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  • Former UFC Fighter On Justin Gaethje’s Unique Style: ‘His Kicks Look Like Trash’

    Former UFC Fighter On Justin Gaethje’s Unique Style: ‘His Kicks Look Like Trash’

    Josh Thomson has offered an honest assessment of Justin Gaethje and his unique fighting style following the former interim UFC lightweight champion’s latest victory.

    Gaethje was originally scheduled to face Dan Hooker at UFC 313 on March 8 but the Kiwi fan favorite withdrew due to a hand injury. Rafael Fiziev stepped in for a rematch, and Gaethje went on to defeat him by unanimous decision, earning yet another Fight of the Night award.

    Speaking on the Weighing In podcast, Thomson highlighted how Gaethje’s striking differs from traditional techniques, emphasizing that he does not conform to conventional boxing or kickboxing styles. He also critiqued Gaethje’s leg kicks, despite their well-documented effectiveness.

    “Justin Gaethje is not a striker like any other striker we’ve seen,” Thomson said. “Not so much in terms of how he fights—it’s really about how he moves his body. He’s not a traditional boxer or kickboxer or any of those styles.

    “Even his kicks — look how hard they are. Fighters have told everyone how hard he kicks, but his leg kicks look like trash,” Thomson continued. “You see him, and you’re like, it’s a weird kick. Like, it just looks weird, but everybody, everybody says they’re so painful.”

  • Dillon Danis Claims Logan Paul Is Blocking Him From UFC And WWE

    Dillon Danis Claims Logan Paul Is Blocking Him From UFC And WWE

    Dillon Danis alleges that Logan Paul is actively preventing him from signing with the UFC, saying the influencer-turned-wrestler has been working behind the scenes to blackball him from major opportunities. In a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Danis claimed that Paul has used his connections to keep him out of both the UFC and WWE.

    “He won’t let me go to WWE events. WWE wanted to do stuff with me, and then he’s like, ‘No, don’t let him in.’ He hates me so much that he’s trying to get me out of everything,” Danis said. “He’s in the background of the UFC, I’m pretty sure he’s the one talking to them, saying not to sign me.”

    Danis believes Paul’s influence is tied to his lucrative partnership with Prime Hydration, which has become a major UFC sponsor.

    “Prime is a big say. If you sign that kid, I’m pulling Prime,” he speculated.

    The bad blood between Danis and Paul escalated during their 2023 boxing match, which led to Paul suing Danis for defamation. The fallout from the fight sent Danis into a personal tailspin.

    “I had a lot of demons, and I still do,” he admitted. “I got really bad after that fight—really bad. Just let myself down.”

    Danis, who says he’s been sober for nearly eight months, is now attempting to rebuild his fighting career. He is set to face KSI in a boxing match on March 29, followed by a planned MMA bout against Tony Ferguson later this year.

  • PFL Reveals Locations For 2025 World Tournament Semifinals

    PFL Reveals Locations For 2025 World Tournament Semifinals

    The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will be taking the SmartCage to Nashville, Kansas, and Chicago for this year’s World Tournament semifinal events.

    PFL will be shaking things up this year after a 2024 that was marred by fighter complaints and a largely unsuccessful merger with the Bellator MMA roster. Over a year on from the acquisition, the promotion has decided to eliminate the Bellator brand moving forward.

    And that’s not the only change in strategy in 2025. The PFL will also be abandoning its season and playoff format after many had questioned its sustainability. Instead, Grand Prix-style tournaments will take place across eight divisions, with $500,000 prize money going to each winner.

    The promotion has completed its roll-out of the roster lists for each tournament, featuring the likes of Taila Santos, Jason Jackson, Movlid Khaybulaev, Liz Carmouche, Fabian Edwards, Jake Hadley, and Alexandr Romanov.

    Those names will begin their campaigns with first-round bouts across four events on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Florida on April 3, April 11, April 18, and May 1. And the dates and locations for the subsequent semifinal cards in the summer have now been confirmed.

    On Thursday, June 12, 2025 PFL World Tournament 5: Semifinals will take place at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, with tickets ranging from $35 to $300.

    Eight days later, the promotion makes its debut in ‘Cowtown’ with the 2025 PFL World Tournament 6: Semifinals at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. Tickets range from $40 to $250.

