MMA News

Category: News

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

  • Patricio Pitbull Open To Showdown With Fellow Brazilian MMA Legend In The UFC

    Patricio Pitbull, now set to debut in the UFC against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314, has expressed an openness to a potential showdown with Jose Aldo.

    This comes as both fighters, who dominated their respective featherweight divisions in Bellator and UFC for years, find themselves under the same promotional banner.

    Pitbull, with a stellar 24-6 record in Bellator, sees the fight as a resolution to a long-standing “what if” scenario.

    “I don’t have this desire to fight Aldo, nothing like that, but for the context, if an offer comes from the UFC, I would be happy to take it,” Pitbull stated to MMA Fighting.

    While Pitbull doesn’t believe a victory over Aldo would definitively crown him the greatest featherweight of all time, he recognizes its significance in settling a long-debated topic. He feels that there’s a bias towards UFC fighters in these discussions.

    “For Aldo and people in the UFC, everybody is sure he’s the best featherweight of all time,” Pitbull said, “But some people that know fighting [say], ‘There’s also Patricio, and maybe he could be fighting for the title of who’s the greatest.’”

    He proposes that a fight would provide a tangible answer, even if it wouldn’t fully define their legacies.

    “We know it wouldn’t determine who was the best or who has done more, but in a fight we would at least have an answer, we’d know who catches fire first, and the winner would leave a great mark.”

    Pitbull’s career boasts titles in both Bellator’s featherweight and lightweight divisions, including a victory over RIZIN’s featherweight champion Kleber Koike. His attempt to capture the bantamweight title from Sergio Pettis was unsuccessful, but he remains open to exploring different weight classes within the UFC.

    “Depending on the challenge, we’d do it,” Pitbull said, indicating his willingness to compete from 135 to 170 pounds. He emphasizes the importance of the opponent’s history and experience, suggesting he’d be more inclined to fight a seasoned veteran.

    The potential fight between Pitbull and Aldo carries significant weight, representing a clash of two eras and promotions. It would serve not only as a spectacle for fans but also as a means to settle a debate that has persisted for years. Pitbull’s entry into the UFC and his openness to this matchup have added an intriguing layer to the promotion’s landscape, generating anticipation for what could be a historic encounter.

  • Josh Emmett Sends Advice To Fans After Seeing Betting Odds For UFC Vegas 105 Main Event

    Josh Emmett Sends Advice To Fans After Seeing Betting Odds For UFC Vegas 105 Main Event

    UFC featherweight contender Josh Emmett is expecting to make a mockery of his underdog status in this weekend’s main event.

    Emmett is set to return from a 16-month layoff at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night inside the Apex, having not competed since his sickening knockout of Bryce Mitchell in December 2023.

    In his bid to regain momentum after that memorable result, the 40-year-old is tasked with stalling the rise of undefeated up-and-comer Lerone Murphy in the headline spot on April 5.

    Successfully doing so would see Emmett upset the odds. As pointed out to him at UFC Vegas 105 media day on Wednesday, the betting line currently has the veteran at +275.

    “The people that are betting, they love it when I’m a huge underdog,” Josh Emmett said. “What, +275? Bet the house.”

    The root of Emmett’s confidence? The belief that his already obscene power has only increased during his time away.

    “Over the last 14 months, we’ve been working on my power,” he said. “I promise you I’m so much more powerful than I was, so wait till that right hand connects.”

    The addition of even more power to Emmett’s dynamite hands is a scary prospect for the featherweight division and, in particular, Murphy.

    “The Miracle” has climbed into the 145-pound top 10 with a 7-0-1 record. He most recently got the better of the always game Dan Ige in Abu Dhabi last October.

  • Report: Derrick Lewis’ UFC Return To Come Against Undefeated Prospect Who Debuted With Brutal 35-Second KO

    Report: Derrick Lewis’ UFC Return To Come Against Undefeated Prospect Who Debuted With Brutal 35-Second KO

    The UFC is reportedly gearing up for a return to Nashville, Tennessee, with a Fight Night card featuring Derrick Lewis at the top of the lineup.

    On Wednesday, MMA journalist Laerte Viana reported on social media that Lewis is set to headline a non-pay-per-view event on July 12 against Tallison Teixeira, with the venue yet to be determined.

    “The Black Beast” will be returning to the Octagon for his comeback after more than a year away. His last appearance came in May 2024, when he delivered a third-round knockout victory over Rodrigo Nascimento.

    Lewis has struggled with consistency in the UFC, going 3-5 in his last eight outings. Among those setbacks is a lopsided knockout loss to Ciryl Gane in their interim heavyweight title clash at UFC 265 in August 2021. He holds a 19-10 record inside the Octagon, with a staggering 15 of those victories coming by knockout.

    Meanwhile, Teixeira, the tallest active fighter in the UFC at 6’8″, made his promotional debut at UFC 312 in February, where he secured a blistering 35-second knockout victory over Justin Tafa. “Xicao” earned his shot in the UFC with a first-round knockout of Arthur Lopes on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2024.

    The 25-year-old Brazilian has maintained a flawless professional record, securing all eight of his victories by stoppage — seven by knockout and one via submission.

  • UFC Announces Partnership With Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, Including Rankings Overhaul

    UFC Announces Partnership With Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, Including Rankings Overhaul

    The UFC and Meta are joining forces to deliver an innovative experience for fans.

    On Wednesday, UFC CEO Dana White announced a multiyear alliance with Mark Zuckerberg’s tech powerhouse, solidifying its role as the MMA promotion’s “official fan technology partner.” This collaboration aims to leverage cutting-edge innovations to enhance fan engagement.

    Through this partnership, the UFC will integrate Meta’s technology, including Meta AI, Meta Glasses, Meta Quest, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, to create a more immersive fan experience. Additionally, Meta will serve as the UFC’s official AI glasses partner, collaborating to showcase innovative uses of its smart glasses at fight events.

    White, who has repeatedly voiced his frustration with the current ranking system, has hinted at replacing it with AI-driven solutions. He teased on social media that the UFC’s official rankings are set for a major transformation, with Meta playing a key role in revolutionizing the process.

    “We’ve already started to work with Meta to create a new fighter rankings system that will debut later this year, thank God,” White said. “We’ll also be using Meta’s AI-powered glasses to capture UFC content and we’re going to do things with Meta that will blow UFC fans away. The next few years will be an absolute game-changer for fans of this sport.”

    The UFC’s current ranking system is determined by a panel of journalists and media representatives from various MMA publications. This system has remained unchanged since the UFC first introduced official rankings in February 2013.

    White and Zuckerberg have formed a close alliance over the years, with the billionaire tech mogul frequently attending UFC events. Their partnership took another step forward in January when White was appointed to Meta’s board of directors. However, the specifics of his role within the company remain unclear.

  • Sean O’Malley Says He’ll Be ’70 Percent’ Better For Merab Dvalishvili Rematch

    Sean O’Malley Says He’ll Be ’70 Percent’ Better For Merab Dvalishvili Rematch

    Sean O’Malley will soon have his shot at redemption, and he’s promised UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili that he’ll be facing an entirely different beast come fight night.

    UFC CEO Dana White announced a few high-profile bouts this week, including the title rematch between Dvalishvili and O’Malley following their five-round battle inside the Sphere last September.

    The decision has caused debate in the MMA community, with some questioning why “Suga” has been granted an immediate opportunity in his return from injury given his short reign and one-sided defeat to “The Machine.”

    But during the latest episode of his TimboSugarShow alongside coach Tim Welch, O’Malley expressed confidence in delivering a much better performance second time around, having overcome the injury he fought through in Las Vegas seven months ago.

    “Dude, I am so excited for this fight. My body, my body has not felt like this since I fought Petr Yan. Since I fought Petr, my body hasn’t felt this good since 2022. It’s 2025 now. I fought Aljo (Aljamain Sterling), I fought ‘Chito’ (Marlon Vera), I fought Merab, just dealing with little (injuries)…and I’m not saying I’m the only one. Every fighter’s dealing with something, but I haven’t felt this good.

    “I’m going to be 70 percent better than I was in that first fight,” Sean O’Malley said. “I’m going to be significantly more mobile, agile, better shape. I’m gonna fight at my full potential.”

  • Henry Cejudo Thinks He’s Cracked The Case Of Who Dustin Poirier Will Face In Retirement Fight

    Henry Cejudo Thinks He’s Cracked The Case Of Who Dustin Poirier Will Face In Retirement Fight

    Dustin Poirier is set to have one final UFC fight this year, and former two-division champion Henry Cejudo thinks he might have worked out who will be tasked with sending him into retirement.

    Poirier is planning to make his farewell in 2025. He committed to one more Octagon outing soon after his latest failed shot at the undisputed lightweight title last June in Newark, where he was submitted in round five of the UFC 302 main event by Islam Makhachev.

    While an opponent and event is yet to be announced, “The Diamond” is targeting fellow “legends” of the sport for a showdown close to home in New Orleans this summer.

    And that exact description has left one fellow fighter sharing a possible theory…

    “I can see Ilia Topuria vs. Dustin Poirier,” Cejudo said on episode 26 of The Bohnfire podcast, hosted by MMA Junkie reporter Mike Bohn. “Of course, if I think about it, Dustin Poirier did say he’s only fighting legends for his retirement fight and Ilia Topuria just changed his name to ‘The Legend.’ … We’re probably on to something.”

    Topuria, who is set to vacate the featherweight title and move permanently to the lightweight division, caused a stir last month when he announced the end of his “El Matador” nickname.

    As he begins a pursuit of championship glory in a new weight class, the Spaniard will go by the moniker of “La Leyenda,” meaning “The Legend.”

  • Report: Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida In The Works For UFC Atlanta

    Report: Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida In The Works For UFC Atlanta

    An important clash between top heavyweights is reportedly targeted for UFC Atlanta on June 14.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is heading back to Georgia to stage a UFC Fight Night from the State Farm Arena in a few months’ time, and the lineup is beginning to come together.

    Following news that Rose Namajunas will make her return at the event, journalist Léo Guimaraes is reporting that a heavyweight collision between the #3-ranked Alexander Volkov and #6-ranked Jailton Almeida is also in the works.

    Volkov (38-11) surged into the title picture with a victory over his fellow countryman Sergei Pavlovich in Saudi Arabia last June, a result that extended his winning streak to four. But his momentum took a hit at UFC 310 six months later when he controversially fell on the wrong side of a split decision opposite Ciryl Gane.

