MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Dricus Du Plessis On Potential Belal Muhammad Fight: ‘I Step On His Head And It’s Over’

    Dricus Du Plessis On Potential Belal Muhammad Fight: ‘I Step On His Head And It’s Over’

    Dricus Du Plessis has responded to Belal Muhammad’s recent criticism of the middleweight division, dismissing the comments and taking jabs at the UFC welterweight champion.

    Muhammad recently downplayed the strength of the 185-pound weight class, calling it the easiest (aside from Khamzat Chimaev) and citing the UFC 312 main event as evidence.

    In an interview with The Ariel Helwani Show, Du Plessis didn’t hold back in his response.

    “Belal Muhammad, I can’t even remember the way he fights, I don’t know,” Du Plessis said. “Has he ever finished anyone? … I mean, I like how he acts as if he has a choice to ever go up to 185. The UFC will never let him. If he wanted to, he’d have to abandon his belt, give up his belt, vacate, and go up to 185, and there’s no way they give him a direct title shot. There’s no way. The UFC doesn’t even like Belal Muhammad. He hasn’t even defended his belt once. He’s definitely better on Twitter than he is when he fights; let’s just say that.”

    While Du Plessis and Muhammad have dismissed the idea of fighting each other, both are on impressive career runs. Du Plessis defended his middleweight title for the second time, defeating Sean Strickland in a rematch at UFC 312, extending his UFC record to 9-0. Meanwhile, Muhammad boasts an 11-fight unbeaten streak since 2019, culminating in a dominant title-winning performance against Leon Edwards at UFC 304 this past July.

    While a champion-vs-champion bout would undoubtedly be a significant draw, Du Plessis believes such a matchup would be one-sided.

    “No, that would be unfair,” Du Plessis said. “If I fight Belal Muhammad, it would be unfair. One hundred percent. Have you seen the size of the man? What is he going to do? Is he going to get somebody to help him? Is he going to sit on somebody’s neck? How is it going to work? I couldn’t believe that he fights at 170 when I saw him.”

    When asked how the fight would go, Du Plessis didn’t mince words.

    “I step on his head, and it’s over,” he said.

    Belal Muhammad Responds to Dricus Du Plessis

    Du Plessis’ comments quickly spread across social media, prompting a response from Muhammad.

    “He can barely walk without tripping over his own feet,” Muhammad said. “He ain’t touching me.”

    While there’s no real movement toward a potential fight between the two champions, their back and forth has added an extra layer of intrigue to their respective title reigns.

  • Concern Raised About Alex Pereira’s UFC 313 Training Ahead Of ‘Hardest Fight Of His Title Reign’

    Concern Raised About Alex Pereira’s UFC 313 Training Ahead Of ‘Hardest Fight Of His Title Reign’

    Daniel Cormier has expressed concern over Alex Pereira’s preparations for his upcoming light heavyweight title defense against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 on March 8 in Las Vegas.

    Cormier’s worry stems from Pereira’s recent trip to Australia, where he was seen supporting and cornering Sean Strickland in his unsuccessful middleweight title fight at UFC 312. The former two-division champion and current UFC commentator believes this has distracted “Poatan” from his own training and could hinder his performance against Ankalaev.

    “This dude was seen in Australia last week still, and he was shaking the hand of Drake as Drake went on stage for his concert,” Cormier said on Good Guy/Bad Guy with Chael Sonnen. “One, Drake constantly loses millions of dollars betting on people, so you kind of don’t want Drake to bet on you because he doesn’t have the greatest track record for winning. But what is Pereira still doing in Australia? He fights in two weeks! Ankalaev’s already here, he’s in Vegas, I ran into him at the UFC PI last week. He is honestly so locked in, ready to win this fight against Alex Pereira.”

    Cormier also pointed out the potential impact of travel on the Brazilian’s fight readiness, emphasizing the difficulty of adjusting to multiple time zones so close to fight week.

    “I got back from Australia, and all last week I’m up at 3 o’clock in the morning,” Cormier continued. “I don’t care that Pereira’s got weeks to get ready, he’s going to be prepared, but even those two to three extra days when he’s adjusting his clock to get back on schedule in Connecticut, then once he’s done in Connecticut to fly to Vegas the week of the fight, get adjusted to two more hours — he’s going to have to deal with all that travel and all that difference in time. And where’s Glover (Teixeira)? Is Glover just in Australia with him? Is it just him and Plinio (Cruz)?”

    Despite Ankalaev’s claim that he won’t rely on wrestling, Cormier warns Pereira that grappling should have been a central focus of his training camp.

    “Glover’s the guy, honestly, that should be doing the most work with Alex right now because of the wrestling,” Cormier said. “Plinio is a great grappler. Plinio needs to be overseeing Glover just shooting on Pereira because I don’t care what Ankalaev says — he has to be smarter than to go out there and try to just stand with Pereira for 25 minutes. He has to know that he’s got to secure takedowns. Pereira better get home. He needs to get home and make sure he’s locked in because he does have the hardest fight of his title reign to this point.”

    With UFC 313 fast approaching, Pereira’s late-stage preparation choices will soon be tested against Ankalaev, a dangerous challenger who is already locked in and training in Las Vegas.

  • Justin Gaethje: Islam Makhachev Is A Better Matchup For Me Than Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Justin Gaethje has his sights set on another shot at the UFC lightweight championship and hopes the opportunity comes against current titleholder Islam Makhachev.

    Before he can earn that chance, Gaethje must first get past Dan Hooker in their five-round co-main event at UFC 313 on March 8 in Las Vegas. The fight is a pivotal moment for “The Highlight,” as it represents a chance to solidify himself once again as a top contender in the division.

    The former interim lightweight champ has come close to claiming true UFC gold twice but fell short on both occasions, suffering submission losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 and Charles Oliveira at UFC 274.

    Despite these setbacks, his hunger to climb back to the top remains strong.

    “I want to fight Makhachev. He is the champ, and I do believe that he is a better matchup for me than Khabib,” Gaethje said during a Q&A on his YouTube channel. “But he’s good.”

    While Gaethje is one of the few fighters to have won a round against Nurmagomedov, he doesn’t believe he could have ultimately beaten that version of “The Eagle.”

