MMA News

Category: News

Stay up-to-date with the latest MMA news from around the globe. Our comprehensive feed covers all major promotions.

  • Ian Garry Doesn’t Feel Like He Lost To Shavkat Rakhmonov: ‘He Was Gasping For Air’

    Ian Garry Doesn’t Feel Like He Lost To Shavkat Rakhmonov: ‘He Was Gasping For Air’

    While UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry is no longer officially unbeaten, but he seemingly still feels it.

    Garry had his record blemished for the first time in his professional career at UFC 310 last December, an event he co-headlined opposite a former training partner and fellow rising star at 170 pounds in Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    Their contest, which came about after the withdrawal of champion Belal Muhammad from his scheduled defense against “Nomad” due to injury, went the distance inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, with the Kazakh emerging with his undefeated résumé intact.

    Despite having his hopes to challenge for “Remember the Name’s” gold this year dented by Rakhmonov, however, Garry appears more enthusiastic and confident about his chances of reaching the top than ever before.

    And as he gears up for his chance to prove as much opposite the charging Carlos Prates in Kansas City, Garry said during part one of ESPN MMA‘s UFC Journey series for this weekend’s event that he doesn’t recall feeling defeated by Rakhmonov.

    “The ego in me doesn’t like to admit that my hand never got raised,” Ian Garry said. “I still feel like, to this day, I didn’t lose that fight. He was gasping for air, grateful the fight was over. I was ready for more.”

    Ian Garry and Carlos Prates will top the lineup of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Missouri, where the likes of Anthony Smith, Giga Chikadze, and Michel Pereira will also be in action.

  • Ilia Topuria Explains Why He’s A Fan Of Volkanovski & Holloway, But Not Yair Rodriguez

    Ilia Topuria Explains Why He’s A Fan Of Volkanovski & Holloway, But Not Yair Rodriguez

    When looking back at the UFC division he formerly competed in and ruled over, Ilia Topuria isn’t a fan of one top contender.

    Topuria recently vacated the featherweight gold ahead of a permanent move up to the lightweight class this year. The decision followed a 2024 in which he dethroned Alexander Volkanovski and became the first to knock out Max Holloway.

    When it comes to both of those legends, “La Leyenda” considers himself a fan. But when it comes to a man whom both have defeated but Topuria didn’t face during his time in the weight class, the Spaniard has a different view.

    During a recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s JRE MMA Show, Topuria explained why he isn’t a fan of Yair Rodriguez’s in the same way he is for the two featherweight GOAT contenders.

    “I don’t know what to tell you about Yair Rodriguez. I’m not a big fan of him,” Ilia Topuria said. “He’s the type of guy that you don’t even need to take him down, he goes to the ground himself. He’s like very spectacular the way he fights, the striking, the kicks he throws and all that, but I’m not a big fan of him.

    “I’m a fan of Volk (Volkanovski) and Max Holloway,” Topuria continued. “Actually, they were the smartest guys that I ever faced inside the Octagon. I felt that they were smart. They had that fight IQ. They know how to fight.”

    The ship has seemingly sailed on the prospect of Ilia Topuria and Yair Rodriguez sharing the Octagon.

    With the Mexican still having his sights on the undisputed featherweight gold, his attention will have recently turned from “La Leyenda” to Volkanovski, who returned to the mountaintop by defeating Diego Lopes at UFC 314 on April 12.

  • Mauricio Ruffy Touts Teammate To Beat Khamzat Chimaev, Become First UFC Champion From Fighting Nerds

    Mauricio Ruffy Touts Teammate To Beat Khamzat Chimaev, Become First UFC Champion From Fighting Nerds

    UFC lightweight contender Mauricio Ruffy has backed his teammate Caio Borralho to end the undefeated run of Khamzat Chimaev in mixed martial arts.

    Talk of Borralho and Chimaev sharing the cage has arisen this week following reports of an injury to UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis, who was expected to defend his gold against “Borz” this summer.

    It didn’t take long for Borralho to raise his hand as a possible replacement opponent. Like Chimaev, “The Natural” is yet to taste defeat in the UFC, winning all seven of his bouts en route to #6 in the 185-pound rankings.

    Chimaev hasn’t publicly responded to Borralho’s callout thus far, and it would seem that one of the Brazilian’s prominent Fighting Nerds stablemates is already running out of patience.

