santos in the first round and enjoying success across the remaining two frames. But although that netted him one 30-27 scorecard, experienced judges Chris Lee and David Lethaby saw the contest 29-28 in favor of his opponent.

    The split decision verdict caused immediate uproar on social media, with many fighters, analysts, and fans branding it a “robbery” and the “worst decision of the past 10 years.”

    Marshall and his team will evidently be feeling hard done by after the result at UFC 313, evidenced by a recent post on the X account of American Top Team, the renowned Florida gym out of which “Fire” trains.

    “A real shame when a fighter trains his ass off and clearly wins, only to get screwed.”

    Marshall, 26, is now 8-3 in professional MMA. Since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series as an undefeated fighter, he’s gone 2-3 in the UFC. Of the defeats, two have come via split decision.

  • Watch ‘The Hulk’ Absorb Two Low Blows, Answer Back With Nasty Armbar At UFC 313

    Watch ‘The Hulk’ Absorb Two Low Blows, Answer Back With Nasty Armbar At UFC 313

    Middleweight prospect Brunno “The Hulk” Ferreira was one of the standout performers during UFC 313’s preliminary card, overcoming some painful adversity to submit Armen Petrosyan in style.

    Ferreira and Petrosyan were among those tasked with setting the stage for some notable names at tonight’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas, which will culminate in a light heavyweight championship clash between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev.

    The Brazilian certainly did his best to build momentum heading toward the main card, but his victory didn’t come easy.

    That was due to a difficult first round at UFC 313 that saw “The Hulk” eat back-to-back low blows within seconds. The consecutive fouls resulted in Mark Smith taking a point from Petrosyan.

    Ultimately, that scorecard blemish wasn’t allowed to play a part in proceedings, as Ferreira closed the show in round two with a brutal-looking armbar that drew a quick tap from Petrosyan.

    Brunno Ferreira Punishes Armen Petrosyan’s Low Blows With Brutal Armbar At UFC 313

    The result at UFC 313 moved Ferreira to 12-2 as a professional and marked a rebound from his defeat to Abus Magomedov last October. The Brazilian is now 4-2 across his six outings in the Octagon.

    Petrosyan, meanwhile, remains winless across his past three. The Armenian has been submitted by both Rodolfo Vieira and Ferreira, results that sandwich a vicious double spinning backfist knockout to Shara Magomedov in 2024.

  • Fans And Fighters Slam ‘Worst Decision Of The Past 10 Years’ As UFC 313 Embroiled In Controversy

    Fans And Fighters Slam ‘Worst Decision Of The Past 10 Years’ As UFC 313 Embroiled In Controversy

    The UFC debut of The Ultimate Fighter season 32 champion Mairon Santos will go down in controversy, as he came out on top against Francis Marshall via a highly disputed split decision during the preliminary card of UFC 313.

    Marshall scored a knockdown of Santos during the opening round and had an opportunity to finish the fight with an overwhelming flurry late. However, he elected to ride the round out and secure the 10-9.

    Marshall appeared to not let up much control of the fight over the remaining 10 minutes, scoring multiple takedowns and clearly doing the bigger damage.

    The judges, however, did not see it that way.

    While Derek Clearly scored the bout for Marshall 30-27, Chris Lee and David Lethaby both scored the contest 29-28 for Santos.

    Amid a chorus of boos inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, Santos said during his post-fight interview at UFC 313 that he was worried he wouldn’t get his hand raised but he felt he did enough to score the win.

    Many fans and pundits, however, highly disagreed.

    Mairon Santos Nets Highly Disputed Split Decision At UFC 313

    Santos scored victories over Edwin Cooper Jr., Guillermo Torres and Kaan Ofli to win the featherweight portion of the most recent TUF season. His sole loss in MMA came against fellow TUF alum Dan Argueta.

    Marshall, meanwhile, has now lost three of four, with his sole victory in this span coming against Dennis Buzukja.

  • Former Soccer Hooligan Figures In Brutal Brawl To Kick Off UFC 313

    Former Soccer Hooligan Figures In Brutal Brawl To Kick Off UFC 313

    A former soccer hooligan, Djorden Santos made his UFC debut in the first bout of the evening at UFC 313, falling short via decision to Ozzy Diaz.

    Santos utilized quick footwork and sharp, speedy strikes in the opening round, emphasized with leg kicks, as the two went back-and-forth with their boxing. Santos’ aggression increased in the second frame, landing a notable hook and several combinations that kept Diaz on the defensive. Diaz, however, upped his own output, landing stiff boxing combinations.

    After the two went back-and-forth with power in the second round, Diaz really took things up a notch in the final round. Diaz managed to get Santos on the back foot. The Brazilian attempted to battle back with his own boxing, landing a head kick and takedown at the round’s end, though Diaz maintained control for most of the round.