    “I think Khabib was probably the one that I felt even if I performed better, I’m not sure that if I could’ve beaten him that night specifically,” Gaethje admitted. “That night that I fought Khabib, I would say he is my toughest opponent to date.”

    With a high-stakes matchup against Hooker ahead, Gaethje remains focused on securing another shot at the title — this time against Makhachev, a challenge he believes he is better suited for than his past title fights.

  • Eric Nicksick Addresses Backlash To Public Criticism Of Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘I Made A Mistake…’

    Eric Nicksick Addresses Backlash To Public Criticism Of Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘I Made A Mistake…’

    Coach Eric Nicksick has spoken out regarding the reaction to how he responded to Sean Strickland’s failed attempt at reclaiming the UFC middleweight title earlier this month.

    The Xtreme Couture trainer was Down Under in Sydney, Australia earlier this month to corner Strickland at UFC 312. The former champion headlined in competition for Dricus Du Plessis’ gold.

    While the South African had narrowly fallen on the right side of a split decision in their first fight, the rematch was far more convincing, with “Stillknocks” cruising to a lopsided decision victory across five rounds.

    Strickland received plenty of flak for his performance, not least from his head coach. Nicksick gave a brutal assessment of his pupil, branding his attempt at winning back the middleweight belt “uninspiring” and questioning his motivation.

    The 33-year-old evidently didn’t take too kindly to the public review, expressing plans to switch up his corner team moving forward while addressing the criticism in a social media video.

    A number of other prominent names in the MMA space, from Daniel Cormier to Matt Brown, have also spoken out against Nicksick’s decision to publicly slate his fighter. And in the comments section of an MMA Fighting Instagram post showing “The Immortal’s” remarks on it, Strickland’s coach admitted to making an error.

    Eric Nicksick

    “@iamtheimmortal I agree, Matt, looking back at it I made a mistake,” Nicksick admitted. “My true intentions were to try and motivate him publicly, and that was a miscalculation on my part.”

    It remains to be seen whether Strickland will push through with his plans to utilize new personnel for his next corner in spite of Nicksick acknowledging his mistake.

  • Alexa Grasso Returns At UFC 315 In Montreal, Faces Rising Contender On 12-Fight Winning Streak

    Alexa Grasso Returns At UFC 315 In Montreal, Faces Rising Contender On 12-Fight Winning Streak

    Former UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso has her first fight since losing the title in the calendar.

    Grasso (16-4-1) was unseated from the 125-pound throne last September at the second Noche UFC event. Having previously defeated and fought to a draw against the woman she took the gold from, Valentina Shevchenko, the Mexican was unable to record a second victory over “Bullet” in their trilogy.

    In the co-main event inside the Sphere, Grasso was comfortably beaten across five rounds. The one-sided manner of the loss ruled out any chance of the ex-champ getting an immediate shot at regaining the belt, and she’ll now have to earn it in a potential title eliminator.

    And that now appears to be booked, with Sportsnet reporting that Grasso will share the cage with surging contender Natália Silva (18-5-1) at UFC 315 in Montréal, Québec, Canada on May 10.

    Silva has risen to #5 in the flyweight division courtesy of a spotless 6-0 record on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage since debuting back in 2022.

    The former Jungle Fight champion established herself as one to watch with a highlight reel knockout against Tereza Bledá and beatdown of Victoria Leonardo, and she’s since broken through into title contention with decision wins over Andrea Lee, Viviane Araújo, and Jéssica Andrade.

    Should she add Grasso’s name to a winning streak that currently spans 12 straight fights, Silva would likely place herself in line to challenge the winner of Shevchenko’s expected title defense opposite Manon Fiorot this year.

  • Alex Pereira Also Open To Future Friendship With Jamahal Hill After Patching Things Up With Rival Israel Adesanya

    Alex Pereira Also Open To Future Friendship With Jamahal Hill After Patching Things Up With Rival Israel Adesanya

    When it comes to putting out fires in his combat sports career, a newfound camaraderie with Israel Adesanya isn’t the only unlikely friendship UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira is open to.

    While achieving unprecedented success in just a few short years under the UFC banner, former kickboxing star “Poatan” has already has his fair share of rivalries.

    Front and center is his feud with Adesanya, which was forged from two battles in the ring and the Brazilian ‘chasing’ his foe to the Octagon, where he dethroned him. A fourth clash between the pair finally went the way of “The Last Stylebender,” leading to talk of yet another installment.

    But the pair have since swapped their back and forth for an apparent friendship. After some previous interactions, the pair sat alongside one another while in attendance at UFC 312 earlier this month. Adesanya even recited Pereira’s catchphrase during a video that the latter uploaded to social media.

    And with one heated conflict now firmly in the past, “Poatan” is willing to do the same to another that’s currently raging on down the line.

    During an interview on Straight Talk with Mark Bouris, Pereira was asked about the possibility of forming a similar bond with former opponent Jamahal Hill.

    “Right now, at the moment no, because of a potential fight in the future. We fight in the same weight class,” Pereira said. “But if [it] happens just like Israel Adesanya, I’m not fighting him [Hill] anymore, I have no problem with that. We can be friends, train together; no problem for me.”

    Pereira and Hill’s animosity arose ahead of their title bout at UFC 300 last April, with “Sweet Dreams” confidently downplaying the Brazilian’s threat only to be knocked out inside the first round.

    As the American pursues a rematch, he attempted to confront Pereira at the UFC Performance Institute a couple of months back, with the champ’s coach ultimately getting between the pair after his man invited Hill to spar.

  • Gregory Rodrigues Blames Weight Cut For Jared Cannonier Loss: ‘I Had Serious Issues…’

    Gregory Rodrigues Blames Weight Cut For Jared Cannonier Loss: ‘I Had Serious Issues…’

    UFC middleweight contender Gregory Rodrigues has spoken publicly for the first time since his crushing loss to Jared Cannonier at the Apex this past weekend.

    Off the back of three straight wins, Rodrigues had the opportunity to break into the top 10 and title picture at 185 pounds. Headlining for the first time, the Brazilian’s shot at a major climb up the ladder came opposite a divisional veteran in Cannonier.

    Despite a strong start that saw him drop “The Killa Gorilla” twice, Rodrigues was unable to make good on his favorite status, fading as the rounds went on before eventually being stopped with strikes in the penultimate frame.