    “Enough bullshit,” Ruffy wrote on X (translated from Portuguese). “@KChimaev we all know how camp training works. @ufc send the contract, let’s take that belt! @BorralhoCaio will be the first Fighting (Nerds) to win the belt.”

  • Paddy Pimblett Shows Respect To ‘Legend Of The Sport’ Michael Chandler After UFC 314 Clash

    Paddy Pimblett Shows Respect To ‘Legend Of The Sport’ Michael Chandler After UFC 314 Clash

    UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett has only positive things to say about Michael Chandler following their fight in Miami earlier this month.

    Pimblett recorded the biggest win of his Octagon career to date at the UFC 314 pay-per-view on April 12, which he co-headlined inside Miami’s Kaseya Center.

    To keep his undefeated UFC record intact and further climb the ladder toward title contention, “The Baddy” was tasked with adding to the woes of a Chandler who entered the event without a win since 2022.

    “Iron Mike” was unable to rectify that and improve his negative record in the promotion, instead getting battered by Pimblett en route to a TKO stoppage midway through round three.

    Over a week on, Pimblett shared a heartwarming interaction between the pair backstage, accompanying it with a classy message to his defeated opponent.

    “It was an absolute pleasure to share the cage with such a legend of the sport in @mikechandlermma,” Pimblett wrote. “Nothing but respect for him before the fight and even more after we fought”

  • Anthony Smith Explains Satisfaction With MMA Career Despite Not Winning A UFC Title

    Anthony Smith Explains Satisfaction With MMA Career Despite Not Winning A UFC Title

    UFC light heavyweight veteran Anthony Smith will soon be hanging up his gloves content with all he achieved in the sport of mixed martial arts.

    Smith announced his plans for one final farewell fight on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage after falling to a third loss in his last four fights in December 2024. He was knocked out by Dominick Reyes at UFC 310, a result that came five months on from another setback to middleweight contender Roman Dolidze.

    With that, 2025 will mark the year in which “Lionheart” retires. Smith will conclude his career at UFC Kansas City this weekend, where he’ll meet an opponent who rides a streak of 11 first-round finishes in the form of Chinese prospect Zhang Mingyang.

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Smith reflected on his lengthy stint as an active fighter and explained why the lack of a world title on his résumé isn’t as frustrating as some may think.

    “I don’t mean this to sound cocky or arrogant, but I’ve never, until now, felt like I’ve done something worth celebrating,” Smith said. “I’ve never felt like I should be celebrated. I feel like now I’ve f*cking put in a career that I should be proud of and I should deserve to be able to celebrate it and be happy about it.

    “I didn’t think I’d ever be happy if I didn’t win a world title, but I found myself in a place where that’s ok because it wasn’t for lack of effort,” Smith continued. “I tried really, really, really fucking hard and I’m just going to celebrate what I was able to do. I came from nothing.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis Reacts To Khamzat Chimaev’s Frustration Over Reported Title Fight Delay

    Dricus Du Plessis Reacts To Khamzat Chimaev’s Frustration Over Reported Title Fight Delay

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis has responded after coming under fire from his expected next challenger.

    While Du Plessis was seemingly being lined up for a return this summer to put his gold on the line against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, a recent report appeared to reveal an injury to the South African.

    With that, “Borz” looks like he’ll have to wait a little longer for his first shot at title glory on MMA’s biggest stage. And it’s safe to say that the Chechen star didn’t take the news well.

    A frustrated Chimaev took to X with his reaction, writing, “This guy biggest bullsh*t.”

    Responding to that, Du Plessis looked to flip the tables by showing Chimaev’s history of fight cancellations in the UFC.

    “Let’s take a look at the last +-2.5years and tell me who’s bullshit,” Du Plessis wrote on X.

    It remains to be seen what the UFC has planned for Chimaev amid talk of an injury to the reigning champion.

    Should the promotion pursue a new matchup for “Borz,” a ready and willing opponent has already emerged in the form of Caio Borralho.

  • UFC Kansas City Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Ian Garry vs. Carlos Prates Card

    UFC Kansas City Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Ian Garry vs. Carlos Prates Card

    UFC Kansas City 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, April 26, at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. 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 a pair of top 15 welterweight contenders in Ireland’s Ian Garry and charging Fighting Nerds standout Carlos Prates.

    And also making the walk on Saturday will be the likes of Anthony Smith, Giga Chikadze, Michel Pereira, Randy Brown, and Ikram Aliskerov.