    The last semifinal event is scheduled for June 27 and will be held at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, with ticket prices ranging from $50 to $350.

  • ‘What a Stupid Game We Play’ – Adesanya Reacts To Ankalaev’s Win Over Pereira

    ‘What a Stupid Game We Play’ – Adesanya Reacts To Ankalaev’s Win Over Pereira

    Israel Adesanya shared his live reaction to Magomed Ankalaev’s decision victory over Alex Pereira this past weekend at UFC 313, expressing surprise at the judges’ scorecards and questioning the fight’s outcome.

    “I had Alex winning… but I have to watch it again and score the fight properly,” Adesanya said during his YouTube reaction video. Like many fans, he appeared puzzled by the 49-46 score in favor of Ankalaev, especially given Pereira’s striking success.

    Adesanya acknowledged Ankalaev’s clinch work but wasn’t convinced it was enough to secure the win. “He dropped him, yeah… but the holding? He didn’t really do much with the holding.” Pereira’s aggressive striking seemed to impress Adesanya more, but he admitted the fight was competitive.

    Despite the controversial outcome, Adesanya believes a rematch is likely.

    “I think he’ll get a rematch… spin the block, we out.”

    Given Pereira’s standing in the division and UFC’s history of booking rematches for close fights, Adesanya’s prediction holds weight.

    In classic “Stylebender” fashion, Adesanya ended with a reflective take on the unpredictability of MMA:

    “What a stupid game we play—I f***ing love it.”

    With the controversy surrounding this fight, the debate will rage on, and all eyes will be on whether Pereira gets another shot at Ankalaev.

    Adesanya’s most recent fight was against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250 on February 1, 2025, at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which ended in a second-round knockout loss for the Stylebender. This marked Adesanya’s third consecutive loss, putting him at 1-4 in his past five bouts.

  • Jalin Turner On Shock UFC 313 Retirement: ‘Don’t Want To Keep Taking Damage’

    Jalin Turner On Shock UFC 313 Retirement: ‘Don’t Want To Keep Taking Damage’

    It would seem that Jalin Turner’s time competing in mixed martial arts came to an end at UFC 313.

    Turner returned to action for the first time since a crushing loss to Renato Moicano at UFC 300 last April. On the main card of Saturday’s pay-per-view event, “The Tarantula” was tasked with defending his ranking opposite the up-and-coming Ignacio Bahamondes.

    As it turns out, Turner entered the cage inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena following months of contemplation regarding his future. And a first-round submission loss to “La Jaula” proved to be the final straw for the 29-year-old.

    He removed his gloves inside the Octagon and informed press cageside that he was retiring.

    Speaking to Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter backstage at T-Mobile Arena, Jalin Turner expanded on what has led to his likely decision to hang up the gloves for good.

    “It’s hard, man. Fighting’s hard, and I’ve been doing it for 12 years. You either gotta be all in or not. And even being in there now, I wasn’t fully all in as I thought I would be. And the decision to stay or not was honestly based off this fight for me,” Jalin Turner said. “I felt like I’d get the nod, get the win. I watched him. He’s an up and coming prospect. He deserved the opportunity. And I felt like I would’ve got my hand raised and I didn’t. I know it’s emotional right now, but I’ve been thinking about this for the last 11 months, if I’m gonna keep fighting or not. I was bad on signing the fight contract because I didn’t know if I was gonna retire or not. I didn’t know, how much longer I wanted to keep doing this.

    “Now my kids are getting older. I don’t want to keep taking damage,” Turner continued. “Training camps are hard. Life is really taking a toll. It’s been taking a toll the last 11 months, so I just need to step away for a little bit. I mean, maybe forever. At this point, the competition just gets better. I’m just getting older. So yeah, I’m gonna just sit down and think about it. You know? But I think that’s it. … Doubts come, there’s always gonna be things that deter you. … I was in love with it. I love the sport. I love competing, and the fire is just not there.”

    Should Jalin Turner commit to retirement, his career will conclude after a 7-6 run in the UFC, during which he defeated the likes of Brad Riddell and King Green.

  • Watch Magomed Ankalaev Receive Hero’s Welcome In Dagestan After UFC 313 Title Win

    Watch Magomed Ankalaev Receive Hero’s Welcome In Dagestan After UFC 313 Title Win

    Many supporters flocked to see newly crowned UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Magomed Ankalaev touch back down in Dagestan this week.