    “Robocop” addressed his defeat for the first time on Tuesday, claiming that severe issues during last week’s weight cut hampered his ability to compete at his best on fight night.

    “It’s my birthday today, and even though it was a tough day at work, I’m grateful for everything God has done and continues to do in my life,” Rodrigues said in a statement on Instagram. “Big thanks to the @ufc team for the opportunity. I’m truly honored to have shared the octagon with the No. 7 in the division. Cannonier is a highly experienced fighter who taught me a lot in this fight! I saw several details that can be improved, things that will be changed. Winning Fight of the Night was a gift for two warriors who weren’t afraid to go to battle.

    “Most people don’t know this, but I had serious issues on my recovery after weight cut. My body just wasn’t responding. I keep wondering how things would’ve played out if I had been at 100 percent. But no sad stories here. Robocop never dies! Time to recharge, reset the system, and upgrade, because I’m just getting started! Huge thanks for all the love, to my friends and family who always stand by my side, and to my real fans, you guys outshine the haters every time! Much love to my coaches at @killcliff_fc, my strength team @ihpfit, and my doctors & nutritionist @marceloferronutricao! Thank you all.”

    Rodrigues will now look to polish up his weight cut and ensure similar issues don’t arise when he returns in pursuit of an immediate bounce back to the winner’s circle.

    Cannonier, meanwhile, is looking for an opponent who can keep his championship hopes alive. While “The Killa Gorilla” appears unsure of who that could be, former champion Michael Bisping recently proposed a rematch with Robert Whittaker.

  • UFC Vet On Sean Strickland-Eric Nicksick Fallout: ‘A Coach Shouldn’t Criticize Their Fighter Publicly’

    UFC Vet On Sean Strickland-Eric Nicksick Fallout: ‘A Coach Shouldn’t Criticize Their Fighter Publicly’

    Sean Strickland’s lackluster performance at UFC 312, where he suffered a one-sided loss to Dricus Du Plessis, has led to public friction between him and his head coach, Eric Nicksick.

    Since the fight, Nicksick has openly criticized Strickland’s performance, calling it “underwhelming” and “uninspiring.” He cited the challenger’s lack of offensive output and the broken nose he sustained in the fourth round as key factors in the loss.

    Strickland responded by releasing a video detailing the physical struggles he endured leading up to the fight. He also stated that while he still considers Nicksick a friend, he “probably” won’t have him in his corner for future bouts.

    Former UFC fighter Matt Brown discussed the situation during the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, focusing on that public criticism from a coach can feel like a betrayal.

    “First and foremost, we have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes,” Brown said. “There could be a million different things that we’re basing all this off—a couple of paragraphs. Who knows? That’s all we can base it off of, [the way] it looks. It’s unfortunate. I don’t think you should criticize your fighter publicly.”

    While Strickland’s performance is open to critique, Brown believes Nicksick’s approach could have been handled better. He compared the coach-fighter dynamic to a personal relationship built on trust.

    “A coach-athlete relationship is like boyfriend/girlfriend,” Brown explained. “You’ve got their back until you don’t when it’s all said and done. More like a marriage, I guess. It’s to the death. You’ve got their back, and you’re there for them. You’re not fighting for them. All you’re doing is giving your belief on what you think they need to do. They’re trusting you with that belief. It doesn’t mean they’re going to do it, or they have to do it, or they’re bad if they don’t do it, or there’s something wrong if they don’t do it. You don’t know what they’re going through. You don’t know what it’s like standing in front of someone trying to kill you, especially guys that have never fought.”

    Brown also touched on a broader debate in MMA — whether coaches who have never fought professionally can truly understand what their fighters experience inside the cage.

    “I try not to be overly critical,” Brown said. “I like guys like Eric Nicksick, but if you’ve never fought, you’re literally just giving an opinion. I think someone who’s fought, their opinion goes a lot farther. But it’s still an opinion. It’s like if you want to teach someone how to drive a car and you’ve never driven a car before. Do you really want to learn from that person? My 14-year-old son could tell you how to drive a car. He could teach someone how to drive a car, but do you want to learn from him? It doesn’t really make sense.”

    Brown acknowledged that non-fighter coaches can still bring value to a training camp but believes that if they are going to strongly critique a fighter’s performance, they should have firsthand experience in the sport.

    “I try not to be too much of a hater for guys who have never fought, because they can bring a lot of value to a camp, also,” Brown added. “But if you’re going to sit there and act like your opinion is so good, and your belief of what they did was so good, I hope you’ve at least fought before so you can say, ‘OK, I did that, and I believe that you should.’”

    With Strickland’s future cornering situation now in question, it remains to be seen whether he and Nicksick will be able to mend their relationship or if he will seek a new coaching team moving forward.

  • Austin Vanderford, Husband Of Paige VanZant, Set For Late-Notice UFC Debut In Seattle

    Austin Vanderford, Husband Of Paige VanZant, Set For Late-Notice UFC Debut In Seattle

    Former Bellator title challenger Austin Vanderford is heading to the Octagon.

    Vanderford (12-2), who is the husband of former UFC fighter and recent GFL signing Paige VanZant, has signed with the UFC after entering free agency in February 2024.

    The signing was first reported by Kyle Dimond.

    And “The Gentleman” won’t have long to wait at all until his debut on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    Per Full Send MMA, Vanderford will make the walk under the UFC banner for the first time at this weekend’s event in Seattle, Washington. The card has been plagued by withdrawals in recent days and weeks, leading to a late addition. Kazakhstan’s Nikolay Veretennikov will welcome newcomer Vanderford to the UFC.

    The 34-year-old Californian suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of Gegard Mousasi in 2022, unsuccessfully challenging the veteran’s Bellator middleweight reign. A second straight first-round loss to Aaron Jeffrey followed, and Vanderford didn’t compete again before his exit soon after the PFL’s acquisition of his previous employer.

    After returning to winning ways with a 65-second knockout at LFA 194 last October, “The Gentlemen” will look to start life in the UFC in similar fashion at the Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday night.

