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.
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 ā an Australian insider who has frequently broken news regarding the likes of Jack Della Maddalena and Robert Whittaker ā a clash between Costa and the #15-ranked Roman Kopylov (14-3) is in the works for UFC 317.
Per sources Paulo Costa Vs Roman Kopylov is in the works for UFC 317 on June 28th pic.twitter.com/iB3sUblYWw
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.
Flyweight:Ā 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.
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.
And according to PFL Europe’s Head of Fighter Operations, Dan Hardy, itās unlikely that anything will change for Paul anytime soon.
During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Hardy noted that itās 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 donāt think so,ā Hardy said. “I think heās pretty focused on boxing. Itās a lot of work for him to cross over to mixed martial arts, and heās not going to fight anybody that youāve never heard of before. Itās going to have to be a decent name or otherwise people wonāt 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.
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.
In the GFLās 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 ā Los Angeles, New York, London, Dubai, SĆ£o Paulo, and Miami ā 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
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
OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: 31 fights. 2 nights. 6 teams. 1 global stage. The first GFL Season launches in Los Angeles with a two-day team vs team MMA mega-event at the iconic Shrine Auditorium – May 24 & 25. Tickets will be on sale in April, stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/3aBtDgr4kn
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.Ā Ā
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.
āFor me, I just felt like itās going to be a little while [before I fight again], itās 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. Iāll look back very fondly on that.ā
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.
āI felt like I didnāt have a ton to prove anymore,ā Bader said. āFor 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 wasnāt really an option. I donāt 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 havenāt fought for a while.
āFor me, it was just perfect timing. It took away that unknown even though Iām in a different unknown, I can kind of steer where Iām going. Weāre happy where weāre at. I had a blast in those organizations. Weāll just see what next. I believe there will be something next, at least one more.ā
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.Ā Ā
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.Ā Ā
“Behind every great fighter is the story of how they got there. UFC is the world leader in combat sports, and Iām 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 ā Part Two: The Scargiver, and Army of the Dead.
The Snyders also produced Zack Snyderās Justice League for HBO Max. Zack Snyder is represented by CAA.
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.
šØšš„ššššš”š š”ššŖš¦ šš„š¢š š§šš šš¢ššš šØ@Thecoachrules checks in with a major change to the PFL World Tournament 3 Main Event
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.
Ilia Topuria is placing his trust in Dana White and the UFC as he plans to move up to the 155-pound division.
Though he hasn’t received official confirmation on his next opponent, whether it will be lightweight champion Islam Makhachev or another contender, Topuria remains confident that his next fight will be for the lightweight title.
This comes as Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes are set to fight for the featherweight belt that Topuria will vacate at UFC 314.
Speaking to the media after an event in Madrid, Spain, Topuria reassured his supporters that the UFC has guaranteed him a title fight.
“Iām not entirely sure what my next fight will be,” Topuria said (h/t MMA Marca, translation via Championship Rounds). “The only thing Iām sure of is that the UFCās word is that my next fight will be for the world title. Thatās all I know. Afterwards, if itās going to be Islam, if itās going to be Charles, I have no idea.” He emphasized the importance of the title being on the line, stating, “The belt will be on the line. That was the promise for leaving my title vacant. Theyāve always kept their promises.”
Topuria isn’t demanding that Makhachev be his opponent. He’s open to either fighting Makhachev for the lightweight title or competing for a vacant belt if Makhachev moves up to 170 pounds. Another potential opponent is Charles Oliveira, whom Topuria has previously expressed interest in fighting. However, Oliveira recently dismissed Topuria, saying he’s not “a big fight,” which led to a strong response from Topuria, who questioned Oliveira’s past record.
“I havenāt dissed [Oliveira], Iāve told the truth,” Topuria explained. “He has 10 losses. I havenāt said anything else. He has 10 losses. Five by knockout, four by submission, one by decision. He says [lightweight] is the toughest division there is. When he was fighting at 145, even Cub Swanson beat him up. Thatās where the conversation ends.
Topuria continued, “Something he couldnāt achieve at 145 pounds, he did at 155, where he became champion. So why is that division tougher than the one I come from? I donāt find any logic in it. And thatās why I said it seems like he hasnāt read a single page of a newspaper. So if thatās disrespectful, I donāt know since when telling the truth is disrespectful.”