    Ankalaev reached the pinnacle on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this past weekend in the headlining act of UFC 313, held inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    While long-reigning champ Alex Pereira showed staunch takedown defense across their five-round contest, Ankalaev made good on his promise to get the better of “Poatan” in the striking realm.

    A unanimous decision verdict saw the title change hands after a reign that spanned three successful defenses for Pereira. The Brazilian is now looking ahead to the adjustments he’ll need to make for a likely rematch this year.

    Magomed Ankalaev, meanwhile, continues to celebrate his championship triumph, which came at the second time of trying just over two years on from a draw with Jan Blachowicz.

    The new kingpin was most recently seen returning to his homeland. A video posted by Ushatayka showed Ankalaev with the light heavyweight gold in tow as he landed back in Dagestan, where he was greeted by a hero’s welcome from the masses.

    The scenes were similar to the frequent returns of lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev following his championship fight victories in the UFC.

    Magomed Ankalaev will now look to replicate his fellow Dagestani by racking up some successful defenses in the coming months and years.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Magomed Ankalaev Lands Above Belal Muhammad, 2 Other Champs On P4P List

    UFC Rankings Report: Magomed Ankalaev Lands Above Belal Muhammad, 2 Other Champs On P4P List

    The latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the UFC rankings toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of Saturday’s UFC 313 pay-per-view, MMA News has you covered with this week’s complete updates.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Magomed Ankalaev has debuted on the P4P list following his light heavyweight title win over Alex Pereira in this past weekend’s main event. The Dagestani has entered at #6, putting him above fellow champions Belal Muhammad (#7), Alexandre Pantoja (#9), and Tom Aspinall (#10). The defeated “Poatan” has fallen five places to #8, while Sean Strickland is out of the top 15 entirely.

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

    Women’s Strawweight: Iasmin Lucindo’s charge up the UFC rankings was stalled on Saturday by Amanda Lemos. As a result, the young contender has dropped one spot to #8, elevating Amanda Ribas to #7.

    Women’s Flyweight: While neither were in action at UFC 313, Miranda Maverick (#12) has moved above Ariane Lipski da Silva (#13) at 125 pounds.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: No changes.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: Ignacio Bahamondes has been rewarded for his submission victory at UFC 313, arriving in the lightweight UFC rankings at #15. His opponent, Jalin Turner, announced his retirement in the aftermath, and he’s now out of the top 15. Those changes have seen Benoît Saint Denis move up by two places to #13 despite his current two-fight losing skid.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: There’s been some movement at 185 pounds unrelated to UFC 313. Both Paulo Costa (#11) and Reinier de Ridder (#13) are on the up, while Roman Dolidze (#12), Michel Pereira (#14), and Roman Kopylov (#15) have all moved down one spot each.

    Light Heavyweight: Having lost his championship in the UFC 313 main event, Pereira has slipped to the 205-pound division’s #1 position.

    Heavyweight: Toward the bottom of the heavyweight UFC rankings, Tallison Teixeira (#14) has been boosted above Kennedy Nzechukwu (#15).

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Alex Pereira Told That UFC 313 Loss Is Evidence His ‘Lifestyle Is Catching Up To Him’

    Alex Pereira Told That UFC 313 Loss Is Evidence His ‘Lifestyle Is Catching Up To Him’

    A former two-division UFC champion suggests that Alex Pereira’s life outside the Octagon may be affecting his performance.

    Pereira’s tenure as the light heavyweight champion concluded this past Saturday when he put his title on the line against Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC 313 main event.

    “Poatan” came out strong, battering his opponent with his signature calf kicks. However, as the fight progressed into the middle rounds, his momentum began to wane. While he couldn’t mount much offense, he showcased impressive takedown defense.

    In the final round, Pereira regained his momentum and pushed the pace, but it wasn’t enough to sway the judges, who awarded Ankalaev a unanimous decision victory.

    In the buildup to UFC 313, Alex Pereira faced heavy skepticism from UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, who joined some others in doubting his commitment to preparation. “DC” pointed to Pereira’s leisure trips and laid-back social media presence as signs that he wasn’t fully focused on his title defense.

    Although the Brazilian fiercely rejected these claims before the fight, insisting he was fully prepared and aware of the challenge, his performance against Ankalaev still lacked the signature explosiveness fans have come to expect.