  • Chael Sonnen Exposes ‘Top Draw’ Conor McGregor’s 11 Failed Callouts Amid Rumored $250 Million Logan Paul Fight

    Chael Sonnen Exposes ‘Top Draw’ Conor McGregor’s 11 Failed Callouts Amid Rumored $250 Million Logan Paul Fight

    MMA star and now analyst Chael Sonnen is highly skeptical of the boxing exhibition between Conor McGregor and Logan Paul ever taking place. This is after he’s seen the former UFC double champ call out several big names in the combat sports world without ever stepping inside the ring with them.

    “The Notorious” is arguably the most popular MMA star ever and he’s made several claims about his Octagon return since losing to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. But after he pulled out from a highly-anticipated fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303, fans started doubting whether he would ever fight again.

    However, the 36-year-old caught everyone off guard with an announcement that he was in talks with Mukesh Ambani, a billionaire, for a boxing match in India against the Youtuber turned WWE Superstar Logan Paul. The news unsurprisingly gained a lot of steam on the internet thanks to reports claiming the Irishman would bag a staggering paycheck of $250 million for his participation. 

    Soon, UFC CEO Dana White, a key player in the business, turned down McGregor’s claims and vouched for his return to the Octagon by the fall of 2025. 

    Now, Sonnen has joined White as well because he believes that the McGregor’s recent call outs do not mean much. In fact, there’ve been over 10 fighters that have been called out by the Dubliner in the past few years and none of these fights were ever close to being finalized.

    “Meanwhile, getting reports, Conor McGregor is going to box Logan Paul, which is just silly. And Conor McGregor, a great performer and magician, has now called out 11 people in a row, and none of which he fought. I couldn’t even list them all. When he started bringing in Pacquiao, the Crawford, that redheaded kid, and all the MMA guys and the bare-knuckled guys—it’s 11. He’s at 11. Eleven—the top draw who never calls for things that he doesn’t have the power to have—gets turned down publicly 11 times, which is about nine more times than anyone in their entire career.”

    McGregor hasn’t fought anyone in the Octagon since 2021 and the last time he stepped in the boxing ring was in 2017 in one of the highest-grossing PPV events of all time against undefeated boxing great Floyd Mayweather. 

    However, Mayweather vs. McGregor was officially co-promoted by White and since McGregor is still signed to UFC, his return to boxing does not seem likely without the UFC CEO’s approval. 

  • Belal Muhammad: Aside From Khamzat Chimaev, Middleweight Division Is The UFC’s Easiest

    Belal Muhammad: Aside From Khamzat Chimaev, Middleweight Division Is The UFC’s Easiest

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad believes his division is significantly more challenging than the middleweight division, which Dricus Du Plessis currently rules.

    Those are strong words from Muhammad, who has yet to defend his title. He was initially set to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December but was forced to withdraw due to injury. Rakhmonov defeated Ian Garry and is expected to challenge for the welterweight title later this year.

    In a recent interview with Barstool Chicago, Muhammad was asked about possibly fighting his occasional training partner, UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev. “Remember the Name” reiterated that he has no interest in fighting Makhachev, a stance he has previously made clear.

    Instead, he has a broader goal — potentially moving up in weight and fighting for another championship. That means targeting the middleweight division.

    “For me, I’d rather go to 185 and let [Makhachev] just take 170,” Muhammad said. “Since I’ve already had to fight my way up to 170 — I’ve beaten five top-10 guys — I’m two fights away from being able to challenge for [the middleweight title] and saying, ‘Hey, I want to be double champ.’

    “I think 185 is probably the easiest weight class — besides Khamzat [Chimaev]. When you look at that [UFC 312] main event, you’re like, ‘Bro, Strickland and Du Plessis suck.’”

  • Alexander Volkanovski Trains With Fellow Former UFC Champion In Thailand Ahead Of Return

    Alexander Volkanovski Trains With Fellow Former UFC Champion In Thailand Ahead Of Return

    While a rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and featherweight champion Ilia Topuria remains speculative, the Australian is already preparing as if it’s happening.

    Reports suggest that UFC 314 on April 12 in Miami is the likely target for the potential rematch. Volkanovski recently released a video documenting the start of his training camp, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at his preparations.

    The footage features “Alexander the Great” training alongside former bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling, adding to the anticipation of an official fight announcement.

    “We just got here in Thailand — Phuket. … Got in last night,” Volkanovski said. “Obviously, I’m here to do a bit of training camp. Hopefully, a fight announcement soon. But we’re in camp. We’ve been in camp for a while, doing a pre-camp camp. So now we’re pretty much in camp.

    “Good bodies here for us already. At Bangtao, you’ve always got good bodies, but I’ve got Craig Jones that’s come with us. … We’ve got a heap of good guys to work with over here. I think Aljo is over here as well, so maybe we’ll get some training in. So it’s going to be a good trip.”

    Volkanovski and Sterling both held UFC gold in overlapping reigns — the former as featherweight champion from 2019 to 2024 and the latter as bantamweight titleholder from 2021 to 2023. Now, both fighters are focused on the featherweight gold, and Sterling is making the most of the opportunity to train alongside one of the division’s all-time greats.

    “I don’t know what we’re doing, but we’re sparring,” Sterling said. “More for him than for my own personal gain. That’s just kind of the way we do things back home. … Just try to give the looks of our opponents to make it as practical as possible, so we can get that fight feel.

    “This is actually my first time training with Volk. We’ve seen each other in passing a bunch of different times, at the UFC PI, fighting events, and things like that. This has been a cool experience to kind of work with one of the other greatest guys of all time in the featherweight division. So this is really nice.”

    With Volkanovski deep in training and speculation growing, fans eagerly await an official confirmation of his highly anticipated rematch with Topuria.

  • Alex Pereira Accepts Oleksandr Usyk Callout, Claims Two Organizations Already Working On The Bout

    Alex Pereira Accepts Oleksandr Usyk Callout, Claims Two Organizations Already Working On The Bout

    Reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has given a positive response when asked about a potential bout with boxing’s pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk.

    The Brazilian MMA icon is scheduled to headline UFC 313, set to take place in the T-Mobile Arena In Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 8, 2025. In the main event, he will make the fourth defense of his title against Magomed Ankalaev, widely considered the biggest threat to his championship in the division.

