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  • Israel Adesanya Explains Picking Ian Garry To Upset Shavkat Rakhmonov At UFC 310

    Israel Adesanya Explains Picking Ian Garry To Upset Shavkat Rakhmonov At UFC 310

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is envisioning Ian Garry having his hand raised over Shavkat Rakhmonov this weekend.

    Garry has the opportunity to stake his claim for a first shot at the welterweight title on Saturday night, when he co-headlines the UC 310 pay-per-view opposite a fellow undefeated contender in Rakhmonov.

    The Irishman was originally slated to return in the main event of next weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Tampa against Joaquin Buckley. But with champ Belal Muhammad being forced out of his defense against “Nomad” in Las Vegas, “The Future” has stepped up for a title eliminator.

    Despite never tasting defeat in his professional career, Garry will enter the cage as a sizable underdog on Dec. 7, with his line reading +295 compared to the Kazakh star at -375.

    That, however, hasn’t stopped one of the sport’s best backing the Dublin native to get the job done at Rakhmonov’s expense.

    During a recent video uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya broke down this weekend’s numbered event at T-Mobile Arena.

    “The Last Stylebender” gave a particularly thorough breakdown for the co-main event, which is arguably set to be the night’s most anticipated matchup.

    And when it comes to his prediction, Adesanya is expecting Garry’s technical striking and underrated grappling to pave the way for an upset over Rakhmonov.

    “Shavkat, he’s a mauler. … Ian, second Irish sensation,” Adesanya said. “I grappled with him (Garry), he’s a good grappler…he’s slick. He knows how to put things together well. You watch his striking, his distance, his awareness. … That’s where he’s going to have an advantage in this fight.

    “I think he’s going to be able to touch Shavkat. But he’s got to be careful,” Adesanya continued. “Use that jab, use the teep, keep Shavkat away. … For me, I like this fight. I’mma go with Ian Garry. I think it’s going to go to a decision. … There was something he (Garry) was saying. I saw a clip of him at a press conference talking about Shavkat, talking about, ‘I want to be the guy to take that 0 away.’ That’s the energy. That’s that Goku spirit very few people have.”

    Garry will look to prove Adesanya’s assessment correct come fight night in “Sin City,” when he and his former training partner Rakhmonov feature on a PPV main card that will be topped by Alexandre Pantoja’s latest flyweight title defense.

    https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1864504980562231419
  • Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2, Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov Official For UFC 311

    Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2, Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov Official For UFC 311

    The mixed martial arts leader is set to open its pay-per-view schedule for 2025 in style, having confirmed championship defenses for both Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili for UFC 311.

    Octagon action will head to Los Angeles for the first numbered event of the new year, with the new Intuit Dome playing host to a lineup that already looks likely to be among the most stacked across the next 12 months.

    And following additions like Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill and Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland, as well as returns for Jailton Almeida and Johnny Walker, a pair of blockbuster headliners are now official.

    UFC CEO Dana White took to social media this week to confirm that the long-rumored rematch between Makhachev (26-1) and Arman Tsarukyan (22-3) for the lightweight gold will indeed headline the event on Jan. 18.

    And despite his callout of other contenders, bantamweight king Dvalishvili (18-4) will put his belt on the line against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0), who looks to set the stage for his stablemate’s defense in the final fight of the night by adding to the team’s trophy cabinet.

    Makhachev has recorded three defenses since defeating Charles Oliveira to achieve champ status. After back-to-back wins over Alexander Volkanovski in 2023, the Dagestani most recently turned back the challenge of Dustin Poirier. Makhachev is now set to run it back with a charging contender whom he narrowly outpointed back in 2019. Tsarukyan enters his first title shot riding momentum from a triumph over Oliveira at UFC 300.

    Dvalishvili, meanwhile, will be making his first defense at UFC 311, five months on from his victory over Sean O’Malley at the Sphere. That result extended his winning run to 11 straight fights and followed success opposite former champions Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo. Nurmagomedov, on the other hand, is yet to taste defeat inside the cage. The Russian most recently staked his claim for a championship opportunity by getting the better of the highly regarded Cory Sandhagen across five rounds in Abu Dhabi.

    With these additions, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 311 in Los Angeles on Jan. 18 are as follows:

    • Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight championship)
    • Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight championship)
    • Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
    • Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)
    • Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
    • Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
    • Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
    • Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
    • Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)
    • Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight)
    • Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira (lightweight)
    • Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)
  • Jon Jones’ Coach On Tom Aspinall: ‘It’s Not A Matchup That Scares Us At All’

    Jon Jones’ Coach On Tom Aspinall: ‘It’s Not A Matchup That Scares Us At All’

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones’ coach, Brandon Gibson, is confident in his fighter’s ability to dominate any opponent, including interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall.

    While many fans — and UFC CEO Dana White — view a title unification bout between Jones and Aspinall as the logical next step, “Bones” has expressed a preference for facing light heavyweight king Alex Pereira instead.

    This decision has sparked accusations that Jones is avoiding the tougher challenge in Aspinall. However, Gibson dismissed these claims, framing Jones’ strategy as a matter of timing and maximizing opportunities in his career.

    According to Gibson, Jones is in a commanding position and has the leverage to dictate his terms.

    “I think the fans want that from a lineal standpoint,” Gibson told SiriusXM Fight Nation. “You want to see the belt get passed, not just a belt get vacated. But I always tell Jon, ‘Dude, you don’t owe anybody anything.’ We owed Stipe Miocic and the UFC that night on Nov. 16. That’s what we owed. We’ll see if negotiations can get done right, but Jon’s not ducking anybody.”

    Gibson also dismissed concerns about a potential fight with Aspinall, noting that Jones thrives against elite competition, especially in long, grueling bouts.

    “I actually think Jon is a tough matchup for Tom Aspinall. Obviously, we haven’t seen Tom with an average fight time of two and a half minutes — we haven’t seen much out of Tom, but that’s also a positive on our part.

    “Jon is great at taking champion-level caliber fighters into deep waters. Jon is great in that fourth round and that fifth round. It’s not a matchup that scares us at all. It’s a matter of what’s best for Jon and his family.”

    With Jones holding all the cards, the decision about his next opponent remains uncertain.

    Whether it’s Aspinall for heavyweight unification or Pereira for a high-stakes superfight, Jones’ next move will undoubtedly shape the UFC landscape.

  • Shavkat Rakhmonov Downplays Importance Of Making Ian Garry Tap In Training: ‘The Fight Is Different’

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Downplays Importance Of Making Ian Garry Tap In Training: ‘The Fight Is Different’

    Shavkat Rakhmonov is entering UFC 310 with unwavering confidence as he prepares for a five-round welterweight clash against Ian Garry. The highly anticipated bout is set to co-headline this Saturday’s pay-per-view at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    Rakhmonov boasts a flawless 18-0 professional record, with every victory coming by way of knockout or submission. His recent dominance includes three straight wins via rear-naked choke against top-tier opponents in Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Stephen Thompson.

    In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Rakhmonov addressed footage circulating from a 2023 sparring session with Garry at Kill Cliff FC, clarifying that the clips don’t show the full story.

    “Ian Garry taps,” Rakhmonov said. “It was a submission, choke.”

    Despite the sparring history, Rakhmonov emphasized that past sessions are irrelevant compared to their upcoming fight.

    “The most important for me is the win,” he explained. “Sparring is sparring. The fight is different. Ian Garry is a very tough opponent who is a good tactician, who comes in with a good game plan. So for me, it doesn’t matter [whether it’s] submission or stoppage. For me, what’s most important is to win.”

    With his undefeated streak on the line and Garry presenting a formidable challenge, Rakhmonov is determined to maintain his perfect record and solidify his place as a top contender in the UFC welterweight division.

  • Kai Asakura On Alexandre Pantoja: ‘Great At Everything, Not Special At Anything’

    Kai Asakura On Alexandre Pantoja: ‘Great At Everything, Not Special At Anything’

    UFC flyweight title challenger Kai Asakura doesn’t envision Alexandre Pantoja posing problems for him in any department this weekend.

    Asakura will join the rare group of fighters to challenge for gold in their Octagon debut when he arrives on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this Saturday night.

    Following bantamweight championship success under the Rizin banner in Asia, the Japanese star will have the chance to add the UFC flyweight belt to his trophy cabinet in the UFC 310 main event.

    On paper, though, that will be no easy feat.

    Asakura is coming up against a divisional kingpin who has gone 9-0 against names currently occupying spots inside the top 10 at 125 pounds. And since dethroning Brandon Moreno last year, Alexandre Pantoja has already pushed past challenges from Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg.

    But judging by his remarks during an interview with E. Spencer Kyte for UFC.com, Asakura is seemingly expecting a relatively comfortable night at the office…

    “Pantoja is great at everything, but he’s not special at anything; he doesn’t have a unique skill in one area that makes him better than anyone else,” Asakura said. “What makes him better than anyone else is his heart — he’s got great heart, and that’s what makes him a great champion.

    “But I don’t see him representing any problems for me anywhere. He’s someone I don’t think I’ll have any problem dealing with,” Asakura continued. “The advantage I hold over Pantoja is that I have one-shot knockout power, so it only takes one shot,” he added. “And I’m expecting this fight to be over with one shot.”

    Asakura will look to prove his assessment of Pantoja correct come fight night in “Sin City,” where the pair headline a pay-per-view lineup that also features the likes of Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Garry, Ciryl Gane, Bryce Mitchell, Aljamain Sterling and Chris Weidman.

  • Tom Aspinall Breaks Down Crucial Aspect Of Ciryl Gane & Alexander Volkov’s Rematch

    Tom Aspinall Breaks Down Crucial Aspect Of Ciryl Gane & Alexander Volkov’s Rematch

    A big heavyweight rematch is set to take place in Las Vegas this weekend as Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov meet again at UFC 310. As two of the top three ranked contenders in the division, both men could set themselves up for a title fight in the near future with a win here.

    If interim champion Tom Aspinall doesn’t end up getting his desired title unification bout with Jon Jones, the Brit could be targeting a clash with Gane or a rematch with Volkov, giving him a specific interest in this matchup. He has been spoken about as a potential opponent for Gane multiple times and the Brit has already beaten Volkov when they faced off in London two years ago.

    If that didn’t provide the interim champion with enough to work off, there’s also the five rounds that Gane and Volkov have already spent with each other inside the Octagon back in 2021 where “Gon Gamin” won a one-sided unanimous decision. In a recent episode of Tom Aspinall’s Fight Lab on TNT Sports, he broke down the fight.

    Aspinall specifically drew attention to one aspect of the contest which he thinks will be crucial on Saturday night. With the height and reach advantage that he brings to the table, Volkov is very effective at walking opponents down but the speed and footwork of Gane are his best attributes.

    Whoever is able to win this battle will be able to dictate where the fight takes place and therefore, will likely get their hand raised in Aspinall’s opinion.

    “The feet are very important in this fight in my opinion. When I say the feet, I’m not talking about the kicking as such, I’m talking about the positioning of their feet. If Volkov can get him going backwards and keep him against the fence, he can just use that length and tee off on him with the kicks and the punches like we’re seeing there. On the contrary to that, Cyril Gane is really good moving backwards, that’s his strength is he lures his opponents in and moves off on them angles so it’s just an interesting matchup of styles and we love heavyweight fights.”   

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3gGqrhbfng
  • Turki Alalshikh Has Two Options In Mind For Francis Ngannou’s Next Fight

    Turki Alalshikh Has Two Options In Mind For Francis Ngannou’s Next Fight

    Francis Ngannou has exciting options for his next fight, according to Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia.

    In his return to MMA, Ngannou secured an emphatic victory over Renan Ferreira at PFL: Battle of the Giants, leaving fans eager to see what the former UFC heavyweight champion will do next.

    Following the fight, Ngannou expressed his openness to competing in both MMA and boxing, though he noted that his next steps depend on the PFL presenting its offer.

    Alalshikh discussed Ngannou’s potential future during the DAZN Ariel X Ade show, where he floated the idea of a boxing showdown with Deontay Wilder.

    “Why don’t we see Ngannou against Wilder?” Alalshikh mused. “I need to sit with Wilder. In two minutes, I can gauge his condition and determine if he’s ready or not. I don’t want to waste time and money anymore. I need to check first if he’s still got it.”

    Ngannou, who plans to attend the anticipated Usyk vs. Fury rematch in December, is already in discussions about his future.

    “We have a lot of business together,” Alalshikh added. “I have two options on the table for Francis: one in MMA and one in boxing. I want to discuss them with him.”

    Alalshikh also emphasized his ambition to push boundaries with their MMA operations, promising big plans for the future.

  • Ian Garry Names Former Opponent As His Toughest Style Matchup At Welterweight

    Ian Garry Names Former Opponent As His Toughest Style Matchup At Welterweight

    Ian Machado Garry put his money where his mouth is in the lead up to UFC 310. The undefeated welterweight has been calling out all the names that are ranked ahead of him but when none of them would take the fight, he agreed to face Joaquin Buckley on December 14.

    His decision to take this matchup came with one other promise to the UFC, that he would be ready to step in if either of the men involved in the UFC 310 main event were forced to withdraw. With the welterweight champion Belal Muhammad out of the fight, Garry proved to be a man of his word and he will now face Shavkat Rakhmonov in the co-main event this weekend.

    Calling opponents out for avoiding him is one thing but agreeing to face the man that everyone sees as the boogeyman of the division really shows that Garry backs himself against any and all of his fellow welterweights. In fact, he already believes that he’s overcome the toughest style clash for him.

    In a recent video on his YouTube channel, the 27-year old answered some questions from the fans. One of which asked him who he believes is the toughest style matchup for him in the division.

    Though many would assume that a grappling-heavy fighter might be his biggest challenge as an excellent striker, he responded by naming an opponent that he has already beaten. In February, he won 30-27 on two of the judges scorecards at UFC 298 to earn his seventh consecutive win inside the Octagon.

    “I believe I’ve already fought him, his name is Geoff Neal. Someone who hits like a truck, has clean striking, very hard to take down. So I believe that he was one of the dark horses in the division and I went out there and I beat him clean, so for me that’s it.” 

  • Islam Makhachev On Potentially Fighting Ilia Topuria: ‘Everybody Will Once Again Say I Beat A Featherweight’

    Islam Makhachev On Potentially Fighting Ilia Topuria: ‘Everybody Will Once Again Say I Beat A Featherweight’

    Following the year that Ilia Topuria has had, some fans are coming around to the idea of seeing him move up a weight class in the future. Many are growing tired of the want for every fighter to become a two-division champion rather than achieving total dominance in their own weight class and this was the case with “El Matador” at first.

    However, after he did exactly what he said he would do and stopped Max Holloway at UFC 308, it’s becoming hard to deny him what he wants. With his back-to-back wins over “Blessed” and Alexander Volkanovski, Topuria has proved that he’s one of the best in the world right now.

    It just so happens that the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC is the champion in the weight class above him. In a recent interview via matchtv, lightweight king Islam Makhachev gave his thoughts on Topuria calling him out.

    “We’ll have to talk. It will happen 100 percent. He’s been talking about me non stop, he probably wants to let us know something but I have no idea what. Well, we will talk and find out… We will fight if we have to.”

    Despite saying that they can make the fight happen if it’s called for, Makhachev went on to say that he isn’t particularly excited about the idea. The 155-pound champion had his own plans to move up a weight class until his training partner Belal Muhammad became the welterweight champion in July.

    Having defeated Volkanovski twice whilst “The Great” was the featherweight champion, it makes sense why he wouldn’t want to fight another titleholder from the division below just yet.

    “In terms of my fighting career, I have no interest in fighting Ilia Topuria. He represents another weight class so what if we fight and I beat him, what’s there for me? I won’t win another belt and everybody will once again say that I beat a featherweight and that’s it. But, if people really want to see him lose, well, we can do it.”    

  • Kron Gracie Says Fans Who Complain About His Main Card Spot Are The Ones ‘Stealing The PPV’

    Kron Gracie Says Fans Who Complain About His Main Card Spot Are The Ones ‘Stealing The PPV’

    The final UFC PPV card of the year is a strong one from top to bottom so whilst we may have lost some names towards the top of the card, there is still lots to be excited about this Saturday. However, some fans and fighters have questioned the bout order for UFC 310.

    One fight in particular has been targeted, that being the featherweight contest between Bryce Mitchell and Kron Gracie. Of course, it’s not their fault that they have been given this position on the card but some did take issue with this for several reasons.

    Gracie hasn’t fought since May of 2023 where he returned from a four-year break and suffered his second consecutive loss. Mitchell, on the other hand, is ranked #13 in the division having suffered a devastating knockout loss to Josh Emmett in December last year at UFC 296.

    There are plenty of big names and strong match-ups on the prelims that could have taken this slot but none are as fitting as the fight between top 10 contenders which takes place in the very same weight class. Former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling will look to halt the undefeated run of Movsar Evloev with both men having a case for a title shot if they get their hand raised.

    In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Gracie responded to the criticism of his fight featuring on the PPV portion of the card.

    “I think it’s funny because the people always have something to say and it’s interesting that people who would complain about something like that are probably the people who are not even paying for the PPV. They’re streaming it for free, they’re stealing the PPV and they’re the ones complaining about where the fight is. If anything, it’s a free fight for the fans that they get to watch sooner. I don’t see why it’s such a big deal.”

    Gracie continued, adding that he doesn’t think the bout order is a decision that the promotion has made in order to diminish certain fighters or match-ups, as has been theorized.

    “I think that the placement of the fight is not the most important thing and I don’t care where I’m at on the card, the sooner the better really. I get to go on with my life after that so. Obviously the UFC knows what they’re doing and they’re in the business of making fights and matchmaking so no one does it better than them. I’m sure they didn’t do this on spitefulness, I’m sure this is a business deal and it is what it is.”   

  • Tom Aspinall Reveals What Surprised Him Most About Watching Jon Jones Up Close

    Tom Aspinall Reveals What Surprised Him Most About Watching Jon Jones Up Close

    Tom Aspinall claims that it wasn’t his intention to make the UFC 309 fight week about him even if he was weighing in as the back-up fighter. The main event at Madison Square Garden featured two of the greatest champions in the history of the promotion colliding for the very first time and yet, a lot of the talk was about the Brit.

    From Jones walking out of interviews to Aspinall chants at the press conference, the presence of the interim champion was clearly felt in New York. After successfully weighing in as the back-up, once it was clear that he wouldn’t be needed, he changed his focus.

    His new goal was to enjoy the fights and watch the man that could be his next opponent if he gets the fight that he wants. Everyone who has been an MMA fan for some time will have seen Jones fight before because he’s been at the top for so long.

    However, Aspinall was able to leave the world’s most famous arena with some new observations after watching the GOAT live and in the flesh. In a recent episode of Tom Aspinall’s Fight Lab on TNT Sports, he broke down his main takeaways from the fight.

    The interim champ highlighted one aspect of the fight that he didn’t see coming, crediting Jones’ aura in the cage and Miocic’s age as the reason why “Bones” was able to dictate the action.

    “Something that surprised me sitting up close was the footwork. Maybe not the footwork as such but just the constant forward motion of Jon Jones and Stipe was just kind of left to go side-to-side with his feet constantly. He was never really on the front foot which is surprising because Stipe is a natural heavyweight, Jon Jones obviously coming up from light heavy. I wouldn’t think that Jon would have the prowess in the Octagon to push him back constantly which I was pretty surprised by.”   

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3gGqrhbfng
  • Ian Garry Outlines ‘Ideal Scenario’ For UFC 310 & Beyond: ‘Take Out Shavkat Early…’

    Ian Garry Outlines ‘Ideal Scenario’ For UFC 310 & Beyond: ‘Take Out Shavkat Early…’

    Ian Garry is setting his sights on a quick finish against Shavkat Rakhmonov in their upcoming showdown, with a strategy for making a lightning-fast return to the Octagon.

    Garry is slated to face Rakhmonov in a crucial five-round welterweight clash that s expected to determine the next title challenger. This highly anticipated showdown is set as the co-main event of UFC 310, taking place on Dec. 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    “The Future” was never part of the original lineup to co-headline the UFC’s final pay-per-view event of the year. Garry had been scheduled to face Joaquin Buckley at the UFC Fight Night in Tampa on Dec. 14. The Irishman stepped up on short notice when reigning 170-pound champion Belal Muhammad withdrew from his title defense against “Nomad” due to a bone infection.

    Consequently, Colby Covington was enlisted as an eleventh-hour substitute to fill the void left by Garry’s departure, stepping in to face Buckley in a reshuffled matchup.

    “Chaos” has been firmly on Garry’s radar for nearly a year, with both fighters sharing a simmering animosity that has only fueled their rivalry. This tension drives “The Future” to aim for a swift and injury-free victory over Rakhmonov this Saturday, paving the way for a hypothetical return the following weekend to finally settle the score with the former UFC interim champion.

    During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Garry said that, following a possible victory over Rakhmonov, he plans to approach the UFC’s top brass with a bold request.

    “Here is my ideal scenario,” Garry said. “I go out there Dec. 7 and I take out Shavkat early. I come out of there unscathed and uninjured. I get on the mic and say, ‘Hey, I could wait until next year when Belal Muhammad is back. Or… Dana [White], Hunter [Campbell], UFC, I could walk my ass all the way down to Florida, and I could beat the bollocks out of Colby Covington for 25 minutes, and I can prove how good I am next week.’

    “I would love to beat Shavkat, and the following week fight in the main event in Tampa and bury Colby Covington and leave him dead and done in the Octagon, never to be seen again.”

    Garry enters the UFC 310 bout on the heels of a dominant unanimous decision victory over Michael ‘Venom’ Page at UFC 303 this past June. The win marked his second triumph of the year and extended his impressive streak to eight consecutive victories inside the Octagon.

  • Sean O’Malley Shuts Down Petr Yan’s Rematch Request, Keeps Sights On Merab Dvalishvili

    Sean O’Malley Shuts Down Petr Yan’s Rematch Request, Keeps Sights On Merab Dvalishvili

    Sean O’Malley appears to have nothing in his crosshairs except redemption opposite UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili next year.

    O’Malley was thrust off the throne in emphatic fashion by Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 306 at the Sphere this past September, bringing an end to his reign in its second defense.

    “Sugar” subsequently headed for surgery to repair a torn labrum and is targeting a return in the first or second quarter of 2025. And he was recently called out by a familiar foe for his comeback fight.

    “I would lean towards a rematch with Sean O’Malley,” Petr Yan told Ariel Helwani. “I don’t know what’s going on with him. He’s out for nine or 12 months, so maybe he got pregnant.”

    Yan’s comments come after he made it two wins from two in 2024 by outpointing Deiveson Figueiredo in Macau. While he’s gone back and forth with Dvalishvili over a rematch for the title, Umar Nurmagomedov is widely seen as the deserving next in line at 135 pounds.

    With that in mind, the Russian may need to look elsewhere for his next assignment. And judging by O’Malley’s reaction to his request for a redo, his door has been firmly shut for “No Mercy.”

    “I predict it will be early Q2. Against Merab. Thanks for asking,” O’Malley wrote in his response on X.

    O’Malley has repeatedly outlined his intention to return straight into a shot at avenging his decision defeat to “The Machine.”

    With the timeline for Nurmagomedov’s expected maiden title opportunity still uncertain as the year approaches its conclusion, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for both O’Malley and Yan in 2025.

  • Vicente Luque Admits Nick Diaz Withdrawal Has Left Him With UFC 310 Bout That ‘Makes More Sense’ 

    Vicente Luque Admits Nick Diaz Withdrawal Has Left Him With UFC 310 Bout That ‘Makes More Sense’ 

    When it comes to achieving his ongoing goals in the UFC, welterweight Vicente Luque believes he’s in line to be better placed following the withdrawal of Nick Diaz.

    Luque, a veteran contender who has slipped to #14 in the rankings following three losses in his last four fights, will make his return on the preliminary card of this weekend’s UFC 310 pay-per-view.

    “The Silent Assassin” is tasked with defending his spot on the ladder against the charging Themba Gorimbo, who has won four straight since a loss on debut in the UFC early last year.

    The Brazilian was originally slated to appear opposite Diaz, marking their second attempt at sharing the cage in 2024. The pair previously had a clash at the UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi this past August called off, with visa issues on the side of the Stockton native being branded the reason.

    Their rescheduled booking also fell through shortly after a concerning video emerged that appeared to show Diaz attempting to light grass on fire in the street.

    While fans and fighters alike express worry over Diaz’s status, Luque has a new foe in his sights. And although his new matchup isn’t quite as prominent following his high-profile opponent pulling out, “The Silent Assassin” sees a silver lining.

    “Nick brought a lot of that hype from the fans,” Luque said during an interview with MMA Fighting. “When I look to the UFC, there are a lot of things that can push you over. Maybe the biggest of all is hype, and I think the Nick fight brought that. Now, when I look at this fight, from a sportive side, it makes way more sense.

    “It’s a challenge, a good guy who is coming hungry for the victory, and he wants to enter the rankings,” Luque continued. “I’m here to defend my position and at the same time show I’m still going for the top, gunning to become champion. This fight brings that.”

    Luque will now look to make the most of his opportunity to stall the rise of an in-form prospect and prove that he’s still got plenty to give toward the top of the standings at 170 pounds.

  • Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues In The Works For UFC Fight Night Main Event On Feb. 15

    Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues In The Works For UFC Fight Night Main Event On Feb. 15

    High-profile fights are beginning to come together for 2025, and the latest report places longtime middleweight contender Jared Cannonier in another UFC Fight Night main event.

    Cannonier (17-8), who sits alongside Conor McGregor as one of two fighters to have recorded knockout victories in three different weight classes, has slipped down the pecking order at 185 pounds.

    A controversial stoppage loss to Nassourdine Imavov and decision defeat in a Fight of the Night with Caio Borralho has seen “The Killa Gorilla” go 0-2 in 2024. Having fallen to his first losing skid as a middleweight, the #8-ranked Cannonier is in need of a rebound performance next year to maintain his spot inside the top 10.

    And per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, that’ll come in a fifth consecutive main event for the 40-year-old, this time opposite a first-time headliner in Gregory Rodrigues (16-5) at the Apex-held UFC Fight Night on Feb. 15.

    Rodrigues has gained a reputation as an all-action fighter at 185 pounds since debuting following LFA championship success three years ago.

    While losses to Armen Petrosyan and Brunno Ferreira stalled his rise, “Robocop” is currently on his best UFC run to date, having won three straight over Denis Tiuliulin, Brad Tavares, and Christian Leroy Duncan.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC Fight Night on Feb. 15 are as follows:

    • Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight main event)
    • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (welterweight)
    • Juliana Miller vs. Carli Judice (women’s flyweight)
    • Jacob Malkoun vs. Rodolfo Vieira (middleweight)
    • Julia Avila vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (women’s bantamweight)
    • Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews (featherweight)
    • Billy Goff vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (welterweight)
  • Khamzat Chimaev Reacts To Ian Garry’s Middleweight Plan: ‘You’re Too Skinny!’

    Khamzat Chimaev Reacts To Ian Garry’s Middleweight Plan: ‘You’re Too Skinny!’

    Undefeated UFC middleweight Khamzat Chimaev evidently isn’t taking Ian Garry’s 185-pound ambitions too seriously.

    Garry’s current focus is on rising the ranks at 170 pounds en route to the gold. The next step on that journey comes this weekend when he co-headlines the UFC 310 pay-per-view opposite top contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    Fittingly, “The Future” has never been on to avoid looking into the future. And when it comes to his plan post-Dec. 7, the Irishman has more than one belt in mind.

    “I’m a young kid who’s dreamed of being here, who wanted to see his face on billboards.” Garry told Ariel Helwani this week. “(I) wanted to do shows against the scariest people in the world. I’ve said to you before, how my ideal scenario is I fight and beat Shavkat, and then win the welterweight title. I go up to middleweight, I fight Khamzat and win that belt too.

    “I’m not afraid of any man. I know how talented I am. I know the gifts God gave me,” Garry added.

    It didn’t take long for the middleweight specifically named by Garry while he became the latest expressing two-division goals to give his thoughts.

    Taking to social media, Chimaev sent the unbeaten Dublin native a stern warning.

    “@ianagaryy You’re too skinny kid, don’t go near the Wolf’s teeth, you’ll end up headless,” Chimaev wrote on X.

    While Chimaev rose into title contention at welterweight, struggles to hit the 171-pound limit resulted in a permanent move to 185 pounds. He’s since thrived, defeating both Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker to rise to #3 on the divisional ladder.

    With “Borz” widely expected to challenge for Dricus du Plessis’ gold next, the Chechen star could well occupy the throne by the time Garry has the chance to realize his middleweight aspirations.

    First things first, though, Garry has another undefeated phenom to handle at T-Mobile Arena this Saturday night.

  • UFC Veteran: Aljamain Sterling & Chris Weidman Being On UFC 310 Prelims ‘Feels Like They’re Demoted’

    UFC Veteran: Aljamain Sterling & Chris Weidman Being On UFC 310 Prelims ‘Feels Like They’re Demoted’

    Former UFC champions Aljamain Sterling and Chris Weidman will both compete on the preliminary card of Saturday’s UFC 310 event, a decision that has sparked debate among fighters and fans alike.

    Sterling, a former bantamweight champion, is set to face featherweight contender Movsar Evloev. Ex-middleweight king Weidman, meanwhile, takes on Eryk Anders. The placement has left Sterling particularly puzzled, as he expected a higher-profile slot at the event.

    The issue of card placement was a topic on the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, where former UFC fighter Matt Brown shared insight into how such decisions impact fighters’ morale.

    Brown explained that being on the prelims often feels like a demotion, particularly for established veterans and former champions.

    “When they put us on the prelims, you feel like you’re kind of demoted,” Brown said.

    He elaborated on the stark difference in atmosphere, noting the impact of performing in front of smaller crowds compared to the energy of a packed arena later in the event.

    “Especially when you’ve got a guy like Chris Weidman, who’s a former champion, and Aljamain Sterling, who’s a former champion. They feel like they’re demoted. I guarantee. I feel that way when I’d get put on the prelims. Like you don’t care about me as much. Like you think I’m on my way out.”

    Brown underscored that every fighter aims to climb the card toward main events, as those slots reflect respect and relevance in the promotion. For veterans like Sterling and Weidman, prelim placement at UFC 310 may feel like a sign the promotion sees their careers winding down.

    The conversation around card placement highlights a deeper issue in how fighters’ legacies are perceived and celebrated within the UFC. As Sterling and Weidman prepare for their bouts at UFC 310, the debate continues over whether their preliminary card placement is a missed opportunity to showcase their enduring star power.

  • Report: Mackenzie Dern To Headline First UFC Event Of 2025

    Report: Mackenzie Dern To Headline First UFC Event Of 2025

    UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern’s next fight will no longer be a year-ending clash in Tampa — it’ll be a year-opening assignment in Las Vegas.

    Dern (14-5) has had an inconsistent run in recent years and entered her most recent outing in Abu Dhabi this past August off the back of consecutive losses at the hands of Jéssica Andrade and Amanda Lemos.

    But the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist successfully avoided the first three-fight losing skid of her career, outpointing Loopy Godinez to return to winning ways. And Dern initially looked set for the chance to end the year on a streak.

    She was booked for the opportunity to avenge her first professional defeat in a rematch with Amanda Ribas (13-5) at the UFC Fight Night in Tampa next weekend. The Brazilian is currently ranked two places below Dern at #8.

    Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, however, that second dance has been pushed back and will instead now top the lineup for UFC Vegas 101 at the Apex on Jan. 11.

    For Ribas, the rematch will mark her return to 115 pounds after suffering defeat to Rose Namajunas last time out at flyweight, another division in which she occupies a spot inside the top 10.

    In her last appearance as a strawweight, the 31-year-old stopped Luana Pinheiro in highlight reel fashion with a late spinning wheel kick. She’s riding back-to-back wins in the weight class, having previously got the better of a top-five contender in Virna Jandiroba.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC Vegas 101 on Jan. 11 are as follows:

    • Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas (women’s strawweight main event)
    • Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov (middleweight)
    • Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Carlston Harris (welterweight)
    • Thiago Moisés vs. Trey Ogden (lightweight)
    • Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. César Almeida (middleweight)
    • Austin Bashi vs. Christian Rodriguez (featherweight)
    • Nurullo Aliev vs. Yanal Ashmouz (lightweight)
    • Ernesta Kareckaite vs. Nicolle Caliari (women’s flyweight)
    • Punahele Soriano vs. Uroš Medić (welterweight)
    • Jose Johnson vs. Felipe Bunes (flyweight)
    • Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Bruno Lopes (light heavyweight)
    • Andreas Gustafsson vs. Preston Parsons (welterweight)
    • Victoria Dudakova vs. Fatima Kline (women’s strawweight)
  • Charles Oliveira To Corner Ian Garry For UFC 310 Co-Main Event

    Charles Oliveira To Corner Ian Garry For UFC 310 Co-Main Event

    Ian Garry will be benefiting from Charles Oliveira’s expertise during his high-stakes bout on Saturday.

    “The Future” is set to clash with fellow unbeaten star Shavkat Rakhmonov in a welterweight battle that could determine the next title contender. The five-round showdown will take the spotlight as the co-main event of UFC 310 on Dec. 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    With title implications hanging in the balance, Garry is sparing no effort in preparing for what is arguably the biggest fight of his career. To bolster his chances, the rising Irishman will have former UFC lightweight champion Oliveira in his corner this weekend.

    During a recent Q&A video on his YouTube channel, “The Future” showered praise on “do Bronx,” his training partner at Brazil’s renowned Chute Boxe Academy. He also revealed that the Brazilian veteran will bring his wealth of knowledge to steer him through the highly anticipated bout against Rakhmonov.

    “Charles ‘Do Bronx’ — man’s never been in an unentertaining fight. He’s an absolute savage. I love him, and he’s going to be in my corner for this fight.”

    Garry was originally poised to headline the UFC Fight Night in Tampa on Dec. 14, taking on Joaquin Buckley. However, when reigning welterweight champion Belal Muhammad had to pull out of the UFC 310 main event due to a bone infection, “The Future” didn’t hesitate to step up and agreed to face Rakhmonov on short notice.

    UFC 310 will mark Garry’s third appearance in the Octagon this year. Fresh off a unanimous decision victory over Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 303 in June, he enters the fight with an unblemished 8-0 promotional record.

  • Ciryl Gane Turns The Tables On Claim He Rejected Tom Aspinall Fight

    Ciryl Gane has expressed his willingness to face Tom Aspinall in the Octagon, a matchup he claims could have even materialized earlier this year.

    The two heavyweight stars were linked for a potential fight over the summer, with Aspinall suggesting Gane declined a bout at UFC 304 in July. Instead, the Brit fought Curtis Blaydes, securing a first-round TKO victory to retain the interim heavyweight title.

    Coach Fernand Lopez later confirmed that Gane turned down the summer fight due to prior commitments with a Netflix movie project.

    The Frenchman has now clarified that no fight offer involving Aspinall was presented to him for September. “Bon Gamin” even countered Aspinall’s claims, alleging that Aspinall declined a potential matchup in March.

    “Yeah, yeah, of course, for March – but it was not possible,” Gane said during an interview on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned. “He said I refused him in September, but the UFC didn’t propose me any contract with him [for that time]. Like I’ve said, I’m looking for the best opportunities for myself, and he’s doing the same. The UFC knows this is a fight I want.”

    Despite the back and forth, Gane believes a clash with Aspinall is inevitable.

    For now, his focus is on his upcoming fight against Alexander Volkov at UFC 310. The event takes place this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where Gane aims to strengthen his position in the heavyweight division.

  • Ian Garry Reveals Shavkat Rakhmonov’s High Praise Ahead Of UFC 310 Clash

    Ian Garry Reveals Shavkat Rakhmonov’s High Praise Ahead Of UFC 310 Clash

    Ian Garry is claiming that Shavkat Rakhmonov holds him in such high esteem that he recognizes championship potential within him.

    Both undefeated fighters are poised to collide in a five-round welterweight showdown, expected to determine the next title challenger. The high-stakes bout is set to serve as the co-main event for UFC 310 on Dec. 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    “The Future” was originally slated to headline the UFC Fight Night in Tampa on Dec. 14 against Joaquin Buckley. However, with reigning 170-pound champion Belal Muhammad withdrawing from the UFC 310 main event due to a bone infection, he swiftly answered the call to face Rakhmonov on short notice.

    Garry and Rakhmonov are no strangers to each other’s skills and strengths, having previously shared training sessions at the renowned Kill Cliff FC gym in Florida.

    During the UFC 310 Countdown show, Garry mentioned that Kill Cliff FC head coach Henri Hooft relayed Rakhmonov’s view that the Irishman possesses championship potential, though he made it clear it wouldn’t be at the cost of his own goals.

    “Me and Shavkat trained a lot together,” Garry said. “I think he’s a phenomenal fighter. Henri Hooft told me Shavkat Rakhmonov and him had a conversation, and he said ‘Shavkat knows you’re going to be the champion one day. But he says ‘Me first and him later.’ So. It’s unfortunate that one of us is going to have to lose. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that he’s not getting his hand raised.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCRcpPPERSA

    “The Future” is riding high after securing a commanding unanimous decision win over Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 303 in June, pushing his perfect promotional record to 8-0.

    Meanwhile, “Nomad” boasts an unblemished 6-0 streak in the UFC, making his comeback after more than a year away from the Octagon. His last appearance was a submission victory over Stephen Thompson at UFC 296 in December 2023.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Foresees Future Title Defense Against Charles Oliveira: ‘I Would Like To Finish Him’

    Arman Tsarukyan Foresees Future Title Defense Against Charles Oliveira: ‘I Would Like To Finish Him’

    Top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan believes his story with Charles Oliveira is far from complete.

    Islam Makhachev’s highly anticipated lightweight title defense against Tsarukyan is expected to headline UFC 311 on Jan. 18. While the UFC has yet to officially confirm the matchup, excitement among fans is already building.

    Both Makhachev and Tsarukyan have crossed paths with former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, who suffered defeats to each. The Brazilian lost to Makhachev via submission in their title bout at UFC 280 and fell to Tsarukyan by decision at UFC 300 this past April.

    Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the expected showdown, Tsarukyan expressed an eagerness to solidify his standing in the division. And if victorious against Makhachev, he has his sights set on a rematch with Oliveira to make a definitive statement.

    “Of course, I’m down for everybody,” Tsarukyan said. “Charles Oliveira is one of the best in our division. I feel like Islam, Charles, and I are the top three in the lightweight division right now because Charles beat everyone in the top 15. I beat everybody, too. Islam is the champ, pound-for-pound, but I’m down for everybody.

    “But when I become champion, I would like to fight Charles because our fight was pretty close, people think it was pretty close, and I would like to finish him,” Tsarukyan added.

    https://youtu.be/NYvLfJric60?si=0YHk1kbpa05Xk4OE

    Oliveira, meanwhile, remains in the mix for another title opportunity. The former champion is coming off an impressive five-round decision victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 309 and wasted no time calling for a title shot afterward.

    With Makhachev and Tsarukyan poised to clash at UFC 311, the lightweight division continues to deliver some of the sport’s most compelling matchups.

  • Chael Sonnen Questions Ciryl Gane’s Commitment & UFC 310 Betting Favorite Status Over Alexander Volkov

    Chael Sonnen Questions Ciryl Gane’s Commitment & UFC 310 Betting Favorite Status Over Alexander Volkov

    At UFC 310 this weekend, another heavyweight could join the conversation that has been dominated by the division’s two titleholders in Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. Whichever man gets the win, Ciryl Gane or Alexander Volkov will prove that they’re the next in line for a title shot even if the future of the division remains unclear right now.

    Since losing to Aspinall in 2022, Volkov has put together a very strong run with four consecutive wins. Gane, on the other hand, hasn’t fought since his victory over Serghei Spivac in Paris last year which saw him bounce back from his loss to Jones at UFC 285.

    The former interim champion has received some criticism since then over not wanting to pursue a fight with Aspinall and then turning down the interim title fight for UFC 304 in July due to a commitment he had made to filming a TV show for Netflix which has since released. Chael Sonnen believes that with these factors being considered, he doesn’t understand why “Bon Gamin” is a clear favorite according to the oddsmakers.

    “Ciryl is a very heavy favorite. I, for the life of me, do not know why.

    “I don’t mean to be negative towards Ciryl but I will share with you, nobody gets better at this sport by not doing it and Ciryl passed up on very big opportunities to go and film a movie that nobody’s ever heard of and most likely will never see but you can’t ever get around that. Every actor wants to be an athlete and every athlete wants to be an actor. There’s no way to ever work that out. So now Ciryl’s going to come in against largely a mere image of himself.”

    Many would point to Gane being a big favorite due to the way that their first meeting played out. In June of 2021, the French fighter dominated against Volkov and won all five rounds on multiple scorecards to earn his sixth consecutive win inside the Octagon.

    Sonnen, however, believes that Volkov has never looked better than he did last time out against Sergei Pavlovich in June in a fight that he believes the Russian coasted through.

    “Volkov went out and didn’t even take him serious. Volkov’s trainer in between rounds brought him water and a comb. He combed his hair in between rounds, I mean he was doing marketing and he was doing a spoof and he was performing cuz he was so unimpressed by your great blonde hope.” 

  • Ian Garry: UFC Tampa Booking Proves ‘Coward’ Colby Covington ‘Avoided Me Like The Plague’

    Ian Garry: UFC Tampa Booking Proves ‘Coward’ Colby Covington ‘Avoided Me Like The Plague’

    Though their paths might not be crossing in the way that he had hoped, there is no love lost between Ian Machado Garry and Colby Covington. The undefeated Irishman has spent a fair few months of 2024 going back-and-forth with the former interim champion.

    Covington was the opponent that he wanted to face at UFC 303 in June which would have been the perfect co-main event to Conor McGregor’s return against Michael Chandler. Instead, Garry would get the main card opener slot against the former Bellator star Michael “Venom” Page which he won to remain undefeated.

    Considering the war of words between them which stems all the way back to UFC 296 in December last year where they were scheduled to share the card with each other before Garry withdrew due to illness, it only made sense to revisit this match-up. With how much time he has spent trying to get “Chaos” to fight him, it’s not surprising that he would be frustrated when the welterweight switch-up happened.

    Garry agreed to fight Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Tampa on December 14, admitting recently that the fight didn’t excite him but no one ranked above him would take the match-up. When Belal Muhammad withdrew from his UFC 310 title defense, Garry replaced him to face Shavkat Rakhmonov this Saturday whilst Covington stepped in to clash with Buckley the following week.

    In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Garry reacted to Covington refusing to fight him only to accept a fight with “New Mansa” instead for the same date that the Irishman was originally targeting.

    “I was seething, how do you think I feel? Because I’ve been screaming and shouting about fighting that man from the rafters,” Garry said. “This man’s made videos about me, my wife, my kids – talking about all this s***. And here’s this man avoiding me like the plague, and then the second I book in against the scariest man in the division, he’s like, ‘Oh, I’ll fight in Florida.’

    “It just proves, it just shows that he’s a coward, that he wants nothing to do with me,” Garry continued. “The truth is I already know I’ve beaten him. I know I’ve already mentally beaten him. He’s weak. He’s an absolute coward.”

  • Merab Dvalishvili Touts Aljamain Sterling’s UFC 310 Prep: ‘Controlled Me, Smashed Me’

    Merab Dvalishvili Touts Aljamain Sterling’s UFC 310 Prep: ‘Controlled Me, Smashed Me’

    Merab Dvalishvili is expecting a strong performance from his teammate Aljamain Sterling, as the former UFC bantamweight champion gears up for his second outing as a featherweight.

    Following the end of his reign at 135 pounds last year — and after having his calls for a rematch with Sean O’Malley fall on deaf ears — Sterling committed to a long-discussed move up in weight.

    And he debuted at 145 pounds in convincing fashion, comfortably outpointing veteran ranked contender Calvin Kattar across three rounds at UFC 300 in Las Vegas this past April.

    After arriving in the featherweight top 10, Sterling’s sophomore appearance in the division at UFC 310 will come against an undefeated contender inside the top five, Russia’s Movsar Evloev.

    Although he’ll enter the cage as a sizable underdog on Dec. 7, Sterling’s team is unsurprisingly confident of an upset.

    During a video recently uploaded to Sterling’s YouTube channel, Dvalishvili spoke about “Funk Master’s” upcoming return, having once again been a part of the 35-year-old’s training camp.

    The reigning bantamweight kingpin admitted struggling to hang with the featherweight contender on the mats. And with that in mind, he foresees Sterling ‘smashing’ the undefeated Evloev.

    “Aljo feels really strong,” Dvalishvili said. “Now he did a bunch of rounds of jiu-jitsu too. He did two rounds with me. I couldn’t do anything. He was on top of me, controlled me, smashed me. That means that Aljo is going to smash his opponent – even though his opponent is really good.

    “I have so much respect for Movsar Evloev, but that’s how the fight game is. The stronger guy wins,” Dvalishvili continued. “I’m very comfortable with Aljo because he’s focused and he feels really strong.”

    Sterling will hope to prove Dvalishvili’s assessment correct come fight night in “Sin City,” where he’ll look to move past his disappointment at being placed on the prelims and deliver a statement-making performance at the expense of Evloev.

    And should he succeed in that goal, a shot at Ilia Topuria’s featherweight gold and two-division glory could await the New York native in 2025.