    He appeared uncharacteristically off, and former two-division champion Henry Cejudo believes he knows exactly what may have caused it.

    During a recent episode of his Pound 4 Pound Podcast, Cejudo shared his thoughts on the Pereira vs. Ankalaev showdown. He suggested that “Poatan’s” extravagant way of living, among other factors, may have finally caught up with him.

    “I think Alex Pereira’s lifestyle is finally kind of catching up to him, it’s finally catching up to him,” Cejudo said. “The travel, the ‘chama’, the lot of the skits and a lot of stuff that he’s actually doing, it’s really not doing him any service. His body looked a little different, dude. He looked a little pudgier, he looked a little thicker in the face going in, but then we have to credit Magomed Ankalaev.”

    Alex Pereira enjoyed a stellar run in 2024, successfully defending his UFC light heavyweight title three times — all by knockout.

    The former champion had previously suffered a setback against Israel Adesanya at UFC 287 in April 2023 but rebounded in dominant fashion, moving up a division and racking up an impressive five-fight winning streak.

  • Jon Anik Sees Stardom In The Future Of Big UFC 313 Winner

    Jon Anik Sees Stardom In The Future Of Big UFC 313 Winner

    Play-by-play commentator Jon Anik is expecting big things down the line from a man who delivered one of the top performances at UFC 313.

    While Saturday’s pay-per-view main event between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev failed to bring the kind of entertainment that fans were hoping for, the undercard wasn’t short on notable action.

    Alongside Mauricio Ruffy’s spinning wheel kick knockout and Justin Gaethje’s latest brutal war inside the Octagon, rising lightweight Ignacio Bahamondes notched the biggest win of his career to date.

    The Chilean made the most of his first opportunity at cracking the rankings, locking in a shock triangle choke submission to force longtime veteran Jalin Turner to tap out in the very first round.

    In Bahamondes’ corner, an ecstatic UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad reiterated to the camera the potential of his teammate, and Anik, too, foresees the possibility of stardom for for “La Jaula” — providing he continues to hit the mark on the scales.

    Anik tweet on UFC 313

    “Nacho can be a huge star,” Anik wrote on X a couple of days on from UFC 313. “Big personality. Fluent in two languages. One of the best strikers in the UFC. Will also choke you the f*ck out. Latin America couldn’t have a better ambassador in the UFC. Just hope he can keep making 156 (155) lbs!”

    Bahamondes has missed weight once in the UFC and twice overall in professional MMA. He came in three quarters of a pound overweight for his clash with John Makdessi back in 2021.

    The Chilean up-and-comer did also appear to have a scare last week prior to UFC 313, requiring a box late in the weigh-in window to hit the 156-pound limit for non-title lightweight bouts.

  • ‘What Disrespect!’ – Fans Fume As UFC 314 Bout Order Has MMA Legend On The Prelims

    ‘What Disrespect!’ – Fans Fume As UFC 314 Bout Order Has MMA Legend On The Prelims

    The current bout order for next month’s UFC 314 pay-per-view has caused quite the stir.

    After staging its latest numbered event close to its home base at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena this past weekend, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will soon head back to Miami.

    And for its usually annual April PPV inside the Kaseya Center, a stacked lineup is set to unfold, topped by a featherweight championship clash between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes.

    Among a host of big-name undercard bouts is the debut of the consensus greatest fighter to ever compete under the Bellator banner, Patrício Pitbull. After signing with the UFC following a public split with the PFL, the Brazilian legend is set to arrive in a battle versus ex-interim titleholder Yair Rodríguez.

    To the surprise of many, that contest will close out the preliminary card on April 12, with the light heavyweight bout between Nikita Krylov and Dominick Reyes getting the nod to feature on the five-fight main card instead.

    That was revealed during the UFC 313 broadcast Saturday night, and fans quickly flocked to social media to give their takes.

    While most were bemused by the decision, some pointed out that it will likely mean more eyes on Pitbull’s first foray into the UFC Octagon.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Surpasses Makhachev, Dvalishvili For UFC Social Media Record In 2025

    Magomed Ankalaev Surpasses Makhachev, Dvalishvili For UFC Social Media Record In 2025

    Magomed Ankalaev outshined several reigning UFC champions in a key statistic following his latest Octagon appearance.