    Because of his striking-heavy fighting style and explosive knockout power, fans have often discussed how “Poatan” would perform in a boxing ring. Since “The Cat” expressed the desire to end his career with a boxing superfight against Pereira, fans have been very eager to learn if boxing promoters and Dana White are interested in cross-promoting such a battle too.

    When asked about a boxing fight with Usyk with Mark Bouris, Pereira said:

    “I had already said that before, right? That I would really like to have a boxing match and they asked me who it would be, I said,well I am champion right so it would have to be a champion and he is the champion. And now, he gave an interview and said my name so it is something that I want. He also wants and the two organizations, right, they are working kind of together so I think now it will I believe that this fight can happen.”

    Do note that the statement above is based on Google’s translation of Pereira’s statements. The translator in the live interview was unfortunately called out for missing out on a lot of things so we relied on directly translating the UFC champ’s answer via Google Translator.

    As it turns out, the bits about the two organzations (likely UFC and some boxing promotion) working together weren’t revealed in the live interview but Pereira hinting towards it certainly makes it seem like this matchup is not a far-fetched dream now.

    Usyk’s wins over Tyson Fury have undoubtedly cemented him as an all-time great boxer. He’s formerly united all belts at cruiserweight, and is now eyeing to become a three-time undisputed champion. For his next boxing bout, he’ll face the winner of an upcoming fight between Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker scheduled for February 22, 2025.

    “Poatan”, on the other hand, is often seen sparring with professional heavyweight boxers and on many occasions, he’s mentioned about his will to compete in a boxing ring in the future.

    Having said that, Pereira needs to handle business in the Octagon first and his performance against Ankalaev will naturally have a huge impact on his brand. A victory at UFC 313 could help him make big moves such as facing the UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones or move over to boxing as discussed above.

  • Chael Sonnen Calls Francis Ngannou The Sole Obstacle To Jon Jones Superfight: ‘Dana’s Already Announced It’s Going To Happen…’

    Chael Sonnen Calls Francis Ngannou The Sole Obstacle To Jon Jones Superfight: ‘Dana’s Already Announced It’s Going To Happen…’

    The former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight title challenger Chael Sonnen has defended UFC boss Dana White, claiming Francis Ngannou to be the roadblock in his highly-anticipated heavyweight clash with Jon Jones.

    Jones vs Ngannou has easily been one of the most talked-about MMA fights for a couple of years now. However, the deal never reached fruition and differences with White led to the-then UFC heavyweight champion leaving the promotion altogether.

    Following his departure from the UFC, “The Predator” explored other opportunities such as boxing fight Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. He also signed with the PFL, becoming their heavyweight champion by defeating Renan Ferreira.

    Despite no plans to ever return to the UFC, Ngannou believes a superfight with Jones is still not off the table. In a recent interview, he claimed that Turki Alalshikh, the current Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia, could intervene and convince White to cross-promote with the PFL for this bout.

    However, Ngannou’s narrative that White is blocking the fight with Jones didn’t sit well with MMA fighter turned analyst Sonnen.

    Here’s what Sonnen said while putting the blame on the former UFC heavyweight champ for avoiding the Jones fight:

    “Poor Francis was in a world title fight, in the fight capital of the world, in the world’s biggest promotion, where he is going to headline. He was not the champion of the world. He wanted to be. He was going to be given that opportunity. Do you understand? Okay. Because it was at that time that it had already been announced by Dana White, this giant obstacle, that when Jon Jones returns to heavyweight, it will be for the belt. So now we don’t, now we don’t only have an obstacle, it doesn’t even fully have to do with Francis. Francis didn’t even have the belt. He was scheduled to fight Stipe, a fight that Francis had already lost. Like, we didn’t know who the champion was going to be, but whoever it was going to be, we were going to stick to the deal and the plan that when Jon comes up, Jon will contest with that person. It’s important that you understand that, because that one detail, in and of itself, that timeline excludes the possibility that Francis was being picked on. It was an open statement that Jon will contend whenever Jon comes back, if he ever comes back, right into a world title fight. That happened to be Francis. And what happened next? Jon came back. So now we have Jon, and we have Francis, and we’re going to get to see Jon versus Francis. People are talking about it. You’re talking about it. Dana’s already announced it’s going to happen.”

    Sonnen, being the company-man he is, believes that White cannot be blamed at all for Ngannou and Jones not being able to settle their rivalry inside the Octagon.

    Although Jones first fought at heavyweight after over a year of Ngannou’s last UFC outing, “The American Gangster” believes if “The Predator” had not parted ways with the UFC, he would’ve fought “Bones” instead of Ciryl Gane in March 2023.


    “But somebody blinked. That somebody, I would view to be the obstacle in this equation. Do you agree? Because that somebody was not Dana White. That somebody was not Jon Jones. As a matter of fact, Dana White went through with the plan exactly as he had previously stated, which is that Jon went right into a title fight. And it’s important that you understand this, because Francis left. So to make believe now that you wanted to do something, when you were in a position to do it, and so now the only thing stopping this fight is Dana White.”

    Ngannou is promising his fans worldwide a big comeback to combat sports. In boxing, he definitely can be a part of big fights like the Fury rematch or a possible showdown against the hard-hitting Deontay Wilder. In MMA, he’ll have the option to defend his title against the top heavyweight contenders in the promotion.

  • Dominick Cruz ‘Shocked’ Former UFC Rival Reached Out After He Announced Career-Ending Injury

    Dominick Cruz ‘Shocked’ Former UFC Rival Reached Out After He Announced Career-Ending Injury

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz was surprised to see one bitter rival among those sending positive messages following his recent enforced retirement.

    Had things gone to plan, Cruz would have been just days out from his long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC Seattle, having not competed since a knockout loss to Marlon Vera back in 2022.

    But the 135-pound legend’s comeback crumbled when he suffered a second shoulder dislocation during training, the severity of which was enough to compel Cruz to end his career as an active fighter.

    Since then, many in the MMA community have been praising what was undoubtedly an incredible stint in the cage for the 39-year-old. And, as it turns out, even one of the most notable foes from Cruz’s career has paid their respect.

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Cruz revealed contact from former opponent TJ Dillashaw.

    “TJ Dillashaw actually reached out to me. I was shocked,” Cruz said. “He gave me a recommendation for a shoulder doctor. He said he was looking forward to watching me compete and was sorry that I couldn’t.”