    UFC Kansas City: Garry vs. Prates Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Kansas City (as of 4/21), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Ian Garry (-130) vs. Carlos Prates (+110)
    • Anthony Smith (+380) vs. Zhang Mingyang (-500)
    • Giga Chikadze (+145) vs. David Onama (-175)
    • Michel Pereira (-155) vs. Abus Magomedov (+130)
    • Randy Brown (-238) vs. Nicolas Dalby (+195)
    • Ikram Aliskerov (-650) vs. Andre Muniz (+470)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Matt Schnell (-278) vs. Jimmy Flick (+225)
    • Evan Elder (-258) vs. Gauge Young (+210)
    • Chris Gutierrez (-130) vs. John Castaneda (+110)
    • Da’Mon Blackshear (-395) vs. Alatengheili (+310)
    • Malcolm Wellmaker (-110) vs. Cameron Saaiman (-110)
    • Jacqueline Amorim (-550) vs. Polyana Viana (+410)
    • Timothy Cuamba (-105) vs. Roberto Romero (-115)
    • Chelsea Chandler (+240) vs. Joselyne Edwards (-298)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo3W91E-M5s
  • Kayla Harrison Appreciates Julianna Peña ‘Winning’ Her More Fans With Unlikeable Trash Talk

    Kayla Harrison Appreciates Julianna Peña ‘Winning’ Her More Fans With Unlikeable Trash Talk

    UFC women’s bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison sees positives coming from Julianna Peña’s brash trash talk in the lead-up to their championship showdown.

    Peña returned to the 135-pound mountaintop in the co-main event of the UFC 307 pay-per-view last October, narrowly outpointing Raquel Pennington in what marked a widely debated result.

    Harrison, meanwhile, staked her claim for a shot against the winner earlier in the night when she got the better of Ketlen Vieira to move to 2-0 under the UFC banner.

    While the champ attempted to set her sights on the retired Amanda Nunes instead, all signs pointed toward Harrison getting her first title shot in 2025, and that’ll come to fruition at UFC 316 in Newark on June 7.

    Given how the pair exchanged words at the UFC 307 press conference, the lead-up could be entertaining. “The Venezuelan Vixen” has had plenty of negative things to say about the two-time Olympic gold medalist since her arrival to the promotion, and that trend continued at the UFC 316 launch presser in Miami.

    During a recent appearance on the podcast of MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Harrison reflected on their on-stage exchanges and explained why she sees them as beneficial.

    “I’m still trying to figure out what happened,” Kayla Harrison said. “It was a lot. I thought we were going to talk a little bit of sh*t. I was expecting us to have a little bit of fun with it, but she came out swinging and I was like – it kind of works in my favor because she talks so much that everybody just hates her.

    “So I win a lot of fans when I’m just like, ‘All right, whatever, honey.’ She was talking about (Cris) Cyborg and running and grandmas and skinny and bloody and walking tacos, and I was like, ‘What is happening right now?’ We’ll see,” Harrison added.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Apparently Says ‘Yes’ To New Opponent After News Of Dricus Du Plessis Injury

    It hasn’t taken long for UFC middleweight Khamzat Chimaev to seemingly agree to a new matchup amid talk of an apparent injury to champion Dricus Du Plessis.

    The undefeated Chechen contender looked set for his first title opportunity on MMA’s biggest stage this summer after he breezed past the great Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi last October.

    But while reports placed his clash with Du Plessis on the UFC 317 card during International Fight Week in late June, Kevin Iole revealed that an injury to the South African is set to delay his third defense.

    “Borz” was quick to corroborate the news with a frustrated post on social media, and he doesn’t appear keen to wait for the champ’s recovery before returning to the cage.

    Fellow top contender Caio Borralho reacted to the news by expressing interest in facing Chimaev instead. By the sound of things, that interest is not one-sided…

    “Khamzat said yes!” Borralho wrote on X. “The only thing that makes sense is the Interim belt! This fight is gonna be bigger than him vs Dricus! Marks my words”

    It remains to be seen whether such a bout would also be of interest to the UFC higher-ups.

  • Tom Aspinall ‘Sworn To Secrecy’ Over Next Fight, But Promises Announcement ‘Soon’

    Tom Aspinall ‘Sworn To Secrecy’ Over Next Fight, But Promises Announcement ‘Soon’

    While the fans still remain in the dark about plans in the heavyweight title picture, it would seem that Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall no longer does.