    Diaz ultimately scored 29-28s on all three judges’ scorecards.

    Former Soccer Hooligan Falls Controversially Short In UFC Debut At UFC 313

    Santos grew up an avid football fan, supporting Goias Esporte Clube and was never one to turn down from a fight. He eventually changed his life after joining a martial arts gym.

    “When I had my first contact with stadiums and soccer firms, I kind of fell in love with it,” Santos told MMA Fighting ahead of UFC 313. “It wasn’t the aggressiveness per se, but going there and cheering and jumping and celebrating and winning. That motivated me more and more. And we had wars between local firms and rivalries going on, and I enjoyed that even more.

    “My mom never liked it, and she suffered a lot at the time,” Santos continued. “It was difficult for her because I started smoking and drinking. I starting doing bad stuff like hoping on buses without paying, other things that put your life at risk. Soccer firms are more aggressive in Goias than in other places of Brazil. People take it very seriously. And when I saw people losing their lives, and others suffering serious consequences, I backed away from this dangerous path that made my mom sad.”

    This was Santos’ first fight after defeating Will Currie on Dana White’s Contender Series last year.

    Diaz, a Bellator and LFA alumnus as well as a former competitor on DWCS, scored his first Octagon win at UFC 313 after a loss to Mingyang Zhang in his UFC debut.

  • Curtis Blaydes Issues Statement After Last-Second UFC 313 Withdrawal

    Curtis Blaydes Issues Statement After Last-Second UFC 313 Withdrawal

    UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes has quickly addressed his sudden withdrawal from today’s pay-per-view event.

    The mixed martial arts leader will be staging its third numbered card of 2025 tonight, with UFC 313 going down from inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    While fight week was relatively drama free and saw all 24 athletes make weight, fight day has seen the card take some hits.

    After John Castañeda was confirmed to be out of his early preliminary contest with Chris Gutierrez, illness struck a more notable pairing. Former interim heavyweight title challenger Curtis Blaydes pulled out of the UFC 313 featured prelim, which was set to see him welcome newcomer Rizvan Kuniev to the Octagon.

    In a post on his Facebook page, “Razor” revealed the reason behind his late decision not to compete.

    “Last night I got sick with norovirus,” Blaydes wrote. “Worked through the night to try and recover but my body wouldn’t cooperate. Fight going to be booked for a later date. Apologize to fans and my opponent be we will have this fight very soon.”

    With today’s two cancellations, UFC 313 will move ahead with 10 contests.

    For Curtis Blaydes, the sickness has pushed back his return to action. The American hasn’t competed since a first-round knockout loss to Tom Aspinall in what marked his first title fight on MMA’s biggest stage.

  • Belal Muhammad Gets Palestine Flag Added To UFC Profile After Dana White Steps In

    Belal Muhammad Gets Palestine Flag Added To UFC Profile After Dana White Steps In

    Belal Muhammad’s grievance reached Dana White, who wasted no time setting things right.

    Muhammad will make his first welterweight title defense at UFC 315 on May 10, headlining against Jack Della Maddalena at the Bell Centre, in Montreal, Canada.

    UFC fighters usually have their national flags displayed on their profiles on the promotion’s official website, but “Remember the Name”, who represents Palestine, was the only one among the 22 fighters on the UFC 315 lineup without one.

    The Chicago-born reigning UFC 170-pound champion has never wavered in his pride for his Palestinian heritage. Throughout his UFC career, he has made it a point to represent his roots, always carrying the Palestinian flag as a symbol of his identity.

    After noticing his flag was missing, Muhammad took to social media on Thursday, urging the UFC CEO to take action on the matter. Now, it appears his message has been acknowledged.

    “Remember the Name” recently turned to X to announce that his profile now features the Palestinian flag. He expressed gratitude to White for taking prompt repsonse and commended the UFC for allowing fighters to express themselves freely.

    “I just want to give a quick shoutout to Dana,” Belal Muhammad said. I talked to him, he said the flag’s back up tonight. [He] apologized, and that’s why I love the UFC. I love this company, and that’s why Dana’s the man. The only organization that lets you be yourself. And true to his word, and doesn’t let other people sway his attitude or what he’s going to do. So, shout out to Dana. Shout out to the UFC. Flag is back, baby.”

    As of now, the once-absent Palestinian flag has been restored to Muhammad’s profile on the UFC’s official website.

    Belal Muhammad is set to return to action after a 10-month hiatus. He last fought at UFC 304 in July, where he earned a dominant unanimous decision victory over Leon Edwards to clinch the welterweight title.