Alexander Volkanovski, despite recent setbacks, maintains unwavering confidence in his ability to dominate any five-round UFC contest.
Islam Makhachev broke his nearly decade-long undefeated streak at UFC 284, a closely contested bout where Volkanovski’s attempt to secure dual-champion status fell just short.Ā
He rebounded with a successful featherweight title defense against Yair Rodriguez, but subsequent losses to Makhachev in a rematch and Ilia Topuria have challenged his previously dominant run.
However, Volkanovski attributes his knockout losses to being caught off guard, rather than being outmatched in a sustained fight. He believes his skill set allows him to compete on equal footing with any UFC fighter for five rounds, with a possible exception for Makhachev.
This belief in his endurance and overall fighting prowess remains a cornerstone of his mindset as he looks to rebound from his recent defeats.
Volkanovski’s assertion highlights his belief in his cardio and fight IQ. He feels that when he is able to get into a long fight, he will be able to outlast his opponents. He has stated that his losses where due to him getting caught, and not due to him being outclassed.
āI donāt believe anyone can beat me,ā Volkanovski told Fox Sports Australia. āThe only person that I can see giving me a tough fight for five rounds is an Islam Makhachev in the first one, as youāve seen. Everyone else has just got a puncherās chance. Thatās just how I always look at it. I truly believe that, and thatās the confidence I have in myself. No one can beat me.ā
Following Topuria’s decision to vacate the featherweight championship, Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes are set to clash for the now-vacant title. This highly anticipated main event will headline UFC 314, taking place on April 12th at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
āThey can catch me, so I think he needs to be reckless to beat me,ā Volkanovski said. āIf he tries to fight this perfect fight, itās not going to work. He needs to try and be reckless and catch me. Thatās his best chance, so heās going to do what we all know heās going to do and what heās been doing, which is exciting for the fans, but it opens a lot of doors for me. ā¦ (Thereās) a lot I can capitalize and that I will capitalize on.ā
Horiguchi initially left the UFC on a positive note, having won his last three fights. He then achieved further success in RIZIN, where he won a championship, and later in Bellator, where he also claimed a title.
The skilled fighter from Japan has maintained a strong record, going undefeated in his last six fights since April 2022.Ā Ā
During his first period with the UFC, Horiguchi came close to winning the flyweight title, challenging Demetrious Johnson in 2015.
However, he was defeated just moments before the end of the final round. Now, Horiguchi has announced during RIZIN 50 in Japan that he is giving up his flyweight championship in order to return to the UFC. As a result of this decision, RIZIN will organize a tournament to determine a new champion.
āIām going to the UFC,ā Horiguchi said. āIām going to become the first Japanese UFC champion.ā
šØ 2 BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS! šØ
1ļøā£ RIZIN Flyweight Champion, Kyoji Horiguchi, will vacate the title and go to the UFC.
Former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno had a successful homecoming, scoring a unanimous decision win over ex-title challenger Steve Erceg in the main event of UFC Mexico.
Moreno and Erceg felt each other out to start before the two picked up their striking pressure. The Mexican favorite landed a strong combination that forced his Australian conterpart back, testing his chin. Erceg landed decent leg kicks, but Moreno showed more power in his strikes and continuously was able to land the right hand.
“The Assassin Baby” continued to work combinations between Erceg’s body and head as the second round began. “AstroBoy,” however, seemed to answer back by turning up his volume, trying to match Moreno’s pressure for a back-and-forth round that could have fallen either way.
The third round was the quietest at this point, but Erceg was able to utilize his boxing and seemed to take control during the course of the round. Moreno re-started his pressure in the fourth round, however, and took over in the championship rounds, even scoring a takedown right before the final horn.
All three judges ultimately scored the fight in favor of Brandon Moreno.
Not the cleanest performance but should be more than enough to win. Erceg will probably watch this one back with some regrets that he didn't do more because he could have won that #UFCMexico
Brandon Moreno has now won back-to-back fights, bouncing back from consecutive split-decision losses against Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval. This fight was his first UFC victory in Mexico.
Steve Erceg, on the other hand, has now lost three straight, going back to his unsuccessful challenge of flyweight champion Pantoja last year at UFC 301.
In perhaps the biggest fight of his career to date, competing in a co-main event slot in front of his compatriots, Manuel Torres came out on top at UFC Mexico. He needed just one round to dispose of formerly ranked lightweight contender Drew Dober.