    Aspinall has been pushing for a unification clash with Jon Jones ever since winning the interim belt in November 2023. He made the most of Rochester native’s canceled defense against Stipe Miocic by finishing Sergei Pavlovich on short notice.

    A year and a half later, the heavyweight division remains under the rule of two champs who have both fought others in the meantime. With Jones remaining firm on his insistance to face Miocic, Aspinall passed the time by convincingly beating Curtis Blaydes to keep hold of his interim gold last July.

    Since “Bones” had his hand raised a few months later, discussion over the pair finally unifying the titles has only increased, with the UFC also appearing firmly behind that plan.

    The delay in it happening? According to Tom Aspinall, a familiar reluctance from Jones.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Aspinall suggested some resolution has been reached. When it comes to what, however, the Brit has been “sworn to secrecy” for the time being.

    “I know everyone wants fight news, but I do know what’s happening,” Tom Aspinall said. “I have been sworn to secrecy for a little bit, so stay tuned. … But there will be news coming, hopefully very soon.”

  • Khalil Rountree: Magomed Ankalaev Fought A ‘Different’ Alex Pereira Than I Did

    Khalil Rountree: Magomed Ankalaev Fought A ‘Different’ Alex Pereira Than I Did

    Khalil Rountree doesn’t believe newly crowned UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Magomed Ankalaev came up against the same beast that he did inside the Octagon.

    Ankalaev got the better of Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 313 last month, ending the Brazilian’s reign on the 205-pound throne in the process.

    While “Poatan” had successfully pushed through three challenges, including opposite Rountree last October, he fell at the hurdle that had long been tipped to be his tallest in the division given Ankalaev’s well-rounded arsenal and wrestling prowess.

    During a recent interview with MMA Today, though, Rountree somewhat put the result down to an off night for Pereira, whom “The War Horse” suggested was way off the level of performance he displayed to retain the belt in Salt Lake City five months prior.

    “It was hard for me to watch that fight and score it,” Rountree said. “The Alex that walked out that night was a different Alex than the one that fought me. My experience was watching that fight in frustration.

    “I was kind of confused because I was expecting the same guy that came and fought me to go there and do the same thing. I wanted to see what that experience was like from the outside,” Rountree added.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Ranked Welterweight Added To UFC 316

    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, April 14, and Sunday, April 20, a number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources.

    For those matchups, including the next bout for top 15 welterweight Vicente Luque, check out the list below:

    There was also an adjustment to one already scheduled bout:

  • Khamzat Chimaev Fuels Talk Of Dricus Du Plessis Injury With Frustrated Social Media Post

    Khamzat Chimaev Fuels Talk Of Dricus Du Plessis Injury With Frustrated Social Media Post

    It would seem that middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev will be waiting a little longer than planned for his first UFC title shot.

    Having successfully defended his belt against Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, the reign of Dricus Du Plessis was expected to meet its tallest hurdle to date this summer.

    “Stillknocks” appeared likely to face the challenge of Chimaev, an undefeated phenom who most recently steamrolled Robert Whittaker by way of a teeth-breaking face crank submission last October.

    But though their bout was targeted for International Fight Week, a recent report from Kevin Iole has suggested that an injury to the champ has forced him out.

    And Chimaev further corroborated that news Sunday with a frustrated post on social media.

    “This guy biggest bullsh*t,” Chimaev wrote on X.

    The apparent injury to the middleweight kinkpin seems to have boosted the chances of Islam Makhachev headlining UFC 317 in defense of his lightweight crown.

  • Jake Paul Returns Against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. On June 28 In California

    Jake Paul Returns Against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. On June 28 In California

    Jake Paul will be returning to action this summer to kick off his 2025 campaign.

    On Friday, Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger first reported that Paul is slated to face former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a cruiserweight showdown.

    Later in the evening, “The Problem Child” himself confirmed the news, officially announcing that the bout is scheduled for June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

    Before finalizing his bout with Chavez Jr., Paul was deep in talks for a superfight with Canelo Alvarez, targeting a May date. However, those plans fell through when Alvarez opted to sign a lucrative deal with Riyadh Season promotion.

    The YouTuber-turned-boxer even took aim at the Mexican superstar on social media, mocking Canelo’s unanimous decision win over Chavez Jr. from May 2017.

    “I just defeated the baddest man on the planet and broke multiple records, and now I’m going against a former world champion with 54 wins who Canelo could barely beat,” Jake Paul wrote on X.

    “The Problem Child” last stepped into the ring in November, earning a unanimous decision win over former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. The 28-year-old Ohio native is riding a five-fight winning streak and boasts a professional record of 11-1. His lone defeat came in February 2023, when he suffered a narrow split decision loss to Tommy Fury.

    Meanwhile, Chavez Jr. was last seen on the undercard of Paul’s bout with Mike Perry this past July, scoring a unanimous decision victory over former UFC standout Uriah Hall. The win marked his first appearance in the squared circle following a three-year layoff.

    “La Leyenda Continua” reigned as the WBC middleweight champion from 2011 to 2012, successfully defending the title three times before dropping it to Sergio Martínez in September 2012. The seasoned Mexican veteran boasts a professional record of 54-6-1 with one no contest, and 34 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

  • Chael Sonnen Says Fans Are ‘Pretending’ They Want Amanda Nunes To Make UFC Return

    Chael Sonnen Says Fans Are ‘Pretending’ They Want Amanda Nunes To Make UFC Return

    Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen isn’t buying the apparent enthusiasm over a return to active competition for Amanda Nunes.

    Nunes laid down her two titles and gloves in the Octagon following a successful bantamweight defense against Irena Aldana in 2023. Their showdown at UFC 289 in Canada came about on short-notice following the withdrawal of Julianna Peña through injury.

    Close by cageside on the night was “The Venezuelan Vixen,” who expected to set up a rearranged trilogy fight with the “Lioness.” Instead, the Brazilian announced a surprise retirement.

    But that got thrown into doubt after Nunes questioned Kayla Harrison’s decision not to call her out following a successful Octagon debut at UFC 300. Since then, talk of a comeback has only intensified.

    Most recently, Nunes suggested a return is on the cards while in attendance for the UFC 316 press conference, which saw champ Peña and upcoming opponent Harrison go back and forth.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen addressed the likely comeback, claiming any excitement in the fanbase is not genuine.

    “It’s very polite to pretend that you want Amanda Nunes to come back, it’s very polite, but I’m just not really sure why you’re doing it,” Sonnen said. “You didn’t get excited when she was here the first time. You didn’t come out, you didn’t buy a T-shirt, you wouldn’t watch the show because, you wouldn’t buy the pay-per-view because, and now you’re pretending that you want her to come back.

    “She’s the greatest of all time…a really, really nice human being in addition to that,” Sonnen continued. “It’s not a commentary on that. You don’t want to see her fight, and you never did. So I struggle with this newfound curiosity of ‘will she come back?’”

  • Ilia Topuria Will ‘Sit’ And Wait For Islam Makhachev Title Fight

    Ilia Topuria Will ‘Sit’ And Wait For Islam Makhachev Title Fight

    Ilia Topuria is sticking to his guns.

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

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

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

    During a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, Topuria responded to that suggestion, insisting that he’ll only settle for an immediate title fight later this year.

    “I don’t care if Islam decides he doesn’t want to fight me. I’ll sit until you’re gonna have to fight me,” Ilia Topuria said. “I’m here. You can’t keep avoiding me.”

  • UFC Fighter Calls For Michael Chandler To Be Removed From Rankings After UFC 314 Loss

    UFC Fighter Calls For Michael Chandler To Be Removed From Rankings After UFC 314 Loss

    Grant Dawson is doubling down on his critical assessment of Michael Chandler’s position within the UFC lightweight rankings.

    Following Chandler’s recent third-round TKO loss to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314 in Miami, Dawson has reiterated his long-held belief that Chandler is undeserving of his top-15 ranking.

    Dawson has been vocal about Chandler’s ranking for an extended period. His stance only solidified after Chandler’s latest defeat, which marks his third consecutive loss and his fifth loss in his last six outings. This leaves his UFC record at 2-5.

    “I’ve been calling out Chandler for years,” Dawson told MMA Junkie. “I’ve always thought Chandler was undeserving of being in the top 15. He’s now 2-5, I believe, in the UFC. All good guys for sure, but we’re all fighting good guys. If Michael Chandler’s next fight is a big name, not an up-and-comer, I think the UFC is doing a disservice.” Dawson argues that rewarding a fighter with Chandler’s recent record with another high-profile matchup against a rising contender would be unfair to those consistently climbing the ranks.