    The 36-year-old American was originally set to defend his championship against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December. However, a leg infection forced Muhammad to withdraw, leading to the bout’s cancellation.

     

  • Two UFC 313 Fights Canceled Hours Before Event, Including Curtis Blaydes’ Return

    Two UFC 313 Fights Canceled Hours Before Event, Including Curtis Blaydes’ Return

    There’s been some carnage on UFC 313 fight day, with two matchups falling through on extremely late notice.

    The days leading up to Saturday’s pay-per-view event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena went smoothly, including no issues on the scale at Friday’s weigh-ins.

    But as is always the case in mixed martial arts — as 2025 has proven thus far — no bout is good to go until the cage door closes behind both athletes.

    That was proven today when the UFC announced two cancellations just a few short hours before its latest numbered event commences in “Sin City.”

    After John Castañeda was confirmed to be out of his early prelim with Chris Gutierrez, illness also struck a more high-profile matchup, with former interim heavyweight title challenger Curtis Blaydes withdrawing from UFC 313’s featured prelim opposite newcomer Rizvan Kuniev.

    Tonight’s event will move forward with 10 fights, culminating in a light heavyweight title battle between champion Alex Pereira and challenger Magomed Ankalaev.

  • Anik Ponders Division Change For Alex Pereira After UFC 313 — And It’s Not Heavyweight

    Anik Ponders Division Change For Alex Pereira After UFC 313 — And It’s Not Heavyweight

    At UFC 313, Alex Pereira faces a pivotal moment in his MMA career as he defends his light heavyweight title against the formidable Magomed Ankalaev.

    This matchup is widely considered the toughest test of Pereira’s stint at 205 pounds, sparking debate about his ability to overcome a highly skilled contender.

    Despite the challenge, Pereira’s devastating power and striking precision always make victory a possibility. And should that be the case, beyond this weekend’s fight, speculation continues to swirl about the future of “Poatan.”

    Jon Anik, a leading voice in commentary for the UFC, has presented intriguing possibilities for Pereira’s next move.

    One notable suggestion is a potential return to the middleweight division, where Alex Pereira previously held the championship. This scenario could set up exciting matchups and compelling narratives for the Brazilian fighter.

    “Alex Pereira can still make middleweight, and he wants to fight Dricus du Plessis,” Anik said. “He did not defend the UFC middleweight championship. Of all the accolades for the future UFC Hall of Famer Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira, he never defended the middleweight championship, and if you think for a second that he doesn’t have an appetite — no pun intended — to go back down to 185 (pounds), you’re absolutely crazy.

    “If the calendar doesn’t align for him to challenge Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall in the heavyweight division, I don’t think he’s going to stick around at 205 to fight Bogdan Guskov, even though you and I f*cking love the guy. He’s probably going to try to go down to 185 and fight Dricus Du Plessis.”

  • Max Holloway: Justin Gaethje Will ‘Make A Statement’ At UFC 313

    Max Holloway: Justin Gaethje Will ‘Make A Statement’ At UFC 313

    Max Holloway is backing Justin Gaethje to deliver in his next outing inside the Octagon.

    Gaethje is set to run it back with Rafael Fiziev in a highly anticipated rematch, serving as the co-main event of UFC 313 Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    “The Highlight” is looking to rebound after suffering a buzzer-beater knockout loss to Holloway at UFC 300 this past April, where he lost his BMF title. The former UFC featherweight champion is surprised to see Gaethje labeled as the underdog against Fiziev but believes he’s poised for a strong comeback.

    In a recent video on his YouTube channel, “Blessed” weighed in on the UFC 313 co-main event, rallying behind Gaethje to replicate his past triumph over “Ataman”.

    “This is going to be a fight man,” Holloway said. “With Gaethje coming in as the underdog, this is easy picking for me. You need to roll with Gaethje, especially coming off of his last fight. He wants to erase that last loss with something huge, so I’m calling this right now. I’m picking Justin Gaethje, and I’m going with his nickname man, he’s going to have a highlight this fight.

    “(I) think it’s going to be huge. It’s going to be big. I think he’s going to make a statement. He also knows that the 155-pound division with contenders is super up in the air. Whoever can make that statement win can just jump in there and get a title shot, and I think he goes out there and he does that. They call him ‘The Highlight’ for a reason, and what a better dance partner to do that with than Fiziev because you know Fiziev is going to come and fight.”

    The former UFC interim lightweight champion was originally set to clash with Dan Hooker in a five-round showdown at UFC 313. However, “The Hangman” was forced to pull out due to a hand injury, leading to Fiziev stepping in as a short-notice replacement.