    Cruz returned from a 16-month layoff in January 2016 to challenge Dillashaw’s bantamweight reign. “The Dominator” fell on the right side of a split decision, capturing the crown for a second time.

    The pair’s animosity continued in the subsequent years, resurfacing in 2022 when the San Diego native took issue with Dillashaw being granted a title fight two fights into his comeback post-drug suspension.

    Dillashaw ultimately lost to Aljamain Sterling after dislocating his shoulder in the fight, with the challenger quickly revealing a plague of injury issues during the lead-up to what marked his final fight.

    Having retired himself due to a similar physical issue, Dillashaw is certainly well placed to pass on advice to Cruz as he looks to recover from the career-ending injury too.

  • Alexander Gustafsson Gets Honest After UFC Exit, GFL Signing: ‘I Don’t Have Real Fire Anymore Or Hunger’

    Alexander Gustafsson Gets Honest After UFC Exit, GFL Signing: ‘I Don’t Have Real Fire Anymore Or Hunger’

    Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson is under no illusion about his current condition and deteriorating motivation to compete in mixed martial arts.

    After 15 years and 18 fights, Gustafsson brought his lengthy stint on MMA’s biggest stage to an end recently. But that doesn’t mean his journey as an active fighter is over.

    The Swedish athlete was among the prominent veteran names who entered the inaugural Global Fight League (GFL) draft ahead of its launch season in 2025. The 38-year-old was picked by Team London, cementing his return to the cage this year.

    During an interview with Sveacasino.se, Gustafsson — who is part of the UFC Hall of Fame owing to his first fight with Jon Jones — described his decision to leave the UFC and join the new organization, admitting he’s past his prime and no longer has the “hunger” required to mix it up with the elite of the sport.

    “I see myself as an elite athlete but I feel it’s the time for the new generation,” Gustafsson said. “I feel like I’m not in my top game anymore. It was a while ago. In my opinion, the fighters who fight for the UFC need to be on their top level. It is the best level of fighting in the UFC. I’m not there anymore. … I’m still doing my best in training, and I have a couple of fights left in me. But I’m not at the UFC level anymore.  That’s how I feel. I’m real to myself. My teammates, my team is real to me. … I don’t have the real fire anymore or the hunger. It was a decision to make and I believe we made the right decision. And I feel good about it, too. I could have done another UFC fight, of course, but I feel a little bit of the pressure because you’re fighting for the best organisation in the world. You need to deliver. I’m not competing to accept a loss. I feel I’m not able to deliver like I did many years before.

    “You need to think about yourself, and also I’m not 25, 28 anymore. I’m 38 years old,” Gustafsson continued. “I have a family. I’m not really worried about the damage you take in the fight. It’s more, the training camps you have. I’ve done many training camps in my career, and the training camp leading up to the fight. You need to deliver on the highest level. It’s a little bit of pressure because you need to recover between sessions. There are many factors involved in the whole thing. That‘s why we made the decision. We also have the GFL contract on the table, too. I have some other offers, too. I feel like I’m not going to do this for a very long time, so let’s make the best of it, and squeeze it out as much as possible. Then I’m done.”

    Gustafsson has lost his last four fights, all by way of finishes. “The Mauler” was most recently knocked out by Nikita Krylov in just 67 seconds back at a 2022 UFC Fight Night in London.

  • Former UFC Champion Miesha Tate Announces Her Next Fight, Implores Doubters To ‘Stick Around’

    Former UFC Champion Miesha Tate Announces Her Next Fight, Implores Doubters To ‘Stick Around’

    Miesha Tate’s next fight is set, as the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion will face Yana Santos at an upcoming UFC Fight Night event.

    Tate announced the fight on Instagram, with Santos also confirming the matchup. While the UFC has yet to formally announce the bout, the event is expected to take place on May 3 in Des Moines, Iowa.

    “It’s Official: May 3rd vs @yanamma,” Tate wrote. “I’ve still got what it takes and if you doubt me, please stick around. Mark your calendars 🗓️”

    Tate last competed in December 2023, securing a third-round submission victory over Julia Avila. The win snapped a two-fight losing skid for the former champion. Since returning from retirement in 2021, “Cupcake” has gone 2-2, including a brief stint at flyweight before moving back to bantamweight, where she once held the title.

    Santos is also coming off a much-needed victory. She earned a unanimous decision over Chelsea Chandler in August 2024, a result she described as “career-saving.” The win halted a three-fight skid that began in 2021 and brought her UFC record to an even 5-5.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night on May 3 are as follows:

    • Yana Santos vs. Miesha Tate
    • Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez
    • Gillian Robertson vs. Marina Rodriguez
    • JeongYeong Lee vs. Trevor Peek
    • Serhiy Sidey vs. Cameron Smotherman

  • Chael Sonnen Predicts UFC 313 Will Mark Alex Pereira’s Final LHW Fight, Win Or Lose

    Chael Sonnen believes Alex Pereira’s time at light heavyweight may be nearing its end following his upcoming title defense against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313.

    UFC CEO Dana White has expressed interest in booking a heavyweight title unification bout between Jon Jones and interim champion Tom Aspinall in 2025. But with Jones himself previously favoring a superfight with Pereira, “Poatan” appears to have other options to explore.

    One new possibility seems to be boxing, as unified heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk recently expressed interest in facing the UFC star as part of his retirement plans.

    Regardless of the outcome of the Ankalaev fight, Sonnen predicts the light heavyweight kingpin will seek new opportunities.

    “If Pereira wins, he’s going to be looking for something else to do, and if Pereira loses, he’s gone,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “I feel like many of you have forgotten how Pereira got to 205 pounds. He did not get to 205 by cleaning out 185. He got to 205 by losing at 185. That’s what opened the door — no belt, no vacate, a move right up.

    “So no matter what happens after Ankalaev, things are going to be very different for Pereira. I predict he’s moving up, and the ticking time bomb of Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall carrying this on and dragging this out — that time bomb reaches midnight as soon as Pereira is done with his piece of business with Ankalaev, win or lose.”

  • Francis Ngannou Blames Dana White For Being ‘Massive Obstacle’ Blocking Jon Jones Fight

    The ongoing tension between Francis Ngannou and UFC CEO Dana White continues to unfold.