    Ankalaev realized his lifelong dream of becoming a UFC titleholder this past Saturday, toppling long-reigning light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira with a unanimous decision victory in the UFC 313 main event.

    The Dagestani stepped into the fight with a calculated game plan, but despite his high-level wrestling credentials, he failed to take Pereira down. Instead, he maintained steady aggression and strategically timed his strikes, ultimately convincing the judges to rule in his favor.

    Despite widespread criticism of his fighting style as “boring,” Ankalaev’s social media popularity skyrocketed, gaining massive traction across platforms.

    Recently, a sharp-eyed MMA fan on X compiled snippets from the UFC’s Instagram, showcasing every champion having their belt wrapped around their waist after the first three pay-per-views of the year. To many fans’ surprise, Magomed Ankalaev topped the list with a staggering 26.8 million views.

    Trailing behind him was reigning lightweight champ Islam Makhachev, who racked up 19.1 million views, followed by bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili with 17 million. Middleweight titleholder Dricus Du Plessis secured 11.8 million, while strawweight queen Zhang Weili rounded out the list with 4.3 million views.

    At the time of writing, the video capturing Ankalaev’s crowning moment has amassed over 46.2 million views and garnered an impressive 1.4 million likes.

    Ankalaev previously vied for the 205-pound title at UFC 282 in December 2022, facing Jan Błachowicz. After an intense back-and-forth battle, the contest ended in a draw.

    With his win at UFC 313, the 32-year-old Russian extended his unbeaten streak to 14 fights. Remarkably, the only blemish on his professional record dates back to March 2018, when he fell to Paul Craig via submission in the final seconds of their bout.

  • Kamaru Usman Urges Teammate Justin Gaethje To Improve In One Area After UFC 313

    Kamaru Usman Urges Teammate Justin Gaethje To Improve In One Area After UFC 313

    Justin Gaethje couldn’t have done much more to impress at UFC 313 — though Kamaru Usman does have one thing in mind.

    Gaethje recorded a crucial victory in the co-main event of this past weekend’s pay-per-view in Las Vegas, which came 11 months on from his devastating knockout loss at the hands of Max Holloway.

    To keep his name in the championship conversation and avoid a first losing skid since 2018, “The Highlight” was tasked with once again getting the better of Rafael Fiziev, who stepped in on short notice to replace the injured Dan Hooker.

    Despite a valiant effort from the Azerbaijani, Gaethje repeated his 2023 decision victory over him, this time getting the nod on all three scorecards after a brutal three-round battle at T-Mobile Arena.

    The fan-favorite brawler was relatively reserved on the microphone during his Octagon interview with Joe Rogan, much to the frustration of his longtime teammate.

    “You gotta sell yourself sometimes,” Usman said of Justin Gaethje on his Pound 4 Pound podcast. “This is where you do it because as much of a performer you are in there, you gotta give them something to look forward to. … This is WWE, and ‘The Rock’ and these guys do so well.

    “Justin, you gotta do a little better job of that,” he continued. “But he’s just so damn honest, which is why I love that frickin’ dude.”

    Gaethje and Usman have both trained under the tutelage of renowned coach Trevor Wittman for years.

  • Alex Pereira Joined Conor McGregor And Jon Jones In Exclusive Club At UFC 313

    Alex Pereira Joined Conor McGregor And Jon Jones In Exclusive Club At UFC 313

    Alex Pereira recently entered an elite UFC club, becoming only the third fighter in history to achieve this rare milestone.

    Pereira’s lightning-fast ascent in the UFC has been remarkable, establishing him as one of the sport’s most accomplished athletes. In just seven fights over a span of two years, “Poatan” defied the odds, securing championship gold in two different weight divisions.

    Within the last year, Pereira dominated the UFC light heavyweight division, defending his title three times — all via knockouts. His résumé boasts finishes over former champions like Israel Adesanya, Jan Błachowicz, and Jiří Procházka (twice), to name a few.

    Pereira put his 205-pound title on the line for the fourth time this past weekend, facing Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 313. However, the outcome didn’t go his way, as he suffered a debated unanimous decision loss.

    Ahead of the opening bell, Alex Pereira received some notable recognition, joining a prestigious group that includes only Conor McGregor and Jon Jones.