    Furthermore, Dawson admitted that Pimblett’s performance against Chandler significantly exceeded his expectations. Despite predicting a Pimblett victory, Dawson was surprised by the dominant nature of the finish.

    “I thought he looked great. I thought he looked much improved,” Dawson said of Pimblett’s performance. “I, from Day 1, was picking Paddy to beat Michael Chandler, and I didn’t think he would do it like that. I thought Michael Chandler was going to be winning the entire fight and then do something Michael Chandler does and find a way to lose. But, no, he got his butt kicked the entire time. Paddy is definitely a force to be reckoned with. I’m interested to see who they match him up with next.”

  • Conor McGregor vs. KSI ‘Was A Done Deal,’ Says Misfits Boxing’s Mams Taylor

    Conor McGregor vs. KSI ‘Was A Done Deal,’ Says Misfits Boxing’s Mams Taylor

    Conor McGregor was supposedly in advanced negotiations for potential showdowns against top influencer boxers.

    McGregor has remained sidelined since suffering a brutal leg break in his trilogy clash with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 back in July 2021. Despite years of relentless teases and bold declarations about a comeback, the Irishman’s long-awaited return to the Octagon has remained nothing more than talk.

    Back in December, “The Notorious” revealed he was actively plotting a high-profile exhibition bout against Logan Paul in India, aiming for a summer showdown before making his UFC return. But as it turns out, Paul wasn’t the only YouTuber-turned-part-time boxer on McGregor’s radar.

    During a recent episode of Misfits News on YouTube, promoter Mams Taylor revealed that McGregor was on the verge of finalizing a crossover boxing match against KSI. The bout, reportedly orchestrated by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Alalshikh, was set to take place on Alcatraz Island in June.

    However, at the last moment, just before the fight could be officially announced, the former UFC two-division champion reportedly withdrew.

    “The Conor McGregor one, we thought it was a done deal,” Taylor said. “We were told it was a done deal. I don’t know exactly [what happened] because I wasn’t part of the negotiations with Conor, but I think Conor made a statement recently about that and addressed it subtly so just refer back to that. He wants to be a politician and who knows? I think that’s a very exciting fight, I think it’s a wonderful fight, it would be massive. That got KSI more excited than I’ve ever seen him and I’ve seen him go through ups, downs, all kinds of crazy stuff we’ve been through together.”

    Taylor’s assertions seem to be corroborated by a statement made by “The Notorious” last month, where McGregor confessed to turning down an opportunity to fight on Alcatraz. He explained that his focus was instead directed toward his ambitious presidential campaign in Ireland.

    Meanwhile, KSI was initially set to face McGregor’s close friend Dillon Danis in the headline matchup at Misfits Boxing 21 on March 29. However, the British YouTuber withdrew from the fight, citing an alleged illness.

    While the bout was reportedly postponed with hopes of rescheduling, it now seems increasingly unlikely that the fight will ever be rebooked.

  • Michael Chandler Says The ‘Future Is Still Bright’ In Latest Statement On Devastating UFC 314 Loss

    Michael Chandler Says The ‘Future Is Still Bright’ In Latest Statement On Devastating UFC 314 Loss

    After breaking his silence earlier this week, UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has released a lengthier statement addressing his latest crushing loss.

    Chandler’s struggles inside the Octagon continued at last Saturday’s UFC 314 pay-per-view, which he co-headlined opposite the rising Paddy Pimblett inside Miami’s Kaseya Center.

    The former three-time Bellator champion was soundly defeated en route to a TKO stoppage in round three. The result has left “Iron Mike” without a victory in three years since 2022 and with a less than ideal 2-5 record in the UFC.

    With that in mind, the 38-year-old is unsurprisingly licking his wounds after another tough night at the office. And after a brief statement Monday, Chandler issued some more detailed thoughts on the setback on Instagram Wednesday.

    “There are really no words to describe the pain and disappointment you feel…you just live in it…let it take its lot and leave you with what is left. From there you rebuild.

    “The best you can do is move forward with confident expectancy and pride in the attempt. One thing is certain, I can rest in knowing that I prepared the best I could and I alone was responsible for my shortcomings in that octagon. My team prepared me. The UFC gave me the opportunity. I stepped into the ultimate proving grounds, ready.

    “Bested, but never beaten. Never out of the fight. Still in pursuit.

    “And this picture sums up how I feel and what truly matters. Bruised, bloodied and heartbroken, yet I have my soulmate by my side and 3 little hands to hold.

    “Future is still bright.

    “Walk On.

    “See you at the top! #ufc314“

  • Ian Garry Finds Evidence Of ‘Quit’ In Carlos Prates Ahead Of UFC Kansas City Main Event

    Ian Garry Finds Evidence Of ‘Quit’ In Carlos Prates Ahead Of UFC Kansas City Main Event

    Ian Garry’s confidence ahead of UFC Kansas City has only risen after watching one of opponent Carlos Prates’ past losses.

    The promotion’s trip to Missouri to stage a UFC Fight Night inside T-Mobile Center on April 26 was originally set to feature a main event between hard-hitting light heavyweights Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree.

    But following speculation of an injury to the former champion, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed at the start of this month that a new matchup will top the lineup.

    The stakes will be similarly high, though, with both Ian Garry and Carlos Prates looking to ascend into the championship conversation at each other’s expense.

    And when it comes to his chances of doing so, the Irishman seemingly got a boost in self-belief after seeing the manner with which Prates once suffered defeat on the regional scene.

    “Here, look at this. This is a video of Carlos Prates and his true fighting spirit,” Ian Garry said. “It’s called being a quitter. He had just been beaten up all the rounds prior, puts his hand up, shakes his head, says, ‘I’m done,’ and then just drops to the ground. … Deep down he knows, he’s not a fighter.”

    While the April 26 headliner marks Garry’s first outing since a narrow defeat to Shavkat Rakhmonov last December, Prates will enter it with his undefeated UFC record still intact, having most recently moved to 4-0 in the Octagon with a knockout of Neil Magny.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Wants To Fight Movsar Evloev ‘For The Legacy’

    Alexander Volkanovski Wants To Fight Movsar Evloev ‘For The Legacy’

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has expanded on why he’d like to face the challenge of Movsar Evloev next time out.

    Volkanovski returned to the throne at this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view, commencing a second reign at 145 pounds with a convincing five-round victory over Diego Lopes.

    It hasn’t taken long for talk to turn from his performance in Miami to his next opponent, and while some have pushed back on Evloev getting a shot due to his fight style, the champ wants to test himself against the undefeated Russian.

    During an interview with Fox Sports upon touching down back in Australia, Volkanovski explained why he’d choose Evloev to be the first hurdle in his newly begun featherweight rule.

    “I did mention Movsar. He is undefeated. I like the fact that he’s undefeated,” Volkanovski said. “And still one of the younger generation. … I think for the legacy, that would still mean so much.

    “But is that what the fans want? Is that what the UFC wants? I don’t know. I’m going to need to talk to them and we’ll see what happens,” Volkanovski added.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Praises ‘Underrated Aspect’ Of Belal Muhammad’s Game

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Praises ‘Underrated Aspect’ Of Belal Muhammad’s Game

    UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has pinpointed one area of Belal Muhammad’s arsenal that he believes puts the reigning welterweight champion above his peers.

    Muhammad has consistently proved his detractors wrong in recent years, mounting an impressive 11-fight unbeaten run en route to the championship at 170 pounds.

    Among the helping hands along the way in “Remember the Name’s” corner was Khabib, who has regularly welcomed the Palestinian-American into his team.

    During a recent interview with Adam Zubayraev, Khabib laid heavy praise on Muhammad while questioning who has what it takes to unseat him from the welterweight throne.

    “I believe it will be very hard to beat Belal,” Khabib said. “If (Della) Maddalena or Shavkat don’t finish him early, Belal is just going to keep pressing. … His endurance is really good. In fact, I think it’s the most underrated aspect in MMA today. Belal’s cardio is the best in this division for sure, and maybe even in all of UFC.”

    Jack Della Maddalena will have the first chance to make Muhammad’s reign a short-lived one. Due to an injury to Shavkat Rakhmonov, the Australian has been brought in to challenge the champ at UFC 315 in Montreal next month.

  • Patricio Pitbull Polls Fans On Second UFC Opponent Following Unsuccessful Debut At UFC 314

    Patricio Pitbull Polls Fans On Second UFC Opponent Following Unsuccessful Debut At UFC 314

    Mixed martial arts legend Patricio Pitbull wants the fans’ input when it comes to his second matchup in the UFC.

    Pitbull, a former multi-time champion in Bellator, made the walk to the Octagon for the first time at this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view inside Miami’s Kaseya Center.

    The veteran Brazilian received a stern test in his first foray into the cage as a UFC fighter against ex-interim champ Yair Rodriguez. The Mexican utilized his famed striking arsenal to provide an immediate blow to Pitbull’s ambitions.

    After 15 minutes of action in Florida, which included a knockdown for Rodriguez, the UFC debutant suffered a defeat on the scorecards.

    But Patricio Pitbull has not appeared too disheartened by the result and is already turning his attention to what could await him down the line.

    With that in mind, the 37-year-old recently put his choice of next opponent down to the fans, asking them to vote between Diego Lopes, Dan Ige, Josh Emmett, and Aljamain Sterling.

    As of this writing, Ige leads the poll with just over 38 percent of north of 1,000 votes.

    Interestingly, the least favored option is Lopes, who fell short of the featherweight title against Alexander Volkanovski in Saturday’s UFC 314 main event.

  • Islam Makhachev’s Coach Says Paddy Pimblett ‘Worthy’ Of Next UFC Lightweight Title Shot

    Islam Makhachev’s Coach Says Paddy Pimblett ‘Worthy’ Of Next UFC Lightweight Title Shot

    Should the UFC grant Paddy Pimblett a surprise title shot following his latest triumph, the coach of champion Islam Makhachev would seemingly be supportive of the decision.

    Pimblett continued to build momentum in his quest to reach the mountaintop on MMA’s biggest stage, decimating Michael Chandler in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC 314 pay-per-view.

    “The Baddy” exited Miami’s Kaseya Center with his undefeated promotional record intact, and he’s since risen to #8 in the official lightweight rankings.

    While that’s left plenty of prominent names still ahead of him in the pecking order, the Scouser has been touted for a potential shot at gold next.

    During the latest episode of his podcast, the Javier & Mo Show, coach Javier Mendez was asked about the prospect of Makhachev defending his belt against Pimblett sooner rather than later.

    “Paddy’s ready to face anybody,” Mendez said. “What he’s done already, his credentials, his winning record in the UFC — and his hype, what he can do, how he can motivate people — if they give him the next title shot, he deserves it. … Is he worthy? Yes. He’s very interesting, and he’s got all of England behind him. … I’m a fan.”

  • Alexander Volkanovski’s Coach Assesses Movsar Evloev’s Chances In Potential UFC Title Fight

    Alexander Volkanovski’s Coach Assesses Movsar Evloev’s Chances In Potential UFC Title Fight

    The coach of Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t believe Movsar Evloev would be able to deal with the newly crowned UFC featherweight champion’s strength.

    Evloev has been staking his claim for the next title shot following Volkanovski’s return to the throne at this past weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view.

    The Australian veteran got the better of Diego Lopes across five rounds to bounce back from consecutive knockout losses to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, beginning a second reign at 145 pounds in the process.

    Attention has already turned to the first defense of his new divisional rule, and Evloev is widely being branded the most deserving of the opportunity.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, coach Joe Lopez assessed the Russian’s game and how it stacks up against the strengths of the champ.

    “I think he is a good wrestler, but he’s not a – what would you call him? He’s good at getting people down, but he doesn’t really do much with it once he gets them down. And that’s what I guess makes him boring,” Lopez said. “So he just hangs on to them, and I don’t think he’s going to be able to hang onto Volk. Volk is just so strong, and his scrambling skills, and his jiu-jitsu and wrestling are another level. Volk just picks things up, if you look at the the beginning of the camp, when we break things down, and we see what each person’s really good at.

    “So we’ve got Diego. Diego’s got a pretty good guard. The way he switches from armbars to triangles to sweeps, he’s very good at. He’s got a really good repertoire there, and at the beginning with the guys that we had, Volk was getting stuck in there. (But) by the end of the camp, Volk was not having any problems at all in those positions, and I think that’s what Diego felt when Alex took him down – that it’s not a place he wants to be with Alex on top of him because like I said, Alex’s pressure when he’s on top, he feels like a heavyweight on top of you, and then he just doesn’t hang onto you. He’s just looking to land some bombs or an elbow or something on you. So, you don’t want to be on the bottom when Alex is on top.”