    Almeida (22-3), meanwhile, has won two on the bounce since Curtis Blaydes handed him his first UFC setback 13 months ago. After rebounding with a submission of Alexandr Romanov, “Malhadinho” most recently battered Serghei Spivac en route to a TKO at UFC 311 this past January.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC Atlanta on June 14 are as follows:

    • Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida (heavyweight)
    • Rose Namajunas vs. Miranda Maverick (women’s flyweight)
    • Alonzo Menifield vs. Oumar Sy (light heavyweight)

  • UFC Fighter Who Hasn’t Fought In 6 Years Since Loss To Charles Oliveira Hints At Sudden Comeback

    A forgotten face in the UFC may soon be returning to the Octagon.

    Entering 2019, David Teymur was among the most promising prospects out of Europe. A perfect run of five straight wins in the UFC left him 8-1 as a professional and with an opportunity to impress in hostile territory against then-future champion Charles Oliveira.

    But following strong performances opposite Lando Vannata, Drakkar Klose, and Nik Lentz, the Swedish lightweight was submitted for the first time in his career by “Do Bronx” in their Fortaleza clash.

    Teymur notably suffered a broken orbital bone in that bout, but little did anyone know that other injuries would potentially prevent him from ever entering the cage again.

    Six years on, during a recent interview with MMANYTT, Teymur finally addressed his layoff and the prospects of an unlikely UFC comeback.

    “I was injured. If I wasn’t, that match would’ve looked very different,” Teymur said of his loss to Oliveira, before suggesting a neck injury has since kept him out of action. “If you’ve ever had neck problems, you understand. Wrestling on your neck, striking…it’s not worth it if it’s not healed.

    “I’m still in the UFC. I’ve got a contract. I’m not closing any doors,” Teymur added.

    At 35 years of age — the same as Oliveira and younger than the likes of Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler — perhaps Teymur still has time to make somewhat of a splash on MMA’s biggest stage, should he choose to resume his career.

  • Ian Garry Reacts To Short-Notice UFC Main Event Against Carlos Prates: ‘I’m A Real Fighter!’

    Ian Garry Reacts To Short-Notice UFC Main Event Against Carlos Prates: ‘I’m A Real Fighter!’

    A late switch-up means UFC welterweight contenders Ian Garry and Carlos Prates will headline in Missouri later this month.

    The promotion’s trip to Kansas City 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 Tuesday that a new matchup will now top the lineup.

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

    An excited Garry expressed as much while giving his first public reaction to the news on social media. “The Future” encouraged his supporters to attend the event and vowed to put on a show.

    “It’s official…me versus Carlos Prates, April 26. I’m excited,” Ian Garry said. “The UFC go, ‘Ah, we need someone. Who do we need? Who do we call?’ You call me. Why? ‘Cause I’m a real fighter who wants to fight the best in the world.

    “I’m going to show everybody how good I am,” Garry continued. “Carlos Prates is awesome, but this is my world. I love to fight! There’s nothing more I love in this world than fighting. … Ireland, get your tickets, get your flights. Brazil, get your tickets, get your flights.”

    The Irishman most recently fell short in another late-notice contest opposite Shavkat Rakhmonov last December. The result marked his first defeat in the UFC and professional MMA as a whole.

    Prates, meanwhile, has been on a charge since breaking through on MMA’s biggest stage. The Brazilian Fighting Nerds standout has won four straight, most recently knocking out Neil Magny.

  • Ian Garry Gets First UFC Main Event Against Carlos Prates In Kansas City

    Ian Garry Gets First UFC Main Event Against Carlos Prates In Kansas City

    The UFC’s return to Kansas City now features an electrifying new main event.

    On Tuesday, the UFC confirmed a high-stakes welterweight showdown between Ian Garry and Carlos Prates as the headline bout for the Fight Night card set to take place on April 26 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

    The announcement comes in the wake of the previously scheduled main event between top-ranked light heavyweight Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr. being scrapped for undisclosed reasons.

    “The Future” is set to make his comeback after suffering the first loss of his career, a hard-fought unanimous decision to undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 this past December. Prior to that, Garry had been riding the momentum of an eight-fight winning streak in the UFC, building on his flawless record through 15 professional bouts.

    Meanwhile, Prates was last seen in November, where he secured a first-round knockout over Neil Magny at a Fight Night event. “The Nightmare” is riding a wave of momentum, holding a perfect 4-0 record in the UFC. He enters this matchup on a ten-fight win streak, with every victory coming by knockout.

    The Brazilian was initially set to square off against Geoff Neal at UFC 314 on April 12, but “Handz of Steel” was forced to withdraw from the fight due to an injury.

    With the addition of this matchup, the UFC Kansas City lineup now includes:

    • Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates: welterweight
    • Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang: light heavyweight
    • Giga Chikadze vs. David Onama: featherweight
    • Michel Pereira vs. Abus Magomedov: middleweight
    • Ikram Aliskerov vs. Andre Muniz: middleweight
    • Randy Brown vs. Nicolas Dalby: welterweight
    • Jimmy Flick vs. Matt Schnell: flyweight
    • Evan Elder vs. Ahmad Hassanzada: lightweight
    • Jaqueline Amorim vs. Polyana Viana: strawweight
    • Cameron Saaiman vs. Malcolm Wellmaker: bantamweight
    • Chelsea Chandler vs. Joselyne Edwards: women’s bantamweight
  • Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley 2, Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison Title Fights Headline UFC 316

    Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley 2, Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison Title Fights Headline UFC 316

    Plenty of gold will be on the line when the mixed martial arts leader returns to Newark for UFC 316.

    The UFC heads back to the Prudential Center to stage a numbered event on June 7, marking the venue’s first time hosting the Octagon since Islam Makhachev successfully fended off the threat of Dustin Poirier to retain his grip on the lightweight title in mid-2024.

    This year, a pair of championship bouts at 135 pounds will top the UFC 316 lineup, with Merab Dvalishvili and Julianna Peña defending their belts against Sean O’Malley and Kayla Harrison, respectively.

    UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the news Tuesday on social media.

    This news confirms that O’Malley will receive an immediate rematch with Dvalishvili in his return from injury. “Sugar” hasn’t competed since being unseated by the Georgian at Noche UFC inside the Sphere last September, after which he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum.

    Harrison, meanwhile, earned the right to challenge for UFC gold by making it two wins from two in the Octagon last October. On the same night that she outpointed Ketlen Vieira, Peña controversially got the better of Raquel Pennington on the scorecards to become a two-time bantamweight champ.

  • UFC Veteran Explains Why Conor McGregor Passing On Return Fight Isn’t At All ‘Surprising’

    UFC Veteran Explains Why Conor McGregor Passing On Return Fight Isn’t At All ‘Surprising’

    Conor McGregor’s recent statements suggest he might be finished with fighting, nearly four years after his last UFC appearance.

    At a BKFC event in Florida, McGregor said he turned down a chance to fight again and is now focused on a career in politics. He also said, “I’m happy with what I’ve done,” which sounds more like a goodbye than a hint at a future fight.

    However, UFC legend Matt Brown points out that McGregor has been talking about these kinds of plans since he first became famous. Brown says McGregor is simply following through on promises he made years ago.

    “He told us like 10 years ago what he was going to do,” Brown said on the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer. “Do you remember him talking about it? ‘I’m going to come in, I’m going to take over, I’m going to make money and then I’m going to get the f*ck out.’

    “He said something along the lines of this game is brutal, you don’t want to be in it too long. He told us however many 8 or 10 years ago. He literally told us and he has done it.”

    Brown, despite having previously said that McGregor was likely done with fighting, acknowledges the strong pull of attention and fame that comes with being UFC’s biggest star. The retired fighter understands that this kind of spotlight is hard to let go of.

    However, he believes that McGregor has found other ways to stay in the public eye, like a future in politics and becoming a co-owner in BKFC, which might mean he won’t return to fighting. 

    “This is not surprising at all,” Brown said. “He’s just finally, actually [copping to it]. He loves being in the news. He loves staying relevant and putting his two cents into everything. He’s kept his voice out there and we’ve all paid attention and we’re still talking about it.

    “He’s done a good job of that. A good job of playing the media. I told you before, he’s done. I think he’s just confirming what we already knew.”

  • Former UFC Title Challenger Ends Retirement, Signs With BKFC

    Former UFC Title Challenger Ends Retirement, Signs With BKFC

    A veteran of the UFC is returning from a combat sports retirement, but not to re-commence her career inside the Octagon.

    Jessica Eye competed 16 times on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage after signing in 2013, recording victories over the likes of Katlyn Cerminara and Viviane Araújo.

    Her peak came in 2019 when she challenged Valentina Shevchenko for the women’s flyweight title. Eye ultimately ended up securing a spot on “Bullet’s” highlight reel after being knocked out by a brutal head kick at UFC 238.

    A four-fight losing skid soon followed, and after a decision setback to Maycee Barber in mid-2022, “Evil” Eye called time on her career.

    Three years later, the now 38-year-old is set to resume her stint in combat sports under a new banner — Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

    During an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Eye announced her new venture while taking a dig at the UFC, who she said did not ‘take care’ of her.

    “After a long time of negotiation, I am signing with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship,” Eye said. “I started out boxing… They finally came financially correct and motivated me enough to be like, you know what? Maybe these guys will take care of me in a way that I wasn’t taken care of in my UFC fights and that’s financially rewarding.”

    With that, Eye marks the latest in a slew of notable UFC names to cross over to the world of bare-knuckle boxing. Prominent MMA figures like Mike Perry, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, Ben Rothwell, Chad Mendes, and Paige VanZant have also appeared in the BKFC ring.

  • Dillon Danis Vows To Retire Tony Ferguson In GFL Fight

    Dillon Danis Vows To Retire Tony Ferguson In GFL Fight

    Dillon Danis has declared his intention to conclude Tony Ferguson’s professional MMA career.

    Danis, boasting an undefeated record of two wins and zero losses, representing GFL’s Team New York, is scheduled to face Ferguson, who has a record of 25 wins and 11 losses, representing Team Los Angeles. The two fighters will clash in a lightweight main event on May 25 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

    Ferguson enters this contest on a difficult streak. He has lost his last eight consecutive matches in the UFC, a record within the organization. His most recent defeat occurred in August of last year, when Michael Chiesa submitted him. This string of losses has led Danis to confidently state that he will “put the nail in the coffin of Tony Ferguson’s MMA career.”

    Danis, initially scheduled to box KSI in a highly anticipated 185-pound match, saw the bout canceled due to KSI’s unexpected illness. This cancellation extended Danis’s period of inactivity, as he had not competed since his disqualification loss to Logan Paul in a boxing match back in October of 2023. 

    His previous MMA contest occurred in June 2019, when he achieved a submission victory over Max Humphrey at Bellator 222. Despite this, the polarizing grappler is confident of his superiority over Ferguson.

    “I’m going to retire Tony Ferguson and bury ‘El Cucuy’ in the same grave as his win streak,” Danis told MMA Junkie in a text message Tuesday.

  • Muhammad Mokaev Torches Joe Pyfer For Mexico Rant: ‘If You Signed, STFU!’

    Muhammad Mokaev Torches Joe Pyfer For Mexico Rant: ‘If You Signed, STFU!’

    Former UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev has weighed in on Joe Pyfer’s comments after a last-second withdrawal from Saturday’s event in Mexico.

    Pyfer has caused a stir in recent days following the cancellation of his planned clash with Kelvin Gastelum on this past weekend’s card inside Arena CDMX. “Bodybagz” pulled out on the day of the fight citing illness.

    In the aftermath, the American released a video on social media explaining the situation. Pyfer detailed his sickness and placed blame on the location, branding Mexico a “sh*thole” during a rant that was quickly criticized by many in the MMA community.

    “I don’t care if it’s offensive to you, I will never go back to that country,” Joe Pyfer said. “I did everything right. I slept in a tent. I did all this work to still get sick. Some people are saying it wasn’t the food, saying I got altitude sickness. I’m not a f*cking geographic f*cking, you know, elevation f*cking scientist, but I was told as long as I acclimated, which I did for two months, slept in a tent on the f*cking floor – you know, I did everything that I could to prepare.

    “If that’s what altitude and elevation is, f*ck that country. I will never fight there again. Sh*thole. Not going back. Don’t care if that’s offensive to you. You’re not the one fighting. Suck my balls. Literally,” Pyfer concluded.

    Among those to call Pyfer out for his remarks were a number of fighters, one being Mokaev.

    Responding to the video on social media, “The Punisher” insisted that Pyfer accepted the risks of fighting overseas once he signed on for the matchup.

    “TBF every country is challenge and you gotta go out there and adapt,” Mokaev wrote on X. “It’s your own risk when you sign the contract but if you signed (then) stfu”

    The scenario has marked a blow to Pyfer’s surge up the ladder, which got back on track last summer with a brutal knockout of Marc-André Barriault. While the 28-year-old’s journey to the Octagon birthed the “be Joe Pyfer” tagline, his reputation would appear to have taken a blow as a result of his comments on Mexico.

    In addition to “don’t be Joe Pyfer” posts online, the American’s Wikipedia page has also been altered to change his moniker to “El Kakas,” loosely translated to ‘excrement’ in English.

  • Backup Fighter Seemingly Revealed For Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett At UFC 314

    Backup Fighter Seemingly Revealed For Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett At UFC 314

    Should anything happen to either Michael Chandler or Paddy Pimblett, one top lightweight says he’s first in line to fill in at UFC 314.

    Chandler and Pimblett are on a collision course for Miami, with the pair set to headline next weekend’s pay-per-view event inside the Kaseya Center. They’re tasked with setting the stage for a featherweight championship clash between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes.

    While the bout is highly anticipated given the potential connotations for the high-ranked veteran and the rising, charismatic prospect, fans know better than to assume both men will make it to the cage.

    UFC 314 has already been hit by the withdrawal curse in 2025. After two fight-day cancellations at the last numbered event, an intriguing welterweight bout between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates has already fallen through for April 12.

    Should something happen that sees Chandler vs. Pimblett follow suit, the promotion seemingly has contingency plans in place.

    Adrian Szymański recently shared a report from Polish outlet Super Express on X, which revealed comments from Mateusz Gamrot regarding a potential backup role for the UFC 314 co-main event.

    “Mateusz Gamrot revealed that he received an assurance from the UFC that he would be the first replacement in case Michael Chandler or Paddy Pimblett were to drop out of the fight at UFC 314 in Miami,” the post reads, translated from Polish.

    Gamrot recently attempted to secure a short-notice opportunity to impress following Dan Hooker’s withdrawal from UFC 313. The vacant spot opposite Justin Gaethje ultimately went the way of Rafael Fiziev instead.

    “Gamer” hasn’t competed since his showdown with Hooker in Australia last August, which he narrowly lost via split decision.

  • Shara Magomedov Told To Avoid Verbal Exchanges With ‘Brutal’ Trash-Talker Dricus Du Plessis 

    Shara Magomedov Told To Avoid Verbal Exchanges With ‘Brutal’ Trash-Talker Dricus Du Plessis 

    UFC middleweight prospect Shara Magomedov has been warned against verbally sparring with his division’s champion, Dricus Du Plessis.

    Magomedov recently had his charge up the 185-pound ladder stalled by Michael “Venom” Page, but that hasn’t stopped him from sharing some firm words on Du Plessis’ status as kingpin.

    “Bullet” recently expressed bemusement at the South African’s ability to become champ, outlining his desire to see Khamzat Chimaev unseat him soon.

    It didn’t take long for Du Plessis to take notice of the remarks. “Stillknocks” fired back with multiple jabs at Magomedov’s compromised vision.

    “Somebody get my guy some eye drop,” one of the South African’s posts read.

    During a recent episode of his Weighing In podcast alongside Josh Thomson, “Big” John McCarthy advised Magomedov against responding, stating that a war of words with Du Plessis won’t go well for the Dagestani.

    “I’m gonna say this, DDP lives in a place where there’s all kinds of things going on there and don’t get into a verbal confrontation with him. [Du Plessis’ trash-talking game], it’s f**king next level, exactly,” McCarthy said. “He is on point, he is brutal, he will freaking pull sh*t out of the f**king thin air and just absolutely hammer you.”

  • Benoît Saint Denis Reportedly Returning To Face Explosive Finisher At UFC 315

    Benoît Saint Denis Reportedly Returning To Face Explosive Finisher At UFC 315

    The UFC 315 card just got even more stacked with the addition of a thrilling matchup featuring Benoît Saint Denis.

    On Monday, Saint Denis took to his YouTube channel to announce that he’ll be making his return at UFC 315, which is scheduled for May 10 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, though he refrained from naming his opponent.

    According to a recent report by MMA journalist Álvaro Colmenero, the 29-year-old Frenchman is set to square off against Joel Alvarez in a lightweight showdown.

    “God of War” is currently on a two-fight losing skid and was last in action at UFC Fight Night in Paris last September, where he endured a brutal second-round TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at the hands of Renato Moicano.

    Saint Denis was riding a five-fight finish streak before his momentum was halted by former interim 155-pound champion Dustin Poirier, who scored a second-round knockout in their March 2024 encounter. He now holds a 5-3 record in the UFC.

    Meanwhile, Alvarez is coming off a dominant first-round knockout victory over Drakkar Klose at a Fight Night event in Tampa this past December. “El Fenomeno” last experienced defeat in February 2022 against Arman Tsarukyan, but since then, he’s rebounded strongly with a three-fight win streak.

    The 32-year-old Spaniard has secured seven victories in his nine UFC bouts, with each win coming by way of either knockout or submission.

    The UFC 315 card will feature two championship bouts at the top of the lineup. In the main event, reigning UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad will make his first title defense against Jack Della Maddalena. Meanwhile, in the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko will defend her flyweight title against Manon Fiorot.

    Here’s what the current UFC 315 lineup looks like:

    • Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena: welterweight title
    • Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot: women’s flyweight title
    • Alexa Grasso vs. Natalia Silva: women’s flyweight
    • Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales: welterweight
    • Benoit Saint Denis vs. Joel Alvarez: lightweight
    • Jose Aldo vs. Aiemann Zahabi: bantamweight
    • Brad Katona vs. Bekzat Almakhan: bantamweight
    • Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Bruno Silva: middleweight
    • Mike Malott vs. Charles Radtke: welterweight
    • Jessica Andrade vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius: women’s flyweight
    • Navajo Stirling vs. Ivan Erslan: light heavyweight
    • Modestas Bukauskas vs. Ion Cutelaba: light heavyweight

  • Report: Paulo Costa’s First Fight Since Sean Strickland Dud Targeted For UFC 317

    Should current plans come to fruition, UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa will bring to an end a one-year layoff at this year’s edition of International Fight Week.

    Costa (14-4) went 0-2 last year after returning to action for the first time since a 2022 win over Luke Rockhold. After playing his part in a memorable three-round battle with Robert Whittaker, “Borrachinha” figured in the opposite versus Sean Strickland.

    While he also lost via the scorecards to the American former champ, their five-round affair at UFC 302 last June was widely criticized and branded lackluster.

    In the aftermath, Costa vowed to return to the all-out aggression that he formerly displayed inside the Octagon. And a recent report suggests he’ll have the chance to do so on June 28.

    According to Benny P — an Australian insider who has frequently broken news regarding the likes of Jack Della Maddalena and Robert Whittaker — a clash between Costa and the #15-ranked Roman Kopylov (14-3) is in the works for UFC 317.

    Kopylov opened his account for 2025 by stopping Chris Curtis with a last-second head kick at the Apex in January. Having previously outpointed Cesar Almeida, the Russian has now won two straight since Anthony Hernandez handed him his only loss across the past seven fights.

    There are currently no confirmed fights for UFC 317 on June 28. But with it set to mark the conclusion of International Fight Week this year, a stacked lineup is expected to take shape.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Steve Erceg On Wrong Side Of Only Change After UFC Mexico

    UFC Rankings Report: Steve Erceg On Wrong Side Of Only Change After UFC Mexico

    In the aftermath of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: The sole update to the UFC rankings this week comes at 125 pounds, where Steve Erceg has received a small downgrade following his third straight defeat. After falling by way of decision to Brandon Moreno in this past weekend’s main event, the Australian has fallen one place to #9. That’s pushed Asu Almabayev up to #8 despite the Kazakh getting stopped by Manel Kape early last month.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • ‘He’s Pretty Focused On Boxing’ – PFL Official Believes Jake Paul Won’t Make MMA Debut

    ‘He’s Pretty Focused On Boxing’ – PFL Official Believes Jake Paul Won’t Make MMA Debut

    According to a PFL executive, Jake Paul has no intention of putting his boxing career on hold to transition into MMA.

    More than two years have passed since Paul inked an exclusive deal with the PFL in January 2023 to make his cage debut. In partnership with the New York-based MMA promotion, “The Problem Child” launched the PPV Super Fight division, a pay-per-view platform designed to give fighters a 50% share of event profits.

    Since then, the 28-year-old Ohio native has repeatedly teased his MMA debut, stirring the pot by calling out UFC superstars like Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, and other big-name fighters for a matchup in the cage.

    Despite assurances from PFL chairman Donn Davis that Jake Paul will make his SmartCage debut in 2025, there has been minimal movement in that direction. Instead, the YouTuber-turned-prizefighter has kept his attention firmly on his flourishing boxing career, stepping into the ring for six bouts between February 2023 and November 2024.

    And according to PFL Europe’s Head of Fighter Operations, Dan Hardy, it’s unlikely that anything will change for Paul anytime soon.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Hardy noted that it’s increasingly improbable that “The Problem Child” will hit pause on his boxing career to make the switch to MMA.

    “Do we ever see him in MMA? I don’t think so,” Hardy said. “I think he’s pretty focused on boxing. It’s a lot of work for him to cross over to mixed martial arts, and he’s not going to fight anybody that you’ve never heard of before. It’s going to have to be a decent name or otherwise people won’t watch it. Even old guys in MMA could still handle business, I think, with Jake Paul.”

    Paul was last seen in action in November, where he secured a unanimous decision victory over the legendary Mike Tyson. “The Problem Child” was also reportedly in talks for a high-profile showdown with multi-division champion Canelo Alvarez. However, those negotiations ultimately fell through when Alvarez signed a high-paying, exclusive contract under the Riyadh Season banner.

    Paul has now shifted his focus to a potential showdown with former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in 2026, even boldly predicting that he has what it takes to defeat him.

  • GFL Announces Debut Fight Cards Featuring Ferguson, Danis, Holm, Gustafsson, And More

    GFL Announces Debut Fight Cards Featuring Ferguson, Danis, Holm, Gustafsson, And More

    The Global Fight League (GFL) is set to launch with not one, but two inaugural events.

    On Monday, the GFL unveiled plans for its first two events, featuring seasoned veterans, both set to take place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. The action kicks off on May 24, with a second night of fights following on May 25 at the same venue, with broadcast details and ticket sales information set to be revealed in April.

    The newly launched MMA promotion, which has signed over 300 fighters, including several former champions from top organizations, has introduced a team-based format. The league will feature six city-based teams from around the world, competing in a structured season that culminates in playoffs to crown the ultimate champions.

    In the GFL’s unique team system, fighters earn points for their performances in every fight. A win by finish awards 4 points, a decision victory brings 3 points, a draw earns 2, and a decision loss gives 1 point. However, if a fighter is stopped, their team receives no points for that matchup.

    Fighters from all six GFL teams — Los Angeles, New York, London, Dubai, São Paulo, and Miami — will clash in a total of 31 bouts across two action-packed nights. Additionally, the May 24 event will feature a few highly anticipated trilogy fights.

    Here’s a look at the current lineups:

    GFL Day 1 – Saturday, May 24, Los Angeles

    • Urijah Faber (LA) vs. Renan Barao (SP): bantamweight
    • Anthony Pettis (MIA) vs. Benson Henderson (LON): lightweight
    • Holly Holm (NY) vs. Julia Budd (LON): women’s bantamweight
    • Chad Mendes (LA) vs. Maike Linhares (SP): featherweight
    • Derek Brunson (DUB) vs. Omari Akhmedov (DUB): middleweight
    • Sage Northcutt (LA) vs. Lucas Martins (SP): lightweight
    • Marlon Moraes (MIA) vs. Ray Borg (LA): bantamweight
    • Aspen Ladd (LA) vs. Alejandra Lara (SP): women’s bantamweight
    • Robelis Despaigne (MIA) vs. Todd Duffee (DUB): heavyweight
    • Cat Zingano (MIA) vs. Alexa Conners (DUB): women’s bantamweight
    • Neiman Gracie (NY) vs. Danny Roberts (LON): welterweight
    • Jessica Penne (LA) vs. Joice Mara (SP): atomweight
    • Charles Rosa (MIA) vs. Khumoyun Tukhtamuradov (DUB): featherweight
    • Marisa Messer-Belenchia (NY) vs. Kelly Staddon (LON): atomweight
    • Gleison Tibau (MIA) vs. Alex Oliveira (SP): welterweight

    GFL Day 2 – Sunday, May 25, Los Angeles

    • Tony Ferguson (LA) vs. Dillon Danis (NY): lightweight
    • Ovince Saint Preux (NY) vs. Alexander Gustafsson (LON): light heavyweight
    • Uriah Hall (LA) vs. Douglas Lima (SP): middleweight
    • Paige VanZant (MIA) vs. Randi Field (DUB): strawweight
    • Louis Glisman (LA) vs. Abubakar Nurmagomedov (DUB): lightweight
    • Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (LA) vs. Viviane Pereira (SP): strawweight
    • Alan Belcher (NY) vs. Stuart Austin (LON): heavyweight
    • Thiago Santos (MIA) vs. Devin Clark (NY): light heavyweight
    • Lorenz Larkin (LA) vs. Carlos Petruzzella (SP): welterweight
    • Jimmie Rivera (NY) vs. Cameron Else (LON): bantamweight
    • Natasha Kuziutina (MIA) vs. Jessica Aguilar (DUB): strawweight
    • Phil Hawes (NY) vs. Grant Neal (LA): middleweight
    • Kai Kamaka III (NY) vs. Mike Grundy (LON): featherweight
    • Da Woon Jung (LA) vs. Ronny Markes (DUB): light heavyweight
    • Miao Ding (NY) vs. Josefine Knutsson (LON): strawweight

  • Ryan Bader Addresses Decision To Split With PFL

    Ryan Bader, a respected mixed martial arts fighter, recently decided it was time to move on from the PFL.

    This decision came after a year-long break from fighting, during which he took on a role in the upcoming movie, The Smashing Machine, a biography about Mark Kerr. This absence made him question when he would compete again, leading to discussions with the PFL about ending their professional relationship amicably.  

    It’s seemingly rare for a fighter and a promotion to part ways without any hard feelings, but Bader insists that there’s no animosity between him and the PFL. Even though he still had one fight left on his contract, they agreed to separate.

    While speaking with MMA Fighting, Bader explained that the decision was mostly his. He held the Bellator heavyweight championship, and with the PFL’s recent acquisition of Bellator, there was some confusion about titles and tournament structures. He felt that the timeline for his next fight was unclear, so they had a positive discussion and decided to go their separate ways.

    He expressed gratitude for his time in Bellator and said he would remember it fondly.

    “For me, I just felt like it’s going to be a little while [before I fight again], it’s kind of unclear so we had a good talk with them and decided to go our own separate ways. We were happy with the outcome. They were great to us, and I had an absolute blast with that run in Bellator. I’ll look back very fondly on that.”

    Bader’s only PFL appearance resulted in a loss to Renan Ferreira in February 2024. This fight determined who would face Francis Ngannou in the Cameroonian’s promotional debut. Shortly after, Bader received an unexpected opportunity to act in The Smashing Machine, alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt.

    After securing the movie role, Bader spent several months filming. He appreciated that the PFL allowed him this time, even though he was still under contract with them. He was pleased that they reached a mutually agreeable arrangement. He said that he will always speak well of both organizations.

    One of the main reasons for Bader’s departure from the PFL was his current career stage. At 41, he knew that his retirement was approaching, and he wasn’t interested in participating in a PFL tournament. He also wasn’t sure what suitable opponents would be available, as he had already faced many top heavyweights from the former Bellator roster.

    “I felt like I didn’t have a ton to prove anymore,” Bader said. “For me, I loved my Bellator run. It was so much fun but even then we were kind of recycling guys. I kind of felt it going that same kind of route. The tournaments are kind of weird, because my purse is great money, and nobody really wants to pay that multiple times in a year let alone three times in a year and I get that. So that wasn’t really an option. I don’t know. For me I could get three fights somewhat quickly and then be done but yeah, we that opportunity to do the movie, that was all summer and then haven’t fought for a while.

    “For me, it was just perfect timing. It took away that unknown even though I’m in a different unknown, I can kind of steer where I’m going. We’re happy where we’re at. I had a blast in those organizations. We’ll just see what next. I believe there will be something next, at least one more.”

  • Zack Snyder To Direct ‘Brawler’ Movie For UFC

    Zack Snyder, known for his work directing major Hollywood movies, is now stepping into the world of mixed martial arts.

    According to the Hollywood Reporter, he’s teamed up with the UFC to create a film called Brawler, which promises to deliver intense, realistic fight scenes that will likely surpass the action seen in his superhero movies.  

    Brawler, will tell the story of a young fighter who rises from the tough streets of Los Angeles, aiming for a UFC championship. However, the fighter must also confront his personal struggles as he seeks redemption. This project marks the UFC’s latest effort to bring its sport to the big screen, following its successful immersive event at the Sphere in Las Vegas, where the promotion used a massive LED screen for a live sporting event.

    Snyder, along with his wife and producing partner Deborah Snyder, and Wesley Coller, will produce Brawler through their company, Stone Quarry. Turki Alalshikh and Craig Borsari, the UFC’s chief content officer, will serve as executive producers on the film.

    In addition to directing, Snyder will write the screenplay for Brawler alongside Shay Hatten and Kurt Johnstad, his frequent collaborator. They have previously worked together on films like 300, based on the Frank Miller comic, and the Rebel Moon movies.  

    “Behind every great fighter is the story of how they got there. UFC is the world leader in combat sports, and I’m honored to be partnering with them to tell this incredible story,” Snyder stated.

    Turki Alalshikh, who is the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, also owns The Ring Magazine.

    Snyder’s production company, Stone Quarry, is also developing an untitled LAPD project for Netflix, which is their fourth project under their partnership, following Rebel Moon, Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver, and Army of the Dead.

    The Snyders also produced Zack Snyder’s Justice League for HBO Max. Zack Snyder is represented by CAA.

  • Fabian Edwards Out Of PFL World Tournament Days On From Brother Leon’s Latest UFC Setback

    Fabian Edwards Out Of PFL World Tournament Days On From Brother Leon’s Latest UFC Setback

    March has been a month to forget for the Edwards brothers.

    Fabian was in the corner of his brother Leon earlier this month as the former UFC welterweight champion looked to bounce back from his title defeat to Belal Muhammad last July. But inside The O2 in London, “Rocky” fell to the first two-fight losing skid of his career courtesy of Sean Brady’s grappling prowess.

    Leon’s preparation for that took place alongside training for Fabian’s own return under the PFL banner. After a second failed attempt at unseating Johnny Eblen last October, the Bellator veteran was set to be part of the inaugural PFL World Tournament.

    But while a first-round clash with Impa Kasanganay on April 18 would have provided a quick opportunity to boost morale in the team following Leon’s setback, that bout is no more.

    The promotion announced Sunday that Edwards has withdrawn from the middleweight tournament and has been replaced by the undefeated Jordan Newman.

    It remains to be seen when Fabian’s return will be rescheduled for, and what the PFL will have planned for him following a swift exit from the 2025 World Tournament.