    The legendary voice of the Octagon, Bruce Buffer, acknowledged Pereira’s status by introducing him as “The One, The Only” — a distinguished title reserved for the sport’s most iconic figures.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ-w2cB2Zbw

    Buffer first bestowed this accolade upon “The Notorious” when he made his much-anticipated return to the Octagon at UFC 246 in January 2020 against Donald Cerrone. McGregor delivered a knockout victory in just 40 seconds.

    At UFC 285 in March 2023, Buffer honored “Bones” with the same iconic introduction as he made his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane. Jones secured a first-round submission victory to claim the title.

  • Former UFC Champion Frank Mir’s MMA Comeback Delayed After Emergency Surgery

    Former UFC Champion Frank Mir’s MMA Comeback Delayed After Emergency Surgery

    Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir won’t be making his return to mixed martial arts competition anytime soon.

    Mir was among the veteran names to sign with the newly created Global Fight League ahead of its inaugural draft this past January. The 45-year-old was ultimately picked alongside Andrei Arlovski for Team Los Angeles.

    And Mir was also among the first to have their opening matchup announced on social media, with the Las Vegas native penciled in to share the cage with a fellow former UFC champ in Fabrício Werdum of Team São Paulo.

    But those plans will be put on hold after Mir revealed in a post on Instagram that he “underwent an emergency spinal fusion and laminectomy of (his) entire thoracic spine.”

    “I wanted to take a moment to update you on my health and share a bit about my recent journey,” Frank Mir wrote. “As many of you know, I’ve been dedicated to martial arts since I was just four years old. My love for hard training has driven me to push my limits as a professional athlete. However, this passion comes with its challenges.

    “Recently, I faced a significant hurdle: I underwent an emergency spinal fusion and laminectomy of my entire thoracic spine. Although it was a tough decision, I’m happy to report that the surgery was a complete success!

    “Now, I’m diving into rehabilitation and focusing on my recovery. This is just another challenge that I intend to overcome, and I’m committed to coming back stronger, both mentally and physically, than ever.

    “Thank you all for your support during this time. Your encouragement means the world to me, and I can’t wait to share my progress with you.

    “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”

    Mir, who boasts a 19-13 record in pro MMA, last competed under the Bellator banner in 2019. He outpointed fellow vet Roy Nelson to record his first victory in five fights and four years.

    It remains to be seen when the 45-year-old, who beat the likes of Brock Lesnar, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Tim Sylvia, and Mirko Cro Cop during his prime in the sport, will return to the cage.

  • Dana White Responds To Kash Patel’s Push For UFC-FBI Partnership

    Dana White Responds To Kash Patel’s Push For UFC-FBI Partnership

    Dana White has reacted after newly appointed FBI Director Kash Patel discussed how he is considering making MMA training a mandatory requirement for agents, an initiative that has received support from at least one former agent.

    This idea is part of Patel’s broader agenda, which includes aligning the bureau with the Trump administration’s priorities and enhancing the physical fitness of FBI personnel.

    In addition to the MMA training regimen, Patel is reportedly focused on removing agents who do not align with the administration’s goals. The focus on physical fitness, particularly through MMA, is seen as a way to ensure agents are prepared for the physical demands of their roles.

    Jody Weis, a former FBI special agent in charge and former superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, has publicly backed the idea. He believes it would be a beneficial addition to agent training.

    Patel was in attendance at UFC 313 on Saturday, where he spoke with UFC CEO Dana White about a possible collaboration. White later addressed the conversation, indicating that Patel is serious about the initiative.

    “Well, after he (Patel) said that, my phone blew up,” Dana White said. “You know, everybody wants to be the trainers to the FBI now. … But he’s dead serious about that. I talked to him about it tonight. Yeah, he’s dead serious. So, we’ll see. We’ll see how that starts to come together.”

  • Magomed Ankalaev Baffled By ‘Boring’ Label After UFC 313

    Magomed Ankalaev Baffled By ‘Boring’ Label After UFC 313

    Magomed Ankalaev appears indifferent to the widespread criticism from MMA fans who perceived his recent performance as lackluster.

    Ankalaev claimed the UFC light heavyweight throne this past weekend, narrowly defeating Alex Pereira via unanimous decision in the headlining matchup at UFC 313 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    The fight remained tightly contested from start to finish. “Poatan” set the tone with a sharp opening round, but Ankalaev responded in the second, finding his rhythm and rocking Pereira with a thunderous left hand — arguably the biggest moment of the fight.