Less than two minutes into the fight, Torres landed a jab before following up with a right hand that floored Dober. The Mexican then followed it up with heavy ground-and-pound.
Referee Mike Beltran allowed the fight to continue on despite the cries from the commentary team that the fight was over. The veteran official finally stepped in after 15 unanswered shots.
Dober, holding onto Torres’ leg, stood up believing the fight was still going. The American was left bewildered by Beltran’s decision, while others criticized the referee for jumping in too late after Dober was already out of it.
What's fun about this is Drew Dober is LIVID about the stoppage being too early. And tomorrow when his brain is working again and he rewatches this, he will be even more mad that Mike Beltran tried to get him killed. https://t.co/QkoBb9yD7g
Mike Beltran is one of the worst refs because he does really weird shit in there and never calls fouls, but that late ass stoppage is just another highlight for his reel of goof ups lol
Torres has won four of five since arriving to the UFC from his 2021 appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series. He bounces back from a loss against Ignacio Bahamondes.
Dober, meanwhile, has now lost three of his last four following UFC Mexico.
The lineup for next month’s UFC 314 pay-per-view has taken a big hit.
Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will be back in Florida soon to host another April numbered event from inside Miami’s Kaseya Center.
The March PPV in Las Vegas saw multiple bouts struck off the card on fight day due to illness. Now, the injury curse has reared its head again in 2025, with one of the most intriguing matchups booked for UFC 314 falling through.
After establishing himself as one of the fastest-rising names on MMA’s biggest stage, Carlos Prates was gearing up for a showdown with longtime welterweight contender Geoff Neal.
But during the broadcast for Saturday’s UFC Mexico event, it was announced that “Handz of Steel” has been forced to withdraw, taking both him and Prates off the April 12 lineup.
Geoff Neal is injured and out of his UFC 314 fight vs. Carlos Prates, per the #UFCMexico broadcast.
Jon Anik notes Prates won't get a replacement but teases big news for him soon.
It remains to be seen what comes next for Prates after this cancellation, but play-by-play commentator Jon Anik implied news regarding that is on the way.
Raul Rosas Jr. had to survive a number of submission attempts but ended up scoring a unanimous decision win over Vince Morales at UFC Mexico.
Rosas started the fight by targeting the midsection before landing a flurry of punches near the fence. This allowed the 20-year-old to scoop Morales up and score a takedown, landing in side control. “Vandetta,” however, did a fair job in being able to work his way from the bottom before getting on top in the round’s final minute, looking for chokes more than once along the way. Morales even looked to have one locked up before Rosas was saved by the bell.
The two had plenty of striking exchanges on the ground in the second round. The story of that five-minute frame, however, was Rosas holding about three minutes of control. The fight quickly went to the ground in the third, and Morales nearly locked up a Peruvian Necktie again before transitioning into a D’Arce choke.
Rosas was able to work his way out, however, and got on top, eventually working his way to Morales’ back. Despite being the one on the bottom, Morales was able to lock up another Peruvian Necktie before the final bell, with Rosas surviving.
Raul Rosas Jr. took the win with 29-28 totals on all three judges’ scorecards.
Iām really confused at the angle that Morales was trying to get against Rosas on that DāArce variation. Doesnāt have enough of an angle to cut off the artery on Rosasā arm side #UFCMexico
No lie 29-29 Morales, Rosas didn't land a single significant strike on the ground in rounds 2 and 3 and he also never established an actual position or go for any submission.
Known as “The Silent Assassin,” and dubbed the “middleweight Francis Ngannou,” Ateba Gautier seemed to impress in his official UFC debut, dropping and finishing Jose Medina in the featured preliminary bout at UFC Mexico.
Gautier showed his punching power almost right away, getting the better hand in exchanges with Medina. The Cameroonian prospect landed a strong kick and follow-up strikes, but Medina ate them all and grinned. The Bolivian tried to fire back with his own power, but Gautier turned up the pressure.
“The Silent Assassin” finished things in the first round by landing a flurry of shots before dropping Medina with a solid knee.
Gautier earned a UFC contract this past fall on Dana White’s Contender Series, where he scored a victory over Yura Naito.
Medina, meanwhile, is now 0-2 in the Octagon after UFC Mexico. He also lost to Zach Reese in August following a defeat in his own 2023 appearance on DWCS.
Jamall Emmers got the win in his outing at UFC Mexico, but it looked as if his own corner was going to have another fight not long after.
Emmers, who was taking on Gabriel Miranda as part of the UFC Mexico preliminary card, found himself in a bit of trouble early on. The two traded furiously, but Miranda was able to score a takedown and looked to grab a rear-naked choke. Upon escape from Miranda’s clutches, however, the American was able to rock and drop him with an overhand right.
Emmers let him back to the feet, but he wobbled the Brazilian again with an elbow before a brutal knee and a hard right hand that sent Miranda crumbling to the canvas, giving Emmers a first-round knockout.
Cameras noticed after the knockout, however, that two of Emmers’ cornermen appeared to get into a verbal altercation with one another. It’s unclear what caused the little skirmish between the two during their fighters’ victorious moment.
Joe Pyfer has opened up after news came out that he has withdrawn from an anticipated showdown with Kelvin Gastelum just hours before the start of UFC Mexico.
Not long after a video interview was released where Pyfer talked about being in excellent shape for the fight, the UFC announced that the middleweight prospect had fallen ill and would not be competing.
“My heart is broken,” Pyfer said in a statement released on his Instagram Story. “I couldn’t fight today. I got super sick, and hopefully we can reschedule this fight for a few weeks from now.
“Unfortunately comes with the territory of traveling outside the States. Never again. My apologies, guys.”
Pyfer, a Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus, was coming into this fight off an 85-second knockout of Marc-Andre Barriault at UFC 303 last July. The bonus-earning performance came after Pyfer suffered his first Octagon defeat — a decision loss to Jack Hermansson that snapped a five-fight win streak that stretched to just before his second DWCS appearance.
Gastelum was set to come into this fight off a decision win over Daniel Rodriguez in a middleweight bout in Saudi Arabia last June. He has won two of his last three. However, he is just 3-6 stretching back to his legendary UFC 236 battle with Israel Adesanya over the interim middleweight championship.
This month’s UFC 313 pay-per-view served as a reminder that no bout is good to go until the cage door closes behind both athletes, with two fights falling through just hours before the card.
And the curse has struck again, this time in Mexico.
After both making weight and facing off on Friday, Joe Pyfer and Kelvin Gastelum will no longer throw down inside the Octagon after the former was struck down by illness.
The promotion announced the news Saturday, marking a sizable blow to the March 29 lineup at Arena CDMX.
It remains to be seen whether the UFC will reschedule the matchup for a later date. It was slated to serve as Gastelum’s return to middleweight after a failed stint back at 170 pounds, which most recently saw his win over Daniel Rodriguez marred by a weight miss.
During a recent interview with Submission Radio, “Gamebred” weighed in on a potential comeback, name-dropping Edwards as the ideal opponent. He emphasized that a victory over the former UFC welterweight champion could pave the way for his third and possibly final shot at gold.
“If the UFC wants to make this happen, give me the Leon fight, and then after that, Iāll fight whoever has that damn belt,” Jorge Masvidal said. “I know Dana [White] is probably going to see this.”
Masvidal doubled down on his confidence, claiming that he holds a clear skill advantage over “Rocky,” which he believes would be enough to hand Edwards a defeat.
“I know for one thing, he canāt wrestle me for five rounds. So, I donāt have to worry about the takedowns, and I know on the feet, heās fragile compared to me. The opponents weāve faced, what heās been able to do to them, what Iāve been able to do to them for the most part, besides [Kamaru] Usman, Iāve been able to put a lot of guys away that he fought and went to decision with. The way he takes shots and the way I take shots, heās just fragile compared to me, and if we get in that cage, Iām willing to prove how fragile he is compared to me.”
Masvidal and Edwards have a long-standing rivalry that traces back to March 2019, when the American ignited their feud by attacking “Rocky” backstage at UFC London. The two were set to settle their differences inside the Octagon at UFC 269 in December 2021, but the fight never came to fruition as Masvidal was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Jorge Masvidal was last seen in action in July 2024, where he squared off against former UFC rival Nate Diaz in a professional boxing match. Despite a hard-fought battle, “Gamebred” fell short, losing via a close majority decision.
Masvidal’s final run in the UFC before retiring was far from stellar, as he managed just three wins in his last nine trips to the Octagon. His rough stretch included two failed attempts at capturing the 170-pound title against Kamaru Usman.
Meanwhile, Edwards is arguably experiencing the toughest stretch of his career, suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time. After losing his welterweight title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304, the Jamaican-born Brit looked to rebound at UFC London last weekend. However, his return went from bad to worse as Sean Brady outclassed him before securing a fourth-round submission.
Chael Sonnen identifies two reigning champions whom he believes have the potential to succeed Conor McGregor as the next global superstar of the UFC.
Over the years, “The Notorious” has skyrocketed to a level of fame in the UFC that few, if any, fighters in combat sports history have ever matched, blending his iconic trash talk with a flashy fighting style, which earned him recognition as the promotionās biggest superstar.
During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen shared his thoughts on who could emerge as the UFCās next marquee star. He acknowledged that former champions like Sean O’Malley and Israel Adesanya were once frontrunners in McGregor’s absence but have fallen short of achieving the same global superstardom.
The former UFC title challenger-turned-analyst went on to highlight featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall as the two fighters he believes are on the cusp of becoming the UFCās next megastar.
“OāMalley starts playing another game: to become the face of the company,” Sonnen said. “A game that Izzy [Adesanya] was already playing. In the absence of Conor McGregor, it’s a seat that needs to be taken. ā¦ Right now the battle is between Tom and Ilia. It’s a hard seat to get.”
Sonnen further noted that the UFCās top two pound-for-pound fighters, Islam Makhachev and Jon Jones, show little interest in becoming the promotionās flagship attraction.
“Jon Jones and Islam [Makhachev] arenāt playing the game. Thatās not something either is interested in doing. So that seat is still available.ā
Aspinall remains on the sidelines, having waited over 500 days for Jones to accept his challenge for a heavyweight title unification bout. The Englishman last stepped into the Octagon at UFC 304 in July, where he delivered a swift victory over Curtis Blaydes to retain his interim belt.
Topuria is coming off a dominant third-round knockout victory over Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October, marking his first ā and ultimately only ā title defense before vacating the belt.
Darren Till is claiming that Dillon Danis refused to fight him following the fallout of his bout with KSI.
Till was scheduled to take on Darren Stewart in the co-main event of Misfits Boxing 21 on March 29 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. The fight card was set to be headlined by a grudge match between KSI and Danis.
Disheartened by the event’s postponement, “The Gorilla” voiced his frustration on social media, emphasizing that he was fully prepared for his fight. He even had a chance to salvage the card, but unfortunately, it didnāt come to fruition.
During a recent interview with iFL TV, Till revealed that he was offered a chance to face Danis in a reworked main event. However, according to the UFC welterweight title challenger, “El Jefe” ultimately declined the fight.
“Yeah, that was brought up, and I don’t know whether they said something like, they couldn’t do it for some political reasons, or I don’t know if he said no,” Darren Tll said. “I’m pretty certain that he [Danis] said no. I can’t imagine Dillon wanting to fight me in boxing. I tried to fight him, but obviously, that didn’t materialize. So I don’t know why. On my side, obviously, I said yeah, but who knows on their side.
Darren Till returned to competition after a prolonged absence following his UFC departure, making his boxing debut under the Social Knockouts banner in June 2024. In an unexpected outcome, he claimed a TKO victory over Mohammad Mutie.
“The Gorilla” later returned to the ring under the Misfits Boxing banner in January, competing in a professional bout where he secured a sixth-round knockout against Anthony Taylor.
The UFC heavyweight division has just been reduced by one fighter on the roster.
On Thursday, MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin reported on X that Walt Harris has been axed from the UFC lineup due to his ongoing four-year suspension for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
Harris received a 48-month suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission in March 2024 after committing two separate violations of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy. He tested positive for drostanolone and its metabolite, as well as testosterone of exogenous origin, in samples collected in June and July 2023.
Subsequently, urine and blood samples taken from “Big Ticket” in August 2023 tested positive for anastrozole, a newly detected banned substance that had not appeared in his previous samples. His suspension is retroactive, meaning the 41-year-old Alabama native will be eligible to return to competition in July 2027.
Walt Harris has been removed from the UFC roster, per UFC officials.
Harris hasnāt fought since 2021 and he was handed a 4 year suspension after testing positive for steroids that doesnāt end until 2027. Now heās been removed from the UFC roster
Harris last competed at a Fight Night event in June 2021, where he suffered a first-round knockout loss to Marcin Tybura. He was set to make his comeback in July 2023 against Josh Parisian, but the bout was scrapped after he tested positive for banned substances.
During his 16-fight run in the UFC, Harris had the opportunity to headline a Fight Night event in May 2020 against former heavyweight title challenger Alistair Overeem. However, the spotlight didn’t work in his favor, as he was stopped in the second round.
Once regarded as a highly skilled power puncher, “Big Ticket” struggled to live up to his full potential inside the Octagon. His UFC tenure ended with a lackluster record of 6-9, along with one no contest.
Amid a wave of discontent and high-profile departures from the PFL, a former two-division Bellator champion has chosen to sever ties with the promotion on cordial terms.
On Thursday, combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani was the first to report on X that MMA veteran Ryan Bader has officially split from the PFL, walking away before fulfilling the final fight on his contract. Helwani also revealed that “Darth” and PFL executives amicably reached a mutual agreement to part ways, with both sides satisfied with the terms of the separation.
Ryan Bader and Bellator/PFL have amicably agreed to part ways, sources say.Ā
Bader had one fight left on his deal but after discussing with PFL execs they agreed to go their separate ways, and Iām told Bader and his team are content with the terms surrounding the departure.ā¦
Bader also took to Instagram to address his free agency, releasing a statement that confirmed Helwani’s report.
“Just an updateā¦officially a free agent. PFL and our team came up with terms we were both happy agreeing on with one fight remaining on contract. The Bellator run was one for the books. What a blast, and being surrounded by great people running that org. Im still open to different opportunities in the fight game,” he captioned.
Bader was last seen in action at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions in February 2024, where he suffered a knockout loss to Renan Ferreira in just 21 seconds.
Following the setback, the 41-year-old Nevada native revealed he would be stepping away from competition to join the cast of The Smashing Machine, a biopic about MMA legend Mark Kerr. The film, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, is set for release later this year.
During his reign as Bellator’s heavyweight champion, “Darth” secured victories over notable contenders, including Valentin Moldavsky, Cheick Kongo, and the legendary Fedor Emelianenko.
Following Bellatorās merger with the PFL, he wrapped up his tenure with the promotion at 9-3 with one no contest, bringing his overall career mark to 31-8.
Ilia Topuria is hard at work preparing for his fight since committing to a permanent move up to the lightweight division. And although an opponent is unconfirmed, the UFC’s top Spanish star is preparing for one of two men.
Topuria has set his sights on achieving two-division glory after choosing to vacate the featherweight gold this year following just one defense. āLa Leyendaā went 2-0 in 2024, dethroning Alexander Volkanovski before becoming the first to knock out Max Holloway.
During a recent media scrum recorded by Ćlvaro Colmenero, Topuria reiterated that desire while also naming the other possible foe he is preparing to face for his arrival into the division.
Both, he says, are “scared.”
“All my training is focused on Islam or Charles, because I don’t see any other opponents,” Ilia Topuria said (h/t @ChampRDS). “Neither of them seems to dare (to fight me)… These are the symptoms of fear, we all know that, but it’s normal. I’d be scared too.”
Ilia Topuria: "I am preparing for Makhachev fight but he is afraid"
With reports spreading that Makhachev and his team wish for Topuria to fight a contender before challenging his reign, “La Leyenda” may need to defeat someone like Oliveira this year.
With a victory over āStarboy,ā Mokaev was anticipating a potential title shot. But seemingly owing to his conduct behind the scenes, āThe Punisherā was instead let go after fighting out his contract.
The 24-year-old was quick to complain about the decision publicly, even offering to fight for free if it would allow him back into the UFC. His efforts evidently fell on deaf ears, however, and heāll need to put the work in outside of the Octagon to stake his claim for a new deal.
“May 2nd, Dubai. @KarateCombat. My first ever sport was karate, then I moved to wrestling,” Muhammad Mokaev wrote. “I just wanna compete and stay active. And building my striking experience. I always will have plan B, which is wrestling, but I need to work on plan A”
The move will see Mokaev swap the cage for “the pit,” with Karate Combat fighting taking place in a square combat pit surrounded by 45-degree angled walls. Wrestling, submissions, and elbows are not permitted.
Mokaev will mark the latest high-profile name to compete in the promotion, which has already staged fights featuring the likes of Luke Rockhold, James Vick, Benson Henderson, and Anthony Pettis.