    After vacating his heavyweight title to explore free agency, Ngannou secured highly lucrative boxing matchups against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua following his UFC departure in 2023.

    In his return to MMA, the former UFC heavyweight champion made a statement with a dominant finish over Renan Ferreira at PFL: Battle of the Giants. However, White suggested after the fight that financial incentives primarily influenced Ngannou’s career decisions.

    “The Predator” believes White struggles to accept how things played out and even questions whether the UFC boss wants to see him fail outside the promotion. Regardless, Ngannou remains focused on his own path forward.

    One fight he still hopes for — but doesn’t believe will happen — is a long-awaited clash with Jon Jones. According to Ngannou, White remains the biggest obstacle in making that fight a reality.

    “If you can get past Dana White, it could happen, [but] that’s a massive obstacle,” Ngannou told Sportsbook Review. “But personally, I don’t care. I’m doing well. I’m doing my stuff at my pace. I don’t care. That won’t change my sleep for me.

    “Finishing my career without fighting Jon Jones would be OK. I have tried to fight Jon Jones for four years since I fought Jairzinho Rozenstruik [at UFC 249] back in 2020. I’ve been trying to fight Jon Jones, and then they were holding it out like a trap until the moment that I was about to leave. Then they said, ‘OK, here’s the Jon Jones fight.’ But it was bait. I felt they were very tricky.”

    While Ngannou acknowledges that a fight with Jones would be an incredible spectacle, he has gradually let go of the expectation.

    “Yes, Jon Jones would be a great fight, a fantastic fight,” Ngannou said. “I have always hoped for that fight, but my hope and my expectation for that fight has faded over time.

    “I have a lot of fights to get a measurement of his light heavyweight career, and I have way less to look at with him as a heavyweight. I think he’s by far the best light heavyweight. His cage time as a light heavyweight was over a decade. At heavyweight, he has two fights. He has barely done three rounds.”

  • Belal Muhammad Predicts ‘Worst-Case Scenario’ For Shavkat Rakhmonov In UFC Title Fight: ‘I See Holes…’

    Belal Muhammad Predicts ‘Worst-Case Scenario’ For Shavkat Rakhmonov In UFC Title Fight: ‘I See Holes…’

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad is confident in his ability to break Shavkat Rakhmonov mentally when they face off.

    Muhammad, who claimed the title by dominating Leon Edwards at UFC 304, is expected to defend it against the undefeated Rakhmonov. This matchup comes after the Kazakh secured a five-round decision victory over Ian Garry at UFC 310 — a fight that originally had “Remember the Name” slated to compete in before he withdrew due to a foot infection.

    While the champ acknowledges Rakhmonov as a formidable challenge, he believes he has the ability to push him to his limits and ultimately prevail.

    “When you’re fighting a guy like Shavkat, where they put him on this pedestal as this undefeated crazy guy, I see holes in his game the same way I saw holes in Leon’s game,” Muhammad said in an interview with Barstool Sports Chicago. “I think Leon’s a better striker than Shavkat, but mentally, I think Shavkat’s a lot stronger. I don’t see him breaking mentally.

    “The biggest thing for him is, now you’re fighting a guy that’s not afraid of you. Everybody he fights comes in there with nerves and fear: ‘Oh, he’s crazy. He’s a robot. He’s this, this and that.’ A lot of guys just fold because of that fear.

    “For me, I’m going to be in his face the whole time, and it’s going to be the same resolve — another guy breaking. A lot of guys like him, when you’ve never felt that, where a guy is not afraid of you, or a guy is still with you this whole time for five rounds, pushing a different pace that you’ve never seen before — and you’re supposed to be the undefeated guy — you’ve never had to experience that before. It’s going to be the worst-case scenario for him.”

  • Conor McGregor Reportedly Appeals Civil Sexual Assault Verdict

    Conor McGregor Reportedly Appeals Civil Sexual Assault Verdict

    Conor McGregor seems to have made initial moves toward resolving his ongoing legal troubles.

    Last November, a jury ruled in favor of Nikita Hand, who had alleged that the former UFC two-division champion sexually assaulted her in December 2018. The Dublin High Court found “The Notorious” responsible for the assault, ordering him to pay €248,000 (roughly $257,000) in damages to the plaintiff.

    Following the court’s ruling, McGregor has consistently denied the allegations, publicly speaking out against Hand and vowing to challenge the decision in a series of social media posts.

    According to a recent BBC report, “The Notorious” has formally lodged an appeal with the Irish courts to overturn the jury’s verdict. Filed last Friday, McGregor’s appeal challenges both the damages and the additional costs he was ordered to cover, which include Hand’s expenses for pursuing the civil case against him.

    The MMA superstar faced significant financial fallout from the lawsuit, leading to his disassociation from the prominent whiskey brand Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey. Alongside this, McGregor experienced a series of other major business setbacks.

    McGregor is also facing another civil lawsuit, accusing him of sexually assaulting an anonymous woman during the Heat vs. Celtics NBA Finals game in June 2023.

    Filed last month in the Southern District of Florida, the lawsuit also names Basketball Properties LLC, the arena’s operator, as a co-defendant. The plaintiff is reportedly seeking damages exceeding $75,000, in addition to other forms of compensation.

    The legal action charges McGregor with battery and accuses the Kaseya Center of gross negligence, alleging that its staff and security failed to maintain a safe environment by permitting McGregor’s excessive drinking.

  • UFC Seattle Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Cejudo vs. Song, Allen vs. Hernandez, & More

    UFC Seattle Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Cejudo vs. Song, Allen vs. Hernandez, & More

    UFC Seattle 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, February 22, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. The main card begins at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be former two-division champion Henry Cejudo. After consecutive losses to Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili since returning from retirement, “Triple C” will look to notch the first win of his comeback at the expense of fellow top 10 bantamweight Song Yadong.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see ranked middleweight contenders Brendan Allen and Anthony Hernandez collide. While the former will look to bounce back from defeat to Nassourdine Imavov last time out, “Fluffy” is pursuing a sixth straight win.

    And also making the walk on Saturday will be the likes of Rob Font, Jean Silva, Alonzo Menifield, Andre Fili and Ricky Simón.