    Despite his reputation as the superior wrestler, the Dagestani struggled to secure a takedown, failing on all his attempts. However, he compensated by relentlessly pressing forward, dictating the tempo, and trapping Pereira against the cage for extended stretches in the later stages of the fight.

    Two judges scored the bout 48-47, while the third had it 49-46, all siding with Ankalaev. However, with several rounds feeling razor-close in real-time, many in the MMA community argued that while the newly crowned champ’s approach proved successful against Pereira, it often results in uneventful fights that lack excitement.

    At the UFC 313 post-fight press conference, the newly minted UFC 205-pound champion addressed criticism of his fighting style, expressing confusion over why many label it as boring.

    Instead, he shifted the blame toward “Poatan,” suggesting that the Brazilian’s cautious approach was the real reason for the lack of action.

    “I don’t understand why people think that my fights are boring,” Magomed Ankalaev said. “Everybody thought that Alex Pereira, coming into this fight, was the most exciting striker in the division, and then you saw the way he fought against me. It seems as though when people come out and fight against me, they all become boring. You saw what he did, so it’s not just dependent on me — it also depends on the dance partner, on the opponent that I’m fighting.”

    With his victory over Alex Pereira, Magomed Ankalaev extended his unbeaten streak to 14 fights — the third-longest active run in the UFC. Along the way, he has claimed wins over top contenders like Aleksandar Rakić, Thiago Santos, and Anthony Smith.

  • What’s Next After UFC 313? Current UFC 314 Card For Miami On April 12

    What’s Next After UFC 313? Current UFC 314 Card For Miami On April 12

    UFC 313 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 314 in Miami.

    The promotion was in Las Vegas this past week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its third numbered event of the year. Of note were headline wins for Magomed Ankalaev and Justin Gaethje, as well as important victories for Ignacio Bahamondes, Amanda Lemos, and Mauricio Ruffy.

    While the aftermath of the March 8 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the light heavyweight title picture to the featherweight championship conversation.

    At UFC 314, set for the Kaseya Center on April 12, former champion Alexander will open his account for the new year. Following Ilia Topuria’s decision to vacate the 145-pound gold and move up to lightweight, the Australian will battle the surging Diego Lopes for the belt.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as former three-time Bellator kingpin Michael Chandler looks to defend his spot in the pecking order at 155 pounds and reignite his title ambitions. To do so, the American must become the first to beat Paddy Pimblett inside the UFC Octagon.

    Silva, Prates, Reyes Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 314

    Before Volkanovski, Lopes, Chandler, and Pimblett make the walk, a number of notable names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 314 card.

    That includes charging featherweight Jean Silva. Less than two months on from his latest crushing knockout victory in Seattle, “Lord” will get his first crack at the rankings opposite Bryce Mitchell in Miami.

    Prior to that, another Fighting Nerds product will make the walk in Carlos Prates. He, too, will have the chance to climb a divisional ladder, as he shares the cage with longtime welterweight contender Geoff Neal.

    And opening the UFC 314 main card will be former two-time light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes. Having returned to winning ways with consecutive triumphs, “The Devastator” will look to edge closer to the top five at the expense of Nikita Krylov.

    Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over MMA legend Patrício Pitbull, who is slated to top the prelims in his debut fight versus ex-interim UFC featherweight champ Yair Rodríguez.

    See below for the full UFC 314 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Featherweight Championship: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes
    • Lightweight: Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett
    • Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva
    • Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
    • Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes

    Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Yair Rodríguez vs. Patrício Pitbull
    • Featherweight: Dan Ige vs. Sean Woodson
    • Women’s Strawweight: Yan Xiaonan vs. Virna Jandiroba
    • Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. Chase Hooper

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Darren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa
    • Middleweight: Sedriques Dumas vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
    • Flyweight: Sumudaerji vs. Mitch Raposo
    • Featherweight: Alberto Montes vs. Roberto Romero
    • Middleweight: Tresean Gore vs. Marco Tulio
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Nora Cornolle vs. Hailey Cowan
    Patricio Pitbull Freire
    Image: Bellator MMA
  • Watch Adesanya React To Magomed Ankalaev Nearly KO’ing Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    Watch Adesanya React To Magomed Ankalaev Nearly KO’ing Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    Israel Adesanya, a close observer of UFC 313 due to his storied rivalry-turned-friendship with Alex Pereira, strongly contested the judges’ scoring in “Poatan’s” defeat to Magomed Ankalaev.