    “The Highlight” narrowly defeated Fiziev in their first encounter at UFC 286 in March 2023, earning a majority decision victory. Since then, Gaethje has picked up one win and suffered one defeat.

    Meanwhile, “Ataman” last competed in a Fight Night event in September 2023, where an untimely knee injury derailed him midway through the second round against Mateusz Gamrot, leading to a TKO loss.

  • Watch Jean Silva Troll Flat-Earther Bryce Mitchell With Globe At UFC 314 Press Conference

    Watch Jean Silva Troll Flat-Earther Bryce Mitchell With Globe At UFC 314 Press Conference

    Jean Silva arrived prepared for his verbal battle with Bryce Mitchell at the UFC 314 press conference.

    Soon after continuing on his violent path up the featherweight ladder at last month’s UFC Fight Night in Seattle, Silva had his next assignment added to the calendar.

    The active Brazilian got his wish to be the one with an opportunity to make Mitchell pay inside the cage for his recent pro-Nazi podcast remarks.

    And while that controversy resulted in Silva leading “f*ck Bryce Mitchell” chants alongside the fans in attendance at Friday’s presser in Las Vegas, “Lord” also had another topic the American has frequently given his two cents on in mind.

    The Fighting Nerds standout arrived with a globe, poking fun at “Thug Nasty’s” belief that the Earth is flat.

    The press conference came just over a month out from UFC 314, which goes down inside Miami’s Kaseya Center on April 12.

    Silva and Mitchell’s battle makes up a stacked undercard, which will see the likes of Michael Chandler, Patricio Pitbull, Yan Xiaonan, and Carlos Prates set the stage for Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes’ championship headliner.

  • Eric Nicksick Reveals Text From Sean Strickland ‘Immediately’ After Public Criticism

    Eric Nicksick Reveals Text From Sean Strickland ‘Immediately’ After Public Criticism

    Eric Nicksick is insisting that all is well between him and Sean Strickland despite their recent disagreement.

    Last month at UFC 312, Strickland suffered a one-sided unanimous decision loss in his rematch against reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis.

    Following the defeat, his head coach, Nicksick, didn’t hold back, openly voicing his disappointment over the outspoken Californian’s seemingly uncompetitive performance and casting doubt on his fighter’s drive moving forward.

    Reacting to the comments, “Tarzan” revealed that while they will remain friends, the Xtreme Couture coach will no longer be in his corner from now on. This revelation sparked speculation within the MMA community about a possible rift between the longtime fighter-coach duo.

    However, Nicksick maintains that any tension with Strickland, if it ever existed, has now been put to rest.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Nicksick admitted that while he doesn’t completely second-guess his comments about Strickland, he wishes he had waited longer before speaking out. He emphasized that his words came from a place of genuine care.

    “The timing was wrong on my part, and the wording wasn’t as crystal clear as what I should have gotten out,” Nicksick said. “Everyone in the gym that knows me, Sean included, knew where my heart was and knew where my head was and the point that I was trying to get across.”

    Nicksick further shared that after his remarks gained traction, Sean Strickland reached out via text and later met with him in person, ultimately acknowledging the criticism.

    “Sean said that to me immediately via text. He was like, ‘Hey man, I know exactly what you mean.’ I saw him in person that same Thursday. We hugged, high-fived. ‘I’m going out snowboarding.’ We had a good conversation,” Nicksick continued. “So as far as I’m concerned, everything’s good on our end.”

    Following his recent setback, “Tarzan” now holds a 4-4 record in his last eight Octagon outings. This stretch includes the pinnacle of his career — dethroning Israel Adesanya to claim the 185-pound title at UFC 293 — only to have his reign cut short by Du Plessis at UFC 297.

  • Watch Alex Pereira, Magomed Ankalaev Face Off At UFC 313 Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    Watch Alex Pereira, Magomed Ankalaev Face Off At UFC 313 Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    UFC 313 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    The upcoming pay-per-view event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada provides a chance for UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira to record his fourth successful title defense. To continue his reign beyond the March 8 main event, “Poatan” is tasked with spoiling the ambitions of top contender Magomed Ankalaev.

    Co-headlining will be former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who will look to bounce back from his brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 11 months ago getting the better of striking specialist Rafael Fiziev for a second time.

    Elsewhere on the card, entertaining lightweights Jalin Turner and Ignacio Bahamondes collide, ex-strawweight title challenger Amanda Lemos looks to halt up-and-coming Iasmin Lucindo’s surge up the ladder, and Fighting Nerds product Mauricio Ruffy meets veteran King Green.

    Ahead of the event, all fighters set to compete tomorrow night successfully made weight, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 313 ceremonial weigh-ins!

    Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 7 PM ET.

    UFC 313 Ceremonial Weigh-In Video