    UFC Seattle: Cejudo vs. Song Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Seattle (as of 2/17), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Henry Cejudo (+230) vs. Song Yadong (-285)
    • Brendan Allen (+240) vs. Anthony Hernandez (-298)
    • Jean Silva (-575) vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan (+425)
    • Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto
    • Alonzo Menifield (-205) vs. Julius Walker (+170)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Andre Fili (-120) vs. Melquizael Costa (+100)
    • Ion Cuțelaba (+130) vs. Ibo Aslan (-155)
    • Nursulton Ruziboev (-305) vs. Eric McConico (+245)
    • Ricky Simón (+240) vs. Javid Basharat (-298)
    • Mansur Abdul-Malik (-850) vs. Nick Klein (+520)
    • Modestas Bukauskas (-325) vs. Raffael Cerqueira (+260)

  • Nine-Fight UFC Lightweight Veteran Retires At 31 After Three Straight Losses

    It’s the end of the road in the UFC and professional mixed martial arts for one lightweight fighter.

    After Julia Avila announced her retirement in the cage at this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night event, another member of the roster has followed suit this week.

    In an Instagram post, 155-pound vet Joe Solecki cut his career short at the age of 31. The decision comes off the back of three straight defeats for the New Jersey native, who was most recently outpointed by Nurullo Aliev at the very first UFC event of 2025.

    During a lengthy caption, Solecki revealed his plans to remain an active part of the sport through his coaching work.

    “Today, after chasing this dream for 10 years, I am officially retiring from the sport of MMA.

    “I started this endeavor as a kid with a dream of making it to the UFC. It then grew into so many more goals and dreams, some of which I achieved and others where I fell short. In a way, despite falling short at times (especially this past year), I ‘lived my movie’. Competing at the highest level in the UFC and grinding it out on the regional circuit to make it to the top have taught me more life lessons and things about myself, hard work, and determination than I ever could’ve imagined. This avenue in life has helped me grow in so many ways as a man, athlete, husband, father, and most of all has helped me grow and develop deeper in my faith and relationship with God. I have made lifelong relationships that I’ll cherish forever, have experienced the amazing feeling of victory, the adversity of defeat and the joy of overcoming that adversity. I have been able to go places and experience things I never even dreamed of because of this sport, all memories that I’ll also cherish.

    “I won’t be far away from the sport, as I look forward to being on the mats everyday both training still and coaching the next generation of martial artists at Gym-O. I hope to play a small part in helping others experience these same things I mentioned above in their own lives. And you will certainly be seeing me competing in grappling soon, as competition will always be a part of me.

    “Thank you so much to my incredible wife, who has been with me every step of the way from the first time I laced up a pair of gloves and to my kids who along the way became my new ‘why’. Thank you so much to my coaches, teammates, and everyone who supported me so much. I will be thanking all of these people in a separate post that they very much deserve. Above all, praise goes to Jesus Christ, for the grace that showed me that my worth wasn’t determined by a status or outcome, but by Him. Thank you everyone for all of your support throughout the years on this ride. It’s been nothing short of incredible.”

    Solecki earned his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series back in 2019, impressing the UFC CEO with a first-round submission win.

    While he quickly made a statement with three consecutive victories inside the Octagon to move to 11-2 as a pro, the 31-year-old went 2-4 across his remaining six outings, culminating in an early retirement.

  • VIDEO: Ilia Topuria Has Unique Celebration For One-Year Anniversary Of UFC Title Win

    UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria has achieved a lot of firsts on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, from ending Alexander Volkanovski’s unbeaten run at 145 pounds to becoming the first to sleep the previously unbreakable Max Holloway.

    Now, “El Matador” might have just become the first UFC champ to serenade their belt by signing Happy Birthday to it…

    Topuria posted a hilarious video (h/t @mma_orbit) of him and his wife’s unique celebration on the one-year anniversary of his memorable championship victory in Anaheim last February.

    The Spaniard reached the top of the featherweight division as an undefeated fighter at UFC 298, which he headlined in competition for Volkanovski’s gold.

    Topuria made good on his prediction to leave the Australian unconscious, shutting his lights out in round two to begin a new era for the weight class.

    After a similarly violent display opposite Max Holloway last October, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for “El Matador” in 2025. While Volkanovski has staked his claim for a rematch, the champ has been vocal in outlining his two-division ambitions.

  • Michael Bisping Pitches ‘Rematch 5 Years In The Making’ For Jared Cannonier After UFC Vegas 102

    Michael Bisping Pitches ‘Rematch 5 Years In The Making’ For Jared Cannonier After UFC Vegas 102

    While Jared Cannonier might be unsure about his next step following Saturday’s result, one former champion thinks he’s got just the idea for the UFC middleweight contender.

    Cannonier proved that he’s got plenty left in the tank this past weekend when he headlined the latest UFC Fight Night at the Apex in Las Vegas.

    Though he entered the cage as the underdog, the former title challenger overcame a couple of early knockdowns to turn the tide on Gregory Rodrigues en route to a TKO stoppage in the opening exchanges of round four.

    Moving forward, “The Killa Gorilla” has admitted that his past results and the landscape of the division leaves him in a tricky position when it comes to rising the ranks.

    But during a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Bisping identified a second dance with a top contender that the former champ believes makes perfect sense.

    “A rematch five years in the making, I think that makes all the sense in the world,” Bisping said about Cannonier running it back with Robert Whittaker. “Robert would want it because he’d look at it as a good fight to find his mojo, to come back from, to get a win, to get back in the win column, to beat somebody that he’s beaten before.

    “And, of course, for Jared Cannonier, at 40 years old, Robert Whittaker is a massive household name in mixed martial arts,” Bisping continued. “Everyone would want to see that fight and it’s a chance for Jared to get that one back.”

    Whittaker has been out of action since having his surge toward another championship fight emphatically stalled by Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi last October.

    Having previously won back-to-back contests opposite Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov, the Australian remains close to the top and will be looking to revive his ongoing title ambitions in 2025.

    With that, perhaps a second meeting with Cannonier could be in store. The pair previously did battle at UFC 254 in 2020, with Whittaker’s success on the feet including a broken arm suffered by “The Killa Gorilla” and culminating in a unanimous decision win.