    Pereira’s unanimous decision loss to Ankalaev prompted Adesanya to share his reaction on his YouTube channel. His main point of contention was the 49-46 scorecard, which he dismissed as “stupid,” while also expressing his continued passion for the sport.

    Adesanya’s scoring differed significantly from the official verdict by the judges. He believed the fight was tied 1-1 after the first two rounds, then awarded rounds three and five to Pereira, giving him a 3-2 edge overall. This discrepancy underscored his disagreement with the judges’ decision.

    “I had Alex winning, but I’m not sure,” Adesanya said of the Brazilian’s defeat to Magomed Ankalaev. “I’d have to watch it again and score the fight properly. Round two might have played a factor just because he dropped him, but then holding against the fence — I don’t really remember him getting any takedowns.

    “It was a competitive fight, back-and-forth,” Adesanya added. “They’re both going to level up, and I’m sure he’s going to get a rematch. Spin the block.”

    Given the controversial scoring and the close nature of the fight, Israel Adesanya believes an immediate rematch between Pereira and Ankalaev is a strong possibility. He pointed to Pereira’s past willingness to step in on short notice and headline major UFC events, such as UFC 300 and UFC 303, as a factor that could influence the UFC to grant him a second chance.

  • Top UFC Lightweight Appears To Leak Dustin Poirier’s Retirement Fight

    Top UFC Lightweight Appears To Leak Dustin Poirier’s Retirement Fight

    Beneil Dariush has seemingly heard something about Dustin Poirier’s spectacular farewell to his UFC career.

    Poirier, who last fought in a title bout against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302, had been contemplating retirement in the aftermath of his latest setback but recently confirmed his intention to return for one final fight.

    With 40 professional bouts under his belt, Poirier has hinted at a set date and an “incredible” location for his farewell appearance, likely being in his home state of Louisiana.

    However, he has remained secretive about his opponent, revealing only that it will be a “legends only” matchup.

    And the bout Dariush suggested is in the works during a recent appearance on Submission Radio would certainly fit that billing.

    “Right now, my understanding is Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway are going to fight,” Dariush said. “I don’t know if it’s 100 percent sealed and done, but that’s what I am hearing.”

    Holloway, who last fought in October, is looking to rebound from his first career knockout loss against Ilia Topuria. Despite that setback, he remains the reigning BMF champion, a symbolic title he claimed with a stunning knockout victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April 2024.

    In their initial encounter at UFC 143 in January 2012, a young Holloway, making his UFC debut at just 20 years old, faced a tough introduction to the octagon. His more experienced opponent, holding an 11-1 record, quickly secured a submission victory, highlighting the significant experience gap between the two fighters.

  • Alex Pereira Reveals Likely Next Fight In First Statement After UFC 313 Loss

    Alex Pereira Reveals Likely Next Fight In First Statement After UFC 313 Loss

    Alex Pereira has hinted at his plans for the future following a disappointing result at UFC 313 this weekend.

    Pereira, a former middleweight titleholder, saw his championship reign and undefeated run at 205 pounds come to a halt at Saturday’s pay-per-view event inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    Following a 2024 in which he defeated Jamahal Hill, Jiří Procházka, and Khalil Rountree Jr. to record three successful defenses, “Poatan” was next handed the challenge of Magomed Ankalaev.

    It ultimately proved a hurdle too much for “Poatan,” who fell victim to the Dagestani’s well-rounded skillset in their lackluster five-round clash on March 8.

    Though fans aren’t exactly clamoring to see the matchup again giving how it played out at UFC 313, Pereira suggested during a video uploaded to his social media accounts that a rematch is likely next.

    “Gonna make some adjustments for the rematch, and I’ll be back much better, you can count on it,” Alex Pereira said. “Never give up on your dreams. Chama.”

    That sentiment appears to also be shared by the higher-ups, with UFC CEO Dana White confirming during his post-fight press conference that a second dance between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira is “probably” next.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    “This guy is a terrible fighter”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    For those matchups, check out the list below: